Wednesday Night Real Time Conference

                            November 10, 1993

                            Host - Mike Allen

            Guest Speakers - David Troy (Toad Computers)
                           - Charles Smeton (STraight FAX!)


<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> On behalf of the Atari ST Roundtable, I welcome all
of you to this Toad Computers/STraight FAX! Round Table Conference.
Tonight I would like to welcome David Troy of Toad Computers and Charles
Smeton, author of STraight FAX!

     Don't forget the you may win a FREE copy of
     STraight FAX! 2.0 which will be given as a RTC
     PRIZE!!! The skill testing question will be much
     later in the night. You will need to answer a real
     tough skill testing question!! Remember everything
     [grin]!!!


Welcome David and Charles, do you have a few words to begin this evening
RTC? GA

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Again I am really happy to be here... We will
discuss the Toad Computers Holiday Festival on Dec 4 & 5 as well as
STraight FAX 2.1! Yes 2.1!

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Hello and welcome to the Toad Computers Holiday
Festival/STraight FAX! 2 RTC Dave Troy will answer your questions about
the Holiday Fest and I will do my best with STraight FAX! 2 questions We
are announcing STraight FAX! 2.1 tonight!!!!!!!!!!! Version 2.1 has
several new features, the main one is the ability to run as a desk
accessory.  Version 2.1 will be available at the Toad Computers Holiday
Fest...  ga

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> I think we've garbled this enough already, so
why don't we get started! :) ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Charles, Dave - you guys done? ga

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> I think so...

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Yes

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> <I should have know better than to let them both talk
at once. hehe> Charles, can you tell us what is new in 2.1? ga

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Version 2.1 will run as a desk accessory, so you
can have STraight FAX! ready to send or receive without a multitasking
operating system installed.  Also, the Installation program has been
enhanced to copy all the files to the hard disk to a user specified path.
Continuing... 2.1 also adds a driver for That's Write 3 from Compo and
has a number of minor user interface enhancements ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Sounds good.  The first question is from Daryl.  ga

<[Daryl] D.MONGE> What is the best approach to having a single phone line
shared between a FAX modem and a standard telephone answering machine? 
Is there anything special in software to handle that situation?  GA

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Daryl, there are 2 choices at this time. One is to
get an external FAX Manager device that sits between the phone line and
your voice phone and FAX Modem/Machine.  These devices run about 75 to
150 dollars and are transparent to the FAX software.  The other solution
is a Supra FAX Modem with their Silent Answer feature. This is a Supra
only feature available on the V.32, V.32bis and 144LC models.  STraight
FAX! supports Silent Answer and with it an answering machine and the FAX
Modem will automatically handle the proper type of incoming call. GA

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Sorry about that disconnet. My dog unplugged my
modem.  :)

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> follow up, Daryl? ga

<[Daryl] D.MONGE> Cool.  Thanks.  That is it until I think of another
question.  GA

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Charles - are either of these devices dog-proof? ga
<g>

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Not at this time... GA

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Nothing is Dog Proof.

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Next is R.schilling.  ga

<R.SCHILLING> What is the differnce between class1 & 2 fax modem?

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> I could write several papers on this subject ;-)

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> He could... he really could... :)

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Basically Class 1 is a 1990 EIA approved standard.
Its a low level interface between the computer and the FAX Modem. The
Class 2 modems in use today are based on the first draft of the Class 2
spec. The Class 2 spec was later approved, but is very different. As such
the official Class 2 is now called Class 2.0, Dave Troy wrote an
excellent modem tester utility that is in the ST RT file library that
will send commands to the modem and determine the exact capabilities. 
Class 1 vs. Class 2, in an ideal world... one sec,.

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> (I think Charles' pizza just showed up.)

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> (I want pepperoni)

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> (ask him to share ...)

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Sorry the pizza guy just arrived....... You can
edit this out of the transcript.

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> I told you guys...

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Any way...

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> (Pizza stays in the transcript!)

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Ideally there is no difference to the user and it
should appear that way to the user.  However, there are problems in some
firmware versions that make one class work better than another with some
FAX machines.  STraight FAX! 2.1 will now support using one Class for
sending and a different Class for receiving if the modem supports both. 
ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Any follow-up R.schilling? ga

<R.SCHILLING> What is the price of 2.1?  And thanks for supporting Atari
computers!!  BTW can class 1 send to class 2 and vice versa? ga

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> 2.1 costs $89.95 As class 1 and class 2 are just
ways of talking to the modem there is no problem with compatibility
between Class 1 and class 2 modems.  They both use Group III FAX
encoding, which is what really matters. And it's what all FAX machines
use now. ga

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Class 1 and Class 2 are totally transparent to the
other end's FAX machine.  The upgrade price is $25 from version 1.0x.  ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Thanks - this is a stereo RTC! <g>  Next is D.A.K. 
ga

<[d.a.k.] D.KAUFMAN> Hi, Charles, haven't seen you since A'fest '91.  I
know it's hard in Atariworld, but comparably priced dos products have
built-in OCR to convert faxes to editable text.  Is that a future
consideration?  Hi, Dave! ga.

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Oops - dog got Dave again!

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> The economy of scale of the market makes it
virtually impossible to bundle an OCR program with our software. The only
OCR program that we are aware of costs almost 3 time what STraight FAX!
does. ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Any more, d.a.k.? ga

<[d.a.k.] D.KAUFMAN> Boca fax-modems go for around $150 here in NYC so I
may be getting into it anyway ga

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Get Dave Troy's modem test utility to make sure
that the modem is compatible. ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Next is Falconer.  ga

<FALCONER> Hi, Dave and Charles!!  Thanks for being with us tonite!!
Daryl answered a part of my question(s) for tonite.  I am here for my
hubby, who is out of state tonite, and has been.  I got him a Supra for
his birthday recently, a 14400 LC Supra, I see it here by his desk still
wrapped.  He's been gone a while, Anyway.......I am here to learn about
FAX programs for him, and this one seems to be the one with the best
going for it!!  A question from me for him, now:  how does this work for
this modem??  I use one at my office, and we feed in the document for
faxing.  here, he can't do that.  Is it by scanning in, or how?? And how
can he see faxes he receives??  here I get him a new toy for his machine,
and I know not how it works!!  He knows all this stuff.....oh yes, and
skunks and prcupines are Dog Proof !!!  :)  GA

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> I like it... ga

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> There are several ways to create FAXable output
(if thats actually a word).  A FAX file is actually just another type of
monochrome graphic format, but in a special resolution that is the right
size. STraight FAX! supports importing Image, DEGAS, PCX, GEM, ASCII
Text, 1st Word/1st Word Plus and Word Writer ST directly. It also comes
with several printer drivers for applications such as Calamus,
Pagestream, That's Write, Speedo GDOS (i.e.  Atari Works) that "print to
disk" pages of a document as a series of FAX files, which are ready to
send out. In addition STraight FAX! works with Scan Lite (DA) and will
merge scans automacticlly when a Tray is used. We also have an optional
driver for the Canon/Navarone scanner. 

Basically the program creates FAXable output without any paper involved,
unless you want to use a scanner.  When a FAX is received, STraight FAX!
will let you view the pages, cut/paste them to/from the clipboard, print
them via GDOS or export them to the following formats: Image, PCS,
Encapsulated PostScript and as of version 2.1 Windows BMP, OS/2 BMP and 6
varieties of TIFF.  ga

<FALCONER> How does this all function under Gribnif's Geneva?? GA

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Very well at this time. There are a few things in
Geneva (user interface with AES objects) that cause things to look a bit
differently, but 2.1 checks for Geneva and we are working very closely
with Gribnif to resolve problems before the 2.1 release comes out.  ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Charles - so I can create a document using Atari
Works, print it to disk using the STraight FAX! Speedo driver and then
fax it out.  A received FAX I can view directly or print from STraight
FAX.  Can I import a STraight FAX! received document into Atari Works? ga

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Yes, I was just showing this to a STraight FAX!
customer tonight at the Toad Computers store.  With 2.1, STraight FAX!
can be in memory as a Desk Acc (memory permitting) and you can FAX the
generated document without leaving Atari Works.  The Received FAX can be
converted into Image files, which AW will import, but unless there is
graphics or clipart in the FAX, it would be just as easy to print it in
STraight FAX!, since both use GDOS for printing.  ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Ok, thanks!  Sounds neat - now if I only had a reason
for fax!

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> you might win???

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> grumble grumble -- of course you have a need for
fax!! :) ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Daryl has been waiting for another question. ga

<[Daryl] D.MONGE> Would you characterize the performance of background
FAX (DA or Geneva or MultiTOS) on various machines and how it affects
foreground use of the machine?  I am especially interested in 14400 both
send and automatic receive.  GA

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> STraight FAX! does not actually send or receive in
the background (yet).  We are working on this now. At this time, the
program takes over only during the actual send or receive operation.  It
will also be necessary to have an accelerated machine if you want to have
the FAX run in the background. This is one area where Class 1 may not
work as well as Class 2, since the low level timing in Class 1 is very
dependent on the host computer response time. In a multitasking OS this
can be difficult to control. This is why Class 1 is not popular on UNIX
systems. With a TT030 or a Falcon, this should not be a problem.  ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Charles - is a Mega STe fast enough? ga

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> A Mega STe may be fast enough, we will be testing
this with one. By using interrupts, we may be able to isolate the FAX
transfer from the foreground process.  BTW, we will have live demos of
STraight FAX! at the Toad Computers Holiday Fest and registered 2.0
owners can bring their disks to get an upgrade for free.  ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Thanks Charles.  next is M.Weselowski.  ga

<[MERV] M.WESELOWSK1> Two questions: Charles, I like the Callerid
features of Stfax.  Can this be expanded to include a file of names
commonly called.  Then when a call comes in it will display the caller
name along with their number - something the telephone companies forgot
about.   DAVE - will the special's available for Toad Holiday Fest be
available by Mail Order -  I don't think my dogsled will make it to
Severna Park.  GA

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Version 2.1 will detect any NAME = field that the
Supra FAX Modem returns. We dont have that feature here where I live, so
I had to trick the software to test it by faking the input from an ASCII
uploaded file from another computer via the RS-232 port.  ga

<[MERV] M.WESELOWSK1> SORRY ABOUT THAT, CHARLES I LIKE THE CALLERID FOK
THANKS

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> The NAME field will be saved in the Receive FAX
Log in 2.1 (if it is present). BTW, Caller ID may be able to report LD
calls in some areas. I recently had a call from NYC that had the full
area code and phone number. ga

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> We will be running some Christmastime
promotions...  see our ad in Current Notes / ST Informer next month. 
There will be some things that will be available both at the fest and
through mail order -- what you will miss is all the demo equipment,
overstock weird clearance stuff that people typically really like. For
instance, we have hard drives that are sitting in the back room that have
been used for a short period of time, and we have a lot of weird parts
and things that we just can't take the time to sell mail order. But
anyone who can make it to the fest will get to look at a lot of good
stuff at very very reasonable prices.  You east coast folks should try to
make it out if you can .. :) I think it will be a really good time. 

Charles will be here, as well as Tim Reyes (looks like colortrace is on
time) and Joe Waters from Current Notes has said he is coming Jim Fouch
from Fouch software is coming, and we have support from Gribnif,
Codehead, ICD, and others who may not be able to come, but they're making
sure that we will be well stocked. We feel that this show will be the
next best thing to WAACE and we expect participation from NovAtari, the
Virginia user group which has been principally responsible for WAACE in
the past. So if you can make it, please feel free to drop by. There are
files in the RT with directions and maps, or you can call us at (410)
544-6943 for more information.  ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Those of you who have never seen the Toad's new 
store are in for a treat.  There is room to swing a cat (or even a dog). 
And, of course, you'll get to meet the ever-Charming Jennifer, who really
keeps the place running.

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> We will have our full store open with stuff
(about 4000 sq ft) plus some other space here in the shopping center
which will give us capacity for about 5000 more... It's going to be
pretty spacious.  The dog that unplugs modems... ;)

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Next is JohnToo in all his sysoply glory.  ga

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> So if anyone has any questions at all, just ask.
ga

<[John too] J.G.H.> Hmmmmm..most of my questions were asked but ... You
going to upload anything in library 26? and the dates for the fest would
be nice too (unless I missed them) <grin> GA

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> About the show? I have uploaded a file in lib 14
(press releases) which I think is called TOADSHOW.ZIP. The dates are
December 4 and 5, 10:00 to 7 on Saturday, 10:00 to5 on sunday

<[John too] J.G.H.> any special sale items for the library?

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> I will post some sale stuff after I make the CN
ad for next month (next week or so).  We will also (I forgot to say this)
have a Jaguar on hand for demo.... so if you are interested in checking
one out, come on down.

<[John too] J.G.H.> I might not make it down your way till after xmas
<sigh> thanks (that's all from me)

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Well, we'll be here.... We will be glad to see
you then... ga

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Next is Bill who has been waiting patiently.  ga,
Bill.

<[Bill] W.TURCZYNSK1> Any package deals for STraight FAX! and a SupraFAX
v.32bis?? GA

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Dave...

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Why I'm glad you asked...  We have a whole
series of modem bundles now which you might be interested in...

 we have the zoom AFX with STraight FAX for $149.95
 The Supra 144LC & STFAX for $249.95
 The Supra v.32 bis & SF for $299.95
 and the Supra FAX Modem + & SF for $199.95.

So for $299.95 (what used to be the price of the modem alone) you can get
the modem and the program together. It's a really good deal.  ga

<[Bill] W.TURCZYNSK1> thanks GA

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Well, I guess it is give-away time.  Got a good
question, Charles? Remember folks, only paying customers are allowed to
win.

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Yes, what are the Dates of the Toad Computer's
Holiday Festival and what version of STraight FAX! will be released at
the show?

<B.SALDANA1> Dec 4,5 v 2.1

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> We have a winner

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Looks that way...

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Who won who won! Mr. Saldana?

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Whoops that was B.SALDANA1

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> My lookback says B.SALDANA1.

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Yeah I think it's Saldana.

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> That is correct, sorry for the confusion.

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Mr (or Mrs) Saldana: Please send me GEmail with
your address and we will ship the program to you pronto.

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Ok, any comments B.Saldana? ga

<B.SALDANA1> Yes thank you!

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Thank you!

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Ok - again, send EMail to TOAD-SERV.  (don't forget
the trailing ".") with your mailing address.

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> Yeah - send me the mail with the address... We
will send the program to you...

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> We have one more question from Roger.

<[Roger] R.SNYDER6> I was wondering if the DA monitors for a fax, and the
takes over the computer when one is detected? ga

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> In auto receive mode the program checks for a RING
from the modem. This is done as long as the program is not a TOS program
or is locked in a dialog.  When the RING is detected, the STraight FAX!
will wake up and start the FAX receive. When the call is completed, it
will go back to sleep and wait for the next RING.  The same is true for a
scheduled FAX at a later time/date. It will wake up at the scheduled
time, send the FAX and when its done, go back to sleep.  ga

<[Roger] R.SNYDER6> Thanks. Sounds good. Time to buy a copy.

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> Any more, Roger? ga

<[Roger] R.SNYDER6> That's all.

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> We're drawing to a close for the formal portion of
the Toad Computers/STraight FAX! RTC.  Before I put the room into Frenzy
Mode, do you have any closing words, David? Charles?  GA

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> We hope that everyone can make it down to the
Holiday Festival and see the Toad Superstore.  ga

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> WeWe're glad everyone could make it tonight and
we hope that you all can make it down! December 4 & 5 Toad Computers,
570-F Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146 Yeah we could sell frogs &
stuff...  For more information on either the show or STraight FAX 2.0/2.1
call (410) 544-6943.

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> And the Maryland seafood is OUTSTANDING!

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> The frog thing is a response to a private send
from Charles about us calling our store "Amphibian World..." :-)

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Private tours of Camden Yards are avaiable by
special request...

<[Dave Troy] TOAD-SERV.> I think it could work...  Yeah the seafood is
really good. Crabcakes, oysters, clams... mmm mmm mmm...  come on down...
I know we're temptin' you!

<[NewSTar] C.S.SMETON> Hotel info is available for those interested...

<[Host] MIKE-ALLEN> I wish to thank you David and Charles for making it
here tonight.  I also wish to thank all the attendees for their questions
and patience. In frenzy mode ...now!

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