"The Atari A to Z"
                              by Mark S Baines
                      Copyright (c) 1998 Mark S Baines
                             All Rights Reserved


Preface


Jargon, terminology and acronyms are the staple diet of any professional, 
technologist and hobbyist. The world of computing is no exception and to the 
uninitiated home or small business user, magazines, manuals and books can be 
very daunting. Written by someone who understands these frustrations and 
needs, "The Atari A to Z" isn't just a convenient encyclopaedia of modern 
computer terminology but a specific reference source of material pertaining to 
Atari computers for the ST, TT and Falcon enthusiast.

Whether you play games on an ST, run your business on a TT, or write music on 
a Falcon, this book is aimed at helping you get to grips with those magazine 
articles that are more perplexing than enlightening. In here, you will find 
many explanations, mini-articles and a plethora of other miscellaneous bits 
and pieces to help you gain a better understanding of your Atari computer. The 
material in this book was written with all Atari users in mind. There are 
simple definitions for the uninitiated and technical data for the experienced. 
You take what you want, when you want it. "The Atari A to Z" is a valuable 
addition to any Atari user's library.

Mark S Baines is a highly experienced computer user having bought his first 
computer in 1982, been on the communications networks since 1983 and the 
Internet since 1993. Holding Bachelor and Masters degrees in Biology and 
Educational Psychology, Mark was once a secondary school teacher of Biology, 
Computer Studies and Information Technology, a network manager and school 
administrator. He left the profession to move to his beloved Highlands to 
pursue a more benign lifestyle. Mark has written many freeware and shareware 
programs including the standard system analyser for all Ataris PROFILE 2. As a 
journalist he has had regular columns and written hundreds of articles in 
various magazines for many years, including ST Applications, ST Review, Atari 
World and Atari Computing. He is also well known in the UK Atari community for 
his on-line contributions.