*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*››          NEWSLETTER REVIEWS›            by Alan Sharkis›      OHAUG Newsletter Librarian››It's summer. I've been gone from this›column for a  while.   The  New  York›City Board of Education, specifically›its Chancellor,  recently  made  some›moves  to  seriously  impair,  if not›eliminate,   the   Home   Instruction›program for which I have worked since›1965.  I believe in this program  and›have recently spent all my  free time›on demonstarting in order to keep  it›going. So far there is a reprieve, so›the  vigilance  will continue, but it›won't occupy my time as  much  as  it›did in the last few months.››Now,  to  some  more pleasant tasks. ›I've   been   handed   a   stack   of›newsletters  to  review,   and   some›changes are evident in the stack.  We›continue to get newsletters from user›groups  that   contain   nothing   of›interest  to  8-bitters,  but we also›get surprises now and then from  some›that  have  stopped   running   8-bit›articles  in  the  past.   There  are›several  issues  that  a local member›borrowed during my absence, and  I'll›have  to  catch  up  with  them  next›time.››(FR)Antic  for  January,  1994 -- The›newsletter   refers  to  a  DOM  that›contains three calendar programs  and›a  disk  cataloger.   It doesn't give›the source of the disk,  but  I  sure›hope  it's  ours,  because  it sounds›like it!  JAMES G. MARTIN  writes  an›article  in  which  he  questions the›necessity of buying  an,  "*.  *.  *.›compatible."   The  Back   to   Basic›column gives  a list of commands that›work  from  BASIC  for  simple  I/O. ›MANUEL GARCIA reviews his  new  Epson›ActionPrinter 2250.  There is a short›type-in program  that  does  decimal-›hexadecimal conversions.››XIO3  for  January/February,  1994 --›Atari  8-bit Affairs by ROWLAND GRANT›is,    as    usual,    stuffed   with›information.  In  it,  he  highlights›the  efforts  of 8-bit user groups to›keep information flowing.   He  gives›the  TWAUG  group,  their newsletter,›and   their  recent  book  on  memory›mapping  as  one  example.   He  also›cites   other   British   and   Irish›luminaries  and  the   work   they're›doing.   Rowland also points out that›Toad Computers has been recycling  8-›bit  hardware  and  software for some›time and could be considered  a  good›source.   Next  Rowland  talks  about›several German developmemts.  He also›mentions, in passing, that  OHAUG  is›the group that packs and mails the AC›disks.  He is very impressed with the›method  we  use  (Scotch  Tape!)   to›insure that the disk isn't damaged in›its  paper  envelope.   Rowland  also›spends some time  discussing  the  ST›and  PC XFormers, Bellcom as a source›of shareware and  p/d  software  that›will  be  missed,  and  donations  as›another  source that, hopefully, will›continue.   In   his   Club  Meetings›column,  Rowland  also  mentions  the›Page   Editor   from   ED   HALL   of›Yellowknife.   Finally,  he  mentions›his  fellow  club-member, JOHN PICKEN›as finally completing  the  double-XL›and  RAM disk programs.  OHAUG should›have these programs  in  its  library›soon. (Ed. We do!)››The DACE Desktop for January/February›1994   --   Read  A  Poem  for  These›Holidays by HARVEY  ERLICH  (c)  1992›and    chuckle.    Then   read   JOHN›DICKERSON's Eight Bit  Corner  for  a›good deal of news and promises of new›products.››S.L.C.C. Journal for February, 1994 -›-  There is a blurb about CardStax by›DAVID PATTERSON in this issue.   This›refers  to  version   1.0   (2.0   is›available  in our library.)  A review›of AtariWriter + by ALEX  PIGNATO  is›reprinted  from  the   3/4/93   OHAUG›disk.››(FR)Antic  for  February,   1994   --› RUSSELL  STOWE's  personal   profile›appears  in  this issue.  There is an›article   about  the  source  of  the›Mitsumi disk drive mechanism which is›a  direct replacement for that in the›XF551.  A  type-in  program  puts  an›American flag on the screen.  Another›column   tells   how   to   use   the›DISKFIX.COM utility on your  DOS  2.5›disk  to  close   files   that   were›accidentally  left  open  so that the›disk can continue to work.  The  Back›to Basic column gives a detailed look›at the keyboard of the 8-bit Atari.›››The SAGE Scroll for February, 1994 --› There  is  an  excellent  article by›SHELDON WINICK, (reprinted from GENIE›LAMP  vol.4,  issue  65)   on   Power›Protection.  It's a must read!››The  PACEsetter for February, 1994 --› JIM PARRISH (as told to WALT  LEWIS)›provides  us with an easy way to tell›which   version  of  Atari  BASIC  is›running   in   your  computer.   JOHN›SLEZAK gives  a  lesson  on  creating›macros  for  TextPro.   Corresponding›member  RAY  SHARPLESS  tells  how he›created a circular icon for the  user›group.   He  also  writes  about  his›favorite text adventure, the Atari 8-›bit implementation  of  The  Colossal›Cave.   Jean Brokaw reviews LOTTOPIK,›a program from November, 1988 ANTIC. ›She  also  provides us with the usual›(and   welcome)  cryptogram,  rhebus,›type-in program (this one creates  an›on-screen    valentine   card),   and›provides a column on computer  care. ›There  is  an interesting article (no›author  mentioned)  which  shows  the›result     of    putting    Lincoln's›Gettysburg Address through  a  modern›grammar  and  style   checker.    The›author  didn't  mention  the program,›but seems to be one  with  which  I'm›familiar.   Read  it and laugh!  JOAN›RAIA  contributes  an  article  worth›reading,   called.   "For  Your  Eyes›Only."  KATHY SEVERANCE summarizes  a›future    demonstration    of     LJK›LetterPerfect.››(FR)Antic for March, 1994 -- The Back›to Basic column  lists  the  DOS  2.5›commands  and explains them.  A type-›in   program   prints    the    Atari›characters  in  their  default colors›for text modes 0, 1, and 2.  HARRY C.›WOLFERTH  explains how an Atari 8-bit›system can satisfy  the  needs  of  a›small business or home office.  JAMES›MARTIN makes a suggestion on  how  to›neatly  store  cartridges.   Finally,›two  pages  are  reprinted  from  The›PACESetter.   One  is from September,›1993   and   explains   the   use  of›DISKRX.BAS (NOT the SpartaDos tool!) ›The  other  is  from August, 1993 and›contains   Jean   Brokaw's    article›stressing  how  incorrectly-set  two-›column  margins  in  AtariWriter+ can›cause text to appear jumbled, and how›it can be avoided.››The  SAGE  Scroll  for March, 1994 --› There are two articles of interest. ›The first concerns a press release by›the Cleveland  Free-Net  Atari  SIG. ›This  fabulous   service,   available›through  InterNet or directly (if you›don't mind dialing long-distance with›your  modem)  boasts new and improved›support areas for all  Atari  users. ›Of  special  interst  to  us  is  the›expanded  "8-bit  Computers   Support›Atea",  which now contains all issues›of Z*Mag and has  improved  technical›forums  for  8-bit  programmers   and›hardware hackers.  The other article,›by LARRY HAUS, was reprinted from the›UFF-DA  Newswire  of  January  1992. ›It's  title, "You Can't Have Too Many›8-Bits," is self-explanatory.››Nybbles and  Bytes  for  March/April,›1994  -- This NWPAC publication has a›new look and reflects a club that has›been reborn and is looking eagerly to›the  future!   Congratulations,  guys›and gals!  The first page describes a›library catalog on a disk that sounds›extremely   ingenious.   The  catalog›program is available  to  their  club›members  at  meetings.   DALE WOOSTER›describes   how  the  club  will  use›special   cables   to  connect  three›computers, one disk drive  and  three›joysticks  for a contest based on The›Maze of Agdagon.  DON and JEAN  JUDD,›new  members   of   NWPAC   and   new›Atarians, describe all their joy with›the computers and the club to  date. ›So do JOHN AND JENNIFER POWELL.  They›especially  like  the  idea  of  user›groups communicating with each other,›and  mention  OHAUG  as  one  of  the›better clubs around.(Ed. JOHN has now›joined  OHAUG!  WELCOME  to  JOHN and›JENNIFER! A.P.)››The  DACE  Desktop  for  March/April,›1994  --  JOHN  DICKERSON's Eight Bit›Corner is replete  with  descriptions›of  new  products and, in some cases,›how he is using  them.   He  mentions›the  PC  XFormer,  the  Newell  1-meg›upgrade,  a  patch  from   MyDos   to›AtariWriter,  and  a new menu program›called Creator.››XIO3 for March/April, 1994 -- Atari-8›Affairs  by  ROWLAND  GRANT is loaded›with news about the new products from›FTe  and  that  CSS  will  be selling›them.    He   mentions  some  of  the›hardware and games being produced  in›both  England  and  Poland, and gives›due recognition to  the  user  groups›and   authors,   both   foreign   and›domesitic, that are providing him and›GCACE   with   lots   of   software. ›Included, of  course,  is  the  OHAUG›calendar and disk-catalog disk.››(FR)Antic  for  April,  1994  -- I've›finally found out who was writing the›Back  to  Basic  column, because this›month,  the  author  is  identified. ›It's RUSSELL STOWE, and this month he›talks  about  cassette  drives.    He›describes  the operation of the Atari›410 and 1010 drives  in  detail.   He›also  provides  us  with  three short›type-in programs.  ED HALL gives us a›checklist  with  which to compare the›features   of   all   the  8-bit  DTP›programs with which  he's  familiar. ›It's  an  extensive   list.    MANUEL›GARCIA  tells  us  about  a new Atari›magazine,    Atari    8-bit    Alive,›published   by   DAMON  WALKER.   The›premier issue is free, and I've  sent›for  it.  Damon frequents the FidoNet›Atari National Echo, and I've  traded›messages with him over the years.››S. L. C. C. Journal for April, 1994 -›- This  issue  contains  reprints  of›documentation  from   three   classic›programs.   The  first,  CGM by DAVID›CASTELL, is reprinted  from  Analog's›Atari  8-Bit  Extra.    The   second,›Anticpub,  by NADAV GUR, is reprinted›from   Antic,  12/87.   Finally,  the›there's   an  excerpt  from  the  APX›Manual   on   Dandy,   by   JOHN   H.›PAVELICH.››The S. L. C. C. Journal for May, 1994›devotes a great deal of  space  to  a›shareware  game  called  The  Maze of›Agdagon.    It  allows  up  to  eight›computers,   and   therefore    eight›players  to  participate  at the same›time,   using   a  special  interface›device.    Only  one  disk  drive  is›needed   in  this  system,  but  each›computer must have its  own  joystick›and  monitor.   A  single-player demo›version is available.  The  game  and›the multi-computer setup were devised›by a heavy-hitting crew that includes›JEFF  POTTER, CHUCK STEINMAN and JEFF›CASBEER. (Ed. Now in our library.)››*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*›