1299 lines
63 KiB
Plaintext
1299 lines
63 KiB
Plaintext
Volume 3, Number 14 7 April 1986
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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| _ |
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| / \ |
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| - FidoNews - /|oo \ |
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| (_| /_) |
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| Fido and FidoNet _`@/_ \ _ |
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| Users Group | | \ \\ |
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| Newsletter | (*) | \ )) |
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| ______ |__U__| / \// |
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| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
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| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
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| (jm) |
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+---------------------------------------------------------------+
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Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson
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Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
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FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet
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Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1.
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You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
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FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file
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FNEWSART.DOC, available from node 1/1.
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The contents of the articles contained here are not our
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responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them.
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Everything here is subject to debate.
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Table of Contents
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1. EDITORIAL
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Trials and Tribulations of a Software Publisher
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2. ARTICLES
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Amigo or Amiga?
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Computer Addiction
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A word from the author
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A New RS-232 Standard in the Making!!
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3. COLUMNS
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Notes from Abroad
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Rainbow Corner
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The World of Computing: Super Macs and Israeli Magazines
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4. WANTED
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ProtoCall Needs BBS Sysops!
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5. FOR SALE
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Entertainment Software for your PC!
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Public Domain Software Library Sale!!
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ProtoCall National System Goes Online
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Special Offer to FidoNet Sysops
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6. NOTICES
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The Interrupt Stack
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FidoNews Bugs
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New release of PKSCrypt Public Key Encryption System
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Synchronous Modem Test Sites needed
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Fidonews Page 2 7 Apr 1986
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=================================================================
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EDITORIAL
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=================================================================
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Trials and Tribulations of a Software Publisher
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It's not easy being a software publisher. Even a small one.
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Probably the hardest part is getting noticed. There are so many
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companies publishing software these days that it's tough to get
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anyone to pay any attention to you. Of course, it can be done.
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All it takes is money. Where have I heard that before?
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If you haven't got money, then it gets rough. In theory, all you
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need to do is build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a
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path to your door. In practice, that isn't usually true.
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The shareware concept is helping there. (No, this isn't another
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shareware editorial. Well, not exactly. Sit down right now and
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write out checks for all of the shareware you're using. End of
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commercial.) I've spoken to a few other shareware authors lately,
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and it does seem that it is finally becoming a viable way to
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market a product. Two weeks ago I'd have said that not more than
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a half dozen shareware authors actually got anywhere. Now I'm
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not so sure. There might just be quite a few people out there
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getting by on shareware income, which is good.
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I tend to be cynical. When we first released ARC I didn't think
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anybody would pay for it. When the first check came in I was
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astounded. We were torn between cashing it and framing it. (We
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compromised; we cashed it and framed a Xerox copy.) I've been
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pleasantly surprised, over and over. People are better than I
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ever would have imagined.
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And yes, the user supported software concept works both ways.
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The new compression stuff in ARC 5.0 took a lot of work. I
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wouldn't have done it if I hadn't known that people cared.
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I was asked recently what it takes for a shareware product to
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"succeed". I said all the usual, it has to be good, and do
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something popular, and be cheap; but then another thought came to
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me. You have to be serious. You have to seriously treat the
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product as a commercial offering, with all that that entails. It
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means doing the customer support, answering the letters and the
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phone calls, being responsive to users' needs, and everything
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else. It's not enough to slap a shareware notice on it and let
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it go. You have to be willing to follow through. If you don't
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take it seriously, then nobody else will, either.
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As a side note: Our printer swears that we'll have the SEAdog
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manuals by this Wednesday at the latest. We'll start shipping as
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soon as we get them. Meanwhile, I've seen the SEAdog manual
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covers. You've gotta see them to believe them. They're, well,
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They're distinctive. I'm actually not sure whether I like them
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or not. But they're certainly eye catching.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 3 7 Apr 1986
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=================================================================
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ARTICLES
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=================================================================
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Mike Roberts
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120/5
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Amigo or Amiga?
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Everyone by now knows about the Amiga. Of course, there are
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still those that can't pronounce it right. They say Amigo,
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Omega, Ammago, etc. It's not that tough a word to pronounce, but
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alas, some Commodore folks STILL have problems. In fact, I was
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at our Users' Group meeting (MCUG) watching a Commodore official
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demonstrate the then unreleased Amiga. After he was done, the
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president of our club decided to say a few words about the Amiga.
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What did he say? He said "Omega." I think several people were
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ready to scramble his brains, at least I was!
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Anyway, the Amiga marks Commodore's first effort to break
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into the business arena of computers. They have tried hard to
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give the Amiga its own image and not one of Commodore. They have
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even go so far as to politely as magazine reporters and others to
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refer to the Amiga as "the Amiga from Commodore," not the
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"Commodore Amiga." But can Commodore be successful?
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The Commodore 64 and Vic 20 were the computers to actually
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put Commodore on the map. Color AND sound for under, gasp,
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$1000! The sound is still unrivaled by many a computer, save for
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the new Amiga. Of course, back then was the good old days of
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Jack Tramiel, then he decided to leave and purchase Atari. The
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new Commodore has managed to botch everything up. Remember that
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Plus/4 and the Commodore 16? They were supposed to replace the
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64, ha! That was new Commodore's first mistake.
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Their second mistake was the Amiga. No, not the computer.
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It's a masterpiece of work. I am referring to their marketing.
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Of course the Amiga could compete with the IBM PC on a pure
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technical level. But who are they fooling? The IBM PC is THE
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computer for business. Whether it is a good or bad machine, it's
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entrenched in the daily lives of American business. So why does
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the new Commodore still try to compete with the IBM PC, let alone
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IBM PC AT? They're stupid.
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Now look at Atari with Jack Tramiel. He has come out with a
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$999, 1 megabyte computer that rivals the Amiga. Well,
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technically it is inferior, but at that price who cares? Atari
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has so far been smart. They've attacked the Macintosh and Amiga.
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They don't really seem to be worried about the IBM PC. What I
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mean is that they are selling to the home, not the business. But
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who does Commodore continue to put in all their comparison
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charts? The IBM PC, IBM PC AT, and the Macintosh. You will
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never see the Atari ST's in a Commodore comparison chart. But
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who do you see in the Atari comparison charts? The Amiga and the
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Macintosh and yes, the IBM PC AT, but you'll notice they included
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Fidonews Page 4 7 Apr 1986
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the Amiga.
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Let's face it, if you put a base model IBM PC, IBM PC AT,
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Amiga, Macintosh, and Atari 520 ST together the overall better
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one is the Amiga. Remember I said BASE model. The Amiga has
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excellent graphics, sound, and built-in multitasking. It's also
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faster than all of them except for the ST (8.00 MHZ) and the
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Macintosh (7.63 MHZ). But when you include the Amiga's (7.16
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MHZ) coppers (co-processors) it is overall faster except for pure
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number-crunching. Now IBM users, here's where you win out. The
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IBM has the following features: (1) a financially sound company,
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(2) 100% IBM compatibility, (3) lots of third-party support, (4)
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and lots of your employers may use IBM's so you can work somewhat
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at home.
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In fact, this is another place where Commodore has screwed
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up. $600 for IBM compatibility? Then, if you want it to actually
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run as FAST as an IBM, you must buy the Enhancer ($100 to $200).
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That's ridiculous. On top of all this, I have heard that the IBM
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Emulator is less than 95% compatible. For the price of Amiga/IBM
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compatibility, you could purchase a Tandy 1000 or a bare Tandy
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1200 that is MUCH more compatible.
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As far as the Amiga and the Macintosh go, well. With the
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original Macintosh, the Amiga obviously is far superior. I don't
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know about the newer Macs though.
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The main thesis of this article, though, is really whether
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the new Commodore is doing an adequate job of advertising and
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marketing the Amiga. I think they are doing the worst they have
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ever done. My main qualm about the Amiga is its price: $2000 for
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512K, monitor, drive, and computer/OS. This is ridiculous if
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they want to succeed. As you know, Commodore is on its last legs
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unless they do something drastic. The 1040 ST from Atari just
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may be the final straw that breaks the camel's back.
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Please send any responses to me at Uticom (120/5) or on
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QuantumLink to "MikeR1" or to "CommoLore".
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 5 7 Apr 1986
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Mike Gordon, WB0OXO
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Fido 123/4/6
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Getting Hooked!
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I'd like to see if any of you fido nuts can identify with the
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following story. Believe it or not it's all TRUE.
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Computer addiction is a word that was not in my vocabulary six
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months ago, but since I discovered modems well...
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It all started on a warm night in July 1985. I decided to buy a
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computer so the kids could practice math, spelling, etc. (sound
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familiar?)
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I decided to buy a Commodore 64 because the software was
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plentiful and cheap. I know CBM seems to be a taboo word in the
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Fido Net, but keep reading you might learn something.
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First, the kids started asking for more programs; then, my wife
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got hooked on CBM graphics (games). Four months later I began to
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wonder, if there was a cheaper way to get new programs to keep
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them all happy.
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That is when someone at work mentioned the local bulletin board
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system as a source. I gathered my pennies and went to the local
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Target Store and purchased the only modem they had at the time
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(one called Modem Master). The directions in the manual seemed
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simple and the software's menu screens seemed "friendly" right
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from the start, so off I went into the world of the bulletin
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board.
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After several near misses with "kiddy pirate boards", I happened
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upon a phone number for Fido Grapevine 123/4, so I called. I did
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not find any CBM software, but I did find a whole new world. The
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world of Fido Net.
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At first, I was overwhelmed by the system, but thanks to the
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novice prompt default I soon became good at moving through,
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commenting on, and entering message conversations.
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Next, came text file transfers like the Fido Newsletter. This is
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where the Modem Master software let me down. I could download a
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file alright, but when I tried to read or print the file all I
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got was a bunch of graphic characters on the screen or the
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printer.
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I must have made dozens of phone calls, trying to find out why,
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but no one could tell me (I didn't know about the Commodore Users
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Group in town). Finally one night, Earl Bates (Sysop 123/4) and
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I were comparing the ASCII codes of his Tandy 1100 and my
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Commodore. BINGO! I discovered CBM ASCII (PETASCII to some). I
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looked and looked for an ASCII translator program but I could not
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find one. Finally, I decided that I'd write my own (I have
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software degree). I did and it works, slow, but it works. Now I
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could print those files, wow, was I proud!
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Fidonews Page 6 7 Apr 1986
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Next, enter a new Fido board in town called Fido Hydrant (123/6).
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Bingo again, there on my screen were several terminal programs
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that supported automatic ASCII translation. My search was over
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(or so I thought).
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I suspect many Fido Sysops are not familiar with "other" types of
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computer systems other than the big namers (IBM, Compaq, etc.);
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therefore, I will try to explain PETASCII as I know it. PETASCII
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is a non industry standard ASCII code that Commodore Business
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Machines, Inc. came up with to support many of their personal
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computers. The major differences between industry standard ASCII
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and PETASCII as viewed on the screen are:
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1) Upper and lower case reversal - this occurs because the
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character codes for PETASCII upper case characters are the
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same as industry standard ASCII lower case characters.
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Upper case characters in the industry standard ASCII
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translate to the graphics character set on the C-64.
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2) CBM 64 does not require a line feed after a carriage
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return; therefore, any text file uploaded to a standard
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ASCII board will be seen as one long line rather than as
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intended (line length less than 80 characters). Any text
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file download from a standard ASCII board to a C-64 will
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appear double spaced.
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If any C-64 users reading this are in need of terminal programs
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that support automatic translation I suggest they either download
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CBTerm from the CBSig on Compuserve or call Fido Hydrant 123/6 in
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Memphis (901) 353-4563 24hr; also, if there are some sysops out
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there who have C-64 users on their board that are having the same
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trouble as I did I suggest you do your non-IBM'ers a favor and
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provide these files for them to download. Hydrant has several
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terminal programs available that do automatic ASCII translation
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and support both x-modem and punter protocol. In addition,
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CBTerm also supports disk to disk downloading and uploading.
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This allows the C-64 user the luxury of downloading files longer
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than their buffers will allow. Buffer downloading on the C-64 is
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usually limited to around 30 to 40 thousand bytes. Fido
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Newsletters are longer than this!!
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It was just about this time that I learned of a new modem that
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was within my price range. It was called the 64 Modem and
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supported auto dialing. This was a real eye opener. I no longer
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had to stay glued to the computer while trying to check into
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Fido!
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Everything seemed fine because now I had a Fido board that
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supported CBM and the files were keeping everyone happy, until I
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ran into a file that was so long I did not have enough time to
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download it.
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It was about this time that I learned of a new 1200 baud modem
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that supports Hayes commands (Commodore Model 1670). I finally
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saved enough pennies to buy one ($186.00) and rushed home to try
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it out. To my disappointment, CBTerm would not run it, so I
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Fidonews Page 7 7 Apr 1986
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started a search for another terminal program. After many
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downloads and searching I finally discovered that the reason that
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CBTerm would not run the 1670 properly was because I had both my
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disk drives online at the same time. CBTerm will operate at
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either 300 or 1200 baud and WILL operate the 1670 modem properly
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IF only one 1541 disk drive is hooked up! In a few weeks I will
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try to provide a detailed look at CBTerm for the CBM user, but
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for now I will just say that it is the best terminal program I
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have used to date.
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So now I'm stuck with 1200 baud (fastest the C-64 will run), high
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telephone bills, and computer widow for a wife.
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I doubt that this story is one of a kind. If you would like to
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comment send Fidomail to Fido Hydrant 123/6 or Fido Grapevine
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123/4.
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Phone numbers for the above two boards are shown below:
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The Hydrant BBS 123/6 (901) 353-4563
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The Grapevine BBS 123/4 (901) 683-8168
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Fidonews Page 8 7 Apr 1986
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Tom Jennings
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Fido 125/1
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It's probably old news, but Fido 125/1, the old "Fido
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#1", is temporarily dead. An actual hard disk crash; aluminum
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shavings inside the drive. Not too good. Not only that, I broke
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the machine while trying to fix it, so I tossed it in a closet
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and took the opportunity to take a long needed vacation from
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running a BBS.
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The vacation is temporary; Fido will be up again once I
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replace the hardware. I'm building a computer to use.
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(Industrial, not commercial grade components: Intel Multibuss
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based, 300W supply, hard disk no floppies, no CRT, fan and
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automotive air filter.) Since I don't have a DTC Host Adapter to
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bolt the Xebec to the buss, I gotta rewrite my ROM, and write a
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parallel port driver, which of course I keep putting off.
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Anyone have a Data Technology Corp. DTC-86 Host Adapter
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for the Multibuss? I'll pay a reasonable sum for one. New, used,
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I don't care. If I get one, I can have the machine up in a week,
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otherwise it's whenever I get around to writing and debugging
|
||
yucky drivers. Either postoffice me a note (2269 Market St. #118,
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San Francisco, CA 94114) or FidoNet me at 1/0.
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On an unrelated subject: I'm glad to see the HELP and BUG
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nodes are up. Thanks to all the volunteers. In a few weeks, go
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check out the number of messages on all of them, all at once.
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Then imagine only two or three people answering all of those.
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Ugh. It was our own fault, however, we never made it clear just
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how much work it was. Things change.
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Which brings me to the real point: many, many people have
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requested from me protocol specs and such things on FidoNet
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compatibility issues. I'd really really like to write them, but I
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know I will never get to it.
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For example, I wrote a FIDOLIST program, that generates a
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human readable FIDOLIST.TXT from the node list. Its really nice
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||
and fast, but I found that there were keywords in the node list
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that I didn't understand! Now that's not a problem. Things
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should get repaired and updated as needed, and I'm glad someone
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else did it instead of me (the HUB keyword had me baffled).
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This stuff has gotta get documented, in some "official"
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way, or we are going to be in SERIOUS trouble very soon.
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FIDOMAIL.DOC was a nice start (my first pass at a FidoNet
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protocol spec) but its poorly written, and now out of date, as it
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doesn't have pickup and poll in it.
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How about this: we start some new IFNA region nodes:
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FidoNet Protocol SPECS
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File Transfer SPECS
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NodeList SPECS
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Fidonews Page 9 7 Apr 1986
|
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FidoNet Protocol SPECS would generate and maintain
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something that describes in some detail the FidoNet protocol,
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plus fill in some of the missing parts (like the undocumented
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boundary conditions). The FIDOMAIL.DOC file is a rude start, and
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I'll gladly fill in what I can for missing details. The person(s)
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involved here should be high level techie: message packet
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attribute bits should be allocated and defined from here, and
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future protocol expansions, which I have in my head, should be
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written up. I will continue to maintain FIDO_???.EXE, and changes
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to packet formats, message header bits, etc, need to be
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coordinated. We already ran into one of those messes already, we
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don't need to a second time!
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File Transfer SPECS is pretty simple: it should cover
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XMODEM, TELINK and KERMIT file transfer protocols. Not really a
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big deal, since these are documented currently, but not all in
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one place. Also we need one set standard reference docs, that we
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refer to for all FidoNet related stuff, and not just whatever
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ancient file someone finds laying about.
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NodeList SPECS is to cover the things like the node list
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keywords and their additions and changes, plus probably keep the
|
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software for things like the new Diff file format. Right now
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we're pretty safe, but this could get out of hand very easily.
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There are many more things that are SPEC related that
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need to be covered, these are just the biggies.
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Tim Pozar and I talked to Erik Fair, in Berkeley, a high
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||
level Unix wizard and UUCP/Arpa expert, and all around excellent
|
||
person. We found out that even though FidoNet is an email system,
|
||
but not a "packet switched" system (my fault for the faulty
|
||
terminology, I don't know anything about traditional telecom)
|
||
FidoNet has many high level features and structural advantages
|
||
that are now holding back UUCP net. We have the advantages of
|
||
Arpa's "host tables" (our nodelist) and the damn high efficiency
|
||
that comes from paying for your own phone bills!
|
||
|
||
We really need to keep things improving. We have a hot
|
||
network, even though it's not getting the recognition it
|
||
deserves. FidoNet is greater than the sum of its parts,
|
||
obviously: the software is necessary but not enough; the human
|
||
structure is what makes it run!
|
||
|
||
It is amazing how smoothly and quickly the HELP and BUG
|
||
nodes went together. I take it as an indication of the size of
|
||
the need it filled. The SPECS nodes won't be gobbled up so
|
||
quickly, but will provide long term insurance. First of all, we
|
||
will be the only ones doing such things, so the rest of the BBS
|
||
world will turn to us for specs. We're building an expertise base
|
||
here, we might might as well do it purposefully instead of
|
||
haphazardly, so that we all can benefit.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 10 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
I found this on a well-known mid-western BBS. Thought I'd share
|
||
it with all my good friends at FidoLand.
|
||
|
||
Juan E. Jimenez, 103/511, 1/110
|
||
Micro Consulting Associates
|
||
Newport Beach, California
|
||
|
||
|
||
DL-232 -- A New Standard
|
||
|
||
by Dave Lyons
|
||
(CompuCenter Iowa: JoeApple; CompuServe 72177,3233)
|
||
|
||
|
||
I may never understand how the designers of the RS-232 "standard"
|
||
for serial communication managed to use 25 wires where only 3 are
|
||
really necessary. Maybe they made a deal with the companies that
|
||
make cables, connectors, and switch boxes. I just don't know.
|
||
|
||
Well, I thought of a few things that the RS-232 standard lacks,
|
||
and since there are already so many extra signals, a few more
|
||
can't hurt anybody, right? Heck, let's go for 50-pin connectors
|
||
and cables and add the following new signals. (Just to make sure
|
||
this isn't compatible with any old equipment, all OLD signals are
|
||
moved up one pin number (Carrier Detect becomes 9 instead of 8,
|
||
etc., and pin 25 goes to pin 1).
|
||
|
||
|
||
Pin Name Description
|
||
--- ---- -----------
|
||
26 XCAT Should be connected to chassis of devices. Used
|
||
with the next two signals, this provides protec-
|
||
tion against cats who haven't learned not to walk
|
||
on floppy disks or serial equipment. This signal
|
||
should supply about 2000 volts (at a VERY low
|
||
current level; wouldn't want to HURT the cute
|
||
little thing, just teach it not to walk on
|
||
anything in the computer room).
|
||
|
||
27 CATGND Cat ground. Used with pin 26. This signal
|
||
should be connected to another part of the
|
||
chassis or the tabletop.
|
||
|
||
28 CTD Cat detect.
|
||
|
||
29 SD Self-destruct. This signals causes the device to
|
||
destroy itself.
|
||
|
||
30 SDACK Self-destruct acknowledge. Acknowledges that the
|
||
device has destroyed itself.
|
||
|
||
31 VADIC This signal indicates to a computer that the
|
||
device on the other end is a modem that uses
|
||
VADIC protocol. (Note: CompuCenter Iowa users
|
||
should jumper this signal to SD and then buy a
|
||
decent modem.)
|
||
Fidonews Page 11 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
32 STBIT1 Stutter bits. With pin 33, sets the number of
|
||
"stutter bits" (0 to 3 of them) to be included
|
||
before each byte transmitted. This may reduce
|
||
the number of people who feel inferior to compu-
|
||
ter equipment by showing them that computers have
|
||
problems communicating with each other.
|
||
|
||
33 STBIT2
|
||
|
||
34 CABR Cable ready. It's not enough to know that the
|
||
Data Set is ready (DSR) and the Data Terminal is
|
||
read (DTR). We also need to know that the CABLE
|
||
connecting them is ready.
|
||
|
||
35 GRR Gremlins ready. Not everybody knows it, but
|
||
there are little green guys inside most modern
|
||
computer equipment. Most of the time they sleep,
|
||
but other times they cause trouble. The next 6
|
||
signals are for dealing with gremlins.
|
||
|
||
36 220A Used with pin 37, supplies 220 volt power for the
|
||
gremlins' air conditioning. On hot days when
|
||
gremlins can't sleep, applying power to these
|
||
pins may solve your problems.
|
||
|
||
37 220B
|
||
|
||
38 110H 110 volts, hot side. When the 220 volt power
|
||
doesn't help and gremlin problems persist, use
|
||
this with pin 39 to supply 110 volts for the
|
||
gremlins' TV and video game center.
|
||
|
||
39 110N 110 volts, neutral side.
|
||
|
||
40 MOON Indicates the phase of the moon. Sometimes
|
||
solves mysterious problems.
|
||
|
||
41 LHI Pins 41 through 45 can be used to implement the
|
||
"like" protocol when the normal RTS/CTS protocol
|
||
isn't enough. This one means "Like HI" and is
|
||
used to establish a connection.
|
||
|
||
42 LHTY2 Like HI to You Too. Acknowledges pin 41.
|
||
|
||
43 LLTT Like Listen To This. Requests permission to send
|
||
data.
|
||
|
||
44 LOK Like OK. Grants permission to transmit data.
|
||
|
||
45 LWOW Like WOW. Acknowledges receipt of data.
|
||
|
||
46 HEY Pins 46 to 50 may be used to implement the
|
||
"Eighties" protocol when RTS/CTS and "Like"
|
||
protocols won't do the job. This signal is
|
||
similar to RTS (Request to Send).
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 12 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
47 NP No Problem. Acknowledges HEY.
|
||
|
||
48 HUH? Signals that data was not received correctly
|
||
(possibly wrong number of stutter bits).
|
||
|
||
49 YEAH Acknowledges data received.
|
||
|
||
50 KMG365 Like YEAH, but for avid Emergency One fans.
|
||
|
||
|
||
That makes 50! Let's hear your suggestions for MORE serial
|
||
signals. Maybe we can get 100 and REALLY make the cable
|
||
manufacturers happy.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 13 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
COLUMNS
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
Notes from Abroad
|
||
The Future of Fido in Europe
|
||
|
||
As Fido grows I think that countries must become self supporting
|
||
in handing out node numbers. I will be doing the central
|
||
coordination to prevent total chaos. The question is when to
|
||
start this. As a CC gets a USA compatible (fast) modem a country
|
||
or part of it can become a separate net, getting mail from the
|
||
USA directly. From an organizational point of view this good,
|
||
but it suffers on cost aspects if the number of nodes in a
|
||
country is low and/or international mail is on a low level.
|
||
Messages are cheaper if you pack them into one packet. So it all
|
||
depends on how much mail is send between countries and to and
|
||
from the USA. At the moment it is not a big problem anyway, but
|
||
if you have thoughts about this point let us know through this
|
||
newsletter. The best solutions will emerge from the discussion I
|
||
hope.
|
||
|
||
Our board at 500/1
|
||
------------------
|
||
|
||
This board is run (payed for) by the Dutch hobby computer club
|
||
(HCC), a club with 23000+ members organized in local clubs and
|
||
computer/operating system orientated user groups. We publish a
|
||
monthly magazine (35000+) with more than 100 pages each month
|
||
mostly filled by articles from our members. 500/1 is used as a
|
||
collection point for these articles. Also the communication
|
||
between the central board, the professional workers at our office
|
||
in utrecht and the 300+ local officials have become a problem
|
||
that we try to solve with this board and a Fido in Utrecht. In
|
||
principal the central board of the HCC has decided to have a Fido
|
||
installed for as much local HCC clubs and user groups as
|
||
possible. There is money available for about 12 boards but as
|
||
being a democratic club, the final approval of our Fido plans
|
||
must be done on a general meeting in September. We are actively
|
||
seeking sponsoring of local boards and are approaching the
|
||
government for some money. (The managers of the Ministry of
|
||
Education have already had some demonstrations on 500/1). In
|
||
November we have the annual HCC-days (2 days of computer shows
|
||
with more than 35000 people attending last year) and we hope to
|
||
announce the Fido_net_HCC then loud and clear. We are heavily
|
||
promoting Fido in the news with continuing articles in our own
|
||
magazine (first one in September) and in other magazines (2
|
||
articles on Fido appearing in October in a small and a very big
|
||
magazine (PCM). Radio will give a Fido report in the first week
|
||
of September. We also give out press releases.
|
||
|
||
This board will be devoted to coordination and collecting
|
||
articles and will not have much software online after the local
|
||
Fido's have started.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Fidonews Page 14 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
The Rainbow Corner
|
||
by Ted Needleman
|
||
|
||
|
||
I had planned to review the first package in "Project Transport".
|
||
The package I picked to test was a $15 per module accounting
|
||
package for the IBM and compatibles. At $15 each for General
|
||
Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll, and
|
||
Inventory, or $50 for all 5 packages, I figured if they work,
|
||
they should be a terrific buy. Using the "IDrive" IBM compatible
|
||
disk drive from Suitable Solutions (408/725-8944), I transferred
|
||
the programs onto Rainbow diskettes, then installed the General
|
||
Ledger on my hard disk. The installation process went fine, with
|
||
no problems reported, but when I ran the G/L, some of the screens
|
||
were a bit garbled. The program still appears to be usable, but
|
||
I decided to forestall a thorough review until I try the program
|
||
on my COLUMBIA. If the same thing happens, then it's the
|
||
software, not the process of transporting it over to the Rainbow.
|
||
If, in the meantime, you figure it's worth the $15 (plus $5
|
||
shipping and handling) to find out for yourself, give MCBS a call
|
||
at 713/444-6269. You will, however, need someone with an IBM or
|
||
compatible to copy the double sided disks to single sided format
|
||
(which the Rainbow can then read directly).
|
||
|
||
One of the problems with "Project Transport" is that if it is
|
||
successful, there is going to be a need to convert programs which
|
||
are most often supplied on double sided disks, into single sided
|
||
format. To address this problem, I'm trying to arrange with some
|
||
of the user's groups for some volunteers with the proper
|
||
equipment. For a nominal donation (perhaps a dollar or two per
|
||
disk) which will go into the group's treasury, a user's original
|
||
purchased software disk would be copied onto user supplied
|
||
Rainbow formatted disks. So far, there doesn't seem to be a lot
|
||
of interest on the part of user's groups in participating, but in
|
||
the next few months, I'll be speaking to several groups here
|
||
along the East coast, and hopefully, will garner some assistance.
|
||
|
||
As usual, I'm still behind in answering the mail, but I have
|
||
noticed a lot of questions lately on modems. Rather than just
|
||
gloss over the subject, I'm doing a feature article on using a
|
||
modem with your Rainbow. This should appear in a few months, and
|
||
will discuss speed (baud rate), parity, setting your comm port &
|
||
parameters, using comm software, and a few other goodies. In the
|
||
interim, if you have a specific question or problem, leave a
|
||
message for me on the RAINBW_CORNR Fido board (914/425-2613). I
|
||
don't promise to have all the answers, but I'll try to help.
|
||
|
||
One question that comes up with a fair amount of frequency
|
||
concerns modem speed. I keep getting asked whether I recommend
|
||
2400 baud modems over the slower 1200 baud modems. The answer to
|
||
this is not cut-and-dried. It depends to a large extent on how
|
||
much use you make (or anticipate making) of communications.
|
||
Right now, a 2400 baud modem can cost several hundred dollars
|
||
more than a 1200 baud modem. If you only use your system for an
|
||
occasional call to a local BBS, or a computer service which
|
||
utilizes one of the packet switching networks (such as TymNet or
|
||
Fidonews Page 15 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
Telenet), then save your money, buy the less expensive 1200 baud
|
||
modem. If, however, you are like me, and tend to spend hours
|
||
dialing boards around the country, then spend the extra money on
|
||
a high speed modem. Not all boards support 2400 baud, and even
|
||
if the one you are calling does support this speed, the phone
|
||
lines don't always cooperate. But over the long run the tendency
|
||
in the industry is always toward greater speed and power. It may
|
||
cost you a bit more now, but you will be buying a bit more time
|
||
before your equipment becomes obsolete.
|
||
|
||
You might also want to check with A.T.& T. about their "Reach Out
|
||
America" program. This lets you dial anywhere in the continental
|
||
U.S.A. for a flat fee of $10 for the first hour, and $8 and
|
||
change for additional hours. Of course there are restrictions,
|
||
such as having to make these calls after 11 P.M. or on the
|
||
weekends, but you might save some money. It's worth a look. See
|
||
you next week.
|
||
|
||
|
||
(c) Ted Needleman 1986 (all rights reserved)
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 16 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
THE WORLD OF COMPUTING
|
||
written by Reuven M. Lerner
|
||
FidoMail 107/33
|
||
|
||
|
||
Welcome to another edition of The World of Computing! As the
|
||
title in the Table of Contents suggests, this time, I'll be
|
||
mainly discussing the new "Super Macintosh," and some Israeli
|
||
magazines that I recently had a chance to read.
|
||
|
||
As you probably noticed, there has been a little time between
|
||
the last column and this one. I'm kind of new to deadlines, but
|
||
hopefully that was the last time I'll miss them.
|
||
|
||
If you're a careful reader, you may have noticed that I
|
||
promised last week to discuss "the words we use." I had a little
|
||
something prepared, but as the magazines seemed to fit that
|
||
description, I decided to hold off on computer words until
|
||
another week.
|
||
|
||
The big news in January was the announcement of the Macintosh
|
||
Plus by Apple. Everyone knew about it, right down to how it
|
||
looked, but John Sculley acted as though he didn't realize that,
|
||
and announced it as if the new machine was a surprise to us all.
|
||
|
||
When Apple first brought out the Mac, they intended for it to
|
||
be in the office where IBM PC's had taken hold. Unfortunately,
|
||
that failed miserably. Apple was forced to change their
|
||
strategy, and publicly said that they would not compete with IBM
|
||
any more.
|
||
|
||
Now that they've come out with the Mac Plus, what can they
|
||
say? It's the machine that they should have come out with in the
|
||
first place (but then, improvements and updates always are).
|
||
Every reviewer said that it needed more memory, a better
|
||
keyboard, expansion slots, larger capacity drives, and at least
|
||
two drives.
|
||
|
||
Well, they finally got what they were waiting for. Almost
|
||
exactly two years later, the Macintosh Plus has 1 Megabyte of
|
||
memory (that's a thousand K for those who don't know; one
|
||
Gigabyte is 1,000 Megabytes), like it should have been given.
|
||
I'm sure someone out there is saying, "Hold on! Didn't Apple
|
||
listen to the reviewers and add memory to give it 512K?" Well,
|
||
they did, but why didn't they add more? People would have gladly
|
||
paid for it (they paid other companies for memory upgrades, why
|
||
not Apple?).
|
||
|
||
Computer users are a strange breed. We always want more
|
||
memory, whether or not our computers can use it or not. We want
|
||
to have as much memory as is possible, plus another few hundred
|
||
K. Apple should have realized this when they originally brought
|
||
out the Mac, and made their basic model with 512K, and their
|
||
advanced model with 1 or 2 Megabytes.
|
||
|
||
Anyway, the next complaint was the keyboard. As Jerry
|
||
Fidonews Page 17 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
Pournelle put it in BYTE, if anyone else had designed a small
|
||
keyboard with nonstandard keys and no special-function keys (i.e.
|
||
ESC), no one would have bought it! But since it's Apple, they
|
||
must know what they're doing, and thus it's okay.
|
||
|
||
WRONG!! Just because the Mac is a special machine doesn't
|
||
mean that it needs a strange keyboard! Users should feel as
|
||
comfortable on a PC as they do on a Mac, especially with the
|
||
keyboard. I've used many machines which could have been improved
|
||
a lot either by the layout or by the feel of the keyboards.
|
||
Making keys with oddball names and taking others out is a real
|
||
no-no. As far as I know, the ESCape and other keys like it are
|
||
on the new Mac Plus, as is a numeric keypad and cursor keys.
|
||
|
||
Lots of people also complained about the disk drives. First
|
||
of all, they held too little. For a graphics-oriented machine,
|
||
where each pixel is more than one byte (like on other computers),
|
||
400K drives are not nearly enough. 800K drives are good, but only
|
||
if they're faster than the old ones. Any Mac user can tell you
|
||
what a pain it is to wait for the machine to boot a disk.
|
||
|
||
The last important thing about the Mac Plus is the SCSI, or
|
||
Small Computer Standard Interface. John Dvorak of InfoWorld says
|
||
that it's pronounced "scuzzy." Besides the pronunciation, there
|
||
are a few other drawbacks to the SCSI.
|
||
|
||
First of all, who says that it's going to be standard? It's
|
||
supposed to be for hard drives. Hyperdrive connects inside the
|
||
machine, and therefore has no use for the interface. Others use
|
||
the serial port, and would require an upgrade.
|
||
|
||
Secondly, it's too little, too late. If they wanted to make
|
||
any real impact, they would have done it last year, when they
|
||
introduced AppleTalk, the LaserWriter, and the Mac XL (aka Lisa).
|
||
Now, no one's going to use it except for Apple (even their drive
|
||
doesn't use it yet). And besides, there's only one. Apple and
|
||
IBM users have a hard time squeezing the most out of their five
|
||
to eight slots...what can you do with just one?
|
||
|
||
The Macintosh Plus is a great idea, but, unfortunately for
|
||
Apple, it's a little late.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Israeli Magazines
|
||
|
||
This past week (right now, it's March 5th), one of the
|
||
members of my family as well as several of my friends went to
|
||
Israel for a 5-day conference. When he came back, he gave me
|
||
three computer magazines from Israel. Two of them were called
|
||
"Anashim Umichashvim", or "People and Computers", and the other
|
||
was just plain "Michashvim", "Computers".
|
||
|
||
As Israel was occupied by Britain until its independence in
|
||
1948, there's still a lot of English used in publishing.
|
||
However, it surprised me to see how much English was really used
|
||
Fidonews Page 18 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
in the magazine. Names of computers were frequently given in
|
||
English, as were words like "JUYSTICKS" \[sic\]. At one point,
|
||
values were hand-written onto the magazine.
|
||
|
||
People and Computers is put out by CW Communications, the
|
||
same people who do InfoWorld (an excellent magazine, by the way).
|
||
Thus, it didn't surprise me when the cover was very much like my
|
||
magazine-format InfoWorlds at home.
|
||
|
||
There are two versions of P&C put out in Israel -- one is a
|
||
monthly that looks like the old InfoWorld magazines (from October
|
||
1984 to August 1985), and another is a weekly that is mainly a
|
||
trade journal, telling business people when shows are.
|
||
|
||
One of the articles caught my attention (I guess the
|
||
headline-makers are doing their job) when I saw it in the Table
|
||
of Contents. It was entitled "1986: The Death of the Personal
|
||
Computer." Incidentally, the word for computer in Hebrew is
|
||
Michashev, from the word "thought", even though they don't
|
||
actually think (yet).
|
||
|
||
The article outlines the computer used in Israel and what
|
||
will happen with them. It's interesting to note that Israel uses
|
||
many of the same types of computers available in Europe, for
|
||
instance, the Commodore PC10 and PC20, their IBM-compatibles. I
|
||
also saw the IBM PC G and the IBM PC DD, neither of which I know
|
||
anything about (except from the specs list on one of the pages),
|
||
except that the PC G has been discontinued because there are no
|
||
more.
|
||
|
||
The author of the article predicts success with the Amiga and
|
||
520 ST, and the death of CP/M. I have to differ on two of the
|
||
three points. I don't think that the Amiga will really make it
|
||
to the point that the 520, and certainly not the 1040 ST will.
|
||
Both of the Atari machines have more base memory than the Amiga
|
||
for much less money, and these days, that really makes a machine.
|
||
|
||
As to the death of CP/M, I doubt that highly. Many people
|
||
use CP/M and continue to use it every day. I, for one, use it
|
||
more than I use my other computers, since I'm so used to its feel
|
||
(although MS-DOS comes kind of close). As reported in InfoWorld,
|
||
a company is thriving selling old CP/M software that no one else
|
||
thinks is worth the effort any more.
|
||
|
||
That about wraps up my section on computers in Israel. In a
|
||
few weeks, I hope to compare their review of Excel with an
|
||
American magazine's.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Corrections
|
||
|
||
Every columnist everywhere I read makes mistakes, so why
|
||
should I be any different? I've received some mail, and although
|
||
I responded in person to them, I'll explain in a little more
|
||
detail what I did.
|
||
Fidonews Page 19 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
First of all, I have a message from Mike Harrington, of the
|
||
Blue Telegraph in Seattle. He wanted to know if I could drop the
|
||
copyright notice at the bottom of the column, to keep in the
|
||
spirit of the public domain.
|
||
|
||
After receiving his letter, I realized that he was absolutely
|
||
right in what he said. If you look at the bottom of this week's
|
||
(and future week's) column, you'll see that I now give full
|
||
copying rights, so long as there is not profit made. However,
|
||
there is still a copyright on it, much like many public-domain
|
||
utilities. If anyone has any comments, just write to me.
|
||
|
||
I also received a letter from Bob Spivack, of Spiv's Fido in
|
||
San Jose, California. Bob gave the real reasons why IBM chose
|
||
the 8088, and I'll condense it here.
|
||
|
||
Intel created the 8086 before the 8088, but since companies
|
||
didn't need the extra 16-bit hardware for their products and
|
||
peripherals, they weren't buying it as fast as Intel thought they
|
||
would. Intel then designed a chip that was identical to the
|
||
8086, but utilizes an 8-bit data and I/O bus instead of 16-bit.
|
||
IBM chose the 8088 instead for most of the same reasons: the
|
||
speed and expandability of the 8086, but with the ease of
|
||
interfacing with 8-bit memory and peripherals.
|
||
|
||
If any of you spot mistakes, don't hesitate to write me and
|
||
point them out! I try to be as accurate as possible, but I am
|
||
still human.
|
||
|
||
Well, I'm really out of space for this week, so let me just
|
||
remind you how open I am to suggestions and comments. Just send
|
||
mail to me either through FidoMail at Fido 107/33, or at 21 Old
|
||
Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY, 11568. Until next time, happy
|
||
computing!
|
||
|
||
|
||
(c)1986 Reuven M. Lerner. All Rights Reserved. Permission
|
||
is given to copy this column so long as it is for non-profit use.
|
||
If you wish to use it for other than non-profit use, write to the
|
||
author at 21 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568, or at
|
||
FidoMail 107/33.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 20 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
WANTED
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
Tom Zelinski, Coordinator
|
||
Interplay, Incorporated
|
||
(Through Node 109/622, Peter Thomas)
|
||
|
||
|
||
ProtoCall Needs BBS Sysops!
|
||
|
||
|
||
ProtoCall is a new nationwide system available thru Tymnet
|
||
starting on March 25th. It's an economical and entertaining
|
||
answer to more expensive national systems that are available and
|
||
features a VERY unique Talk/CB, SIGs, and other features. At
|
||
$3.60 per hour/300 baud and $4.80/1200 baud, it is one of the
|
||
most reasonably priced national systems available anywhere!
|
||
|
||
We recognize that local BBS's in the U.S. can be a powerful
|
||
advertising medium for us and we're looking for Sysops to post
|
||
messages and bulletins on their BBS's advertising our new system!
|
||
In return, ProtoCall will open an account for you on our system
|
||
and give you 5 hours online time FREE! We'll also list your BBS
|
||
on our data base and give you access to our special BBS Sysop's
|
||
SIG. AND, for every new account that we open as a result of your
|
||
ad, you'll receive an additional HOUR of online time FREE!
|
||
|
||
ProtoCall recognizes all of the hard work that BBS Sysops
|
||
must do to keep their systems online. And this offer is our way
|
||
of thanking you for making telecommunications the popular medium
|
||
that it is. If you're interested, please call us (Mon-Fri, 2 PM-
|
||
12 Midnight) at (800) 826-3286 to set up your Sysop's Account.
|
||
|
||
PLEASE pass this special offer to every Sysop/BBS in your
|
||
area. We're counting on you to help us make ProtoCall the success
|
||
we know it will become!
|
||
|
||
Join the growing number of BBS Sysops who have FREE access to
|
||
ProtoCall! Call us today fo all the details. Remember, this
|
||
costs you nothing! Call today!
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 21 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
FOR SALE
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE FOR YOUR PC!
|
||
|
||
SUPERDOTS! KALAH!
|
||
|
||
Professional quality games include PASCAL source! From the
|
||
author of KALAH Version 1.6, SuperDots, a variation of the
|
||
popular pencil/paper DOTS game, has MAGIC and HIDDEN DOT
|
||
options. KALAH 1.7 is an African strategy game requiring
|
||
skill to manipulate pegs around a playing board. Both games
|
||
use the ANSI Escape sequences provided with the ANSI.SYS
|
||
device driver for the IBM-PC, or built into the firmware on
|
||
the DEC Rainbow. Only $19.95 each or $39.95 for both
|
||
exciting games! Please specify version and disk format.
|
||
These games have been written in standard TURBO-PASCAL and
|
||
run on the IBM-PC, DEC Rainbow 100 (MSDOS and CPM), CPM/80,
|
||
CPM/86, and PDP-11. Other disk formats are available, but
|
||
minor customization may be required.
|
||
|
||
BSS Software
|
||
P.O. Box 3827
|
||
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
|
||
|
||
|
||
For every order placed, a donation will be made to the Fido
|
||
coordinators! Also, if you have a previous version of KALAH
|
||
and send me a donation, a portion of that donation will also
|
||
be sent to the coordinators. When you place an order, BE
|
||
CERTAIN TO MENTION WHERE YOU SAW THE AD since it also
|
||
appears in PC Magazine and Digital Review.
|
||
|
||
Questions and comments can be sent to:
|
||
|
||
Brian Sietz at Fido 107/17
|
||
(609) 429-6630 300/1200/2400 baud
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 22 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
Now available from Micro Consulting Associates!!
|
||
|
||
Public Domain collection - 300+ "ARC" archives - 10 megs of
|
||
software and other goodies, and that's "archived" size! When
|
||
unpacked, you get approximately 17 megabytes worth of all kinds
|
||
of software, from text editors to games to unprotection schemes
|
||
to communications programs, compilers, interpreters, etc...
|
||
|
||
This collection is the result of more than 10 months of intensive
|
||
downloads from just about 100 or more BBS's and other sources,
|
||
all of which have been examined, indexed and archived for your
|
||
convenience. Starting a Bulletin Board System? Want to add on
|
||
to your software base without spending thousands of dollars? This
|
||
is the answer!!!
|
||
|
||
To order the library, send $100 (personal or company check,
|
||
postal money order or company purchase order) to:
|
||
|
||
Micro Consulting Associates, Fido 103/511
|
||
Post Office Box 4296
|
||
200-1/2 E. Balboa Boulevard
|
||
Balboa, Ca. 92661-4296
|
||
|
||
Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of your order.
|
||
|
||
Note: No profit is made from the sale of the Public Domain
|
||
software in this collection. The price is applied entirely to
|
||
the cost of downloading the software over the phone lines,
|
||
running a BBS to receive file submissions, and inspecting,
|
||
cataloguing, archiving and maintaining the files. Obtaining this
|
||
software yourself through the use of a computer with a modem
|
||
using commercial phone access would cost you much more than what
|
||
we charge for the service...
|
||
|
||
Please specify what type of format you would like the disks to be
|
||
prepared on. The following choices are available:
|
||
|
||
IBM PC-DOS Backup utility
|
||
Zenith MS-DOS 2.11 Backup Utility
|
||
DSBackup
|
||
Fastback
|
||
Plain ol' files (add $50, though, it's a lot of
|
||
work and takes more diskettes...)
|
||
|
||
Add $30 if you want the library on 1.2 meg AT disks (more
|
||
expensive disks). There are no shipping or handling charges.
|
||
California residents add 6% tax.
|
||
|
||
For each sale, $10 will go to the FidoNet Administrators.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 23 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
Tom Zelinski, Coordinator
|
||
Interplay, Incorporated
|
||
(Through node 109/622, Peter Thomas, SysOp)
|
||
|
||
ProtoCall National System Goes Online
|
||
|
||
|
||
ProtoCall, a new national online leisure system available
|
||
through Tymnet, will be available on March 25th! ProtoCall
|
||
features the most unique Talk/CB areas available anywhere! Tired
|
||
of signing onto "Channel 1" or "Line 17" on other national
|
||
systems? Why not sign into the Town of Remote and walk our
|
||
streets? Drop into a singles bar and meet people? Take someone
|
||
to a lonely beach for private conversation? Go to the Remote
|
||
Airport and fly to the "Caribbean"? You can create and describe
|
||
your own private room for your special rendezvous! Anything is
|
||
possible!
|
||
|
||
ProtoCall also features Electronic Mail, Special Interest
|
||
Groups, and informational data bases too. And the best news is
|
||
that ProtoCall costs less than ANY other system available
|
||
nationally! During evenings, weekends, and holidays, access is
|
||
only $3.60 at 300 baud and $4.80 at 1200 baud. And, there is no
|
||
sign-up fee or any other hidden costs involved.
|
||
|
||
If you sign-up today, ProtoCall will give you FIVE HOURS
|
||
FREE online time! There is no obligation for this, but you must
|
||
register with us. And, we also are offering a special 2-for-1
|
||
sign-up special. For every hour that you purchase, we'll give you
|
||
another hour free! These offers are limited, so please call us
|
||
today! Call (800) 826-3286 between 9AM and Midnight.
|
||
|
||
Join the growing number of users who have chosen the newest
|
||
and most economical national telecommunications system available
|
||
today! ProtoCall!!!
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 24 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
SEAdog Electronic Mail System
|
||
Special Offer for FidoNet Sysops
|
||
|
||
|
||
System Enhancement Associates, the makers of the popular ARC file
|
||
archive utility, are proud to announce the release of the SEAdog
|
||
electronic mail system.
|
||
|
||
SEAdog is a PC-based electronic mail system which is fully
|
||
FidoNet compatible. In addition to all the functionality of
|
||
FidoNet mail, SEAdog adds the following:
|
||
|
||
o User directory support, for automatic lookup of node numbers
|
||
|
||
o Return receipts
|
||
|
||
o Audit trails
|
||
|
||
o Message forwarding, with or without a retained copy
|
||
|
||
o Twenty four hour mail reception
|
||
|
||
o High priority mail for immediate delivery
|
||
|
||
o The ability to request files and updates of files from other
|
||
SEAdog systems.
|
||
|
||
o No route files needed!
|
||
|
||
o A full screen user interface that our beta test sites fell in
|
||
love with!
|
||
|
||
SEAdog is NOT a bulletin board system, but it can be used as a
|
||
"front end" for Fido (version 11q or later), allowing you to add
|
||
the full functionality of SEAdog to your existing system.
|
||
|
||
SEAdog normally sells for $100/node, but for a limited time only
|
||
we are offering SEAdog to registered FidoNet sysops for only $35!
|
||
Orders may be placed by sending a check or money order to:
|
||
|
||
System Enhancement Associates
|
||
21 New Street, Wayne NJ 07470
|
||
|
||
Or by calling (201) 473-5153 (VISA and MasterCard accepted).
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 25 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
NOTICES
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
The Interrupt Stack
|
||
|
||
|
||
11 Apr 1986
|
||
Halley's Comet reaches perigee.
|
||
|
||
12 Apr 1986
|
||
The Next Occasional MetroNet Sysop Meeting, to be held in West
|
||
Milford, New Jersey. Contact The Wizard at node 107/16 for
|
||
details and directions.
|
||
|
||
19 May 1986
|
||
Steve Lemke's next birthday.
|
||
|
||
24 Aug 1989
|
||
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
If you have something which you would like to see on this
|
||
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1/1.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
The Node Number given in FidoNews Volume 3, Number 12 for the
|
||
Shuttle Poem was wrong. The number given was 109/612. The correct
|
||
number is 109/606. The Peom was written by a Science Teacher at
|
||
the Maret School in Washington, DC. As he is not a user on
|
||
109/606, any message regarding the poem should be addressed to
|
||
the SYSOP of 109/606.
|
||
|
||
Alexander Wall -- Sysop of 109/606
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
New release of PKSCrypt Public Key Encryption System
|
||
|
||
Version 0.02 of PKSCrypt is now available for download from node
|
||
134/1. It is up to 4 times as fast as the previous version.
|
||
|
||
PKSCrypt is an implementation of "public key encryption" where
|
||
the encrypt and decrypt keys are different. It runs on MS-DOS
|
||
versions 2 or 3.
|
||
|
||
Lloyd Miller
|
||
Calgary, Alberta
|
||
March 25, 1986
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Fidonews Page 26 7 Apr 1986
|
||
|
||
|
||
Jim Ryan
|
||
Fido 141/9
|
||
|
||
Synchronous Modem Test Sites Needed
|
||
-----------------------------------
|
||
|
||
A major communications manufacturer is looking for test sites for
|
||
it's new line of asynchronous/synchronous 2400 baud modems. If
|
||
you are presently using a remote synchronous communications
|
||
system (via a synchronous modem) on an IBM PC or true compatible,
|
||
please contact Ray Lecours at (203) 758-1811.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|