Conference 7.286::atarist

    re .0
    
    Don't hold your breath... I was one of the first ST owners (class of
    late summer 1985) and have been awaiting a new more powerful ST for a
    long time. But as the weeks turn to months turn to years, that day
    looks further and further away. I've been using my ST as a terminal
    from day one, and have used it non-stop since the day I bought it. For
    the price, it's the best around.
    
    Atari seems content to stay right where they are, and that means the
    US gets second priority. But we can all hope.
    
    								-mike-
    

    
    This week's EE Times had an article on a new pint-sized pocket PC made
    for Atari under license by an English firm.  The price was under $350,
    but it has no disk drives and a 40 column display.  Credit-card
    size memory cards are used as either ROM or RAM, with 128K capacity.
    
    The Pocket PC is just 8" x 4" x 1" and weighs one pound.  It has
    128K RAM and 256K ROM.
    
    What appeared to be innovative was the design of the power system.
    To conserve it's three AA batteries, the system actually powers
    down nonessential circuitry between keystrokes!  
                                                                        
    The designers essentially created an entire PC compatible on one
    CMOS IC.
    
    Ed.

   Hi,

       I received a telefax with the technical specifications of the new Atari
   ST pocket computer. Since it is a copy of a fax, I couldn't decrypt all
    very well. So there could be errors.

       This product will be released in May 1989 in Belgium, price will be
    24000 Bfr (320 pounds, 600$). If possible can anyone reply in the next
    note if they know the prices in the US or th UK.

       Is this product already released in the UK. ( The UK is only a boat
    trip away from Belgium)

       Here are some of the details :
   - Pocket sized IBM PC compatible.
   - Weighs less than 450 g( 1 lb)
   - 63 Key QWERTY Keyboard
   - 40 characters * 8line Graphics LCD screen.
   - Credit-Card Memory works like a disk
   - Expansion connector for peripherals
   - ROM based MSDOS compatible O.S. and application software.

       A suite of five applications software programs, including a Lotus 123
   compatible spreadsheet, address book with telephone auto-dialler,
   calculator, text processor and diary are run from the ROM built into the
   Pocket PC. This ROM software includes the operating system with BIOS,
   equivalent to MSDOS 2.11. 

   Availability :

       Distributed Information Processing (DIP) has signed a licensing
   agreement with Atari Corporation of Sunnyvale, California covering the
   manufacturing and marketing by Atari of the Pocket PC product.

       DIP have the rights to sell the product alongside Atari in the UK under
   its own label and derivatives of the Pocket PC technology for specialist
   applications.


   Now for more details :

   TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
   HARDWARE

       Processor        80c88, 4.9152 MHz clock speed

       Internal RAM     up to 256k including an internal RAM disk configurable
                        from 8k to 224k

       Internal ROM     256k contains BIOS, OS and full applic. suite.

       Screen           Graphics LCD, IBM Monochrome Adapter(MDA) text
                        compatible. Chars : 40 col. * 8 lines.
                        Graphics : 240 * 64 pixels

       Keyboard         63 keys, IBM PC BIOS compatible. Buried numeric pad and 
                        Function keys

       Character Set    IBM extended ASCII (full 255 characters)

       Sound            Speaker with DTMF tone dialling ability

       Mass Storage     Memory Card (32k/128k RAM, 32k/256k ROM)

       Power Supply     3 * AA Penlite (6-8 weeks regular use)
                        Mains adaptor (110/230 V)

       Memory Backup    For changing main batteries

       Expansion port   60 pin Pocket PC expansion BUS for peripherals

   CASING

       Dimensions       180 mm (l), 90 mm (w), 27 mm(h)
                        [7 ins(l), 3 ins(w), 1 in(h)]

       Weights          Approximately 450 grams (1 lb) including batteries

       Keyboard         Plastic (ABS) key tops.

   PERIPHERALS using Expansion Port

       Mem'y expansion  RAM expansion upto 640K, with extra memory card slot.
                        This peripheral extends the the expansion BUS so it is
                        possible to use other peripherals.

       PC Card Drives   This is installed in a half-height slot in the PC or AT 
                        like a normal disk drive and is used in exactly the
                        same way as an extra drive (eg. D:\)

       Communications   Combined RS232 & Centronics Parallel

       Smart Cable      Provides two-way file transfer with a PC and printing
                        using the parallel port.

       Applications     Software supplied on PROM or ROM cards.

   SOFTWARE on ROM


   Pocket PC Operating System MS-DOS 2.12 compatible

   - Additional "OFF" command that can be used from os, which switches the
   machine off

   - "MODE" command to switch the screen management between 40*8 mode, 80*25
   and 'follow the cursor' modes.

   - All MS-DOS 2.11 internal commands supported and some external DOS
   commands; eg. FORMAT, CHKDSK and more...
   
   PC Compatible ROM BIOS with extended functions
   
   - Auto switch off and power conservation management
   - Screen contrast control
     Screen modes handle 'virtual window management'
     Internal permanent RAM disk management; user sizeable
     Keyboard tactile feedback and lock status indicator
     Tone dialing (DTMF) support
   
   Applications software interface
   
   Consistent user interface and menu selection
   Clipboard for data exchange between modules
   Inter application UNDO function
   
   Lotus 1-2-3 file compatible spreadsheet
   
   - Spreadsheet with 127 columns and 255 rows
   - Calculation by natural order at high speed
   - Reads and writes Lotus Version 1 & 2.01 files (*.wkf) ???
   - 123-like commands
   - All non-db and non-graph functions supported such as @SUM,@IF,@NPV etc.
   
   Time Manager
   
   - Comprehensive calendar and diary
   - 'Wake-up' alarams even when the Pocket PC is off
   - Entries can be repeated daily, weekly, workday or yearly
   - Fast data entry and easy movement of appointments
   
   Address and phone book
   
   - Card index system; switch between phone list of each name with telephone
     number and a detailed card on the full screen.
   - Automatic finding and dialling of any number of telephone numbers per
     entry via DTMF tone dialer
   - Entries sorted on entry and can be selected into different categories and
     saved separately if desired
   
   Text Processor
   
   - Comprehensive and easy to use text editor
   - Optional word wrap at any column width
   - Line and column count
   - String search and replace
   - Handles any printer and word processor control codes
   
   Sophisticated Calculator
   
   - Editable tape; calculations can be reviewed and edited 
   - Multiple display formats and memories
   - Factorial, power and root functions
   
   Communications software
   
   - PC/Pocket PC file transfer via 'Smart Cable'
   - Printing using Parallel or RS232 Serial communications
   - Telephone tone dialling directly from phone book



       Well that is it for now. I read some more info about DIP in an other
   article. It stated that a lot of the people at DIP worked previously for
   PSION on the Organizer. They should at least have the feeling for pocket
   computers.

    -From an article in 'Which Computer', March '89-
    
    The Atari 'Folio', basic model price in the U.K. is said to be 
    199 Pounds + (V.A.T.?).
    
    This for a 128K machine, which is NON-USER UPGRADEABLE memory wise
    (surface-mount chips). 
    
    Article reports that DIP likely to be first in U.K. offering 256K
    configuration, but price unreported.
    
    Looks 'dinky', but not a real keyboard users machine, bit like
    Sinclair's old 'rubber-key' ZX81.
    
    Lot's of features though.
    
    Ken.T.

    In the UK Atari just announced a 1 meg Mega ST, and there is talk
    or repricing the 1040, and bundling things like Steinberg 12 in
    some special deals. There is talk in the UK of a ST+, with stereo
    sound etc. I think it still uses a 68000 at 8meg. The next step up would practicaly be a 
    68020/68030 but those chips are heavier prices. The 68010 was just a VM
    version with the same clock rate.                   
    Some of this is in a mag called ST WORLD, which may be UK only. Also the
    UNIX box from ATARI may be where they think they should be putting
    money. Unfortunately, I don't think they will fair well in that
    space without a proper sales organisation (me me!!). The ST is hot
    stuff over here, I've used mine for 3 years now. I wrote a small
    C benchmark (integer arith only) when I was looking at it and ran
    the same in our marketing centre on a 11/780 (remember them). 
    The ST worked out at 70% of a 11/780 in raw cpu cycles. Probably
    faster since V4 & V5 of VMS. What do you want for a few hundred
    notes. Jack is in good shape. The PC guys are still bashing the
    rocks together. He can afford to wait for chips to come down in
    price again before he moves again.

    
    
    Has anybody heard anything about a product called STacey. This was
    supposed to be a Portable ST (laptop) I assume. I have literally
    heard about this once only and not from what I would call a definitve
    source.
    
    		Paul.
    
    

    Hello Paul,
    
    	There was a mockup of the STACEY at one of the us trade shows,
    Comdex?. (according to one of the ST magazines). There was a picture and
    a brief description. It will have a tracker ball instead of a mouse,
    mounted on the right hand side of the keyboard. (What about left handed
    users?). It appeared to have a folding screen ALA all the PC laptops.
    It was supposed to be 640X400 pixels. The rest of the guts like a
    standard ST, (I cant remember the memory size)
    
    Cheers
    
    Pat K.

    My understanding is that the portable exists here in Sunnyvale. No word
    on real delivery dates/prices.
    
    Rumor has it that Atari will be showing off its 68030 UN*X workstation
    at the Hannover fair this year. It's supposed to be able to run GEM
    applications in a window...
    				- HBM

When is the Hannover show?  I thought it was this week?  A 68030 ST (or more
appropriately "TT") would be GREAT!!  Whether it was restricted to UNIX or not.
I had heard rumors that TOS 1.4 was running on a 68030 Atari, but you know 
rumors...

Scott

    	I never thought I would say this about Atari, because I've been so
    positive about Atari for so long, but...
    
    	Why do I get the feeling that Atari is moving backwards in time
    technically. A new micro MS-DOS PC with a 40 column display, and up to
    200k ramdisk, applications in ROM, with a toy keypad. How can anyone get 
    excited about that! I don't care if the whole thing fits on a bloody watch
    face, that's not the direction I thought we were all going.. When Atari
    masterfully brought out the ST in 1985 it had a mouse/bit mapped display/and
    windows and above all, it was cheap.
    
    	This is 1989 people, come on - a micro PC..get real. When are we
    going to get something other then a repackaged ST (ie. MEGA)? How may
    more rumors will there be before Atari announces and SHIPS an actual 
    competitive product? 
    
    	The fact that Atari is doing very well in Europe is well known, and 
    can in part, be attributed to Atari's management priorities and not their
    technical achievements...
                                                		-mike-
    								

    
    Re .10
    
    Hello Mike,
    
    However much you may despise the pocket (toy) machines they appear		
    to be filling a niche market (in Europe anyway). 
    There is already an excellent truly portable m/c on the market the
    Sinclair Z88, there is also the PSION Organiser, a very big seller,
    with an even smaller key pad. This has been purchased by a number of
    large business for data entry, Milk and bread roundsmen, surveyors etc.
    
    To my knowledge ther are at least two other firms developing portable=
    pocket machines. Psion is one and a Californian company called POQUET?
    
    The claim is that Atari will move 500,000 units of their pocket P.C.
    this year alone. Not bad for a toy. Because this is really what we are
    talking about. An electronic filofax and status symbol for the YUPPIE!.
    
    For a truly portable machine to suceed you have to adopt the policy of
    Sinclair and Psion and Atari. This is small size, light weight low
    power consumption, no operational noise, easy file transportation,
    calander alarm diary database spreadsheet wp all in rom. However you
    need to be a really dedicated business person to actually need to own
    one!
    
    Cheers for now.
    
    Pat Keane.
    	

    I intend to buy a small laptop very shortly, but I can't afford
    anything too expensive; the ATARI or the Z88 seem to be the best
    bet. Unfortunately, the ATARI display has only 40 columns while
    the Z88 has 80 plus other small status areas.
    
    The Z88 also has a more usable keyboard (due to its larger size).
    Add to this the fact that Cambridge computers are reducing the price
    of the Z88 and it appears that they offer the best value for money.
    
    Unfortunately, the storage medium for the Z88 is Eproms. This seems
    both clever and strange. Does anyone know anything about how much
    storage space these Eproms represent ? How many Eproms represent
    the total storage area ? And if you can write to a specific Eprom ?

    
    This is my only concern about the Z88.
    
    If Atari offered an 80 column screen and a slightly larger keyboard
    I might consider them a good buy, but as it is, I wonder just how
    useful their machine is going to be for my purposes (mostly WP).
    
    
    
    				Jamie.

    RE: < Note 416.12 by INCH::BADMAN "Food is for Blimps" >


>    Unfortunately, the storage medium for the Z88 is Eproms. This seems
>    both clever and strange. Does anyone know anything about how much
>    storage space these Eproms represent ? How many Eproms represent
>    the total storage area ? And if you can write to a specific Eprom ?

    
    The group I work in in hudson, ma, is looking for laptops for use in
the semiconductor fab areas.  We evaluated the Z88.  It was ok, it had 
some problems. 
    Basically, the system uses a cmos Z80 cpu.  The system doesn't have any
mass storage capability, though it is rumored to be on the way.  So currently
you use the ram for program/data storage.  They sell RAM packs to expand
the memory using bank switching, to 1 meg.  You do not use eproms for data
storage.  The system has a serial port connector, but I do not believe it
is standard rs232.  When connected to a decserver, it could not work as a
terminal.  We had to order a special serial adaptor plug, that has some
extra electronics in it ( so ive been told by somone else in my group ), to
make it work with standard rs232.  Cambridge charges I think it was $19 for
the connector, and there was a long waiting list.  The machine is actually
manufactured by you guessed it, sinclair in europe (famous makers of the
sinclair ZX81 computer).  I guess thats about all the info I have on it.

Bill Powers

    The Z88 uses EPROM as a form of mass storage. Sinclar also offers
    an eprom eraser so you can use the EPROMs again. I think you can
    buy them up to 128k.
    
    When you buy it in the States now you also get Laplink. I've a friend
    that uses one and uploads his work to his Tandy SX1000. Works fine for
    him.                
    
    It's a good little machine. My friend is in love with it and will
    be selling his Toshiba 1000 now. 
    

    Atari makes it to the big time at SIGGRAPH. They actually had a booth
  there (for the first time?), and the new "Hard Drivin'" video game showed
  up in both Texas Instruments' and Analog Devices' booths. 

    The Atari booth contained two ATWs (Atari Transputer Workstation), and
  some sales people handing out literature. It was usually crowded, and it
  seemed like people were impressed by the price/performance ratio. Some
  of the key specifications are: T800 @ 20 mhz, 68000 for I/O (I saw a 1040),
  4 Mb for the T800, 1 Mb video memory, and 512K for the 68000, and 4 video
  modes: a) 1280 x 960, 16 colors, b) 1024 x 768, 256 colors, c) 640 x 480,
  256 colors (must be double buffered?), and d) 512 x 480, 32 bits/pixel or
  "true color". A graphic co-processor is included ("Blossom"), and does
  line draws/square & trapeziod fills at a rate up to 32 Mpixels/sec.

    The sales blurb claims that Xwindows 1.1 runs on Helios (the ATW's
  distributed O/S), and I did see a multiple window system running, but
  couldn't tell if it was X11 or not. 

    (As a side note, one other Transputer box vendor I talked to wasn't
  impressed with the ATW's software, as Helios isn't a standard parallel
  O/S. Unlike Linda, which his machine supported :-)

    The video game "Hard Drivin'" is a very impressive piece of engineering.
  It uses two TMS34010 graphics processors, an Analog Devices ADSP2100
  signal processor, and a 68010. One 34010 draws polygons, while the other
  computes the world model to be rendered. The 2100 takes the model, performs
  transforms, rotates, and clips, to generate polygon coordinates. The 68010 
  does the force feedback calculations for the steering wheel and brakes. 
  All told, it makes for a very realistic driving experience. 

    Rumor tidbit: the game was produced by a team of five people.

  RE: < Note 416.17 by RGB::SCOTT >
                             -< new machines seen >-


    The rumor I've heard about the ATW is that it doesn't support memory
  protection between processes, so you can easily trash the machine.

  Bill Powers