PD ROM 1/PD ROM Volume I - Macintosh Software from BMUG (1988).iso/Electronic Messages/USEnet Digests/USEnet Vol. 4/USEnet 4.23

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Date: Tue, 16 Feb 88 10:14 EDT
From: Jeffrey Shulman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Usenet Mac Digest V4 #23
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Date: Tue 16 Feb 88 10:14:03-GMT
From: Jeff Shulman <SHULMAN@SDR>
Subject: Usenet Mac Digest V4 #23
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Usenet Mac Digest     Saturday, February 13, 1988    Volume 4 : Issue 23

Today's Topics:
     Re: MacII Monitors Resolutions?
     Re: EtherTalk vs. LocalTalk on Mac II
     Re: DialogSelect question
     Re: Chinese,Japanese & Korean syste
     Idiotic Rumors
     Fractals...Jim Cathey where are you?!
     Font/DA Juggler vs. Suitcase-I own BOTH!
     Misc bugs in Finder or Moire, Macsbug
     DaynaFile vs Apple PC 5-1/4"
     vectors in QD
     TeXtures upgrade (was: TeXtures and LaserWriter 5.0)
     Trojan Horse?  Sour grapes?
     Re: Suitcase versus Font/DA Juggler
     Video Controllers for PAL Monitors
     the multifinder and ramdisks?
     MacRISK has escaped
     Re: Smalltalk for the Mac SE?
     Re: Finder 6.0 in "Scourge of the Killer Icons"
     Apple HD Backup weirdness
     LW II NT Startup Page
     Apple System Software Available on Portal
     Rumor of new Apple video card & monitor
     LSC and RamSDOpen()

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: MacII Monitors Resolutions?
Date: 7 Feb 88 21:10:00 GMT


SuperMac's latest advertisement shows 4 separate color monitors all
being driven by the same spectrum display card.  If you look closely at
the AppleColor monitor, you may notice the display overscans at the
right & bottom edges!  In fact, it looks like the monitor only displays
the top left corner of a 19" (1024*768) picture!

This is sort of like the inverse of the problem Mac II programs have
with Mac128 programs sticking in the upper left of the screen!  Has
anyone on the net *used* supermac's display with an Apple (or a
multiscan) monitor?  Are there any problems, like not being able to grab
the trashcan because it's off the bottom-right corner of the screen?

Another question: Stepping Out II, by Berkeley system design, has just
been released.  This program, which creates & manipulates a virtual
desktop to enlarge the screen, now supports the Mac II.  Has anyone
tried it on a Mac II?  Does it work well?

Don Gillies {ihnp4!uiucdcs!gillies} U of Illinois
            {[e-mail]}


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Peter "Arrgh" Korn)
Subject: Re: EtherTalk vs. LocalTalk on Mac II
Date: 8 Feb 88 03:26:34 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, USA

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Scott R. Anderson)
wrote:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David Williams) wrote:

>>Hmmmm, I think what she means is that you can only have Ethertalk or LocalTalk
>>active at any one time. The serial ports still function while ET is active,
>>but they can not run Localtalk at the same time as ET is running.
>
>This is an unfortunate limitation!  What if I want to print graphics or text
>from my UNIX login screen to my LocalTalked LaserWriter?  Or receive mail over
>LocalTalk while logged in to UNIX?  Or any number of other concurrent uses one
>can imagine!

It is, and then again, it isn't a limitaiton.  The first question to ask
is, how are you connected to your UNIX login screen?  Are you running
A/UX and have a macintosh process running under A/UX that you want to
print from? Are you running MacTerminal (or some other like program)
that you've connected via a serial line to a UNIX host?  via an
AppleTalk line to a UNIX host? via an EtherNet TCP/IP line to a UNIX
host?

Lets assume your under A/UX.  Then you will *need* to get a card (AST
currently makes one) that puts LocalTalk on the NuBus to do LocalTalk,
because the way it's implemented under the Mac OS (and on the Mac II
board) is via  interrupts; and this would flail A/UX alive (interrupting
the kernel simply isn't done you know).  Alternately you could have an
EtherTalk card (ours or Knetics or someone elses), and talk AppleTalk
protocalls via that card. Then, somewhere on your network, you will have
an EtherTalk to LocalTalk bridge (such as the one made by Knetics), and
on the LocalTalk net (or subnet, if you will), you will put your
LaserWriters and Mac Plus, Mac SE, etc. machines.

Alternately, let's say that you are running under the Mac OS, and have a
macintosh program that allows you to connect to a host machine (again,
like MacTerminal).  Then, your connection to that host is via that
program; no LocalTalk necessarily involved.  If you have a program that
embeds your connection in AppleTalk packets, (Knetics has some stuff to
do this, as well as one or two other companies I believe), then again
you are still using that LocalTalk connection on the back of your Mac.

Lastly, you could be talking TCP/IP on a NuBus board to your UNIX host
(again, under the Mac OS), and talking LocalTalk out of the back of your
MacII.  And with a board that does both TCP/IP and EtherTalk (AppleTalk
packets on Ethernet cabling) at the same time, you could do it all that
way.

If you want a UNIX box to print on a LaserWriter, that's fine.  That
UNIX box has to either be connected to that LaserWriter via the serial
connection (which will effectively force all connections to that
LaserWriter to go through the UNIX box; the LaserWriter cannot take jobs
simultaneously from it's serial and it's LocalTalk connections), or that
UNIX box can somehow be on LocalTalk or EtherNet talking AppleTalk
protocalls like everyone else.

Another neat approach would be to set up your UNIX box on EtherNet
talking AppleTalk protocalls as an AFP file server (basically AppleShare
with a UNIX-based host).  Further, you could have that UNIX box also be
serving the LaserWriter that it's connected to serially (it broadcasts
packets over EtherNet in AppleTalk protocall saying that it's a
LaserShare-type server, and it can take LaserWriter jobs; which it will
then spool to the LaserWriter it's connected to serially).  If I'm not
mistaken, several Universities have done the former; I'm not sure if any
of them have their AFP servers also acting as AppleTalk print spoolers;
but again, there is nothing in the protocall to prevent this.


The limitation is simply this:  you cannot have more than one active
physical AppleTalk connection under the Mac OS (and there are even
not-so-kosher ways of getting around this; but don't do it!).  There is
nothing to stop you from  having other connections of other sorts at the
same time.


Hope this clears things up some...

Peter


------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: DialogSelect question
Date: 7 Feb 88 16:40:00 GMT


[e-mail](Paul Dubois) writes in comp.sys.mac

>Does DialogSelect set the port if the event is an activate for a dialog
>window?
    According to my Inside Macintosh DA, DialogSelect will, on a an
Activate or Update Event, set the dialog to the current port and handle
the event for you.
--
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+                                   |                                      +
+  Leonard Rosenthol                |  USnail:   205 E. Healey  #33        +
+  LazerWare, inc.                  |            Champaign, Il  61820      +
+  GEnie: MACgician                 |                                      +
+  ARPA:  [e-mail]  |  Bitnet:   [e-mail]   +
+  {ihnp4|convex|pur-ee}!uiucuxc!clio!hannon                               +
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+ Disclaimer #1: Since I own the company, I can say whatever I want, and   +
+                not be responsible for it!                                +
+                                                                          +
+ Disclaimer #2: Anything I say may be construed as being under the        +
+                jurisdiction of Disclaimer #1                             +
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+


------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Chinese,Japanese & Korean syste
Date: 7 Feb 88 17:08:00 GMT


    If you have LOTS of memory (I've only got 2 megs) it is possible to run
many different scripts on your mac at the same time and switch between
the while running.  At one time, while I was giving a presentation about
the Script  Manager at a programmer's conference, I had the Hebrew,
Arabic and Kanji Interfaces all installed on my HD at loaded up so that
I could easily switch between the three with the click of a mouse.  Now
I am content (since I don't know enough Japanese to require the Kanji
System (only enough to demonstrate it )) to have just the Hebrew and
Arabic systems loaded.
    I am also fortunate to be beta testing a product called AASK, which as
you may have heard is an INIT which allows you, at startup time, to
choose which inits you want loaded and then continue that boot process.
This way, I can at startup time each day(etc.) choose which languages I
want available and then GO! It's GREAT!!
--
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+                                   |                                      +
+  Leonard Rosenthol                |  USnail:   205 E. Healey  #33        +
+  LazerWare, inc.                  |            Champaign, Il  61820      +
+  GEnie: MACgician                 |                                      +
+  ARPA:  [e-mail]  |  Bitnet:   [e-mail]   +
+  {ihnp4|convex|pur-ee}!uiucuxc!clio!hannon                               +
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+ Disclaimer #1: Since I own the company, I can say whatever I want, and   +
+                not be responsible for it!                                +
+                                                                          +
+ Disclaimer #2: Anything I say may be construed as being under the        +
+                jurisdiction of Disclaimer #1                             +
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+


------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Idiotic Rumors
Date: 7 Feb 88 23:50:00 GMT


This month's MacUser contains the most idiotic paragraph in the rumor
column.  They state "Apple is working on a 68030 machine, which (so far)
will include the 68881 FPU and 68851 MMU as standard equipment. The
suprise is that the machine will have 4 slots and cost *less* than a Mac
II!"

The MacUser column is the most brain-damaged rumor column in the
industry.  They ALWAYS make up their rumors.  What's more, they're too
stupid to invent plausible rumors!  Why would Apple put a 68851 PMMU in
a 68030 macintosh, when the 68030 chip already has memory-mangement
on-chip?  Come on guys!

Don Gillies {ihnp4!uiucdcs!gillies} U of Illinois
            {[e-mail]}


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Jon W. Backstrom)
Subject: Fractals...Jim Cathey where are you?!
Date: 8 Feb 88 12:04:22 GMT
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Back in July of 1985, Jim Cathey did a C version of the fractal
landscape program written by Michiel van de Panne in BASIC and published
in the July 1985 issue of Creative Computing.

Jim's program is called "Fractal Contours" and was published as a public
domain program on an EDUCOMP disk.

The major enhancements that Jim added to the program were to recode it
in C and to use "a CORDIC rotator instead of trig functions".  I want to
talk with Jim about his program....where is he?!

Alternately, does anyone know anything about "CORDIC rotators"?  I'd
like to see the source to his modification of Michiel's program.  The
algorithm used was based on one developed by LucasFilm Ltd. and
published in the Sept. '84 Scientific American.

Any help is greatly appreciated.....Jim?

--
Jon Backstrom                "Yah sure...we gonna have fun, you bet!"
Computer Science Department
Indiana University           ARPA: [e-mail]
Bloomington, IN  47405       UUCP: {pyramid,ihnp4,pur-ee,rutgers}!iuvax!viking


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Phil Hunt)
Subject: Font/DA Juggler vs. Suitcase-I own BOTH!
Date: 8 Feb 88 15:43:50 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

I own both FONT/DA Juggler Plus and Suitcase.  From my experience,
Suitcase is more invisible to use, but once up, both function about the
same.  Suitcase opens certain named files found in the system (Boot)
folder while  Font/DA Juggler (FDAJ from now on...) allows you to
specify files to be  opened at startup from any mounted disk.  Suicase
allows only 10 files opened while FDAJ allows 12.  Suitcase has a DA
that allows viewing/execution of  DA's in the opened files. FDAJ's DA
item allows execution/viewing of DAs as well as Font display, FKEY
display and execution and Sound resource files, where you can sample the
sound.

FDAJ also comes with a program called Font resolver that allows you to
specify up to 12 files and resolves the Font ID numbers in these files
to be unique.   You can also specify files you want checked in the group
but NOT modified.  It  also uses, but does not modify the FONTs in
SYSTEM.

FDAJ comes up at startup (INIT time) with a multicolor ICON!!  showing
it has loaded.  FDAJ also comes with a files of PD fonts,DA,FKEYs and
Sounds.  There are 50 PD DAs there.  The distribution disk has 1k free,
790+_K in use, so it is a hefty distribution.

Suitcase allows a user to open othere files in the System folder by
patching the program with a well-documented modification technique.  I
don't know if FDAJ can be modified in this manner, and I haven't tried
this, but the FDAJ docs imply that ANY file may be made opened at
startup implying any resource can be left openend automatically without
patching.

BTW, FDAJ plus V1.00 (Jan 10, 1988 version) works completely with
Multifinder. I have not gotten the Suicase upgrade compatible with MF
yet....

Hope my 2 cents worth helps the group.

Phil Hunt



------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (ephraim vishniac)
Subject: Misc bugs in Finder or Moire, Macsbug
Date: 8 Feb 88 18:28:52 GMT
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge, MA

More miscellaneous bugs I've found in recent software:

When single-stepping in macsbug 5.5 using the T (trace) instruction, I
inadvertently stepped onto a _Debugger trap.  Formerly, you could step
along quite some distance this way before macsbug became confused. With
luck, you could notice your mistake before then and make a safe exit.
Now, you get an instant bomb with ID 12.  That's not nice.

Using Finder 6.0 with the Moire CDEV installed, I dragged the entire
contents of my hard disk onto another hard disk (quick and dirty test of
a new driver on the second disk).  The copy took a while, so Moire
invaded the screen while it was in progress.  I moved the mouse to get
the screen back while the copy was still going on.  The Finder windows
(frames only) were redrawn immediately; not their contents.  When the
copy finished, the contents of the windows were redrawn, but not
anything that was on the desktop.  That is, the disk and trash icons
were all missing.  This does *not* happen if Moire comes on and goes off
while the Finder is idle; only if the Finder is busy copying files.  Is
this a Finder bug (I think so) or a Moire bug?
--
Ephraim Vishniac                      [e-mail]
Thinking Machines Corporation / 245 First Street / Cambridge, MA 02142-1214


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Kevin Wiechmann)
Subject: DaynaFile vs Apple PC 5-1/4"
Date: 8 Feb 88 18:01:34 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


I am interested in hearing from anyone that has experience in using the
DaynaFile 5-1/4" 360K disk drive.  I'd like to know if you are or aren't
satisfied with it and why.

I am setting up a Mac SE workstation and for various reasons wish to use
disk to disk transfer in preference to AppleShare, TOPS, etc. Mainly
because it will be transparent to the secretary already familiar with
Word Perfect.  The supervisor is already familiar with MacWrite and is
more computer literate than his secretary.

>From the documentation I have read or hardware I have seen demoed:

DaynaFile is much more transparent to the user since the files are
actually acessible from the Finder, unlike the Apple PC 5-1/4" which
needs the Apple translator program to see the 5-1/4" disk.  Too bad the
conversion program isn't a DA  :-(

DaynaFile will convert to and from MacWrite to Word Perfect format with
one conversion, unlike Apple PC 5-1/4"s conversion program (straight
from the box) which converts first to DCA format which in turn is
convertable using the Word Perfect conversion utility.


Thanks in advance,

Kevin
--
Kevin S. Wiechmann            arpa:  [e-mail]
Rutgers University
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Dean's Office


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Bill Roberts)
Subject: vectors in QD
Date: 8 Feb 88 18:14:49 GMT
Organization: High Altitude Obs./NCAR, Boulder, CO

I'm trying to develop a routine to display a table of date representing
vectors. I was wondering if QD has a call to draw a vector (i.e. a line
segment of  specified length with an arrow at the end of it).  If QD
doesn't support this can anyone suggest a quick and dirty way to do it?

Thanks,

--Bill
--
UUCP: {hplabs, seismo, nbires, noao}!hao!bill
CSNET: [e-mail]
ARPA: [e-mail]
INTERNET: [e-mail]

  "... the Eagle Wing palace of the Queen Chinee'"


------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: TeXtures upgrade (was: TeXtures and LaserWriter 5.0)
Date: 8 Feb 88 17:54:28 GMT
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department

I was surprised to received in the mail TeXtures v1.1 (or something
similar), an upgrade which makes TeXtures become MultiFinder compatible,
and it is supposed to fix the laserwriter incompatibility. It has some
other  enhancements, such as folders to load fonts, formats and files at
startup from specific folders.

Looks good!

Jaime Moreno


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Jon W. Backstrom)
Subject: Trojan Horse?  Sour grapes?
Date: 8 Feb 88 17:59:27 GMT
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

I thought I had a curiosity...but now I'm worried.  I have a few icons
on my Mac II hard disk system that have become 'grapes'.  When I showed
this to someone, he thought he remembered this symptom as being one
associated with a trojan horse or worm.

Is this the case?  Is there something out there that might be lurking in
my files?  Or can this phenomena be explained in some rational way?

The icon looks like a cluster of grapes on it's side....anyone else seen
this?  Thanks for any and all help....sorry if this make me seem
'silly'.

--
Jon Backstrom                "Yah sure...we gonna have fun, you bet!"
Computer Science Department
Indiana University           ARPA: [e-mail]
Bloomington, IN  47405       UUCP: {pyramid,ihnp4,pur-ee,rutgers}!iuvax!viking


------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Suitcase versus Font/DA Juggler
Date: 8 Feb 88 00:45:18 GMT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)

I'm not sure if F/DA J can handle other resources, such as the INTL
resource. I'm sure that a call to ALSoft would answer that question.
(713 353-1510).

I do know that Suitcase has one feature that F/DA J doesn't; it uses a
proprietary algorithm to sort the available fonts alphabetically which
works faster than Apple's Menu Manager. I don't know any details, so
please don't ask I saw this info on CompuServe, and I have experienced
it myself, since I own both products. I use F/DA J, though, the time
savings is only in starting apps, and I generally don't change
applications much. miniWriter is slow in coming up, though.
--
Ray Davidson
CIS : 71121,572
GENie : raydavidson
UUCP : ...sun!cup.portal.com!ray_ray_davidson
Snail Mail:
22422 Walnut Circle South, #A
Cupertino CA 95014


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Bob McKay)
Subject: Video Controllers for PAL Monitors
Date: 8 Feb 88 04:15:48 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, University College, UNSW, ADFA, Canberra, Australia

We're looking for a video controller card for a MAC II usable with
standard monitors.  None seems to be available in Australia: are any
available  elsewhere?  Intended use: our lecture theatres are fitted out
with video projection systems;  but we're mainly a MacIntosh shop, so
we'd like to be able to marry the two.  I realise we're going to lose on
resolution and refresh rate, but this would be acceptable for the
intended use, even if not ideal. Any ideas, anyone, or should we roll
our own?
       Cheers
--
Bob McKay           Phone ISD:    [phone]        STD: (062) 68 8169
Dept. Computer Science        ACSNET,CSNET:    [e-mail]
Aust. Defence Force Academy    UUCP:    ...!uunet!munnari!csadfa.cs.adfa.oz!rim
Canberra ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA    ARPA:    [e-mail]


------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: the multifinder and ramdisks?
Date: 8 Feb 88 04:32:22 GMT
Organization: Engineering Computer Lab, Pennsylvania State University

I have recently upgraded to the multifinder and have encountered a
problem. I always used a ramdisk (since i only have one drive and 4 meg
of mem in my Mac +) to hold my system files as to avoid the endless disk
swapping.  But when i try  the ramdisk under the multifinder, my system
crashes. Does anyone know of a ramdisk that works with the multifinder?
Thanks for you help.


Andy (j4p@psuecla)



------------------------------

From: aje@nancy (Tone Engel)
Subject: MacRISK has escaped
Date: 8 Feb 88 16:20:21 GMT
Organization: Brown University Computer Science Dept.

Surprise! Surprise! MacRISK has escaped. Those responsible for posting
it to the net should have exercised more restraint. It was not public
domain.

I have been negotiating with Parker Brothers and their Licensee Virgin
Games for over a year about selling MacRISK. Virgin Games has finally
decided they weren't interested. So the bad news is I won't be getting
any richer. The good news is that you're all welcome to keep your
ill-gotten copies.

I am interested in hearing about compatibility problems etc. The
existing version was never intended to be more than a demo. I'm
surprised it runs under multi-finder and on the SE. It doesn't support
color and the computer players are awful.

Since I do have more important things to do (a thesis to write) I can't
promise a new version anytime soon. I'm glad you all like it.
--
-Tone Engel
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CSnet:   [e-mail]                       BITNET:  [e-mail]
ARPAnet: [e-mail]          Phone:     [phone]
UUCP:    ...!{decvax,allegra,ihnp4}!brunix!aje  Box 1910,Brown U.,Prov. RI,02912


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Jon L. Spear)
Subject: Re: Smalltalk for the Mac SE?
Date: 9 Feb 88 04:57:27 GMT
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology; WPAFB, OH

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jeff Stearns) writes:
>Is there a Smalltalk which:
>    - exists now
>    - runs on the Macintosh SE

>From APDAlog V3, N1, Jan88, page 30, Smalltalk-80(TM) v.0.4 runs on Mac
plus, SE or II with at least 1MB RAM, hard disk recommended. It's based
on an early version of the current Xerox (nee ParcPlace) product, but is
currently unsupported. Rumor has it that Apple is working on a supported
version, but who knows... You get 4 ds floppies and a 94 page manual for
$75 + $1.13 shipping, but you must first join APDA ($20/yr,
[phone]).

Xerox's spinoff ParcPlace Systems offers three versions of Smalltalk-80
for the Mac, with support (if you are willing to pay for it). There are
two versions for the Mac Plus or SE (but run on the II), a stripped down
one for about $700, and a full developers package for $995. A version
optimized for the Mac II is $1295. Too rich for me, but ParcPlace will
tell you it is a bargain. If you are a Degree-Granting Educational
Institution, you can get the latter two for $99.50 or $129.50. All
require at least 2MB RAM. These are the definitive Smalltalk-80
environments with essentially the same features as and compatibility
with Smalltalk-80 for the Sun, Apollo, or HP workstations. I don't have
their blurb in front of me, but I think they claimed to be able to use
desk accessories and are even multifinder compatible. They are at
[phone].

I have no experience or connection with any of the above, but hope to
have seen one or two of them in the next few months. Oh, there is also
rumor that the Smalltalk/V people (with a popular Messy-DOS Smalltalk)
may be working on a Mac version.

- Jon Spear, [e-mail]

With computers we can make millions, and soon billions of mistakes each
second.


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Andrew C. Esh)
Subject: Re: Finder 6.0 in "Scourge of the Killer Icons"
Date: 8 Feb 88 19:41:19 GMT
Organization: EMS/McGraw-Hill, Eden Pairie, MN


    The problem with the icons is not a new "bug" in Finder 6.0, it is a
misuse of the mask by some developers.  In Tech Note #147, last
paragraph, Apple tells us that the icon mask should be just that, a
"solid black copy of the icon, containing no holes." The problem comes
with the new color environment on the Mac II, where the mask is needed
to punch holes in what may be a color background.  I have noticed bits
of color hanging around inside some icons after they have been moved or
uncovered.  This is probably because the mask wasn't there to clean up
first.
    While I'm up here on the soapbox ... RTFM seens to apply more to Mac
developer's than most.  Probably because the Mac depends on the
developer to get things right, rather than have the user muddle through
life in the command line lane.  I'm reminded of the tourists in Florida
who gather wherever there is a "Do not feed the Alligators" sign to feed
the alligators.  Sooner or later, one of them gets chomped.  Pay
attention, folks, not so you can troop along behind some BIG company's
standards, but rather avoid the embarassment of getting your bits
nibbled off as you explore the frontier. :-)


--
Andrew C. Esh        DOMAIN: [e-mail]     APPLELINK: D0492
EMS/McGraw-Hill      UUCP: ihnp4!meccts!ems!andrew      AT&T: [phone]


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (John Delaney)
Subject: Apple HD Backup weirdness
Date: 9 Feb 88 15:54:21 GMT
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA

I am trying to figure out whether the weirdness I have recently
encountered using the latest release of HD Backup is some quirk of my
configuration (DAs, INITs, CDEVs) or a common bug. PLEASE: no flames
that I should be using Fastback or DiskFit or something else. I just
want something simple and cheap (it came with the system).

I am running an SE with 1MB of memory and an HD20, absolutely
vanilla-flavored Apple throughout. Since the new system software
release, I have noticed when doing full backups that the estimate of
sides needed is 2-4 sides too low and the 0-100% bar reachs  100% long
before the backup is done (but consistent with the  number of sides
estimate). The number of disks used is distinctly  higher than seems
necessary for the number of bytes HD Backup  says I need to back up. But
then that number is lower than the number of bytes used by a good
amount.

Weird, eh? Comments anyone?

John


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (joseph faber)
Subject: LW II NT Startup Page
Date: 9 Feb 88 20:04:37 GMT
Organization: Harvard Univ. Science Center

Apple's new LaserWriter II is a beauty! However, its new compliment of
ports, ADB, SCSI, and LocalTalk, do not allow the usual fix for getting
rid of the usual Startup Page.

As I understand it, the previous fix was (taken from a text file posted
in 1986 to CompuServe): "Change setting on LaserWriter to 1200 baud.
Connect a DB-9 to Mini-8 cable from a Mac Plus to the LaserWriter.  Run
a terminal program set to 1200 baud, 8 bits, 2 stop, no parity.
    Type: executive[cr]
    LW: PostScript(tm) Version 23.0
        Copyright(c)1984 Adobe Systems Incorporated.
        PS>
    Type: serverdict begin 0 exitserver statusdict begin false
            setdostartpage[cr]
    LW: %%[ exitserver: permanent state may be changed ]%%"

Well, I assume the same dialogue with the Postscript driver is
appropriate, the question is, how do you do it?

Apple notes briefly in the owner's manual that the LaserWriter II NT
will always print the startup page unless you have changed the
Postscript setting.

I would really appreciate any help on this.

          Joseph Faber


------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Apple System Software Available on Portal
Date: 8 Feb 88 21:05:17 GMT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - - -
     NEW MACINTOSH SIG ON PORTAL IS LOWEST COST WAY TO GET
                    NEW APPLE SYSTEM SOFTWARE - Cupertino, Calif.,
February 8, 1988 -- Portal Communications announced today that the
Phoenix Macintosh SIG (special interest group) available on the Portal
System(TM) now has available for downloading the new Apple Macintosh
system software.  Some of the programs available for downloading
include:

               Clipboard                Keyboard 3.2
               Color 3.2                Monitors 3.2
               DA Handler 1.0           Mouse 3.2
               Easy Access 1.0          MultiFinder 1.0
               Finder 6.0               Scrapbook 2.3
               General 3.2              Sound 3.2
               Key Layout 2.2           Startup Device 3.2
                                        System 4.2 - The Phoenix
Macintosh SIG is independently run by two system operators (sysops), Bob
Murrow and Mark Cookson.  "I think Portal is going to be the fastest and
lowest cost way Mac users can get this software.  It's certainly going
to be a lot less expensive than any of the other online services or even
buying the disks from Apple," says Murrow.  Phoenix also boasts a large
collection of Hyperstacks, the "software" used by the new Apple
Hypercard program.  "We've probably got the largest collection of
Hyperstacks in the country and because of the resources of the Portal
System, Bob and I don't have to worry about running out of disk space,"
said Cookson.  Both sysops can be reached via electronic mail on Portal.
- Portal Communications provides online communications service for
companies, organizations, and individuals.  The Portal System(TM) is an
all-purpose online communications network which includes electronic mail
, on-line conferences, matching, a type of introduction service, and
computer meetings, a form of real-time computer party line. Typical
applications include customer support, user group communications,
electronic bulletin boards, advertising, and information distribution.
Portal provides connections to many other networks including Usenet, an
international conferencing network, and to UUCP, ARPA, BITNET and other
mail networks.  Portal may be reached by modem for information or online
signup at 408/725-0561 (300/1200/2400 bps), or through the Telenet
public data network (c portal or c portal,id,pw for pursuit users).
Telephone inquires should be directed to 408/973-9111. -
                              (30)
--
Portal Communications Company
19720 Auburn Drive
Cupertino, CA 95014
Contact:
Phil Sih 408/973-9111 (voice)
         408/725-0561 (data)
[e-mail]
sun!portal!cup.portal.com!phil_sih


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Dave Platt)
Subject: Rumor of new Apple video card & monitor
Date: 10 Feb 88 00:01:21 GMT
Organization: Coherent Thought Inc., Palo Alto CA

The 2/8/88 issue of InfoWorld has an interesting rumor concerning a
possible new video card and monitor for the Mac II allegedly being
developed by Apple.

Briefly:  the monitor, code-named "Fred", is a 21" monochrome display
supporting 256 levels of gray scale;  includes tilt/swivel stand, flat
tension mask for reduced glare, and comes in a "reduced-size case"
(whatever that means in a 21" monitor).  Resolution is reportedly 1280
by 1024.

The video card, code-named "Barney", features an on-board 68000
processor which off-loads the graphics processing from the Mac II's CPU.
 [QuickDraw patches, anyone?].

"The unit" is expected to run $1600-$1800;  the article didn't say
whether the price is for the monitor alone, card alone, or both.  An
Apple spokesperson declined to confirm or deny the reports, citing
Apple's standard policy of not commenting on unannounced products.
Apple has allegedly seeded samples of tthe monitor and card to some
developers.


--

Dave Platt
  UUCP:    ...!{ames,sun,uunet}!coherent!dplatt
  Internet: coherent![e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]


------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Richard Siegel)
Subject: LSC and RamSDOpen()
Date: 9 Feb 88 21:51:59 GMT


The reason that RamSDOpen() is returning -98 when trying to open the
printer port is probably because the printer port is configured for use
with AppleTalk; consult the Serial Manager chapter of Inside Mac volume
II for more details.

There's a low-memory global called PortBUse, the bits in which tells you
what port b's being used for...

        --Rich
--
===================================================================
Richard Siegel
THINK Technologies, QA Technician (on leave)

The opinions stated here do not represent the policies
of THINK Technologies or of Carnegie-Mellon University.

Arpa: [e-mail]
UUCP: {decvax,ucbvax,sun}!andrew.cmu.edu!rs4u
==================================================================

------------------------------

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