=========================================================================
 
INFO-ATARI16 Digest         Sun, 11 Feb 90       Volume 90 : Issue  186
 
Today's Topics:
                               DESKCART
                         DISCOVERY CARTRIDGE
                           GCR-Mac240 query
                              Hard Drive
                     mail in your warantee cards
                         Questions about TeX
                            WORDPERFECT ST
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Date: Mon, 12 Feb 90 00:56:30 SST
From: "S.Sujarittanonta" <AKISUJAR%NUSVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject: DESKCART
 
REF: Jeff Gortatowsky's message dated 16 December 1989 at 00:27:37 GMT
 
Sorry to repost it here.
 
Hello Jeff,
I e-mail to rochester!kodak!elmgate!jdg@louie.udel.edu my mail was returned.
I scaned through my INFO-A16 files and came across your reply on DeskCart
enquiry on the above Ref date. You mentioned that you wish to know someone who
could make the cartridge for your new program. I could do that and at much
cheaper too. (That why Apple and Compaq set up their factories in Singapore)
If you still keen to do it, please give me your shorter address so that I can
reach you directly. I still have problem with a long User ID and Node ID with
Singapore BITNET system.  We can discuss further detail without taking up the
space of other netter. I can contact you by FAX too if you prefer. Regards,
 
------------------------------
 
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 90 19:58:26 SST
From: "S.Sujarittanonta" <AKISUJAR%NUSVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject: DISCOVERY CARTRIDGE
 
Hello,
I own a Discovery cartridge with software Version 2.7. I have sent my Registra-
tion Card asking for upgrading the software to the newer version which will
enable me to transfer Mac disk to Spectre format file by file rather than the
whole disk since july 1989 but never receive any reply from Happy Computers.
 
Any one know what happen to this company? I FAX them 2 days ago but got the
voice reply that their FAX number is no longer in service. Now I'm stuck with
the obsoleted V2.7.
 
Any help or suggestion would be deeply appreciated.
                                           S. Sujarittanonta AKISUJAR@NUSVM
                                           School of Architecture
                                           National University of Singapore
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 11 Feb 90 14:42:00 GMT
From: ucsdhub!hp-sdd!apollo!weber_w@ucsd.edu  (Walt Weber)
Subject: GCR-Mac240 query
Message-ID: <4894ba34.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
 
In article <9002080807.AA11869@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
 menton%v5130c.decnet@CCF3.NRL.NAVY.MIL ("V5130C::MENTON") writes:
>
>      Is anyone using the terminal program "Mac240" under David Small's Spectre
>GCR Mac emulator?  The keypad functions do not seem to work, other than echoing
>similar keys on the main keyboard.  I tried invoking the 'Mac Plus' mode in
>Spectre, but no change.
 
On pages 55-56 of the Spectre GCR manual David Small points out that the keypad
keys do not generate an "extended MAC keypad 0-9", but are mapped to send the
codes for the typewriter keys.  For MAC software that cares, it doesn't see
the ST keypad as a MAC keypad.
 
In short, for now, you're out of luck unless you can use the terminal pgm to
custom-build your own macros.
 
The reason I say "for now" is NOT based on anything other than the following
quote from the same manual, top of page 56:
 
"Apparently some Mac software cares, so I'll probably update this soon."
 
Since David Small participates here, perhaps this will be in one of your next
(post-2.5??) updates.  If so, I would also like to see the right mouse button
CONFIGURABLE, so that I could finally generate a Mac "escape key" and be able
to get some full use out of MicroEmacs under Spectre...
 
I'm extremely satisfied with the product as is, without any changes.  But he
just keeps on making the best even BETTER.  Thanks, David.
 
...walt...
 
Walt Weber               Hewlett Packard NARC @ Apollo Systems Division
-The views expressed herein are personal, and not binding on ANYONE-
   "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism
    by those who have not got it" -George Bernard Shaw
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 11 Feb 90 15:34:00 GMT
From: ucsdhub!hp-sdd!apollo!weber_w@ucsd.edu  (Walt Weber)
Subject: Hard Drive
Message-ID: <4894e969.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
 
In article <7500014@m.cs.uiuc.edu> totty@m.cs.uiuc.edu writes:
>
>       What exactly does the host adapter need to do?  How similar
>       are the protocols between the Atari DMA interface and a standard
>       disk controller?  How about between DMA and SCSI controllers?
 
The Atari DMA interface interface implements what some have called a "modified
SCSI interface", since (1) the connector and interface specs regarding cable
lengths, etc. is different from SCSI, and (2) the command descriptor block used
to transmit commands to the device differs in that the opcode and controller
number are both in byte 0 of AtariDMA but in different bytes within SCSI (there
are other differences, as well).  The host adaptors which I have seen convert
AtariDMA <--> SCSI, and then will talk directly to a drive with an embedded
SCSI controller, or will talk to a controller card (Adaptec or Omti are two
popular choices) which does SCSI <--> ST506.
 
>       what would be involved in actually building one of these interfaces?
>       Would it be a simple FSM protocol converter with some buffering or
>       are there more complicated things necessary?
 
Unknown by me.  Looking at the ICD and BMS (Berkeley Micro Systems) boards,
there appear to be three "sections" - one to do command restructuring, one
to drive each side at the appropriate signal levels and handle arbitration,
and an third which puts a clock at one of the AtariDMA bus addresses,  since
the early ST's didn't have an on-board clock, and there are other uses for
the cartridge port (buy a Spectre GCR!!).
 
>       Also, where can I get technical information on controller details
>       and the Atari DMA port?
 
Become a registered developer with Atari, and you can get the docs.  You will
also have spent more than the cost of an ICD or BMS board (approx $125).  But
you did say it was for "fun", so perhaps the cost isn't an obstacle.
 
...walt...
 
Walt Weber               Hewlett Packard NARC @ Apollo Systems Division
-The views expressed herein are personal, and not binding on ANYONE-
   "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism
    by those who have not got it" -George Bernard Shaw
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 11 Feb 90 15:39:00 GMT
From: ucsdhub!hp-sdd!apollo!weber_w@ucsd.edu  (Walt Weber)
Subject: mail in your warantee cards
Message-ID: <4894ed2d.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
 
In article <25D074F9.5908@paris.ics.uci.edu> ajauch@ics.uci.edu (Alexander Edwin
 Jauch) writes:
*In article <1269@lzsc.ATT.COM> hcj@lzsc.ATT.COM (HC Johnson) writes:
**the firm making PC-DITTO wouldn't let him buy the newest version
**at half price because he missed the cut off by 7 months.
**His view was that he had only neglected to send in his registration.
**
*I think that this is illegal in California.  I do know that you are entitled to
*a full warranty under California law whether or not you send in your card.
*
*Alex Jauch
*ajauch@bonnie
 
The issue is not warranty, it is registration of the product in order to obtain
a discount on the purchase of the next generation product.
 
...walt...
 
Walt Weber               Hewlett Packard NARC @ Apollo Systems Division
-The views expressed herein are personal, and not binding on ANYONE-
   "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism
    by those who have not got it" -George Bernard Shaw
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 11 Feb 90 18:34:04 GMT
From:
 cs.utexas.edu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!watserv1!bmaraldo@tut.cis.ohio-stat
 e.edu  (Commander Brett Maraldo)
Subject: Questions about TeX
Message-ID: <1047@watserv1.waterloo.edu>
 
In article <BAMMI.90Feb10165334@dsrgsun.ces.CWRU.Edu> bammi@dsrgsun.ces.CWRU.Edu
 (Jwahar R. Bammi) writes:
>In article <3554@tahoe.unr.edu> mikew@wheeler.wrcr.unr.edu (Mike Whitbeck)
 writes:
>  .......
>> IMHO TeX + postscript beats almost all the of the so-called
>> DTP's available commercially... and it's (almost)FREE!
>i agree completely. my biggest complaint with all the wysiwyg  type programs
>is "what you see is ALL you get" (ie. no extensibility, very limited
>customization possibilities, and too much clickity-clacking with the
>mouse to do anything useful.).
 
        I love TeX, for doing text typesetting.  I think that TeX is
great for doing papers and what-not but for signs and newsletter type
publications a WYSIWYG is best.  I use TeX for doing my academic papers
and Calamus for doing newsletters and signs.  It is not trivial to
move blocks of text around in TeX, leaving appropriate room for graphics
and what-not.  A WYSISYG allows you to visualize the placement of
layout objects and include (visually!) graphics in your documents.
Althought TeX can do this it is a non-triavial task that is handled better
with a WYSIWYG, such as Calamus.  Mind you, it takes TeX about 30 sec to
print a 300dpi page and Calamus about 3 min!  TeX has its uses; it does
*text typesetting in solid blocks* much better than a WYSIWYG and a DTP
is suited better to layout type tasks.  Comparing a DTP to TeX is really
like comparing apples and oranges - each is designed for different
purposed (TeX for typesetting, DTPs for layout).  As a side note, I
prefer the Computer Mondern fonts to, say, Times Roman.  Many people
argue with me about this...
 
 
Brett L Maraldo
 
 
--
               --------     Unit 36 Research     ---------
                        "Alien Technology Today"
                      bmaraldo@watserv1.UWaterloo.ca
                   ?uunet!clyde!utai?!watserv1!bmaraldo
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 11 FEB 90 09:19:27 CST
From: Z4648252 <Z4648252%SFAUSTIN.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
Subject: WORDPERFECT ST
Message-ID: <900211.09192530.029680@SFA.CP6>
 
David Shreiber writes:
 
"  I heard a rumour that the Word Perfect disks for the ST in August 1989
contained a virus. I know I have had some problems with WP, while a
friend describes his as "rock solid." He tells me that a later version
of VKILLER (I believe 2.2) is necessary to identify and remove this
virus."
 
    All six disks from WordPerfect that were sent to me have no
virus critters at all.  My August 1989 disks were mailed to me in
December.  Let's be careful about rumor propagation.  In many cases
that is worse than a virus.
    And, as usual, a call to WordPerfect's 800 number will clear
anything up:  problems, unclear instuctions, etc.
 
Larry Rymal:  |East Texas Atari 68NNNers| <Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET>
 
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End of INFO-ATARI16 Digest V90 Issue #186
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