Info-Atari16 Digest         Sun,  1 Dec 91       Volume 91 : Issue 630

Today's Topics:
                                4 $ale
                Atari's image (what image??) (3 msgs)
                             Atari Israel
                         Boarding the VMEbus
                   Hard drive problems, sort of....
                           HELP!!!!!!! (TT)
       How to use multiple resource (.src) files in a program?
                         IDE HD Controllers?
                            rufus (2 msgs)
             Thank you :=> 68000 assembler & Degas -> GIF
                          TT prices (2 msgs)
                             VMEbus Info

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----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 30 Nov 91 22:40:32 GMT
From: noao!ncar!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!wupost!darwin.sura.net!gatech!gatech!warlord!gisatl!f308.n133.z1.FIDONET.ORG!june@arizona.edu (Ed June)
Subject: 4 $ale
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

Atari Mega 4 ST, TOS 1.4, excellent condition.

$525.oo


   Ed June
   Fidonet:   1:133/308, Atlanta's OS/2 Users Group BBS, 404-471-1549
   Internet:  ed_june@over.mind.org
   Usenet:    ..!emory!uumind!overmind!ed_june
 



--  
------------------------------------------------------------
               __             User: Ed June 
              /              Via FidoNet node: 1:133/411
             /|oo           
            (_|  /_)          UUCP: gatech!warlord!gisatl!308!june
             _`@/_     _     INTERNET: june@f308.n133.z1.FIDONET.ORG
            |     |    \                           
            | (*) |  _  ))   FidoNet <==> UUCP Gateway     
  ______    |__U__| /  //    David Deitch, Administrator
 / FIDO     _//|| _   /         
(________)  (_/(_|(____/ (jm)

------------------------------

Date: 1 Dec 91 21:40:51 GMT
From: agate!spool.mu.edu!munnari.oz.au!darwin.ntu.edu.au!topfm@ames.arpa
Subject: Atari's image (what image??)
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

In article <50960@cup.portal.com>, Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com writes:
>>I can't imagine that's even worse somewhere else ...
> 
>>Thorsten_Dietrichkeit@wue.maus.de
>  
> Consider yourself lucky that you don't live in the U.S.A.
>  
> BobR

Atari.

Thats one of them tv game things.

(standard response from an Australian Non_computer person)

And you thoght It was bad where you are??

Rob.

* Views expressed, unless otherwise indicated, are mine and do not reflect the
views of Community Radio, 8 TOP-FM, or the Northern Territory University*

------------------------------

Date: 1 Dec 91 21:57:57 GMT
From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!glover@arizona.edu (Eric Glover)
Subject: Atari's image (what image??)
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

In article <1991Dec2.064051.2104@darwin.ntu.edu.au> topfm@darwin.ntu.edu.au writes:
>In article <50960@cup.portal.com>, Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com writes:
>>>I can't imagine that's even worse somewhere else ...

>Atari.
>
>Thats one of them tv game things.
>(standard response from an Australian Non_computer person)
>And you thoght It was bad where you are??
>
>Rob.
>
>* Views expressed, unless otherwise indicated, are mine and do not reflect the
>views of Community Radio, 8 TOP-FM, or the Northern Territory University*

Atari.

They make video games? 
(Standard response from an American Non_Computer person)
Its pretty bad when Atari doesn't even have a video game reputation in
the states (compared to nintendo, Sega et. al.)


-- 
Talk Is Cheap. But Armor Is Even Cheaper.
"Sovereign" Glover 
Glover@Casbah.Acns.Nwu.Edu

------------------------------

Date: 2 Dec 91 04:45:21 GMT
From: noao!ncar!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!lll-winken!aunro!ersys!mforget@arizona.edu (Michel Forget)
Subject: Atari's image (what image??)
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

glover@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Eric Glover) writes:

> In article <1991Dec2.064051.2104@darwin.ntu.edu.au> topfm@darwin.ntu.edu.au w
> >In article <50960@cup.portal.com>, Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com writes:
> >>>I can't imagine that's even worse somewhere else ...
> 
> >Atari.
> >
> >Thats one of them tv game things.
> >(standard response from an Australian Non_computer person)
> >And you thoght It was bad where you are??
> >
> >Rob.
> >
> >* Views expressed, unless otherwise indicated, are mine and do not reflect t
> >views of Community Radio, 8 TOP-FM, or the Northern Territory University*
> 
> Atari.
> 
> They make video games? 
> (Standard response from an American Non_Computer person)
> Its pretty bad when Atari doesn't even have a video game reputation in
> the states (compared to nintendo, Sega et. al.)
> 
> 
> -- 
> Talk Is Cheap. But Armor Is Even Cheaper.
> "Sovereign" Glover 
> Glover@Casbah.Acns.Nwu.Edu


Who?

[Standard response from just about everyone who has heard the word IBM.]

Actually, Atari can no longer be considered a games machine.  The reason 
is quite simple;  machines such as the Genesis and the Neo Geo have a far 
better ability to do games.  I think Atari is a cross between a games 
market and a business market.  It doesn't fit into either market 
completely, even though it has the capacity to do both rather well.  I 
would like to see Atari as a business computer solely for the software 
support it would generate.  Word Perfect would like real nice on my 
system, if I could get a new version.  Unfortunately, the new version 
hasn't (and most likely will not be) been made for the ST.  There is 
great software for the ST, but the software giants won't really committ 
until Atari fits into the business world.  Sickening, but true.

[BTW, I'll stick with Atari despite the lack of "serious" programs like 
Word Perfect or Lotus 1-2-3.  My first computer was an Atari, and my last 
computer will be an Atari.  I don't want to give the impression that I 
dislike my computer...:)]


<<  ------------------------------------------  >>
<<        mforget@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca          >>
<<     ersys!mforget@nro.cs.athabascau.ca       >>
<<               Michel Forget                  >>
<<  "Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards,   >>
<<  for they are not happy campers!" - UNKNOWN  >>
<<  ------------------------------------------  >>

------------------------------

Date: 2 Dec 91 03:47:53 GMT
From: news.hawaii.edu!uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jww@ames.arpa (Jack W. Wine)
Subject: Atari Israel
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

The Special Advertising Section in the November '91 BYTE magazine has
an article called "Israeli Computing" by Ud Gundar.  His first para-
graph provides information about Atari's manufacturing venture in
Israel:

        If you are in high-tech business, watch out for what
        is going on in Israel.  Take this week, for example:
        the government just granted Atari $20,000,000 to start
        a project in Israel.  Atari will invest no more than
        $5,000,000--and will own 66% of the shares of a 
        $25,000,000 firm.

It seems like the Tramiels should be in the construction business too! :D
If anyone in Israel has more information, it would be nice to learn
more about Atari Israel.

Jack

------------------------------

Date: 2 Dec 91 03:19:51 GMT
From: news.hawaii.edu!uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jww@ames.arpa (Jack W. Wine)
Subject: Boarding the VMEbus
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

Although IBM PC/XT/AT boards make up about half of those available for
the various buses, it seems like most of them are either CGA/EGA/VGA,
memory, or I/O (hard/floppy/serial) cards.  Just one ad from a company
called Gespac illustrates that the VMEbus has a tremendous number of
boards for a variety of applications.  Other companies fill most other
needs by offering CPU boards based on the SPARC, rtVAX, 88100, 80486,
etc. 

Listed are a couple (from over 200) boards from Gespac:

16/32-bit Single board computers (SBC) -
     68000/20/30/40, 68302, 68340, 80x86, T400/800 Tranputers

Static/Dynamic Memories -
     512 K to 32 MB dynamic RAM, Universal EPROM/RAM

Mass Storage -
     Floppy, IDE (500 MB+) and Intelligent SCSI (1 GB+) controllers
     Tape streamer

I/O Interfaces -
     RS-232/422/485 SIO, Parallel TTL I/O, 10/12/16-bit A/D & D/A
     Thermocouple, RTD Opto-isolated I/O
     Mechanical and Solid-State relays

Color Graphics -
     EGA/VGA, ACRTC (750x520, 256 colors), GDP (1280x1024, 256 colors)

Motion Control -
     Dual-axis DC servo, stepper motor controllers, resolver & shaft encoders

Vision Subsystems -
     256 to 2048 Element Linear CCD cameras, Matrix CCD interface, real-time
     processing hardware

Networking & Communications -
     10 MB/s Ethernet, 10 MB/s X.25, 2 MB/s Arcnet, 1 MB/s IEEE-488,
     375 KB/s Filbus, 1 MB/s MIL 1553B

Accessories -
     Predecoded prototyping boards, terminal strip adaptors, power supply
     bus extenders, 4-20 slot backplanes and card cages

Software -
     G-View Interface Builder for OS-9 and OS-9000, VxWorks, Cross Code C,
     MS-Dos, QNX


They have a product selection guide which may be obtained from the following
offices:

     USA-Canada    - 50 W. Hoover Ave, Mesa, AZ 85210 USA
                     Ph: (602) 962-5559, Fax: (602) 962-5750

     Europe        - Z.I. les Playes, 83500 La Seyne, France
                     Ph: 94 30 34 34, Fax: 94 87 35 52

     International - 18, Chemin des Aulx, CH-1228 Geneva, Switzerland
                     Ph: (022) 794 3400, Fax: (022) 794 6477

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack

------------------------------

Date: 1 Dec 91 18:59:57 GMT
From: mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!isis.cs.du.edu!jbunch@uunet.uu.net (John Bunch)
Subject: Hard drive problems, sort of....
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

Greeting all,

I have run in to a rather bizarr problem.   It seems that while I was playing 
with fontz I ran into a strange problem with the program that manipulates
your assign.sys and sets your fonts up and all.  The program on the disk
is called Install.prg.  Well I was using that program and I set up my fonts
for my system and created a new assign.sys file and thangs.  When I exited I
found that in my font directory there is a subdirectory with no name and it
seem to recurse down forever?  I cant delete the directory and I can rename
it to something with a real name and I can't create files on that partition
anymore?  Well, it is my boot partition so I would like to fix it...  ;-)

Anybody out there have any ideas?????


Please respond asap via email...

Thanx.


John.

--
John B Bunch              *  I don't want the world, I just want your
771 Madison Ave Apt.2e.   *     half....     -TMG
Albany, NY 12208          *                     jbunch@isis.cs.du.edu
(518) 436-3810            * UUCP: {...}!crdgw1!sixhub!myst!john

------------------------------

Date: 30 Nov 91 19:08:08 GMT
From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!usc!nic.csu.net!csun.edu!kithrup!hoptoad!wet!ekrimen@arizona.edu (Ed Krimen)
Subject: HELP!!!!!!! (TT)
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

In article <1991Nov20.172717.29033@uwm.edu> ninjam@csd4.csd.uwm.edu writes:
>Could someone please mail me the differences between all the different
>models of the st (from the 520 to the TT).  Differences as in
>capabilities, hardware,ect....
>

Perhaps this could be written up in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) list.

>Also, if someone could tell me where I can buy a TT in the US?  There
>is nowhere around here that supports ATARI anymore, except some music
>stores, and all they sell is the Mega's for MIDI stuff.....

Try Toad Computers: 800-448-8623.  They have a very good reputation.  And
an excellent catalog.


-- 
   |||    Ed Krimen
   |||    ekrimen@wet.UUCP
  / | \   E.KRIMEN (GEnie)

------------------------------

Date: 1 Dec 91 17:10:43 GMT
From: noao!ncar!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!yale.edu!ira.uka.de!sun.rhrk.uni-kl.de!seimet@arizona.edu (Uwe Seimet [Chemie])
Subject: How to use multiple resource (.src) files in a program?
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

Marco.Fris@p11.f202.n281.z2.fidonet.org (Marco Fris) writes:

>In a message of <20 Nov 91  08:32:08>, geert@ccsds.ahold.nl (2:320/100.1)
>writes:

> > When I thought this could be done by a second rsrc_load,
> > I went into some problems. Most of the times the
> > second rsrc_load results into four bombs on the screen.
> > But it can also be o.k. (how can that be??????).

>You'll have to do a rsrc_free before your second load. Yes, that's right,
>that means you can only use one of the two at the same time. But why don't you
>just merge the two resources? I never heard of a limit one .rsc size.

One of my own programs uses two resource files without calling rsrc_free to
switch between them. During startup I simply call rsrc_load two times and
store the addresses of all object trees in an array. Until now I have
encountered no difficulties regardless of the machine or tos version.
If loading two resources leads to bombs there must be some bug in the program.

********************************************************
*              Uwe Seimet                              *
*              seimet@rhrk.uni-kl.de                   *
*------------------------------------------------------*
* I hate this machine, I wish that they would sell it. *
* It doesn't do what I want but only what I tell it.   *
* (Programmer's lament)                                *
********************************************************

------------------------------

Date: 1 Dec 91 21:34:03 GMT
From: agate!spool.mu.edu!munnari.oz.au!darwin.ntu.edu.au!topfm@ames.arpa
Subject: IDE HD Controllers?
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

In article <182@ozz.oasis.icl.co.uk>, jas@oasis.icl.co.uk (Jason Morris) writes:
> 
>   I know that you can buy a SCSI HD controller separately from the disks, but
> can you get an IDE controller for the ST. I'm toying with the idea of a DIY HD
> on the cheap, and those IDE disks are cheaper than SCSI.
> 
> Jason.
> --
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> | Jason Morris          jas@uk.co.icl.oasis            (0344) 424842 ext 2662 |
> |      ICL Computers Ltd, BRA01, Lovelace Rd, Bracknell, Berks, England.      |
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also looked into this on my side of this rock and had to phone UK for info.

I was told ( by Third Coast ) that they _were_ developing such an interface.
BUT when i re-enquired about three months later I was told there were no plans.

Also ESDI (ide) drives are cheaper here too but at the moment, as far as I know
there is no interface for them.

I could be wrong.

Rob.

#include disclaimer.

------------------------------

Date: 1 Dec 91 16:26:49 GMT
From: noao!ncar!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!csn!boulder!news@arizona.edu (Todd C. Miller)
Subject: rufus
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

In article <1991Dec1.074807.7171@cs.mcgill.ca> davidd@cs.mcgill.ca writes:
>
>       I can't get the version of rufus recently posted to un-zoo
>properly.  I am using (what I think to be) the most recent version
>of zoo (2.1), and it only extracts the first file before it stops.
>
>       Help, anyone?  Or is it just a bad copy that was posted?
>
>                                       David D'Andrea

Worked fine for me, but I unzoo'd it on a unix box and converted it to lharc :-)
It was zoo 2.1

 - todd
-- 
Todd C. Miller                    | "But all the politiCIAns now
millert@cs.Colorado.EDU           |  They have no excuse
al804@cleveland.Freenet.Edu       |  They just hide behind their power
University of Colorado @ Boulder  |  And keep us from the truth" - Roger McGuinn

------------------------------

Date: 2 Dec 91 00:41:34 GMT
From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!wupost!waikato.ac.nz!comp.vuw.ac.nz!actrix!Roger.Sheppard@arizona.edu (Roger Sheppard)
Subject: rufus
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

In article <1991Dec1.074807.7171@cs.mcgill.ca> davidd@cs.mcgill.ca writes:
> 
>       I can't get the version of rufus recently posted to un-zoo
> properly.  I am using (what I think to be) the most recent version
> of zoo (2.1), and it only extracts the first file before it stops.
> 
>       Help, anyone?  Or is it just a bad copy that was posted?
> 
>                                       David D'Andrea


Yes it is Packed with Zoo 2.1, and no there is nothing wrong
with it..

The GRZSZ that is included is a old version 1.3, can some one tell me
why this is..??
-- 
***  Roger W. Sheppard      *      Roger.Sheppard@bbs.actrix.gen.nz  ***
***  85 Donovan Rd        *    *   GEnie.  R.SHEPPARD5               ***
***  Kapiti                        At least I don't Flicker,         ***
***  New Zealand..          *      not like a dying light globe      ***

------------------------------

Date: 2 Dec 91 00:23:05 GMT
From: noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!yale.edu!spool.mu.edu!munnari.oz.au!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!topaz.ucq.edu.au!johnsonc@arizona.edu
Subject: Thank you :=> 68000 assembler & Degas -> GIF
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

In article <1991Nov29.135641.9702@topaz.ucq.edu.au>, johnsonc@topaz.ucq.edu.au writes:
> 
> 
> 
> Can anyone suggest a good book (readable and understandable) to learn 
> 68000 assembly from?  Even if it doesn't fill the above criteria, concerning
> understandability, I'd like to know about it.  I'd prefer it if it was specific
> for the ST too, please.
> 
> -- 
> Chris Johnson                    
> Final Year B.App.Sc (Computing)  
> "Just another student"           
> 
-- 



Thank you, everyone, for replying.  Unfortunately, due to mailing restirictions,
I can't reply to you all so this NEWS posting is the best I can do.

I'll look up every suggestion that was made.  I'm looking up as much assembler
for the 68000 as I can since I have seen that some places are asking for 
people with experience in this area.  Therefore I am looking at that processor
as well as the 803?? processors which I have learnt about in college.

Additionally, I would like to thank the people who responded to my posting
re: Degas and GIF picture formats.  The advice from both groups of people
has been most useful, as is often the case.

Seeing as my course has just finished, I won't have this account much longer
but I'll see if I can keep in contact through some of my friends who are
staying.

Once again, thank you for your kind replies.

Merry Christmas, everyone. 



Chris Johnson                    
Final Year B.App.Sc (Computing)  
"Just another student"           

------------------------------

Date: 1 Dec 91 13:33:39 GMT
From: noao!ncar!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!milano!cactus.org!covert@arizona.edu (Richard Covert)
Subject: TT prices
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

In article <1991Dec1.085925.4746@ns.network.com> logajan@ns.network.com (John Logajan) writes:
>There is some discussion of TT prices, so I thought I'd mention what
>Toad Computers lists their TT's for:
>
>TT030 2MB No HD $1499
>Color Monitor    $479
>Mono Mon         $999
>2/8MB ST Ram     $299/$799
>4/16MB TT Ram    $549/$1399
>50/105MB HD      $279/$389
>
>-- 
>- John Logajan @ Network Systems; 7600 Boone Ave; Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

So, why does the 4 meg TT Ram cost $549? You can buy the 1 meg SIMMs for
as low as $35 each. so 4 x $35 = $140. Seems like $549 is a bit high.
But $1399 for only 16 megs is ridiculous also. let's see, 
16 x $35 = $560, so $1399 for upgrading to 16 megs is quite high.

And for a UNIX workstation,especially one with X Windows you need as
much RAM as possible . so let's use the above prices to build a 
TT030 with ASV.

TT030 2MB w/o hd             $1499.00
16 Megabyte TTRAM            $1399.00
105 megabyte hd              $ 389.00
Mono monitor                 $ 999.00
ASV                          $2000.00
Total                        $6286.00

Now that system does not include any form of tape backup, or a CD ROM
drive. And since it is an Atari computer you can't buy third party
peripherals for it (at least not here in the USA, Germany may well be
different). Anyone who would buy a UNIX machine w/o a BIG tape backup
is just asking for trouble.

As I have said before 6 thousand USA dollars for ANY Atari product is
just too risky for me. For the same money I can buy a Sparc workstation
AND get an 80386 co-processor board!! And get access to more UNIX SW
as well as (yeechh) MSDOS stuff.

So, the TT/ASV package is a no go for me.

-- 
Richard E. Covert                 covert@cactus.org
CACTUS                  ..!cs.utexas.edu!cactus.org!covert 

------------------------------

Date: 1 Dec 91 20:26:44 GMT
From: math.fu-berlin.de!ira.uka.de!smurf.sub.org!flatlin!cutie!pmh@uunet.uu.net (Patrick M.Hausen)
Subject: TT prices
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

In article <9970@cactus.org> covert@cactus.org (Richard Covert) writes:

> Now that system does not include any form of tape backup, or a CD ROM
> drive. And since it is an Atari computer you can't buy third party
> peripherals for it (at least not here in the USA, Germany may well be
> different). Anyone who would buy a UNIX machine w/o a BIG tape backup
> is just asking for trouble.

Totally wrong. Since Atari built a full featured SCSI-Port in the TT, you
can hook any SCSI-Device on this machine, just go to a Mess-DOS-peripherals-
store, buy a streamer and connect it. Where's the problem?

Looking for cables, plugs with pull-up-resistors etc.? Ask your local
Macintosh-dealer :-)

Cheers, Paddy
--
 |||   Patrick M. Hausen           | phone : +49 721 699234 (voice and carrier)
 |||   Gerwigstr. 11               | e-mail: pmh@cutie.ka.sub.org        (UUCP)
/ | \  D-7500 Karlsruhe 1, Germany |         uk9u@dkauni2              (BITNET)
  "Ich werde kein Star - nein, ich werde eine Legende."        (Freddy Mercury)

------------------------------

Date: 2 Dec 91 03:18:05 GMT
From: news.hawaii.edu!uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!jww@ames.arpa (Jack W. Wine)
Subject: VMEbus Info
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu

A sample issue of VMEbus Systems magazine (Oct. '91) has a tutorial on
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) as its main topic, but also
contains an informative editorial by publisher and editor John Black, 
who analyzes a report on the state and future of the various bus stand-  
dards.  The VMEbus was adopted for use by Atari and its status among the 
other bus standards is covered in the following excerpted article.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[A little research also gives some interesting background about the
VMEbus:  The initial VMEbus specs were created by John Black of Motorola,
Craig MacKenna of Mostek and Cecil Kaplinsky of Philips/Signetics in
Munich, West Germany. ]

Venture Development Corp recently published a report entitled "The Stan-
dard Microcomputer Bus Board Industry: Laying the Foundation for the
1990's."  It is based on a survey of bus OEMs (Original Equip. Manufact-
urers) and end users.  These buses were covered:

               o PC/AT/XT (ISA)        o EISA
               o VMEbus                o VXIbus
               o Multibus I            o Microchannel
               o Multibus II           o Q bus
               o S bus                 o Turbochannel
               o NuBus                 o STD bus

-Where is VMEbus today?

 The report indicates that almost half of all board revenues worldwide
 are from PC/AT/XT products.  VMEbus and Multibus I account for slightly
 more than one quarter.  The other buses listed above account for the
 rest.

-Where is the VMEbus going?

 One surprising fact is that 10 years after its introduction, VMEbus
 has only slightly more market share than Multibus I.  However, the
 report predicts a rapid shift in market shares in the next 3 years:
 the Multibus I market share is expected to contract while VMEbus
 will increase.

-Who sells VMEbus products?

 The major suppliers are Motorola (22% of sales), Force Computers (9%),
 and Sun with about 7%.

-Major application area for VMEbus

 The report indicates that the VMEbus is being used primarily in three
 major application areas:

     o Factory automation, industrial control and machine control
     o Intelligent communication subsystems for super-minicomputers
       and mainframes
     o Military equipment

 Industrial users are becoming more sophisticated in their use of
 board technology.  Many who formerly used STD bus are starting to
 use VMEbus.  New automated inspection and statistical control tech-
 niques require more intelligence and more performance than the STD
 or even Multibus I systems can deliver.  As a result, industrial
 control and machine control applications will be the fastest grow-
 ing segment of the VMEbus market.  The report predicts that revenues
 will rise at a rate exceeding 20% per year.

 Users who design intelligent communication subsystems for super-
 minicomputers and mainframes see VME64 as filling their needs for
 the next few years and it is predicted that many new high-speed
 VME64 peripheral controller and communication boards will be
 introduced over the next few months.

-What changes are taking place in the VMEbus industry?

 The report indicates that VMEbus market volume has now increased to
 the point where the largest manufacturers can benefit from economies
 of scale.  As a result, suppliers like Motorola have been able to
 cut their prices.  Smaller suppliers will likely follow one of two
 strategies:  Specialize in some leading edge technology such as
 disk arrays and FDDI.  Another alternative is to specialize in some
 application areas such as real-time image or signal processing which
 require pipelined digital signal processing architectures [Sounds like
 the Atari Jaguar/STx!] or real-world interfacing which requires custom
 I/O interfaces for sensors and actuators.

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VMEbus Systems is available "free to persons dealing persons dealing with
or considering VMEbus and Futurebus+ technology upon request in writing."
Otherwise, it is $24/year (published bi-monthly) for U.S. and Canadian
residents and $50 for people in other countries.  More information can
be obtained by contacting:

               VMEbus Systems
               25875 Jefferson
               St. Clair Shores, MI 48081
               (313) 774-8180
               (313) 774-8182 (Fax)

The editor is John Black who can be contacted at:

               2618 S. Shannon Dr.
               Tempe, AZ 85282
               (602) 967-5581
               (602) 968-3446 (Fax)

For people interested in the hardware details of the VMEbus, VITA (VMEbus
Int. Trade Association) sells the VME Handbook and VMEbus Specs for $49.95
and $29.95, respectively (shipping inc. in U.S.).  VITA's address is:

                10229 N. Scottsdale Rd, Suite B
                Scottsdale, AZ 85253
                Phn: (602) 951-8866
 
Someone experienced with VMEbus systems might want to comment on the
article, but anyone leafing thru the various industry magazines would
find that VMEbus appears to dominate with its wide range of boards.

Jack

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End of Info-Atari16 Digest
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