RSMAGRUD@WEIZMANN.BITNET (Randy Magruder) (12/23/85)
Hi all Here in Israel, I have yet to see the ST model computers come out. We recently bought an Atari 800XL and it is running fine for us. However, the software prices in Israel are atrocious, as are the books. For instance, if you are interested in buying one of COMPUTE!'s tutorials, be prepared for a price of around 27 dollars for it. Is this reasonable? As for MICROSOFT BASIC II, a must I think for anyone who wants to use really SERIOUS basic, it runs for around 100 bucks here, with the cartridge and diskette and book. One place had the cartridge ripped off from the box and I checked to see if they would sell me the book, but they only agreed to sell diskette and book, for around 50 dollars. I can't afford this stuff. There are serious problems though. We did buy one book on Microsoft Basic (geared more towards the TRS-80 computers, but essentially the same basic). The problem is ---> what about Atari's special commands. How do I open to write on the disk when I'm in MICROSOFT BASIC. How about Graphics? Does MICROSOFT BASIC handle graphics on the atari, or do I throw out a really neat version of basic just so i can use the graphics and colors. Is this ONLY covered in the book that comes with Atari MICROSOFT BASIC II? My request is that if anyone has this kind of info and is willing to answer some questions...we need HELP! And if anyone has help info on these subjects, including my next set of questions, on the computer that can be sent to me, could you? It would be IMMENSELY appreciated. Okay, now for the next morsel. We got visicalc running, and again, no documentation. HELP! If anyone has even a general guide to commands or some hints for using visicalc, HELP! Isn't this the greatest S.O.S. you guys have ever gotten?? Next is there anyway to transfer software over this net. For instance, even if compiled assembler programs can't be sent, can assembler programs be sent and then compiled after being written onto the disk? And finally, WHERE ARE ALL THE OWNERS OF 800XL's??????? come on guys... has the ST killed off XL completely? Thanks. Randy Magruder