Hello again members! Well, Fall is right around the corner, and with the cooler weather, I trust computers will be running more and more frequently. Fall is usually the busiest time of the month for the club for this and other reasons.
It has been suggested that we start planning the Christmas meeting very very early so that we can have another great meeting like our July meeting. I am all for this and it will be on the agenda this month. For the September meeting, we will have another round of trivia set up as well. The SPACE Programming Team (SPT) will have another meeting and anybody is welcome to join in. We will also discuss the elections which are rapidly approaching us in November.
Many of you know that I work at Budget Computers and my boss, Jerry Dunn, never ceases to amaze me. Recently he made a rather large purchase of software that consisted of "clamshell software" (software packaged in clam style clear plastic containers), unboxed commercial disks and defective returned software. I managed to find some time to sort through a bit of it and I found MANY ATARI software titles. I was able to test them and found many of them worked. Many of these titles will show up on my "Budget Computer table" at the next meeting. Many of them are NOT games. I found three EXCELLENT Davidson educational titles that were almost brand new. You will WANT to check these out, ATARI software is very hard to find and finds like these are valuable and scarce. I have made phone calls to software distributors that Budget deals with to check on ATARI software and have had no success in locating a distributor. So it appears for now the only outlets of ATARI software in Minnesota are The Computer Station, Lance Ringquist (who is faithfully attending every meeting) and myself through Budget Computers. Between us, hopefully we will be able to furnish ATARI computer owners with the software they need.
I hope to see everyone at the coming Fall meetings. I am receiving more good news about another monitor purchase and will continue to update you as Craig Larson gets in touch with me. More than ever we need your total support to our little club. I want to see SPACE become the leading ATARI user group in the country by the end of this year and I know we can do it with our drive and determination. The ATARI community needs us, so let's help SPACE rise to the occasion.
See YOU at the meetings!
Nathan Block
The meeting was called to order by President Nathan Block.
Mike Schmidt, Our newsletter editor, announced that due to some changes in our printing arrangements, the cost of printing and mailing our monthly newsletter will go up approximately $10 a month. Sherman Erickson also volunteered some drive time each month to deliver and pick up the newsletter from the printer.
Mike Weist asked if a tape recorder could be secured by the group somehow to tape the monthly meetings. Any donated tape recorder not being used would be appreciated. Mike Weist also brought up the idea of name buttons for the members. All members could easily identify each other by name if everyone had a S.P.A.C.E. name button on. Mike has a line on a source for these buttons at an estimated cost to the club of 50 cents a button. Mike will try get some samples to one of the upcoming meetings for members to look at.
Larry Serflatten, our new BBS SYSOP, entered into a discussion with the group concerning upcoming modifications to the BBS.
Joe Danko showed the SX212 modems purchased last month through a mail order outlet in Plymouth Mn. The price that S.P.A.C.E. purchased the modems at was $29.99. The price has gone down to $19.95 since then. The modems bought by S.P.A.C.E. will be raffled off in the future. S.P.A.C.E. bought 2 modems for future raffles.
8:10 pm The meeting was closed by President Nathan Block.
I have mentioned the forthcoming Atari STBook in some messages and have obtained some spec sheets from Bill Rehbock just before he left today to take two of them to a big show in Germany. Bill says I may share them with you. Specifications are always subject to change and I may leave some out that I consider most "changeable", but having said that, they're pretty solid. (Just tryin' to cover my bases).
Let me say first that STBook and the Portfolio are as marketably different as they are the same. The STBook appeals to an established worldwide market of Atari ST/Mega users by sharing OS compatibility. I am campaigning that it can also be perceived as a step up product from the Portfolio in that it offers superb lightweight productivity, access to thousands of established software programs, but also as much share ASCII files with other computers as the Portfolio can through the Serial Port.
On with the specs . . .
This new laptop entry by Atari sports an 8.5" x 11" footprint, is only 1.4" thick (37mm) and weighs only 4.3 lbs. A 7 "AA" battery pack is provided for 10-12 hours of operation. An optional rechargeable battery pack will be available which recharges in just 2 hours while the computer is running. It offers MIDI IN/OUT ports (another musicians dream in the Atari collection), RS232 Serial port, Parallel port and a floppy disk/ACSI DMA port for an external drive, hard disks, CD-ROM, lasers, etc. Built-in hard drive capacities include the options of 40, 60, 80 and 100 mb.
The highly defined LCD screen offers 640x400 resolution (mono) and it has a 3 voice, programmable sound generator. The specs say 84/85 key keyboard (?) which partially consist of 10 function keys and 4 cursor keys. There is a connector for a standard size Atari keyboard and an option for an external 18-key numeric keypad.
Those not familiar with the Atari OS should know that it is graphics based (as easy as a MAC [I think easier]) which means that point and click mouse operations are intergral. The STBook introduces a unique new mouse alternative for portability. It has a built-in Atari pressure sensitive Vector-Pad(tm), using FSR technology. What that means is that the pad is not only directional sensitive, but pressure sensitive as well. The mouse moves faster, the harder it is tapped.
It will be available with 1 or 4 MEG RAM and 512K ROM (enough for everyone?) and includes the popular Atari BLiTTER(tm) chip for faster graphics draws. An internal 2400 baud modem OR 9600 baud/fax modem will be available.
The system archetecture is 68000 cpu based operating at 8MHz with a 32-bit internal bus, 24-bit external address bus and 16-bit external data bus. The expansion bus is a 120-pin full-function connector.
I did not notice statements of built-in applications although there are hints of them as the computer may be set in sleep mode to monitor alarms and appointments.
The operating system is already supported by thousands of professional, home and entertainment offerings. CompuServe supports the environment very well (Type GO ATARIPRO). All existing mono apps are instantly compatible.
I urge interested developers to get in touch with Atari immediately. There is a wealth of development support in place for the platform and I think this will become quite a hot ticket. I do not have prices, but (like the Portfolio) Atari's trademark will always be associated to "Power Without The Price".
I would be happy to answer what I can, but be forewarned that this is all I have in writing at this point.
To contact Atari call (408) 745-2000 and ask for Developer Support. I am happy to help anyone too.
Don Thomas
CIS ID: 75300,1267
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Atari User Groups are the backbone of the Atari community, and an important resource for Atari owners in their areas. Likewise, you Atari owning CompuServe subscribers help support a valuable resource for information and exchange. In an important sense, the CompuServe Atari Forums are a User Group, too!
Atari gains a lot from your efforts, and we're very grateful for your support. So, from now until December 31, 1991, Atari Explorer (the Official Atari Journal) wants to say "thank you" to Atari User Groups and CompuServe users all across the U.S., by offering a 33% discount on Atari Explorer subscriptions! That's right -- for just $9.95, you can get six big issues (one year, regular price $14.95) of Atari Explorer ($24.95 for 18 issues, three years, regular price $39.95). Or, if you already subscribe, we'll extend your subscription at the same low rates!
To qualify, just provide the information on User Group membership (or CompuServe subscribership) requested on the subscription form, below! (Credit-card orders, call our customer-service line at (218) 723-9202.) And please, pass the word!
(Offer limited to members in good standing of registered Atari User Groups, or CompuServe subscribers, who reside in the Continental U.S. Discounts are not additive (that is, if you're BOTH a member of a User Group AND a CompuServe subscriber, you STILL only get 33% off! Sorry!) Offer void after December 31, 1991.)
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Telecomputing is more than just another way to use your computer. With the help of inexpensive modem hardware connected to the RS-232 serial interface of your Atari, your telephone line becomes a gateway to hundreds of other Atari users who share your interests.
The most common and affordable use for a modem is accessing local bulletin board systems (BBS). These are simply modem-equipped computers running special communications software which automatically answers the phone, thus allowing callers to access the computer's databases with their own modems and computers.
In principle, the local BBS is not all that different from the bulletin board down at the laundromat except that it can be much more interactive. Accessing a BBS can be a real social event where you share ideas with other modem users on many topics. A BBS is a place where you could make fast, lifelong friends. If you ever actively used a CB Radio, then you already have a good feel for what it's like to communicate with others on a BBS.
Over 5 years ago I called my first sysop (system operator who owns and maintains the BBS host computer). He has become a very good friend and we both are now officers in the same Atari users group (computer club). Sysops dedicate their computer, modem and phone line to a BBS just for the love of it. Setting up and running a BBS can be an expensive and time-consuming process-addictive too.
A BBS is usually made up of several database "forums," each one covering a different topic. Typically you will find a main database on more general interests and at least one on programming. Other common forums include movie reviews, commentaries on sports, coverage of local computer club events and computer gaming tips.
Talking with a BBS over your modem is like running a program on your own computer, with menus to guide you along. At the main menu you might choose the general interest forum. There you could read messages and reply to them as well. Entering and editing a message takes a bit of practice, but the BBS software usually provides enough help to get the job done.
However, a BBS has more to offer than just an arena for debate. Generally the BBS will provide a database of public domain programs that you can "download," using your software's communications protocol for transfering program files over the phone. Sysops may require that you contribute to the forums or upload public domain files occasionally to achieve a higher "clearance" allowing you more freedom on the BBS.
Title: FRIENDS SALE
Author: ROBERT WHIFFEN
To: All
Posted: Sat 31-Aug-91 at 11:48:01pm
The following Items are for sale by a friend of mine,
ATARI 600XL (64K).....................................$40.00 ATARI 65XE (320K)+ULTRA SPEED (BY CSS)...............$200.00 IWDUS GT DRIVE W/NEW POWER PACK......................$120.00 1050 DD W/ULTRA SPEED, SUPER ARCHIVER AND SILENCER...$200.00 MAGNAVOX RGB MONITOR.................................$150.00 1010 PROGRAM RECORDER..................................$5.00 1020 PLOTTER...........................................$5.00 GRAPHIX XETEC INTERFACE (APE FACE)....................$20.00All cables, power supplies and manuals.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Here is an upload from Nathan to the BBS:
The following list of ATARI items will be for sale at the September meeting of SPACE (9/13/91).
ATARI 800XL, ATARI 810, ATARI Touch Tablet (includes ATARI Artist software), ATARI Printer 1027
Cartridge Software:
Eduational System Master Cartridge, Basic, Asteroids, Music Composer, Star Raider, Centipede, Computer Chess, PacMan, Basketball, Super Breakout, Missile Command, Submarine Commander, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Junior, Kaboom, Pole Position, Q-Bert
Disk Software:
Weekly Planner, Atari Financial Wizard, Basic Atari, Atari Safari, Caverns of Mars, Movie Maker, Graphics Magician Picture Painter, Apple Panic, Word Flyer, Frogger, Ninja, Letter Perfect, Seven Cities of Gold, Personal Financial Management System, Ghost Hunger, Alien Encounter, O'Riley's MIne, Pinball
Tape Software:
COMPLETE SET OF DOSETT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS Learning Tapes, Conversational Spanish, Conversational French, An Invitation to Programming #2, An Invitation to Programming #3, Missile Command.
The Newell Ind. upgrade for the 800/1200XL works GREAT, but is a little complicated to install. I did this first one on a 800XL and I took my time. Even so, I think it would take me about 4 hours to install another. This is a 1088K upgrade, as the original 64K is still used, not replaced. Also, it uses 1 Meg RAMs (or DRAMs as some people like to call them. Have to make things more complicated then they really are.).
First of all, the upgrade board that comes is a Rev B, and must have 2 changes installed in it even before you open up your computer. The way around this is to send the board back, along with $20 and they will send you their Rev C board. These two revisions require 2 chip removals and 2 new chips installed, 17 foil cuts and 14 wire adds. They provide one of the chips, but you must provide the second one. You MUST be able to use a soldering iron and work with 30 ga. wire. Otherwise, DON'T attempt this. Take it to someone who can or see the end of this article for information and price to have Newell install it for you.
Next is the actual installation in your 800XL. This, I must say, could have been made MUCH simpler. As it is, you have to connect 26 individual wires to the 800 XL mother board. Most of these could have been prewired to 2-40 pin chap sockets with only 4 wires that would have to go directly to the XL board. The original 64K of RAM is left in place, with one of the chips removed and installed an a chip socket on the upgrade board. A short cable with a socket header is plugged in here and goes to the Upgrade board.
When Completed, the top shield will not fit, unless you get out your tin-snips and cut out a fairly large hole on the left side above the existing RAM and over to the side of the RF Modulator. This as what I did. You could leave the shield off, but I prefered to keep it as much in-tact as I could. Also, a hole must be drilled in the rear and a toggle switch installed. Switch is NOT included and is not required, but some people might want it. It will only work with Atari DOS and will allow Booting with the internal BAS1C on or off (Might work with MYDOS). If on, and Atari DOS, you can now go to the CART from the DOS menu, but ONLY from Atari DOS. SpartaDOS users can't use this. Program control of BASIC is not supported. You can use an External BASIC cart. I did try an external Cart, and after I turned off my EXPRESS! Cart, it worked just fine.
There are 3 Methods of installation available, each with a different addressing scheme. The first one is the recommended one and the one that I used. This is the only one compatiable with SpartaDOS and follows the Addressing of the previous 1 Meg upgrades for the XL/XE (Scott Peterson for one). I have never installed that one as I didn't like the idea of 'Piggy-Backing' 4-256K chips on top of each other, times 8 Stacks, to make 1 Meg.
For SpartaDOS users, this is a GREAT upgrade. SpartaDOS 3.2d, use the File RD1088.COM to set up the RAM Disk. This file allows the use of the options "/E" and "/N" although it doesn't say so. The command is "RD1088 Dx: [opt]". The 'x' is the drive number you want the Ramdisk installed as. 8180 Free sectors (Single Density) when the /E option is NOT used. I noted a few minor problems with RD1088.COM:
1) For some reason, you can not fill the Ramdisk. It will always have about 25 Free sectors that can't be used. Maybe the program isn't subtracting the sectors used for the Directory. I didn't look into it.
2) The RD1088.C0M file can not be used in a STARTUP.BAT file unless it is the Last command in the file. For some reason, after the Ramdisk is installed, it Always returns to the "D1:" prompt and aborts the rest of the .BAT file execution. A good ML programer might be able to fix this, but I'm not a programer!
For SDX users, just change your CONFIG.SYS, or add to it if you didn't have a Ramdisk before. "DEVICE RAMDISK X,64". This is if you are using "USE SPARTA" and "DEVICE SPATA OSRAM". What I actually used is:
USE BANKED
DEVICE SPARTA
DEVICE RAMD1SK 9,59
The '9' is the Ramdisk number, D9: or I:. 59 is 5 Banks less then the full 64 Banks available. 1 Bank will be used by SDX and 4 Banks are to keep compatibillity with the 130XE (64K of extended RAM for programs to use). There was someplace in the area of 3800 Double Density Sectors available with this setup. Another thing I did try with SDX was to setup mutiple Ramdisks:
DEVICE RAMDISK 8,29 (D8: or H:)
DEVICE RAMDISK 9,30 (D9: or I:)
Only SDX has this abillity and it works fine. Here again, I used 5 Banks less.
A Modified MYDOS 4.5U comes with the Upgrade kit and I did boot it up and give it a try. Sorry, I m a deticated SpartaDOS user and hate Menus, so I only made sure the basics worked. When it was BOOTING, it did come up on Screen with the normal 130XE "Setting up 130XE Ramdisk", but it took much longer to complete. After arriving at the DOS Menu, there was a about 7900 Free Sectors and DOS.DUP and MEM.SAV where both setup in the Ramdisk. On the disk there is a test program that very quickly checks that all 64 Banks are present. It is in BASIC, so I used it from SDX with no problems.
Being the first upgrade of this type, naturally, I'd have problems, but the problem turned out to be in the Computer, NOT the upgrade. This particular 800XL was giving the owner strange errors with BASIC before the upgrade was installed. It turned out to be the 6502C, CPU chip that was heat sensitive. After that was fixed, I used it on my system, a 1 Meg MIO and 20 Meg Hard drive using both SpartaDOS 3.2d and SDX, a ICD R-Time8 and the EXPRESS! terminal Cart. No more problems were encountered. It worked Flawlessly!
More notes; This upgrade maintains the Antic Extened Addressing Mode, where ALL the other upgrades to the XL/XE's don't.
With a few more changes, the 1 Meg RAMs can be swapped for 4 Meg RAMs and you can have a 4 meg, XL. With this change though, you lose ALL compatibility with existing programs. With a little work, I'm sure a BBS program could be re-written to work with at. That's the only use I can think of for 4 Meg of Ramdisk.
Newell Industries has three 1Meg/4Meg upgrades available. One for the 800/1200 XL, one for the 65XE and one for the 130XE. I'm sure the two XE upgrades will be harder as the XE's have very few socketed chips.
NEWELL Industustries
P.O. Box 253
Wylie, Tx. 75098
Phone (214) 442-6612
$49.95 Less RAM's. Shipping is free. Sorry, no credit cards, but COD is free. $44.00 for 8-1 Meg RAMs. Might want to call them for the lastest RAM prices as they are falling monthly. ($350 for 8-4 Meg RAMs!!!)
To do the full upgrade, you will need the following:
The tools I won't mention, as if you are capable of doing this upgrade, you'll know what it takes. Yes, I'm trying to scare you away from attempting it, as it is a lot of solder removal, wire cutting, wire insulation stripping, and soldering. One misswire, one lifted/broken foil, one unclipped pigtail, and I don't want to be the one trying to fix it. Oh, I almost forgot. Newell will install the upgrade for $30. plus shipping. Figure about $40.
At the time of this writing, Newell has a 65XE and a 800XL, both with the 1 Meg Upgrade installed, for $185. each. That's $10 more than B&C ComputerVisions sells a 256K 800XL, and $110 LESS then they sell their 1 Meg 800XL's. Those prices are from the July, '91, AtariUser magazine.
For everyone's information, the 800XL is now on WARP 10 BBS and working perfectly
Due to a harddrive failure with the harddrive used by Joe Danko, there will not be a DOM article this month. There may not be a DOM either.
Published by the Saint Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts (SPACE), an independent organization with no business affiliation with ATARI Corporation. Permission is granted to any similar organization with which SPACE exchanges newsletters to reprint material from this newsletter. We do however ask that credit be given to the authors and to SPACE. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of SPACE, the club officers, club members or ATARI Corporation.