|||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| || || ||| || || || || ||| |||| |||||| || |||| Your || || || || ||| || || |||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| GEnieLamp IBM || |||||| || || |||||| RoundTable || || || ||| ||| || || || |||||| |||||||| |||||| RESOURCE! || || || || || || || ||||| || || || || || ~ EN GUARDE! GEnie Chess Online ~ ~ Newsbytes Highlights ~ ~ Memory Expansion, Pt. II ~ ~ US Robobtics Modem Upgrade ~ ~ Hot Files ~ Hot Messages ~ Hot RoundTable News ~ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// GEnieLamp IBM ~ A T/TalkNET OnLine Publication ~ Vol.1, Issue 7 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Publisher............................................Kent Fillmore Senior Editor........................................John Peters Editor............................................Peter Bogert ~ GEnieLamp Macintosh ~ ~ GEnieLamp IBM ~ ~ GEnieLamp ST ~ ~ GEnieLamp Elsewhere ~ ~ GEnieLamp A2/A2Pro ~ ////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ >>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE IBM ROUNDTABLE? <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ October 1, 1992 ~ FROM MY DESKTOP ......... [FRM] HEY MISTER POSTMAN ...... [HEY] Notes From The Editor. Is Th A Letter for Me? HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM] FOCUS ON... ............. [FOC] Is That A Letter For Me? Thinking Out-Loud. INFO_BITS ............... [INF] CLASSICS ................ [CLA] Exclusively From Newsbytes. Keep That Printer Busy! ONLINE FUN! ............. [FUN] THE MIGHTY QUINN ........ [QUI] Search-ME! Milliseconds Wth Mark. TELETALK ONLINE ......... [TEL] GEnie ONLINE ............ [GEN] Telix: Get The Lamp Script. En guarde! COWTOONS ................ [COW] PD_QUICKVIEW ............ [COW] Mooooooo Fun! BOXER: Why Fight With Text. TECH_TALK ............... [TEC] HACK'N ONLINE ........... [HAC] Memory Expansion, Pt. II. USR Modem Upgrade. THE ONLINE LIBRARY ...... [LIB] MICE, BYTES AND IBM ..... [MIC] Only The Best! Paper Chase. ADD ALADDIN ............. [ALA] ELSEWHERE ............... [ELS] Cut And Paste Scripts. Connecting The World. LOG OFF ................. [LOG] GEnieLamp Information. [IDX]""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" READING GEnieLamp GEnieLamp has incorporated a unique indexing """"""""""""""""" system to help make reading the magazine easier. To utilize this system, load GEnieLamp into any ASCII word processor or text editor. In the index you will find the following example: HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM] [*]GEnie Fun & Games. To read this article, set your find or search command to [HUM]. If you want to scan all of the articles, search for [EOA]. [EOF] will take you to the last page, whereas [IDX] will bring you back to the index. MESSAGE INFO To make it easy for you to respond to messages re-printed """""""""""" here in GEnieLamp, you will find all the information you need immediately following the message. For example: (SMITH, CAT6, TOP1, MSG:58/M475) _____________| _____|__ _|___ |____ |_____________ |Name of sender CATegory TOPic Msg.# Page number| In this example, to respond to Smith's message, log on to page 475 enter the bulletin board and set CAT 6. Enter your REPly in TOPic 1. A message number that is surrounded by brackets indicates that this message is a "target" message and is referring to a "chain" of two or more messages that are following the same topic. For example: {58}. ABOUT GEnie GEnie costs only $4.95 a month for unlimited evening and """"""""""" weekend access to more than 100 services including electronic mail, online encyclopedia, shopping, news, entertainment, single-player games, multi-player chess and bulletin boards on leisure and professional subjects. With many other services, including the largest collection of files to download and the best online games, for only $6 per hour (non-prime-time/2400 baud). To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 1-800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH. Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99368,GENIE and hit RETURN. The system will then prompt you for your information. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ///////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "In my experience GEnie management has always been very / / attentive to my problems, and very helpful, and even / / nice :) They give me the benefit of any doubts every time." / ////////////////////////////////////////////// S.JACQUES //// [EOA] [FRM]////////////////////////////// FROM MY DESKTOP / ///////////////////////////////// Notes From The Editor """"""""""""""""""""" By John Peters [GENIELAMP] TOP OF THE PAGE GEnieLamp writers and contributors are paid for their """"""""""""""" efforts with online time here on GEnie. In order for me to credit their accounts, I ask them to send me their GEnie ID number. Recently, a new contributor sent me his password. GASP! I blinked a few times, took a deep breath and wrote a reply to his message explaining to him how to go about changing his password. Afterwards, I got to thinking that maybe it was because of my position here on GEnie that he assumed it would be okay to give me his password. Or maybe it was just an oversight. Regardless of the reason, it brings up the point that it can happen. Don't let it happen to you. Never, I repeat, _NEVER_ let your password out into the hands of someone else! There is absolutely _no_ reason what-so-ever for anyone but yourself to know your password. Period. Sooooo.... how long has it been since you've last changed your password? Last week? A month ago? Never? If it has been awhile, perhaps today would be a good day to change it. Odds are your account will never be the victim of some unscrupulous member, but why take chances? Changing your password takes only a few seconds to do, plus, it is part of your GEnie*Basic package. To change your password, type SET or M900;2 at any GEnie main prompt. You can use any character from A through Z, all digits from 1 through 9, asterisks, periods and dollar signs. GEnie will ask you to enter your old password, then to enter the new password. It will then ask you to re-enter your new password for verification. Pick a password is easy for you to remember, but next to impossible for someone else to figure out. Commit it to memory or write it down and put it in a _secure_ place. If you are using Aladdin while on GEnie, changing your password is even easier. Just choose "Change Password," follow the prompts and let Aladdin do the dirty work. Take the time and effort to do this. Your pocketbook may thank you someday! >>> GEnieLamp Odds & Ends <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" Standing Ovation Tom Schmitz, the chief editor of the Apple II/A2PRO """""""""""""""" GEnieLamp, has informed us that he's accepted a large promotion at his daytime job and will consequently have to relinquish his role as chief editor of the Apple II/A2PRO GEnieLamp. Since April, 1992, Tom coordinated the production of the first seven Apple II/A2PRO GEnieLamp's, setting high standards in every facet of his work. We will deeply miss Tom's pioneering leadership. Taking over as chief Apple II editor is frequent GEnieLamp contributor Darrel Raines [D.RAINES]. Darrel has broad interests in the Apple II, and hopes to give the Apple II GEnieLamp his own signature leadership in the months ahead. Persons interested in contributing articles to the Apple II/A2PRO GEnieLamp are requested to contact co-editor Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] until Darrel familiarizes himself with the GEnieLamp ropes." -Phil Shapiro THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW... I downloaded the new (ALADDIN) 1.62 version """""""""""""""""""""""""" from a local BBS. After that I had all kinds of problems, like it would download a long time and when I went to read the messages, there was only one available to read. Another time it downloaded a few messages and gave the 'end' beep and said I've been idle too long. Another time I didn't get me mail at all even though I had 4 letters waiting. So, last night I downloaded 1.62 again, this time from the Aladdin library and everything seems to be working the way it is suppose to now. So I want to warn people, sometimes you may get a bad download especially if it is from a local BBS, it may have had a bad upload if you know what I mean... -Leska [V.WRIGHT] [*][*][*] Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a SysOp? To the tune of "White Rabbit" By Jefferson Airplane... Some folks like the BB's, And some folks like the Mall. And the ones who start up flamewars, Don't like anything at all. Go ask Sysop, when he climbs the wall. And if you go, chasing lurkers, And you know you're going to fall. Tell 'em hookah... smoking modem, Has given you the call. Poor Sysop, he deals with it all. When the posts in the deadmail, Get up and tell you where you go. And you've just had some kind of linenoise, And your node is moving on... Go ask Sysop, I think he'll know. When the pointers, and topic markings, Are lying sloppy dead. And the cursor is typing backwards, And you can't read what you've just said. Remember, what the Doormouse said, Park your head... park your head. (Reposted with the author's permission) (UHH.CLEM, CAT30, TOP27, MSG:36/M470) Until next month... John Peters GEnieLamp E-Magazine [*][*][*] TOP OF THE PAGE II It was refreshing reading over the many messages """""""""""""""""" (2000+) in the IBM RT this month. I found a lot of helpful hints that hopefully will make your computing life easier. What's that? A MSDOS 6.0? Quarterdeck for sale? GEnieLamp to be published by the National Inquirer? Those people in your role-playing game are really inside your computer? Well, you better read on . . . (at least for some of these rumors :) Peter Bogert [P.BOGERT1] GEnieLamp IBM Editor ////////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Actually if you mail an envelope with nothing but a disk in it, / / it can pass for 29 cents. But as soon as you put a note (so we / / know what you want) and a check in it, it exceeds one ounce and / / costs 52 cents." / ///////////////////////////////////////////////// J.EIDSVOOG1 //// [EOA] [HEY]////////////////////////////// HEY MISTER POSTMAN / ///////////////////////////////// Is That A Letter For Me? """""""""""""""""""""""" By Peter Bogert [P.BOGERT1] o BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS o IBM ODDS & ENDS o WHAT'S NEW? o TIPS AND HINTS o HOT TOPICS o HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE o MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT >>> BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" AND NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT... I'm going to take the liberty to not """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" include any Bulletin Board Hot Spots this time. I've included a few extra messages that show pros and cons of different issues. What I would like to identify is a genuine major HOT SPOT, and that is the new Windows RT. Located on page 1335 on GEnie, this will be a section where issues and problems specifically related to the Windows enrivonment can be addressed. The sysops of the IBM RT have also asked that file uploads that are Windows-related be uploaded there. Beginning with the next issue, we'll be including some of the significant portions of the Windows RT in the GEnie IBM Lamp. In the meantime, pay them a visit - and watch for this section to expand next month! -Ed. >>> ODDS AND ENDS <<< """"""""""""""""""""" ANNIMATORS TAKE NOTE! If you are interested in having your masterpiece """"""""""""""""""""" of animation rendered to tape in a timely and cost effective fashion, Future Image can help. We are offering rendering services on our Silicon Graphics system. If you are interested, drop me some E-mail and I will be happy to send you some particulars. Kevin W. Lowther, Future Image (K.LOWTHER1, CAT2, TOP 21, MSG:10/m645) HOW RT LIBRARY FILES ARE RELEASED The only reason why a file or files """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" would be released out of order is, as an example: Let's say that on a Wednesday files 30,000 - 30,025 are uploaded. All files are checked for a variety of items, including though not limited to viruses, copyright infringement, inclusion of third party software, Etc... And let's say that within that list of file numbers 30,000 - 30025, file number 30,002 is possibly a copyrighted image in .GIF format, or perhaps additional clarification is necessary as to whether or not the program can be released into the Public Domain. We don't have a crystal ball, and at times need feedback from the Uploader before we can release the file. Or maybe the Long Description was garbled in transmission, and we are waiting for the Uploader to u/l a corrected Description so that we can import it into the Long Description, so it is ledgible to other GEnie Users. Not everyone logs onto GEnie every evening. It may take two days, maybe a week before we receive a response; sometimes longer. Or sometimes we don't receive a reply at all to our query. We really couldn't (nor shouldn't) withhold the release of the remaining twenty-five files pending clarification of one file; the backlog would be incredible. Hence, we will release files 30,000 - 30,001; and 30,003 - 30,025. The questionable file #30,002 will be held in the queue. Hope that helps to explain why sometimes files are released out of synch! -Lyman DeLiguori, Sysop, IBM Software Library (LYMAN, CAT3, TOP2, MSG:59/M615) HOW MANY IBM EMPLOYEES DOES IT TAKE TO... Three IBM employees are """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" driving to a meeting, when they see a young woman standing by her car on the side of the road. They stop to see if they can help, and she points to an obviously flat tire. The first IBM employee, a software programmer, suggests she continue driving to see if the problem goes away. The second, a hardware repairman, suggests swapping the tires until they can figure out which one is bad. The third, a computer saleman, tells her that this car obviously no longer meets her needs and suggests she buy a new one. (T.MALLERY1, CAT12, TOP5, MSG:89/M615) CAN I JUST PLUG IN A 486 CHIP? One other thing, so far none of the Intel """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" chips are pin compatible with each other. You can't pull a 286 and replace it with a 8086, or 386 or 486; the same is true for all the other chips. You can replace a 486DX with the DX/2 version that is twice as fast, but they are at least the same "family" not jumping from one to another. (B.WITHNELL, CAT12, TOP62, MSG:38/M615) JUST THE FAX, MODEM My recommendation is that you take a look at the """"""""""""""""""" SupraFaxModem V.32bis. I does 14,400 and faxes. The price is right and there are a lot of features for the bucks involved. One caveat, as near as I can tell there are some problems with all of the new high-speed modems. The reason for this is that the CCITT (the committee that sets modem standards) left some things out of the standard that are necessary for reliable high speed operations. The few minor problems I have had with my Supra are being addressed in a new FREE rom they are sending to all registered users. Sending faxes is another issue. The capability is great. Basically, your fax software converts your printer output into a fax image. Because there is on conversion from analog to digital and back again, the quality is far superior to a fax machine. Depending on the fax software you get with your modem, you can also schedule faxes to be sent out in the middle of the night when rates are low. Some fax software packages also include OCR software that are supposed to convert received faxes to ASCII if that is what you wish. (W.HUTCHESON1,CAT23, TOP23, MSG:167/m645) HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A BBS? """"""""""""""""""""""""" Exec-PC - The Business Knowledge Exchange ASP Approved BBS -- 250 PHONE LINES- LARGEST AND MOST POPULAR BBS IN THE WORLD -- The largest LAN-and-microcomputer-based online service in the World! 5.3 million callers since 1982 100+ uploads per day! 650,000 files in compressed files 160,000+ active messages online 4,500+ callers per day Home of Hyperscan(tm), searches through 20,000 files in 2 seconds! Via: Exec-Link,PC-Pursuit,V.32bis,HST,V.42bis,MNP,CompuCom, Hayes 9600 V-series Main system number: 414-789-4210> Standard 2400 bps modems on all lines (except as noted below) (T.MALLERY1,CAT23, TOP33, MSG:23/m645) IS DESQVIEW/X A WINNER? A small computer company that I work part-time """"""""""""""""""""""" for got a copy of DV/X, and the owner is having me evalute it. We've had great results with QEMM386 in the past, and have tried DV/386 as well. The version that we recieved is 1.02 (w/QEMM v6.03), and seems to be much more stable than the earlier releases and beta versions described up-topic. I haven't had any trouble with out-of-memory situations, unless more than 9 or 10 windows were opened at once (8 meg machine). The memory overhead is higher than Windows 3.1, and graphic performance slightly slower, but blame this on the X-windows interface, not DV itself. Trying to implement an X server AND X client on the same machine at the same time does involve a lot of overhead. However, custom display drivers for specific video cards (Tseng, Diamond, ATI, etc.) would probably provide a significant boost. I would also expect (or hope) that Quarterdeck will further refine and optimize the code in future releases. The core of DV/X (as far as I can tell, and according to Manifest) is DV/386 version 2.52. The DV.EXE file itself is only about 150k in size (pretty close to v2.41) , so the majority of the memory hogging results from adding the X system, window manger, and whatever space is needed for Adobe Type Manager to do its job. So far, I have been real pleased with the package. Very solid DOS multitasking(as always!), a more flexible interface, and the potential for many Unix/X-Windows programs being ported are pluses. I hope that when Unix developers see that the largest market in the microcomputer world(the MS- DOS/Intel market)has suddenly been opened to them, that we will start to see some stuff being ported. (B.MILNER, CATA28, TOP10, MSG:53/m645) OR, IS DESQVIEW/X NOT QUITE A WINNER? For what it's worth, I ran DV/x """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" here for about a month. My impression is that it needs a 800x600 or 1024x768 interface very badly. The Graphic interface looks nice, but you cannot change colors on most of it so you are stuck with what you get. The scalable fonts in the dos box work fine. I did find some small bugs, but all in all a pretty good effort for version 1.0. The main problem is that it is still DOS, underneath the fancy face. I don't know how you are supposed to run X programs which require the 1024x768 or 1280x1024 when all you get is plain VGA. I put it on the shelf for now and will check back at about version 2.0. Also on another system I found out that it is not stable on a EGA system, sometimes you see all the parts sometimes not. I did have problems of it running out of memory with only 1 or 2 apps running and I have 8 megs of RAM. (C.SODERBACK, CAT28, TOP10, MSG:54/m645) >>> WHAT'S NEW <<< """""""""""""""""" A NEW ALADDIN!! Version 1.62 of GEnie PC Aladdin is now available from """"""""""""""" the PC Aladdin RT. In the library it's file 1.62. On page 110, item 4 will also get you the file. Changes from 1.61 to 1.62: 1) Problem causing "Unknown category" display when reading messages has been corrected. 2) Change item 1 also corrects problem with Aladdin issuing "SET 0" command when posting some replies. 3) Change item 1 also corrects problems with duplicate, phantom and empty topic entries in the topic list. 4) Support added for correct receipt of INTERNET mail. Users receiving mail from GEIS email addresses will also receive mail correctly because of this fix. 5) Global topic update (F4/O) bug in which the terminal mode screen would go bananas after finishing the global update has been taken care of. 6) Modified the terminal mode screen write code to improve throughput. It's quite a bit faster now. 7) Added new script command: EXITALADDIN ...which causes Aladdin to immediately terminate the script and exit to DOS. 8) Added new script command: ASCII UPLOAD file_name ...which is used to instruct Aladdin to send an ASCII file to GEnie. 9) Fixed bug in email editor that was not validating attached filenames if the email was written, then saved, then edited and an invalid filename was entered. 10) Fixed problem with terminal mode going to download mail as soon as "T" is pressed and terminal mode starts. 11) Download and upload status window now shows efficiency in CPS rather then bytes/sec to avoid the write off the status window when recovering from an aborted Zmodem download. 12) Added new /MEMDISP command line argument to monitor memory available while Aladdin is running on the upper left hand side of the screen. This only works when the /CLOCK command line argument is specified. 13) Added MARK command to topic list commands -- this command is used to mark topics. 14) Added common Q&A section to help screens, under tech support item in main menu help screen. 15) Added date and time stamps to the output archives. 16) Added code to recognize when an email cannot be sent after an "*S" command. Aladdin issues an *X to cancel the email request, leaves the item in the queue and continues with whatever else needs to be done. 17) Added code to automatically send replies via the ENTER command when Aladdin knows that a REPLY command will not work because of the source of the original message or the location within the GEIS email community of the person who sent the message being replied to. Also, since Aladdin knows which email it can reply to and which ones it can't, Aladdin will not allow a reply to an email from an email address that does not allow replies. 18) GetMem calls are now error checked, runtime errors generated for critical out of memory conditions. 19) Topic list update and display now cuts off at 1456 topics, which is the absolute maximum number of topics Aladdin can handle in an RT. Anything above that is thrown out. 20) Product index now uses a right-chevron character to show new items on the GEnie product index. 21) Queue of email no longer displayed due to change in indexing code for incoming text (this was an unintended feature which we could not keep). 22) Fixed problem with last category's mark not being reset to KEEP if the category is CANCEL'd. (J.JIMENEZ, (CAT1, TOP7, MSG:23/m645) NEW PRINT SHOP! Unfortunately, I had just bought the new PrintShop Deluxe """"""""""""""" two days before receiving the mailing!. VERY IMPRESSIVE GRAPHICS! Also, VERY slow printing...but worth the wait. The possibilities are endless with this new version. Just started playing with it, but have already dumped the old version. And yes, you can use the graphics from The New Printshop! (M.BORLAND, CAT2, TOP4, MSG:30/m645) NEW MICROSOFT PRESS RELEASES """""""""""""""""""""""""""" MICROSOFT to Release Windows NT Device Driver Kit In Conjunction With Three-day Developer Conference Oct. 26-28 REDMOND, Wash.-- August 18, 1992 --MICROSOFT Corp. Tuesday announced the Windows NT Device Driver Kit (DDK) will be available in pre-release form Oct. 26 in conjunction with the MICROSOFT Windows NT Device Driver Developers Conference in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 26-28. The conference will feature highly technical information needed to write hardware drivers for Windows NT, including NDIS, SCSI, display, printer, input and communication drivers. MICROSOFT Outlines Future Directions 08/25/92 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., August 25, 1992 -- MICROSOFT believes in making long-term investments, and its present and future investments include workgroup computing, multimedia, and transparent multivendor networking services, said Dwayne Walker, director of MICROSOFT's Windows NT and Networking Products, speaking at the Windows & OS/2 Conference in Boston last week. MICROSOFT's workgroup strategy revolves around Windows for Workgroups, a product not yet announced, but now being beta tested in the U.S, and Europe, stated Walker. This new operating system will join Windows 3.0, Windows 3.0, and Windows NT, a system slated for release in late 1992 or 1993, to form a new "family" of MICROSOFT products, he added. Windows for Workgroups will be aimed at the majority of network users, whereas Windows NT will be geared to the minority of customers who require access to mission critical applications, often downsized from mainframes and minicomputers, Walker explained. The Windows for Workgroup system will come with built-in basic networking capabilities, including file sharing, electronic mail, scheduling, calendaring, and transparent connectivity to NetWare, LAN manager, NOVELL Server, Pathworks, and IBM LANServer, he elaborated. More specialized capabilities -- such as advanced form routing, workflow, and group memory -- will be sold as separate applications from MICROSOFT and third party vendors. Windows NT is already being beta tested by some 18,000 developers, indicating that lots of applications will be available, he noted. Beta testing among some 21,000 end users will start in September, and MICROSOFT will not give a ship date until that test is under way and the company has gotten user feedback. "By the end of October, I'll have a better idea," he commented. Microsoft Windows NT Device Driver Developers Conference Monday, October 26 to Wednesday, October 28, 1992 Anaheim, California Location: Disneyland Hotel Anaheim, California Telephone: (714) 956-6425 Sponsor: Microsoft Corporation The purpose of this conference is to provide information and understanding on the model to support various devices, such as displays, printers, network adapters, SCSI peripherals, audio products, and more, under Windows NT. The presentations will discuss the entire structure and design of Windows NT as it relates to developing drivers to support various devices. The pre-liminary Windows NT Device Driver Kit is included with registration of this event and includes sample source code for many drivers, testing and debugging tools (the Win32 Software Development Kit is required for actual device driver development and is not included with registration) At the Windows NT Device Driver Developers Conference, the developers and designers of Windows NT will present details on various components of the operating system like the Windows NT Kernel and the I/O Subsystem and how they impact device drivers. Further, you'll have numerous opportunities to discover technical "how-tos" and the latest development tips for a broad range of devices including: o Printers o Communication devices o Keyboards o Mouse/Pointing devices o Display adapters o Audio o Network adapters o SCSI devices o 3270 adapters o Fax o Scanners o and other devices This is a great opportunity to hear directly from key developers, including David Cutler, Architect and Director of Windows NT Development. And, so that you can be among the first to have your hardware take advantage of this powerful operating system, we'll give you a free copy of the preliminary Windows NT Device Driver Kit (DDK) and successive updates include the final version, a $500 value. (RDILL, CAT21, TOP8, MSG:353,357,401/m645) NEW VERSION OF QUICKVERSE BIBLE PROGRAM We're happy to announce that """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" QuickVerse for Windows is now shipping. We are starting with the update disk sets, which will be going out the door to customers who have upgraded starting tomorrow. The new version uses the same Bible file formats, but offers more speed and many new features. New features include DDE data exchange, unlimited number of windows and translations open at a time, saving of the configuration (no more loading all your translations manually), and much more. QuickVerse for Windows retails at $79 ($89 for NIV), and upgrades to the Windows version from 2.0 are $49. There is a special mailing going out to current owners that offers a special price. I can take those orders online for those of you who prefer GEnie. Just email me your credit card information, customer number or address, and I'll send it out. These are being shipped as fast as possible, but our high density diskette duplication capacity is limited so it will take until the end of the week for us to finish the orders we have. (K.HANSEN17, CAT31, TOP8, MSG:71,73/m645) >>> TIPS AND HINTS <<< """""""""""""""""""""" WHAT COMM PROGRAMS CAN YOU USE WITH OS/2? Rick, you can use any DOS COM """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" program w/OS/2, but you have to go to the DOS SETTINGS in the program folder (SESSIONS tab), and change the first two settings (COM_HOLD and EXECUTE_IN_BACKGROUND) to ON. (M.AGRI, CAT1, TOP6, MSG:53/m645) GENIE FILE TRANSFERS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE Do you know that XMODEM on """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" GEnie is terriblely slow and that you should _NOT_ use MNP with it (MNP makes XMODEM even slower). (B.WITHNELL, CAT1, TOP6, MSG:54/m645) THE BEST FOR TEXT VIEWING The best ASCII file viewer (IMHO) is LIST.COM, """"""""""""""""""""""""" by Vern Buerg. It's almost a DOS Shell program in itself including the ability to open ZIP, ARC and LZH files and view selected contents, as well. You can use it to call an editor if you want. What it doesn't do, is print. For that, you can use one of any number of editors, or just use the regular DOS PRINT command. (P.GRANZEAU, CAT3, TOP32, MSG:310/m645) SUCCESSFUL SCANNING OF NEWSPAPER TEXT To scan newspapers, or any paper """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" where the text behind will show through, place a black paper behind the paper you are scanning. Without any contrast between the behind ink and the scanner cover (or copier cover) you will not get any printthrough. I find that black construction paper cut to comnplete scanner size is cheap and effective. If the ink is blue or faint, you can sometimes improve readability by placing the paper in a yellow transparent cover (I use a plastic report cover). (NUMBER6, CAT3, TOP41, MSG:57/m645) MICHELANGELO - GET OUT! The easiest way of getting rid of Michelangelo """"""""""""""""""""""" would be to simply: a) cold boot on a clean, write protected DOS floppy b) if running DOS 5.x, type "FDISK /MBR" The virus is now past tense. Make sure to scan, using your favorite scanner, all of your floppies to make sure that you don't have infections simply waiting for a boot to activate them. If you're running some DOS < 5.x, then you can use a public domain clean up package or simply use Norton's Disk Doctor. To use NDD, you'll need Norton Utilities or something like it. Zero out the first half of the MBR (*make sure to leave the end alone: that's where your paritition table lives!*), then run NDD. It'll tell ya that you have an invalid MBR and offer to write a new one for ya. When it does, you are no longer infected. (GREENBER, CAT3, TOP50, MSG:514/m645) SOME GOOD AVICE ABOUT ADDING STACKER The hardware version has an onboard """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" processor that will speed up the compression routines making apparent disk access faster than software only routines would be - this may be particularly relevant with your hardware setup. On a 486/33 however, the difference in speed is only noticable with VERY large databases. The hardware version also reduces the TSR space that is needed - and there is a significant reduction in the use of conventional or high memory. I don't recall the actual values, but if you're already scratching for memory, I would STRONGLY recommend the 8 bit (PC) stacker processor. By all means do the compression before installing any additional major software. You will gain the benefits of having additional 'working space'. In reality - the actual order doesn't make an iota of difference, other than giving you more space flexibility if you "stac" first. A word of caution - I've installed Stacker on many machines without any difficulties. But DO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! And, it perhaps should go without saying, but DO A COMPLETE BACKUP before installing stacker (or, for that matter, any disk compression software). Stacker is a very stable product, but something as unexpected as a simple power glitch in the middle of the install will put your data into oblivion, never to be recovered. While Stacker cannot damage your disk physically, recovery from an interrupted install can only be done through a full restore (there may be exceptions, but none that I'm aware of). (L.MCRAE2, CAT4, TOP4, MSG:302/m645) ZIPPING AND UNZIPPING IN NORTON DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS I couldn't find a """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" way to make NDW unzip files, but I found a solution. Associate *.zip files in Windows with the pkunzip utility. When you double click on a zip file, Windows opens a DOS window, unzips the file and returns you to Windows. This has worked well for me. The only thing is you must have your zip file in the directory that you want it unzipped into. (D.BAILLARGEO, CAT4, TOP48, MSG:33/m645) MAXIMIZING HYPERDISK - THE SHAREWARE DISK CACHE I have Hyperdisk using """""""""""""""""""" extended memory. QEMM 6.0x will give expanded memory to programs that want it and extended to programs that want it on the fly - no special configuration is needed. My Hyperdisk line is short and simple - device=hyper386.exe c:2048 cw:2048 or s a Not loading a disk cache high will give you a speed increase also. (C.AUSTIN8, CAT12, TOP5, MSG:83/m645) BUT WHICH BRAND OF COMPUTER SHOULD I BUY? When considering a new """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" computer just ask yourself, "Does this computer have alot of support?" If it does not, the chance of your having good solid information in case a problem results, is slim, without having to pay $$$ in order to find it. An example of this, does the company offer an 800 support line, or will you have to pay? Just a word of caution, be careful. I have a compatible computer with IBM, but I do miss the support I got from IBM. I don't have 800 support with this Magnavox, nor does the company try to offer help when you call them: they just try to give you an answer that will suffice to the average person that does not know the difference. Little did they know, that I know, what I know. Well that leads to difficult times via writing letters to the right places, and writing down names, etc. You know the procedure. Anyway, I'm not upset with the company, just surpised at the low-service treatment, unlike IBM's high-service quality. I suppose that old saying: "you get what you pay for," still stands. Hmmm. (C.PEARSON6, CAT16, TOP33, MSG:16/m645) ATTN: OKIDATA 9600-BPS MODEM OWNERS If you own a PC96A or PC96B (Damark """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" sold thousands of these last fall at incredible prices..) and have experienced problems connecting with remote systems in 9600/Reliable mode there is a replacement EPROM available from Oki that solves the problem. In my case, I was able to connect with the Norloff OS/2 Shareware BBS only about 1 in 8 times. The sysop was cooperative in playing with parameters at his end, but this didn't solve the problem. After calling Oki tech support, they sent me a new EPROM that was created to solve a LOCAL echo-cancellation problem. Lo and behold it swatted this LONG-DISTANCE problem! Just wanted to pass this along, as I am aware of a number of GEnie users that also purchased this modem. BTW, it adds NO other functionality to the device - you will see no difference in performance or configuration options. They didn't charge me for the upgrade, either. (STEVE.HIRSCH, CAT23, TOP23, MSG:161/m645) MULTITASKING AND OR TASK-SWITCHING How much memory Desqview uses will """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" depend on how much upper memory Qram creates and what type of video you are using. DV will use more high memory than will DOS 5, so it is usually best to not load DOS high and in stead let DV use the 64K of high memory. DV will also use any upper memory that QRAM will create that is not used to load TSRs high. You should be able to set your system up with DOS in conventional memory and then run manifest to see how much upper memory is free and from that figure out what DV will leave for a window. I am a very pleased DV386 user, but I would suggest taht you consider Back & Forth if what you want is a very powerful taskswitcher. B&F (should be version 2.x) has great macro abilities, the ability to run timed events, load itself high, swap to disk or expanded memory or extended memory or some combination of these, cut and paste between windows, and has an excellent print buffer. And it is shareware! (E.REILLY1, CAT28, TOP3, MSG:13/m645) CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY? You may want to try re-ordering your """""""""""""""""""""""""""" config.sys and autoexec.bat drivers and tsr's. QEMM trys to provide maximum memory (using stealth) constrained to the physical order you've placed these items. I've managed to retain 615k conventional memory using QEMM even with a scanner, cd-rom, Stacker hardware, two hardcards, mouse, norton desktop NAV, and so on... This was done by using the stealth feature and physically moving the largest drivers/tsr's to the front as long as they weren't dependent on a previous driver. QEMM provides a 'test' facility during the stealth optimize session that lets you modify the order and see the results. One caution - make certain you've excluded any adaptor memory or other exclusions. QEMM will make every effort to 'squeeze' using available space. If it ain't truly available, the optimize will appear to work, but will fail on the next boot (yup, I missed some adaptor ram and it took quite a while to figure this one out!). QEMM is a tremendous product, but it does take some effort if you've trying to maximize conventional ram and are pushing your himem to the limits... So far, I've managed to run ALL my memory intensive software without a separate boot disk or alternate config.sys. This includes Links386, Falcon3.0, and FS4 with Sound/Graphics from Mallord. (L.MCRAE2, CAT28, TOP4, MSG:95/m645) >>> HOT TOPICS <<< """""""""""""""""" WHAT COPY PROTECTION REALLY IS Copy protection prevents legitimate users """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" from backing up their software and protecting their investment. In some cases, it also limits the usability of the product, as with key disk protection. However, copy protection has little effect on pirates. Most often, they are either able to break the protection and then trade unprotected copies. In the early days, pirates used DEBUG to break copy protection. Now the amateurs can use NOGUARD or UNGUARD, and the more technically proficient crackers use Soft-Ice or Sourcer. I'm quite sure they haven't paid for these programs either though! The industry is left in a situation where the intended solution "copy protection" has failed, and at the same time it has had another negative effect. The pirate world has organized several groups that exist for the sole purpose of cracking software and distributing it. The groups, under names like "INC" and "The Humble Guys", are very technically knowledgable PC users who crack the protection on almost every new computer game and then distribute the software worldwide. The pirate world has, in effect, created it's own version of "organized" crime. What this portends, I have no idea. (WILL, CAT4, TOP47, MSG:22/m645) HARDWARE VS. SOFTWARE CACHE Jerry, sorry - but you're wrong. I'll take """"""""""""""""""""""""""" my hardware cache anyday over SmartDrive or PC-Kwik. I've got an UltraStor Caching IDE controller, and it is definately ahead of any software controller. Although a software controller can theoretically improve by saving often used information, a caching controller will do a read-ahead on your drive, grabbing information while the CPU is processing what it just got. If you (1) Keep your drive contiguous by using either PC Tools's Compress or Norton's SpeedDisk, you can be sure all your files wil l be in a row and (2) Use Windows or other graphics- intensive products, you can be sure there will be 'dead' spots where the CPU is working with the info where the controller can utilize that read ahead capiblility to it's best effect. Norton, which is not aware of the read-ahead/cache on the controller, thinks I have a .2ms access time on my drive when testing. I've only got 1 meg on there now, but it's capable of .5m, 1m, 2m, 4m or 8m, depending on configuration. I've also recently seen a non-Ultrastor card that appears to be identical to mine in the back pages of Infoworld. Their ad asked about $130. I don't know how much better it would be with an IDE tape drive, however. On the one hand, time spent in data compression/decompression would be excellent for the cache or read- ahead, but I don't know how much this would be. Ironically, the better your CPU, the less signifigant the contribution is. (D.WHITESIDE2, CAT13, TOP72, MSG:251/m645) >>> HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" HOW ABOUT THESE RUMORS - MICROSOFT DOS 6.0!! We may be seeing alot of """""""""""""""""""""" DoubleDisk in the future. From what I hear, they are the guys who willing be supplying the technology for Microsoft Dos 6.0s disk compression feature... (MASTERWERKS, CAT4, TOP4, MSG:309/m645) >>>>> DOS 6.0 is in beta test. Microsoft does not make a policy of giving """"" release dates for unannounced products, but my impression is that 6.0 is pretty far along the development cycle. (STROM, CAT4, TOP4, MSG:312/m645) WHAT'S THIS ABOUT QUARTERDECK UP FOR SALE? I saw part of a story on CNN """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" that Quarterdeck may be for sale. Possible buyers mentioned were Novell and Borland. Anyone else here anything? (DD.LANGDON, CAT28, TOP15, MSG:1/m645) >>>>> I don't work there any more but everyone says that the rumors are """"" false. I personally think that they will be bought out soon though because of the stock problems that they have and other internal problems. I also think that Novell would pick them up so that they have a good memory manager with DR DOS and a good text based multitasker. Borland might be interested, but I haven't heard of anything on that. There were also rumors that Symantec was interested but I have it from a good source that they won't buy them because of the cost for technical support for a product like QEMM. You get an about 1.5 calls for every 4 packages of QEMM sold. Whoever does buy them out hopefully will improve on the technical support and marketing aspects of the products, it can't get much worse. (J.WHITTED1, CAT28, TOP15, MSG:3/m645) >>> MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" NOTE The following message was written by a non-IBM'er. """" However, I thought that he had some very interesting points and a viewpoint that most of us might not consider. It intrigued me - thought it might do the same for you. -Ed. [*][*][*] Category 21, Topic 45 Message 235 Sun Sep 06, 1992 K.SPRINGER1 at 13:58 EDT HELLO, EX-ATARIANS. I am a long time Atari user, but new to the GEnie world. This is my first experience with telecommunications, and so far has been somewhat frustrating getting accomplished what I want. I hate to have the computer beat me, so I will keep at it until I have it figured out. I have stumbled across this topic area while trying to learn ST Aladdin, and the title intrigued me. So I downloaded all of the messages (what the h***, it's only money!) and feel like making some comments. It is not my intent to irritate anyone, so please don't send any nasty notes. I probably will not be back to this topic, as I currently have no desire to go to the DOS world. I'd go to Mac or NeXT before I did that! One thing I noticed, virtually no one left the ST because they disliked the computer. They disliked the company or needed work compatibility. In fact, many have noted they still use their ST's for different reasons because the ST is superior for them in one or more areas. Changing computers just because you are unhappy with the company seems kind of silly to me. Kind of like getting rid of your favorite car just because the company isn't producing the products for it you think it should. If the accessories you desire are not there, it is because your desires and needs have changed, not necessarily that the company is the problem. There are always things happening to a business, any business, that the end user will never know about. So changing computers simply because of the way the company performs just doesn't make much sense to me. And before you get too excited, I definitely agree that Atari has made many mistakes over the years. But the problems with the Atari world cannot be laid solely at the feet of Atari. When I go "outside" (Continental US) on vacation, I like to visit Atari dealers when they exist. Most of them have been a disappointment. The problems have ranged from scuzzy locations to lack of enthusiasm about selling the ST to not having anything to sell. I also doubt that most dealers have much knowledge as to marketing, advertising, business location, etc. Gaining the knowledge in this area is the dealer's responsibility, not the manufacturer's. Knowledgeable support starts, IMHO, with the dealer and goes up from there. I have no doubt that many of the first ST dealers were very enthusiastic about the machine, but didn't know how to translate that enthusiasm into sales. And of course there was the piracy problem, but as Atari users we are all aware of that problem. (It seems that honesty has no place in American society any more.) Do all of you new DOS users own all of the software on your computers? How many of you have copied the software at work? I find it hard to find a DOS user who hasn't copied the programs at work. There's compatibility, and there's compatibility. Unless you have the same machine and software at home as you have at work you may run into compatibility problems. And I mean right down to the version numbers and release dates. Floppies formatted on one machine may not be readable on another even though nothing is wrong with either machine. (I have experienced it at work, and read about it in help columns in the magazines.) File formats change with revisions and release dates, meaning you have to update your software when the company updates to maintain maximum compatibility. This is a dumb way to do things. What is needed is a standard file format for transporting files from one piece of software to another, not everyone using the same machines. By this I mean every spreadsheet being able to read and write Lotus .WKS files, CAD programs would be .DXF files, or some other standardized file format. Then everyone could use the program and computer that they found the most comfortable and productive for them. Everyone using the same computer and operating system is like everyone using the same car. I agree with the comments about the stupid 640K memory problem. Seems to me that memory managers simply put a "band-aid" over the problem, not solve the problem. Regardless of how little memory the manager uses, that is still memory not available to the user who paid for it! I also found the comments from a number of users that they were trying to find software to make the DOS machines easier to use amusing. Most of the features desired were already available on the ST. Keyboard shortcuts for Windows was mentioned, which are available in Neodesk 3. And Codekeys lets you create your own keyboard shortcuts for the software that doesn't support shortcuts. I just realised that this is sounding more like an editorial, and that perhaps the SYSOPS will not appreciate it. Not having any feeling for when I may be crossing the line as to the content of this topic, I think I should close this off with a couple more comments. I had more to say, but will save that for those who pick on me. I suggest to those who wish to, to contact via Email as I doubt that I will check back here. I only checked it out because of the topic title. One last comment. If everyone goes to the DOS operating system, we will have created a monopoly for Bill Gates and company. I have yet to hear of a monopoly that was good for the consumer. If monopolies were good, would we have ever passed the Taft-Hartley bill and broken up the AT&T? (K.SPRINGER1, CAT21, TOP45, MSG:235/m645) [*][*][*] While on GEnie, do you spend most of your time downloading files? If so, you may be missing out some excellent information in the Bulletin Board area. The messages listed above only scratch the surface of what's available and waiting for you in the bulletin board area. If you are serious about your PC, the GEnie Lamp staff strongly urge you to give the bulletin board area a try. There are literally thousands of messages posted from people like you from all over the world. //////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "If anyone wants any stamps send me a SASE and I will send / / you a stamp." / ///////////////////////////////////////////// M.FARMER2 //// [EOA] [HUM]////////////////////////////// HUMOR ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// Operator From Hell """""""""""""""""" by Simon Travaglia >>> B*ST*RD OPERATOR FROM HELL <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ PART 1 ~ It's backup day today so I'm P.O.'d. Being the BOFH, however, does have it's advantages. I assign the tape device to null - it's so much more economical on my time as I don't have to keep getting up to change tapes every 5 minutes. And it speeds up backups too, so it can't be all bad. A user rings "Do you know why the system is slow?" they ask "It's probably something to do with..." I look up today's excuse ".. clock speed" "Oh" (Not knowing what I'm talking about, they're satisfied) "Do you know when it will be fixed?" "Fixed? There's 275 users on your machine, and one of them is you. Don't be so selfish - logout now and give someone else a chance!" "But my research results are due in tommorrow and all I need is one page of Laser Print.." "SURE YOU DO. Well; You just keep telling yourself that buddy!" I hang up. Sheesh, you'd really think people would learn not to call! The phone rings. It'll be him again, I know. That annoys me. I put on a gruff voice "HELLO, SALARIES!" "Oh, I'm sorry, I've got the wrong number" "YEAH? Well what's your name buddy? Do you know WASTED phone calls cost money? DO YOU? I've got a good mind to subtract your wasted time, my wasted time, and the cost of this call from your weekly wages! IN FACT I WILL! By the time I've finished with you, YOU'LL OWE US money! WHAT'S YOUR NAME - AND DON'T LIE, WE'VE GOT CALLER ID!" I hear the phone drop and the sound of running feet - he's obviously going to try and get an alibi by being at the Dean's office. I look up his username and find his department. I ring the Dean's secretary. "Hello?" she answers "Hi, SIMON, B.O.F.H HERE, LISTEN, WHEN THAT GUY COMES RUNNING INTO YOUR OFFICE IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS, CAN YOU GIVE HIM A MESSAGE?" "I think so..." she says "TELL HIM `HE CAN RUN, BUT HE CAN'T HIDE'" "Um. Ok" "AND DON'T FORGET NOW, I WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO TELL ANYONE ABOUT THAT FILE IN YOUR ACCOUNT WITH YOUR ANSWERS TO THE PUURITY TEST IN IT..." I hear her scrabbling at the terminal... "DON'T BOTHER - I HAVE A COPY. BE A GOOD GIRL AND PASS THE MESSAGE ON" She sobs her assent and I hang up. And the worst thing is, I was just guessing about the purity test thing. I grab a quick copy anyway, it might make for some good late-night reading. Meantime backups have finished in record time, 2.03 seconds. Modern technology is wonderful, isn't it? Another user rings. "I need more space" he says "Well, why don't you move to Texas?" I ask "No, on my account, stupid." Stupid?!?.... Uh-Oh.. "I'm terribly sorry" I say, in a polite manner equal to that of Jimmy Stewart in a Family Matinee "I didn't quite catch that. What was it that you said?" I smell the fear coming down the line at me, but it's too late, he's a goner and he knows it. "Um, I said what I wanted was more space on my account, *please*" "Sure, hang on" I hear him gasp his relief even though he covered the mouthpeice. "There, you've got plenty of space now" "How much have I got" Now this REALLY *PISSES* *ME* *OFF*! Not only do they want me to give them extra disk, they want to check it, to correct me if I don't give them enough. They should be happy with what I give them *and that's it*!!! Back into Jimmy Stewart mode. "Well, let's see, you have 4 Meg available" "Wow! Eight Meg in total, thanks!" he says pleased with his bargaining power "No" I interrupt, savouring this like a fine red, at room temperature "4 Meg in total..." "Huh?... I'd used 4 Meg already, How could I have 4 Meg Available?" I say nothing. It'll come to him. "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhH!" I kill me; I really do! +-----------+ Terminal Sticker: "My other terminal is a chunk of sh*t too" |+----+ | +----------------------------------------------------------+ || | | | Simon Travaglia, Computer Services, University of Waikato| |+----+VT100| | Priv. Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand. spt@grace.waikato.ac.nz| +-----------+ +----------------------------------------------------------+ The telephone pole was approaching fast, I was attempting to swerve out of it's path when it struck my front end. [*][*][*] CS-ID: #1253.humor/tasteless@pro-friends, 4587 chars Date: 10 Jun 92 09:14:40 +1200 From: spt@waikato.ac.nz (Simon Travaglia) Subject: b*st*rd OPERATOR FROM HELL #1 Newsgroups: alt.tasteless Message-ID: <1992Jun10.091440.8536@waikato.ac.nz> Organization: University of Waikato Computer Centre Lines: 126 ///////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Trouble is, someone will BELIEVE that stuff. You wouldn't / / believe how gullible some people are. I will be reading on / / the nets that someone on GEnie said a full disk weighs more / / than an empty one... Sigh." / /////////////////////////////////////////////// NTACTONE //// [EOA] [FOC]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// Thinking Out-Loud """"""""""""""""" by Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] >>> THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S AFFECTION FOR THEIR HOME COMPUTER <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The other day I got to thinking about people's affection for their home computers. These thoughts were raised when I took my computer in for a motherboard upgrade. As the dealer took my computer out of my clutches, I hesitantly asked: "So how many days is this going to take?" If the upgrade were going to take five days, that would be an eternity. Three days would be barely manageable. Two days would be difficult, but I'd get over it. It turns out that putting in the new motherboard would take three days. Barely manageable. But as I walked out of the store it struck me how very similar my feelings for my computer were to the feelings for my classical guitar when I took it to the store to have an electronic pickup installed. When I handed over my cherished guitar, I hesitantly asked: "So how many days is this going to take?" If the upgrade were going to take five days, that would be an eternity. Three days would be barely manageable. Two days would be difficult, but I'd get over it. The answer: "Three days." Arrgggh. Barely manageable. The reason people's affection towards their home computers is so similar to their affection towards their cherished musical instrument is because both computer and instrument are extensions of the human personality. Both computer and instrument provide unlimited opportunities for creative expression. Both, too, provide unlimited opportunities for creative exploration. Computers are sandboxes for the mind. Musical instruments are sandboxes for the soul. But the comparison doesn't stop there. The parallels grow stronger on closer investigation. About six years ago my older brother Ian showed me a new tuning for guitars, the lovely-sounding "dropped-D" tuning. The moment I heard that tuning I knew it would open up vast new areas of musical exploration. In a sense the new tuning was a new "operating system" for the guitar. It allowed me to produce the same music I produced before, but in a whole new and interesting way. The parallels between computers and instruments continues when you consider that both computers and musical instruments provide opportunities for a lifetime's worth of study and mastery. After mastering the basics you can go on to study endless intricacies. You can stand in awe at what virtuosos have accomplished in the past. You can develop a fine appreciation of the art and the craft. You may even develop enough skill to extend the boundaries of the craft yourself. Perhaps these parallels are all centered around the "appeal to the creative temperament." Could anybody doubt that if Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were alive today he'd be spending much of his free time sitting at a computer keyboard --- playing, learning, composing, exploring? Knowing Mozart, he'd find a way to get Salierni's computer to print musical notes backwards, from right to left, on Salierni's computer screen. Likewise, could anyone doubt that Da Vinci, were he alive today, would be online three or four times a day with other artists/inventors in other Renaissance villages? Chances are Da Vinci would be at his computer so much he'd never have a chance to take a good look at his screen saver. (You know --- the one with sketches of parachutes, gliders, and other mechanical contrivances.) Moving ahead five hundred years, it's intriguing to consider that Alan Kay, an awesomely creative research fellow at Apple Computer, is himself a world class pianist. And it's hardly surprising to hear that his special talent is extemporaneous composition. Other microcomputer visionaries have had similar musical passions. Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, likes to do nothing more than to jam with his rock-and-roll band. Microcomputer legend Steve Wozniak organized and sponsored two large rock concerts in the early 1980's. People who don't use a computer regularly can sometimes have a difficult time understanding how other people could get emotionally attached to such an "inanimate object." If you need a quick explanation of your emotional attachment to your computer, drawing the comparison to musical instruments can serve as a useful analogy. If such non-computer using persons had every experienced the joy and wonder of playing a musical instrument, they'll nod their heads in understanding. Some things in life you just can't put into words. -Phil Shapiro [*][*][*] [The author develops educational software professionally for the Apple II line of computers. He can be reached on GEnie at: [P.SHAPIRO]; on America Online at: PSHAPIRO] ////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss 3 bucks goodbye!" / /////////////////////////////////////////// D.MCNAMEE //// [EOA] [INF]////////////////////////////// INFO_BITS / ///////////////////////////////// Exclusively from Newsbytes! """"""""""""""""""""""""""" o Microsoft Adds To Publisher Line o PEN COMPUTERS: Dead? o Review of: Headline Harry And The Great Paper Race >>> NEWSBYTES NEWS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (c) 1992 by Newsbytes News Network >>>>> Microsoft Adds To Publisher Line 09/25/92 """"" REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 25 (NB) -- Microsoft Corporation has announced it has added two new products to its Publisher family at Seybold, a desktop publishing conference and trade show being held in San Francisco. The new programs are the Publisher Design Pack and Publisher, CD-ROM Edition 1.0. Design Pack is an add-on package that contains five additional TrueType headline fonts from Monotype; over 100 clip art images from various companies; templates; and Microsoft Draw, the company's entry level drawing program. The company says the fonts and clip art will also work with most other Windows-based desktop publishing and word processing programs. The CD-ROM edition of Publisher includes Publisher 1.0, the additional fonts, clip art, templates, Draw, and full on-line documentation. "The power and storage capabilities of CD-ROM are paving the way for more complete customer solutions in one package," said Publisher product group manager, Melinda French. Microsoft also announced that it will co-sponsor the National Association of Desktop Publisher's (NADTP) template design contest, in which participants design a template for use with Microsoft Publisher in one or more categories. Microsoft spokesperson Karen Frey told Newsbytes that the deadline for the competition is October 5. Templates must be designed using Microsoft Publisher, said Frey. There's no cost to enter the contest. The best template designs are scheduled to be incorporated into the next version of Publisher. Prizes will be awarded to the 50 best designs. The grand prize is a complete desktop publishing system, including hardware and software and an all-expense paid trip to Comdex in Las Vegas, where the grand prize trophy will be presented. (Jim Mallory/19920924/Press contact: Karen Frey, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft Corporation, 503-245-0905; For design contest information: 800-874-4113) [*][*][*] >>>>> WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 25 (NB) -- By John McCormick. As """"" someone who has been following field computing for many years, I have recently been watching the growing number of hardware and software offerings for the pen computer market and was surprised to see a front page story in September's High-Tech Marketing News which questions whether pen computing is really catching on. According to the High-Tech report, more than $450 million has been spent by the major players to develop hardware and the pen interface but there has been little in the way of sales in return for that large investment. The September 21 Computer Reseller News says that sales figures for pen computers are misleading those analysts who compare pen computer sales to the massive but already mature PC market, and I agree with that view (in fact, most of this editorial was written before I saw the CRN piece). Pen computers are not dead; in fact, they are barely out of the nursery. Certainly we do not yet see them in every briefcase or displayed in every computer store's window, but that doesn't necessarily indicate any failure in the technology itself or in marketplace acceptance. Pen computing is still a new technology, despite the fact that I have been covering related handwriting recognition systems for years. Those early systems were mostly special-purpose "forms" or data recording computers. General-purpose pen-controlled computers are just now coming on the market, and every evidence indicates that they, as well as special-purpose units, are finding their way into vertical markets in growing numbers. As more and more applications programs are developed or ported to good pen interfaces, pen computers will continue to expand their presence in the workplace and even make their way into homes. This is exactly the sort of market penetration we should expect to see with a new computer technology - after all, PCs first penetrated the office market because of the invention of the spreadsheet and then only in accounting departments - back 10 years ago word processing was still being done mostly on dedicated Wang systems, and it was many years before computers became today's standard office machines, found on nearly every desk. Actually there are quite a few pen computers already in use, perhaps as many as 100,000, mostly in vertical markets. That means a $200-million-plus market already - lots of businesses would be happy to claim that size market in the first year or two of real marketing efforts. The fact that the first real success for pen computers has been in vertical markets is understandable but leads to a misunderstanding of just how popular they are becoming. The general public and even most business computer users just don't see them because most pen computers are out in the field, in warehouses, or in other specialized niche markets. Pen computers are perfect for field computing applications but they haven't been adopted in the general office market yet, so they remain almost invisible to most users. I am not recommending that everyone rush out and purchase stock in pen computer companies; there is no assurance that any particular one will become dominant or even continue to exist, but the general field is alive and well and will certainly become more important as time passes. Pen computers should quickly find a solid market among those who are not using portable computers primarily for word processing. Handprinting recognition can't replace the keyboard for rapid and accurate text entry, but even expert typists will find them perfectly suited for most numeric and occasional data entry work - just the sort of tasks most non-writers use computers for on the road. Because pen computers combine the display screen with the data input area, they can be much more compact than the current crop of notebook computers which must include room for a complex mechanical keyboard. Powerful pen computers could also compete with notebook computers on a price basis because they don't include all the intricate mechanical parts of a keyboard. Electronically a pen computer is very complex, but the major cost of building any computer these days is mechanical, not electronic. As volume picks up, pen computers could become less expensive than notebooks but will probably just approach the same price, despite the fact that they also lack expensive miniaturized hard drives. The ideal portable computer should make its first real appearance by about 1995. It will be a pen-based computer but will also be able to handle text input because of an advanced voice recognition system. (John McCormick/19920925) [*][*][*] >>>>> Review of: Headline Harry And The Great Paper Race, 09/25/92 """"" Runs on: IBM compatibles, 80286 and 8 MHz or higher with 640K RAM From: Davidson & Associates, P.O. Box 2961, Torrance, CA 90509, 800-556-6141 Price: $59.95 PUMA Rating: 3.75 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest) Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Naor Wallach 09/25/92 Summary: A game that teaches recent US history and US Geography in an entertaining and challenging manner. REVIEW Headline Harry And The Great Paper Race is one of the latest in """""" an expanding genre of educational games that attempt to teach history and geography in one fell swoop, and attempt to do this in a way that is fun and exciting to boot! My feelings are that it is very successful in reaching its goals. The game box contains both 3.5" and 5.25" diskettes. There is also a 24-page manual, a catalog of other Davidson offerings, a registration card, and an offer to subscribe to a couple of magazines at a reduced rate. The manual is written in the form of a magazine issue and within its various columns contains all the information that is needed to play the game and more. I especially liked the Dear Gabby feature that is an answer and question forum. Like others in this genre popularized by the Carmen Sandiego series, Headline Harry wraps an exciting detective chase story line around the program's real mission. In Headline Harry you are hired as a Cub Reporter into the Daily Star newspaper. Your editor is Headline Harry. As the program begins, your paper is in a dead heat with the competition - The Diabolical Daily run by Marvin Muckracker. Your task is to get the stories before Marvin's minions do. Should you succeed, The Diabolical Daily's circulation drops and you get promoted. Fail, and you get to try that story again. Unlike some of the more blood thirsty games out there, there is no chance for you to either kill or be killed. This is a distinct advantage to those parents who are looking to purchase fun games that do not involve blood and guts for their children. This game is meant for 10 to 14-year-old kids and is very appropriate for that age in the opinion of several teachers to whom I showed the program. There are a total of 12 stories that you need to track down. Each of them is centered in a particular region of the US. However, while researching the information on the story, you may end up flying all over. Once a story is assigned to you, you know very little about your task except for who your opponent will be, where to start looking, and a vague hint about the nature of the story. For instance, one of the stories revolves around the Los Angeles Olympics and it is introduced to you as a story that has to do with great achievements. You are allocated a certain amount of time to solve the problem before the Diabolical Daily prints a very distorted version of the story that you are after. To make things more exciting, you will discover that there are at least three stories interwoven in the district that you are seeking and they all sound plausible. You must collect all the information on your story as well as decide which is really the real story. Once you travel to the starting spot, you are placed in a cab and asked to choose among three or four possible destinations. One of the destinations is always the airport so that you can fly to another city in case of need. At each of the other destinations you will be able to meet with people and talk to them, listen to the radio, read a story, or gather some other clues. You also have a notebook that you can record these clues in and a telephone for calling your mother. Since the Diabolical Daily's reporters are also running around the same areas as you, you need to keep a sharp lookout for them. They will frequently drop various objects at different sites. If you spot those and pick up the items, you are rewarded with a five hour addition to your timeline while the Diabolical Daily reporter searches around for the same item. On the other hand, you will frequently encounter challenges that may subtract time from your quest. These challenges take the form of trivia questions that also serve to teach you. For instance, one question is, "Which state was the country's leading producer of gold prior to the California Gold Rush?" This game is completely graphical and mouse driven. Each scene that you go to has different people in a different setting. A hotel scene shows the lobby with a flower vase and a bee circling around it while a porter picks up someone's luggage. The picnic scene comes complete with a trail of ants going from the food to the anthill, etc. The cab ride is also animated with various scenes depicted out of the front window. There are various sources of help available to you should you desire it. One of the more interesting sources of information is your telephone conversations with your mother. Do not forget to make them! Other sources include Harry himself, his assistant Lazar, and a Dr. Know it all that looks somewhat like Henry Kissinger. Then, there are the various status displays and help displays that are available from the menus. To file a story you will need to identify and note in your notebook the year, date, place, event, key people, and key words that are related to that event. The program appears to be somewhat rigid in the way in which it requires all of these factors, however, it is possible to have some leeway if you know what to expect. For instance, it is not an absolute requirement to have each keyword and person spelled out completely. The program will accept input from your saved notes. It will also interpret some of your typed words in a very liberal fashion. In a story about the civil rights movement, the program interpreted my entry "discrimination" as "racial discrimination." If you run out of time before you have all the details in your notebook, you materialize in Harry's office who then proceeds to give you the treatment! You are then forced to read the discombobulated story that the Diabolical Daily printed and get to try that story again. If you are successful in gathering all the information prior to your time expiring, you can file the story. A beaming Harry congratulates you on your success, lets you name and read your very own bylined story, and after several successes promotes you. When certain scenarios are completed, you may even get to be the Reporter of the Year and get honored in front of the press club. Not only that but the Diabolical Daily's circulation is reduced. Each of the stories can be printed for you to save for later. Although I very quickly got into the routine of the game, I still enjoyed playing it. On several occasions, several of us gathered and tried working on the game together. It was definitely possible to do this kind of group activity and it only lent to the learning aspect of the game. It almost always became a race against time to see if I could get all the information on the story in time. Even when I realized the true story right away, and worked on it diligently, I could not just breeze through the game. All in all I find this game very appealing and a good investment. PUMA RATING """"""""""" PERFORMANCE 4 The program ran quickly enough so that I was not getting """"""""""" annoyed waiting for it. This is a neat trick with all the graphics and animations that compose it. It will also support a Sound Blaster card for better quality audio although the regular speaker was very legible and understandable. USEFULNESS 3 The game has some minor limitations. For instance, you are """""""""" only allowed twelve scenarios. The manual hints at several hundred but it is not clear how to get them. MANUAL 4 Very well written with no typos or errors. Contains all the """""" information that is needed to play the game. AVAILABILITY 4 I found it in several software stores and saw it advertised in """""""""""" some mail order firms' catalogs. There is also an 800 number of orders and a separate one for customer support. One of the signs of the quality of this program is that I never needed to call Davidson while running the program! (Naor Wallach/19920916/Press Contact: Liz Rich-Reardon, Davidson & Associates) [*][*][*] The material contained in Newsbytes News Network copyright (c) 1992 by Newsbytes News Network. Republication of any portion is strictly prohibited without prior authorization from Newsbytes and GEnie. [*][*][*] GEnieLamp is proud to bring to you highlights from the Newsbytes News Network Magazine. Current issues as well as back issues of Newsbytes are available in the Newsbytes RoundTable located on page 316/Keyword: NEWSBYTES /////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Biggest problem I have with this game? I've gone through / / three screens and never had more than 810 points. If the / / credits screen showing a top score of 10000 points isn't / / just for show, boy, do I have a lot of work to do. :-)" / /////////////////////////////////////////// C.TOWNSLEY //// [EOA] [CLA]////////////////////////////// CLASSICS / ///////////////////////////////// Keep That Printer Busy! """"""""""""""""""""""" By Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] Program Name : DMP Filename : DMP.ARC Library Area : 5 Program Number : 13386 File Size : 56,700 Program Type : Utility (Print) Author : DMP Software [Terry McGuire] Version Reviewed: 1.52 File Type : Shareware / $29 [*][*][*] FROM THE AUTHOR DMP is a general purpose printer controller including """"""""""""""" very versatile spooling capability. It works on IBM PC/XT/AT and PS/2 computers and most compatibles. Some of DMP's major features are: o Print to disk file option o Support for serial port printers o Spooling to any Dos-recognized disk o Spooling to all common types of memory o Selectable internal buffer size / system memory usage o The ability to drive a wide range of printers at full speed. DMP is a true spooler in that it saves the printer output to non- system memory or to disk as needed, instead of removing a large buffer from system memory. DMP is a memory resident program which uses approximately 13K bytes of system memory. The program is not compatible with the DOS 'PRINT' utility, or with any other print spoolers or buffers which drive printer no. 1. If you use DMP for a serial port printer, you must not use the DOS "MODE" command to redirect output - DMP does it instead. [*][*][*] PD_Q RATING * * * * """"""""""" DOCUMENTATION VERY GOOD """"""""""""" PD_Q COMMENTS Last month, this column covered a program to save """"""""""""" paper while printing. This month, the shift is to saving time with a print spooler. And you don't have to have a mega-system to do it. Minor caveat right off the bat...this is an older version of the program. It was uploaded way back in February, 1989. I found out that there is a newer version on another to-go-unnamed on-line service . But the author is a member of the ASP, so I'm sure he'll take care of you. Please note the new contact information at the end of the article. Now then, where was I? Gee, how can I type this article with all that printer noise? You mean there's a down side to print spooling? _Only kidding!_ The program was very simple to set up. I chose to try out spooling to my RAM disk, and it worked like a champ. After going through a few pages, I issued the command the delete the spool buffer, and that was the end of that. The documentation had several examples listing commonly-used commands, so it was easy to get started quickly. DMP also comes with a print utility, PF, which can be used in conjunction with the spooler to print disk print files. DMP handles both text and graphics printing (assuming your printer does, _of course_ - Will I be able to play the piano when my broken finger heals? Was that Mark Quinn?). It can also be configured to adjust the printing on the fly, like converting special characters to a printable one, expanding tabs, and so on. If you're looking for an inexpensive, easy-to-use, flexible print spooler, you've found it. NOTE: The following information is up-to-date and differs from the DMP.ARC file. Please use this information. Registration is now $29 for version 2.05. Terry McGuire can be reached at DMP Software, 204 E. 2nd Ave., Suite 610, San Mateo, CA 94401. Inquiries: 415-341-2702. ///////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "You will get the mag on Thursday because you sent them a / / message asking if it was sent on Wednesday. I know because / / I sent a message on Tuesday and just got my mag today. I / / wish I'd sent the message a week or two earlier so I would / / have had the magazine. :-)" / ///////////////////////////////////////////////// WAYNED //// [EOA]#61 [FUN]////////////////////////////// ONLINE FUN / ///////////////////////////////// Search-ME! """""""""" Scott Garrigus [S.GARRIGUS] SEARCH-ME! Welcome to Search-ME, our monthly puzzle program. Each """""""""" month we will have a different theme. This month the Search-ME! puzzle contains 21 keywords that are associated with programming. >>> PROGRAMMING! <<< """""""""""""""""""" Q A O R R A G H S S F S P G S A K D F I B Q C S T Q R M X J I D D M K U E A R E L M X G T G W Z R M J X N P O V B O O W F K E X P S Q N D Y Z I Z O W W G T F H C H K G S Y X N U S W J D C R Y E W O T N I R P G B X T Q A H D G A B Z T A P A T K D G M F H X L G P X V T Y L C U X R B S O A D I U P Y A U I Z M F G X X H Q H J S H P Z F A G G D Z T Y F U B C T E P D C G G N F S K T C J Z S F P N R N W E P N N F O E O T H Y Q G K B L O U J N A S Y C E S L W M Y A S S E M B L Y R I F C M N T I Q G R O G P S W D E V U O C W Z B N E W L S S K Z E O W I Z R L Q Y F F P O E D M D H A G H N Y A P B L E I G K V B O E A J O X O B O F L H O D U W E V T P N V I Z U H R G Z W S Q J Q Y B C C J L O E B J M O T C Y K U E U Q G Y Y A F A J A C M S E U L Z R K H M M B S O D E U R E Z C A H Y T E G C Q V B L N O V V A L G M R B S P S N E V A R I A B L E P A B L E V P I A A B U D H F I L M W K E V E J Z A Q P O M L P V Z Z X V W ARRAY ASSEMBLY BASIC BIOS COMPILE CONSTANT DOS FOR GEM GFA GOSUB GOTO LOOP MEMORY MOVE NEXT PASCAL PRINT READ VARIABLE WRITE [*][*][*] GIVE UP? You will find the answers in the LOG OFF column at the end of """""""" the magazine. This column was created with a program called SEARCH ME, an Atari ST program by David Becker. //////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Nathan, I imagine Lee caught onto the meaning of "enthisiasm" / / right away. He's very enthisiastic himself!" / ////////////////////////////////////////////// D.A.BRUMLEVE //// [EOA]!!@ [QUI]////////////////////////////// THE MIGHTY QUINN / ///////////////////////////////// Milliseconds With Mark """""""""""""""""""""" by Mark Quinn, DOA [M.QUINN3] >>> A WHOLE BUNCHA MILLISECONDS WITH MARK <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" They are out there. Those logjams in the bit stream; those dropped characters (there are a few characters I'd like to drop, but they seem to be more prevalent than ever); those I/Os (I/O, I/O, so CompuServe I owe), and those lows. But what _really_ bugs a modem geek (or, as someone I know chooses to refer to them, a "modemhead")? (I rustle the card, and try to screw my expression up, to the delight of the audience.) TOP TEN THINGS THAT GIVE A MODEMHEAD A HEADACHE """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 10. Soap. 9. Hardware incompatibilities between modems. 8. The Danger Man from Domino's. 7. Those nasty things hooked to modems called "computers". 6. Actually paying to download a MIDI or GIF file after seeing its description, which begins, "This is my first attempt at this sort of thing . . .". 5. Rugrats belching into the family phone in the middle of a download. 4. When the 9600 bps modem gives out in the middle of the night, and the spare 2400 bps internal model is found at the bottom of a stack of dirty dishes. 3. Thinking that you bought a Hewlett Packard product, and discovering the next morning that it was manufactured by that _other_ company. 2. After you've moved, your spouse insists on unpacking inconsequential items like children's toys _before_ the computer equipment. and (give us a digital drum roll, will you, Hal?) . . . 1. Getting "pulled into chat" by the sysop of a local BBS, and discovering that he/she is normal. //////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Hey, you're WAY off topic here, fella!! Jeff W. (SYsop), / / here's your chance to nail the 'sucker'... .." / ///////////////////////////////////////////// T.EVANS21 //// [EOA] [TEL]////////////////////////////// TELETALK ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// Telix: Get The Lamp Script """""""""""""""""""""""""" by Paul Sadowski [LOONEY.TUNES] >>> GET THE LAMP SCRIPT FOR TELIX USERS <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" CUT & PASTE SCRIPT TELIX users may now automate their collection of the """""""""""""""""" monthly GEnieLamp issues with GENIELMP.SLT, a TELIX SALT language script. Start this script at any GEnie prompt that accepts page numbers; it will take you to the IBM-PC RT and begin the capture of GEnieLamp. A capture file will be created in your download directory, or if you have not defined a download directory in your TELIX setup the capture file will be placed in the directory in which your copy of TELIX resides. The filename will be "GENIELMP.TXT." Upon completion of the capture, you will hear a beep. Depending upon how you setup the script it will either log off of GEnie or take you to page 8001. To have the script log off upon completion you need do nothing to the script as it is. To remain on-line, returning to page 8001, change the 'Y' in the first line of the script (str logoff[] = "Y";) to 'N' -- case is not significant, but change only the letter 'Y', nothing else. Before using this script you must compile it with CS.EXE which came with your copy of TELIX. At the command line type CS GENIELMP. To call the script from TELIX press -G and type GENIELMP or include a full pathname such as \TELIX\SCRIPTS\GENIELMP. [*][*][*] //GENIELMP.SLT str logoff[] = "Y"; //Change the 'Y' to 'N' to remain on-line int tr; str fname[64]; main() { strupper(logoff); if(strlen(_down_dir) == 0) { strcat(fname, _telix_dir); strcat(fname, "genielmp.txt"); } else { strcat(fname, _down_dir); strcat(fname, "genielmp.txt"); } cputs("m615;11^M"); waitfor("Last visit at:", 120); waitfor("^M^J", 10); capture(fname); if(waitfor("croll?", 60)) cputs("S^M"); tr = track("^M^J[EOF]", 0); while(!track_hit(tr)) { if(!carrier()) break; terminal(); } track_free(tr); capture("*CLOSE*"); waitfor("Enter #,

revious, or elp?", 60); tone(659, 14); if(logoff == "Y") cputs("BYE^M"); else cputs("m8001^M"); } //SCRIPT ENDS //////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Isn't it amazing how a $6 part can fix 100's of $$$ worth / / of equipment?" / /////////////////////////////////////////// D.GILLOGLY1 //// [EOA] [GEN]////////////////////////////// GEnie ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// En guarde! """""""""" by Pat Hart [P.HART4] >>> ONLINE CHESS <<< """""""""""""""""""" Doing It Online Some of you have probably heard that you can now play """"""""""""""" USCF-rated postal chess on Compuserve. This makes some sense since it is the largest system, but it is also (probably) the most expensive pay BBS around. But there is an alternative here on GEnie and it is part of Basic*Service to boot. Imagine playing against players throughout the country for twelve hours a day at no extra charge! (NOTE: See end of article for information on new pricing structure for the RSCARDS Multi-player games effective October 1, 1992. -ed.) To get started, simply go to page 875 to familiarize yourself with the RSCards games and how to get your graphic front-end program for your particular computer model. Then go to page 882. So how is the competition you ask? There are over four hundred thirty GEnie-rated players as I write this and the list is growing. I have found eight USCF Masters (including International Master Doug Root), eleven Experts, sixteen A-players, eleven B-players, six C-players, a sprinkling of lower-rateds and some who may not have ever played tournament chess, but are none-the-less strong players. There are online tournaments played over two weeks to minimize connect time since they cost $6/hour, with 100% of the entries returned in prizes -- 80% in cash and 20% in free connect time. When you first enter the chess Room, the current Tables are displayed along with the player's handles. (I use Golden Knight.) You can either challenge another player in the Room or move to a Table to sit in the Gallery and watch and kibitz. Once you sit down to play, you choose the time limit first (5-minutes up to no clocks). When both agree, the game begins automatically. If you get disconnected or have to leave, the game can be saved and finished at another time. Colors are assigned randomly when both are due the same color, otherwise you alternate. The chess program, written by John Weaver, Jr., is surprisingly capable with many built-in automatic features: (a) makes your move if it is forced; (b) moves a piece when selected if there is only one legal move; (c) declares a game drawn when there is insufficient material to mate when the clock expires, after 50 moves, or threefold repetition (but only if in succession); (d) prevents resignation before the tenth move; and, (e) the option to squelch messages from kibitzers or other games in progress. It has been an interesting experience playing unseen human opponents on a computer. It is exactly like playing a computer chess program if you use the graphic front-end program available. But, do not forget, it is not a chess program! It is live. It is fun. Trust me. So, come on by and play me a game. I am gentle. Ask anyone! [*][*][*] ATTENTION! GEnieLamp has just received the following notice in regards """""""""" to the RSCARDS RoundTable. RSCARDS will be changing their pricing structure effective October 1, 1992. GEnie subscribers will be able to access RSCARDS games (Blackjack, Backgammon, Checkers, Poker, Reversi, and Chess) via two options: 1) The standard $6.00 per connect hour non-prime time rate, or 2) As a member of the RSCARDS Club. RSCARDS Club membership will cost $30.00 per month, and entitles the member to a discounted rate of $3.00 per hour for unlimited non-prime time play of any RSCARDS games at speeds up to 2400 baud. The institution of the RSCARDS Club also marks the end of our seventh RSCARDS game, Basic*Chess, which will be discontinued on 10/1/92. Full details of the RSCARDS Club, and signup information will be available on 10/1/92. Type RSCARDS at any menu page prompt or move to GEnie page 875. As a bonus, anyone who played any of the RSCARDS games (including Basic*Chess) between June 15, 1992 and September 14, 1992 will be entitled to join the RSCARDS Club and have their first month's membership fee WAIVED if they sign up for the RSCARDS Club between 10/1/92 and 10/15/92. Hourly charges will still apply, and subsequent months' membership fees will be charged at the standard $30.00 per month. The RSCARDS system allows you to play real-time multi-player games with GEnie users from all over the world, in text or with an optional graphics driver program (available online for the Atari ST, the Commodore Amiga and 128 computers, the Apple Macintosh and //gs, and IBM compatibles). Full details of the RSCARDS Club, and signup information will be available on 10/1/92. Type RSCARDS at any menu page prompt or move to GEnie page 875. NOTE: Rates quoted are for 300/1200/2400 baud access from the United States. A Club Plan will also be implemented for Canada, and details will be announced shortly. Non-Prime time is from 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM local time Monday through Friday, and all day on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Communications surcharges, if applicable, still apply. Discussion of the RSCARDS Club is taking place in the Multi-Player Games Bulletin Board, Category 29, Topic 10. (Type *MPGRT to get there, or move to GEnie page 1045;1). Howard Rosenman Product Manager GEnie Games and Entertainment ////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "cmp.l LET_A,d0 That would compare the contents of address / / 65 with d0. It would also generate an address error since / / 65 is odd and you're looking for a long. Also, bus error / / since you may not be in supervisor mode. / / / / Keep at it, it'll come to you in a blaze of light one night / / when you are just about to fall asleep....." / ////////////////////////////////////////////// C.WALTERS1 //// [EOA] [COW]////////////////////////////// CowTOONS! / ///////////////////////////////// Moooooo Fun! """""""""""" * * * (________) * ()() * /-------\/ * / | || * ||----|| * ~~ ~~ " Extraterrestrial Longhorn " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ in the Space/Time Cowtinuum by Mike White [M.WHITE25] (__) __( oo )__ CowTOONS? Mike and Robert took us up \ \ / / on our offer and sent us this month's =|========| '' |========|= CowTOONS selection. Thanks, guys! \ |\|><|/| / \ | \ / | / If you have an idea for a CowTOON, we \ | \/ | / would like to see it. If we publish it \ | /\ | / in GEnieLamp we will credit your account \___| |__| |___/ with 2 hours of GEnie non-prime time! (@) (@) COWnt Dracula by Robert E. Santosuosso [R.SANTOSUOSS] ////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Wow, three new messages waiting for me when I posted my / / last message!" / //////////////////////////////////////////// OUTRIDER //// [EOA] [PDQ]////////////////////////////// PD_QUICKVIEW / ///////////////////////////////// BOXER: Why Fight With Text? """"""""""""""""""""""""""" By Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] Program Name : BOXER Filename : BOX400.ZIP Library Area : 15 Program Number : 29122 File Size : 260608 Program Type : Text Editor Author : David R. Hamel Version Reviewed: 4.0 File Type : Shareware / $35.00-$50.00 [*][*][*] FROM THE AUTHOR BOXER(tm) is a full screen text editor designed to run """"""""""""""" on IBM PC compatible computers. BOXER provides the ability to create, modify, and store ASCII text files. It has been written with programmers in mind, but its powerful features will be appreciated by all types of users. BOXER has many word processing features, and is suitable for all but the most complex word processing tasks. BOXER supports the editing of multiple files through one or more windows. Windows can be any size and may occupy any location on screen. Text can be scrolled horizontally and vertically using a wide range of cursor movement commands. All commands which modify text can be undone with the Undo command. By default, the previous 200 changes can be undone - or up to 4,096 if you choose. Commands are accessible from either the keyboard or from a pull-down menu interface. A mouse can be used to access commands by menu, move and resize windows, and mark text blocks. An online, context sensitive help system provides full information about all of the editor's features. BOXER also features a global search and selective replace command with support for wildcard expressions. Keystroke macros enable you to create up to 26 macros to play back common keystroke sequences. A macro definition file is read upon startup to initialize all 26 macro keys. A wide variety of commands are provided for manipulating marked blocks of text: cut, copy, append, paste, delete, print, write, indent, invert, sort, detab, entab, total, average, fill and case operations. BOXER has 26 clipboard areas in which to store text. A collection of word processing commands are provided to allow formatted documents to be created without the use of a separate word processing package. A status line displays the current time and date, cursor column and row, line number, edit mode and keyboard shift state at all times. A variety of configuration options allow for customization to your needs. [*][*][*] PD_Q RATING * * * * """"""""""" DOCUMENTATION EXCELLENT """"""""""""" PD_Q COMMENTS Have you ever gotten excited when starting up a program """"""""""""" for the first time? Well, try out BOXER and you may. There are so many features to this text editor that I'm surprised the author was able to touch on so many of them above. Just about anything you'd want from a text editor (or a word processor, for that matter) is in here. The mouse support with pull-down menus and on-line help is especially nice for those who don't like to learn various key combinations (but you still can if you like). But it gets better! Say you have your heart set on using to save your ASCII file (don't ask my why, it's _your_ heart). BOXER comes with a stand-alone utility that let's you reconfigure the keys as you like them. That's not all! The new keys are _automatically_ reflected in the pulldown menus and on-line help! Very nice touch! If you're still not convinced to try this one out, read on (actually, keep reading anyway). The support from the author on this product is _superb_. I asked several questions and received prompt, complete, and friendly answers, no matter how stupid the question. He even suggested ways of accomplishing some tasks I had set out to do. Still want more? How about a $5 discount if you've registered any other Shareware text editor or word processor? Now hurry up and finish reading this issue so you can go download BOXER! Registration at $35 gets you the latest version of BOXER, an additional program - LEFTHAND MAN, a very nice Quick Reference Card, newsletter, upgrade notices, telephone support, CIS/Shareware Magazine offers, and a Shareware copy of ShareSpell, a spell checker. $50 also gets you a Printed Reference Manual and a coupon for 1 free upgrade. BOXER is available from David R. Hamel at BOXER Software, PO Box 3230, Peterborough, NH 03458-3230, or 1-800-98-BOXER. He is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). //////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "I'm looking for a sophisticated program for the Mega STE. / / Please reply or leave E-mail. Many thanks!" / / / / "A sophisticated program...Golly, I hardly know where to / / begin. ;-)" / / / / "I'm looking for a naive little program from the sticks. / / Oh - and a pony too." / ////////////// R.MOLINELLI / D.A.BRUMLEVE / MYECK.WATERS //// [EOA] [TEC]////////////////////////////// TECH_TALK / ///////////////////////////////// Memory Expansion, Pt. II """""""""""""""""""""""" By John Wilson Hyperdyne, Inc. Annandale, VA >>> MEMORY EXPANSION IN 80x86-BASED COMPUTERS UNDER MS-DOS <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ PART II ~ MEMORY EXPANSION CONTINUED... For the sake of simplicity in the """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" following discussion, the multi-page nature of the page frame will not be mentioned further. The explanations apply to each page within the page frame individually. It should also be noted that, strictly speaking, the 4-page, 64 KB page frame applies only to EMS versions 3.2 and earlier. In EMS 4.0+, the page frame is not limited to just 4 pages and can, in fact, be all or partially located within the 640 KB address range normally occupied by conventional RAM. This feature is used by various multitasking overlays to DOS, such as Desqview, which actually allow program code to be paged in and out. EMS MEMORY MANAGERS OR DRIVERS Each manufacturer of an EMS board is free """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" to actually design the actual circuitry of his EMS board to suit his whim, his engineers, and his marketing plan. Most boards are different in a real, physical way from one another. The magic incantations necessary to shuffle EMS pages between here and Hoboken is different for each one. Does each application program need to know which particular brand/model of board is plugged in and what its religion is? Fortunately not. Enter the Enhanced Memory Specification. EMS is a specification of a standardized way that applications interact with EMS hardware. This interaction is via the software interrupt feature of the 8088/MS-DOS. All applications that wish to use EMS memory call interrupt 67H the same way with the same arguments, no matter who made the board. When the interrupt is issued, control passes to the memory resident EMS management software, usually called either an EMS memory manager or EMS driver (same thing). This piece of software is unique to each brand of board and is normally supplied by the boards vendor. It is the express purpose of this piece of software to turn the standard EMS invocation arguments into the particular set of hardware incantations understood by the board. Beware mixing boards and drivers from different sources! This may work in rare circumstances but will eventually lead to consumption of excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages. EXTENDED MEMORY OK. Now we know how EMS works: it expands a selected """"""""""""""" 64KB- sized range of addresses in the CPUs address space to several megabytes by paging-in one chunk at a time. But what about "Extended Memory"?. Actually extended memory is a much simpler concept. Remember those unused address lines in the 80286 and 80386? (MS-DOS and other real-mode applications only use the first 20 of the 80286's 24 and the 80386's 32). They were not put there for decoration. The CPU can be put in Protected Mode and can then use those extra address lines to address megabytes and megabytes of memory without needing the help of the special EMS hardware like page registers and private (EMS-card) address busses. In protected mode, the CPU can address all physical memory in the same, natural way. In fact, the one megabyte boundary loses all significance, except for the painful memory of what it used to be like back in that awful 20-bit real mode. Extended memory is thus just like conventional memory, just extended up to higher addresses. The down side is, of course, that MS-DOS does not know how to switch into protected mode, and wouldn't know what to do there if it did. Rectifying this shortcoming, and all its implications, is the sole reason for OS/2. SOFTWARE APPROACHES TO EMS IMPLEMENTATION The discussion of EMS so far """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" has talked exclusively about hardware approaches to EMS. In the 8088, hardware must be employed to supplement the deficiencies of that chip. In the 80286 and 80386, however, there are software-only methods to give the same functionality as EMS hardware. Both approaches use extended memory for the storage of EMS page data. In the 80286, EMS memory contents are brought into the 1 MB, conventionally-addressable range by physically copying 16 KB blocks of memory to and from extended memory. The EMS "page" that the application program sees is actually a block of conventional memory that has been filled with the contents of a block of extended memory. The copying is done by a piece of software known as an EMS Emulator (driver) which is usually loaded like other DOS device drivers in CONFIG.SYS. Note that to access the extended memory, the EMS Driver must switch into protected mode, copy the data, then hightail it back into real-mode to keep DOS happy. The extended memory blocks, in this scheme, are emulating a block of memory that would normally be physically resident on the EMS card. Note that these are not really "paged"-in in the same sense as true EMS pages, nor is there any "mapping" going on. All physical memory contents retain their actual addresses as far as the CPU is concerned, only there contents are copied back and forth. The advantage of this scheme is that EMS functionality can be achieved in machines without actual EMS hardware. A disadvantage of this scheme is its performance. Whole 16K blocks must be moved to access a new page (which takes milliseconds), in contrast to "true" EMS where just a page register must be loaded (which takes microseconds). Another disadvantage is the fact that some precious conventional memory is consumed by the emulated page frame. In the 80386, the solution is much more elegant. In true EMS, the contents of the page registers can be thought of as a memory- mapping table. That is, the contents of the page register, in essence, point to a particular block of EMS-card-resident memory - change the page register contents and a new physical page shows up in the page frame. The 386 was designed for operating systems much more sophisticated than MS-DOS; these operating systems take for granted the presence of memory mapping capability. The 80386 has, in fact, an internal memory mapping facility much more sophisticated than the crude, bank-oriented page registers of an EMS card. The 386's memory management unit allows any arbitrary- sized chunk of physical memory to be mapped to anywhere in the address space, including the lower 1 MB. And, most importantly, to the address were an EMS-aware application expects to find the page frame and the EMS pages contained therein. With the 80386, hardware within the CPU performs the mapping previously done by EMS hardware. Programming of the CPUs mapping registers is performed by a device driver usually known as an Expanded Memory Manager. Memory managers are written to run on the (standard) 80386 and not some particular vendor's EMS hardware. This allows third-party vendors to produce EMS emulators for any 80386. Examples are "QEMM-386" by Quarterdeck Systems and "386-to-the-Max" by Qualitas. Finally, there is one more software approach to EMS that can be used with any machine. That approach is called Virtual EMS and employs a system's hard disk as storage for EMS pages. A device driver intercepts EMS calls in much the same way as the approach described above for the 80286, except that copying is done between a page frame in conventional memory, and sectors of your hard disk. This is a clever approach, and allows EMS memory to be much greater than the amount of memory in your machine, but, because disk is thousands of times slower than semiconductor memory, this approach should only be used by the terminally desperate. APPENDIX - SUMMARY FOR USERS EMS is the specification of a software """""""""""""""""""""""""""" technique for making more than 640 KB (the normal DOS limit) available to your programs. Put simply, EMS reserves a block of memory space in your PC and allows a block of RAM (usually resident on an EMS card) to be switched into that address range. There are generally many identical blocks of RAM present on the EMS card, each and any one of which can be "plugged" in -- only one at a time. Your CPU can use one of these blocks to store data in, and then switch in another block, store data in that, switch in yet another block, and so on, and so on. Later, the CPU can recall these blocks in the same or different order and read back the original data. In many ways, this performs the same function as your system's disk -- except that it's all done in solid-state memory and is thousands of times faster. There are four approaches to actually implementing EMS, depending to some extent, on what type of machine you have. These approaches are: o an EMS memory card (like the AST "Rampage") [any DOS computer, but usually 8088s or 80286s] o an EMS emulator [80286 or 80386, but usually only on 80286's] o an Extended Memory Manager [386 only] (for example Quarterdeck System's "QEMM-386 or Qualitas's "386- to-the-Max" ) o a Virtual Memory Manager [any DOS machine] An EMS memory card is more than just a memory expansion card: it contains special circuitry to perform the bank-switching operation discussed above. To use an EMS card, you will have to perform two steps: (1) Configure the EMS card hardware to match your computer's configuration (2) install a special EMS card driver for the board in your CONFIG.SYS file. Details and procedures differ for different makes and models of EMS cards. Consult your EMS card's users manual for instructions. Note that drivers are usually card- specific; you cannot, in general, use Vendor A's driver with Vendor B's card. Not all "memory" expansion cards are EMS cards. There is another type of memory called extended memory which is used by other operating systems such as OS/2 and Unix. It is also used by a few DOS utilities, most notably IBM's VDISK RAM disk emulator. If your computer is advertised as having more than 640 KB of memory installed, it's a good bet that it's extended memory and not EMS memory. Few applications can use extended memory, although by using a software technique which will be discussed in a moment, extended memory can be made to serve as EMS memory. Before deciding on an EMS strategy, determine the type of memory your computer already has installed. Be forewarned: IBM, as usual, has a different name for extended memory (like everything else). They call it (you guessed it) expanded memory. So, if you bought it from IBM, and it's called expanded memory, it's extended memory. Everyone else pretty much sticks to standard nomenclature but to be sure, look for the phrase "EMS x.x compliant" in the documentation, where x.x is usually a number like 3.2 or 4.0. The 'S' in EMS stands for "Specification". EMS is not a particular way to build EMS memory, rather, it is the specification of a software interface to it. Different vendors can, and do, implement EMS differently. What is the same, however, is the way that applications programs interface to this memory. Many EMS cards allow the memory contained on them to be configured as all EMS memory, all extended memory, or a mixture. If you use VDISK or any other special programs that use extended memory, you may wish to reserve part of the board's memory for use as extended memory. Otherwise, there's really no good reason for not configuring all of your memory as EMS. (Note that EMS boards are generally more expensive than "plain" extended memory boards because of the additional circuitry required). Consult your board's users manual for the proper switch settings or software settings to give the mix you desire. EMS cards can be used in any machine, but are usually found in 8088s and 80286s because there is a better and cheaper way to go in 80386s as will be discussed below. EMS EMULATORS A less common approach to implementing EMS in your """"""""""""" computer is a EMS Emulator. This is a software-only approach that requires no special hardware to use. It essentially turns extended memory into expanded memory. Unfortunately, there is a price for this magic - performance. Because extended memory lacks the special hardware to switch its address like the blocks of memory on an EMS card, this software must copy whole blocks of data (16 KB's worth) back and forth between your program and extended memory every time a new block is required -- even if it's just to read a single byte. Depending on the nature of the program, this can be a few times slower or hundreds of times slower than "true" EMS. This is not a recommended solution for that reason, however, if necessary, it can be used. This approach can only be used on 80286 and 80386 machines which have extended memory. Machines based on the 8088 (like the original PC and XT) cannot accommodate extended memory. On the 80386, a much better solution is described below. EXTENDED MEMORY MANAGERS Built into every 80386 is a special capability """""""""""""""""""""""" that can be used to do an excellent job of providing EMS memory without the use of EMS hardware. This facility is called the paging unit or Memory Management Unit (MMU). The MMU consists of circuitry very much like the switching circuitry onboard EMS cards, except much more sophisticated. It was actually included for use by advanced operating systems but can be used quite nicely to emulate EMS in 80386-based DOS machines. The MMU, like the EMS emulators, can turn extended memory into expanded memory through software-only means. Unlike those emulators, the MMU, in conjunction with a piece of software known as an Extended Memory Manager (EMM), does not suffer any performance penalty. In fact, it is usually faster than true EMS cards because: the circuitry is onboard the CPU chip; the 80386 is faster than lower-class machines that usually use EMS cards; and the extended memory used is often fast, 32-bit system memory rather than card-based memory which is slowed down by the relatively slow I/O bus. On 80386 systems, this is definitely the way to go. Excellent EMMs include "386-to-the-Max" by Qualitas, Inc., and "QEMM-386" by Quarterdeck systems, Inc.. To use these EMMs, you need to install them in your CONFIG.SYS file. Like the EMS cards, you will have to configure them to partition your available system memory between extended and expanded memory. Consult the users manual for the package you are using. VIRTUAL MEMORY MANAGERS Virtual Memory Managers are another """"""""""""""""""""""" software-only approach to EMS. These function almost identically to the EMS emulators discussed above, except that they use the system disk rather than extended memory as the storage medium for blocks of memory copied out of your program. As you can imagine, this is excruciatingly s-l-o-w. Use this approach only as a last resort. /////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "I'm still sold on LiveMouse. It's a one-size-fits-all kinda / / deal. If it's too small when you buy it, you just feed it / / until it's the right size. Then you pull the Freeze Tab / / and voila...instant mouse." / ////////////////////////////////////////////// J.EIDSVOOG1 //// [EOA] [HAC]////////////////////////////// HACK'N ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// US Robobtics Upgrade """""""""""""""""""" by Bill Yung [W.YUNG1] >>> UPGRADING AN HST ONLY MODEM TO DUAL STANDARD <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" PLEASE REMEMBER! You are responsible for any damage or liability when """""""""""""""" you make any modifications or upgrades to your equipment. Also keep in mind that opening your computer may void your guarantee. If you are unsure of your ability to take on a hardware project, find someone who isn't. [*][*][*] A v32.bis SOLUTION! Times change quickly in the world of high-tech """"""""""""""""""" electronics and the world of telecommuncations is certainly no exception. It wasn't long ago v.32bis was conceived. Now, with the advent of modems supporting this type of modulation at very affordable prices, new high speed users are coming on-line faster than ever before. In the past, US Robobtics dominated the high speed market with their HST modulation. Gradually, the tide seems to be turning and HST users are finding themselves unable to connect at high speed with the increasingly popular v32.bis modems. If you've found yourself in this predicament, read on and you may find an inexpensive solution to your plight. The Upgrade The upgrade about to be described is not possible with all """"""""""" HST only modems. The particular upgrade pertains only to the newer model Courier HST 14.4 modems. The newest 16.8k modems are quite different from the previous 14.4 models and I have not had the opportunity to investigate the possiblility of performing a similar upgrade on those nor on any older models. Refer to the graphic illustration to determine if you own an HST model suitable for this upgrade. I have personally performed this upgrade and have verified it's reliability on my own Courier HST. The largest benefit of doing this upgrade is the substantial savings involved. The value of this upgrade is somewhere around $300-$400 (based on the cost of a new v.32bis unit); however, the cost of required materials is approximately $60. If you are handy with a soldering iron, the entire process should take about 8 hours. The most difficult part of the operation was finding parts sources. I was able to obtain everything required in about 1 week. I was informed the main DSP (Digital Signal Processor) chip could take up to 12 weeks to be delivered since it is a "highly allocated" part. This did not prove to be the case as it showed up a mere 5 days after I placed the order. Hopefully, everyone else will receive the same suprisingly fast delivery. I'll include the sources for all necessary components below for your convenience. Just to clarify USR's position on the matter of parts procurement: They will not assist you in any way. They do not sell parts. In fact, there is no upgrade kit available for the type of modem to which this procedure is applicable. USR will upgrade the unit for a fee of $350 according to Mark Eric of HST. This was the only information he was willing to offer. How Dey Do Dat? The HST modulation is asymetrical. Data travels at 14.4k """"""""""""""" bps in one direction while the back channel proceeds at 450 bps. In order to serve as a v.32bis modem, we must install the necessary components to provide for 14.4k bps operation in both directions. There are illustrations to accompany this text and they do aid in determining if you have an appropriate model and in finding the correct position to install the new chips. In the event you are unable to obtain the graphic portions of this article, I will attempt to give a complete and accurate enough description to facilitate the successful completion of the project wtithout them. The first step is to open the case by removing the rubber feet at the rear of the case and the two phillips screws beneath them. The case can now be opened. You are now looking at the guts of one the best modems in the world. What? You're not impressed? Try removing the metallic shield that isolates the digital from the analog. There, that's better. The area you've just revealed is the focal point of our work and is shown in detail in Figure 4. Immediately noticable should be several spaces suitable for mounting the necessary circuitry. If there are no unused spaces, you don't have the proper model for upgrading. Welp, it was worth a shot, huh? Thank you for your patience in bearing with me this far. I bid you farewell. If you DO notice the aforementioned spaces, you're about to become the proud owner of a USR Dual Standard modem. As you further inspect the unit, you will notice the pc board is well marked. There will be very little doubt concerning where the parts are to be mounted. If you notice empty spaces that do not correspond to the details I'm about to present, you probably have an older model. Drop me a line on GEnie and maybe we can come up with a solution. Some desoldering is required to clear the holes for mounting our new parts. This can best be done with a desoldering iron. Radio Shack carries one for under $10 that does a good job. I would also recommend the use of desoldering braid for the more stubborn spots. This too is available at any local electronics shop, Radio Shack included. The task of clearing the solder out of all the necessary holes is the most tedious portion of this upgrade as it involves clearing a couple hundred holes. As desoldering goes, it's a straightforward operation because there are very few paths on the bottom side of the pc board. In light of this fact, every effort should be made to clear the holes from the bottom so as to avoid damaging traces. All of the desoldering having been completed and the pc board ready for the new parts, refer to the following parts list with associated pc board silkscreen labels. If you don't have the graphic portion of this article, refer to these pcb labels to determine the correct location for parts placement. A Word Of Caution Before installing an IC pay special attention to it's """"""""""""""""" orientation as marked on the pc board. Unlike many circuits which have all chips oriented in the same direction, this circuit follows no such convention. Pay particular attention to the new DSP which is rotated 90 degrees from the existing DSP. PCB label Description Source Part # Price """"""""" """"""""""" """""" """""" """"" 68 pin PLCC socket Easy Tech PLC68 2.29 U206 T/I 33MHZ DSP Arrow TMS320C25FNL33 25.00 L8 6.8 uH RF Choke Easy Tech CH68 1.29 U207-U208 8k 25ns Static ram Easy Tech 6264BP25 8.25 U209-U210 Octal buss xcvr Digi-Key 74HCT245 .77 U211-U212 Octal buffer/drvr Digi-Key 74HCT541 .74 R201,2,4 10K resistors Digi-Key P10ke-nd 5.99 Cap Type 1 .01 uF SMD caps Mouser 140-CC501B103K .49 Cap Type 2 .1 uf SMD caps Mouser 140-CC502B104K .69 Cap Type 3 100pf SMD cap Mouser 140-CC501N101J .35 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Capacitors """""""""" Type 1 C201,203,211,213,215,217,223 Type 2 C204,212,214,216,218,221,222 Type 3 C224 Some Notes About Suppliers The most important chip is the DSP. It's by """""""""""""""""""""""""" far the most expensive and the hardest to find. I found a local Texas Instruments dealer who would order them for me at ten dollars each but I would have to buy 20 of them. I also found them in stock at Hamilton Avnet but there is a $100 minimum order. Arrow Electronics is a national distributor with a $25 minimum and this turned out to be the best source for a single part. Even though they did not have the part in stock and warned of a long delay, the chip arrived within a week in a 3X1X1 box. No, not 3 inch by 1 inch by 1 inch. Three feet by 1 foot by 1 foot! These guys really know how to pack a chip. The packaging included a large, military spec desiccant, a humidity indicator, static shielding barrier film (with label indicating relative humidity when opened), a three foot plastic chip carrier and lots of packing popcorn. Wow! Needless to say, when installed, the chip worked fine. Supplier Phone Numbers Terms """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Arrow Electronics 1-800-321-3837 $25 minimum Easy Tech 1-800-582-4044 no minimum Digi-Key 1-800-344-4539 <$25 = $5 fee Mouser 1-800-346-6873 <$20 = $5 fee Substitutions The pc board is designed to accept surface mount resistors """"""""""""" and capacitors. These are sometimes hard to obtain in small quantities. The $5.99 price for the 10k resistors represents the price for 200 of them. Even so the plastic tube they came in is no bigger than my little finger. Although they're really tiny, I had little trouble handling them and mounting them with conventional equipment. It might not be a bad idea to substitute conventional resistors and capacitors of the appropriate values for the surface mount devices. Such substitutes can be found at any local electronics shop. There is no real space restriction to prevent you from using the more common (albeit much larger) parts. If by chance you have trouble finding the 6.8 uH rf choke, you may place a jumper from L7 to provide the necessary B+ to the IC's. Finally, The Fun Part Reassemble the modem and type ATI7 from your """"""""""""""""""""" favorite terminal program. The modem should respond with: ATI7 Configuration Profile... Product type External Options HST,V32 Clock Freq 16.0Mhz Eprom 64k Ram 32k Supervisor date 03/05/91 IOP date 10/11/90 DSP date 03/04/91 Supervisor rev 3.0 IOP rev 1.3 DSP rev 10 OK Did it work? Are you leaping with glee? Do I detect a tear of joy in your eye? I thought so. Congratulations. You've done a fine job. You may now be able to sell your modem for almost what you paid for it. Isn't that an enchanting thought? Thanks for coming along for the ride and have fun with your new dual standard. Testing There's only one command set option needed to enable the V.32bis """"""" handshaking. It's ATB0. Change this parameter and write it to NVRAM. From now on, your modem will attempt to negotiate a v.32bis connection with any modem it dials. If you call another dual standard, you will connect as a v.32bis, NOT HST. Therefore, you may want to change back to ATB1 when dialing duals. When dialing HST only modems, an HST connection will be made after a brief attempt at v32.bis. If you have trouble making a v32.bis connection, try dialing the GEnie 9600 line in your area. I've experienced no trouble connecting with GEnie at high speed. WHAT? It Doesn't Work? Here's some things to try if you didn't achieve """""""""""""""""""""" immediate success: If the modem is completely dead: Check the fuse. If it's blown, there's a reason why it blew. Don't just replace it and try it again. Try and find the cause of the trouble by looking for: 1) Shorts across leads of any capacitor. 2) IC's which may have been installed with incorrect orientation. 3) Globs of solder left from desoldering which may be shorting. 4) A broken trace in a part of the modem you shouldn't be touching in the first place. Remember, we're adding a new cicuit, not tampering with the old ones. If the modem lights up and echos back characters but doesn't show HST,V32 in the second line of the ATI7 response: 1) Type ATI2 from your terminal program. This checks the ram. you now have two banks of ram and should subsequently receive two OK's as a response. Like this: ATI2 OK OK If you receive the correct response, the trouble is not in your ram. If you do not recieve two OK's, make sure you have 35ns or faster static rams. 2) Did you remember to install L8? If you don't have a 6.8uh rf choke, did you install the jumper properly? The jumper should extend from the lead of L7 that is farthest from the edge of the modem to the through hole for L8 that is likewise, farthest from the edge. 3) Did you install the DSP correctly in it's socket? Remember, it does not face the same way as the existing DSP. 4) Did you make a parts substitution other than using convential instead of SMD resistors and capacitors? For example: Did you use 74LS541's instead of 74HCT541's? 5) Nearly all connections are made on the top side of the pcb. check the legs of the chips on the top side to verify the establishment of a good solder joint. 6) Also check for the items mentioned above in the "Completely Dead" section. Hopefully, any problems will be resolved using these methods. If not, have yourself a good long cry because you trashed a $600 modem and your wife will never let you buy another in a million years. She may even confiscate your tools to prevent you from destroying anything else around the house. (And we couldn't blame her one bit) Go ahead, get it out of your system. It's not good to keep that kind of emotional loss all bottled up. Okay, alright, enough of that. Get a grip on yourself. Take a couple deep breaths. Chant your mantra. Relax..... Just kidding. In reality, if you've exhausted every other option, leave me e-mail on GEnie and I'll try to bail you out but I can't be responsible for your actions or the quality of your work. Take your time when you do this upgrade. It's not a race. There is no prize for he who completes it the fastest. If you absolutley can't live without a modem for even one day (like me), do the desoldering one night and the soldering the next. It took me about 6-8 hours to do this, most of which was spent desoldering. Performance I'm a relative novice to v.32bis so I'm not sure how the """"""""""" modem should perform but I have noticed some shortcomings in the v.32bis type modulation. First of all, there is one bbs with which I have trouble making a connection. The problem is intermittent. Usually when I DO have the trouble the modem will hang up while negotiating error correction. As soon as the ARQ light comes on, I get a NO CARRIER. This doesn't happen all the time and only with that one bbs. (The Woodworks. Thanks, Tim) Secondly, the modem realizes cps rates around 1300 even though the result string indicates I'm connected at 14400/V32. With HST modulation, 1650 cps is typical. Even so, 1300cps is noticably faster than 280cps. (To say the least!) Other than that, I'm just ecstatic over the whole episode. Acknowledgements I didn't figure this out without help from others. """""""""""""""" Those who contributed know who they are and I wish to thank them sincerely. Thanks to Atari for making a computer for those of us without patience, money or a doctorate. To those who offered nothing but disinformation and discouragement, I still think you make the best modem in the world. With that said, I have no further axe to grind and nothing nice to say either, leaving me with no alternative but to terminate our little chat.... -Bill Yung ////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Wait a second, all these thanks and no bug reports?? There / / must be SOMEONE who had the patch program screw up for them. / / I didn't even have anyone beta test it! And I wrote it in / / assembly!! Maybe I'm starting to get the hang of this / / programming stuff after all... ;)) / //////////////////////////////////////////////// C.HARVEY //// [EOA] [LIB]////////////////////////////// THE ONLINE LIBRARY / ///////////////////////////////// Only The Best! """""""""""""" SYSOP'S PICKS The files in this list are, in the opinion of the seven """"""""""""" IBMPC Sysops, the best files in the IBMPC Roundtable as of September 12, 1992. Many of these programs are ones which we use every day. In the case of some of these files, if we didn't have them, we could hardly function! Please note that these files are constantly being updated and the actual name and number may change between the time this list is made and when you go to look for a particular file. If you can't find a file, try using the #3 "Search Directory" option, and specify a search string that contains part of the filename. For example, if you tried to download PKZ110.EXE, file #17862, and you got a "File is not in this library" message, you should try to search for PKZ. You might find that there is a PKZ200.EXE file with some other number that supercedes the old file. No. File Name Type Address YYMMDD Bytes Access Lib """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" GEnie Utilities """"""""""""""" 2???? LIBFILES.LZH X HOMCHICK 910622 417280 1 1 Desc: IBMPC Software Library directory listing in dbase format (^^^^ Updated every week. The number changes, but the name is the same.) 23569 LIBM_204.LZH X HOMCHICK 910623 143744 5 1 Desc: Program to search, sort, and list LIBFILES data off-line Archiving Programs """""""""""""""""" 23568 ARCE40C.EXE X HOMCHICK 910623 10368 4 1 Desc: Small, Fast ARC extractor (ARC files) 17862 PKZ110.EXE X C.BIEDA1 900322 154980 9676 1 Desc: Most popular file archiver! (ZIP files) 24249 LHA213.EXE X K.OKUBO 910802 44416 495 5 Desc: Free Japanese Archiver LHA.exe (LZH files) 23872 ZOO210.EXE X HOMCHICK 910713 55808 288 1 Desc: zoo archiver (ZOO files) new version compresses better Dos Utilities """"""""""""" 50 ERAQ.COM X HOMCHICK 851029 1260 163 5 Desc: delete program with "y/n ?" question 3498 CED10DA.ARC X DON-WILL 870228 35280 906 5 Desc: Fantastic DOS command-line editor 19391 CMDPST7.LZH X STROM 900729 252000 445 5 Desc: Command Post WIN3 program manager enhancement 21089 EZMENU36.ZIP X R.HARDIN 901231 167580 438 5 Desc: The BEST menu, according to PCMag. 26013 LIST76B.ZIP X H.GANS 911204 96256 152 5 Desc: Ultimate file viewer, navagator, dialer+more 25662 4DOS4D.ZIP X NJUDELL 911106 247168 64 4 Desc: documentation for 4dos4.0 25661 4DOS4P.ZIP X NJUDELL 911106 274688 72 4 Desc: Great Command.com replacement. Features galore. 21138 WHERE44B.ZIP X ORION.MICRO 910104 47880 194 5 Desc: Find files on your hard disk! 30169 CLEAN95C.ZIP X HOMCHICK 920907 153600 53 5 Desc: McAfee:Cleans infected files on disk 29860 SCAN95.ZIP X JACK-VAUGHN 920815 144384 434 5 Desc: SCAN for viruses from McAfee Associates 29859 NETSCN95.ZIP X JACK-VAUGHN 920815 134656 57 5 Desc: McAfee virus scan program for netwrk 30168 VSHLD95C.ZIP X HOMCHICK 920907 120320 45 5 Desc: TSR watches for virus infections - McAfee 22885 VCOPY.ZIP X R.FELTON 910502 41216 219 5 Desc: Replacement for COPY; won't copy infected files 28629 CONED28.ZIP X IASHKENES 920516 70784 290 5 Desc: Select autoexec and config configuration at boot 27513 HYDK431.ZIP X J.HOLTZ2 920308 271744 137 5 Desc: HyperDisk cache. Like SmartDrv; faster and with features+ 14481 SD62.ARC X MCAPPS 890606 118440 152 5 Desc: Super Directory Utility; will search arc/zip files, too 29948 SHEZ80.ZIP X J.DERR1 920821 238592 176 5 Desc: Menu program for all of the ARC/ZIP & etc programs 29038 SHEZ72.ZIP X J.DERR1 920618 192640 177 5 Desc: Menu program for all of the ARC/ZIP & etc programs 22234 PMK32.ZIP X STROM 910320 212940 122 5 Desc: Professional Masterkey, Norton-like tools Programmers Tools """"""""""""""""" 24925 QEDIT215.ZIP X A.BASTEN 910916 134784 167 5 Desc: QEdit 2.15 - Best Shareware Editor 5039 RES86.ARC X JAYMAYNARD 870614 52920 367 4 Desc: RESOURCE/86 interactive disassembler 25636 BOSS.INF X MONGELLUZZO 911104 5376 45 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - Quick Overview 29310 BOSS2H.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920709 30208 8 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - MSC 7.00 Files 27794 BOSS2G.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920324 31616 5 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - TopSpeed Library 27793 BOSS2F.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920324 32896 5 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - Zortech Library 27792 BOSS2E.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920324 87424 23 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - Borland Libraries 27791 BOSS2D.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920324 33664 5 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - Lattice Library 27873 BOSS2C.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920328 75904 5 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - Mix Power C Libs 27789 BOSS2B.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920324 31744 2 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - WATCOM Library 27748 BOSS2A.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920323 102400 25 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - MICROSOFT Libs 27747 BOSS03.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920323 76160 39 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - Reference Manual 27746 BOSS01.LZH X MONGELLUZZO 920323 165376 43 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - Support Files 27745 BOSS.INF X MONGELLUZZO 920323 5376 125 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - QUICK Overview 27744 BOSS.HST X MONGELLUZZO 920323 37632 33 9 Desc: The Window BOSS - Revision History 16359 TOASM30A.ZIP X R.BARTLETT 891125 35280 368 4 Desc: New version of ToAsm disassembler Communications Programs """"""""""""""""""""""" 22523 TLX315-1.ZIP X M.SHAW14 910407 157500 484 6 Desc: Telix comm program v3.15 (1 Of 3) 22524 TLX315-2.ZIP X M.SHAW14 910407 128520 463 6 Desc: Telix version 3.15 (2 of 3) 22525 TLX315-3.ZIP X M.SHAW14 910407 66780 434 6 Desc: Telix version 3.15 (3 of 3) 18761 TELEMATE.211 X M.BELL8 900602 13860 367 6 Desc: Information on Telemate 2.11 18762 TM211-1.ZIP X M.BELL8 900602 171360 393 6 Desc: Telemate 2.11 Comm Program (1 of 3) 18763 TM211-2.ZIP X M.BELL8 900602 233100 374 6 Desc: Telemate 2.11 Comm Program (2 of 3) 18764 TM211-3.ZIP X M.BELL8 900602 110880 382 6 Desc: Telemate 2.11 Comm Program (3 of 3) 28457 DSZ.ZIP X CAF 920503 91776 364 6 Desc: X/Y/ZMODEM Transfer PRGM from Zmodem author 28364 GSZ.ZIP X CAF 920427 112512 170 6 Desc: Graphics X/Y/ZMODEM Transfer PRGM from Zmodem author 23239 BOY5NEW.ZIP X MORTIMER 910529 6528 122 6 Desc: Description of new BOYAN 5.0 release 23315 B5INSTAL.ZIP X MORTIMER 910602 6912 71 6 Desc: BOYAN 5.0: Installation disk 23314 BOYAN5A.ZIP X MORTIMER 910602 184320 84 6 Desc: BOYAN 5.0: Program disk 23313 BOYAN5B.ZIP X MORTIMER 910602 136320 78 6 Desc: BOYAN 5.0 - Documentation Games """"" 5064 3-DEMON.ARC X D.BURG 870616 35280 1970 7 Desc: 3-D PAC Man. VERY GOOD!! 20296 DANGER30.ZIP X R.CARR7 901021 44100 615 7 Desc: *GREAT* FAST SCROLLING ARCADE GAME! 19756 POPCORN.ZIP X R.VANCE 900903 63000 251 7 Desc: Good Graphic Arkanoid clone from France 23578 NEKO11.ZIP X R.WALKER38 910624 18688 740 7 Desc: Neko for Win3 - Cat chases mouse pointer. Excellent! 26178 WNEKO.ZIP X R.LOVASCIO 911215 15104 347 7 Desc: Full desktop variation of 'Neko' Graphics """""""" 30204 CSHOWA.TXT X R.BERRY7 920911 10880 24 14 Desc: CompuShow program description 30203 CSHOWA.ZIP X R.BERRY7 920911 136832 68 14 Desc: Fast IBM graphics display GIF, more 29084 GRFWK61P.ZIP X ERROR.170 920621 357120 262 14 Desc: Graphics Workshop convert between graphic formats 29170 FRAIN172.ZIP X M.DORMAN2 920628 444032 92 14 Desc: Fractal Programs; Fast, Fascinating Miscellaneous """"""""""""" 17684 EZFF-10B.LZH X MAEDAE 900309 143640 276 3 Desc: EZ-Forms First - Free, no catches! 23394 EZFX30TD.ZIP X MAEDAE 910608 370176 5 3 Desc: EZ-Forms Exec v3.0 - Ultimate mgr!! 20817 TIMSET60.ZIP X C.BIEDA1 901211 99540 416 6 Desc: Set computer clock to Naval Obsevatory. 21363 LJ22.ZIP X J.DERR1 910116 16380 184 3 Desc: LaserJet print Utility 23270 WAMPDOC.ZIP X T.MALLERY1 910531 113920 33 3 Desc: Documentation to WAMPUM42.ZIP 23268 WAMPUM42.ZIP X T.MALLERY1 910531 229760 38 3 Desc: dBase3 compatible shareware database 22361 PCW304-1.LZH X K.WHITE6 910329 178920 55 3 Desc: PC-WRITE Word Processor DISK 1 OF 3 22363 PCW304-2.LZH X K.WHITE6 910329 258300 53 3 Desc: PC-WRITE Word Processor DISK 2 OF 3 22364 PCW304-3.LZH X K.WHITE6 910329 225540 46 3 Desc: PC-WRITE Word Processor DISK 3 OF 3 24464 ASA40U.ZIP X F.OROURKE 910817 250368 100 3 Desc: AsEasy 123 Compatible Shareware SpreadSheet ///////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Oooops. That's Mississippi. Guess I just can't stand / / redundancy. ;-)" / /////////////////////////////////////// D.A.BRUMLEVE //// [EOA]!!@ [MIC]////////////////////////////// MICE, BYTES AND IBM / ///////////////////////////////// Paper Chase """"""""""" By Richard Brown [R.BROWN30] >>> THE MYTH OF THE PAPERLESS OFFICE <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ Printers, Papers, and IBM's ~ PAPERLESS OFFICE? In light of "the paperless office", a lofty claim """"""""""""""""" often attributed to the personal computer, one can only chuckle upon seeing the profusion of new printer-specific papers constantly being offered to add to the mountains already printed. Dot matrix, daisy wheel, inkjet, bubblejet, laser, dye sublimation - printers exist in all shapes, speeds, sizes, and degrees of output quality, but all share an enormous appetite for paper. The quest remains to find the right or best paper for a particular printer or printing need. As a multiple printer user, I have encountered a large array of papers for printing on the various printing systems I use, including laser and ink jet systems. PREFACE I should note that my work is invariably desktop published, and """"""" therefore, my views stem from the critical nature of graphics-based printing. On a PostScript printer this is second nature: PostScript itself is a page description language based in large measure on graphic line and arc segments. Only very rarely do I use the internal fonts of a DeskJet or Bubblejet: they are far too few, far too inflexible, far too commonplace and usually inadequate to the task at hand. Moreover, if I were to need straight text output in a common face and point size, this is usually for 100 plus page documents, and I'm forced to use a laser printer for speed and the sake of sanity. Neither the DeskJet or Bubblejet are up to the task of _heavy_ print loads. Unless, of course, you have the time. Both machines require frequent reloading due to small feeder tray capacities, and you're lucky to get three pages per minute (ppm) output. Lasers start at 6 ppm. More interesting to me is the desire for world-class performance from printers like the DeskJet and Bubblejet. Such printing does not predicate itself upon speed. Rather it is the subtle distinctions in quality that count, so long, of course, that the printing itself is not akin to an ice age. On either the DJ or BJ, they are not. SO, ON TO THE PAPERS First, I've been using some excellent papers from """""""""""""""""""" Schoeller, which produces LaserEdge, a series of papers specific to ink jet and laser printing. Their many products include LaserEdge Lite, LaserEdge HR-10, 20, 60, and 65. HR-10 and HR-20 are specific to ink jet, while 60 and 65 are unique, resin-coated papers specific to laser printers. I can attest to the superior nature of these papers, having thought my NEC LC890 was more a paperweight than a printer until trying HR-60 and HR-65, wherein the print quality jumped a substantial degree. On the DeskJet 500C printing to the HR-10 and 20 is equally impressive. I did meet a rep and saw some papers in development, some for the DJ that are nothing short of astounding. The quality, as the rep explained through microphotographic side-views of printed DJ samples, comes from specially developed emulsions (like the resin coating) that improve DJ output by virtually eliminating capillary bleed and soak-in problems. For _color_ printing on the DeskJet 500C, Hewlett Packard's own paper, CX JetSeries CutSheet Paper model HP51630Y (formerly called Paintjet Paper). Like the LaserEdge offerings, HP's paper appears to share the concept of special coatings to ensure print quality, and as such, there is a right and wrong way to load the paper. It is impossible to confuse which "side is up" as HP has provided a light gray arrow above three light gray stripes printed on the top right corner of the _back_ side of the page. You should load the paper with this arrow visible. Remember, the DeskJet turns the paper from the fee tray around as it loads, thus putting the arrow on the _back_ side, out of view. Though not as bright white as LaserEdge, HP51630Y provides a nearly matchless print quality no matter how many colors are laid down in whatever density from the color cartridge. When printing large areas of black, which burns a lot of ink, some warpage will appear, especially as viewed from the reverse side, but it is not severe and entails no bleeding or capillary effect. Unfortunately, this paper is by far the most expensive for common use papers at about seven cents a sheet. Interestingly, HP51630Y behaves horribly with the DeskJet's BLACK cartridge, producing some of the most notable ink bleeding problems imaginable. This is a _color only_ paper. Black ink printing with the DeskJet can be performed on many different papers with varying degrees of success. For instance, in addition to the superb LaserEdge papers previously mentioned, Southworth Watermark Bond Electronic Paper, heavy weight, comes in a variety of colors and claims to be ideal for many printers, including the DeskJet. My tests have found this to be true for the 500C as well as the various laser devices. This is an elegant paper, designed for serious correspondence or presentations. Many a resume has gone out on this fine paper, which, although reminiscent of the luxury of a Classic Laid, offers a smooth finish, not sharing the rough texture of a Laid. Matching envelopes exist to make the Southworth product a standout among papers. At first look, however, Southworth Watermark appears a likely candidate to suffer from bleed and capillary action when printing with a jet printer, like the DeskJet or Bubblejet, but it holds up very well, evidencing only the slightest problems in these areas. The average viewer would most likely miss it entirely. In speaking of the two leading jet printers, Hewlett Packard and Canon have taken distinctive approaches to the problem. The Canon Bubblejet printer uses an entirely different ink formulation from the DeskJet, and as a true 360 dpi device, it would be a shame to throw away this leading technology on an inferior paper. Capillary action and general bleed problems have to be avoided. In the same way that LaserEdge HR-10 and HR-20 maximize the look of DeskJet output, the ink formulation within the Bubblejet family has a "best case" paper in Strathmore Legacy Pen Plotter Paper, Product Number 01-075. This is the second most expensive paper I use for common printing needs, at something over three cents a sheet. I wouldn't feed the BJ anything else unless it was for effect (colored paper, cut up grocery bags - all kinds of things can be printed upon without a hitch). Strathmore Legacy Pen Plotter Paper may be hard to find, but generally can be ordered wherever Strathmore products are carried. I waited three days for my last order. Unlike most papers, pen plotter paper only comes in a 250 sheet quantity. In addition, this 24 pound bright white paper requires a little more drying time in that the 360 dpi ink flow rests _on top_ of the sheet, eventually feeling almost like the fused carbon of a laser printed page. Drying time is a factor in that the BJ claims an "instant-drying" ink formula, but with Pen Plotter paper, it is possible to cause a smear if handled too soon, thus ruining the page. This is the price of quality. The total absence of bleed and capillary action associated with Legacy Pen Plotter Paper sets the Bubblejet output apart in the jet printer category as the high definition winner. It is simply not possible to compare the Bubblejet with the DeskJet: 360 dpi represents 144% greater resolution than 300 dpi, and is easily seen in the clarity of small type and fine lines, not to mention an improvement in halftones. While a cheaper paper may make the Bubblejet's output look not unlike the DeskJet's, using this high end paper may truly fool many into thinking the Bubblejet is actually a laser printer, a feat promised, but never delivered in HP's offering. I have spent some time arguing this point online and off, finding the "DeskJet Camp" an interesting phenomenon much akin to the "IBM? <, =, or > Atari? Debate". My experience has spanned a solid half-dozen DeskJets, from the Plus to the 500C, an equal number of Bubblejets, including the "slow" portables to the ultra fast table models and, again, just as many laser printers from 300 to 3000 dpi. Personally, I currently own an AST Turbo Laser (300 dpi with true blacks), and NEC LC890 laser (300 dpi with no blacks), a DeskJet 500C (300 dpi in color or black ink), a Canon BJ-10e (360 dpi in black ink only), and a Toshiba P321 (360 dpi 24 pin dot matrix that pales to either the DeskJet or Bubblejet). I also regularly use a NewGen RISC-based PostScript compatible device: an amazing printer- 400 dpi, rich, even blacks, good halftones, crisp type and under $2,000. My high-end work is created on Birmy and Linotronics imagesetters (to 3,000 dpi) with some proofing on the Seiko Colorpointe. In short, experience guides my commentary, not opinion or allegiance. For travel, I bring the Canon (it's portable!), and find that in both desert-like low humidity climates as well as high humidity areas (20-100% range), the BJ prints identically, especially with Legacy Pen Plotter Paper. No wonder both IBM and Apple "borrow" Bubblejet technology for their new printer lineups. One IBM model even looks like a BJ-10e, inclusive of identical upright operation, tilt-back paper feeder, and top right control buttons. Like all things IBM, the minimalism of the original BJ is lost, and the "clone thing" has bulked up the appearance and weight. The question remains: is it as good? After all, they perpetrated OS/2... I've tried perhaps 20 or 30 different papers on the HP, but have never been able to mix its output directly with laser printed pages, a regular occurrence with Bubblejet output. At its best, the HP is very good, and totally acceptable for most purposes, and of all the printers I generally use, probably the easiest when it comes to printing envelopes. As an exception to the "no mixing with laser rule", I have been able to mix DJ output into a BJ and laser document, but only when using LaserEdge, and only when all the DJ pages are in a row, with no BJ or laser pages intermixed. By eliminating direct A-B comparisons, many people will breeze right through a document, never knowing they are seeing laser, Bubblejet, and DeskJet output in combination. Obviously, in the case above, the document has been photocopied so that all pages are on the same type of paper. Anyone would notice the vast differences in paper weights and finishes, and base colors (why is HP color paper not white?) if one were to submit LaserEdge, HP6130Y, Pen Plotter, and Hammermill long grain laser paper all in the same document. REALITY CHECK Of course, all jet printers look fine when viewed without """"""""""""" comparison to other machines or other papers, but if quality is what you're after, definitely choose the right paper for the job. More than the Bubblejet, the DeskJet _needs_ optimal papers to attain best quality. ** Hint: the DeskJet also does require a certain amount of maintenance on the part of the user. With power off, open the lid of the printer and slide the cartridge assembly away from the "home" or right side of the carriage. Once removed, you will see a rubber "boot" underneath where the cartridge had been. DeskJet cartridges are known to deposit ink on this rubber boot (although I could steer you to many, many people who say this never happens). But, on that rare occassion, when you do see problems in your printouts, especially things like white bands where no ink has been deposited, sometimes ruining your text, CLEAN THE BOOT. Use a Q-Tip, warm, soapy water, and your common sense. Make sure you leave no new deposits or fuzz. This will often clear up a maddening problem: it is a puzzlement why HP fails to include this tip in the manual. If this does not improve your printouts, the cartridge may have dried ink clogging the nozzles (this never happens, too, as I've been told time and again). Make sure you store your cartridges in a humidified condition. Dried ink in the nozzles is reportedly curable through soaking the nozzles (not the whole cartridge) in soapy water (sometimes for days), blotting occasionally, then FULLY drying before actual use. In the case of the color cartridge, be sure, upon blotting, that all three colors flow evenly. I myself have not tried this, but have heard it works. I make no warranties toward possible failure or success in using this procedure, only that it may be a less painful alternative to throwing a cartridge away, something I _have_ done in using the 500C. A FINAL LOOK AT PAPERS For ordinary "throw away" or "office use" """""""""""""""""""""" purposes, all the printers will fare well on basic cheap bond papers like Xerox 4200, which is usually a fraction of a penny a sheet. Laser printers like to be fed the good stuff when possible, like the amazingly slippery (really) LaserEdge Lite, a paper designed to maximize laser performance. Recently, a client even opted to send a LaserEdge Lite / NewGen 400 dpi output as camera-ready copy for a magazine ad rather than sending out for an expensive 1200 dpi imagesetter version. Cheaper papers, like the aforementioned Hammermill long grain, is mid- priced with a bright base white, yielding good contrast and quality for laser printing. Gilbert Neu-Tech is another medium priced choice the serves quite well in laser printing. Well, that about does it. This has been a brief overview of the many, many papers available for your computing output needs. Of course, this is really just the tip of the iceberg. There are probably 40 different papers I'm currently using for regular and specialized work. Maybe more on those later. 'Til the next... [EOA] [ADD]////////////////////////////// ADD ALADDIN! / ///////////////////////////////// Cut & Paste Scripts For Aladdin """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" by Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] >>> LOG ONTO GEnie VIA SPRINTNET <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" TURBO-ALADDIN! The following script will allow Aladdin to log onto GEnie """""""""""""" using SprintNet. ~ cut here ~ Script # SprintNet Logon Echo off hhh off Sendline "ATZ" <== ENTER MODEM INIT STRING Waitfor "OK" :dial Pause 1 Sendline "ATX4DT ###-####" <== ENTER "ATX4 SprintNet #" pause 1 waitfor "^M" waitfor "^M" if currentlinehas "NO" goto dial endif if currentlinehas "BUSY" goto dial endif pause 1 waitfordata stop pause 2 send "@" <== change to "^M" for 300/1200 baud nodes pause 1 send "H" pause 1 send "^M" waitfor "TERMINAL=" pause 1 sendline "D1" waitfor "@" pause 1 sendline "C GENIE" EndScript ~ cut here ~ >>> HOW TO ADD THIS SCRIPT TO ALADDIN <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Installing The Script First of all, you will need to separate this """"""""""""""""""""" script from this article. To do this, just load this article into any word processor or text editor, and cut or block this script file out to it's own separate file and save it as SCRIPT.TXT. Place SCRIPT.TXT into your Aladdin directory (folder). Your script file will now automatically load in when you boot up Aladdin. IMPORTANT! If you are already running one or more script files, you will """""""""" need to append this file to the end of your present SCRIPT.TXT. To do this in... PC ALADDIN """""""""" o At Aladdin's main menu, call up an available script, or overwrite an existing script: [F7,A] -to use an available script entry [F7,E,n] -to edit a script already used (n is the number of the script) o Make note of the script number in the script editor. o Use CTRL-Y to delete ALL the current text lines in the script editor. o Use CTRL-K,R to read the script file into the script editor. [CTRL-K,R,,ENTER] o Change the # in the line SCRIPT # to reflect the script number you've previously noted, the line would like like this: Script 4 SprintNet Logon o ESC to save AMI/ST ALADDIN """""""""""""" o Under the "File" menu, click on the "Edit User Script" option. This will load in your current script file. o Position the cursor at the end of your script file. Now, using the "Paste File" option under "Edit" add the new script file. o Change the # in the line SCRIPT # to reflect the script number you've previously noted. For example, if you have already installed 3 files, the line would like like this: Script 4 SprintNet Logon o ESC to save >>> HOW TO USE THIS SCRIPT <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Using The Script The first thing you need to do is edit the script so it """""""""""""""" contains the SprintNet phone number to dial. You can find the SprintNet numbers by typing *PHONE at any GEnie prompt. The script will run up until receiving the U#= prompt from GEnie. Aladdin will then then send the userid,password stored in the configuration and continue as usual. PC ALADDIN """""""""" To use this autologin script, just start Aladdin with the /LS# switch, where # is replaced with the actual script number. Example: ALADDIN /LS3 /MR or ALAD /CLOCK /LS9 AMI/ST ALADDIN """""""""""""" Add AUTO after SCRIPT on the first line of the script, like this: Script Auto 4 SprintNet Logon [EOA] [ELS]////////////////////////////// ELSEWHERE / ///////////////////////////////// Connecting The World """""""""""""""""""" by Chris Carpenter [C.CARPENTER3] >>> THE BBS ROUNDTABLE <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ Connecting the World ~ Page 610 What's the difference between a local bulletin board (BBS) and GEnie? Only size and accessibility of GEnie which allows real time interaction between many users at the same time. Now local BBS SysOps (as well as anyone aspiring to possibly be a SysOp) have a place to talk, leave messages or exchange files on GEnie. It's the BBS Roundtable, page 610 and although it has been around for quite a while it's being given a facelift, the cobwebs are being swept away and Real Time Conferences (RTC's) are starting up again every Thursday night at 7:00 o'clock PT. The newly appointed, helpful SysOps in this RT are: Leonard Reed (BIBLIA), Chief SysOp Dave Cole (MACLAMP), Macintosh SysOp Tony Newman (UHH.CLEM), PC/Clone and CP/M SysOp Chris Carpenter (C.CARPENTER3), Atari SysOp So if you are an active SysOp or an aspiring SysOp wanting to know more about what running a BBS entails...stop by and read some messages or leave a message of your own, check out the BBS related files for your particular computer (upload some if you think they'll help someone else) and be sure to show up on Thursday nights for the RTC's which focus on a different computer platform each week. You can talk with the SysOp's, all of which have experience with local BBS's, or with other folks who might stop in like you and have just the answer you've been looking for or might need an answer that you can give...and after awhile every RTC turns into a simple social affair where you can just talk with other people sharing the same interests. The BBS RT is once again growing and all of the SysOps extend an invitation to everyone to come by and discover an online community with similar interests, mainly 'Connecting the World' through BBS's. We hope to make this the most active area on GEnie but it's up to you...by using this resource that is available to you and contributing when you can. With your help we hope to establish a service on GEnie that will represent the best storehouse of BBS information and related files in the world, and one of the few places in the world where you can talk to others with similar interests without leaving the comfort of your home. [EOA] [LOG]////////////////////////////// LOG OFF / ///////////////////////////////// GEnieLamp Information """""""""""""""""""""" o COMMENTS: Contacting GEnieLamp o GEnieLamp STAFF: Who Are We? o GET_THE_LAMP Scripts & Macros o SEARCH-ME! Answers GEnieLamp GEnieLamp is monthly online magazine published in the """"""""" GEnieLamp RoundTable on page 515. You can also find GEnieLamp in the ST (475), the Macintosh (605), the IBM (615) Apple II (645), A2Pro (530), Unix (160), Mac Pro (480), A2 Pro (530) Geoworks (1050), BBS (610) CE Software (1005) and the Mini/Mainframe (1145) RoundTables. GEnieLamp can also be found on CrossNet, (soon) Internet America Online and many public and commercial BBS systems worldwide. We welcome and respond to all GEmail.To leave messages, suggestions or just to say hi, you can contact us in the GEnieLamp RoundTable (515) or at the following GE Mail addresses: o John F. Peters [GENIELAMP] Senior Editor/RoundTable SysOp o Kent Fillmore [DRACO] Publisher/GEnie Product Manager U.S. MAIL """"""""" GEnieLamp Online Magazine Atten: John Peters 5102 Galley Rd. Suite 115/B Colorado Springs, CO 80915 GEnieLamp STAFF """""""""""""""" ATARI ST o John Gniewkowski [J.GNIEWKOWSK] ST Editor """""""" o David Holmes [D.HOLMES14] ST TX2 Editor o Fred Koch [F.KOCH] GEnieLamp [PR] Editor o Mel Motogawa [M.MOTOGAWA] ST Staff Writer o Terry Quinn [TQUINN] ST Staff Writer o Sheldon Winick [S.WINICK] ST Staff Writer o Richard Brown [R.BROWN30] ST Staff Writer o John Hoffman [JLHOFFMAN] ST Staff Writer IBM o Peter Bogert [P.BOGERT1] IBM Editor """ o Mark Quinn [M.QUINN3] IBM Co-Editor o Mark Dodge [M.DODGE2] IBM Staff Writer o Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] IBM Staff Writer MACINTOSH o James Flanagan [J.FLANAGAN4] MAC Editor """"""""" o Richard Vega [R.VEGA] MAC Co-Editor o Tom Trinko [T.TRINKO] MAC Staff Writer o Bret Fledderjohn [FLEDDERJOHN] MAC Staff Writer o Erik C. Thauvin [MACSPECT] Technical Consultant APPLE II o Tom Schmitz [TOM.SCHMITZ] A2 Editor """""""" o Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] A2 Co-Editor o Mel Fowler [MELSOFT] A2 Staff Writer ELSEWHERE o Brian Bradley [TRS-ASST] Staff Writer """"""""" o Jeffry Dwight [JEFFREY] Staff Writer ETC. o Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] Add Aladdin """" o Scott Garrigus [S.GARRIGUS] Search-ME! CROSS-NET o Bruce Faulkner [R.FAULKNER4] BBS SysOp """"""""" GEnieLamp CONTRIBUTORS """""""""""""""""""""" o Mike White [M.WHITE25] o Bill Yung [W.YUNG1] o Scott Garrigus [S.GARRIGUS] o Pat Hart [P.HART1] o Paul Sadowski [LOONEY.TUNES] o Joe Kohn [J.KOHN] o Steven Weyhrich [S.WEYHRICH] o Darrel Raines [D.RAINES] o Chris Carpenter [C.CARPENTER3] o Bill Garrett [BILL.GARRETT] "GET_THE_LAMP" SCRIPTS NOW ONLINE GEnieLamp scripts are now available for """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" our IBM, Atari ST and Microphone II/White Knight Macintosh readers. These script files will allow you to download all the issues, or just the issues you want. As an added plus, you can also have Aladdin grab the latest copy of GEnieLamp while you sleep. Where can you Get_The_Lamp script? You'll find the Aladdin scripts in the GEnieLamp RT, [m515], Aladdin ST RT, [m1000] and the PCAladdin RT, [m110]. The Macintosh macros for White Knight and Microphone II are available in the GEnieLamp RT [m515], the Mac RT [m605] and the Freesoft RT [m585]. Search for LAMP to find the latest version. --> Get_The_Lamp. Scripts and macros make it easy! <-- SEARCH-ME! ANSWERS """""""""""""""""" + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + A + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + F + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + G + + + + + + G + + + + + + + + + + + + + + O T N I R P + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + T + + + + + + + + + + + + T + + + + + + + + O + + + + + + + + + + + + + X + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + T + + + + + + E + + C + + + + + + + + + + S F + N + + + + + N + + O + + + + + + + + + + O + + + A + + C + + L + M + A S S E M B L Y R I + + M + T I + + R O + P + W + + + + + + + + B + E + + S S + + E O + I + R + + + + + + + + + M + + A G + N + A P + L E I + + + + + + + + O + + B O + + + O D + + E V T + + + + + + + R + + + S + + + Y + C + + L O E + + + + + + Y + + + U + G + + A + + + A + M + + + + + + + + + + B S O D E + R + + C + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + M R + S + + + + V A R I A B L E + + + + + + + + A A + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + P + + + + + + \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// Material published in this edition may be reprinted under the following terms only. All articles must remain unedited and include the issue number and author at the top of each article reprinted. Reprint permission granted, unless otherwise noted, to registered computer user groups and not for profit publications. Opinions present herein are those of the individual authors and does not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or staff of GEnieLamp. We reserve the right to edit all letters and copy. Material published in this edition may be reprinted only with the following notice intact: \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// (c) Copyright 1992 T/TalkNET OnLine Publishing, GEnie, and the GEnie Computing RoundTables. To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 1-800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH. Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99368,GENIE and hit RETURN. The system will then prompt you for your information. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// [EOF]