benw@desoto.UUCP (B Weber) (01/21/85)
-- -- Well, Atari has kept one of their promises since Jack Tramiel took over. Check your newsstands/bookstores for the magazine ATARI EXPLORER...this is the updated and much improved successor to the ATARI CONNECTION, published by Atari for their users. The tone and audience of explorer is much the same as the Atari connection, however, the layout and graphics are really slick and much improved. The magazine is published bimonthly (6 times a year), whereas, I believe, the Atari Connection was seasonal (4 times a year). Price is $3.00. At least for this issue, it's worth it! What's inside... The most striking thing about this issue is definitely the 9 page center spread describing (PICTURES AND ALL!!) the new Atari machines. It looks like this will be their advertisement for other mags, and it is a beauty. The first page has a dramatic "Atari Proudly Presents", and the following pages very graphically detail the ST line of machines. Full specs and feature details are given. The last page has what will no doubt be Atari's slogan..."Power Without the Price". 8-bit machine owners need not feel left out...there's an article (with a picture of the 65XE) entitled "The new 8-Bit Products". The article basically rehashes the specs that have been outlined both here (in the CES reports) and in other mags. Other features in the Mag: "The Atari Commitment" - An introduction to the new management at Atari "Atari Computers at NASA Users group" - What it says "Telecomputing" - Intro to BBSs and the like (Compuserve, etc). Departments: Editorial - explains the magazine changes Industry News - including article on the MIDI music interface Letters User Friendly - A column about (and by) various user groups. A.C.E., this month Education - A column about the Atari in education Games - Excerpts from "The Art of Computer Game Design" by Chris Crawford (kind of ironic, isn't it!) Computer Classroom - Part II of intro to ML programming Logo Notions - Manager for LOGO work space Bits & Pieces - The "practical" short programs Kinetic Graphic Art - yet another graphics demo Product Reviews - Track & Field, Millipede, and the book "Moonlighting with your computer" Dr. Wackos Word Processor - An excerpt from the book of almost the same name. Nice going, Atari! Ben Weber AT&T Technologies Piscataway, NJ desoto!benw bocar!benw kato!benw