2116 lines
105 KiB
Plaintext
2116 lines
105 KiB
Plaintext
| (((((((( | Z*Magazine International Atari 8-Bit Magazine
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| (( | September 3, 1992 Issue #210
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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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| (((((( | CONTENTS
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| | * The Editors Desk..........................Ron Kovacs
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| ((( ((( | * Z*Net Newswire......................................
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| (((( (((( | * Lynx Owners Update.....................Clinton Smith
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| (( (( (( (( | * The 12-Volt 8-Bit........................Jeff Golden
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| (( (( (( | * 2600, Where Are You?......................Tim Duarte
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| (( (( | * Growing Up With Atari......................Bob Smith
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| | * Z*Net Newswire Extra................................
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| (( | * Cleveland Free-Net.....................Press Release
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| (( (( | * Dusseldorf Report..........................John Nagy
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| (((((((( |
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| (( (( |
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| (( (( | ~ Publisher/Editor..........................Ron Kovacs
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| | ~ Contributing Editor......................Stan Lowell
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| (((((((((( | ~ Contributing Editor........................Bob Smith
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| (( | ~ Contributing Editor..................Michael Current
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| (( ((((( | ~ Z*Net Newswire Service.........Ron Kovacs, John Nagy
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| (( (( | ~ Z*Net New Zealand.........................Jon Clarke
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| (((((((((( |
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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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|-------------|
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| Z*NET | * Z*Net News Service.....(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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* Z*NET NEWSWIRE
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=======================================================================
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ATARI DEVELOPER CONFERENCE HELD
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Atari held a developer conference in London with over 120 developers in
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attendance on June 27, 1992. Attendance at the confernce was by
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invitation only which included staff from Atari Sunnyvale including Sam
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Tramiel, Bill Rehbock and John Skruch. In addition to the Atari
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personal, a few experts where brought along to discuss features of the
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Atari Falcon and specific information on programming the DSP. Reactions
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from the intense one day affair were positive and widly enthusiastic.
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While some were not Atari developers, the features of the new machine
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captured the imaginations of all.
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NAGY MIFFED ATARI MUM
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In Issue #826 of ST-Report contained defamitory information about
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AtariUser Editor in Chief John Nagy and Atari Corp.. Nagy called the
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editor of the publication to complain and request removal of the issue
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from all the distribution services, later a new issue was released minus
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the offending comments. The file however generated over 355 downloads
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on GEnie alone before the replacement was uploaded. Nagy was pleased
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with the action taken, however, officials at Atari Corp had no comment
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on the matter.
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SPA SETTLES ACTION
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The Software Publishers Association and Consolidated Micro Services
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announced the settlement of a copyright infringement suit brought
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against Los Angeles area computer dealer Consolidated Micro Services and
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its owner, Gary Johnson, by SPA members Fifth Generation Systems, Lotus,
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Microsoft, Novell, and WordPerfect. As part of the settlement of the
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suit, CMS agreed to make a contribution to SPA's Copyright Protection
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Fund and to distribute a policy against unauthorized copying or
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distribution of software to all CMS employees. Since 1988, the Software
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Publishers Association has filed over 150 lawsuits on behalf of its
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members and obtained numerous search and seizure orders against
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businesses, computer dealers, bulletin board services, and educational
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institutions that have violated its members' copyrights. The SPA's
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anti-piracy hotline, 1-800-388-7478, accepts calls reporting software
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violations.
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PC/TELEVISION SHIPS
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50/50 Micro Electronics announced this week Wednesday that its PC/
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TELEVISION- product is now shipping. PCT is a new add-on board for
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IBM-compatible computers that incorporates a 119 channel tuner capable
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of handling VHF, UHF and cable TV frequencies. Standard cable TV
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coaxial cable can be connected directly to the card as well as an
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external TV antenna. Other input devices can include a VCR, laser disc
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player, a video camera or an internal private broadcast TV cable. The
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product is compatible with all IBM XT/AT (286/386/486) style computers
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and runs under MS-DOS 3.1 or higher.
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MAXTOR INTRODUCES NEW PRODUCT
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Maxtor has introduced the MXT-340, an inch-high drive with 340-megabytes
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of formatted storage capacity. The MXT-340 uses the same components and
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features the same fast seek times and data transfer rates as its parent
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drives, the inch-high MXT-540 and the full-height MXT-1240, which
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provide 540MB and 1.2 gigabytes of formatted storage capacity,
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respectively.
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ATARI WITHDRAWS APPEAL
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Nintendo and Atari Corp. announced that Atari has withdrawn its appeal
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of a jury verdict and judgment in favor of Nintendo in Atari's antitrust
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case against Nintendo, which was recently tried in Federal Court in San
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Francisco. Nintendo will not proceed with its request to recover
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certain court costs from Atari.
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(Editors Note: The following item produced for the Z*Net Newswire was
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NOT discussed with Atari directly. This feature is an independent
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column. Comments and views presented here are those of the Z*Net News
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Service and does not reflect the views of Atari Corporation.)
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IN SEARCH OF THE ATARI FALCON 030
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Even though no official word is available, even though Atari has
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maintained a lid on details, and even though some leaks claim that the
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new computer to be unveiled this fall won't bear the name FALCON, the
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rumor mill has provided ample pseudo-information on what is expected to
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be a remarkable machine.
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Atari held an invitation-only Falcon developer conference in London on
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June 27th, attended by over 120 developers. Sam Tramiel, Bill Rehbock,
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and John Skruch were among those attending the conference for Atari. In
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addition to the Atari personal, a few experts were brought along to
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discuss features of the Falcon and programming the Digital Signal
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Processor. Reactions from the intense one day affair varied from the
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positive to the wildly enthusiastic. A number of the developers that
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attended are not currently working on Atari platforms, but the
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demonstrations and discussions appear to have convinced all of them to
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either reconsider their position or to immediately add Atari to their
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development programs.
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Sam Tramiel has planned to reveal the Falcon technical details in live
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conferences on the GEnie and Delphi telecommunications networks in early
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August. This will be in preparation for the huge Dusseldorf Atari Messe
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(-fair-) in Germany, August 21-23, where the public should see the
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Falcon for the first time. Commercial availability for the units is
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projected for later this fall.
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A first look almost came early, through the efforts of Atari Advantage
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Magazine. An exclusive Falcon story, complete with photographs of the
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outside and even the motherboard of the Falcon, was planned for their
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June issue. However, delays in production caused that issue to become
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the June/July issue, and then negotiations with Atari Corp regarding
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non-disclosure matters caused the photographs to be dropped and the
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printing to be further delayed until late July. The photographs will
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instead be featured in an upcoming issue of Atari Explorer (see related
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story, below). The Atari Advantage Falcon article remains generally
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complete, and is recommended reading, even getting -thumbs up- from
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Atari officials. The Falcon issue should be available at Atari dealers
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well into August.
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Speculative Specs
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The Falcon 030 (it may still be called something else when released, but
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this name is now seeming to stick) will feature a 68030 running at
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16mHz, be in the 1040-style one piece cabinet, and feature -more colors
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than you can see, more sounds than you can hear-, and use a Motorola
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Digital Signal Processor DSP 56001 (like in NeXT). It will have an
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updated TOS operating system that will include MultiTOS multitasking.
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That much is official. The rest is via leak and speculation, and as
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such, subject to change.
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MultiTOS was developed by ATARI Corp. in cooperation with Eric Smith of
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the Mathematics Department at the University of Western Ontario. Eric
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designed the multitasking kernel called MiNT, which forms the basis for
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MultiTOS, a combination of ROM code in the TOS and extensions on disk.
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Message pipelines exist between parallel running applications, allowing
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controlled interaction of simultaneous processes in different windows.
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Old-standard desk accessories now unnecessary due to CPX modules and the
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ability to run programs simultaneously, in effect, making every
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application work like an accessory. Under MultiTOS, if one of many
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parallel running applications should crash, the others remain protected
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and safe. A more limited version of MultiTOS for older ST computers is
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expected to be available as software.
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According to the Atari Advantage Falcon story, the Falcon case will be a
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dark grey, similar to the color of the Portfolio and STacy. It will
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feature an STe/TT compatible LAN port plus and industry standard SCSI II
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peripheral port, stereo microphone and headphone jacks, STe extended
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joystick ports, a DSP port, and a built-in speaker. This last item is
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important as the Falcon will be able to use standard high resolution
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color multisync monitors which typically have no audio. Older Atari
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monitors will also be usable with an adaptor. Broadcast quality TV
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compatible video is offered with built-in genlock and -true color-
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32,768 color capacity plus a variety of other modes (including all ST
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modes).
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Sound? Yikes. Sixteen-bit digital record/playback in resolution up to
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50 kHz (better than an audio CD) in up to eight channels, with direct-
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to-hard-disk recording, with a DSP port allowing digital audio transfer
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rates of up to a megabyte per second. And STe 8-bit and ST three-voice
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sound will be supported, making the Falcon as close to 100% backwards
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compatible as possible.
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Also in the copyrighted Advantage article are observations of on-board
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sockets that appear ready for addition of alternate CPU devices, such as
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PC or MAC emulators. With the dramatic speed and PC compatible video,
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emulation should be a snap. Other internal items included a fan and an
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internal hard disk--a 2.5- 40 meg unit in the one Advantage cracked
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open. A daughter board held 16 meg of RAM in a plug-in module.
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Price? It is rumored that the Falcon 030 will start at under $700.
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ATARI EXPLORER TAKES ADVANTAGE
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Atari Advantage has ceased publishing operations after only three
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issues, as the publisher and editor have been hired to take over
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production of Atari's in-house magazine, Atari Explorer. Mike Lindsay
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and Darren Meers are relocating to Sunnyvale to pilot the glossy bi-
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monthly Explorer after their short but well-received stint producing
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their own Atari magazine. According to Lindsay, many subscriptions were
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either not billed or charged in anticipation of the move. Paid
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subscribers will be given options on conversion to a subscription to
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Atari Explorer.
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Lindsay and Meers were part of ST-INFORMER for four years, and both left
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Informer in January 1992 over a dispute regarding ownership and control.
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Their own magazine, Atari Advantage, had established a respectable
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circulation, but Atari Corp. elected not to bring Advantage in-house as
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an additional magazine.
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The naming of editorial staff for Explorer ends months of conjecture
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about who would take over for John Jainschigg. John declined to move to
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Sunnyvale from his New York offices where he produced Explorer for the
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last two years.
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Bringing Atari Explorer to the home offices is part of an overall
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consolidation of executive effort and attention at Atari. Overseeing
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the magazine operation will be Atari's Bernie Stolar.
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(Editors Note: Since this story was written, Atari Advantage Magazine
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has been purchased by Castle Publishing in Texas and will be edited by
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Neil Simon.)
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LYNX GOES WEST
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As Atari gears up for the Jaguar game console to be released in 1993,
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the Lombard Illinois offices of Atari Entertainment are being relocated
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to Sunnyvale. Home of the Lynx development team, Lombard will remain
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open as a programming center, but sales, marketing, and support for the
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Lynx and soon the Jaguar will be part of the California operation under
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the guidance of Bernie Stolar. Leaving Atari are Larry Seigal and Dana
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Plotkin, who did not wish to relocate.
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ATARI IN FORBES
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The August 3, 1992 issue of Forbes Magazine recounts the Atari story in
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a two-page article called -Cheap Didn't Sell- by Dyan Machan. The famed
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business/industry reporting magazine blames Atari's troubles on the
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Tramiel family's penny pinching. Machan claims that second-quarter 1992
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financial statements (unavailable at press time) will be far worse than
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the first quarter when Atari lost $14 million on $44 million in sales.
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Further, the article says that Jack Tramiel has personally taken over
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day-to-day operation of the company, moving his son Sam out of his
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former office. The article does mention the new line of Falcon
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computers and the Jaguar game console, but speculates that Atari has
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less than half of the cash needed to perform an appropriate roll-out of
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the new products. Atari officials aren't happy with the Forbes
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article's tone, but some observers are saying, -Any press is more press
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than we have had. A lot of readers will discover that Atari is not
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dead, at least.-
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NEW SUPERBASE COMING
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Superbase database systems for the Atari have been acquired by Oxxi Inc.
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who now offer upgrades for the popular line of software. The charge to
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upgrade either version of Superbase Personal to SB Pro 3 is $85,
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available only through Oxxi. The upgrade includes full product, manuals
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and all. A new product, Superbase 4, is expected in the near future.
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Oxxi Inc., P.O. Box 90309, Long Beach, CA 90809-0309, USA, FAX (310)
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427-0971.
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NEW HOST BRINGS CD, FLOPTICAL TO ATARI
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ICD Inc. has announced a new host adaptor that will enable standard ST
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computers to use industry standard SCSI devices, including hard drives,
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CD ROM drives, and flopticals designed for IBM, MAC, and Amiga. Pricing
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has not been announced, but -The Link- will be a self-powered molded
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cable-box affair that will connect to Atari's DMA (ACSI) port and plug
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directly to standard 50-pin centronics style SCSI ports, giving instant
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and complete access to virtually any peripheral using SCSI, with up to 8
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devices at one time being supported. Better yet, MS-DOS formatted
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devices will read and write directly and transparently from the ST
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without modification, using ICD's driver software. CD-ROMs are now
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supported through The Link's extended SCSI commands, with a re-written
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MetaDOS driver to support the SCSI-2 standard for CD-ROM players. The
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ICD Link will be premiered at the Atari Messe in Dusseldorf, Germany in
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August. ICD is taking orders now with shipments expected in mid-August.
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For further information, contact Thomas Harker at ICD by phone (815)
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968-2228 extension 120, or FAX (815) 968-6888.
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CD's, PHOTOS, AND ATARI
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Atari's been dodging the CD-ROM technology for almost three years, and
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now it looks like the wait might pay off. New CD technology is becoming
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available that makes most older disk players obsolete. The Kodak Photo
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CD system provides a way for consumers to have their color photographs
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printed to a CD in resolutions exceeding all but the most sophisticated
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computers and monitors. But the new format can't be read by many
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current CD player drives. The new system is called Mode 2, XA, multi-
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session capable. If you are buying a CD ROM, look for those
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specifications to preserve your value. New format drives might be
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readable using the ICD LINK (see story above) or by using ICD's revised
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MetaDOS on a TT or Falcon.
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PHOTO CD CONVERSION FOR ATARI
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Picking up the torch of CD photos and accessibility to quality color
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conversions of photographs, Randall Kopchak of It's All Relative is
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offering to make ST-readable STe Spectrum format files of any photograph
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on a Kodak CD for only fifty cents each (PC standard GIF files will be
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made at $1 each). The first ever published STe conversion is of a
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fountain in Keiner Plaza in Saint Louis, Missouri, and shows dramatic
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detail in the water and sky. Originally shot on standard film, it was
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converted to CD by Kodak, stored in 24-bit RGB at a resolution of 2048
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by 3072 pixels. Kopchak says that when Atari settles on the CD driver
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systems, his company will offer a direct view software system for the
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Kodak CD's. In the meantime, the company does offer software to convert
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CD photographs to GIF format via -Virtual BookMaker PC-, available for
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$25, and requiring a 386 or better PC with VGA or better, 2 meg or
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better memory, XA CD ROM drive, running Windows 3.1 or higher. For
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processing CD's to regular computer disk files, enclose the required
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payment plus $3 per order for postage and handling, and send your Kodak
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CD to Randall Kopchak, It's All Relative, 2233 Keeven Lane, Florissant,
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MO 63031, (314) 831-9482, GEnie address: GREG, CIS address: 70357,2312.
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ATARIUSER REDUCES SUBSCRIPTION RATE
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AtariUser Magazine, a monthly Atari publication with coverage of the
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entire Atari line of computer products, has announced a promotional
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price cut in their home subscription rates. New and renewal subscribers
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can take a $5 discount and pay just $15 for one year, 12 issues of the
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magazine with standard 3rd class delivery. A new offering of FIRST
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CLASS DELIVERY is now also available for only $5 more than the standard
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rate, or $25. -We had complaints from parts of the country where 3rd
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class takes three or more weeks to deliver,- said AtariUser Editor John
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Nagy, -and since we publish our issues in real-time rather than
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'newsstand time', our August issue is shipped July 30. That allows us
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to include news we receive as late as July 24. But it means that a few
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subscribers get the August magazine on August 24.- Dealers and user
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groups are shipped their copies of AtariUser via UPS, which takes about
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one week to cross the USA. The FIRST CLASS HOME DELIVERY OPTION will
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allow home subscribers to get the magazine within three days of printing
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at a total yearly (12 issue) subscription rate of $25. The $15 standard
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and $25 First Class subscription rates will be good for orders received
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by October 1, 1992. For this promotional rate, payment must be included
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(by check, money order, or VISA/MASTERCARD number and signature) and
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orders may ONLY be by mail. Be sure to include your complete address
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and phone number. Send your order to QUILL PUBLISHING CO., 113 W.
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College Street, Covina, CA 91723-2008.
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I DON'T LIKE YOUR TONE
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It can happen to you: replace your toner in your Atari SLM laser printer
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(or others!) and suddenly you get light print with streaks. You can
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keep increasing the toner darkness dial inside the SLM until it's all
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the way on, to the point of spooning toner onto the drum, and your
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printouts are still light and streaky. Woe is you, you need an
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expensive new drum. NOT. Although it is a little known fact, all toner
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is not created equal--even name brands. Differences between production
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runs, age, storage, etc. can each affect the quality of the toner, and
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your new toner may be the culprit. Before you shell out for a drum,
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replace the toner again with a fresh box, bought somewhere or sometime
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other than the first box. You are likely to find, once the new toner
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circulates, that your printer is happy again. And you can't lose if the
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drum is to blame after all, just use the replaced toner later. But
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store it carefully--its a mess.
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=======================================================================
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* LYNX OWNERS COLUMN By Clinton Smith
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=======================================================================
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The following article is reprinted in Atari Explorer Online by
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permission of AtariUser magazine. It MAY NOT be further reprinted
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without specific permission of AtariUser. AtariUser is a monthly Atari
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magazine, available by subscription by calling (818) 332-0372.
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LYNX BRIEFS
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~ Look for unexpected fun in the new Lynx game TOKI (reviewed last
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month in AtariUser). On level 3, a bug in the program (rather than an
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intentional -Easter Egg- surprise) allows you to go through the ceiling
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and bypass part of the game. It can make the game crash or distort the
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display if you do go exploring. This might be fixed in a later
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production run, making this a limited-time passport to the unknown!
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~ As summer approaches, video game companies start dropping their prices
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and the competition starts to heat up. This year is no exception.
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Turbo Technologies started out by packing Bonk's Revenge with the
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Turbografx-16 and slashing the price of their CD-Rom peripheral to an
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amazing $150. Sega made their move next by dropping the price of
|
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Genesis to $130, and were quick with a commercial that touted their
|
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price advantage over the $180 Super Nintendo system. This would have
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been a real coup if Nintendo hadn't dropped their price to $150 at the
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same time. Who's going to be the winner? The game buying public.
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LYNX SURVIVAL - The Essentials
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What Lynx accessories and games are absolute necessities for Lynx
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fanatics? AtariUser asked me to come up with some suggestions for you.
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Accessories
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The Lynx is a compact portable system, but if you plan to have your
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essentials with you, a carrying case is a must. Atari's kit carrying
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case is readily available and does the job nicely. However, if you can
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find someone who has one of the modular Realm cases, see if they'd be
|
|
willing to part with it. The costs for making the cases was too much
|
|
for Realm to absorb and attempts to do a new case haven't panned out, so
|
|
they're something of a collector's item.
|
|
|
|
If you're planning on doing any outdoors Lynx play, you'll need a sun
|
|
screen. These handy items from Atari are very affordable (only $5) and
|
|
are available in versions for the original Lynx and the new smaller Lynx
|
|
(the original models are starting to get scarce so if you need one, be
|
|
sure to pick one up).
|
|
|
|
If you don't feel like buying tons of AA batteries to keep your Lynx
|
|
running you have two excellent options. If you're in range of a power
|
|
outlet, the AC adaptor will provide you with continuous power and tons
|
|
of playing time. But you're probably saying, -Clint, the Lynx is
|
|
supposed to be portable. What if I want to play a long time while I'm
|
|
on the move?- No problem. With the newly released Lynx battery pack
|
|
and 6 D batteries, you can go portable for 30 straight hours and play to
|
|
your heart's content.
|
|
|
|
Games
|
|
|
|
Best Puzzlers: If you want brain-twisting, you have 2 terrific choices.
|
|
Chip's Challenge was one of the first Lynx games and is still regarded
|
|
as one of the best (since its debut on the Lynx it's found its way onto
|
|
most computer platforms and the NES). Crystal Mines 2 is much newer but
|
|
is just as addictive. Fans of the classic Boulder Dash will be pleased.
|
|
|
|
Best Shooters: Want something less cerebral with more firepower? Blue
|
|
Lightning is a jet jockey's dream that makes excellent use of the Lynx's
|
|
scaling abilities. If you like the scrolling-power up-bosses type of
|
|
games then Zarlor Mercenary delivers. Expect to invest some time before
|
|
you see the final boss.
|
|
|
|
Best Run and Jump: This category has become a staple thanks to the Mario
|
|
Brothers, and the Lynx has a real standout with Scrapyard Dog. It has
|
|
lots of gameplay and plenty of hidden stuff to keep you interested.
|
|
|
|
Best Multi-player: Think you might run into some fellow Lynx
|
|
enthusiasts? The Lynx was built with multi-player fun in mind and it
|
|
has 2 real standouts. Slime World was the first game that really showed
|
|
just how good multi-player action could be (up to 8 people can join in).
|
|
Feel like a little dogfighting between friends? Then you need Warbirds.
|
|
Players take to the skies in World War 1 biplanes in a contest to see
|
|
who's the real ace.
|
|
|
|
Best Arcade games: Need some arcade action without the quarters? Tackle
|
|
the classic reflex tester Klax (regarded by many to be the best
|
|
conversion available). Martial arts more your speed? Then take on
|
|
Ninja Gaiden which is a tremendous mimic of the arcade game. An arcade
|
|
game that few thought could be done justice on any home system (let
|
|
alone a portable system) was the popular Stun Runner. Guess what? The
|
|
folks at Atari somehow pulled it off and it's very impressive.
|
|
|
|
Best Sports games: As I write this, we're still waiting for the flood of
|
|
new sports titles but there are now two goodies for sports fans.
|
|
Checkered Flag brings you formula 1 racing action and lets 6 people
|
|
compete against each other. If you fancy a round of golf, Awesome Golf
|
|
lives up to it's name. It's easy to grasp and quite challenging.
|
|
|
|
BIO: Clinton Smith lives for his Lynx. His APE NEWSLETTER is published
|
|
5 times a year now. Contact Clint at APE, 2104 North Kostner, Chicago,
|
|
IL 60639, or on GEnie at C.SMITH89.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
* THE 12-VOLT 8-BIT By Jeff Golden
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
Who says, -You can't take it with you-. With the aid of the following
|
|
modifications, it is possible to power your 800XL or 130XE from the car
|
|
battery without affecting its 120VAC operation.
|
|
|
|
You can take along your favorite computer games for those long road
|
|
trips, and if you are into writing travelogues, you can take along your
|
|
TextPro disk and take notes along the way.
|
|
|
|
Now that your car has some programmable -computer smarts-, how about
|
|
getting carried away with a monitor-based instrument panel and a voice
|
|
that nats at you when you forget to check the oil. Add in those
|
|
instruments that you have always wanted, like a low oil sensor or a
|
|
miles-per-gallon meter. This isn't as silly as it might sound. A 600XL
|
|
with some cartridge software and a few extra sensors could do all that.
|
|
|
|
Let me hasten to add a disclaimer at this point. If you manage to zap
|
|
your computer, burn up the car, run off the road, or achieve some other
|
|
undesirable result after following these instructions, we cannot assume
|
|
any responsibility. You are strickly on your own.
|
|
|
|
The modifications have been tested and work on my equipment, but because
|
|
of the wide variety of 8-bit devices and user skills, there is no way
|
|
that we can assure you that the changes will work on your equipment.
|
|
|
|
Let me caution you that any connections to the car's electrical system
|
|
should be properly fused and to check all voltages and polarities with
|
|
a VOM before you connect any equipment. Futhermore, you should check
|
|
the equipment for signs of overheating, particularly during the first
|
|
hour of use, and never leave the equipment unattended while it is
|
|
plugged into the electrical system.
|
|
|
|
Do not operate or connect the equipment after it has been subjected to
|
|
rain or condensation.
|
|
|
|
Powering up the computer: The 800XL and the 130XE are powered with 5.18
|
|
volts of DC that is fed into the computer by means of a 7-pin male DIN
|
|
plug. There are two ways of providing this 5VDC from your car battery.
|
|
The easy way is to obtain and modify one of the early XL power supplies,
|
|
(the black and white XL supply that can be taken apart). The other, and
|
|
more expensive way, is to make your own 12VDC power supply which is
|
|
actually easier done than said. (The old cliche reversal is
|
|
intentional).
|
|
|
|
If you have one of the old style XL power supplies, you can modify it in
|
|
the same manner that is described below for the 1050 disk drive,
|
|
otherwise we will need to replace the AC power supply brick with a
|
|
similar sized brick that reduces the 12-15 volts of car power to 5
|
|
volts. This is easily accomplished by wiring a simple voltage regulator
|
|
circuit and mounting that circuit in a ventilated plastic box. (See the
|
|
wiring diagram).
|
|
|
|
Radio Shack has the perfect power supply box for this purpose, and it is
|
|
highly recommended. (270-287). This box will insulate the heat sink
|
|
both thermally and electrically. (The heat sink is charged at +5 volts).
|
|
The other parts are also available from Radio Shack with the exception
|
|
of a heavy duty heat sink.
|
|
|
|
The regulator will generate about 10-15 watts of heat that must be
|
|
carried away from the regulator chip to prevent it from destroying
|
|
itself. You may be able to buy a heavy duty heat sink at an electronics
|
|
store, or you may want to fabricate one from heavy aluminum scrap. I
|
|
used an aluminum bar 18- X 1- X 1/8-. The bar was folded accordion
|
|
style to fit into the case. The regulator chip was fastened to the
|
|
center of the bar with heat sink grease in between and no insulators.
|
|
|
|
My regulator chip was mounted vertically with the pins projecting
|
|
upward. The regulator mounting screw was also used to mount an L-shaped
|
|
bracket which in turn was used to support a small circuit board above
|
|
the heat sink. A coaxial jack was fastened to the case for the 12VDC
|
|
input. A 2-conductor 18ga lamp cord and a DIN plug were run out the
|
|
other end of the case for the 5V output.
|
|
|
|
Be sure to check your DC-converter brick for proper voltage and polarity
|
|
before connecting it to the computer. The output should be between 5.15
|
|
and 5.25 volts at the DIN plug.
|
|
|
|
Powering up the 1050: This one is easy. All that we have to do is
|
|
mount a 12VDC input jack on the 1050 case and then let the regulators
|
|
inside the 1050 take care of the rest. See diagram. No circuit
|
|
cutting or switching is necessary and the 1050 will still run under AC
|
|
as well as DC. Wire the DC jack to the plus and minus poles of the AC
|
|
rectifier as shown. The DC jack can be double-checked by connecting the
|
|
1050 to AC power in the normal way and then checking the empty terminals
|
|
of the DC jack for approximately 11 volts of DC with the expected
|
|
polarity.
|
|
|
|
Warning!! Plugging AC into the DC jack could damage the electrolytic
|
|
capacitors and other components. I recommend covering up the DC jack
|
|
with a piece of tape whenever the drive is not being used in the car.
|
|
|
|
Atari uses a negative signal ground which corresponds nicely with the
|
|
majority of cars which also use a negative ground. To minimize possible
|
|
shorts to the car body, I connected the negative DC line to all of the
|
|
outer (exposed) rings of the coaxial DC plugs and connected the positive
|
|
DC line to the center tips.
|
|
|
|
Plug the TV monitor and the computer into the cigar lighter using a Y
|
|
adaptor. (AC/DC TVs usually come with a lighter cord). Using the
|
|
lighter socket enables the driver to easily disconnect the system when
|
|
parking the car, and it also enables the easy removal of everything
|
|
when the vacation is over. Cigar lighter plugs can be bought with
|
|
built-in fuse holders. The computer/disk drive combo needs a 5-amp
|
|
fuse. It only draws about 2 amps, but there is too much of a voltage
|
|
drop across a fuse that is smaller than 5 amps.
|
|
|
|
Operational notes: Disk boot errors may occur when the car's engine is
|
|
not running. Startng the car generates a higher voltage that should
|
|
take care of the problem. Also any dirt in the cigar lighter can cause
|
|
similar problems. Run the engine when you want to use the computer.
|
|
Otherwise the combined current of the TV and computer may be enough to
|
|
run the battery down in the middle of your Donkey Kong game.
|
|
|
|
One Final WARNING! It is illegal to operate a TV in the front seat of a
|
|
vehicle. Put the whole thing in the back where it is impossible for the
|
|
driver to see and/or assist in its operation. Even folks with the best
|
|
of intentions will find it impossible to resist the need to twiddle the
|
|
knobs when the kids are having difficulties. It could be your last
|
|
twiddle.
|
|
|
|
Here are the detailed directions for modifying a 1050 disk drive. This
|
|
also applies to modifying the -old- style 800XL supply.
|
|
|
|
1. Open the case and locate the four rectifier diodes. These are small
|
|
black cylinders, 1/2- long by 3/16- diameter, mounted on the circuit
|
|
board right next to each other.
|
|
|
|
BACK OF 1050
|
|
-----------------------------------
|
|
A.C. !
|
|
------- ! -------
|
|
*--! diode !---*---! diode !--*
|
|
!
|
|
! ------- ------- !
|
|
! !
|
|
! ------- ------- !
|
|
*--! diode !---*---! diode !--*
|
|
! ---- -- ! ------- !
|
|
! ! !
|
|
! A.C. !
|
|
! !
|
|
(-) minus DC plus DC (+)
|
|
|
|
2. Using care, use your voltmeter to determine the plus and minus
|
|
poles of your rectifier diodes. These are labeled (-) and (+) in
|
|
the above diagram, but could be different on your machine.
|
|
|
|
3. Wire a coaxial power jack to the plus and minus poles of the
|
|
rectifier. The jack leads can be easily soldered to the appropriate
|
|
diode leads. Do NOT attempt to run the wires under the board.
|
|
There isn't enough room and the sharp pins will pierce the
|
|
insulation.
|
|
|
|
Connect the minus lead to the outer ring of the jack and the plus
|
|
lead to the center tip.
|
|
|
|
4. Mount the jack. I enlarged the hole in the 1050 case where the
|
|
drive select switches are and mounted the input jack there. Tape
|
|
the jack wires to the tall capacitor to prevent them from draping
|
|
across the 1050 heat sink.
|
|
|
|
5. Reassemble the case and check out your work by plugging in the A.C.
|
|
transformer. You should see a DC voltage of the correct polarity on
|
|
the empty 12VDC jack.
|
|
|
|
If you have one of the old style XL power supplies, you can modify it in
|
|
the same fashion as the above 1050 modification. The regulators in the
|
|
XL supply will properly reduce the 12VDC to the 5VDC needed by the
|
|
computer and the change can be made for the price of a jack and a piece
|
|
of wire. I mounted my 12VDC input jack between the leads coming out of
|
|
the old power supply.
|
|
|
|
If you have to build your own supply then use the following wiring
|
|
diagram:
|
|
|
|
--------
|
|
! !
|
|
+12VDC ! LM317T ! +5.18VDC
|
|
*---*----! !----*------*----*
|
|
! IN! !OUT ! ! (+)
|
|
! ! ! ! ! DIN
|
|
! -------- Z !
|
|
! ! ADJ Z 220 !
|
|
! ! Z OHM !
|
|
! ! ! !
|
|
! ! ! !
|
|
! *---------* === 1.0
|
|
! ! ! uf
|
|
! ! !
|
|
! Z !
|
|
=== 0.1uf Z 680 !
|
|
! Z OHM !
|
|
! ! !
|
|
! ! !
|
|
*---*------------------*------*----*
|
|
-battery (-)
|
|
DIN
|
|
|
|
Just in case the above diagram does not survive the file transmission
|
|
and is out of alignment, the negative ground line is common across
|
|
both the input and output voltages.
|
|
|
|
The +12VDC input connects to the IN pin of the LM317. The 0.1uf
|
|
capacitor connects between the IN pin and ground. The 1.0uf capacitor
|
|
connects between the OUT pin and ground. The 220 Ohm resistor connects
|
|
between the ADJust pin and the OUT pin. The 680 Ohm resistor connects
|
|
between the ADJust pin and ground. The +5.18VDC output is present on
|
|
the OUT pin.
|
|
|
|
As you can see, the circuit is a very simple one. About the only place
|
|
you can go wrong is in identifying the IN, OUT, and ADJ pins of the
|
|
LM317. Refer to the back of the package for the pin locations. They
|
|
are numbered in an odd fashion.
|
|
|
|
The wiring for the DIN jack is shown on a label on the Atari Power
|
|
Supply. Compare the voltages with a voltmeter between the Atari supply
|
|
and your new supply. It is easy to get confused about which end of the
|
|
connector you are looking at. It is also easy to short out and destroy
|
|
a power supply, so be careful with your test leads around the metal
|
|
collar of the DIN plug.
|
|
|
|
I used 2-conductor 18ga lamp cord for both the input and output lines
|
|
on my supply. Using an input jack on the computer power supply allowed
|
|
me to bring the power from the cigar lighter out to three identical
|
|
5.0mm O.D. coaxial plugs, one for the TV, one for the 1050, and one for
|
|
the new 800XL supply.
|
|
|
|
Now, a few words on choosing a portable AC/DC TV to use as a monitor.
|
|
Don't expect much from a TV while on the road. About the time someone
|
|
gets interested in a program, you usually drive out of the station's
|
|
range, and they don't have many stations out there in the boonies. Try
|
|
to get a TV with an all-channel scan feature. This will enable you to
|
|
find all of the available stations when you are far from home.
|
|
|
|
A TV weather report now and then could save you a lot of trouble on the
|
|
road. One way of beating the lack of stations is to buy a set with a
|
|
built in video tape player.
|
|
|
|
As to size: A 9- set with a tape player looks pretty small in the store,
|
|
but it is a real monster inside of your car. Hopefully you have a motor
|
|
home, or at least a van, otherwise you may want to get a 5- set.
|
|
|
|
Well that should just about do it. By now you should be out there in
|
|
the car playing Donkey Kong. Just remember, -Don't leave home without
|
|
your joystick-!
|
|
|
|
Parts List:
|
|
|
|
2 274-1567 DC Power Plugs
|
|
2 274-1565 DC Power Jacks
|
|
1 274-335 Fused Lighter Plug
|
|
1 270-1535 Lighter Plug Y-Adapter
|
|
12 feet of 18ga 2-cond. lamp cord
|
|
|
|
The above parts are all that you need if you can modify the old style
|
|
XL supply. If not, you need the following additional parts:
|
|
|
|
1 276-1778 LM317T voltage regulator
|
|
1 272-1432 0.1uf capacitor
|
|
1 272-1434 1.0uf capacitor
|
|
1 271-1313 220 Ohm resistor
|
|
1 271-021 680 Ohm resistor
|
|
1 276-159 Dual printed circuit bd.
|
|
1 276-1372 Heat Sink Grease
|
|
1 NA at RS Heavy duty heat sink
|
|
(See text above)
|
|
1 270-287 Power Supply Case
|
|
1 274-029 7-pin DIN Plug
|
|
|
|
You will need some small nuts and bolts to fasten the parts together.
|
|
The screws that come with the DC Jacks are a little too short to be used
|
|
in this application.
|
|
|
|
Enjoy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
* 2600 WHERE ARE YOU? by Tim Duarte
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following article is reprinted in Atari Explorer Online by
|
|
permission of AtariUser magazine. It MAY NOT be further reprinted
|
|
without specific permission of AtariUser. AtariUser is a monthly Atari
|
|
magazine, available by subscription by calling (818) 332-0372.
|
|
|
|
|
|
How were you first introduced to Atari? Most Atari users will answer
|
|
this question the same way, tracing their roots to the early days of
|
|
video games. You may have played one of those early Atari Pong machines
|
|
on your television set. You may remember a few game variations, but the
|
|
systems were very limited. The game ROMs were built-in, making it a
|
|
dedicated video game system.
|
|
|
|
The 2600 - The King of Video
|
|
|
|
The Atari Video Computer System (VCS), later known as the Atari 2600 as
|
|
well as the Sears VCS, turned many people on to video games, too. The
|
|
2600 was a dream come true for many wanna-be owners who shied away from
|
|
the dedicated Pong systems. Since the game ROMs were now stored in
|
|
cartridges, it opened up a whole new world of video games that offered
|
|
color and variety.
|
|
|
|
As many of us upgraded and became excited about the potential of
|
|
computers, the 2600 and other cartridge-based game systems seemed to
|
|
become forgotten and obsolete. Game software for Atari computers (then
|
|
the 8-bit 400 and 800) began to flourish on cassette tape and floppy
|
|
disk, as well as ROM cartridges. Some owners decided to sell their
|
|
system, others stored it away in a cellar or an attic, and despite it
|
|
all, some remained loyal. Underneath the success of home computers, the
|
|
cartridge-based game market has remained alive.
|
|
|
|
Atari released a number of systems to the gaming public. The most
|
|
popular, perhaps in all video game history, is the 2600 game system.
|
|
Millions of these systems have been sold since its introduction in 1977.
|
|
It also has an impressive library of games that some fans have
|
|
calculated to number near 500. To keep the 2600 from obsolescence,
|
|
Atari planned an expansion kit called The Graduate. It was a keyboard
|
|
add-on unit that transformed the 2600 into a home computer. The product
|
|
was never released.
|
|
|
|
In 1982, Atari released the 5200 game system, which was based on the
|
|
same internal components as the Atari 400. The system looked great on
|
|
paper, but it didn't catch on with the general public. It didn't have a
|
|
large selection of games to choose from, and the joysticks were odd and
|
|
very easy to break. Still, the 5200, which offered graphics that
|
|
compared to arcade versions, was well-received among many game players
|
|
who chose not to upgrade to the home computers.
|
|
|
|
The 7800 - the Super Machine that Almost Was
|
|
|
|
The later Atari 7800 game system tried to make up for the mistakes that
|
|
the 5200 made. Without a need for adapters, the 7800 runs its own
|
|
cartridges and is compatible with the hundreds of cartridges that were
|
|
made for the 2600 and the dozens for the 5200. The joysticks were an
|
|
improvement on the standard Atari joystick, and the games created for
|
|
the 7800 were even of a higher quality than the games for the 8-bit
|
|
computers. This system has a lot of potential, but it never seemed to
|
|
catch on like the 2600 did.
|
|
|
|
Atari then released the XE Game System. The XEGS is essentially a 65XE
|
|
8-bit computer in disguise. It came packaged with a light gun and tried
|
|
to contend with the 8-bit Nintendo and Sega Master System. The XEGS
|
|
came in third place out of the three and could not attract a large
|
|
number of consumers who were impressed with the more detailed graphics
|
|
(but inferior processing power) of Nintendo systems.
|
|
|
|
We could consider the ST computers as part of the game evolution, but
|
|
for our purposes here, we're really dealing with the machines that Atari
|
|
intended to be -game machines,- not computers. And for home consoles,
|
|
Atari fell off of the crest of the game wave.
|
|
|
|
Of course, the next step was the remarkable LYNX, and Atari has rumored
|
|
first a PANTHER and now a JAGUAR advanced game console, to be released
|
|
sometime next year. Details are absolutely unavailable, and it's
|
|
thought that even Atari hasn't decided what features will be in the
|
|
final system.
|
|
|
|
But the -classic- Atari gaming community has survived through all of
|
|
this. For a number of reasons, price and performance among them, many
|
|
users are regaining interest in the older Atari systems. In these days
|
|
of 16-bit Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, the Atari systems remain in
|
|
the shadows, but won't go away. Longevity speaks for itself, and the
|
|
2600 has been around for 15 years!
|
|
|
|
And Yet It Lives...
|
|
|
|
Only months ago, Atari released some hot new games for the 7800 -- Alien
|
|
Brigade, Basketbrawl, Motor Psycho, Midnight Mutants, Planet Smashers,
|
|
and Ninja Golf, to name a few. Four titles -- Ikari Warriors,
|
|
Motorodeo, Sentinel, and Xenophobe -- were also released for the 2600
|
|
system. And there's a huge variety of game cartridges available for all
|
|
four Atari systems.
|
|
|
|
The 2600 is popular in other countries, including England, Belgium,
|
|
Australia, Japan, and Algeria. I recently acquired Klax for the Atari
|
|
2600 from a friend in Belgium. Oddly enough, even while releasing new
|
|
titles, Atari decided not to release Klax in the U.S.
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately, as of Christmas 1991, Atari decided to discontinue the
|
|
XEGS, 2600, and 7800 systems. Much inventory was sold to Consolidated
|
|
Stores/Big Lots Stores, who have been selling brand new games at bargain
|
|
prices -- $1 to $3 each. How can you go wrong at this price? Atari
|
|
still has some games in stock, but not at such discounted prices.
|
|
|
|
So, you've just bought a 2600, or you dug your 5200 out of the attic, or
|
|
were given a 7800 system. You're itching to blast some Space Invaders
|
|
out of the sky, or play a few rounds of Pac-Man. Where do you start?
|
|
Most toy stores and video games stores have phased out their supply of
|
|
-older- products, so if you find a nearby store that has a selection of
|
|
Atari games, consider yourself lucky. Otherwise, here are some mail
|
|
order companies that sell 2600, 7800, 5200, and XEGS game cartridges and
|
|
accessories through the mail:
|
|
|
|
Atari Entertainment
|
|
500 Waters Edge, Suite 310
|
|
Lombard, IL 60148 (708) 629-1386
|
|
|
|
Best Electronics
|
|
2021 The Alameda, Suite 290
|
|
San Jose, CA 95126-1127 (408) 243-6950
|
|
|
|
Computer/Electronics Source
|
|
41-30 70th St.
|
|
Woodside, NY 11377-3952 (718) 426-9614
|
|
|
|
Telegames USA
|
|
Box 901 Lancaster, TX 75146
|
|
(214) 227-7694 (214) 218-5800 (24-hour order/info line)
|
|
|
|
Starbase Atari Computers
|
|
2369 Austin Highway
|
|
San Antonio, TX 78218 (512) 590-7122
|
|
|
|
Pleasant Valley Video
|
|
8141 Pleasant Valley Road
|
|
Camden, OH 45311 (513) 787-3682
|
|
|
|
Video 61
|
|
22735 Congo St. N.E.
|
|
Stacy, MN 55079 (612) 462-2500
|
|
|
|
These companies are a good starting point, but you don't have to rely on
|
|
mail order companies to find games for your Atari systems. Atari games
|
|
are also popular items at yard sales, flea markets, rummage sales,
|
|
computer swap meets, thrift shops, pawn shops, and more. Try scanning
|
|
the -for sale- classified ads of your local newspaper and online
|
|
bulletin board systems. I've been trading games all over the United
|
|
States and I'm building quite a large collection of games.
|
|
|
|
Even though the 2600, 7800, 5200, and XEGS are no longer being
|
|
manufactured, it doesn't mean the users who play these game systems will
|
|
go away and vanish.
|
|
|
|
Some folks regard the Atari game system as an ideal system for beginners
|
|
and youngsters, while others are attracted to the economical and
|
|
affordable prices of the systems and game cartridges when compared to
|
|
Nintendo. Atari systems are fun, simple to use, innocent, and fast. No
|
|
waiting for a disk to load into memory--just pop in a cartridge and
|
|
play.
|
|
|
|
Classic Game Support Groups
|
|
|
|
Personally, I'm a big fan and supporter of the 2600. Two years ago, I
|
|
began research and wrote letters to other fans, and I discovered I was
|
|
not alone. There's many video gamers out there who support the Atari
|
|
machines and show a lot of excitement about them. There is definitely a
|
|
need for the formation of clubs or user groups for these machines.
|
|
|
|
In that vein, I started my own newsletter specifically to support the
|
|
Atar VCS line. -The 2600 Connection- newsletters average 8 to 16 pages,
|
|
but they contain lots of interesting and useful information that you
|
|
won't find in the professional magazines. Each contain game reviews,
|
|
game solutions and tips, letters and questions, classified ads, and
|
|
more. I've produced 11 bi-monthly issues of The 2600 Connection so far.
|
|
A six-issue subscription is $6, and samples are available for $1 each.
|
|
Write to me at:
|
|
|
|
Tim Duarte
|
|
P.O. Box 3993
|
|
Westport, MA 02790
|
|
|
|
If you send a check, make it to me by name, as my publication has no
|
|
bank account. Like most of the amateur press, I support the community
|
|
on a break-even basis at best. But it's great fun!
|
|
|
|
[Look for Tim's roundup of -Amateur Press- publications that support all
|
|
of the Atari lines of computers in an upcoming issue of AtariUser - Ed.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
* GROWING UP WITH ATARI By Bob Smith
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have read many articles and magazines on computers, everything from
|
|
building a mainframe to programing your cat's feeding time. Seldom have
|
|
I read how someone has progressed through the ranks from pure novice to
|
|
actual productive use. Hopefully, I'll convey some of that here.
|
|
|
|
About six or seven years ago, we were having Thanksgiving dinner with my
|
|
wife's family. The usual topics were discussed and as the dinner wound
|
|
down, my brother-in-law, who is heavily involved with computers as his
|
|
vocation, started to discuss a home computer that he had just bought for
|
|
about $800. My father-in-law was captivated by this conversation and I
|
|
just sat there, drinking my coffee, wondering how I was going to
|
|
gracefully leave the table so I could get back to the major professional
|
|
football game on TV. The two of them were throwing around terms such as
|
|
ROM, RAM, disk drive, etc., etc., and I was at a complete loss.
|
|
|
|
Well, my wife, not to be outdone purchased the same type of computer
|
|
that my brother-in-law had purchased previously. That was my Christmas
|
|
present that year, the very first time that I had an up close and
|
|
personal visit with a home computer. Oh, I didn't mention that these
|
|
fine pieces of equipment, which could not do much in my eyes at that
|
|
time were Atari 800's.
|
|
|
|
On Christmas morning, I looked at this monster and wondered what in the
|
|
blazes I was going to use it for. Little did I know, years later that I
|
|
would be so addicted to these wonderful machines that I would not only
|
|
have a house full of them, but that I would use these Atari computers in
|
|
one form or another in my business.
|
|
|
|
As my father-in-law started to learn to use his, I couldn't help but be
|
|
a little curious about what he was doing and I started to read. I
|
|
learned what those silly terms of ROM and RAM meant, learned how to
|
|
change the cartridge in my trusty 800 and what basic and machine
|
|
language meant. Now please don't misunderstand me, I am in no way any
|
|
type of genius but the ways of computing were starting to make some
|
|
sense to me.
|
|
|
|
To this I give full credit to that wonderful gentleman, my dad-in-law.
|
|
Why? Well, he just kept having me do all of the grunt work, like
|
|
turning on the computer, looking stuff up in the various owner's manuals
|
|
and programming books that we had.
|
|
|
|
I want to jump ahead a few years now to when I starting to do basic
|
|
programing and word processing. My professional business is consulting
|
|
and employee benefits, which entails a lot of proposals and
|
|
presentations. At the time, all of this was being done on the old
|
|
typewriter and very slowly at that. I started to wonder, why not try
|
|
the old 800 in a business setting. I took stock of the available
|
|
programs available and settled on AtariWriter and several public domain
|
|
database programs. This was going to be a one machine experiment in the
|
|
office for one week. We had a particularly difficult proposal to do and
|
|
what better way than to try the computer in this situation.
|
|
|
|
I spent approximately 4 hours doing various formats for this proposal
|
|
and then discarding them. The major drawback was the 40 column screen,
|
|
but with a little practice, that drawback was overcome. Finally after
|
|
several attempts a proposal format was designed and used with great
|
|
success. The young lady that was working with me at the time bluntly
|
|
said that using the computer was the only way to go and she would never
|
|
again use the old typewriter. To this day, that poor typewriter sits
|
|
in a closet covered and holding up a pile of old forms.
|
|
|
|
From that one week experiment, which has never ended, we have progressed
|
|
to using multiple 8 Bit computers in our office. We now use 130XE's
|
|
with a variety of disk drives and printers. One question I'm frequently
|
|
asked is why not upgrade.......the answer that is given, is that a
|
|
business must watch its expenses and if the current equipment is doing
|
|
the job, why change. We have offices in other states and the same
|
|
philosophy is true there as well. We do almost all of our operations
|
|
from accounting to proposal preparation on these wonderful 8 bit
|
|
machines. Oh yes, we did get the client that we did that very first
|
|
proposal for.
|
|
|
|
As I started to use the computers in business, several events occurred
|
|
almost simultaneously. I became involved with the Mid-Florida Atari
|
|
Computer Club and was given a 520 ST.
|
|
|
|
Here I was just starting to feel very comfortable in my 8 Bit world,
|
|
using my computers in business, learning to program, etc. and along
|
|
comes a good friend, misguided, but non-the-less a good friend and tells
|
|
me he is going into the world of another computer and would I like this
|
|
poor 520ST. Well, being the gracious person that I am and not wanting
|
|
to hurt his feelings, I said OK. Not long after that, he arrives at my
|
|
home with several boxes and various cables, power supplies, disks and
|
|
other things.
|
|
|
|
I took a look at this and suddenly had a great deal apprehension and
|
|
fear. Why fear? Well, having just gotten comfortable and on a first
|
|
name basis with my 8 Bit equipment, what was I going to do with this
|
|
monster and where was I going to put it.... I didn't verbalize my fears
|
|
to my friend, not wanting to insult him in anyway, so I just put the
|
|
boxes in my den in one corner and went on with my happy computer life
|
|
and promptly forgot about the ST and all of the related boxes, cables,
|
|
disks, and other parts.
|
|
|
|
About this time I had joined The Mid-Florida Atari Computer Club and met
|
|
many experts in the ST field. One of these people by the name of
|
|
Tipton, who subsequently became a very good friend, came to my home one
|
|
day and noticed the ST monitor sitting very forlonely sitting on my
|
|
desk. It was only there for lack of any other place to put it and he
|
|
asked me about it. I explained the circumstances on how I came have it
|
|
and all of it's related parts. He looked at me with a gleam in his eye
|
|
and said -let's fire it up-. I replied, -no thanks, I really don't want
|
|
to unpack everything-. I really knew that if I did start to play with
|
|
it, I might not want to stop, having previously experienced that with my
|
|
trusty 8 Bit equipment.
|
|
|
|
But Dave, being of the persuasive type that he is, talked me into just a
|
|
'quick' bootup and then I could shut it down and put it away. As you
|
|
have probably guessed, from that inauspicious beginning, it has grown on
|
|
me to the point that the 520 ST now sits side by side with my 8 Bit and
|
|
is used for many tasks, not the least of which is my fetish for modeming
|
|
and Bulletin Boards. I still have a very long way to go, but there are
|
|
a lot of excellent programs available for the ST and it is still
|
|
supported rather well. Atari Corporation sure does know how to make an
|
|
excellent platform. Oh yes, I never did get even with Dave for getting
|
|
me hooked on the ST, but I guess I am really greatful.
|
|
|
|
As I had briefly mentioned before, I got involved with the Mid-Florida
|
|
Atari Computer Club (M.F.A.C.C.) very innocently. I was invited to
|
|
attend a meeting by a member named Carolyn Hoglin. Some of you may know
|
|
the name from the articles that she has published in the late Antic
|
|
Magazine and other newsletter publications. I attended this meeting and
|
|
found many kindred spirits of the Atari world. I was rather quiet at
|
|
first as I didn't want to open my mouth and show how dumb or naive I
|
|
really was about computers, but these people put me at ease and included
|
|
me in the meeting without making me feel like an outsider.
|
|
|
|
I joined immediately and got somewhat involved in that first year, but
|
|
little did I know that I would become totally immersed in the Club and
|
|
some of the people who have since become good friends. Finding people
|
|
with a very common interest can be difficult, if not impossible, but
|
|
here I was among a whole nest of them and I was as happy a computer with
|
|
a brand new 100 megabite harddrive.
|
|
|
|
As a direct result of being in the Club, I was and still am a part of
|
|
the Newsletter staff. I have learned a great deal on how a newsletter
|
|
is put together and the tremendous effort and hardwork that goes into
|
|
it. I was elected president for three straight terms and as you read
|
|
this, I have just finished that third year. The club has been the
|
|
catalyst for meeting some of the finest people that I have met in many
|
|
years, such as Bob Brodie of the Atari Corporation. That's an entire
|
|
story in of itself and I'll cover that in the final installment of this
|
|
trilogy in the next edition of Z*Magazine!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
* PERUSING THE INTERNET Compiled by Michael Current
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reprinted from the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
|
|
From: <a href="mailto:aa399@cleveland.Freenet.Edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">aa399@cleveland.Freenet.Edu</a> (Len Stys)
|
|
|
|
Bad news for Atari Classic fans...
|
|
|
|
Taken from Part-Time
|
|
|
|
Title: bearer of bad?
|
|
Author: Jim Treber
|
|
To: All
|
|
Posted: Tue 23-Jun-92 at 5:56:00pm
|
|
Replies: 0
|
|
Origin: Mouse Bbs - Node #3 South Bend, In
|
|
|
|
Recently there was a write-in campaign to ralley support of an all 8-bit
|
|
Atari magazine, The Atari Classics. The effort seems to have been in
|
|
vain. Unicorn Publications, to where the campaige was directed, says it
|
|
is definitely not going to split off what little 8-bit coverage it now
|
|
offers to create Atari Classics, although would continue serving the 8-
|
|
bit community as long as 8-bit users express interest. Various opinions
|
|
all have valid points. Unicorn believes it is better to have more
|
|
interaction between St and 8-bit owners, not less and it is better to
|
|
treat St and 8-bit owners as equals rather than act if neither exists in
|
|
the same reality. There are just not enough developers and advertisers
|
|
to support separate magazines. How many 8bit only/16bit only
|
|
publications have gone under in just the past year? Unicorn's Aim
|
|
presently carries both St and (some) 8-bit articles and disk of the
|
|
month for both.
|
|
|
|
--
|
|
Michael Current, Cleveland Free-Net 8-bit Atari SIGOp
|
|
-->> go atari8 <<--
|
|
The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is the Central Atari Information
|
|
Network
|
|
Internet: <a href="mailto:currentm@carleton.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">currentm@carleton.edu</a> / UUCP: ...!umn-cs!ccnfld!currentm
|
|
BITNET: currentm%carleton.edu@{interbit} / Cleveland Free-Net: aa700
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Jun 92 21:20:26 GMT
|
|
From: kithrup!hoptoad!wet!<a href="mailto:ekrimen@uunet.uu.net?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">ekrimen@uunet.uu.net</a> (Ed Krimen)
|
|
Subject: Atari Explorer
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu</a>
|
|
|
|
In article <<a href="mailto:92177.125634JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">92177.125634JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET</a>> <a href="mailto:JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET</a>
|
|
(Jeff McWilliams) writes:
|
|
>For those off you who don't subscribe to AIM, I've taken the liberty
|
|
>of typing in the recent issue's editorial article, since the news
|
|
>contained therein effects us 8 bitters as well as other Atari
|
|
>supporters.
|
|
|
|
> We feel Atari execs are making a bad decision by moving Explorer
|
|
> to Sunnyvale. It is very possible that Explorer won't last long in
|
|
> the political tug-of-war at Atari. If Explorer ceases publication, it
|
|
> will be a very sad day for all Atarians. It will be taken as a sign
|
|
> that even a glossy magazine supplemented by Atari itself can't make it
|
|
> any longer in the ever-shrinking Atari computer market.
|
|
|
|
While I agree with the rest of Bill and Pattie Rayl's editorial (there
|
|
wasn't much to disagree with actually), I must pick on this little
|
|
section.
|
|
|
|
It amazes me, even though I do it sometimes, that they can criticize an
|
|
Atari action even though they don't know all that's going on. There was
|
|
a definite reason for Atari moving Explorer to Sunnyvale and many
|
|
suspect it is to gain greater control, lower cost, and it even makes
|
|
sense to have the house mag run from headquarters.
|
|
|
|
I like John Jainschigg a lot. I'm sorry to see him leave the magazine,
|
|
since he did an excellent job. I worked with him on an editor/author
|
|
basis and he is one cool dude. :^) I worry what will become of Explorer
|
|
after John's last issue, but I know that Bob Brodie and others at Atari
|
|
will do their best to fill the position.
|
|
|
|
> As you may or may not recall, Ron Kovacs of Zmagazine recently
|
|
>entered into a cooperative effort with Atari Explorer to produce Atari
|
|
>Explorer Online magazine. (see Zmag207 on the Atari Archive for
|
|
>details.) Is anyone receiving Zmagazine or AEO these days?
|
|
>
|
|
>Jeff McWilliams
|
|
|
|
YES! There have been four issues of AEO so far, and they're only
|
|
distributed bi-weekly. The next one should be out this weekend. I
|
|
believe they're distributed on Usenet/Internet via the same mailing list
|
|
which distributed Z*Net. Unfortunately, I don't know what the mail
|
|
address is to get a subscription; hopefully someone else can help us
|
|
out.
|
|
--
|
|
||| Ed Krimen
|
|
||| <a href="mailto:ekrimen@wet.com?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">ekrimen@wet.com</a> or ekrimen@wet.UUCP or hoptoad!wet!ekrimen
|
|
/ | \ E.KRIMEN (GEnie)
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
Date: 27 Jun 92 23:53:46 GMT
|
|
From: portal!cup.portal.com!<a href="mailto:Rick_Michael_Cortese@uunet.uu.net?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">Rick_Michael_Cortese@uunet.uu.net</a>
|
|
Subject: Atari Classics: not to happen?
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu</a>
|
|
|
|
Well, Soap Box Attack so you can hit stop reading anytime. Patty Rayl
|
|
addressed this & the demise of another ST only mag in the latest issue
|
|
of AIM. When I read about the demise of the 'other' ST mag I was
|
|
touched by how sensitive & rational her comments were. On reading the
|
|
Classic comments; I was a little upset. AIM is right in their covering
|
|
all Atari products, but the 1st and last shot for exclusion was NEVER
|
|
fired by 8-bitters. All you have to do is read this forum to figure out
|
|
we have everybody from 2600 to ST, IBM, etcetera in here. Go to the
|
|
freaking ST sig & mention anything but an ST & see what happens. It
|
|
almost make me embarassed to own an ST! You get comments like
|
|
[obsolete, get a ST, get out of this sig]. Patty's right in that the
|
|
Atari community is all things Atari & common interest such as people
|
|
dropping by to ask about what modem to buy for their clone, but 1/2 of
|
|
the ST users have serious emotional difficulty with anything other then
|
|
an ST. You don't really have to worry about an 8-bit mag being split
|
|
off AIM. As I see it, one of two things will happen:
|
|
|
|
1) ST users complain about to much Lynx, 8-bit, etc news & leave.
|
|
2) The ratio of 8-bit to ST submissions will go up to the point where it
|
|
will seem like an 8-bit mag.
|
|
|
|
We really need to get rid of about 1/2 the ST users out there. They're
|
|
causing 90% of the problems in the Atari world. Sheesh! Even Bob
|
|
Wooley owns & works on an ST! Does that stop him from being a Club
|
|
pres & doing 8-bit stuff? He works on IBM mainframes for a living. he
|
|
could just say anything with less then a 64 bit data buss sucks, but he
|
|
doesn't. I know from my own point of view, anybody that wants to be
|
|
here is welcome.
|
|
|
|
It would be great to see if any other SIG could make that boast. Right
|
|
now if you look at AIM the article break down goes something like: 60%
|
|
ST software review 30% 8-bit umbrella [soft/hard/tutorial] 10% general
|
|
[lynx, portfolio, news] I wish Atari Corp all the sucess in the world,
|
|
but it'd be interesting to see if new software for the ST dries up what
|
|
they'll have to talk about.
|
|
|
|
The only mistake Jeff & Ben may have made was not waiting until the ST
|
|
letters to the Editors asking to drop 8-bit coverage piled up. Well,
|
|
FLAME OFF!
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
Date: 29 Jun 92 22:00:21 GMT
|
|
From: SMITHKLINE.COM!<a href="mailto:poehland%25phvax.dnet@ucbvax.berkeley.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">poehland%phvax.dnet@ucbvax.berkeley.edu</a>
|
|
Subject: ATARI CLASSICS UPDATE
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu</a>
|
|
|
|
************************ A T A R I C L A S S I C S
|
|
***********************
|
|
|
|
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
The last Update was posted to the Net around the end of May but many
|
|
people did not see it as I was experiencing difficulty with my USENET
|
|
connection, so it went directly to naucse then out to the Internet. My
|
|
apologies. I will try to bring everyone up to speed on the past 7
|
|
week's developments.
|
|
|
|
Following the official close of the mail-in Campaign on May 2 &
|
|
subsequent dissolution of the Campaign Committee, Jeff McWilliams
|
|
shipped me all the cards he had received as of the first week of May.
|
|
(During the first week of June he also sent me a 2nd shipment of cards,
|
|
consisting of late returns/stragglers.)
|
|
|
|
The final count of returned cards was just under 600, the number 580
|
|
comes to mind.
|
|
|
|
I spent a couple weeks sorting all the cards into alphabetical order,
|
|
reading all the comments on every single one, and taking notes. Jeff
|
|
McWilliams also sent me a copy of the Campaign database; at the moment
|
|
there is a problem with merging in the final batch of respondents but he
|
|
is working on that & expects to have it squared away soon.
|
|
|
|
With notes in hand, during the last week of May I commenced work on AC's
|
|
Publication Manifest, a document that describes in detail our proposal
|
|
for the organization and functions of the magazine. This turned out to
|
|
be a non-trivial task. It took 5 weeks. My barber noted an unusual of
|
|
grey hair on my head...
|
|
|
|
The Manifest was completed June 28. It was submitted to Unicorn
|
|
Publications early today for their consideration. There has as yet been
|
|
no response, but of course it's very early & the Manifest runs 38K of
|
|
text, so it will take them awhile to digest it all. With the submission
|
|
of this document to Unicorn, the pledge made by the Campaign Committee
|
|
to submit our ideas to them has been fulfilled. The ball is now in
|
|
their court, we are awaiting a response, & we naturally are very
|
|
anxious. The next few weeks will no doubt be very critical to the birth
|
|
of AC, as delicate political and financial arrangements are debated
|
|
until both sides achieve a resolution of their respective concerns.
|
|
|
|
At the moment I am very optimistic that a positive resolution of
|
|
concerns will be obtained, leading to production of the Premier Issue of
|
|
Atari Classics.
|
|
|
|
Within the past few weeks a few irresponsible individuals have taken the
|
|
proposals set forth in the Campaign literature, allowed their paranoid
|
|
fears to run rampant, and expressed their concerns directly to Unicorn.
|
|
If these people had instead expressed their concerns directly to the
|
|
Chairman of the mail Campaign, Jeff McWilliams, he could have dispelled
|
|
their fears in short order. The main thrust of the concern seems to be
|
|
loss of 8bit coverage in AIM by splitting it off as suggested in the
|
|
Campaign letter.
|
|
|
|
Individuals who own both 8bit & ST machines are not happy about this, &
|
|
Unicorn has strongly rejected the idea of removing 8bit coverage from
|
|
AIM.
|
|
|
|
This issue was a subject of considerable discussion within the Committee
|
|
even while the Campaign was in progress, & by the time the Campaign
|
|
ended we had pretty much arrived at the same conclusion ourselves: i.e.,
|
|
that there should be continued 8bit coverage in AIM pretty much as it
|
|
has been, perhaps with a certain amount of shared material between the
|
|
two publications. This would satisfy the demand for an 8bit-only
|
|
publication while not forcing those who are satisfied with AIM in its
|
|
present format to make an unhappy either/or type of choice. So, in
|
|
effect, we of the Atari Classics movement are in agreement with the
|
|
position taken by Unicorn & tend to view the recent hubub as much ado
|
|
about nothing. I would point out that whereas the number of these type
|
|
negative responses to the Atari Classics effort is fewer than 10, I
|
|
maintain it is a decidedly minority opinion compared to the nearly 600
|
|
positive- even rabid- responses the Campaign garnered.
|
|
|
|
Recent posts to the Net seem to suggest that Unicorn's rejection of
|
|
splitting off 8bit coverage into AC constitutes a rejection of the
|
|
entire Atari Classics movement. Not true! In their response per the
|
|
June AIM, Bill & Pattie made their position clear & left the door open
|
|
for the exploration of possibilities related to our effort. As far as I
|
|
am aware, relations between AC & Unicorn remain cordial, both parties
|
|
have contined to express interest in discussing proposals, & we have
|
|
exploited the open door by finally submitting our detailed plans for
|
|
their consideration.
|
|
|
|
Dealing with this tempest-in-a-teapot has had the effect of siphoning
|
|
off my time & energy that should have been devoted full-time to AC. It
|
|
strikes me ironic that so far the greatest threats to the success of
|
|
this admittedly shaky enterprise have arisen from the ranks of the 8bit
|
|
community itself.
|
|
|
|
Idle & irresponsible speculation will only damage our cause. I urge
|
|
everyone to please exercise restraint & be patient. Have faith that we
|
|
are doing the best we can to fulfill the promise of the Campaign & bring
|
|
into being a unique user-based 8bit-only publication. These are very
|
|
very anxious & critical times for all of us who support the movement.
|
|
|
|
I said this before, I'll say it again:
|
|
|
|
-The dough must be allowed to rise, before we can bake the bread.-
|
|
|
|
- BEN POEHLAND
|
|
The Alchemist
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
Date: 29 Jun 92 20:23:36 GMT
|
|
From: microsoft!hexnut!<a href="mailto:darekm@uunet.uu.net?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">darekm@uunet.uu.net</a> (Darek Mihocka)
|
|
Subject: Atari Explorer
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu</a>
|
|
|
|
In article <<a href="mailto:92177.125634JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">92177.125634JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET</a>> Jeff McWilliams
|
|
<<a href="mailto:JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET</a>> writes:
|
|
> We've recently heard that Atari Explorer is about to be
|
|
> moved -in-house-. John Jainschigg has shared with us his
|
|
> thoughts against moving out to Sunnyvale (into what some
|
|
> have called -the pressur cooker-). It is his decision to
|
|
> not accompany Explorer to Atari Corp. He will do only one
|
|
> more issue from New York.
|
|
|
|
What's the difference? Atari Explorer is ALREADY a puppet of Atari Corp,
|
|
whether located in Sunnyvale or New Jersey. The way they take two years
|
|
to review a product, or the way they rip off their advertisers by
|
|
accepting payments for advertising space in non-existant issues sounds
|
|
a lot to me like the same kind of incompitency that plauges Atari Corp.
|
|
I'm still trying to recover money from them for an ad that was to have
|
|
appeared in a non-existant issue from last year! I keep getting the
|
|
same kind of -the check is in the mail- runaround that I'm more than
|
|
used to getting from Atari Corp. Interestingly enough, Atari Explorer
|
|
deposits its checks not in New York or New Jersey, but directly into
|
|
Atari US Corp's account at the Wells Fargo bank in Sunnyvale. After 6
|
|
months of phone calls and promises, I am now told that I need to resolve
|
|
the problem with the folks in Sunnyvale. So as far as I'm concerned, it
|
|
doesn't matter whether Atari Explorer is located in Sunnyvale, New York,
|
|
or Upper Tibet, they are still just a useless propoganda machine for
|
|
Atari Corp.
|
|
|
|
BOYCOTT ATARI EXPLORER! Support AIM, ST Informer, Current Notes, Atari
|
|
User, Atari Advantage, PSAN, and all of the other publications that
|
|
actually do something constructive.
|
|
|
|
- Darek Mihocka
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
Date: 30 Jun 92 21:01:09 GMT
|
|
From: mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!isis.cs.du.edu!<a href="mailto:brayl@uunet.uu.net?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">brayl@uunet.uu.net</a> (Bill Rayl)
|
|
Subject: Atari Classics: not to happen?
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu</a>
|
|
|
|
I'm sorry guys, you'll have to forgive me if I mis-read your thoughts
|
|
about this issue.
|
|
|
|
I'm a little confused. People have cited our June issue, and the
|
|
comments in it about the Atari Classics campaign. I don't see how that
|
|
leads to the idea of no 8bit only publication. What Bill and I were
|
|
saying is how we feel AIM represents a lot of varied readers, so we
|
|
would not be willing to turn AIM into an ST only mag. AIM coverage
|
|
would continue as it has over the last several years, picking up
|
|
Portfolio and Lynx along the way.
|
|
|
|
One person was upset over the languag we used. That is understandable,
|
|
since we a little surprised at the kit when we saw one (after the
|
|
campaign was over), when the kit said we would split AIM up. We were a
|
|
little taken aback at the presumptions it seemed the campaign was
|
|
taking! :) Bill and I sent off a letter very similar to the nots in AIM
|
|
to Ben and Jeff, explaining our thoughts on the whole subject. Ben got
|
|
back to us, explaining how that phrasiology (sp?) happened to get into
|
|
the kit, and that en and Jeff felt very much as Billand I did/do.
|
|
|
|
(please forgive the typos -- I'm typing faster than the net can handle,
|
|
it seems)
|
|
|
|
So, everything is fine.
|
|
|
|
I just got Ben's maifest today, and we'll be getting back wih him as
|
|
soon as we look it over and make our suggestions/changes.
|
|
|
|
Again, if I misunderstood the messages, please forgive me, since I'm
|
|
relatively new to the UseNet. In fact, we made an effort to get on the
|
|
net because of the Atari Classics discussion/campaign.
|
|
|
|
Pattie Rayl (Unicorn Publications)
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
Date: 30 Jun 92 21:27:38 GMT
|
|
From: mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!isis.cs.du.edu!<a href="mailto:brayl@uunet.uu.net?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">brayl@uunet.uu.net</a> (Bill Rayl)
|
|
Subject: Atari Explorer
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu</a>
|
|
|
|
Ed,
|
|
|
|
I don't completely understand your criticism of what Bill and I said in
|
|
the Editorial Rampblings for June. Granted, there may be times when no
|
|
one can no the actual reasons Atari does stuff unlss they work in
|
|
Sunnyvale (and not even then, in which case, you'd have to look in Sam
|
|
or Jack's mind!).
|
|
|
|
However, I think we have a better than average chance of figuring what
|
|
those reasons could be. I guess the biggest complaint would be, If it's
|
|
not brroken, why mess with it?
|
|
|
|
You say Atari would gain more control over Atari Explorer by moving it
|
|
in house. Atari officials (mostly Bob Brodie, I think) already ok each
|
|
and every page of AE efore it's printed. To me, that's a lot of control
|
|
already.
|
|
|
|
You suggest Atari could save money. Atari Explorer isn't printed in NY,
|
|
but PA. If atari kept the same printer, and there's no reason to think
|
|
they'd change, thre's no savings there. Sure, they wouldn't have to pay
|
|
John, but in exchange, they have to pay someone who lives in CA, with a
|
|
very high cost of liivingrate. Moving AE inhouse also means Atari has
|
|
to get new art directors and graphics artists, which John already had on
|
|
staff, not to mention new support personnel like an advertising persons.
|
|
And, adding those new people are all on the assumption Sam's willing to
|
|
pay for new employees when there've been big layoffs. The gossip going
|
|
around now is that Sam's not even willing to authorize the salary for
|
|
an editor, and I know one person can not put out an Atari explorer
|
|
alone.
|
|
|
|
My view is clear: I think AE should be left in John Jainschigg's hands.
|
|
If any one else would like to get me on the soap box, please join in!
|
|
*huge grin*
|
|
|
|
Pattie Rayl (Atari Interface)
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
Date: 11 Jul 92 05:29:01 GMT
|
|
From: (Jeff McWilliams)
|
|
Subject: Opened my Atari 800... Fast Chip... Floating Point ?
|
|
To: <a href="mailto:Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu</a>
|
|
|
|
Chu,
|
|
|
|
Yes, Newell Industries still sells two Operating system ROMS, the
|
|
Omniview 256 and the Omnimon XL. The first has a built in 80 column E:
|
|
handler, similar to what you get when running vt10squared, Omnicom, or
|
|
Kermit65. It also has a built in Ramdisk handler for Newell 256K
|
|
upgrades, and a monitor program called ATRMON, which was used for
|
|
running CPM on the ATR8000 in 80 columns.
|
|
|
|
My friend uses it for his ATR8000 is CPM every now and then and he
|
|
really likes it. The Omniview 256 also uses the older 800 version of
|
|
the OS, to solve those compatibility problems with some software. It
|
|
also can automatically copy the OS into the RAM under the OS ROM area,
|
|
for whatever reason you would want to do this.
|
|
|
|
The Omnimon XL chip is also an 800 OS, and has a very nice machine
|
|
language monitor/debugger built in.
|
|
|
|
The address phone number is as follows:
|
|
Newell Industries
|
|
P.O Box 253
|
|
Wylie, TX 75098
|
|
214-442-6612
|
|
|
|
Jeff McWilliams
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
* Z*NET NEWSWIRE EXTRA
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
GLENDALE ATARIFEST UPDATE
|
|
The show will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13, 1992 at the
|
|
Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1041 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA. Hours
|
|
are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday.
|
|
General Admission is $6.00 per person with a two day pass costing only
|
|
$10.00. If you plan on attending and you live outside of Southern
|
|
California you may get FREE admission by sending a self-address-stamped
|
|
#10 envelope to H.A.C.K.S., 249 N. Brand Bl. #321, Glendale, CA 91203
|
|
and get a one day pass for two. SASE must be received by 9/4/92 to
|
|
insure delivery.
|
|
|
|
For those of you who will be needing lodging we have made arrangements
|
|
with the Burbank Hilton. Regular rates are $119.00 per night but if you
|
|
mention ATARI you will get a room for $65.00 per night, single or double
|
|
occupancy. Executive suites are also available for a per night charge
|
|
of $95.00. Reservations may be made by calling the Hilton at 800-643-
|
|
7400 (in California), 800-468-3576(inside the USA) or at 818-843-6000
|
|
(outside the USA). The guaranteed reservation cut-off date is August
|
|
20th. If you are quoted another rate ask for Roy Butler, Sales Manger.
|
|
|
|
This year The Glendale Show will be holding Desk Top Publishing Classes.
|
|
There will be a $25.00(US) fee for these hands-on classes. DMC (ISD)
|
|
will be holding Beginners and Advanced classes for owners and
|
|
prospective owners of Calamus SL. Classes will be held on Saturday and
|
|
Sunday. Classroom size is limited. Make your reservations by sending
|
|
a check for $25.00(US) payable to H.A.C.S.K., 249 Brand Bl. #321,
|
|
Glendale, CA 91203. Be sure to state the preference of day and class
|
|
level. A confirmation will be sent, ten days prior to the show, by
|
|
return mail stating which class you will be enrolled in. Enrollment in
|
|
the classroom will also entitle you to admission to the rest of the show
|
|
for the day of your class. Registration must be postmarked by 9/1/92.
|
|
|
|
Look for our full-page advertisements in upcoming issues of AtariUser
|
|
and Atari Explorer magazines. If you have any questions send mail to
|
|
H.A.C.K.S., 249 N. Brand Bl. #321, Glendale, CA 91203 or leave GEmail to
|
|
John.King.T or call John King Tarpinian at 818-246-7276. List of the
|
|
exhibitors and demonstrators for the THE GLENDALE SHOW
|
|
|
|
ATARI CORPORATION THE COMPUTER NETWORK COMPUTER SAFARI
|
|
OREGON RESEARCH ASSOCIATES FAIR DINKUM TECHNOLOGIES
|
|
CLEAR THINKING D.A. BRUMLEVE SUDDEN INC.
|
|
MICRO CREATIONS BRANCH ALWAYS MID-CITIES COMP-SOFT
|
|
FREEZE DRIED SOFTWARE McDONALD & ASSOCIATES WINTERTREE SOFTWARE
|
|
BEST ELECTRONICS JMG COMPO
|
|
ICD S.D.S. CODEHEAD
|
|
FAST TECHNOLOGIES LEXICOR MIGRAPH
|
|
DRAGONWARE GENIE ISD/DMC
|
|
BECKEMEYER BIO ILLUSTRATIONS GRIBNIF
|
|
ST INFORMER MAGAZINE ATARI EXPLORER MAGAZINE Z*NET
|
|
ATARIUSER MAGAZINE ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE
|
|
|
|
Plus demonstrations by:
|
|
BAREFOOT SOFTWARE STEINBERG/JONES DIGITAL F/X
|
|
GOLDLEAF SOFT-LOGIK
|
|
|
|
USER GROUP BOOTHS:
|
|
A.C.A.O.C. SOUTH BAY A.C.E. NOCCC-ST SIG
|
|
R.A.M. L.O.C.H. ACE
|
|
H.A.C.K.S. (host club, no booth)
|
|
|
|
|
|
GCR OWNERS REJOICE - MacSEE from Reeve Soft
|
|
Will every GCR user who has had problems moving files between their ST
|
|
and Mac-emulation partitions, please raise your hand. Just as I
|
|
thought, there are lots of us. We move between the ST world and the Mac
|
|
world and struggle to transport files easily and quickly between the
|
|
two. Transverter is -okay-, but it only works with MFS formatted disks
|
|
and partitions ... and as you well know, EVERYTHING is in HFS format!
|
|
But now you have an alternative!
|
|
|
|
I was just given a pre-release copy of a new program for the Atari ST
|
|
and TT systems. The program is called -MacSEE- and is created by Reeve
|
|
Soft. Simply put, the program allows you to move files between your ST
|
|
and a Macintosh (or GCR/Mac-emulated partitions) with complete ease and
|
|
efficiency. MacSEE lets you --
|
|
|
|
* Read Macintosh (HFS & MFS) volumes with your Atari ST or TT
|
|
* Write to Macintosh volumes with your Atari ST or TT
|
|
* Read and write 800K Spectre-format disks & 1.44-megabyte disks
|
|
|
|
PLUS, MacSEE supports --
|
|
|
|
* MacBinary and translated modes
|
|
* Spectre format hard disk partitions
|
|
* Macintosh format hard disk partitions
|
|
|
|
And MacSEE can be used on a wide range of removable devices, including
|
|
SyQuest hard disks.
|
|
|
|
After using the program for a few hours, I found it to do everything it
|
|
promised ... and flawlessly! It's completely GEM-drive, so all you do
|
|
is -click- through the choices, select the file you want moved from a
|
|
standard item selector window, and BOOM -- Done! No fuss, no strain, no
|
|
pain ... just simple efficiency. And in comparison to Transverter,
|
|
MacSEE is a speed demon! Hard drive partition to partition copying took
|
|
no time at all. Partition to floppy was just as fast a copying a
|
|
standard ST file.
|
|
|
|
Distribution and technical support for MacSEE is being handled by:
|
|
|
|
Compu-Seller West
|
|
220 1/2 West Main Street
|
|
St. Charles, Il 60174 (708) 513-5220
|
|
|
|
To order your copy of MacSEE, or for more information, call CompuSeller
|
|
West at 708-513-5220 and ask for Don Bahr. Tell him -Monochrome Steve-
|
|
sent you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHICAGO COMPUTERFEST '93 CANCELLED
|
|
Chicago ComputerFest by Atari 1993, a continuation of the successful
|
|
cooperative venture between the Lake County (Illinois) Atari Computer
|
|
Enthusiasts and Atari Corporation, planned for May 15 and 16th 1993 at
|
|
the Ramada Hotel O'Hare has been cancelled. Director of Communications,
|
|
Bob Brodie, stated that he expected to only make show appearances for
|
|
the remainder of 1992, for which Atari has already purchased non-
|
|
refundable discount airline tickets for him. LCACE enjoyed the
|
|
partnership with Atari to bring major Atari-oriented developers and
|
|
vendors to the Midwest, and is disappointed that Atari is apparently
|
|
unable to commit support of this event. LCACE is uncertain if they will
|
|
organize a local-oriented show such as the two shows prior to the 1991
|
|
ComputerFest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
KAO UNVEILS NEW BRANDED DISKETTE PACKAGING
|
|
Kao has unveiled its new branded diskette packaging which is intended to
|
|
enhance the company's strong and growing position in the branded
|
|
diskette market. Kao's new tiered packaging approach clearly
|
|
differentiates diskette capacity for the user. The double-density
|
|
diskettes, in silver packaging, are designed for users requiring a
|
|
standard-density product; the high-density diskettes, in gold, have
|
|
twice the storage capacity of the standard-density diskettes. The new
|
|
packaging features a -100 Percent Certified- seal, highlighting that
|
|
each diskette is individually tested for error-free performance. Each
|
|
diskette package also features a -Made in the USA- or -Made in Canada-
|
|
logo emphasizing that the diskettes were produced locally.
|
|
|
|
|
|
OS/2 2.0 SURPASSES ONE MILLION
|
|
IBM announced that its new software product, OS/2 Version 2.0, has
|
|
vaulted past the one million shipment mark. Historically popular with
|
|
corporate users, early indications are that OS/2 is also gaining
|
|
widespread acceptance in the end-user community as a result of its
|
|
power, reliability and ease-of-use. To commemorate their on-going
|
|
support and commitment to OS/2, Caterpillar was presented with the one
|
|
millionth copy at the Windows & OS/2 Show at Boston's World Trade
|
|
Center, August 18-21. Between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31, 1992, users who call
|
|
the 1-800-3-IBM-OS2 phone number can purchase OS/2 for the following
|
|
prices: Windows upgrade $79; DOS upgrade $99 and first time buyers $149.
|
|
OS/2 is an advanced 32-bit operating system that supports DOS, Windows
|
|
and OS/2 applications in a single package.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADOBE SHIPS 22 NEW TYPEFACE PACKAGES
|
|
Adobe announced the availability of 22 new typeface software packages
|
|
from the Adobe Type Library, including new packages from leading type
|
|
foundries such as Linotype, Monotype and Berthold. All packages can be
|
|
purchased from Adobe Authorized Dealers or through Font & Function,
|
|
Adobe's type catalog. Customers interested in the Adobe Type Library
|
|
should contact Adobe at 800-83-FONTS.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW EPSON ACTIONPRINTER
|
|
Epson has announced the ActionPrinter 2250, a 9-pin version of its
|
|
ActionPrinter 3250. A unique feature is a covered printhead that keeps
|
|
noise in while keeping dust, food or sticky fingers out. Operating at
|
|
a quiet 50 decibels minimizes disruption to meetings and phone calls.
|
|
At a suggested retail price of $199, it provides the sharpest possible
|
|
near-letter-quality output at draft speeds of up to 240 characters per
|
|
second. Users have a choice between Roman and Sans Serif fonts with
|
|
graphics resolution of 240 x 144 dots per inch. Epson's industry-
|
|
standard control language for 9-pin printing, ESC/P, ensures widespread
|
|
compatibility with popular software. Information about the product,
|
|
including reseller locations, can be obtained by calling 1-800-922-8911.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
* CLEVELAND FREE-NET ATARI SIG Press Release
|
|
=======================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
You may have heard about the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, or you may
|
|
even have a Free-Net account that you don't use much. Now is the time
|
|
to visit the Atari SIG and see what you're missing! The SIG has been
|
|
reorganized, bringing even more information to you and making it even
|
|
easier to access and share. The Atari SIG continues to support ALL
|
|
Atari systems: 8-bit, ST/TT, Portfolio, and Lynx. The Cleveland Free-
|
|
Net Atari SIG's 8-Bit Computers Support Area is GROWING!! Where better
|
|
to get together with fellow 8-bit Atari users? Where is there a more
|
|
extensive collection of information invaluable to any 8-bit user? The
|
|
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is THE 8-bit Atari information resource!
|
|
The new Atari SIG debuts on July 20, 1992. Information on how to join
|
|
in this expanding 8-bit user community is included later in this
|
|
document.
|
|
|
|
First, here is an overview of the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG's Main
|
|
Menu:
|
|
|
|
<<< THE ATARI SIG >>>
|
|
(go atari)
|
|
|
|
1 About the Atari SIG
|
|
- A text-file containing general information about the Atari SIG
|
|
|
|
2 SIG Menu Outline
|
|
- A map to help guide you through the extensive Atari SIG menus
|
|
|
|
3 Atari News...
|
|
- An area devoted to bringing you the latest news in the Atari world
|
|
|
|
4 General Bulletin Board
|
|
- A place for discussion among all SIG members
|
|
|
|
5 8-Bit Computers Support Area...
|
|
- See below! Once you explore here, you may never want to leave!
|
|
|
|
6 16/32-Bit Computers Support Area...
|
|
- The area for ST/TT users
|
|
|
|
7 Portfolio Support Area...
|
|
- The area for Portfolio users
|
|
|
|
8 Lynx Support Area...
|
|
- The area for Lynx players
|
|
|
|
9 Wanted & For Sale Board
|
|
- A place to buy and sell Atari equipment of all kinds
|
|
|
|
10 Voting Booth...
|
|
- A place for SIG members to make their voices heard
|
|
|
|
11 Atari Library...
|
|
- A vast store of general Atari information
|
|
|
|
12 Help-Line (Q & A)
|
|
- A place to challenge the SIGOps with technical questions
|
|
|
|
13 SIG Directory Services...
|
|
- The names of all SIG members can be found here
|
|
|
|
Now, let's take a look at the new, expanded 8-BIT COMPUTERS SUPPORT
|
|
AREA:
|
|
|
|
The 8-Bit Computers Support Area has something for everyone, from the
|
|
new owner to the experienced and advanced user and programmer of the
|
|
8-bit Atari computers. Here is a small overview of each section and its
|
|
contents:
|
|
|
|
1. About this Support Area
|
|
- What you are reading now.
|
|
|
|
2. The 8-Bit Atari Computer
|
|
- A fairly detailed historical description of the 8-bit Atari
|
|
computer, along with a brief overview of what makes the system so
|
|
popular.
|
|
|
|
3. FAQ List
|
|
- The Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ) list which is posted
|
|
periodically to Usenet's 8-bit Atari newsgroup, comp.sys.atari.
|
|
8bit.
|
|
|
|
4. 8-Bit News
|
|
- The place to find the latest announcements in the 8-bit Atari
|
|
world.
|
|
|
|
5. Bulletin Board
|
|
- A general discussion board just for you and your fellow 8-bit
|
|
Atari users!
|
|
|
|
6. Programming Forum...
|
|
Led by the Atari SIG's programmer-in-residence, Peter Haller
|
|
|
|
The 8-bit is still a popular choice among programmers. The 8-bit Atari
|
|
computers allow for a level of control over the hardware that is both
|
|
straight-forward and powerful. Even though these machines have gone out
|
|
of production, the dedicated user base support these machines. This
|
|
forum is for those programmers - both novice and the die-hard hackers
|
|
- to share secrets, ideas, problems, and remember the 'good ol'e days'.
|
|
|
|
The 8-Bit Programming Forum is broken down into the following areas:
|
|
|
|
1. About this Forum - You're reading it!
|
|
|
|
2. 8-Bit Programming FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) List - the name
|
|
says it all! This will hopefully release the open forums from the
|
|
simple and common questions that newcommers have. This list will be
|
|
updated at the beginning of every month.
|
|
|
|
3. Resource Center - This is where you will find code samples, helpful
|
|
hints, and the best PD development tools info, among other things.
|
|
Post your neat little hacks in here for all to enjoy. If a group
|
|
project ever gets started, then this is where all the code will be
|
|
placed. This is a moderated area, so we can keep it clean. This
|
|
newsgroup may eventually expand into a submenu depending on the
|
|
amount of information it contains.
|
|
|
|
4. 8-Bit Hacking Board - This is the catch all area. Any programming
|
|
related questions - from BASIC to Assembly - will be fair game here.
|
|
This area is unmoderated, so watch the language.
|
|
|
|
5. The Asylum - Grab a Jolt and call up Dominos! This is the General
|
|
Programmers Forum of the Atari SIG. All programmers are welcome.
|
|
Take a browse, flame at your machine, or just listen in on Atari
|
|
related programming subject. This is totally and completely
|
|
unmoderated, so if you can't take it...
|
|
|
|
6. Product Summaries - A place for 8-bit users to share shorter product
|
|
summaries which make obtaining a new product that much less of a
|
|
hassle
|
|
|
|
7. Product Reviews - One of the biggest assets of the 8-bit area. This
|
|
board holds reviews of many of the most popular products available
|
|
for the 8-bit Atari (and some of the duds too). Check here before
|
|
making your purchase, or write reviews for the SIG for the benefit of
|
|
others.
|
|
|
|
8. Tips & Tricks - A place for you to share those neat little things
|
|
you've discovered while using your computer that make the system even
|
|
more enjoyable.
|
|
|
|
9. File Area... The 8-Bit File Area is here to make it as easy as
|
|
possible for you to upload and download public domain and shareware
|
|
files to and from the Internet's Atari Archive, located at the
|
|
University of Michigan. Here is a small overview of each section and
|
|
its contents:
|
|
|
|
1. About this File Area
|
|
- What you are reading now.
|
|
|
|
2. How to Send & Receive Files
|
|
- Instructions for how to transfer files between your 8-bit Atari
|
|
and your Free-Net account.
|
|
|
|
3. BART Instructions
|
|
- These are the instructions for using BART - the file-server used
|
|
to retrieve files from the Archive to your Free-Net account. Also
|
|
included is the address to which you can send files to contribute
|
|
to the Archive.
|
|
|
|
4. File Listing
|
|
- The listing of 8-bit Atari files available from the Archive.
|
|
|
|
5. Atari File Request Board
|
|
- A place for you to ask your fellow SIG members for help in
|
|
locating desired PD or shareware files that are not available on
|
|
the Archive.
|
|
|
|
6. Atari File Help Board
|
|
- A place for you to discuss any problems you may have in
|
|
transferring files between the Atari Archive, your Free-Net
|
|
account, and your Atari computer.
|
|
|
|
11. Info-Atari8 Digest
|
|
- The Internet's comp.sys.atari.8bit echo - this is the place to
|
|
read it!
|
|
|
|
12. Z*Magazine
|
|
- Your source for the one and only International Atari 8-Bit
|
|
Online Magazine. This immense resource will eventually hold the
|
|
ENTIRE, 210+ issue library of Z*Magazine, the grandfather of all
|
|
Atari online magazines, going back to May 1986. Where else can
|
|
you find a resource like this?
|
|
|
|
13. 8-Bit Computer User Directory
|
|
- Be sure to add your name to this directory and be counted as one
|
|
of the many 8-bit Atari users of the SIG.
|
|
|
|
The Atari SIG also periodically takes advantage of the Free-Net's
|
|
conferencing ability to hold real-time, online Atari conferences.
|
|
Recent conferences included a chat with the Moderatator of the
|
|
University of Michigan Atari Archive, Jeff Weiner.
|
|
|
|
In addition, the Cleveland Free-Net provides Internet mail access, plus
|
|
full access to Usenet, including the newsgroup comp.sys.atari.8bit.
|
|
|
|
About the Cleveland Free-Net, and How to join:
|
|
|
|
The Cleveland Free-Net is the primary system in the ever-expanding NPTN,
|
|
the National Public Telecomputing Network. Get in on the action in this
|
|
futuristic network! Here's how to access the Cleveland Free-Net: With
|
|
modem, dial (216) 368-3888, 300/1200/2400 bps Or from the Internet,
|
|
telnet freenet-in-b.cwru.edu (129.22.8.75). When connected, you may
|
|
either browse the system, or you may apply for your Cleveland Free-Net
|
|
account. Application is easy, and of course it's free! Finally, type
|
|
-go atari-!!!
|
|
|
|
For more information on the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG, write to:
|
|
|
|
The Atari SIG
|
|
P.O. Box 364
|
|
Mentor, OH 44061 U.S.A.
|
|
|
|
or Internet e-mail to
|
|
|
|
<a href="mailto:xx004@cleveland.freenet.edu?subject=Re:%20Z*Magazine:%20%203-Sep-92%20#210">xx004@cleveland.freenet.edu</a>
|
|
|
|
See you on the Free-Net!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | DUSSELDORF REPORT
|
|
| | | Story by John Nagy, Courtesy AtariUser Magazine
|
|
| | | ----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Copyright (c)1992, AtariUser Magazine. MAY NOT BE REPRINTED WITHOUT
|
|
WRITTEN PERMISSION OF QUILL PUBLISHING.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atari's Newest Machine is introduced in German Atari Fair
|
|
|
|
The floor of the world's largest annual Atari fair had -Falcons all over
|
|
the floor of the show, in almost every booth,- according to Nathan
|
|
Potechin of DMC Publishing, Inc., who gave AtariUser eyewitness accounts
|
|
during the show. Other estimates said that about 20 Falcons were
|
|
roosting throughout the sprawling conference center. Many show-goers
|
|
thought they were looking at regular 1040's since the Falcons on display
|
|
were not black as originally thought.
|
|
|
|
The Dusseldorf, Germany locale for Atari Messe was again inundated with
|
|
Atari--the huge trade show spans roughly four football fields of floor
|
|
space. Nathan reported that the show this year (August 21-23) is
|
|
similar in size and attendance to last year's event, which brought
|
|
30,000 of the faithful to visit 180 vendors.
|
|
|
|
The announcement of the Falcon 030 was the first order of business at
|
|
Dusseldorf. The crowds knew what they were coming to see after months
|
|
of nearly-accurate profiles of the coming machine were offered by most
|
|
of the Atari media, and the excitement was high as they saw it
|
|
firsthand.
|
|
|
|
However, numerous reports have been made by developers and attendees
|
|
that indicate that the Falcon is not quite ready to fly. While many
|
|
existing software products are said to run flawlessly and swiftly,
|
|
reports of spectacular crashes when running software already loaded on
|
|
the demo units hard drives blemished the premier.
|
|
|
|
In any case, many vendors at AtariMesse had new applications that
|
|
exposed the power and features that are new on the Falcon 030. DMC
|
|
Publishing (Calamus) again had the largest booth on the floor, spanning
|
|
4,000 square feet with about 40 people working in it alone. Other large
|
|
booths included TMS, Matrix, 3K, and Maxxon. Many new products were
|
|
shown, and AtariUser will report on them in detail in our next issue.
|
|
|
|
Prices and Plans
|
|
|
|
The -base- Falcon 030 will retail for $799 in the USA in a one-megabyte
|
|
configuration. The next option up the scale will be a four-megabyte RAM
|
|
Falcon with 65 megabyte hard drive at $1,399. Availability in the US is
|
|
slated for -October- in limited quantities. The FCC type acceptance for
|
|
domestic sales is not yet in hand, but is predicted to be a sure thing
|
|
this time, due to extensive tests done in-house at Atari.
|
|
|
|
Marketing plans for the new machine in the USA were also revealed in
|
|
Germany. Sam Tramiel told dealers and developers at Atari Messe that
|
|
the US launch will be via regional marketing build-ups. Individual
|
|
regions of the USA will be targeted, one at a time, with major -dog and
|
|
pony shows- to both woo and educate computer dealers. Significant co-op
|
|
advertising money will be offered to dealers who join in the roll-out.
|
|
Once enough regions are served by a new operating dealer network, Atari
|
|
will launch a national advertising campaign.
|
|
|
|
Industry observers suggest that this plan will make the most of Atari's
|
|
cash and production resources. By serving a small but growing dealer
|
|
network with product, on-board Falcon dealers can be more assured of
|
|
delivery of product during the build-out stages of the plan. Dealers
|
|
will help and be helped in promotional costs, enabling Atari to make a
|
|
bigger splash in smaller ponds with less of their own money, and
|
|
allowing Atari's resources to go towards increasing production of Falcon
|
|
computers. As production and sales increase, so will revenues with
|
|
which to attack new regions. Meanwhile, Falcon specific software will
|
|
mature and present a solid base for the later national marketing
|
|
efforts, to come in 1993.
|
|
|
|
The Word on the Bird
|
|
|
|
Atari's CEO Sam Tramiel made conference appearances on the GEnie and
|
|
Delphi telecommunication networks the week before AtariMesse, giving the
|
|
fans worldwide a chance to -talk- to him -live.- Communicating via
|
|
modem to the conferences, the audience could ask questions directly of
|
|
Sam and the Atari technical team, and get answers in real time. The
|
|
result was the best look we've had to date at the intention and
|
|
potential of Atari and the new Falcon.
|
|
|
|
The corporate view of the Falcon 030 is that it exceeds all of the
|
|
multimedia expectations of the computer buying public, while being an
|
|
exceptional value as a home computer system. Sam took fire on the
|
|
conferences over the 1040 style case, which is seen by some as a curse.
|
|
Sam reiterated the Atari position that the Falcon 030 is the consumer/
|
|
introductory unit of a new series of computers, and alluded to a 68040
|
|
to come, but would say no more.
|
|
|
|
Conversely, Sam Tramiel said of sales and advertising of the current
|
|
line of Atari computers: -We felt that the present ST/STE family was not
|
|
strong enough to market in the US. We have been waiting for this new
|
|
product, and we do plan to support it and market it in the US. It will
|
|
be a hard battle, but we will put a good effort behind it.- He added
|
|
that the STe and especially the TT lines will continue to be produced
|
|
and supported.
|
|
|
|
More:
|
|
|
|
||| MultiTOS is a combination of rom and disk based software. Most well
|
|
written applications seem to work fine. MultiTOS will be available
|
|
as an upgrade for the TT030 and future 68030 and above machines.
|
|
|
|
||| Bundled software will be packaged with the Atari Falcon030 will
|
|
include games written especially for the Atari Falcon030, including
|
|
LandMines and a BreakOut kind of game. There will also be a Rolodex
|
|
type of application called Cal/Apt, a calculator application called
|
|
ProCalc, and a Talking Clock desk accessory.
|
|
|
|
||| New STe compatible analog joysticks will have 15 buttons, with three
|
|
fire buttons and a 12 key keypad.
|
|
|
|
||| A true expansion bus via a direct processor slot with all of the
|
|
necessary data and control lines to allow plugging in optional third
|
|
party coprocessor boards. This will allow more complete PC and Mac
|
|
emulators, for example.
|
|
|
|
||| According to Sam, there are some 30 new developers that are
|
|
producing software for the Atari Falcon. Several of the developers
|
|
are also NeXT developers.
|
|
|
|
||| Contrary to a few scare rumors, the MIDI and cartridge ports are
|
|
still standard. However, there is no external floppy connector for
|
|
a second disk drive, and no ACSI/DMA port for Atari brand hard
|
|
drives and laser printers. Sam explains that Atari opted for the
|
|
industry standard and faster SCSI II. Third party companies have
|
|
developed converter boxes to allow the SLM printers to connect to
|
|
the Atari Falcon 030.
|
|
|
|
Memory Matters
|
|
|
|
The Falcon 030 can have 1, 4 or 14 megabytes of RAM. The memory is
|
|
addressed continuously, and any application or MultiTOS can see all the
|
|
memory at once. Memory upgrades will be through a -Atari Falcon- ram
|
|
board. There are no memory controllers on the board like on the TT, and
|
|
Atari's pricing on the RAM will be -very competitive.- The RAM in the
|
|
Falcon is 32-bit wide, and the limited total RAM configurations allow
|
|
faster memory access than other multiples.
|
|
|
|
Why 14 instead of 16 or more megabytes? In order to maintain a high
|
|
degree of compatibility with ST software, a 16 meg window was maintained
|
|
despite the ability of the 68030 chip to -see- far more memory. The top
|
|
two meg of the 16 meg a 68000 is capable of addressing are mapped as I/O
|
|
device handling areas, so they are not used by the Falcon either. The
|
|
result is a lot of RAM that is used just like ST memory instead of the
|
|
switching scheme used in the TT.
|
|
|
|
Sightings
|
|
|
|
The Atari Falcon030 will work with any VGA, or Atari ST Color Monitor...
|
|
SC1224 or SC1435. The 16 bit True Color (non-palette) mode will work in
|
|
640 x 480 interlaced on a TV or ST style monitor. A special cable will
|
|
let you use an older ST monitor. True Color will also work in 320 x 480
|
|
on VGA monitors. The BLiTTER Chip has been sped up to 16 MHz to handle
|
|
the extra bandwidth and does double duty for fast hard drive access.
|
|
|
|
The Falcon 030 is easily -Genlockable- for multimedia and TV use; a
|
|
cheap third-party external device is required to strip the sync from the
|
|
external signal.
|
|
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
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*Mag International Atari Online Magazine is an Atari publication
|
|
covering the 8-Bit 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*Mag, Z*Net
|
|
News Service, Z*Net International, Rovac, Z*Net Atari Online and Z*Net
|
|
Publishing are copyright (c)1985-1992, Syndicate Publishing, Rovac
|
|
Industries Incorporated, Post Office Box 59, Middlesex, New Jersey,
|
|
08846-0059, Voice: (908) 968-2024, BBS: (908) 968-8148, (510) 373-6792.
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
Z*Magazine Atari 8-Bit Online Magazine
|
|
Copyright (c)1992, Rovac Industries, Inc...
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------
|