=========================================================================
 
INFO-ATARI16 Digest         Sat,  2 Dec 89       Volume 89 : Issue 740
 
Today's Topics:
                       520ST Piggyback upgrade
                  Comments on STE -- (un)known facts
                     Did I come from the desktop?
                    Diff between TOS 1.0 and 1.2?
                             GFA compiler
                                Line F
                               Modula2
                            MOUSE PROBLEM
                      Quite floppy disk on boot
                    Rainbow Tos Porblems (2 msgs)
                          Still searching...
                           Stunt Car Driver
                            Timeworks DTP
                      What Kermit/UNITERM bugs?
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Date: Fri, 01 Dec 89 21:18:26 PST
From: EESD11O%CALSTATE.BITNET@Forsythe.Stanford.EDU  (Ed Krimen)
Subject: 520ST Piggyback upgrade
 
Could a kind soul please send me a textfile on doing 512K piggyback upgrades for
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 1 Dec 89 22:09:30 GMT
From: portal!atari!kbad@uunet.uu.net  (Ken Badertscher)
Subject: Comments on STE -- (un)known facts
Message-ID: <1842@atari.UUCP>
 
rehrauer@apollo.HP.COM (Steve Rehrauer) writes:
 
| Is there an approved method for software to discover what
| platform it's running on, other than (KLUDGE ALERT!) checking the TOS
| revision #?
 
Yes, there is a new OS service offered in the ROM, beginning with
STE TOS, called the Cookie Jar.  The startup code in the new ROM versions
set up an area of memory with "cookies" which describe various system
configuration options, and with values for the cookies that describe
what's actually there.  The Cookie Jar documentation is available to
developers now, and we will be making it available to the general public
shortly.
 
--
   |||   Ken Badertscher  (ames!atari!kbad)
   |||   Atari R&D System Software Engine
  / | \  #include <disclaimer>
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 2 Dec 89 02:09:11 GMT
From: portal!atari!apratt@uunet.uu.net  (Allan Pratt)
Subject: Did I come from the desktop?
Message-ID: <1846@atari.UUCP>
 
dal@syntel.mn.org (Dale Schumacher) writes:
>I check for the text-base pointer pointing to ROM, as
>recommended by Alan Pratt @ Atari.
 
Yeah, well, that was before there were RAM TOSes running around. Caveat
hacker.  No RAM TOS is supported by Atari (at this time) and most are
illegal copies, making their users pirates, so it's not that great a
hardship.
 
============================================
Opinions expressed above do not necessarily     -- Allan Pratt, Atari Corp.
reflect those of Atari Corp. or anyone else.      ...ames!atari!apratt
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 1 Dec 89 22:35:16 GMT
From: portal!atari!kbad@uunet.uu.net  (Ken Badertscher)
Subject: Diff between TOS 1.0 and 1.2?
Message-ID: <1843@atari.UUCP>
 
daveba@hpsad.HP.COM (David Ballo) asks:
 
| Would some knowledgeable person kindly outline the differences
| between [ROM TOS (1.0) and Mega TOS (1.2)]?
 
The major difference between the original ROM TOS and Mega TOS is
BLiTTER support.  Some VDI operations were optimized a bit in Mega TOS
as well.  GEMDOS uses a larger amount of memory by default in Mega TOS,
so some programs which barely fit in a 520ST ran out of memory in
Mega TOS.
 
| Also, is it worth it to upgrade to TOS 1.4 (for a hundred bucks!)?
 
Well, I'll let the rest of the netters who have the upgrade answer this,
because anything I say on this subject is tooting Atari's horn <grin>.
 
But I'll offer the following:
 Many, many TOS bugs are gone in Rainbow TOS.
 Many internal limits in TOS have been lifted.
 Hard disk I/O is much, much faster.
 Program launches can be made much faster.
 You can rename folders, no more making a new folder and then copying
all the files in, then removing the old folder.
 The Desktop is much more convenient, preserving the time/date stamp of
your files on copies.  The Rainbow TOS Desktop lets you _move_ files and
folders, using Control-drag.  You can abort a file copy or move operation
by pressing [Undo].  A lot of the dialogs are more intuitive.
 The AES gives you a much nicer item selector, with buttons for all the
drives, and an optional title string when supported by software.  The
Rainbow TOS AES also lets you auto boot a GEM application, configured
by the "Set Preferences" menu item in the Desktop.
 
 That's only the stuff that came to mind as I was typing, there's more...
 
--
   |||   Ken Badertscher  (ames!atari!kbad)
   |||   Atari R&D System Software Engine
  / | \  #include <disclaimer>
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 2 Dec 89 14:41:47 GMT
From:
 zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!dogie.macc.wisc.edu!vms.macc.wisc.edu@tut.cis
 .ohio-state.edu  (Neil Gilmore)
Subject: GFA compiler
Message-ID: <2749@dogie.macc.wisc.edu>
 
Hi.
 
On Tuesday, I tried to order the compiler for GFA BASIC 3.0 from
Computability (no one I know has had problems with them). They told me
that it exists, but was not available, and it was rumored to be included
with the interpreter. My interpreter was the older MichTron release, and
I have no desire to shell out for it again. I have the compiler for the
original release, however. Does anyone out there have additional
information? I really would like to get this, as C makes me gag,
although I have Laser C. (Too many class projects in C.....)
 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Kitakaze Tatsu Raito  Neil Gilmore     internet:gilmore@macc.wisc.edu |
| Jararvellir,          MACC, UW-Madison bitnet: gilmore@wiscmac3       |
| Middle Kingdom        Madison, Wi                                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 1 Dec 89 22:04:28 GMT
From: portal!atari!kbad@uunet.uu.net  (Ken Badertscher)
Subject: Line F
Message-ID: <1841@atari.UUCP>
 
rehrauer@apollo.HP.COM (Steve Rehrauer) writes:
| I know what you mean by "Line F", but what's the "compression" refer to re:
| ST ROMs?  (Usually I'm only this dense on Mondays & national holidays...)
 
The line F compression I refer to is a method we used in ST ROM which
basically replaces common operations with line F instructions.  The
line F handler is able, by decoding the $Fxxx instruction, to determine
what operation to perform.  The handler then dispatches the exception
to the appropriate OS routine.
 
--
   |||   Ken Badertscher  (ames!atari!kbad)
   |||   Atari R&D System Software Engine
  / | \  #include <disclaimer>
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 1 Dec 89 12:23:41 GMT
From: ncrlnk!ncrcam!system!mike@uunet.uu.net  (mike reiss)
Subject: Modula2
Message-ID: <556@system.Cambridge.NCR.COM>
 
In article <449@obs.unige.ch> bartho@obs.unige.ch (PAUL BARTHOLDI) writes:
>In article <24423@cup.portal.com>, buggs@cup.portal.com (William Edward JuneJr)
 writes:
>>>A while back I did a translation of the Modula 2 docs from German to
>>>English. I'll happily send it to anyone who wants, but if there are a lot
>>>of copies, I stick it on the newsletter.
>>
>> I DEFINATELY WANT ONE! *8~)
>Me too !      Thanks, Paul
 
 
I would think tha there is a lot of interest here.
 
I would like a copy.
 
mike
 
P.S.  I tried to send mail to the person who did this conversion (William),
but the message bounced.  I think this may have happened to others who
answered this request.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 89 19:55:29 EST
From: "Gerry Greenberg: 315-443-5378" <MAXG@SUVM.ACS.SYR.EDU>
Subject: MOUSE PROBLEM
 
Well, I'm having a problem that I would have never expected (the cause
of which, I believe, is my daughter's playing one of her favorite
games):  it seems that it is hard to get the mouse to recognize button
clicks.  It doesn't seem to be a problem with the contacts themselves,
because I can take apart the mouse and press the contacts with my
finger---and those clicks are recognized consistently.  It seems to be a
problem with the plastic housing.  When I look at the mouse from where
the cable comes out of it, the left button (which is on the right when
viewing the mouse from this perspective) is definately lower than the
other...especially toward the middle of the mouse.  I was really scared
for a few minutes at first, because the ST wasn't recognizing the clicks
AT ALL...After taking it apart, however, I seem to have gotten it back
to a point where it recognizes clicks...but it is not consistent.
Does anybody have any suggestions? or do I just have to continue to
click hard, until the thing dies altogether?
As always, thanks in advance for any advice.
---Gerry
maxg@suvm         (bitnet)
ggreenbe@rodan.acs.syr.edu     (internet)
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 1 Dec 89 18:23:36 GMT
From: ncrlnk!ncrcam!system!mike@uunet.uu.net  (mike reiss)
Subject: Quite floppy disk on boot
Message-ID: <557@system.Cambridge.NCR.COM>
 
Recently I have heard that there is a program that will shut off the floppy
disk during boot up.  This is suppose to be for stopping it from spinning
when booting from a hard disk instead of having to put a disk in and
accessing it.  Does anyone know of or have a copy of this program.  I would
like to get a copy of it.  Source or binary:  it would be interesting to see
what is done, but all I really want is something that I can use.
 
many thanks,
 
mike
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 1 Dec 89 22:55:50 GMT
From: portal!atari!towns@uunet.uu.net  (John Townsend)
Subject: Rainbow Tos Porblems
Message-ID: <1844@atari.UUCP>
 
in article <1384@uniol.UUCP>, rode@uniol.UUCP (Dirk Rode) says:
 
>  yesterday I got a version of the TOS 1.4 as a disk version.
> It runs very well on my 520 ST with 2.5 MB RAM, but there was a
> littele problem: I started Omicron Basic and it told to me about
> 400kB of free memory. By using the developer version of the 08/08/88
> it tolds me sthing. about 2MB of free memory. Is this an error in my copy
> or a bug in the TOS 1.4 ????
>
> mfG Waldi
> --
[longish signature deleted..]
 
Warning! The TOS version that you are using on disk is an early BETA version
of TOS 1.4 and is probably LOADED with lots of nice bugs. Please destroy
that disk ASAP and then goto to your local dealer and purchase the real
upgrade on ROM.
 
This will probably clear up any problems you are experiencing..
 
-- John Townsend                                ames!atari!towns
   Systems Test, Atari Corporation
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 2 Dec 89 17:36:43 GMT
From:
 zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!dogie.macc.wisc.edu!vms.macc.wisc.edu@tut.cis
 .ohio-state.edu  (Neil Gilmore)
Subject: Rainbow Tos Porblems
Message-ID: <2753@dogie.macc.wisc.edu>
 
In article <1844@atari.UUCP>, towns@atari.UUCP (John Townsend) writes...
 
>in article <1384@uniol.UUCP>, rode@uniol.UUCP (Dirk Rode) says:
>
(original deleted)
>
>Warning! The TOS version that you are using on disk is an early BETA version
>of TOS 1.4 and is probably LOADED with lots of nice bugs. Please destroy
>that disk ASAP and then goto to your local dealer and purchase the real
>upgrade on ROM.
 
What's a local dealer?
 
>This will probably clear up any problems you are experiencing..
>
>-- John Townsend                               ames!atari!towns
>   Systems Test, Atari Corporation
(this prevents me from even thinking about the upgrade)
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Kitakaze Tatsu Raito  Neil Gilmore     internet:gilmore@macc.wisc.edu |
| Jararvellir,          MACC, UW-Madison bitnet: gilmore@wiscmac3       |
| Middle Kingdom        Madison, Wi                                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
 
------------------------------
 
Date: Sat, 02 Dec 89 00:03:36 PST
From: EESD11O%CALSTATE.BITNET@Forsythe.Stanford.EDU  (Ed Krimen)
Subject: Still searching...
 
Re: Still searching...
 
Spieu! wrote:
 
> You silly goose, if 50% were taken off the price of a TT, then
> everyone would send in the $500 to become a registered developer!
 
During Thanksgiving vacation I went to an ST dealer in San Francisco
and the technician told me that he ordered two TTs the previous day at
$1000 a piece.  He said that when he got them at the end of December, he
wanted to be locked up in a room for a month to develop on it.  He said
that the retail price would be $2000.  STart magazine said they would
be sold for $1500.
 
So, I guess Atari's going to be getting a lot of registered developers,
according to Spieu.  :?)
 
The tech also ordered an STe, he said.
 
The dealer said his Portfolios were selling like crazy.  No word on the
STACY.
 
 
------------------------------
 
Date: Sat,  2 Dec 89  13:04:02 EDT
From: BAILEYS%FSU.BITNET@Forsythe.Stanford.EDU
Subject: Stunt Car Driver
Message-ID: <891202130042340.GKWQ@RAI.CC.FSU.EDU> (UMass-Mailer 4.04)
 
Anyone looking for a great game to give to themselves for X-mas??  Well, I
have seen a real doozy!  It's called Stunt Car Driver, and is roughly a
cross between Falcon and Pole Position.  You are the driver of a stunt car
in a 3-D gamespace, jumping and swerving, etc.  Excellent graphics, and has
an option for connecting two ST's via (null) modem for some really good two
player action.  All in all, worth the price (rare for a game).
 
Bob Marley
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 2 Dec 89 05:02:47 GMT
From: mg40+@andrew.cmu.edu  (Michael Jeffrey Garland)
Subject: Timeworks DTP
Message-ID: <IZRpRrm00WB6F9RXwq@andrew.cmu.edu>
 
    I have Timeworks DTP and two printers.  One printer is a
relatively new Panasonic which has 9 pins and works very well.
However, my other printer is an old BMC with only 8 pins.  It so
happens that the 8 pin printer is the one I have here at college.
Every time I print something using it, I get lines through the
printing (I assume this is from having 1 less pin than I'm supposed
to).  In the setup program I didn't see any 'Epson 8-pin' selection.
My question is quite simple, can I make TDTP work with my BMC
(eliminate those white lines)?
 
        +--- Michael Garland ---+
        +  mg40+@andrew.cmu.edu +
        +-----------------------+
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 2 Dec 89 14:28:32 GMT
From:
 zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!dogie.macc.wisc.edu!vms.macc.wisc.edu@tut.c
 is.ohio-state.edu  (Neil Gilmore)
Subject: What Kermit/UNITERM bugs?
Message-ID: <2748@dogie.macc.wisc.edu>
 
In article <8912010813.AA04349@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>, 01659@AECLCR.BITNET (Greg
 Csullog) writes...
 
>One netter mentioned problems with UNITERM's Kermit. On our site, which
>has a CYBER 830/990 combo and various VAXs, such as an 8550, the only Kermit
>that works flawlessly with full server support is UNITERM's Kermit. Some
>20 - 40 people use it almost daily. I use UNITERM Kermit in text or binary
>mode almost every day and I have never had one problem. I've tried Versa-Term
>Pro and Red Ryder under Mac emulation but they do not have server support.
>Neither does ZSTEM or SmarTerm 240 for the PCs. The ONLY Kermit I trust is
>UNITERM's so WHAT problems are there?
 
Exactly the same here. Through various strange machination I discovered
that our VAXes had both Kermit and Xmodem. Out of 6 programs for 2
machines, ONLY Uniterm's Kermit is able to transfer binaries. The only
Kermit I have for the Amiga does not transfer correctly, and ABSOLUTELY
NONE of the Xmodems will work. I must say I was surprised to read that
it had bugs, since it's the only one which works for me...
 
 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Kitakaze Tatsu Raito  Neil Gilmore     internet:gilmore@macc.wisc.edu |
| Jararvellir,          MACC, UW-Madison bitnet: gilmore@wiscmac3       |
| Middle Kingdom        Madison, Wi                                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
 
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End of INFO-ATARI16 Digest V89 Issue #740
*****************************************
