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Text File | 1992-12-13 | 85.0 KB | 1,773 lines

####################################################################### ####################################################################### ####################################################################### ####################################################################### ####################################################################### ####################################################################### ##########(((((((((( ##########((( ##(( ##((((((( ##(((((((( ########## #################(( ####(( ####(((( #(( ##(( ##########(( ############# ##############(( #####(((((( ##(( (( (( ##((((( #######(( ############# ###########(( ##########(( ####(( #(((( ##(( ##########(( ############# ##########(((((((((( ##########(( ##((( ##((((((( #####(( ############# ####################################################################### ####################################################################### ####################################################################### ####################################################################### ####################################################################### ####################################################################### Z*NET: ATARI ONLINE MAGAZINE ---------------------------- December 13, 1992 Issue #22 Volume 7, Number 22 Copyright (c)1992, Syndicate Publishing Company ~ Publisher/Editor..........................Ron Kovacs ~ Senior Editor..............................John Nagy ~ Assistant Editor...........................Ed Krimen ~ Writer............................Michael R. Burkley ~ Writer.....................................Bob Smith ~ Z*Net News Service NZ.....................Jon Clarke $ GEnie Address..................................Z-NET $ CompuServe Address........................75300,1642 $ Delphi Address..................................ZNET $ Internet/Usenet Address................status.gen.nz $ America Online Address......................ZNET1991 $ AtariNet Address...........................51:1/13.0 * Z*Net: News Service FNET 593 AtariNet 51:1/13 (908) 968-8148 * Z*Net: Golden Gate FNET 706 AtariNet 51:1/9 (510) 373-6792 * Z*Net: S. Pacific FNET 693 New Zealand **--CONTENTS--** ## The Editors Desk......................Ron Kovacs ## Z*Net Newswire........................Ron Kovacs ## 1992: Year In Review - Part 1.........Ron Kovacs ## Join A Music Coalition.......................... ## AtariNet, Network Overview...................... ## Perusing GEnie.........................Ed Krimen ## Open Letter To Atari Users.......Nathan Potechin ## Z*Net Calendar........................Ron Kovacs ## The Unabashed Atariophile........Michael Burkley ###### THE EDITORS DESK ###### By Ron Kovacs ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- Due to the horrible storm that hit our area this week, we have not been able to produce a regular edition. However, since our phone lines have cleared up, downed trees have been removed and communications links are beginning to open up, we will release this issue on Sunday. The Noreaster that hit this area was "The Storm of The Century" as called by local newscasters and weathermen. There were wind gusts of over 60 miles and hour, heavy rain which turned to snow. In northern areas here, snow was the only product of the storm which piled to over 30 inches. The storm began last Thursday and still effects our area today, Sunday. However, many lucked out while others, especially those in New York, Long Island and coastal New Jersey have lost homes and property. Not a very nice Chirstmas is being offered to these people this year. This week we will being the Year in Review 1992 along with our regular columns. ###### Z*NET NEWSWIRE ###### Edited by Ron Kovacs ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- Headlines: Falcon bundled with D2D Injunction Against Microsoft Massive layoffs being considerd by IBM Syquest Technology files lawsuit Fujitsu develops first 256MB DRAM Free upgrade available from WordPerfect FALCON BUNDLED WITH D2D D2D Software is being bundled with the Falcon. This product is a basic direct-to-disk recorder and simple cut-and-paste editor. D2D Edit, another product, is a fully-professional version with SMPTE drive and a cue sheet-type editor. Also, 4T/FX is a multi-track program that provides mixing of the four channels and two effects (reverb, echo, flange, or distortion, etc., in any combination of two). It is going to range $500-$600. NEWSLETTER REPORTS INJUNCTION The "FTC: Watch" newsletter has reported that attorneys sent an informal 250-page report to commissioners last week, suggesting they consider seeking a court-imposed injunction against practices related to the sale of Microsoft's DOS operating system using Intel Corp.'s microprocessors. Rivals of Microsoft, have been complaining that the company uses predatory practices in selling its operating systems, which give the basic commands to personal computers. Microsoft offers discounts to makers of personal computers that agree to pay for a copy of DOS software for every personal computer they sell. Some rivals, such as Quarterdeck, have decided to stop marketing operating system software to PC makers because of Microsoft's dominance. MASSIVE LAYOFFS BEING CONSIDERED BY IBM Directors of IBM are being summoned to a special meeting next week amid reports the computer-maker is considering a downsizing initiative, including massive layoffs, that could cost up to $3 billion. A spokesman at IBM headquarters refused to comment on the meeting. The IBM board does not normally meet in December. This year, IBM has already taken restructuring charges of $5.4 billion - before taxes - to cover costs associated with the planned elimination of 40,000 jobs. The company has been downsizing for six years. By the end of the year, the IBM staff will have been reduced by more than 85,000 from its 1986 peak of 407,000. SYQUEST FILES LAWSUIT SyQuest has filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court against Nomai S.A., a French start-up company, and Srinivasan "Ravi" Chari, a former technical consultant to SyQuest, for theft of trade secrets, unfair competition and other wrongful acts. The court has issued a temporary restraining order enjoining Chari and anyone acting with him from developing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling removable 5.25 inch Winchester disk cartridges for use in SyQuest drives. SyQuest is currently the only manufacturer of cartridges for use with SyQuest disk drives. FUJITSU FIRST 256MB DRAM Fujitsu has developed the world's first 256-megabit-DRAM chip. The new chip, measuring two by two centimetres, can store 64 times the amount of data as current DRAM (Direct Random Access Memory) chips. The new chip will be ready for serial production in 1996. FREE UPGRADE AVAILABLE FOR WORDPERFECT Users who purchase WordPerfect Office version 3.1 for DOS and Windows, or WordPerfect Office 3.03 for the Macintosh between October 13, 1992, and the initial release of WordPerfect Office 4.0 will receive a free upgrade. WordPerfect Office 4.0, scheduled for release at the end of first quarter 1993, is an electronic mail, personal calendaring and group scheduling program. A trade-up platform administration package will also be available for $220 with additional licenses ranging from $25 to $30. ###### Z*NET NEWS YEAR IN REVIEW (Part 1) ###### By Ron Kovacs ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- Once again it is that time of the year where we present the year in review. There are going to be columns addressing the topic during the next few weeks that detail different aspects of this year. What I am going to do is focus on the news we covered in Z*Net and AEO (issues that we produced), from the Z*Net Newswire and feature articles. To begin 1992, we must go back to December 1991. December 1991 Antic Publishing, Inc. is said to be planning to dissolve the corporation at year's end, 1991, taking its debts with it. PC HOME JOURNAL, Antic's other publication, is expected to be spun off to a legally new and unrelated corporation as of January 1, 1992. The announced and expected CDAR505 will NOT be produced at any time soon. Intended for a fall 1991 release, the unit would be identical to cheaper drives already on the market, making it a loss proposition for Atari. They will now promote the use of the 500+meg devices by releasing METADOS into the community as freeware. User can roll their own players just as they do hard drive now. The STylus pad-based ST that was said to be the future of computing and was at one time expected to be the "WOW" unit at COMDEX is tabled by Atari after market studies show that buyers are curious, but not willing to buy one. Darek Mihocka searches for a buyer of Quick ST as he prepares to leave the ST market and finish development of his Gemulator, to allow ST software users to follow him into the PC marketplace. Now working for Microsoft, Darek has become an advocate of MS-DOS. The Lynx is finally a major hit, with demand outstripping production ability. New dealer penetration will have to wait until after Christmas, as all current production is already pre-sold. FSM GDOS is about ready to go to market, as soon as the packaging is ready for dealer sale. It is expected in early January at about $50. The Portfolio is selling well, at double the rate it was before the double-priced and well promoted competition arrived from Hewlett Packard. The winners of Atari's STe/TT demo contest are announced. Noel Saw and Arvin Castillo win an Atari TT030 for their massive entry. Calamus S is scheduled to be released by ISD on December 15. Atari stock is down to $ 1 3/4 at the close of 1991. CodeHead Software announced the TEC -- the TOS Extension Card! This circuit board, developed by Germany's Artifex, allows you to use the very latest version of Atari TOS (2.06) in your existing 520ST, 1040ST, or Mega ST! Codehead also announced that effective January 1992, they will be taking over development and distribution for Quick ST Version 3.0. Darek Mihocka, the original creator of Quick ST, sold the product to spend more time developing a PC based Atari ST emulator. Gribnif Software announces the release of "XBoot - The Boot Manager" program for the Atari ST, TT and compatible personal computers. John Townsend from Atari Corp. states that with HDX 3.0x and above, "you can create partitions that are a maximum of 256 Megabytes. That means that the whole SyQuest cart could be one partition, but I would recommend at least two." He adds, "Remember, the smaller the partition... the fast[er] the read/write access will be. With big partitions, you will have a slower drive as the drive get[s] full." January 1992 WordPerfect offered a special First Quarter 1992 Competitive Trade-Up for customers who currently own any version of WordPerfect for Amiga, Apple IIe/c or IIGS, or Atari. Customers could trade-up to WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS, WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows, or WordPerfect 2.1 for Macintosh for $150.US/$179.CN, or they can trade up to LetterPerfect for $89.US/$110.CN. Lexicor Software offered it's Virtual Cinematography and Graphics Arts Class. The classes covered; Tweening, 3D Objects and Motion, Finishing Animations and many others. These were online classes, being held on CompuServe and GEnie. The editorial staff of ST-INFORMER, a popular monthly Atari tabloid- format publication, walked off the job on January 6, and plan to create their own rival Atari magazine. According to Mike Lindsay, Oregon-based editor for ST-INFORMER since its inception nearly four years ago, the breakup is the result of a long-standing disagreement over ownership of the magazine. Brian Gockley is the new editor-in-chief. Greg Pratt leaves Atari as President for a new position with Creative Labs, Inc., makers of the "Sound Blaster" series of sound cards for MS-DOS computers. Atari Canada released details on new package purchase plans. The packages which include an educational institute, registered company employee purchase programs and non-profit agencies. The pricing structure, options and flexible payment plan ensures that a computer is within the budget of anyone even in these economically troubled times. The backstreets of the Atari community were abuzz with the word that Atari Corp was being, in fact had already been sold by the Tramiel family. However, official comment from Sunnyvale (after the Pratt announcement) was "Absolutely not." Taylor Ridge Books announces the release of The ST Assembly Language Workshop, Volume 1, a novice's guide to assembly language programming on the Atari ST. Atari announces that the one millionth game cartridge was sold for the Lynx video game system. Shadowsoft which brought out the classic Robotron with Williams/Bally, will put Joust on store shelves in April or May and will introduce two original titles; a puzzle game and a superhero title for the Lynx. The new Atari SM147 premiered at the National Association of Music Merchandisers show. The SM147 is a 14" paperwhite monitor with a flat screen. Atari announces the inception of a new business division named Atari Music. James Grunke will lead this new division and commented, "Atari has always done a good job making computers with a lot of power and benefits for the money." Computer Chronicles, the PBS program with over 700,000 viewers was on hand filming at the NAMM show. They focused on Atari in the MIDI field and Atari Music. Atari announces at NAMM that it's products will be serviced by the 250 strong General Electric Service Center network though the United States and Canada. Dr. T's announced a new Audio/Video production kit for the Atari ST. The package includes the Omega music sequencing and editing environment, Hitman cue sheet production tools, and Phantom SMPTE syncronizer. Gribnif Software has announced the release of the "Crazy Dots" video display adapter. The adapter allows the Atari computer to drive a variety of VGA, Multi-Sync, and other high end color and gray scale displays. Bill Rehbock announces that Atari will make all of the released TOS development information available to the general public. An order form is included in the annoucement for purchasing the Atari TOS Developer's Kit. Atari was virtually the only computer being seriously shown at the National Association of Music Merchants show. The Atari area was the largest yet at any NAMM, apropos of Atari's new commitment to its official new Music Division headed up by James Grunke. An open area accommodated as many as 25 work stations manned in COMDEX fashion with a host of third party developers. They included music specialty developers Hybrid Arts, Thinkware, Roland, Steinberg-Jones, Dr.T's, C-LAB, Fostex, JLCooper, Interval, Pixel, Korg, Hotz, and many more, each showing off their latest products for the Atari platform. Atari Advantage Magazine, from the creators of ST Informer Magazine is announced. ISD announces Calamus SL. SL marks the transformation of Calamus from a desktop publishing program to an expansive DTP environment. The Boston Computer Society announces that a meeting in April will feature a special presentation and announcement of new hardware from Atari Corporation. (The Falcon) ST-Informer returns in a newsprint-with-color book format similar to AtariUser magazine, publisher and now editor Rod Macdonald has enlisted the aid of Brian Gockley on the East coast, Donovan Vicha covering the central USA, and Robert Goff in the West, as principal contributors. Atari Explorer Magazine releases copies of their February 1992 issues BEFORE the January 1992 issue. The February issue was a special MIDI issue, including a mini-magazine inside called ATARI ARTIST. Ericsson GE released the Mobidem, the first mass market portable wireless modem. Next week we continue through our tour of 1992... ###### JOIN COMPUTER MUSICIAN COALITION! ###### A World of Electronic Music Excitement Awaits You! ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT IS CMC? Computer Musician Coalition CMC is a worldwide coalition of individuals and institutions dedicated to the advancement of electronics and computers used in music applications. CMC encourages the creation and appreciation of music created using high technology. CMC brings together people of many perspectives and careers with the common goal of excellence in music through the effective use of electronic and computer technology. WHO JOINS CMC? Everyone With A Taste For Fresh, Excellent, And Entertaining New Experiences in Music! The CMC membership includes individuals and institutions with diverse musical appreciations. Members come from all walks of life, but all have the same desire to experience and participate in the advancement of electronics in musical composition, production, arrangement, and performance. YOU SHOULD JOIN TOO! CMC Member Categories CMC memberships are open to anyone who supports the purposes of CMC and wishes to receive CMC publications and services. There are four membership categories -- Connoisseur, Artist, Dealer and Vendor. Each category is specifically designed to benefit and encourage participation by each membership group. CMC MEMBER CATEGORY BENEFITS: CONNOISSEUR MEMBERSHIP Open to any individual who supports the purposes of CMC and wishes to receive CMC publications and services. AFTERTOUCH CATALOG SUBSCRIPTION CMC members receive a six-issue subscrition to AFTERTOUCH, CMC's bimonthly catalog of New Electronic Music Discoveries. AFTERTOUCH SAMPLER TAPES CMC members receive six AFTERTOUCH Sampler tapes. Samplers include compositions from associated AFTERTOUCH catalogs. AFTERTOUCH CATALOG BINDER CMC members receive a handsome binder used to store AFTERTOUCH catalogs and materials. AFTERTOUCH SAMPLER STORAGE CASE CMC members receive a storage case which organizes the AFTERTOUCH sampler tape library. AFTERTOUCH PURCHASE DISCOUNTS CMC members receive a special price list of reduced member prices for AFTERTOUCH tapes, CDs and videos. AFTERTOUCH VOTING RIGHTS With each sampler tape, CMC members receive an AFTERTOUCH voters' ballot. Members are invited to vote for their favorite artists and compositions on the sampler. These votes are used to help decide AFTERTOUCH artist awards. Returned ballots are collected and, at season's end, twenty are chosen randomly. The CMC members whose names appear on the selected ballots will take part in the process to decide the final awards. These twenty members will receive the complete library of nominated albums, utilize them to make their final selections, and keep the albums for their personal pleasure. AFTERTOUCH AWARDS SAMPLER CMC members receive an annual AFTERTOUCH Awards Collection sampler tape. This tape includes sample compositions from the winning artists' albums. AFTERTOUCH SURVEY CREDITS CMC members who complete and return the rating surveys supplied with each and every album purchased will receive one 25 cent coupon per survey. These coupons may be applied toward the future purchase of tapes and CD's from AFTERTOUCH catalogs. AFTERTOUCH GROWTH INCENTIVE Any CMC member who brings in additional new members may pick free one AFTERTOUCH album per new member. AFTERTOUCH UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE CMC members receive an unconditional guarantee that every album purchased must be pleasing. If for any reason an album is not appreciated, it may be returned for credit toward a future purchase. ARTIST MEMBERSHIP Open to any individual or record label who wishes to have their music marketed by CMC, supports the purposes of CMC and wishes to receive CMC publications and services. ARTIST MEMBERS RECIEVE ALL CONNOISSEUR MEMBER BENEFITS AND THE FOLLOWING: CMC/PAN CONNECTION Artist members receive a free membership in PAN -- the Performing Artists' Network -- usually $225. With a modem and computer, artist members have access to a wealth of professional musician information and immediate communication with CMC headquarters. AFTERTOUCH VIP SUPPORT Artist Members receive priority handling for music submissions. Members option to appear on sampler tapes and entry in the awards program. Artist Members are exclusively chosen to appear in the PERSONAL TOUCH profile column. Artist Members receive fifteen copies of the AFTERTOUCH volume in which their music appears. EXTENDED PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT Artist Members receive the opportunity to have their music promoted in various international AFTERTOUCH advertising campaigns and appear on additional promotional projects. Artist Members' music is promoted to radio stations and magazines for potential review and airplay. Artist Members receive follow-up promotion in all AFTERTOUCH volumes. DEALER MEMBERSHIP Open to any company that retails products or services which benefit CMC members, supports the purposes of CMC and wishes to receive CMC publications and services. CMC DEALER MEMBERS RECEIVE ALL CONNOISSEUR MEMBER BENEFITS AND THE FOLLOWING: DEALER VIP BENEFITS Dealer Members receive a free membership in PAN, twenty-five copies of AFTERTOUCH catalogs per volume, a listing in the AFTERTOUCH Dealer Directory, dicounts on AFTERTOUCH Samplers and selected albums purchased for resale, one free 2" ad in AFTERTOUCH, discounts on AFTERTOUCH advertising rates, and an invitation to participate in various cooperative promotional campaigns. VENDOR MEMBERSHIP Open to any company that makes products of offers services which benefit CMC members, support the purposes of CMC and wishes to receive CMC publications and services. CMC VENDOR MEMBERS RECEIVE ALL CONNOISSEUR MEMBER BENEFITS AND THE FOLLOWING: VENDOR VIP BENEFITS Vendor Members receive a free membership in PAN, a listing in the AFTERTOUCH Vendor Directory, a company profile write-up in AFTERTOUCH, regular informational write-ups in AFTERTOUCH which help CMC members to better understand the company and its products, twenty-five copies of AFTERTOUCH per volume, discounts on AFTERTOUCH advertising rates, and an invitation to participate in various cooperative promotional campaigns. CMC MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS In addition to the benefits stated above, CMC members receive a membership certificate worth framing, a CMC "MIDI Doesn't Byte" button, a CMC T-shirt, a survey response program wherein listeners communicate with artists and vice versa, a toll free phone number for placing orders and asking questions, the joy of participating in the musical wave of the future and, finally, unannounced program benefits which we are not at liberty to discuss currently, but will amaze and surprise. So there you have it folks! If your involved in electronic music at all, be it as a listener, artist, dealer, or vendor, you owe it to yourself to checkout CMC! If your interested, just Email me your name, address, and what membership type your interested in and I'll have CMC mail you an info. Packet and a free issue of the AFTERTOUCH catalog. My Email address is: S.GARRIGUS. (On GEnie) ###### ATARINET ###### Network Overview ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- So, you've heard about AtariNet. This is a network for any BBS that supports the Atari platform of home computer. There are already several bulletin board systems worldwide participating and more are joining. A listing of the current BBS's that are participating and the echos that are available follow: Zone 51 AtariNet Headquarters Region 100 Host 1 - Twilight Zone, Longwood FL, Bill Scull 1-407-831-1613 4 - Steal Your Face, Brick NJ, Ed Lynch 1-908-920-7981 6 - MySTery BBS, Goose Creek, SC, David Blanchard 1-803-556-9730 8 - Alien BBS, Burlington NC, Mark Cline 1-919-229-4334 9 - Z*Net Golden Gate, Sunnyvale CA, Bob Brodie 1-510-373-6792 10 - Atari Base, Sunnyvale CA, Robert Brodie 1-408-745-2196 11 - Sunfox's Realm, Orlando Fl, Erik Williams 1-407-384-8138 13 - Z*Net News Service, Middlesex NJ, Ron Kovacs 1-908-968-8148 Host 4 - Hologram Inc, Old Bridge NJ, Dean Lodzinski 1-908-727-1914 3 - Assasins Grove, Oshawa Canada, Jeff Mitchell 1-416-571-6965 4 - Aces High BBS, Matawan NJ, Richard Guadagno 1-908-290-1133 5 - StormShadow, Pasadena MD, Robert Lovelace 1-410-437-0243 Region 200 - AtariNet Headquarters II Host 2 - AtariNet Nevada, Las Vegas NV, Terry May 1-702-435-0786 4 - Sports Line BBS, Henderson NV, Nick Hard 1-702-565-5271 5 - Left Over Hippies, Toronto Canada, Lesley Dylan 1-416-466-8931 10 - STarship, Lake Charles LA, Rich Tietjens 1-318-474-9432 11 - The Choice BBS, Las Vegas NV, Mark Woolworth 1-702-253-6527 12 - Thunder Hold, American Fork UT, Todd Harrington 1-801-756-2901 13 - Conqueror Connection, Fort Hood TX, John Curtis 1-817-539-1469 Host 201 - The DarkSTar BBS, Salt Lake City UT, Randy Rodrock 1-801-269-8780 5 - Acme BBS, Salt Lake City UT, Eric Nikolaisen 1-801-272-4243 Host 202 - The Wylie Connection, Wylie TX, Wes Newell 1-214-442-6612 7 - Aaron's Beard, Dallas TX, Troy Wade 1-214-557-2642 13 - The Wylie Connection, Wylie TX, Wes Newell 1-214-442-6612 20 - Outland Station, Ft Worth TX, John Stiborek 1-817-329-1125 21 - Psychlo Empire, Irving TX, Mark Corona 1-214-251-1175 Host 203 - AtariNet Midwest, Indianapolis IN, Bill Jones 1-317-356-5519 1 - The Zoo BBS, Indianapolis IN, Bill Jones 1-317-356-5519 2 - The Music Station, Webb City MO, Chris Richards 1-417-673-4926 3 - The Maligned ST, Urbandale IA, Mike O'Malley 1-515-253-9530 4 - The Crawly Crypt, Joplin MO, Jim Collins 1-417-624-1887 Region 300 - AtariNet Headquarters_III Host 3 - The Space Station, Canyon Country CA, Tony Castorino 1-805-252-0450 3 - Atari ST Connection, Fresno CA, Brian Watters 1-209-436-8156 4 - Autoboss Atari Elite, Bunola PA, John Graham 1-412-384-5608 5 - The Yakima Atari ST BBS, Yakima WA, Pat Moffitt 1-509-965-2345 6 - FIDOdoor Support BBS, Vandenberg AFB, Bryan Hall 1-805-734-4742 7 - cyberSecT BBS, Cheney WA, Chuck Aude 1-509-235-4875 9 - The Mosh Bit, Vancouver WA, Mark Wallaert 1-206-574-1531 10 - Target Range, Paramount CA, Alan Dietrich 1-310-634-8993 11 - Sanctuary From The Law, Inyokern CA, Sean Price 1-619-377-3611 12 - MASATEK, Torrance CA, Valeriano Meneses 1-310-518-9524 13 - The Mind Keep, Citrus Heights CA, Jeff Fehlman 1-916-723-1657 14 - Callahan's Place, Ashford WA, Brian Lane 1-206-569-2911 15 - ST-Keep, Citrus Heights CA, Andrew Studer 1-916-729-2968 16 - H.B. SMOG, Huntington Beach CA, Jim Thingwold 1-714-969-5486 17 - Acey BBS, Yakima WA, Dick Grable 1-509-966-8555 Region 400 - AtariNet Headquarters IV Host 5 - The Brewery, Ajax ON Canada, Don Liscombe 1-416-683-3089 3 - Rather Digital, Sudbury ON Canada, Steve Barnes 1-705-560-3115 Region 500 - AtariNet UK Host 6 - AtariNet NW England, Stockport Cheshire UK, Daron Brewood 44-61-429-9803 2 - STun NeST Central, Stockport Cheshire UK 44-61-429-9803 3 - DigiBBS, Nykobing F Denmark, Flemming Nielsen 45-54-858385 Region 600 - AtariNet Headquarters VI Host 501 - AtariNet Germany, Koeln Germany, Frank Brodmuehler 49-221-248285 8 - Apolonia, Essen, Peter Kaszanics 49-201-237509 Hub 100 - Hub AC, Aachen, Benedikt Heinen 49-241-408593 101 - Firemark BBS, Aachen, Benedikt Heinen 49-241-408593 102 - Dao-Lin-H'ay, Luegde, Joerg Spilker 49-5281-79372 103 - AtariNET, Milano Italy, Magic.Alex Badalic 39-382-488-515 ||| AtariNet EchoList -- 31-Oct-92 ||| / | \ Compiled by Terry May @ 51:2/0 / | \ -> The following echo is _required_ for ALL AtariNet sysops. -> ONLY AtariNet sysops may have access to this echo. Echo Name Description Moderator ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A_SYSOP AtariNet SysOps 51:1/0 - Bill Scull -> The following echoes are _required_ for AtariNet moderators -> and hosts, but may be picked up by ANY AtariNet sysop. -> ONLY AtariNet sysops may have access to this echo. Echo Name Description Moderator ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A_ECHO AtariNet echoes discussion 51:2/0 - Terry May A_TEST AtariNet test echo 51:1/0 - Bill Scull -> The following echoes are available to all interested AtariNet sysops. -> These echoes can and should be accessible to all users and points. Echo Name Description Moderator ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A_4SALE Atari products for sale/wanted 51:1/11 - E Williams A_ATARI Atari general discussion 51:2/4 - Nick Hard A_BBS_ADS Atari supported BBSes 51:2/0 - Terry May A_BBS_DOORS Atari BBS doors (externals) 51:1/6 - D Blanchard A_COMMERCIAL_ADS Atari Commercial Ads 51:1/11 - E Williams A_DTP Atari DeskTop Publishing 51:1/11 - E Williams A_EXPLORER Atari Explorer Magazine 51:1/13 - Ron Kovacs A_FIDODOOR FIDOdoor Support 51:3/6 - Bryan Hall A_GENERAL General discussion 51:2/4 - Nick Hard A_GRAPHICS Atari graphics 51:2/0 - Terry May A_PROGRAMMING Atari programming 51:5/0 - D Liscombe A_SOUND Atari sound/music 51:2/0 - Terry May A_TECH Atari hardware tech talk 51:202/0 - Wes Newell A_ZNET Z*Net Online Magazine A_BINKLEY BinkleyTerm ST support [ Gated from Zone 1 ] A_FIDO_ST FidoNet ST discussion [ Gated from Zone 90 ] A_IOS_HELP IOSmail Support [ Gated from Zone 1 ] ###### PERUSING GENIE ###### Compiled by Ed Krimen ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- SUPPORT: WHERE TO FIND IT ------------------------- -=> In the "Hardware" category (4) -=> from the "Straight FAX! and Joppa FAX/Modems!" topic (24) Message 93 Sun Dec 06, 1992 C.S.SMETON [Charles S.] at 21:37 EST The price of FAX Modems changes very frequently due to the rapidly changing marketplace. Atari users have benefitted from the fact that there is a lot of competition from many modem vendors; this results in lower prices and a quicker pace of technological advancement. The result is that it is possible to buy a 14,400 bps V.32bis FAX/Data Modem for less than the price of a 9600 bps data-only modem was just a year ago. Many users feel that they have been ripped off or are now stuck with obsolete equipment when this happens. Unfortunately, this is the way the computer world operates. There is little anyone in the Atari market can do to change this. There are several things an consumer can do to minimize being "stuck" with a product that is about to become obsolete or have its invested value be sharply reduced. 1. Stay informed. GEnie and the other online services and BBS networks are a good place to start. I am sure other GEnie users can point you in the proper direction. 2. Read the various magazines (print and on-line) and stay aware of the changing marketplace, product reviews, product announcements, and ads. I would suggest reading non-Atari specific magazines such as Byte or Computer Shopper, as they keep up on the trends for non- platform specific items such as printers, modems, disk drives, memory, monitors, etc. 3. Join a user group if one is available in your area. 4. Call the manufacturers of products and request information. For instance, all GEnie subscribers receive the GEnie magazine in the mail. Supra has been running ads for several months that have stated that their modems will be upgradable to support new features such as Caller ID, Silent Answer and Voice Mail. The first two are now available options. This is one way to avoid buying an obsolete product, i.e. buy one that advertizes upgradability. This is the primary theme that Intel has been advertizing with their "Vacancy Inside" ads that indicate that a PC can be upgraded with their new clock doubler processors. Joppa Software Development ======================================== REPAIRS: WHERE TO GET 'EM ------------------------- -=> In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14) -=> from the "Mega STE" topic (14) Message 115 Fri Dec 04, 1992 J.PIERCE5 [Rob] at 22:36 EST Now we have another problem, though. As I've been posting in the Atari Service topic, I can find NO authorized service center that will service the machine under warranty. They say that Atari has stopped reimbursing them for repairs, so they no longer do warranty service. So I'm screwed. Rob ---------- Message 119 Sun Dec 06, 1992 M.DRYSDALE [Drys] at 07:18 EST Rob, I have not tried this......I'm not sure it will work..... Send your dysfuncional ST to either Sheldon (Computer Studio) Winick (I just volunteered you) or to me (I volunteered too). We can try to send it back to Atari for warranty exchange. All you'll be out is the shipping and the machine for several weeks. OR You might send E-Mail to BOB-BRODIE (yet another volunteer<g>) describing _in detail_ your problem and politely requesting a warranty exchange direct to Atari or through a dealer. Important info Atari will need at some point: Serial number, sales receipt (charge card is best) for proof of purchase date, any shipping addresses on the original box, and all accessories. Mike, TEAM COMPUTERS now POWER Computers ======================================== JUST WHAT -IS- THE KODAK PHOTO CD SYSTEM? ----------------------------------------- -=> In the "Graphics" category (7) -=> from the "Kodak Photo CD Access System" topic (9) Message 86 Sat Dec 05, 1992 EXPLORER.5 [Robert Goff] at 17:21 EST Forgive me if this question has been asked before, but I'm confused. Just what _is_ the Kodak Photo CD system? Do you have to buy hardware or software, or just the CD? How do the photos get on the CD? Do you have to buy a special camera and hook it to a special CD deck? How do you display the photos? Can a regular CD deck hook up to a television, or do you have to buy some more hardware? Thanks for any light you can shed. ---------- Message 88 Sat Dec 05, 1992 EXPLORER.1 [ Ron ] at 23:33 EST Bob, Stop by most any camera store to see PhotoCD. Quality and resolution is excellent, even in 256 color VGA. The process involves taking your negatives to your film processor and asking to have them transfered to PhotoCD (about $15 for 24 photos). A few days later, you get a CD back with your digitized photographs. The CD can then be played on a video disk player capable of displaying PhotoCD format. Consumer players list in the $500 range but I have already seen them advertised for under $350. ---------- Message 90 Sun Dec 06, 1992 GREG at 00:52 EST EXPLORER.5 (Bob): Photo CD is a storage system for negatives or slides that are scanned by Kodak onto a CD-ROM disc. You can take either an undeveloped roll of film, loose negatives or slides into any of several thousand locations across the country and get them scanned onto a CD-ROM disc. Best Buy and a lot of corner drug stores are also doing the scanning now through Kodalux. After creating the disc, Photo CD can be many things: 1. The disc can be "played" on any Kodak CD rom player using your home television for viewing. 2. The disc can be put into any CD-I player and viewed. 3. The disc can be put into an XA-capable CD -ROM player connected to a home computer or workstation. With options 1 and 2, the software for viewing is already in the machine or on the disc. With option 3, you will need software to access the data on the disc and convert it to a form viewable on your system. Software is currently available for the Mac and PC Windows environment. Software will be released in the coming months for viewing and editing on the Falcon. The photos can also be viewed on the ST and STe, but suffer from the color and pixel resolutions of the machines (See FOUNTAIN.LZH in the libraries here). The graphics are still impressive. If you would like to see what true color looks like using the Photo CD process, the new Hot Stuff II CD by Screen Artists has examples of Photo CD converted to 16 million color Targa format. Even at 512 by 768 pixel resolution, the Targa or TIF files are still over 1 meg in size, and this is still only one-fourth of the available resolution. If there's interest in a download this size, we can upload an example to the libraries here. A Photo-CD disc can travel across platforms as it uses what is called the 9660 standard for file storage. In fact, there is a series of stock photos being released on a "rights-free" use basis that will include software for viewing on Photo-CD, CD-I, Mac, Windows 3.1, and Multimedia Windows right on the disc. Atari support for this series in also being planned, but was held up due to lack of development hardware and a license snag. The BIG advantage of Photo CD is that your picture data is stored in a format better than most systems can currently use. In other words, the next generation of computers will be catching up with Photo CD technology rather than passing it up. The photos are stored at 3072 by 2048 pixels in 16 million colors. The actual uncompressed file size is over 18 megs per picture. Your software only chews enough off the disc to match the capabilities of your system. I hope this made Photo CD a little clearer for you. ---------- Message 92 Sun Dec 06, 1992 POTECHIN [Nathan @ DMC] at 14:21 EST Atari already has working software for the Kodak Photo CD technology. It is done and working and beautiful! ;-) It was shown at Comdex on a couple of Falcons AND on a TT. Greg, before you send Atari people off to view a Mac solution ;-), you need to see Calamus SL, using a 24 bit color card, on a decent monitor of your choice. The Kodak Photo CD import driver works beautifully! By the way, if you have Calamus SL, I have a brand new beta driver for the HP550C you might want to check out. ======================================== "YOU'RE A REAL COMPUTER GENIUS, RIGHT?" --------------------------------------- (Jerry Pournelle RT) -=> In the "Computer Science" category (4) -=> from the "Atari TT030" topic (15) Message 109 Thu Dec 03, 1992 C.WORTON at 22:53 EST Had an interesting phone call the other day. "Charlie, you're a whiz at computers, right?" "Well, I know some. What did you need?" "Here, talk to my friend." (Friend comes on line.) "Hi, Charlie! You're a real computer genius, right?" "Not really. What did you need?" "Well, I just bought this computer, and I need to get into it." "What do you mean, 'get into' it?" "You know... make it 'do' something." (sigh) "What brand of machine is it?" "Uh... just a moment... oh, here. It's a Samsung." "Are you reading that off the monitor casing?" "Yes." "What's the label on the computer casing?" "Ummm.... Hyundai." "Okay. What you have is a generic computer that runs an operating system called DOS. In order to use DOS, you need to know the abbreviations of the commands. You also need to know the correct order of input; if you mistype the command, or type the command correctly, but put it in the wrong place, you will receive an error response. I do not know the DOS commands; I tend to work with computers that use a graphical user interface, such as Atari, Amiga, or Macintosh." "Well, I don't want one of those toy computers. I want a real one." (sigh) "What programs came with the computer?" "I don't know." "You don't KNOW? Didn't your salesman tell you?" "Well, I bought it at a pawnshop." "You bought it at a... Listen, how much did you pay for this?" "Hey, I got a really good deal. Only a thousand, for everything." "Okay. I can't help you. Call the people at Softwarehouse; perhaps they'll guide you through it over the phone." "I already called them. They said to bring it down, and they'd set it up for $65." "Do it. Pay it. Get their opinion on the deal you made. Let them show you other machines in a similar price range. They also sell Macs; look at a Mac." "Okay. Do you think I got a good deal?" "I don't know what microprocessor you got, I don't know what graphics card you got, I don't know what monitor you got, I don't even know if your hard disk is functional. But considering what you paid, and where you purchased it, I think you spent roughly a thousand more then you should have. There's a REASON it was in a pawnshop. And while you're thinking about that, think about what you want to use a computer FOR. To this point, you haven't been able to achieve anything with the machine, have you?" "Well, no." "DOS was designed to be used by data processing professionals. It was never intended to be used by the general public, who often express difficulty in running their microwave or programming their VCR. I would suggest you go down to Softwarehouse, let the salesperson show you some of the things that computers can do, and the two of you arrive at a decision as to what you want to purchase. Then, purchase it. Do NOT purchase a machine on the basis of its looks; buy it for what it can do for you." "What kind do you use?" "I own an Atari ST. The Atari is, with the Amiga, one of the finest machines on the planet. Unfortunately, there are no longer any dealers for the machines in this city. Until that changes, it's pretty hard for me to recommend them to someone who will need guidance. I would suggest that you consider either the Macintosh line of computers, or a 486/33 DOS box running Windows 3.1. And I would further suggest that you deal with a computer professional, not with a discount dealer. A professional can save you more then he or she will cost you." There was more, but you get the drift. I cannot fathom why people purchase a machine that they cannot use, but they do... in droves. I think I need some psychologist to explain it to me. It can't be just marketing; it has to be some deep seated desire to be frustrated that is operating here. Regards, Charlie ---------- Category 4, Topic 15 Message 112 Fri Dec 04, 1992 SLP at 19:49 EST Charlie, my favorite story about the PC was told to me by an Atari dealer (when there used to be one in town). He also sold software for the C-64, Amiga, Apple, and IBM. Anyway, one evening a frantic customer called him up and told him that his (DOS) computer was broken. All he could get on the screen was a letter C and a greater than sign. This guy had been using the computer for 2 years and had never even seen a DOS prompt. Apparently whoever sold him the computer had installed a menu system that allowed him to pick which program he wanted to run. I have the feeling that thousands of users are the same way. Scott ======================================== ###### OPEN LETTER TO ATARI USERS ###### By Nathan Potechin ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- An Open Letter to Atari Users Regarding the STReport Editorial about Comdex 92 Nathan Potechin, DMC Publishing, Toronto, Canada. Dec. 1, 1992. Dear Atari Users: I received a telephone call today from Mr. Mariano. He and his staff have made it clear that they will not discuss last week's STreport editorial "From the Editor's Desk" "Saying it like it is!" in Category 18. As most of you are aware, Category 18 was set up specifically to discuss Rumours, Flames and controversial issues. Since I felt that last week's Editorial was controversial - indeed, disgraceful and personally repugnant - I started a new topic in order to have a place for us to attempt to discern reality from the smoke and mirrors for which STReport is justly infamous. Sadly, Mr. Mariano and staff have chosen to refuse to respond. Senior Editor Lloyd Pulley even went so far as to say they they would only respond to "the public" implying that I don't count, that I have nothing to contribute and that I have nothing to say. Well, I have a thing or two to say alright and I thank you in advance for listening. It is a rare occasion when anyone dares confront the STReport juggernaut. Most of us simply do not have the hours in the day. As a result, they get away with far too much of what I'd consider inappropriate behaviour. When someone such as myself (let's use myself as an example) ;-) dares respond to anything in STReport that might be considered CRITICISM, I get attacked, my credibility gets attacked, my judgment gets attacked, my impartiality gets attacked, my wife gets attacked, the Atari RT's on GEnie get attacked, of course Atari gets attacked in passing (STReport never misses an opportunity as we all know) :-) my friends get attacked and everyone else associated with me gets attacked - especially if they dare to speak out as well. All that is a given. In spite of that, a few brave souls manage to offer a CONCRETE FACT every now and then, a small glimmer of the TRUTH sparkles briefly and then, just sometimes, some JUSTICE prevails. I'd like to believe that bringing that small particle of TRUTH to light makes all this worthwhile. Since Mr. Mariano has refused to post in Category 18 (not that he is posting much in Category 24 either) and Lloyd, as predictable as gravity, is doing everything BUT address the issue, please allow me the opportunity to discuss last week's editorial and explain EXACTLY why I took umbrage with it. I wish to remove any possibility of confusion once and for all. Remember, this is a response to STReport. I am replying to last weeks editorial, much of which specifically contradicted posts that I publicly made in the BB during Comdex. In his editorial Mr. Mariano said: Here we are a week or so after Comdex and what do we find going on? People are still discussing the pros and cons of Atari's performance at Comdex. Odd... don't you think? When all one need do is use one's eyes. After all, seeing is believing. There is strange word, (believe) right in the middle of the word is a (lie)! More smoke and mirrors? Maybe. And I respond, just as if he had posted in the Bulletin Board rather than from the comfort of his STReport bastion: I was there. I used my eyes. I posted what I saw. Am I to conclude that Mr. Mariano was calling me a liar? Doubtful. I believe instead that Mr. Mariano was portraying Atari in the worst possible light as has been the policy of STReport for years already, regardless of the FACTS. The play on the word LIE was juvenile. Mr. Mariano continued: Atari's performance at Comdex is indicative of the times. They've managed to disappoint the users and dealers every year since 1987 in regards to big Christmas Sales seasons. Yet we see no-one trying to make excuses for this obvious marketing blunder. And I respond: No way I defend the past performance of Atari Corp. in terms of Marketing or Advertising in North America these past few years. They have, sadly, not made it easy to be an Atari Dealer or an Atari Developer. Mr. Mariano went on to say: Then why, in retrospect, do we find really decent people in the Atari platform try like crazy to "explain away" the rather sedate 'action' at Atari's booth this year? And I respond: I can only assume that I am one of the people to which Mr. Mariano refers. The "sedate action" in the Atari booth actually had very little to do with Atari themselves. No one tried "like crazy" to explain away anything. I did make some FACTS known in my posts based on my own experience at Comdex these past years. I will share them with you again: The Interface Group are the Show Organizers for Comdex. Coincidently, they also OWN the Sands Expo Center. They built it. It was clearly their intention to establish a rival to the main Las Vegas Convention Center. This is the third year it has been in operation. After this year it became obvious that they had, to date, FAILED in their endeavour. The first year, Atari had a great booth in a great location but there were really no big names or big draws present, besides themselves :-) The second year there were a few more NAMES and DRAWS but still the traffic in this hall remained light. Remember, this was not supposed to be a satellite hall but a second main hall. It is rather large and I was told by one of the Interface Group representitives that they are adding on to it. This third year in operation they convinced a great many name brand companies of worldwide reknown to exhibit in the Sands. I have mentioned a few names in other posts here. I'll type in a complete list if someone wants to read a who's who. The point is, the traffic should have been there this year. It was not! Based on the best information available to Atari last year, when they had to book the space, this year should have seen serious action in the Sands to rival the LVCC. Again it did not. So Atari made the decision last week to exhibit in the main hall next year. They have given up their large prime location and gone for the guaranteed action instead of the potential action. I am personally and professionally pleased with that decision. I wish hindsight could have worked a year ago. Welcome to real life. :-) The Interface Group has a very real problem on their hands now. They have a great many upset exhibitors. When the LVCC sees upwards of 135,000 people and about 20,000 come through the Sands the entire week, (or some such nonsense) you have to know there is a problem. :-) In my opinion, there simply aren't enough hours in the entire week for a potential attendee to cover it all so they tend to concentrate their time in the LVCC and that's that! No smoke, no mirrors, just some FACTS. But Mr. Mariano plowed onwards, digging himself a hole: Granted there may have been a few thousand flyers and brochures handed out, but in the busiest of years this was never looked upon as a solid 'rule of thumb' when gauging booth attendance. Why all of a sudden do we see all sorts of reaching going on to justify the quiet booth. And I respond: I publicly posted, in the Comdex topic set up specifically for that purpose, that to my delight, we went through all the brochures we had brought to Comdex. This was a first for us. I usually have to ship some back or better yet, pass them along to a Dealer that can use them in a mailout or handout to potential customers. I also understood that Atari used up all of their Atari Falcon 030 brochures as well. Speaking for DMC and Calamus SL, I remind Mr. Mariano that the booth was not as busy as we would have liked. :-) Since he has pointed this out so adamantly, I wonder why it never occured to him that this meant that we had the opportunity to spend one-on-one quality time with those that did make it over to the Sands. That is exactly what we did. Seeing the Kodak Photo CD import driver working in Calamus SL, using the 24 bit Cybercube Cyrel card to display on the 21" hi-res Mitsubishi monitor is very impressive indeed. We had good, solid questions from serious and interested people that were not aware that Atari had anything of this calibre. (Where have we heard this before.) :-) In other words, DMC took full advantage of every bit of traffic that came into the Sands and through the booth and as usual - we opened some eyes! I made NO attempt to justify the action in the booth except to make it clear that the light traffic was prevalent throughout the Sands. I did point out that we went through all those brochures, in fact running out on Thursday, and that they went to people that took the time to look and appreciate what they saw. So, in this particular case, the brochures were indeed an excellent gauge of the action in the booth. Mr. Mariano went on, digging deeper and deeper: Biggest question of all, why are there people ever so busy trying to tell the userbase that what was seen was _not_ really what they saw? Sound ridiculous? Sure it does but that's exactly what is going on! And I respond: I beg your pardon? I, for one, told the userbase, my friends, my customers and my associates, exactly what I saw. You were not in attendance Mr. Mariano. With all due respect, and I mean that sincerely, :-), the above paragraph is absolute nonsense! Then Mr. Mariano threw out some more dirt: Of course, there will always be the buck passing... since 1987, its never been Atari's fault or the fault of the decision makers at Atari for the dregs they've placed themselves in... This year we are being told it was the Interface Group's fault (they organize and manage Comdex). In particular, the dismal performance at the Atari booth is being blamed on the manner in which the Sands expo center was managed. Right... why is it through the years, its _never_ been acknowledged it could've been the fault of poor management decisions etc.. Take a few of the glaring incidents in the past for example.. The Federated Fiasco, Federated's fault - The ATW failure, "not our design" etc.. - Upgraded Portfolio design, not our design etc..- Notebook, Pen and Stacy... all accounting for huge sums of money gone south. Yet none of these things or incidents have ever been attributed to or even hinted at being the responsibility of Atari or its management or lack of it. Nope, in the broadest of terms everybody and his brother has been blamed but never once was the real responsibility ever fixed where it really belongs. And I respond: I have already addressed the facts surrounding the Sands Expo Center. They are clear and obvious. Atari is certainly responsible for not being called Microsoft. I cannot argue that at all. Yup, you're right. If they would have only been named Microsoft, they could have exhibited in Reno and still gotten the traffic. The point is, they made mistakes. I do not defend them. They did make mistakes. That's a fact. I've made them too. I hope I learned from mine. :-) Now can we get on with our lives? And Mr. Mariano finally concluded from his hole deep in the ground: Now we are told that "Jack is back". To that I say I've been told that a number of times in the past and still.... no real improvement. A typical strong example of strange executive reaction was the statement made by Sam Tramiel about the Forbes Article. A laugh? A joke? It was sad to see that article hit, even for me. Atari has always had a dynamite machine design but alas, its management team well.. that's another story. Now that Comdex is behind us, let's see how long it takes for the damage control smoothies to get started in trying to convince all of us that what we saw really wasn't what we saw at all. Ralph @ STReport International Online Magazine And I responded one last time: Mr. Mariano, Jack is BACK! That's a fact. Atari has always had dynamite machines and that's the truth too. Sam is President. Garry runs North America and seems quite capable. Leonard is currently betwixt and between but certain to appear in some challenging role in the near future. A new head of TOS has been appointed in Sunnyvale and one of these days, if we are real lucky, the Falcon will actually appear on these shores. Isn't life grand. :-) As a "struggling" Atari Developer, not supported by mail order sales based on free advertising in an online magazine, I have earned the right to be as pessimistic or as optimistic as I choose. I choose to be an optimist because I love my Atari running Calamus SL and I'll stack it up against anything!! Sincerely Nathan Potechin President of DMC Publishing, Inc. Member of the Independant Association of Atari Developers ps; I held this letter, waiting to see what would happen in the next STReport because Lou Rocha dared post publicly in Cat 24 accusing STReport of much of what you read above. Typically and predictably, Mr. Mariano did not post at all while Lloyd did his absolute best smoke and mirror act on Lou and then both Ralph and Lloyd attacked Lou in this weeks issue of STReport. This nonsense must stop. This is a travesty and I, for one, have had enough. ======================================================================= (C) 1992 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables. May be reprinted only with this notice intact. The Atari Roundtables on GEnie are *official* information services of Atari Corporation. 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 XTX99437,GEnie and hit RETURN. The system will prompt you for your information. ======================================================================= ###### THE Z*NET COMPUTER CALENDAR 1992-1993 ###### Schedule of Shows, Events and Online Conferences ###### ---------------------------------------------------------------- ### December 20, 1992 Eugene, Oregon. Atari SWAP MEET planned at the GATEWAY MALL MEETING PLACE. The hours have not been finalized yet but tentively they will be 10am - 5pm. There may be a small admission fee this year (no more than $1.00) and there may be a table fee. ### December 24-25, 1992 Christmas 1992! Spend time with your loved ones! Hope you bought an Atari product for your favorite person! ### December 31/January 1,1993 New Years Eve, New Years Day! Happy New Year! Make those resolutions stick this time around! ### January 6-9, 1993 MacWorld Expo in San Fransisco California, Sponsored by MacWorld Magazine. Titled San Fransisco '93 at the Moscone Center. ### January 12-14, 1993 Networld '93 in Boston, Massachusettes ### January 7-10, 1993 The Winter Consumer Electronics Show comes to Las Vegas, Nevada. CES is an electronic playground, with everything in the way of high tech toys for kids and adults. Game consoles and hand-held entertainment items like the Atari Lynx are big here, and Atari will attend with a hotel suite showroom. Contact Atari Corp for more information on seeing their display at 408-745-2000. ### January 15-18, 1993 NAMM is the largest conclave of musicians each year. Held in Los Angeles at the Anaheim Convention Center, the variety of sights at the National Association of Music Merchandisers is wilder than at Disneyland, just next door. Atari was the first computer manufacturer to ever display at NAMM in 1987, and has become a standard at the shows. A trade show for music stores, distributors, and professionals of every strata, entertainers are seen everywhere at NAMM. Contact James Grunke at Atari Corp for more information at 408-745-2000. ### February 2-4, 1993 ComNet '93 in Washington, DC. ### March 1993 CeBIT, the world's largest computer show with 5,000 exhibitors in 20 halls, is held annually in Hannover, Germany. Atari traditionally struts its newest wares there, usually before it's seen in the USA or anywhere else. In '93, the Atari 040 machines should be premiering, and this is the likely venue. Third party developers also use this show to introduce new hardware and software, so expect a wave of news from CeBIT every year. Atari Corp and the IAAD coordinate cross-oceanic contacts to promote worldwide marketing of Atari products, and this show is an annual touchstone of that effort. Contact Bill Rehbock at Atari Corp for information at 408-745-2000. ### March 13-14, 1993 The Sacramento Atari Computer Exposition is to be sponsored by the Sacramento Atari ST Users Group (SST) at the Towe Ford Museum in Sacramento, California. This show replaces the earlier scheduled, then cancelled Northern California Atari Fest for the Bay Area, to have been held in December 1992. A major two day effort, the SAC show is being held in the special events area of the Towe Ford Museum, home of the worlds most complete antique Ford automobile collection. As an added bonus, admission to the museum is free when you attend the Expo. The museum is located at the intersection of Interstates 5 and 80, just 15 minutes from the Sacramento Metropolitan Airport. Contact Nick Langdon (Vendor Coordinator) C/O SST, P.O. Box 214892, Sacramento, CA 95821- 0892, phone 916-723-6425, GEnie: M.WARNER8, ST-Keep BBS (SST) 916-729- 2968. ### March 21-24, 1993 Interop Spring '93 in Washington DC. ### August 3-6, 1993 MacWorld Expo at the Boston World Trade Center, Bayside Exposition Center and sponsored by MacWorld Magazine. This event is titled Boston '93. ### September 18-19, 1993 The Glendale Show returns with the Southern California Atari Computer Faire, V.7.0, in suburban Los Angeles, California. This has been the year's largest domestic Atari event, year after year. Contact John King Tarpinian at the user group HACKS at 818-246-7286 for information. ### September 20-22, 1993 The third MacWorld Expo, titled Canada '93 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, sponsored by MacWorld Magazine. ### September 21-23, 1993 Unix Expo '93 in New York City, New York. If you have an event you would like to include on the Z*Net Calender, please send email vai GEnie to Z-NET, CompuServe 75300,1642, or via FNET to node 593 or AtariNet node 51:1/13.0 ###### THE UNABASHED ATARIOPHILE ###### By Michael R. Burkley ###### --------------------------------------------------------------- Some people collect sports cards, others coins, old tools, cars, animals, you name it someone probably collects it. What do I collect? I collect ST's! I have five ST's (including one four Meg STe) which are distributed among my family, myself, and my church. I also have five single-sided drives, four double-sided drives, one 44 Meg SyQuest cartridge drive (It's WONDERFUL), three color monitors (not counting the broken one in the attic), an Ominmon Rainbow multisync monitor, and one monochrome monitor. Oh yes, I also have a modem, a DVT video tape Hard Drive backup system, a zillion floppies scattered all over my computer room, and an understanding wife (and while I don't own her she's the best of all!). What do I do with all of that equipment? I use it, each and every bit of it (though sometimes not often enough, but the story of my trashed hard drive will have to wait until another time, perhaps next week). I use my ST's to learn about the world, to have a lot of fun, to do _A LOT_ of work, to meet many people, and to make new friends. One of those people I've met through my ST is David Becker. David is one of those amazing people who have all sorts of creative ideas AND the skills and perseverance needed to bring those ideas to fruition. I've seen at least thirty of his programs and files and I've been constantly amazed and the quality, the originality, and the usefulness of them all. He brings a certain zest to his programming that carries over to the users of his programs. He makes them easy and fun to use. CONNECT is Connections v. 1.0 by David Becker. Linking text, graphics, ------- animation and sound within interactive multimedia presentations is not a new idea. Hypercard on the Macintosh has been doing it for years. Many commercial programs exist for the PC as well. It's been around in some form or another for the ST for quite some time as well. TCOS by Matthew P. Aubury and HyperScreen by R.J. Pearson both allow text and graphics to be combined in a linked environment. HyperLink by JMG Software is a much more intensive and capable commercial database that allows you to mix text, graphics, animations, and data all in one seamless database. Now David has created his own interactive multi- media presentation software that allows you to easily create your own "families" of information that link graphics, text files, sounds, and animation. He has designed it so you can pass on your information in an interactive, informative, educational, entertaining, and fun way. He provides you with all the tools you need to create your own multimedia masterpiece. I really like this program, and recommend it to you highly. Detailed docs and tutorial included. It requires at least one Meg of RAM, a monochrome monitor (or a color monitor with a mono emulator--see below), and a hard drive. TREK_FAM is a Star Trek multimedia presentation by David Becker for use -------- with his Connections program. This detailed family contains much detailed information on both the original and the Next Generation Star Trek series: A Star Trek time-line based on official sources (beginning c. 2 million years ago), a descriptive listing with titles and dates for each episode in both series, and pictures of most of the major characters are included. Digitized sounds and two animations of the new Enterprise in Warp and under Impulse power are also available. Do you know who the actor behind the voice of the computer is? The same person who played "Nurse Chapel" in the original series, Majel Barrett! There's lots more where that came from! SITKA_1 is another "Creation Family" by Wally for use with Connections. ------- This one takes you on a brief excursion through Sitka, AK, and some of the activities and scenery available around there. You even get to see what Wally looks like! This family includes text and graphics, but no sound files. ZOOPHONE is "Let's Phone the Zoo" by David Becker. This interactive -------- storybook for kids is another neat Connections family. It presents a short story about a little girl phoning the animals at the zoo. Kids (or adults!) can click on words and sentences and discover digitized sounds, animations and graphics. It's fun! MISSING is another Connection family that is not so much fun to use. ------- David has created this listing of missing children throughout the United States and Canada. It presents you with forty unsolved cases. Photos of the children (and some of the abductors) are show right on-screen, with some of the children's pictures having been age- enhanced. A scrollable text file explains each case. This fully interactive presentation shows you maps, contacts and much more in a point and click environment. Thank you David for caring enough to do something like this! What else has he done with his "free time?" LOTS... dbWRITER v.1.8 is his excellent and very full-featured word processing -------------- program for your mono ST. It uses a fast custom graphic user interface that closely resembles GEM. It will run on any ST (while it works with a .5 meg machine it works best with one meg of RAM or more). It includes a clipboard that allows multiple entries! Keyboard and mouse controlled. It allows you to import various commercial wordprocessing files automatically! This program and its accompanying dictionary file (DBW_DICT, and DBWACC) and Thesaurus are well worth getting! It's amazing that something like this is free! If you have a mono monitor, I recommend this. Docs included. DBWACC is the dbWRITER Dictionary and Thesaurus Desk Accessory (or .PRG) ------ v.1.0 by David Becker. This .ACC will allow you to: * Search the 40,000 word dbWRITER dictionary from within any GEM application. * Access the dbWRITER 30,000 word thesaurus from within any GEM program. * Many different search and seek options including a recursive thesaurus * Scroll through the dictionary page by page. * Print out text from the dictionary or the thesaurus. * Load and use custom supplemental dictionaries. It contains a built-in help function and written docs. Mono only, Hard disk required. Use with version 1.8 of his dbWRITER word processor. DBWSUPP is a set of supplemental dictionary files for use with the ------- dbWRITER .ACC/.PRG (see DBWACC). It also contains the utility needed to create your own supplemental dictionaries (plus docs). Included in this archive are the following dictionaries: MEDICAL medical dictionary PHARMACAL pharmaceutical dictionary LEGAL legal dictionary BIBLICAL biblical words and names COMPUTER names,terms and words used in the computing field NAMES all sorts of different names, boys and girls MATH mathematical dictionary You can add to these using your favorite word processor. Mono only. DBWTHESS is the Thesaurus files for use with the dbWRITER dictionary and -------- Thesaurus .ACC/.PRG (see DBWACC) and dbWRITER v.1.8 and above (see DBWRTR18) and text processor (version 1.8 of the text processor and up). Having a Thesaurus is great (do you know that the word "Thesaurus" is a Greek word meaning "Treasure"? Words _are_ a treasure to use wisely!). SEARCHME is Search Me, a puzzle generator that creates word searches -------- just like the ones in the newspaper! You can use the dbWRITER dictionary (see this above), the dictionary included in this file (a very down-sized version of the dbWriter dictionary), your own custom dictionary, or your own list of words. You can save and load puzzles to disk, print them out, save them as DEGAS pictures or play them right on the ST! You will need a monochrome monitor. Word length can be from 2 to 15 letters with up to 50 words per puzzle allowed. GEM based, this program is very easy to use. Docs included. COYOTE is Coyote Dave's Poker v.1.0. It's a great game. Sit down with ------ this program and you'll find yourself grabbing a chair, choosing a table in the saloon and sitting down for some five card draw poker. You'll have a chance to play against some of the most treacherous, conniving and smoothest characters north of the Rio Grande! I'm not talking about two dimensional computer simulations! These are real folks, just like your irritating neighbor across the street. So pour yourself a drink (watch it though!), relax and let's separate the real poker players from the cattle rustlers! Mono only. Excellent sound, excellent poker playing, and all sorts of fun (like when you're losing, buy the other players some drinks and see what happens!). Detailed docs included. Online helps. Recommended. Those are some of David Becker's most recent programs, but as I've said, he's done dozens more. You can find them all on GEnie, but I've seen them on information services and BBS's everywhere I've been. BGAMMON is Online Backgammon by David Becker. Online Backgammon ------- attempts to fill a void within the ST domain. First the lack of monochrome specific leisure software. Second a lack of games that can be played head to head online through the modem and last a shortage of freeware backgammon games period! It assumes you know how to play backgammon, and adheres to the games rules with only one exception (for you to find out!) You can either play against a friend on line or against the computer. Mono only. You must supply the modem! Docs included. For any ST, STe. CALVIN is a mono only animation of Calvin from the cartoon "Calvin and ------ Hobbes." Watch Calvin walk across your screen, at a speed controlled by you. CRISCROS is CrissCross by David Becker. It is a hybrid of Gomuku, Go -------- and Othello. You play against the computer on a 20x18 grid of 360 squares. You and the ST take turns putting down coloured markers and trying to get five in a row. When one of you is successful in getting five diagonally, vertically or horizontally then you will score 1 point and the five markers are removed from the grid. The first player to get 10 points will win the game. You play black. This is another experiment with the ZeST alternative interface (that gives your ST a NeXT look). For all ST's. Mono only (well, it will run in color, but it's not as nice). Docs included. DINGBAT by David Becker is a program that will allow you to include ------- those non-standard graphic characters that are hidden deep within your ST but which you cannot access from within the desktop. How about a little clock in your alarm accessory or a musical note in your MIDI program? This program can do it for you! Mono only. Docs included. F11_23 is the function key template designer v.2.3 by David Becker. ------ Have you memorized all the key combinations and what they do for that new word processor? How about the quick keyboard macros for that desktop publishing package? Can you remember where you left your car keys? This program can help (at least with the first two difficulties)! Design and print out templates that line up right alongside your ten function keys that give you all the reminders you need. Color or mono. Docs included. FASTFIX is Fast Fix by David Becker. It is a auto .PRG that turns off ------- that irritating keyclick and sets the ALT/HELP screen dump to 960 pixels/ line so that screens print correctly. Color or mono. FRUSTRAT is Frustration! It is a two player word search game. Each -------- player, in turn, tries to create words from a random combination of letters spread over an 11 by 11 grid (that works out to 121 letters). Scoring is based on word length, the longer the word, the better your score. Race against the clock and each other. Mono only. Docs included. JIFFYDRW is Jiffy Draw, a many-feature, DEGAS-compatible mono drawing -------- and paint program by David Becker. You can do lots of things with this program, especially some interesting manipulation of your finished drawings! Docs included. JUMBLE is ABC Jumble. This is an educational program for young children ------ in the 3-7 age group. This simple program lets kids sort the letters of the alphabet after the computer jumbles them up. Its GEM interface and point and click environment make it simple even for the littlest user. Helps on-line, encouragements when you complete you unjumbling, and more. Mono only (thanks David for producing so many mono programs, especially this one for kids!) Docs included. MONMAGIC is Monitor Magic, an .ACC that will let you change your color -------- monitor into a green or amber monitor. When you return to the normal colors the monitor no longer shows the green but a soothing blue. It will also allow you to reverse the display on your mono monitor. PAI_GOW is a computer poker game with a twist. You are dealt 7 cards ------- from which you must choose a two card and a five card hand. To win you must beat both of your opponent's hands. Play against the computer or with a person via modem. Mono only. Docs included. POKERSQR is Poker Squared. If you like solitaire and you enjoy poker -------- then you're going to enjoy Poker Squared. Runs on any ST with a mono monitor. 25 cards are dealt, one at a time into a square on the right side of the game board. You must decide where to place each card on a grid of 25 squares. Create the 10 best possible poker hands (you hope), five up and down, five side to side and two hands diagonally. This game uses the ZeST interface for the NeXT desktop look. Docs included. SMARTDAT is SmartDate. This little AUTO folder program will prompt you -------- to enter the day, month, and year when you hold down the Alternate or Control key when booting your ST. It will write that info to a small file. From then on, your ST will read that date on boot up. This way, you only need to set the date once each day in order for it to be correct. Great for keeping track of things! Docs included. Mono only. ZESTCLOK is a stand-alone version of the ZeST digital clock found in -------- v.1.6 of David Becker's Zest Desktop. Click on this when you want to turn your ST into a clock! Mono only. Interesting graphics and animation. ZESTKENO is ZeST Keno. This little program will allow you to play -------- hundreds of Keno games really fast and let me test different combinations of numbers. This version of Keno uses his ZeST alternative interface and requires a monochrome monitor. ZeST Keno is not a betting game as much as it is a tool for analyzing the game of Keno and the outcomes using different combinations of numbers. (I can tell you how it works out in the long run: the house wins and you lose!). Docs included. Mono only. ZESTPOKR is ZeST Draw Poker. He wrote this fun little program to show -------- off the ZeST Alternative Desktop (a NeXT look-a-like). Deal, draw, bet, check your winnings (we won't talk about the other possibility-- probability?). This game can even turn into a slot machine! Docs included. Mono only. ZEST16 is ZeST Desktop Applications v.1.6. This program is an amazing ------ alternative interface for the ST! It looks like the NeXT desktop with "sculpted" buttons and more. ZeST16.PRG includes a paint program, calendar, typewriter and database in a desktop environment, and now, a corner digital clock AND the ability to run other programs right from the ZeST desktop! Each program is fully functional, and useful! This guy is amazing. He keeps producing wonderful, Free programs. Also included is the GFA3 source code so you can expand on this idea yourself! Docs included. Mono only. AUTOZEST is Auto ZeST v.1.1, a GFA Interface Creation Utility. This -------- is a utility that completely automates the creation of ZeST screens, front ends, windows, buttons, boxes and sliders! It's like a poor man's NextStep in GFA. AUTO ZeST will save authentic GFA code to disk that can then be merged right into the GFA editor. ST/STe/MSTe compatible. Docs included. Mono only. But have you noticed that all of David's programs only work with a monochrome monitor? Are you stuck if you only have a color monitor? Not at all! There are a number of excellent monochrome monitor emulators out there. I'll only mention one today. SEBRA is "The High-Res Monochrome Monitor Emulator" by Patrik Persson ----- of Sweden. This is simply the best monochrome emulator I have seen as of today. It will work on any ST/STe/Mega with a color monitor or TV set! It is fast, with lots of options to customize the speed, screen display, and more to your satisfaction. The mouse moves SMOOTHLY about the screen. With a few simple keystrokes you can set this program up to run just as you wish. I recommend this highly. It works with just about everything, too! Read the docs to see all that he has done to optimize this program. It's exciting! Freeware. Well, that's about all for now. Next week I'm not sure if I'll tell you the story of how my hard drive almost led me down into the depths of dispair, or just show you how much material is being produced for the ST each week by just describing next week's downloads. Either way I hope it will be interesting! # # # **--DELPHI SIGN-UP--** **--GENIE SIGN-UP--** ============================|============================ To sign up for DELPHI call | To sign up for GENIE call (with modem) 800-695-4002. | (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection hit return | Upon connection type HHH once or twice. At Password: | and hit return. Wait for type ZNET and hit <return>. | the U#= prompt and type in | the following: XTX99436, | GEnie and hit return. ============================|============================ **--COMPUSERVE SIGN-UP--** To sign up for CompuServe service call (with phone) (800) 848-8199. Ask for operator #198. 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