*********›             8-BIT NEWS!!!›         by  Thomas J. Andrews, member› of ACE of Syracuse, and  OL'  HACKERS› ATARI USERS  GROUP,  NY..  An  8  BIT› club!››  ATARI CLASSICS PREMIERS››      Well,  the  long wait is finally› over.  The  Premier  Issue  of  Atari› Classics,    already   affectionately› known as AC, has arrived. ››      For the information of those who› have  been  in  a  cave  for the last› year,   Atari   Classics   is  a  new› magazine  devoted  to  the  users  of› Atari  8-bit  computers.   The  story› behind   its   creation  is  told  in› Managing   Editor   Ben    Poehland's› Premier  Editorial, so I won't repeat› it all here.  Suffice it to say  that› a  few  8-bit users became frustrated› with   the  scattered  8-bit  support› after the demise of  Antic  in  1991.› This  frustration  turned  to action,› and after a mail campaign  to  assess› the    potential    interest,   Atari› Classics was born.›  ›     At first glance, AC looks like  a› thick    club    newsletter.    Those› expecting   full-color  printing  and› glossy paper will be disappointed.  A› fledgling  magazine  like  this  must› necessarily  be produced on a limited› budget, and I think  they've  done  a› fine  job  with  the funds available.› For my part, I'm much more interested› in the content than the form, anyway.› As long as the copy is  clean,  neat,› and  readable,   and   the   magazine› doesn't  fall  apart in my hands, the› form is acceptable to me.  ››       The   basic   structure  of  AC› reminds me a lot  of  Current  Notes,› the  magazine  where   Ben   Poehland› previously held the position of 8-bit› Editor. **  Four  columnists   anchor› the  issue.  Mike  Jewison  writes of› being a "Weekend Hacker",  describing› his  experiences  with a 256k upgrade› for his first 800 computer, and  with› Transkey,  an  IBM keyboard interface› for   the   XL/XE.   Jeff  McWilliams› explains how to print graphics  using› the  printer  port  of   the   XEP80,› complete  with  source  code.   David› Richardson  delves  into  the  use of› Daisy Dot III, a "print processor" of› extraordinary  abilities.   Ed   Hall› does  "The  Garret",  a   column   on› writing  with the 8-bit, and includes› TV   PLOTS,a   program  which  pieces› together a plot for a television show› by randomly selecting elements from a› list.  **   An additional  column  is› called   "Correspondents'   Corner". › This column  doesn't  have  a  single› author,  but  is composed of news and› notes about the 8-bit from around the› world.   **    Interspersed  with the› columns   are   three   articles   by› "Contributing    Authors".     Barton› Bresmik  describes how he uses the 8-› bit in education, both at school  and› at  home.  Alan Sharkis does an essay› on the almost fanatical  exclusionary› attitude  many 8-bit users have about› other machines, and whether  such  an› attitude  really  serves  the   8-bit› community.  Thomas J. Andrews (WHY is› that name so familiar?)  details  his› efforts  at repairing a RAMBO upgrade› in an article reprinted from the  ACE› of Syracuse newsletter.››       One   smaller   department   is› entitled  "Tips  'n'  Tricks",  which› primarily   notifies   users    about› previously undocumented bugs in soft-›  or hard- ware and possible  ways  to› circumvent  them.   Another  is "Swap› 'n' Shop", the classified ad section.› A  unique  feature  of  AC  is   that› subscribers  can  advertise  in  this› area for free, as long as they adhere› to the simple rules.››      These columns and articles cover› a  wide  range  of topics, and almost› any 8-bit user should find  at  least› one  or  two  of interest.  The topic› most notably absent from the  Premier› Issue was that of games, probably the› most   popular  use  for  the  8-bit,› despite protestations to the contrary› that  some might make.  Future issues› will no doubt include this  important› subject.   The  articles  and columns› are all well written and informative.› The  only  real complaint I have with› this issue  is that it was too short.››       Atari    Classics    will    be› distributed  by  subscription  only. › U.S. subscriptions cost $25 per year,› with other rates for outside the U.S.› If  500 subscriptions are received by› the   end  of  1992,  AC  expects  to› publish   6   times  a  year.   Fewer› subscriptions   will   change    that› frequency.  A disk with all published› programs   and   selected   PD    and› Shareware  will  be  available   with› every other issue, or 3 times a year,› for $9 a year.››       A  limited  number  of  Premier› Issues are still available.   To  get› one  FREE,  send  your Postal address› to:   Atari   Classics,   179  Sproul› Road/Rt. 352, Frazer, PA  19355-1958 › **      Authors     of     previously› unpublished  feature  articles   will› receive  $25  and   a   complimentary› issue.    Anyone    interested     in› submitting  articles,   reviews,   or› type-in programs to Atari Classics is› urged to send a SASE (Self-Addressed,› Stamped  Envelope)  to  the   address› above and request an AC Author's Kit.› Following   the   instructions    and› suggestions in this kit will increase› your chances of acceptance.››       Atari   Classics  is  a  worthy› effort, and  deserves  our  support. › For  those  who have been complaining› about  the  lack  of  8-bit  support,› here's your  chance  to  improve  the› situation.  I've sent in my check and› urge all those  interested  in  using› the 8-bit to do the same.  The choice› is yours! SUPPORT IT OR LOOSE IT! Its› a cheap investment to help keep the 8› BIT ALIVE and WELL!››   ** OLD MAGAZINE PROGRAMS: SAVED! **  ››    In response to a question of yours› truly, Rick Reaser Jr., 8-bit  Editor› of  Current Notes, recently asked for› clarification of the policies of  the› 8-bit  libraries  of  Compuserve  and› GEnie concerning the uploading of old› magazine programs.  He was told  that› both  Antic  and  ANALOG  had   given› blanket  permission  for such uploads› while they were still in publication,› but  that Compute! had requested that› they  not  be  allowed.   **    As  a› result  of  Rick's  inquiry,  one  of› Compuserve's 8-bit SYSops  telephoned› the  Compute!  offices  to ask for an› update   on   their  position.  GEnie› representatives soon  followed  suit,› and now both services have permission› to   include   old   Compute!   8-bit› programs  in  their  libraries, too. › These programs must be just  as  they› were  published; altered versions are› not allowed.  Programs which  do  the› modifications  to  the  original  ARE› allowed, however.››      This is great news for the 8-bit› community.  Now these  programs  need› not be denied to those who don't have› access   to   magazine  back  issues.›          ********************         › Thank You!› ** **  TURBO BASIC TIP **  **››      Most 8-bit users know that Turbo› BASIC  XL  makes around 3900 bytes of› extra  RAM  available  for  programs,› over the amount available from  Atari› BASIC.   This  is  also  true  of the› compiler.  But, if you fail  to  hold› down  OPTION   when   booting   Turbo› BASIC's  RUNTIME  file, the extra RAM› is not available because the built-in› BASIC ROM remains switched in.  There› is a simple  solution,  however.   If› you  get  an  ERROR 2 (out of memory)› from   RUNTIME,   and  you  know  the› program should  fit,  you  might  not› have  held  down  OPTION.  Just press› RESET when this happens and it should› disable  the  BASIC  ROM,   and   the› program  will  fit.    No   need   to› reboot!›› ***  (Portions  of  this article were› reprinted from the  ACE  of  Syracuse› Newsletter for Nov/Dec 1992) ***       › Editors note: after this article  was› written  word was received that after› Dec 15, 1992, no more premier  issues› were  going to be sent out, therefore› please ignore the part that  mentions› free  premier  issues,  but  get your› subscriptions in.›               =END= ››