From: CURRENTM@CARLETON.EDU (Michael Current)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Frequently-Asked Questions
Date: 1 Sep 92 21:41:08 GMT

New for this release:

- I'm now recommending archive uploads be sent to
  weiner@atari.archive.umich.edu as the BART help file says.
- Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG info tweaked again
- Atari 8-bit hardware list added to, but still needs help

                             The 8-bit Atari
                     Frequently-Asked Questions List
                            for the Internet

        Posted on or about the first of the month, simultaneously to:
         
                          the Usenet newsgroup          
                           comp.sys.atari.8bit        

                                  and

                         the Internet mail-list
                           Info-Atari8 Digest
                           
               which are, in fact, one and the same group.

                           Revised 1-Sep-92

   additions/corrections/comments to Michael Current (currentm@carleton.edu)


What is comp.sys.atari.8bit?
     comp.sys.atari.8bit is the Usenet newsgroup dedicated to the free
exchange of information pertaining to the 8-bit Atari computers:
the 400, 800, 1200XL, 600XL, 800XL, 65XE, 130XE, and the XE Game System.  All 
postings to comp.sys.atari.8bit automatically appear in the Internet's 
Info-Atari8 Digest.
    Users of Atari TT, STe, or ST computers refer to comp.sys.atari.st.
    Users of Atari Portfolio computers refer to comp.sys.palmtops.
    Users of Atari Lynx, 7800, 2600, or 5200 game systems see rec.games.video.  
		
What is the Info-Atari8 Digest?
     The Info-Atari8 Digest is the Internet mail-list dedicated to the free 
exchange of information pertaining to the 8-bit Atari computers:
the 400, 800, 1200XL, 600XL, 800XL, 65XE, 130XE, and the XE Game System.  All 
contributions to the Info-Atari8 Digest automatically appear on Usenet's 
comp.sys.atari.8bit.
     To subscribe or unsubscribe to the Info-Atari8 Digest, send 
e-mail to Info-Atari8-Request@naucse.cse.nau.edu.
     To contribute to the Info-Atari8 Digest, send your posting to 
comp-sys-atari-8bit@ucbvax.berkeley.edu.
     Please note: there is NEVER a good reason to send anything to the address 
Info-Atari8@naucse.cse.nau.edu.
		 
What is the atari.archive?
     atari.archive.umich.edu is the Internet site which contains many files for
the 8-bit Atari computers.  The 8-bit Atari Archive Moderator is John Dunning,
jrd@stony-brook.scrc.symbolics.com.

How do I download files from the archive?
     Two methods:
     1.  If you have FTP access you can FTP to atari.archive.umich.edu
(141.211.164.8), login as "anonymous" and type in your e-mail address as your
password.  Now type "cd atari/8bit" to reach the 8-bit directories.  If this is
your first visit to the archive, be sure to download the file -read-.-me-. 
Other files of interest are 8-bit.cat, containing 1-line descriptions of all
the files available, and 8-bit.text, which contains paragraph-long 
descriptions.  Be sure to have file-type set to BINARY when downloading binary 
files (.arc, .com, etc.)
     2.  Send mail to BART, the atari.archive file-server.  BART's address is
atari@atari.archive.umich.edu.  If you are a first-time BART user, send it a
message that says:

help
send 8bit/-read-.-me-
send 8bit/Index

BART automatically UUEncodes binary files before sending them to you.
Other files of interest are 8-bit.cat, containing 1-line descriptions of
the files available, and 8-bit.text, which contains paragraph-long 
descriptions.

How do I upload files to the archive?
     Three methods:
     1.  FTP to atari.archive.umich.edu (141.211.164.8), login as "anonymous",
type in your e-mail address as your password, and then type "cd
atari/8bit/new".  You may upload files to this directory.  Be sure to set
file-type to BINARY if uploading a binary file (.arc, .com, etc.)  Also,  
please upload a short .text file describing your upload so John Dunning can 
tell what permanent directory to move it to.
     2.  Send your upload by e-mail to weiner@atari.archive.umich.edu.  If
you're sending a binary file you must UUEncode the file first.  Be sure to
include a short descrption of the file so Jeff Weiner knows what directory to 
place it in at the archive.  It is especially important to specify that your 
upload is for the 8-bit computers. 
     3.  If you can neither FTP to the archive nor e-mail to Jeff Weiner, then
you are welcome to post your file, UUEncoded if binary, directly to
comp.sys.atari.8bit.  You'll then be relying on someone else to take your
posting and upload it to the archive for you.

What is Z*Magazine?
     Z*Magazine ("Z*Mag") is the International Atari 8-Bit Magazine,
published monthly.  It covers the 8-bit Atari computers exclusively. 
     To have Z*Mag delivered "right to your own mail box," send a message
to Ryan 'Gozar' Collins at rlcollins@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu, asking him to add 
your address to his Z*Magazine Distribution List.  Back issues of Z*Mag are 
available at the atari.archive in the /atari/8bit/zmag directory, in filenames 
such as zmag204.arc.
     To reach the publishers of Z*Magazine, contact Ron Kovacs at 
75300.1642@compuserve.com, or Jon Clarke at jonc@status.gen.nz.
     
What are the News-Disks?
     The Atari 8-bit News-Disk ("News-Disk") is an on-disk Atari 8-bit only
magazine from the UK.  It is sent on-disk to subscribers in the UK, but is also
made availble to people with email or FTP access.  Each issue is supplied in
ARC format.  They are not in straight text format like Z*Mag.  Each issue
contains articles on various aspects of the Atari, along with programs in
Basic, Turbo-Basic, and M/C.  Some issues also contain .PIC files (viewers
always included), speech files, and some others.  Every issue contains a copy
of XR_40 for viewing text files on the screen, and a copy of a simple program
to print articles.  Alternatively, you can read/print from any word processor.
Each issue should be unARCed onto a single density disk with a copy of 
DOS 2.5 DOS.SYS on.
     All issues are at the atari.archive.  They are accessed by 
'/atari/8bit/djg/issueX.arc' where X is the number of the issue desired.
To submit articles, mail djg0@aber.ac.uk.

What is the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG?
     The Cleveland Free-Net is like a huge public bulletin board
system, and it is the hub system of the NPTN, the National Public 
Telecomputing Network.  Anyone can access the Free-Net via modem at 
(216) 368-3888.  Those persons with full Internet access can TELNET (this 
does not mean FTP) to freenet-in-{a,b,c}.cwru.edu (129.22.8.{107,110}).  
Applications for accounts are handled online.  Once logged-in, type "go atari" 
to reach the Atari SIG.  Those who add their names to the Atari SIG user 
directories are automatically members of the official Atari user group 
CAIN - Central Atari Information Network.
     The Atari SIG carries Z*Magazine and the Info-Atari8 Digest, as well as 
many product reviews and all sorts of other information related to Atari 
products, all online.  Its mission for 8-bit users is as a depository for any 
and all information in ASCII format related to the 8-bit Atari computers.  
Send correspondence and press releases to xx004@po.cwru.edu.
     
What magazines support the 8-bit Atari?
     Atari Explorer                     Atari Interface
     Subscriptions                      Unicorn Publications
     P.O. Box 6488                      3487 Braeburn Circle
     Duluth, MN 55806                   Ann Arbor, MI 48108
     U.S.: $14.95/1 yr (6 issues)       U.S.: $18/1 yr (12 issues)
     Canadian: $19.95/1 yr              Canadian: $42/1 yr
     International: $24.95/1 yr         Foreign: $48/1 yr
                                        8-bit disk: add $50/1 yr (12 disks)
                                        70007.4640@compuserve.com

     AtariUser                          Current Notes
     Quill Publishing Co.               CN Subscriptions
     113 W. College St.                 122 N. Johnson Rd.
     Covina, CA 91723-2008              Sterling, VA 22170
     $19.95/1 yr (12 issues)            U.S.: $27/1 yr (10 issues)
     71777.3223@compuserve.com          Foreign: $35/1 yr
                                        72130.2073@compuserve.com

     New Atari User                     8:16
     Page 6 Publishing                  248 Wimborne Rd.
     P.O. Box 54                        Oakdale, Poole, Dorset BH15 3EF
     Stafford, ST16 1DR                 England
     England                            UK: 5.50 UK pounds/1 yr (4 issues)
     15 UK pounds/1 yr (6 issues)       Europe: 9.60 UK pounds
     8-bit disk: add 17 UK pounds/      sea: 9.60 UK pounds
                     1 yr (6 disks)     /pn=colin.w.hunt/o=sprintintl/admd=
                                        tmailuk/c=gb/@sprint.com
                    
What product developers or vendors support the 8-bit Atari?
     Ray Wilmott maintains a list of current 8-bit Atari vendors and
developers which is too long to include here.  Contact him at 
wilmott@remus.rutgers.edu     

What is an .arc file?
     A file with the extender .arc has been archived, in a standard manner that
is common in the IBM-PC/MS-DOS world.  This is done to make the file shorter,
so it takes less time to transfer between computers.  The atari.archive
contains an un-arc'er called supunarc.com for the 8-bit Atari.  The companion
program is called superarc.arc (use supunarc.com to un-arc it).  Each is
compatible with the MS-DOS equivalent.
     
What's this UUEncoding stuff all about?
     UUEncode/UUdecode is a UNIX utility that will convert a binary file into
100% printable ASCII characters, so that the file may be posted or e-mailed
anywhere a text message can go.  The 8-bit Atari is perfectly capable of
UUEncoding/UUdecoding as well.  The file uudecode.bas (the documention file is
uudecode.doc) is at the atari.archive.  It's in Atari BASIC text format (ENTER
it into Atari BASIC).  The file yau.arc contains yau.com, a machine-language
UUdecoder, and yaue.com, a UUEncoder for the 8-bit Atari.  Each is compatible
with the UNIX equivalent.  UUEncoded files are given the extension .uue.

Can I read/write 8-bit Atari disks on an IBM-PC?
     There are no fewer than 5 programs at the atari.archive that claim to 
achieve this, at least to some extent.  They are:
     pcxfer.arc - Predecessor of all but sr.arc.  No recent usage reports. 
     util.arc - Perhaps the most widely used; archaic instructions, but works.
     dskutil.arc - Reputed to be a cleaned-up util.arc.
     atario21.arc - Also an improved util.arc, but only read, no write.
     sr.arc - Stands for Sparta Read, for SpartaDOS format disks.
Each of these programs runs on an MS-DOS type of computer.  For disks written
on your PC to be read on your 8-bit Atari, you must have an Atari disk drive
capable of accessing at least 180K, SS/DD disks.  That is, an XF551, Indus GT
or equivalents, but not an unmodified 1050 or 810.  There is no way to write
128K or 90K Atari-format disks with an IBM-PC.  You will also need either
SpartaDOS or MYDOS on the Atari.
     
What's the best DOS for the Atari?
     This is a matter of opinion, but general consensus is that all 8-bit Atari
users should treat themselves to either MYDOS or SpartaDOS to appreciate the
power of the system.  MYDOS is modelled after Atari DOS 2.0S/2.5, but provides
subdirectory and hard-drive support.  SpartaDOS is a completely different
command-line DOS modelled after MS-DOS, though it is perfectly capable of
reading all Atari DOS and MYDOS disks.  SpartaDOS 3.2D is disk-based; SpartaDOS
X is cartridge-based and includes many additional features.  While it's hard to
argue that SpartaDOS X is not the most advanced DOS available, it is a
commercial product that is no longer manufactured.  MYDOS, on the 
other hand, is a shareware product that continues to be improved upon.
     It is recommended that all 8-bit Atari users own at least DOS 2.5 for
complete compatibility with existing software, and then choose either SpartaDOS
or MYDOS as they see fit.  MYDOS is available at the atari.archive.
     
What are the best telecommunications programs available for the 8-bit Atari?
     It all depends on what type of computer you intend to connect to.  For
connecting to Bulletin Board Systems, BobTerm is the unchallenged favorite. 
For connecting to larger computers, you will need a VT100 emulator.  Several
are available for the 8-bit Atari, each with its own advantages.  Kermit-65 is
a VT100 emulator, provides Kermit file transfer and an 80-column screen
display, but does not support the XEP80.  VT850 is a VT100 emulator that
supports the XEP80 but provides no file-transfer.  OmniCom is a VT100 emulator
providing both kermit and xmodem file transfers, plus an 80-column display, but
does not support the XEP80.  Each of these programs is known to work with the 
SX212 Modem connected to the SIO port, and to work under SpartaDOS and MYDOS; 
each program is available at the atari.archive.

What hardware has Atari created in the 8-bit computer line?
Computers:
     400     8-16K, membrane keyboard, 400/800 OS
     800     8-48K, two cartridge slots, 400/800 OS
     1200XL  64K, unique OS
     600XL   16-64K, BASIC, PBI, XL OS
     800XL   64K, BASIC, PBI, XL OS
     65XE    same as 800XL minus PBI
     130XE   same as 65XE with 128K plus ECI
     XE Game System   same as 65XE plus Missle Command, detachable keyboard

Peripherals:
     410 Program Recorder  (2 versions, see the Best catalog)
     810 Disk Drive        (SS/SD 90K with DOS 1 or DOS 2.0S)
     820 Printer           (40 col.)
     822 Thermal Printer   (40 col.)
     825 Printer           (80 col.)
     830 Modem             (300 baud acoustic, with Telelink I)
     835 Modem             (300 baud, with Telelink II)
     850 Interface Module  (4 9-pin serial, 1 15-pin parallel ports)
     1010 Program Recorder
     1020 Printer/Plotter  (40 col.)
     1025 Printer          (80 col.)
     1027 Printer          (80 col., letter quality)
     1029 Printer          (??? - never sold in U.S.)
     1030 Modem            (300 baud, with ???software)
     1050 Disk Drive       (SS/ED 128K with DOS 3 or DOS 2.5)
     XC12 Program Recorder 
     XM301 Modem           (300 baud, with ???software)
     XMM801 Printer        (80 col.)
     XDM121 Printer        (80 col., letter quality)
     XF551 Disk Drive      (DD/DD 360K with DOS XE)
     XEP80 Interface Module(80 col. video display and DB25 parallel port)
     SX212 Modem           (1200 baud, rarely with SX-Express! package)

Atari 8-bit vaporware:
     815      2 x SS/DD 180K with DOS 2.0D
     1400XL   800XL plus modem, speech synth.
     1450XLD  1400XL plus 5.25" floppy drive
     65XEP    65XE plus 3.5" floppy drive, 5" green monitor
     65XEM    65XE plus AMIE sound chip
     XM128    12" green monitor w/ built-in 80-column card
     XC1411   composite 14" color monitor
     XF521    5.25" floppy drive - 1050 in XE style
     ???Those two thermal XE printers - "one prints in color!"

End of FAQ list.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit