********************************************************************** ** October, 1995 Version 1.0 ** ** ATARI XL/XE CD-ROM PROJECT ** ** "XL/XE POOLDISK" ** ** by B.F. Schreurs ** ** ** ********************************************************************** WELCOME ATARI USER! Congratiolations for buying this CD-ROM. I hope you enjoy the use of this CD-ROM as much as I had producing it. INTRODUCTION. My name is Bo Schreurs, male, 37 years of age and an Atari Freak. It all started out with buing myself an Atari 2600 game system. This one was soon to be replaced by the Atari 800 computer system. And even up till today, it's one of my most favourite machines. During the last couple of years I acquired a lot of 8-bit software, commercial as wel as Public Domain and Shareware. About 2 years ago, I came up with the idea of producing a CD-ROM containing all Public Domain and Shareware software available to Atari 8 bit up till then. Not until 1995, it was feasible to realise this idea. CD-ROM DESCRIPTION. I've tried to make the contents of this CD as logic as possible. A directory will normally indicate the source of the software (i.e. Bellcom, Abbuc, Pokey, etc.). All the files within a directory ending with an extension of .ATR are disk images of the disks which were read on a XL/XE drive, using the SIO2PC software, to a PC. A directory called "XL" is also included, in this directory I've place some "stand alone" XL/XE files. Why has this been done? Using the Black Box interface, one could connect a CD-ROM drive to an XL/XE. If there is somebody out there who is willing to write a driver for this solution, one could acces these individual files, with out the use of a PC or Atari ST, to use this CD. This directory doesn't contain all the individual files of the included .ATR files yet. Files are only placed in this directory when they are fully documented. Documenting it this way cost a lot of time you know. USING THE CD-ROM ON AN ATARI XL/XE. - A SCSI Black Box Interface from Computer Software Services. - A SCSI CD-ROM drive. - A CD-ROM driver (which you need to develop yourself!). - An Atari 8 bit disk drive. - An Atari 8 bit computer (with joystick/paddle and a monitor). USING THE CD-ROM ON AN ATARI ST. - An Atari ST with CD-ROM drive. - A ST/XL Link interface (ST/XL Link software is included on the CD-ROM). - An Atari 8 bit computer (with joystick/paddle and a monitor). USING THE CD-ROM ON AN ATARI ST WITH ST XFORMER. - An Atari ST with CD-ROM drive. - The ST XFormer program (ST XFormer software is included on the CD-ROM). USING THE CD-ROM ON A PC. - A PC with CD-ROM drive. - A Sio2PC interface (Sio2PC software is included on the CD-ROM). - An Atari 8 bit computer (with joystick/paddle and a monitor). USING THE DE CD-ROM ON A PC WITH PC XFORMER. - A PC with CD-ROM drive. - The PC XFormer program (PC XFormer software is included on the CD-ROM). NO GARANTIES. Where you see the statement CD-ROM, you must subsitute it with the "XL/XE POOLDISK version 1.0" CD-ROM. This CD-ROM is not warranted at all. The CD-ROM format is ISO-9660, and as far as we know it is supported by every CD-ROM drive, but even so, you cannot draw a warrenty from this statement. It's your responsibilty to make sure that this CD-ROM is correct before buying it. Exchanging the CD-ROM is not possible. Claiming your money back is also not possible. NO LIABILITY, Where you see the statement CD-ROM, you must substitue it with the "XL/XE POOLDISK version 1.0" CD-ROM. Under no circumstances the supplier of the CD-ROM will be held liable for any damage whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use this product, even if the supplier has been advised of the possibilty of such damages. The supplier is also not liable for the software on this CD-ROM. As far as the supplier knows, the software on this CD-ROM is in the Public Domain or Shareware. But even then, in the end, all liability lies with the end user of this product. The end user has the responsibility to make certain that the software he or she is running from the CD-ROM is in the Public Domain or Shareware. As soon as the supplier has received a written complaint about the presence of a commercial software program on the CD-ROM, the supplier will make sure the software program is removed from the CD-ROM, before the production of succesive CD-ROM's by the supplier. By purchasing this CD-ROM you agree not to sue the supplier for any reason. PUBLIC DOMAIN. All software programs on this CD-ROM are in the Public Domain, with the exception of the software programs marked as SHAREWARE. You don't have to make a contribution for a Public Domain program. If you like, you can change the source code of such a program for you own use. SHAREWARE. Software programs marked as SHAREWARE, can be used on a trial out basis. As soon as you use the program for a longer term than that, you'll have to send the author a reasonable donation for the software program. If you fail to do this, or if your not willing to do this, it is NOT allowed to use the program any longer. If you persist in using it, your will feel miserable the rest of your mortal life. It is NEVER allowed to change the object code or source code of a Shareware program, not even if you payed your donation! CD-ROM COPYRIGHT. It is allowed to make copies of this CD-ROM. Though, it is NOT allowed to use the "XL/XE POOLDISK" title as name for the CD-ROM. It is also allowed to port the image disks on this CD-ROM back to the "normal" XL/XE's 5.25 inch disk formats. De price for a CD-ROM or a "normal" may not exceed the production costs. Including the price of the hardware you bought to produce either the CD-ROM or "normal" disk seems reasonable to me. Either way, the price of the CD-ROM should not exceed $50, and the price of a "normal" disk should not exceed $1.50. REMARKS, SUGGESTIONS, CRITISISM, PRAISE, MORE PD, MORE SHAREWARE! Do you have any remarks about the contents of the CD-ROM, or suggestions to improve it, critisism about the index of the CD-ROM, praise about the making and production of this CD-ROM (please do!), or do you have Public Domain or Shareware which is not on the CD-ROM yet (I would really be amazed if you haven't any), send a letter to (including disks maybe): ====================== B.F. Schreurs Kempenlandstraat 8 5211 VN HERTOGENBOSCH THE NETHERLANDS ====================== CONCLUSION. Producing this CD-ROM would not have been possible without the help of the following people: Ernest Schreurs (STack BBS), John Maris (A New Generation), Kaj de Vos (A New Generation), Freddy Offenga (High Tech Team), Fred Meijer (Stichting Pokey), Bernard Kok (BECO-TEL BBS), Wolfgang Burger (ABBUC), Darek Mihocka (PC XFormer and ST XFormer), and let's not forget Nick Kennedy (SIO2PC software). T H A N K S !