 
                *---== CPU NEWSWIRE ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
                       """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
                  "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"
                   _____________________________________
                                 featuring
                         STReport Online Magazine
                         """"""""""""""""""""""""


  December 29, 1989                                       Vol III  No.120
  =======================================================================
  
                       CPU NewsWire 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/14.4
                    FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EDT
                 _________________________________________
  
                  **  F-NET NODE 350 ** 500mb Online  **
          Our support BBS carries ALL issues of CPU/STR Newswire
                                    and
               An International list of private BBS systems
               carrying STReport for their users  enjoyment

    __________________________________________________________________ 
    
 > Issue: #120 CPU Newswire   The Original 16/32 bit Online Magazine! 
   ------------------------ 
     - The Editor's Podium                   - CPU REPORT
     - 9600 Baud Explained                   - Blitz or BLITZED?
     - COPIERS, All Good?                    - DUAL STANDARD MODEMS
     - UIS III                               - CPU/STR NewsWire

                 --==*  FCC REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE?  *==--
        --==** ARCSHELL 2.1  FULLY SUPPORTS LHARC & ARC 6.02 **==--
                   --==* JIM TAGGART LEAVES ANTIC *==--

 ==========================================================================
                               CPU  NEWSWIRE
                     "UP-TO-DATE News and Information"
                              -* FEATURING *-
        Current Events, Up to Date News, Hot Tips, and Information
             Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports
 ==========================================================================
 CPU/STR's support  BBS, NODE  # 350  invites systems using Forem ST BBS to
 participate in  Forem BBS's  F-Net mail  network.   Or, Please  call # 350
 direct at 904-786-4176, and enjoy the excitement of exchanging ideas about
 the Atari ST computers through an excellent International ST Mail Network.
 ==========================================================================
       AVAILABLE ON:      COMP-U-SERVE  ~  DELPHI  ~  GENIE  ~  BIX
 ==========================================================================
 
 
 > The Editor's Podium 
 
 
     Here we are at the end  of another  year.... still  enjoying the Atari
 computers we  have and  looking forward to a great beginning to the 1990s.
 At CPU Newswire, we feel this  issue  is  like  a  kick-off  into  the new
 decade.   I know, next week is actually the new year but if you look at it
 this way, next week's issue will reflect work begun last week!

     Perhaps we will all pull together a little more in this new  decade, I
 certainly hope  and pray  for this.   After all, this is the decade during
 which Atari Corp.,  as  a  formidable  Computer  design  and manufacturing
 facility, will mature and (by all present indications) prosper.

     The STE  is a  blockbuster success  in any language, abroad and to the
 North.  From the  reports we  are receiving,  this baby  is on  its way to
 breaking all  Atari's previous  sales records in the computer area.  Then,
 we have the highly anticipated Stacy which, when it hits  the shelves will
 not have  time to be opened and demo'ed to anyone..  this portable has all
 the earmarks of staying  "sold  out"  for  the  first  six  months  of its
 general availability.

     The LYNX .. well this "Animal" <grin> is, without a doubt, the neatest
 goodie to varoom down the pike in a  long, long  time.   Atari has  a sure
 fire winner in the LYNX.  YUP!  I was one of the doubting Thomas types but
 after receiving mine and seeing the  responses from  'spectators' (family,
 friends, folks  at the  mall, etc.) all that can be said is; The Lynx will
 simply DOMINATE the Game Machine market for quite some time to come.

     Charles Johnson, has gone and done it again... >WHAT A  GUY!<   He has
 just released  Arcshell 2.1  which fully supports both LHarc and ARC 6.02.
 As most of you know, the Arc 6.02 will do folders automatically instead of
 us having  to do  them individually  and adding  them to an arcfile.  Many
 thanks to you Charles,  your  support  of  the  ST  marketplace  is simply
 mahvalous!  Thanks again.

     At this time, allow all of us at STR Publishing to wish each and every
 one of you a wonderful and  prosperous New  Year.   May all  your goals be
 reached and your successes be equally satisfying.

                         Thanks for your terrific support!!!

                                Ralph........





 ps;  Please.... don't drink and drive.




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


                    :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 # 47
   ----------

 by Michael Arthur


 Remember When....

     In August  1988,  Wordstar  launched  a  big  advertising  campaign to
 announce a  version of Wordstar for the Macintosh, and when legal disputes
 between Wordstar Inc. and the product's developer wiped out plans for such
 a Mac word processor, or when Xerox shipped a prototype version of Ventura
 Publisher for the Macintosh to Beta-testers, so as to judge  its marketing
 feasibility,  and   found  that  Pagemaker  had  already  gained  a  tight
 stranglehold on the Mac DTP market?




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



            ATARI'S FUTURE:  THE MYTH OF THE YEAR OF THE ATARI ST
            =====================================================


     Early on in 1989, after realizing  that Atari's  future was  in danger
 because  of  its  actions  of  1988, Sam Tramiel endeavored to undertake a
 daring campaign of both  recapturing the  gains the  Atari ST  had made in
 1985-1987,  setting  the  stage  for  Atari's products to become standards
 wherever they reached, and restoring much of the  Atari Userbase's earlier
 respect for  Atari in  the process.   This  campaign was known as "Atari's
 Quest", and was supposed to make 1989 "The Year of the Atari ST."

     However, as we all know, engineering the resurgence  of the  ST was to
 be a  FAR greater  task than anyone had expected, as Sam's earlier goal of
 setting this into motion by Early Summer was not to be met.  But while the
 flawed actions  of a  few in  Atari R&D caused endless delays in the STacy
 and Atari STE  meeting  FCC  Specifications,  Atari's  development  of the
 Portfolio was  a tremendous  step in  giving it  a good  reputation in the
 "serious" computer industry.  And as  Atari began  to deliver  the Lynx to
 the market,  many began  to wonder  if Atari  meant that 1989 would be the
 "Year of Atari Corp.", instead of the "Year of the Atari ST's Resurgence".

     But with the Atari STE, STacy Laptop, and  68030 TT  all holding great
 promise for  1990, it  seems that 1990 may truly be the "Year of the Atari
 ST."  Since new products don't necessarily make  for a  computer standard,
 we need to analyze what Atari has done in 1989 to set the stage for such a
 thing to occur, and what Atari SHOULD do to finally bring about  the "Year
 of the Atari ST."  So as 1989 draws to a close, let us take a look at some
 of the many components that can bring good  fortune to  the long-suffering
 US ST Userbase....


 ST Upgrades and the Case for a Mega STE
 ---------------------------------------

     As promises  of the  68030 TT and STacy entered the minds of the US ST
 Userbase, the question of  Computer  upgrades  became  an  important issue
 among  the  ST  Online  Community.    Since  Apple  and IBM had maintained
 upgrades in  the  past  which  were  both  profitable  to  them  and their
 userbase, many  wondered why Atari would not also do this.  However, Atari
 maintained that it would not be profitable for them to do so.   Given that
 the  68030  TT  and  STacy's  minimum  price is $2500.00, it would be most
 beneficial if current ST Users were able to trade in their computers for a
 reduced price  on these systems.  Surprisingly, an Atari upgrade policy is
 not only feasible, but potentially profitable if it  applied to  the 68030
 TT and STacy, for these reasons:


     o    Atari  could  take  the  computers  obtained through this upgrade
          policy and  sell them  to the  Educational Community.   Since any
          software made  to use the STE's capabilities will also be made to
          utilize the current ST's abilities,  the  need  for  the  STE (as
          opposed to  the old  ST) may not be as pertinent as believed by a
          certain few at Atari.  And contrary to the beliefs of a few, this
          would not only get rid of Atari's worldwide inventory of old ST's
          completely,  but  would  provide  ST's  to  schools  at  a  price
          inexpensive enough to make the Educational Community take notice
          of the  ST's capabilities.  Meaning that they will buy STE's once
          they see the benefit of the old ST's....

     o    Since Atari probably will  sell STacy's  to dealers  for $1000 to
          $1250.00, Atari could make a healthy profit even if it discounted
          the price of the STacy and 68030 TT below the list price.  But if
          existing ST  Users are willing to pay Atari more to upgrade their
          current computers to the 68030 TT and STacy, then it  would be in
          the  best  interests  of  Atari  to  make  such an upgrade policy
          avilable, since the customer would be saving money  and replacing
          his/her "old" computer in the process.

     o    Atari would  "convert" the  ST Userbase  to the  Atari STE and TT
          more quickly, meaning that good software  would be  developed for
          them a LOT faster than otherwise possible....


     Since this  policy could  hurt dealers,  one way  to reconcile Atari's
 committment to ST dealers with a desire to implement an  ST Upgrade policy
 would be  to have  ST Dealers  implement their own policies for trading in
 old computers for STacys and 68030 TT's, and for Atari  to buy  back these
 old STs  from Dealers  at a low cost.  Atari could then either resell ST's
 through Mail Order, donate them to a worthy  charity to  get tons  of free
 publicity,  or  some  other  useful  purpose.  In addition, a good upgrade
 policy would help soothe the bitterness  of the  US ST  Userbase, so Atari
 has everything  to gain  by implementing  an ST Upgrade Policy which would
 help both Dealers, the ST Userbase, and Atari itself....


     1989 saw Atari Research  and Development  become involved  in two faux
 pas  situations  for  the  Atari  ST  line.    One, the Atari STE and TT's
 graphics capabilities, which have been discussed previously.  However, the
 second  may  have  pernicious  consequences  in store for the future.  The
 Atari STE was designed as a significant upgrade  to the  low/middle end of
 the  Atari  ST  line,  with  heightened  expandability  and  a  more  open
 architecture.  In this form, it is doing quite well, as the STE has become
 a major  success in Germany, England, France, Scandinavia, Canada, and the
 rest of the world.  However,  while Atari  added SIMM  Slots for  easy RAM
 Expansion, and  a Surface  Mount 68000  which will  make hardware products
 like Turbo 16 and  PC Ditto  II easier  to install,  Atari is  sinking its
 Flagship in the process....

     When the Mega ST was introduced, Sam Tramiel called it the Flagship of
 the Atari ST Line, having an Expansion Slot and added  RAM.   But Atari is
 now making  2 Meg  and 4  Meg versions  of the STE which come in a 1040 ST
 case.  Meaning that the Mega ST's expansion slot (and also, logically, the
 Mega ST)  has now  been abandoned by Atari.  Given that the Mega ST itself
 was designed  for added  expandability, having  a case  that would support
 SIMM  slots,  an  expansion  slot,  an  internal  hard drive, and hardware
 products like Turbo 16 without having major problems being accepted by the
 FCC, it seems that if Atari were to discontinue the 2080 and 4160 STE, and
 to replace them with a Mega 2 STE and a  Mega 4  STE, that  not only would
 the Atari  STE line  become a  resounding success  among the current US ST
 userbase, but that the STE would replace the  Atari ST  completely.  Which
 is what it was designed to do....


                      Atari ST Support in the US....
                      ------------------------------

     One of  the objectives of "Atari's Quest", as outlined by Sam Tramiel,
 was to  repair the  enormous damage  that Atari  had done  to User Groups,
 Dealers, Developers,  and the  Atari ST  Userbase in 1988.  Thanks to both
 the formation of the AAD (Association of Atari  Developers), and  the wise
 actions of Atari's Charles Cherry, prospects for ST Developer support have
 never been brighter.  In the  User  Group  Arena,  Atari  has  allowed Bob
 Brodie to  revitalize the  forlorn state  of ST User Groups.  Resulting in
 that both Atari Developers and User Groups are getting more attention from
 Atari....

     However, the  state of  Atari ST  Dealers has (amazingly) deteriorated
 even worse than in 1988.  As one ST Developer put it, ST Dealers faced the
 "Brunt of  the Year  of Atari", as Atari continued its deleterious actions
 towards its greatest asset.  Resulting in that there are now no ST Dealers
 in New  York City,  one of the largest cities on Earth, and that there are
 few ST Dealers within reach of the US ST Userbase.  Atari  has stated that
 it will solve this troubing dilemma, and all are hopeful in this regard.

     One direction that Atari could take as a step towards ameliorating the
 plight of ST Dealers is to provide each Dealer with a number of Incentives
 which would not only bring more Dealerships to the ST Line, but a LOT more
 revenue (and profit) to Atari US.  Among these Incentives would be:

     o    Quick  participation  in  Advertising  efforts  for  Dealers  who
          purchase a certain amount of ST's.  For example, if a Dealer were
          to buy 15 - 20 ST's within a three-month period, then that dealer
          could direct  a number  of advertising  efforts (such as magazine
          ads or a couple of TV ads for the ST) by Atari in his region.

     Since Atari has already produced  a  series  of  TV  ads  for  the ST,
 and has gotten  offers from  prominent marketing firms like Chiat-Day (who
 made ads which boosted the Macintosh in its "early days") to produce print
 and magazine  ads for  the Atari  ST, there is no problem in either having
 the capability or the revenue  for  ST  Advertisements.    This suggestion
 would give  Atari a clear direction and purpose for all ST Advertisements,
 and would not only  help sell  the computers  that the  Dealer bought from
 Atari, but  would generate  enough interest in the Atari ST for the Dealer
 to buy MANY more ST's from Atari.  This would mean added  revenue for both
 Atari  and  the  Atari  Dealer,  and  would  expand  the ST Userbase quite
 well....

     Allowing Atari  ST Dealers  sell significant  numbers of  Atari STs to
 businesses and  Higher Education, in response to the successful efforts of
 Atari Dealers to sell the Atari ST Line  to large  organizations, schools,
 and  universities.    Apple  Corp.  got  its  first  big start through the
 educational market, and  the  Apple  II  line  (which  provides  a billion
 dollars  a  year  for  Apple)  has sold well in the Educational community.
 Since the Atari ST provides far  greater benefits  than the  Apple II, why
 couldn't  Atari  make  the  Atari  ST  line  just  as  successful  in  the
 Educational Community as the  Apple II  was for  Apple?   And why couldn't
 Atari work  with ST  Dealers in both making the presentations necessary to
 get the ST Line into schools, and in providing sales and service to these
 schools?  This would provide great  profit for  both ST  Dealers and Atari
 Corporation  itself.    And  what  greater incentive is there for business
 besides profit?

     In 1989, the Atari ST Userbase was also "left to its own  devices", as
 superb third  party software  like Pagestream,  DynaCadd, Spectre GCR, and
 the Turbo 16 Accelerator provided most of the progress and  improvement in
 the US ST situation.  Much of the US ST Userbase ended up switching to IBM
 machines, Macintoshes, or Amigas, and the ST Users who didn't  choose this
 route lost  the "diehard"  enthusiasm which used to be the hallmark of the
 Atarian.  Atari's Quest to make 1989 the "Year of Atari" did generate some
 hope  in  the  US  ST  Userbase,  but  they  have  yet to see the Atari ST
 mentioned in computer columns like Jerry Pournelle's, and have yet  to see
 signs of  an "Atari  ST Advertising  campaign" to generate any interest in
 the Atari ST.  And as promises of 1989 being  "The Year  of the  Atari ST"
 ring as  hollow in their minds, the US ST Userbase is indicating that 1990
 MUST become the time for Atari to make the ST Line popular in the US.  And
 the Clock is Ticking....




 CPU Systems Roundup XVIII
 ==========================


          Trojan Horses, Mass Mailings, and an AIDS Virus Tutorial
          --------------------------------------------------------


     Recently, several  thousand IBM  Users received  a disk labeled, "AIDS
 Information - An Introductory Diskette," from a company calling itself the
 PC Cyborg  Corporation.  Some businesses and corporations, including Chase
 Manhattan Bank, and several IBM User Groups had  also obtained  this disk,
 which said  it was  a Database on the AIDS disease.  Interestingly enough,
 not only did the disk give false information, saying that Intravenous Drug
 users had a "low risk" rating (for catching AIDS) in one segment, but this
 disk also contained a dangerous Trojan Horse program,  designed to  do its
 damage on  the 90th  time the  User rebooted  his system after running the
 AIDS Disk.

     The AIDS disk contained an installation program which  would place the
 various  data  files  on  a  hard  drive.    However,  it  also edited the
 AUTOEXEC.BAT startup file, adding an incremental counter to  keep track of
 the  number  of  times  the  victim  system was rebooted.  Once it reached
 90,000 this message would be displayed:

               "The software lease for this computer  has expired.   If you
               wish  to  use  this  computer,  you  must renew the software
               lease.  For further  information  turn  on  the  printer and
               press return."

                 Afterwards, it would print this message:
                 ----------------------------------------
               "If you  are reading  this message, then your software lease
               from PC Cyborg Corporation  has expired.  Renew the software
               lease before  using this  computer again.   Warning:  Do not
               attempt to use this computer  until  you  have  renewed your
               software lease.  Use the information below for renewal."

       Dear Customer:

       It is time to pay for your software lease from PC Cyborg
       Corporation.  Complete the INVOICE and attach payment for the
       lease option of your choice. If you don't use the printed
       INVOICE, then be sure to refer to the important reference numbers
       below in all correspondence. In return you will receive:

        - a renewal software package with easy-to-follow, complete
          instructions

        - an automatic, self-installing diskette that anyone can apply in
          minutes.  (The AIDS program was specifically designed to be so
          bothersome that you HAD to use the Installation Program....)


           After this surprising tidbit, this note would print:
           ----------------------------------------------------

       The price of 365 user applications is US $189. The price of a
       lease for the lifetime of your hard disk is US $378.  You must
       enclose a bankers draft, cashier's check or international money
       order payable to PC CYBORG CORPORATION for the full amount of
       $189 or $378 with your order. Include your name, company,
       address, city, state, country, zip or postal code. Mail your
       order to:   

                    PC Cyborg Corporation
                    P.O. Box 871744
                    Panama 7, Panama.


 Of course,  not only is the address phony, but the "PC Cyborg Corporation"
 does not exist.   After this  document is  printed, the  following warning
 appears:


               "Please wait  thirty minutes  during this operation.  Do not
               turn off the computer  since this  will damage  your system.
               You will  be given  instruction later.  A flashing hard disk
               access light means WAIT!!!!!"


     After crunching away at the unsuspecting user's hard drive for 30 - 90
 minutes,  all  data  on  a  user's  hard  drive  is  scrambled, apparently
 destroyed.  But investigators have discovered  that filenames  in the hard
 disk's  FAT  (or  File  Allocation  Table) are actually encrypted, and the
 actual files are given hidden attributes.  In  the meanwhile,  the program
 has   also   created   a   file  called  CYBORG.EXE,  and  several  hidden
 subdirectories, which seem to contain a database....

     It turns  out  that  CYBORG.EXE  contains  a  list  of  the  hard disk
 directory structure  before the  FAT was  encrypted.   Meaning that if you
 delete the hidden directories, and  replace  the  encrypted  FAT  with the
 listing in the CYBORG.EXE file, that a system can be recovered INTACT.  Of
 course, by then the PC User  may  have  already  reformatted  his/her hard
 drive.   Hard drive backups probably wouldn't help in this case, since the
 Trojan Horse program waits so long before activating....


     Much of the code in the AIDS Diskette's  .EXE files  is encrypted, and
 it seems  that the Trojan Horse program does a number of things to keep it
 from being detected or examined.  The good news in this situation  is that
 PC Business World quickly developed an "antidote" program called AIDS out,
 which automatically restores an infected hard drive....

     The person who sent this AIDS Diskette used mailing lists from several
 magazines, including  PC Business  World.  Since PCBW's mailing list alone
 costs $1200.00, and given that it  is estimated  that several  thousand PC
 Users worldwide were the targets of this mailing, it seems that the people
 who perpretrated this deed literally spent tens of thousands of dollars to
 make it a reality....


 But ponder, if you will, these questions:


 1)  What are  other ways  in which  someone  could  spread a  virus to the
     broadest possible number of users, and  how can  the computer industry
     defend itself against those avenues of infection?

 2)  What would a forward-thinking business in Atari Corp.'s position do to
     make 1990 "The Year of the Atari ST?"




 CPU STATUS REPORT
 ==================


 Menlo Park, CA      Emerald City Software recently introduced TypeAlign, a
 --------------      desk accessory which can manipulate fonts in many
                     ways, supporting effects like rotation, skewing,
                     kerning, or shadowing.  It also allows one to draw a
                     line, arc, or any other type of curve, and then place
                     a block of text onto the line's path, so the text
                     follows the contours of the curve.  However, TypeAlign
                     requires Adobe Type Manager to function.

                     Adobe Type Manager is a utility which intercepts calls
                     for Quickdraw fonts, and displays the requested type
                     and size from a Postscript outline font.  ATM also can
                     allow these fonts to be printed using a non-Postscript
                     printer, resulting in printed text of a much higher
                     quality than before.  It also has the potential to
                     print Postscript graphics.  Cost:  $100.00....

                     Adobe Type Manager functions transparently, is
                     compatible with all well-behaved Mac applications, and
                     (unlike System 7.0, which has outline fonts) runs in
                     1 Meg of RAM.  Adobe Systems has sold over 100,000
                     copies of ATM since it was released in October....


 Cambridge, MA       The Open Systems Foundation, an organization funded by
 -------------       several Unix vendors to develop a new Unix standard,
                     has announced that they may use the Mach OS (currently
                     used in the NeXT System) as the foundation for OSF/1,
                     their new systems software platform, instead of using
                     A/IX, IBM's version of Unix.

                     Mach provides better data security measures, inherent
                     support for multiprocessing, and compatibility with
                     Berkeley Unix.  But given that IBM's support of the
                     OSF was partly based on the OSF's use of A/IX, and
                     that much of the OSF's credibility depends on OSF/1
                     shipping by the announced date of July 1990....


 Tokyo, Japan        Japan's Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
 ------------        recently developed a computer which uses 26,000
                     Josephson Junctions, allowing it to perform 1 billion
                     computations per second, and to use a thousandth of
                     the power consumption rate of current supercomputers.

                     The Josephson Junction, developed at IBM in the Early
                     1970s, is a type of chip which relies on compressing
                     superconductive material in such a way that electrons
                     "tunnel" from one conducting surface to another using
                     quantum physics.  Josephson junctions now function at
                     temperatures near absolute zero. Interestingly enough,
                     research done as part of IBM's failed efforts in the
                     1970s to develop Josephson chips was later used in
                     scientific discoveries which resulted in several new
                     IBM Nobel Laureates....


 Fremont, CA         NeXT Inc. has indicated that a color display for its
 -----------         computer may not be available until Late 1990. NeXT is
                     developing a 32-bit Color Board which uses a custom
                     chipset and graphics accelerator to display 16 million
                     colors at the same time.  It is speculated that this
                     will use the NeXT's current 1120*832 resolution, and
                     that NeXT will be using the Renderman specification
                     for 3-D graphics, which was developed by Pixar Inc., a
                     company owned by Steve Jobs....

                     Aldus Pagemaker, Adobe Illustrator, and Lotus 1-2-3
                     are currently being developed for the NeXT Computer,
                     and Informix is planning to port their Wingz
                     spreadsheet (which, on the Mac II, provides color
                     presentation graphics) to NextStep.  Also, 3 1/2 inch
                     and 5 1/4 inch versions of the DaynaFile disk drive
                     are being developed for the NeXT, which will allow it
                     to read/write to MS-DOS, Macintosh, and Unix disks....






      _______________________________________________________________






 > FCC RIPOFF CPU/STR NewsPlus   The FCC, represents the people?
   ===========================



  
                                 MOBILIZE!
                                 =========

     Two years ago, the FCC tried and FAILED (with your help and letters of
 protest) to  institute regulations  that would  impose additional costs on
 modem users for data communications.

     Now, they are at it again.  A new regulation  that the  FCC is quietly
 working on  will directly  affect you as the user of a computer and modem.
 The FCC proposes that users of modems should pay extra charges for  use of
 the  public  telephone  network  which  carry  their  data.   In addition,
 computer network services such  as  GEnie,  CompuServ,  Tymnet,  & Telenet
 would be  charged as much as $6.00 per hour per user for use of the public
 telephone network.  These charges would  very likely  be passed  on to the
 subscribers.   THE MONEY IS TO BE COLLECTED AND GIVEN TO AT&T IN AN EFFORT
 TO RAISE FUNDS LOST TO DEREGULATION.

      Jim Eason of KGO newstalk radio (San Francisco, Ca) commented  on the
 proposal  during  his  afternoon  radio  program  during which, he said he
 learned of the new regulation in  an article  in the  New York  Times. Jim
 took the time to gather the addresses which are given below.

                     HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO (NOW!)
                     --------------------------------

          1- Pass  this information on.  Find other BBS's that are not     
             carrying this information.  Upload the ASCII text into a      
             public message  on the BBS, and also upload the file itself so
             others can easily get a copy to pass along.

          2- Print out three copies of the letter  which follows  (or write
             your own) and send a signed copy to each of the following:

                            Chairman of the FCC
                            1919 M Street N.W.
                          Washington, D.C. 20554


               Chairman, Senate Communications Subcommittee
                           SH-227 Hart Building
                          Washington, D.C. 20510

              Chairman, House Telecommunications Subcommittee
                          B-331 Rayburn Building
                          Washington, D.C. 20515


         HERE, WE PRESENT THE SUGGESTED TEXT OF THE LETTER TO SEND
         =========================================================

          Dear Sir,

          Please allow  me to  express my displeasure with the FCC proposal
          which would authorize a surcharge for  the use  of modems  on the
          telephone  network.  This  regulation  is  nothing  less  than an
          attempt to restrict the  free exchange  of information  among the
          growing  number  of  computer  users.  Calls  placed using modems
          require no special  telephone  company  equipment,  and  users of
          modems pay  the phone  company for use of the network in the form
          of a monthly bill. In short, a modem call is the same  as a voice
          call  and  therefore  should  not  be  subject  to any additional
          regulation.

                                             Sincerely,
                                   [your name, address and signature]


     It is important that you act now.  The bureaucrats already have  it in
 their heads  that modem  users should  subsidize the phone companies, (the
 wealthiest corporations  known  to  man)!    And  are  now  soliciting and
 listening to  public comment.   Please  stand up and make it clear that we
 will not stand for any government  restriction  on  the  free  exchange of
 information.

                           Thanks for your help.

 Editor Note:

     Folks, this  is a  very sore  issue with  this reporter,  having had a
 amateur radio operator's license for almost 20 years and a 1st class radio
 operator's  license  for  almost  the  same  length  of  time... I feel my
 dealings  with  the  FCC  over  the  years  give  me  some   semblance  of
 'experience' with this Federal "BOONDOGGLE".

     Example:

     After three  years of  intense study and high tuition, (RCA Institute)
     the examination  for the  First Class  Radiotelephone Operator License
     and its  accompanying endorsements,  Radar, Sonar  etc.. was obtained.
     Only now, we find that a scant few  years later,  the FCC discontinued
     the license  & exam  because BIG  BUSINESS found  that too many people
     were having difficulty passing the tests and the industry needed these
     people as workers.  

        Solution?  discontinue the test and license requirement....

     Example:

     CB Radio,  ah yes,  ..what a  headache it was to the commission in its
     early days.  They established  PURAC  in  DC,  another  govt committee
     responsible to  the FCC  in the  60s.  PURAC was supposed to recommend
     various solutions to the problems  of  TVI,  overpowered  stations and
     licensing of  CB Radio operators.  PURAC was as useful to the both the
     CBers and the FCC as a good dose of the trots!  The FCC  placed little
     or no  value on  the findings  of PURAC  and soon  the lack of respect
     coming from the lifers working at the FCC was as caustic as  one could
     possibly imagine.   I  know, I was on that committee.  The bottom line
     here was that the FCC proved to be useless in  the curtailment  of TVI
     and/or getting the CBers licensed.

       Solution?  Stop 'in the field enforcement' and licensing....

     For your info....

     Research the  past, if you will, through all the appointed FCC members
 since WW II, and see if ANY of them were qualified to  make judgment calls
 and vote  on the  state of communications nationwide in the USA.  They are
 responsible for the delay in high performance, high  density, TV  and many
 other progressive  technological advancements.  In the case of the TV scan
 rates it was a combination of over protectionism and catering to the US TV
 Manufacturers.    These  appointees  have characteristically supported BIG
 BUSINESS since the  end  of  the  war.    They  have,  literally speaking,
 forgotten the little people, the every day guys (you and I).  

     THIS FOLKS,  IS THE  REAL REVOLUTION and it effects ALL computer users
     not just those in the Atari arena.  A loud  and clear  message must be
     sent  to  Washington  D.C.    We  had  all better sound the alarms and
     react  swiftly  to  this  sneak  attack  on  our  wallets  and future.
     Remember  carefully  what  the  FCC  said  the  last  time  they  were
     "embarrassed" by the large amount of mail received  decrying this very
     same issue that the FCC now resurrects.  They said ...

          SINCE THE  NETWORK SERVICES  PROVIDE THE  INFORMATION SHARING FOR
          EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, WE THEREFORE  DECLINE TO  ADVISE POSITIVELY
          FOR THE MOTIONS BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

     In so  many words  two years  ago, they  managed to  fill the air with
 much bureaucratic gobbly-gook when  they  should  have  said  "the general
 public shot  the motion down."  Well, the new administration, Bush, Quayle
 & Co. are now trying to push this very same action through again for AT&T.
 No  doubt,  if  this  gets  the  full  brunt  of  the negative reaction it
 deserves from the public, the FCC members will  have to  pay attention and
 drop this cause.  If however, you the users and general public, allow this
 to slip through due to complacency,  a  very  large  percentage  of online
 users will  disappear. And  the govt will have successfully pulled another
 large flap of wool over the public's eyes in favor of big business.  

     Don't believe me?  Check out the FDA (chicken & salmonella issues) and
 a  few  other  alleged  'WATCHDOG  COMMITTEES'  they  have  literally been
 rendered almost completely impotent.   Thus,  serving  big  business' best
 interests.   If you think the US Govt hasn't been pro big business for the
 last 15 years....  ask yourself this question;   what  ever became  of the
 Sherman Anti-Trust  Laws???    Take  a good  look at the size of Beatrice,
 ConAgra, Bechtold, Pennzoil to name  just  a  few  monoliths  as  food for
 thought.  Better yet what is Bush's relationship to Pennzoil?

     BE ADVISED
     ----------
     If  this  motion  goes  through,  another  avenue  of "Free Speech and
     Expression" will cost a small fortune to maintain.  Thus,  limiting it
     to only  those either capable of paying or those subsidized by special
     interest groups and ...you guessed it!  Big Business!!


     Characteristically,  the  FCC  is  and  has  been,  a  "plum"  for the
 President  since  the  end  of  WW  II.  Every administration has used the
 offices of this agency to  place  those  individuals  who  helped  the new
 president get  elected in one way or another.  A fine example of patronage
 if ever there was one.  

     There has not been a  need  to  limit  or  curtail  the  use  of radio
 equipment since that time (WW II).  Sure there are those that will say the
 FCC controls the morality of TV and radio shows... WE say baloney!  

     OF NOTE
     -------
          THE ONLY FUNCTION THEY (THE FCC) SEEM TO DO WELL IS CATER  TO THE
          GIANT CORPORATIONS (AT&T) THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO REGULATE!

     Easily, we  can all  realize the financial gain AT&T will have if this
 action by  the FCC  is FORCED  through.   Where, in  any way,  is the best
 interests of  the people  of the  United States of America being cared for
 and served by the FCC's actions in this cause?  If anyone can show how the
 FCC is doing the right thing in promoting this action for a second time, I
 say show me!





      ______________________________________________________________




 > Copiers CPU/STR Review    Copying devices are they ok?
   ======================



              The DISCOVERY CARTRIDGE from "HAPPY COMPUTERS"
          The SYNCHRO EXPRESS from "COAST TO COAST TECHNOLOGIES"
               The DUPLITWIX BLITZ from "1ST STOP COMPUTERS"


 By Leon T. Jordan

                 Are they all that they claim to be???????

     Well, I have all three and I can tell you  this now,  one stands heads
 and shoulders  above the  rest.   Lets take  them in  the order which they
 appear above.  The first one of the three to be released to the public was
 the Discovery  Cartridge, from  "Happy Computers".  I got in on the ground
 floor with this one, I was one of the one's who ordered in advance of it's
 release to  the public.  I did this because I also have my 8-bit 130XE and
 1050 drive, which has the Happy drive modification on it. It was  fast and
 would back up all or most of the software I use. 

     Some would only run on a Happy drive, but I could live with that since
 I only had one drive anyway.  But enough of the old 8-bit happy,  lets get
 to the  new Happy  Discovery Cartridge.   Well  after a  long wait I can't
 remember if it was 1 or 2 years that is, it finally came in  the mail with
 a  nice  little  letter  of  apologies  for taking so long. No sweat all I
 wanted to do was test this baby out.  I mean this was to be the  answer to
 my back up prayers. 

     After reading the hook up documentation which was all on the disk that
 came with the hardware for copying, I hooked it up to my  520ST (1meg) and
 put the  disk in the drive and booted the system.  I then grabbed a disk I
 wanted to back up and started to copy.  Instantly I could  see this Happy,
 definitely did not have the same WARP speed the old Happy had. This sucker
 is as slow as molasses in the winter time. But it did copy the  disk and I
 no longer  had to  use my master disk. Great! But be ready to sit down and
 read a book or something.  Well it's not really that slow but it  is slow,
 and by  using the  different copy  parameters you can copy any disk except
 those with physical damage as a means of protection. What more can  I say.
 CAUTION  IF  YOU  GET  AND  USE  THE DISCOVERY CARTRIDGE ,DO NOT TURN YOUR
 COMPUTER OFF WITH THE DISK STILL  IN IT.   For  some reason  unknown to me
 turning the  computer off while the Discovery Cartridge is still hooked up
 will cause the drive to write junk to your disk,  and could  keep the copy
 from  working.    Happy  Computers  is  well  aware  of this problem.  The
 Discovery Cartridge plugs into the computers  cartridge slot  and into the
 drive connector. Your drive plugs into the Discovery Cartridge.

     The Discovery Cartridge has a lot of other options also, but they deal
 with other things that I don't feel have to do  with it's  ability to copy
 disk.  It will also copy disk from other computers, IBM, Amiga, and Apple,
 and Mac.  You can also create your own copy parameters to use with  it, if
 you have  the skill.   But  it does work and it works well, I only wish it
 was faster.  The Discovery Cartridge with just the basic package will cost
 you around  $188.00. As  you add  other options the price goes up. You may
 find it cheaper thru some mail order stores.

     Next, we take a look at the SYNCHRO EXPRESS COPIER from Coast to Coast
 Technologies. and  the Duplitwix Blitz Copier from 1St Stop Computers. I'm
 doing these two together because the are almost the same.   The  only real
 difference I  can see  is that the Express has what they call a custom LSI
 chip installed which is supposed to make it copy better. The basic hook up
 is about the same in that the both work by plugging into the printer port,
 and both require two  drives.   The Blitz  copier comes  with the  hook up
 cable and  software needed  to run  it.   You could  at one  time find the
 software and a diagram of how to make your own cable on  GEnie under Blitz
 copier.   The Synchro Express comes with a cartridge which plugs into your
 printer port and a short cable (about  6  in.)  you  plug  into  the drive
 connection in  the rear  of your computer.  Both of these copiers say they
 are fast, and will copy almost everything. 

     The Blitz copier even says it will copy things the Discovery Cartridge
 can't.  While the Express says don't be mislead by outrageous claims for "
 Nibbler " programs.  I've tested them both and one thing I have to say is,
 as for  speed they  both leave  the Discovery Cartridge in the dust at the
 starting line.  They are very fast, they both read  and write  at the same
 time.   In other  words, when they are done reading the disk they are done
 writing the copy.   Express says  it can  copy a  double sided  disk in 44
 seconds and  by George  I think  it will.   The Express also says they had
 100% success in their recent  test  they  were  unable  to  find  a single
 program the Express couldn't backup.

     I don't know what programs ether of these two companies did there test
 on, but I found programs nether of them would copy and that ProCopy would.
 I also  found a  few the Express would copy and Blitz would not. They both
 copy a lot of programs, but they are not all they are billed to  be as for
 as I'm  concerned.   The Synchro  Express sells  for $69.99  from Coast to
 Coast Technologies.  You can get The DupliTwix  Blitz for  $44.00 from 1st
 Stop  Computers.    One  more  thing  the Express was made to work with an
 internal drive, as drive A but will work with an external drive,  as drive
 A but  it's really  inconvenient.  Coast to Coast Technologies is aware of
 the problem and are working to correct it.

     In summary; I must say "you pay for what you get", and the only copier
 I  found  that  did  in  fact  copy  all  programs tested is the Discovery
 Cartridge from Happy Computers.  It cost more money but  at least  it will
 do what  they say  it will  and that's  a lot  more than I can say for the
 others.  Of course, this is my opinion, check it  out for  yourself, and I
 think you'll find the same thing I did.  "You pay for what you get."

     If you  have any  questions on  these three copiers leave me E-Mail on
 GEnie under LTJ. You  can write  me at  Leon T.  Jordan 540  Ledora Circle
 Anchorage, AK. 99515.

     Thanks for  taking the  time to read this as you can see I'm not a pro
 at this.  As a matter of fact this is my first  one. I  hope it  will give
 you a  little more  information to  go with before you buy.  They all work
 some just better than others.





          ______________________________________________________





 > Blitz or Blitzed? CPU/STR OnLine    A rose, is a rose, is a rose..
   =================================



 Conf : Atari 16/32 Bit
 Msg# : 4748  Lines: 11  Read: 1
 Sent : Dec 25, 1989  at 12:27 PM
 To   : RALPH, STReport NODE # 350
 From : JIM MITCHELL at Crash ST
 Subj : Re: <4714> Copiers

 In reply to:

 > Is there any truth to  the statement  that the  Blitz cable  will, after
 three or four backups of the original eventually munch the original?
  
 There is  some truth  to the rumor.  You just have it backwards.   After 3
 or 4 generations, you can no longer copy the copy.  It reduces it use a as
 a pirating  tool therefore.  To make it more clear, a copy of the original
 will work, a copy of a copy will work, a copy of a copy of a copy probably
 will not  work, and  a copy  of a copy of a copy of a copy is garbage.  It
 does not matter if it is unprotected or not.


 Editor:
     Although at first glance, the degradation of a copy looks  like a true
 anti piracy  tool and  more than  likely is.   However, after a second and
 more thorough look at the situation, this is (IMHO) not nice.  To purchase
 a product  labeled as  a copier  of EVERYTHING and not see anywhere in the
 advertisements that this bugger has a built in degrader is the pits.  Once
 again, folks  ..its caveat  emptor!  I make this statement not to say that
 the degrader should not  be  there,  but  the  sellers  should prominently
 display this fact to the potential buyer.  The advertising should tell all
 that this "feature" exists.





        __________________________________________________________





 > LYNX ONLINE CPU/STR OnLine   FNET BUZZING ABOUT LYNX!
   ==========================


 Below, we present a few of the high energy posts about the Lynx.


                              Silverthorn writes:

     OOOOOOHH the LYNX!  I'm very anxious to  get my  hands on  that little
 wonder.  Two of my cousins went all the way to New York to pick up a pair.
 To see it, is to want it.  It's a simple as that.  
  
                                                  Silverthorn

                              ROBERT DEN HARTIGH writes: 

     Well I went shopping on Boxing day (big mistake) and  kept on tripping
 over kids  sitting outside computer and toy stores playing with Game Boys!
 I doubt if we'll see the Lynx any  time soon  in Canada  and by  that time
 Nintendo will  have the  market wrapped up. Atari will have to do a little
 advertising and they might be able to be the  machine for  next Christmas,
 as long as no one else comes along.
  
                                                  Rob //

                              Ralph, SysOp Node 350 writes:  
     You may  think Nintendo  will have  the market  wrapped up  but let me
 tell you this the LYNX is HOT! I have one and by golly it  is the superior
 game machine on the market worldwide.... bar none.  

     The moment  the Lynx  becomes available there, the other game machines
 will be put down and the LYNX picked up and  used exclusively.   The Lynx,
 at this  time, is  so much  better than  any of the other offerings in the
 game machine market.  

                ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO OWN THE GAMEBOY, 
                 THEY WILL GO RIGHT OUT AND BUY A LYNX.  

                                   You can quote me on that one my friend.
                                                                  Ralph....


 Editor Note:

     We decided to present this information  about the  Lynx because  it is
 literally taking the country by storm!  In fact we predict it will surpass
 any of Atari's expectations, sales wise, by the  end of  April 1990.   The
 Lynx is  far ahead  of the  competition there is no comparison to anything
 available to the user.  Here and now,  the LYNX  offers more  bang for the
 buck than any other game machine offered.





        __________________________________________________________


  
  
 > Stock Market ~ CPU NewsWire
   ===========================
  
  
                                                    THE TICKERTAPE 
                                                    ============== 
  
 by Michael Arthur 
  
 Concept by Glenn Gorman 
  
  
       Atari Stock  went down  3/4 of a point on Monday, and stayed even on
 Tuesday.  Stock information for Wednesday was not found.  Atari Stock went
 up 1/8 of a point on Friday.  Finishing up the week at 8 7/8 points, Atari
 stock is down 5/8 of a point from the last report. 
  
  
        Apple Stock is up 2 3/4 points from Friday, Dec. 15, 1989. 
          Commodore Stock is down 1/4 of a point from 12/15/89. 
              IBM Stock is up 3/8 of a point from 12/15/89. 
  
  
               Stock Report for Week of 12/18/89 to 12/21/89 
  
 _________________________________________________________________________
 STock|   Monday    |   Tuesday   |  Wednesday |  Thursday  | Last Friday |
 Reprt|Last    Chg. |Last     Chg.|Last    Chg.|Last    Chg.|Last    Chg. |
 -----|-------------|-------------|------------|------------|-------------|
 Atari|8 3/4   -3/4 |8 3/4    ... |   -----    |8 3/4       |8 7/8   + 1/8|
      |             |             |            |            | 47,200  Sls |
 -----|-------------+-------------+------------+------------+-------------|
  CBM |10 1/4   ... | 10    - 1/4 |   -----    | 10         |10 1/8  + 1/8|
      |             |             |            |            | 885,000 Sls |
 -----|-------------+-------------+------------+------------+-------------|
 Apple|34 3/4   + 1 | 35    + 1/4 |35 3/4  +3/4|36 1/4  +1/2|36 1/2  - 1/4|
      |             |             |            |            |4,626,500 Sls|
 -----|-------------+-------------+------------+------------+-------------|
  IBM |93 3/8 -1 1/8|94 3/4 +1 1/8|94 5/8  -1/8|95 1/8  +1/2|95 3/8  + 1/4|
      |             |             |            |            |1,005,100 Sls|
 -----'-------------------------------------------------------------------'
  
  
      'Sls' refers to the # of stock shares that were traded that day. 
      'CBM' refers to Commodore Corporation. 
  
 The '-----' indicates that information on those stocks was not found for 
 that day. 





         _________________________________________________________

  
  



 > TOS 1.4  CPU/STR InfoFile    An overview....
   =========================


  
  
  
                                   TOS 1.4 -> "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
                                   ======================================
  

 by Chas. Medley
 Status Disk Magazine

  
     As most of you know by  now, Atari  has released  a new   version   of
 TOS, known  as   TOS  1.4  or  Rainbow  TOS.   The  basic look and feel of
 GEM remains  the same.   However,  several new  features have  been  added
 and, reportedly,  many   old   bugs   have   been   fixed.   In  addition,
 several functions have been rewritten to be more efficient. 

  
 Performance
 ----------- 
  
     I will begin with a description  of the  major new  features.   At the
 time of  this writing  I still  have not  received official  1.4 docs from
 Atari so it is possible there  are some  additional features  I don't know
 about. 
  
     o Clicking  on Desktop Info reveals a new dialog box with copywrite   
       dates of  1985  -  1989, as well as the Fuji symbol in animated     
       color (cycling,)in med and low rez. 
  
     o Show info will allow the renaming of a folder.  This performs a true
       rename, not merely a copy and delete.  Universal Item  Selector III,
       supports this feature directly. 
  
     o Show  info on  a folder will display its size in bytes and count the
       number of files and sub-directories it contains. 
  
     o Copying or deleting displays the file and folder names  as it copies
       or deletes.   This is great for those times when something goes     
       wrong, as you will know exactly how far you got before the  problem 
       occurred. 
  
     o Copying  floppies now uses all available memory so disk swapping may
       no longer be necessary for one drive systems. 
  
     o You can now move (copy & delete) files by  holding down  the control
       key when dragging a file. 
  
     o You can install an application so that it auto-runs at boot-up time.
       You have to have a new desktop after installing it  for this feature
       to work.   A  new line, beginning with the letter Z,  is  written to
       the DESKTOP.INF specifying the path of the program to auto-run. 
  
     o The file selector now displays drive buttons for all  active drives,
       A-P.   A couple  of annoying bugs/features have been fixed.  Hitting
       carriage return at the path line will NOT  cause an  immediate exit,
       and changing the wildcard will not result in TOS changing it to *.*.

  
     o INSTALL is now the default for installing a drive icon. 
  
     o Applications can be removed (de-installed). 
  
     o Some screen redraws seem to be slower, particularly the dial        
       directory dialog box within FLASH.  QINDEX still reports 100%    
       functions. 
  
     o TOS provides warm and cold boots from the keyboard. 

          Control-Alternate-Delete performs a warm boot.
          Control-Alternate-(right)Shift-Delete performs a cold boot.

     A  cold  boot  takes  an  extra  second or so while memory is cleared.
     There are sill times when the  machine  has  crashed  badly  enough to
     require  you  to  completely  power  down,  but  it  is generally more
     reliable than previous keyboard boot  programs  available  on  the ST,
     including RESTART and HOTKEY. 
  
     o The  40 folder  limit is fixed but there is still a limit, just very
       far away.  You should still use FOLDRXXX  to increase  the limit, so
       presumably, the default limit is fewer than 999 folders. 
  
     o FATSPEED/DISKFREE/etc.  are no longer needed as the FAT search speed
       has been greatly increased. 
  

        Software Compatibility (partial list)
        ------------------------------------- 
  
     Tests were performed on a Mega ST, with  a Multisync  monitor and hard
 drive.   All the  special application  hardware put to use worked properly
 including the  Tweety  Board,  the  JRI4096C  color  board  and Stereo-Tek
 glasses. 
  
      TITLE                 TYPE           TITLE                TYPE    
  
 AEGIS ANIMATOR 2.11      - Comm  OK.  AIRBALL               - Comm  OK.
 ALL ABOARD               - Comm  OK.  ANTI ALIASER (da)     - Comm  OK.
 ANTIBOMB 1.2             - PD    OK.  ARC 6.02              - Share OK.
 ARCSHELL 2.0             - Share OK.  ART & FILM DIRECTOR   - Comm  OK.
 ART GALLERY 2.0 (da)     - Comm  OK.  ATHENA II 1.9         - Comm  OK.
 BACKUP 1.2               - Share OK.  BAAL                  - Comm  OK.
 BALANCE OF POWER         - Comm  OK.  BALLISTIX             - Comm  OK.
 BIGSCREEN (tsr)          - PD    OK.  BLOOD MONEY           - Comm  OK.
 BLOODWYCH                - Comm  OK.  BUREAUCRACY           - Comm  OK.
 CAD 3D 2.03              - Comm  OK.  CAPTAIN BLOOD         - Comm  OK.
 CHRONO QUEST             - Comm  OK.  CHAOS STRIKES BACK    - Comm  OK.
 CORNERMAN                - Comm  OK.  CRIMSON CROWN         - Comm  OK.
 CYBER CONTROL  (da)      - Comm  OK.  CYBER PAINT 2.0       - Comm  OK.
 CYBER SCUPLT             - Comm  OK.  CYBER TEXTURE 1.0     - Comm  OK.
 DC EXTRACT (da)          - Comm  OK.  DCFORMAT              - Share OK.
 DCRAMIT                  - Comm  OK.  DCSQUISH              - Comm  OK.
 DEGAS ELITE              - Comm  OK.  DEVPAC ST             - Comm  OK.
 DISK DOCTOR              - Comm  OK.  DUNGEON MASTER        - Comm  OK.
 EASYDRAW 3.00            - Comm  OK.  EASY-TOOLS (da)       - Comm  OK.
 EMACS 3.975              - PD    OK.  EXPERT OPINION        - Comm  OK.
 FALCON 1.0               - Comm  OK.  FALCON 1.1            - Comm  OK.
 FALCON MISSION DISK      - Comm  OK.  FINANCIAL CALCULATOR  - Comm  OK.
 FIRST WORD 1.03          - Comm  OK.  FLASH 1.6             - Comm  OK.
 FLIGHT SIMULATOR         - Comm  OK.  FONT TRICKS 2 (da)    - Comm  OK.
 G+PLUS 1.3 (da & tsr)    - Comm  OK.  GENESIS 1.0           - Comm  OK.
 GOLD RUSH                - Comm  OK.  GRIDIRON              - Comm  OK.
 HARDBALL                 - Comm  OK.  HISOFT BASIC 1.23     - Comm  OK.
 HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE etc.  - Comm  OK.  HOTWIRE     (tsr)     - Comm  OK.
 HOTWIRE     (prg)        - Comm  OK.  ISS                   - Comm  OK.
 KULT                     - Comm  OK.  LEGEND OF DJEL        - Comm  OK.
 MANUAL MAKER 2.20        - Share OK.  MAPS & LEGENDS 3.05   - Comm  OK.
 MAXPAK (da)              - Comm  OK.  MENACE                - Comm  OK.
 MIDI MAZE                - Comm  OK.  MIND SHADOOW          - Comm  OK.
 MOONMIST                 - Comm  OK.  MULTI-DESK            - Comm  OK.
 MUSIC STUDIO             - Comm  OK.  NEWBELL (tsr)         - PD    OK.
 OBLITERATOR              - Comm  OK.  OOP TOPOS             - Comm  OK.
 PACK2                    - Share OK.  PAGE FLIPPER (da)     - Comm* OK.
 PAGESTREAM 1.80          - Comm  OK.  THE PAWN              - Comm  OK.
 PC-DITTO I 3.01          - Comm  OK.  PHANTASIE I           - Comm  OK.
 PHANTASIE II             - Comm  OK.  POPULOUS              - Comm  OK.
 PRIME TIME               - Comm  OK.  PROSEPRO FORTRAN      - Comm  OK.
 QUICK ST 1.6d            - Share OK.  RATEHD                - PD    OK.
 RED STORM RISING         - Comm  OK.  REVOLVER              - Comm  OK.
 REZRENDER                - Comm* OK.  SANTA PARAVIA etc.    - Comm  OK.
 SCREEN OPERATOR (da)     - Comm* OK.  SHADOW                - Comm  OK.
 SHADOWGATE               - Comm  OK.  SILENT SERVICE        - Comm  OK.
 SPECTRUM 512 1.01        - Comm  OK.  STALKER 2.03          - Comm  OK.
 STATUS DISK MAGAZINE     - Comm  OK.  SUNDOG                - Comm  OK.
 SUPERBOOT 5.5            - Share OK.  SUPER CONDUCTOR       - Comm  OK.
 TANGLEWOOD               - Comm  OK.  TDI MODULA 2          - Comm  OK.
 TETRIS                   - Comm  OK.  THUNDER 1.2 (da & prg)- Comm  OK.
 TIMELINK 2.0             - Comm  OK.  TOUCH UP 1.56         - Comm  OK.
 TRANSYLVANIA             - Comm  OK.  TRIVIAL PURSUIT       - Comm  OK.
 TURBO ST 1.6 (da)        - Comm  OK.  UIS III               - Comm  OK.
 UNISPEC 1.1 (da)         - Comm  OK.  VIDI ST 1.25          - Comm  OK.
 VKILLER 2.2              - PD    OK.  WORD PERFECT          - Comm  OK.
 ZERODISK                 - Comm  OK.  ZORK TRILOGY          - Comm  OK.
  
           Legend:  da = desk accessory          Comm = commercial 
                   tsr = auto boot program      Share = shareware 
        prg (or blank) = program                   PD = public domain
  
        * indicates a commercial program published by an ST magazine






        ___________________________________________________________




 > UIS III CPU/STR InfoFile  UIS III  a brief overview....
   ========================


 ctsy GEnie RT


                        UNIVERSAL ITEM SELECTOR III
                        ===========================

 by Ed Otey



  
   I think it's time to make sure that everyone understands exactly  what 
   we've  been discussing.   UIS III has several ways of displaying  file 
   names in the medium and high rez mode (only one way in low-rez).

   In medium-rez, you can display your text in LARGE (normal screen font) 
   or SMALL mode.  Large mode allows for 12 filenames to be listed up and 
   down (vertically) and Small allows for 16 filenames.   There are three 
   other sub-modes for each of these.....

     1)   The '12 Mode' - This just displays 12 filenames and  extensions 
          vertically  -  i.e.  ANGORA.IMG (in the SMALL  mode,  16  file- 
          names/extensions are shown).   In this mode,  UIS III only uses 
          about  1/2 of the screen (in medium rez).   This allows you  to 
          move  UIS around the screen (if you so choose) and keep it  out 
          of  your way.   This is real nice with the  Moniterm  monitors.  
          (NOTE: You can move UIS around the screen in any of it's modes) 

     2)   The '12W Mode' - This displays 12/16  filenames/extensions/date 
          /time vertically - i.e.  ANGORA.IMG  20431  11-17-89  10:09 pm.  
          In  this mode,  UIS uses about 80% of the screen but shows  you 
          more information.   (NOTE: This is _my_ preferred way of having 
          it configured.)

     3)   The  '36 Mode' - This displays 12/16 filenames/extensions in  3 
          columns  across (4 columns in the Small mode).   The names  are 
          listed horizontally (see example) but still scroll  vertically.  
          So  you'd have either 12x3 or 16x4 files showing on the  screen 
          at one time.

   High-rez has all of the above modes but instead of having the 16 file- 
   names vertically in the Small mode,  it has 32 filenames.   So in  the 
   '36 Mode', you'd have 36x3 or 36x4 filenames showing.

   The following is two examples of the '36 Mode'.   The first is how UIS 
   handles it's sort, the second is how some folks would rather see it.


         EXAMPLE1:
         angora.img    animals1.img   animals2.img    animals3.img   /\
         arcaeop.img   avocett.img    baboon1.img     baboon2.img 
         barn_owl.img  bat1.img       beagle_1.img    beagle_2.img   \/

         EXAMPLE2:
         angora.img    animals3.img   baboon1.img     bat1.img       /\
         animals1.img  arcaeop.img    baboon2.img     beagle_1.img
         animals2.img  avocett.img    barn_owl.img    beagle_2.img   \/

   One  reason  that  Chris made the sort the way he did is  to  make  it 
   easier to 'lasso' files.  Let's say that you wanted to move all of the 
   files from ANGORA.IMG to BABOON2.IMG. As you can see, it would be very 
   simple  with  the sort going horizontally.   But with the  sort  going 
   vertically (up and down),  you'd have to lasso three different columns 
   separately.

   Yes,  I'm sure he could make the lasso go up/down and across  columns, 
   but that would take more code.   And Chris has tried to keep his  code 
   as  small as possible (less than 30k) so that UIS III wouldn't tie  up 
   too much memory even on a 512k machine.

   BTW,  one nice feature that Chris added was to expand the lasso.  Have 
   you ever had 15 files to move on the normal Item Selector?  If so, you 
   know  that you can only lasso 9 of them (I believe that's the  number, 
   it's been a while since I used the normal Item Selector  _grin_).   So 
   you  have to lasso 9,  copy/move them to another area,  come back  and 
   lasso  the next 6 and copy/move them to another area.   With  UIS III, 
   the  lasso now scrolls up and down just like the scroll bar.   So  you 
   could  start at the first file and just move the lasso down...when  it 
   hits the bottom of the screen,  it just keeps scrolling downward (just 
   as if you were moving the scroll bar down).   So you can copy/move  as 
   many files as you want very easily.  (NOTE: the lasso will also scroll 
   upward.)  You say "Well,  that's nice but why don't I just use the *.* 
   in the SELECTION LINE?". What happens if you want to move some folders 
   along with the files, the "*.*" won't work with them.  What happens if 
   you only want to move some of the files on a directory, the "*.*" will 
   move all of them.   This is a feature that grows on you,  at first you 
   don't think you'll use it much but after a while you won't know how to 
   do without it.

   Well,  that'll do it for today.   If you have any further questions on 
   any of the new features of UIS III,  Ron or I are on here almost every 
   day, so feel free to ask.  Just remember, I'm kinda wordy.

 To order your copy of Universal Item Selector III Call:


                        Universal Item Selector III
                        version 3.0 Copyright 1989
                       Application & Design Software
                      Grants Pass, OR  1-503-476-0071





         _________________________________________________________





 > 9600 BAUD CPU/STR InfoFile      The real info.....
   ==========================




     Not  long  ago,  many  data  communicators  thought that dial-up modem
 manufacturers  had  pushed  transmission  speeds  to  the  limit  with the
 introduction  of  2400  bit  per  second (bps) modems.  Recently, however,
 several  manufacturers  have  creatively   combined     relatively  mature
 techniques of  data transmission with newer technology and have introduced
 9600 bps modems.

     Unfortunately, a widely accepted standard  for  full  duplex  9600 bps
 transmission as  defined by  the International  Consultative Committee for
 Telegraphy  and  Telephony  (CCITT)  does  not  yet  exist  (the  CCITT is
 currently  considering  proposals  for  a  new 9600 bps dial-up standard).
 This means that today's  9600 bps  modems do  not offer cross-manufacturer
 compatibility.   The CCITT  HAS endorsed  a half  duplex and a full duplex
 9600  bps  standard,  but  to  date  implementations  of  these relatively
 flexible standards  have been  proprietary, i.e.,  even the "standardized"
 modems from different manufacturers are not compatible.

     All this means that modem users who want to enjoy  the dream  speed of
 9600 bps  must weigh  the pros  and cons of each 9600 bps technique before
 committing to a particular 9600 bps design.  This paper was written  in an
 effort to  provide typical  modem users  with enough technical information
 and insight that they will be  able to  consider the  new 9600  bps modems
 from  the  position  of  an  educated  consumer  and  not  have to rely on
 information gleaned from sales brochures and advertisements.  It should be
 noted that the author, Wes Cowell, is an employee of USRobotics.

                               THE ROAD TO 9600
                               ================

     High  speed  data  communications  via  the  dial-up  phone network is
 limited by the  available  phone  line  bandwidth  and  by  random channel
 impairments.    Just  as  the  diameter  of  a pipe limits its liquid flow
 capacity, so does the telephone  channel  bandwidth  limit  its  data flow
 capacity.

     The  roughly  3000-Hz  available  in the telephone bandwidth poses few
 problems for 300 bps  modems,  which  only  use  about  one  fifth  of the
 bandwidth.  A full duplex 1200 bps modem requires about half the available
 bandwidth, transmitting simultaneously in both directions at 600  baud and
 using phase  modulation to  signal two data bits per baud.  "Baud rate" is
 actually a measure  of  signals  per  second.    Because  each  signal can
 represent more than one bit, the baud rate and bps rate of a modem are not
 necessarilly the same. In the case of 1200 bps modems, their baud  rate is
 actually  600  (signals  per  second)  and each signal represents two data
 bits.    By  multiplying  signals  per  second  with  the  number  of bits
 represented by  each signal  one determines  the bps rate: 600 signals per
 second X 2 bits per signal = 1200 bps.

     In moving  up to  2400 bps,  modem designers  decided not  to use more
 bandwidth, but  to increase speed through a new signalling scheme known as
 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

     In QAM, each signal represents four data bits.  Both 1200 bps and 2400
 bps modems  use the  same 600  baud rate, but each 1200 bps signal carries
 two data  bits, while  each 2400  bps signal  carries four  data bits: 600
 signals per second X 4 bits per signal = 2400 bps.

     A technique  known as adaptive equalization enables 2400 bps modems to
 adapt to phone line impairments call-by-call. Essentially, if the modem is
 experiencing problems  with a  noisy line,  it looks for a "sweet spot" in
 the  bandwidth  and  attempts  to  avoid  troublesome  frequencies.   This
 technique makes  2400 bps  modems more  tolerant of  line noise than their
 1200 bps counterparts that use compromise equalization.... 
                      (a one-size-fits-all approach).

     While these  advanced modulation  and equalization  techniques in 2400
 bps modems  provide for double the data rate of 1200 bps modems, they also
 result in a design at least four times more complex than 1200 bps modems.

       Which brings us to the problem of designing a 9600 bps modem.

     Jumping to 9600 from 2400 bps  is  several  orders  of  magnitude more
 complicated  than  going  to  2400  from  1200  bps.    Telephone  network
 characteristics make it  highly  unlikely  that  success  will  be  had in
 extending the  "data signal  alphabet" (number of bits represented by each
 signal) beyond four bits per signal.

     Instead, modem designers must increase the bandwidth that  is to carry
 the signal,  and this  presents a very big problem.  In fact, at speeds of
 4800 bps (1200 signals per second), the transmit and receive channels must
 be expanded to the point where they actually begin to overlap. A  9600 bps
 "band" requires roughly 90 percent of  the available  bandwidth, making it
 impossible  to  have  two-way  communication without the bands interfering
 with each other.

     A helpful analogy to the problem  might  be  to  consider  a  two lane
 highway: traffic must flow in both directions simultaneously, but to carry
 more cars per unit  of time,  highway designers  must either  increase the
 number of  lanes in  each direction  or widen the two lanes to accommodate
 driver error with a margin of  safety.   Unfortunately, these  options are
 not available  to modem designers as the available bandwidth is of a fixed
 size.

     With these considerations and limitations in mind, let's examine three
 basic ways  to accomplish  full duplex  (two-way) 9600 bps communications:
 echo cancellation, virtual full duplex (achieved by half  duplex systems),
 and asymmetrical frequency division.

                               ECHO-CANCELLATION
                               =================

     This  method  solves  the  problem of overlapping transmit and receive
 channels. Each modem's receiver must try to filter out the echo of its own
 transmitter and  concentrate on  the other  modem's transmit signal.  This
 presents a tremendous computational  problem that  significantly increases
 the complexity  -- and  cost --  of the  modem.   But it offers what other
 schemes don't: simultaneous two-way transmission of data at 9600 bps.

     The CCITT "V.32" recommendation for  9600  bps  modems  includes echo-
 cancellation.   The transmit  and receive bands overlap almost completely,
 each occupying  90  percent  of  the  available  bandwidth.    Measured by
 computations per second and bits of resolution, a V.32 modem is roughly 64
 times more complex than a 2400 bps modem.   This  translates directly into
 added development  and production  costs which  means that it will be some
 time before V.32 modems can compete in the high- volume modem market.

     Despite  the  fact  that  V.32  is   a  recognized   standard,  it  is
 uneconomical  and  unnecessarily  complex  for  personal computer datacomm
 applications that  simply  don't  require  simultaneous  two-way  9600 bps
 transmission.

                               HALF DUPLEX SYSTEMS
                              (Virtual Full Duplex)
                               ===================

     Half duplex  solutions devote  the entire bandwidth to 9600 bps in one
 direction at a time, and "ping-pong"  the  data  flow  back  and  forth to
 simulate  full  duplex.    This  is  potentially the simplest scheme.  Its
 performance is acceptable in data transfer applications that don't involve
 user  interaction,  i.e.  file  transfers. Even so, advanced error-control
 protocols that require ACKnowledgments to be sent in  response to received
 data  blocks  generate  a  high  number  of "line reversals" which greatly
 impair overall data throughput.  In short, the benefit of  higher speed is
 so  significantly  compromised  by  line reversals in half duplex sessions
 that the net gain in data throughput may be marginal at best.

     If users want to operate in  an interactive  mode, their  data must be
 sent to  the remote  computer, the data channel must be reversed, and then
 the data must  be  echoed  back.    This  process  results  in significant
 turn-around delays which can be very frustrating to users.

     Half  duplex  modems  of  this  kind  are  most  often  based on CCITT
 recommendation V.29 for half duplex 9600  bps transmission  on the dial-up
 network.  V.29 based data pumps used in facsimile systems are available as
 LSI chip sets, providing a short-cut to modem  manufacturers, particularly
 to companies  that don't  develop their  own modem  technologies.  But the
 major problem is that the V.29 modulation scheme has been outdated  by the
 fact  that  it  operates  in  a  half duplex mode and doesn't provide good
 signal to noise performance.  The V.32 recommendation, which operates in a
 full  duplex  mode  and  employs  Trellis Coding Modulation offers greater
 throughput and a greater immunity to channel impairments.

     To the best of  my knowledge,  modems employing  V.29-based modulation
 include  products  from  Racal-Vadic, Comspec, Develcon, Gamma Technology,
 Microcomm, and Electronic Vaults, Inc.  (EVI).  These modems, however, are
 NOT  mutually  signal  compatible -- cross-manufacturer compatibility does
 not exist.

     Another modem in the half  duplex  category,  but  not  based  on V.29
 modulation,  is  the  Telebit  Trailblazer  (R),  which uses a proprietary
 modulation method.

     Trailblazer is based on a multi-carrier technique.   Conceptually, the
 transmission channel  is divided into many (512), independent, very narrow
 channels (think of our two-lane highway and imagine it as  having 512 very
 narrow lanes  (say, for  bicycles) going in one direction and you've got a
 fair idea of how Trailblazer divides the bandwidth).   The  main advantage
 is that  no receiver  adaptive equalizer is needed because each channel is
 very narrow compared to the overall channel bandwidth.

     Further, in the Trailblazer modulation scheme, the modulation  rate in
 each narrow channel can be changed somewhat independently.  Trailblazer is
 different from  many other  modems in  that the  decision to  fall back to
 lower speeds  is built  into the modem protocol, rather than controlled by
 the user's computer port.  It is  claimed  that  in  the  face  of channel
 impairments, throughput  can be  adapted gracefully to channel conditions.
 Traditional modulation systems would  have to  fall back  in larger steps.
 But there are three inherent MAJOR problems:

 1)  The turn-around delay is very long compared to conventional modulation
     techniques because data must be  sent  in  large  blocks.      A typed
     character may  take several  seconds to  be echoed  back to the system
     that sent it.  As a result, the system fails  to achieve  the illusion
     of  full  duplex  and  is  not  really  suited  to  interactive online
     sessions.

 2)  The Trailblazer receiver cannot "track" carrier  "phase jitter" (phase
     jitter can  be thought  of in terms of "phase shift": think of how the
     whine of a race car goes from higher to lower as it  passes the viewer
     the frequency  of the  sound is  said to  be "shifted" or "jittered").
     Instead of cancelling out phase jitter (which is  commonly encountered
     on long  distance calls)  the Trailblazer can only respond by lowering
     throughput to gain more immunity to phase jitter.

 3)  The ability to transmit at the  maximum rate  when subject  to channel
     impairment is  considerably less  than for conventional modems.  There
     is one notable  exception:    the  multiple  channel  technique offers
     extremely good immunity to impulse noise because the impulse energy is
     distributed over  narrow  channels.    While  conventional  modems can
     achieve similar results through special coding or filtering techniques
     they rarely implement such methods.


                        ASYMMETRICAL FREQUENCY DIVISION
                        ===============================

     When one considers the nature of most PC datacomm applications,  it is
 realized that  most applications are interactive, involving manual (typed)
 data entry from one end and data file transmission from the other end.

     Few, if any, PC users can justify using an expensive  9600 bps channel
 to carry  their typed characters when they realize that 300 bps translates
 to 360 words per minute.  Assuming one  could type  100 words  per minute,
 even a 100 bps transmission channel would be sufficient.

     On  the  other  hand,  file  transfer  should  take  advantage  of the
 tremendous speed of the  microprocessor.   Serial ports  are often  set at
 data rates in excess of 19,000 bps.

     Considering  these  inherent  characteristics, a communications scheme
 that incorporated a high speed and  a  low  speed  channel  would  be best
 suited for most PC datacomm applications.

     Remembering the  highway analogy (higher speeds mean wider lanes), one
 can see how such a method would grant modem designers a   large portion of
 the available bandwidth for a 9600 bps channel and still leave enough room
 to accommodate a narrow 300 bps channel without any channel overlap.

     By utilizing two discreet channels, such  a modem  would avoid costly,
 complex echo-cancellation  schemes.   And, because the channels carry data
 in both directions simultaneously, the communications link is  a true full
 duplex connection.   This  means that  data entered at one system would be
 almost  instantaneously  echoed  back   --  eliminating   the  frustrating
 turn-around delay experienced in half duplex sessions.

     USRobotics has  developed just  such a  modem.   It passes data in one
 direction using the V.32 modulation technique  (a very  robust method that
 is  very  immune  to  phone  line  impairments) but employs only a 300 bps
 channel in the opposite direction so that the channels do  not overlap and
 echo-cancellation is not necessary.

     The use  of the  high-speed channel by the two modems is based on data
 demand. In most applications,  however,  "channel  swapping"  will  not be
 required.    For  interface  elegance,  the modems employ a 4K buffer that
 allow them to perform data rate  conversion: sending  and receiving speeds
 remain  constant  between  the  modem  and  the  computer -- it is only in
 between the  modems that  transmitted and  received data  run at different
 speeds.

     For  interactive  sessions,  users  are assigned the low-speed channel
 while the data sent to them  (long mail  messages, menus,  files, etc.) in
 the 9600 bps channel.

     For file  transfer sessions,  the data  blocks that make up a file are
 sent in the 9600 bps channel  while the  corresponding ACKnowledgments are
 returned in  the 300 bps channel.  An asymmetric frequency division scheme
 is ideal for  file  transfer  where  large  data  blocks  (usually several
 hundred bytes in length) are transmitted in the high-speed channel and the
 ACKs (usually only a  few bytes  in length)  are carried  in the low-speed
 channel.

     If a  user switches from an interactive mode to file transfer and then
 back to interactive  mode,  the  high  speed  channel  is  dynamically and
 automatically assigned to the system with the greatest data demand.

                               A BRIEF COMPARISON
                               ==================

 Three options  exist for  data communicators who desire to operate at 9600
 bps:

 1)  V.32-type modems offer a full duplex connection but do so by virtue of
     echo-cancellation.   This technique  is so  complex, and has proven so
     difficult to  employ,  that  the  cost  for  such  modems  will remain
     prohibitively high  and their  implementation a delicate task for some
     time to come.

 2)  Half duplex modems (either V.29 or  multi-carrier) offer  9600 bps but
     the  turn-around   delay  inherent   in  half  duplex  links  severely
     compromise  overall  throughput.    This  degradation  of  throughput,
     however,  can  be  more  than  offset  by  data compression techniques
     assuming  the  modems  in   question  support   identical  compression
     protocols and  are operating  on relatively "clean" phone lines.  Both
     half duplex methods  suffer  disproportionate  degradation  on "noisy"
     lines: the V.29 modems must spend more and more time in line reversals
     as detected data errors  increase, and  the multi-carrier  modems must
     sacrifice throughput to gain noise immunity.

 3)  Asymmetrical Frequency  Division offers  9600 bps communications  in a
     true  full  duplex  implementation.    By  efficiently  utilizing  the
     available bandwidth,  these modems  provide users with high speed file
     transfer  capabilities  and  fast  response  in  interactive sessions.
     Because  the  transmit  and  receive  data  channels  do  not overlap,
     expensive  echo-cancelling  techniques  are  unnecessary  making these
     modems economically efficient.

                                   IN CONCLUSION
                                   =============

     Until a  widely recognized  standard is  agreed upon  by the standards
 community, and implemented by  several  manufacturers,  modem  buyers must
 weigh the benefits and detriments of each 9600 bps scheme.

     V.32  would  be  best  where  symmetrical,  full  duplex,  synchronous
 communication  is  desired  (for  example,  dial-up   HDLC  links  between
 multiplexers) and  where the  user can  modify his software to accommodate
 non-"AT" command-driven modems.

     V.29 modems would be likely solutions  where absolute  lowest price is
 required and  conformance to  an international standard (in a very limited
 sense) is desired.

     Multi-carrier transmission  schemes  are  well-suited  to applications
 that require  maximum one-way  throughput and where circuit conditions are
 known to be good.   This  transmission method  is also  ideally suited for
 circuits where immunity to impulse noise is paramount.

     Users who  most often  work with  one-way file transfers (PC-to-PC) or
 with  real-  time  applications  may  opt  for  an  Asymmetrical Frequency
 Division scheme, which is suited equally well for either application.  The
 elegant  approach  to  the   frequency   division   (avoiding  overlapping
 bandwidths) also  allows these  modems to  present a very economical ratio
 between dollars and bps.

     Potential high-speed-modem buyers should also consider  the aspects of
 ease-of-  use,  ease-of-implementation,  and  downward  compatibility with
 existing implemented standards (the CCITT's  V.22bis  for  2400  bps, Bell
 212A for 1200 bps, and Bell 103 for 200 bps).

                                   POST SCRIPT
                                   ===========

     Many  modem  users  have  voiced confusion and consternation about the
 lack of compatibility between modem manufacturers  at speeds  greater than
 2400 bps.

     Modem manufacturers  have embraced the Bell 212A and 103 standards for
 1200 and 300 bps.  In these post-divestiture days, however, Bell no longer
 sets modem  standards in the U.S. and hence, U.S. modem manufacturers have
 turned  to  the  CCITT  as  a  definitive  source  for  standards.     The
 industry-wide acceptance  of the  CCITT's V.22bis standard for 2400 bps is
 the best example of this shift.

     The CCITT recommendations V.29 and V.32 for 9600 bps have not resulted
 in compatible  implementations.  It is important to remember that V.29 was
 originally developed as a four-wire full duplex leased-line  modem and has
 since been  adapted by various manufacturers to encompass half duplex dial
 up applications.    Other  problems  with  V.29  are  that  it compromises
 transmission speed  and is poor for interactive sessions.  V.32 is proving
 to be  prohibitively  complex  and  exceptionally  difficult  to implement
 (driving development and production costs up).

     Recognizing the  need for  an alternative  to the V.32 recommendation,
 the CCITT has requested proposals from modem manufacturers.

     Presently, two proposals are being considered  by the  CCITT.   One is
 the multi-  carrier scheme  developed and sponsored by Telebit.  The other
 is an Asymmetrical Frequency  Division scheme  developed and  sponsored by
 USRobotics.






        __________________________________________________________





 > DUAL STANDARD MODEMS CPU/STR FOCUS   Taking a good look at 'em...
   ==================================




     The  Courier  HST  Dual  Standard  modem  combines  U.S.  Robotics HST
 asymmetrical full-duplex  modulation and  CCITT V.32  capability for high-
 speed flexibility, performance and compatibility.

     The  Courier  HST  Dual  Standard  is  perfect  for  data centers that
 support both PC and  mainframe  applications,  and  where  synchronous and
 asynchronous capabilities are required.

     The  Dual  Standard  includes  all  major modulation techniques - HST,
 V.32,  V.22  bis,  V.22,  V.21,  Bell  212A  and  Bell  103   -  providing
 compatibility with the vast installed base of synchronous and asynchronous
 modems from 300 to 19,200 bps, including all  current and  previous models
 of U.S. Robotics Courier HST modem.

     For  typical,  asynchronous,  PC-style  applications  such as one- way
 file transfer, the  Dual  Standard  modem s  HST  technology  provides the
 fastest error-free transmission available on dial-up circuits.

     The Dual  Standard modem V.32 capability is the versatile solution for
 applications requiring  true full-duplex  and/or synchronous transmission,
 such  as  host-to-host  or  micro-to-mainframe  comunication,  remote  LAN
 bridging, two-wire leased lines, leased  line  dial  backup  or high-speed
 international standards compatibility.

     In its  asymmetrical HST  operation, the Dual Standard modem transmits
 asynchronous data at  9.6, 7.2 and 4.8  Kbps, automatically  providing the
 fastest data  rate in response to phone line conditions. In V.32 mode, the
 Dual Standard modem sends and receives asynchronous or synchronous data at
 9.6, 7.2 and 4.8 Kbps.

     The  Dual  Standard  modem  also  provides CCITT V.42 compatibility by
 including MNP Class 1 through 4 error-control protocols.   The  modem also
 features MNP Class 5 data compression, effectively boosting its data rates
 by up to 80 percent when connected to other MNP Class 5 modems.

     In HST mode, the Dual Standard  uses U.S.  Robotics asymmetrical full-
 duplex modulation  technique, splitting the phone line bandwidth into non-
 overlapping high-speed  and low-speed  channels.   The modem automatically
 assigns the  high-speed channel  direction based  on dataflow demand.  The
 HST technique uses  trellis-coded  modulation  for  high-speed, error-free
 performance.

     In  V.32  mode,  the  Dual  Standard  operates  simultaneous  send and
 receive frequencies using trellis-coded modulation and echo- concelling.

     Courier HST Dual Standard is  available  in  external  and rackmounted
 models.    The  rackmounted  version  works  in U.S. Robotics Rackmount 30
 Modular Modem System, which includes a 19-inch-wide chassis  for up  to 15
 modem and interface boards.

 DESCRIPTION
 -----------
 7.2 and  4.8 Kbps  in V.32  mode, and  at 2400, 1200 and 300 bps in either
 mode.

 Data Compression - MNP  Service  Class  5  compression,  available  at all
               transmission  speeds  above  300  bps,  increases  effective
               throughput by up to 80 percent.

 Error Checking - MNP Service Classes  1 through 4 at all  speeds above 300
               bps (asynchronous transmission only).

 Hardware/software flow control allows fixed RS-232 rates up to 19.2 Kbps.

               Asynchronous  or  synchronous  transmission  on  dial-up  or
               leased lines.  Synchronous  available in  V.32 mode  only at
               all speeds above 300 bps.

 Auto-dial  -  asynchronous  ("AT"  command  set), synchronous (nonvolatile
               RAM).

 Ease of Use Features:
 ---------------------
         Automatic transmission-speed adjustment guarantees highest
         possible speed under a wide range of conditions.

         Automatically adapts to the highest data rate supported by the
         remote modem.

         Speaker with volume control for audio call-progress monitoring.

         On-screen and bottom label help summaries.

         RS232-C pins 2 and 3 (Send and Receive data) switch-reversible
         for easy use with terminal, computer or printer.

 Technical Specs:
 ---------------- 
     Twelve LED front panel indicators. 
     Local analog and digital loopback, and  remote digital  loopback self-
     testing. U.S./CCITT answer sequences. 

     Includes    power  adapter  and  RJ11C phone cord. Two phone jacks for
     voice/data communications. 

     Size:  8.3" wide, 12.65" deep,  1.57" tall.  Power adapter  UL listed,
     CSA approved.  Supply voltage:  115 VAC, 60 Hz, 16 VAC output.

 SPECIAL FEATURES
 ----------------
 High-Speed Operation - 

 Courier HST Dual Standard offers the most   productivity,  flexibilty  and
 compatibility.

         HST mode - High-speed compatibility with all Courier HST modems.
         V.32 mode - Compatible with all CCITT V.32 standard modems.

 Trellis-coded  modulation  in  both   high-speed  modes   ensures  maximum
 immunity to telephone network impairments.

 Non-volatile Random Access Memory (NRAM) -  

 Easily  programmable   non-volatile  memory stores user-defined default
 configuration.

 Phone Number Storage -  

 Creates auto dial directory of four frequently called phone numbers.

 Automatic Dialing -  

 "AT" command dialing and automatic dialing of stored  phone number at
 power on, reset command or when terminal turns on DTR.

 Synchronous Auto-Dialing - 

 Automatically dials stored phone number, then establishes synchronous
 data link.

 Diagnostics -  

 Local and remote loopback testing provides DTE, modem and  phone line
 diagnostic capabilities.

 COMPATIBILITY
 -------------
 Courier HST-compatible at 9.6, 7.2 and 4.8 Kbps. 
 CCITT V.32 -compatible at 9.6, 7.2 and 4.8 Kbps. 
 CCITT V.22 -bis-compatible at 2400 bps. 
 CCITT V.22 -and Bell 212A-compatible at 1200 bps. 
 CCITT  V.21  -and  Bell  103-compatible  at  300  bps. Uses "AT" auto-dial
               command set in asynchronous mode. 
 CCITT V.42 -compatible (MNP  Class 1-4  error control).  MNP Class  5 data
               compression. FCC, DOC certified.






         _________________________________________________________






 > CPU NEWSWIRE CONFIDENTIAL    Sayin' it like it is....
   =========================


 - Toronto, Canada              ***** ATARI IS ON TIME AND TRACK!! *****
   ----------------


     Yes Bunky, the STE is out finally...actually right on time too!  Atari
 is DEFINITELY improving.  A&B Sound also received the NEW  PC 5.   The 386
 machine (20Mhz)  with 4MB  RAM, a 60 MB HD, and VGA graphics, also the new
 PCC1424 color VGA monitor...right on Atari, keep it coming!!!




 - Grass Valley, CA.            ***** HAPPY COMPUTERS HAS NEW HOME! *****
   ----------------


     Happy Computers' expressed the  Best Wishes  of the  Holiday Season to
 the  ST  computing  community  and  advises  all  of  its  new address and
 telephone numbers.
                              Happy Computers
                             12000  Mathis Way
                          Grass Valley, Ca. 95940

            1-916-268-3595 voice line  1-916-268-3986 Fax line
                      1-916-268-9089 Support BBS line




 - San Francisco, CA.             ******  ANTIC LOOSES A PIONEER!  ******
   ------------------

     On a completly amicable basis, Mr. John Taggart,  Assoc. Publisher for
 Antic  Magazine,  (STart)  has  tendered  his resignation.  In seeing this
 gentleman go on to greener pastures,  we  can  only  hope  we,  in  the ST
 Community, will  be fortunate  enough to have another, such as he, serving
 us in the future.  In the meantime, good luck,  health and  fortune to you
 John, please ...don't forget us.






       _____________________________________________________________
  





 > Hard Drive Info CPU/STR InfoFile
   Affordable Mass Storage
   ================================ 
  
  


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


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

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

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

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

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

            ***** After CHRISTMAS SPECIALS ARE IN EFFECT! *****
                                     
           ***  ALL Units: Average Access Time: 24ms - 34ms  ***

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

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

                    EXTRA CARTRIDGES: 97.95  (anytime)

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

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

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

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

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

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

                 Quantity & Usergroup Discounts Available!
                 _________________________________________

                     DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS WANTED!

                 Personal and Company Checks are accepted.

                            ORDER YOURS TODAY!

                       904-783-3319    9am - 8pm EDT






      _______________________________________________________________



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




             "Often copied and mimicked.....NEVER DUPLICATED!"
               FIRST, LAST AND ALWAYS  ..CPU/STR NEWSWIRE!!

                                           ... The Bottom line






 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CPU/STR            "Your Independent News Source"       December 29, 1989
 16/32bit Magazine           copyright  1989         Vol. III ~ Issue #120
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Views, Opinions and Articles Presented herein are not necessarily those of
 the  editors,  staff,  CPU  NEWSWIRE,  CPU/STR or  CPU Report.  Reprint
 permission is hereby granted, unless otherwise  noted.   All reprints must
 include CPU  NEWSWIRE, CPU/STR  or CPU  Report and the author's name.  All
 information presented herein is  believed correct,  the editors  and staff
 are not responsible for any use or misuse of information contained herein.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

