From: Gerhard_Oppenhorst@bn.maus.de (Gerhard Oppenhorst)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: DATAlight
Date: 14 Dec 92 19:52:00 GMT
Organization: MausNet (Mitglied im IN e.V.)
X-Gateway: MausGate/News 1.14D/hb

Bob_BobR_Retelle wrote on 10.12.92 09:08:

> Volker Brandt told us about a "Data Diet" type compression
> program...
>
> That's great.. but.. how come no one else has ever heard of
> "DataLight"..?
>
> How about a little "marketing..?"


Hi Bob, Hi Volker, Hi Marinos, Hi John, ...


This is an answer from LogiLex, Germany:

We would have done marketing in the US or the UK if we had an english version
ready. We have just finished the version 2.10 for Germany and the Netherlands
and are now working on the english version. I think in January DATAlight will
be available in the US. Our distributor for the US version of "1st Card",

     Zephyr, 1514 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703
     Bill Yerger
     PH (510) 845-2000, FAX (510) 548-2119

will probably distribute the US version of the LogiLex product "DATAlight".
I think the price will be about $99 or less, depending on the order for the
US market.

As my English is not the best, and you asked for a little "marketing" I will
now give you a product information we handed out on the Hannover CeBIT in
March 1992:

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DATAlight 2 - Online-Compression

Concept

DATAlight 2.0 is a TSR-program which automatically compresses all data
while storing and decompresses when loaded again. For the user these mani-
pulations are totally hidden. He will only notice that suddenly 720 KB
disks are suited to 1500 KB and that a 44 MB removable hard disk will
carry more than 90 MB data and programs.
Since DATAlight 2.0 is a compatible BIOS device driver program-conflicts
are nearly impossible, (Incompatibilities with applications are totally
unknown!)

Efficiency

It may sound unimaginable, but DATAlight 2.0 is able to double the
usable amount of data.
With the help of newly introduced options this amount can even be improved
by choosing the most favourable compressing process out of several.
Redundant data which exist in picture archives or data base files can be
compressed more effectively, anyway. This way the resulting capacity may
be ten times higher than the original size.

Speed

The other decisive factor is speed. It may surprise but when loading da-
ta (even when starting a program) DATAlight 2.0 is often quicker than the
operating system without DATAlight 2.0. Finally, less data have to be read
and the complete DATAlight 2.0 code is written in assembler.
However, conditioned by its pricinple, the compressing process is intensi-
ve in CPU-time. But further optimized compressing codes and, above all, a
new data structure have solved this problem.
The writing speed when using the automatic compressing has been increased
drastically.
By means of additional options, the user has the possibility to decide him-
self how much CPU-time should be spent on the compressing process.
And an optimum space saving compressing process can subsequently be star-
ted for several partitions at the same time.

Handling

DATAlight 2.0 is an AUTO-folder program which is set-up by the com-
fortable GEM user interface. As soon as DATAlight 2.0 is installed in the
computer, it is able to work with compressed as well as with standard me-
dia.
The co-operation of DATAlight 2.0 with other programs can be arranged by a
number of options. Limits which have been fixed before can now be adjusted
in a more flexible way and are pre-situated in an approved standard set-
ting.

References

Test reports about DATAlight 1.0/1.1 can be found in the journals TOS
2/92, XEST 2/92, as well as START 2/92.

Compatability

DATAlight 2.0 supports all ST/STE/TT computers, all TOS-versions, any me-
mory configuration, all resolutions, all disks (incl. HD) as well as all re-
movable hard disks, and all hard disks which are operated with ATARI-compa-
tible device drivers (AHDI 3.0 or higher).

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**                      Gerhard_Oppenhorst@bn.maus.de                      **
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**    LogiLex   -   System-Software & Software-Systems  for ATARI ST/TT    **
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