========================================================================= : INFO-ATARI16 Digest Sun, 28 Jan 90 Volume 90 : Issue 107 Today's Topics: DUCK31.PRG and BMS, old SH204 host adaptors FrankenSTein and Revolver Reposting of Bounced Mail Shareware Policy. Sozobon question Spectre-GCR (was Re: MAC Emulator on ATARI) The STE and Multisyncs Unix Windows ... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 JAN 90 11:08:55 CST From: Z4648252 Subject: DUCK31.PRG and BMS, old SH204 host adaptors Message-ID: <900127.11082975.014492@SFA.CP6> Hello all, From letters that I've received, and this isn't final since there are bound to be 'silent sufferers', DUCK31.PRG doesn't work with BMS 100 host adaptors and a number of very old (first release???) Atari SH 204 host adaptors. Letters received have been very positive from those who basically wonder what and where the problem is and are the majority. Five STers are having problems (I've received about forty pieces of mail). My main error in writng DUCK31.PRG was that I assumed that STs had no problem in reading the floppy drive during bootup via the A:/AUTO/ sequence AND (!!!) hard drive 'spin up'. None of the local STs have a problem, hence, I do a floppy data file read during bootup. A BIG NO NO!!! Well, maybe a little NO NO since most STs have no problems. My goal was to make a delay program very easy to configure without use of program renames or document processors for the delay value. Lesson #1 from a hobbiest programmer who knows not much of 'nutin about programming, don't assume that all ST bolt-ons and ST computers behave the same way because they don't. So, regarding DUCK31.PRG, use at your own risk. It may or may not work. If it does, it makes life a lot sweeter with hard drive use, if it doesn't work...oh well. Such is life. The following is a comment by STeve Jacobs: "The problem you describe sounds like the dreaded SCSI-Reset-timing problem (most often seen with an ST296N connected to a BMS-100). Basically, the drive controller gets reset m essages the wrong duration and with the wrong timing, according to the SCSI standard, and locks up. It takes all floppy communication with it. The problem is 100% hardware, and the solution has to be hardware too. The recommended solution is to send the BMS-100 and $75 to BMS in exchange for a BMS-200, which treats drives better. Steve J." Larry Rymal: |East Texas Atari 68NNNers| ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Jan 90 17:02:00 EST From: Greg Csullog <01659%AECLCR.bitnet@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca> Subject: FrankenSTein and Revolver Message-ID: <90Jan27.170350est.58970@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca> I called the Revolver support number (I apologize but I cannot remember the name of the person I was speaking with) and it seems that Revolver crashes are related to the fact that my FrankenSTein board does not allow the RAM chips to refresh properly (the cable leads to the board are too long). I was told that bits above the standard 1 meg on my 1040STF will be flakey and I can expect future crashes. I tried calling Canoe Computers in Alberta (they make the board) today but no answer. I want to speak with Canoe to see if there is a work around. As an aside, I raised the issue of being able to roll out of ST RAM partitions on the ST to PC and Mac partitions and I was told that Revolver comes with the source code to do just that. All that is needed is Dave Small to provide a jump back from Mac mode (currently Dave checks for RAM fragmentation and will not let Spectre run if a fragmenter like Revolver is active) or for a PC emulator group to write a jumper to have the 68000 regain control. Once this is done, PC, Mac and Atari modes would be accessible by simply rolling between RAM partitions. IMAGINE having PC, Mac and ST modes simultaneously in RAM and being able to switch between them. That would make Revolver a HOT HOT product. As I was told today, Revolver is only selling 15 copies a month. That's a shame because it is one of the best codes ever written for the ST. C'mon Dave and PC emulator folks; give us the ultimate computer by allowing simultaneous PC, Mac and ST modes in memory partitions. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Jan 90 16:57:00 EST From: Greg Csullog <01659%AECLCR.bitnet@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca> Subject: Reposting of Bounced Mail Message-ID: <90Jan27.165836est.58957@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca> Lately, I had postings to the net bounce; turns out a new mailing address is being used. The following is a repost of one message. Subject: STE Problems (Word Plus) To: The new STE has given me less than memorable moments (an addendum sheet to the manual rather than an update sheet, no demo software to show off its features, a save desktop bug that needs an AUTO folder correction, Word Perfect won't run, Neodesk won't run, ....). Now, I find that Word Plus is flakey. After a double click to launch the application, about 3 or 4 times out of 10 the code will actually run. Alternatively I get 2, 3 or 4 bombs (the dual bombs freeze the STE). Some of the time the message ILLEGAL AES INSTRUCTION pops up. The STE has been a real pain so far. Another problem; once in a while a double click on an appl brings up the show/print/cancel dialog box because the system does not recognize that a .prg file has been accessed. What the heck is going on with the new TOS???? Earlier on the net I had posted a note about problems with the FrankenSTein memory upgrade board. While I am still having these problems, at least Canoe Computers, the supplier, is providing excellent feedback trying to solve my problems. Hopefully, I can get a working board soon so I can crank up REVOLVER on my STF at my workplace. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Jan 90 17:03 GMT From: Jan Ameij Subject: Shareware Policy. Hello friends. I was wandering round the local newsagents when my eye fell on the latest issue of ST-world. Inside (for it feel open in my hand) was an article saying that the latest issue of Quick-ST was to be commercial, not shareware, because the authors were not getting enough shareware contributions. I am not too bothered by this particular piece of software (when I tried Quick ST it caused endless difficulties and with real relief I deleted it. That's why _I_ didn't pay a shareware fee!), but it reminds me of something that's been bugging me for a while... I think shareware is a dead good idea, but I do think authors could make things easier for us users who are willing to pay. To wit, how are we Europeans supposed to get the dosh to North Maerican authors? Have you thought of that, eh? After all, Europe is the spiritual home of the ST, but NA is on the fringe. I can write cheques in any European currency, as can most over here, but practically nobody can easily send money to America. The same maybe applies to americans wanting to pay for European shareware... So, can't shareware writers do a bit of collection exchanging? Ask an active author on the other side to collect the money and forward it as a lump, do the same for her, and publicize both collection points in the "About Burble" bit. Just a suggestion, but I think it's a good one. And I might even try Quick ST if I could try it first. After my previous experience I wouldn't touch a commercial version with a bargepole! Well that's about all. Love, Me. PS I saw some undergraduate kiddy from somewhere saying that C is obviously the only programming language in use, because he only applies for C programming jobs. Has the concept of self-selection influencing statistical samples penetrated over there? Mind you, I agree that Basic stinks, though all these XYZ QuackBasics etc seem to have their followers. In the engineering world though, Fortran is still King. It's not ideal, but at least one can be sure that for any decent computer anywhere in the world there will be a Fortran IV compiler, if not an F-77 one. I write C too, in fact mainly now, but anyone thinking it's the standard is deluding him/herself. When there is a standard C (and I see ISO is not going to take the ANSI standard) and not two or three it may have a chance. Gosh, what a long letter. Sorry pals. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Jan 90 23:30:06 EST From: Dave Davis Subject: Sozobon question Message-ID: <9001272330.aa22145@BRL-VGR.APG-EMH5.APG.ARMY.MIL> Can anyone supply a short example of working code which uses the 'start_timer' and 'time_since' functions? I've been playing around trying to time the execution of some code, but haven't been able to get a working program as of yet. (Probably due to a lack of understanding of the correct syntax needed). Thanks in advance! BTW the program in question does contain '#include ', so this is not the problem. dave davis ddavis@apg-emh5.apg.army.mil ------------------------------ Date: 26 Jan 90 18:45:18 GMT From: ogicse!littlei!omepd!iwarp.intel.com!news@ucsd.edu (Randal Schwartz) Subject: Spectre-GCR (was Re: MAC Emulator on ATARI) Message-ID: <1990Jan26.184518.7091@iwarp.intel.com> In article <3280@iitmax.IIT.EDU>, demosxs@iitmax (Sisanouk Sopha) writes: | | I would like to buy an Atari machine that capable of doing a Macintosh | Emulation using add-on card. Couple years ago I heard there is such a product. | i wonder if they still have it. Do anybody know where can i get this product | and have anyone experienced using it? How much does it cost? (the whole system) | Thanks for your reply....I'm appreciated. Where's this person been? Spectre GCR allows Mac emulation at slightly-faster-than-mac speeds (unless you have the 16MHz upgrade like I do, in which case it is a *lot* faster), including reading and writing Mac-formatted disks. Its little brother (still called Magic SAC? I dunno) reads a certain kind of Mac disk, but not just any kind. It's available at most fine ST stores, or by mail order, I imagine. The emulation is so complete that it is even susceptible to Mac viruses! Just another ST owner (with an occasional Mac screen popping up), -- /=Randal L. Schwartz, Stonehenge Consulting Services (503)777-0095 ==========\ | on contract to Intel's iWarp project, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, Sol III | | merlyn@iwarp.intel.com ...!any-MX-mailer-like-uunet!iwarp.intel.com!merlyn | \=Cute Quote: "Welcome to Portland, Oregon, home of the California Raisins!"=/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Jan 90 17:08:00 EST From: Greg Csullog <01659%AECLCR.bitnet@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca> Subject: The STE and Multisyncs Message-ID: <90Jan27.170924est.58957@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca> The STE is supposed to support large screen monitors like the MONITERM 19" beast. My guess is that a message is sent to GEM telling it the resolution of the output device. Am I right? If so, if a call to GEM tells it that my output device (in this case my OMNIMON rainbow) supports 1024x768, does this mean I can put that many pixels on the screen. Please be kind with your replies, I am not hardware oriented. If I can make such a GEM call, how do I do it? ------------------------------ Date: 27 Jan 90 23:11:16 GMT From: zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!math.lsa.umich.edu!hyc@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Howard Chu) Subject: Unix Windows ... Message-ID: <10727@stag.math.lsa.umich.edu> In article <1990Jan27.165528.2696@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> romwa@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Royal Ontario Museum) writes: >I just ftp'd to get uw from him1. It looks as if this is for the Mac. >Does something like this exist for the ST? If so, are there special >Unix requirements (sockets?). The latest Atari ST implementation, with the hacks from the guys at Lachman Associates, is on terminator [35.1.33.8]. The Unix-Windows protocol was originally written to support the Mac. The Mac version supports a few features the ST version doesn't have, like Tektronix emulation. (That is, the Mac client. The Unix server works fine with either.) To run the Unix side you need Berkeley sockets and pseudo-ttys. (Or a lot of patience to reimplement all of that under streams...!) -- -- Howard Chu @ University of Michigan ------------------------------ End of INFO-ATARI16 Digest V90 Issue #107 *****************************************