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From: SOCS18@vaxb.york.ac.UK (Vision Newspapers)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: STE documentation - why it was posted
Message-ID: <9002261405.AA03797@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 25 Feb 90 17:30:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 43

This article is primarily in reply to Allan Pratt's posting questioning the
reasoning behind my posting of the STE DMA sound information. Since Allan 
posted his complaint to the net, I'm going to post my reply similarly.

Allan, I realise that you're not "The Villan Of Atari US", and I would like to
give my reasons for the posting.

1) My STE documentation was obtained from Atari UK. However, I am not a 
developer - I just write for a computer magazine. I am also not the only UK 
computer journalist with a copy of the documentation. But what did Atari UK
think computer journalists were going to do with the it? Lock it away in a safe?

2) The amount of mail I received requesting that I posted the info to this
group clearly indicates that this information is _NOT_ of limited interest to
anyone. One of the biggest problems with writing software for the ST is the
lack of correct technical information available to non-developers (i.e. the guy
who is fairly serious about programming his ST, and wants the facts, but who
doesn't want everything else you get when you pay to be a registered developer)
I would imagine that my column in ST World would not run to six pages every 
issue if such information was available.

3) I agree that simply keying in Atari documentation and posting it is bad (and
also a breach of copyright). Although what was posted is fairly close to the 
original Atari text, it is not the same. The wording is mine.

4) Since the wording is mine, I will carry the can for any mistakes or
omissions.


As you might guess, I'm not convinced that posting programming information on
the STE is wrong. I still intend to post some information on display hardware
soon.

Regards,

Mathew Lodge
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