Betazine: 23-Aug-90 #117
From: Atari SIG (xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 04/11/94-12:22:07 PM Z
From: xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Atari SIG)
Subject: Betazine: 23-Aug-90 #117
Date: Mon Apr 11 12:22:07 1994
Article 67 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.mags:
From: aa596@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Kevin Steele)
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 90 05:22:56 GMT
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
BetaZine, #117 Atari 8bit/Atari ST/Atari STe
Published by PsychoTronic Publishing
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
How to Contact BetaZine and/or PsychoTronic Publishing:
.............................................................................
. : .
. FoReM-Net/CrossNet E-Mail & F-Mail: : United States Postal Service: .
. ----------------------------------- : ----------------------------------- .
. NODE 471, BETAZINE EDITOR : PSYCHOTRONIC PUBLISHING .
. : SUITE #125 .
. FidoNet Net-Mail: : 2227 U.S. HIGHWAY #1 .
. ----------------------------------- : NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ 08902 .
. NODE 1:107/360, BETAZINE EDITOR : .
. : BetaZine Support BBS: .
. GEnie Address: : ----------------------------------- .
. ----------------------------------- : HACKER'S HOTLINE, (201)-390-9782 .
. M.MEZAROS : BETAZINE EDITOR .
......................................:......................................
In a few seconds, you'll be reading...
////////////// ------- -------
////////////// I / /
////////////// I _ / /
////////////// I \ /
////////////// I \ /
////////////// ------- -------
________ ____________________
BetaZine - The On-Line Magazine
________ ____________________
"The Latest News and Features from Both Worlds of Atari."
For Atari 8bit, ST, and STe Users
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
: Editor-In-Chief...Mike Mezaros : ////////////////////////// :
: Dateline Editor...Jerry Morton : ////BetaZine Issue #17//// :
: Features Editor.......Tim Reed : //////Volume No. One////// :
: Distribution......Eric Millard : ////August 23rd, 1990///// :
: ....................Dave Drust : ///First Issue for 7/90/// :
: ..................Mike Mezaros : \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ :
: : :
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
BetaZine Support BBS: The Hacker's Hotline running on ///Turbo Board ST.
FoReM-Net Node 471, (201)-390-9782 [3/12/24oo baud]. Dave Drust, SysOp.
BetaZine is published bi-weekly by PsychoTronic Publishing.
--
Available on...
.............................................
GENIE, FIDONET, ALTERNET, FOREM-NET, CROSSNET
.............................................
Coming soon to...
..........................
USENET, BITNET, COMPUSERVE
..........................
--
New Numbering System: Volume Number followed by Issue Number...
Example: BZ117.ARC
^ ^ ^ ^------- Compression = ARCed
BZ = BetaZine ---------^ ^ ^----------- Issue # = 17
^------------- Volume # = 1
BetaZine #117 =
BetaZine Volume 1, Issue 17.
...
No Reasonable Submissions Denied.
...
***IN THIS ISSUE***
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
-
Notes from the Scratch Pad
-
The Editor's Soapbox
-
..........................>Feature Articles<...........................
Informative and Entertaining Features, Columns, Reviews, and Commentary!
-
-
Computer Monitors Meet the Boob Tube: Non-Interlaced Television is Here
by Kurt Arnold
-
ISAC Vs. ParSec: The Color Video Showdown
by Tim Reed, Jerry Morton, and Mike Mezaros
-
-
...........................>Dateline: ATARI!<...........................
The LATEST News concerning Atari and the industry!
-
-
Tandy Releases Computers with STe-Like Sound
-
Movin' Right Along: Glendale Atari Faire
-
STart / Antic Merger
-
TT030 - The Arrival
-
Voice-Mail Within Reach of Everyone
-
The Codehead Bug Hunt
-
-
........................................................................
BETAZINE - BETAZINE - BETAZINE - BETAZINE - BETAZINE - BETAZINE - BETAZINE
^^^In This Issue!^^^
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
THE EDITOR'S SOAPBOX
INDICATIONS: This column helps restore mental alertness or wakefulness when
experiencing fatigue or drowsiness.
WARNING: The following column is not always pleasant and is barely cohesive.
It may also be offensive to the easily offended.
Hi everyone. Below are three little factoids that I'd like to share with
you. Enjoy... if you can.
DISTURBING ENVIRONMENTAL FACT FOR THE DAY:
The Exxon Valdez tanker spilled over 10,000,000 gallons of crude oil
just off the Alaskan coastline and has been used as an example of a major
environmental catastrophe ever since. This year, however, driveway mechanics
and unscrupulous service stations will dump nearly fourty times that amount
of used motor oil into sewers, landfills, and streams to contaminate our
drinking water.
Source: Motor Trend Magazine, August 1990.
INTERESTING LEGAL FACT FOR THE DAY:
James David Mosely, decorated Navy veteran and P.T.A. member, spent 19
months in a Georgia prison during 1988 and 1989 for the crime of sodomy (oral
sex) against his willing, over 21 wife. His original sentence was for five
years but was overturned with the help an ACLU sponsored appeal. Under
current Georgia law, his maximum possible sentence was 20 years. If he had
committed the same crime against a farm animal, his maximum possible sentence
would have been only 10 years.
Source: Playboy Magazine, February 1990.
STARTLING COMPUTER STATISTIC FOR THE DAY:
The 11 best selling (best SOLD, actually, would be a better description)
personal computer models in the United States are the IBM PS/2 Model 50Z
(10Mhz 286, Microchannel Bus), IBM PS/2 Model 30-286 (10Mhz 286, AT Bus),
Commodore 64/64C, Apple Macintosh SE, Apple IIgs, Apple Macintosh Plus, IBM
PS/2 Model 55SX (16Mhz 386-SX, Microchannel Bus), Atari 65/130 XE, and the
Commodore 128/128D. It is believed that the Atari 65/130 XE category also
includes the 400, 800, the XL line, and the XEGM. Note that the 55SX, IBM's
most popular PC in years, has only been available for a few months but
manages to squeeze just ahead of two relative old-timers: The Atari 8-bit and
the Commodore 128k 8-bit.
Source: Omni/Compute Magazine, attributed to Dataquest, August 1990.
And now that that is taken care of...
I apologize for the delay in releasing this issue. Our Dateline Editor,
Jerry Morton, had several important personal situations that needed his
attention and delayed some of his work on the magazine. We wish him the best
and thank him for as much as he was able to do. Expect BZ118 before September
1st, 1990. And now for some Best Wishes.
I'd like to offer a quick "Welcome Back" to ZMagazine. ZMag set the
standards and I'm sure that everyone who still uses or once used an Atari
8-bit will join me in wishing the magazine a long and successful run.
And I want to wish Jack Lee a happy semester; Jack contributed a few
articles to BZ when we first began, and recently returned from California for
a short, short break. Jack won't be reading this until December, but at
least he'll know we don't forget about him when he's not around. :-)
Until Next Time,
///Mike Mezaros
Editor-In-Chief
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atari/Commentary/Tips/Reviews/Information/Rumors/Hacks/Columns/Atari
///////////////////////////////////\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
: BetaZine :
: FEATURE ARTICLES :
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Edited by Tim Reed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
COMPUTER MONITORS MEET THE BOOB TUBE: NON-INTERLACED TELEVISION IS HERE
The Absolute Best Picture Quality Available Today Has A Price --- $3,500.
And a name -- but SURPRISE! It isn't called HDTV.
by Kurt Arnold
(Some research by Mike Mezaros and Tim Reed)
Most of us have heard of HDTV, High Definition Television, the new TV
standard that features 16-bit CD quality, Dolby Surround Sound and a
Cinemascope-style picture tube that will provide clarity unheard of today.
But an HDTV set in today's living room would be useless -- HDTV signals won't
be available for years and years. Having an HDTV set now, if one were
available, would be like bragging about owning a color, MTS stereo set back
in 1942. It would be a waste of time, money, and space.
So you want the absolute BEST television picture available today? Well,
there's a nice, easy way to do it. But, sorry, it'll cost ya'.
The first time you ever saw an Amiga hi-res screen you probably were
impressed, all prejudice aside. And the first time you ever saw an Amiga
hi-res screen that had been "flicker fixed" (de-interlaced), you probably
looked back at the original hi-res screen and percieved it to be something
akin to a strobe light. Flicker, flicker. Would you believe that one day you
might look at your current television set, laugh, and utter, "Flicker,
flicker" ? You can, and you will. Believe it.
Currently, about the best computer monitor you can buy would be one
capable of at least 1024x768 resolution, NON-INTERLACED. That non-interlaced
makes a big difference, as we computer users have come to know. The
Multisync 3d is a nice monitor, but the 4d is nicer. It's bigger... and it's
non-interlaced.
A quick side-step to Interlacing 101: Interlacing is a process where a
display flashes two complementary and relatively low-quality images in
super-fast succession, so that the human eye interpretes them together as
one, higher quality, more defined, image. (Or, the first flash shows the top
of the image, and the second flash shows the bottom -- or every other scan
line, etc. etc. The point is -- one flash alone does not contain the entire
image.) A non-interlaced display holds both images in memory (for only a
split second) and flashes them both at once. Interlacing produces higher
quality images on lower quality equipment, but there is a price to be paid...
flicker.
The computer industry has long understood this. All of the latest video
equipment produces non-interlaced displays, all of the latest and most
expensive monitors flash non-interlaced images. This line of thought has now
arrived in the living room via the television set.
IDTV, Improved Definition Television, is a system that de-interlaces the
television picture and displays it on a high quality monitor. One of the
companies that invested heavily in the development of IDTV is NEC, the
Turbografx and Multisync people. IDTV tries to tell us, "Listen. We don't
need to spend billions to totally re-invent the television industry with
HDTV. But de-interlacing the image, we already have an incredibly vivid
picture -- that's me, that's IDTV."
Simply put, IDTV is a flicker fixer for the idiot box.
But you can't just add IDTV to your present set -- your lowly picture
tube wouldn't be able to handle it. You'll need a new set.
The first IDTV sets are beginning to reach our shores now. The shining
standout: The Toshiba CZ3299K. It boasts IDTV with 560 scan lines (your set
only has 525), a 32-inch nearly flat screen, MTS stereo, and
Picture-In-Picture -- for flicking through the other channels while still
keeping tabs on the big game. It also has a price: Approx. $3,500.
Will IDTV make it? It all depends on how fast HDTV arrives. If
broadcasters begin using HDTV signals in the next year or two, IDTV sets will
suffer because people would rather spend their $3,500 on any set of the
future rather than even the very best set of the past. But if HDTV doesn't
begin to flower until late in the decade, IDTV has a fighting chance.
My RCA set, which I used to think was more than adequate, looks something
like a strobe light these days. Everytime I look at the thing it resembles an
old black-and-white Philco model with cabinet doors more and more. If I come
across $3,500, I might even succeed at convincing myself that my almost new
RCA is little more than a fancy antique. I can almost see myself faking a
break-in, throwing the TV in the trash, and collecting insurance for it so I
could buy a "real" TV...
Simply put, I want my IDTV. And you will too. Don't doubt it for a
second. In fact, run right down to the nearest electronics place and see one
of these sets for yourself. But be sure to bring your credit card or a large
wad of unmarked bills -- IDTV is hard to resist. In fact, I'm not quite sure
which is worse: NOT going into debt by NOT buying the set, or paying it off
in small installments for the rest of your Earthly life.
Hmmm... Small installments. Now there's an idea. I wonder how late 'The
Wiz' is open? That root canal will have to wait...
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
ISAC VS. PARSEC: THE COLOR VIDEO SHOWDOWN
These two ultra-high resolution graphics cards for the ST are the next step
in ST video. But, alas, they are incompatible. Which, if either, will
capture the market?
by Tim Reed, Jerry Morton, and Mike Mezaros
The Atari ST video system was something to be proud of five years ago.
Today it is something to make excuses for.
"Well, its a nice video system for the price," say many people, ignoring
the fact that it is nearly impossible to upgrade and has the kind of graphics
clarity that causes visual impairment -- at least on a color monitor, anyway.
But despite that fact, two companies have managed to release extended
color video boards for the ST. And while neither has taken off to the
extent that VGA and SuperVGA systems have taken off in the IBM realm, more
and more users are finding that the Atari ST can continue to meet their needs
by adding a video board.
If you're a desktop publishing fanatic, CAD/CAM devotee, or just a
technical junkie, you'll be interested in the following information. Some of
it is taken from the early issues of BetaZine which were not available (and
are still not available to a large extent) on GEnie or FoReM-Net.
The Moniterm system has been reviewed to death, so we've ignored it and
decided to center on two superb color systems: The ISAC board and the ParSec
board. Both offer similar features for a similar price. What which, if
either, is right for you?
............................
(The following article originally appeared in BetaZine Volume #1, Issue #6.
It has been edited slightly by the original author, Jerry Morton. It
originally appeared as "A Short Chat With Jay Craswell of Image Systems.")
In the March, 1990 issue of STart magazine, in the 'News, Notes & Quotes'
column, a small article mentioned Image Systems' new ATR-4PC video board for
the MegaST. With a slot for a 68881 math co-processor, and video
capabilities similar to IBM SuperVGA (1024x768 in 16 colors out of a palette
of 4096), the ATR-4PC sounded promising. So I gave Image Systems a call, and
was directed toward Mr. Jay Craswell, co-developer of the board. Mr.
Craswell was busy showing off his new board, and returned my call the next
day.
Mark Medin and Jay developed the board at Image Systems in Hopkins, MN.
"Mark deserves the lion's share of credit here," Jay told me, "I did the
layout on this one."
Jay dismissed the confusing ATR-4PC name given in STart. "We were
originally going to call it the Atari Safari, but that was too cutesy...
right now we call it the ISAC board, but we'd be happy if you just called it
the Image Systems Color Card."
"There's been a lot of confusion about the board... It adds a whole
separate display system that connects to the bus on the Mega, with a second
monitor port and 384k of video RAM... It will run with any 48khz horizontal
multisync or VGA monitor."
"It runs the desktop right on the monitor, there is a driver included. It
just runs the desktop in high resolution."
The ultimate ISAC system would have two monitors, a VGA or multisync, and
the standard ST color monitor (although only one monitor is necessary). In
the STart article, Jay reccomends the Nanao 970 multisync monitor for use
with the system. But Jay told me that Image Systems will be offering their
own high-end high resolution monitor in about 60 days.
"We'll be selling our own monitors soon," he said, "a 21 inch to compete
against the NEC, for about $2000. But with the monitor, we'll also give you
a special crystal for the board, a high speed crystal that will speed up the
video refresh to about 75 frames a second. The guys in Europe should love
it."
But will the ISAC run today's most popular software in its high
resolution mode? "Just about everything runs as is. Calamus, Dynacad, all
the Strata software; Steno, Stalker...Easydraw."
Pagestream 1.8 won't run right out of the box in the ISAC hi-rez mode, as
the STart article suggests, but it will run with slight modifications.
"Pagestream ran just fine with a few minor changes. It took like five
minutes to get it to run, maybe one byte of code was modified... But
Pagestream will run just fine without modification in the card's duochrome
mode (1024x768 in 2 colors out of 4096), and so will most anything. You'd
need the special version for the color. "
Some software that won't run in the ISAC hi-rez mode? "Spectrum 512
didn't work... We had some problems with some of the entertainment software
that wouldn't work at all. We haven't had a lot of the midi stuff to try
out, but I would assume that it should work with no problem."
But as more software is adapted to run in the TT's hi-rez mode, more will
run under ISAC. "Software that doesn't work on the Moniterm or the Image
Systems card, won't work on the TT, and if you have a company that won't fix
it to work on those machines, I think that's bad news. They have to follow
some simple rules... Some things just won't work in the extended modes, and
they should be updated."
"We use the board with the Fast Technologies 16Mhz accelerator card all
the time, and it works great. But a hard drive won't fit into the Mega case
with our card installed. Most people think it's just a few chips or
something, but it's actually about half the size of the Mega... And, to tell
you the truth, we really haven't tried it out yet with PC Ditto 2, so we
don't know if it will work ( or fit)."
There is also an additional PAL chip and crystal set available for the
ISAC board that will allow it to display 800x600 in 16 colors, which is
equivalent to the most basic IBM SuperVGA boards.
Image Systems isn't looking into a VME card version of the ISAC, but you
will be able to use it with standard ST's soon. "JRI is planning a product
for the ST's that will let you use cards for the Mega bus. So, soon, you'll
be able to use the board with a 520 or a 1040."
Jay didn't know how much the JRI unit would sell for.
Jay sees the market for the board in the already installed user base. "I
think a lot of people want a specific solution, so they buy a desktop
publishing program or a CAD program, and they don't really get what they
need."
"I hope that dealers will sell the board along with a software package,
at a discount. This card offers the ability to do really good publishing and
reall y good CAD. You can buy an Atari computer, a hard drive, monitor,
laser printer, and this card, for less than what you'd pay for a similar
system from Apple. And in most cases, the ST would work out a lot better."
"Plus the 68881 is great, too. There's been a lot of confusion about
that, too. A lot of people think you have to use a 16Mhz, but you can use
anything up to 25Mhz, if you can afford it."
"The Image cards are shipping right now. They cost $800, but that's
suggested retail. They should sell for a lot less than that at your local
dealer, if you have one."
Jay also mentioned the new MegaSTe that Atari is considering. He hopes,
ob viously, that the new Mega will have atleast the Mega bus, if not the Mega
bus AND a VME slot.
He also commented on the TT. "I hope they don't change the colors," he
said, remarking that in early pictures, the ST was white. "I really liked
the TT keyboard, too. The french cut function keys are gone."
ISAC sounds like an incredible product for the Mega, and eventually for
the ST. If it does everything that Image says it does, I certainly look
foward to getting my hands on one. I'll be here with a review of the board
as soon as one is available to me.
Thanks to Jay for his time, and to Image Systems for supporting the ST.
..........................
(Much of this information originally appeared in BZ Volume #1, Issue #9.)
The ParSec 4768 Base model:
"Designed for point-of-sale advertising, display graphics, and GEM
emulation... the ideal starting point... interfacing to any Atari ST...
768k memory, 16 colours/line from 4096, SCSI and RS232 ports."
"The Topaz GEMulator converts GEM based programs to output on the ParSec.
The ability to run Atari based programs on the ParSec creates new advantages
of superior resolution and colour palette plus high speed operation."
The ParSec 8768-8 Upgrade board:
"...the ideal tool for CAD/CAM, Architecture and Animation... The board is
plugged onto the ParSec 4768... total of 1.875MB memory...option of up to 4Mb
of program memory. A Brooktree Bt473 colour palette is installed and double-
buffered graphics are possible with 256 colours selectable from 16.8 million.
Single buffered 15 bit plane true colour graphics... allowing total pixel
independence with 32,000 colours per screen."
The ParSec 8768-16 Upgrade board:
"...designed for Artists and Graphic Designers... professional broadcast
quality graphics... total video memory to 2.5Mb allowing double-buffered,
broadcast standard, 15 bit-plane graphics up to resolutions of 833x625."
The ELM Multiflat Plus monitor:
"Graphics boards with high specifications such as the ParSec require quality
monitors to obtain crisp, precise, high resolution output... 15 inch, non-
glare screen, 0.26mm dot pitch and 1024x768 resolution... horizontal sync
(21.8kHz to 50kHz)... vertical sync (50Hz to 90Hz) with automatic aspect
ratio adjustment."
The Elmtech Genlock/Digitizer:
"The ParSec has been designed to evolve into a fully interactive Graphics /
Video workstation... full broadcast standards... has the facility to grab
250,000 pixels of 8 bit colour image at 25 frames/sec."
"Fast - Texas Instruments TMS34010-50 50Mhz Processor
Powerful - 6.25 MIPS performance, Complex shapes moved at SPEED
Colour - 16.8 Million different shades, 15 bit planes, 32,768 colours
Graphics - 1024x768 Resolution, fully programmable from 640x480."
The ParSec's performance:
"Average Bit Move 25.0 M bits/sec Fill Rectangle 12.5 M pix/sec
Horizontal Line/Fill 50.0 M bits/sec Copy Block 3.12 M pix/sec
Line Draw Rate 1.25 M pix/sec 32 Bit Add 6.25 M ins/sec
Line (Read) 2.10 M pix/sec 32 Bit Multiply 0.29 M ins/sec"
Dimensions of the ParSec: 298mm wide x 286mm deep x 54mm high
Connection: Attaches to the Cartridge port of any ST.
.....
But what does this mean to the average Atari ST user? Basically, for
less than $1400, the ST can have graphics capabilities surpassing the Amiga
and all but the most expensive IBM graphics cards. The ParSec is a computer
in its own right -- with a 50Mhz 32-bit CPU! The ParSec 4768 gives the ST up
to 1024x768 resolution and the ability to display 4096 colors on the screen
at one time (16 per line). With one of the upgrade boards installed, that
jumps to 196,000 colors on the screen out of a palette of 16 million.
Ignoring the speed factor (the ParSec is faster than any of the boards
we will consider), let's compare the features of the 4768 (without upgrade
boards) to two of the most popular high-end graphics boards available for the
IBM, AND the yet unreleased TT's features:
---
Name of product - Max Resolution - Max # colors on screen - Retail Price
---
.......................................................................
Verticom HX256 1024x768 256 colors $3495.00 (Sells for approx. $2200)
NEC MGE-256 1024x768 256 colors $1495.00 (Sells for approx. $1200)
ParSec 4768 1024x768 4096 colors $1550.00 (Sells for approx. $1400)
TT Hi-Rez 1280x960 2 colors ---not applicable, graphics mode--
TT Medium-Rez 640x480 256 colors ---not applicable, graphics mode--
ISAC Color Bd. 1024x768 16 colors Approx. $800
.......................................................................
Now, the next step is in software. The IBM and Amiga have a wide
variety of software available for their high resolution graphics cards and
modes. Da Vinci Art, a high-end paint program, is shipped with the 4768.
Elmtech is currently offering Chimera FX, which is a paint/desktop video/2d-
CAD type program that takes advantage of the 4768 with the 8768-16 board.
They are also currently developing recreational software and a DTP program
to take advantage of the ParSec's special abilities.
Only time will tell if the professionals who need the power of the
ParSec will choose it over similar options for the IBM and Amiga.
......................
---
.............................
....................BetaZine Puts Them Side-By-Side........................
.............................
ISAC Board ParSec Board
Resolutions Colors Palette Resolutions Colors Palette
------------------------------ ------------------------------
1024x768 16 4096 1024x768 16 4096
1024x768 2 4096 1024x768 256 4096
800x600 16 4096 1024x768 4096 4096
------------------------------ ------------------------------
Note: The ISAC's 800x600x16x4096 mode requires an additional chip/crystal
set.
Approximate System Price
$800, plus monitor $1500, plus monitor
Features to Consider
Seems to be more compatible than The ParSec board is much, much,
the ParSec. The ParSec requires faster than the ISAC board
extra drivers... The ISAC board thanks to its TI graphics
runs more programs off the shelf. co-processor. This is an
However, be aware that many important point for CAD/CAM or
programs simply won't work. Multimedia uses.
The ISAC board connects to the The ParSec connects to the
MegaST's Mega-Bus. cartridge point and is an
external device, practically
a computer in its own right.
There is no noticeable difference The ParSec is best used when
in graphics speed between a standard software is written SPECIFICALLY
ST and an ISAC equipped ST. BUT, for it. However, a "GEMulator"
the ISAC has a slot for a math standard GEM driver is included.
co-processor. DynaCad users should
take note of that... although a The ParSec board, coupled with
ParSec board AND a separate math Elm's software support, is
co-processor board may be better better suited for multimedia
suited for CAD work. However, the work. Check out the board's
ISAC provides a less expensive excellent specifications above.
alternative to that route.
And, of course, both the ParSec and the ISAC will require a non-interlaced
multisync monitor with at least 1024x768 resolution. You'll pay at least
$700 for a decent model, and you'll probably want to spend somewhere around
$1000 for a really nice, large screen model like the NEC Multisync 4D.
The key word to remember here is NON-INTERLACED. These boards simply won't
work with cheaper, interlaced monitors like the NEC Multisync 3D.
.............................
ISAC PARSEC BASE UNIT
1024x768 Resolution? Yes Yes
4096 color pallete? Yes Yes
Max. Colors on Screen? 16 4096
Upgrade Boards Available? No Yes
MegaST Compatible? Yes Yes
Standard ST Compatible? No Yes
Non-Interlaced? Yes Yes
.............................
Both of these products are high quality, niche items -- much like the ST
itself. But we do have our preferences.
Firstly, unless you know EXACTLY what you want to do with the board,
DON'T buy either of them. There simply isn't enough software support at this
point to take such a large financial risk.
So who "should" buy these boards? CAD/CAM and DTP users. And,
interestingly enough, we have a different reccomendation for both categories.
CAD/CAM: CAD users demand SPEED. The speed of the ParSec is incredible
and can save a lot of nearly hairless heads from becoming barren wastelands.
In the CAD field, much of the time spent waiting isn't spent waiting on that
slow 8Mhz CPU, its spent waiting for that slow video subsystem. The ParSec
can really take a bite out of that.
DTP: We reccomend the Pagestream/ISAC combination. Its less expensive
than the Moniterm, but yet provides almost the same excellent resolution in
duochrome mode. (Well, yeah...almost.)
The ISAC and the ParSec may be similar... but they are quite different in
many ways. But both help the ST market by attracting (and keeping) CAD and
DTP users to the ST.
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
------------------------------------=====------------------------------------
===-----------------------------------------------------------------------===
DATELINE: Atari!
The Latest News from BetaZine - The On-Line Magazine
Edited by: Jerry Morton
Some Information Provided and Compiled by:
Mike Mezaros, Tim Reed, Dave Mothersbaugh, & Kurt Arnold
===-----------------------------------------------------------------------===
------------------------------------=====------------------------------------
"This just in..."
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
TANDY RELEASES COMPUTERS WITH STE-LIKE SOUND
The XL Series is Slated to Compete with IBM's PS/1
Tandy, mother company of Radio Shack, has released a new line of
computers called the XL series. XL is the suffix on the name of each of the
computers.
The first XL computer in general release, the 2500XL, is a 10Mhz 286
computer with built-in VGA, much like IBM's new PS/1 model. The 2500XL also
features an 8-bit stereo sound subsystem nearly identical to the sound
system found on the STe computers.
The Tandy XL sound is in a position similar to the STe's sound as well.
The XL sound system is the most advanced sound package available as standard
equipment on any IBM compatible computer available today, but it will most
likely never be fully exploited due to the need for compatibility with older
sound systems. Many have written off the STe's sound system for this very
same reason.
The situation with the Tandy is more complicated, however. Standard PC
sound is very basic, much less capable than Atari 8-bit systems. Two major
sound enhancements have appeared in recent years for the IBM platform, the
Adlib standard and the Roland standard. Many popular games, such as the
Sierra adventures, take advantage of the Adlib standard. In addition, the
Adlib standard is the more popular of the two, probably due to the relatively
low price of an Adlib compatible board, usually under $150 for an 11 voice
sound system. Realsound is a recently copyrighted software method developed
by a game company that gives high quality digitized sound to PC's without
additional hardware (although a cable may be ordered to connect your PC to
your stereo system for better results). Realsound is comparable to Atari ST
sound and must be programmed into individual software packages (the quality
of Realsound, because it is software-dependent, depends greatly on the speed
and quality of the hardware it is used on). Crime Wave and Mean Streets, two
best selling adventure games, take advantage of Realsound.
So while the Tandy XL series features excellent sound, its potential, as
in the case of the STe, may or may not be exploited to the fullest. Tandy XL
sound isn't compatible with Adlib, Roland, or even Tandy's own three-voice
sound system found on early Tandy's. Tandy has announced no plans to develop
emulators for the major standards either.
The 2500XL will be in head to head competition with IBM's PS/1. Like the
PS/1 the 2500XL features several innovations to the PC world such as DOS and
a graphical interface in ROM. The 2500XL's graphical interface is Deskmate,
a GEM-like interface that has been praised as a tool for beginners to DOS
machines.
Because it is also a 10Mhz 286 machine, the 2500XL faces the same
obstacles as the PS/1. 286 machines cannot multitask DOS programs with
Windows 3.0, run the upcoming OS/2 2.0, and face serious memory limitations.
IBM and Tandy have argued that these types of machines are aimed toward the
home-office user who will not need such capabilities.
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
MOVIN' RIGHT ALONG: GLENDALE ATARI FAIRE
Now that the WOA is finished, Glendale has its chance to shine...
The Glendale Show, the Southern California Atari Faire, will be held at
tge Glendale Civic Auditorium on September 15th and 16th. The following is a
list of vendors "most likely to attend." Be aware that these vendors have
merely expressed intent to attend, and not all of them are "confirmed"...
ATARI Corporation American Music
Best Electronics Bill Skurski Enterprises
Branch Always Software BRE
Beckmeyer Carter Graphics
CodeHead SoftWare Computer Network
C.O.P. D.A. Brumleve
Datel Double Click
FAST Technology Gadgets by Small
Gold Leaf Gribnif
Groves School of Music ICD
ISD King's Domain
Lexicor MegaMax
Michtron MicroCreations
Mid-Cities Migraph
Neocept Practical Solutions
Safari Fonts S.D.S.
Sierra Seymour-Radix
SliccWare STart
ST Informer ST Journal
Sprokits Supra Corp.
Talon WuzTek
XETOERIX Zubair Interfaces
Z*Net News Service
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
ANTIC/START MERGER
Will Antic go the way of Analog?
Antic magazine, the first magazine released by Antic Publishing, Inc., is
no longer. In January, Antic Publishing announced that the magazine would go
bi-monthly due to low sales, declining subscriptions, and a serious lack of
advertising. Early in August, Antic Publishing announced that STart and Antic
would "merge."
Readers are reminded that Analog (one of Antic's competitors) and ST-Log
(one of STart's competitors) merged shortly before the magazine's death late
last year.
Press Release
San Francisco, Aug. 3 -- Antic Publishing Inc. today announced that
publication of START Magazine will be suspended for one month in order to
make several major editorial and circulation changes. All current
subscriptions will be extended one month. In addition, START has agreed to
fulfill the ST-Log and Analog subscription obligations, doubling its
circulation. When START reappears with the October 1990 issue (on sale Sept.
1), it will contain a monthly, 16-page section for Atari 8-bit computer
owners, boosting START's pages to 124-plus. Antic, the publishing group's
long-running 8-bit magazine, will cease publication. START Editor Tom Byron
also announced staff changes. Jim Burton joins the magazine as technical
editor; Rick Braden is the new art director. Burton is a journalist and past
START contributor with a thorough knowledge of GFA BASIC. See "GDOS Printer
Drivers in GFA BASIC" in the January 1990 issue and "GDOS Tutorial" in the
August 1990 issue for samples of his work. His main responsibility will be
the START disk, which, beginning with the January 1991 issue, will be a
straight double- sided format. Braden comes to START from Portland, Ore.,
where he designed a number of successful regional and national business and
technical journals. In addition to his talents as a graphic designer, Braden
is a MIDI aficionado and ST owner. Several popular ST authors have been
named contributing editors, with responsibility for areas of increasing
interest to ST users. The new contributing editors are: Dan Fruchey - Word
Processing/Desktop Publishing, John Russell and David Plotkin - Hardware,
Christopher Roberts - Telecommunications. Jim Pierson-Perry continues to
cover MIDI and music, while former START editor Andrew Reese covers graphics.
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
TT030 - THE ARRIVAL
What's the deal with Atari's new 32-bit computer?
Conflicting reports on UseNet, FidoNet, and FoReM-Net this week. Some
people are saying that the TT030/2 is now ACTUALLY FOR SALE in the U.K. No
official word from Atari on this yet, but we'll keep you informed.
Meanwhile, the TT is slated to arrive in Canada within the next three
weeks. A U.S. release date hasn't been confirmed yet...
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
VOICE-MAIL WITHIN REACH OF EVERYONE
Bell Atlantic's Voice-Mail for only $5 a Month
Bell Atlantic, one of the so-called "baby bells" serving the NJ/PA area,
is now offering a voice-mail service. The service is being offered as an
alternative to answering machines.
Home users can purchase up to eight separate voice mailboxes, one for
each member of the family. Callers to the home will be able to use their
touch tone phone to leave messages to different family members. Each mailbox
can hold up to 30 minutes of messages, but Bell Atlantic promises that
certain aspects of the service will improve as technology allows.
The base price for the service, called Answer-Call, is $5 a month plus an
initial $21.00 connection charge. The connection charge will be waived to
new customers until August 27th, 1990. That comes out to about $80.00 a
year, about the average cost for an answering machine.
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
THE CODEHEAD BUG HUNT
Press Release
CodeHead Software's "LookIt! & PopIt!" comes with a "NO-STING" guarantee. We
think this software is pretty bug-free (but we've been wrong before). Don't
take our word for it. We dare you to find a bug. If you do, we'll give you
50% off on the purchase of any CodeHead Software product.
Here's what to do:
1. Buy a copy of "LookIt! & PopIt!" from any dealer, mail-order house,
or directly from CodeHead Software.
2. Find a bug! If you can find anything in the Lookit Program or the
PopIt accessory that doesn't work like we say it does (make sure you
read the manual AND the README file on the disk), you've found a
"bug".
3. Decide which product you'd like to purchase for 50% off and report
the bug to CodeHead Software using the form below. If you print
this file, the report form will line up as page 2. The following
products are available:
Product Name List Price Hunter's price!
------------ ---------- ---------------
G+Plus $34.95 $17.48
MultiDesk 29.95 14.98
HotWire 39.95 19.98
HotWire Plus 59.95 29.98
MaxiFile 34.95 17.48
CodeHead Utilities 34.95 17.48
MIDIMAX 49.95 24.98
Lookit! & PopIt! 39.95 19.98
4. Send your Bug Report Form, a check or credit card number, and proof
of LookIt! & PopIt! purchase (registration card, receipt, or master
disk) to:
CodeHead Software
P.O. Box 74090
Los Angeles, CA 90004
5. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at (213) 386-5735.
Our hours are 9am-1pm (Pacific time) Monday through Friday. This
offer expires on December 31, 1990.
----==== JOIN THE CODEHEAD BUG HUNT NOW! ====----
CODEHEAD SOFTWARE BUG REPORT FORM
---------------------------------
Name: _____________________________________________________
Street: _____________________________________________________
City: ____________________ State: _____ Zipcode: __________
Phone: ______________________________
Product you are purchasing at 50% off: ______________________
Bug Hunter's Price: _________
Shipping (US-$2, Canada-$3, Overseas-$5): _________
Total: _________
Credit Card: _____________________________ Expires: _________
BUG DETAILS:
Type of computer (520ST, 1040ST, MegaST): ___________________
System memory (512K, 1 MEG, 2 MEG, 2.5MEG, 4 MEG): __________
Operating system version, if known (1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6): ____
Which program contains the bug (LookIt, PopIt)? _____________
Is the bug repeatable? _______
List the AUTO programs present when the bug occurred:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
List the desk accessories installed when the bug occurred:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Describe the bug: ___________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
------------------------------------<<<<<------------------------------------
........
BetaZine is available on the GEnie electronic information pay-service in the
Atari 8bit and ST file areas. GEnie is the official on-line resource of
Atari Corporation. To become a member of GEnie dial 1-800-638-9636 (voice)
for complete details.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
OUR F'REQ SYSTEM IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING OVERHAULED DUE TO INCREASED
DEMAND AND CHANGES IN SYSTEM SOFTWARE RELIABILITY.
PLEASE BEAR WITH US DURING THIS PERIOD.
FILE REQUESTS WILL BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BetaZine is sent out over FoReM-Net/CrossNet on the date of publication.
If you would like your local FoReM-Net/CrossNet BBS to be included in that
mailing, send your request in E-Mail to BETAZINE EDITOR at Node 471.
Please include the BBS's name, full phone number (including area code),
and FoReM-Net Node number. Requests usually take one week to process.
Requests for back issues will usually be honored within two weeks.
In addition, BetaZine is available on many BBS systems across the U.S.A.
for on-line reading or downloading. CompuServe (CIS) and UseNet
availability is planned for the near future.
...
BetaZine is always looking for contributions concerning the
Atari community. See the contact information at the
beginning of this issue!!
...
Thanks to those who have been helpful:
Stan Lowell of The Blank Page BBS at (201)-805-3967 [3/12/24oo].
Fabian Gordon of E.B.B.B.S. at (201)-247-8252 [3/12/24oo/V.32/HST].
Eric Millard of Tranquil River BBS at (201)-526-6395 [3/12/24oo].
Dean Lodzinski of Hologram, Inc. at (201)-727-1914 [3/12/24oo/HST].
Numbers in brackets are bps (baud) rates. HST refers to U.S. Robotics
Courier HST 9600+ standard. V.32 refers to Hayes / V.32 9600+ standard.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BETAZINE IS NOT AFFILIATED IN ANY WAY WITH ATARI CORP. ATARI IS A REGISTERED
TRADEMARK OF ATARI CORP. ALL ATARI PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS MAGAZINE ARE
TRADEMARKED. ANY AND ALL TRADEMARKS USED ARE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. "BetaZine,"
"BetaZine - The On-Line Magazine," "BetaZine Informer," and the contents of
this issue are (C)opyright 1990 by PsychoTronic Publishing. All rights
reserved. BetaZine may be distributed freely, as long as it is not altered
or edited in any way. No fee may be charged for BetaZine excluding on-line
service access fees, user group fees, media charges, or similar transactions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portions of articles or entire articles appearing in BetaZine may be quoted
or reprinted as long as BetaZine, the author, and all previous publication
sources, if any, are credited, unless that article contains specific
instructions to the contrary. In such cases, please follow those
instructions or contact BetaZine before using that material. Our
contributors retain certain rights to their work, and some may have
restrictions regarding certain uses of that work. Articles are not to be
edited without written permission from PsychoTronic Publishing or the author.
THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT
THOSE OF PSYCHOTRONIC PUBLISHING, THE EDITORS, OR OTHER CONTRIBUTORS.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BetaZine... Objectivity is the Key.
-----------------------------------
(C)opyright 1990 by PsychoTronic Publishing
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
BetaZine, #117 Atari 8bit/Atari ST/Atari STe
Published by PsychoTronic Publishing
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
All Rights Reserved.
THE END!
-----------------------------------------
Return to message index
