-----

Addressed to everyone on the net to see if they've heard this
one too; but mostly addressed to the folks at Atari...I'd like
to have this either confirmed or denied please.

I've heard the following rumour on several BBS' the past week or
two, and today had someone who usually only passes along rumours
which he has the inside scoop on tell me about it again. The rumour
is that Atari has officially dropped the 8-bit line of computers.
All production and support for the XE line has been cancelled...
computers and peripherals both. The only 8-bit product not completely
dropped is the XEGS, and that is being sold to Atari Games.

So what's the deal? Has everyone here in NJ lost their minds, or is
this (SAY IT ISN'T SO) unfortunately true?

                        -Ray

wilm@topaz.rutgers.edu

I also would love to get my hands on an EMACS like editor.  I typically
use Textpro to edit files, but it is more a word processor than a program
editor and the word processing features can sometimes get in the way
(for example, the program always has word wrap on, so when I get into
it I have to hit ctrl-y [I think] to turn it off).  

Albert Yarusso,
CPU 2783
30 Lowenthal Dr.
Rochester, NY  14623
__________________________________________________________________   ** ** **
| Albert Yarusso        | Rochester Institute of Technology      |   ** ** **  
| ajy2@ritvax.bitnet | Computer Science (Don't use a Sun too  |   ** ** **
| ajy2208.ritcv.rit.edu | long -- you might get a Sunburn).      |  **  **  **
| "God does not play dice with the universe." -- Albert Einstein | **   **   **
|________________________________________________________________| Atari Rules!

To Mike McPeak:
It's in the mail, rate same as US, $5. If you don't like it just return it.

To the newsgroup:
Sorry to reply on the net etc, but you know how it is.  Gee if I'd known
there'd be so much interest in my editor I'd have charged more. :-)  I
was thinking about expanding its file access mode to do all dup.sys does,
and having it live under the basic rom, accessed through the DOS command.
Worthwhile?  Then I WOULD charge more. :-)
-Stan

I know I should have posted this long ago, but...

The Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts presents the MACE Expo,
May 6 and 7 at the Detroit Metro Airport Hilton Hotel.

Representatives from Atari US and Atari Canada will be there, along with
regional Atari dealer representatives and Atari MIDI reps.

Among the exhibitors (that I can remember) are WordPerfect Corp.,
Alpha Systems, ICD Inc., CodeHead Software, DataQue, Gribnif, TimeWorks
and more..

DataQue is planning on showing the Turbo 8-16 accellerator board for the
8-bit Atari systems and Bob Puff (creator of SuperUnArc among others) will
hopefully be displaying his "Black Box" Super Interface for the 8-bit,
for the first time.

Darek Mihocka will be introducing his last version of the ST-Xformer 8-bit
emulator for the ST at the show.

Seminars are planned on a wide variety of subjects, presented by representativ
from many of the companies in attendance.

Admission is $5.00 for both days, and the seminars are free.

The show will be open from 10AM to 6PM on Saturday, and 10AM to 5PM Sunday.

The Hilton Hotel is offering a special rate of only $55 per room, and
there will be drawings for doorprizes throughout the day. One vendor is
holding a special drawing for an ST system...

The show is user group oriented, with special discounts offered by vendors
for user group members, and many user groups will have booths set up
offering memberships in their groups.  Any user groups who are interested
in having a FREE booth at the show should call for information.

The MACE Expo "hotline" for information is: (313) 973-8825

Bob Reteel says he knows what I'm dreaming of........

Bob, why not?   With a little help from canada who has come up
with a speech synthesizer about the same size as the folio,
why wouldn't it work?

Anything bigger than my tiny tandy pocket puter's gotta be better!
even if it doesnt 'talk' I still have a bigger screen & keyboard
to work with.....

Thanks bob, I know you worked hard, with many others to get the
special rates for handicapped pc pursuiters.....
Gotta call my doctoir on monday first thing & get that letter!

Sunny

In article <1@cup.portal.com> SunSh@cup.portal.com (Lisa T Raine) writes:
| Bob Reteel says he knows what I'm dreaming of........
|
| Bob, why not?   With a little help from canada who has come up
| with a speech synthesizer about the same size as the folio,
| why wouldn't it work?
|
| Anything bigger than my tiny tandy pocket puter's gotta be better!
| even if it doesnt 'talk' I still have a bigger screen & keyboard
| to work with.....
|
  I too must beg to differ with Mr.  Retelle.  With appropriate
text-to-speech software, the Portfolio would be ideal for Lisa's needs.
Remember, folks, Portfolio is an MS-DOS(tm) compatible, with a built-in
speaker!

--
   |||   Ken Badertscher  (ames!atari!kbad)
   |||   Atari R&D System Software Engine
  / | \  #include <disclaimer>

Lisa Raine asks about the Atari Portfolio...

(Regarding its use for the handicapped, and my reply that it wouldn't be
 suitable..)

That's the problem... the "Atari" Portfolio is a toy computer which is only
being marketed by Atari... they had nothing to do with its development,
and as far as I know, nothing to do with its manufacture.. they're just
slapping an Atari label on it...

The Portfolio has no standard interfaces or "ports" on it, so any devices
like speech synthesizers which needed an RS-232 interface, would be useless..

There are no "internal card slots" to use standard IBM PC style expansion
cards (actually, that's understandable, given the compact size), so that
avenue of expansion is closed..

There is no provision for attaching any standard printers or disk drives...

There is virtually *NO* software available for it, despite the fact that it
will *RUN* any MS-DOS programs, because of the "RAM-Card" storage device..
(try an experiment... call any IBM software store, and ask them how many IBM
programs they have... then ask them how many of those are available *now* on
"RAM-Cards"...  if they're polite, they'll wait until after they hang up
before they laugh..)

There *IS* built-in software provided with the Portfolio...  anyone who plans
to use a "Lotus 1-2-3" spreadsheet clone with an 8-line by 40 character
display, raise their hands...        I didn't think so...

There is a "wordprocessor" built-in, but with no printer support, and no
disk drives to easily port your documents (again, typed on an 8-line by
40 character display), it's nothing but an electronic "notepad"...

Supposedly you'll be able to buy a "RAM-Card drive" to attach to a "real"
computer so that you can transfer data from the Portfolio to a more capable
machine for printing or whatever..  add the cost of that to the Portfolio's
original cost...

There *is* a 60 pin connector on the back of the Portfolio which could
theoretically be used to go to a serial/parallel port adapter, but none
are currently available, and unless Atari manages to sell an awful lot
of Portfolios, I don't expect to see much in the way of this kind of
peripherial...

In short, Atari has found a convenient "short term profit" vehicle, which
has the added advantage of attracting a lot of Press coverage because it
has the "magic word," MS-DOS attached to it...  

I expect to see the Atari Portfolio a year from now, if indeed we see it
at all, in Perry Drug Stores, right next to the Timex/Sinclair 1000...
or given away free with every air-conditioner from Crazy Fred's appliance
store, like the Atari/Hartech calculators...

To get back to Lisa's original question...    by the time you'd add all the
things missing from the Portfolio, you'd have a monstrosity that would be
twice as big and expensive, and far more bulky, than a "real" computer
that had all those features built-in...

The Portfolio sounds nice when you read the publicity releases.. but take
a closer look before getting your hopes up...

BobR

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO BOB RETELLE'S RATHER ONE-SIDED POSTING RE PORTFOLIO:

in article <1@cup.portal.com>, Bob_BobR_Rete@cup.portal.com says:

1) It is most certainly NOT a toy - not when some large companies show
        interest in buying large quantities for internal use.
2) Atari has been VERY closely involved in development - all packaging and
        production engineering has been done by Atari/Japan. Design eng'g
        and software features have also be with Atari's full participation.
3) Atari is solely responsible for its manufacture.

Portfolio has a very flexible "bus-style" connector, making it easy to
develop customized dumb or intelligent cables for all manner of expansion
possibilities, and not just slow RS232. Indeed, Atari is developing several
such options.

One of the interface cables will allow direct connection to a PC Bus.

See comments re cables interface above.

But how many, subject to copyright issues, could be downloaded via the
intelligent cable into the battery-backed RAM card? And some packages have
a license which allows you to have copies on more than one system provided
you only use one of them at a time. Of course, some users might just like to
develop their own programs and download them - no copyright problems at all!

Sure beats a pencil (and eraser!!), calculator and pocket notebook!

See previous comments re connectability etc.

.... which is a remarkably low entry-level price in the first place - about
equal to the sales tax on a full blown system?.

See above.

Not to mention attracting a lot of potential buyer coverage.

You certainly will see it a year from now. You'll also see it a lot sooner,
provided your eyes (and mind?) are open.

Of course, a "real" computer probably wouldn't weigh a pound or so and
fit in a normal briefcase, purse etc. And the size/cost estimates are wildly
imaginative!

... and then you'll see that publicity releases, press articles, and word of
mouth just can't do it justice - it's even better!

Roy Good / Atari

I, for one. appluade Roy Good@ATARI for his reply!!

I am happy to see someone from
Atari repsond to flames about
Vaporware product announcements!!

I can't wait to see the new Atari Portfolio P.C.!!!

So, thanks Roy for your comments about the new Portfolio (tm).
I sure hope that it will make a lot of $$ for Atari!!

Richard (One of the Original SLiMers!!!) Covert

The following message is being posted for Dennis Beach, who doesn't have
write access to the net at this time..  Please don't Reply to this
message; rather, mail him using the address at the bottom of the
message.  (even though I'll gladly forward any messages I receive
to him)..
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curious,

    Yes, the Indus rumors you have heard are perfectly correct.  I bought
the upgrade to bring its memory to 64K.  I also have tech notes for the
drive which include the whole operating system source code!  I have had
lots of fun with it.  After looking through the tech notes, it looked
possible to read a whole track in at a time and write it back (it would
make quite a copy program).  I was able to read the whole track (including
inter-sector info), but could not get it written back properly.  The 64K
board plugs right into the main board (nothing but a screwdriver necessary).
I ordered mine from a mail-order place called "black patch systems" which
I found in Antic magazine.  The tech notes I recieved when I bought the
Indus used from a good friend.  One more thing, Indus has been bought out
or something and the company is named "Future Systems".  The address/phone
is:
    Future Systems, Inc.
    9811 Owensmouth Avenue, Suite 9
    Chatsworth, CA 91311
    (818) 407-1647

                    - Dennis Beach
                       Atari hardware hacker
                        f@mentor.cc.purdue.edu