+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*››           A MINI MEETING›                by ALEX PIGNATO››      Hey GANG, have you attende one› of the OL' HACKERS "MINI-MEETS"? I› have, and I can assure you that they› are great fun. In this last one, we› were invited to the home of ALAN› SHARKIS. Right off the bat we knew we› would enjoy the afternoon because› about 7 or 8 of us showed up,› including one of our new 1991› members, ANN RAWLINSON. ››      After about 15 or so minutes› just shooting the breeze, we were› ushered into the dining room where a› great spread was put up by Mrs.› SHARKIS, a lovely, and warm person.› Yup, there they were, my favorites,› BAGELS and a couple of spreads. I› tested them all and can attest to the› fact that they were delicious. Then› there was coffee, and a delicious› cake. All this was served with a› large scoop of interesting computer› talk, naturally. At that point, I was› nice and relaxed and ready for a› snooze, but ALAN had us go into his› computer room to see where his IBM› was shackeled as a slave to his 8 BIT› 130XE computer, through the use of› his SIOPC2 unit. Thats right, you› read correctly, BIG BLUE was acting a› s a large partitioned RAMDISK for the› itty bitty 8 BIT! ALAN showed us how› he partitioned the IBM with loads of› storage space for all kinds of› goodies, and worked off the 8 BIT› keyboard, and loaded disks, printed› etc. Not only was it interesting, but› it was really an incredible sight.› ALAN said the SIOPC2  cost under› $60.00 including shipping. ››      So, you see people, don't throw› away your IBM systems, (even though› they can't hold a candle to the 8› BIT) they still can be used for more› than a door stop. They can be used as› your RAMDISK!›      Lest I forget, ALAN then used› his modem and 8 BIT, and got on the› NEW NEST BBS (516) 234-4943, and› because some members were new to› modems, he ran through the procedure,› and even left a short message for me,› and then hung up. I then made the› call, to get on the board, and you› guessed it. Because I'm so used to› using MACROS, I forgot my validation› number, and couldnt get on board.› Shame on me!››      All in all it was great, and it› once again shows one of the little› fringe benefits of being a member of› any USERS CLUB. As I have said in the› past, THANK YOU OL' HACKERS ATARI› USERS GROUP, Inc. for opening and› enlarging my world with many new› friends and interesting people, and› adding another dimension to my life.› Thanks once again to the wonderful› host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. ALAN› SHARKIS, and to those present, it was› a wonderful afternoon, which ended› too soon.››      (I would like to remind all our› members, both in the area and those› who live in other areas, including out› of the country, why not write an› article for the NEWSLETTER. You would› be surprised at how many people would › enjoy reading about your favorite› hobby, the 8 BIT. Perhaps a review of› an old program which you enjoy, or a› wish list, which might get acted upon› by a fellow 8 BIT programmer. You› could even write about the great› vacation you had, and how you suffered› because you didn't have your daily› COMPUTER FIX, or about any thing else.› Its a great way for us to exchange› experiences, and knowledge! I'll be› looking for your articles, so keep 'em› coming! EDITORS)››  [][][][][][][]-END-[][][][][][][][]››