UD040164@NDSUVM1.BITNET (04/21/87)
Received: by NDSUVM1 (Mailer X1.23) id 9427; Tue, 21 Apr 87 15:41:36 CDT
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1987 15:40 CDT
From: a.d. jensen <UD040164@NDSUVM1>
Subject: Flaming Darn Near Everybody...
To: <INFO-ATARI16@SCORE.STANFORD.EDU>
Warning: the following is a flame on most of the things that have been
bugging me of late, and is not meant as an indication of my
current (mid thesis) state :-)
1) I wish that someone would hurry up and come out with some good, correct
and _inexpensive_ documentation for computers in general and the ST
specifically. I get real tired of spending $20 + for a text which I
may only use a couple of times. My biggest concern for Atari's
'diligence' in making sure they have a quality product is that their
documentation may come along just in time for it to be outdated by the
new machines. Fruit computer did the right thing in releasing 'Inside
Fruit' in a 'promotional' edition, so that people could get going on
programming without buying up thirty overpriced and buggy third party
texts. I also hope that the Atari 'real' documentation will not cost
$300.
2) I wish that someone (like DRI) would make a couple changes to the desk-
top:
a) MOVE a file, rather than have to copy it into a folder. My disks
are a real mess, because they get too full to be shoving files into
folders (try moving an 80k file on a disk with 2k free). I know
that I could do it being a little less lazy, but it seems pretty
simple to just change a flag on the file that says where it is,
rather than creating a new one.
b) Make a more intelligent way to copy a lot of files from disk to disk
on a single floppy based system. Copying 20 files takes about 40
disk swaps. I know that using a RAM disk avoids this, but that isn't
really my point now, is it?
c) Change the trash from a garbage disposal to a trash can. I have here
a program which will undelete a file, although you have to do the
work yourself (figuring out the right sectors, order, etc). Seems
pretty simple to just change the FAT and Directory so that the entry
remains, and all you have to do is put the name back (change the first
char of the name, like PC-DOS 1.1).
d) I like the 'Unsorted' directory that was posted earlier. That might
be nice...
3) Change the Operating System so that all of the maintenance stuff isn't
sitting on the first track. This is pretty minor, but I managed to trash
out a disk by formatting it. _However_, the only thing that got munched
was the first track. I would rather lose the first file than the whole
disk because the FAT got wiped.
4) Not to Atari, but to software guys: Somebody please write a database
that allows you to print out the fields however you want, without a
bunch of goofy 'pre-set' forms. I am still trying to figure out a nice
way to get my bibliography into a database, but still be able to print
it out in the format my graduate dean insists on.
5) To Atari: Please decide what you are going to bundle with the ST, and
leave it go at that. When I bought my ST, I got First Word and NeoChrome,
and I usually point that out to people who are interested in the machine.
They seem to get pretty aggrevated when they get their machine sans those
programs, and I suppose that I can't legally give them a copy of either.
6) To Atari: Please try to be sympathetic with all of us who complain about
service/promises. I know that I have gotten pampered by having Neil, Allen
and the now defunct Alex around, but it is still important to hear a little
something come out of the Silcon Palace. A reply that says 'Bugger off,
it's none of your business' is still better than no reply at all. (I am
reminded of the note a month or so ago stating that a long response to
previous flames was on its way -- I must have missed that.)
7) Get the mailing goons over at the 'Official Organ' moving. I sent in my
subscription to Atari Explorer in January, and have yet to see an issue
(other than those I buy in the bookstore).
Flame Off, Water On.
A few kudos' (is that plural ? :-)
1) Thanks to Atari for a great 'Official Organ' -- the Explorer. Neil, please
be sure to thank David Ahl for a tremendous magazine. Although the
propaganda gets a bit thick at times, I like seeing the 'inside poop'.
I just hope that 50% of the stuff in the mag that gets coverage (like the
80-column card, and the 'less than 100$ modem' sees the light of day.
2) Good job on releasing the CP/M emulator, although I can't help but wonder
if this might not have been done except for the snafu PD release in
Europe.
3) Thanks for bundling some good software with the machine. In future
consideration of bundling, please be aware that it is a great selling
point for me to show off First Word and say 'Yeah, and you get this
free with the machine.' I can honestly say that I have sold at least
three machines to IBM-minded friends who were impressed with that word
processor, and the fact that it's free. (I have cheap friends :-)
4) David Small -- great hack with the sack.
5) Everyone who has done PD programming. I think that the ST has some of
the finest public domain software for any computer (at least, any machine
that I have owned. ) Thanks for giving a little bit.
6) Special thanks go to everyone on this net who contributes to the mass
of knowledge. Sharing can be quite productive.
7) Simon Poole -- I wish I had as much free time as you spend working on
Uniterm, the finest telecommunications package I have seen for any
machine. You should be selling the bloody thing. (I only wish that I
didn't have to dial the phone by hand :-)
Enough griping. Have a nice day...
a.d. jensen
Department of Geography
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND 58202
"What havoc the Dark Side of the Force must play with your tan..."
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