HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Jim_Johnson@abcd.Houghton.MI.US (Jim Johnson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: REPLY
Distribution: world
Date: 27 Jul 92 15:04:00 EST
Organization: Amiga BitSwap Central Dispatch


 HH> Another unpleasant "feature"
 HH> (IMHO) is a leftover from the ATARI 40-column printer days.  If you
 HH> send
 HH> ANY character after a RETURN, the P: handler will pad it out to 40
 HH> spaces!  Very annoying for a program I was writing... I couldn't get
 HH> around it at the OS level.

 HH>    --Michael

 HH> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 HH> ---------
 HH> Michael Hill   <><  Isaiah 9:6 | "Outside your door He is waiting,
 HH> waiting for
 HH> hill@spot.Colorado.EDU         |  you/ Sooner or later you know He's

Its been awhile, but it is my understanding that ANY of the device drivers
built into the Atari OS can be replaced by the user (well, the program used
by the user anyhow).  The device table is read from the bottom up for the
first occurence of the device name and the vector to the handler.  To get
around the buffer padding for the printer will require you to write your
own P: handler and install its vector in the device (handler) table.  Since
the OS will take the first matching vector it comes to, the replacement P:
handler would be used rather than the one built into the OS ROM.  A fair
example of building your own printer handler is the G: driver published
some years ago in ANALOG. (You are right though that the 155<->13
translation happens in the printer adapter hardware and cannot be
controlled by the P: handler).

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995

Jim Johnson-
*** Remember, they're only tools - Not a way of life! ***
Organization: Computing Technology Services, Michigan Technological Univ.
Date: Monday, 27 Jul 1992 16:31:10 EST
From: Jeff McWilliams <JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Pirated software

Jerry,


Your "try before you buy" method may seem to be a legitimate reason for
obtaining copyrighted software, but unfortunately it's a rule that gets abused
I think more often than not.  There was a time when a company existed where you
could rent Atari software.  I think it was based out in California.  For a
small fee, then would send you the disk and a XEROX of the docs (so that you
don't destroy their originals).
My brother did this, and quite cheaply obtained his own pirated copies
of 4 or 5 programs.  Ideally, I am sure the business was set up so that
you could try the software, and then if you really like it, you buy
a version for yourself.  But since it's so easy to abuse such a practice,
it was, from my direct experience anyway.

Further, if you would allow me to push the reality envelope a little wider
than usual, who says what the trial time for a piece of software is?
One week, two weeks, a month?  If you're buying an arcade game, you could
very easily solve that game in the alotted trial time, and then you would have
no incentive to purchase the program.  In such a case, you can't really
say the program was bad, because it did provide you the entertainment
that the company promised it would provide.  But all of a sudden you've found
a somewhat legitimate excuse for not buying that program.  Or, if everyone
"borrowed" the program on a trial basis, a company could go out of business
waiting for people to decide whether or not to purchase the thing.

Invoking a "try before you buy" enters you into a horribly grey area,
where many things can happen, from honest people actually purchasing the
software they like, and discarding the software they don't, to people
coming up with reasons to keep the trial program while not purchasing
the real product.

Not to flame you of course, just to point out some negative aspects of
the theory.  It would be great if everyone had a dealer or user group
near them, because then the "Try before you buy" rule could be carried out
in the store or at a meeting.  You go and see the product, maybe play a quick
game or look at an application's features quickly, and if you like it, you
but it, and if you don't like it, you don't.  There would be no piracy involved
either way.
Unfortunately, everyone knows dealers aren't to be found, and even user
groups are getting scarce.

That's where product reviews come in.  It's supposed to be the job of the
product reviewer to explain as clearly as possible how the product works,
what is good and bad about it, etcetera, so that from that review you can
make a purchase decision without having to resort to obtaining a pirated
copy simply for trial purposes.  Hopefully, within the next several
months, you will see the emergence of Atari Classics, and be able to look
forward to well written reviews of software and hardware for your computer.


Jeff McWilliams
jjmcwill@mtus5.cts.mtu.edu
From: bantolph@carina.unm.edu (Bard's are the Best)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Modem Software for 8bit
Date: 28 Jul 92 01:26:31 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque


	I recently picked up an Atari SX212 modem for my ST and i hve
been wanting to use it on my 8bit. Can anybody reccomend some software
for use on the old 800.

				Thanks

                                     
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
From: hill@spot.Colorado.EDU (Michael Hill)
Subject: Re: Old software
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 23:50:14 GMT

In article <1992Jul24.195917.26248@microsoft.com> darekm@microsoft.com (Darek Mihocka) writes:

[long, ranting diatribe deleted]
>
>And give me a break. You 8-bit users are all pirates anyway, even though
>only Jeff here will admit it in public. You want me to believe that
>your typical Joe 6 Pack Atari user will be able to _only_ pirate software
>that is no longer in production and refrain from pirating software
>that is. Like your average user will _know_ which software it's "ok" to
>pirate and which it isn't.
>
>BULL****!!!! You are a complete disgrace to the Atari community. I hope
>you not only get sued by every 8-bit software developer past and present
>but that you lose your net privilidges as well. You're also pretty stupid.
>By blatantly offering your piracy services in public, you're opening yourself
>for all sorts of trouble. Moron.
>
>- Darek

Shut up, you stupid pussy.  Your crappy article only served to reinforce
the opinion I'd already formed of you based on your previous posts - that
of an immature whiner.  You can't even be bothered to stick with the
ATARI market, so why don't you butt out and stay away from our newsgroups
- especially the 8-bit one, where you have no apparent business?  Unless
you can come up with something worthwhile to offer us, instead of bi-
monthly whine articles, you're not welcome here!  Go away, little boy.

	--Michael "You're gonna buy more software from the idiots
		who brought you messy-dog and EDLIN??!!" Hill

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Hill   <><  Isaiah 9:6 | "Don't you forget now that Somebody died for
hill@spot.Colorado.EDU         |  you/ I'm tellin' you the truth, man, I ain't
Ball Aerospace Systems Group & |  gonna lie to you/ Good guys, bad boys, we're
University of Colorado@Boulder |  all the same/ Saved by grace is the name of
$ mv net.flames /dev/null      |  the game."            --Allies, "Burden Down"
-------------------------My boss is a Jewish carpenter!------------------------
Did you ever notice that everybody in favor of abortion has already been born?!
From: un035513@wvnvms.wvnet.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Dead 1050 :-(
Date: 21 Jul 92 21:48:43 GMT
Organization: West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing

In article <1992Jul18.210637.28673@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>, crow@coos.dartmouth.edu (Preston F. Crow) writes:
> I was just in the process of copying my old floppies to my PC's hard drive
> (SIO2PC is wonderful!), when my 1050 decided to give up.  Now it just sits
> there and turns on it's light occasionally and makes funny noises.  I
> opened it up and it seems that the stepper motor is no longer attached to
> the read-write heads.  Has anyone had any experience with fixing this sort
> of problem?
> 
> --PC
> 
> P.S.  In case there were different drive assemblies packages as 1050's,
> mine is a Tandon TM50.
> 
> --
> Looking for exciting/unusual/dynamic .sig quotes...

My 1050 gave up on me two weeks ago after 7 years of trouble free service.  Not
wanting to pay $65+ to get it fixed by a repair shop I ordered some chips from
American T.V. and fixed the prob myself.  The chip that went bum was the
CO10745 1050 CPU chip.  Could be the problem with yours.

	A.Centofanti
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
From: trek@cbnewse.cb.att.com (wayne.a.booth)
Subject: Re: Piracy discussions always miss this point
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 14:33:15 GMT

One issue I have not seen discussed in regards to pirating
software is the harm that it does to the original purchasers of
the software who, for whatever reason, decide they would like to
sell their collection.  (Yes, I know some software has
non-transferrable licenses but most, especially the games, don't
have that restriction.)

With piracy rife, the amount the seller will get for his or her
software is negligible.  If piracy were not occurring, then the
free market place would set that price for the software that had
made it into user's hands.  The price for some coveted software
may actually go up in value.  When the prices rise high enough,
the software will become available, believe me.

It is this aspect of computers that has helped me to become somewhat
disillusioned with "home computing".  It is the fact that if I have
made a purchase and been dissatisfied, my chances of redeeming any
of my original costs through selling the items second hand are
hurt by piracy that leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

My future inability to sell off a computer system - and more
importantly - its software, which usually cost more than the
hardware, that will keep me clinging to a computer system to
which I have little interest in instead of upgrading to a newer
computer system.  It is also that aspect which makes me consider
a computer purchase for so long before taking the final plunge.
I figure the expenses of the hardware and software are mostly
money down the drain with little resale value - so I am unwilling
to pay much for either software or hardware.  When you buy a
computer, that feeling of imprisonment begins.

(Talk about slowing down trade - and yes, I know that it is the
exchange of money for goods that keeps an economy humming so my
actions, partially due to pirating, are probably partially -or
believing our current candidates for office - completely
responsible for the current economic downturn.  Durn.)

					Wayne Booth
(Thoughts expressed are obviously my opinion only since they
have not appeared elsewhere in the discussion.  I take full
responsibility for them.)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
From: bbs@neb (BBS System)
Subject: Hard drive files
Organization: Nebula BBS - Salt Lake City Utah, USA
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 20:16:15 GMT

How do you get an executable DISK program to run/copy/load from a hard
drive partition? I use the old Supra Interface, and I know of no way to
do such a thing - save formatting my drive1 (fake floppy partiition on
my HD) and undiscomming the program to drive1...
-----
Posted by BBS User: James King
From: c3460350@fsu1.cc.fsu.edu (C3460350)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Microsoft BASIC II
Date: 23 Jul 92 17:07:15 GMT
Reply-To: c3460350@fsu1.cc.fsu.edu
Organization: Beer and More Beer...
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4

Hey All..

	I have Microsoft BASIC II.  I had the accompaning disk when
	I bought it (BASIC II) years and years ago.  When I lost
	my software (long story..), I lost that disk also.  Does
	anyone have a copy?  If so, Could I get a copy of it.  I
	know that is illegal, BUT I did buy the darn thing, but 
	just lost it.  Anyway I do not think anyone is going to 
	come to my house. bust down the door, for copied software
	for my atari.  (They would come first for my PC software!)

	Thanx in adavce!

	Scott B.
	C3460350 @ FSU1.CC.FSU.EDU

	  |||
	  |||
	 / | \
	/  |  \ atari(s) will never die, only look that way...
From: talmage@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Mike Clemmons)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: ** 100+ Atari 8bit/ST/IBM items (XE/PS/Mega/STE/monitors) **
Date: 27 Jul 92 21:02:44 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center

i have for sale the following:

130xe with memory upgraded to 360k
1050 disk drive with the happy chip
multi i/o  (half a meg)
Action Cart
Basic XE cart
Spartados X cart
Mac/65 Cart
plus many software titles that include things like MULE>

best offers only.

michael
.
From: hill@spot.Colorado.EDU (Michael Hill)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Origins of the ATARI OS (Rev. A)
Date: 29 Jul 92 01:04:27 GMT
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder

In article <9207281422.AA11174@brachot.jct.ac.il> bruck@BRACHOT.JCT.AC.IL (Itay Chamie1) writes:
>Alot of times I ask myself the question: How was the Rev A OS written? I mean,
>the Atari assembler wasn't out yet, so did they use calculators? And how was
>Rev A BASIC created? And how was the Atari Assemler/Editor written?
>Were all the Rev A bugs (both in the OS and in BASIC) there just because they
>were written in unreliable ways? (not using an assembler?)
>                                                                -Itay

The operating system was cross-compiled from a mainframe (can't remember
which one, and I haven't been able to find my ATARI Technical Reference
Manual in about a year!  :^(  ).  I don't know about BASIC and A/E, but
I'd hate to think they were (as a nasty rumor states) written on a
Crapple II!  <shudder>  ;^)

As for why the bugs were there, I'd guess that they weren't field-tested
for months on end before release, which is what it usually takes for a
large number of bugs to appear.

	--Michael "contributing to one of my favorite net.groups" Hill

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Hill   <><  Isaiah 9:6 | "Don't you forget now that Somebody died for
hill@spot.Colorado.EDU         |  you/ I'm tellin' you the truth, man, I ain't
Ball Aerospace Systems Group & |  gonna lie to you/ Good guys, bad boys, we're
University of Colorado@Boulder |  all the same/ Saved by grace is the name of
$ mv net.flames /dev/null      |  the game."            --Allies, "Burden Down"
-------------------------My boss is a Jewish carpenter!------------------------
Did you ever notice that everybody in favor of abortion has already been born?!
Organization: Computing Technology Services, Michigan Technological Univ.
Date: Saturday, 25 Jul 1992 17:07:29 EST
From: Jeff McWilliams <JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Hardware Questions
Distribution: world

Tom ,


Hmmm, interesting.  Okay, I will have to continue to look into this.
I have the Tech Ref notes, and am getting a SAMS manual for the XL from
a generous soul here on the Internet.

Roger on the 56 connector cards, Dataque's T816 board uses a 50 pin
connector which allows you to plug in memory cards, etc to it.
I have a 256K SRAM card and a clock card, but would like to prototype
my own stuff someday on it, by plugging a prototyping board into
the cable as well.  That way I could fool with other things on it.

For that reason, modifying a 56 cond. board wouldn't be too much hassle.

Thanks!


Jeff
From: moon!cyberden!phbill@well.sf.ca.us
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Classic Atari Cartridges
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 92 20:21:16 PDT
Organization: Indescribable Creations

Here are 3 more carts. to add to your list, Kevin:

CZ-003-04   Activision    Mega Mania    (I THINK that's its ID #?)
DLD-AT      Spinnaker     Delta Drawing Learning Program (ID???)
??????????  Parker Bros.  Q*Bert

I hope everyone else out there helps add to this list as well..  I'm 
really interested to see the final (!?) results...

    "Be seeing you!"
Say|____________9_year_veteran_ ||| __
Hi |PhBill: Bill Kendrick      / | \
if |moon!cyberden!phbill@well.sf.ca.us
in |__________________________________
NJ!|                     July 25, 1992
From: graham@gamera.hri.com (Ed Graham)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: WANTED:1050 or compat. cheap!
Date: 24 Jul 92 17:49:44 GMT
Reply-To: graham@hri.com
Organization: Horizon Research, Inc.

If you have a 1050 or compatible drive and would
like to sell it cheap, please let me know.  I just 
traded for an atari 400 and would rather not invest
to much money into it.

Ed.
From: tgreen@iastate.edu (Todd Greenfield)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: sio2pc file utility uploaded to archive
Date: 23 Jul 92 18:08:03 GMT
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA

I finally got around to putting my sio2pc file utility
program on the archive.  It's actually not quite done
yet, but it is usable.  The files are s2pc.exe (ibm executable),
and s2pc.txt (ascii text description).  It works for mydos and
atari dos disk images. 

If you use it, I'd like to hear for you - any problems, suggestions,
or whatever.  It's free, but if you feel you must, I'll accept
donations :-)

Todd
-- 
Todd Greenfield
tgreen@iastate.edu 
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
From: ab588@yfn.ysu.edu (joseph sabatino)
Subject: Re: SDX Users?
Organization: Youngstown State University/Youngstown Free-Net
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 01:33:18 GMT


I have all versions of Sparta from 1.0 to SDX 4.2. I use everyday
Sparta 3.2d and SDX ONLY.  I am interested in use and development.
I have 3 USD1050s, 1 meg MIO, 320xe, RamboXL, xep80, 30megHD in
IBM minitower with 200w power supply.
I am working on a hack right now to put 2 720k ibm drives in the
2 half highth slots in the minitower with a PERCOM controller.
(the docs say its supposed to work with 80 track drives...hope
it works.)
-- 
Joe Sabatino-->ab588@yfn.ysu.edu
From: hong@cs.umd.edu (sze nam hong)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: 1050 + software for sale
Date: 23 Jul 92 04:14:40 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742

Well, I have a 1050 in good condition for sale: asking $55 + shipping.
I also have some software for sale:

Dark Crystal
Realm of impossibility,
Indus DOS XL + Data Manager + word processor + spread sheet 
Flight simulator,
+ some wp, paint program + some books, email me for a list.

Price: for program with manual, I am asking for $3 per disk, and for
those without manuals, $2 per disk.

Buyer pays shipping.
Thanks,
Sze Hong
hong@tove.umd.edu
From: Rick_Michael_Cortese@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Touch Tablet: need pinouts!
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 92 21:10:26 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)

Well, one of us is going to have to take his pad apart <g>. Since I don't
want it to be me, what I'd suggest is look & the IC's, they're just
vanilla stuff like 4049's. Use a VOM to see which lines go to the chip
5V & GND pins. Next look at which lines go to the buttons these will hook
up to the stick left & stick right of the joystick port (I think). That just
leaves the two lines that go to the paddle inputs. You stand a 50:50 chance
of getting it right the 1st time.
If you need the pin outs for the joystick port, let me know.
From: lenn@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Jody Lenn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Thorn EMI War Games vs. Thorn EMI Computer War
Date: 24 Jul 92 16:38:17 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center

I have War Games for the 800/XL/XE and it was done by Coleco, yes, Coleco.

Thorn only did Computer War.


                                                Jody Lenn
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
From: ac742@yfn.ysu.edu (Joe Perkins)
Subject: Looking for patches
Organization: Youngstown State University/Youngstown Free-Net
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 20:42:08 GMT


I am getting pretty fed up with all this copy protection crap..
I have several programs that I would like to use on my Hard Drive 
but because of these stupid protection schemes..well you know !
 Here is a list of programs that I really would like to get onto
the HD:

  1.)Planetarium
  2.)Rambrandt
  3.)Synfile
  4.)Syncalc

I have all fo these in a form which will allow me to copy them to 
the HD, but each one has it's own drawbacks when you try to use
it ( reading only drive one, looking for support files on drive one,
etc.)

Can anyone tell me how to go about patching these suckers?

I have a Rambo 800xl..Black Box/Floppy board..xf551, and Doubled 1050..

I think that in general, we need to begin swapping ideas on this 
topic.  I think that many of us are reinventing the wheel when we
start writing patches that already exist..
Thanks

-- 
****Joe Perkins
    Internet:  ac742@yfn.ysu.edu
****

Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
From: cummins@a.cs.okstate.edu (CUMMINS JOHN WILLI)
Subject: Modem still wanted!
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Computer Science, Stillwater
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 92 04:08:54 GMT

Got an SX212?  An 850 or a P:r: connection you would like to see in use?
I have a newbie 8bit user that I can't get software to!  If he can find
a cheap way to interface with a serial modem (or serial link) or a phone line
I'll cram the archives onto his floppies!

But he's not rich....
jc
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
From: moon!cyberden!phbill@well.sf.ca.us
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: AMODEM/interfacing BASIC w/ modem
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 14:50:06 PDT
Organization: Indescribable Creations

<giggle>  Nooooooo...  STILL don't have Action!...  (I'm REALLY waiting 
for Quick, tho...heheh)

Anyways....     I've started this damned program over 100 times 
(ok..about 5 or 6 :) )

Anyways...      I tried it in BASIC 2 or 3 times...then in Draper Pascal 
(BIG was of 40 pages for the docs, since DP don't work w/MyDOS (too many 
buffers allocated!  SCREW YOU!  If I set it down to 1 (maximum this thing 
lets me use) you don't WORK RIGHT!!!!!!))...  FINALLY I decided "hey, I 
made a little textfile->BASIC translater that's structured & has 
procedure calls and all that spiffy stuff I like in TBXL but don't have 
in BASIC!"... so I loaded it up... tested it out (to see if I actually 
implimented ALL the routines I had on my little list) and it worked!  I 
have yet to get anything accomplished, but I think once I remove ALL the 
bugs (and be sure to end each statement w/a ":"!!..damned xlator DOESN'T 
check for syntax!!) and get it to load up & not crash, I think I could 
get this thing somewhere.  Anyone care to see the sourcecode? (just for 
fun...  you might actually want a copy of the xlator program.... NOT!)

For now I've got a disk full of ".DAT" files for the BBS to load up 
properly when run, a copy of source, a BASIC LISTing of it (that the 
xlator makes..btw: xlators in basic!!..I run it in TBXL tho..for speed), 
a BASIC SAVE of it, MyDOS, TBXL (to run the xlator), the xlator itself, 
and TPX for editing the damned source and .DAT files....  took up half th 
disk, but I don't think I'll be adding much to it  very soon!!!

hmm...          maybe I'd better get back to work on it!  ;)

    "Be seeing you!"
Say|____________9_year_veteran_ ||| __
Hi |PhBill: Bill Kendrick      / | \
if |moon!cyberden!phbill@well.sf.ca.us
in |__________________________________
NJ!|                     July 21, 1992
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Ultra-Speed chip  
From: Dawn_Scotting@kcbbs.gen.nz (Dawn Scotting)
Date: 29 Jul 92 21:44:35 GMT
Organization: Kappa Crucis Unix BBS, Auckland, New Zealand

Can anyone give me any information on the Ultra-speed chip for the 8-bit  
(specifically for an 800XL) please? I have someone that is desperately  
looking for one and will take it either new or second-hand. If anyone  
has one lying around that they don't want or know where I can get one  
please email me.
From: tatmanl@terapin.com (Lance Tatman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: CX85 Keypad
Date: 30 Jul 92 21:14:36 PST
Organization: BBS

I want to try to hardwire the Atari CX85 Keypad to an 800XL.  Has anyone done
this before?  Is it just a matter of tracking the traces from the #s on the
800XL keyboard to the cable that goes into the motherboard and then splice in
the corresponding keys from the keypad?