Atari 8-bit News-Disk Issue 10¢------------------------------¢¢Editorial by Dean Garraghty.¢¢¢Well, here we are in double figures! Yes, issue 10 of the News-Disk! This one follows the last quite quickly because I had a few articles left over which wouldn't go on the last issue! Also, thanks to Leslie Benson for his article.¢¢The first thing I want to mention is the CHRISTMAS PD BONANZA. You should have received information on this in a mail-shot (I haven't actually sent it yet as I write this, but you should have received it by now!). Yes, it's true. From now until 1/1/93, you can buy PD disks from my library for just 1pound a disk (minimum 5 disks). Note: there is no maximum! You can buy as many as you like at this price! This applies only to News-Disk subscribers. If you were sent this issue as a one-off, then you can't use this offer. Please note that if you want your disks for christmas then your order must be with me by 19/12/92. Please send orders by first class mail so they don't take forever to arrive (mail is SLOW at christmas!) So, look through the catalogue, and order some PD today!¢¢Next, the latest on QUICK. The manuals have been translated and are now being edited in to "good" English! I am hoping to have it available just after christmas. I must thank Allan Palmer for reminding me that PPP also do the SAM system. I will be distributing this in the UK too! Also, it turns out, PPP have a stack of products for the Atari. This includes 3 games written in Quick (Rubber Ball, Glaggs it!, Mine Sweeper). Demos of these are on the Quick demo disk in my library. I will be distributing these too. These are available now! Also, PPP have other games and utilities which I am also going to distribute. They also have lots of hardware mods, including the SPEEDY 1050. This is a single chip replacement to speed the drive up by a factor of 5. It also has a version of DOS built-in! I have yet to work out a deal on hardware, so more information next issue. I have enclosed some information on SAM on this issue.¢¢The 3 games written in Quick mentioned above are ready for sale now. They cost 5pounds each which includes P&P, disk, and printed manual. Order your copy today! See the file PPPGAMES.DOC on this issue for more details and an order form!¢¢Also, check out the DISKS.SES file on side 2 of this disk. I have some brand new Pole Position and BallBlazer carts available at just 4quid each. Or, how about a brand new copy of Atari Macro Assembler for a fiver? Plenty in stock. Order now for Christmas!¢¢The new version of Digi-Studio with the LIDS music creation system is now available. It costs 12pounds + 1pound for P&P. I have written an article about it, and how I did it! This is on this issue! See the file DIGIINFO.DOC for an order form. This file is in 80col. format for printing from DOS, or for viewing with COL80.¢¢In June of next year I finish University. After this "ordeal" I would like to take some "time off" doing something that I would like to do (for a change!). At this moment in time, I think this will invlove me supporting the Atari full time. In other words, forming a small business out of what I have now, plus all the PPP products, and probably more when I have the time to search the world for new stuff! This will help me support the Atari even more because I would be dedicating all my time to supporting the Atari. It would also give me more "clout" when approaching new suppliers. Nothing really would change. You'd just make cheques out differently! I see no reason why any prices should rise. Indeed, I may be able to lower some! The News-Disk would still be produced. The PD library would still operate as usual. Also, I can dedicate more time to improving Digi-Studio. What I need at this point are opinions. Would you support such a venture? I would need a lot of support with such a thing. Please let me know what you think. I would very much like to hear all reader's opinions on this.¢¢On this issue:¢¢COL80.OBJ (and .DOC) - a very good 80col. text viewer which works on any TV. It doesn't do any formatting on the text. It is very good for reading all those text files that are ready formatted for 80col. printers (like its own DOC file). Hint: on colour TVs, turn the colour off with the colour control to make the text clearer.¢¢MIDI.BAS (and .DOC) - a DOC file showing how to make a MIDI interface cheap, and a program to use it. The DOC file is in 80col. format, so needs printing from DOS, or viewing with COL80.¢¢DIGI.DOC - all about the new version of Digi-Studio and how I did it!¢¢DIGIINFO.DOC - the official blurb on Digi-Studio with the order form. In 80col. format.¢¢ACREV.DOC - a quick review of issue 1 of Atari Classics magazine.¢¢HELP.DOC - Leslie Benson needs help tracking down some PD.¢¢SAMINFO.DOC - some brief info on the SAM desktop system.¢¢ULTRAOS.DOC - a review on the ULTRA OS from the States.¢¢PPPGAMES.DOC - some info on the new PPP games with an order form.¢¢Both COL80 and MIDI have .ASM files associated with them. There wasn't enough for them on this issue, so they will appear on issue 11.¢¢Please note, I've taken DUP.SYS and XR40.DOC off this disk to fit everything on!!¢¢There is just one new PD disk since last time. PD155 is the Simpsons demo disk. This is a disk of samples from the TV series. This wasn't done by me, but has been specially created for the library.¢¢There is a private advert in the adverts file. Go check it out!¢¢I have had a letter from Raphael Espino who was on the Tiger Developments stand at AMS6. It appears somebody has taken his disk drive. He writes:¢¢Badly Wanted:¢¢The person who "mistakenly" took my disk drive from the Tiger Developments stand at AMS6. It was a 1050 disk drive complete with power supply and I/O cable, in a white plastic carrier bag, underneath the stall. No questions asked if the drive is "miraculously" posted to: R.Espino, 111 Paston Ridings, Paston, Peterborough, Cambs, PE4 7UX. If anyone knows or saw anything or can help in any way, then please contact me at the address above. The drive was needed in order to write new commercial software for the Atari 8-bit. Sadly, its disapearance will make my life much more difficult, and due to my low budget I will not be able to afford another one for quite some time. I will continue to write new software for the Atari 8-bit, but no thanks to this person! I just hope that he/she feels satisfied with themselves.¢------¢It seems terrible that somebody should steal something from the show. If you know anything about this then please contact Raphael as soon as possible.¢¢Merry Christmas everyone!¢¢Dean Garraghty.¢12 December 1992.¢
