Z*Net: 17-Jan-92 #9203

From: Bruce D. Nelson (aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 01/20/92-10:20:18 AM Z


From: aj434@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bruce D. Nelson)
Subject: Z*Net: 17-Jan-92 #9203
Date: Mon Jan 20 10:20:18 1992



 | (((((((( |         Z*Net International Atari Online Magazine
 |      ((  |         -----------------------------------------
 |    ((    |         January 17, 1992             Issue #92-03
 |  ((      |         -----------------------------------------
 | (((((((( |         Copyright (c)1992, Rovac Industries, Inc.
 |          |         Post Office Box 59,  Middlesex,  NJ 08846
 |    ((    |
 |  ((((((  |                        CONTENTS
 |    ((    |
 |          |  * The Editors Desk...........Ron Kovacs, Terry Schreiber
 | (((   (( |  * Z*Net Newswire........................................
 | ((((  (( |  * Pacific Rim Computer Show..............Terry Schreiber
 | (( (( (( |  * Gribnif Sofware Update...................Press Release
 | ((  (((( |  * Atari Corp Official Announcement.........Press Release
 | ((   ((( |  * Perusing GEnie...............................Ed Krimen
 |          |  * 520STFM 1 Meg Upgrade....................Stephen Brown
 | (((((((  |  * New World Order.........................Mike Stepansky
 | ((       |  * Z*Net Archives............December 1987 - January 1988
 | (((((    |
 | ((       |
 | (((((((  |  ~ Publisher/Editor............................Ron Kovacs
 |          |  ~ Editor.......................................John Nagy
 | (((((((( |  ~ Z*Net Newswire Ltd..........................Jon Clarke
 |    ((    |  ~ Contributing Editor.....................Bruce Hansford
 |    ((    |  ~ PD Software Reviews.....................Ron Berinstein
 |    ((    |  ~ Reporter....................................Mike Brown
 |    ((    |  ~ Assistant News Editor.......................Mike Davis
 |          |  ~ Z*Net Canadian Correspondent...........Terry Schreiber
 |          |
 |----------|  $ GEnie Address....................................Z-NET
 |  ONLINE  |  $ CompuServe Address..........................75300,1642
 |  AREAS   |  $ Delphi Address....................................ZNET
 |          |  $ Internet/Usenet Address..................status.gen.nz
 |----------|  $ America Online Address........................ZNET1991
 |          |
 |  Z*NET   |  * Z*Net:USA New Jersey...(FNET 593).......(908) 968-8148
 |  SUPPORT |  * Z*Net:Golden Gate......(FNET 706).......(510) 373-6792
 |  SYSTEMS |  * Z*Net:South Pacific....(FNET 693).NZ....(644) 4762-852
 |          |  * Z*Net:Pacific .(INTERNET/@status.gen.nz)(649) 3585-543
 |          |  * Z*Net:South Jersey.....(FNET 168).CCBBS.(609) 451-7475
 |          |  * Z*Net:Illinois (Garage)(FNET 621).......(618) 344-8466
 |          |  * Z*Net:Colorado (Mile High)(FNET 5)......(303) 431-1404
 |          |  * Z*Net:Florida (Twilight Zone)(FNET 304).(407) 831-1613
 |          |                     Fido Address 1:363/112
 =======================================================================
 * THE EDITORS DESK                       by Ron Kovacs, Terry Schreiber
 =======================================================================


 Z*Net is continuing to attempt bringing weekly issues to locations near
 you in an attempt to keep communication costs down.  We have added
 another FNET node to our growing family of distribution points and
 encourage you to call.  Mile High BBS, one of the long running Atari
 boards in the country.  303-431-1404.

 The new committee of WAACE has announced dates of the 1992 WAACE
 Atarifest for October 11-12, 1992.

 Z*Net's John Nagy will be reporting live from the NAMM show Saturday
 via CompuServe's AtariArts Forum.  The online conference will take place
 at 7pm eastern, 4pm pacific.  Please make plans to attend.

                                               - Ron


 I recently came across some messages that caught my attention and
 normally would just chalk up to the norm.  Hypothetical questions
 follow.  If you were a GM for XYZ Meats and supplied MacDonalds with
 their meat patties does that mean you can't eat at Burger King?  If you
 are a car salesman and sell Toyota does that mean you can't drive a
 Suzuki?  If you sell MacIntosh computers can you not own a IBM
 compatible?  This issue came to light recently when a certain magazine
 published a column questioning the integrity and motives of Bob Brodie.
 Bob, recently open a BBS system called Z-Net Golden Gate.  Although Bob
 is a key figure at Atari he is also a grown man very capable indeed of
 making decisions and judgement calls - that is the reason he was hired
 by Atari in the first place.  His decision to affiliate with Z-Net is
 his own choice and his own business.  Z-Net is naturally proud to have
 Bob onboard distributing the magazine each week and playing an active
 roll in the F-Net.  Give 'er hell Bob!

                                        - Terry Schreiber



 =======================================================================
 * Z*NET NEWSWIRE
 =======================================================================


 ST-INFORMER CONTINUES WITH NEW EDITOR
 Last week, Z*Net presented exclusive reporting on the breakup of ST-
 INFORMER Magazine's editorial staff in an ownership dispute.  Since
 then, Rod McDonald, publisher of ST-Informer, has secured a new editor
 and writing staff.  Brian Gockley is the new editor-in-chief.  Brian was
 already a regular writer for ST-Informer before the departure of the
 editorial staff last week, as well as being the coordinator for last
 year's Connecticut Atarifest.  The January ST-Informer issue was delayed
 by the reorganization, but now has been printed and is in the mail to
 subscribers and dealers.  Writers for the magazine say that the revised
 February ST-Informer deadline is less than two weeks away, inferring
 that ST-Informer will be back on a normal release schedule shortly.  The
 new ST-Informer will have a newsprint book-look, similar to that
 established by AtariUser magazine.  A number of the pre-existing columns
 will be presented, but not all with the original authors.  A few high-
 profile writers have postponed their participation in the revised ST-
 Informer, unwilling to declare their alignments until the dust settles.
 No further word has come from former editor Mike Lindsay and company,
 who have promised to create a new Atari magazine since leaving McDonald
 and associates.


 FEBRUARY ATARIUSER FEATURES ATARI DEALER LIST
 The February issue of AtariUser Magazine is preparing for shipment this
 weekend and should be at dealer and user groups in the last week of
 January.  Editor John Nagy says that this issue was revised at the last
 moment to include an extensive 6-page spread of addresses of active
 Atari computer dealers from across the USA.  "There's been lots of talk
 about how there are no dealers left, and we know differently.  It's time
 that others did too," said Nagy.  The list will be circulated and shared
 with anyone who cares enough help refine and update the list, which was
 developed and verified by AtariUser staff during 1991.  The list is more
 complete and accurate than that used by Atari Corp itself until now.  It
 will be uploaded to the telecom services after the February publication
 date.  The February issue of AtariUser also has a comprehensive overview
 of DTP option on the Atari platform, and a user comparison of PageStream
 and Calamus.


 ATARI INVEILS NEW MUSIC DIVISION
 Formalizing a unit in operation since January 1991, Atari Corp has
 announce the inception of a new business division named Atari Music.
 James Grunke will lead this new division and commented, "Atari has
 always done a good job making computers with a lot of power and benefits
 for the money.  Until this year, however, our developers and retailers
 were understandably unclear on Atari's position in the US music
 industry."  When asked why he waited to announce a division that had
 been in defacto operation for almost a year, Grunke stated, "In order
 for Atari to be taken seriously in the US market we have to demonstrate
 over time a consistent ability to deliver.  After doing that for a year
 - even in small ways - I beleive our actions will now be perceived for
 what they are: evidence of a serious commitment to becomming a better
 partner with our developers and retailers."


 STBOOK FIRST TO ADDRESS MUSIC MARKET
 The Atari STBook is also an interface with direct-to-disc recording
 systems such as Hybrid Arts' Digital Master, with an average hard disk
 access time of 19ms and 40, 80, or 120 MB of storage, composers can
 create, save, edit, and play long and complex compositions with power
 and speed.  The STBook has onboard MIDI ports, rs232; parallel; and a
 floppy disk/DMA port.


 COMPUTER CHRONICLES AT NAMM
 The PBS program with over 700,000 viewers will be filming at noon at the
 NAMM show on Saturday.  The will be focusing on Atari in the MIDI field
 and Atari Music.  Also planned is another Press Conference and full
 details on the event next week in Z*Net!


 ATARI SIGNS UP GENERAL ELECTRIC SERVICE NETWORK
 Atari officially announced at NAMM that it's products will be serviced
 by the 250 strong General Electric Service Center network though the
 United States and Canada.  Ted Maciejewski, Atari's National Service
 Manager stated that product-specific service programs are currently
 being developed by Atari and GE, and are expected to be fully
 implemented by March 1992.  Programs will also be implemented to address
 the service needs of MIDI musicians and dealers.  Mail-in service will
 also be available with normal ten-day and optional one-day turnarounds.


 ATARI COMPUTERS: FIRST WITH FOSTEX CONTROL
 From adding onboard MIDI ports in 1985 to offering computer control of
 three Fostex multitrack recorders in 1992.  Available in 8, 16, and 24
 track configurations, these Fostex reel-to-reel analog multitracks
 allows users of Atari sequencing programs such as Dr. T's Omega,
 Steinberg/Jones' Cubase, and C-LAB's Creator and Notator, to operate all
 the machines controls from within the MIDI sequencing environment.  A
 system consisting of an Atari 1040ST, Fostex R8 8-Track, MIDI/SMPTE
 converter, and sequencing software starts at $4500.


 NEW PRODUCTS FROM Dr.T's
 A new Audio/Video production kit for the Atari ST has been announced.
 This package includes the Omega music sequencing and editing
 environment, Hitman cue sheet production tools, and Phantom SMPTE
 syncronizer.  Omega features direct support for the Fostex R8 MIDI
 automated tape recorder.  This package, with an R8, allows users to take
 complete integrated MIDI control of their studio through their computer.
 Pricing for the Audio/Video production kit is to be announced.
 Available in mid February.  Dr. T's has has also made new software
 distribution agreements with Soft-Kat, Britannica and Ingram Micro for
 it's line of MPC and music related titles for PC, Mac, and Amiga.  Other
 music and multimedia related products now available through these
 distributors include Intro+ (MIDI starter kits for Mac and PC),
 Adventures in Musicland, Music Mouse (seminal music composing tool for
 Mac, Amiga, and the Atari ST), and assorted Amiga music software titles.


 Z*NET CANADA BBS UPGRADED
 If you have been wondering what happened to the Z-Net Canada BBS over
 the last two months it has been down for an upgrade.  The new system is
 run on a 386-40 DX with a 1.2 gig harddrive and Archiver tape backup.
 The system is being configured to run on FoRem PC a user interface
 familiar to anyone on the F-Net.  The board will support F-Net, Fido and
 hopefully a Usenet feed through Binkleyterm.  Although primarily a PC
 board, all back issues of Z-Net, Z-Net PC and Z-Mag will be available
 for download.  The system will also carry about two hundred megs of
 Atari public domain and shareware.  Look for it to be back online about
 February 1st.


 ATARI PLANS DEALER CONFERENCE
 Atari Canada plans a dealer conference to run concurently with the TAF
 show.  Atari will be offering dealers the option of attending and
 picking up the tab through dealer co-op.  This is the second time Atari
 has held a Canada wide conference.



 =======================================================================
 * PACIFIC RIM COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATION SHOW        by Terry Schreiber
 =======================================================================


 A & L Electronic                        ABSO Blue Prints Limited
 Academy of Learning
 Active Brownlee Business Machines Ltd.  Allied Custom Cable Ltd.
 Anixter Canada                          ANO Office Automation
 Antares Electronics                     Applied Electronics Limited
 Atlas Travel                            Avnet Computer
 Azcom Information Systems Inc.          B.C. Tel Education Development
 Barry Smith Systemswriter Services Ltd. BC Cellular
 BC Unix Users Group                     Bird's Eye Project Management
 BTI -Multi Express                      Borland International, Inc.
 Bytewide Marketing Inc.                 C-TRON Systems Corp.
 Cabco West Ltd.                         Cable & Wireless Telecom
 Canadian Information Processing Society Canadian Standards Association
 Cannect Computer Consulting             Canon Canada Inc.
 Cantel Inc.                             Cara Information Systems Ltd.
 Cardz Computer Inc.                     Chartered Accountants of B.C.
 Clean Up Systems                        Cognos Inc.
 Coles Book Stores Ltd.                  Color Image Canada Inc.
 Command Records Services Ltd.           Compu-Power Controls Inc.
 Compucable Communications Can. Ltd.     Compulys Data Inc.
 Computer Learn                          Compuvision Technologies Inc
 Conti Computer Systems                  Corel Systems
 D.H Unwin & Associates Ltd.             Daemon Database Research
 Darius Technology Ltd.                  Darrell May Consulting
 Dasco Data Products Ltd.                Datapro Canada
 Davis Technical Resources Ltd.          Dell Canada Corp.
 Desktop Solutions                       Devcom Network Solutions
 Digital Communications Associates       Digital Equipment of Canada Ltd.
 DRM Automated Systems Consultants Inc.  Epson Canada
 E.T. Communications Inc.                Easy DOS it Computing
 Egghead Discount Software               EISA Technology Inc.
 EMJ Data Systems Ltd.                   Faradyne System Group Inc.
 First Image Computer Graphics System    Focustronics & Co.
 Fujitsu Canada Inc.                     Future Tech Systems
 G.W. Computer Systems (Canada) Inc.     Garegon Systems
 Glenayre Communications                 Golden West Group
 Great Plains Software                   Hampton Power Products (1984)
 Hepting & Associates Ltd.               HRS Software Inc.
 Hunt Personnel/Temporarily Yours/Hunt   IBM Canada Ltd.
 Image Software                          Independ  Computer Cts Assoc.
 Infopoint Information Technologies      Information Access
 InfoWare Sales & Marketing Inc.         Intel Corp
 Interchange                             Interworld Electronics Computer
 Investors Group                         IWILL Corporation
 JL Plastics                             Kelly Temporary Services
 Kenchenten Associates Limited           Kentech Computer (HK) Ltd.
 Kay Computer Ltd.                       Kicks Computer System Inc.
 Kodak Canada Inc.                       LapTECH
 Librex Computer Systems Inc.            Logical Methods Software Ltd.
 Lotus Development Canada Limited        MacWest Computer Society
 Marcomp-Marine Computers Consultant     Master Page
 Matrix Professional Video Systems Inc.  Mega Toner Cartridges
 Microsoft Canada                        Mindtech Computer Solutions
 Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc.   Moco Canada
 Monarch                                 Motorola
 Multitech Electronics                   Murray Multimedia
 National Business Reference&Dev. Corp.  National Computer Products
 NeXT Computer, Inc.                     Nexus Pacific Management
 Northwest Digital Ltd.                  Optical Storage Systems
 Ortronics Inc.                          Pacific Ram Distribution Corp
 Pacific Ribbon & Carbon Co.             Panasonic (Matsushita Electric)
 Peripherals: A high Technology Co.      Photo Ident Card Systems
 Plantronics                             Platinum Software
 Plesman Publications Ltd.               PMP Software Services Ltd.
 Polaroid Canada                         Positive Presentations
 Practical Peripherals                   Primax Computer Corporation
 Printech/Five Star                      Promark Software Inc.
 Q By Javell                             QMS Canada Inc.
 Qualitas Inc.                           Quarterdeck Canada
 Quayle Computer Associates              Quest Inc.
 Ralph's Radio Ltd.                      Raven/Datatrain
 Reach Industries                        Real Trading Co. Ltd.
 RJ Norman & Associates                  Sayson Technologies
 SCO Canada Inc.                         Sharp - Minitronics
 Shield Importing Ltd.                   SIDUS Systems Inc.
 Smart Technologies Inc.                 Software Exchange Service
 Software Publishing Corporation         Standard Computronics Ltd.
 Strachan Computers Ltd.                 Sunflex of Canada
 Supply and Services Canada              Symnatec Canada
 Targus Canada Ltd.                      Technical Logistics Support Ltd.
 Technoprint Software Inc.               TeleSystems
 Texcan Cables Ltd.                      The Computer Paper
 The Financial Post                      The Maximizer Specialist
 The Westrheim Group (TWG)               Thomas & Betts Corp.
 Toshiba of Canada                       Totally "Hairy"
 Trade Works                             Trilan Technologies Ltd.
 Trillum                                 Truger Technologies Inc.
 U.S. Robotics, Inc.                     Unibind of Western Canada Inc.
 Uniform Network Computer Clinic         Unitel Communications Inc.
 Vancouver Cellular                      Vancouver Community College
 Vancouver Netware Users Group           Vancouver NeXT Users Society
 Vancouver PC Users Society              Vancouver School Board
 Views West Marketing                    Viewsonic/Express Micro
 Vision Presentations Inc.               Vista Laser
 VTECH Laser Computers Ltd.              Wardrobe Playspaces Inc.
 Westech Information Inc.                Westwill Enterprises
 WordPerfect Corporation                 Zentronics

 This was the Pacific Rim Computer and Communications Show a miniturized
 Comdex held yearly in Vancouver British Columbia.  Noticably missing
 from this list was Apple Computers, Commodore Computers and Atari
 Computers although Atari was present at last years show.

 In order not to bore all those people not interested in products for
 other machines I have written two reports.  This report contains info
 that could be helpful or generic to the Atari user.  The full report
 will be published in this weeks Z-Net PC, Issue #23.

 The first area checked out is natually our own booth.  Doug Smith of
 Roland Music introduced me to some new MIDI gear last week to be shown
 at NAMM this week.  The Roland SCC-1 and Musicator software.  The SCC-1
 is a new sound card that has a built-in MIDI interface and produces 337
 different sounds and instruments.  It contains the whole library of MT-
 32 sounds plus hundreds more.  A stand alone version will be available
 shortly for the Atari Computer.  Musicator is one of the best packages I
 have seen on the Blue boxes to date.  I don't profess to be a musician
 but this package has sequencing and notation as well as a sound mixer
 graphical interface for mixdowns and is simplicity in itself to use.

 With the crowds we drew you would think that this was the first time
 MIDI had been connected to a DOS box.  We were showing it on a Sharp
 PC-6300 (386 notebook that weighs less than 4lbs) using a docking
 station for handling the card.

 Practical Peripherals was showing its new 9600 baud modems.  When asked
 if they were aware of the new Supra modems announced in a press release
 last week - they were not.  I supplied them with a copy of the press
 release the next day - their response - but is it shipping?  That was a
 question I couldn't answer but by the look on their face, the Supra is a
 far better value for the money.

 Panasonic demonstrated their new color printers.  These units were big
 and printed a full three feet wide.  The demonstration they used printed
 a picture in two parts each being three feet wide by six to eight feet
 long - a landscape that anyone would be proud to hang on their wall.
 IBM was demonstrating a 600 DPI color laser printer that printed so
 sharp and clear that you actually think it is a decal on the paper.
 Canon showed their newest entry - a color bubble jet printer.

 Optical Storage Systems demonstrated the Panasonic WORM laser and CD ROM
 drives.  Atarians will be glad to know that both take a standard SCSI
 interface and should easily connect to the ST/TT computers, although a
 software driver might be needed.

 Attendance for the three days was very brisk a rough guess would be 15-
 20,000 with both attendees and exhibitors pleased with the event
 although some people were disapointed in not seeing their favorite
 computer system in attendance.



 =======================================================================
 * GRIBNIF SOFTWARE UPDATE                                 Press Release
 =======================================================================


 January 15, 1992

 Crazy Dots Video Display Adapter


 Gribnif Software has announced the imminent North American release of
 their new "Crazy Dots" video display adapter for the Atari Mega ST, Mega
 STE, and TT/030 personal computers.

 The Crazy Dots video display adapter allows the Atari computer to drive
 a variety of VGA, Multi-Sync, and other high end color and gray scale
 displays.  The adapter supports resolutions up to 1,664 x 1,200 pixels,
 and can display up to 256 different colors or gray levels at once.

 Developed by TKR in Germany, the adapter is the fastest of its kind,
 offering the ability to switch the display's physical resolution from
 within any GEM program.  Its numerous features include:

 o Display up to 256 colors or grey levels from a palette of 16.7 million
   in any resolution from 320 x 200 up to 1,280 x 800 pixels.

 o Extended resolution support up to 1,664 x 1,200 pixels in monochrome,
   four, eight, and sixteen color modes.

 o Software uses an exclusive "line-a-emulator", for maximum software
   compatibility (depending on the selected display mode).

 o Mouse controlled hardware panning, which allows for the display of any
   virtual resolution, regardless of the monitor's maximum physical
   resolution.

 o Connects to any Multi-Sync displays via a regular 15-pin VGA
   connector.

 o Uses Tseng Labs's powerful ET-4000 graphics controller.

 o Includes one full megabyte of display memory, with full Blitter
   access.

 o Complete math co-processor support.

 o Megabus model includes a bus "pass through" and socket for an optional
   math co-processor.

 o Includes a special "Video Application Slot" for future expansions
   options, including: ECL adaptor, Genlock, and True Color display.

 Crazy Dots is available in two models.  The "Crazy Dots Megabus" model,
 designed to fit into Atari's original Mega ST2 and Mega ST4 computers,
 is available for $949.  The "Crazy Dots VME" model, designed to fit into
 Atari's Mega STE and TT/030 computers, is available for $999.

 To place an order, or for more information, please contact Gribnif
 Software directly:

 Gribnif Software
 P.O. Box 350, Hadley, MA 01035
 Tel: (413) 584-7887, Fax: (413) 584-2565



 =======================================================================
 * ATARI CORPORATION OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
 =======================================================================


 January 15, 1992

 I am pleased to announce that Atari is making all of the released TOS
 development information available to the general public.  We are making
 the kit available to fulfil the needs of programmers that already have
 purchased a third-party development package, Atari owners that are
 curious about the 'nuts and bolts' of The Operating System, and anyone
 else that wants to have a detailed understanding of TOS software
 development.  If you wish, you may purchase the entire kit for $150.00
 (U.S.) and also get one year of technical support from Atari via the
 private Atari Developer Roundtable on GEnie, 6 issues of the bi-monthly
 Developer Newsletter, ATARI.RSC, and one year of on-going developer kit
 upgrades.  If you wish to renew after one year, there is a fee of only
 $40.00.

 If you wish information on only certain aspects of Atari TOS computers,
 we also sell sections of the kit separately.  The items that are
 available range from every issue of the developer newsletter since 1985,
 to the release notes for the exciting new STBOOK.  Every detail a
 software or hardware developer could want is outlined, including MegaSTE
 /TT VME Bus specifications, STE DMA sound, FSM GDOS programming
 information, and more.  Please see the order form for details.

 You must purchase the $150.00 full kit to be eligible for on-going
 support.  I'm sorry, but at this time, you may not purchase a part of
 the kit, and later "upgrade" to the support level.

 Developers that are currently not registered with Atari, and have a
 commercial product on the market, or have a product in development, or
 have any other special needs requiring direct unlimited telephone
 support should sign up under the Atari Commercial Developer Program.
 There is an additional fee for this program, but there is no renewal fee
 required as long as you continue product development and support.
 (Educators, universities, and businesses may fall into this category.)
 Please contact Gail Bacani on 408-745-2022 for more information on the
 Commercial Developer Program.

 The complete order form follows, outlining all of the documentation that
 is available.  Please note that several items include disks containing
 software relating to the documentation.  We want to assure that you get
 the most out of your Atari Computer experience!

 Sincerely,
 Bill Rehbock,
 Director of Technical Services, Atari Corp.


 Atari TOS Developer's Kit   --     Order Form --   January 4, 1992


 ________  $150.00  Complete Developer's Kit, including all documents and
                    and disks.  Includes 1 year of support via Atari-RSC
                    Developer Roundtable on GEnie, on-going developer kit
                    updates for 1 year, and 6 issues of ATARI.RSC, the
                    bi-monthly developer newsletter.

 ________  $40.00   One year renewal fee -- 1 year of support via
                    Atari-RSC Developer Roundtable on GEnie, on-going
                    developer kit updates for 1 year, and 6 issues of
                    ATARI.RSC, the bi-monthly developer newsletter.

 Document and Disk Packages

 ________  $10.00   Atari.RSC Newsletters (Dec. '89, Jan. '90, Feb. '90,
                    Mar. '90, Apr. '90, May '90, June '90, July '90, Aug.
                    '90, Sept. '90, Oct. '90, Nov. -- Jan. '90-'91, Apr.
                    -- May '91, June -- July '91) The Atari Forum (Mar.
                    '88, May '88, July -- Aug. '88, Sep. -- Dec. '88 Fuji
                    Stripe Newsletter, pages 3 -- 7 (undated) Q & A
                    Bulletins (Feb. '86, Mar. '86, Apr. '86, May '86,
                    June '86, Feb. '87)

 ________  $20.00   Atari GEMDOS Reference Manual Table of Contents (Apr.
                    4, 1986) Introduction (5/22/86) Calling, filenames,
                    fileops, processes, vectors, errors (4/4/86) GEMDOS
                    functions by number (undated) Funcs (4/10/86) except
                    pages (9), (21), and (25) (1-23-89) and page (13)
                    (3/7/90) Prg (4/4/86) Pexec Cookbook (6 Sept. 1991)
                    Hitchhiker's Guide to the BIOS (Nov. 26, 1985) New
                    pages:  5, 7, 12, 16, 38, 56, 75 (1-23-89) New pages:
                    15, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 37a (3-5-90) AHDI
                    3.00 Release Notes (April 18, 1990) Atari CHKDISK3
                    Documentation (April 22, 1990)

                    TOS Developer's Kit Disk #4:  HDX / System Utilities
                    / STE Programming Examples / CHKDISK3

 ________  $40.00   GEM Programming Guide
                    Volume 1 -- VDI (Third Edition:  January 1989)
                    Volume 2 -- AES (Third Edition:  January 1989)
                    GDOS/FSM GDOS Developer Guide (10/91)
                    GEM Resource Construction Set (undated)
                    TOS Developer's Kit Disk #2:  MicroEMACS / Source
                    Code Examples / RCS

 ________  $40.00   Gem DOS Programmer's Tools (undated, copyright 1989)
                    Command Shell
                    AS68
                    MADMAC Reference Manual (ver. 1.00) & update (ver.
                    1.07)
                    ALN Docs. (8/12/88) and update sheet (90/01/24)
                    AR68 (Archive Utility) (undated)
                    DUMP
                    SIZE68
                    DB Docs. (Release 2, 90/01/24)
                    Motorola S-Record Format
                    TOS Developer's Kit Disk #1:  Alcyon C Compiler / ALN
                    Linker
                    TOS Developer's Kit Disk #3:  MADMAC / DB Debugger
                    / Programming Utilities / CHKDISK3

 ________  $15.00   Engineering Hardware Specifications (7 January 1986)
                    Intelligent Keyboard Protocol (26 February 1985)
                    Chip specifications:
                     6850 ACIA, MC6850 (undated)
                     68901 MFP (undated)
                     AY-3-8910 PSG (undated)
                     Programmable Sound Generator Manaual (February 1979)
                    GIACCESS (page 1, March 7, 1990; page 2, 1-23-90)
                    WD 1770/1772 Floppy Disk Controller (undated)
                    Atari Monitor Summary Specifications (May 14, 1986)
                    128K ROM cartridge schematics (1-2-85)
                    Blitter Chip (17 June 1987)

 ________  $25.00   STE Hardware Developer Addendum
                    STE features list
                     Genlock and the STE
                     Video Modifications
                     How to Implement Fine Scrolling on the STE
                     STE Digitized Sound Developer Information
                     TT030 Hardware Reference Manual
                     VME Bus Specifications for TT030 and Mega STE
                       Products
                    Rainbow TOS Release Notes
                    STE TOS Release Notes
                    TT030 TOS Release Notes
                    STBook Expansion Bus Electrical Specification
                    TOS Developer's Kit Disk #4:  HDX / System Utilities
                    / STE Programming Examples / CHKDISK3
                    TOS Developer's Kit Disk #5:  Demonstrator/eXtensible
                       Control Panel

 $____________      Subtotal

 $____________      Tax (CA 8.25%, IL 6.75%, TX 8.25%)

 $____________      Total   Check #:______________ Date:_____________

 Company Name:___________________________ Contact:____________________

 Ship to:____________________________________
         ____________________________________
         ____________________________________

 ******* Make sure you return both pages of the order form. ********

 Please allow 2 - 4 weeks for processing.
 Make checks payable in U.S. funds to Atari Corporation.
 Direct all orders to:   Atari Corp.
                         1196 Borregas Avenue
                         Sunnyvale, Calif., U.S.A. 94086
                         Attn:  Gail Bacani



 =======================================================================
 * PERUSING GENIE                                  Compiled by Ed Krimen
 =======================================================================


 In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14)
 from the "Atari's new TOS 2.06" topic (8)

 Message 227       Sat Jan 11, 1992
 B.REHBOCK [Bill@Atari]       (Forwarded)

 If you are interested, please place your orders for TOS 2.06 now.
 Dealers that are on-line on GEnie were notified as of Thursday night
 that they will be available.  They should be on their way to dealers
 toward the end of next week.  The retail price on the Two-Chip set is
 $60.00  These are 32-pin EPROM packages.  There are some STE's with
 28-pin masked ROMs that are either soldered in or in 28-pin sockets that
 will have to be removed and have 32-pin sockets installed.  I am giving
 advanced notice to dealers and end-users, so that no one is suprised
 when they open up their STE to "pop the chips in".  A very good
 percentage of the STE's in the field have the 32-pin EPROMs, and it will
 be just a swap.  When going from the 28-pin package to the 32-pin
 package there are solder pads that need to be altered.  Instructions
 will ship with the ROMs.

 By the way... the 1.44 megabyte drive kits are on their way too.  (Sorry
 that this part is a little off topic :-)  The price on the upgrade kits
 are: $139.00 for the MegaSTE --- $149.00 for the TT The kits include:
 1.44 meg floppy drive, AJAX High-Density Controller, and the
 corresponding TOS, either 2.06 (MSTE) or 3.06(TT)

 -Bill Rehbock, Atari Corp.

 Permission is granted to reprint this posting only if it appears in its
 entirety.
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 In the "The Software Library and Other Utilities" category (2)
 from the "Superboot" topic (28)

 Message 91        Sat Jan 11, 1992
 G.W.MOORE [Gordon Moore]     at 19:44 EST

 Hi Super Boot Users!

 Version 7.2 of Super Boot has been completed and has already been
 uploaded.  The major goal of this release was to make Super Boot
 compatible with all models of ST's and STE's and all versions of TOS and
 in all built-in resolutions.  Some of the new features:

 o Fixed bug where 4 hidden programs (SUPERBT,SUPERBTA,STARTGEM,HEADSTRT)
   were being removed from the file list but Super Boot would not
   substitute in other programs in their place.  So if you had 25 AUTO
   programs but only 1 column selected to display them (1 column = 19
   files), Super Boot would only show 15 instead of 19 of the files on
   the file selection screen

 o Fixed bug where STE's had 00/00/28 date on files like DESKTOP.INF
   which are copied in Super Boot.

 o Increased Cold Boot time factor to allow for longer boot up in TOS
   2.05 and greater.  Cold Boot detection should now work correctly on
   all models.

 o Allow colors from expanded STE color palette.  Two buttons were added
   on the color selection screen (color monitors only) called "512
   Palette" and "4096 Palette".  Click on "4096 Palette" if you have an
   STE machine for expanded color.

 o Changed final update screen to show selected F-key and other
   miscellaneous data such as if Super Boot was bypassed, if it timed out
   waiting for a keypress, etc.

 o 8 character root filename of DESKTOP.INF is now user-specifiable to
   allow for NEWDESK.INF or anything else that comes down the pike.

 o Fixed #Z line for TOS 1.4 and greater to be line # 5 in the .INF file
   instead of the first line, to prevent 2 #Z files in the same .INF file
   (in case resaved).

 o Made F-keys for default configuration user selectable.

 o Pictures and Sound Files can now be shown sequentially.  The
   SEQUENTIAL method shows pictures in order (still one picture each
   boot) so that you will be sure to see them all.  If you were using
   RANDOM before you probably noticed that you might see one picture
   several times and others you might never have seen.

 o Monochrome color selection should now work correctly and the menu is
   more informative.

 o Other minor bug fixes....

 File is SPBT72.LZH and is about 120K.

 On other matters.... I think this is the first message I've ever posted
 on this matter, but I would just like to remind everybody that if you
 are using Super Boot and have not registered your copy, please take the
 time to register it.  Make yourself a note or whatever, I know its easy
 to forget or postpone it.  It's pretty clear from the consistent number
 of downloads from one version to the next that not everybody who is
 using it has registered.  You only have to register once, I wouldn't
 think of asking someone to register again for a newer version.  And to
 everyone who has registered, thank you very much for supporting Super
 Boot.

 Gordon Moore
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 In the "Telecommunications" category (8)
 from the "Flash II" topic (2)

 Message 61        Wed Jan 15, 1992
 J.TRAUTSCHOL [jtrautschold]  at 22:39 EST

 Jeff...

 No cast in concrete date yet!  But we're definitely getting closer.  The
 majority of the manual is finished and being imported into PageStream as
 I write.  I've finished the design of the packaging and am sending that
 off to a service bureau tomorrow for output.

 The program itself has been "locked" so to speak...we are adding no new
 features...only finishing up with bug fixes.  I just spent the last two
 weeks banging away as hard as I could at *all* of the script commands
 (old and new .DO stuff) to see if I could break any (I did!) and Paul
 Nicholls is now working on fixes.

 We're still shooting for a 1st Quarter 1992 release and I'm pretty sure
 we'll make it.  I'm making plans to attend the Toronto show the first
 weekend of April and I *definitely* plan on having product there for the
 show!

 John T.
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14)
 from the "Mega STE" topic (14)

 Message 194       Mon Jan 13, 1992
 R.JONES82                    at 03:33 EST

 Just a word to some of you St users that are thinking of jumping ship to
 another platform.  I just got off the phone with a buddy of mine that
 sold his St and bought an Amiga because of the plentiful software and
 better games.  He told me his is missing his St already.  He said while
 most games on the Amiga are only better in the sound department the
 utilities and wordprocessing on the Amiga were much harder to use. said
 the Hardrive seemed slower and the Floppy access was way slower on
 loading programs.  Said the Amiga desktop is clumbsy and hard to use.
 I've talked to other people who said the same thing about their IBMS So
 hang in there guys, the grass may be greener right where we are.
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14)
 from the "The GEM Clipboard?" topic (16)

 Message 8         Sat Jan 11, 1992
 B.REHBOCK [Bill@Atari]       at 03:46 EST

 Yes, applications do need to be written to take advantage of Operating
 System Services.  Ok, here is the deal, I will personally send a can of
 Jolt Cola to every U.S./Canadian developer that adds proper SCRP_READ/
 SCRP_WRITE support into their commercial applications in 1992.  The
 application must also otherwise adhere to the GEM/TOS standard.  (Proper
 menus, windows, respect for desk accessories, etc.)  I will consider
 shareware/freeware if it's really good.  To apply, send a copy of the
 application to:
 Atari Corporation
 1196 Borregas Ave.
 Sunnyvale, CA 94086
 Attn: Bill Rehbock/Jolt Cola Offer

 -Bill
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 In the "Hardware" category (4)
 from the "HDrive-1.44MB HDFD for the ST, from Opi" topic (17)

 Message 47        Wed Jan 15, 1992
 WUZTEK.OPI [Paul Wu]         at 06:54 EST

 Rob,

 HDrive is compatible with ALL TOS versions.  The only difference with a
 TOS 2.06 is that you'll be able to format a HD under the format disk
 option on the Desktop.  If you have an older TOS, you must format HD
 diskette with our program or other software such as Diamond Back II
 which supports High Density disks.

 On the note of disk drives, we may be selling a version of HD disk
 drives with the same face plate as the Atari disk drive "real soon now".
 This drive will only fit in newer STe and TTs.  The price will be a
 little higher than our Teac drive and will require our new HDrive+
 controller board which will contain a special chip.  More on that later.

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

 In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14)
 from the "Notebook and Pad?" topic (7)

 Message 210       Wed Jan 15, 1992
 B.REHBOCK [Bill@Atari]       at 03:58 EST

 The external floppy that will be available for the STBOOK is powered by
 4 AA batteries, has a single cable that connects to the STBOOK, and
 automatically draws power from the AC adapter that is connected to the
 'BOOK if it's there.  The price of the external floppy will be very
 competitive.

 Exercise: Run Windows on a $2000 20MHz 386SX Laptop.  Show a friend the
 STBOOK side-by-side against it.  Ask them which one feels faster.  (This
 obviously works best if the friend has never seen an ST before.)

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

 In the "Atari Corporation Online" category (14)
 from the "Mega STE Hard Drive" topic (20)

 Message 11        Sat Jan 11, 1992
 B.REHBOCK [Bill@Atari]       at 03:59 EST

 I will be releasing the new hard disk formatting and boot utilities
 hopefully next week to the public.  Thanks to Atari's "not releasing it
 to mere mortals" right away, it went through two last revisions to work
 out the kinks before a general release.  It has not been made to support
 the Supra/ICD partitioning scheme.  There are good reasons for this, but
 I am sorry that I am unable to go in to detail at this time.  You will
 all really, really like the new driver!

 Whoever is having the MSTE hard drive problem, please check or have your
 dealer check to see if the drive has the termination resistor packs
 installed.  If the packs are installed, remove them and see whether or
 not the problems persist.  You should also have him check the drive
 cable, as well as the host adapter connection to the motherboard.

 -Bill@Atari
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 And finally,

 In the "Lynx - The Game Machine" category (36)
 from the "General Lynx Info and Discussion" topic (5)

 Message 117       Mon Jan 13, 1992
 E.SCHOFIELD                  at 01:38 EST

 =======================================================================
      Announcing a new quarterly Lynx newsletter:
               PAGS - Portable Atari Gaming System

 PAGS is a quarterly newsletter which caters to the Atari Lynx portable
 gaming system.  Each issue of PAGS will feature 6-10 new game reviews,
 editorials, news & information, and hot new gaming tips.

 PAGS is a non-profit newsletter and is produced by Eric Schofield, John
 Karakash, and Charles Wells.  Reviews and comments from readers are
 welcome.  Readers who write reviews for PAGS will be compensated as
 well.  For every 4 articles which appear in PAGS, the reviewer will
 receive a $10 gift certificate to Babbage's or Electronics Boutique.
 All reviews must be 250-500 words in length and should discuss graphics,
 sound, difficulty, playability, and lasting appeal.

 The release schedule for PAGS in 1992 will be March, May, August, and
 November.  Reviews must be submitted by the 20th of the preceeding month
 of release.  Reviews must be typed or word processed and can be sent to
 our address.  We will also accept f-mail through GEnie.  The files must
 be in ASCII format and the mail address is E.SCHOFIELD.

 A 1 year subscription to PAGS costs $12.  Please send either a personal
 check or money order to PAGS.

 PAGS
 P.O. BOX 37692
 RALEIGH, NC 27627-7692
 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""



 =======================================================================
 * ATARI 520ST FM 1 MEG UPGRADE                         by Stephen Brown
 =======================================================================


 Having recently upgraded a 520ST FM to 1 Megabyte memory successfully,
 I wanted to let others know how I did it.  There are several warnings
 that I want to give you first though:

 1) This upgrade will void your warranty.

 2) This is NOT a beginner's project! Even though the following should
    take you step by step through the process, I have to assume that you
    know the basics of working on a printed circuit board.  There is no
    way to warn you about every situation that might arise in the upgrade
    process.

 For example, do you know how to control the solder flow?  What do I do
 if I break something?  What if after I get it all back together it
 doesn't work????  You have to be aware that YOU are trading off the
 chance of damaging your Computer for the monetary savings of upgrading
 yourself and learning the joy of Hardware Hacking.  For myself, I think
 the experience is well worth the risks.

 The items that you will need are:

 1) 16 256K 150ns Dynamic Rams (cost around $3.50 a piece)
 2) 16 16pin Soldertail DIP Sockets (cost around $2.00 total)
 3) 16 .1uf Ceramic Disc Capacitors (others can be used, but this is what
    I used. around $2.00)
 4) A coil of core resin solder (Radio Shack # 64-001. $.89)
 5) A 25 watt soldering iron (Radio Shack # 64-2070. $4.95)
 6) Phillips screwdriver and a small regular screwdriver.
 7) Small pliers
 8) Wide masking tape
 9) Paper bag
 10) A prying implement. I used a carving fork but a thin pry bar should
    work as well.

 OK..OK..stop laughing!!!  Your sitting there saying "He wants me to take
 a crowbar to my ST!! "; One interesting problem I came up against trying
 to take the Motherboard out of the case bottom; was that it was "glued"
 onto the posts that support the disk drive.  More about this later.

 11) A #61 drill (This size matches the DIP Socket legs nicely.)
 12) A Flexible Shaft Drill. (Undoubtedly, the hardest item to come by.
     A jeweler, woodworker or many other craftspersons might let you
     borrow one.  You do have a friend in one of these fields don't you?
     A RENT-ALL place might have one also.  I don't recommend any other
     type of drill; the flexible shaft allows precise drilling.)

 13) 6 to 10 ft piece of wire to ground yourself.
 14) Small scissors or wire cutters. (To trim excess capacitor leads.)

 Are you ready to start?  OK Step by step now.

 1 - Ground yourself with the wire.  If you remove the center screw in
     the electric wall socket plate and wind one end of the wire around
     the screw and then screw it back into the wall.  Now wrap the other
     end of the wire around your bare wrist.

 2 - Turn your computer over and take out all the screws.  There aren't
     any screws under the label.

 3 - Carefully flip the computer over and remove the cover.

 4 - Lift up the keyboard and fold it over to the right and lay it down.
     Using the pliers, gently pull off the connector.

 5 - You will see 2 metallic shields; 1 covering the power supply and the
     other at the back of the drive area.  Remove screws to detach the
     shields.  There is also a small RF shield to remove in the area
     where the UNDO key would be.  You'll notice that these are metal
     screws (closer threads) and most of the rest will be regular screws.
     Don't mix em up when you put everything back together or you might
     strip the holes.

 6 - Look at the Disk drive connectors... The larger connector just pries
     off to the left with the small screwdriver. The smaller connector is
     a locking one; you have to pry up the top flap so the locking tab
     will slide out when you pry the connector off; again it slides off
     to the left.  Lift up the Drive and set aside in a safe place.

 7 - Now you have to take out the Power Supply board.  There are 2 screws
     holding it in place and you have another locking tab type of
     connector.  After all of these have been removed, you'll notice that
     the Power Supply board has 2 tabs that slide it into place on the
     Motherboard; just work the board free keeping these tabs in mind.
     Put the PS Board in a safe place.

 8 - Twist the little metal holding tabs that hold the metallic RF shield
     down and remove all the rest of the screws that hold the metallic RF
     shield in place.  These screws also hold the Motherboard to the
     bottom of the case.

 9 - As you have probably noticed, the RF shield does not want to come
     off easily.  It is hanging up on the back side of the computer....
     In order to get the RF Shield off it's CROWBAR TIME!

 10- This will hereafter be known as THE INFAMOUS STEP # 10.  If you look
     at the posts that the Drive was resting on, you'll probably notice
     they look like they are supposed to stay attached to the
     Motherboard.  But if you carefully look under the Motherboard in
     that area (A flashlight helps here), you'll see the posts are
     attached to the bottom of the case too!  ATARI applied a solvent or
     glue where the case post meets the Motherboard post.  This bond has
     to be broken somehow.....

     In my case, I took a long carving fork (You know the one that hangs
     on the wall next to the spatulas and soup ladles?) and reached under
     and popped the posts free.  The large spoon that hangs next to the
     potato masher might work even better!

     Seriously though, if anyone out there knows of a better way to
     accomplish this let us know.

 11- Now that the Motherboard is free from the case, you should be able
     to work it free from the back slots in the case.

 12- Take off the RF shield.  Set it aside.  The bottom of the
     Motherboard has another RF shield on it with an insulating liner
     between it and the Motherboard.  Gently pry up the front of the
     Motherboard with the screwdriver and you can then work it free from
     the bottom RF shield.  Set the bottom RF shield and insulating liner
     aside.

 13- Now enjoy the beauty of your well designed Motherboard.

 14- You should be able to identify the area where the new socketed rams
     will go right above the existing rams.  The capacitors go between
     the rams.  (If you can't find this area, you have either don't have
     a 520ST FM or have no business attempting this upgrade!)  The
     existing 512K is that row of chips closest to the front of the
     computer.

 15- The next step is to "mask off" the area where you'll be drilling the
     holes so that no drilling scraps will short out anything later.  In
     other words, cut up the paper bag so that you can tape it to the
     board around the drilling area.  Use as big a piece as possible so
     that there will be no seams for drillings to slip into.

 16- Now comes the drilling of 288 holes (16 for each Ram and 2 for each
     capacitor.)  The drilling is pretty much straightforward; just drill
     thru the center of each solder hole and don't tilt the drill.  Take
     your time.  Occasionally clean the scrap off the drill and work
     area.  After all the holes are drilled, flip the board over and
     thoroughly clean up the scrap and burrs around the holes.

 17- Insert a DIP socket from the top of the board, flip over and solder
     all the legs.  You'll find that if you place the soldering iron tip
     to the side of the leg and apply the solder to the iron and leg
     simultaneously, it flows perfectly.  After all the DIP sockets are
     in place, pull the legs of the capacitors though their holes and
     snugly seat the capacitors next to the rams.  They do look high but
     the RF shield does fit over them.  Solder the capacitors in place
     and snip off the excess wire.

 18- Check all the solder joints!!!!  Make sure every leg has been
     soldered and hasn't shorted out against another one.

 19- Get your new Rams and notice that there is a notch on the top of
     each one at one end.  This notch should face the back of the
     computer when you insert each Ram into it's DIP socket.

 20- Now you have to put the computer back together.  After you have the
     computer back together, power it up and test it out.

 If you don't have a Ram testing program, power up a Ram sensitive
 program like a word-processor or after loading ST Basic type ?fre(0);
 if you get 712592, congratulations!!

 If you power up and you get garbage or nothing or upon checking your
 memory you only have 512K, you'll have to open the computer up again and
 check all your solder joints and everything else.  There is a
 possibility that you had purchased a bad Ram or 2 but not likely.  If
 all else fails, you can reach me on GEnie at the EMAIL address of
 S.BROWN7.  Even though I warned you you were taking a chance on
 upgrading yourself, I might be able to help.


 =======================================================================
 * NEW WORLD ORDER                             Created by Mike Stepansky
 =======================================================================


 For years, I have been hearing about some of the entertainment software
 sales for the ST are dipping and to some extend, hurting the software
 developer's living.  The worse scenario, as we know it, would cause some
 of the programmers to give up and move on to the PC or Mac platform to
 make a living.

 While I thought about that for couple of hours on my bed, I realized
 that I do have the energy to create a solution to a problem for SPA or
 officials in the field (where? who to contact?) to CURB this terrible
 pirating plagues in the ST community.  So, I finally decided to put
 myself in a thinking mode....and asked myself "what really makes the ST
 user wanting/vying to copy games and pass it down?".   It takes some
 timely research in my mind as I go to bed in the wee morning.  ta-da!
 (the sound of trumpet with St. Michael, the Archangel, falling down to
 the earth to save the Atari developers, please don't ask me if I am the
 extraterrestrial being like in the Book of Revealation!)  :-)

 Guess what?  I think I have a brilliant SOLUTION to stop this piracy in
 the Atari ST/TT community. (No joking!).  I have two solutions.  The
 first one is very easy.  Second one is a lengthy, technical one.

 Are you ready?  Here we go....

 1) Develop games in a cartridge format!  That is what Jaguar game
    console and perhaps Falcon computers are for - to eliminate the
    piracy in the 1990s!  Unfortunately, I have seen some 8-bit games
    that were copied (somehow) out of the cartridge format.  Kaboom! and
    Space Invaders were the only ones I know of and still have them in a
    file format!!!!

 2) Secondly, I realized that, almost always, most ST/TT pirates (or even
    casual users) want to have a copy of those games and enjoy it.  Now,
    notice my line here: "enjoy it".  Of course, "to enjoy it" one must
    "RUN" (execute) the program in order to play it.  That is where my
    second solution to the problem of ST piracy technically.  I need your
    help to make my protocol really works in the Jaguar and Falcon
    system!

 First of all, let's make a realistic scenario about a "good" ST user who
 wants to buy ST software in his local Atari dealer.  When he asks a
 dealer for a demonstation (ie. Space Pac-Man, the one with blackholes
 moving around the maze).  It sounds great, he buys it and then go home
 and open the box up.  To his surprise and his puzzle, all he gets is a
 registration card and a beautiful fun-reading, colorful manual for this
 Space Pac-Man.  Impatiently, he would sign it up in the card and mail it
 right away.  <BTW, the only thing he did was to jot down HIS COMPUTER's
 24-pin jumpers setting (enough for more than 2,000,000 ST users out
 there in the USA alone) and perhaps his ID verification number.  It
 might sound like a credit card security, yes - it is!  Think about that!
 24-pin creates a combination of up to 16.7 million ID code, one for each
 computer (ST/TT should have one - grin!).>

 Then perhaps 5 days later, he would receive it in a mail package,
 carefully protecting the disk.  With his shaky hands, he boot up HIS
 (note emphasis here) computer to play it, either by clicking it on the
 file menu or even AUTO boot itself.  Hours after hours, he would enjoy
 playing with it.  So much for the non-technical part here...of course,
 ST user/player don't want to deal with the technical part supposedly.
 (can you say a 40 years old religous person or 9-yrs old dumb kids?)

 Now, if his brother, the ST piratee, copy this game without any problem
 overnight.  Then, he visits over his friend house (or upload BBSes to
 raise access level or huge credits in return for more pirated games) to
 enjoy this great Space Pac-Man.  Now here is the technical part which
 starts to show up.....

 To sysop's or the downloader's amazement and with frustration, the Space
 Pac-Man failed to execute the program, although there are existing
 required files (ie. proper pathnames, folders, proper spelling).  He
 might download this 300K file over the modem again (1200 baud or even
 300 baud)....UnLZH it....RUN it again....no go - period.

 "What the HELL #%$^&* went wrong?!?!", said the pirate user, with his
 grim and mean, sly-looking face, thinking his BBS system has a virus...
 ha ha ha - wrong buddy boy!

 MY BLACK STEALTHY SECRET??  It is because the program (the one who has
 the original disk) examines the ID code, perhaps embedded in TOS ROM,
 and those tiny 24-pin jumpers setting in HIS computer (owner).  When the
 program finds and matches the code in the computer - it RUNS, execute
 the game flawlessly.  Of course, changing the jumpers inside the
 computer will void the warranty and also won't RUN the game, unless he
 switch it back where it was.  It is like a Key inside the computer -
 like a fingerprint - all jumper has its own combo pattern.

 Now, here is what we all have been waiting for:  the pirated user, in
 the story above, later finds out that the program requires the proper
 combination (ID) of the 24-pin jumper setting in his brother's computer.
 So, without the permission of his brother, he might open up and copy
 down the jumper codes and UPLOAD to the BBS or pass down to somebody
 else who reads the codes and tries to look for that code in the pirated
 version of Space Pacman.....

 Again, up to that point, my solution will still BAR the pirated users/
 d/l'ers to change the jumper sequence code in the "pirated" Space Pac-
 Man in order to RUN it.  Why???   Simple.  The codes must be in a
 compressed format and thus, making it very difficult for the hacker, or
 even the most advanced hackers to find that multiple/double "garbled"
 jumper sequence codes somewhere in the program.  (BTW, compressed format
 must have the equivalent binary codes to match the computer's jumper to
 make the program exectuble - not copy-protection scheme!)

 Result:  he/she gives up and buy the software!  This is it!

 I realized it sounds VERY GOOD....but then I discovered what happens if
 you want to SELL the computer but KEEP the original software?  No big
 problem here!  All you have to do is to return that copy of card and
 original disk to the software developer AFTER you examine the new jumper
 sequence codes inside the used/new computer you got from your friend.
 Of course, this required a minimum fee for the developer to "patch-out"
 the older code in the program into the NEW ones so that it ONLY CAN BE
 EXECUTE ON YOUR ATARI COMPUTER and nobody has this CODE!!

 "What about the Pirated user side?", you might asked.  He/She still can
 NOT run and play this game, and can not crack/search multiple compressed
 code in the program, even if he/she is using the DISASSEMBLY program.
 Since he has a non-original disk (pirated disk), he would NOT dare to
 attempt to send this disk to the developer or he/she will be arrested by
 the SPA or FBI, whichever the course of action is the most imminent to
 halt this pirated user and destroy the pirate disk.  If he didn't send
 it to developer, he would have NO CHOICE but to format it and keep it as
 a blank disk.  A forceful one at that!!!

 The ONLY WAY the pirated user will KNOW the jumper set code is to STEAL
 or Open up his relative's computer(s).  If he got that Space Pacman from
 the BBS, it is UNLIKELY he will ever find out "WHO" (full name) uploaded
 this "number 1 program of the year" Space Pacman and "WHAT" the codes
 sequence are from the "source" computer somewhere in the USA.  Again, if
 your cousin opened the computers up and messed up the jumper codes, it
 is their fault for being a pirate user...it's their problem.  Tough one
 at that again!

 What if any user, be it good guys and pirated users SPREAD the words
 around in the BBS about the owner's computer's codes sequence??  That
 will happen but it is useless and IMPOSSIBLE for the hackers to find the
 compressed code in the program.  That is a double-backup security here!!
 (grin)  I think this is it!

 The only drawback in my solution would be "trading the software"...which
 means that each software has to go with the computer....that is the
 second part I am trying to figure it out.  But I think this problem
 should be solve easily....how?  By joining the ST/TT User Group or ST/TT
 Club to tryout/play those games a bit longer than the dealer before you
 might considered buying one!

 What do you think of my "curbing piracy" solution?

 In summary, the user's security registration card and a proper sequence
 of 24-pin jumper code setting might be only solution to curb the piracy.
 Although it is NOT a 100% cure but it will elevate the problem of piracy
 within the ST communities as we know it.  But I doubt that some hackers
 out there can beat my solution....let's make a bet!  Perhaps, my
 solution could be somewhere around 95-98% cure.  I don't know...I will
 have to wait and see what you guys think my idea.


 =======================================================================
 * Z*NET ARCHIVES
 =======================================================================


      ANTIC PUBLISHING INC., COPYRIGHT 1988 REPRINTED BY PERMISSION.


 ATARI GETS TOUGH ON TV       BY Gregg Pearlman, ANTIC ASSISTANT EDITOR
 In the wake of a Christmas season in which Atari Corp.'s video game
 sales were more than twice those of the same period last year, Atari
 plans to keep the ball rolling by launching a major first-quarter
 national television advertising campaign featuring six new commercials,
 according to Michael Katz, president of Atari's electronics division.
 The commercials will be aired in the top 30 markets in children's and
 prime-time viewing hours and will include syndicated and cable
 programming.  Katz said that first-quarter spending will be comparable
 to what Atari spent in the fourth quarter of 1987 when the company sold
 out of two of its three game systems, the new XE Game System and the
 older 7800.  The new Atari 2600 commercial, like the previous one, uses
 rap music while heavily promoting the new games available for the 2600.
 The new XE commercials include a testimonial/endorsement commercial
 presented by the presidents of four computer game companies; a
 commercial comparing Atari's baseball game with Nintendo's; and three
 more promoting the range of new games for the XE.  Atari also announced
 new playable, self-running point-of-sale display units for the 7800 and
 XE systems, available at no charge to retailers.


 ATARI NEWS** ATARI PC:  MYTH OR FICTION?   January 6, 1988 --
 "I'm sure that I will never see" "Atari's duplicate PC..." That song's
 been sung for months.  There's been little evidence of the IBM clone
 Atari started showing a year ago.  But according to a classified
 advertisement in the San Jose Mercury News, Atari is seeking a
 "Production Development/Sustaining Engineer for our growing line of
 PS2/PCAT/PCXT systems."  So keep on your toes -- it may not be far away
 after all.


 ATARI NABS COUNTERFEITERS        December 17, 1987
 Agents of the U.S.  Customs and U.S.  Marshals Services seized 2,000
 counterfeits of Atari's 2600 video game system at Terminal Island in the
 Port of Los Angeles on December 17.  The imitations were manufactured by
 Fund International Co., Ltd., of Taiwan, and distributed in the United
 States by P.S.D.  Inc.  of Canoga Park, California.


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