freak@ihlpa.UUCP (c e malloy) (07/03/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** 06/10/85 SUMMER CES REPORT Atari at Summer CES by Arthur Leyenberger Permission granted to reprint this article if following statement appears in reprint: "Entire contents copyright (C) 1985 ANALOG Computing Magazine. All rights reserved." Overall, the 1985 Summer Consumer Electronics Show was a low-key event. What?, you ask in amazement! How can a show with attendance of over 100,000 people, thousands of square feet of exhibit space and hundreds of high-tech companies be low key? Well, to be honest, there just is not much exciting news to report. Several companies bowed out at the last moment. Electronic Arts, Infocom, CBS Software and other companies decided that it would be more cost- effective to not have an exhibit at the show. In several cases, these companies decided to rent hotel suites instead at downtown Chicago hotels to court distributors, retailers and the press. Even Atari was not going to attend the show until at the last minute the CES promoters made Atari an offer they couldn't refuse: a free booth. With the help of some members from the Chicagoland Atari User's Group, Atari made the best of their small conference room exhibit area. However, for the second time in a row, Atari had the most exciting product at the show: the CD-ROM. Many of us are familiar with the new Digital Audio Discs, otherwise known as the Compact Disk (CD). These laser "records" can contain up to 73 minutes of pop, click and static-free music. These same discs can also contain an incredible amount of data (up to 550 Megabytes per side). That translates into the equivalent storage of over 1500 IBM floppy disks. Tom Rolander, VP of Engineering of Activenture, a California optical media company, was demonstrating a prototype of the new Atari CD-ROM player. This innovative product consisted of the entire 20-volume set of Grolier's Encyclopedia on one CD, occupying 58 megabytes. Another 50 megabytes on the disc consisted of cross-indexing information. Every word in the text of the encyclopedia was cross indexed for retrieval purposes. Amazingly, the text and indexing information (approximately 100K bytes) consumed only one-fourth of the disc's capacity. Rolander said that the remaining space was large enough to hold approximately 5000 high-resolution 720x350 pixel images. The CD-ROM was connected to the direct memory access (DMA) port of an Atari 520ST computer through an interface. This DMA port allows data transfer rates of up to 1.3 megabytes per second which allowed access to the CD to be incredibly fast. The CD-ROM encyclopedia allows you to request all references to a particular subject or just browse through the text. Having all of the information on one CD rather than having to search through 5 cubic feet of books is an unbelievable convenience. The quick speed of the search is due to the program not searching the actual text but rather searching through the indexing portion of the information. Regardless of what you search for, the computer screen will tell you how many entries were retrieved and allow you to look at each one. When presented, the information is displayed in black letters on a white background with the key word highlighted in green. Once information is found, the text can be paged forward or backward, copied to a floppy disk for future use or sent directly to a printer. Rolander said that Activenture was developing the technology under an exclusive agreement with Atari and the decision of who would market the product had not yet been made. The targeted price for this innovative product is $500, but Atari is trying to shoot for about $350. In fact, Jack Tramiel told me that his target price was $150. Consider this: an inexpensive audio CD player can be purchased for as little as $200 today and the CD-ROM/ST interface may cost as much as $100. Therefore an under $500 price is very realistic. The software (encyclopedia, recipe, historical stock market price, and legal data bases, etc.) is expected to initially sell for $100 to $150 but could come down to the $50 range if significant quantities are made. Other Atari News In addition to the CD-ROM which is expected to be available in the fall, Atari also announced a new computer. Called the 260STD, this computer contains 256K of RAM memory and has TOS (The Operating System), which includes GEM, in ROM. It also has a built-in, single-sided disk drive toward the back of the left side of the computer. The disk drive is a 500K (unformatted), 360K (formatted) 3-1/2 inch micro drive. Unlike the 520ST, the 260STD has a TV video output jack on the rear of the computer. The 260STD looks just like the 520 only a slightly deeper (similar to comparing the 1200XL to an 800XL). The 260STD is the so-called low-end, "mass market" computer that Atari has mentioned in the past and will be sold at such places as "K-Mart" and "Toys 'R Us". The machine is expected to become available in the fall and will retail for $499. This price does not include a monitor. The 520ST is slated to be bundled with a disk drive and monochrome monitor. The retail price of the package is said to be $800 and the system will only be sold at computer specialty stores. Sig Hartmann, Atari's President of Software, disclosed to me that the 520ST computer will never have GEM in ROM. It will always be "soft loaded". Currently, the operating system called TOS (The Operating System) and GEM (Graphics Environment Manager) together require about 220K of RAM. Dave Duberman, Atari's User Group Coordinator, told me that Atari is trying to get the size down to under 200K. If this is accomplished, the 520ST computer will contain approximately 300K of RAM after the operating system is loaded versus the 256K of RAM on the 260STD computer. In terms of available memory then, the two machines are essentially identical, especially with regard to the commercial software market. However, in talking with Neil Harris, the publisher of Atari's Explorer magazine, it seems that GEM may become available in ROM for the 520ST. The 520ST, according to Harris, will contain sockets for the ROM chips so if (or when) they become available, they can be added. This would give the 520ST twice the memory capacity of the 260STD. Only time and Atari can answer this puzzling question. Atari's third major hardware product was a direct connect, autodial, auto- answer modem that is Hayes compatible. The XM 301 will sell for under $50 and plugs directly into the serial port on all Atari 800, XL and XE computers. It takes its power from the serial port so there is no AC cord to get in the way and routes the dial tone through the TV speaker. The modem comes with XE-Term, a modem program written by Russ Wetmore that uses XMODEM protocol for up and downloading. The XM301 also comes with over $200 of free time on such on-line services as the Source and CompuServe. There is reportedly a similar, 1200-baud modem, that will sell for under $100. New Software from Atari Atari was again showing the Silent Butler, a home financial program for the XE computer. Available in July and costing under $50, this program lets you keep track of three checking and 2 savings accounts. It also allows you to categorize your expense items, for later use when filing your income tax. Your own checks may be used on your dot-matrix or letter quality printer using the supplied plastic holder. The program also provides a tickler file for appointments. Atari was showing another product exclusively for the 130XE computer. The Professional is a Lotus 1-2-3 clone that will sell for under $100 and should be available by Christmas. It is essentially a spread sheet program that contains data-base type operations such as sorting and searching. The program uses windowing and pull-down menus and will be functionally equivalent to a planned ST version. The Professional is being developed by VIP Software. Another product introduced at the show was the Home Astronomer. This under $50 product contains over 15000 plotted stars and will allow the user to view constellations, change point of view and move through time. You will even be able to track Halley's Comet. The Atariwriter Plus word processing program is in the final stages of testing. It is a super-duper Atariwriter that will retail for under $50 and become available this fall. It is expected that existing Atariwriter files will be compatible with the new version of the program. One of the most interesting new Atari software products is a GEM look-a- like program that will run on all 8-bit Atari computers. Also developed by VIP Software, the program is called, appropriately, GEM Desktop. The $50 price tag includes a mouse. It should be available by Christmas. Where's the Beef Conspicuous by their absence, several previously announced Atari software products were nowhere to be found. Infinity, by Matrix Software, was to be an integrated package containing a word processor, spreadsheet, relational database and telecommunications program. It was supposed to be available for both the ST and XE computers and sell for under $100. Whoops! Another title, long past due regardless of which Atari announcement you believe, is the Learning Phone. Originally called the Plato cartridge, this under $50 program was going to open up the world of Control Data's Plato educational network to Atari computerists. At the West Coast Computer Faire in late March, Sam Tramiel announced that it would be out in April. Now, Atari says real soon. Darn! The Song Painter, Atari's "music construction program" for the 8-bit computer line was also nowhere to be found. Another program that was not shown was the Shopkeeper. This was to have been a small business productivity tool that included a cash register simulator, expense report, etc. Oh-my-gosh! Finally, Crystal Castles and Mario Brothers, two games that were both announced at the last Consumer Electronics Show in January, were not shown. Zap! On the hardware side of the coin, the 130ST has been officially declared "cancelled" as has the 65XEP. The 130ST with only 128K of RAM was considered to have inadequate memory and the 65XEP 8-bit portable was thought to have no market. There will be little mourning for these computers as the 130XE, 260STD and 520ST computers are all solid products with a healthy future. ST Software With the introduction of the new Atari ST computers just around the corner, a logical question to be asked by both experienced and novice users is what kind of programs can I get for an ST computer? ANALOG Computing was particularly interested in finding out which companies are committed to the new Atari computers and what kinds of software will become available for them. The following companies have announced ST software. This is the first time this information has been made available. The companies and the descriptions of their products are presented in alphabetical order. Batteries Included, publisher of such well-known products as B-Graph, HomePak and Paper Clip, has announced a major commitment to the new ST computes. Their first GEM-based product, called "IS" for Integrated Software, will consist of a word processor with built-in spelling checker, a combined spreadsheet and graphics package, a database manager and a stock portfolio package. All of the programs will work together in an integrated manner, says director of product development Michael Reichmann. The portfolio package will be the first release and be available in the fall. Datasoft has revealed that they do have an ST development system and are planning to introduce ST software by the end of the year. Their most likely first ST titles will be Bruce Lee and Goonies. Electronic Arts is taking a wait and see attitude on the new Atari ST computers. However, Trip Hawkins, president and founder of the company, has said that they are coding their MacIntosh and Amiga programs in languages such as PASCAL and C in order to more easily port them over to the ST should they decide to enter the market. If they did produce an ST product, it would most likely be a newer, more powerful version of Financial Cookbook. Epyx, although recently supporting the Atari 8-bit market with such excellent titles as the Lucasfilm games, does not appear to be interested in the ST computer. A representative said that they will wait and see how the ST market develops and then decide what to do. Haba Systems, a West Coast Software house that has previously developed an marketed software for the MacIntosh, has announced that they will be marketing a line of software for the ST computer. Included in this series of packages will be a word processor, database program, spreadsheet and communications program. They also said they would eventually port all of their MacIntosh software to the Atari ST. ICD, makers of SpartaDOS and the US Doubler Chip told me that they are interested in the ST computer but have no current plans for specific programs. They plan to closely watch the ST market develop and see what is needed; then step in with a particular product tailored to the needs of users. Tom Harker, president, made it very clear that they do not want to abandon the Atari 8-bit line, especially the 130XE computer. Infocom has announced that their entire line of 16 text adventure title will become available for the Atari ST computer. No firm introduction dates have yet been given. Noah Falstein, product manager for one of the new Lucasfilm games being published by Epyx, says that Lucasfilm has no plans for developing ST software. Rather, they will wait and see how the market develops. A representative for Mindscape told me that they too have no intention of developing for the Atari ST computer at this time. They feel that the Amiga/MacIntosh is a more viable market. However, they would jump on the bandwagon if the ST becomes a success. Scarborough is another company that is not currently doing any development for the ST computer. They feel, as do several other companies, that the Mac and Amiga markets are where the action is (or will be). And of course, if the ST is a hit, they will join the rush to produce ST software. Sierra On-Line has announced that they will market the popular submarine simulation game, Gato, for the ST computer family. Gato, originally introduced for the IBM computer, puts you in the captain's seat of a World War II submarine. Your mission: find and destroy the enemy Japanese fleet. I have spent many hours playing the PC version of the game and have recently seen the MacIntosh version. The ST version should be excellent. Spinnaker is planning on ST developing ST software. Says Seth Godin, "...the [ST] machine is custom made for our interactive fiction games. It has the sound, graphics and memory". He also sees the ST as a strong product and is pleased with the cooperation he has received from Atari. However, Synapse is taking a wait and see attitude regarding the ST computers. According to president Brian Lee, they have not yet obtained an ST development system and he is unsure of the demand for the machine. If the machine takes, naturally he will jump in, adds Lee. Next month Analog Magazine will complete our CES coverage by presenting other hardware and software announcements made at the show.