JUST HOW USEFUL IS THE ST?

by Jack Powell
ASSOCIATE EDITOR

When it comes to everyday applications-word processing, spreadsheets and databases-how practical is the ST? The 520ST has been available for almost a year and there is no longer any question of support from a growing list of software producers. But what programs actually transform this 68000-based bargain box into a viable, practical tool?

START examined practical ST products in three major categories: word processors, databases and spreadsheets. Synopses by category and by product are based on the opinions of START editors, plus those of several outside reviewers who tested these products for Antic magazine. ST programming languages are also examined as they are the tools by which "practical" products are created.

If a product was reviewed in Antic, we include the date of the review. Products marked "FINAL" are currently available. To indicate the future direction of practical ST software, we have included announced products, labeled "PRESS," for press release. Unless otherwise noted, all editorial commentary is made on products which are in final release state and have been submitted for review If a product is copy protected, it is so noted. START welcomes comment and rebuttal from both users and manufacturers.

AN OVERVIEW

ST word processors range in price from $145 to absolutely free. At the high end, Final Word, from Mark of the Unicorn, is the only really full-featured word processor currently available. But it is a throwback to the mainframe systems and unforgivably complicated on a machine designed for friendly interface. At the other price extreme, 1ST Word, from Atari, is more in the ST style. It is mouse driven, has plenty of GEM windows and bright graphics, but it doesn't support such elementary print commands as line spacing. Verdict: the Atari ST still lacks a powerful, up-to-date word and document processor that takes advantage of the machine's architecture.

Users of dBase II/III will be right at home on the ST. With both H & D Base, from Mirage Concepts, and dBMAN, from VersaSoft, on hand, many currently available dBase II/III programs may be ported directly to the Atari ST. Those who find dBase-type databases unnecessarily complex may prefer the simplicity of DB Master One, from Atari. It is not, however, relational and has very limited report capabilities. Again, the former programs are all-text, IBM clones, while the latter is simple and uses friendly GEM. ST owners are still waiting for such friendly powers as R:base 5000 or Framework.

What? Only two spreadsheets? That's right. Early press releases from several companies touted Lotus 1-2-3 clones they were preparing for the ST. Only VIP came through with a product. The pattern continues here: the all-text, powerful VIP, and the simpler, GEM-based A-Calc.

Languages are included in this overview to show that tools exist to create new software. There are plenty of languages for the Atari ST. Unfortunately, all are primarily designed for developers. Currently, no languages are available for the hobbyist or casual user. ST LOGO and ST BASIC are hopelessly clumsy The remaining languages are compilers, most with complicated linking procedures and numbing compile and link time. The ST desperately needs a language that is fun to use, like Turbo Pascal, or ACTION! on the 8-bit Atari's.

WORD PROCESSORS

1ST Word
Atari Corp., 1196 Borregas Avenue,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086,
(408) 745-2000
Free
FINAL

This fully GEM-based word processor-which is bundled with the 1040ST and 520ST-is currently the best, entry-level, GEM-based word processor. It also works nicely as a programmer's text editor. Limitations in print formatting features-including the inability to print in anything other than single-space-detract from this otherwise excellent product. Any company planning to charge money for a word processer has stiff competition here. Not copy protected. (Antic review 6/86)

Final Word
Mark of the Unicorn, 222 Third
Street, Cambridge, MA 02142,
(617) 576-2760
$145.00
FINAL

A thorough-but pricey- text-oriented word processor/document processor. Described by our reviewer as a clone of the IBM PC Perfect Writer, this is an entirely command-driven word processor with no GEM interface. The program, which uses virtual memory, is packed with features including multiple-buffers. It was found to be powerful, but difficult to learn. The documentation, as well as the program, reflects the fact that Final Word was a straight port from IBM and, in many cases, does not take advantage of the ST's individuality. Copy protected. (Antic review 4/86)

Let's Write
Mark Williams, 1430 W. Wrightwood,
Chicago, IL 60614, (312) 472-6659
$99.95
FINAL

Essentially, this is Micro EMACS with word-wrap-which is familiar to most ST developers since it was provided, in one form or another, with the ST developer's package. (EMACS was a popular programmer's text editor on mainframe systems.) Let's Write is an entirely command-based program that is obviously a throwback to the Unix mainframe systems. The package includes a spell checker, and the Kermit telecommunications module (which was also supplied with the developer's kit). Not copy protected.

Haba Writer
Haba Systems, 6711 Valjean Avenue,
Van Nuys, CA 94106, (800) HOT
HABA (US), (800) FOR-HABA (CA)
$74.95
FINAL

HabaWriter was the first GEM-based word processor for the ST. Ian Chadwick, who reviewed it for Antic, found version 1.0 to be buggy and mostly unusable. Since then, Haba has released version 1.1, which has not yet been evaluated. Copy protected. (Antic review 3/86)

Express
Mirage Concepts, 4055 W Shaw, #8,
Fresno, CA 93711, (800) 641-1441
$49.95
FINAL

Express is a "letter processor," limited in word processing capabilities and designed primarily for simple letter output with mailmerge. This was the first word processor available for the ST and, as such, was roundly-and unfairly-condemned by the new ST community Express is not really a word processor but is designed as an easy-to-use letter designer with simplified mailmerge system. As such, it works fine. Not copy protected. (Antic review 1/86)

HomePak
Batteries Included, 30 Mural Street,
Richmond Hill, Ontario, CANADA
L4B 1B5, (416) 881-9941
$69.95
PRESS

Integrated word processor, terminal program, and database fashioned after the popular 8-bit program of the same name by Russ Wetmore. Batteries Included plans to have this product on the market by June 1986.

ST Writer
Atari Corp., 1196 Borregas Avenue,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086,
(408) 745-2000
Free
FINAL

John Feagans and a team of Atari programmers got fed up waiting for a word processor to come out for the early ST's. So they re-wrote the code of the 8-bit Atari Writer program and got it up and running on the ST (all in two weeks, it is rumored). The program can currently be found on CompuServe and in several user's group libraries. We use this program in-house, partly because it can adapt to most of the many incompatible text formats available on the ST.

DATABASES

H & D Base
Mirage Concepts, 4055 W Shaw,
Fresno, CA 93711, (800) 641-1441
$99.95
FINAL

A dBase II clone (80% compatible). The first "serious" available ST database. Fashioned after dBase II, H & D Base can use dBase II command programs ported from other machines. Also, most of the many dBase II books found in stores will apply to this program. Interestingly since H & D Base was written in Forth, the programmers have left in a command to "turn on" the Forth kernel so you can program in Forth as well as H & D Base. In April 1986, some bugs were being ironed out of the first releases, but customer support seems to be excellent. Not copy protected. (Antic review 7/86)

dBMAN
VersaSoft, 723 Seawood Way, San
Jose, CA 95120, (408) 268-6033
$149.95
FINAL

dBMAN is currently the only available relational database for the ST which is compatible with both dBase II and dBase III. The final package arrived in our offices in April 1986, too late for review. An introductory price of $99.95 will be offered until July 1st. Not copy protected.

DB Master One
Atari Corp., 1196 Borregas Avenue,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086,
(408) 745-2000
$49.95
FINAL

This easy to use, non-relational, GEM-based database was packaged with the ST during December, 1985. DB Master One is an excellent "simple" database. It is very fast and easy to use with limited reporting capabilities and field types. Stoneware plans on releasing packages that will increase the complexity of this database. In the meantime, this is a very good package for organizational uses. Not copy protected. (Antic review 6/86)

Zoomracks
Quickview Systems, 146 Main Street,
Los Altos, CA 94022,
(415) 965-0327
$79.95
FINAL

Zoomracks is an oddity Based on the structure of rack cards (such as "punchin" time cards), this program is more a data organizer than a true database. Currently there are no mathematical capabilities. The card rack metaphor would seem an excellent use of GEM, but Zoomracks is another IBM PC port which does not use GEM. The screen has a cluttered appearance. The success or failure of this product will depend upon the willingness of ST owners to adapt to its unusual metaphor-assuming that metaphor works. Not copy protected. (Antic review 6/86)

Hippo Simple
Hippopotamus Software,
985 University Avenue, Suite 12,
Los Gatos, CA 95030, (408) 395-3190
$49.95
FINAL

An 'easy to use" home database, found by our reviewer to be frustrating and confusing-mainly because of the poor documentation. Version 1.0 seemed to "have been rushed to market a little too quickly" Copy protected. (Antic review
3/86)

The Manager
BMB Compuscience Canada, 500
Steeles Avenue, Milton, Ontario L9T
3P7, Canada, (416) 876-4741
$169.95
PRESS

The Manager is allegedly the powerhouse relational database system ST owners are waiting for. Its firm describes it as a "paperless office". The implication here is that this product will eliminate the need for paper in your office. Well . . . we'll see. The product was first demonstrated at the November 1985 COMDEX in Las Vegas. It looked pretty impressive-but still no GEM.

db One
Oxxi, 3428 Falcon Avenue, Long
Beach, CA 90807, (800) 453-4900
$59.00
PRESS

A relational database which is promised to include mailing list, labeling, checkbook, and inventory

SPREADSHEETS

VIP Professional
VIP Technologies Corp., 132 Aero
Camino, Santa Barbara, CA 93117,
(805) 968-4045
$179.95
FINAL

VIP Professional is allegedly compatible with Lotus 1-2-3, and is currently the only full-featured, heavy-duty spreadsheet for the ST. This product tumbled through some rough PR waters during its release and is still suffering from a legal fight between parent company VIP Technologies, and Shanner International, the marketing firm hired by VIP to launch their product. Originally promised-and advertised-as a GEM product with windows, the "mouse" version of VIP had not yet appeared in April 1986. The Antic reviewer found this to be a good product-if a little slow. Antic also recommended any buyer contact VIP and be sure of full customer support before purchase is made. Copy protected. (Antic review 5/86)

A-Calc
The Catalog, 524 Second Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107,
(800) 443-0100 Ext. 133
$59.95
FINAL

A-Calc is a GEM-based spreadsheet created in Great Britain which holds 256 columns and 512 rows. This mouse-driven spreadsheet is easy to use, but not as complete as a Lotus 1-2-3 system. Not copy protected.

LANGUAGES

MegaMax C
Megamax, Box 851521, Richardson,
TX 75085, (214) 987-4931
$199.95
FINAL

Full, one-pass C compiler with editor and 'smart" linker. Arguably the finest C compiler available for the ST, this package is currently crippled by a 32K array dimension limit and a 32K code limit. These limitations-which the company promises to repair-are imposed by the Macintosh OS, from whence this system was ported. Compile and link time is extremely fast and end code is relatively small. In most cases, MegaMax C is compatible with Alcyon C. The price, however, is pretty hefty For another $100, you could get the developer's kit-and all the GEM documentation. Not copy protected.

Metacomco Lattice C
The Catalog, 524 Second Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107,
(800) 443-0100 Ext. 133
$149.95
FINAL

A complete development C. Lattice C is the industry standard C and currently the only commercially available ST C which is at least as complete as Alcyon C in the developer's toolkit. Its linker, however, is not completely compatible with Alcyon's. Not copy protected.

GST-C
The Catalog, 524 Second Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107,
(800) 443-0100 Ext. 133
$79.95
FINAL

This C implementation is easy to use and includes a 1ST Word-type editor and GEM shell. An added bonus is the excellent 'superstructure library" which simplifies many GEM commands much like OSS's Personal Pascal. Major shortcoming: no floating point and uses same link as Lattice C which, therefore, makes it incompatible with Alcyon C. Not copy protected.

Haba Hippo-C
Haba Systems, 6711 Valjean Avenue,
Van Nuys, CA 91406, (800) HOTHABA (US), (800) FOR-HABA (CA)
$59.95
FINAL

You get what you pay for when you buy Haba Hippo C, the least expensive of available ST C's. It does not support floating point arithmetic and contains a number of compatibility problems, many due to its UNIX-like shell called HOS. Few ST-specific C programs written in the developer's Alcyon C will compile properly in Hippo-C. Unfortunately this was the first commercially available C for the ST market and a lot of owners snapped it up. Copy protected. (Antic review 2/86)

Personal Pascal
Optimized Systems Software, 1221-B
Kentwood Avenue, San Jose, CA
95129, (408) 446-3099
$74.95
FINAL

Personal Pascal is the closest thing to a friendly language that currently exists for the ST. It is also one of the only languages to include detailed documentation on how to access and use the complex GEM VDI and AES commands. In another first, its editor actually includes an auto-indent feature, helpful in structured program formatting. From experience, we can add that any product purchased from this company includes excellent customer support. Not copy protected. (Antic review 5/86)

Metacomco Pascal
The Catalog, 524 Second Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107,
(800) 443-0100 Ext. 133
$99.95
FINAL

A full, 150 7185 standard which compiles to native code. Not copy protected.

Modula-2/ST
TDI Software Ltd., 1040 Markison
Road, Dallas, TX 75238,
(214) 340-4942
$149.00
FINAL

Created by Professor Niklaus Wirth, the inventor of Pascal, ST owners are truly lucky to have an opportunity to try this new language. Our reviewer found this to be a generally solid implementation of the language, though with weak documentation (particularly of the GEM system), and clumsy user interface. Not copy protected. (Antic review 5/86)

H & D Forth
Mirage Concepts, 4055 W Shaw,
#108, Fresno, CA 93711,
(209) 227-8369
$39.95
FINAL

An 83-standard Forth with access to all GEM commands as well as BIOS and XBIOS commands. Holmes & Duck-worth used this Forth for in-house development of such products as H & D Base. This is a "best buy" for ST Forth programmers. It deviates from 83-standard in that the stack is 32-bits wide, so there are no double words, and multiple dictionaries are not allowed. Otherwise, H & D Forth is very thorough and reasonable. Remarkably, no royalties need be paid for professional development with this product. Not copy protected. (Antic review 6/86)

4xForth
The Dragon Group, 148 Poca Fork
Road, Elkview, WV 25071,
(304) 965-5517
$99.95
FINAL

An 83-standard developer's Forth which includes limited multi-tasking capabilities. 4xForth was the first commercially available language for the ST (nor counting developer's C and LOGO). Customer support seems to be excellent with this company By April 1986, however, free Forths are beginning to appear in public domain, and H & D Forth certainly seems a comparative value. Not copy protected. (Antic review 12/85)

Cambridge LISP
Metacomco, 26 Bristol Square, Bristol,
United Kingdom BS2 8RZ
$199.95
PRESS

This is the only LISP currently planned for ST. After some delay, Metacomco still plans releasing this language for the ST. You can expect it late summer or early fall.

DevPacST
HiSoft, 180 High Street North,
Dunstable Beds, United Kingdom
LU6 IAT, (0582) 696421
$79.95
FINAL

A complete assembler-editor system. (See Christopher Chabris review, this issue of START) Not copy protected.

A-Seka
The Catalog, 524 Second Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107,
(800) 443-0100 Ext. 133
$39.95
FINAL

A high-speed, fully RAM-based assembler with debugger. (See Christopher Chabris review, this issue of START.) Not copy protected.

GST-ASM
The Catalog, 524 Second Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107,
(800) 443-0100 Ext. 133
$59.95
FINAL

GEM-based assembler/editor. (See Christopher Chabris review, this issue of START.) Not copy protected.