779 lines
37 KiB
Plaintext
779 lines
37 KiB
Plaintext
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SYNDICATE ZMAGAZINE
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Issue #144, February 14, 1989
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-Happy Valentine's Day-
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Copyright 1989, SPC
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=========================================================================
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This Week:
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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 Available.................IC
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<*> Z*Break................................Ron Kovacs
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Special request from Sig Hartmann
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##############################
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<*> EDITORS DESK
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##############################
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by Ron Kovacs
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Of interest this week for 8 bitters: Tomorrow February 15th, Chuck
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Steinman of Dataque will be in conference on CompuServe. If you are a
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subscriber please attend. Subject of this conference will be of the
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Turbo816.
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Recent CompuServe sign-up offers have been sent in, we are submitting
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groups of names, so if your request has not be filled yet, it should be
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very shortly. If you are interested in signing up to CompuServe, send
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your name and address on a post card to: Syndicate Publishing, Post
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Office Box 74, Middlesex, NJ 08846. Please allow a few weeks for your kit
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to arrive.
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You can now contact Syndicate Publishing at (201) 968-8148. Leave your
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name and number and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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If you are a GEnie subscriber, you can now send Atari direct feedback
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about possible plans for 8-bit developement. Go to the Bulletin Board
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area, Catagory 15. There have been topics assigned to assist you, please
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select the correct area before entering your comments.
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##############################
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<*> THE ZMAG F RATING SYSTEM
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##############################
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by John Nagy
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The following is my proposal for rating text material, designed
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principally for online publications and articles, but you may find it
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adaptable to any text material.
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You will find it easy and helpful in avoiding wasted time reading files,
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whether they be 1K or 74K. It is based on five factors:
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#1) Fact Rating : Scale 0 to 10 0 being no facts what-so-ever
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#2) Fudge Rating : Scale 0 to -10 0 being NO fudge what-so-ever
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#3) Factoid Rating : Scale 0 to 5 0 being no factoids
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#4) Fume Rating : Scale 0 to -5 0 being no fuming
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#5) Fun Rating : Scale -10 to +10 +10 being good fun
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-10 being annoying
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DEFINITIONS
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===========
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FACT RATING
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===========
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Degree to which the material includes facts, substantiated and attributed.
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FUDGE RATING
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============
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The degree to which the material includes surmise, guess-work, backfill
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and particulate waste.
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FACTOID RATING
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==============
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Degree that the material includes rumor, logical and deductive analysis.
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FUME RATING
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===========
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Degree that the material contains commentary, editorial and attitude.
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FUN RATING
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==========
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Overall entertainment value of the piece. Unlike the other ratings, the
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fun factor can range negative or positive.
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DIRECTIONS
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==========
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1> Give any article 25 points to start.
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2> After reading the article, add or subtract the relevant points.
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3> Find the score below.
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4> Go to one.
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RATING TABLE
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============
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Scoring will range from 0 to 50. With zero being abominable and 50 being
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ready for a Pulitzer. Here are some ranges and recommended actions.
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SCALE DESCRIPTION
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=========================================================================
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40-50 Outstanding; Upload to a BBS and print a hard copy
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and distribute to your user group. Include it in
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your user group newsletter.
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30-39 Worthwhile; Tell your friends and upload to an
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online service.
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20-29 Typical; Dont tell your friends unless they have a
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specific interest in the topic.
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10-19 Poor; Delete file after reading.
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0 - 9 Hidious; Abort download, if too late do NOT attempt
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to re-use disk.
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This article is rated below:
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Fact = 0 (This is a feature)
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Fudge = 0 (C'mon this is a feature remember)
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Factoid = 2 (Displays logical reasoning)
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Fume = -1 (Somehow, someone, somewhere might be offended)
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Fun = 7 (Not hilarious but gave you a grin)
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Article = 25
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============
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Total = 34
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You know what to do.....
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##############################
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<*> DATAQUE UPDATE
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##############################
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by Chuck Stienman
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(Editor Note: This text has been edited for room)
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DataQue Software
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Dept. T816-C
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Post Office Box 134
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Ontario, OH 44862
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On February 15, 1989, Compuserve will sponsor an online conference
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featuring Chuck Steinman from DataQue Software to present information and
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answer questions concerning the Turbo-816x project.
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Feel free to distribute the information in this document to your local
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user group newsletter editor. The information contained herein is subject
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to change without notice, and is provided as a public service to CIS
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users, and the Atari community at large.
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Anyone wishing to be on the DataQue Software mailing list should send a
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Self-Addressed, Stamped #10 size Envelope to the above address. Please
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state in your letter where you heard about the Turbo-816. I am receiving
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dozens of letters daily, so please do not get discouraged if the questions
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you ask are not specifically answered. If time permits I try to answer
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them all, but things are kind of hectic at times.
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For those not familiar with the Turbo-816, it is an adapter board for the
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Atari XL/XE computers which will replace the current 6502c 8-bit
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processor, with a new 16-bit central processor system. The Turbo-816 is
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compatible with most of the existing hardware, and software for the Atari
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8-bit computers. With the -Dual-Prom- option so far only a handfull of
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existing programs have been incompatible. Programs which have been
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incompatible with the Turbo-OS alone have been those which have used
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illegal entry points into the Atari OS.
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The Turbo-816x will come as a kit with everything you should need to get
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started, some additional items will be needed under certain installations,
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and these are listed in the Turbo-Install Guide. These items are things
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like IC sockets, a toggle switch, wire, and solder. Tools needed to
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install a Turbo-816x include a phillips screwdriver, soldering iron,
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desoldering tool/solder wick, possibly a pair of plyers, and a flat
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bladed screwdriver.
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The Turbo-816x kit includes:
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Turbo-816x ..................... Central Processor Board
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Turbo-OS ....................... Operating System ROM
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Turbo-816x Connecting Cable .... 12- interconnect cable
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Turbo-Install Guide ............ Step by Step Install Instructions
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Turbo-816 User Guide ........... Some General Turbo-816 Tips
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-Dual Prom- Option Guide ....... Suggested Installation Option
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This kit will have a suggested price of $159.95, which will be sold
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factory direct initially for $119.95, plus $4.05 shipping/handling. COD,
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Foreign, and special handling would be additional. When orders are
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accepted, we will initially accept checks, or money orders. If requests
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for Visa/MC/Discover cards are high enough, we will later accept credit
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card orders. Due to the additional PROM on the 1200xl the Turbo-816x/12
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is currently $10 additional.
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There are several hardware devices planned for the Turbo-816 line. Some
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of the devices being developed or investigated include:
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Turbo-816a ..................... Version for the 400/800 computers
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Turbo-SRAM ..................... Static Memory Board (32k-256k)
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Turbo-ROM ...................... Program ROM board (32k-256k)
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Turbo-DRAM ..................... Dynamic Memory board (256k-4meg)
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Turbo-VID ...................... 80 column Video Adapter Card
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Turbo-CAGE ..................... Advanced External Card Cage
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Turbo-DISK ..................... Parallel Floppy Disk Interface
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There are several software/firmware items planned for the Turbo-816 line.
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Some software items being developed or investigated include:
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Turbo-PRG ...................... Programmers Information Kit
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Turbo-DEV ...................... Developers Information Kit
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Turbo-SRC ...................... Turbo-OS Source Code Info Kit
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Turbo-BAS ...................... New 16-bit BASIC Language
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Turbo-CEE ...................... New 16-bit C Language
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Turbo-ASM ...................... New 16-bit Assembler
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Turbo-EDT ...................... New 16-bit Screen Editor
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Turbo-BUG ...................... New 16-bit Assembly Code Debugger
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Prices for these items and other new items will be released as the items
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become available. Many items will be developed according to demand, and
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the price and availability will be adjusted to reflect that demand.
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The Turbo-816x is a small 2.5- by 5- (approx) board which is mounted
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inside an Atari XL/XE computer system. It is connected via a 40 position
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ribbon cable to the existing CPU socket. The old Atari 8-bit processor is
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removed, and if needed a 40 pin socket installed to allow the Turbo-816x
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DIP plug to be inserted.
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The Turbo-OS is a 28 pin PROM, which is installed either as a replacement
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for the Atari OS PROM, or in addition to the Atari OS. This is determined
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by the installation performed. On the 1200xl there are two 24 or 28 pin
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proms, and in some cases the -Dual-Prom- option is not available due to
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those production runs having 24 pin PROMs.
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In any case, if the installation is performed as instructed in the Turbo-
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Install Guide, the original Atari OS, and CPU can be re-installed if the
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Turbo-816 should ever need to be serviced. There would not need to be any
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de-soldering to remove the Turbo-816x if those directions are followed
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correctly.
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If your Atari computer has its CPU, and PROM in sockets, then the actual
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installation time, should be well under an hour. If you must de-solder
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the original OS, and CPU, then the time would be longer.
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There is currently only one wire that has to be added the Atari XL/XE
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motherboard to make the Turbo-816x work. This wire is connected to an
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unused pin on the Atari 6502c CPU IC socket, so if the Turbo-816x should
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have to be removed, it would not effect operation with the Atari CPU at
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all.
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Currently there are 24 beta test sites which are testing their hardware
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and software under several configurations of the Turbo-816x. They are by
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now, in the second stage of their testing, and the results of the first
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stage should be available by the conference.
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Results so far have been very good, and a few programming bugs have been
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located and corrected. While most people may not understand how difficult
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it is to write an operating system of this type from scratch (including
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Atari) and still maintain the compatibility with the original OS. Most
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people would have just hacked the old OS, and put in the needed code to
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support the 16-bit processor. We have completely re-coded the Atari OS
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from scratch using completely new routines. Where optimizations could be
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made, they were. This causes some software not to work, due to using
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illegal calls, but that is a problem we can fix from our end. Companies
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which use illegal entries/vectors do so at their customer's expense.
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Again, with the -Dual-Prom- option installed, this is not a problem.
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It is important for people to also understand that DataQue Software does
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not dedicate 100% of its efforts to developing Atari products. We make
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single, and multi-processor computer systems for industrial and commercial
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installations worldwide. If it were not for these other projects, the
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Turbo-816 would not be economically possible.
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If you have written any assembly language applications (language,
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database, spreadsheet, or others) we will work with you to make the
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conversion to 16-bit as easy as possible. When available the programmer,
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and developer kits are strongly recommended. We are also looking for
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authors which would release their programs to us for conversion to 16-bit.
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Again at this time we are looking mainly at application programs, not
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games.
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I hope you all can make it to the conference, and will have your questions
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ready. While I will not be able to comment on compatibility with many
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specific hardware/software products, since many are still being tested
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currently, I will try to answer where possible.
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Other issues will be open for discussion, so feel free to make your
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thoughts known, as we will listen to you as you are the market, and we
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want to provide what you want.
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##############################
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<*> EXPRESS (The Cartridge)
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##############################
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Feb. 6, 1989
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* * * * * * New Product Announcement * * * * * *
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Orion Micro Systems of Midlothian, Va. is pleased to announce the latest
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addition to its product line: the new Express! terminal program in a 64K
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cartridge.
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The Express! cartridge is a brand new terminal program written by Keith
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Ledbetter, the author of the popular Express! series of communication
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programs. The new Express! cartridge sports 64K of banked memory and is
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written in 100% assembler language, allowing Keith to pack in features
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that are not available in any other terminal program for the Atari 8-bit.
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Even though the program has been totally rewritten, you can still sense
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the user-friendly and bullet-proof environment that has always been a
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favorite feature of the Express! series of programs.
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The cartridge will work with any modem that has a corresponding -R:-
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handler available for it. This list includes:
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(a) any Hayes-compatible modem used with an 850, P:R: Connection, or MIO,
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(b) Atari 1030 modem,
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(c) Atari XM301 modem,
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(d) Atari SX212 modem, and
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(e) Supra MPP modem.
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The Express! cartridge is built around a drop-down menu system identical
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to those that are popular on many other machines like the IBM PC and the
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Atari ST. The XEP-80 80-column cartridge is also fully supported. If you
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are using an XEP-80, the drop-down menuing system is replaced with a text-
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based, 80-column menu. This means you will no longer need two monitors
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(ie: one for terminal mode, one for the menus).
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Express! also has a full-screen, Action-type text editor built in. This is
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a great feature to have, allowing you to edit the capture buffer or
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compose messages for uploading to Bulletin Boards. Supported features
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include cut and paste, line tagging, find, and search/replace.
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The Express! cartridge also allows you to piggyback another cartridge on
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top of it. Then, at your command, you can turn off the Express! cartridge
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and run the cartridge plugged into the top of it! Or, you can turn off
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the Express! cartridge AND the cartridge above it, making the OS think
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there are NO cartridges in your machine. You may never have to pull the
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cartridge out of your machine!
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Express! has a planned release date of June 1, 1989 and will retail for
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$69.95. Orion will start taking pre-orders for Express! on February 6,
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1989 and will give a $10.00 discount off of the retail price for pre-
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orders placed directly with them prior to the June 1, 1989 release date.
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(Virginia residents should add 4.5% sales tax).
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Listed below are some of the many highlights of the Express! cartridge,
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along with a pre-order form that you may use. If you would like to order
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by telephone, or if you have any questions about specific features of any
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of our products, you can call Chris at (804) 794-9437 between the hours of
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6 pm - 10 pm Eastern time. Thanks for your support!
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EXPRESS FEATURES
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================
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<*> Supports any available DOS, including the SpartaDOS X cartridge.
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<*> Intelligent and intuitive drop-down menu system, modeled after those
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that are so popular on IBM PC's. Those of you who have used Turbo
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Pascal or Turbo C on an IBM will feel right at home!
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<*> Supports extra memory in either the 130XE or upgraded 800XL's,
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allowing you to have a 90K capture buffer. Now you no longer have to
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be content with wimpy, 5K capture buffers!
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<*> Internal SpartaDOS-type DOS shell allows quick access to the most
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commonly used DOS commands such as erase, rename, dir, type, and
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wildcard copy. Fully supports all subdirectory commands when used
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with SpartaDOS.
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<*> Full screen (Action-like) text editor allows you to edit captured
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text or compose a message without having to run an external text
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processor.
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<*> Supports ANY modem which has a corresponding 'R:' handler.
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<*> Works on the Atari 800, 800XL, 130XE, and the XE game machine.
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<*> Fully supports the XEP-80 80 column card when using SpartaDOS X. By
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FULLY we mean FULLY! There is a seperate, 80-column menu invoked when
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you are using the XEP-80. You no longer need to have two monitors
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hooked up. NOTE: XEP-80 support REQUIRES SpartaDOS X.
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<*> Supports 300/1200/2400/4800/9600 baud rates.
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<*> Express's new high-speed screen handler makes capturing text at the
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higher baud rates (4800 and 9600) a breeze. No more lost characters
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while capturing text!
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<*> Supports R1: thru R4: communication ports (great for null modeming).
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<*> Supports Xmodem, Xmodem-CRC, Xmodem-1k (Ymodem), Ymodem Batch, Ascii
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and external windowed transfer protocals.
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<*> Allows running of external, disk-based programs. This means users can
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write utilities, such as additional transfer protocols, to run with
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the cartridge (just like the Express Professional BBS system).
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<*> Supports exiting to DOS without loss of carrier. This allows you to
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exit the cartridge and run any program, such as ARC, while remaining
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online.
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<*> Supports the Hayes extended modem command set (ie: -BUSY-) allowing
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for quick re-dial of busy numbers.
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<*> Supports 50 phone list entries. Each entry has settings for baud
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rate, parity, duplex, wait time, translation, and 3 macros. These
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macros can contain control characters, making it possible to log on
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with just one keypress! For example, -John Doe^M^Ppassword^M- would
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output -John Doe- <return>, pause 3 seconds, then output -password-
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<return>.
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<*> There are 7 -generic- macros that are always active, regardless of the
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current dialing entry that is active.
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##############################
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<*> EXPRESS ORDER FORM
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##############################
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+=======================================================================+
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| Orion Micro Systems Order Form |
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+=======================================================================+
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| Mail Order To: Orion Micro Systems |
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| Attn: Express! Cartridge |
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| 2211 Planters Row Drive |
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| Midlothian, Virginia 23113 |
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+=======================================================================+
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| _____ Express! (The Cartridge). . . . . . . . . . . $69.95 |
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| ( If Ordered Before June 1, 1989 ) . . . . . - $10.00 |
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| -------- |
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| Sub-Total -------- |
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| 4.5% Sales Tax (Va. Residents Only) ________ |
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| Add Shipping/Handling $ 4.00 |
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| Total ________ |
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| (Check, Money Order, MasterCard or Visa Accepted) |
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+=======================================================================+
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| Payment By: __ Check __ Money Order __ MasterCard __ Visa |
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| Name As It Appears On Card: ____________________________________ |
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| Card Number: _______________________________ Exp Date: ________ |
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| Rush My Order As Soon As Released To: |
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| Name: ______________________________________________________ |
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| Address: ___________________________________________________ |
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| City: _______________________ State: _______ Zip: ________ |
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| Country: ____________________ Date Ordered: ______________ |
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+=======================================================================+
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##############################
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<*> DIAMOND CARTRIDGE REVIEW
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##############################
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by Ken Leap
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Previously I reviewed the disk version of Diamond OS and complained of its
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lack of features and several annoying bugs. Since then I've been in touch
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with Alan Reeve, the program's author (also the creator of the News
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Station programs), via Compuserve E-mail and talked with him about
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Diamond's problems. I wasn't the only one. Apparently, Mr. Reeve received
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so much feedback that he was convinced there was a real demand for Diamond
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and that improvements were necessary.
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These improvements have come in the form of a 64K ROM cartridge version of
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Diamond GOS. Presently the cartridge is available in limited quantities
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direct from Reeve Software. Registered owners of the disk-based Diamond
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have priority and are offered a upgrade discount price of $30.00. The
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suggested retail price will be $79.95.
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|
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USA Media, who will be handling marketing and distribution in partnership
|
|
with Reeve Software, is mailing a demo disk, information and order forms
|
|
to all registered owners. Most of demo's features are disabled but enough
|
|
is shown to get your interest.
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|
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|
I had my cartridge ordered even before USA Media's promo package arrived
|
|
in the mail. My decision was based on what Mr. Reeve had told me in his
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|
letters. Last week, the newest version of Diamond was in my mailbox.
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|
Here's what I found out about it.
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|
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What you get is the Diamond GOS cartridge, a utility disk, and two
|
|
manuals. They haven't come up with any packaging yet so my cartridge was
|
|
taped inside two pieces of foam and mailed in a plain brown wrapper. The
|
|
manuals are nicely done and easy to read with many illustrations. They are
|
|
a bit skimpy, just giving you what you need to get started and not much
|
|
else.
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|
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One manual is the Diamond GOS Super Cartridge User's Manual. The other is
|
|
the Diamond GOS Programmer's Guide. A note on the first page of the
|
|
programmer's guide states that it is intended for -experienced-
|
|
programmers and covers only the bare essentials of the Diamond
|
|
environment. They are right. I didn't understand much of it but it seems
|
|
very complete. It lists Diamond's system variables and routines for all
|
|
functions available from within Diamond. It also provides information on
|
|
registers and memory locations.Some information I did glean from the guide
|
|
is that Diamond can handle up to eight drop-down menus with up to 22 items
|
|
per menu. You can have up to 32 icons at once and they can be animated.
|
|
Four windows can be opened simultaneously. Windows can be buffered or
|
|
unbuffered. The windows are also full featured.
|
|
|
|
This means they have drag bars, fullers, closers, sliders, arrows, title
|
|
and subtitle bars, and sizers. Just like an ST GEM window. Included on the
|
|
utility disk are macro libraries for Mac/65 assembler editor and source
|
|
code for two Diamond utilities.The utility disk is in DOS 2.0 format. When
|
|
you plug in the Diamond cartridge and boot up the disk in drive one, you
|
|
get your first look at the desktop. Diamond's default configuration is for
|
|
the ST Mouse. If you don't have one, you can use the keyboard arrow keys
|
|
and the spacebar to get started.
|
|
|
|
Looking at the desktop, the first thing I noticed was that the filing-
|
|
cabinet drive icons had been replaced with little 1050 disk drives. When
|
|
you click on the drive icon, a disk pops out of the little slot. These new
|
|
icons are smaller and waste less space in the desktop screen area.
|
|
|
|
If you don't have an ST mouse you'll probably want to use a joystick (you
|
|
can also use a touch tablet or paddles) since you can't drag anything
|
|
using the keyboard. A utility program called MOUSECFG.APP is provided to
|
|
customize your input device. All you need to do is double click on the
|
|
drive icon and then double click on the file name to load and run it.
|
|
MOUSECFG.APP will let you select which device driver, which port (0 or 1,
|
|
1 is default) you want to use and set the click speed. This application
|
|
also lets select a memory driver. Default is 48K (yes you can use the
|
|
Diamond cartridge with an 800) and drivers for the 800XL and 130XE are
|
|
provided. When you click on -Save Configuration-, the program will rewrite
|
|
the CONFIG.OS file on your disk with the new parameters.
|
|
|
|
One of the major problems with the original Diamond was it was only
|
|
compatible with DOS 2.0 or 2.5. The cartridge will also work with DOS XE
|
|
or Sparta DOS, in fact the default is DOS XE. To work with a different
|
|
DOS, you must change you CONFIG.OS file again. A program called
|
|
DOSCONFG.BAS (written in Atari Basic) is provided to do that. Diamond GOS
|
|
may also work with DOS's similar to 2.0 such as MYDOS or SmartDOS but I
|
|
haven't tried them yet.
|
|
|
|
There are still a few problems with Diamond and DOS compatibility that
|
|
I've noticed. The major one is that when you select the format option from
|
|
the Disk drop-down menu, it formats in DOS 2.0 (or 2.5 if your using 2.5)
|
|
single density no matter what DOS you are using. So if you wanted to
|
|
format a disk in Sparta DOS format you'd have to run XINIT.COM. But XINIT.
|
|
COM will not run with Diamond present. So if are using Sparta DOS with
|
|
Diamond, you have to remove the cartridge, boot up Sparta, run XINIT,
|
|
format your disk and then re-boot with Diamond.
|
|
|
|
The second problem is just as annoying. Now everyone knows that Sparta DOS
|
|
2.3D can read disks formated with 2.0 or 2.5, right? But if you have
|
|
Diamond configured for Sparta DOS it can only read Sparta DOS formated
|
|
disks. This leads to the third problem. If you format a disk from the
|
|
desktop while configured for Sparta DOS, you can't read it. If you try,
|
|
you get a disk error reported. Diamond will keep trying to read that disk
|
|
after you've opened a window to the drive it is in, but it can't. This
|
|
will lead to a system crash unless you put in a disk that it can read. I
|
|
assume there are similar problems with DOS XE but I don't have it and have
|
|
never used it.
|
|
|
|
While we're talking about things I didn't like, another issue is software
|
|
compatibility. In the CLICKME.TXT file, it is explained that they tried to
|
|
make it possible for non-Diamond based programs to work with the
|
|
cartridge. I tired some of my most used programs with Diamond present. 850
|
|
Express didn't work. Nor did 1st Xlent Word Processor, Textpro, Antic
|
|
Writer, Super Arc 2.3, Speed Calc, B-Calc, Disk Base Database, ALF, and
|
|
DiskComm 3.2. I was surprised to find that Daisy Dot II and the DDII font
|
|
editor did work. The DDII font utilities didn't work. The Antic Database,
|
|
Antic Music Processor and a Font editor from Compute Magazine did work.
|
|
These were all binary files. I didn't really try any Basic programs but I
|
|
think most of those would be compatible. Some PD binary games would work,
|
|
others wouldn't. This would be a major drawback if you intended to use
|
|
Diamond as your only OS. I purchased the cartridge primarily for use with
|
|
Diamond programs (such as desktop publishing).
|
|
|
|
Now the good things about Diamond GOS. It is much faster than the disk
|
|
version. It does support Time/Date stamping of files with Sparta or Dos
|
|
XE. You can also use subdirectories in the form of folders with these
|
|
DOS's. I assume this would allow you to use a hard disk drive. Command
|
|
line support for Sparta DOS COM files is provided but since most COM
|
|
files won't load, I don't see how useful this feature is.As I mentioned
|
|
before, all window features function as they should. You can also move
|
|
the windows and then save their new positions. This lets you fully
|
|
customize the appearance of your desktop. Sometimes, after you do this,
|
|
you'll have problems with fuller feature. The windows will refuse to
|
|
return to normal size from full screen. It seems to depend on where you
|
|
place them and how close they are. You can have two windows open at a time
|
|
with the desktop.
|
|
|
|
There are added icons, such as the stop sign when you want to do something
|
|
potentially destructive, and more dialog boxes (reading & writing during
|
|
disk IO and error messages). You can also view or print text files from
|
|
the desktop. This is a feature I really appreciate.
|
|
|
|
The Desk Accessory feature does work and one ACC file is included and up
|
|
to six can be loaded at boot-up depending on you memory configuration. Not
|
|
any old file can be a DESK.ACC. There must be code at the start of the
|
|
file telling what it is, where it goes and where it should run from.
|
|
|
|
File tagging is a new feature. Now you can copy or delete multiple files.
|
|
Though you can't seem to do more than four at a time. To copy or delete a
|
|
file, just drag it to the appropriate drive icon or the trash can. You can
|
|
also copy files between windows and folders. Single drive or two drive
|
|
copying of a whole single density disk is supported. So if you want to
|
|
copy a DD disk, I guess you'd have to run Sparta without Diamond. There
|
|
are no problems reading DD Sparta disks.
|
|
|
|
You can also format a RAMdisk. With my XE, I can set up one when I use the
|
|
48K memory driver. If you use the XE memory driver, all memory is
|
|
available to the desktop and APP programs so a RAMdisk cannot be created.
|
|
You can set up a STARTUP.BAT file with Sparta and it will run before going
|
|
to the desktop. I use one to set the time and date and format a RAMdisk as
|
|
D8:, which is installed as Drive C in the desktop.
|
|
|
|
Another annoying feature of the original Diamond was that you could not
|
|
return to the desktop from basic. Now you can and it seems to work
|
|
flawlessly. With the REBOOT.ACC included on the utility disk, you can do a
|
|
coldstart with out shutting off the power.
|
|
|
|
That covers the highlights of the new Diamond GOS cartridge. All the major
|
|
bugs and shortcomings seem to have been corrected with this release. A few
|
|
new ones have popped up, mainly in the area of DOS compatibility but
|
|
hopefully they can be corrected.This new Diamond looks and works a lot
|
|
more like ST GEM. The inital set-up procedure is a bit confusing and
|
|
sometimes frustrating but once you're past that, Diamond is very easy to
|
|
learn. After all, the whole point of a desktop environment is to make life
|
|
simple for the computer user.
|
|
|
|
What is needed now are application programs to tap the full potential of
|
|
this system. New versions of Diamond Paint and Write are being written to
|
|
take advantage of the cartridge. Paint should be available now and Write
|
|
by the end of January along with a Diamond version of News Station. The
|
|
long awaited Diamond Publish is scheduled for release by the end of
|
|
February or beginning of March. Publish will work only with the cartridge.
|
|
Paint and Write will include versions compatible with the original disk
|
|
version. Reeve Software intends to continue to support the disk version of
|
|
Diamond for those who might not want or be able to afford the cartridge.
|
|
Patches to fix its bugs will soon be available.
|
|
|
|
Public Domain support is also needed. Diamond versions of popular PD
|
|
programs, such as the Express series, would be very popular. Desk
|
|
accessories will also be in demand. So if you're a programmer, dust off
|
|
your favorite tools, there is a whole new 8-bit world to conquer.
|
|
|
|
Mr. Reeve likes to talk about his programs and can be reached via E-Mail
|
|
on Compuserve (id# 71521,2200) and GENIE (id: REEVE.SOFT). Mundane
|
|
addresses for information or ordering are:
|
|
|
|
Reeve Software
|
|
9W150 Old Farm Lane
|
|
Warrenville, IL 60555
|
|
(312) 393-2317
|
|
|
|
Shelly Merrill
|
|
USA Media
|
|
180 Malcolm Rd.
|
|
Clinton, MD 20735
|
|
(301) 868-5494
|
|
|
|
##############################
|
|
<*> PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS OFFER
|
|
##############################
|
|
|
|
The good folk at Practical Solutions have a limited time offer running at
|
|
this very moment. If you purchased a Video Key, their RGB to color
|
|
composite converter for the ST, between 12/15/88 and 3/15/89, then you are
|
|
about to be pleasantly surprised!
|
|
|
|
Practical Solutions will send you who qualify a FREE, yes indeedy, FREE!
|
|
gift! You will be allowed to select one item from their -Master Series-
|
|
of products and be send it no charge. The -Master Series- includes:
|
|
|
|
Mouse Master: A Mouse/Joystick Port Controller for the ST and Amiga.
|
|
|
|
Monitor Master: Monitor Switchbox for the ST.
|
|
|
|
Drive Master: Floppy Disk Drive Switchbox for the ST.
|
|
|
|
Just cut the -Golden Key- emblem from the front of your Videokey box, send
|
|
it in with proof-of-purchase, and their discount coupon, and they will
|
|
return your gift by return mail. If you don't have this coupon, you can
|
|
obtain by it calling Practical Solutions at 602-884-9612.
|
|
|
|
This rebate offer must be postmarked by 3/30/89. The recently reduced
|
|
price of the Videokey (have seen at for as low as $79), coupled with this
|
|
fine rebate offer make this one stupendous deal!
|
|
|
|
Compiled by WK Whitton
|
|
|
|
##############################
|
|
<*> XFORMER CABLES AVAILABLE
|
|
##############################
|
|
|
|
We at I.C., are proud to announce, that we are now the Authorized
|
|
Manufaturer, of the Xformer cables. The Xformer cable (along with the
|
|
Xformer II software) allows you to use 8-bit peripherals (drives,
|
|
printers, etc.), and transfer the 5.25- 8-bit disks, to the GEMDOS format.
|
|
Data tranfer rate, is a FAST 19,200 bps, compared to the (up to) 2400
|
|
modem (or null-modem) transfers.
|
|
|
|
The cable carries a 90 day warranty against workmanship and defects.
|
|
|
|
Price: Only $19.95
|
|
S&H: For USA/APO/FPO, add $3.50 S&H. Add $3.00 for COD (USA only).
|
|
Canada/Mexico add $7.00 S&H. All other countries add $10.00 S&H.
|
|
|
|
Dealer/Distributor/User-Group inquires are welcome!
|
|
|
|
Note: We at I.C. now have Data Library (15) and Message Base (15), on
|
|
CompuServe, and are monitored on a daily basis. You can download our
|
|
latest product catal og there, by BROwsing for the keyword -CATALOG-.
|
|
|
|
In addition to making cables (including Custom ones), we also manufacture
|
|
many hardware products for the Atari 8-bits, and sell other products for
|
|
both the 8-bit and ST (ICD, Supra, CSS, to name a few). If you have ANY
|
|
questions reguarding this, or any of our other products, please call/
|
|
write, or send a message on CompuServe (regular or E-Mail).
|
|
|
|
Note: The Xformer software (all versions) was written by Darek Mihocka
|
|
(CompuServe # 73657,2714, GEnie: DAREKM). To register, and get the latest
|
|
version of this software, along with its utilities (on a double sided
|
|
disk), send $20 (add $2 for 2 single sided disks) to:
|
|
|
|
Darek Mihocka
|
|
Box 2624 Station B
|
|
Kitchener, Ontario
|
|
Canada N2H 6N2
|
|
|
|
This letter may be freely posted on BBS's, as long as it is left intact.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Innovative Concepts (I.C.)
|
|
31172 Shawn Drive
|
|
Warren, MI 48093
|
|
Phone: (313) 293-0730
|
|
CompuServe: 76004,1764
|
|
|
|
##############################
|
|
<*> Z*BREAK February 10, 1989
|
|
##############################
|
|
from Syndicate Publishing
|
|
|
|
(Editors Note: Z*Break is a feature of SPC. This feature will appear from
|
|
time to time to update everyone on the latest happenings between issues of
|
|
our publications. This version was release late afternoon on 2/10/89.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
URGENT REQUEST FROM SIG HARTMAN
|
|
===============================
|
|
|
|
Minutes ago, Sig Hartman of Atari Corp asked us to immediatly relay the
|
|
following.
|
|
|
|
Mr. Hartman wants to promote third party American software\hardware in
|
|
Europe. -I want to help the developers build their profits and sales so
|
|
that their Atari products will be ready for the big US Rush.-
|
|
|
|
Sig will be in Germany for 8 days at the Hanover Fair, the world's largest
|
|
computer show. He wants to take US produced Atari Software and Hardware to
|
|
show to potential European marketers. Sig asks developers for the following:
|
|
|
|
1) A detailed description of the product and sample if possible.
|
|
2) Suggested retail pricing.
|
|
3) Discounts available to oversea marketers.
|
|
|
|
This information must be in his hands before March 1, and the sooner the
|
|
better.
|
|
|
|
This offer should not be missed by any American developer. Please get your
|
|
information to Mr. Hartman at (408) 745-2000.
|
|
|
|
In ST*ZMAG: February 14, 1989
|
|
|
|
Thomas Dolby, Mic Fleetwood, Pointer Sisters, Yes, Mike Pinder, represent
|
|
Atari at the NAMM show. And Atari has the HOTZ, details Tuesday.
|
|
|
|
Z*BREAK is a product of Syndicate Publishing, Copyright 1989, SPC
|
|
|
|
=========================================================================
|
|
Z*Break, ZMagazine, ST*ZMagazine are products of the Syndicate Publishing
|
|
Company. Copyright 1989, SPC. All Rights Reserved. This is Issue #144.
|
|
=========================================================================
|