USER GROUP THANKS
Dear Page 6,
I am writing for your help to ask whether you
could tell me if there is an Atari User Group in the Stoke-on-Trent
area? I have been so disappointed with the support for my 800 but
when, by accident, coming across Telford Atari User Group holding a
display in Telford centre I was amazed at the demos and also the
commercial software that they had on show. If there is no group in
the Stoke area how about local users getting in touch to see if we
can organise our own club? Also would any other User Groups give us
some advice on starting our own club?
I can't put into words my thanks to the Telford
User Group for giving me a new appetite for my Atari and especially
Jason Lunt of Brookside, Telford. If anyone is in the Telford area,
I am sure they will find a warm welcome from the Telford User Group.
They meet at The Madeley Community Centre, Telford every Saturday at
7 p.m.
Kevin
Sherwin, 1, Beechmont Grove, Birches Head,
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs
If you live in Stoke get in touch with Kevin.
The User Group scene in this country is nowhere near as strong as in
the States where they hold regular 'Atari Fairs' all over the
country for the local community often with thousands of Atari owners
attending. This doesn't happen here although there is no reason why
it shouldn't given the enthusiasm and organisation.
The Telford group is the first that I know of to organise a public
display of Atari products and software seen by tens
( hundreds?) of thousands of people and wholehearted congratulations
must go to them for the effort ( even though they didn't remind me
to send our leaflets to them!). It can be done but it needs a lot of
effort and dedication. Let's hope that we see more in different
parts of the country. I am sure Atari would be interested if
approached with sensible propositions.
XE/ST TRANSFER
Dear Page 6,
Could you please let me have some information
about how to transfer data files and screen files between the XE
and ST?
M.J. Horwell, Cornwall
It is quite possible to link up the 8-bit Atari
computers to the ST via a null modem cable. One problem though is
that you need an RS232 interface for your 8-bit and if you haven't
got one it might be expensive! I regularly and successfully transfer
text files back and forth between the 130XE and an ST using an 850
interface and a null modem cable. Some form of comms software is
needed on each machine ( I use Kermit) but STWRITER has a built in
facility to receive files from Atariwriter. It works quite well
provided you have an 850 interface and remember to boot up the RS232
handler first. With comms software and an 850 you can transfer data
to the ST at 9600 baud but if you want to send it the other way you
seem to be limited to 2400 baud as the 130XE can't keep up.
We have a contribution that we hope to publish
when a couple of problems are sorted out. It comprises of a couple
of short programs for each machine and a simple cable which you can
build for a few pounds. As it uses the joystick ports of the 8-bit
machines and the Midi socket on the ST no expensive interface is
required. Look out for it.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL DEALER
Dear Page 6,
I read with interest your reply to N.J Leonard on
the subject of Atari dealers. In November last year, with only 6
days of its guarantee remaining, my Atari monochrome monitor passed
away. Although I had no record of the sale, my local Atari dealer,
York Computer Centre, replaced the monitor on the spot. I can only
confirm your remarks, that a few extra pounds spent with your local
Atari dealer are worth every penny.
Your readers may be interested to note that I have
had problems in buying a Sony monitor at 'discount' prices. To cut a
long story short I purchased a Sony KX-14CP1 monitor from a discount
dealer at the PCW Show and after three days it refused to work. The
company I bought it from offered to repair it only if I paid the
carriage. I refused to pay and they refused to repair it. I took it
to my local Sony Service Centre to be repaired under guarantee only
to be told that the guarantee was not valid as it had been imported
from an overseas dealer!
I can only re-iterate your comments. Wherever
possible it always pays to buy through a reputable dealer and
remember that by supporting your local dealer you are supporting
your Atari neighbourhood.
N. Crozier, Malton, N. Yorks
SHORTS ...
Here's a selection of questions from recent
letters.
How do you get past the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast
of Troll in HitchHiker's Guide To The Galaxy?
Easy! You read Garry Francis's column in issue
21!
Could you tell me if there is a BBC emulator for
the ST as I heard about one a long time ago?
There was a BBC emulator at the Personal
Computer World show in 1985 but it seems to have disappeared without
trace. Anyone know what happened? Could it have been a problem with
Acorn not liking the idea?
NEW AGE
Dear Page 6,
Congratulations on Issue 27's GAMMON program, it
really is very good but have you listened to the 'waiting' sonics
before your first move? New Age music if ever I heard any!
Please congratulate Dave Hitchens for me and ask
him to write more of this hypnotic stuff. He should try listening to
something like 'No Pussyfooting' by Robert Fripp and Brian Eno to
see what I mean! Om .....
'JD' Collins, London
There is no end to
what you can find in PAGE 6!
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