Professional Documents
Culture Documents
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 4-JAN-1985 17:20
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK.UAF
Subj: Printer in Rains's area
There is another printer hooked up now in the phone closet near Rains's office.
It's known as RAINS$PRINT and if you want it to be the default printer for you
then put the following in your LOGIN.COM file:
$ ASS 'f$log("RAINS$PRINT")' SYS$PRINT
The physical name is TXD5:, but I advise against using that name cuz its
probably gonna change (nothing stays the same around here if you hadn't
noticed). This printer is quite a bit slower than the others but it may
still be preferable to walking over to the hot DIO room.
It is imperative that you keep the room tidy. Paper fragments must be kept
outside the room and due to the fragile nature of the telephone hookups,
please be careful when walking around in there. An accident could wipe
out the phones in that area for several days (maybe even weeks) which I
think you'd find very inconvenient.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SUTTLES 8-JAN-1985 12:37
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: Just when you were getting used to the way it worked...
Due to popular demand, the utilities MAIDIR and MAILCK have been
enhanced. This is a major release (rewritten from scratch), and probably
has brand new bugs.
As far as I know, the current usage is not affected at all (total
upwards compatibility), unless you have one mail file in particular
(DIR.MAI).
Here's how to use the new stuff:
In your LOGIN.COM file, you say
$MAI*L :== @SYS$SYSDEVICE:[UTILITIES.COM]MAIDIR
and from that time forth, when you invoke mail, a file (WAS MAIL.RVN,
NOW DIR.MAI) is created which indicates the time you exited. Under the
new version, the contents of this file is a directory of SYS$LOGIN:*.MAI;,
so you can READ DIR to find out what categories you have filed stuff under.
Somewhere AFTER the first definition (in your LOGIN.COM file), say:
$ @SYS$SYSDEVICE:[UTILITIES.COM]MAILCK
to automatically enter MAIL if you have received mail since you last exited
the MAIL program. Note that it is possible to exit the program without reading
all your new mail, so it is conceivable to have new mail and not auto-invoke
MAIL. But if this happens, you set it up that way, presumably on purpose.
You have not received any mail since you last exited MAIL.
The really neat part is that you can also (or instead) say:
$ @SYS$SYSDEVICE:[UTILITIES.COM]MAILCK device/directory_spec
to check for new mail on other logins. This even works across the network,
although you may find the time required for access to be restrictive. You
might define the @...MAILCK part to be a word, and then CHECK [so-and-so]
interactively. You can find out if the other accounts have mail, but
it is not possible to read their mail (don't bother), so you are simply
notified that there is "New mail in what-you-said". It's up to you to
log in with your other account and read the mail.
Incidentally, the DIR mail file will contain the directory as of the
last time you exited MAIL. If you delete or rename files using DCL, these
changes won't be seen until you exit mail again. The DIR file also does not
have the standard MAIL format (FROM and TO lines are missing) so a MAIL
DIRECTORY command will blow up (not my fault!). Take my word for it, there
is only one message in the file. I do not reccommend FILEing that message
anywhere.
Another fine point: the MAIDIR command procedure takes an optional
parameter. If it is absent, the DIR.MAI file will be typed out before
the first MAIL prompt--this shows you where you have things FILEd. If this
bothers you, you can supply anything for the first parameter, and it will
be skipped. I reccommend "-Q" in case of further changes. This is not
a change from the older version, and your LOGIN.COM definitions will work
the same way as they have in the past.
If you find that the changes I have made make you unable to use MAIL,
please send me a mail message describing the problem. Have fun, and good luck.
sas
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::MARTINEZ 10-JAN-1985 13:40
To: @OURGANG
Subj: Magazine Subscriptions
There are some problems with the new mail checker. It works
fine in the applications it used to be used in; the (known) problems
are all in the enhancements.
To start with, when you check someone elses mail file, you have
to have read access in order to find out the attributes (date of last
modification is an attribute). So, you need to change the protection
on your mail file in order for that to work--and then anyone can read
your mail. I think that's icky.
Then, for CHECKs across the network, DCL doesn't close the channels
used to obtain the information about the file--so you wind up with 4
jobs started on the other node. This is a somewhat excessive overhead.
These jobs stick around till you log off.
Lastly, if circumstances are "right" (don't ask, I don't know
for sure myself) you can get an RMS error, Dynamic Memory Exhausted. I
checked into that and the suggested cure is to relink the program so
that the control area is bigger. The program I'm using is DCL, and I'm
not that eager to replace the current version.
None of this happens if you are checking your own mail (which is
all it used to do). I haven't decided whether or not to fix it, cuz of
version 4 coming up (mail is different in V4...you will get a { L O N G }
list of changes for V4 soon {maybe eventually, anyway}). It seems that
the cure is to write a quick and dirty (or time-consuming and correct)
program to do the checks and return a status.
Sorry for the false alarm, but I'm sure somebody with a dirty
mind once said it: Hope springs eternal in the human breast. Don't let
it get you down.
sas
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::LIPSON 13-JAN-1985 13:04
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
Subj: mail reading
The correction to the protection of the directory file ($SET PROT=W:RE DIR.MAI)
is indeed necessary to avoid a privilege violation. Unfortunately, the
same kludge is necessary to the MAIL.MAI file, and I think the system
resets the protection if new mail is received. I could have stuck these
commands in the file that creates DIR.MAI but I expected to get a lot
of flak for making your mail publicly accessible without telling you.
Also, I'm pretty sure the system will change the protection back, so
the error wouldn't go away. And on top of that, there is still the
problem of the 4 processes (per $CHECK) that are created on the remote
node.
Public opinion poll: How many people (not accounts, PEOPLE) would use
CHECK if it worked as intended? That is to say, if it didn't blow up,
didn't advertise your mail, and also didn't use up multiple job slots
forever?
How many would use it if I couldn't avoid the advertising?
Please respond to KIM::SUTTLES.
sas
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::WIEBENSON 30-JAN-1985 15:16:00.00
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: 68010 DEV SYS UPDATE
The new and improved Applied Microsystems Emulator EPROMS have been
distributed to each and every station. Does it fix known bugs?
Wow, does it ever! Does it reset and clobber the EEPROM?
Wow, does it ever! Restore the settings to bring it out of the weeds.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 4-FEB-1985 15:45:43.16
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: MAIL$nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.MAI files
Some of you may have noticed the presence of files in your home directory
with the name MAIL$nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.MAI where the "n" is a arbitrary number.
These files are created when your mail message is greater than 3 disk blocks
(1500 bytes) in length. There's one file for each of your long messages. You can
make MAIL put these files in a different directory if you want by issuing the
command:
MAIL> SET MAIL_DIRECTORY [.sub_directory_name]
where the [.sub_directory_name] is one of your choosing. For example:
MAIL> SET MAIL_DIRECTORY [.MAIL]
will put "folder" files in the subdirectory [.MAIL] and out of your way.
dms
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::AVL 7-FEB-1985 15:54:48.77
To: KIM::MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: Here you go!
Dear Friends,
The time has come for me to move on. The two years I have spent with you have
been educational, challenging, and enjoyable. My reasons for leaving are
varied, and are directly related to the recent re-organization. I would have
liked to stay, as I still think I can be challenged and the product is still
interesting, but the enjoyment is gone.
Reflecting on the past two years makes me kind of sad to leave. The Atari
Coin-Op atmosphere was really radical for me at first, but it is an easy thing
to get used to. John Ray was an excellent supervisor. The people are very
talented and inspired. The product is fascinating, and has nothing to do with
the DOD. I really enjoyed this stimulating environment.
The job of Team Manager was a great experience for me, also. We worked on
several exciting projects including MACHO44, FIREFOX, CRYSTAL CASTLES, and of
course, SPOOK. We were breaking new ground with that one. I was real excited
with our version of EVOLUTION, also. The work of game design is a really
creative process, something I don't feel as much when I design hardware.
Designing hardware is like looking for the answer to a question. When the
answer comes, it feels like the answer was always there, and your work was
spent in just discovering this existing information. Of course, there may be
several answers to the same question, and discovering the best one is what
differentiates engineers.
Game design is a little more non-tangible. I still don't have a feeling for
what makes a good game. Past versions of Gremlins indicate this fact very
effectively. I really hope that Gremlins receives the attention it deserves
from management as the next System II game. I'm sure that the current project
team has the ability to pull it off.
I believe that we cannot interact with someone without affecting the future
course of their lives. My time here at Atari has affected me greatly, some
positive, some negative. Here's hoping that I only touched you in a positive
way. My last day is 2/15.
Goodby.
Ross Cox (xxx)-xxx-xxxx
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 11-FEB-1985 10:02:37.39
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER.UAF
CC:
Subj: A new C
Kim has VAX11C V2.0 installed on it. It is a field test version of the new
release of C. DEBUG knows about it though, so it ought to be easier to fix
your programs. We have a hot line (via modem) into the program developers
back east, so let me know of any problems. You can look at
SYS$LIBRARY:VAXCSPR.DAT
for the current SPR's on the compiler and $ HELP CC RELEASE_NOTES for the
differences between v1.x and 2.0.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SUTTLES 11-FEB-1985 11:56:19.58
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: documentation on version 4 differences (such that it is)
I forgot to mention in the last mail that there's three logical names that
have to be made prior to linking C programs. What I suggest is that you put
the following command in your login.com file (or better yet, in a C startup
command file so as not to bother the links from other compilers).
$ @SYS$LIBRARY:VAXCLINK
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MAHAR "Dr. Memory" 11-FEB-1985 16:34:13.58
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER.UAF
CC:
Subj: New 68000 assmebler
There is a new version of GENSYM (or CSYM) available, it should be faster and
it now allows downloadable symbols of upto 16 characters, it will truncate any
symbols longer than that.
Make the following assignment to use the new version.
$ GENSYM:==$SYS$SYSDEVICE:[UTILITIES.EXE]GENSYM.EXE
Please change your command files to use this version, so you will
automatically get any updates, if you still link to [MAHAR],[MORRIS] or your
own version we can not guarantee those version will always exist or work.
Any bugs, or requests, see Jim.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::MORRIS 19-FEB-1985 13:19:40.43
To: KIM::MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: RE: Gensym, 68000 emulator symbol generator.
Due to popular demand you can now put comments in .LNK files. They won't
however appear on your link map (sorry about that). The /C (continue option)
is optional and no longer required (it won't bomb anymore if you put a /C
on the last line either). The comments are delimited with an exclamation mark
and everything to the right of the mark is assumed to be a comment.
Tabs are equivalent to spaces. Blank lines are permitted anywhere in the file.
! This is an example of a .LNK file
file1,file2,file3 !comments
!more comments
!still more comments
file3,file4 !tabs are the same as spaces
(blank lines are ok too)
!the "!" doesn't have to be first on the line
file5,file6 !filenames don't have to begin in col 1
There can't be any spaces BETWEEN filenames (file1,file2,... is ok but
file1, file2, ... is not ok) but there can be spaces or tabs in front of
the first name and behind the last name. The comments will not appear on the
link map (sorry about that), but you can't have everything. The /C at the end
of the line is optional. There can be any number of filenames on a line
seperated with comma's but the names can still be no longer than 6 chars.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::CAMERON 21-FEB-1985 11:46:29.77
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: WARNER STOCK CERTIFICATES
There is a new version of as68k on both kim and charm. This fixes an
opscure local variable bug that I'm sure none of you have run into yet.
As68k also recognizes statements of the form:
DC.B 'Hi there',10,'how are you'
This is new to as68k. Before it only would accept statements of the form:
DC.B 'Hi there'
or
DC.B 10,20,$30
You can now mix constants with ascii strings. This helps with making
asciz strings. i.e.
DC.B 'This is a test',0
If you have any problems, feel free to write or phone
mpm
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MAHAR "Dr. Memory" 28-FEB-1985 21:36:03.76
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: New Green Hills C compiler.
1) it is done
2) your directory is locked, so i couldnt insert your file
3) the generator is in [battle.jed]tcstat.mac
4) i can go thru it later with you. it is general so other state roms
could use it too
G
R
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MAHAR "Dr. Memory" 1-MAR-1985 14:17:00.06
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: NEW C COMPILER
Last night I sent you all a message about the new Green Hills C compiler.
After more testing, I have found that it generates slightly larger code.
About 1%-2%. We are scheduled to get a better version in a few weeks.
If you can wait, please do. If you have a bug, try this version. Otherwise
continue to use the current version.
mpm
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 5-MAR-1985 23:07:30.30
To: @sys$mail:everybody.uaf
CC:
Subj: The fastest login in the west
Has anybody noticed that Kim is kinda S-L-O-W sometimes? This is actually due
to a couple of things: one is that that you guys are using Kim to do lots of
hard work (this is good, keep it up). The other is that VMS 4 and its
associated processes gobble up about 2Mb of memory out of an available total of
4. This is about 1000 pages more than under VMS 3 (once again proves that
software grows to fill the available space) and as a consequence, programs
running on Kim do a lot more page faulting. What's even worse is that most of
these additional page faults are "hard" in that they are resolved by disk
accesses. There is (or will be shortly) a document called DOK:PAGES.DOC that
describes in some detail how VMS manages its memory. Read it if you're
intrested.
In the meantime you can take it on blind faith that Kim needs more memory to
reduce these page fault rates, which in turn will make it run faster. There are
two ways to achieve this goal, one by hardware and one by software. The
hardware solution costs about $40k (buy more memory) and there's no chance of
gettin that kind of money. The software solution is to reduce the demand on
Kim's memory. One can achieve this by restricting access (boo-hiss), kicking
off users (blech) or by having the users help VMS manage its memory. Its this
last method that I want to try so I've written up a little program to do just
that. You guys have to help out by getting into the habit of running this
program yourself. I've tried to make it as easy as possible for you to do this
by setting up all the VT100 type terminals for "applications keypad" and
defining the keypad 0 key to "RUN SLEEP". All you have to do is press the 0 key
on the keypad if you expect not to be doing any work at your terminal for
anywhere from a few seconds to several hours. To wake up your terminal again,
just type any key which can if fact be the first character of your next
command. For the blue box development system people, DOWNC automatically chains
to SLEEP at program termination. (For all those who have already defined their
keypad 0 key to mean something else, sorry about that, your definition wins so
you'll have to define some other key sequence to SLEEP. You can require that
your password be entered to "wake up" your terminal by running SLEEPWP which
is done easily by pressing the PF1 (gold) followed by the 0 key.
Please understand that you're not giving up anything in either performance or
functionality in doing this, it only improves system performance for everyone
by allowing programs to use more memory TEMPORARILY. You get back all the pages
you freed up (plus more if you need them) as soon as you "wake up". You may
think "Why should I give my pages? I want to keep them all!" Actually, if the
system gets real busy, it'll take ALL your pages away from you whether you are
sleeping or not. It is NOT possible to hoard pages. But by sleeping, you
volunteer your pages for somebody else saving the system the trouble of being
sneaky about taking them from you. Also, don't expect Kim to suddenly get 10
times faster. I realistically expect that it will change from S----L----O----W
to a mere S---L---O---W, but every little bit helps in this case.
As an added bonus, ZAP_THE_USER will leave your process alone if you are
running sleep and the process(es) sleeping with password won't get zapped at
23:30. You can use sleep with password in lieu of logging out, which makes
logging back in as fast as just typing your password. But please don't sleep
with password on public terminals since it will prevent users who don't know
your password from using them. You will notice that Sleep says who it's waiting
for, so if you inadvertantly lock up, say the VT100 in the DIO room, you will
surely be hunted down and set upon by an angry mob of users. Should you
find that you've done such a foul deed, SUICIDE from any other terminal will
quickly solve the problem. Lucky for us so far, we can correct such breaches of
honor by comitting SUICIDE with a few keystrokes at our terminal instead of the
more conventional everlasting method requiring the use of a blade.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MAHAR "Dr. Memory" 6-MAR-1985 10:57:58.02
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: New as68k
There is a new version of as68k on Kim and Charm. This version generates
variable length record files instead of stream-LF. This means that they
can be copied over the NET.
mpm
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MAHAR "Dr. Memory" 8-MAR-1985 10:54:59.99
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: Yet another release of as68k
There is a new version of as68k. This version will assemble the output
of PBEXTRACT. IF this fails, let me know asap.
mpm
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::SLADE 11-MAR-1985 08:31:40.39
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: A WORD TO THE WISE
Well it's time to log off for the last time. Thanks for the use
of the toys! Since the first day, I never did believe that I was getting
paid for this anyway. I have to admit, I loved every minute of it.
I will continue to maintain the Alumni Phone List on my bulletin board
(xxx-xxx-xxxx) so those of you with modems can always call for a bit
of the "old Atari".
My special thanks to Dave, Steve, Steph... I hope you can understand what
I wrote.
If your ever in Washington DC, be sure to stop by the Smithsonian and
visit the Pong on display there...chances are 1 in 3 that it was one of
mine.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SINKOVIC 22-MAR-1985 14:01:42.63
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: I can take a hint !
For those of you who missed my LAST farewell message, here's Rev. 2:
I can honestly say the time I spent working here has been the most
demanding but also the most rewarding. Most of the people who work
here are Really Good, and working with Good people can make having
to deal with all the other bullshit worthwhile. Good luck to all
of you who are left here to carry on.
I hope to be enshrined in the Atari Hall of Fame for being laid off,
by the same group, twice in seven months. If not the Hall of Fame
then perhaps the Believe It Or Not.
See you all on the ski slopes,
Linda Sinkovic
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::PETROKA 22-MAR-1985 15:53:46.09
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: so long and thanks for all the donuts
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::WATMORE 25-MAR-1985 11:01:34.22
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Why am I still here?
Well, it's cheerio from me. No, this is not a breakfast cereal commercial -
it's my way of saying goodbye. I've really enjoyed working here at Atari
and it's been a wonderful introduction to California and the U.S.A.
Here's the catch - I'm not going just yet. Since my status in the U.S. is
questionable without Atari's employment, Atari have been decent enough to
keep me on until I get my green card (permanent residence visa) which should be
in about a month or so's time.
So there's plenty of time for you all to say goodbye to me (via Vax mail if
you like). Good luck for the future.
Cheerio,
Paul Watmore
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::VICKERS 27-MAR-1985 17:41:45.31
To: ALBAUGH,BRAD,MARGOLIN,MONCRIEF,RAINS,WHITEBOOK
CC:
Subj: Sound Pong
g
r
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::MARTINEZ 11-APR-1985 11:50:02.81
To: @OURGANG
CC:
Subj: See below
TO: GROUP ALPHA
FROM: DOWNEND
SUBJECT: EXPANDED ROLE FOR MARKET RESEARCH PRODUCT MANAGERS.
Mary, Linda and Don have been playing a larger role in bringing
our products to the Market. The attached description formalizes
the role of the Product Manager. The Product Manager role overlaps
and complements the Project Leader role. The Product Manager carries
the project into the Marketplace and makes sure it is presented in the
best possible way to maximize sales. To accomplish this of course
requires an intimate feel for the strengths and weaknesses of the product;
Hence, the Product Managers need to interact with the project during
the development. Please be sure to include the Product Manager as
part of the team when setting up meetings and developing the product.
Calfee used to say the a game sold itself, i.e., the collections
determined success or failure of the game regardless of any
Sales or Marketing effort. That may have been true when intial
orders for a game ran close to 10,000, but in the current marketplace
we desparately need the the Marketing follow-through of a Product Manager
to even get a few thousand games out there - only then can a game begin
to sell itself.
- Chris Downend
Mary Fujihara has developed the following description:
Overall Goals
* Assist managment in defining and maintaining appropriate product mix.
* Provide engineering teams with current market data and player trends to
be used in developing new start ups and designing game play features.
* Provide objective assessment of product potential throughout the deve-
lopment process and communicate to teams to reach mutually defined goals.
* Drive product to market through sales and distribution, with advertising
and promotion responsibilities.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Product Initiation
* Briefing with available programmer/team on current product mix and focus.
* Review of current market trends and successful features of top games and
player behavior.
* Evaluate marketability of new product proposals once concept and game
specs defined (target players, locations, price point, potential sales).
* If licensed properties available for consideration, review parameters
and potential application of property.
Product Development
* Coordinate with project leader on timing and goals for each phase in
development (e.g., goals for reviews).
* Follow up with project leader on action items from reviews.
* Establish timing and objective of focus groups and field tests.
* Provide development recommendations as result of focus and player surveys.
* Maintain product logic/focus throughout development.
Product Release
* Recommend marketing release decision based on earnings history and product
need/demand.
* Responsible for game manuals.
* Recommend factory settings.
Product Marketing
* Review game graphics and packaging.
* Recommend launch strategy (timing, samples, introduction method).
* Allocate advertising budget and programs for print materials, trade ads,
promotional events.
* Drive product introductions to the field and any secondary merchandising
campaigns.
* Work with sales team on product posture, positioning approach, key selling
features, and earnings performance.
Additional Functions
* Coordinate the evaluation and testing of all potential licensed games
(primarily test boards from Japan).
* Responsible for evaluation and review of outside game submissions.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 12-APR-1985 11:33:59.95
To: MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: [.asm20a] has been copied to sys$sysdevice:[asm20a]
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::AVL 17-APR-1985 14:22:40.39
To: KIM::MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: [avl.avl]avlno99.txt
I just created this new text file for the AVL. It's yours to search at
your own risk, that is, anything associated with the vendors and vendor
part numbers might not show up in a search. That's because this list
shows the Atari part number and description once only, listing vendor
sources on the following lines. So if you search for an Atari part number
you'll find it with only one vendor, though there could be multiple
vendors. If you search for a generic part number (ex: 23128) you'll
find the Atari part number and those vendors with the generic pn as
a part of their vendor part number. If the generic part number you're
looking for isn't listed in the generic field of the part description
you'll find either nothing, or vendor part numbers only (no Atari pn)
(unless the vendor pn is listed on the same line as the Atari pn and
part description). You could even come up with something that has
the string you were looking for, but isn't the part you had in mind.
So as long as you're aware of the risks and/or don't care about vendors
at all, this is a much faster way to search for parts, especially since
it finds more than one string in the same time span.
I almost forget to explain the name of the file. Since most of us
in engineering don't care about spare parts I left them out of this
list, thus it's called avlno99.txt (99-xxx are spare parts). If you
do need to look at spare parts, search [avl.avl]avl99.txt.
(oops, forget should be forgot but I don't want to type all this again.)
That's all unless I think of something else! Chris
(ps. please pass this on to Carol too, I could copy avlno99.txt to ERNIE.)
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::HARPER 17-APR-1985 16:31:30.97
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: LOCK-OUT
I don't have any recollection of the memos you referred to. Could you
get me copies of a few of these memos so I could look into it and try and
teach the writer(s) some manners??
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MARGOLIN 1-MAY-1985 18:51:29.03
To: VANELDREN,MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: Namco Power Supply
To: Dan Van Eldren
Fr: Jed Margolin
Re: Namco Power Supply
Dt: 5/1/85
To put things into perspective I have converted the costs into dollars.
I have used the conversion that 12,740 Y = $51.00 .
1K 5K
------------- -----------------
Switch Bracket 120 Y $ 0.48 120 Y $ 0.48
Transformer 3,000 Y $12.00 2,800 Y $11.20
Switcher 5,250 Y $21.00 5,280 Y $21.00
Filter 540 Y $ 2.16 470 Y $ 1.88
Audio PCB 3,210 Y $12.84 3,100 Y $12.40
Metal Base 620 Y $ 2.48 620 Y $ 2.48
------- ------ ------- -------
12,740 Y $50.96 12,360 Y $49.44
I do not believe there is any way we can match these prices with
a unit that we design, purchase the parts for, and build.
I must raise the following questions about the Namco supply:
1. Will the switching power supply operate over a range of
102-135 VAC or must it be redesigned?
2. Will the switching power supply operate at an installation
ambient of 55 degrees Celsius without derating?
3. Both the switching power supply and the audio amplifier
board are single-sided. In the past we have avoided the use
of single-sided boards because the the parts have a tendency
to fall off due to vibration during shipping. Would that be a
problem with this supply?
4. Normally the remote voltage sense lines are connected at the
game board. Here they are jumpered together at the supply.
Was this done on purpose or is this an error?
5. System I and System II were designed to use +15 VDC and -15 VDC
for the audio. This supply contains a 7812 and a 7912 which
normally produce +12 VDC and -12 VDC. Are they used in a circuit
that raises their outputs to +15 VDC and -15 VDC or do they actually
produce +12 VDC and -12 VDC? (System I can probably use +12VDC and
-12VDC but Doug does not think it would be satisfactory for System II.)
6. Is the heat sink containing the audio amplifiers and the regulators
large enough to operate satisfactorily at an installation ambient
of 55 degrees Celsius?
7. Does the transformer have an acceptable temperature rise? Ours
are Class 105 transformers with a maximum heat rise of 55 degrees
Celsius. This allows them to operate at a game installation
temperature of 38 degrees with a 12 degree rise to the inside of
the cabinet.
8. How much will it cost to change the transformer to operate at
120 VAC?
9. In order to operate at 220 VAC and 240 VAC, either the power
supply must be redesigned or we will have to use an auto-transformer
which I believe would cost $14.
9. How much would the Namco supply REALLY cost if we were to use it?
Caveat:
At Atari there is no way to find out how much things will REALLY cost
ahead of time. There is not even a way to find out how much things
have REALLY cost in the past.
I think you should buy the power supplies from Namco and be done
with it.
Jed
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::NAKAJIMA 3-MAY-1985 19:36:18.01
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: HI GUYS. NOTHING IMPORTANT. '
Due to the significant cost savings of reducing the building access hours to
1272 during evenings and weekends, we are considering limiting "standard"
access hours to Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. We would propose
having no security guards on evenings and weekends. The majority of lights
and non-critical air conditioning would also be switched off during these
times. The projected cost savings of such a change are approximately $95K
on an annual basis.
During "non-standard" access hours, building access would only be via
Schlage card entrance through the front lobby door, if your Schlage card was
appropriately programmed. We have the capability of programming individual
cards on both a general and specific instance basis to allow this "non-
standard" access. Depending on the specific area an individual was planning
on working in during non-standard hours, he might be required to throw a
breaker switch to get lights in his specific work area. All power
receptacles (wall outlets) will be left powered on at all times; also all
major computer systems would continue to be left powered on.
Please respond with any input you may care to make regarding these proposed
changes. Also please respond with any general and/or specific requirements
you may have for non-standard hours of access. Please send all responses to
either Carol or Lori by this Friday, as we are considering the
implementation of something similar to the above proposal on Friday, May 17.
DVE,LVR/clm
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::WIEBENSON 9-MAY-1985 10:39:03.96
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: The Big Trade-off OR Birth Control in a Can
If you like to drink sodas, but don't want the sugar or calories,
fortunately for you there's diet sodas. In the past the trade-off
was that saccarin could cause cancer. Today the trade-off is that
women who drink diet sodas may stop ovulating, for that has been
found to be one of the effects of Nutra-Sweet[TM].
Of course it's totally up to you whether you see this as a feature
or a bug....
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SUTTLES 13-MAY-1985 13:46:22.14
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER,SUTTLES
CC:
Subj: computer utilization
For those of you guys who have noticed the many differences between
batch and interactive, there may be a solution in sight. There are now
two words (on kim & charm only) AT and BATCH, which do the desired command
in batch, PUTTING THE LOG FILE in the current default directory, and setting
the current default directory for the batch job to be the same as the
interactive job's default was.
AT is used in place of an @ sign, when you are gonna execute a command
file anyways.
BATCH is used for symbols or DCL commands (you can also type another
@ sign).
Both of them are implemented as command files. Each takes its list of
parameters, and examines each parameter in turn. Until it finds a parameter
that does NOT start with a slash, the com file collects switches; these
are assumed to be qualifiers for batch (like /NONOTIFY or /PRINT or /NOLOG).
As soon as it finds one that does NOT start with a slash, the rest of the line
is assumed to be the command to execute (an @ sign is prepended in the case of
AT). The defaults for batch submission are /LOG='default'BATCH/NOPRINT/NOTIFY
(/NOPRINT implies, since the log file won't be printed, it won't automatically
get deleted either).
As usual, if any of my bugs should be caught unkilled, I will disavow any
knowlege or retractions.
sas
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::VANELDREN 14-MAY-1985 12:21:20.11
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: MACHO-BRAIN MICRO-MOUSE
For those of us that use the Data I/O, If you havent noticed, our system 19
(Thats the one that burns many different types of ROMS) had burned out
its cooling fan. So now it gets about 4 or 5 if not 10 times hotter than
when the fan was running. Well I just installed one of our "White Box" fans
in it so it will be running cooler than no fan at all. However, this fan
is not quite as powerful as the fan that was originally in it, so PLEASE!
when your done using system 19 PLEASE! shut it off before you leave. We
take for granted how nice that piece of equipement is. Have you ever tried
to burn an 82S129 on the system 29? You cant! If your in the DIO room and
it appears nobody is using sys19, the on-off switch is in the back on the lower
left side (But also make sure nobody's using it)
For a more reliable system 19..............this is Buddy Flyback
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::OBRIEN 22-MAY-1985 10:12:13.47
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: New Marketing Mail list
Now you can send junk mail (or serious mail, too) to the marketing
staff (Fujihara,Benzler, and Traeger) with one easy filename! To do this,
type @sys$mail:marketres after the To: prompt in the mail utility.
Happy Mailing,
Steph
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 22-MAY-1985 10:36:12.61
To: CERNY,COMSTOCK,LY,MARGOLIN,HOFF,ALBAUGH,MOORE,DURFEY
CC:
Subj: FEEDBACK ON BONUS SPLIT
This is a box with a microphone connected to it. You can plug headphones
into it or you can hook it up to your stereo.
Mode 1: You hum into the microphone (or play a kazoo), the box determine
s
the pitch and uses it to control a Yamaha chip set. The play has
a wide choice of instrument voices.
Mode 2: As in Mode 1, however, it is "recorded". The player can then pla
y it
back while recording additional tracks. The tracks can be differ
ent
instruments.
If it is cheap enough it can be marketed for kids as a toy. It can also
be
marketed for people who play single note instruments (such as clarinet, flute, s
axophone)
who have not be able to use synthesizer technology if they did not also play a
keyboard.
Hardware:
1. It will be powered by a transformer lump (To make it easier to do UL)
2. The electronics will be:
6502
RAM (Perhaps Non-volatile)
ROM
Yamaha chip set
Membrane switch pad, with illumiunated switch positions
Cheap Pitch Extraction Circuitry (This is the key element)
3. It should come with a cheap microphone and a kazoo so people can star
t using it
right out of the box.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 3-JUN-1985 09:54:48.18
To: MONCRIEF,PATTEN,DURFEY,MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: Switching Power Supply Status
JUST THOUGHT THAT I'D PASS AL;ONG THIS LIOTTLE TID-BIT OF INFORMATION I SAW
IN A RECENT EDITION OF AMERICAN DEMOGRAPHICS.
IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT AS WE CONSIDER NEW IDEAS AND
CONCEPTS:
"THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AGED 13 TO 24- THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA CONSUMERS OF SOFT
DRINKS- IS NOW SHRINKING, WHILE THE NUMBER OF 325 TO 44 YUUEAR
EAR OLDS IS GROWING
RAPIDLY. SOFT DRINK MANUFACTUREE RERS WHO ANTICIPATED THIS TREND HAVE SHIFTED THEIR
MARKETING STRATEGIES TO APPEAL TO THE OLDER AGE GROUP WITH DIET AND CAFFEINE-
FREE SOFT DRINKS.."---TAKEN
THEY AREFROM
ALSOANP ARTICLE ON AMERICAN DRINKING TRENDS
AS WELL IN AN EARLIER SECTION OF THE MAGAZINE, THIS PRE-AMBLE APPEARED:
"WELLS-GARDENER ELECTRONICS CORPORATION INVESTED TOO HEAVILY IN COLOR VIDEO
MONITORS FOR VIDEO GAMES JUST WHEN THE
A SHRINKING
MARKET TEENAGE POPULATION COULD NOT
SUSTAIN THE VIDEO
D4EMANDGAME CRAZE".
."
WHILE THIS MAGAZINE TENDS TO OVERSTATE THE MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF DEMOGRAPHISI
C
RESEARCH OCCASIONALLY, THEY DO MAKE A GOOD POINT. THE CYCLKE IS CURRENTLY
TOWARDS THE OLDER END OF THE POPULATION AND AWAY FROM KIDS...ARE THEIR
RE AREAS
THAT WE CAN EXPLOIT THIS TREND FOR OUR OWN GOALS? THE BAR MARKET, STRATEGY
GAMES FOR OLDER PLAYERS NOT SKILLED IN HAND/EYE, ETC.?
MAUBE
YBE WE SHOULD MAKE A VIDEO GAME WITH NEUTRA-SWEET, NO"?
DT
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::ALBAUGH 12-JUN-1985 10:04:21.13
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: New Twist on FreeWare
I talked to Bob Fry today and asked him when the guy was coming
in to fix the ventilation in the office area.
Fry said that the guy had already looked at it and concluded
that it was already putting out as much air as it was capable
of.
I told Fry that there used to be a lot more air than there was now
and why was it all of a sudden incapable of putting out at least
as much as it used to?
Fry said that the guy had already looked at it and concluded
that it was already putting out as much air as it was capable
of.
I told Fry that there used to be a lot more air than there was now
and why was it all of a sudden incapable of putting out at least
as much as it used to? Had he checked the right area?
Fry said that the guy had already looked at it and concluded
that it was already putting out as much air as it was capable
of.
I asked him why he woudn't answer my question.
Fry said that the guy had already looked at it and concluded
that it was already putting out as much air as it was capable
of.
He then advised me to set up a meeting with you and me and him
because he wasn't going to talk to me anymore. He then said goodbye and
hung up.
This is the same man who earlier this year feigned surprise that the
ventilation system wasn't working saying, "Nobody ever told me,"
(making Rick out to be a liar) and said that I should talk to him directly
if there was a problem.
Since then, Fry has been completely unresponsive to my requests. It has
always been:
1. The thermostat just needs to be adjusted.
2. The system needs a few days to settle.
3. Why didn't you tell me sooner.
4. The system can't be made to work any better.
Sometimes there is air and sometimes there isn't. Sometimes the temperature
is ok and sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it seems to be directly related
to the temperature outside and sometimes it doesn't.
There are two major problems:
1. The system needs to be properly adjusted.
2. Bob Fry
I would like you to take care of this matter before you go on vaction
because Fry is obviously not going to do anything for me and I don't
think I can stand it for another two weeks.
Jed
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SALWITZ 13-JUN-1985 09:43:23.16
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Ronny made me do it.
YECCH.
... PS:
Don't say.. " The federal government did such and such to those poor
people"
Say.. " The Reagan administration did such and such to those poor
people"
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::WOOD 14-JUN-1985 10:56:40.66
To: MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: ventilation
Dan Van has told me about your complaint with the ventilation system
and/or Bob. I tried to give you a call to discuss the matter. Can
you give me a call today before close of business? Thanks.
Regards
DW
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MARGOLIN 14-JUN-1985 14:49:26.37
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: 3D ALGORITHMS, PART 2
I looked into the problem, and I think I know what is causing it.
Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do about it. I am reasonably certain
that DEC has been bit by their own bug. The system service to sense terminal
characteristics is supposed to return stuff you can send to the set
characteristics service; it doesn't. All the information is there, but
it takes a page of code to rearrange it properly. I begin to suspect that
DEC isn't aware of this.
The program seems to continue to function after the error, so
I suggest that you ignore it until they fix it. I will let them know about it.
sas
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MCCARTHY 25-JUN-1985 11:13:24.51
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER,MCCARTHY
CC:
Subj: ex
Those of you using 68010 Cpu may be interested in the following
potential pitfall.
Problem description. : The program goes out to lunch when
returning from interrupt. (RTE instruntion)
Whats happening : The 68010 gets confused as to whether it is
executing autovectored interrupts or not.
Solution : DTACK should not be asserted while VPA is asserted.
For some unknown reason, this bug has not shown up on System I.
However, on Gauntlet, using almost the same circuitry, the
problem showed up immediately. System IV has had some occurances
of the same problem.
Pat McC.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::CARRABELLO 25-JUN-1985 11:30:19.66
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Credit Union
Don't forget the credit union is closing this week. Friday will be the
last day to withdraw any money, otherwise you have to call the Burbank
office. Also if you have payroll deduction to your credit union account
this weeks deduction has already been processed so don't close your
account completely otherwise there won't be any place for the money to
go. You'll have to leave a little in there and then call Burbank to
close it out completely.
Lori
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 25-JUN-1985 12:23:58.38
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: AMS 68010 PODS
I GOT WIND OF SOMETHING RECENTLY THAT I THINK WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP OUT
ON...YOU KNOW SOPHIE AND OMAR, THE CAFETERIA PEOPLE? WELL, THEY ARE IN A
BAD WAY CURRENTLY AND COULD USE SOME HELP.
HERE'S THE STORY:
THEY ARE FROM IRAN (YOU KNOW, THAT CRAZY PLACE WHERE TERRORISM IS A NATIONAL
PASTIME). ANYWAYS, THEY ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET THEIR MOTHER OUT OF THEIR
BEFORE
(I MEANTHE
THERE) BEFORE THE AYATOLLAH(?)
( DECLARES WAR ON MOTHERHOOD.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THEY CAME TO ATARI SEEKING A LOAN IN ORDER TO GET SOME
DOUGH TO GET THEIR MOM OVER HERE PRONTO. THEY ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET
BANK LOANS, SELL THEIR CAR, ETC. IN ORDER TO RAISE SOME CASH (I THINK THE
TOTAL REQUIRED IS CLOSE TO $8,000.00)
WHAT I AM PROPOSING IS THAT WE START A DONATION POOL TO RUN THROUGHOUT NEXT
WEEK, IN ORDER TO HELP THEM GENERATE SOME CASH. WE CAN EACH CONTRIBUTE
WHATEVER WE CAN GIVE AND AT THE END OF THE WEEK WE WILL TURN OVER ALL THE
MONIES COLLECTED DIRECTLY TO THEM. PLEASE SEE EITHER SANDY BROWN OR MYSELF
IN ORDER TO CONTRIBUTE.
BY THE WAY, I HAVE NOT TOLD OMAR OR SOPHIE WHAT WE ARE DOING SO YOU MAY
WANT TO KEEP A LID ON IT FOR NOW. THEY MAY GET A LITTLE EMBARRAED BY THE
WHOLE THING...BUT THEY DO REALLY NEED OUR HELP.
ONE THOUGHT I HAVE IS TO SACRIFICE OUR DOUGHNUTS NEXT FRIDAY AND PUT THAT MONEY
INTO THE FUND...ANY OTHER IDEAS LIKE THAT WOULD BE MOST WELCOME.
ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS TO WORK LARGER DONATIONS OUT AS A LOAN...THEY ORIGINALLY
ASKED SHANE ABOUT LOANING MONEY FROM ATARI...I'M SURE THEY WOULD PAY BACK ANY
MONEY'S GIVEN, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS A LARGE AMOUNT.
ANYWAY, PLEASE SEND ME ANY THOUGHTS YOU HAVE REGARDING THIS IDEA, ASAP.
I WILL GET BACK TO YOU SOON ABOUT DETAILS FOR THE FUND RAISER THAT WILL
RUN NEXT WEEK.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
DT
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::CAMERON 3-JUL-1985 13:56:34.78
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj:
NEWS FLASH
STUDIES HAVE PROVEN THAT DOLPHINS ARE AS SMART AS MAN.
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING CONSIDERING THAT THEY ONLY STUDIED THE ONES
WHO WERE DUMB ENOUGH TO GET CAPTURED!
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::DND 3-JUL-1985 14:55:33.24
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: AMS RAM errors
For those of you out there using the Applied Micro Systems
68010 Dev Sys, the following applys to YOU. If you have internal
memory problems, that is internal to the AMS, then there is a simple
way to determine which chip is bad, if you decide it is a chip.
There is a file in CHARM::[DND]AMSMEM.DOC which contains a picture of
the RAM board and a list of which parts are at which addresses. This
list is for a 256K Dev Sys. MOst of you out there have 128K systems
with two RAM boards, each with 64K, The board lay out is the same,
the address spacing is probably, although I have not checked it out,
$1000 instead of $4000.
Bye Now
Bob
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::MORRIS 10-JUL-1985 10:53:34.29
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: New greenhills c compiler.
ex:
Output address = 50024000 (hex) (non default offset)
Download address = 40000 octal
MMU page offset = 2000 octal
Page 20. (50000 octal) is selected for mmu page 0
Page 21. (52000 octal) is selected for mmu page 1
enjoy..
jfs
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MARGOLIN 12-JUL-1985 18:05:37.03
To: MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj:
To: Dennis Wood
Fr: Jed Margolin
Re: Revised Vaction Policy
Dt: 7/12/85
Since the new vacation policy takes effect March 31, 1986 I assume that
the "old" vacation policy will be in effect until then. Is this correct?
Since I currently have almost 5 weeks of vacation accrued and my
anniversary date is January 15 your memo indicates that if I don't take most
of it (all but two weeks) before January 15, I will lose it. Is this correct?
Now, about the "old" policy. The last memo that I have on vacation
policy is dated 3/12/84 and was issued by Richard Stearns who was at that time
the Human non-Resources Director. According to this memo, employees could not
carry over more than two weeks of vacation time each CALENDER year, starting
January 1, 1986. This is the first time I have heard about the anniversary
date method. When was it changed to the employee's anniversary date?
Jed
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::CARRABELLO 15-JUL-1985 11:03:09.79
To: KIM::MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: vacation
Per Sandy Brown, the old policy (you can only carry over 2 weeks as of
Jan. 1, 86) is voided out. You can now carry all of it over until
March 31, 1986 (new policy) after that you can only carry 5 weeks.
Lori
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::CARRABELLO 15-JUL-1985 13:52:17.16
To: KIM::MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: RE: vacation
I'LL ASK.
LORI
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::CARRABELLO 15-JUL-1985 14:10:09.55
To: KIM::MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: VACATION POLICY
SINCE NO ONE ELSE HAS QUESTIONED SANDI, SHE FEELS THERE'S NO NEED FOR
A MEMO. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SHE SAID TO CALL OR SEE HER.
LORI
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::SUTTLES 17-JUL-1985 21:59:10.16
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER,SUTTLES
CC:
Subj: kill a tree and learn, or save the forests and be stupid (good stuff!)
To all you (VAX) C programmers and XEROX stockholders:
I have available a small number (no more than ten at a time)
of documentation sets for the (new) C on Kim and Charm. This
amounts to a copy of the help text on Kim (that's where it started).
I got lost trying to find my way through all the functions, and
since you can't ask for help in the editor (except, of course, TECO),
I needed a desktop reference. So, I dumped the help text and MUNGed
it into a cross-referenced document. Since there isn't any other
stuff available for version 2, I thought there might be some interest.
Come by and claim one if you can use it. You will find them (if there
are any left) in the Data I/O room, on the bookshelf by the door
(right behind the public-use water cooler). Of course, if there
aren't any left, you won't find them. You'll have to wait for the next
batch. I will keep up the supply to meet the apparent demand. Don't
bug me about them, or I won't.
sas
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::BROWN 19-AUG-1985 11:46:38.78
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: COMPANY PICNIC
I WANT TO THANK ALL YOU ATARIANS WHO WERE THERE SATURDAY TO HELP
MAKE OUR COMPANY PICNIC A SUCCESS. I HAD MY DOUBTS THERE FOR AWHILE
THANKS TO THE WEATHER, BUT IT CLEARED UP NICELY. THE WEATHER WAS
ALSO TO BLAME FOR THE CANCELLATION OF THE DUNK TANK (AW SHUCKS!)
I WANT OFFER CONGRATS TO OUR VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT TEAM WINNER FROM
THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THE TEAM MEMBERS WERE:
DAN VAN ELDEREN
ED LOGG
PETER LIPSON
GARY POPKIN
CAROL CAMERON
ROBERT WEATHERBY
ALSO CONGRATS TO OUR RAFFLE WINNERS:
DAVE WIEBENSON PAPERBOY ARCADE GAME
JUNE YAMAMOTO QUANTUM ARCADE GAME
KAREN GRAHAM 1200XL COMPUTER
GEORGE MILLINGTON PONG GAME (A REAL COLLECTORS ITEMS)
I WELCOME ANY CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THE PICNIC
(SITE, FOOD, ACTIVITIES, ETC.)
SANDI
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::MORRIS 22-JUL-1985 10:39:22.23
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: Greenhills C compiler version 1.7.18
Could everyone who uses the Applied Microsystems 68010 emulator please check
that their system boots up with V2.2S, and that you do not get a checksum error
report on power up. It would be nice to get all the systems upgraded to the
latest Revision. If yours is an old version see me for a new set of eproms.
Thank you.
Jim.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 22-JUL-1985 19:50:23.06
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: BLISS16 querks
A number of users have mentioned some of the goofy things that BLISS16
seems to do when you try to tell it to swap the bytes of a word or just
to get the high byte of a word. I did some investigation into the matter
and have concluded that, "yep, it does things goofy, so don't do that".
There is a simple solution (if you haven't already thought of it):
SOURCE : WORD; !the source word
DEST : WORD; !the dest word
REGISTER TMP : UNSIGNED BYTE; !get a fast temp byte
TMP = .(SOURCE+1); !get the high byte
DEST = .TMP; !put in the dest
BLISS-16 generates pretty tight code for this type of thing.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 23-JUL-1985 18:45:38.95
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: I.C. Fab Costs
Just F.Y.I.
I talked to Jim Wallin and got the following information regarding
CUSTOM I.C. WAFER FABRICATION:
- DATE: 7/23/85
- VENDOR: NCR
- LEADTIME: 3 WEEKS; TYPICALLY 6 WEEKS
- MINIMUM ORDER: 25 WAFERS ( this is considered a production order)
- TYPICAL YIELD: 22-23 WAFERS (at wafer level or die level?)
- COST PER WAFER: $400.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Reference, Don Paauw says there are 1000 die on a wafer for both
SLAPSTIC AND SLAGS.
The cost per die is:
($400.00)/1000=$.40 per die, untested, uninspected
In the case of SLAPSTIC which has (8) versions on one wafer, we get
(25000 die)/(8 versions)= 3125 die of each version, untested
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
These two devices are relatively small. Hence, yields have typically
been in the 70-80% range. SLAGS had lower yields (50%) initially due to
poor processing by the vendor. When I say that the yield is 70-80% I mean
that 70-80% of the packaged parts received by Atari passed ELECTRICAL test
and inspection. Typically, the vendor performs one to three optical inspections
to screen out mal-formed die, reject die attach, and reject wire bonding.
At this time I do not think Atari is paying for the creation of test programs
to electrically test die at the wafer level (wafer probe..."Sentry Testing").
In summary, actual yield from fabricated die to functional part, will be
less than 70-80% since die fallouts at the wafer fab and packaging vendors
are not included. I have no data on yields in those two areas at this time.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 29-AUG-1985 10:35:32.93
To: @ALPHAGANG.DIS
CC:
Subj: Work Hours
... gently.
Guess who?
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SUTTLES 16-AUG-1985 17:43:05.32
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER,SUTTLES
CC:
Subj: More changes for the sake of change
Per Jim Morris' request, I have changed ASM68 yet again.
This time, I tried to trap errors and warnings from the compiler
and return them so that command files executing the ASM68 command
may successfully determine if the ASSEMBLER exited with an
error (or warning) status. If they exit the program after complaining
about errors without passing along the fact that they are exiting
in an error (or warning) status, there isn't anything I can do.
But at least the command file will tell you different things now,
where it used to always say that everything was fine.
sas
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::MORRIS 19-AUG-1985 14:33:41.10
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: new intermetrics linker/locater/formatter/assembler
It is important for all to know that when programming 27128 EPROMS that
you take a good look at what the "real" part number is. There is a
significant differance between an 27128 and a 27128A. The differance is
basically that a 128 is programmed at 24v and a 128A is programmed at
12.5v. I think currently the only 128A's we have are AMD's. So if using
AMD parts, take a good look at the number to see if it is an "A" or
not. It is too easy to confuse. You can also tell by the fact that AMD
also marks the 128A packages with a "12.5v PGM" at the bottom of the
package.
for your info
Jerry Saunders
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 26-AUG-1985 17:38:30.16
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: FYI: I.C. PACKAGING COSTS (EXCLUDES COST OF MAKING WAFER)
Well memory hogs, AMD has it for you - the 27C1024 CMOS EPROM. That's
right, a megabit on a chip. It's organized as 65536 words by 16 bits.
It comes in a 40-pin package. Access time is speced at 170nS. And
it can be programmed in 49 seconds! It uses 1.5 um CMOS technology
resulting in a die under 80,000 square mils. It should be in full
production by third quarter 1985. No price info; but figure $200.00
or so through 1985 and 1986.
Plus, they think the memory cell size can be shrunk even more yielding
multi-million bit devices.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 4-SEP-1985 12:39:00.11
To: @ALPHAGANG.DIS
CC:
Subj: Work Hours
With the Holiday and all, I suspect many of you forgot to send me
a note specifying your work hours. Kudos to the four of that responded
so promptly. Here are the Guidelines (let me know if you think this is
reasonable or unreasonable):
- Shifted schedules are O.K.
- Must include 4 hours in the core of the day for interaction
- Ideal starting time is between 6:30 and 9:30 AM.
- Normal work day is 8-hours plus an hour for lunch
- Call and leave a message with Downend/Graham/Receptionist
if you're going to be sick or Accidently detained.
Here are the responses so far:
Rivera: 9 am to 6 pm
Lipson: 9:30 to 6:30
Ralston: 7:00 to 4:30-5:30
Drobny: 8:30 to 5:30 or 9-6
Downend: 9:00 to 6:00
Websters says kudos is: "fame and renown resulting from and act or
achievement: prestige".
The rest of you can have Kudos too - just send in your work hours!
Thanks,
Chris
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::GRAHAM 5-SEP-1985 11:19:07.59
To: @SYS$MAIL:VANGANG
CC:
Subj:
5 SEP 85
POKEY STATUS
WALLIN/BRODREICK TELL ME THAT ATARI GAMES BOUGHT A LARGE LOT OF POKEY
WAFERS FROM ATARI CORP. FOR $.50 A DIE. APPARENTLY THESE ARE STILL AT
THE WAFER LEVEL. AS WE NEED THEM, THEY HAVE BEEN SENDING THEM OUT TO
BE PACKAGED.
CURRENT INVENTORY OF DIE: 54,000+
CURRENT PACKAGED PARTS: 0
DIE AT VENDOR: ?
PAAUW RECENTLY EXAMINED 1 WAFER AND NOTICED THAT ONLY 25% OF THE
DIE WERE GOOD - THE OTHER 75% HAD A "RED DOT" INDICATING A FAILED PART.
IF THIS YIELD HOLDS FOR ALL THE WAFERS THEN WE REALLY HAVE 54000/4=13500 DIE.
LOOKS LIKE WE NEED TO:
1) VERIFY DIE YIELD
2) CHECK WITH ATARI CORP ON AVAILABILITY OF MORE POKEY DICE.
3) DESIGN IN A NEW SOUND CHIP IN ALL DESIGNS NOW ON PAPER, EG.
SYSTEM 3D AND BEYOND
COMMENTS??
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 6-SEP-1985 13:01:02.53
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: Revised POKEY inventory
5 SEP 85
POKEY STATUS - REVISED
Well, when we went to verify POKEY die yield, we found that Atari Games has
54,000+ GOOD die. Dan Van has recommended that no further action is required
at this time on POKEY or a replacement thereof.
Here is a edited tabulation of various suggestions just for the record:
Brad Fuller: Hope we don't use POKEY too much longer: most SFX are now done
on YAMAHA. Would like to see either (2) YAMAHAs per game or
(1) YAMAHA and AMY.
Vickers (via Fuller): We have ability to make a new POKEY...we share rights
to it with Atari Corp. is their recollection.
Rivera: We could do our own simple version of POKEY with just the shift
registers, control latches and square wave output and
maybe get 8-12 channels (instead of 4) 1n a smaller (24-pin?)
package. then the investment in RPM would still be useful.
At any rate, I agree with Dan - no need to worry at this time with 54,000
good die in inventory. We will need to re-visit this in 9 months
or so (6/86) when POKEY supplies will have been depleted by the GAUNTLET
Production run!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the original VAX message for reference:
CURRENT INVENTORY OF DIE: 54,000+
PAAUW RECENTLY EXAMINED 1 WAFER AND NOTICED THAT ONLY 25% OF THE
DIE WERE GOOD - THE OTHER 75% HAD A "RED DOT" INDICATING A FAILED PART.
IF THIS YIELD HOLDS FOR ALL THE WAFERS THEN WE REALLY HAVE 54000/4=13500 DIE.
LOOKS LIKE WE NEED TO:
1) VERIFY DIE YIELD
2) CHECK WITH ATARI CORP ON AVAILABILITY OF MORE POKEY DICE.
3) DESIGN IN A NEW SOUND CHIP IN ALL DESIGNS NOW ON PAPER, EG.
SYSTEM 3D AND BEYOND
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::SHEPPERD 9-SEP-1985 12:26:24.01
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: Shareable libraries...
Those of you that have linked programs to the shareable libraries will
have to re-link them. This happens with each new release of VMS and is
an inconvience. For programs that are used by everybody (such as AS68K),
it is worthwhile to link them shareable. For programs that are only run
once in a while and/or by only one person, it isn't necessary to link
them shareable and you can avoid having to re-link each time a new VMS
or compiler is installed by NOT linking them shareable. In case you're
confused, then the following in an options file are:
VAXCRTL.EXE/SHARE !means to link to shareable library
VAXCRTL !means to link to non-shareable library
using C as an example.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 9-SEP-1985 18:03:48.55
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: DIO volunteers anyone?
I need some assistance. We have max'd out the capabilities of our DIO's.
They currently each hold 64k bytes of memory and because of hardware
limitations (who will ever need more than 64k?) cannot be upgraded to
contain more. Since we are starting to use 27512's (64k bytes in one
EPROM), this is cramping everyone's style. DIO tells me that we can
buy (for a few thousand bucks) the latest and greatest model 29B which
doesn't have the 64k limitation. We can also get their gang programmer
which has 128k (not limited to, however) and 20 (count 'em, T-W-E-N-T-Y)
sockets that each can be programmed with different data. The gang programmer
is a model 121 and I've been lead to believe that production has (or had)
several and one of them might be "extra".
Here's where the volunteer stuff comes in. I need somebody to run this
down, see what can be done and how much it'll cost, etc. The one(s) who
use the DIO the most stand the most to gain by 'fixing' what we've got
and/or making recommendations for what we should get in the future. Atari
corp's production and engineering used IMI programmers which were better
than the DIO's, so maybe you can hunt one of those down. Anybody got nuthin
to do who wants to design and build a new one?
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::PAAUW 9-SEP-1985 18:38:39.19
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: SYSTEM I CART 2 & COCKTAIL
THE SPLIT SCREEN INTERRUPT ADDED TO THE LATEST CART BOARD CAUSES PROBLEMS
IN ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION. THE LEVEL 3 INTERRUPT CAN BE LOCKED ON IN
TWO WAYS. FIRST, THE LATCH CAN POWER UP WITH AN INTERRUPT REQUEST OR,
SECONDLY, IT CAN BE LEFT SET BY THE RAM TEST. THE INTERRUPT IS NORMALLY
CLEARED BY THE FETCH OF THE SECOND LINE OF PICTURE CODE "FFFF". IN THE
OLDER GAMES THIS OBVIOUSLY WILL NEVER OCCUR AND THE GAMES WOULD BE LOCKED
UP.
THE PROPOSED FIX IS AS FOLLOWS:
SINCE POWER ON RESET IS NOT SENT TO THE CART, I AM PLANNING ON USING
"SOUND RESET" TO INHIBIT THE LEVEL 3 INTERRUPT. THE INTERRUPT WILL BE
ENABLED BY READING THE PORT AT ADDRESS 240,000. THIS SHOULD MAKE THE
CIRCUIT COMPATIBLE WITH PROGRAMS THAT IGNORE IT (ASSUMING THAT A "SOUND
RESET" IS ISSUED BEFORE LEVEL 3 INTERRUPTS ARE ENABLED
). PROGRAMS THAT USE THE INTERRUPT WILL HAVE TO ENABLE IT BY READING
ADDRESS 240,00 BEFORE IT IS EXPECTED TO BE USED AND WILL HAVE TO RE-ENABLE
IT AFTER EVERY SUBSEQUENT "SOUND RESET".
IF THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS OR OBJECTIONS TO THIS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP.
DON
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::RUSTY 11-SEP-1985 11:48:35.32
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK,RUSTY
CC:
Subj: NEWSFLASH!!!
Today, per Jim Wallen (straight from AMD along with our samples).
The latest CURRENT price for 27512's is ...
Rusty
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 12-SEP-1985 18:10:49.96
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Thieves...
Ok, who took them? We're missing two CIT-101 terminals. One was in the
analog lab and the other was in the main telephone closet downstairs
sans keyboard. Please return them or tell me where they are. Thank you.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 16-SEP-1985 17:40:30.09
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: Gulp....A new editor...
I've assigned Atari P/N 137442-150 for the 'Zero Power' RAM chip on cer#3842.
The only vendor listed is Mostek #MK48Z02B-15.
If you need a copy of the CER or data, come on down and grab it.
J Bell
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 17-SEP-1985 19:50:44.46
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: New section file for TPU
I've updated the TPU section file in UTL$EXE. The new options are:
You can exit via VAXTPU command EX, EXI or EXIT
Type GOLD/I to include a file (prompts for filename) into
the aux_buffer (it will do a Gold/W for you).
Type GOLD/U to include a file to be updated at exit
(Same as "include", except TPU will write a new version
of the file if you make changes in the aux_buffer).
Buffer and file names reported on the aux_window status line
Changes upcoming (later):
GOLD/F to cause current window to grow to full screen size
Execute EDTEM commands with GOLD/7.
Single key adjustment of aux window size (inc/dec).
Tab adjust line mode command
Vertical cursor movement accounting for tabs
Probably others...
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 18-SEP-1985 12:11:43.95
To: @ALPHAGANG.DIS
CC:
Subj: AMOA Update
The AMOA show is scheduled for 10/31-11/2/85 in Chicago this year. This
of course is THE trade show for the Game and Coin-operated Industry.
The name of the game this year is Cost Reduction. Hence, a new booth has
been designed; you can see a Blueprint on the wall near Dan Van's office.
This booth is 1/4 to 1/3 the size of the previous booth and has room
for up to 12 games, an information booth, a conference room and a storage room.
At this stage the game line-up is: (4) Gauntlets, (3) Temple of Dooms and
either (2) Roadrunners or (2) Paperboys - depends on what shape Roadrunner
is in by show time. There will be (2) overhead displays set up on Gauntlet
and a third overhead display showing a video tape. All the games will come
from production - Engineering will supply the 3 overhead displays and
associated paraphernalia, and (2) roadrunner kits. (for a real surprise,
read Websters definition of paraphernalia below...).
Attendence will be extremely limited - around 25 people total with around
half of that being Engineering Personnel. When you consider that the main
purpose of a show is to sell games, I think having as much as half the
attendees from Engineering is pretty good. At this point the Attendence list
includes Opperman, Rains, Van Elderen, Moore, and Downend. Then each
electrical team (Alpha and Omega) will be allowed to bring 4 team members
each. With Gauntlet and Temple of Doom definitely at the show, four members
from those projects have been invited: Bob Flanagan, Pat McCarthy,
Peter Lipson, and Dave Ralston. All members of Alpha-team attending the
show will fly out early Wednesday morning, Oct. 30th to help with set-up.
We will be returning late Saturday night, Nov. 2nd.
For those of you who are considering attending at your own expense, here
are some numbers:
- round-trip to Chicago: $238.00; from San Jose or San Francisco.
Atari can make these reservations - please let me know.
- One night lodging (sharing a room) - $50.00
Atari has reseved a larger than necessary block of rooms which
will be held until 10/1/85 - please let me know if you're interested.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Footnote: Webster's definition of Paraphernalia:
1: The separate real or personal property of a married woman that
she can dispose of by will and sometimes according to common law
during her life.
2: personal belongings
3: a) articles of equipment: furnishings
b) accessory items
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 19-SEP-1985 10:21:03.70
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: DIO
The DIO works again. I put in the auto-F/P select code so for EPROM's of
27128A and above, you don't have to be specific about either the device
number or the manufacturer. I.E. to program a 27256 you can specify a
DIO>DEVICE any_garbage_you_care_to_type_in
because the DIO (somehow) can find out the EPROM type and manufacturer
right from the EPROM (in socket 1) itself. My DIO programs will fall
back to using the "any_garbage_..." if the DIO can't figure out what
part is installed.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::WIEBENSON 21-SEP-1985 10:42:20.47
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: High speed CMOS
HC series IC's may be a magic cure for some of our noise problems
associated with development system hookups. The noise immunity of
these IC's is far better than Schmitt Triggers with the same delay.
There is another series called HCT that should not be confused with
HC because HCT input levels are the same as TTL and so offer little
noise immunity.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::GRAHAM 23-SEP-1985 10:24:15.47
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj:
I GOT IN TOUCH WITH YOUR DENTAL REP AT JOHN HANCOK THIS MORNING AND
UPON CHECKING THE COMPUTER, SHE SAID THAT THE LAST DENTAL CLAIM THEY
HAD RECEIVED FROM YOU WAS IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. YOU MIGHT WANT
TO CHECK WITH YOUR DENTIST'S OFFICE TO VERIFY THE ADDRESS TO WHICH
THEY SENT THE CLAIM. THE CORRECT ADDRESS IS:
CALL BOX 1501
BRYN MAR, PA 19010
SANDI
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::MURPHY 23-SEP-1985 12:49:55.12
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: EVELYN WOODHEAD
duz a unybudy haf a atare tap ricordr i kan yuz too lern howe too sped r
ead?
az sune az i lern howe too sped red i kan pa u bakc bi bing yr prsonl seckretryt
y fore az lhawng az u lik!
ore i kan teech u howe too serf n yr bithtub r pla th bhinjo.
izent ths phun?
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 23-SEP-1985 17:54:38.10
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: DIO and MIXIT updates
MIXIT has been updated. The /WORD=n and /GROUP=m options now work (on
input files only, those options on output filenames are ignored for now).
DIO accepts n bit words (multiples of 8) and will try to program whole
words into n/8 EPROMS. If word size times EPROM size is greater than the
available memory in the DIO, it will automatically switch to programming
1 EPROM and will prompt for group number.
A word about group numbers. From the VAX's and DIO's point of view, all
words are organised the same, that is, bytes are stored in the file in
increasing significance and bits within the each byte are mapped directly
to the corresponding bit in the EPROM. In other words, higher addressed
bytes are assumed higher significance in the word. The Gangpak will
program n-byte words into n EPROMS simultaneously. Assuming 16 bit words,
the Gangpak will program:
fileoffset +0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 ...
-----------------------------------
socket # 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 ...
If the word size were 24, then the Gangpak would program:
fileoffset +0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 ...
-----------------------------------
socket # 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 ...
MIXIT and DIO (in group mode) behave exactly the same. MIXIT will extract
every nth byte from the input file starting with the group_number divided
by 8. Presently the group_number is the power of 2 significance of the
bit in the word and must be a multiple of 8. I.e. (in VAX/T11/6502 addressing)
Group bits fileoffset (=byte number)
0 0-7 +0
8 8-15 +1
16 16-23 +2
24 24-31 +3
etc.
If the majority would prefer that the group number be a byte number (0-3
in the above example), I would be willing to change it.
The important thing to remember is that the 68000 operates contrary to this
scheme. Bytes are addressed by DECREASING significance so the concept of
low byte/high byte should not be used. Instead use the fileoffset value
as an indicator of the EPROM contents (meaning I should really change the
group code to be a byte number).
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::RUNNER 24-SEP-1985 18:03:17.32
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER,RUNNER
CC:
Subj: Bad Bug in Vax C (and in some PPS utilities)
Just a polite warning to anyone using any C programs: (i.e. I
just got chomped upon by this bug):
When using formatted input via VAX C, if you request a hex
(i.e. %x) conversion, any solitary zero will be dropped from the input
string. For example, if you type '0,4000' as an input address range, the
'0' will be ignored, and the program will only see a single input
item of '4000'.
So far, at least two pps utilities (pbfmm and sys1gr) have this
bug.
A quick fix is to never allow zeros to be alone -- type 2 or more
in a row and the C input routine will notice the number correctly.
I.E. type the previous address range as '00,4000' and it should be read ok.
G
R
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::TRAEGER 25-SEP-1985 17:43:04.19
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: FEAR AND LOATHING ON THE COIN OP TRAIL
'tis the last update for many moons. The latest features of EDTEM are:
(in addition to previously mentioned features)
Gold/W - display aux window/make current window full screen
Gold/up_arrow - goto aux window
Gold/down_arrow - goto main window
Gold/I - read a file into aux_buffer for INSPECTION (read_only)
(NOT the same as INCLUDE file =AUX)
Gold/U - read a file into aux_buffer for UPDATE (auto-write on exit
or at next Gold/I or Gold/U)
Gold/L - Learn the following key strokes (macro creation)
Gold/R - Remember the previous keystrokes (macro end)
Up_arrow/Down_arrow take into tabs into account (works like EDT).
All EDTEM commands can be entered via Gold/KP7 (as well as TPU
commands. Gold/KP7 EXIT is VAXTPU exit however.)
Bells are turned off at EXIT
...working message on prompt line
You can adjust the size of windows by entering the VAXTPU command:
aux_size := bla_bla; !default is 8 (includes a status line)
full_screen := whatever; !default is 22 =
! 24 - 1 message line - 1 prompt line
You'll need to do a couple of Gold/W's to make the new sizes take effect.
There are no checks for legit values for these sizes, so if you set them
to something goofy, you may get some pretty wierd displays.
I'll fix bugs (maybe), but no more gizmos, please.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 28-SEP-1985 15:54:14.76
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: Another TPU update
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, EVELYN PEREZ IS MINUS HER BOW TIE. IN
FACT, SHE IS TOTALLY OUT OF UNIFORM....SHE IS ACTUALLY SITTING
BEHIND THE RECEPTIONIST DESK IN CIVIES. WELL, THERE IS AN ACCEPTABLE
EXPLANATION FOR THIS; AS OF FRIDAY, EVELYN BECAME AN OFFICIAL ATARI
EMPLOYEE! (HMMMM, I WONDER IF THE GOODIES WILL CONTINUE.)
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, GIVE EVELYN A BIG WELCOME!
SANDI
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::RAINS 30-SEP-1985 15:38:50.40
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: The Amiga Cometh
I have seen the advertising on the tube, and I assume they wouldn't blow
those kind of bucks on vaporware, so I expect the computers to be hitting the
retail shelves REAL SOON NOW.
Since we are planning on using the Amiga as the hardware base for a new
personal animation workstation for the animators, I am interested in getting a
evaluation unit in here as soon as possible. Soooooo. . . if you hear of or
actually witness an Amiga in a store in the area, let me know where and when
so I can check it out.
<LVR>
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::BROWN 1-OCT-1985 11:19:35.80
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: HELP
WARNING: A lesson which might be less painful for you if you learn it here:
FILE *outfil;
char c; /* output char */
int err; /* putc() result code */
.
.
.
if ((err = putc(c, outfil)) == EOF) {
perror(" Output error in putc() - disk full? ");
return (ERROR);
}
.
.
.
This will screw up on binary files when (c = 0xFF) is output, because putc()
will return the sign extended argument, which will be EOF (-1) rather than 0xFF.
You need to either check ferr(outfil) on EOF, or call putc(c & 0xFF, outfil) to
suppress the sign extension. It ain't like getc()!!
OLD NEWS: Also, since getc and putc() are #define macros on some systems
(including UNIX), don't make calls like putc(*cp++, outfil), since the side
effect will blow up in your face. Use fgetc() and fputc(), which make proper
subroutine calls instead.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 1-OCT-1985 17:53:49.41
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: The Times they are a Changin'
...about the TPU section file being stable. I made one last (?) small change.
It will look for a file pointed to by TPU$INIT: to do last minute setups.
The file is assumed to be a .TPU file, is loaded into tpuinit_buffer and
executed. If the execution succeeds without errors, then the tpuinit_buffer
is deleted else it is left hanging around so you can edit it to fix it.
Useful to do customising for particular jobs. You can use UTL$COM:EDTINIT.TPU
as an example or as your setup file if'n you want. Assign TPU$INIT: to
a directory and file (defaults to .TPU).
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 3-OCT-1985 10:16:00.13
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: 6502 lives
6502 fans can upgrade to a 16-bit processor and still execute all existing
code with a new processor from Western Design Center called the 65C816.
- Designed by Bill Mensch
- CMOS
- 40 pin package
- 16 Megabyte address space
- emulates 6502 code "on-board"
- Two companies have announced APPLE II upgrade boards based on it.
For a little more info see article outside my office.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::BROWN 3-OCT-1985 14:02:06.83
To: KIM::MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj:
THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTION FOR LOCATING CODDINGTON, BUT I THINK I HAVE
FOUND A WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM EITHER BY PHONE OR COMPUTER.
SANDI
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::RITTER 4-OCT-1985 11:45:53.01
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: ((P ^ ~P) ^ ~(P ^ ~P))
In that fine Atari tradition, I wax philosophical, before I leave this
place. I have "tendered" my resignation.
I look around and I still see an incredible collection of funky creative
people. There is still some of "that old magic" that first impressed me when
I joined Atari. I hope the kinds of games that come out of your heads
continue to be far out. I think Atari will consistently put out several
successful games a year, and I don't forsee any other place, not even Data
East, being able to do that. Keep on doing that Voodoo you do.
I hope the games will be leaders and not followers. For what it's worth,
I personally like the kind of game that transports the player to a world
previously unimagined, something a computer can do so well (eg, M.M.). I
think accelerator is one of those types, and I wish it the best. I remember
what first attracted me to video games was that ability to create a
concrete abstract world. ( "concrete abstraction": I like that). But
then that was the days of dancing geometric vector games.
God how I hated Pac Man. I have this knack for liking unpopular games,
and hating popular ones. Fred Silverman has a golden gut. I have a tin one.
However, it's better to know what you like than to know what others like.
Besides, Silverman is fatter than I am.
I must say how much I enjoyed being part of The Last Starfighter team.
One thing I have learned at Atari is that I function much better as a team
member. I regret my situation on my current project, where I am the only
implementor. I dont seem to very good in that role. (Yes, I'm bitching now).
I have been on the interview trail the last 4 weeks, and I have
discovered that there are more suitable environments for me than this one.
"Let he who is without sin get stoned first".
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::VICKERS 7-OCT-1985 10:50:35.14
To: MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: Yamaha reset pulse width
If this chip is like one of their other sound chips, the reset
pulse width is probably minimum 80 cycles =~ 22 usec.
Earl
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::ALBAUGH 7-OCT-1985 16:07:46.82
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: New Utility- QDF
HI...I GUESS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO ONE OF THESE HERE LETTERS TELLING WHY YOU'RE
LEAVING, COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING, ETC.,ETC.
FRANKLY, I HAVE FOUND MOST OF THEM TO BE REALLY BORING AND VERY PRETENTIOUS, SO
I'LL TRY NOT TO BE.
IT IS TRUE I'M LEAVING, IT'S NOT TRUE THAT I HAVE SIGNED ON WITH THE CHICAGO
BEARS AS A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN TO FILL THE VOID THAT WAS CREATED WHEN THEY MOVED
WILLIAM "REFRIGERATOR" PERRY TO RUNNING BACK.
ANYWAYS, I THINK I'M GOING AT A TIME WHEN ATARI HAS LOOKED BETTER THAN IT HAS
IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE...DEFINATELY FROM A PRODUCT
STANDPOINT...(NOT FROM A BEER BUST STANDPOINT THOUGH).
I'M GOING TO TRY MY HAND AT CONSUMER MARKETING IN THE SOFTWARE FIELD...CONSUMER
MARKETING IS SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY, AND THE COMPANY, ELECTRONIC
ARTS, SEEMS LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO TRY IT OUT. (I HOPE I DON'T END UP DRIVING
AROUND A MOBILE CAR WASH UNIT TO COMPANY PARKING LOTS, HOWEVER!)
I THINK YOU ARE ALL DOING WONDERFULL THINGS HERE THAT ARE VERY CREATIVE AND
ARE CLEARLY THE QUALITY LEADERS OF VIDEO GAME DESIGN IN THE WHOLE WORLD. I
HOPE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE IN SOME WAY...I'LL MISS YOU ALL...
TO CLOSE, I'D LIKE TO SAY:
KEEP MAKING AWESOME GAMES (THAT I CAN LICENSE AT E/A!)
NEVER MAKE A GAME WHERE YOU RUN OVER DOLLAR SIGNS
AND...
WHY A BIG SUIT?
LATER DATES,
DT
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::RIVERA 21-OCT-1985 00:21:11.76
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK,RIVERA
CC:
Subj: New Programmer
Jed,
Sorry to inform you that I have just removed Mostek as the source
for the 2K x 8, 150ns, static RAM with battery, our part number 137442-150.
As you may have seen in the Mercury News, Mostek is going out of business.
Erwin.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::VICKERS 21-OCT-1985 15:15:58.39
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Subgenius revival
1. Brief Description
This is a small hand-held musical instrument which analyzes the pitch
and amplitude of humming, singing, or whistling, and controls the corresponding
parameters of a built-in polyphonic synthesizer (Yamaha chip.) The user would
be able to listen to a click track and overdub drum, bass, lead guitar, and
various other instruments, turning the vocalist into a 1-man band.
There would be output jacks for connecting the device to a home stereo
or a guitar amplifier, and there would possibly be a built-in speaker. Also
there would be a MIDI music synthesizer serial output, so that musicians could
control their synthesizers with their voice. The instrument would preferably
be powered by either batteries or an external transformer lump.
Other features could include the option of quantizing each note to the
nearest semi-tone, for people who aren't that great at singing or humming in
tune. In this mode, vibrato could be selected, to substitute for the voice's
natural vibrato. There could be an octave select switch, so you could play
much higher or lower than you can hum. And there could be speed select as
well, so you could hum a fast part slowly and double the speed on playback.
The voice is the most expressive musical instrument, and with this
product, it can be used to directly control a variety of synthesized
instruments.
2. Market
A. Musical toy users - these people would be attracted to the idea of a
hand-held 1-man band electronic kazoo. These are the people who buy $200 Casio
keyboards with built-in tacky rhythm, Mattel Syn-Drums, etc.
B. Vocalists - these people could turn themselves into any instrument
of the orchestra.
C. Synthesizer owners - would view this as an inexpensive accessory
that would allow them to do new and vastly more expressive effects.
D. Other musicians - composers could try out how different musical
lines work together, without having to write the music out and multi-track it.
Players of other orchestral instruments could use those instruments to
control the synthesizer.
It seems like there is potentially a huge market, both fad- and non-fad-
oriented, depending on the price.
3. Price - very rough estimates
6502 $1.50
RAM 8.00
ROM 1.50
Yamaha 9.00 (this is a smaller chip, 3 FM voice + built in GI
chip which could be used for drums and click-
track, plus a monophonic DAC)
A-D 2.00
Mic 2.00
Speaker 1.50
Display 2.00
Switches 2.00
Electr. 7.00 misc. electronics
Package 10.00
_____
$46.50
X 4 consumer markup
_____
$186.00
The general consensus that was reached with people I've talked to is
that the product probably needs to be under $200 to reach the broadest market.
Future models could include more voices, more memory, more features, for more
money.
4. Potential Problems
A. Technical
The only real technical difficulty other than cost-reduction is
the pitch-tracking. There are many waveforms for which the pitch is
undefined, and the 1.7 mHz 6502 has to figure out the pitch in real
time. The issues are - how many pitch errors will be made, how
objectionable will they be, will there be a noticable delay between
when you hum and when you hear the output, and can it be done in real
time. There is a product being sold for the Atari 800 which does
many of these functions in real time, using only an external ADC, and
using the 1 mHz 6502 to do the analysis. Fortunately, singing or
humming is more strongly pitched than spoken voice, so the pitch
analysis can be somewhat simpler. My feeling is that the technical
difficulties will not be limiting factors.
B. Legal
Atari Inc. Corporate Research at one time long ago was talking
about a similar idea (but without the MIDI-out or the advantage of
being able to multi-track with a polyphonic Yamaha chip.) But you
can't patent an idea, and although it would be tacky for us to use
the same name, Hummer, that they were using, so sue us.
A thornier problem is the fact that our current Yamaha contract,
and presumably any future one we sign to purchase the cheaper chip,
explicitly prohibits us from competing with Yamaha in the consumer
music market. Ideally what would happen would be that we would design
the product, do a non-disclosure agreement with them, demonstrate the
product, and market the product as a joint venture using Yamaha's name
and distribution channels. This is tricky, but I'm naive enough to
think it could happen this way. The obvious question is what keeps
them from taking the idea and doing it on their own, and the obvious
answer is - not much. Still, we would be saving them from having to
waste time going through the whole engineering development cycle.
They've used independant programmers in the U.S before to write
computer music software that they could have written themselves.
We wouldn't be in much of a bargaining position concerning
price, but we could always bluff that we could use some other chip
that's almost as good. If worst came to worst, we could either find
some other chip that's almost as good, or market the device primarily
as a MIDI-controller. At least we would still have a product, although
the market would be smaller.
5. Resources and time frame
I currently have time-domain pitch and amplitude analysis software
running on the Sound Processing System. This would need to be considerably
tightened up and tested, and the algorithms transferred to 6502. Most of the
6502 development could be done with a System I or System II board, with an A-D
input added. Final development would need the actual target hardware, with the
cheap Yamaha chip in place of the one we are currently using. Dennis Harper is
interested in doing the 6502 code, fortunately, and I can do most of the
hardware design, as long as there are real engineers around to answer questions.
1. Project initiation meeting, and demonstration of
humming, analysis, resynthesis and
overdubbing with the Yamaha chip - 2-3 weeks
1. Modification and testing of analysis algorithms - 1-2 months
2. 6502 development (concurrent with hardware) - 3 months?
3. Slack - 1-2 months
__________
~6 months
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::VANELDREN 25-OCT-1985 17:33:12.86
To: VICKERS,MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: HUMMER
I think the Hummer concept is a neat idea (even with that name) and am
looking forward to seeing and hearing more about it when you're ready to
demonstrate it. I think it's great that you (and others) are being
creative in looking for technologically-related opportunities. With that
attitude and initiative, I'm confident that we as an Engineering company
can continue to be sucessful regardless of what happens to the "industries"
around us. (How's that for a fool-hardy statement??) Anyway, keep on
hummin'.
Dan Van
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::AVL 28-OCT-1985 15:28:01.69
To: KIM::MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: CER 3880
Ok, I have checked out the latest release of the Intermetrics stuff, and it's
OK. so please change your initialisation as follows:-
The Approved Vendors List will be moved from CHARM to ERNIE sometime
between noon and 1PM on Tuesday.
If you have defined a word in your LOGIN.COM file to access the
AVL, you may have to make a modification to it..
Users with accounts on remote nodes (CHARM, or KIM)
Type "SET HOST ERNIE" and login to ERNIE as "READAVL" (no password
required). When you exit READAVL, you will be returned to your
default node and directory.
You may copy ERNIE::SYS$USERDISK:[AVL]READAVL.COM to your directory and define
a word in your LOGIN.COM file to execute it.
Example: $AVL :==@READAVL.COM
Users with accounts on ERNIE:
Type "@ATARI$AVL:LOGIN" at the VAX system prompt ($), or just add the line
below to your LOGIN.COM file and then type "AVL" after your next login.
$ AVL :==@ATARI$AVL:LOGIN
Both of these methods will execute a menu driven program that will allow you
to search the AVL and either save the results in a file in your own directory
(if it's on ERNIE) or forward the results to your remote mailbox.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MCCARTHY 1-NOV-1985 13:48:41.73
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK,MCCARTHY
CC:
Subj: show news
The latest news from the show.
Gauntlet : 6500 Domestic games sold. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1000 Ireland games sold. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Manufacturing looking at increasing production to 125 per day.
We have lift-off.
Are we having fun yet.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::VANELDREN 4-NOV-1985 14:48:00.15
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: AMOA NEWS FLASH
We're just back from AMOA and haven't had much time yet to really sort out
all our thoughts and impressions and numerical results (number of games
sold, etc., etc.), but there are some things that are so obvious to all who
were there that I feel obliged to pass them on immediately. Without a
doubt, Gauntlet was the runaway HIT of the show. And if Gauntlet was a "10",
there wasn't even anything close to being a "9". In the entire 12 years of
my association with Atari (and in attending the majority of trade shows
that took place during those 12 years), I think it's safe to say that we
have never had a more enthusiastic positive reaction to a product than we
had to Gauntlet. Please accept the sincere thanks from an Atari loyalist
to all of you who helped make the design, manufacturing, and sale of this
product possible. I really wished every Atari employee could have been at
the show in person, because then you could really have appreciated the often-
expressed comment of operators and distributors alike: "It's sure good to
see Atari back on top again where they belong." Even competitors were
surprisingly complementary in a very positive way: "It's good to see a game
like Gauntlet putting such a spark of excitement back into an industry
that's been in hibernation for the last couple years."
Reports of initial collections in the > $1,000 per week range were common
on the show floor, as operators compared notes with us and other operators
on what their very early testing results had been on Gauntlet. The highest
reported earnings came from a mall arcade in Toronto, Canada, which had
received their first Gauntlet 10 days before the AMOA Show began. The
game had AVERAGED $500. PER DAY, earning $4500. in its first 9 days on
location. Needless to say, this operator was quite satisfied with his
"projected" ROI on Gauntlet.
As I said earlier, Gauntlet was clearly perceived as the runaway "10"
of the show. Listed below are my personal ratings of the "8"s, "7"s, and
"6"s as I saw it. There were also probably another 20 to 30 "5's and
under" beyond these, but I won't go to the trouble of listing them here.
For a complete report and brochures on all that various products that were
shown, see the '85 AMOA binder that I will be circulating thru-out the
company in the next couple weeks.
The "8"s:
1. Atari's "Temple of Doom"
2. Sega's "Choplifter"
3. Cinematronics "World Series"
4. Bally's "Sarge"
5. Konami's "Rush'N'Attack"
6. William's "Comet" Pinball
The "7"s:
1. Taito's "Legend of Kage"
2. Taito's "Knuckle Joe"
3. Data East's "Shootout"
4. Capcom/Romstar's "Gunsmoke"
The "6"s:
1. Taito/Digital Control's "Ghosts'n'Goblins"
2. Taito/Memetron's "Mat Mania"
3. Nichibitsu's "Terra Cresta"
4. Exidy's "Crack Shot"
5. Capcom/Romstar's "Tiger-Heli"
6. Bally/Sente's "Mini-Golf"
7. Data East's "Ring King"
8. Nintendo's "Arm Wrestling"
The "Specials":
1. Taito's "Super Dead Heat" - 4 player 4-monitor driving game ala Sprint 4
2. Taito's "N.Y. Captor" - long distance (6-10 ft) video shooting game
3. Tatsumi/Data East's "Speed Buggy" - 3-monitor driving game ala TX-1
4. Bally/Sente's "4-Player Hat Trick" - Indy 4 style cabinet
5. Bally/Sente's "Stompin" - Nolan finally got someone to do his "foot-
control dance machine"
6. Bally/Sente's "Sacman" - a generic Sac-1 kit to convert Pacman games
7. Nintendo's Pac Kit - a generic Uni-system to convert Pacman games
Please remember, the above lists are only my personal subjective opinions,
and based on past precedents, are probably not very accurate. The only things
I am clearly sure of (from my typical Atari objective viewpoint) is that there
was nothing there that came close to competing with Gauntlet, and nothing there
that I felt was a better second than Temple. Product sales have clearly
justified my appraisal of Gauntlet. I'm still waiting to see if they'll do
the same on Temple.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::MORRIS 6-NOV-1985 17:10:58.89
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: WARNING INTERMETRICS CLBR ERROR DANGER DANGER
The intermetrics library utility used to create a new version of the library
file every time a modification was made to it. However now Intermetrics, in
their infinite wisdom have decided to just update the existing version, nice!
However the jerks leave a corrupted library file if CLBR is interrupted,
(ie with control Y).
So, WARNING do not control Y in the middle of a CLBR operation.
Jim.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::MORRIS 11-NOV-1985 17:26:48.11
To: @sys$mail:engineer
CC:
Subj: Upload for AMS 68010 emulator
Have you ever wanted to get hardcopy from your DTB, DT or UPL's.
Well now is your lucky day.
When you need a DTB hardcopy, for instance, type:-
$ UPL fred.txt
Uploading text from AMS to file fred.txt, Type Control Z to terminate
Then type <ESC><ESC> to get back to the AMS and do:-
> ON CPY
To enable the auto upload. Now everything that appears on your terminal will
also go to the VAX.
So:-
> DTB 0 TO #200
will send the last 200 lines of disassembled trace buffer to fred.txt.
Once you have done everthing you want type:-
> OFF CPY
to disable the upload, then:-
> TRA
to get back to the VAX. Hit control Z and UPL will write all captured data to
the file fred.txt:-
Writing captured data to file fred.txt. Please wait....
Upload written to file fred.txt
$
The file fred.txt will be a standard VAX text file, all control characters will
be stripped from the input stream, and only linefeeds will cause a newline.
This procedure can be used to capture anything from the AMS that you can
get it to send to the terminal.
*******************************************************************************
P.S.
If for some reason you want a binary file with all data as it appears in
the input stream, type:-
$ UPL - fred.dat
Uploading binary from AMS to file fred.dat, Type Control Z to terminate
Now all data in the input stream will go to fred.dat. But remember that some
control characters will be trapped by VMS. (ie ^Y, ^C, ^S, ^Q etc.)
and ^Z of course will still terminate the input stream.
To be really perverse and capture all binary data you must set your term to
PASTHRU. See HELP SET TERM/PAS. But BEWARE!!!!!!
********************************************************************************
In the (unlikely!?) event of bugs mail:
CHARM::MORRIS.
Jim.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 11-NOV-1985 18:47:11.74
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: You wanna help with debug...
Announcing the long awaited program LLF (Link/Locate/Format) program. It appears
to work, but until everybody tries all their perversions on it, I won't know if
I caught all the bugs. It measures about 5 times faster (elapsed time) than the
Intermetrics CLNK/CLOC/CFOR/GENSYM operation. I'm not sure how it matches up to
CLNK/CLOC/QDF. I'm still working on it (evenings and weekends), so additional
features and bug fixes will be addressed reasonably quickly.
Minor enhancments to be added:
symbol cross reference (for both defined and undefined symbols).
additional filename input via the option file.
Major enhancment to be added:
System II support (accepting BLISS-16's output).
To use it, do the usual @CDEFS that you've grown to known and love, then type
(or have your makefile type):
$ LLF file1[,file2,...][/qualfier...]
Where file1...filen are your input filenames and /qualifier is one or more
qualifiers.
Command line restrictions:
DCL allows up to 1024 characters for the command line with the following
requirements: There be no more than 128 total elements (filenames,qualifiers,
etc.); That any one element have no more than 255 characters; That the
command line consist of NO MORE than 256 characters before being continued
to additional lines (sorry, Greg).
The following qualifiers can appear anywhere on the command line:
Qualifiers Default value What it is, man
------------------ -------------- -------------------------
/OUTPUT[=filename] SYS$DISK:[].HEX output filename. This is
defaulted and the name
defaults to the same as the
first input filename with a
file type of .HEX.
/MAP[=filename] SYS$DISK:[].MAP map output filename. The
filename defaults to the
OUTPUT filename with a file
type of .MAP.
/SYM[=filename] none Symbol name output. If this
option is used with no value,
then the symbols are included
in the output (.HEX) file. If
a value is supplied, then it
becomes the name of a file into
which the symbols are placed.
The default file type in that
case is .SYM.
/SEC[=filename] none Section name output. If this
option is used with no value,
then the section names are
included in the output (.HEX)
file. If a value is supplied,
then it becomes the name of a
file into which the section
names are placed. The default
file type in that case is .SEC.
The following qualifiers must be placed on their specific input filenames to
identify the contents of that file:
Qualifier Why I have to type this crap
----------- -----------------------------
/LIB Identifies the file as being a library file.
The default file type assumed is .LIB.
/OPT Identifies the file as being an option file.
The default file type assumed is .OPT. At
present, only 1 option file is accepted.
All input filenames other than those identifed with a /LIB or /OPT have a
default file type of .OL.
The options file contents is nearly the same as the .LC file used with CLOC
the difference being that LLF doesn't support the MEMORY command (yet).
Examples:
$ LLF game,main,interrupt,vectors,data1,data2 !simple link/loc/form
$ LLF game,interrupt,data/map/sym !give symbols and map
$ LLF /out=alice mary,jane,karen/lib,fun/opt
$ LLF game,main,lib1/lib,lib2/lib,interrupt,vectors,lib3/lib
Report bugs to this address
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 13-NOV-1985 20:20:21.46
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: Yet another TPU section file...
There's a new TPU section file in UTL$EXE:. I also made some updates to the
UTL$COM:EDTINIT.TPU file that turn on the "new" features of the section
file. The new features in the section file are non-destructive, but the
updated EDTINIT file disables PF2 and GOLD/PF2 (the graztifratz HELP keys).
Take note if your using that init file.
The new feature:
Line mode command: ERROR [filename]
which reads the file into the aux_buffer and positions the window over the first
occurance of an error message. The cursor stays in the main window. The filename
is optional and defaults to the name of the file in the main_buffer with a .LIS
extension. The EDTINIT file examines the main input file type and sets a string
that is used as an error message search string (i.e. %CC, %MACRO, etc.). Then
the PF2 key is defined to be 'find next error'. Pressing the PF2 key will scroll
the aux_window to the next occurance of the error string. The direction of the
scroll is determined by the current_direction flag (set by the KP4 and KP5
keys). The line mode ERROR command can be abbreviated to no fewer than two
letters (or else it becomes an EXIT!).
FYI: the file fetch uses the GOLD/I mechanism, so if the aux_buffer has data
in it, TPU may prompt for permission to blow away the old contents (a file
entered via a GOLD/U will automatically be written out).
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 25-NOV-1985 16:34:29.42
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: AMS ports
I changed all the AMS_68k ports to 9600 baud, eightbit and even parity. This
makes them the same as EDT_USER (VT100/CIT-101 user) except AMS has /NOWRAP
also set. This means you have to change your computer port setup on the AMS
systems (if you haven't already) in order for this to work. I have been
told by all users that the AMS, with the latest software EPROMs, works just
fine at 9600, if this is not the case let me know.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::VANELDREN 27-NOV-1985 16:29:20.33
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: GEORGE OPPERMAN
This is probably the toughest piece of VAXMAIL I've ever had to send, so
please bear with me if I'm not too eloquent.
As many of you know, George Opperman was admitted to El Camino Hospital
this past Sunday morning. He was diagnosed as having lung cancer in a very
advanced stage. I have just been informed by his family that he passed
away shortly before noon today.
George's family (wife Pat, son Kevin, and daughter Heather) were able to
spend the last couple days at his side. Other than some shortness of breath
and a raspy voice, the last few days were quite miraculously pain-free, and
he was able to enjoy the time with his family and many close friends and
fellow workers who dropped by to encourage him. He and his family were
especially grateful for this, and Pat has asked me to pass on her thanks
to all of his "family" here.
The family will not be making any final arrangements until Friday, but
according to Pat, they will probably be scheduling a Memorial Service for
some time early next week (Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday). I will try and
let everybody know the details of this by first thing Monday morning. I
believe Tuesday will be the most likely day for this to be scheduled.
Few people have given as much of their life to a company as George gave
to Atari, and even fewer will leave behind the marks of permanence and
beauty and art that
George was able to leave. His going will leave a big hole in the lives of
his family, his friends, his fellow workers, and a significant number of
other people who were touched by his role here at Atari.
George's family's home address, where they will all be for the next week or
two is: 5869 Amapola Drive
San Jose, Ca. 95129
I'm sure they would all appreciate your thoughts and your prayers.
Dan Van
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 6-DEC-1985 00:08:33.10
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: modems
The modems are alive and well. The phone numbers are listed in the Atari
telephone "book", but here they are ifn you don't want to look them up:
Ernie: 434-1770 !1 modem
Kim: 434-1771 !2 modems
Sandy: 434-1772 !1 modem (phantom computer just now)
Charm: 434-1773 !2 modems
Mike: 434-1774 !1 modem (another phantom computer)
Those with multiple modems are on a hunt group, i.e. you'll get the first
available modem by calling just that one number.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::DOWNEND 27-NOV-1985 17:07:15.52
To: @ALPHAGANG.DIS
CC:
Subj: Clean-up
THIS WEEKEND IS CLEANUP WEEKEND! CLEAN-UP CREWS WILL BE SWEEPING THE BUILDING
FOR EXCESS STUFF AND THEN CLEANING THE CARPETS.
1) IF YOU WANT TO KEEP ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE EXCESS - TIE IT DOWN.
2) PLACE ALL YOUR TRASH IN AN OBVIOUS SPOT TO HAVE IT REMOVED.
3) REMOVE TAGS FROM FURNITURE YOU WANT TO KEEP.
4) GET EVERYTHING OUT OF BOXES AND COLLAPSE THE BOXES.
5) PUT YELLOW POST-ITS ON THE WALL WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO HANG PICTURES
BULLETIN BOARDS AND GREASE BOARDS - IF MORE THAN ONE, NUMBER THEM.
-CHRIS
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::ALBAUGH 27-NOV-1985 18:03:36.06
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: P___ing in the soup
SCHLAGE SYSTEM: We are still working on the system and hopefully will
have it operational Wednesday or Thursday. Until
then, building access hours will be 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
"COKE IS IT" A coke machine has been installed in the copy room
(located next to the Executive Conference Room).
PICTURES AND Facilities is continuing work on hanging pictures and
THINGS white boards.
PROBLEMS Punch lists and other related building problems should
be turned in to your department secretary.
B. Frye
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 4-DEC-1985 16:06:40.89
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Phones
There are a number of problems with the phone system. In order to save
your time sending messages telling us and to save our time reading
messages telling us, I'll point out some of the known bugs. Steve is
off at Rolm school this week to learn how to make moves and changes
(MAC class), so some of these problems can BEGIN to be fixed next
week.
Lab phones can't dial external numbers. This is a Bob Frye
"feature". All telephones that weren't explicitly assigned
to a warm body, were setup with the lowest class of
service. We think this sucks. You think this sucks.
Actually, the telephones that should have this class of
service are the lobby phones here and at 735 and maybe a
few others. This is entirely a software function so we can
fix it once we know how.
The buttons on some ETS's don't match up to the functions
they perform. This is a hardware problem. We have a bag of
buttons and are making some progress at correcting this
error. If you are one of these "ETS" people, happen to
know your phone number and what the buttons are supposed
to do, drop on by and we may be able to give you the
buttons so you can fix it yourself. In the meantime,
bear with us, we'll get to you.
There may be one or more PacBell trunks with a problem
or one or more of our Rolm trunk circuits with a problem
such that outside calls appear noisy and/or with reduced
volume. This is a hardware problem. We'll investigate this
further and call in the appropriate people to correct it.
The system hold time to too short. If you place a call on
hold and don't re-connect it within a system wide time
limit, the Rolm switch will call you back. It appears this
time is nearer 1 minute than to the more desireable 5 minutes.
Calls are arbitrarily attached to the page. This problem is not
new and is because the page system is a kludge as far as the
Rolm switch is concerned. The fix seems to me to be simple, but
I'll bet that it can't be done. You can flash any telephone by
momentarily holding down the switchook and flashing a call will
place it on hold. Then if you hang up, the Rolm will immediately
call you back. If someone calls the page then hangs up with either
type of flash (either switchook or FLASH button), the Rolm will
call them back connecting them back to the page. I think that
if the switchook flash were disabled system wide most of this
page problem could be solved. We're working on it.
Pick groups are all screwed up. This is a software function and
can BEGIN to be fixed next week. In the meantime, use * 3 number
to pick up other phones.
The page system is sometimes abused. This is a user function and
we can't fix it. The best we can do is tell you from which
telephone(s) these abusive pages are coming and let you figure
out who the offending individual(s) is(are).
If anyone has regularly gotten a busy tone immediately after dialing a 9
for an outside line, please notify me. This may be another problem that
needs to be addressed.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::DAVE 4-DEC-1985 20:09:24.65
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: A BOOK
I HAVE A BOOK TO LOAN. ITS BY EDWARD ABBEY -"BEYOND THE WALL". IT IS WRITTEN
IN A LESS STRIDENT TONE THAN "THE MONKEY WRENCH GANG" BUT IT GETS THE POINT
ACROSS. I MEAN ANYONE WHO CAN COMPARE TROPHY HUNTERS TO SQUID SHIT CAN'T BE
TO IN TOO MELLOW A MOOD!
DON'T COME TO BORROW THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT A WRENCH, KARO
SYRUP, AND SAND HAVE IN COMMON.
REMEMBER, IF WE DON'T GET THEM, THEY'LL GET US.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::BRAD 5-DEC-1985 10:17:46.60
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: finger
Did anyone find a plastic finger that has a threaded screw-like end?
- brad -
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 5-DEC-1985 12:42:15.17
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Rolm
If, when making an OUTGOING call, you experience weak volume and/or high
background noise, please dial FLASH * 563. This will record in the Rolm's
error log all the circuits used in your connection. We need this information
in order to find the trouble (if any). Please don't use this unless your
connection is really "not normal". Thanks in advance.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::FRYE 5-DEC-1985 15:45:59.03
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: TELEPHONE REFERRAL
Remember the "line cord crimp tool" I was looking for so desparately
last week? It has been found. Some absent-minded system programmer type
who shall remain nameless found them in a paper bag in my office at home...
er, that is, HIS office at HIS home. So, thank you for looking and keeping
an eye out for it, as I'm sure you all did. Sorry for the false alarm.
PS: His initials are
sas
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::RUNNER 10-DEC-1985 10:01:28.84
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK,RUNNER
CC:
Subj: Greenhill's compiler gotme
Option '-x6' is useful for debugging because it forces the use of the
easily patchable 'mov #0,x' instead of the quicker 'clr x'.
Unfortunately, option '-x6' ALSO forces the default output suffix to
be '.a68' instead of '.s'. So if you expect the '.a68' or '.s' extension,
beware of changing '-x6' for debugging/speedup purposes.
Note: Apparently(?), '-x29' overrides some of this, forcing the
extension to be '.asm'. If so, then '-x6' would again be available for purely
debugging/code-compacting purposes.
G
R
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::HOFF 10-DEC-1985 11:44:57.42
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Headaches and adhesives
I walk in the door and smell the adhesives, the carpet outgassing and
all the other chemicals which are in the air due to the recent, massive
remodeling. About 30 minutes later I get an annoying headache, take some
aspirin, take some more a few hours later ... go home and the headache goes
away.
Please let me know whether or NOT you have similar sensations.
I'll collect your messages and send them on to the right person.
Perhaps, if the gases are what's really doing it, we can get the ventillation
turned up during this initial period when the building is outgassing. Then my
headache and yours can go away.
Morgan
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::PPS 12-DEC-1985 18:04:28.55
To: @sys$mail:engineer
CC:
Subj: BCP Utility
Thanks to Jim Morris, there is a new Graphics Utility available to scale, yaw,
or pitch a picture(s). Scaling can be used to magnify or reduce a picture, yaw
or pitch rotates a picture about the Y or X axis contained within the plane
of the picture (standard Cartesian Coordinate alignment). For location and
documentation, see below.
The exe file is in SYS$USERDISK:[PPS.UTILITIES]BCP.EXE both on nodes KIM::
and CHARM::. The documentation file is in the same place, called BCP.DOC.
******************************************************************************
BCP will yaw, pitch or scale a PK4 file. NOTE: a .PK4 format is equivalent to
a .INT format. The operations required to be done on a frame are explicitly
entered in a command file. The format of this command file follows:
The following must be put at the start of the file in this order:-
input filename(.pk4) output filename(.pk4)
input frame size (width height)
Output frame size (width height)
number of frames in file
The following are optional and tell BCP what to do with each frame:-
! - comment to end of line
p n.n - pitch n.n degrees
y n.n - yaw n.n degrees
s n.n - scale down to n.n% of original size
d - write picture to file
e - end of command list
The d command must be used to write the resultant picture to the output file.
After the d command any operation is performed on the original frame,
(NOT the result of the previous command).
Examples:-
TESTIN TESTOUT
64 64
64 64
1
! start of test scale frame down 50%, then display it.
s 50.0 d
! yaw frame 25.5 degrees then display it
y 25.5 d
! pitch frame 10.5 degrees, then yaw 22.4 degrees then scale down by 22.5%
p 10.5 y 22.4 s 22.5 d
e
The preceding example does the commented operations on one frame in TESTIN.PK4
and outputs the results to file TESTOUT.PK4
The frame is 64 by 64 pixels and so will the output be.
jegm - 12/12/85.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::MARGOLIN 13-DEC-1985 16:30:17.05
To: @SYS$MAIL:EVERYBODY.UAF
CC:
Subj:
Does anyone have the design information on the Vector Generator Gate Array
that was (I believe) designed by Dean Chang?
Jed
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 16-DEC-1985 18:33:28.96
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: LLF V1.2
LLF V1.2 has just been released. This version has minor changes from 1.1:
1) fixed bug where sometimes a rotten checksum would be computed
for the termination record in a symbol file.
2) fixed bug where sometimes the extraneous error message
"seg {bla_bla} overlays another segment" would be displayed.
3) all directives can be mixed case in the options file and the
primary directives (LOC, DEC, etc) can be abbreviated to
any number of chars.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::SHEPPERD 16-DEC-1985 19:08:13.39
To: @SYS$MAIL:ENGINEER
CC:
Subj: New TPU section file
A new TPU section file has been placed in utl$exe. This file fixed two
small bugs:
1) a SET SCREEN now affects the main, message and aux windows
(previously the aux_window wasn't changed)
2) the "short cut" GOLD/W (GOLD/{up} or GOLD/{down} when
only 1 window is displayed) has been fixed. This used
to produce the error "unable to operate on invisible
window".
If you have been using the standard TPU calling conventions, you needn't
do anything different to access this section file.
ds
___________________________________________________________________________
From: ERNIE::BELL 18-DEC-1985 14:02:35.15
To: KIM::MARGOLIN
CC:
Subj: TomCat Eproms/proms
Here are the numbers assigned for the devices/locations
for TomCat.
PART
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
136039-001 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,1K
136039-002 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,2K
136039-003 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,1M
136039-004 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,2M
136039-005 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,1N
136039-006 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,2N
136039-007 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,1P
136039-008 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,2P
136039-009 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,1R
136039-010 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,2R
136039-011 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,1T
136039-012 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,2T
136039-013 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,1U
136039-014 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,2U
136039-015 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,1V
136039-016 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,2V
136039-017 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,13F/H
136039-018 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,13B
136039-019 IC,Programmed EPROM,TomCat,137396-300,13C/D
136039-020 IC,Programmed PROM,TomCat,137336-001,6S
136039-XXX IC,Programmed_Devices,TomCat
___________________________________________________________________________
From: KIM::VICKERS 19-DEC-1985 11:33:41.16
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Book review
For those of you who will be sitting around bored with nothing to
do during vacation, I have the perfect gift suggestion for yourself - an
876-page book! (I'm only up to page 650, but I find myself limiting it to
a chapter a night to make it last longer.) It's called The Mists of Avalon,
by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I know a lot of people who've finished it, and
they all say the ending is great.
Basically it's the story of the Arthur legend, with Merlin and
Lancelet and Gwenhwyfar (a lot of the names are spelled different), Camelot
and the Round Table and the Quest for the Grail. But it's all different.
It's told primarily from the perspective of the women involved, especially
Morgaine, Arthur's sister who is trained as a priestess on the island of
Avalon. The basic theme is the battle for Arthur's mind during the
transition from the Celtic/pagan/nature/Goddess religion of ancient Britain
f
oops - to the Christian religion, which strives to drive the "evil" goddess
out of Britain. Arthur is sworn to defend Avalon, which gave him Excalibur,
the magic sword which protects him from harm. When he breaks this pledge,
Avalon must either persuade him to follow his oath, or overthrow him.
The book gives you the feeling that this is the way the story really
happened, and that "sword in the stone" and similar versions is how the story
was rewritten by the winners. This book is very rich, the characters are
utterly real, the ideas are fascinating, and the atmosphere is magic.
There are a couple of real reviews (without typos) on the Audio
group bulletin board.
Earl
___________________________________________________________________________
From: CHARM::SHEPPERD 19-DEC-1985 16:57:49.33
To: @SYS$MAIL:JUNK
CC:
Subj: Santa
Hi. As you may have noticed, we have a new phone system in place.
While there are some real problems with it (surprize!), many problems can
be avoided by knowing a little more about the system. To help spread the
knowledge, I plan on publishing a semi-regular newsletter (like this one)
which has a "featured feature". I will try to discuss a problem or issue
that is of interest to the most people at that time--second-guessing what
would be the most common question or complaint.
The first featured feature is COMPLAINTS, QUESTIONS, and CHANGES.
(How's that for second-guessing?)
To start with: The primary "phone guy" is me, Steve Suttles. I
worked with people from Atari and with Rolm, trying to set up the system
as closely as possible to what we needed. I work for Dave Shepperd, who
runs the computer systems group (in engineering). It is our group that is
responsible for the care and feeding of the telephone system, since it is
actually a computer running the show. The "pecking order" for phone work
is: Steve Suttles, Dave Shepperd, Stephanie Mott, and Mike Albaugh. There
shouldn't be any long time when you can't reach any of us, but we are known
to go out to lunch once in a great while.
As I mentioned, I specified to Rolm how the phone system was to
operate. Of course, needs change, and by the time the system was ready to
be installed, there were several changes already pending. Also, there were
a lot of things we did wrong, or we didn't get the right information, or I
made assumptions that were not justified. Which brings us to questions
and changes.
My extension is 1710. If you call me, I will answer questions as
well as I can. If you call me and ask for a change, I will tell you that
I will do it (because I intend to) and then forget (because I get a LOT of
phone calls). SO, if you really want the change(s) made, I need something
in writing so that I can use it to remind myself. For those of you with
VAXMAIL capability, you can send mail to (KIM::)ROLM. Our group watches
the mailbox and we will check it out when something shows up. If you aren't
hooked up to the vax, send me (Steve Suttles @675, NOT ROLM!) a note saying
what you want done. If I disappear (vacation or some such nonsense), our
group will still pick it up.
Changes: Any phone or phone number in the system can be made to
look/act/work like any other. While there are obvious differences between
the single-line phones and the electronic telephone sets (ETS), they have
essentially the same capability. So if you would like to have your phone
do what someone elses does, there shouldn't be a problem. For example,
if your phone doesn't system-forward after 3 rings, and you would like it
to, it is simply a matter of telling the phone system that your phone should
do that. If I am unable to make a change you request, I will let you know
why, and suggest whatever alternatives might be helpful.