______________________________________ ZMAGAZINE 76 October 23, 1987 ______________________________________ Editor/Publisher: Ron Kovacs Assistants: Ken Kirchner---Sue Perry ______________________________________ Zmag Information Network (201)968-8148 ______________________________________ Xx INDEX 76 ______________________________________ <*> Atari News Roundup......L Richards <*> Zmag BBS System.......Daily Planet <*> MYDOS Modification.....Jon Wallace <*> Hacker Update <*> Game Hints for Silent Service <*> SpartaDos Help.........Bruce Pleat <*> BBS Authors Confrence...CIS Atari8 ______________________________________ Xx ATARI OCTOBER NEWS ROUNDUP ______________________________________ Compiled for B.A.S.I.C. and Dateline by Larry Richards Copyright (c)1987 B.A.S.I.C. and Dateline BBS All rights reserved. -------------------------------------- NEW ATARI HARDWARE NOW SHIPPING! -------------------------------------- After what seemed like an eternity of pushed-back deadlines, last minute glitches, and excruciatingly slow boats from the far east, the long- awaited new Atari hardware is finally starting to appear on the dealers' shelves. Leading the -parade- is the SX212 1200 baud modem, featuring both a standard RS232 serial connector (for use with the ST or an 850/P:R:Conn. interface on the 8-bit Atari computers) and an 8-bit style SIO daisychain connector for use with the Atari 8-bit computers with no interface. There is only one SIO connector, however, so the SX212 will have to be the last item on the serial bus. Also, because Keith Ledbetter's new version of Express for the SX212 (-SX Express-) was not finished in time to accompany the modem, Atari will be selling a seperate package for 8-bit users containing SX Express, a new SX-compatible R:handler that supports 1200 baud, and an SIO cable, at a later date. Initial disappointment over this by 8-bit users was tempered somewhat when it was discovered that the R:handler from the old R:Verter modem adaptor seems to work fine with the SX212 as long as the terminal program used with it does not contain its own R:handler (as is the case with 1030 Express and 850 Express). Programs like Amodem and HomeTerm work fine with the new modem and this handler. The SX212 retails for $99.95 and is said to be completely Hayes-compatible. Since the SX212 must be the last item on the 8-bit SIO daisychain, it would seem to prevent the use of a printer at the same time without having to use an 850-style interface. However, the next new product from Atari will solve that problem and a whole lot more. The XEP-80 is a screen adaptor for the entire Atari 8-bit line that will produce a true 80-column display when used with the proper monitor (NOT on a TV set). It connects through the joystick ports and also contains a parallel printer port. All software making legal calls to the E: device for screen displays will work fine with the XEP-80. This includes programs such as Atari Basic, Basic XL/XE, and many others. Programs which set up their own custom screen displays, such as Atari Writer (and Plus), and PaperClip, will not work. However, Atari has announced that a new version of Atari Writer Plus which WILL work with the XEP-80 will be out shortly. Programs from other publishers will follow. The XEP-80 will even allow a form of hi-res monochrome graphics. Retail price is $79.95 (-A dollar a column.-). Also shipping at present is the -new- XE Super Game System. Retailing for $149.95, the XE SGS is Atari's newest entry into the revitalized video game market, doing battle with Nintendo and Sega (not to mention Atari's own 2600 and 7800). The XE SGS comes with 64K RAM, 24K ROM, a detachable keyboard (with a much nicer feel than the XE keyboard) and an SIO port for attaching disk drives and other peripherals. In other words, the XE SGS is a 65XE in video game clothing. All XL/XE compatible Atari 8-bit computer programs will run on the XE SGS. This includes a library of literally thousands of existing 8-bit Atari games, including hundreds of cartridges which don't require a disk drive. This gives the XE SGS a running headstart over Nintendo and Sega, which only have a handful of titles each. Add that to the fact that a number of software publishers have already committed themselves to converting their disk-based software to cartridge form, including Electronic Arts and Epyx. Also included with the XE SGS is a light gun and three game carts, including a 256K cartridge version of Sub-Logic's Flight Simulator. The XE SGS seems to have stirred up renewed interest in the Atari 8-bit line from both software producers and retailers, as many dealers who had previously shunned Atari 8-bit hardware and software have signed on to carry the XE SGS and its software. That's good news for all Atari 8-bit users. The final new hardware item now shipping from Atari is the -crown jewel- in the product line, the Mega. The first production units were finally shipped out recently and the blitter WAS included. Atari is now off on a -Mega rollout tour- as they seek to introduce the new machines to -professional- dealers throughout the country. Atari has also lined up a number of -professional- software publishers, such as WordPerfect, which will be debuting the ST version of WordPerfect on the tour, to accompany them. Yes, -professional- seems to be the operative word here, as the Mega will have -professional- dealers, -professional- software, and a -professional- price! The retail price for a Mega 2 is $1699 for a mono system and $1899 for color. The Mega 4 goes for $2399 mono and $2599 color. Add this to stringent Mega dealer qualifications and a STRICT no mail order policy, and it becomes evident that discounts on these prices will be very hard to come by, at least for now. This may account for the recent surge in sales of the 520ST and 1040ST, as people who were patiently waiting for the Megas to arrive got wind of the new prices and decided that -Power without the Price- was better than -Power WITH the Price-. In any case, other -professional- features of the Mega include a attachable keyboard with much improved feel, an internal expansion socket, a 68000 bus extender socket (for external expansion), a battery-backed internal clock, new ROMs, an internal DMA port and power supply tap, and, of course, the long-awaited blitter chip. ______________________________________ Xx ZMAG BBS SYSTEM SPOTLIGHT ______________________________________ The Daily Planet Systems (716) 895-0508 300/1200/2400 Baud 24 hrs., 7 days Fully supporting... Atari 16 & 8 bits computers The Daily Planet Systems, located in Buffalo, New York. Is one of the nation's most informative ATARI BBS around, offering a vast network of information ranging from the Syndicated Zmagazine and St-Report, to Home Video. Including a special feature called the -Planet Newspaper- which features many topics, not only about computers, but as a general interest newspaper, with reviews, interviews, humor, Atari news and much more. The Daily Planet Systems began in 1984 as the Daily Planet BBS, running an 800 with 2 1050 drives then adding a 130XE with a Supra 10 meg hard drive. In the past 3 years the Daily Planet has grown to be one the busiest and most called bulletin board systems in New York State and the East with log on of 50,000+ callers in the past 3 years, with a majority being long distance callers from as far away as England. Recently the Daily Planet has converted to Atari ST system. Running a 520ST with a 20 megs of storage, (soon to be expanded to 65 megs), 300/1200/2400 baud with Mat Singer's Forem ST program and fully supporting the Atari 8 and 16 bit computer systems as well as the IBM, Commodore, & Apple. In August 1987, The Daily Planet merged with a local buffalo St bbs, so that these 2 bulletin baords systems can bring to their users the best and the most informative information possible. By doing so, The Daily Planet Systems is now sponsored by The Buffalo Computer Center, with this support the Planet has been able to reach out to people who have never logged onto a bbs before. With 3 SySops, Jerry Meyers, Tony Santos and Sig Sheel. They continue to be the best bulletin board in the Buffalo and Western New York area. Recently, they have added Z-Mag, and ST-Report, and being an authorized carrier of these publications, thanks to Ron Kovacs, the Planet carries the complete line of ST-REPORT beginning with issue #1 and Z-Mag beginning with issue #40. Tony Santos, one of the SySops feels that the Syndicate Publications, ST-REPORT & Z-MAGAZINE are the best and the most informative publications for todays Atari computers at no cost to the users of bbs. Here is an example of the Daily Planet Systems' menus, what they have to offer thus far! The Planet is always making changes to their systems daily to improve and to be constantly updated. The Daily Planet Building # Main Lobby # [01] Reprint Main Notice [02] Notice To 8 Bit Atari Users [03] New at Buffalo Computer Center [04] System Configuration [05] New User Information 'Q' will Exit Lobby and Enter Planet Select (Q=Exit)> The Daily Planet BBS System [A]tari Toggle [M]essage Bases [B]ulletin Reprint [O]ther BBS List [C]hat With Jerry [P]rofile of User [D]oor To Floors [S]et Screen Code [E]lectronic Mail [T]ime Connected [F]ile System UL/DL [U]ser Log List [G]ood-Bye Log-Off [X]F-Mail a File [H]elp With System [+]Add Your BBS [I]40/80 Column [%]New Password [L]eave Jerry Note [*]Terminal Type [J] Planet Game Room [!]Football Pool [D] Science Fiction [D] ST Report [D] Home Video Dept [D] Z-Magazine [D] Planet News [D] Comic Book [D] Planet Cookbook [D] Quiz Scores Planet Bldg. Floor Directory 1) 1st Floor: Main Floor 2) 2nd Floor: Atari ST 3) 3rd Floor: Commodore 4) 4th Floor: Atari 8-Bit 5) 5th Floor: IBM 6) 6th Floor: News Room 7) 7th Floor: Home Video You are now on the 1st Floor: Main Floor Select> That is our tour of the Daily Planet Systems, located in Buffalo, New York, with SySops Jerry Meyers, Tony Santos and Sig Sheel (Of The Buffalo Computer Center). Give them a call, they are online 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week! 300/1200/2400 baud. Make sure that you read the latest ST-REPORT and Z-Mags. Tony updates ST-Report and Z-Magazine on a weekly basis, so don't miss out! See the special end of year issue of Zmag for a full tour of the Daily Planet BBS!! ______________________________________ Xx MYDOS MODIFICATION ______________________________________ This is the correct version of the MYDOS modification. The other one works until you try and make your ramdisk bigger or smaller. Mydos 4.1 fix for Basic XE. For you rare owners that use Basic XE, Mydos 4.1, and a Ramdisk(of course you would have to have a Ram upgrade) here is a little fix so that you can write to your ram disk in EXTENDED mode of Basic XE without a lockup. Simply type in these four statements in basic and then go to Dos and re-write Dos files. POKE 5487,133 POKE 5488,49 POKE 5489,9 POKE 5490,175 Then you have to modify a byte in Dup.sys. I used Disk Wizard 2 and scanned dup.sys for 8D 70 15 (in hex) and changed the 70 to a 72. You can use omnimon and change 2E15 STA $1570 to 2E15 STA $1572 and re-save Dup.sys. Don't know if that is the fastest way to solve the problem but it is the way I found first. (Second) If you have any questions let me know. Jon Wallace [72457,3075] ______________________________________ Xx HACKERS UPDATE ______________________________________ Computer Users Need to Increase Political, Social Awareness. Hackers say According to attendees of this year's Hackers Conference, the next big technological breakthrough isn't needed in hardware or software, but in education. Contrary to the traditional image of hackers as apolitical, many of the suggestions voiced at the conference dealt with social and political awareness and responsibility. -How many more spreadsheet [programs] do we need?- asked Glenn Tenney of Fantasia Systems, chairman of the organizing committee. -I want to see something socially significant-. Ted Nelson of the Project Xanadu hypermedia company said today's educational -curriculum- should be replaced by a -reticulum-, or a set of connected educational segments that would allow people of any age to learn whatever they wanted, without prerequisites (similar to Control Data's -Plato- system). Attitudes toward education also need to change, said Marc de Groot of Microport Systems Inc. -It needs to be as chic to be smart in physics as it is to drive a fast car-. Educational materials need to be available to the poor and to the handicapped, attendees said. -Kerningham and Ritchie- the landmark C language book published in 1978 has just become available for the blind, said Vicki Winslow, -and blind users are clawing at each other for copies-. Communications software and information services need to be improved. -There should be a way for people to work together without [being limited to] sending messages back and forth-, said Bob Wallace, author of PC-Write. And to counteract the cost of information services, -Compuserve scholarships- should be available, Winslow said. Several attendees noted that hackers should not limit their thinking to computers. -I get the feeling that everybody here would do anything to help the lot of humanity except give up their computers-, said Todd Rundgren, a graphics programmer and musician (formerly with -Utopia-). -Nobody's written a byte of code to make a Mother Teresa-. People who work on technology don't always aim at everyday problems, said Elaine Richards, system administrator of -The Well-, a Sausalito, California, public bulletin board system. -They say; 'it would be great to get rid of atomic waste.' when what would really be great is if we could get rid of Kitty Litter-. [Ed. Source unknown. Uploaded for consideration of publication. Author unknown] ______________________________________ Xx GAME HINTS FOR SILENT SERVICE ______________________________________ Silent Service, Microprose Simulation. Your mission: As commander of an American submarine in the Pacific during World War II, you must hunt down and sink Japanese freighters, troop carriers, and tankers. Hint #1 ======= Ships are slowed considerably when hit by a single torpedo. When attacking a convoy, select the juiciest target, and fire a single torpedo before diving. Dive deep enough to avoid being detected by any destroyers and continue at two-thirds speed in the same direction as the convoy. Destroyers will usually abandon the wounded ship in order to protect the remaining convoy. Speed up the simulation until the convoy is well out of range while observing the ship on radar. Then surface to torpedo depth and strike again. Hint #2 ======= A few hits from the deck gun will slow down any ship and cause it to fall behind the convoy. Hint #3 ======= Sometimes a convoy will head for land and remain a few hundred yards off shore. The ships will form a relatively tight circle and continue to circle while the destroyers (the fastest blips on the radar) move in random directions. A sub can creep up on the convoy making sure to use slowest possible speed and minimum profile. Position the sub fairly close to the convoy, while remaining close to the bottom. If detected by the destroyers, dive to the bottom and shut off the engines. The destroyers cannot detect a sub which rests on the bottom unless it happens to be very shallow (under 100'). Ships can be picked off one at a time by surfacing to periscope level and firing no more than two torpedoes at a time. Be sure the destroyers are on the other side of the circle before firing. Hint #4 ======= If a convoy is guarded by only one destroyer it might be worth your while to try to sink it. However, make sure that you shoot at it before any of the other ships in the convoy. When it starts closing on you open up with the deck gun (especially effective at shorter ranges -- around 1000 yards). ______________________________________ Xx SPARTADOS HELP Part 1 ______________________________________ by Bruce Pleat Version 1.0, Copyright 1987 by the author, Bruce Pleat, Released on June 8th, 1987. If you use this article in any form of print or on a BBS or disk file, you must not edit this file except for the columns in a screen and the end-of-line character used. This series is written specifically for: Long Island Atari Computer Enthusiasts [LIACE] [BBS: 516-454-7698] Ol' Hackers Atari Users Group [OH-AUG] [BBS: 516-884-4140] Western New York Atari Computer Enthusiasts [WNYACE] [BBS: 716-875-7376] Long Island Atari Users Group [LIAUG] [BBS: 516-937-1455] Jersey Atari Computers Group [JACG] [BBS: 201-298-0161] Z-Magazine [BBS: 201-968-8148]. This series is dedicated to everyone who has died in protest of any war. SpartaDOS is a COPYRIGHTED product of ICD. This is NOT an attempt to allow PIRATES to use this INCREDIBLE DOS easier, but rather an attempt to help LEGAL OWNERS of the DOS use the DOS more efficiently and with greater ease. Atari and 850 are trademarks of Atari Corp., SmartDOS is a trademark of The Programmers Workshop, MY-DOS is a trademark of Wordmark Systems, ATR-8000 is a trademark of SWP Systems, Inc., MIO is a trademark of ICD, and any other references to products are of course references to the proper copyright and/or trademark owners. I Command Processor Documentation II MENU Documentation III XCOPY Documentation IV Directory Documentation V BATch File Documentation VI Internal Operation Documentation ------------------------- ------------------------- --------Chapter I-------- ----Command Processor---- ------Documentation------ ------------------------- ------------------------- I Introduction to the Chapter II Internal Commands III External-Installation Commands IV External-Operation Commands V CIO Commands ---------Section I--------- Introduction to the Chapter SpartaDOS, THE DOS for the 6502 Atari Computers, has everything you always wanted in a DOS, but didn't know who, how or what to ask for!!! The most -thoughtful- DOS, SpartaDOS combines many utilities under its guise of JUST being a DOS from its UNERASE to its RAM-Disk handling to its 32-Key buffer to its support of Time and Date Handling to its MENUs, to its Hard Drive and Multi-Directory Support to its BATch capabilities, to, perhaps its most important feature, its LOGICAL storage of disk files, which also speeds up such activities as ERASEing and allows such friendly features as SORTing files. To start off, lets learn some definitions I will be using THROUGHOUT this file, which might differ from the -standard- or your definitions. FILE...made up of possibly a PATH [-A>A_B>A_B_C>-, -GAMES>-, -D3:UTILITY>DISK>BASIC>-], along with, of course, the filename, which might possibly contain some wildcards [-NEW*.??E-]. PATH...the PATH is the way to get to a specified Directory. If you have the directory -GAMES- on -D3:- and then have the directory -MAZE- inside -GAMES- and then the file -MAZEMAN.BAS-, to address that file, you would use the PATH -D3:GAMES>MAZE>- and the filename -MAZEMAN.BAS-, so to address the full filename, you would address -D3:GAMES>MAZE>MAZEMAN.BAS-. SpartaDOS has four types of commands. The INTERNAL commands consist of commands like DIRectory, COPYing, ChangeWorkingDirectory, TYPEing [printing a text file if all its lines are less than 64 bytes], and others. The EXTERNAL-INSTALLATION commands consist of commands like RAMDisk, eXternalTimeDate, RS232, ATR-8000_RS232, PRINT, and XDIVersion. The EXTERNAL-OPERATION commands consist of commands like eXtraCOPY, eXtraINIT, MemoryDUMP, TREElisting, and OFFset_LOADing. The CIO commands consist of things like File-Length, Load, Save, Manipulate Directories, Set Boot File, Check Disk Status, Path List, and Read/Write/Directory/Append of Files/Current Directory/ SubDirectory. Many of these are inter-related, and ALL are going to be useful at one time or another within your first year of owning SpartaDOS, I promise. [Next Week Section 2] ______________________________________ Xx BBS AUTHOR CONFRENCE ______________________________________ (c)1987 CompuServe Atari8 SIG The following transcripts are from the confrence on CompuServe Oct 17, 1987. This is part 1 of a multipule series. (18,Chairman dick) Good Evening! We're here tonight to discuss a subject of critical importance.... The Future of Atari BBS Systems. We're going through a LOT of changes and only the strongest will adapt and survive. Let's here from the folks who have made and supported the Atari BBS Systems. First Jerry Horanoff at CARINA. The CARINA BBS system has stirred up a lot of excitement.. Jerry===>Where do you see the 8-bit BBS system going in the future? ga (18,Jerry@Carina) Well, as some of you may know... I am currently working on a new version of the Carina BBS (Carina II). It is mainly for SysOps who have moderate to large systems. It will require (well, it is recommended) at least a 192k ramdisk. As most of you know, Carina uses 'modular design'. This makes the BBS unlimitted when it comes to expandability, but it also requires some space to expand. As for where it is going in the future... Let's just say it's expanding. Ga. (18,Chairman dick) MIKE OLIN and MIKE MITCHELL have done wonderful things for XM301 users. They took a small inexpensive modem and taught it how to cook.... MIKE & MITCH, What's the future hold? Is it more power, more utilities? ga (18,Michael Olin) Hello all from Mike and Mike of Catspaw Software Systems. Thanks Dick for the compliments. We have enjoyed working on the amis system. The future, for us, is in building the 1200 baud system, then on to improving what already has been done. Watch for massive use of BASIC XE, SpartaDOS and MIO in serious use of 8-bit telecommunications. ga (18,Chairman dick) A lot of BBS operators were ready to throw in the towel a number of years ago. When my Brother Sysop threw them a mighty powerful lifeline with BBS EXPRESS. Frankly, I can scarcely recall more favorable comments than those received on BBS EXPRESS. KEITH===>Does 8-bit BBS'g have a future? ga (18,Keith (Express!)) thanks for the kind words dick....you bet it has a future for me, it didn't look like it did for a while, simply because Express! took advantage of a great language, Action!, which allows powerful programs to be written very quickly. Unfortunately, it also produces LARGE programs, as Express! is right now pushing the limits of the machine, with absolutely no room for expansion. So, for me, the only thing to do was to drop back to machine language, which is what the new BBS Express! Pro will be written in. It was not an easy decision, but I really had no alternative. ga (18,Chairman dick) An impressive group! We're open for comments and questions. Hit a -?- to get recognized (18,Tony) ? (18,ROSENDALE) ? (18,Chairman dick) Tony===>ga (18,Tony) Keith your BBS programs written in ACTION! and ML will be very unmodifyable. Where as Jerry's programs are based on there capabilities to modify that the average sysop isn't interested in programing at all? ga (18,Chairman dick) Keith==>ga (18,Keith (Express!)) I think I missed a line there? Are you saying the majority of sysops aren't interested in programming or they are? (18,Chairman dick) Tony==>ga (18,Tony) I'm saying the popularity of your program seems to suggest this. ga (18,Keith (Express!)) yes, I'd agree with you. I think sysops look for things in this order. (1) a BBS that is very dependable (2) a BBS that is quick (3) a BBS that is expandable. Most of my talks with SysOps showed that their ideas of 'modifying' a BBS program meant changing the prompts to something they liked. And, Express! gives you that option. ga (18,ROSENDALE) Keith...A big question lately has been when or how is PRO doing and its time frame for availability. ga. (18,Keith (Express!)) Well, PRO was doing REAL well until about a month ago. At that time, I got tied up in the new version of the ST board, and it has slipped a little. The status currently is that it is almost complete except for a little more message base processing. I hope to be BETA testing it within 2-3 weeks. ga. (18,Chairman dick) Sean==>Let's hear from you! ga (18,SEAN) Ok...Jerry, as you know I run a BBS using your Carina system. Four other sysops and I have a very modified MSGED file and use it to AUTO post messages from all of our BBS's. What I was wondering is. How different is the NEW MSGED, and is it possible to get an advanced copy of it so we won't miss any beats when conversion time comes along? ga (18,Jerry@Carina) Well, as far as advanced copies, I will have to let that lie. Carina II (as far as the BASIC portion is concerned) has been totally rewritten. The structure of the program is much easier to follow, however. So I am sure that it will be easier to do it for Carina II if you have already done it for Carina 1. ga (18,Chairman dick) MIKE & MIKE==>Let's (18,Mike & Mike(AMISXM)) HI, I just wanted to get back to the thought that people do not like to program. We entered into the AMIS project hoping that it would be viewed as a learning tool. The advanced version (watch for it) will be quite alterable which will require a modicum of programming expertise or at least a desire to do so. ga (18,Chairman dick) MIKE D.===>ga! (18,Mike D.) Mr. Chmn...ok...Jerry> Will you still be supporting Ver. 1 when Version 2 gets into the mainstream? GA (18,Jerry@Carina) Yes... It will also probably still be for sale as well. Carina II, as I said, will be mainly for bigger system setups and some SysOps may not be able to use it. It also probably wont work with the XM301 or MPP modems. The BitWise handlers that Carina 1.0 uses will hopefully still be available and if they are (I don't know if Rick wants to explain this) then Carina 1.0 will still be marketed, but it will definately still be supported. ga (18,Pat) First of all, the average Atari BBs is one where it serves the Atari community the service is generally one where the community uses the system as the source of giving out Atari specific information. That is all well and good, but lately I have become fascinated with BBS which are politically and socially concious networks. Personally, I would like to see the Atari community branch out into such areas which are similar to Fido, Opus, Seadog. How about having systems which have the capabitily to become networks and exchange ideas amongst systems. Also, I would like to see the systems become multiuser. Any comments? ga (18,Keith (Express!)) I have SERIOUSLY considered putting FIDO/OPUS networking into Express! Pro. I am stewing over the documentation for those standards now, as a matter of fact. I agree with you, I think the networked BBS's are the wave of the future, and we'll be left behind if we don't jump on. On the multi-user BBS, the problem there is hardware. Just not much exists that is affordable for the average sysop, and the average developer isn't (can't) sink 6 months of coding into something that he can only sell to 50 people. ga (18,Jerry@Carina) I had also considered doing networking for Carina II, but at this time I don't want to hold up production for that feature. I am considering putting out a utility disk that would implement this function later, and I agree, it is a good idea to do this. As someone had suggested earlier, they had already accomplished this with Carina 1.0. ga (18,Chairman dick) ck===>ga (18,][c.k.][) Ok Thanks, My Question Is... What Support Are The 8 Bit Software Writers Considering Implementing As Far As GAMES Are Considered. Most Of The Users Of My Board Enjoy The Online Games. We Have Run Both Carina And Express. Each Is Very DIFFERENT IN It's Support Of THe GAMES Feature. What Can My Users Expect To See Support Wise From The Newer Versions, And ALSO In The Way Of GAMES Support For The EXISTING Versions??? ga (18,Jerry@Carina) Carina has always supported games on the 8-bit and always will. It has allowed you to easily put your own games on-line with very very little modification. All you needed to do was tell it what to do if someone hung up and have an option to return to the BBS. With Carina II, It will be made even easier. All you have to do is have a way to exit to the BBS. So I guess the answer to you question is yes. You will still be seeing support and it will be even easier to do. ga (18,Chairman dick) Rick==>Let's hear from you===>GA (18,Rick@BitWise) First, I would like to tell everyone that the BitWise handlers will be available for CARINA 1 as long as the system is sold. (18,Chairman dick) Keith==>ga (18,Keith (Express!)) ok..back to the previous question. The current express does not allow execution of external programs. But, Pro! is modular in the fact that EVERY command is an external command loaded from disk (much like SpartaDOS), so I see very good support for some very powerful games, since each external module can be up to 16K in object module size. ga. In a future edition we will continue with this confrence. I will make the entire confrence available on the BBS as soon as it has been re-edited. ______________________________________ Zmagazine Issue #76 Volume 2 Number 43 October 23, 1987 (c)1987 Rovac Industries ______________________________________