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


  September 22, 1989                                      Vol III  No.106
  =======================================================================
  
                         ST Report Online Magazine 
                        __________________________
                          Post Office Box   6672
                          Jacksonville,  Florida
                               32205 ~ 6672
  
                               R.F. Mariano
                            Publisher - Editor
                 _________________________________________
                   Voice: 904-783-3319  10 AM - 4 PM EDT
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                    FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EDT
                 _________________________________________
  
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                                    and
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               carrying STReport for their users  enjoyment

    __________________________________________________________________ 
    
 > Issue: #106 STReport        The Online Magazine of Choice! 
   ------------------- 
     - The Editors' Podium                   - CPU REPORT - ASTDA
     - BLOODWYCH  A Review                   - Expectations
     - PC SPEED!! IBM Emulator!              - UK & the TT
     - WAACE doing GOOD!                     - Computer Talk
     - ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL                - EPYX Layoffs

     ----===****  MYSTERY CLOUDS THE RELEASE OF THE LYNX  ****===----
            --==**  PREFERRED DEALERS TO SELL PORTFOLIO  **==--
      
    
  =======================================================================
       AVAILABLE ON:      COMP-U-SERVE  ~  DELPHI  ~  GENIE  ~  BIX
  =======================================================================
    
 > The Editor's Podium 


     With WAACE  right around the corner, perhaps Atari will have good news
 for the users pertaining to  the  (a)  exchange  program's extraordinarily
 high prices,  (b) about the delivery dates of the STE, Lynx and the Stacy.
 The rumor mill is  in high  gear and  going in  many different directions.
 Atari must bring out some REAL news and forego this silence non sense.

     Here we  are, coming up on the holiday season and what do we see?  The
 big push is on in the business and  high dollar  publications, ie; Airline
 magazines, Wall  Street Journal etc.., but ONLY for the Portfolio.  That's
 all well and good but... what about the Lynx?   And the  Mega   what is in
 the future  for the  Mega series?   Why  are volume  dealers dropping like
 flies?  Example, two in Manhattan in less than 60 days!   One can purchase
 a Mega  there for  closeout prices,  if any are left.  The major complaint
 appears to be a lack of co-operation on the part  of Atari  coupled with a
 "we  don't  care  about  you  attitude".   Come on Atari, wake up... There
 simply must  be some  serious attitude  adjustments made  in Sunnyvale and
 fast.   The direct  deal on the Portfolio may have been neccessary, but is
 passing on certain dealers in the best interests of Atari?   Surely, Atari
 is not  going to  play favorites  and allow  other dealers  to go without.
 Granted, the Portfolio will  increase Atari's  name recognition,  but will
 this added  recognition aid  or hurt computer sales and Atari's chances at
 being taken seriously in the computer marketplace.

     This, the last quarter of 1989,  will  either  prove  or  disprove the
 overall reliability  of Atari's  plans and  promises.   Especially when it
 comes to keeping the  release dates  of the  new gear  relatively on time.
 Smart money  sez Stacy won't be until next year sometime...  the STE well,
 we will wait and see on this, the so-called Amiga  Killer.   Seems CBM has
 some pretty  slick plans  of their own.  Again, smart money sez BOTH Apple
 and CBM will flat outdo Atari on all fronts for this holiday  season as in
 the  past.    We  certainly  would  appreciate seeing the opposite, but in
 refecting on the statements made by Sam Tramiel in the  most recent online
 conference and  looking at what has actually come to pass... well, you can
 draw your own conclusions.  It  would appear  we are  heading back  to the
 mushroom patch again.

                                        Thanks for your support!
                                                  Ralph...





                             "ATARI IS BACK?"

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


                    :HOW TO GET YOUR OWN GENIE ACCOUNT:
                     _________________________________

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

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


                THE GENIE ATARI ST ROUNDTABLE - AN OVERVIEW
                ___________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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



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



 > CPU REPORT
   ==========
  
   Issue # 33
   ----------


 by Michael Arthur


 Remember When....

     In 1984, when the Mac was first introduced,  there was  little support
 for terminal  programs, with  only a faulty low-level serial driver in the
 Mac's 64K ROMs to  aid in  development, and  when a  CompuServe user named
 Dennis Brothers  gained renown for writing the first Mac terminal program,
 called MACTEP, to show the Mac world how to interface a Mac with a modem?
   

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

           Atari's Future:  The Fate of the Year of the Atari ST
           -----------------------------------------------------


     In the history of the computer industry, many  a company  has ventured
 its fortunes upon a certain product or innovation which showed the promise
 of providing potential, with superb virtues not yet realized in  a certain
 aspect of  the industry.  However, due to the market's competitive nature,
 many of these products and  companies  now  belong  to  the  ages,  each a
 reminder of  some great  truth unrealized  by its  protagonist(s).  In the
 microcomputer industry there are many examples  of this  occuring, with as
 many causes.   Often,  one can  find where  obsolescence, greed, or unwise
 actions caused a product like Visicalc, Wordstar, or CP/M to become only a
 memory.  But often one finds that, while in hindsight, the causes of these
 products' demise  were quite  avoidable, there  was little  warning at the
 time....

     However, a  few other  products and  innovations survived the computer
 industry's unrelenting nature, causing them, and their protagonists  to be
 recognized, accepted,  and even  praised for  a time.   As in the previous
 cases, there are also  similarities  in  these  successes.   Interestingly
 enough, these  similarities do NOT necessarily include great capabilities,
 potential, or present popularity.  In fact, among the best  cases, such as
 Microsoft, Apple,  and even  IBM, success has depended more on the ability
 to best fit an  unoccupied, though  important niche  in the  industry.  In
 order  for  a  product  to  do  this, great capabilities and potential ARE
 necessary, but even more important are  good public  knowledge and opinion
 about the  product, providing  for all  aspects of demand for the product,
 and the ability to act quickly  in  meeting  the  needs  of  the product's
 Userbase.   These requirements  are often  most difficult  when a computer
 company wishes to make parts of its computer line a success....

     In all of this, Atari Corporation could be considered a paradox in the
 microcomputer industry.   Once,  in its first incarnation, Atari's success
 was claimed by a product caled the 2600.   Nolan  Bushnell, this product's
 protagonist, then sold Atari to Warner Brothers, where it became a billion
 dollar success, partly due to a person named Jay Miner.  But how is this a
 paradox, you  may ask.   At  this time, all of this was typical of Silicon
 Valley success stories.  However, this was also  the time  where Atari was
 to stray from the beaten path....

     Due to  ignorance, greed,  and other things which have destroyed other
 computer companies in the past, Atari fell from  the heights  of greatness
 to utter  bankruptcy.  Interestingly enough, Jack Tramiel, the protagonist
 of the company that  ensured Atari's  downfall, snatched  the company from
 the jaws  of defeat,  and staked  its comeback on a new product called the
 Atari ST.  And while the Atari ST met all of the  qualities of  a success,
 and Jack  Tramiel had  proven himself  a very competent businessman in the
 past, a great obstacle before Atari  was  the  fact  that  VERY  few major
 computer companies  had ever  again become a success after they had fallen
 from the race.  But as time went on, Atari  Corporation began  to disprove
 this stigma,  by first  rebuilding Atari's reputation, and then making the
 Atari ST a success worldwide....


            But then, the stigma began a counter-offensive....


     Suddenly, within a year's  time,  Atari  went  from  making  the  ST a
 growing standard  in Europe  and the US, as well as posing a deadly threat
 to Mac/IBM supremacy, to buying Federated, a chain  of 65  bankrupt stores
 in the  American Southwest,  for 65  million dollars, eventually posting a
 loss of over $125 million dollars, and almost ruining the gains the ST had
 made in the US while it increased its foothold in Europe.  But perhaps the
 most drastic change was  that  Atari's  Userbase,  once  fanatical  in its
 support  for  the  ST,  holding  almost  unyielding devotion to Atari, was
 alienated to the extent  that its  spirit was,  if not  broken completely,
 VERY much disillusioned....

     In 1989,  realizing that  all of Atari's gains may soon become forever
 lost, Sam Tramiel  endeavored  to  undertake  a  daring  campaign  of both
 recapturing the  gains the  Atari ST had made earlier, therefore restoring
 much of the Atari Userbase's earlier  devotion, and  to set  the stage for
 Atari's products  to become  standards wherever they reached.  However, as
 we all know, engineering the resurgence of Atari was to  be a  FAR greater
 task than  he had  expected, as  Sam's earlier  goal of  setting this into
 motion by Early Summer was not to be met.   But even  news of  Atari's new
 directions heartened  the Atari  Userbase, as  anticipation for the future
 helped both its spirit, and Sam's Cause.  Now, as September arrives, Sam's
 plans are  near fruition,  as the  resurgence of  Atari is said to be mere
 weeks in occurring.  And now, as the Decade of the Microcomputer  draws to
 a close,  the time for Atari's resurgence is running out.  Therefore, this
 Essay has been written, to serve  a dual  purpose:   To serve  as an aide,
 however  flawed,  in  helping  Atari  to  have  the foresight necessary to
 fulfill Sam's Cause.  And, if Sam Tramiel's cause does  not show  signs of
 succeeding by Early 1990, to serve as a final epitaph for a paradox of the
 computer industry....



    A Treatise on the Concept of a National ST Developer's Association
    ------------------------------------------------------------------

     When the Macintosh came out in  1984,  oddly  enough,  it  wasn't that
 popular, as  not many  people recognized  the new innovations that it had,
 and as there was little software to show the world  its capabilities.   To
 compound this,  the Mac's  operating system and ROM Toolbox were difficult
 to program for, and as software developers struggled  to make applications
 for  it,  the  Mac's  future  looked grim indeed.  Recognizing this, Apple
 started working closely with  their software  developers, paying attention
 to their  needs, addressing their problems, and providing what is possibly
 the best Developer Support a single computer has ever known.

     As a  result, many  software companies  started to  make Mac software,
 causing  key  products  like  Microsoft Excel, Pagemaker, and Hypercard to
 make the Macintosh an emerging standard,  with loyal  developers more than
 willing  to  help  continue  that  growth.   Also, the cooperation between
 developers enabled Apple to develop  innovations  for  the  Macintosh much
 faster than usual, further contributing to the Mac's success.

     When the  Atari ST  first came  out, the  Macintosh's innovations were
 beginning to be recognized, and there was much praise and appreciation for
 its speed,  versatility, and potential.  Some even called it the successor
 to the Macintosh, as it combined all of the Mac's features with  many that
 the Mac didn't have then, such as color, sound, and a MIDI interface.

     There was,  of course,  a great  demand for  the ST's.   Especially in
 Europe, where the ST quickly  became  the  top  selling  computer,  and an
 emerging standard.   One  of the  things that  made the ST so popular back
 then is that it wasn't as  difficult to  develop powerful  software for as
 the Macintosh  had been.  But, as in all new systems, programmers did have
 a rough time fully utilizing  the  ST's  features,  and  Developer Support
 became as  necessary as  ever.   In the  beginning, Atari began to support
 them VERY well, both with the Developer's Kit, and with the online network
 of support found in services like Compuserve and GEnie.  And as developers
 began to flock to the ST, Atari's future looked bright indeed.

     However, as Atari's fortunes plumetted in 1988, the  Developer Support
 network that  Atari had  setup began to fall apart.  Soon its state was so
 awful that ST Developers began to  complain loudly  that Atari's Developer
 Support was so faulty that its benefits seemed to end once they got the ST
 Developer's Kit.  As this situation worsened, things became VERY rough for
 ST Software  Companies, many of whom either had to make products for other
 computers, or leave the ST world altogether.   This further  helped worsen
 Atari's decline.   It  is obvious  then, how  Sam Tramiel's committment to
 restoring the Atari ST's good fortunes were to ST Developers like water to
 a man in the desert....

     But as Sam Tramiel's efforts continued, it became apparent that Atari,
 committed to  many  other  aspects  of  its  resurgence,  didn't  have the
 manpower or  resources to truly revive ST Developer Support.  With Atari's
 Support beginning to falter,  many ST  Developers are  now looking outward
 for assistance.   I  submit that  they should look inward, to the greatest
 resource that ST Developers, ultimately, depend on:  Themselves....


 Hence, the concept of a... 

                "NATIONAL ATARI ST DEVELOPERS' ASSOCIATION"

     If the collective genius we define as Atari ST Developers were to form
 an independent  association dedicated  to providing  any support needed by
 any and all ST Developers, then many vital needs of both Atari  and the ST
 Developer Community would be met:

       -  ST Developers would have an independent source from which to
          obtain constant, reliable, and vital information about any aspect
          of Atari's products, much of which only experienced ST Developers
          could articulate.

       -  ST Developers could have a powerful organization to represent
          them with  Atari.  Developers would have a much better ability to
          voice their demands and wishes to  Atari if  such an organization
          existed.

       -  Atari would have a VERY good (free) resource through which to
          handle general  Developer Support needs, so it can concentrate on
          providing specific, one-on-one, private  assistance to Developers
          for specific, or necessarily secret aspects of their projects.




         Implementation and Goals of an ST Developers Association
         --------------------------------------------------------


      The goals of a National ST Developers' Association would be to:

 1) PROVIDE A DATABASE OF INFORMATION ON ALL ASPECTS OF ATARI COMPUTERS
    FOR NEW DEVELOPERS TO DRAW ON

     One main  complaint that  current ST  Developers have against Atari is
 that their level of support stops at the Developers' Kit.   While  this is
 hopefully not  the case, it indicates that new developers often do not get
 the type of necessary info on the ST, both on  the ST's  schematics, which
 are necessary for most hardware products, and in the special ways that the
 various functions and features of TOS can be used, that they often require
 for developing innovative products for the ST.

     An ST  Developers Assocation  would be a self-sufficient arena through
 which ST Developers themselves would constitute  a network  of programmers
 providing the type of support, guidance, and expertise to newcomers in the
 ST Developer Community, that, in many cases, only independent, experienced
 programmers themselves  could provide.   For example, while Atari would be
 able to solve some problems that  Developers may  have, only  a programmer
 experienced in the various aspects of ST/TT/ATW programming may be able to
 provide the info necessary for a programmer's specific need.  And an Atari
 ST Developer's Association would have the best capability of helping these
 developers, who would otherwise have to "reinvent the wheel, get  in touch
 with other Developers who could best help them.

     Also, an  Atari ST Developer's Association (or ASTDA, for short) could
 help convince companies who  currently develop  hardware and  software for
 other  computers,  such  as  Borland  and  Electronic Arts, that making ST
 Software would be profitable for them....


 2)  SERVE AS AN ORGANIZATION FOR ESTABLISHING APPLICATION STANDARDS,
     AND IN ORGANIZING DEVELOPERS FOR IMPORTANT PROJECTS

     An ASTDA would serve as a very good forum for  ST/TT/ATW Developers to
 establish  unifying  standards  for  applications.   For example, an ASTDA
 could  help  Developers  certify   standard  file   formats  for   ST  DTP
 applications, designate certain rules and protocols for ST Applications to
 be capable of running  on Local  Area Networks  (which would  help both ST
 Software makers and ST LAN Vendors), or many other areas where cooperation
 would  better  help  the  advancement   of   ST   Software   than  healthy
 competition....

     Also, some  ST Developers  have said  that an  ASTDA would be an ideal
 place for ST Developers to  organize,  in  order  to  perform collectively
 projects which any one ST Developer could not hope of doing.  For example,
 some Developers have suggested that an  ASTDA could  develop a "SuperTOS",
 combining the  graphics efficiency of a Turbo ST, the user-friendliness of
 a NeoDesk, the Multitasking  TOS  Kernel  and  interprocess communications
 facilities of  an MT  C-Shell or Micro RTX, and the TOS Enhancement skills
 of a CodeHead product.  After developing "SuperTOS", an ASTDA could either
 sell it  like any other application, license it to Atari for a fortune, or
 do other things to finance its becoming a more "traditional" organization.

     In fact, members of an ASTDA  could organize  in an  effort to totally
 cripple ST  Software Piracy,  make ST GEM applications more GEM-compliant,
 or any of a number of things which would help both Atari and the  state of
 the Atari ST....


 3)  ACT AS AN INTERMEDIARY, IN ORDER TO BOTH BE A RESOURCE FOR ATARI
     TO DISTRIBUTE GENERAL DEVELOPER INFO, AND TO BE A LIASON BETWEEN ATARI
     AND THE DEVELOPERS

     One of  the complaints  about Atari's Developer Support system is that
 it gives out vital information in only one place (like  the TT's  specs in
 Germany), instead  of trying to give the information to all ST Developers,
 wherever they may be.  While this is a valid  complaint, it  is also valid
 that Atari may not have a large enough Developer Support system to achieve
 such an objective.  An Atari ST Developers' Association could  EASILY help
 alleviate  much  of  the  load  currently on Atari's Dev Support system by
 serving as a way for Atari to dissemminate  general information pertaining
 or  vital  to  ST/TT/ATW  Developers,  such as hardware specs for an Atari
 computer, or update information on GDOS functions.

     Combined with Atari's normal methods, this  would not  only help Atari
 reach more  Developers than  it would  otherwise, but Atari could then use
 its Developer  Support resources  where they  are best  suited:  Providing
 one-on-one assistance to Developers for specific aspects of their projects
 which need to be  confidential.   Atari's Dev  Support system  could serve
 this  purpose  perfectly,  as  all  ST  Developers  often need support and
 information for difficult parts of their program, which  often HAVE  to be
 kept secret  in order  for that application to be a success.  For example,
 while any developer could harmlessly ask  an  ASTDA  for  info  on  how to
 access GDOS,  a programmer  working on  a Spectrum  4096 for the Atari STe
 would want to keep some things secret.  In fact, the committment that such
 support may  entail would,  in itself, be a gesture of goodwill towards ST
 Developers,  for  which  it  could  prove  necessary  while  developing  a
 ground-breaking or revolutionary application.


              Implementing an Atari ST Developers Association
              -----------------------------------------------

     Since most  ST Software Developers don't have the time or resources to
 organize such an Association in person, but often use Online Services like
 GEnie, CompuServe,  or Usenet  to meet, the logical way for an ASTDA to be
 formed is for a Real-Time Conference  to  be  scheduled  in  a  place like
 GEnie, where  the bulk  of interested ST Developers could work together in
 forming an ST  Developer's  Association,  discussing  the  details  of its
 operation, and setting the stage for later Real-Time Conferences to hammer
 out all of the various aspects of a  Developer's Association,  including a
 set of  guidelines and  rules, getting  ST Developers who would be able to
 serve as the Organizational heads  of  the  association,  and establishing
 areas  to  represent  the  Atari ST Developer's Association on CompuServe,
 GEnie, Usenet, or any other place  where a  large number  of ST Developers
 would meet regularly.

     However, it shouldn't be too much to hope that two things will be held
 sacred by any such endeavor:  One is that the  ASTDA be  democratic in its
 decision-making,  in  order  that  bureaucracy,  political infighting, and
 other undesirable dealings may be avoided.  The  other is  that a National
 ST Developers'  Conference be  held every year, so all members of an ASTDA
 can meet in person, in order to tackle important or vital issues in a more
 suitable arena.   A  VERY good  place for such a Convention would be at an
 AtariFest, or 2 - 3 days after a Spring or Winter Comdex,  since a  lot of
 ST Developers  normally go  to such events anyway, and would only suffer a
 minor inconvienence if they stayed a few more days to  participate in such
 an event.   An  Atari ST  Developers' Association  would serve many useful
 purposes, not only to ST Developers  themselves, but  to Atari Corporation
 as well.   In  fact, such an organization would truly be revolutionary, in
 that it would show a sign of sincere unity which  is often  lacking in the
 computer industry....


     In  Part  I,  this  essay  dealt  with  the  necessity  of, and issues
 surrounding  the  formation  of  an  independent  National  ST Developers'
 Association.  In another segment, Atari's policies and probable strategies
 will be discussed, in order to both determine what they  may be,  and what
 they should be....


 Ponder, if you will, these questions:

 1)  Even if Atari implemented near-perfect strategies in its committment
     to make the ST the standard in the low-end of the US Market, how long
     would it  take for  the US  ST Userbase  to appreciate  any actions by
     Atari?

 2)  What directions should Atari take with the ST, TT, and EST?

 3)  How would Atari's Developer Support system change if an independent
     ST Developers Association was formed?




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


 San Francisco, CA   In an interesting show of unity, Apple and Microsoft
 -----------------   have announced that they will introduce PMScript, a
                     clone of Adobe's Postscript page description language,
                     at the Seybold Computer Publishing Conference.  Apple
                     will be licensing PMScript from Bauer Enterprises, its
                     developer, for use in its LaserWriter printers.

                     Given Microsoft's support of this attempt to demolish
                     Adobe's dominance of the DTP industry, and given that
                     PMScript will probably be licensed to many of the
                     vendors now selling Postscript-compatible printers, if
                     PMScript if a quality product, it may mean the virtual
                     end of Adobe Systems.  However, given that IBM, DEC,
                     and even the OSF are showing interest in Display
                     Postscript....

 Cupertino, CA       Apple is in the process of introducing their line of
 -------------       Macintosh Laptops, as well as the Macintosh IIci, a
                     25 MHZ Mac, for Late September.  The basic model  of  
                     the Mac  Laptop, using  an 8 MHZ 68000, will have a 40
                     Meg Hard Drive , 1 Meg of SIMM RAM, and 256K Mac ROMs,
                     while the high-end model will have up to 4 Megs of RAM
                     and an 80 Meg Hard Disk.  All models will have a Mac
                     SE expansion slot, and run about 6-8 hours without
                     recharging. Cost: $3500.00 for the Basic Laptop, and
                     around $6500.00 for the High-End model.

                     The Macintosh IIci, a 25 MHZ version of the Macintosh
                     IIx, will come with 6 NuBus Expansion Slots, and will
                     have a VLSI video controller chip capable of providing
                     8-Bit Color as standard.  Cost:  Around $10,000....

 New York, NY        David and Gregory Chudnovsky, the same Columbia
 -----------         University Professors who set a record for calculating
                     the mathematical constant PI to 480 million places,
                     have reset their own record.  Using an algorithm
                     designed for use in IBM's new Scratchpad math
                     computation system (using an IBM 3090 supercomputer),
                     they have figured PI to a number over 1 billion places
                     large.  Interestingly enough, since they used their
                     old calculations of PI (instead of starting from
                     scratch) to achieve this in 3 months, the Chudnovsky
                     brothers may be setting a new record by Christmas....

 Fremont, CA         NeXT Inc. has recently announced that it is shipping
 -----------         Version 1.0 of the NeXT Operating System.  Also, it
                     seems that NeXT is developing a 68040-based upgrade of
                     the NeXT System's motherboard, for release as early as
                     the First Quarter of 1990....






   _____________________________________________________________________



 > BLOODWYCH  STR Review   Double Your Pleasure! Double your Fun!
   =====================




                                             Bloodwych = 2 X Dungeon Master
                                             ==============================



 by Bill Pike (PAC)
 review copy loaned by IB Computers

     The stage is set by a  evil magician  banishing the  good magicians to
 the astral plane and getting ready to take over the world.  Your task, and
 you better accept it, is to  find each  of the  crystals of  power and use
 them to  destroy the  evil magician.  Know you that the good magicians are
 with you, abet from the astral plane.

     The graphics are excellent and the animations are very good and almost
 as  complex  as  with  DungonMaster  from  FTL.  The game is a little less
 complex, but not much  (you do  need to  give up  a little  for having two
 players).   You still  have locked  doors, secret  doors, traps, treasure,
 food, equipment, monsters, ect. 

     The  program  plays  much  like  DungonMaster  from  FTL  with  a  few
 exceptions.   #1 You  and your  friend can play two different parties with
 different characters in either the same or different areas of  the dungeon
 at the  same time with no loss of speed.  The game can also be played with
 one player.  #2 You don't have to experiment to ferret out  the spells for
 the magic  users in  the party.   #3  All players can use magic to varying
 degrees of success.  #4 You start out with one character and you find the 
 rest with-in the dungeon.  #5  A major  part of  the quest  is interacting
 with   non-player   characters   ie:   buying/selling,   recruiting  other
 characters, praising, boasting, lying, and so forth.  #6 You also have the
 option of  replacing deceased  characters from  those you meet, if you can
 persuade them to join your party rather than attacking it.   #7  Did I say
 you, can  and should  save the  game from  time to time?  Well you can and
 should! 

     If you are playing the game  in the  ONE player  mode I  would suggest
 using the  mouse for objects and the cursor keys for movement, even though
 this doesn't allow for stepping diagonally forward.  If you are in the TWO
 player  mode  you  will  be  forced  to use joysticks, this makes things a
 little harder.  In the TWO player mode each player  starts in  a different
 area of  the dungeon and they move independently of each other, eventually
 you could run into each other.   Is  the  party  ahead  controlled  by the
 computer  or  is  it  your  friend's?    This  makes  for some interesting
 interactions,  do  you  battle,  join  forces,  make  alliances,  buy/sell
 equipment, pool information and/or resources or go your separate ways. 

     The spells  use MANA  from each  character depending on how much power
 the spell uses and how much extra  power  is  put  into  the  spell.   You
 recover MANA  by not  being in  combat (slow)  or resting  (fast). As each
 character, in your party, gains experience and the  party stops  to sleep,
 the SPELL  FAIRY appears and will sell each member a new spell( no money =
 no spell).  There are basically four classes of characters,  each with the
 spells that  it does  best, however  any character may use any type spell.
 It does come in handy to write down the spells each character has as 
 they get them.  You can also put as much  power in  the spell  as you have
 MANA  for,  above  a  minimum  level  for the spell. You don't have to mix
 potions to make the spells, they are in your spell book.  Also you may use
 each spell  you have  as many  times as you have MANA for, you don't loose
 the spell by using it.

     You have the option of selecting your basic character from a roster of
 characters.   You also  have the  option of a quick entry that gives you a
 fairly well equipped basic  character.   Once you  are in  the dungeon you
 will meet  other characters.   You  need to  talk to them and then, if you
 wish, you can try buying items or recruiting them to join your party.  You
 may  also  find  the  need  to  release  a member of the party in order to
 recruit a member that fits the party makeup better.  But don't  do this to
 much as  the other  recruits opinion  of you  will lower.  Also be sure to
 praise your recruits when they do good.  Also make  sure you  rest enough.
 If you  don't, sure as chopping, you are going to run into a set of nastys
 that will make you wish you had. You  should also  keep everyone  well fed
 and watered for obvious reasons.

     People say  that good things come in small packages, in this case they
 are right.  Bloodwych from Image  Works  comes  in  a  small  package both
 physically  and  on  a  single  disk.  The documentation comes in English,
 German,  Italian,  Spanish  and  is  quite  well  written,  even  I  could
 understand it.   The  cost is  a little  heavy at  appox. $50, however the
 price is well worth it.  I feel that this game will  become as  popular as
 DungeonMaster from  FTL, if  not more  so.   Besides if  your youngster is
 giving you a bad time you can cream him at his own game. Ha! Ha! 



              ---------========************========--------- 

  


                                 BLOODWYCH
                            CHARACTER PROFILES

               SPADES - Fighters             CLUBS - Mages
               HEARTS - Adventurers          DIAMONDS- Archers

          NAME      ARMOUR  SP  ST  IN  HP  AG  CH  Spells Known
          ----      ------  --  --  --  --  --  --  ------------
          STERNAXE    8    8    34  16  35  23  11  BEGUILE
          LION        8    7    34  14  32  26  13  MISSILE  {FIGHTERS}
          SLAEMORE    7    7    34  15  37  21  13  DEFLECT
          STONEMAIDEN 5    6    35  13  35  17  13  ARMOUR

          DARKHEART   10   23   19  38  18  23  14  TERROR/DEFLECT{MAGES}
          RUNECASTER  10   21   19  35  16  22  20  MISSILE/MAGELOCK
          MOONWYCH    10   22   16  36  17  24  17  BEGUILE/CONFUSE
          MANTRIC     10   19   18  31  17  23  19  ARMOUR/PARALYZE

          ELEANOR     9    9    24  19  24  19  35  MAGELOCK
          BALDRIC     9    9    24  18  25  19  39  BEGUILE
          SETHRA      7    10   23  21  24  18  36  ARMOUR {ADVENTURERS}
          HENGIST     9    11   25  23  26  20  35  DEFLECT

          ROSANNE     10   7    16  14  24  32  18  CONFUSE
          ELFRIC      10   9    16  19  23  31  18  PARALYZE
          MR. FLAY    6    10   13  20  20  32  11  TERROR {ARCHERS}
          THAI CHANG  9    8    18  16  22  36  15  MISSILE {ASSASSINS}
              





    __________________________________________________________________
  
  
  
 > Expectations    STR FOCUS
    A serious view of current Atari events..
   ========================= 
  
  

 ctsy GEnie RT


                                                       Expectations...
                                                       ===============


 by Jim Jenkins


     Every one of us  has expectations  of the  firms we  do business with.
 Since each  of us  is different, it is only natural to assume there are as
 many different expectations as there  are  customers.    Consumer oriented
 firms  must  respond  to  RATIONAL  expectations  in  a reasonable manner,
 otherwise, we will take our business elsewhere.

     Recently, while discussing expectations about a certain firm,  I found
 myself on  the defensive.  I accused my friend of irrational expectations,
 demands and attitudes about the company.  And then I began to  think about
 it... 

 What should you expect from "the company?"

     Expect  self-preservation.    Policy  and  procedures  must be made to
 preserve the corporate body.  Failure to do so means  they will  not exist
 when you  need them.   If  you want  them to be there for you, then expect
 them to make policies and procedures  which will  insure they  will.  And,
 you must "be there for them."

     Expect  the  company  to  make  a  "normal" profit.  Failure to make a
 normal profit contradicts the  first  expectation.    A  company  does not
 attract or retain shareholders unless it makes a reasonable profit.  Every
 organization has  profit  centers  and  cost  centers.    The  myopic view
 eliminates  "cost  centers"  and  creates  "profit centers" which maximize
 profits  by  charging  "what  the  traffic  will  bear."    Losses  occur,
 especially in  service centers,  but these losses are normally balanced by
 an allowance in the  normal mark-up.   The  necessary mark-up  on products
 must include other costs such as marketing, warranty service, and research
 and development.  So, if you want the company to make a normal profit, you
 must be willing to pay for my expectations.  

     Expect a  professional attitude  from the  board of directors and that
 the same attitude will permeate  the  entire  organization.   Professional
 attitude is  a combination  of understanding the products and the goals of
 the  company,  and  consistent  attempts  to  satisfy  the  needs  of  the
 cust^S^Qomer.    If  you  expect  the  "company" to display a professional
 attitude, you must  be  willing  to  act  professionally.    Part  of this
 professional attitude  is mutual  respect.   Any firm  must respect to its
 customer base. (And its  dealer  base.)    Respect  does  not  mean unwise
 policies  biased  toward  the  customer.   Respect does mean a responsible
 attempt by the company to meet the needs of the customers (and dealers) in
 light  of  self-preservation  and  normal  profits.    It  is  not callous
 attitudes  toward   these  persons.     Respect  is  based  on  trust  and
 information.

     Expect credibility in a  company.   The company  must release reliable
 information to  meet the  needs of the consumer, and the consumer must not
 encourage rumor by stating opinion and half-truth as if it is fact.  Press
 releases  and  news  conferences  must  not be a source of disinformation.
 Constant delays and  announcements  for  products  which  never  reach the
 market destroy confidence.
   
     Expect  research  and  product  development.   Technology which stands
 still is destined for obscurity.  Product revisions must be made available
 to the  installed customer base, but only within the limits established by
 these other expectations.   New products  and innovations  which cannot be
 classed  as  revisions  must  also  be developed.  Upward compatibility is
 desireable in new products,  but if  you must  change, don't  abandon your
 older products.   Since  you want both revisions and innovations, you must
 be prepared to buy both.

     These expectations are  reasonable.    Any  firm  which  ignores these
 points is  destined to  fail.   Often it is difficult to make observations
 which are  neither  biased  nor  emotional.    Perhaps  by  applying these
 expectations to  our observations  we can better understand what is taking
 place.

     Why don't you advertise more?  The most  powerful form  of advertising
 today is  the television.   The  media executives realize this, and charge
 accordingly.    An  advertising  campaign  must   either  be   massive  or
 consistent.  National rates for "prime" advertising spots are so high that
 millions of dollars must be spent to achieve recognition. If a two million
 dollar advertising campaign is implemented, then two million  dollars must
 be added to the cost of the products.  Raising prices is a difficult task,
 especially if you are trying to be a price leader.   And  advertising more
 will  mean  raising  prices.    Since an efficient company will operate at
 lowest  possible production cost, selling  more does  not increase  profit
 margin, just total revenues.  When we ask for more  advertising, aren't we
 asking for higher prices?

     Why  do  you  constantly  announce  products  which you don't deliver?
 Research and development can carry  technology  beyond  the  capability to
 deliver   at   a   reasonable   cost.    Proto-typing  is  expensive,  but
 manufacturing  something  that  will  not  sell  is  even  more expensive.
 Because a  production line  requires a  minimum quantity be manufactured a
 market must exist  before  a  product  is  made.    Product announcements,
 industry wide, are made to help
 establish initial  production requirements.   If  the survey indicates the
 product will not be successful, then the product is shelved,  and only the
 R&D cost for proto-typing is lost.

     Why can't  you offer trade-in upgrades to newer products?  Anybody can
 offer a trade, but if we accept these expectations, the company must break
 even (make  a normal  profit) on the trade.  Depreciation and obsolescence
 must be accounted for, as should be the value derived from your use of the
 product.    Subtract  about  30%  from a realistic purchase price for used
 equipment, and you have  the  approximate  trade  value  against suggested
 RETAIL price.   Dealers  may offer  trades, but VERY FEW manufacturers do.
 Trade  value varies according  to what you buy and  "what you pay" for the
 new merchandise.  If we ask manufactures to offer us direct trade-ins, are
 we going  to be  happy with  their offer?   I  doubt it.   And, will we be
 satisfied when you local dealer invites you to  get your  service directly
 from the manufacturer?


              And now, I leave you to evaluate "the company"


 About the author; Jim Jenkins

 Partner, Jenkins' Computer Store
 Atari and IBM Compatables
 9348 Dyer St.
 El Paso, TX 79924
 (915) 751-6938

 Instructor, Computer Information Systems 
 Univ of Texas at El Paso
 Management Department
 El Paso, TX 79902





      ______________________________________________________________
  
  
  
 > DEVELOPER IRKED! STR SOUND OFF   Yet another Developer sees the 'light'
   ============================== 
  
  
        I think  a CERTAIN person should find a new line of work!  Since he
 seems to HATE his current job, it appears to be more of a contest  to pi**
 off third  party vendors  than to take pride in designing a really bang up
 system.  Frankly, I love this work and I love designing electronics/SW, it
 is foreign to me how anyone could go through life doing something he hates
 so much.  It would be like me trying to earn a living driving in Boston; I
 would hate it so much I would spend my day scheming to screw other drivers
 over rather than concentrating on doing  a  good  job  driving  and taking
 pride in what I do. 

                      You know who you are... RETIRE!



 Editor Note;

     This  editor  has,  for  some  time,  observed pretty much the same as
 described above.  The difference being,  our experiences  and observations
 have been more of a first hand nature.  We nicknamed the person alluded to
 in the above passage "The CHEF" and rightfully so.   He proudly recommends
 his favorite culinary delight to all his "friends".





       _____________________________________________________________




 > Atari Stock ~ STReport   Ah yes, the sweet smell of new money...
   ======================


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


 by Glenn Gorman



    Atari Stock  rose 1/4  of a  point on  Monday, up  1 1/4 on Tuesday. On
 Wednesday it dropped 7/8 and rose 1/2 on  Thursday. Finishing  up the week
 at 12 points. Up 1 1/8 points from our last report.





                          +---------------------+
                          |  ATARI STOCK WATCH  |
                          | Week 09-11 to 09-15 |
 +=======+==========+===========+=============+============+=============+
 |       |  Monday  |  Tuesday  |  Wednesday  |  Thursday  |  Friday     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Sales |    6279  |    13505  |      13243  |      4827  |    2124     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Last  |  11 1/8  |   12 3/8  |     11 1/2  |    12 ---  |  12 ---     |
 +-------+----------+-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+
 | Chg.  |  +  1/4  |   +1 1/4  |     -  7/8  |    +  1/2  |  ------     |
 +=======+==========+===========+=============+============+=============+
 | From > THE CAVE ST BBS <> 609-882-9195 <> 300/14400 HST <> F-NET #351 |
 +=======================================================================+






  ______________________________________________________________________




 > PC SPEED! STR Spotlight   Michtron's NEW and shipping, PC Emulator!
   =======================



                                 PC Speed
                                 ========

     Run programs written for the IBM PC on your Atari ST at the speed they
 were intended!

     Almost everyone knows of the ST's ability to imitate other computers
 like the Macintosh and  IBM PC's,  but the  common complaint  has been the
 grindingly slow speed of software emulation.

                            Well, wait no more!

     PC  Speed  gives  every  ST  the  ability to emulate an IBM PC through
 hardware, not software, offering a fantastic increase in speed!

     PC Speed runs with a Norton factor of 4, which is 33%  faster than the
 advertised Norton  factor of  3 of  PC Ditto  II.  In the real world, this
 means that PC Speed is nearly 3 times faster than an IBM XT, comparable to
 an IBM AT.

             * Best of all, we are ready to ship to you now! *

     The affordable  cost will  amaze you.   You can have two computers, an
 Atari ST and an  IBM PC  Compatible computer,  for slightly  more than the
 cost of your ST.  Convert your 520, 1040, Mega 2 or Mega 4 computer into a
 state of the art multi-processor computer.

     PC Speed runs on a monochrome monitor, imitating Hercules graphics, or
 use your color monitor to imitate a CGA system.

     Since PC  Speed is hardware, it requires some installation.  While the
 installation is not difficult, the ST must be opened and some soldering is
 required.  A person with some knowledge of the internal environment of the
 ST could install PC Speed in about 10-15 minutes.

        It simply "piggy-backs" onto the ST's 68000 microprocessor.

                             Technical Specifications

                                :PC Speed:
                                ==========

              uses the NEC V30, 8 Mhz Microprocessor, Zero Wait State

              runs at a Norton SI Rating of 4.0

              supports Monochrome and Color Monitors with IBM Hercules and
              CGA graphic emulation.

              can be used with any ST (520, 1040, Mega 2 or Mega 4).

              supports all Hard Disks that use the ST's DMA Port and the
              Atari Hard Disk Driver.

              supports external drives (both 3 1/2 and 5 1/4 inch).

              supports the Serial Port at up to 2400 Baud.

              fully supports the Parallel Port.

              allows access of up to 704K of RAM.




                             :Memory Location:
                             =================

              0h-3FFFFh for a 520ST (256K of DOS memory)

              0h-AFFFFh for a 1040 ST or Mega (704K of DOS memory)

              B0000h-BFFFFh CGA-HGC Screen Memory

              C0000h-CFFFFh 64K of free memory for machines with one
              megabyte (or more) memory.

     PC Speed runs as fast as an IBM AT, and four times faster than  an IBM
 XT (running at 4.77 Mhz).  This means you have an Atari ST and a very fast
 IBM compatible computer, capable of running  MS-DOS Software  at the speed
 it was intended to run.

     The MS-DOS  system can be saved on a Hard disk partition, and PC Speed
 can be booted from this partition.

             :The following floppy disk formats are supported:
             -------------------------------------------------
                    180KB   40 Tracks       Single-Sided
                    360KB   40 Tracks       Double-Sided
                    360KB   80 Tracks       Single-Sided
                    720KB   80 Tracks       Double-Sided

      Software Updates:
      -----------------
     Periodically, software updates will  become available.   The following
 improvements are being developed and will be released in the near future:

                         EGA Monochrome Emulation
                    Atari SLM 804 Laserprinter support
                         Support of the Midi Port
                 Extended Memory Driver for Mega computers
          Connection of an External PC keyboard via the Midi Port
              8087 emulation with the 68881 Math Co-processor
                          Fast CPM 8080 Emulation


                                 PC Speed
                                 ========

                     Available NOW for only $399.95!!

         See your local Dealer or call us for more details today!


                           To place your order;

                    Call MichTron at: (313) 334-5700  
                     Please use Mastercard or Visa.  
                       Prepaid orders filled first.





    ___________________________________________________________________



 > TT in the UK! STR Spotlight   The "TT" is announced in the UK.
   ===========================



                   ATARI UK ANNOUNCES A FULL TT SERIES; 



     According to  Bob Gleadow,  Atari UK managing director, Atari is about
 to aggressively launch  its  range  of  TT  workstations,  along  with its
 existing business PC series, into 1990.

     The expenditure of UK Pounds: 750,000 for a full advertising campaign,
 expounding all of Atari's computer products, begins next month in  the UK.
 Additionally,  Atari  has  disclosed  plans  to  split its UK business and
 consumer divisions into two separate operations.

                    Business Division = Atari ST/TT/ATW.
                    Consumer Division = Game Machines.

     Atari UK's revelation follows the announcement of the prototyped Atari
 608030 TT.   Displayed were The Atari 608030 TT range of Unix workstations
 at Dusseldorf on Aug. 25.  Gleadow confirmed that Atari  plans to  have at
 least three  models of  its TT  series of workstations available in the UK
 within the next two quarters.  The entry level TT, named the  PTP by Atari
 because of  its plastic case, comes with 2mb of RAM, 30mb hard disk, color
 monitor, a half height VME card and the new TOS.

     "The PTP will will sell for approx. UK Pounds 1,800 mark = $2700.00 US
 and  can  be  expanded  internally  to  support Unix.  The machine will be
 targeted standalone workstation market," Gleadow reported. 

     The PTP is another name for  the TTD,  the desktop  version of  the TT
 that a  'some' at Atari said wouldn't run Unix.  Actually, the only reason
 the PTP  cannot run  Unix is  that the  TT's Unix  requires 4mb  of RAM to
 work....

     A step  up is  the 4mb  unit whose  selling price  has yet  to be made
 public.  Essentially this will be the entry-level Unix workstation  in the
 TT series,"  he said.   "The  next machine  after the  PTP which will ship
 early next year is an 8mb  unit which  comes in  a tower  casing, complete
 with  Unix,  color  monitor  and  hard  disk.   It will sell for UK Pounds
 3,000," = $4500.00 US.  Atari  has enlisted  Unisoft and  Insignia, two UK
 software houses  that specialize  in Unix  software.   Unisoft ported AT&T
 Unix to the TT, and  Insignia  developed  Soft  PC,  a  software-based DOS
 emulator for Unix systems that runs on DEC and Sun workstations.... 

     "We fully anticipate having Soft PC available for the TT series by the
 first quarter of next year," said Gleadow. 

  
  


      ______________________________________________________________



 > ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL
   ======================


  
 - Sunnyvale, CA                     **** GAMEBOY vs LYNX?    Maybe..  ****
   -------------

     In a daring  attempt  to  compete  with  Nintendo's  firmly entrenched
 Gameboy  video  game,  Atari  Corporation  hopes  to launch the Lynx color
 portable entertainment  system in  the Japan  as early  as the  end of the
 year.   The retail price for the Lynx in Japan has not been announced yet.
 Atari is looking to market it through toy shops and  large discount shops.
 Also,  Atari  hopes  to  buy  software  titles  for the Lynx from Japanese
 software houses.  What happened to EPYX?  The Lynx  is a  small, cartridge
 fed game  machine with  a color  liquid crystal screen that shows up to 16
 colors from a palette of 4096 colors.   Atari ST  distributor Naniwa Gakki
 in Japan  has stated;  it will not distribute the Lynx because they handle
 music related electronics products only.  ..Interesting




 - Sunnyvale, CA                    **** EX FEDERATED EXECS NAIL ATARI ****
   -------------

     According to a ruling  by  Orange  County  Superior  Court  Judge Jack
 Mandel, Atari  must pay  almost a  half million dollars in back pay to two
 Federated Executives Atari had fired and held back salaries due them.     
 The favorable  ruling directs  payment to former Federated President Keith
 Powell ($260,000) and former Vice President Merrill Lyons ($175,000). 




 - New York City, NY             ****** SGS THOMPSON BUYS OUT INMOS! ******
   -----------------
  

     SGS-Thompson has purchased Inmos, maker  of  the  T800  transputer IC.
 The September  11 issue of EE Times reported that SGS has cut the price of
 the Transputer by two-thirds.  ($2 per MIP instead of $6 per  MIP).  Since
 the ATW  uses a  good deal  of these parts, that should help Atari get the
 product out with a relatively low price.  It also  uses copious quantities
 of RAM  and those  prices have plummeted in the RAM arena. Incidently, RAM
 is now about as cheap as it was 2 years ago... the all time low.   Now, if
 they could just get the software done. 






    __________________________________________________________________




 > STR NewsPlus
   ============
  
  
  
               EPYX ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTION FOR THE COMPANY
  
 Redwood City, CA., September 15, 1989
  
     Epyx Inc. announced today that the company is in the process of making
 an orderly transition from a publisher  of computer  software, who markets
 and  sells  it's  own  software,  to  a producer who develops software for
 affiliation and/or licensing with other software publishers.
  
     Epyx just recently  released  REVENGE  OF  DEFENDER  and  continues to
 develop product for release in 1990; Ishido, the oriental game of strategy
 introduced at the  Summer  Consumer  Electronics  Show,  will  be released
 shortly.  The company also plans to continue their current product through
 the end of the year.
  
     "The NEW Epyx  will  be  positioned  to  take  full  advantage  of the
 expansive video  games industry,"  said Gilbert  K. Freeman, president and
 chief executive officer of Epyx.  "As would be expected, we also intend to
 develop and  license titles for the new Atari Lynx, which was designed and
 developed here at Epyx."

 For further Information contact: Noreen Lovoi, 1-415-368-3200
  
     STReport provides this release for a two fold purpose, first, to allow
 the users the opportunity to learn the "Epyx" story first hand and second,
 to dispel any rumors that may  have  a  tendency  develop  over  the large
 employee layoff at Epyx.  These events will have no effect what-so-ever on
 the contemplated shipping date for the Lynx at  the end  of October.   The
 userbase may  continue to count on seeing the Lynx in distribution for the
 holiday season, New York  and Los  Angeles   will be  first for Christmas,
 with more markets opening after the Christmas holidays.
 09/18/89 STR (c)89
  
  
  
  



 __________________________________________________________________




 > WAACE ATARI FEST STR NewsPlus   Usergroups helping Atari and the users.
   =============================




            Washington Area Atari Computer Enthusiasts (WAACE)
                          Fifth Annual Atarifest 
                  Scheduled for October 7th and 8th, 1989


     The Washington  Area Atari  Computer Enthusiasts (WAACE) has announced
 that the fifth annual Washington  D.C.  area  Atarifest  will  be  held at
 Fairfax High  School, 3500  Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, Virginia on Saturday
 and Sunday, the  7th  and  8th  of  October.    Atarifest  is  a computing
 exposition featuring  the Atari  line of  personal and  home computers, as
 well as the complete  line of  entertainment systems.   The  show features
 educational   seminars   covering   nearly   all   areas   of   computing;
 demonstrations of various applications of Atari  computers, including MIDI
 music,  desktop  publishing,  and  entertainment; and exhibits by software
 publishers and hardware manufacturers  showing the  latest developments in
 the Atari world.  In the past, representatives from Atari Corporation have
 been on hand to answer questions and provide assistance.

     This year's theme is "The Atari Alternative," and the goal  is to show
 how Atari  computers can  be used  in business  and in  the home.  It will
 include demonstrations of both  eight-bit (400/800/XL/XE)  and ST software
 and hardware.   Whether  for creative  endeavors, helping with some of the
 household paperwork, or just to have fun, the organizers of  Atarifest '89
 intend  to  show  how  the  "Atari  Alternative"  can  meet and beat other
 computer systems in its class, and why Atari Corporation's motto is "Power
 Without the Price."

     WAACE  is  a  confederation  of  Atari  user  groups  in the Maryland,
 Virginia, and Washington, D.C.  area,  each  dedicated  to  supporting the
 Atari community  in their  respective areas.  Atarifest is co-sponsored by
 the  Fairfax  County  (Virginia)  Public  Schools'  Office  of  Adult  and
 Community Education,  and the  emphasis has  always been  on educating the
 public about computers and their uses.  The 1985 Washington  Atarifest was
 one of  the first  such shows,  which are  now held in more than 10 cities
 across the nation.

     Atarifest has grown in  popularity, attracting  thousands of attendees
 each year.   This year, organizers hope to attract over 5,000 people.  The
 show is open to all persons  who have  an interest  in computing,  and the
 FREE ADMISSION and hourly door prizes (including an Atari hard disk drive)
 encourage attendance by those who may not yet own an  Atari computer.   It
 is especially  designed to  have something  of interest for everyone, from
 diehard Atarians to mainframe systems managers to computer neophytes.

     Fairfax High School is located  at  3500  Old  Lee  Highway,  just off
 routes 29  and 50  in Fairfax,  Virginia.   The school can conveniently be
 reached from the Vienna Metro station (Orange line) by taking  the Fairfax
 Cue bus.   Hours  of the show are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and
 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Most user group demonstrations  will be
 conducted on  Saturday only.  For further information, call John Barnes at
 (301) 652-0667. 
   
                     For further information contact:

                    Gary Purinton       (703) 264-8826
                    John Barnes         (301) 652-0667

                          Vendors should contact:

                    Johnna Ogden        (703) 450-3992.




                         **  Alive and Thriving **
                  
                       WAACE AtariFest 89 - Infogram
                               
                               89/09/16

   For those   of  you who  *may* have  gotten the wrong impression from ST
 Informer we would like to report  that WAACE   AtariFest '89   is  well on
 its way to becoming the Atari event of the year on the East Coast.

 Here are a few of the Features: (exact names or titles subject to change)

               Vendors/Developers/Publications in attendance:
               ----------------------------------------------
  
     ASDE Inc./ST Plug       Accusoft               Accustar
     Alpha Systems           Atari Corp             Best Electronics
     Cal Com                 Codehead Software      Current Notes
     Debonair Software        Diskcovery             Diverse Data Prod     
     Double Click Soft.      Electronic Clinic      First Stop
     Gribnif                 GEnie                  I.C.D.
     Johnsware               Joppa Computer         L & Y Electronics
     Lantech                 Magnetic Images        Michtron
     Orion Microsystems      Rock Digital               STReport/CPU Report
     ST Informer             ST Log                 Seymor Radix
     Softrek                 Strata Software        Toad Computers
     Unicorn Publications    Wintertech             Wizztronics
     Xlent Software          Z*Mag/ZNet

 Also, reps  from ISD  Marketing, FAST Tech, Gadgets by Small, and STReport
 Online will be on hand helping out in User Group Demo Rooms  and/or giving
 Seminars.

     Demonstrations (Saturday Only) 
               (See printed schedule available at Fest)

      Telecommunications      Art and Graphics       Mac Emulation
      Desktop Publishing      MIDI                   MS-DOS Emulation
      Business Applications   Games
      Hardware Add-ons        Programming Languages

 Door Prizes:
                    Saturday - Grand Prize - Atari ST Computer
                    Dozens of others - Announced every few minutes
                    Sunday - Grand Prize - Hard Drive from ABCO

 Seminars:
      Saturday. 7 October                   Sunday, 8 October
        1100 - Computers and Kids             1300 - To Be Announced
               D. A. Brumleve
        1200 - Ask ST Report                  1400 - Atari In Science
               Ralph Mariano                         A. Wrotniak - Debonair
        1300 - Alternative Desktops           1500 - Atari Hardware Futures
               Rick Flashman - Gribnif               Panel: D. Small, James
        1400 - Hard Disk Systems                     Allen, David Troy.
               Tom Harker - ICD               1600 - Atari Corp Speaks
        1500 - Speeding up the ST                    Sig Hartmann - Atari
               Wayne Buckholdt - Softrek   All Day - Musicians and MIDI
        1600 - Desktop Publishing
               Gordon Monnier - Michtron

 Hospitality:

    1800 - Hospitality Suites - Fairfax Quality Inn
          1930 - Cocktail Hour - Hunan Lion Rest
               2000 - AtariFest Banquet - Hunan Lion Restaurant

                    Current Notes Author of the Year
                    Atari's World - Sig Hartmann

 User Group Leadership Workshop - 0900 Sunday - Bob Brodie
                    (UG Representatives by Invitation)
                                           ----------

 Vendors should contact Johnna Ogden at 703-450-3991 for information.

 Program advertisers: 
               Please send camera-ready copy in 6 3/4 x 10 format to:
               Steve Rudolph, 11914 Galaxy Lane, 
               Bowie, MD, 20715 
               Before 22 September.  
               Payment of $60 (check payable to WAACE) must accompany copy.


 Banquet ticket requests:
               Russell  Brown,  13715  Mapledale  Ave, 
               Dale City,  VA,  22193.    
               Payment  of $20 per ticket 
               (check Payable to WAACE) must accompany order.

 Other Information:  
               John  D. Barnes,  WAACE Chairman,  
               7710 Chatham Rd,
               Chevy Chase,  MD 20815.   
               GENie:  J.D.BARNES.  Phone: 301-652-0667
                    (return calls collect).
 Lodging: 
               Quality Inn of Fairfax - $49.50 per night. 
               Be sure  to  mention  AtariFest  when  reserving  (before 25
               September).

 WAACE wishes  to express its appreciation for the support we have received
 from the Atari world.  This Fest is truly an expression of  "Power without
 the Price".





     ________________________________________________________________




 > EAUG STReport OnLine    Usergroups can and do speak up!
   ====================

 Conf : Atari Users Groups (FNET/Xnet)
 Msg# : 386  Lines: Extended  Read: 15
 Sent : Sep 9, 1989  at 4:35 PM
 To   : DOC HOLIDAY AT FLASH 224
 From : HANK VIZE at EastSide BBS - ILL
 Subj : Article


 Replies: 387  389 Doc,  thought you and some others might be interested in
 the following article that appears in the the Sept issue of the EAUG Log.



                              "Computer Talk"


 by Hank Vize

     "Computer Talk" is a  St.Louis area  radio call-in  show which accepts
 calls for  two hours  on any computer subject for any make computer.  WYRT
 1080 AM.

     On September 2, 1989, talk show host Ike and Bob, had our  local Atari
 dealer as  a guest on their talk show.  Jeff and Tim Randall of "Randall's
 Home Computers".  Jeff is well known in the St.Louis  Metro area  as being
 one of  the most  reputable of Atari dealers.  He regularly supports Users
 Groups, four in the area, and  has always  made himself  available for any
 project.    The  show  also  had  "ZMag"  editor Harold Brewer.  Harold is
 usually up on late breaking news and is a staunch  supporter of  the Atari
 8-bit line.

     This particular Saturday morning show started somewhat slowly but then
 gradually gained momentum.  The hosts, without any  real knowledge  of the
 Atari  product   line,  were  genuinely  interested  in  all  applications
 available on the computers and especially the ST/Mega line.

     Ike asked, "Jeff, tell us  about  your  store  and  the  Atari Product
 line".  Jeff  gave  a  brief  background  and  store  information and then
 proceeded to tell the hosts and the listeners about the Atari ST/Mega line
 and the  software available.  The talk show hosts seemed to be in shock by
 what they heard.  It brought co-host Bob  to remark,  "Gee does  it do the
 dishes  too?".    They  were  in  wonder  of  the standard features of the
 computer, SCSI support, MIDI  ports, etc.   And  astonished that  it could
 read MS-DOS  disks and  therefore would  allow data to be imported into ST
 software from  IBM  sources.    They  equally  surprised  that  there were
 versions of "Word Perfect", "Drafix", "DBman", Timeworks "Publisher", etc.
 available for  the ST  too.   Additionally, they  expressed real amazement
 when they  were told  that Mac  and IBM emulators were available and would
 soon perform at or faster than the speed of their  original machines.   In
 summary, they  were impressed  with the flexibility and versatility of the
 ST/Mega computer.

     Next came the inevitable question.  "Why haven't  we heard  about this
 computer before?"   Ike  asked.   OUCH! Why  indeed?   Dram shortages were
 blamed, which was quickly refuted as a legitimate excuse by  the talk show
 host.   "I can  get all the drams I want.  And I've been able to do so for
 some time now." stated Ike.  (Ike  also  is  co-owner  of  a  local retail
 computer store.)   European  market penetration  was then mentioned.  Both
 the hosts were quick to respond  that it  is a  shame the  product is only
 readily available  in Europe.   The  Fall USA push was now brought up by a
 caller and the host said that he hopes it becomes a reality because the 
 computer shows great promise.   Jeff  was asked  if he  had any  Mega's in
 stock and he had to reply "NO".  The truth being Randall's last received a
 Mega shipment over SIX MONTHS, perhaps a YEAR, ago. IF he did  receive any
 they probably would be gone within a week.

     The callers  generated quite  a bit  of interest in a short time, this
 show  should  be  considered  a  success  for  Atari.    After   all,  two
 knowledgeable computer  radio talk show hosts, who previously knew nothing
 about Atari, were genuinely impressed with the Atari  ST/Mega line.   They
 did side  with what  current owners  have been  saying for  some time now.
 Make the product available and then market it.

         Some of those that participated in the call in show were:

          Jeff and Tim Randall    Randall's Home computers
          Harold Brewer           ZMag editor
          Dave Pintar             VP of Eastside Atari User Group 
          Matthew Ratcliff        MAT*RAT of Analog fame
          Terry Shoemaker         Pres of ACE-STL
          Hank Vize               Pres of EAUG, Editor of EAUG-Log
          and others whose name I didn't catch or weren't revealed.

     Near the close of the two hour  show  Jeff  and  Tim  were  invited to
 return as guests.  Later this Fall in November.  The St. Louis Metro Atari
 community hopes that he will be  able to  report of  Atari's new marketing
 push, and of his ample supply of ST/Mega product.  Maybe this will include
 also the newly announced Stacey, Portfolio, and TT systems. 

     I know I am biased towards Atari.   Being President  of an  Atari User
 Group, I  can't help  but to  bring forth some closing thoughts.  We Atari
 users stand loyally behind the company.  What is hard to comprehend is the
 fact that  Atari Corp.  seems to  be slow  to support  the loyal USA base.
 More computers could be sold if  they were  made available.   Some  of the
 bizarre prerequisites  to dealers need to be removed.  Not all dealers can
 fund minimum quotas that  afford price  cuts or  meet some  of the minimum
 guidelines that  allows them to carry a certain model.  During this period
 of Atari wanting and  needing  a  broad  dealer  base,  these restrictions
 should be  lifted and  all products offered to all dealers with NO minimum
 order requirements.  If  a dealer  wants even  a quantity  of one  of some
 model why  not make it available?  How can a small dealer grow and prosper
 if he can't get new products, chiefly due to minimum  requirements made by
 Atari?   Then, in turn, how can the potential new Atari owner purchase the
 model of  their  choice  or  a  present  owner  upgrade  to  a  new model.
 CATCH-22! 

     Not  being  a  dealer  I  wish  to add the above remarks are made from
 observations of statements made on the  information networks  and in other
 User Group newsletters. 

     The  goal  should  be  to  remove  CATCH-22  and  replace it with only
 "CATCH". CATCH new computer owners. CATCH  more dealers.  CATCH and endear
 the present  Atari user  base. Then  we can  all watch  and see if all the
 other companies can CATCH up to Atari.

                                             Hank Vize, EAUG Pres.







     _________________________________________________________________



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






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


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                               P.O. Box 6672
                     Jacksonville, Florida 32236-6672
                                Est.  1985
                 _________________________________________

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

                          ICD HOST ADAPTERS USED
                                EXCLUSIVELY

                      * OMTI HIGH SPEED CONTROLLERS *

         32mb #SG32238   539.00              42mb #SG44710   595.00
         51mb #SGN4951   629.00              65mb #SG60101   679.00
         80mb #SGN296    709.00             100mb #SG84011D  969.00
        130mb #SG1244D  1099.00             145mb #SG3A4210  989.00
        170mb #SGT41776 1389.00             260mb #SG1244Q  2169.00
                          320mb #SGN7788Q 3295.00

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

            *** ALL Units: Average Access Time: 24ms - 34ms ***

    ALL UNITS COMPATIBLE WITH --> MAGIC SAC - PC-DITTO/II - SPECTRE/GCR
                                        
             LARGER units are available - (special order only)

         * Removable Media Devices Available (44mb) Syquest 555 *
                                        
                 ***  Available for ST - Amiga - IBM   ***
                                        
                 LOWBOY - STANDARD - DUAL BLOWER CABINETS

                     - Custom Walnut WOODEN Cabinets -

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                      ALL POWER SUPPLIES UL APPROVED

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                         (A FULL YEAR of COVERAGE)

                 Quantity & Usergroup Discounts Available!
                 _________________________________________

                     DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS WANTED!

                       Personal Checks are accepted.

                            ORDER YOURS TODAY!

                       904-783-3319    9am - 8pm EDT






     _________________________________________________________________




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



      An executive, whispering to another exec about release dates...

           "Who cares what they think!... WE'LL DO IT OUR WAY!"

                                             ..Lenbo's Rationale

  


                             "ATARI IS BACK?"

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ST-REPORT Issue #106   "Your Independent News Source"  September 22, 1989
                    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  copyright 1989
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Views, Opinions and Articles Presented herein are not necessarily those of
 the  editors,  staff,  ST  Report  or CPU Report.  Reprint permission is
 hereby granted, unless otherwise noted.    All  reprints  must  include ST
 Report or  CPU Report  and the  author's name.   All information presented
 herein is believed correct, STReport or CPU Report, it's editors and staff
 are not responsible for any use or misuse of information contained herein.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------


