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-
- | ST*ZMAGAZINE ISSUE #: 43
- ||| ---------------------------------------------
- ||||| October 20, 1989
- ||||||| ---------------------------------------------
- ||||||||| Editor: Ron Kovacs
- ||||||||||| ---------------------------------------------
- ||||||||||||| Part of The Developing Revolution!
- ||| ||| ---------------------------------------------
- ||| ZMAGAZINE ||| COMPUSERVE: 71777,2140 GO ATARIARTS LIB 15
- ||| ||| ---------------------------------------------
- ||||||||||||| GEnie: ZMAGAZINE ST RT BB CAT 31, LIBRARY 25
- ||||||||||| ---------------------------------------------
- ||||||||| Copyright 1989, Rovac Industries, Inc.
- ||||||| Post Office Box 59
- ||||| Middlesex, New Jersey 08846-0059
- ||| (201) 968-8148
- | ---------------------------------------------
-
- CONTENTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Issue #43
-
- San Fransisco Earthquake........................Ctsy GEnie
- Earthquake Forum...........................Ctsy CompuServe
- John J. Anderson Dies in Quake...................John Nagy
- ZNet Newswire.............................................
- Public Domain Shelf............................Alice Amore
- The PD Survey...................................Mark Quinn
- The DC Utilities................................WK Whitton
- The Revolution...............................Donald Thomas
- ComputerFest 1989................................Jim Ullom
-
-
-
- SAN FRANSISCO EARTHQUAKE - CTSY GENIE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- (Editors Note: The following messages are reprinted with permission of
- GEnie. They are reprinted here to give everyone a feeling of what
- happened in California by the persons living there. Most of the
- messages have been deleted from the reprint and can be read online in
- the ST RT on GEnie, Category 14 Topic 13.
-
- Topic 13 Tue Oct 17, 1989
- GORDON at 23:33 EDT
- Sub: EARTHQUAKE
-
- Message 2 Wed Oct 18, 1989 by TOWNS at 00:25 EDT
-
- Well, I am at home now in Fremont.. For those that don't know, Fremont
- is on the East side of the bay approximately 10 miles north of San Jose
- and 18 Miles from Sunnyvale.
-
- The latest word is that the quake was centered in Hollister about 20
- miles south of San Jose and measured between 6.5 and 7.0 on the Richter
- Scale. We are getting after-shocks measuring between 3.0 and 5.0 about
- every half hour.
-
- There is major damage in San Francisco..Wow! Another small Aftershock
- as I type this... anyway, there is major damage in SF and MAJOR damage
- in Oakland. Part of the Bay Bridge fell down (a 50 foot section) and a
- 1.5 mile section of the double-decker Highway 80 near Oakland/Berkeley
- fell down COMPLETELY and is nothing but rubble. They estimate that 40-
- 50 people were crushed in this freeway when it fell.
-
- The emergency rooms around the Bay Area are packed with people, SF is
- without water and power as well as most of the North Bay is in the same
- situation. Things are a MAJOR MESS here right now. I have been
- watching news coverage on TV for about four hours now. We are still
- seeing major loss of property and injuries around the Bay Area. This is
- the scarist thing I have ever seen.
-
- As for Atari, I didn't go to work today (Thank God! Atari is ONE scary
- place to be during an Earthquake..) and I spoke with some people at
- Atari. They are saying that Atari came though the Quake fairly well.
-
- If communications with Atari are a little harder than usual, please bear
- with us. I think things are going to be a little on the abnormal side
- for the next couple of days.
-
- Anyway, Pray for those of us in the Bay Area and I hope that all of your
- loved ones in the Bay Area are safe! We will keep you posted on what is
- happening as we know more.
-
- -- John
-
- PS. The Quake hit at 5:04pm.. at the height of rush hour <sigh>
-
- Message 12 Wed Oct 18, 1989 by TOWNS at 14:23 EDT
-
-
- Well, it's the morning and things are looking a little better. Here in
- Fremont, its business as usual. Most schools and businesses are open,
- we have power, gas, water, and even Cable TV. I guess the phones are
- easing up a little. I just got two calls from out-of-state this morning
- around 5am.
-
- Oakland and San Francisco are still a mess. The Marina area is a
- complete disaster and most of the city is still without power. There
- are grave fears about the condition of Santa Cruz where the Quake was
- centered. Not much news is coming out of that area.
-
- The last aftershock I felt was this morning around 3:30am. I think it
- was in the same range as the 3.0 - 4.0's we have been having since the
- original quake.
-
- They are estimating that the Bay Bridge will be out of commission for
- at least 3 weeks. The Cypress Structure (the freeway that collapsed on
- approx. 250 people, crushing them to death) is said to be beyond
- recovery and they are afraid at the moment that is will fall even
- further if the aftershocks continue.
-
- It seems that large parts of the South Bay have survived the Quake with
- no major problems. It's San Francisco and Oakland that are having the
- major problems at this point.
-
- Anyway, enough for now..
-
- -- JOhn
-
- Message 13 Wed Oct 18, 1989 by BOB-BRODIE at 14:23 EDT
-
-
- For those of you concerned, let me say that the building is OK. One of
- the warehouses apparently lost very little stuff, the other has some
- problems. I was at Atari when the quake hit, sending e-mail on GEnie.
- Although I tend to use humor to playdown the severity of the problems at
- Atari, this is one time I will **not**! The headquarters at Atari
- rocked, and after we all got outside, the smell of either gas or sewage
- was evident.
-
- We stood in the parking lot for about 20 minutes, then we were allowed
- inside again to get our things. I managed to get a quick phone call off
- to my family (still living in the LA area, I haven't moved them up here
- yet) to let them know I was OK. Today, there is pretty much a skeleton
- crew here. The word is that the Tramiels homes sustained substantial
- damage during the quake. Lots of folk have stayed home due to the
- schools being closed. Water conservation measures have been instituted.
- I drive to work everyday on I-880, the freeway that was buckled and
- pancaked down on as many as 200 people. Although I do not pass on that
- particular stretch of the I-880, it is still scary. Cal-Trans was out
- on the parts that I do travel today, building scaffolds/supports for the
- overpasses.
-
- Although I have not visited the R & D and tech support areas yet, I am
- told that there is some damage to hardware there that was thrown around
- during the quake. All of my stuff seems to have come through ok. I did
- manage to re-boot and park the HD heads while dialing the wife.
-
- Of course, I have only talked with a few of the people here at Atari.
- Elizabeth Shook actually lives in San Francisco. Although her home was
- undamaged, they did not have power until after 1:00AM. The Power
- Company could have turned it on, but was afraid to, as more fires might
- have resulted from possible gas leaks.
-
- I was in Whittier during the big quake there a couple of years ago, and
- the one thing that I have a deadly fear of is the aftershocks. The
- Whittier quake was on Friday morning. Sunday, at around 1:00AM we had a
- real big shock, 5.5! I don't relish the thought of the ground moving
- like that again. Right now, just hearing a door slaming shut scares me.
-
- Bob Brodie
-
- Message 19 Wed Oct 18, 1989 by FB [Fred Beckman] at 23:31 EDT
-
- After being knocked off GEnie yesterday at 5:04PM because the house was
- rocking and my three year old's were screaming as we dove for the
- doorway in the center of the house. The little boys kept pleading with
- me to make it stop shaking Daddy and all I could do is hold on to them
- and pray that my wife in a large electronic plant and my daughters at
- choir practice would not be hurt.
-
- After what seemed like an hour (really 20 to 40 seconds by most
- accounts) it stopped moving too much. Trees swayed for another couple
- of minutes and the light in the dining room was swinging 5 minutes (I
- checked my watch). The power was off and there was no way to contact
- anyone to find out about the rest of the family.
-
- The girls showed up about 20 minutes later. They had been playing tag
- when the ground started to move outside where they were playing. My
- wife called about 15 minutes after that and said that she would be home
- soon. Since it is 3 miles to where she work I thought it would be
- sooner than the 45 minutes it took. All the lights were out with power
- lines on the ground.
-
- Cooking dinner outside was fun for one meal but to do it any more than I
- wanted to do. Luckily for us the power was back in the middle of the
- night. The other 400,000 folks that are still without have my prayers
- that the power company will get it back soon.
-
- Everything looked so normal this morning until you noticed the cars
- parked in the driveways while the everyone swept up the glass and mess
- that fell in the garages. Everyone also had very tired looking eyes as
- most of us spent most of the night comforting your little ones that it
- would not come back, and that mommy and daddy would be there for them.
- When we moved from room to room there was always a crowd with us. I am
- very lucky and my heart felt grieve goes out to those that are not as
- fortunate as I am.
-
- Fred
-
- -=-=-=-=-=-=-
-
- CompuServe and the Prodigy service are providing earthquake coverage,
- the following article shows what CompuServe has set up for aiding
- earthquake relatives.
-
-
-
- ONLINE SERVICES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Ctsy CompuServe
-
-
- EQFORUM
-
- The Earthquake Forum is the place to exchange information on the people,
- places, things, and ideas affected by the San Francisco Earthquake of
- 1989.
-
- To join us, give the Forum the JOIN command at a "!" prompt, or choose
- Join from the opening Forum Menu.
-
- Whether you need help, have assistance to give, or just want to know
- what's happening, The Earthquake Forum is the place.
-
- News Flash:
-
- Welcome back to the Bay Area members who are getting back on-line. If
- you'd like to share your experiences with us we'd like to hear them.
-
- If you're in the Bay Area and are having trouble contacting someone by
- voice or if you're trying to call the Bay Area and can't get through,
- the voice services are very overloaded but are slowly improving.
-
- If you're in the Bay Area and want to send a message to someone in
- another area, a number of members have volunteered to act as a 'message
- relay'. Check Section 1 for someone relaying in your target area or see
- the file RELAY.TXT in Library 1.
-
- If you're trying to contact someone in the Bay Area, please leave as
- much information as you can (name, phone number, address, city) and
- we'll try and get a short message to them and get back to you.
-
- All Bay Area nodes are working as of 3:00 AM PT, 10/20.
-
- -- The Earthquake Forum welcomes you
-
- The Forum is devoted to the issues raised by the recent earthquake in
- the San Francisco Bay area; we hope to provide a place to both collect
- and distribute useful information about this event.
-
- The Forum has sections for relief efforts, locating people,
- transportation availability, and late breaking news. We'll be adding
- more sections and libraries as required.
-
- We hope that you will contribute useful information (not unsubstantiated
- rumors) if you are in the area, and, if your circumstances allow, that
- you will help in the People Locating efforts in Section 1.
-
- We will try to keep the Late Breaking News up-to-date in Section 2.
-
- The Relief Exchange will list sources for official and unofficial
- relief, such as loans, supplies, or labor; we hope if you have relief
- efforts to contribute you will list them in Section 3.
-
- Travel & Transportation is the subject of Section 4.
-
- News about Silicon Valley is the subject of Section 5; here you can find
- out what's happening in that bastion of hi-tech. Silicon Valley was
- very close to the quake's epicenter.
-
- Special Earthquake-related communications issues are addressed in
- section 6.
-
- Some folks have interesting stories about the quake; they are in section
- 7.
-
-
-
- COMPUTER WRITER JOHN J. ANDERSON DIES IN QUAKE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Story by John Nagy
-
-
- The aftershocks of the San Francisco earthquake continue to rock us all
- and some of those shocks are personal rather than seismic. Although the
- death toll looks at this time to be well below the darkest estimates of
- many hundreds, that is little consolation to the families of those who
- died last Tuesday. Many of the dead are yet to be identified. Almost
- worse than the knowledge that a loved one or a friend is gone is the
- waiting to find out if they indeed survived. Our own publisher of ZMAG,
- ST*ZMag, and Z*Net, Ron Kovacs is still waiting to hear from a loved one
- in San Francisco for a business meeting on Tuesday and is among the
- thousands who have not yet been heard from. Our thoughts and prayers
- are with the families of the missing, almost all of whom are safe, but
- are unable to make outside contact in the wake of the quake-ravaged
- utilities.
-
- We do know of some specific fatalities... it was reported that among the
- dead was John J. Anderson, a long time Atari enthusiast and writer.
-
- John was in San Francisco less than a year as a senior editor of MACUSER
- Magazine, a Macintosh specific publication. He had moved there from
- Titusville, Florida, after several years editing COMPUTER SHOPPER
- magazine. John always worked to raise the image and awareness of the
- Atari line in CS as well as a number of other magazines he regularly
- wrote for. Those included continuing Atari columns and feature articles
- in FAMILY COMPUTING, CREATIVE COMPUTING, and many more.
-
- Part of the reason John left Computer Shopper was his frustration in
- working under Stan Veit, who seemed to want John to take over the
- magazine but who refused to yield sufficient authority to John to
- accomplish it. About the same time John Anderson left CS, the magazine
- was bought by Ziff Davis Publishing Company, and soon afterwards Stan
- was "retired" by the new owners. New Editor Bob Lindstrom has announced
- that Atari 8-bit coverage will end with the December 1989 issue of CS
- (along with ADAM, C64, TI, and the other older "classic computers"), and
- that the ST and AMIGA are being watched carefully to determine if
- coverage of those lines should also be cut in the future. While no one
- can say what would have happened to Atari coverage if John had stayed at
- CS, it is at least likely that he would be alive today to see it.
-
- It was John Anderson who called me at home one day a few years ago and
- asked if Computer Shopper could reprint an article I wrote that appeared
- in ZMAGAZINE. (It was about the then-embryonic 8-bit emulator being
- developed by Darek Mihocka, and his trouble with Atari about getting it
- approved for distribution.) As we talked, John mentioned that he was a
- regular reader of my work in both ZMAGAZINE and the user-group
- publication that I founded and edited, Michigan Atari Magazine. He
- commented that he found himself re-using much of the information I wrote
- about in his own columns, and asked if I wouldn't mind doing my own
- column in Computer Shopper. That call began a new career for me, and
- John and I became long-distance friends. We talked often about our joys
- and frustrations with Atari, and later, his frustrations with Computer
- Shopper magazine. I was sorry to see him leave, but the MACUSER offer
- was clearly a step up, and we all wished him well.
-
- John leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Anderson of Cresskill, NJ,
- and his wife, Lauren Hallquist, and two children, Peter, 4, and Kate, 1,
- of Boulder Creek, CA. Friends and fans who wish to send condolences to
- his family may do so c/o Atari Explorer, 7 Hilltop Rd., Mendham, NJ
- 07945.
-
- --Betsy Staples
-
-
-
- ZNET NEWSWIRE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- (Editors Note: Although the California earthquake has dominated the
- news in all areas this week, there are other things happening and here
- is a briefing on that news.)
-
-
- ~ Commodore announced this week that a preliminary review of its results
- for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 1989 indicates that the company will
- report a loss for the period due to continuing weakness in consumer
- product sales in certain major markets. Commodore noted that this news
- was preliminary and that final results for the quarter are scheduled to
- be announced in early November.
-
- ~ Apple resumed all business operations on Thursday following the major
- earthquake experienced near its headquarters. The company had closed
- all San Francisco Bay Area facilities on Wednesday, Oct. 18 following
- the earthquake to assess physical damage to its buildings in order to
- insure the safety of employees before allowing them to return to work.
- Most of Apple's office buildings suffered only minor damages and all
- crucial business capabilities such as telephone lines are almost
- entirely restored.
-
- ~ Desktop Data announced NewsEDGE, the first in a new class of products
- called ''live news processing'' earlier this week. NewsEDGE captures
- and combines stories from multiple news wires onto a customer's personal
- computer. Desktop Data has completed news license and distribution
- agreements with McGraw-Hill and PR Newswire. The company is in similar
- discussions with several other newswire publishers.
-
-
-
- PUBLIC DOMAIN SHELF
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- by Alice Amore
-
-
- ** ARPBK_11: From Robert Arp's "ARPBOOK: Atari ST Machine Specific
- Programming in Assembly", this is part of a chapter dealing with
- producing assembly language source files from machine language code.
-
- ** PINEWOOD, CUBSCOUT: PINEWOOD, written in GFA BASIC by Pat Peronto,
- details a better way to run a Pinewood Derby (a yearly Boy Scout event).
- At the typical Derby, each car gets one chance to race, and, through the
- process of elimination, one car wins all. Boring. Once a scout is
- eliminated his enthusiasm is gone. Using the "Stearns Method" (which
- should be interesting to all math buffs out there), this program handles
- all the calculations to enable the following:
- - any number of tracks can be used
- - any number of scouts can participate
- - every car races the same number of times
- - every car races in each round
- - every car races in each lane
- - a maximization of the number of opponents each car races against; in
- most cases, every car gets to race against every other car. The file
- CUBSCOUT contains extra documentation.
-
- ** LQPRTIT: LQ Print It!, ver. 1.0, from Ray Roux, offers a quick way
- to print out graphic libraries from PrintMaster. Some features:
- - A printed header containing the library name and the number of
- pictures it contains.
- - Up to 56 pictures, with names, can be printed per page.
- - Up to 50 libraries can be printed at once, with each library holding
- up to 200 pictures.
- - Progress reports appear on the screen during printing.
- (Another good program of the same sort is Chet Walters' PM_CAT. Try
- both!)
-
- ** KEYCLICK: This is an extremely small program. Click on it and those
- annoying keyclicks from your speaker will vanish. Click on it again and
- they're back. By Jim Kershner.
-
- ** IDLE20: This is a different kind of screen saver. Put this .ACC
- file in your AUTO folder. To enable it, hold down the SHIFT key, then
- pull IDLE 2.0 from the DESK MENU. You can now tell your ST to show you
- a Fuji symbol on a black background if your ST is idle for (your choice)
- 1, 5, or 10 minutes. You can also choose to have the display restored
- not only from mouse movement, but also from serial port activity. From
- Eric Rosenquist of Strata Software.
-
- ** GRAN_VOX: shows a nice graphics display while each of the four
- SysOps (Ray, Ron, Dave, and Grant) of CRASH BBS (604 299-5111) can be
- toggled through the function keys so that we may hear their very own
- personal voice digitizations inviting us to call their BBS. CRASH BBS
- extends a special welcome to STOS programmers.
-
- ** SC_BIN12, SC_SRC12: These two files contain the Sozobon C Compiler
- and its source code. This is release 1.2, and is basically a preview of
- the improved compiler features and code generation that will be
- available in the next major release. The programmers, Tony Andrews,
- Johann Ruegg, and Joe Treat, would appreciate any bug reports.
-
- ** NOTES2: provides a convenient way for you to keep your jottings
- handy at all times. Notes are typed in on simulated index cards and can
- be retrieved or sent to the printer. Written as shareware by Tom
- Tolstead, NOTES can be run as a desk accessory or a .PRG file.
-
- ** REVOLT: From Artisan Software comes "The Revolution(tm)", a disk-
- based handbook which hopes to help the Atari community organize itself
- into a dynamic force capable of spreading the word about Atari
- computers. This handbook is an ambitious project and is manifesto-like.
- It even contains an extensive calendar which details the steps necessary
- to win this computer war.
-
- ** ARTST230: Art-ST is one of the finest pieces of ST shareware around.
- It is an impressive drawing program which supports lines, boxes,
- circles, text, fine pixel editing, fills with user-definable mono or
- multi-color patterns, copy and paste, and support of all available
- multiple picture buffers. Picture files from other drawing programs can
- be imported, and animation is supported. This upgrade includes many
- improvements. From Robert M. Birmingham of Axolotl Software.
-
- ** COLRQUST: "Color Quest" is a Simon-like game in which four colored
- buttons (each of which is accompanied by a musical tone) are struck in a
- progressively longer sequence which the player must duplicate. This
- version is nicely done. It will support a 2-player game in which a
- button is added to the sequence by each player. Both players must
- repeat the sequence before adding another button. This program is
- shareware from J. P. Peach.
-
- ** CLASS201, CLASSDOC: In a nutshell, this is a combination database
- and spreadsheet for teachers. Here are some of its features:
- - Alphabetizes, stores, and prints a list of all students in the class
- and their grades.
- - Ranks students according to their scores on any assignment.
- - Calculates current or final averages for each student.
- - Acts as a "grade calculator" for unrecorded grades.
- - Determines the letter grade that corresponds to each student's score.
- - Calculates the frequency, mean, variance, and standard deviation for
- each grade and assignment.
- - Displays a table and graph of the distribution of each grade.
- - Lets you record letter grades quickly using the number keypad.
- - Allows you to set and change the ranges and weights for each grade.
- - Lets you set a "curve" and calculate grades accordingly.
- - Lets you experiment with different curves and immediately see the
- results in graph form.
- - Does all of the above for either number or letter grades.
-
- The improvements in this upgrade include the ability to:
- - Transform all grades and files recorded as scores into equivalent
- letter grades.
- - Automatically set or adjust the ranges for each grade to fit a normal
- curve.
- - Automatically check for typos when recording grades.
- - Change the labels for assignments.
- - Delete an assignment.
- - Store and display up to 30 grades for each student.
- - Print roster with single or double spacing.
-
- The file CLASSDOC contains information about CLASS201. Read it to help
- you decide if you want CLASS201. CLASS201 is shareware from Gary Wren.
-
- ** CHRGN109: This program generates 2nd Edition AD&D characters based
- on TSR's famous role-playing system.
- - Up to 8 characters can be created at once using character buffers.
- - Characters can be saved and loaded.
- - No illegal choices are allowed.
- - All possible races, characters, and multi-classes are instantly
- displayed.
-
- CHRGN109 was programmed by Ron Rabaut in GFA BASIC 2.0.
-
- ** SIMOCT89: Armchair pilots will enjoy SIMOCT89, which is the first
- issue of "The Instrument Flyer", a guide to the charts used by pilots.
- You must have the desktop publishing program "Publish It!" from
- Timeworks to see this interesting file.
-
- ** LZ_COMPR: These files concern themselves with the various algorithms
- of data compression. An article by H. Okumura is included, plus three C
- programs illustrating LZARI, LZSS, and LZHUF.
-
- ** XRAMXXXX: Here's a RAMdisk which lets you specify the drive letter
- and the capacity right in the filename itself. Simply substitute the
- X's with drive letter (at the beginning) and drive size in Kbytes (at
- the end). Copy the file to your boot disk, install the drive from the
- desktop, and save your configuration. Written by James C. McCormick.
-
-
-
-
- THE PD SURVEY
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- by Mark Quinn
-
-
- File name: BANANA_2.ARC
- Program name: Banana
- Program type: Utility
- Programmed by: Stu Lees
-
- Oops. Now I have to admit it--I goofed (how many times have you heard
- this before someone tries to sell you a couch, or perhaps a patented
- slicer/dicer/depilator?): the first version of this utility, which
- allows hard drive owners who don't have enough memory for some of the
- larger .DLT files to play them from their drives, would not play all
- .DLTs, as I suggested in a previous article (I'm afraid that little
- mistake drained some of the "art" from it). Sorry--may "OH-I/O", the
- god of I/O errors, strike my machine silly someday (but not NOW).
-
- The doc file for this program states that BANANA_2 will play all delta
- animations, of any length. There you have it. I tested it with an old
- "Cyber" animation (the type that sports a .PI1 file) and it worked just
- fine. I didn't drag out the "Smurf" picture files I used to test the
- "create animation" feature of the first Banana. (I won't say anything
- about a "second Banana" here. Nosiree.)
-
- This update has many new features:
-
- Join - allows you to append delta-to-delta, or D.E.G.A.S.-to-delta
-
- Query - will return information on the number of pieces the file is
- stored in on your drive (Fragmentation), the total number of
- frames in an animation (Frames), and the average frame size
- in bytes (Average Compression)
-
- Smooth - removes "any screen redraw distortions"
-
- Use
- Template - will either mask D.E.G.A.S. picture or use it as a
- background when creating animations
-
- Banana
- Split - Will store very large delta animations on one or more
- floppies, single or double-sided. (Used with the "Join"
- feature, above.)
-
- Multiple
- Sources - Banana keeps requesting more source files until "cancel" is
- highlighted on the file selector
-
- The one thing I noticed while using the "Query" feature was that if a
- frame's average size is one thousand or more, the 1's column is cut off.
- Other than that small detail, I found the program to be significantly
- improved.
-
-
- File name: BLOODMON.ARC
- Program name: Blood Money
- Program type: Game demo
- Programmed by: Psygnosis Ltd.
-
- This is a playable demo of "Blood Money", by Psygnosis. I saw a game
- with a similar concept played on an Amiga on the "Computer Comicals"
- show. And let's face it: the guy on "Comicals" was a better player
- than I am.
-
- In BM (now, now) the object is to vaporize everything in sight and
- actually collect money for doing so. The player maneuvers a red (not
- yellow? Shucks.) submarine past jellyfish, slimy things and doo-dads of
- all descriptions. I was amused when I fired several missiles at a
- jellyfish (ahh--overkill) and it exploded, turning into a coin.
- Equipment can be purchased with the money one collects.
-
- (I noticed some "flickering lines" at the top of my monitor screen. I
- wasn't able to determine whether this program is set up for European ST
- monitors or not (they use a different Hertz rate) because I adjusted the
- vertical hold on my monitor to compensate for such programs. There are
- utilities which will "change your Hertz", as well.)
-
- The graphics alone are worth the download. Trust me: I'm "HYP-MO-
- TIZED".
-
-
- File name: DUNGEON.ARC
- Program name: Dungeon
- Program type: Game
- Programmed by: Philip E. Mullen
-
- "Dungeon" is Mr. Mullen's translation, from Atari BASIC to STOS BASIC,
- of a game he originally wrote on an Atari 800. I was amused to learn
- that "...The old version used only about 17K altogether; this one uses
- around 70K for the source code and 153K compiled." In this Rogue-type
- game (I am on shaky ground here--this game probably existed before Rogue
- did.) one accumulates treasure (one can only carry so much of the stuff)
- and shoots magic and mundane arrows and so forth. This is a direct
- translation of the 8-bit game, and it looks it. But then again, you
- really don't _need_ finely-detailed graphics to move a stick figure
- around in a dungeon.
-
- Each dungeon is different, so there is a "Save Game" feature. You can
- haggle with the innkeeper over the price of your provisions, too. (This
- isn't exactly a Holiday Inn, so take care.)
-
-
-
-
- THE DC UTILITIES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- by WK Whitton
-
-
- DC Utilities come at a time when many ST folk are finally able to sit
- down and do some _serious_ work on their beloved ST, and are in the
- market do it with style and speed. Until now, there has been only one
- warehouse for an abundant supply of ST utilities, that being the good
- folk at Codehead Software. The wizards at Double Click Software have
- produced several fine shareware utilities in the past, such as DC
- Formatter (I've never used any other for 3 years now!) DC Clock, DC
- Stuffer, and the Mystic formatter. But now they have decided to bombard
- us with several top notch utilities at once in their first commercial
- software venture, and are these programs ever good!
-
- DC DESK ORGANIZER
-
- DC Desk Organizer gives you the ability to take your DESKTOP.INF file
- and make a loadable program from it. What this means is that you can
- now compile a series of desktop configurations to suit your every need.
- Instead of the normal opening, closing, re-sizing and feverish
- manipulating of your GEM windows, DC Desk Organizer comes to the rescue!
- After renaming your original DESKTOP.INF file to something else, such as
- Desktop.Bak, you are asked to create a new desktop setup. After
- configuring things as you wish to have them, you then save this
- DESKTOP.INF file. Next, rename this file to something different, as I
- renamed mine to Disk1.INF. After creating several configurations, I
- then proceeded to run the DC Desk Organizer program. This utility,
- through the use of the Atari File Selector, created a runable program,
- with the name of my choice, that would automatically load the
- DESKTOP.INF I had previously saved. I created several desktop
- arrangements, such as one expressly to copy from Drive A: to Drive B:,
- and called it COPY_A2B.PRG. Another was created to copy from Drive B:
- to Drive D:, and was accordingly dubbed COPY_B2D.PRG. With these small
- programs that DC Desk Organizer produces, you can load various desktop
- configurations with remarkable ease.
-
- In order to run a file that has been created by DC Desk Organizer, all
- one has to do is double-click on the selected file from the desktop.
- You will see the windows magically transform themselves to the pattern
- you previously saved, adding or subtracting icons along the way.
-
- DC XTRACT
-
- DC Xtract is a desk accessory that allows you to decompress .ARC files
- faster than you thought possible on your ST. The first few times I used
- DC Xtract, the process went along at such a rapid clip I was sure that
- something had to be wrong! The only utility that is even close to DC
- Xtract in its speed of operation is DCopy, although DC Xtract won in a
- comparison with this program as DC Xtract is compatible with ALL forms
- of .ARC compression, while DCopy is not at the present time. This small
- and handy utility is written totally in assembly and only consumes 12K
- of your precious memory.
-
- Although you can extract, test or list an .ARC file from DC Xtract,
- there is one feature which this program desperately needs. This feature
- is the ability to extract an .ARC to a folder. This would allow you to
- click on the .ARC you wish to decompress, and DC Xtract would
- automatically create a destination folder on the selected drive with the
- same name as the file you are currently decompressing.
-
- DC SEA
-
- DC Sea allows you to create self-extracting ST archives (SEA). By
- running the SEA archive, you'll be able to extract or list the file
- contents. I am sure we have all had the unpleasant experience of
- downloading a new utility or toy from our favorite Information Service
- or bbs, and then spent the next 3 hours searching for that pesky
- "decompression" program so you can make the file usable. With DC Sea a
- "decompression" program is not needed! The process is amazingly simple.
-
- First, you create a normal archive using ARC.TTP, Dcopy or any program
- containing the necessary arc routines. Then the user will run the DC
- Sea program, and this program will then modify your archive and make it
- executable. To extract the files in a SEA archive, just double-click on
- the program, and then click on "Extract" or simply hit return when the
- DC SEA dialogue box pops up. I'd recommend copying the SEA into a
- folder before running it so you don't end up with a bundle of files in
- your main directory. Also, in my tests of DC SEA 1.1, it had problems
- with the combination of Tos 1.4 and G+Plus in my "Auto" folder. When I
- removed G+Plus all problems then vanished, so it is a simple matter of
- booting without G+Plus active in order to enjoy the benefits of DC Sea.
-
- DC RAMDISK
-
- DCramdisk is a ramdisk whose makeup is such that it is totally unique in
- the ST community. It can be reset-proof, and configured so that it
- appears just like one of your 3.5" disks as it has sides, sectors and
- tracks. You can even sector copy to and from your DCramdisk! DCramdisk
- can be run as a program, or installed an an accessory. It is easily
- configured, and can be setup in 2 ways.
-
- One method is by entering manually the size you wish the ramdisk to be,
- while the second is to tell DCramdisk what type of floppy you'd like the
- ramdisk to appear to be, and then click on "Params". This will
- automatically size the amount of memory you will need for your "high-
- speed" ramdisk. Either way, you will not be able to make a ramdisk that
- is larger than your current free memory of course.
-
- The "copy" menu, which appears after all configuration information has
- been entered either manually or reloaded as a part of the bootup
- sequence, has been thoughtfully devised and is quite "intuitive" to say
- the least. You will then be able to select your source and destination
- "drives", whether you desire to format the destination disk, obtain info
- about the ramdisk, erase the ramdisk, or copy the source disk in the
- "image" or "sector" modes.
-
- The default copy method here is to sector copy your disk to the ramdisk.
- A second and much faster method is the "image" method. This will copy
- your source disk to a single file in the ramdisk, and you will be
- prompted for a name for this file. This will drastically speed up the
- loading of your ramdisk, or the writing of the contents back to a normal
- floppy. Once you start using this fine utility, shades of "SCOPY" from
- good ole' SpartaDos on the Atari 8 bit will reappear on your mental
- horizon! If DCramdisk is installed as an .ACC, then it will "keep" the
- block of memory you have selected for it to occupy. If DCramdisk is
- installed as a program, the memory will be released as soon as you exit.
-
- If you wish to install your DCramdisk each time your computer is booted,
- you need to put the companion program, DCramit, in your auto folder.
- This program will read the configuration file you have created and
- configure things accordingly. A DCramit configuration file is an ASCII
- test file that looks like this:
-
- +- always a space
- |
- |+- size of RAMdisk on Kilobytes
- ||
- ####
-
- The first digit does not need to be a zero, but you should always have
- four digits.
-
- Not only can DC Ramit automatically create a ramdisk each time you boot,
- the DC RAMIT desk accessory can automatically load in an image file of a
- disk every time you reboot the computer! DC Ramit is especially a boon
- to those who don't own a second ST disk drive, but do have 1 meg or more
- in their computer. It is the closest thing ever to actually having a
- second 3.5" floppy!
-
- DC SQUISH
-
- DC Squish is a utility that will compress your program, yet allow it to
- still remain fully executable. The Double-Click folk have recently
- introduced version 1.1 of DC Squish. This new update allows even more
- compression than the old version. As an example, when I "squished" my
- WordWriterII program file the first time, it went from approximately
- 158k to 100k. Now, when the same operation is performed, the file
- shrinks even further to a remarkable 89K, and loads even faster! This
- also means that some files that would not allow "squishing" with the
- previous version of this utility can now be compressed! If you should
- try to load a version 1.0 Squish file, it will automatically be
- converted to version 1.1 format when a "resquish" is attempted. When
- the file uncompresses itself in memory, there is only a momentary pause
- in the loading process, in fact it is almost not noticeable at all!
-
- Several new options have been added to DC Squish 1.1, including
- automatic renaming of the source file to avoid confusion, automatic
- saving of the "Squished" file in the same directory as the source file,
- and batch operations to allow you to automate the compression process.
- DC Squish also allows owners of TOS 1.4 to set the "Fast Load Bit" of
- the program you are squishing. This will speed up the execution of your
- programs as it tells the St not to clear all the free memory before
- running your program. If you find that your program does not load
- properly with the "Fast Load Bit" set, or you are using TOS 1.0 or TOS
- 1.2, then you will want to use the "TPA" option. This routine is much
- faster than the "clear memory" routine of the early TOS versions, and
- will not cause conflict with program execution. This will allow ST
- users to enjoy a portion of the speed and versatility that TOS 1.4
- offers, without actually using the updated operating system itself.
-
- On a side note, owners of the DC Utilities are asked not to pass on
- squished files to any other user as this would allow them to enjoy the
- benefit of DC Squish without actually having purchased this fine
- utility. The DC Utilities are not copy-protected, and work fine under
- all versions of the TOS operating system.
-
- DC DESKEY 2.0
-
- DC Deskey 2.0 is an amazing DA that allows you to assign keystrokes to
- any selection found in a GEM drop-down menu. With its handy key
- assignment system, you can setup different keystroke layouts for _each_
- GEM program you use (the total number is limitless!.) DC Deskey 2.0
- will automatically load in the proper configuration file for any program
- you choose to run! This means that you can choose from over 2,000
- possible key assignments for each and every GEM program you use! Using
- the mouse and GEM menu selectors are without a doubt handy, but there is
- no substitute for keyboard macros when you are looking for optimum
- speed! Due to a bug in TOS 1.0 and 1.2, a DA might "fall asleep" and
- need to reawakened before it can be activated. DC Deskey 2.0 contains a
- fix for this problem, and when used in the preferred mode, you'll never
- find DC Deskey 2.0 fast asleep. But there is a small conflict between
- Hotwire! from Codehead Software, and DC Deskey 2.0 as Hotwire! uses a
- method to solve this same problem that serves to inadvertently defeat
- the fix in DC Deskey 2.0. The Double Click programmers have therefore
- included a Hotwire! compatibility button that allows you to turn on or
- off the fix we have just mentioned with DC Deskey. You might also wish
- to know that this "Sleeping DA syndrome" does NOT occur with Tos 1.4,
- only 1.0 and 1.2.
-
- The only major shortcoming of any significance in the entire DC
- Utilities package is the lack of printer support for DC Deskey 2.0. An
- extremely handy feature for this program would be the the ability to
- print out each Deskey configuration file (*.DSK) in compressed print
- form. It is hard enough to remember keystrokes that are embedded within
- a commercial program, but even more so when they are user installed as
- you'll surely not find them in any manual! If one was able to print out
- these templates, the whole process, both the initial creation of, and
- fine tuning of, your DC Deskey 2.0 keyboard layout, would be enhanced
- significantly.
-
- Additionally, I like to see printer support added to DC SEA and DC
- Xtract so one could print the directory of an .ARC if the need arises.
- Even more useful would be the addition of printer support to DC Squish
- so one could keep a log of the before and after effect that it has upon
- their storage situation.
-
- If you wish to purchase DC Utilities, you can order them for $30 + COD
- charges. Or prepay your order and save those charges by mailing payment
- to:
-
- Double Click Software
- P.O. Box 741206
- Houston, Texas 77274-1206
- Support BBS: (713)944-0108
-
- or leaving e-mail on GEnie to: M.Vaderman2
-
- Double Click Software's Update Policy:
-
- An UPDATE is classified as bug fixes or minor enhancements to a program.
- UPDATEs may be downloaded from the Double Click Software BBS for *FREE*
- any time after the update is available.
-
- If you do not have a modem, or do not wish to call the BBS, you may send
- in your original diskette and $5.00 (US Dollars) for the latest
- versions.
-
- An UPGRADE is classified as *MAJOR* enhancements to a program and are
- denoted by a whole number change in the version number (ie, v1.1 to
- v2.0).
-
- The cost of an UPGRADE will be announced at the time of the upgrade.
- We will make all attempts to notify you of our upgrade policy, as well
- as the release of the upgrade at the appropriate time.
-
- The Double Click Software support BBS will be the first place to
- contain release information.
-
- Extra manuals may be purchased for $5.00
-
- System Requirements:
-
- Computer Memory: Minimum:512K
- Computer Display: Medium & High Resolution
- Computer Storage: Minimum: One 3.5' drive
- Computer Type: All ST models
-
- Optional Devices: Hard Drive
-
- Ratings - DC Utilities by Double Click Software
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- "First Glance Usability" | 92
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Overall Speed | 95
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Pleasing to the eye | 90
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Clarity of Documentation | 90
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Flexibility | 96
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Portability | 100
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Printer Support | 0!
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Attention to detail | 95
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Customer Support | 90
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Updates | 95
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Packaging | 85
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Value of package (A good buy?) | 100
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- Works in how many resolutions? 2
- Both keyboard and menu activated functions Yes
- Hard drive installable Yes
-
- Most Liked Feature - Automatic loading of different configuration files
- for DC Deskey 2.0 when a new GEM program is loaded.
-
- Least Liked Feature - Lack of printer support for DC Deskey 2.0. Would
- be extremely advantageous to be able to print out keyboard layouts for
- use with DC Deskey.
-
- Summary - DC Utilities area set of handy tools that will increase your
- overall speed and productivity on the ST. These basic function of these
- utilities are:
-
- 1. DC Squish - Allows compression of ST programs, to allow for speedier
- loading and execution, and at the same time take up less disk space.
-
- 2. DC Xtract is a lightning fast DA that allows to to view or decompress
- .ARC files.
-
- 3. DC Deskey 2.0 is a DA that allows you to assign keystrokes to any GEM
- drop down menu item from a possible 2,000 combinations!
-
- 4. DC SEA is a utility that allows you to produce "Self Dissolving
- Archives" on the ST. Run them and they decompress automatically!
-
- 5. DC Desk Organizer turns your Desktop.INF files into small programs so
- you can change from one customized desktop layout to another in a
- snap!
-
- 6. DC Ramit allows you to treat your ramdisk as if it were an actual 3.5
- floppy, with size and sides totally configurable.
-
- 7. DC Ramdisk works in conjunction with DC Ramit, and sets up a reset-
- proof ramdisk that is easily configurable.
-
-
-
- THE REVOLUTION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Comments by Ron Kovacs
- Handbook by Donald A. Thomas Jr.
-
-
- ST*ZMagazine and associated publications are officially endorsing the
- Revolution and we are committing space throughout 1990 to remind the
- Atari user base each week. Starting this week through the end of the
- year, we will reprint the actual Revolution article in weekly
- installments, and stay one week ahead of the proposals discussed.
-
- The file Revolt.Arc already discussed earlier in the Public Domain Shelf
- by Alice Amore, is an excellent idea and amusing too. It will surely
- keep the Atari user busy with interesting tasks through December 1990.
- If any of the proposals suggested work, it alone will spread the word
- about Atari and this Revolution.
-
-
- The REVOLUTION(tm) HANDBOOK by Donald A. Thomas, Jr. is =1989 ARTISAN
- SOFTWARE and all rights are reserved.
-
- INTRODUCTION
-
- There is a war going on in the United States and, if you are an Atari
- computer user, you are a part of it. The allies are the manufacturers,
- publishers and users of Atari computers. They are the front line people
- doing what they can to see that the system survives. They, as you, are
- the people who face the ridicule from the universe of IBM, Amiga and
- Macintosh proponents to support a conviction in the really best computer
- value available.
-
- To proclaim a war, there must be a cause... essential basic values worth
- fighting for. In this case, these values hinge on the need to expand
- our family of Atari owners and users. We must face the reality that our
- family of Atari users is not growing in the United States... it's
- shrinking. This fact should be disturbing to you. The passion you have
- for your computer will likely crumple to disgruntled aggravation as
- fewer companies support your investment and more and more users switch
- to a more popular system.
-
- Many of us have been waiting for Atari to fight this war for us. We
- have listened to commitments to run advertising and support users'
- groups and trade shows. We have also been exposed to Jack Tramiel's
- philosophy that "Business Is War". In many instances, Atari has made
- admiral efforts to strengthen their domestic position. For instance,
- over $67 million dollars was poured into a chain of retail electronics
- stores known as the Federated Group. The theory was that by owning a
- significant retail outlet, they could dictate the amount of shelf space
- and customer assistance dedicated to Atari computers and games. While
- the theory was sound, they were not prepared to invest the added
- millions of dollars it would take to salvage the risk. Atari has also
- supported the user shows with their presence and dealer support by
- loaning equipment for the show and providing seminars.
-
- Atari's dilemma is that the return on invested dollars is best paying
- off overseas right now. Prices are higher there, piracy is a lesser
- threat, and the consumer can view the Atari line of computers without a
- tainted prejudice for another system which is not as well established.
- Yes, it appears Atari can not get a fix on what needs to be done for the
- U.S., but there is already enough work keeping up with European demand.
- "Business Is War" means exactly that and Jack Tramiel is going to fight
- for businesses' primal need... PROFITABILITY.
-
- Looking into the crystal ball, Atari will certainly find some success
- with the Portfolio and other attempts to approach the PC market. They
- may see their domestic cash flow swell when they do. As a result, an
- increasing PC consumer base will be supporting the Atari name which will
- drown out our cries for support with our XL, XE, ST and MEGA machines.
- Already, the Atari magazines have covered the Portfolio.
-
- Artisan Software believes that there is a hidden army of Atari users who
- realize that, if anyone is going to fight this war, we must do it
- ourselves. Since Atari Corp. and third party developers are simply
- profit machines, they are always going to spend as little as possible to
- sell their products. After all, that's what business is all about. Yet,
- if someone were to mastermind an ultimate attack to enhance United
- States sales of Atari computers, Atari would support its' success.
-
- Artisan Software is asking you to join in on the ultimate user-based
- campaign to attract an expanding universe of Atari owners and users.
- You may participate as intensely as you wish, but your every effort will
- go a long way by reading this material and doing whatever you can.
-
- The campaign is called "THE REVOLUTION". It will be in effect
- throughout 1990 and scheduled to continue through the 90's. The premise
- will be to optimize the power of "word-of-mouth" advertising. This form
- of advertising is the least expensive and the most effective.
- Concentration will be on a calendar of projects which will strike
- targets in cumulative force. You will find participation fun and easy.
-
- No one appears to have a firm idea how many Atari users there are in the
- U.S., many say there about 100,000 ST compatible machines out there, but
- that can not be verified. Atari, understandably, keeps this a secret so
- they do not scare away potential developers. Regardless how many there
- are of us, we have the potential to exercise a lot of power. If united,
- we can not be ignored.
-
- The benefits you reap from this project are plentiful. First of all,
- you will see Atari users ban together as a nation for the very first
- time. You will witness significant news coverage and experience the
- growth of new companies emerging to support your system. You will also
- discover it increasingly easier to find friends and colleagues using an
- Atari computer. Best of all, you will have fun.
-
- Respectfully,
- Donald A. Thomas, Jr.
- President, Artisan Software
-
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
-
- Below are some questions and answers regarding "The REVOLUTION". You
- may be able to satisfy any inquiries you have by reviewing this
- material.
-
- Q. WHAT IS "THE REVOLUTION"?
-
- A. "The REVOLUTION" is a structured user-based campaign design to
- enhance Atari computer sales in the United States by primary use of
- "word-of-mouth" advertising. It is made up of users and companies
- across the nation who wish to support the cause.
-
-
- Q. WHAT IS "WORD-OF-MOUTH" ADVERTISING?
-
- A. "Word-Of-Mouth" Advertising is the most valued form of advertising
- for any reputable business. While paid advertising boosts public
- awareness, it is often by someone's recommendation that high ticket
- purchases are made. In basic terms, word-of-mouth advertising is the
- act of voicing your opinion about a product or service in a favorable
- way. In addition, "The REVOLUTION" campaign is designed so that all
- our voices are focused toward specific targets at any one given time.
-
-
- Q. WHO IS COORDINATING "THE REVOLUTION"?
-
- A. ARTISAN SOFTWARE President, Donald A. Thomas, Jr., plans to
- coordinate the campaign.
-
-
- Q. WHAT IS ARTISAN SOFTWARE?
-
- A. Artisan Software is a California based software publisher dedicated
- to the Atari ST and MEGA computers.
-
-
- Q. WHY IS ARTISAN SOFTWARE DOING THIS?
-
- A. Artisan Software currently offers three products for the ST computer.
- This is not the place to talk about them, but you will find separate
- ASCII text files in later weeks about them. While Atari users
- support their products, it has become disenchants to realize that
- the Atari user base is not large enough to keep sales at a profitable
- pace. Rather than diverting attention to non-Atari computers, it has
- been Artisan Software's decision to expand the Atari computer user
- base.
-
-
- Q. WHAT SPECIFIC ATARI COMPUTERS ARE REPRESENTED?
-
- A. Although Artisan Software publishes only ST/MEGA compatible titles,
- it is recognized that the 8-bit community has just as much to be
- proud of over their systems too. Atari video game systems,
- cartridges and PC compatible products are not represented here.
-
-
- Q. WHAT DOES ARTISAN SOFTWARE HAVE TO GAIN BY COORDINATING "THE
- REVOLUTION"?
-
- A. Frankly, a lot. First, Artisan Software will expand its exposure of
- it's products to the existing base of Atari users. Secondly, this
- base will grow and, therefore, so will sales.
-
-
- Q. WILL IT COST ME MONEY TO PARTICIPATE?
-
- A. Not necessarily. As an individual, you are asked to become a
- registered participant by making a minimum pledge of $15 to help
- initiate the cause for the first year. Pledges for more than that
- amount is encouraged, but you are not required to pay any amount at
- all to participate.
-
- Part of your pledge will cover the costs of distributing "The
- REVOLUTION HANDBOOK" and other costs such as phone use and coordinating
- costs. Corporate pledges are also invited if you wish to show your
- company's support and benefit from the campaign.
-
- Other costs to you depend on the projects you voluntarily elect to work
- on. In most cases, it is simply a few letters and postage stamps per
- week.
-
- It is important to register your participation regardless of the size of
- your pledge. Your registration becomes an integral necessity to provide
- a statistical analysis as to the size of the movement, the primary use
- of the computers and estimated growth patterns. It is also important
- that you register individually. Individual and group registrations are
- maintained by separate accounting methods to insure the integrity of
- individual participation statistics.
-
- Q. OK, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO SPECIFICALLY?
-
- A. Your participation is needed on four levels.
-
- First, read this HANDBOOK and fill out the form included. Send the
- form to Artisan Software today.
-
- Secondly, go out of your way to discuss "The REVOLUTION" with your
- user group or other Atari users. Provide them copies of this
- HANDBOOK. Verbally encourage them to participate. Also, approach
- your local dealers. Encourage them to distribute copies of this
- HANDBOOK to their customers. Permission is granted to copy and
- distribute this HANDBOOK if the copyright and authorship is
- acknowledged when you do. Exceptions to this include professional
- duplication in a bound and covered book to be sold for profit. The
- distinction should be clear, but contact Artisan Software if you have
- any questions. Your active involvement to spread the word about this
- campaign is a critical component to its' success.
-
- Third, write your favorite Atari magazine and ask them to provide
- consistent coverage of this campaign.
-
- Finally, follow this HANDBOOK as completely as you are willing and
- able.
-
-
- Q. WHERE DO I SEND MY REGISTRATION?
-
- A. Send all correspondence, including registrations to: "THE REVOLUTION"
- c/o ARTISAN SOFTWARE, P.O. Box 849, Manteca, CA 95336.
-
- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-
- This is a large undertaking and will be interesting. Each week until
- completion, we will reprint the entire article and re-run them through-
- out 1990. More details on ZMAG's involvement in the coming weeks.
-
- Every week, the following form will be included for your convenience.
-
-
- PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION
-
- PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND MAIL WITH YOUR CHOSEN PLEDGE TO:
- ARTISAN SOFTWARE
- P.O. BOX 849
- MANTECA, CA 95336
-
- PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY!
-
- ___ YES, I understand the campaign entitled: "The REVOLUTION" and
- agree that a unified national effort to enhance Atari computer
- sales may be a fun project and one that will better protect my
- investment in the future. I acknowledge that the campaign
- HANDBOOK makes suggestions only. I am not obligated to do any or
- all of them if I choose not to. (Make checks payable to Artisan
- Software.)
-
- PLEDGE ENCLOSED $_________________ (NOT REQUIRED)
-
- SIGNATURE _______________________________ DATE ____________
-
- NAME _______________________AGE ___ PHONE (_____) _________
-
- COMPANY OR USER GROUP REPRESENTED (if applicable):
-
- COMPANY NAME ___________________________________
-
- ADDRESS ________________________________________
-
- CITY __________________ STATE _____ ZIP ________
-
- COMPANY PHONE NUMBER (_______) _________________
-
- DEALER ___ DISTRIBUTOR ___ PUBLISHER ___ MFG___
-
- OTHER _________________________________________
-
- PERSONAL ADDRESS __________________________________________
-
- CITY ___________________ STATE _____ ZIP _________
-
- OCCUPATION ________________________ PHONE (_____) _________
-
- COMPUTER(S) OWNED _________________________________________
-
- MY USER GROUP MEMBERSHIP IS AT ____________________________
-
- ___________________________________________________________
-
- I USE THE COMPUTER PRIMARILY FOR __________________________
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- ___________________________________________________________
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- PLEASE ADD COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS ON THE REVERSE SIDE.
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- Next week: Part II
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- COMPUTERFEST 1989 (Not WAACE)
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- by Jim Ullom, MVACE
-
-
- Computerfest 1989 was held August 26th & 27th, at Hara Arena, in Dayton,
- Ohio. The festivities began promptly at 10:00 am, and consisted of
- about 20,000 vendors and users groups from all over the United States
- and Canada. Dave Small of Gadgets by Small, Charles F. Johnson & John
- Eidsvoog of CodeHead Software, Bill Teal of PC-ditto, and nearly all of
- the famous programmers that you always read about and always wanted to
- meet were there, available to answer your questions, or just chat. As
- usual, Atari Corporation went all out to assist the local users groups
- in their endeavors, donating displays and providing financial assistance
- to the faithful. Atari also sent media representatives to assist in
- marketing their new hardware, as they had a large display in the main
- arena that dwarfed the competition.
-
- Yes, Jack and the rest of the crew from Atari Corp were there, and gave
- a private demonstration of the new Stacy laptop and Portfolio computers.
- As a matter of fact, Atari presented each of the users group members
- that worked the show with their very own laptop & Portfolio computers,
- free of charge, just for being loyal to the company for all these years.
- Jack came around and personally thanked each and every one of us for
- "keeping the faith" with Atari. I immediately sat down and began
- working with the complementary ST laptop, but suddenly heard a loud
- buzzing noise. Things started to spin and fade out, and suddenly, I
- awakened to............. the sound of my alarm clock. I woke up, and
- then realized..... Computerfest '89 was at hand.
-
- MVACE, the Miami Valley Atari Computer Enthusiasts, in conjunction with
- two other Atari users groups, Troy ACE (TRACE) and Northmont Systems of
- Atari Computers (NASAc), had an impressive display that consisted of
- twenty (count 'em, 20) tables. Demonstrations were going on at least 15
- computers, with the Spectre and PC-ditto drawing a large share of
- attention. Bruce Hansford, ramrod of the ACES, and partner in 1st STOP
- Computers, brought along his new Vidi-ST (video image digital interface)
- package and new MiGraph Hand Scanner to demonstrate, and put on quite a
- show. Games, desktop publishing, and a really dynamite MIDI
- demonstration kept the crowds buzzing around the booths nearly all of
- the two days of the festival. Both ST and 8-bit systems were well
- represented.
-
- With a few dollars burning a hole in my pocket, I ventured forth onto
- the sales floor, and found myself surrounded by a cornucopia of computer
- goodies. Software, hardware, paper, labels, disk carriers, cables, and
- just about anything that a dedicated hacker could possibly wish for, was
- present. Mendelson Electronics of Dayton had their usual spread of
- hardware, both new and used, at very attractive prices. And speak of
- software... several vendors had some real bargains, all you had to do
- was look to find something that you could use, many of which were real
- deals in the $2.00 to $10.00 range. Ah yes, so many deals.... so little
- money.
-
- Of particular note, was the spectacular graphics shown by the MS-DOS
- crowd, on their VGA equipped IBM's and clones. Displays that looked all
- the world like a photograph, with absolutely stunning colors and
- detailing. It seems only yesterday that we were the envy of the
- computer world with our Atari graphics. What happened, to our graphics
- capabilities guys?
-
- All in all, Computerfest was a great experience, well worth the time and
- effort to attend. Too bad that it only comes around once a year. One
- consolation however, there is a strong rumor of an Atarifest in the
- Dayton area, and Hamfest is just around the corner, so all hope for a
- computer-active fall and winter season is not lost. MVACE will have a
- booth at the Hamfest if possible, the Atarifest, if there is one, and
- also at the Computerfest next year, so.... come see us, we'll be looking
- for you!
-
- [Computerfest has been presented every year for the past 14 years by the
- Dayton Microcomputer Association (DMA Inc.), a non-profit corporation.]
-
-
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- ST*ZMagazine Issue #43 October 20, 1989
- Copyright (c)1989, Rovac Industries, Inc..
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