SPACE Newsletter

DECEMBER Bytes

From the Pres. The big news this month is that Atari has decided to wish us all a •Merry Christmas• by drastically reducing prices and announcing new machines compatible with our existing ones. It appears that Tramiel is coming out fighting and will be aggressive. This is good news for all of u~ Atari computer owners. ._,, This is a rundown of the news from Infoworld, Compuserve <ANTIC interview with Tramiel), and newspaper ads. It may all be old news by the time you see this. I'll have some copies of pertinent articles for you to see at the meefing. Pricing: Manufacturer's 1 ist price is now $119.95 for the 800Xl and $179.95 for the 1050 drive. Other Atari peripherals will be drastically reduced in price, too. Substantial discounting of these prices may be seen as well. Tramiel says $49.95 will be the top price for Atari software. Their strategy is for •rock bottom pricing•. 800Xl: Atari will continue to produce the 800XL. New 8-bit Computers: Atari will show three to five 8-bit computers at the January CES show. These are all compatible with existing machines. Presumably one of these is the 800XL. Another one is to be a 128K version of the 800XL. All are to be available during 1st quarter of 1985 <we hope). ~ew Peripherals: There will be a new ~olor printer and a 300/1200 baud direct connect modem shown at the CES show. PLATO Cartridge: This is to be Atari's #1 new software product. At the above mentioned $49.95 maximum, They should sell

1984

a bunch, Atari is strongly connitted to telecommunications. New Ad Caapaign: •Even Scrooge would giue one ••• •

is the

slogan for the

full

page Atari ads seen in recent newspapers. This appears to be an aggressive campaign. User Group Support: Tramiel pledged support for User's Groups. I think he figures he can get a lot of free mileage from a little support. He says user groups will be •a clearing house of information• and Atari would support these fully. I hope he comes through. Atari EXPLORER: This will be a new Atari monthly publication for Atari owners. Machines: The fate of the 7800 pro-system has not been decided - it may never be produced. The fate of the 2600 will be decided during January. G•es Software: They are making arrangements to make new games from Atari Coin-Op Division (not part of Tramiel's Atari> available for Atari computers. They are re-negotiating contracts with third party software companies for continued support of Atari computers. Lucasfilm was mentioned as one of these outfits. 16 & 32-bit Computers: There will be at least one 16-bit machine introduced at the CES show. There will be at least two 16-bit machines eventually, The one being shown will have two Sony 3.5• disk drives. A 32-bit machine will be introduced in April at the Hanover, West Germany computer show. Both computers will use •GEM•, a new operating system featuring icons, pull-dCMn menus, overlapping windows, mouse, etc. New software will have to be developed for

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CONTINUED-->

these machines. These are not IBM clones. They would be capable of running the •heavy duty• programs out there such as Lotus, Framework, etc., although no arrangements have yet been made with these manufacturers The 32-bit to convert their software. machine is being referred to as a VAX in a on the 32032 It will be based box. Atari on all Pricing microprocessor. computers wi 11 be kept within a $100 to $1000 price range. 150,000 Atari is producing Genera 1 : They predict $1 bill ion 800XL ✓ s per month. in sales for 1985, They have collected only $50 mill ion of the $300 mill ion due them from debts of the pre-Tramiel days. Atari plans to make a public stock offering sometime in 1985.

his mother) for spending a lot of time They brought an the show. demo ✓ ing at Jon 800XL, Indus drive and software. Nelson was there, too, helping out. We had a great time. Perhaps the best part oft~ show for me was a 30 minute demo of th')--' light pen by an unknown four year old. Lots of people were fascinated at the ease I think we 1 ll get 4 or 5 new of use. members due to the show. This show was far better than last month 1 s show.

In other club news, SPACE is buying a modem for use by its newsletter editor. In the near future, we will be able upload articles to the BBS and Jon Nelson will be able to download them for use in the newsletter. Steve Pauley, Computer Food, is offering the club a special deal on our modem, I urge all of you with modems to call up the BBS (544-9058) and leave a private message (option P) to the sysop for a pas~d-. · Also, le-t ✓ s-get some article~ to Jon. I think reviews are the easiest type of article to write. Let us all know what you think of that new program you bought.

A member approached me at the last Atari meeting about forming a Women ✓ s Interest Group. We will bring the subject We can also up at the next meeting. discuss any other interest groups you may be interested in forming.

Speaking of the BBS, it is struggling at the moment with 1 disk drive. The 2 Percom drives have been sent in for repair, Someone at TAIG has offered use of another disk drive temporarily, It may be running this. read you time the by OK Incidentally, I believe we will be offering XMODEM and compiled XMODEM on the disk of the month for December. This is the best way to transfer files on the BBS. We have reprinted some articles from TAIG this month. We are pursuing active trading of articles with TAIG. Let ✓ s be sure to contribute our share of articles. The newsletter did not get out on time last month due to a postage problem. The half to newsletter must be folded in We all qualify for our normal postage, apologize to those who were inconvenienced. Science The computer show at the Museum was really good and lots of fun. Jon and Andy Mills <and I ✓ d like to thank

Speaking of the 1 ight pen, I found out at TAIG the other night that the light pen works with 400 computers, but must be used in joystick port M4. I checked this out and it works fine. Steve Pauley is working out details so that those interested should be able to obtain one for Christmas. /'1-2.P;,

I am going to the CES show in Las Vegas on January 5 to 8. Is anyone else going? It promises to be very interesifn~ for Atari users. 1 ✓ 11 have up-to-date in~ for you at the January meeting - only 5 days after the show, I would 1 ike some help with the TV set, If anyone would care to bring the TV to the meetings, I would g~eatly appreciate it. In return, you get to use a 19" color TV in your home the rest of the month. This is a cheap way (free) to have a color TV at home, or a separate one for your computer. The only requirements are that you are a SPACE member and that you bring the TV (or arrange to have it brought in Let me your absence) to every meeting. know at the meeting, or call me ahead of time - first come, first served.

Lastly, I 1 d like to wish you all a happy holiday season and a great Atari New Year!

SURGE PROTECTION by Bennett Porter The thunderstorms of last summer have renewed interest in the dangers of •voltage likes• caused by lightning. For many of '"ti's the thought of plunking down $50 to $75 for a comrnericially made surge portector is too much for this seemingly rare event. Instead we take our chances or we unplug our computers if we remember. Another alternative was described in detail in the December 1983 issue of BYTE magazine-you can MAKE YOUR~ SURGE PROTECTOR. BYTE is a well known journal in the microcomputer world. I found that most major 1 ibraries have all the issues going back for years. The article we ✓ re interested in shows how to make an equal or better surge protector for $5.00. That ✓ s right five dollars. What ✓ s better is that if you can boil water you can make it. You don ✓ t go near your computer, instead you solder three metal oxide varistors<MOV ✓ s) to your multi-socketed power strip. This project has been so popular nationally that there has been a tremendous shortage of MOV ✓ s at Radio Shack. Because of this the August 1984 issue of BYTE named four more sources for MOV ✓ s including a ;1"111 here in Minnesota.

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DISK AND TAPE

O.T.M.

This month there will be at least two Christmas-type programs on the disk of the month. One of them is a member-written program, come to the meeting for a demo; the other is a surprise. The rest of the D.O.M.s just came in the mail!!! MORE SURPRISES! PLEASE remember that when you purchase the D.O.M., all of the money received goes into the club ✓ s treasury. This income, keeps SPACE alive, and helps pay for your monthly newsletter. If you want to save some of your hard-earned money, here ✓ s a TIP!! Take the last 12 or so D.O.M. ✓ s and starting with your first one, copy the second one you have on the back side, by using the switch on your disk, or cutting a notch on the ther side. Continue doing this to date, -..nd for every 12 D.o.M ✓ s you have, you will have 6 disks to reformat and use for other programs. BRUCE HAUG D.O.M.

November Meeting Minutes The last SPACE meeting was held on Friday, November 9. Bob Floyd, the president, reported that he and Bruce Haug, the vice president, had manned an Atari information booth at the Twin Cities Computer Show. Several people attending the show expressed an interest in SPACE; Bob expects that 5 or 6 of these people will sign up for membership. Bruce Haug reminded everyone that SPACE has run out of new programs for the disk/cassette of the month. Members are asked (begged) to PLEASE submit programs to the club since disk/cassette of the month sales provide an important source of club revenue. In the new business section, Bob polled the club members for their opinions about the club purchase of a modem. The modem would allow the newsletter .editor to exchange articles with the TAIG newsletter editors and it would also make it easier for members to submit articles to the newsletter. The use of the club ✓ s modem would be one of the "perks• for being newsletter editor. The modem could also be used for other (i.e., non-newsletter) purposes. When the proposal was put to the vote, the majority of club members voted to purchase the modem. A new bulletin board service organized exclusively for Atari users was announced. The bulletin board number is 561-4110. In a recent issue of Antic, it was announced that Atari has a new in-warranty servicing policy. There are no authorized service centers for in-warranty work. People encountering problems with their computers within the warranty period are instructed to return the computer to the store where they purchased it for over-the-counter exchanges. At the end of the meeting, Bob demonstrated a 1 ight pen which operates with Microillustrator software. The company which manufactures the 1 ight pen has offered SPACE a discounted group purchase price if enough members are interested.

Ramrod XL and Omniview XL much add produc ts two These With er. comput XL 800 your to versat ility the for need no have you XL, the Ramrod a is It tes. disket ator Transl Atari closely that system ng operati ment replace matche s the old Rev. B operati ng system in the 800 comput ers. This produc t comes with a three positio n switch . In one positio n, you have the normal 800 XL computer on your hands. If you put the switch in the middle positio n, you will now have the Newell Indust ries OS that is very compat ible with few has a And it B OS. the Rev. faster Like own. its of ments enhance keyboard respon se, user definab le baud rate for casset te I/0, and the Omnimon machine language Monito r. Omnimon is a residen t the examine allows you monito r that le assemb and mble disasse , memory ter's compu For things. other many and fly the on codes a hacker , this produc t only makes the device worth getting ~ And if you decide to spend a 1 ittle more money, (the third positio n of the switch is used to select this option ) you can get the Omniview XL to go with the packag e. What the Omniview XL will do for you is give you an 80 column display via softwa re. It uses judicio us color selecti on set to and a well designe d charac ter achieve this in Gr. 8, you do lose 8k of programming space when you use it though . Of course , it is not as good as a hardware created 80 columns would be, but heck, this is not a shabby display either . With this enhancement, it makes calling up BBS's a nice 80 pleasu re. You don't know how ng includi columns is until you try it. Also with the Omniview XL is softwa re patche s that you could execute on Letter Perfec t and Data Perfec t from LJK Enterp rises. your that I got I suppos e, now much curiou sity going, you want to know how _you would have to spend to upgrade your computer to this level of sophis ticatio n? The Ramrod XL sells for $140 retail, the Omniview XL is an·other $40 on top of that. So, for $180, you get a new operati ng system that is superio r to the old one, a machine language monito r and an 80 cloumn display . Just think, I spent $300 for a hardware 80 column display , but I could have 1 ived with the Omniview display also. You must have the Ramrod XL to use the

Omniview XL. The Ramrod XL takes about 15 minute s to install and is a piggy-b ack pc board. You take out the OS chip and plug it into this board and then you plug the board into the empty socket . The next step is to,_, create a hole in the back of your computer to put the switch in. All in all, it is fairly simple to put in and I even managed to do it by myself . few hardware This is one of the enhancements that I would recommend putting in your comput er, Seriou sly consid er this device . It is worth it!

WAN T ADS Now it is possib le for members to The place 'Want Ads' in this newsle tter. used re, hardwa used selling for be may ads softwa re, tutorin g service s, or just about The anythin g that has to do with Atari. rates are as follow s: $1.20 216 Letter s 6 Lines .25 36 Letter s 1 Line The followi ng is a list of advert ising rates for vendor s or individ ual members, ~ Full page $18.00 7-112• X 10• 10.00 3-5/8• X 10• Half page 10.00 7-112• X 5• Half page 5.50 3-518• X 5• 1/4 page All adverti sement s must be paid for when they are submit ted. Deadlin e for ad placement is the last Friday of each month. To place ad or for more info, call the editor .

YOU'RE A CCt1PLETE KNEEBITER, DENT!! Grab your towels and be sure to plug your ears so you don't accide ntly hear Vogon poetry . Hitchh iker's Guide to the Galaxy adventu re from Infocom is out! Adventure with your favorit e alien from a small system near Betelge use named Ford Prefec t and stick that in your ear. Of course , if you don't use the babel fish, the 1 isten to have to you wouldn 't . poetry captai n's You start the game in bed with a splitti ng headache and no robe on. Your mission is to somehow survive and explore

your So grab the galaxy with Ford. Galaxy te to Guide Hitchhiker's computer-book and enjoy yourselves. The new ~ ame sells for $34.95 and comes in the ~tyle of packaging of Infocom's. The game is rated as a standard level adventure. Now if I only could stop getting killed by that blasted bulldozer.

BIT HANIPULATitN by Bennett Porter system The Atari's disk operating allows us to store about 88k on each disk. Even the new 1050 disk drives with their enhanced density allow for only about l and us may have 1/2 times this. Many of hostilely glanced at other computers whose disks store much more.

believe that so much information could stored in one number!!

Atari BASIC (nor any other basic) allows us to change individual bits with a specific convnand but unlike other basics we language machine enter easily can subprograms with the USR convnand. I just wrote a short machine language program to change the bits and another to read the bits. You don't need to understand the machine language to use the programs just a little about how to use the USR convnand. First load the code into enter the •write• program

page six. To

type: A=USR(1536,ADR(byte$),FBIT,SBIT,NU> where

One answer to this problem is to compact the data into a more efficient form. This can easily be done because most data can be grouped into catagories. As an example: b_oy/girl, .rr i ed/s i ngle, ~mber/non-member.

be

righthanded/lefthanded, child/adult,

1536 = address of code ADR(byh$)= address of byte to change. FBIT = top bit to change SBIT = 1ow bit to change NU= dee imal number to insert A= -not usedTo enter the •read• program type: A=USR(1589,ADR<BYTE$),FBIT,SBIT>

Instead of having the disk store •boy• in three bytes or •girl• in four bytes why not just use the seventh bit of one byte to store this information. Each byte is made up of 8 bits(7 to 0) so: •boy•= 10000000 •girl•= 00000000 Using the PEEK convnand the memory location for •boy• would be equa 1 to 128 and •girP to O. A more complex example follows:

~

•boy lefty adult single TAIG democrat minnesota cool• =11110111

•girl righty chi 1d single non-TAIG republican not-l"N nerd• =00011000

The memory locations with PEEK would show the decimal equivalents of the above numbers as 247 for the first example and 24 hard to for the second example. It's

where

1589 = address of code ADR(byte$)= address of byte to read FBIT = top bit to read SBIT = low bit to read A= dee imal answer

This machine code is not relocatable page six be loaded into so it must (starting at 1536). Also the program does The errors. ~ot check for the range numbers must fit into <FBIT minus SBIT>. If they do not the higher bits will not be i nterpeted. EXAMPLE PROGRAM 5 DIM NAHES$(20>,BYTE$(1) 10 GOSUB 200:REH LOAD CODE IN PAGE 6 20? •ENTER NAME•;:INPUT NAME$ 30? •ENTER AGE•;INPUT AGE 40 A=USR<l536,ADR<BYTE$),6,0,AGE) 50? •ENTER SEX(l=HALE,O=FEMALE>•; :INPUT SEX 60 A=USR<1536,ADR<BYTE$),7,7,SEX) 70 OPEN tU,8,0,•o:TESP:? ttl;NAME$: PRINT tt1;BYTE$:CLOSE ttl

80 OPEN Ml,4,0,•D:TEST•:INPUT Ml ;NAME$: INPUT Ml ;BYTE$ 90 PRINT •YOUR NAME IS •;NAME$ 100 AGE=USR(1589,ADR<BYTE$),6,0) 110 YOU ARE •;AGE;•YEARS OLD• 120 SEX=USR(1589,ADR<BYTE$),7,7) 130 IF SEX THEN PRINT •AND YOU LOOK LIKE ITS' BEEN •;AGE;• ROUGH YEARS!• 140 IF NOT SEX THEN PRINT •BUT YOU DON'T LOOK A DAY OVER •;AGE-10 200 FOR X=l TO 105 210 READ CODE 220 POKE 1535+X,CODE 230 NEXT X 240 DATA 104,104,133,204,104,133,203, 104,104,133,206,104,104,133, 205,168,162,0,161,203,57,45 250 DATA 6,196,206,200,144,248,129, 203,104,104,166,205,240,4, 10,202,200,252,1,203,129,252 160 DATA 96,254,253,251,247,239,223 191,127,104,104,133,204,104 133,203,104,104,133,206,104 270 DATA 104,133,205,168,169,0,25,97 6,196,206,200,144, 2_48, 162, 0, 33,203,164,205,240,5,24,106 280 DATA 136,208,252,134,213,133,212 96,1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128 290 RETURN

Flight Simulator II Review by Jeff Nelson This is the most advanced, realistic flight simulator yet made for the Atari. Made by SubLogic, the program requires .!1 least 48K of memory (it uses the 64K in the 800XL) and one disk drive. One or two joysticks are optional as well as your own blank disk to store your location <a final approach, etc,) If all you're after is just a flying game, this isn't it. The plane you are controlling is closely modelled after a its of al 1 has and Archer Piper flight and controls, instruments, the to addition In characteristics. control stick and rudder pedals, the pilot mixture, tbe throttle, can manipulate flaps, carburetor heat, magneto switch, and choose between left or right fuel tanks. Three radios are included with you can instrument precision do navigate and approachs. Over 80 airports are available to fly to and from, many of which have VOR co-located. facil ites radio NDB and Scenery areas are the Seattle, Chicago, Los

Angeles, and New York areas. In Chicago some of the details visible out the window are Lake Michigan, the John Hancock and Sears buildings, and highways (in addition the New York has to the airports). Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty (you can~ actually see her face!), and the World Trade Center. Los Angeles and Seattle both have mountains in addition to their cities and oceans. Pushing ESC while operating the plane allows you to adjust the time of day (it gets dark after nine), the season, latitude and longitude, up to three cloud and wind levels, and the aircraft's orientation. If a crash appears imminent, just push ESC and add 20,000 feet to your altitude. Flying qualities are good, but it for the get a feel takes awhile to controls. I am a pilot myself and still was unable to make a successful landing for The computer takes a couple of hours. adjusting account, into everything attitude, airspeed, and altitude when you make a change in power or pitch. It stalls just 1 ike the real one, and can handle simple aerobatics. I've done rolls, loops, and several other maneuvers that I'm not SubLogic says iri''w!? quite sure have names. one of the manuals they are negotiating with the FAA to have the program certified to allow you ·to log simulator time in your pilot's logbook. Incidently, there are two manuals that come with the program that cover basic aerodynamics, the controls, •how to fly•, and everything else necessary to either a novice or experienced pilot. If you still aren't convinced a flight simulator is a good piece of software for you, try the WWI Ace option. Radios are and removed from the instrument pane 1 you're in command of a WWI fighter. Your mission is to blow up enemy factories and This shoot down the defending airplanes. is the most realistic flying game I've seen and yet is simple enough to manage that it's still fun.

WANT

ADS

$40. VisiCalc sale: For 484-9027 Ask for Jeff or Jon.

Call '1ft,

V.P. NOTES AND QUESTIONS

NOTES FRCJ'1 THE EDITOR First, I ✓ m sorry for the disagreement last month between the newsletters and post office. It won ✓ t happen again.

Is there a program in our library that will copy machine language tapes to disk??? Or does someone have or know where to get such a program. Most of the 4oo ✓ s in the club upgraded to 48k or 64k; is there an upgrade from 48k to 64k???

are

800

other work with Does AtariWriter printer? Atari an need printers, or do you If you can answer these questions, please do so at the next meeting; Or better yet, tell the whole club at the meeting. Bruce Haug V.P.

Second, it has come to my attention trade to willing is MACE that disk-of-the-months with any other Atari user groups. Interested? Third, I ✓ d like to respond to one of the questions asked in the V.P. ✓ s column about using non-Atari printers with Atar iWr i ter. It works fine for me (that ✓ s what this newsletter is made on). I use the [CTRLJ-0 command along with the printer control codes. F i na 1y , I wou 1d 1 ike to thank the person responsible suggestion for the getting a modem for the editor. It will certainly be a big help in getting more information to you. Jonathan Nelson (The Editor)

S.P.A.C.E.

Membersh

p

App 1 ·

,______ Phone

Name

c: a. t

i on

____ Date _______ _

_ _ _ _ City_____________ State ____ Zip ______ _

Address.______ Equipment/System-us ~d._____ Area of interest _______

·----------- ----------- ----·---------------- ------------- --

Special skills, interest, info which might be shared. _____________ ___ Optional information:

----------·------------·--------------_Employer __________________ ______

Occupation _ __

Dues: $10.00 per year - please inclose check with application. Mail application and dues to: St. Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts 748 Amber Dr., Shoreview, MN 55112

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DISK

OF THE MONTH

T I PS.,,.N·'TRI CKS

If you are using a bi-directional dot matrix printer; for the final copy of a report, sw i tch the__, printing mode to uni-directional. It takes 1 onger, but it 1 i nes the columns up much nicer. You may not have noticed it, but because the print head travels both directions it normally staggers the 1 ines s 1 i gh t 1 y. Elsewhere in this newsletter cutting notches in disks is mentioned (for double-siding disks). One easy way to do this is to use a paper punch. What tricks have you found? Let us

The disk/tape of the month contains programs from the club library. The tapes can be purchased for $3 and the disks for $4. The group makes a small profit from the sale of these which go toward supporting some of the things the group does. Each disk/tape usually contains eight to twelve programs. Most of these programs are games with some utilities and demos mixed in. The programs are obtained from trading with other user groups and from submissions from local members. Members who submit a program will receive a disk or tape of the month free! What a d•al ! !

a.11

Know.

--THIS HCNTH S PROGRANS-1

Unfortunat•ly, the titl•s availabl• at printing.

were

not

.. .. .. Vice-Pres President 487-2627 774-6226 . . Disk Lib. 774-6226 . . . Paper/Ed. Lib.

Bob Floyd Bruce Haug Bruce Haug • Jim Schulz

.. ... .

Jon Nelson • Joi tor Max Feuer. • J,:,,-easurer Bruce Haug. • eass Lib. Joanne Floyd • Secretary 544-9'058 SPACE/TAIG Bu 11 et in Boa.rd

...

St. Paul ATARI Ccnputer Enthusiasts 2589 Fisk St. Roseville, tfll 55113

~~ '._::s () i:? ·:.:

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Next SPACE Meeting: Friday, December 14, 1984 8:00 P.H. Minnesota Federal Savings & Loan Lexington Ave. near Larpenteur Roseville, Minnesota

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484-902-7 483-3895 774-622.6 487-2627

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