Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken!aunro!alberta!ubc-cs!rick.cs.ubc.ca!b3300876 From: b3300876@rick.cs.ubc.ca (george chow) Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds Subject: A bunch of Portfolio notes... Keywords: AtariUser, Portfolio Message-ID: <1991Jun20.001203.24928@rick.cs.ubc.ca> Date: 20 Jun 91 00:12:03 GMT Sender: news@rick.cs.ubc.ca (Usenet News) Followup-To: comp.sys.handhelds Organization: Rick Lab, CPSC, UBC, Vancouver, B.C., Canada Lines: 93 There was an AtariFest just over the weekend and I picked up a copy of AtariUser. There was a column for the Portfolio and I thought that some of you may be interested in some of the stuff there. Here it is reproduced without permission: ;) PORTFOLIO ALERT Atari has release the APB (Accessories, Peripherals Bulletin) for the Portfolio. This twenty page mini-manual/magazine includes hints and tips, as well as listing third party vendor's hardware and software for the Portfolio. For a copy, see your dealer, or write to Atari, 1196 Borregas Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1302. Megabyte Computers in Texas will now upgrade the Portfolio to 512K of internal memory. The modification must be done at their site and includes a six month warranty on the Portfolio. The cost is $350, or new Portfolio units with the upgrade already installed are available for sale. For more information call, (817)589-2950. The Portfolio Chronicles Bigger Isn't Everything In a interview done in Germany by PD Journal, Alwin Stumph indicated that Atari is not as interested in expanding the Portfolio as it had been. The Managing Director of Atari Germany and President of Atari Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Alwin says that Atari is planning to enter the notebook computer arena by producing a notbook version of the Atari ST, called the ST-BOOK. The price spread betwen a built-up Portfolio and a base ST-BOOK would be too small. What does this mean for Portfolio users? Perhaps we shouldn't expect a Portfolio II soon, despite rumors that it is already in production. But Atari and a number of other vendors are continuing to support the Portfolio. On the horizon, Atari is planning to release the Power BASIC compiler, and Hyperlist, an outliner. XoteriX (81 8-888-7390) is developing a 512K RAM expansion unit, as well as a 20 Megabyte Hard Disk unit. Word Perfect is looking into developing a version of its popular word processor for the Portfolio as they have for the competing POQUET. TIP: WordPerfect Jr., designed for the IBM PC Jr., will work on the Portfoliio. You can create and edit files up to about 20K. WordPerfect no longer sells the Jr. version, but it can often be found at computer swap meets. The Portfolio contains 256K of application code, burned into unchangeable ROM chips. That is quite a large piece of sofware, and unfortunately, it does have a few bugs. There's no easy way to upgrade the ROM chip-you'd have to replace the entire machine. So, Atari has released an UPDATE program to fix these buts. This fix, in conjunction with a few hints and tips, should keep your Portfolio up and running. The UPDATE program is available from several sources. You can get the program from Atari on the DOS Utility Card (HPC-701, $89.85) or on the File Manager/Tutorial Card (HPC-704, $20.00). You can also download the program from the Portfolio area on both GENIE and COMPUSERVE. It can also be found on Atari's own bulletin board (408-745-2191), but new users will have to wait two business days for validation after their first call. Once you have the program, place the UPDATE command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file (use the Text Processor) so that it is activated when you reboot your machine. TIP: When the system crashes, you'll typically lose the contents of drive C:. The best approach is to set drive C: to 8K with the FDISK command so as to give maximum RAM to the computer, and keep all your files on a RAM card. The best defense against losing your data is to make backups. Using the File Transfer program, FT, and the parallel port, you can copy all your files to a PC. If you're using a serial port for file transfers, be sure to keep an extra copy (or two) of the serial transfer program you use on your memory cards. Here are the batch files that I use to copy the contents of Drive C: to a memory card. You can make them with the Text Processor, and name them with the .BAT extender for easy use from DOS-just type the filename as a command, and the batch is run. RESTORE.BAT copy a:\system\*.* c:\system copy a:\root\*.* c:\ BACKUP.BAT md a:\system md a:\root copy c:\system\*.* a:\system copy c:\*.* a:\root TIP: If you try to load a zero length file into one of the built-in applications, the Port will lock up. This can be automatic and frustrating if the zero file is the default load file for the application. Reboot the machine, delete the zero length file from DOS, and you should be ready to go. Because of the unique design of the Portfolio, not all program designed for a PC will run it. The most common reason is that a program directly address the computer's hardware, which is different in the Portfolio than in a typical PC. To make the Portfolio as compatible as possible with a PC, access the SETUP menu and under DISPLAY set EXTERNAL MODE to TRACKED, REFRESH to BOTH, and SPEED to FAST. Note however, that the FAST setting will use up your batteries quicker. These settings will help, but not always. Some programs will still lock up the machine. When the Portfolio locks up, there are three ways to reboot the machine. First try the "first finger salute", . If this has no effect, turn the machine upside down, and above the Atari label, there is a hole. Use a paper clip to depress the switch in the hole. If the Portfolio still refuses to reboot, you will have to cold boot the machine. Remove the battery cover. Use a paper clip to depress the small metal tab. The cold reboot will take your Portfolio back to when you first got it. You will even have to tell it what language you want to use. Everything on drive C: will be lost. But that's no big deal since you ARE doing backups now, right? - B.J. Gleason