  
                  *---== ST REPORT ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
                         """""""""""""""""""""""""
                                       
                                       
                     "The Original Online ST Magazine"
                      _______________________________


  November 17, 1989                                       Vol III  No.114
  =======================================================================
  
                         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: #114 STReport        The Online Magazine of Choice! 
   -------------------- 
     - The Editors' Podium                   - CPU REPORT 9600 Baud
     - DevPac Professional                   - QUARTET ST
     - SIMM UPGRADE SHOWN                    - Word Perfect UP on Atari!
     - Sig Hartmann at VideoTech             - ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL

   ---===****  EYEWITTNESS REPORT-> COMDEX * COMDEX * COMDEX  ****===---
        
  =======================================================================
       AVAILABLE ON:      COMP-U-SERVE  ~  DELPHI  ~  GENIE  ~  BIX
  =======================================================================
    
 > The Editor's Podium

     How deceiving the flight schedule was.... board the airplane at 6:30am
 in Jax, Fl. and  deplane in  Las Vegas  at 11:30am.   Hmmmm,  pretty quick
 flight.    It  actually  totals  out  to more than 8 hours of flight time.
 After arriving Saturday at about 11:45am, the fun began... the  time spent
 in getting  settled in was next to unreal with numbers of people trying to
 do the very same thing.  The unofficial figure for  those attending Comdex
 was upwards  of 125,000  people.   I, like  most other Atari supporters in
 attendance,  went  directly  to  the  Atari  display  for  a  much  needed
 "enthusiasm fix".

     Atari, (hmmm..  my favorite subject), had a rather respectable display
 area set up.  The color  scheme was  subdued and  very professional.   The
 display area  was located  about 70  feet inside  the main entrance in the
 west hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.  In the Atari  display area,
 there were  cubicles designed  to enhance the appearance of the developers
 and those  products that  were on  display.   The setup  also included two
 secluded offices  set behind smoked glass and an upper level.  Incidently,
 there were 5 TT computers in use along with 5 Stacy 4mb units and scads of
 Portfolios.   The new  multi-rez Atari  monitors were good looking and the
 performance was flawless.  The Image Systems 19"  color monitor  in use at
 the SoftLogik  cubicle was  simply stunning.  Atari distributed what could
 only be called a "first rate" Press Kit  that was  the "hit"  of the Press
 Room. 

     COMDEX/Fall 89 and Atari put on quite a show.  Folks... the best thing
 to come from our attendance for the past five days is the re-establishment
 of our faith in Atari and its POSITIVE future.

                                           thanks for your support,

                                            Ralph.... (still wide eyed)






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


                    :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'.



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



 > CPU REPORT
   ==========
   Issue # 41
   ----------

 by Michael Arthur


 Remember When....

     DEC introduced VMS, an  operating system  for their  VAX minicomputers
 which was  one the  first systems  to implement Virtual Memory, and how in
 1978, the University of California at  Berkeley,  in  an  effort  to bring
 Virtual Memory to Unix, created BSD Unix 3.0?


 CPU INSIGHTS
 ============

             V.32, the CCITT, and the Tale of the 9600 Baud Modem
             ----------------------------------------------------

  
     Recently,  a  lot  of  attention  has been placed towards the specific
 types of 9600 baud modems.  It seems that as developments such  as Magneto
 Optical Cartridge Drives, Megapixel displays and versatile microprocessors
 like the 80486 and 68040 appear so frequently in the industry, that in our
 endless pursuit  of faster  and more  powerful computer technology (and to
 download that large file as fast as possible), we have come to  expect the
 same rate  of progress  from our  modems.   But with the promise of faster
 modems have come controversy,  as many  modem manufacturers  come out with
 incompatible products,  each claiming  to be  the best.   But  in order to
 understand the current situation, we must  take a  look at  the history of
 high-speed modems.

     Modems were  perhaps the  first kind  of computer  network.  Until the
 late 1980's, large corporations and the government were by far the biggest
 users of  modems, looking  more at reliability and power than the price or
 size of modems.   In maintaining  compatibility in  data  communications, 
 (as compatibility is  necessary  in  a  global  marketplace),  the  job of
 setting standards  for modem  transmission protocols fell to the CCITT, an
 agency of the United Nations that specifies standards  for all  aspects of
 the communications industry.

     When  9600  baud  modems  were  first developed in the early 70's, the
 CCITT drew up a recommendation, called  V.29,  which  was  the  first such
 standard for  these modems.   But  as only large corporations could afford
 them at that time, V.29 only covered synchronous modems communicating over
 leased lines, as well as 9600 baud Facsimile, or Fax Machines.  CCITT V.29
 is still used today in all Fax Machines, but modems  would eventually take
 a divergent path.

     In 1984,  when advances  in chip  technology made  it feasible to sell
 9600 baud modems for less than 5000 dollars, the CCITT again set  up a new
 standard for 9600 baud modems, designated as V.32.  This specification was
 a great improvement over  V.29, as  V.32 modems  could be  used on regular
 phone lines,  and had  some support for asynchronous transmission and full
 duplex operation.  The one problem  with this  otherwise adequate protocol
 is that it was expensive to implement.

     In order  to accomplish  full duplex  operation, V.32 used a technique
 called echo cancellation.  When both modems transmit  data simultaneously,
 first each  modem remembers  what it  has sent,  then each modem uses echo
 cancellation to separate the  data signal  that it  sent, and  process the
 incoming data.   At  9600 baud,  though, it requires the use of high speed
 Digital Signal Processors (or DSP's), and DSP's have  only recently become
 available commercially, as well as the other circuitry required for a V.32
 modem being expensive to produce.

     This was not a great factor in 1984, though, as high speed modems were
 primarily sold  to the business market back then, in a comparatively small
 market.  However, when the user  demand  for  9600  baud  modems  began to
 increase in  1986, many  modem manufacturers  found the cost of developing
 the circuitry for V.32  modems prohibitive,  and looked  to other  ways of
 making moderately priced 9600 baud modems.

     One method  of sending  data at 9600 baud is to compress the data that
 is being sent through the modem.  In all modems, this data  is sent  in 10
 bit segments  (8 bits  of data  plus a  start and stop bit).  Modems using
 data compression algorithms first compact these data segments to a smaller
 size and transmit them.  The receiving modem then decompresses the data as
 it gets it.  This enables modems running at a slower baud rate (2400-4800)
 to emulate 9600 baud transmission.

     In another  way, called  the ping  pong method, both modems buffer the
 data to be transmitted, and flow  control is  implemented, so  stop and go
 signals are  sent to  each modem at a quick rate, telling each when it has
 the line  free to  transmit data.   This,  by the  way, is  similar to how
 packet switched networks operate....

     Ping pong  is necessarily  a half-duplex  method (where only one modem
 sends info at a time) because  although  full  duplex  operation  does not
 require echo cancellation at lower transmissions (since the signal sent by
 both modems can both  fit on  the phone  line's bandwidth),  a single 9600
 baud signal  can take  up all  of the line's bandwidth.  Echo cancellation
 removes this problem by cramming both signals together, and leaving  it up
 to both  modems to sort the data out.  Ping pong, however, cannot do this,
 but gets  around full  duplex operation  by acting  as a  "traffic cop" to
 manage the time that modems have to transmit data.

     Another problem  with 9600  baud modems,  whether they  use ping pong,
 echo cancellation, data compression,  or any  other method  to achieve its
 transmission rate, is the increased probability of flawed data being sent,
 as a result of line noise or a poor connection.  Because of this, the need
 for error  correction in  modems (where  the modem would decrease its baud
 rate to reduce the chance of data errors, or simply  retransmit the flawed
 data) became  apparent.   Into this  situation, a  company called Microcom
 arrived onto the scene....


                   MNP, CCITT V.42, and the future of Modeming
                   -------------------------------------------

     Microcom is a modem manufacturer  selling  primarily  to  the business
 market.   They saw  the need  for error  protection in all types of modems
 (not just  the high  speed variety)  and invented  the Microcom Networking
 Protocol, or MNP....

     MNP  was  the  first  protocol  to  implement  point  to  point  error
 correction.  This meant that if an MNP-equipped  modem called  another MNP
 equipped modem,  then they  would have the benefit of error free data, but
 if a non-MNP equipped  modem was  called, then  another protocol  (such as
 V.22) would  let the modems communicate, but without MNP error correction.
 There  are  9  classes  of  MNP,   representing  its   various  stages  of
 development.   MNP Classes  1 to  3 only had error protection, as Microcom
 worked to make the error protection 100% efficient.  But at around Class 4
 or 5,  Microcom saw  that data compression would also be needed in modems,
 resulting that MNP Classes 5 and above provided a very efficient method of
 error   protection,   and   excellent   data   compression.    Many  modem
 manufacturers,   seeing   its   capabilities,   started   licensing   MNP,
 contributing to the general decline in popularity for V.32.

     So, why isn't MNP the 9600 baud standard today, with Microcom becoming
 the Hayes of the modem industry?    As  in  many  other  tragedies  in the
 computer industry,  this was caused by greed.  Microcom, who also sold MNP
 modems to the business market, wished to have  an edge  over the licensees
 of MNP,  who they  began to see as their competition instead of their best
 allies.  In order to do this, they started offering higher classes  of MNP
 for their OWN modems than they licensed to other modem makers.  As some of
 the other modem makers  saw  that  they  were  being  given  less powerful
 Classes of  MNP just  so Microcom  could become a standard, while Microcom
 itself took measures to put them out of  business, some  began looking for
 other protocols  that implemented  data compression  and error protection.
 Even though MNP became a de  facto standard,  and Classes  5 and  6 of MNP
 were adequate for the job, the modem industry, not willing to overtly shun
 MNP, delegated it to the status of an aging standard....

     This was a master stroke of luck for Hayes in 1987.  In the  late 70's
 and  early  1980's,  Hayes  had  made  a de facto standard of the AT modem
 command set by both selling aggressively to businesses  and by considering
 the needs  of the home market in the area of 300-2400 baud modems.  But in
 1986, modem  technology had  progressed to  the point  where 300-1200 baud
 modems could  be made cheaply.  The resulting competition, and the boom in
 the modem market, resulted in that Hayes modems  were being  overlooked in
 favor of  less expensive,  equally efficient  Hayes compatible modems.  So
 when MNP began to be joined by alternative protocols which  provided error
 protection, Hayes saw an opportunity to regain its once gargantuan lead in
 the industry.

     The  International  Standards  Organization  (ISO),  made  up  of  the
 organizations in  many countries that are responsible for standardization,
 (such as ANSI),  designed  X.25,  the  primary  protocol  used  to connect
 synchronous computers to packet networks, in 1976.  The LAP B protocol, or
 Link Access Procedure-Balanced, as well as LAP D  (an extended  version of
 LAP B  used for ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) communications)
 are implemented in this protocol.

     Since LAP B is an error correction protocol  that is  an international
 standard (since  it was designed by the CCITT), Hayes decided to use it in
 their V-Series SmartModem 9600 modems. The SmartModem also uses a modified
 version of  V.32 which,  instead of  using echo cancellation at 9600 baud,
 uses the ping pong method at half duplex.  Many of the  other modem makers
 who  rejected  MNP,  though,  used  their  own  proprietary methods, which
 resulted in VAST incompatibility problems.

     In order to establish a standard  that would  end these  problems, the
 CCITT  developed  a  new  standard,  called  V.42, in 1988.  The CCITT has
 developed a new protocol for V.42, called LAP M (Link Access Procedure for
 Modems).   LAP M  is based  on LAP B and LAP D, and provides the necessary
 error  correction  for  V.42,  while  also  providing  7  and  8-bit  data
 compression which  is 30 percent more efficient than MNP Class 5.  V.42 is
 designed for  full duplex  modems, and  achieves 9600  baud by  the use of
 isynchronous  (asynchronous  to  synchronous)  converters,  which  convert
 asynchronous data to synchronous data which the modem can interpret.

     V.42 itself has not been fully defined by  the CCITT,  as neither data
 encryption  (something   which  is   VERY  important  to  businesses),  or
 half-duplex operation are included, but will appear in  LAP M  as optional
 features.  However, the vital components necessary to modem operation have
 been set, and  modem  manufacturers  (such  as  Hayes  and  Microcom) will
 contribute  to  the  process  of  establishing  standards for these areas.
 Until a standard for data compression  has been  established, however, V.2
 has "system  hooks" in  it, allowing  modem manufacturers to use their own
 proprietary protocols.  V.42 regulates this  so it  appears as  an option,
 however, so potential incompatibility problems are avoided.

     MNP Classes  1-4 will  be supported  in CCITT V.42, for an alternative
 error protection protocol included to maintain compatibility with the vast
 user base which has accepted 9600 baud MNP modems.  However, MNP Classes 5
 or 6, which also have data compression algorithms,  will not  be supported
 in CCITT  V.42.   But since  the American National Standards Institute (or
 ANSI) would be the  final determinant  of the  US implementation  of V.42,
 these Classes of MNP may be supported in the United States.

     V.42 promises  to be  an excellent 9600 baud standard, which sets both
 rules for the internal makeup and data transmission between modems (except
 for the modem command set, which will be developed by the CCITT) and which
 establishes an adequate bridge/link for the  present crop  of incompatible
 9600 baud  modems.   MNP modems, such as US Robotics and Telebit, will not
 become obsolete, due to V.42 designating MNP, and Hayes 9600 baud V-Series
 SmartModems will have minimal incompatibility problems if any, since LAP M
 is a superset of LAP B.  Hayes  is now  in the  process of  producing V.42
 modems,  and  US  Robotics  has  recently  announced  plans to introduce a
 V.42-compatible version of their Courier HST Modem in  Early 1990,  and to
 offer low-cost  upgrades for  earlier versions  of their modems.  With the
 two major  9600 baud  Modem manufacturers  in the  US pushing  for it, the
 CCITT  V.42  standard  may  become  popular  here  FAR  more  quickly than
 otherwise imaginable....

     Also, as V.42 provides  a powerful  gateway to  standardized 9600 baud
 telecommunications, Telebit and US Robotics are working together to make a
 high speed standard for transmitting data at above  9600 baud  on ordinary
 phone lines.   And as the CCITT has endorsed their efforts to develop this
 protocol for use in future V.x2 specifications for modem standards....


 But ponder, if you will, this question:

 1)  When will the issue of 9600 baud modems  be vital  to the  majority of
     modem users?

 2)   Will Commodore's $20 Million dollar Ad Campaign truly have a powerful
     enough effect on the Amiga's sales this Christmas season to offset the
     cost of  this program,  let alone  help Commodore  through its current
     financial straits by the Second Quarter of 1990?




 CPU REPORT CONFIDENTIAL
 =======================


 Armonk, NY          IBM has licensed the design technology for its
 ----------          4 Megabit DRAM chips to Micron, one of the few US
                     Companies still producing memory chips, and agreed to
                     engage in cross-licensing for semiconductor and memory
                     patents.  Given that IBM, currently the only major US
                     company to have introduced 4 Meg DRAM chips, has said
                     they may license this technology to other US
                     Semiconductor Vendors....

 Paris, France       The Business Software Association has recently filed
 -------------       charges against two major French companies for not
                     paying the entire amount of their site-licensing fees
                     on Lotus, Ashton-Tate, and Microsoft software
                     products.  The BSA also plans to step up their legal
                     activities in this area.  But curiously, it seems that
                     in Europe, a software product sometimes costs more
                     than twice as much as the American version, which is
                     usually identical in capabilities....

 Las Vegas, NV       Commodore did not introduce the Amiga 3000 at Fall
 -------------       Comdex, saying that it is still under development, and
                     now will not be introduced until Commodore has
                     finished porting Release 4.0 of AT&T Unix to the
                     Amiga, in the First Quarter of 1990.  This is also
                     when Version 1.4 of the Amiga's OS is scheduled to be
                     completed....

                     However, Commodore did announce Amiga price cuts of up
                     to 10 - 15 percent. They also introduced the A2500/30,
                     a new version of the Amiga 2000 with a 25 MHZ 68030
                     and a 68882 math chip, 1 Meg of RAM standard, and a
                     40 Meg internal Hard Drive.  Cost:  $4700.00....

 Las Vegas, NV       Lotus Development and WordPerfect have announced an
 -------------       agreement to co-design the user interfaces of 1-2-3/G
                     and WordPerfect for Presentation Manager, so that they
                     have the same "look and feel", and are able to
                     seamlessly exchange data, using OS/2's Interprocess
                     Communications facilities.  Both products will be out
                     by Summer 1990.

                     Interestingly enough, as these products will have to
                     compete against Microsoft's PM versions of Excel and
                     Word, which will have a similar method of connectivity
                     between them....






   ____________________________________________________________________





 > STR Spotlight
   =============



                          COMDEX/Fall89....WOW!!


 by R.F.Mariano

     The list of exhibiting developers was like a who's who register in the
 Atari community.  Atari's executive representation was excellent.  Lead by
 Jack Tramiel (the founder) and  his  sons,  Sam  and  Leonard,  along with
 Antonio Salerno,  Mel Stephens, Chas. Cherry, and almost everyone we know,
 either from online or  through our  dealings with  the company.     We did
 however, have  the distinct pleasure of meeting most all the folks for the
 first time and believe me, they  were  indeed  warm  and  friendly  at all
 times.  

     The Portfolio  was clearly  the HIT of the Atari display.  Sure the TT
 was there.. but in  sheer numbers  Portfolio ran  away with  the amount of
 folks coming  into the  Atari booth  specifically to  "see" the Portfolio.
 The stats are that Atari has sold approximately 123,000 Portfolio units to
 date and  there is  no end in sight.  Please, keep in mind my friends, the
 Portfolio may be the best thing to ever  happen to  Atari... why  you ask?
 Easy, the  game image is slowly going down the tubes......HOW DO YOU SPELL
 RELIEF??   PORTFOLIO.

     ATARI CORP. had DESKSET II on display and in the very capable hands of
 Elizabeth Shook.   Admittedly,  after Miss  Shook gave  a demonstration of
 DeskSet  II,  it  certainly  appears  to  have  a  number  of  first rate,
 redeeming, values.  The third party developers who were setup in the Atari
 area put on quite a show for all attendees.  DeskSet II  is designed  as a
 typography modification  system as  opposed to  a DTP  program contrary to
 preliminary reports it deserves a second look.


     The "NEW" goodies to be seen were simply  dazzling to  the senses, for
 example, the  19" Multi-Rez  monitor in use in the Pagestream (Soft Logik)
 cubicle. 
  
               The STe                  TT
               Mega File 44             Stacy
               Portfolio                Moniterm 19" monitors.
               SIMM Expansions          T16 16mhz upgrades
                              Mage Systems
  

                Developers in attendance at the Atari site
                ------------------------------------------

          STart & Antic -  Jim Chapperal

          Gadgets by Small - Dave & Sandy Small - Doug Wheeler

          Fast Technologies - Jim Allen 

          JRI (John Russell Innovations) - John Russell

          Soft Logic - Mike and Deron K and Mark

          ISD - Nathan Potechin and Julius O.

          Migraph - Liz Mitchell

          Abacus - Staff

          Michtron - George Miller

          Blue Chip Software - Lauren Sellers

          Soft-Aware - Richard Skraly

          Dr. T's - Staff

          Video Touch - Staff

          Word Perfect - Reed Hainsworth


     Getting the most attention was, without a doubt, the Portfolio.   Many
 individuals from  the MS-Dos  world who had never considered an Atari as a
 serious computer source were deliberately seeking out the Atari display to
 examine the  Portfolio.   Naturally, they  HAD to see all the other 'neat'
 goodies running in the Atari area.   Most  were, by  their own admissions,
 "quite impressed" with the performance of the Atari computer line.

     The TT  model uses  the 68030  cpu and  supports 5  resolutions on one
 multi-sync monitor and has built-in support for the Moniterm and other big
 big  screen  monitors.    The  TTs  were  in  use  in several cubicles and
 represented itself quite well.   ISD  was running  DYNACADD on  a TT along
 with a plotter, very impressive.  There were however, a number of Mega STs
 running the T16 16mhz enhancement too and they  looked comparable  to  the
 TT in  many ways.   I  saw "clones" of my system in use and was pleased to
 see that others felt the same as I.   I chose to build up my  Mega4 with a
 moniterm and T16 enhancement.

     The STe  has two additional ports on the left forward side and are for
 the new joysticks, on the back  are 2  RCA jacks  for stereophonic output.
 The STe  was set  up displaying  games and since it was using the extended
 color palette, stereo sound and the light gun it now looks like  a serious
 contender in the entertainment arena.  

     My favorite,  The Stacy  (ST laptop)  also had a prominent position of
 display here, one was in the very capable hands of GBS, (Gadgets by Small)
 demonstrating the  Apple MAC  emulator GCR.   Another was at the Blue Chip
 Software cubicle with Lauren Sellers doing the honors  while demonstrating
 Word Flair.   The other units were in the Midi areas and justifiably so as
 they seem to fit right in.  Since Stacy has passed the FCC type acceptance
 tests, it won't be long now...  perhaps by mid December.

     Moniterm monitors  were quite  obvious by  the number of units in use.
 The performance of these  beauties in  nothing short  of spectacular.   We
 found that  the major  stumble is  a simple fix to the video call one must
 use VDI instead of getrez then the big screen is  free to  'do its thing'.
 The moniterm was in use in mast all the developers cubicles.

     The Atari reception was well put together and the revelation of highly
 increased Developer support through a totally revamped program  was indeed
 a welcome  announcement.   Atari's goals,  as far as we are concerned, are
 well within reason for 1990.  Mr. Gordon Monnier introduced  this reporter
 to Leonard Tramiel early on in the evening, and from that time forward the
 delights of the evening went strictly uphill.  In fact, I found Leonard to
 be quite charming and very willing to discuss the future of Atari.  As the
 evening wore on, Leonard invited me  to  accompany  him  as  he  'made the
 rounds' of  the reception.  At last... I got to meet John Townsend and Ken
 Badertscher, I must say, both young men were  very impressive.   Atari has
 an excellent  staff assembled  and should become quite a competitor in the
 coming months.  A very pleasant surprise came later in the evening  when I
 found  John   Eidsvoog  playing  one  of  my  favorite  styles  of  music,
 progressive jazz, folks... John is not good.. he is a great musician.





   ____________________________________________________________________




 > MichTron STR FOCUS     FORGING AHEAD and DELIVERING THE RESULTS!
   ==================


                                             FINDING WAYS TO SATISFY
                                             =======================


     MichTron had their own display area, #1899, it  soon became  the mecca
 for Atari  enthusiasts who  were wandering about the main convention hall.
 As one began looking over the  MichTron display,  it became  very apparent
 that this  company makes  it their business to offer to the users programs
 and hardware they know will be welcomed with open arms.  From  PC Speed to
 Quartet... the MichTron display was a treat for any user, Atari, PC, Amiga
 and of course, the avid game player.

     QUARTET is a 4 voice polyphonic music synthesizer that transforms your
 ST into a high quality musical creativity tool and instrument.  It permits
 one to compose and arrange original work in  its four  scrolling staves by
 using a  variety musically instrumented frequencies already built into the
 program.  After your great works  of musical  art are  done, you  may then
 listen to your masterpiece through your TV, monitor or replay cartridge.

     Additionally, QUARTET  supports new  programming techniques that allow
 audio playback at up to 16khz, thus providing the ST  with unrivaled sound
 quality.

          4 voice sampled synthesis
          Powerful music score editor (mouse controlled)
          Easy to use slides and loops
          Variable playback form 4 to 16khz
          Up to 20 instruments in use, in memory, at one time
          Wide range of playback environments
          Ability to use sampler outputs
          Sampler processor for filtering and repetition
          Capability to add your own songs to your own programs
          Provision for full MIDI compatibility, both play and record

     MichTron has a real winner in Quartet, be sure to check it out at your
 dealer ....

     PCSPEED is everything they say it is, with over ten  thousand of these
 devices sold  worldwide, you can be sure there will be ample increments of
 new software and  improvements  for  the  future.    We  watched Microsoft
 windows running at more than a respectable speed on an ST.

     Through the  years MichTron  has shown, time after time, their undying
 support for the Atari ST arena, even when things looked rather thin.   The
 MichTron presence  at COMDEX/Fall  89 was first rate, no matter how judged
 and by what yardstick, we saw many things  that are  coming down  the road
 very shortly from this growth oriented company.

     DEVPAC PROFESSIONAL  is a  greatly enhanced version of DevpacST/Amiga,
 the acclaimed assembly-language development  system for  the Atari  ST and
 Commodore  Amiga   machines.     The  additional   features  are  designed
 specifically for  professional programmers  who require  features over and
 above   the   regular   user.      Devpac  Developer  is  compatible  with
 DevpacST/Amiga & Assembles to seven different output file  formats for the
 Atari  and  Amiga  as  well  as  S-Records.    Dual machine development is
 supported for direct remote assembly and cross debugging.   Both assembler
 and debugger  are integrated  with the  editor and  are available as stand
 alone versions.  The Multi-Format linker can mix any combination  of input
 file types  to produce any output file type.  Devpac Developer runs faster
 than Devpac 2 despite having  over  three  times  as  many  directives and
 op-codes. Its still the fastest professional assembler available.

 FEATURES

     Devpac Developer includes all the features of Devpac.  In addition, it
 offers these advanced features:

                                Flexibility

     Devpac Developer directly generates the following output file formats:
 ST  Executable  -  GST  Linkable  -  DRI Linkable - Amiga Linkable - Amiga
 Executable - HiSoft absolute and S records.  HiSoft absolute  is a special
 format  designed   for  multiple  section  absolute  code  type  programs,
 especially games.    The  multi-format  linker  takes  any  combination of
 linkable formats  and can  produce any  executable output format.  This is
 particularly suited to cross development for  other 68000  based machines,
 or for  another machine  of the  same type.  The assembler features a Full
 Specification two pass  Motorola  -  standard  based  assembler, including
 macros, conditionals,  and include  files.  All source files are ASCII and
 the parser is flexible enough to accept most other assemblers source code,
 for example,  colons are  not obligatory  after labels and comments do not
 need delimiting with semicolons.   Devpac  Developer includes  support for
 68010/020/030  processors,  68881/2  (requires  a  math co-processor to be
 fitted on the host machine) and 68851.

                                  Speed 

     Devpac  remains  the   fastest   professional-specification  assembler
 available;  partly  due  to  the advanced caching algorithms used; include
 files are only read on pass 1 if memory permits for example.

                               Environments

 - Atari ST Host:
     The normal environment is from with the GEM based screen  editor where
 both the  assembler and  debugger can be instantly accessed.  In addition,
 any other GEM or TOS program  can be  invoked and  commands passed  to any
 shell being  used by the programmer.  Many programmers have special editor
 and environment preferences therefore, all programs are available in stand
 alone versions  using environment  variables and  return codes.  (Note: we
 cannot guarantee compatibility with present versions of the  Laser C shell
 environment)

 - Commodore Amiga Host:
     The normal  environment uses  the Intuition based screen editor, where
 both the assembler and debugger are instantly accessed.   Many programmers
 have  strong  editor  and  environment  preferences  so  all  programs are
 available in stand alone versions and return codes.

 - Master & Slave Hardware
     For each host machine  Devpac  comes  complete  with  master hardware.
 This  consists  of  an  interface box allowing fast parallel communication
 between machines and is required for Devpac Developer to run.   Additional
 slave  hardware  is  available  to  facilitate  dual  machine development,
 described below.  A master can  be used  as a  slave, but  not visa versa.
 Examples of different combinations are described later.

 - Dual Machine Development
     Devpac  Developer   as  supplied  can  be  used  for  dual  -  machine
 development by passing disks between machines  (e.g. by  using DOS  TO DOS
 between STs and Amigas) or via the serial port (using the programmer's own
 or third party software).   However,  as a  option additional  hardware is
 available  for  destination  machines  providing a fast data link allowing
 remote assembly and full remote symbolic  debugging.   Unlike the ordinary
 version of the debugger, the remote version makes no demands on interrupts
 or screen display allowing the advanced  features of  ordinary MonST/Am to
 be  available   for  the   first  time  to  games  programmers  and  other
 hardware-level programmers.  Remote hardware is  available for  both Atari
 ST and Commodore Amiga machines.

 - Technical Support
     Devpac  Developer  registered  owners  will be automatically sent free
 software upgrades for a  year  and  be  entitled  to  additional technical
 support.

 - Manual
     Devpac  Developer  comes  with  a  detailed  manual explaining all the
 various tools along with notes  regarding  the  file  formats  and details
 about customizing the remote stub code.

 - Freelance Games Programmer
     They prefer  the ST as a programming environment but wishes to develop
 for both the ST and the Amiga.  Use a Mega4 for  development with  a 520ST
 and an  A500 as  test machines.  They need a Devpac developer host for the
 Mega (which will be  supplied  with  the  master  cartridge),  a  ST slave
 cartridge for  the 520  and an  Amiga Slave  for the  A500.  They then can
 develop entirely on the Mega, then upload the code to either slave machine
 and debug  the programs remotely.  When the programs are finished they can
 convert the absolute files  they've been  using to  a format  suitable for
 custom disk loaders.

 - Embedded Systems Programmer
     Using a  Mega ST  and wishing  to develop code for a stand-alone 68020
 board.  They need a Devpac Developer ST Host which will allow the creation
 of  S  Records  for  uploading  either  to the board itself or to an Eprom
 programmer.  In addition, they  can  exploit  the  68020  instructions and
 addressing modes  and for  debugging could  convert the  symbol table file
 into a form suitable for an in-circuit emulator.   They will have to write
 a  simple  upload  program  and  will  not be able to use the dual machine
 features.

 - Applications Programmer
     Having an Amiga 2000 and developing high level Amiga applications.   A
 Devpac Developer  Amiga host  will be needed.  This will allow creation of
 the applications in a modular way, exploiting a 68881 math co-processor in
 a special  version of the application.  Ordinary debugging can be achieved
 using the standard release of MonAm, but for harder to find bugs  they may
 find it  worthwhile to  run the  program on  an A500 together with a slave
 cartridge.  It could then remotely debug the application with much greater
 control as  the remote debugger can perform remote sub-task intercepts and
 step through any system call, unlike  the native  Amiga debugger.   If its
 decided to  port the application to the Atari ST, an Atari slave cartridge
 would allow all development to remain on the  Amiga but  the advantages of
 remote debugging would be available for the ST version.

 - Software Development Team
     The team  has a  wide variety  of hardware, including high end STs and
 Amiga as well as  low end  test machines  of both  types.   Their workload
 varies, as  does the programmer preferences, so they would be suited for a
 Devpac Developer site license.  Due to the variable nature  of their work,
 most cartridges  would be  master so  that they  can be used as slaves for
 remote debugging as  required.    They  can  also  use  the  cartridges to
 transfer files  between the  machines using  software included with Devpac
 Developer.


 For more information; call: 
                Paul Deckard, Director of Public Relations
                               MichTron Inc.
                             576 S. Telegraph
                             Pontiac, MI 48053
                              1-313-334-8729 






   _____________________________________________________________________





 > Atari Stock ~ STReport
   ======================


                                                   THE TICKERTAPE
                                                   ==============


 by Glenn Gorman


     Atari stock dropped 1/4 of a point on Monday and  3/8 on  Tuesday.  It
 rose Wednesday by 1/8, Thursday by 1/4. No change on Friday.  Finishing up
 the week at 10 points. Up 1/4 of a point from our last report.


                                                            
                          +---------------------+
                          |  ATARI STOCK WATCH  |
                          | Week 11-06 to 11-10 |
 +=======+==========+===========+=============+============+=============+
 |       |  Monday  |  Tuesday  |  Wednesday  |  Thursday  |  Friday     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Sales |    1339  |     1382  |       1523  |      1405  |    1221     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Last  |  10 ---  |    9 5/8  |      9 3/4  |    10 ---  |  10 ---     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Chg.  |  -  1/4  |   -  3/8  |     +  1/8  |    +  1/4  |  ------     |
 +=======+==========+===========+=============+============+=============+
 | From > THE CAVE ST BBS <> 609-882-9195 <> 300/14400 HST <> F-NET #351 |
 +=======================================================================+






     _________________________________________________________________




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



 - Las Vegas, NV     *****  WORD PERFECT TO CONSIDER GRAPHICS FOR ST *****
   -------------

     Among the subjects  discussed was the  compatibility problem  with the
 Moniterm monitor  and what  the future may hold as far as WP and the Atari
 marketplace.  Surprisingly, the WP folks  are "UP"  on Atari  and feel the
 new directions  taken by  Atari will lead to more substantial upgrades for
 the program in the ST arena.


 - Las Vegas, NV              *****  INFORMER II TO GET MONITERM FIX *****
   -------------

     Richard Skraly, programmer and developer of Informer II  informed this
 reporter that they too are making the necessary adjustments to Informer II
 so that the program will behave on the Moniterm.  "This monitor  is simply
 too gorgeous, we will make sure our software works with it".  He said.



 - Las Vegas, NV         *****  Les Player Heads up PR work for GFA  *****
   -------------

     Les Player, formally of Atari UK and Stacy project manager, is heading
 up a firm of his own in the UK which will, among other enterprises, handle
 GFA products.   Player felt, like most all at Comdex, that the Atari arena
 is far  from dead  and that  the new  attitude and  direction exhibited by
 Atari was very encouraging. 



 - Las Vegas, NV           ***** ANDY MARKEN TOTALLY UPBEAT ON ATARI *****
   -------------


     Andy Marken, of Marken Communications, has the right idea; his opinion
 was perhaps the most  upbeat  of  all  at  the  Atari  display  area.   He
 eloquently  stated  that  as  of  this  show,  "We are on our way"..  This
 reporter has to agree,  after speaking  to the  Tramiels and  most all the
 folks in  the Atari  area, they indeed are on their way in a most positive
 manner.  Atari, by all indications, is headed for it's best year yet.



 - Las Vegas, NV               **** JRI UNVEILS SIMM MEMORY UPGRADE! ****
   -------------


     John Russell Innovations,  JRI,  unveiled  a  nifty  little  device at
 COMDEX, it  is a  memory upgrade using SIMMS.  The board, no bigger than a
 deck of  cards, is  quite the  goodie.   According to  the spokesman, John
 Russell, this device will be available shortly.






    __________________________________________________________________




  
 > Hard Drive Info STReport InfoFile   Affordable Mass Storage
   ================================= 
  
  


                        NEW PRICES! & MORE MODELS!!
                       ============================


                      ABCO COMPUTER ELECTRONICS INC.
              P.O. Box 6672  Jacksonville, Florida 32236-6672
                                Est.  1985
                 _________________________________________

                   Voice: 904-783-3319  10 AM - 4 PM EDT
                     BBS: 904-786-4176   12-24-96 HST
                    FAX: 904-783-3319  12 PM - 6 AM EDT
                 _________________________________________
                                        
                   HARD DISK SYSTEMS TO FIT EVERY BUDGET
                   _____________________________________
                                        
   All systems are complete and ready to use, included at NO EXTRA COST
                 are clock/calendar and cooling blower(s).
                                        
              ALL ABCO HARD DISK SYSTEMS ARE FULLY EXPANDABLE
                 (you are NOT limited to two drives ONLY!)
                   (all cables and connectors installed)
                                        
                   RUGGED SEAGATE HARD DISK MECHANISMS 

   * ICD HOST ADAPTERS USED EXCLUSIVELY * OMTI HIGH SPEED CONTROLLERS *

         32mb #SG32238   549.00              42mb #SG44710   619.00
         51mb #SGN4951   629.00              65mb #SG60101   689.00
         80mb #SGN296    729.00             100mb #SG84011D  949.00
        130mb #SG1244D  1099.00             145mb #SG3A421  1110.00
        170mb #SGT41776 1389.00             260mb #SG1244Q  2169.00
                          320mb #SGN7788Q 3295.00

           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
                                        
             LARGER units are available - (special order only)

        * Removable Media Devices NOW Available (44mb) Syquest 555 *
                      * SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICES *

                    EXTRA CARTRIDGES: 97.95  (anytime)

               * SYQUEST 44MB (#555) REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE *

     - SYQUEST 44 MB removable media drive     - ICD ST Host Adapter
     - ICD Mass Storage Utility Software       - 3' DMA Cable 
     - Fan & Clock                             - Multi-Unit Power Supply
                          (1) 44 MB Syquest Cart.

                 Completely Assembled and READY TO RUN!  
                              ONLY $869.00  
  
 We would  offer floppy drives..  but Computer Shopper has 'em at the right
 price.  And.. you can plug 'em right into our cabinets and power supplies.
 Low-Boy  OR  Standard  Case  (designed  with room for another 3.5 OR 5.25"
 drive)  They're made for user expansion!  TRUE UPGRADE-ABILITY!
   
   * TWIN SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVES ... PROGRAMMER'S DELIGHT *
                        SPECIALLY PRICED  $1529.00 

    * SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE AND HARD DRIVE COMBINATIONS *
         - Syquest 44 Model [555] and the following hard drives -
          50mb SQG51   $1299.00           30mb SQG38    $1219.00
          65mb SQG09   $1339.00           85mb SQG96    $1399.00
                       
                 LOWBOY - STANDARD - DUAL BLOWER CABINETS

       - Custom Walnut WOODEN Cabinets - TOWER - AT - XT Cabinets - 
                      ALL POWER SUPPLIES UL APPROVED

                       -* 12 month FULL Guarantee *-
                         (A FULL YEAR of COVERAGE)

                 Quantity & Usergroup Discounts Available!
                 _________________________________________

                     DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS WANTED!

                 Personal and Company Checks are accepted.

                            ORDER YOURS TODAY!

                       904-783-3319    9am - 8pm EDT






      _______________________________________________________________



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



                  "This is the beginning of a new era... 
                  of co-operation and positive endeavors"

                                                    ...FDR



  


                             "ATARI IS BACK!"

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ST-REPORT Issue #114   "Your Independent News Source"   November 17, 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.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------


