Article-I.D.: ihlpa.709
Posted: Tue Jul 2 18:14:05 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Jul-85 08:47:01 EDT
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06/10/85 SUMMER CES REPORT
Atari at Summer CES
by Arthur Leyenberger
Permission granted to reprint this article if following statement appears
in reprint:
"Entire contents copyright (C) 1985 ANALOG Computing Magazine. All
rights reserved."
Overall, the 1985 Summer Consumer Electronics Show was a low-key event.
What?, you ask in amazement! How can a show with attendance of over 100,000
people, thousands of square feet of exhibit space and hundreds of high-tech
companies be low key? Well, to be honest, there just is not much exciting
news to report.
Several companies bowed out at the last moment. Electronic Arts, Infocom,
CBS Software and other companies decided that it would be more cost-
effective to not have an exhibit at the show. In several cases, these
companies decided to rent hotel suites instead at downtown Chicago hotels
to court distributors, retailers and the press.
Even Atari was not going to attend the show until at the last minute the
CES promoters made Atari an offer they couldn't refuse: a free booth. With
the help of some members from the Chicagoland Atari User's Group, Atari
made the best of their small conference room exhibit area. However, for the
second time in a row, Atari had the most exciting product at the show: the
CD-ROM.
Many of us are familiar with the new Digital Audio Discs, otherwise known
as the Compact Disk (CD). These laser "records" can contain up to 73
minutes of pop, click and static-free music. These same discs can also
contain an incredible amount of data (up to 550 Megabytes per side). That
translates into the equivalent storage of over 1500 IBM floppy disks.
Tom Rolander, VP of Engineering of Activenture, a California optical media
company, was demonstrating a prototype of the new Atari CD-ROM player. This
innovative product consisted of the entire 20-volume set of Grolier's
Encyclopedia on one CD, occupying 58 megabytes. Another 50 megabytes on the
disc consisted of cross-indexing information. Every word in the text of the
encyclopedia was cross indexed for retrieval purposes.
Amazingly, the text and indexing information (approximately 100K bytes)
consumed only one-fourth of the disc's capacity. Rolander said that the
remaining space was large enough to hold approximately 5000 high-resolution
720x350 pixel images. The CD-ROM was connected to the direct memory access
(DMA) port of an Atari 520ST computer through an interface. This DMA port
allows data transfer rates of up to 1.3 megabytes per second which allowed
access to the CD to be incredibly fast.
The CD-ROM encyclopedia allows you to request all references to a
particular subject or just browse through the text. Having all of the
information on one CD rather than having to search through 5 cubic feet of
books is an unbelievable convenience. The quick speed of the search is due
to the program not searching the actual text but rather searching through
the indexing portion of the information.
Regardless of what you search for, the computer screen will tell you how
many entries were retrieved and allow you to look at each one. When
presented, the information is displayed in black letters on a white
background with the key word highlighted in green. Once information is
found, the text can be paged forward or backward, copied to a floppy disk
for future use or sent directly to a printer.
Rolander said that Activenture was developing the technology under an
exclusive agreement with Atari and the decision of who would market the
product had not yet been made. The targeted price for this innovative
product is $500, but Atari is trying to shoot for about $350. In fact, Jack
Tramiel told me that his target price was $150. Consider this: an
inexpensive audio CD player can be purchased for as little as $200 today
and the CD-ROM/ST interface may cost as much as $100. Therefore an under
$500 price is very realistic. The software (encyclopedia, recipe,
historical stock market price, and legal data bases, etc.) is expected to
initially sell for $100 to $150 but could come down to the $50 range if
significant quantities are made.
Other Atari News
In addition to the CD-ROM which is expected to be available in the fall,
Atari also announced a new computer. Called the 260STD, this computer
contains 256K of RAM memory and has TOS (The Operating System), which
includes GEM, in ROM. It also has a built-in, single-sided disk drive
toward the back of the left side of the computer. The disk drive is a 500K
(unformatted), 360K (formatted) 3-1/2 inch micro drive. Unlike the 520ST,
the 260STD has a TV video output jack on the rear of the computer. The
260STD looks just like the 520 only a slightly deeper (similar to comparing
the 1200XL to an 800XL).
The 260STD is the so-called low-end, "mass market" computer that Atari has
mentioned in the past and will be sold at such places as "K-Mart" and "Toys
'R Us". The machine is expected to become available in the fall and will
retail for $499. This price does not include a monitor.
The 520ST is slated to be bundled with a disk drive and monochrome monitor.
The retail price of the package is said to be $800 and the system will only
be sold at computer specialty stores.
Sig Hartmann, Atari's President of Software, disclosed to me that the 520ST
computer will never have GEM in ROM. It will always be "soft loaded".
Currently, the operating system called TOS (The Operating System) and GEM
(Graphics Environment Manager) together require about 220K of RAM. Dave
Duberman, Atari's User Group Coordinator, told me that Atari is trying to
get the size down to under 200K. If this is accomplished, the 520ST
computer will contain approximately 300K of RAM after the operating system
is loaded versus the 256K of RAM on the 260STD computer. In terms of
available memory then, the two machines are essentially identical,
especially with regard to the commercial software market.
However, in talking with Neil Harris, the publisher of Atari's Explorer
magazine, it seems that GEM may become available in ROM for the 520ST. The
520ST, according to Harris, will contain sockets for the ROM chips so if
(or when) they become available, they can be added. This would give the
520ST twice the memory capacity of the 260STD. Only time and Atari can
answer this puzzling question.
Atari's third major hardware product was a direct connect, autodial, auto-
answer modem that is Hayes compatible. The XM 301 will sell for under $50
and plugs directly into the serial port on all Atari 800, XL and XE
computers. It takes its power from the serial port so there is no AC cord
to get in the way and routes the dial tone through the TV speaker. The
modem comes with XE-Term, a modem program written by Russ Wetmore that uses
XMODEM protocol for up and downloading. The XM301 also comes with over $200
of free time on such on-line services as the Source and CompuServe. There
is reportedly a similar, 1200-baud modem, that will sell for under $100.
New Software from Atari
Atari was again showing the Silent Butler, a home financial program for the
XE computer. Available in July and costing under $50, this program lets you
keep track of three checking and 2 savings accounts. It also allows you to
categorize your expense items, for later use when filing your income tax.
Your own checks may be used on your dot-matrix or letter quality printer
using the supplied plastic holder. The program also provides a tickler file
for appointments.
Atari was showing another product exclusively for the 130XE computer. The
Professional is a Lotus 1-2-3 clone that will sell for under $100 and
should be available by Christmas. It is essentially a spread sheet program
that contains data-base type operations such as sorting and searching. The
program uses windowing and pull-down menus and will be functionally
equivalent to a planned ST version. The Professional is being developed by
VIP Software.
Another product introduced at the show was the Home Astronomer. This under
$50 product contains over 15000 plotted stars and will allow the user to
view constellations, change point of view and move through time. You will
even be able to track Halley's Comet.
The Atariwriter Plus word processing program is in the final stages of
testing. It is a super-duper Atariwriter that will retail for under $50 and
become available this fall. It is expected that existing Atariwriter files
will be compatible with the new version of the program.
One of the most interesting new Atari software products is a GEM look-a-
like program that will run on all 8-bit Atari computers. Also developed by
VIP Software, the program is called, appropriately, GEM Desktop. The $50
price tag includes a mouse. It should be available by Christmas.
Where's the Beef
Conspicuous by their absence, several previously announced Atari software
products were nowhere to be found. Infinity, by Matrix Software, was to be
an integrated package containing a word processor, spreadsheet, relational
database and telecommunications program. It was supposed to be available
for both the ST and XE computers and sell for under $100. Whoops!
Another title, long past due regardless of which Atari announcement you
believe, is the Learning Phone. Originally called the Plato cartridge, this
under $50 program was going to open up the world of Control Data's Plato
educational network to Atari computerists. At the West Coast Computer Faire
in late March, Sam Tramiel announced that it would be out in April. Now,
Atari says real soon. Darn!
The Song Painter, Atari's "music construction program" for the 8-bit
computer line was also nowhere to be found. Another program that was not
shown was the Shopkeeper. This was to have been a small business
productivity tool that included a cash register simulator, expense report,
etc. Oh-my-gosh!
Finally, Crystal Castles and Mario Brothers, two games that were both
announced at the last Consumer Electronics Show in January, were not shown.
Zap!
On the hardware side of the coin, the 130ST has been officially declared
"cancelled" as has the 65XEP. The 130ST with only 128K of RAM was
considered to have inadequate memory and the 65XEP 8-bit portable was
thought to have no market. There will be little mourning for these
computers as the 130XE, 260STD and 520ST computers are all solid products
with a healthy future.
ST Software
With the introduction of the new Atari ST computers just around the corner,
a logical question to be asked by both experienced and novice users is what
kind of programs can I get for an ST computer? ANALOG Computing was
particularly interested in finding out which companies are committed to the
new Atari computers and what kinds of software will become available for
them.
The following companies have announced ST software. This is the first time
this information has been made available. The companies and the
descriptions of their products are presented in alphabetical order.
Batteries Included, publisher of such well-known products as B-Graph,
HomePak and Paper Clip, has announced a major commitment to the new ST
computes. Their first GEM-based product, called "IS" for Integrated
Software, will consist of a word processor with built-in spelling checker,
a combined spreadsheet and graphics package, a database manager and a stock
portfolio package. All of the programs will work together in an integrated
manner, says director of product development Michael Reichmann. The
portfolio package will be the first release and be available in the fall.
Datasoft has revealed that they do have an ST development system and are
planning to introduce ST software by the end of the year. Their most likely
first ST titles will be Bruce Lee and Goonies.
Electronic Arts is taking a wait and see attitude on the new Atari ST
computers. However, Trip Hawkins, president and founder of the company, has
said that they are coding their MacIntosh and Amiga programs in languages
such as PASCAL and C in order to more easily port them over to the ST
should they decide to enter the market. If they did produce an ST product,
it would most likely be a newer, more powerful version of Financial
Cookbook.
Epyx, although recently supporting the Atari 8-bit market with such
excellent titles as the Lucasfilm games, does not appear to be interested
in the ST computer. A representative said that they will wait and see how
the ST market develops and then decide what to do.
Haba Systems, a West Coast Software house that has previously developed an
marketed software for the MacIntosh, has announced that they will be
marketing a line of software for the ST computer. Included in this series
of packages will be a word processor, database program, spreadsheet and
communications program. They also said they would eventually port all of
their MacIntosh software to the Atari ST.
ICD, makers of SpartaDOS and the US Doubler Chip told me that they are
interested in the ST computer but have no current plans for specific
programs. They plan to closely watch the ST market develop and see what is
needed; then step in with a particular product tailored to the needs of
users. Tom Harker, president, made it very clear that they do not want to
abandon the Atari 8-bit line, especially the 130XE computer.
Infocom has announced that their entire line of 16 text adventure title
will become available for the Atari ST computer. No firm introduction dates
have yet been given.
Noah Falstein, product manager for one of the new Lucasfilm games being
published by Epyx, says that Lucasfilm has no plans for developing ST
software. Rather, they will wait and see how the market develops.
A representative for Mindscape told me that they too have no intention of
developing for the Atari ST computer at this time. They feel that the
Amiga/MacIntosh is a more viable market. However, they would jump on the
bandwagon if the ST becomes a success.
Scarborough is another company that is not currently doing any development
for the ST computer. They feel, as do several other companies, that the Mac
and Amiga markets are where the action is (or will be). And of course, if
the ST is a hit, they will join the rush to produce ST software.
Sierra On-Line has announced that they will market the popular submarine
simulation game, Gato, for the ST computer family. Gato, originally
introduced for the IBM computer, puts you in the captain's seat of a World
War II submarine. Your mission: find and destroy the enemy Japanese fleet.
I have spent many hours playing the PC version of the game and have
recently seen the MacIntosh version. The ST version should be excellent.
Spinnaker is planning on ST developing ST software. Says Seth Godin,
"...the [ST] machine is custom made for our interactive fiction games. It
has the sound, graphics and memory". He also sees the ST as a strong
product and is pleased with the cooperation he has received from Atari.
However, Synapse is taking a wait and see attitude regarding the ST
computers. According to president Brian Lee, they have not yet obtained an
ST development system and he is unsure of the demand for the machine. If
the machine takes, naturally he will jump in, adds Lee.
Next month Analog Magazine will complete our CES coverage by presenting
other hardware and software announcements made at the show.