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1813 lines
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==(((((((((( == Z*MAG/A\ZINE ATARI ONLINE MAGAZINE
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=========(( === December 31, 1990
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=======(( ===== Issue #189
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=====(( ======= ----------------------------------
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==(((((((((( == Copyright (c)1990, Rovac Ind Inc..
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Publisher/Editor : Ron Kovacs
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Assistant Editor : Stan Lowell
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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CompuServe: 71777,2140 GEnie: Z-NET
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Z*NET BBS: (908) 968-8148 BLANK PAGE BBS: (908) 805-3967
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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EDITORS DESK
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------------> by Ron Kovacs
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Well, you couldn't get any closer to the last issue of the year then
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this one. 1990 was a busy year for most of us and we continued to watch
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the continued shrinking of the Atari 8-bit user base. Strange as it may
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seem, we are going to continue for atleast another year with this
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publication and hope for the best.
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There are a number of topics and directions we are going to embark on in
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1991 and we are really going to be looking for your support. The KIDS-
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91 project is a new idea which we recently learned about and it is
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discussed in this edition. Also, the phone company wants more of your
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money and if you are a BBS sysop, you should read with great interest,
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the developing story about the Indiana and Michigan Sysops in this
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issue.
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This is issue #189, we start 1991 and begin our 6th year of Atari
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online publishing. For those of you who don't know, our first local
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Z*Magazine issue appeared and was published in May 1986 on the Syndicate
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BBS now called Z*Net Online. Our regularity has been cut way back
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because of the lack of Atari 8-Bit specific news, but we hope to provide
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more in the year to come.
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In this edition, a full year in review of Atari appears. I know it is
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NOT Atari 8-Bit exclusive, but it does give a good retrospect into the
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past year. Also, this is a large edition which will present and use all
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of the material we have saved so that we can start the new year with
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fresh material.
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Stan Lowell and myself will continue to peruse the message bases and
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networked areas we are involved in. For the latest when it happens, you
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can always read Z*Net Online Magazine, get involved with the FoReM XEP
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network that Stan is involved in, the FoReM/Turbo Crossnet (FNET) areas
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I am involved in and the pay services. We are going to focus some of
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January on the ST and 8-Bit BBS Networks available.
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As in the past, I want to thank everyone who has assisted ZMAG
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throughout the year. Although we only returned in September, there are
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many to thank for the support and information presented here in each
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issue. Special thanks go to Stan Lowell for his continued enthusiasm
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and support of the Atari 8-Bit computer.
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Happy 1991 everyone!
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1990: THE OF ATARI IN REVIEW
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============================> by John Nagy
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1990... was it the year of Atari? It was a year filled with hope and
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with disappointment. It was a year of promises and some fulfillment.
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Lets look at the highlights and the lowlights together.
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Computer years tend to be measured from Fall Comdex to Fall Comdex
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rather than from the more traditional calendar. So here is a chronology
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of Atari since the Comdex last November 1989, up through the recent
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Comdex, to the end of 1990.
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I've focussed on Atari and added only a few major third-party
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announcements. While I know some folks will feel slighted by being
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omitted, sorry. I'll be blaming it on the editor. (Grin!)
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NOVEMBER 1989:
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Sig Hartmann retires after 5 years as front man for Atari.
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Comdex - the US marketplace of computers, attended by the industry
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bigwigs, dealers, and distributors who are deciding what lines they will
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buy and sell in the coming year. In the Las Vegas convention facilities
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Atari Corporation occupies a spot near the main entrance where they seem
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to sit as a foothill to the towering ZENITH and IBM exhibits just behind
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it. Atari has perhaps their best looking booth ever, in light colors
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with open feeling displays. -A Computer For Everyone- declares the
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overhead sign, and from the brand new palmtop Portfolio and STe to the
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TT (being shown in production prototypes), Atari draws lots of
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attention. Carrel after carrel of major third party developers each
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show their own lines to thousands of intrigued visitors. The STacy and
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Portfolio are the clear eye catchers. Over 1,000 potential distribution
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contacts are made for the Portfolio alone. Bob Brodie is popular
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already in his second month at Atari. Charles Cherry, only two weeks
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with Atari after leaving ANTIC Software, begins his effort to support
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developers in new and attractive ways, including SOFTSOURCE and
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distribution of dealer and user data. The mood is very up - this seems
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to signal a new and forward moving atmosphere at and for Atari.
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The Independent Association of Atari Developers (IAAD) is formed by 40
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developers at the WAACE Atari show outside Washington, DC. Nathan
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Potechin of ISD is the first Chairperson.
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ST-LOG and ANALOG magazines merge, then announce that the November 1989
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issue will be the last of any Atari magazines from Flynt Publications.
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START magazine loses Andrew Reese and editor and Tom Byron takes over,
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and ST-XPRESS closes altogether.
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GADGETS BY SMALL begins distribution of the GCR Mac Emulator, enabling
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the Atari ST to not only run MACINTOSH software faster thana MAC, but
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read and write real MAC disks... faster than a MAC.
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PC-SPEED, an internal IBM emulator board from Germany, is in
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distribution by MICHTRON, while AVANT-GARDE is unable to meet release
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promises with PCDITTO II, a hardware PC emulator first shown in April,
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1989.
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DECEMBER 1989:
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Mike Morand, President at Atari for only two months, resigns. David
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Harris in named as his successor.
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Greg Pratt, Atari's Chief Financial Officer, continues the search for a
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buy for the FEDERATED GROUP store chain that has drained Atari's working
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capitol.
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The FCC passes the STACY laptop ST as a -TYPE A- device, meaning that it
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can only be sold as a commercial device, not in outlets for the home
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users. Battery operation time is admitted to be about 15 minutes for
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units with hard drives.
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JANUARY 1990:
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The LYNX is a major hit at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las
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Vegas. Nintendo is the clear winner in volume and promotion with the
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Game Boy, but the LYNX wins hearts with astounding color graphics in a
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hand held machine. Private showing of a prototype portable machine from
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NEC causes worry that the LYNX will be passed up by this newer unit by
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Christmas 1990.
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QUICK ST goes from shareware to commercial, as Darek Mihocka begins a
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trend in small developer success stories.
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ZMAGAZINE and ST*ZMAGAZINE merge to become Z*NET ONLINE, a single weekly
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electronic publication covering the entire Atari computer lineup. So
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begins the fifth year of the continuing, volunteer, non-profit Z*NET
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project.
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Avant-Garde's PCDITTO II begins actual shipment, but less than 10% of
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the users can make it work, and it turns out to be so large that only
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MEGA machines have room inside for it.
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TALON announces that they will begin importing the SUPERCHARGER external
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IBM emulator that will require no installation at all.
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FEBRUARY 1990:
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Jack Tramiel, -retired- controlling stock owner of Atari and chair of
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the Board of Directors, takes a more active hand in Atari policy and
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management.
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A $5,000,000.00 backorder backlog that has had some items (like
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Monochrome Monitors) unavailable for five months begins to ease as Atari
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hardware shipments arrive at dealers.
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Rumors begin to circulate about a new version of the MEGA computer that
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may be based on the STe and card-compatible with the TT.
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Atari makes an impression at the National Association of Music
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Merchandisers (NAMM) show as the only major computer display. The Hotz
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Box and the STacy are featured, and a concert is sponsored by Atari.
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MIDI-TASKING is released to developers as a BETA-TEST version, offering
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a multitasking environment under GEM, tailored for MIDI applications.
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MARCH 1990:
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Layoffs of 15% of the Sunnyvale Atari employees affect mostly warehouse
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and accounting departments, but are felt by all.
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After some angry power plays and short-scheduled events by commercial
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promoters that appear to be trying to squeeze user groups out of show
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production, Atari announces that they will not support Atari Fests that
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are not scheduled at least 120 days ahead of time and that are closer
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than 30 days to any other show.
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Charles Cherry's SoftSource system of cataloging and promoting third-
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party developers nears readiness on GEnie telecommunication system.
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FEDERATED is finally sold, the last parts going to SILO's chain of
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stores in a deal that gives Atari a large block of the huge UK company's
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stock.
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Avant-Garde releases a series of fixes and chip replacements that make
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PCDITTO II work... for as many as 80% of the owners.
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CALAMUS OUTLINE ART begins shipping from ISD. It comes with a
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conversion program to turn Outline format graphics into PostScript
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files.
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APRIL 1990:
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ATARI EXPLORER MAGAZINE editors David Ahl and Betsy Staples are fired by
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Atari, the publisher, for their critical commentary in the -Spring-
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issue. The issue is recalled before distribution and reworked.
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The second Disneyland World Of Atari is a moderate success, with
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showings of some new products. Gadgets's 68030 upgrade board is shown
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- working - and might even be faster than Atari's own TT.
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The STe finally passes the FCC testing and can begin distribution in the
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USA.
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MICHTRON releases FLEET STREET PUBLISHER 3.0 without fanfare, as
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Michtron begins winding down operations and discussing a possible sale.
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They continue to appear at shows with great deals.
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The Business Software Alliance (BSA) raids an Atari Taiwan plant and
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finds several pirate copies of LOTUS on employee machines. Atari denies
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responsibility and criticizes BSA priorities.
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A two-day Atarifest in Pittsburgh, PA sponsored by PACE is a resounding
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flop, with well under 500 attending. Worse, comments from many visitors
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cause fears about the rampant and apparently accepted level of piracy in
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the area. Discussion of the situation online and in media reports
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infuriate local groups.
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MAY 1990:
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At Atari's annual meeting, shareholders learn that the company has
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earned $1.5 million in the most recent quarter, and sees the TT.
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Jim Fisher is announced as the new editor of Atari Explorer, adding to
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Jim's duties as Vice President of Marketing. Production will be handled
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by Jon Jainschigg, formerly the technical editor of Explorer under
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Staples and Ahl.
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World of Atari Manager Richard Tsukiji relights old fires by announcing
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a WOA in San Jose less than a month before the Glendale Atari Faire,
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defying Atari's guidelines for show scheduling. A similar announcement
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in 1989 caused cancellation of BOTH shows. This year, neither plan to
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back down.
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ST JOURNAL, from Steve Lesh and Quill Publications, begins distribution
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of their first issue. The new ST specific magazine attempts to provide
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a serious user's journal of news and reviews, avoiding the -game- image
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entirely.
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JUNE 1990:
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The Summer CES in Chicago was attended by Atari but no new hardware or
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packages were offered. The long talked about -Atari Advantage- package
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(a bundle of LOTS of game and productivity software with a 520ST ad a
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very low price) was prepped then pulled out of the CES show at the last
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moment. The Tramiels are rethinking the contents and pricing of the
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bundle(s).
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ELIE KENAN comes to Atari from his position as Manager of Atari France,
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to begin preparations for his takeover of Atari USA, Canada, and France.
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The STacy and STe begin shipping to Atari dealers in the USA.
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Atari co-sponsors the -Silicon Summit-, trade talks with the Soviets
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concerning a trade of computers for RAM CHIP production in the USSR.
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WOA promoter Richard Tsukiji is informed by Atari that Atari will not
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participate or support his San Jose show in any way, due to his late and
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conflicting scheduling of the show.
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GRIBNIF shows their NEODESK 3 for the first time, offering lots of
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remarkable advancements in their ST desktop replacement.
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ICD Inc. offers new driver software for their hard drives and host
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adapters that resolves a major incompatibility with Talon's Supercharger
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IBM emulator.
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JULY 1990:
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Dealer information from New Zealand and the Netherlands indicate that
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the Atari TT030 machine is being redesigned to be 32 Mhz rather than the
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16 Mhz as announced. Atari USA and Atari Corp both deny the story.
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Atari USA is said to be looking at relocation sites in BOSTON as a place
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to move to from Sunnyvale, CA. Incoming manager Elie Kenan is being
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offered a free hand by the Tramiels, and is thought to be looking for a
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way to separate Atari USA and Atari Corp, now both based out of the same
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Sunnyvale building.
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Additional layoffs occur at the line level at Atari, fueling relocation
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rumors.
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A replacement for the SLM804 Atari laser printer is expected shortly. It
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will be a essentially a standard Epson unit, customized for Atari.
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The old SLM804 unit can no longer be obtained from the manufacturer.
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The STe is troubled by recurring reports of loss of data when used with
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a hard drive. Some stores test and find their entire shipments will not
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operate with hard drives. Atari denies that it is a systematic or
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design problem, but agree to replace any units found to be inoperative
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regardless of age or having been opened for inspection.
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A fraudulent FAX message purporting to be from Bob Brodie is received by
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MICHTRON and GADGETS BY SMALL, urging them to join a -boycott- of the
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WOA shows. Meanwhile, Atari reverses its decision and agrees to provide
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equipment as possible for the August WOA in San Jose.
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AUGUST 1990:
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San Jose WOA succeeds with a small but happy turnout of 1,500 people.
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Many Atari officials attend, including Sam and Leonard Tramiel and Elie
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Kenan. Atari supplies free equipment, but WOA refuses to participate in
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its safe return. Bob Brodie personally picks up the equipment and
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overhears promoter Richard Tsukiji discussing his plans to -have Brodie
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fired- from Atari.
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Second quarter net income for Atari: $1.5 million.
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Charles Cherry resigns from Atari. Developer projects are left
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partially on hold, and SoftSource is stalled while many developers ask
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for extensions of time to get the required submissions. Meanwhile,
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other developers complain that they got their materials to Atari on
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schedule and don't want the project delayed.
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START MAGAZINE announces that they will skip their September issue, then
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join with ANTIC into a single, larger publication for October 1990 in a
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major redesign and rededication of the magazine.
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Gordon Monnier of Michtron confirms that he has his company for sale.
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George Miller, Michtron's #2 man, leaves to join ABACUS, a book and
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software house in Michigan.
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B. N. GENIUS, an upscale gadget store with a major mail order following,
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features the Portfolio on the cover of their national catalog. Atari
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dealers are concerned about losing business.
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Atari attends GENCON in Milwaukee and provides major equipment and floor
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presence. About 10,000 visitors witness Atari as a major -player- in
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the gaming convention.
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Frank Foster resigns from Atari in a mutual decision that leaves Atari
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without a leader of its MIDI support section.
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42,000 visitors attend an all-Atari show in Duesseldorf, Germany. The
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TT and ATW are major features, and developers from all over the world
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convene to maximize their sales potential.
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Hong Kong's largest English magazine, the -NEW STRAITS TIMES-, conducted
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a reader survey and 41.8% of the votes declared the Atari ST to be their
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choice for -Computer of the Decade-. Second place went to the Commodore
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Amiga with only 5.2%, third was the Macintosh with 5.1%, tied with the
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IBM.
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SEPTEMBER 1990:
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Glendale has the largest Atari Show ever in the US measured by number of
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vendors, but turnout is a somewhat disappointing 2,500. The user-group
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show is supported by over $20,000 of advertising by Atari Corp,
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extensive equipment supplies, and a full house of Atari executives and
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employees visiting and hosting the Atari area of the floor. Leonard
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Tramiel personally participates in two seminars. New Manger of Atari
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USA, Canada, and France Elie Kenan meets and shares his plans for Atari
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in private meetings with each developer during the show and gets a
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unanimous if cautious -thumbs up- from them.
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Atari formally announces new specs for the TT030 - it will be 32 Mhz
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after all, despite the denials, and will feature a new GEM desktop that
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looks similar to Gribnif's NEODESK 2 but is not related to it.
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After a multi-party investigation, Richard Tsukiji is forced to admit in
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writing that the fraudulent FAX message that defamed WOA and ST World
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Magazine in Bob Brodie's name did in fact come from his own office at ST
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WORLD. Tsukiji adds it was sent by persons unknown at a time when he
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himself was out of the country. Dave Small resigns from ST WORLD staff
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in protest. ST WORLD magazine is announced to have been sold in mid
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summer to its staff for the sum of $1.00, but not to its editors who had
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expected to be given the magazine. They leave in protest.
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The STe hard drive problem is fixed. Any existing STe computers should
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be checked for proper operation with a hard drive and returned for
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repair or exchange if they fail. Atari does not formally announce this
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event, as they do not concede to the fact that the problem existed in
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the first place.
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ICD Inc. introduces ADSPEED, a 16 Mhz accelerator board for ST and MEGA
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computers that features faster operation and 100% compatibility with
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existing software. $300.
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Gribnif starts sales of NEODESK 3, selling out at Glendale.
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TALON is rumored to be considering the purchase of MICHTRON.
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The Atari Elite, an organization of Atari owners in Pittsburgh, PA,
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threatens to sue as many as 33 persons, developers, and publications for
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allegedly defaming their group in news coverage and commentary about the
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PACE show in April. Z*NET and editor Ron Kovacs is among them. Elite's
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commercial software rental library is a major discussion point in
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allegations of organized or permissive piracy.
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OCTOBER 1990:
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WAACE holds its third DC ATARIFEST and attracts 2,000 people to a wide
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display of Atari and third party developers. Sales are in record
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numbers for attending vendors, and Atari provides similar backing to
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that of the Glendale show a month earlier. Elie Kenan again attends and
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meets with developers.
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Bob Brodie meets with ELITE members at WAACE to attempt to resolve their
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concerns and stem their threatened lawsuits. No immediate solution
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seems at hand as the parties assume a standoff position.
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Elie Kenan leaves Atari USA and Canada to return to Atari France. In
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the single most devastating blow to Atari morale in years, the departure
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of Kenan is met with disbelief and denial in the Atari community.
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Details are of course not released, but Kenan left after a meeting with
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Jack Tramiel immediately upon Kenan's return from Boston, where it is
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thought that he was choosing a relocation site for Atari. Greg Pratt,
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formerly in the Atari financial division, is named General Manager of
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Atari USA.
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Jim Fisher, Atari's VP of Advertising and Marketing as well as the
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official editor for Atari Explorer Magazine, resigns in an decision
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unrelated to Kenan's departure.
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Atari Canada now includes Neodesk 3.0 with every ST or STE sold.
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A new color monitor to compliment the STE's stereo sound is released in
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Canada, tagged the SC1435. The monitor is not a re-structured SC1224 as
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was first thought but of a completely different design with a larger
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screen.
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Both Fast Technology (Jim Allen) and Gadgets by Small (Dave Small) show
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68030 boards INDEPENDENT from one another at WAACE since a splitup this
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summer. The COMPLETED Gadgets 030 board contained 8 megs of on-board
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RAM (boosting a Mega 4 to 12 megs of RAM total) as well as a 68882 math
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co-processor, all running at 18.4 mhz (it can run it up to a max of 33
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Mhz). The board has TOS 1.6 on board, with Atari committed to licensing
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TOS 1.6 to Gadgets for use in the board. It can run 10.66 times the
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speed of the standard ST at 16 mhz - using most existing ST software.
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Price and availability cannot be set until Gadgets get quantity pricing
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on parts.
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NOVEMBER 1990:
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Atari Stock trades at prices as low as $1.75 on the American Exchange.
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This is down from a peak of nearly $20, only 18 months ago.
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After a five year-long effort the Software Protection Association was
|
|
pleased to see the passage of a bill that makes software rental (other
|
|
than non- profit library loans) programs illegal. One hour and a half
|
|
before Congress recessed to start campaigning for reelection, the so-
|
|
called -software rental bill- was finally passed. The bill makes it
|
|
illegal for companies to rent software in a manner that allows users to
|
|
copy and keep the program then return the original disks and
|
|
documentation for re-rental.
|
|
|
|
Computer Shopper Magazine, a 800 page monthly magazine that once covered
|
|
all computers, drops regular Atari coverage. Amiga, Mac, and IBM
|
|
remain.
|
|
|
|
START magazine announces that beginning in December, the Z*NET News
|
|
Service will be included in every issue. START ONLINE replaces the
|
|
dormant ANTIC ONLINE on CompuServe, offering reprints of articles and
|
|
featured software.
|
|
|
|
A file called -TOS 2- circulates on private bulletin boards. The
|
|
program provides an early version of the new TT Desktop which will
|
|
operate on an ST. Atari reminds users both that the file is a STOLEN,
|
|
PIRATED file that belongs to Atari, and that it is an early version that
|
|
is known to be incomplete and unstable.
|
|
|
|
Atari says they will have the TT READY FOR SHIPPING by COMDEX, with
|
|
retail pricing for the base TT030 (2 meg RAM and a 50 megabyte hard
|
|
drive) of $2,995 plus either $450 for a multiresolution color monitor,
|
|
or $999 for the new 19- monochrome monitor.
|
|
|
|
COMDEX arrives at Las Vegas, and Atari has the biggest booth yet. The
|
|
MEGA/STe is introduced, featuring the TT look, LAN ports, 16 MHZ, built
|
|
in hard drive, and the new TT desktop. Availability is planned for
|
|
January, with new retail prices basing around $1,700 for 2meg RAM, 40
|
|
meg HD. The new monitors are shown, and a Scalable GDOS is demonstrated
|
|
for imminent release. The TT030 is still shown but not available due to
|
|
engineering changes that have prevented FCC testing. Most of the crowds
|
|
pass up the ST line to see the Portfolio. MANY dealers ask to carry it,
|
|
and some agree to offer the entire line. Eight bundles are announced,
|
|
offering a variety of software with computers at savings over retail.
|
|
|
|
MICHTRON is sold to a Newark, Delaware company, who will take over
|
|
support and sales for the remaining Michtron products. PC-SPEED and
|
|
AT-SPEED are taken over by TALON, and the HIGHSOFT line is apparently
|
|
being marketed by GoldLeaf.
|
|
|
|
MIGRAPH announces a Color Hand Scanner, to be available for the ST line
|
|
in early 1991. It will require a minimum of 2 meg of RAM, and will
|
|
benefit by the added speed of the Mega/STe or TT.
|
|
|
|
DECEMBER 1990:
|
|
|
|
Atari Corporation reports a third-quarter (ending Sept. 30, 1990) net
|
|
income of barely over three million dollars on sales of $89 million,
|
|
compared to a loss of $5 million on sales of $81 million for the same
|
|
period last year. This year would have been a $3 million loss except
|
|
for an offset of a $6 million gain from Atari repurchasing debentures at
|
|
a favorable term. Net income per share is $.05.
|
|
|
|
Downscaling hits Atari magazines overseas as well as in the USA. ST
|
|
WORLD (UK) drops its publishing schedule back to QUARTERLY releases.
|
|
|
|
An Atari emulator for the Amiga computer continues to draw comment and
|
|
fire as it develops. Purporting to be -public domain-, the file
|
|
-ATARI1- (now in general BBS distribution worldwide) includes illegal
|
|
copies of TOS and GEM internally. Reports are that the thing actually
|
|
works, at speeds up to half of that of an Atari, although desk
|
|
accessories do not work, and many, even most common programs do not
|
|
operate. Screen appearance is also said to be very poor. Atari's
|
|
stance continues to be that this file is a violation of Atari's
|
|
copyrights, and that distribution will not be permitted.
|
|
|
|
Atari's new MEGA/STe passes the FCC testing as a Type B (Consumer)
|
|
product, and will begin US distribution as soon as mid-January. This
|
|
marks the first time in memory that ANY Atari product has been approved
|
|
for consumer release within 30 days of the first product announcement.
|
|
|
|
The TT030 machine begins shipping to US dealers as a TYPE A COMMERCIAL
|
|
USE device. The price for the base unit, a 2 MEG RAM, 50 MEG hard drive
|
|
device, is still $2,995. Only VARs (Value Added Resellers) and
|
|
-qualified dealers- can get the TT, and must send Atari a letter
|
|
assuring that the machines will not be sold to consumer, residential
|
|
users.
|
|
|
|
Antonio Salerno, Vice President - Applications for Atari Corporation,
|
|
resigns. Salerno had been in charge of efforts to persuade major
|
|
software companies to bring their well known products to the Atari line,
|
|
and had less than dramatic success.
|
|
|
|
James Grunke, technical man for the super group BEACH BOYS, is to leave
|
|
the band to replace Frank Foster at Atari as the Music Industry
|
|
Representative and MIDI promoter. James will begin work on January 1,
|
|
1991.
|
|
|
|
Formerly of NEOCEPT, makers of the powerful WORD UP graphic word
|
|
processor for the Atari, programmer Mike Fulton is hired and begins work
|
|
in Atari's customer and developer support area. This fuels earlier
|
|
speculation that Atari may eventually buy and support Word Up as an
|
|
Atari brand product.
|
|
|
|
Dennis Hayes, the Cincinnati resident who pleaded guilty in late October
|
|
to selling more then 5,000 copies of pirates MacIntosh ROMS, many of
|
|
them to Atari users for MAC emulation, is sentenced to 5 years in
|
|
prison.
|
|
|
|
Until December 31, 1990, Atari Canada offers a $450.00 trade in on any
|
|
520 or 1040 towards a new Atari TT. Trade in machines will be
|
|
refurbished and given to charity or used in an educational program.
|
|
U.S. customers wishing more information can call (604) 275-7944.
|
|
|
|
THE FUTURE...
|
|
|
|
If 1990 was the Year of Atari, what will 1991 be? While there is reason
|
|
for optimism in the new products and new staff at Atari, users and
|
|
developers continue to leave the fold for apparently greener fields of
|
|
MACs and 386 clones. Others are holding the course, hoping for better
|
|
days ahead within the Atari line.
|
|
|
|
What will come next for or from Atari? It is clear that the most
|
|
outside interest is now being generated by the Portfolio and the LYNX.
|
|
While we ST types may feel left out, it is just as clear by recent
|
|
events that Atari intends to build and support the ST/TT platform for
|
|
some years to come... and if that support is funded in part by sales of
|
|
the MS-DOS style Portfolio and the game consoles, so be it.
|
|
|
|
New products to come? There is considerable talk about a new 68000
|
|
based game machine called the PANTHER. This is NOT expected to be an ST
|
|
compatible or any derivation of the existing lineup. When? Maybe mid-
|
|
'91. And what about the Unix-compatible TT with multiple slots? This
|
|
was known as the TT/X (eXpandable) as compared to the TT/D (Desktop)
|
|
machine in press information gone by... but has the concept also gone
|
|
by? A smaller, cheaper version of the LYNX handheld game unit is also
|
|
still being promised... for SOMETIME. A new remodeled STacy is also
|
|
rumoured in 1991.
|
|
|
|
We have no firm predictions to offer for what will or will not
|
|
eventually come in 1991. But here's hoping that we will all be here a
|
|
year from now, wondering about '92!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z*NET NEWSWIRE
|
|
==============
|
|
|
|
|
|
PRODIGY AGREES TO REFUNDS
|
|
Prodigy, a computer information service, agreed this week to refund four
|
|
months of fees to Texas subscribers who want to cancel the service.
|
|
Prodigy was accussed by the Texas attorney general's office, of
|
|
misleading customers about its costs and services. In an agreement,
|
|
Prodigy said it would -clearly and conspicuously- disclose all fees in
|
|
future advertisements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
VENTURA PUBLISHER SHIPS
|
|
Ventura Software announced late this week that it has begun shipment of
|
|
Ventura Publisher, OS/2 Presentation Manager Edition, a new version of
|
|
the company's desktop publishing software running under IBM's OS/2
|
|
version 1.3 Presentation Manager operating environment. This new
|
|
product will be distributed to major resellers nationwide.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW 908 AREA CODE
|
|
New Jersey's new area code (908) will make its debut on customer bills
|
|
next month. Beginning with bills mailed Jan. 3, customers who are
|
|
located in the 908 area or those who make calls to 908 numbers will see
|
|
the new area code on their bills. Customers who dial incorrectly after
|
|
the new code becomes mandatory on June 8, 1991 will hear a recording
|
|
with dialing instructions. The 908 area includes all of Warren County
|
|
and almost all of Union County. The parts of Hunterdon, Middlesex,
|
|
Monmouth, Ocean and Somerset counties that currently are 201 will become
|
|
908, as well as small portions of Sussex and Morris counties. The 609
|
|
area remains unchanged.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SAN FRANCISCO PASSES VDT BILL
|
|
Last week we reported that San Francisco California's city supervisors
|
|
had been deciding upon a measure to protect users of video display
|
|
terminals, (VDT). The bill, approved over the protests of business
|
|
leaders, now goes to Mayor Art Agnos for signature. The measure
|
|
mandates adjustable chairs, special lighting and rest breaks. Affecting
|
|
all city government and businesses with 15 or more employees, the bill
|
|
also requires glare shields, detachable keyboards and tables with
|
|
sufficient leg space. If signed, companies have two years to implement
|
|
the provision, after which violators could be fined up to $500 per day.
|
|
The Mayor has ten days to decide and sign the provision.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FCC LEVIES FINES
|
|
The FCC has levied fines totalling $200,000 against computer equipment
|
|
vendors who attended last month's Comdex trade show in Las Vegas found
|
|
violating FCC rules. The FCC made 300 inspections affecting sale of
|
|
personal computers and peripherals that violated FCC marketing rules.
|
|
Violations cited were vendors who didn't display FCC ID numbers and
|
|
others who allegedly rushed new uncertified products to market while
|
|
competitors were waiting for FCC certifications of their products. A
|
|
list of those fined is not available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMPUTER RULE CHANGES
|
|
A proposed FCC rule change could affect the cost and availability of
|
|
motherboards for personal computers. The FCC is involved with
|
|
certification programs for computers because the devices can emit
|
|
radiation that cause electronic interference. The FCC requires that
|
|
computer systems marketed for home use must meet Class B certification
|
|
requirements. Class B specifies that emissions have to be of an
|
|
intensity low enough not to disrupt communications on a wide range of
|
|
frequencies. Currently, complete systems and some peripherals such as
|
|
accelerator cards and video boards must be certified. However, the FCC
|
|
is considering a change in the classification of motherboards to require
|
|
they be certified individually. Under current regulations the boards
|
|
are considered subassemblies not subject to certification. The FCC
|
|
invites comments on the proposed rule change. Those interested who want
|
|
to submit comments to the FCC should do so now since the first round of
|
|
hearings were held last week. Comments on the proposed certification of
|
|
RCPU boards (motherboards) should refer to RGen Docket No. 90-413S and
|
|
should be sent to: Office of the Secretary, FCC, Gen. Docket No. 90-413,
|
|
Washington, DC 20554.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW VIRUS UNCOVERED
|
|
A new computer virus has been found in the Apple Mac. The virus, called
|
|
ZUC B, forces the computer's cursor to drift across the screen. When
|
|
the virus finally reaches the Mac's Finder software, cursor control
|
|
becomes impossible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOTZ GETS RIGHTS TO MARKET BOX
|
|
Atari has reportedly given Jimmy Hotz the rights to marketing for his
|
|
full-size Hotz Midi Translator, also known as the Hotz Box. This $5,000
|
|
and up unit is designed for professional studio and tour use, and it is
|
|
expected that Jimmy will be better able to promote and sell it at on his
|
|
own to fellow musicians. Atari will retain the rights to marketing any
|
|
consumer version of the controversial device that allows anyone, even a
|
|
child, to free-style solo with or accompany pre-recorded music without a
|
|
sour note... sort of the ultimate in a chord organ. Jimmy will once
|
|
again join Atari at NAMM, the National Association of Music
|
|
Merchandisers show this coming January 18-21.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLEET LEAVES THE STREET
|
|
MIRRORSOFT of the UK has announced that FLEETSTREET PUBLISHER is being
|
|
pulled off the market due to poor sales. Most other Mirrorsoft
|
|
productivity titles were transferred to other lines, like MICRODEAL, but
|
|
Fleetstreet was not, and has an uncertain future. Fleetstreet
|
|
Publisher, recently in version 3, was marketed in the USA by MICHTRON,
|
|
which also recently changed hands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
YET ANOTHER REPLAY
|
|
MICRODEAL, one of Michtron's main import lines, has announced REPLAY 8,
|
|
replacing Replay 4 as an amateur musician's sound sampler and editor.
|
|
It will feature some of the enhancements of Replay Professional. USA
|
|
availability is not yet known.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ST WORLD GOES QUARTERLY
|
|
Downscaling has hit Atari magazines overseas as well as in the USA. ST
|
|
WORLD (UK) has dropped its publishing schedule back to QUARTERLY
|
|
releases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
BRODIE WRITES FOR START MAGAZINE
|
|
Atari's Manager of User Group Services Bob Brodie will begin a
|
|
continuing column for STart Magazine, the largest US Atari specific
|
|
magazine, in early 1991. His articles will be general interest items,
|
|
with accent on user groups and how they help owners get more from their
|
|
Ataris.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MIGRAPH NEW TOUCHUP VERSION FOR TT/STE
|
|
Mentioned in earlier issues of Z*NET, the Migraph Hand Scanner, Touch-
|
|
Up, and Easy Draw are parts of one of the new STe bundles. We didn't
|
|
mention that TOUCH-UP is going up to version 1.6, and features new
|
|
abilities to save a true grey-scale image in TIFF format. However, the
|
|
new features require the extended palette of the STe or TT for full use.
|
|
Older ST units will not have access to all the new features of the
|
|
upgraded TOUCH-UP software.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REVOLTUIONARY CONCEPTS - 1991
|
|
=============================
|
|
Press Release
|
|
|
|
|
|
IT'S HERE!
|
|
|
|
Manteca, CA -- Just Released! The REVOLUTION HANDBOOK is now available
|
|
in paperback. Designed to appeal to two distinct markets, the new
|
|
REVOLUTION HANDBOOK creatively appeals to potential new computer buyers
|
|
and the powerful existing base of enthusiastic Atari computer users.
|
|
The book combines the best aspects of the 16-bit disk-based version
|
|
released in the second half of 1989. In addition, 7 new informative
|
|
chapters have been added to assist computer buyers in their efforts to
|
|
shop for the optimum computer.
|
|
|
|
Author, Donald A. Thomas, Jr. indicates that the time has come to offer
|
|
a printed version which can benefit everyone... not just 16-bit Atari
|
|
computer users. Now it is easier than ever for 8-bit and non-Atari
|
|
computer users to appreciate the swelling movement designed to improve
|
|
the public awareness of one of the best computer alternatives available
|
|
in the U.S. marketplace. The illustrated book was entirely published
|
|
using the Calamus desktop publishing system and artwork was scanned
|
|
using the Migraph hand scanner... providing a formal testimonial to the
|
|
impact of a low-cost, yet powerful computer configuration.
|
|
|
|
Beyond the offering of a user-friendly guide to computer shopping, the
|
|
latter portion of the book offers numerous suggestions and ideas that
|
|
existing Atari users can economically implement to show their
|
|
endorsement of their favored computer choice. Such ideas specifically
|
|
address teachers, users' groups, individuals, publications, sysops,
|
|
celebrities, dealers and more. A helpful index references key words
|
|
throughout the book to help newcomers learn to understand the terms many
|
|
of us take for granted.
|
|
|
|
Noteworthy contributions include a Forward by Robert G. Brodie, Manager
|
|
of User Group Services of Atari Computer Corporation. D.A. Brumleve,
|
|
San Jose Computers, Atari Explorer, ISD Marketing, Shareware Connection
|
|
and Computer Studio also helped by contributing advertisements to help
|
|
offset initial expenses of producing the book. In addition, the
|
|
publisher wishes to thank the many patient pre-orders, all of whom
|
|
helped to make the book possible.
|
|
|
|
Dedicated to the Atari Computer Users of North America, The REVOLUTION
|
|
HANDBOOK is one more statement of Artisan Software's commitment to the
|
|
Atari line of computers. Its use as a multifaceted tool will help to
|
|
fuel the energetic forces targeted for productive use of the Atari
|
|
computer.
|
|
|
|
Look for The REVOLUTION HANDBOOK at better Atari Computer dealers or
|
|
order a personally signed copy direct from Artisan Software. Send
|
|
$14.95 (U.S. funds plus $1.50 shipping and handling) to Artisan
|
|
Software, P.O. Box 849, Manteca, California 95336. California, add 6%
|
|
sales tax. One Dollar of each book sold will be contributed to Atari to
|
|
purchase Atari computers for schools.
|
|
|
|
Look for REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPTS, a continuing series of articles in
|
|
support of The REVOLUTION, distributed through GEnie on-line services
|
|
and picked up by Atari journals and bulletin boards everywhere!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z*NET NEWSWIRE - PART 2
|
|
=======================
|
|
|
|
|
|
ATARI YEAR END SPECIAL
|
|
Atari is presently running a -Year End Special- through midnight,
|
|
December 31, 1990. If you purchase six 1040 STe's, you will receive
|
|
either one free SC1435 Color Monitor, or TWO free SM124 Mono monitors,
|
|
dealers choice. In addition, if you purchase six 520 STs, you will
|
|
receive a free SM124 mono monitor. This special is exclusive of all
|
|
other promo's currently in place. You have the option to either
|
|
purchase existing promos, or the above mentioned year end special or any
|
|
combination. For further information, contact Sales Administration, or
|
|
your local rep.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHICAGO ATARIFEST UPDATE: ERRATA
|
|
In Issue #546 of Z*Net Online, we listed vendors and developers who
|
|
attended the Gurnee Atarifest. We failed to list others in attendance
|
|
who assisted in making the event a success. Those omitted were:]
|
|
Namely Computer Cellar, Mars Merchandising, Kolputer Systems, and Paper
|
|
Express. We apologize for the omission.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z*NET GERMANY
|
|
=============
|
|
by Michael Schuetz, Contributing Editor
|
|
|
|
|
|
As Z*NET reported this fall in a totally surprising newsbreak, Elie
|
|
Kenan, who had stirred so many hopes in North America left the US in
|
|
October to go back to France. Up until now no official confirmation or
|
|
comment has been made by Atari USA. Now just before Christmas there
|
|
comes another newsflash - this time out of Atari's stronghold in Europe,
|
|
GERMANY!
|
|
|
|
Word is being spread in Germany that the head of Atari Germany, Alwin
|
|
Stumpf, will pick up the work where Kenan has stopped. It is said that
|
|
he will leave Europe in a few weeks to go to North America. At first he
|
|
is supposed to stay there approximately a year. Again - no official
|
|
comment or confirmation is available from Atari, but one of Germany's
|
|
most reputated newspapers, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), had
|
|
a big article about Atari in its issue from Thursday, December 20th,
|
|
1990. The article covered several aspects about Atari in Germany, among
|
|
them the story about the KAOS TOS 1.4.2 and last but not least it was
|
|
mentioned that Alwin Stumpf will move to Canada shortly to steer the
|
|
matters of Atari in North America from there.
|
|
|
|
Stumpf switched from Commodore Germany to become the head of Atari
|
|
Germany shortly after Jack Tramiel had taken over Atari in the middle of
|
|
the 80ies. May be he will be able to turn around the situation in North
|
|
America to Ataris favour. It is no secret that Germany is one of the
|
|
best, if not THE best, Atari subsidary. Atari has done things in
|
|
Germany that most US Atarians have just been dreaming of ever since
|
|
1985: They have and still are heavely advertising their computers.
|
|
|
|
Since 1985 several TV commercials could be seen at prime time in the
|
|
major TV stations for the ST. Radio commercials are constantly praising
|
|
Atari computers and since the TT is selling here in Germany, several
|
|
ads for it have been placed both in magazines and newspapers.
|
|
|
|
Let's hope that the spring of 1991 will see a new blossoming of Atari in
|
|
North America with it's new line of Mega STEs and TTs. By the way - as
|
|
reported two weeks ago, Atari held the press conference in Munich,
|
|
Germany, on December 12th. Just as expected they showed off the Mega
|
|
STE. It was said there, that a limited number of Mega STEs is already
|
|
on its way to Germany. The first units are believed to arrive at
|
|
dealers shelves shortly after Christmas. At first only one
|
|
configuration of the Mega STE will be available in Germany. It will be
|
|
the Mega STE 4 with a 48 MB harddrive. The official retail price for
|
|
this unit will be DM 3.000 (approx. US$ 2000) including the SM124
|
|
monochrome monitor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z*NET NEW ZEALAND
|
|
=================
|
|
by Jon Clarke, Contributing Editor
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPER PRE XMAS ADVERTISING
|
|
Atari-NZ has started its pre-christmans advertising campain with
|
|
avengence. Television adverts promoting the $NZ999 Atari Discovery
|
|
Pack. When asked why the Discovery Pack was being promoted, Mr. Alex
|
|
Davidson said, -The reason for this is the low retail demand in the
|
|
economy, making purchasers more concerned about value for money than the
|
|
lastest technology. We believe that offering the STFM with the
|
|
Discovery Pack at $NZ999 does indeed give buyers value for money-its an
|
|
excellent computer at a very attractive price.
|
|
|
|
|
|
STACY NOW AVAILABLE
|
|
In a dealer release Atari-NZ have advised its retailers the long awaited
|
|
Stacy portable ST is now shipping to New Zealand. The first shipment
|
|
will be in the stores for Christmas. With a RRP of $NZ6995 it comes
|
|
with 4 megs of memory, 40 meg hard disk, and a power source, power
|
|
adaptor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ATARI-NZ HAS A GOOD YEAR
|
|
During the course of 1990 Atari-NZ has sold more units than the last 12
|
|
months to date. When asked if Atari-NZ was happy with the results, Mr.
|
|
Alex Davidson replied, -In the current state of New Zealands economy we
|
|
are more than happy with the result.- When asked if Atari-NZ had a
|
|
commitment to the New Zeland Atari users, Davidson said, -We certainly
|
|
do and you will see this by the current advertising campain, and the
|
|
great dealer pricing we are giving. Further to this I would like to
|
|
state that we are over the moon with the response to the introduction of
|
|
the STe and the other new products we released this year.-
|
|
|
|
|
|
ATARI BBS GET NATIONWIDE NETWORK
|
|
A company in New Zeland offering a free noding service to System
|
|
Operators of BBS's, now has three Atari BBS's noding from it. They are
|
|
Harbour Board BBS in Wellington, STarlight Express in Auckland and also
|
|
STaTus in Auckland. Users from all around the country are flocking to
|
|
the new service. Increased activity has been seen by users of all
|
|
computers as they now see what Atari BBS's have to offer. The three BBS
|
|
systems mentioned all run different software from FoReM to Express to
|
|
MichTron V3. To quote a comment from a promenant person from IBM at a
|
|
recent All SYSOP function, -It looks like Atari has finally grown up-.
|
|
(We did not have the heart to tell him Atari ST's have been doing this
|
|
for over five years now)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BELL VERSUS BBS SYSOPS
|
|
======================
|
|
Compiled by Jerry Cross
|
|
Text downloaded from GEnie ST Roundtable
|
|
|
|
|
|
GTE TAKES ON INDIANA SYSOPS
|
|
BBS operators in Indiana complain that GTE is forcing them to accept
|
|
extra-cost business rates rather than the residential rates they have
|
|
been paying. Derry Nelson, sysop of the 1149 BBS in Elkhart, Ind.,
|
|
says that the changes were a surprise. The worst part of the surprise
|
|
seems to be the large jump in monthly rates. A typical BBS would find
|
|
its monthly bill increased by almost 200 percent.
|
|
|
|
The new tariff appears to give GTE wide-ranging control over its
|
|
customers. As an example, the company can limit the length of calls
|
|
-when in [GTE's] judgement such action is necessary.- GTE claims
|
|
authority to change a BBS to business rates because the service is
|
|
provided -for use [of] the general public.- Additional information is
|
|
available from the Utility Consumer Counselor at 317/232-2494. The
|
|
1149 BBS can be reached at 219/293-1149.
|
|
|
|
FROM: Mike Marotta
|
|
TO: Bbs Users MSG # 130, Apr-7-90 0:31am
|
|
SUBJECT: Why Business Rates
|
|
|
|
These excerpts are from MPSC documents. It is established in regulatory
|
|
commission administrative law that the PROVIDER files a tariff. For
|
|
instance, it is a principle of regulatory law that a tariff cannot be
|
|
effective prior to its filing date. A tariff that allowed this would
|
|
-jump out- at a regulator who read it. Generally, however, the
|
|
regulators ACCEPT the filing of the carrier and leave it to competing
|
|
carriers or clients to file a complaint.
|
|
|
|
Michigan Bell Telephone Company Tariff MPSC No. 7 was issued on November
|
|
21, 1966. Its age alone speaks volumes.
|
|
|
|
<quote> -Original Sheet 11.
|
|
GENERAL REGULATIONS - CLASSIFICATION AND USE OF TELEPHONE SERVICES
|
|
|
|
A. APPLICATION IS BUSINESS AND RESIDENCE RATES (Formerly Sheet 15)
|
|
|
|
1. The determination as to whether telephone service is Business or
|
|
Residence is based on the character of the Use to be made of the
|
|
service. Service is classified as business service where the use is
|
|
primarily or substantially of a business, professional, institutional,
|
|
or otherwise occupational nature. Where the business use, if any, is
|
|
incidental and where the major use is of a social or domestic nature,
|
|
service is classified as residence service if installed in a residence.
|
|
|
|
2. Business rates apply at the following locations, among others:
|
|
|
|
a. In offices, stores and factories, and in quarters occupied by clubs,
|
|
lodges, fraternal societies, schools, colleges, libraries, hospitals and
|
|
other business establishments.
|
|
|
|
b. In residence locations where the place of residence is in the
|
|
immediate proximity to a place of business and it is evident that the
|
|
telephone in the residence is or will be used for business purposes; and
|
|
in the residence locations where an extension is located at a place
|
|
where business rates would apply.
|
|
|
|
c. In the residence of a practicing physician, dentist, veterinary,
|
|
surgeon or other medical practioner who has no service at business rates
|
|
at another location.
|
|
|
|
d. In any residence location where there is substantial business use of
|
|
the service and the customer has no service elsewhere at business rates.
|
|
|
|
B.1.a.(2). A customer engaged in furnishing services of a secretarial
|
|
nature may not use Telephone Company facilities to receive messages for
|
|
one party to be forwarded to another party, unless such forwarding is
|
|
of a temporary or occasional nature.- <end quote>
|
|
|
|
FROM: Mike Marotta
|
|
TO: All Bbs users MSG # 131, Apr-7-90 0:32am
|
|
SUBJECT: more on rates - 2
|
|
|
|
As a result of the -Variety and Spice BBS- incident of March 1990, the
|
|
MPSC issued a statement. Excepts follow:
|
|
|
|
<quote>-FORM LETTER FOR COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARDS
|
|
|
|
If bulletin boards or access to bulletin boards is provided to calling
|
|
parties at no charge other than that which may be associated with the
|
|
telephone call, and are not provided in conjunction with a business, a
|
|
profession, an institution or other occupation, then it would appear
|
|
that the service should not be classified as a business. If, however,
|
|
there is a charge associated with any level of access to the bulletin
|
|
board, whether the charge is rendered to cover costs or produce a
|
|
profit, then the service would be considered a business or
|
|
classification as such. This would also apply if any of the previous
|
|
conditions mentioned were not met.- <END QUOTE>
|
|
|
|
FROM: Mike Marotta
|
|
TO: All Users MSG # 134, Apr-7-90 0:25am
|
|
SUBJECT: Michigan Bell and You
|
|
|
|
04/06/1990 This statement was specially prepared by Michigan Bell to
|
|
explain to the bulletin board user community their position on the
|
|
question of business rates. The statement was given to me at my request
|
|
by Michigan Bell's district manager for state government.
|
|
-- Mike Marotta.
|
|
|
|
<quote>-Telephone Service Classifications
|
|
|
|
Recently the question has arisen whether Michigan Bell is attempting to
|
|
charge commercial rates to all computer bulletin boards in the state.
|
|
Michigan Bell has not instituted a -program- to impose a specific class
|
|
of service on any group of customers, i.e., computer bulletin boards.
|
|
In fact, the decision on which class of service is required for computer
|
|
bulletin boards is no different than it is for any other service. In
|
|
making the decision, Michigan Bell is required to comply with tariffs
|
|
approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission, which cover the
|
|
matter of appropriate classification of telephone service.
|
|
|
|
The applicable tariffs require Michigan Bell to classify service
|
|
primarily in accordance with the use that is to be made of the service.
|
|
The tariffs specify the conditions under which a service is classified,
|
|
for rate purposes, as business or residence service. For example,
|
|
service is classified as business where the use is primarily that of a
|
|
business. In the case of computer bulletin boards, for instance, is
|
|
there is a charge associated with any level of access to the board, or
|
|
money is solicited in conjunction with the board, that is considered
|
|
conducting a business within the meaning of Michigan Bell's tariffs.
|
|
The service, therefore, would be classified as business and business
|
|
rates would apply. On the other hand, service that is used primarly for
|
|
domestic purposes is classified as residence service. Again, using the
|
|
example of computer bulletin boards, if the board is not associated with
|
|
a business and no charge is assessed or solicited for access to the
|
|
board, then service may be classified as residence in accordance with
|
|
the application tariffs.- <quote>
|
|
|
|
|
|
STATE OF INDIANA
|
|
INDIANA UTILITY REGULATORY COMMISSION
|
|
|
|
IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT OF )
|
|
TEN INDIVIDUALS AGAINST GTE NORTH ) CAUSE NO. 39005
|
|
INCORPORATED PERTINENT TO CERTAIN )
|
|
CHARGES FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE )
|
|
RENDERED BY GTE NORTH INCORPORATED )
|
|
|
|
BY THE COMMISSION:
|
|
|
|
James R. Monk, Chairman
|
|
Mark W. Cooper, Chief Administrative Law Judge
|
|
|
|
On June 4, 1990, Randy Wilson, Derald A. Nelson, Clamies J. Lambright,
|
|
David A. Reynolds, Thomas Battler, Don Billey, Jeff Jacobs, Jean Ludwig,
|
|
George Himebaugh, Jr., and Delmar Mineard, Jr. (Complainants-) filed a
|
|
complaint with the Commission pursuant to IC 8-1-2-54 against GTE North
|
|
Incorporated (-Respondent-). By their complaint, the Complainants state
|
|
that certain of the provisions of the Respondent's tariffs on file with
|
|
this Commission are unjustly discriminatory and unreasonable to the
|
|
Complainants- detriment.
|
|
|
|
Pursuant to notice duly published as required by law, a Prehearing
|
|
Conference was held in this Cause on July 27, 1990 at 1:30 P.M., EST, in
|
|
Room 908, State Office Building, Indianapolis, Indiana. At the
|
|
Prehearing Conference, the parties informally agreed as to procedural
|
|
and scheduling matters to be operative in this Cause. However, counsel
|
|
for the Respondent indicated that it would be subsequently submitting a
|
|
motion to dismiss herein and the Commission withheld the issuance of the
|
|
Prehearing Conference Order pending the submission and ruling upon
|
|
Respondent's Motion to Dismiss.
|
|
|
|
On August 10, 1990, the Respondent filed its Answer and Motion to
|
|
Dismiss, which filing appears in the following words and figures, to-
|
|
wit:
|
|
|
|
(H.I.)
|
|
|
|
Based upon the applicable law and the filings of the parties, the
|
|
Commission now finds as follows:
|
|
|
|
1. Commission Jurisdiction. The Respondent is a -public utility-
|
|
within the meaning of the Public Service Commission Act, as amended. IC
|
|
8-1-2-54 provides the complaints may be filed against public utilities
|
|
with the Commission pertinent to the practices and acts of those
|
|
utilities. The complaint initiating this Cause was filed under the
|
|
provisions of IC 8-1-2-54 and appears to satisfy the requirements
|
|
thereof. The Prehearing Conference was conducted pursuant to notice
|
|
duly published as required by law. IC 8-1-2 et seq. and the
|
|
Commission's Rules and Regulations of Practice provide the Commission
|
|
with the authority to appropriatley adjudicate and dispose of cases
|
|
pending before it. Therefore, the Commission has jurisdiction over the
|
|
parties and subject matter herein.
|
|
|
|
2. Commission Discussion and Findings. The Complainants allege that
|
|
certain provisions of Respondent's tariffs are unjustly discriminatory
|
|
and unreasonable and the Complainants have been caused harm thereby.
|
|
The Complainants state that they are customers of the Respondent and are
|
|
engaged in the hobby of operating a Computer Bulletin Board System
|
|
(-BBS-). The Complainants allege that pursuant to these tariff
|
|
provisions the Respondent is billing them at a business rate rather that
|
|
a residential rate whic is inappropriate and to their detriment. The
|
|
Complainants contend that the operation of a BBS is a hobby and not a
|
|
business venture. The Complainants also contend that applying a
|
|
business rate to them consititutes a rate change which must be subjected
|
|
to public hearing prior to the application thereof. Respondent points
|
|
out that the tariff complained of by the Complainants was approved by
|
|
the Commission on January 31, 1990 pursuant to IC 8-1-2-42. Respondent
|
|
also points out there is no dispute between the parties as to whether
|
|
this is the appropriate tariff under which the Complaintant's service
|
|
should be provided. Complainant citees certain language set forth at
|
|
Section 6.5 of the tariff which reads, as follows:
|
|
|
|
The Company shall determine if business or residence rates apply to a
|
|
customer service.
|
|
|
|
Respondent goes on to set forth additional language from the tariif
|
|
which set forth situations under which a business reate is properly
|
|
applied. Respondent concludes that BBS clearly fits the categories set
|
|
forth by the tariff under which a business rate applies
|
|
|
|
Respondent goes on to set forth additional language from the tariif
|
|
which set forth situations under which a business reate is properly
|
|
applied. Respondent concludes that BBS clearly fits the categories set
|
|
forth by the tariff under which a business rate applies and the fact
|
|
that Complainants allege that BBS is a hobby does not remove it from the
|
|
categories as defined within the tariff.
|
|
|
|
Respondent's Motion to Dismis does not clearly set forth the authority
|
|
or rule under which the Motion is brought. Therefore, we must first
|
|
determine the precise character of the Motion that we may know the
|
|
criteria under which its propriety is to be considered. Although
|
|
Respondent's filing is denominated as a -Motion to Dismiss-, a review of
|
|
that Motion reveals that it does not clearly fall within the parameters
|
|
of the familiar request for involuntary dimissal under T.R. 41 or
|
|
matters properly raised under T.R. 12 (B). It appears that Respondent's
|
|
filing is most akin to a Motion for Judgement on the Pleadings as
|
|
provided by T.R. 12(C) or a Motion for Summary Judgement pursuant to
|
|
t.R. 56. In any event, a review of T.R. 12(C) directs that a motion
|
|
brought under that rule in circumstances such as these should be treated
|
|
as one for summary judgement and be disposed of as provided by T.R. 56.
|
|
T.R. 56(C) sets forth the standard under which a moving party may
|
|
prevail on motion for summary judgement. The Rule provides that the
|
|
judgement sought shall be rendered if there is no genuine issue as to
|
|
any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgement
|
|
as a matter of law. This standard appears to be applicable in this
|
|
situation. A review of the Complaint and Respondent's filing indicates
|
|
that the parties agree upn the operative facts and that there exist no
|
|
genuine dispute as to any material fact. The question remaining to the
|
|
Commission is no then fact sensitive but whether Respondent's tariif
|
|
provisions which allows the Respondent to bill the Complainants under a
|
|
business rate constitutes the improper charging of a reate without prior
|
|
Commission approval and/or whether that tariff provision is unjust and
|
|
discriminatory. Both of which are conclusions of law for the Commission
|
|
as contemplated by T.R. 56 (C).
|
|
|
|
The Complainants allege that the Respondent's application of a business
|
|
rate to the Complainants constitutes a rate change for which prior
|
|
Commission approval must be obtained after holding a public hearing.
|
|
The cleand and unambiguous terminology of Respondent's tarriff which was
|
|
approved by this Commission allows the Respondent to determine wheter a
|
|
particular service is appropriatley billed under a residence rate or a
|
|
business rate. Clearly the tariff approved by the Commission authorizes
|
|
the appropriate rate. The Complainants have not alleged that Respondent
|
|
acted in a fashion inconsistent with the tariff. Therefore, when
|
|
information comes to the Respondent that leads it to believe that a
|
|
particular customer's situation has changed it is authorized under the
|
|
tariff to impose a rate change consistent with the terms of the tariff.
|
|
The Respondent's review of circumstances and decision to impose a
|
|
different rate authorized under the tariff clearly does not constitute a
|
|
rate change as contemplated by IC 8-1-2-42. Therefore, considering the
|
|
undisputed facts the Complainants would not be entitled to prevail on
|
|
this issue.
|
|
|
|
The Complainants next allege, without specifically stating the reasons
|
|
therefor, that Respondents tariff in question is unreasonably
|
|
discriminatory. This Commission has for many decades been charged with
|
|
the duty to review utility tariffs under the mandate that utility
|
|
services should not be discriminator and must serve puble interest. A
|
|
review of the official files of the Commission disclosed the provisions
|
|
of Respondent's tariff in question are of a standard type and kind for
|
|
local exchange telephone service. Further, we note that such tariff
|
|
provisons were reviewed by the Commission's Engineering Division which
|
|
was properly delegated with the authority to consider the propriety of
|
|
that tariff and make ultimate approval or rejection thereof. Base upon
|
|
a review of Respondent's tariff, we find that the tariff provisions are
|
|
not unreasonable and discriminatory either as written or by their
|
|
application. Therefore, we find that the Complainants are not entitled
|
|
to prevail upon this issue as a matter of law.
|
|
|
|
Based on forgoing, we find that Summary Judgement should be granted in
|
|
favor of the Respondent and the Complaintants request to investigate the
|
|
acts, practices and rates of the Respondent and for the holding of
|
|
public hearing on the matter of the imposition of a business rate to the
|
|
Complainants should be DENIED.
|
|
|
|
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED BY THE INDIANA UTILITY REGULATORY COMMISSION
|
|
THAT:
|
|
|
|
1. The Respondent shall be deemed to have prevailed on the matters at
|
|
issue herein and that Complaintants request for an investigation into
|
|
the acts, practices and rates of the Respondent and the holding of
|
|
public hearing upon the Respondent's imposition of a business rate upon
|
|
the Complainants shall be, and hereby DENIED.
|
|
|
|
2. This Order shall be effective on and after the date of its approval.
|
|
|
|
NOV 21, 1990
|
|
|
|
WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?
|
|
|
|
On January 29th and 31st, a hearing will be held before an
|
|
administrative law judge concerning the case of the Variety & Spice BBS
|
|
(Gross Point, MI) and Michigan Bell. In March, Michigan Bell informed
|
|
the sysop that they would begin charging him business rates for his
|
|
phone lines because they determined that his charging for access does
|
|
not qualify him for residencial rates.
|
|
|
|
Several cases of this nature have, or are currently being faught around
|
|
the country. These files are being circulated to inform those who use
|
|
or run BBS's of pending legislation in Michigan and Indiana.
|
|
|
|
For more information, or if you would like to testify before the MPSC
|
|
on the above date, please contact one of the following sources.
|
|
|
|
Jerry Cross (voice)313-736-4544
|
|
(bbs) 313-736-3920
|
|
|
|
Variety & Spice BBS
|
|
313-885-8377
|
|
|
|
or check out one of the many Michigan BBS's that carry the Michigan
|
|
ECHO message system.
|
|
|
|
Please send comments or questions to
|
|
G.Cross (Genie)
|
|
JERRYCROSS (DELPHI)
|
|
75046,467 (CompuServe)
|
|
Thanks for your support!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BBS EXPRESS! ST UPDATE
|
|
======================
|
|
|
|
/\
|
|
/ / 2 Presenting BBS Express! ST v1.41
|
|
/ \ Copyright (c) 1987,1990
|
|
/\/\ \ Ltd. by T2 Ltd.
|
|
\/\ \/
|
|
\/ (Formerly an ICD Inc. product)
|
|
|
|
T2 Ltd BBS Express! Support 714-357-6806 (PC Pursuit -CACOL- node)
|
|
|
|
December 24, 1990
|
|
|
|
If you are upgrading from version 1.30, you'll need to update your file
|
|
DESCRIPTION format with a utility called CNVTDESC.PRG that is online at
|
|
the support boards. It is recommended that you direct the program to
|
|
write out your descriptions to a temporary folder, so as not to write
|
|
over your existing descriptions should a problem occur. The program is
|
|
very simple to use, just follow the prompts.
|
|
|
|
What's New In v1.41?
|
|
|
|
NEW Six new '&' variables have been added! Five of these are prompting
|
|
variables (which you can use to control paging of files, etc.) and the
|
|
sixth displays whether the SysOp is in or out, depending on the status
|
|
of your F5 key.
|
|
|
|
NEW Color in the message bases! If you or your users are in VT52 Color
|
|
mode, you may now enter control commands to bring color and inverse
|
|
into your messages. VT52 Mono users will be able to enter and see
|
|
inverse text. ASCII users will see the messages normally.
|
|
|
|
NEW Another setting has been added to the [P]arameters menu. A user may
|
|
now set his high message number, and it can be saved or used on that
|
|
session only. This can enable users who haven't been online in a long
|
|
time to instantly bring their message pointers up to date so that they
|
|
don't have to go through a lot of messages on a QuickScan. Or if a user
|
|
has a need to restore an old setting, now he can do so.
|
|
|
|
NEW During a message read function, you can now (ta da) [M]ove messages!
|
|
Simply press 'M' when you see a message that you would like to move and
|
|
the BBS will prompt you <M>ove Or <C>opy? Select the desired action and
|
|
the BBS does the rest. You can move/copy messages from Email or any
|
|
base to any other _valid_ message base. A lengthy message will be
|
|
truncated to fit into a base which is predefined as having a shorter
|
|
length than that of the message being moved.
|
|
|
|
NEW [M]oving messages is great, but how about files? You guessed it,
|
|
you can now move files from the [B]rowse mode! But that is just part of
|
|
the story -- in fact, [M]ove files is part of a sub-menu called...
|
|
|
|
NEW [F]ile Utilities! During browse mode in the file areas, a Sysop may
|
|
press 'F' and bring up a sub-menu which looks like this:
|
|
|
|
[C]opy File And Description
|
|
[M]ove File And Description
|
|
[S]pace Left On Drive 'x'
|
|
[T]ouch Time/Datestamp
|
|
|
|
Command (Or [Return]):
|
|
|
|
So while browsing you can automate your maintenance duties instead of
|
|
going into SysOp mode and typing MS-DOS style commands. The first two
|
|
commands allow you to enter a SIG number for destination or view your
|
|
list of file areas. Note that the time/datestamp is updated when moving
|
|
/copying files, as in the SysOp Shell. [S]pace simply shows you free
|
|
space on a drive (which you will be prompted for), and touch just
|
|
updates the files time/datestamp, which makes the file appear as new to
|
|
your callers.
|
|
|
|
NEW The READSUB.HLP menu has a new entry: 'O'ptions. This will allow a
|
|
user to set his parameters (such as translation, continuous scroll and
|
|
clear screen ON/OFF) during a message scan function. Think about the
|
|
advantage of being able to turn on continuous scroll mode while in a
|
|
QuickScan on a busy long distance board...
|
|
|
|
NEW The main command prompt now displays the actual time remaining for
|
|
the user online. This takes into account the users time on previously
|
|
for that day, and shows the actual logical time allowed for that call.
|
|
The status lines on the SysOp screen also display the same way now.
|
|
|
|
NEW Along the same lines as above, the '&' variable &33 now properly
|
|
returns the logical time left per call as it should. For the last three
|
|
years it has been returning the same value as &13, so was fairly
|
|
useless. Now it may come in handy!
|
|
|
|
NEW The call log will now show you what protocol was used for each ul/dl
|
|
a user made.
|
|
|
|
NEW A couple of minor things: The Idle Timeout has been cleaned up some,
|
|
and the ability to search for a string when selecting someone to send
|
|
mail to has been made optional.
|
|
|
|
NEW Two more minor things: When changing SIGs, the BBS hotkeys any two-
|
|
digit number (ie, it isn't necessary to press [Return] if entering file
|
|
area 10 and above, but it is when entering a 0-9.) The pad last block
|
|
option is gone (and has been for a while now) since it is outdated and
|
|
confusing to most.
|
|
|
|
NEW [P]arameter updates: A user may no longer change his real name via
|
|
the parameter menu. It is not needed, since when logging on as new,
|
|
they have the option to change any information then. After that, why
|
|
should anyone need to change their real name? Also the menu option that
|
|
allows the user to change his protocol has been updated so that the
|
|
current protocol is displayed when listing parms (so you don't have to
|
|
select it to view your current setting).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KIDS-91 PROJECT
|
|
===============
|
|
Compiled by Jon Clarke
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: Mon, 24 Dec 1990 15:01:26 +0100
|
|
X-To: GOLLUM::-<a href="mailto:stt@kcbbs.gen.nz?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">stt@kcbbs.gen.nz</a>-
|
|
Subject: The KIDS-91 discussion list
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:stt@kcbbs.gen.nz?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">stt@kcbbs.gen.nz</a>
|
|
|
|
Dear friend of the KIDS-91 project,
|
|
|
|
We have set up a Listserv discussion group called -KIDS-91- to serve our
|
|
global project. It's meant to be a central meeting place for ALL
|
|
interested persons. This is where we can
|
|
|
|
* post announcements of local KIDS-91 activities.
|
|
* exchange experiences, ideas and information.
|
|
* upload student's responses.
|
|
|
|
TO SUBSCRIBE
|
|
You can subscribe to KIDS-91 by sending mail to <a href="mailto:listserv@vm1.nodak.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">listserv@vm1.nodak.edu</a>
|
|
(or LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 on BITNET) with the BODY or TEXT of the mail
|
|
containing the command
|
|
|
|
SUB KIDS-91 yourfirstname yourlastname
|
|
For example:
|
|
SUB KIDS-91 Chen Wei
|
|
|
|
Please be sure to send the command to LISTSERV and NOT to the list.
|
|
Also note that the command should be in the body of the mail (in other
|
|
words after the blank line following the headers) and not in the
|
|
subject.
|
|
|
|
The LISTSERV will receive a message which would look like this:
|
|
|
|
Date: ...
|
|
From: someuser@somehost
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:listserv@vm1.nodak.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">listserv@vm1.nodak.edu</a>
|
|
|
|
SUB KIDS-91 Chen Wei
|
|
|
|
and you will automatically become a member.
|
|
|
|
See you there,
|
|
Odd de Presno
|
|
KIDS-91 Project Director
|
|
|
|
Date: Mon, 24 Dec 1990 15:00:58 +0100
|
|
X-To: GOLLUM::-<a href="mailto:stt@kcbbs.gen.nz?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">stt@kcbbs.gen.nz</a>-
|
|
Subject: Newsletter #4
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:stt@kcbbs.gen.nz?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">stt@kcbbs.gen.nz</a>
|
|
|
|
The KIDS-91 Newsletter
|
|
A Global Dialog for Children 10-15 Years
|
|
****************************************
|
|
Issue number 4, October 26 1990.
|
|
|
|
IN THIS ISSUE
|
|
1. The KIDS-91 project
|
|
2. The Newsletter
|
|
3. Progress report
|
|
4. How teachers can participate in KIDS-91
|
|
5. For more information about KIDS-91.
|
|
|
|
1. KIDS-91
|
|
The aim is to get as many children in the age group 10 -15 as possible
|
|
involved in a GLOBAL dialog continuing until May 12th 1991. We would
|
|
like their responses to these questions:
|
|
|
|
1) Who am I?
|
|
2) What do I want to be when I grow up?
|
|
3) How do I want the world to be better when I grow up?
|
|
4) What can I do now to make this happen?
|
|
|
|
We would also like the children to illustrate their future vision, for
|
|
example in a drawing, a video tape, or something else.
|
|
|
|
On May 12th, 1991, the children will be invited to -chat- with each
|
|
other in a global electronic dialog. Exhibitions of selected parts of
|
|
the responses will be shipped back to the children of the world for them
|
|
to see and enjoy.
|
|
|
|
2. THE NEWSLETTER
|
|
is an information bulletin for participants, sponsors, teachers,
|
|
mediators, promoters, and other interested persons.
|
|
|
|
Suggestions and contributions to the next issue are more than welcome.
|
|
We hope to port it within 45 days or so. Write the Editor to receive
|
|
future issues of the newsletter.
|
|
|
|
Editor: Odd de Presno, Saltrod, Norway.
|
|
Online addresses:
|
|
Internet: <a href="mailto:opresno@coma.uio.no?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">opresno@coma.uio.no</a>
|
|
UUCP/EUnet: uunet!coma.uio.no!opresno
|
|
S.H.S. BBS: SYSOP (Phone: +47 41 31378)
|
|
|
|
3. PROGRESS REPORT
|
|
KIDS-91 is now available through Internet/BITNET through the list
|
|
<a href="mailto:KIDS-91@VM1.NODAK.EDU?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">KIDS-91@VM1.NODAK.EDU</a> and <a href="mailto:KIDCAFE@VM1.NODAK.EDU?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">KIDCAFE@VM1.NODAK.EDU</a> (see under -Level 3:
|
|
Online - Participative- below-. Here are some recent responses in the
|
|
data base:
|
|
|
|
Question #1: Who Am I?
|
|
I am Arvind Howarth. I am an eleven-year-old girl. I love dolphins and
|
|
hate the killing of them (pollution, tuna nets etc). I like drawing,
|
|
reading, swimming and basic outdoor sport. I hope that someone will
|
|
save the world, and stop the wars. Wars and the thought of them scare
|
|
me. (from London, England)
|
|
|
|
My name is Lucy and I am 15 years old. I enjoy acting, reading and
|
|
playing the saxaphone. I am concerned with the welfare of our planet.
|
|
I find myself feeling very exasperated when my careers teacher asks the
|
|
class what we want to become when we grow up! As if we actually have a
|
|
choice! The way the planet is going, there is only one thing left to
|
|
work towards, and thats saving ours and many other creatures world!
|
|
(from Australia)
|
|
|
|
Question #2: What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?
|
|
I would like to go to art school and become an artist. I'm not that
|
|
bothered about money, but I would love to have a job that I enjoy and
|
|
that I look forward to. (Arvind)
|
|
|
|
I find myself feeling very exasperated when my careers teacher asks the
|
|
class what we want to become when we grow up! As if we actually have a
|
|
choice! The way the planet is going, there is only one thing left to
|
|
work towards, and thats saving ours and many other creatures world! As
|
|
you may have guessed, I am of the opinion that there is only one thing
|
|
to grow up for! Our planet! So I intend to become an activest
|
|
(hopefully in theatre). (Lucy)
|
|
|
|
Question #3: How Do I Want The World To Be Better When I Grow Up?
|
|
I think everyone should ride a bicycle. No pollution, no petrol, and
|
|
you get fit. I also think there should be no wars. Why don't the prime
|
|
ministers battle it out themselves? Instead of killing the rest of the
|
|
world. But it would be better if no-one had to improve anything. If
|
|
everything was satisfactory without modernising. But that's too
|
|
idealistic I suppose. (Arvind)
|
|
|
|
By the time I am an adult, I would like the world to be like one big
|
|
peaceful commune, with no seperate countries, no need or abuse of
|
|
anything and a loving bond between all things. I think this may take a
|
|
little time, so maybe our children will experience such peace! (Lucy)
|
|
|
|
Question #4: What Can I Do Now To Make This Happen?
|
|
I honestly don't think I can do anything (on my own). If everyone did
|
|
the right thing - recycling, composting, demonstrating and basically
|
|
living contentedly - then there would be no problem. But on my own I
|
|
can't help the world. So I'll do my bit and hope everyone does their's.
|
|
(Arvind)
|
|
|
|
If this dream is to become reality, we will have to begin now by
|
|
treating each other with love and care, and then all things around us!
|
|
Peace can only be achieved by each person taking the initiative! For my
|
|
part, I am in the process of starting an action group in the Byron Bay
|
|
for young caring people. (Lucy)
|
|
|
|
4. How teachers can participate in KIDS-91
|
|
We assume that a copy of the KIDS-91 -Letter to Teachers- and the other
|
|
material is available. If not, please ask for copies. The guidelines
|
|
below is just meant to give additional details about how teachers can
|
|
participate.
|
|
|
|
Here are the different ways you can choose to participate in KIDS-91
|
|
with your class:
|
|
|
|
Level 1: Ordinary Mail!
|
|
Level 2: One-Way Electronic Mail
|
|
Level 3: Online - Participative
|
|
Level 4: Online - Full Interactive Communications
|
|
Level 5: Online - Interactive and Planning.
|
|
|
|
These different levels of teacher involvement have the following
|
|
meaning:
|
|
|
|
Level 1: Ordinary Mail!
|
|
Have the students respond to the four questions.
|
|
|
|
Responses to question 1:
|
|
Each response should contain the child's name, age and city/place (as
|
|
the last phrase of the response).
|
|
|
|
Responses to question number 2-4:
|
|
After each child's responses, add his or her name. Like this:
|
|
(Alberto Blanco).
|
|
|
|
Save the responses on computer diskettes (MS-DOS 5.25- or 3.5- or
|
|
Macintosh) as an ordinary DOS or ASCII text file (text written with Word
|
|
Perfect is also acceptable). Write the text with left margin 0 and
|
|
right margin 60.
|
|
|
|
You may want to let the students enter it themselves as part of the
|
|
exercise. - If the school does not have computer equipment, perhaps the
|
|
class could use one owned by a parent or local business for this
|
|
project.
|
|
|
|
Sort the student's responses by question, e.g. first all the responses
|
|
to question number 1, then all responses to question number 2, etc.
|
|
|
|
On the top of the file, write the teacher(s) names, the class name, the
|
|
school name and mailing address. Add the electronic address, if any.
|
|
(Don't forget this, if you want the school to be added to the mailing
|
|
list for the final exhibition.)
|
|
|
|
Note: We strongly urge you to send us the responses in electronic form
|
|
(on diskette). This is the only way that we can be sure to enter the
|
|
student's names correctly. Also, in this way only can we guarantee that
|
|
their responses will end up in the global data base. We may be able to
|
|
input hand-written responses, but can give no guarantees.
|
|
|
|
Mail the diskette(s) to:
|
|
KIDS-91, c/o SciNet, 131 Bloor Street West, Suite 200,
|
|
Box 326, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1R8, Canada.
|
|
|
|
The next step is to let the students make the drawings/paintings.
|
|
Remember to have the students write their name, age and place/school
|
|
CLEARLY on the front page. If the contribution is selected to be
|
|
exhibited, then the audience should be able to see the name of the
|
|
artist.
|
|
|
|
Challenge them to find more creative ways of 'drawing themselves as
|
|
adults in their desired future world'. Ref. the -Letter to Teachers-
|
|
for ideas. Tell them that there is a competition going on with prizes
|
|
for the most innovative creators.
|
|
|
|
Mail the Creative Contributions to:
|
|
KIDS-91, c/o Odd de Presno, 4815 Saltrod, Norway.
|
|
|
|
We will add your school to our mailing list for the final exhibition,
|
|
that we plan to send back to the world after the conclusion of the
|
|
project's phase 1.
|
|
|
|
Level 2: Online - One-Way Electronic Mail
|
|
Prepare responses to the four questions as above. Here we'll only
|
|
comment on the differences.
|
|
|
|
Send the responses as electronic mail to the following electronic
|
|
address:
|
|
|
|
jonno@scinet.UUCP (if it fails, try: <a href="mailto:opresno@coma.uio.no?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">opresno@coma.uio.no</a>)
|
|
|
|
Here are some backup solutions:
|
|
* upload the file to my BBS at +47 41 31378
|
|
* if your network is connected to DASnet, send to [DEZNDP]opresno
|
|
* send a fax to Odd de Presno at +47 41 27111 and ask how to send it.
|
|
|
|
Remember: tell what electronic mailbox(es) that you are currently using.
|
|
|
|
Level 3: Online - Participative
|
|
Locate a suitable, participating networking system, and access the
|
|
'local' KIDS-91 area. Here are some alternatives:
|
|
|
|
* SciNet in Canada and USA (upload to items 11-14 in the -KIDS-91- con).
|
|
* Internet/BITNET etc. Upload to <a href="mailto:KIDS-91@vm1.NoDak.EDU?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">KIDS-91@vm1.NoDak.EDU</a>
|
|
|
|
Join this LISTSERV by sending the command SUB KIDS-91 yourname to
|
|
<a href="mailto:LISTSERV@vm1.NoDak.EDU?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%2031-Dec-90%20#189">LISTSERV@vm1.NoDak.EDU</a> (for example: SUB KIDS-91 Ole Olsen). The
|
|
command should be in the BODY of the text. Keep the subject blank.
|
|
|
|
Another list called KIDCAFE is established for dialog between
|
|
participating children (SUB KIDCAFE yourname).
|
|
|
|
* TWICS (Tokyo): use the -KIDS91- conference in PARTIcipate.
|
|
* Compuserve: upload to library 10 in the Education Forum.
|
|
|
|
If you want the children to upload their responses personally, use
|
|
library 0 (or messages sent to section 0) in the Student's Forum.
|
|
Children acting on their own should upload their responses to library 15
|
|
of the IBM Special Needs Forum. You can also use section 1 (Getting
|
|
Started) of the HamNet Forum for interactive participation.
|
|
|
|
* The -KIDS.91- conference on Pegasus (Australia),
|
|
* The -KIDS-91- folder under -Classroom Projects- in the AGE folder on
|
|
AppleLink.
|
|
* The -KIDS91- conference on IRIS.
|
|
* The -KIDS91- topic on MetaNet (in Salon).
|
|
* GreenNet (England),
|
|
* The -KIDS.91- conference on The Web (Canada).
|
|
* The -KIDS.91- conference on FredsNaetet (Sweden)
|
|
* The -KIDS.91- conference on PeaceNet/EcoNet (US)
|
|
* The -KIDS91- conference on SHS BBS in Norway (Phone: +47 41 31378)
|
|
* The KIDS-91 area on Merlin BBS (Maryland, USA).
|
|
|
|
Download other childrens' responses and use them in your classes. You
|
|
may want your students to upload their responses individual.
|
|
|
|
Level 4: Online - Full Interactive and Communications
|
|
Read and respond to all KIDS-91 topics online. Read and enter responses
|
|
to the four questions directly. Send private electronic mail to other
|
|
participants - form 'keypals' relationships with new friends.
|
|
|
|
Let the students participate in regular online 'chats' with other
|
|
children. For example, through KIDCAFE with Krystal on SciNet or Kid to
|
|
Kid in IBMSPECIAL forum on CompuServe. Encourage them to explore the
|
|
world with new tools.
|
|
|
|
Regularly download and print out new responses from the global data base
|
|
on SciNet. Use the information in geography, environmental studies,
|
|
history, etc.
|
|
|
|
Encourage and prepare the students to participate in the global
|
|
electronic -chat- that will take place on May 12, 1991.
|
|
|
|
Level 5: Online - Interactive and Planning
|
|
Access SciNet in Canada (from anywhere), ask to be a member of KIDPLAN,
|
|
and join the KIDS-91 staff of volunteers to help pull this here thing
|
|
off.
|
|
|
|
Send e-mail to jonno@scinet.UUCP about how to get access to SciNet and
|
|
KIDPLAN.
|
|
|
|
5. FOR INFORMATION
|
|
about KIDS-91 or if you want to help out or participate, contact the
|
|
editor or one of the following persons:
|
|
|
|
Nancy Stefanik: MetaNet=stefanik, PeaceNet=nstefanik, AppleLink=x0447,
|
|
TCN=tcn145
|
|
Jonn Ord/SciNet: jonno@scinet.UUCP
|
|
|
|
You can also write to:
|
|
|
|
KIDS-91, c/o SciNet, 131 Bloor Street West, Suite 200,
|
|
Box 326, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1R8, Canada
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
|
|
=======================
|
|
|
|
ATARI COMPUTER DONATES PORTABLE
|
|
COLOR VIDEO GAME SYSTEMS TO OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
|
|
|
|
SUNNYVALE, CA (November 30, 1990) -- To give military personnel
|
|
participating in Operation Desert Shield a healthy way to release pent-
|
|
up energy and to alleviate some of their boredom, Atari Corporation has
|
|
made arrangements with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and the USO to
|
|
supply Lynx portable color video game system kiosks and video game
|
|
cartridges to military recreation centers in Saudi Arabia.
|
|
|
|
The display kiosks that are being shipped have four Lynx systems
|
|
installed as well as complete libraries of game cards. -We've packed
|
|
the Lynx kiosks so they can be taken right from the palettes, plugged in
|
|
and used by the men and women who are temporarily stationed in Saudi
|
|
Arabia,- said Meade Ames-Klein, president of the consumer products game
|
|
division. -We're confident that the game systems will be in the
|
|
recreation centers before the Christmas holidays.-
|
|
|
|
Requests from the Field
|
|
|
|
Ames-Klein said that the idea of shipping Lynx systems to Operation
|
|
Desert Shield was discussed shortly after the first group of troops
|
|
arrived in Saudi Arabia. -Our military personnel hadn't been there a
|
|
month when we received a letter from an Army sergeant requesting that we
|
|
ship him a sun visor/screen guard for his Lynx so he could play his
|
|
system more easily when he was off duty,- Ames-Klein recalled.
|
|
|
|
-Since then,- he noted, -we've received dozens of letters from military
|
|
personnel who have told us about endless hours of having nothing to do.
|
|
They've requested accessories such as sun visors, carrying pouches and
|
|
additional game cartridges. Others, have seen someone else stationed
|
|
there with a Lynx and have wanted to buy their own system and games.-
|
|
|
|
-When it became obvious that our troops were going to be in the Middle
|
|
East for some time,- he continued, -we thought the Lynx systems and game
|
|
cartridges would help improve morale and would provide the men and women
|
|
stationed there with a little entertainment. Perhaps, for at least a
|
|
short period of time, the Lynx will let them escape from the reality of
|
|
their surroundings.-
|
|
|
|
Variety of Game Cartridges
|
|
|
|
Ames-Klein said that with the exception of -Blue Lighting,- a combat jet
|
|
fighter game, the games are not war-oriented and have been designed to
|
|
test an individual's skills and agility. With a number of the game
|
|
cards, players in the recreation centers will be able to connect the
|
|
Lynx game systems with ComLynx cables and enjoy multi-player
|
|
competition.
|
|
|
|
Game cards that are being shipped with the Kiosks include -California
|
|
Games,- a one- or two-player game that includes BMX biking,
|
|
skateboarding, surfing and foot bag juggling; -Gates of Zendocon,- a 30-
|
|
level game where players conquer hostile aliens in order to return home;
|
|
and -Electrocop,- where the player must rescue the President's daughter.
|
|
Games also include -Chip's Challenge,- with 144 puzzles; -Gauntlet,-
|
|
where up to four players can search for the Star Gem; -Slime World-
|
|
where up to eight players travel deep into the gooiest, most slippery
|
|
mire in the world; -Klax,-which challenges players to stack tiles and
|
|
create a klax; -Paperboy;- -Ms. PackMan- and others.
|
|
|
|
Second-Generation Players
|
|
|
|
Ames-Klein pointed out that many of the men and women stationed in Saudi
|
|
Arabia are second-generation video game players ... they grew up
|
|
playing Atari's early game systems and have returned to playing the new
|
|
advanced games. -Back in 1984/85, they lost interest in video games
|
|
because the software was boring,- he noted. -But the new generation of
|
|
video games feature dynamite graphics and color, as well as exceptional
|
|
complexity and depth of play. Today's games are much more difficult to
|
|
master because the game developers have taken maximum advantage of the
|
|
advanced microprocessor used in the Lynx system.-
|
|
|
|
Ames-Klein valued the initial shipment of Lynx video game kiosks and
|
|
game cartridges at $50,000. He added that, depending upon how long U.S.
|
|
military are stationed in the area and the feedback they receive from
|
|
USO officials, additional Lynx systems may be sent to the area.
|
|
|
|
First Color Portable System
|
|
|
|
Lynx, which was introduced in several test markets for Christmas last
|
|
year was the video game industry's first color hand-held video
|
|
entertainment system. Slightly larger than a video cassette, the system
|
|
features a backlit LCD screen that displays up to 16 colors from a
|
|
palette of 4,096. The Lynx screen can be rotated 180 degrees for right-
|
|
or left-handed play. Powered by six -AA- batteries, the system uses
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credit card-sized game cartridges so players can enjoy any of the more
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than 15 games that are currently available.
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Priced at $179.95, the Lynx portable color entertainment system,
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accessories and game cartridges are available at major retailers across
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the country.
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For complete information on Lynx, Atari's home video game systems and
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growing family of video game software call or write Ron Beltramo, Vice
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|
President of Marketing, Atari Computer, 1196 Borregas Avenue, Sunnyvale,
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CA 94088, (408) 745-2000, FAX (408) 745-2088.
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=======================================================================
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Z*MAGAZINE Atari 8-Bit Online Magazine is a bi-weekly magazine covering
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|
the Atari and related computer community. Material contained in this
|
|
edition may be reprinted without permission, except where otherwise
|
|
noted, unedited, with the issue number, name and author included at
|
|
the top of each reprinted article. Commentary and opinions presented
|
|
are those of the individual author and does not necessarily reflect
|
|
the opinions of Z*MAGAZINE or the staff. Z*Magazine Atari 8-Bit Online
|
|
Magazine, Z*Net Atari Online Magazine, Z*Net are copyright (c)1990 by
|
|
Rovac Industries Inc, a registered corporation. Post Office Box 59,
|
|
Middlesex, New Jersey 08846. (908) 968-2024. Z*Net Online BBS 24
|
|
Hours, 1200/2400 Baud, (908) 968-8148. We can be reached on CompuServe
|
|
at 71777,2140 and on GEnie at Z-NET.
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|
=======================================================================
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|
Z*Magazine Atari 8-Bit Online Magazine
|
|
Copyright (c)1990, Rovac Industries, Inc..
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|
=======================================================================
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