1217 lines
33 KiB
Plaintext
1217 lines
33 KiB
Plaintext
--------------------------------------
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SYNDICATE ZMAGAZINE May 1, 1988
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Issue #104 (c)1988 APEI/Ron Kovacs
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--------------------------------------
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Editor in Cheif : Ron Kovacs
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Asst Publisher : Ken Kirchner
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Managing Editor : Tom Reade
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Technical Editor: W. Keith Whitton
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______________________________________
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Contents
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______________________________________
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|*|Editors Desk
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|*|GEnie Survey Results
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|*|Atari Trek '88 Computer Show
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|*|ZMag Technique
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|*|10 Commandments of Telecomputing
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|*|Commentary on Atari
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|*|Newswire
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|_|___________________________________
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______________________________________
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Editors Desk
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______________________________________
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by Ron Kovacs
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Along with this issue of ZMagazine we
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are publishing the commentary from Rex
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Reade in ST-Report Issue #33. Please
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note that comments made in the article
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are those of the original author and
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do not reflect the opinions of this
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magazine. Opposing points of view are
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welcome and encouraged.
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This month we start our third year of
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weekly publication. Never thought it
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would continue this long. Thanks to
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everyone who has supported us from the
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beginning.
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______________________________________
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GEnie Survey Results
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______________________________________
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Well, the results are in from the
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Atari 8-Bit RoundTable survey! They
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are, to say the least, interesting.
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Here are the results, by question:
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QUESTION #1
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===========
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What is your age group?
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15 and under 2% 9 users
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16 to 20 7% 31 users
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21 to 30 27% 120 users
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31 to 40 45% 203 users
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41 to 55 18% 80 users
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56 to 65 3% 3 users
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66 and over 0% 1 user
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As you can see, the vast majority of
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the users are between 21 and 55 years
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old. 98.5% of the users answered this
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question.
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QUESTION #2
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===========
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What is your sex?
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Male 98% 439 users
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Female 2% 10 users
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Well, not many ladies in our midst.
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98.9% of the users answered this
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question.
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QUESTION #3
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===========
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What Atari 8-bit computer do you use
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most often?
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400 0% 1 user
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800 9% 42 users
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600XL 0% 0 users
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800XL 36% 164 users
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1200XL 1% 6 users
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130XE 53% 237 users
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As this shows, the majority use the
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130XE machine. Also, from this, we
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can see that 90% of the users have 64K
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of RAM or more because the 800XL, the
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1200XL, and the 130XE are all 64K+
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machines. 99.1% of the users answered
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this question.
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QUESTION #4
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===========
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What disk drive do you use most often?
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Atari 810 5% 21 users
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Atari 1050(stock) 38% 170 users
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Atari 1050(mod) 37% 166 users
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Percom 3% 13 users
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Indus 11% 50 users
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Other 6% 28 users
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From this, it would seem that the vast
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majority can handle either enhanced
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density or true double density (89%).
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98.7% of the users answered this
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question.
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QUESTION #5
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===========
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What is the memory of your Atari 8-bit
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computer?
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16K 0% 0 users
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48K 6% 29 users
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64K 21% 95 users
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128K 41% 185 users
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256K 21% 93 users
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320K 6% 28 users
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512K 2% 10 users
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1Mb 2% 7 users
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Not Sure 1% 4 users
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This data tells us a lot. 93% of you
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have 64K or more, while 72% of you
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have 128K or more! Only 1% had no
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idea of what their machine was capable
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of in terms of RAM. That means that
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you are a knowledgable lot! 99.3% of
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the users answered this question.
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QUESTION #6
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===========
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What modem do you use?
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Atari 1030/XM301 31% 140 users
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Atari SX212 15% 95 users
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Other Atari 5% 23 users
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Other modem 47% 215 users
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From this, we can estimate the number
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of 300/1200 baud users. We know that
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the 1030/XM301 and the other Atari
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will be 300 baud, so that is 36%. The
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rest is guess work, but a fair
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estimate of 1200 baud users would be
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in the range of 45%. 98.2% of the
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users answered this question.
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QUESTION #7
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===========
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If you use an interface, what
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interface do you use?
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None 35% 155 users
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Atari 850 21% 95 users
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ICD unit 39% 171 users
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Other 5% 22 users
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This has to make ICD happy! This
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information, along with that in
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question #6, make the estimate of 1200
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baud users much better. 97.6% of the
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users answered this question.
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QUESTION #8
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===========
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How long have you used Atari 8-bit
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computers?
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Under 1 year 2% 11 users
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2 to 4 years 47% 213 users
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5 to 7 years 43% 195 users
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More than 7 years 7% 31 users
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That's a lot of people for a long
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time! If you multiply this out, you
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find that we have somewhere between
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1618 and 2445 years of Atari 8 bit
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experience in the RoundTable! 99.1%
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of the users answered this question.
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QUESTION #9
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===========
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What other computers do you now own
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and/or use? (more than one answer
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allowed)
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Atari ST 13% 57 users
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C64/128 4% 19 users
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Amiga 2% 7 users
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Apple ][ 4% 17 users
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Macintosh 3% 12 users
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IBM PC 29% 131 users
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RS Color Comp. 2% 9 users
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Large Mainframe 18% 81 users
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None 47% 210 users
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The surprizing areas here were the ST
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and the None categories. Relativly few
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Atari 8-bit owners have STs and almost
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half have/use no other machine. 98.0%
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of the users answered this question.
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QUESTION #10
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============
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For what purpose do you use your Atari
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8-bit computer? (more than one answer
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allowed)
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Games 73% 328 users
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Word Processing 72% 323 users
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Home Inventory 21% 93 users
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Telecomputing 79% 354 users
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Business 23% 104 users
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Education 23% 102 users
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Art/Music 28% 125 users
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Programming 37% 166 users
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Other 15% 68 users
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This is really saying that not all
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Atari 8-bit owners actually have a
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game machine. It seems that many use
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the computer as a serious tool. 99.1%
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of the users answered this question.
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QUESTION #11
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============
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What programming languages do you use?
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(more than one answer allowed)
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BASIC 92% 408 users
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Machine Lang. 31% 137 users
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Action! 14% 60 users
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Pascal 8% 35 users
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C 13% 58 users
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Pilot 5% 23 users
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Logo 9% 39 users
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LISP 2% 10 users
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Cobol 4% 18 users
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Forth 5% 21 users
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Other 6% 28 users
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To me, it was a shock at how few
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people use Action!. 97.4% of the
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users answered this question.
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QUESTION #12
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============
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How do you rate your programming
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skills?
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I don't program 8% 34 users
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Beginner 29% 130 users
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Average 48% 218 users
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Expert 10% 45 users
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Professional 5% 24 users
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With all these average and above
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programmers, you'd think that we'd
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see more software coming out for the
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Atari 8-Bit. 99.3% of the users
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answered this question.
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QUESTION #13
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============
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In what format do you prefer that
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files be stored in the RT Library?
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ARC 53% 239 users
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Scrunch 2% 11 users
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Shrink 2% 8 users
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Disk Comm. 7% 33 users
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SCOPY 1% 3 users
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Other format 1% 3 users
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No compression 8% 38 users
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No preference 25% 114 users
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So, ARC is the clear preference of the
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users. 98.9% of the users answered
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this question.
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QUESTION #14
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============
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Do you prefer that program
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documentation be:
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Part of the 41% 181 users
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compressed file
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As above, but 34% 150 users
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also available as a seperate file
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As a seperate 24% 107 users
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file only
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This one is hard to call. Just about
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an even split, with the first having a
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slight edge. 96.5% of the users
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answered this question.
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QUESTION #15
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============
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What terminal program do you use?
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Express! 72% 324 users
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Amodem 10% 46 users
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Back Talk 2% 11 users
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Home Term 2% 10 users
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XE Term 7% 33 users
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Other 6% 25 users
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Looks like Express! is still the
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leader in term programs. 98.9% of
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the users answered this question.
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QUESTION #16
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============
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What DOS do you use most often?
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Atari 2.0/2.5 52% 234 users
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SpartaDOS 33% 148 users
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MYDOS 6% 25 users
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SmartDOS 4% 18 users
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DOS XL 2% 9 users
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HappyDOS 1% 3 users
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MachDOS 0% 1 users
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Other 3% 12 users
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Hmmmm....Looks like ICD is doing well
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with Atari 8-bit users! Ofcourse, the
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old standard Atari DOS is still number
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one. 99.1% of the users answered this
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question.
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QUESTION #17
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============
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How often do you use the RT Bulletin
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Board?
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Never 12% 50 users
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Almost never 25% 109 users
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Sometimes 33% 144 users
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Most times 8% 34 users
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All the time 22% 97 users
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This tells us that many of the Atari
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8-bit RT seldom use the BB area. Some
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of the comments that we received might
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explain why. Only 95.6% of the users
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answered this question.
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QUESTION #18
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============
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How many files per month do you
|
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download from the Library?
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None 8% 34 users
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1 - 5 52% 224 users
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6 - 10 23% 101 users
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11 - 15 11% 46 users
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16 - 20 2% 8 users
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21 - 30 1% 6 users
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More than 31 3% 12 users
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It would seem that almost everyone
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takes advantage of the Library. Only
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94.9% of the users answered this
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question.
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QUESTION #19
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============
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Are you an active member of an Atari
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User Group?
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Yes 46% 208 users
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No 54% 242 users
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Sad, but true. 99.1% of the users
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answered this question.
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QUESTION #20
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============
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What is your occupation?
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High Scl. 4% 20 users
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College St. 6% 25 users
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Computer Pro. 17% 75 users
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Teacher 2% 7 users
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Other Pro. 43% 195 users
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Self Employed 6% 29 users
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Other 22% 99 users
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99.1% of the users answered this
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question.
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QUESTION #21
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============
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Have you ever ran a Bulletin Board
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System on an Atari 8-bit?
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Yes 20% 89 users
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No 80% 363 users
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99.6% of the users answered this
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question.
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QUESTION #22
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============
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When you have a problem with your
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Atari 8-bit, who is the first person
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that you contact?
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A friend 30% 133 users
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Your User Group 19% 85 users
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Local BBS SysOp 13% 56 users
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A GEnie SysOp 3% 15 users
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Other 34% 153 users
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97.4% of the users answered this
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question.
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QUESTION #23
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============
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How many hours per month do you spend
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in the Atari 8-Bit RT?
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Under 2 39% 172 users
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2 to 5 36% 158 users
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5 to 7 11% 48 users
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7 to 10 4% 18 users
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10 to 15 2% 8 users
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More than 15 7% 32 users
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Only 96.0% of the users answered this
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question.
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QUESTION #24
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============
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Do you find the information in the
|
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Atari 8-Bit RT to be:
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Not useful 2% 9 users
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Somewhat useful 50% 202 users
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Very useful 48% 193 users
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Sadly, only 89.0% of the users
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answered this question.
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QUESTION #25
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============
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In general, what is your opinion of
|
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the operation of the Atari 8-bit RT?
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Very poor 0% 1 users
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Poor 1% 3 users
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Fair 4% 18 users
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Average 9% 38 users
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Good 38% 156 users
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Very good 34% 140 users
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Excellent 13% 51 users
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Again, only 89.6% of the users
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answered this question.
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QUESTION #26
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============
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Is there anything that you would like
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to change in the RT?
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Yes 23% 93 users
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No 77% 304 users
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Only 81.3% of the users answered this
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question.
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That is the end of the survey results.
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As you can see, in the areas where the
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users were asked for direct input on
|
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the RT, the number of people that
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answered the question dropped off
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sharply. This is perhaps due to the
|
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idea that the users were afraid to
|
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leave negative comments. In
|
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retrospect, I see that this was not
|
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made clear at the start of the survey,
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but the SysOps have no way to know who
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leaves what answers. The only
|
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exception would be questions like #26
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where you have a chance to leave
|
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comments. That goes via GE-Mail, so
|
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your user address is there. The other
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25 questions are totally anonymous.
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Most of the comments that we did
|
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receive fell into one of two
|
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topics....
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The GEnie Bulletin Board is bad, or...
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Atari needs to do ----------------
|
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<whatever>.
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The comments about the BB have been
|
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sent to GEnie.
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Atari, in the form of Neil Harris, has
|
|
the comments about Atari Corp..
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Let me just say thanks again to all
|
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who took part in the survey. The
|
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data that we gathered from it has
|
|
helped us set a new course for keeping
|
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the Atari 8-Bit RoundTable on track
|
|
and alive!
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|
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...Marty... SysOp MARTY.A
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______________________________________
|
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Atari Trek '88
|
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______________________________________
|
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MAY 14-15 1988
|
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|
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The Atari users groups of the greater
|
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Pacific Northwest are proud to bring
|
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you the second annual ATARI TREK
|
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COMPUTER SHOW.
|
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|
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ATARI TREK88 will be held, Seattle
|
|
Center Flag Pavilion, from 10am to 6pm
|
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May 14th and 15th, 1988, admission
|
|
will be $3 and children under 12 free.
|
|
|
|
Admission fee entitles you to a chance
|
|
of winning one of dozens of door prize
|
|
drawings held through out the show.
|
|
There will be exciting exhibits and
|
|
displays by vendors from all across
|
|
the country and by users groups. For
|
|
further information and available
|
|
vendor participation for ATARI TREK88,
|
|
contact: Dave Hanthorn (206)232-3009.
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
ZMag Technique
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
Modifying your PR: Connection and MIO
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|
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by WK Whitton
|
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|
|
Just as ICD has continued to support
|
|
the Atari 8 bit computer, so shall
|
|
Zmag! And speaking of ICD, how would
|
|
you like to be able to modify your PR:
|
|
Connection? -For what possible reason?
|
|
you ask. Well, it seems that there is
|
|
a problem with using Atariwriter Plus
|
|
and the PR: Connection (although of
|
|
the several Atariwriter+/PR:
|
|
Connection owners I interviewed, none
|
|
experienced this problem). When you
|
|
reload the spellchecker, the RS232
|
|
handler is also reloaded. Now the old
|
|
850 interface doesn't allow this, you
|
|
load it one time (remember that
|
|
horrid, whiny -Booooooooooop!), and
|
|
therefore there is no hassle. But
|
|
being of advanced design, the PR:
|
|
Connection will allow reloading of the
|
|
handler. So.........as you back in and
|
|
out of the spellchecker, the RS232
|
|
handler keeps reloading, thus pushing
|
|
the MEMLO up and up, and suddenly...
|
|
Kee-rash! Here's what you need to do
|
|
to an OUT OF WARRANTY PR: Connection
|
|
to alleviate this problem.
|
|
|
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1. ___ Lay the PR: Connection face
|
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down on a soft surface.
|
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|
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2. ___ Remove the 4 Phillips head
|
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screws from the bottom of the unit
|
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and set these aside. Also, turn the
|
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unit over, and remove the top
|
|
cover, placing it in a safe place.
|
|
|
|
3. ___ Note the Revision number marked
|
|
on the upper right hand side of the
|
|
PC board. If it is Rev. 4 or higher
|
|
you are in luck, as this
|
|
modification was thought of and the
|
|
board was laid out to accommodate
|
|
it easily! If it IS REV 4 or
|
|
higher, please perform step 4.
|
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|
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If it is LOWER than REV 4, please
|
|
perform step 5. There is NO need to do
|
|
both as they do the same thing, but on
|
|
a different version of the PR:.
|
|
|
|
4. ___ Hold the PR: Connection with
|
|
the 3 ports facing you. Look
|
|
directly behind the port connector
|
|
marked R2. You will observe 2
|
|
little -silver dots-, these are
|
|
called -solder pads-. They will be
|
|
marked -R1 off-.
|
|
|
|
That's just what they do, they turn
|
|
off the R1 port! Solder a 4- #22 wire
|
|
to each of these solder pads.
|
|
|
|
5. ___ Remove the pc board from its
|
|
housing and turn it over.
|
|
|
|
In the center of the board you will
|
|
notice an IC that looks like it is
|
|
square (Its cool but square...heh
|
|
heh).
|
|
|
|
Notice one side of the chip has a dot
|
|
plainly visible on it. This is pin 1.
|
|
Count around the outside of the chip,
|
|
moving toward the right, and locate
|
|
pin 36. Solder a 6- piece of #22 wire
|
|
here, and then place the board back
|
|
into its case. Solder a 4- piece of
|
|
#22 wire to ground.
|
|
|
|
6. ___ Obtain a small toggle switch,
|
|
and mount it in a convienient
|
|
location on the case of the PR:
|
|
Connection.
|
|
|
|
7. ___ Solder the two wires to the
|
|
switch.
|
|
|
|
8. ___ Replace the cover on the unit,
|
|
and away you go!
|
|
|
|
Here are some additional hardware
|
|
notes:
|
|
|
|
While at the PACE computer show, I
|
|
beheld something interesting on an MIO
|
|
on display there. Instead of the solid
|
|
panel on the MIO that I become
|
|
accustomed to seeing, there were two
|
|
screen-like panels to allow free
|
|
airflow. When I inquired of Tom about
|
|
the availability of these panels, he
|
|
said that MIO owners could obtain
|
|
these by getting intouch with ICD. He
|
|
only asks that you have a mental
|
|
picture of the layout of the side of
|
|
the MIO where the on-off switch is.
|
|
Tom informed me that there were two
|
|
different configurations, and thus 2
|
|
different possibilities of panels to
|
|
obtain.
|
|
|
|
And lastly, if you are the owner of an
|
|
Atari 1050, and you have upgraded it
|
|
with the -Doubler- from ICD, you know
|
|
how wonderful the high speed and true
|
|
double density can be! If for some
|
|
reason the IC installed in U10 should
|
|
ever go bad, you can obtain a
|
|
replacement by sending the original,
|
|
along with $7 to the good folk at ICD,
|
|
and they will send you a replacement.
|
|
|
|
Well, if you don't own products from
|
|
these fine folk, I trust I have shown
|
|
you that ICD provides virtually
|
|
unmatched user support in the Atari 8
|
|
bit world! You can do no better than
|
|
to purchase any of their fine
|
|
products! ICD's address and phone are:
|
|
|
|
ICD
|
|
1220 Rock Street
|
|
Rockford, ILL 61101-437
|
|
Voice: 815-968-2228 BBS: 815-968-2229
|
|
|
|
Keep those Atari's hummin!
|
|
WK Whitton (Mr. Goodprobe)
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
10 Commandments of Telecommunication
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
Author unknown
|
|
|
|
These are a few things that will help
|
|
you to be good, polite members of a
|
|
BBS system. They are not set in stone
|
|
and there may be more that the SYSOP
|
|
has set for the system you call. Which
|
|
brings us to rule number one:
|
|
|
|
1. Read all notices. Including New
|
|
User notices, system bulletins and
|
|
messages left by the Sysop in the
|
|
message base to the users. This is
|
|
where you learn about how the system
|
|
runs and when changes are made.
|
|
|
|
2. Follow the rules. You are a guest
|
|
in the Sysops/Owners computer. The
|
|
Owner has a right to set the rules
|
|
just as you have a right to set house
|
|
rules for your guests. Alot of
|
|
systems are set up for a particular
|
|
reason. It is not polite to try to
|
|
force your way in someone else's
|
|
system.
|
|
|
|
3. Take your time and use the menus.
|
|
Almost all BBS systems allow you to
|
|
enter something like ? when you need a
|
|
Menu. Some also have a -panic-
|
|
command like -Menu- that brings you
|
|
back to the Main Menu if you get lost.
|
|
Most things are clear if you take your
|
|
time. One suggestion is the first
|
|
time you get on try all the choices on
|
|
the Menus to wee what they do.
|
|
|
|
4. Leave a message once in awhile. If
|
|
nothing else say something about
|
|
yourself. Someone has to start
|
|
talking before a conversation get
|
|
going. I've seen a lot of
|
|
conversations on BBS systems start
|
|
with -Why did you buy a computer/
|
|
modem?-. Only going to the File
|
|
sections of a BBS is like going to a
|
|
party and sitting by yourself at the
|
|
food and eating. Sounds kind of
|
|
strange when put that way.
|
|
|
|
5. Keep your language and discussions
|
|
clean and legal! BBS systems are used
|
|
by all kinds of people of all ages.
|
|
Unless the Sysop has a Smoking
|
|
section...don't smoke. Before you
|
|
type something ask yourself if you
|
|
would say it in Church. That's a good
|
|
rule of thumb. You can express
|
|
yourself without getting vulger, can't
|
|
you? It only start the ball rolling
|
|
to worse things.
|
|
|
|
6. Type in lower case and take your
|
|
time. HAVE YOU EVEN TRYED TO READ
|
|
SOMETHING TYPED IN ALL UPPER CASE.
|
|
ALSO HAVE YU EEER TRED OT READ
|
|
SMETHING THT HDA ALOT OF TPYOS. THIS
|
|
IS USUALY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE
|
|
PERSON TRYED TO BE SUPERTYPER AND TYPE
|
|
FASTER THAN THEY COULD. ALSO ITS A
|
|
SIGN THAT THER PERSON WAS TO LASY TO
|
|
CORRECT THE MISTAKES. Grammar is only
|
|
important to the extent that other
|
|
users can understand what you are
|
|
trying to get across. It's not a term
|
|
paper or formal letter, but we would
|
|
all like to understand what you are
|
|
saying.
|
|
|
|
7. Stay on the topic. If you change
|
|
the topic, change the message header.
|
|
All BBS system message bases that
|
|
allow this. If the message base you
|
|
are in is about ST Support, talk about
|
|
something to do with ST Support.
|
|
|
|
8. If you find a good PD or Shareware
|
|
program upload it to the proper
|
|
section. This is how the new programs
|
|
got there that you see. Either
|
|
someone uploaded it to a BBS that the
|
|
Sysop calls or someone uploaded it to
|
|
this BBS. Someone was nice enough to
|
|
see that you got it. Alot of people
|
|
only call a few BBS systems and don't
|
|
come across programs that the others
|
|
don't have. We are not all rich. Just
|
|
upload when you have them and use the
|
|
message base also.
|
|
|
|
9. Don't use BBS systems that allow
|
|
stolen software. This will hurt you
|
|
in the long run. Do you want to see a
|
|
computer system die fast? Then you
|
|
will have a $1000 paper weight on your
|
|
hands. Would you work for free?
|
|
|
|
10. Last but not least, leave the
|
|
Sysop(s) suggestions and comments
|
|
nicely. They, like all people, do not
|
|
like to be commanded to do something,
|
|
or being cursed at, because the
|
|
download section is acting up. You can
|
|
be sure if the suggestion is worth
|
|
while it will appear.
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
Newswire
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
Captured from Delphi
|
|
|
|
835 27-APR 21:27 General Information
|
|
|
|
Atarians Rejoice (?)
|
|
|
|
From: DFSCOTT
|
|
To: ALL
|
|
|
|
This is a Computer Shopper exclusive
|
|
story.
|
|
|
|
Atari Corp. is undergoing another
|
|
corporate restructuring, but this time
|
|
more massive than before. A division
|
|
company, to be known as Atari
|
|
Computers, is being formed. Charles
|
|
Babbitt has been named Atari Computers
|
|
President, and Anthony Gould his Vice
|
|
President for Sales. Although still
|
|
under the umbrella leadership of the
|
|
Tramiels, it appears at this time that
|
|
a semi-autonomous company in the
|
|
manner of Amiga Corp. is being spun
|
|
off.
|
|
|
|
In an exclusive interview, Atari chief
|
|
spokesman Neil Harris told this
|
|
reporter that Babbitt has been given
|
|
two months to form a new corporate
|
|
strategy for Atari Computers. During
|
|
that period of time, says Harris,
|
|
Corporate leadership has ordered no
|
|
one at Atari Computers to speak with
|
|
the press. Nonetheless, Babbitt was
|
|
cornered into releasing general
|
|
information to Computer + Software
|
|
News about a special packaging
|
|
arrangement of the Mega 4, perhaps for
|
|
sales to Value-Added Resellers.
|
|
|
|
It apparently has yet to be decided
|
|
what role current Atari Corp.
|
|
Management will play in leading the
|
|
new Computers division. More details
|
|
as they become available.
|
|
|
|
D. F. Scott
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
A SERIOUS OBSERVATION
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
by T.-Rex- Reade
|
|
|
|
Bless those Atari ST users, they are a
|
|
hardy bunch of folks.....or are they?
|
|
Have they been pushed and shoved to
|
|
their limit? Is the time near for
|
|
these folks to say, -We are sick and
|
|
tired of being sick and tired-?
|
|
|
|
This author has been doing some
|
|
informal research for the last 23
|
|
days, in and out of all three of the
|
|
major network services CIS, Delphi and
|
|
GEnie to try and find out why the
|
|
Atari userbase is showing storm clouds
|
|
on the horizon. Folks, the results,
|
|
although informal, are quite
|
|
surprising!
|
|
|
|
The main theme is coming from three
|
|
major areas in the userbase, (a) The
|
|
users(consumers) (b) The DEVELOPERS
|
|
(hardware & software) (c) The
|
|
RETAILER/SERVICE CENTERS. You say,
|
|
what is going on that would have all
|
|
these folks upset?
|
|
|
|
ABSOLUTLY NOTHING! That's right,
|
|
nothing is going on. That is the
|
|
entire problem....The thrust is a lack
|
|
of reaction to the wants and needs of
|
|
these three major areas in the Atari
|
|
Community by ATARI CORP........
|
|
|
|
FIRST, Let's take a look at the
|
|
consumer's dilemma, according to the
|
|
vast majority of messages read and
|
|
articles written, the users have been
|
|
all but forgotten by Atari Corp. some
|
|
of the user complaints:
|
|
|
|
1- Why is Atari so busy selling
|
|
overseas while we wait endlessly
|
|
here at home? ATARI is a U.S.
|
|
based company!
|
|
|
|
2- Where is this PROFESSIONAL Dealer/
|
|
Service Center Network?
|
|
|
|
3- Why is the new software so sparse?
|
|
|
|
4- Why can't Atari perfect GEM and
|
|
GDOS?
|
|
|
|
5- Why do we have so many problems
|
|
with the built-in DISK DRIVES?
|
|
|
|
6- Why can't we buy the new ROMS
|
|
(mega) being shipped in the new
|
|
1040s and Mega STs? Playing
|
|
favorites?
|
|
|
|
After doing some snooping, I managed
|
|
to find a few answers to the sampling
|
|
of problems mentioned above that are
|
|
facing the users.....The answer to the
|
|
first question is PROFIT! The answer
|
|
to the second question was harder to
|
|
come by ..but this is close to what
|
|
most agreed would make a reasonable
|
|
cause, Atari, in their infinite wisdom
|
|
of being a US based Company is sending
|
|
most of the new products overseas and
|
|
therefore business people who have
|
|
done market studies find the product
|
|
unavailable except in extremely
|
|
limited quantities and therefore are
|
|
reluctant to invest in an outlet
|
|
dedicated to Atari products. Thank
|
|
the Lord for the few hardy souls who
|
|
put up with all the heartache and
|
|
pressure. (more about the dealer
|
|
dilemma in a moment) Sparse software
|
|
has been blamed on many reasons...
|
|
actually if one MAJOR hurdle were
|
|
overcome the other lesser reasons
|
|
would be easy. That major hurdle is
|
|
Atari Corp. itself! (we will get to
|
|
that when we discuss developers).
|
|
Skipping GDos and Gem for now, we jump
|
|
straight to a very nasty subject
|
|
|
|
....THE DISK DRIVE MYSTERIES....
|
|
|
|
I looked carefully into this one
|
|
because it is involved, here it is, as
|
|
seen by this author....
|
|
|
|
1- Too many Vendor changes (those who
|
|
sell the drive to Atari)
|
|
|
|
2- Outrageous economization of drive
|
|
design
|
|
|
|
3- Insufficient in-the-field knowledge
|
|
of all the changes.
|
|
|
|
Looking at the first, there are no
|
|
less than 4 different styles of drives
|
|
in use...why? The early SF314 with
|
|
the square eject button was excellent.
|
|
The same goes for the very early
|
|
internal drive that came with the
|
|
1040ST. That internal drive was the
|
|
best Atari released. Why? Well how
|
|
many of you have the -escape blues-?
|
|
You know, switch the disk and hit the
|
|
esc key for a new directory....work
|
|
every time?...not in the new
|
|
drives...what? it wont read a 10
|
|
sector format?....you mean the drive
|
|
speed is not up to par and it came
|
|
that way? Folks, these problems are
|
|
NOT products of imagination, but in
|
|
fact, were pointed out to me by
|
|
Developers and service centers from
|
|
different areas of the country. ATARI
|
|
take note....
|
|
|
|
In trying to be fair, it was decided
|
|
to call Atari and ask a Service Tech
|
|
about what could be done with a drive
|
|
that was misbehaving, chosen was the
|
|
re-read the same drive with a
|
|
different disk, escape key problem.
|
|
Here is what we got for help....Was
|
|
connected with a -Tech- and after
|
|
explaining the problem 4X!,, He got
|
|
the idea and stated that it may be due
|
|
to loose ROM chips, (how many times
|
|
have you heard this one?), the advice
|
|
we got was to pick up the computer to
|
|
about a foot over the desk and drop
|
|
it!!!!
|
|
|
|
It was at this point that I asked to
|
|
speak to the person in charge of
|
|
service....ok we waited, (holding on)
|
|
a secretary came on the line and asked
|
|
if she could help,(explain the problem
|
|
again), she said hold on for moment.
|
|
After a few seconds a LOUD BOOMING
|
|
voice was on the other end of the
|
|
phone, obviously this fellow was using
|
|
a distorted and echo filled speaker
|
|
phone..oh well....he tried to explain
|
|
that the problem we were seeing is due
|
|
to one of three things a) Rom chips
|
|
(their favorite) b) the controller
|
|
chip c) the Yamaha chip. The net
|
|
result was if none of the above
|
|
helped, send in the unit for repair or
|
|
exchange. Not once was mention made
|
|
that drive may be of the newer type,
|
|
(lighter and smaller), and therefore
|
|
not totally compatable with the
|
|
machine. He never even mentioned that
|
|
the problem may be caused by the
|
|
drive......
|
|
|
|
Allow me to clarify the new drive,
|
|
(lighter and smaller), that's how to
|
|
recognize it at a glance.....in my
|
|
opinion, it is plainly cheaper in
|
|
material and shabby in performance...a
|
|
host of messages blamed the
|
|
programmers for using weird formats
|
|
and all sorts of other reasons...I
|
|
blame the drive....after having 2
|
|
Brand New 1040s with the new Roms
|
|
delivered to me. I went crazy with
|
|
drive problems....until I took older
|
|
drives and placed them in my Brand
|
|
Spanking New 1040s, now....all is
|
|
perfect! Only a small number of
|
|
service Centers could tell us how
|
|
many different drive vendors Atari has
|
|
dealt with.....from 3 to 6 different
|
|
vendors. About the new roms ...Atari
|
|
has no info for a person calling on
|
|
the phone about them.....interesting,
|
|
since I have 'em at this time.....
|
|
|
|
The MAJOR reason for slow software
|
|
releases is ATARI CORP. According to a
|
|
number of prominent software
|
|
developers who shall remain
|
|
unidentified at this time, the biggest
|
|
problem that they have is Atari Corp.
|
|
itself....lack of communication, lack
|
|
of up to date information and most of
|
|
all a very serious lack of
|
|
cooperation and confidence on the part
|
|
of Atari to work hand in hand with the
|
|
third party developers. My opinion is,
|
|
advise Atari to be either in the
|
|
hardware or the software business but
|
|
NOT half way in both! Best bet Mr.
|
|
Atari is to continue making your
|
|
hardware the very best there is and
|
|
start ADVERTISING and SELLING ST
|
|
products in the U.S.A.!
|
|
|
|
LEAVE THE SOFTWARE TO THE SOFTWARE
|
|
SPECIALISTS! Mr. Developer, I hope
|
|
Atari gets the message, I fully
|
|
understand the undeniably poor
|
|
position you are in....every time you
|
|
approach Atari about a new concept or
|
|
need help with a new routine, they
|
|
give you the stonewall or a big
|
|
welcome and NO help or cooperation...
|
|
could it be Atari wants all the new
|
|
ideas released through themselves?
|
|
Does that make any sense? You bet it
|
|
does...just ask the guy who originally
|
|
wrote AtariWriter, or get the real
|
|
story behind ST Writer or better yet
|
|
discuss this very opinion with a
|
|
developer, (off the record), you'll
|
|
get the straight story and be amazed!
|
|
|
|
What about this -new- release of micro
|
|
word this alledged super word
|
|
processor, it was dead before it was
|
|
release because it came out far too
|
|
late....Where is the -HIGH POWERED-
|
|
Thesaurus and Spell checker so heavily
|
|
touted? Too many last minute changes?? perhaps your programmers need some
|
|
business sense, or is the spellchecker
|
|
and thesaurus just more VAPORWARE?
|
|
|
|
While you are at it, ask the developer
|
|
about the horror story called GDOS and
|
|
how Atari can't find someone who
|
|
understands it well enough to write a
|
|
tutorial about it. Or so they say....
|
|
|
|
Finally, the dilemma faced by the
|
|
Sales and Service Centers...these guys
|
|
really take the abuse.....Backorders,
|
|
Vaporware and Insults from irate
|
|
customers.....Nice things to come in
|
|
to every morning, right?....No wonder
|
|
more and more dealers are stocking
|
|
computers from the -other- companies.
|
|
One question to all the dealers we
|
|
spoke to was of all the customers you
|
|
sold the original ST to, how many are
|
|
still using an ST? The answer was
|
|
quick in coming....-ABOUT HALF- we
|
|
asked why?.....again a fast answer,
|
|
-because Atari is busy supporting a
|
|
European market, we can't deliver here
|
|
in a timely fashion and the so called
|
|
new product development has turned
|
|
into a nightmare of Engineer dreams
|
|
and show pieces but nothing for the
|
|
consumer to buy-...-take the laser
|
|
printer for an example, it's already
|
|
out classed and over priced by some
|
|
real good name brands-!
|
|
|
|
The only new item of any consequence
|
|
has been the Mega ST....or has it? We
|
|
asked a simple question about it also,
|
|
Has the Mega lived up to your
|
|
expectations and is it a reliable
|
|
machine.....Three shops said we didn't
|
|
have enough room or time to hear about
|
|
the Mega ST...however the majority
|
|
said basically it is a good machine
|
|
but it seems Atari never really
|
|
finished it before releasing it! Also,
|
|
since it's release none of it's
|
|
potential has been made readily
|
|
available to the US market place..oh
|
|
yes, there is plenty of Action in
|
|
Europe....
|
|
|
|
Author's Note: I personally own quite
|
|
a bit of Atari Equipment and really
|
|
enjoy using it. Where else can one
|
|
get a computer that will run the
|
|
software of three computers [1] IBM,
|
|
[2] MacIntosh [3] ST? Atari, you can
|
|
have the most advanced Computer in the
|
|
world, but if you do not advertise and
|
|
allow it to grow in the USA. To the
|
|
GIANT USA marketplace, it simply
|
|
doesn't exist! Now, with the news of
|
|
reorganization, I am faced with the
|
|
rumors of Atari Stereos and
|
|
Microwaves, ala Federated, if there is
|
|
any chance of this ..for heaven's
|
|
sake, either change the name of the
|
|
Computer Lines or USE ANOTHER NAME!
|
|
....what's with the calculators and
|
|
propeller beanie hats with the Atari
|
|
name and LOGO on them?.......hey,
|
|
Atari, PANASONIC(c) you ain't! Or is
|
|
business THAT bad?
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|
|
|
I get worn down with all the shortfall
|
|
going on....Just last week I was
|
|
explaining to a few folks at the
|
|
clubhouse about the wonderful things
|
|
my computer system could do...
|
|
everyone was very interested until I
|
|
told them the name...I went deaf with
|
|
the HYSTERICAL laughter in the room!
|
|
Sad......but never the less, true...
|
|
argh! I AM one of the diehards and am
|
|
willing to make very loud noises in
|
|
hopes of someone out west (CA) hearing
|
|
me.......Never give up hope folks.
|
|
|
|
COME ON ATARI, LET'S GET WITH THE
|
|
PROGRAM SHOW US SOME REAL SUPPORT!
|
|
|
|
NATIONAL ADVERTISING FOR THE ST
|
|
MARKET THE ST IN THE USA NOW!
|
|
|
|
GIVE DEVELOPERS REAL SUPPORT AND HELP!
|
|
|
|
T.-Rex- Reade
|
|
CIS - 73710,1052
|
|
Delphi - REXREADE
|
|
GEnie - REX.READE
|
|
|
|
04-29-88
|
|
Any and all opposing views are
|
|
welcome, the views or opinions stated
|
|
in the above article are not
|
|
necessarily those of ST Report or it's
|
|
staff. This article may be reproduced
|
|
only if it's entirety is unchanged.
|
|
______________________________________
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|
Syndicate ZMagazine Issue #104 5/1/88
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|
(c)1988
|
|
American Publishing Enterprises
|
|
All Rights Reserved
|
|
______________________________________
|