=========================================================================

INFO-ATARI16 Digest         Mon,  4 Dec 89       Volume 89 : Issue 748
 
Today's Topics:
                     'Form' math prog details....
                      FORM, nice but... (2 msgs)
                              Form Doc's
                      GNU C Floating Point Math
                        Harddrive Questions???
                                 LNYX
                   Spreadsheet or Finance Package?
                        Ultrascript experience
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Date: 4 Dec 89 16:33:25 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!hrc!force!covertr@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu  (Richard E.
 Covert)
Subject: 'Form' math prog details....
Message-ID: <473a1ade.14a1f@force.UUCP>
 
In article <2230@tukki.jyu.fi>, suhonen@tukki.jyu.fi (Timo Suhonen) writes:
> In manual (or in readme-file) it says that FORM needs 1M RAM and a HD
> (not sure about that; I just feel I read it from somewhear). But I think
> you should be able to use it at lest for small problems with SS floppy
> disk and 1M memory. I have used FORM 1 (one!) day with my 1M 520ST and
> a HD. It works really fine!!!  I think FORM is one of the best programs
> I have for my ST.
>
> Hope this helps a little...
>
> --
> Timo Suhonen                                           suhonen@tukki.jyu.fi
>                      I logged in, therefor I am
 
 
Could someone please repost the manual to FORM in ASCII?? I have it in the
DVI format and I don't have the proper DVI tools to convert it to
ASCII.
 
 
Other than that I haven't looked at FORM.
 
Does anyone know how to get DVI to work on an Apollo UNIX based workstation?
 
I don't have any files for my Apollo for DVI. If I could get DVI working on my
Apollo I would repost the manual in ASCII myself.
 
 
 
--
 Richard E. Covert (covertr@gtephx)
  (602) - 581-4652
|  AG Communications Systems, Phoenix AZ   |
 UUCP: ?ncar!noao!asuvax | uunet!zardoz!hrc | att?!gtephx!covertr
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 4 Dec 89 16:51:55 GMT
From: avogel@g.ms.uky.edu  (Andrew Lee Vogel)
Subject: FORM, nice but...
Message-ID: <13401@s.ms.uky.edu>
 
Since it's a topic of discussion: I was very pleased to find the document
in dvi format, thanks.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 4 Dec 89 17:24:22 GMT
From: maytag!watserv1!bmaraldo@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu  (Commander Brett Maraldo)
Subject: FORM, nice but...
Message-ID: <298@watserv1.waterloo.edu>
 
In article <574@nikhefh.nikhef.nl> t68@nikhefh.nikhef.nl (Jos Vermaseren)
 writes:
>Concerning the format of the form.dvi file:
>It is a great paper saver if you happen to use civilized
>paper sizes. The size is A5. Two A5 pages make one A4 sheet.
 
        Granted.  But here in North American we are stuck with stupid
sizes like letter and legal.
 
>Now what is inclusive speech? Should I have written the manual
>in fortran?
 
        I hope you are kidding, but in case you aren't:  Inclusive speech
includes both the male and female genders.  Instead of saying 'Go to the
doctor, he'll fix you up' you must say 'Go to the doctor, he or she will
fix you up.'
 
Brett L Maraldo
 
 
--
               --------     Unit 36 Research     ---------
                        "Alien Technology Today"
                      bmaraldo@watserv1.UWaterloo.ca
                   ?uunet!clyde!utai?!watserv1!bmaraldo
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 4 Dec 89 08:54:27 GMT
From: psuvm!jjl101@psuvax1.cs.psu.edu  (J.J. Lehett)
Subject: Form Doc's
Message-ID: <89338.035427JJL101@PSUVM.BITNET>
 
    Is there anyone that knows where I could get a copy of the Documents to
Form other than in DVI form....preferably in straight ASCII type.
 
-------
********************************************************************
*       J.J.        *             JJL101@psuvm.bitnet              *
*                   *    Penn State Center for Academic Computing  *
*    John Lehett    *          Computational Mathematics           *
********************************************************************
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 4 Dec 89 16:30:59 GMT
From:
 zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!aplcen!jhunix!esp_05@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
 (Stdnt 05)
Subject: GNU C Floating Point Math
Message-ID: <3497@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU>
 
Does anyone have any experience with GNU C and using floating point
math?  From my brief experiences of trying to write some 3D animation
in GNU C (or should I say my brief run-in with GNU C) I have uncovered
an unreasonably large number of errors in the floating point handling.
Admittedly, a number of them cleared up when I stopped using -mshort,
even though I used -lpml16 whenever I used -mshort.
 
Some of the errors include:
        cos(0) doesn't seem to work
        (x*x)+(y*y) doesn't work when -1<y<0
        sqrt() doesn't work (with -mshort only);
           neither do related functions frexp and pow.
 
Any ideas or suggestions?  After comparing GNU C with an ancient copy
of the original (c.1986) Megamax C, with Megamax C blowing GNU C away,
I'll probably get Laser C next month anyway.
 
Thanks, Eric
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 1 Dec 89 20:03:53 GMT
From: hpl-opus!hpnmdla!hpsad!randyh@hplabs.hp.com  (Randy Hosler)
Subject: Harddrive Questions???
Message-ID: <750032@hpsad.HP.COM>
 
A few questions about harddrives:
 
1) What kind of controller would I need for a NEC D5124 or NEC D5126?
   The first is a 10 meg and the 20 a twenty meg.
 
2) Same for a 30 meg WREN CDC BJ7D5-A.
 
3) Can you buy the ATARI host adapter and how much is it?
 
Thanks, Randy
 
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
   |\   | |     _ |                        Randy Hosler
   |/   |-| /\ <  | [] /\                  randyh@hpsadpk
   |\ . | | \/ _> | \_ |                   (707) 974-3677
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 4 Dec 89 17:45:37 GMT
From: mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!hrc!force!covertr@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
 (Richard E. Covert)
Subject: LNYX
Message-ID: <473a5b70.14a1f@force.UUCP>
 
In article <8912020824.AA28364@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>,
 V053QHYX@UBVMSC.CC.BUFFALO.EDU writes:
> During an INTERESTING flight from BUffalo NY to NYC I opened up
> the airlines(yes I hadto go on a few different airlines..!) On PAN AM in
> their magazine their is an add for the portfolio!actually a 2 page add!
> Didnt look like something atari would do..It Actually Looked Professional!!
> and guess what?!On my Continental flight their was also an add in their paper!
>    Jeremy
 
 
I saw a 2 page ad for the Atari Portfolio in the TWA Airline magazine on
my flight from Phoenix to ST Louis on the 16th of November 1989.
It was probably the same ad as mentioned above.
 
 
Goes to show you that Atari CAN advertise if they want to. I guess the
ST just isn't worth advertising here in the States :-).
 
 
--
 Richard E. Covert (covertr@gtephx)
  (602) - 581-4652
|  AG Communications Systems, Phoenix AZ   |
 UUCP: ?ncar!noao!asuvax | uunet!zardoz!hrc | att?!gtephx!covertr
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 4 Dec 89 15:35:20 GMT
From:
 zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!caesar.cs.montana.edu!blake!r
 amsiri@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu  (Enartloc Nhoj)
Subject: Spreadsheet or Finance Package?
Message-ID: <4751@blake.acs.washington.edu>
 
I am hoping somebody can help me make a decision.
 
My father-in-law would like me to put his
apartment managing business/accounts on the ST.
I think there are 25-30 some odd units involved.
 
Realizing the differences between a spreadsheet and
a business-finance package like Phasar or something..
what format would serve best to keep track of
apartment income vs. apartment expenses.. and then
be able to handle taxes at the end of the year with
little effort?  He is approaching 70 years, a program
that doesn't take too long to learn and implement
would be best for him.  His set-up is a 1 meg 1040ST with
a 50 meg Seagate 157N.  Both mono and color.
 
Suggestions for programs?
 
Thanks in advance.
 
-kevin
ramsiri@blake.acs.washington.edu
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 4 Dec 89 17:38:40 GMT
From:
 zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!hrc!force!covertr@tut.cis.oh
 io-state.edu  (Richard E. Covert)
Subject: Ultrascript experience
Message-ID: <473a552d.14a1f@force.UUCP>
 
In article <8912020804.AA27404@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>, 01659@AECLCR.BITNET (Greg
 Csullog) writes:
> One netter asked if anyone had UltraScript experience. One work group at my
> company is PC based but one Atari enthusiast convinced the group to buy a Mega
> an SLM804 and UltraScript. Now, the PC users direct their PostScript files to
> the ST and everyone is VERY happy with (i) the quality and (ii) the cost
> effectiveness of the system. We have a lot of STs on site and the SLM804 has
> wowed a number of people - hopefully we can get more on site.
>
Actually, with the new TOS 1.4, you should be even better off. TOS 1.4 can
 format,
read, and write REAL IBM 3.5" and 5.25" floppies. So, transferring files to
the Mega ST to be printed on the SLM804 should be a snap.
Don't you wish that you could hook the Mega ST up to your IBM PC network
(LAN) though?? That would really enhance your use of the Mega ST4/SLM804.
 
> RE: Rich Covert, maybe it's YOU who has the problem and not Atari
You are 100% correct, I do have a problem with the SLM804. That is, I used to
have a problem with it. Now I don't :-).
 
 
Well, first let me say that I sold my Atari SLM804 laser printer because
of dissatification that I have had with it the last year. I don't want to
rehash them here. Let me just say that the SLM804 is an EXCELLENT laser
printer for ST only work. It is fast and is reasonable well supported by
third party vendors (though not by Atari :-) ). the SLM804 does not work
well with pc ditto (or even pc ditto II), prints at only 144 dpi with Spectre
128 (unless you buy UltraScript), and doesn't have LaserJet or Epson
emulators.
 
I bought my SLM804 in March 1988 for $995 from my local dealer. I would NOT
have paid more for that printer. I am buying a Panasonic KX-P4450 laser
printer for $1399 + $300 for the extra meg of RAM from a local store.
For the extra $700 I get the following features:
 
o Epson FX-286e emulator
 
o Diablo 630 emul.
 
o Panasonic 1092i emul.
 
o IBM Proprinter emul.
 
o HP Laser Jet Plus emul.
 
o 11 ppm print speed
 
o dual paper trays
 
o 1.5 megs of memory in the printer (freeing up one meg of
  memory in the ST)
 
o Downloadable fonts, 4 fonts internal
 
o $35 toner carts every 5,000 pages
 
o $90 developer every 13,000 pages
 
o $189 laser drum every 20,000 pages
 
o Optional envelope paper tray, other sizes also available
 
Now, this printer is very well supported by Mac third party vendors.There
are a number of commerical printer drivers for Mac and the LaserJetplus.
There are plenty of printer drivers for the IBM and the Laserjet Plus.
There are plenty of GDOS drivers for the ST and the LaserJet Plus.
PageStream and Calamus support the LaserJetPlus.
 
Plus, there are all of those ST programs which require an Epson printer.
Now I will be able to use them with my laser printer. Heck, I could even
use the Epson printer drivers for the Mac.
 
I called IMAGEN and was told that UltraScript works fine with Laser Jet Plus
printers. So, there again, I am not losing anythin by buying the Panasonic
KXP4450 laser printer. And I don't need UltraScript to get 300 dpi printouts
in the Mac/Spectre mode. I can use the LaserJet Plus drivers.
 
All in all, the extra bucks that I am paying for the Panasonic laser printer
are well worth it to me. And I am getting a FASTER printer (11 ppm vs 8ppm of
the SLM804).
 
So, if your local ST store doesn't sell the SLM804 for less than $1700, than
you might want to consider the KXP4450.
 
To summarize, the SLM804 is an excellent laser printer for a very narrow
application (ST work). With the addition of UltraScript it is even better.
But, for a few dollars more (in my case a new SLM804 would cost $1300) you
can buy a more general purpose,faster, laser printer that will work with more
applications on the ST and will work with David Small's Spectre and even
with Bill Teal's pc ditto. Please look at other printers before buying the
Atari SLM804. You might be pleasantly surprised at the laser printer market.
 
 
--
 Richard E. Covert (covertr@gtephx)
  (602) - 581-4652
|  AG Communications Systems, Phoenix AZ   |
 UUCP: ?ncar!noao!asuvax | uunet!zardoz!hrc | att?!gtephx!covertr
 
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End of INFO-ATARI16 Digest V89 Issue #748
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