Xav's Links List

On this page I shall put any other links of interest or relevance that I may find. Interest and relevance are, of course, very subjective terms, but if you've got a fast, free (or just cheap) link, you can always use them as launch pads to other sites. Some serve this purpose better than others, being packed full of useless and pointless links, but what's the web for if not to surf (assuming you're not already surf-bored).

Although I've removed the outdated links in this section, I haven't yet added any new ones, sorry.

Guess what!??! Yup, a selection of links to pages about bands wot I like. It's an interesting selection, and probably says something very Freudian about my personality .... now where did I leave my "Acme Father detecting homing missile"?

The John Otway Homepage

Well it had to be first didn't it, because I maintain it. If you haven't seen these pages yet, treat yourself. They were the first Otway pages on the Web, and (hopefully) are fairly informal - anyone can contribute if they want to.

Other Otway pages... (again?)

It would seem that I've started something of a trend - gone are the days when mine was the only Otway site in the world; there's now a veritable horde of them. To save me repeating myself, this link will take you to the "other Otway sites" section of Otway Online.

Fairport Convention

Probably the greatest folk rock band in the history of the world. Ever. And for a long time too. See you all at Cropredy!

Folk Stuff

Okay, so it doesn't really count as "bands what I like", but it does follow on nicely from Fairport. If you like folk music, especially if you play any folky instruments, then these pages could be for you. They are a great source of other links - including information on how to build your own bagpipes from an old bin liner, or something.

The Violent Femmes

One of my favourite bands, and amongst the best live performers I've ever seen. They are American and play music which is so hard to categorise generally that I would have to say it's progressive rock, with a hint of gothic, some punk, a bit of freeform jazz, and a reasonable dollop of experimentalism. Whatever they are, I like them.

Here is a brief selection of search engines, should you decide that these pages, and my other links, aren't exciting enough to prevent you wandering off to some obscure part of the web. If you find anything exciting, though, let me know!

Alta Vista

Still my favourite search engine, though don't ask me to quantify why. Perhaps it's just that it's the only URL I can ever remember when I need one.

New Riders' Official World Wide Web Yellow Pages

Starting Point

Not just Atari stuff - though that will be prominent, since I own several of the wee grey beasties. Did I ever mention my eleven page article in issue 11 of Atari World.....

Seriously though, for a fine list of non-Atari computer links, check out Andrew Gell's pages (hopefully, soon to be reinstated above).

Jeff Minter's Homepage

Jeff Minter, also known as Yak, is one of the greatest games programmers in the history of camelids. He also does great things with light synthesisers. These pages are superb, and your net wanderings cannot be considered to be complete until you've been to Yak's Zoo. Click on his name at the main screen for the best personal profile I've seen anywhere on the web (excluding mine of course)

System Solutions

The home of U.K. Atari hard and software. If you want to soup up your Atari to fantastical proportions, then this is the place for you - accelerators, graphics cards, system software, CD-RWs...

The Dragon Reborn

Got a Falcon030? If so, then you need to visit this page - the home of "Bad Mood", an attempt to write a freeware version of Doom for the Falcon. It will read WADs from Doom, Doom II and Heretic, and will let you move around the play area - complete with texture mapping! No characters to interact with (i.e. blast into oblivion) at the moment, but give it time...

Danny's Homepage

Danny has a quite healthy list of Atari links on his pages and handles the UK registrations for a number of applications under the CyberStrider name.

InterActive

These pages cover the supported shareware scheme of Joe Connor. Quite a few of my favourite applications have come via Joe, such as Everest, Freedom, Thing and Kandinsky (see my Atari software pages). There are also quite a few other Atari links if you explore a bit - including a link back here!

Now where have I heard that title before? Following on from my article in Atari World, issue 11 (March 1996), here are a selection of links to other sources of information on alternative OS's for the Atari. I've also included some links to sources of information about Atari emulators for other platforms, in case any ex-Atari owners fancy a return to the good old days - or in case any current Atari owners are about to change machines for whatever reason.

Linux 68k

Yes, Linux is available for the Atari. You'll need a 68030 and an FPU really, but if you want more information, this is the best place to look.

NetBSD

If you prefer BSD to System V, then NetBSD might be a better choice than Linux. Of course, there's always MiNT (see my pages on Atari software).

Craig Graham's Pages

The home of XaAES, a replacement for the standard Atari GEM, for use with MiNT as a multitasking system. Also other Atari stuff, including a GEM FTP program, and a circuit analysis program that compares in many respects to the (very expensive) software I used to use on the HP Unix system at university.

Eero's Pages

Whilst we're on the subject of alternative operating systems, Eero's pages are a great source of information on W, a GUI for MiNT + MiNTnet or Atari linux. Really of interest to programmers, though a lot of development is taking place with it, so some more useful applications may soon start to appear.

Pim Borst's Homepage

Not the most awe inspiring page on the net, but it does have a binary distribution of W - for anyone who's interested, but doesn't have the necessary C compiler. It has been compiled as 68000 code for MiNT + MiNTnet, but ironically was not actually compiled on an Atari. Instead, it was compiled under MiNT using STonX, the Atari emulator for X...

STonX Homepage

... And here is that emulator! It runs on a number of X systems - including Linux - and incorporates a 68000 emulator, so you can even run it on one of those Intel thingies. You'll need a TOS image file from a "real" Atari, but it does run a lot of good GEM programs, and even MiNT and some games! Oh yeah - and apart from the TOS image, it's free of charge.

MagiCMac Web Page

Of course, STonX isn't the only Atari emulator available - the Atari isn't dead, it's just diversifying. One of the most serious contenders for Atari emulation has to be MagiCMac, which unsurprisingly brings the popular, pre-emptive multitasking MagiC OS to the Apple Macintosh platform. I've seen this in operation, and it's fast - remember, most Atari software is optimised for an 8MHz 68000, so giving it a fast '040 or a PowerMac results in many applications outperforming their Mac counterparts!

The Unofficial MacMiNT Homepage

Well, if we're going to be complete, there is a version of MiNT for the Macintosh - strangely enough called MacMiNT. This, together with JET (Just Enough TOS) allows you to use text based MiNT applications - in other words, a selection of Unix tools - on a Macintosh. With no AES available for it, however, MagiCMac is likely to be better for most people.

Branch Always Software

So you don't have a Mac, but you do have a PC. It's not running Linux, so STonX is no good to you - surely you're beyond help? Well, no actually. If you have a suitable system, you can use the excellent GEMulator from BRASoft. I use this one to play Warwick Allison's superb GEM port of Nethack at work - just don't tell my boss!

Just what it says - you were expecting something different, perhaps?

The NetHack Home Page

One of the best role playing games ever. It takes a bit of getting into, but is excellent once you have. Of course, Warwick Allison's beautifully GEM'd version helps here, if you've got an Atari, that is...