Transferred from Z*MAGAZINE, Atari On-Line newsletter, by Mike Blenkiron.¢¢RUMBLES...RAMBLES...RUMORS...¢=============================¢ by Stan Lowell¢¢¢ Ever hear "There's nothing new for eight bits?" Maybe not mountains, but new hardware and software are still kicking! Refinements are being made to what is out already too! Not on as grandiose a scale as in the heydays of course, but they are out there!¢ The biggest problem as I see it: communications. Spreading the word around. I have seen messages from people who know NOTHING of ICD, SpartaDos, the Black Box, and on and on. These were not posted by new comers to the Atari arena, these were from people who have been using their machines for a few years! We still have the Antic "insert" in STart Magazine, but that is the last commercial stateside resource left. ¢ This on-line magazine, ZM/A\gazine, is a good source. Where does ZMag get its material? From user groups and readers who submit articles, reviews, letters, or just information to it. In short, YOU the readers, help to support it.¢ There are other resources around. User Groups are a VERY GOOD resource for both problems you may be having and for information about new things which may be "out and around" someplace.¢ Bulletin Board Systems(BBS) are another good resource for information and help. Many ST Bulletin Boards feature message networking to some degree. Even 8-bit Bulletin Boards have message networking. My BBS, FoReM-XE Professional, has had it for well over a year. Express Pro!, Carina ][, and I believe Puff BBS have message networking.¢ Networked messages are a fantastic way to find out about new things, get help with problems, answers to questions, or just have a good conversation. Most of you probably know about a BBS. Otherwise, you wouldn't be reading this! <Grin> If you don't, then you are missing one heck of a good time! Get a modem, get a terminal program, and jump on-line! ¢ Most new commercial software for the eight bit Ataris comes from overseas. I have heard of a place or two in the UK which will mail order to the U.S. Don't know of any stateside places which carry any kind of inventory for us 'old timers.' If you know of some, let me know!¢ Public Domain and Shareware programs are still alive and well. New revisions are out for TextPro and DaisyDot3. John McGowan in Saint Louis, Mo. has written several programs which will let you print icons in your text using DD3. New Versions of Snapshot are out. Snapshot allows you to have 2 different programs in an expanded XL or XE and switch between them. There is a version for hard disk owners which allows for up to ten programs on your hard disk. SUPPORT SHAREWARE!¢ On the hardware side, TransKey has been out for some time. TransKey allows you to hook up a standard PC type keyboard to your XL/XE, and includes keyboard macros! From all reports I have seen, it is an excellent product. The prolific support given by CSS' Bob Puff continues. Rumored to be in the works is a chip for an XF551 which will allow both the 5-1/4 and 3-1/2 drives to be on-line at the same time! Also coming is a controller for the Black Box which will allow reading, writing, and formating of PC, ST, and 8-bit formats!¢ WEll, that's about it for now. As I find out about, or remember new "things," I will pass them on in a future article. If you know of, or use a product or program, let me know about it. I can be reached on the Z*Net BBS, GEnie(S.Lowell), or on my BBS(Blank Page BBS - 908-805-3967, 3/12/2400). 'Til next time... Editors Note: Stan Lowell is a long time friend and supporter of Z*Magazine. His guidance in the early days helped Z*Mag stay on course during rough times. Stan has also been a support sysop for Z*Magazine BBS systems during the past 5 years and his assistance with the new Z*Mag is greatly appreciated. Please leave Stan a message and encourage him to continue writing!!¢¢¢
