¢¢ Well, here it is! Issue 2 of the news-disk.¢¢ This one has been just as difficult to put together as issue 1, mainly because of the lack of submissions. Since last issue I have received a massive ONE submission. The other articles on this disk have again been taken from the Unix newsnet system. A big thank you goes to Mark Keates who wrote the Fancy Font Display Routine(FFDR), which is on this disk. If Mark can find time to write this sort of thing (he is also a student), then I'm sure you can too. Don't forget, I have no long list of submission rules. I will include anything you write on the next issue.¢¢ And now a word about this year's All Micro Show (AMS5). I will be there, exhibiting as usual. This time I have booked a 24feet stand. Also with me will be Mark Keates and Mike Blenkiron. It is on the 9th November (Saturday) at Bingley Hall in Stafford. I will have the PD library there and will be duplicating disks during the day. Prices will, as usual, be cheaper at the show. How much cheaper hasn't been decided yet. I will also have all the used software, books, and possibly hardware there as well, so you can buy some of that while you're there! Also, bring all your questions along to us during the day. We'll be happy to answer them for you! We've got 24feet to use up so we'll probably have some demonstrations of something or other while we're there. Details will come later. Please come and support us. We need your help (and money!!)¢¢ This issue has something for everyone. As mentioned earlier, there is the excellent Fancy Font Display Routine. This consits of various files: FFDR.COM is the main file, EGFFDR.BAS is an example program, FFDR.SRC is the M/C source code, and FFDR.DOC is the article for it.¢¢ Also on this issue is an article on disk protection techniques, two on the different Atari DOSs available, some on what machines were released by Atari, and those that weren't!, a program for SpartaDOS 3.2d users to change the sparta commans to your own choosing (docs. are in REM statements in the program itself), one on repairing keyboard faults, an one on modifying the XF551 disk drive. There may be others added at the last minute, but as usual the filenames will give an indication as to what they contain.¢¢ I would now like to mention that this issue is dedicated to Frank Card, who died before issue 1 was sent. He was a good customer and certainly kept me on my toes. He was looking forward to reading the news-disk, but never got the chance to.¢¢ And now a bit of a warning. You may have heard of a guy called Mike Halford who repairs Atari 8-bit hardware, and offers cash for your dead hardware. Well, having spoken to many "top people" in the Atari world, and through my own experiences, it seems that this guy is a little bit of a crook. He owes me a large sum of money (and has done for a long time now), and makes promises he cannot keep. His repair work has been described as "a bit dodgy". He advertises in the contact column in page 6, and in micro mart. Do not on any account send him anything without getting payment first.¢¢ Oh yes, one other thing. The news-disk is being distributed in the States by Jeff Edwards, who is also my main supplier of PD, and also is the official US distributer of DMS.¢¢ My address for all correspondence is:¢¢ DEAN GARRAGHTY¢ 62 THOMSON AVE¢ BALBY¢ DONCASTER¢ DN4 0NU¢ ENGLAND¢
