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=========(((((((((( ==========((( ==(( ==((((((( ==(((((((( =========== ================(( ====(( ====(((( =(( ==(( ==========(( ============== =============(( =====(((((( ==(( (( (( ==((((( =======(( ============== ==========(( ==========(( ====(( =(((( ==(( ==========(( ============== =========(((((((((( ==========(( ==((( ==((((((( =====(( ============== Z*NET INTERNATIONAL ATARI ONLINE MAGZINE September 28, 1991 Issue #91-41 ======================================================================= * CompuServe: 75300,1642 * Delphi: ZNET * GEnie: Z-Net * * Internet: 75300,1642@compuserve.com * America Online: ZNET1991 * ======================================================================= CONTENTS THE EDITORS DESK.................................Ron Kovacs Z*NET NEWSWIRE............................................. CHICAGO COMPUTERFEST UPDATE......................Mike Brown HARD DRIVES...................................Norm Wienress BUILD YOUR OWN HARDDRIVE....................Terry Schreiber REGULATIONS ON MAIL-ORDER PART 1........................... PAGE-ASSISTANT................................Press Release THE PALM-TOP FORUM............................Judith Hamner THE ROAD TO 9600 PART 1..........................Wes Cowell Z*NET SOFTWARE SHELF.........................Ron Berinstein ======================================================================= THE EDITORS DESK ---------------- by Ron Kovacs ======================================================================= Welcome... There is much to tell you about this week as we are going through a number of personal situations which have presented themselves during the last few days. John Nagy has suddenly been taken out of service due to a major back problem and he is now confined to his bed! Get better John!! Since he has been injured, his articles scheduled for this week have been cancelled until he is well. We are looking forward to that material next week. I am also going through a few problems also and after 9 straight days of what the doctor said is an "U.R.I", upper respitory infection, I am starting to get better and hope to be back in action in a few days. The biggest problem I am having is staying awake long enough to write. The medication is GREAT if you like sleeping all the time. I am looking forward to going back to work on Monday and really don't want to see this computer for a few days! We aplogize for any inconvience or expectations we have caused anyone and appreciate your understanding of this matter. ======================================================================= Z*NET NEWSWIRE -------------- ======================================================================= ATARI ADVERTISING You will find advertising from Atari in the brand new October issue of Keyboard, specifically touting the MegaSTE and TT and the many music programs available for the computers. Also, Warner Brothers Records has released a hot jazz album featuring four superstars called "Fourplay" where this prominent credit is given: Atari Programming by Harvey Mason Jr. DIRECT MAIL TO ATARI USERS Spectrum Holobyte is trying the direct mail route to get Atari users to purchase its excellent flight simulator, Flight Of The Intruder. Large postcards have been sent out to their Atari mailing list announcing its release as well as a free official A-6 Intruder Patch for folks purchasing by mail or phone. Spectrum Holobyte is selling FOTI for $59.95. ATARI REPURCHASES STOCK Atari Corporations board of directors approved the repurchasing of up to $5 million of its common stock from time to time in the open market. In a statement released by August Liguori, Sam Tramiel said, "The decision to repurchase was made in view of the prices at which the common stock has recently traded." FIRST $400 PORTABLE PRINTER Eastman Kodak introduced the first lightweight, portable computer printer with a list price of less than $400. The Kodak Diconix 180si printer weighs less than three pounds without batteries, and is roughly the size of a standard office dictionary. It is designed for use with IBM compatible computers. The printer runs on five "C" size rechargeable Ni-cad batteries, and will print about 50 minutes before recharging is necessary. User-replaceable ink-jet cartridges can print from 300 to 500 pages. ======================================================================= CHICAGO COMPUTERFEST UPDATE --------------------------- ======================================================================= Atari Corp. and Lake County Area Computer Enthusiasts welcome the following exhibitors to the Chicago ComputerFest by Atari, November 23- 24, 1991, Ramada Hotel O'Hare Convention Center, 10:00AM to 5:00PM both days: Clear Thinking D.A. Brumleve DataQue Products CompuSeller West Micro Creations Mars Merchandising Missionware Apple Annie ICD, Inc. CSA Ltd. WizWorks! CodeHead Software Migraph, Inc. MegaType M-S Designs ISD Marketing Elect. Spinster Graphics Timeworks, Inc. Newell Industries Roland Corporation U.S. Dr T's Music Software Gribnif Software Step Ahead Software Vortex Computersysteme GmbH Atari Portable Entertainment Atari Interface Magazine Babbage's Wico, Inc. Motorola, Inc. Atari Canada (Scheduled to participate) Atari Games (Game area support) C.S.S. Bob Puff The following user groups are participating in the ComputerFest: Greater Chicago Atari Computer Enthusiasts (GCACE) Atari ST/Mega Users of Montreal (ASTUM) MilAtari Ltd. (MA) Milwaukee Atari ST User Group (MAST) Rockford Atari Computer Club (RACC) Suburban Chicago ATarians (SCAT) The Users Group (TUG) Lake County Area Computer Enthusiasts (LCACE) To date, we have mailed over 275 Chicago ComputerFest information packages to U.S. Atari user groups. If your User Group has not yet received an information package, please contact us so that a duplicate may be mailed out. Be sure to specify your mailing address and a phone number that can be used for follow-up. Our 8-bit "celebration" area is a great place for users of the "classic" Atari computers to meet with 8-bit developers and to share ideas. We plan a comprehensive set of 8-bit seminars and presentations in this area. Save a buck on the daily admission price- advance tickets for Chicago ComputerFest by Atari are now available through User Groups or direct at the address below. Each ticket includes an entry into the door prize drawing- many wonderful prizes will be given away, including our grand prize: a complete TT-030/8 color system donated by Atari Corp! If you don't already have your rooms reserved at the Ramada Hotel O'Hare, please don't delay! The hotel management has informed us that the "reserved" tower area is filling up rapidly. When that block of 250 rooms is filled, the hotel will process reservations on a "space available" basis. Call 800-228-2828 and mention "Chicago ComputerFest by Atari" to get the $60.00 per night double rate. A limited number of bi-level executive and meeting room suites are available for $90.00; please call the Ramada to confirm availability. Atari Corp. is planning a series of special retailer-oriented conferences to run concurrent with the ComputerFest. If you are a current Atari Dealer or authorized Atari service center, please contact Bob Brodie at 408-745-2052 for more details on these Atari retailer and technical presentations. For questions on any of the above, please contact us at: Chicago ComputerFest by Atari C/O LCACE P.O. Box 8788 Waukegan, IL 60079-8788 24hr Voice Hotline- 708-566-0682 (leave a message and we will call you back) CompuServ- 70416,144 GEmail- M.Brown56 Python BBS- 708-680-5105 3/12/24 24hrs Pegasus BBS- 708-623-9570 3/12/24 24hrs ======================================================================= HARD DRIVES ----------- by Norm Weinress ======================================================================= The following article is reprinted in Z*Net by permission of AtariUser magazine and Quill Publishing. It MAY NOT be further reprinted without specific permission of Quill. AtariUser is a monthly Atari magazine, available by subscription for $18 a year. For more information on AtariUser, call 800-333-3567. FASTER, BETTER, MORE: Hard Drives make Easy Lives The reasons for having a hard disk drive with your computer are legion. So the reason that most of you don't have one is either that you don't know why you should; or, you KNOW you can't afford one. I want to change your mind on both accounts! If you're considering buying a second floppy, think Hard Drive instead. Most people are aware that hard drives are mechanisms sort of like floppies, but they hold lots more stuff and you can't change the disk. True for the most part, but that doesn't tell the whole story. They're also a heck of a lot faster than floppies, which does wonders for your disposition when waiting for that program to load, or waiting for that long file to copy, and so on. Another thing that isn't so obvious when you haven't used a hard drive is that most of the programs you use are immediately at hand. No sorting through a box of floppies---just bring up the directory and double click! It means you will use a wider range of programs (because it's easy) and enjoy your computer all the more. "Great," you say, "but I don't have a money tree!" Well, times are changing, and hard drives are more affordable. You can buy a hard drive system assembled and tested; or, if you are experienced, adventurous (and/or foolhardy) you can roll your own and save some money. Even if putting together your own apparatus is beyond your intent, the information in this article will help you make an informed choice if you buy one, and help you understand yours better if you already own one. THE SYSTEM A hard disk system consists of the drive mechanism, control electronics, electronics to interface to the computer and a cabinet to hold all this, as well as a power supply. The system hooks up to the DMA port of your ST or STe. That's the sucker in back with 19 pins. The signals and the arrangement of this port are called ACSI, a custom interface invented by Atari and used by nobody else. So, unless you buy an Atari made drive system, you have to convert it to something more common. The "more common" is usually an arrangement called SCSI, (Small Computer Standard Interface) generally pronounced "scuzzy", but don't let that scare you. There are a bunch of cards to do this conversion and they are called HOST ADAPTERS. They are made by companies like ICD, Supra, Berkeley Micro Systems and others; and run in the neighborhood of $100. This includes the software needed to get your system running, the cable to connect to the DMA port, and often, a battery-backed system clock. Your choices among hard drives include the capacity (how many Megabytes of data they will hold), the recording method, access time, and the form factor. Presently, the form factor is a choice between 3.5" and 5.25", the same widths that floppy drives come in. You will also see full- height and half-height drives. Almost all new drives are half-height (1.75") like your Atari floppies, though some new ones are even shorter ("third height" or 1 inch tall). If you are building your own system, you will find most cases are made for 5-1/4" drives, so the 3-1/2" drives hold no great advantage. Choices of recording method include MFM (Modified Frequency Modulation) and RLL (Record Length, Limited). Both of these methods actually use the same drive mechanism. RLL gets 50% more data in the same space, but requires tighter tolerances in the disk media specifications to do it. The problem with these two is that you also need to get another card to make these work. This controller card connects between the host adapter and the drive. You can avoid this by selecting a drive with an "imbedded" SCSI interface. SCSI drives are really just RLL drives but with the controller electronics included with the drive, so you can connect directly it to the host adapter. You will notice the prices of SCSI drives are higher than MFM or RLL drives, but since you don't need a controller, they actually come out to be cheaper in the long run. You will see some other drives advertised for the PC with interfaces called IDE and EDSI. You can't use them on Atari's yet, though someone may sell an IDE host adapter someday. Access time is the average time it takes for the drive to shift from one portion of the disk to another. It is expressed in milliseconds and affects how fast your system will operate. Times above 40 ms. are slow, 24-28 ms. is quite acceptable and anything below 20 ms. is very fast. If you haven't used a hard disk before, they ALL will seem blazing fast compared to floppies. Finally, we come down to capacity. Early hard drive systems often held 10 or 20 megabytes, but experience tells me that you will soon find this too restricting on the ST, and simply inadequate for the TT. And the price differential for a larger drive is small. I would set my sights on 40 megs at a minimum. So let's get practical. There are many MFM and RLL drives available cheap, since they are already considered "old-fashioned" by today's standards. Current prices are generally well under $200 for a lower capacity drive, though expect to pay $200-$225 for a 40 or 50 Megabyte one. Keep in mind, you also need a controller card in addition to the host adapter to use these drives. I have seen controllers (Adaptech 4000 or 4070, or OMTI cards) advertised for $60, but you may have to search around to find one. You CAN'T use "PC kits" or controllers for IBM systems. I don't recommend buying these drives except to upgrade existing MFM and RLL systems. Current pricing on "bare" imbedded SCSI hard drives vary quite a bit. Running my fingers through a recent issue of a magazine called "Computer Shopper," an 800-page monthly of cover-to-cover ads, I found particularly low prices from outfits like Hard Drives International (Tempe, AZ), Lyco Computer (Jersey Shore, PA) and a place with the descriptive name, Dirt Cheap Drives (or DC Drives) from Nassau Bay, TX. I have not dealt with these businesses, so no endorsement is implied. Here is what I gleaned from these ads. The Seagate 296N a 5- 1/4", 85 Meg drive, with a undeserved bad reputation is selling for as little as $300. Various others of that capacity are going for between $350 and $450. There are two different 104 meg drives, the Quantum PRO105S and the Conner CP3100, selling for $430. Both of these makers have excellent reputations. There are also 42 Meg SCSI models from these two manufacturers selling for $270. All of these are 3-1/2" models with fast access times. Now you will need a box with a power supply in which to mount and power your hard drive and host adapter. These boxes come in several styles and shapes. The higher prices ones (about $125) are low and flat, designed to fit under the computer or monitor. This may be you best bet if your space is limited. At the other end of the spectrum, you can buy a PC case and power supply, generally for $60 or less. They take up a lot more room, but can hold at least three drives and usually more. The power supplies can power that many drives as well. The "in-between" are the shoe-box cases, called that because that's about their size and shape. They generally hold two half-height drives and have a power supply adequate for that task. There is also room enough for the host adapter card. These are generally advertised from $75 to $99. Be warned, you may have to devise a bracket to hold the host adapter. This is true for PC cases, as well. If you purchase a 3-1/2" wide mechanism, you may need brackets to mount it in a 5-1/4" space, but these are cheap and commonly available. An alternative to mounting the host adapter in the external box with the hard drive is to mount it inside the ST. ICD makes a model of host adapter that will mount inside Mega ST models, and it comes with instructions on how to put the whole hard drive inside. If your appetite is whetted, and you are now thinking of building your own, I have some good news. No soldering required! All of these parts plug together. You may have to do some mechanical things like drill holes, etc. to physically arrange things in the case, but that is the worst of it. Now, if you decide you don't want to roll your own, please observe the ads in this issue to see what is available "store- bought". In addition, many Atari dealers will make up custom systems for you. As a half-way measure, you can buy a Fast system from ICD, ($329) which is the box, power supply and host adapter, already assembled. You just buy a SCSI drive and install it. And Atari makes the Megafile 30, (typically priced at $479) which makes a good system for a start. Huh! Did I say start? Yes, I sneaked that in for a purpose. Whether you buy a system or build one, be sure the box has room for a second drive, and that the power supply is rated for two drives. Just as you found it impossible to live with only one floppy drive (didn't you?) if you use your ST very much, you will likely want more storage capacity later. The good part about this is, you don't just have to scrap your old drive and buy a bigger one. You can buy a bigger drive, just the drive, and install it in the same box, with the same power supply and connect it together with the old drive to the same host adapter! Upgrading in size is easier and cheaper than getting the initial system, which gives one the option of starting small and easing into a monster setup. While hard drives are often called "fixed disk units," in fact there is a hard drive with disks that can be taken out and exchanged like a floppy drive. The Syquest 44 is a 44 Megabyte drive that does this. A ready-to-run system with one Syquest for your Atari is about $700. The mechanism alone can be had for $400-$450 and the removable disks cost $60-$90. There is a larger model (88 megabyte) now available--but the price is still out of sight. Syquests come with the SCSI interface, and can end your expansion problems forever. The most significant word to use in describing hard drives is convenience. Well, maybe speed. OK, the TWO most significant words are convenience and speed. It makes using your programs so much easier that using your computer becomes much more of a pleasure to use. Hmm... pleasure... OK, the THREE most significant words are convenience, speed, and pleasure... BIO: Among other things, Norm Weinress designed early telephone answering machines and dot-matrix printers (including the first one to sell for less than $1,000), and since retirement continues to create Atari hardware and software. He also is a regular writer for AtariUser and is in his own words, in all possible ways, a real pain in the neck. We disagree--he is never much worse than annoying. Well, hardly ever. ======================================================================= BUILD YOUR OWN HARDDRIVE ------------------------ Edited by Terry Schreiber ======================================================================= Have you ever wanted to upgrade your system with a harddrive? Perhaps you already have one and wish it was larger. Harddrive slowing down, fragmented? What is the limit of storage the ST can handle? These questions and many more will be answered in the upcoming weeks. Choosing a drive Before you can begin to build your unit you must first decide what size of drive will suit your needs. In the harddrive market biggest is not necessarily the best. If you are an avid emulator user you could buy a 120 meg drive and split your drive into the required number of partitions. The drawback with multi-formats on a drive of this size is the back-up. The best scenario for this would be a Syquest removable drive. Syquest makes two removables, a 44 megabyte and an 88 megabyte. The larger one is still a little high in price but the 44 megabyte you can usually find complete with cartridge for around $450.00. Although the cost of start-up on a removable drive is higher in comparison to the costs of a fixed disk the price drops with the amount of cartridges purchased. Cartridges have been seen mail order for about $60.00. Therefore a 44 meg Syquest with over 200 megs of storage will cost you about $700.00 while a fixed disk of about the same storage will come in about $600.00. The question you must ask yourself is "do I need all that storage online at one time or is 44 megabytes enough." In addition to the size of the drive we also must look at the features of the drive. Platted media, auto-parking, cache, access time, these are a just a few of the considerations before pulling out your wallet. Also to consider is the type of drive. There are many on the market but for our purposes we will only be considering SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) devices. Using a SCSI (pronounced Scuzzy) eliminates the need of interface boards such as the Adaptec 4000/4070 because the interface is built in on the device itself. There are a few drives that come to mind when it comes to thinking about bang for the buck. The most outstanding and new on the scene is the Quantum LPS series. The access time and data transfer as well as the noise level make for this to be high on the priority list. For those on a penny pinching budget you might try the Seagate line as they seem to be cheaper on the average than most manufacturers equivilents. Remember, there is no rule saying you must buy either a fixed or a removable - you can purchase both. The removable drive makes a great back-up system for the fixed drive. Once you decide on a drive that suits your needs then you must look at a case, power supply and Host Adapter. This will be covered in our next issue. ======================================================================= REGULATIONS ON MAILORDER ------------------------ Part 1 ======================================================================= (This document is from the Federal Trade Commission, San Francisco, CA. It contains the various regulations regarding mail order purchases.) Sec 435.1 The Rule. In connection with mail order sales in commerce, as "commerce" is defined in the Federal Trade Commission Act, it constitutes an unfair method of competition, and an unfair or deceptive act and practice for a seller: (a) (1) To solicit any order for the sale of merchandise to be ordered by the buyer through the mails unless, at the time of the solicitation, the seller has a reasonable basis to expect that he will be able to ship any ordered merchandise to the buyer: (i) Within that time clearly and conspicuously stated in any such solicitation, or (ii) if no time is clearly and conspicuously stated, within thirty (30) days after receipt of a properly completed order from the buyer. (2) To provide any buyer with any revised shipping date, as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, unless, at the time any such revised shipping date is provided, the seller has a reasonable basis for making such representation regarding a definite revised shipping date. (3) To inform any buyer that he is unable to make any representation regarding the length of any delay unless (i) the seller has a reasonable basis for so informing the buyer and (ii) the seller informs the buyer of the reason or reasons for the delay. (4) In any action brought by the Federal Trade Commission, alleging a violation of this part, the failure of a respondent-seller to have records or other documentary proof establishing his use of systems and procedures which assure the shipment of merchandise in the ordinary course of business within any applicable time set forth in this part will create a rebuttable presumption that the seller lacked a reasonable basis for any expectation of shipment within said applicable time. (b) (1) Where a seller is unable to ship merchandise within the applicable time set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, to fail to offer to the buyer, clearly and conspicuously and without prior demand, an option either to consent to a delay in shipping or to cancel his order and receive a prompt refund. Said offer shall be made within a reasonable time after the seller first becomes aware of his inability to ship within the applicable time set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, but in no event later than said applicable time. (i) Any offer to the buyer of such an option shall fully inform the buyer regarding his right to cancel the order and to obtain a prompt refund and shall provide a definite revised shipping date, but where the seller lacks a reasonable basis for providing a definite revised shipping date the notice shall inform the buyer that the seller is unable to make any representation regarding the length of the delay. (ii) Where the seller has provided a definite revised shipping date which is thirty (30) days or less later than the applicable time set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the offer of said option shall expressly inform the buyer that, unless the seller receives, prior to shipment and prior to the expiration of the definite revised shipping date, a response from the buyer rejecting the delay and cancelling the order, the buyer will be deemed to have consented to a delayed shipment on or before the definite revised shipping date. (iii)Where the seller has provided a definite revised shipping date which is more than thirty (30) days later than the applicable time set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section or where the seller is unable to provide a definite revised shipping date and therefore informs the buyer that he is unable to make any representation regarding the length of the delay, the offer of said option shall also expressly inform the buy that his order will automatically be deemed to have been cancelled unless (A) the seller has shipped the merchandise within thirty (30) days of the applicable time set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and has received no cancellation prior to shipment, or (B) the seller has received from the buyer within thirty (30) days of said applicable time, a response specifically consenting to said shipping delay. Where the seller informs the buyer that he is unable to make any representation regarding the length of the delay, the buyer shall be expressly informed that, should he consent to an indefinite delay, he will have a continuing right to cancel his order at any time after the applicable time set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this section by so notifying the seller prior to actual shipment. (iv) Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a seller who furnishes a definite revised shipping date pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, from requesting, simultaneously with or at any time subsequent to the offer of an option pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the buyer's express consent to a further unanticipated delay beyond the definite revised shipping date in the form of a response from the buyer specifically consenting to said further delay. Provided, however, That where the seller solicits consent to an unanticipated indefinite delay the solicitation shall expressly inform the buyer that, should he so consent to an indefinite delay, he shall have a continuing right to cancel his order at any time after the definite revised shipping date by so notifying the seller prior to actual shipment. (2) Where a seller is unable to ship merchandise on or before the definite revised shipping date provided under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section and consented to by the buyer pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) (ii) or (iii) of this section, to fail to offer to the buyer, early and conspicuously and without prior demand, a renewed option either to consent to a further delay or to cancel the order and to receive a prompt refund. Said offer shall be made within a reasonable time after the seller first becomes aware of his ability to ship before the said definite revised date, but in no event later change the expiration of the definite reshipping date: Provided, however, That where the seller previously has obtained the buyer's express consent to an unanticipated delay until a specific date beyond the definite revised shipping date, pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) (iv) of this section or to a further delay until a specific date beyond the definite revised shipping date pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section, that date to which the buyer has expressly consented shall supersede the definite revised shipping date for purposes of paragraph (b)(2) of this section. (i) Any offer to the buyer of said renewed option shall provide the buyer with a new definite revised shipping date, but where the seller lacks a reasonable basis for providing a new definite revised shipping date, the notice shall inform the buyer that the seller is unable to make any representation regarding the length of the further delay. (ii) The offer of a renewed option shall expressly inform the buyer that, unless the seller receives, prior to the expiration of the old definite revised shipping date or any date superseding the old definite revised shipping date, notification from the buyer specifically consenting to the further delay, the buyer will be deemed to have rejected any further delay, and to have cancelled the order if the seller is in fact unable to ship prior to the expiration of the old definite revised shipping date or any date superseding the old definite revised shipping date: Provided, however, That where the seller offers the buyer the option to consent to an indefinite delay the offer shall expressly inform the buyer that, should he so consent to an indefinite delay, he shall have a continuing right to cancel his order at any time after the old definite revised shipping date or any date superseding the old definite revised shipping date. (iii)Paragraph (b)(2) of this section shall not apply to any situation where a seller, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section, has previously obtained consent from the buyer to an indefinite extension beyond the first revised shipping date. ======================================================================= PAGE-ASSISTANT -------------- Press Release ======================================================================= PageAssistant - The Online Companion For PageStream 2.1 At Spar Systems we are dedicated to bringing the Atari user support software for various high-end programs. Our new addition is PageAssistant. This product is an online help companion and tutorial for Soft-Logik's new and powerful PageStream 2.1. We are quite confident that PageStream users, both advanced and beginners, will find our program a welcome addition to their software library. Since its incarnation, the Atari ST line of computers has been an excellent tool for creating documents such as newsletters and brochures. The first full-featured program to open desktop publishing on the Atari was Publishing Partner, which was later renamed PageStream. As Atari computer technology becomes more sophisticated, so has this premium page layout program. This is the year of Atari Publishing! With the release of Pagestream 2.1, Atari users can benefit from the addition of color separation, loadable macros for automation of repetitive and complex procedures, plus countless other features. PageAssistant will help to quickly transform the beginner to a full fledged typographer. The user will have immediate access to power tips and step-by-step examples to clarify new concepts. Its straightforward approach, using the overlapping pop-up menu layout will easily guide you through each and every aspect of the PageStream program, feature by feature. Each menu item is followed by manual references to indicate the exact pages in the manual that discuss the feature. As the user progresses with PageAssistant (s)he will find new, tremendously efficient means to creating truly professional documents with PageStream 2.1. Prepare to be come a PageStream Power User! * PageAssistant runs on top of the PageStream 2.1 software, providing fast menu interaction for speedy online command summaries. * Includes a 52 page manual (8.5" x 7") packed with tutorials on how to master the macro command, design textual and graphic effects (such as rotating objects in a circle, place text on a path, etc), layout tutorials and much more. * Tutorial on color separation using the CMYK model. * Adding color to black laser type! * Information on Soft-Logik, CS and PostScript fonts. * Includes complete page referencing to the PageStream 2.1 manual. * Send online summary to printer for hardcopy reference. * Resolution independent! * Includes one PostScript Type 1 font. * Easy installation! * Requires only 75K of memory. Suggested retail price is $49.95, See your local dealer or order from: Spar Systems 381 Autumn Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11208 (718) 235-3169 MiGBase coming soon! ======================================================================= THE PALMTOP FORUM ON COMPUSERVE ------------------------------- by Judith L. Hamner 75300,2161 ======================================================================= The Palmtop Forum on CompuServe opened July 25. The new forum will support those interested in small computers and electronic organizers such as the Casio Boss, Sharp Wizard, and Poqet computer. Each of these has its own section with support offered by representatives of the manufacturers. Traveling Software, a pioneer in computer linking, also has a section of its own with manufacturer support. There are also sections for other computers, peripherals, and general discussion. You will find the HP95LX and Atari Portfolio discussed here, although their primary coverage is in the HPSYSTEM and APORTFOL forums respectively. In its first few weeks of existence, the forum has already produced some lively discussions on the pros and cons of the various machines. Potential purchasers have also found a steady stream of advice to help them determine which unit will best meet their needs. In the Sharp Wizard section, Scott Campbell 75300,2046 of Sharp has been busy answering questions about various models and peripherals, and assisting them with their problems. Scott has also sparked a lively debate over the merits of an orzanizer vs. a DOS based palmtop. Wizard users will fine files of interest in Library 3. SK2WIZ.ASC answers common questions about file transfer between the Wizard and Sidekick 2.0. WIZ1.THR is a collection of forum messages of continuing interest. WIZLIN.EXE is Mark Tirschwell's program fo transferring files from the Wizard to a PC. MACWIZ.CPT is a similar program for the Mac by Bill Steinberg. In the Poqet section, Wanda Ferraro, 75300,1736, has been busy answering questions about the new 640K model. This model is currently available only from Digital Equipment Corp. Poqet users have been trading information about how to adapt their favorite DOS software to the Poqet environment. Library 2 is the place to find files of interest to Poqet users. CLKFIX.SYS and CLKFIX.DOC will fix the problem with date roll over when the Poqet is not used daily. POQ1.THR is a selection of forum messages of general interest. POQUTL.EXE is a collection of utilities by Jim Dorsey. POQET.UPG is the announcement of the new model Poqet. The Casio Boss section has been a gathering place for users to share tips. In the library, CASIOB describes one user's experience with the Boss. BOSS1.THR contains selected forum messages with announcements from Casio and tips from BOSS users. Check the applications library for a wide variety of programs suitable for use on DOS palmtops. Among the popular offerings are editors, outliners, calculators, and utilities. ======================================================================= THE ROAD TO 9600 - PART 1 ------------------------- by Wes Cowell ======================================================================= Not long ago, many data communicators thought that dial-up modem manufacturers had pushed transmission speeds to the limit with the introduction of 2400 bit per second (bps) modems. Recently, however, several manufacturers have creatively combined relatively mature techniques of data transmission with newer technology and have introduced 9600 bps modems. Unfortunately, a widely accepted standard for full duplex 9600 bps transmission as defined by the International Consultative Committee for Telegraphy and Telephony (CCITT) does not yet exist (the CCITT is currently considering proposals for a new 9600 bps dial-up standard). This means that today's 9600 bps modems do not offer cross-manufacturer compatibility. The CCITT HAS endorsed a half duplex and a full duplex 9600 bps standard, but to date implementations of these relatively flexible standards have been proprietary, i.e., even the "standardized" modems from different manufacturers are not compatible. All this means that modem users who want to enjoy the dream speed of 9600 bps must weigh the pros and cons of each 9600 bps technique before committing to a particular 9600 bps design. This paper was written in an effort to provide typical modem users with enough technical information and insight that they will be able to consider the new 9600 bps modems from the position of an educated consumer and not have to rely on information gleaned from sales brochures and advertisements. It should be noted that the author, Wes Cowell, is an employee of USRobotics. THE ROAD TO 9600 High speed data communications via the dial-up phone network is limited by the available phone line bandwidth and by random channel impairments. Just as the diameter of a pipe limits its liquid flow capacity, so does the telephone channel bandwidth limit its data flow capacity. The roughly 3000-Hz available in the telephone bandwidth poses few problems for 300 bps modems, which only use about one fifth of the bandwidth. A full duplex 1200 bps modem requires about half the available bandwidth, transmitting simultaneously in both directions at 600 baud and using phase modulation to signal two data bits per baud. "Baud rate" is actually a measure of signals per second. Because each signal can represent more than one bit, the baud rate and bps rate of a modem are not necessarilly the same. In the case of 1200 bps modems, their baud rate is actually 600 (signals per second) and each signal represents two data bits. By multiplying signals per second with the number of bits represented by each signal one determines the bps rate: 600 signals per second X 2 bits per signal = 1200 bps. In moving up to 2400 bps, modem designers decided not to use more bandwidth, but to increase speed through a new signalling scheme known as quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). In QAM, each signal represents four data bits. Both 1200 bps and 2400 bps modems use the same 600 baud rate, but each 1200 bps signal carries two data bits, while each 2400 bps signal carries four data bits: 600 signals per second X 4 bits per signal = 2400 bps. A technique known as adaptive equalization enables 2400 bps modems to adapt to phone line impairments call-by-call. Essentially, if the modem is experiencing problems with a noisy line, it looks for a "sweet spot" in the bandwidth and attempts to avoid troublesome frequencies. This technique makes 2400 bps modems more tolerant of line noise than their 1200 bps counterparts that use compromise equalization (a one-size-fits -all approach). While these advanced modulation and equalization techniques in 2400 bps modems provide for double the data rate of 1200 bps modems, they also result in a design at least four times more complex than 1200 bps modems. Which brings us to the problem of designing a 9600 bps modem. Jumping to 9600 from 2400 bps is several orders of magnitude more complicated than going to 2400 from 1200 bps. Telephone network characteristics make it highly unlikely that success will be had in extending the "data signal alphabet" (number of bits represented by each signal) beyond four bits per signal. Instead, modem designers must increase the bandwidth that is to carry the signal, and this presents a very big problem. In fact, at speeds of 4800 bps (1200 signals per second), the transmit and receive channels must be expanded to the point where they actually begin to overlap. A 9600 bps "band" requires roughly 90 percent of the available bandwidth, making it impossible to have two-way communication without the bands interfering with each other. A helpful analogy to the problem might be to consider a two lane highway: traffic must flow in both directions simultaneously, but to carry more cars per unit of time, highway designers must either increase the number of lanes in each direction or widen the two lanes to accommodate driver error with a margin of safety. Unfortunately, these options are not available to modem designers as the available bandwidth is of a fixed size. With these considerations and limitations in mind, let's examine three basic ways to accomplish full duplex (two-way) 9600 bps communications: echo cancellation, virtual full duplex (achieved by half duplex systems), and a symmetrical frequency division. ECHO-CANCELLATION This method solves the problem of overlapping transmit and receive channels. Each modem's receiver must try to filter out the echo of its own transmitter and concentrate on the other modem's transmit signal. This presents a tremendous computational problem that significantly increases the complexity -- and cost -- of the modem. But it offers what other schemes don't: simultaneous two-way transmission of data at 9600 bps. The CCITT "V.32" recommendation for 9600 bps modems includes echo- cancellation. The transmit and receive bands overlap almost completely, each occupying 90 percent of the available bandwidth. Measured by computations per second and bits of resolution, a V.32 modem is roughly 64 times more complex than a 2400 bps modem. This translates directly into added development and production costs which means that it will be some time before V.32 modems can compete in the high-volume modem market. Despite the fact that V.32 is a recognized standard, it is uneconomical and unnecessarily complex for personal computer datacomm applications that simply don't require simultaneous two-way 9600 bps transmission. (Next Week - Part II) ======================================================================= Z*NET SOFTWARE SHELF -------------------- by Ron Berinstein ======================================================================= That's it boys and girls men and woman, September is here and that means it's schooltime again. I'm going to expect that all of you be punctual, well dressed, and ready for, (you guessed it), homework! Well, we here at the Software Shelf School of Hard Knocks and Drives, have detertermined to be kind and somewhat "easy" to please, but, we do require certain regulations to be met on a timely basis. After all, no pain no gain! Right? That's what my teacher always said. (Or, was that my KARATE teacher?) So, strict? Yes, you bet! We require that you fully read your choice of Atari specific magazines, that you take not more than two days off a week, and that everyday you must give thought and work toward improving your computer system. To do that you might consider some of the goals I share and desire so that my system will be top notch. For example, I desire a new car (so that I can drive to the magazine stand, and buy the just released issues quickly). Also, I desire a brand new house (with a separate room for my computer gear). And, of course a brand new Georgio Armani suit (so that I can look good while typing my input). Well now, next week you will have to all gather more quickly, stand in better lines, and make, sure to bring your lunch money. As for this week, I direct you now to take out your three ring binders and take notes, because the filenames that follow may be of great interest to you when you grow up and become big people! MANIPULR.ARC Manipulator is a german program in GERMAN but all good students seem to learn how to manipulate and chances are you CAN do a great deal with it without understanding a word of GERMAN. It seems to be able to manipulate picture files in various ways. It needs to be tested further in depth to learn the full depth of its capabilities. MONO - ST mega - TT/ST mode - Not tested on the STE. Seems like a perfect homework assignment! :) And because we in the administration building are always trying to save students money... BUILDDRV.LZH This file will tell you how to build your own 720k drive instead of having to spend a whole bunch on ATARI's model. And for those of you who like to look at pictures during class.. TESS.LZH is a simple tesseract rotating in 4-space. Works as a desk accessory, or program and in any resolution. AV_DEMO.ARC CodeHead Software is proud to represent Avant Vector - the world's best auto-tracing and vector graphics application! This ARC file contains an English demonstration version of this powerful graphics /DTP tool. A tutorial text file is included. Avant Vector is available immediately, directly from CodeHead Software. AV_PRESS.TXT, 5504 bytes, will tell you all about it! And for those of you who insist on shortcuts! WHATIS47.ARC Version 4.7 of What Is. It now identifies 86 types of files. So, no more guessing. It lets you set a default path for files to be identified. MDDELUXE.ARC Is the demo version of MultiDesk Deluxe, a major upgrade to CodeHead Software's desk accessory loader/unloader. A text file is included that will help you get the ten minute limit demo going. This gives you access to _more_ DAs, while using _less_ memory and booting up faster! The secret is the new "nonresident DA" technique -- Demo Copyright 1991 CodeHead Software. ALADV130.LZH is the newest ST GEnie Aladdin, version 1.30. Can now be configured to stay online after an autopass; has a custom autopass; reads email first; and some other bug fixes. KDP65.LZH Kwik Disk v6.5 fixes a bug in v6.3 & v6.4. This LZH file contains docs and the Configuration Editor program which creates your own custom versions of BOOT Kwik Disk, AUTO Kwik Disk, Kwik Disk ACC, & the NEW Kwik Disk CPX for Atari's Xcontrol Panel. Speeds up BOTH floppy and hard drives. Verified w/TT030 in TT/ST. Works well & doesn't show the problems of previous ver. MM_100.ARC Don't waste any function keys in FLASH to send commonly used strings. Let this program do this simple task for you. You can define up to 42 strings with 33 characters each. Uses the GEM interface, you even use the mouse to send the macros. Options for RT, LF, and pauses. Should work with other terminals that can execute programs. [ShareWare v1.00] FORMRN.ARC New version! Assembler source for enhanced form_do. 100% compatible, plus: definition of keypresses for exiting dialog, equivalents to clicking buttons, or substituting other keys; entry of ANY character in text field; shift-arrows move to beginning or end of text field; in PRG, objects highlight or exit when mouse passes over them; more! V3.0 STUNAR.ARC Here it is, an ATARI ST version of the new hot PC compression format: 'ARJ'. ARJ is the best of both worlds, compresses slightly more than LHA at PKZIP speed. This ST version is between 2 and 3 times faster than ARC 6.02 or LHARC 1.13, Extractor only. PFX_17E.LZH PFXPACK (V1.7E) will Automaticly Unpack PRG/APP/TTP/TOS Programs and Unpack and run them at load time. Note: all PFX files can be restored with this Utillity. This is Thomas Questers English Version. Use any LHA/Z to eXtract. AFX_12E.LZH AFX (V1.2E) will unpack Data and RSC files at the time they are loaded. It is installed in the Auto Folder and Runs as a TSR. Note: you will need LZH201D/E to generate the AFX data files. This is Thomas Questers English Version.. Use any LHA/Z to eXtract.. LZH201E.LZH This program will support all the LH Formats and will generate very small LZH Files, and Note is very Fast. This is Thomas Questers English Version. Use any LHA/Z to eXtract. Note: all the manuals are inside the lharc.ttp, you just type x -rm lharc.ttp to eXtract them. TOS 1.0/1.4/COLOR/MONO HDWAIT2.ARC HDWAIT2.TOS is a program that delays your computer coming on-line as your hard drive spins up during a power up. Using multi- outlet powerstrips, you can turn on your entire hard drive equipped ST with only one switch. BOOTPLUS.ARC Bootplus allows you to choose your ST's resolution at boot time. It also allows you to specify certain programs to be run when the ST boots, depending on the resolution chosen. Negative TT res's. Bootplus is Shareware. Registered users recieve complete C source. Works with an Mega STe by changing name of Newdesk to Desktop. And for your first test! NBM11.LZH Beta version of NBM v1.1 - Use NBM to test the speed of your ST/STe/TT and its accessories. This version adds percent increase to the display, and adds the ability to choose which test(s) you wish to run. And for those of you you like to play games during recess... SBREAK.ARC This is a super breakout game that brings you through various levels allowing you to capture different options such as guns, a larger paddle, multiple balls and much much more. PONG.ARC Pong is a game that gives you a choice between handball or breakout. The game is in english but you must play it with a joystick. It adds a difficulty that you do not have with the mouse. MONO/JOYSTICK REQUIRED AST_TUNL.ARC Astro Tunnel is a low res sprite master demo game by Chris Skellern. This game gives you an idea of what you can do with Sprite Master. You need the mouse AND arrow keys to play this fast paced game. Cooridination and quickness seems to be the key to winning. CLRSPACE.LZH Remember Llamatron? Well take a look at Jeff Minter's second shareware release. Colourspace is a Light Synthesiser enabling users to create flowing, iridescent graphic effects on screen. Don't be left in the dark! MUST be run off of drive A - Low Res TT and ST Be careful though, if you wish to delete the file from your disk, note that one of the program files contained in this file was "locked," and must be unlocked first. And every student should know what and where everything is and how to multiply, divide and/or print it! MPYDIV32.ARC The 68000 microprocessor has a superb instruction repertoire but it does not include instructions to multiply or divide 32 -bit integers. This file fills that void by providing assembly language source code for a*b, a/b, and a MOD b. Incorporate this code into your library. You need an assembler to use this file, ideally Devpac. MLIST.ARC MLIST v1.17 by Dan Rhea. This utility is a formatted print utility. Some of it's features include line wrap without disturbing pagination, line numbering, variable tab setting, wildcards with shells, line number biasing and many other options. Includes source code. CareWare. FINDER.ARC Finder will locate a file containing up to three chosen phrases. Type in the phrases, select a folder to search, and Finder will look for a file containing any, or all of the phrases. Search can be case sensitive, or not, and phrases can contain non-ASCII characters. Runs as a PRG or ACC on any ST or TT in any resolution. Short docs included in the ARC. ZOOSHL06.ARC This is a GEM-based shell that makes using ZOO.TTP to manage file archives reasonably beginner-friendly. The file is in ARC format -- since the whole reason for this program is you might find ZOO difficult to use. SCRDMP24.LZH This program that will enable your 24-pin printer to do screen dumps. And for those who simply must play music while studying... MDFORMAT.ARC Musical Disk Formatter is a simple utility and 68000 assembly code tutorial. The program uses only Line_A and TOS calls yet closely resembles a GEM Dialogue Box. When the "Format" option is selected, music (the theme song from the movie Midnight Express) plays while your disk is being formatted with a variety of options. 2100 BEEP.ARC Beep is a neat little program that will allow you to replace the system bell with a .SND file of your choice. This makes mouse click errors almost fun! One system was set up with CANT_DO.SND a.k.a. HAL.ARC. Anytime a mistake is made, the voice of HAL says 'I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.' Ideal for students who are turly 'wise guys.' SEN_LST.ARC This file will put a piano on screen and allow you to play it. You can then save, replay, or save as a .lst GFA Basic file. This program is pd, and the arc file include the source code. Now works in all three resolutions, and has some bug fixes, but some still remain. Creates new Sheet off of Drive A. And so that you can account for your lunch money... FINSTMTS.ARC This one spreadsheet, will use the account balances from your general ledger to prepare an income statement, capital statement and balance sheet for a sole proprietor business. You will need OPUS 2.0 or greater to use. Need help fixing your homework papers that the cat stepped on? FIZ21.ZOO FIZ 2.1 is a companion program to ZOO 2.1. It will assist in recovering data from a damaged ZOO archive. Comes with docs. So that you can talk to your teacher... CHATTE.ARC Term-program including 3-line "chat"-window with full edit capabilities and 100-lines-cyclic buffer. Only monochrome screens, no GEM, fast output routines (reprogrammed, can display at speed of 19200 bps). Includes vt52, vt100 and minitel emulation! Capture-display fast, includes search function and labels. Is very practical for interactive sessions. Mono only. And finally here are two extracurricular files that may be of interest! JFAXDRIV.ARC This archive contains Beta Test printer drivers for use with Pagestream 1.8x, Pagestream 2.1, Calamus 1.09x and Calamus S/SL. These drivers are for use only with the Joppa FAX! Send FAX software and Joppa FAX! FAX Modems. Copyright (C) 1991 Joppa Software Development. Remember these are beta versions, use caution! P.S. I must say that I am really happy with my Joppa Fax!, which I use weekly to send my advertizing copy to the LA Times. 9600LI.ASC A technical description of the various 9600 schemes and modems now available. Not for the novice. Discussions include V.32 V.32bis V.42 V.42bis HST Telebit MNP. Includes phone numbers for Modem Manufacturers, prices, features, compatibility. Thanks for returning to Software School... see you all next week! And, by the way, thanks too to Compuserve. Several of the neater files in this week's column were found there. The above files were compiled by Ron Berinstein co-sysop CodeHead Quarters BBS (213) 461-2095 from files that were either directly uploaded to CodeHead Quarters BBS, or downloaded from GEnie, Compuserve, and Delphi online services. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Z*NET INTERNATIONAL ATARI ONLINE MAGAZINE - CREDITS +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | Publisher: Ron Kovacs | Editors: Ron Kovacs and John Nagy | +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | Z*Net Canada: Terry Schreiber | Z*Net New Zealand: Jon Clarke | +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | Z*Net PC: Mike Davis/Jim Manda | Newswire Asst Editor: Mike Mezaros | +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | Research Asst: Kathy Johnston | Shareware Reviews: Ron Berinstein | +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | Staff Columnist: Stan Lowell | Reporter: Mike Brown/Dr. Paul Keith| +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | Z*Net USA BBS - (908) 968-8148 | Z*Net Canada BBS - (604) 275-5888 | | Registered FNET NODE 593 | Registered FNET NODE 505 | +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | Z*Net Pacific -(011)649608485 | Z*Net So. Pacific - (011)644762852 | | Michtron BBS III NZ HDQTS | Registered FNET NODE 693 | +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GENIE To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt. Type XJM11877,GEnie and hit RETURN. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMPUSERVE To sign up for CompuServe service, call 800-848-8199. Ask for operator 198. You will be sent a $15.00 free membership kit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Z*NET Atari Online Magazine is a weekly publication covering the Atari and related computer community. Material contained in this edition may be reprinted without permission except where noted, unedited and containing the issue number, name and author included at the top of each article reprinted. Opinions presented are those of the individual author and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff of Z*Net Online. This publication is not affiliated with Atari Corporation. Z*Net, Z*Net Atari Online and Z*Net News Service are copyright (c)1991, Rovac Industries Incorporated, Post Office Box 59, Middlesex, New Jersey 08846-0059. Voice (908) 968-2024, BBS (908) 968- 8148 at 1200/2400 Baud 24 hours a day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Z*NET Atari Online Magazine Copyright (c)1991, Rovac Industries, Inc.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~