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\\ MMMM // ----------------- \\\ MM /// INFO-MAT Magazine \\\\MM//// ----------------- \\ \MM/ // Vol. 4, No. 39 \\ MMMM // December 20, 1988 --- Whole #183 --- Editor: Alan R. Bechtold Associate Editor: Tim Elmer Advertising: Market/Media Associates Technical Adviser: Gary Funk COPYRIGHT (C) 1988, by BBS Press Service, Inc. (BPS), 8125 S.W. 21st Street, Topeka, KS 66615. Editorial & Advertising: 913-478-3157. Data Line (VIA MODEM): 913-478-9239. >>SPECIAL HEADLINE EDITION<< ==================================== This SPECIAL HEADLINE EDITION of INFO-MAT MAGAZINE is copyrighted, but may be distributed freely by ANYONE, as long as NO ALTERATIONS in the text of this file are made in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized deletion of ANY portion of this file, or addition to this file, will be considered a copyright violation. ==================================== TABLE OF CONTENTS: ITEM # ITEM <1> Atari Sues Nintendo <2> Epyx Wins Look-and-Feel Suit <3> Lotus Ships Freelance Plus 3.0 <4> Hotshot Graphics: Upgraded <5> NameTag Expands DOS Filenames <6> Grid: 100 MB Drive, More <7> Under-$2,000 20 MHz 386 PC <8> Erasable 60-Meg Optical Disk <9> Advantage 286 Card: 8 Megs <10> Electronic Yearbook Photography <11> Industry Rumors <12> True Wholesale Online Shopping <13> How to Find INFO-MAT Full-Text (C) 1988, by BBS PRESS SERVICE, INC. ====================== The INFO-MAT BBS INDEX ====================== The following boards have all paid to tell you about their offerings. These systems represent some of the largest, most serious boards in the country. GIVE THEM A CALL! And TELL THEM INFO-MAT sent you! For information on how you can list YOUR BBS in the next INDEX, call the BPS BBS at 913/478-9239. ------------------------------------ The BPS BBS -- Home of INFO-MAT MAGAZINE, SOFTWARE SHOWCASE and MORE! Call today to find out how YOU can carry INFO-MAT on YOUR BBS...or how to get INFO- MAT on your favorite BBS. 913/478-9239. Application online! --1/4 ------------------------------------ DEL CHES SYSTEM BBS. Exton-Lionville,Pa (215)363-6625, 2400/1200/300, 8/N/1. "SINCE 1983". 80 Megs. TBBS! Sigs,debates & "proven" files for MS-DOS, AMIGA, C64&C128,TANDY&TRS,MAC.SIG Leaders. HOME BBS for DELCHUG (DEL CHes User Group) --4/4 ------------------------------------ MEDCOM BBS: Modem: 714-996-6666 (32 lines, 3/12/24,8N1), Voice: 714-996-7982, complete PC-Pursuit access & sign-up info available online. Features: chat, many multi-user games, manu SIGs, 1000's of d/l programs. Free trial time! --1/4 ------------------------------------ MICRO MESSAGE SERVICE 919-779-6674 24hr 300+Megs 4 Lines TBBS 2.1 BetaSite. Support for Amiga ST IBM Mac +8bits. Spcl. TBBS SysOp area. Knowledgeable SigOps. ANSI menus. A MEGA info & dload system. All thru NCRTP PCPursuit. --2/4 ------------------------------------ ATARI FILES ANTITRUST SUIT AGAINST NINTENDO --------------------- (BPS) -- Atari Games Corp., an arcade video game software developer, has filed suit against Nintendo of America Inc. and its Japanese parent, Nintendo Co. Ltd., charging that Nintendo has monopolized the U.S. market for video game cartridges that will play on Nintendo's home entertainment systems. According to the lawsuit, filed Nov. 13 in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, Nintendo's practice of building a "lock-out system" into its video game machines and compatible cartridges has precluded competition in the market for the manufacture of Nintendo-compatible cartridges. Atari Games claims that Nintendo's practice constitutes a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Dennis Wood, senior vice president, said, "...Nintendo has been able to control and limit the supply of cartridges and the variety of games available to consumers. By slamming the door shut on all competition, we feel that Nintendo has injured not only its would-be competitors, but also the American video game consumer." The suit is seeking compensatory damages of at least $30 to $35 million (which would be tripled under antitrust laws), as well as an injunction preventing Nintendo from "engaging in any further actions...to foreclose competition in the manufacturing market for (Nintendo-compatible) video game cartridges sold in the United States." COURT DECIDES IN FAVOR OF DEFENDANT EPYX IN LOOK-AND-FEEL LAWSUIT ----------------------------------- (BPS) -- According to Epyx, it won a major victory for the software industry when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision in Data East vs Epyx, Inc. The suit, brought against Epyx in 1986, claimed that Epyx's World Karate Championship game infringed on the look-and-feel of Data East's Karate Champ game. Commenting on the decision, Epyx Chairman and CEO David Morse said, "We view this as significant for several reasons. First, we believe this is the first time in the computer industry that a look-and-feel lawsuit has been decided in favor of the defendant. Also commenting on the decision, Software Publishers Association Executive Director Ken Wasch said, "This decision and other cases pending will remove a substantial degree of uncertainty with respect to the scope of copyright protection in software development." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X XX XX XXX X XX XXXXXXXXXX XX XX X XX X XX X XXXXXXXXX XXX XXX X XX X XX XXXXXXXXXX XXX XXX X XX X XX X XXXXXXXXX XXX XXXX XXXX XXX X XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X X XX X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X XX X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X X XX X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X X XX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX X X XX XX XXX XXXXXXXXX X X XX XXXXX X XX XXXXXXXXXXXX X XX XXX XXX XXXXXXXXXX X X XX XXXXX X XX XXXXXXXXXXXX X X XX XX X XX X X X XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XX XX ... Will reach more than XX XX 10,000 active modem users who XX XX are vitally interested in what XX XX you have to say... XX XX XX XX For ONLY $50.00! XX XX XX XX If you sell products or XX XX services of interest to modem XX XX users, call 913/478-3157 XX XX (voice) TODAY! XX XX XX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX LOTUS SHIPS FREELANCE PLUS 3.0 ------------------------------ (BPS) -- Lotus Development Corp. is now shipping Lotus Freelance Plus 3.0, a business graphics package that offers PC users a one-product solution for easily creating professional-quality graphics and presentations. Freelance Plus 3.0 is a major upgrade of Freelance Plus that provides full- featured charting and full-featured drawing capabilities in a single package, as well as an extensive array of new features designed to make the product even easier to use. Freelance Plus 3.0 is compatible with a wide variety of output devices, including dot-matrix, letter-quality, and laser printers (including those that support PostScript), plotters, color printers, and image-recorder cameras. Users can produce charts for paper, 35mm slides, and overhead transparencies. Freelance Plus 3.0 is available through Lotus authorized resellers for a retail price of $495. UPGRADE FOR PC GRAPHICS PROGRAM, HOTSHOT GRAPHICS ------------------------- (BPS) -- Symsoft Corp. has introduced an upgrade to its PC graphics software, HotShot Graphics. HotShot Graphics 1.5 speeds and simplifies the preparation of artwork for desktop publishing, slides, and other graphic presentations. Designed for high-volume business and professional use, HotShot Graphics is a single, integrated processing tool that is actually three programs in one: a capture, graphics editing, and file conversion program. Symsoft Corp. has enhanced its product to include new file formats, conversion options, and file management features. As part of its built-in database directory for cataloging, sorting, and retrieving images, the upgrade offers a new menu feature called CATALOGS. Images can be organized into logical groupings and users can create on-screen presentations from saved graphics. Images in a catalog file can be viewed, added, moved, or deleted. HotShot Graphics 1.5 has a full-featured drawing facility for creating pictures. In addition, clip-art can be entered from scanned image files or from other software packages. According to the company, the program is the only one of its kind to combine multiple images into a single editing screen to create composite illustrations. HotShot Graphics has powerful capabilities for editing captured text screens and graphics. All editing functions can be performed at any zoom level. A captured screen can be printed out in less than two minutes. The product is engineered to provide full-page graphics editing capability using the hard disk for interim image storage. Unusual for graphics products, it requires no EMS memory and therefore can run on lower-cost system configurations. HotShot Graphics runs on any IBM PC, PS/2 or compatible equipped with at least 512K memory and a graphics card and monitor. The product is compatible with DOS versions 2.1 and up. It supports most popular laser printers and Epson-compatible dot-matrix printers. Graphic output can be exported directly to most Macintosh and IBM- compatible publishing programs, as well as to WordPerfect and Microsoft Word. HotShot Graphics 1.5 retails at $249. The product is available directly from the manufacturer or through regional distributors including Kenfil, Micro D and Software Resources. NAMETAG: FILENAME EXPANSION UTILITY ----------------------------------- (BPS) -- NameTag, from Mastersoft, is a RAM-resident DOS enhancement utility that allows the user to attach a 40-character descriptive comment or name to subdirectories and files. The descriptive phrase is displayed next to the standard eight-character DOS filename in the pop-up NameTag window. With NameTag activated, the user can view and scan the contents of any file from within an application, allowing the user to reference previously written material without exiting his or her current application. While under the NameTag window, the user can perform any number of selected DOS commands: copy files to other locations, delete outdated files, rename files, and check the total disk space usage of a subdirectory. The Set-Up program automatically recognizes configuration characteristics of the user's machine, but allows alteration of parameters. NameTag requires 64K of RAM and supports both floppy and hard disk systems. It retails for $39.95. GRID UNVEILS 100 MB DRIVE, ENHANCEMENTS FOR ITS LAPTOPS ---------------------------- (BPS) -- In addition to a 100 Mb Winchester disk drive option on its lightweight, battery-powered 80C286 and 80386 laptop computers, GRiD Systems Corp. introduced significant enhancements to its computers including a brighter LCD display, extended battery life, advanced power management, and higher-performance mass storage. By combining the storage capacity of the Model 325 and the computing power of GRiD's 80C286-based GRiDCASE 1520 or 80386-based GRiDCASE 1530 laptop computers, GRiD offers increased power and versatility to field systems professionals. The enhancements announced by GRiD are available immediately on the 1520 and 1530 models and on the recently introduced 1535 EXP computer, a battery- powered, 80386-based laptop with two XT/AT expansion slots. In improving mass storage capability on the 1520 and 1530 models, GRiD slashed hard disk access time from 78ms to 28ms. The data transfer rate has also been improved significantly while reducing power consumption. GRiD's advanced power management features also boost hard disk performance. GRiD has developed a method to control the flow of power to both the 20 Mb drive available on the 1520 and 1530, and the 40 Mb drive available on the 1520, 1530 and 1535 EXP. This feature lets the user specify a time limit, via GRiD's MS-DOS Mode command, for the disk to read or write data. If a read/write command doesn't occur during the user-specified period, the hard disk shuts off to conserve power. The new features do not result in any price changes for the 1500 Series laptops. The 1520, in its standard configuration, is priced at $3,495; the 1530 has a list price of $4,695; and the 1535 EXP sells for $7,495. *-------"Call the BIG BOARDS!"------* | | | ATTENTION INFO-MAT READERS... | | | | THE INFO-MAT BBS INDEX LISTS | | QUALITY BULLETIN BOARDS | | THAT WANT YOUR CALL! | | | | The new Info-Mat BBS Index is a | | great source of BBS's intersted in| | getting YOUR CALL! | | The listing is located at the | | top of this file, just after the | | "contents" page of Info-Mat | | Headline News each week. | | ALL THESE SYSTEMS ARE VERIFIED | | ON-LINE before they are accepted | | for the listing...no time wasted | | calling voice numbers. | | | | CHECK OUT "THE INDEX" EACH WEEK! | | | *-CALL!---------CALL!---------CALL!-* MICRO 1 UNVEILS 20 MHZ 386 COMPUTER FOR UNDER $2,000 -------------------------- (BPS) -- Micro 1 Inc., manufacturer of high-performance IBM-compatible 286 and 386 computers, introduced a complete 20 MHz 80386-based computer system for $1,995. The Power 386-20 provides endusers with 1 of Mb of RAM expandable to 8 Mb of 32 bit memory, a 30 Mb hard disk drive, a 1.2 Mb 5.25-inch floppy drive (or a 1.44 Mb 3.5-inch floppy drive) and a 12-inch tilt-and-swivel monitor. Micro 1's Power 386-20 also comes with a Hercules-compatible monographics card, a 101-key Keytronics keyboard, full shadow RAM capability, and five 16- bit and three 8-bit expansion slots. Other features of the Power 386-20 include a one-to-one interleave controller for two hard disk drives and two floppy disk drives, one parallel port, a full 8-chip 386-20 chipset from Chips and Technologies, and ROMed setup and diagnostics. The full-sized case provides two half-height internal bays and three half-height external drive openings. Before shipping, Power 386-20 units must pass a 72-hour burn-in test at high temperatures and an extensive battery of other diagnostic and compatibility tests. All Micro 1 products are backed by a 3-year warranty and an 800-number service and sales telephone line. For more information about Micro 1's computers, call 800/338-4061 or 415/974- 5439. VERBATIM TO DELIVER 3.5-INCH ERASABLE 60 MEG OPTICAL DISK DRIVE SYSTEM BY SUMMER '89 ---------------------------- (BPS) -- Each of Verbatim's 3.5-inch cartridge disks holds 60 megabytes of data and features a fast average access time of 30 milliseconds. Unlike most erasable optical disk products, whose access times relegate them mainly to back-up storage applications, Verbatim's system has the speed of a hard disk for virtually any use, said Donald W. Strickland, vice president and managing director for Verbatim's optical products. Verbatim's TMO optical drive system includes a complete media-hardware package. "Our initial product is a subsystem with the drive, power supply, and SCSI controller card packaged in a box that fits neatly under most monitors," said Strickland. The drive has a sustained transfer rate of 2.1 megabits per second, and a burst rate of 1.5 megabytes per second. Drives will be available for Apple Macintosh Plus, SE, and II models, and for IBM PC XT and AT computers. General availability is scheduled for the Summer of next year. The retail price will be announced at a later date. ADVANTAGE 286 MULTIFUNCTION EXPANSION CARD SUPPORTS 8 MB OF ONBOARD EXTENDED MEMORY ---------------------------- (BPS) -- The Advantage 286, from AST Research Inc., is a multifunction expansion card that supports 8 megabytes of extended memory and bus speeds of up to 12.5 MHz for IBM PS/2 Model 30 286, AT, XT 286 and compatible computers. The board may be upgraded in 512K or 2 Mb memory increments. Using 1 Mb single in-line memory modules (SIMMs) exclusively, Advantage 286 supports up to 8 Mb of extended memory. Advantage 286 is compatible with a variety of operating systems, including UNIX, XENIX, and OS/2, as well as applications such as OS/2 Presentation Manager, Novell NetWare, and Oracle. The expansion board package includes full documentation and AST's SuperPak utility software, featuring fASTdisk and SuperSpool. The fASTdisk creates an electronic RAM disk. SuperSpool is a printer buffer program. Advantage 286 without onboard memory retails for $295; with 512K, $645. YEARBOOK PHOTOGRAPHY GOES SPACE AGE -------------------- (BPS) -- This week Kouris announced the formation of The Electronic Yearbook Photography Company of America which will be a subsidiary of Peter Kouris and Associates. The Electronic Yearbook Photography Company is the first commercial application of a newly developed High Definition Photo System technology, which allows high-quality, low-cost photos to be processed immediately after being taken. "Matching up proof sheets with students can be the worst part of a photographer's life," explained Kouris who is known, among other things, for cofounding the $23 million live Weather Channel and directing and producing portions of ABC's Goodmorning America. "With our new system, each student will receive four thermo-printed color proofs immediately after stepping away from the camera." Once a student's photo selection has been made, the photograph can be transmitted digitally to the school's yearbook printing source. This is done utilizing a newly developed glass cable system which makes it possible to store, select, or transmit images digitally. Caps and gowns can also be added to the photo electronically before final publication. Kouris said his goal is to build a 3,600-station network of digital photo imaging centers across the United States within the next five years and added that he already has yearbook photographers preparing to start using the HDPS technology in 32 cities. Contact: Peter Kouris and Associates at 415/885-4959 or 415/673-8445. RUMORS ------ -- New threat to UNIX (all but Berkeley versions). Simple six-line shell script (posted during security discussion in the usenet news admin. group) gives root access to ANY user -- no worm, no virus, no compiler needed, just any user login. Some sites are cutting off outside logins to keep defense data secure. Security bulletins on Arpanet may be related to this weakness, or to breakins at Lawrence Livermore Labs and Mitre Corporation. All this prompts setup of Computer Emergency Response Team at Carnegie-Mellon University. -- Sprint competitor for MCI-Fax coming soon. -- Louts insiders see its Magellan content-addressable file finder as an Agenda-saver, but it may prove too little, too late by the time it's deliverable. -- As predicted, the SQL forces are trying to one-up each other, meaning ultimately not-fully-compatible versions. -- Active matrix color LCD screens for laptops are really off-color, which may relegate them to lower-volume, higher-ticket products. -- Sun, UltraMac, and IBM will be the three forces by third quarter in the workstation niche. -- Sixteen megabyte memory chips to be a Gigabuck market for the '90s, makers privately predict. -- IBM can't make DOS 4x any more backward compatible, but they tried. -- Hewlett-Packard's upcoming faster DeskJet worries them; it may cost some LaserJet sales. CYSTEMS: REFUNDABLE MEMBERSHIP, TRUE WHOLESALE ONLINE SHOPPING ------------------------------- (BPS) -- No longer will you have to pay the $6 to $12 an hour other online shopping services charge just to browse through their systems. Cystems' "members-only" online shopping service charges no online connect-time fees to look through their electronic catalog. For a limited time, Cystems is offering a special promotion where new members will receive $5 credit on their first three orders, thus making their initial $15 membership fee fully refundable. Software and hardware is available for Apple, Commodore, Atari, and IBM compatible computers in categories including business, education, entertainment, etc. Other membership benefits include "Bonus Points" (included with each order) which can redeemed for special merchandise, 24-hour service and various special promotions. Members log onto the system with a computer and modem, paying only for applicable long-distance charges to connect with the system. They may then look for as long as they want to find what they need, then place their orders electronically. There are never any additional charges for just using the system. Company spokesmen say the company never marks up any wholesale price. Members pay only a small order processing fee and shipping for any products ordered. The company is extending its membership offer, but still will accept only a limited number of charter memberships. To join, send $15 for membership kit (which is refundable in three $5 credits) to: Cystems, 915 Paseo Grande #1, Corona, CA 91720. Every 50th member to join will receive a free software package (up to $49.95 value) free. Call 714/736-7897 for more information. ------------------------------------ THE SPECIAL HEADLINE EDITION OF \\ MMMM // \\\ MM /// \\\\MM//// \\ \MM/ // INFO-MAT \\ MMMM // MAGAZINE IS NOW AVAILABLE EVERY WEEK! You can find the FULL-TEXT edition of each weekly issue of INFO-MAT on more than 170 bulletin board systems (BBSs) worldwide! More than 100K of late- breaking news, information and features, PLUS Charles Bowen's "A Networker's Journal, Dan Gutman's "I Didn't Know You Could Do THAT With A Computer!!!" "The Editor Speaks," and MUCH MUCH MORE, covering the fields of computers, software and telecommunications -- FREE (some affiliates may charge one-time or periodic registration/membership fees, but INFO-MAT is available to all REGISTERED members of affiliate systems at no additional charge). Use your modem to DIAL 913-478-9239, to find the BPS affiliated BBS nearest you! Or call 913-478-3157 (VOICE), for more information. ------------------------------------