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1084 lines
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| ROVAC ZMAGAZINE |
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| Issue #166 |
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| July 18, 1989 |
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|Copyright 1989, RII|
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|This week in ZMagazine|
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Editor's Monitor
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Harold Brewer
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Matrix Magazine
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Eric Glover
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ZMagazine Index for Jan-June 1989
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Curses--Foiled Again!
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Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition
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Harold Brewer
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|EDITOR'S MONITOR|
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|by Harold Brewer|
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As folks who frequent the CompuServe
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8-bit download libraries can attest,
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ZMagazine issue #164 cannot be found
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there.
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This is due to a CompuServe employee's
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(Ron Luks) point of view that:
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-(the) issue doesn't meet our
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editorial standards for acceptance- and
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-I considered the comments about Mark's
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'grammatical skills' to be
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'unnecessary, unproductive, and
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unprofessional'-. (These quotes were
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given to ZMagazine by Mr. Luks.)
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Apparently, the 8-bit SysOps of GEnie,
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the publisher of ZMagazine, and myself
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differ in our opinions as to what is
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acceptable for access on-line.
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I am sorry if anyone has taken personal
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insult concerning the contents of
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ZMag #164, but nothing of the sort was
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ever intended. Indeed, the best
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possible presentation of material for
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publishing in ZMagazine is at the
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forefront of my mind. When this is
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not possible through some constraint,
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I believe something should be said
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to prevent its reoccurrance.
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|MATRIX MAGAZINE|
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|by Eric Glover|
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I would like to ask your group to join
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the EgasaTechnologies/Matrix Magazine
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Network (Egsanet). Matrix Magazine is
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the world's first completely diskette
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magazine devoted only to the 8-bit
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Atari computer system. We feature
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articles in an easy-to-read journal
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format combined with ready-to-run,
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pre-typed games and utilities over
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double-sided, double density diskettes.
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A demo edition was released in
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March/April 1989. I would like your
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user group to become part of our team.
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The idea is to have several sections in
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the magazine to user groups across the
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nation and overseas. These sections
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would include reviews, rumors, product
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release information, opinions,
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tutorials, and workshop sections. This
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alliance of user groups would be
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called, -The Network-, however, each
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group would retain it's singular
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identity and would NOT be responsible
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to any other member of -The Network-.
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Also, ALL credit for any printed
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article would go to the user group and
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the author of the article. -The
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Network- would be just the name of this
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alliance of user groups and not a
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collective of these groups that would
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take away respective identities.
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Instead, ALL respective indentities of
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each group would remain intact.
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I need your group's help to set up this
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alliance. Here is how the system would
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work:
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NETWORK OVERVIEW
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1. A materials exchange will be
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set-up.
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2. Should an article in your group's
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newsletter be of interest to the
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Atari community, we would publish
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it in the Matrix Magazine and give
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the user group and the author
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credit. Matrix Magazine would be
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allowed no more than 2 stories or
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articles from any single issue of
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your newsletter.
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3. Your user group would be allowed
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to reprint up to 2 articles from
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any issue of Matrix Magazine in
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any of your news publications as
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long as the author and Matrix
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Magazine are credited.
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4. Your group and it's members would
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receive a discount on the normal
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subscription price:.
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Type Normal Price Your Price
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4 Issues $15.95 $13.95
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8 Issues 25.95 22.95
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12 Issues 35.95 30.95
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5. As a final bonus, Network user
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groups are allowed discount
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advertising space.
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Type Normal Price Your Price
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Half page $25.00 $10.00
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Half page
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w/animation 35.00 15.00
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Full page 40.00 20.00
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Full page
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w/animation 60.00 27.50
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2 page 80.00 45.00
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2 page with
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animation 120.00 75.00
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Full section
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w/animation
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(10 pages) 450.00 250.00
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NETWORK REPLY FORM
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-------------(Cut here)---------------
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Please complete this form and return
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to the address listed below.
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____ No, we do not wish to participate
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in the Network.
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____ Maybe, please send us an ARCed
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copy of the Demo Matrix Issue for
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distribution to our members and
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we'll respond at a later date.
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____ Yes, We would like to be a part
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of the Matrix Magazine Team.
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REGISTRATION
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Group Name:___________________________
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___________________________
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President:____________________________
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Group Address:________________________
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City/State:___________________________
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Zip Code:__________
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BBS Phone Number:_____________________
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Meeting Dates:________________________
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Number of Members:_____________
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(Please include a copy of your
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publication.)
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Send to:
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Matrix Magazine (Ctsy ZMagazine)
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Attn: Eric R. Glover
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Executive Editor
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Post Office Box 49212
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Chicago, Illinois 60649
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-------------(Cut here)---------------
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|ZMAGAZINE INDEX|
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January thru June 1989
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Issues #138 thru #163
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___________________________________
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Issue #138 January 3, 1989
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<*> Editors Desk
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<*> MYDOS Update Released
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<*> Diamond Review
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<*> ZNET Newswire
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<*> PR:C Modification
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<*> DATAQUE Update
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<*> ANTIC Software on CIS
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<*> XF551 Modification
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Issue #139 January 10, 1989
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<*> Editors Desk
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<*> Diamond Update
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<*> Software Bill of Rights
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<*> Your 8 Bit Comes Alive
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<*> Innovative Concepts Sale
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<*> December Files on GEnie
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<*> US Robotics Offer
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<*> Transformer Update
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<*> Happy Conference Highlites
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Issue #140 January 16, 1989
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<*> Editors Desk
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<*> East Coast MIDI Directory
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<*> PC Pursuit Update
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<*> Diamond Conference Transcript
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<*> Atari Distributors World Wide
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<*> CIS Offer
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Issue #141 January 23, 1988
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<*> Editors Desk.........Ron Kovacs
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<*> GOE/TCS Update.....David Sullivan
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<*> CodeBuster Help....Ctsy SIG*Atari
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<*> 800 Owners Column...H. Siebenrock
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<*> Analog March Contents
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<*> ARC Speed Test IBM vs 130XE
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<*> IBM Monitor with XEP...B. Woolley
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<*> GEnie ATARI8 RT Top 100 Downloads
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Issue #142 January 30, 1989
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<1> Z*Net Newswire
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News updates including Xanth,
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Diamond and more...
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<2> 800XL Ram Upgrade....Russ Babylon
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Modification article. Reprinted by
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request.
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<3> AtariWriter+ and SpartaDos
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...Glenn Smith
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How to use A+ and a Ramdisk
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<4> 800 Owners Column....H. Siebenrock
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Cold System Reset
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<5> Oasis BBS System........Ron Kovacs
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New release from Z INNOVATORS
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Issue #143 February 7, 1989
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<*> Editors Desk...........Ron Kovacs
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<*> Nintendo Sues Atari Games
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<*> Dataque Conference.......Ctsy CIS
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<*> Atari Magazines..........L. Estep
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<*> MicroMiser
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<*> Call Blocking............J. Cross
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<*> Online Services <CIS>
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<*> Jan Uploads <GEnie>
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Issue #144 February 14, 1989
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<*> Editors Desk...........Ron Kovacs
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<*> ZMag F Rating...........John Nagy
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Text file rating system
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<*> Dataque Update.....Chuck Stienman
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Details on the Turbo816 Project
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<*> Express The Cartridge.......Orion
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New Product announcement
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<*> Express Cart Order Form.....Orion
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<*> Diamond Cartridge........Ken Leap
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A Review
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<*> Practical Solutions....WK Whitton
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Valuable offer for STer's
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<*> ST Transformer Cable...........IC
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<*> Z*Break................Ron Kovacs
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Special request from Sig Hartmann
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Issue #145 February 21, 1989
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<*> EDITORS DESK...........Ron Kovacs
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Commentary and update
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<*> ANALOG COMPUTING EDITORIAL.
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...Clayton Walnum
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February Edition Reprint
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<*> Z*NET NEWSWIRE
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8 Bit Developers Kit, Auto Show
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dates, IC Sale and more
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<*> KEYS TO YOUR ATARI...Mike Lechkun
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Reprint from MAGIC
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<*> SURVEY RESPONSE........Ron Kovacs
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Part 1 of a series from the ZMag
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Survey
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<*> ATARI SHOW
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ST World presents -World Of Atari-
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Issue #146 February 28, 1989
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<*> EDITORS DESK..........Ron Kovacs
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<*> ANALOG APRIL CONTENTS.....Analog
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<*> OVERSEAS VISIT.........Ron Kovacs
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<*> GALAXY STARLINK........WK Whitton
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<*> ANTIC MAY CONTENTS..........Antic
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<*> MICROMISER UPDATE
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<*> WORLD OF ATARI SHOWS
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<*> ZNET NEWSWIRE
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Issue #147 March 7, 1989
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==> Publisher's Desk
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Ron Kovacs
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==> Editor's Monitor
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Harold Brewer
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==> Commodore 1350 Controller
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Jay Pierstorff
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==> New Games for the 8-bit
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Matt Ratcliff
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==> GEnie's February 8-bit Uploads
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Courtesy of GEnie/Atari 8-bit RT
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==> Micromiser: Part 3
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Kenneth Gilbert
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==> Z Innovators Oasis BBS Policy
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Courtesy of Bungalow BBS
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==> Z*NET Newswire
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #148 March 14, 1989
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==> Editor's Monitor
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Harold Brewer
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==> Z*Net Press Release
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Syndicate Publishing Company
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==> Turbo BASIC Command List
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Dave and Laura Yearke
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==> Indus GT Modification
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Rich Mier
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==> Bill Williams' Necromancer
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Richard Brudzynski
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==> Oasis 4.3 Update News
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Glenda Stocks
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==> Z*Net Newswire
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #149 March 21, 1989
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==> 512K 800XL Upgrade
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Dan Schmidt
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==> Hard-To-Find Support Updated
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==> Super Archiver
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Paul Gittins
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==> Crazy-Eights
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Robert Buman
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==> AtariTech BBS XL Power Supply
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The Traveler
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==> Z*Net Newswire
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #150 March 28, 1989
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==> Editor's Monitor
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Harold Brewer
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==> XE Console Key Fix
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The Traveler
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==> Thunder Fox and Tower Toppler
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Matthew Ratcliff
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==> -WHATIS- File Identifier
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Bill Aycock
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==> Analog Computing May Contents
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Clayton Walnum
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==> F.A.C.E.
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Eric Lambeth
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==> Z*Net Newswire
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #151 April 4, 1989
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==> PC Pursuit Update
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==> Turbo 8-16 News
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==> 1st Stop Computer Systems, LTD
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Bruce Hansford
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==> April Fool's Treat #1
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==> April Fool's Treat #2
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==> Crazy Eights #3
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Robert Buman
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==> GEnie's March 8-bit Uploads
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Issue #152 April 11, 1989
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==> Editor's Monitor
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Harold Brewer
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==> World of Atari Update
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==> Diamond OS Super Cartridge
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Joe Lovett
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==> Computer Software Services
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Bob Puff
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==> Machine Language Strings
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Dennis Pitman
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==> Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #153 March 18, 1989
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==> Editor's Monitor
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Harold Brewer
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==> TextPro 2.5r/3.2r
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Bill Hall
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==> Introducing MAX Systems
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Marty Albert
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==> Atari Users Association
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Robert J. Guadagno
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Issue #154 March 25, 1989
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==> Editor's Monitor
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Harold Brewer
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==> Atari in Panama
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Carlos Hassan
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==> Rommel, Battles for Tobruk
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Howard Bandow
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==> ICD's Current Software Versions
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==> SuperDOS v5.0
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Tom Curtner
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==> Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #155 May 2, 1989
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==> World of Atari Report
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John Nagy
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==> CompuServe 8-bit Uploads
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==> DeTerm v1.59
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Robert Anisko
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==> April 8-bit Uploads from GEnie
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==> Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #156 May 9, 1989
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==> Publisher's Desk
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Ron Kovacs
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==> Ratty's Rap
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Matthew Ratcliff
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==> CompuServe New 8-bit Files
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==> The -Freedom Stick-
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Tom Guelker
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==> Microcheck 130XE 1988
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Eric -Gus- Augustus
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==> Z*NET Newswire 8-bit Edition
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #157 May 16, 1989
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==> The 512K Atari 800XL/1200XL 1.1
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Dan Schmidt
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==> Comprehensive MACE Show Report
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John Nagy
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==> CompuServe New 8-bit Files
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==> DataQue Software's Turbo-816
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==> Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #158 May 23, 1989
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==> A Few Minutes with Randy Mooney
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Frank Walters
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==> Terminal Emulators for the 8-bit
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Robert Anisko
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==> WAACE-Current Notes Contest
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==> Analog July 1989 Contents
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Clayton Walnum
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==> Turbo-816 Version 1.1M Orders
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==> Z*NET Newswire 8-bit Version
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #159 May 30, 1989
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==> Editor's Monitor
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Harold Brewer
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==> Hard Disk Hints
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W.K. Whitton
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==> Crazy-Eights #5
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Robert Buman
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==> Interlude 1
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==> Kennedy Approach
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Dennis Pitman
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==> Guest Commentary
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Leo Sell
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==> Interlude 2
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==> Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #160 June 6, 1989
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==> Atari Announces New Products
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ZBreak #5
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==> Summer CES Chicago June 3, 1989
|
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<<<< Kirk >>>>
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==> Hard Disk Hints (Part 2)
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W. K. Whitton
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==> The Master Memory Map
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Jerry Cross
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==> Electronic Mailbox At Home
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Bob Fasoldt
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Issue #161 June 13, 1989
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==> Quick DIR
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Mat*Rat
|
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==> CompuServe New 8-bit Uploads
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==> Innovative Concepts Release
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==> GEnie New 8-bit Uploads
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==> Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #162 June 20, 1989
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==> Interview with Chris Roberts
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Bob Brodie and John Nagy
|
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==> Line Noise
|
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==> GEnie New 8-bit Uploads
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==> Autoduel
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Dennis Pitman
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==> CompuServe New 8-bit Uploads
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==> SuperDOS Right Margin
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Frank Walters
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==> Tech Tips
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W.K. Whitton
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==> Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition
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Harold Brewer
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Issue #163 June 27, 1989
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==> Daisy-Dot III Font Preview
|
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Roy Goldman
|
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==> CompuServe New 8-bit Uploads
|
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==> Day One--World of Atari Dearborn
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John Nagy
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==> GEnie New 8-bit Uploads
|
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==> Atari Booth
|
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Malcom Cleveland
|
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==> The Public Domain Desk
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Lawrence R. Estep
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==> Analog Computing Table of Contents
|
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==> Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition
|
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Harold Brewer
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|CURSES--FOILED AGAIN!|
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|Anonymous by request|
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|
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Back in late March of this year, a hoax
|
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was perpetrated in the form of a -press
|
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release- regarding the activities of
|
|
Atari Corp. The document was widely
|
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distributed on various
|
|
telecommunications networks and
|
|
contained some extravagent plans for
|
|
product releases and marketing by Atari
|
|
Corp. Also included was th -news- that
|
|
the 8-bit computer line had been sold
|
|
to Coleco (of Cabbage Patch Dolls and
|
|
the Adam Computer fame). I was
|
|
becoming an increasingly serious user
|
|
of my Atari 8-bit at the time (and
|
|
still am) and before my modem had had a
|
|
chance to cool off after reading the
|
|
text of the hoax, I dashed off the
|
|
following letter. Luckily, I did not
|
|
have a chance to mail off the letter
|
|
before the hoax had been debunked.
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|
However, I submit the (slightly edited)
|
|
text of this letter (anonymously and a
|
|
little red-faced) to my fellow
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8-bitters for their consideration.
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March 30, 1989
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Dear Coleco;
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Congratulations on your recent purchase
|
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of the 6502 computer line from Atari
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Corporation. It might be a surprise
|
|
that you are already receiving mail
|
|
about this product, but word travels
|
|
fast amongst computer users.
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|
By way of introduction, I am a
|
|
dedicated Atari -8-bitter-. I own a
|
|
130XE, three disk drives (two 1050s and
|
|
an XF551), a 1027 printer and an SX212
|
|
modem. I also have the use of a good
|
|
deal of additional Atari 8-bit hardware
|
|
as I am the SysOp of an Electronic
|
|
Bulletin Board set up for the benefit
|
|
of professionals in the southeastern
|
|
corner of (State). I am using my own
|
|
equipment to write my doctoral
|
|
dissertation, produce a newsletter for
|
|
the BBS described above and write
|
|
articles for the local Atari users
|
|
group. I also do a good deal of
|
|
telecommunication with services such as
|
|
GEnie, CompuServe and Knowledge Index
|
|
as well as local BBSes. And yes, I
|
|
also sometimes play a game or two on
|
|
the computer. This letter has been
|
|
written on my Atari 8-bit and printed
|
|
up on my Panasonic 1091i printer. I
|
|
used Public Domain software including
|
|
the TextPro word-processor version 3.2
|
|
by Collins and Richie, and a program
|
|
called Daisy-Dot II written by Roy
|
|
Goldman in order to achieve the special
|
|
type font. This letter was written and
|
|
produced in less than an hour. As you
|
|
can see, this computer CAN play with
|
|
the big boys.
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Although I have the opportunity to use
|
|
Apple and IBM computers in my
|
|
professional work as a school
|
|
psychologist, I most enjoy using my
|
|
Atari 8-bit computer system and I hope
|
|
to be able to continue to use this fine
|
|
system for a number of years and to
|
|
eventually introduce it to my children
|
|
as their first computer. As a
|
|
potential future customer and supporter
|
|
of Coleco, now that you have the rights
|
|
to these former Atari products, I would
|
|
like to offer my advice on what I think
|
|
Coleco should do with this excellent
|
|
computer line:
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1) If it is both technically and
|
|
legally possible, produce an APPLE
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EMULATION PACKAGE. The reason I feel
|
|
that this would be worthwhile is that
|
|
thousands, probably millions, of kids
|
|
are exposed to Apple Computers in the
|
|
schools. Parents might very well
|
|
consider the purchase of an inexpensive
|
|
alternative if the children could bring
|
|
home their textfile or program disks of
|
|
work done in school.
|
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|
2) Produce and/or port some new games
|
|
that REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SOUND
|
|
AND GRAPHICS CAPABILITY OF THE 8-BIT
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|
ATARI. Talk with Xanth Park, who has
|
|
produced some of the most stunning
|
|
visual displays ever seen on any 8-bit
|
|
machine for the Atari 8-bit.
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|
3) Don't continue with Atari's giant
|
|
step backward of releasing the memory
|
|
limited 64K XE Game System. I think
|
|
that any new machines released should
|
|
have as much if not more memory than
|
|
the 130XE (128K). Such extra memory is
|
|
very handy and makes many programs much
|
|
more useful and efficient to run.
|
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|
4) Do not forget the fact that you have
|
|
a huge, already-installed user-base.
|
|
BUT, please take note of the following
|
|
facts about this ready-made market:
|
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|
A: There has been virtually no
|
|
advertising directed at this market in
|
|
years. They have also seen the outlets
|
|
from which they formerly obtained
|
|
products and support disappear. Many
|
|
towns and even cities of even moderate
|
|
size have NO stores which stock or
|
|
display Atari 8-bit products. Many of
|
|
these potential customers have probably
|
|
given up even bothering to look for
|
|
software and other products. Many of
|
|
these users may be unaware that they
|
|
have computers/game machines which will
|
|
be compatible with any new software or
|
|
hardware that Coleco may produce.
|
|
These are owners of the Atari 400, 800,
|
|
1200XL, 600XL, 800XL, 65XE and 130XE
|
|
computers. YOU WOULD PROBABLY DO WELL
|
|
TO EXPLODE A REAL ADVERTISING -BOMB- IN
|
|
ORDER TO AROUSE THESE CUSTOMERS. A
|
|
period of intensive prime-time
|
|
television advertising that calls the
|
|
attention of these owners to Coleco's
|
|
support for them will probably have
|
|
them flocking in droves to any store
|
|
that they are told sells new software
|
|
for their machines: they have simply
|
|
been STARVED for it for the last 4 to 5
|
|
years.
|
|
|
|
B: There is a small but very active
|
|
and loyal market of -serious- users of
|
|
the Atari 8-bit computer line which
|
|
will welcome the release of
|
|
improved/updated computer-related (as
|
|
opposed to mere game-related) products.
|
|
For example, we are in great need of a
|
|
well-written, flexible, efficient and
|
|
easy to learn Database program (ie.
|
|
SynFile+, which is currently owned by
|
|
Broderbund, LOOKS great, but is simply
|
|
too inefficient in many respects.)
|
|
|
|
5) Be aware and take advantage of the
|
|
fact that some excellent products for
|
|
the Atari 8-bit line have been produced
|
|
and released in the recent past by
|
|
third-party developers such as ICD
|
|
(SpartaDOS X, P:R: Connection).
|
|
Exciting new developments such as the
|
|
new Turbo-816 operating system by
|
|
DataQue should be explored and
|
|
integrated into your plans if they
|
|
appear to be worthwhile. Also, be
|
|
aware that there already exist many
|
|
excellent Public Domain programs (both
|
|
games and applications) which deserve
|
|
the status and distribution of the
|
|
commercial market or require little
|
|
more than refinements and subtle
|
|
improvements by professional
|
|
programmers in order to make them so.
|
|
|
|
6) Be aware and take advantage of the
|
|
fact that this computer is CAPABLE OF
|
|
VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE BASIC FUNCTIONS OF
|
|
ANY PERSONAL COMPUTER. Yes, of course
|
|
it can play games, but it also makes an
|
|
excellent word-processor, and even
|
|
simple desktop publishing can be
|
|
accomplished with it. It is a joy, not
|
|
only to engage in telecommunications
|
|
with this computer, but also to utilize
|
|
it as a -Host- computer for electronic
|
|
Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes).
|
|
|
|
7) CONCENTRATE ON SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT!
|
|
This is potentially the area in which
|
|
you can make tremendous profit at
|
|
relatively little expense for a number
|
|
of reasons. There are probably
|
|
thousands of 8-bit programmers out
|
|
there who, if given the chance, and
|
|
adequate support, could produce
|
|
excellent software. This computer
|
|
already has an excellent base of
|
|
hardware support (try to keep up the
|
|
quality in this area: dealers to whom
|
|
I have spoken actually PREFERRED
|
|
handling Atari 8-bits over Commodore
|
|
products because of the quality and
|
|
reliability of the hardware). Also,
|
|
with a good interface such as the 850
|
|
or the P:R: Connection, your new
|
|
customers will be able to utilize
|
|
virtually any printer or modem on the
|
|
market.
|
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|
|
8) THE ATARI 8-BIT ALSO ALREADY HAS A
|
|
NATIONWIDE EXPERIENCED/INSTALLED
|
|
SUPPORT BASE in the form of 8-bit
|
|
special interst groups (or -SIGs-) of
|
|
Atari Users groups. Please attempt to
|
|
solicit input and feedback from such
|
|
groups, they may be a great help in
|
|
helping to launch your new venture.
|
|
|
|
You now have, as you once attempted to
|
|
produce with the ADAM, an extremely
|
|
easy to use, inexpensive and flexible
|
|
computer line which has the additional
|
|
advantage of already having a wealth of
|
|
knowledge and support to back it up.
|
|
This computer could easily be the
|
|
-VOLKSCOMPUTER- of the near future.
|
|
Although not as complicated as some of
|
|
the 16-bit computers which are now
|
|
commonplace in the so-called -serious-
|
|
computer Market, this computer can
|
|
easily do virtually anything that most
|
|
-ordinary- people could ask of a
|
|
personal computer. If you are truly
|
|
committed to this product and back it
|
|
up with adequate support, it can only
|
|
be a huge commercial success for you.
|
|
|
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|
|
Sincerely,
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Anonymous)
|
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|
|Z*NET NEWSWIRE 8-BIT EDITION|
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|by Harold Brewer|
|
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Frank Walters, SysOp of T.A.C.O.
|
|
Bell BBS, sent two nice ATASCII
|
|
ZMagazine logos. How do you
|
|
like them?
|
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|
|
Atari News
|
|
andInfo
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Graphics By SCARAMANGA
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(c)'87
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|
One of ZMag's sister publications
|
|
(ST-ZMagazine) reported on the
|
|
following in its -ZNET NEWSWIRE-
|
|
from ST-ZMagazine #29:
|
|
|
|
-ST-LOG will now be the place
|
|
where Analog readers go to for
|
|
8-bit news in the fall. Due to
|
|
insufficient advertising which has
|
|
not covered the costs of
|
|
publication, Analog will be
|
|
included within ST-LOG just as
|
|
ST-LOG appeared in Analog before
|
|
its debut as a separate
|
|
publication. The circulation of
|
|
Analog has been good, but plagued
|
|
with less ads.-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orion Microsystems has been
|
|
shipping Express! cartridges and
|
|
Keith Ledbetter made the following
|
|
statement Monday in GEnie's 8-bit
|
|
Bulletin Board:
|
|
|
|
-We forgot to include a cover
|
|
letter with the Express! Carts
|
|
that we have shipped out so far,
|
|
so I'm going to post it here. If
|
|
you could, I'd appreciate it if
|
|
you'd pass this information on to
|
|
any users on your BBSes (you can
|
|
just capture this message if you'd
|
|
like).
|
|
|
|
-The only cartridges that we have
|
|
shipped so far have been
|
|
pre-orders--we are going to use
|
|
the people who pre-ordered the
|
|
cartridge as extended BETA
|
|
testers. We are not shipping any
|
|
more cartridges until the
|
|
pre-order users have used the cart
|
|
for at least 3 weeks. We will
|
|
then make any bug fixes that have
|
|
been found, and upgrade those
|
|
pre-order people to version 1.1 of
|
|
the cartridge.
|
|
|
|
-So, it is VERY important that you
|
|
call Chris at our voice number if
|
|
you think you have found a bug--if
|
|
you don't call, we won't know
|
|
about it! So far, the only
|
|
problems have been found in the
|
|
80-column screen handler. Version
|
|
1.1 will greatly clean up the
|
|
80-column display.
|
|
|
|
Take care,
|
|
|
|
Keith
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've been having tremendous luck
|
|
creating and cleaning up menu
|
|
screens both for personal and
|
|
BBS use. Most of this luck can
|
|
be attributed to the book
|
|
called:
|
|
|
|
Handbook of Screen Format Design
|
|
by Wilbert O. Galitz
|
|
|
|
Published by QED Information
|
|
Sciences, Inc., this manual
|
|
brings science and artistry
|
|
together to relieve much of the
|
|
burden from the eager menu
|
|
maker. Mr. Galitz tells us
|
|
exactly why some menus are
|
|
appealing and workable, while
|
|
with simple changes, these same
|
|
examples become horrendous and
|
|
difficult.
|
|
|
|
For anyone who takes pride in
|
|
their computer's visual
|
|
presentation, Handbook of Screen
|
|
Format Design is there to
|
|
assist.
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
| Rovac Industries, Incorporated |
|
|
| P.O. Box 74, Middlesex, NJ 08846 |
|
|
| (201) 968-8148 |
|
|
|Copyright 1989 All Rights Reserved|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reprint permission is granted
|
|
providing ZMagazine and the original
|
|
author is credited.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CompuServe: 71777,2140
|
|
GEnie: ZMAGAZINE
|
|
Source: BDG793
|
|
|
|
ZMagazine Headquarters BBSes:
|
|
Centurion BBS--(314)621-5046
|
|
(618)451-0165
|
|
Chaos BBS--(517)371-1106
|
|
Shadow Haven--(916)962-2566
|
|
Stairway to Heaven--(216)784-0574
|
|
The Pub--(716)826-5733
|