
            *---== STReport International Online Magazine ==---*
                  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
                   "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"
                                    from
                              STR Publishing 
                               """"""""""""""

March 26, 1993                                                      No.9.13
===========================================================================

                   STReport International Online Magazine
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                                32205 ~ 6672
                                      
                                R.F. Mariano
                             Publisher - Editor
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> 03/26/93 STR 913    "The Original * Independent * Online Magazine!"
  """"""""""""""""
     - The Editor's Desk      - CPU Report        - PORTFOLIO NEWS
     - 586 Pentium Ships      - 1.5gig 2.5" HD    - Apple intros M-Media
     - DMC NEWS UPDATES!      - FLASH 2.1 SHIPS   - New Falcon Wares
     - Wilga Seminar          - BLUE RIDGE FEST   - STR Confidential

                          -* WHAT IS TRUECOLOR? *-
                             -* CeBiT OPENS! *-
                       -* NO FALCONS-APRIL WHAT?!? *-

===========================================================================
                   STReport International Online Magazine
                The Original * Independent * Online Magazine
                           -* FEATURING WEEKLY *-
                 "Accurate UP-TO-DATE News and Information"
      Current Events, Original Articles, Tips, Rumors, and Information
             Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports
===========================================================================
STReport's BBS, The Bounty, invites BBS  systems, worldwide, to participate
in the Fido/NEST/Atari  F-Net Mail Network.  You may  also phone The Bounty
BBS  direct @ 904-786-4176, and enjoy the wonder & excitement of exchanging
information relative to  computers, worldwide, through the use of excellent
International Networking Systems.  SysOps,  worldwide, are quite welcome to
join  the STReport International Conferences.  The Crossnet Code is #34813,
and the "Lead Node" is  # 350.  All BBS systems are welcome  and invited to
participate.  Support your favorite computer!  Teleconference Today!
===========================================================================
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               EURONET ~ CIX ~ CLEVELAND FREE-NET ~ INTERNET
===========================================================================


                               =============
                             * ATARI EDITION *
                               =============


     COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME

                             to the Readers of;
 
                  ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
                  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
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                         NEW USERS; SIGN UP TODAY!

                CALL: 1-800-848-8199 .. Ask for operator 198

                  You will receive your complimentary time
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                 WHAT'S NEW IN THE ATARI FORUMS (March 25)

The Atari Forums will be participating  in the fifth update of GO GRAPHICS,
a picture catalog of some  of the finest GIF images available  for download
from  CompuServe!    We'll  be  compiling  our  listing  for  inclusion  by
mid-April.  Be sure to upload your new GIF pictures as soon as possible!

                          VERSION 2.20 OF GEMVIEW

Download file  GVIEW2.ZIP  from LIBRARY  14  of the  Atari Arts  Forum  (GO
ATARIARTS)  for version  2.20 of GEMVIEW:   The  "view anything  fully" GEM
graphics file viewer.

                         VERSION 1.0.1 of PICSWITCH

The  long-awaited update  to PicSwitch  is available  for download  as file
PICSW1.LZH  in LIBRARY  14 of  the  Atari Arts  Forum (GO  ATARIARTS). This
version  is  completely  overhauled,  with  an  easy-  to-use  enhanced-GEM
interface with  customizable windows, Mac-like controls,  and pop-up menus.
Supports  20  different image  formats, now  including GIF,  IMG, Spectrum,
Prism Paint, PCX, and IFF.

               OPERATE PORTFOLIO WITH PC SCREEN AND KEYBOARD

Operate your Portfolio by using the keyboard and screen of your desktop PC?
Check  out  the file  BIG.ZIP from  master programmers  bj gleason  and Don
Messerli,  now available  in  LIBRARY 2  of the  Atari Portfolio  Forum (GO
APORTFOLIO).

                  THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE
                           HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN
                 OFFICIAL SUPPORT SITE BY ATARI CORPORATION

            "GO APORTFOLIO TO ACCESS THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM"



  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""



> From the Editor's Desk             "Saying it like it is!"
  """"""""""""""""""""""

     CeBiT is  on right now, its  over this coming wednesday.   Reports are
slowly trickling in  about the  public response to  the "biggest"  computer
show in Europe.  But little is coming across about Atari.  Other than a few
reports of some irate overseas calls coming into the states about rumors of
further delays.  Atari needs to come away from this show clearly "strutting
its  stuff".  If  this is  not the  case they had  no business  being there
trying to woo the european  market while busily neglecting the  best market
there is in their own backyard.

     But first, we need to see the "promised products" shipping in the USA,
in  quantity,  with proper  promotion and  advertisement.   Else,  the only
dealer types they'll attract are the loyalist types.  Atari  needs them but
they also  need the  full spectre dealers  that'll provide the  gateway for
them  to  break  into  the  computer  marketing  mainstream  and  be  taken
seriously.

     'Til now and still, Atari  computers are not, in the USA,  looked upon
as a serious, powerful productivity computer.  This is Atari's fault and no
body else's.  The  lack of advertising and constant flow "rational reasons"
for not  advertising and promoting the  computer line and the  company have
served to make them appear as though they don't care to be taken seriously.
While _I_  KNOW Atari  wants to  be taken seriously,  they must  take every
effort to make this known  to the overall US marketplace.   They never have
and as long as  there are people out there  willing to help apologize  away
their lack of advertizing, for whatever reason, they never will.

     Advertizing doesn't only mean promoting a particular product, it  also
means promoting the  COMPANY.   Have they ever?   Nope.   It a  key to  the
gaining of real marketshare.    Tell people about themselves,  their goals,
ideals, and then....  the product lines.   Atari needs  to be known  about.
They are not.

     They are in Germany now, at CeBiT.. "the biggest computer  show in the
world" will anyone in the USA know??  Its doubtful.  Only those who care to
know  because they care about  Atari will take  the effort to  know.  Atari
should be allocating the type of funding being spent to  indulge in Germany
toward a "Get to know Atari" campaign in the USA instead.

     The US marketplace is still the biggest in the world and the market is
always  ready for  a new, innovative  product that'll save  time, money and
produce solid results.   Can Atari provide  that product?  I  think so, but
does Atari?  Time will tell.  Especially by their adverts and promos.

                        Ralph @ STReport International Online Magazine



  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""



 STReport's Staff                      DEDICATED TO SERVING YOU!
 """"""""""""""""

                             Publisher - Editor
                             """"""""""""""""""
                              Ralph F. Mariano


          PC DIVISION         AMIGA DIVISION           MAC DIVISION
          -----------         --------------           ------------
          Roger D. Stevens    Robert Glover            R. ALBRITTON


 STReport Staff Editors:
 """""""""""""""""""""""
          Dana P. Jacobson    Michael Arthur           John Deegan
          Lucien Oppler       Brad Martin              Judith Hamner
          John Szczepanik     Dan Stidham              Joseph Mirando
                    Steve Spivey        Doyle C. Helms

                      Lloyd E. Pulley, Editor Emeritus

 Contributing Correspondents:
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
          Michael Lee         Richard Covert           Scott Birch
          Brian Converse      Oliver Steinmeier        Tim Holt
          Andrew Learner      Norman Boucher           Harry Steele
          Clemens Chin        Neil Bradley             Eric Jerue
          Ron Deal            Robert Dean              Ed Westhusing
          James Nolan         Vernon W. Smith          Bruno Puglia



                              IMPORTANT NOTICE
                              """"""""""""""""
      Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc...
                               via E-Mail to:

                    Compuserve.................... 70007,4454
                    Delphi........................ RMARIANO
                    BIX........................... RMARIANO
                    FIDONET....................... 112/35
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                    GEnie......................... ST-REPORT


  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

                      STR'S "BELIEVE IT?  OR.. WHAT?"
                    <>###############################<>

                 "There is no comparison!  The Atari Falcon
                    is far superior to the PC platform."


                                                  Sam Tramiel, 08/92

About the scathing Forbes Magazine Critique of Atari;

     "My  new office, which has  a better view  than my old one,  is so far
     quite satisfactory.   And Richard  Miller is  in my old  office.   The
     Forbes article was a  mish-mash and misconstrued article full  of half
     truths.  We are anxiously awaiting  the release of the Atari Falcon to
     bring us back to the forefront.  The article has given us some 
laughs, but otherwise has not affected us."

                                                  Sam Tramiel, 08/92

About marketing plans and the future....

     "As  I  said  before, all  marketing  announcements  will  be made  at
     Duesseldorf.  I will not comment on future models of the Falcon.

                 WE ARE TALKING TODAY ABOUT A MACHINE.....
                     WHICH WILL BE SHIPPING NEXT WEEK."


                                                  Sam Tramiel, 08/92

A fantastic observation, considering the date it was made...

     "I've just returned from Asia, where I saw the first Atari Falcon
     production coming off the lines.  Let's hope this new offering will
     make it in North America.  I know that the specs are great."


                                                  Sam Tramiel, 08/92

Again, the dates of the statement conflict with the facts now known....

     "We have not yet even given the machine  to the FCC.  And we are  only
     applying  for Class B approval.  According to our "experts", it should
     pass Class B."

                                                  Sam Tramiel, 08/92


             "......  We are not working for Wall Street but to
         make money for our shareholders and only think long term."


                                                  Sam Tramiel, 11/92

psssst.
              FYI.... The Shareholder's equity is fine.... NOT!

                    The Stock is hovering around $1.12 

                     CHRISTMAS '92 has COME and GONE...
AS HAS...

                       JANUARY 1993, FEBRUARY 1993...

                           FALCONS    ....anyone?

                  By the Way.... Does the Falcon work well
                                    with
            any... of the SLM Laser Printers??  NOPE!  NOT YET!
  

Better yet... 

             Which _MAJOR_ US Software Developers & Publishers
                                    are
                producing NEW Software for Atari's FALCON???

               Besides, who _needs_ a CARTRIDGE PORT anyhow!




  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""



> CPU STATUS REPORT                 LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS 
  """""""""""""""""


 
                 COMPUTER PRODUCTS UPDATE - CPU REPORT
                 ------------------------   ----------
                Weekly Happenings in the Computer World
 
                               Issue #13
 
                            By: John Deegan
 
 
   NINTENDO LOSES AT SUPREME COURT - Nintendo of America lost this week 
when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear its claim that add-on 
hardware letting players experiment with video cartridges to essentially 
invent new games violates federal copyright laws.
 
   This means a win for Lewis Galoob Toys, because the company can 
continue selling its "Game Genie," an add-on that plugs into the 
Nintendo Entertainment System and cartridges, allowing use of a code 
to change up to three elements of a given video game at a time.
 
 
   TI OFFERS NEW PRINTERS - Texas Instruments Inc. has introduced a new 
family of printers for IBM PC/compatible and Apple Macintosh users.
 
   The new line of microWriter LED page printers consist of three 
models: microWriter PS23, microWriter PS65 and the microWriter, which 
offers LaserJet compatibility.  TI says the printers now are available 
through its global network of distributors and dealers.
 
 
   INTEL SHIPS PENTIUM - Intel Corp. this week began shipping its much-
awaited Pentium microprocessor, the next generation computer chip that 
provides improved processing speed and performance.
 
   The fifth-generation chip performs 112 million instructions per 
second, making it five times more powerful than the original Intel '486 
chip.
 
   "The Pentium processor will run all the current software without mod-
ification and with a substantial performance improvement," said Paul 
Otellini, senior vice president with Intel.
 
 
   DELL CUTS PRICES, STOCK TUMBLES - Dell Computer Corp. this week an-
nounced it was cutting prices by as much as $300 on selected 486-based 
systems, causing the company's stock to tumble.
 
   The firm cut prices from $50 to $300 on six Dimension systems, affec-
ting more than 60 hardware configurations. Dell said the price cuts were 
made possible through savings in component and manufacturing costs.
 
 
   NEC GOES WORLDWIDE WITH NEW CHIP - NEC Corp. says that next month it 
will begin selling worldwide its next-generation chip, offering a memory 
16 times that of widely sold 4-megabit chips currently on the market.
 
   NEC Vice President Yuichi Haneta as saying it will be the first 
company to sell the 64-megabit DRAM (dynamic random access memory) chip, 
targeted for use in supercomputers, high-definition television sets, 
multi-media products and office workstations.
 
   Recently, NEC joined other companies in announcing the development of 
an experimental 256-megabit DRAM and said it had applied for about 100 
different kinds of patents on the new chip.
 
 
   APPLE INTRODUCES MULTIMEDIA CD-ROM PRODUCT - Apple Computer Inc. this 
week introduced PowerCD, its first CD-ROM-based multimedia product.

   PowerCD is a three-in-one player for CD-ROM, photo CD and audio 
compact discs. Available as an external device, the portable PowerCD 
drive will offer users access to Macintosh CD-ROM titles on their 
computer, as well as full support for Kodak Photo CD formats and the 
ability to play audio CDs when connected to a television or Macintosh 
computer.
 
   Applications include business presentations, reference databases, 
photo archives, learning programs and entertainment.
 
   The unit is lightweight, battery-operated and completely portable. It 
has a built-in SCSI port to enable users to connect their Macintosh 
desktop or PowerBook computer and use it as a CD-ROM drive.
 
 
   HAYES CUTTING PRICES 17% - Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. says it 
has taken action within its distribution channel that is expected to 
lower the street prices by up to 17% on its Optima products.
 
   "The price reductions are intended to make the fastest CCITT standard 
modem of 14,000 bit/s more affordable," Hayes said in a statement from 
Atlanta, "and to encourage more business users to take advantage of the 
benefits of fax capabilities in a modem."
 
   The Optima line includes data and fax modems ranging from 2400 bps to 
14,000 bps.
 
 
   SONY DEVELOPS 1.5-GIGABYTE 2.5" DISK TECHNOLOGY - Sony says it has 
developed a technology capable of creating a 2.5-inch hard disk, which 
can hold 1.5 gigabyte of data. The firm has already produced a prototype 
version of the disk. It is reported that the technology is the combina-
tion of a Mini-Disks and a compact disk (CD).
 
   Sony's latest 2.5-inch original hard disk technology is called the 
Pre-Embossed Rigid Magnetic, or the PERM. The disk has embossed tracks 
or grooves on both sides of the disk. Basically, it uses the same 
mastering and stamping process as that of a music CD.

   Sony claims that it is a totally new technology. A prototype 2.5-inch 
hard disk prototype has already been developed, which has 5,000 tracks 
per inch and can store 200 megabytes (MB) of data. The disk measures 10 
by 7 by one centimeter in size.

   The grooves on the disk prevents noise, which is usually created by 
the friction between the tracks. With narrower grooves, Sony is 
preparing to produce a disk with 15,000 tracks per inch in the near 
future. This disk will hold 1.5 gigabyte of data.


   ELECTRONIC MONITORING LEADING CAUSE OF JOB STRESS WORLDWIDE - Job 
stress, some of which is caused by computers, is a worldwide phenomenon 
affecting tens of millions of workers, according to a report issued by a 
United Nations agency.

   Electronic monitoring by employers is a leading cause of job stress. 
According to the findings of the U.N.'s International Labor Organization 
(ILO) job stress is also rampant in developing countries where companies 
are doing little to help employees cope with the strain of modern 
industrialization.

   Vittorio G. Di Martino, a job stress specialist for the ILO, said 
major factors in the stressful nature of a job are not only the demands 
of the work, but also the lack of control many workers have over their 
jobs.

   For instance, repetitive work is not necessarily stressful, but when 
a worker is required to keep up with a machine, anxiety levels increase.

   Workers in many countries are being subjected to new pressures, 
including electronic eavesdropping by superiors, as the use of computers 
spreads throughout the world. Employees in airline offices, government 
agencies, insurance companies, mail-order houses and telephone 
companies, often find their work quality, quantity and length and 
frequency of breaks being electronically monitored by their bosses.

   "This may be reassuring for the employer, but not for the worker," 
said the report, "Job Stress: The 20th Century Disease."



    ____________________________________________________________________



> ONLINE WEEKLY STReport OnLine          The wires are a hummin'!
   """""""""""""""""""""""""""""
         
          
              
                            PEOPLE... ARE TALKING
                            =====================
             
              
 On CompuServe
 -------------
 compiled by Joe Mirando
             73637,2262




     Hey there, folks!  It's been another busy week on Compuserve.  The
questions just keep coming (luckily, so do the answers).  Y'know, it always
amazes me when, after all the years that the ST has been on the market,
someone comes up with a new "twist".  Sure, it's not a common occurrence,
but it does happen.  Well, I guess that's one of the things that keep us
computer folks young, huh?

Let's see what kind of new stuff we can learn this week...




From the Atari Productivity Forum
=================================



Ted Broussard asks about a popular word processor from "that other"
platform:


     "I have noticed various  files dealing with WordPerfect. Is  this word
     processor available for the ST? If so, how can I purchase it?"


Albert Dayes of Atari Explorer Magazine, being the helpful guy that he is,
tells Ted:


     "Yes there is Word Perfect for the ST.  Its only 4.1 and its not being
     upgraded any  longer by Word Perfect.   You should  be able to  find a
     used one for a good price."


One of the many nice things about a "stock" ST/STe/Falcon is the ability to
utilize fairly high quality sound right out of the box.  On the DOS
platform, to get anything more than a squeaky beep, you must go out and buy
a sound board.  Of course, where there is hardware, there must be software
to make the most of it.  Michael Smith tells us:


     "I'm  looking for  a startup  sound program  for the  auto folder  (of
     course) that's small, simple, and to the point.

     I've installed Superboot 8.0  for only it's capabilities of  playing a
     startup Digisound but that's  a bit overkill and Superboot  slows down
     the boot process considerably.

     Does  anyone know of  a startup up sound  program that isn't extremely
     difficult  to  configure, ie:  renaming the  sound  file 20  times and
     rebooting to  get  it  right, and  works  on a  Mega  STe,  preferably
     supporting the DMA sound."


Geoff Larsen tells Michael:


     "Gooday mate. I am  a registered user of  Superboot and till  recently
     found it very useful, but it does slow down the boot!!!!!!

     Try MOUSEBOOT it is great, easily reconfigured and mouse driven as the
     name suggests.  It has sound  capabilities but i  don't know how  good
     they are as I don't use them. (slows down the boot).....<g>

     It was  on a  disk off Atari  ST Review  (the one  with 1st Track  and
     Striker in bold letters on the  front.  If this does not mean  a thing
     to you or if you do not get that mag. were ever you live and it is not
     on CIS then let me know and I will upload it for you."


Gee, was I the only one that noticed Geoff's accent?  I'd place him as
being from New Zealand.  The fact that people can communicate via a service
like CompuServe from all around the globe so quickly, and at such a small
price, still amazes me.

Last week, Michael Smith mentioned that:


     "QCMsg  is working VERY nice.   No complaints and even  on a Mega STe:
     the fussiest of the ST family..."


That led Haj Baxter to post:


     "I'm curious  what you mean  by the Mega being  the fussiest ST.   I'm
     interested in moving up from my Ste 4meg To a Mega (because I wanted a
     place to install  a hard drive and I thought the higher Tos would give
     me _less_ glitches than I usually run into[I already switched from  an
     St Fm]) not more. I _attract_ glitches, bombs, Tos error alerts, etc."


Michael explains the situation to Haj:


     "The Mega STe is a GREAT machine,  don't let me lead you astray.   The
     operating  system, however,  has some  incompatibilities with  current
     software that I believe 1.62 and below didn't have.

     I  think it's mainly  on account that  some developers may  have taken
     short cuts in programming (I'm not a programmer so this is probably an
     incorrect statement).

     I found that one program  from the old days (actually two now that I'm
     thinking  about it) won't  work.  The  one is BaseTWO  (didn't like it
     anyway!) and STRaider (a game).

     I didn't have any incompatibilities with my 520STFM with TOS 1.04.  It
     worked very well but didn't have the horsepower or the hard drive when
     I needed it most.

     Now the  software I use has to  have a "passed the  2.05 or 2.06" test
     before I purchase or download.

     I've heard STalker works great so I just ordered that today.

     If I had to do it today, tho, I'd upgrade to a TT.  It makes sense  to
     go  with an  030 machine  (esp with  MTOS coming)  and the  ability to
     expand above 4 meg of ram (which is seriously becoming a limitation!).
     I've heard the TT has better compatibility than the MSTE."

Geoff Larsen adds:


     "I have  a MEGA STe and  I have to agree  it is fussy, but  I have not
     purchased a program in the  last twelve months ( game or  application)
     that  has not worked first up.  Some P.D. (a lot of these people don't
     have developer packs from Atari) and older software (whose programmers
     chose to ignore Atari's warnings about do not use memory areas) do not
     work. All  in all I  have only had  problems with  ten or so  programs
     and I found plenty of replacements...


Allan Higgins asks for some help:


     "Greetings.  I need some advice. The sound went on my 1040ST. I am not
     sure  whether  the problem  is  my computer  or  my monitor  (an SM124
     monochrome). Any suggestions on how to locate the problem?"


Geoff Larsen offers a suggestion:


     "Take your 1040  over to one of your mate's house and plug it into his
     monitor. If it does not work then it is the 1040."


Mike Mortilla pops in and bursts that little bubble with a dose of reality
and offers a suggestion of his own:


     "Here in the  States, not all of  our mates houses have STs.  They are


     far and few  between! As  for the problem,  I can  help much, but  the
     SM124 is easy to disassemble (remove the case from). You might want to
     download  the MONO  MOD file  from the  libraries here as  it explains
     opening  the case. You don't have to  expand the screen (which is what
     the file  is intended to do) but once opened,  you can check to see if
     the slip on connector to the speaker has come loose.

     I've been tempted to add an earphone jack to  mine, but never have the
     time. You  could plug in a comparable speaker to the connector and see
     if it works (careful  running with the cover open, but  it can be done
     and is explained in the file too.) Hope this helps.

     To  find  the file,  search the  libraries  for keyword  mono, screen,
     expand and/or mod and you should be able to find MONO MOD. Good luck."


Jonnie Santos posts the thought that went through my mind:


     "Please warn him about the flyback transformer...  Ouch!!!"


Mike tells Jonnie:


     "I've opened  my SM124  plenty of  times and never  got zapped,  but I
     tend not to touch anything that even looks like it's made of metal!  I
     did,  however, learn a very  good lesson at my  father in laws house a
     few years ago...

     He's  a research chemist and inventor and  invented a device with very
     high voltage,  which he  was showing  me. He turned  away for  about 3
     seconds and  I decided to touch  the shiny thing  to see if  its warm.
     It  was, with about 17,000 volts! Fortunately  it had very low amps or
     I'd be part of his compost heap!

     But a friend  of mine took the  full load at a major  theater here. He
     was  not himself  for about  a  year, and  now is  *the* most  careful
     technician you'll *ever* see."


Jonnie adds:


     "Yeah, I just mentioned it  because I was taking a class  on repairing
     PC's and the instructor mentioned some  astronomical high voltage from
     the transformer  (and about  double that  for a color  unit).   Also I
     remember years ago when I used to do sub-ass'y work for Elgar Corp you
     could get even  a little bite from  those liquid filled capacitors  we
     installed.  These were the same caps that in the polarity was backward
     they'd pop the  little red rubber plug  and blow a fog cloud  into the
     shop  - the  tech  doing  the testing  (when  the wrong  polarity  was
     discovered) was a bit punchy for the remainder of the day..."


And what good is a potentially dangerous piece of electrical equipment if
you can't use it for things that it was never intended for?  Michael Smith
adds:


     "you know what's really cool?

     An old, cracked fly back with the lights in the room turned off.   You
     can see the arcing inside the flyback! A nice light  show.. just don't
     try to touch it with your tongue!!"


While these guys are watching the pretty lights (I'm just mad cuz they
wouldn't let me watch too), Ron Luks and Jeff at Intersect Software discuss
whether or not the Falcon's SuperVGA and TrueColor modes are what people
expect them to be.  Jeff posts:


     "One of the modes  for SVGA is 640 X 480 X 256  colors, VGA is only 16
     colors in that  mode.   The VGA standard  we are used  to (in the  PC)
     contains  several other resolutions and color combinations.  So we can
     say that the Falcon has a SVGA mode (one of them). <grin>

     I just got the literature for a Falcon dealer and my eyes widened when
     I read the SVGA support claim on the Flyer."


Sysop Boss, Ron Luks tells Jeff:


     "If this rather obscure SVGA mode is enabled, I  still do not think it
     is reasonable  or proper for Atari to claim SVGA support.  Most people
     using  computers  have a  distinct understanding  of  what SVGA  is (a
     higher resolution than the Falcon030 is capable of) and using  this in
     their advertising would be very very wrong.

     I would  certainly hope that  Atari Corp does  not use this  "almost a
     loophole" to generate  more FAlcon sales  at the  expense of a  misled
     public.

     The only word I can think of for such a tactic would be 'sleazy."


Sysop Bob Retelle tells Ron:


     "There's  been  considerable  discussion  on UseNet  about  this  very
     thing...

     Atari uses  the terms SVGA, "True Color" and VME rather loosely, in my
     opinion...  but  any  mention of  the  idea that  those  are  more for
     "marketing"  than completely  truthful  is an  open  invitation to  be
     flamed most severely..."


Jonnie Santos tells Ron:


     "If it says SVGA then I better be  able to plug in an NEC3FGx and  get
     terrific res...  It will be interesting to keep up on this detail."


Charles Smeton posts:


     "There  has never been  an exact definition of  SVGA as many different
     vendors support  what they call SVGA. There  is an IBM standard called
     XGA,  but this  is not  the same  as the  various SVGA  graphic cards.
     Standard  VGA supports  640 x  480 x  16 colors  and 320  x 200  x 256
     colors. Most SVGA cards have 640 x 480 x 256 color modes, 800 x  600 x
     256 color modes and  even 1024 x 768 x 16 color modes.  Some VGA cards
     support  more than 256 colors at one  time. There are 32768, 65536 and
     even 16+ million (24 bit) cards.

     Atari's use of the term "True Color" refers  to the fact that there is
     no color pallet  in these graphic modes. The colors  of each pixel are
     defined  by the RGB  values in screen  memory. In  pallet based modes,
     the color of pixels is defined by the RGB values  in a color register,
     the index  of the color register  is what is stored  in screen memory.
     "True Color"  means that  the color  of the  pixel is  what is  in the
     screen memory. It does not mean that there are any  specific number of
     colors available at one time."


Bob Retelle tells Charles:


     "The problem is, there is also an "industry  definition" of True Color
     which  defines  it  as   being  indistinguishable  from  the  original
     object...  which occurs with the human eye at approximately 16 Million
     colors.   Anything which displays fewer distinct colors (as the Falcon
     does), cannot display a True Color image.

     Of course, Leonard Tramiel SAID the  Falcon has True Color, so I guess
     the rest of the industry is wrong..."


Larry Green jumps in and posts:


     "Surely  this Truecolour/16  million colours  is going a  bit far.   I
     think that  I am  right  in saying  that 16  million  is *the*  number
     because that  is all humans  can see (so  why have  more).  The  sound
     spectrum is the same, musicians  don't have to use every freq  to make
     decent music, neither does the Falcon to produce decent graphics.  The
     Palette  of  colours are  smaller  but  the  screen can  only  show  a
     percentage of these to produce *Truecolour* images.."


Bob Retelle puts the issue in its proper perspective:


     "The Falcon might have "decent" graphics, but they are NOT "TrueColor"
     graphics.

     A telephone might  deliver "decent"  sound, but who  would misuse  the
     term and say it has "Hi Fi" sound...?

     Likewise,  do  you  think it  would  be  acceptable for  a  cheap tape
     recorder to be advertised as having "CD quality sound"..?

     Same thing...

     "True Color"  is, as  you suggested,  the point  where  the human  eye
     cannot tell  the difference between  the computer generated  image and
     the "real" object.

     The  colors are  the "true"  colors as  seen in  nature.   They're not
     "close", or "decent", they're "true".

     If a computer  can't deliver 16M colors, then it  cannot deliver "True
     Color"  images.  They  might be "Nice  Color", or  "Decent Color", but
     they're not "True Color" images.

     What the Falcon  has is "palletteless color".. that does not equate to
     "true color".   It could, if the hardware was  capable of 16M separate
     shades...

     Actually  TrueColor IS well defined..  better than most people's ideas
     of what SuperVGA means.

     Images  created with 16M colors  or more are  TrueColor, those created
     with fewer are not.

     I agree that 32K  colors is pretty good... the problem  I have is with
     advertising a computer has a feature, when it really doesn't...

     It would be  like advertising the  ST comes  with "High Density"  disk
     drives  because 720K  is  higher density  than say,  a 360K  drive... 
     while the industry accepted definition of High Density is 1.44 Megs or
     higher.

     The  problem is  misuse of terms...   heck..  we could  claim the GTIA
     modes on the 8bit Atari 800 were "True Color" otherwise..."


Jim Ness posts:


     "I  remember a long discussion,  when the Falcon  was first announced,
     about what the term True Color really meant.

     Atari's claim was  that it was when you could not tell a screen from a
     photo,  based on color  only.  People  like yourself said  it was 16.7
     million colors.  And, nobody really could point to a written spec.

     I agree with you - the market has come to expect 16.7 million  colors,
     when  the term True Color is stated.   Probably because that's the way
     PC video cards are marketed these days.

     Atari (and Lexicor) are probably right, to the extent  that True Color
     was first intended to mean photo-quality, without reference  to 16-bit
     or 32-bit  capability.   But,  like  a lot  of  other things  in  this
     industry, the definitions have changed over time."




From the Atari ST Arts Forum
============================



Steve Holt asks about the availability of utility programs for the ST:


     "I'm looking for utilities for the  Atari, similar to PC Tools for the
     PC. PC  Tools does  lots  of things,  but in  particular it  undeletes
     files,  checks  and repairs  disk  problems, prunes  and  grafts whole
     directories,  does HD  backup with  various compression  options, etc,
     etc. Is there anything like this or like Norton for the Atari?"


Myles Cohen tells Steve:


     "Part of  what you want to  accomplish can be achieved  with a program
     called DLII...You can find it in ATARIPRO..."


Geoff Larsen adds:


     "If you have the money "Knife ST" and "Diamond Edge" are probably your
     best bet. They will do most of what  you want. "Knife ST" is available
     from Atari in a pack with seven other useful programs and accessories.
     The  Pack  is  called  "An  Introduction  to  Programming  Utilities".
     Contents are:

                                   WERCS
                               FONTKIT PLUS 2
                                  KNIFE ST
                                   SAVED
                               ATARI ARCHIVE
                                   STREE
                             DESKTOP CALCULATOR
                               DESKTOP CLOCK

     The Pack is priced at about $45.00 Australian (can't find my
     calculator so you will have to convert it to US$ or whatever.){$0.71A
          to $1.00 US approx.}"


Brian Gockley of ST Informer fame tells Steve:


     "There is a program called ST TOOLS that does what you ask.

     Indeed it is (available for downloading), I think that's where I got
     it.  If it's not there, let me know and I'll put it up."


Jamie Sacadura posts:


     "Thanks to Sysop, Bob Retelle, I've been able to test WINREC, a german
     direct-to-disk recording program, by Andreas Biner.  It works fine and
     its very easy to use although German (once you`ve selected the  number
     of seconds  to record, otherwise it does nothing). But the size of the
     Samples !!! - 10 sec of MONO sampling at 50 Khz results in 1 Mb file!!

     As for FRACTAL,  a french assembler program/CPX  to benchmark fractile
     generation,  it seams  to  indicate that  programs  that use  the  DSP
     processor are going to be very fast on Falcon.

     The predefined  fractile takes 42  to 36  sec in different  True Color
     resolutions  to be generated and using  the DSP it only  takes 10 to 6
     sec ,  although the final  fractile results weren`t quite  the same. I
     didn`t like also, not being able to see the fractile being  generated,
     somehow one gets a "cheat" feeling of that.

     On my "old"  MegaST2 it takes  86s to generate  the same fractile,  in
     color  or monochrome  (strange,  exactly the  same  time on  different
     resolutions and color modes).

     I`m  still waiting  to see  my  first TRUE  COLOR image  on my  Falcon
     (something with more than 256 colors on screen) although using GEMVIEW
     (nice program) i`ve been able to see PC 256 color Gifs and quite  nice
     they where.

     I  would appreciate  if  someone (Bob?)  could  locate and  upload  on
     Compuserve, the program "Mandelbrot Fractile" by R.J. Ridder  that Ron
     Robinson mentioned in AEO205.  It seems the program can  generate TRUE
     COLOR Fractals and animate them!

     Finally a  word of disappointment. -  don`t use it as  another nail in
     ATARI`s coffin, Ralph :).  ATARI doesn`t  still seem to have a clue on
     how to  impress new  (and future)  owners of Falcon.  The two  games -
     LANDMINE  and  BREAKOUT would  have shamed  my  Spectrum 48K  and show


     nothing of Falcon`s capabilities. Breakout doesn`t even work correctly
     in True color and only the sound is fair. As for Landmines, it doesn`t
     even  have sprites  (only  squares and  numbers  1,2,3), so  much  for
     showoff. They  seem like two programs  some kid has put  together in a
     couple of days using  Basic. What am i saying! The  kid would no doubt
     came  out with something  better.    Oh well, thank  God for shareware
     developers!!"


Bob Retelle tells Jaime:


     "Thanks for that detailed report on the Falcon programs..!

     I'll see if I can locate that Fractile program you mentioned.. (I  may
     have  to wait until I can  fix my ST's keyboard..  the "C" key stopped
     working  this week..  it's over  6 years  old, so  I guess  that's not
     bad...!  I logged  into the atari  archives and discovered I  couldn't
     "Change directories..!   argh.! And my  PC isn't set  up to do  UseNet
     stuff yet...   :(

     I had wondered about the choice of those two games to include with the
     Falcon.. thanks  for the descriptions of them..   you're right that it
     would  be  nice  to give  something  that  truly  did demonstrate  the
     features of the Falcon though.

     It's been so long since  the Falcon was announced, it would  have been
     nice  if something  else  had been  developed  in the  meantime to  be
     included..

     Breakout was  probably  done  because Atari  owns  the  trademark  and
     wouldn't have  to pay anything for  it, but why Landmines..?   I think
     you're right..  isn't that right out of the 1980 edition of "101 BASIC
     Games"..?"




From the Atari Vendors Forum
============================



Clive Parker gives us a bit of information about Dave Small, the creator of
Spectre GCR, the Mac emulator for ST computers:


     "According to UK sources Dave is hard at work on Falcon GCR, a totally
     internal GCR  board for  the Falcon.   Rumor  has it  that it  will be
     faster  than a Quadra(!) although I'll believe it  when I see it.  BTW
     Dave, if you read this then any chance of a Falcon GCR for review?" 


Tim Myers joins in and posts:


     "I  doubt that the  Falcon GCR would  be that fast.  The Falcon itself
     would have a job keeping up with say a Quadra 800. !"


Dan Rhea posts:


     "I don't know Tim, Dave seems to have a talent for getting more out of
     Atari hardware  anyone I know  of.   He's truly one  gifted individual
     (with a top notch team working with him too)."


Sysopmeister Ron Luks tells us:


     "After reading that message, I picked up the phone and gave Dave Small
     a call.

     He confirms that he is working both on ver 3.1 and a Spectre GCR board
     for  the new  Falcon.  Talking  with Dave  is one of  the nicer little
     pleasure I  have  in this  job  and if  the Atari  market  disappeared
     tomorrow, I'd like to keep  his phone number around.  He's  one of the
     most  interesting personalities I've run across in this business and I
     anxiously await his first novel. [grin]"




From the Atari Portfolio Forum
==============================



Robert Rice posts:


     "I need  to convert my Portfolio phone book  into a format which I can
     import into  a PC  based  application.   Is there  an  program in  the
     library  which will  do this?   Basically,  I need  to convert  into a
     database type format."


Sysop Marty Mankins tells Robert:


     "I am not aware  of a program to convert the phone book.  But, if it's
     not  that  big, you  can  do it  by hand  by  making it  into  a comma
     separated format.

     Commas separate each field of data.  Now the record looks like this:

                              Perfection Applied
                              222-0120
                              454 West 1010 North
                              Orem, UT 84057

     After converting it to comma separated, it should look like this:

     "Perfection Applied", "222-0120", "454 West 1010 North", "Orem, UT
     84057"

     It's a little time consuming, but it works."


     BJ Gleason, sysop and programming maniac, tells Marty:


     "I just wrote a program to convert the .ADR file, and have uploaded it
     to LIB 3 under the name ADR2CD.ZIP...."


Marty Replies to BJ:


     "What a pal.  That's perfect.  How long's the program been out  there?
     I hope it was recently, so I don't get egg on my face."


     Knowing BJ, the "electronic ink" wasn't even dry on Robert's first
message when BJ finished writing the program.... Now, if I could only talk
him into writing a program that prints up nice crisp 20 dollar bills...


     Well folks, that's it for this week.  I hope you found something
worthwhile in this week's column.  If not, go back and read through it
again.  Yeah, that means you, fella.  That's right, you.  Go on, the rest
of us haven't got all day.

     Okay, he's gone back up to the top of this column so the rest of us
can finish up.  Ya see how just one guy can gum up the works?

     Well, at any rate, I'll be back (said in my best Arnold
Schwartsenegger voice) next week.  So tune in again to listen to what they
are saying when...


                             PEOPLE ARE TALKING



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

                             IMPORTANT NOTICE!
                             =================

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ST Advantage  on DELPHI.  STReport  readers are invited to  join DELPHI and
become a part of the friendly community of Atari enthusiasts there.


                           SIGNING UP WITH DELPHI
                           ======================
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                               JOIN -- DELPHI
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                Via modem, dial up DELPHI at 1-800-695-4002
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                                   and...
                At Password: type STREPORT and press RETURN.

     DELPHI's Basic Plan offers access for only $6.00 per hour, for any
baud rate.  The $5.95 monthly fee includes your first hour online.

    For more information, call: DELPHI Member Services at 1-800-544-4005

   DELPHI is a service of General Videotex Corporation of Cambridge, MA.

                         Try DELPHI for $1 an hour!

     For  a limited  time, you  can become  a trial  member of  DELPHI, and
receive 5  hours of evening and  weekend access during this  month for only
$5.  If you're not satisfied, simply  cancel your account before the end of
the calendar  month with no further  obligation.  If you  keep your account
active, you will  automatically be  enrolled in DELPHI's  10/4 Basic  Plan,
where you can use up to 4 weekend  and evening hours a month for a  minimum
$10  monthly charge, with additional hours available  at $3.96.  But hurry,
this  special trial  offer will  expire soon!   To  take advantage  of this
limited offer,  use your modem to dial 1-800-365-4636.  Press <RET> once or
twice.  When you get the Password: prompt, type IP26 and press <RET> again.
Then, just answer the questions and  within a day or two, you'll officially
be a member of DELPHI!  

                        TOP TEN DOWNLOADS (3/24/93)
                         ==========================
                               STREPORT 9.12
                         SPEED OF LIGHT GIF VIEWER
                           ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE
                                 STZIP 2.2
                            COMPUTER COMPARISON
                         PIM - ATARI'S PERSPECTIVE
                                PICSW101.LZH
                                WHATIS65.LZH
                                  ZNET9310
                             COCKTAIL SELECTOR

All of the above files can be found in  the RECENT ARRIVALS database for at
least  one week after the  posting of this  list.  Please Note  that in the
case of  online magazines, only the  most current issue in  the database at
the time of this compilation is considered  for the Top 10 list.  Also, for
all files, a submission is eligible for the Top 10 list for only four weeks
after its original uploading.


                 DELPHI- It's getting better all the time!



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



> BLUE RIDGE ATARIFEST'93 STR SHOW NEWS    "The Summertime Atari Event!"
  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 
                         1993 Blue Ridge ATARIFEST
                         """""""""""""""""""""""""



 BLUE RIDGE ATARIFEST '93
 Press Release - March 25, 1993

 FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""

The  Blue  Ridge Atari  Computer  Enthusiasts (BRACE)  and  Computer STudio
invite you  to participate in  the Fourth  Annual Blue  Ridge AtariFest  in
beautiful Asheville, North Carolina.  Show dates and times are:


                     Saturday July 24, 1993  10am - 6pm
                     Sunday   July 25, 1993  Noon - 5pm


Just  as in previous years, we have arranged for FREE Booth space for Atari
developers!!  (We're only requesting the donation of a door prize).

We can promise  both developers  and show-goers an  energetic and  exciting
show with as enthusiastic a crowd of Atarians as you'll find anywhere, plus
the support of Computer STudio in the mall.

We're once  again taking over  the Courtyard  Shop (mall) area  at Westgate
Shopping Center for the show (location of Computer STudio), plus the use of
vacant  store spaces  for seminar sessions.   Seminar  sessions will  be 45
minutes in length, and developers are welcome to conduct a seminar on their
product  line or  approved  topic of  their  choice (seminar  sessions  are
limited, so first come, first served).

This year's show  dates also  coincide with Asheville's  annual Bele  Chere
street festival, when downtown Asheville is closed to vehicular traffic and
becomes  what must  be one  of  the largest  street fairs  in the  country.
Westgate  Shopping  Center is  one  of  the  primary Park-and-Ride  shuttle
centers for transporting people to and from downtown, and we've arranged to
have the shuttle service pick up at the front entrance of the mall and drop
off at the rear entrance, so everyone taking the service from Westgate WILL
walk through the AtariFest  exhibition area sometime during the  day.  This
will be a  great opportunity to showcase  Atari and Atari  related software
and  peripherals, and  introduce them  to people  who aren't  already Atari
owners.  Bringing  in NEW blood is the key to  the growth of this platform,
and  this will  be our  opportunity to  begin that  process with  a captive
audience.

Additional  discussions of  the  show, as  well  as confirmations  of  your
participation, are welcome in GEnieMail and in the Blue Ridge
AtariFest topic 13 in Category 11 here on GEnie.

Hoping  to hear from you  soon.  Happy Atari  Computing.  It's happening in
A       s       h       e       v       i       l       l       e       !

Where: Westgate Shopping Center - Asheville, N.C.

Take  any major highway  into Asheville (US  19-23, US  26 or I-40)  to the
I-240  loop,  then  take the  "Westgate/Hilton  Inn  Drive  exit" into  the
Westgate Shopping Center parking lot.

                            When: 24-25, July 1993
                          Time: 10:am to 6:pm SAT
                                12 Noon 'til 5pm SUN

Points of contact:

     Sheldon Winick                     Cliff Allen, Show Coord.
     GEnie:  S.WINICK                   GEnie:  C.ALLEN17
     Computer STudio                    Internet:  CALLEN@UNCA.EDU
     Westgate Shopping Center           phone:  (704) 258-3758
     40 Westgate Parkway - Suite D
     Asheville, NC  28806
     (704) 251-0201

or the Blue Ridge AtariFest topic on GEnie (Atari Roundtable, Category 11,
Topic 13).

                  "COME FOR A DAY OR COME FOR THE WEEKEND,
                      BUT DO COME AND ENJOY YOURSELF!"


Great Smokies Hilton Resort  Hilton Inn Drive        (704)254-3211
                 Toll-free reservation phone number 1-800-733-3211


Radisson                    One Thomas Wolf Plaza    (704)252-8211
                 Rate: $62.00 per room (1-4 people)


          ====== Additional Hotel / Motel Information ===========

Days Inn                       I-26 and Airport Road     (704)684-2281
                               I-40 Exit 55              (704)298-5140

Econo Lodge                    US 70 East, I-40 Exit 55  (704)298-5519

Holiday Inn                    275 Smoky Park Hwy        (704)667-4501
                       Toll-free reservation phone number1-800-HOLIDAY

Red Roof Inn                   I-40 and US 19-23 Exit 44 (704)667-9803
                      Toll-free reservation phone number1-800-843-7663

Budget Motel                    I-40 Exit 44 (Enka-Chandler)
                                  West Asheville Exit    (704)665-2100 Best
Western Asheville Central  22 Woodfin St                 (704)253-1851

       ========= Local Bed & Breakfast lodging Information =========

Aberdeen Inn                64 Linden Ave                (704)254-9336
Albemarle Inn               86 Edgemont Road             (704)255-0027
Applewood Manor             62 Cumberland Circle         (704)254-2244
The Bridle Path Inn        Lockout Road                  (704)252-0035
Cairn Brae B & B           217 Patton Mountain Rd        (704)252-9219
Carolina B & B             177 Cumberland Ave            (704)254-3608
Cedar Crest Victorian Inn  674 Biltmore Ave              (704)252-1289
Corner Oak Manor            53 St. Dunstan               (704)253-3525
Cornerstone Inn            230 Pearson Dr                (704)253-5644
Flint Street Inn           100 & 116 Flint Street        (704)253-6723
The Lion and The Rose      276 Montford Ave              (704)255-7673
The Ray House B & B         83 Hillside St               (704)252-0106
Reed House                 119 Dodge St                  (704)274-1604
The Wright Inn             235 Pearson Drive             (704)251-0789]
                                                         (1-800-552-5724)

A more complete listing of Bed & Breakfasts can be obtained through the
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Reservations should be made immediately, as July is the height of our
tourist season.


                 ===========  CAMP GROUNDS ================

           (reservations are a must during this time of season):

Mount Pisgah:
     About 20  miles southwest of  Asheville on  the Blue Ridge  Parkway at
mile post 408.6 (National Park Service). 690 acres. Elevation 5000'. One of
the nicest  campgrounds in Western  North Carolina.  67 tent  sites, 70  RV
sites. For reservations: P.O.Box 749, Watnesville, N.C.  28786; phone (704)
235-9109. No showers.  Groceries and  restaurant. Nature program.   14  day
stay limit.

Lake Powhatan:
     4 miles south of  Asheville on State  road 191, 3.5  miles west on  FR
806.  30  acres.  98  tent/rv  sites.  Reservation  available  thru  Mistix
1-800-283-CAMP. Disposal station. No showers. Swimming; lifeguard; fishing;
nature trails; bicycles. 14-day stay limit.

     While in  the area, you  might want to consider  a little sightseeing,
and include  a visit to the  Biltmore House here in  Asheville (the largest
single family residence ever built in the U.S.--its a "castle"). A visit to
the Biltmore can  be a full-day's  activity as  you will want  to view  the
house, visit the winery, and walk some of the grounds and gardens.

Hours:

          The House 9 am to 6pm         The Gardens 9am to 7pm
                         Conservatory 9am to 5:30pm 
          The Winery Monday-Saturday   11am to 7pm Sunday 1pm to 7pm

     Other areas of interest include; the Thomas Wolf home (adjacent to the
Raddison),  the Blue Ridge Parkway and Folk Art Center. A drive up the Blue
ridge Parkway to enjoy  the higher elevations and  incredible views of  our
mountains.  Perhaps  a hike  up  to  Mount Pisgah  and  look  back down  to
Asheville(you can see Mt. Pisgah from most anywhere in Asheville).  A short
drive from Mt.  Pisgah will  take you  to Sliding  Rock (for  those of  you
travelling  with kids who are still kids  at heart), the Cradle of Forestry
(first  forest school in the country), waterfalls, trout hatchery, etc. For
the adventurous,  white water rafting   on  the Natahala River  near Bryson
City (approx one and a half hours from here).

     There's  obviously loads  more  to see  and  do around  Asheville  (in
addition to the Blue Ridge AtariFest and a visit to Computer STudio :-). If
any  of y'all would  like maps  and additional tourist  info of the  area I
might suggest contacting the Chamber of Commerce:

                     Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
                             151 Haywood Street
                               P.O. Box 1010
                            Asheville, NC 28802
                      704-258-6111 FAX: (704)251-0926




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               Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that).
                          Wait for the U#= prompt.

                  Type: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN.

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 8. Surprise, surprise, surprise in the...........................FLAGSHIP
 9. Decide if the Pro-Lifers have gone too far in.................RELIGION
10. Who's been LOOKING AT your Credit Report - Find out at........TRWCREDIT
11. Continuing Education COURSES Online.  REGISTER Today..........CALC
12. EPCOT Center's American Adventure has be re-done - RTC in.....FLORIDA
13. CheckFree Software - $19.95 - means no more hassles...........CHECKFREE
14. PC Aladdin Help Desk now available 7 days a week in...........PCALADDIN
15. Get GOVERNMENT CONTRACT Information: Download the CBD.........AFSB3


                           HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLAH!


          GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric
            Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission


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





> FLASH 2.1 SHIPS! STR InfoFile    The Cream of the Crop is on its way!
  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""



                       ==============================
                                  FLASH II
                       ==============================


Now shipping version 2.1!
        
FROM:
MISSIONWARE SOFTWARE
354 N. Winston Drive
Palatine, Illinois 60067-4132
United States of America
phone 708-359-9565

Missionware Software  is pleased to announce the release of version 2.1  of
Flash  II.   This  is  our second  update  in  the  past year.    Flash  II
originally went up  for sale in April of 1992.   Version 2.0 was our  first
release, followed a few months later by version 2.01.  Version  2.1 fixes a
number  of problems discovered by our customers  and beta  testers over the
past few months.  It's also our first full upgrade,  and as promised, it is
being sent out to all currently registered  customers *for free* on a brand
new disk. We'll be sending these  disks out during the next couple of weeks
in order of  serial number. Those with low numbers  will get their upgrades
first. If you haven't  received your upgrade by the middle of April, please
contact us to  make sure  you are properly registered.  In addition  to the
enhancements listed  below, this upgrade  is being   sent out with  our new
installation program.  You'll need to reregister (on your disk only!)  this
version of Flash  II. Future  maintenance upgrades will  be handled  online
(you'll  be able  to download  a patch  file) so  it's imperative  that you
properly register your new version.

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

Flash  II is  the update  to the  most popular Atari  ST telecommunications
program  ever!  It's available exclusively from Missionware Software and at
an affordable  price!  Flash II is completely rewritten by Paul Nicholls of
Clayfield,  Australia.  But don't let that fool you!  Flash II has the same
look and feel  as previous versions of Flash...plus a  slew of new features
to boot! And it's just  as easy and fast to use  for the telecommunications
beginner or pro!   Take a  look below for  just some of  what Flash II  can
offer you now...

All macros use the familiar Flash DO script format!

You can program up to  20 individual and separate macros for each  BBS plus
an additional 10 global macros!

Supports the following terminal types:
TTY, VIDTEX, VT52, ANSI, VT100, VT101, VT102, VT200, VT300 & PRESTEL.

Includes Automatic Answer mode!

Includes full featured GEM text editor with:
merge,   block  commands,  cut   &  paste,  search   &  replace,  paragraph
reformatting;  user  tab settings,  page  width, full  keyboard  cursor and
delete control and more!

Includes  Silent Line for background  file transfers!   Zmodem now supports
the selection of AutoStart  and Streaming options.  If you prefer to use an
external Zmodem protocol with Flash II, you can now force Flash II's Zmodem
autostart  mode to off.  For BBS'  that don't support "streaming", this too
can now be turned off.

New  version  written  in  assembler!    Fast!      Now  supports  "Install
Application".   You can create a DO script that can be used to launch Flash
II  from the desktop  and force it  to dial up  and go online  for you, all
automatically!   A new  "BReak" script command  is added which  permits the
sending of a terminal break to the host computer while a script is running.
Missionware  Software's  upgrade  policy remains  the    same  for the  new
Version  2.1!   We  will  continue to  upgrade  any old  version  of Flash!
(copyright Antic Software)  for just $30 US, plus  $4 shipping and handling
(US and Canada), $8  worldwide.  Or, you can purchase Flash II, version 2.1
outright,  for  only  $49.95 US  plus  the  shipping  and handling  charges
applicable to your area.

  To order, or for more information, contact:

                            Missionware Software
                            354 N. Winston Drive
                         Palatine, IL   60067-4132
                          United States of America
                             phone 708-359-9565


                ___________________________________________




> CT FEST'93 STR SHOW NEWS    
  """"""""""""""""""""""""

                           THE CT ATARIFEST '93!
                           =====================


                  JUNE 12 & 13, AT THE WINDSOR COURT HOTEL
                     WINDSOR, CT. (JUST ABOVE HARTFORD)


     Free Parking!
          Low Room Rates!
               More Vendors!
                    More Floor Space!

     Yep,  that ACT Atari Group is running another major NorthEast computer
event.   Last  year's  successful CT  Fest had  over  700 attendees,  which
merited a larger location,  so we've moved  a mile away  (exit 42 on  I-91)
into  bigger and  better quarters.   We're just  as convenient  to reach as
ever,  and only  two hours  from  Boston or  New York!  The  new hotel  has
excellent  room rates ($35.00 per  room), free and  plentiful parking, easy
access from Interstate 91, I-95, I-90, I-84, I-80, an in  house Sports Bar,
a bigger ballroom  and is located  just 1  mile from Bradley  International
Airport (free shuttle service for hotel guests).

     We expect that an even greater number of vendors this year, surpassing
the  excellent  turnout  of the  past  shows.   We  already  have tentative
commitments from  A&D Software,  Gribnif Software, Barefoot  Software, Toad
Computers,  Computer Studio,  Baggetaware,  Derric Electronics,  E.Hartford
Computer  Repair,   MegaType  Software,   Wizztronics   and  GFA   Software
Technology.  Last  year we had  FOURTEEN user groups,  this year we  should
have even more (We also expect an exciting 8 Bit contingent)!

     We'll  have  our annual  New England  Lynx Competition,  with multiple
Comlynxed competitions underway  at all  times.  Last  year's winners  took
home prizes ranging  from games  to accessories to  complete Lynx  Systems!
Bring your best player and join the fun.

     We'll  have the Portfolio  Corner, staffed  with industry  pundits and
filled  with every imaginable  palmtop peripheral! Last  year we  had a few
Portfolios disassembled at  the booth,  a real insight  into surface  mount
technology!

     For those  of you  with an  eye towards seminars,  we'll have  them in
abundance, last year's  question and  answer session with  Bob Brodie  drew
standing only crowds! In addition, we had John Eidsvoog's  walk through the
Codehead  graphic tools,  Jeff  Naideau of  Barefoot  Software showing  off
EdiTrack  Platinum, Dave Troy  of (Guess[ribbet]) Computers  and many, many
others.

     And to top  things off, come  out and see  the Falcon  030 in all  its
glory.  By then we expect to see some  rad new programs out and some really
excitement!   All in all, we hope to have  the best Northeast show yet, and
we look forward to  your participation.  Make your  plans now for the  most
exciting Atari Weekend this spring!

     For  further information, call  Brian Gockley at  203-332-1721 or Doug
Finch at 203-637-1034.  We can also be found  on GEnie in Category 11 or on
Compuserve in  the Atari arenas.   E-mail can  be directed to  B.GOCKLEY or
D.FINCH7 on GEnie or to 75300,2514 or 76337,1067 on CIS.


   _____________________________________________________________________



> COMPUNEWS STR InfoFile       "Informing the Community"
  """"""""""""""""""""""


                              PMC'S COMPUNEWS
                              ===============


     Please help us in saving our planet's resources by spreading this news
release anywhere and everywhere.  It is our goal to educate and assist the
growing computing community.  Thank you for assisting us.


CompuNews (TM): Informing the Community
CompuCycle (TM): Saving the Environment

March 22, 1993

Bellevue, WA  
Purple Mountain Computers (PMC) has released CompuNews, a free newspaper to
all  Amiga, Atari ST,  Mac, and  PC users.   CompuNews currently has  a 31%
newshole  and features an interview with Insite Peripheral's Bill Sousa and
the Floptical Technology Association's Jim Milligan, PageMaker 5 news, info
on Connect (a new online magazine),  a piece on Microsoft, and a beginner's
tutorial on MIDI.

PMC's is also spearheading a massive  campaign to educate and assist  users
in  recycling  in the  computing environment.    CompuNews (TM)  is helping
spread the word about this program dubbed  CompuCycle (TM).  The CompuCycle
(TM) program encompasses computer books, software, and magazines.

CompuCycle  (TM) lets  users buy, sell  and trade their  unwanted items for
ones they do want.  Trial testing of the CompuCycle (TM) program has been a
success.   All computers are supported  including PC, Mac, Amiga,  Atari ST
and 8 bit, Apple, Commodore 64, CP/M, and others.

Book  topics include  a wide  range of  subjects including  programming and
tutorials.   CompuCycle  (TM) has  an inventory  that includes  over 10,500
computer  books/magazines and  1,100 programs.   Warehouses are  located in
Washington and California for quick delivery.

We believe  that everyone can  benefit from this  program.  Users  will pay
less  for software  and can  turn unused  programs and  books into  cash or
wanted items.  And society will benefit from the utilization of our current
resources, instead of wasting new ones.

Thousands of books are listed on disk to conserve paper;  this disk catalog
is available for  just $1.   Users can receive  CompuNews (TM) for  free by
contacting us and giving pertinent information:

(name, address, computer type):


                   Purple Mountain Computers, Inc. (PMC)
                        15600 NE 8th St. Ste. A3-412
                            Bellevue, WA  98008
                               (206) 399-8700

                           GEnie E-mail: PMC.INC
                           CompuServe: 72567,302



Looking for News
----------------
We  welcome any press releases or news  information that any individuals or
organizations would like to supply to us (put us on your mailing list).  We
will include such information in upcoming issues.


Company Backgrounder
--------------------
Purple Mountain Computers, Inc.   is an environmentally conscious  company.
Our group includes a college student, office manager, housewife,  engineer,
and a receptionist.  We are striving to make  a difference in the world, to
make a change for the better.  We want to make sure that there will be  new
resources for everyone's children in the years ahead.

Thank you for helping us save our planet!



           ______________________________________________________




> CURRENT NOTES DEALERS STR InfoFile               Where to find it...
  """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""




                    ATARI STORES CARRYING CURRENT NOTES
                    ===================================
                                                        

                               (March, 1993)

     A number  of people have  asked where  they can obtain  CURRENT NOTES.
This   Atari-focused   magazine  is   available  by   direct  subscription.
Subscription  prices  are $27/year  ($48/2 years)  and  can be  obtained by
sending your  check or money order  to CN Subscriptions, 122  N Johnson Rd,
Sterling, VA 20164. Subscriptions can be started by using your  VISA or MC;
call (703) 450-4761. 

     CURRENT NOTES can  also be  purchased directly from  stores that  sell
Atari computers ($3.95/issue).  Below are 50 dealerships,  listed by state,
where you can obtain CURRENT NOTES. The list of available retail outlets is
smaller  than in  previous years because  of the  decline in  the number of
Atari dealerships.  If your local  dealer is not  listed here, ask  them to
carry CN.


CANADA:
  MICRO-DEL, 3090 DES FORGES, TROIS RIVIERES, QUE G8O 1V5
  QUAY COMPUTERS, 615 8TH STREET, UNIT #205, NEW WESTMINSTER, BC V3M 3S3

ALASKA:
  FAR NORTH ATARI COMPUTER, 59 COLLEGE RD, #217, FAIRBANKS AK 99701

ALABAMA:
  FAR COMPUTER CO., 2134 WARRIOR ROAD, BIRMINGHAM AL 35208

ARIZONA:
  COMPUTERS PLUS, 9A CRESTVIEW PLAZA, JACKSONVILLE AR 72076

CALIFORNIA:
  B & C COMPUTERVISION, 2730 SCOTT BLVD, SANTA CLARA CA 95050
  COMPUTER LITERACY BOOKSHOP, 520 LAWRENCE EPXY, #310, SUNNYVALE CA 94086
  COMPUTER LITERACY BOOKSHOP, 2590 N. FIRST ST, #100, SAN JOSE CA 95131
  COMPUTER LOGIC, 973 FOOTHILL BLVD, #4, SAN LUIS OBISPO CA 93401
  COMPUTER ZONE, 60 E. HERNDON, FRESNO CA 93710
  COMPUTERTIME, 8040-D GREENBACK LN, CITRUS HEIGHTS CA 95610
  MICROWORLD (ZEPHYR), 1514 UNIVERSITY AVE, BERKELEY CA 94703
  MID-CITIES COMP/SOFT, 9406 FLOWER ST, BELLFLOWER CA 90706
  SAN JOSE COMPUTER, 1278 ALMA CT., SAN JOSE CA 95112
  THE COMPUTER NETWORK, 1605 WEST GLENOAKS BLVD., GLENDALE CA 91201
  WINNERS CIRCLE, 2618 TELEGRAPH AVE, BERKELEY CA 94704

COLORADO:
  RUN PC, 524 W. LAUREL #2, FORT COLLINS CO 80521

DELAWARE:
  NEWARK NEWS STAND, 70 EAST MAIN ST, NEWARK DE 19711

FLORIDA:
  ABCO COMPUTING (ST REPORT), 1209 SKYE DR. W, JACKSONVILLE FL 32205
  COMPUTER ROOM, 981 W. COMMERCIAL BLVD, FT. LAUDERDALE FL 33309

ILLINOIS:
  COMPU-SELLER WEST, 220 1/2 W. MAIN ST, ST. CHARLES IL 60174
  MARS MERCHANDISING, 1041-B E. ST. CHARLES RD, LOMBARD IL 60148
  SOFTWARE PLUS, 731 W. DUNDEE RD., WHEELING IL 60090
  SOFTWARE PLUS CHICAGO, 6212 N. WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO IL 60659

MASSACHUSETTS:
  COMPUTER ZONE, 28 E. WASHINGTON ST, N. ATTLEBORO MA 02760

MARYLAND:
  ADVANCED TECH. NETWORKS, 16220 FREDERICK RD, GAITHERSBURG MD 20877
  TOAD COMPUTERS, 556 BALTIMORE ANNAPOLIS BLVD, SEVERNA PARK MD 21146

MICHIGAN:
  POWER COMPUTERS, 41811 GARFIELD, CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI 48038

MINNESOTA:
  LR DATA, 2676 E. COUNTY RD E., WHITE BEAR LAKE MN 55110

MISSOURI:
  COMPUTERS PLUS, 3453 SOUTH CAMPBELL, SPRINGFIELD MO 65807
  SYSTEMS FOR TOMORROW, 1316 S. NOLAND, INDEPENDENCE MO 64055

NEW JERSEY:
  SOFTWARE SPECTRUM, 386 SOMERSET ST, NORTH PLAINFIELD NJ 07060

NEW MEXICO:
  PAGE ONE, 11200 MONTGOMERY NE, ALBUQUERQUE NM 87111

NEW YORK:
  LITTLE COMPUTER SHOP, 59 CENTEREACH MALL, CENTEREACH NY 11720
  SOFTWARE HOUSE, 6720 PITTSFORD-PALMYRA RD, FAIRPORT NY 14450
  VILLAGE COMPUTER, INC., 687 BROADWAY, NEW YORK NY 10012

OHIO:
  B & G ELECTRONICS, INC., 15729 MADISON AVE, LAKEWOOD OH 44107

PENNSYLVANIA:
  COMPUTER GARDEN, WEST SIDE MALL, EDWARDSVILLE PA 18704
  HOME COMPUTER STORE, 12008 BUSTLETON AVE, PHILADELPHIA PA 19116
  SOFTWARE ETC, 2870 DEKALB PIKE, NORRISTOWN PA 19401

RHODE ISLAND:
  SOFTWARE CONNECTIONS, 101 W. NATICK RD, WARWICK RI 02886

TENNESSEE:
  SOFTWARE CITY, 6940 LEE HIGHWAY #106, CHATTANOOGA TN 37421

TEXAS:
  ALL SYSTEMS GO, 7271 WURZBACH, #108, SAN ANTONIO TX 78240
  COMPUTER DISCOVERIES, 12801 MIDWAY RD, #109, DALLAS TX 75244
  MEGABYTE, 909 MELBOURNE, HURST TX 76053

UTAH:
  J & J COMPUTERS, 2150 EAST 6400 S., MURRAY UT 84107

VIRGINIA:
  L & Y ELECTRONICS, 13670 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, WOODBRIDGE VA 22191

WASHINGTON:
  XANTH CORP., 14100 NE 20TH ST. #105, BELLEVUE WA 98007

WISCONSIN:
  KAMTECH COMPUTER CENTER, 1004 S. ONEIDA ST, APPLETON WI 54915
  NEW DIMENSIONS COMPUTER CNTR, 9026 W NATIONAL AVE, WEST ALLIS WI 53227



         __________________________________________________________


                                      
                                      
> DMC NEWS! STR InfoFile                  "Berthold Fonts made available!"
  """"""""""""""""""""""



                     DMC ANNOUNCES BERTHOLD FONT SERIES
                     ==================================


Press Release

Toronto, Ontario                                       March 20, 1993

DMC  Publishing is  pleased to  announce the  availability of  341 Berthold
fonts for use with all  versions of Calamus and the newly  upgraded Outline
Art  3.0. These  original, copyrighted  fonts are  packaged in  45 families
containing the indicated number of typefaces:

      AG Book Rounded (8)       AG Old Face (6)       AG School Book (4)
      Augustea (5)              AK Grotesk (21)       Ariston (3)
      Arkona (2)                Barmeno (4)           Baskerville (13)
      Bellevue (1)              Berliner (2)          Block (6)
      Boulevard (1)             Bodoni Antiqua (11)   Bodoni Italic (11)
      Bodoni Old (12)           Boton (8)             Caslon (8)
      Catull (4)                Christiana (7)        City (6)
      Colossalis (4)            Comenius (4)          Cosmos (4)
      Concorde (18)             Cremona 8)            Daily News (8)
      Delta (9)                 English Script (6)    Formata (25)
      Garamond (14)             Gerstner (8)          Imago (8)
      Jaeger Antiqua (8)        Lo-Type (5)           Nofret (16)
      Normande (3)              Poppl Laudatio (12)   Poppl Pontifex (10)
      Poppl Residenz (2)        Post Antiqua (2)      Post Mediaeval (3)
      Script (2)                Walbaum Book (12)     Walbaum Standard (6)

PRICING
=======

 The fonts are sold by title as indicated above. Pricing is based on the
 number of typefaces in the font family.

                      1 typeface     $ 39.95 US   49.95 CDN
                      2 typefaces      79.95 US   99.95 CDN
                      3 typefaces     119.95 US  139.95 CDN
                      4 typefaces     149.95 US  179.95 CDN
                      5-7 typefaces   179.95 US  209.95 CDN

ORDERING
========

For  further  information  or to  order  by telephone  using  your  VISA or
Mastercard  please  call  DMC  Publishing  at  VOICE  416-479-1880  or  FAX
416-479-1882.

If  you have  a modem,  you  may order  by email  in any  of  the following
services:

                            GEnie email to: ISD
                      Compuserve email to: 76004,2246
                       Delphi email to: ISDMARKETING

Payment  may  also be  made  by check  or  money order  and  mailed  to the
following address:

                              DMC Publishing,
                         2800 John Street, Suite 10
                             Markham, Ontario,
                               Canada L3R 0E2

Thank  you for  your interest  in our  Calamus products  and please  do not
hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.

                              Nathan Potechin
                               DMC Publishing

Note: Sample previews of all of  the above original typefaces are available
for downloading in our library 30 in CVG file format.


                  ________________________________________




> WILGA TO GIVE TALK STR FOCUS! Dan Wilga to give talk on Desktops to come.
  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""



              GRIBNIF'S WILGA TO DISCUSS 'DESKTOPS OF FUTURE'
              ===============================================


     WATERBURY, Conn. (March 24) -- A leading designer of  software for the
Atari  will presents  his views  about the  "Desktops of  the Future"  in a
seminar Monday,  March 29 at the  Silas Bronson Library,  267 Grand Street,
Waterbury.

     The  session, featuring Dan Wilga of  Gribnif Software of Northampton,
Mass.,  maker  of  NeoDesk,  CardFile,  Convector  and  other  best-selling
programs  for the ST platform, will begin at  7 p.m. in the library meeting
room. The program, open to the  public, is sponsored by ACT Atari Group,  a
network of seven computer clubs  in Connecticut and Western  Massachusetts.
There is no admission charge.

     Mr.  Wilga will  examine the  evolution of  Graphical User  Interfaces
(GUI) and  their role in making  personal computers more  accessible to the
average user. Wilga  will explain how the Atari GUI  differs from IBM's and
Apple's, and what computer users  can expect from the likes of  Falcon's 3D
Newdesk, voice activation, MultiTOS, and more.

     The educational seminar is part of a new series sponsored by ACT Atari
Group.  The  Bridgeport, Conn.-based  organization,  which is  the  host of
Connecticut  AtariFest '93 (June 12-13)  and a winter  "swap meet" program,
plans to hold quarterly sessions throughout the state.


     The Bronson Library is located in downtown Waterbury, just blocks from
the junction  of Route  8 and  Interstate 84.   For more  information about
"Desktops of the Future," contact:

                               Brian  Gockley
                             18 Elmwood Avenue
                            Bridgeport, CT 06605
                           [Phone (203) 332-1721
                          E-Mail B.GOCKLEY (GEnie)
                                     or
                          75300,2514 (Compuserve)]

                                 Doug Finch
                               46 Park Avenue
                          Old Greenwich, CT 06870
                           [Phone (203) 637-1034
                          E-Mail D.FINCH7 (GEnie)
                                     or
                         76337,1067 (Compuserve)].

                   ______________________________________




> NVN WANTS YOU! STR InfoFile       Another Network Supports Atari!
  """""""""""""""""""""""""""



                      National Videotext Network (NVN)
                      ================================


                                      
     National  Videotext Network (NVN) has recently added an Atari ST Forum
to  it's growing lists of available services.   The Atari ST Forum is ready
and waiting for you!
  
     Order an extended  NVN Membership  of 6 or  12 months,  pay for it  in
advance and  receive a  bonus  in connect  time  at no  additional  charge.
Choose from two subscription plans: 
 
6-Month Membership
------------------
     Pay just $30 for a 6-month Membership and receive a  usage credit that
entitles you to $15 of connect-time in the Premium services of your choice.
Your total savings using this plan would be over $20!*
 
12 Month Membership
-------------------
     Pay  $50 for  a full  year's Membership  and get  even more  free time
on-line.   We'll   give  you a  $25 usage  credit to  use in  your favorite
Premium services or try out new ones. You could save as much as $45.*
 
     For more  information about either of  these plans, give us  a call at
1-800-336-9096.
 
                                                                           

                               NVN HIGHLIGHTS
                               ==============
 
For the newcomers....

 - Introducing a great new tool to make your JOBSEARCH more effective.
 - Amateur Radio comes to NVN!  Old-timers and newcomers, visit the Ham    

   Shack.
 - The secret of *fast* sales prospecting...
 - Attachment Capabilities are now in Email!!!
 - Subaccounts are now blocked from Premium Plus services...
 - Go Treasure Hunting with the folks in the Numismatic Collectors Forum.
 - Why wait an extra day to see U.S. Gov't product/service procurements?.
 - The NVN On-line Billing Service is Back - with Enhancements!
 - Shake the Last of the Winter Blues the EAASY Way!
 - What are eight *advantages* of searching online for information?...
 - NVN's Movie Forum presents....You Pick The Oscars contest...
 - Tell the best FISH STORY and WIN time on NVN!
 - Introducing the Mental Health Forum with a registered Psychiatrist on   

   board!
 
                          -=* 9600 BAUD USERS *=-
                $6/hour non-prime time - $9/hour prime time
 
                     You can join NVN one of two ways.
              By voice phone 1-800-336-9096 (Client Services)
                                     or
                      via modem phone 1-800-336-9092.

      ________________________________________________________________




> STReport CONFIDENTIAL    "Rumors Tidbits Predictions Observations Tips"
  """""""""""""""""""""


- Sunnyvale, CA                                 FALCON DUE IN APRIL NOW?
  -------------
 
     Our snoop is  hard at  work.   Seems the cadre  of Atari  guys are  in
Germany trying to drum up business for Atari.  Meanwhile, back in Sunnyvale
the passing of the third week in March went  meekly by with nary a whimper.
Now, according to our sources, the delay may reach into mid or late April. 


- Orem, Utah                          WORDPERFECT SHIPS V5.2 FOR WINDOWS! 
  ----------

     In striving to perfect their Windows version, WP has focused  on three
major areas; Ease of use, Productivity and Performance, by adding a variety
of  new macros and button bars that cover many of the popular requests from
users 'round the world.   Also incorporated is a quick  menu that makes the
button bars even more accessible.  The package includes Gammatik and ATM, a
grammar checker  and Adobe Type  Manager.  Version  5.2 offers a  number of
powerful,  new  features  including  the ability  to  send  Email  messages
directly from WP 5.2 for Windows.  


             __________________________________________________



> STR Mail Call             "...a place for the readers to be heard"
  """""""""""""


                             STReport's MailBag
                             """"""""""""""""""


                    Messages * NOT EDITED * for content
                    -----------------------------------


From Delphi's Atari areas...

51041 24-MAR 20:31 General Information
     RE: Enough is enough... (Re: Msg 51011)
     From: WAYNEDUNHAM  To: SCARPAD

Scarpad,
  Unfortunately running a 386-40 is not as fast as a 16mhz Atari.  I've
seen plenty of them and they are painfully slow compared to the ST.  IMHO!
               Wayne



51045 24-MAR 20:42 General Information
     RE: Enough! (Re: Msg 51042)
     From: ABARBIERO    To: ETAT

There is a difference here, you now stated your purpose for a new computer
is based on the installed userbase, and acceptance.  If that is what you
require for a computer, then you are making the right choice.  To me, a
computer is a tool.  The best tool to fit the job is the right one. Wether
or not a brand of tool is popular means little to me.

I am not raving on (I am not sure what that term means) about anything,
just facilitating the information flow around here.  Atari has some
interesting news ahead, and I firmly believe that they will be able to
maintain a higher profile in the industry and produce useful hardware and
software for their users.

Atari has managed to produce or get produced some high visibility software
for the Falcon030, and some games that may actually produce some
merchandising... as we all know... that is what sells product and makes
money!

Andreas@AEO


51046 24-MAR 20:43 General Information
     RE: Enough! (Re: Msg 51025)
     From: ETAT         To: ABARBIERO

Why does anyone have to lie about Atari?  When they are their own worst
enemy. My next computer will be one like my friends and neighbors own, a
PC.

Why, because I don't want to invest in the Titanic or Atari which are both
gone. Only Atari users who are dogmatic refuse to acknowledge it.  Wouldn't
it be nice to own a computer that you could get local support and service
on?

My old ST will hang around for two reasons.  Now and then I may want to
drag it out and play with it.  The second reason is because I couldn't get
anything out of it if I decided to sell it.  Sorry Atari, I'm not going to
be a buyer anymore....and you are the reason.


51047 24-MAR 20:44 General Information
     RE: Enough! (Re: Msg 51035)
     From: ABARBIERO    To: SMHALLACK

What chip is that?  Lemme know what the problem is and I will try to
rectify it for you.  Bob Brodie has swapped jobs a few times, and has had
several other huge projects dropped on his lap... I am sure it was an
oversight.

Andreas@AEO


51049 24-MAR 20:50 General Information
     RE: Enough! (Re: Msg 51046)
     From: ABARBIERO    To: ETAT

support is a phone call away... software, hardware, and the rest are
available the same way most PC people buy things... via mail order.

Cilivization just came into stock over here in the US, STeve's software has
it in stock, he is sending me a review copy.  Street Fighter II should be
around also, and I have a review ready for the next AEO.

Andreas@AEO


51055 24-MAR 21:02 General Information
     RE: Enough is enough... (Re: Msg 51015)
     From: LMCCLURE     To: DAVIDNIELD

The section in STR that was talking about no cart port or DSP was referring
(evidently) to a 'cut-down' entry-level Falcon. I sincerely doubt it would
be clocked at a faster speed than the current Falcon030.

If they had been talking about a '040-based or faster '030-based version of
the Falcon, I might have bought that the cart port might have been
eliminated due to emission problems. Although, supposedly the TT had
finally been certified for Class B, was clocked at 32Mhz, and had a clock
port (but never having seen or heard of a Class B TT for sale, I cannot say
that supplies very convincing evidence). <grin>

Not to mention that emissions would be of little concern when it comes to
machines sold in the UK. From what I understand there is no regulation of
computer emissions there (and if there is, it is *certainly* less stringent
than in the US).


51056 24-MAR 21:13 Applications
     RE: GCR (Re: Msg 51016)
     From: LMCCLURE     To: DAVIDNIELD

Given that typically a Spectre GCR with ROMs can be purchased used for
around $300-$350, it would almost certainly be less expensive than an
equivalent Mac, especially equipped as your ST is.

I am not certain if System 7.0 is supported by the Spectre software yet, so
you may wish to consider that.

Frankly, if you go with a real Mac, I would choose the LCIII over the Color
Classic, and use a basic VGA monitor for the video if cost is an issue. The
prices are the same, but a monitor for the LCIII is extra...but for that
difference, you get a much faster machine, the option of a larger screen,
and higher video resolution.

Frankly, you may want to go with the Spectre for now. Try it, see if you
like it, and if you do, but you decide you need a 'real' Mac, resell it for
perhaps $50 less, and consider it 'rent' on a trial Mac. <grin>



51058 24-MAR 21:29 General Information
     RE: Enough! (Re: Msg 51049)
     From: ETAT         To: ABARBIERO

Who are you kidding with this "support is a phone call away" flak?  I don't
see any Atari Dealers in this state and I sure don't see any software or
magazines in the bookstores at the mall.  Get real fellow, that story is as
old as my aunt Martha... I don't go for all the garbage put out on here. If
you want to keep spouting the same ole garbage please sprinkle some sauce
on something on it to make it more palatable. Only the wild eyed fanatics
believe Atari will survive the computer wars. Too bad it had to die, but it
was a self inflicted wound that got them.


From CIS' Atari Fora..

#: 83304 S1/Forum Business
    19-Mar-93  13:52:35
Sb: #83256-Is Atari an Orphan??
Fm: Dan McNamee (Atari) 70007,5166
To: Peter J. Joseph 71540,3347

Peter,

    At first the only Falcon030s to ship will be 4/65 units.  When we 
increase production there will be other configurations available, one of
which, I am told, will be a 4meg no hard drive.  I do not know when this
will happen, though.

Dan




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