864 lines
43 KiB
Plaintext
864 lines
43 KiB
Plaintext
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| (((((((( | Z*Magazine International Atari 8-Bit Magazine
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| (( | ---------------------------------------------
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| (( | March 24, 1992 Issue #206
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| (( | ---------------------------------------------
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| (((((((( | Copyright (c)1992, Rovac Industries, Inc.
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| | Post Office Box 59, Middlesex, NJ 08846
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| (( |
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| (((((( | CONTENTS
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| (( |
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| | * The Week In Atari History.................Ron Kovacs
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| ((( ((( | * Atari 8-Bit Hard Drives....................Don Lebow
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| (((( (((( | * The Bookkeeper..............................Ron Bell
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| (( (( (( (( | * Modem Noise Killer..................................
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| (( (( (( | * Lock And Key For The ST................Rick Flashman
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| (( (( | * Using A Percom On Your 8-Bit........Andrew C. Diller
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| | * ....................................................
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| (( | * ....................................................
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| (( (( | * ....................................................
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| (((((((( |
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| (( (( |
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| (( (( | ~ Publisher/Editor..........................Ron Kovacs
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| | ~ Contributing Editor........................John Nagy
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| (((((((((( | ~ Contributing Editor......................Stan Lowell
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| (( | ~ Contributing Editor........................Bob Smith
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| (( ((((( | ~ Newswire Staff......................................
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| (( (( | ~ Z*Net New Zealand.........................Jon Clarke
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| (((((((((( | ~ Z*Net Canada.........................Terry Schreiber
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| |
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|-------------| $ GEnie Address..................................Z-NET
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| ONLINE | $ CompuServe Address........................75300,1642
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| AREAS | $ Delphi Address..................................ZNET
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| | $ Internet/Usenet Address................status.gen.nz
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|-------------| $ America Online Address......................ZNET1991
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| Z*NET | * Z*Net:USA New Jersey...(FNET 593).....(908) 968-8148
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| SUPPORT | * Z*Net:Golden Gate......(FNET 706).....(510) 373-6792
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| SYSTEMS | * Blank Page.........(8-Bit FNET 9002)..(908) 805-3967
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=======================================================================
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* THIS WEEK IN ATARI HISTORY by Ron Kovacs
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======================================================================
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1985 - ATARI MEETS BCS USER GROUP
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The Boston Computer Society General Meeting featured Leonard Tramiel of
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Atari, as well as Digital Research's Bruce Cohen, and Bill Bowman from
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Spinnaker, and marked the east coast unveiling of the new 520ST
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Computer. The meeting filled Boston's New England Life Hall to
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capacity. Tramiel reiterated the specifications mentioned in previous
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reports. I won't repeat any more than I have to. It appears that
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Atari is still on schedule and is still predicting release of the new
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machines in late April. Unfortunately, Mr. Tramiel did not have a
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formal demo package available with him, so the actual demonstration of
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the machine was exceptionally weak. Tramiel described that the
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versatility of the ST's was enhanced by the multiple ports which
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include: 128K ROM slot, Hard Disk DMA Port (10 Megabit/Sec!), Floppy
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Disk Port (Daisy Chain), Standard RS232C Port, Centronics Printer Port,
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Monitor Output, RF (TV) Output, (2) MIDI Ports, In/Out, Joystick Port,
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and Joystick/Mouse Port. Bruce Cohen, from DRI explained the GEM
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operating system in detail, including how it was being developed in
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other applications. He indicated that the IBM PC would have a GEM
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system available in April.
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1985 - 32-BIT ATARI PLANNED
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The first look at the new 32-bit Atari computers will come in April at
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a computer show in Hanover, Germany. Sam Tramiel privately confirmed
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that this machine would utilize the new National Semiconductor 32032
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and would be a -VAX in a box.- The next step for Tramiel, after his
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current plans, is to -turn around mainframe technology for a hand-held
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computer.-
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1987 - ATARI IBM CLONES
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The ATARI IBM CLONES may NOT be a reality, on the other hand... for a
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while, anyway. Two problems are are the major hangups: negotiations
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for GEM for the machine, and FCC acceptance. Neither area has had any
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positive movement, despite ATARI's optimistic projected -spring '87-
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release of the $500 do-it-all PC compatible.
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1987 - ATARIFESTS IN TROUBLE
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AtariFests for Detroit and Chicago are in trouble. After a long siege
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of difficulty in negotiations with Atari, Detroit's 400-plus member
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M.A.C.E. club threw up their hands and pulled out of the effort,
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cancelling a planned August '87 show for the Southfield Civic Center.
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1987 - MORE PANIC IN DETROIT
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Antic Magazine's publisher Jim Capperell wrote to Detroit's M.A.C.E.
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to notify them that they had to remove any and all ANTIC programs from
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their BBS. He reaffirmed that they are copyrighted, and to exchange
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them is PIRACY.
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1987 8-BIT DOS ON A CART
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Mike Wheeler of Alaska has put Atari DOS 2.5 on a cart and added true
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double density support and a ramdisk handler. Although it is memory
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- greedy (16k when resident), the cart can be switched out manually.
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1989 - TOS 1.4 UPDATE
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All developers should take note that the latest release of TOS 1.4 is
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the December upgrade. This will be the version that goes to Eprom.
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Developers should contact Cindy Clavern for more information.
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1989 - WORLD OF ATARI
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The Anahiem World of Atari show has been expanded from 12,000 sq ft to
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28,000 sq ft. At the same show, there will be a live concert after
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with Fleetwood Mac and 2 other name groups.
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1990 - ATARIFESTS TO BE MORE CAREFULLY SCHEDULED
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Atari has discussed and announced the intention to exert more control
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over scheduling of Atari shows that request Atari's involvement. After
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some hard lessons last year that resulted in the cancellation of both
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user and commercial shows due to time conflicts, Atari now intends to
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firmly stand behind a policy of NO SHOWS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF OTHER SHOWS.
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1990 - ATARI SOFTSOURCE READY TO GO
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Charles Cherry, Atari Corp Developer Support mogul, says that the
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SOFTSOURCE Program is ready to premier on a major telecommunications
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network. The system is 100% completed and is in private testing to be
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sure that it is fully operational when it is formally introduced in
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April.
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1990 - DAVE SMALL/HAPPY COMPUTER LAWSUIT SETTLED
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A ground breaking lawsuit involving charges of defamation via
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international telecommunications message systems was settled by a Court
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Order that also forbids the parties to discuss the details. Dave Small
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of Gadgets By Small was sued by Richard Adams of Happy Computer over
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statements posted as messages on GEnie last year.
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1990 - 68030 ATARI LIKELY TO BE SHOWN AT WOA DISNEYLAND
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Late word from TWO locations both point to the 68030 computer(s) to be
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shown at the Anaheim World of Atari... one from Atari (the TT) and one
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from Dave Small.
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1990 - ATARI REPORTS NET INCOME OF $5.7 MILLION
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Atari announced last week that income from continuing operations of
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$5.8 million or 10 cents per share on sales of $170.6 million for the
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quarter ended Dec. 31, 1989.
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1991 - ST -GEMULATOR- IN PROGRESS FOR IBM
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Darek Mihocka of Branch Always Software (Quick ST) has confirmed rumors
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that he has a functional 68000 emulator working on an IBM platform.
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1991 - APPLE STRIKES BACK AT SCHOOLS AND ATARI NEW ZEALAND
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Apples distributor in New Zealand CED, hit back this week at claims that
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they are over charging the education sector for their products.
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Responding to the criticism from Alex Davidson the Managing Director of
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Software Supplies (the New Zealand Atari distributor) Mr Crowe of CED
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said -At $NZ1895 the Macintosh Classic are as inexpensive as any machine
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on the market-.
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1991 - CEBIT '91
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Atari surprised everyone with their announcement and demonstration of
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two exciting new 68000 based computers. ST Notebook - This is to be
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the smallest 68000 based computer in the world. Its size rivals any PC
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Notebook style computer. ST Pad - This is similar to ST Notebook and
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shares most of the features but has a futuristic interface. Although
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Z*NET has not received final reports from several correspondents at the
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Hannover CEBIT computer show, early comments include more hints and
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announcements of new hardware from Atari. Spied or discussed were:
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CDAR-505, a new CD-ROM player to be released SOON; -ATARIFILE 200-, a
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Megafile with 200 meg hard disk (the clumsy name will be changed, but
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the -Megafile- moniker will be abandoned soon as well); TT030 machines
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with 28 meg of RAM and 1.2 GIGABYTE hard drives, available this fall;
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UNIX for the TT030; IBM emulation for the TT; and more.
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1991 - DIAMOND BACK II
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Oregon Research Associates announces that it will assume the
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distribution and support of Diamond Back II effective immediately. To
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celebrate this occasion, Oregon Research Associates will release a
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major new version of Diamond Back II.
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1991 -THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ATARIFEST ANNOUNCED
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Vancouver, Canada is hosting the first ever Pacific Northwest Atari
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Festival over the weekend of June 15th. and 16th. 1991, to be held at
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the Steveston Senior Secondary School, in the beautiful suburb of
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Richmond, B.C.
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=======================================================================
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* ATARI 8-BIT HARD DISKS by Don Lebow
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=======================================================================
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HARD DISK? MOI???
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Recently, I've run across several messages from folks wondering whether
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it was worthwhile to upgrade their 8-bit to a Hard Disk. For those who
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might have been asking themselves the same question, here are some
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personal notes on how I got mine, and how I use it.
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First consideration is cost, of course. How much? With a little
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shopping around, mixing and matching components, you can keep the price
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relatively low ... assuming you're savvy enough to do the matching, the
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cabling, and other elements of installation yourself.
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What you need:
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The HD itself
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Controller Board
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Power supply
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Interface to allow your XE or XL to access the HD (it's problematic to
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hook up an older 800 to a HD.)
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If you're not already, you'll also need to use a DOS that will support
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the LARGE partitions on an HD. That narrows it down to exactly 2: MYDOS
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4.5 or SPARTADOS. (I use SpartaDOS X)
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Buzzword: a -Partition- is a block of storage on a Hard Drive which is
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assigned a drive number, and accessed by DOS just as if it were a
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separate drive. HD partitions often run to THOUSANDS of -free sectors-,
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thus the need for a supportive DOS.
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I'm no techie, so after some checking around, I decided to opt for a
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-package deal- from Computer Software Services in Rochester. Cost was
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$399. For this I received a 10 meg Seagate drive (complete with an IBM
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logo on the faceplate to make me feel <SPECIAL> .. heh), Xebec
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controller board, power supply, and, most usefully, a Black Box (aka the
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-Bob Box,- after Bob Puff, who designed it) which provides the
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interface.
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Added costs: I also opted for a case for the BB, which is a bare circuit
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board in stock format. A plastic shell to neaten things up adds $39.95.
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Since the BB supports a parallel interface for a printer (and includes a
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Print Screen button!) and serial RS-232 for modems and such, you'll
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probably want cables. CSS sells ready built cables for each, but
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they're also VERY easy to build yourself, given a bit of ribbon cable
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and some crimp on connectors. And with that RS232 interface out there
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just begging for a 2400 baud modem ... ok, I had one already, but if you
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don't it's hard to resist.
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The package is advertised as -ready to run-, and that proved to be the
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case. All cables (except for having to plug the power supply into the
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HD, which even *I* was able to handle) were in place. I also got a disk
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including some vital HD support files:
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HD FORMAT (rarely needed)
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PARTITION FORMAT (often used)
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PARK (move the heads in your HD to a safe spot before powering down.)
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Once I'd unpacked everything, connected the BB to my 256k XL (via the
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PBI slot in the back), AND found room for all this stuff in my work area
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(both the HD and power supply are BIG boxes, approx 10 x 6 x 4), I fired
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up the 'puter and ... nothing.
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Oh dear.
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Back to recheck the seating on all the cables, cross fingers, close
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eyes, power up, and VIOLA! It works!!
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Now for the fun part. CSS had pre-formatted the drive, of course (else
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it wouldn't have booted when I turned it on.) But, of course, I wanted
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to customize it to meet my own needs.
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The BB docs are great, explaining the ins and outs of setting up an HD.
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They are general, but CSS also provided the basic stats for my specific
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drive, so I was able to forge ahead with confidence.
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With my trusty calculator by my side (aided by that Print Screen button,
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which let me keep a running record) it was a matter of deciding how many
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sectors I wanted for each partition, adding that to a starting sector
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number, then inputting the info into the BB configuration screen.
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Once done with allocation, I used the FMTDIR program on the included
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disk to initialize each partition, then started copying files from
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floppy over to their new homes.
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What did I end up with? This will, I think, give you an idea of WHY an
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HD can be so addicting:
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D1: 4000 sectors
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D2: 5000 sectors
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D3: 5000 sectors
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D4: 4000 sectors
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D5: Pseudo floppy
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D6: Floppy #1
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D7: Floppy #7
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D8: 5000 sectors
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D9: 7000 sectors
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Those are *Double Density* sectors, mah friends. My XF-551 shows 1440
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sectors in DS/DD sparta format. Add it up and that makes ... lessee
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here ... the equivalent of around *20* DS/DD floppies! A whole disk
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box, all in one spot, instantly accessible! Neat, no?
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D6: is actually my ol' trusty XF, still with it's back switches set to
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being D1:, wherein lies a point.
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The BB (like the MIO, the other popular 8-bit HD interface) has the
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ability to -remap- drives. What does that mean? With multiple
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partitions, you suddenly have a system with anywhere from 2 to 9
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-drives- all on line at once! Once you get over the shock <g>, the
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possibility of having any ONE of those be -D1:- or -D2:- to match
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requirements of whatever you might be running is irresistible. Unlike
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software -swap- commands, these remaps are -permanent- (i.e. until you
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change them again.)
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So if you decide you want to reboot with another partition as D1:
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(perhaps to boot Turbo Basic? Maybe a program that ASSumes AtariDOS,
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like AMP?. Or even *eek!* a copy protected floppy) No problem.
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D7: is actually RamDisk, as defined by DOS
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ABOUT THAT D5:
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-Pseudo Floppy- refers to a special feature of the BB. You can define a
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partition, specifying density, to match floppy specs (I use both 720
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sector SD for AtariDOS, and 1440 DD sector for Sparta.) Use a sector
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copier (or DISCOM) to duplicate a floppy to the partition, and you have
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a -pseudo floppy- on your HD!
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That's not unusual. But the bonus is that the BB supports more than
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-active- partitions. In fact, it lets you define up to 96(!)
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partitions, all kept in a special -partition list- (touch of a key to
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access, even in the middle of a program), and swap them in and out of
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the -active- drive map at any time. I actually have <14> partitions set
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up on my HD. Waiting to be swapped in at need are 4 DOS 2.5 SD -disks-,
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and 4 Sparta DS/DD -disks.- How useful is that? I can specify a couple
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of the ADOS -disks- to D1: and D2: and boot DOS 2.5 from HD! Fast. I
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like that...
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IN USE
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Yes, well. Bells and whistles. But absent all the tricks, what are the
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more mundane benefits that might justify spending that kind of money?
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The biggest thing (and the real reason I bought it) is that having all
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that space means no more searching through floppies, trying to remember
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where a program is. My experience is probably not unlike yours:
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There are a few programs I use everyday. There are others I may use
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once a week or so. Then the OTHERS that I need every once in a while
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and are inevitably -somewhere- in a pile of 20 floppies. I know, I
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*should* have all my disks cataloged, but I don't. Find me looking for
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some obscure utility that I suddenly need at 2 a.m., and there I am,
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shuffling disks like a Las Vegas blackjack dealer. No more! (well, not
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as often, anyway ;-)
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I organized the HD in what works for me as a logical order
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D1: contains BobTerm and my most used utilities
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D2: is a -work disk-, which I use for temporary storage (reformatted
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frequently)
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D3: is games
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D4: is another work disk
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D8: has all my TextPro files
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D9: is the archive, where I keep those not so often used programs.
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et, comme il dit, cetera. I've lowered my -where did I *put* that- time
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to just about nil.
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Second, but just about as useful, is that I've completely lost my old
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worry about wondering whether an UnARC, or a BIG file download/message
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capture would run into -disk full- hassles. This is hard to explain
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until you actually use it, but trust me. I go whole DAYS without
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feeling compelled to use CHKDSK. That's luxury.
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And speed, of course. That's a given. It's *not* as fast as a RamDisk,
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but, heck of a lot faster than a floppy. I mean, if I can boot up DOS
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2.5 in 3 seconds (including RAMDISK.COM ... heh), no complaints.
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Matter o' fact, for some things I still prefer the RamDisk. To that
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end, I have a batch file on D1: that copies my essential TextPro
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program, cnf, and macro files (stored on HD, of curse) to RamDisk.
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Since I tend to use a lot of temp files in my macros, saving THIS then
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loading THAT, it seems to work better. Not only a bit faster, but
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saving a little wear and tear on the drive. With a few thousand spare
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sectors dedicated to text, it's also easy to exit and come back later,
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without worry.
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BOTTOM LINE
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Luxury or Necessity is a matter of personal definition. I've talked
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about some of the reasons I'm glad I took the plunge. They may or may
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not make sense to you. Or you may see possibilities matching your own
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situation that I missed. Whatever, this isn't an insignificant amount
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of money, especially in terms of the traditional 8-bit market. This is
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where the real decision comes in: how much do you (or *will* you in the
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future?) actually USE your 8-bit. That's a question you'll have to work
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out for yourself. If you answer -a lot-, then I think you should give
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an HD some serious thought.
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If you have comments or questions, feel free to post...
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NEXT TIME: backing up and how I learned to love it ;-)
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>>don
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=======================================================================
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* THE BOOKKEEPER by Ron Bell
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=======================================================================
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Copyrighted in 1982, THE BOOKKEEPER echoes the basic principles of
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modern accounting. Though somewhat clumsy to use, the program is
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understandable after, yes AFTER, considerable study of the accompanying
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textbook-style User's Manual.
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Four floppy disks are provided with the manual-- Data Entry, Recording,
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Data Base and Sample Data Base. The first three are absolutely
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necessary for implementing the program, the fourth a hands-on practice
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program illustrating the methods described in the manual. Data Entry
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and Recording are copy-protected and should be carefully preserved.
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Designed to work with the Atari 800 computer, one disk drive and an 80
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column printer, the program is obsolete by present day standards but is
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invaluable to those who necessarily are restricted to outdated
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equipment.
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The manual provides a crash course in accounting methods based on the
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double entry system of balancing debits and credits. Understanding the
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contradictions of these entries is the most difficult segment of the
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course. Debits do not always subtract from an account as the word
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indicates. Conversely, credits do not always add to an account.
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However, opposing debits and credits must equal zero, the requirement
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for a balance. The program will not permit unbalanced entries.
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Depending on the journal chosen, debits and credits are reversed. An
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entry to an account in the Checks Written journal, for example, will
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subtract the amount from the bank account whereas one in the Cash
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Received journal will add to the bank account provided the bank account
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was chosen as a control code for those journals.
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The General Journal has no provision for a control code and will not
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permit unbalanced entries. There's one escape in the program for an
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apparent violation of this built-in protection, the avenue used to
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initialize the accounts. In this case, the opposing entry must result
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in zero but is posted to a transfer account which reflects the
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difference between credits and debits which is, in effect, a gain or
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loss -- the entire purpose of accounting.
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Four journals are available for entries, three of which can be arranged
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for automatic credit to a common account. The General Journal requires
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manual input of balancing entries. All accounts must be assigned code
|
|
numbers conforming to standards set by the accounting industry. This is
|
|
fully explained in the manual and is required before the program can
|
|
function.
|
|
|
|
Entering unassigned account codes for an entry are rewarded with a
|
|
inverse message line advising that fact. If your code was not a typo,
|
|
it's back to your list to assign the code, reason for careful thought in
|
|
preparing your codes! All journal entries eventually are auto-posted to
|
|
the General Ledger using a command available through the Reporting
|
|
program which also permits printouts of the various lists and journals
|
|
in addition to End-of-Month and End-of-Year procedures.
|
|
|
|
Two files may be created to number Vendors and Customers for use in the
|
|
various journals at the -From- or -To- prompts. These, however, are not
|
|
necessary. Names can be entered. The most aggravating aspect of the
|
|
system is frequent swapping of the Data Entry, Reporting and Data disks,
|
|
a necessity in the era when 48K RAM was the maximum available to
|
|
computer neophytes and floppy disk drives were the ultimate answer to
|
|
cassette storage. This time-consuming disadvantage discourages daily
|
|
updates of transactions and seriously undermines acceptance of the
|
|
program for all but hobbyists and home-based accountants.
|
|
|
|
Not explained adequately in the manual is the ability to read reports on
|
|
the screen rather than exercising the printer with the resulting
|
|
depletion of expensive printer paper. Of course, reading 80 columns on
|
|
a 40 column screen requires some interpolation but saves considerable
|
|
time and money when getting acquainted with the mechanics of the system.
|
|
Tapping the letter [Q] at the appearance of two consecutive no printer
|
|
error messages sends the data to the screen. An [S] will freeze the
|
|
output and [G] lets it continue.
|
|
|
|
There's no provision for single sheet printouts, built-in tractor feed
|
|
being a programmed requirement not mentioned in the manual.
|
|
Additionally, only a one-line heading is possible with no font or margin
|
|
changes allowed except those selected by the individual printer modes.
|
|
Prompts are generously distributed throughout the program at every stage
|
|
and close attention to their alert will expedite progress through the
|
|
process.
|
|
|
|
It is next to impossible to crash the orderly advance of the program
|
|
with the exception of the Reset key. Use of the [Backspace] and [Esc]
|
|
allows easy return if so desired. As is the case with most accounting
|
|
programs, human errors in initial entries cannot be corrected with
|
|
overwriting. They must be compensated by another entry using the
|
|
General Journal. This emphasizes the importance of being certain that
|
|
debits and credits are entered in proper order.
|
|
|
|
The balance, Assets equals Liabilities plus Equity, will always be
|
|
maintained no matter what is done, but the figures for each account will
|
|
be incorrect.
|
|
|
|
The Bookkeeper provides color to accent portions of the program along
|
|
with sound that signals errors in procedure. It is obvious that a
|
|
Certified Public Accountant was consulted by the programmers who
|
|
designed this program back in the days of computer infancy. Basic
|
|
procedures are followed religiously and even today, The Bookkeeper can
|
|
satisfy home and small business requirements while providing a
|
|
simplified course in accounting better than illustrations in textbooks.
|
|
|
|
(Editor's note: Ron Bell recently joined the Mid-Florida Atari Computer
|
|
Club and is very knowledgeable in account procedures. His review is
|
|
well done and the Newsletter staff extends its welcome and thanks to him
|
|
for his valued contribution.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
* MODEM NOISE KILLER
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
With this circuit diagram, some basic tools including a soldering iron,
|
|
and four or five components from Radio Shack, you should be able to cut
|
|
the noise/garbage that appears on your computer's screen.
|
|
|
|
I started this project out of frustration at using a US Robotics 2400
|
|
baud modem and getting a fare amount of junk when connecting at that
|
|
speed. Knowing that capacitors make good noise filters, I threw this
|
|
together.
|
|
|
|
This is very easy to build, however conditions may be different due to
|
|
modem type, amount of line noise, old or new switching equipment (Bell's
|
|
equipment), and on and on. So it may not work as well for you in every
|
|
case. If it does work, or if you've managed to tweek it to your
|
|
computer/modem setup I'd like to hear from you.
|
|
|
|
I'd also appreciate any of you electronic wizards out there wanting to
|
|
offer any improvements. Let's make this work for everyone! Please read
|
|
this entire message and see if you understand it before you begin.
|
|
OK, what you'll need from Radio Shack:
|
|
|
|
1 #279-374 Modular line cord if you don't already have one. You won't
|
|
need one if your phone has a modular plug in its base $4.95
|
|
|
|
1 #279-420 Modular surface mount jack (4 or 6 conductor) $4.49
|
|
|
|
1 #271-1720 Potentiometer. This is a 5k audio taper variable resistor.
|
|
$1.09
|
|
|
|
1 #272-1055 Capacitor. Any non-polarized 1.0 to 1.5 uf cap should do.
|
|
Paper, Mylar, or metal film caps should be used, although #272-996 may
|
|
work as well. (272-996 is a non-polarized electrolytic cap) $.79
|
|
|
|
1 100 ohm resistor - quarter or half watt. $.19
|
|
|
|
1 #279-357 Y-type or duplex modular connector. Don't buy this until
|
|
you've read the section on connecting the Noise Killer below. (A, B,
|
|
or C) $4.95
|
|
|
|
First off, open the modular block. You normally just pry them open with
|
|
a screwdriver. Inside you'll find up to 6 wires. Very carefully cut
|
|
out all but the green and red wires. The ones you'll be removing should
|
|
be black, yellow, white, and blue. These wires won't be needed and may
|
|
be in the way. So cut them as close to where they enter the plug as
|
|
possible. The other end of these wires have a spade lug connector that
|
|
is screwed into the plastic. Unscrew and remove that end of the wires
|
|
as well. Now, you should have two wires left. Green and red.
|
|
|
|
Solder one end of the capacitor to the green wire. Solder the other end
|
|
of the capacitor to the center lug of the potentiometer (there are three
|
|
lugs on this critter). Solder one end of the resistor to the red wire.
|
|
You may want to shorten the leads of the resistor first. Solder the
|
|
other end of the resistor to either one of the remaining outside lugs of
|
|
the potentiometer. Doesn't matter which.
|
|
|
|
Now to wrap it up, make a hole in the lid of the mod block to stick the
|
|
shaft of the potentiometer through. Don't make this hole dead center as
|
|
the other parts may not fit into the body of the mod block if you do.
|
|
See how things will fit in order to find where the hole will go.
|
|
|
|
Well, now that you've got it built you'll need to test it. First twist
|
|
the shaft on the potentiometer until it stops. You won't know which way
|
|
to turn it until later. It doesn't matter which way now. You also need
|
|
to determine where to plug the Noise Killer onto the telephone line. It
|
|
can be done by one of several ways:
|
|
|
|
A. If your modem has two modular plugs in back, connect the Noise
|
|
Killer into one of them using a line cord. (a line cord is a
|
|
straight cord that connects a phone to the wall outlet. Usually
|
|
silver in color)
|
|
|
|
B. If your phone is modular, you can unplug the cord from the back of
|
|
it after you're on-line and plug the cord into the Noise Killer.
|
|
|
|
C. You may have to buy a Y-type modular adaptor. Plug the adaptor into
|
|
a wall outlet, plug the modem into one side and the Noise Killer
|
|
into the other. Call a BBS that has known noise problems. After
|
|
you've connected and garbage begins to appear, plug the Noise Killer
|
|
into the phone line as described above. If you have turned the
|
|
shaft on the potentiometer the wrong way you'll find out now.
|
|
|
|
You may get a lot of garbage or even disconnected. If this happens,
|
|
turn the shaft the other way until it stops and try again. If you don't
|
|
notice much difference when you plug the Noise Killer in, that may be a
|
|
good sign. Type in a few commands and look for garbage characters on
|
|
the screen. If there still is, turn the shaft slowly until most of it
|
|
is gone. If nothing seems to happen at all, turn the shaft slowly from
|
|
one side to the other. You should get plenty of garbage or disconnected
|
|
at some point. If you don't, reread this message to make sure you've
|
|
connected it right.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
* LOCK AND KEY FOR THE ST by R. Flashman [the Flash]
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
Reprinted from Nybbles & Bytes, September 1987
|
|
|
|
|
|
I was walking by Radio Shack today, and in I went. Under the alarm
|
|
section, I saw they sell a round key lock like the ones used on an IBM
|
|
AT. Since it is for an alarm, it has the contact on one side, all read
|
|
for an electrical wire. Hmmm, I thought. I am always getting annoyed
|
|
by people who play with my ST at a show or meeting when I am busy doing
|
|
something else...
|
|
|
|
I bought it... And I found space right over my joystick ports (520) on
|
|
top of the RF shielding, and now I have an AT style lock and key on my
|
|
ST! Looks very good, was dead cheap, and in the off position, you
|
|
cannot turn on the ST!
|
|
|
|
Actually, so simple it is disgusting. (Lock cost $9.99) I haven't
|
|
tried a 1040 yet, so not sure about location. I found two locations on
|
|
the 520; on top of the unit, to the back and left, directly above the
|
|
cartridge port. Turn your 520 upside down and you will see how much
|
|
space there is. I am hoping that the 1040 has the same space.
|
|
|
|
The other, which is the one I used, is right above the second joystick
|
|
port. (The one you DON'T plug the mouse into.) There is enough space,
|
|
and it lies right above the RF shielding, it is also next to the power
|
|
supply, so not much cable is needed.
|
|
|
|
The switch has two connectors on its end. I connected two wires to it,
|
|
and then opened up the RF shielding. You will notice that the power
|
|
switch has three legs coming out of it. The one you want to get is the
|
|
smallest one. (This is the one closest to the back of the ST.) I cut
|
|
it right where it meets the main board. (Now that took guts!) Then I
|
|
soldered one of my wires to it. I then connected the other wire to one
|
|
of the wires that comes up from the board to that funny round magnet
|
|
that is to the left of the power switch (and about an inch into the
|
|
board). The wire that it gets wired to is the one closest to the mouse
|
|
port. If you don't believe me, look under the board and you will see
|
|
that originally that wire was connected to the leg that we just cut off
|
|
the power switch. You NOW have a switch to the power switch. Turn the
|
|
key off and the power switch becomes useless.
|
|
|
|
This will void your warranty. But it works like a beauty. WE are now
|
|
offering it as an option for our STs at the store!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
======================================================================
|
|
* USING A PERCOM ON YOUR 8-BIT by Andrew C. Diller @1992
|
|
======================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
For a very long time I have been satisfied with the Atari 1050 disk
|
|
drive. But that satisfaction came only from the lack of concrete
|
|
knowledge about a viable alternative.
|
|
|
|
Ever since I bought my first Atari computer, an 800xl, seven years ago,
|
|
I've pretty much stayed with Atari hardware. I bought a 1050, then
|
|
another and a 1020 and an Atari printer. In fact, the first non-Atari
|
|
product I purchased for my system was a P:R: connection to allow me to
|
|
use a fast Epson printer and a fast modem. Dealing with Atari DOS 2.0s
|
|
was simple enough-though 720 sectors never went very far. I knew about
|
|
the US Doubler and Happy schemes to speed up and increase the 1050's &
|
|
810's, but it always seemed to much of a problem, for the price. When
|
|
Atari DOS 2.5 came out, finally taking advantage of the dual density
|
|
1050, I felt much better. But you still had to flip the disks. Why
|
|
couldn't I use a standard drive? Like the one's on my friends IBM XT?
|
|
|
|
They weren't even cutting edge; back then, a 360k drive was the most
|
|
basic assumption for any system. Using a single density, single sided
|
|
drive in the T90s is a little too much behind the times. So I decided
|
|
to inquire about all those rumors I had heard about the other drives
|
|
for the 8-bit. Those strange 3rd-party drives that I could remember
|
|
seeing ads for in the back of Antic. The Indus, the Rana, the PERCOM.
|
|
|
|
What about the XF551? You might say, why donUt you just get the 551?
|
|
It's Atari's official double sided, double density drive. Its the
|
|
perfect answer. Not really-although I have never used a XF-551, what
|
|
I have heard about them is not too encouraging. Their hesitation to
|
|
return to double density is one major point. Besides that, I have
|
|
never even seen ONE. I live in a very metropolitan area (Washington
|
|
D.C.) and I never saw one advertised, or saw anyone with one of them in
|
|
their own system. To me on the east coast the XF-551 might as well
|
|
have been vaporware. Besides, if it took Atari this long to come out
|
|
with the technology that had been around for so many years, (as I found
|
|
out) then they didnUt even deserve my business.
|
|
|
|
Other Drives
|
|
|
|
I began to look for alternative means of disk storage for my 8-bit.
|
|
What I found was talking to a fellow on my local atari bbs (the best
|
|
place to find any answer about atari) I asked him about my search for
|
|
greater density. He told me about his experiences with Percoms, and
|
|
what was possible with them. Not only that, but he had a number of
|
|
Percoms that he had collected, and was willing to part with one. We
|
|
made a trade, and I eagerly went over to his house to pick up and
|
|
assemble my new drive. The drive itself was old (comparatively
|
|
speaking) older than my 800xl!
|
|
|
|
The Percom was this: a single sided, double density, full height drive,
|
|
housed with a controller card and large transformer in a tan metallic
|
|
case. The back of the case had two standard Atari SIO plugs, a couple
|
|
of dip switches and an on/off switch. All I had to do was plug it into
|
|
my Atari and boot up. But I wasnUt interested in the beast of a drive
|
|
it had in it. I was sick of single sided drives. The most important
|
|
thing the Percom offered was not the drive, but the controller card.
|
|
For that card was an interface between the Atari SIO, and ANY standard
|
|
IBM type disk drive. When this particular drive was manufactured, the
|
|
full height, single sided drive was top of the line. Today, it was
|
|
trash.
|
|
|
|
Assembling My Dream Drive
|
|
|
|
I had never done any sort of hardware hacks before, but this was as
|
|
easy as changing drives on my friends IBM. I located two 1/2 height
|
|
360k IBM drives.
|
|
|
|
You can get them these days for about $20 or less, second hand. I
|
|
removed the old Percom drive and shelved it. I got a standard IBM type
|
|
floppy ribbon. Any one that goes from the controller to the floppies
|
|
will work- the connections on the Percom are all of the standard type.
|
|
I then simply spliced the power leads coming out the the transformer,
|
|
so that I had two leads, then attached standard plugs on them. Then I
|
|
mounted the two 1/2 height drives into the original case, where the
|
|
full height drive had been. I plugged them in and put the case back
|
|
together. I did have to mess around with the dip switches on the
|
|
drives themselves, to sort out which drive was 1 and which was 2.
|
|
That is a simple matter of trial & error.
|
|
|
|
The EPROMS
|
|
|
|
The EPROMS in the Percom tell it how configure itself when the power is
|
|
initially switched on. The EPROMS in this Percom were burned in with
|
|
the default drive number one as a double density drive, and the second
|
|
drive as a single density drive. You could probably acquire different
|
|
EPROMS that were customized for your system, but that might prove a
|
|
little difficult - besides you might change your system configuration
|
|
in the future.
|
|
|
|
So now, I had two DS/DD drives, but the controller thought I had a DD
|
|
and a SD drive. Normally, with DOS 2.5 I would have been unable to
|
|
rectify the situation, but not to worry, I also found the next most
|
|
important addition to my Atari system ---> MyDOS 4.5
|
|
|
|
Using MYDOS4.5
|
|
|
|
First, let me say that this is the greatest DOS ever written for the
|
|
Atari line of computers. Anyone who still uses Dos 2.5 has no real
|
|
reason to anymore. Even if you only have 1050Us, you should still use
|
|
MyDos. Mr. Puff is a genius (and I haven't even gotten into hard
|
|
drives yet!! (BobTerm is excellent also)). MyDos will handle all the
|
|
quirks of my Percom. I easily configured the second drive as a double
|
|
density drive, using the P command. MyDos also automatically sees the
|
|
drives as double sided. The drives stay configured properly as long as
|
|
they are on - so I only have to configure the second drive once, when I
|
|
initially turn on the equipment. I now had two DS/DD drives, each with
|
|
1428 DOUBLE DENSITY sectors. Finally some room to stretch out in - and
|
|
no flipping the disks! My Percom is the equivalent to eight Atari 810s
|
|
or eight 1050s (using 2.0s). That's a dramatic increase. But it gets
|
|
better!
|
|
|
|
Assuming the the board holds out (it should - no moving parts!) the
|
|
drive mechs are just IBM 360k's. If one fails, I don't need to hunt
|
|
down a 1050 mech, I only need to go to the closest computer store and
|
|
pick up a used 360k drive.
|
|
|
|
Don't dump your 1050's yet....
|
|
|
|
I did run into some compatibility problems. Since up until then I had
|
|
been using the 1050s, all my disks were flippies. Both sides were
|
|
used, but I had to flip the disk myself. The Percom cannot read the
|
|
back sides of these disks. It also cannot read a dual density disk
|
|
formatted by Atari Dos 2.5 for the 1050. It can however adjust itself
|
|
automatically to the density of the disk you insert, provided that its
|
|
either single or double density. You can of course, put in any
|
|
bootable single density disk and boot off of it- all of the self
|
|
booting games, for instance. But some games must be separated onto the
|
|
front of single density disks. For example, The HitchHikers Guide to
|
|
the Galaxy by Infocom. Normally, just put it in your 1050 and boot up.
|
|
Then flip it and play the game. This will not work on the Percom. You
|
|
must have side two of the game on the front side of another disk. One
|
|
easy solution is to keep one 1050 drive as drive number one, but keep
|
|
it turned off when using the Percoms. Then if you need to play a game,
|
|
or boot off the flip side of a disk (or boot off a TdualU density disk)
|
|
just turn off the Percoms, and turn on the 1050, and voila, you have
|
|
drive number one.
|
|
|
|
I have three 1050Us, plus the two slaves in the Percom- I use the
|
|
Percom as drives 1 & 2, the two 1050's as 3 & 4 and keep the third 1050
|
|
switched as drive one, and turned off, for booting as I described
|
|
above.
|
|
|
|
I also needed the 1050's for transferring all my files on flippies onto
|
|
DS/DD disks. You can force the Percoms into single density, but the
|
|
1050's do it much better, plus they still get 999+ single density
|
|
sectors using Atari Dos 2.5.
|
|
|
|
Next: 3.5 inch
|
|
|
|
As you may have guessed (or known) if the Percom controller will drive
|
|
5 1/4 inch 360k drives, it will also drive the high density 5 1/4
|
|
drives, plus, the magical 3.5 inch, 720k drive. There is something
|
|
special about having your Atari store your files onto 3.5 inch disks.
|
|
It feels as if your 8-bit Atari is right up there with the STs and
|
|
Macs. Besides, they hold 720k! That means that one 3.5 inch drive is
|
|
the same as eight 1050's (in single density). Its as easy as just
|
|
connecting the drive to the ribbon, and getting it some power. The
|
|
Percom can control up to four drives - of any type. Right now I only
|
|
have the two 360k drives, the next step is two 3.5 inch drives.
|
|
|
|
So Get A PERCOM!
|
|
|
|
There are plenty of good reasons why every Atari user really needs to
|
|
step up from the 1050's. The best thing is a hard drive, but that will
|
|
cost you many dead presidents. The next best thing is having some real
|
|
floppy power, which is achievable with a Percom. I donUt know exactly
|
|
how hard they are to find these days, but there were plenty of them
|
|
manufactured, and they can only be about as hard to find as an XF-551.
|
|
So start looking for a Percom today, and bring your Atari 8-bit into
|
|
the 90's. I know a source that has some Percoms drives. If you are
|
|
interested in their availability, leave me a message at:
|
|
|
|
The Thieves Guild BBS
|
|
(301) 984-8516
|
|
|
|
and I'll get back to you.
|
|
|
|
Copyright 1992, Andrew C. Diller
|
|
|
|
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
To sign up for DELPHI service, call (with modem) (800) 695-4002. Upon
|
|
connection, hit <return> once or twice. At Password: type ZNET and
|
|
hit <return>.
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
To sign up for GEnie service call (with modem) (800) 638-8369. Upon
|
|
connection type HHH and hit <return>. Wait for the U#= prompt and type
|
|
XTX99436,GEnie and hit <return>.
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
To sign up for CompuServe service call (with phone) (800) 848-8199. Ask
|
|
for operator #198. You will be promptly sent a $15.00 free membership
|
|
kit.
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
Z*Net International Atari Online Magazine is a weekly publication
|
|
covering the Atari and related computer community. Material published
|
|
in this edition may be reprinted under the following terms only. All
|
|
articles must remain unedited and include the issue number and author at
|
|
the top of each article reprinted. Reprint permission granted, unless
|
|
otherwise noted, to registered Atari user groups and not for profit
|
|
publications. Opinions present herein are those of the individual
|
|
authors and does not necessarily reflect those of the staff. This
|
|
publication is not affiliated with the Atari Corporation. Z*Net, Z*Net
|
|
News Service, Z*Net International, Rovac, Z*Net Atari Online and Z*Net
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Publishing are copyright (c)1985-1992, Syndicate Publishing, Rovac
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Industries Incorporated, Post Office Box 59, Middlesex, New Jersey,
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08846-0059, Voice: (908) 968-2024, BBS: (908) 968-8148, (510) 373-6792.
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Z*Magazine Atari 8-Bit Online Magazine
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Copyright (c)1992, Rovac Industries, Inc...
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