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


  October 06, 1989                                        Vol III  No.108
  =======================================================================
  
                         ST Report Online Magazine 
                        __________________________
                          Post Office Box   6672
                          Jacksonville,  Florida
                               32205 ~ 6672
  
                               R.F. Mariano
                            Publisher - Editor
                 _________________________________________
                   Voice: 904-783-3319  10 AM - 4 PM EDT
                     BBS:  904-786-4176   12-24-96 HST
                    FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EDT
                 _________________________________________
  
                          **  F-NET NODE 350  **
              Our support BBS carries ALL issues of STReport
                                    and
               An International list of private BBS systems
               carrying STReport for their users  enjoyment

    __________________________________________________________________ 
    
 > Issue: #108 STReport        The Online Magazine of Choice! 
   ------------------- 
     - The Editors' Podium                   - CPU REPORT
     - The Twilight Zone                     - HINDSIGHT and the STE
     - RED STORM RISING Part 1               - WORDUP 2.0
     - WAACE Update!!                        - ST REPORT CONFIDENTIAL

       ---===** ANTONIO SALERNO PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT **===---
    ---===***  SIG HARTMANN TO BE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT WAACE!  ***===---
    
  =======================================================================
       AVAILABLE ON:      COMP-U-SERVE  ~  DELPHI  ~  GENIE  ~  BIX
  =======================================================================

    
 > The Editor's Podium


     WAACE... These  folks have scheduled quite a show for this weekend, if
 you are  local, (a  resident of  the USA),  stop by  and say  hello to the
 developers and all the good folks you have seen on the services.  You will
 finally get to meet the folks behind the words of wisdom.   Atarifests are
 an excellent  opportunity to  renew one's faith in the future of the Atari
 marketplace because of the  various displays  of product,  new technology,
 new software  and most  of all, the enthusiasm of the users.  So, if it is
 at all possible, as Jim Dooley used to  say, "Come  on down"  to WAACE and
 enjoy!    And  of  course,  Sig Hartman, Atari's unofficial "Ambassador at
 Large" will present the keynote address at the banquet on Saturday night.

     On a more serious note, we find a number of questions have  been asked
 of Atari  recently that  perhaps need  to be answered as soon as possible.
 Notably, the inconsistences beginning to surface  from around  the country
 about how dealers, new and old alike, have been dealt with by Atari.  From
 a quick overview, it looks like the relationship has been pretty much one-
 sided, Atari's.  It now becomes very easy to understand why dealers are so
 unhappy and are making noises about dropping the line.  Also, the level of
 inconsistency in  dealing with  these folks  only goes  to prove how naive
 those who make the marketing and distribution decisions.  

     When one finds only certain dealers have been  permitted to  carry and
 sell the "Portfolio" one begins to ask, who makes these decisions and what
 are the criteria that must be met by a dealer.   Surely,  the Portfolio is
 NOT that  difficult a  machine to  operate.   We have  been told that only
 those dealers with MS/DOS experience are 'going to  have the  portfolio to
 sell'.   If such  is the case, every Atari dealer who ever used Sparta Dos
 from ICD (most have) has more than enough experience with command line DOS
 to handle this new goodie!

     Atari will,  we are  sure, take  a long hard look at these events that
 are unfolding and bring about a positive change.  After all, it is totally
 to their  benefit to  do so.   We are confident Atari will show a positive
 effort in the very near future whether they  care to  or not  is something
 else.   The userbase,  users, dealers,  developers etc.. are determined to
 "help" Atari 'see the light' and mend it's  ways.   Atari should  be proud
 that so many people are genuinely concerned about the future.

                                     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 # 35
  ----------


 by Michael Arthur


 Remember When....

       In August 1985, Microsoft and IBM signed a  long-term agreement, for
 jointly  developing  Operating  Systems,  User  Interfaces,  and PC/MS-DOS
 upgrades for IBM Compatibles, and when, in 1988, Microsoft licensed MS-DOS
 3.3 and PC-DOS 4.0 from IBM?


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

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

 Part III

 Here is a hypothetical note:

     "The  Atari  ST  is  doomed:    an  orphan's  orphan.   It has no good
 software, and is just  a game  machine.   90 percent  of its  userbase are
 filthy, slimy  pirates, and  the other  10 percent  are ignorant fools who
 don't know when to quit.   Jerry Teakettle  said that  Atari was  going to
 stake its  future on becoming a PClone maker.  And if Jerry Teakettle says
 so, then Atari has GOT to be totally  in the  doldrums, and  the ST CANNOT
 have  any  chance  whatsoever.   Meanwhile, Commodore has practically sold
 more Amigas than Apple has sold  Macintoshes, the  Amiga has  virtually NO
 pirates, and  Jerry Teakettle  said that  the state  of Amiga productivity
 software is getting extremely good.  And if Jerry Teakettle  says so, then
 the  Amiga  has  GOT  to  be  the  ONLY  feasible low/middle end computing
 solution in the industry."

     The above paragraph sums up what much of the US ST Userbase,  parts of
 the computer  industry, and  certain "industry experts"  fervently believe
 about Atari and the  ST line.   While  many, MANY  people in  the industry
 would just love it if this were true, let us examine the true state of the
 Atari ST....

     Atari has sold 1.75 Million -  1.9 Million  Atari ST's  worldwide, and
 has a  US ST  Userbase 500,000  systems strong.   When  the Mac's Userbase
 reached the 2 Million mark, the Macintosh was declared to be set  in stone
 as an  industry standard, and Apple was going to be King of the Hill.  But
 even though Atari has nearly reached  that plateau,  many say  that the ST
 has an  ice cube's  chance in  the sun.   Even  though the ST has become a
 dominant standard in Europe, surpassing Mac sales and  even encroaching on
 European PClone sales, and even though Atari is selling as many ST's as it
 can manufacture....

     Meanwhile, Commodore has sold  1  Million  Amigas  worldwide,  and has
 700,000 Amigas  in the  US.  However, while most of the ST's sold are used
 for productivity applications, 75 - 90  percent  of  all  Amigas  sold are
 Amiga 500s.   Given that most Amiga 500s are used for games, it seems that
 the ST not only has a larger userbase, but has a MUCH better foundation as
 an industry standard. Also, while both Atari and Commodore are Fortune 500
 Companies, the ONLY time Atari hasn't posted a significant profit  is when
 they were  involved with  Federated.   In comparison, Commodore has been a
 financially troubled company ever since Jack Tramiel left.  But  the US ST
 Userbase,  the  computer  industry,  and  even ST Developers don't usually
 consider these facts   With the result that everyone finds it mindboggling
 that Wall Street has always liked the Tramiels' Atari so much....

     "The ST  is nice,  but it  has little  or no good software."  It seems
 that this  frame  of  thought  is  prevalent,  not  only  in  the computer
 industry, but  in the Atari ST Userbase itself.  But this myth couldn't be
 further from the truth.   The  ST  has  practically  taken  over  the MIDI
 market,  with  companies  like  Hybrid  Arts, Midisoft, and Dr. T's making
 software that FAR surpasses Mac MIDI products.   But while  this is common
 knowledge, many  do not  seem to fully realize the ST's abilities in other
 fields.  For example, Logical Design Works' LDW Power spreadsheet  for the
 ST provides capabilities and versatility that rivals even Lotus 1-2-3, and
 in the Database world, 2 ST software products (Paul Heckel's  Zoomracks II
 and  Regent  Base  SQL  2.0)  have  literally revolutionized the industry.
 Also, ST DTP Products like  Calamus,  PageStream,  and  Migraph's Touch-Up
 easily  rival,   if  not   surpass,  their  Mac/IBM  DTP  counterparts  in
 capabilities.  And with ST CAD  programs like  Foresight Resources' Drafix
 and  ISD's  DynaCadd  providing  abilities  found in top-flight stuff like
 AutoCad, the state of ST Productivity Software, contrary to opinions  of a
 substantial few,  is not  only superb, but truly excellent.  And with over
 5000 software products (most  of which  is productivity  software) out for
 the  ST,  it  seems  that  not  only  the  quality, but the quantity of ST
 software is no problem.  In comparison, much of the  Amiga's software base
 is  game-oriented,  and  Amiga  productivity  software  has  only recently
 achieved an admirable measure of quality.  But  these facts  are not often
 realized by  the industry, or by the ST Userbase itself.  Resulting in the
 absolutely outrageous myth that the ST doesn't cut  it in  software, while
 the Amiga is getting to be the perfect low-end computing solution....

     The main  excuse that  Software Companies have used to rationalize not
 developing for the ST is the  reportedly gargantuan  amount of  ST Pirates
 and their  activities.   But since Software Pirating is a fact of life for
 all computers, let us examine this  further:   Software companies  use the
 number of  ST Pirate BBS's that have been shut down as the basis for their
 arguments.  But curiously, if Mac  Pirate BBS's  were to  start being shut
 down at the rate that ST Pirate BBS's were in 1988, Apple would break open
 the  champagne  bottles  and  start  celebrating,  since  with  all  other
 non-orphan systems, the decline of software Pirate activities has resulted
 in a proportional increase  in Software  Development.   But when  the same
 thing happened  to the ST, with ST Pirates being locked up left and right,
 software companies said the ST was  a  bad  investment.    But  since most
 pirating is  done with  game software,  and anyone  even remotely in touch
 with the situation in the ST Pirate world  will tell  you that  ST Pirates
 are  making  a  mass  exodus  to  the  Amiga  (due  to the amount of games
 available for it), one could  say  that  the  ST  is  probably  safer from
 software  piracy  than  any  other  major  computer.  Also, with ASTDA, an
 independent  national  Atari  ST  Developers'  Association,  gathering  up
 momentum, the plight of ST Developers is guaranteed to get better....

     In comparison, many "industry experts" say the Amiga is a superb arena
 for Software  Development,  even  though  WordPerfect  testified  that the
 reason they  stopped much of their Amiga Software Development is that most
 Amiga Users have Amiga 500s, and  that the  entire Amiga  Userbase, at one
 time,  was  only  buying  700  packages  of WordPerfect 4.1 a month.  Now,
 either Software Companies' policies are awry,  or there  is another reason
 that many  Software companies  shun the Atari ST line.  Curiously, many ST
 Developers complain that Atari not only provides shoddy Developer support,
 but that  a certain  few at  Atari actually  go out  of their way to abuse
 them.  Given the ST's aforementioned advantages in the Software  Arena, it
 seems more than probable that....

     Another  reason  the  ST  is  reportedly  hurting is Atari's Vaporware
 announcements.  This is DEFINITELY true.  But since Atari  has stopped the
 practices  that  caused  the  Vaporware  Epidemic,  and given that Atari's
 products, if not their policies, have always delivered  on the  promise of
 quality, this may not be a problem anymore.  But then, given that Atari is
 still continually missing shipping dates for their products, maybe this IS
 a problem.   But  since Vaporware  has always proliferated in the computer
 industry, it may not make that much difference....

     So now, given the aforementioned statements, how do  we, the  Atari ST
 Userbase, rationalize  the ST's  not living  up to its potential?  We have
 already established that the ST itself, Software/Hardware Development, and
 Piracy, the  main problems  for computer systems, can't really explain why
 the ST almost was obliterated as a standard in 1988.  In order to begin to
 do so, we must take an example from Wall Street itself:

     In Early  1989, many  financial analysts worried that the US was going
 to go into a Depression.  The conditions for it were certainly  there, and
 the stock  market was  unstable enough to trigger such an event.  However,
 when Alan Greenspan and the Federal  Reserve  said  they  would  prevent a
 Depression, the  analysts gave  the economy  a better chance.  When the US
 Economy  didn't  go  into  a  recession  right  away,  the  "prophesy" was
 confirmed.   But in  hindsight, the  Feds didn't  really do that much. The
 TRUE  reason  that  the  predicted  recession  didn't  happen  has  been a
 cornerstone of business economics for centuries:  Business Confidence.

     This theory  basically says that what the Community (or Userbase) as a
 group believes, no matter  if it  is true  or not,  will eventually become
 true.   Group Dynamics  (a tenet of psychology) confirms this, saying that
 the Community will then act as if the  belief is  true, and subconsciously
 shape the situation accordingly.  For example, as the Federal Reserve took
 steps to stop a Recession, Wall Street began  to believe  that a recession
 wouldn't  happen.    This  triggered  increased  business  activity, which
 reversed the economic indicators of a recession.   In Business Confidence,
 Cause does not necessarily trigger Effect....

     The  Amiga  Community  now  believes  that  the  state of the Amiga is
 improving: No matter what the validity of that may be, Business Confidence
 is now fueling the Amiga's current growth.  In comparison, even though the
 Atari ST has EVERY cause to be the  next industry  standard, the  Atari ST
 almost lost  the support  of its  US Userbase  because the Userbase itself
 became despondent over Atari's  actions and  policies in  1988.   Now that
 Atari is  trying, in  1989 to  revitalize the Atari ST, the ST's future is
 beginning to look much brighter....

     Furthermore, while we all complain about Atari the  Company, the truth
 is  that  many  top-flight  people  work  for  Atari.   People like Julius
 Oklamcak  and  Neil  Harris,  once  Atari  employees,  are  now  excellent
 advantages to  their new  employers, who probably thank the Revolving Door
 everyday for bringing them  good employees.   But  since these  people are
 mainly in  Atari's Middle management, there remains but one reason for the
 woes of the ST:  The actions of a few Atari Corporate Executives....

     Here are some words  to the  wise, to  Sig Hartmann,  Sam Tramiel, and
 Jack Tramiel:  There has been an internal cause of strife, a cancer if you
 will, at Atari for the past  4 years.   It  has caused  both the Revolving
 Door's  activity,  the  awful  treatment  of  ST Developers, and the US ST
 Userbase's near-catastrophic loss of Business Confidence in Atari.  Remove
 this cancer  immediately, and  listen to the suggestions of your company's
 Userbase, and Atari will become a billion dollar company by 1992.  Let the
 cancer continue to fester, harassing Atari employees like Shiraz Shivji to
 the extent where they run to  the Revolving  Door, treating  developers so
 badly that  they run  to the  Amiga, and  causing deleterious consequences
 through its control over Atari's product line, and the legacy  of Business
 Confidence will have a most unfortunate effect on a certain paradox of the
 computer industry....

             DEC, MIPS Computer, and the End of the RISC Wars
             ------------------------------------------------

     When, in 1987, Digital Equipment Corporation,  or DEC,  announced that
 it would  shortly be  entering the low-end workstation market, many in the
 industry wondered what  approach  DEC  would  take:    Since  most low-end
 workstations use  RISC-based architectures,  it was certain that DEC would
 also take this road.   However,  with speculation  over whether  DEC would
 support  Sun's  SPARC  architecture,  go  with  one of the many other RISC
 architectures then available, or design its own RISC  chip, this knowledge
 only  helped  the  proliferation  of  industry-wide  rumors.    Which were
 centered on the fact that if DEC chose an existing RISC architecture, that
 the resulting  endorsement would  have great  consequences for the current
 battle between the many  competing RISC  Architectures and  standards that
 has been called, the "RISC Wars"....

     In Early  1989, DEC ended all speculation with the introduction of its
 DECstation line of workstations.  Surprisingly, DEC did not design its own
 proprietary RISC  architecture for  the DECstation,  and didn't use one of
 the newer RISC chips, but went  with the  R2000 chip  architecture, which,
 curiously, had been out for 2 years.  Designed by MIPS Computer Systems, a
 company founded by a group of scientists renowned for their  research into
 RISC architectures,  the R2000  (and the  newer R3000) provide much of the
 promised potential of RISC chips, but  have previously  cost too  much for
 most of  the workstation industry.  Recently though, MIPS Computer Systems
 dramatically  cut  its  chips'  prices,  letting  the  DECstation   to  be
 positioned in the low-end workstation market, and adding a new item to the
 R2000's list of virtues....

     Over 20 other minicomputer and workstation  products are  now based on
 the MIPS Rx000 chip architecture.  Silicon Graphics uses a 16 MHZ R3000 in
 their $12,500 Personal Iris low-end workstation, and not only is NEC using
 the  MIPS  architecture  in  their  workstations,  but  they  also made an
 agreement with MIPS Computer  Systems permitting  them to  manufacture the
 MIPS R3000  chip.  Since MIPS Computer Systems has also licensed the R2000
 to three other chip makers, and given Sun's efforts in getting as  many as
 seven semiconductor  companies to  license their  SPARC architecture, this
 could be an effort to eliminate  Sun's SPARC  chip, the  only other widely
 supported RISC architecture on the market, as a strong competitor....

     Ironically, DEC's  gesture of  support for the MIPS R2000 architecture
 may establish more unity  in the  computer industry  than its  VERY active
 involvement in the Open Software Foundation, as DEC's stature adds another
 factor in MIPS Computer Systems'  quest  to  bring  a  sudden  end  to the
 industry battle known as the RISC Wars....

                   The DECStation, OSF/1, and DECwindows

     The DECstation  2100 uses  a 12.5  MHZ version  of the RISC-based MIPS
 R2000 chip, which runs at around 10 MIPS.  It also uses the R2010 Floating
 Point  math  chip  to  achieve  0.9  Million Floating Point Operations per
 Second (MFLOPS).  It  has 8  Megabytes of  RAM onboard,  and comes  with a
 1024*864 resolution  with either  a monochrome  or 256  color display.  It
 also has 2 serial ports, 1 SCSI port, and 1 Ethernet Port  for interfacing
 with Local Area Networks.

     It currently  uses Ultrix-32, DEC's port of AT&T Unix System V.3, with
 DECwindows, DEC's X/Windows implementation, as a  Graphical User Interface
 (GUI).   However, this  is about  to change:   DEC  is one  of the charter
 members of the Open Software Foundation  (OSF), a  group of  several major
 Unix Vendors  developing OSF/1,  a standard operating system based on AIX,
 IBM's implementation of Unix.   DEC  has provided  the DECwindows Software
 Toolkit  as  part  of  OSF  Motif,  the Unix GUI segment of OSF/1, and has
 announced that when OSF/1  is finished  (at around  the Second  Quarter of
 1990), it  will standardize on it for all DEC workstations.  However, this
 doesn't necessarily mean that OSF/1 will be the standard for systems using
 the MIPS  Rx000 chip  architecture.  But since neither Silicon Graphics or
 NEC has expressed support for AT&T Unix System V 4.0, the upcoming version
 of AT&T Unix, for their low-end workstation line....

     Graphic comparison of the features of the ATW and the DECstation 2100:

                        ATW/SPARCStation Features List:
                    (Comparison of each Systems' Features)
 _________________________________________________________________________
 System Features| Atari Transputer Workstation |      DECstation 2100     |
 and Components |        Cost: $8000.00        |   Base System: $8000.00  |
 ---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
 Features of    | 20 MHZ Inmos T800 RISC chip  | 12.5 MHZ R2000 RISC chip |
 Main Processor |      running at 10 MIPS      |    running at 10 MIPS    |
 ---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
 Megabytes of   |  4 Megabytes of 32-Bit RAM   |   8 Megs of 32-Bit RAM   |
 Standard RAM   |1 Meg of Dual-Ported Video RAM|                          |
 ---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
 Description of | Helios Operating System with |  Ultrix-32 (DEC's Unix)  |
 Operating      | X/Windows V11, the standard  | w/DECwindows.  OSF/1 Unix|
 Features       | Unix windowing environment   | and OSF/Motif forthcoming|
 ---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
 Type of Bus    | Proprietary 32-Bit Bus, with |   Unknown at this time   |
 Architecture   |     four Expansion Slots     |                          |
 ---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
                |   # of Displayable Colors    |  # of Displayable Colors |
                |Mode 0:  1280*960 w/16 Colors |1024*864 w/256 Gray Scales|
 Graphic Display|Mode 1:  1024*768 w/256 Colors|                          |
 Resolutions and|Mode 2:  640*480 w/256 Colors | 1024*864 with 256 Colors |
 Capabilities   |Mode 3:  512*480 w/16 Million |                (Optional)|
                |                              |                          |
                |The ATW has a 24-Bit per Pixel| The DECstation 2100 has a|
                |  (16 Million Color) Palette  | 24-Bit per Pixel Palette |
 ---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
 Standard Amount|    40 Megabyte Internal      |    104 Meg Hard Drive    |
 of Mass Storage|         Hard Drive           |  As an Additional Option |
 ---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
 Built in I/O   | Uses Mega ST Motherboard for |[1] SCSI, [2] Serial Ports|
 Ports          |  an Input/Output Controller  |  [1]  Ethernet LAN Port  |
 ---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
 Sound/Audio    |    Uses ST Sound Chip for    |   Unknown at this time   |
 Capabilities   |  3 Sound Channels (Voices)   |                          |
 ---------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
 Networking     | Helios can use the T800 to do| DECnet protocol, TCP/IP, |
 Capabilities   |Distributed Processing on LANs| Sun NFS, Ethernet Port   |
 ---------------'------------------------------'--------------------------'

     Based on  both this graph, and last week's System Descriptions, I have
 made a  comparative analysis  of both  systems, and  made these standings,
 which are classified according to the above topics:

                           Main Microprocessor:
                           --------------------

 First Place  - Inmos  T800 (used in the ATW).  Since the T800 and the MIPS
 R2000 are  different chip  architectures, and  given the  limited space in
 this column,  this choice  cannot be  made based on each chip's particular
 RISC implementation, but on the  aspects  which  set  one  apart  from the
 other.   In this  area, the  T800 has the advantage of a built in floating
 point math unit, which performs math computations at a rate of 1.5 MFLOPS,
 and has  a great edge in its design as a parallel processor.  On the other
 hand, a single 20 MHZ R2000 is much faster than a single 20 MHZ  T800, and
 the MIPS  R2000 architecture  has a  large amount  of multivendor support,
 from  several  major  companies.    However,  given  the   T800's  special
 capabilities, and potential for the future....

                          DECStation Comparison:
                          ----------------------
 The R2000/3000 chip architecture developed by MIPS Computer Systems is one
 of the  fastest  RISC-based  microprocessors  currently  available.   With
 extensive CPU caching support, the 16 MHZ R2000 is capable of 15 MIPS, and
 a 16 MHZ version of the new R3000 chip can  achieve 27,760  Dhrystones per
 second, or  more than  18.5 MIPS.   With that type of computing power, the
 MIPS Rx000 architecture is truly a superb RISC-chip.  However, there is no
 support for  true parallel  processing, as  in the  T800 architecture, and
 while the R3000 may use newer chip design technology, the Inmos T800 still
 provides good performance.  And since SGS Thompson drastically reduced the
 price of the T800, Inmos may be designing a new version of  the Transputer
 with increased performance....

                        Operating System Features:
                        --------------------------
 First Place  - DECstation 2100.  In order to have full support of both the
 T800's parallel processing features, and to  provide powerful multitasking
 multiuser operations,  the ATW  had to forsake Unix compatibility, and use
 the new Helios Operating System.  However, not being a parallel processor,
 the R2000  can run  Unix with no compromises.  Furthermore, with OSF/1 and
 OSF/Motif in the horizon,  the DECstation  2100 promises  to have  a large
 amount of software in very little time....

                              ATW Comparison:
                              ---------------
 The  Helios  operating  system  was  made  to optimize the operations of a
 parallel processing chip such as the  T800, as  well as  letting it  be as
 Unix-compatible (through  emulating Unix Version 7 calls) as possible.  It
 also supports Distributed Processing, meaning that, in a network of ATW's,
 ATW A  could use  the computing  power of  ATW B  and C to run a task or a
 process for  it.   Even though  Helios has  the potential  of becoming the
 standard  operating  system  for  parallel processing microprocessors, the
 fact is that it  is a  new operating  system, with  only a  small software
 base.   It may have great potential, but OSF/1's industry-wide support, as
 well as OSF Motif and its current Ultrix OS, gives the DECstation  a great
 advantage.

                          DECstation Comparison:
                          ----------------------
 The DECstation comes with Ultrix-32, DEC's version of AT&T Unix System V.3
 and also includes DECwindows,  DEC's windowing  environment for  Unix.  It
 uses  both   X/Windows  V11,  the  current  standard  for  Unix  windowing
 systems,and Display Postscript, Adobe's unified imaging standard.

     However, DEC is a big member of the OSF, and  has played  a major role
 in developing  the new  OSF/1 Unix standard.  OSF/Motif, the GUI component
 of OSF/1, uses the  DECwindows Toolkit  as its  programming tool,  and DEC
 will standardize  on OSF/1  and OSF/Motif once they are introduced.  Since
 many other workstation vendors, such as IBM, Apollo,  and Hewlett-Packard,
 will also  use it,  OSF/1 is  expected to have a good software base, which
 gives the DECstation a dominant advantage over the ATW in this area....


                            Graphics Displays:
                            ------------------
 First Place - Atari  Transputer Workstation.   While  the DECstation's one
 resolution is  very good, it is only slightly better than the ATW's Mode 1
 display, and since the ATW's other  display  modes  are  very  powerful in
 themselves, the ATW outperforms the DECstation in this area.

                           I/O Ports/Networking:
                           ---------------------
 First Place  - DECstation  2100.  Even though the ATW has a greater number
 of peripheral ports than the DECstation, both systems  have a  similar set
 of  the  I/O  ports  that  are  necessary  in a computer.  Also, since the
 DECstation also provides an Ethernet port for LAN  Networking, as  well as
 supporting  Sun's  Network  File  System, DECnet, and other LAN Networking
 standards, the SPARCStation has a decent  advantage  over  the  ATW.   But
 given  that   the  ATW's  Helios  Operating  System  supports  distributed
 processing  over  Local  Area  Networks  of  ATWs,  allowing  the combined
 computing power  of all  ATWs connected  to the LAN to be available to any
 ATW using the LAN, the endurance  of  this  advantage  depends  on OSF/1's
 capabilities....

                 Market Outlook for the ATW and DECstation
                 -----------------------------------------

 ATW Outlook:
 ------------
     The   Atari   Transputer   Workstation   is  a  VERY  unique  machine,
 with excellent potential.  Featuring  the  state  of  the  art  in current
 workstation capabilities,  and Helios,  a new  Unix-like operating system,
 the ATW has the makings  to  become  a  major  player  in  the workstation
 market.    However,  since  the  low-end  workstation  market is currently
 single-processor and Unix-oriented,  and  given  the  flood  of RISC-based
 workstations  currently  entering  the  market,  it  seems  that  the  ATW
 shouldn't be aimed at the  general  Personal  Workstation  market  at this
 time.   Interestingly enough,  Atari isn't  planning to  market the ATW in
 this area, saying it is not a mainstream computer system, and doesn't have
 features lending  itself to the general workstation market.  While this is
 a good stance for now, let us hope that Atari's position is  not permanent
 or inflexible, for these reasons:

     The ATW  has extreme  potential in Research Labs and Universities, who
 need the ATW's parallel processing capabilities as well as its workstation
 versatility.    With  Helios'  distributed  processing  capabilities, this
 market, who is always  looking for  the best  system for  their money, may
 just  standardize  on  the  ATW  because  of  its  parallel processing and
 interconnectability alone.  In fact, with the promise of using  the ATW as
 a logical  front-end to  other companies' Transputer-based supercomputers,
 it  could  become  a  standard  in  the  European  business  market, where
 Transputer-based systems are now becoming VERY popular.... 

     Interestingly enough,  the ATW could become the most popular in a very
 unique computer market:  Washington D.C.    Many  agencies  in  the United
 States  Government,  especially  the  Pentagon,  are  VERY  interested  in
 purchasing parallel-processing systems.   With  the  ATW's  competition in
 this area  featuring systems with base prices of $100,000 and up, and with
 the ATW's Distributed Processing Capabilities providing  extra versatility
 to ATW-based  Local Area  Networks, the  potential is almost too great for
 one's imagination.  Of course, the amount of  money, government contracts,
 and industry  reputation that  Atari would gain as a result of putting the
 ATW on the GSA Schedule (or  list)  of  computer  systems,  would  also be
 almost too  great for  one's imagination.   And  given that  the Senate is
 conducting hearings on a bill to  set up  a $1.75  Billion dollar national
 network of computers with supercomputer-level capabilities....

     One area  where Atari  IS marketing the ATW is in the image processing
 market, as its speed  and graphics  capabilities are  almost custom-suited
 for this  segment of  the industry.   But while this holds great potential
 for ATW sales and prestige, Atari MUST not only get  companies who produce
 popular workstation graphics software, like Wavefront Technologies, Pixar,
 and Intelligent Light, to support the ATW, but must show graphics software
 already being  written for  the ATW  (by people  like Alan Page, who wrote
 Flash for the ST), so as to generate ATW Interest  in this  segment of the
 market....

     Finally,  while  the  mainstream  computer industry is now starting to
 realize the benefits that RISC technology  may bring,  parallel processing
 has received  relatively little  attention, due  to a  belief that it is a
 future technology, not to be realized until well into the 1990's.  Because
 of  this,  the  Inmos  Transputer  is  currently  the  only major parallel
 processing architecture on the market, being used by several supercomputer
 companies interested  in using  Helios.  Given that the ATW is also priced
 less than many high end microcomputers and low-end  workstations, all this
 sets up  an EXTREMELY  good opportunity  for the  ATW, since we can assume
 that in a few years, after the market for RISC  chips has  stabilized, the
 computer  industry   will  shift  its  attention  to  parallel  processing
 technology.   When this  occurs, if  Atari has  sufficiently supported the
 ATW, concentrating  on slow,  but steady  growth for it, then the ATW (and
 the Helios operating system) should have a small, but significant userbase
 with  a  solid  amount  of  good  software, having had a VERY long time to
 establish the only truly feasible standard for a  true parallel processing
 system.    Meaning  that  both  the  ATW  and Helios would become dominant
 standards (if not a true monopoly) in the microcomputer industry....


 DECstation Outlook:
 -------------------

     The DECstation is directed  at  the  business-segment  of  the growing
 low-end workstation  market, in part to satisfy its customers' desires for
 the price/performance first provided by high-end  80386 machines,  and now
 by several workstation vendors.  As the OSF makes its stand against AT&T's
 domination of the Unix standard, the DECstation may become a  barometer of
 how well  OSF/1, OSF  Motif, and  the very  idea of  a group like the Open
 Software Foundation survives.  For if OSF/1 becomes a solid  competitor to
 AT&T's Unix,  then the rights that were shown by the formation of the OSF,
 in any part  of  the  computer  industry  having  the  power  to  form any
 coalition, whether  it be  supportive or separatist, that can successfully
 defeat or reform a company or group that has shown  monopolistic or unwise
 ways, will  be reinforced.   But  if the  OSF fails  in its  bid, then the
 chances of survival for groups like the Gang of Ten, who are attempting to
 establish an alternative to IBM's MicroChannel Bus with the EISA Specs, or
 alliances with more noble and selfless purposes than the OSF  or EISA, may
 become tragically slim....

     But whether  this worst-case  scenario becomes  true or  not, both the
 DECstation and the MIPS R2000 architecture have great  potential to become
 accepted in  the industry.  But since there are several different types of
 RISC chips currently out on the market, all with a  significant following,
 it seems  that it  will be  much harder  for any  one vendor to crack this
 market than expected.  Due to the number of RISC-based  workstations being
 developed by  large companies like IBM and Hewlett Packard, as well as the
 great support that Motorola and Intel have fostered for their  RISC chips,
 there is bound to be a great deal of fierce competition and great chaos in
 this market. And given that the RISC arena is very much a seller's market,
 driven more by Industry expectations than by users' realistic needs....


 But ponder, if you will, these questions:

 1)  How long  would it take  for the Atari ST, TT, and ATW to become TRULY
     dominant standards in Europe if Atari  were to  implement wise actions
     and policies in the US that would be markedly noticeable?

 2)  In the latest issue of STart  Magazine, Sam Tramiel says that Atari is
     looking into making another  RISC-based workstation,  perhaps based on
     the Motorola  88000 chip.   Given  the RISC-based  ATW's potential and
     abilities, how would this benefit Atari?

 3)  Given its emerging popularity, could MIPS Computer's R2000/3000 series
     of  RISC  chips  become  the  third  industry standard microprocessor,
     joining Intel's 80x86 and Motorola's 680x0 architectures, or  will the
     80486 and 68040 chips limit the market for RISC architectures?




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


 Redmond, WA         Microsoft is reportedly preparing to introduce several
 -----------         new products at Comdex/Fall, such as Windows 3.0,
                     which will have increased graphics speed, and improved
                     interprocess communication & memory management
                     facilities. Windows/386 3.0 will also support expanded
                     memory, for providing more than 640K of RAM to DOS
                     programs running as virtual 8086 tasks.

                     Microsoft Word 6.0, which will be a Windows-based
                     application, and a Presentation Manager version of
                     Microsoft Excel using OS/2's features, will also be
                     introduced in Fall Comdex.

 Sunnyvale, CA       Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is readying to ship its
 -------------       new 20 MHZ and 25 MHZ versions of the 80286 chip, in
                     the First Quarter of 1990.  Aiming them at the 80386sx
                     and low-end (16-20 MHZ) 80386 market, AMD's new chips
                     are around 10-20 percent faster than Intel's 80386
                     competition.  Interestingly enough, AMD also said that
                     its chances of winning the court battle with Intel
                     over the right to license the 80386 chip are slim....

 Tokyo, Japan        In an effort to weaken NEC's domination of the Japan
 ------------        computer market, 10 major Japanese companies,
                     including Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM Japan, Mitsubishi, and
                     Sharp, are backing the OS/2 standard.  This alliance
                     will establish a set of standard routines and
                     programming rules for developing Japanese OS/2
                     applications by the Fourth Quarter of 1989.

                     But while OS/2 is a VERY powerful OS, and this effort
                     is backed by both IBM and Japan, given that two
                     previous efforts, Microsoft's MSX and AX operating
                     systems, failed to dethrone NEC in the past....

 West Chester, PA    Commodore is reportedly going to introduce its new
 ----------------    Amiga 3000 computer at Comdex/Fall.  The basic model
                     of the Amiga 3000 will feature a 16 MHZ 68030/68882
                     combo, 4 Megs of RAM standard, and 5 expansion slots
                     using the Zorro III bus architecture, a 32-bit version
                     of the Amiga 2000's bus.  The high-end Amiga 3000 will
                     have a 20-25 MHZ 68030 + 68882 math chip, and up to
                     8 Megs of RAM.  The Amiga 3000 will also come with a
                     new version of the Amiga's graphics chips, which could
                     possibly give 320*200 graphics, with the full color
                     palette being displayable, a non-interlaced 640*400
                     resolution with 256 colors, and a 1024*768 w/16 gray
                     scales.  The Color palette will have 16-bit planes, or
                     65,536 colors, or 24 bit planes for 16 million colors.

                     Aimed at the Unix workstation market, the Amiga 3000
                     will come with an 80 Meg Hard Drive, on which Amix,
                     Commodore's port of AT&T Unix System V.3, and
                     X/Windows will be installed.  It will also come with
                     AmigaDOS 1.4, which will have hooks for virtual memory
                     and come with Arexx, for expanded interprocess
                     communication facilities.  Probable Cost:  $5000.00
                     for a basic model, $7500.00 for the high-end A3000....







     ________________________________________________________________





 > RED STORM RISING STR Review       Part One - An in-depth review.
   ===========================



                                                       RED STORM RISING
                                                       ================



 by Ron Brunk


     Red  Storm  Rising  (RSR)  is  a  thorough and realistic simulation of
 modern submarine warfare.  It's so complex that  justice can't  be done to
 it based  on a  few days  of play, but I'll give an overview at this time,
 and follow up with a comprehensive review later.

     RSR is based on  the novel  of the  same name  by Tom  Clancy, who was
 consulted  in  the  development  of  the  game  along with Larry Bond (who
 assisted in  the research  for the  book).   A strategic  map displays the
 progress of  the war  in Europe with (Warsaw) Pact forces in red, and Nato
 in green.  Unlike most games of this sort, it is not merely a  shoot-em up
 and  rack  up  the  points  type  of  game.  Each mission performed in the
 campaign directly affects the overall picture of the war, with graphically
 shown  results  following  each  mission,  while the strategic map changes
 appropriately.  For example, if you fail to stop an amphibious invasion at
 Trondheim, an  animation of  Pact marines  hitting the beach is shown, and
 the strategic map shows a flood of red forces spreading out through Norway
 from Trondheim,  followed by  a "newsreel"  describing the failure of Nato
 forces to stop the invasion.  On the other hand,  successfully eliminating
 a  sub  wolfpack  allows  supplies  to  reach  Europe  facilitating a Nato
 offensive to stop the Pact advance  or recover  territory.   The strategic
 map is  updated frequently by aircraft, satellites, and SOSUS lines, while
 the red tide ebbs back and forth in time with your successes and failures.
 At the  bottom a  colored bar  shows relative  strengths of  the two sides
 which, when  entirely  one  color,  signifies  victory,  draw,  or defeat,
 resulting  in  war-hero  or  veteran  status,  or  confinement to a gulag.
 Interspersed throughout the game are  animations  of  various  battles i.e
 carriers being destroyed, major ground offenses, etc.

     As  nice  as  the  strategic  features  of RSR are, the actual game is
 played on the tactical level and the tactical realism is  superb.  Targets
 are other  subs, as well as surface ships and helos.  The sensor of choice
 is sonar, both active, passive, and towed.  Some of the factors taken into
 account  which  affect  sonar  are:  thermal layers, ducting, dirty water,
 effectiveness of your sensors, targets range, course, and  speed, your own
 course and  speed, and even random factors like a crewman slamming a hatch
 at the wrong time.  Passive sonar (hull mounted and  towed array)  is used
 to track  and identify targets most of the time, but if it is damaged, you
 can resort  to active  sonar, active  or passive  radar, periscope mounted
 laser, or as a last resort, visual.  

     The weapons  available to  you depend on the type of sub you choose to
 command (Permit, Sturgeon, LA, improved LA, or Seawolf),  with your choice
 being limited  by the  year you choose, from 1984-96.  In later years more
 weapons become available  (improved  torpedoes,  Tomahawk  air  to surface
 missiles,  Sea  Lance  (a  torpedo  launched  via  missile), even Stingers
 mounted on  the periscope  for those  pesky torpedoes.   Pact capabilities
 improve  with  time  also  (quieter  subs,  better  sonar,  more  aircraft
 carriers) so it doesn't get easier  with  the  better  weapons,  just more
 complicated.

     The game  is very  complete, with a  100 page manual, keyboard layout,
 and a technical supplement of symbology and commands.  The  manual is very
 thorough, discussing  game play,  battle tactics,  Nato and Pact strategy,
 and capped off with a reference section on Nato weapons and subs, and Pact
 surface ships  and subs including all applicable sensors and weapons.  The
 game can be installed on a hard disk, although disk  "A" must  be in drive
 "A" and  you are asked to identify a silhouette from the reference section
 when you start a game.  Once the key disk is checked, no more  disk access
 is used  even for the animations.  Overall, this is the best naval warfare
 game I've yet to see for the ST, and I would recommend it highly to anyone
 who enjoys this type of game.







      ______________________________________________________________




 > What Gives? STReport OnLine   Atari, TOS 1.4, New Products, etc...
   ===========================




                                                  THE TWILIGHT ZONE
                                                  =================

 by R.F. Mariano


     The following  was a  reply to  message online,  but since it covers a
 variety of irritating, re-occurring problems  in  the  Atari  ST  world we
 present it here for our readers.

 Nevin;

 The first question we must ask is:
                     "Just who is in charge at Atari?"

     Now,   with   that   out   of  the  way,  let's  proceed......It's  an
 extraordinary occasion that we, you and  I fully  agree.   This is  one of
 those occasions.   Atari,  has in the past few months devitalized and left
 it's network of servicing dealers in an appalling state of disarray, while
 seemingly approving  the 'joints' interested in "lowballing" the goods out
 the door.  It becomes a real problem when we find that an establishment in
 NYC is sending mailers to users in all 48 continental states touting their
 fabulous DISCOUNTED prices for the MegaST  2  and  4.    Of  course, Atari
 EMPHATICALLY BOASTED  they did not want, nor would they permit, advertised
 cut-throat MAIL ORDER sales.

     Why mention the above when trying to place an agreeable opinion online
 with Nevin's?   Easy,  the discount joints have driven the majority of the
 stand-up servicing dealers in  NYC and  around the  country to  drop Atari
 like a  hot rock!   When  one considers  the requirements  to deal in MEGA
 computers one must be a blue ribbon, full service, parts  stocking dealer.
 Right?    WRONG!!!  Why is it that a certain house of melody, (J&R Music),
 in NYC can cut everyone's throat and offer  NO SERVICE????   (We recommend
 folks patronize  ONLY those  dealers who  service the products they sell.)
 Why is it that this outfit can skirt all the COSTLY requirements  the rest
 of the dealers in Atari's super anemic dealer network are forced, cudgeled
 and pressured into satisfying??  And blatantly continue  to get  away with
 it??  Who is in charge HERE?

     The out  of town  dealer who  told Nevin they had the chips ordered or
 that they "must" do the installation  (per Atari)  are among  the atypical
 minority who have worked very hard at giving all of Atari's dwindling good
 dealers a bad rep.  Thankfully, they are  going to  be rapidly  exposed by
 the lack  of large  numbers of  good dealers  that they may 'hide' behind.
 TOS 1.4, now so appropriately named  The Rainbow  Tos, is  for many users,
 holding the  unreachable promise  of relief from countless headaches.  But
 alas, it is genuinely...  "Somewhere over the Rainbow..."  

     If ever anything was mishandled, the release of this fine upgrade was.
 And now,  evidently, it  continues to  be.   Atari, how could you design a
 series of machines (ST-MEGAS) to run comfortably on 1mb x  2chips and then
 smoothly slip  6 chip  sets out  the door  and down  the dealers and users
 throats?  While remaining obviously uncaring about all  the horror stories
 surrounding their  sales and  installation?   What happened  to the 1mb x2
 chip chipsets with TOS 1.4??  Where are  they?   Why haven't  they made an
 appearance?   Were the 'Proms being sent to dealers such a bargain for you
 to begin  with?    Wait  till  you  add  the  total  cost!    IE; customer
 satisfaction  lost,  reputation  lost,  repetitive business lost, referred
 customers lost, damaged equipment lost,  excessive  dealer  man  hours for
 installation.   Yessir, those  'proms were  a real  bargain!     Who is in
 charge here?

     When the EXCHANGE RATES,  were  <<"JACKED  UP">>,  (another incredible
 fumble), which  Sam said  he knew nothing about but would look into during
 the last CO, began to evidence itself as  an obvious  effort to discourage
 the  userbase  from  exchanging  defective  computer gear for replacement,
 thus, forcing the end user to either "DISCARD"  the disabled  gear and buy
 NEW  hardware  or,  put  hundreds  of  miles  between  themselves  and the
 defective equipment  to be  repaired.   The silence  on this  one has been
 deafening!  This is a responsive and caring Atari?  WHO is in charge here?

     What may  a user  buy NEW???   An  STE?  A TT?  A STACY?  A CD-ROM?  A
 LYNX?  What?  A MEGA!?  Anything, but the  purchase of  the brand spanking
 NEW hardware  would be  self defeating as it has all the latest in Atari's
 "new technology"  incorporated in  it's design.<grin>   Since  none of the
 "NEW" items  are available besides the "Tom Thumb" special, the user, once
 again, is on the  short end  of the  stick.   Thanks to  the 'sharpies' in
 Sunnyvale, there  are smiles  on most all the marketing faces at Apple and
 CBM.....  Who IS in charge at Atari?

     In the meantime, we must take  the time  to reassure  everyone that we
 have, implanted  firmly in  our hearts  and minds, the desire to see Atari
 become the frontrunner they rightfully  should  be  in  the  home computer
 marketplace across  the USA.  We say this with all sincerity for there are
 those who would, in  their  blind  lemming  like  behavior,  find  ways to
 represent us  as something  we are not.  Of course, nothing could possibly
 be farther from the truth.  We, in our efforts to be  diligently outspoken
 are  trying  with  every  last  vestige  of  our  energies to bring to the
 attention of every caring and  responsible  individual,  the  true "bottom
 line" situation,  in a  sincere attempt to facilitate the fastest possible
 rectification.  






      ______________________________________________________________



 > INFORMER II  STR FOCUS    Release Info on the new Informer...
   ======================



      News Release 
      ------------

                                                       INFORMER II
                                                       ===========

  
 A Data/Graphics Manager


     Good news for database users and enthusiasts! Soft-Aware, Unlimited is
 shipping INFORMER  II, said  to provide  twice the  power of The Informer,
 its' predecessor.  As graphic images relate to DTP, so  do they  relate to
 this new  concept in  data/graphics management.  Image files are logically
 connected to records  within  the  database  and  accessed  for  casual or
 "slideshow"  viewing.    Images  are  also  used  as  the  background  for
 personalized "form-on-the-screen" input.  Manipulating columns on the list
 screen, input  boxes on the form screen and utilizing the many commands is
 as simple as using  the  mouse.    As  a  programmable-type  file manager,
 INFORMER II  utilizes concepts  found in  word processors, forms managers,
 report  writers,   and  spread-sheet   programs  without   the  burden  of
 programming.    Creation  and  duplication  of  data  and graphic oriented
 applications such as invoicing or realtor listings is commonplace.

     The three disk system  comes with  a full-sized  120+ page illustrated
 manual containing  three tutorial training sessions. Converting to or from
 INFORMER II is simple,  a  conversion  program  which  converts  many data
 formats  is  available  plus  the  program reads and writes delimited text
 files. Available now on the Atari ST series,  the program  is being tested
 on PC's for near-future release.

     Deciding to  publish themselves, Soft-Aware is introducing "FareWare",
 a logical combination of conventional and shareware concepts.   Dealer and
 user  incentive  programs  allow  for unrestricted dissemination of a demo
 version containing that holder's unique REG number.   Orders produced from
 this  REG#  produce  commissions  for  that holder.  Dealer respond to the
 concept since shelving and stocking is not required, commissions are good,
 and an  in-store demo is available.  Users like the low, low price and the
 commission plan.  Products are shipped  directly from  Soft-Aware who also
 provides the  technical support.   Users  of The  Informer upgrade at half
 price.


         CONTACT:

                           Soft-Aware, Unlimited
                         334 "B" No. Euclid Avenue
                            Upland,  CA  91786
                 Phone 714-982-8409   -   FAX 714-985-2348
           GEnie: R.SKRALY and Category 34 in the Atari RT (475)





         ________________________________________________________





 > TOS 1.4 DEBACLE STR FOCUS   Tos 1.4 is great, the distribution is sad.
   =========================




                                                  DO IT OUR WAY!
                                                  ==============


 by R.F. Mariano


     Ah yes, an old friend is in our faces again, TOS 1.4!  It appears that
 our favorite  computer company  has allowed  another golden opportunity to
 become fool's gold.  Has anyone ever considered what the  sale price  of a
 520STF is  today?    Well, at Price Club it hovers around 550.00.  Now, if
 Joe User wants to put TOS 1.4 into his new  520STF computer,  it will cost
 him another  100.00 plus  installation!   That's approximately  20% of the
 cost of the computer.. an operating system update has to cost the end user
 roughly $120.00  for a  $550.00 computer?  What was the total cost for the
 last set of ROM chips offered to the Userbase as an upgrade?

     Better yet, the original plan was to offer the new  TOS in  the PROPER
 chip configuration, 1mb x2 chips.  It appears that some bright minded high
 thinking well paid executive has once again made sure Atari would loose in
 the long  run by  implementing the 6 chip shipments.  For whatever reason,
 the 6 chip shipments  have proven  to be  a veritable  disaster!   One can
 easily cite these blistering examples;

                    a) bus overloading problems
                    b) lack of 4 sockets in many machines
                    c) butchering of MegaST motherboards
                    d) weak or marginal Blitter failures
                    e) immediate failure of other marginal devices

     Most experienced  observers have  expressed the fact that if Atari had
 shipped the 2 chip chipset,  there  would  have  been  none  of  the above
 problems.   And best  of all,  the use  of the  1mb chips  would have made
 copying them via an eprom burner infinitely more difficult.  Additionally,
 Atari could  have sold these chips either factory direct or through dealer
 sales without the risk of installation problems.   Besides, the  fact that
 it would have been the right thing to do.







        ___________________________________________________________




 > COPYRIGHT VIOLATION? STReport OnLine     Scanned Pics ok?
   ====================================



                                        POSSIBLE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
                                        ===============================



 Are we, who scan and collect Clip Art, guilty of copyright infringements? 



 From:   D.HELMS 
 To:     ST.REPORT 
 Sub: Scanned Reproductions

 Ralph,
      I've  got  a question that a friend and I were  wondering  if
 maybe you could give us some insight on.

      The   recent  emergence  of  image  scanners   from   various
 manufacturers gives greater capabilities to the DTP markets and it
 s users. These scanners are extremely useful for those people that
 cannot  draw/create their own graphic illustrations for  inclusion
 in reports or whatever.  This is where the quandary begins. If you
 cannot  create  YOUR OWN graphics and have to rely  on  magazines,
 books or whatever for sources of your illustrations that means you
 have to copy from these sources.  Correct?  Reference the  'Summer
 1989'  issue of Migraphs Headline newsletter page  3.  That  point
 shows the hand scanner in operation on a magazine (looks like 'The
 Week  in  Science') copying a photo of a butterfly.  Now  I'm  not
 saying that Migraph did not receive express written permission  to
 use the picture/example for their advertisement,  but they seem to
 be  saying(along with other scanner manf.'s) that this is what  is
 the  main use of scanners- to COPY from others to include in  your
 work.

      Now when a disk copy program is advertised, they usually have
 a  disclaimer  stating  the obligations of the user  NOT  to  copy
 software illegally.

      Is   copying   pictures  and   illustrations   from   various
 sources(which  these  sources usually state that 'No part  can  be
 copied  or  reproduced  in ANY manner without  the  permission  of
 publisher')  any different  than reproducing copyrighted  software
 without due payment to the author/publisher?

      Have you ever read a book and then loaned it to a friend  for
 them  to read or vice versa?  Ever read someone elses magazine  or
 newspaper that you didn't purchase?  Are not the articles/contents
 of  these publications copyrighted the same as software?

      A  word  on 'some' of the software people that  cry  CRIMINAL
 when they find a illegal copy of their program on a BBS. They need
 to  take a look at the above paragraph and ask themselves if  they
 should be throwing stones around their glass house.

      Take  a  look at the pay service BBS's and look at  the  VAST
 amount  of SCANNED picture files.  Where did the source  of  these
 files  originate?  Did the person that scanned them have  'express
 written(or  any other type) permission' to scan  and  upload/share
 these    pics/files   with   others   for   inclusion    in    DTP
 articles/newsletters?   Why  are the BBS's allowing this  flagrant
 posting of copyrighted material?  Would they allow someone to post
 a copy of Migraphs TOUCH-UP program?  I think not.  Why not? Isn't
 the  principal  the same?  Would you consider this an  endorsement
 of 'certain' reproduced copyrighted material?

                                                  Doyle~

    Editor Note:
    ------------
     Doyle, we felt the very best way to point out that there may be a grey
 area here was to include the following letter  sent to  the good  folks at
 Computer Shopper  for having  reproductions of  certain images in an issue
 without permission.
  
     Although, many folks busily scan art work, photos and line  art.  They
 may not  be aware  that by  then swapping and sharing the results of their
 efforts with their friends and neighbors it could very well be illegal.  
     Hopefully, we will be able to  obtain an  unbiased legal  opinion that
 may become a guideline.  We at STReport see it this way; if a user scans a
 piece that is (c)  copyright then  he assumes  the liability.   This means
 that we feel it is ok as long as; 

          (a)  The  user  keeps  the  results  of his  efforts for his  own
               enjoyment.

          (b)  The user obtains  permission  to  share  the  work  from the
               copyright holder.   Not a very pleasant thought we admit but
               certainly an area open for extensive debate and arbitration.


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

  
   from  COMPUTER SHOPPER, July 1989
         Feedback Forum     page 181
         Letters from our readers


 Dear Editor:

     We are general  counsel  for  United  Feature  Syndicate,  Inc., which
 syndicates, among  other properties, the comic strip Garfield by Jim Davis
 and  the  comic  strip  Peanuts  by  Charles  M.  Schulz  in  thousands of
 newspapers in  the United States and throughout the world.  United Feature
 Syndicate,  Inc.,  owns  all  of  the  copyrights,  trademarks  and  other
 subsidiary  rights  relating  to  these  comic  strips  and the characters
 appearing therein, including  the  characters  "Garfield,"  "Odie," "Jon,"
 "Snoopy," "Woodstock,"  "Charlie Brown,"  "Sally," etc.   Because of these
 rights, third persons  are  prohibited  from  reproducing  or  copying the
 Garfield or  Peanuts comic  strip characters  in any  form for any purpose
 without a written license from United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

     No one has been  authorized  by  United  Feature  Syndicate,  Inc., to
 create, sell or otherwise distribute clip art or general graphics computer
 software  containing  images  of  any  Peanuts   or  Garfield  characters.
 Notwithstanding this, we have learned that unlicensed clip art and general
 graphics software is available with  unauthorized  images  of  Peanuts and
 Garfield characters.   Such an unlicensed software program was featured in
 the article "The Amiga Workbench" which appeared in  the April  1989 issue
 of the "Computer Shopper."

     These  unauthorized  software  programs  and  disks are available most
 often through distribution sources which carry  so called  "Public Domain"
 and  "Shareware"  software.    The  name  "Public  Domain"  software  is a
 misnomer, at  least regarding  any such  software that  contains copies of
 copyrighted  works,  such  as  the  Peanuts  and Garfield comic strips and
 characters.  United Feature  Syndicate, Inc.,  has complete  and effective
 copyright registrations  regarding the  Peanuts and  Garfield comic strips
 and characters.  Copies or reproductions of these  characters which appear
 in  "Pubic  Domain,"  "Shareware"  or  any  other  clip  art  software are
 unauthorized and constitute infringements of the rights of  United Feature
 Syndicate, Inc.,  rendering the  infringer liable for damages.  Anyone who
 sells or distributes the unauthorized software is liable  for infringement
 even if he or she did not create or manufacture the infringing image.

     United Feature  Syndicate, Inc.,  would like  to inform the readers of
 "Computer Shopper"  and others  interested in  such software  that it will
 hold fully  accountable under the law anyone found to be creating, selling
 or distributing software containing unauthorized images of any  Peanuts or
 Garfield character.

                                                 Baker & Hostetler
                                                General Counsel for
                                           United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
  
  
     The  Editors   of  "Computer  Shopper"  apologize  for  the  oversight
 regarding the Garfield characters.   This  letter should  also stand  as a
 reminder to all BBSs & User Group newsletters that duplicate or distribute
 copyrighted images.





         ________________________________________________________
  




 > TAKIN' A LOOK STR Tech Notes   Why are the TT and STE creating a stir?
   ============================



                                                  HINDSIGHT and the STE
                                                  =====================




 Graphics Chips, the STE/TT, ...and the Chef's Cooking
 -----------------------------------------------------


 by Michael Arthur

     Ever since the Atari STE's introduction, many ST Developers have shown
 great disdain  towards it.   Even though it has 8-voice stereo sound, 256K
 TOS ROMs, and extended ST Resolutions, most ST  Developers have  said that
 they simply  won't support  it.   Since such a response about ANY computer
 system, especially from a  widespread group  of vital  companies, has VERY
 dark implications,  one would wonder as to the reasons why.  After looking
 at Developers' complaints, two main reasons stood out:


       1)  The Atari TT is the future of the Atari ST, while the STE is an
           evolutionary dead-end.

     Given that the TT provides  MUCH  more  versatility  (with  a  VME Bus
 Architecture, 512K  TOS ROMs,  and Ethernet  ports) than the STE, and that
 with 68030 and 68882 math chip support, the TT will last a LOT longer than
 the STE, the first part of this statement is obviously true.

     However,  the  second  part  foretells  a  great  deal about the STE's
 future.  Since the low-end Atari  TT will  cost around  $3000.00, or about
 500 dollars  above the STE, many ST Users may simply spend the extra bucks
 to go with the TT, instead of having to get an STE now, and  spend another
 $2500 to get a TT later.  But logically, any group of knowledgeable, wise,
 and experienced businessmen would  have realized  this.   Therefore, Atari
 had aimed the STE at the middle end of the ST Line.  Interestingly though,
 it seems that one of the STE's prime  targets, current  520/1040 ST Users,
 are saying  that they  prefer the  Mega's added  memory to the STE's extra
 "frills", and eventually plan to buy a TT.   Also,  market trends  seem to
 indicate  that  the  STE's  other target, future 520/1040/Mega Owners, may
 actually buy the cheaper 1040 and Mega STs,  rather than  paying the extra
 bucks for the same amount of RAM.  Curiously, if Atari were to discontinue
 the 520, 1040,  and  Mega  ST's,  in  order  to  force  the  STE  onto the
 marketplace, it  seems that  a significant  number of future 520/1040/Mega
 Owners may simply buy USED  ST's  from  Atari  owners  upgrading  to TT's,
 instead of buying new STE's from Atari....


       2)  The STE uses a Surface Mount 68000 chip, meaning that it can't
           be expanded, and is even more of a Dead-End product.

     Remember when,  in 1985,  Atari ST Users had to drop their ST's onto a
 desk from a height of six inches in order to reseat the chips on  the ST's
 motherboard?    Well,  in  order  to  prevent this from happening again, a
 certain few at Atari decided to use a Solder Mask  Over Bare  Copper Board
 (or SMOBC)  fabrication technology  to make  the STE's  motherboard.  This
 method, which Apple and NeXT have used so their systems  could be produced
 in robotic  manufacturing facilities, produces a more reliable board.  But
 since all chips (including the 68000) have to  be surface-mounted (instead
 of soldered)  on the  motherboard, ST  Add-in products such as PC Ditto II
 and Turbo 16, won't ever be compatible with  the STE.   And  since the STE
 doesn't have a Mega expansion slot, that means that, outside of memory, it
 can't be expanded AT ALL.  Sadly, given  the aforementioned  benefits, the
 STE's SMOBC motherboard, which could have been a real advantage, now turns
 out to be its Achilles Heel.  But oddly, Atari didn't use SMOBC technology
 to make the TT's motherboard....


     Interestingly enough,  while ST Developers have complained about these
 issues, they have overlooked  what may  be the  TRUE Atari  Blunder of the
 Year, at least towards the STE and TT:  Mainly, its graphics chips....


     Here, we present the STE and TT's extended graphics modes:

             Atari STE                       Atari 68030 TT (or TT030)
             ---------                       -------------------------
 320*200 with 16 Colors out of 4096     320*200 with 256 Colors out of 4096
 640*200 with 4  Colors out of 4096     640*400 with 16  Colors out of 4096
 640*400 with 4 Gray Scales            1280*960 with 16 Gray Scales

       Now, please consider these two facts:

     1)  Atari, in making the STE, simply attached a second Shifter chip to
 the STE Motherboard, and made a few interconnections to achieve  the STE's
 graphics.   However, in  making the TT, Atari redesigned the Shifter Chip,
 both giving it (let's call it Shifter II) both the  benefits of  the STE's
 graphics, and making some modifications to give the TT's expanded array of
 displayable colors.  Now, given the  aforementioned results,  one can make
 two logical conclusions:

          A)    Atari  did this to make the STE's graphics modes completely
               compatible with the TT's graphics modes.   If  this is true,
               it would be interesting to see if, with three months time, a
               knowledgeable ST Developer could  write a  TOS Patch capable
               of  reproducing  the  TT's  Graphics  with an STE, without a
               significant loss in the STE's speed....

          B)   Atari has included Shifter II  in BOTH  the STE  and TT, but
               decided to place the code necessary for the TT's displayable
               colors ONLY on the TT.  If this  is true,  that ST Developer
               could   write   that   TOS   Patch  in  ONE  WEEK,  with  NO
               disadvantages to the STE User whatsoever....


     Interestingly enough, while Atari was busy  designing the  Shifter II,
 which provides  a 4096  color palette,  Apple gave the Mac II a 16 million
 color palette, using the same chip that RasterOps used to  make a $1000.00
 24-bit color  board for  the Mac  II, and that Commodore's Amiga 3000 will
 use to provide a 320*200 resolution with all 16 million colors displayable
 at the same time....

     Called the BrookTree RAMDAC, this chip has been available for the past
 2-3 YEARS, and now  costs only  $50.00 in  OEM/VAR quantities.   Oddly, it
 appears that the Shifter II will cost just as much, if not MORE, for Atari
 to use.  In addition to that, given that the  Shifter II's  R&D Effort not
 only cost Atari hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that waiting for the
 FCC to approve the Shifter II is the principal reason for the STE and TT's
 shipping being held up so long in the US, it is literally MINDBOGGLING how
 Atari made this AWFUL and grievous mistake.   If Atari's  decision were to
 be Cuisine  served at a Paris Restaurant to a French Food Critic, it would
 probably be spat out, and pronounced, "Bad Cooking!"


     So,  perhaps  to  prevent  this  mistake   from  being   permanent,  I
 respectfully submit  this set of solutions, which would both cure the TT's
 pathetic inadequacies concerning its graphics chips, but would  give Atari
 yet ANOTHER selling point for its future machines:

          1)   Atari is (hopefully) developing a TT040, or a version of the
               TT using the 68040 chip.    Atari  should  include  BOTH the
               Shifter II and the BrookTree RAMDAC onto the TT040's 
               motherboard, allowing for these new resolutions:

       320*200    with 16 million display colors at the same time
       640*400    with 256 display colors out of a 16 million Color Palette
       800*600    with 16 display colors out of a 24-bit Color Palette

     These resolutions  would not only be readily possible with the TT, but
 would run FASTER, and be FAR easier to develop than the Shifter II and its
 graphics were. Atari would then introduce the TT040, giving Developers the
 specs necessary  to utilize  these resolutions.   Bundling  the Shifter II
 would  give  backwards-compatibility  with  current ST applications, while
 Brooktree's Graphics chip would provide a  wide and  bountiful pathway for
 future ST Applications to use....


          2)      Atari  should  introduce  new models of the STE and TT030
               which  would  also  include   the   BrookTree   RAMDAC  (and
               resolutions similar  to those specified above for a possible
               TT040) , and discontinue the present  models of  the STE and
               TT.    While  this  would  cost Atari a noticeable amount of
               money, and would "force" Atari to raise the cost of  the STE
               and TT  several dozen  dollars, I don't quite think that the
               ST Userbase will mind  the short-lived  "inconvenience" that
               this  would  cause,  in  light  of  the  drastic increase in
               graphics resolution.  Also,  since  the  "Extended  STE" and
               "Extended  TT"   would  both   have  the   Shifter  II,  for
               compatibility with any forthcoming  STE or  TT applications,
               the transition  would be painless for both ST/TT Developers,
               and for the STE/TT Userbase....


     In  this  article,  a   "recipe"  has   been  given   to  improve  the
 palatability" of  the Atari  STE and  TT's graphics.  Let us now hope that
 Atari now will both follow this recipe, and replace the "chef" who  was in
 charge of the Team who "cooked up" the STE and TT's present graphics....





  _______________________________________________________________________




 > Sheer Frustration STReport OnLine    Another power user thinks twice..
   =================================



  
 Conf : Atari 16/32 Bit
 Msg# : 2770  Lines: Extended  Read: 1
 Sent : Oct 2, 1989  at 1:13 PM
 To   : ALL
 From : ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR at The Entertainment Center # 285
 Subj : Re: <2685> Atari Management



  
     When I bought this Mega, I bought it NOT for the support that I *wish*
 I had now, but because of the potential  that I  saw in  this machine.   I
 looked at  the latest  PCs, EGA  was the  highest graphics level, and that
 would have NOT been supported by the software that was out, plus  it would
 have added  more than  $1000 to  the price of the machine, and CGA was not
 good enough to interest me.  Apple had their IIe  machines, but  they were
 still running  1 Mhz  8 bit  processors. No thanks there.  I looked at the
 Mac, but the last thing I wanted was  a B&W  9" screen.   No  thanks there
 either.   Then I  looked at  the Amiga,  I actually spent a while with the
 Amiga, but once I found out how often it crashed,  I gave  up on  it.  So,
 the choice was narrowed down to the ST.
  
     Now, the  ST promised  a lot.   At  that time, only the 520ST was out.
 The 1040ST was still being promised.  I decided at  that time  to wait for
 the 1040ST for 2 reasons.  One, it had more memory, and second, the floppy
 drive was built-in. Well, the 1040ST  came  out,  but  then  Atari started
 talking about a Mega series that would have a detached keyboard.  That was
 the one complaint that  I  had  about  the  ST.    I  wanted  the detached
 keyboard.   So i  continued to wait, and later the next year, I bought the
 Mega at the fall COMDEX show.
  
     At  that  time,  there  were  demonstrations  of  local  area networks
 (remember PromiseLan???),  CD ROM  players were  being demo'd, and lots of
 things, including expansion boxes  for the  Mega that  would give  us real
 slots.    Atari  was also saying that the Mega series (the Mega 1, Mega 2,
 and Mega 4) were going to become the  main machines  for them.   They even
 hinted that  the Mega 1 would replace the 1040ST, and that future upgrades
 would be available for  the Mega,  because they  had designed  the Mega so
 that it  could be  upgraded.   It even had a blitter built-in, and a newer
 version of TOS in it.
  
     With all of that, how could I possibly  be making  the wrong  move?  I
 was getting  the latest  machines, one  that was going to be the companies
 flagship, and future upgrades were going to be  made for  it, plus  it had
 all the features that I was looking for, namely a 16 bit processor, pretty
 good graphics, some sound  capabilities, a  built-in double  sided floppy,
 and LOTS of memory.
  
     Did I get what I paid for?  In hardware,  YES!  In support? ..Kind of.
 In the beginning there were people at Atari that wanted  to make  this the
 best selling  machine in  America.   You could call them, get answers, and
 even get some pretty darn good support.  The Mega I bought at COMDEX would
 not function  with a  blitter chip  in it, so I had to send it back.  Then
 someone lost it at Atari.  I  was  able  to  call  Richard  Frick,  and he
 personally went  down, found  my old  Mega, and  had a new one at my front
 door in three days.  There  was no  way that  I could  possibly knock that
 kind of support. 
  
     But then  the executives  at Atari started getting what appeared to be
 'a bad time', and one by one they started leaving.  Soon  there was nobody
 left that  you could  call and  get a straight answer from any longer.  It
 was almost as if they all worked for  the same  company, but  were getting
 their  information  from  lots  of different sources, because everyone had
 different information and attitudes.
  
     By now, it has almost reached  the point  where, not  even Sam Tramiel
 has any  credibility left. They say something, and then you wait, and wait
 and wait, and then suddenly, something ELSE happens.  And if you get lucky
 enough  to  ask  Sam  Tramiel  a 'to-the-point' question during one of his
 online conferences, you get one of  the best  tap dances  you'll ever see,
 but  you  wont  get  an  answer  to the question.  Long before Neil Harris
 (anyone remember him?) left, you could pretty much listen to  him, and get
 a straight  story, but  then even  he wasn't getting the truth very often,
 and off to GEnie he went.
  
     Maybe, some of this has to  do with  the $100,000,000  that Atari blew
 playing with  Federated... Maybe it doesn't.  Maybe it has something to do
 with Atari going public.  I know one thing, there was a lot better support
 for the  user, user  groups, developers, dealers and most everyone else in
 1987 than there has been for the past 18 months.
  
     If I were going out to spend $2000 on a computer system  today, I most
 certainly would  *not* make  Atari Corp,  and the  Mega my first choice as
 easily today.  Maybe I know more about  the company  now than  I did then,
 but since  the price  of AT  clones has  come WAY DOWN during the past two
 years, and the ST has stayed about the same.  That makes  the PC  clones a
 much better  deal than  they were  two years  ago.   EGA will only run you
 about $600  today, but  the machines  have come  down almost  $1400.  That
 makes AT  clones about  $2000 cheaper than they were 2 years ago, and most
 of the software is now written  to  support  EGA,  in  fact,  VGA  is fast
 becoming the standard.
  
     With a PC, I know that I can upgrade almost everything, without having
 to buy a new machine.  The Atari TTx sounds  like it  might offer  some of
 these features,  but that's a machine that is not out yet.  The TTd sounds
 like another Mega  with  more  memory,  and  a  larger  pallet  of colors,
 basically.   But the one slot promised in the TTd doesn't sound expandable
 enough to me.
  
     I guess what it all comes down to is this.  I want a  machine that can
 be purchased  for a fairly reasonable price, will have good graphics, some
 sound capabilities, lots of memory, is expandable, is  upgradable, and for
 which I  can get  some decent  support *somewhere*.   I don't expect to be
 able to call IBM and get all the answers if  I own  an IBM  machine, but I
 can  go  out  and  buy  a  book  on  it.  And if they come out with better
 graphics, I can go out and buy a video card and monitor,  and add  them to
 my system.  That's what  I thought  I was getting when I bought this Mega.
 Apparently I was wrong.
  
     Will I buy Atari computers in the future?  It depends on the machines.
 Atari is going to have to compete with the marketplace.  If they offer the
 same or better features for the same or  less money,  then I  will have to
 consider the  machine.   If it costs more than competing machines, I doubt
 that they will get my money.
  




       ____________________________________________________________




 > WORDUP 2.0 STR FOCUS   Developer Updates from Neocept.....
   ====================



                                                  WORDUP V2.0 NEWS
                                                  ================



     Neocept has discovered a HARMLESS virus  on  all  of  the  WordUp v2.0
 upgrades and new packages with serial numbers from WUP004000 to WUP004249.
 This virus is completely harmless and does nothing  more than  copy itself
 to the  boot sector  of all  disks that are accessed.  In fact, this virus
 could arguably be called a "virus killer", since it wipes  out any harmful
 virus that  may already  occupy the  boot sector.  It is remotely possible
 that this virus could be the "key" to activate some  other virus,  or that
 this virus  interacts to duplicate some other virus.  However, Neocept has
 already disassembled and looked closely at  the  virus,  and  can  find no
 indication of how it might act as a "key".  To be safe, users should clear
 out all but the first 32 bytes of the boot sectors of  their WordUp disks,
 using a disk editor or a virus killing program.


     It has been reported to Neocept that DESKCART, by QMI, is incompatible
 with WordUp v2.0.  It causes the keyboard  handling of  WordUp to function
 incorrectly.    If  you  have  DESKCART,  it should be completely disabled
 before using WordUp.    In  version  2.0  of  Wordup,  we  added low-level
 keyboard buffers  in order  to correctly  buffer the  status of the SHIFT,
 CONTROL, and ALTERNATE keys, to work around a bug in  GEM.   Some programs
 which perform  keyboard macros may not be compatible if they do not follow
 compatible methods, such as those used by THUNDER, the spell  checker desk
 accessory from  Batteries Included (which functions correctly with version
 2.0 of WordUp).

                              WORDUP & G+PLUS
                              ---------------

     With the help of a couple of our users, we have uncovered what appears
 to be  a problem with G+PLUS and the ASSIGN.SYS file created by the WORDUP
 INSTALL PROGRAM.  If  you use  G+PLUS and  WORDUP together,  and have been
 getting  a  "NO  FONTS  LOADED"  message  when  you  boot WORDUP, read the
 following for an explanation and solution.

     The basic ASSIGN.SYS file included with the WordUp package is modified
 by the  installation program for the setup you choose.  To make this a bit
 easier, the font names in this ASSIGN.SYS file  have a  space character in
 front of  them.   GDOS does not care and reads the font name following the
 space, but G+PLUS apparently treats any line beginning  with a  space as a
 comment,  and  ignores  the  font  name  following  the  space.  Since the
 ASSIGN.SYS file from WordUp has spaces or semicolons at the  start of each
 line, this  makes it  think there  are no fonts installed, and WordUp will
 give you a message to the effect of "NO FONTS LOADED" when you boot.  When
 you replacing G+PLUS with GDOS, the problem disappears.

     We  have  discussed  this  problem  with  the  guys  at  Codehead, the
 publisher of G+PLUS, and they are looking into it.   (I would  like to say
 that I  use G+PLUS myself and think it is a fine product, and I personally
 recommend it. - Mike F. @ NEOCEPT)

     If you have seen  this error,  then for  the moment,  in order  to use
 G+PLUS instead  of GDOS,  the ASSIGN.SYS file must be edited to remove the
 spaces in front of the font  names.    See  your  WordUp  manual  for more
 information on  how to  modify the  ASSIGN.SYS.   You will need to replace
 G+PLUS with GDOS temporarily  if  you  want  to  use  WordUp  to  edit the
 ASSIGN.SYS file.





      _______________________________________________________________





 > Usergroup Support STReport InfoFile   Ongoing support for Usergroups..
   ===================================



 Contact: Pattie Snyder-Rayl (313) 973-8825
          Unicorn Publications
          3487 Braeburn Circle
          Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108

                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Atari  Interface  Magazine  Offers  User  Groups  a  Low Cost, Hassle Free
 Newsletter Alternative

 ANN ARBOR, MI 

     Has your Atari user group found itself spending  a large  chunk of its
 funds to  produce and  mail a  club newsletter?  Do you have an overworked
 newsletter editor  who scrambles  to get  each newsletter  produced?  Does
 your  club  find  it  increasingly  harder  to  have  a quality newsletter
 containing  original  articles?    Has  your  club  tried  including Z*Net
 supplements only  to find  the increased production costs far outweigh the
 benefits?

     Unicorn  Publications, producer  of  Atari  Interface  Magazine (AIM),
 announces  a  plan    to  help  Atari  user  groups  overcome  the hassles
 associated with producing a club newsletter.  We invite your  club to join
 groups from  Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas in becoming a Participating Club
 in Atari Interface Magazine for the  unbelievably  low  price  of  only 50
 cents per issue per member...for each member, that's only $6.00 per year!

     For the  price many clubs are currently paying for postage alone, your
 members can have a high quality, national newsletter  delivered each month
 to their  doors.    Here's  how it works:  Participating Clubs submit club
 news, minutes, reviews,  editorials   and  other  feature  articles  on or
 before the  17th of  each month.   Participating clubs also supply mailing
 labels for their members and a check  or  money  order  for  50  cents per
 supplied label.   Here  at Unicorn Publications,  we write monthly columns
 and features, and we do all the "dirty  work" --  editing, laying  out and
 producing the magazine and mailing each issue to the club members.

     For  those  of  you  unfamiliar  with  AIM, Unicorn Publications began
 producing the  magazine back  in December,  1987, under  the name Michigan
 Atari  Magazine.    With  the  addition of Participating Clubs outside the
 state of  Michigan in  January, 1989,  the publication  evolved into Atari
 Interface Magazine.   The  magazine supports  both  the Atari 8-bit and ST
 computers.  With over-the-counter sales in select Atari  stores from Maine
 to  California,  chances  are  you  can  find  a copy of AIM at your local
 dealer.

 As well as submissions from participating clubs, the magazine currently
 includes the following regular monthly columns:

    *  Atari Bulletin Board, a look at what's new each month in the
       Atari world

    *  Turbo Info by DataQue's Chuck Steinman who discusses the Turbo-816
       16-bit processor upgrade for Atari 8-bit owners

    *  An in-depth tutorial to help people get the most from the
       AtariWriter+ wordprocessor

     If  your  editor  is  currently  struggling   to  produce   a  monthly
 newsletter, or  if your club has tried including Z*Net supplements only to
 find that local content  has  to  be  decreased  or  newsletter production
 costs soar out of reach, we urge you to consider participating in AIM.

     Production and  mailing of  a monthly club newsletter is, quite often,
 the largest expense for a club.  As  a Participating  Club paying  only 50
 cents  per  issue  per  member,  your  newsletter  costs  should  decrease
 substantially.  At the same time,  your club  joins with  other Atari user
 groups  to  gain  the  benefits  of participating in a national user group
 publication.

 For more information on becoming a Participating Club in Atari Interface
 Magazine and other benefits of participation, 
 contact:
                            Pattie Snyder-Rayl
                              (313)  973-8825
                                    Or 
           Call our BBS at (313) 973-9137 (300/1200/2400 baud).

 Unicorn Publications can also be reached via electronic mail on:
                         CompuServe (ID 71361,411)
                            GEnie (UNICORNPUB)
                            Delphi (UNICORNPUB)
  
                   We hope to hear from your club soon!




      _______________________________________________________________




 > AIM UPDATES STR Spotlight    Usergroup support at it's best....
   =========================





     Here is a list  of the  new clubs  that have  "enrolled" in  the Atari
 Interface Magazine.

 The  Mid-Ohio  Atari  User  Group  (MAUG),  with President Chuck Steinman,
 creater of the Turbo-816 16bit upgrade board for the 8bit Atari line.

 The Rockford Atari Computer  Club (RACC),  of Rockford,  Illinois, home of
 ICD, Inc.

 The Central  Connecticut Computer  Club (CCCC), who boasts as one of their
 members Darlah Pine of GEnie.  Rich Scheidel, known to CompuServe users as
 "Yankee" Rich is CCCC President.


 Layton Atari  Computer Enthusiasts  (LACE) from  Layton, Utah.  They are a
 well-knit club of Atarians from the Salt Lake State.

 These four clubs join the nine  clubs  who  already  participate  with the
 Atari Interface Magazine.

   These clubs are:
   ----------------

                CACE                  of Jackson, MI
                GKAUG                 of Kalamazoo, MI
                GLASS                 of Troy, MI
                GRASS                 of Grand Rapids, MI
                MACE                  of Southfield, MI
                ST Club of El Paso    of El Paso, TX
                TACE                  of Tinker, OK
                TAG                   of Bay City/Saginaw, MI
                WAUG                  of Ann Arbor, MI

 We are  pleased that,  as of now, four more clubs are joining AIM with the
 November issue.  There  may be  more than  four by  the time  the November
 issue's Deadline approaches.  For more information about joining the Atari
 Interface Magazine, subscribing to AIM or advertising with us.

               Please contact Pattie Rayl:  (313) 973-8825.






      ______________________________________________________________




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




 - Washington, DC             ****  SOFTWARE RENTAL TO BECOME ILLEGAL  ****
   --------------

     A bill to prohibit the  rental  of  software  has  been  introduced by
 Senator Orin  Hatch (R-Utah).  The bill is an amendment to section 109b of
 the Copyright Act.  And will fall under  the US  Penal Code,  Section 501,
 Title 17.   Actually,  we mentioned this event about 2 months ago, but due
 to a technicality, the bill was  re-introduced thus  the new announcement.
 Senate bill 198 would make it illegal to rent, lease, or lend software for
 commercial advantage, with the exception of  libraries.   Video cartridges
 would not be covered under the terms of the bill. 




  
 - Kyoto, JAPAN              *****  ONE MILLION GAME BOYS SHIPPED  *****
   ------------


     Nintendo  has  engendered  another significant electronic gadget sales
 sensation.  They delivered  over  one  million  Game  Boy  hand  held game
 machines!   Nintendo delivered  710,000 units since this April through the
 end of this August in Japan, and has  been exporting  to the  U.S. 450,000
 units per  month since  the end  of July.  Atari should look at this, they
 (Ninetendo) delivered more at home than abroad!  They are  not mistaken in
 knowing where their roots are.  Meanwhile, the software industry is boldly
 pushing forward to support  this gadget.     Japan's software  vendors are
 becoming licensed with Nintendo in droves to supply software for Game Boy.
 They (Nintendo) are now producing  300,000  Game  Boys  monthly  and fully
 expect to  have the  monthly production  at 400,000  by early  next year. 
 Additionally, it has been learned that the regular Ninetendo machines will
 have accessories  available allowing them to receive Vidtext and they plan
 to have peripheral devices available allowing the Ninetendo to be utilized
 as a full featured computer.




 - San Diego, CA.         ***** MIXED FEELINGS EMERGE OVER PORTFOLIO *****
   --------------

       Many users  and dealers  are beginning to question the use of MS-DOS
 2.11  for  the  PortFolio,  and  have  suggested  Atari   license  Digital
 Research's DR-DOS  for use  on the  Portfolio.  The version of MS-DOS 2.11
 that  the  Portfolio  uses  will  NOT  be  compatible   with  most  MS-DOS
 applications.  Since Digital Research's DR-DOS is ROMable, and fits in the
 SAME amount of space as the  MS-DOS 2.11  ROMs, but  provides features and
 versatility found  only in  PC-DOS 4.00, and is completely compatible with
 99% of IBM programs, the Portfolio would be  gaining a  more powerful, and
 more compatible  set of  DOS ROMs.   Also,  since Digital Research markets
 DR-DOS ROMs for HALF of what the MS-DOS 2.11 ROMs are licensed  for, Atari
 would realize  a substantial savings by using Digital Research's DR-DOS in
 the  Portfolio,  instead  of  the  expensive  and  obsolete   MS-DOS  2.11
 software....




 - Sunnyvale, CA.                  *****  ANTONIO SALERNO PROMOTED!  *****
   --------------

     Antonio  Salerno  has  been  promoted  to  Vice  President  at  Atari.
 Antonio, who  has demonstrated  himself as  a capable  junior executive at
 Atari will  assume his new duties as Vice President in charge of software.
 Although we are sure his  responsibilities  will  encompass  a  great deal
 more,  we  find  it  very  difficult  to  keep up with all the promotions,
 demotions, resignations and dismissals  at Atari.   One  day soon somebody
 there will discover that true success comes with stabilized leadership who
 are true team players.  Good luck to you Antonio.






      ______________________________________________________________




 > 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:

                    Johanna Ogden       (703) 450-3992.


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


                    ******  Alive and Thriving  *******
                  
                       WAACE AtariFest 89 - Infogram
                               

     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 - Fleet Street 2.0
               D. A. Brumleve                        Mike Johnson, Michtron
        1200 - Atari Corp Speaks              1400 - "Why Some Programs
               Sig Hartmann                          Stink " A.  Wrotniak, 
        1300 - Alternative Desktops                  Debonair Software
               Rick Flashman - Gribnif        1500 - Atari Hardware Futures
        1400 - Hard Disk Systems                     Panel: D. Small, James
               Tom Harker - ICD                      Allen, David Troy.
        1500 - Speeding up the ST             1600 - Grass Roots Atari
               Wayne Buckholdt - Softrek             Panel Discussion on 
        1600 - Ask STReport Magazine                 Atari User Interests
               Ralph Mariano                  1300-1600 Musicians and MIDI


 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)
                                           ----------


 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".





     ________________________________________________________________



 > PRE-HOLIDAY SPECIAL STR FOCUS    Solid line of performers offered
   =============================




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


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

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

                          ICD HOST ADAPTERS USED

                      * OMTI HIGH SPEED CONTROLLERS *

    **** CALL FOR SPECIAL PRE-HOLIDAY "AVOID THE RUSH" DISCOUNTS!! ****
    ** LAST WEEK FOR THE SG32238 32MB EXPANDABLE HARD DRIVE @ 469.95 **

         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 -

                         TOWER - AT - XT Cabinets
                      ALL POWER SUPPLIES UL APPROVED

                          12 month FULL Guarantee
                         (A FULL YEAR of COVERAGE)

                 Quantity & Usergroup Discounts Available!
                 _________________________________________

                     DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS WANTED!

                   Company and Personal Checks accepted.

                            ORDER YOURS TODAY!

                       904-783-3319    9am - 8pm EDT







    ___________________________________________________________________




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



      An executive, whispering to another exec about Vapor Product...

    "AWW,  TELL 'EM WHAT THEY WANNA HEAR!! ...THE STOCK MARKET IS UP!!"

                                             ....Moron's Morals




                             "ATARI IS BACK?"

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ST-REPORT Issue #108   "Your Independent News Source"    October 06, 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.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

