
                *---== CPU NEWSWIRE ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
                       """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
                  "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"
                   _____________________________________
                                   from
                            STR Publishing Inc.
                            """"""""""""""""""


  February 02, 1990                                               No.4.05
  =======================================================================
  
                       CPU NewsWire Online Magazine
                                 featuring
                             STReport ~ Online
                        __________________________
                          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
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                 _________________________________________
  
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                  carries ALL issues of CPU/STR Newswire
                                    and
               An International list of private BBS systems
        carrying CPU NewsWire for their users enjoyment Worldwide!
    __________________________________________________________________ 
    
 > 02/02/90: CPU Newswire #405  The Original 16/32 bit Online Magazine! 
   ---------------------------- 
     - The Editor's Podium                   - CPU REPORT
     - Fast Technology - An overview         - FCC & ATARI?
     - THE BEAT GOES ON!                     - PC-DITTO II (hmmm)
     - DynaCADD 1.7 part II                  - CPU CONFIDENTIAL

           ---====**** MEGA ST2 DISCONTINUED! -> J&R ****====---
               --==** STE ON SALE THROUGHOUT EUROPE! **==--
                 --=* $99.00 LYNX ANNOUNCED IN THE UK *=--

 ==========================================================================
                               CPU  NEWSWIRE
                  "Only 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 in the first  few days  of February  1990, alas,  with the
 situation we  have at  hand it  seems like  Feb. 1989.  In the last twelve
 months what have we actually seen from Atari besides TOS 1.4, the Lynx and
 the  Portfolio  in  the  USA?    What  we  did  receive was a profusion of
 verbosity  pertaining  to  the   future  and   how  Atari   was  going  to
 specifically CATER  to the US market, ..the US Market would have the first
 release all new products  for the  year..(1989).   Well 1989  has come and
 gone and  still, the  best that  can be said is Atari is moving ahead with
 new products.  That sadly, are not available in the USA.   ...Yet.

     We saw a low key release of TOS 1.4 which, in our opinion was prudent.
 If one  were to  consider the  fact that  our neighbors  to the north beat
 Sunnyvale  to  the  draw  on  the  release  of  TOS  1.4  information  and
 HDX300-301 by  a country  mile.   Sadly enough, the release version of TOS
 1.4 was  broken!   We now  have Tos14fix.prg  and poolfix3.prg.   The STE,
 which uses  TOS 1.6, has been shipped to "ALL POINTS" around the world and
 released for sale.   ...EXCEPT of course, the USA.  Speaking of TOS 1.6 it
 too is broken and needs a tosfix.prg of its own.  Apparently, it (TOS 1.6)
 boots in only one rez regardless of the monitor in use..  

     The Lynx is in very limited distribution and  the Portfolio  (the only
 new computer  related product  in the US so far) is selling well but it is
 just about to go through the 'baptism of fire' called  the "Upgrade Blues"
 this should get interesting in the coming months.

     In taking  these events into consideration, it can be said that Atari,
 even with the personnel  changes  and  'new  product'  releases,  is quite
 consistent.   They are  still manufacturing  and shipping the new products
 (STE) in large quantities to Europe first.  It also  appears there  are no
 plans to  advertise nationally  in the USA.  They will however, do a nifty
 ad campaign west of the Rockies because "most of the dealers are  out this
 way...."  

     As we  progress into 1990, we will, most certainly, begin to enjoy the
 benefits of an expanded userbase resulting from the sale of  the STE units
 both in  Canada and  soon in  the USA.  There is  no doubt  the Stacy will
 become available 'real soon now' and once it does, again  the size  of the
 installed userbase  in the  USA will  rise.  That is just "what the doctor
 ordered".


                         Thanks again for your strong support,
                                             Ralph......




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


                    :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: XTX99587,CPUREPT then, hit RETURN.

                       **** SIGN UP FEE WAIVED ****

           The system will now 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'.



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






 REPRINT FROM ISSUE #401
 -----------------------


                          IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 
                          ====================== 
    
    
     Please, be  advised that  beginning with  the current issue, #401, CPU
 NewsWire will be available for Download regularly between  6 -  7pm friday
 evenings.   The reason for the recent fluctuations over the past few weeks
 are far too numerous to mention here.  The fluctuations are however, at an
 end.      We  apologize  for  any  inconvenience you may have experienced.
 Henceforth, you may rely on our being on  time, with  the latest  info and
 news Fridays between 6-7pm. 
    
     With the  advent of ARCSHELL 2.1 and ARC 6.02, with their ease of use,
 increased  speed,  reliability  and  efficiency  improvements,   PLUS  the
 portability of the arc format to many other computers than just the ST has
 given us good reason to no longer upload CPU/STR Newswire  in dual formats
 of ARC/LZH.   Therefore,  beginning this week, 01-05-90, we will upload to
 the major services in  the ARC  format only.   Please,  do not misconstrue
 this decision to stay with the latest arc format as a blanket denunciation
 of all other file  compression techniques  as this  is definitely  not the
 case. 
    
    
                                         Thanks for your support, 
                                             Ralph F. Mariano 
                                          STR Publications Inc.

 FIVE ISSUES LATER...
 --------------------

  
     Admittedly, we  recently went to the LZH format, we did so as a result
 of a number of  requests from  our readers.....   We  found however, after
 considering the  "profusion of  confusion" that  has crept  into the LHARC
 arena, and the LACK OF COMPATIBILITY with other computer systems , we will
 revert  to  ARC  as  originally  intended.    Once  the myriad of programs
 dedicated to LZH become  "standardized" in  the ST  arena and  among other
 computer systems, as ARC is, we will reconsider the use of the LZH format.





               _____________________________________________





 > CPU REPORT
   ==========
  

   Issue # 52
   ----------



 by Michael Arthur

 Remember When....

       In 1984, while engaging in lawsuits with up to 50 computer companies
 which tried to illegally introduce Apple  II  Clones,  Apple  Corp.  won a
 copyright infringement  suit against  Franklin Computer for their Apple II
 clone, which set a legal  precedent  for  the  protection  of  software by
 copyright, and  when Apple  used this  precedent in  1988 as part of their
 lawsuit against Microsoft, which alleged that Windows 2.0 had infringed on
 an interface licensing agreement that Apple made with Microsoft?



 CPU Systems Roundup XXII
 =========================



              Dream Computer Systems V:  The Empires Strike Back
              --------------------------------------------------

 Part I

       Change  is  the  only  constant  in  the  computer industry.  As the
 capabilities of microcomputers increased during the 1980's, they  began to
 provide  the  functionality,  versatility,  and  speed  of the workstation
 industry.  Unix, for example, was  once  the  domain  of  workstations and
 non-IBM  minicomputers,    but  is  now  competing to become the operating
 system of the future  for  the  microcomputer  industry.    However, while
 microcomputers evolved  characteristics of  workstations (including cost),
 many  workstation  companies  began  making  low-end  workstations,  in an
 attempt to  combine the  innovations microcomputers  had fostered, such as
 the idea of graphical  user interfaces,  with the  inherent versatility of
 workstation-class  machines.    RISC  (Reduced  Instruction Set Circuitry)
 chips are an offshoot of this  development, as  their increased  speed and
 use  of  modern  chip  technologies  gave  workstations the power of small
 mainframes.  However, now that conventional CISC (Complex  Instruction Set
 Circuitry)  microprocessors,  such  as  the Intel 80486 and Motorola 68040
 chips, are as powerful as the best RISC chips, the choice to determine the
 best microcomputers only becomes more difficult....

       In order to explore this situation in depth, while providing a broad
 timespan in which to cover new  developments, this  "Dream Systems" series
 appears  once  every  three  months.   The "Dream Computer Systems" series
 itself will  also  continue  and  expand  its  focus  on workstation-class
 capabilities.   Furthermore, since  Local Area  Networks are a logical use
 for these Dream Systems, Ethernet Networking is also being covered.   This
 will  only  apply  to  microcomputer  systems,  however,  since  the  Unix
 workstations have  Ethernet ports  as standard.   To  attempt to determine
 which Dream  System really  IS the  best, I  have made  a list of the most
 powerful personal computers on the  market,  comparing  their  features to
 make an objective opinion.

       I have  ignored variables  like operating  systems and software, and
 concentrated on the actual computers'  features  and  speed,  the greatest
 amount of mass storage you could attain, and the best graphics that system
 could provide.  While operating systems and software are a definite factor
 in a  computer, I wanted to aim for the best hardware itself, to which you
 could  add  the  other  items.    However,  since  many  of  the  high-end
 microcomputers featured  here are  beginning to rival workstations in both
 performance  and  price,  this  series  will  now  include   some  low-end
 workstations in its analysis, in order to both study the state of high-end
 microcomputers as compared to low-end  workstations,  and  to  see whether
 these microcomputers outperform some workstations in certain aspects....


       After doing some research, I found several configurations that could
  truly claim to be "Dream Systems".  Shown in no particular order, here is
 my list:

         (Warning:  Do not be surprised by the Retail Prices Shown.)


 System #1
 ---------

   - Cheetah Gold 33 - Total Cost of System: $20,100.00 Dollars

     This IBM Compatible is a 25 MHZ 80486 system with  4 Megabytes  of RAM
 onboard, a built-in Math chip and VGA support, 5 AT Expansion Slots, and a
 Cheetah DTP Disk Controller, which (with 4 Megs of RAM onboard as a cache)
 provides for greatly increased Disk I/O speed....

      To  further  enhance  this  system,  I would add a 1 Gigabyte Magneto
 Optical Drive made by Maxtor using  Removable Cartridges,  a Dell GFX-1024
 Graphics Performance  Accelerator, with  a TI  34010 Graphics Coprocessor,
 and future support of  the TIGA  Display standard,  a 3Com  Etherlink Card
 providing an Ethernet port, and an NEC Multisync 4D Monitor.

 So with this system, you would have:

        Cheetah Gold 33 w/25 MHZ 80486 chip  (Cost: $5000.00)
        Cheetah DPT Disk Controller (Cost: $1500.00)
        3 SIMM Memory Modules w/2 Megs of RAM Each (Cost: $1800.00)
        Maxtor 1 Gigabyte Magneto-Optical Cartridge Drive  (Cost: $8000.00)

        Dell GPX-1024 Graphics Board  (Cost: $1500.00)
        3Com EtherLink Card  (Cost: $300.00)
        NEC Multisync 4D Monitor  (Cost: $2000.00)

 VGA Graphics Resolution: 320*200 with 256 Colors out of 256,000
                          640*480 with 16  Colors out of 256,000

        Extended Mode has 640*480 with 256 Colors out of 256,000
                          800*600 with 16  Colors out of 256,000
                          800*600 with 256 Colors out of 256,000
                         1024*768 with 16  Colors out of 256,000

 GPX - 1024 Resolution:  1024*768 with 256 Colors out of 16 Million

 Faults with System:  None whatsoever.  Unless you think that a system's
                      quality is based solely on its cost....


 System #2
 ---------

   - Macintosh IIci w/FastCache IIci Board - Total Cost:  $22,900.00


       This Macintosh  uses a  25 MHZ  68030 with a 25 MHZ 68882 Math Chip,
 Four Megabytes of RAM, and 3 NuBus Expansion Slots.  It also  comes with a
 1.44 Meg High Density Disk Drive, and uses the SWIM (Sander-Woz Integrated
 Machine) Disk Controller chip to allow the Mac to read/write to MS-DOS and
 OS/2  formatted  disk.    Also,  a  FastCache  IIci memory cache card from
 DayStar Digital which (with 32K of Static RAM) boosts processing  speed by
 30 percent.

       To  FURTHER  enhance  this  system, I would add Mirror Technologies'
 RM600 Magneto-Optical Drive, which  uses  650  Megabyte Removable/Erasable
 Cartridges like those found for the NeXT drive, an Adaptec Nodem, which is
 an Ethernet LAN Interface Unit  that  plugs  into  the  SCSI  slot,  and a
 National Semiconductor  Maccelerate Board,  which is  a DMA (Direct Memory
 Access) Controller that makes data transfer  operations up  to three times
 faster than  before.   Also, I would add one Mac IIci 4 Meg DRAM Expansion
 Kit from Apple, and  a  Taxan  Ultravision  1000  Monitor  to  accompany a
 SuperMac  Spectrum/24  Video  Card,  which  lets  the  Mac have a 1024*768
 display with 16 Million colors at the same  time, and  makes Mac Quickdraw
 operations display 5 - 10 times faster than before.

       The reason I didn't compile a Mac IIx setup with a 33 MHZ 68030 Card
 is that, with the FastCache IIci and the Maccelerate board, the Mac IIci's
 processing speed  rivals that  of a  33 MHZ Mac IIx system.  Curiously, in
 tests done in the February 1990 issue of MacWorld, it seems that a Mac IIx
 with Daystar Digital's 50 MHZ 68030 board is only marginally faster than a
 Mac IIci with a Cache Card....

 So with this system you would have:

       Macintosh IIci w/4 Megs of RAM  (Cost: $7769.00)
       One Apple Mac IIci 4 Meg DRAM Expansion Kit  (Cost: $2000.00)
       Maccelerate DMA Controller Card  (Cost: $600.00)
       FastCache IIci Board  (Cost: $300.00)

       Adaptec Nodem Ethernet Unit  (Cost: $500.00)
       Mirror RM600 Magneto-Optical Cartridge Drive (Cost: $3500.00)
       Spectrum/24 III Video Board  (Cost: $4500.00)
       Taxan 980 20-Inch Monitor  (Cost: $3700.00)

 Macintosh II Resolution:  640*400 with 256 Colors out of 16 Million

 With Spectrum/24 it has 1024*768 with 16 Million colors at the same time.

 Faults with System:  An extreme amount of add-in peripherals.  But other
                      than that, it is a SUPERB system....

 System #3
 ---------

    - SGI Personal Iris w/Geometry Engine - Total System Cost: $25,500.00

      This is a Silicon Personal Iris with a  20 MHZ  R3000 RISC  chip from
 MIPS Computer  Systems, a R3010 Math Chip, and SGI's Geometry Engine chip,
 which does graphics coprocessing.  It also has 8 Megs  of RAM  standard, a
 170 Meg Hard Drive, a built-in Ethernet Port, and a color monitor....


  So with this system you would have:

       SGI Personal Iris system w/MIPS R3000 chip (Cost: $25,500.00 total)
       SGI 170 Megabyte Hard Drive (Included in System)

 Iris Resolution:
                 1024*768 with 16 million display colors at the same time

 Faults with System:  Hard Disk storage is mediocre, at best....


 System #4
 ---------

 - Amiga 2000HD w/CSA Mega Midget Racer - Total Cost of System: $17,600.00

       This is  an Amiga  2000 with 1 Meg of RAM, 7 expansion slots, and an
 A2091 Hard Disk Controller.   With this would be a CSA  Mega-Midget Racer,
 with a  33 MHZ 68030, and a 33 MHZ 68882 Math Coprocessor, two ProRAM 2000
 RAM Expansion Cards from Progressive Peripherals with 4 Megs of  RAM each,
 and a CSA DragStrip Card to speed up the 16-bit RAM into 32-bit RAM, for a
 total of eight Megabytes of 32-Bit RAM.

       I would also add Supra's FD-10 Removable Disk  Drive, which supports
 10 Meg  Floppy disks,  and a 300 Megabyte Hard Drive made by ABCO, install
 Commodore's upcoming  Enhanced Chip  Set for  the Amiga,  which boosts its
 graphics  capabilities,  Microway's  FlickerFixer  board,  which gives the
 Amiga a noninterlaced 640*400 resolution with a Multisync monitor, and the
 Ameristar Internet Package, which is an Ethernet board for the Amiga.

 So with this system you would have:

        Amiga 2000 w/7 Expansion Slots  (Cost: $1900.00)
        Amiga A2091 Hard Disk Controller  (Cost: $300.00)
        CSA Mega-Midget Racer Accelerator  (Cost: $1700.00)
        CSA DragStrip 32-Bit RAM Adapter  (Cost: $800.00)
        Amiga Enhanced Chip Set  (Cost: Around $200.00)

        2 ProRAM 2000 Memory Cards w/4 Mb of RAM each  (Cost: $2500.00)
        Supra FD-10 Removable Floppy Drive  (Cost: $1000.00)
        ABCO 300 Megabyte Hard Drive  (Cost: $4000.00)
        Microway Inc. FlickerFixer  (Cost: $600.00)
        Taxan 980 20-Inch Monitor  (Cost: $3700.00)
        Ameristar Ethernet Board  (Cost: $900.00)

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

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

 With Enhanced Chip Set:

      640x256, with 64 displayable colors out of 4096
      1280x200 with 4 colors out of 64

     - 640x960, with 4 colors out of 64  (interlaced)
     - 1280x400, with 4 colors out of 64 (interlaced)

 With FlickerFixer:

      640*400 with 2 to 16 colors (noninterlaced)

 Faults with System:   All but ONE of the Amiga 2000 Dream System's Slots
                       are taken up by its Third-Party peripherals, which
                       erases much of its future expandability.  Also, it
                       has a comparatively small amount of hard disk
                       storage....


 System #5
 ---------

   - Sun SPARCStation 1 w/16 Megs of RAM - Total System Cost: $26,500.00

       This is  a Sun SPARCStation 1 with a 20 MHZ SPARC chip running at 10
 to 12 MIPS, a 20 MHZ Weitek 3167 Floating Point Math Chip,  8 Megs  of RAM
 onboard, 1 S-Bus Expansion Slot, Color Monitor, a 1.44 Meg Disk Drive, and
 a built-in Ethernet port.

       Along with this would be a Sun 650 Megabyte Hard Drive, and  two Sun
 Memory Expansion  Kits, with 4 Megs of RAM each, for a total of 16 Megs of
 System RAM.

 So with this system you have:

       Sun SPARCStation 1 w/Color Monitor  (Cost: $12,500.00)
       2 Sun Memory Expansion Kits w/4 Megs of RAM each  (Cost: $4000.00)
       Sun 650 Megabyte Hard Drive  (Cost: $10,000.00)

 SPARCStation Resolution: 1152*900 with 256 Colors out of 16 Million

 Faults of System:  A higher monochrome resolution should be developed, and
                    hard disk storage is far too expensive....


 System #6
 ---------

  - Abaq Transputer w/300 Meg Hard Disk - Total Cost of System: $30,000.00


       This is an Abaq Transputer with a 20 MHZ T800 Chip having a built-in
 Math Coprocessor,  4 Megs  of RAM, and 4 Expansion Slots.  Along with this
 would be two Abaq M112 Expansion  Cards, each  having 4  T800 Chips  and 4
 Megs of  DRAM onboard,  and one Abaq F104 Expansion Card, with 1 T800 chip
 and 1 Meg of RAM standard, for a  total of  10 T800  chips and  13 Megs of
 System RAM.  Since Helios can read/write to MS-DOS disks, and the ATW uses
 a Mega ST Motherboard as an I/O processor, an ABCO 300 Megabyte Hard Drive
 for the ST should be able to be used.

 So with this system you have:

       Abaq Transputer w/4 Megs of RAM  (Cost: $8000.00)
       Two ATW M112 Expansion "Farm" Cards  (Cost: $12,000.00 total)
       ATW F104 Expansion "Farm" Card  (Cost: $2000.00)

       ATW X100 Ethernet Interface Card  (Cost: $1100.00)
       ABCO 300 Megabyte Hard Drive for the ST  (Cost: $3200.00)
       Taxan Ultravision 1000 Monitor  (Cost: $3700.00)

 Abaq Resolutions:  1280*960 with 16  Colors out of 16 Million
                    1024*768 with 256 Colors out of 16 Million
                    640*480 w/256 Colors out of 16 Million (Double Buffered
                    screens for high speed animation)
                    512*480 with 16 Million Colors at the same time

 Faults of System:  Hard disk storage is decent, but comparatively
                    weak.  Also, it is the highest-costing system....


       Notice I did not mention products that aren't shipping yet, like the
 68030  TT,  or  products  which  have  not  been   fully  announced,  like
 Commodore's new Amiga 3000....


       In Part I of this series, I have given a list of the best systems to
 be found currently in the market, and shown the individual  features which
 make the  system.  In Part II these Dream Systems will be compared to each
 other, in order to determine which is the "best" one.

       But this issue alone indicates many changes in the structure  of the
 Dream Systems.   The Mac IIci Dream System has steadily grown in features,
 and gained a speed increase WITHOUT an accelerator  board.   It is  a good
 contender, competing  on a  level with  the other  systems.  The IBM Dream
 System, which has always been a powerful system with steady and noteworthy
 increases  in  its  capabilities,  now  gains  the  virtue  of having good
 price/performance, as it is one of  the  least  expensive  systems  on the
 list.    Also,  the  Intel  80486  chip  rivals  the  RISC Workstations in
 performance.  A "new" entry,  the  Amiga  2000  Dream  System  has  made a
 stunning introduction,  with speed and graphics capabilities on a par with
 the other computers on this list.

       In the workstation field, the SPARCStation 1 is a very well-balanced
 system with  superb versatility,  but the  SGI Personal Iris, with similar
 speeds and graphics equalled only by the Mac  and ATW  systems, has stolen
 much of  its thunder.   Now  that it has been fully introduced, we now see
 that  the  ATW,  while  being  superior  in  graphics  and  speed,  can be
 comparatively expensive  for a  "Dream Systems"  setup.  The NeXT Computer
 has been taken out of  this  Dream  Systems  Essay,  primarily  because of
 reports  that   its  operating   system  software  drastically  slows  its
 theoretical performance.  While a 68040  upgrade  and  a  Color  Board are
 forthcoming for  it, there  are several  other systems  which are steadily
 improving in features at this time....

 But ponder, if you will, these questions:

 1)  Is the word, "Workstation" a more appropriate term  for microcomputers
     than simply  the word,  "Computer", given  the type of operations that
     computers now perform?

 2)  Could a 25 MHZ 68040-based computer be faster to design and cheaper to
     produce than a system using a 25 MHZ 68030 and a 25 MHZ 68882?




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


 Syracuse, NY       Robert Tappen Morris has been convicted of creating and
 ------------       releasing a computer "worm" which eventually disrupted
                    the Internet network in November 1988.  Morris had
                    testified in his trial that he wrote the worm, and will
                    be sentenced before March.  He faces a penalty of up to
                    5 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine...

                    The jury took over six hours to reach a verdict.  Also,
                    it seems that the law that Robert Morris (the son of
                    the head of the National Security Agency's computer
                    security division) was convicted under can hold a
                    person legally liable for damage caused by a computer
                    worm or virus, even if the person didn't intend to
                    unleash a destructive virus....


 Austin, TX           Motorola recently  introduced the  Application Binary
 ----------         Interface (ABI) for AT&T Unix System V Release 4.  It
                    is available in versions for the 680x0 microprocessor
                    line, and the Motorola 88000 RISC chip.  An ABI allows
                    Unix software developed for a given type of chip to run
                    unmodified on all Unix-based computers which use that
                    type of CPU.

                    This means, for example, that any Unix program written
                    with Motorola's 680x0 chip ABI will be compatible
                    with ANY Unix-based computer which supports the 68000
                    ABI Specifications Standard.  Commodore is reportedly
                    considering using this in their Amiga 3000, an upcoming
                    low-end Unix workstation....

                    Interestingly enough, it seems that supporting this
                    ABI may be the quickest way to get System V Release 4
                    (the newest version of AT&T Unix).  And given that ALL
                    future 680x0-based Unix machines will be supporting
                    this standard....


 Cambridge, MA       Lotus Corp. has announced a new version of Lotus 1-2-3
 -------------      Version 3.0 for the entire Sun workstation line.  It is
                    scheduled to be available in the Second Quarter of
                    1990.  Cost:  $695 for the Standard Edition, and $495
                    for a Node Edition for installing 1-2-3 in a Network of
                    Sun systems.  Lotus also says that a Mac version of
                    1-2-3 is still in development.  However, a version
                    of Lotus 1-2-3 for other Unix-based machines may be in
                    the horizon....


 Hopkins, MN         Image  Systems Corp.,  the same  company who  made the
 -----------        Video Board used in Moniterm's 1280*960 monochrome
                    monitor for the ST, has introduced a new Ultra-High
                    Resolution Color Board for the Mega ST, which fits in
                    the Mega ST Expansion Slot.  It provides a 1024*768
                    resolution with a choice of either 2 or 16 displayable
                    colors, available from a 4096 color palette.  It
                    supports the Blitter chip, and can be used with any
                    multisync monitor that is capable of running at a
                    50 KHz horizontal scan rate.  Cost: $800.00....

                    In case you are interested in this board (which also
                    has a socket for Motorola's 68881 and 68882 math chips)
                    Image Systems' numbers are 1-800-462-4370, and
                    1-612-935-1171....


 Errata:  CPU Report Issue 37 stated that the Amiga's new Enhanced Chip Set
 =======  (ECS) would have a 24-bit (16 million color) palette.  The new
          version of the Amiga ECS's Denise chip will actually give the
          Amiga these new resolutions:

                          Noninterlaced Resolutions:
                          --------------------------
     - 640x256, with 64 displayable colors out of a 4096 color palette.
     - 1280x200 with 4 colors out of 64.

                           Interlaced Resolutions:
                           -----------------------
     - 640x960, with 4 displayable colors out of a 64 color palette
     - 1280x400, with 4 colors out of 64.





                           PRESS RELEASE
                           -------------

                       Contact:   Steve Riker

                          (619)   566-3911

    "Mega-Midget Racer(tm),"  MC-68030 Accelerator for Amiga(tm)

 San Diego,  CA:  Computer System Associates, Inc.

 (CSA)  announces  the  latest  in  MC-68030  accelerator  technology;  the
 "Mega-Midget  Racer(tm)".    The  first  and only MC- 68030 accelerator to
 employ state-of-the-art surface mount technology and plug into  Amiga A500
 or A2000.  Evolving from CSA's very popular Midget Racer(tm), "Mega-Midget
 Racer" features include selectable clock  speeds  of  20,  25  or  33 MHZ,
 support  for  floating-point  math  co-processor  at  speeds up to 40 MHZ,
 32-bit 512KB SRAM for operating system  kernal, 32-bit  RAM expansion bus,
 and software-selectable MC-68000.

 The asynchronous  design of  the "Mega-Midget  Racer" permits blazing fast
 CPU performance at 20, 25, or 33 MHZ through an  easily changeable crystal
 oscillator and  an optional  MC-68881 or  68882 math co-processor at clock
 speeds up to 40 MHZ  for  racing  through  number  crunching applications.
 Users   may   choose   less   costly   20  MHZ  030's  while  providing  a
 high-performance  accelerator  which  is  readily  expandable  to  maximum
 performance.   An optional  512KB, 32-  bit SRAM module allows copying the
 Amiga ROM kernal into high- speed,  32-bit SRAM  for lightning-fast screen
 refreshes, page  flipping, scrolling, and image processing.  A full 32-bit
 wide expansion bus provides support for high speed memory and  I/O devices
 in 8, 16, and 32-bit configurations.

 The  "Mega-Midget   Racer(tm)"  assures  complete  software  and  hardware
 compatibility by resocketing  the  MC-68000  on  board  for  easy software
 switching to either MC-68030 or MC-68000 operation.

 The "Mega-Midget  Racer(tm)" is  priced at  $795.00 with  a 20 MHZ MC68030
 installed.  For more information, contact CSA at (619) 566-3911.

 A500,  A2000 and Amiga are trademarks of Commodore Amiga Inc. Midget Racer
 and Mega-Midget  Racer are  trademarks of Computer System Associates, Inc.
 MC-68000, 68030, 68881 and 68882 are trademarks of motorola Inc.


                        THE MEGA-MIDGET RACER

                      "ALL YOU'LL EVER NEED!"

                     FEATURES YOU CAN'T IMAGINE
                     AT A PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD.

 1) MC68030 CPU
   a) asynchronous design.
   b) clocked at 20, 25, or 33MHZ, or any speed in between.
   c) oscillator defines speed:  no jumpers necessary for control.

 2) REPLACES MC68000 CPU ON AMIGA 500 OR 2000 MOTHERBOARD
   a) 68000 CPU is resocketed on board and is software selectable.
   b) 100% compatibility is achieved by using on-board 68000.

 3) OPTIONAL HIGHSPEED, 32-BIT, 512KB SRAM AREA
   a) sockets for four 128K x 8-bit SRAM chips or modules.
   b) Amiga ROM kernal is copied into and then executed out of the
      highspeed, 32-bit SRAM.  (NOTE: special hardware allows this to be
      done without using the 68030's MMU, so that it is free for use by
      other software.)

 4) FULL 32-BIT EXPANSION BUS
   a) 32-bit data bus
   b) 32-bit address bus
   c) capable of supporting highspeed memory and I/O devices in  8, 16, and
      32-bit configurations.

 5) SPECIAL CACHE CONTROL LOGIC
   a) a  special cache  control PLD(Programmable Logic Device)provides safe
      data and instruction caching from ROM and 16/32 bit memory.
   b) special-configuration cache control PLDs can be ordered for expanding
      data cache environment.
   c) cache control PLD is socketed for easy replacement.

 6) OPTIONAL MC68881 OR MC68882 FLOATING-POINT COPROCESSOR
   a) clocked at 20, 25, 33, or 40 MHZ, or any speed in between.
   b) can be clocked by CPU's oscillator or by a second, faster one.

 7) USES SURFACE-MOUNT TECHNOLOGY/EXTRA POWER/STAND-OFFS
   a) only user installable parts are socketed.
   b) all  other parts are surface mounted to save space and enhance       
      reliability.
   c) extra power-connector, compatible  with  disk  drive  cable, supports
      external power source.
   d) plastic stand-offs provide sturdy physical support.

 CONTACT CSA at (619) 566-3911 FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF FEATURES.

 Actually this  information is  a little outdated, as they now have the CPU
 running at 40mhz, not 33mhz, and when Motorola releases their  50mhz 68030
 it will  run on  this board.  I have seen the board in operation and it is
 fabulous, and I would love to see it on the Atari, perhaps, we will.







        __________________________________________________________





 > Fast Technology CPU/STR Feature    Profiles in success....
   ===============================



                                        FAST TECHNOLOGY AND JIM ALLEN
                                        =============================


 by Jim Allen

               So, ... you want to know about Fast Tech.....

     As a young engineer, I got a job  at a  machine vision  company called
 Itran, they make machines that "look" at parts and taking measurements and
 checking quality.  It was all  68000  based  and  so  I  became  very well
 trained in 68000 computers.  Finally the day came when I wanted a personal
 computer, the Mac was real new as was the ST.  The  Mac was  $3000 and the
 ST was $1199 so which do you think I bought?  Of course...an ST.  I didn't
 want anything to do with MESSYDOS it was so very "old fashioned".  

     So, I became an ST user in  85',  I  have  always  had  this  habit of
 becoming an expert in the things I'm interested in so, I read everything I
 could about the ST and used it as  a test  pad for  many of  the little HW
 projects I  became involved  in.  By the time an Atarifest came to my area
 in Oct 87' I had gone all the way to the point of putting a CSA  020 board
 into the  ST.  This is an off the shelf 020 to 68000 board that helps ease
 the way when converting systems that you design over to the 020.  I had it
 running   diagnostics   and   the   like   but   discovered,  to  all  our
 disappointment, that the TOS operating system  was completely  and utterly
 incompatible. So I decided I'd go to the show and bring the computer along
 and see if Atari might be interested or at least  help me  out on  the TOS
 situation.  

     Well, the  reception I  got was quite interesting, Neil Harris told me
 it was impossible, engineering  had said  so, and  to move  along.  Moving
 right along  I then  cornered Leonard  Tramiel, same story, he just didn't
 believe me at all or so my impression of his interest in what I was saying
 went.   And as  he was quite busy with dealers and such, I simply resolved
 myself to the fact of not getting any help from Atari.

     As I wandered through all the exhibits, I came across  two interesting
 products...PCDITTO and Magicsac.  I met Bill and Ginnie Teal and they were
 just about the nicest folks you could meet.  They  offered to  help out if
 they  could,  they  actually  wanted  some kind of accelerator to come out
 since PCDitto needed a  speedup.   Ever since  then the  Teals have always
 been there  to help  out when  and where they could.  Of course I bought a
 PCDitto.  They even passed on to me the IDRIS system that allowed me to do
 some   further   testing   as   it   was   immune   to  all  the  software
 incompatibilities.

     At the same show was a guy  named  Dave,  he  had  these  funny little
 "rabbit" bags  he was  selling, something  about MAGIC?  Well of course, I
 had always WANTED a Mac so I bit.  Got  the "pro"  package with translator
 and was  a devoted  follower of  "the Dave"  from then  on.  Over the last
 couple years we have swapped horror  stories  about  Atari  and  help each
 other  out  with  hardware  funny's.    He  volunteered  to  beta test any
 accelerators I came up with and I agreed to sell him my ZAX emulator.   It
 was a good trade.

     Everytime I talked to either the Teals or the Smalls they told me over
 and over that an accelerator was needed, desperately.  There  seemed to be
 a good  potential to sell something.  But what?  After running through the
 numbers a zillion times it seemed only a  16Mhz 68000would  be inexpensive
 enough to sell well as a compliment to a low cost computer.  Off I went to
 the lab to get the T16 created.  After struggling to find any type of REAL
 documentation for  the ST like schematics, even becoming a real developer,
 there was a void to be filled.
  
     I finally got some schematics from a local dealer.  I had to twist his
 arm but  he finally  gave in.  From there is was just weeks of late nights
 after hours at Itran, with pauses to deal with Itran  crisis's, and  a lot
 of dead  PALs.   About $600  in dead 16R4D PALs, boy do I wish I had known
 about GALs sooner!!!!  It would have cost me $40 instead.  I took a rough,
 and I do mean ROUGH, prototype alot like the JATO board and sent it to the
 Teals.  Well frankly they were underwhelmed, it  gave only  a tiny speedup
 and it  crashed alot.  Obviously more was needed, but how?  Then it struck
 me, everyday I sit and type on a  Sun workstation  and it  is really fast.
 Why? Well  it probably  is the 68030 but it also has a CACHE!!!  Yes a RAM
 CACHE to speed up the overall throughput of the processor  in getting data
 to  and  from  memory.    Viola'  we  had the solution, almost.  Turns out
 caches are quite expensive and complicated so I  spent the  next couple of
 months  designing  a  really  unique, bullet-proof, and inexpensive cache.
 There are alot of engineering details I'll skip but that  was going  to be
 the ticket. 

     Along came  fall 88'  Comdex and  off I  went, to  once again meet the
 folks that had helped so much, not to  see Atari.   I  caught up  with the
 Teals and  showed them the less rough prototype and they were impressed by
 the possibilities.  It  looked horrible  but the  expected performance was
 good.   Bill and  Ginnie then  showed me the "ropes" and told me all about
 this market and who to go to from  there.   They gave  me sales  leads and
 distributor and dealer introductions and finally even bought dinner.  They
 even let me take a nap  in their  hotel since  I was  in at  1AM Wednesday
 morning and  back out  red-eye Thursday morning with no place to sleep.  I
 did bring along a few hundred bucks to loose at the tables.

     Dave was there too and we talked for an hour  about what  Spectre does
 and all sorts of secret stuff to make sure the T16 would operate correctly
 as a Mac.  Back to the lab I went, to finish the T16,  which with  all the
 different versions  of the Atari out there to interface to, took another 5
 months to complete.  With real clean prototypes  in hand  it was  time for
 the  World  of  Atari,  actually  the  World of People involved with Atari
 Products.

     I picked up a business partner along the  way and  off we  went to the
 show we  even had  a booth.  It was a hit, sort of, the JATO was there and
 we were faced with a real problem.    We  were  much  faster  however, the
 differences  were  so  technical  that  it  was  going  to be tough job to
 explain in understandable layman's terms.

     I had determined in Feb that we needed to really  put the  pressure on
 marketing-wise to  get this  product sold  quick since  it might be copied
 right away.  The Teals had connected me with Nevin Shalit, a writer for ST
 Informer, and  we sent  him a  prototype to do a story that would come out
 just in time for the show...smart  huh?    He  did  a  great  report, very
 truthful and  very thorough.   It  helped alot, we were kinda late getting
 our registration in for the show but Rich  Tsukiji bent  over backwards to
 help...an accelerator,   WOW!!!  He gave us a great booth and the show was
 a real hit.   Again I  spent time  with the  Teals who  were there showing
 PCDitto II  and the Smalls who had a proto GCR and were absolutely swamped
 by the crowd every second.  If you ever enter a show be sure to get beside
 Gadgets, of course you'll have to use the other side since I'm on one side
 already!!!

     I met most of the developers and  they  are  all  a  great  bunch, not
 stuffy like Mac and IBM developers, these are real people.

     After the  show we set out to get up the $$$ needed to make a bunch of
 T16s, we also instituted a big testing program and made a dozen  protos to
 send out  to people to test with.  We found a bug with Calamus and tracked
 down ahead of time all the incompatibilities we could find.  That way what
 we couldn't  "fix" we  could tell  people up  front so they wouldn't get a
 surprise.  We did fix the Calamus bug which was related to the blitter and
 a  couple  of  the  peripheral  chips  and  the  need for a "rest" between
 accesses.  Then we faced the CMI problem.  CMI suddenly appeared with full
 page color  ads in  STart and  alot of mumbo jumbo, we decided to wait and
 let them crash and burn before plunging a life savings  into the business.
 Business is  a risk but lets not go LOOKING for trouble!!!  We waged a war
 in the media, getting each magazine to review  the accelerator  boards and
 report the  truth as  to which was a better bargain.  Sure, T16 would only
 offer the most  speed  for  the  most  money,  but  after  all  it  was an
 accelerator. 

     The T16  was to  be priced  at $399 but the CMI situation forced us to
 lower it to  $299,  this  was  a  mistake  because  the  T16  is  now only
 marginally profitable.   As  we all  found out,  the CMI units weren't any
 faster than the JATO and they didn't work  as well  ours either.   We lost
 about 300  sales in  the US because of CMI, and those are people who won't
 be back no matter how good the magazines say the T16 is.   Since  CMI went
 under we have just been slowly building systems to fill the back orders we
 received in a manner that makes sure we  will be  around for  a while.   I
 know it  is a  pain waiting  for the T16 but better everyone wait a little
 than Fast Tech stick it's neck out and go under.  That would mean  NO T16s
 no matter how long the wait.  Building surfacemount products is a business
 that requires extreme care, we have been bitten by bad raw PC  boards, bad
 assembly practices, and even late shipments of simple ram chips... surface
 mount package stuff.  So that is where we are now, your  up to  date, T16s
 are rolling out the door and everyone will have one very soon.

     Special thanks goes to Dave and Sandy Small, and Bill and Ginnie Teal,
 and Nathan Potechin, and ST World, ST Informer, and ST Xpress for  all the
 help and  encouragement they  have given Fast Tech, we wouldn't be here if
 it weren't for them...and of course, Ralph Mariano and STReport too.






   ____________________________________________________________________






 > DynaCADD 1.7 CPU/STR Review      "When only the best will do..."
   ===========================




                    DynaCADD 1.7 VS AUTOCAD REVISION 10
                    ===================================

 Part II
 -------



 by Myles Goddard



       It will be rather difficult to compare Computer  Drafting and Design
 packages  when  one  considers  the  two  programs  that have chosen to be
 included in this review, DynaCADD 1.7  and AutoCad  Version 10.   They are
 however, professionally  speaking, two  of the most powerful CaDD programs
 available today.

       First thing we have to realize, of course, is that  AutoCad has been
 in the IBM market since the early 80's and DynaCADD is a relative newcomer
 on the scene.  I will try to make as thorough a review of the two programs
 as  is  humanly  possible.    Needless  to  say, it can not be done in one
 article.  I have decided to make a series of  articles so  that a thorough
 comparison can  be made  of these two superb products.  Be mindful this is
 not intended to become a positive  - negative  type review  but a thorough
 presentation of  both programs.   Thusly  affording the reader a marvelous
 opportunity to make a well informed decision.

       Before beginning, I would like to say that I have  been working with
 AutoCad for  over a  year now on a regular basis.  I have an IBM AT 286 at
 home and am very comfortable  with  using  the  commands  and  features of
 AutoCad.   I have  only been  able to work with DynaCADD 1.32 on a hit and
 miss basis.  I like the  resolution and  clarity of  DynaCADD on  my SM124
 monochrome monitor  and the  ease of  the icon environment incorporated in
 DynaCADD.

       The chief advantage of Autocad at this time is the ability to change
 many configurations  of the program.  For example, it allows me to use the
 maximum resolution of my graphics card, which is 1024 x 768, but  I prefer
 800 x  600 with  16 colors.   In  my opinion,  this is  a great advantage,
 especially when you have several layers that you want in different colors.
 But on  the other  hand, I was able to use Dynacadd 1.7 on a VIKING II 19"
 monochrome monitor with a resolution of 1280  x  960  at  16  mhz  and the
 results were astounding.  I am told that DynaCADD is available for the IBM
 and is identical to the ST version.  Unfortunately, I do not  have the IBM
 Dynacadd version  to review  so I  will compare the ST version of DynaCADD
 with the alleged, industry standard, Autocad 10.


                            SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
                            -------------------


      The minimum requirements for AutoCad Versions 1 through 8 to  work on
      an IBM system is:

      IBM XT with minimum of 512K (640K highly recommended)

      Monochrome or Color monitor

      Hercules Graphics Card (EGA or higher recommended)

      One serial port, One Printer port

      High density floppy PLUS Hard disk

      Input Device (Mouse or Digitizer tablet)

      Dot Matrix printer (Plotter preferred)


       Please note that Autocad can be used with keyboard entry but results
 in extremely  time consuming  input.   Also, even  though Autocad supports
 Hercules and  CGA displays,  severe eye  fatigue can result in using these
 displays.  EGA is normally the minimum resolution required and offers good
 eye relief  over long  periods of  time.   I personally prefer VGA for the
 higher resolution.  If possible, use a multisync monitor for  flicker free
 display.  You will appreciate it I guarantee it.


       Autocad Versions 9 & 10 require:


      IBM XT ( 286 or 386 preferred ) 8 mhz or faster

      512K minimum memory ( 640K or EMS recommended )

      Math co-processor required ( will not run without one )

      Monochrome or Color Monitor ( VGA or Multisync Color
      highly recommended )

      1.2 Meg High Density floppy drive ( 720K will work but
      disk swapping will drive you crazy )

      Hard disk a must ( especially since Autocad accesses
      the information on a hard disk frequently )

      Input device ( Mouse & mouse driver ) or Digitizer
      tablet & driver )  I prefer the mouse as input but many
      prefer a tablet.  Autocad supports over 30 drawing
      devices.

      Dot matrix printer ( Plotter preferred, although printer
      can give satisfactory quick printouts of your drawings)

      Laser printer gives superb results with Autocad.


                              GETTING STARTED
                              ---------------


       After  you  have  installed  AutoCad (preferably on your fixed disk)
 you will be greeted with a  notice that  you have  not configured AutoCad.
 In other  words you have to go into the main screen option 5, to configure
 AutoCad to suit your personal  computer  system.    This  is  easy  to do,
 although it does take some time to get it customized.

       AutoCad versions  1 through  8 have  pseudo-3D support,  that is, it
 would probably be more accurate to  describe it  as isometric  views, just
 like the  hand drawings  you did  on your drafting table.  AutoCad 10 uses
 full 3D as well as shading to make the objects  drawn as  authentic as the
 real  thing.    Another  difference  that  version  10  has over the older
 versions is that it supports drop down menus  and semi-alert  boxes, or as
 they are  called in  the program,  Ddrmodes.  This allows AutoCad to offer
 input from the  mouse  (Drop  Down  menus),  Keyboard  entry  (if  you can
 remember the commands), or the side menus (by means of Tablet or mouse).

       Below, is a meager rendering of the AutoCad Drawing Editor.


     |---------------------------------------------------------------|
     | Layer 0                             0.000,0.000               |
     |---------------------------------------------------------------|
     |  Status line                                      |  AutoCad  |
     |                                                   | ********* |
     |                                                   |  Setup    |
     |                                                   |           |
     |                                                   |  Blocks   |
     |                                                   |  Dim:     |
     |                                                   |  Display  |
     |                                                   |  Draw     |
     |                   DRAWING AREA                    |  Edit     |
     |                                                   |  Inquiry  |
     |                                                   |  Layer:   |
     |                                                   |  Settings |
     |                                                   |  Plot     |
     |                                                   |  UCS:     |
     |                                                   |  Utility  |
     |                                                   |           |
     |                                                   |  3D       |
     |                                                   |  Ashade   |
     |                                                   |           |
     |    <--  UCS Icon                                  |  Save:    |
     |---------------------------------------------------------------|
     |    Prompt Area                                     Menu Area  |
     |---------------------------------------------------------------|



       So far,  it has taken four pages to describe the system requirements
 and setup to use AutoCad  on  an  IBM  system.    Taken  into  account the
 complexity  of  the  program  and  the  many  variables of the users's own
 computer system. I think  you will  find that  DynaCADD is  much easier to
 install on the Atari ST system.

        Here are the requirements for installation of DynaCADD-


        Atari 1 meg 520ST, 1040ST or MEGA  w/ DS drive

        SM124 Monochrome monitor or Multisync Color w/adaptor
        for use with ST.  I have found that the clearest &
        sharpest results are when using the Moniterm monitor. 

        Hard Disk (Nice to have but not necessary for DynaCADD)


       That's  it  folks.    If  you  have the hardware listed, you can get
 started right in with DynaCADD.  Just place disk one of DynaCADD  into the
 DS drive and click on DynaCADD.PRG and you are off and running.

       Subsequent installments of this review will appear on a weekly basis
 in CPU NewsWire ...


                                               Until next time,


                                                 Myles Goddard





         ________________________________________________________





 > THE BEAT GOES ON! CPU/STR Spotlight    What it all really looks like.
   ===================================




                         IS THE US MARKET BEING GIVEN A FAIR SHAKE?
                         ==========================================


 by R.F. Mariano


     Atari has, in the past,  been  a  disappointment  as  far  as national
 advertising campaigns  and timely delivery of announced new products aimed
 for the US marketplace is concerned.  There  is no  doubt that extenuating
 circumstances  can  and  do  cause  a  good  number  of  these situations.
 Hopefully, by bringing this to your attention, it is hoped  to resurrect a
 positive, corrective  attitude.   And at  the same  time, request that the
 users/readers please institute  a  positive  letter  campaign  directed to
 Atari's CEO; Sam Tramiel.  

     It appears  the same old problems are still haunting us.  For example,
 let's start with the Lynx, (an excellent color LCD hand held game machine)
 this jewel could have turned the tide if it had been to market in time for
 Christmas, but no... completely bungled by 'whomever', Atari  blew another
 Christmas marketing season completely.  

     Along comes  the fabled  STACY, the  fantastic laptop we all have seen
 from time  to time  (outside of  California) as  far back  as WOA Dearborn
 where Chris  Roberts performed  his, now famous, juggling act.  Thankfully
 the Smalls (GBS) were gracious enough to rebuild the trashed STACY.  It is
 a mighty impressive computer but where is it and who can buy it and on and
 on  and now...???  Which  type acceptance  and why  Class A  as opposed to
 class B and is the FCC really going to go for this "Midi Controller" hype?
 The Stacy is a  computer plain  and simple,  a portable,  laptop computer.
 Why play  the name game?  Why is this device having so much trouble making
 the grade?  Especially when it is now very much  in evidence  that many of
 the current ST users will purchase a Stacy the moment they are available.

     STE ...Not  much to  say here  other than  why?  Why is it on sale all
 over the globe and not in the States?   Is  this another  of the grandiose
 marketing schemes  designed to  "blow our  socks off" or just blow us off?
 The STE has just recently been submitted to  the FCC  for type acceptance.
 Or, so  they say..   The  BIG question is; why wasn't this thing tested in
 house months ago BEFORE being released for sale all over  the world except
 OBVIOUSLY the  USA?  Was this done purposely to embarrass Sam who promised
 the USA would not be neglected  and would  enjoy having  products released
 here  first?    We  are  told  that  Atari does its own tests for FCC type
 acceptance with in-house tests and the use of a local  facility not unlike
 the FCC's where they perform the same basic tests as the FCC.  Many of the
 above questions are being heard all over the US Userbase,  in almost every
 usergroup at  one time  or another.   The  STE is  quite a  machine and is
 expected (our own optimistic estimate) to be on sale in  the States within
 90 days.   Now, if only they could hear us begging for them to put the STE
 in a Mega style cabinet... And call it a MEGA STE.
   
     The crippled MEGA2 recently released was likened to  Atari mooning the
 entire worldwide  market.   Did they  really think that the market (all of
 us) would sit still for this  outrageous insult  to our  intelligence?  To
 purposely  cripple  a  PCB  to  prohibit an in-the-field memory upgrade is
 unconscionable as far as marketing  and  public  relations  are concerned.
 This  action  solidifies  the  impression  that Atari appears to have very
 little intention of interacting favorably with  its  US  userbase.    As a
 result  of  all  the  bad  feelings,  according  to  a  large  east  coast
 distributor, J&R  Music, the  manufacture of  the MEGA2  computer has been
 discontinued.  Where most all the various delays and changes can be 'lived
 with' this particular decision  was  rather  disturbing  to  say  the very
 least.  I hope we never witness such a bad move again.

     Additionally,  this  action  is  likely  to cause users to become even
 more cautious  when it  comes to  investing in  NEW releases  like the TT,
 where, we are told, we must like the "Wedding Cake" cabinet because that's
 that.  The TT model expected to ship first is alleged to be a far cry from
 the tower  configuration TT enthusiastically discussed at its announcement
 in Hanover, Germany and Comdex/Fall '89.  Will there be  a path  for those
 who decided to support Atari and purchase the preliminary TT to obtain the
 'better' tower style TT later on?  I think not.  By recalling a  number of
 Atari's past  remarks online, the users, most likely, will be told all the
 same snappy remarks they have been  getting  all  along  about  an upgrade
 path.  Or, will they?  Hmmm another unanswered question.

     Granted,  the  PORTFOLIO  has  kept  the  ship afloat, but where is it
 going?  Multitudes of folks who own the original version are about to face
 that  UGLY,  ILL-TEMPERED,  UPGRADE  OGRE.    The indications are loud and
 clear that change is in the wind.  Portfolios are now being discounted and
 sold  by  dealers  who  are  not  bashful  about  selling mail order thus,
 effectively taking business  from  other  dealers'  territories.   Perhaps
 Atari's pros have decided to allow a marketing "free-for-all?

     Tos 1.4,  now this was an  exercise in  marvelous marketing management
 this had to be the most on again, off again,  offering the  world had ever
 known.   Chris Roberts  prematurely released this information to us and at
 that, it was erroneous information.  However, once  it made  it to market,
 the reception  was strong  and the  users (even now) are clamoring for the
 chipsets (6 chip and 2 chip).      Atari  has  stated,  on  more  than one
 occasion, that the chips must be installed by a dealer and the recommended
 retail price is: $90.00.  Interesting enough, we  find this  product being
 bandied about.   While  Atari's hands  are tied, (price fixing is a no-no)
 they do offer a factory recommended price.  Unfortunately, certain dealers
 seem to take delight in trying to cut the throats of every other dealer in
 the country with these idiotic price  wars.   Just this  past week  we see
 where a notable dealer has advertised they will sell TOS 1.4 via the mails
 and for less than 90.00!!  Why recruit  dealers and  allude to territories
 when this  sort of thing is allowed to occur?  This is truly the recipe to
 make sure the whole magilla croaks.  Hopefully, those dealers  who seem to
 delight in  killing the  market, other dealers and Atari (indirectly) will
 find themselves "backordered" more often than not.
  
     The Atari  warehouse has  plenty of  Mega4 Computers  - Color Monitors
 CDROM  -  SLM804  -  Portfolio  -  Lynx  - SX212 - but NO SM124 Monochrome
 Monitors, 1040ST, 520ST, STE and of course, NO  MEGA2 STs.   Oddly enough,
 this is not the first time, remember recently in the past, about this time
 last year when there was a shortage of SC1224 monitors?   Perhaps  this is
 the  beginning  of  the  implementation  of  product  change and inventory
 rollover.  

     Apparently, Atari's new wonder boys who are the  "right hands"  of the
 Tramiels have professed themselves to be sales and marketing gurus.  Could
 it be they are undercover marketing saboteurs recruited by the competition
 to  sink  Atari?    <<snicker>>    Please  take  a  moment  to  ponder the
 magnanimous results these wonders have actually  posted, that's  right, it
 only takes  a moment to see there is nothing to get charged up over.  Look
 back and consider the time prior to the holidays and  right after Comdex..
 Atari's stock went up handsomely in anticipation of the results "promised"
 by these professionals.  As one of them said awhile  back; "Atari  is like
 an  Aircraft  Carrier,  it  is  now  turned into the wind and preparing to
 launch its planes"..  fantastic imagination, but NO  results worth talking
 about.  And it now appears the darn thing has been torpedoed.

     The  most  upsetting  news  is  Sam's  decision  NOT to participate in
 Spring/Comdex '90 and other US Industry related shows.   In  light of this
 decision, all  that can  possibly be said is, Sam seems to rely on some of
 the industry's most inept, ill informed  advisors.   It becomes  more than
 slightly evident  that there  are some  desperately needed  changes in the
 personnel directly responsible to Sam as they are NOT bringing  to him the
 REAL  grass  roots  information  from  the  US  userbase  and  industry in
 general.   Isn't  it  rather  coincidental  that  the  same  person(s) who
 appeared  to  put  the  US  dealer  network  belly up are now handling the
 international efforts.  The USA is  still in  the international  scene too
 guys.  It is more than apparent that the US market is looked at as being a
 crippled, ugly duckling.  We never were really out of  the mushroom patch,
 somebody merely turned the lights on ..temporarily.  The time has come for
 Sam to go directly "into the  trenches" to  see and  hear for  himself the
 real facts  and not  the pablum  he is  being fed by his advisors, the so-
 called pros.  

     What is happening now, without a  doubt,  is  a  full  blown disaster.
 Announcements such  as these (expressing a desire to NOT participate in US
 industry dedicated  shows) is  a loud  and clear  message to  all that the
 company really  has nothing new to show and ship in the USA and therefore,
 finds participation  in  these  shows  (COMDEX  -  SEYBOLD  -  CEPS etc..)
 unwarranted.    If  the  other  Atari worldwide entities have the right to
 decide which show(s) they attend, why then is  Atari US  still governed by
 the CEO?  Shouldn't Atari US and its executives be making these decisions?
 Folks, by not being present at these shows in the USA, Atari is once again
 snubbing the  US market.   The  cottage computer industry in the USA isn't
 going to sit on its collective duff waiting for Atari  to decide  that its
 really  there.    Things  must  happen this year, else, another brand will
 totally dominate  this market  too.   That is  a sad  thought because this
 market is  there waiting  for Atari  take charge.   Folks, too many of the
 dyed in the wool Atari  supporters  are  coming  forward  expressing sheer
 frustration with  Sunnyvale and  proclaiming they  are finished with Atari
 for ever more.  This is scary!  When are they going to wake  up out there?
 When the  wolf bites them in the derriere?  It would certainly bolster the
 sagging stock picture.  Don't believe me?   Check the  market, the market,
 in general,  is down  by approximately  12% and  Atari's stock is slipping
 downward at about 47%.  

     The loud and clear message is, the smart  money folks  have lost faith
 in Atari  and in particular, those who are making the decisions.  Sam, you
 must get the real facts for yourself, bypass the pseudo corporate warriors
 and join  the ranks  of executives  who demand  to hear  and see the stark
 naked truth for themselves.  The caste system is dead  in the  USA, mingle
 with the  'untouchables' you  will soon know the truth.  Thus enabling you
 to guide the good ship Atari on a true course of success. 


 In summation;
     As time goes on, it becomes  more and  more apparent  that the  top at
 Atari is  a very  lonely place, and as such, the Tramiels are in my humble
 opinion being misled and/or badly advised.  Whether  or not  this is meant
 to be  is another  story.   The important  matter here  is, it seems to be
 happening, it appears they are being told only what someone  else "thinks"
 'they need  to know'.   The  bottom line  is quite simple, they NEED to be
 told all the facts not just  what is  thought to  be important  by someone
 else.  Hopefully, this will soon begin to occur, for only then will we see
 an end to the seemingly unfounded  and  irrational  moves  that  come from
 Atari.   In short,  it appears that the Tramiels are being 'shielded' from
 the real thing...  for what reason?  Only time will tell.  





         ________________________________________________________





 > Stock Market ~ CPU NewsWire   Watchin' the schekles grow!
   ===========================


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

 by Michael Arthur

 Concept by Glenn Gorman


       Atari Stock went down  1/4  of  a  point  on  Monday,  and  was down
 another 1/4  of a  point on  Tuesday.   On Wednesday  it was down 3/8 of a
 point, and on Thursday, Atari Stock went up  1/4 of  a point.   On Friday,
 Atari Stock  was down  1/4 of  a point.   Finishing  up the  week at 7 3/8
 points, Atari stock is down 7/8 of a point from the last report.


      Apple Stock is down 1 1/2 points from Friday, January 19, 1990.
            Commodore Stock is up 3/8 of a point from 1/19/90.
               IBM Stock is down 1 3/4 points from 1/19/90.


               Stock Report for Week of 1/22/90 to 1/25/90

 _________________________________________________________________________
 STock|  Monday   |   Tuesday   | Wednesday  |  Thursday   |    Friday    |
 Reprt|Last   Chg.|Last     Chg.|Last    Chg.|Last     Chg.|Last      Chg.|
 -----|-----------|-------------|------------|-------------|--------------|
 Atari|  8   - 1/4|7 3/4   - 1/4|7 3/8  - 3/8|7 5/8   + 1/4|7 3/8    - 1/4|
      |           |             |            |             |  40,500 Sls  |
 -----|-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------|
  CBM |  8   - 1/2|  8     ---- |8 1/2  + 1/2|8 7/8   + 3/8|8 7/8    ---- |
      |           |             |            |             |  88,600 Sls  |
 -----|-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------|
 Apple|33 1/4  - 1|33 3/4  + 1/2| 34    + 1/4|34 1/8  + 1/8|32 3/4  -1 3/8|
      |           |             |            |             |1,618,300  Sls|
 -----|-----------+-------------+------------+-------------+--------------|
  IBM |96 5/8  - 2|97 1/2  + 7/8|97 1/2  +3/4|95 7/8 -1 5/8|96 7/8   + 1  |
      |           |             |            |             |1,836,400  Sls|
 -----'-------------------------------------------------------------------'

      'Sls' refers to the # of stock shares that were traded that day.
      'CBM' refers to Commodore Corporation.

     With the stock at 12.5 in December, it was running ahead of  itself at
 that time.   Therefore,  its present  position is seen as an average.  The
 outlook for Atari Stock  is predicted  to become  much brighter  in March.
 The  deciding  factor  is  whether  or not Atari's current decision makers
 continue to see the  US market  as a  waste of  time because  of a totally
 impotent sales network.  And when and if the US market enjoys the sales of
 the new products, STACY and STE.






     _________________________________________________________________
   





 > FCC & ATARI? CPU/STR PROBE   WHAT ..really is the cause....
   ==========================




                  ARE THERE REALLY UNREASONABLE DELAYS??
                  ======================================



 preface
 -------

     The FCC is blamed for many things these days, just  a scant  few weeks
     ago,  they  were  faulted  by  us  and  many  others  for  the  latest
     controversy that flared up  over  the  Texas  Telecommunications flap.
     Well, it  seems the  FCC is  catching heck again over the speed of its
     type acceptance program.  In particular, why the  big delays  over the
     STACY and STE??


 We present a few questions and answers that may help clear the air.

     Question:
          Why is  it that  IBM and  all the 'big' guys never seem to have a
          problem with type acceptance.

     Answer:
          The bottom line here is quite complex, but here are  a few ideas.
          The primary reason IBM etc... have little or no problems is their
          units are truly modular in design.    This  results  in  having a
          group of  sub chassis  that have been previously 'type accepted'.
          The FCC actually has inspected the units in bits and pieces prior
          to the submission of the complete device.  Since most of the sub-
          chassis had been type  accepted  the  'whole  unit'  is virtually
          assured to 'fly' through the system.

     Question:
          Does  the  FCC  actually  test  each  and  every new product that
          carries its certification authorization?

     Answer:
          Not hardly.  In most cases, a device is submitted  to a  lab that
          is local  to the manufacturer's facility and more often than not,
          the testing site is a privately owned lab  that is  authorized to
          perform the  emission and type acceptance testing procedures.  If
          the device submitted passes the requirements  and meets  the type
          acceptance guidelines for which it is submitted, the testing site
          would then issue a certificate of type acceptance and the records
          of same  are then  forwarded to  the FCC.   The FCC does however,
          perform type acceptance test  also, but  considering the enormity
          of electronic  devices capable of all sorts of emissions, if they
          were to test each and every new device, wait would  be impossible
          to bear with.  Thus, the testing is permissible by private labs.


     Question:
          Does the  FCC actually  hold up  products to be tested for months
          and months?

     Answer:
          Absolutely not.  The average time span from  start to  finish for
          type acceptance  testing, in  normal cases, is four to six weeks.
          If   there   are   extenuating   circumstances,   (not   passing,
          corrections,  resubmission  etc.),  then  the  individual or firm
          having made the submission  is well  aware of  the causes  of the
          delays and  can, in  most cases,  expedite the process.  In fact,
          the FCC will advance a resubmission to the  point is  was, at the
          time of  failure, they do not require that the process be started
          from step one.  Unless of  course,  the  changes  to  the product
          being re-submitted are so vast as to require such.


     In  preparing  these  points  of  information,  it  is  hoped that the
 confusion generated by a  lack of  valid information  is somewhat quelled.
 The  situation  is  totally  avoidable  if a manufacturer or importer will
 forward pre-production models of the devices  for testing  and once passed
 provide statements  of continued  compliance.   This would  in most cases,
 preclude the situations we are seeing where the product is  flowing freely
 to all  parts of  the world EXCEPT THE USA.  The FCC is in no way to blame
 for this happenstance.

   

 Editor Note:
     Apparently Atari is doing EXACTLY the same thing  it has  in the past,
 shipping to  the bigger European market first in large numbers.  According
 to our information, we  are  told;  "Throughout  Europe  the  only machine
 generally available  now is  the STE!"   It is sad to see an arm of the US
 Government being made the scapegoat in  this scenario.   It  simply is not
 the  case.    Atari  submitted  the  STE for FCC testing long after having
 shipped the devices to Canada and  Europe.   Once again,  the USA  takes a
 back seat....  Another promise to the US market unfulfilled.







       ____________________________________________________________



 > Beckemeyer Development CPU/STR Tech Notes     Tools - Multitasking 
   =========================================




                         Micro RTX and MT C-Shell
                         ------------------------

     Since  the  introduction  of  Micro  RTX and MT C-Shell there has been
 confusion between the two.  In an attempt to address this, I have prepared
 the following brief discussion.

     Micro  RTX  is  a  Real-Time  Multitasking  Executive.  Micro RTX is a
 general purpose operating system kernel.  It is the kernel used in  the MT
 C-Shell system.

     Micro   RTX   also   implements  multitasking  TOS  compatibility.  It
 implements all the GEMDOS and BIOS calls and adds some new TOS-level calls
 as well.

     Micro RTX  is not  an end-user  application and  includes no intrinsic
 interactive programs.  It is more like a subroutine library; RTX by itself
 doesn't  do  anything.    Micro  RTX  is a tool for developing stand-alone
 multitasking applications.  MT C-Shell is an RTX application that emulates
 a UNIX environment.  Micro RTX is very simple and general purpose.  It has
 very few intrinsic  limitations  and  is  easy  to  customize  via program
 extensions and "hooks".  MT C-Shell installs hooks into RTX that support a
 UNIX-like multitasking multiuser environment.  MT C-Shell actually extends
 the RTX kernel, just as any other RTX program could.

 The standard (non RTX) TOS system breaks down roughly as follows:


         Application Program and its Libraries
           |
           v Application Layer
         ============
           | System Services Layer
           v
         GEM AES services
           |
           v
         GEM VDI services
           |
           v
         GEMDOS services
           |
           v
         BIOS services
           |
           v
         XBIOS services
           |
           v
         Line A services

     The system  services are  not perfectly  layered.   An application may
 actually use a set of services at various layers in a number of acceptable
 combinations (e.g. GEMDOS only, AES/VDI only, AES/VDI and BIOS etc.)   Non
 graphics applications (e.g. .TOS or  .TTP)  typically  won't  use  the GEM
 services.   Some graphics  applications may  bypass the VDI and use Line A
 directly.

     MICRO RTX installs replacement GEMDOS  and  BIOS  system  services and
 installs a  new set  of "MICRO  RTX" services.   Applications that use the
 normal system services won't  be  affected.    However,  applications that
 "know"  about  the  new  services  can  take  advantage of advanced system
 features for multitasking, interprocess communication etc.

     MICRO RTX  provides  the  low-level  building  blocks  for  building a
 higher-level  OS  interface.    Such  an  interface  is demonstrated in MT
 C-Shell and the VSH Visual Shell.   RTX  could  also  be  the  basis  of a
 stand-alone  application  which  could  benefit from multitasking, such as
 TurboPOS, where multitasking and  interprocess communications  services of
 MICRO  RTX  are  used  in a sophisticated multi-user distributed data-base
 system, based on the client-server model.

     VSH is an "outer-layer" to the  base MT  C-Shell which  provides a GEM
 windowing   interface.         It   sets  up  device  drivers  and  a  GEM
 application/accessory  to  manage  "virtual  terminals",  running commands
 inside GEM  windows, even  while another GEM application is running at the
 same time.

     Another application benefiting from multitasking is  networking, where
 server tasks could run "in the background".

     I hope  this brief  introduction helps to answer a few questions about
 MICRO RTX, MT C-Shell, and VSH.

                                   David -- Beckemeyer Development

  

  

    ___________________________________________________________________



  
 > PC DITTO 2 CPU/STR OnLine    As the PAL flip - flops...
   ========================= 



 ctsy GEnie Atari RT



 Below, we present the ongoing saga  of the  user's lament  with the latest
 entrant into the ST arena, PC-Ditto II.


 SALVIUS; posts,
  
 OK, I guess I'm missing something.. AG writes a single message saying they
 are now devoting their time to the software update.

 How does that solve the problems I've read here (I believe they  also said
 they did  NOT read  this topic thoroughly, I'm still trying to figure that
 out, how they could afford not to spend a half  hour capturing  this topic
 with all of the vital info here):

 1) The board don't not fit one bit at all no how in most STs...

 2) The clip is poorly designed for many users, and there is a problem
    physically connecting it to the 68000 chip...

 3) Some people cannot even boot up their computers, OR the ST operating
    mode is slowed down or otherwise affected. Software CAN'T fix that!!!

 4) The board is obviously 100% incompatible with the blitter chip. Hey,
    people! Wake UP! YO! This is an internal board! What are you going
    to do, permanently sacrifice your blitter chips??? It may not be
    the greatest chip that Atari ever invented, and software might
    work faster (Turbo, etc.), but hey, it is a part of your megas! I don't
    care what the chip is, and AG cannot be forgiven for failing to test
    PCDII in a machine with a mega, given the HISTORY of blitter problems
    over the last year.

 Guys, I'm  shaking my head, and giving up. When Supercharger is available,
 I'll buy that. My patience ended with AG's  last message.  This is absurd,
 and AG's  ONLY answer  is to do a recall, whether software can patch a few
 ST's or not! I would not think of  tearing my  ST apart  for anything, and
 I'm not buying an AT case. Thank you, but no thank you.

 >>>Vinny
  ------------


 C.RICKERT; posts,
  
 I just got back from the atari store which i deal with, I had stopped in
 not because  i received my pcditto but instead for a memory upgrade to 2.5
 meg.  But while in the store two  different customers  brought their pcdII
 boards in after failing in their attempt to get them running(they all said
 that they locked up) The tech asked if i would mind if he looked at theirs
 first since  he had not seen one yet and i figured that i also could learn
 something of interest to most of you and myself since  i am  also waiting.
 Within  about  2-3  hours  both  units were repaired installed and working
 fantastic now waiting for mine will be twice as bad.
  
 JIM ALLEN ----- the technician knows you and said if  you rush  his orders
 for the  boards he has ordered he will be more than happy to help you out.
 He also asked me to let everyone who has a board and  wishes to  return it
 know that he will buy it from you for $169.95 so that way everyone will be
 happy. the name of the dealer is COMPUTER CELLER LOCATED IN ST.CHARLES IL.
 THEIR PHONE # IS (312)584-4048 I HOPE THAT THIS HELPS SOME OF YOU OUT ALSO
 IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED  IN  RETURNING  THEIR  UNIT  AND  IT  IS  STILL IN
 ORIGINAL CONDITION  I WILL  PURCHASE IT AND PAY POSTAGE. LEAVE MAIL. THANK
 YOU  CHUCK
  ------------



 J.ALLEN27; posts,
  
 There is that one rev of the 1040 that nobody  has any  troubles with, the
 board goes  in and  works. I  have a distinct feeling that this rev of the
 1040 is the one Ag developed the board in...so of  course it  works.  It's
 the rest of us who don't have one of those 1040s that need a fix.

 Computer  Celler's  order  does  go  out  on Monday...coincidence huh? But
 really
 there are only 3 problems:

 1:  It doesn't live well with blitters...most  not at  all, some slightly,
     and some sort of.

 2:    There  is  some  kind  of  an interrupt related bug that is hardware
     sensitive and so manifests itself as most machines not DOS booting.

 3:  It don't fit most machines...certainly not in conjunction  with memory
     upgrades, etc.

 A SW  fix will  bag #2, a HW fix ( a PAL maybe) will bag #1, and I have no
 idea how they will deal with #3. But it is good to  know that  Nevin and I
 aren't the only ones having seen PCDII work.
  ------------

 Category 19,  Topic 2
 Message 354       Mon Jan 29, 1990
 M.GENT                       at 01:34 PST
  
 AVANT-GARDE,
      When  the  next  (and  probably  smaller) revision comes out, could I
 upgrade to it?  This MONSTER board is impossible to mount in my machine.
  ------------


 Editor Note:
     While  we  are  aware  of  the  AG  folks  efforts  to  resolve  their
 difficulties with  PCD2, we  still feel the best course of action would be
 to become more accessible to the  users.    Most  feel  that  the problems
 surrounding PCD2  will, in  time, be ironed out.  In the meantime a strong
 consideration should be  aimed  at  a)  becoming  more  accessible  and b)
 upgrading  to  a  smaller  pcb  that  will fit in any ST regardless of the
 model.






         ________________________________________________________





 > "THE DREAM" CPU/STR FOCUS     A good idea whose time has come.
   =========================





                                "The Dream"
                                 =========


 An open letter to Atari, Dealers, Developers and Users.


     The  Atari  engineering  department  continues  to  produce astounding
 machinery.    The  STE  and  TT  are  well  improved  machines in a mature
 environment.  Atari is also doing very well  fiscally.   A lot  of Atari's
 current  financial  success  is  due  to the Atari Portfolio.  The world's
 smallest  MSDOS  computer  has   captured  the   imagination  of  computer
 aficionados world wide.

     Both the  STACY Transportable (Midi Controller) and the TT have a very
 classy feel and give an experienced user the  feeling of  almost unlimited
 power.    At  last  Atari's  video  resolution  is  second  to none in the
 microcomputer market.  If the TT does indeed release in a timely manner at
 less than  $2000 and  if the STACY is priced at $1495 for the basic floppy
 system, the pledge of "Power without the Price" will be truly fulfilled.

     In fact Atari has a virtual  plethora  of  equipment  and  third party
 support for this equipment is substantial.  From Parsec boards, to Mac and
 IBM adaptors, to Calamus,  Pagestream, and  Ultrascript, as  well as music
 sequencing  and  sampling,  point  of  sale  systems,  and  even dedicated
 industrial control Mega ST's, there is no dearth of niche  development for
 our machine which has somewhat disappointing sales figures.

     This brings  us to  the crux of the problem.  In my opinion, the Atari
 ST/TT line is the broadest base of technically superior hardware available
 from any company.  But every major computer company has an Achilles' Heel.
 IBM's is their graphic performance.   They just  aren't fun  machines, and
 there are  too many  graphic standards.  The Mac's is price coupled with a
 black and white standard which is dominant on their machines.  The Amiga's
 problems are  poor resolution and some doubt about the financial stability
 of Commodore.  Tandy has a poor image  due to  their Radio  Shack heritage
 and  current  IBM  compatible  technology.  Atari  has  one major problem.
 Marketing.  All of our minor problems stem from this basic flaw.

     The public attitude needs to be  changed.    Atari  has  tried various
 outside  agencies   including  recently  a  division  of  Chiat  Day,  the
 advertising agency credited  with  Apple's  success.    They  lasted about
 thirty days,  then rehired  and now  finally, been  given broader and more
 encompassing duties.  Frequently,  Atari has  mounted in  house campaigns.
 These have been dismal.  Some of the promotions have been enticing, all of
 the hardware is desirable, and potentially well supported.  The  one thing
 Atari has  not been  able to  come up  with is  a campaign  to inspire the
 masses.

     I suggest that perhaps because of the owners coming from  Canada, they
 misunderstand  some  aspect  of  the  American  market.  We must certainly
 compliment the Tramiel family on what they do  well. Atari  is financially
 stable, and  it was  on the  verge of ruin when they took over it.  The ST
 consistently offers the most bang for the buck  and is  in my  opinion the
 wonder machine of the decade.

     On the  other hand,  the American  dollar is  spent on fads.  The hula
 hoop, Davy Crockett, Nehru jackets, Pet  Rocks, and  Apple Macintoshes are
 all fads.   The  Atari ST  has not  become a  fad because  it has not been
 advertised properly.

     I know this may sound self  aggrandizing, but  after four  years as an
 Atari ST  dealer, having  to battle  to survive as Jack Tramiel did in the
 marketplace,  I  think  I  am  more  in  touch  with  users,  user groups,
 developers and  the American  public than any Atari corporate officer.  In
 fact I studied American Culture through graduate and  post graduate school
 and  have  a  degree  in  Anthropology.   That I chose an economic life of
 marketing Atari is partially a testimony  to the  culture change computers
 are wreaking in our lives and partially due to Atari's accessability, both
 in ease of  use  and  availability  for  less  money.    What  makes Atari
 inaccessible is  the lack  of knowledge  of their  product by the American
 public.

     I  say;  "we  can  change  that.    One  way  is  by  supporting  "The
 Revolution", Don  Thomas' ideas on the users selling the brand. The second
 is hiring  me as  consultant or  marketing specialist  for Atari.   In one
 year's time  we can  double Atari's dealers and quadruple Atari's ST sales
 in the U.S. with judicious advertising at a percentage of  gross specified
 by Atari.   Jack Tramiel and Sam Tramiel told me 10%.  I submit that under
 my direction Atari can spend 8-10% on advertising, reach 10  times as many
 people, quadruple  sales, and create the public image necessary to set the
 ST as a new standard firmly in the American economy.

     If you feel as I do that Atari's  major shortcoming  is in  its public
 relations,  from  the  general  public,  through  dealer  and  user  group
 organizations, then I am asking you to write Jack Tramiel, the chairman of
 the board  to give  us, the  Atari users  a chance to market their machine
 with me as the coach with certain powers  in their  company.   This is not
 some kind  of a  takeover or assertion of democracy in action.  After all,
 Atari is a family run company.  I'm just suggesting  that this  one aspect
 of business  could be  managed better  by me as someone coming up from the
 ranks.  After all, when  queried  about  marketing  at  COMDEX  last week,
 Leonard Tramiel said, "What marketing?"

     If you support this move to better market the ST/TT line please write:
                         Jack Tramiel, Chairman of the Board
                                   Atari Corporation
                                 1196 Borregas Avenue
                                 Sunnyvale, CA 94086
  
     And please say: I'd like  to  see  Atari  ST/TT  machines  more widely
                     sold  and  used.  I  think  Bill  Yerger has some good
                     ideas.  Why don't you give him a try?

                                             Thanks,

                                   Bill Yerger, owner Zephyr/Microworld


 Editor Note:
     Recently, the rumor mill has been  active to  the extent  that we have
 heard there are certain Atari upper level employees who feel Mr. Yerger is
 not exactly what Atari expects him to be.   Well,  allow me  folks..  Bill
 purchases MORE Atari products for sale in his dealership in one month than
 most dealers purchase for resale in a six month combined period.  And ..he
 is not  one of the price cutting comedians we see who try to impersonate a
 real dealer.  Yet the same few "Axemen" near the top feel  it necessary to
 try and  take this  man to task.  I say it is because Yerger KNOWS what he
 is talking about and could, if  he became  a part  of the  decision making
 process  at  Atari,  make  life  very  miserable  for these few vindictive
 characters who seem to  make a  career of  misinforming the  Tramiels.  As
 time goes by, it becomes more clear just who is blowing smoke at Atari and
 it still boils down  to the  old BROWN-NOSE-SYNDROME  of telling  the boss
 things he  either likes  to hear or strongly impresses him.  The corporate
 warriors and their jousting  to gain  the favor  of the  Tramiels is, once
 again, becoming rather painfully obvious.





     _________________________________________________________________




 > CPU NEWSWIRE CONFIDENTIAL     Telling it like it is...
   =========================




 - Chicago, IL.        ***** STACY NOW DELAYED BY CHINESE NEW YEAR! *****
   ------------

     What has  to be  the most  UNBELIEVABLE EXCUSE of the year?  The sales
 rep for Atari, in the Chicago area, was overheard saying;  "The arrival of
 the Stacy  Laptop has  been delayed  as a result of the celebration of the
 Chinese New Year."  As I pick myself  up from  the floor,  tears streaming
 down my  cheeks from  laughing so  hard, I wonder if the sales rep thought
 the folks in this dealership  were  really  that  gullible.    New Horizon
 Distributors  needs  to  obtain  new  writers  to  produce their hilarious
 material, this one is a bit far fetched.



 - New York City, N.Y.  ****  MEGA2 PRODUCTION AND SALES DISCONTINUED! ****
   -------------------

     After calling and inquiring about a MEGA2 computer and its sale price,
 a major  East Coast  Distributor, J&R Music, informed us that the Mega ST2
 computer has been  discontinued.    This  comes  as  no  surprise  to this
 reporter as  the recently  released production  run was a heavily modified
 version incapable of accepting any type of memory upgrade.



 - Washington, D.C.        *****  STE PRODUCTION TO BE ACCELERATED!  *****
   ----------------

     Amidst complaints alleging the US market is being neglected on a grand
 scale, it  is reported  that the  production quotas  for the STE have been
 increased to bring the figure up over 25,000 units produced per month.  At
 this  time,  the  bulk  of  this  production  is destined for the European
 market, it is hoped that Atari will win FCC type acceptance soon and begin
 shipping the STE in the USA.




 - Munich, Germany          ***** BORLAND TO RELEASE TURBO C/ST V2.0 *****
   ---------------


     Here  is  some  news  and  an  update  on  Turbo  C for the ST.  An ST
 programmer for Borland Germany in Munich said last friday if  all goes the
 way it's  planned, Turbo  C/ST v2.0  and the source level debugger TD v1.0
 will be released in March (1990).
  
     That date does not  apply to  the English  documentation.   They still
 haven't  found  a  producer/publisher/whatever  for  that.  Sorry, no good
 news there yet.  There are all sorts  of new  goodies, such  as a complete
 PC-compatible BGI  (Borland Graphics Interface) implementation.  And TD is
 a sight to see.   Incidentally,  he said  that Borland  Germany received a
 number of  complaints about  the fact  that TC/ST  is not available in the
 USA.  He suggested that those folks who wish to  buy TC,  if there  was an
 official US version, should write to Borland USA and request an English TC
 version.   It's  entirely  up  to  Borland  USA  to  make  such  a version
 available, Borland Germany is more than willing to comply.  



 - London, U.K.            *****  SMALLER LYNX TO SELL FOR $99.00!  *****
   -----------

     A notice  in Electronic  Gaming, January 1990 issue, states that Atari
 has a scaled down version of  the  Lynx  under  development.    Unlike its
 luxurious big  brother, it  will not be quite as fancy, it will be smaller
 and more compact with a smaller color LCD screen, it will not  have screen
 flip and it is slated to be available in late March or April.



 - Rockford, IL.   ****  ICD POISED TO RELEASE POWERFUL NEW SOFTWARE  ****
   -------------

     ICD Inc.  is now  beta testing  a group of new programs destined to be
 regarded as the most powerful programs  ever written  for use  in the mass
 storage device  arena.   This new  software will  allow users of the older
 versions of TOS to utilize partitions  up to  a quarter  gig in individual
 size and  users of the newer versions of TOS, (1.4 or greater), may use up
 to half a gig for each  partition.   Additionally, a  desktop accessory is
 included which  permits the user to have any number of partitions, the acc
 will activate  and  deactivate  partitions  and  change  the  boot pull-up
 order.   After having used this software as a beta site, all we can say at
 this point is.. "If  you  think  the  ICD  utilities  and  booter  you are
 presently using is great, you ain't seen nuthin' yet!










       _____________________________________________________________




 > A 'MOMENT' CPU/STR HUMOR     Not quite what I was taught but cute..
   ========================



 The_Load_Prayer
 ---------------
               Our_program,(  who  art  in  memory,  "HELLO_WORLD",  be thy
               name).  Thy O.S. come, thy commands be done on the screen as
               it is on disk.  Give us this day our daily data, and forgive
               us our I/O errors as we forgive those whose bad  sectors are
               against us.   Lead  us not  into frustration, and deliver us
               from crashes.  For thine is  the application,  the algorithm
               and the solution, looping forever and ever.


                                                                 .. Return





   ____________________________________________________________________







  > Hard Drive Info STReport 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)
                                     
            *** 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 *

                  BARE SYQUEST #555 W/ CARTRIDGE: $679.00

                    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!
                  in a shoebox OR under monitor cabinet  
                               ONLY $889.00
   
                      CUSTOM CONFIGURATIONS AVAILABLE
  
 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  $1539.00 

    * SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE AND HARD DRIVE COMBINATIONS *
         - Syquest 44 Model [555] and the following hard drives -
          50mb SQG51   $1279.00           30mb SQG38    $1199.00
          65mb SQG09   $1339.00           85mb SQG96    $1399.00
                       
                 LOWBOY - STANDARD - DUAL BLOWER CABINETS

            *****  COMING SOON!   INSITE FLOPTICAL DRIVE  *****
                          August-September, 1990

             20 MB 3.5 FLOPPY DISK MASS STORAGE OPTICAL DRIVE!
            uses standard 3.5" floppy disks and Floptical disks
           Will access and read your present library of floppys

                              $789.95 approx.

       - Custom Walnut WOODEN Cabinets - TOWER - AT - XT Cabinets - 
                   Keyboard Custom Cables Call for Info
                      ALL POWER SUPPLIES UL APPROVED

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

                 QUANTITY & USERGROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!
                 _________________________________________

                     DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS WANTED!
                         please, call for details

                 Personal and Company Checks are accepted.

                            ORDER YOURS TODAY!

                       904-783-3319    9am - 8pm EDT






      _______________________________________________________________





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



               Make three CORRECT GUESSES consecutively.....
             .....you then establish yourself as an EXPERT!!"


                                           ... Ziggy Zagnut







 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CPU/STR            "Your Independent News Source"       February 02, 1990
 16/32bit Magazine        copyright  1989-90                     No.4.05  
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 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.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

