1064 lines
31 KiB
Plaintext
1064 lines
31 KiB
Plaintext
______________________________________
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ZMAGAZINE 75 OCTOBER 16, 1987
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(C)1987 Ron Kovacs/Syndicate Services
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______________________________________
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ZMAG INFORMATION NETWORK (201)968-8148
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______________________________________
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Publisher/Editor: Ron Kovacs
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Assistants: Ken Kirchner/Susan Perry
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______________________________________
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Xx INDEX 75
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______________________________________
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<*> News Roundup------------Ron Kovacs
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<*> Hardware Review--------SX212 Modem
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<*> Atari News Update-----------CD ROM
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<*> Reflections----From Portland Exprs
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<*> 850 Modifications----By Mike Davis
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<*> Zmag Technique-------Mr. Goodprobe
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<*> Antic's 6th Shoppers Guide Part 1
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______________________________________
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Xx NEWS ROUNDUP
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______________________________________
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This past week the Atari television
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ads for the XE Game System made it to
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local television. It was the first
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ad I have seen in a few years!! Good
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Luck Atari!!!
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The MEGAS are coming!! Look for them
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shortly in your area!!
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The SX212 has trickled down to us
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finally and this week we have a review
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of it.
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CompuServe is having a BBS author
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confrence tomorrow evening (10-17) at
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9pm. If you are a member of the
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Atari8 SIG on CIS, Please make an
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effort to ask your questions to the
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authors of your favorite BBS program.
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Expected guests include, Jerry
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Horanoff, Keith Ledbetter, and many
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more....
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WHITEHOUSE COMPUTER is out of buisness
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as you all might know. We will update
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you on this story next week.
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And finally, a non-computer report--
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As I am editing the final draft of
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this weeks issue, I hear that the
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little 18 month old child, Jessica
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McClure has been removed from the
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well she has been trapped in for 57
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straight hours.
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______________________________________
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Xx HARDWARE REVIEW
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...By Bob Woolley SLCC...
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______________________________________
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For those of you with no modem, or a
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SIO connect 8-bit modem, or a 300 baud
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modem (leave anybody out?), Atari has
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got a great new product for you - the
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SX212 1200 baud modem. It has a
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standard RS-232 interface for those
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users with an 850, or an ST, or a P:R
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Connection and an SIO connector for
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those 8-bitters who lack an RS-232
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box. It is Hayes compatible and even
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has a nice row of LEDs accross the
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front of the unit to keep you informed
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of its status (High Speed, Auto
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Answer, Carrier Detect, Off Hook,
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Receive Data, Send Data, Terminal
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Ready, and Modem Ready).
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The best thing about this guy is that
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it only costs $99.95 - List Price. A
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product of increasing integration, it
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is another level up on the path to
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single chip, 1200 baud, modems - much
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like the 300 baud XM301 that preceded
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it.
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I can remember my first RS-232 modem.
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It was also Hayes compatible, which
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seems to mean that it has to have 6
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million switches set before your
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computer will talk to it. Not the
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SX212. Absolutely nothing to set on
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this guy. Move it from your 8-bit to
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your 16-bit system ... works just fine
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with no switch juggling. Aren't any to
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mess with, anyway. My X-Ray Vision
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tells me that there are jumpers
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inside, but it isn't something the
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average guy is going to fool with. I
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tried the 212 on my ST with FLASH.
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Although I am not any kind of TP
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expert, the modem worked just fine. It
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seemed to be perfectly happy with
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XModem downloads and such. Even the
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operator trying to interrupt my call
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didn't bring down the modem. Lots of
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garbage, but carrier stayed up. This
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is exactly what the computer industry
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needs - an affordable product that you
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just pull from the box and run !
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When it came to my 8-bit system, I hit
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a little snag. Since the modem would
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connect to the SIO port, it has to
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either emulate an 850 and the Hayes
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modem, or not emulate the 850 and not
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work on my 8-bit. Guess which one I
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got?? Works just fine on the P:R
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Connection as a Hayes (knew that since
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it worked on the ST) . Didn't work at
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all as an 850. I tried a Status
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command to every address on the SIO
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buss and got no response from the SX.
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One thing for sure, no matter how it
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works, the modem requires a handler.
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Some devices load their own handler
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and some programs replace them with
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the handler that the program wants.
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So, without a handler, I had no chance
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to make the thing work. If the device
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didn't even talk to the CPU on the SIO
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buss, how could the handler talk to
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the modem? The XM301 modem came with
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an excellent communications program
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and plenty of documentation on disk to
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fully describe the handler necessary
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for that device. I quickly learned
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that an SIO cable (which is not
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included in the box - for obvious
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reasons. You can't use the SIO feature
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without the handler) and a version of
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EXPRESS will become available from
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Atari at some future date. I should
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hope so. Not requiring a P:R
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Connection or an 850 can save an 8-bit
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user as much as the cost of the modem
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itself. This is one of the greatest
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assets of this device, the ability to
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run without additional interfaces.
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Needless to say, this was most
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discouraging. Maybe a little hacking
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could help?
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There was (is?) a company called
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Advanced Interface Devices that made a
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simple RS-232 adapter for the Atari
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SIO buss. Since the SIO is already a
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serial buss that can be programmed to
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operate in almost any mode, they
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thought they could just write a
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handler and wire up a cable that would
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suffice for RS-232 operation. They
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produced the R-Verter and managed to
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do exactly what I described - run the
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SIO as an RS-232 serial interface.
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With this in mind, and a little more
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X-Ray Vision, it appeared that Atari
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was using the same method on the
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SX212. There is a two chip modem set,
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a couple of RS-232 receiver/driver
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chips, an audio amp, an LS logic chip,
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and some sort of clock generator
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inside this modem. It would be very
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unusual for a modem chip set to be
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able to talk to an Atari SIO buss
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directly (the XM301 uses a
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microprocessor to operate as a modem
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and to talk to the buss). So, I had to
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conclude that Atari used the R-Verter
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approach. Close inspection of the SIO
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pins indicate that the -Command line
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(pin 7) is not even connected in the
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SX212. No way to do SIO without that
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pin. No SIO means an RS-232 emulator.
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The only one that I am aware of is the
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AID R-Verter.
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So, I logged on to CompuServe and
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looked for an R-Verter handler in DL2.
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Luckily, I found exactly what I needed
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in a file called RVHAND.XMO. It is an
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R-Verter handler that has been
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re-compiled for use with HOMETERM.
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Following the RVHAND.DOC file, I
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created a copy of HOMETERM that would
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run on the R-Verter. Booted up on my
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SX212 and got the 850 status screen.
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Even though the modem is directly
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connected, the program thinks it is
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talking thru an 850. All the commands
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that I needed worked just fine on
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HOMETERM - downloads, disk
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directories, pauses, everything! Tom
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Neitzel has passed on the word that
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the same handler will allow the SX212
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to run Amodem 7.4, a program that I am
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not familiar with, but is very
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popular. I have not tried to replace
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the handler in EXPRESS with the
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R-Verter code. I don't think that task
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will be as simple as re-compiling the
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code, since EXPRESS seems to use all
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available memory. None the less, those
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8-bit users who own SIO connect 300
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baud modems can upgrade to the SX212
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and start tele-computing immediately
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with Amodem or HOMETERM.
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One or two more comments.
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The manual states that the modem
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cannot be used on an 800XL with a
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cassette recorder. The Motor line is
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fed into the modem and is grounded
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thru a 680 ohm resistor. This appears
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to upset the 800XL or the recorder or
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somebody. I don't see any significant
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differences between the 800XL and the
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rest of the Atari line in this
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respect, so expect this restriction to
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apply to all 8-bit models.
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A suggestion is made to place the
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modem on top of your disk drive and
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the phone on top of the modem. Some
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telephones have magnets in them - put
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it someplace else if you are not sure.
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Some disk drives generate considerable
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heat, while the SX212 seems very cool.
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I put my modem under my drive, leaving
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the vents on top of the drive clear
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for good cooling.
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The bottom line on this modem is that
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it is a great value for the money,
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performs well and can be used on
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either 8 or 16 bit systems with a
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minimum of expertise. The 8-bit
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software is not yet available from
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Atari, but even that can be fixed for
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the time being. No modem offers you so
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much for so little. Don't overlook
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this bargain!!
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______________________________________
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Xx ATARI NEWS UPDATE
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______________________________________
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Msg# : 3
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Read: 1
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Sent : Oct 13, 1987 at 10:40 PM
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To : ALL
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From : MR. GOODPROBE
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Subj : finally...
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It seems that our patience with our
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Beloved Atari is finally paying off.
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Please capture this message and spread
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it around to the faithful!
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Last Saturday in London Atari showed
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its CD Rom system, it will be
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compatible for all computers, and its
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presently available in a 350 meg
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format. We are promised it later this
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fall, but wouldn't look too hard for
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it till this coming summer. Now pull
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up a chair and I will type in an
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article I just found in one of our
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trade magazines that arrived
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yesterday. The headline reads:
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ATARI TO DISPLAY TRANSPUTER-BASED
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WORKSTATION AT COMDEX
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by Tom Moran
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INFO World Oct. 12,1987 Volume 9,
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Issue 41
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In its first entry into the technical
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workstation market, Atari Corp. will
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show at Comdex prototypes of a
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workstation that will operate at 10
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MIPS (million instructions per second)
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in its most basic configuration, the
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company said.
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Because the system supports the Inmos
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T-800 Transputer CPU, which is
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designed for parallel processor chips,
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users will be able to add additional
|
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transputers, perhaps as many as
|
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several hundred working on one
|
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application at the same time. In such
|
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a system -its actually very easy to
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have 100 MIPS for very small amount
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of money, - said Shiraz Shivji, vice
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president of research and development
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for Atari.
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We're aiming at a price point under
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$5,000 (for the basic system), but
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that doesn't mean we will hit it,-
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said Bob Gleadow, general manager of
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Atari's UK operation. The basic system
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will have one processor; more will be
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added in cards holding 4 processors
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each.
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Gleadow declined to estimate what a
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four-processor card might cost, based
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on the market value of the Inmos
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processor. -I'm sure the market price
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is a lot more than we intend to pay,
|
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so it wouldn't be a fair estimate.-
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The Unixlike operating system for the
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workstation will be Helios, under
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development by Perihelion Software of
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the United Kingdom. -Unix doesn't
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support great graphics, so this is
|
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like a cross,- said Gleadow. He
|
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confirmed that the company is working
|
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on a proprietary coprocessor chip for
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music and graphics functions. He also
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said that Atari is working on a chip
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that will add virtual memory
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capability to the Inmos transputer.
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Atari hopes to begin production in
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March or May. -there's more likely to
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be slippage on the software than on
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the hardware,- said Gleadow, noting an
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operating system is more prone to
|
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delays than a hardware design. The
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company will first market the machine
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to the United Kingdom and Europe
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building up languages and applications
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before introducing it in the United
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States. -We would like to see it there
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in late 1988,- said Gleadow. One of
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the applications being developed by a
|
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third party is a DOS emulation
|
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program, he noted.
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The workstation will include a very
|
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high-resolution monitor being made for
|
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Atari in the Far East, according to
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the company, Atari will provide for
|
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compatibility with the firm's Mega and
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St line of computers, a spokesman
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said. Well, it appears our beloved
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Atari, with the release of the long
|
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awaited Mega ST, the showing of their
|
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CD Rom system in London as announced
|
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this past Saturday on the Computer
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Chronicles (so nice to see Atari on
|
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the news!) and now this announcement,
|
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really are healthy and looking forward
|
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to the future..just another reason to
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BUY Atari! Is seems so long ago that
|
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that Atari was nearly totally out of
|
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the picture as far as the home
|
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computer world goes,and now they are
|
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alive, vibrant, and ready to take on
|
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the BIG guns of the micro-world.
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You and I of course will not be able
|
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to afford these systems mentioned in
|
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this article, but it will directly
|
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affect you and I as we can expect
|
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Atari to be around for a long, long
|
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time, and therefore receive continued
|
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product support, and that is super
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news!
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Finally, for those uninformed souls
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amongst us,a CD ROm system, is a mass
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storage device system, similar in some
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ways to a hard drive in that you can
|
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store large amounts of data in it. A
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CD ROM system can hold 500+ megs
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easily on a disk, (Atari has chosen a
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standard format which will hold 350
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meg on disk), while a hard drive can
|
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hold large quantities of data, 20 and
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30 meg being typical sizes of drives
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today, with them extending as high as
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160 on a single drive. The difference
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between the two is that the CD ROM
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system is NOT prone to head crashes
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upon power failures as the hard drives
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are, you can change the data-holding
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disk in the CD ROM just as simply as
|
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popping in a new record, while with a
|
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hard drive -what you see is what you
|
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get-. The price too is much more
|
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affordable, and Atari plans to
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introduce its CD ROM device at $650,
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while the equivalent in hard drive
|
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storage would easily run you over
|
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$6,000! Until recently, CD ROM devices
|
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were read only, but I have great news!
|
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There is a fine gentleman over in the
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United Kingdom that has a read/write
|
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capable CD ROM system up and running
|
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on the ST, and he plans to introduce
|
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it next year, at a very affordable
|
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price.
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I don't know about you, but with each
|
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passing day, I am more and more amazed
|
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at how intelligent I was for buying an
|
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Atari system, and the list of reasons
|
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why is growing with each passing
|
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moment!
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Keep those Ataris hummin!
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Mr. Goodprobe
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(on lend from)
|
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Midtown TV Atari 8/16 Repair/Sales
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______________________________________
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Xx REFLECTIONS
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______________________________________
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A Lot Has Changed In The World Of Home
|
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Computing Since I Made The -Big-
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Decision To Get A Home Computer Back
|
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In Early 1983.
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After Looking Around At The Various
|
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Product That Was Available At The
|
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Time, I Decided I Wanted An Atari 800.
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It Seemed To Offer The Most Value, Had
|
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-Massive- Memory (48K) And There Was A
|
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-Sale- Going On At One Of The Local
|
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Electronics Stores.
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So In I Walked, Not Knowing A Disk
|
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Drive From An Interface, And After
|
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Thinking It All Over, Walked Out Armed
|
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With An 800, The 835 (-Little Black
|
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Box-) 300 Baud Accoustic Coupling
|
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Modem, An 850 Interface, And An 810
|
|
Single Sided Single Density Disk
|
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Drive.
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Now At The Time, Most People Were Not
|
|
Buying The Disk Drive Initially Or The
|
|
Interface, They Were Using Tape
|
|
Storage Because Of The Cost Involved.
|
|
But As The Salesman Said, -Disk
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Storage Is The Wave Of The Future, And
|
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With This Interface You Will Be Able
|
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To Expand Your System.-
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The Price Of The 800 Was $495,
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Discounted From Approximately $550 As
|
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I Recall. I Was Sure That I Had
|
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Everything I Would Ever Need To
|
|
-Compute- For A Lifetime.
|
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|
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I Got It All Home, And Started To Read
|
|
The Various Instructions. Disk
|
|
Operating System?? Formatting??
|
|
Bytes?? After About Two Hours, I Had
|
|
It Put Together And Working, I Thought
|
|
That To Be A Major Accomplishment.
|
|
|
|
With My Modem, I Received A
|
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Demonstration Packet To Compuserve,
|
|
Dow Jones, And The Source. I Had Never
|
|
Realized That Any Of Those Services
|
|
Existed Electronically.
|
|
|
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A Small Cartridge Came With The Modem,
|
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It Was Called -Telelink1-. It Allowed
|
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You To -Modem-, But There Was No
|
|
Provision To Download, Or Even Save
|
|
Text In Any Way.
|
|
|
|
On Compuserve I Learned That There Was
|
|
A Short 8 Line Program Called -Jterm-
|
|
Which Was Available To -Pull- Another
|
|
Bigger And More Powerful Program
|
|
Called -Amodem-. Someone On There Was
|
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Nice Enough To Mail Me A Copy Of
|
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Amodem, So I Could Then Download.
|
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|
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I Could NOT Believe It. Many BBS's
|
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Have Come And Gone In Almost Five
|
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Years, But Some Of The Ones I First
|
|
Called Are Still Around. Boards Like
|
|
MACE And MACE WEST, I Was In A New
|
|
World, Public Domain Software And
|
|
Information Exchange, The Only Problem
|
|
Was The Long Distance Charges To Get
|
|
THERE.
|
|
|
|
Things Are Quite A Bit Different In
|
|
1987, PC Pursuit Changed The
|
|
Prohibitive Cost Of Reaching Out Into
|
|
That Electronic -World-, It Will Be A
|
|
Tragedy If The -Average- Person Will
|
|
Again Not Be Able To -Modem- Unless
|
|
They Use Standard Long Distance Rates.
|
|
|
|
A Lot HAS Changed In The Last Five
|
|
Years Of Computing, But The One Thing
|
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That HASN'T Is The Genuine And
|
|
Creative Constructive FUN An Ordinary
|
|
Human Being Can Receive From A Little
|
|
Grey -Machine- Sitting On A Desk.
|
|
|
|
Computing Like Life Is An
|
|
Unpredictable Adventure, A Learning
|
|
Experience Without Bounds. I Don't
|
|
Know What The NEXT Five Years Hold In
|
|
Store Technology Wise, But I DO Know
|
|
It Will Be Exciting, And For Me
|
|
Personally It All Started With That
|
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Big Old Atari 800.
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C.K.
|
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Portland Express BBS.
|
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503-244-3254
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|
______________________________________
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|
Xx 850 INTERFACE MODIFICATIONS
|
|
...For BBS SysOps...
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|
______________________________________
|
|
by Michael T. Davis
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|
|
|
Introduction:
|
|
|
|
Since I run a BBS here in Ohio, I have
|
|
the -need for speed- that most SysOps
|
|
who run Atari (8-bit) based BBS'
|
|
usually have. One of the things I
|
|
discovered early in my BBS setup,
|
|
though, was that the software I was
|
|
(and am) using (Carina) did not handle
|
|
premature logoffs well. Instead of
|
|
detecting the loss of carrier
|
|
immediately, it just timed out. I was
|
|
almost positive there had to be a
|
|
better way.
|
|
|
|
The second problem I was encountering
|
|
had to do with the fact that the 850
|
|
doesn't reset per se. To reset the
|
|
interface, you have to toggle the
|
|
power switch off and on. This can get
|
|
annoying if you are constantly
|
|
switching telecommunications software
|
|
or if your 850 is in a hard-to-reach
|
|
place.
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|
|
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Solution One:
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|
|
|
(First of all, it would simplify
|
|
matters greatly if you have a 130XE.
|
|
While the modifications I am going to
|
|
describe should work with all (8-bit),
|
|
Ataris I can only give specific
|
|
directions for the 130XE, as that is
|
|
what I use. At points throughout the
|
|
text, I will offer possible
|
|
alternatives, when I am utilizing an
|
|
XE-only feature.)
|
|
|
|
The 130XE does not use trigger input
|
|
four from the missing joystick four
|
|
port. We can use this input on the
|
|
GTIA chip (pin ten (10)) to monitor
|
|
the Carrier Detect line in the 850
|
|
almost constantly. (By the way, this
|
|
would be a good time to put in a plug
|
|
for Sam's Technical Reference Sheets..
|
|
they're great for just this kind of
|
|
work.) Anyway, first identify the
|
|
Carrier Detect (CRX) line on port one
|
|
of the 850. Looking at the port, CRX
|
|
is the fourth pin from the left on the
|
|
top row. Now follow this line into
|
|
the 850. You are trying to find
|
|
capacitor number 117 (C117). It will
|
|
be the next-to-last capacitor in a row
|
|
of capacitors. We will attach a
|
|
jumper wire to the side of C117 that
|
|
runs to the 6532 RIOT (RAM, Input/
|
|
Output, Timer) chip. Solder it in at
|
|
that point any way you like.
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|
|
The other end is a bit tricky for
|
|
non-XE owners. Actually, the XL
|
|
series could probably follow the XE
|
|
scheme, but the locations of the
|
|
circuitry will be different. For
|
|
XE/XL owners, solder the other end to
|
|
pin 12 of the SIO port (either one).
|
|
Pin 12 is the top right pin, as you
|
|
look at the port. If you're doing
|
|
this for a 400/800 setup, you might
|
|
try pins 9 or 13. Note that using
|
|
either of these, however, will prevent
|
|
use for their original purposes
|
|
(Proceed and Interrupt lines,
|
|
respectively). This isn't too big of
|
|
a deal, since no one has taken
|
|
advantage of these lines to date.
|
|
|
|
As for the computer side, simply
|
|
solder a wire directly from pin 10 of
|
|
the GTIA chip to pin 12 of the SIO
|
|
port. Users of computer models other
|
|
than the 130XE should connect this
|
|
line from the GTIA to the appropriate
|
|
SIO line...the same line they
|
|
connected the jumper wire to in the
|
|
850.
|
|
|
|
Now determining the status of CRX is
|
|
simply a matter of a PEEK to location
|
|
53265 ($D011). It will be either on
|
|
(1) or off (0). CRX provides an
|
|
inverted output; that is, if you get a
|
|
1, then there's NO carrier, a 0 means
|
|
there is a carrier.
|
|
|
|
Solution Two:
|
|
|
|
Find pin 1 of the 6507 in the 850.
|
|
This is the Reset line (and it is
|
|
active low). To reset the interface,
|
|
we will run a line from this pin,
|
|
through the SIO cable, to pin 39 of
|
|
the PIA. Note that this will prevent
|
|
the use of a cassette recorder (but
|
|
then who does serious work on cassette
|
|
nowadays, anyway). Connect a wire
|
|
from pin 1 of the 850's 6507 to pin 8
|
|
of the SIO port. Now, the tricky
|
|
part: in the computer, cut the trace
|
|
to pin 39 of the 6520 PIA. MAKE SURE
|
|
YOU ONLY CUT THAT ONE TRACE!!! Also,
|
|
to make sure we are geting a clear
|
|
signal, it would be a good idea to cut
|
|
the trace at pin 8 of the SIO port in
|
|
the computer, too. Then connect a
|
|
wire from pin 39 of the PIA to pin 8
|
|
of the SIO port within the computer.
|
|
|
|
To reset the 850 now, we need to lower
|
|
bit 3 of PACTL (54018; $D302). In
|
|
BASIC, this is accomplished with POKE
|
|
54018,52:POKE 54018,60. (60 resets
|
|
PACTL to its original value and puts
|
|
the 850 back in -normal- mode.) Note
|
|
that if you wish to write an assembly
|
|
language routine to accomplish this,
|
|
you should use a suitable delay
|
|
between the time that you lower the
|
|
bit and the time you raise it back to
|
|
logic one.
|
|
|
|
Conclusion:
|
|
|
|
If you have any problems, or you just
|
|
want to get in touch with me, I may be
|
|
reached on CompuServe's Atari 8-bit
|
|
SIG (ATARI8). My User ID is
|
|
72337,2075. I am also online in
|
|
Columbus, Ohio on most of the major
|
|
Atari BBSes, including Pandora
|
|
(614-471-9209) and ACEC (Atari
|
|
Computer Enthusiasts of Columbus;
|
|
614-471-8559).
|
|
|
|
BCNU Mike
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
Xx ZMAG TECHNIQUE
|
|
...Down with the Wave!...
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
by Mr. Goodprobe
|
|
|
|
The wave! The sportscasters seem to
|
|
have it in for this strange custom of
|
|
sports fans across the country. This
|
|
is he passing fad where spectators
|
|
will stand up and move their carcasses
|
|
in a weaving motion that is supposed
|
|
to make it look like a -wave- in the
|
|
stands. This type of support for some
|
|
reason is not like by sportscasters as
|
|
you pick up their constant
|
|
denouncements of the participants in
|
|
this American pastime. I have to admit
|
|
it did look funny last week though as
|
|
the -replacement- Browns were playing
|
|
the -replacement- Bills last weekend.
|
|
There were only 3 thousand fans in the
|
|
stands, and a group of 3 were doing
|
|
the wave in the stands...real
|
|
convincing wasn't it?
|
|
|
|
And we too have it in for the -wave-
|
|
don't we? This that annoying weave of
|
|
interference you get on your TV while
|
|
you try to diligently type a letter to
|
|
your relatives with Paperclip, or rid
|
|
the world of the plague that is
|
|
threatening it from the depths of
|
|
outer space! Oh for the clarity,
|
|
resolution and noise free operation of
|
|
a monitor!!! But alas and alack, you
|
|
are financially strapped and cannot
|
|
afford the luxury of a monitor! There
|
|
is hope and we shall proceed to
|
|
describe two very simple modifications
|
|
you can perform on your 8 bit Atari
|
|
system that will clear things up for
|
|
you in a hurry!
|
|
|
|
Obtain a small cardboard tube,
|
|
preferably the variety that is used
|
|
the hold your favorite bathroom
|
|
tissue. This is the perfect size, and
|
|
is readily available. Next you simply
|
|
wrap the extra RF wire from the RCA
|
|
jack at the back of your Atari
|
|
computer around this tube in tight,
|
|
close coils, leaving just enough to
|
|
reach to the back of your TV. Then
|
|
tape this coil with tape, packing tape
|
|
preferably would a good choice as it
|
|
would have the best holding power and
|
|
not take a large quantity to do the
|
|
job. Now go ahead and turn your system
|
|
on. You will note that as you move the
|
|
coil to face different directions that
|
|
the interference will lessen the most
|
|
at one position or another, simply
|
|
fasten the tube to stay in this
|
|
position and all will be well. What
|
|
you have done is actually tune the
|
|
interference in a direction which is
|
|
away from your system, and now you can
|
|
enjoy a much clear picture.
|
|
|
|
A second way to obtain these results
|
|
is the purchase a small 3 foot section
|
|
of RG-59 cable with the cable fittings
|
|
on both ends, and an adapter that has
|
|
an RCA style male fitting on one end,
|
|
and a standard cable fitting on the
|
|
other. Depending on the antenna input
|
|
of your TV, you will be able to either
|
|
plug the cable directly into your set,
|
|
or you will need a balun to connect
|
|
to the cable and then it will attach
|
|
to the 2 screw terminals on the set
|
|
marked -VHF-. The other end with the
|
|
RCA male on it plugs directly into
|
|
your computer. The only thing touchy
|
|
on this setup is that the RCA male
|
|
must fit TIGHTLY onto the computer
|
|
jack, or the lessening effect of the
|
|
cable will not be as great as the
|
|
ground will not be too hot.
|
|
|
|
Isn't amazing how something so simple
|
|
can improve things so greatly? If you
|
|
have any ideas or suggestions, no
|
|
matter how complex or simple you may
|
|
deem them to be, please send them
|
|
along and we will pass them on to the
|
|
Atari user.
|
|
|
|
Know what I'd like to see...
|
|
|
|
I'd love to see someone take many of
|
|
the fantastic projects found in BYTE
|
|
magazine, Radio-electronics and other
|
|
great publications, and convert them
|
|
for use on the Atari 8 and 16 bit
|
|
computers. It bugs me to no end as I
|
|
read these articles, when the author
|
|
at the end states: -It would be a
|
|
simple matter to convert this project
|
|
to work on ANY home computer. You only
|
|
need to...- as they proceed to state
|
|
alot of bland nothings which really
|
|
serve no purpose to help the user in
|
|
adapting these projects for use with
|
|
their system. Many of the readers do
|
|
not have the knowledge to do such a
|
|
changeover, and others such as my self
|
|
do not have the time to complete this
|
|
type of undertaking. Ah, you wonder
|
|
what type of projects I am speaking of
|
|
eh? How about:
|
|
|
|
1. A Bio-feedback monitor
|
|
(R.E. Oct 86 pg.88)
|
|
|
|
2. A Frequency Generator
|
|
|
|
3. A Computerized Scanner
|
|
(E.S.&T. June 84)
|
|
|
|
4. NE555 Oscillator Designer
|
|
(R.E. June 86)
|
|
|
|
5. Computer Aided Loudspeaker
|
|
Enclosure Design
|
|
(R.E. June 86)
|
|
|
|
6. IC Tester
|
|
|
|
7. Modem
|
|
(R.E. Nov. 85)
|
|
|
|
8. Computer Aided Power Control
|
|
(M. E. Nov 85)
|
|
|
|
9. Eprom Programmer
|
|
(R.E. Nov 86)
|
|
|
|
10. High Resolution Adapter
|
|
(R.E. Feb 86)
|
|
|
|
11. Printer Buffer
|
|
(R.E. Sept. 85)
|
|
|
|
12. Parallel-to-serial converter
|
|
(R.E. Sept. 85)
|
|
|
|
13. High Resolution Video Capture
|
|
Device (was suitable to send live
|
|
action video via the modem)
|
|
(Byte 87)
|
|
|
|
14. Remote Computer Control (1000'
|
|
range) of Robot
|
|
(R.E. 86)
|
|
|
|
15. Home Computer Controlled Laser
|
|
Light Show
|
|
(R.E. 87)
|
|
|
|
And many, many more!!! Therefore, if
|
|
any reader has the time to convert the
|
|
pinouts and in some cases the software
|
|
written to drive these devices, there
|
|
is a grateful Atari community out here
|
|
that will welcome the chance to
|
|
continue the use of our Atari
|
|
computers in new and novel ways!
|
|
|
|
Keep those Atari's hummin!
|
|
Mr. Goodprobe
|
|
(on lend from)
|
|
Midtown TV
|
|
Atari 8/16 Repair/Sales
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
Xx ANTIC's SHOPPERS GUIDE for 1987
|
|
...Part One...
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
ANTIC PUBLISHING INC., COPYRIGHT 1987
|
|
REPRINTED BY PERMISSION.
|
|
|
|
THE SIXTH ANNUAL ANTIC SHOPPERS GUIDE
|
|
|
|
By GREGG PEARLMAN, Antic Asst Editor
|
|
|
|
ATARI COMPUTERS
|
|
|
|
130XE
|
|
|
|
The Atari 130XE ($149.95) is a 128K-
|
|
memory computer that's capable of
|
|
running -serious- productivity
|
|
software without any compromise --
|
|
word processors with built-in spelling
|
|
checkers, large spreadsheets and
|
|
databases, etc. Yet it also has
|
|
Atari's traditionally excellent
|
|
graphics and ease of programming. The
|
|
130XE runs all the software written
|
|
for any previous 8-bit Atari model,
|
|
and the keyboard action is nothing
|
|
short of outstanding. Overall, the
|
|
130XE is the best value in 128K
|
|
personal computers today.
|
|
|
|
65XE
|
|
|
|
The 65XE ($99.95) is essentially the
|
|
classic Atari 800XL repackaged in
|
|
sturdy gray plastic to match the rest
|
|
of the new Atari computer line. It is
|
|
a worthy successor to 800 and 800XL,
|
|
continuing in the tradition of the
|
|
best 64K personal computers ever
|
|
brought to market. Available for
|
|
considerably less than the low list
|
|
price at mass merchandisers, the 65XE
|
|
is a fine choice for first-time
|
|
computer buyers with its solid base of
|
|
good software and self-teaching books.
|
|
|
|
XE GAME SYSTEM
|
|
|
|
The new XE Game System ($149.95) is an
|
|
imaginatively designed two-piece 65XE
|
|
computer that comes with a detachable
|
|
keyboard, a light gun, joystick and
|
|
bundled cartridge software including
|
|
Flight Simulator II. Atari is also
|
|
marketing new cartridge versions of
|
|
some 18 hit arcade and disk games at
|
|
$20 a piece. The Game System runs all
|
|
previously released 8-bit Atari
|
|
cartridges -- or you could connect it
|
|
to a disk drive and run any 8-bit
|
|
Atari disk software.
|
|
|
|
Atari Corporation
|
|
1196 Borregas Avenue
|
|
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
|
|
(408)745-2000
|
|
|
|
(See the special START Buyers Guide
|
|
issue for an in-depth look at the
|
|
latest ST computers, software and
|
|
peripherals.)
|
|
|
|
BUSINESS & PRODUCTIVITY CALC MAGIC,
|
|
CREATIVE PROCESS
|
|
|
|
CALC MAGIC ($24.95, XL/XE and disk,
|
|
AP0177) is a complete spreadsheet
|
|
package, featuring programmable macros
|
|
that enable you to run automated
|
|
sequences, quick testing of multiple
|
|
-what-if- conditions, pop-up menu
|
|
windows and math functions including
|
|
mean, standard deviation and variance.
|
|
Standard spreadsheet .DIF files are
|
|
supported.
|
|
|
|
CREATIVE PROCESS ($19.95, 48K disk,
|
|
AP0151) is a tremendous aid in report
|
|
writing, for business or school. This
|
|
outline processor features pop-up
|
|
menus and can help you manage
|
|
projects, make sense out of long
|
|
meetings, or monitor works in
|
|
progress. Creative Process supports
|
|
the 130XE RAMdisk.
|
|
|
|
The Catalog
|
|
544 Second Street
|
|
San Francisco, CA 94107
|
|
(800) 234-7001.
|
|
|
|
TURBOBASE
|
|
|
|
The MicroMod TURBOBASE Integrated
|
|
Business Application takes full
|
|
advantage of the 1Mb RAMdisk
|
|
capability of ICD's Multi I/O Board
|
|
and speedy SpartaDOS 3.2. This program
|
|
does the job for business owners
|
|
seeking a central software system to
|
|
handle all their financial and
|
|
administrative data. TurboBase tracks
|
|
customer and vendor addresses and
|
|
phone numbers; accounts receivable
|
|
and payable; inventory and payroll.
|
|
It contains a word processor and a
|
|
flexible report generator. $179.95,
|
|
48K disk.
|
|
|
|
MicroMiser Software, Inc.
|
|
1635-A Holden Avenue
|
|
Orlando, FL 32809
|
|
(305) 857-6014
|
|
|
|
SYNCALC, SYNFILE+, B/GRAPH
|
|
|
|
The SYNCALC spreadsheet and SYNFILE+
|
|
database ($49.95 each, 48K disk) are
|
|
the most widely used integrated
|
|
productivity applications for 8-bit
|
|
Ataris. Each program is powerful,
|
|
while pop-up menus and clear commands
|
|
simplify operation. SynCalc is
|
|
compatible with VisiCalc .DIF files.
|
|
|
|
B/GRAPH ($39.95, 48K disk) creates pie
|
|
charts, 2-D and 3-D bar charts, line
|
|
and area graphs. You can graph three
|
|
factors with 100 data points each and
|
|
convert instantly between graph types
|
|
without re-entering data. B/Graph
|
|
also reads and writes to SynCalc .DIF
|
|
files -- enter data with SynCalc, then
|
|
graph it with B/Graph.
|
|
|
|
Electronic Arts
|
|
1820 Gateway Drive
|
|
San Mateo, CA 94404
|
|
(415) 571-7171.
|
|
|
|
BUSINESS MANAGER
|
|
|
|
BUSINESS MANAGER is for the small
|
|
businessperson who needs a simple
|
|
accounting sy3t-m to track sales and
|
|
inventory without getting lost in
|
|
fancy features. Written in Atari
|
|
BASIC, Business Manager also runs with
|
|
BASIC XL from OSS. This program also
|
|
takes advantage of the extra RAM in a
|
|
130XE. $49.95, 48K Disk.
|
|
|
|
Reeve Software
|
|
29W150 Old Farm Lane
|
|
Warrenville, IL 60555
|
|
(312) 393-2317.
|
|
|
|
MILES PAYROLL SYSTEM
|
|
|
|
This advanced, comprehensive payroll
|
|
accounting system maintains cumulative
|
|
totals for up to 50 employees per disk
|
|
and features complete reporting, check
|
|
writing and W-2 reporting. Covers all
|
|
standard payroll deductions,
|
|
unemployment insurance and worker's
|
|
compensation. Easy to update for
|
|
yearly IRS changes, the Miles package
|
|
allows weekly, biweekly, semimonthly
|
|
or monthly pay periods. $99.95, 32K
|
|
disk, requires two disk drives.
|
|
|
|
Miles Computing
|
|
21018 Osborne Street
|
|
Building 5
|
|
Canoga Park, CA 91304
|
|
(818) 994-6280
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
ZMAGAZINE 75 Please contribute!!!
|
|
Issue #75 Volume 2 No.42 (c)1987
|
|
______________________________________
|