| (((((((( | Z*Magazine International Atari 8-Bit Magazine | (( | --------------------------------------------- | (( | May 9, 1992 Issue #207 | (( | --------------------------------------------- | (((((((( | Copyright (c)1992, Rovac Industries, Inc. | | Post Office Box 59, Middlesex, NJ 08846 | (( | | (((((( | CONTENTS | (( | | | * The Editors Desk..........................Ron Kovacs | ((( ((( | * Atari Explorer Merges With Z*Net.......Press Release | (((( (((( | * Atari Explorer Online In Conference................. | (( (( (( (( | * A.P.B. Reviewed.........................StarLinx BBS | (( (( (( | * Bill & Ted's Adventure Solution..................... | (( (( | * Perusing The Internet................Michael Current | | * .................................................... | (( | * .................................................... | (( (( | * .................................................... | (((((((( | | (( (( | | (( (( | ~ Publisher/Editor..........................Ron Kovacs | | ~ Contributing Editor........................John Nagy | (((((((((( | ~ Contributing Editor......................Stan Lowell | (( | ~ Contributing Editor........................Bob Smith | (( ((((( | ~ Newswire Staff...................................... | (( (( | ~ Z*Net New Zealand.........................Jon Clarke | (((((((((( | ~ Z*Net Canada.........................Terry Schreiber | | ~ Columnist............................Michael Current | | |-------------| $ 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 | * Blank Page.........(8-Bit FNET 9002)..(908) 805-3967 ======================================================================= THE EDITORS DESK by Ron Kovacs It's been a long few weeks since our last edition. However, we are once again building some archives and additional material. Bob Smith, a new staff member will be sharing some information shortly from his local user group. Changes since our last issue have been the start and release of Atari Explorer Online Magazine. A joint effort of Z*Net and Atari Explorer Magazine. The original press release and online conference have been reproduced in this edition. As a special note for 8-bitters, AEO will be supporting the 8-bitters from time to time, so keep your eyes out for the next edition, May 15, 1992. All AEO issues will be released bi-weekly. Stan Lowell, long time friend and Z*Magazine editor is recovering well from his triple by-pass surgery. Since he is recovering and slowly attempting to re-involve himself, I want to thank everyone on Stan's behalf for the nice letters and calls of encouragement, I am sure they have helped. Look for Stan's return here in a few weeks! ======================================================================= * ATARI EXPLORER ONLINE MAGAZINE DEBUTS ======================================================================= ** ** ** Atari Explorer Online Magazine ** ** ** ** ** ** ------------------------------ ** ** ** ** ** ** --------------------------- ** ** ** ** ** ** ----------------------- ** ** ** ** ** ** ------------------- ** ** ** *** ** *** --------------- *** ** *** *** ** *** ----------- *** ** *** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Contact: John Jainschigg 718-545-2900 GEnie: EXPLORER CIS:76704,1616 Ron Kovacs 908-968-2024 GEnie: Z-NET CIS:75300,1642 Bob Brodie 408-745-2052 GEnie: BOB-BRODIE CIS:70007,3240 April 24, 1992 - Atari Explorer Announces New Online Magazine! Sunnyvale, CA.- Atari Corporation and Rovac Industries are proud to announce a brand new online magazine for the Atari Community: Atari Explorer Online. Atari Explorer Magazine, the Official Atari Journal, is now extending its coverage of all things Atari to the online scene, as well. The first issue of the Explorer Online is set for May 1, 1992, and the magazine will appear biweekly, thereafter. -Explorer Online will team up some of the finest journalists in the Atari Community!- said John Jainschigg, Publisher. -We're excited to be able to offer such a quality product to our many customers. The goal of Explorer Online will be to serve the needs of all Atari users: Portfolio, Lynx, ST/TT, and 8 bit. All of Explorer's regular contributors will be represented in Explorer Online: from music experts like Craig Anderton, to Portfolio Wizards like BJ Gleason. And we are actively soliciting contributions, both to the online magazine, and to our regular, bimonthly print edition. We want to make Explorer Online a solid resource for the whole Atari community.- Atari has teamed up with Ron Kovacs, publisher of the Z*Net Newswire and Z*Net Online Magazines, to produce Atari Explorer Online. -When we decided that we wanted to do an online magazine, it just didn't make sense to completely re-invent the wheel,- stated Bob Brodie, Atari's Director of Communications. -In the online Atari community, Z*Net has set the standard for quality and accurate reporting, and it only made sense to invite them to participate in this new venture. Ron Kovacs and John Nagy are among the finest, most dedicated journalists on the Atari scene today. The entire Z*Net staff will be part of the new team at Atari Explorer Online. We're very excited that they have chosen to join us in making Explorer Online the best it can be.- The start of Atari Explorer Online also signals the end of the Z*Net Online magazine for the Atari ST Community. Current plans call for Kovacs' firm, Rovac Industries, to continue to publish their popular Z*Net PC, and Z*Magazine publications. -While there is a certain sense of loss with Z*Net discontinuing, we're very excited that Atari has invited us to be a part of this exciting new venture- said Ron Kovacs, Editor-in-Chief of Atari Explorer Online. -Atari Explorer is one of the finest magazines on the market, and it's very flattering to our efforts that Atari has chosen us to help them with their online magazine.- -When Explorer Publisher John Jainschigg came to me with an idea for a new online magazine, there was no question that we were going to need some outside help. And it was an easy choice to decide where that help should come from. Week in, week out, Z*Net has provided the latest news to the Atari Community for years. Indeed, Z*Net has experienced growth over the years. They have the experience in launching new online publications, like the original ST-Report, ST*ZMagazine, and Z*Net PC. Additionally Z*Net's Atari News Service has appeared in print publications world-wide including: STart Magazine, ST-World Magazine, ST-Informer, ST-Journal, ST-Express, AtariUser, Current Notes, and Germany's PD Journal now Atari Journal. It really just made sense from every side that we considered to ask them to be involved,- stated Brodie.- AEO will be distributed worldwide on major information services and networks. Atari Explorer Online will carry up-to-the-minute reports on hot topics in the Atari market: from trade shows to new product announcements. Explorer Online will give you the facts you need to make the most of your Atari investment. Utilities and Atari PD releases, new product demos, product and dealer databases, and other interactive offerings will round out the publication, making Atari Explorer Online the best in online journalism today!! # # # # ======================================================================= * ATARI EXPLORER IN CONFERENCE ======================================================================= Copyright (c)1992, Atari Corporation and GEnie ST Rountables <[Sysop] JEFF.W> On behalf of the Atari ST Roundtable, I welcome all of you to the Atari Explorer Online RealTime Conference. Before getting started, some business about how an RTC works. While the RTC room is in Listen-Only mode, you can only address our guest when I let you talk. To get my attention, just /RAIse your hand. Just enter this from your keyboard: /rai I'll acknowledge your raised hand as soon as I can, but please be patient. I -WILL- let you know when your turn is coming up. This evening, we have as our guests John Jainschigg, Ron Kovacs, and Bob Brodie. John is the publisher of Atari Explorer and the newly formed Atari Explorer Online. Ron is the editor of Atari Explorer Online. And Bob is a contributing editor to Atari Explorer Online, in addition to his duties as Director of Communications for Atari USA Corporation. Welcome, gentlemen. Would someone like to make any opening remarks before we start taking questions? <[John J.] EXPLORER> Atari Explorer Online is more than just an online version of Atari Explorer Magazine. In fact, you could think of Explorer Online as a new -head end- for Explorer's printed edition. Online is the news-gathering operation -- the fact-finding mission that gives structure and direction to the rest of Explorer, and an independent publication, in its own -write,- that has great potential for getting the word out on Atari to a broader and ever-more-influential audience. We're enthusiastic about running the program with the editorial help of Ron Kovacs and John Nagy who require no further introduction, except to say that they've defined the current -state of the art- in Atari journalism, online and offline and frankly, we're also excited to be working with Bob Brodie, who as -contributing editor- fights a never- ending battle for truth, justice, and okay, folks, let's face it, he ASKED for the title. But he is, after all, Atari's Director of Communications, and knows where the bodies are buried. <[Sysop] JEFF.W> Ron or Bob -- Anything you'd like to say before we proceed? Jeff, not from this side, let's take some questions! <[Ron Kovacs] Z-NET> Same here! :-) <[Baaad Dot!] D.A.BRUMLEVE> I really like the concept of a little program accompanying the online mag. Thanks for getting that going. Next time, though, I hope you'll truly devote some content in the mag to identifying and explaining the program and I'm wondering if you are soliciting programs for inclusion? <[John J.] EXPLORER> Wait a second ... hold it ... the article explained the technology involved and the source code documented the ancillary files. Actually, several people reported problems, however, I'm actively soliciting suggestions as to how better to present such material. Also, we'd love to get submissions from Atari programmers. -K to burn!- as we say. <[Baaad Dot!] D.A.BRUMLEVE> Put it on page 1 next time and you'll get my vote. I wonder... Does Atari Explorer Online PAY for articles/programs like the hardcopy version does, or is this just one of many differences? Let me just temper that question a bit... <[John J.] EXPLORER> We've not struck a -policy- -- however, in consideration of the overall value of a contribution and its potential for reprinting in Explorer's printed edition, as well as other outlets in the overall spectrum of Atari printed matter, on a case-by-case basis, we'd be happy to consider -making a deal!- (grin) <[Baaad Dot!] D.A.BRUMLEVE> You might want to take into account that I decide on a target magazine for a submission based partly on the willingness to pay.... OK, we shall see, shall we? Precisely! <[Sysop] JEFF.W> Ron -- Why did you decide to give up Z-Net (ST version) to work with Atari Explorer Online? What is your incentive to do this? <[Ron Kovacs] Z-NET> It's all Bob Brodies fault!!! He convinced me that Atari needed my help, something that I personally didn't believe..:-) But on the other hand what could be more flattering then assisting with something you enjoy. Besides, Bob is a nice guy! <[Sysop] JEFF.W> How is this different for you, Ron, than doing Z-Net? <[Ron Kovacs] Z-NET> Atari is more involved in this publication and I have been looking for some free time with my family and it all came along at the right time. John/Ron, what sort of feedback are you getting back on the magazine so far? <[John J.] EXPLORER> Quite a few people have left private GEmail to Ron and myself and we've been forwarding it back and forth to strain the suggestions and contributions out of the overall -congratulatory thang.- Honestly, most people (out of the what, 1,100 plus who've downloaded?) have been largely laudatory. Though I've taken some heat on formatting. I think everybody is going to be happy when we've fronted a professional -reader- for the magazine. Actually, some of the formatting comments have been pretty bloody. (grin) Well congrats on such a fine job Would you consider a running section highlighting new opening dealerships? Especially on the East Coast. That's hard to do, Bill. Remember that many dealers buy from our distributors instead of directly from Atari. That's just an economic fact of business now a days. However, the issue did have a couple of dealer profiles, both for Manny's Music in NYC, and Goodmans in LA. But I do think you've hit on an interesting idea, and we'll use it whenever possible for our readers. Yes, I can imagine it would be difficult on a regular basis, but how about occasionally? I talked with Manny's earlier as a matter of fact. You answered it.. <[Ron Kovacs] Z-NET> Look for more in future issues... Thanks! <[John Nagy] ATARIUSER> Glad to see issue 1 is a huge success. But, you have to kill those TABS! And, Why write a new, unique front end when the TX2 format is already established? <[John J.] EXPLORER> See what I mean about formatting comments? (cringe) Nothing like another editor's critique, eh? <[Ron Kovacs] Z-NET> John.. We have discussed this situation and it has been resolved. :-) <[John J.] EXPLORER> (Nothing like another editor's critique on ASCII- formatting issues. ) Re the TX2 format, not sure which way we'll go on that, John. <[John Nagy] ATARIUSER> That sounds informative.... is the resolution publishable? <[John J.] EXPLORER> <--- Translation: They ignored me for days. I apologized. I pleaded. <[Ron Kovacs] Z-NET> JJ WILL NEVER do it again! Trust me! We've had offers from others willing to write something that they envision as being better than TX2, which to me is hard to envision. :) And he WILL separate his paragraphs, or ELSE! <[Sysop] JEFF.W> On a related subject, would you consider doing Calamus and PgS versions of AEO? (I want to see you guys sweat!) :-) No, Jeff. We want this to go to the -unconverted- as well. We have some ideas about doing a FAX version that might use Calamus for the layout of the FAX editon, though. We will always have an ASCII version for the mainstream crowd, too. <[Baaad Dot!] D.A.BRUMLEVE> I noticed, by the way, that someone has uploaded a TX2 version of the first Atari Explorer Online. Was this an -authorized version-, or some bootleg thing? Even if AEO does its own reader, will there be future TX2 versions? If it looked good, it was official. If it didn't, it was bootlegged. <[Baaad Dot!] D.A.BRUMLEVE> (I didn't actually see it. Just in the d/ls...) <[Ron Kovacs] Z-NET> Did that get 1100 downloads too? <[Baaad Dot!] D.A.BRUMLEVE> Good answer, though. ;-) Not sure, Dot. We need to decide what the reader will be like, first. PDC has kindly offered to let us use TX2, so we'll see. Some of our programmers here are pretty creative, as well as John J. <[Baaad Dot!] D.A.BRUMLEVE> How are you all prepared to answer accusations of -mouthpiece- and -house organ- with respect to AEO? Just asking... Quite well, thank you! <[John J.] EXPLORER> Well, here goes: (tough question) ... I, personally, try to sidestep the issue, by maintaining that Atari Explorer is primarily an information resource for the Atari owner/ potential buyer and I don't see how information, per se, can be -corrupted- to have no. However no VALUE however ... Explorer is very up-front about its brief, which is at least in part to help SELL Atari product largely by explaining how that product can be used to enhance productivity and the enjoyment of daily life, within the constraints of a normal person's budget. <[Baaad Dot!] D.A.BRUMLEVE> It would seem to me that sidestepping is the most prudent route. Does AEO have this same prime directive, then? <[John J.] EXPLORER> ... Heck, yeah. Explorer is a -mouthpiece.- It's a mouthpiece that tries, in its own small way to make sure all these nifty TT's don't become doorstops. <[Ron Kovacs] Z-NET> My opinion: The readers can benefit with information about Atari products and less emphasis on what's so wrong all the time. There is plenty to talk about. <[Baaad Dot!] D.A.BRUMLEVE> K by me. I might add that I have always found that everyone has their own opinion about what they think is happening, and why. But I have always, make that ALWAYS found that they want to hear from ATARI exactly what the company's posture is on events/products, details etc. So from that aspect, AEO is a PERFECT medium for us to contact and inform our users from the companies perspective. Much better than relying on a third party intrepretation. <[Sysop] JEFF.W> My next question is for Bob. What contributions do you see yourself making to Atari Explorer Online? What do you have planned for future issues? I will continue to write additional articles, and provide input, but John J. is the publisher, and he is the one that is providing the guidelines for future issues. I may from time to time provide a -message from the mountaintop- aka Sunnyvale leadership, but mostly envision the mag flourishing under Ron & John. <[Sysop] JEFF.W> Okay then, let me direct this to John. As publisher/ editor, what would you like to see Bob adding to AEO? Regular User Group/Show oriented columns? Answering user mail? Etc.? <[Mouthpiece] EXPLORER> Bob is Atari's Director of Communications. He's in a unique position, however, because of his history and ongoing committment to the user-group area, his activity on telecommunications and an as-yet-largely-unheralded-but-still-significant input to Atari PR /Marketing/Advertising arm. Basically, he knows what's happening, and I figure that if I can catch him in the right mood, who knows what might turn up? Explorer Online is my excuse to call Bob EVERY DAY! (grin) Suffice to say he can contribute in virtually every area of potential editorial interest. Which means I now have TWO editors nagging me, Ron & John! <[Sysop] JEFF.W> Well, Bob has always been incredibly engaging during public appearances and it'll be great if that can translate to the electronic page. I'm sure it can. <[Mouthpiece] EXPLORER> (Though neither of us catch his geographical spelling mistakes.) <[Sysop] JEFF.W> I have just been told that Atari Explorer Online is now available for access directly from the main menu of the ST Roundtable (on Page 475)... <[Organ] Z-NET> Sounds good Jeff! <[Sysop] JEFF.W> Just select menu item 9 and folks will be able to download it for free! <[Sysop] JEFF.W> Next question, I've seen some beautiful ST art published in the pages of Atari Explorer. Do you think you might include some of those pic files along with future issues? <[Organ] Z-NET> Jeff.. The files would be rather large?? Do you think people would download all these PI2-3 pics? <[Sysop] JEFF.W> I think some would be interested. Maybe they could be auxilary files, separate from the main mag. Anyway, just a thought. :-) <[Organ] Z-NET> Something to consider.... But John will be working on this specifically in later issues! <[Corp. Tool] EXPLORER> Part of the advantage of working with a reader capable of presenting illustration is that we WILL be able to send technical illustrations, line-drawings, charts and graphs, and other -easily compressible- images along with the upload. The problem with -art- is that it tends to contain so much information that even binary compression (much less RLE) can't really squish it all that much. <[John] J.COLE18> John, when will we see you in the AOE Fnet? Also, I like Jeff's suggestion on the pictures! Znets picture files ALWAYS dressed up our club newsletter with the nice news pieces! I'd like to see more, maybe you should go and get a photoman to add some PI1 greyscale pictures and include them in a sperate file, despite the size :-) John, we're twisting his arm to get him online. I think we'll win. I agree with your assesment of the Z*Net pics, as long as Z*Net continues to have the Z*Net NewsWire (and it will) there will be pictures that will come out from time to time. Just bear in mind that the pics coming included with the mag make the files bigger. <[Ethics?] EXPLORER> Just wait for our -Swimsuit Issue- in August. Naturally, as long as EXPLORER ONLINE is free on GEnie, so what? :) We'll do the swimsuit edition at my pool, Stephanie Seymour and Elle are always welcome at Casa Brodie. :) Jeff, one of the things that I'd like to hear tonight is what kind of things our readers are interested, or NEED us to provide. We also view AEO as a SERVICE, and as such, need input from them. Developers are welcome to reply! <[Sysop] JEFF.W> That ties in with my next question! Is there anything specific in way of feedback that you would like to hear from your readers? What would help you in determining the future direction of AEO? More FEEDBACK! Tell us what you think! Was the included software bonus a good thing? <[Sysop] JEFF.W> On GEnie, that feedback can be in the ST Roundtable Bulletin Board in the AEO topic in Category 15 -OR- in email. Should we offer other programs besides ST programs, like Port stuff? And 8 bit material as well???? <[Sysop] JEFF.W> How can people get feedback to Atari Explorer Online if they don't have a GEnie account? <[Dr. Spin] EXPLORER> They can send regular mail to Atari Explorer, 29-05 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106 fax us at (718) 545-8200 ... or (Over to you, Ron) ... <[Organ] Z-NET> They can reach us in FNET Node 593 - CompuServe 75300,1642... :-) That Bob is such a kidder! Fnet 706 and 319! <[Sysop] JEFF.W> Very good. I think that about wraps up the formal portion of tonight's conference. Any closing remarks from you gentlemen? Yes indeed, my voice number is 408-745-2052. fax 408-745-2088, And my FNET node is #706, phone 510-373-6792, 19.2k baud, 24 hrs daily, Immediate access, so you CAN leave me email there as well. GEnie is of course, preferred as our OFFICIAL online resource. That's it from me, Jeff. <[Organ] Z-NET> Keep reading and pass along your comments. We need and appreciate it! Thanks for coming! <[6502 Lives!] EXPLORER> We hope that Explorer Online will become the flagship of a new class of high-touch high-feedback publications that contribute to getting the word out on Atari, even past the boundaries of the American information services. My main -closing remark,- therefore is -PLEASE, PASS IT ON!- And I'd like to remind user group people that Explorer Online has a liberal policy as regards reprint permissions for selected material. Use us (don't abuse us) (grin). And thanks for reading. -anyone gotta really GOOD Koala pic viewer?- <[Sysop] JEFF.W> I want thank our guests, John, Ron, and Bob, for taking the time to be here tonight. And thanks to all the rest of you for participating. <[6502 Lives!] EXPLORER> -How about a character-set editor for the 130XE?- ====================================================================== * STAR*LINX BBS - GAME RATING & REVIEW SYSTEM ====================================================================== A.P.B. ---------------------------------------------- | | | | |G |C | | |L |P P| | | | | | |A |O | | |O P|A R| | | | |S |M |M |M | E | |N L|C E| O | | | A |O |U |E |L | X | C |G A|K S| V | | G | N |U |S |P |Y | C | H | Y|A E| E | +------------------+ | R | I |N E|I |L |N F| I | A |T A|G N| R | | 5: Outstanding | | A | M |D F|C |A D|X E| T | L |E B|I T| A | | 4: Great | | P | A | F|A S|Y E| A| E | L |R I|N A| L S| | 3: Good | | H | T | E|L C| S| T| M | E |M L|G T| L C| | 2: Fair | | I | I | C| O|& I| U| E | N | I| I| O| | 1: Poor | | C | O | T| R| G| R| N | G | T|& O| R| +------------------+ | S | N | S| E| N| E| T | E | Y| N| E| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|----| CHRIS BAKER | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 |N/A| 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |3.88| M KENNEDY | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 |N/A| 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 |4.11| FIRE CONTROL | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |N/A| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |4.11| MATTHEW | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 |N/A| 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |4.55| STUB | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |N/A| 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |3.44| NORMAN BATES | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |N/A| 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |4.00| LEO | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 |N/A| 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 |4.00| VALORN | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |N/A| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |3.33| SEAN BRYANT | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 |N/A| 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |3.77| LORD BARAK | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |N/A| 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |4.00| DARKMAGE | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |N/A| 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |2.22| ---------------------------------------------- GROUP AVERAGE (11 LYNXERS) |4.0|4.0|4.4|2.9|3.7|N/A|3.8|3.9|3.5|3.4|3.66| ---------------------------------------------- Chris Baker from New York, NY 07:21:36 pm Aug. 30, 1991 A.P.B from Atari is a decent translation of the arcade game...the end graphics and animation when you get too many demerits is fantastic... the game is very playable although it does become repetitive after awhile...the best feature of APB is the digitized voices. They are very clear and easy to understand like in Klax. The only disapointing voice is that of your Sergeant who sounds like the school teacher from Peanuts. Accelerating your police car and running the siren at the same time is a little difficult at first, but by using your thumb to accelerate and the base of your thumb to blast your siren it becomes a simple task. A password feature would have been nice to skip the early boards but overall this is great. Get in your squad cars and go get yours. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Fire Control 02:22:10 pm Sep. 4, 1991 If you get frustrated and would like to continue where you left off try this: Hold down Option 1 and Option 2 together and drive your car into any doughnut you see (laying on ground, factory, or store) and your quota will be met and the day will end. You won't need to drive to the station. Have fun guys! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Matthew (Richard Stephenson from Delta, UT) 02:42:36 pm Sep. 7, 1991 I love this game to death. The sounds are incredible! Exactly real life! When you get fired after the Sergeant scorches your face a cop comes up to you in your car and you say -make me- the cop then pulls you out the door shoves you agaist the hood where you say -ouch- and -oooh- the cop then handcuffs you and picks you up and throws you into a van. Buy, the game...It IS worth it! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Stub (Stuart Baker from San Jose, CA) 09:29:18 am Sep. 15, 1991 Posters are a terrible replacement for instruction books. Please bring back the instruction books. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Norman Bates from Stockton, CA 01:36:22 am Sep. 24, 1991 I like the concept of the game and, after all of the reviews I have read, I thought it would be outstanding but the necessity of pressing both the B button and the joypad to move is a bit -dumb-. I also sincerely dislike the poster instructions that all of the new games have. Nice sound effects, good game but maybe for $5 less it would be worth it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Leo (Leo Black from Colorado City, AZ) 04:35:46 pm Sep. 29, 1991 This is a really fun game. They didn't put the extra little things in it that the arcade had which takes a little from it. The sound is great. The playing controls are a little hard. You have to hold A to accelerate and B for the siren. This is a little hard, it would be eaiser to just push up on the joypad. Great Game!!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DarkMage (Rick Lemon from Mesa, AZ) 04:40:20 am Dec. 3, 1991 After playing this game, I had to be amazed at how close Atari came to perfectly adapting this game to the Lynx. But I had to ask myself why they would adapt such a pointless and boring game as A.P.B. This game has about as much excitment in it as an Annual Bagel Rolling Contest would have for most people. I regret that Atari could not adapt a much finer game that would use the capacities of the Lynx in a much more exciting and intriguing way. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Joshua Ledgard from Rehoboth, MA 07:12:32 am Mar. 7, 1992 I thought it was a good Lynx game, but that's all. The graphics could have been more like the arcade. The sound effects were great. ======================================================================= * BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE Captured from UseNet ======================================================================= (1) Egypt 1700BC (a) Valley of The Kings - north of the small pyramid - collect 14 notes. (b) Northeast of the small pyramid - collect a -gold nugget- (c) Central building - south of the small pyramid - collect 1 note (d) Cross the bridge - south of the large pyramid - at the blocked entrance collect 1 note and a phonebook page (e) Southeast of large pyramid - cross the shallow water - collect a -Royal Ankh- (f) Go to the building which is southwest of the small pyramid and give the -gold nugget- to the guard - he will let you pass - visit the ruler in the south wing: -Friends, Welcome to our fair city. We need your help. We are missing our staff. Find it and we will reward you. Here is a stone that may help you in your quest.- Collect a -scare stone-. (g) Return to the phone booth and go to Egypt 1500BC. (2) Egypt 1500BC (a) Use the -scare stone- to avoid being mobbed by the scarab beetles. (b) Valley of The Kings - north of the small pyramid - collect 14 notes and get the -staff message- which has been stashed at the two columns. (c) Central building - south of the small pyramid - collect 6 notes. (d) Go to the building which is southwest of the small pyramid and collect 2 notes. (e) Go south - find a pier and a boat - use the -royal ankh-. (f) Go east in the boat through the maze of -bogus currents- and travel past the first stopping point to the Temple which is across the water and south of the large pyramid. (g) Get the -Most Excellent Harp- by using a secret door. (h) Leave the Temple and go back to the first stopping point which is the pier south of the large pyramid. (i) Use the harp and then Enter the large pyramid - use the red tiles to open pathways - DO NOT get the -green staff- - get the red and blue keys - the harp keeps the lions -in stone- and allows retrieval of the -true staff- which are guarded by the -stone lions-. (j) leave the large pyramid - return to the phone booth and visit Egypt 1700BC again. (3) Egypt 1700BC (2nd Visit) (a) Valley of The Kings - north of the small pyramid - hide the -staff message- at the position marked by a single column. (b) Go to the building which is southwest of the small pyramid and return the -true staff- to the ruler who is in the south wing: -Thank you. We shall remember this. Here is your reward. This royal flute is known to lessen the danger from wild animals. Also, our wise men have seen a strange star fall to the northeast.- (c) Cross the bridge - use the -royal flute- - go northeast - avoid the lions and collect 16 notes and a phonebook page which are hidden in the trees. (d) Return to the phone booth and go to Rome 60BC. (4) Rome 60BC (a) Avoid the lions and gladiators in the arena and collect 4 notes. (b) Enter the dungeon - towards the west. (c) Collect the blue and black keys in the lower left an right wings of the dungeon. (d) Collect 12 notes of which 3 must be collected by using the blue key to open the doors. (e) Leave the dungeon and visit Caesar towards the north in the arena: -Welcome to Rome, dude. Find my Lyre and I will reward you.- (f) Leave the colosseum towards the south in the arena - enter the city - collect 6 notes of which one requires finding a secret path through the hedges. (g) Two Romans will give you hints about the statue. Use the statue to exit the town by pushing the four corners of the statue back into place. The statue will fly off. Do this again and position yourself where the statue was - you will fly off eventually ending in a courtyard. (h) Collect 16 notes and a phonebook page which are scattered about in the courtyard, the orchards, and the quarry. (i) At the southeast end of the quarry is a small building. Enter the building and collect an -apple- which is at the end of the maze. (j) Leave the building, and leave the courtyard by giving the -apple- to the guard at the gate to the city. (k) Return to the arena, enter the phone booth and go to Europe 1700AD. (5) Europe 1700AD (a) Go north. Enter the building. (b) Use the green dots on the floor to avoid the killer furniture. You can move from one dot to another but the timing is critical. The furniture can be -faked-out-. (c) When on the last green dot there is a set of moving gray tiles towards the north, timing is critical, you must avoid the furniture and land on the tile before it vanishes. (d) Walk across the gray tiles before they vanish. You can now go right or left. First go right and collect the white key. Now go left towards the hallway that contains the swinging pendulum. You can pass by the pendulum when it is swinging away from you - timing is critical. (e) Once you have passed the swinging pendulum, avoid the bats and ghosts and find two moveable blocks. Move these blocks to form a bridge across the black void towards the north. (f) Cross the void several times using the blocks and vanishing tiles. (g) Continue moving through the hallways until you come into another maze-like room - go towards the north. Exit the building. Use the black key. Pass through the gate and enter the graveyard. (h) Get the red key located at the northwest of the graveyard. Use the red key and enter the mausoleum. (i) Lure the vampire away from the -magic wand-. Get the -magic wand- and leave the mausoleum. Leave the graveyard and enter the haunted house. (j) Move through the hallways towards the southeast until you come into another room. There is another room with a swinging pendulum towards the north. Move towards this room. (k) Move towards the pendulum using the vanishing tiles - timing is very critical here! Pass through the pendulum when it is swinging away from you and collect the -pipe organ- using the -magic wand-. (l) The -magic wand- will deactivate the killer furniture. Return to the phone booth and go to Rome 60BC. (6) Rome 60BC (2nd Visit) (a) Leave the arena and go through the city. Do the -statue thing- again and get into the courtyard where the -lyre- is protected by the hedges. (b) Use the -pipe organ- prior to entering the building that is the entrance to the garden where the -lyre- is stashed. The guards will spin and dance. Get the -lyre- and return it to Caesar: -My Lyre! Dudes, Here is your Gift Wrapped reward!- Caesar gives you the phonebook page for Rome 70BC. Go to Rome 70BC. (7) Rome 70BC (a) Enter the dungeon. Use the blue key to open the door which contains the lion. Use the -lyre- to avoid the lion. Use the white key to open the next door. Get the phonebook page for Texas 1880AD. (b) Return the black key to the lower right wing of the dungeon - where you found it in the first place but in another time! (c) Leave the dungeon and go to Texas 1880AD. (8) Texas 1880AD (a) Walk around the desert. Avoid the scorpions. Get a -gold coin- and 11 notes. (b) Go into town. Collect a note at the northeast corner of Tom's General Store. (c) Collect a note at the northwest corner of Barber Al's. (d) Visit Rick's Stable. Rick Says: -Say Hi to Billy the Kid!- (e) Buy a -train ticket- at the train station's leftmost window using the -gold coin-. (f) Use the -train ticket- and get on the hand car. Ride the hand car west. Collect two notes and a -gold nugget- which is hidden under a skull. (g) Ride the hand car east and collect 1 note and the phone book page for San Dimas 2691AD. (h) Return to the phone booth and go to Egypt 1700BC. (9) Egypt 1700BC (3rd Visit) (a) Return the -gold nugget- back to the place where you originally found it. (b) Return to the phone booth and go to San Dimas 2691AD. (10) San Dimas 2691AD (a) Avoid killer bats and demons. Find the path to the southwest corner by crossing the red lava using the disappearing blocks. Some notes are fake. Collect 4 notes on the way and get the -dynamite-. (b) Return to the phone booth and go to Texas 1880AD. (11) Texas 1880AD (2nd Visit) (a) Go to the Sheriff's Office. Use the -dynamite- on the northwestern jail window and bust Billy The Kid outr of jail. Billy says: -Excellent, Dude! Lets Blow this joint! Back up and duck!- Billy gives you a -harmonica-. (b) Return to the phone booth and go to San Dimas 2691AD. (12) San Dimas 2691AD (2nd Visit) (a) Go to the mountainous region towards to the northwest crossing the lava and using the disappearing blocks. Use the -harmonica- to keep the hordes of killer bats and demons away. (b) Collecting notes will remove the barriers. The more notes you collect the more barriers come down. You will have to re-trace your steps several times. Collect 12 notes and the -gold key-. (c) Return to the phone booth and go to Europe 1700AD. (13) Europe 1700AD (2nd Visit) (a) Collect 2 notes in the front yard and enter the haunted house. (b) Collect 7 notes in the haunted house and enter the graveyard. (c) Collect 5 notes in the graveyard. Enter the mausoleum and collect 1 note. Leave the mausoleum and go to the building with the gold lock. Use the gold key and enter the building. Collect 1 note and a -mandolin-. (d) Return to the phone booth and go to San Dimas 2691AD. (14) San Dimas 2691AD (3rd Visit) (a) Use the -mandolin-. Go to the northern region and find the gate to hell. Go through the gate: -Play My Game, If You Dare!- (b) Collecting notes causes the visible maze to change shape. Collect 16 notes and -The Babes!- by solving the changing maze. (c) Solve the largest remaining maze and return to the phone booth. Use the -guitar- to get past the Grim Reaper-: -I Lost!- Final Maze ---------- End +--------+ | +---------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +--------------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Start --------------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | | | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ Final Inventory --------------- Guitar 144 Notes Scare Stone Harp Flute Blue Key Lyre White Key Pipe Organ Magic Wand Train Ticket Harmonica Gold Key Mandolin The Babes! Last Password ------------- XAFB.79K5.BGVA.6XKP ====================================================================== * PERUSING THE INTERNET Compiled by Michael Current ====================================================================== Date: 9 Mar 92 11:00:49 GMT From: mcsun!uknet!gdt!aber!djg0@uunet.uu.net (Dean John Garraghty) Subject: xmm801 parts! To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu Try and get old of a SHINWA CP80. They are exactly the same as an XMM801. The parts are easily transferable. Dean Garraghty. djg0@uk.ac.aber ------------------------------ Date: 7 Mar 92 10:53:27 GMT From: CompuServe.COM!76704.41@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Don LeBow) Subject: Puffware To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu Folks... Recent postings on the net indicate that an alpha copy of Bob Puff's LZH extractor (v0.1) is in circulation. Please note: This is a VERY PRELIMINARY version of one of Bob's myriad projects (i.e. it has some bugs and doesn't handle all LZH variants.) Most importantly, it was never intended to be made public. No telling where the copies circulating came from, but please. As a courtesy to the author, don't distribute this file! If you find it on a BBS, please politely notify the SYSOP that it is NOT a legitimate file. Thanks for the bandwidth... don [SYSOP*CompuServe Atari8] 76704.41@compuserve.com ------------------------------ Date: 11 Mar 92 18:18:00 GMT From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!yale.edu!spool.mu.edu! umn.edu!atc!rsvl.thor!minnow!rosevax!pwcs!moundst!mast!JACS.citadel! News@arizona.edu Subject: Colrdump To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu potter@sundae 6.dab.ge.com Actually to all interested: I have released a program called COLRDUMP.BXE that prints the Colrview RGB pictures to a 24 pin Epson compatible color printer. The images are 1/2 page in size and seem to have reasonable color. Its not perfect, but it works. Once I finally get the algorythm to shift the color info from additive to subtractive values properly, the color will be much better. Colrdump.arc is available on GEnie in the Atari 8 file area and also at JACS BBS at (609) 346-1224 in the 8 bit utilities room. My GEnie address is R.ELY1. The program uses 16 redefined downloadable characters in porportional mode. It requires a 130XE or 128k XL to run. It was written in BASIC XE and has been tested with SpartaDOS 3.2d and SDX. I'm sure it will work fine under Atari DOS 2.0s, 2.5, DOS XE and more than likely MyDOS. I didn't do anything strange so, there shouldn't be any problems. One note: The file posted on GEnie has a very minor bug. There is a semicolon on line 250 that doesn't belong. The line should read as follows: 250 ?#n;TEXT$:... the semicolon was inadvertantly placed after that statement. Just remove it and all is well. I don't have the listing in front of me, so the info is aproximate. It should look like that rather than ?#1;text$;:text$=-- The corrected version is on the JACS BBS. Have fun! =>Dr. Jolts<= /\/\__* ------------------------------ Date: 18 Mar 92 22:27:10 GMT From: noao!ncar!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!crdgw1!ge-dab!sundae6. DAB.GE.COM!potter@arizona.edu (Jeff Potter) Subject: COLRVIEW To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu To all those asking about using ComputerEyes digitizing cameras to try to produce COLRVIEW (GR.9) picture files: Obtain the following filters (Kodak Wratten Gelatin Filters): No. 25 (Red) No. 58 (Green) No. 47 (Blue) Make three exposures of your subject (preferably something that remains still), one with each filter in front of your lens. Use a daylight balanced light (BCA No.1) if you require artificial light. Name the three files with the same (8-character or less) filename, with extensions .R, .G, and .B. They should load correctly under COLRVIEW and display in full color. Your quality may vary. These filter and light suggestions are from a professional photographer who has produced such pictures for me. I also wrote, a long while back, COLRCODE, which converts three GR.9 images to one APAC file, if anyone is interested (it's on GEnie). Jeff Potter ....potter@sundae6.dab.ge.com ....74030.2020@compuserve.com ------------------------------ Date: 16 Mar 92 14:44:45 GMT From: (Dean John Garraghty) Subject: Digi-Studio Distribution To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu Nobody has thus far come forward to distribute Digi-Studio in the US or other countries. For those of you who may be interested this is all you have to do: Method 1 - you buy copies in amounts of say 10 or 20 at a time from me at trade prices and sell them in the States at profit. I have already produced a demo disk of Digi-Studio which is finding its way nicely on to BBSs. It is also on the archive and on compuserve. A lot of the initial advertising has been done. ZMAG issue 204 also carried my press release. Method 2 - you act as an agent. This involves no up-front money. State-side orders are sent to you and paid for in US funds. When you have collected say 10 orders, you send me the names and addresses and payment in UK funds and I send copies from the UK. You would get a commission for doing this, possibly 10-15% of takings. Method 3 - you get duplication rights. This is my least favoured method because of copyright laws. Here you gain the right to produce legal copies of Digi-Studio and send them out yourself. You would send me a copyright holders fee for doing this. This fee is, however, likely to be as much as 50% of takings. If anybody is up to the challenge then please email me on: djg0@uk.ac.aber Dean Garraghty. ----------------------- Date: 16 Mar 92 14:29:46 GMT From: (Dean John Garraghty) Subject: more PD at the archive To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu I've just put a few more bits of PD up at the archive. At the moment they are in new of course, and are called: script80.arc (an 80col WP which works without any 80col hardware), dvc_c.arc (a nice C compiler), analog_disk_side1.arc and analog_disk_side2.arc (a double sided disk of some stuff from analog mag.). The PD I last posted has now been moved and renamed: bash_a_drum is now in the main directory and is called bashdrum.arc. Rain_down_demo is in demos and is called raindemo.arc. Dean Garraghty. djg0@uk.ac.aber ------------------------------ Date: 15 Mar 92 18:37:30 GMT From: (Ray Wilmott) Subject: Atari 8-bit mail order shops? To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu >Could someone please post a list of generic mail order... Okay, here's my current listing... Software Infinity 642 East Waring Avenue State College, PA 16801 Notes:Good PD selection. Also now marketing commercial European imports. B&C ComputerVisions 2730 Scott Boulevard Santa Clara, CA 95050 (408) 968-9960 Notes:Huge selection of software and hardware items. Also some new commercial games, unavailable elsewhere. Page 6 P.O. Box 54 Stafford ST16 1DR Good European commercial & PD selection of software. Also are the publishers of New Atari User magazine...see below. Micro Discount 265 Chester Road Streetly, West Midlands B74 3EA England 8-bit commercial close-outs. Telegames Box 901 Lancaster, TX 75146 8-bit and 2600 software. Gralin International 11 Shillito Road Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH12 2BN England Fairly good selection of commercial 8-bit software/hardware. Steve Hoffee/K.O. Software 333 Peninsula Drive Lake Almanor, CA 96137 Markets a selection of imported commercial & PD software. Sagamore Software 2104 Arapahoe Dr. Lafayette, IN 47905 Good PD/shareware selection with extensive documentation. Change In Heat 12 Bella Vista Place Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Independent programmer has produced 2 excellent commercial quality games for the 8-bit. Bresnik Software 555 Ware Street Mansfield, MA 02048 Another independent, producing good educational software. UltraBasic 10 East 10th Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 8-bit speciality software. NERDS Software 18 Wendy Drive Farmingville, NY 11738 Printshop related. IB Computers 9244 S.W. Beaverton-Hills Hwy Valley Plaza Shopping Center Beaverton, Oregon 97005 (503)297-8425 BellCom PO Box 1043 Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J7A5 The largest PD/shareware selection. Compsult PO Box 5160 San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-5160 Closeout items galore. No Frills Software 800 East 23rd Street Kearney, NE 68847 Closeouts & Printshop graphics. Miles Better Software 219/221 Cannock Road, Chadsmoor Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 2DD England Excellent mail-order source for the Atari. They have many games which were never released in the US Electronic Clinic 4916 Del Ray Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 Refurbished equipment. Mars Merchandising 1041-B East Charles Road Lombard, IL 60148-2059 Close-out software. Kake Software 9 Smith Ct. Vincentown, NJ 08088 Assorted theme disks. Bacmun Software 1671 East 16th Street, Suite 629 Brooklyn, NY 11229 PD theme disks. Alpha Systems 1012 Skyland Drive Macedonia, OH 44056 Utility software & hardware. American Technavision 15338 Inverness Street San Leandro, CA 94579 (415)352-3787 Large selection of commercial software at excellent prices; also hardware replacement parts. Best Electronics 2021 The Alameda, Suite 290 San Jose, CA 95126 (408) 243-6950 Known as *the* Atari hardware store. If they don't have the part you need, nobody does. BRE Software 352 West Bedford Ave, Suite 104 Fresno, CA 93711 PD/Shareware. C&T ComputerActive PO Box 893 Clinton, OK 73601 Discount Video & Computers 1717 South U.S. 1 Fort Pierce, FL 34950 Palette Imaging 1 Closter Commons STE 789 Closter, NJ 07624-0400 (201) 767-3913 Offers new 1991 professional quality ChromaCad modeling package. MWPDS 890 North Huntington St. Medina OH 44256 Phantoms Atari 8-bit Box 331 Levisa Road MouthCard, KY 41548 Vulcan Software PO Box 692 Manassas VA 22111-0692 Innovative Concepts 31172 Shawn Drive Warren, MI 48093 (313)293-0730 accesories, hardware, PD software CSS PO Box 17660 Rochester NY 14617 (716)586-5545 8-bit hardware upgrades, 8-bit repair service. San Jose Computers 640 Blossom Hill Road San Jose, CA 95123 (408)224-8575 New and reconditioned hardware, as well as lots of software. Entertainment Excellence 1805 Princeton Place Merrick, NY 11566 Discontinued 8-bit software. East Hartford Computer 202 Robert Street East Hartford, CT 06108 Discontinued software for all computers. Aerion Software PO Box 1222 Riverdale Station, NY, NY 10471-1222 Markets a new 8-bit commercial game. Toad Computers 556 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd Severna Park, Maryland 21146 (301)544-6943 Offers a selection of software and reconditioned hardware. Novatari XL/XE PD Library C/O Geoffrey Dimego 8612 Thames Street Springfield, VA 22151 TEAC (The Educators Atari Club) PO Box 1024 Laytonville, CA 95454 AEL 8-Bit PD Library C/O Bill Marcum PO Box 34183 Louisville, KY 40232 When writing to request catalogs, it's always a good idea to include a Stamped, Self-Addressed Envelope. ----------------------------- Next, is a list of magazines still supporting the 8-bit Atari. Current Notes 122 North Johnson Road Sterling, VA 22170 A truly excellent Atari-oriented magazine, supporting both 8-bit and ST. AtariUser 113 West College Street Covina, CA 91723 Newest Atari publication covering the full line of Atari products. Atari Interface Magazine 3487 Braeburn Circle Ann Arbor, MI 48108 8-bit and ST support, with good listing of national user groups. Page 6 / New Atari User P.O. Box 54 Stafford, ST16 1DR England Glossy British magazine supporting mainly the 8-bits, along with a few ST articles. Excellent. Atari Explorer 29-05 Broadway Astoria, NY 11106 Mostly ST, occasional 8-bit article PSAN P.O. Box 110576 Tacoma, WA 98411-0576 Good Atari newsletter. 8:16 248 Wimborne Road Oakdale, Poole, Dorset BH15 3EF England 8-bit/ST newsletter from England. ------------------------------------ Note : If you have any updates to this list, please contact: Ray Wilmott 10 South Rhoda Street Monroe, NJ 08884 (GEnie : R.WILMOTT) (InterNet : wilmott@remus.rutgers.edu) ------------------------------ Date: 26 Mar 92 16:14:00 GMT From: (John R. Dunning) Subject: IBM emulating 8 bit To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1992 13:00 EST From:(Jeff McWilliams) [...] One thing I have always been mystified about though, is why translate the code from 6502 to 68000 or 80386SX on the fly? Why not do it ONCE and then run the code as a native processor program? Then only the Hardware emulator would be running, wasting time, not the translator emulator program. No, you miss the point. Most emulators don't translate the code of the emulated processor to that of the native one, they implement a simulation, in software, of what the emulated processor does in hardware. In many cases it's difficult, if not impossible, to actually translate the bits in a non-trivial program, because the details of operation of the processor. Consider a trivial case; vaxen vs 68000s. Both have 16 registers, but the vax has 16 general registers, whereas the 68K has 8 data and 8 address. You can't build a translator that simply maps the 68K registers to the vax registers, because even though there are the same number of them, they don't do the same things. You of course have worse problems trying to translate code that knows things about, for instance, wierdo banked-memory schemes. And things such as the Atari 8-bits, which have lots of funny addresses which cause wierd effects when accessed, force you to do lots of special casing whenever you access any address that can't be computed at translate time. And I won't even mention things like pc-relative addressing, or self-modifying code. The upshot of all this is that at the absolute best, the generated code will expand by a large amount, and at worst, it may simply not be feasible to generate code that -does the same thing-. That's why they're called emulators, not code translators. ------------------------------ Date: 29 Mar 92 04:41:03 GMT From: SMITHKLINE.COM!poehland%phvax.dnet@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: CSS WANTS A 6502 PROGRAMMER! To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 6502 PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITY >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I was recently informed that Bob Puff of Computer Software Services in Rochester, New York is looking for a *competent & dependable* 6502 M/L programmer. Pay would be in the form of royalties based on sales of your work thru CSS. This is serious stuff. CSS is one of the last major 8-bit developers left in the market. If you have ever used BOBTERM, SUPERARC/UNARC, or used any major CSS products such as the Black Box, Archiver, or 3.5- floppy upgrades, you have an idea of the impeccable style crafted into Bob Puff's products & the high standards he has established for CSS since he took over the operation of the company last year. If you think you're good enough to crunch code for Bob Puff, contact him at: Computer Software Services P.O. Box 17660 Rochester, NY 14617 voice: 716-429-5639 FAX : 716-247-7158 BBS : 716-247-7157 If this opportunity interests you, be aware CSS is looking for someone with the following qualifications: 1.) You MUST have your 6502 down cold, be able to code *concisely*; 2.) You MUST be a dependable/reliable/responsible individual who can deliver quality work on time. Bob didn't go into detail on this, but I rather suspect he would be most favorably impressed with someone who could furnish examples of their coding expertise & provide references to vouch for their dependability. If ever there were an opportunity to make a little money for yourself, support CSS & the 8bit community, & dazzle your 8bit friends by telling them you work with Bob Puff, this has to be IT. SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY, PLEASE! [NOTE: Don't contact me, contact CSS directly at the address above.] - BEN POEHLAND The Alchemist ------------------------ Date: 30 Mar 92 15:57:19 GMT From: SMITHKLINE.COM!poehland%phvax.dnet@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Power Supply Problem To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu I read with interest Adam Conover's description of his -cold only- power supply problem. The fact that the problem gradually clears up after awile indicates that his regulator & diodes are OK. The culprit is the large electrolytic filter cap (typically 10,000uF or 6800uF). Adam doesn't say which type supply he has (I named them Type I,II,II,& IV in my power supply article in the Nov. 1990 issue of Current Notes. whoops- that's I,II,III & IV I mean.) My guess is that most likely Adam has a type I (white case) or a type III (black case but same size/shape as the type I). If so, the unit is a snap to repair, Best should be able to supply the cap. If the supply is a Type II (black, totally sealed in @#$%&!!! potting compound, alias -The Klunker- or -The Brick-), forget about repair & buy a new one. Adam's XL is likely 7-8 years old & has seen heavy use. The heavy current drain, high internal temperatures, & hundreds of on-off cycles are borne most heavily by the big cap. Eventually they either vent their juices &/or dry out. This lowers the effective capacitance & increases the unit's internal impedance. When that happens, unacceptable levels of 60- or 120-Hz AC (-ripple-) appear on top of the +5V, reproduced as audible hum on the audio output & classic -hum bars- on the video display. Hum bars typically appear as thick dark horizontal bands that migrate slowly up the screen. This already happened to one of my five 800XL's, I repaired it (it was a type III supply). Sooner or later this problem will happen to virtually every XL ever made, especially if the machine is left on a lot &/or you have hung a bunch of extra power-hungry goodies onto it. A souped-up XL should have a beefed-up supply such as the Squeezed Queen I described in the Nov. -Dec. 1991 issues of Current Notes. - BEN POEHLAND The Alchemist ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 92 15:16:24 GMT From: mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!isis.cs.du.edu!brayl@uunet.uu.net (Bill Rayl) Subject: Cheap sources of 360K DS/DD atari floppies? To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu In response to a quesetion about a source for good, cheap disks, I can recommend MidWstern Diskette in Iowa. They're asking 18 cents in lots of 1000, 25 cents in lots of 500, 28 cents in lots of 100, and 30 cents in lots of 50. These are for black disks. They have 5.25 inch disks available in 9 colors. Their phone number is (800) 221-6332. Tell them you heard about their disks from Atari Interface magazine! Pattie (AIM) ------------------------------ From: INET::-tribe@ted.cs.uidaho.edu- 31-MAR-1992 17:11:37.66 To: phvax::poehland Subj: Re: Power Supply Problem [I am replying as I can't post for some reason...] I just recently had my own power supply experience, which I will breifly relate: I have two supplies: one $#!+ filled -brick- supply (came with my 800XL) and a rectanular black supply that is hollow and has XL-style vents (type III? IV?) (came with my 600XL) Tried to fix the brick (HAHA!), then the vented supply. The problem with the latter was that after heating up, the cap put in by Atari would back out of the board (really short leads) enough to change resistance. (?? I'm no EE, my best guess...) Dissasembling and re- soldering would fix it for a couple of weeks only. I went to Radio Shack and bought a new cap with longer leads and all is now well. Thanks, Duane Tribe (tribe@ted.cs.uidaho.edu) ------------------------------ Date: 31 Mar 92 23:06:17 GMT From: smithkline.com!poehland%phvax.dnet@ucbvax.berkeley.edu Subject: Power Supply Problem To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu Duane, back issues of CN are available for $2.50 ea. (1991) or $2.00 ea. for 1990 & 1989. I recommend to *EVERYONE* to purchase as many back issues of ANY magazine that supported 8bits as you can afford. Magazines- old or current- are STILL the best source of info for our 8bits. Contact CN: (703)450-4761 business line, ask for Joyce Waters Current Notes Inc. 122 N. Johnson Rd. Sterling VA 22170 BTW, the situation you describe- where the cap kept pulling itself loose from the board- is also a sign of a defective cap. A cap that develops high internal impedance will tend to heat up when it is exposed to AC (such as the very high amount of ripple present at the output of the rectifier diodes). Electrolytics that get hot will tend to swell, or bulge (if they get hot enough fast enough, they blow up!). In your case the cap pulled its leads loose when it swelled. Merely resoldering it back into place could provide at best only a temporary cure- as you found out! An ironclad rule is that capacitors should NEVER be hot! There are only 2 ways a cap can be hot: A.) it's defective & should be replaced; B.) it is situated too close to some heat-producing component & is absorbing that componet's heat via conduction thru a circuit board foil trace. The cure there is to add extra heatsinking to the hot component to reduce the thermal load on the cap. If allowed to continue, the hot component will eventually dry out the cap & destroy it. The pwr supply you describe is a type III, they were mostly shipped w/600XL's but I got mine with an 800XL. The filter cap in the the type III is the cheapest piece of junk I ever saw, Atari mustah got a deal on them. The value of the cap in those supplies- 4700 or 6800uF, is I think too low to provide adequate hum filtering for an 800XL which draws more current than the 600XL. The voltage rating should be 25V minimum, higher is better. - BEN POEHLAND The Alchemist ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 92 16:30:48 GMT From: (Kevin Chase) Subject: Percom drives hack To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu For all of you who have an old Percom drive there's good news. I just read zmag206 and found an article there about using the controller card on a single sided double density Percom to drive two standard 360k floppies from an IBM type system. Well, I had a (really old) single sided single densityy Percom drive and two floppies from a dead XT so I decided to try the hack anyway. I took the XT P/s to run the drives and took apart the Percom. I left the full height old drive in the case, connected a standard IBM floppy connector to the Percom logic board, and tried booting. Voila, it worked. It recognized both drives as sd drives (no dd yet or dsided but hey, I only put 10 minutes into this so far). So for nothing I now have an extra drive (2 new - 1 old = +1 current). Apparenty the density of the two drives is coded on an EPROM on the logic board, so if I had some specs and an EPROM burner I could have two double density drives. So if anyone has useful specs on Percom drives I would greatly appreciate them. ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 92 21:38:41 GMT From: edinboro.edu!a644690c@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (-Adam J. Conover-) Subject: Power supply. To: Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu >Date: 30 Mar 92 15:57:19 GMT >From: SMITHKLINE.COM!poehland%phvax.dnet@ucbvax.berkeley.edu >I read with interest Adam Conover's description of his -cold only- >power supply problem........ Ben, Your remarks about my power supply are VERY accurate! I HAVE had my XL for 7-8 years and it's had its hundreds (if not thousands) of on off cycles. And yes, it is a type III (as you call it) power supply. Though I have a bit of discrete circuit knowledge, my 'basic electronics' is rather poor at present. I do, however, know enough to desolder and replace a bad Filter Cap. - which sure enough was the problem. Last Sunday I took it apart to check it out and the filter cap. had gotten hot enough to have melted some of the plastic coating. I have not yet been able to get a 4700mF (or higher would probably be better) capacitor to fix it. Since I have more work than I can handle at the moment anyhow, not having the computer up and running is probably for the best. (I seem to always have some stupid COBOL program due or a Computer Architecture Lab due or something). Also, Don't you think that 4700mF (which is what it had) is really low for a filter cap. on a computer? Well, Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. Peace, -Adam Conover. a644690c@edinboro.edu. ------------------------------ | | | THE GENIE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE | | | Free Sign-on Information | | | --------------------------------------------------------------- GEnie is an online service operated by General Electric. It's the official online resource for Atari Computer Corporation! This is the spot where you can directly contact virtually every developer in the Atari Community! Participate in live, online conferences, exchange electronic mail, and get access to the very latest in PD and shareware programs. And of course, some of the brightest stars in the World of Atari are on GEnie as well, here's just a partial listing of the many developers and personalities online: () Dave Small of Gadgets by Small () Jim Allen of FAST Technology () Nathan Potechin of ISD Marketing (Calamus and Dyna CADD) () John Nagy, Editor of AtariUser Magazine () Rick Flashman and Dan Wilga of Gribnif Software () The CodeHeads; Charles F. Johnson and John Eidsvoog () D.A. Brumleve, publisher of quality educational software () Nevin Shalit, author of RUMOR CITY in ST INFORMER Magazine, publisher of TRACKER/ST, and IAAD President () Deron Kazmaier of SoftLogik Publishing (PageStream) () Ron Kovacs, Publisher of Z*Magazine and Z*Net PC Online Magazine () Double Click Software's Mike Vederman () Atari Explorer's publisher John Jainschigg () Bill and Pattie Rayl of Atari Interface Magazine () Tom Harker, Craig Thom, and Doug Wheeler of ICD, Inc. () Chet Walters and Dr. Bob of WizWorks! () Lauren Flanagan-Sellers of GoldLeaf Publishing (WordFlair II) () Lee Seilor of Lexicor Software and of course...Atari Computer Corporation!! Atari Reps online include Bill Rehbock, Bob Brodie, John Townsend, Mike Fulton, Ken Badertscher, Cary Gee, Mark Jansen, Dan McNamee, J. Patton, and Allan Pratt. There's a lot more to GEnie than just Atari, though! Here's just a sample of the GEnie Basic*Services you can enjoy for just $4.95 a month: () Pursue your personal interests - professional or leisure. From Japan to Photography, Religion to Real Estate, GEnie's Bulletin Boards let youleave question, post messages, and share your tips and ideas on dozens of topics. () Research questions? Ask GEnie. Grolier's Electronic Encyclopedia has a 10-million word database that's revised quarterly - so it's never out of date. And it's just one of GEnie's quality research services. () Unlimited electronic mail. Another reason to choose GEnie. The GE Mail lets you send all the notes and letters you want to anyone on the GEnie system during non-prime time. () Shop and save a bundle. There are over 30 stores to shop online in the GEnie Mall- from JC Penney's online catalog to chocolates from Godiva. And Compu-u-store Online offers discount from 10% to 50% on over 250,000 brand name items! () Money matters. GEnie*Basic gives you the latest on stocks and finance. Get the day's stock and mutual fund closings, check the Investors' Bulletin Board, and pick up valuable information on personal finance. () Today's news, weather and sports. Stay up to date on the top daily stories, current weather conditions anywhere in the world, and how your favorite team did today. () Just the ticket for traveling. EAASY SABRE from American Airlines let's you examine schedule and find the lowest fares for more than 650 airlines worldwide. Reserve hotel rooms and rental cars, too. Check the Bulletin Boards for the news from Florida, and tips on travel. () Games and entertainment. Battle the Black Dragon, try your hand at Adventure 550, Dor Sageth, Castle Quest, and more. GEnie also keeps you current with movie reviews and soap opera summaries, plus the latest jokes. () Aladdin Support. Get online help with Aladdin, GEnie's own communications package, which provides ST owners with an easy way to access GEnie's services. That's just the beginning of GEnie*Basic. There are over a hundred services in all, including these Bulletin Board topics: Science Fiction, Current Affairs, Radio/Electronics, Military, Genealogy, Writers, Medical, Home Office/Small Business, Education, disAbilities, Automotive, Air and Space Technology. GEnie couldn't be easier to try. There is no sign-fee. The monthy subscription fee of just $4.95 gives you unlimited non-prime-time usage of GEnie*Basic Services. And there's no risk! In fact, GEnie is so sure you'll be satisfied, they're offering a money back guarantee. If you're not completely happy with GEnie*Basic services after your first 30 days, GEnie will refund your initial $4.95 subscription fee!! To sign up, just follow these simple steps: 1. Set your communications software for half duplex (local echo) at 300, 1200, or 2400 baud. 2. Dial toll free: 1-800-638-8369 (or in Canada, 1-800-387-8330). Upon connection, enter HHH 3. At the U# prompt, enter XTX99436,GENIE then press . 4. Have a major credit card ready. In the U.S., you may also use your checking account number. For more information in the United States or Canada, call 1-800-638- 9636 or write: GEnie, c/o GE Information Services, P.O. Box 6403, Rockville, MD 20850-1785. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To sign up for DELPHI service, call (with modem) (800) 695-4002. Upon connection, hit once or twice. At Password: type ZNET and hit . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To sign up for GEnie service call (with modem) (800) 638-8369. Upon connection type HHH and hit . Wait for the U#= prompt and type XTX99436,GEnie and hit . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To sign up for CompuServe service call (with phone) (800) 848-8199. Ask for operator #198. You will be promptly sent a $15.00 free membership kit. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Z*Magazine Atari 8-Bit Online Magazine is a publication covering the 8- Bit Atari and related computer community. Material published in this edition may be reprinted under the following terms only. All articles must remain unedited and include the issue number and author at the top of each article reprinted. Reprint permission granted, unless otherwise noted, to registered Atari user groups and not for profit publications. Opinions present herein are those of the individual authors and does not necessarily reflect those of the staff. This publication is not affiliated with the Atari Corporation. Z*Net, Z*Net News Service, Z*Net International, Rovac, Z*Magazine Online and Z*Net Publishing are copr (c)1985-1992, Syndicate Publishing, Rovac Industries Incorporated, Post Office Box 59, Middlesex, New Jersey, 08846-0059, Voice: (908) 968-2024, BBS: (908) 968-8148, (510) 373-6792. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Z*Magazine - HOT Atari News and Reviews Copyright (c)1992, Rovac Industries, Inc... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~