Publisher: Fido 1/1
Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson
Review Editor: Allen Miller
Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
Fidonews is published weekly by SEAboard, Fido 1/1. You are
encouraged to submit articles for publication in Fidonews.
Article submission standards are contained in the file
FIDONEWS.DOC, available from Fido 1/1.
Disclaimer or don't-blame-us:
The contents of the articles contained here are not our
responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them;
everything here is subject to debate. We publish EVERYTHING
received.
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL
The Two Faces of Users
2. NEWS
Rover, Rovermsg, Renum, and the UN*X Gateway
They've struck again
New Kaypro PC Announced
The PC's Space Program
3. COLUMNS
Why I Buy Mail Order
USRobotics Courier 2400 Baud Modem
Rainbow Corner
4. WANTED
Fido's Wanted- Earn Money!
5. NOTICES
Software Listings from BYTE Articles Available on Disk
The Interrupt Stack
There seem to be two general classes of BBS users out there.
One group is into long-distance BBSing, calling boards all
over the country. The discussions are generally (though not
always) technically oriented. Systems frequented tend to be
one or two established BBS packages, such as Fido or RBBS.
Users tend to share files a great deal, and the most popular
boards are those with a large selection of downloadable
files. Almost everyone has either an IBM-PC or a DEC
Rainbow, and anyone who doesn't have a 1200 baud modem is
trying hard to get one.
The other group tends to stick with local boards, rarely
making toll calls. Discussions range far and wide, covering
hacking, phreaking, fantasy and RPG, and "war boards".
Almost any sort of BBS system will do, and many seem to be
"home grown". Users have almost total disregard for files,
and many popular boards have no downloadable files at all.
People use a mixed bag of hardware, mostly Apples,
Commodores, and TRS-80s, and the 300 baud modem is the
universal standard.
One obvious difference is that the long distance crowd is
spending alot more money on this. They have more powerful
machines, faster modems, and heftier phone bills than the
local crowd does. Perhaps they are the "serious computer
users", while the local callers are the "recreational
computer users".
So which group are we in? I'd say most Fido sysops are in
the former group, and perhaps most users as well. Our own
board has several users in each group, though they all tend
to stay in separate subboards (Fido is handy that way).
We've come to expect that some of our most frequent callers
won't really understand the whole "message area" idea, and
why should they? After all, they spend their time calling
dozens of other boards, each of which works differently.
Most of our "general" callers understand how the board works
quite well, since they mainly talk to other Fido boards.
I guess I'd class myself in the long-distance crowd. I have
an IBM-XT, a 1200 baud modem, and my phone bill is delivered
with a forklift. I'm much more into shooting the breeze
with another techie than I am into fantasy games, and I
can't see why anybody would join in on a war board. I guess
I'm glad I've found a niche among fellow techies like
myself.
Rover, Rovermsg, Renum, and the UN*X Gateway
by
Bob Hartman
Sysop Fido 132/101
The UN*X Gateway
and Home of Rover
Ok, I have been receiving enough FidoNet mail to choke
a horse lately. This article is simply an update to keep
people (especially other sysops) up to date on what is
happening with my many ongoing projects. Let me start with
the stuff that people are most interested in - the UN*X
Gateway itself. The software seems to be working
flawlessly, and it has been in use now for a couple of
months. My Fido BBS can send mail destined for remote UNIX
systems, and accept mail from remote UNIX systems, and
forward it to the appropriate Fido nodes, I also receive
many of the USENET newsgroups, including net.micro.pc,
net.lang.c, net.games.hack, and a few more. Since I have
received many requests to repeat the information on how to
use the gateway, here it is:
To send from Fido to a UNIX host:
Send a FidoNet message to node 132/101 and make
the recipient be 'Usenet' instead of a person's
name. This keys my software that this is destined
for a UNIX system. The subject can be anything
that you want it to be, and it will be placed in
the outgoing message. Now comes the tricky part,
the first line of the message MUST be the UNIX
host path to take to get to the message
destination. If you don't know what I am talking
about, then don't use the gateway. A quick
example is to get to my UNIX address the first
line would be "vaxine!rch", to get to someone at
microsoft it might be "decvax!microsoft!someone".
Anyway, that is the general idea.
To send from UNIX to a Fido node:
Send a mail message addressed to:
vaxine!spark!net!node!user
where net is the FidoNet net number, node is the
FidoNet node number, and user is the user who is
supposed to receive the message. The user name
should have all blanks converted to underscore
characters. An example to get to me would be
vaxine!spark!132!101!Bob_Hartman. The messages
are sent as private FidoNet messages.
For sysops interested in receiving USENET newsgroups
messages:
Fidonews Page 3 9 Dec 1985
You must contact me and tell me which newsgroups
you would like to receive. I currently forward
net.micro.pc, and net.lang.c, but I am willing to
forward others if asked nicely. The only catch is
that you must be willing to poll my node to get
the messages. I simply ARC all of the messages
once a week (after deleting those that are more
than a week old), and send out the archive. When
you receive the file, simply delete all the old
messages from the message area, and un-ARC the new
ones. They are already in Fido message format, so
you have an instant message base!
So much for the UN*X Gateway. If you have any questions,
feel free to send me FidoNet mail and ask them.
As for Rover, that project seems to be on hold for a little
while. Rovermsg seems to be pretty complete (at least I
haven't received too many complaints lately), and I will
probably release another update to it in the near future.
The rest of Rover is on hold until I complete some of the
consulting projects that I have been working on, since the
consulting projects generate a lot more money (although
Rovermsg has generated some money - sysops are a lot better
about sending money for freeware than I thought!). Anyway,
to recap, Rovermsg is a standalone Fido message base reader.
It was designed to be used in place of Fido in /T mode.
Since I generally only read messages in /T mode, Rovermsg is
a total replacement. It also has some additional features
that make it much nicer to use. For example, you can use
your favorite word processor/editor to create messages, you
can also change messages that have already been saved, you
can exit to DOS temporarily, and some others that are too
numerous to mention. Anyway, if you want a copy, it can be
downloaded from my board, and probably countless others also
(at last count there were 100+ sysops using Rovermsg).
Finally, my standalone message base renumbering program
(RENUM) is at version 1.5. It can be used to do whatever
can be done with the Fido '8' command for renumbering
messages. It can kill old messages, and it can renumber
messages. The new version now properly handles messages
created by SEAdog (at least I think it does, how about it
Thom?).
Anyway, that is the status of the UN*X Gateway, and the
software that I have been responsible for creating. I hope
that this helped answer some questions.
The Associated Press reported today (10/17) that a ring of
juvenile computer hackers (their term) broke into a data
base containing financial records of Chase Manhattan Bank,
according to the FBI.
No arrests were made Wednesday, but the FBI spokesman said
more than 40 agents armed with 23 search warrants
confiscated computers, keyboards, modems and software from
the youths' homes Tuesday.
The investigation, which began in July, is continuing. An
affidavit filed in San Diego U.S. District Court says the
juveniles gained entry via their home computers to the
records of Interactive Data Corporation in Waltham, Mass.
The database is used by 25,000 subscribers.
The affidavit says some records were modified and/or
destroyed and on July 22 and 23 an unauthorized person
gained access to an account which could transfer funds.
There were 40 attempts to penetrate the system in August.
Four attempts were made on Aug. 14, all from computers in
San Diego County. Attempts to break into the system were
observed as recently as Oct. 9, according to the affidavit.
The AP also reported that Ronald Mark Austin, 21, was
sentenced in Los Angeles Wednesday to three years probation
plus being ordered to serve 600 hours of community service
"not to involve computers in any shape."
Austin, a former UCLA student, was convicted of 12 felony
counts of malicious accessing of a computer system in June.
Austin reportedly taught himself to use a $200 home computer
when he couldn't get into an overbooked computer course. He
said he didn't know he was breaking the law.
Prosecutors said he broker into more than 200 computer
accounts through ARPANET. Among them were the Defense
Dept., the Rand Corp. and UCLA.
The KAYPRO PC combines features and value to meet and
exceed "IBM compatibility." As a complete desktop business
associate, it commands a place above the others.
Envision an accurate picture of the KAYPRO PC. First,
clear your memory of the angular grey machine that is so
characteristically Kaypro. Next, paint a beige beauty with
eggshell trim, whose profile closely resembles that of the
KAYPRO 286i. Finally, visualize an external 12-inch
diagonal monitor displaying no-nonsense output in eye-
soothing green. Handsome, no.
Strong Internal Control
Looks can only take you so far in the computing world;
intelligence is the real key to success. Although the
KAYPRO PC breaks tradition with its striking countenance, it
still maintains the Kaypro hallmark of superior computer
intellect.
Analytical power is provided by an 8088 cpu, operating
at a timely 4.77 MHz. An extra socket accepts an 8087 math
co-processor, providing more calculating users with an easy
upgrade for their number-crunching pleasure. The 8087
option permits business and research operations to be
executed by a single computer.
The KAYPRO PC's short-term memory begins with a
standard 256K RAM, expandable to 640K by plugging 256K DRAM
chips into the multifunction board. Accessing the board
requires hood removal via a simple four-screw procedure.
Long-term memory? The KAYPRO PC has total recall from
two double-sided, double-density disk drives totalling 768K
storage. While we're on the subject of memory, 1986 will
introduce a mega-memory version of the KAYPRO PC, the KAYPRO
PC-10, with one 360K diskette drive and a 10 megabyte hard
disk.
The best administrators exchange information with
external sources. The KAYPRO PC is no exception. A serial
and a parallel port are compatible with all peripherals
produced for the giant IBM after-market. The KAYPRO PC can
make all the right connections for successful import/export
of data.
The KAYPRO PC becomes a more versatile personality by
utilizing its nine expansion slots. Three slots contain a
multivideo card (capable of monochrome, color graphics, or
composite video display output), multifunction card, and a
CPU card. The remaining six slots can accommodate luxuries
like a networking card, digital to analog converter,
internal modem, and more.
Even with numerous hardware additions, the KAYPRO PC
Fidonews Page 6 9 Dec 1985
won't get caught with its power down. The 132 watt power
supply can be jumpered to operate on 110 or 240 volts (60/50
cycles).
Human Relations Expert
IBM compatibility is terrific, but what about user
compatibility? Can the KAYPRO PC relate?
In addition to displaying a professional character, the
KAYPRO PC also has the common touch. Dance your digits
across our IBM PC AT-style keyboard with easy to reach
RETURN, SHIFT, and CTRL keys. Forget the other guys with
IBM PC XT-design keyboards; why stifle typing speed while
promoting premature arthritis
It is clearly seen that the 12" diagonal monitor won't
advance CRT-induced myopia. The crisp character set is
brilliantly displayed in shades of monochrome green. Sit
back, relax, and stop squinting; the KAYPRO PC is a visual
communications expert.
The KAYPRO PC is not abuser friendly. A keyswitch has
been included to lock out all unauthorized keyboard input.
Take your byte out of computer crime and rest assured of
tamper-proof files.
Programmed for Performance
Complementing its impressive list of attributes, the
KAYPRO PC has proven programs for immediate business
success.
Disciplined under MS-DOS, the KAYPRO PC includes GW-
BASIC as its programming language. BASIC is probably the
most widely used and easiest to learn of all programming
languages. Furthermore, if you already use a library of
programs written in BASIC-A (IBM's verion), GW-BASIC is
BASIC-A compatible.
Plan to cut costs for all typing assignments with
WordStar, a professional word processing program. This all-
purpose industrial-strength program can manipulate
everything from memos to manuscipts. Teamed with MailMerge
(a terrific file merging program), it can generate hundreds
of form letters from a mailing database. Time consuming?
Not really. Remember, the KAYPRO PC is willing to work
nights so you don't have to.
Not implying that there will be operator errors, but
the KAYPRO PC and company can act as dutiful copy editors.
CorrectStar checks for spelling errors, while StarIndex
creates reference material such as indexes, tables of
contents, and lists of illustrations, etc. These gems take
the drudgery out of word processing.
Fidonews Page 7 9 Dec 1985
The KAYPRO PC software entourage also includes MITE, an
expert telecommunications translator. Programmable auto-
dial, protocol, file transfer, modem type, and numerous
other options make unlimited electronic correspondence a
snap. There may not be a more sophisticated
telcommunications program on the market today.
And last, the KAYPRO PC acts as your personal assistant
through PolyWindows K-Desk. This memory-resident program
provides instant access to a document editor, file card
library, calendar, appointment book, calculator, telephone
list with dialer, puzzle, key redefinition, and alternate
file access. The only thing it can't do is make coffee.
If you need a professional business associate and
consultant, then bring the new KAYPRO PC on board. For only
$1595, it's a small price to pay for success.
I've often wanted just a bit more room on a start-up
floppy disk to store more of my favorite programs. Before I
installed my hard disk, I attempted to transfer the
utilities that I used most frequently to my start-up disk.
Invariably, I'd need a tad more room. By not placing the
desired utilities on that basic disk, I wasted time swapping
disks when I needed a stray utility program.
This cumbersome process is no longer necessary.
Spacemaker, from Realia, lets you compress the .COM and .EXE
files of your favorite programs to conserve space on the
disk. After the files are compressed, you can run the
programs as you normally would.
Spacemaker is designed not for novices but for active PC
users who have more floppies - and less free space - than
they'd like. Programming expertise can help you make the
most of the utility but it is not essential. The program
works on just about any .COM or .EXE file that can be
executed from the DOS prompt. Application programs, of
course, require at least one of the two files to function.
Spacemaker can also convert .EXE files to .COM files if
the compressed version takes up less than 64K. The
advantage of doing so is that loading and directory searches
are generally faster for .COM files than for .EXE files. To
make the conversion from .EXE to .COM files, you use
Spacemaker as you would the DOS utility EXE2BIN (which
performs a function similar to Spacemaker's but, unlike
Spacemaker, alters the file's logical format.).COM files are
understood by the computer at its most basic level and thus
differ from files written in source code, which is far more
accessible. The computer always loads .COM files into a
specific location in memory..EXE files, which can be loaded
anywhere in RAM depending on how much memory is used, are
capable of supporting bigger programs. Functionally the two
are the same; the difference is in how DOS handles them.
Other file compression programs are on the market, but
none allows you to leave the program compressed and still
use it; most file compression programs require that you
reconstitute the program before running it. HOW THE PROGRAM
WORKS: Spacemaker reads your .COM and .EXE files, then
produces fresh .COM or .EXE files that retain the original
files' information. The program compresses binary zeros as
ti reformats the file. The result is a smaller file that is
equivalent in every way to the original program file except
that superfluous disk space has been eliminated.
The Spacemaker process actually adds code to the
beginning of a program file. This code is called the
"loader." It reconstructs the program file in memory to its
precompression form. This loader routine uses little space
and is hardly noticeable when the program is running. The
Fidonews Page 9 9 Dec 1985
routine is designed to work when the program is loaded under
DOS (via COMMAND.COM). This means that virtually any
program you initiate from the DOS command prompt is a
candidate for compression.
You start Spacemaker by providing the program with file
specifications, such as the names of the input and output
files. If anything is missing the program will ask you for
the necessary information. To compress a program, you
simply give the command SPACEMKR INFILE OUTFILE, with INFILE
representing the name of the input file and OUTFILE
representing the name of the output file.
You must use a different name for the output file than
you've used for the input file. Spacemaker does not alter
the input file in any way. Under the program's default
settings, .EXE files are input and .COM files are output.
SPACE TO SPARE: The program's results are noteworthy. When
I ran Spacemaker with the PC-DOS LINK.EXE program, I
recorded a 22 percent savings in disk space - about 10K -
upon completion of compression. The program file now
requires less disk space than it formerly did, and being
smaller, it also loads faster than before compression. I've
used the compressed LINK program for four months without a
hitch.
Although Spacemaker is best suited to help you get the
most from floppies, it also enables hard disk users to store
more files and reduce program load time. My hard disk, for
instance, contains roughly 700 files. Using Spacemaker, I
compressed 17 .COM files and 25 .EXE files. The .COM files
used an average of 8 percent less space following
compression; savings for the .EXE files averaged 15 percent.
Crunching these 42 files freed up slightly more than 500K.
Ironically, some files grew slightly after compression.
My bulletin board programs, written in Compiled BASIC were
larger following compression. If the program code doesn't
contain many groups of binary zeros, there won't be much to
compress. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell in advance
whether a file will benefit from the compression process.
Other Compiled BASIC programs have realized significant
space savings from Spacemaker's efforts.
TO COMPRESS OR NOT TO COMPRESS: As these examples suggest,
Spacemaker is easy to use and the results can be impressive.
The only difficulty is in determining what you can and
cannot compress.
A few programs that start from the DOS prompt - including
the word processing program MultiMate - did not run after
compression. And compression will prevent some .COM files
from running, including 1-2-3 utilities like FILEMGR.COM.
But of the hundreds of programs that I compressed, only ten
or so failed to run properly after compression by
Spacemaker.
Fidonews Page 10 9 Dec 1985
Discussions with the utility's author revealed that a
problem could occur if a program's developers use a linker
program other than the standard DOS LINK. The rule is, if a
.COM or .EXE file is loaded by a program other than DOS, you
should not attempt to compress it. If you do, you'll lock
up your system, lose any new data, and need to reboot.
The documentation for Spacemaker includes sufficiently
detailed explanations of what the program does and how it
works. The manual is concise and particularly insightful
for the technically inclined.
I found it interesting that the files that Spacemaker
compresses are hard to debug. Conceivably, software
developers could use the program as a copy-protection
technique that avoids unconventional disk formats yet
"hides" code from those who know how to use DOS's DEBUG
feature to disassemble programs.
Overall, I found Spacemaker to be an effective means of
getting more from less. Active PC users can, with minimal
effort, save both space and time.
Spacemaker
Realia, Inc.
10 S.Riverside Plaza
Chicago, IL 60606
312-346-0642
Retail price: $75.00
Note: there are at least three switches /O /N and /S
/O is for converting files complied under DOS 1.0 or 1.1
/N is for converting files compiled under DOS 2.x or 3.x
/S functions are unknown
Imagine that you are about to buy a new car. One
dealer will sell you the car you want for $10,000 and will
throw in a free driver education course. Another dealer will
sell you the same car for $7,000, but leaves it up to you to
learn how to drive it. Which dealer would you buy from?
Of course, if you already know how to drive, as most
car buyers do, the answer is easy. In the early 1900s, when
the automobile was as new as personal computers are today,
the decision might not have been so easy. You might have
been willing to pay extra for someone to spend time with
you, showing you how to run the car.
Today, with personal computers still not as simple
to use as they will be someday, you may find it worthwhile
to pay full retail price in order to get advice and support
from a computer dealer. But you should know that when you
pay full retail price, you are buying two things -- the
product, and support for the product. If you need only the
product, and can support yourself, mail-order can save you a
lot of money.
I have been working with computers for 12 years, so
I already knew something about them when I bought my system
four years ago. By buying mail-order, I saved enough money
to buy a disk drive. Since then I have bought other hardware
and software, nearly all by mail-order, and have been well-
satisfied. That doesn't mean I haven't had problems. But the
minor ones I solved myself, and the few major ones I solved
the same way a dealer would -- calling the vendor.
Price is not the only reason I buy mail-order. No
computer store this side of Silicon Valley can offer you the
range of hardware and software available to you by mail.
While you might not be surprised if the local dealer doesn't
stock the LISP interpreter you want, you may have just as
much trouble finding more common products, because some have
minimum-order requirements that are too steep for your local
dealer.
That's understandable. But often, the reason you
can't find what you want at the dealer's is that he hasn't
kept up with what's available, or that he gets a better
markup on other products. If you keep up with the products
yourself, and find that dealers can't answer your questions
anyway, you may as well save money and buy mail-order.
This may sound like a slam at dealers, but it isn't.
True, many dealers could do a better job of keeping up and
Fidonews Page 12 9 Dec 1985
of supporting customers. But you don't necessarily expect
your grocer to know about gourmet foods, and it makes sense
for a computer dealer to concentrate on selling Lotus 1-2-3
or Appleworks, where he can make money, instead of learning
how to answer your questions about assembly language.
On the other hand, you can't have it both ways. If
you buy mail-order, don't expect a retail dealer to bail you
out of a bad purchase unless you plan to buy something from
him. Send your friends to dealers unless you plan to
support them, or unless they can support themselves.
Mail-order is not without its risks, but the way to
minimize them is to do your homework. Read magazine reviews,
talk to other users, and find out who the reliable vendors
and mail-order dealers are. Whenever possible, pay by credit
card; you have much better legal protection against fraud
then if you pay by cash or check.
I hope I've made it clear that mail-order isn't for
everyone. The discounts are good, but they are essentially a
reward to you for doing your own research, your own training
and your own installation. If you enjoy doing that anyway,
mail-order may be the ticket for you.
(c) copyright 1985 Fred Povey. All rights reserved.
Permission to reprint in non-profit user group publications
granted.
I run a Fido electronic bulletin board at (513)-
579-2587 and would like to take this opportunity to record
some of my impressions of the USRobotics Courier 2400 baud
modem. Let me qualify my comments as those of someone that
uses modems a lot but is not up on the technical or
engineering side of the little boxes. I had previously used
Hayes 1200 Smartmodems and Hayes 2400 Smartmodems. While I
always liked the widespread acceptance and compatibility of
the Hayes 1200, I finally chose to try the Courier after
many compatibility difficulties experienced with the Hayes
2400. Currently, the Courier list price is $200 lower than
the Hayes price.
The Courier is noteworthy upon first removing it from
the box. It has a plastic case that is a little cheaper
looking than the aluminum type case of the Hayes. If you
turn it upside down and look at the bottom you will only
find everything you ever wanted to know about your modem.
There is a small window exposing the DIP switches making
them easy to access and change. Adjacent to the window is
complete notations on the function of each switch. Also on
the bottom of the modem is complete notation on the entire
set of AT modem commands, special dialing commands and the
Sn storage registers. There is a slide type variable volume
control near the front of the modem that takes the volume
from 100% down to 0%.
If all that information on the bottom of the case were
not enough, there are HELP commands that can be entered from
the keyboard of your terminal program (like AT$) that will
give you all that reference information on your screen.
Just imagine that.
Operationally, the Courier modem functions at 2400,
1200 and 300 bauds without any of the non-intuitive tricks
need to, say, initialize the Hayes 2400 nonvolatile memory
to autoanswer a Fido system at 2400. Since installing the
Couriers on my Fido system, I have had several users leave
messages saying that they had not been able to sign on my
system before and all of a sudden they were able to sign on.
The folks at Hardcopy are real nice to me, but they do
insist that occasionally I let some of the other writers
have some editorial space. This translates into Rainbow
Corner having a finite length (usually about 900 words)
rather than the verbose meanderings that I am truly capable
of. Now that the Rainbow Corner Fido is actually in
existence, it struck me that I have the opportunity to
exercise these uncontrollable urges to run off at the word
processor. Welcome to the first of my Rainbow Corner
Ramblings. This will be an irregular feature here at the
fido, and will be completely unpublicized. The only people
who will get to read this trash, are those who are
adventurous enough to call and explore. Future "Ramblings"
depend entirely on 1> the response to this one (leave a
message to the sysop) 2> whether or not I have something to
say and 3> the phase of the moon.
This first "column" concerns DEC's immanent announcement of
the PC500. This machine, describe in a text file elsewhere
on the board, is DEC's IBM-AT compatible. It sure sounds
great to me, but considering the drubbing DEC got the last
time around in the retail market, I can't help but wonder
how they are going to sell it? Maybe telemarketing? DEC
Direct? After all, DEC has closed most of their "Business
Centers".
Actually, secret documents, obtained at great personal
expense and cost, show that Digital has come up with a plan
unique in the industry. If you REALLY want a PC500 bad
enough, DEC may let you adopt one! The way this works, is
that you make an application to DEC, spelling out your
qualifications to be a "PC Parent". This application,
together with a processing fee of about seven thousand
dollars, goes to "Adoption Central". If DEC's initial
processing doesn't disqualify you, they send a "special
investigator" out to your office or home (i.e.- the "PC
Domicile") to verify that it is a proper place to bring up
your PC500. It must be clean, well lit, comfortable
temperature, and not have excessive static. Furthermore,
you must be sufficiently financially responsible to insure
that "PEECEE" gets fed only the best in diskettes (i.e.- DEC
Brand). If you can't provide your new arrival with a room
of its own, don't bother to apply.
Of course, not everyone will be able to meet the stringent
requirements DEC will establish to permit adoption of a
PC500. But there is at least one consolation. If, after
six or seven months, Digital can't make up their minds about
you, or turns you down, they WILL send you a Cabbage Patch
Kid.
That's it for this time around, see you on the phone line.
Fidonews Page 15 9 Dec 1985
(c)opyright 1985 by Ted Needleman-all rights reserved
My company, Micro Information Services, needs Fido's from
across the U.S. to receive our customer's e-mail, print it
and mail it via U.S. Mail. We anticipate moderate mail
volume, depending upon the region.
NO COST TO YOU: All envelopes, paper, and postage will be
provided in advance.
PROFITS: You will be paid for your services.
IF INTERESTED: Direct inquiries via e-mail to Steve Nyman
on Fido 107/22. Thanks.
------------------------------------------------------------
Software Listings from BYTE Articles Available on Disk
Starting December 9, 1985, program listings associated with
articles in BYTE magazine will be available in a wide
variety of disk formats. The listings are text files of
source code and available for noncommercial purposes only.
Listings from BYTE have been available for over a year now
on the magazine's BYTEnet listings electronic bulletin board
service and the magazine's readers have called the service
an estimted 50,000 times since the service began in October
of 1984. That service will remain in operation at (617)
861-9764 is accessible 24 hours per day at 300 or 1200 baud.
Through an agreement with Control Data's Media Duplicaion
Services subsidiary, BYTE readers can now obtain those same
listings on disk. Cost will be $5 for most 5 1/4 inch
floppies and $6 for micro floppies, high-density 5 1/4 and
single-density 8 inch CP/M disks. Prices include postage
shipping and handling in North America. Add $1 for orders
to Europe and South America and $2 to Asia, Africa and
Australia.
BYTE says that while it cannot guarantee availability of all
formats, it will endeavor to meet as many requests as it
can. More details on the new service are found in BYTE's
December, 1985 issue editorial. Order forms are found on
Page 60 of the same issue.
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Questions or more information, contact: Doug Webster
Director of Public Relations, BYTE, 70 Main Street,
Peterborough, NH 03458 (607) 924-9027.
