Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbatt!cbosgd!ucbvax!NDSUVM1.BITNET!UD040164 From: UD040164@NDSUVM1.BITNET (a.d. jensen) Newsgroups: net.micro.atari16 Subject: Many questions... Message-ID: <8610031818.AA03032@ucbvax> Date: Fri, 3-Oct-86 13:00:00 EDT Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8610031818.AA03032 Posted: Fri Oct 3 13:00:00 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 4-Oct-86 12:30:14 EDT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 75 Hello... Well, I have had my ST for about 6 months now, and I have developed a few problems or questions, which follow. Much thanks in advance for the help... 1) I have heard (or think I did) a rumor that the CP/M emulator was put into the public domain, and was available from the Atari BBS. Any truth to this? As well, how compatable is compatable? Which video emulation is available? 2) I have also heard tell of a MS-DOS software based emulator which will be available shortly at around 100-150$. Any truth to this? I heard it flunks the Flight Simulator test, and is twice as slow as the IBM ( which is awfully slow to start with ). Can it run BASICA programs? 3) Finally, and most importantly, GEM under OSS Personal Pascal is completely useless to me, for everytime I run a program (one I have written, or the spelling checker recently posted), I get: Bus Error Accessing $4675636B Error in *unknown* at PC $00FECC08 Is this a problem with Personal Pascal or my ST (gulp)? I have no trouble running TOS P.P. programs, or GEM programs written with any- thing else, so I'm lost... I have a 520ST with rev B. TOS in ROM and 512K. I bought the P.P. with the revised manual (all the mistakes had been fixed.) I have tried in vain for a week or so to get through to OSS, but all I have managed to get is a busy signal and a sore finger. FLAME ON: I bought Personal Pascal for many reasons, but one was that I had heard that they offered "great" support. I don't know about that, but the support can be as great as you want, and if no one can get through because you don't have enough people to handle the masses, then we get screwed. I bought the system, I sent in my registration card, but I can't even get through on the 'Pay for it' line. Pretty aggravating... And I don't think providing a 'free' BBS is much of a solution, either. If I want that approach, I have to get a modem, and then pay for the privilege of long distance charges while I "sign up" and then keep calling back until I am answered. I can't ask questions without another phone call. I have the same gripe about some of the retailers. Living in the wilds of the far north, the nearest STore is 300 miles away, and I am forced to use mail-order. For P.P. I shopped around, and decided that Black Patch offered the best deal. However, in a couple days of trying, all I got was the busy signal. Finally I said "to hell with them" and called someplace else that was higher, but that I got through to on the first try. They continue to get my business. After all, if you are doing _that_ much business, it seems intelligent to add more staff and another phone line to increase your revenue. It doesn't seem, however, that this has occured to any of them at all. When I called 47th Street Photo to order my ST, I got through the first or second time, and was through with my transaction in minutes. I may be at university, but that doesn't mean my time isn't valuable. FLAME OFF. Sorry about the griping... a.d. jensen, Department of Geography University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND "Forty below keeps the riff-raff out." - (North Dakota state motto)