  
                  *---== ST REPORT ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
                         """""""""""""""""""""""""
                                       
                                       
                     "The Original Online ST Magazine"
                      _______________________________
 
 
  November 03, 1989                                       Vol III  No.112
  =======================================================================
  
                         ST Report Online Magazine
                        __________________________
                          Post Office Box   6672
                          Jacksonville,  Florida
                               32205 ~ 6672
  
                               R.F. Mariano
                            Publisher - Editor
                 _________________________________________
                   Voice: 904-783-3319  10 AM - 4 PM EDT
                     BBS:  904-786-4176   12-24-96 HST
                    FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EDT
                 _________________________________________
  
                          **  F-NET NODE 350  **
              Our support BBS carries ALL issues of STReport
                                    and
               An International list of private BBS systems
               carrying STReport for their users  enjoyment

    __________________________________________________________________ 
    
 > Issue: #112 STReport        The Online Magazine of Choice! 
   -------------------- 
     - The Editors' Podium                   - CPU REPORT
     - Anderson Trust Fund                   - STALKER A Review
     - TOS 1.4 Features                      - PAGESTREAM 1.8 "SOLID"

         --==**  CALAMUS NOW BUNDLED WITH MEGA COMPUTERS!  **==--
           --==*** EIGHT TT COMPUTERS TO BE AT COMDEX!! ***==--
    
  =======================================================================
       AVAILABLE ON:      COMP-U-SERVE  ~  DELPHI  ~  GENIE  ~  BIX
  =======================================================================
    
 > The Editor's Podium

     From the  amount of  letters (US  Mail) we received concerning the so-
 called resurgence of Atari in the US and  our use  of the  "Atari is back"
 slogan, we  simply must  apologize.   It now appears that the real push is
 lurking somewhere in the 'wings' along  with Salerno's  "AIRCRAFT CARRIER"
 ("Atari is  like a huge aircraft carrier, slowly turning into the wind. It
 is now ready to launch its aircraft, (the  new products)".)     How I ever
 allowed myself  to be  sucked in by that story is beyond me.  It only goes
 to show how far an individual will go when they believe in a product.  The
 old expression  still fits  this outfit.   The computer products you love,
 provided by a company easy to dislike.   

     After meeting Sig  Hartmann  and  Bob  Brodie  at  the  WAACE  Show, I
 honestly felt  there was  light at  the end  of the tunnel.  Now, with the
 advent of Sig's 'retirement', and with Bob Brodie  so heavily  involved in
 serving the  attention starved  Usergroups, there  are few,  if any, folks
 with the experience of  knowing what  its really  like "in  the trenches".
 Its easy  to see  that most  of Atari's  people have no idea what Atari is
 like outside of California when one follows the online dialog. 

     It appears that Salerno has played the game at Atari  well.   Since he
 wants so  to be  'front and  center' we'll  be happy to oblige him.  After
 all, he is alleged  to be  "the man"  who answers  <only> to  Sam Tramiel.
 Have  questions  or  suggestions?    Send  'em to Antonio Salerno.  You're
 guaranteed to receive 'prompt and courteous' replies.

     Congratulations are in order for John  Townsend, he  has been promoted
 to  Leonard's  Dept.,  engineering...    and  a  new  title to go with the
 promotion "Junior Engineer".  Good luck  John, keep  doing what  you do so
 well and its a cinch you'll go far.

     Hopefully, the  aura of  promise and  the rumble  of rumor surrounding
 Atari and Comdex will bring more positive results for the userbase than in
 the past,  as most  folks know,  we have heard all the hype and conjecture
 from the past shows.  However, being a dyed in the wool optimist, we shall
 wait and  see with  an attitude of "ok, let's see the big doings.. show us
 how its really done".  We have been hearing the old expression; "You ain't
 seen nuthin'  yet!"   As for us, well... we hope it happens THIS TIME, the
 entire US market NEEDS the shot in the arm..   Atari simply  must get back
 on the  beam.  They are simply spending too much time playing games with..
 and feeding double talk to the US Marketplace.



                                                  Ralph....





  **********************************************************************


                    :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT:
                     _________________________________

      To sign up for GEnie service: Call: (with modem) 800-638-8369.

               Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that).
                         Wait for the U#= prompt.
                    Type XJM11877,GEnie and hit RETURN.
             The system will prompt you for your information.


                THE GENIE ATARI ST ROUNDTABLE - AN OVERVIEW
                ___________________________________________

 The Roundtable is an area of GEnie specifically  set aside  for owners and
 users of Atari ST computers, although all are welcome to participate.

 There are  three main  sections to the Roundtable: the Bulletin Board, the
 Software Library and the Real Time Conference area.

 The Bulletin Board contains messages from Roundtable members  on a variety
 of Topics,  organized under  several Categories.   These  messages are all
 Open and available for all to read (GEnie Mail should be used for private
 messages).  

 If you have a question, comment, hot rumor or an answer to  someone else's
 question, the Bulletin Board is the place to share it.

 The Software  Library is  where we  keep the  Public Domain software files
 that are available to all Roundtable members.   You can  'download' any of
 these files  to your own computer system by using a Terminal Program which
 uses the 'XMODEM' file-transfer method.  You can also share  your favorite
 Public Domain  programs and  files   with   other  Roundtable  members  by
 'uploading' them to the Software Library. Uploading on  GEnie is  FREE, so
 you are encouraged to participate and help your Roundtable grow.

 The Real  Time Conference  is an area where two or more Roundtable members
 may get together and 'talk' in    'real-time'.    You  can  participate in
 organized  conferences  with  special  guests,  drop in on our weekly Open
 COnference, or simply join  in  on  an  impromptu  chat  session.   Unlike
 posting messages  or Mail  for other  members to  read at some later time,
 everyone in the Conference area can see what you type immediately, and can
 respond to you right away, in an 'electronic conversation'.




  **********************************************************************




 > John Anderson Trust Fund STR Spotlight  Trust Fund for the Children
   ======================================




         Good NEWS! The Anderson Trust Fund has been established.
         =======================================================

     A trust fund for the Anderson children has been established by Ziff
 Communications Company; donations may be sent to:


                          The Anderson Trust Fund
                              c/o Nancy Woods
                       Ziff Communications Company 
                        Human Resource Department 
                   One Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016.






    __________________________________________________________________


  
  
 > CPU REPORT
   ==========

   Issue # 39
   ----------

  
 by Michael Arthur

  
 Remember When.... 
  
       In 1983, IBM released a version of their VMS/CMS mainframe operating
 system for  the IBM  PC XT  which could use 512K of system RAM, as well as
 over 4 Megabytes of disk storage as Virtual Memory, and in 1984,  when IBM
 licensed Interactive  Systems Corp.  to port a single-user version of Unix
 for DEC VAXes, called PC/IX, to the IBM PC XT? 
  
  
 CPU Systems Roundup XIV
 =======================
  
  
       CD-ROMs, WORM Drives, Floptical Disks, and the Future of Storage 
       ---------------------------------------------------------------- 
  
  
       In the time of the computer  industry, advances  in chip technology,
 graphics, and  RAM have occurred at an incredible rate.  While these areas
 are very important, one field which  (although  it  is  just  as  vital to
 computers)  has  not  achieved  the  level of recognition as areas such as
 microprocessors  is  the  matter  of  storing  all  the  information  that
 computers handle. 
  
       As  computers  became  more  powerful,  operating  systems gained in
 capabilities, and  applications had  more features,  the need  for ways to
 store the data generated by all these computers grew exponentially.  While
 Five Megabyte  hard disks  were reserved  for power users as late as 1985,
 now 20-40 Meg hard drives are the norm, with 150-300 Meg Hard drives being
 the Power User's dream.  But as  computers  improve  even  more,  it  is a
 certainty that  even MORE  storage will be needed.  In the past few years,
 four new technologies have emerged to fill the present and future need for
 information storage:  CD-ROMs, WORMs, Bernoulli Drives, and most recently,
 Magneto-Optical disks. 
   
       CD-ROM's (or Compact Disk - Read Only Memory) read data from Compact
 Disks through a pretty interesting process.  First,  a laser  emits a beam
 of light  which is  reflected by  a mirror  into an  objective lens, which
 focuses it onto the optical disk.  Embedded  into the  disk are  tiny pits
 (or dots),  and when  the disk  is rotated under the lens, the raised pits
 reflect a greater intensity of light back to the lens than the rest of the
 disk.  This increase in intensity is then  detected by  the read  head, to
 denote the  digital data  stored on the disk.  Laser technology is used to
 pack an enormous number of "dots"  onto the  disk, resulting  in that vast
 amounts of data are densely compressed in Compact Disks.  CD-ROMs are made
 in an  unconventional manner, with disks being formed by stamping them, or
 cutting them out of a smooth sheet of plastic film.  This, by the  way, is
 exactly how phonograph records are made in the music industry.... 
  
       CD-ROMs might be perfect for storing large databases of general info
 that  doesn't  require  revision  often  (such as encyclopedias, digitized
 sounds, and dictionaries), but  if you need to store  huge amounts of your
 OWN data (such as a  series of Auto Cad 3-D files with  full schematics of
 the space shuttle, or a complete  catalog of ALL the  source code produced
 by  a  programming  team from the  program's inception)  for archiving  or
 personal reference.  In this case, WORM (or Write Once, Read Many) drives 
 may be the only option. 
  
       WORM drives read data  in a  fashion similar  to CD-ROM  drives, but
 they can also write data to disk (though this writing is permanent;  hence
 the term,  "Write Once Read Many").  This is done by using a laser to burn
 holes directly onto the surface of  the disk.   Since  these holes reflect
 much less  light than  intact disk  areas, the  decrease in beam intensity
 which is caused is used to denote the data stored  on the  disk.   As with
 CD-ROMs, the  lasers are  used to mark a great number of tiny holes in the
 relatively small area of the disk, causing great  information density, and
 greater data storage capabilities.... 
  
       Most of  us identify Bernoulli drives with the 20 Megabyte Removable
 Cartridges made by Iomega Corporation.  This technology,  though, is based
 on a principle of physics that is used everyday.... 
  
       Bernoulli's Principle states that an increase in the flow of a fluid
 on one  side of  a surface  produces less  pressure on the other side, and
 that a decrease in fluid flow  on  one  side  results  in  an  increase in
 pressure on  the other side.  For example, a plane's wings are made so the
 speed of the airflow below the wing is  greater than  the speed  above it,
 resulting that  the pressure  below the  wing is greater than the pressure
 above it, producing a lift that helps the plane take off. 
  
       Iomega used this principle in the Bernoulli Box by having a flexible
 magnetic disk rotate very closely to a circular  plate which  contains the
 magnetic read/write  heads.  When the disk is spinning, the circular plate
 draws in and manipulates air flow, lifting the  disk up  towards the plate
 close enough  that the  head to disk spacing is VERY small (50 microns for
 the Bernoulli Box).  Since the magnetic head  does not  actually touch the
 disk (doing  so would  create pressure  that would push the disk away from
 it, and  nullify  the  Bernoulli  effect),  head  crashes  are practically
 impossible.  Also, since the disk is closely (but safely) aligned with the
 magnetic head,  more data  can be  stored and accessed, since the head can
 accurately read/write from more tracks  than  otherwise  possible.   Also,
 given the  general basis  of this method, Bernoulli technology can be used
 with other storage methods, in order to achieve even MORE reliable ways of
 storing MUCH more data than before.... 
  
  
        Magneto-Optical Drives:  The NeXT Generation, and a New Order 
        ------------------------------------------------------------- 
  
  
       Although these three technologies  will be  important, most  of them
 deal with  archival storage,  or storing massive amounts of data for later
 retrieval.   Recently  introduced,  however,  magneto-optical  drives seem
 certain to revolutionize the area of floppy disk storage.  The most famous
 of these drives is the Canon drive that comes with the NeXT Computer. 
   
       The disks  for the NeXT drive use the same material as CD-ROM disks,
 with a reflective "mirror" layer on top of a plastic film.  NeXT disks use
 a single laser to both read and write data. 
  
       To write data to the disk, first the drive applies  a magnetic field
 to the  disk.   This field  is oriented to write the binary digit 0 on the
 disk.  Then, a laser is used to heat a sector on  the mirror  layer to its
 Curie point,  or the temperature at which the crystals in the mirror layer
 change their polarity to match that of the magnetic field.  This makes all
 binary  data  in  the  sector  consist  of 0s.  The drive then orients the
 magnetic field to write the binary digit 1 on the  drive.   The laser then
 heats all the sector's areas where a bit must be set to a 1, to the mirror
 layer's Curie point. 
  
       To read  data onto  the disk,  the drive  first removes the magnetic
 field.  When it uses the laser to aim a beam of light at the mirror layer,
 a phenomenon known as the Kerr  effect  causes  the  crystal  alignment to
 alter  the  polarization  of  the  reflected  beam.    The  amount of beam
 polarization determines its intensity, and a polarizing filter in the read
 head then determines whether a 0 or a 1 was read on the disk  by the level
 of beam intensity.  As in CD-ROMs, lasers enable a large amount of data to
 be written in a very small space. 
   
       Several  Magneto-Optical  disk  drives  have  been  introduced, most
 providing 512 - 640 Megabytes of Storage per  Cartridge.   However, Maxtor
 has introduced  a drive capable of storing more than 870 Megs of data on a
 single cartridge, with the potential for  1  Gigabyte  (or  1024  Megs) of
 storage.  Given that it costs around $6000, though, it seems that there is
 still room  for improvement.   For  example, while the NeXT Computer shows
 many of the potential uses  for  Magneto-Optical  technology,  at  $3000 a
 drive  (and  $100  for  a  single  cartridge),  it  is  too  expensive for
 conventional microcomputer use. 
   
       Targeted at  bringing  Magneto-Optical  technology  to  the personal
 computer arena,  Insite Peripherals  has developed  the Insite I235 Drive,
 which uses removable 3 1/2 Inch disks called "Flopticals", each capable of
 storing  up  to  25  Mb  of  data.    Designed  by Jim Shugart (one of the
 engineers behind the original 5 1/4 inch floppy disk) Floptical  disks are
 very similar  to high-density  floppy disks,  which are capable of holding
 1.44 Megs of data, and can be used by any computer with an SCSI interface.

        One serious  problem with current floppy disks is that they tend to
 wobble, making it difficult for the magnetic read/write heads to track the
 data on the disk  accurately.   So as  to make  it easier  for the drive's
 magnetic heads,  floppy disks  always have  had a limited amount of tracks
 per inch.  Insite Peripherals solved  this by  embedding an  optical servo
 track (using  lasers to precisely etch the track markers) onto the surface
 of conventional high-density disks.  An infrared LED is used to follow the
 tracks, so magnetic heads can be aligned more  precisely, preventing disks
 from wobbling.   Since the read/write heads are made more accurate, lasers
 can etch tracks on the disk more densely,  and the  LED can  easily follow
 the tracks,  this allows MANY more tracks (15,000 per inch, as compared to
 regular 3 1/2 Inch disks, which only hold 135 tracks per inch)  to be used
 on Floptical  Disks.   Roughly translated,  this means that MUCH more data
 can be quickly stored and accessed from disk. 
  
       In fact, Insite's drives have the  same seek  time (65 milliseconds)
 as a  Seagate 225 hard drive, and the I235 is planned to match the cost of
 Seagate's SCSI 20 Meg Hard Disk  (at $300.00  to OEM/VARs),  so it  can go
 head to head with current hard disk technology.... 
   
       Most  of  us  take  disk  storage technology for granted.  While the
 newest computer, powerhouse  microchip,  or  the  latest  and  greatest in
 Display Graphics  or sound  causes excitement in all computer enthusiasts,
 many never really take more than a passing interest in what we  all use to
 store the most important aspect of any computer:  Data.  Whether it be the
 IRS 1040 Form, the Church Newsletter, or PC Ditto.  Except of course, when
 the ancient  technology used  in 95  percent of current hard drives fails,
 causing an interesting phenomenon known as a hard disk crash.   Since many
 new  mass  storage  technologies  have  the  ability  to both provide more
 storage space, but to protect our systems from the "flaws" of current hard
 disk drives, it is tragic that they have not received greater recognition.
  
       But while information storage has received relatively little acclaim
 in the computer field, it is unquestionably a vital part of all computers,
 both now and in the future.... 
  
  
 But ponder, if you will, these questions: 
  
 1)   With the  advent of Magneto-Optical disk Drives, will hard drives, as
     we know them, become obsolete? 
  
 2)  How many ST Applications  that use  the GEM  Graphical Environment are
     truly GEM-compliant, to the extent where they can utilize non-standard
     video options such as Image Systems' 1024*768 Color Board for  the ST,
     given that  many ST  GEM programs even assume that only Low Resolution
     will ever be able to provide 16 displayable colors or more? 
  
  
  
  
 CPU REPORT CONFIDENTIAL
 ======================= 
  
  
 Los Altos, CA       Paul Heckel, designer of Zoomracks (a database program
 -------------       for the Atari ST/IBM), has filed a suit against Apple 
                     Computer, with the charge that HyperCard violates 
                     Patent Number 4,486,857, which deals with how data can
                     be separated into hypertext-like fields, and displayed
                     as "racks", or stacked windows containing the fields. 
  
                     Created in 1985, Zoomracks innovated this concept of 
                     a graphical database on the Atari ST about two years 
                     before Apple developed HyperCard.  Paul Heckel has 
                     chosen to do this after a two-year effort to negotiate
                     a settlement with Apple failed.  Interestingly, his 
                     lawyer is representing him on a contingency basis, 
                     because of the weak financial condition of Quickview 
                     Systems, his company.  And given the state of Apple's 
                     "small" Legal Corps.... 
  
 Wood Dale, IL       NEC is now shipping the ProSpeed CSX Laptop, the first
 -------------       Color Laptop now available.  Using a 16 MHZ 80386 with
                     2 Megs of RAM and an internal hard drive as standard, 
                     it supports VGA's 640*480 mode with the ability to 
                     display up to 16 colors.  But as it also weighs about 
                     20 pounds, and (like Apple's Mac Portable) is too big 
                     for use in the normal airplane, and given that Zenith,
                     Toshiba, and several other companies are readying to 
                     introduce Color Laptops, the ProSpeed may not steal 
                     the market so quickly.  Cost:  $8500.00.... 
  
 San Francisco, CA   The Pacific Stock Exchange has asked the Government 
 -----------------   for permission to trade in futures for 256K and 1 Meg 
                     DRAM chips, just as it now offers futures for grain, 
                     cotton, and pork bellies.  If accepted, this could 
                     help to not only prevent "flooding the market" with 
                     cheap DRAM chips to wipe out the competition, but to 
                     prevent another DRAM Chip Shortage.  If "chip futures"
                     are allowed for these DRAM chips, then other stock 
                     exchanges are expected to trade in futures for both 
                     SRAM (Static RAM) chips, and the growing field of new 
                     4 Meg DRAM chips.... 
  
 Armonk, NY          IBM has introduced new versions of its Enterprise 
 ----------          System/3090 mainframe line, which are both 50 percent 
                     faster than previous machines, and come with new 
                     software to optimize mass storage efficiency, and 
                     processor management. 
  
                     Interestingly enough, IBM's new models were introduced
                     about a week after Tandem Computers released their new
                     Cyclone, an IBM 3090 Compatible mainframe using 16 
                     processors which, while being just as fast as the IBM 
                     3090, is only half its price.  Cost:  $2-9 Million....
  
                     The Tandem Cyclone may have the same good fortunes 
                     that Amdahl's IBM Mainframe clones did in the 1970s, 
                     in seizing a chunk of IBM's main market.  However, 
                     given the advantages of IBM's SAA (or Systems 
                     Applications Architecture) strategy, and given that 
                     Amdahl proved that getting a foothold in the mainframe
                     market is MUCH easier than keeping it.... 






    __________________________________________________________________
  
  


 > TOS 1.4 STR Tech Notes   TOS 1.4.... The "Rainbow" TOS....
   ======================



 =========================================================================
 (C) 1989 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the  Atari Roundtables.   May be
 reprinted only  with this  notice intact.   The Atari Roundtables on GEnie
 are    *official*    information    services    of    Atari   Corporation.
 =========================================================================





                      ATARI RAINBOW TOS ADDENDUM
                  =================================
  
   NOTICE: Rainbow TOS must be installed by an authorized Atari dealer.
  
  
 The  new  Rainbow  TOS  provides  many improvements to your computer's GEM
 Desktop operating speed and make your computer easier to use.
  
 To make sure you have Rainbow TOS installed  in your  computer, select the
 Desktop Info option from the Desk menu.  This dialog box appears.

  
                 ---------------------------------------
                 |   GEM, Graphic Environment Manager  |
                 |                TOS                  |
                 |   ------------------------------    |
                 |                /|\                  |
                 |               ATARI                 |
                 |                                     |
                 |     Copyright 1985,86,87,88,89      |
                 |         Atari Corporation           |
                 |       Digital Research, Inc.        |
                 |        All Rights Reserved          |
                 |                                     |
                 |             ----------              |
                 |            |    OK    |             |
                 |             ----------              |
                  -------------------------------------
  
  
  File Selector (formerly Item Selector)
  --------------------------------------
  
 Two important  changes affect this dialog box.  One is the addition of the
 Drive Selector.  The other is improved use of wildcard characters.
  
 The Drive Selector displays drive identifier letters A  through P.   Click
 on  a  letter  to  select  that  drive.    Drive  identifiers representing
 uninstalled drives appear in a light typeface and cannot be selected.
  
 Use of wildcard characters allows you to more easily control the Directory
 window display.   Use  wildcard characters to replace portions of the last
 section of a pathname on the Directory Line.
  
 For example, if D:\SALES\*.DOC appears on  the Directory  Line, only files
 with the  .DOC extension will display in the Directory window.  To display
 the entire contents of the subdirectory SALES delete  .DOC and  replace it
 with  the  asterisk  wildcard  character.   Refer to your computer owner's
 manual for further instructions on using wildcard characters.
  
               To display the new directory, press [Return].
  
  
  Move Files
  ----------
  
 With Rainbow TOS you can move a file from one  folder or  drive to another
 in addition to copying the file.
  
 First, select  the file(s)  you wish to move.  Then hold down [Control] as
 you click on and drag the selected file(s) to a new location.   During the
 move process, a Move File(s) dialog box displays the number of files being
 moved.  As each file is moved, the  Move File(s)  dialog box  displays the
 file's name  and complete  destination (disk  or logical  drive letter and
 folder name).
  
 When you copy or move files, Rainbow TOS does not change the date and time
 stamp of those files.  File date and time information will only be updated
 when the file is changed.
  
  
  Skip a Single File During Group Copying
  ---------------------------------------
  
 The option to skip  a single  file during  a group  copy procedure becomes
 available when  a file  name conflict occurs.  A file name conflict occurs
 when a file is copied from one location to another and a copy of  the file
 already  exists  at  the  new  location.   The following three options are
 presented when a name conflict occurs:
  
      Copy      Rainbow TOS overwrites the existing file and
                the copy operation continues.
  
      Skip      Rainbow TOS does not overwrite the file.
                Continues with the copy operation.
  
      Quit      Rainbow TOS does not overwrite the file.  Ends
                the copy operation.
  
  
  Abort Group Copy, Move, and Delete Operations
  ---------------------------------------------
  
 You can abort the copy, move, and delete  operations performed  by Rainbow
 TOS.   Press and  hold down [Undo].  A dialog box displays, giving you the
 choice of continuing or ending the operation.
  
  
  MS-DOS Compatible Floppy Disk Formatting
  ----------------------------------------
  
  Disks formatted with Rainbow TOS are fully MS-DOS compatible.
  
  
  Auto-Boot Applications
  ----------------------
  
 The Install Application option of the Options menu allows you to assign an
 auto-boot feature  to any  GEM based  application programs.   An installed
 application automatically opens when you boot  the system.  You can select
 applications with .PRG, .APP, or .TOS extensions.
  
  Follow these instructions to start an application from a data file 
  or autoboot an application.
  
  1. Select a program file (.TOS, .APP, .PRG) from a directory 
     window.
     
     Select Install Application from the Options menu.  The 
     Install Application dialog box appears, listing the 
     application program file you selected from the desktop.
     
  2. To install the application to run from a data file, type
     the correct data file extension in the Document Type field.  
     This is the common extension of the files that use that 
     application.  (Consult the manual supplied with the 
     application for the most common file extension.)  If you 
     install an application to autoboot, you may leave the 
     Document Type field blank.
     
     Note:  Some applications can open from a desktop data file 
     only if the data file resides in the same folder as the 
     application program files.  Check the documentation 
     supplied with the application for more information.
     
  3. Select boot status:  Auto to autoboot an application, or
     Normal to start an application from the desktop.
     
  4. Select an application type.  Your choices are GEM, TOS, and
     TOS-takes-parameters.
     
     Most programs that run from the desktop have the extension 
     .PRG or .APP.  Both of these extensions indicate a GEM 
     application.  However, some applications have the extension 
     .TOS or .TTP.  The extension .TOS indicates a TOS 
     application.  The extension .TTP indicates a TOS-takes-
     parameters application.
     
     Note:  To use a .TTP application, first select the 
     application, then enter the required parameters when the 
     dialog box appears.
     
  5. Select OK to finish.
     
  6. To save the application's installation, select Save Desktop
     from the Options menu.
     
  
  Disk Copy/Format Dialog Box
  ---------------------------
  
 Rainbow TOS  uses a  combined dialog  box for  copy and format operations.
 This box displays when you select either the  Format option  from the File
 menu, or drag a disk drive icon on top of another disk drive icon.
  
 Select Copy  or Format  from the  Copy and Format dialog box.  Select from
 the available options and click on OK.  The bar  graphs in  the lower half
 of the screen graphically detail the copying or formatting that occurs.
  
  
  Changing a Folder's Name
  ------------------------
  
 With Rainbow  TOS you  can change the name of a folder.  Click on a folder
 and  select  the  Show  Info  option  from  the  File  menu.    The Folder
 Information dialog  box displays.  You can now type in a new name for that
 folder.
  
  
  Keyboard Reset
  --------------
  
 You can now reset your computer  from the  keyboard.   Hold down [Control]
 and [Alternate], then press [Delete].  This key combination is exactly the
 same as pressing the Reset button.
  
 Pressing [Control] [Alternate] [Right Shift] [Delete]  causes a  VERY cold
 boot.  It clears all of RAM (except about 64 bytes at the bottom) and then
 jumps to the ROMs.   This  cold boot  clears all  reset-proof RAMdisks and
 other data  and variables  that are  cleared by a cold boot but not a warm
 boot.
  
             --------------------------------------------

 Atari, the Atari logo, Rainbow TOS  and TOS  are trademarks  or registered
 trademarks of  Atari Corporation.   GEM  and GEM Desktop are trademarks or
 registered trademarks of Digital  Research, Inc.   MS-DOS  is a registered
 trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
  
             Copyright 1989, Atari Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA.







     _________________________________________________________________
  



 > A REVELATION! STR FOCUS     .... A Freudian slip?
   =======================



 23-Oct-89 
 : John Townsend (ATARI)
 : All

     We don't  design our  computers to be hard to upgrade.  We design them
 so that they provide "Power without the Price." To do  this, there  has to
 be some type of compromise.

 -- John

     Must've been  a weak  moment, or  perhaps the frustration of trying to
 continually please the  boss  and  still  endeavor  to  give  the userbase
 straight answers.   In  any case, this statement (above), has to be one of
 the best examples of saying one thing and actually meaning  another. (pure
 doubletalk)   No doubt,  an uncomfortable  situation such  as this can, at
 best, push an individual to extreme  limits.    In  any  event,  the above
 message sure  reads like  a Freudian  Slip.  The message is loud and clear
 though, "TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT"....   They don't design the  computers to be
 hard to  upgrade, they just don't design upgrade capabilities into them at
 all.  After all, Lenny baby  wants the  company to  make and  sell "throw-
 away" computers.   Not  a bad concept, "a never-ending, fully exploitable,
 market"!
  
     Big Blue has trained  the US  market to  accept and  readily pursue an
 upgrade path, the sooner Atari realizes this the better off they.. and the
 userbase will be.
  
     Since we have been hearing that this  Comdex  show  is  to  be  one of
 renewed vigor  on the part of Atari, we only hope that they will adjust to
 the 1990's marketing principles as fast as possible.  To try to market the
 ST computer line the way they did the C-64 when at Commodore will prove to
 be a disaster.  The purchasing public is far more aware of the pitfalls of
 investing in dead end designs.  We can thank IBM for having spent the time
 and money in educating the US market.  We may very well find that 'others'
 learned the upgrade principle too.  Comdex will tell all.






         _________________________________________________________




 > Hey Buddy! STR Feature       Maybe you were there? ...maybe
   ----------------------



                    "HEY BUDDY, WANNA BUY A COMPUTER?"
                     ================================



 by Doyle C. Helms Jr.

  

 Ying: 
          Hey buddy, wanna buy a computer?

 Yang:  
          Sure,   I've been  looking for  one but I haven't made up my mind
          or my wallet yet, what have you got in mind?

 Ying:  
          Well  Yang,  I've got  a  Mega  2  ST  with  a  30  meg HD,modem,
          printer, software and etc.  This sucka has a color monitor out of
          this world and a monochrome monitor that is almost easier to read
          than  hardcopy  prints.    The  hard  drive and floppy drives are
          compatible in speed and storage to  any other  system for  the PC
          type user.  The software is really great and easy to use (literal
          license used).

 Yang:  
          Ying, that system sounds great, what did you  say it  was called?
          A Mega 2?  You mean an Amiga 2000?

 Ying:  
          No you  silly fool, a MEGA 2!  You know, the flagship (along with
          the Mega 4) of the Atari ST computer line.

 Yang: 
          Oh, Atari 520 ST?
  
 Ying:  
          NO.  Now try real hard to assimilate more than one word at a 
          time.    A  Mega  2  ST,  A  68000  8mhz,  blitterized  color and
          monochrome graphic icon based user interface computer.

 Yang: 
          Ying, sounds like a "Mac" to me.

 Ying:  
          Well,  I  guess  you  could  say  that is very similar to the Mac
          in a lot of ways.  In my opinion it is far  superior to  the  Mac
 in       most respects.

 Yang: 
          Well my friend, how much are you asking for it?

 Ying: 
          $xxxx.99 for all of it. I'll even through in my cat too.

 Yang:  
          Sounds like  a great  price, definitely cheaper than any Mac I've
          ever seen.  The price sounds almost too good.  Is it "cheaply" 
          made?

 Ying: 
          HE__ NO!  Superior hardware quality.

 Yang:  
          That's amazing for the price.  Let me ask you this, since my last
          computer  was  an  Altair,  great  system  for it's time, and the
          company that produced it soon changed to something else and I was
          left without ANY support except for the little user groups in  my
          area.  How is the support and future of Atari looking?  Should be
          pretty good since they've got such a fine system huh?

 Ying:  
          Well, Atari  has been  through some  revolving doors with (most?)
          exec's and brains lately (close to 4 years really), but  you just
          can't beat the computer value for the money though.

 Yang:  
          Hmmm...   How about  software?  You said it has some really great
          software for it right?

 Ying:  
          Uh, yeah.   There's  all sorts  of graphic  paint/art and desktop
          publishing  and  tremendous  amount  of  music/midi  programs out
          there.  Not to mention the games, but this machine WAS NOT 
          designed as a game  platform (just  ask some  of the  people that
          develop games for it).

 Yang:  
          That  sounds  encouraging,  what  is  up  the road as far as some
          business/productivity software is concerned?  After all, I NEED a
          computer system that I can use in my video rental business.

 Ying:  
          I'm sure there's something out there that we(you) can find to fit
          the bill. If not, I(you) could always write  a program,  design a
          spreadsheet or set-up a database to get what you need.

 Yang:  
          I don't  know about you, but I don't think I could do any of that
          effectively. I  need  something  already  "cooked"  and  ready to
          serve.

 Ying:  
          Well with  a few  "800" phone  calls we (you) could probably find
          something.

 Yang:  
          Doesn't sound like a lot of that kind of software  out there now.
          Do you think someone will have some out soon?

 Ying:  
          Uh, well,  er, uh, A lot of the software people are kinda holding
          there breath (some have already passed out so to say) to see what
          happens  with  the  overall  userbase  (expansion    wise,  MAJOR
          expansion).   A  lot  of  the  companies  are  not  releasing any
          upgrades or  planning any special projects quite yet.  BUT, Atari
          has PROMISED to do a lot  of advertising  and begin  other market
          strategies to sweep the home/pc computer niche' "real soon now".

 Yang:  
          Hmmm.   So, Atari  is not  real good  on customer service and the
          software side is at  a standstill.   I'm  not to  sure about this
          deal.

 Ying:  
          But Yang,  this computer  is the  best buy  for your  money.  You
          know,"Power  without  the  price"!!    The  market  will improve,
          Atari  promised  to  do  all  they  can to help us U.S. users and
          developers out (out of business/out of our money?).

 Yang: 
          U.S. users? Do they sell these in Japan also?

 Ying:  
          I  don't know about Japan (does anyone?),  but Europe  is flooded
          and enthusiastic  about the ST line.  It even beats out the "Mac"
          and Amiga by a long shot in sales and use in Europe.  Software is
          abundant  (along with  computer sales).   Atari  sends ALL (seems
          like) their hardware "over there" for  "testing" before  the U.S.
          gets any.   This  way, Atari  is sure  only the  best of the best
          makes it back over here for us elite U.S. users.

 Yang:  
          So, if I really need some software with  a good  future, I should
          purchase what  I can  from European  countries (and learn several
          languages) and I will be all set for the future. Right?

 Ying: 
          Hey, I never thought of that.  Yea sure, that's the ticket...

 Yang:  
          Look Ying, I think I'll wait and see  what the  want-ads have and
          maybe shop around a little.  I'll get back with you real soon...

 Ying: 
          Wait Yang,  This is  got to  be the  best hardware value for your
          money anywhere. Why pay more for something less powerful.

 Yang: 
          Nah, Let me think about it, OK?

 Ying: 
          You'll be sorry if you don't by this Mega 2 system from me.

 Yang: 
          Ying, you never said why you were selling the Mega. Why?

 Ying: 
          Well, er, uh, ya see I work around PC compat's all day and I need
          to be  able to  do the  same at home.  I can't afford 2 computers
          right now.  But when I get a big raise  in a  few years  I'll buy
          another ST then. You know what I mean Vern?

 Yang: 
          Yeah,I know!  How much you say you want for the cat?



          This article is fiction.  Names, characters, places and incidents
          are either  the product  of the  authors imagination  or are used
          fictitiously, any  resemblance to actual persons, living, dead or
          otherwise, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.



                    "HEY BUDDY, WANNA BUY A COMPUTER?" 
                       Article is Copyright(c) 1989
                             [Original STuff] 
             Permission granted for reprint by STReport only.



 Ed. Note...
                 The above article is fondly dedicated to:
                     Tony Salami and Johnny Blockhead.






    __________________________________________________________________




 > STALKER! STR Review   A GREAT, Full Featured Terminal Program
   ===================





          GEM, the State of ST Terminal programs, and STalker 2.03
          --------------------------------------------------------


       Strata Software has recently introduced Version  2.03 of  STalker, a
 new Terminal  program for  the Atari  ST which is radically different from
 Flash, Interlink, or any of the other ST Terminal programs.   In  order to
 fully appreciate its capabilities, let us take a closer look at STalker.

       STalker  is  a  GEM-based  terminal  Emulator  which  runs as a Desk
 Accessory, meaning  that  it  can  be  accessed  while  using  any  ST GEM
 application.   It only takes up 80K of RAM (compared with 140K with Flash,
 and around 170k with Interlink), so it should run well on a 520 ST, and if
 you  have  Codehead  Software's  MultiDesk  (a  utility  that  allows Desk
 Accessories to be loaded and cleared  from memory  at will),  then STalker
 can  be  installed/de-installed  at  one's  convenience, without having to
 reboot to use it.

       STalker 2.0 also comes with STeno,  a  text  editor  contained  in a
 single GEM  window with  word-wrap, cut/copy/paste  of blocks of text, and
 many other useful features.  STeno is the FIRST ST Desk Accessory to use a
 GEM Menu  Bar inside  its window, and can be directly accessed by STalker,
 by pressing the Alt-Tab key sequence.  It can also be run as either a Desk
 Accessory or a GEM program, so all ST Users can use it at any time....


            Here is a list of STalker 2.0/STeno 1.0's features:


     -   ANSI, VT100  and VT52 terminal emulation within a GEM window, as  
 well as support of the full ISO Latin Alphabet #1, for      
 sending/receiving accented characters.

     A)  
     STalker 2.0  uses  this  GEM  window  to  implement  a  Virtual Screen
     Terminal, with  a size  of up  to 2000  lines.   This is a buffer that
     saves text received by  (or sent  from) the  terminal.   Meaning that,
     given its  being inside  a GEM  Window, one  can scroll back and forth
     through the text to  see  previous  terminal  activity,  by  using the
     Window's Scroll Bars and Scroll Arrows.  For example, you could call a
     BBS, read its main  menu, scan  a few  messages, and  then, INSTEAD of
     having to  access the  BBS's Main Menu again, you would simply use the
     Scroll Bar to scroll the  text  in  the  buffer  until  you  found the
     original version  of the  BBS Menu that you read when you first logged
     onto the BBS.  This is a sophisticated concept but it is  DEFINITELY a
     lifesaver.    Once  you  use  STalker's GEM Terminal, with its Virtual
     Screen, using anything else will be totally unacceptable....

     B)  
     You can use the mouse to save a certain segment of text in the buffer,
     by  simply  lassoing  it  as  you  would  two or more files on the GEM
     Desktop.  You can save the text block to disk, print it, or copy it to
     the  ST's  standard  GEM  Clipboard  (currently  a  disk  file  called
     SCRAP.TXT), just as the STeno text  editor supports  the ST's standard
     GEM Clipboard.

     C)  
     Using  a  GEM  Window  as  a  Terminal enables STalker to be FULLY GEM
     compliant.  This means that since the other  ST Terminal  programs use
     TOS, instead  of GEM,  for their terminals, STalker 2.0 is the ONLY ST
     Terminal program now available  that will  work with  "big-screen", or
     non-standard  ST  Video  Modes,  such as the OverScan modification, or
     Moniterm's 1280*960 Monochrome Monitor....


       -  Background File Transfers,  supporting  the  ASCII,  XModem (both
          CRC and  XModem 1K), and the YModem Batch protocols.  ZModem file
          transfer support is planned for a future update of STalker.

       -  STalker also supports  Antic's  Shadow  background  file transfer
          utility, and can monitor its activity.

       -  Background Auto-Dialer  that stores  up to 20 phone numbers, with
          separate Terminal and Auto-Logon  settings for  each number.   It
          also supports  dialing more  than one  number, in an alphabetical
          sequence until it gets an answer,  or the  list has  been tried a
          set amount of times.

       -  Pop-Up Menu showing all of STalker's commands, which is activated
          by either a right mouse click, or pressing the HELP key.  Alt-key
          sequences are available for accessing any of STalker's commands.

       -  Can be  used to  either communicate  through the RS-232 port (for
          modem transmissions), the MIDI  port (for  file transfers between
          two ST's),  or Double  Click's DC Port (an ST expansion Cartridge
          providing from 3 - 5 RS-232 ports, all  of which  can be  used at
          the same  time), for  providing multiple sessions (calling two or
          more BBS's at the same time), each in their own GEM Windows....


                           FOR MORE INFORMATION 
                                    or
                            TO ORDER YOUR COPY:

                              Strata Software
                               94 Rowe Drive
                      Kanata Ontario, Canada K2L 3Y9
                              1-613-591-1922





   ____________________________________________________________________






 > STReport OnLine  Dave Beckmeyer reflects on Atari's Role
   ===============


 Conf : Atari 16/32 Bit
 Msg# : 3671  Lines: Extended  Read: 2
 Sent : Oct 31, 1989  at 9:47 AM
 To   : EVERYONE
 From : DAVE LOCKWOOD at THE CONTROL ROOM ST! 14.4K HST
 Subj : Dave Beckemeyer's thoughts on Atari (cross post)




 This is a Usenet cross post from the comp.sys.atari.st group.
 I thought you might like to hear what Dave Beckemeyer has to say about
 Atari.

 Dave
 ---- 8< ----

 From: david@bdt.UUCP (David Beckemeyer)
 Organization: Beckmeyer Development Tools, Oakland, CA
 Posted: Mon Oct 23 16:01:41 1989


 [ It's probably stupid to get in the middle of this but,  oh well,  here I
 go again. :-) ]

     One thing  I haven't seen brought up in this debate yet is the idea of
 "shrink-wrapped configuration".   What I mean by that is  the way somebody
 can buy  a 386 box and the necessary boards and software to set it up in a
 certain configuration using "over the counter" stuff that  is easy  to get
 from a wide assortment of vendors and is generally well supported.

     I go  into a lot of companies to do consulting where there are a bunch
 of different types of computers, mostly  running Unix.     The thing about
 PC-type  386  boxes  is  that  you  can get almost ANYTHING for the damned
 things.   Buy a box,  somebody's Unix,  an ethernet  card, a  SCSI card, a
 graphics  card,  a  scanner  card,  etc.  etc.  and  you've  got  a usable
 workstation - all with "plug-and-go" stuff, in a  usable package.   You've
 got your  PC on your net with your Suns etc. and you have a wide choice of
 vendors - and it actually works.

     From the Atari die-hards in the peanut gallery, you'll hear "yeah, but
 you can  do that  with the Atari too!".   No way.   I don't ever see Atari
 getting the kind of 3rd party  software/hardware support  we have  here in
 the  USA  (maybe  none  of  this  applies to Europe, I don't know) for the
 PC-type 386 boxes.  As much  as  I  *hate*  the  Intel  junk  and  PC's in
 general, I have to admit that there's no beating them in this area.

     A TT with some limited connectivity and 3rd party support will sell to
 a limited audience.   There's a lot of catching up to do and  I just don't
 see Atari spending the resources to do it here in the USA.

     Every year  Sig says  "I'm sorry  for the poor support in the USA last
 year...  This year we are really  going  after  the  US  market."   Hasn't
 anyone tired  of this yet?   Does anybody still believe Atari gives a damn
 about the US market?  Why should they?     The US  market couldn't  give a
 damn about them.

                                   David Beckemeyer (david@bdt.UUCP)

 Editor Note:
 Another long  time Atari developer shows his disgust.  And now that Sig is
 no longer forced to tell such lurid tales, who is going to  be the "Wizard
 of Words  now?   The best thing to come out of this is that Sig will never
 have to face the angry, hateful questions posed  to him  so often.   David
 left  out  one  other  "canned  expression", "Sam apologizes for not being
 here, he really wanted to be here, instead he sent me..."





         _________________________________________________________





 > DTP & PRACTICALITY  STReport InfoFile    Taking a hard look.....
   =====================================


 Ctsy GEnie RT


                   GOOD ADVICE ON DTP PROGRAM SELECTION 
                   ====================================

     For folks who are still on  the fence  as to  which way  to go  on DTP
     programs, allow me to add a couple of things...

     1) 
     When you  make program  comparisons, especially where feature sets are
     concerned, make sure you've got as good a  handle as  possible on what
     your long-term needs will be.  The best place to start, in my book, is
     to look at what you'll be doing with DTP 12 months from  now, and then
     multiply all the goodies you'll need by a factor of 10.

     As with  many things,  you'll find that in DTP, the more you learn how
     to do, the more you'll want to do. A lot of folks here have gone from;
     "9-pin...  Neat!"  to  "24-pin...  Wow!"  to  "Desk-Jet...  Great!" to
     "Laser... Holy $#@%!" in a very  short period  of time.   Don't saddle
     yourself   with   a   "crippled"   program.      (Oops!  I  left  out;
     "Lino...(Expletive deleted)" ;-])

     2) 
     Even though the ST is not  an industry  "standard" machine,  make sure
     you  look  for  programs  that  support  as many industry standards as
     possible.  Look for  PostScript Printer/Lino  support for  your future
     needs.   You may  not need  it now,  but the  day that you do need it,
     you'll be awful glad you've got it! (I found that out the hard way!)
  

     In the area of clip-art, look for the  ability to  import Encapsulated
 PostScript  graphics.  With  the  advent  of UltraScript, you can now take
 advantage of some phenomenal commercial clip-art that blows  the doors off
 of anything you'll ever see in a .GEM file.  Again, you may not see a need
 for it now, but...

     If this  sounds like  a commercial  for PageStream,  (which it isn't),
 what you're tying into is how important it is to have a DTP platform which
 will do what you  want, when  you want.   Nothing  is more  important than
 that.

     Sorry about  the long-winded  stuff, but  having tossed some very good
 money down the dumper in the past, if I can help a few folks avoid some of
 the mistakes I've made, it's well worth the "typer's cramp"!  

                                                  Jim Morales




      ______________________________________________________________





 > Viking Moniterm STReport InfoFile    The BIG Screen...has arrived!
   =================================



                                                  TWO PAGES AT ONCE
                                                  =================


 by R.F. Mariano


     After a  while, the  "new" wears off and you begin to realize you have
 just dropped a _few_ bucks on a monitor that will make your  life pursuing
 Desktop  Publishing  endeavors  infinitely  easier.   After having had the
 opportunity to see Nathan's Moniterm Big Screen Monitor in action while he
 demo'ed  OUTLINE,  I  decided  then  and  there that I simply could not do
 without one.

     As with all new electronic  hardware  investments,  we  soon  begin to
 wonder if  the money was well spent.  Considering the amount of DTP work I
 find  myself  involved  in,  the  answer  is  an  overwhelming  yes.   The
 installation of  the monitor and its control board is not simple, but then
 being a hardware type, it was easy for me as was the  installation of Fast
 Tech's T16, the 6 chip chipset of Tos 1.4 and.... the math - co processor.
 Now with the Mega 4 loaded  for  bear,  let's  see  what  this  "el neato"
 monitor can do.

     First off,  when you  install the moniterm's driver in the auto folder
 make sure GDOS or Gplus (very superior to GDOZE) boots  before the driver,
 I know, BOTH programs are from Atari and yet, they clash.  Such is life...
 Next, don't expect your favorite programs to run  on the  Moniterm and you
 will not be disappointed because they, in most cases, don't.  I found only
 one term program that  works  on  the  moniterm,  Stalker  ran  just fine.
 Flash, Interlink,  Uniterm and  Vanterm bite the dust fast.  Word Perfect,
 the very latest upgrade version, is broken on the moniterm  but I  am told
 their  programmer  now  has  a  moniterm  and  is  working on a fix.  Both
 software bitters choked on the moniterm.  Actually,  if I  attempt to list
 all the programs I found that didn't work on the moniterm, I'd be here for
 quite  some  time.  Seems  many  of  the  programmers  didn't  follow  the
 "mysterious rules"  we hear  about.  Charles, even arcshell 2.0 misbehaves
 on the moniterm.

     On Bootup, Calamus, as usual, looks terrific and  behaves perfectly as
 does Pagestream.   We  have been assured by Nathan that DynaCadd will also
 behave perfectly with both the Moniterm and the math co-processor.  In the
 next few  weeks (after  Comdex) we  will have full featured reviews of the
 new versions of Calamus, Outline and Dynacadd.

     After installing and booting  DeskSet  II,  it  came  up  quite nicely
 taking  advantage  of  the  entire  screen.   We will withhold most of our
 comments about this "gem" until we have had  more time  to spend  with it.
 The only strong drawbacks we saw immediately was its slow speed and narrow
 field of output, it only works with the SLM804.

     The screen fonts are good looking, as is the output  of DeskSet  II to
 the SLM  804.   But in all honesty, it simply doesn't approach the quality
 and speed of Calamus.  Calamus also surpasses it by a country  mile in the
 user  interface  department,  my  impression  was that Calamus seems to be
 light years ahead in friendliness as it readily flows from start to finish
 on  any  project.    Whereas,  DeskSet II continually asks for repetitious
 moves from the user.  Again, to be fair, I  need to  spend more  time with
 DeskSet II,  the terminology  used in  the program is quite different from
 other related programs and  therefore,  it  is  becoming  an  entirely NEW
 learning experience  which demands that one spend some real TIME with this
 program.

     PageStream 1.8, is quite solid, this coupled with  its flexibility is,
 without a  shadow of  a doubt, a far cry from the old days of Pub. Partner
 or of the original demo of PPP.  This version  is almost  as solid  as the
 Rock  of  Gibraltar.    Compared  to DeskSet II and Calamus, IMHO, Calamus
 comes in first, then Pagestream a very close second.... DeskSet II gets an
 honorable  mention.    Having  spent  the  better part of this past week's
 evenings experimenting with the new moniterm and the programs mentioned, I
 am at  the point  of saying  the moniterm  is a  super addition to any DTP
 system and worth  every  schekel.    Now,  if  Atari  will  make  sure the
 developers know MORE about the TT than they did about the ST line, we will
 (hopefully) not experience the quirks we see in the moniterm and dozens of
 our favorite programs.






    ___________________________________________________________________





 > ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL          Sayin' it like it is...
   ======================



 - Redwood City, CA                    ****  EPYX IS ON THE REBOUND!  ****
   ----------------


     How refreshing  to have  a piece  of good news surrounding this "never
 ending story".  Epyx now has almost 25 folks back at work  and is striving
 to  bring  back  more.    They  hope  to develop software for the new game
 machine, among other projects, they said.  Throughout  the rank  and file,
 sentiments toward  Atari run  quite high  and are  usually interlaced with
 expletives of a very unkind nature.  Within  the next  few months  we will
 all read about the entire story.  Additionally, it is rumored that certain
 of EPYX's high level ex-employees are now working at Atari.  hmmm...



 - Chicago, IL.                    *****  ATARI DEALERS BURNT AGAIN?  *****
   ------------


     To further the separation between the few US  dealers left  and Atari,
 an  irate  Atari  dealer  reported  today that while ATARI DIRECT SALES is
 offering  a  6-MONTH  GUARANTEE  for  Portfolio,   if  ordered   from  the
 manufacturer (factory  direct).  They (ATARI) are not, however, permitting
 dealers to offer the same guarantee.  This comes directly on the  heels of
 many Portfolio  ads placed  nationally in  areas where there are Portfolio
 stocking dealers, requesting the  prospective customer  call the "factory"
 and place  an order.  Thus by-passing the dealer entirely.  Sigh...  where
 will it all end?



 - Erie, PA.                 *******   IS THE PORTFOLIO A BARGAIN?   ******
   ---------


     If you wish to use the Portfolio to  transfer programs  via the serial
 port  the  end  user,  must  purchase,  in  addition to the Portfolio, the
 following items to achieve effective transfers. 

   Portfolio   $399.95     Parallel kit    $49.95      Serial kit    $79.95

          128 Ram card    $199.95            AC Adapter    $ 9.95

     Although the prices are reasonable, when  added together  they clearly
 reflect a  respectable investment  in the Portfolio.  If more than one ram
 card is desired, the cost escalates rather dramatically.   Quickly towards
 the purchase price of a low end laptop.



 - New York City, NY      ***** CLAYTON WALNUM SETS RECORD STRAIGHT! *****
   -----------------


     To blame LFP for ANALOG's end is absolutely ridiculous.  They gave the
 magazine more than a fair shot.  If you want to blame  somebody, blame the
 U.S. Atari  market.   It's also ridiculous to think that LFP bought ANALOG
 as a tax deduction, especially considering it made a profit the first year
 they owned it.

     "Flynt is  not in  the business to promote good computers or reputable
 things, but to make money."  No  kidding.    I  can't  think  of  too many
 businesses whose first priority is not a profit.  Ever try to buy a week's
 groceries with an Atari?  Nope.   That  rotten, money-hungry  grocer wants
 only cold  cash.   It's tough  to stay  a business  when you're not making
 money.

     And, how did Flynt "poison" ANALOG?  He  had absolutely  nothing to do
 with the editing or production of the magazine.  If you didn't like ANALOG
 or ST-Log, blame me.  I was the editor, and the buck  stopped on  my desk.
 I never even met Flynt.   Deal with the devil?   What clever thinking.

                                                       ---Clay


 Editor Note:
     Being an  editor myself,  I find  it easy  and rewarding to agree with
 Clayton on this matter, it seems that there  are STILL  those who  wish to
 blame everything  and anyone except the real culprits for what can only be
 called the "Bad Dream".  Atari's mangling of their US Market has left many
 fine support  business' dead  or dying  in its  path.   That is the single
 biggest cause of the, one time  very strong,  Analog/ST-Log's passing into
 the history books.  I certainly will miss these two fine magazines.



 - Toronto, Canada    ******  CALAMUS SPOTLIGHTED BY ATARI CANADA! ******
   ---------------


     Atari Canada's  Ian Kennedy  knows a  good thing  when he sees it.  In
 bundling Calamus along with a Mega2,  SM124 and  an SLM804  Laser Printer!
 There is strong indications that this sale offering for roughly 3800.00 US
 is highly successful.  The ads are appearing  all over  Canada, the market
 penetration is increasing quite strong.      Atari US ..take note!



 - Las Vegas, NV.                  **** TT HEAVEN WILL BE AT COMDEX!  ****
   -------------


     According  to  informed  sources,  Atari  Corp. will be displaying and
 using up to eight TT computer  systems  and  Viking  Moniterm  Monitors at
 Comdex/Fall  1989.    By  all  indications  Atari is making "all the right
 moves" in staging a strong bid for the home computer  market.   Also it is
 reported  that  the  TT  will  drive  the Moniterm without the need of the
 interface board.    Maybe 1990 will be the year...???






    ___________________________________________________________________



 > Hard Drive Info STReport InfoFile   Affordable Mass Storage
   ================================= 
  
  
  
  
                        NEW PRICES! & MORE MODELS!!
                       ============================


                      ABCO COMPUTER ELECTRONICS INC.
                               P.O. Box 6672
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                                Est.  1985
                 _________________________________________

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                     BBS: 904-786-4176   12-24-96 HST
                    FAX: 904-783-3319  12 PM - 6 AM EDT
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         51mb #SGN4951   639.00              65mb #SG60101   689.00
         80mb #SGN296    729.00             100mb #SG84011D  969.00
        130mb #SG1244D  1099.00             145mb #SG3A4210  989.00
        170mb #SGT41776 1389.00             260mb #SG1244Q  2169.00
                          320mb #SGN7788Q 3295.00

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           Listed above are a sampling of the systems available.
      Prices also reflect various cabinet/power supply configurations
    (over sixty configurations are available, flexibility is unlimited)

                --> CALL for Special Holiday Discounts <--
                                     
            *** ALL Units: Average Access Time: 24ms - 34ms ***

    ALL UNITS COMPATIBLE WITH --> MAGIC SAC - PC-DITTO/II - SPECTRE/GCR
                                        
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          * Removable Media Devices Available (44mb) Syquest 555 *
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      _______________________________________________________________



 > A "Quotable Quote" 
   =================



  
                "The only perfect people ever born are.....

                          ......PERFECT IDIOTS".


                                                  --- Jimmy Hatlow





                             "ATARI IS BACK?"

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ST-REPORT Issue #112   "Your Independent News Source"   November 03, 1989
                    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  copyright 1989
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Views, Opinions and Articles Presented herein are not necessarily those of
 the  editors,  staff,  ST  Report  or CPU Report.  Reprint permission is
 hereby granted, unless otherwise noted.    All  reprints  must  include ST
 Report or  CPU Report  and the  author's name.   All information presented
 herein is believed correct, STReport or CPU Report, it's editors and staff
 are not responsible for any use or misuse of information contained herein.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------


