Amiga Tools 3/Amiga Tools 3.iso/guides-texts/antaug95/antaug95.txt

Text File | 1995-08-21 | 12KB | 249 lines

AMIGA NEWS TORONTO




Letter from the Editor

Why I decided to write this magazine....

    Three words:
    Because I'm mad.

    Why am I mad you might ask?  Simple, I'm an Amiga user.  Who am I mad at?
That's an even better question.  Commodore?  No (although at a time I was).  Other
Amiga users?  Definitely not, they've been the life blood of the Amiga for the past 10 or
so years.  Then who am I mad at?  A small publication called WE Compute... let me
explain:

    The city in which I live (Toronto, Canada) has numerous free papers available
(just like any other city really), a number of these are computer papers, mainly aimed at
Bill Gates and his Windows following, lemming users.  Many of these pages are also
devoted to the Macintosh (don't get me wrong, I love the Mac, I emulate it all the time on
my Amiga :), but I felt something was missing from the pages of this paper, an Amiga
column.

    Makes sense doesn't it?  I mean, these papers are there for end users to pick up,
to read, and to learn new things.  I used to read them all the time.  I used to be an IBM
user, and I relied on these types of papers to bring me new information on products and
developments.  But I didn't just read about PC's, I enjoyed reading about all types of
computers.  Face it, the more you know, the better off you are.

    A couple of years ago, I moved to the Amiga from my PC.  It was a whole new
world!  I could do things I never thought possible.  I started to defend my Amiga (like
any computer user would), when others downed it.  I still do in fact, maybe not as much
as I used to though :)

    (Back to WE Compute)

    I sent some E-Mail to the fine folks at WE Compute, offering to write an Amiga
column EVERY month, for FREE.  They post their E-Mail address in their issue, so I
expected to wait a few days before I heard a response, I thought they might get A LOT
of reader mail.  Well, I waited, and waited, and waited.... (you get the picture) and no
answer came.

    To say the least, I was insulted.  Not just as an Amiga user, but as a computer
user in general.  Amiga users out there need to be informed of things that are going on
in the industry (I guess the Commodore buy-out by Escom wasn't big enough news to
the people at WE Compute whereas their section entitled:  WHY READ BOOKS
WHEN DR. RUTH'S AVAILABLE ON CD?........ was).

    Kind of sad don't you agree?

    But what was most insulting was the fact I heard NOTHING.  Not even "We're not
interested".

    Want to know what REALLY got me?  The next month's issue a friend of mine
(who just happens to know someone related to the people at WE Compute), was able
to review Macintosh software.  Again, I have NOTHING in the world against the
Macintosh, I respect it as a computer, and I respect the people that use it, but what got
me is what he reviewed.....

    Speed Doubler - a program to increase your Mac's speed (good article).
    How to get your Mac on the net - well, I've seen this article about 10 times
    before this printing.
    Marathon - a review of a GAME!!!

    Give me a break!  It's a game!  I don't think the world would end if WE Compute
hadn't run a review of a game.  They WASTED an ENTIRE column of paper on a game.
That's what insulted me the most.

    What WE Compute is saying to me is this:  Not only is Marathon important to the
computing industry, but it is much more important than an entire platform, in this case
the Amiga.

    Personally, I think WE Compute should change their name from WE Compute
to WE Compute.... just not with Amiga's.

    On an interesting side-note, the review of how to get your Mac on the net started
like this:

    "Everybody wants to get on the Internet.  Plenty of information is available
explaining how to do so for the millions of PC users, but the Mac is virtually ignored by
the rest of the world."

    The Mac is being ignored?  Try being an Amiga user.....

    -Glen Miller (Editor)
NEWS & REVIEWS



FINAL WRITER VERSION 4.0



    Let me get this out now, I love Final Writer.  I've used it since version 1, and
every version I've used, I've loved that much more.  I love the print out (even on my
24-pin printer), I love the Adobe Type 1 font support, I love the speed.... I love
everything about this program, and I look forward to new versions being released as I
will be FIRST in line to get my copy.

    Let me tell you something about Final Writer.  First it's powerful, a perfect blend
of desk top publishing and word processing all rolled up into one.  The user interface is
a dream!  The menus are FULLY configurable, and every function can be based on pull
downs, buttons or both.  It gives you the ability to load Adobe Type 1 fonts, without
having to manipulate them (a la Propage) into their own special format.
    It's fast too, even on a 68000 based A2000 that just meets the requirements,
screen redraws are speedy.  It supports screen modes found in your
SYS:DEVS/MONITORS drawer.  Meaning, if you have an AGA based Amiga, you can
run this in up to 256 colours.
    The printing is wonderful, on ANY Workbench supported printer.  The "Jaggies"
are virtually non existent on my 24-pin Star 2430 printer.
    But Final Writer is much more than just a Word Processor, in many ways, it's
similar to a DTP program.  It supports drawing tools, which can be placed ANYWHERE
on your page.  You can rotate graphics, place text in a box and rotate that too.  You can
zoom in on your work, or zoom out to see if everything is placed as you like it.
    There's more too!  In this version, many new things were introduced.  First, there
is now a grammar checker, and Click Tabs allow you to easily go to a desired page.
The interface is more thought out (although I thought previous versions were fine).  It
took a little while to get used to from Final Writer 3 (as some of the interface is a little
different), but I enjoy it more.  There is still something I'd like to see, a font preview
option, so I can look at a font before I use it.  Also, they took away my favourite way of
loading a font, by hitting Amiga-T in previous versions would let you load a font from
disk.  Nothing special, a black font, in point size 12.  Now, it gives me many more
options, but 99% of the time, I just need a black font.  It takes extra time.  I hope they
put the old way back.

    Can you tell I like this program? :)

    Now for the somewhat bad news, the system requirements are unusually high for
an Amiga program.  First, you must have an Amiga with Workbench 2.0+.  Secondly,
you must have a hard drive, and you must have 3MB of RAM or more.  If you don't meet
one of these requirements either upgrade, or if that is not an option, check out Final
Copy, the sister program to Final Writer.
    If you are looking for a new Amiga word processor and meet the requirements,
don't sell yourself short.  Final Writer 4 is the best Amiga word processor I've EVER
used, and the people who make it, seem dedicated to the Amiga.  Maybe they could
strike up a deal with Escom to include Final Writer with every new Amiga bought.  This
is the type of program that will get Amiga's into homes.

    FINAL WRITER 4
    ©1995 SOFTWOOD INC.

    SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
    WORKBENCH 2.0+
    3MB OF RAM
    HARD DRIVE




IMAGE FX 2.1


    One thing we all know the Amiga can do, is graphics.  We see them all the time
on TV.  If you ever watch Babylon 5, SeaQuest, Star Trek: Voyager or many others, you
are looking at graphics that are generated with help from the Amiga.  Why is the Amiga
used so much for graphics?  Well, we are one of the few computers out there that can
run animations at full screen, at full frame rate.  There are others that can do it, but we
are one of the few who can do it AFFORDABLY.  We also have programs like
LightWave that help make our dreams a reality.
    But does that mean you have to have big bucks to make nice pictures?  No, not
with the Amiga.  Unlike Macs and PCs where you have to spend hundreds of dollars to
get a decent graphic package, many Amiga programs are available for under $200.
    ImageFX is a good example.  It has many features behind it.  An elegant
interface, ability to load 24-bit pictures, virtual memory support, and it's many different
types of filters available to it.  It really is a wonderful package for home and professional
users alike.
    The basics are there, things like Image converting, simple filters to fool around
with, etc.  It also includes a morphing program (lots of fun!), and a batch image
processor.  Another nice touch is an AREXX interface.  With AREXX, you can send
commands to ImageFX from other Amiga programs, a practical use for this would be for
something like a BBS door that would convert images from one format to the other while
you are on line.  AREXX is very helpful indeed.
    The thing that I like the most about ImageFX is the fact that it isn't intimidating.  It
looks easy to use and it is.  It's fun too!  To sit down with an image and more or less
destroy it is fun! :)

    IMAGEFX 2.1
    ©1995 NOVA DESIGN

    SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
    WORKBENCH 1.3+
    3MB OF RAM
    HARD DRIVE




SHAPE SHIFTER 3.1

    The world is dominated by IBM and PC clones.  However, many of us Amiga
users know how frustrating it can be to setup one of these computers.  Another
alternative to the clones (besides our trusty Amiga's) is the Apple Macintosh.
    What is so big about the Mac?  Well, it's got some great applications, especially
in the DTP area.  Also, many offices are switching over to Macintosh based computers
because of their ease of use.
    The problem is that even though many of us may have Macs in our offices or
(like me) in our schools, we've already invested in our Amiga's and we have no intention
of selling them just to become compatible, we would lose too much.
    That's where Shape Shifter comes in.  Currently at version 3.1 it gives Amiga
users the ability to run Macintosh software, CHEAPLY.
    The Amiga and Mac are based on the same processors, the Motorola 68000
series, so only some translation is required between the two systems.  Whereas
emulating an IBM clone is more difficult as the Amiga uses a different processor.
    So how good is Shape Shifter you might ask?  VERY good.  Christian Bauer (the
author) has created a VERY high quality product.  Earlier versions of Shape Shifter
were buggy (at least on my machine) so I stayed clear.  But when version 3.0 came out,
I gave it a try.... and it worked great!  I am able to run programs like MS Word, Claris
Works, and MS Works.  It also runs all the PD programs I have tried as well like StuffIt
Expander and numerous games.
    Ok, now that I've got your interested, let me tell you about what you'll need.  First
you'll need a copy of Shape Shifter and the SAVE ROM program that comes with it.
This program will convert a hardware Macintosh ROM into a file for Shape Shifter to
use.  Secondly you'll need a copy of the Macintosh operating system, you can FTP a
copy of the disk images from FTP.APPLE.COM.
    You'll probably need a high density floppy drive (although you can get by with a
double density), as most Macintosh programs come on high densities.  Just a note,
Amiga's CANNOT read double density Macintosh disks.
    Finally, you'll need AT LEAST a 68020 based Amiga, with at least 4MB of RAM
(although 8MB is recommended).  Workbench 2.0+ is required and a hard drive is
recommended as well.
    Shape Shifter supports most popular 24-bit video boards, and the ability to add in
additional boards through modules.  It will also run on ECS and AGA based Amiga's.
    The unregistered version supports hard files (files created on your hard drive to
emulate real hard drives), where the registered version lets you use hard drives or hard
drive partitions.  Registration is $40 US funds.

    SHAPE SHIFTER VERSION 3.1
    © 1995 Christian Bauer

    SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
    WORKBENCH 2.0+
    4MB OF RAM+
    HARD DRIVE


E-MAIL US!

    Next month I will have a small section for readers to write in and express their
ideas and thoughts.  Questions, along with advice are also welcomed, and comments
(good or bad) are also appreciated.  If you are interested in having your voice heard,
then send your mail to:

[e-mail]

    I may not publish every piece of mail, but I WILL read them, and reply (unlike WE
Compute).  See you next month!