
[5m=AmiJournal 1.10=  November 13, 1993[0m


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                   Alternative News Source for the Amiga

Issue 1.09 (Saturday, November 13, 1993)                        1993, PXP
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

             Published by Planet X Productions International
                             Toronto, Ontario
                         *BY AMIGANS FOR AMIGANS*

[5m=AmiJournal 1.10=  Main Menu[0m

// =AmiJournal 1.10= \\         The AMIGA Alternative News Source
\\     11/13/93      //         =================================
            1993, Planet X Productions Int'l and Ray J. Morrell

  [3mFrom The Editor                [0m   Hit 'em where it helps
     News Headlines --
     [3mBelieve The Hype?           [0m   Amiga 5000 facts?  Or fiction?
  [3mColumns (dir)                  [0m   Weekly columns
  [3mReader Survey                  [0m   Let us know what you think
  [3mAJ Distribution Centers        [0m   Where to find AJ every Saturday
  [3mAmiJournal Information         [0m   Staff credits, information

                                 [3m QUIT [0m

Issue 1.10 (Saturday, November 13, 1993)                        1993, PXP
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[5m=AmiJournal 1.10=  From The Editor's Desk[0m

 ..
/|J  FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
     ======================


CONSOLE WARS:  COMMODORE FIGHTS BACK
------------------------------------

The Amiga community was uplifted this past week by exciting news that
Commodore's stock on the NYSE jumped several points in response to
unusually heavy trading.

     This would seem to indicate an overall rise in the popularity of the
Amiga CD Games Console in the UK and German markets.  Unconfirmed reports
seem to tell the story that stores just can't keep the units on the shelves
long enough.

     While the underlying factors of this rise in stock prices are yet to
be uncovered, it is good news to the community either way.


NOVEMBER DRAGS ON...
--------------------

It's so boring it's scary.  Any day now, we can expect to hear news that
the arrival of the Amiga CD has been delayed due to enormous sales in
Europe.  So our loss is Commodore's gain.

     Meanwhile, the bad reports keep circulating on the C-LINK network
about shoddy business practises with two major mail-order companies,
Creative Computers and the Grapevine Group.

     While our investigation continues, I would like to note that the
Grapevine Group now has a support BBS, where information and recent
catalogs can be downloaded.  The BBS supports 300-2400 baud, and can be
reached at (914) 343-VINE (8463).


OH NO, IT'S BARNEY!
-------------------

I have heard news that some people in Florida have established an "I Hate
Barney" group, and related support groups for parents of Barney-loving
children.

     If you don't already know, Barney is a disgustingly nice purple
dinosaur on public television, which wins over the hearts and mind of our
pre-school children, and turns normal adults into purple-fearing nervous
wrecks, many of whom actually must seek professional attention.  I'm
serious!

     Anyway, to inspire those brave souls fighting the evil forces of nice
purple dinosaurs, I have included a home-drawn wanted poster in 16-color
IFF format.

     Wanna see it? Clink --> [3mHERE[0m

     Ok, it's not that great -- I'm a better writer than artists, but it's
the thought that counts!


REMEMBERANCE/VETERAN'S DAY
--------------------------

     This past week saw yet another Rememberance Day (Veteran's Day in the
U.S.) come and go.  I hope we all spent at least one or two moments
remembering those who gave their lives this century, fighting for our
freedoms.

     Not to turn this magazine into a political issue, but I personally
think it's important that we recall the past to prevent it from repeating
itself.  From what I've heard, the Clinton administration would like to see
those rights and freedoms thrown out the window with proposed regulations
on users of modems and owners of BBSes, including taxation on
telecommunications products.

     This is an absolute outrage to anyone who's livelihood is the
telecommunications industry, particularly to hobbyists like myself.  It is
disgusting.  And that's not the end of it.  Bell Canada, here in (where
else?) Canada has proposed regulations to the CRTC (Canadian Radio-
telecommunications and Television Commission) which would see all users of
fax machines and modems be required to rent a special "data" phone line at
$5 per month, per line.

     The very scourge our brave ancestors fought against is now in power and
trying to destroy our hobby.  I hope we can unite and stop this threat
quickly.  I for one am not going to forfeit the time and money I have
invested in my hobby, on account of "government regulations."

                                        - The Editor (Ray Morrell)
                                          @ 911:5177/0.0 [CLINK]
                                          @ 1:229/436.1  [FIDO]



Issue 1.10 (Saturday, November 13, 1993)                        1993, PXP
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[5m BELIEVE THE HYPE? [0m

 ..
/|J  CAN YOU BELIEVE THE HYPE?
     =========================
     By: Ray Morrell


(10-Nov-93) -- Late-breaking news came our way when a text file upload to
our host system described the details of an article in "Dator Magazine" - a
Swedish computer mag, issue #19 (no month was given).

     Details are revealed, supposedly from Commodore UK's executive
director, David Pleasance, about the secret project many speculators have
dubbed "Amiga 5000."

     The text file was circulated on the major pirate networks, and was
written by "Psyko."  The A5000 is revealed to be a multiple-platform
computer, which will run AmigaDOS, Windows NT and the Mac OS.

     Other exciting enhancements are described, "According to David
Pleasance, it's a totally new step in the development of the Amiga."  Most
shocking perhaps, is the next sentence, "Commodore has discarded the
thought of making it backward compatible."  This spells the end of even the
newest AGA machines.

     The text file continues, "...they put all their effort in to creating
a RISC-based (Reduced Instruction, Small Code) Amiga, which should be able
to compete with all other platforms, based on the RISC and Pentium
processors.  The A5000 will also be able to run Windows NT and thereby PC
applications that work with it ... programs will run five times faster that
on a Pentium PC!"

     Many rumors have the "newest" Amiga containing the secret AAA graphics
chipset.  This text file seems to confirm that, and "(it will) have 10
times higher performance than today's AGA chips that come in the A1200 and
A4000."

     According to the document, the A5000 is currently a prototype, which
means it is being tested by respectable developers and Commodore
technicians.  The release date is pegged for the Summer of 1994.

     First off, I've seen a lot of hype, and rumor-mongering.  There is
nothing in this re-print that makes me think it is any more legit than
anything else I've seen.  There is no hard technical information, and I
don't know many (reputable) magazines that publish information or "reveal
the big secret" on something without hard facts.  Any moron can figure out
that the "next generation" Amiga will have AAA chips, it is no secret that
Commodore is working industriously on them this very minute.

     RISC technology?  It's certainly a possibility, since Motorola, makers
of the current Amiga processors, have a hand in the Power PC and RISC
markets.

     So, take it with a grain (or two) of salt, unless you like being
gullible.  And the least believable part of the tale is Commodore making
the machine non-backwards compatible.  It would be very uncharacteristic,
and a seriously poor marketing error to make a machine incompatible with
older software, only a summer after releasing three AGA machines, the
A1200, A4000 and finally the CD.

     Many facts are missing from the description, so I'll wait for the
press release.  I will also inquire at World of Commodore Amiga, in
Toronto (see the full report, coming in issue 1.13, and a follow-up report
in issue 1.14, December 4 and 11 respectively).

     Another turn off is the unbelievably bad grammar in the text file.
The file can be found on Planet X BBS as "a5000new.txt" in our "Amiga
PD/Text files" file dir, and possibly on your local BBS, so you can see it
for yourself if you want.  It is obvious the author is into the "SCeNe" - I
don't know many pirates who have any skill at grammar (if they did they
would be programmers, and then there would be a conflict of interest).

     Until I see the press release, I'll take it as more rumor-mongering.



Issue 1.10 (Saturday, November 13, 1993)                        1993, PXP
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[5m=AmiJournal 1.10=  Columns Menu[0m

 ..
/|J  REGULAR COLUMNS & FEATURES
     ==========================

[3mNetwork News          [0m      News on the major networks

          YIKES!  NO CONTIBUTIONS?  NO COLUMNS.. SORRY FOLKS! 

[3m[F]eedback            [0m      Main> F


Issue 1.10 (Saturday, November 13, 1993)                        1993, PXP
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[5m NETWORK NEWS [0m


 ..
/|J  C-LINK NEWS
     ===========


AEROSPACE AREA SOON TO BE ADDED
-------------------------------

The voting is still open, but from early returns, by our count, the
CLINKAEROSPACE echo should be a go.  Our last count, as of November 13, was
28 votes of YEA, 8 votes of NAY, and 1 vote of ABSTAIN.

     What remains to be seen, after the echo is added, is how long it will
last.  Already several areas, including CLINKRADIO, have seen critical, and
possibly fatal decreases in activity.  Expect to see several areas leave
the backbone shortly.



Issue 1.10 (Saturday, November 13, 1993)                        1993, PXP
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[5m [F]eedback [0m

 ..
/|J  READER FEEDBACK
     ===============


==========================================================================

                  No feedback was received this week

==========================================================================

Reminder: AmiJournal reserves the right to edit feedback and submissions
for space available and for asthetics.



Issue 1.10 (Saturday, November 13, 1993)                        1993, PXP
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[5m READER SURVEY [0m

 ..
/|J  READER SURVEY
     =============


Please help us collect information about you, and where you found our
electronic magazine by filling out this survey and mailing it to us, or
e-mailing it with your information filled in, in ASCII format, to the
Editor.  See "AmiJournal Information" for a complete run-down on how to
contact our editorial office.


-------cut----------------------------------------------------------------

THIS SURVEY IS CONFIDENTIAL - ALL INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT PRIVATE, AND
USED FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND MARKETING RESEARCH PURPOSES.


1>  COMPUTER:
     What type of computer(s) do you own?  [check applicable]

     [ ]  Amiga 500/600/600HD      [ ]  Amiga 1000
     [ ]  Amiga 1200/1200HD        [ ]  Amiga 2000/2000HD
     [ ]  Amiga 3000/3000T         [ ]  Amiga 4000
     [ ]  Commodore 64/128         [ ]  IBM/compatible 286
     [ ]  IBM/compatible 386       [ ]  IBM/compatible 486
     [ ]  IBM/compatible Pentium   [ ]  Apple
     [ ]  Other

2>  AmigaDOS Version:
     What version of AmigaDOS do you run?  [check applicable]

     [ ]  Release 1.xx             [ ]  Release 2.04
     [ ]  Release 2.1              [ ]  Release 3.0x
     [ ]  Release 3.1

3>  What do you use your Amiga system for?  [check applicable]

     [ ]  Recreational (games)     [ ]  Business (sheets/bases)
     [ ]  Business (faxes/docs)    [ ]  Word processing
     [ ]  Desktop Publishing       [ ]  On-line use
     [ ]  BBS system operator      [ ]  Graphics (morphing/toasters/etc)
     [ ]  Sound (mods/demos/etc)   [ ]  Programming/Development
     [ ]  OTHER:________________

4>  Do you regularly use/support software that is illegally copied, cracked
    or distributed? (Remember, this is confidential!)  [check one]

     [ ]  NO                       [ ]  YES

5>  What features in this issue did you like the MOST?  [check applicable]

     [ ]  The Editor's Desk        [ ]  Believe The Hype?
     [ ]  Net News

6>  What features in this issue did you like the LEAST?  [check applicable]

     [ ]  The Editor's Desk        [ ]  Believe The Hype?
     [ ]  Net News

7>  What would you like to see MORE of in AmiJournal?

     _____________________________________________________________________
     
     _____________________________________________________________________

     _____________________________________________________________________

     _____________________________________________________________________

8>  What would you like to see LESS of in AmiJournal?

     _____________________________________________________________________
     
     _____________________________________________________________________

     _____________________________________________________________________

     _____________________________________________________________________

9>  Where do you normally get AmiJournal from?  [check one of each list]

     HOW:
     [ ]  Download                 [ ]  C-LINK File Request

     FROM:
     [ ]  Planet X BBS             [ ]  Daily Planet BBS
     [ ]  FutureWorld BBS          [ ]  FREESPACE:Negative BBS
     [ ]  Ground Zero BBS          [ ]  AmiConnection BBS
     [ ]  Other:_________________


-------cut----------------------------------------------------------------



Issue 1.10 (Saturday, November 13. 1993)                        1993, PXP
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[5m=AmiJournal 1.10=  Direct Distribution Sites[0m

 ..
/|J  DIRECT DISTRIBUTION SITES
     =========================


Each Saturday, the latest issue of AmiJournal can be found on the following
BBSes which we distribute to directly (either by uploading the magazine
there, or by NetMailing the magazine to the site):

 | Canada |
[3mPlanet X[0m ................................... Toronto, ON
[3mThe Daily Planet[0m ........................... Oshawa, ON
[3mFREESPACE: Negative[0m ........................ Leamington, ON

 | United States |
[3mAmiga Connection[0m ........................... Paramount, CA
[3mFutureWorld![0m ............................... Canton, MI
[3mGround Zero[0m ................................ Port Richey, FL



Issue 1.10 (Saturday, November 13, 1993)                        1993, PXP
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[5mCANADA/Planet X[0m


     Planet X BBS

     Toronto, Ontario
     Sysop:    Ray Morrell (The Editor)
     
     Node 1:   (416)/324-9439      v.32bis
     Node 2:   [December '93]      HST
     Node 3:   [December '93]      2400

         [] Amiga 2000HD [] G-Force '030/40Mhz [] 240MB storage []

     C-LINK TORONTO HOST:          911:5177/0.0
     FIDONET:                      1:229/436.1
     InfoNET CO-ORDINATOR:         411:1000/0.0

     FREQ:     File REQuest as "JOURNAL"

*AmiJournal is located in the "Amiga PD/AmiJournal" file area.


[5mCANADA/The Daily Planet[0m


     The Daily Planet

     Oshawa, Ontario
     Sysop:    Michael Moon (Gman)

     Node 1:   (905)/436-2606      HST
     Node 2:   (905)/436-2714      v.32
     Node 3:   (905)/436-1903      v.32bis
     (There's more nodes, so call for info)

     [] Amiga multi-line system [] 1.5 Gigabytes storage [] CD-ROMS []

     FIDONET:                      1:229/436.0

*AmiJournal is located in the "Text Files/Magazines" file area.


[5mCANADA/FREESPACE: Negative[0m


     FREESPACE: Negative

     Leamington, Ontario
     Sysop:    Electropig

     Node 1:   (519)/322-0450      DUAL

                   [] Amiga 2000 [] Off-line Storage []

     C-LINK:                       911:5178/5.0

*AmiJournal is located in the file area.  Ask sysop for specifics.


[5mUSA/AmiConnection[0m


     Amiga Connection

     Paramount, California
     Sysop:    Warren Peace

     Node 1:   (310)/634-8759      DUAL
     Node 2:   (310)/633-5002      2400
     (There's more nodes, so call for info)

[] Massive Amiga multi-line system [] Storage, storage, and more storage []

     C-LINK WEST COAST CO-ORD:     911:5000/0.0

*AmiJournal is located in the "Documentation" file area.


[5mUSA/FutureWorld![0m


     FutureWorld!

     Canton, Michigan
     Sysop:    Big Brother

     Node 1:   (313)/255-2466      v.32bis
     Node 2:   (313)/255-2465      v.32
     Node 3:   (313)/255-2464      HST

         [] Home of CNet Amiga! [] Multi-line support/news BBS []

     C-LINK:                       911:7000/0.0

*AmiJournal is located in the "Amiga Telecommunication" file area.


[5mUSA/Ground Zero[0m


     Ground Zero

     New Port Richey, FL
     Sysop:    Blue Thunder

     Node 1:   (813)/849-4034      

     C-LINK:                       911:6000/0.0

*Ask sysop where to locate AmiJournal on this system.


[5m=AmiJournal 1.10=  Credits & Information[0m

 ..
/|J  STAFF CREDITS
     =============

     Publisher/Distributor         PLANET X PRODUCTIONS INT'L

     Editor & Researcher           RAY MORRELL (THE EDITOR)

     Special Thanks To             ALL OUR READERS
     

 ..
/|J  SUBMISSION INFORMATION
     ======================

     All submissions become the property of AmiJournal, except as
exclusively agreed to otherwise between AmiJournal and the author.

     Submissions should be written in ASCII format, without control codes,
and the right margin should be set to 75 characters for best results.

     Submissions should include the name or handle or the author.  Articles
not related to computing, or to BBSing, or articles with political,
religious or partisan undertones, will not be considered.

    
 ..
/|J  HOW TO REACH AmiJournal
     =======================

Contributions, feedback, comments, and whatever are more than welcome.
Here's how you can get them to us:


BY MAIL:
--------

You can mail comments, contributions, PD demos for reviewing, or whatever
you feel we should have, to our editorial office and HQ at:

               AmiJournal Electronic Magazine
               c/o Ray J. Morrell, Editor/Publisher
               45 Salisbury Ave.
               Toronto, Ontario
               M4X 1C5   CANADA


VIA NETMAIL:
------------

If you are a C-LINK sysop, or have access to a BBS on C-LINK, or you have
access to FIDO-net, you can NetMail us either at:

               C-LINK:
               >  The Editor @ 911:5177/0.0

Or:

               FIDO:
               >  Ray Morrell @ 1:229/436.0


ON FUTUREWORLD BBS:
-------------------

My handle is (you guessed it) "The Editor" on [3mFutureWorld BBS[0m, the support
BBS for CNet Amiga BBS software.


ON PLANET X BBS:
----------------

Our home BBS is [3mPlanet X BBS[0m in the heart of Toronto, Ontario.

You can leave [F]eedback for the sysop if you want to make a comment or
contribution to AmiJournal, but please specify that your feedback concerns
"AmiJournal" in the title.

The latest issue is always available from Planet X BBS in our file area,
"Amiga PD/AmiJournal", or via a C-LINK file request (FREQ).  The FREQ
magic-name for AmiJournal is "JOURNAL" and there is no password.



Issue 1.10 (Saturday, November 13, 1993)                        1993, PXP
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
