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  June 23, 1989                                              Vol III No.93

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> Issue: #93 STReport       The Online Magazine of Choice! 
  ------------------- 
     - The Editors' Podium                   - CPU REPORT 
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> The Editor's Podium

     World of Atari Show in Dearborn is upon us and with it, all the hot
 new information concerning Atari and the third party support companies
 will soon be flooding our information channels.   

     We certainly hope the activities at WOA can earmark an end to the rank
 non-sense transpiring  between the two online magazines.  At this time, we
 would like to  assure  all  the  readers,  that  henceforth,  we  will not
 participate in  * any  * conflict  with the other online magazine.  In any
 event, we still feel owed an explanation for the "bashing" that took place
 in their  "Article/Editorial concerning  the TOS 1.4 matter ."  Hopefully,
 our intentions to avoid further conflict will not be thought of as an open
 invitation for  our 'friends' to bestow upon us ..more of their unique, if
 not bizarre, 'attention'.
    
     Since this is an Online Magazine  dedicated to  the Userbase,  we will
 concentrate more  on the  viewpoint of  the users  and what they expect of
 Atari Corp.  Simply  dancing to  a company  tune is  not what  we call the
 honest  to  goodness  reporting  of  news,  views,  commentary and feature
 articles.  The userbase recently  saw  what  can  occur  when  a reporting
 agency is  given erroneous  information by allegedly informed and reliable
 sources.  The upheaval is outrageous.  Certainly, we regret  the erroneous
 info release,  but we  regret further  the outrageous exploitation of that
 very simple incident by our 'friends'.    Therefore,  we  reaffirm  to all
 interested parties,  that we  will diligently verify all data presented as
 "fact".  Naturally, rumors must and will be treated in a different manner.

     While it is our enthusiastic desire to see Atari attain all the
 success possible ..at the same time, we wish to see the predominant wishes
 of the users met.   After all, they do spend the  dollars and  ..those are
 the dollars  that PAY  the bills.   Our  detractors would have you believe
 most anything when it comes to  us and  Atari, fact  is, we  are decidedly
 interested in  seeing Atari  become a  "force" in the home computer market
 place.

     Recently, it was noticed where a remark was made about certain people
 who used to get online have now decided not to do so as often because of
 the "flames" that seem to be aimed at them.  What a shame that these
 people can't remember when they took "joy" in typing "FLAME ON" and then
 proceeded to tear some hapless soul to pieces.  Frankly, Atari doesn't
 need this type of emotional person online to begin with, ninety percent of
 the criticism is directed at the procedures and  performance of  Atari not
 the individual, yet they seem to take most of the critiques personally.
 Besides, if it takes a combination of criticism, suggestions and 
 compliments to give cause to the leadership at Atari to pay more attention
 to the user's wishes, then ..so be it.

     This weekend is the second in a planned string of World of Atari
 Shows, we certainly wish the very best to the exhibitors at WOA who have
 gone to great expense and sacrifice in demonstrating strong support for
 Atari Corp. 

                As always, your support is greatly appreciated!

                                      Thank you one and all!

                                                     Ralph.....




                               ATARI IS BACK!
   

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> CPU REPORT
  ==========
  Issue # 26


 by Michael Arthur


 Remember When....

       The Sieve  of Erastothenes, a famous mathematical equation, was made
 into a computer performance benchmark by Jim Gilbreath, in 1981?


 CPU Systems Roundup  IX
 =======================

                 Dream Computer Systems III:  Workstations R Us
                 ----------------------------------------------


 Part II


       In Part I of this Series, I showed a list of the most powerful Dream
 Systems that could be configured from both the microcomputer industry, and
 the  growing  crop  of  low-end  workstations.    While  there  were newer
 computers  and  peripherals  that  could  have been included, the list was
 generally accurate.  Now I will compare the  Dream Systems,  their various
 features  being  stacked  against  each  other to determine which ones you
 could safely consider the "best".

       However, the cost of these Dream Systems, which is admittedly out of
 the reach  of the  majority of  computer users,  may cause some to believe
 that configuring such a list is  useless.   But analyzing  how far current
 computers  can  truly  go  with  current  peripherals  not  only  helps in
 realizing the capabilities of our machines, but can  be useful  in setting
 priorities  for  the  level  of  price/performance  in our systems, and in
 defining more clearly what we should demand from our computers....


       In the last issue,  these  items  were  excluded  from  the  list of
 peripherals making up the IBM Dream System:

       IBM Dream System Cost:  $19,350.00

       Wells AT (Primary) Expansion Bus Module (Cost: $200.00)
       Wells PS/2 (Secondary) Expansion Bus Module (Cost: $250.00)
       Wells PS/2 Bus Adapter (Cost: $1000.00)


 Here is a Graph of the features of each Dream System:

                            Dream Systems List:
              (Comparison of each Systems' Optimal Features)
 _________________________________________________________________________
 Dream      |Main Chips,|MainChip|Mass      |Expansion|Graphics Displays/ |
 System     |Megs of RAM|Speed   |Storage   |  Slots  |Best Resolution(s) |
 -----------|-----------|--------|----------|---------|-------------------|
 IBM 386    |80386/W3167| 33 MHZ |1 Gigabyte| 7 PC AT |640*480*256 Colors |
 System     |Eight Megs |        |Tape Drive|  5 MCA  |1024*768*16 Colors |
 -----------|-----------+--------+----------+---------+-------------------|
 Mac IIx    |68030/68882| 33 MHZ |650 Meg   |   Six   |640*400*256 Colors |
 System     |Eight Megs |        |Tape Drive|NuBus    |1024*768*16 Million|
 -----------|-----------+--------+----------+---------+-------------------|
 Amiga 2000 |68030/68882| 16 MHZ |10 MB-Tape|  Seven  |320*200*4096 Colors|
 System     | Nine Megs |        |300 MB- HD|Zorro II |1008*800 w/Monochr.|
 -----------|-----------+--------+----------+---------+-------------------|
 NeXT       |68030/68882| 25 MHZ |256MB Tape|  Four   |1120*832 w/Monochr.|
 System     |Eight Megs |        |670 MB- HD|NuBus    |(Color in future)  |
 -----------|-----------+--------+----------+---------+-------------------|
 SPARCStat. |SPARC/W3170| 20 MHZ |650 Meg   |  Three  |1152*900*256 Colors|
 System     |  16 Megs  |12 MIPS |Tape Drive|S-Bus    |                   |
 -----------|-----------|--------|----------|---------|-------------------|
 ATW        | 13 T-800s | 20 MHZ |300 Meg   |  Four   |512*480*16 Million |
 System     |  16 Megs  |130 MIPS|Hard Drive|Abaq     |1280*960*16 Colors |
 -----------'-------------------------------------------------------------'

       In the  Mass Storage  column, Tape stands for removable storage, and
 HD stands for fixed, or hard disk storage.  In the IBM Dream System, 5 MCA
 stands for 5 MicroChannel Expansion Bus Slots.

       Also, while  there are  many measurements to determine the number of
 MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second) that a system can do, in this case,
 one MIPS is equal to the ability to compute 1500 Dhrystones per second....


 Based on  both this  graph, and the System Descriptions, I have determined
 these Standings:

 IBM 386 Dream System: Third Place

       The IBM  Dream System  is truly  a good  example of  a Dream System,
 providing powerful  capabilities, and  being very well rounded in features
 which are  superb  in  themselves.    There  are  virtually  NO weaknesses
 apparent  in  this  system,  and  the IBM Dream System is definitely First
 Place among the high-end microcomputers.  However, the only thing stopping
 it  from  being  First  Place  overall  are the ATW and SPARCStation Dream
 Systems, two RISC  workstations  which  surpass  the  IBM  System  in some
 aspects.   However, given  that the IBM Dream System has improved steadily
 in all Dream System  Essays, the  ATW and  SPARCStation may  merely have a
 temporary advantage....

      Mac IIx Comparison:  The IBM is superior to the Mac IIx in the number
 of Expansion Slots, and amount of mass storage, is equal in the  amount of
 RAM, system  speed, and  is inferior  only in  graphics capabilities.  And
 since the  Mac IIx  system costs  almost 1  1/2 times  as much  as the IBM
 System, the IBM scores higher than the Mac IIx....

       Amiga Comparison:  The IBM is superior to the Amiga in system speed,
 amount of Mass Storage,  graphics, and  the #  of expansion  Slots, and is
 inferior only in the amount of RAM, by only 1 Megabyte.  So if 1 Meg isn't
 too great an advantage, the IBM scores MUCH higher than the Amiga.

       NeXT Comparison:  The IBM is superior to the NeXT in #  of Expansion
 slots, color  graphics, system  speed, and  amount of mass storage, and is
 equal only in the amount of RAM.   Therefore, the  IBM scores  higher than
 the NeXT....

       SPARCStation Comparison:   The IBM is superior in the amount of Mass
 Storage, # of expansion Slots, and is inferior in system  speed (since the
 SPARC chi  has a  higher MIPS  rating than the 80386 chip), amount of RAM,
 and graphics capabilities.  And given that its advantages are  better than
 the IBM System's, the SPARCStation scores higher than the IBM.

       ATW Comparison:   The  IBM is  only superior  in the  # of Expansion
 Slots, and in Mass Storage, where it crushes the Abaq.  But in every other
 aspect, including  system speed,  graphics, amount of RAM, the Abaq is far
 more powerful than the IBM.  So if you can  wait for  an ST/ATW Compatible
 Magneto-Optical drive, the ATW scores MUCH higher than the IBM's....


 Macintosh IIx Dream System: Fourth Place

       While the Macintosh IIx System is very powerful, is well balanced in
 features, and has a nearly  unbeatable  lead  in  the  graphics  arena, it
 simply has  not improved  since the  last Dream  Systems Essay.   As such,
 other systems both rival and surpass it in capabilities.   Also, since the
 Mac IIx  Dream System is the most expensive on the list, the other systems
 beat it in price/performance.   While  it may  have been  First Place last
 time,  it  failed  to  improve  enough  to  hold any high Standing.  Oddly
 enough, the same thing happened to the NeXT Dream System....

       Amiga Comparison:  The  Mac is  superior in  system speed, graphics,
 amount of  Mass Storage, and is roughly equal in the # of expansion slots,
 and its amount of RAM.  As such, if you can afford  more RAM,  the Mac IIx
 scores MUCH higher than the Amiga.

       NeXT Comparison:  The Mac is superior in graphics, system speed, and
 the # of Expansion Slots, is roughly equal  in the  amount of  RAM, and is
 inferior in  the amount  of Mass  Storage, but  only by a slim margin.  As
 such, the Mac IIx scores higher than the NeXT.

       SPARCStation Comparison:  The  Mac  is  superior  in  the  number of
 expansion slots  and graphics capabilities, is equal in the amount of Mass
 Storage, and is inferior in system speed and amount of RAM.  Therefore, if
 you considers  system speed  and amount  of RAM  to be more important than
 graphics and the # of expansion slots, then the SPARCStation scores higher
 than the Mac IIx....

       ATW  Comparison:    The  Mac  is  superior in Mass Storage, its # of
 Expansion Slots, and graphics, and is vastly inferior in system  speed and
 its amount  of RAM.   Since  the Mac  System also costs 7500 dollars more,
 then the ATW scores higher than the Mac IIx....


 Amiga 2000 Dream System:  Last Place

       While some of the  Amiga 2000  System's features  were strong, other
 aspects of  this system,  such as the main processor's speed and graphics,
 are relatively weak.  Also, since it has not improved, its peers have been
 able to surpass it.  Some of the features of this system are superb, while
 others are lacking in ability, resulting that it is not  well rounded, and
 ends up being left in the sidelines....

       NeXT Comparison:  The Amiga is superior in the # of Expansion slots,
 amount of RAM, and color graphics,  while the  NeXT is  superior in system
 speed, amount  of Mass  Storage, and monochrome resolution.  Therefore, if
 you can  wait for  color graphics,  the NeXT  scores MUCH  higher than the
 Amiga.

       SPARCStation  Comparison:    The  Amiga  is  superior  in  the  # of
 Expansion Slots, and is  inferior  in  everything  else,  including system
 speed, graphics  capabilities, amount  of Mass  Storage, and the amount of
 RAM.  As such, the SPARCStation wipes out the Amiga....

       ATW Comparison:  The Amiga is  only superior  in the  # of Expansion
 Slots and in Mass Storage.  As the Abaq is greatly superior to it in every
 other aspect, including speed, graphics, and amount of RAM, it also scores
 MUCH higher than the Amiga....


 NeXT Dream System:  Fifth Place

       This computer  rated First  Place in  the first Dream Systems essay,
 and even though  its  features  are  still  both  VERY  well  balanced and
 powerful, it  hasn't improved since then, resulting in that, just like the
 Mac IIx System, other systems have since surpassed it.  And as NeXT is not
 likely to improve it anytime soon....

       SPARCStation Comparison:  The NeXT is superior in the amount of Mass
 Storage, and # of expansion slots, and is inferior in system speed, amount
 of RAM,  and graphics  capabilities.   So if  you don't need an additional
 hard drive for it, the SPARCStation scores MUCH higher than the NeXT.

       ATW Comparison:  The NeXT is vastly superior in Mass Storage, and is
 inferior  in  everything  else,  including graphics, # of expansion slots,
 amount of RAM, and system speed.   So  as always,  if you  can wait  for a
 Magneto-Optical drive, then the ATW scores MUCH higher than the NeXT....

 SPARCStation Dream System:  Second Place

       The SPARCStation 1 is an EXCELLENT Dream System, being well balanced
 in features that are VERY powerful in themselves, and using its SPARC RISC
 chip's speed  to surpass  many of  the other  systems.  The SPARCStation's
 main competition was the ATW, the only other RISC-based system,  and while
 it  rivalled  the  ATW  in  many areas, the ATW's inherently better system
 speed prevented the SPARCStation from earning First Place....

       ATW Comparison:  The SPARCStation is  superior  to  the  ATW  in its
 amount of  Mass Storage  and high resolution graphics, is roughly equal in
 the amount of RAM  and #  of expansion  slots, and  is inferior  in system
 speed and  low resolution  graphics.   As such, since the SPARCStation and
 the ATW are divided, ability-wise, in graphics, then the only  real points
 of comparison  are system speed and amount of Mass Storage.  Since the ATW
 uses its parallel processing capabilities  to  trash  the  SPARCStation in
 system speed,  then, as  always, if  you can wait for an ST/ATW Compatible
 Magneto-Optical  Tape  Drive,  then  the  ATW   scores  higher   than  the
 SPARCStation, but only by a VERY close margin....

 ATW Dream System:  First Place - The Best System Currently Available -

      With  its  capabilities,  the  ATW  has  established  a  new level of
 performance  in  this  Dream  Systems  list  which  is  not  likely  to be
 superceded soon.  Many of its features, such as its VAST amount of RAM and
 superb graphics, are equalled  only  by  the  IBM  and  SPARCStation Dream
 Systems, its  only true competition, and thanks to its parallel processing
 capabilities, the  ATW Dream  System's minicomputer-level  speed boosts it
 far  ahead  of  the  rest.    However,  while  it its well rounded in many
 excellent features, the ATW's mass storage  is definitely  not competitive
 with  the  rest.    This  is  its only true weakness, though, and it isn't
 enough to prevent it from earning First Place....

       The ATW has great potential in the workstation  market, as  it could
 set a  new level  of price/performance  for that  industry.  However, with
 such supercomputer-like speed, the ATW Dream  System's ideal  market could
 be  the  emerging  market  for minisupercomputers, or systems that achieve
 speed slightly below true supercomputers, such  as the  Cray X/MP,  with a
 fraction of  their cost.   Given that minisupercomputers with capabilities
 equal to the ATW Dream System now cost from $250,000  to $800,000 dollars,
 the ATW Dream System could end up becoming a leader in the low-end part of
 that market.  But ONLY if  Software Development  for the  ATW is supported
 STRONGLY, and  if Atari's  efforts to  make the  ATW popular in the US are
 MUCH better than its efforts to make the Atari ST popular in the US....

       So as to account for future developments,  I have included a list of
 Upcoming  Dream  Systems,  so  accurate  comparisons  can  be made between
 present and future computers meeting the "Dream System"  status.   Some of
 these are  merely improvements  on old  systems, but others are completely
 new systems which show excellent potential....

 Upcoming Systems' Features:
 ________________________________________________________________________
 Dream     |Main Chips,|MainChip|Mass      |Expansion|Graphics Displays/ |
 System    |Megs of RAM|Speed   |Storage   |Slots    |Best Resolution(s) |
 ----------|-----------|--------|----------|---------|-------------------|
 Atari     |68030      | 16 MHZ |  80 Meg  |Four (?) |320*200*256 Colors |
 68030 TTx | Four Megs |        |Hard Drive|VME Bus  |640*400*16 Colors  |
 ----------|-----------+--------+----------+---------+-------------------|
 Amiga 2000|68030/68882| 14 MHZ |650 Meg   | Seven   |320*200*4096 Colors|
 System    | Nine Megs |        |Tape Drive|Zorro II |1024*1024*256Colors|
 ----------|-----------+--------+----------+---------+-------------------|
 Sun 3/80  |68030/68882| 20 MHZ |650 Meg   |   One   |1152*900*16 Million|
 System    |  16 Megs  |        |Tape Drive| P4 Bus  |                   |
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------'

 (Note:  Keep in mind that some of these specs are not final, and  that the
 actual systems  will probably differ in some way from the systems that are
 shown.)

 System #7, the Atari 68030 TT, has a 68030 chip, 4 Megs of RAM,  and an 80
 Megabyte Hard Drive, as well as a VME Expansion Bus with an unknown number
 of slots.  Cost is reportedly around 3000-3500 dollars. 

 Resolutions:  320*200 with 256 Colors out of 256,000
               640*400 with 16  Colors out of 256,000
               1280*960 with Monochrome Resolution

 Comparisons with Other Systems:   Many  of the  features of  the 68030 TT,
 such  as  speed,  amount  of  RAM,  and  mass  storage,  have already been
 surpassed by current systems, and as its graphics are only a step ahead of
 available Dream Systems, it seems that the 68030 TT will make its niche in
 the price/performance area of the market, in which it stands  an excellent
 chance of success....


 System #8,  the Amiga  2000 System, is an Amiga 2000 with 9 Megs of RAM, a
 CSA FastCard accelerator board, and 8 Expansion Slots.   To  this would be
 added a 650 Meg Magneto-Optical Tape Drive made by Ricoh Inc., Commodore's
 new Graphics Card, which has a 1024*1024 resolution with 256 colors at the
 same  time,  and  Moniterm's  Viking  I  monitor,  which gives the Amiga a
 1008*800 monochrome display.  Cost: Around 23,000 dollars....

 Resolutions: (Not including Overscan)
                   320*200 with 32 colors out of 4096
                   320*200 with 64 colors out of 4096 (Extra Half-Brite)
                   320*200 with 4096 colors at the same time (HAM Mode)

                   640*200 with 4 to 32 colors
                   640*400 with 2 to 16 colors (interlaced)

 With Moniterm:
                   640*400 using Monochrome (noninterlaced)
                  1008*800 using Monochrome Colors

 With A2000 Graphics Card:
                  1024*1024 with 256 colors at the same time

 Comparisons with Other Systems:  With  its superb  graphics resolution and
 improved removable  storage, the Amiga 2000 System gains workstation-class
 capabilities,  and  could  become  an  excellent  Dream  System  when  its
 peripherals are introduced....


 System #9, the Sun 3/80 System, is a Sun 3/80 with 8 Megs of RAM, a 20 MHZ
 68030 chip, a 20 MHZ 68882 Math Chip, and 1 expansion slot.  Added to this
 are Pinnacle  Micro's 650  Meg Magneto-Optical  Drive, and  two Sun Memory
 Expasnion Kits, with 4 Megs of RAM Each.  Cost:  25,500 dollars....

 Sun 3/80 Resolution:  1152*900 with 16 Million Colors at the same time..

 Comparisons with other Systems:  The Sun 3/80  System provides  an awesome
 set of  workstation-class capabilities, including 24-bit color graphics, a
 Magneto-Optical Drive, and large amounts of  RAM.    While  it  isn't well
 balanced in  that its  speed is  not at  the caliber of RISC chipsets, and
 doesn't do true justice to the rest of the system,  the Sun  3/80 promises
 to be a VERY good contender in the low-end workstation area....

       It seems,  though, that  these Dream Systems indicate certain future
 trends which will occur with microcomputers.  8  to 24  bit color displays
 (that is,  with 256  to 16 million colors) will be the main targets in the
 graphics arena, while Megapixel displays (screens with 1024*1024 or better
 resolution), will  be necessary,  as well as math coprocessors.  Also, the
 trend of RISC-based systems, while having great potential in the industry,
 will soon  begin to slow down, as the various RISC manufacturers battle it
 out to see which RISC architecture will become the dominant standard....

       Also, removable storage media is finally  coming into  its own, with
 magneto-optical disks  threatening to  make hard disks obsolete.  In order
 to make all this work, however,  the amount  of standard  RAM in computers
 will slowly  increase to  around 4-8  Megabytes.   These improvements will
 then herald an eventual change in the computer industry, which  may result
 in microcomputers, workstations, and supercomputers becoming the only real
 categories in the computer industry....


 But ponder, if you will, this question:

 1)  What is more important in a computer system:   Good  Hardware, or Good
 Software?

 2)   What are  the odds  of Atari  not introducing the ATW in the US until
 Commodore's upcoming Transputer Add-on board for  the Amiga  2000 has been
 shipping in the US for a few months?




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


 San Jose, CA       Frame Technology has agreed to bundle a prerelease copy
 ------------       of their FrameMaker 2.0 workstation publishing program
                    with the NeXT System.  Given that Adobe Inc. has shown
                    efforts to develop a version of Adobe Illustrator,
                    their Postscript-based drawing program, for the NeXT
                    System, which is partly based on Display Postscript....

 Armonk, NY         IBM has recently introduced the PS/2 Model P70, a
 ----------         transportable version of the Model 70 with a 20 MHZ
                    80386 chip, a 80387 Math Coprocessor, and a Gas Plasma
                    VGA Display.  The Model P70 also has 4 Megs of RAM
                    onboard, one full-length MicroChannel Expansion Slot,
                    and one half-length slot.  Cost: $7700.00 with a 60 Meg
                    Hard Drive, and $8300.00 with a 120 Meg Hard Drive....

                    The PS/2 Model P70 could be tough competition for the
                    growing crop of IBM Laptops that use the 80386 chip, as
                    many of the most popular 80386 laptops, including the
                    Toshiba 5100, use a 16 MHZ 80386 and have up to 2 Megs
                    of RAM onboard, yet cost in the same price range as the
                    PS/2 Model P70....

 Tarrytown, NY      As a result of Motorola's earlier lawsuit against it,
 -------------      Hitachi alleges that they have found that the Motorola
                    68030 chip violates one of Hitachi's US Patents, and
                    has pressed a patent infringment suit against Motorola,
                    attempting to seek damages from Motorola, as well as to
                    stop future sales of the 68030 chip, which is currently
                    used in  many computers, including several Unix        
                    workstations, the Macintosh IIx and IIcx  line, and the
                    Mac SE/30....





  _________________________________________________________________________





> Multi-Desk / Flex STR Review   The Lowdown ......
  ============================

     Unlimited Accessories 

                                              MultiDesk and Flexcessory
                                              =========================


 by Ron Brunk


     One of  the nicest  features of the gem desktop is the ability to load
 accessories into the  desktop  and  use  them  whenever  the  menu  bar is
 present.    Most  accessories  take  the  form of handy utilities i.e. ram
 disks, print  spoolers, text  readers, etc.   Unfortunately  there are two
 limitations.  First, you can only load a maximum of 6 accessory slots, and
 some accessories  use  up  two  slots.    Second,  accessories  are loaded
 directly into memory and stay there, making that ram inaccessible to other
 programs.  As programs were developed for the ST, they  started using more
 and more  ram to  add more features. It soon became necessary to trim down
 your accessory  list  to  just  the  essentials  to  make  room  for these
 programs.   To load  a new set of accessories (or clear those installed to
 release memory for a large program) you have to reboot with the  new setup
 installed.  These restrictions have been solved by two programs, Multidesk
 (by CodeHead  Software)  and  Flexcessory  (from  E.  Arthur  Brown). Both
 programs install  themselves as a single accessory and make it possible to
 load,run, and dump programs/accessories from that one accessory slot.  


                                 Multidesk
                                 =========

     Multidesk uses 38 K of memory for itself  and loads  other accessories
 into a memory buffer.  This loading process must be done from the desktop,
 and accessories can be added until the buffer defined is full.   It cannot
 load/dump accessories  while another program is running (or at least it is
 strongly recommended not to), nor can it dump  one accessory  at a  time. 
 Once  utilities  are  loaded  you  can  "shrink  to fit" the buffer of ram
 holding the accessories to free up memory that  is not  required.   It can
 automatically load  a particular  setup on  boot up, and other "setups" of
 various combinations of accessories  can  be  saved  and  easily recalled.
 Accessories can  be put  into one folder that MultiDesk will automatically
 go to when loading accessories.   MultiDesk is  very tight  and works with
 almost every .ACC program I've ever used except Deskcart.  Capslock.acc is
 also reported to have problems with Multidesk.  The latest  version, 1.81,
 has been  specifically modified  to support Thunder, Neodesk, Hotwire, and
 accessories compiled with Hisoft Basic.  CodeHead has been very responsive
 in doing  these modifications  for each version to solve incompatibilities
 as they are reported.   Multidesk can  be run  with the  mouse or keyboard
 can hold  up to  32 accessories.   If  that isn't enough, it can be loaded
 into itself ad infinitum (or at least, until you run out of memory)

    To assist you in memory management,  MultiDesk can  display free memory
 available  for  use.  Note:  the  free  memory  displayed  is  the largest
 unfragmented block in ram.   For  example, if  you create  a ramdisk while
 running a  program, it  is created "above" the program.  When you quit the
 program, the free memory will be in two  blocks, one  above and  one below
 the ramdisk.   This  is one  of the  reasons that MultiDesk prefers not to
 load other accessories while inside a program.  The following is a partial
 list of .ACC programs that the STReport staff regularly use with MultiDesk
 and the number of bytes (checked by MultiDesk) that each requires:

 17  Alert     50  DCFormat     22  G+Plus     19  Priveye     38  Snapshot
 51  Artgalry   7  Deskey       33  Ilnmulti   33  Progcalc     4  Speedtos
 11  Busybud   19  Diskman       8  Importer   12  Protect      33  Stuffer
 36  Calc      39  Dos          22  Memfil20   35  Rambaby     36  TurboST2
 10  Calendar  12  Emulator     38  Multdesk   19  Schizo      10  WP_Spool
  4  Callfsel  73  EZD_Acc1     31  Mystic     81  Shdw_acc    22  Wrdcount
 27  Clock     51  Flex!        16  Neocntrl    5  Showmem3    47  Ybatch
 22  Control    9  G+Mini       24  Neoqueue   12  SI_Ram      


     MultiDesk 1.81 comes with a series of utilities on disk including:

          Headstart- Enables you to auto-run GEM programs at boot-up.  This
          is an improved version of Startgem.

          Calc-  A  very  powerful  calculator  with   all  the  scientific
          functions you'll ever need.

          Calendar- All the months from Jan 80 to Dec 2009

          ClockA- A clock face, not digital.  Cannot be left on screen.

          Control- Standard control panel.

          Emulator- Atari VT52 emulator.

          Melt- The cutesy screen melt gag.

          Showmem3- Displays free memory block by block. 
       
          SI_Ram- Ram  disk and  print spooler  that can automatically load
          files when it is created


                                Flexcessory
                                ===========

        Flexcessory also loads as an accessory, reserving 51K for itself in
 memory.   At boot-up it can set aside a buffer for running the programs it
 loads, or the buffer can be set to 0 and programs will use whatever ram is
 available  when  they  are  executed.    It  can  be also be configured to
 automatically load a particular setup at boot, which  includes the options
 to; set  a pathname  for programs to be loaded, display a desk clock, load
 only certain filetypes, and automatically load and configure  the ram disk
 and/or  print  spooler.    Other  options  allow  you  to  configure  each
 individual program in the following ways:

          Stack size can be set if you know what the program requires.

          Run time parameters allows you to pass parameters  to the program
               when it is run

          Clear screen before the program runs

          Disable mouse hides the mouse during execution (i.e. for TOS/TTP)

          Enable text  cursor brings up a flashing cursor for text entry of
               parameters (i.e. TOS/TTP)

          Wait for keypress causes GEM to  prompt for  a keypress  prior to
               returning to desktop

           Disable windows tells gem not to redraw windows  


     Once  they  have  been  run,  programs remain in ram until unloaded by
 Flexcessory.  A major drawback is that ram  released by  unloading program
 is not  always recognized  and will sometimes result in an "out of memory"
 message.  This forces a reboot or use of a  program to  flush your  ram to
 recover  that  memory.    Programs  can  be loaded and run in one step, or
 executed from a drop down menu that lists  all programs  currently loaded.
 Flexcessory will  load up  to 15  programs with  extensions of .prg, .ttp,
 .tos, .app, and can load and dump individual programs or dump all  at once
 while in  another program.   Note: Your ram will probably be fragmented if
 you load a program into Flexcessory  while inside  another program.   Once
 again you must reboot or flush your ram.   

     Another major drawback to Flexcessory is that it will not run programs
 that use GEM (the familiar menu  bar) nor  will it  run programs  that use
 resource files.   On  the other  hand, most of these types of programs are
 not the kind you would load into  an  accessory  slot  anyway.    I tested
 Flexcessory with  a few  of the remaining "utility" types of programs that
 do not use GEM  or .RSC  (other than  those included  on the  disk) and it
 successfully accessed 5 of 11:

         Crashed or wouldn't run              Successfully ran
        -------------------------            ------------------  
              Clipboard                          Arcsh198 
              Quikview                           Dirdump
              Shdw_acc                           Filespy
              STReader                           Pageview
              Undelete                           Quikfind
              Whatis

     There are 21 programs included that will run with Flexcessory, many of
 which run and look exactly like the accessories  (.acc) of  the same name.
 There are:

     Two calculators, one algebraic and one RPN (reverse polish notation as
 used by Hewlett Packard pocket calculators.  They are used with the mouse,
 although numerals can be entered with the keyboard.

     A  notepad  with  wordwrap,  block  functions,  search & replace and a
          help menu.

     The screen grabber saves a degas picture of the desktop.

     A file comparer will tell if two files are identical or not.

     The  control  program,  install  printer,  and   RS-232  configuration
     programs are identical to Atari's.

     File utilities to delete or rename files.

     Two  format   programs,  one   for  very  simple  single/double  sided
     formatting and one for 3 1/2" or 5 1/4", single or double sided (40/80
     tracks) disks, with options for IBM compatibility and write verify.

     A  program  to  send  printer  commands  to  the printer as decimal or
          hexidecimal codes.

     A screensaver  which  turns  the  screen  off  (black)  after extended
     periods of no activity from the keyboard to prevent burnout.

     Showfile  continuously  scrolls  a  text  file  across the screen with
          options to halt/continue.

     Stepper program to set drive stepping (used for 5 1/4" drive)

     A VT52 terminal emulator

     A program  to dump  a file  as hexadecimal  to screen  with options to
          choose starting byte and total bytes displayed.

 Which is best for you?
 ------------------------

    To sum  up, both  programs free  you from  the six accessory limit, and
 allow you to  dump  and  load  programs  in  the  accessory  slots without
 rebooting.   The advantages  of MultiDesk are that it requires less memory
 for itself, is much more compatible with the programs it  utilizes (.ACC),
 and does  not cause  memory fragmentation.   The advantages of Flexcessory
 are that it can load and dump individual programs from the accessory slot,
 and do it from within another program.  While the programs it does run use
 up memory only while they  are  actually  running,  the  program  does not
 reliably free memory when it does unload them.





  ________________________________________________________________________



> CODEHEAD!! STReport InfoFile   Codehead shows it's goodies!
  ============================



     CodeHead Software is proud to announce the release of our new product:


                          CODEHEAD UTILITIES (#1)

           A COLLECTION OF USEFUL PROGRAMS AND DESK ACCESSORIES

         --------------------------------------------------------

    INCLUDING:


       MultiFile
       ---------

         A multi-featured GEM-based file handling
         utility, with many unique capabilities!

         o Copy/rename/delete/move/touch groups of files with  unsurpassed 
           ease.

         o 20  default paths can be selected with a mouse click or a       
           Keypress!

         o Send directory listings to your printer.

         o Format  two disks at once (with _full_ control over formatting  
           parameters like sector skewing, sectors per track, and number of
           tracks).

         o Create/change volume names.

         o TOS version number and free RAM display.

         o Set write-verify on/off.

         o Show info on files and folders.

         o Toggle write-protection on files.

         o Preserve  time/date stamp on copies.  (Or don't, if you prefer  
           not to.)

         o Sort by name, extension, date, or size (or NO sort at all).

         o ALL configuration options can be saved, so that MultiFile always
           comes up ready for action!

         o and MUCH MORE!

         The multi-level  warning system  lets you streamline MultiFile for
 your own purposes.  MultiFile's unique full-screen display shows up  to 80
 files at once, on up to five pages for directories that contain more.  The
 entire program can be operated with either the mouse OR  the keyboard, and
 it  runs  as  either  a  normal  program  OR a desk accessory!  (We almost
 released MultiFile as a separate product....it's that powerful.)


      AUTO Organizer
      --------------

        Changes the order of execution of programs in an AUTO folder, IN A
 SPLIT SECOND!  (You won't believe how fast this program works.)


      Art Gallery 2.0
      ---------------

         A  multi-format  graphics  viewer/slideshow.    Shows DEGAS, TINY,
 NEOCHROME, SPECTRUM 512, and ART DIRECTOR  pictures, with  color rotation.
 Also imports  any of  these formats directly into a DEGAS Elite workscreen
 (MUCH faster  than  DEGAS  Elite  itself  can).    Art  Gallery  2.0  is a
 greatly-expanded version  of Art  Gallery, originally  published in ST-Log
 magazine.


       Font Tricks 2.0
       ---------------

         Replaces the system font with a custom font,  and prints  it to an
 Epson  printer,  in  two  sizes!   The desktop's 'Print' function will use
 whatever font you select!  Dozens of DEGAS fonts are also included  on the
 disk.


      CodeHead Print Spooler
      ----------------------

         Full  featured,  user  configurable  printer  spooler.    The only
 spooler we know of that will buffer a screen dump!  (You  know, that thing
 that happens when you type Alternate-Help...)


      CodeHead Ramdisk
      ----------------

         Configurable  reset-proof  ramdisk.    The  unique feature of this
 ramdisk is that it does NOT do a double reset on a cold start!


      CapsLock
      --------

         A desk  accessory that  continually shows  the status  of the ST's
 CapsLock key.


      CodeCopy
      --------

         A program for quickly and safely making multiple copies of a disk.
 Saves disk images to a file, for later use.  Formats, writes, and verifies
 disks as fast as possible.


      ZeroDisk
      --------

         Very quickly  erases all  files on  a floppy  disk, preserving the
 disk's format.  In a split second, you  have the  equivalent of  a freshly
 formatted disk without the wait for reformatting.


      Lens
      ----

         Recursive graphics  manipulation.  Lens is a "computer toy" that's
 fascinating to play with.  (For  when you  get tired  of all  this serious
 stuff...)


     SHAREWARE FOLDER INCLUDES:


       Arc Shell 1.99
       --------------

         A  new  release  of  this  very popular utility, available for the
 first time on the CodeHead Utilities disk.


      Desk Manager
      ------------

         Lets you easily and  quickly select  which AUTO  programs and desk
 accessories to run when you boot your computer.


    FREEWARE FOLDER INCLUDES:


      Showmem3
      --------

         Displays current memory usage plus _total_ of all free memory.


      Start Selector
      --------------

         The latest  version of  this popular  replacement for the GEM file
 selector.


                     The price for all of these useful 
                    programs?  Only $29.95!  (We think 
          you'll agree that MultiFile _alone_is worth the price!)
       CodeHead Utilities (#1) is available NOW directly from us at:

                             CodeHead Software
                              P.O. Box 74090
                           Los Angeles, CA 90004

                      Telephone (or FAX) 213-386-5735

          If you order by mail, please include a check or money
          order for the amount indicated plus $2 shipping
          ($3 Canada, $5 Europe).

                              As always, thanks for your support!

                                      Charles and John........





  _________________________________________________________________________



 > Atari Stock ~ STReport   Wall Street's Sweetheart or sweathog?
   ======================


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


 by Glenn Gorman


                 Money grabbers sell off Atari Corp. stock

     Atari Stock  dropped 1/8  of a  point on  Monday, 1/8  on Tuesday, 1/8
 onWednesday and  1/4 on  Thursday. Finishing  up the week at 7 7/8 points.
 Down 5/8 points from last Friday.


                                                            Glenn Gorman

                          +---------------------+
                          |  ATARI STOCK WATCH  |
                          | Week 06-12 to 06-16 |
 +=======+==========+===========+=============+============+=============+
 |       |  Monday  |  Tuesday  |  Wednesday  |  Thursday  |  Friday     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Sales |    3902  |     2267  |       2055  |      1018  |     920     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Last  |   8 3/8  |    8 1/4  |      8 1/8  |     7 7/8  |   7 7/8     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Chg.  |    -1/8  |     -1/8  |       -1/8  |      -1/4  |    ----     |
 +=======+==========+===========+=============+============+=============+
 | From > THE CAVE ST BBS <> 609-882-9195 <> 300//9600 HST <> F-NET #351 |
 +=======================================================================+





  ________________________________________________________________________



> CodeHead Conference STR Feature   Online Conference straight talk
  ===============================




                             Notice on door: 
                       Formal CodeHead Conference!  
                                Featuring:
                   Charles F. Johnson and John Eidsvoog.


                    Room 1, the General Club room.
                    Stenographer is Miss Jane Hathaway
               Job     City         Room Sta Mail-Address
                 1 Ann arbor,MI        1   N [Pattie] UNICORNPUB
                 2 North hollywo,CA    1   N J.EIDSVOOG1
                 3 Arlington hei,IL    1   L JEFF.W
                 4 Pacific palis,CA    1   N [Charles] C.F.JOHNSON
                 5 Jacksonville,FL     1   N ST.REPORT
                 6 Baltimore,MD        1   N [bob] B.O.B.
                 8 Passaic park,NJ     1   N [Vince-Cubed] V.AVERELLO
                 9 Sebring,FL          1   N A.AVIS
                10 Calgary,AB          1   N R.BODY
                11 Rockville,MD        1   N [John] JKUEHN
                12 Campbell,CA         1   N [RC] R.ARP1

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Hi all!  We're happy to be here tonight....

 <JEFF.W> Welcome  to the  InterSect RTC  (that's Real  Time Conference for
 anyone who's  easily bored  by abbreviations).   Thank  you for being here
 with us this evening.  Before I introduce our guests,  I'd like  to make a
 few announcements.
  
 <JEFF.W> On July 12 our RTC guests will be representatives from Creative
 Microsystems Incorporated.   CMI  has a  new accelerator board, called The
 Processor Accelerator,  coming  out  soon.    Featuring  sockets  for user
 installed  BLiTTER  and  math  co-processor  chips,  this  board should be
 attracting lots of attention.  Be here on July 12 at 10:00pm  EDT with CMI
 to discuss the Processor Accelerator and future CMI products for the ST.

 On  the  following  week,  July  19th,  ISD  will  be  back  for  a formal
 conference.  ISD is noted for products like Calamus, a world class desktop
 publishing application, Calamus  Font  Editor,  and  the  upcoming Calamus
 Outline.    They  also  bring  to  us  DynaCadd, an extremely powerful and
 feature packed professional CAD package.  Join us on July  19 for  the ISD
 RTC.
  
 <JEFF.W>  Now,  here  are  the  RTC  rules.    During  these  formal  type
 conferences, you can only talk when I let you talk.   To  get my attention
 all you  have to  do is  raise your hand.  Do that by typing in  /RAI  and
 then hitting your RETURN key.  I'll let you know when your  turn is coming
 up.   If you  think I  may have  missed you  please /RAIse  your hand once
 again.  Please end your questions or comments with a "ga" (Go Ahead) to
 indicate you're  done  "speaking".    If  you  have  to  leave  before the
 conference is  over, your can type /EXI to return to the RT or /BYE to log
 off of GEnie, but please stay if you can.  I need your questions!  :-)
  
 <JEFF.W> Now, the introductions. 
  
 It is my pleasure to have as this evening's guests Charles F. Johnson
 and John Eidsvoog.  Together, Charles and John make up  CodeHead Software,
 makers  of  mighty  fine  utilities  and  tools for the Atari ST family of
 computers.    Products  carrying   the  CodeHead   label  include  G+PLUS,
 MultiDesk, HotWire,  and MIDIMAX.   John  and Charles  are here to tell us
 about the latest CodeHead product that goes on sale almost immediately!
  
 <JEFF.W> If you have any questions or comments for Charles and John, start
 /RAIsing your hands now.
  
 <JEFF.W> Welcome, CodeHeads!  Do you guys have  any opening  remarks you'd
 like to make before we begin taking questions?

 <[Charles]  C.F.JOHNSON>  Well...not  really.    We're  excited  about the
 release of CodeHead Utilities.  We've been promising it a  long time...and
 everything's finally  ready.   <sigh of  relief!>  Anyway, let the feeding
 frenzy begin!

 <JEFF.W> Let me  start...  How  about  telling  us  a  bit  about CodeHead
 Utilites?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> CFJ, you start?

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON>  OK...Well, it's a collection very useful programs
 and desk accessories, with lots of variety, focusing on several of the....
 most commonly-performed activities that  people  do  with  their  STs like
 copying files,  reformatting disks, reorganizing the AUTO folder, etc.  We
 think it;'s got a lot of value for  the very  low price  and at  least one
 program (MultiFile) that could very well be a separate commercial package.
 Anyway, enough raving!  :)

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> We could mention a little about each program...

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Sure, John....you wanna?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1>  Ok,  probably  the  strongest  program  of  the  package is
 MultiFile, which  is a  multi-featured file handling utility.  It provides
 an extremely easy-to-use interface for copying single or groups of files.

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> And I might mention the AUTO Organizer that can
 reorganize your AUTO folder in a split second, no matter how many
 files it contains! 

 <JEFF.W> Thanks! And now, Pattie!

 <[Pattie] UNICORNPUB> Thanks Jeff.... Firstly, I'd  like to  Thank you Two
 forcreating such fine programs, and for allowing us the opportunity
 for reviewing them in the Atari Interface Magazine.   Now, since
 there are  so many  pd programs  available to do utilities, what does your
 utility disk offer?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> As CFJ said, the AUTO  organizer is  almost instantaneous as
 opposed to  20-30 seconds  taken by the PD program.  There's no other file
 handling program that has  all  the  features  of  MultiFile.    Our print
 spooler has  a couple  of features that no other has...such as buffering a
 screen dump and a hot key for clearing the buffer.  CFJ, ?? GA

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Yeah, and there's NO public domain  equivalent for
 some of the things on the disk, like Font Tricks 2.0, which lets you use
 DEGAS fonts  to print  to your  Epson printer, using the desktop's 'Print'
 function.  Every program on the CodeHead utilities disk has at _least_ one
 feature that puts it above the public domain equivalents. (If they exist.)

 <JEFF.W> Any followup, Pattie?

 <[Pattie] UNICORNPUB> Thanks... I'll yield the floor...

 <JEFF.W> Thanks, Pattie.  Dorothy?

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> I have a few questions, First, about WOA in Dearborn...Will
 you be giving a seminar?  Gee, no one has asked us.  <sob!>

 <JEFF.W> You're joking!

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> What programs will you be demoing/promoting?

 [Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Nope.  No joke.

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> HotWire! -  MIDIMAX

 <[Charles]  C.F.JOHNSON>  We'll  have  new  versions  of  lots  of things,
 including HotWire! 

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> Will the utilities be available?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> The manuals which were supposed to be ready 2 hours ago...

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON>  Yes!   CodeHead Utilities  #1 will be on sale for
 the first time.

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> will be ready in the morning... so, yes.  GA

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> At a special (meaning cheap) price?

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Boy, give 'em an inch....<grin>
 <J.EIDSVOOG1> hmmm....

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> Also I'm interested in the print spooler you mentioned...
 <JEFF.W> It's cheap at any price!

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> It's already unbelievably cheap, for ten programs
 never before... released....$29.95!     Such a deal!  :)

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> I've had a  terrible time  setting up  a spooler  that will
 work with  graphics output, such as Timeworks and Degas.  Will the spooler
 help me there?

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Yep, could very well help out.  I use it with
 Timeworks Desktop Publisher all the time myself. GA

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> It sure will...

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> Thanks much! ga

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> and it can be set to _any_ size...2-3 meg maybe.

 <JEFF.W> Thanks!  R.ARP1

 <[RC] R.ARP1> Ditto on the fine job you guys have done.  I want to know if
 the utility to convert from RSC to assembly will also be there.

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON>  No, that's  planned for the second Utilities disk
 following sometime soon.

 <[RC] R.ARP1> Well, hurry up.

 <JEFF.W> Vince...You have the floor.

 <[Vince-Cubed] V.AVERELLO> How will upgrade for CU I be handled because it
 is a group & not 1 program ??

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Uh, John, you want to field this one?  <grin>
 <J.EIDSVOOG1> what upgrade?? <grin>

 <JEFF.W> Isn't it going to be perfect right out of the gate?
 <J.EIDSVOOG1> We'll have to see what happens.

 <[Vince-Cubed] V.AVERELLO> You know Multi-file 1.1 & so on

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Any upgrades will be handled pretty much the same
 way our  other upgrades  are if  there's a significant improvement you can
 update to the new version by returning your original disk and $5.00.
  
 <JEFF.W> Thank you, Vince.  BOB?

 <[bob] B.O.B.> Hi guys...Does your Auto  Re-Org Util  allow for  more Auto
 prgs than the PD one.   I have more than that program will recognize. 
 (Not enough slots)

 [Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Yes! Definitely.  You can have up to 64.

 <[bob] B.O.B.> GREAT! Thanks....ga

 <JEFF.W> Pattie?
 <[Pattie] UNICORNPUB> thanks again, Jeff...I wanted to ask about a rumor I
 read about on one of the  Online Services  about your  possibly re-writing
 the Operating System for the ST.  What about that?  Is that in the works?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> If  Atari would give us the source code, maybe we could give
 it a shot.  Otherwise it'd be pretty tough.  GA

 <JEFF.W> That it, Pattie?

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> That's just a rumor,  Pattie.   No basis  in fact.
 We  talk  about  it  from  time  to  time, but the fact is, it would be an
 ENORMOUS job.

 <[Pattie] UNICORNPUB> Is the operating  system  the  hardest  thing you've
 come across in programming the ST?

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Wow, what a loaded question there are lots of ways
 to answer that in some ways the ST  Operating System  is terrific  you get
 whole libraries of nice calls that do fancy graphic stuff and manage input
 for you and all of that, but you also get a lot of overhead and time spent
 learning the  intricacies.  And then, of course, there are the bugs.  It's
 true, they exist.  I can't hide from it any more. 

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> Our company's existence is based  on the  limitations of the
 ST operating system. <grin>  Where would we be without them? 

 <JEFF.W> The ST's shortcomings are your windfall.

 <JEFF.W> Sally from Zmag?

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Well put, Jeff.

 <[S.nagy] ZMAGAZINE> Thanks, this might have been already asked?  But what
 utilities will be found on code head utilities disk 1 and 2? GA

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON>  We do  have a text file with full descriptions of
 all the programs on the first Utilities disk  posted in  the GEnie library
 (anyone know the file number offhand?) but I'd be glad...
 <JEFF.W> It  has been asked already, but there's lots we haven't gotten to
 yet.

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> I'm wondering about MIDIMAX.  What's it for?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> MIDIMAX is meant as a live performance tool It allows you to
 create chord maps and macros which will automate your live performance.  
 <[Charles]  C.F.JOHNSON>  It's  designed  to  help  professional musicians
 manage their equipment quickly and easily. GA

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> We have a Kawai K-5, Roland U110, and we've been using
 Steinberg stuff.  Will this benefit us?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> It's flexibility is such that it's hard to think of all...
 it can do.  For instance, you could have it  send preset  patch changes to
 all your instruments on different MIDI channels. 

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> Thank you. 

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> And in addition to all tprofessional applications,
 it's fun  to play  with too.....you  can have  chords played when you just
 touch a single note on the keyboard.  And different chords for every note,
 not just parallel voicings.

 <J.EIDSVOOG1>  Yeah,  you  can  instantly switch between 8 different chord
 maps to change the harmonization. 

 <JEFF.W> Thanks, Dorothy.  Getting back to CU #1, it looks like it will be
 a  user  group  librarian's  dream  with  2 disk formating?  And multidisk
 copying?

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> MultiFile has lots of  features that  haven't been
 seen in  an ST file maintenance program before.  Including _full_ keyboard
 control of all program options.  (Really speeds things up.) 

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> And we're including CodeCopy, which is the  program we wrote
 to do our own disk mastering. 

 <JEFF.W> I  see that ARCSHELL 1.99 will be on the disk also?  What changes
 will we see?

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> ARC Shell 1.99 adds  the ability  to set  each ARC
 option to use either the default or the alternate ARC utility allowing you
 to use, say, DCOPY for extracting, but ARC.TTP for archiving.  

 <JEFF.W> Thanks.  Dorothy's up again.

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> I thought ARCShell was Shareware.  Will version 1.99 not be
 freely distributed also?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> We're including a SHAREWARE folder on the disk.
  
 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Yes, ARC  Shell  will  continue  to  be shareware.
 We're including a SHAREWARE folder so that people can get the latest
 versions if they don't have access to an online service, usergroup,
 whatever.

 <D.A.BRUMLEVE> ...cause I have actually paid for 1.97...

 <ELROD> Maybe this has been answered.....What is TopDown? 

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> ok...

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON>  John, I  think it's  a long  fly ball comin' your
 way.

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> <oops, John!>

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> TopDown forces AUTO programs and ACCs to load at  the top of
 memory,  which  leaves  a  lower  memory area available for programs which
 might not normally load due to ACCs taking that space.  It  also speeds up
 your bootup time...cuts it about in half.  
 <ELROD> ok, Thanks! 

 <JEFF.W>  I  know  that  Charles  has  be  running  along in a few minutes
 Charles...any closing remarks?

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Hope to see everyone at the World of Atari show. 
 We're looking forward to meeting you!

 <JEFF.W> Thanks a lot for being here, Charles....

 <JEFF.W> ...I understand we can have John for a while longer.  /RAI to ask
 any questions.

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> If you'd like, I can tell you about HotWire 1.2

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> OK, sorry to leave so soon, talk to y'all later.

 <JEFF.W> Bye, Charles.  Thanks!  Yes, John.  Please.

 <[Charles] C.F.JOHNSON> Thanks to all for their support. 

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> 1.2  allows you to install not only programs in the menu but
 also .HOT files, .WRK  files,  and  documents.    This  allows  you  to do
 'virtual' paging  to different  menus by  simply clicking or hitting a hot
 key.  You can also set up a menu of documents, such as WP  files and click
 on the one you want to invoke your WP and load in the doc.  GA

 <JEFF.W> Will you be doing upgrades at the show?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> BTW, 1.2 works with the new 1.4 ROMs, and yes we will be...
 doing upgrades to 1.2 at the show.

 <JEFF.W> What  will be  the upgrade  fee for people mailing their disks to
 you? 

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> Our standard upgrade policy is $5 plus  send in  your master
 disk.  GA

 <[Pattie]  UNICORNPUB>  John,  each  programmer  has  his/her own style of
 writing code how do you and Charles keep from fighting when you work
 together?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> That's a good  question!   The division  of labor  on G+ was
 basically CFJ  did the  ACC and I did the PRG although we passed code back
 and forth and both worked on both sources. It's lucky that both of us like
 assembly language  and our  programming philosophy is quite similar... But
 we still do have our differences of opinions. 

 <JEFF.W> Before I open this up to informal  mode ...How  is FatBack coming
 along?

 <J.EIDSVOOG1> Well, FatBack (as you may have heard many times) is being..
 re-written in assembly (originally GFA).  I expect to finish..
 it in July.  Sorry, it's taking so long, but there's less and less time to
 code as running the company becomes more and more time consuming.
  
 <JEFF.W> For those who aren't total CodeHead freaks (like me),  FatBack is
 a hard disk backup utility.

 <JEFF.W> Okay.  I think that brings this formal RTC to a close.  I want to
 thank John and Charles for being with us...


                      Room 1, the General Club room.
                    Stenographer is Miss Jane Hathaway

                Job     City         Room Sta Mail-Address
                 1 Ann arbor,MI        1   N [Pattie] UNICORNPUB
                 2 North hollywo,CA    1   N J.EIDSVOOG1
                 3 Arlington hei,IL    1   L JEFF.W
                 4 Norristown,PA       1   N [Mobro] W.FERRELL
                 5 Jacksonville,FL     1   N ST.REPORT
                 6 Baltimore,MD        1   N [bob] B.O.B.
                 7 Brookfield,CT       1   N DARLAH
                 8 Honolulu,HI         1   N R.DEAN3
                 9 Sebring,FL          1   N A.AVIS
                10 Middlesex,NJ        1   N [S.nagy] ZMAGAZINE
                11 Titusville,PA       1   N GARY.ATMEN
                14 Midlothian,VA       1   N MICKEYANGELL
                18 Matawan,NJ          1   N R.GUADAGNO1

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 (C) 1987  by Atari  Corporation, GEnie,and the Atari Roundtables.  May be
 reprinted only with this notice intact.  The  Atari Roundtables  on GEnie
 are * official * information services of Atari Corporation.
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------





  _________________________________________________________________________



> User Input!  STReport OnLine    Ongoing Current Issues!
  ============================


 From : DAVE LOCKWOOD at THE CONTROL ROOM ST! Fnet 403

     After hearing so many rumors about what TOS 1.4 does, and does not do,
 I've decided  to put together a list of bugs/foibles/mis-features etc. for
 TOS.  We, the users, in order to form a more perfect conception of the new
 TOS, to  establish once  and for all what does and does not work, will add
 to and edit this list until it contains the best knowledge we can find.

     STReport  will  carry  this  list  until  such  time  as  the official
 specifications list for TOS 1.4 is made available by Atari  Corp.   If you
 have information  to add  to this  list let us know through either
 FNET Node 403, 350 or the best way you can.

 bug/feature/problem/wish         status           Source
 ------------------------------ ---------- ----------------------------
 Flow control (RTS/CTS)         Not fixed  Rumor - Crossnet ST group
 Famous Malloc bug              Not fixed  Confirmed - A. Pratt/Atari Corp.
 16 MEG HD partition bug        Fixed      Rumor - Usenet ST newsgroup
 wastes last 2 clusters bug     Not fixed  Confirmed - A. Pratt/Atari Corp.
 A: motor on after HD boot      Fixed      Rumor - FNET ST users
 Slow desktop disk copy         Fixed      Rumor - FNET ST users
 "Twister" format from desktop  Fixed      Rumor - FNET ST users
 Preserve file date on copy     Fixed      Rumor - FNET ST users
 Extended command line          Not fixed  Rumor - Usenet ST newsgroup
 Works with 68010/20            Not fixed  Rumor - Usenet ST newsgroup
 Installed in new Mega STs      Yes        Rumor - Crossnet ST group
 Available to 520/1040 owners   Not yet    Rumor - Crossnet ST group
 Available to Developers        Yes        Confirmed C. Roberts/Atari Corp.
 Shipping in DTP Systems        Yes        Confirmed C. Roberts/Atari Corp.


 This is the latest information.  PLEASE add to/modify this list.
 Let's try stopping the  spread of  FALSE rumors,  and start  compiling the
 facts.

 +---------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
 | "There is no problem so big that|  Dave Lockwood                       |
 | it can't be run away from"      |  Sysop of Meetpoint Station BBS      |
 +---------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
 |  Usenet:{backbones}!{amdahl,hplabs,decwrl}!pacbell!rencon!mpoint!dave  |
 +------------------------------------------------------------------------+






 _________________________________________________________________________



> Usergroup News STReport OnLine    A very special offer for Usergroups!
  ==============================


                              CPU NewsWire International Usergroup Plan
                              =========================================


     Beginning July  1989, STReport will offer it's hardcopy version, the
 CPU NewsWire to all Usergroups for a flat rate annual fee of 15.00!!  This
 offer is designed with the usergroup in mind, we offer the latest news and
 reviews for all usergroups and their respective memberships to enjoy.  Any
 proceeds derived  from the  use   of CPU  NewsWire in conjunction with the
 usergroup's newsletter belongs to those Usergroups doing so.  CPU Newswire
 will provide  to the  subscribing Usergroups  a camera ready setup of each
 edition.  The usergroup  may then  distribute this  as an  insert in their
 respective group newsletters.

     In  upholding  our  unwavering  pledge  to  encourage  and  assist all
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 regular subscribers would neither object to, nor feel slighted in  any way
 since the usergroup has been and is the "backbone" of Atari's enthusiastic
 support worldwide.  The regular subscription edition will, of course carry
 additional items  pertinent to  CPU and  STReport.   Much the  same as the
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     Our goal is  to  provide  the  usergroup  with  a  reliable  avenue of
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 The idea is to augment an existing UG  newsletter, not   replace  it.  CPU
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                               --===**===--





  ________________________________________________________________________



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



 - Miami, FL.                              **** CALLESIS TO PORT WHAP! ****
   ----------

     Harry Callesis, noted for the Adventure  Game Tool Kit is about to
 embark on the "noble" adventure, Harry is going to port over the highly
 acclaimed CIS handler program  WHAP written by S. Ahlstrom of the Amiga
 Sig.  The porting itself, with the corroboration of Ahlstrom, will make
 available to ST Users one of the finest Terminal systems in use today.
 The entire effort is slated to take about 3 months before the first beta
 version is in use.  "If you need anything Harry, just holler!"



 - Sunnyvale, CA.                 **** ATARI ANNOUNCES NEW PRODUCTS ****
   ------------- 

     Announced as product that will be available for sale and delivery to
 the users at the Dearborn Show, a) the new 8 bit Terminal program, by
 Keith Ledbetter, SX Express, written to work with the SX  212 modem, Atari
 will offer this to the users with a cable included.  Also the new 8 bit
 Midi Maze will be for sale.  On display, but not for sale, will be the new
 Word Flair by Atari, the all in one  Word Processor/DTP.  Of course Atari
 will be showing Stacey and Portfolio and ...ah, on second thought we'll
 wait and let it be a surprise to everyone...be sure to go to the Dearborn
 Show..  STReport will carry full coverage and reviews of  the show in  our
 next issue.  Issue # 94  





  _______________________________________________________________________



> STReport InfoFile
  =================

  
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  ________________________________________________________________________



> A "QUOTABLE QUOTE"
  ==================



       Ziggy's Retarded Follies
       ------------------------


           "AN OUNCE OF IMAGE IS WORTH A POUND OF PERFORMANCE!!" 
   
   
                                                       - Ziggy Zagnutt 
   
   
   
                               ATARI IS BACK! 
                                        
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ST-REPORT Issue #93     "Your Independent News Source"     June 23, 1989
                    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  copyright 1989
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Views, Opinions and Articles  Presented  herein are not necessarily those
 of ST Report or CPU Report.  Reprint  permission is granted, unless noted
 otherwise.   All reprints  must include  ST Report or CPU Report  and the
 author's name.  All information  presented herein is believed correct, ST
 Report or  CPU Report, it's  editors  and staff are  not  responsible for
 any  use  or,  misuse  of  information  contained  in  this  publication.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

