steve@thelake.UUCP (Steve Yelvington) (12/01/89)
In article <1349@uvm-gen.UUCP>, pegram@uvm-gen.UUCP (pegram r) writes ... > ... We can do little about those things, but >isn't there something we can do to turn around the small and >shrinking (at least in the U.S.A.) applications software base? >I can't find software titles that were out years ago, e.g. some >compilers, an on-the-fly keyboard macro program, an outliner-word >processor like More on the Mac (all there ever was was Hippo Concept), Doesn't Word Writer ST have a built-in outliner? (I don't use it.) Todd Burkey's free, portable FoldEd also works as an outline processor. >and new ones are not out there replacing them. If this doesn't >change soon I may be forced to go to permanent emulation (haven't >done it at all - yet ;-}). Constructive suggestions desired. I don't think "small and shrinking" is an accurate description of the software base. Access to the software base, however, is another matter. Atari's (IMHO ill-considered) anti-mail-order policies have driven most of the mail-order firms to simply kiss off the Atari line. Without mail-order access, you're stuck with local dealers. And local dealers of ANY persuasion are notoriously unstable, undercapitalized, understocked and underinformed. One access tool you should know about is the E. Arthur Brown catalog. Eben Brown is not an Atari hardware dealer, but rather an software dealer specializing in the Atari ST. The catalog is a 16-page tabloid newspaper, composed with PageStream, that features hundreds of items for the ST (and a few for the Amiga and IBM-PC, too). Eben has a knack for picking up closeouts, so once in awhile you'll see some VERY aggressive prices. He doesn't carry everything under the sun, but he does have an interesting assortment. Here are some items from the latest catalog (No. 24), which I received last week. All prices are U.S. dollars. Tweety Board (stereo for the ST) $24.95 IMG scanner (1000dpi, mounts on your printer) $64.95 Z-RAM 2-4mb upgrade (no chips) $129.95 Tempus II $47.95 PageStream 1.8 $119.95 Fleet Street 3.1 WITH ULTRASCRIPT $179.96 Calamus $189.95 Calamus Font Editor $64.95 Spectre GCR $249.95 --Mac ROMs $129.95 Universal Item Selector III $19.95 GFA Basic 3.0 with compiler $99.95 One of the more interesting items I noticed is SGS Net, a low-cost networking package that uses MIDI and coax cabling to connect up to 32 STs. A two-computer hookup (server and one node) is $149.95; additional nodes are $99.95 including hardware and software. I saw this at a dealer a month or so ago and flipped through the manual, which I noticed had code examples for developing network applications. Some of the oddball items I saw included a stock market-tracking package, programs to generate crossword puzzles and word jumbles, and even a needlework pattern creator (you paint the needlework on the screen with your mouse and the program prints out a counted cross-stitch pattern). The catalog includes the usual assortment of games and books, too, plus the Current Notes public-domain/shareware disks ($4 each plus shipping). To get the catalog, call (612) 762-8847 or write: E. Arthur Brown Co. 3404 Pawnee Drive Alexandria, MN 56308 Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with the above company. I have ordered items from them and found their service to be prompt, efficient and courteous. (This is generally true of Minnesota people. It's too cold to be antisocial.) I do not know their policies on shipping out of the United States. -- Steve Yelvington, up at the lake in Minnesota ... pwcs.StPaul.GOV!stag!thelake!steve (UUCP)