Z*Net: 29-Jun-90 #526

From: Len Stys (aa399@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 06/30/90-03:58:40 AM Z


From: aa399@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Len Stys)
Subject: Z*Net: 29-Jun-90  #526
Date: Sat Jun 30 03:58:40 1990



     //////       //    //  //////  //////   Z*Net Atari Online Magazine
        //   /   ///   //  //        //             June 29, 1990
     //    ///  // // //  //////    //       ---------------------------
  //       /   //   ///  //        //          Compiled and Edited by:
 //////       //    //  ///////   //          Ron Kovacs  and  John Nagy
 
 Issue #526                                             Atari News First
                                ----------
                    (=) 1990 by Rovac Industries, Inc.
                            Post Office Box 59
                       Middlesex, New Jersey 08846
                     Z*Net Online BBS: (201) 968-8148
 =======================================================================
         CompuServe 71777,2140 * Cleveland Free-Net * GEnie Z-NET
 =======================================================================
                                 CONTENTS

 THIS WEEK...................................................Ron Kovacs
 Z*NET NEWSWIRE........................................................
 ATARI LEADS AT NAMM - EYEWITNESS REPORT.................Dr. Paul Keith
 Z*NET DOWN-UNDER............................................Jon Clarke
 PD/SHAREWARE STOP...........................................Mark Quinn
 ISD OUTLINE CONTEST...................................................
 LEXICOR DEVELOPER REQUEST.............................................
 ATARI SWAPFEST ANNOUNCED.................................Press Release
 
 
 
 
                     ===============================
                                THIS WEEK
                      ===============================
                              by Ron Kovacs

 
       Happy July 4th!  Have a SAFE and enjoyable weekend/holiday!

 Commentary?? Is it really required?  For the latest opinions and views 
 on the state of Atari, read the messages on the pay services, 
 (CompuServe and GEnie and possibly your local BBS system).  Personally,
 there has been enough said that most of the commentary appearing is 
 turning into re-runs.
 
 I have received interesting email and a FEW letters, actually 3 letters 
 and a post card, requesting we (Z*Net) take on another online magazine's
 commentaries about Atari.  Well, simply put, WHY?  They are doing such a
 fabulous job of it, why share the spotlight?
 
 A message posted on GEnie this week noted the fifth anniversary of the
 release of the ST this month.... It escaped me... Does anyone remember
 the release dates of the OTHER Atari products... Interesting though, I
 didn't realize so much time went by??  It has been over 10 years since
 the original Atari 8-bit.

 
 
                     ===============================
                              Z*NET NEWSWIRE
                     ===============================
 
  
 ATARI EYES MOVE TO BOSTON AS ONE OF MANY OPTIONS
 ST-REPORT issue #625 reported that Atari was considering a move to
 either Canada or the Northeast USA.  Officials at Atari this week
 confirmed for Z*NET that a move to the BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS area was
 one of several possible options for the Sunnyvale, California company.
 However, they stressed that at this time, it is only being evaluated for
 practicality, and that no plans have been made for moving anywhere.  The
 new General Manager-to-be, Elie Kenan, has asked for input regarding
 possibilities that may make the management of the USA/CANADA/FRANCE
 operations of Atari more manageable from one location.  The East coast
 site could offer fast commutes to Canada when needed, and would cut six
 hours off the flight to France, as well as improved business-hours
 telephone contact with the continent.  While there may yet be no
 decisions on moving, it is known that there have been recent additional
 layoffs of key warehouse and financial management personnel at Atari.
 This gives rise to at least the suspicion that future warehousing and
 distribution may be done at a site other than Sunnyvale.  It should be
 noted that Atari in Sunnyvale is at least three distinct operations:
 Atari USA, Atari Corporate (Worldwide), and Warehouse/Distribution/
 Accounting.  An Atari move out of the Silicon Valley might involve only
 one or two divisions.


 KENAN TO TAKE ATARI REIGNS IN JULY
 July 15th may signify the new independence day for Atari.  That's the
 day Elie Kenan returns to Sunnyvale after touring the facilities and
 offices of Atari in Canada and other locations.  Upon his return, he is
 expected to submit a plan and proposal that will make Kenan the
 unquestioned manager of all operations of Atari USA, Canada, and France.
 It appears to be a foregone conclusion that the plan will be accepted,
 and that the Tramiel brothers will no longer be the controlling voices
 of Atari USA.  Just what this may mean in the long term remains a
 mystery, but users and dealers and distributors all hope that a new day
 of organization and cooperation and MARKETING will result from the
 unification and consolidation of real authority.


 MIDITASKING READY; RELEASE DELAYED
 The unexpected low turnout at the recent Summer National Association of
 Music Merchandisers caused the cancellation of Atari's MIDI developers
 meeting.  It was to have been the last developer meeting prior to taking
 Atari's MIDI-Tasking module to the marketplace.  Atari has not announced
 a revised schedule for release of the system that will enable multiple
 MIDI (and perhaps other) applications to run simultaneously on any ST
 computer.  See the complete NAMM report, elsewhere in this issue of
 Z*NET.


 NEW LASER PRINTER FROM ATARI
 Atari will shortly release a replacement to their SLM804 laser printer.
 It will be smaller, lighter, quieter and SLOWER than the SLM804, but
 should retail for a bit less than the old laser printer, unchanged since
 its introduction several years ago.  While the 804 can do 8 pages a
 minute, the new unit will be limited to about 6 pages per minute output.
 The advantages will include easier access to service and supplies, as
 the new Atari unit will be mechanically identical to models already
 available from Epson, Mannesman-Talley, and several other brands.
 Operationally, the new unit will act exactly as an SLM804, as it will
 use the same interface/controller now in use.  Like the older model, the
 new printer will have NO onboard memory, using the RAM in the ST or MEGA
 to build the image much more quickly than is possible with in-printer
 memory.  Preview units at Atari headquarters have produced flawlessly
 with a variety of software, the most recent being HYPERPAINT.  A drawing
 application very popular in Canada, Hyperpaint is rumored to also exist
 in a BETA version especially for the STE, offering access to its full
 4,096 color pallet.  Testers last week reported that Hyperpaint had no
 problem importing a DEGAS cartoon and printing a pile of copies with the
 new Atari laser printer for distribution.

 
 NATHAN POTECHIN AND THE PIPS AT RENO?
 No, the President of ISD (marketers of CALAMUS and DYNACADD) is not
 doing a lounge act...  He'll be part of a National PIP copy center show.
 PIP is a major copy and printing service chain, and over 200 vendors
 will be at the national show for their managers and franchisees July 3
 through 7 at Bally's in Reno, Nevada.  Nathan Potechin will be joined by
 Bob Brodie and others to display the powerful ATARI printing solution of
 the ST, Laser Printer, and CALAMUS.  At least one PIP center in
 Bellflower, California, is already using the Atari system for in-house
 production of customer requested art and layout.  While many printing
 centers use MAC machines and even offer them at a rental rate on-site
 for consumer-produced documents, the ATARI system has typically not been
 seen in copy centers.  The PIP using it in Bellflower is very satisfied
 with the CALAMUS solution for doing fast layout and faster printing of
 in-house production for client specifications.  After the July show,
 there may be more ATARIs at PIPs.  This show is one of a series of
 industry and "private" showings that Nathan and Atari have been quietly
 offering to receptive audiences across the continent for some time now.
 ISD has also announced an Outline Art Contest.  The details are included
 in this edition of Z*Net.
 
 
 BRASOFT MOVES TO USA
 As of last Monday, Branch Always Software, Makers of QUICK ST, QUICK
 TOOLS, etc., is now registered in the state of Washington.  The new
 permanent mailing address for it is:

   Branch Always Software
   14150-F1 N.E. 20th Street Suite 302
   Bellevue, WA  98007
   U.S.A.

 Darek Mihocka, owner and programmer of all BRA-SOFT products, is moving
 to Washington from his former Toronto home.  He hopes to have a 1-800
 telephone support number soon.  The old address will remain valid, but
 will be slower since the mail is being forwarded.  The old phone numbers
 are NO longer valid.


 ERRATTA: Last week Z*NET ran a NEWSWIRE item co-authored by DAREK
 MIHOCKA, but due to a berzerk spelling checker, it came out "DEREK"
 every place it was to say "DAREK".  DAREK MIHOCKA says he knows no DEREK
 MIHOCKA, so we hope DAREK MIHOCKA will accept our apologies.


 HYPERCARD SOFTWARE UPGRADE
 Apple introduced a new revision of HyperCard software at the opening day
 of Digital World in Beverly Hills earlier this week.  HyperCard 2.0 now
 provides users with easy access to Macintosh programming, and greater
 flexibility to manage and create information, using any type of media.
 The new version contains over 100 features.  HyperCard 2.0 will be
 available in July.  Software-only upgrades will be available through
 user groups, book publishers and Apple dealers.  HyperCard 2.0 can also
 be purchased separately for $49.95.
 

 NEW APPLE PRESIDENT
 Apple announced in Beverly Hills that Robert Puette will become the new
 president of the company's Apple USA division, July 1.  Puette will be
 responsible for all of the division's sales, marketing, support and
 channel activities.  Puette comes to Apple after a 24-year career at
 Hewlett-Packard Co., where he led the startup, development and expansion
 of Hewlett-Packard's worldwide personal computer business.
 
 
 HYPERCARD EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE
 Apple announced the availability of the HyperCard for Education software
 tool for the Macintosh computer.  Tailored for teachers to help organize
 their classroom management tasks, HyperCard for Education demonstrates
 the capabilities of the HyperCard software tool in education. 


 ATARI GAMES BUYS BACK STOCK
 Atari Games, not affiliated with Atari Corp., announced the signing of
 an agreement to repurchase its stock presently held by Namco America
 Inc., the wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Ltd., Japan.  Part of the
 agreement calls for Namco, a major shareholder in Atari Games, to sell
 all of the shares it owns back to Atari Games, along with cash and other
 consideration.  In turn, Namco will receive ownership in Atari
 Operations Inc. which operates approximately 40 video game arcades in
 the Western and Southeastern United States.  According to Atari Games,
 the repurchase of the stock and subsequent sale of Atari Operations will
 provide Atari Games with new opportunities to conduct business in Japan
 and the Far East.  Atari Games is a privately held company whose
 majority shareholder after the transaction will be Time-Warner Inc.
 Atari Games is not affiliated with Atari Corp. and should be referred to
 as Atari Games. 

 
 NEW PERSONAL COMPUTER
 IBM introduced Personal System/1, a personal computer with powerful
 features but easy enough to be used by children.  IBM priced the new
 line of four personal computers from $999 to $1,999 - broken down
 according to memory capacity and to whether the monitor is color or
 black-and-white.  The four PS/1 are available in three U.S. markets,
 Dallas, Chicago, and Minneapolis, and will be shipped in September to
 retailers throughout the country.  The computers can be used in 17
 different languages.  PS/1 also comes with Prodigy, a computer service
 accessing databanks with travel, financial, and shopping information.
 Prodigy is a joint venture between IBM and Sears, which is putting the
 computer on shelves this week at 20 Sears locations.
 
 
 ROY NUTT DEAD AT 59
 Roy Nutt, one of the developers of FORTRAN, died in Seattle at the age
 of 59 after a long bout with cancer.  Nutt became one of the early
 experts in the '50s in the field of systems programming.
 

 LAWSUIT SETTELED
 Conner Peripherals and Seagate have resolved their legal dispute over
 supplies of thin film read/write recording heads.  Conner's suit, filed
 last April, alleged that after Seagate's acquisition of Imprimis
 Technology, Seagate terminated its contract with Conner for thin film
 heads, a principal component in disk drives.  The film heads were
 previously supplied to Conner Peripherals by Imprimis.
 

 NINTENDO TO LAUNCH GAME COMPUTER
 In November, Nintendo is expected to start selling in Japan a new 16-bit
 video game computer with software.  Super Famicom, will be launched with
 three related software packages, including Super Mario Brothers 4, and
 will eventually also be sold in the US and Europe.  The new software
 will not be compatible with Nintendo's earlier game computers.
 
 
 MOTOROLA APPEALS ORDER
 Motorola has filed a formal appeal in the patent dispute case over its
 68030 chip.  The action means the company may continue to produce and
 sell the processor until at least July 4th while the appeal is being
 processed.  US District Judge Lucius Bunton originally granted a stay of
 his order and urged the companies to settle the case out of court.  But,
 because they had failed to reach an agreement, the judge lifted the stay
 last Tuesday.  Later that day, the Washington appeals court issued a
 temporary stay of its own.  The chipmakers later agreed on a tentative
 settlement to their 18-month fight over patents.  They also jointly will
 seek a stay of a court order barring them from making and selling their
 products, including Motorola's important 68030 chip.
 

 IBM TO REPLACE POWER CORDS
 IBM notified customers and distributors this week of a potential safety
 problem with power cords intended for use on one model of its Personal
 System/2 computers.  The problem prevents the PS/2 system unit from
 operating, so only power cords in inventory or on systems that have not
 yet been installed and made operational are potentially affected.  The
 affected power cords were sold through IBM channels in the United States
 Canada, Latin America and certain countries in Asia.  For details of the
 exchange program, customers should contact their authorized IBM dealers
 or IBM marketing representatives.
 

 SEPTEMBER DATE FOR FIRST "SIMPSONS" GAME
 The Simpsons will reach gaming fans in September when Acclaim begins
 shipping its new SuperPlay Hand-held electronic video games based on the
 original family of characters created by cartoonist Matt Groening.
 Under an exclusive licensing agreement, Acclaim is creating SuperPlay
 Hand-held, Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy video games based
 on the popular Simpsons property.  The Acclaim Simpsons SuperPlay Hand-
 held will be available in September and is expected to retail for
 $19.95.
 

 NEW STANDARDS 3.5-INCH HARD DRIVES
 Seagate has set new standards of disc storage performance with the
 introduction of the ST1480 and ST1400 hard disc drives designed for
 desktop and downsized workstation market, network file servers and array
 applications.  Seagate's patented "Zone Bit Recording", offer 426 and
 331 formatted megabytes of data storage, respectively.  Both products
 are differentiated by a unique spindle rotation speed of 4400 RPM
 allowing for the fastest data access due to a reduced latency of 6.8
 milliseconds.  Seagate's line now features more than 46 models ranging
 in capacity from 20 to 426 megabytes with a selection of interfaces
 including ST412, embedded XT and AT, SCSI, SCSI-2 and ESDI.
 

 FIRST SEGA VIDEOGAMES
 Electronic Arts announced the shipment of their first ever videogames,
 Populous and Budokan:  The Martial Spirit.  Both titles are for the
 16-bit Sega Genesis System and were introduced at the June CES.  To
 celebrate shipping its first videogames, Electronic Arts gave each
 employee his or her own personal Sega Genesis machine and a copy of the
 Populous game. 



                     ===============================
                        ATARI LEADS AT SUMMER NAMM
                     ===============================
                        Eyewitness Report for Z*NET
                             by Dr. Paul Keith
 
 
 The 1990 Summer National Association of Music Merchandisers (NAMM) Show
 was held at the sprawling McCormick Place in Chicago, on Saturday, June
 16 through Monday June 18.  The theme of the show this time was the
 "International Music and Sound Exposition".  And our favorite computer
 company, ATARI, had one of the largest exhibits at the show.
 
 Atari's overhead banners could be seen from anywhere in the massive
 hall.  The Atari booth featured a classroom, bannered as the Atari MIDI
 Education Center.  Atari had some of the finest names in the MIDI field
 on hand to give presentations on the features of the Atari MIDI
 offerings.  Offerings throughout the show included a seminar on selling
 Atari computers, clinics on Cubase by Steinberg, a Notator clinic by C-
 Lab, "Selling MIDI Software to the Education Market" by Electronic
 Courseware, an "Introduction to Sound Tools for the Atari ST" by
 DigiDesign, an "Introduction to Encore for the Atari ST" by Passport, a
 SMPTE Track Clinic by Hybrid Arts, a Tiger Clinic by Dr. T's, Jimmy Hotz
 showing the Hotz MIDI Translator, and last but certainly not least, a
 seminar by David Small entitled "The Best of Both Worlds; Running
 Macintosh Software on the Atari ST".

 The Atari MIDI Education Center filled the bulk of Atari's space, with
 the various developers set up along the outside walls of the Education
 Center.  The display was anchored at each corner with two of the most
 interesting (and controversial) booths of the show.  On the left side
 was Jimmy Hotz, once again showing the Hotz MIDI Translator, and on the
 right side was Gadgets by Small, showing off the MegaTalk Board as well
 as Spectre GCR.  Dave, Sandy, and Doug had a Moniterm monitor with a
 T-16 accelerator installed, wowing the Mac users with the speed and ease
 of use in the remarkable Spectre GCR.  Also on display in their booth
 was a Stacy 4, with a T-16 AND an INTERNAL GCR!!  This hybrid high speed
 portable was causing a lot of Mac users to rethink their hardware
 purchases.  More than one of them was heard to remark very favorably on
 the superb Stacy screen, and the flawless emulation of the Mac, even
 running MultiFinder!  The MegaTalk board, although not yet on the
 market, was up and running the best of the Mac MIDI software, including
 Finale, one of the premier Mac MIDI software packages.  MegaTalk appears
 being close to ready although it still stumbled on some of the MIDI
 files that it played.  The MegaTalk "Appletalk" network emulator
 promises to be the final step to achieve total compatibility with the
 Mac world.  MegaTalk simply plugs into the Mega expansion bus, and
 brings out two Mac Serial ports to the back of the Mega.  Many Mac user/
 developers stopped by to chat with Dave, only to leave with a new
 respect gained for the Atari solution to MIDI needs.

 Jimmy Hotz was showing the Hotz box again as I mentioned, and this time
 Atari was even offering them for sale!  A price reported to be $5000 for
 the Hotz box had smaller dealers dismayed, but the recording studios
 were stepping right up to place orders.  Some still regard the Hotz box
 as just a glorified cord organ, while others hail it as a multifaceted
 tool for musicians, recording studios, and "true professionals".  Rumors
 abound that Jimmy is near completion of a deal with a major recording
 company to place HOTZ Code on all of their CD's.  Imagine being able to
 connect your synthesizer up to your computer, while accepting input from
 a Hotz coded CD!

 And speaking of respect, the "other" computer companies showed their
 respect, or lack of it, by not showing up for this NAMM.  Atari was the
 only computer company on display.  Commodore, a last minute booth at the
 January NAMM in Anaheim, was nowhere to be found.  A check through the
 booths in the exhibit hall found just a scattering of Amigas.  Apple was
 once again a no-show at NAMM, making it two shows in a row!  Could it be
 that Apple has decided that they are going to abandon the MIDI market?
 It could be that John Sculley and crew are still seeking answers for why
 the famed Mac Portable, while more available (and far more expensive)
 than Atari's STACY, will not run MIDI software.

 Supply of Stacys here in the US continues to be spotty, yet more than
 one developer at Atari's booth was using their own Stacy to show their
 wares.  A newcomer to Atari's booth was MultiByte Systems, an east coast
 company selling rechargeable battery packs, and carrying cases for the
 Stacy.  The cases are great, available in a wide number of colors
 (including Camouflage!), made of a high quality fabric designed for
 those that plan to take their Stacy with them EVERYWHERE.  Even Bob
 Brodie, Atari's designated travelling man, was seen selecting one of
 these beauties.

 A recent issue of Start had a section on how the "pro's" were using the
 Atari to meet their needs.  Sometime those needs can prove to be rather
 unique.  Atari MIDI rep John Morales was on hand, helping sign up new
 dealers, and demoing some of the latest MIDI software.  He gave a brief
 demo to some of the attendees of the high quality direct to disk
 digitizing that can be accomplished on the ST.....at a rate of 10 megs a
 minute!  John has installed a 200 meg Conner hard disk inside his
 Megafile 44.  He has the Conner partitioned into just TWO partitions!
 One of his files of digitized recording finished up at just over 53
 megs!  Imagine downloading that file from a BBS!

 It seemed that Atari is making a strong effort to remain a viable force
 in the MIDI/Sound market.  Frank Foster reported that Scott Gershwin of
 "Born on the Fourth of July fame" is busy at work on other movies, once
 again using his Atari to handle all of the sound needs.  Look for a film
 this summer called "Solar Crisis" (sure to be a blockbuster according to
 Frank) that once again uses the Atari for all of the sound editing.
 Director Oliver Stone was so pleased with the results of "Born on the
 Fourth of July" that he has his next movie already gearing up with even
 more ST's to handle the tasks of movie making.  Director Stone has just
 finished up another movie with Gershwin called "The Doors", a story on
 rock legend Jim Morrison.  If Atari is moving, perhaps it should be to
 Hollywood!

 The rest of the NAMM Show was very ho-hum after visiting Atari's booth.
 The only other eye catching displays were from companies trying to sell
 light and sound equipment for mobile DJ's, along with the mandatory fog
 machines.  The rest of the show was pretty well consumed by music supply
 houses, selling sheet music and guitar strings, foot pedals, and
 amplifiers.  Pioneer was there, showing off their new "Karoke", kind of
 an electronic "sing along with a laser disk" product.  The Karoke played
 musical videos, while you sing along.  While the Karoke is a big hit in
 Japan, reaction here was less than lukewarm.  Hyundai was there with a
 large display of pianos, from grands all the way to the cheapest
 uprights.  All in all, hardly a shadow of the show that was held in
 Anaheim in January.  Why?  One observer was heard to remark that while
 Chicago is a great crossroads for the country (and therefore a great
 place for something like CES), it isn't much of a music town.
 Apparently the executives at NAMM have recognized that.  The Summer NAMM
 of 1991 will be held in July, at the Javitz Center in New York City.

 The low turnout for the show didn't seem to be a factor for Atari.  They
 were still briskly hustling people in and out of meetings with Bill
 Crouch and Frank Foster.  About the only "casualty" of the low turnout
 was the cancellation of the MIDI developers meeting that should have put
 the MIDI-Tasking module out to the end users.  While all of the
 companies involved with the development of the MIDI-Tasking were there,
 some of the real "movers and shakers" were not.  Apparently, we'll all
 have to be patient, as the MIDI-Tasking development continues on the
 PAN Network.

 All in all, the Summer NAMM show seemed to bear out once again that
 Atari is the true market leader when it comes to MIDI.


 
                     ===============================
                             Z*NET DOWN-UNDER
                     ===============================
                              by Jon Clarke

 ZDN NEWSWIRE
 ------------

 PIRACY RING BUSTED IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
 Australian federal police believe they have broken a major computer
 piracy operation after seizing more than 3700 illegally copied disks
 worth an estimated value of $A250,000.  The raids took place over the
 last three weeks on two homes in Adelaide.  Most of the diskettes seized
 were games, although some were business related packages.  During the
 raids five personal computers were also seized.  Three people are now
 expected to be charged under the Federal Copyright act after police
 complete inquires into the ownership of copyright of the programs.
 Detective Constable Rick Irvine, of the Federal Police in Adelaide, said
 the raids were the culmination of a six month long investigation of a
 piracy with overseas links.  It appears the offenders received pirated
 programs from America and Europe.  They proceeded to copy the pirated
 programs and then offered them for sale through a network of computer
 users in Australia.  Mr. Irvine said the underground operation was well
 organized and was part of a wider blackmarket trade in copied programs.
 He also said he believes the ring leaders are still at large.
 
 
        ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
        :::: The Atari ST user know's more than the MS_DOS user ::::
        ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

                           :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
                           ::Ever try to explain GEM to a MS_DOS User?::
 ::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 :::If looks could kill:::
 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 :::When asked for a sector editor, the Mac dealer said " A what?:::
 :::we do not cater for 'power users'!!!!:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


    [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
    []The Atari ST the LINK in the Corporate chain[]
    [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
 or
     =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
     The "Atari ST series", The corporate solution?
     ==============================================
     By Jon Clarke
     =-=-=-=-=-=-=


 Remember when you heard Atari computers were a games machine?  "Oh", you
 still think they are indeed that?
 
 What with all the advertising saying just that and the neat 'games
 packs' you get FREE with most purchases of an Atari ST, I don't blame
 you for thinking like this.  The Atari ST series of computers does have
 some very nice games, so does the MAC and the IBM for that matter.
 
 Games play is only a small part of computing but alas it seems to
 dominate the advertising and conception of Atari computers.
 
 So with this understanding in mind lets take a leap into the commercial
 world of computing.  What are your instant thoughts?  "Ah, the MS_DOS
 world" or maybe " Hmm, the Mac world".  Many of you will have either
 used or seen an IBM or clone.  Some of you may have used them in the
 MS_DOS environment or used the Mac in a similar fashion and not
 forgetting the big grunters "the mini and mainframes".
 
 Well here is the bottom line.  The Atari ST will out preform most PC's
 in the commercial world.  A bold statement?  NO! Lets look at what has,
 and is happening in the corporate/commercial world of computing.
 
 [1] Systems managers/buyers will go with the mainstream to protect their
     jobs and ego's.

 [2] A good computer salesperson will in most cases oversell a product to
     his customer.  For instance; sell a 35mhz 486 PC clone to a company
     who only want to run a spreadsheet and a payroll package.  But
     because this machine is "now the minimum entry point into business
     computing", the client will see his ego hyped and will go for the
     deal, when a 12mhz AT clone would do it just as well.
 
 [3] With new EDP managers will come nine times out of ten, a new
     'vendor' of computer hardware and possibly a totally new type of
     machine/operating system.
 
 [4] Branches and even departments with in various companies use
     different machines.  The WP area may use a Mac or a Wang for all the
     word processing.  Accounts may use network of PC clones in "token
     ring", while the treasury area may use a mini or mainframe linked to
     their local PC's for all their activities.  The list goes on and on.

 [5] "Software is used in one area of the company only as it will not
     work on your computer".  Heard this before?  "We can not cost -
     justify the purchase of this software".  Heard this from your
     manager?
 
 [6] In a multi user/vender situation you may find computers in a stand-
     alone environment because they can not be linked in to the LAN/
     network, or the cost to do it is far to high.
 
 [7-999] The list goes on and on and on and on and on and on .......


              So where the Atari ST fit into all of this?
    
                       Right in the middle?

  At the Start?                                     Off to the Side?

                       The final solution?


 Well, like it or not the Atari ST is the only solution to multi vender
 applications.  The ST series is the TOTAL solution.  So lets look at why
 this is the case.


                   IBM                              MAC
                 program----------+  +----------- program
                    |             |  |                |
                    |             |  |                |
               
                   IBM           ATARI ST            MAC
           



            +------------+                       +---------------+
            |            |    -----[YES]---->    |               |
            |            |                       |               |
            | IBM/MS_DOS |    <---[ NO ]----     |      MAC      |
            |            |                       |               |
            |            |                       |               |
            +------------+                       +---------------+
                         \                       /
                  |     [YES]                 [YES]    |
                  |         +-----------------+        |
                  |         |Atari ST/Mega/STe|        |
                  |         |With PC_SPEED/GCR|        |
               [Yes/no]     |                 |     [Yes/no]
                  |         | MS_DOS and MAC  |        |
                  |         |VT52,Kermit,Ascii|        |
                  |         |   and MORE.     |        |
                  |         |  All in one PC  |        |
                  |         +-----------------+        |
                  |                 |                  |
                                  [YES]
                                    |
                +-----------------------------------------+
                |   Main frame/EDI/Network/LAN/Other      |
                +-----------------------------------------+


 While the MAc does have packages like Soft_pc one of the IBM/MS_DOS
 emulators, the IBM does not have an emulator for the MAc.  While the
 Atari ST will run the standard IBM file format with no modification
 [Tos 1.4 or greater] from desktop and with PC_Speed emulate a PC with a
 Nortons rating of 4.0.  Now combine PC_speed with Spectre GCR and what
 we have is a full blown Mac and IBM all in one machine.

 So where is the cost benefits or the the system benefits?

 System benefits.
 ----------------

 [a] In a multi vendor environment ie Mac/MS_DOS, the ST will do the
     following.
    
 [i] Integrate all machines/Operating systems into one computer,
     including Unix and the likes.
 [ii] ST software is transportable  ie: 1st Word    - Word Processing
                                      : Emacs       - Editor
                                      : LDW Power   - Lotus 123
                                      : DBmans      - Dbase 2
                                      : Touchup     - DTP icons
                                      : And the list goes on and on.
 [iii] Has a standard Serial and Centronic's port.
 [iv]  Can run with "ENet" LANS.
 [v]   Will run "Kermit","VT52" and other mainframe links.
 [vi]  Handles EDI either in emulation mode or in normal ST mode.
 [vii] Will operate "stand alone" or as a "multi emulation" computer.

 [b] If MS_Dos/IBM users wish to emulate the ST there is now an emulator
     for the IBM to emulate the ST.

 [c] Half to a third the ammount of computers required to do the same
     job.

 Cost Benefits
 -------------

 [a] An Atari ST with hard disk, printer and emulators is 1/2 to 2/3 the
     cost of a Mac and PC combined.

 [b] The Atari software is 1/2 to 2/3 cheaper.  For instance.. Do the
     following exercise and prove it to yourself.  In the Desktop
     Publishing area, inquire how much the MAc "Pagemager" costs.  Find
     out how much an IBM version of "Venturer" costs.  Now see how much
     the Atari ST package "CALAMUS" costs and also see which is the best
     quality.
 
 [c] The Atari ST will use most existing peripherils in your office.  For
     instance.. Your printers, modems, plotters, etc..

 [d] No need to purchase extra machines/hardware to integrate existing
     systems, and allows the maximum utalisation of all existing systems.

 [e] Service contracts are 40-70% cheaper than most in the market place.

 [f] Atari periferials are transportable across most machines and are at
     least a 1/3 cheaper.
     For instance  : Megafile 44 Carts = Syquest 44meg carts= Mac/Ibm
                   : Atari external disk drives = IBM 3.5 720k drive
                   : Indus external disk drives = IBM 5.25 720k drive
                   : Atari CD_ROMS = IBM/MAc CD_ROMS

 The Atari ST is one of the worlds best kept computer secrets.  Hardware
 venders beware, this computer may if marketed properly do what it has
 done in Germany, totally dominated the market place in all areas, both
 the commercial and corporate areas.
 

 
                     ===============================
                             PD/SHAREWARE STop
                     ===============================
                              by Mark Quinn
 
 
 Authors:  Charles F. Johnson, John Eidsvoog   File name:  HOTDEMO2.ARC
 File type:  Utility Demo    Program names:  HotWire! Demo, version 2.3
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 If you've never heard of HotWire, you're in for a feast, and if you have
 an older version of HotWire, you're in for a treat.  Visualize yourself
 sitting at your computer and typing "F" to run Flash, or "W" to run Word
 Writer.  In fact, there are over 400 "hot" key combinations available
 with the program.  "That would be fine if I had a hard drive," you say.
 "Since HotWire can also be installed as a resident program (aside from
 running in the normal way), you can simply insert a floppy and hit a
 key," I say.

 "Hmm. . . What other features does it have?"

 - Call up the HotWire menu any time at the GEM desktop with a keypress
   or a button click.

 - Auto-start any ST program at bootup.

 - HotWire Menu displays up to 54 programs at once.

 - HotWire Menu displays graphic representations of "hot" keys.

 - Every program on HotWire Menu can have up to a 20-character "title".

 - Lists of programs can be loaded or saved via the file selector or a
   keypress.

 - Unique "work file" command line features make HotWire an excellent
   shell for developers working in C or assembly language.

 - Runs either from an AUTO folder or from the desktop.

 - Written in assembly language.  Uses only 40K of memory.

 - Works properly with applications that communicate with desk
   accessories via the AES event system.

 - New version now uses a GEM menu bar.

 - Owners of MultiDesk accessory loader/unloader (version 2.0 or greater)
   can install MultiDesk "setup" files in the HotWire menu, and load or
   unload groups of accessories with a single keypress or button click.

 - Block save, load and delete functions.

 - Unlimited number of "nested" menus.

 - Programs can be "chained" together, or even run in loops.

 - Restricts unauthorized access to certain programs or data files.

 "Stop!  How could I have missed out on such a valuable program?"

 "It wasn't easy."

 To order HotWire!, contact:

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

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       Author:  David Baggett, others
    File name:  PICFRMT.ARC
    File type:  Text file

 If you are a programmer (or anyone else) interested in picture file
 formats, then this text file should help answer your questions.  PICFRMT
 has information on the following formats:

 NEOchrome, NEOchrome Animation, DEGAS, DEGAS Elite, DEGAS Elite
 (Compressed), Tiny, Spectrum 512, Spectrum 512 (Compressed), Art
 Director, C.O.L.R. Object Editor Mural, Doodle, Animatic Film, GEM Bit
 Image, STAD, Imagic Film/Picture, IFF, MacPaint, PackBits Compression
 Algorithm.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       Author:  David W. Binnion          *SHAREWARE*
    File name:  STICKLER.LZH
    File type:  Application
 Program name:  Stickler

 This program will not goad you into cracking programming books, unless
 you tell it to do so.  Your mother or wife is a different story
 entirely.

 If you want the program to run automatically at boot time (ask your
 mother or wife to do that!), you can use a GEM boot utility such as
 HEADSTART or GEMBOOT to do so.

 STickler handles four types of events:  One-Time, Daily, Weekly, and
 Monthly.  You'll be reminded once or twice that the event(s) in question
 is forthcoming.  You can even Show the event again.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 "Quinn's Quickies"

 PATIENCE.LZH
  Monochrome game.  Egads!  It's another German import!  This one is a
  nifty solitaire game.  Looks great.  (But then again, I'm not a card
  shark.) You must have PATIENCE.

 PHOTON.LZH
  Demo.  Game, by Jeff Minter.  Space shoot-em-up with elements from lots
  of old favorites.
 


 
                     ===============================
                         ISD OUTLINE ART CONTEST
                     ===============================

 
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>  OUTLINE ART CREATIVITY CONTEST  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
 
 From July 1 to September 30, 1990, ISD Marketing, Inc will sponsor an
 Outline Art Creativity Contest with the winners receiving the prizes
 listed below.  One winner will be selected along with three runner ups.
 Winners will be selected from the files either uploaded into our Email
 address on either Compuserve at 76004,2246 or GEnie at ISD or mailed
 directly to our offices at:
 
                           ISD Marketing, Inc.
                             2651 John Street
                                 Unit #3
                    Markham, Ontario, Canada, L3R 2W5

 Mailed entries must be postmarked no later than September 30, 1990 and
 received by us in-house by October 15, 1990 to qualify for entry.  This
 contest is open to all REGISTERED OWNERS of Outline Art only.  (Note: If
 you have recently purchased Outline Art but have not yet had the
 opportunity to send in your registration card, then please accompany
 your entry with a properly filled in registration card.)
 
 You may enter as many times as you choose but any one individual may
 only win once.  Although the author shall retain any copyrights to their
 entry, all winning files shall be considered 'publicly distributable
 files' and may be made available for downloading from both CompuServe
 and GEnie.  As well, the winning entries will be published in START
 magazine with the appropriate Author quoted and the prize won indicated
 as well as ONLINE.
 
 The contest prizes are listed below.

 Prizes:

The winners will receive the following prizes:

 1st Prize
 ---------
 $1,500.00 worth of AGFA Compugraphic fonts for use in either Calamus or
 Outline Art.
 
 1st Runner Up
 -------------
 An Atari Megafile 44 Hard Disk Drive.

 2nd and 3rd Runner Up
 ---------------------
 $50 connect time credit from both CompuServe, to be applied to your
 CompuServe account and $50.00 connect time credit from GEnie.
 
 The Judges for this contest include: Geoffrey Earle, General Manager of
 Atari (Canada) Corp., Tom Byron (Editor) and Julianne Ososke (Director
 of Creative Services) START Magazine, and Nathan Potechin (President)
 and Mario Georgiou (Graphic Artist) of ISD Marketing, Inc..

 RULES:  
  
 1. The ISD Marketing, Inc. Outline Art Contest is a skill-based contest
    for any member who is a properly registered Owner of Outline Art.
    Participation in this contest is open to residents of Canada, United
    States, Australia and New Zealand, providing that their copy of
    Outline Art is the one published by Ditek International.  Employees
    of CompuServe, GEnie, ISD Marketing, Inc., Ditek International, DMC,
    Antic Publishing, Inc., Atari Corp. and all Atari Subsiduaries,
    SysOps, GameOps, their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies
    and immediate families are ineligible to win prizes.  This contest is
    subject to all local, state/provincial and federal regulations and is
    void where prohibited by law.  All taxes are the sole responsibility
    of the winners.
 
 2. From July 1, 1990 at 12:01 AM EST to September 30, 1990, 11:59 EST
    those who meet the above eligibility requirements can enter the
    contest.  The files should either be uploaded directly to the ISD
    Email accounts in either GEnie at ISD, CompuServe at 76004,2246 or
    submitted by mail directly to ISD at our mailing address indicated
    above.  (Note: Entries will not be accepted by courier.  Use regular
    mail only.)  One winner and 3 runner ups will be named.
 
 3. The decision of the judges is final and not reviewable by any other
    person, agency, or tribunal.  Winners will be notified by CompuServe
    or GEnie EMail and/or regular mail on or about October 30, 1990, and
    their names will be published online in the Atari Forums on
    CompuServe, the Atari RT on GEnie and in STart Magazine along with
    their winning submission.
 
 4. This contest may be publicized outside those venues indicated above.
    No prize may be exchanged, substituted, modified, or redeemed for
    cash.  Prizes are not transferable.  Prizes won by entrants under the
    age of 18 will be awarded to the winner's parent or legal guardian.
    All prizes will be awarded and mailed to the winner's address
    contained in their Outline Art Registration form.  By acceptance of
    their prizes, winners consent to publication of their names,
    likenesses, and/or User ID without further compensation for
    advertising or promotional purposes.  Prizes not claimed after 21
    days of the day of notification, for any reason whatsoever, will be
    forfeited.  Prize winners may be required to execute an affidavit of
    eligibility and publicity release within 21 days of notification.
    Non-compliance within this time period will result in
    disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected if
    possible.
 
 

                     ===============================
                         ATARI SWAPFEST ANNOUNCED
                     ===============================
                              Press Release

  
 MIST Plans Atari SwapFest II             Nashville, IN  August 25,1990
 
 For a second year, an Atari SwapFest is planned at Nashville Indiana on
 Saturday, August 25, sponsored jointly by the user groups at
 Indianapolis and Bloomington known as MIST (Mid-Indiana ST).  The
 SwapFest will be a meeting of minds and computers, in the beautiful
 Indiana countryside.  Only minutes from many lovely gift shops, two
 state forests, and the Hoosier National forest.
 
 MIST Atari SwapFest II will open at noon August 25 at the Brown County
 Inn motel in Nashville at the corner of Ind. 135 and 46.  Nashville is
 about 40 miles south of Indianapolis, and 15 miles east of Bloomington.
 
 For swap, for sale or just for display...  whether it's 8-bit or ST...
 even game machines... all are invited to bring software, hardware,
 gadgets, accessories, books, magazines, etc.  Commercial sales and
 displays also are invited, see below for more info.
 
 There will be door prizes from local vendors, and Atari Corp.  There may
 be a small fee for door prize tickets.
 
 There will also be a mini Midi-Maze tournament, with the possibility of
 prizes for the winners.
 
 Tables will be available for set-up at 11 a.m. with commercial vendors
 given first choice at that time.  Closing time is 4 p.m.  Table space
 will be free to non-commercial attendees, on a first come, first serve
 basis.  Registration for vendors will be a whopping $10.00.  Tables are
 standard motel dining room type (capable of seating three on each side),
 and covers will be provided by the motel.  Our rental arrangement with
 the motel, however, is a low-budget deal and you should supply your own
 sign-holders and other fixtures.
 
 The motel will supply electrical power, but it is from a limited number
 of wall outlets so exhibitors will need to take along their own
 extension cords and plug strips.

 For more information, leave mail on GEnie to WLORING1, or:

 Call the BL.A.ST BBS at 812-332-0573 2400bps, 24 hours.  Write us at
 BL.A.ST, PO Box 1111, Bloomington, IN. 47401.  Call me by voice at
 812-336-8103 after 6:00pm (cst)
 
 Brought to you by MIST (Mid-Indiana ST), the merging of the ASCII (Atari
 St Computers In Indianapolis) and BL.A.ST (BLoomington Atari ST) user
 groups.
 
 Thanks for your interest, and we'll see you at the 'Fest!!
 

 
 
                     ===============================
                              LEXICOR UPDATE
                         ATARI SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
                         REGISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENT
                     ===============================
                              Press Release

 
 Lexicor Software Corporation is pleased to announce that it has opened
 software developer registration to the Atari community.
 
 Lexicor was created by a group of computer programmers and animators who
 are committed to developing powerful solid modeling, animation, and
 photo-realistic rendering software for home and professional use that is
 both inexpensive and easy to use.  The corporation was set up to support
 software developers on a royalty basis and provide the necessary
 materials required to create quality products which individual authors
 would otherwise be unable to market without outside assistance.

 Lexicor does not hire programmers on a salary basis; instead, the author
 is paid to develop his own ideas into solid and marketable products.  We
 do this through royalties paid on the total gross sales of a product,
 and, depending on the circumstances of an individual, by providing
 advance royalty payments, development tools, hardware support, and
 additional financial support to the developer.  You are free to work at
 home or your own office at your own pace.  In return, Lexicor only
 requires the exclusive marketing rights of your product in exchange for
 support.  The typical royality amount paid to the sole author of a
 product is twenty-five percent (25%) of gross sales.
 
 HOW TO REGISTER
 ---------------
 On an standard Atari 360K/720K micro-floppy disk, place three files:

 1. AUTHOR.TXT: This file should contain your name, address, telephone
    number, and Compuserve address. DO NOT PLACE ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS
    FILE.
 
 2. PERSONAL.TXT: This file should contain information about yourself.
    Describe any programming experience that you have including: products
    that you have developed, job and academic background, and ideas about
    any future products that you are interested in creating.  Please
    describe the computer equipment that you own and use for development
    purposes.  You do NOT have to own an Atari computer to register.
    Also, in order to decide on a schedule for the release of your
    product, please tell us about your current activities (school, work,
    etc.) and how much time you can devote to software development.  If
    you are still in school and/or do not have any formal programming
    experience, this will not exclude you from qualifying; however, if
    you are under 18 years of age, a special contract will be sent to you
    that must be signed by your parent or legal guardian.  Finally,
    please specify if you are already a registered software developer
    with Atari Corporation.
 
 3. SAMPLES: Place at least one executable program in this folder which
    you feel best demonstrates your programming skills and ideas.  Auto-
    booting disks will not be reviewed and your program must load
    properly from the standard GEM desktop.  Each program should have a
    companion text file which describes its features and positive aspects
    and explains how to use it.  Remember, you do not have a non-
    disclosure agreement with us yet, so protect yourself by including
    copyright notices in your documentation and programs.  You also have
    the option of including sample source code in this folder which may
    increase your chances of being assigned to a project more quickly.
    This source code should be a complete, but not long or involved,
    fragment from a program that you have written.  Although our
    developers primarily use the 'C' programming language, we have need
    for programmers experienced in many other languages.

 REGISTRATION FEE: A $20.00 registration fee should be included with all
 applications.  This is a one time fee which covers the cost of data
 entry, initial paper work, and developer evaluation.  Please enclose a
 personal check.  DO NOT SEND CASH.

 HOW REGISTRATION WORKS:  When Lexicor receives your developer
 registration, the files on the disk will be reviewed and evaluated.  If
 your application is accepted, the information on your disk will be
 placed in our author database and a non-disclosure agreement will be
 sent to your address.  As soon as a signed copy of this agreement is
 returned, we will be able to offer assignments and a written contract
 for you to consider.  Lexicor will also review any programs or product
 ideas that you have already developed or want to propose.

 ** If you do not qualify, your disk and registration check will be
 returned **

 The requirement for the registration fee is mainly to separate the
 casual programmer from the serious software developer.  Our policy is
 that anyone serious enough to send money would be demonstrating their
 willingness to make the kind of commitment required to follow through on
 programming commitments.

 Mail your application disk and registration fee to:

                       LEXICOR Software Corporation
                              58 Redwood Road
                             Fairfax, CA 94930

 DO NOT SEND YOUR APPLICATION BY ELECTRONIC MAIL. IT WILL NOT BE
 CONSIDERED.

 If you have any questions, please send Easyplex mail on CompuServe to
 Lee Seiler [76106,3024] or call our developers line at (415) 453-0271.
 
 Thank you for your interest in ATARI software development
 
 Lee Seiler, Vice-President, Lexicor Software Incorporated
 

 =======================================================================
 =======================================================================
 Z*Net Atari Online Magazine is a weekly released publication covering
 the Atari community.  Opinions and commentary presented are those of the
 individual authors and do not reflect those of Rovac Industries.  Z*NET
 and Z*NET ONLINE are copyright 1990 by Rovac Industries.  Reprint
 permission is granted as long as Z*NET ONLINE, Issue Number and author
 is included at the top of the article.  Reprinted articles are not to be
 edited without permission.
 =======================================================================
 =======================================================================
 ZNET ONLINE                                       Atari News and FIRST!
                Copyright (c)1990 Rovac Industries, Inc..
 =======================================================================



 

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