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G.R.A.S.P. GAZETTE
(G rea ter Richmond A taii Suppor {Program)
G.R.A.S.P. is an independent Atari users group not affiliated in
any way with ATARI. INC. Or TRAMIEL ENTERPRISES, INC,
The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the
individual author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of
G.R.A.S.P., its officers or members. The Editor reserves the
riQht to edit any material submitted for publication.
Unless specifically noted otherwise, other user groups are
welcome to reprint articles from this newsletter as long as
credit is given to its author and G.R.A.S.P,
Please send all correspondence and newsletter for
exchange to:
Editor
G.R.A.S.P.
1420 Yale Ave.
Richmond, V a. 23224
GEnte: TOMMARVIN
G.R.A.S.P. Officers: All (804)
President-.
Mickey Angell
Nice President-.
...744-6201
Farley Barge
Secretary [Treasurer.
..379-1935
Dan Grenoble
Pubiic fteiations:
...271-0205
Jack Richford
Newsletter Editor.
..270-2177
Tom Marvin
Program Chairman-,
..233-6155
Frank Leveque
Commerciai librarian:
,..266-8487
Dave Jones
..740-7823
Public Gomam librarian [8 Bit]:
North of the James
Bill Rhodenhise/
South of the James
...747-1766
Carl Dean
North & South [16 Bit]:
Mickey Angell
,744-6201
Tom Marvin
,233-6155
Membership:
Membership in G.R.A.S.P. is open to all persons interested
in the Atari computer. Annual dues of $20.00 are payable
apon entry and are $20.00 for 1 full year.
Membership will include 11 monthly issues of the G.R.A.S.P.
GAZETTE, no January issue and access to the Public Domain
and Commercial libraries, group purchased, club discounts at
participation retailers, and participation in drawings,
Meetings:
Meetings are held the second and fourthWedensday of each
month from 7:00-09:Q0p.m, at the Lyndale Public Library on
Hicks Rd. Any and all persons interested in Atari computers
are welcome!
NEWS AND GRIPES AND MORE NEWS
By Wally Wong, BRACE, taken in part
MAC/65 NO MORE! - How the mighty do die! According to r
Wilkinson, of OSS (Optimized Systems Software, Inc.} and creato. _,
ADOS (DOS for the new 8-bit drivers), as of Aug. 1st, '87, OSS will no
longer be producing the MAC/65! What MAC/65’s are left is what's on the
dealer shelves and their suppliers' warehouses Sad, Sad, Sad. For those
unfamiliar with the product, MAC/65 is, without a doubt, the BEST macro
assembler and editor program for the Ataji 8-bit systems Others may be
easier to use or provide other features, but none are as complete and as
powerful as the MAC/65. You'd find one of these cartridges near any
serious Atari programmer's computer. This may be a sorry indication of
the future of the 8-bits. Sagging sales of such an excellent product means
the interest in software development has declined. Yes, we have
ACTION! and other excellent software development products but still, no
matter what, language you do use, machine language routines are needed
to add the necessary punch and power to your programs. The MAC/65
fits this bill. I suggest if you have any inclination toward software
development or even if to dabble with assembly language, MAC/65 is
something worth getting your hands on. I also suggest you hurry, no
doubt, the prices on the MAC/65 mil probably start to climb; this is going
to become a collectors item!!
1Q5Q's NO MORE - Atari has no more 1050's in stock. If you've been
waiting to purchase a 1050, you may be out of luck. Most ctealers are out
of stock and probably stopped reordering the 1050‘s anticipating the
arrival of the XF-551 .
MAGAZINE GRIPES - Have you seen the last few issues of AN . ,
Gee, where do they find these ideas and images for magazine covers?
They look like they fell out of a 60's trade magazine. The lack of
imagination is appalling, what is this, cover art on a shoestring budget?
The covers remind me of those found on POPULAR MECHANICS - back
in the early 60's.
WE know ANTIC is about Atari, but if you were a computer enthusiast -
neophyte or advance - not familiar with the Ataris (I know, a contradiction
in terms - how can any computer enthusiast not be familiar with the
Ataris!!??) browsing through there favorite newsstand or bookstore, they
would tend to overlook magazines that do not attract their attention. Not
to preach about "telling a book by it's cover", but there a/e a few basics
in marketing and advertising and Dne of them has to do with attracting
attention to your product If we a/e to spread the gospel about how great
and wonderful the Ataris are, we could at least present it with a
respectable cover.
i UPDATE ON THE XF-551 DISK DRIVE - Bill Wilkinson, of
OSS, is writing ADOS, the new Disk Operating System for the
new, double sided, double density, 5 1/4", up to 3 times the
speed of the 1050, soon to be shipped, soon to be on the
dealers shelves XF-551 disk drive. The new drive WILL be
100% compatible with SpartaDos! A patch by ICD will enable
the "ultraspeed" read/write on the new drive. It will have a
suggested list price of $199.00 and probably bo discounted ‘n
around $169.00.
fi.R.d.S.P. Mian
DCfDBCR 1987
ATARI HEMS
Complied by John Nagy
■“■‘'Chigan Atari Magazine Sept. 1987
JNO MONITOR BARGAIN: How about a ST mono monitor
for $79? I read in ABACUS user group newsletter from SAN
FRANCISCO that the FEDERATED stereo chain has them at
$79, regular price. From the prices I've seen, that almost is
worth the airfare to go pick one up. Check it outl
On the games front; M1NDSCAPE will publish "home computer"
versions of ATARI ARCADE games such as PAPERBOY,
GAUNTLET, ROAD RUNNER (ED;Now Out), and others.
You read about the hot upcoming STAR TREK (E drin our
newsletter also) for the ST in my column a few months
bac,.. . well, it may NOT be forthcoming after all. Says STEVE
DUNPHEY of the Rhode Island ACE club, SIMON and
SHUSTER game division folks are incensed that beta copies
got out and circulated in that cesspool of pirates called
BBS's... so much so that they have threatened to pull the
game entirely. Steve saw a copy and wrote about it, all very
positive and eagerly awaiting the commercial release so he
could have a copy, and his article was widely reprinted. Ne<t,
he was on the hot seal for "participating" in the piracy. Hey,
he saw it and tried his best to help promote the company and
the upcoming product. Lets hope that 1) The thing actually
gets released and is as good as it looks, and 2) that priates
don't kill the marketplace. I comment Steve for not keeping
nor passing a hot copy, and thank him for his consistent help
ATARI news gathering,
D Parsons, in his Aug, ‘87 column for the NORTH TEXAS
ATARI COMPUTER TEAM (NTACT), discussed some
distasteful front-row piracy at their ATARIFEST. It seems that
BEST ELECTRONICS sells a ROM cart for the ST that is
"MAGIC SAC COMPATIBLE".., David Small, creator of the
MAGIC SAC (a MACINTOSH EMULATOR cart and software),
doesn't get one cent of the sales made by BEST of this
blatently copied EPROM, as he stated in CURRENT NOTES
magazine a few months back. David actually spoke at length
with the BEST sales rep at the D.C. ATARIFEST. The rep
went into great detail about how much money you could save
by buying the BEST version instead of buying the "too
expensive" REAL MAGIC-SAC... little knowing who he was
talking to
lit appears from these reports that BEST is actually proud of
ripping off the work of some of our BEST, er, sorry, most
inventive programmers. Yet BEST continues to appear at
ATARIFEST after ATARIFEST, and countless club newsletters
carry their ads. ATARI stepped in and absolutely FORBADE
the Pittsburg Atarifest from allowing BACK PATCH SALES
from having a booth, even though they wanted a lot of room
and offered to pay all in advance. BLACK PATCH had
angered too many buyers with "PAY NOW, DELIVER
SOMEDAY" problems... and has since gone bankrupt, We
s hf 'uld hope that ATARI would say SOMETHING about BEST...
i though BEST has a fascinating collection of bizarre and
hard-to-find ATARI m iscellanity. Personally, I don’t need an
ATARI belt buckle (or an ad for MAM'} so badly that l will
support a company that steals from the rest of the industry.
ZMAGAZINE 67
August 21, 1987
(c)1987 Syndicate
ACTIVISION COMING BACK,
CEO SAYS
Activision is "back on the
comeback trail," the software
publisher's new president/CEO
told his shareholders this week at a
meeting in Palo Alto, Calif,
The company last month announced its first quarterly profit
in four years, and "most of our markets are strong,"
President/CEO Bruce L. Davis said, according to The
Associated Press. "Industry sales of consumer software are up
substantially and the demand for video games ... is up by
more than 100 percent."
Davis, who last month was named to replace James H.
Levy in the top seat, told his investors that company plans to
launch a joint promotional campaign with Sports Illustrated
next month to, says AP, “cross merchandise the Gamestar
label's sports simulation software with a subscription drive."
Davis, who said the firm also has signed with Micro Illusions
to sell its arcade/fantasy role-playing/"home enrichment"
titles, said, "Our greatest challenge is to grow in a measured
way that does not overtax the organization as the
ZMAGAZINE 69
September 4, 1987
(c)1 987 Ron Kovacs
ATARI'S TRAHIEL READY FOR BATTLE
Quoting Gen. George Patton and sounding a lot like a
coach psyching up for the big game, Jack T ram tel says his
Atari Corp, is ready to become America's consumer electronics
supplier.
Speaking with business writer Bob Webster of United Press
International, the 59-year-old Tramiel says, "One of the
people I admire is Gen. George Patton. In business, whatever
we do we go out there to win, not to play the sport. We have
the best product, the best personnel and the best locations to
make sure we win."
Atari has made headlines last week with its plans to buy out
the 67-siore Federated Group retail electronics store.
Tramiel tells Webster that the chain will be a key to his
dream of turning Atari into a "vertically integrated" consumer
electronics company.
"There are no companies of that nature left in the United
3
G.R.d.S.P. Bil^TTC DCfOBCR 198?
States," Tramiel said. “General Electric was the last one. We
are going to be an international consumer electronics company
...Computers are one of the products. Hitachi and Panasonic
do not only make computers. I want to share my (research and
development} costs, from designing and planning a product
from the component to the shelf. This is the way my
competitors in Japan have done it for a number of years."
Of course, Tramiel is not talking a gieat deal about future
products, but he did tell UPl he now plans to oversee Atari's
development of a CD-ROM product to be introduced this fall.
He also said Atari is negotiating with several semiconductor
companies for a possible acquisition.
Of the Federated acquisition, Tramiel says the company
hopes the chain will strengthen its sagging distribution.
"Instead of waiting for three or four months to get a reaction
from retailers, by having an outlet ! can teil In six days,"
Tramiel said.
Webster comments that "most previous ventures by
computer companies into distribution have failed, except for
Tandy Corp.'s efforts through its Radio Shack outlets. Rut
distribution alone does not appear to underscore Tramiel's
pursuit of Federated."
That's the view of Jan Lewis, president of Lewis Research
Group of Sunnyvale, Ca., who told the wire service, "On the
most simplistic level, (Tramiel) wants to buy distribution. But I
think his plans may be broader than that. Tramiel comes from
retailing and I think he may see farther than others in the
marriage of computers and consumer electronic
products, “--Charles Bowen
ft ^
(3PP T HE astern
\^J MARINE »c
FRANK LEVEQUE
3819 WILLIAMSBURG ROAD (804) 228-1111
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23231 (804) 228-0144
August 28, 1987 (c)1987 Syndicate
ZMAG ATARI NEWS UPDATE..
From CIS Online Todav/APAugust 24,
ATARI CORP. TO BUY CHAIN
Atari Corp, wants to buv me Federated Group Inc.'s
65-store retail electronics ^.*,11 for $67.3 mill . By this
Friday, it will tender an oiler for the 10.7 million ling
shares of Federated slock, seeking to gain r
California. Arizona, Texas and Kansas.
According to The Associated Press, Federated's
seven-member board unanimously approved the $6. 25-a-s' n
offer, noting the firm "has had trouble finding retailers fo. j
products. Among other things, the merger hinges on the
approval of Federated's lenders."
Federated lost $895,000 in the first quarter ended May 31,
compared with a profit of $662,000 for the same period last
year, the wire service says. Sales rose 2 percent to $91.1
million.
Atari's own financial picture has improved lately. In the
latest quarter, its profits were up 39.3 percent to $13.54
million, while revenue rose 16.4 percent to $70.69 million.
August 25, ATARI NOT RULING OUT
Atari Corp.'s move this week to acquire a retail electronics
chain is not an isolated event. "II other transactions come
along that fit into our business plans, we'll do additional
acquisitions," says Atari treasurer Steve Kawalick.
Atari Corp. wants to buy the Southern California-based
Federated Group Inc.'s 67-store chain for $67.3 million, a
move that would give it control of stores in California,
Arizona, Texas, Kansas and New Mexico,
The Associated Press reports that the deal, which is subject
to approval by a five-bank consortium that has extended
Federated a $48 million line of credit, was worked out with
Federated founder/chief executive Wilfred Schwartz, who will
continue to run Atari's Federated subsidiary.
Sch waitz told AP, "It's a marriage made in heaven. W' 't
we wanted to augment our resources with the human -,id
financial resources available through a union with an extremely
strong winner."
The wire service notes, "Most of Federated's stores cover
half an acre and boast a vast selection of electronic specialty
merchandise, including Atari's bottom-line personal
computers."
Atari’s Kawalick comments, "This particular acquisition
gives us additional distribution channels in certain parts of the
country."
August 28, TRAMIEL SAYS PURCHASE ...
Atari Corp. Chairman Jack Tramiel says his firm's
acquisition of the 67-store Federated Group electronics store
chain will be a mighty tool against Japanese competitors.
Tramiel told The Associated Press, "Our Japanese
counterparts all have their own stores in Japan. I like to copy
success."
He also said that there are "no consumer electronics
companies today in the United States. We need to rebuild that
and I think we can do it." Atari revealed Monday that it is
acquiring Federated, which has stores in five Western states,
lor $67.3 million.
AP quotes Tramiel as saying that Federated was bought in
order to reduce the time it takes for products to be accepted
by dealers. And "the move will also spread research d
development costs over a larger organization," the .^,ie
service said.
Federated has lost money recently to the tune of $5.2
million in the fiscal year ending last February, but Tramiel
says it will start making a profit now "by slowing its recent
G.R.d.SJ
II G Q iu .K. 1 S b i
expansion drive and gaining from more advertising and the
addition of new Atari products," AP reports. —Charles
Bowen; Online Today
NEWSLETTER EXCHANGES AS OF SEPT. '87
1) A.C.E. of Syracuse Syracuse, N.Y.
2) ACE Cleveland Newsletter Cleveland, OHIO
3) ACORN Fort Wayne, INDIANA
4) ANALOG Computing Group Listing Worcester, MA
5) ANTIC MAGAZINE San FransiSCO, CA.
6) Atari Users of GHA Manchester, CT
7) B.A.C.E. Newsletter Waterloo, IA
8} Boston Computer Society Boston, MA
9) C.A.A.U.G. Costal Area Bilozi, Ml
10) CHARLOTTE Atari Users Group Charlotte, NC
11) CURRENT NOTES Dumpfies, VA
12) D'BUG N.L. LaGrangeville, NY
13JDUST Las Vegas, NV
14JFUJI FACTS N.L. Columbus, OH
15)H.A.U.G. Huntsville, AL
ie)H.l.S.U.G.High Sierra Sparks, NV
17)HOUSTON Atari Computer En.
Houston, TX
1 8) f C C C Mattoon. IL.
19) J.A,C.G. Pine Brook, NJ
20) J.A,C.S. Clementon, NJ
21 JL.A.A.C.E. Van Nuys, CA
22) L.A.C.E. Shreveport. LA
23) L.A.U.G.O.N. Lincoln, NE
24) L,C.A.C.E. Lake County Waukegan, IL
25) L.O.C.Q. Charleston, SC
2G)LI ACE Long Island Bel Iport, NY
27) M.A.A.U.G. Madison, Wl
28) M.A.C.C. Modesto, CA
29) M,A.C.U.G. Minot AFB, ND
30) M.V.A.C.E. NewsKettermg, OH
31 )MID-M1CHIGAN Atari Magazine Lansing, Ml
32) N.E.A.T. Atarian Philadelphia, PA
33) N.O.A.U.G.S Metairie, LA
34) N.W.P. A.C. Phoenix, AZ
35}P,A,C.E. Pittsburg, PA
36) P.A,C.E, Dispatch Superior, Wl
37) P.A.C.E. World Hampton, VA
A ECB COMPUTER PRODUCTS A
ON-LINE CATALOG 804-379-9239 300/1200 BPS
JK SPECIAL Jk
MAXELL 3.5" SSDD DISK $10.99
PER BOX OF TEN
AVATEX 2400 MODEM $230,00
AVATEX 1200HC MODEM, 4110.00
MASTER TYPE CART $15.00
GFA BASIC LANGUAGE $59.95
GFA BASIC COMPILER $59.95
LDW BASIC COMPILER $44.95
FOR ATARI ST BASIC
WEBSTER THE WORD GAME $15.00
CHIPMUNK $24.95
SOFTWARE BACK-UP PROGRAM
NEWELL 256KXI $49.95
RAM UPGRADE FOR 800/1200XL
VOICE ORDERS 804-379-1935 9-5 EST
* ******* COMPANY POLICY *********
All ORDERS ARE SHIPPED C.O. U. UPS SUBJECT
TO MANUFACTURERS AVAILABILITY,
APPROPRIATE SHIPPING CHARGES APPLY
VIRGINIA RESIDENTS ADO 4.5% SATES TAX
PRICING SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT
NOTICE,
E.R.d.s.p. g ateife nmnfR taa?
38JPOKEY W.N.Y. Buffalo, NY
39)POKEY PRESS Boynton Beach, FL
40JR.A.M. Red Rose Lancaster, PA
4t)S,B.A.C.E, Santa Barbara, CA
42) S.L.C.C, San Leandro, CA
43) S.M.L.A.C.E. Santa Maria, CA
44) S.P.A.C.E. Harrisburg, PA
45) S.P.A.C.E. Seattle-Puget Tacoma, WA
46) S,T.A.T.U.S, Va. Beach, VA
47) S,T.U.N. Murray, UT
4 8JSAIL of Louisiana Houma, LA
49}T,A,F. Toronto Federat Toronto, Ontario, Canada
50)W.A.C.O. Newsletter Warrensburg, MO
There you have it folks, what you have been asking for. I take
the best from all the N.L.'s I receive and pass the information
on to you in this N.L. All the above N.L.'s are yours to look
over at each meeting, just please return them if you take any
home. Our exchange with other groups is very valuable
because of the information exchange and keeping the channels
of communication open. Thank you all! Tom Marvin
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:-
From:THE DISK ORGANIZER
8307-27th N.W.Seattle, Wa.U.S.A, 98117(206)782-3691
Aug 26, 1987
Greetings Tom,
Last time we communicated, you were purchasing some Disk
Organizers. I'm really glad you liked The Disk Organizers! If
you could improve them, how would you do it?
Anyway, what brings me to write to you again, is our latest
release. Trac-Feed Labels were originally designed with The
Disk Organizer user in mind. Major releases have their titles
printed on the edge, but your own disks don't. Using
Trac-Feed Labels and our helpful way of lining up your print
head, this is no longer a problem! You too, can have all your
private titles, printed on each disks edge.
Trac-Feed Labels also work well, when needing a label for a
5.25" disks jacket. This just adds tD their flexibility, ! hope
you'll give them a try. The roll of 1000 is very popular with
user groups. Belonging to one, I think I know why. Our group
goes through lots of disks and labels!
Hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely, Steve Drake
(Editor's Note: The labels measure 2-3/4"x2-3/4", have a
semi-gloss surface, and comes with a red, yellow or blue strip
down the left side. (For those of you that are built backwards,
left-handed, or stand on your head, the strip is down the ‘ t
side.) Pack of 50= $4.00; pack of 100= $7 00; Roll ol 1u ✓=
$40.00; minimum order of 12 packs or 1 roll. (Add $4 S&H on
12 packs, and/or $6 per roll].
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
From Russell Will, G.R.A.S.P. Member (Sept. '87)
Well, here I go again, trying to do something I know little
about. I was thinking the other day that Tom is right. If we
don’t take an interest in the newsletter, it will sureiy die.
Of course this goes for the club, too and everything else we
do in life also for that matter. So just bare with me while l
write this article.
I want my computer to do someth -g but I know it's only a
machine and you have to put the rig..: thing into it to make it
work. I'm working on the SYNFILE+ pi .gram now. I have some
files that I want to put in i: but I cac't seem to find the t
way. I get very frustrated when I can't get the program^. ,o
work, but I keep plugging on-and-on-and-on.
I guess I'm like a lot of people just starting out in
computers. We just do not know enough to ask questions. But
we also know that if we don't ask questions, we will never
learn. I, for one do not want to be a 46 year old dummy.
We probably need some demos of SYNFILE+ etc. at the club
meetings. I for one wouid like to see it used and try to learn
fiom the presentation.
Well, I hope I have not put anybody to sleep on my first
article for the newsletter. Let's get on the bandwagon and
start writing articles for OUR newsletter and stop reading
some other club newsletters in OUR paper. Russell Will
[Editor's Comment: Now that's the spirit I'm trying to get
across to "our" membership! - "if we don't take an interest in
the newsletter" - what more can I say!!!]
6
r ]
G.R.d.S.P. Mltllt
ST-REPORT 7
September 12, 1987
from Zmagazine Information Network (c) 1987
'■•lished/Edited by: Ron Kovacs
Lake Monroe, Fla.: Computer Fenestrations today
(September 4, 1987) announced the availability of EASEL/ST
for Atari Corp.'s ST series of computers. A software add-in,
EASEL/ST enhances the ST's integral GEM Desktop, allowing
the user to control the appearance of the Desktop's
background, without otherwise affecting the Desktop's
operation. For the first time, users can substitute a picture or
other graphics for the normally plain background.
Both D.E.G.A.S, and Neochrome picture file formats are
supported.
Three groups of buyers are targeted for EASEL/ST,
according to the company, Most buyers will be casual users
who desire to personalize their computer. Also expected to
show interest are retailers who depend on customers'
hands-on experience with ST computers in their showroom for
sales. These dealers can use EASEL/ST to display
promotional messages and new product announcements even
as the customer test-drives the machine. Finally, systems
houses face the problem of getting their customers past the
GEM Desktop, which is always the first GEM application run
whenever the computer is reset, and into the customer's
specific application(s). With EASEL/ST, the vendor can place
detailed operating instructions right on the GEM Desktop,
're they cannot be lost or overlooked.
cASEL/ST was designed to be compatible with all ST
configurations, including early ST models in which the
operating system was soft-loaded, and the new MegaST
models, with the latest ROM revision. It is provided on a
single-sided diskette, and it is not copy-pfotected. EASEL/ST
operates in all of the ST's various resolutions. On color
systems, it adapts automatically to resolution changes, and it
overrides Atari Corporation's Control Panel in order to
maintain the palette of the user-selected picture. EASEL/ST
does not compete with Dther software for one of the six desk
accessory menu slots; instead, it is loaded by means of the
AUTO folder when the system is reset. EASEL/ST is GDOS
compatible.
Price: $19.95.
Contact publisher for dealer/distributor pricing.
D.E.G.A.S. is a trademark of Electronic Arts/Satler ies
Included. GEM and GDOS are trademarks of Digital Research,
Inc. ST, TOS, and Neochrome are trademarks Df Atari
Corporation.
Publisher: Computer Fenestrations
Post Office Box 151
Lake Monroe, Florida, 32747-0151.
Telephone: (305J-322-3222.
Electronic mail: BIX -bob_breum
“CompuServe - 175116,22621 .
OCTOBER 19 87
Garbage-On-The-Line
by Calamity Jane
Diary of a Mad SysOp
I don't know what qualifies one as a SysOp?? I wonder if all
SysOp's are unhinged, obsessed, or just a wild, deranged,
raging, lunatic? Why does one spend a whole heck of a lot of
ones personal time and money on this leisure- time activity??
Not only time and money, but the speculation, reflection,
brainstorming, anxiety, conviction, and determination!!
Something... maybe it's in the air, or at least on the phone
lines II
As The Prairie Chip goes for an on-line time of three years,
it has been thru a lot of changes and growth. Fast. Amis,
Tod.Amis, OASIS and now FoReM. Onward & upward, so they
say. Some of the callers have been with me since the
beginning, others come and go, Every SysOp appreciates, you,
the caller. Some of you I appreciate more than others. The use
of handles vs. real life names is usually up to the SysOp. I like
handles, lets have some fun!! The Chip gets the usual handles
(several Joe Cool's in various stages of spelling) but some of
them.,..) have to ask, as to what the heck IT is, where the
heck did you come up with IT, and whether or not IT is
dangerous. Some very clever handles, and I always wonder
how alike you are with your handle? After all, IT is an
extension of your personality. Virgin Killer??? hmmm...
Nothing exasperates me more than when the ever present
YELL is activated and before l can physically move to the
computer the caller has logged off. Hmmmm, I get tired of "se
callers and make a mental note. SysOp's do not sit at
command headquarters waiting to answer your chat. Some
SysOp's (sls-op's <long \> in England) do not chat. I chat, I
have found it another way to get to Know people and I like it. I
am more than happy to help. Be it looking up that forgotten
password, helping the new caller with logging on (with out
adding 5 names to the hard disk), making your way around the
system or comparing the MPH of the wind or the depth of the
latest snow. Yes, my BBS is a friend, and very much a
companion. I care about several of you very much, you are
good company!!
When all goes well, running a BBS is fun, challenging,
satisfying, captivating, amusing and exciting. When all goes
bad, a SysOp's job is boring, frustrating, tiresome, tedious
and annoying. <FoReM has improved on this situation
tremendously> One can go from a star to a bum in one
afternoon. Nothing much (besides equipment failure) is worse
than a hard disk crash or heaven forbid, the message bases
crashing. Remember, the first rule is there are no rules, but a
good one could be: Make A Back-Up!! What I am getting at
here, is if you encounter a problem using a system, be patient.
And be kind!! Leave a message tD the SysOp with as much
information as possible, What the error was, what you were
attempting to do, anything helps really. I know a certain
things mean certain things!! I do the dumb and stupid, I just
try not to let you catch me at it II
One of my biggest peeves, is, those who are done on the
system and just drop carrier. ARGGHH !! This irritates me
more than a dumb message that makes no sensei! Please
log-off properly. A system remembers you!! What does it say
7
b.K.d.S.r. h'd^CTH
ULTUutR Uitii'
about you as a caller, when your stats show 47 downloads to 0
up loads??? You could be treading on shaky phone lines here!!
Remember, there is more to most BBS's than the [F] and [Y]
commands!! Don't be a computer wimp.
This can be thankless job. But I guess I don't do it for that
reason. I'll tell you who has the truly thankless job. The
Co-SysOp's of the world. I try to show my appreciation as much
as I can, but it just never seems enough. So, to the Co-SysOp's
of the BBS world, this is a thank-you from everyone who doesn't
realize what it is YOU doll
Tele-computing is a fasinating way to communicate and in
theory, quite simple. The ability to get two machines to
interact, whether they are across the room or across the world.
I am always interested in whose been on the BBS, always glad
to see someone who has been away, and always glad to meet
someone new. On top of the desk a picture of my
Great-Grandfather, taken in 1913, sitting at one of the first
telephone switchboards in the Rocky Mountain area. He
operated this switchboard out of his home just West of Denver,
and probably felt the same way as I do operating my electronic
gadgets, i feel a deep kin-ship with him and try to offer the
same satisfying service the look on his face projects. Till
then. ..be chattin' at ya’I!
-=-CJ-=- Permission Granted to Reprint... with proper credit
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