ST Report: 28-Jun-91 #726

From: Bruce D. Nelson (aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 06/30/91-10:09:49 AM Z


From: aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: ST Report: 28-Jun-91 #726
Date: Sun Jun 30 10:09:49 1991



           *---== ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE ==---*
                  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
                  "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"
                                   from
                            STR Publishing Inc.
                            """"""""""""""""""


 June 28, 1991                                                      No.7.26
 ==========================================================================

                  STReport International Online Magazine?
                          Post Office Box   6672
                          Jacksonville,  Florida
                               32205 ~ 6672

                               R.F. Mariano
                            Publisher - Editor
                 -----------------------------------------
                   Voice: 904-783-3319  10 AM - 4 PM EST
                 BBS:  904-786-4176  USR/HST DUAL STANDARD
                    FAX: 904-783-3319 12 AM - 6 AM EST
                 -----------------------------------------
      **  Fnet 350 * Fido Node 1:112/35 * NeST Node 90:3000/350.0  **
             privately owned & operated STReport support BBS
           ALL issues of STReport International Online Magazine
                         are available along with
         A worldwide list of private bbs systems carrying STReport
    __________________________________________________________________

 > 06/28/91: STReport? #7.26  The Original 16/32 bit Online Magazine!
   -------------------------
     - The Editor's Desk      - CODEHEAD UPDATES! - Apple Lays off 900
     - HAYES -> 14400         - 50mHz 486 HERE!   - LEXICOR INTERVIEW
     - PORTFOLIO NEWS         - RESPONSIBLE ADS   - AMWAY DB p II
     - SFAN GETS TT030        - WILLY WEASELY!    - STR Confidential

                       -* TOP TEN COMPUTER MAKERS *-
                  -* INCREDIBLY, ATARI RAISES PRICES!! *-
                           -* 512K PORTFOLIO? *-

 ==========================================================================
                  ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE?
                     The _Number One_ Online Magazine
                              -* FEATURING *-
                     "UP-TO-DATE News and Information"
       Current Events, Original Articles, Hot Tips, and Information
             Hardware - Software - Corporate - R & D - Imports
 ==========================================================================
 STReport's support BBS, NODE 350, invites systems using Forem ST and Turbo
 Board BBS to participate in the  Fido/F-Net Mail  Network.   Or, call Node
 350 direct  at 904-786-4176, and enjoy the excitement of exchanging infor-
 mation relative to the Atari ST computer arena through an excellent Inter-
 national ST Mail Network.  All registered F-NET - Crossnet SysOps are wel-
 come to join the  STReport Crossnet  Conference.   The Crossnet Conference
 Code is #34813, and the "Lead Node" is # 350.  All systems are welcome and
 invited to actively participate.  Support Atari Computers;  Join Today!
 ==========================================================================
   AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON:  GENIE ~ CIS ~ DELPHI ~ BIX ~ FIDO ~ F-NET
 ==========================================================================

 > The Editor's Podium


     Last week, on one of the  online services,  a gent  asked me  why I do
 STReport.   I have given the answer some thought and can come up with only
 one answer... Simply put, its because I 'enjoy' doing so.   And  to add to
 that I must say yes.. a book concerning my 'experiences' in the Atari com-
 munity is definitly in the works.  Thank you for the good advice.

     Congratulations to our friends  to the  north, enjoy  your long Canada
 Day weekend.   The  fourth of July is next weekend here and of course, for
 both weekends a safe and ejoyable holiday to all.

     This week I'll keep this short... Hope everyone fared ok in the earth-
 quake today in southern California.

                         Thanks once again for your strong support,

                                              Ralph.....



                           TODAY'S NEWS ..TODAY!

  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""



 > STReport's Staff              The regulars and this week's contributors!
   ================

                            Publisher - Editor
                            ------------------
                             Ralph F. Mariano


 Staff Editors:
 --------------
          Michael Arthur      Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr.     Dana P. Jacobson
          Lucien Oppler       Brad Martin              Walter Daniel
          Oscar Steele        Robert Allbritton        John Szczepanik
                              Dan Stidham

 Contributing Correspondants:
 ----------------------------
          Michael Lee         Richard Covert           Roger Stevens
          Brian Converse      Oliver Steinmeier        Ed Krimen
          Tim Holt            Andrew Learner           Norman Boucher
                              Ben Hamilton


                             IMPORTANT NOTICE
                             ================
      Please, submit letters to the editor, articles, reviews, etc...
                              via E-Mail to:

                 Compuserve.................... 70007,4454
                 GEnie......................... ST.REPORT
                 Delphi........................ RMARIANO
                 BIX........................... RMARIANO
                 FIDONET....................... 112/35
                 FNET.......................... NODE 350
                 NEST.......................... 90:19/350.0




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


     COMPUSERVE WILL PRESENT $15.00 WORTH OF COMPLIMENTARY ONLINE TIME

                              to the Readers of;

                  ST REPORT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MAGAZINE
                  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
                  "The Original 16/32bit Online Magazine"

                         NEW USERS; SIGN UP TODAY!

               CALL: 1-800-848-8199 .. Ask for operator 198

                 You will receive your complimentary time
                                   and
                       be online in no time at all!


                 WHAT'S NEW IN THE ATARI FORUMS (June 28)
                 ========================================

                         **** SPECIAL NOTICE ****

 The CompuServe  Atari Forums  are pleased to announce an online COnference
 with Dave Small, of Gadgets by Small.

 This CO is scheduled for July 11th, starting at 10PM Eastern.

 For more details, please check the postings in the Atari Arts or Atari Pro
 forums on CompuServe... "The Nicest Place Your ST Can Take You!"


                            FINDING FILES FAST!
                            -------------------
 During June, explore the many programs and files available in CompuServe's
 Atari ST Forums with File Finder  -- now  reduced to  $6 per  hour for all
 baud rates, including 9600.  The Atari File Finder includes all files wit-
 hin the Atari Arts  Forum,  Atari  Productivity  Forum,  and  Atari Vendor
 Forum.  Type GO ATARIFF to access this service.


                     ATTENTION REGISTERED DEVELOPERS!
                     --------------------------------
 Release 3 of the Atari Debugger is now available in LIBRARY 7 ("Registered
 Developers") of the Atari Productivity Forum (GO ATARIPRO).

                          LEXICOR ONLINE SUPPORT
                          ----------------------
 Lexicor Software welcomes Bill  Rayl as  their official  CompuServe online
 support person!  Bill will be uploading graphics and animation files, run-
 ning the upcoming Lexicor  animation  tutorial  conferences  and answering
 questions about Lexicor's hot new product line.

 Please  continue  to  send  all  messages  to  the  Lexicor User ID number
 75300,763.

                      NEW FILES FROM LEXICOR SOFTWARE
                      -------------------------------
 The following new uploads have been added to the Lexicor libraries:

 Library 1 of the Atari Arts Forum (GO ATARIARTS):
    DINO2.LZH   --  TT Low rez PNT picture of a dinosaur skeleton.
    ALBERT.LZH  --  TT Medium rez PNT picture of Albert Einstein.

 Library 9 of the Atari Vendors Forum (GO ATARIVEN):
               GROUND.LZH  --  GroundWalker animation for the ST.
               HELCYL.LZH  --  Helicycle animation for the ST.
               SEAHRS.LZH  --  Awesome 3D Seahorse animation for the TT!


                           NEW ST CONTROL PANEL
                           --------------------
 XControl is the newest newest version of the Atari control  panel.   It is
 designed to take advantage of features only available in the latest (>2.0)
 versions of the operating system.  It is  released into  distribution with
 the following  notice.   Read the  warning in Xcontrol.txt in the archive.
 Atari Corporation is not responsible for any damage that results  from the
 use or  misuse of  this program.   Copyright 1991 Atari Corporation. It is
 now available in Library 1 of the Atari  Productivity Forum  (GO ATARIPRO)
 under the name CPX.ARC.

 NEW FROM DOUBLE CLICK FOR CONTROL PANEL

 Now that Atari has released the new Extensible Control Panel, what are you
 going to do with it?  Double Click Software has the answer.  Download file
 DCECP.ARC from  LIBRARY 13  of the  Atari Vendors  Forum (GO ATARIVEN) and
 learn about their new package, DC CPXtensions.

                       NEW IN ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM
                       ----------------------------
 Please note that SYSOP*Marty  Mankins has  a new  User ID  number.  Please
 address all correspondence to Marty at 75300,1770.

 A  program   for  Windows  3.0  users  that  will  read/write/convert  the
 Portfolio's .ADR files to .CRD  format.    Download  file  PRTCRD.ZIP from
 LIBRARY 1 of the Atari Portfolio Forum (GO APORTFOLIO).

 Custom  Base,  a  program  to  turn  your Portfolio into a data collection
 device, is now available  in LIBRARY  1 of  the Atari  Portfolio Forum (GO
 APORTFOLIO).

 A copy  of the  File Manager  program, distributed by Atari Corp. with all
 new Portfolios is now available in LIBRARY 1 of the  Atari Portfolio Forum
 (GO APORTFOLIO) for those who purchased their units before the FM card was
 included.  File provided courtesy of Atari Corp., all rights reserved.



                  THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM ON COMPUSERVE
                            HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN
                OFFICIAL SUPPORT SITE BY ATARI CORPORATION

            "GO APORTFOLIO TO ACCESS THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM"


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





 > CPU STATUS REPORT                 LATE BREAKING INDUSTRY-WIDE NEWS
   =================

   Issue #27

   Compiled by: Lloyd E. Pulley, Sr.


 - Sunnyvale, California                        ATARI PLANT SALE FINAL
   ---------------------

 Atari Corporation on June 27th announced the closing of the sale of  its
 Taiwan  property for $60 million and has relocated  assembly  operations
 with subcontractors in various countries in the Far East. Portion of the
 proceeds will be used to reduce bank debt of approx. $27 million.

 Atari also reported that due to adverse market conditions,  especially a
 slowdown of sales in Europe, that it expects sales for the current quar-
 ter  ending June 30,  1991 to be substantially below that of the  second
 quarter of 1990.



 - Tokyo, Japan                    SUPER-FAMICON SET TO LAUNCH IN U.S.
   ------------

 Nintendo's Super-Famicon, which will be named the Super NES in the U.S.,
 is being readied for launching in the U.S.  this September.  Despite the
 fact that it is incompatible with the original Famicon computer  system,
 Super-Famicon has become a best-seller in the Japanese market since  its
 release last November with sales topping the two million mark. The sales
 figure is expected to double by the end of the year with the opening  up
 of the U.S. market.



 - Austin, Texas                   DELL COMPUTER FASTEST GROWING PC
   -------------                             FIRM IN U.S.

 Dell  Computer is the fastest growing personal computer company  with  a
 77.85% growth rate increase in year-on-year terms. Second place was cap-
 tured by Compaq with 25.1% with Tandy as third with a respectable 23.39%
 increase.

 The  top three in revenues for the year were IBM with $9.6  billion  and
 about 38% of the total market,  Apple with $3.8 billion and a 15% market
 share and Compaq with almost $3.4 billion and 14.05$ of the market.



 - Atlanta, Georgia                GEORGIA HIGH-TECH CRIME BILL HAS
    ----------------                          "TEETH"

 A new Computer Systems Protection Act,  backed by the Georgia High  Tech
 Alliance headed by Hayes founder Dennis Hayes,  goes into effect Sunday,
 July 1.  The bill mandates prison terms of up to 15 years for  computer-
 assisted theft,  trespass, invasion of privacy and forgery, in line with
 terms  given to convicted felons for the same crimes when they are  com-
 mitted  without benefit of a computer.  Computer password disclosure  is
 now  punishable under the new act by a $5,000 fine or a one-year  prison
 term.



 - San Jose, California            IBM'S MOVE TO JOIN XGA STANDARD
   --------------------               COMMITTEE UNPRECEDENTED

 In a move called "unprecedented" by The Video Electronics Standards  As-
 sociation (VESA),  IBM has begun to play and active part on the VESA XGA
 (eXtended Graphics Array) technical committe and work with VESA to esta-
 blish a unified graphics platform to meet the needs of PC end-users.

 The  move to develop a unified PC graphics standard is  consistent  with
 the  trend  in the computing industry toward open  systems  and  vendor-
 independent computing environments, VESA said. "Our cooperation with the
 VESA  XGA  technical committee is to help establish XGA as  a  pervasive
 component  in the industry,  while ensuring that it is  compatible  with
 users'  existing  hardware and software investment,"  Vitello,  of  IBM,
 said.



 - Yasu, Japan                     IBM UNVEILS FIRST MULTICHIP PACKAGE
   -----------                                FOR DESKTOPS

 IBM has introduced the industry's first 'thin film' multichip module for
 workstations  and personal computers.  The prototype module  holds  nine
 computer chips - and 100 feet of connecting wire - in a  two-inch-square
 package that promises dramatic increases in speed and power for  desktop
 computers.

 The announcement concerning the new product said that  the:  "developers
 expect  that the new package will eventually allow processing speeds  in
 small  computers to reach 100 MegaHertz (MHz) and beyond -  that's  more
 than double the speed of IBM's RISC System/6000 Model 550.  They believe
 the  new package,  based on relatively inexpensive  and  well-understood
 semiconductor technology,  will bring the benefits of multichip packages
 - once reserved for mainframes - to smaller computers."



 - Norcross, Georgia                  HAYES ULTRA 14,400 BPS SERIES
   -----------------

 Hayes  has announced the V-series Ultra Smartmodem 14440 just  one  week
 after celebrating the 10th birthday of its original Smartmodem.  The  V-
 series Ultra Smartmodem 14400 is a V.32bis compatible product running at
 14,400 bits/second. With V.42bis error correction, the new modem will be
 able to move data at up to 38,400 bits/second, company officials claim.

 The Ultra 144 also delivers connectivity to SNA,  X.25 and ISDN networks
 and supports nearly every modem application in  mainframe,  workstation,
 and  PC  environments.  The  modem's  built-in  X.25  Packet  Assembler-
 Disassembler,  or  PAD,  will  let users support up  to  4  simultaneous
 communication sessions over packet networks like SprintNet and  provides
 the analog-to-digital conversions necessary for digital ISDN connections
 through  packet  nets.  The retail price will be $1,199  and  deliveries
 start in August.



 - Washington, DC                              INTEL INTROS 50 MHZ 486
   --------------

 Intel's 50mhz 80486 is now in limited production and getting ready to go
 into  use by Compaq and Wang.  The new device will operate 51.5%  faster
 than  the standard 33mhz version.  The Intel 50 MHz 80486 will  go  into
 mass  production  sometime in the fourth quarter,  selling  at  $665  in
 quantities  of 1,000.



 - Armonk, New York                   IBM EARNINGS BELOW EXPECTATIONS
   ----------------

 According to IBM,  its earnings both for the second quarter and the  en-
 tire  year will be below most industry analysts' published  projections.
 In  a prepared statement,  IBM said that its second-quarter  performance
 had  been  "adversely  affected  by  weaknesses  in  global   economies,
 competitive  pressures,  and  product transitions.  It is  difficult  to
 determine how long the adverse economic conditions will continue.  While
 IBM expects the pace of business to improve in the second half of  1991,
 it  is  unlikely the company will achieve revenue growth  for  the  full
 year."



 - Cupertino, California                   APPLE CUTS 900 JOBS:
   ---------------------           TOP EXECUTIVES GET PAY CUTS OF 5-15%

 This week Apple 900 jobs.  There are a total of 1,200 jobs scheduled  to
 be cut but the rest will come from a "combination of factors".  Not only
 did the company cut 900 jobs,  but also reduced executive pay by  5-15%.

 Apple  Chairman  John Sculley also took a pay cut of 15% and  other  top
 executives  took  cuts ranging from five to 15%.  It  is  unlikely  that
 Apple's top management will be heading for the poor-farm though,  as its
 five  highest  paid  executives  received a total  of  $9.9  million  in
 salaries and bonuses in 1990.  Sculley himself was paid $2.2 million, in
 addition to the $14 million he received from various stock deals.



 - Tokyo, Japan                    TOSHIBA LAUNCHES MASS PRODUCTION
   ------------                              OF 16M DRAM

 Toshiba will become the second firm, following IBM, to start producing a
 16  megabit dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips in  quantity  this
 fall. Other major chip makers such as NEC and Hitachi are also following
 suit.

 Toshiba  will  produce 50,000 to 60,000 units of the chip per  month  as
 early  as in this October and will shift part of the 1Mb and 4Mb  chips'
 production lines to the 16M chip. Apparently, demand of the 4Mb chip is
 slow.  The main reason is that workstation makers want to leapfrog  pro-
 duction  to the 16M chip rather than use the existing 4Mb chip in  their
 workstations.



  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

                             IMPORTANT NOTICE!
                             =================

 As a reader of STReport International Online Magazine, you are entitled to
 take advantage of a special DELPHI membership offer.  For only $29.95 ($20
 off the standard membership price!), you will receive a lifetime subscrip-
 tion to DELPHI, a copy of the 500-page DELPHI: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE and over
 $14 worth of free time.

  NOTE: Special offers can be found in your favorite Atari magazines:

              START             CURRENT NOTES         ST INFORMER
                          ATARI INTERFACE MAGAZINE

                          SIGNING UP WITH DELPHI
                          ======================
       Using a personal computer and modem, members worldwide access
                  DELPHI services via a local phone call

                              JOIN -- DELPHI
                              --------------
     1. Dial 617-576-0862 with any terminal or PC  and modem  (at 2400 bps,
        dial 576-2981).
     2. At the Username prompt, type JOINDELPHI.
     3. At the Password prompt enter STREPORT.

 For more information call:
                 DELPHI Member Services at 1-800-544-4005
                                    or
    at 617-491-3393 from within Massachusetts or from outside the U.S.

 DELPHI is a service of General Videotex Corporation of Cambridge, Mass.


                           SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
                           --------------------
 The 20/20  Advantage Plan  IS FANTASTIC!   And it features 20 hours online
 for just $20 a month!  The $20 is a monthly fee that covers  your first 20
 hours online via direct dial into one of DELPHI's two direct-access lines,
 or via a special Tymnet 20/20 Access code.   It  also gets  you additional
 hours at just $1.20 per hour.  And you get free access to several services
 on DELPHI as part of the Advantage Perks.

 Other telecom services may have additional charges.  Canadian Tymnet users
 have an  additional telecom charge.  Office Time access (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
 weekdays) may have an additional charge.   And  of course,  other restric-
 tions may apply.  But this is still an amazing deal!


                              GREAT NEWS!!!!
                              ==============
 As a reader of STReport International Online Magazine, you are entitled to
 take advantage of a special DELPHI membership offer. DELPHI has waived the
 sign-up fee!   For a limited time, you can join the World's Premier Online
 Service for FREE!  Members can access DELPHI worldwide through hundreds of
 local access lines.


 For more information please contact:

           DELPHI at 1-800-544-4005 and ask for Member Services.

                 DELPHI- IT'S GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME!



  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""




 > DEVELOPING ON THE ATARI STR Spotlight         LEXICOR SPEAKS UP!!
   =====================================



                           DEVELOPING THE ATARI
                           ====================



 An Interview with LEXICOR'S Lee Seiler

 by Pattie Rayl, Atari Interface


 AIM:
 Lee, we've  all seen your artwork (on the back of the Jan. 91 and front of
 Mar. 91 issues of Atari Interface).   What  got  you  started  in  art and
 drawing?

 Lee:
 When I was a kid I did not do well at all.  At some point, the teacher put
 me in the back of the  room, with  paper and  crayons, and  left me  to do
 whatever  I  wanted.    This  was  at  a time in California when there was
 experimental education...phonetic speling(sic)  and  the  notion  that the
 child should  be left  to do  as he  or she  pleased.   Needless to say, I
 failed everything for the next two years and thereafter was always behind.

 AIM:
 What do you enjoy drawing the most?  What have you done professionally?

 Lee:
 I like to create animalistic machines best.  The relationships between the
 way humans  have copied  nature are  wonderful.  I am always drawn to this
 kind of creation when  left to  my own  devices.   As far  as professional
 work, my  work spans  from mechanical illustrations in the Army in the mid
 50s to current material on the Atari Computer.  Along the way, I have done
 book and magazine covers, technical manuals, story treatments for a number
 of motion pictures.  In 1983, I won an EMMY for best technical achievement
 in  a  locally  produced  show...which  happened to have a science fiction
 theme.

 AIM:
 On these book and magazine covers...are these the  type of  thing we could
 go into our local bookstore, pick up a book, and say "Hey, Lee Seiler drew
 this!"?

 Lee:
 Yes, if you can find one.  Most are no longer in print, but  every now and
 then I  will come across my own work.  Unfortunately, most book covers are
 sold outright and don't carry an artist credit or copyright.   Try finding
 these credits in current paperback publications.  You will find that there
 is little recognition rewards  for the  artist.   And, in  most cases, the
 artists are  contract artists who sign all copyrights away in order to get
 the work.

 AIM:
 Are there any titles you can tell us for the books you  did cover  art on?
 Are the motion picture movies we'd recognize?

 Lee:
 Yes.    Let  me  see  if I can remember some..."Time Riders"... "Orbit"...
 "Subterrainians"...  "The Travelers"...   Windsurf  magazine, July 1988...
 Airbrush magazine, Volume 4, No 4.

 AIM:
 We have a photo of you drawing a black and white picture of a woman...what
 is that?

 Lee:
 That is a private commission to do an  interpreted female  version of Cap-
 tain America.   I  used several  reference books  for ideas, colors.... In
 many cases,  a client  may have  a favorite  subject or  existing piece of
 artwork they want to have.  Because copying the original is a big no no --
 just like  computer software  -- clients  ask for  interpreted works which
 look very  much like  a selected subject but are handmade individual works
 of art.  I  am  sure  you  have  seen  many  such  similar  works  on both
 CompuServe and  GEnie.   What is  in your photo is the final pencil sketch
 just before airbrush painting begins.

 AIM:
 Neat!  Now that you've told us about  your love  of drawing...how  did you
 get involved with computers, and specifically art on computers?

 Lee:
 That's a very funny (strange) story.  It is a bit long, so you may want to
 drag me back to reality from time to time.

 I had picked up an Atari 400 in fall of 1979 thinking  I would  be able to
 do art  on the computer.  Well, that soon fell flat on its face when I had
 to try using the ATARI BASIC  language cartridge.   I  found that  I often
 spelled the assorted commands wrong and got lost in the editor and compil-
 er.  But, I had gotten the hacker's manual and lots of developer materials
 so I could read about it.

 I should  mention that  I had  spent 12  years working  in the engineering
 department of  the  University  of  California  and  had  a research-level
 working  knowledge  of  Cobol  and  Pascal,  but only as it applied to our
 research programming needs.

 I soon realized I would not  be  able  to  do  on  my  400  what  was then
 beginning to appear on television as computer art in motion. I was able to
 do a nice little walking machine game using the alternate graphics symbols
 for the keyboard as object primitives.

 Time passed,  and in  the fall  of 1987  I passed  a local  Atari shop and
 thought I would just stop in  and see  what was  going on  with the Atari.
 There I  saw Jim  Kent's CyberPaint  running on  a Mega4.   That was all I
 needed to see.  I got the computer  and all  the Antic  software, thinking
 again that  I could  start using  the computer to do on the monitor what I
 was currently doing on paper, wood and glass.

 AIM:
 And could you -- do on the monitor what you were doing on paper and glass?

 Lee:
 NO! In fact, once I  had  mastered  CyberPaint  and  the  more traditional
 animation  on  the  Mega4,  I  dove  into  CAD3D2  and  ran smack dab into
 CyberControl, et. al....and was  very disappointed  with the  whole idea I
 had in  being able  to use  my skills  and this wonderful computer to make
 things of impossible creative interest real...I was very disappointed.

 AIM:
 Is that what got you started with your own company?

 Lee:
 Eventually it was, but not at first...

 AIM:
 What got you started with Antic?

 Lee:
 A wrong number, actually, was the turning point.  I called Antic  for sup-
 port  when  I  was  unable  to  get  the  tutorial  examples to run in the
 CyberStudio editor.  Instead of the support person, I got  Charles Cherry.
 Charles  was  later  to  move  on  to  Atari  in  Sunnyvale as head of the
 developer's division.  When I explained my problems to Charles  and what I
 wanted to  do, he invited me to become an Antic developer! So, I went from
 being a total CyberControl code failure to Developer in 20 minutes!!!!

 For the  next three  months I  learned the  realities of  the Atari World,
 computer graphics  and how programs are created.  I also met Dave Ramsden,
 Paul Dana and others who were developers for Antic.

 AIM:
 This arrangement sounded like fun...what made you and Antic part ways?

 Lee:
 It was fun and  I learned  a lot  from Charles  and the  other developers.
 What happened  was that  Charles left Antic to join Atari one Friday...and
 through the ensuing weeks, it became clear that  the assorted  projects we
 were working on would not receive further support by Antic.

 Eventually, some  of us  got together  and agreed that, if I could put the
 financing together,  we  would  form  our  own  corporation  in  which the
 developer came  first instead  of the usual way in which the developer was
 really just an employee, or nearly so, and got a minimum return  for a lot
 of work.

 So, I set Lexicor Software up in such a way that the developer got paid in
 two ways.  First, they get a percentage of the "front door gross" and then
 stock in  the corporation,  which meant  the developer would share just as
 the other investors did.   Our  percentages are,  give or  take a percent,
 twice  what  Antic  ever  paid  and  possibly  three  times  what might be
 expected for off-the-street sale of a program.

 We also set up a flexible support system to provide  hardware and  cash to
 the developers  so they  could spend  as much  time as possible developing
 instead of worrying about 9-to-5 and developing evenings and weekends.  In
 this  way,  I  have  been  able  to get all my developers the latest Atari
 hardware and software tools.  I can market  their areas  and get  full and
 appropriate support from Atari.  We all have each other's best interest at
 heart, so the usual workplace petty bickering does not interfere  with our
 creative efforts.   And,  best of  all, the developers don't have to worry
 about getting ripped off by the owners because,  in a  large measure, they
 are the owners.

 AIM:
 Who makes up Lexicor Software?  You speak of "my developers."  Are you the
 main owner/figurehead?

 Lee:
 First, right now the developers are  Dave Ramsden,  Robert Birmingham Paul
 Dana and myself.  We have several subcontractors who supplement these main
 developers.  Next, I am Vice President and a major stock holder,  but I do
 not own  the majority  of the  stock.   The exact  make-up of the Board of
 Directors and the specific  role each  developer stockholder  functions is
 confidential.

 Needless to  say, we  have offered  to ourselves  the best of all possible
 situations and actually are open to supporting more developers.   Our pro-
 blem is  that there really are not many Developers left in the Atari arena
 to join us.  I should comment that such well  known Atari  developers such
 as Jim Kent are involved at several levels with Lexicor, partly because we
 are approaching the Atari  from a  professional point  of view  and partly
 because, at  least in  Jim's case,  he is  my near  neighbor here in Marin
 county.

 AIM:
 Now that we've laid the groundwork for what  Lexicor is,  can you  tell us
 about what  Lexicor makes?  I mean, can you finally do on the monitor what
 you were doing on paper?

 Lee:
 Last first.  Yes, I can finally do on the Atari what  I wanted  to do back
 in 1979.   Just  look at  our advertisements...they  speak for themselves.
 This brings us to the first part of your question.  What  we are  doing is
 making it possible for the average Atari owner to have and use a "Real Off
 Line Graphics Workstation."

 This is happening right  now...our first  major applications  are going to
 printers, being  groomed and  polished.   In the  coming months, given the
 user has the talent, patience and determination, he or she will be able to
 do the self-same work I now do in promoting our software.

 There is  no doubt  that many  new and  exciting things  are coming to the
 current and future Atari user.   Like all  good tools,  our first releases
 are just  the beginning...by  way of  example I had a late evening meeting
 with Leonard Tramiel at  Atari in  which we  discussed some  new things we
 both  want  to  bring  to  the  Atari  community.    Obviously, I can't be
 specific for lots of  reasons...the  most  fun  reason  is  that  it keeps
 everyone reading this interview guessing what's NEXT!

 AIM:
 Can you  tell us  if all  of your packages depend on each other, or can an
 Atari owner just pick up one program and work with it alone?   How sophis-
 ticated is the software, and how sophisticated does the user have to be?

 Lee:
 Good question.   There  is no  required program package as such.  The user
 can get any of our software and use it right away.  We have  planned it to
 function in  the same  way as  other High  End systems. You have access to
 objects, object motion control, post production  tools and  several levels
 of finishing tools.

 As far  as how  sophisticated the  software is,  my developers think it is
 very powerful and well thought out  in design  and execution.   As  far as
 being hard or easy to use, the user can create anything we have advertised
 and or uploaded as sample demos without any programming at all.   There is
 a minimal  amount of  keyboard use,  which is mostly keystroke equivalents
 and basic file handling...like load and  save.    The  whole  idea  was to
 create an  environment which  did not  require elaborate control codes, so
 there aren't any.

 AIM:
 On the ST, there  are several  animation programs,  each with  a different
 format...will people who've created pictures and animations in other pack-
 ages have to start from scratch with Lexicor products?

 Lee:
 No.  We have used the Cyber series as a foundation as far as  format goes.
 We also  support GIF,  IFF, Neochrome, Degas/Degas Elite pictures in high,
 medium and low resolution, and will support PC1 to PC6 files.

 In addition, for those who are  code-oriented, we  save Image  files, C c-
 ode, and  source code  for some graphics formats.  This allows the user to
 create  screen  images  which  can  be  saved  and  programmed  right into
 software.    We have made every attempt to support other platform formats,
 such as PC P.I.X.A.R RIB files, Amiga Sculpt  3D object  files, Mac Sculpt
 files and  several others  when we  can get them working as we would like.
 An example is Turbosilver.  We have full support on this, but  this may be
 a format that will be supported as an additional object file by mid-summer
 or as the demand requires.

 AIM:
 This sounds really exciting!   I  look  forward  to  the  release  of your
 products.    I  understand part  of the delay was due to a hardware dongle
 produced by Practical Solutions.   They're no  longer in  business -- will
 this hold you back on releasing your products?

 Lee:
 Had to mention that, eh?  Well, it was a big problem and to set the record
 straight, the delays from Practical Solutions cost us  a lot  in lost time
 and effort.   Part  of their  fear may  have been  that we were not really
 going to be worth the effort.  As it turned  out, everything  I assured PS
 came true.  Our first commercial orders were far above anything we thought
 they would be, and now I am stranded with a pocket full of cash and orders
 and no  dongle source.   We wish we could find whoever walked off with the
 goods...we were in the process of reordering when PS vanished.

 We have made other arrangements so that the US market won't be effected by
 a hardware  snafu this time.  We are hoping to fill all CeBIT orders in 15
 days with our manufacturers  shipping all  orders in  about the  same time
 frame.   Of course,  I have  to add that once we release to the market, we
 have no direct control of shipping priorities or speed.

 AIM:
 Do you have a date set for release in the US?

 Lee:
 Yes and NO...I discovered that if we were doing direct sales I  could give
 you a  date.   I did this last fall when I thought we were ready...we were
 not, and I take the blame  for  that  one.  Now  that  we  are  having our
 products made  and sold by a distributor, the best I can do is say we have
 shipped the masters, manuals  and  whatever  hardware  is  included (i.e.,
 safekey, graphics  tablet color card (board), Genlock etc.) Then, it is up
 to them to get their work done in a timely fashion.   How's that  for duck
 and dodge?  We think  that the  end of  March is  a safe date to shoot for
 today.

 AIM:
 We wish the best of luck to ya! As a  closing question,  could you comment
 on  the  Atari  market  and  its  future?  Many developers are considering
 leaving, if they haven't already...what can you say to those who are still
 with us?

 Lee:
 That's a complex question, so this may be a bit tenuous for a closing com-
 ment.  First, from Atari Corporation's  point of  view the  market is just
 terrific.   They are  selling every  computer they make.  Their problem is
 forecasting what and how many to ship where.  Right now, TTs  are back or-
 dered in the US to the VAR customers.

 From my  point of  view (i.e., Lexicor), the fewer developers, the better,
 little or no competition gives me better than two million potential sales.
 Of course,  this is  not a  healthy situation  and is  not how it actually
 is...  The current developer  who  takes  software  development seriously,
 follows all the rules and listens to the guidance from Atari, there is and
 will be a very satisfactory market in the US and the world.

 From the point of view of the user, it has been a hard few  years for very
 good reason.   There  are, and  will continue to be, new and more and more
 powerful tools from Atari...those who leave now will wish they had waited.
 In just  the next  few months, the Atari will go from a limited (color and
 res) computer to being fully equal to and better than any VGA and SuperVGA
 system, price not withstanding.

 No one  can guarantee that Atari or those who run it will not fall flat on
 their faces, but I don't  believe  from  my  associations  that  anyone in
 authority at Atari wants to fail or is running blind.

 As to  the future (here is where I get in trouble), I believe -- and so do
 "my" developers -- that there is a bright and profitable future for  us in
 the Atari  world.   We will  do everything  we can  to make it so...if the
 users and other developers do the same, then  how can  Atari fail  if they
 just keep making their fine computers?

 AIM:
 On that upbeat note, we'd like to thank you for your time and sharing your
 insights with our readers!

 [Editor's Note:
 Three of Lexicor's products;

                                Rosetta-3D
                                Prism-Paint
                                Chronos-3D

          are shipping now and are available from RIO Computers.]

 NOTICE:
 This article originally appeared in  the  April/May  1991  issue  of Atari
 Interface  Magazine   and  may  be  freely  distributed  or  reprinted  in
 non-profit User  Group publications  as long  as the  article's author and
 Atari Interface  Magazine are  credited AND  this notice is reprinted with
 the article.   All other publications must  obtain written  or verbal per-
 mission  from  Unicorn  Publications,  3487 Braeburn Circle, Ann Arbor, MI
 48108, Phone: (313) 973-8825 or the author before using this article.



       ____________________________________________________________




 > STR Portfolio News & Information           Keeping up to date...
   ================================



                         THE ATARI PORTFOLIO FORUM
                         =========================


 On CompuServe


 by Judith Hamner  72257,271

     Since the HP95LX has been released, several Portfolio  owners are lus-
 ting  after  512K  memory.  Megabyte  Computers has a 512k upgrade for the
 Port. See message  #13355 for Craig Davis's report on his experiences with
 the upgrade.  Message #13420  and 13421 contain comments from Atari on the
 upgrade.

     David Stewart 73770,2021 is accepting orders for his  preliminary ver-
 sion of the 60 column by 10 row terminal program.

     Have you ever wished that the Portfolio's Apps were available for your
 desktop?  DIP has the software. Contact Atari to express  your interest if
 you want to help make them available in the US.

     DESIGN.ZIP  is  a  new  upload  this  week. This graphic demo produces
 designs on screen. Does the thought of using del with  wildcards fill your
 heart with  terror? VDEL.COM is a program just for you. This handy utility
 will prompt you for confirmation before  deleting each  file name matched.
 For those  looking for  external storage  PDD1.ZIP has programs to let you
 read and write to the Tandy  PDD1 disk  drive. Windows  for the  Port? Not
 quite, but  PRTCRD.ZIP offers a Windows 3.0 cardfile and utilities to con-
 vert between .CRD and .ADR files.

     It's vacation time for this columnist. There will be no report for the
 next few  weeks as  I head  into the  sunset. Look for a "catch up" report
 late in July.




        __________________________________________________________





 > STR Mail Call             "...a place for the readers to be heard"
   =============


                            STReport's MailBag
                            ==================


 And now further replies....

 from GEnie....


 Item    3411848                 91/06/23        18:04

 From:   R.JUDSON                        Ross Judson

 To:     ST.REPORT                       Ralph F. Mariano

 cc:     R.JUDSON                        Ross Judson

 Sub: Multi-Arc

 The textual documentation available for MultiArc  is contained  within its
 archive.   I haven't written anything more for it.  At this time there are
 no plans to develop MultiArc farther.  It does exactly what _I_ want it to
 do, and  does it  perfectly.   It works  perfectly on _my_ system (2.5 meg
 1040 with 30m HD, TOS 1.4).

 MultiArc's life cycle is a prime example of  what happens  when the apathy
 of the  Atari community  cuts off  any source  of feedback  on an author's
 programming efforts.  Several  hundred  downloads  of  MultiArc  (on GEnie
 alone) have  failed to  produce _any_  feedback, let alone shareware fees.
 What possible motivation could I have to investigate  problems with Multi-
 Arc?   As far as I am concerned, there are none.  I apologize to those who
 like and use MultiArc.  Maybe you should have told me.

 The convenience with which MultiArc manipulates  multiple archives  was to
 be extended  with a  similar facility to managing archive creation.  But I
 don't particularly need this feature, and it won't get written.

 In a further fit of pique :-),  I  must  point  out  that  I  have several
 hundred K  of code  completed for a multiple archive handling program very
 similar to  Stuffit Deluxe  for the  Macintosh.   The chances  of it being
 finished, polished  and released  are exceptionally minimal.  I can't jus-
 tify the impact  attempting  to  complete  it  would  have  on  my current
 employment without some guarantee of recompense.

 To conclude,  I must point out that I am _not_ negative about my Atari.  I
 like it, and over the five years I've had it I've never wished I had some-
 thing else.   I've  written a  number of programs for it, including D Edit
 (which was the first program for the Atari that had high speed  ASM screen
 routines, as  far as I know), Ultra Packer, MultiArc, the Better Time Set-
 ter, and many little utilities in a similar vein.  All these  were written
 to solve  specific problems I had, and were released in the hope that they
 would work for others as well.  Some form of response from  the Atari com-
 munity might have guaranteed that.

               Back to the drawing board, although there's not much on it.

                              Ross Judson, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
                                        R.JUDSON on GEnie

 P.S.  Print this if you like, Ralph.



 from CIS...

 Read action !
 #: 27276 S17/Community Square
     26-Jun-91  00:48:32
 Sb: BYTE covers TT
 Fm: Joseph M. Schachner 73637,3437
 To: Any

 On page 52 of July 1991 BYTE is about 6 column inches of text about, and a
 picture of, the Atari TT030.  The title is "Speed, Power and Compatibility
 from Atari".

 The  unit  has  a  32MHz  68030  and 68882 floating point coprocessor.  It
 "includes network ready hardware" according to  BYTE, and  has an internal
 VME (A24/D16)  slot.  It has 2M of RAM expandable to 26MB, and has a built
 in cache (size not  specified  in  BYTE).    Graphics  modes  are 1280x960
 monochrome, 640x480  in 16  colors, or  320x480 in 256 colors.  Unit has 4
 serial ports.  BYTE mentions other features as well.  It doesn not mention
 what it means by "compatibility".

 This is  pretty decent  coverage from  BYTE.  But, I find myself thinking,
 who would spend over $2000 on this machine?

 Here are my problems:

 1) Most VGA cards do 640x480 in 256 colors, and SVGA cards with 1M
    of memory do 1024x768 in 256 colors RIGHT NOW.  When IBM comes
    out with XGA video, this will be even more standard.

 2) According to a recent article in my local newspaper, the total
    market for software last year was $1.2 billion.  Of that, 81%
    was for IBM compatible machines and 13% was for Mac software.
    That leaves 6% for "other".  Worse yet, "other-machine software
    sales are down 18.1%, the SPA says", even in entertainment and
    educational software, while both PC and Mac sales are up versus
    the same quarter last year.  The number of future application for
    "other" machines, such as the TT, is likely to be at least as
    limited as ST applications are today (for example, how many
    commercial, supported, C++ compilers and class libraries have
    you seen for the ST?)

 3) Availability of compatible hardware, for example, CD-ROM drives.
    On page 52 of the same BYTE we find that Radio Shack is selling
    drive plus card for $399, and BYTE likes it - but it's only for
    ISA (Industry Standard Architecture, ie, PC compatible) bus.

 4) The biggest blow of all: IBM will soon release OS-2 2.0.  Page
    25 of the same BYTE mentioned above says it will run "most DOS
    applications, all Windows 3.0 applications, and all current OS/2
    applications as well as new 32-bit OS/2 2.0 applications" and
    it will run "DOS and Windows applications faster than under DOS".
    It will be able to multitask any of these applicaitons.  Unless
    The TT runs UNIX with X windows... in fact, even if the TT runs
    UNIX with X windows...

 So, eventually I'll replace my 8  MHz Atari  ST.   Why would  I replace it
 with  a  TT,  even  if  it  is  lightning  fast?   Why wouldn't I spend my
 over-$2000 on an SVGA 386SX with a CD-ROM drive and OS/2 2.0?

                                             Convince me.

                                             --- Joe Schachner



            ___________________________________________________





 > DEALERS CONCERNED STR FOCUS   This is professional and above reproach?
   ===========================



                        SENSIBILITY IN ADVERTISING
                        ==========================




 submitted by a few concerned Atari Dealers


     This essay is about the hard copy magazines and their advertisers.  In
 one magazine,  in particular,  there can be found some rather peculiar, if
 not downright outrageous, messages  being sent  to the  readers.   Like in
 last month's issue a blustery blurb denouncing, (YUP; DENOUNCING!), a com-
 petitor  with  less  than  relevant  information.    Its  sad  to  see the
 management  of  the  publication  permit  such  ad  copy to become part of
 "their" magazine.

     This particular magazine's new  issue is  now shipping.   So  far, its
 publisher and  crew have managed to put together considerable support from
 a variety  of advertisers  and assemble  a good  assortment of informative
 articles as  well.   But their claim of having the "Largest Circulation in
 North America"  splashed  across  the  front  cover  should  probably more
 accurately read  "Largest 'printing'  of an  Atari specific publication in
 the U.S.A." if they really wanted  to be  truthful.   One cannot  help but
 wonder just  how many  copies of each issue actually winds up in the hands
 of individual Atari Users and how many are left over and get dumpstered by
 usergroups and dealers.

     Apparently, they have neglected to establish guidelines detailing even
 a modicum of acceptable minimum  standards  for  advertisers.   Guidelines
 that should  set some  sort of  ground rules  to avoid misleading ads from
 dealers splashing unrealistically low prices for Atari equipment  in their
 advertisements and  the most  unsettling practice of slagging the competi-
 tion in the ad itself.   It is  the responsibility  of any  publication to
 show a minimum level of respect for the users and thus, establish a set of
 responsible principles under which they will operate.  It appears that the
 publishing staff  of this  particular magazine  has, so far, failed to ex-
 hibit that they have done this.   Perhaps  a little  more "professionalism
 and a  little less fandangoism will go a long way to improving the overall
 image of the Atari  marketplace  to  all  of  us  and  especially outside,
 industry observers.  Maybe they'll start taking us seriously.




        ___________________________________________________________





 > AMWAY SOFTWARE! STR Review     COMPUTER ORDER PLUS ST - PART II
   ==========================





                          COMPUTER ORDER PLUS ST
                          ======================


 PART 2


 by James Nolan


     Last issue I touched lightly on some of the features of Computer Order
 Program ST.  Now I'd like to cover some of  those in  more detail.   Let's
 start with the generation of an order.

     Without this program you know the most time consuming aspect is creat-
 ing and correlating all  your orders  together on  a BA1  or SA1 depending
 whose group  you're in.  Well now it's incredibly simpler.  You can create
 an order for your RDC if  you're  a  direct  or  on  warehouse,  a regular
 distributor order  or a  retail order  for a customer.  When in the retail
 mode, you can switch screens between  distributor cost  and retail pricing
 for obvious  reasons.   You can set the markup, discount or the final cost
 desired and C.O.P.  ST will do the rest.  Your printout in retail mode can
 be used as a customer receipt.  In the distributor mode, your screen looks
 like a SA1 with 5 lines available at a time for items to be  entered.  PV,
 BV,  distributor  cost,  taxes,  shipping  and  total is all automatically
 calculated based on info from the catalog section.  One of the  nicest and
 handiest  features  is  the  use  of  ALT  F  (Find).  When the program is
 requesting a stock number input and you don't know exactly what it is, ALT
 F will  bring up a separate dialog box into which you input key words such
 as L.O.C., shampoo, gum etc.  Five items at a time will be displayed until
 you find  what you're  looking for.  Then simply click the pointer on that
 item and it is added to your order.  Then, as with other items,  you input
 the quantity desired.  Up to 400 back orders (or coming ins) can be track-
 ed with or without the inventory option selected.  Unless  you have  a lot
 of customers  and are  maintaining some  kind of inventory, you won't need
 the inventory option.  C.O.P.  ST also allows you to print messages at the
 bottom of your SA1 printout.  The message can be printed to all or some of
 the SA1s.

     The database section is specifically designed for distributor  or cus-
 tomer information.  You will have a separate database for distributors and
 one for  customers.   You can  examine, add  or modify  any information in
 either database.  C.O.P.   ST uses  info from these databases - especially
 distributor, to  keep  track  of  PV  and  BV.    Therefore,  the  info in
 distributor database such as ADA # and sponsor info should be entered cor-
 rectly for future functions such as performance bonus payments.  In either
 database you  can create  a spot for yourself for your own personal orders
 or you can create  multiple images  of yourself  for various  divisions of
 products/sales such  as health  & fitness,  home care, high tech.  Another
 nice  aspect  is  the  ability  to  print  labels  based  on  the database
 information.

     Performance  bonus  calculating  has  never  been  easier.   Since you
 already know what your downline PV/BV  is based  on their  regular orders,
 all you  need is  to input other miscellaneous items once you receive your
 bonus statement.  A great feature here is  the assigning  of function keys
 for different  items to be paid on.  You can assign the 10 keys as bonuses
 for MCI, VISA, personal shoppers catalog, AMVOX and  so on.   They  can be
 saved as  part of your initial system setup.  Then enter the PV/BV amounts
 with the assigned function key and you're almost  done.   Straight payment
 for cash  owed or  return credit  can also  be keyed in.  Your performance
 bonuses can be computed for all frontline and  their downline.   The prin-
 tout is  very detailed  and I find it easier to read than others I've seen
 and used.

     The catalog data file is the largest one supplied with C.O.P. ST.   It
 represents the items you would find in your SA13.  The copy I received had
 about 1500 items in it already but can  be increased  to a  total of 2000.
 The catalog  is easily updated for additions/deletions or changes to stock
 numbers, PV/BV, cost, suggested retail and tax/no-tax status.   Robert up-
 grades this file when the new SA13 comes out for a nominal fee.

     Overall this  program is  an excellently crafted package.  I can't see
 ever going back to the old BA1s and a calculator.   It  would be  like the
 monks coping  books. Robert  Re has  definitely put everything he had into
 this personal endeavor.  The ease of use combined with the ability  to up-
 date almost  all areas  and other  countless features make this a valuable
 asset to every Amway distributor with an Atari ST.   If you  don't have an
 ST,  GET  ONE  and  this  program.    As  with any program, there are some
 features we would like to see in future updates: 1) As Amway  continues to
 explode in growth, the catalog limit of 2000 items will have to be raised.
 2) In our group, some of our tools (tapes) start with SOT- and DBR-.   The
 catalog will  not accept these inputs.  It does accept TL- numbers though.
 3) The ability for the  program  to  automatically  take  items  from your
 downline and  customer orders  and add  them to  your total order that you
 call into your sponsor or RDC is not  available.   This would  prevent you
 from having to physically enter the items on two separate orders.

     The best  part about Computer Order Program ST is the price.  Compared
 with  $425.00  for  the  Amware  software,  $225.00  is  a  remarkably low
 investment  for  your  business.    Robert  does  send  SA13  upgrades  to
 registered users for about $25.00 every 6 months.  Also Amway is refunding
 the full  purchase price of its software to any user who requests it.  The
 reason given is "distributor challenges" along  with suggestions  that the
 software is  difficult to  use and  has had several long-standing problems
 not satisfactorily dealt with.  With  all  that  in  mind  your  choice is
 obvious.   Robert does  send SA13  upgrades to  registered users for about
 $25.00 every 6 months.

     So if you're seriously ready for  a  tool  that  your  business needs,
 please contact:
                                 Robert Re
                             501 Ebken Street
                        Pacifica, California 94044
                              1-415-355-0375.

 See your  dreams and  your business  big and  I'll see you at the top.  GO
 DIAMOND!



      ______________________________________________________________



 > RICK KEENE STR Feature              ALLS FAIR & WILLY WEASELY
   ======================




                         WHEN IT'S WILLY WEASELY!
                         ========================



 by Dana P. Jacobson


     Okay, close the door and lock it!  You don't want any  children to see
 you reading this.  Why, you say?  Because we're going to be talking _comic
 books_, that's why!!   I can  just see  your kid(s)  telling all  of their
 friends: Hey, my parents read comic books!  What dweebs!!

     A few  weeks ago, we spotlighted Rick Keene and his work with graphics
 on the ST, professionally.  I briefly mentioned  that Rick  also does some
 fun  stuff  with  graphics,  and  produces  a comic strip character: Willy
 Weasely, a character right out of the '70s and the underground comics that
 I fondly  remember.   What I  thought that I'd do with this article is let
 you know about Rick's  character  Willy  Weasely  and  the  computer comic
 "books" that Rick has created.

      To-date, Rick  has made  available three  comic books for our viewing
 pleasure.  The first two were done in  1989; one  called "All's  Fair" and
 the other  was simply titled "Willy Weasely".  The third was just recently
 previewed by a few people, myself included.  All three are more than worth
 the download time from wherever you can get them!

      "All's  Fair"  starts  off  with  a  cover which includes pictures of
 various pages of the ensuing comic.  What's really nice about the way Rick
 does this  is that he set the cover up using the format of the old "Walls"
 animation.  Remember the animation that has various pictures on walls that
 fold down and back up again?

     Rick simply  substituted his  Willy pictures  on those walls, but they
 don't move!  Nicely done, I might add.  Rick uses a  program "Talespin" to
 get  the  comic  book  look.    While  I still know very little about this
 program, it does allow  the artist  to do  some interesting  things.  When
 you're  finished  viewing  the  cover,  you  click  the  mouse.   A dialog
 "balloon" comes up and it reads just like a comic book or a strip.   Click
 on the  last balloon  on the page and the page "turns".  In this case, the
 page dissolves and the next page comes onto your screen.

      "All's Fair" depicts our hero walking down the  street, apparently in
 the seedy  part of  town.  Did I forget to tell you that Willy is not your
 typical comic book/strip character?  Well,  as long  as you  remember that
 he's a  weasel, you'll  get the  idea of just the sort of character he is,
 and portrays!  As luck(?) would have it, Willy happens upon a  young lady.
 "Ah, wimmen.   The  fair sex," he ponders.  Willy prepares to pull out all
 the stops to charm this lady.  He utters some of his best lines to win the
 "favors" of our unsuspecting(?) lady.  The lines _almost_ work.
 Unfortunately, or  fortunately depending on how alike you are to our hero,
 she falls for the lines but adds one  of her  own: $40.00,  please...  The
 weasel that  he is,  Willy accepts and our last page shows the two of them
 walking off together.

      The second of Rick's early issues is what Rick called semi-
 biographical.  As all of us must have had at  one time  in our  past, Rick
 and Willy  had love  trouble and  set out to get drunk to forget about it.
 This comic starts off with Willy  walking, er  stumbling down  the street.
 He  hails  a  cab,  being  the  conscientious  sot  that he is.  Once he's
 sprawled in the back seat, he asks the cabbie if there's room in front for
 a few  beers and  pizza?!  The cabbie is hungry and says sure.  Next thing
 we know, Willy ain't  feeling too  hot.   Those comic  book beers  must be
 potent, as  Willy is  turning green!   Uh oh, he's gonna get sick!!  Ahhh,
 the wonders of sound effects, as we turn the page...  Fortunately for Wil-
 ly, he doesn't get anything on himself!  Poor cabbie....

      The latest  comic was  just recently  finished, and  I was one of the
 first to preview it.  It still hasn't made it online yet, but you  can ex-
 pect it  soon.   We find out that our "heroine" from "All's Fair" is named
 Lorraine; and apparently Willy and Lorraine  are an  "item" now.   True to
 form, however,  Willy is still trying to win the favor, or favors, of Lor-
 raine.  We seemed to come across Willy and Lorraine  preparing for  a love
 session; and  they're discussing  whether to  leave the  lights on or not.
 For the record, Willy wants the light on and Lorraine wants 'em off!  Boy,
 Lorraine certainly  changed personalities in the last two years; now she's
 shy!  Anyway, they argue.  Willy tries all of  his best  coaxing, and Lor-
 raine relentlessly  says yes, but on one condition: she wants to leave the
 car door closed.  Yep, I was lost  there too!   We  see our  loving couple
 seated in  a car overlooking the city, on a moonlit night.  Ahh Willy, you
 romantic beast!  You hear the car door close....and fade out.

      Now normally, this would be the end of the comic, but Rick decided to
 add a  more personal  touch to  this issue.  After we say goodbye to Willy
 and Lorraine, we see a picture of Willy and Rick.  No, Rick is not a comic
 book character.   I mean you see a picture of Rick with ol' Willy with his
 arm around Rick's shoulder.  What a team.   Well,  Willy suggests  to Rick
 that he  tell everyone  about the  Willy Weasely  Fan Club!  Such modesty.
 Modest or not, it's true.  There is a Willy Weasely Fan Club, and  you can
 join - I did!

      To receive a Willy Weasely button, a membership in the "Whoopado Clu-
 b", _and_ a copy of the new "Willy Weasely - The Comic  Book" (hard copy),
 and the promise for more Willy Weasely computer comics - just send a meas-
 ly $6.00 to:

                                Rick Keene
                               P.O. Box 463
                             Natick, MA 01760

      Rick is currently designing various Willy Weasely paraphernalia.   He
 has no  idea how much interest people will have in this sort of thing, but
 I think it's a  unique and  great idea.   Imagine  producing most  of this
 stuff initially  on a  520 ST!   It's  a great concept, and it's something
 different from what we've been seeing and reading about lately.   Computer
 graphics, in the atmosphere of a comic book is not new, but something that
 really hasn't been explored much in the past.   It's  a nice  touch, for a
 change.   While I certainly don't want you to think that this article is a
 "commercial" for Rick (it isn't!), I do recommend that if  you haven't al-
 ready seen  the first  two comics, do so.  Both can be found on Delphi and
 GEnie.  Download them and check them out.  If you like them, you  may want
 to see  more.   Then you can amaze your friends by showing them your Willy
 Weasely Fan Club membership  card!!   If you  don't have  access to either
 online service, drop Rick a line at the above address; I'm sure that he'll
 be happy to get the comics to you.

      A word of caution when viewing these comic  books.   Although there's
 nothing obscene  about them  at all, there is certainly an adult "flavor".
 You may not want to have  impressionable children  seeing these  until you
 can decide if it's "appropriate" or not.

      I hope to be including more about Rick Keene and his work in upcoming
 issues of ST Report.  From all of the feedback that I  have received about
 these articles, people are enjoying it as much as I am, so we'll continue.
 I hope to be hearing about Rick's progress with DC Comics, as well as some
 of his other pending projects.  So...stay tuned...

      Until next time...



            __________________________________________________





 > STReport CONFIDENTIAL             "BLOCKBUSTER ATARI NEWS FIRST!"
   =====================




 - Austin, TX                                 SFAN & ATARI ALL THE WAY!
   ----------

     Atari Computer  has shipped  the TT030  system to the Science Fiction,
 Fantasy & Adventure Network as per  their  agreement  to  assist  with the
 graphics development  process.   Further, support  from the  IAAD will put
 another TT as well as graphics support equipment and software  into SFAN's
 hands.   A&D will  supply its  MIDI-link system  as soon as the networking
 software has been upgraded to TT standards; CODEHEAD has offered to supply
 SFAN with their utility programs.

     Additionally, Atari  has entered  into an agreement with Walter Koenig
 (STAR TREK's "Chekov") which will result  in Koenig  becoming an "Atarian"
 in private  as well  as in  public.  Atari is providing Koenig with a Mega
 STe4 computer and SLM605 laser printer for his  personal use  and the com-
 puter and  Koenig will  be featured in a print ad campaign geared to coin-
 cide with the advertising push for the next  STAR TREK  movie.   To ensure
 that  Koenig  has  the  best  chance  to  take advantage of his Mega, John
 Eidsvoog of CODEHEAD Software has offered to help Koenig set up the system
 and learn  to use  it to his best advantage.  Several members of IAAD have
 already offered to send software to Koenig.  "I am looking forward  to ex-
 ploring all these great programs." Koenig said.



 - Sunnyvale, CA                   INCREDIBLY, ATARI RAISES DEALER COSTS!
   -------------

     Atari has  announced a general DEALER COST PRICE INCREASE coupled with
 a different quantity price  break.   Dealer COST  Prices are  generally up
 across the  boards and  the lot price breaks are at 2-6 and 8+.  As an ex-
 ample, "the profit line for the MegaSTe/4-50, a real hit, is narrowed con-
 siderably."  one  dealer  said.    When  asked how he felt about the price
 increases he bitterly exclaimed, "that's what  we get  for remaining loyal
 to these  guys.   And although  I have  no immediate plans on dropping the
 Atari line, you can be sure I will  be very  conservative in  my inventory
 control."   "After a  closer examination of the increases, it would appear
 that the smaller dealers across the  nation  will  be  the  most seriously
 effected by  this latest  move.   It is  a rather incredible move when one
 considers the  rest  of  the  computing  industry  is  very  busy lowering
 prices." he added.



 - San Francisco, CA                ATARI STRIVES FOR INDUSTRY RESPECT
   -----------------

     Claiming  that  its  workstation  is  well-respected  as  a  Desk  Top
 Ppublishing  solution  in  the  Germany,  Atari  Computers  formed  a  new
 division,  called  Professional  Systems  Group headed by Don Mandel, that
 aims to develop that same respect in the U.S. DTP market.  To do that, the
 new division will provide marketing and distribution support to a group of
 companies offering products for the Atari TT030 workstation.

     In some cases, these products  already  have  been  made  available in
 Europe.  According to Atari and the  Professional Systems Group, the Atari
 solution offers superior performance at  affordable  pricing.    Among the
 products  being  pushed  by  the  company  are  Retouch  CD (a color photo
 retouching package), Didot Line Art (a vector graphics editor), PageStream
 2 (a  desktop publishing  program), and SoftRIPS (a raster image processor
 that links the Atari directly to Linotronic or Compugraphic imagesetters.)



 - West Chester, PA                     COMMODORE LAUNCHES WINDFALL
   ----------------

     Hoping to find gold  among  its  competitors  discards,  Commodore has
 launched operation "Windfall", a new and unique marketing program designed
 to forge partnerships with educational  dealers  and  VARs  who  have been
 dropped by Apple Computer of Cupertino, CA.



 - New York City, NY                           NATION'S TOP TEN
   -----------------

     The  following  is  a  list  of  the  top ten computer makers in North
 America by unit.  The list appeared in the June  15th issue  of Datamation
 magazine.   The fastest growing manufacturer was Dell, the largest IBM and
 the one with the worst performance was H-P.

                      Personal Computers

                          Revenue ($MIL.)   Market       %
  Company                 1990      1989    Change     Share
 ------------------------------------------------------------
  1. IBM                9,644.0   8,343.0    15.59     37.66%
  2. Apple              3,845.8   3,574.2     7.60     15.02
  3. Compaq             3,598.0   2,876.1    25.10     14.05
  4. Unisys             1,181.0   1,300.0    -9.15      4.61
  5. Commodore            995.7     866.5    14.91      3.89
  6. Intel                980.0     812.0    20.69      3.83
  7. Tandy                850.3     689.1    23.39      3.32
  8. AT&T                 700.0     700.0     0.00      2.73
  9. Hewlett-Packard      625.0     850.0   -26.47      2.44
 10. Dell                 546.0     307.0    77.85      2.13
 ------------------------------------------------------------
  TOTALS               22,965.8  20,317.9   149.51     89.68%

     A total of 10.32% of the market share is divided  by a  various number
 of  companies,  each  with  less  than  a  2% share.  Please note that the
 revenue figures refer to total company revenue while the market share per-
 centage  refers  only  to  the  North American market and does not include
 sales in Europe, Australia, Latin/South America, Africa or Asia.



 - London UK                         512k PORTFOLIO IS REAL & AVAILABLE
   ---------

     Reportedly, DIP corp. has made a 512k version  of the  famed Portfolio
 available to  consumers.   The first question asked is when is it going to
 be available in the USA?  "Not likely in the  near future"  is the unhappy
 answer.   It seems  that current  contractual agreements prohibit DIP from
 selling the newer, more powerful Portfolio directly in  the States  and to
 date, Atari  has not expressed any interest in doing so.  On another note,
 STReport has  learned that  representatives from  DIP are  in Sunnyvale at
 this time  conferring with  Atari's Leonard  Tramiel.  Maybe... just maybe
 since the NEW HP  model 95  is becoming  the "Palmtop"  to own,  Atari may
 reconsider their position and bring in the 512k version with the new OS.






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


                    :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.

             -> NOW!  GENIE * BASIC SERVICE IS IN EFFECT!! <-

     This weeks  message contains a sampling of some of the files currently
     generating excitement in the ST Libraries located in GEnie.

 Number: 19472  Name: VKILL384.LZH                  Date: 910525
     Newest version to VKILLER, the most popular virus killer for the ST/TT
     computers.   Has a  new test  kill feature  and recognizes every known
     boot sector virus.  A must have!

 Number: 19476  Name: LHA130.ARC                    Date: 910525
     This is version 1.30 of LHA, the comprehensive archiver/unarchiver for
     LZH files.   Handles all known variants of the LZH archive.  This ver-
     sion runs significantly faster  than  v1.21,  and  offers  several new
     features, including optional archive encryption/decryption.

 Number: 19547  Name: XYZ201.ARC                    Date: 910531
     A replacement for RZ.TTP.  Offers resumption of aborted file
     transfers, all files are transfered unchanged (no more files cut
     short!), supports XMODEM and YMODEM, file creation dates are preserved
     (if you want).  New features include input and output file lists,
     "quiet" mode, carrier detect, enhanced status display, single file
     mode, and more!

 Number: 19451  Name: DCR_TMAG.ARC                   Date: 910524
     DC Real-Time  Magnifier gives  an 8X  blowup of  the screen.  Get "fat
     bits" in programs that don't provide  them.   Or see  those tiny fonts
     without having to reach for the bifocals.

 Number: 19610  Name: GVIEW105.LZH                   Date: 910605
     This is  version 1.05 of GEMView, the picture-viewing accessory.  View
     .GIF, .IMG, .NEO, .PI?, .PC?, .TNY, .SPC, .SPU and other file formats.
     Dithering, half-toning,  and save  capabilities.   A MUST HAVE for any
     ST/TT owner.

 Number: 19654  Name: COLONY.ARC                     Date: 910608
     Game of planet colonization.  Pits you marketing  and management skill
     against the computers players.  Always different and challenging.

 Number: 19528  Name: ENG_DRAC.ARC                   Date: 910529
     COLOR ONLY.   Drachen  is a variant of the ancient Chinese game of Mah
     Jongh, also known as Shanghai.   There's been  a mono  version of this
     German PD  program in  this library for some time, but the same author
     produced a color version.  Here it is, in English  translation (mostly
     translated, anyway -- read the .ASC file for full instructions).

 Number: 19700  Name: DMLTNMAN.ARC                   Date: 910611
     This  is  DEMOLITION  MAN,  a  new  commercial-quality  puzzle game by
     Clayton Walnum.  One of those games that takes a minute to learn and a
     long time to master, DEMOLITION MAN is great for a quick diversion.  A
     single game may last only a minute or two, but just like potato chips,
     one is never enough!  Runs in low rez only.  Shareware.

 Number: 19593  Name: GEM_XYZ.LZH                    Date: 910603
     This is  a GEM  version of Alan Hamilton's XYZ.TTP.  It is not a shell
     but a full featured GEM XYZ protocol.  This program is shareware.

 Number: 19778  Name: STWEL42.ARC                    Date: 910616
     Updated release of ST Writer Elite.  Fixes  some minor  cosmetic bugs.
     This version  contains a scrolling help window using the Help key from
     the Editing screen.  Formatting commands and key strokes are listed.

 Number: 19537  Name: ELFBOOT.ARC                    Date: 910529
     ELF-BOOT is a  powerful  new  STARTUP  utility  for  your  ST,  and is
     presented as shareware by Elfin Magic Software.

 Number: 19471  Name: CHEATER3.DOC                   Date: 910525
     The  Cheatmaster  returns!  Here  are  cheats for 9 more ST games. The
     games are: LOTUS  ESPRIT  TURBO  CHALLENGE,  ROBOCOP  II,  DEATH TRAP,
     CAR-VUP, WINGS  OF DEATH,  TEENAGE MUTANT  HERO TURTLES, TOTAL RECALL,
     TURRICAN, and HORROR ZOMBIES FROM THE CRYPT. This is a text file.

 Number: 19807  Name: FORMDOIT.ARC                   Date: 910619
     FormDoIt alters the way that dialog  boxes and  alerts behave  in most
     programs. Latest Version

 Number: 19534  Name: FPPRNT.ARC                     Date: 910529
     This program patches TOS to improve print speed when using a relative-
     ly high speed printer (HP Laserjet IIIP, Deskjet+,  ???).   Tests show
     it is  subtantially faster  than the  built-in TOS routine and printer
     spoolers.

     Don't forget, for those of you with interest  in the  Atari Portfolio,
 new files are added daily. Type M950;3 followed by 2 for a complete direc-
 tory of Portfolio Files

 NOTE; The list of files is rather long this week  because we  afforded the
 ST RT  on GEnie an opportunity to bring themselves up to date, henceforth,
 the list will include only the last week's new uploads.

         GEnie Information copyright (C) 1991 by General Electric
            Information Services/GEnie, reprinted by permission




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





 > CODEHEAD UPDATES! STR FOCUS        CodeHead Utilities Release 4!
   ===========================




     ****************************************************************
     *                                                              *
     *  CodeHead Software Announces CodeHead Utilities - Release 4  *
     *  ----------------------------------------------------------  *
     *                                                              *
     *    FEATURING:                                                *
     *                                                              *
     *         RESET-PROOF PRINTER AND DISK SPOOLING                *
     *                                                              *
     *              KEYBOARD ENHANCER FOR HANDICAPPED USERS         *
     *                                                              *
     *                    TT COMPATIBILITY                          *
     *                                                              *
     *                          DESK ACCESSORY TEXT EDITOR          *
     *                                                              *
     *                                RESOURCE FILE CONVERTER       *
     *                                                              *
     *                                      MUCH, MUCH, MORE...     *
     *                                                              *
     ****************************************************************


 The fourth release of CodeHead Utilities is now available!   It brings you
 many  exciting  new  features  as  well  as  new and previously-unreleased
 programs.

 Release 4 comes on  two  disks.    The  second  disk  contains  the latest
 versions of  all Little  Green Footballs  Software and  demos of all other
 CodeHead products.  Between the two disks there are 34 programs, more than
 ONE AND A HALF MEGABYTES OF SOFTWARE!

 Here's what you get:

        Utilities:                  Shareware:
        ----------                  ----------
        Art Gallery       3.0       ArcShell              2.5
        Auto Organizer    1.1       Desk Manager          3.3
        CapsLock          1.0       DeskSwitch            1.1
        CodeCopy          1.4       Funk Alert            1.1
        CodeHead ED       1.1       Little Green Selector 1.8c
        Call ED           1.0       PinHead               1.8
        CodeHead RAM Disk 2.3       TopDown               2.7
        Font Tricks       2.0
        Lens              1.0
        Leonard6          1.1       Demos:
        MultiFile         1.2       ------
        No Clear                    CodeKeys              1.2
        RSC -> ASM        1.0       G+Plus                1.0
        Sentinel          1.0       HotWire               2.3
        Siren 3                     LookIt! & PopIt!      1.0
        ShowMem4          1.5       MaxiFile III          3.0
        Spooler Manager   1.0       MIDIMAX               1.2
        Spooler           1.0       MultiDesk             2.1
        Spooler Config
        Stick Shift       1.0
        ZeroDisk          1.1


          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 CODEHEAD RAM DISK:

 The CodeHead  RAM Disk  has some  new and  exciting features.  You can now
 install two different drives in the same RAM disk.  And you  can configure
 the RAM disk to contain a RESET-PROOF PRINT SPOOLER!

 You can  now perform  a printing operation and reset your computer without
 losing a  single character...the  printer will  pick up  exactly where you
 left off  without missing a beat.  Plus, you can save your printer data to
 a standard disk file that can be printed  at any  time, with  or without a
 print spooler!

 This means you can save the raw printer data of a DTP document and reprint
 it at any time WITHOUT EVEN RUNNING YOUR DTP PROGRAM AGAIN!

 The RAM disk comes with a companion "Spooler Manager Accessory"  which al-
 lows you  to save  your spooled  data and print as many copies as you want
 (up to 999) of any file with optional formfeeds between  them, whether the
 spooler is present or not.

 The RAM Disk will now allow you to load any CCP file (a CodeCopy file con-
 taining an image of an entire disk full  of files  and folders)  you wish.
 This lets  you use  HotWire to  easily install different configurations of
 RAM disks complete with files already loaded, with the press  of a  key or
 the click of a mouse, in a SPLIT SECOND!

 CodeHead RAM  Disk is  now fully  TT compatible (as well as working in all
 other ST resolutions, including the Moniterm), allowing you  to install it
 in either  ST RAM  or Fast  TT RAM.  This turns the fastest Atari RAM disk
 into an even faster RAM disk.  Some people have asked us why our  RAM disk
 is so  much faster than the competition...the secret is speed, and lots of
 it <grin>.

 For those who are unfamiliar with  the previous  features of  CodeHead RAM
 Disk, it  is not  only reset-proof but will reinstall itself automatically
 after a reset without running the  program again.   If  you've run  out of
 drive letters,  our RAM  disk can  be piggy-backed  on top  of an existing
 drive, even  drive A  or B,  while still  allowing access  to the existing
 drive.    It  can  be  installed  and  removed  from  the  desktop without
 rebooting and will automatically  load an  entire disk  full of  files and
 folders when  installed.   It can be any size that will fit in your memory
 and you can actually  install your  AUTO programs  and accessories  in the
 RAM disk  for super-fast  bootups!   There is no faster, sturdier RAM disk
 available for ST/TT computers.


         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 ART GALLERY:

 Art Gallery is our  picture viewer  and slide  show utility  which runs as
 either a  program or  a desk  accessory.   It is now fully compatible with
 Mega STe and TT030 computers and  is  also  compatible  with  large screen
 monitors.   If you  have a  large screen monitor, you can view any type of
 picture that matches the  current resolution,  or has  the same  number of
 planes but  lesser pixel  resolution.  This allows you to view ST high-res
 pictures on a Moniterm monitor and ST medium  and low  res pictures  on an
 ISAC or other large screen color monitor.

 There's new support for all TT resolutions, including Prism Paint pictures
 as well as the  previous Neochrome,  Degas, Art  Director, and  TNY modes.
 Using  a  color  monitor  on  the  TT  you  can  view pictures in any of 5
 resolutions no matter what your current resolution is.

 Art Gallery 3.0 can now be  run  by  remote  control  through  its special
 "command  line"  options.    This  allows  you  to view pictures simply by
 double-clicking on  them  (without  having  to  first  install  a resident
 program).   You can  also create  a HotWire menu which lets you just click
 on a picture's entry to view it.  Or you can have  entries which  will run
 pre-configured slide shows.


            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 STICK SHIFT:

 Stick Shift  is a  new desk  accessory specially  designed for handicapped
 people.   It changes  the function  of the  shift keys  (Left Shift, Right
 Shift,  Control,   and  Alternate)   into  toggled   keys.    This  allows
 complicated shift-key combinations to be  typed  by  a  single  finger, or
 even a  mouthstick.   When Stick  Shift is active, a symbol will appear in
 any of the four corners of  the screen  (your choice)  to show  which keys
 are currently "stuck" down.


           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 CODEHEAD ED:

 Included as  freeware with  CodeHead Utilities  is CodeHead's special desk
 accessory version of MicroEMACS, the popular progammer's text  editor.  At
 CodeHead Software,  we've been  using CodeHead  ED for years.  Now you too
 can access the power of EMACS as a desk accessory.   CodeHead  ED uses the
 GEM file  selector for  loading and saving files and has been optimized in
 many other areas to help make your text editing tasks as easy as possible.
 You can  bind commands  to different  key combinations  to customize it to
 your own  preferences, and  the powerful  EMACS command  language lets you
 create macros and command routines to do extremely complex tasks.


            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 RSC -> ASM CONVERTER:

 We've finally  released another of our development tools -- RSC_ASM allows
 you to convert a resource file into assembly language source  code.  We've
 been using  RSC_ASM for a couple of years now to embed resource files into
 our programs.  A unique system of labelling allows you  to save  both time
 and  instructions  by  being  able  to access objects and strings directly
 without using system calls to find addresses, and without tedious  and er-
 ror-prone indirection.


          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 CODECOPY:

 CodeCopy is  our disk  mastering program  which is tailored to the task of
 making disk copies (we use it at CodeHead to make all our master disks).
 It features full verification of every byte on your disks plus the ability
 to  save  an  entire  disk  as  a  single  "image"  file.  It can be fully
 controlled either manually or from the command line.

 CodeCopy now  has routines  to override  the self-parking  of Atari's hard
 disk driver  (on the Stacy).  Due to a bug in Atari's driver, all disk ac-
 cess will fail if the hard  drive  parks  while  floppy  access  is taking
 place.  You'll have no more problems with this.


            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 FONT TRICKS:

 Font Tricks  allows you  to customize  your system  by changing the system
 screen font.  You can also print ASCII files to  Epson-compatible printers
 using the custom fonts.  Almost two dozen fonts are included.  Font Tricks
 is now TT compatible.


            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 AUTO ORGANIZER:

 Auto Organizer lets you change the order of execution of  your AUTO folder
 programs.   Its interface  is intuitive and extremely fast, performing the
 actual reorganization almost instantaneously.

 Auto Organizer is TT compatible along with a couple of bug fixes.


            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 OTHER UTILITIES:

 MultiFile is the granddaddy of MaxiFile.  It gives you a basic scaled down
 set of  file and  disk functions.   It runs as both a desk accessory and a
 program.

 Our stand-alone print spooler can be  configured  to  any  size  through a
 separate  program.    It  will  spool  a screen dump and its buffer can be
 cleared with a keystroke.

 ZeroDisk lets you erase all of  the files  on a  floppy disk  in one quick
 operation.

 CapsLock is an accessory that shows the current state of the CapsLock key.
 It can be installed in the upper left or right corner of the screen.

 Lens is a recursive graphics toy which lets you examine  the effects  of a
 recursive system and have fun at the same time.


          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 FREEWARE:

 The new version of ShowMem4 works with the TT to show you memory blocks in
 fast RAM.  It now works correctly the first time on all ROM versions.

 There's a new version of Leonard6, the system bomb handler, with a special
 option for  BBS operators.   You  can set  Leonard6 so that it will reboot
 upon a system error so that the BBS will automatically be reinitialized.

 Siren.ACC is fun little police car which drives across the  bottom of your
 screen at predetermined configurable intervals.

 A  patched  version  of  Poolfix4  is  included  which  fixes a bug in its
 reset-resident routine for handling the cookie jar.

 NoClear lets you remove the screen clear commands from your  AUTO programs
 so that they will scroll nicely up the screen when you boot up.

 Sentinel watches  for disk  write errors  and lets  you know  if there's a
 problem such as a full disk.   This  takes the  worry out  of working with
 programs that fail to inform you of errors.


         ########################################################


 CodeHead Utilities  has a  suggested retail price of $34.95.  As a current
 owner of CodeHead Utilities, you can  obtain  an  update  by  sending your
 original master disk and $10 to the address listed below.

 Version numbers and suggested retail prices for our products as of Monday,
 June 24, 1991 are:

                 Product              Version       Price
                 -------              -------       -----

                 CodeKeys ............. 1.3 .......$39.95
                 G+Plus ............... 1.5 ....... 34.95
                 MultiDesk ............ 2.2 ....... 29.95
                 LookIt & PopIt ....... 1.2/1.1 ... 39.95
                 MaxiFile ............. 3.0 ....... 44.95
                 HotWire .............. 3.0 ....... 44.95
                 HotWire Plus ..................... 69.95
                 MIDIMAX .............. 1.3 ....... 49.95
                 CodeHead Utilities ... Rel 4 ..... 34.95

 CodeHead Products are available  from  your  local  Atari  dealer, through
 mail-order houses, or directly from CodeHead Software:

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

                           Phone: (213) 386-5735
                           FAX:   (213) 386-5789
                           BBS:   (213) 461-2095

 CodeHead Software  accepts Mastercard, Visa, and American Express, as well
 as checks, money orders, and cash.

        Shipping charges are $3 U.S., $4 Canada, and $6 elsewhere.

 Current office hours are Monday-Friday 9AM-1PM  Pacific time.   Prices and
 hours are subject to change without notice.

                                        Thank you for your support!


        ##########################################################




 > Hard Disks STR InfoFile       ***** ABCO PRICE CHANGES! *****
   =======================




                       ** EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY! **

                      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)

    * ICD HOST ADAPTERS USED EXCLUSIVELY * OMTI HIGH SPEED CONTROLLERS *
      * ICD ADSCSI+ HOST ADAPTERS * FULL SCSI COMMAND SET SUPPORTED *
                  * SCSI EMBEDDED CONTROLLER MECHANISMS *

                   WE PAY SHIPPING!!!  >BLUE LABEL UPS!<

               Deluxe 2 bay Cabinet w/65w auto-switching PS
            Model        Description      Autopark       Price
            ==================================================
            SGN4951      51Mb 28ms   3.5"    Y          479.00
            SGN1096      85Mb 24ms   5.25"   Y          549.00
            SGN2055     105mb 17ms   3.5"    Y QUANTUM  699.00
            SGN6277     120Mb 24ms   3.5"    Y          789.00
            SGN1296     168Mb 24ms   3.5"    Y         1019.00
            ==================================================
                 FULLY ASSEMBLED SCSI DRIVES DEDUCT $60.00
               ADD $35.00 for 4 BAY SUPER CABINET w/250w PS
             PLEASE NOTE:  The above is partial listing only!

          CPU ACCELERATOR & MEMORY UPGRADES AVAILABLE & INSTALLED

        >> ABCO is now taking orders for 1040 & MEGA STe Computers! <<
                Call for VERY special Introductory prices!

           If you don't see what you want listed here, call us.
                Odds are we have it or, can get it for you!
                        AT THE BEST POSSIBLE PRICE!

                "We service what we sell. (when necessary)"

                      ****** SPECIAL - SPECIAL ******

       * SYQUEST 44MB (#555) >> ABCO "44" << REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE *

          - SYQUEST 44 MB DRIVE         - ICD ST ADSCSI PLUS H/A
          - ICD Utility Software        - 3' DMA Cable
          - Fan & Clock                 - Multi-Unit Power Supply
                          (1) 44 MB Syquest Cart.
                --->> SPECIAL! NOW ONLY __$ 645.00__ <<---
                   **** SCSI UNITS -> ONLY $585.00 ****

                   WE PAY SHIPPING!!!  >BLUE LABEL UPS!<
                  COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED AND READY TO RUN!
                    Cart and Utility Software Included!

                        EXTRA CARTS:      $  74.50
                        DRIVE MECH ONLY:  $ 349.95

                      ****** SPECIAL - SPECIAL ******

   * TWIN SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVES ... PROGRAMMER'S DELIGHT *
                       SPECIALLY PRICED ** $1019.00 **
                         Includes TWO cartridges!

    * SYQUEST 44MB REMOVABLE MEDIA DRIVE AND HARD DRIVE COMBINATIONS *
         - Syquest 44 Model [555] and the following hard drives -

             50mb SQG51   $ 819.00     85mb SQG96    $ 1019.00

                 LOWBOY - STANDARD - DUAL BLOWER CABINETS
                      CUSTOM CONFIGURATIONS AVAILABLE

                   WE PAY SHIPPING!!!  >BLUE LABEL UPS!<

           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 COMPATIBLE WITH --> SUPERCHARGER - AT/PC SPEED - GCR
           LARGER units are available - (Custom Configurations)

                      *>> NO REPACKS OR REFURBS USED! <<*

       - Custom Walnut WOODEN Cabinets - TOWER - AT - XT Cabinets -

            * SLM 804 Replacement Toner Cartridge Kits $42.95 *
                       * Toner Starter Kits $49.95 *
                       * Replacement Drums $183.95 *

               >> MANY other ATARI related products STOCKED <<
                      ALL POWER SUPPLIES UL APPROVED

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

                   WE PAY SHIPPING!!!  >BLUE LABEL UPS!<
                 QUANTITY & USERGROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!
                 _________________________________________

                     DEALERS and DISTRIBUTORS WANTED!
                         please, call for details

                 Personal and Company Checks are accepted.

                        ORDER YOUR NEW UNIT TODAY!

           CALL: 1-800-562-4037   -=**=-    CALL: 1-904-783-3319
           Customer Orders ONLY               Customer Service
                                9am - 8pm EDT
                                Tues thru Sat

                ABCO is EXPANDING!!  CALL FOR INFORMATION!




       ____________________________________________________________




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




           "REWARD YOUR FAITHFUL WITH A HEAVY, HEARTLESS HAND!"


                                            ....MARQUIS DE SADE




 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
                  STReport International Online Magazine?
     Available through more than 10,000 Private BBS systems WorldWide!
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
 STReport?           "YOUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCE"           June 28, 1991
 16/32bit Magazine        copyright = 1987-91                    No.7.26
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
 Views, Opinions and Articles Presented herein are not necessarily those of
 the editors, staff, STReport? CPU/MAC/STR? or  ST Report?.   Permission to
 reprint articles  is hereby granted, unless otherwise noted.  Each reprint
 must include the name of the publication, date, issue #  and  the author's
 name.  The entire publication and/or portions therein may not be edited in
 any way without prior  written permission.   The  entire contents,  at the
 time of publication, are believed to be reasonably accurate.  The editors,
 contributors and/or staff are not responsible for either the use/misuse of
 information contained herein or the results obtained therefrom.
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""


-----------------------------------------
Return to message index