COMPLETE GUIDE TO OVER 200 JUMBO HARD DRIVES!
zitH
JULY 1 991
TBI TIPS FOR TECH SUPIN
THE BODY SILICON
p
< 1 -* _„
9 m Q
FAST.
GeoWorks
Ensemble's
built-in scalable
typefaces save
you time because what you see on
screen is exoctly what you will get— I
will look right the Hrst time you printi
FUN.
Have fun wiffi
EnsemtJie^s tJullNii
outline typefaces
to express your
Wess bofdbf, elesatjtfy, or even play-
tally. Wfiea documents look ttils ^oo<}
and tfiis ProfessionaL so will you.
EASY.
X'Viih Ensembk.
creating doai-
menis that look
professicmily
published 15 as ensii a? clicking a
mYg
What you see is >vtiat you get
URW Roman
URW Sans
Cooperstown
URW Sans
Superb
URW Mono
Cranbrook
Software Publish^
Excellence in Sofi
• Critics Choice
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^BestNcwUseof
Meflnes PC Perfomimi
rnlil iifiw. llir only WMV In ifiipnnv
Vi] [XTrnrmaiicr wms lo hiiy iirw lianl-
ware. Xol any niorp. Itilnnlncin^^ ( Jco-
Works Ensptnliler seven [ir(nlnrliM*ty
appliralinns inlri>Ta1r(| in an ania/.ini^-
<n"a[)liiral windrmin^- riivinmnirnl rallrd
slandanl (lol-tn;ilnx j>nnler tisinfr
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applicalions inrlndfd in (he Kiiscniblc
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Innis and devirr^ inde[tenden1 i^rapln^-s
l(Mlelive|-1rue\VVSIWYi;(\Vhal \m
i5IL"l-J'!iL. -
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P(y(!E()Sr Snilware so inrredil)ly small Svi- Is Whal V(M[ (iel) nii-snven an<.
and fast il will run rings arnnnd any on your |)rinti4:
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Take tile ilncn-
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were produrnl (HI a
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EASY ''WHATVOU SEE ISWHATVOU GET**
(WYSIWVQ} ON-SCREEN AND ON PAPER
WITH ANY PC, AND ANY PRINTER.
Any print ei". I'Yoin dot -matrix fo laser.
Willi Knsemltle. text r-ini he
smoolhly scaled IVnm i pt. {VuM] inch)
lo 7U:2 pi. (II ineli hio:h eharaeters).
Addilionally text and grafiliirsran he
strelelird to any size or reflated huiny
angle. And Kiisi^nihle is prerisely timed
(o Ihe maximmn printing resolution of
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Boiler stilt, y<M( can keep righl on
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sociation
1990
mputing
1 9 i 0
. F I H At t ST-
J (.v.-*4C»»*!ir*
W PRODUCT**
■te- OF THE ^
^ VEAR ^
i^r
<r^<r
1990
a<>.' So>^cr« >Vw,
.../t technically impressive product
regardless of hardware platform,
[GeoWorksj Ensemble provides snappy
performance on anv hard disk-equipped
PQ even an 8088,
PC Computing
(GeoWorksj has produced a GUI capable
of making the PC a more friendly and
powerfid creature to the millions of
people Windows and OS/2 have left
behind,.,
FIRST LOOKS, PC Magazine
[PC/GEOS] thrives in a 640K 286, and
even performs respectably on an 8088.
On a run-ofthe-mill 386, [PC/GEOSI
peforms crisply in a way that Windows
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PC Magazjiie
GeoWorks PC/GEOS: What Wifidows 3,0
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INFO WORLD
The Geos environment sports a simplified
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face with many of the ,same features,
comes with Ensemble (a bigger and more
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lickety-splir on h0286s and XTs.
PC WORLD
^
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JUr u
aO '> -^
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[WHmtmbticinJWWorkv. (inAVorks Eii?iPinliK HiAifns. (M'liWrili'.
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l*'nl>inw. ( iiviMiK.ip r. ( \m]h% mid
ODnnpuTE
JULY 1991
VOLUME 13-NO. 7 -ISSUE 131
Editorial License 6
PETER SCISCO
Computer lechnology has broughi the
possibility of better heahh manage-
meni, if not better health, to all of us.
computer users and Luddites ahke.
News & Notes 8
ALAN R, BECHTOLD
A chair that's smarter than your TV, a
100-MHz 486 processor chip from In-
leL a PageMaker with its own word
processor, a hghtning chip from Big
Blue, a less-expensive SuperCafcx an-
other look at PC graphics tablets, and
more notes on the nei^'s.
Feedback 16
READERS
An electronic link to people, a warning
to IDE hard disk o\^iiers. slots of ex-
pansion questions, troubling memo-
ries, and more questions from our
readers.
Fast Facts 144
EDITORS
Did your favorite program receive one
of the SEVs Excellence in Software
A\vards? Find out in this issue's quick
look at important information.
rN FOCUS
14
SharePak
RICHARD C.LEINECKHR
This month's SharePakdhk contains
three powerful programs to help you
stay productive when you're on the
road this summer.
Heal Yoursetf: Health and
Computers 18
GREGG KEIZER
fn this feature, contributing editor
Gregg Keizer explores the question of
whether or not \our PC can help you
live a hcalihier. happier life. Examine
the technology, the products, and the
trends that are shaping the way we use
computer in the worlds of medicine,
sports, and personal nutrition.
TEST LAB
Fax Cards and Modems in
Grueling Tests 25
In this issue s Test Lab we benchmark
and review a wide range of iax, mo-
dem, and fax/modem devices designed
lo make telecommunicating easy from
your home, your office, or on the road.
Check ihese fax before you buy.
TECH SUPPORT
50
HJROMASMA SUGIURA/WESTLIGHT INTERNATIONAL
ON THE COVER
Hiromasma Sugiura employed ray-tracing techniques
on an NEC computer to develop the art featured on
our July cover.
COMPUTE Ytour Cwnplsla Honw Computer Resource (tSSW 0194-357X) is pub**he(J montW^ in
the Untied Stales and Canada tjy COMPUTE Publicatians Internaticinal Lid,. 1965 Bfoadvway, Ntew
YOfk. N¥ 10023-5965 Wtne 13, Numt>er 7. issue 131 Copyn^ © 1991 tjy COMPUTE Pubicatiais
International Ltd AH nghis reserved Tel, (212) 496-6100. COMPUTE is z registered (rademark ol
COMPUTE PubJjcatitjns Iniernalonaf Ltd. Pnntsd in the USA and distrtbuied v«orldw<ie by Gums
Crculation Company, PO Box 9102, Pfennsauken, NJ 08109. SecorKk:Jsss postage pad at IM^^
Vortt. NY and at additKxial mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address ctianges to COMPUTE
Maijiiiine. PO Box 3245 Harlan, lA 51S37-3041, Tef. (800} 727-6937, Enbre contents copyri^ted
AH rignis reserved Nothing may be reproduced in whole or m part withoul wtiiten permisson from the
pubiishQt Sut>safpt!ons LS. AFO * SI 9,94 one year. Canada and etsewhere <• S25.94 one year. Smgle
cop«$ S2 95 in US T>w pubttsher tisdaims all respoosibifJlv to return unsolicrted matter, and alt n^ts
m portions pubKshed Thweot remain the sole property of COMPUTE PutJJica&ors Inter nabonar Ltd.
Letters sent lo COMPUTE or its edrtors become the property ot the noagazine. Ediionat of fees are
locaied at 324 Went Mbndovsr Avenue, State 200, Greer^boro. NC 2740a Tel. (919] 275-3809.
How to Install a Hani
Disk
MARKMINASl
Sooner or later, you 11 wani lo upgrade
your system v^iih a new hard disk. Put-
ting in your own disk saves a loi of
money and gives you a better under-
standing of how your PC works. In this
article, our resident hardware guru di-
rects users, step by step, through the in-
stallation process.
Online 59
DEMNVATKIN
Get on the net and meet famous— and
infamous— people.
Point & Click 60
CLIFTON KLARNES
IVindows applications can be expen-
sive, but you don't have to pay big
bucks for powerful IVindows
programs.
Buyer's Guide to Jumbo
Hard Drives 61
DAVID SEARS
You're ready to make the upgrade to a
larger hard disk, but you're not sure
what kind to get. Before you shop, read
this comprehensive guide to hard disks
that hold more than 100 megab\ies of
data.
Programming Power 67
TOM CAMPBELL
Explore the innovations and power of
iheC^r language.
Tips & Tools 69
READERS
Saving your setup configuration can
save you hours of frustration if your
system goes down. Here's a BASIC
program for automatically restoring
your configuration. Also, some undoc-
umented help for low-Ievel formats of
the IBM PS/2 line, getting more from
Windows by setting up a permanent
swapfilc, making a BASIC program
leaner and meaner, and mone.
Disk Update 7t
JOYCE SIDES
Reading ASIC from our disk menu
program, gnphic enhancements to
COMPVTE's Menu Operating System,
solving DOS and DISKTUlK incom-
patibilities, suggestions for Poh^Copy.
mouse and Tandv problems with
COMPUTKCak and hunting the right
^\\\m\h AC Hunter.
Think small.
(Small prices that is.)
Our philosophy is simple: Good software doesn't have to
cost hundreds of dollars. At Parsons Technology, we create
excellent software— keep prices reasonable— and back
every product with ftee, unlimited technical support, solid
documentation and an ironclad satisfaction guarantee.
Share our philosophy? Great,
Choose one of the following programs
for a no-risk 30-day trial To order or
" request a free catalog, call us toll-free at
1-800-223-6925.
MoneyCounts*- A complete money
management system. Handles small business accounting as
well as family budgets. Writes checks, estimates your taxes
and it's simple to use— no accounting experience required.
Just S35.
It's Legal"— Helps you pro-
tect your family and your assets
with all the legal documents
you're ever likely to need. Wills,
Living Wills, Powers of Attorney,
Guardianship Documents, Leases,
Notes and Bill of Sale. Includes
FREE set of powerftil legal letters,
too. Just $49.
QuickVerse^^— Imagine, the
PC. Rapid word and phrase searches, study features like
indexes and annotation. Choose King James,
NIV, RSV, NKJV, or NRSV translation. Greek
and Hebrew available separately. Word
processor interface included free! Just $69,
Diet Analyst— The total health
improvement system. Easily manages
your complete health program including cal-
culating calories, tracking nutrients and cholesterol and
monitoring exercise. Eat right and stay healthy! Just $59.
Typing 101 —You don't need a faster computer — you
need faster fingers! Typing 101 tutorial improves speed on
all 101 keys of your PC keyboard. Uses artificial intelligence
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complete text of the Bible on your |
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One Parsons Drive • PO Box 100 • Hawatha, Iowa £2233 G 100
I Order Toll Free!
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Ifs Guaranteed. Order with complete
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I you may return your purchase within
30 days for a full refund (shipping
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Circle Reader Service Number 176
ODnnpuTE
IntroDOS 72
TONY ROBERTS
You can get more from your PC by
fine-tuning your CON FIGS YS file.
Learn everything you need to know
about niES, BUFFERS, and
FASTOPEN.
Hardware Cfinic 73
MARKMINASI
Clean dectriciiy is becoming a part of
the past. Here's how to protect your
equipment and your data from power
spikes and blackouts.
Arts & Letters 75
ROBERT BIXBV
Windoivs comes with a buiil-in screen
capture program, but it's not always
the best solution. Here's a look ai some
commercial programs that let you cap-
ture ir/Wouj screens.
Fast Forward 76
DAVID ENGLISH
No one in the industry is willing to de-
fine multimedia. That makes it a
squishy technology.
HOME OFFICE
WoriiPlace 78
DANIEL JANAL
Track the amount of time you spend
on projects for your clients. Youll
make more money, and your clients
wll feel better about yoursemces.
Tech Knowledge 80
ROSALIND RESNICK and
SUSIE ARCHER
Your home computer has made you
more productive than ever before. But
what's that funny whirring sound com-
ing from your disk drive? Our authorii
provide ten top tips for securing tech-
nical suppoit at home for your PC. So
get ready with our tech help kit-
before trouble strikes.
DISCOVERY
Pathways 84
STEVEN ANZOVIN
Computers can do higher mathemalics
and play chess like the masters, but
they still can't read.
Risky Business 86
HOWARD MILLMAN
Complex computerized robots are be-
ing designed and built to handle haz-
ardous duty in both civilian and
militar)' situations. Here's a look at the
latest developments, straight from
America's foremost labs.
ENTERTAINMENT
GamePlay 98
ORSON SCOTT CARD
Computer networks like Prodigy are
making it easier for people to have fiin
with computers.
Taking the Sky 1 00
RICHARD SHEFFIELD
Our veteran simulation writer evalu-
ates the new crop of \V\VI flight simu-
lator games, including Red Bam,
Knights of the Sky, and Blue Max. To
make your flying easier, we've includ-
ed an extensive chart of features.
REVIEWS
Reviews and analysis of software,
books, and accessory products in the
games, productivity, and learning
areas. Complete uith our experts'
COMPUTE Choice recommendations.
Sneak Peeks 108
ROBERT BIXBY and
DENNY. -^TKIN
Pint looks at the Sierra Network and
Chuck Yeager's Air Combai.
In-Oepth Evaluations 108
ExcellO, Elvira, and SimEarth^mtr
Choice notice. We also look at Space
Quest n\ UMSIl CorelDR,4W!, WiH^
Maker, H ordStar Laptop Collection.
Super Solvers Treasure Mountain!,
Quest for Glory U, Zeliard. Lord of the
Rings, Stickytear Word Scramble,
Mickey's Colors and Shapes: The Daz-
zling Magic Show, Mickey's I2S's: The
Big Surprise Party, Micke\''s ABCs: A
Day at the Fair, A rtbeats Full Page im-
ages. Complete Laptop Computer
Guide, Alex Randall's Used Computer
Handbook The Computer Buyer 's
Handbook, Cyberpunk and more.
COMPUTE is looking for exceptional
computer-generated art for use on fu-
ture covers and with feature articles. If
you're a computer artist interested in
national exposure, send us examples of
your work in either color slide or trans-
parency format. Include a brief note
listing the title of the work and the
hardware and software used in its cre-
ation. Please address your samples to
Ad Director, COMPUTE PubliQtions
International Limited. 324 West Wen-
dover Avenue, Suite 200, Greensboro,
NonhCarohna 27408.
Sid Meier's
Latest Game
Is Just Like All
IBs Others...
Terrific!
The Sid Meier Checklist For Fun:
Challenge. Crimes arc l:>eLng
perpetnucd, plots are
ixMng iiatched. As .super-
spy Max Remington, you
must piece together
ambiguous clues leading to a
m til less criminal mastemiind.
Wrecks, even months of
intrigue-filled gaming time can
he spent finding just one
mastenuind. Covefi Action gives
you 26 of them to foil.
Versatility. Break into
;riniinal hideouts with guns
blazing; or try a subtler approach
with delicate wiretaps, brilliant
code-breaking and careful precise
sur\*eillance. Mix and match
investigative techniques, relying on
instinct and experience. You make the
decisions, detenu ine the strategy, and
decide the tactics.
Authenticity. Use the weapons real
agents tise and follow their procedures.
Face the same, real dangers. Covefi Action
is international espionage as it really is.
ENTERTAI/JMENT . SOFTWARE
For IBM -PC/Tandy/compatibles. For the latest information on release dates and availabiiitles. call MicroProse Customer Service at 301 -771*1 151, 9 am 10 5 pm EST. weekdays. © 1991
MicroProse Software, Inc.. 180 Lakefront Drive. Hunt Valley. MD 21030.
• Software Publishers Association
Circle Reader Service Numl>er 110
Most game designers can't afford to
repeat themselves, Fomiulas that work
so well in one game rarely succeed in
the next. Sid Meier is an exception.
His games, despite the diversity of
subject matter, always share certain
qualities, qualities computer gamers
have grown to lo\^e — ^ and
demand.
Now, the designer responsible
for tlie award-winning hits F-15
Strike Eagle, Pirates!, Red
Storm Rising, F-19 Stealth
Fighter and 1990\s Best
Strategy Game*, Railroad
Tycoon, presents the high-
tech, dangerous wodd of
international espionage.
Once again the subject is
unique; but Sid's ''magic
touch" remains.
"It is no exaggeration to say that MicroProse
has released the richest treatment of espionage
ever put in a computer game. Only the real thing
could be more rigorous, and one imagines that it
wouldn 't be nearly so much fun. ''
Computer Gaming World • May, 1990
EDITORLM LICENSE
PETER SCISCO
Good health is a lot like the weath-
er: Everybody talks about it, but
nobody does anything about it.
Despite Madison Avenue's ef-
forts to convince us we should be
stair-stepping, bicycling, and jumping
for our lives, most people are just too
busy to do more than rush home and
grab a sack of chips in time to catch a
flick on HBO.
Around the winter holidays, our
thoughts turn to dieting, but we al-
ways wait for the New Year so we can
make a resolution out of all this good-
health business. Another broken
promise. Another guilty conscience.
Another raid on the fridge.
And then technology comes along
to save us. From CAT scans to elec-
tronic microscopy, from jogger logs to
nutrition guides, computers have had
an amazing impact on our health over
the last 20 years. Take a look around
your doctor's office. Everything is
automated, from insurance fiHngs to
blood analyzers.
There's no question that com-
puter technology has brought the pos-
sibility of better health management,
if not better health, to all of us, com-
puter users and Luddites alike. Com-
puters are good at counting numbers,
at presenting facts we can compare
and analyze, at turning raw data into
charts and graphs we can pore over to
our hearts' content. They can bring us
to surprising conclusions in startling
and innovative ways. That's the
strength of technology and, in many
ways, the basic pattern of healthy liv-
ing— taking slock, analyzing, drawing
conclusions, programming a solid nu-
tritional base, establishing an effective
exercise program.
This is all on the bright side, but
there's a dark side as well — a venera-
ble hbrary of fact and folklore about
the health risks of computers. Repeat-
ed motions, like entering data with a
keyboard for several hours a day, can
lead to Repetitive Stress Injury or
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. And al-
though the effect of radiation from
monitors, laser printers, and the rest
of the electronic gear stashed in our
homes is still a matter of debate, the
discussions have become more agitat-
ed, much like the arguments about the
greenhouse effect. Only this time we
aren't talking about global warming
that might affect the earth in 30 years;
we're talking about microwaving our
bodies to an early grave.
Fortunately, some manufacturers
are concerned about health and com-
puters, and they've answered with, for
example, radiation screens and glare
screens, extremely-low-frequency
monitors, recycled toner cartridges,
and recycled paper for packaging.
Government and labor are taking a
hard look at the situation as well —
witness San Francisco's recent ordi-
nance that sets health guidelines for
computer operators.
I grew up with stories about how
NASA's space program contributed to
the development of pacemakers and
about how the miniaturization of elec-
tronics contributed to the wonder ma-
chines of microscopic investigation
and surgery. 1 also heard that NASA
gave us Tang and it probably spawned
the idea for pate in a tube, an abomi-
nation 1 hope not to see twice in one
lifetime.
In the future we'll have complete
health-monitoring systems for our
homes built around computer chips.
Picture a small kitchen computer that
tracks personal nutrition data for ev-
ery member of the family. All of your
data is encoded on a small data card,
which you slip into the system like a
bank card at an ATM. From the re-
frigerator comes a suggestion for a bal-
anced, personalized lunch.
If you're low on staples, an elec-
tronic shopper zips to the food market
of your choice and places your order
for delivery. The money is debited to
your bank account. Your microwave
sets itself for optimal cooking time.
Calorie and nutrient information is
stored in your personal database for
future reference, and your data card is
updated for the next meal.
If this all sounds too George
Jetson for you, pull your nose out of
the funny papers. Many successful
businesses have shown how computers
can help to manage projects. And what
better project than your health? B
6 COMPUTE
JULY 1 9 9 \
Design and Build
Authentic Medieval Castle§l
Wiih CASTLES'^' you can now design the layout of yo|
own medieval dream casile. You'll need to
site I hat is easily defendabte from attack ^^
decide where to put towers, walls anOT- _
of gatehouse should you buiid? How high should the
hauiemenis Ix*? How^i^pS^d pu make the , "
orie-and liow much shotiki iliev l)e taxed?
.f^
:-^*
Itfr til* «Mfip«rt q| Ihv K«(a Cl*«rrfti
els between the chute
^pond tq pleas for help from
301 .->.,,v,.,^ ^. a]
fdom. Burden
.jical demands. Tfien,
ijiuuuy t)altles against the angr\\
i-ifo 'o^-o .
neir narcH*arne(2
ieval ages a swell time are in this package! Z
TASTLEf features: ^_
,256coloM'GAgnil)hks.
' Full mtisiail score with nmjorsoumlhmfnf .Mi///yi/M.
Biiikl mlwidiial castles or conquer the wild frontier
iu an ei}ibt ^ame campaign.
Cho(fSe k'tween realistic and matiical sellings.
Ihree kmls of difficulty, from easy lo challeugiug.
To order CASTLES'-^
calll-8(K)-965-Gr*^
Available on MS
for SS9.95. Comirig
s(K>n on Amiga ,,—.
and iVlachUosH;'.
Interplay Productions
3710S. Susan, Suite too
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714)549-2411
Circle Reader Service Number 1 56
NEWS & NOTES
PC Paper
Computers have moved their users
away from pen and paper. Now it a|>
pears that users are moving back. For
certain applications, keyboard input
isn't always best. Sometimes — espe-
cially when creating computer-aided
art and design— it's better to be abfe
to work with a pen in hand. It was this
need, coupled with the growth of the
field of Computer-Aided Design (CAD),
that led to the birth of computer graph-
ics tablets. These wonderful devices
let you actually draw onscreen by trac-
ipg outlines with a pen on a flat pad
that loosely resembles a sheet of pa-
per. Slowly, other applications have
adopted the graphics tablet philoso-
phy, now commonly referred to as
pen-based computing. One computer
manufacturer has even based its en-
tire operating system on pen-based
computing.
Summagraphics, long a leader in
graphics tablet manufacturing, wants
to see widespread use of pen-based
computing. Toward this goal, the com-
pany is now planning to bundle its
graphics tablets with Microsoft Pen
Windows. The offer is designed to
allow owners of desktop computers to
upgrade their systems to take advan-
tage of pen-based computing. Micro-
soft Pen Windows combines the
established Windows graphic user in-
terface with handwriting and gesture
recognition, making the creation of a
fully pen-based system much easier.
The combination of Microsoft Pen
Windows and pen-based computing
with handwriting recognition presents
virtually endless possibilities for dis-
tinct new markets for graphics tablets.
These new markets will encompass
general and new pen-based applica-
tions. The greatest area of interest is in
editing and manipulating figures (as in
spreadsheets), but more will certainly
appear. For more information about
graphics tablets, contact Summagra-
phics, 777 State Street Extension,
Fairfield, Connecticut 06430.
Three Reasons Why
According to a new survey by COMTEC Market Analysis Services of the Gartner
Group, the work-at-home industry has been most affected by personal comput-
ers, cellular telephones, and facsimile machines.
The survey tabulated information for approximately 45,000 households, rep-
resenting a reasonable sample of the almost 90 million U.S. households as
counted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. According to the report, 52 percent of
all households still don't use any of the three information technologies— even at
work— and only 3 percent make use of all three. PCs are now used in 42 percent
of households surveyed, however, while only 7 percent use cellular telephones.
The survey also found that T4 percent of homes using PCs own and use cellular
telephones. Clearly, this indicates that households that adopt one technology are
more likely to adopt others.
An ongoing service since 1982, COMTEC Market Analysis Services studies
the installed base of information Industry equipment and services — telecommu-
nications, computers, and office equipment. For more information, contact COM-
TEC Market Analysis Services, P.O. Box 10212, Stamford, Connecticut 06904.
The Electric Chair
Surely you have a favorite chair. Almost everyone does. One that just seems to
fit you. It takes time to break in a favorite chair, molding it slowly, through hours
of sitting and shifting in It, getting it to fit your exact shape like a glove. Fortunate-
ly, a new microprocessor-based interactive chair might make all that sitting and
shifting and waiting for comfort obsolete. The new chair Invented by Biomechan-
ics Corporation of America (BCA) actually responds to each occupant's body by
making hundreds of pressure-sensitive adjustments on its own, automatically
providing a new level of seating comfort.
Computer technology enables the new Intelligent Seat to learn about its oc-
cupant, measure load distribution, rate the occupant's comfort, decide which ad-
justments to make, automatically make those adjustments, and optimize seat
comfort. Soon, every chair in the house might provide that coveted perfect fit.
For additional information, contact Biomechanics, 1800 Walt Whitman Road,
Melville, New York 11 747; (800) 248-3746 or (51 6) 752-3550.
Speed and Capacity
Not to be outdone by Intel's recent achievements, IBM scientists have managed
to build what they refer to as the world's fastest high-capacity memory chip. The
experimental chip can send or receive eight billion bits of information per second.
The record breaker is a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) chip that holds
512 kilobits (524,288 bits) of information.
The chip can read individual bits of information in four-billionths of a second,
a benchmark known as access time. And it can read and write successive bits of
information — a measure known as cycle time — in just two-blllionths of a second.
The lightning chip holds the world speed records for both cycle and access time
for memory chips with more than 64K (65,536) bits of Information storage. >
8 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
^ymWIfif'***^"*'^^
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TOSHIBA
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Ltud^ei
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softw***®
Pick Our Brains.
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UJIUS
Product support for your IBM or
compatible.
CompuSen^e, the world's largest
network of people with personal
computers, is also the world's largest
network of people with answers to
your hardware and software questions
Brains abound on CompuSea'e.
You'll find quick solutions and infor-
mation from our thousands of forum
WORDSm
members,
some of whom have
already had your problem,
some of whom are the product devel-
opers themselves. Company decision-
makers are online, too, discussing the
next generation of products, and giving
CompuSer^^e members software
updates before they hit the market.
Got a question? Got a problem?
Get smart. And get some answers,
from the many minds of CompuServe.
To join, see your computer dealer
To order direct, or for more informa-
tion, call us today
CompuServe^
800 848-8199
Clrcla Reader Service Number 103
For a demo of our support seAdces, see us at Booth 220.
PC EXPO JAVJTS CENTER, NEW YORK
NEWS & NOTES
0.10 GlgaHertz
If you can imagine the current race for faster computers as resembling the India-
napolis 500, Intel has just unveiled the Maserati of microprocessors. The new
chip is a fully functional 486 microprocessor that operates at a truly blinding 100
MHz, delivering approximately twice as many instructions per second as any
microprocessor cunrently on the market.
This new microchip contains 1.2 million transistors and uses a process tech-
nology called CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) that minimizes
the chip's electrical power consumption. Intel's new 100-MHz microprocessor
features submicron line widths and three metal layers. One micron equals ap-
proximately 0.01 times the thickness of a human hair. Submicrons, of course, are
much smaller.
Intel says it has no immediate plans to offer this 100-MHz device as a com-
mercial product— but why else was it designed? Buckle your seat belts!
Power to the People
The VW of IBM PC word processors has just been souped up. Volkswriter 4, the
midrange product in \tolkswriter's complete line of low-cost word processing
packages, has been upgraded, adding more features and ease of use than ever
before.
The new release of Volkswriter 4 offers full integration of Reference Soft-
ware's Grammatik IV, a 31 0,000-word thesaurus, a 170,000-word spelling check-
er, footnotes, endnotes, page preview, macros, and autorecognition for five
common file formats. Optional add-ons include multilingual thesauruses and dic-
tionaries for spelling and autohyphenation, specialized dictionaries, LAN installa-
tion, and Vblkswriter's file-conversion package, Volks Word for Word,
Volkswriter 4 release 2.0 retails for $249.
The complete Vblkswriter line offers Increasingly sophisticated products,
from the entry-level Volkswriter 2 program to the Volkswriter 6 package with ad-
vanced publishing capabilities. The company's unique upgrade policy offers an
easy ahd economical way to move between packages for considerably less than
the cost of a new program. High-power, lower cost apps represent a new trend.
For more information, contact Vblkswriter, One Lower Ragsdale Drive, Building
2, Suite 100, Monterey, California 93940; (408) 648-3000.
Superpriced SuperCalc
Computer Associates has slashed a whopping 70 percent off the suggested retail
price of SuperCaicS, the company's popular spreadsheet program. It doesn't take
a spreadsheet to see this represents a major cost savings for consumers. The re-
sult is that SuperCalcd's original suggested retail price of $495 is now $149.
Sanjay Kumar, CA's senior vice president of planning, said, "We are a client-
and market-driven company Users tell us they want the latest spreadsheet tech-
nology, but they need it at a price they can afford and in an application that will run
on all of their MS-DOS based PCs. That's exactly what we're giving them."
SuperCalcS provides advanced spreadsheet technology, including Lotus
1-2-3 compatibility, spreadsheet linking, three-dimensional spreadsheet capabili-
ties, presentation-quality graphics and output, and network support. The compa-
ny also claims SuperCalc5 is the only spreadsheet offering this level of
functionality that can run across the complete range of PCs, from 8086 to 80486
machines. For more information, contact Computer Associates, 1240 McKay
Drive, San Jose, California 95131.
Enormous
Plot!
For those who think regular tabfetop
or freestanding plotters are just too
darned small, Data Mate has released
the Michelangelo Paint Jet System.
With it, you can decorate the side of a
van, a wall, or a giant canvas (up to
5.38 feet square). The source can be
any graphic scanned into a computer
with a Sharp JX-300 or compatible
scanner. As you might imagine, the
equipment doesn't come cheap. To
begin with, you will need to have an
IBM PS/2 computer, a color scanner,
and an air compressor (Michelangelo
is sort of a robotized airbnjsh artist).
Once you have assembled this basic
support equipment, Michelangelo itself
costs $60,000 f .o.b. Japan (or $53,000
each for two or more). The paint (you
will need to have yellow, magenta, and
cyan installed) costs $15 per bottle,
and you will use about a bottle of paint
for each painting. Still, Data Mate in-
sists that Michelangelo quickly pays
for itself if you create four paintings a
day at a charge of $600 per painting
(each painting takes Michelangelo
about four hours). The net cost per
day is around $60, so you would make
a net profit of around $2,340 per day
(that's $70,200 per month). Or so they
say.
The literature states that Michel-
angelo can paint on paper, glass, plas-
tic, cloth, wood, or enamel (as used on
automotive bodies). The unit looks like
a vertical version of a flatbed plotter,
about six feet high and a little wider
than it is talL The painter runs on a
track mounted on a horizontal bar
which Is elevated on twin vertical bars.
It breaks down into separate sections
and weighs only 287 pounds (plus 40
pounds for the controller), making it
easy to transport from one job to the
next. It uses acrylic paint that is odor-
less and nontoxic but weathers well.
Although the price of the equips
ment may seem high at first glance. It
compares well with the cost of silk
screens. Silk screens are many times
more expensive than Michelangelo,
and they are not as flexible.
For more information, contact
Data Mate, New Taro Building, 2-2-12,
Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. i>
10 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
v^ - -/i^V sc^X
SERVE AND VOLLEY
WITH THE PROS!
BesfdGs great graphics, excellent displays and perfect sounds,
TIE BREAK TENNIS offers more, a lot more! Realism, thrill,
precise ball control and a wide range ot techniques are all included. —,
^)
Compete in all major tournaments including: WIMBLEDON, US OPEN, THE DAVIS
CUP. FRENCH OPEN, AUSTRALIAN OPEN, and THE MASTERS. Select your court
surface, racket, and computer opponents with individual profiles. Use a variety of
techmques: crushing serves, forehand, topspin, slice, lob, "slams", volley, soft balls,
and many more! Play singles or doubles alone or with a partner, or compete with
up to 16 players (human or computer) in tournaments. You can even keep track of
your own rankings and save it all on disk!
^sto^
''%.
'-^
With its breath-taking animation, amazing realistic speech and sound effects in TV-
style, TIE BREAK TENNIS scores an ace everytime!
Available for: IBM PC, PS-2, PS-1, 1007o compatibles and Tandy computers. Also
for AMIGA, C-64/128 and Atari ST. IBM: For VGA (256 colors), EGA, CGA, MCGA,
Tandy (16 colors) and HERCULES. Supports Ad-Lib. Soundblaster, and Co vox
soundcards, k. —v. -i- t
Retail price: $39.95. Visit your local software retailer
or call 1-800- 783-8023 to order. .
^Digifek
^Software
Circle Reader Service Kumber 20a
Or write to: DigiTek Software, 1916 Twisting Lane, Wesley Cfiapet, FL 33543.
::^•^Hfti?-^.^^•' • Z'^^/^' :- >^' 4^^
NEWS & NOTES
Windowed PageMaker
PageMaker iust opened up for Windows. PageMaker version 4.0 for Microsoft
Windows 3.0 now boasts more than 75 new features, including a buiit-in word
processor, extensive support for long documents, sophisticated text handling,
and professional typographic controls. Capabilities previously available only in
PageMaker 4.0 for the Macintosh have been included in this PC powerhouse, in-
cluding memory management, networking options, and color capabilities. All the
program's features have now been designed to take specific advantage of the
Windows 3.0 environment.
With this new version, users can turn layout and text windows into easily ac-
cessible icons. Dynamic data exchange (DDE) links with Microsoft Excei 3.0 are
also provided. The program's new high-speed Story Editor and built-in word pro-
cessor allow you to do most of your work without leaving PageMaker, Advanced
features such as search-and-replace for text and style attributes and add-on
spelling checkers for 12 languages, as well as for legal, medical, and scientific
terminology, make it easy to use the new PageMaker's built-in word processor
for virtually any document you might want to create.
For a limited time only, Aldus PageMaker 4.0 also includes a free copy of
Adobe Type Manager, a $99 value (not available In 360K media). Aldus Page-
Maker 4,0 for Windows Is available in the U.S. for a retail price of $795. For more
information, contact Aldus, Customer Relations, 41 1 First Avenue South, Seattie,
Washington 98104.
Two Batteries, No Waiting
Laptops are definitely the computers of the future. All sales figures indicate these
little wonders are outselling their desktop competitors and there appears to be
no end to their accelerating sales. But laptops aren't worth a whole lot without
their batteries. That's why Epson's new 386SX notebook PC, the NB3s, comes
equipped with not one but two 8-ounce nl-cad batteries, each with an estimated
life of 1 to 1 .5 hours per charge under typical usage conditions.
Even better, the 16-MHz machine weighs just 5.8 pounds (with battery) and
comes with a slip case that accommodates the unit and the exti-a battery. It's just
about everything you need In a high-powered portable PC, for a suggested retail
price of $3,999. For additional Information, contact Epson America, 2780 Lomtta
Boulevard, Torrance, California 90505; (800) 922-891 1 .
Expensive Software
The Software Publishers Association (SR^) has revealed that a settiement of
$300,000, the largest ever reached in such a case, has been obtained in a soft-
ware copyright Infringement suit against Davy McKee Corporation, a Chicago-
based construction engineering firm.
Using Information supplied by a former Davy McKee employee, SFA filed a
lawsuit on November 16, 1990, alleging that software copyrighted by Lotus, Soft-
ware Publishing, and WordPerfect was routinely copied by the company In viola-
tion of the Copyright Act. After a surprise visit and an SFV^-supervised audit of
the software In use on all personal computers located at the firm, tine company
agreed to a settiement which, In addition to the cash, includes annual software
audits for the next two years.
The company apparentiy thought it was saving money by using unautiio-
rized copies of popular software on Its computers. Of course, the cxDst was even-
tually much higher than was most likely anticipated at the time. Software piracy
takes all forms, and SR^ has been a dedicated force in education and enforce-
ment geared to bringing it to a halt.
Affordable 486?
Headed into the fast lane, Intel has just
created a new, less expensive version
of the 486 microprocessor. Called tiie
486SX, tiie new chip will sell to com-
puter manufacturers for roughly half
tiie cost of a full-blown 80486. The
new 486SX njns at a speed of 20
MHz, which is about 20 percent slower
than Intel's slowest 80486 CPU and
about 35 percent faster than Intel's
fastest 80386 chip combined with
cache memory chips.
According to a report pubished in
the Wall Street Journal, the 486SX is
basically tiie same as the standard
486 chip, but Intel has disabled drcurts
in the floating-point chip unit. The float-
ing-point chip unit normally speeds up
math calculations.
Intel says tiiat for an additional
$800 it will offer manufacturers anoth-
er plug-in chip that will restore the co-
processor capability and will increase
the speed of the 486SX to that of a
standard 486 chip. The main advan-
tage of a 486SX over Intel's 386 chip Is
the 486's built-in cache memory.
IBM has already begun shipping
several new systems that use Intel's
486SX microprocessor. The new sys-
tems come standard with 4MB of
memory, expandable to 64MB on the
system board. All systems include a
32-bft SCSI busmaster that includes
51 2K cache for data input and output.
The desktop models are config-
ured witii either an 80MB SCSI hard
disk (Model 90 XP 486 SX-0G5) or a
160MB SCSI hard disk (Model 90 XP
486 SX-0G9) and with 80-, 160-, 320-,
and 400MB SCSI hard disks as op-
tions. Suggested retail prices range
from $8,345 to $8,945.
Also available (in July) are two
new Model 96s featuring the same
amount of memory as the Model 90s,
a 160MB or 400MB hard disk (with the
same list of optional hard disks as the
Model 90s), price ranging from $9,995
to $12,695. In addition to the differ-
ence in hard disk size, the Model 90
machines are desktop units, while the
Model 95s are designed to stand on
the floor beside a desk.
"News & Notes ' Is by Alan R. Bechtold,
editor of tnfo-Mat Magazine^ an electronic
news weekly from BBS Press Service, m
12 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
BEOm AFM^ASTIC
iwaiMvEsn
Advanced
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m unfolding in the
^mysterious l^^g^
Frontier! Entertne foreboding
lands of an area never before explored in
a computer fantasy role-playing game: the
Savage Frontier! Sail the Trackless Sea,
conquer the fieights of the Lost Peaks,
brave the ruins of Ascore, guardian of the
Great Desert, visit magical Silverymoon
and much more! Your quest: halt the mur-
derous conspiracy of dark invaders from
afar. Success will be yours only if you can
uncover ancient mystical items of power
to destroy the malignant invasion!
based on an^^^^ced version of the
award-winning game system used in Foa.
or RADiAfiCi:, CvHSEorwE AzuHt: Boms and
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Savaqi: f/^o^mK gives you the freedom to
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new exploration and excitement to all of
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How can you resist?
The Savage rrontier awaits!
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To receive SSI's complete
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STRATEGIC SIMULATIONS, INC.'
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SHAREPAK
RICHARD
L E
N E C K E R
Since summer months are the
biggest travel months, weVe
collected three terrific programs
tai]geied to the laptop audience. If
you don't have a laptop, though, don*t
worry. The same principles that apply
to laptop-specific software usually ap-
ply to desktop systems as well
You may be running a floppy-
only system, or your available hard
drive space may be in short supply. If
youVe in either situation, hang on;
these programs are for you, too.
First, there's Simply Wriie, a text
editor for writing letters, outlines, and
documents. PROspector is a prospect
tracker for salespeople who need to
stay organized. And when you get
back to the office, Filesync will copy
over and update only the files you've
worked on while you were away.
Why should you order our Share-
Pak disks? Because they're always
packed with the best programs, hand-
picked from hundreds of submissions.
The cost of downloading these pro-
grams from an online service alone is
worth many times the cost of the disk.
And we spend many hours screening
them to select the very best programs
so you don't have to. There's one
more fmportant incentive: We guar-
antee our SharePak, If for any reason
you're not happy, just send it back
with your reason, and we'll refund
your money. A subscription can save
you even more money. You can get
12 disks for $59,95, a 37-percent sav-
ings over individual disk purchases.
SlmplyWrlte
This ASCII text editor does more than
just edit ASCII text. It has the full list
of features you would expect: search
and replace; insert and overwrite tog-
gle; block operations like cut, copy,
and paste; keystroke macros; word-
wrap and autoindent; margin and lab
operations; complete print-formatting
commands like bold, italic, com-
pressed, and letter quality; and much
more.
There are some surprises, too.
You can edit the cursor size, set the
keyboard speed, edit documents with
up to 1000 columns, and use a built-in
pop-up calculator and calendar. These
features aren't even found in many
commercial word processors.
The keypresses I needed were
easy to learn — thanks mainly to the
great online help that's merely a key-
stroke away. Simply Write ^zs easier
to learn than most text editors I've
used, and the best part is that the re-
quired disk space was 273K — small
enough to put on a single floppy and
have plenty of room for documents.
For laptop owners, SimplyWrite
is the answer to the fight for programs
small enough to fit on a single floppy.
If you need to economize on disk
space, this program is also for you.
Not only is it a quality piece of soft-
ware, it's small and won't hog your
system's resources.
PROspector
You're on the road or in the air, and
you need to refresh your memory. In-
stead of fumbling through legal pads,
take out your laptop computer and
run PROspector 1 .0. It'll give you a
complete picture so you can mentally
prepare for upcoming events.
PROspector is pretty easy to use;
if you're familiar with similar pro-
grams, you shouldn't have any trouble
learning how to use it. Entering data is
simple. The program gives you a box,
and all you have to do is type in the
information and press Enter. It does
all the worrying about updating your
disk files and keeping track of them.
You can sort the entries just
about any way you want, and you can
set the search criteria for a wide range
of uses. The search routines can find
entries in any of the fields. That way
you can search for all references to
Bill, for example, and then turn
around and find all the phone num-
bers with a 9 1 9 area code.
For such a powerful program,
you won't have to give up much disk
space. The directory I put PROspector
in contained a total of 359K of files,
including several test-data files. That
leaves plenty of room on a 3y2-inch
disk for your fdes.
If you want to keep track of
appointments, clients, and contacts,
this program is a must. It will give
you a needed edge in your business,
and it won't tax your computer's
resources too heavily.
Filesync
Once you're back in the office, you'll
want to copy your files back to your
desktop system, but it isn't always a
good idea to copy everything. That's
why Filesync is so handy. It com-
pares the dates and times of files and
makes sure you're left with the latest
updates.
The program is simple to use.
Just type in the source and destination
directories, and let it go to work. This
handy utility can save you time and
aggravation, and possibly prevent
mistakes that will wipe out your latest
file changes.
When using a laptop, you have to
find ways to get the most computing
power out of the least amount of disk
space and memory. These programs do
that and provide some of the most use-
ful tools to use on the road — and
they're usefiil for desktop systems, too. El
14 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
With COMPUTE'S SharePak, You'll
Share in the Savihgs!
SAVE TIME— we carefully select and test all
programs for you
SAVE MONEY— each disk includes two to five
programs for one low price
SAVE KEYSTROKES— our free DOS shell lets you
bypass the DOS command line
I.:.
lil *vr:' il-hitrn
ll.f WW
mmmmsr^m 1
m
MtrvM;
MntiivcliHdf
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>-i:^^:5S:^
m-t:
m-i:
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ciiM'
Uti^tt £M«t:
M(U,fi
tt^U Uiimm
PftOspectOf
SfftipfKHrifte
Flfesyne
COMPUTE'S SharePak disk contains the best of
shareware— handpicked and tested by our staff— to comple-
ment this months In Focus topic. You'll sample entertainment,
learning, or home office software at a great savings. Each
SharePak disk includes two to five programs plus complete
documentation for one low price:
$5.95 for 5V4-inch disk
$6.95 for 3V2-[nch disk
For even more savings,
Subscribe to SharePak and receive
COMPUTE'S SuperShell FREE!
For a limited time, you can subscribe to CX)MPUTE's Share-
Pak and save more than 37% off the regular cost of the
cjisks— plus get CX)MPUTE's SuperShell FREE. Wrth a one-
year paid subscription, you'll get
• A new 3V2- or 5V4-inch disk delivered to your home every
month
• Savings of over 37% off the regular disk prices
• Advance notices of COMPUTE special offers
• COMPUTE'S SuperShell at no additional costl
Subscribe for a year at the special rates of $59.95 for
5V4-inch disks and $64.95 for 3V2-inch disks— and get
COMPUTE'S SuperShell FREEl
COMPUTE'S SuperSheli requires DOS 3,0 or higher.
Disks available only for IBM PC and compatibles. Offer good while supplies last
For Singfe Disks
YESI I want to stiare in the savings. Send me the July 1 991 issue of
COMPUTE'S SharePak disk. I pay $5.95 for each 5V4-inch disk and $6.95
for each 3V2-inch disk plus $2.00 shipping and handling per disk.
Please fndicate how many disks of each format you vvould like:
S'Annch at $5.95 each 3V2-indi at $6.95 each
Subtotal
Sales Tax (Residents of NC and NY. please add appropriate sales tax for
your area, Canadian orders, add 7% goods and services tax.)
Shipping and Handling ($Z00 U.S. ana Canada. S3.0O surface maJ, $5.00 air-
majl per disk)
„= Total Enctosed
Subscriptions
I want to save even morel Start my one-year subscription to COM-
PUTE'S SharePak right away. With my paid subscription, I'll
get a FREE copy of COMPUTE's SuperShell plus all the savings
listed above.
Please indicate tt>e dtsk size desired:
S'A-inch at S59.95 pef year 3'^-inch at SB4.95 per year
For delivery outside the U.S. or Canada, add $10.00 for postage and handling.
Ctty
State/Province -
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(RequffBd]
Daytime Telep*ione Ho
Send your order to COMPUTE's SharePak, 324 West VWendover Airenue. Sufte 200,
Greensboro, North Carolina 27406.
M orders must be pax] in US. Kinds by citedi drawn on a U.S. bank or by money ornter. MasterCard or VISA a
ed (or Of dei^ ov«f $20 TM offer vviO be tilted Qri4y at me alx»« acklress and is fKM rr^
msgazne or (Ask subs<apixyi offer. Please alow 4-6 WMlts lor deivary of 8i^
Sorry, but (etephone orders cannot ba aocepled.
Important Notice: CXJMPUTE's SharePak Is not associated with COMPUTE's PC Disk. Pfease
order SharePak separately.
DBACK
LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
The IDEs D^marchB
You could help your readers avert a
fatal mistake by running another para-
graph about low-level formats ("Intro-
DOS," April] 991).
Before you do anything to your
hard drive, you should find out what
kind it is, IDE drives are low-level for-
matted at the factory and should not
be low-level formatted again.
S. M. RUSSELL
W. PEABODY, MA
Reader Russell makes an excellent
point, and his letter goes on to quote
his user manual's warning against
low-level formatting of IDE (Integrat-
ed Drive Electronics) drives,
April 's ' IntroDOS" column failed
to note the differences between IDE
and other drive types. During the fac-
tory^ low-level format, certain infor-
mation is written to IDE drives, and
subsequent low-level formatting could
destroy that information, rendering
the drive inoperable.
The column 's intended message
was that you should not be afraid to
use low-level formatting utilities if ap-
propriate for your drive. If such utili-
ties came packaged with your drive,
you can be pretty sure you won't harm
your drive through their use.
No hardware procedure, however,
should be attempted without checking
the user manual for information about
how that procedure might affect your
specific computer system.
Missing Link
I read with interest the telecommuni-
cations-related articles in your Febru-
ary 1991 issue but was dismayed to
observe the almost total lack of recog-
nition of and discussion about Ameri-
can People/Link (Plink). It has been
online since December 1984 and has
tens of thousands of satisfied users.
Plink offers a wide variety of services
to its subscribers, not the least of
which are its Amiga support clubs,
which I run. To ignore People/Link is
a disservice to your readers.
HARV L.kSER
TORRANCE, CA
People interested in learning more
about People/Link can call (800) 524-
0100 (voice) or (800) 826-8855 (mo-
dem) or write to American People/
Link, 165 North Canal Street, Suite
950, Chicago, Illinois 60605.
Worth More Than
1 000 Words
I understand that a scanner can trans-
fer images from a printed page to a
computer for desktop publishing ap-
plications, but why is it necessar}' to
use another device to accomplish the
same for printed words? What's the
difference to the computer between an
illustrated page and one filled with
text?
HSIN TU
N. HOLLYWOOD. CA
7b start with your second question,
computers store text as a series of dis-
crete characters. Each character occu-
pies one byte of storage space.
Programs that display these charac-
ters—word processors, for example-
have a series of rules to follow in dis-
playing this text so that it appears or-
ganized when displayed.
With a graphic, the entire illustra-
tion is considered one element. The
image is stored using a code that de-
scribes how the pixels (picture ele-
ments) on the screen are to be lighted
when the graphic is displayed.
When an image is scanned, the
scanner bounces its light off of the im-
age, measures the reflection, and re-
cords the information about the
lightness and darkness of the image.
To a scanner, a page of text is no dif-
ferent from a picture of a sailboat —
both represent varying amounts of re-
flected light.
A scanned image fits nicely into a
paint program, which is essentially a
pixel- man ipulation program.
To turn scanned text into editable
text, additional software is needed.
This software, called OCR or Optical
Character Recognition software, ex-
amines the scanned image (a graphic)
for character patterns that it can
match with patterns in its character li-
16 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
connpuTE
EDJTORIAL
Edilor in Chief Peter Scisco
Art Director RotHn C, Case
Executive Editor Clifton Karnes
Senior Editor Emeritus Kertfi Ferrell
Managing Editor David Hensley Jr.
Features Editor Robert Bfxby
Associate Editor David English
Editor, Gazette Tom Netsel
Associate Editor,
Amiga Resource Denny Atkin
Reviews Editor Mike Hudnall
Assistant Editors Jill Champton
David Sears
Copy Editors Karen Huffman
Susan Thompson
Editorial Assistant Kandi Sykes
ART
Assistant Art Director Kenr>etii A, Hardy
Designer Jo Boykin
Typesetter Terry Cash
PRODUCTION
Production Manager De Potter
Traffic Manager Bartjara A. Williams
PROGRAMMiNG
Programming Manager Richard C, Leinecker
Programmers Bruce Bowden
Steve Draper
Troy Tucker
ADMINISTRATION
President Kathy Keeton
Executive Vice President,
Operations Will tarn Tynan
Office Manager Sybil Age©
Sr. Administrative Assistant,
Customer Service Julia Fleming
Administrative Assistant Efreda Chavis
fleceptionist Cynthia Giles
ADVERTISING
Vice President,
Associate PubJisher Bernard J. Theobald Jr.
(212) 496-6100
Vice President,
Sales Development James B. Marti&e
Marketing Manager Caroline H anion
(919) 275-9809
AOVEHTISING SALES OFFICES
East Coa»(: Full -Page And Standafd Display Adi— Bernard J
TheobakJ Jf , Chns Coe^ho, COMPUTE Pubicatwns intematiooal Ltd.,
1965 Broadway, Mew YofK, NY T0023: (212} <i96-61M New England-
Jack Garland, Garlar^d Associates, Irx;,. 10 Industrial Park Rd , Hinohafn
MA 02043; (617) 749-5852 Eaat Coast and Midwesi: FractiOital and
Product Marl Ads — Carotins Han (on. Produd Mart Manager COM-
PUTE Pubtications International Hd . 324 W. Wendovar five.. Surte 200.
Gr^nstxxo. NC 2740S; (919) 275-9S09- Southeastern Accts. Mgrj
Fun-Page, Standard Display, and Mail-Order Ads— Harr^t Rooefs,
1725 K St NW Suite 903, Washington, DC 20006; (202} 72B-0320.
Rorida— J M Remer Assccates, 3300 NtE I92nd S^ Surte 192
Aventura. FL 33180; (305) 933-1467, (305) 933-8302 (FAX} Midwest^
Full -Page and Stanttard Display Ads— Starr Lane, Naiional Accounts
Manager; 1025 Cresoeni Blvd , Glen Eliyn. IL 60137: (708) 79O-0171
Mid- Southwell —Joy Burteson. Brertda CcxJiran, Tamara Cramef , Carci
On; Carol Orr 4 Co. 3500 Mapte. Surle 500. Datias. TX 75219; (214)
521-6116 West Coast Education/ Entertainment— Jerry Thorripscn.
Jule^ E Thompson Co , 1290 Ho^^rd A^'e,, Suite 303. Buriingame. CA
94010: (415) 348-8222 Western Accts, Mgr: Productivity/Home Of-
fice— Ian Ltngwood. 6728 Eton Aue . Canoaa Park. CA 91303; (818)
992-4777 West Coast: Fractional Mait-Order, Shareware, and Prod-
uct Mart Arfs— LuciSle Denms, Jules E. Thompson Co,, 1290 Howard
^e. Surte 303, Buriingame, CA 94010; (707) 451-8209 U.K & Eu-
rope—Beverly Wardale, 14 bsgar Terr , London W14, England; 011-
441-602-3298 Japan— fntergroup Communcations. Lid ; JIfO Semba.
Prestdent. 3F Tiger e;dg 5-22 Shibakoen, 3-CrK>mo. Mrnato4(u, Tokyo
105. Japan; 03-434-2607. Classified Ads— Sharon Stemkemper, COM-
PUTE PuWications Inter naborai Ltd , 1965 Broadway. New York. NY
10023: (212) 724-0911,
THE COnpOHATION
Bob Gocoone (chairman^
Katny Keeton (vice-ctyairman)
David J, Myef&on (chief apefaung otticef}
Anttiorty J Gucctone (sccrstsryireasufef}
Wiliam F. Mariieb (pros^d^nt mBrketing & advertising sa!es)
Jotin Evans (pmsidGni. iot&ign ediUons)
Patrick J Gavm (vics president, chief tmartcial aftiCBr}
ADVERTISING AND MARKETING
Sir VP/Corp. Dir . New Business Devehpfnent.: Beverly Wardale:
VP/Dir.. Group Advertising Ssj'es Nancy KesteflOaum; Sr. VP/Souiharn
and Midwest Advertising Dif. Pet&- Gc*dsmrth. Otfices. New Yoric 1 965
Broadway, New Yort, NY 10023-5965, Tel. (212) 496-6100. Telest 237128,
Midw&st: 333 N Michigan f^e.. Suite 1810, Chicago, IL 60601, Tet. (312)
346-9393 Soum: 1725 K St NW. Suite 903, Washington, DC 20O06, TeL
(202) 728-0320 W&sS Coast 6728 Eion ^e.. Canoga ParX, CA 91303.
Tel (818) 992-4777 UK and Europe: 14 LJsgar Terraoe. London W14,
England, Tel 01-028-3336 Japan intergroup Jiro Semba. Telex
J25459IGLTYO. Fax 434-5970 Korea Kaya Advlsng . Inc,, Flm 402
Kunshtn Annex B/0 251-1, Dohwa Dong, Mapo-Ku. Seoul. Kofea (121).
Te<. Tia-eaoe, Telex K32l44Kayaaa
ADMINISTRATION
VP /finance, CFO: Patrick J. Gavin: Sr. VP/ Administrative Services: Jen
Winston; Sr VP/Arr & Graphics Frank Oevino: VP/Ne\AfSStand Circula-
tion: Marcia Orovnz; VP /Director of Ne« Magazine DeveSopment: Rona
Cherry, VP Director Sales Promotions Beverly Greiper. VP Production:
Hal Haipner, Dir Nev/sstano Cifcutation: Paul Ro^nicV; Dir. f^ewsstaryd
Circulation D^stnCujlion: Charios Anderson, Jr ; Dif Sbtsscription Circuts-
tion: Mflfcia Schuir?; Difectof of Roiearch Robert Ratlner; Adverrisirtg
Production Director. Charlene Smith. Advertising Production Tr&ftic
Mgr.. Mark Wilhams; Traffic Dir : William Harbutl; Production hAgr.: Tom
Etinson; Asst. Production Mgr. Nancy Hice; Foreign Editions Mgr.: Mi-
chael Slevens, £jrec Asst. to Sob Guccione: Diane O'Comefli: fjroc.
Asst to David J Myefsor.' Ten Pisant; Spectal Asst to Bob Gt/ccione:
Jane HOfniiSh
FEEDBACK
brary. When it finds a match, it stores
the matched character in a file as a
discrete letter.
Optical Character Recognition
presents many challenges that are
slowly being overcome. One problem is
that the same letter — a, for example —
can take different forms depending on
the typeface. We've trained our brains
to recognize and adjust for these differ-
ences, but programming such nuances
into OCR software is a mammoth task
that requires great amounts of
memory.
Newspapers were among the first
businesses to use OCR software regu-
larly. As recently as ten years ago, an
OCR scanner was larger than today's
full-featured office copier. Writers
typed their stories on special paper
using special type balls on their IBM
Selectric typewriters. Their letters had
to line up properly and fall within cer-
tain margins.
The finished pages were then fed
into the scanner, which took several
minutes to digest a typical story. The
machine beeped constantly, asking for
help when it couldn't quite make out a
character.
Today's OCR software is improv-
ing, but it still isn 't perfect, and ex^en
99-percent accuracy isn 't good enough.
Imagine trying to scan this magazine
page, which holds approximately 6000
characters, using OCR software. Even
if your software correctly identifies 99
percent of the characters, it 's still going
to stop and ask you for help 60 times.
TVoubling Memories
I recently expanded the memory in
my system from 5 12K to 1MB. My
first use for the memory was to install
a RAM disk for use with my Money
Counts files, but I'd also like to use
the extra memory when I run Quattro
Pro. How can I delete the RAM disk
when I'm through with it?
ROBERT M. MERRITT
BLUE SPRINGS, MO
Little in computing causes as much
frustration as the extended memory
between 640K and 1MB. It 's a crime
to let that memory go unused, but it 's
difficuh to use it effectively.
Any device you install through
your CONFIG.SYS, such as RAM-
DISK.SYS or VDISK.SYS, is with you
until you rewrite CONFIG.SYS and
reboot. Switching a standard DOS-
supplied RAM disk on and off isn *t
possible. However, you can buy com-
mercial RAM-disk programs that can
be tetnporarily disabled or permanent-
ly removed.
Although a RAM disk can be ex-
tremely valuable on a floppy-disk-
based system with no hard disk, it
tends to be a bother when you have a
hard disk. You do save a little time
reading and writing files with a RAM
disk, but you also have to spend time
copying the files from the hard disk to
the RAM disk and back again. In ad-
dition, you run the risk of losing up-
dated data if the power fails before
your RAM disk files are saved on the
hard disk.
Perhaps the extra memory could
be better used by installing a disk
cache or by using it as a swap area for
certain resident programs.
A cache speeds disk access by
keeping frequently read disk sectors in
memory^ and by trynng to anticipate
which sector you 'II need next. When
the cache is successful, data is fetched
directly from memory rather than
from the disk drive, resulting in a fast-
er data transfer
Swapping is a technique used by
many resident utilities to minimize
their footprint when not in use. A small
portion of the utility stays in memory
at all times. When you press that pro-
gram 's hot key, the resident portion
loads the "swapfile. " If the swapfile is
on disk, this process takes a few sec-
onds, but if the swapfile is in extended
memory, it's almost instantaneous.
Memory prices are currently as
low as they've been in years. Why not
add three or four more megabytes?
Then you 'II face some really tough de-
cisions about how to use your memory^
Playing the Slots
All the slots in my system are full but
I don't want to buy a larger unit at
this time. Is there any way to add an
expansion box with more slots?
LEE COTE
FOLSOM, CA
A computing truism seems to be that
expansion slots fill faster than gullies
in a thundershower. Look at comput-
ing's recent history, and you 'II see ex-
pansion everywhere.
My first computer, for example.
held 64 K of memory. Friends who
used systems ofI6K and 32K thought I
was nuts. Today, I can't run the soft-
ware I want with 3 megabytes of RAM.
As software attd hardware advance to
new levels, there are many more cards
I can plug into my system— modems,
mice, scanners, MIDI.
As time passes, demand on your
system 's resources will only increase.
When you shop for a computer, buy as
much expansion capability as you can
afford: then spend the next year or two
filling it up.
Many corporations have come to
accept the inevitability of this cycle
and are now budgeting to replace their
computer systems every three years in
order to stay abreast of technology.
If you've run out of slots, you may
be able to consolidate the expansion
boards you have to gain some room,
but there doesn 't seem to be any practi-
cal external expansion system for to-
day's PCs.
Consolidation can be achieved by
using multifunction boards to replace
dedicated cards. Many memory
boards, for example, can accommo-
date serial and parallel ports in addi-
tion to RAM chips.
If you have an unused serial port,
you could free a slot by switching from
an internal to an external modem or
by trading a bus mouse for a serial
mouse.
If consolidation is impossible and
you need more power, it 's time to shop
for a system you can live with for an-
other two or three years. If you have no
need for two computers, you may be
able to sell the old system through a
classified ad in a community ne\vs-
paper. Or consider giving the less pow-
erful computer to a son or daughter for
schoolwork. Then you can start think-
ing about setting up a household
LAN-^but there goes one more pre-
cious expansion slot. B
Readers whose letters appear in "Feed-
back" will receive a free COMPUTE's
PC clock radio while supplies last. Do
you have a question about hardware or
software? Or have you discovered some-
thing that could help other PC users? If
so, we want to hear from you. Write to
COMPUTE'S Feedback, 324 West
Wendover Avenue, Suite 200, Greens-
boro, North Carolina 27408, We re-
gret that we cannot provide personal
replies to tech n ical questions, B
JULY 1991
COMPUTE M
^
HEALTH & COMPUTERS
IS a computer your best friend and
personal trainer? Or is it a poten-
tially dangerous appliance? Can
the PC help the disabled lead
more normal lives? Or is it a power-
ful tool in the hands of medical pro-
fessionals? The answers are Yes, Yes,
Yes, and Yes,
A personal computer much like
the machine sitting on your desk can
be everything from a coach to a diag-
nostician. And it helps enable the
disabled.
On the downside, your comput-
er's monitor showers you with ex-
tremely low frequency (ELF) and very
low frequency (VLF) radiation every
minute you use it And, unless your
workspace is ergonomically designed,
your keyboard may be dooming you
to chronic, painful repetitive strain
injury.
Your PC has its own health to
worry about, too. Viruses can strike at
a PC's heart and soul^ — its hard disk
drive — and cripple the machine as ef-
fectively as a flu virus lays you low.
As they say, if you have your
health, you have everything. The PC,
M^ household tool of the 1990s, can
help to ensure that you keep your
health — your everything.
Eat Right, Lose Weight, Stay Fit
Your PC can't do it alone. Before it
can help you get a grip on your diet,
before it can tell you how healthy (or
unhealthy) certain foods are, and
before it can motivate you to exercise,
you have to give it the right software.
Several comprehensive nutrition
and diet programs let you record what
you've eaten and see exactly what nu-
trients make up each food. They'll
even note your physical activities.
Most are flexible enough to let you en-
ter new foods and play what-if games
with your diet and exercise. Notewor-
thy software in that category ranges
from the graphical DINE Windows to
the more traditional Food Processor
II, Some products treat your diet as
the key to good health, monitoring
not entirely for the sake of weight loss,
but for nutritional content. Parsons
Technology's Diet Analyst checks
your food intake for deficiencies in vi-
tamins and other nutrients. Diet Ana-
lyst can also help you track caloric
intake, but its principal claim is health
maintenance rather than weight loss.
If your diet is intended to maintain
weight or is a reduced-sodium, -sugar,
or -cholesterol diet, Diet Wise/Energy
Wise from Nutritional Data Re-
GREGG KEIZER
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 19
sources not only assists you via your
computer bui also provides loll-free
access to a registered dietitian.
Your computer can't nag you to
get up in the morning for your daily
run or swim^ but it can motivate you
by tracking your progress. A small
amount of software is available to
help you develop daily exercise plans,
while logging your workouts. Fitness
Profile, an expensive package, scores
your current runess from several tests,
many of which you can do at home or
at the local club. Personal Fitness
Planner designs a daily activity and
eating plan and then lets you record
activities to show how you're doing.
Software can also turn your PC
into a rudimentary self-diagnostic
tool. Packages like Family Medical
Adviser and Home Doctor consider
symptoms, ask questions, and let you
narrow down the possibilities for per-
sonal and family illnesses. They can't
replace a doctor's expertise, of course
(expert system software isn't at that
stage yet), but they can help answer
questions about simple ailments.
If you go to the trouble to look
for it, you can find specialized soft-
ware on almost any health topic imag-
inable. Want information about
AIDS? Understanding AIDS takes you
through an interactive lesson on the
disease, from its history to its symp-
toms and prevention. Birds 'NBees
for 7-12 Year Olds explains sex and
reproduction in a clear and simple
fashion to youngsters, and it even lets
you customize the content as well as
direct it for your child's age and sex.
The Doctor Is Always In
Transform your PC into a fascinating
medical- and health-information ter-
minal with a phone line, a modem,
and access to one of the online ser-
vices. Connect to CompuServe, for in-
stance, and you can peruse medical
journals, order prescription drugs, and
even chat with others about anything
from exercise to cancer treatments.
Although other online services
offer health information, none of
them match CompuServe. If you call
on Health Database Plus, for instance,
you can retrieve complete articles
from general-interest publications like
American Health, Hippocrates, Run-
ner's World, and Psychology^ Today ^ If
you want to keep up with breaking
medical news, you can pull down
short summaries of articles from pres-
tigious journals such as the New' Eng-
land Journal of Medicine, the British
MedicalJournal, and \\it American
Journal of Medicine.
Want specific information about
the medication your family doctor has
prescribed? Then go to HealthNet, an
online medical reference library. You
20 COMPUTE JULY 1
The Dieter's Edge
Nobody tikes counting calories, yet keeping
track of your food intake ts an integral part
of any sound personal health plan. It's easy
to lose sight of the fact that a diet isn't a
quick means for taking off unwanted
weight. A good diet balances fitness and
nutrition into a pattern you can maintain for
life.
That's where a program like 7/je Diet-
er's Edge comes in. This isn't just a simple
calorie counter; it's a comprehensive sys-
tem of measuring personal metabolism
rales, eating habits, and exercise regimens.
The data you enter is cast against back-
ground information compiled from the Unit-
ed States Department of Agriculture's
nutritional databases. The results are dis-
played in graphs and charts that bring a
picture of your health into clear focus and
help you maintain weight-loss and exercise
programs.
The Dieter's Edge is designed for
home use, and Its sophisticated techniques
are particularly suited for those people
working with a physician, coach, or dieti-
tian. The program tracks the protein, fat,
carbohydrate, mineral, and vitamin levels of
the foods you eat daily, it also tracks your
energy expenditures from such common
exercises as bicycling, walking, mnning,
swimming, and tennis. More than that, how-
can consult it at any hoor of any day
to learn about symptoms, diseases
and disorders, home health care,
drugs, and more. If your child's doctor
prescribes .Amoxil to fight an infec-
tion, for instance, you can quickly
find out how it works, what it's best
used for, its side effects, and even its
wholesale cost,
CompuServe also includes Court
Pharmacy, an online drugstore that
fills prescriptions. The doctor's pre-
scription must be mailed to the phar-
macy, so it's best for maintenance
medications, not drugs you need im-
mediately. Court is an interesting and
price-competitive alternative to your
local pharmacy and may be especially
attractive to the homebound or those
living in remote rural areas.
But perhaps the most impressive
way online services like CompuServe
help your health is through their fo-
rums. Forums gather together people
with common interests, allowing
them to talk electronically about their
illnesses, share their experiences, and
offer support and advice.
Your PC is no replacement for an
intelligent, caring medical profession-
al, but it can certainly put a wealth of
information at your fingertips.
PCs for the Pros
Personal computers do more for
health care than just make out the
bills and keep track of a doctor's
schedule. Although they may be ever
9 9 1
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How does your diet stack up?
ever, you can define home recipes and spe-
cial exercises with customizing options.
It's difficult to gain mastery over the
program's complex and comprehensive
data because the interface isn't as intuitive
as it needs to be. Fortunately, the manual
provides a clear guide through the basic
processes, and the program itself comes
with some sample data you can experiment
with. Mastering The Dieter's Edge takes
time. But if you're serious about your nutri-
tion and you need some help staying with
your program, this software turns your
computer into a personal health coach.
Best of all, you never have to listen to
Richard Simmons.
—PETER scisco
present in the office, handling the
same sorts of chores as in any busi-
ness, PCs may actually be making a
bigger and better contribution to
medicine long before an M.D. goes
into practice.
At the Louisiana State University
Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisi-
ana, PCs are a prominent part of the
library. Linked in networks, they con-
nect to any number of online medical
databases, including the publication
listing of MedLine. Medical students
can scan recent journals, pulling down
abstracts of articles from the screen.
Interlibrary and interregional loan
programs ensure that hardcopy gets to
students quickly. Teaching faculty
and physicians link up from the PCs
in their offices via the network or
modems.
Off to the side, PCs drive an in-
teractive videodisc lab. IBM PS/2s
control laser disc players to simulate
medical emergencies and put prospec-
tive doctors under pressure. At one
station, the videodisc shows a shotgun
victim arriving at a hospitars ER. By
pressing a touchscreen on the PC's
monitor, users call for examinations,
order medications and fluids for the
patient, and review vital statistics like
blood pressure, respiration, and heart-
beat. Choices determine the wounded
man's condition. A wrong diagnosis at
the PC can kill the patient; a moment
of hesitation can waste what little
time the victim has left. t>
If I Only Had a Brain
"Dr. Bodine! Dr. Bodine to the operating
room!"
"Beverly Hiilbilties" folk hero Jethro
Bodine swore he was going to be a brain
surgeon. If only he'd had Life & Death II:
The Brain.
Though it's a long way from a simula-
tion, Life & Death U carries a certain realistic
feel, enough to make the squeamish
squirm when the scalpel is in their hands
and the EKG monitor is beeping in the
background.
You play doctor as you diagnose pa-
tients with a variety of neurological ail-
ments. After a quick examination, you can
request CAT, MRI, x-ray, or angiogram
tests to pinpoint the problem. Then it gets
interesting. You hit the operating room, in-
stalments at your fingertips, with no idea of
what to do. The hospital classroom is avail-
able, but the text lessons are in big chunks,
they're hard to remember, and they dont
include any visual aids.
Sounds and sights on a VGA-equipped
PC with an Ad Lib or Sound Blaster board
are impressive. You see the blood well up
as you make an incision, hear the whine of
the drill as you bore a hole in the skull look-
ing to relieve a subdural hematoma. If you
don't follow correct procedures, or heaven
forbid, you make a wrong diagnosis, you'll
get yanked from the OR and sent back to
class with calls of Quack! echoing down the
hospital halls.
Life & Death ii is, believe it or not, great
fun — even for someone like me who early
"Hospitals are leery of letting stu-
dents practice on people," says Bon-
nie Sellig, the library's assistant
director Instead, computer-assisted
instruction lets rookie doctors try
treatments and immediately see the
outcome Just as a student pilot uses a
simulator before climbing into the
cockpit. '"Computer technology is the
very beginning level of medical train-
ing," Sellig says.
But medicine holds even more
hope for the PC. Sellig spells out a
not-too-distanl future in which doc-
tors use an integrated system to pull
up all the records of a patient; see the
treatments, diagnoses, and medica-
tions given; and then review current
literature to ensure that everything
possible has been done. ''Doctors are
going to have to be knowledgeable
about computers," Sellig asserts.
''[Computers are] going to be part of
their life from now on."
Linked with other commonplace
technologies — the facsimile machine
and the CD-ROM drive— PCs already
send copies of crucial medical articles
to doctors in rural areas and provide
entire textbooks on disk. In the years
ahead lie simpler point-and-click soft-
ware and even voice-activated com-
puters. "It's just a matter of keeping
up," says Sellig. "And computers are
what's doing it for us."
si^ll'i-1
^^n^
f. iiu
a
1
jjps=?
on decided that the fame and glory of medi-
cine weren't worth passing out over. It may
he no simulation, but it's the closest to a
sharp knife any of us deserve to be. Move
over, Jethro!
—GREGG KEIZER
Talk It Up
The PC may play surrogate physician
or help diagnose common illnesses,
but these contributions pale nearly
to insignificance in comparison with
its impact on the handicapped. Com-
puters, including heavily modified
laptops, are providing the power and
freedom of communication to peo-
ple who can't speak.
Sitting in a wheelchair, a quadri-
plegic man watches the laptop's LCD
screen. Using specialized software, he
writes, not by pressing keys, but by al-
most imperceptibly moving an eyelid.
A flat sensor attached to his muscles
reads the movement, and as a bright
cursor scans across a graphic of the
keyboard, it stops momentarily to en-
ter a letter. Tedious? Not really, since
the word processor leaps to conclu-
sions and offers a list of words it
thinks should come next. .A single
flick of the eyelid, and the word pops
up on the screen. The program can
even be trained to remember the
user's most-used words.
Laptop speech add-ons like Dec-
Talk put natural-sounding voices on
chips inside the PC, letting the com-
puter speak — even sing — for those
who can't. Quick-response software
like Talking Screen and E-Z Keys
from Words + let the disabled "talk"
much faster and more normally.
Drawing programs provide a creative
outlet and can be manipulated on the
portable computer when switches are
pressed, sipped, or squeezed.
All this technolog>^ doesn't come
cheap — customized laptops run
$5,000 and up. But they're portable,
they have legible screens, and they can
carr>^ on conversations for as long as
two hours between battery changes.
Advanced technologies like voice
recognition and virtual reality com-
bine to show the future of computer-
ized aides for the handicapped. At
Pacific Gas & Electric, Bill Yee, a se-
nior programming analyst, works with
a robotic assistant. Yee, a quadriple-
gic, talks, and the robotic arm re-
sponds, bringing reams of computer
printouts to his side, turning pages on
command, and tearing sheets olTthe
Feel the Burn
Using a computer for extended periods can
cause eyestrain for many people. But cou-
pled with a program like Vision Aerobics,
your computer can actually be used to
strengthen the eyes. What's more, the 3-D
glasses that come with this health-oriented
software will let you play the role of Dr.
Jacoby at your neighbor's next "Twin
Peaks" party.
Vision Aerobics combines three sepa-
rate exercises into an interactive exercise
program for your eyes. The Eyes in Motion
exercise resembles an arcade game and is
designed to improve your ability to make
rapid and accurate eye motions. Letters
flash onto your computer screen at differ-
ent points, and you must press the key that
corresponds to that letter.
The Images exercise is aimed at pro-
moting the muscles that align your eyes in
order to improve your depth perception. It
consists of a set of convergence and diver-
gence exercises, during which you try to
keep a set of images combined into one im-
age as long as possible. To do this requires
the 3~D glasses (not required in all exer-
cises) and opening your eyes as wide as
possible. You can really feel yourself work
during this exercise, and it's easy to see
where the program got the aerobics in its
title.
The last exercise, Relaxation, is a kind
of electronic visual mantra, during which
images float across the screen and tend to-
ward the background while you think pleas-
ant thoughts and try to relax your shoulder
muscles.
Taking a break from long periods of
computer use is a good idea whether you
own this program or not. You should look
away from your screen and focus on some-
thing across the room or outside the win-
dow for at least five minutes every hour.
Vision Aerobics claims to be able to
strengthen your eyes with continued use. If
your physician thinks you can benefit from
this kind of exercise, it's worth looking Into,
^PETER scisco
JULY 1991
COMPUTE
21
Repetitive Strain Injuries
ELF and VLF electromagnetic radiation is
certainly not the only hazard associated
with lengthy sessions at the computer. The
very act of typing could be crippling you,
causing repetitive strain injuries, known as
RSls. How? The answer is both simple and
complex.
For generations, piano teachers have
urged students to play with their hands sus-
pended above the keyboard. Unfortunately,
typing instructors seem to care more about
accuracy and speed than proper placement
of the hands, so most of us never learn the
correct way to use a keyboard. Our modern
office environments have conspired against
us, too. It's much faster and easier to send
a message from one networked terminal to
another than It is to handwrite a note or ac-
tually deliver the message in person. All this
typing might only be a pain in the fingertips
if it weren't for our posture and the place-
ment of our hands.
Many people type with the heefs of
their hands on the desktop and their hands
angled upward to raise their fingers above
the keys. This results in a constriction in the
carpal tunnel, which is a conduit for the ten-
dons that actuate the fingers. Constant
movement through this tunnel has the
same effect as rubbing your skin against
the edge of a tabletop. Heat is generated,
printer as he programs and debugs
software. It performs the functions of
a human assistant but does it more
economically. The robot will pay for
itself in less than two years.
Virtual reality — creating artificial
environments inside the PC that can
be experienced like a sketchy version
of the real world — also promises
much for the handicapped. Connect-
ed to a powerful PC in the not-too-
distant future, people bound to
wheelchairs will be able to "walk"
through computer-made worlds,
"run" for an imaginary touchdown,
and the tendons become sore. This is the
most common— and painful— form of RSI.
but any motion you perform constantly can
cause this kind of injury. Even the way you
sit in your chair could lead to backache and
other muscle pains and strains.
If you can't (or don't care to) lift the
heels of your hands from the desktop while
typing, pads are available that will elevate
your hands slightly, or you could make your
own pad with a square of cardboard and
some foam rubber. Also think about the
way you sit at your desk. Would your
grade-school teacher have given you satis-
factory posture marks for the way you sit?
Consider the possibility that your chair or
desk may be too low (many are) or that the
placement of your computer equipment
causes you to sit in an unnatural or uncom-
fortable position. Don't be afraid to experi-
ment to find the right way to sit.
Finally, take a break. Go and look out a
window every so often. If you're fascinated
by your work and don't really want to stop,
set a timer on your watch or alarm clock to
go off every hour or so. Just getting up and
stretching your legs, looking at distant ob-
jects, and conversing with friends can keep
you fresh and alert and inoculate you
against the stresses associated with being
sedentary. — robertbixby
or simply free themselves from the
constraints of their afflictions.
Hey, Coach!
Imagine how motivated you'd be to
eat right and keep fit if it meant your
job. Think how youM watch what you
eat if, when you arrived at the office
each day, you were paid by how
quickly you charged through the halls
or by how many chairs you could
knock out of the way.
San Francisco 49er football play-
ers, like everyone else in professional
sports, are constantly judged on how
well they perform, how often they
win. It's no surprise, then, that Jerry
Attaway, the 49ers strength and con-
ditioning coach, uses PCs to help
players manage their diets and calcu-
late their conditioning.
Attaway has calibrated the er-
gometers on the exercise bicycles and
combined them with a custom PC
program that tells his chaises how
long they've got to pump the pedals to
consume a set number of calories. "It
really hits home that way," Attaway
says, "about how much work is in-
volved to burn off the calories in a
food."
But it's in nutrition that he ex-
cels. Using a program called Nutri-
tional Analysis, Attaway tries to get
professional athletes to change their
eating habits. He's really trying to
change their lifestyles. "There's only
one or two guys on the team with a
weight problem," he says. "Fm trying
to get everyone to eat for their per-
formance. I sit down and explain
some physiological principles and,
with the computer, show them what
they normally eat, then do what-ifs on
the bottom line — the calories. They
go, *0h, yeah, I can do that,' or
'Coach, what if I do this?' The com-
puter gives us all sorts of options."
Calculating a nutritional plan
used to take Attaway half a day, and
then it wouldn't be quite correct. Now
it takes only ten minutes. "I make
them do it," he says. "They see the
numbers, and it's a way of teaching
them how to enhance their per-
formance or reduce the risk of heart
disease or even certain kinds of
cancer."
The 49ers also use PCs to log in-
juries and treatments, whether that
means ice on an ankle or a session in
More Miscarriages: Are VDTs Responsible?
Pregnant women who work in front of
VDTs for more than 20 hours a week run
an 80-percent higher risk of miscarriage.
That was the conclusion reached by re-
searchers at the Northern California Kaiser
Permanente Medical Care Program in Oak-
land, California, after studying 1 583 preg-
nant women who attended Kaiser
Permanente obstetrics and gynecology
clinics during the years 1981 and 1982
ifimerican Journal of Industrial Medicine,
June 1988).
In the study, researchers compared
the miscarriage rates of VDT users with
those of women who performed the same
type of work at their jobs but without
VDTs.
Video display terminals (VDTs) are
known to emit very low frequency (VLF)
and extremely low frequency (ELF) electro-
magnetic fields (EM Fs)— that much has
been proven. The question is whether
EMFs at those frequencies are harmful to
humans, and more specifically, to the
unborn.
While the evidence so far seems to
weigh against VDTs, a recent study from
the National Institute for Occupational Safe-
ty and Health reached a completely differ-
ent conclusion {New England Journal of
Medicine, March 14, 1991). Of the 730
women included in the NIOSH study 307
were directory-assistance operators who
used VDTs, and the other 430 were general
operators who performed similar work
using both LED (Light-Emitting Diode) and
NGT (Neon Globe Tube) monitors, which
emit no EMFs.
Both VDT and non-VDT workstations
were measured directly for VLF and ELF
emissions, as were background areas
away from the workers.
In their detailed study, researchers
concluded that VDT use did not, in fact, in-
crease the risk of miscarriage: "The rate of
spontaneous abortion for women with
more than 25 hours of VDT use per week
was similar to that for women witii no hours
of use per week The use of VDTs and
exposure to the accompanying electromag-
netic fields were not associated with an in-
creased risk of spontaneous abortion in
this study"
The study did confirm several other
factors already known to be associated
with an increased risk of miscaniage: previ-
ous miscanriage, the use of alcohol, the use
of cigarettes, and the presence of a thyroid
disorder.
Until more studies are conducted com-
paring VDT use and miscarriages, the jury
will remain out on this one. Whatever the
findings of the next study^ however, one
thing is for certain: Enough studies have
been conducted that we can say with fair
certainty that exposure to EMFs is harmful.
That fact alone may render any hjture cor-
relation bebween VDT use and the risk of
miscamage purely academic.
-^ILL CHAMPiON
22 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
the whirlpooL Everything goes into a
player's file at the end of the season-
missed practices, missed games due to
injuries—and is reviewed by the or^ga-
nization. That PC use probably makes
some players nervous. "Pro football
players don't like to keep records,"
laughs Attaway. "You can't let the
paranoia take over. If you don*t win,
they're going to fire all of us anyway.
You just do the best you can,"
Warning: Computer in Use
Your PC may pose a potential threat
to your health. Surprised?
Monitors are the prime suspect.
They emit electromagnetic radiation
at VLF and ELF levels. Although
studies are far from conclusive, many
researchers warn of possible health
risks associated with high electromag-
netic radiation levels, including mis-
carriages and cancer. San Francisco,
the first American city to regulate
working conditions at computer mon-
itors and terminals, has even estab-
lished a Video Display Terminal
Advisory Committee to report on,
among other things, electromagnetic
fields.
You can reduce the risk simply
and inexpensively. Don't crowd your
screen: Radiation levels drop sharply
two to four feet from the monitor.
Turn off any monitor you're not
using, as well as laser printers and
copiers, because they also throw out
Food for Thought
Have you ever wondered exactly what's
in that pizza you've been gnawing on
during a late-night session with King's
Quests Or those potato chips you
clogged your keyboard with while chat-
ting on CompuServe? Now your conn-
puter can tell you. Sant§ (pronounced
santay, which is French for health) is a
new computer program designed to
help you eat better by providing com-
puterized meat and recipe analyses.
Created under the strict supervi-
sion of a registered dietitian, Sant^ first
asks you a few short questions about
yourself and then lets you select your
foods from 3000 possible choices, sup-
plying you with a full analysis of your
meals and full day's intake. Detailed re-
ports cover calories, cholesterol ^ fat,
and essential vitamins and minerals—
29 nutrients in all. How you measure up
to the government's Recommended Di-
etary Allowances is computed automati-
cally. It even takes into account your
age, sex, and other information. The
software comes with a dozen dietitian-
tested recipes and a coupon good for
hundreds of additional free recipes.
—ALAN BECHTOLD
large electromagnetic fields. And if
you have several computers in your
home office, position them so that the
monitors' sides and backs don't face
your work space: Radiation levels are
typically weakest from the front.
More costly solutions range from
antiradiation screens to low-radiation
monitors. For $ 1 39 you can buy
NoRad's screen, which, according to
the company, stops 99 percent of the
electric radiation at VLF and ELF lev-
els. Low-radiation monitors are pricey
but available from major manufactur-
ers like NEC, Sigma, and Qume, They
block electromagnetic radiation, but
only at VLF levels. Or you may want
to switch to an LCD monitor, like
those on laptops. LCD screens emit
negligible radiation. Safe Computing
makes desktop-sized LCD screens,
but the cost— $2,495 for a backlit
VGA model— is prohibitive to all but
the wealthiest home computer users.
The catalog of less threatening,
but still harmful, effects includes every-
thing from headaches and eyestrain to
backaches and carpal tunnel syn-
drome, a persistent pain in the wrist.
Tired muscles and eyes can be relieved
by wTist support pads at the keyboard,
an adjustable chair, and property posi-
tioned lighting to reduce glare on the
screen. Headaches can be combated by
taking breaks from the computer.
Heal Your PC
Unaccountable system crashes. Ex-
traordinarily long times to load pro-
grams. Corrupted (and crucial) files.
Sound familiar? If so, your PC may be
the sickest thing in your house.
A PC can succumb to illnesses,
too. Some ailments come from care-
Product List
Btrds W Sees for 7-12 Yaar Otds
EZ Keysffatklng Scrmn
Lifecycle Aerobic Trainer
San*6
$14.95
$1,195.00
$1,598.00
$149.00
IntraCorp
Wbrds+
LifeFitness
Hopkins Technology
14202 SW 136th St.
44421 10th St. W,#L
9601 Jeronimo Rd.
421 Hazel Ln.
M!ami.FL 33186
Lancaster. CA 93534
Irvine. CA 92718
Hopkins, MN 55343-71 17
(800) 4S8-7226
(800)869-8521
(800) 735-3867
(612)931-9376
{305)252-9040
(805)949-8331
(714)859-1011
Understanding AfDS
CteanUp
FitnesB ProfilB
NEC 3DS Low-Emissions Monitor
S49.95
$35.00
$395.00
$1,049.00
SAE Software
Scan
V^fellsource
NEC
P.O. Box 13738
$25.00
15431 SE82n<J Dr.. Ste. D
1255 Michael Dr.
EdwardsvJIIe.KS 66113
McAfee Associates
Clackamas, OR 97015
V\foodDale.lL60191
(800)748-7734
4423CheeneySt.
(800)533-9355
(708) 860-9500
(913)441-1868
Santa Clara, CA 95054
(503)656-7446
Norton Antivirus
VIrex-PC
(408} 988-3832
food Processor//
$129.95
$129.95
CompuServe
$295.00
Symantec/Peter Norton Computing
Micfocom
5000 Arlington Centre Blvd.
ESHA Research
10201 Torre Ave.
P.O. Box 51489
Columbus, OH 43220
P.O. Box 13028
Cupertino. CA 9501 4
Durham. NC 27717
(800)848-8199
Salem. OR 97309
(800)343-4714
(919)490-1277
The DietBf's Edgs
(503) 585-6242
(408)253-9600
ViniCide
$49.95
Home Doctor
PageView, L* View, SilverView
$49.00
Training Table Systems
$39.95
Reduced-Emissions Monitors
DiBtAnaiyst
17624 Golfview
Dynacomp
$1,299.00-S2,495.00
$59.00
Uvonia, Ml 48152
Dynacomp Office BIdg.
Sigma Designs
Parsons Technology
(800)338-6644
178 Phillips Rd.
46501 Landing Pkwy.
375 Collins Rd. NE
Diet WiseJEnergy WIsb
$159,00
Nutritionaf Data Resources
Webster, NY 14580
Fremont, CA 94538
P.O. Box 3120
(716)671-6160
(415)770-0100
Cedar Rapids, f A 52406
Ufe&Oeathn. The Brain
QMe35VLF Super VGA IVIonitor
(800) 223-6925
P.O. Box 540
$49.95
$699.00
Vision Aerobics
Willoughby. OH 44094
Software Toolworks
Qume
$129.00
(800) 637-3438
60 Leveroni Ct.
SOOYosemiteDr.
Vision Aerobics
(21 6) 951 -6593 (in Ohio)
Novaio. CA 94949
Milpttas. CA 95035
10 Mechanic St., Ste. G
DtUF Windows
(415)883-3000
(800)457^W47
Red Bank. N J 07701
$295.00
(408)942-4000
(201)219-1916
DINE Systems
586 N. French Rd., Ste. 2
Amherst. NY 14228
(716)688-2492
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 23
lessness or unforeseen events, like
using out-of-date printer drivers or
electrical blackouts. Others are harder
to diagnose and treat, like incompati-
ble software or a damaged hard disk
drive. But nothing comes close to a
computer virus for sheer terror.
Viruses, those small bits of com-
puter code maliciously placed inside
innocent software carriers, can rob
you of valuable data or make your PC
virtually unusable. Where you pick up
a virus — from public domain soft-
ware, from a program you eagerly
^'borrowed," or in some limited cases,
even from commercial software — is
almost beside the point. Once your
PC has a virus, once your PC starts
acting strangely and unpredictably, it
may already be too late. Fortunately,
several good detection programs can
spot and eliminate viruses before they
have a chance to lay your PC low.
One capable package is Vi rex-PC.
This three-program combination
scans your disk, checking each file for
137 different virus strains. It also con-
stantly watches over your computer
and alerts you when potential viral ac-
tivity is detected. .4nd it eradicates
some (though not all) of the vinises it
finds. You pay a price for this protec-
tion— Virex-PC consumes 3 1 K of pre-
cious RAM.
Norton Antivirus is a slightly
more expensive virus-protection
package. Antivirus identifies 142
strains and uses three methods to de-
tect viruses: It watches each disk read,
scans memory for viruses, and scans
disks for suspicious strings of charac-
ters that may mark a virtis. Once Anti-
Virus spots a virtis, it tries to destroy
Dr. Future
Modern medicine consumes technology.
From CAT scans to computerized diagnos-
tic databases, medicine pushes the techno-
logical envelope harder than atmost any
other profession. Its appetite for high-tech
solutions is voracious. On the whole we ac-
cept that appetite, since we believe the
end— saving lives— justifies almost any
means. But where is high-tech, particularly
computer technology, taking medidne? We
asked two editors at Omni, COMPUTE'S
sister magazine that specializes in science,
to dream a bit about Dr. Future.
"In the well-equipped middle-class
household [of 2010], your bathroom wilt be
an adjunct to your doctor's office, with
monitors, sensing devices, and other high-
tech paraphernalia/' says Keith Ferrell, edi-
tor of Omni magazine. "You'll go to the
doctor, for instance, to have bones set, but
certainly blood pressure, blood, urine, fe-
ces, and semen can all be examined at
home and the data transmitted electronical-
ly to your doctor. More important, though,
the computer will replace the experimental
animal. The computer will act as a virtual
guinea pig," says Ferrell, outlining how
computer simulations will test new drugs
and procedures, all without the necessity of
animaJ or human testing.
it and repair the damage done.
Actually, viruses are rare. Thai's
why you may want to use Scan and
save yourself the RAM used by pro-
grams like Virex and Antivirus, Scan
and its companion, Clean-Up, don't
constantly watch for viruses. Instead,
you run Scan if you suspect your PC
has caught a bug and then run Clean-
up to mend any faulty files. The com-
bination takes care of most viral
infections and damage, but if you
don't remember to regularly check
Biking Rough Terrain — ^at Home
You hope your muscles won't give out
before finishing the last leg of this vigorous
bike ride through rough terrain. That's easi-
er said than done: A 3K hil! looms before
you. You begin the ascent, pedaling harder
and harder — ^and then the telephone rings.
Pressing Pause on the display console, you
hop off your bike and race to the next room
to answer the phone.
Come again? A pause button? Weren't
we just in the throes of pre-OJympic bike
training? The answer is Yes— sort of. Actu-
ally we were about to finish the last leg of
one of the numerous exercise programs on
the Lifecyde. While you weren't actually rid-
ing over rough terrain, the hills were very
real where it counts— in your legs, heart,
and lungs.
The Lifecyde Is a stationary bike com-
puterized to simulate actual outdoor bike
riding, and, indeed, you'll feel as though
you've been on an outdoor trek if you can
make it through a full 12-mlnute program.
Unlike other stationary bikes, the Life-
cycle is programmed for "interval training
with progressive overload." In plain Eng-
lish, that means your pedaling will change
penodically^ — becoming sometimes more
difficult, sometimes easier— as the pro-
gram emulates the various ups and downs
you'd encounter on a real outdoor ride.
Both hills and valleys are visualized on the
bike's display console as red and yellow
lights that move up and down as pedaling
difficulty increases and decreases. As for
the 3K hiil, you may have to use your imagi-
nation to see the real thing, but you'll feel as
though you were there.
One of the best things about training
with the Lifecyde, besides the fact that nei-
ther wind, nor rain, nor dark of night will
keep you from taking a ride anytime you
want, is that beginners as well as condition-
ed athletes will find complete pedaling pro-
grams compatible with their abilities. The
different levels of programs vary in hill in-
tensity and duration, allowing you to gradu-
ate to higher levels as your conditioning
progresses- Among other things, you can
test your heart rate and maximum oxygen
uptake (MOU) and watch the number of cal-
ories expended per hour and mites ped-
aled. Now, if they only could add a few
trees and a nice breeze. . . .
— JILLCHAMPiON
Mary Glucksman, Omn/'s medical edi-
tor, suggests other home health care tech-
nologies. "There will certainly be very
detailed prenatal care [software]," she
says. "This will help women maximize their
nutritional intake as well as help them avokJ
harmful foods." And women will use soft-
ware for botti contraception and concep-
tion. ''Programs will analyze temperature
fluctuations on a daily basis, then chart and
compare [them] to tiie norm" as women
track their menstrual cycles to either boost
the chance of conception or as a form of
chemical- and device-free birth conti'ol.
And technology-Intensive develop-
ments of today foreshadow what hearth
care may be like in 20 years. Microma-
chines wfth metallic gears a couple of hair-
widths wide will be used to "Roto-Rooter"
cfogged arteries or for superprecise sur-
gery beyond the abilities of the steadiest
surgeon. Computer-controlled x-ray equip-
ment will put the inside of your body on a
video screen in realtime, letting doctors
watch tiie inner workings of the human
body without lifting a scalpel. Robotic assis-
tants will grind sockets for a perfect fit of
replacement joints in the hip and knee.
It's all in the hands of Dr. Future.
—GREGG KHZER
your PC, it could become irreversibly
infected before you notice.
Another option is ViruCide from
Parsons Technology. It should be run
regularly for file maintenance, like
Scan. It removes viruses and repairs
files wherever possible. As a premi-
um. Parsons provides a book about
computer viruses so you will know
what you are up against.
Prevention is the key to
computer health.
Only the Beginning
Crude. That's the current state of
health computing. In ten yean, or
even in five, what you'll be able to do
with your household PC will make to-
day's possibilities seem laughable.
As the information revolution
continues to hit home, you'll be able
to contact your family doctor elec-
tronically to book appointments and
ask simple questions. You'll be able to
keep up with groundbreaking medical
research by going online and reading
clips your computer has collected for
you from professional journals and
consumer magazines. Your doctor
will send prescriptions to the pharma-
cy via computer, and you'll file claims
to your medical insurance company
the same way. The PC will monitor
your wellness, reminding you of im-
munizations for the kids and watching
your blood pressure and cholesterol
through the add-on diagnostic tools
you'll connect to it. It will become an
invaluable adjunct to your health.
Your home PC is a good health
tool now. Someday it'll be great H
24
COMPUTE
JULY 1991
# TEST LAB
This month COMPUTES Test Lab focuses on modems,
fax boards, and fax/modems. With these technological
marvels, you can use your computer to order aidine
tickets, send and receive important documents, do your
banking, communicate with people who have similar in-
terests, and tap into a world of information. COMPUTE's
expert reviews will help you decide what you want and
need, as our reviewers examine installation, software,
hardware requirements, and special capabilities in clear,
unintimidating language. YouMl get the facts and the fig-
ures, the sidebars and the statistics you need to understand
these devices and make the right buying decision.
Brooktrout Fax-Mail 96
The Complete FAX/Portable
Fremont Frecom Fax96
GVC Mini-FaxModem FMM-4824
Hayes JT Fax 4800 Portable M
Hayes JT Fax 9600B fl
Intel SatisFAXtion *
Okidata Okitel 2400B Plus PC Modem
Tandy FaxMate
Touchbase WortdPort 2400 Modem
Zoom/Modem HC2400S SendFax
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 25
"It expanded my horizons,
without exceeding my budget "
"With PRODIGY,® there's a panorama
of information, services, advice,
and entertainment at my commands
Hundreds of exciting features, and all for
just $12,95 a month, with no online time
charges. That means 1 can use PRODIGY
without worrying that the meter is running.
""The great graphics and friendly interface are
real attention-getters. And the menus and
cross-referencing features make it so easy,
my whole family's involved,
"There's so much to tell you about PRODIGY,
I hardly know where to start.
** We talk to other members.
We all love the PRODIGY clubs where
we exchange information about things
we eiyoy The computer club is great
because it keeps me up on the latest
PC technology My wife's favorite is the food
club where she shares recipes and tips,
"I do more shopping and banking
in a lot less time.
I go window-shopping for ideas on PRODIGY
and make purchases by keyboard instead—
of by car, And when the bills arrive, no
problem. With PRODIGY I can pay them
right from my PG It would take all - „
day to tell you about all the exciting
things I do on PRODIGY.
^Tou gotta get this thing."
The PRODIGY service, connected to your home
computer and phone
line, has games, sports
mformation, an encyclo-
pedia, and much, much
more. And, it's just $12.95
a month, including
30 personal messages.*
PRODIGY is available for IBM^or compatlble.^nd Macintosh*^
computers. Call 1-80D-776-3693, ext.212,tormdout v
you can purchase a PRODIGY Sen-ice Start -up Kit
now. Or look for PRODIGY already included
with many popular computers.
Circle Reader Service
# TEST LAB
BROOKTROUT FAX-MAIL 96
I hold the record for fax-document
jams. That*s why I was thrilled to
get something other than the stand-
ard manual-feed fax machine. The
Brooktrout Fax-Mail board met and
exceeded all of my hopes, and Fve
gotten over my fax phobia at long last.
Fax-board installations can
stump even expansion-card installa-
tion veterans. That's because they
often conflict with other devices and
software already installed. This was
no exception to that rule. But the
manual was complete and walked me
through troubleshooting steps that
anyone could' ve followed.
The software that comes with the
system is menu driven and easy to
use. I had no trouble adjusting the
configuration and preferences for
my needs. The configuration and
system software passed the No
Manual Needed test. They were
so easy to use that, until I was ready
for the advanced features, the manual
wasn't necessary. And my AUTO-
EXEC BAT file was automatically up-
dated, saving me from having to
manually edit it.
Sending faxes from text files is
simple. Select the file, enter the desti-
nation phone number, and tell it to
start. The Fax-Mail system does the
rest — converting it to the correct for-
mat, dialing the phone, sending the
fax, error checking, and terminating
the call. On the other end the faxes ar-
rive looking just as if Fd sent them
through one of the old-fashioned faxes
(probably better since I would've had
at least one document jam). Sending
graphics files in PCX formal is just as
easy. The software takes care of all the
conversion details for you.
Receiving was almost as easy.
The documents are saved to a disk file
and can be viewed on the screen or
sent to your printer. My Panasonic
KX-P4420 laser printer's RAM filled
up and generated an error message oc-
casionally. Then I read the docu-
mentation and found out that I didn't
installation: internal
Slot/Bus Reciuired: 8-bit
Fax Group Supported: 3
Other Requirements: n/a
List Price: $499.00
BROOKTROUT TECHNOLOGY
144 Gould St.
Needham, MA 02192
(617)449-4100
have enough memory for 300-dpi out-
put. Changing to 100 dpi made all the
difierence. I didn't have any trouble
after that.
If you fear or loathe fax ma-
chines, the Brooktrout Fax-Mail 96 is
your ticket. With it, you can forget
document jams and unintelligible er-
rors— and enjoy smooth sailing into a
better-working office or business. i>
RICHARD C LEINECKER
Xerox Fax Firsts
Rrst wtth LDX (Long Distance Xerography) — 1 964
First to introduce desktop fax — Telecopier 1—1966
First to use automatic document iiandler— Telecopier 41 0 — 1973
First in plain paper laser fax — Telecopier 200 — 1975
First to use an automatic dialer— Telecopier 200—1976
First to use white line skipping — Tel^xspter 485 — 1980
First to enhance fax multifunctionatity — FaxMaster software — 1984
First to introduce plain paper use — Telecopier 7020—1986
First to develop a fax terminal capable of communicating wtth computers — Telecopier
7021—1987
Facsimih Facts & Figures, 1990/91. EnteiT^tional Fac^mile Associatiofi
— DArtDOAY
# TEST LAB
THE CX)MPLETE FAX/PORTABLE
Talk about small Who wouldVe
thought you'd be able to buy a fax
machine that's only 5'/2 inches
long and 2'/: inches wide? Before
you rush out to buy one, let me ex-
plain. This fax machine doesn*l come
with a printer, and you can't put paper
in it — but when hooked to a com-
puter, it can do just about everything
a conventional fax machine can do
and more.
Here's how it works. If you have
a page scanner, you can feed your
pages directly into the fax machine.
Otherwise, you'll need to prepare your
pages electronically. You can use the
built-in text editor or your own word
processor. Rather than convert the
various word processor file formats^
the Complete FAX/Poriable includes
a memory-resident program that cap-
tures your word processors printer
output and automatically sends it out
as a fax. You simply configure your
word processor for an Epson printer
(it's OK if you have another kind of
printer), press the hot key (usually Alt-
F), fill out the information in the Fax
Hot-Key window, and print the file
from your word processor.
Unfortunately, the pop-up Fax
Hot-Key window won't work from
some programs, including Microsoft
Windows, DESQview, and any appli-
cation that operates in the Hercules
graphics mode. There are work-
arounds for most of these programs.
With Windows, for example, although
you can't use the hot key, you can
print files from Windows to the fax
board as long as you've installed the
fax program before going into Win-
dows. There are two drawbacks. First,
any printing from Windows at that
point will be faxed and you won't be
able to print to your printer. Second,
to regain printing control in Win-
dows, you'll need to exit Windows
and deactivate the fax program. This
would be a strong argument for not
starting the fax program from your
AUTOEXEC.B.AT file.
28 COMPUTE
a
Instaflation: external
Slot/Bus Required: n/a
Fax Group Supported: 3
Other Requirements: 640K RAM, graphics
adapter, hard disk with at least 31MB available/
serial port
List Price: $499.00
THE COMPLETE PC
1983 Concourse Dr,
San Jose, CA 95131
(408)434-0145
You can also send ASCII text
files and many kinds of graphics files,
including PC Paintbrush-h (PCX),
Microsoft Windows Paint (MSP),
Tagged Image File Format (TIFF
class B), and Dr. HALO II and ///
(CUT) files.
While the software could've been
easier to use (especially with Win-
dows), I had no trouble sending or
receiving faxes. It's a bit pricey, so
you'd be better off buying a less-
expensive fax card for your desktop
computer. On the other hand, the
unit's small size makes it a good
choice for laptops, especially if you
already have a modem. i>
DAVID ENGLISH
JULY 1991
After I bombed with dBase, I almost
gave up automating our office...
...but after a few hours with Alpha FOUR^ I had a ftiUy operational application!
At our Monday morning staff meeting,
I announced I was going to automate our
sales tracking and invoicing sv'stem later
that day.
Skepticism ran high. "Paul, you prom-
ised me an application like that two yeais
ago," said Marge. "You couldn't do it, and
neither could that dBASE programmer you
hired. It'll never happen!"
rd already tried three times before to
program a database: first with dB.^E (much too complicated).
Then 1 tried Q&A (not powerful enough). Then 1 bought Paradox
(just like dBASE). They were all either too complicated, or not capable
enough for our needs.
This time, 1 was confident. Vtliy? Because 1 just bought Alpha Four, the relational
database for non-programmers like me.
I knew within houis, I'd be able to build a fully relational customer
tracking and billing s\^tem, complete with custom menus, beauti-
ful screens and extensive help messages for error-free data entry.
^" And that's exactly what 1 did. You
should have seen Marge's face
when the firet, perfectly
formatted invoice
came off the printer.
I DEVELOPED MY
APPLICATION &
REPORTS IN MINUTES
With the ''application out-
liner," 1 automatically set up
a system of menus, submenus,
and procedures based on the outline 1 laid out.
Alpha Four's report writer was even more impressive. I "painted" reporLs and
invoices on-screen. They looked exactly like I wanted them to— much better than
our old paper forms. I alwav'S ran out of power with other simple-to-use data-
bases; they weren't relalional. Widi Alpha Four, I created different databases for
customers, invoices and inventory and then related them into a "set," just by
drawing on-screen, a diagram of the links between the databases.
I'LL NEVER KEY IN Dr\TA T^ICE AGAIN
Now, we never have to enter the same information more than once. N^ew
invoices can be generated for existing customers without having to re-enter their
information— we just "look it up*' in our customer database.
And I was delighted that Alpha Four is totally compatible with dBASE .dbf files.
Our mailing list went right into the new application without even having to con-
wTl the files!
FASTER, MORE ACCURATE DATA ENTRY
When you enter data, you can automatically change the case of lettei^
from lower to upper. You can display data entrv' templates for formatted
fields like phone numbei^, or skip over fields when certain conditions
are met. Of coui^, ail calculations are performed automatically.
Look-ups are super flexible. Vou can display information from
a look-up database in a multi-column mndow anywhere on the
screen. Select from the window and Alpha Four automatically fills in
the related information.
•Qualifting packages inciude: programming daiabases (dBASE* II. [11, and [V, Paradox, Clipper,'
Foxbase* fox Pro* Rev-elaUon, ett). fiai-fiie diLabases (Q&.A,» PFS: Professional File.* Rapid file*
etc.), integrated padogps (Microwfl «brfa.* PFSRisl Choice » Lotus Wtoris » etc.), and mailing lis;
manager (Fasipack Mail, etc.) or sp(»?adsbeets *ilh daiabases tLotus l-2'3.» Quattro Pro*).
All tradeniarks are n*gst£red with the appropriaie companie.
SIMPLER
THAN dBASE
AND PARADOX-
MORE POWERFUL
THANQAA
SAVE $450 WITH
THIS AD!
Special $99 Offer:
Upgrade From
Your Existing
Data Manager*
If you already have
any database software,
integrated package or
mail list manager, or
ifvou are currently
^
using your spreadsheet to manage data, you can upgrade to
Alpha Four for just S99.
NO RISK OFFER!
If you're not satisfied, return Alpha Four within 60 da^-s for a full refund. This
is a limited-time, one-copy- })er-organization offer. So order today!
HOWrO ORDER
Mail the coupon below to Alpha Software or take it
to Egghead Discount Software, Soft Warehouse, or your
local dealer to pick up your Alpha Four Upgrade
Package. Remember to bring proof you have an exist-
ing qualifying products
For Fastest Service Call: 1-800-852-5750. Ext. 117
Onlets Only Hodine: 1-800-336-6644 Or Fax the order
form to: 1-617-272-4876. Or mail to: Alpha Software
* ' ; Corporation, One North Avenue. Burlington, MA 01803.
In Canada Call: 1-S0(H5]-I0I8, Ext 177, Or k\ y*our order to: l-4l6-565'1024. Or majl coupon to;
Alpha Softwajt? Corp. 626 King Street. Suite 301, Tomnio, Ontario M5V 1M7.
Alpha FOUR *99 Upgrade Offer
(Suggested Retail Price S549)
UNS iUPi
dBASF
'BE.S r BUY'
A ¥ J~^\ f A One Xorih .^v-e. Hurl jngiot
/aLi rT/V 1-800^852-5750,
S<>TAVARE OORPCiRATXDN
iiurlingioti, \IK 10803
Ext,U7
OnkrsOnlYtt«llne; 1-800-336-4644
[2f Yes ! Please send me the Alpha Four reiaiioml database for non-program-
nm fof jtisl S99 (SRP: 1549), plus S8.50 shipping and handling. I understand it
is fulh guaranteed and 1 may return it within 60 dav-s for a full refuni I ha>Te
mclfiseil ih« D3VCT pa^ of my existing quaJihing produa* manual (or original
.Method of Pa^-mcnt (ma mtitnti. »dd >% iiia tjil
Q tlwck Enciosd □ Charpf niy; Q MC □ Vi^a
Ciud#_
□ miex
_ Exp
Addnss-
Cit>, Staie, Zip _
im tut *t h« i^xsiona item! iiju- cxdtf )
Diskette Size Select one; Q yvT Q 5-1/4"
Offer subject lo change without notification
TAN
Circle Reader S«rvrce Number 162
# TEST LAB
FRECOM FAX96
The fax has come of age! No longer
must you wail in line at the fax
machine. With the Frecom Fax96
board from Fremont Communi-
cations installed in your computer,
you can send faxes at your leisure.
The Frecom Fax 96 software lets
you send several faxes to one person
or broadcast a fax to several people se-
lected from the online phone book.
You can even schedule a fax to be sent
when you're out of the office and the
phone rales are lower.
A special feature included with
the Fax96 is the ability to send TIFF
or PCX file formats, or if you use a
scanner, you can send images directly
from the scanner as well as scanned
disk files. Another handy feature is
the log that automatically records the
faxes you send. The quality of the
graphics faxes I received could com-
pete with graphics from any fax ma-
chine Fve ever used. The printout of
the PCX file (640 X 350 resolution)
transmitted almost to the dot resolu-
tion of the original
Demo and tutorial modes take
you through procedures step by step.
There's also online help available, but
you won't need these aids if you've
used a fax machine. The control panel
buttons make it easy to use the pro-
gram even with limited exposure to
the manual.
The documentation is relatively
easy to follow as far as the installation
of the board and the software goes.
The manual is straightforward and
easy to read, but some topics aren't
easily found because some of the new
features are not in the orginal opera-
tor's manual. An addendum describes
the new features.
The positive features of the Fre-
com Fax96 move this board to the top
of my list of favorite peripherals, but
there are several options that 1 would
like to see added in the next software
update. The background receive op-
tion is accessible either from the com-
mand line or from the Exit menu. joyce sides
30 COMPUTE JULY 1991
8-bit ^m
Bd:3 3
Installation: fnternai
Siot/Bus Required: 8-bit
Fax Group Supported: 3
Other Requirements: CGA, EGA,
VGA, or IHercules
List Price: $195,00
FREiVIONT COMiWUNICATIONS
46309 Warm Springs Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94539
(415)436-5000
You should be able to toggle this com-
mand from any menu in the program.
Custom fonts and mouse support
would also be welcome additions,
Fremont Communications offers
a 30-day money-back guarantee on
the product as well as a one-year war-
ranty. If one year isn't adequate, you
can add a second year for 10 percent
of the current price. As a convenience,
you send your warranty through the
fax board to test its installation.
If you're constantly sending faxes
and you'd like to improve your pro-
ductivity, a fax board is the way to go.
The Frecom Fax96 provides this
convenient, timesaving way to trans-
mit faxes for a reasonable price. >
Fax Groupies
Group 1. Speed of six minutes per
page. Introduced in 1974.
Group 2. Speed increased to three nnin-
utes per page. Introduced in 1976.
Group 3. Speed increased to one min-
ute or less. Introduced in 1980.
Group 4. Speeds as fast as 3 seconds
per page, introduced in 1984.
— DWIDDAY
Facsimite Facts i, Figures. 1990/97
Internatkxia] Facsimiie Association JBU
\
See The World
And Never Leave Home
Discover a world beyond
word processing and spread
sheets. Let your computer take
you to new lands. Take flight!
Spread your wings and travel to
exotic places. Let your computer
thrill you with new experiences*
•900-860-1543
,00 the first minute and $1 .00 each additional minute.
VOu are undef 18 please get your parents peimission before dialMT^.
Software Publishers Association
1101 Connecticut Ave, NW. Suite 901
Washington, DC 20036
To learn more about
home software, call
for our free colorful
brochure, 'The Other
Side of Computing".
It describes the variety of software
you can use on your computer.
Let your computer entertain and
educate you!
t 0 N S U M £ B
SOFTWARE
SECTION
# TEST LAB
GVC MINI-FAXMODEM
FMM-4824
Be careful with this fax machine;
it's easy to misplace. When you
realize that two of them can hide
under a business-sized envelope,
you'll have some indication of just
how small GVCs Mini-FaxModem
FMM-4824 is.
Weighing in at 6.5 ounces (in-
cluding batter>'), the Mini-Fax is
about the size of a pack of cigarettes,
but it works like a full-sized machine.
It sends fax files at 4800 or 2400 bps
and doubles as a conventional mo-
dem at speeds up to 2400 bps.
The Mini-Fax won't tie up any of
your PC's internal slots. It plugs di-
rectly into a 25-pin RS-232 port. If
your PC's serial port has 9 pins, the
Mini-Fax connects easily with an op-
tional 25-pin to 9-pin converter.
The Mini-Fax is 100-percent
Hayes compatible, has a built-in
speaker, and can schedule transmis-
sions to take advantage of lower night
rates. It will also send faxes to multi*
pie destinations that you select from
its dialing directory, and it can oper-
ate in a background mode while your
computer performs other chores.
This mighty midget handles
graphics as well as text files. With its
Quick Link II Fax software, you can
send text, PC Paintbrush (PCX),
MacPaint (MAC), or Tagged Image
File Formal (TIF) graphic files from
your desktop or laptop PC. It includes
a text editor and a function for merg-
ing text and graphic files. It also gener-
ates cover sheets and can include your
logo graphic, if desired.
The Mini-FaxModem FMM-
4824 comes with software on 3^2- and
5V4-inch disks, an AC adapter, a tele-
phone cable, a modem holder, and a
carrying pouch. Whether you use it at
home, in the office, or on the road,
you'll fmd the Mini-Fax compact, easy
to set up, and simple to operate. >
TOMNETSEL
Installatron: externaf
Slot/Bus Required: n/a
Fax Group Supported: 3
Other Requirements: 128K RAM
List Price: $219.00
GVC TECHNOLjOGIES
99 Demarest Rd.
Sparta, N J 07871
(201)579-3630 ^^^^
-I
32 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
How to Talk to Your Modem
kYou may not realize it, but you can talk directly to your mo-
, denn in Its own language. Give it the right commands, and it
■ will dial your phone, answer incoming calls, and do just
about everything else in between.
Human-to-modem communication is simplified by the
fact that almost all PC modems speak the same language
(with minor variations), a lingo based on commands origi-
nated by modem manufacturer Hayes. This language is ap-
propriately called the Hayes command set
As you might suspect, your modem has to know the
difference between when you Ye talking to It and when
. you're talking to a computer at the other end of the line. To
■ keep these two situations straight, all Hayes-compatible
modems have two operating modes: command, in which
you can issue commands to the modem, and data, in which
the modem simply sends what you type over the phone
line.
\ The best way to get your feet wet with modem talk is to
! njn your telecommunications program and enter its terminal
mode. In this mode, as long as you're not connected to an-
other computer, you'll be in command mode, and whatever
you type will go directly to the modem.
Although the Hayes manual lists nearly 15 pages of
commands, there are really just 10 essentials. Master
I these, and you're on your way to being a modem expert.
AT Type AT to grab your modem's attention. You precede
almost every Hayes command with an AT. Type it now, fol-
lowed by Enter. (You follow all AT commands with Enter,
just the way you do DOS commands.) Your modem should
respond with the message OK, It's worth mentioning that
some modems require that you enter commands tn upper-
case; others aren't so choosy.
A Sets the modem to answer mode. If you're talking with a
friend and you want to switch to computer communication,
one of you types ATA, the other types ATD, and your PCs
will take over. Before this magic can happen, however, you
need to make sure that both communclations programs are
set with the same parameters and that the modems for
botii computers are connected through the phones.
DT This is the main touch-tone dialing command. To call
|ia^567. you'd type ATDT1 234567. If you don't have a
pouch-tone phone, use DP, for Dial Pulse.
' , The comma pauses for the number of seconds specified
in register S8 (see below). This command is handy if you're
dialing from a switchboard system, like those found in ho-
tels, that can't handle numbers as fast as your modem rods
; them out.
H Hang up. If you've had it, ATH is the command to use. I
In This is the speaker's loudness. Values for n are 0, 1
(low), 2 (medium), and 3 (high). If you want your modem to
annoy as many people as possible at the office, use ATL3.
Mn Controls your modem's speaker, with values for n of 0
(off), 1 (on when dialing), 2 (always on), and 3 (on after carri-
er detected). To turn your speaker off, for example, type
ATMO.
-f- + + When you're connected to another computer, you're
in data mode, and the characters you type go directly to the
other computer; they aren't considered commands by your .
modem. If you type AT in data mode, for example, your
computer will simply send the characters A and 7 to the oth-
er end of the line, lb get your modem's attention back |
again, type + + *f , without a preceding AT and without '
pressing Enter. Your modem will respond with OK, Now
you can enter any commands you wish. To return to data
mode and talk to the other computer again, type ATO. i
Sn S stands for Store and denotes one of the Hayes regis-
ters. There are 16 of these, and although each is interesting ;
in its own way. you'll probably use only two; S8 and S1 1 .
The value in S8 tells the modem the number of seconds to
pause for a comma. ATS8=3 pauses for three seconds at 'i
every comma. 81 1 is a real sleeper. It controls dialing
speed (in milliseconds). To make your modem dial like a de-
mon, try ATS1 1 = 55 (smaller numbers make for faster i
dialing). 1
Z Resets the registers to their default values. If your modem *
starts misbehaving, ATZ is a gentle slap in its face. |
After you've tried a few of these commands, you may
want to look at your terminal program's configuration op-
tions. Most programs let you send a command string to the
modem. Take advantage of this to make your modem loud- '
er or silent or to dial in a blur of speed.
You can also configure your modem by issuing com-
mands directly from the DOS prompt or from a batch file.
First, open a COM port with the MODE command; then
send the commands to your modem with an ECHO state-
ment. Here's a short batch file that tells your modem to dial j
the phone at warp factor 5.
MODECOM1:1200,n,8,1
ECHOATS11=55>COM1:
That's it. Modem power in a nutshell.
—CUFTOW KARNES
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 33
# TEST LAB
HAYES JT FAX 4800
PORTABLE
Hayes, the standard-bearer for
PC modem products, brings
its considerable expertise to
bear on the JT Fax 4800 Por-
table. I've evaluated several PC fax
products over the last year, and the JT
Portable is, without a doubt, the easi-
est to set up, configure, and operate.
What's more, its portabiUty lets you
take your fax capability on the road.
Instalhng the JT Portable is sim-
pHcity itself. Connect the box to an
open COM port using the standard se-
rial cable, plug in your telephone line
as directed, and plug the power supply
into the wall. That takes care of the
hardware. To install the software, in-
sert the Program/Utility disk (one
disk for 3V2-inch drives, two disks for
5 '/4-inch drives) and type InstalL The
self-running installation and configu-
ration program will have you ready to
send your first fax (your warranty reg-
istration) within i 5 minutes.
The JT Portable works best with
ASCII text files; however, you can fax
documents straight from your word
processor using the JT's Application
Capture option. If you configure your
word processor to send its document
to an Epson MX-compatible printer,
the JT will capture the print job and
route it to a receiving fax machine.
You'll almost always be better off
using Application Capture for sending
a fax. The JT won't send graphics
from any application, but it will con-
vert its fax files from and to PC Paint-
brush files (PCX) so that you can
transmit and receive letterhead and
signatures, for example.
As a receiver, the JT works ex-
tremely well. Faxes are captured and
stored automatically and can be print-
ed on plain paper (a great advantage
over stand-alone machines using ther-
mal paper). I experienced no prob-
lems printing a one-page fax on an HP
LaserJet-compatible printer.
n
Installation: external
Slot/Bus Required: n/a
Fax Group Supported: 3
Other Requirements: 640K RAM
List Price: $199.00
HAYES MICROCOMPUTER PRODUCTS
5835 Peachtree Corners E
Norcross, GA 30092
(404) 449-8791
While the JT Portable has
a lot to recommend it, there are a
few disadvantages. One, the software
is memory resident. You'll have to
check for possible conflict with other
TSRs. This also precludes the use of
the JT Portable with such memory-
manipulative software as Windows.
Also, if you run into trouble (a bad
connection, for example), it'sdifficuh
to regain control of your system for an
exit or reboot. Finally, the JT is a fax
system only — it doesn't double as a
modem.
On the whole, the JT Portable of-
fers flexibility as a trade for full stand-
alone fax machine functionality. But
it's a trade worth considering if you're
in the market for a PC fax device. [>
PETER SCISCX)
Fax Facts
The sidebars "Fax Groupies/' 'The
Rrst Fax Machine/' and "Xerox Fax
Firsts" are from David Day's Facsimile
Facts & Figures, 1990/91. The book is
avaifable for $69.95 plus $9.00 shipping
and handlmg from the fnternationai Fac-
simile Association, 4023 Lakeview
Drive, Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86403;
(602)453-5330.
I
34
COMPUTE
JULY 1991
WOULDNT IT BE NICE IF PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND. . .
MS-DOS AND Windows are great
OPERATING SYSTEMS, BUT THEY DO HAVE
ONE AWFUL THING IN COMMON - THE
PERSONAL COMPUTER.
Because of the many different hardware and
software configurations possible, if something
can go wrong, it will,
...Usually 11:00 at night ...on a Saturday.
Be prepared for those inevitable system conflicts
with System Sleuth Pro™ / System Sleuth
Analyzer" for MS-DOS and WinSleuth' for
Windows 3.0
System Sleuth Pro and System Sleuth Analyzer
are the logical extensions of our highly-regarded
System Sleuth passive analysis program. With an
ALL NEW drop-down menu interface and
sizable windows, a wealth of hardware and
software information is easily at your disposal.
A number of feature enhancements make System
Sleuth Pro and System Sleuth Analyzer
indispensible parts of your repair toolkit.
Having difficulties installing a new sound board,
disk drive controller or network adapter?
"PC Magazine Editor's pick,., the 33 best
utilities... System Sleuth"
PC Magazine, June 26, 1990
INSTALLATION ASSISTANT can help locate
just the right place in your system to install new
boards. With Installation Assistant, dreaded I/O
ports, DMA channels and IRQs are no problem.
System Sleuth Pro has extensive hardware
testing facilities for AT/386 and 486 class
systems. Test disk drives, video adapters, system
board components, RAM and more.
6945 Hermosa Circle • Buena Park, CA 90620
MS-DOS and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corp,
WinSleuth takes a 'Windows eye-view' of your
system. Are you really are out of memory, or is
Windows allocating your RAM resources to
non-essential applications? Why does your
brand new graphics printer refuse to graph? Is
your system optimally set up for Windows
operation? WinSleuth can shed light on all of
•'WinSleuth should be dubbed 'Solutionware'"
Paul Bonner, PC Computing, January, 1991
ptes Help Modules
^^sbSbss!^—
Tun
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ss
cS
cS
The "\ri2ff*ti" pdsmrtei n yiu S'l^TEM \H\ tit eAm doet k)< emt or k ^^vt lo a vaJja v*ich
dxt riot iMw*\/^fvJo>m to tvn nwd d'licieniV SeMing Hit pafame<ei lo 4 mcr6«r cl ttoJ. 30 vd
jflcw Wfxtowi 10 lun m«ft efhciftTtV Tom^e**t thjri^LiseH^ViivkwiNot«padippk«iori
lo etif Ihe SYST EM m\ iki ard n«v« So the wction iSlandafd] and add (ct ehinoej d Ino to fMd
Snf2SF*H"30 \ou ^ reed lo eat *id rttlflrl Wrttowj ta «k change to (aJto e«ecl Thb cKsnge
^p*ob*b^ro(welodvned^ycu«ew»i9arelt^3rk«ihW#id(jwf [nerosecaswDOHOT make
iHj change,
The 1r«29D*car' DV«ne<« v^ vou SYSTEM INI N« erihs doet no« e)«< or is »( U) 4 v4^
doet rot A)w Wnctom K> nn nost ethcientV S«Aing thq pa«neler lo FALSE wi «•;>*« Wndcpm
Iq \n meie d1)C«ntV To m^e »« charvo wfl ihfl Wndow Htjiepsd dt«ttfltmto ed<l*»
SYSTEM IHI fie jnd mov* lo M wcton t»e£nh| and «a (Of cKrgel line to read
N28Dic.^-fALS£ YouMinMdtattdmdfestaftWfxloiHtlcilhachvQetoUiieeKta The
chA^geapiobat]^r«tMtt«^viH<j<V(>j»eutrigdne»iwA*^Wmd]vq: In Ihote C4iies 00
hOT malifl itiQ dwoe
DtiJj^ pakiB>«K« can be erihanced uiJrt-ifihfl^ by LEUig (he d* Mc^
£Hj^TDW»ar»oflTe*Wridowicoriipjltte[*skwi:*»^piod^ SMAaTDRVbpiwdHJ tiy
McTOsdt on yoj Wrdowi 4t>j end Ihe Wndovrt Setup pro^wi »t se(x« ths iMt? rH m^iie the
neCcTUrycharoettoyoL* t^«is«f'n )f>«uopllor anatenaledd^cadwigprtxli^be tue'O
Icbw ihe rt$^dfatcn inttojctoru tHretiJ^
In 3rd« ta maftMt ammttri
ngJmtotm Thscanbe
n^iry of the wletr «v4M>le (M
i H r«ccR«wmded that hard dk^t be oftmavi on «
uing OTIC d the deJtatrwilalon kAiCin tickidtd Mih
these questions in an easy-to-use menu and icon-
driven interface.
All of our products are equipped with extensive
on-line help and can send test results to a
printer.
Learn more about hovt^ the DTG team can rnake
your life v^ith computers less stressful by calling:
1-800-541-6579 ' .
(714)994-7400 FAX; (714) 994-7410
By the way ... isn't tomorrow "Saturday?
BiFOKTHEV FOUND you?
YES! I WANT TO CUT MY SUPPORT TIME ANO COST!
Nnmc
Company _
Address
Cm
Phone
VisaAlC #
-State .
-Zip.
Exp
^SPECIAL OFFER***
QUANTITY
PRODUCr
WinSlcurh/SJeurli Analyzer
System Sleuth Pro
System Sleuth Analyser
Offer valid only with
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PRICE ^0^^*
S^^^^r^ 59.9S
Sub-Total
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Total
EXT
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When calling, inquire about our cost-
saving Extended Customer Support package
Circte Raader Service Number 196
# TEST LAB
HAYES JT FAX 9600B
ror the most part, a modem/fax
board eliminates the bulk and bad
paper associated with fax ma-
chines. As wonderful as they are,
fax machines can take up valuable
space; and many people dislike having
to cope with loading paper, clearing
paper jams, and handling flimsy pa-
per. A modem/fax device, on the oth-
er hand, fits neatly and discreetly into
an expansion slot on your PC and al-
lows you to print documents on your
choice of printer paper.
The Hayes JT Fax 9600B covers
all the advantages (no bulk, endless
software applications) and disad-
vantages (you have to buy a scanner
to transmit copies of physical
documents).
Essentially techno-shy, I found
the Hayes JT Fax 9600B mercifully
easy to install. Just uncover the ex-
pansion slots, press it in, and plug in a
couple of phone wires. The only dis-
advantage that I discovered was the
size of the modem attached to the fax
board. On my IBM XT compatible, I
found it necessary to leave the expan-
sion slot open next to it to make room
for its bulk.
The software included in the
package made sending and receiving
fax transmissions as easy as selecting
from a series of clear options. It
would've been nice to have seen a
menu appear when the program came
up rather than having to press a hot
key, though offering a menu might
nullify the advantage of leaving the
program in the background for use at
any time. Displaying and printing re-
ceived faxes was no problem, and en-
largements were amazingly crisp. The
user's guide provided clear illustra-
tions and instructions, though I found
it skimpily indexed.
The Hayes JT Fax 9600B may
not be quite as convenient in some re-
spects as an actual fax machine, but it
makes up for the minor inconven-
iences with its size and flexibility. ^
RAM I
Installation: Internal
Slot/Bus Required: d-bit
Fax Group Supported: 3
Other Requirements: 640K
List Price: $499.00
HAYES MICROCOMPUTER PRODUCTS
5835 Peachtree Corners E
Norcross, GA 30092
(404) 449-8791
EDDIE HUFFM,^N
36 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
How this $149 software will:
1) Improve the way you work and thinkl
2) Instantly find the info you need, and
3) Help you make brilliant decisions ...
The next generation
[TORNADO
of
.%.^;
Surprisinijiy, there is a whole new
world of uses for your compuier!
You c;ui use your compuier to de;i]
with al) the countless bils of "random"
mformation scattered across your desk:
plans, notes, Usts, actions, contacts, ideas.
Info Select
and much more. INFO SELECT'^' will
not only give you instant access to this
important information ,.. it will help you
make better decisions and see imptirtant
new rciation ships. Try INFO SELECT
risk- free and di seen or u w hole new
d i me ns i on of ct>m pu t i ng .
Photographic
memory
INFO SELECT is like having a
'photographic memory* that gives you
perfect supcrfast recall of up to 64.1)00
items of information.
Telephone notes
When Harry calls you on the phone,
you'll display the six windows on Harry
before he Hnishes his ftrst semence! No
more embarrassing pauses or scrambling
for information.
INFO
SELECralso
includes the
world's finit
"3-D" word
pnK'essor.
You'll be
amazed at how it
works.
Instead of
one window or
ten, imagine up to 64,000! The uses ure
endless.
]NFOSRlJ:rTistiLs>'
lo use - yei powerful.
Are you forgetful?
Were you born with a memory
shuated squarely on the tip of your
tongue? Do you forget things like which
day you placed an order or important
numbers? If you are forgetful you
especially need INFO SELECT - the
software that remembers almost
everything for you.
Thinking tool
Have you e^er worked on a complex
project and felt lost? With INFO
SELECT you'll gn^iup. scan, and cross
search through all your notes so fast
you'll sec the big piciurc in seconds.
Will I be better off doing this now or
that later? Keeping priorities straight can
make or break your career or your
business. INFO SELECT lets yoti keep
on lop of what's hot.
Should you use an east or west coast
supplier? To make decisions you need
facts. Now you can view the facts any
way you like ... as fast as you can think.
You'll make the best decisions ever -
and fewer expensive mistakes.
ii^ione ntAcs.
CIit:ni info
The #1 PIM
What's all the fuss
aNuji PIMs (Personal
Information
Mangers)?
Simple - you
probably have
more RANDOM
infomialion than
any other type and
you need a PIM to
properly handle
this kind of
information. The
right PIM will
save you time and
make everything
yc^u do go
simx^thly.
Why is Info
Select the #1 PIM?
Because Info Select is based
on ideas you can identify
with - like stacks of paper.
And it's free-fonn tOi>. You
won't waste days or weeks learning
complex structures. Instead you'll be up
and running in minutes. Info Select also
docs more and costs less than other PIMs.
Owners t)f mir TORNADO ioflwjire (synibiili/fd
by tlic fiitrious 'blue loniado") can inidc up id the
sccond-ij;cncratiori Into Select under our ^p<5Cial
offer. There are o\er 200 impn)veiTvenis.
Feature packed
INFO SELECT is memorv rcsident
(if you choose), so you can quickly jump
in from other programs. Info Select
windows can hold: notes, plans, lists,
facts, letters, contacts, and much more.
You can search for a window or a group
of windows rebted by a word or phrase.
There are five ways to see overviews:
hypertext, a fast sort, and line drawing.
Save time with the dialer, dale tickler;
and searching by text or date ranges.
Info Select allows
•y * — -T^^^ — I you to: add
columns of
numbers; store
data in EMS; use
template or
frce-lbmi
windows; import
and export files,
screens, and
databases; move,
join, and duplicate
windows and
much more.
II you hiive notes, ideas, onniatls
or nihcr unoj^ani/cd RANIX)M
in for ma lion, you need Info fekti:
Manageineni
szr; P PCM
l!!MVJI!IJ
■Rarely do I
recommend a
product as
wholeheartedly'
David Han^ey,
Com p. Shopper
'8edt3 the pants
off just about
everything else,"
Jeffrey Parker,
PCM
'As easy as
remembering
your own name."
Patrick Marshall,
inio Woild
Editor's Choice
"First rate"
PC Magazine
UVN
option
The new LAN version allows
i n teg rated E- ma i I . sha r i ng com pany
rolodexes and distribufing company
policies. You can share atiy kind of
infomiation. It's your first step into the
exciting new world of groupware! Ask
about the five node LAN starter pack.
Easy power
Info Select is easy to use yet offers
the pcnver ytnj need w ith infobases up lo
10 megabytes; text seiirches up to
700kb/sec; up to .'^2,000 characters per
window; ;)nd up to 64,0G() windows per
tnfobase. Even better. Info Select can
swap down to as little as 7K memoryf
TORNADO owners
INIO SELECT is based on the
pioneering TORNADO™ software PC
Worid called "Excellent, Excellent,
Excellent, Excellent" and PC Magazine
awarded Editor's Choice - twice. Call
about our special trade-up offer.
is here at
last!
%/^^
IK^
>n:o.
%
't>y<^2
%\
\
Endless
uses
Info Select can
do much more than manage
all your RANDOM
infomiation. Use it to
manage business correspondence, sales
leads, orders, and client notes. Track
facts, plan projects, or interrcJate all your
ideas. You can catalogue parts,
documents, and inventory items. Match
buyers and sellers or doctors and patients.
Setup an information desk. Edit E-mail.
Store notes on magazine articles,
software operation techniques, or just
names and addresses. Whether you are a
lawyer tracking court ca.ses or a zoologist
collecting fcYding liabits you'll find
count les-s uses for Info Select.
Info Select keeps your infomialion in jmelligetit
;iiUomuiically positioned windows.
Risk-Free Guarantee
Info Select is m cffeclive you will bo
uiTUtifCtl /Hv a! 's wh y wc offer cm r
morwy-hack ^.^luriinleL'. Try it foi "S^\ diiys.
If yo«an: not roily satisfied, aca^pi our lull
prompt refund. Could any offer be more
fair?
All for just ^^^.
$149.95! Ver2.0!
iNFQ SELECT has a special price of
just 5149,95. You can even tr>' it
risk- free with a 30- day money kick
guarantee. E^ut hurry - this is a limited
tiitie offer.
Doesn't it make sense to get the
software package that can open up a
whole new world of important uses for
y ou r CO m p u I e r? Order today . Call
toll-free:
(800)342-5930
... and get ready for a new dimension
of computing.
Micm^Logic
POB 70, Dept, 601
Hacks nsack, NJ 07602
(800) 342-5930 (201) 342-651 S
Fax: (201) 342-0370
Makers of: Tornado. Info Select,
Key Watch & hAicro Cfiaris
MAIL QRO^RS: Send name, address, phone number, and payment by check. Visa, or MC lo aildmss ihown. Please include S3, 50 shippinij (Si 5 outside comincnial USA). KIJROPKAN CUSTOMERS:
Contact Ailanicx U.S.A. (203) 655-6931). IHADEMARKJij: Trademark (owner): Tornado, Info Select. Key Waic!i (Micro l^igic), IBM PC. XT, AT. PS/2 (IBM). © 1990 Micro Logic Corp. U.S. A,
# TEST LAB
SATISFAXTION
For a friendly fax that won*t take
up room on your desk and for re-
ceiving faxes as images that can be
stored and manipulated by your
computer, you'd be hard-pressed to
find something simpler to install or
easier to use than SatisFAXtion,
The full-length 16-bit board is in-
stalled in a couple of minutes (al-
though it's a 16-bit board, it will work
in an 8-bit slot). It has no jumpers or
switches to set. Once it's in, the only
thing left to think about is the
software.
You can send faxes from either
Windows or DOS. For Windows-
based transmission, the program sup-
ports Faxit (which isn't included,
although you get a coupon for a free
copy). There are two options for send-
ing faxes from DOS. You can create a
text file and then use the command
COPY TEXTFILE LPT3 to send the
fax (it invokes a pop-up program
called FaxFopX or you can print the
file from within the program (any pro-
gram) to LPT 3. LPT3 is the fax board;
you can easily change the port to
LPTl for programs that can't print to
alternative printer ports. LPT3, inci-
dentally, emulates an Epson dot-
matrix printer.
Keep up to 1000 fax numbers on
file in your online telephone book for
automatic dialing from the pop-up
program. By using a feature called
grouping in the telephone book and a
special fax process called polling, you
can automatically send up to 100
faxes, one to each of the numbers in a
group. If your word processor allows
you to change your printer setting
from within the program, you could
also print directly from your word
processor to the fax Une.
At first, the board fought with my
mouse for dominance of the serial
port, but by telling the installation
program that I had no mouse (I lied),
I was able to gel the data-modem part
of the board to cooperate.
The card is equipped with an in-
38 COMPUTE
Installation: internal
Slot/Bus Required: 8-bit or 16-bit
Fax Group Supported: 3
Other Requirements: 640K RAM; MDA, CGA,
EGA, VGA, or Hercules; hard disk; mouse rec-
ommended if used with Windows
List Price: $499.00 ($549.00 for microchannei)
INTEL
C03-07
5200 NE Elam Young Pkwy.
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(800) 538-3373
put for an optional
hand scanner that would
enable you to fax directly from
gray-scale images. Unfortunately, it has
a proprietary connection, so only the
Intel scanner can be plugged into it
OCR software is also avail-
able. Neither of these were provided
with the review unit. Qearly, this fax
board from Intel has much to offer,
including an abundance of usefiil fea-
tures, superior ease of use and instal-
lation, and a very good manual.i>
ROBERT BDCBY
Fetch That Fax
It used to be easy to have Rover fetch your
morning paper. Nowadays, he may have to
learn to use a fax machine first. Fax de-
vices have become so commonplace
they're beginning to replace more conven-
tional distribution channels.
An excellent example of this is FAX
TRACK Computers, a computer news daily
distributed by fax,
FAX TFiACK works like this: Each day's
computer news is condensed into one
page of executive summaries covering
hardware, software, company earnings,
and other related topics and faxed to
subscribers by 6:00 a,m- For more infor-
mation on any topic, you can call a toll-free
number and have a detailed story faxed
back to you.
If you're traveling, give the company
your hotel's fax number and receive FAX
TRACK at your destination.
FAX TFW^K Computers is available for
$47.90 per month or $527.00 per year from
Inlex, 4099 McEwen Road, Suite 350, Dal-
las, Texas 75244; (800) 800^994. If you'd
like to give FAX TRACK a try, a special five-
day free trial is avaiJable.
—CLIFTON KARNES
JULY 1991
I CALL
ITOILFREE:
(800)345-5568
MACRONIX, INC.
mm ir MaxFax
9624
FAX/MODEM CARD
• Powerful, intelligent, Group 3 9600 bps Fax
& Hayes compatible 2400 bps Modemn Card.
• Unique Auto Direct compatibility
• Background and "Unattended" operation
• Dedicated On-Board Microprocessor &
powerful software package
• Supports several popular printer and
page scanners
• Easy to install and setup
• Compatible with IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2
Model 30, Compaq Deskpro 386 and all
other IBM compatible PCs.
Compact half-card
size to fit
most portable
& laptops
$
12^
Egarstekl 128
Hand Scanner
• Perfect Scanning Width & Highest
Scanning Speed!
• Enables you to import directly into most
desktop publishing software
• Allows you to scan text files directly into
many OCR software
Complete Package includes,.,
• Mars 128 5" Scanner & Interface Card
• Scan Kit Utility Software & User's Manual
• Cat Reader OCR Software
& PC Paintbrush Plus <tf| C/QC
• One Year Warranty nP O X ^ *!
The MousePen
Works like a mouse, shaped and held
like a pen! Uses existing drivers in
Windows® and works with Microsoft
or IBM OS/2 drivers. Includes...
• Microsoft Connpatible Driver
• Menu Maker utility software for
\ non-mouse applications
\ • TelePAINT® color paint program
\ with VGA support
• IBM PS/2 Uouseport Connector
• Adapter for DB9 and DB25
seriafports
• 5-1/4" & 3-1/2" diskettes
• User's Manual
• Custom
Pen Holder t T C7QQ
00** fiiio^
IBM PS/2 MEMORy
SIMM MODULES
CAt I DESCRIPTION NSI
30F534B 51 ^Ka Upgf acJe PS/2 30 2S6 44.00
30F5360 2MB Upgrade PS/2 30 286 1 28.00
6450372 2MB Memofv Adapter W50367 39500
6450603 1 MB SIMM PS/2 70-E6t ; 1 21 66.00
6450604 2M8 SIMM PS/2 50Z 70 106.00
6450608 2MB SIMM PS/2 70 •A21 128.00
34F2933 4MB SIMM PS/2 55SX:65SX 279,00
5450375 1MB Mem BD PS/2 80-041 96.00
6450379 2MBM&mBD PS/2 80 111-321 158 00
CAT. t DESCRIPT.
6451060 4M8 Mem,8D PS/2 60-A21 :A31
64S0605 2-8M B Xpand Mem. PS/2 70460
w/2MB
34F3077 2-14MB Xpaod BD. PS/2 70480
W/2MB
6450609 2-1 4MB Xpand BD. PS/2 50-6SSX
W/2M8
CALL FOR PS/1 MEMORY
NSI
29e.OO
343.00
368.00
338,00
256x8
256x9
iMBxB
1MBx9
4MBx8
4MBx9
150 120 100
15,00 17,00 19.00
17.00 19.00 21.00
45.50
46.50
80
22.00
24.00
48.00
47.95
55.00 65.00
58.00 68.00
259,00 279.00 309.00
279,00 269.00 299.00
DRf)M CHIPS
150 120 100 SO 70 60
64x1 ,90 1.20 1.50
64x4 2.00 2.15
256x1 1.25 1.40 1,60 1.85
256x4 500 5.25 5.60 6,25 7,50
IMBkI 4.75 5,00 5.35 6.00 7.00
LASER PRINTER MEMORY
COMPf)Q MEMORY
CAT.i
DESCRIPTION
NSJ
CAT.#
DESCRIPTION
NSI
107331^1
512KB Upgrade PorUbte HI
38.00
113634^1
4MB Xpand Me^DP386S- 16
35800
107332-001
2MB Upg/ade Portable Jll
118.00
113644-001
1MB Xpand Mem. DP3S6 206, 25E
148 00
107651-001
1MB Module Portable 386
218.00
113645^1
4MB Xpand Mem. OP3S6 206. 25E
358 00
107653-O01
4MB Xpartd Mem, Portable 386
630.00
113646^1
1MB Module DP336S-16
11000
107654^1
4MB Mem. Xlension Portable 306
630.00
115144-001
1MB Module OP3S6-33,
158 00
106069-001
1MB XpafKi Memory DP386-1 6
28800
466-25. Syspro
108070-001
4Ma Xpand Memory DP386-16
63000
116561-001
8MB Module 48625, Sys pro
399.00
108071-001
1MB Me-nory Upgrade DP3a6-l6
108 00
116568-001
32MB Module DP4e6-25, Sy*pro
4,990.00
108072-001
4MB Memory UpQtade DP386-16
438.00
117077-001
512K8Mem,BDPortaWeLTE
119.00
110235^1
lMBMew>ry50SH286
162.00
117081-001
IMB Mem. BD Portable LTE286
99.00
110237^1
4MB Memory BO SH2B6
630.00
117081^2
2MB Memo^ BD Portable LTE 286
158.00
112534^1
4MB Module DP366S-16
298.00
118663^1
1MB Module DP286W,386N
90,00
113131^)01
1MB Module DP3e6286E, 386 20-251
: 96.00
116689-001
2MB Module DPmU. 336S-20
168.00
113132^1
4MB Module DP2a86E. 386 2025E
228.00
116690-001
4MB Module DP2BQN. 336N,
396.00
113633^1
1MBXpflndMem.0P3S6S*16
148.00
TOSHIBA MEMORY
CAT.!
DESCRIPTIOM
N^l
CAT. n
DESCRIPTION
NSI
PClO'PAa304U 2MB Memory Card Piiflabte
168.00
PC15-PA8310U 4MB Memory Card Portable
378.00
T52O0 Toshiba DestopTa500
T3100SX
PC12-PAfi307U 2MB Memory Ca/d Portable
168.00
PC6-PA71 37U 3MB Memory Card Portable T3200 228,00
T3200SX
PC7-PAe301 U 2MB Memory Card Portable T5100 1 68.00
PC13PA8306U 2MB Memwy Card Portable
168,00
PC9-PAe340U 512KMemo^CardPortab(e
120-00
T1200XE
T3100E
PC14PAB3n U 1MB Memory Card Portable
218.00
PC9-PAe341 U 2MB Memory Card Portable
168,00
TIOOOSE-XE
T3100E
PC15-PAa30eU 2MB Memory Card Portabte
162 00
T310OSX
CaLI
H33474B 1MB
H33475S 2M8
H334778 4M8
H334436 iMfl
H33444B 2M8
H33445B 4MB
1039136 1MB
1039137 2MB
WORKS WITH
HPLaser Jet tlPJll, HID
HPUserJettlPjIUIlD
HPUserJetllPJIIJIlD
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HPLaser Jet 11 4 ISO
HPLasef Jet II & IID
IBM Laser 4019
IBM User 401 9
HSI
99.95
139,95
214,95
99.95
139.95
214.95
139.00
185.00
CiLf
1038675 3.5MB
M6005 1MB
M6006
4MB
S63-1300 1MB
563-1^ 2M8
m 4M6
WORKS WITH
IBM Laser 401 9
Apple LftsetWrrter
It/NTX
Apple LaseiWriter
ll/NTX
Caiwo LBP-8II
Canon LBP-8II
Canon LflP-811
NSI
229,00
8500
319.00
119.00
189.00
269.00
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with 2MB 229,00
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# TEST LAB
III
OKITEL 24
PC MODEM
There are three questions I ask
when Tm shopping for a modem
card. Will it be easy to install,
does it have all of the features I
need, and will it perform over a rea-
sonable period of lime without fail-
ure? After putting this Okitel 2400B
Plus through some paces, I can answer
all three questions with a most defi-
nite Yes.
This modem occupies a full-sized
expansion card. That tells me several
things. Most important, it indicates
that the design engineers didn't cut
any corners to save money on produc-
tion costs. It also means that the com-
ponents won*t overheat since there's
plenty of space between them. And if
repairs are ever necessary, a techni-
cian will have an easier time finding
problems. Considering the quality en-
gineering, I figure this modem will
outlast most of the others that I've
seen and used.
Installing a modem card can be
frustrating, but the Okitel's documen-
tation is clear and well illustrated.
Knowing precisely where to look and
what to do helped immensely because
I had to change some jumpers on the
modem card so that it wouldn't con-
flict with my other serial devices.
The default settings of my termi-
nal program, ProConim Plus, didn*t
work. Here again, fixing these types of
problems can be a hassle. But it wasn't.
I read through the documentation,
easily found the information that I
needed, and set the ProComm Plus
modem specifications. From then
on, my telecommunicatons went
smoothly.
And last but not least, this mo-
dem, being Hayes compatible, has all
of the features I need. Not only did
ProComm work fine, but so did other
programs that I use, such as Telix and
Windows Terminal
The folks at Okidata were kind
PLUS
Installation: internaf
Slot/Bus Required: 8-bit
Other Requirements: n/a
List Price: $389.00
OKIDATA
532 Fellowship Rd.
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
(609) 235-2600
enough to provide telecom-
munications software. It's good
enough to get started with, but you'll
want to find something else if you
want a full- featured program.
After using the Okitel 2400B
Plus PC modem, Fd recommend it to
anyone. It's a quality modem card
that has excellent documentation and
carries all of the features you need, o
RICHARD C LEINECKER
The First Fax Machine
The first primitive facsimiie machine was in-
vented by Dr. Aiexander Bain, a Scottish
physicist, in 1 842. This may come as a sur-
prise to the many peopie who had oniy
heard of facsimile during the fax explosion
of the past five years.
Dr. Bain's early effort was developed
even iDefore the invention of the telephone
by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, It had a
pendulum which created a brown stain as it
swung across chemicalJy treated paper.
It is interesting to note that both of
these pioneers were of Scottish origin.
Bell's U.S. Patent became the most valu-
able ever— and hetd by a foreigner! Howev-
er, he did become an American citizen in
1882. Although Bell's life work, even apart
from the telephone, is well documented up
to his death in 1922, Alexander Bain's con-
tribution to facsimile is little known. It is the
author's sincere hope, that as the facsimile
industry continues its meteorical rise, the
work of its inventor, Dr. Alexander Bain, will
not be forgotten.
Dr. Bain's device was called the Elec-
tronrrechanicaf Recording Telegraph, and
although today it may not be considered to
have t)een a commercial success, little or
no attempts were made to market the de-
vice at that time, — david day
Facsimile Facts A Figures. 1990/97
Internatikxia! Facsimife Association
40
COMPUTE
JULY 1991
TANDY FAXMATE
rax communication is a fast and ef-
ficient variation on conventional
information exchange. Trading the
slow pace of mail or express deliv-
ery services for instantaneous world-
wide communication, it offers good
speed but poor-quality paper, few ma-
chine language barriers but some
document-form limitations.
The Tandy FaxMate is an appro-
priately fast and efficient fax board
that lets you send and receive facsimi-
les from your PC Offering few frills,
easy use, and mediocre onscreen re-
production, it simply gets the job done.
The FaxMate is easy to install:
Remove your PCs cover, snap the fax
board into a slot, and plug in a couple
of phone cords. Its software is similar-
ly easy to install and use, providing
clear instructions and, for the most
part, easily followed paths to any field,
whether sending a fax or altering the
current setup (I was caught off guard,
though, when its automatic receive
function kicked in unexpectedly).
With automatic setup of files for
received faxes and steps that walk you
through setting up a cover sheet and
sending a document, the FaxMate
does most of the hard work for you. It
automatically redials if it gets a busy
signal when sending, and it allows for
automatic transmission to different
machines during low-rate times.
Though designed to oj^erate with
the DeskMate software program, the
fax board and accompanying software
work fine on their own. The only sub-
stantial complaint I had was with on-
screen reproduction of received
documents. When the documents
show up onscreen, they're illegibly re-
duced. And for all the software's
zooming and half-sizing capabilities,
making a document readable on-
screen takes a lot of doing. However,
the FaxMate readily prints clear, full-
sized fax documents. And you enjoy
the speed and convenience of working
from your computer. >
EDDIE HUFFMAN
Installation: internal
Slot/Bus Required: 8-bit
Fax Group Supported: 3
Other Requirements: 640K RAM; hard disk with at
least 3MB available; SVz- or SV^-inch floppy disk
drive; SO-column monitor with CGA, EGA, VGA,
Tandy 16-color, Hercules, or compatible graphics;
MS-DOS version 3.1 or higher
List Price: $249.95
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# TEST LAB
WORLDPORT 2400 MODEM
The Touchbase Systems World Port
Hayes-compatible modem is
small — about the size of a pack of
cigarettes— but topnotch. It at-
taches externally to the computer
through the serial port and can be
powered by a standard nine-volt bat-
tery, an AC adapter, or the computer
itself It connects to the phone line
either through its modular phone jack
or by means of an acoustic coupler.
The WorldPort cannot connect
directly with some computers because
it requires a 25-pin serial port. But an
appropriate adapter cable, such as the
DB9-DB25, will take care of that.
The modem gets its power direct-
ly from some computers, but not all.
Using an alkaline battery as an alter-
native will maintain power for about
six hours of continuous use. The unit
also comes with an AC adapter. You
switch the modem on and off using
your communications software.
A phone jack on the modem's
side connects directly to the telephone
line running from your wall. There's
only one jack on the modem, so to use
your phone along with the modem,
make sure the modem is either at the
end of a daisychain or plugged into a
Y-connector at the wall jack. An alter-
native to directly connecting the mo-
dem to the phone line is plugging it
into an acoustic coupler using an
adapter cable provided in the package.
The WoridPort worked well with
each commercial or public-domain
telecommunications program 1 tried
at the modem's three speeds of 300,
1200, and 2400 bits per second. And,
in case you lack such software, the
unit comes with a powerful communi-
cations package — Carbon Copy.
The WorldPort is a very nice
piece of equipment — easy to use, reli-
able, and well documented. The only
thing preventing me from rushing out
to buy one for myself is the whopping
$359 price tag. Of course, you can ex-
pect the street price to be lower. t>
BRUCE M. BOWDEN
Installation: external
Slot/Bus Required: n/a
Other Requirements: Any computer with
an RS-232 port and the ability to accept
the Hayes AT command set
List Price: $359.00
TOUCHBASE SYSTEMS
160 Laurel Ave.
Northport, NY 1 1 768 ^^^
(516) 261-0423 ^W^W*^
BitSi Baud, and CPS
Bits Per Second (bps). The number of
data bits the modem is capable of transmit-
ting each second.
Data Bits, The number of bits transmitted
for each byte of data. Seven-bit characters
usually represent the 128 standard ASCII
characters; 8-bit characters can represent
control characters and special token or
graphics characters.
Baud Rate. The number of times per sec-
ond a signal in a communications channel
varies or changes states. This doesn't nec-
essarily translate to bps.
Multiple-State Modulation. This method
allows multiple bits to be sent with each
baud.
Characters Per Second (cps). The num-
ber of characters transmitted by a modem
in a second.
Medium- and high-speed modems use
baud rates lower than their bps rates by
employing multiple-state modulation. For
example. 1200-bps modems that conform
to the Bell 21 2A standard (which includes
most 1200'bps modems used in the U.S.)
operate at 300 baud and use a modulation
technique called phase modulation that
transmits four bits per baud.
—MICHAEL A. BANKS
44 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
First of all, we tested the specific features and capabilities of this month's communications
devices. While this (<ind of Information routinely appears in advertisements and manuals,
our tests allowed us to thoroughly check out these features and capabilities.
In addition, we ran a series of pass/fail tests to determine tiiat each device did In fact
function as the manufacturer indicated it would. Testing modems and fax units presents
some interesting challenges. Because communications devices must, to a large extent,
conform to industry standards in order to do what tiiey do. a comparison of numerical
benchmark results would not yield statistically significant information. Therefore, a pass/fail
system was adopted, and each of the communications devices passed our rigorous tests.
Modem Testing
To test this month's modems, the lab used a 24£X)-baud Hayes-compatible external mo-
dem connected via the serial port to an IBM AT (6MHe). Using ProComm Plus communica-
tions software (parameters: 2400, N, 8, 1) and the SuperKermit file-transfer protocol, the
lab sent and received the following test files:
Fife Name
SRMDGO. IMG
SOFTWARETEX
WATERFALPCX
MEMCHK.COM
QICOM
4000AS.TXT
File DBScription
bitmap graphics
ASCII text file
PC Paintbrush file
command program
command program
ASCII alignment text file
File Name
BUSY.EXE
GAN.TIF
PRINTER.EXX;
SAY.EXE
V01CE.V3S
WINDLjOGO.GEM
File Description
executable program
TIFF scanned-lmage file
ASCII extended characters
executable sound program
digital sound file
GEM vector graphics file
The lab installed the test modem eitiier externally or internally on an 80386 SX
(1 6MH2). Additional hardware consisted of a TLS-3 line simulator, an FTS-80 modem/fax
test set, and a proprietary multilevel line noise/signal impairment generator unit. Ail off-
hook meter readings and test levels were calibrated and confirmed using a standard
AT & T 2500 Touch-Tone telephone set. Test files were sent and received using "clean"
simulator conditions, as well as impairment levels 1 through 4. These impairment levels
mimic problematic line conditions you might encounter in your everyday electronic commu-
nications. The tab ran executable and program files at tiie end of each test cycle and com-
pared file sizes. To confirm the integrity of the file transfer, tiie lab displayed text and
graphics files.
Fax Testing
The lab used the manufacturer's proprietary software for all testing. For all fax-transmis-
sion testing, tiie lab used several test files (supported by the hardware/software):
File Name
SF^UOGO.IMG
SOFTWARETEX
WATERFALPCX
File Description
bitmap graphics
ASCII text file
PC Paintbrush file
File Name
4000AS.TXT
CAN.TIF
PRINTER.DOC
File Description
ASCII atignment text file
TIFF scanned-image file
ASCII extended characters
Test files were sent and received using clean simulator conditions, as well as impair-
ment levels 1 through 4 — again, reflecting adverse line conditions you might encounter.
Documents received from the tested fax devices were compared witii laser-output sam-
ples of the original document files to judge quality of the ti-ansmission and visually confirm
the integrity of the file transfer. The lab used the highest available baud rate for sending
files from the test unit to the receiving fax unit, which supports 9600 baud in standard
Group 3 mode.
For testing fax device units that can receive files, the lab used a nine-page set of laser-
output samples with a cover sheet; both dean and impaired line conditions were used. The
lab viewed received fax files on the video display between test cycles and generated laser-
output specimens of the received files using the fax software's file-printing utilities and a
300^pi HP-compatible laser printer.
—TOM 6ENF0RD
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Written in a friendly
style by Byte magazine contributing
editor, Mark Minasi, this is the maintenance-
and-repair manual every computer
user wiil want to have on hand, 320 pages.
ISBN 0*87455-230-2 $18.95
RELEASING
THE POWER OF DOS
PaulS.KIose
This weli-organized guide
unlocks the hidden secrets of DOS, clarifies
confusing comimands, and provides
solutions to common complaints about DOS.
Covers all versions of MS- and
PC-DOS through version 4. 470 pages.
ISBN 0-87455-185-2 $21.95
PROBLEM
SOLVING WITH PC TOOLS
Lynn Frantz
Here are special tips and shortcuts to simplify
your work with PC Tools, includes
ready-to-use macros and design charts. Of
special interest are the numerous charts and tables
that make using PC Tools 3 snap. 512 pages.
ISBN 0-87455-192-7 S21.95
YES! □ 1 want to power up my PC. Please send
me the titles checked below.
Maintaining, Upgrading, and
Troubleshooting (2303) $18.95
Releasing the Power of DOS
(1862)821.95 ^^
Problem Solving with PC Tools
(1927) $21.95
Total cost of Books ^—
Shipping and Handling ($2 per book
US; S4 Canadian; S6 Foreign)
Sales lax (NC, NJ, NY residents and
appropriate sales tax. Canadian orders
add 7% Goods & Services tax.)
(Checks or Money Order in U.S. funds oniy, made
payable to COMPUTE Publications)
Please Pnnt
Name _^
Street Address-
City .
State -
-ZfP_
Mall tHis coupon to:
COMPUTE Books
c/oCCC
2500 McClelJan Ave.
Pennsauken, Hi 0B109
Offer good only while sjpD'ies last.
I Please allow four !o Six A-eeks for delivery. JUL91CN9 \
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 45
# TEST LAB
ZOOM/MODEM
HC2400S SENDFAX
If you find yourself hemming and
hawing every time someone says,
"Just fax it to me," the Zoom/
Modem HC2400S SendFax may be
just the ticket. For a mere $ 169, you'll
gel a 2400-bps modem and a 9600-bps
Group 3 send-only fax, both in one in-
ternal board. Also included with the
package is ProComm, probably the
most popular telecommunications
program around today and BitFax,
software that works with the Zoom
board.
To install the Zoom SendFax, all
you have to do is decide which COM
port it's going to use and set a jumper
on the board. Then just slip it in any
8-bit expansion slot, and you're ready
to go. (A slightly more expensive ex-
ternal version of the Zoom is also
available,)
Youll be able to use the modem
for two-way communication and the
fax for sending faxes (but you won't
be able to receive faxes with this
Zoom board).
The modem portion of the
Zoom/Modem HC2400S SendFax
works flawlessly. It has full Hayes
AT-command set compatibility (in-
cluding support for all the standard
Hayes registers), and it boasts a speak-
er with a tone that you'll find clearer
than most.
For telecommunicating, you can
either settle in with the ProComm
communications software or use Pro-
Comm to download an even nicer com-
munications program such as Telix,
For sending faxes, you can get
your feet wet with the bundled Bit-
Fax, but it's no fun to use, and al-
though you can combine graphics and
text in your faxes, you may find the
process cumbersome. You won't get
many "oohs" and "ahs" for your doc-
uments' design at the other end of the
telephone line.
There is other send-fax software,
Installation: internal
Slot/Bus Required: 8-bit
Fax Group Supported: 3
Other Requirements: n/a
List Price: $169.00
ZOOM TELEPHONICS
207 South Street
Boston, MA 02111
(617)423-1072
(800)631-3116
however, and the Zoom will work
with any program that supports the
Sierra chip set. If you're using Micro-
soft Windows, one excellent program
is H^i>iFax (Delrina Technology, 1945
Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario, Cana-
da M3B 2M3; 416-441-3676; $69),
With it, you can send beautiful faxes,
and doing so is about as easy as
printing.
Do I recommend the Zoom
SendFax? You bet I do. It has per-
formed flawlessly, and even though
Fm not enamored with the bundled
software, you just can't beat the
Zoom's price. >
CLIFTON KARNES
All Benchmark/Performance Testing is
conducted by Computer Product Test-
ing Services, Inc. (CPTS), an indepen-
dent testing and evaluation laboratory
based in Manasquan, New Jersey.
Every effort has been made to ensure
the accuracy and completeness of this
data as of the date of testing. Perform-
ance may vary among samples.
46 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
1
THE WORLDS BEST PROGKAHIS
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ACT NOW!! 3 FREE DISKS!! L
MS WINDOWS 3.0 m: HOME & FAMILY
BUSINESS
LIMITED TIME!!
a FormGen (1630) Design and pnnt
any business/office form easily.
J FormGen Fill (1631) Fill out
FormGen-created forms more quickly
and accurately. ■ - ,::i r' ^ hcc^^Gon^
a FormGen Business Forms (1632)
An excellent collection of pre-designed
business fomns. dcq rormG-jn) HD
□ Doctor Data Label (1717) A profes-
sional mail list manager. HD, 51 2K
J Checkmate Plus (1109, 1110) A
complete checkbook manager. Handfes
unlimited accounts and does reconcili-
ation. :;: ^:.r::-w, ;. .--■. ^-l^
Q Business Kit (1656) Two programs
lor small businesses: Simple Book-
keeper and Billing Statement.
USolvelt! (1 624J 625) Excellent finan-
cial calculations package. \^ disks) HD
a Invoice-It (1664) Keep track of in-
voices, mercfiandise, vendors and
customers at the point of saJe. HD
J Names and Dates (1619,1620) An
address book, calendar system, and
mailing list combination. (2 disks 1 512K
U ZPAY 3 (1 61 0, 1 61 1 ) A full-featu red
payroll package. ? d^sksj HD
:i PC-Areacode (1665) Helps you find
the areacode for any city in the U.S. or
Canada quickly and easily.
EDUCATION
U Computer Tutor (1235) Become a
more effective computer user,
J School Mom (1 251 ) Teaches kids 2-
14 the basics of art, music, spelling.
English and math. FANTASTIC II! CGA
CI World (1221) A computer ericydo-
pedia of global information. CGA
LI Total Recall (1245) This program
helps you quickly memorize words and
information on any subject.
J Algebrax (1233) A great program
that teaches algebra, ''^ga DOS 3 0
J Pre-Calcuius (1218) Excellent pre-
calc tutor. Reviews algebra and trig.
:2 Play n* Learn (1236) A collection of
learning games for children, CGA
LI Kir^derMath (1 262) An excellent math
tutor for children. Three levels of diffi-
culty. Very entertaining. CGA
3 WordWhiz (1 252) A challenging word
game that tests your vocabulary.
J Word Gallery (1256) Teaches kids
to link written words with objects. CGA
J Wunder Book ( 1 269) A collection of
5 colorful and fun games in English,
Spanish, French, and German for chil-
dren 3 to 10 years old. EGA or VGA
J Animated Shapes (1264) Teaches
shapes and colors to pre-schoolers
using animated graphics. 640K. EGA
SPREADSHEET
J On Side (1506) Prints your spread-
sheets (or any file) sideways.
J As-Easy-As (1805) A lantastjc Lo-
tus 1-2-3 compatible spreadsheet.
U Lotus Learning Sys. (181 0,1 811) A
complete package that makes it easy
to learn Lotus 1-2-3, ,; j ; km iiD
LI InstaCalc (1 81 2,1 8 1 3) A high-power,
stand-alone spreadsheet which may
also be run as aTSR (pop-up) spread-
sheet, [2 disks J
These programs require Windows 3.0.
LI Almanac (1470) An excellent calen-
dar/information utility.
U Icon Library (1481) Customize your
Windows operating environment with
this collection of over 300 icons.
3 Paint Shop (1488) An excellent
graphics tool for desktop publishing.
Supports BMP, GIF, IMG, MAC. PCX,
and RLE formats.
Li Active Life (1472) A powerful sys-
tem for managing your active business
and personal life.
J Icondraw (1478) Create your own
icons to use with Windows.
□ XVTDraw (1489) A great drawing
program that ffe in many ways better
than the Windows Paintbrush program.
J Screen Peace (1486) A FANTAS-
TiC screen saver with many beautiful
and interesting variations.
a Change Cursor Utility (1487) Al-
lows you to desig n your own arrow and
hourglass cursors to use with Windows.
WORD
PROCESSING
J WP 5.0/5.1 Clip Art (1875.1876) A
large col lection of cli p art to add spice to
your WP documents. {2 dssks)
J PC Write 3.03 (1851-1853) A very
popular full'featured word processor.
(3disks)ViO,, 5i;;;K
_J WP 5.1 Learninq System (1065-
1 867) Be a more proficient WP user. (3
disks) HD, 51 2K
Q Readability Plus (1340) A comput-
erized writing style analyzer.
LlGrabPtus/LaserLabel (1883, 1884)
Takes addresses from a word proces-
sor and sends them to the printer. HD
APPLICATIONS
J Trip Planner (1 331 ) A computerized
road map. Computes best route. Very
popularl '
J Melody Maker (1918) A fun and
easy-to-use program for new or expe-
rienced music students. Comes with
several songs.
a Calendar Mate (1344) A full-fea-
tured program designed to create per-
sonalized calendars.
LI Lotto! (1 31 3) Wi n the lottery with the
help of your computer!
J Bowl 101 (1346) A user-friendly tiowl-
ing league management program.
D The Electric Almanac (1341) A
source for lots of usefut information.
GRAPHICS
LI Picture Label (1501) An excellent
label printing program that uses
PrintMaster or PrintShop graphics-
J Banner Maker (1502) Prints ban-
ners in various sizes, styles, and fonts.
J Dazzle (1530) An amazing random-
ized color pattern generator. Perfor-
mance art for the eyes! EGA or VGA
J Cooper PM Graphics (1516,1517)
Approx. 800 clip-art images to be used
with PrintMaster. [2 d sk?,)
J Cooper PS Graphics (1518,1519)
Approx- 800 clip-art images to be used
with PrintShop. {2 disks)
J Family Tree Journal (1122, 1123)
Presents your genealogical information
in book form, (2 disks) HD
J Home Inventory (1 105) Keeps track
of al! your personal property.
J Personal Budget TooJs (1 1 08) Pro-
vides a simple way to plan for annual,
semi-annual, and quarterly expenses.
J Will Kit (1343) Create your own wiil
valid in alt 50 states.
J Cash Control (1127) Manage your
bank accounts the fast an6 easy way
with this great program. 320K
UTILITIES
D Auto Menu (1409) A professional
hard disk menu system. Run any of
your programs from a customized
menu. HD
LI ViruScan (1440) Make sure your
computer is virus-free with this valuable
utility. Highly recommended?
H Tree View (1418) A superior DOS
command shell with pull-down menus.
LI Telix (1422) The best telecommuni-
cations program available, HD
J VGA Fonts (1442) A collection of fun
and interesting fonts to spice up your
VGA screen display. VGA
J Virus Central (1441 ) A program that
simplifies the use of ViruScan by pro-
viding a menu oriented environment.
Requires ViruScan. 512K, CGA. HD
u PC Pro (1443) Combines a user
menu, a file manager, an enhanced
DOS prompt, and many new features
into one environment. 3&4K. HD
EGA GAMES
Lj The Last Half of Darkness (1962)
Scary graphics and mysterious puzzles
to challenge your mind. EGA, HD
LI Dark Ages (1 964) A brilliant arcade/
adventure game with superb graphics
and animation. 400K, EGA. 286 or faster
machine.
LI Poker Slot (1989) Plays iusl like the
video poker machines you soe in casi-
nos. Great graphics! EC ,
Q Commander Keen (1986) One of
the best games we have ever seen.
Exceptional play and graphics. EGA
D Double Link (1983) A great Tetris
style game that is sure to keep you
challenged. lGA
IMPORTANT
CGA = Requires Color Computer
EGA = Requires EGA or VGA
HD = Requires Hard Drive
51 2K = Requires 51 2K RAM
For muni-disk sets
count ali disks in set
When you order and pay for 5 or
more disks, select an additional 3
disks FREE (linnit 3 free per order)
GAMES
J Double Blocks (1 970) A TERRIFIC
Tetris clone for 1 or 2 players- Records
lop scores. You will love this!!
J Video PokerAJltima 21 (1945) The
BEST poker and blackjack games!
3 Pharaoh's Tomb (1 974) Face mon-
sters and traps as you explore the
pyramid. Your goal is to survive.
J Bass Tour (1 925) Fish in your choice
of lakes. Try to win the trophy.
J ZZT (1921 ) Test your problem solv-
ing ability and your arcade skills as you
battle your way through 43 rooms.
J Field General (1931) Experience
the excitement of a pro football game
from a coach's point of view. CGA. HD
3 Insanity (1936) Find your way out of
this maze before going insane! CGA
Q The Monuments of Marsl (1920)
Many tough levels filled with puzzles,
traps and creatures. 350K, CGA
□ Arctic Adventure (1982) Contains
80 new levels of mind bending, finger
twitching, arcade action. 350K. CGA
VGA GAMES
J Shooting Gallery (1990) Seven
variations of a shooting range on your
computer screen, VGA, mouse
G VGA Sharks (1992) Recover lost
treasure m shark infested waters in this
action arcade game. VGA
J Beyond Columns (1997) Beyond is
like Tetris with a twist. VGA
J VGA Jigsaw (1993) Uses beautiful
pictures to create puzzles for you to put
back together. VGA
Name
Address .
City_
State ^___
Phone ( ) .
\/\sBJUCn
Exp. Date __
Signature
.Zip.
Disks Ordered ^
xS2.49orS1.99each...S^
J Need 3 1/2" disks?
If SO - add $1 per disk
(including free disks) . , . S
Packing & Handling , , . S 3,00
Foreign Shipping Charge
(Canada S2 / Other $4) S
jCOD (U.S. Only)
add S4 it you req. COD $^.
J Federal Express - add S4
(Continental U.S. only) $ „
TOTALS ,
3 Check/MO J Visa/MC J CO.D.
GOLD HILL
SOFTWARE
«>aldllill.«»K»7.>2S
1-800-234-6467
99
^M
Ctrcle Reader Service Number 198
H FAX AND MODEM CAPABILITIES
Brooktrout
Fax-Mail 96
The
Complete
FAX/Portable
Fremont
Frecom
Faj(96
GVC Mini-
FaxModem
FMM-4624
Hayes JT
FaxABm
Portable
Hayes JT
Fax 9600B
Intel
SatisFAXti04i
Okidata
Okttet 24006
Plus
PC Modem
Tandy
FaxMate
Touchbase
WoridPort
2400 Modem
Zoom/Modem
HC2400S
SendFax
; Max Speed
9600
9600
9600
4800
4800
9600
9600
2400
4800
2400
4800
mn FalJback
2400
2400
2400
2400
300
300
300
300
2400
300
2400
Data Modem
O
0
O
•
O
•
O
•
•
Auto Fax/Modem Select
n/a
n/a
n/a
•
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
•
Fax Transmit
•
•
•
•
•
O
•
0
•
Fax Receive
•
•
•
O
•
0
•
0
O
Otthered/Gfay Scale
0
•
O
o
•
n/a
•
n/a
•
Compressed Fonts
•
•
0
o
•
n/a
•
n/a
o
Max Modem Data Speed
n/a
n/a
n/a
2400
n/a
2400
4800
2400
n/a
2400
2400
AT Command Set
n/a
n/a
n/a
•
n/a
•
n/a
•
•
Background Operation
Mode
•
•
•
•
0
O
•
0
•
Min Memory Requirement
62K
B40K
41K
T28K
640K
640K
640K
128K
384K
none
320K
Capture PrintScrMii
Output
•
O
O
•
•
n/a
•
n/a
O
Capture Screen to File
•
o
0
0
•
n/a
O
n/a
•
Capture Text
Sent to Printer
•
•
•
•
•
n/a
•
n/a
•
Capture Graphics
Sent to Printer
•
•
•
•
•
n/a
•
n/a
•
Direct Scanner Transmit
•
•
•
o
•
n/a
0
n/a
0
Direct Printer Text-
Rle Transmit
•
•
•
•
•
n/a
o
n/a
•
Direct Prirtter Graphics*
File Transmit
•
•
•
#
•
rva
o
It/a
•
Max Pages
Transmit/Receive
no limit
no fimit
no limft
255
no limit
no limit
999
n/a
25
n/a
no limit
Adds Document Headers
•
•
O
•
•
n/a
•
n/a
•
Generates Letterhead
•
•
O
•
•
n/a
0
n/a
•
Generates Cover She«t
0
•
•
•
•
n/a
n/a
•
Auto Answering
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Auto Dialing
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Amo Printing
•
•
0
n/a
•
n/a
n/a
n/a
Auto Speed/Rate
•
•
•
• •
•
0
•
•
Performs Polling
•
•
0
n/a
O
n/a
n/a
O
Audible Speaker
0
O
•
•
•
•
0
•
•
Volume Control
n/a
n/a
•
•
o
0
•
n/a
•
•
•
O
•
•
o
•
n/a
O
n/a
o
File Conversions
ASCII. PCX,
EPG
ASCII. PCX,
TIF, CUT
MSP.
Epson FX,
Compiete
FAX
ASCII, PCX,
TIF. FAX
ASCII, PCX,
TIF. MAC
ASCII, PCX.
FAX
ASCII, PCX.
FAX
ASCli. PCX,
OCX,
Epson
n/a
ASCII, PCX.
TIF, CUT
MSP,
Epson FX
n/a
ASCII. PCX,
TIF, IMG,
P1X.
WordStar.
WordPerfect
Second Jack
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
O
•
•=yes O^no
4a C O M P U
T E
JULY 1991
#TEST LAB
Interpreting the Grid Information
The grid information has been sup-
plied by COMPUTE'S independent
testing laboratory (Computer Product
Testing Services) and should help you
sort out the various capabilities of our
Test Lab evaluation units.
Because much of the technology-
is new and unfamiliar, we have de-
fined selected terms for you.
Max Speed, The maximum tested fax
speed (in the case of fax units) or mo-
dem speed (in the case of modem-
only units). The Max Modem Data
Speed is the fastest modem speed for
those devices with modem capabili-
ties. This and all other speed listings
are in bits per second (bps).
Min Fallback. The minimum speed
to which a modem or fax will fall
back— that is, slow down — to match
speeds with another machine or to
perform extra error correction in or-
der to check and ensure data integrity.
Dithered/Gray Scale. A fax unit's
ability to employ a technology called
dithering to produce grays, not just
black and white.
Compressed Fonts, A fax unit's own
fonts, which allow it to create output
more closely resembling the original
document. These onboard fonts can
also enhance the readability of a
document.
Capture PrintScreen Output. A fax
unit's ability to translate printer out-
put into a transmittable image file. It
simply dumps the screen to a file.
Direct Scanner Transmit. A fax unit's
ability to send a scanned image direct-
ly without creating a disk file.
Direct Printer Transmit. The capabili-
ty to "print'* directly to a fax board.
Polling. Unattended, automatic fax
transmission and reception. A fax
unit's abihty, at a deferred time, to
send out form letters to a predeter-
mined set of fax numbers. It also al-
lows you to leave documents in your
transmit queue and have them trans-
mitted in response to a faxed request. H
%.
Being online never felt so fine.
Join the online network with personaiity. TTie most interesting
conferences. 10,000 programs you can download for your own use.
All the most popular services. Two Free Membership ^
Dial by modem,
membership plans: $6 an hour or $1
1-800-365-4636
an hour with the 20/20 Advantage. Press return. At password,
type PC22
Join us online, the water's fine.
DELPHI
Voice, 1 -800-544-4005
617-491-3393
Circle Reader Service Number 202
JULY 19 91 COMPUTE 49
TO
INSTAIi
A
E
MARK
M I N A S I
- 1
Mi. L
. p
'^^;-^V;^,r«fej^^^
A
l.^ VLVj^jmji>mmmfimm^
pf
FOUR STEPS
TO HARD
DISK POWER
A couple of years ago, 20
megs seemed like a lot of
storage. But nowadays
everything burns up disk
space at a furious rate. Win-
dows 3.0 takes up 5 or more
megabytes, Lotus several
more — heck, even Wing
Commander, a game with un-
believable graphics, can only
manage those graphics by tak-
ing up 5 megs on your disk.
So it's time for an up-
grade. You buy a larger disk
and don*t want to pay to have
it installed. Here's how to put
in your first hard drive or add
a second hard drive, >
COMPUTE St
One caveat before we go further.
There is a wide variety of controllers,
drives, and interfaces, so one article
can't cover them all. What follows
will tell you how lo install most har J
drives. Here are the basic steps to the
process:
• Gather the information youll need
before you start.
• Configure the hard drive.
• Install the hard drive.
• Install the drive controller.
ril also assume that you know
that a drive system needs a hard
drive, a circuit board called a hard
kind of defect. Fm looking currently
at a Seagate ST25 1 - 1 , a popular 42MB
drive. It has a while paper label atop it
marked Error Map. The label looks
like this:
Error Map 251/Serial # 26956413
Cyl Hd BFI
137 3 2463
140 3 2463
141 3 2463
442 5 3722
The three columns are labeled
Cv/ (Cylinder), //^(Head), and BFI
(Bytes From Index). As the disk spins,
there is an arbitrary starting point that
Removing Circuit Boards
1 . Remove any connectors (diagramming them first).
2. Remove the board's mounting screw.
3. Grasp the board along its top edge and rock it GENTLY up and out,
4. Avoid touching the edge connector once the board is out of its slot
Grasp here.
Edge connector (obscured in bus slot connection)
drive controller, and cables. The con-
troller has to be compatible with the
hard drive, or this whole operation
isn't going to work.
If you're not clear on how to buy
a controller and drive, take a look at
"How to Choose a Hard Disk" in the
May 1991 issue.
Getting Ready
There are a few things you'll need to
know about your drive later on, so
let's get this information together
before we go any further.
Find whatever documentation
came with the drive, controller, and
PC. You want to know the heads, cyl-
inders, sectors per track, and write
precompensation cylinder for your
drive because the controller needs to
know that data in order to support
your drive. So get this from your ven-
dor and write it down somewhere —
you'll probably have use for it even
after the drive is installed.
Most drives have a paper label
pasted on them with a bad track table
or error map. It describes exactly
where the disk's surface has some
is the index — BFI is the distance from
this index. (Note an oddity of the ta-
ble: It sees an error on head 3 for
tracks 137, 140, and 141 at the same
BFI. It seems highly likely that an er-
ror exists also on tracks 1 38 and 139.
Personally, Td treat head 3, BH 2463
as bad for cylinders 138 and 139.)
The last suggestion for this instal-
lation phase is to collect documenta-
tion. There's no sense in tearing the
computer apart only to realize that
you never got the information on con-
figuring the controller and that you
won't get any further until you beg the
company to send you that infor-
mation. And besides, even if you con-
vince the company to send it, you'll
look strange lurking around the mail-
box waiting for the mail carrier. (Ac-
tually, most controller vendors have
24-hour-a-day BBSs from which you
can download your controller docu-
mentation and other information.)
Opening the Computer
There*s a good chance you'll have to
get into your computer before going
much further, since most AT-class
machines (286-, 386SX-, 386-, and
486-based PCs) have their hard disk
controller and hard disk cables al-
ready in the machine. Here are some
tips on getting inside the machine
with a minimum of trouble. Take
your time, and write everything down.
Make a bootable DOS disk. If
you don't have a bootable DOS flop-
py, make one now with everything on
it that you'll need to boot the system.
If you're replacing a hard disk, you
probably always boot from the hard
disk and don't have a bootable floppy
handy. Make one, and make sure that
it has the things you'll need for soft-
ware preparation: SETUP if it's an AT
machine, whatever low-level format
program you'll be using, FDISK, and
FORMAT.
Park your drivers heads. If you're
removing an old hard disk, park it
first. You should have a head-parking
program around somewhere.
Turn the computer off, and re-
move the coven Leave the PC plugged
in, however, but be sure to provide
antistatic protection, as I'll explain in
a minute.
Be especially careful when re-
moving the cover that you don't rip
any ribbon cables on the edge of the
cover. The ribbon cables for the flop-
pies and hard drive often pop up as
the cover is removed, making them
easy prey for any sharp edges on the
inside of the case.
Also, find an egg carton and use
it to help you organize the screws that
you take out of the computer. You can
use the compartments in the carton to
keep the different screws separated.
You'll probably find two or three sizes
of screws in your PC: large ones that
secure the cover, small ones that se-
cure the hard drive, and medium-
sized ones that fasten everything else.
Ground yourself. Before you
touch anything in the computer,
touch the case of the power supply.
(Don't know which is the power sup-
ply? It's the silver box with the fan in
it and the power switch on the side.
It's also got a label on it that says —
sometimes in several languages — "If
you open me, I'll kill you.")
Touching the power supply case
drains away any static electricity
that you might have built up. This
only works if the power supply is
plugged in.
Heed this warning: In 1989, 1
lived in The Condo from Hell for
three months. It had the most static-
attracting carpet I've ever seen in my
life. I was working on a computer and
absent-mindedly shuffled my feet on
the carpet while trying to work out a
problem. I reached over to remove a
memory board from the system, and
zap! A blue spark leapt about a centi-
52 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
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meter from my hand to the board.
KJUed two memory chips and proba-
bly weakened others.
Get in the habit of touching the
power supply case. (No, you won't get
electrocuted by touching the case of
the power supply Just don't open it
up — that can kill you.)
Remove the hard drive. If you al-
ready have a hard drive, remove it
and the controller. You can find the
controller easily^ ust follow the rib-
bon cables from the back of the hard
disk to a circuit board. That circuit
board is the controller. It'll probably
look like a pincushion, as it usually
sports a 34-pin connector and two 20-
pin connectors.
Before you do any of this, how-
ever, please make good diagrams so
you can put things back the way you
found them!
Circuit boards are held into the
system with a single screw near the
back of the PC, Remove the screw,
and the board will come out. Rock the
board gently back and forth to remove
it from the system board. See the fig-
ure "Removing Circuit Boards.''
Drives in XT-class systems are
generally held in place with screws
that bolt the drives right into the chas-
sis. AT-class systems typically have
rails fastened to the sides of the hard
drives; the drives slide right into the
AT chassis like drawers into desks.
Metal tabs hold the drives in place.
If you ordered a hard drive with
an installation kit for AT-class ma-
chines, the installation kit probably
consisted of the plastic drive rails and
screws to mount them on the drive.
Configuring the Drive
Next, you'll need to adjust two things
on your hard drive: the terminator
and the drive select jumper. If the
drive is the only hard drive (floppies
Hard Disk Drive Select Jumper
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Terminating resistor
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54 COMPUTE JULY 1991
HOME OFFICE - FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT - CHALLENGE AND DISCOVERY
WHATEVER YOUR HOME COMPUTING NEEDS,
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JUL9lCft
don*t count), you don't need to mess
with the terminator.
The drive select jumper gives a
drive an address as far as the control-
ler is concerned: either address 0 or
address 1. Ordinarily, your first hard
drive (let's call it drive C) is addressed
0, and the second, if present, is ad-
dressed L
Let's call the second hard drive
D, and ignore for the present that it's
possible for a single drive to own
more than one drive letter.
The drive is addressed by placing
a jumper — a liny plastic box (usually
black, but I've seen white and blue)
over two metal pins.
Drives generally have pins for
drive addresses 0 through 5. but we
only use addresses 0 and 1 in the PC
business. There are a set of pins to
jumper for address 0, another set for
address 1, and so on.
The address your drive responds
to is determined by where you put the
jumper. There are two examples of
drive select jumpers (and terminators,
which we'll discuss presently) on
"Hard Disk Drive Select Jumper."
Just remember that the drive select
jumper only goes on one address.
So we've said that the drive can
have address 0 or 1. But which should
it use? It depends on whether or not
Power Connector
^
/^^^
rf^
^^^^
T^
there's a twist in the cable. Your sys-
tem probably uses two cables to con-
nect the hard disk to the hard disk
controller — a wider 34-wire cable and
a skinnier 20- wire cable. The 34-wire
cable carries the control signals; the
20-wire cable the data signals.
Take a loo!-: at the 34-wire cable.
It should have a 34-wire connection
on one side that attaches to the con-
troller and a 34-wire connection on
the other side that attaches to the
drive. Is there also another 34'Wire
connection in the middle of the cable?
If so, that is intended to support a sec-
ond hard drive.
If you have the middle connector,
look between the middle connector
and the hard drive connector on the
end. Is there a twist in the cable?
Some cables are cut, twisted, and re-
connected between lines 24 and 29 on
the 34-wire hard disk cables. Knowing
Hard Disk Cabling
LLLUJJ-
Controller
Drive C:
Drive D:
SettoDSO.
Remove terminator.
SettoDSI.
Keep terminator.
DO" D
LI ! 1 1 1 r
Controller
Drive D:
Drive C:
SettoDSI.
Remove terminator.
SettoDSO.
Keep terminator.
-11 1 111
Drive C:
Drive D:
Set to DSO,
Remove terminator.
Controller
tn both cases, the drive cables are twisted t)etween the first and second drive connectors.
SettoDSO.
Keep terminator.
n Of — 1
1111111-^
Drive D:
Drive C:
Controller
SettoDSI.
Remove terminator.
SettoDSI.
Keep terminator
whether your cable is twisted or not
determines how you set the drive se-
lect jumper.
If your cable isn't twisted, you set
the drive select jumpers as I've al-
ready explained: Drive C is drive se-
lect 0, and D is drive select 1 . On the
other hand, if the cable has a cut and a
twist, you set both drives to either
drive select 0 or drive select 1, as you
see in "'Hard Disk Cabling."
The Terminator
The last adjustment on the drive is
the terminating resistor chip, or
terminator.
You only need to mess with this
if you're installing a second drive. The
terminator is a group of resistors
packaged in a chiplike housing. It will
look like either a chip or half of a chip,
and it can be any color, though it is
generally not black so it will stand out
from the rest of the board.
Limited space prevents a com-
plete explanation of the terminator,
but basically it's a resistor needed to
complete a bus circuit. Drives con-
nected to a controller are on a bus
much like the bus that your PC has^ —
the slots on the PC motherboard.
Something's got to hold up one end of
the bus (termed an open collector bus),
and that's a resistor called the pull-up
or terminating resistor
The problem arises when the con-
troller sees two drives with termina-
tors— the circuit then ends up with
half the resistance that it's designed
for. and twice as much current runs
through the controller and drive elec-
tronics. Result? You slowly cook the
drive and controller.
So remove the terminator from
the drive attached to the connector in
the middle of the cable. Again, the ar-
rangement is pictured in "Hard Disk
Cabling." Look back to the figure
"Hard Disk Drive Select Jumper,"
and you can see two examples of com-
mon hard drive terminators.
Installing the Drive
Now the drive's configured. Let's
physically install it in the chassis.
The easiest way to install a drive
is to insert it partway into the chassis
and then attach the ribbon cables.
Stop at this point; don't get over-
anxious to screw in the drive. The dif-
56 COMPUTE
J U L y 19 9 1
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C.O.D.
ference between a good installation
and a bad installation (as students in
my PC troubleshooting classes hear
over and over again) is how the cables
are routed.
Now that the cables are attached
to the drive, take a minute and figure
out where to put them. They go from
the drive to the controller, but there's
nearly always some slack. Sloppy in-
stallers just stuff the cables into the
case and then slap the cover on. This
is a time bomb. The next time you
take the cover off the PC, you'll end
up catching the cables on something
sharp, and youMl rip them. So take a
minute and see if you can tuck them
down out of the way.
Don't forget to provide power to
the drive with the power connector.
That^s the white plastic connector
with four wires running back to the
power supply. You'll see several of
these four-wire power connectors.
They're pretty universal, and they'll
connect to a floppy drive, hard disk,
or tape drive. It doesn't matter which
one you connect to the drive — they're
all equal There isn't a special one for
A and one for C, or anything like that.
so use whatever power connector is
handy- If they're all in use, you'll need
a Y splitter to convert one of the pow-
er connectors into two power connec-
tors. Contact your hard disk dealer to
buy a Y connector, if necessary.
Now secure the drive. As we saw
before, with most systems you either
boh the drive directly to the chassis or
secure it with metal tabs that keep it
from sliding out of the box. See "Se-
curing Hard Drives" for details.
Instalf the Hard Disk ControMer
If the controller isn't already installed,
put it in now. Installing the board is
just the reverse of removing it; push
the board's edge connector down into
an expansion bus slot on the PC
motherboard and then secure it with a
screw on the board's back bracket.
A common question at this point
is My PC has five (or eight or three) ex-
pansion slois. Does it matter which
slot I put the board in? The answer is
Basically, no. Some boards are 8-bit
boards. They're identifiable because
they have a single edge connector.
Other boards are 1 6-bit boards.
They have two edge connectors. A 1 6-
Securing Hard Drives
XT drives— both floppy and hard— are secured to the XT chassis directly.
^
^
In AT-style systems rails are placed on the drives so they can slide in and out of
the chassis like drawers in a desk. Metal tabs keep the drives in place.
bit board should go in a 16-bit slot,
but an 8-bit board can go in either an
8- or a 16-bit slot.
Now hook up the cables from the
hard drive. If you've got an AT sys-
tem, the controller will probably be a
combination floppy and hard disk
controller, so be sure to hook up the
cable for the floppy drives, too.
Introduce the Controller and
the Drive
Seems only polite, hmmm?
The controller needs to know
what kind of drive it's dealing with.
On XT-style systems you give it that
information during the first part of
the software installation — a step
called low-level format, so we won't
worry about that here.
On AT systems, the system BIOS
has a table of drive types built into it.
Most clones kiiow of 47 different hard
drives. Why 47? Who knows? The
earliest IBM ATs only knew of 14
drive types, and later ones knew 25.
The last batch had 47 drive types.
doners just copied IBM from that
point on.
You just figure out which drive
type most closely describes your hard
disk — remember I told you to have
heads, cylinders, number of sectors,
and write precompensation handy?
For instance, I use a 60MB hard
drive with 1024 cylinders, seven
heads, 1 7 sectors per track, and no
write precompensation. There isn't a
drive type in my clone's ROM that
matches that, but there*s one that's
close — 977 cylinders, seven heads, 17
sectors per track, and no write pre-
comp. That's drive type 18.
Once I figured that out, I ran my
clone's SETUP program and told the
system that I had drive type 1 8, and
then I was ready to format the disk. I
lost a little space, as I'm only using
977 of my 1024 cylinders, but that*s
not a big deal
Well, that's how to do a hard-
ware installation of most PC hard
disks. Again, not every drive installa-
tion works as I've described, but this
is the procedure for installing drives
in most XT- and AT-class systems
these days. Good luck and have
fun^ — it's a great feeling to do a hard
drive installation by yourself!
Mark Minasi is an owner of Moulton,
Minasi, & Company, an Arlington, Virginia-
based firm specializing in training technical
and nontechnical users how to support,
upgrade, and repair their PCs. He is also
the author of COMPUTE'S recently pub-
lished Maintaining, Upgrading, and Trou-
bleshooting IBM PCs, Compatibles, and
PS/2 Personal Computers. Some of the il-
lustrations used in this feature were done
by Terry Keaton, an associate with Moul-
ton, Minasi, & Company. B
58 COMPUTE JULY 1991
ONLINE
DENNY ATK»N
Most of US have stories of
brushes with the famous and
infamous — you may have
shared an elevator with Jimmy
Stewart or met Lewis Grizzard at a
cocktail party^ or perhaps your mother-
in-law was Richard Nixon's nurse.
However, even if some of us have
had the good fortune to meet admired
celebrities once or twice in our lives,
only a few of us will ever have the op-
portunity to hold a prolonged discus-
sion with our favorite authors or chat
about world events with well-known
TV personalities.
Who are those lucky few who can
join the in-crowd? If you own a mo-
dem, you're only a phone call away
from schmoozing with the famous*
The global village prophesied by
Marshall McLuhan is in its formative
stages on the online networks. You
can log on to CompuServe and send
ultraconservative radio-talk show
host Rush Limbaugh a letter about his
latest show. Or log on to BIX and ask
science fiction author Jerr>' Pournelle
about his latest novel. During the Per-
sian Gulf War, you could see military
analyst Jim Dunnigan on network
televisipn explaining Saddam's latest
moves. If you were online with GE-
nie, though, you could have asked
him to elaborate on his short TV talk
by posting a notice in the message
base.
Of course, not everyone is
hooked into the networks. Still, you're
a lot more likely to be able to engage
your favorite authors in a conversa-
tion if you run into them online than
if you try to call them at home.
While you'll find an interesting
assortment of famous {and perhaps
infamous) personalities on the online
networks, not everyone has moved
into the global village yet. If you're
into science fiction, though, youMl
fmd that many people associated with
that genre are available online. Per-
haps because the field is intimately as-
sociated with high technology, the
personalities associated with it aren't
intimidated by online networks.
Whatever the reason, science fic-
tion fans will find the online networks
a paradise of information, tidbits, and
gossip. The most active area I've en-
countered online is GEnie's Science
Fiction RoundTable (SFRT). Pop
into the message base (which is cov-
ered under GEnie's $4.95/month
Star*Services flat fee), and you'll fmd
an incredible wealth of messages from
well-known writers, editors, review-
ers, directors, special-effects experts,
and occasionally even actors.
The SFRT is divided into 19 dif-
ferent categories, each concentrating
on a specific aspect of the genre. Top-
ics include novels, authors, films, sci-
ence fiction TV shows, comics,
conventions, fandom, science fact,
writers' workshops, and an entire cat-
egory devoted to Star Trek,
The Trek category, often the
most active of the SFRTs topics, is a
dream come true for fans of "Star
Trek: The Next Generation." It's a
great place for Trekkies to get together
and discuss the show with each other,
of course. However, they can also talk
about the latest episodes with people
like Mike Okuda and Ron Moore,
who work on the show's computer
displays and special effects. Or Chip
Chalmers, who has directed a few epi-
sodes of the series. Or Brad Ferguson,
Carmen Carter, Peter David, John
Vomhclt, Vonda Mclntyre, and other
Star Trek novehsts. Even Wil (Wesley
Crusher) Wheaton has been known to
participate in the SFRT, although he's
been absent lately due to the unfortu-
nate death of his Macintosh.
Discussions range from the seri-
ous to the silly. In one topic, Brad Fer-
guson was discussing how unhappy he
was with the major edits done to his
most recent Star Trek novel and how
he hopes people will be able to read
his original version through the fan
press. Reading on, I encountered a
topic called Carrot Juice, Earl Grey,
Hot, where a number of SFRT readers
were writing a story about various
Looney Tunes characters loose on the
Enterprise. It features characters like
Elmer Fudd as Wocutus of Borg.
("Wooney Tunes are iwwewevant.
Pwepare to be assimuwated.")
Even if you're not a Trek fan,
there's something here for you. You'll
also find mainstream SF authors such
as Lawrence Watt-Evans, Michael P.
Kube-McDowell, Jerry Pournelle, Da-
mon Knight, Mike Resnick, and Da-
vid Bischoff online. Some folks, in the
presence of such well-known names,
will remain lurkers and read, but not
join in, the discussions. Once you join
in, you'll have a great time. These
may be famous writers, but they're
also regular folks.
There's also the infamous CAT
24, the Anything Goes category. Even
if you're a devoted SF fan who reads
fanzines (fan magazines) and attends
conventions, you probably don't
know what your favorite author
thinks about subjects ranging from
nuclear power and Operation Desert
Storm to reincarnation and the oppo-
site sex. In CAT 24, you'll find out.
This is just a taste of what you'll
find in the SFRT. You'll find similar
areas on BIX (SF), CompuServe (Sci-
ence Fiction and Fantasy Forum), and
People/Link (SF & F Club). So log on,
beam up, and say hi.
Send comments and suggestions to
DENNYi on BIX and GEnie, DENNY
on Plink or 75500,3602 on CIS. B
JULY 1991
COMPUTE
POINT & CLICK
CLIFTON
KARNES
HI hen most people think of
Windows, they think of appli-
cations with superhigh price
tags. It's certainly true that
Windows has its share of $500-and'Up
programs, but there are many excel-
lent software packages available for
under $100, Here are two essential
utilities, each priced below $ 1 00.
First, there's Intermission (ICOM
Simulations, 648 South Wheeling
Road, Wheeling, Illinois 60090; 708-
520-4440; $49.95), a superb screen
blanker you can set for a predeter-
mined period or activate on demand
by moving the mouse pointer to one
of the screen's four corners (you
choose which corner).
That's usually it for a screen
blanker, but with Intermission, the
fiin is just beginning. While your
screen is blanked, Intermission offers
34 animated displays, which the pro-
gram can select at random.
These animated displays include
Marine Screen (with multicolored fish
that occasionally turn to look at you
and also eat each other), Clock (an an-
alog clock that slowly bounces around
your screen). Dissolve (a pixel-by-
pixel fade to black). Fireworks (with
beautiful multicolored rockets). Flash-
Hght (which illuminates a slowly mov-
ing circle). Kaleidoscope Oust like the
kid*s toy). Puzzle (which turns your
screen into an animated shuITle puz-
zle), Spaceflight (which moves you
through space at warp factor 5), Mosa-
ic (a quilt of elegant symmetrical de-
signs), and Intermission (which is a
lively display of pop bottles, popcorn,
and candy).
Installing Intermission is simple.
Just run the setup program and follow
directions. You'll find the files IN-
TERMlSSION.EXE, SAVERDLL
.DLL, and ANTSW.INI in your
WINDOWS subdirectory, and the
IMX animation files in a directory
called SAVER. One additional file,
ANTHOOK.386 may go in your SYS-
TEM subdireclor>'.
To configure Intermission, click
on its icon, and get ready for the show.
The other essential Windows util-
ity is StraighiLine (First Genesis Soft-
ware, 1000 Shelard Parkway, Suite
270, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55427;
612-544-4445; $99), a menu program
and task manager. At $99, Straight-
Line may seem a little pricey, but it's
worth every penny. It's unquestion-
ably the fastest way to get from point
A to point B in Windows,
Straight Line allows you to install
Windows and DOS applications on a
pop-up menu. From the menu, you
can launch programs, switch to active
programs, run programs not on the
menu, or add new programs to the
menu.
To set up StraighiLine, simply
run the program and choose Launch
from the menu bar and Setup from
the pull-down menu.
From Setup, you can browse
through your files and install any
EXE, COM, or BAT file. If there are
documents associated with an execut-
able file, you can attach these to it.
After installing your programs,
click on Done to put StraighiLine to
work. To call Straight Line, press a
special hot key or mouse click. The
program provides several to choose
from, or you can supply your own,
Fve found that the right mouse
button makes an excellent hot key, or
more appropriately, hot button. Then
you're only two clicks and a short
mouse movement away from running
any program on your system.
If you find a conflict with the
right mouse button — Paintbrush,
Word for Windows, ToolBook, Turbo
Pascaifor Windows, and several other
programs use the right button— you
can change it.
After you've installed Straight-
Line, simply press your hot key or
button to call up the menu. You'll see
a tiny window with a title bar and a
menu bar that has just two selections
on it: Launch and Active. If you chose
a hot button, the window will appear
right under your mouse pointer with
the pointer directly over the Launch
menu selection.
If you want to run a program,
simply click your left button, drag to
the Windows or DOS application you
want to run, and then release the
mouse button.
If you've associated documents
with a program, you'll see a cascading
menu with each installed document's
name when you select the program
from StraighiLine^ menu. Click on a
document, and the associated pro-
gram runs and loads the doc file.
From StraightLine's Active
menu, you can switch to any active
application much as you can from
Windows 'Task Manager, but
StraighiLine has some important
enhancements.
For starters, there's a menu selec-
tion that allows you to minimize all
your active programs. This is great if
you have a large number of windows
open and you need to get organized.
You can also press Control and
click on any Windows application (in-
cluding Program Manager) to close it.
Pressing Shift while clicking on a
program will minimize it to an icon.
In short. Straight Line provides
amazing control over your Windows
environment. Il*s undoubtedly the
most useful utihty on my desktop. B
eO COMPUTE
JULY 1991
I f you want to up-
grade your PC, the
first thing to con-
! sider is a faster,
larger hard disk. To make shop-
ping for your dream disk easier,
we've compiled a Hst of more
than 1 50 hard disks of 100MB or
more, complete with their specifi-
cations and the address and tele-
phone number of each
manufacturer.
Use this list as a starting
point to find the disks with the
specs you want in the price range
you can afford. While some of
these drives aren't yet widely
available to consumers, they do
exist; shop around. The prices
listed here are mail-order prices,
and they may have dropped since
press lime.
How to Read the Chart
The drives in this chart are listed
in alphabetical order by manufac-
turer (you*ll fmd addresses and
telephone numbers at the end of
the chart). Each manufacturers
drives are then listed by capaci-
ty— the most important specifica-
tion for most people.
Following capacity, you'll
find the model number, the form
factor (which is the diameter of
the drive's disks), the exterior di-
mensions of the drive (so you can
make sure it fits in the space you
have), and the number of heads.
Next is the most important
column in the chart after capaci-
ty: seek time. Seek time is a mea-
sure of a hard disk's speed with
smaller numbers meaning a faster
disk. Just two years ago, 65 milli-
seconds was standard, but just
look at the seek limes for these
drives. Most are less than 25ms,
and some are considerably less
than that.
The next column lists inter-
face, which determines many of
the drive's qualities (especially its
speed and capacity) and the way
the drive connects to your PC.
Here's a brief explanation of each
interface type.
AT (Advanced Technology)
is the bus used in the IBM AT
and compatibles. Drives desig-
nated with an AT by the manu-
facturer usually employ an IDE
interface.
ESDI (Enhanced Small De-
vice Interface) is an interface
standard that puts some control-
ler functions on the drive itself.
ESDI allows for data transfers of
1 MB-3MB per second and can
be used for drives up to one giga-
byte in size.
IDE (Integrated Drive Elec-
tronics), like SCSI (see below), is
an interface design that puts the
controller on the drive itself
IDE, however, offers lower
performance.
MCA (MicroChannel Archi-
tecture) drives require a
PS/2-style bus connection.
SCSI (Small Computer Sys-
tem Interface) is an interface
standard that puts most of the
controOer functions on the drive
itself It oiTers transfer speeds of
1MB-4MB per second. SCSI also
allows as many as seven addi-
tional devices to be daisychained.
SCSI-2 is faster than SCSI but is
fully compatible with the earlier
standard.
The next column, Encoding,
refers to the way data is stored on
a disk. Almost ail of the high-
capacity drives listed here use
RLL, for Run Length Limited, a
system borrowed from the main-
frame world thai increases stor-
age by 50-100 percent over
previous encoding methods.
Under MTBF (Mean Time
Between Failures), the numbers
represent the hours of service you
can expect from your drive. For
most of these drives, the MTBF
is 50,000 hours or more, which
means that if you left your drive
on 24 hours a day, it would last
nearly six years. Most of us will
be looking at WO-gigabyte drives
by that time.
The last column lists price,
and as mentioned above, these
are mail-order prices, which may
have dropped since press time.
Any column with n/a indi-
cates that the information was
not available at press time. Q
DAVID
SEARS
BUYER'S GUIDE
Manufacturer
Capacity in
Megabytes
Mod«l
Name
Form
Factor
in Inchdft
Number
of Heads
Seek Time
in Milliseconds
Interlace
Encoding
MTBF
in Hours
Price
Connef
104.9
CP3100
35
1.625X4X5.75
8
25
SCSI
RLL
50.000
S469
104.9
CP3104
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
8
25
AT
RLL
50.000
S449
m
CP30104
3.5
1X5.75X4
4
19
AT
RLL
40.000
$569
1?0
CP30100
3.5
1X5.75X4
4
19
SCSI
RLL
40,000
n/a
120
CP30109
3.5
1X5.75X4
4
19
MCA
RLL
40,000
n/a
212.6
CP320OF
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
8
16
SCSI
RLL
50.000
S779
212.6
CP3204F
3,5
1.625X4X5.75
8
16
AT
RLL
50.000
S785
212.6
CP3209F
3.5
1625X4X5,75
8
16
MCA
RLL
50.000
n/a
510 ,
CP500
3.5
1,625X4X5.75
12
12
SCSI
RLL
100.000
n/a
5t0
CP504
3.5
1.625X4X575
12
12
AT
RLL
100,000
n/a
Fuj*t»u
105
M616SA
3.5
1X4X5.75
4
20
SCSI
RLL
50.000
n/a
105
M616T
3.5
1X4X5J5
2
20
PC/AT
RLL
50,000
n/a
135.2
M2613T
3.5
1.625X4X5,75
6
20
AT
RLL
50.000
S515
136.6
M2613SA
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
6
20
SCSI
RLL
50.000
S515
180,3
M2614T
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
e
20
AT
RLL
50.000
n/a
182.4
M2614SA
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
8
20
SCSI
RLL
50.000
5649
235.2
M2621S
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
5
12
SCSI
RLL
50,000
n/a
330.1
M2622S
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
7
12
SCSI
RLL
50,000
n/a
366
M2261
5.25
3.3X5.7X8
8
16
ESDI/SCSI
RLL i
200.000
$1,429
425.1
M2623S
3,5
1.625X4X5.75
9 '
12
SCSI
RLL
200.000
n/a
520.1
M2624S
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
11
12
SCSI
RLL
200,000
n/a
688
M2263
5.25
3.3X5.7X8
15
14.5
ESDI/SCSI
RLL
200.000
$1,699
1079
M2266
5.25
3.3X5.7X8
15
14.5
ESDI/SCSI
RLL
200,000
n/a
Kalok
105
KL3100
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
6
25
AT/IDE
RLL
50.000
n/a
Maxtor
130.4
7120
3.5
1X4X5.75
2
15
SCS!
RLL
150.000
n/a
157.4
XT4170S
5.25
3.25X5.75X8.2
7
14
SCSI
RLL
150.000
$859
157.93
)a4170E
5.25
3.25X5.75X8,2
7
14
ESDI
RLL
150.000
$849
203.04
XT4230E
5.25
3.25X5.75X8.2
9
16
ESDI
RLL
150.000
$899
213
LXT213
3.5
1.625X4X5-75
7
15
SCSI
RLL
150.000
S720
337.56
XT4380S
5,25
3.25X5.75X8.2
15
16
SCSI
ALL
150.000
SI .249
338.4
XT4380E
5.25
3.25X5.75X8 2
15
15
ESDI
RLL
150.000
$1,269
340
1X7340
3.5
1,625X4X5.75
7
13
SCSI
RLL
150,000
$1,469
360.31
xTssaos
5.25
3.25X5.75X8.2
8
14,5
SCSI
RLL
150.000
n/a
360.97
xTeseoE
5.25
3.25X5.75x8.2
8
14.5
ESDI
RLL
150,000
$1,249
437
LXT437
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
9
12
SCSI
RLL
150.000
n/a
535
LXT535
3.5 !
1625X4X575
11
12
SCSI
RLL
150.000
n/a
541.4
XT8610E
5.25
3.25X5.75X8.2
12
15.5
ESDI
RLL
150.000
n/a
616.69
XTe702S !
5.25
3.25X5.75X8.2
15
16.5
SCSI
RLL
150,000
$1,699
675 58
XT8760S
5.25
3.25X5.75X8.2
15
165
SCSI
RLL
150,000
S1,S95
676.82
XT8760E
5,25
3.25X5.75X8.2
15
16.5
ESDI
RLL
150.000
Si. 895
694.7
XT88O0E
5.25
3.25X5.75X8,2
15
16.5
ESDI
RLL
150.000 '
n/a
696
pioeE
5.25
3,25X5.75X8.2
15
13
ESDI
RLL
100.000
n/a
696
P108S
5,25
3.25X5.75X8.2
9
125
SCSI-2
RLL
100.000
n/a
1005
Pn2S
5.25
3.25X5.75X8.2
19
10,5
SCSt-2
RLL
100.000
n/z
1027.7
P012S
5.25
3.25X5.75X8.2
15
13
SCSI-2
RLL
100,000
n/a
62 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
BUYER'S GUIDE
Manuracturer
Capacity in
Megabytes
Model
Name
Form
Factor
Dimensions
in Inches
Number
of Heads
Seek Time
in Mlltiseconds
Interface
Encoding
MT8F
in Hours
Price
MsKtor
1051
P112E
525
3.25X5,75X8.2
15
13
ESDI
RLL
1 00.000
n/a
1051
P116E
5 25
3.25x5.75X8,2
15
13
ESDI
RLL
100.000
n/a
1160
P113E
525
3,25X5.75X82
15
13
ESDI
RLL
100,000
n/a
1470
Pn7E
5.25
3.25X5.75X82
19
13
ESDI
RLL
100.000
n/a
1470
P117S
5.25
3.25X5,75X8.2
19
13
SCSI-2
RLL
100.000
n/a
Micropoils
15a
1674 1
525
3.25X5.75X8
7
16
SCSI
RLL
150.000
S959
158
1674HS
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
7
39
SCSI
RLL
150.000
S959
161
1654
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
7
16
ESDI
RLL
15Q.0O0
S899 '
331
1578
5,25
3.25X5,75X8
15
16
SCSI
RLL
150.000
SI. 445
331
1578HS '
5,25
3.25X5,75X8
15 '
3,9
SCSI
RLL
150,000
SI ,445
333
1558
5,25
3,25X5.75X8
15
19
ESDI
RLL
150.000
SI .249
340
1634
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
7
15
SCSI
RLL
150.000
$1,395
340
1684HS
5,25
3,25X5.75x8
7
3,9
SCSI
RLL
150.000
SI .395
345
1654
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
7
15
ESDI
RLL
150,000
SI .295
676
1568
5.25
3.25X575X8
15
16
ESDI
RLL
150.000
S1829
668
1588
525
3.25X5.75X8
15
16
SCSI-2
RLL
150.000
$1,855
66e
158aHS
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
15
3,9
SCSI
RLL
150,000
SI .819
671
1538
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
15
14,5
ESDI
RLL
150.000
n/a
1034
1598
5.25
3.25X5,75X8
15
14.5
SCSI-2
RLL
150.000
S2,689
1034
1598HS
5,25
3.25X575X8
15
3.9
SCSI-2
RLL
150.000
$2,639
1346
1518
5,25
3.25X575X8
15
145
ESDI
RLL
150.000
n/a
1346
1528
5.25
325X5.75X8
15
14 5
SCSI-2
RLL
150.000
n/a
1748
1548
525
3.25x5.75x8
15
14
SCSI-2
MZR
150.000
n/a
MJ^croscience
1073
7100
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
7
18
AT/IDE
RLL
60.000
n/a
110.3
5100
3.5
1,625X4X5.75
7
18
ESDI
RLL
60,000
n/a
120.4
710020
3,5
1.625x4x5.75
7
18
AT/IDE
RLL
60.000
n/a
12386
5100-20
35
1,625X4X5 75
7
18
ESDI
RLL
60,000
n/a
20138
7200
3.5
1.625X4X5,75
7
18
AT/IDE
RLL
60.000
n/a
366
FH2414
3-5
3.25X5.75X8
8
14
ESDI
RLL
100,000
n/a
366
FH3414
35
3.25X5,75X8
8
14
SCSI
RLL
100.000
n/a
7876
FH2777
3,5
325X5,75X8
15
14
ESDI
RLL
100,000
n/a
7876
FH3777
35
3,25X5.75X8
15
14
SCSI
RLL
1O0.0O0
n/a
1062.2
FH212O0
3.5
3.25X5.75X8
15
14
ESDI
RLL
100.000
n/a
1062,2
FH31200
3.5
3.25X5.75X8
15
14
SCSI
RLL
1 00.000
n/a
Quantum
105
105S
3,5
1.625X4X5,75
6
19
SCSI
RLL
50.000
S539
120
120S
3,5
1,625X4X5.75
3
15
SCSI
RLL
50.000
,SBaq
120
120AT
3.5
1,625X4X5,75
3
15
AT
RLL
50,000
n/a
168
170S
35
1,625X4X575
15
SCSI
RLL
50,000
n/a
168
170AT
3,5
1,625X4X5.75
15
AT
RLL
50.000
n/a
210
21 OS
3,5
1.625X4X5.75
15
SCSI
RLL
50.000
n/a
210
21 OAT
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
15
AT
RLL
50.000
n/a
331
330AT
3.5
1.625X4X5,75
13
AT
RLL
75.000
n/a
331
330S
3.5
1,625X4X5.75
13
SCSI
RLL
75.000
n/a
425
425AT
3,5
1.625X4X5.75
9
13
AT-BUS
RLL
75.000
n/a
425
425S
3.5
1.625X4X5,75
9
13
SCSI
RLL
75,000
n/a
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 63
BUYER'S GUIDE
Manufacturer
Capacity in
Megabytes
Model
Name
Form
Factor
Dimensions
In Inches
Number
of Heads
Seek Time
(n Milliseconds
interface
Encoding
MTBF
in Hours
Price
Quantum
105
LPS105AT
3,5
1X4X5.75
4
17
AT'BUS
RLL
60,000
n/a
105
LPS! OSS
3,5
1X4X5.75
4
17
SCSI
RLL
60,000
n/a
R4>dime
112,5
3139AP
3,5
1,625X4X5.75
5
16
AT
RLL
100,000
S499
112.5
3139S
3.5
1,625X4X5,75
5
17.5
SCSI
RLL
100,000
n/a
121.99
3151A
3,5
1X4X5 75
4
IB
AT
RLL
50,000
$599
210
3259S
3.5
1,625X4X5,75
9
17.5
SCSI
RLL
100,000
n/a
213
3269AP
3.5
1,625X4X5 75
9
18
AT
RLL
10O.000
S799
331
3331S
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
7
12
SCSI
RLL
100.QOO
n/a
426
3426S
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
9
12
SCSI
RLL
100,000
n/a
540
3540S
3,5
n/a
9
12
SCSI
RLL
100.000
n/a
Seagate
106.9
ST3120A
3.5
1X4,02X5,77
3
16
AT
RLL/ZBR
150,000
n/a
107
ST2125AV
5.25
1,625X5.75X8
2
18
SCSI
ZBR
100.000
n/a
107 1
ST2125N
5.25
1,625X5.75X8
2 1
18
SCSI
ZBR
100,000
$735
107
ST2125IVM
5,25
1.625X5.75X8
2
18
SCSI
ZBR
100,000
n/a
113.4
ST1133N
3.5
1-625X4X5,75
5
15
SCSt
RLL
150.000
n/a
126
ST3144N
3.5
1X4.02X577
3
16
SCSI
RLL/ZBR
150,000
n/a
128.4
ST1150R
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
S
15
ST506
RLL
150,000
n/a
130
ST3144A
as
1 X4,02X5,77
3
16
AT
RLL/ZBR
150.000
n/a
13Q.7
ST1144A
3,5
163X4.02X5.77
7
19
AT
ZBR
150.000
S439
155
Sr4l82N
5.25
3,25X5,75X8
9
165
SCSI
RLL
100,000
S799
155
ST4182NM
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
9
16,5
SCSI 1
RLL
100,000
n/a
158,9
ST1186N
3.5
1,625X4X575
7
15
SCSI
RLL
150,000
n/a
160
ST2182E
5.25
1.625X5.75X8
3
16
ESDI
RLL
100,000
$929
160
ST4182E
5.25
3.25X5 75 XS
9
16.5
ESDI
RLL
100.000
S799
163.B
ST1186A
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
7
15
AT
RLL
150,000
n/a
171,9
ST1201N
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
9
15
SCSt
RLL
150,000
n/a
177,5
ST1201A
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
9
15
AT
RLL
150.000
$699
177.B
ST1201E
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
9
15
ESDI
RLL
150.000
$899
183
ST2209N
5.25
1.625X5,75X8
3
18
SCSI
ZBR
100,000
S939
183
ST2209NM
5.25
1,625X5.75X8
3
18
SCSI
ZBR
100.000
n/a
183
ST2209NV
5.25
1,625X5,75X8
3
18
SCSI
ZBR
100,000
n/a
204,2
ST1239N
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
9
15
SCSI
RLL
150,000
$775 !
210.7
ST1239A
3.5
1.625 X4X5J5
9
15
AT
RLL ,
150,000
S859
241
ST2774A
5.25
1,625X5.75X8
5
16
AT
RLL
100,000
n/a
307
ST4350N
5,25
3,25X5,75X8
9
16,5
SCSI
ZBR
100,000
SI .249
307
ST4350NM
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
9
17.5
SCSI
ZBR
100.000
n/a
337
ST2383N
5.25
1.625X5.75X8
7
14
SCSI
ZBR
100.000
$1,269
337
ST23a3NM !
5 25
1,625X5.75X8
7
14
SCSI
ZBR
100.000
n/a
338
ST2383A
5,25
1625X575X8
7
15
AT
RLL
100,000
$1,295
338
ST2383E
5,25
1,625X575X8
7
16
ESO)
RLL
1 00.000
$1,289
336
ST43B3E
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
13
18
ESDI
RLL
100.000
SI .295
338
ST4334E
5.25
3 25X5.75X8
15
145
ESDI
RLL
100,000
SI .359
357
ST4365N
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
15
107
SCSI
ZBR
100,000
$1,499
357
ST4385NM
5,25
3.25X5.75X8
15
107 '
SCSI
ZBR
100.000
n/a
357
ST4385NV
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
15
107
SCSI
ZBR
100.000
n/a
64 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
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BUYER'S GUIDE
Manufacturer
Capacity in
Megabytes
Model
Name
Form
Factor
Dimensions
In inches
Number
of Heads
Se6kT1me
in Mittifteconda
Interlace
Encoding
MTBF
In Hourt
Price
Seagate
m
ST4442E
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
15
16.5
ESDI
RLL
100,000
SI ,469
442
ST2502N
5.25
1,625X5,75X8
7
16
SC^i
ZBR
100.000
$1,749
442
ST2502NM
5.25
1,625X5,75X8
7
16
SCSI
ZBR
100.000
n/a
442
ST25Q2rjV
5.25
1.625X5.75X8
7
16
SCSI
2BR
lOO.OOO
n/a
462
ST1480A
3.5
1.625X4X5.75
9
14
AT
ZBR
150.000
n/a
613
ST4702W
525
3.25X5.75X8
15
16.5
SCSI
ZBR
100,000
SI, 795
613
ST4702NM
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
15
16,5
SCSI
ZBR
100.000
n/a
676
ST4756E
5.25
3,25x5,75x8
15
15.5
£SOf
RLL
150,000
S1.895
675
ST4766N
5.25
3.25X5 75X8
15
15.5
SCSI
RLL
150.000
$1,995
676
ST4766NM
5,25
3,25X5,75X8
15
15.5
SCSI
RLL
150,000
$1,995
676
ST4766NV
5,25
3.25X5,75X8
15
15,5
SCSI
RLL
150.000
n/a
676
ST4767E
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
15
11.9
ESDI
RLL
150.000
n/a
676
ST4767N
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
15
11.9
SCSI-2
RLL
150,000
$2,179
676
ST4767NM
5,25
3,25X575X8
15
n.9
SCSi-2
RLL
150.000
n/a
676
ST4767NV
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
15
11.9
SCSI-2
RLL
150.000
n/a
691 i
ST4769E
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
15
12.9
ESDI
RLL
150.000
n/a
1050
ST412O0N
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
15
15
SCSI
ZBR
150,000
$2,695
1050
ST412O0NM
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
15
15
SCSJ
ZBR
150.000
n/a
1050
ST41200W
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
15
15
SCSI
ZBR
150.000
n/a
1352
ST4t520N
5.25
3,25X5.75X9.9
1
11.5
SCSI-2
ZBR
150.000
n/a
1352
ST41600N
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
1
1t.5
SCSt-2
ZBR
150,000
n/a
1420
ST41650N
5.25
3.25X5.75X8
IS
15
SCSI-2
ZBR
150.000
n/a
1420
ST41650ND
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
15
15
SCSI-2
ZBR
150,000
n/a
2100
ST42400N
5.25
3,25X5.75X8
1
11
SCSI-2
ZBR
150.000
n/a
Teac America
105,02
SD-3105
3.5
1 X4X575
4
19
AT/SCSi
RLL
30.000
n/a
Toshiba
106
MK234FB
3.5
1,625X4X575
7
25
SCSI
RLL
30.000
n/a
107
IWK234FC
3.5
1,625X4X5.75
n/a
16
AT
RLL
30,000
$479
107
MK1034FC
3,5
1X4X575
4
16
AT
RLL
40,000
n/a
675
MK350FB
5.25
3.25X575X8
15
16
ESDI/SCSI
RLL
30.000
n/a
765
MK350FA
525
3.25X5.75X8
15
16
ESDI
RLL
30.000
n/a
Weslern Digital
209.8
WDSP4200
35
1,625X4X5.75
8
16
SCSI
RLL
86,587
n/a
212
WDAP420O
3,5
1.625X4X5.75
3
16
AT/SCSI
ALL
50,000
$775
320
WDSC8320
35
1.625X4X5.75
15
12.5
SCSI
RLL
150.000
n/a
40O
WDSCS400
35
1.625X4X5.75
14
11.5
SCSI
RLL
150.000
n/a
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COMPUTE
JULY 1991
PROGRAMMING POWER
TOM CAMPBELL
I've seen so much hype the last few
years that Fve been skeptical of
some innovations that were actual-
ly worthwhile. If you're the same
way, you might be wondering whether
you should learn C++.
This month Fll try to illustrate
why C++ lives up to all its publicity.
I think it's well worth your time to
learn, and I'll show you some of its
new features. Fll finish by explaining
when you shouldn't use C++.
What's New?
C++ is a highly compatible superset
of ANSI C. In fact, many of ANSI Cs
features came from C+ +, which it-
self is now the subject of an ANSI
standardization effort. Void, const,
and function prototypes are three
such examples.
Void lets you create generic
pointers, a cleaner and semantically
more acceptable solution than using
char *, and it lets you create functions
that don't return a value^ustlike a
procedure in Pascal.
Const tags variables so that opti-
mizers won't remove them improper-
ly. Function prototypes, like the
FORWARD of Pascal or the DE-
CLARE of QuickBASIC, assure that
functions use the correct type and
number of parameters. Optional in C,
they're required in C+ +.
Object Lessons
The most important additions to
standard C are object orientation and
operator overloading. Objects are like
structures that can include functions;
more important, their traits can be in-
herited by other objects.
Objects are difficult to design and
can't be hacked quickly (because bad
object design can ruin a program long
before you know it), but they make
program maintenance an order of
magnitude easier.
I don't believe, as many do, that
objects alone speed development
time, although I believe that a begin-
ner taught correct C++ would make
far fewer mistakes than a beginner
taught C.
But objects do speed mainte-
nance time, because you can combine
them with operator overloading to
make your code conform more closely
to what it's actually doing.
Operator overloading means that
most operators, such as +, », and
^ = , can be redefined to operate on
user-defined data types. For example,
FORTRAN can deal with complex
numbers, but C can't.
In C, you'd create a structure
called complex and a number of func-
tions to operate on them — multiply,
divide, and so on. To add two com-
plex numbers, you'd create a function
called add( ), and invoke it like this:
complex cl, c2;
add(cl, c2);
In C+ +, you can add complex num-
bers to the repeioire of + and do this:
complex cl, c2;
// The plus operator now works on
complex numbers.
// Note that single-line comments can
start with"//''
// and don't need to be terminated.
cl = cl + c2;
The cout class, which works
much more like BASIC'S PRINT than
Cs printfl; ), uses the << operator.
Objects plus operator overloading
mean that you can create, say, a
records-and-f ields object called Da-
tum, and then inherit its qualities in a
CustomerRecord object, overload the
« operator for displaying records,
and wnd up with this code:
CustomerRecord NewRecord;
cout « "New customer: \ n'* «
CustomerRecord;
If this is hard to understand,
translate it to C. Imagine being able to
do this in C:
CustomerRecord NewRecord;
printf("New customer: \ n %z",
CustomerRecord);
where %z is an imaginary print speci-
fication for values of type Customer-
Record, which could contain numeric,
text, or binary values.
Avoiding the Routine
One of my favorite additions to C is
call by reference — like Pascal's V^R
or QuickBASIC's parenthesized SUB
parameters. It makes program main-
tenance a zillion times easier by elimi-
nating the need for those pesky
indirection operators.
Here's a trivial example that
squares a number. Note that it
changes the value of a without making
you call the routine with &a and with-
out requiring tons of *a indirections
within the function. This single-
handedly removes one of Cs most
difficult-to-learn and worst-conceived
traits.
#include <iostream,h>
// The & gives C call by reference,
void Square(]nt & Value)
{
// Just square it. The "&" lets this
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 67
D
ROGRAMMING POWER
look more natural.
Value = Value * Value;
}
void main( )
{
// Request a number,
cout « "Enter an integer. ";
// Allocate a variable for it.
inta;
// Get it from the keyboard,
cin » a;
// Square it. Notice no "&'\
Square{a);
// Display its value.
cout « *^Squared, it's '' « a;
}
I/O in the Stream
If you're a C programmer, you proba-
bly use the line ^include <stdio,h>
routinely, not even thinking twice.
When you program in C+ +, you
have to think twice.
Stdio.h has been superseded by
iostream.h, which supplements the
concepts of standard input and stand-
ard output considerably, refining
greatly the concept of streams that be-
gan with C. (Note here that you can
easily distinguish current from outdat-
ed texts by their use of stream. h, the
predecessor to iostream used in C+ +
before version 2.)
Iostream. h is as great an im-
provement on stdio.h as Cs elegant
file I/O was on ever>'thing that pre-
ceded it. In fact, some of it is actually
as powerful as . . . BASIC
Fve often complained that C,
with the advantage of a decade's hind-
sight, made you jump through hoops
just to print common values. C+ +
goes BASIC one better by offering all
the flexibility of PRINT and PRINT
USING with the ability to customize
their behavior completely.
Here's an example. The user is
prompted for an integer. .After it's
been entered at the keyboard, the val-
ue is displayed in both decimal and
hex, embedded in a message.
#include <iostream,h>
void main( )
{
cout « "Please enter an integer. ";
// Note declaration occurring after
executable code.
int Num;
// Accept the number from the
keyboard.
cin » Num;
// Display it in decimal and hex.
cout « "That number is " « Num
« " decimal, and " « hex «
Num « " hex.";
}
Notice how Num is declared
right where it's needed, whereas C re-
quires declarations to appear before
executable code. More interesting is
hex, which is called a manipulator.
Manipulators affect the behavior
of a stream. In this case, the default
appearance of numbers in decimal
form is neatly overidden, and the
numbers are displayed as hex values
instead.
Built-in manipulators include dec
and ocl; setw, which sets a delfault
width for output values; fill, which
lets you set the fill character (which is
normally a space); setprecision, which
determines the precision to which
floating-point numbers are displayed;
and others. Manipulators give you
even greater power than PRINT
USING with the bonus that you can
alter the preset behavior of streams.
Getting an A+ +
If you're looking for books that teach
C++, here*s how to shop effectively.
Try to get some sense from the book
jacket that the author has been pro-
gramming in C+ + for a few years
and didn't learn it just to write the
book.
Make sure the book is for version
2.0 or 2. 1 and not for earlier versions.
Make sure it covers at least the follow-
ing topics: operator overloading, func-
tion overloading, memory manage-
ment (including new, delete, _new_
handler, and set_new_handler), the
this pointer, references, inheritance
and multiple inheritance, and the
iostream class. All of these are medi-
um- or advanced-level topics, but they
form a kernel of knowledge no C+ +
programmer should be without.
I can vouch for a couple of en-
tries in this alreadv-crowded market.
Teach Yourself, . . C+ + by Al
Stevens (MIS Press, P.O. Box 30135,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84139; 800-247-
3912; $29.95) is well written, fairly
free of typos, and obviously written by
a C++ stud.
Another surprisingly good trea-
tise is the Boriand C++ tutorial {Bor-
land C+-r, Borland International,
1 800 Green Hills Road, Scotts Valley,
California 95066-0001; 408-438-8400;
S495), a near book-length introduc-
tion that docs an excellent job of cov-
ering the fundamentals. Both come
with the example code on disk, and
both require that you be reasonably
familiar with C before starting.
When to Avoid C+ +
Now it's time to gaze at the dark side
of the force — when to avoid C+ + .
First, plan for your next several pro-
jects to take much longer to code than
they would in C.
Designing maintainable, extensi-
ble classes takes a ver>^ long time. So
does learning when to apply new pro-
gramming paradigms. Just knowing
the features of C+ + doesn't mean
you know when to put them to work.
However, maintaining your code will
be a lot easier.
Second, bear in mind that mov-
ing your code to non-PC systems may
be impossible. C++ has not been in
widespread use for long. That means
you may end up paying to beta test for
the next implementation you use —
without volunteering.
It's difficult enough to find ANSI
C implementations on some systems;
many administrators don't even know
what C++ is.
Third and last, note that C+ +
isn't as standardized as ANSI C.
While the ANSI C standard library
must be included for an implementa-
tion to call itself ANSI, C+ + is too
new for that.
Each implementation of C+ +
tends to come with a library that in-
cludes linked lists, bags, queues, col-
lections, and trees. But none of these
is required, so plan to do a lot of
wheel-inventing for the time being.
While I've tried to get across
some of the best features of C+ +,
I've barely scratched the surface.
If you want to find a good job
programming in C, or if you have a
big project coming up and are decid-
ing on an implementation language,
you should use C++.
It makes software easier to main-
tain (if the maintainer knows C+ + 1),
makes your code look more like your
algorithms (finally — your code can
match a line of pseudocode like "Print
value," where value isn't a scalar
type), and knowing it makes you a
more desirable employment prospect. Q
COMPUTE
JULY 1991
TIPS & TOOLS
H
NTS
AND
TIPS
FROM
OUR
READERS
In the February' issue of COM-
PUTE, Caroline Hanlon stressed
the importance of saving your sys-
tem setup in case of later problems.
She suggested writing the system set*
up information on a 3 X 5 card. This
is fine, but there is a better method of
saving your system setup information.
Below are two BASIC programs
that save and restore the system setup
information. To run the save pro-
gram, type BASIC or GWBASIC
SAVECMOS, When you run SAVE
CMOS.BAS, the system setup infor-
mation is saved to a file called
CMOS,Il.AM. Since you won't be able
to boot from your hard drive if the
system setup is trashed, you should
copy the programs, the CMOS. RAM
file, and BASIC to a floppy disk for-
matted with the /s option to make the
disk bootable. To restore the system
information, boot from the floppy,
and enter BASIC or GWBASIC
RESTCMOS.
SAVECMOS.BAS
10 DEFINT A-Z:DIM CMOS(63)
20FORI=lTO63:OUTn2,I
30 CMOS(I) - NP(113):NEXT I
40 OPEN "CMOS.RAM" FOR
OUTPUT AS #1
50FORI=lTO63:WRITE#l,
CMOS(I)
60 NEXT I
70 CLOSE #1;SYSTEM
RESTCMOS.BAS
10 DEFINT A-Z:DIM CMOS(63)
20 OPEN "CMOS.RAM" FOR INPUT
AS#1
30 FOR 1= 1 TO 63:INPUT #1, CMOS(I)
40 NEXT I:€LOSE #1
SO FOR I = 1T0 63:0UT112,I
60 OUT 113, CM0S{1):NEXT I
70 SYSTEM
You'll need to enter your setup to
correct the date and time information,
but all the other information should
be correct. If you use DOS 3,3 or high-
er, use the DATE and TIME com-
mands instead of running setup.
These commands change the date and
time in CMOS for you.
Vincent O'Connor
Babbitu MN
Cheap Format
Eve recently discovered a way to low-
level format my hard drive without
buying an expensive low-level format-
ting program. Owners of IBM PS/2s
can use this undocumented tool
Make a backup of your hard
drive. Insert the IBM Personal Sys-
tem/2 Reference disk in drive A and
turn on the computer. When the menu
appears, press Clrl-A. Youll see the
undocumented advanced menu. Here
you can either run an advanced and
more rigorous check of your computer
or low-level format the hard drive.
Jason Shultz
Harrison, AR
Windows 3.0 Swapfile
Windows 3.0 running in 386 en-
hanced mode can make use of virtual
memory, a process whereby Windows
can handle a memory full condition
by swapping data temporarily out to
disk. If you want to run 3MB worth of
programs but only have 2.5 MB of
RAM free, no problem. Windows in
the 386 enhanced mode can send
.5MB to disk temporarily, using the
disk as if it were memory. This is a
good bargain because disk space is less
expensive than RAM, but its Achilles
heel is speed. It can be quite slow.
One way to speed up virtual
memory is to preallocate space on
disk as a permanent file for this swap-
ping process. That way, you save the
file setup and breakdown time, and
the file can be contiguous, making ac-
cess faster.
That's what the Windows pro-
gram SWAPFILE does; it sizes and al-
locates a permanent swapfile. It's
discussed in the back of the Windows
manual, so most people have never
created a swapfile, even if they're run-
ning Windows on a 386.
SWAPFILE.EXE is located in the
C: \ WINDOWS \ SYSTEM sub-
directory. You'll only run the program
once, in order to create the file. When
you do run SWAPFILE, it must be
run under Windows in real mode^ so
run it from the command Une.
WIN /r C: \ WINrK)WS \ SYSTEM
\SWAPFILE.EXE
Follow the prompts. It's worth taking
the few minutes to create a swap file.
You'll see the improvement in per-
formance when running memory-
hungry programs.
Mark Minasi
Arlington, VA
Dump dBase IV Logo
For ^^£15^ /F developers and users, if
you are sick of seeing the dBase IV
logo every time you run the program,
add the /T toggle switch to the com-
mand line. DBA /T will eliminate the
dBase logo.
Jim Reece
Tucson, AZ
Shrinking a BASIC EXE
Here are some notes on how to trim
down and speed up your compiled
BASIC programs. These are all brute-
force but often highly effective tech-
niques that don't require a huge
amount of brainpower.
Avoid ON statements and back-
ground music. Any ON statement
slows down the program significantly
because its condition must be checked
after each statement executes. On the
other hand, ON statements provide
unparalleled ease of use and predate
event-driven languages by a decade.
Use DEFINT and integer vari-
ables. By default, BASIC uses real
numbers for its variables — numbers
with an exponent and decimal point.
If you can keep your calculations to
integer values, they'll speed up im-
mensely. This really shows up in
games, where moving objects around
the screen and figuring out their loca-
tions represent a huge investment of
computer time.
Use PowerBASIC'% smart Unking.
PowerBASlCXtls you trim out great
chunks of your program with its smart
JULY 1991 COMPUTE
TIPS & TOOLS
linking. This lets you jettison the parts
of the runtime library your program
doesn't use, giving you the option to
remove things Uke communications
code, screen drivers for graphics, and
so on. This can cut a 50K program in
half
Some speed-up tricks that work
with GW-BASIC won't work at all in
the compiled versions. Taking out
REMs won't help because they never
make it into the compiled version
anyway, but they do cost in interpret-
ed BASIC Putting often-used GOTO
labels at the top of the program will
speed up a GW-BASIC program be-
cause any GOTO causes the interpret-
er to rewind the program and search
line numbers starting from the very
first one. On the other hand, any
GOTO, regardless of its location,
compiles to a single machine instruc-
tion in compiled BASIC, and the tar-
get location doesn't matter. Finally,
reducing the lengths of variable
names — a useful and speed-improv-
ing trick in GW-BASIC — means noth-
ing in compiled BASIC because the
variable names are converted to ad-
dresses and thrown out at compile
time. Like REM statements, they
cease to be an issue when compiled.
Tom Campbell
Irvine, CA
Large File Copy
Have you ever come across a file too
large to fit on a single floppy disk?
Sometimes even compressing a file
doesn't help, especially database files.
There's a way to split a file and place
the parts on separate floppies. Later
the file can be restored to the original
file. DOS provides this easy solution
if you don't have a program that's spe-
cifically written to handle the prob-
lem. You can use the DOS BACKUP
command by entering the following:
BACKUP source drive: \path \
filename destination drive: \path
Follow the instructions displayed on
the screen. When you're ready to reas-
semble your file, use the DOS RE-
STORE command.
RESTORE destination drive: source
drive:
Both BACKUP and RESTORE are
external DOS commands. This means
that the files BACKUREXE and
RESTORE.EXE must be available to
the system at execution time. The files
must be located in the current directo-
ry, in a directory listed in your PATH
statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file, or on a disk in the current drive.
Be careful using this method between
different computers, though. Some
files that have been backed up with one
version of DOS refuse to be restored
under another version of DOS. Try it
out with an unimportant file first,
AndvLin
West H ilk CA
Batch Shortcut
I've created a batch file that allows me
to change to any directory on my hard
drive with a minimum of keystrokes.
I also included the DIR command so
that when I change to a directory, a di-
rectory listing of specified files is dis-
played. This command line parameter
is optional. The batch filename is
G.BAT, and the syntax for its use is as
follows:
G directory abbreviation [file spec]
ECHO OFF
IF " '^ = = ^'^l" GOTO HELP
IFL==%1 GOTO LOTUS
IF I ==%1 GOTO LOTUS
IFW==%1G0T0WP
IFw==%lG0T0WP
IFD==%1 GOTO DBASE
IF d==%l GOTO DBASE
:HELP
ECHO You must enter a directory
abbreviation.
ECHO S>Titax: G director)' abbreviation
[file spec]
GOTO END
:LOrUS
C:
CD \ LOTUS
GOTO DIRECTORY
:VVP
C:
CD WVORD
GOTO DIRECTORY
;DBASE
C:
CD \ DBASE
:DIRECTORY
IF "^'--"%2" GOTO END
DIR /P %2
;END
You should change the batch file to
match the directories on your hard
drive. Using a batch file such as this
one can save lots of environment
space, especially if your hard drive is
filled with a lot of directories. You
don't have to list the directories in
this file in your PATH statement.
John N orris
Pasadena, TX
Mouse Hot Seat
If your optical mouse doesn't work
properly sometimes and your com-
puter is located in a sunny room, the
problem may be direct sunlight falling
on the mouse.
Optical mice keep track of move-
ment by shining an LED at a receptor
through a notched disk that moves
when the mouse is moved. Other
sources of light can confuse the sensor
into thinking that the mouse isn't
moving at all because the light isn't
interrupted, a condition which the
mouse interprets as movement.
In ambient light, the mouse's
cover is usually enough to prevent un-
wanted light from reaching the sensor,
but direct sunlight can be strong
enough to shine through the case, par-
ticularly if it's white plastic. (I have
experienced this problem with a
mouse manufactured by Kraft, which
has been perfect otherwise.)
The obvious solution is to move
your mouse out of the sun or hold the
mouse so your hand completely cov-
ers it. If you like your computer where
it is and Uke the way you hold your
mouse, it's a simple matter to remove
the mouse cover and either cover the
inside with electrical tape or paint the
inside black. It shouldn't be necessary
to completely cover the inside with
tape or paint— just a little darkening
over the ball should do the trick.
It may be something to try if you
have a mouse which seems to work
perfectly at night but poorly during
the brightest parts of the day.
Michael Stowe
Yellow Springs, OH
If you have an interesting tip that you
think would help other PC users, send
it along with your name, address, and
Social Security number to COM-
PUTERS PC Hot Tips, 324 West Wen-
dover Avenue, Suite 200, Greensboro,
North Carolina 27408. For each tip we
publish, we'll pay vou $25~$50 and
send you a COMPUTERS PC LCD
clock radio while supplies last. B
70 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
PC DISK UPDATE
JOYCE SIDES
for those of you who couldn't read
the documentation file for ASIC
(February 1991) from CMOS, in-
stall /15/Cand then use Turbo-
TYPE (located on the April disk as
T.EXE) to read the documentation
file. Enter T drive: \path \ ASIC
.DOC at the DOS prompt to read the
file. Make sure T.EXE is on the disk
in the current drive or directory when
you run the program.
CMOS Windows?
We've been tossing around the idea
here at COMPUTE of enhancing
CMOS (COMPUTE'S Menu Operat-
ing System), We'd like to know what
you think about a Windows 3.0
version.
The program would still work on
nongraphics systems, but there would
be a version that would have the look
and feel of Windows graphics with
buttons and scroll bars. Drop us a line
to let us know what you think.
Off Track
If you get the error message Advanced
feature unavailable in line no line in
module DSKTRK 45 at address
0654:44DC when you run DISK-
TI14K (December 1990), you proba-
bly have an early version of DOS
that's incompatible with the program.
DISKTRAK works with DOS versions
3.0 or higher. If you get this message,
you1l want to check the DOS version
you're using. To do this^ enter VER
command at the DOS prompt.
On Track
The author of DISKTRAK. Birk Bin-
nard, has a new version of the pro-
gram. The version published on the
December 1990 COMPUTERS PC
Disk was version 4.50. The new ver-
sion is 5. 10 and can be downloaded
from CompuServe in area 6 of the
IBM Utilities forum. The filename is
DSKTRK51.ZIP.
If you don't have a CompuServe
account, send a formatted disk plus
$0.50 for postage in a reusable disk
mailer, and Mr. Binnard will send you
a shareware copy of the new version.
If youVe already registered the
program, send $5 to cover the cost of
the disk, disk mailer, and postage. If
you haven't registered but would like
to, send $ 1 5 to register the program
and receive the new version. Send
your order to Peninsula Software,
28510 Blythewood Drive, Palos
Verdes, California 90274.
The new version of DISKTR/IK
includes PATH support, a Restore
function, enhanced comment editing,
new printer controls, increased win-
dow size for Delete and Restore func-
tions, and bug corrections.
Po/y-no-Copy
After I received phone calls from sev-
eral readers about a problem with
Po/i'Copy (February 1991), I called Jo-
seph Albanese, the author of the pro-
gram. Some users complained of
getting the message Drive A not sup-
ported when they ran the program.
Mr. Albanese said that he was
aware of problems with PolyCopy
running on the PS/2 Model 50z, the
PS/2 Model 70/25 MHz, and also
DTK machines.
He's working on the solution. If
you've had trouble with the program,
please contact Mr, Albanese and give
him any pertinent information about
your computer system such as the
type and brand of computer, the ver-
sion of DOS, and BIOS. Send inqui-
ries to Joseph M. Albanese, P.O. Box
1 157, Bassett, Virginia 24055. You
can also contact him through his BBS
at (703) 666-9535.
Mis-C4LC-ulatron
COMPUTECalc (February 1991) may
not work on some Tandy computers.
The program works in DOS 3.0 or
higher, not on DOS 2. 1 or higher as
stated in the magazine and in CMOS.
The program may also not work
with any mouse that is not 100-per-
cent Microsoft compatible, such as a
Genius mouse. However, you can still
use the keyboard with the calculator,
or you can install the mouse in Micro-
soft-compatible mode by pressing
both mouse buttons when the com-
puter boots. A Microsoft message
should appear when the mouse driver
loads.
Unfortunately, the Genius mouse
isn't completely Microsoft compati-
ble, so even this trick may not work,
but it's certainly worth a try.
Sweet Memory
Sometimes the Run option is offered
in CMOS for a program, but when
you run it, you gel a beep and an error
message that says Out ofMemoiy,
If this happens to you, exit the
menu to DOS and rerun CMOS.
Some programs don't release memory
after they've run, so when the pro-
gram returns to CMOSznd. you try to
run another program, the memory
isn't available.
You can install the program and
run it from DOS without problems.
PATHS to Ponder
Make sure that you change the PATH
to the correct director>^ when you run
AC Hunter (February 1 99 1 ). The
PATH option is displayed on the
opening menu when you first run the
program. If you run it from drive A,
enter A: \ when the program prompts
you for the correct PATH. s
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 71
NTRODOS
TONY ROBERTS
A properly tuned CONHG.SYS
helps your svslem run smoothlv.
With CONFIG.SYS out of bal-
ance, however, you'll waste
memory in the best case, or have
trouble running some programs in the
worst case.
Many users avoid CONFIG.SYS
except when directed by software in-
stallation procedures to make some
change, usually to the BUFFERS or
FILES commands. These suggestions
are designed to ensure that the new
software works properly under the
heaviest imaginable load. If you don't
push your software to its absolute lim-
it, you may be able to scale back these
settings.
Although the memory- you
can save by judiciously refining
CONFIG .SYS commands amounts
to only a few thousand bytes, this is
sometimes enough to allow the coex-
istence of memory-resident utilities
and programs that otherwise seem
incompatible.
The FILES command specifies
the maximum number of files that
can be open at any one time. Al-
though it may appear that very few
files are open, there's more going on
than meets the eye. If you start your
word processing program with a batch
file, for example, the batch file is
open, the word processing program is
open, the file you are editing is open,
and other auxiHar>' files such as print-
er drivers or spelling dictionaries may
be open.
DOS uses 64 bytes of memor>' to
track the status of each open file. It
sets aside this block of memory based
on the HLES statement in CONHG
.SYS. If you specify FILES- 20, DOS
reserves 1280 bytes regardless of how
many files are actually open.
If the FILES allocation is loo
small, DOS alerts you with a Too
many files open message when it runs
out of slots in which to track files.
To find the optimum setting for
FILES, gradually reduce the number
of files specified in CONFIG.SYS and
then run your usual software until you
encounter errors. Then raise the
FILES setting a little so you can oper-
ate error free.
BUFFERS, at 5 12 bytes each, are
much more memoo^-hungry than
FILES. A buffer is a block of memory
used in the exchange of information
between programs and disks.
When data is needed from the
disk, a disk sector is read, and the
information is placed in a buffer
where the program can access it. Al-
though the program often requires
fewer bytes than the entire 512 bytes
the sector holds, the extra information
Wl\
1
vni
a
T^t
iffl
1 1
1 d
WTHCONFG.SYS
is kept in the buffer in case the pro-
gram asks for it later.
When the application makes its
next request for disk access, the buff-
ers are checked to see if the appropri-
ate data is there. If so, the data can be
accessed immediately without requir-
ing a slow disk-read operation.
The most recently read disk data
is kepi in the buffers, and once all
buffers are full, the oldest data is
discarded to make way for new
information.
When too few buffers are speci-
fied in CONFIG.SYS, ihe system will
be slowed by extra disk accesses. If
too many buffers are allocated, the
system loses time churning through
them before going to the disk.
Finding the proper number of
BUFFERS is largely a matter of feeL
With loo few buffers open, your ma-
chine will perform sluggishly, but you
may not need as many buffers as some
software instructions suggest. This is es-
pecially true if you use disk caching.
A disk cache is a more sophisti-
cated buffering system that manages a
much larger amount of memory, often
extended or expanded memory. Some
disk caches work in conventional
memory.
In addition to storing sectors al-
ready requested by the application
program, caches commonly perform
look-ahead buffering. In this scheme,
the cache reads the requested sector
plus the next few sectors on the as-
sumption that those sectors will be
sought soon.
Caching programs also make in-
telligent decisions about what data to
keep in memory, A well-executed
cache not only keeps the most recently
accessed information but also the
most frequently used.
One other bit of tuning that helps
speed up disk access is the FAST-
OPEN command that came into be-
ing with DOS 3.3.
FA.STOPEN creates a director>'
cache thai speeds up DOS's file-open-
ing operations. The command, which
is usually executed in the AUTOEX-
EC.BAT file, has a slightly different
svntax in DOS 3.3 and DOS 4.0 L
In DOS 3.3, FASTOPEN
C:= 100 sets up a 100-entry directory
cache for disk drive C. In DOS 4.01,
FASTOPEN C: = ( 100,) accomphshes
the same result. FASTOPEN only
works with hard disks.
Whenever a file opening is re-
quested, DOS searches the directory
paih until it locales that file. If FAST-
OPEN is running, the file's location
on the disk is recorded in the FAST-
OPEN cache. If a subsequent request
for that file is made, DOS can quickly
look up its location in the FAST-
OPEN cache rather than having to
read through all the files in all the di-
rectories on the directory path. Q
72 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
HARDWARE CLINIC
MARK M I N A S I
Iasl month, I talked about power
protection and some lower-cost
power-protection devices. This
nionth, ril finish the topic with a
discussion of battery-backup devices.
In addition to protection from
short power irregularities, you may
need backup power. Fve lived in a
number of places in the northeastern
United States where summer Hghi-
ning storms will kill the power for just
a second — enough to erase your mem-
ory and make the digital clocks blink.
Unlike the devices I discussed last
month, no transformer or MOV (Met-
al Oxide Varistor) can help you here.
You need something that has a built-
in battery, something with enough
power to carr>' you through until the
juice comes back on, or at least with
enough power to allow you to grace-
fully exit your applications and shut
off your computer. To that end, there
are two kinds of devices in this catego-
ry: SPSS (Standby Power Supplies)
and UPSs (Uninterruptible Power
Supplies). Both use batteries, but
there's a fundamental difference be-
tween I he ways they use them.
Not to Worry?
'"Hang on a minute," I hear you cry.
"Who needs a UPS? Isn't that over-
kill?" Actually, Fd say No.
Here's the bad news: Electrical
power is getting worse in the United
States. Nobody wants a power plant
in his or her backyard, coal-burning
plants cause acid rain, nukes scare just
about everybody, and wind/tide/
geothermal/you-name-it alternative
sources of energy aren't really going
anywhere. We're not building new
sources of electricity, but we're con-
tinuing to create new drains on the
country's power network. Power de-
mand continues to grow, while electri-
cal generation capacity grows much
more slowly. The net result is that
we're going to see more brownouts,
blackouts, spikes, and surges through-
out the 1990s,
The good news? Uh . . . there
isn't any. The worid is changing. Ex-
pect power in our country to take on a
distinctly Third World look. (How do
I know? I was a senior economist with
a national laboratory working for the
United States Department of Energy
for several years in the eariy 1980s.)
From your PC's point of view, electri-
cal power is like air — it soon dies
without it, and dirty power makes it
sick. That could mean permanent
hardware damage, data loss, or mo-
mentar>' misreads.
This all seems strange and coun-
terintuitive because power in the
1980s was fairly clean and reliable,
leading to the common wisdom that
you just plug your PC into the wall
and it'll go. Also, most household ap-
pliances are fairly robust about the
kind of power they'll accept: Plug a
toaster in just about an>^here, and it
works fine. A new consensus will de-
velop by the mid 1990s that everyone
needs power protection.
UPS and Downs
Your backup options are standby
power supplies (SPSs) and uninterrup-
tible power supplies (UPSs). They use
fundamentally difTerent approaches to
solving power problems. SPSs charge
the batteries while watching the cur-
rent level. (See Figure K) While utility
power is normal, the S PS is fairly ir-
relevant, letting spikes, surges, and
low voltage pass right through to your
PC. A few SPSs have MOVs— the ka-
mikaze components in surge protec-
tors that I discussed last month — but,
in general, they do nothing except
when the power disappears altogether.
If the power drops, the SPS acti-
vates itself and supplies power until
its batteries run down. (See Figure 2.)
Note well that a. fast power switch
must occur here, and it's important to
find out what the switching time is.
Four ms or under is fine. In my expe-
rience, 14 ms isn't fast enough.
A UPS constantly runs power
from the line current to a battery, then
from the battery to the PC. (See Fig-
ure 3.) This is superior to an SPS be-
cause there's no switching time
involved. Also, this means that any
surges affect the battery-charging
mechanism, not the computer. A UPS
is, then, a surge suppressor as well.
A UPS or SPS has to convert the
battery's DC current to the AC cur-
rent that your PC requires, AC is sup-
posed to look like a sine wave.
Cheaper UPS and SPS models pro-
duce square waves. (See Figure 4.)
Square waves are bad because they in-
clude high-frequency noise which can
hamper your computer's operation.
Worse, some peripherals (printers in
particular) can't handle square-wave
.AC; their power supplies bum up. So,
when examining UPSs, ask whether
they use square wave or sine wave.
A sine-wave UPS is the only way
to really eliminate most power prob-
lems. The reason everyone doesn't
have one is cost; a good one costs over
$ 1 ,000, like the excellent Minuteman
systems from Para Systems (sine-wave
MM500/1 UPS— $1,399, AT300
SPS— $339; 1455 UMay Drive, Car-
roUton, Texas 75007; 800-238-7272).
Plan B
A decent compromise can be found in
a fast (4 ms) square- wave SPS. I know
I said square waves are bad for your
peripherals, but consider this: How
often will the SPS actually be provid-
ing power? Not very often — remem-
ber that it only supplies power when
the line voltage drops out, which is
probably not a common occurrence. >
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 73
HARDWARE CLINIC
The brief minute or two each month
of square-wave power that your peri-
pherals end up getting won't kill them.
And you'll save a pile of money over a
UPS.
On the other hand, remember
that a UPS is always online and so
must produce sine- wave output, but
UPSs have the benefit of providing
surge protection by breaking down
and reassembling the power. SPSs
don't provide this protection; you still
have to worr>' about surge protection
when you buy an SPS, but not if you
buy a UPS, So make the choice that
your budget allows.
Or you might buy a unique prod-
uct, called the InnerSource, from PC
Power and Cooling Systems (31510
Mountain Wav, Bonsall California
92003; 6 1 9-723-95 1 3). The Inner-
Source replaces your current power
supply with a combination power sup-
ply and UPS. It's a nifty device — it
takes no more space than the power
supply that*s already in your PC and
provides 10 to 15 minutes of backup
power, (It also includes a connector to
power your monitor,) You get low-
vollage protection, surge and spike
proleclion, and blackout insurance —
all for $395. This isn't a bad deal (as I
said last month, a decent power con-
ditioner would cost $200, and this
does a lot more). And while this
sounds like a unique idea, every single
batter>'-powered laptop incorporates
a similar system — so I suppose you
could buy only laptops as a means
of combatting power problems. To
summarize:
• If it's an SPS, it must switch in 4 ms
or less.
• If it's an SPS, square- wave output is
acceptable.
• If it's a UPS, it must have sine-wave
output.
Power of Misinformation
Shopping for a UPS can be a real edu-
cation— not in power-protection de-
vices, but in misinformation. You'd
think Saddam Hussein's public-rela-
tions minister wrote some of the UPS
brochures I've seen. One story^ in par-
ticular really highlights what I mean,
A few years ago, a power-protec-
tion company — I won't mention any
names — ran some full-page ads claim-
ing to have the answer to low-cost
power protection: a $200-$300 UPS.
Ftgure 1: SPS in charging mode
SPS
®
PC
y
>
Battery
(charging)
=igure 2: SPS in discharging mode
SPS
®
®
PC
//
Battery
(discharging) !
^
Figure 3: UPS operation
UPS
®-
®
Battery
PC
Figure 4: AC waveforins
vAAAA/^
Sine Wave
mm
Square Wave
Wow, I thought, and called them up
to find out more. I was directed to a
regional distributor, who took my call
and did his best to answer my
questions.
"This sounds like a terrific deal
on a UPS," I said. "Does it produce
sine-wave output or square- wave
outputT'
"I'm afraid the information I
have doesn't include the answer to
your question," the distributor's tech-
nical manager replied. He didn't have
the answers to a lot of other questions,
so I started smelling a rat.
So I ventured, *'How about the
switching time? What's the switching
time?"
He perked up, pleased to have the
answer to a question. "Four millisec-
onds." he proudly answered, I replied
that he wasn't selling a UPS, but an
SPS. His answer? "Oh, you mean it's
not an online UPS. Yeah, that's true.
It's not an online UPS." I've heard
similar dodges from vendors since
that conversation, so be careful when
examining power-backup products. H
74 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
ARTS & LETTERS
ROBERT BIX BY
If you want to write a how-to guide
for using a Windows program or if
you're creating a presentation based
on a Windows program, you'll need
to make screen captures of Windows
3.0 screens. There are several ways to
capture text and graphics on your PC,
but Windows 3.0 presents a bit of a
challenge. It's different enough from
earlier versions that the Windows cap-
ture program you used in the past
probably won't work with 3.0.
Microsoft was generous enough
to provide a built-in capture system
to suit your needs some of the time.
This method is similar to the Shift-
Command-3 combination on the
Macintosh, which saves the current
screen as a MacPaint file — although
the Windows version isn't nearly as
convenient as the Mac's.
Pressing PrintScreen while Win-
dows is running saves the entire
screen to the Clipboard. (To capture
only the currently active window,
press Alt-PrintScreen.) You can then
paste the graphic into Paintbrush and
save it as a BMP or PCX file.
This means that each time you
capture a screen, you'll have to call up
Paintbrush to deal with it, which isn't
a very efficient process and will tire
you out if you're making more than
two or three screen dumps. Further-
more, the Paintbrush canvas is slight-
ly shon. It isn't tall enough to paste
the entire Windows 3.0 screen, and
you'll always end up chopping about a
quarter of an inch off the bottom.
In my search for the perfect Win-
dows screen capture, I discovered Hi-
jaak{\nst\ Systems, 71 Commerce
Drive, Brookfield, Connecticut
06804-3405; 800-828-8088; $199) and
Collage Phis (Inner Media, 60 Plain
Road, HoUis, New Hampshire 03049;
800-962-2949; $129), both recently re-
leased with Windows 3.0- friendly
capture programs. Hijaak is primarily
a graphics conversion program that's
just what you need for converting
Macintosh and Amiga graphics to PC
format or for transferring images
among PC programs. It includes a
simple program for capturing screens.
I got my start capturing Windows
screens while editing a book on Adobe
Illustrator for the PC. The program 1
used then was HoiShot Graphics (Sym-
Soft, 924 Incline Way, Call Box 5, In-
cline Village, Nevada 89450; 702-832-
4300; $249). To signal the Windows
portion of the program to capture a
screen, I pressed two keys. The graphic
was then captured and saved to disk in
the HotShot native format, HSG,
which could then be converted to TIF
or PCX. HotShot would even autoin-
crement the filename, so I'd wind up
with a list of easily managed files like
GRABOOl.HSG, GRAB002.HSG,
and so forth.
One problem I had with HotShot
was that when it converted its native
format to TIF, it was incompatible
with most other programs. In order to
use its output with most other pro-
grams, I had to convert it to either
PCX or IMG format.
Hijaak follows a similar conven-
tion, grabbing the file at a keypress
and saving it in a native formal, IGF,
which can then be converted to PCX
or another format at the end of the
session. Not only is the screen capture
a convenient feature of the program,
but Hijaak is also the best solution if
you find yourself converting files fre-
quently. It offers both a conversion
environment and a quick and easy
command line converter. Unfortu-
nately, Hijaak lacks an autoincre-
menting feature. It pauses in the
screen-capture process to give you the
chance to enter a filename before the
screen is saved to disk.
I was even more impressed with
Collage Plus. Rather than simply hid-
ing in the background, this program's
Windows 3.0 capture program fea-
tures an onscreen window that disap-
pears momentarily as the screen is
captured. Collage Plus also offers a se-
ries of options for the capture file, in-
cluding color, monochrome, and
dithered grays. If you choose grays,
you're given the option of a fine, me-
dium, or coarse dither, and a slide bar
for indicating whether you want a
lighter or darker picture. These op-
tions won my heart.
Collage Plus even provides a
chart in the manual to help you decide
which screen-capture format should
work best for your particular applica-
tion (certain dithering schemes work
better for scaling operations than
others).
But the best news about Collage
Plus is that it provides a countdown.
The countdown feature means you
can set it to snap a picture up to 99
seconds after the command is given.
Usually only fiv^ to ten seconds are
required to call up the dialog box you
want to illustrate, but the long pause
adds immeasurably lo the program's
flexibility.
Collage Plus will even capture in
the format you prefer, whether it's
PCX, TIF, or the BMP format used
by Windows itself, which eliminates
the extra step of converting files to the
format you want. Collage Plus also
autoincrements for you, so there's vir-
tually nothing to do with the screen
capture once you've requested it.
The screen-capture utility also lets
you '*fhp" the image or reverse colors.
There's an option that will let you cap-
ture the active window rather than the
whole screen, and it can display an in-
dicator that will show you how much
of the screen has been captured. B
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 75
FAST FORWARD
DAVID ENGLISH
I recently attended a seminar on the
future of computing at a software
conference, and no one on the
panel was wilHng lo define the term
multimedia. As with other squishy
phrases (user-friendly, ergonomically
designed, all natural), most of us have
a general idea of what we're talking
about when we use the terms — but
don't ask us to be loo precise. When
the phrase desktop publishing was in-
troduced in 1984, it was squishy. But
as actual products flooded the market,
we were able to separate the practical
uses from the industry hype.
In the case of multimedia, the
confusion is compounded by the fact
that it isn't a market or a single appli-
cation, but a group of six related tech-
nologies that have become affordable
at the same time.
Three of these six technologies
are extensions of past PC advances^ —
high-resolution graphics (VG.A. or bet-
ter), an affordable device for realistic
sound (the Sound Blaster and similar
sound cards), and a standard graphi-
cal user interface ( Windows 3.0). The
three other technologies are relatively
new to the PC world — faster and less
expensive CD-ROM players, full-
motion video, and sophisticated, yet
easy-to-use, authoring systems for
multimedia applications.
Joined together, these six tech-
nologies form the foundation for
what we know as multimedia. You
don't even need all six to qualify —
just about any combination of three
or more will do. Let's take a brief
look at these technologies and see
how each has evolved.
Over the last few years, VGA has
become the de facto video-card stand-
ard, especially its two high-resolution
modes— 320 X 200 with 256 colors,
and 640 X 480 with 16 colors. In ad-
dition, Windows makes it easy for
software companies to support even
higher-resolution modes. A card man-
ufacturer can write a single driver that
will work with any present or future
Windows program. This allows multi-
media developers to use photograph-
ic-quality images in their applications
and maintain a high degree of com-
patibility over the various high-reso-
lution modes. We've come a long way
on our journey from four-color CO A
to the 1 6.7 million colors of the new
24-bit cards.
Sound has undergone an equally
dramatic transformation. While
many programs still rely on simple
PC beeps, Microsoft has established a
sound-card standard with Multi-
media Windows, which allows any
Windows application to play real
sounds through your PC. As with
video cards, sound-card manufactur-
ers need to write only one driver in
order to support all Windows pro-
grams, and software developers only
have to deal with a single sound-card
standard.
All of these high-resolution im-
ages and real sounds take up a lot of
disk space — too much even for a hard
drive. Enter CD-ROM, which can
store as much as 650 megabytes on a
disc. While the current crop of CD-
ROM players are faster than ever,
Microsoft has set an even higher
standard ( 1 5 OK per second) for Multi-
media Windows, These units are able
to maintain their higher speeds by
using a buffer to hold frequently read
information. A year ago, CD-ROM
players were S800-$ 1 ,000. Today, you
can buy them for as little as $400.
The main reason Microsoft in-
sisted that CD-ROM players be so fast
is full-motion video. With a speedy
CD-ROM player, a PC can spool im-
ages off of a CD-ROM disc fast
enough to display a video sequence in
a small window without any flicker
(or a video in a full-screen window
with only a little flicker). A multi-
media program could display a person
in a small window explaining the ac-
tion in another window. As long as
the windows aren't too large, a 1 50K
per second CD-ROM player can han-
dle them. All-talking, all-moving pic-
tures (and animation) may soon be
appearing on a PC near you.
Multimedia applications are only
as good as the development tools that
create them. Fortunately, we*re seeing
a bumper crop of reasonably priced
authoring systems (most under Win-
dows) that are both powerful and easy
to use. The majority of these pro-
grams use the HyperCard model, al-
lowing you to associate visual objects
with programming code and literally
move those objects into place with
your mouse.
At this time, it looks as though
the common platform for all of these
technologies will be Multimedia Win-
dows. With Multimedia Windows,
you can link various applications to-
gether. For example, you could have
one program grab an animation from
a CD-ROM disc so that a second pro-
gram could use it in a multimedia pre-
sentation. At the same time, a third
program could grab the CD-ROM's
MIDI data so that a fourth program
(in this case, a MIDI sequencer pro-
gram) could feed the musical data to a
sound card and a MIDI synthesizer.
Because Multimedia Windows
has the necessary programming hooks
and standards for these technologies,
it will ultimately be the means for
making multimedia less squishy.
Look for a steady stream of products
over the next twelve months that will
define what mukimedia is and what it
will become in the future. E
76
COMPUTE
JULY 1991
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BUSINESS/ACCOUNTlNG/PiNANCE
J Business Fprms (117) lOOfofm letters *tx s\\ puf poses {em^jto/ment fOfms comraetE. ale}
_l Business KiJ (US) - Tvwo cogfams icr smait r^jsin&sses Sirpfe Bo&Kk£eJ?ef srrrf BtJ:!ng Sta:erJWi!.
-iComact Plus (140, i4t) - a c^n-ac ^nsnagefne^^t syEtem, -ciade*. ajtoc^a^er, arjj rna-i !!$: manager t^
J Fonn Master (142) An easy-to-use bv^s neas fo-in geie-aicr C-eaie any ftjrm easi y'
-f Legal Forms <i49j a do ii yoo'sei^ k-gal forms krt
J Pony Expre*$ {15B) Comoar^s co Si imO delivery time ot Po5t«l! Son-tce ami UPS delivery option*
J Zipkay (159) - A compteie ^ityies^el directory ol 5 d gi! z\p coOes and 3 digit telephon* area codes WO
J 2PA V 3 ( 1 B4,1 85) A !u I featured, simple louse oayroH pa<:kage ' ? 'iiw^i^ ;^
J Soive-lt! (TS6) Does a i t^n^ssary fnarcia: cak:U3tiofis '>}BR. P\f, FV. arvfuiliesj
J Slock Charting Sy slern ^l 88] - A poff oiio srar^agsj^iem system. Supports ai- ■^pes of transacnorts. 5;2K
J Ta1(in' Cafg ot Busi[>eas (192-197) - A tijiiy irtegrateti rriaru-drn/en acaa^jmng syste^n f&^sy.:?)
SPREADSHEET
J As-Easy*As (2S5) A fantastic Ldtjs ■ -2 3 compatibe sp^eadshee? program.
J lotus lyiacros (265) ■ A coissctto" ot powerftji macftjs for i 2- 3 o' compat'-b^e pfOfiraffl*.
_t Lotus Templaies (269) - Lois £j{ \ise\a temoaies tor Lotus compat pte programs.
J Pivflt! (282} - PfifTt your sp^eadsreets s C-ewayS- Dal-r^atn^ p^mter n^etfed
WORD PROGESStNG
J PC-Wrile 3.03 (325-337) Fij!!-!eatured wofd pfOcess<iftg with spell; checKirrg :- >
J WP 5.0 5.1 Art GraphtdS (375.376) A o g co ect.on of c(>p 3T ^nages lor WorpPertti ;
J WP 5-0 Learning System (380,381) ■ Lea'n to use Wo:aPerti>ct 5 0 CfJicWy and aa^ ;
J WP 5-0 5,1 Macros (385,386} • Over 100 exceiier-t tracros tor WordPertect- \c *i.vS'
J Readability Plus (804) Heiips you ma ten your wrstsng sty e IP me '^*^^^^5"j^g"5^^
UTtLITIES
J 4 DOS {415) ' Acds many new and en^-anced commanps lo DOS HQ
J Disk Spool It {416} Sets up a ^^\ spoot<ng enviroflm^BRt wtiete pnnteo outpuT is spco-'ed to dss<, HD
J HO Backup (424) An easy-louse o^ogram t^ai tjacks up youf hard dr ve on floppy ^i%K% HO
J List 7.3 (430} • Tf'e Past t:;e vtew^g utili'y &ver created' A must-have program.
J Meslerkeys (436) - Dtsk muili-ulr^ty ike Norton Uiihines YoLJil usw this one a lo!^
J Tree View (472} ■ A supersor DOS cofrrnard shell w;iti pu'J-down rrsenus.
J Vtfuscan (473} - Scans (he enyre corrfjutef system for virjses E^celte^!'
gpMPATtQN
J AlgebfBx (604) Ar^ excellent aEgebra tiilor for ihu beg* "rung to advanced student CCA
J Computer/ DOS Tuiof (609) - Makes ieaming to use the computer easy ~ and tL/n'
J Formula 1 (610) ■ An ej<celfent a^getsra tyior that teaches numbers, fractions, anp qjaoraiic equations.
_j Animated Math (611) - Grves animated re* a rd^ as t Teacres cct;nt;-^g Hf-o Ta:h \q k:35 - ■:"K HD&ijA
J PC-GSoasary (616) ■ A great sojrce o* t^jrxifecisDtdei:nit:nns ^".c erpi^-aTJons cf cDTCJjitr !e:rr-.rtCiOQy.
J Googot Matti (629) ■ A n^i^ 'i^a^r-r^ system witti g^sat grapfi-cs ana sev^era* levels o' OtMouity. CCiA
J PC-FastType (637) Watch yoiif WPM soar as you practice wtf^ rrns interactive typing ;eachef CGA
J Play 'n Leam (545) ■ .'^ collection o^ six learniing games fo' sm,aii chHdren 2-5 years, tiiik
J School Mom (654) Lessons on main art, muse, and spelling lor ctii dren 2- ^^2 yea's old. CGA
J Speed Read (665) ■ Tttaches you thu? pr-nctpies and cortcepts pf speed reading,
J Total Recall (671) A inerj cr ven ear^n ng ervi'onmen! that leps yeti earn a mast any sud^ect
_j Typing Teacher (673) - HeTps yoj pracuce ana imD^ove' Traces arid C'spiays your O'ogress
J Our Unrted Stales (677) A t[;n y s t'v^a game with cju^stions about each state,
J Verbal Vanquish (680) - Teacnes tesi-taktng strategies for !he veftla^ portion of enfarce exams. ^'.2'^
J Animated Alphabet (6S5-68S) These co^orfuJ animations teach children ihe alpha bei. f4 i*iEta} £<iA
J World (690) - A tasctrasmg e'ectronic datat^ase of wof id geography
I J Magic Crayon (691) ■ AHows dridren to explore and expenmer^t with colors and shapes EGA, nioi;^
APPLICATIONS
J Trip Planner (765) - flan a deta-*ed trip wi;n this fan;as::C coTiputenjed ^cad.map.
J PC-Musician {789} - Compose, edit- and pNiy back your rr.jsicai crt-atcns
_l Astrology (802) ■ le\ tnis program teach you about Western and Easte'n as-troiogy
J Earth Watch (830) A real t r^e novir^ Wecaio- Projed'On map ot the worrd CG*
J Lotto! (832) See if yojr co-npjter car nelp yoj Whr tt^e lottery.
J Resume srtop (852) This pr&gram Helps you wnie a betle'- mote effectn-e resume.
J Stress Management System (660) Analyses your stress and teaches you to recogniro warn rig signs
J Wisdom of the Ages (862-065) Over 6000 qyota« ttom msiory's greatest minds '/< df;;t li)
HOME & FAMILY
J
GRAPHICS
J Dratt Choice (509) An e utelfert menu-driven CAD pfogram witn optional mouse S Jpport
J Finger Paint (52 1 } Use your keybPSrd (era mous^} tP cravv great co'or pictured CG A
J PC-Key Draw (542-545) Pow^erlul destgn pfogram. Works with keyboard or mouse (4 oltri) HO GOA
J VGA Paint (548) A super duoer pami program ■ only for you f jcky peoole wth VGA V&f^ 5i 2K
J Banner Sign Makers (55€) Pnni your own panners and ssgns or> your Epson compatible pr-nter
a On Side (591) - Pfsnis spreadsreets iO' anyir.^rg) SidewayS-
-t PrlntMaster Graphics (593,594) - A a'ge cc: ec: sn at ci p art tor Primlutaster useis \t diii-l
J Pfi ntShop Graphics (596.597) A greal coi tH-io-; 'c'- craprjcs Ipr PrmtShop ^2 &*>! )
J CompuShow (507) A 'antastfc graphics v^ev^ng utiity for GIF, PCX MacPamt, RLE, and more
J Cars (480} ■ Several GIF dream cars- inciud'fig a Porsche and Corvette 1-;<IA or VCiA
J Wildlifft (491) Seauliti.1 v^ildfife p.ctufes in GIF *ofmat VGA
_i Planes (493) - Several 0'Ct;jres of planes (mostly wa'p-anesl m GIF iorma:. £GA cr VOA
J VGA Collection I (495-499} A grea! ca' ectio-^ 0* GIF pciyres for VGA systems only ;^ otiiti ;- VGA
J VGA Collection II (475-479) Vce oea.;T f ji p ctjres fo' ^hose of yOsJ wr:h VGA systems. !S.:£sJ^5; VGA
J VGA Collection Itl (500-504) - Aro'her [^o^ie^c^cn sf excelSeni GIFs ''or your erjoy mem fi ff^sc^yvGA
U Brolhtr's Ke«{)«r (702,703) - Document your family's htslory with this genealogy prograr^ s? t^f^^fi^
y C.A-R.S. (70S) - This program makes it easy to keep a record Ol ali your auto expenses
U PRK - Personal Record Keej^r {7ZJ) - A system that tracks a variety ol your persona! rfo MA r-D
U Honr* Legal Guide (725.726) - A 2 disk sei of leg^ fofrs p!us f j I Text of soTe mportant statutes. MO
J Cash Control (72S) Vanage your checking, savings, or charge acco-jnts tf^elast ano easy way. Z'K''^
"J Home Inventory (738) - Keeps a ^'ecoi'd of aii your personal possessions
■J Will Kit (771) - Save attorney's lees t^y creating your own will, valid in all SO stales
GAMES
J Pyramid Solitaire (920) - Two mce soiiia^e games: Pyramtd So Tai'e and Accordton Solitaire
J Moratt's Entrsp (§21) Tnis log-c-based 3D game cofrb res a ca enging pjijie wth great graphics
J Rock n Roli Trivial Matters (922) A grea: tnvia game lor rock ,n rali ojffs
J Cipher (927) . Try to decioher the^e famous quotatior^s,
J The Monuments of Mars! (928) Enpiore 20 unique levels fsHed with puzzles, iraps. and creatyres- r,GA
J Ptg (929} ■ Th s gurple ganne fS guaranleed ^o dnve you r^uls. but yo-j win be determ'ned to beat it.
J Double Blocks (931) A 'jn and addctri^ game Ejased on the arcade tav or te, Tetns
J Power Chess (936) A- 0L.'.5T3rH;>rg cness program wsth great graphcs C C ■'
J Islands of Danger (940) Destroy mss e taunchers wh le negotatmg dtferent lypes c' lerram . -"
J Tommy's Trivia (941) - A great inv^a g:\rr±> in^at will provide you with n&jrs of enpyment
J Miramar Right Simulator (950) See f yoj are Top Gun mate;ial as you i|y a luHy armed F-tB' :,.:.'■
J Tycoon (979) - Do you have what il takes IQ become a bill ion a rre oil tycoon?
J Vegas Johnny's Oraw Poker (960} - The most realistic poker garie imaginable
J Cunning Fool bat! (990} - Vol ca 'he p^ys a^d control the key players Great l jn'
EGA GAMES
U Hugo's House of Horrors (951} ■ Help Hu0:O rescue Penelope rn ih^s an mated ad veniute. ;K.^f>^. HD
U Hugo !l, Whodunit? (9S2) - Hugo and Penelope get swept up ^n another 30 aaveoture' IKiK rH>
J SuperFly (962} An arcade game with mjitip^e rounds of play This clever game is fots ol funt E^
J Klondike Keno (963) - Two gambling games with esceiient graphcs- A .mojse fS recor^mended
J Solilile (954) - A syitaire game I'ke Mah Jonggwith wester m^eo ptcrures and new stating layouts
J H*ah Jongg (968) A spita^i-e game played w th Chinese tiles Includes a &t making utilttjr EGA
J Commander Keen (972) Tne latest and grea lest shareware game, which you are sure to enjOy
J Captain Comic (984) Thnil to the commercial quality graphics o' this FANTASTIC game f; -A
J Blackjack) (985) Leam the Skills you need (olsealthetiouseatt'ie 'own gnm,; E, rcf^Hfrr gr;,p",rs
J EGA Coloring Book (989) - Kids really lo/e to use tnis coloring pograT' ;
_> EGA Got! (995) A game o* spiffs £tra"egy and reflex Great graphics and realism :a' -
VGA GAMES
U VGA Sharks |983) - An uncenwater action arcade game. Avoid the sharks as you collect treasures, VGA I
LI Bansnold (968) The VGA graph cs are c^jtstandmg tn this grea! Arkenoid-Ike game V lA
J Catch 'Em (991 ) Catch the falling pieces witn yojr paddfe Many levels: grea! graohics' ^,,; c *. ' j
J Beyond Tetrls (993} A great Tet^s l.-^e ^a-re wn^ti a rw st : ".
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Circle Roader Service Number 199
C0M7I
#lflME OFFICE
WORKPLACE
DANIEL JANAL
DO your clients know what you do
and how long it takes? If they
don't, they might think that
you're ripping them off. And
that's a message you certainly don*l
want to send.
It's important for any business, at
home or downtown, to keep accurate
track of the time spent on projects.
For me, that means looking at my
watch at the beginning and end of
each project and recording the time in
my diary. However, when I forget to
make entries (and this does happen), I
must rely on estimates. Then, at the
end of each month, I face another
problem — adding the figures. If
youVe ever tried to add one hour and
25 minutes to three hours and 50 min-
utes, you know what I mean. Do that
20 times a month, and you'll be mired
in a tedious process that can be
fraught with errors.
Timesiips. a leading time-billing
program, bolsters its attractiveness by
claiming that 25 percent of the aver-
age person's time is not billed proper-
ly. I recently decided to take the
program up on its challenge, figuring
that if 1 won, my income would in-
crease and my clients would get more
detailed reports.
Timesiips is easy to set up. The
program asks for standard logistical
data, such as your name, billing rate,
and activity (consulting, writing,
phone calls) and your clients' names,
addresses, and billing rates, among
other items. This information is used
to create time sHps, invoices, and la-
bels. Ten easy minutes later, I was
ready to track lime. My only com-
plaint is that I wanted to use my cur-
rent client number codes, which range
from 30 to 60. Timesiips insists that
all client codes be entered sequential-
ly, beginning with 1 . My solution was
to enter x in the first 29 fields.
I began by creating a time slip for
writing this article and then starling
the stopwatch. The program displayed
the time not only as seconds, but as
dollars and cents. The effect of seeing
money accumulate on the screen is
mesmerizing. Time really is money.
Then, to my dismay, 1 realized the
first ten minutes of preparation time
were not billed. But, because the
Timesiips program lets you enter time
from the keyboard, I was able to
quickly remedy this problem. This
feature comes in handy for services
performed outside the office.
To create a time slip, type your
name or employee number, client
name or number, and activity. The
Timesiips program automatically in-
serts the correct billing rates. You can
type a description of the activity
you're about to perform, such as yxriie
article, proofread mamiscripi. or send
Tl
ffl
E
n
1
E
n
t
E
SONMYSDE
invoice. Then select the billing op-
tions, such as Bill by Client or Charge
a Flat Rate. Activate the stopwatch,
and time is credited to your account.
Timesiips can operate as a TSR,
which is great for client-based compa-
nies. For example, say you're working
on a project for one client when a sec-
ond client calls. With the TSR func-
tion, you can stop the time slip on the
first client and create a new slip for
the second client in just a few seconds.
I used Timesiips with WordPerfect in
a 640K environment with no prob-
lems, but that didn't leave room for
any other TSRs. I also used it as a
stand-alone program in order to free
some memory and was pleased with
its performance.
But while the billing process is
simple and effective, I found the re-
porting process cumbersome. Fortu-
nately, Timesiips gives you so many
selections that you can create virtually
any kind of report or invoice you
need. The program uses onscreen
prompts and help, but I still needed to
refer to the manual quite often. Obvi-
ously, as with any other software pro-
gram or hardware system, you should
spend some time with the manual to
get yourself acquainted with the prod-
uct. That way, you'll have some idea
ofwhat to expect.
I called the technical support de-
partment (on my dime, as the compa-
ny doesn't have toll-free support) and
held the phone for eight minutes and
23 seconds, according to my Time-
slips time slip, which displayed my
lost productivity and earnings on the
screen, second by second, dollar by
dollar. (Those who live by the time
slip die by the time slip.) On the plus
side, the technician was friendly and
answered my question with ease.
Another feature that I liked, and
which saved me money, was the pro-
gram's ability to track expenses. I
sometimes forget to charge clients for
postage and copying. Because this fea-
ture is so easy to use, there is no ex-
cuse for letting nickels and dimes fall
through the cracks.
By keeping accurate track of your
time, a time-tracking and billing pro-
gram like Timesiips enables you to
better serve your clients by allowing
you to prepare detailed invoices that
are both informative and accurate.
For workers in an extended office set-
ting— those telecommuters who are
becoming an ever-increasing part of
the modern American work force —
Timesiips can offer the means to track
work so that they can meet their em-
ployers' desire for accurate record-
keeping.
Put time on your side. And take
back all those hours that have been
slipping through your fingers. You'll
be surprised by how they add up. Q
78
COMPUTE
JULY 1991
1
■<^«mir^-,z:L,^,Mt^,^m^»a^f^^^ii>^<-^.- :--,^.^.
K
PC Productivity Manager
\
\ "St
Work at your peak potential!
Break free of cumbersome MS*»DOS
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Single keypresses or mouse clicks do
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new PC Productivity Manager.
Packed with 38 PC batch-file extensions
and power utilities, this easy-to-use disk
includes individual help menus for every
program. You don't have to be a computer
maven — just press Ft for IHelp anytimel
The power utilities alone are worth
many times the cost of this disk. Imag-
ine! Programs to speed up your keyboard,
edit disk files, edit and search memory,
find a specific text string in disk files — plus
memory-resident programs such as a pop-
up calculator, a programmer's reference
tool, an editable macro key program, and
a graphic screen-capture utility, and more
all included on this jam-packed disk.
Our batch-file extensions add new com-
mands to standard batch-file language.
Now you can easily create menus, draw
boxes, and write strings in your choice
of colors anywhere on the screen — all
with simple, easy-to-use commands.
Then, add some zest to your batch files
with a command that lets you play a se-
ries of notesi
Plus handy system tools let you delete
an entire subdirectory with one command,
find out if the system has enough memory
for an application before it runs, cause the
computer to remember the current direc-
tory so that you can come back to it later,
and much, much, more.
QMfER YQUF
fjrPRQDUCm TY
/MAHmER TOD lY!
I DYES! Please send me _ VA inch disk{5) ($14.95 each) _ 3H inch disk(s) ($15.95 each).
. Subtotal
. Sales Tax (Residents of NC and NY please add appropriate
sales tax for your area.CanadJan orders, add 7% goods and
services tax. )
. Shipping and Handling ($2.00 U.S. and Canada, $3.00 surface
mail. $5.00 airmail per disk.)
, Total Enclosed
Credit Card No. ,
Signature
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I
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TECH
K]\01fLEDGE
In business, time is money. For
most business people who de-
pend on computers for their
Uvelihood, few things are more
maddening than waiting on hold for a
computer-company technician. Few
things, that is, except having the tech-
nician come on the Hne talking in
some weird computer lingo and offer-
ing "assistance" that is impossible to
comprehend.
Gelling technical support for
your home office doesn't have to
boost your blood pressure. Although
few hardware or software warranties
guarantee much beyond the right to
return or repair a product if it turns
out to be defective, computer compa-
nies value your business and are
usually willing to talk you through
your problem over the phone. The
store where you made your purchase,
on the other hand, rarely offers more
than a limited refund or exchange.
Keeping this in mind, here are
ten time-tested ways to help you get
the technical information you re-
quire— and turn a potentially frustrat-
ing experience into a fruitful one.
When you learn the language com-
puter technicians talk, you'll get more
out of your calls to technical support.
And once you master the basics of
troubleshooting your own computer
problems, you'll rarely need to ask for
technical support again. And that's
the biggest time saver of all
IAn Ounce of Prevention
When you buy a program or a
piece of equipment, you enter a
relationship with the manufacturer.
TEN WAYS
TO GET
THE TECHNICAL
INFORMATION
YOU WANT .
AND NEED
3
ROSALIND RESNICK
AND
SUSIE ARCHER
Start your relationship off right by
sending in the registration and war-
ranty cards enclosed with your pur-
chase. Telephone support is offered by
almost every manufacturer, but the
staffer fielding the call may ask you to
identify yourself before directing your
call to a technician. If you're not in
the company's database as a registered
user (or if you don't have your regis-
tration number readily available), you
may get the cold shoulder. You'll also
miss out on any notices, newsletters,
or other product information de-
signed to keep you abreast of changes.
You should also consider buying
a one-year maintenance contract on
your computer hardware — but only if
it costs less than ten percent of the
product's purchase price and you feel
reasonably certain that the company
will survive the life of the contract.
On-site contracts normally don't cost
much more than a standard contract;
some companies throw them in free
as part of a package deal. An on-site
contract will let you stay at home by
your phone during business hours
while a technician comes to you. It
can save taking a morning off to lug
your machine to the computer store.
2 Read the Directions
No matter how user-friendly
your computer claims to be
and no matter how many pull-down
menus your software possesses, it's
still a good idea to read your user
manual carefully before throwing in
the towel and calling the company for
help. If you have time or patience for
nothing else, make sure that you study
80 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
L Y 19 9 1 COMPUTE
the chapter that tells you how to set
up your computer and install your
software. Make sure that you have fol-
lowed directions to the letter and that
you are using the equipment specified.
If a problem pops up. check the
troubleshooting guide in the back of
the manual for common problems
and frequently asked questions (you
may want to look in a local bookstore
for the books listed in the tech books
section). Remember that few technical
support lines are toll-free, and, for
most home computer users* Silicon
Valley is a long-distance call.
^^ Reach Out and Ask
-^ Someone
W^ Unless you're a seasoned com-
puter user, there's probably a limit to
what you can do on your own. There
comes a time when it's best to pick up
the phone and call for help. Demand
assistance right away if your computer
won't start or your program freezes up
on the screen and you have to reboot
or exit your application unexpectedly.
Call, too, if you find yourself hav-
ing to repeat a particular task or key-
stroke sequence again and again. It
could be that a new device driver has
been introduced that better supports
your printer or modem or a software
guru has come up with a keystroke-
saving macro that will save you time
and aggravation. Or your software
may have been updated to correct a
problem while the package you
bought was sitting on the shelf.
A technician can let you know
whether you have the latest version.
Even if there isn't a fix for your prob-
lem, phone calls are what spur compa-
nies to make improvements.
4 Be a Do- It- Yourself er
Ultimately, the best source of
product support is you, the
home user. If your manual provides
more confusion than help, log on to
an online database or bulletin board
and look for answers there. Microsoft,
Tandy, IBM, and other hardware and
software manufacturers provide no-
cost bulletin boards, called ^rwmj: on
CompuServe and roundtables on GE-
nie, where the company's technical
staffers are assigned to read users'
questions and leave detailed answers.
It's a good idea to browse through
these forums before sending in your
question; chances are your problem is
not unique. Another nice thing about
forums is that you can leave and re-
ceive messages at any time of day or
night. Remember that though there is
no extra charge for many of these fo-
rums, use of CompuServe itself is nei-
ther free nor inexpensive.
It also pays to know your limits.
Whenever a problem occurs, it's wise
82 COMPUTE JULY 1991
to back up your data on a floppy disk
using the DOS BACKUP command.
Often a support technician can repair
or restore a damaged file if you
haven^t tried to fix it yourself first.
This backup file can also help the
technician diagnose an obscure error.
The smartest thing, of course, is to
back up your system on a regular ba-
sis. Thai way, your programs and data
can be salvaged in case of a hard disk
crash — the home computer user's
darkest nightmare,
5 Know the Lingo
Reaching out for help won't do
you much good if you don't
speak the same language as the techni-
cian on the other end. We're not sug-
gesting you dash out and take a crash
course in C. but knowing a little bit
about the hardware can make your in-
teraction with a technician much
smoother.
Familiarize yourself with the fol-
lowing, and you'll be on your way:
• Memory-resident programs (also
known as terminate and stay resident
or TSR programs), the most popular
being Sidekick and PC-Tools'
PCSHELL, reside in your comput-
er s random access memor>, en-
abling your system to call up or
enhance other applications. Some
may even load automatically every
time you turn on your machine.
Tech Books
Here is a selection of favorite PC books
packed with maintenance and trouble-
shooting information.
The Hardware Bible
Winn Rosch
ISBN 0-13-160979-3
500 pages
$29.95
Brady Books
Maintaining, Upgrading, and Trouble-
shooting IBM PCs, CompatiblBS, and
PSI2 Personal Computers
Mark Minasi
ISBN 0-87455-230-3
384 pages
$18.95
COMPUTE Books
The PC Configuration Handbook,
Second Edition
John Woram
ISBN 0-553-34947-3
672 pages
$26.95
Bantam Books
Upgrading and Repairing PCs
Scott Mueller
ISBN 0-88022-395-2
750 pages
$29.95
Que Books
They make it possible for you to call
up a program with a keypress or
speed up your system in some way,
but they may also be memory hogs
and sometimes prevent other pro-
grams from running. If you have
problems, a technician may suggest
that you remove all TSRs from your
AUTOEXEC.BAT and reboot.
• If your screen freezes up, you may
have to warm boot your computer
by holding down the Ctrl-Alt-Del
keys or cold boot it by pressing reset
or turning your computer off and
and then on again.
• The CHKDSK command tells the
technician how much disk and free
memory space you have available.
• You'll also need to know the contents
of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CON-
FIG.SYS files. To view these files,
type CD \ to enter the root directo-
r>'; then enter TYPE AUTOEXEC
.BAT You can repeat these steps for
the CONFIG.SYS file. If either file
scrolls off the screen before you can
read it, use Ctrl-S to pause and Ctrl-
Q to resume the scrolling. You can
also send a screenful of information
to vour printer by pressing the
PRINTSCREEN key. The CON-
FIG.SYS file sometimes contains a
command to load a memory manag-
er. Often these managers have names
like QEMM^SYS or EMM.SYS.
These memory managers give access
to RAM beyond the conventional
640 K. Technical support people will
need to know whether you have one
of these memory managers running
because they sometimes are the
source of conflicts that prevent pro-
grams from operating properly. You
might tr>' deleting these commands
or putting REM ahead of them and
rebooting. If your memory manager
is the problem, that could clear it up.
• The setup is a part of memory that
contains important information on
what peripherals are attached to your
computer, PCs and XTs have this
information coded by setting switch-
es on the motherboard, but ATs and
more advanced machines store this
information in a CMOS RAM that is
maintained by battery power. If your
AT fails to boot properly, it could be
because the CMOS battery has run
down. Therefore, you should always
know what is contained in your set-
up. Different machines use different
methods to reach the setup, but the
two most common ways are by
pressing Ctrl-Alt-Esc or by pressing
Del while the machine is booting,
Don*t change the settings except un-
der the supervision of a technician,
but you should take the time to write
down all of the setup information
and keep the record close to your
computer. Then if your setup fails,
you can reenter the information and
be back to work in minutes.
• A technician may ask you to identify
your DOS version, your BIOS type,
and your graphics display. You can
easily determine your DOS version
simply by typing VER at the DOS
prompt. The BIOS (Basic Input/Out-
put System) type and display type
(usually Hercules, CGA, EGA, or
VGA) flash on your screen when you
boot your computer. Some common
BIOSs are AMI (American Mega-
trends) and Phoenix.
6 Work the System
It's easier and faster to get help
if you know what it's like for
the technicians on the other end. On
any given day, the peak volume peri-
od for help-desk calls is from 9:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST (most software
companies are on the West Coast and
there is a three-hour time difference
between the Eastern and Pacific time
zones).
Many companies hold support
staff meetings on Monday morning in
order to compare notes on problems.
Generally, you can get faster, more
personal service if you avoid peak pe-
riods and call when the support staff is
most likely to be available.
It's also important to know who
will be answering your call At a small
company, the person on the other end
of the line may be a programmer or
software developer, while at a large or-
ganization, it may be a receptionist
who will take the basic information
and route your call to someone else.
At a midsize company, you are likely
to land a generalist with good people
skills who has enough expertise to ask
the key questions and diagnose your
problem. A specialist may be called
in, but it's usually the call-taker's job
to get the answers you need.
Generally, computer technicians
will record their discussion with you
on a trouble ticket or problem report
and assign it a level of priority. Priori-
ty Level 1. for example, will usually
get you an answer in a couple of
hours. Priority Level 2 will generate a
response within a day. Be honest
about your urgency. You don't want to
earn a reputation for crying wolf
7 Put It in Writing
It's a good idea to keep a de-
tailed call-history journal in
case you can't resolve your problem in
one phone call and must explain your
problem again to someone else. Your
log should include the date and lime
of your call, the problem symptoms,
the phone number and extension you
called, the person who took the call,
and the diagnosis and any trouble-
shooting steps required.
« Clean Out Your
AUTOEXEC
A support technician will fre-
quently fix your problem by giving
you instructions on how to alter your
system files or copy certain types of
files or device drivers into certain sub-
directories. That's why it's important
to know how to access the AUTOEX-
EC.BAT file that automatically loads
programs into your computer's mem-
ory at boot-up every time you turn on
your machine. If too many memory-
resident programs are being loaded in
automatically, you may not have
room to run other programs that re-
quire at least 5 1 2K of RAM. A sup-
port technician can help you edit your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file using a text
editor or the EDLIN program that ed-
its ASCII files. Normally, RAM space
can be freed up by inserting the letters
REM in front of any command that
loads in a driver or TSR.
^V ReCONFIGure Your
MM SYStem
%^ Common problems such as
system freeze-ups and insufficient
memory can often be solved by letting
the technician edit your CON-
FIG.SYS file. This file usually con-
tains the statements BUFFERS ^ X
and FILES = X. The CONHG.SYS
file also lets you add device drivers to
your system that can control a mo-
dem, a mouse, or an optical scanner.
The more buffers you tell DOS to
use, the more data it can store in
memory. The greater the number of
files you set, the more tasks your sys-
tem can perform simultaneously. To
solve your immediate problems and
help your computer run more effi-
ciently, set the buffers statement
somewhere between 10 and 25 and
the files statement at no less than 20.
"■ ^^ Take It to the Top
I I H Captain Kangaroo not-
-H- M^ withstanding, the three
magic words are not please, thank you,
and you're welcome, but please, thank
you, and may I speak to your supervi-
sor. If you can't get the help you need
from the support technician, ask to
speak with someone further up the
chain of command. This person, typi-
cally called the support manager, will
probably be able to steer you to a tech-
nician who can better help resolve
your problem.
If a problem recurs, try to re-
member whether you've installed any
additional hardware or software since
your last call or if you've recently en-
tered a large amount of data on your
hard disk. Even if the answer is yes,
don't be shy about calling back for
more help. Don't assume that youMl
get the same technician on the line.
This is where your call-history journal
can come in handy. In addition, prob-
lems labeled by a technician as chron-
ic normally get higher priority.
If you're still not satisfied, it may
be time to write a letter to the compa-
ny's president or ask for a refund.
After all, time is money, and you've
got to know where to draw the line.
Tech Support Is Only Human
Above all, remember that the person
at the other end of the line is a human
being who must deal with dozens of
dissatisfied users at all levels of exper-
tise. If you are patient and coopera-
tive— and if you've done your
homework — he or she can be much
more helpful to you. EJ
How to Get Help Onrine
If you're on GEnie or CompuServe, you're only a phone call away from some of the best
technical assistance available, directly from your software company. Here are the shortcut
ways to contact some of the software heavy hitters. Some of the hardware roundtables
and forums are not directiy supported by the companies involved, but they are a way to
contact fellow users of the equipment to obtain information.
Company
GEnie
CompuServe
Microsoft
MICROSOFT
GO MSOFT
Software Publishing
GOSPC
Lotus
GO UDTUS
WordPerfect
WP
GO WPSG
Ashton-Tate
ASHTONTATE
GO ASHFORUM
WordStar International
GO WORDSTAR
Symantec
GO SYMANTEC
Borland
BORLAND
GO BORLAND
Hayes
HAYES
GO HAYES
IBM
IBMPC
GO IBMNFT
Macintosh
MAC
GO MAUG
Amiga
AMIGA
GO AMIGA
Commodore
COMMODORE
GOCBMNET
To see a complete listing of the software or hardware forums on CompuServe, type GO
SOFTWARE or GO HARDWARE. A larger computer-related area containing all of the
above fomms and more can be reached by typing GO COMPUTERS.
JULY 1991
COMPUTE
83
# DISCOVERY
PATHWAYS
STEVEN
A N Z O V I N
Hal 9000 could do it. So could the
Terminator, not to mention the
Robot in Lost in Space, These
Hollywood computers could
read, use a phone book, and even read
lips. In the real world, we also want
our computers to understand what we
write and say and to return enlighten-
ing responses. Unfortunately, they
don't understand a word.
That's what computing newcom-
er Daniel Lombardo, curator of the
Emily Dickinson Collection in the po-
et's hometown, Amherst, found out
when he tried the popular grammar-
checking program GrammatiklV
(Reference Software International,
330 Town send Street, Suite 123, San
Francisco, California 94107; 800-872-
9933, 415-541-0222). Danny was writ-
ing an article about Dickinson on his
new PC, which he ran through Gram-
mat ik's battery of grammar, style, me-
chanics, and spelling analyzers.
Like other grammar and style
checkers, Gmmmatik offers sugges-
tions for improving text based on
rules developed by academic writing
experts. The program's internal rules
couldn't cope with Dickinson's writ-
ing, however. About Dickinson's
poem on a hummingbird^
A Route of Evanescence
With a revolving Wheel —
A Resonance of Emerald —
A Rush of Cochineal —
And every Blossom on the Bush
Adjusts its tumbled Head —
The mail from Tunis, probably.
An easy Morning's Ride —
Grammatik said, This may be an in-
complete sentence. Long sentences can
be difficult to understand Consider re-
vising so that no more than one com-
plete thought is expressed in each
sentence.
The use of />i case in a line from
one of Dickinson's letters, 'T found
abundance of candy in my stocking,
which I do not think had the antici-
pated effect upon my disposition, in
case it was to sweeten it," prompted
this response: Hackneyed, Cliche, or
Trite . . - Avoid cliches, they distract
the reader and weaken your message.
Cliches are a symptom of lazy writing.
As Danny remarked sarcastically,
"After 30 years, the great critic Thom-
as Wentworth Higgins was still bewil-
dered by Emily's writing. Grammatik
got right to the point in a microsec-
ond. She was lazy."
Grammatik is actually one of the
better programs of its kind on the
market and can be a real help to ex-
pository writers — not poets — trying to
learn their craft. Reference Software
doesn't claim Grammatik will make a
computer "understand" your writing
any more than a paint program can
critique your artwork.
Danny's experience points to a
more general problem in what's called
natural language processing, the yet-
to-be-achieved ability of computers to
understand everyday language. Com-
puters work by rules, called algo-
rithms, and many theorists of artificial
intelligence think the human brain
works much the same way. In this
view, the only important difference
between brains and computers is in
the brain's greater complexity and
adaptability. Make computers more
complex, faster, and belter able to
learn, and natural language processing
should follow — you merely need to
feed in the right language rules. The
same rules Grammatik now uses to
analyze a poem are the primitive pre-
cursors of a system that may someday
allow computers to read natural hu-
man language.
But research shows that reading
isn't as simple as it appears; it requires
a knowledge of how the world works,
not just the rules of language. Some
experts estimate that an ordinary,
common-sense understanding of the
world may actually require a knowl-
edge base of as many as 10 million in-
stantly accessible rules of thumb. But
because language evolves over time
and varies in usage with each writer
and speaker, it may not be possible to
define all the rules.
To get a sense of the difficulties
involved in natural language process-
ing, first remember what it was like to
learn how to read in grammar school
Now imagine attempting the same
complex task having lived your hfe in
a featureless box with no speaking
abihty and having the innate language
capabilities of a gnat. A daunting
prospect.
Clever programming can yield
software that gives the appearance of
language understanding. MS-DOS
seems to "know" what you mean
when you type dir, and that's what
misleads computing neophytes. Also,
it doesn't help that movie robots all
talk fluently, only occasionally stum-
bling over human colloquialisms.
However, most researchers in the field
of natural language processing are just
beginning to admit that devising a
real- world program capable of under-
standing text, including poetry, on a
human level is probably decades away
from happening.
So why can't PC read? Because
we don't know how we do it our-
selves, and until we know better, our
computers will be unable, in Dickin-
son's words, to "expound the skies." m
84 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
^s^^" \ WHETHER IT'S
GOLF, AIR COMBAT,
OR ADVENTURE
cannpuTE
HAS THE
OFFICIAL GUIDE
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by Mtke Harrison
Foreword by Jack Nicklaus
$12.95 224 pages
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cludes tips for all the Jack Nicklaus golf
games, including Jack Nicklaus' Unlimited
Golf & Course Design. This is the only au-
thorized guide to all the Jack Nicklaus
computer simulations from Accolade.
The Official Book
of Ultima
by Shay Addams
Introduction by Lord Brrtish
$14.95 244 pages
Written with the assistance of Lord British,
Ultima's creator, this official guide includes
inside information found nowhere else.
Packed full of hints, tips, anecdotes, and
never-before-published clues for all six
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by Richiard Sheffiefd
Foreword by Sid Meier
$12.95
224 pages
This is the official guide to MicroProse's
best-selling F-15 simulators. Covers both
F-15 Strike Eagle and F-15 Strike Eagle IL
Filled with step-by-step instructions and
clear diagrams.
Other of f ictai guides from COMPUTE
• The Official F^19 Stealth Fighter
Handboolc
• The Official Book of King's Quest
• The Official Book of
Leisure Suit Larry
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I want the official guides checked befow.
D The OfflciaJ Gukle to Jack Niclilaus
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D The Official Book of Ultima (22fl-1) $1195
D The Official F^IS Strike Eagle Handbook (231-1) $12.95
D The Official F-19 Stealth Fighter Handbook (217-6) $1195
□ The Official Book of King's Quest, 2nd Ed.
Covers KQI-V (2«-t) $1195
G The Of ficial Book or Leisure Suit Larry (IM-X] $tZ.95
Subiotal
Sales tajt (Residents or HC. N¥, A NJ add appropriate
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JULY91CI
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86 COMPUTE JULY 1991
RISKY
BUSINESS
HOWARD MILLMAN
ROBOTS MIGHT SOON SAVE
HUMANS FROM HAVING TO
DEAL WITH SOCIETY'S
OLDEST AND NEWEST
CRISES: WARFARE AND
HAZARDOUS WASTE
HELP WANTED: Dedi-
cated employee to clean
up life-threatening chem-
ical spills, patrol leaking
underground radioactive
waste tanks, and launch
single-handed assaults on ar-
mored vehicles in enemy terri-
tory. Benefits include frequent
battery recharging, the very
latest in artificial intelligence,
neural network and expert sys-
tem programs, along with the
infinite gratitude of humans
spared from filling these roles.
Scientists call robots that
do this kind of work smart. In
this case the word smart has
far less to do with common
sense than with computerized
intelligence used to make
high-level decisions. Long the
darling of science fiction writ-
ers and movie producers, ro-
bots have traditionally been
portrayed as intelligent ma-
chines performing work too
dangerous or too dull for hu-
mans. Despite these decades-
old prophecies, however,
totally independent robots still
exist only in fiction and the
minds of visionaries. >
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 87
One realist, Dr. Reinhold C
Mann, director of the Oak Ridge Na-
tional Laboratory's Intelligent Sys-
tems Section, believes that continued
advances toward creating autono-
mous robots require much more ex-
ploration of the ways a machine's
mind is trained: **We have not yet
solved the learning problem. We still
need to achieve a more humanlike
performance from robots." Mann be-
lieves one way to solve the learning
problem is to find a way for an older
generation of robots to teach the
younger generation.
In addition to the formidable
technical obstacles of creating a prac-
tical machine intelligence, emotional
issues also impede progress. Many
people hold to the once widely popu-
lar Holly^wood concept that robots, in
league with malevolent computers,
could destroy the world, enslave hu-
manity, or produce widespread un-
employment as machines replace
humans. Paul Klarer, robotics soft-
ware engineer for Sandia Laboratory,
disputes that concept. "We need to get
the word out that robots are designed
to help. They will not take away their
jobs, but they will keep people out of
the line of fire," says KJarer.
Since robots are, after all, merely
expendable machines and will never
possess a sense of self-preservation,
they can be used to spare humans
from performing society's dirtiest,
most dangerous work. Each of the ro-
bots shown in the accompanying pho-
tographs exists for just that reason —
to keep people out of harm's way.
▲ Built on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) chassfs, Sandia's Fire Ant qualifies as a
smart assassin. A human operator guides it to its assigned position by remote
control. Parked and armed, it waits for an enemy vehicle to pass. The on-
board Motorola 6805 8-bit processor analyzes incoming sensor data to detect
the target and initiate the fire-control sequence. When locked onto the target,
the Fire Ant launches its six-inch armor-piercing slug at 6600 feet per second.
< This is the result of the
Fire Ant's attack. The Fire
Ant's copper-jacketed
slug devastated this M-47
tank. Because of such
awesome firepower,
some researchers resist
allowing autonomous mili-
tary robots the freedom to
initiate a fire sequence.
Supporters of robot tech-
nology claim that future
armed robots incorporat-
ing built-in safeguards
will provide strategic sup-
port for front-line troops
with total dependability.
Even under human con-
trol, robots already have a
place on the battlefield.
The U.S. Army requested
more than 1000 Fire Ants
for urgent delivery to Sau-
di Arabia at the start of
Desert Storm (ironically,
Sandia declined, saying it
could not comply with the
request on short notice).^
COMPUTE JULY 1991
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^ Primarify designed for
military use, TMAPs (Tactical
Multipurpose Automated Plat-
forms) may see service as recon-
naissance vehicles or as smart,
mobile launchers of laser-guided
Hellfire missiles. Like the Fire
Ant, TMAPs remain under human
guidance and use on-board com-
puters and sensors for gathering
and processing target-acquisi-
tion data. Grumman's version of
the TMAP relies on Motorola's
6805 processors to control its
propulsion system and process
incoming sensor data. An Intel
80386 central processing unit
provides high-level intelligence
for path-planning and obstacle-
avoidance sequences.
At the current development
rate of machine intelltgence,
some cautious researchers pre-
dict that 20 years may pass
before advanced TMAP hunter/
killer robots can operate without
human supervision. Even the de-
velopment of fail-safe logic circuits
may not convince some experts to
grant armed robots battlefield inde-
pendence. Why? Because there are
thorny ethical questions about the
fact that military robots lack com-
passion (and might even violate the
Geneva Convention), not to mention
the frightening possibility of the ro-
bot initiating friendly fire.
^ Even when stripped of their fire-
power, mobile robots still keep hu-
mans out of harm's way. Mounted
on a Honda ATV chassis, Sandia's
Telemanaged Mobile Security Sta-
tions (THOMAS) patrols remote, po-
tentially dangerous sites to detect
intruders. Sitting atop a telescoping
ten-foot-tall mast, THOMAS'S on-
board computer processes realtime
data it receives from its sensor ar-
ray. The computer compares the in-
coming data against known alarm
conditions, factors in climatic condi-
tions, and then decides whether to
radio an alarm back to a moni-
tored central command post.
THOMAS uses high-discrimina-
tion infrared sensors and radar
to detect intruders. The next
generation of THOMASes, al-
ready under development, will op-
erate autonomously and contain
neural networks for acquiring and
evaluating data. ►
90 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
> In this time-sequenced pho-
to, a robot built by Oak Ridge
Laboratory uses a vacuum
attachment to clean up a sim-
ulated chemical spill. Employ-
ing machine vision to locate
and map the spill, the IHER-
MIES III (Hostile Environment
Robotics Machine Intelligence
Experimental Series) employs
three paralleled Motorola
68020 processors, one Intel
80286, and 16 Hypercube
nodes for realtime image
analysis and decision making.
Operating independently
of human guidance, HERMIES
uses a laser ranging camera
plus multiple sonar sensors to
navigate through an unknovi/n
area containing fixed and
moving objects. Machine in-
telligence is supplied by a
LISP-based artificial intelli-
gence program supporting
CLIPS, a public domain ex-
pert-system shell developed
by NASA which controls high-
level navigating decisions.
The next generation HERMIES
IV robot will incorporate VLSI
fuzzy logic hardware to over-
come the inherent rigidity of
present-day rule-based
programming.
HERMIES' ability to oper-
ate in hazardous areas and
make independent decisions
can free its operators from
dangerous duty.
4 Seen here at the controls
is the HERMIES IIB, a small-
er, earlier version of the in-
dependent, versatile robot. It
receives instructions from a
single Intel 80286 plus an
NCUBE 16-node Hypercube
computer (operating at 16
MIPS). Using its dexterous
lightweight arms, this HER-
MIES IIB learned the se-
quences (including reading
panel-mounted analog me-
ters) required to shut down
equipment that is malfunc-
tioning and initiate an alarm-
control sequence. Like its
big brother, the HERMIES III,
the IIB can use its on-board
computational power to op-
erate autonomously. The hu-
man overseer, located in a
control room at a safe dis-
tance, is continuously ap-
prised of the HE'S location
and progress via an RS-232
wireless modem. >
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 9f
you know the incredible
learning a foreign
Whether for travel,
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language will open up whole new
worlds to you. And now there s a
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They're tried and proven
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anguage
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BREAKTHROUGHS in language technology
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You, Robot
They're becoming more common aft the time. How do humans react to robots in everyday fife?
Meeting a nine-foot-tall robot at a com-
pany bash can be intimidating. But it's
nearly impossible not to like the bucket
of bolts when rt dons a bow tie and ad-
mits in a soft voice that parties make it
nervous.
Logan Enterprises, a Greensboro,
North Carolina, entertainment compa-
ny, designs, builds, and operates nine-
foot-tall robots for corporate events.
The robots, which are actually intricate
machine costumes with a human op-
erator inside, are a melding of man
and machine.
Creating interaction between hu-
mans and robots is the job of Logan
inventors David Rawlins, David Hall,
and Dan Hall. They have discovered
that people respond positively to ro-
bots that project familiar human
characteristics.
"If people see the humanness in
the robot, they tend to react better,"
says David Hall. "For example, the ro-
bot can offer to shake hands, or it can
give a compliment: That's a lovely
sweater you're wearing/ "
Logan's hulking robots consis-
tently win over children at Disney
World in Florida, Hall says. "We'll go
up to a kid wearing a Mickey Mouse
hat and say 'I know you; you're Mickey
Mouse.' The robot, which projects
childlike innocence, easily makes a
friend."
Incredibly, children show littie fear
of the Logan robots. "Eighty percent
of the children come up and shake
hands," Hall says. "They want to
know how it's built and how it moves.
Every kid has a robot in his worid. Ro-
bots let people bring in their own
imagination."
Logan's inventors have experi-
mented extensively witii body language,
voice pitch, color (red eyes appear men-
acing, while blue ones come off as
friendly), and accessories (from bow ties
to sunglasses to jams) to unlock the hu-
man heart.
But personalizing the robot can
go too far.
"There Is a fine line, knowing the
limitations of being human for the ro-
bot." Hall says, "You don't want to get
too close to being human, as in an-
droids, because that scares people."
Most humans would probably fee!
threatened by an industrial robot that
can work three shifts without a coffee
break — bow tie or no bow tie. But ro-
bots can do more than entertain at
parties, build cars, patrol secure areas,
and blast tanks to kingdom come.
They can also occupy barstools.
Host International, a division of
Marriott, is cashing in on two trends —
the attractive features of robots and
the most popular program on televi-
sion, "Cheers." Host operates airport
concessions across the country. Now
it's planning to open Cheers bars in 46
airports. Two have already opened, in
the Detroit Metro and Minneapolis-St.
Paul International airports. The bars
are more than sawdust and brass,
though. They feature mechanical
drinking buddies permanently sta-
tioned at the end of the bar, like their
human counterparts on "Cheers,"
Norm and Cliffy. Actually because the
actors who portray Norm and CI if re-
fused to give permission to use their
likenesses, the two robots look more
like Laurel and Hardy The two trade
wisecracks and banter while cradling
beers in their hands.
The robots — known as Hank Gif-
ford. who sells hardware, and Bob
Johnson, who sells insurance — cur-
rently vegetate in the Minneapolis-St.
Paul location to celebrate its opening.
New robots are being built to take their
place in Detroit.
Advanced Animation, a \fermont
company in the robot business for 30
years, created the dipsomaniacal ro-
bots. A representative of Host Interna-
tional stated that the public's response
to the two robots has been "over-
whelmingly positive." Far from the
mundane, regular guys they portray.
Hank and Bob have become celebri-
ties, written about in newspapers from
New York to Los Angeles, as well as in
the Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul
papers.
As a good example to the travel-
ing public, Bob and Hank never actual-
ly take a drink from their glasses. Their
robotic arms don't work. Only their up-
per bodies and faces are animated, h
—SHERRY' ROBERTS
Hank and Bob belly up to the Cheers bar.
94 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
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SCOTT
CARD
I ost computer users don't have
modems. Why? Probably be-
cause most people haven't had
t a good reason to get one. Who
would they send messages to? Why
not just pick up the phone and call?
But all that's starting to change.
More and more people are finding the
'*good enough" reason to buy a mo-
dem is an online service like Prodigy^
CompuServe, Delphi, or GEnie.
There's something exhilarating about
getting on an electronic information
service and finding yourself in public
conversation with people whose
books or columns you've read or
whose views you find fascinating.
I've been online (off and on) for
years. For instance, I uploaded this
column by modem, and my book En-
der's Game, published back in 1 984,
was the first novel I know of that was
published electro nically/Zr^r (on
Delphi).
The rest of my family never even
tried to log on until recently. Up to
now, they just looked over my shoul-
der as I fumbled through Delphi and
CompuServe. They added comments
like, **Cool, I guess," or "What in the
world are you doing?" or "That is so
confusing." Then they walked away.
Until Prodigy. I tried it out to
take part in an electronic conference
with a Illinois college class, but the
service was so interesting, I hung
around awhile. And I like a lot of
what Fve seen.
The Prodigy concept is simple.
Instead of using your own communi-
cations program and turning your
computer into a dumb terminal with
the mainframe a thousand miles
away, Prodigy is loaded as a program
in your computer, and most of the
routine tasks are handled right there
in your home. Only when you abso-
lutely need to upload or download
something from Prodigy do you ac-
cess the main system. And when you
do, the Prodigy program handles that
automatically.
This means each person signed
on to Prodigy uses only a fraction of
the mainframe processing time
needed to accomplish the same tasks
on another online service. That lets
Prodigy charge you a flat rate instead
of a fee for each minute of connect
time. Paying by the minute encour-
ages you to get off as fast as you can,
but a flat monthly fee encourages you
to play around with the system, to ex-
plore its possibilities. (There's a sur-
charge of 25 cents per message for
every message you send above 30 in
any given month.)
Another Prodigy innovation is its
humane interface, which is far less in-
timidating than the mostly blank
screen you get from Delphi and
CompuServe. To their credit, some of
the other services have been making
progress. CompuServe Information
Manager (CIM) and GEnie's Aladdin
automate many online tasks, CIM
even has mouse support and pull-
down menus for the IBM version.
Aladdin is a keyboard-driven pro-
gram, but it makes managing GEnie
RoundTables and software libraries a
breeze. Just set up yom Aladdin pro-
gram with the areas you visit most,
and move to your favorite places with
the touch of a finger.
But when my 12-year-old saw me
din king around with Prodigy, he didn't
just walk away. He sat down, and in a
few minutes, I had him signed on with
his own membership (each household
gels SLY memberships for the same fee).
He was off and running.
Prodigy offers games online, but
they're simpleminded — nothing to
write home about. You can shop and
browse through online catalogs, al-
though my orders arrive much faster
through telephone shopping than by
means of Prodigy. On the other hand,
I don't have to spend an hour on hold,
and most companies are a pleasure to
deal with.
But Prodigy*s main attraction —
and the best entertainment — comes
from other users. The conversations
and messages on the club bulletin
boards are a great way to strike up
some friendships. Best of all, from my
point of view, there are lots and lots of
kids online.
So not only did my computer-lit-
erate son, Geoffrey, take to Prodigy at
once; so did my ten-year-old daughter,
Emily. She cheerfully hooks up and
carries on her own conversations with
long-distance friends.
But there are drawbacks. You
can't upload or download long files,
and the message-length limitation,
though lately improved, is still pretty
severe. I've found, though, that the
forced brevity of the messages helps
me. On Prodigy it lakes only a couple
of minutes to read and answer letters
from my fiction readers — so I actually
complete my online correspondence.
That doesn't happen verv often with
the U.S. Mail!
Of course, you can do all this^ —
and a lot more — with GEnie, Compu-
Serve, Delphi, or America Online. But
can you do it as easily as you can on
Prodigy? And will your less-than-
expert family members feel as com-
fortable exploring these other services
on their own? Not a chance!
Is Prodigy worth buying the mo-
dem for? You'll have to answer that
yourself But when I see my kids typ-
ing away, corresponding with people
all around the country on an incredi-
bly wide range of subjects, I can tell
you my answer. Prodigy has made my
kids use the computer for something
besides homework and games, and it's
made their world a little larger, too.
Prodigy claims that 700,000 house-
holds are signed on to its system, Fm
glad mine is one of them! B
96
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JULY 1991
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Play these Spectrum HoloByte
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IHIING THE SKY
RICHARD SHEFFIELD
GO BACK TO WHERE AIR COMBAT BEGAN.
BEFORE RADAR, MISSILES. AND CHAFF.
WHEN THE AfR WAS AS CLEAR AS THE MISSION
AND A FLYING MACHINE WAS SILK STRETCHED OVER WOOD.
100 COMPUTE JULY 1991
COMPUTE 101
Sherman, set the Wayback Ma-
chine for the year 1914. We're
taking these software executives
back to the birth of air combat —
France during World War I.
Well, that's one explanation for
the phenomenon of three major game
publishers coming up with the same
answer to the question H^hat next?
Another explanation, of course, is
that they didn't ask What's next? 3,1
all but instead asked What's left?
Planes, ships, tanks, and helicopters
from World War II on up have been
pretty well covered. So it seemed like
a good lime to revisit World War I
air combat, when the fighting was up
close and personal. What's even
more amazing is that three compa-
nies could start from the same place
and end up with games as different as
Blue Max (Three-Sixty), Knights of
the Sky (MicroProse), and Red Baron
(Dynamix).
The first to reach the marketplace
was BhwMax, This program sports
one of the slickest introduction se-
quences I've seen, consisting of digi-
tized photos and animated sequences.
It's a pleasure to watch. But as stated
in the documentation, this is not a
true simulation — it's really more of a
simulation/arcade hybrid. It would've
been nice to put that on the box as
well. Bhie Max has the features found
in most simulations, including multi-
ple outside views, several choices of
planes to fly, a VCR function, and a
campaign mode. But the flight charac-
teristics of the game are so far re-
moved from reality that Blue Max
takes on a pure arcade game feel when
the planes are in the air.
However, Blue Max offers sever-
al things not found in either of the
other two simulations. First is a split-
screen tw^o-player mode that allows
two players to dogfight head-to-head
on the same computer or fly as a team
in a two-player campaign. While this
is not as much fun as a modem op-
tion, letting two people play on the
same machine is a real plus. Since this
game is not very hard to learn, you
should have no trouble finding oppo-
nents or wingmen. The main problem
with this mode is that it's very^ awk-
ward when both players have to use
separate sides of the keyboard and
when one gets the joystick and the
other the mouse; inevitably they're
unevenly matched.
The other unique feature found
in Blue Max is a strategy game mode.
This combines simulation with board
game; players take turns moving
planes on a hex system playing board-
While this may not have wide appeal
it will be enjoyable for serious board
gamers.
The next to make it into the fray
Knights of the Sky takes out another enemy ace.
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Make films of your dogfights with Hed Saroa
was Knights of the Sky by MicroProse.
As expected, this one lives up to the
high standards of a MicroProse simu-
lation. With 20 planes and a realistic
flight model. Knights of the Sky is
much more complete and realistic
than Blue Max, A well-designed flight
training mode with multiple difficulty
levels helps get the new player ofTto
an easy start. Learning to handle these
low-tech aircraft and navigating by
looking out of the cockpit takes a little
getting used to, but soon enough
you'll be ready for more of a chal-
lenge. The Dogfight option will pro-
vide you with plenty of challenges.
Choose a famous German ace as
an opponent, and test your skills in
close combat. But as much fun as the
Dogfight option is, this game really
shines in the World War I campaign
mode. Of the three World War I sims,
this game has the best campaign op-
lion. Your goal is to become the lop
ace of the war — the Ace of Aces — and
to do that, you've got to slay busy in
the air. News reports between mis-
sions on how the other great aces are
doing add continuity and purpose to
your campaign. If another ace has a
big lead on you, follow the news to
find out where he is, and go after him!
Ground-attack missions are as-
signed, as are the expected air-combat
missions. Dropping a bomb by hand
out of the cockpit requires a whole
new set of skills when you're used to
the smart weapons of the jet age.
102 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
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Another very interesting feature
is the unexpected side action that can
occur during missions. On your way
home from battle, it's not unusual to
spot a group of German aircraft about
to pounce on a friendly observation
balloon. Your gallantry would certain-
ly be questioned if you didn't step in
to lend a hand!
The VGA graphics and sound
support are strong, and as if that
weren't enough, they're topped off
with a head-to-head-play modem op-
tion that saves you from connection
headaches. Competing against a real
live human adds a whole new level of
enjoyment to the game.
Knights is not without its share of
problems, however. Most notable is
the fact that a single shot can kill you
or your enemy. Such a clamor was
raised over this feature that Micro-
Prose has made an update available.
The update not only takes care of this
problem by adding degrees of damage,
but it also includes some improve-
ments to the already outstanding cam-
paign mode. With the upgrade there
will be even more action around you
and friendly aircraft that may come to
your aid. The upgrade is available di-
rectly from Micro Prose, or it can be
downloaded from either CompuServe
or GEnie online services.
Red Baron, by Dynamix, was the
last to arrive on the scene, but it was
well worth the wait. Red Baron makes
full use of 256-color VGA in both the
user interface screens and the flying
action. The interface uses numerous
digitized photos and a very polished
point-and-click system for making
menu choices.
This game allows the player to fly
any one of 28 aircraft and to fly for
either side. The flight characteristics
of each plane are ver>' accurately por-
trayed, and each plane even sounds
different. Strapping into a Fokker
D. VII late in the war is a big change
from flying the early Fokker E.III Ein-
decker and is certainly likely to boost
your number of kills.
Since this is up-close combat, the
level of detail shown is very impor-
tant. Red Baron certainly leads the
pack in this category. You should
have little difficulty in identifying the
other aircraft in the sky around you.
As in Knights of the Sky, you can
choose to dogfight with the famous
aces of the day. But here you have
many more options. If British ace
William Bishop is constantly ripping
you up, put him in an old Airco
D.H.2 and see how well he does. Fly-
ing against these famous aces is a real
treat, since theyVe programmed to re-
spond in the Hying style of the real pi-
lot. The artificial intelligence of the
enemy pilots is the best I've seen in
Features CKart
Feature
Blue Max
Knights of the Sky
Red Baron
VGA 256 color
yes
yes
yes
Play both sides
yes
no
yes
Copy protection
none
manual-based
none
Number of planes
8
20
28
VCR recorder
yes
no
yes
Instant replay
no
yes
no
Histoncaf missions
no
no
yes
Campaign mode
yes
yes
yes
Modem option
no
yes
no
Ground attacks
no
yes
no
Balloon busting
yes
yes
yes
Famous aces
no
yes
yes
External views
yes
yes
yes
Medals/promotions
yes
yes
yes
Rudder controls
no
yes
yes
Variable-detail level
yes
yes
yes
Mouse support
yes
yes
yes
Multiplane squads
yes
no
yes
Customize aircraft
no
no
yes
Board-game mode
yes
no
no
Damage accumulation
yes
only in upgrade
yes
Start near action
no
no
yes
Quit without landing
no
no
yes
any air-combat simulator. The bad
guys do much more than just fly
around in circles— they can put some
real moves on you.
A campaign mode is also includ-
ed and is well done. Because of the re-
petitiveness of some of the missions,
Red Baron isn't as much fun as
Knights of the Sky, but at the same
lime, it's probably more realistic. In
Knights, you can frequently get eight
or nine kills in a single mission,
whereas in Red Baron you feel lucky if
you gel one or two kills and make it
back alive.
Red Baron sets a new standard
for VCR-lype mission recorders. You
can record the entire mission and save
it for playback later. And the playback
is really slick. You can switch to an in-
finite variety of internal and external
views, and a full range of editing fea-
tures makes it possible to play movie
director and put together a very enter-
taining *'film" of your favorite en-
counters. These can also be shared
with others. A number of great Red
Baron movies are available for down-
loading on many of the online ser\ices.
Red Baron does have a few short-
comings. One is the lack of a modem
option for head-to-head play Another
is the inability to land anywhere other
than an aerodrome. Although the in-
cremental damage feature and the
ability to be wounded rather than be
killed outright are great options, it
would be nice to be able to set the
plane down in an open field when in
trouble rather than being forced to
crash-land somewhere.
Counting its graphics, attention
to detail, historical accuracy, sound
quality, and mission recorder, Red
Baron comes out on lop in this three-
way dogfight. But the upgraded ver-
sion of Knights of the Sky may be the
better choice for those interested in
head-to-head modem play.
RICHARD SHEFBELD
Blue Max
THREE-SIXTY
Distributed by Electronic Arts
1820 Gateway Dr.
San Mateo, CA 94404-2499
(800) 245-4525
IBM PC and compatit)les; 51 2K RAM for
CGA, EGA, Hercules. 640K RAM for
MCGA, VGA, Tandy 16*color; joystick or
mouse optional; hard drive recommend-
ed; supports Ad Lib, Sound Blaster, and
Tandy sound cards^$49.95
Also available for Amiga— $49.95
Knights of the Sky
MICROPROSE
ISOLakefrontDr.
Hunt Valley. MD 21 030
(800)879-7529
IBM PC and compatibles; 51 2K RAM;
CGA. EGA. VGA, Tandy 16-color; hard
drive and mouse or joystick recommend-
ed; supports Ad Lib, Sound Blaster, Ro-
land MT-32, and Tandy sound cards;
modem option requires Hayes-compati-
ble modem. 1200 baud or higher— $59.95
Red Baron
Ch'NAMIX
Distributed by Sierra On-Line
PO. Box 485
Coarsegold, CA 93614
(800) 326-6654
IBM PC and compatibles (10 MHz or fast-
er recommended). 640K RAM. EGA or
VGA, high-capacity disk drive; hard drive
and joystick recommended; supports Ad
Lib, Sound Blaster, Roland MT-32. and
LAPC-1 sound cards— $59.95
104 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
64/128 VIEW
TOM NETSEL
In the recent Readership Surv ey, I
asked you how you use your com-
puters. Personal home finances,
games, education, and word pro-
cessing are the big four computing ac-
tivities among Gazette readers.
Programming and using databases
and other appUcation programs for
home or office also are popular.
Some of you went into detail
about how your 64 or 128 plays an
important part in your daily activities.
One reader in Maine had quite a list:
letters, labels, budget on a spread-
sheet, stamp inventory, household in-
ventor)', name-and-address databases,
family newsletter, games, family tree,
greeting cards, horoscopes, bio-
rhythmSj amortization schedules, and
Christmas name tags with a graphic
clue as to the contents of the package.
"With all this and more, who needs
an Amiga?" he asked.
A reader from Kansas City, Mis-
souri, who's employed by a large
greeting card company uses three 1 28s
and nine disk drives at home to sup-
port his work at the office. G£05 han-
dles about 99 percent of his chores.
We received surveys from all
across the country, Mexico, and Cana-
da, plus a good number from Austral-
ia and New Zealand. A subscriber in
Sweden had trouble finding software
for his 128 until he discovered Ga-
zette and started buying items by mail
He uses his computer to keep track of
the addresses of friends and relatives
and members of his radio club. He
says his 128 is also useful for creating
party and fox-hunting invitations.
A good many use the 64 for inter-
esting and unusual applications. One
Canadian reader uses his to pick lot-
tery numbers, although he didn't say
if it helped select winning numbtvs.
Another reader has two 64s at work
connected to a magnetic-strip reader
that controls the electronic locks on
two doors. These security-conscious
computers have been on the job 24
hours a day since 1985.
If you put your 64 or 1 28 to an
unusual use, why not tell us about it?
Describe your application in 500
words or less and send it to me on
disk (Commodore ASCII) or printed
double-spaced, I'll print the more in-
teresting items in this column or in a
separate article. Be sure to include
your name, address, and telephone
number, preferably one where you can
be reached during the day. Send them
to Gazette Editor, COMPUTE Publi-
cations, 324 West Wendover Avenue,
Suite 200, Greensboro, North Caroli-
na 27408.
In the survey, I also asked you
what you'd like to see in Gazette in
the way of articles and programs.
Your suggestions covered everything
from more beginner material to more
advanced programming information.
Some wanted more games, while oth-
ers asked for anything but games. Re-
quests covered the software spectrum.
Games are popular, but many of
you want more application software.
You want programs that will make
your life simpler, tackle some job
around the home or office, or control
appliances. There were many requests
for programs that you could use with
hobbies, such as amateur radio, pho-
tography, or baseball cards.
In June we published CoilCalc, a
CAD program for designing coils for
electronic circuits. We liked CoiiCalc
but felt it would appeal only to ham
radio operators. I would appreciate
your comments on this type of pro-
gram. Should we publish similar niche
applications or stick to programs with
more universal appeal?
GEOS is another area of strong
interest. Since many of you asked for
C/£05-related programs and articles,
I'm seeking qualified writers and pro-
grammers to supply material. Several
GEOS columns are already in the
works and should be ready soon.
Here's your chance, program-
mers. Games, GEOS programs, and
application software for the 64 — and
especially the 128 — ^are in big de-
mand. Send your programs, with in-
structions printed out and saved on
disk, to Gazette Submissions Review-
er at the above address. We want to
purchase and pubUsh your programs. 0
CDNnNTS
64/128 View G-1
TOM NETSEL
How do you put your 64/128
to use around the home or
office? Write and share your
interesting and unusual uses
with other Gazette readers.
G-2
'4
G-6
News & Notes
EDITORS
New products for GEOS, new
features on Quantum Link
Spotlight on Adventure G-
RUSS CECCOLA
Magical kingdoms and mysti-
cal creatures await stalwart
players of adventure games.
Reviews G-1 2
REVIEWERS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
Printed Circuit Board-Si.
Blackout, and Double Dribble.
Feedback G-1 6
EDITORS and READERS
Converting SpeedScript files
for Amiga, screen dumps.
Jiffy DOS, and more.
Programmer's Page G-1 9
RANDY THOMPSON
Machine Language G-20
JIM BUTTERFIELD
Beginner BASIC G-22
LARRY COTTON
Diversions G-24
FRED D'IGNAZIO
TYPE-IN PROGRAMS G-25
Moons of Jupiter G-25
Noah's Arc G-27
M'mer G-30
Dungeon Trials G-34
Meteor Math G-37
JULY 1991
COMPUTE G-1
NEWS & NOTES
What's New
on Q-Link?
Interactive game players and casino
fans have something new to check out
on Quantum-Link, Puzzler is a word
game for two to four players. Contes-
tants spin a slot machine and guess
the letters in a puzzle that appears on
the tile board. Correct guesses cause
the corresponding tiles to turn, reveal-
ing their location. The object of the
game is to solve the puzzle before
your opponents do and to earn as
many points as possible in the
process.
Players appear as animated con-
testants behind podiums. Online and
offline character editors are available
for Q-Link members to design and ani-
mate their own contestants. They can
also create and submit their own puz-
zles for inclusion in the game's
database.
Puzzler, Puzzle Editor, and Con-
testant Editor can all be downloaded
from the Backstage Puzzler support
area in Just for Fun. Other information
and instructions can be found there,
also.
Q-Link has also added enhance-
ments to its four popular casino
games. These new tools give the casi-
no staff the opportunity to change the
stakes in S/ac/c/ac/c, Po/fer, Bingo, and
Slots, In addition, they have two new
options in Bingo— the new Cover All
game, where the entire card must be
covered, or the standard Straight Line
play-
In order to make distinctions be-
tween the kinds of games toeing
played and the amount of Q-Chips
needed to register or ante, check the
color of the background screen or the
dealer's hand. Various screen colors
identify the different games and
amounts. Check with Q-Link for com-
plete details.
Quantum-Link (861 9 Westwood
Center Drive, Vienna, Virginia 22182;
703-448-8700) is a Commodore
64/128-specific online service.
Tee Up!
Are you an average golfer aware of your imperfections? If so, then check out
Personal Pro ($39.95) from MicroLeague Sports (2201 Drummond Plaza, New-
ark, Delaware 19711-5711).
This interactive instructional golf package, which is due out in October, ana-
lyzes, diagnoses, and corrects your problem areas. Personal Pro displays ani-
mated diagrams of problems and solutions, records a file of your personal golf
history, and prints out problem/solution checklists that you can take v^ you to
the course or practice tee.
Unlike ordinary golfing manuals and instructional videos that try to teach you
how to build a perfect swing^someone else's swing — Personal Pro is designed
for the average golfer. It reviews the mistakes of each round and offers instant
advice on how to correct them. Handicapping disks will also be available.
7^
JU-jM
Humm'mgblrd
Hummingbird by Robert Woodalf of Rural Hal J,
North Carolina, is this disk's Picture of the Month,
Each month Gazette Disk features a collection of the best 64/ 1 28 artwork
submitted by our readers. We pay $50 for each piece of art we accept for
^'Gazette Gallery" and an extra $50 for the one selected as Picture of the
Month. Send original art to Gazette Gallery, COMPUTE Publications, 324
West Wendover Avenue, Suite 200, Greensboro, North Carolina 27408.
0-2 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
FOR ORDERS AND
USA & atiADA au 1 ""oUU^A Oo'bilbu
Order Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9om'7pm/fii 9am-6:30pm/aOSED Siit/Sui,9:30-6(nj
mMjmm
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RUSH, 2ND DAY & NEXT DAY AIR SERVICE AVAILABLEI
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Store Hrs: MOK-WED 9*7/THURS 9*8/f Al 9- VCIOSED SATURDAY/SUN 9i30-7
FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE OR ORDER STATUS CALl: (718) 692-1 148
CUSTOMER SERVICE HOURS: MON-THURS Oam-Spm/FRI 9ani-4pm/SUN 10am-4pti1
^Commodore
CcCommodore°128!^ D
C-128D w/Built-in Disk Drive
Includes 1 FREE Game
(a $19.95 Value)
(*>
CALL
FREE
1 loystkk
to $t9.95 vttfue)
Includes:
Quantum Link Software
One Joystick
m
95
128D DELUXE
PACKAGE
Commodore 128D Computer
with Buiit-in Disk Drive
RGB Coior Monitor
80 Column Printer
FREE Game (a $19.95 Vatue)
GALL
WE CAN RECONFIGURE ANY OF OUR COMPUTER
PACKAGES TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONS. CALL FOR DETAILSI
PRINTER
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128D COMPLETE
PACKAGE
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with Built-in Disk Drive
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64C
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Commodore 64C
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Commodore 1541
Disk Drive
Ace Joystick
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ODORE
64C COMPLETE
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Commodore 64C
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Commodore 1541
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PACKAGE
Commodore 64C
Computer
Commodore 1541
Disk Drive
80 Column Printer
Color Monitor
Quantum Link
Software
STAR
NX-1000C........ $166.95
NX-1000C fla]nbow..$t 95.95
NX-1001 .$155.95
NX' 1020 Rainbow $195.95
NX'2420,..„...„.„...„$279.95
NX-2420 Rainbow $299.95
PANASONIC
KXP-1180 ....$159.95
KXP-1191.......... $234.95
KXP-1123 $239.95
KXP-1124..,. .$259.95
KXP*1624 $369.95
COMMODORE
MPS-1270 Inkjet $159.95
GSX-140 .....^'™1....... .$269.95
GSX-1 45 (Wde Canriage) S395.95
2O0GX it69'.95
COLOR OPTION KITS..... CALL
IBM
Compact, 80 Cokjmn Tliefmal
Prima r
INCLUDES
jmOOORE
mERFACE
SANYO PR-3000
Daisy Wheel Letter Oualty
Print&r
$4995
MAGNAVOX 13" COLOR
RGB/COMPOSITE MONITOR
(64,640,128, 1280, Amiga
Compatible)
COMMODORE 154111
DISK DRIVE
COMMODORE 1084
MONITOR
'259
M59
»279
MAGNAVOX 13" COLOR
COMPOSITE MONITOR
(64, 64C Compatible]
COMMODORE 1571
DISK DRIVE
1750 CLONE
RAM EXPANSION
«179
GALL
8189
PERIPHERALS FOR COMMODORE \
OTHER ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR COMMODORE COMPUTER AVAIUBLE
APROTEK 2400 Baud Modem for 64/1 28.. $99.95
CARTRIDGE EXPANDER for 64/128 $29.95
COMMODORE 1700 RAM £xpansion....,.$79.95
COMMODORE 1764 Expansion Module..$99.95
CARDCO G-WIZ Interface $49.95
COMMODORE 1660 Modem $14.95
COMMODORE 1670 Modem $79.95
64, 64C Power Supply $29.95
COMMODORE 1351 MoLise $32.95
INKWELL UGKT PEN $45.95
SUPER SNAPSHOT 5.O., ,$59.95
XETEC S. Graphix Jr. Interface ....$29.95
XETEC S. Graphix Sr. Interface.. $49,95
Micro 0*128 Power Supply .„.............$59.9S
XETEC LT. KERNAL20MB KARD.DRIVE FOR 64. 126.. $549
XETEC LT. KERNAL40MB HARD DRIVE FOR 64, 126 . $699
EXCELLERATOR PLUS FSOII Power Supply. $19 95
NO SURCHARGE FOR CREDIT CARD ORDERS
CUSTOMER TOLL FREE TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Ctturied cficcK. Bank Cht-ck Moocy Oidws, Apptoved P.O.s. Vim. Ma&iwcaid. Ante.. OpHrrid. Dirw s Dub, Car Ic-Bfandie,
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NEWS & NOTES
Color Me Ninja
Those turHes are backf Merit Software (13635 Gamma Road, Dallas, Texas
75244) has released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' World Tour ($14.95). This
Electronic Crayon Deluxe release contains 30 pictures of those reinforced rep-
tiles visiting famous world landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rush-
more» and Stone henge.
Children can color each picture again and again. They can also print ban-
ners, as well as posters and calendars, of their favorite turtle scenes.
How McFly
Times
You won't need a DeLorean to take
Marty McFly and Doc back and forth
through time in this game. With a little
help from Konami (900 Deerfield Park-
way, Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089), all
you'll need is Back to the Future II
($29.96) and your 64.
Go back to 201 5 to help save
Marty and Jennifer's kids from them-
selves, the police, bully Biff and his
gang of hoodlums, and Griff — Biff's
evil grandson. You'll have lots of
"items o' energy," "products o'
points," and momentum boosters like
Plutonium, beverage cans, and your
trusty tennies.
Featuring authentic re-creations
of scenes and items from the film,
Back to the Future II is really five
games in one with each level — such
as Jennifer's House of Fate and the
Chase of a Lifetime— depicting a new
chapter in the story.
Levels 1 , 3, and 5 include arcade
action where you'll need your hover-
craft to fend off Biff's band of thugs.
Levels 2 and 4 are logic puzzles that
test your memory and ability to antici-
pate events. If you've seen the movie,
you're one step ahead.
Bible Study
SOGWAP Software (1 1 5 Bellmont Road, Decatur, Indiana 46733) is now ship-
ping Bible Search version 3.1 ($79.95) for the 64 and 128, Bible Search is de-
signed for general Bible study and in-depth Bible research. Its versatile search
option can find any word or verse in the Bible in five seconds or less using a
1541 . No hard disk or additional RAM is required for this fast performance.
Bible Search comes on seven double-sided disks with both 64 and 128 pro-
grams. Nearly 4.5 megabytes of Old and New Testament ASCII text has been
compressed and indexed for use.
Other features include instant spelling check of the entire word list of more
than 12,800 words. Search features include pattern matching, plus AND, OR,
and NOT Boolean operators. Text can be displayed and scrolled in any direction.
Printer and disk output are available for any verse. Disk output produces stand-
ard sequential text files for use with word-processing programs,
Bible Search is available in either the Authorized King James \fersion or the
New International \fersion. It includes programs for the 64 and 1 28, a user's
guide, and a disk storage case.
Trouble with a Capital B
UBI SOFT and Electronic Arts (1 820 Gateway Drive, San Mateo, California
94404) have released BA,T, which stands for the Bureau of Astral Trouble-
shooters. You t>ecome one of the bureau's agents as you try to save the planet
Selenias only city, Terrapolis, from extinction.
Wangor, a top scientist and Mergio, a small-time crook, have announced
their intention to set off bacterial bombs all over the city. This ultimatum leaves
the government only ten days to evacuate the city and draw up a deed of owner-
ship in V^angor's name. Selenia contains vital energy matter that makes space
travel possible. Its up to you to try to foil Vrangor's evil plans.
In this game, which comes on two double-sided disks, you can visit more
than 1100 different locations, including discos, gunsmiths, restaurants, arcades,
and parks. You can also program a computer implanted in your arm to under-
stand extraterrestrial languages or to warn you when enemy robots approach.
Create your own character or select one ready to go into action. You can also pi-
lot the DRAG, a genuine flight simulator, across the planet's desert.
in orbit
Edgeworth Software (44 Bower Street,
Bedford MK40 3RE, England) has an-
nounced E.S. Realorbit ($7), a gravita-
tional orbit simulator. Use your
thruster jets to steer a spacecraft
through a star's gravitational field. Try
to achieve circular and elliptical orbits;
then maneuver through a double star
system. You can trace orbits and se-
lect jet power, star mass, distance be-
tween binary stars, and colors with
this entertaining and educational
simulator.
Edgeworth Software has recently
left the U.S. and opened shop in Eng-
land. Simon Edgeworth assures his
64/128 customers that all his products
are still available and will remain com-
patible with U.S. computers. He ac-
cepts U.S. funds, either check or
money order, and will ship all orders
by airmail at no extra charge.
New Distributor
The DMBBS bulletin board program for the 64 or 1 28, formerly owned and dis-
tributed by ARTISoft, Is now owned and distributed by A & C Enterprises, P.O.
Box 71 , Beachwood, New Jersey 08722-0071 ; (908) 349-91 87 (voice), (908) 341 -
0945 (BBS).
0-4 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
TheBeSt Prices & Service
Lowest Prices Ever on
Commodore-Ready Printers! ^
$199
95
NX-1000C Rainbow
Full color and *
Commodore ready!
Works great with geoPaJnt.
Print in fuf/ color! Near-letter quality ar 36 cps and high-
speed draft at 1 44 cps features the new paper parking
function, Conventent front panel controls. Great for
extra-rmpact graphics and text. This is the Commo-
dore-ready versjon— no additional interfaces or cables
are required Sug Retail S379.00
NX-TOOOC Rafnbow Color Printer,
Commodore Ready 757S3 fftS'^Sl
LOWEST PRfCE EVERl S T 99.95
Printer Accessories
Bfack Ribbon for NX-TOOOC/fVX-IOOOC
Rainbow Color Printer 75471 S5.95
Color Rtbbon for NX-I 000/NX-lOOOC
Rainbow Color Printer 75485 S9.9S
Dust Cover for NX-1 OOOC/NX-1 OOOC
Rainbow Color Printer 77789 $8.95
NX-1000C
Ready to plug into
your Commodore and gof
Thi^t iS ihe Commodore-ready version of the NX-
1 000, You can just plug it in and start printing— no
additional interfaces or cables are required.
Sug Retail S 299 00
NX- 1 OOOC Printer 75060 fVji^^aSi
LOWEST PRICE EVER] fl 6995
Telecommunications for Your Commodore!
And Your Amiga, Too
2400 Baud
C64/CI28
$79
95
1200 Baud
C64/C128
$59
95
Quality TENEX
PowerSupplieS From
$3495
Botti the Minimodem-C and C24 are completely Hayes
compatible fnoi just parttafiy comaatJt5le itke the 1670 cind
someAva[ex modefs) and 1 670 compatible This means they'll
work wnh ALL Communications software for the 64„ 64 C ^r^0
1 28, Key featufes tnclude seven status \ndicmor%, Busy Detect,
DTR signal support. Hrgh Speed Detect bne, and Auto Answer/
Auto Di.:il Includes Mufti term 64 and 128 software so you can
Stan communicating nghi tW^^y, plus a free triaf hour on
CompuServ'ef Fulf-year warranty
Best Buys on
Commodore Hardware
64C Computer 54574 S129.9S
1670 Modem, 1200 Baud 36952 $69.95
1351 fWou5eC64/CI28 37885 532.95
1 084S RGB Composite Monitor 74095 $3 1 9.9S
1541 ff Disk Drive (Jnciudes GEOSJ 54586 $CALL
1 764 RAJV) Expansion C64 72513 $114.95
>ion of the MfOimodem is equipped wrtfi a
fl.- . _ _.. ..: -r to plug directly inro the Amiga 500 or 2000,
it neeas no external wall plug for power, and uses theAmigas
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IVr(nimodem-C24 (2400 Baud for C64/CI28)
88f4S 579.95
Mmimodem-C (1200 Baud for C64/C128J
81576 559.95
MJnifnoderTvAM24 (2400 Baud for Amiga)
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ek Lifetime
Warranty!
TENEX MW 701 -A. Conservatively rated at 5Vand I MA,
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ORDER TODAY CALL 1-800-PROMPT-1
COMMODORE 6-? and COMMODORE 128 are registered trademarks of Commodore Electronics. Ltd. AMIGA is a registered trademark of Commodore Amiga Jnc . NOTE Due to publishing
tead-times. product prpces and specjfea trans are iutyect to change wjihour notice ' APO, FPO, AK. HI. CM, VI. GU, and foreign orders are subject to add;tionaf shipping charges, GSM
Circle Reader Service Number 170
il^^ ■'^^^ ^^m*^ ^"^^
J^-
wwM
potfijht on 36venture
RUSSCECCOLA
MAGICAL KINGDOMS AND MYTHICAL CREATURES
ARE JUST A FEW OF THE EXCITING PLACES AND.THINGS
AWAITING STALWART PLAYERS OF ADVENTURE GAMES
t ^d venture games make up almost
vy^ a third of the game releases for
0^W all computers. Arcade/action
games make up another third, and
the remaining third is divided between
sports and simulations. These percent-
ages apply to 64 software as well Let's
take a look at the interesting
adventure-game segment of the indus-
try and see what's happening.
Because of their complexity and
the demands they can make on play-
ers» adventure games are not for
everyone. Still, there are some recent
games that deserve mention. BAT.
from UBI Soft, Bill <Sl Ted's Excellent
Adventure from Capstone, and The
Keys to Maramon from Mindcraft are
all fun games that cover a broad range
of subject matter and difficulty levels.
True adventure fans will want to
check out several SSI releases and the
latest from Origin, Ultima VL
Save the City
BA. T stands for Bureau of Astral
Troubleshooters, of which you are a
member. Your job is to save the city
Terrapolis on the planet Selenia from
destruction at the hand of Vrangor, a
mad scientist, and his crooked side-
kick, Merigo. This evil duo plans to
detonate nucturobiogenic bombs
within ten days unless the city and all
its assets are turned over to them.
Vrsit more than 1000 locations in B,AX
and interact with seven species.
The game has a futuristic setting
and an unusual interface that actually
works well. BA. T. is played with a
point-and-click interface that uses
menus and icons. In addition, items
found in the game can be examined
by chcking on them. Indeed, only by
examining everything you see on the
screen will you be able to play BA. T.
successfully. The game is huge. The
game box claims 1 100 rooms, and
from what Fve seen, this figure could
be accurate. This variety keeps B.A, T
interesting for hours.
The first thing you do in BA.T. is
create your character. As is not the case
in a lot of other games, your alter ego
in BA.T. is extremely well developed.
It lakes a while to set up your charac-
ter, but the time spent will surely re-
sult in a belter representation of
yourself In addition to all of the
standard adventure-game options thai
can be brought up in the menus, you
also have access to B.O.B., a bidirec-
tional organic bioputer thai connects
to your arm. B.O.B. lets you translate
languages and examine your statistics
and health. You program B.O.B. with
a rudimentary language that will in-
form you of various conditions and
enable it to perform other functions.
The graphics in B.A.T. are pretty
good for the 64. And even after you've
managed to defeat Vrangor, you can
still have fun exploring the city.
Adventure Calls
Bill& Ted's Excellent Adventure is
primarily a movie tie-in, but the game
is still worthwhile because of its ran-
dom elements and the different skill
levels allowed. In this game, you con-
trol the title characters as they attempt
to collect "historical dudes" from the
past for a school project. Different
skill levels determine how many peo-
ple you must collect. As you gather
these historical characters, you return
them to the San Dimas Mall. When
you've gotten your quota, you take
them to school
You control Bill and Ted from a
three-dimensional side view, using a
telephone booth and circuits of time
to travel throughout history. Some of
the destinations involve completing
arcade sequences. Others only require
the use of a correct object to attract
one of the "historical dudes." The
quicker you reach your goal, the more
points you earn.
ril be honest. The graphics in
B&T leave a lot to be desired. The 64
can handle better. Music and other
sound are almost nonexistent. The
game does not look appealing, yet
gameplay is addictive. I found myself
wanting to play B S.T again at a high-
er difficulty level to see how quickly I
could finish the game. Because each
game oiB & Tis different, it's worth-
while playing again and again. A typi-
cal game doesn't take very long.
B& r is a great diversion, if you don't
mind graphics that look like they were
poorly ported from the IBM version.
Rampaging Monsters
Mindcraft has a difierent way of
thinking about adventure games. Its
games take almost no effort to play
yet have a lot to make them interest-
ing. In fact, much about The Keys to
Maramon is not evident on the sur-
face. The manual is brief and explains
only the basics. The rest of the game is
left for you to discover. You can al-
most play Keys without reading the
instructions at all, but it's still wise to
go through them.
Keys puts you in the role of an
adventurer who must save the town of
Maramon from the monsters that
rampage every night after dark. The
game takes place in town and in the
dungeons beneath. It requires a quick
hand and well-balanced character to
confront the monsters.
The game takes place in pseudo
realtime. You have 1 2 hours to kill all
of the monsters each night, or a build-
ing will be damaged. If they do too
much damage to the town, the game's
over. Budgeting your time is impor-
tant, so don't think too long while the
clock is ticking.
Champions ofKrynn cuts unnecessary
violence from many of its scenarios.
Keys is a fast-paced game. You
have potions and herbs to increase
speed, strength, dexterity, armor, and
life points. As the nights wear on,
you1l need these aids to help you clear
the town. Character interaction in the
game is limited to conversation, but
most people you encounter will offer
valuable information. This moves the
plot along.
You move your character around
from an overhead view of the town
and dungeons. Movement is quick
and smooth. The graphics are nice,
and you can easily identify each object
and monster. After a couple of nights
pass, you will know the town well
enough to put away the map in the
manual. Keys is not very difficult and
can be played rather quickly. Explor-
ing Maramon and discovering new
things makes Keys enjoyable.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
One company that still supports the
64 is Strategic Simulations, Incorpo-
rated, more popularly known as SSI.
With over ten years in the business
and a large library of titles, SSI has
journeyed through time with Commo-
dore computers. In the past two years,
SSI has produced a number of fine
role-playing adventure games for the
64, most of which have been in its Ad-
vanced Dungeons & Dragons line of
G^ COMPUTE
JULY 1991
GAZETTE
D\SK L/BRARY
VALUE-PACKED SOFTWARE
AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
All Gazette disks are menu-driven for ease of use — and they feature complete
documentation. Just load and you're ready to go!
SpeedScripf $11.95
COMPUTE Publications' most popular program
ever. Powerful word processing package inciudes
SpeedScripf for the 64, SpeedScripf 128, spelling
checkers for both 64 and 1 28 versions, pius an
additional dozen support programs, including
mail-merge and word-count utilities.
Gazette Index $7.95
Every article and department from Gazeffe — July
1983 through December 1989 issues — is indexed:
features, gomes, reviews, programming, ''Bug-
Swatter," "Feedback," and the other columns.
Disk features pull-down menus, help screens,
superfost searching/sorting capabilities, and
much more.
Best Gazette Games $9.95
Best dozen arcade and strategy gomes ever
published in Gazeffe all on one disk. All games for
Commodore 64. Titles: Crossroads li: Pandemo-
nium. Baskefbaii Sam & Ed. Deifa War. Heaf
Seeker, Omicron. Powerbali, Q-Bird. Trap. Arcade
Volleyball, Mosaic. Power Poker, and Scorpion 11.
Gazette's Power Tools $9.95
Fourteen of the most important utilities for the
64 ever published in Gazeffe. For serious users.
Titles: MefaBASIC, Disk Rapid Transif, Mob Maker,
Ulfrafor)f-\-, Quick!, Disk Edifor, Basically Music.
PrinfScreen. 1526 PrinfScreer), Fasf Assembler,
Smarf Disassembler. Comparafor. Sprinf II and
Turbo Format
The GEOS Collection $ 1 1 .95
Gozef fe's best 1 3 programs for GEOS and GEOS
1 28 users. Selection inciudes utilities, applications,
and games. Titles: Super Pr infer Driver. Skeet File
Saver. Help Pad. Word Count Direcfory Printer.
Quick Clock, SlideStiow. File Retriever, Screen
Dumper, Fonf Grabber. GeoPuzzle. and
GeoConverfer.
128 Classics $11.95
Thirteen of Goze^fe's best 1 28 programs, including
utilities, gomes, and applications. Titles:
MefoBASIC 128. RAMDisk 128, 80-Column Disk
Sector Editor. MuifiSort Block Out Miami ice,
Tt)e Animals' Shiow. Cribbage, XPressCard. Sound
Designer. Video Slide Shov^. Matfi Graphics, and
3-D BarGraptier.
SPECIAL OFFER!
All 6 DISKS FOR ONLY $49.95!
A $13.00 SAVINGS!
All prices include shipping 8t handling.
SpeedScript D
Gazette Index D
Best Gazette Gomes D
Gazette's Power Tools D
The GEOS Collection D
1 28 Classics O
Special 6-Disk Offer n
Subtotal
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Outside U.S. or Canada"
Total
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'* For deiivery outside the US. Of Conodo, odd 31 for surfoce moil or $3 for oirmai!. All orders must be in U.S, funds drawn on a US. bonk.
games. Using different-colored boxes
to represent different types of
AD & D adventures, SSI has a good
variety of adventures.
The gold boxes contain large role-
playing epics. Avoid two early games,
Pool of Radiance and Curse of the
Azure Bonds, unless you like an inor-
dinate amount of combat. Two later
games, Champions ofKnmn and Se-
cret of the Silver Blades, eliminate un-
necessary combat and significantly
improve the interface.
The two silver-box products are
action games, with less role-playing el-
ements and more arcade elements.
Both are good, but Dragons of Flame
is a big improvement over Heroes of
the Lance.
War of the Lance in the green box
is a war game in the fantasy world, so
don't be deceived. The white-box
game, Hillsfar, combines arcade and
role-playing elements in a game with
low difficulty and high fun factors.
SSI's War of the Lance is a war game
set in the world of fantasy.
Finally, SSFs latest AD & D
game is Dragon Strike, a dragon flight
simulator in the Dragonlance gaming
world. It*s more arcade game than
anything else; don*t let the word simu-
lator throw you. If AD & D games
aren't your bag, try some of the older
SSI titles, like Phantasie, Wizard's
Crown, and the Questron series.
Lord British
Origin has also been a strong support-
er of the 64, Almost all of its past
games have been converted from IBM
versions or developed on the 64.
Given the amount of time and re-
sources required to develop adven-
tures on the scale of Origin's Ultima
series, it came as a surprise to me
when Origin announced Ultima VI
for the 64 before it released the Amiga
version.
The Ultima series is one of the
most popular adventure game series,
and much of the credit for that success
is due to the creativity and imagina-
tion of chief designer Richard "Lord
British" Garriott. Each game in the se-
ries has far surpassed the previous one
in most areas, including size, plot, in-
terface, and graphics. Ultima Vlis no
different in this regard. As far as 64
adventures go. Ultima VI is at the top.
This game can take months to ex-
plore, and all the time you're getting
your money's worth. That's value.
Through a Moon Gate
In Ultima VI, your character must
stop the spread of gargoyles that have
slipped through a moon gate into the
realm of Britannia. Thai's the basic
plot, but more unfolds as you enter
the game. Britannia is about as large
as it was in Ultima K but this time,
instead of playing the game on two
scales, you play it entirely from an
overhead view of the characters and
their surroundings.
The graphics are smooth, and it
feels more natural to move around in
one scale than it does in previous Ul-
tima games that only show the indi-
vidual characters in towns, dungeons,
and other buildings. The past games
jump to a map view of the game
whenever the party travels into the
wilderness. Because you can't see far
ahead in Ultima VI, the cloth map
comes in handy.
In addition to the overhead view-
point, the objects and other graphics
in Ultima VI are very nice. You can*t
distinguish objects in your inventory
as well as you can larger objects in
rooms, but this is no problem since
you can examine objects effortlessly.
The interface in Ultima VI is an
improvement over that in earlier epi-
sodes. Unlike the IBM version, which
employs icons for all of the game
commands, the 64 version requires
keystrokes for commands. However,
the number of commands has been re-
duced by the addition of a Use com-
mand, which replaces many others.
To use an object, just hit the U
key and move the crosshairs to select
an object from your inventory or one
next to your character. This is the way
to open doors, move levers, throw
switches, and equip your character
with weapons, armor, and other items
necessary to survival and success.
Old Friends Return
Accompanying you in Ultima F/are
characters from past games, namely
Sham i no, lolo, and Dupre. Lord Brit-
ish starts you on your quest and can
be consulted at any time for infor-
mation. Object manipulation is easily
accomplished from an inventory
screen that readily identifies which
object your character is carr>'ing and
which ones are nearby. It is best to
distribute supplies to each character
so no one is weighed down and you
don't have to keep switching objects.
When the time comes, it's easy to
fight in Ultima VL Just choose a com-
bat option and use the cursor to select
a monster. Each monster has its own
representative theme.
Ultima F/ is a game chock full of
characters, objects, locations, and
dungeons. Characters follow a certain
daily pattern. Some game objects are
hidden behind paintings, under plants
or crates. Discovering new things is
what Ultima VI is all about.
You may never finish the game
because of its size and scope, but de-
signer Garriott doesn't care. (He'll
give you a synopsis of this game in the
manual of his next one.) Garriott be-
lieves it's more important for you to
enjoy yourself exploring a rich worid
full of adventure. He's confident that
there is much that you can do and
gives you lots of room for discovery
and pleasure.
SSI's Curse of the Azure Bonds is a role-
playing epic filled with combat
Ultima VI meets Garriott's crite-
ria, and the game may be the largest
adventure for the 64. It definitely is
the most ambitious. Disk swapping is
kept to a minimum in order to de-
crease the frustration factor. Sounds
are appropriately scattered throughout
the game, and the music is infectious.
What results is a graphically rich
world, full of places to go and things
to see, where you can escape for min-
utes or hours. Plus, if you act now,
you can probably still get the Special
Edition of the game, celebrating the
tenth anniversary of Ultima. This ver-
sion is signed by the author and box
artist. It contains an audio cassette of
the history of Ultima narrated by Gar-
riott and a higher-quality gemstone
than that found in regular versions.
As you can see, adventure gam-
ing for the 64 is alive and well. These
are just a few of the many games out
there. Ultima VI is my favorite, but
the others are all fun and can be com-
pleted in a reasonable amount of time.
In any case, if you're looking for a
quest, tr>' an adventure game. They're
better than they were just a year ago.
Happy questing! e
G-10 COMPUTE JULY 1991
The Gazette
Productivity
Manager
(Formerly PowerPak) ^^
Harness the productivity
power of your 64 or 128!
Turn your Commodore into
a powerful workhorse, keep track
of finances, generate reports
in a snap, manage your
money in minutes-
all with the new 1991
Gazette Productivity
Manager! Look at all
your 64/128 Productivity
Manager disk contains.
GemCalc 64 & 128—
A complete, powerful, user-
friendly spreadsheet with all
the features you*d expect
in an expensive commercial package
(separate 64 and 128 versions are included).
Most commands can be performed with a single keypress!
Memo Card — Unleashes the power of a full-blown
database without the fuss! Nothing's easier— it's a
truly simple computerized address file. Just type in
your data on any one of the index cards. Need to edit?
Just use the standard Commodore editing keys.
Finished? Just save the data to floppy What could be
easier?
Financial Planner — Answers all of those questions
concerning interest, investments, and money manage-
ment that financial analysts charge big bucks for! You
can plan for your children's education and know
exactly how much it will cost and how much you need
to save every month to reach your goal. Or, decide
whether to buy or lease a new car. Use the compound
interest and savings function to arrive at accurate
estimates of how your money will work for you.
Compute the answer at the click of a key!
DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS
POWERFUL WORKHORSE!
(MasterCard and Visa accepted on orders with subtotal over $20).
[ D YES! Please send me Frodactivity Manager di8k(»)
(S14J5 each).
Subtotal
, Sales Tax (Residents of NC and NY please add appro-
1 prlate sales tax for your area. Canadian orders, add
1 7% goods and services tax.)
Shipping and Handling ($2.00 U.S. and Canada, $3.00
I surface^mail, $5.00 airmail per disk.)
1 Tntal FnrloRPH
j _ Check or Money Order _ MasterCard _ VISA
1 CrHIt Tird N*>
1 ' (Required)
1 City
! SiMr/ It?/
1 Prr,^i«i>. Pci.i r^^
Send your order to Gazette 1991 Prodncdvity Manager,
324 W, Wendover Ave., Ste. 200, Greensboro, NC 27408.
REVIEWS
CRIME-FIGHTING TURTLES • PRINTED CIRCUIT CAD
PIECES FALLING INTO A PIT • BASKETBALL MAN^
TEENAGE MUM
NINJA TURTLES
Hey, dudes, how would you like to
battle evil enemies in New
York's dangerous sewers? Sure
it's a dirty job, but that doesn't
mean you won't enjoy playing Ultra's
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Based on the famous movies, TV
show, and comic books, this action-
packed arcade game will give you
hours of enjoyment. Raphael, Michel-
angelo, Leonardo, and Donatello are
ready for your control. As the game
begins, you must help these four
pizza-loving turtles rescue their be-
loved friend, April O'Neil, who was
abducted by the evil villain Shredder.
You must rescue April, destroy Shred-
der, and take his life transformer gun
to win.
Along the streets and sewers of
New York, you guide the turtles to
where April may be held hostage. You
control their every move. Many evil
creatures lurk about, so be prepared to
fight Mousers, Roller Cars, Foot Clan
Soldiers, and many more foes are
waiting to capture your reptilian war-
riors. Some enemies are easily de-
stroyed, while others are not.
Strategy is important. Each of the
four turtles has unique skills and
weapons. Thus, one turtle may be bet-
ter able to handle a particular enemy
or situation than another. For ex-
ample, Leonardo would be the best
choice for battles in the sewers, since
he's expert at using a Katana Blade.
Besides the multitude of enemies,
there are many useful items to be
found during your quest. These in-
clude various weapons, rope, a party
wagon, and best of all . . . awesome
pizza!
An information screen can be ac-
cessed at any time during the game.
This important screen will help you
throughout the game, and you should
check it on a regular basis. Turtle
information includes those who are
available and what weapons they are
using. There's also a map that shows
your position- Messages from your
friends give you useful hints on what
to do next.
Your turtles must make it
through six levels of combat without
being captured. Each level has differ-
ent phases to complete before you can
move on to the next level. Looking at
playability from this standpoint, the
game can be rather difficult. Joystick
movements for combat and travel
throughout the game are, however,
generally basic and simple. In this re-
spect, I find the game easy to play.
After reading the short manual
that comes with the game, you'll
quickly be on your way to action and
adventure. The manual is easy to un-
derstand and provides you with the
necessary information. It tells you
about the game controls, displays
sample screens, lists the usefiil items
to be found, and describes each ene-
my you will combat.
The sound and graphics are good.
Most characters and items in the
game are displayed clearly on the
screen, and the background music is
entertaining as well.
While it does not get high marks
for plot originality, this arcade game is
fun to play and provides many hours
of entertainment. So, dudes, if you're
up for some radical ninja action, just
slip Turtles into your 64, grab your
joystick, and go to town!
CHRIS STAWASZ
Commodore 64 or 1 28 — $29.95
Uftra Software
900 Deertield Pkwy.
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-4510
(708)215-5100
PRINnO CIRCUIT
BOARDM
^B nee again, I've stumbled across a
1 1 64 program that takes that won-
■ I deiful machine into an entirely
U new area: printed circuit board
(PCB) design and layout. Although it
lacks some of the power and options
of PCB programs used in the work
world. Printed Circuit Board'64 from
MicroSentinel Systems does an im-
pressive job on a 64 or 128.
II „J :;:v ;-•;■. ,- II
m
/-_■•"" 'V'-J*
J
This program is designed for the
electronics hobbyist If you need to
put together a simple circuit board for
some home project, it should take no
longer to enter it into the computer
than it does to devise it in the first
place.
I must make a confession. I make
a living as an engineer, and Vm famil-
iar with circuit boards from college
classes and from fixing arcade games
and pinball machines for my brother's
O-ia COMPUTE
JULY 1991
Best-Selling
Commodore Books
from COMPUTE
Machine Language Routines for the
Commodore 128 and 64
By Todd D, Heimark and Patrick G. Parrish
For both beginners and advanced ML programmers.
585 pages. $18.95
Mapping the Commodore 64 and 64C
By Sheldon Lccmon
Comprehensive memory map and programmer's guide.
324 pages. $18.95
Music System for the Commodore 128 and 64
The Enhanced Sidplayer
By Craig Chamberlain
Includes programs, utilities, and sample music.
Book/Disk Only. 274 pages. $24.95
Order your copies today.
Send the appropriate amount plus $2 shipping and handling for
each book ($4 Canadian. $6 foreign) and applicable sales tax* to:
COMPUTE Books
C/0 CCC
2500 McCIellan Ave.
Pennsauken, NJ 08109
•Residents of NC, NY, and NJ add appropriate sales lax for your area.
Canadian Orders add 1% goods and services tax
All orders must be paid in U.S. Funds drawn on a VS. bank. Please allow 4-6
weeks for delivery.
JUL91CP
Call or write for FREE catalog of
1 ,000's of programs for your PCI
(800) 233-2451
Mon - Frt Saro - 5pm PST
r Freeware For Commodore 64/128
GAMES, GAMES, GAMESI
n (6102) ADVENTURE ROAD 1 ■ Coniair^ ^ adventure games: Scary, Africa, Adventure & more,
n (6123) AOVErfTURE HOAD 2 ■ tO te^igraphic adventure games including SLEUTH,
n (6124) ADVENTURE flOAD 3-8 text'graphic advenlure games including HACKER,
n (6049) C-12B GAMES 1-40 col-
umn Galactic. Castle and Damsels.
80 column Star Trek.
-I (6054) C-1 28 GAMES 2 -SO col-
umn Norad, Warganes. not Lunar
Land- Print Spock&Kirk.
1 (6088) C-64 GAMES ■ 1 - Action
games tLke Robbers, Whirly Bird, Blue Thunder &. more.
n (6089) C&4 GAMES 2 - Lotto, Attad< Force. Star Trek, Joust. Dsrby, Defcon S more,
n (6097) IN THE MALL 1 - Conjaios 1 4 ar:ade games. Try your skill on these gems,
n (6099) IN THE MALL 2 - Contains 14 arcade games. Includes Moondog. Skiing, & more,
1 (6142) IN THE MALL 3-12 more arcade games including BOULDER DASH and KANGA,
~i (6100) IN THE PITS .' 1 * Contains 7 car games. Includes Dragsier, Dodge Cars & more,
n (6101) LADY LUCK / 1 - Contains 10 casino games. Roulette, Craps, BJ, Poker & more,
n (6202) LADV LUCK ,' 2 - 10 gambting games including ONE ARMED BANDIT, and 21.
n (6203) LADY LUCK / 3 - 17 gambling games indudsng DODGE CITY POKER af>d KENO.
n (6096) ON THE BOARDS 1 - Contains ' 1 toard games. Inciudes Yaheee. Battteship & more
~t (6119) ON THE BOABDS 2-12 board and card games including battleship and cJiess
n (6120) ON THE BOARDS 3-17 more board and card games tnctud-ng CRIBBAGE and BINGO.
~i (6118) PUB BOARD GAMES - Darts, Bowling, Pool, Checkers, Backgammon, Chess, and more,
n (6204) THE FINAL FRONTIER , 1 • 10 action filled space games including METEOR SHOWER,
n (6206) THE FINAL FHOMTIER 3 ■ 18 action tilled space games including CANYON RUNNER.
-| (6207} THE FINAL FRONTIER 4-18 act^n filled space games including SPACE DEFENDER,
n (6104) THE SPORTING LIFE - Contains Golf, Miniature Golf, Baseball 64, Boxing and Trap,
n (6208) THE SPORTIHG LIFE ■ 2 - 19 games reiadng to sports mduding BOWLING and BOXING,
n (6108) VICTORY SOFTWARE / 1 * The first disk of shareware games by Victory Soltware.
"1
To order, please cheek the desired disk and Include $2,99 for eaeh disk ordered.
Include shipping* and handling of $4 per order, CA residents add 7% sales lax.
Bti7 5 dUkA and g«l the 0th one freet
Please send order, payment, name, address and daytime phone # to:
Sm
H,
Wdomare
We accept Check, MO,
Mastercard & Visa.
Sorry— No COD's.
I
n,-j!^ Mrii i I :,^'..;ii--[n!i ['SI ,
7657 Winnetka Ave, Ste 328-C, Winnetka CA 91306 I
I (818) 700-0784 Msg/Fax (800) 233-2451 Orders OnlyJ
Circl« Reader Service Number 129
former vending business. For this rea-
son, I expected to have no problem
with PCB-64, but I wasn't too sure
about people who lack those skills.
What I found is that the program is
easy for anybody to use, regardless of
level of experience. PCB-64 is best
suited for hobbyists and circuit-board
designers who want to get a head start
on a project at home without having
to use the company computer.
The package contains two main
parts: the Layout Editor and the .Art-
work Editor. The former contains the
tools and options to create your print-
ed circuit board. The latter lets you
add text, tweak the pad, trace sizes,
and optimize the sizes of all compo-
nents. Both programs are very simple
to learn. You almost don't have to use
the concisely written manual With
each program, you see a portion of the
circuit board in the viewing screen
and a list of commands along the right
side of the screen. Select these com-
mands with the keyboard and draw
with the mouse or joystick.
A circuit board consists of pads
(terminal points), traces (wires), and
components (integrated circuit chips,
resistors, and so on). The purpose of
PCB layout is to design the board to
accommodate the most electronic
components in the smallest space pos-
sible. You could almost make a game
out of PCB layout, with the object
being optimization of space using a
certain number of components.
PCB'64 lets you design two-sided
circuit boards that can be as large as
8.8 X 6.4 inches. An important feature
of PCB-64 is that it allows you to scale
the board to meet the specifications of
many types and brands of printers.
With a paint program interface that
gives you pads and traces to define a
board, the program is complete.
The other big feature of PCB-64
is a list that the program generates
upon request of all of the labels associ-
ated with components and their coor-
dinates on the screen. Although PCB-
64 is not a program many people
would use, it's a great little niche
product. It lives up to its claims and
will more than meet the specifica-
tions of someone who needs a low-
cost circuit-board editor.
RUSS CECCOLA
Commodore 64 or 1 28-~$75
MICROSENTINEL SYSTEMS
P.O. Box 4135
San Pedro, CA 90731-4135
(213)831-2101
BIOCKOUT
For a perplexing challenge that ex-
ercises the brain instead of joystick
reflexes, try BlockouL 1 highly rec-
ommend it to those of you who are
looking for something more than just
another shoot-'em-up.
Biock Out will tax your hand-eye
coordinatfon. (IBM version pictured.)
This game has a lot to offer— and
it's not another Tetris clone. By taking
the Tetris concept and making it
three-dimensional, Blockout expands
the old concept and takes it the next
logical step.
As in Tetris, the object of the
game is to drop irregularly shaped
pieces into a pit. If you manage to fill
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 0-13
REVIEWS
a level across the pit, that level van-
ishes, and you win bonus points.
Sounds simple, huh? It's not.
Simplicity disappears as you advance
and the game picks up speed. Pieces
that used to float into the pit like
feathers begin to drop like stones. I
was quite happy reaching level 5, the
pinnacle of my Blockout career.
Blockoui's graphics are relatively
simple but more than adequate for
gameplay. The blocks themselves are
3-D, starting out as rotatable wire-
frame objects that solidify into col-
ored layers as they reach the bottom
of the pit. Your goal is to fill a layer so
that it can be removed. If the shapes
pile up and reach the top of the pit,
you lose.
Blockout expands on the Tetris
concept by offering you a selection of
three sets of blocks. The sets range in
shape from the simple to the complex.
Some of the predefined games are de-
scribed as Flat Fun (flat blocks), 3-D
Mania (3-D blocks), and Out of Con-
trol (abnormal blocks). You can create
a pit of your own dimensions and
make a custom game. Any of the three
block sets (Flat, Basic, or Extended)
can be used in your custom pit.
Parameters for rotation speed
and sound can be customized. Prac-
tice mode lets you play Blockout with-
out having the pieces fall into the pit,
thus giving you time to get used to the
keyboard controls. Demo mode lets
your computer show you how to play.
Help is available to display the game's
controls.
Blockout keeps track of your
score. The ten high scores for each
kind of pit (dimensions and block set)
are saved to disk. The game's play-
ability is good, but a little less key-
board control would've been nice.
While this isn't a great handicap,
using a joystick to control the game
would've made it easier to play. As it
stands, the joystick is used only for
the program's menus, and some of the
menu options are not even available
to the keyboard user.
One thing I can say about Block-
out is that if you don't own it, get it.
It's a most perplexing puzzle that will
be a favorite for years to come. So toss
out those boring shoot-'em-ups and
head for the computer store. Pick this
one up — you won't regret it!
DAVID W.MARTIN
■1
■
Commodore 64 or 128— $29.95
CALIFORNIA DREAMS i
Distributed by Electronic Arts
1820 Gateway Dr.
San Mateo, CA 94404
(415)571-7171
DOUBLE DRIBBIE
■ re you a true basketball fan? If
II your answer is Yes, then check
II out Kon ami's Double Dribble,
11 Double Dribble is a five-on-five
pro-style basketball game for the 64. It
turns your computer screen into a
s(M^ TIME
r ^ AND
' MONEY
Yes, save time and money! Subscribe to the Gazette
Disk and get all the exciting, fun-filled Gazette pro-
grams for your Commodore 64 or 128— already on
disk!
Subscribe today, and month after month you'll
get all the latest, most challenging, and fascinating
programs published in the corresponding issue of
COMPUTE.
New on the Gazette Disk! In addition to the
programs that appear in the magazine, youMl also
get outstanding bonus programs. These programs,
which are often too large to offer as type-ins, are
available only on disk— they appear nowhere else.
As another Gazette Disk extra» check out
'^Gazette Gallery," where each month we present the
very best in original 64 and 128 artwork.
So don't waste another moment. Subscribe to-
day to COMPUTE'S Gazette Disk and get 12 issues
for only $49.95. You save almost 60% off the single-
issue price. Clip or photocopy and mail completed
coupon today.
Individual issues of the disk are available for
$9.95 (plus $2.00 shipping and handling) by writing
to COMPUTE, 324 West Wendover Avenue, Suite
200, Greensboro, North Carolina 27408.
YES!
^ Start my one-year subscription
to COMPUTE'S Gazette Disk right away
for only $49.95.*
D Payment enclosed (check or money order)
D Charge D MasterCard D Visa
Acct. No. -
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Exp. Date ,
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MasI to COMPUTE'S Gazette Disk, RO. Box 3250. Hartan, lA 5159^-2430
* Reskjents of NC and NY, please add appropriate sales tax for your area. Canadian
orders. ackJ 7% goods and services tax.
VIDEO BYTE II the only FULL COLOR!
video digitizer for the C-64, C-128
Introducing the world's first FULL COLOR! video drgitizer for the Commodore
C'64. 64-C, C-128 & 128-D computer VIDEO BYTE can give you digitized video
from you V.C.R.. LASER DISK. B/W or COLOR CAMERA or OFF THE AIR or
GABLE VIDEO (thanks to a fast! 2,2 sec. scan time). New version ao software
features full RE-DISPLAY with MULII CAPTURE MODE, MENU SELECT PRINT-
ING, EXPAMDED COLORIZING FEATURES, SAVE to DISK feature and much more!
FULL COLORIZING! Is possible, due to a unique SELECT and INSERT color
process, where you can select one of 15 COLORS and insert that color into
one of 4 GRAY SCALES. This process will give you over 32,000 different color
combinations to use tn your video pictures, SAVES as KOALAS! Video Byte 11
allows you to save all your pictures to disk as FULL COLOR KOALA'S. After
which (using Koala or suitable program) you can go in and redraw or color
your V.B. pic's. LOAD and RE-DISPLAYt Video Byte II allows you to load and
re-display ail Video Byte pictures from inside Video Byte's menu. MENU DRIVEN!
Video Byte II comes with easy to use menu driven UTILITY DISK with V3.0
digitizer pmgram. (64 MODE ONLY). COMPACTI Video Byte IFs hardware is com-
pact! In fact no bigger than your average cartridge! Video Byte comes with it's
own cable. INTEGRATED! Video Byte II is designed to be used with or without
EXPLODE! V5.0 color cartridge. Explode! V5.0"s menu will return you to VIDEO
BYTE H's menu. EXPLODE! V5 is the PERFECT COMPANION! Video Byte II users
are automatically sent FREE SOFTWARE updates along with new documenta-
tion, when it becomes available. PRINTI Video Byte II will printout pictures in
BLACK and WHITE GRAY SCALE to most printers. However when used with
Explode! VaO your printout's can be done \H FULL COLOR 8 by 11 's SIDEWAYS
on the RAINBOW NX-1Q0Q, RAINBOW NX-1000C, JX-80, Selkosha 3000 AL
(OKIDATA 10/20's (print larger 6" by 9") USER SLIDE
SHOW program w/auto or manual display is standard
with VIDEO BYTE program. And can be backed up!)
Why DRAW a car, airplane, person or for that matter
. . ■ anything when you can BYTE it, . .VIDEO BYTE it
instead!
NEW! SUPER CARTRIDGE
by The
Soft
Group
EXPLODE! V.5
The MOST POWERFUL, DISK DRIVE and PRINTER CARTRIDGE ever produced for
the COMMODORE USER. Super USER FRIENDLY with all ttie features most asked for.
New FEATURES, (a) Faster non-blanking FASTLOAD. (b) MIRROR imaging of all HI-RES
screens, (c) 4 Way color selection with insert, for all HI-RES screens, (d) Infinite FILE
COPY for all SEQ. & PRG. files, copy your file only once, then write that file to as many
disks as you tike great for single file copying by small user groups, (e) FULL COLOR
PRINTING ol ALL COLOR HI-RES & MUUICOLOR SCREENS to ALL COLOR DOT MATRIX
PRINTERS (not for INK JET printers). (I) Direct ONE KEY access back to VIDEO BYTE
software ttiru EXPLODE! VS.O's 2nd MEWU. (g) Supports all popular printer interfaces, (h)
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SUPER FASTLOAD and SAVE (50K-9 SEC'S) works wjtb ALL C-64 or C-128's NO MAHER
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FEATURES The rest of Explode! V5.0 is still active. SUPER EASY LOADING and RUNNING
of ALL PROGRAMS from the DIRECTORY. SUPER BUILT-IN TWO WAY SEQ. or PRG. Ille
READER using the DIRECTORY. NEVER TYPE a FILE NAME AGAIM when you use SUPER
EXPLODE'S unique LOAOERS.
CAPTURE 40 COLUMN C or D-128 SCREENS! (with optional DISABLE SWITCH).
All ttie above leatures, and much more!
PLUS A FREE UTILITY DISK w/SUPER EXPLODE!
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only $44.95 or w/disable S49.95,
'Note UP GRADES for V5-0 are offered to V4.1 owners only.
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only $20.00
"only
All units come w-90 day WARRANTY. All orders add S3 tor UPS BLUE LABEL SfH. UPS BLUE available m\y m 48 states FOREIGN ORDERS are US FUNDS -«-$6.35 S/H. ORDER &0TH EXPLODE! V5 & VIDEO
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WORKS WiTH RAl. ALSO i^ IN 64 MODE ONLY
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TO ORDER CALL 1-708-851 -6667
FOREIGN ORDERS U.S. FUNDS ONLY $6.35 S/H.
IL RESIDENTS ADD 6% SALES TAX
Personal Checks 10 Days to Clear
THE SOFT GROUP, P.O. BOX 111, MONTGOMERY, IL 60538
REVIEWS
Circle Header Service Number 123
basketball court for fast action.
This program*s excellent graphics
and sound effects make you feel like
you're right there on the court. You
hear the clock ticking away and the
referee blowing his whistle. You can
see your teammates' positions as well
as the opposing team's players on the
court as they pass the ball. Cheerlead-
ers appear at halftime to root for you.
Best of all, you can see your points
mounting on the scoreboard each
lime the ball passes through the hoop.
Double Dribble is a game for one
or two players. However, for two play-
ers, you'll need a second joystick.
Playing against the computer is quite
challenging, since the computer can
match your every move. As the game
begins, use the joystick to select such
options as the number of players, the
amount of time for each of the four
quarters, and the NBA team that you
want to represent during the game.
You also have the option of selecting
one of three levels of difficulty. If you
find that you want to change any of
these settings during a game, you can
do so with a touch of the f3 key.
Your joystick controls all aspects
of the game, and you can move across
the court in eight directions. By put-
ting your player in the path of the
player with the ball and pressing the
fire button, you can steal the ball from
your opponent. The joystick also lets
you pass the ball to another player of
your choice with the press of the fire
button. To take a shot, just aim the
joystick toward the hoop and press
the fire button. It's that easy.
There are several types of shots
that you can take. These include foul
shots, three-pointers, jump shots, set
shots, as well as three types of slam
dunks. A closeup of these slam dunks
appears in detail as a team scores.
Double Dribble also follows the same
rules and regulations as pro-style
basketball Your blocking or charging
will give an opposing team member a
chance at the free throw line.
Overall, I found this game to be
quite challenging and entertaining. I
didn't play like Michael Jordan or
Larry Bird, but I did manage to score
a few points. So if you love basketball,
give Double Dribble a shot!
CHRIS STAW\SZ
Commodore 64 or 128— $14.95
Konami
900 Deerfield Pkwy.
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(708)215-5111
SOFTWARE
CLOSEOUTS
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Cirde Reader Service Number 161
DBACK
QUESTIONS FROM OUR READERS
Missing Sections
From looking at the advertisers index
in the Februar>* 1991 issue of COM-
PUTE, a reader would get the idea
that there are both Amiga and Gazette
sections in each issue, but there aren't.
Why the discrepancy, and how often
will a section turn up missing?
TODD MOORE
PIEDMONT, MO
This was explained last year in
"64/128 View" (October 1990), but
since there still seems to be some con-
fusion, we'll repeat it. After General
Media purchased the four magazines
we produced at COMPUTE! Publica-
tions, the four were merged into one
basic COMPUTE magazine. There
are different versions, however.
If you are a Gazette subscriber, we
send you COMPUTE with the Com-
modore 64/128 material in the Ga-
zette section, Amiga Resource
subscribers get COMPUTE and the
Amiga section. PC subscribers get
COMPUTE with the PC section. If
you subscribe to COMPUTE, you get
all the sections, but without the Ga-
zette type-in programs. For those peo-
ple who may have several different
computers, including a 64 or 128, we
offer a muhiversion edition that con-
tains all the material including the
type-in programs.
Until recently the Gazette and
Amiga sections were also available in
the newsstand editions. Now they are
available only by subscription and in
certain computer stores: Babbage's,
Software Etc, and Software Boutique:
From time to time some editions may
contain additional sections. Since we
use the same advertisers index for all
editions, you 7/ see the references to all
the different editions. On occasion,
subscribers may receive the wrong ver-
sion. If this happens, please contact
our subscription office at (800) 727-
6937.
From Speed Scf/pt to Amiga
I have been using SpeedScript 64 for a
number of years, and I have written a
large number of files that Td like to
keep. I also own an Amiga 1000, and I
would like to transfer these files to the
Amiga. Unfortunately, the terminal
program I have for the 64 doesn^t
seem to be able to transfer the Speed-
Script files. What do you recommend?
MlCtiA^L W. BELL
ROCKFORD, IL
The problem of converting Commo-
dore-specific text files to true ASCII
(American Standard Code for Infor-
mation Interchange) is a recurring
one. The reason for making the con-
version usually involves transferring
files from one brand of computer to an-
other. The 64 and 128 derive their
character set from a time when ASCII
wasn 't the de facto standard it is today,
and the big players took no pride in be-
ing compatible. Consequently theS-
bit Commodores confuse upper- and
lowercase, neglect common characters
such as the brace and underscore, and
e\>en assign some odd character codes
to the characters that they do have.
The remedy is to run a program that
converts Commodore character
codes— commonly called PETSCII
after the original Commodore PET —
into true ASCII,
There are several such programs
available, and usually they read from
and write to sequential files. But
SpeedScript adds a little more com-
plexity to the situation by using its
own special codes for for mattings han-
dling text it self in an atypical fashion,
and writing program files instead of
sequential files. SpeedScript does offer
two ways around this problem. It will
write PETSCII sequential files if you
print the file to the disk by pressing
Shift-Control-P and then D (for disk;
at the prompt. If you press ControUZ
and then the A key on the first line of
your document and then print it to
disk, the file will be saved as a true
ASCII file and will be easy to upload .
Screen Dumps and Errors
I have a 64 and a Cardco Card B inter-
face. The Cardco manual has a screen-
dump program, but it doesn't seem to
work. Is there a screen dump available
from any vendor? I need one for my
BASIC programs.
Also, I have a Blue Chip (BCD
5.25) disk drive that gives erroneous
characters when I add a spreadsheet
or game scores. I have several spread-
sheets that will not work. I would ap-
preciate hearing from other people
who may have similar problems with
their Blue Chip drives.
DENNIS LONG
MANASSAS, VA
Cartridges, such as the Soft Group's
Super Cartridge Explode V.5 and
LMS's Super Snapshot V5, offer
screen dumps and many more fea-
tures. CMD's JiffyDOS also has a
screen-dump option. Advertisements
for these products can be found in re-
cent issues of this magazine. If you
have back issues o/Gazette, check for
a type-in program called PrintScreen
(December 1987). It also offered a cus-
tomizer program for different printers.
There was also a program called Hi-
Res Screen Dump (October 1 984) for
1525 or compatible printers.
We have never heard of a disk
drive's being responsible for erroneous
characters in spreadsheets or game
scores. Are you certain you 've entered
the formulas correctly? If any other
readers have experienced similar prob-
lems, we'll be happy to pass their infor-
mation on to you.
Nifty Jiffy
I was pleased to see Art Hunkins's fa-
vorable review of Creative Micro De-
sign's JiffyDOS 6.0 in the December
1990 issue. It's a terrific system, but I
have to take issue with him on several
points.
First, his apparent horror at the
idea of replacing soldered-in ROM
chips. What's the big deal? I did it
twice in old 64s. No sweat. Just use
common sense and a good soldering
tool to pull the ROMs, a low-watt iron
to solder the new sockets, and gentle-
ness when inserting the new chips. It's
nothing that an experienced amateur
or technician couldn't do in ten min-
utes. That's all it took me, and Vm no
G-16 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
FEEDBACK
whiz kid
Second, save-with-replace routine. That com-
mand works fine in my machine. All I do is have
the revised program in memory, hit fl for the direc-
tory, cursor to the filename, insert three spaces be-
tween the open quotes and the filename, type @0:,
hit f6, and then hit Return. It's quite convenient.
Third, validate and format speeds. They defi-
nitely are improved on my 154L
I do have some minor bones to pick with
CMD. I wish it had retained the function-key RUN
and LIST commands as in previous versions and
relegated TLIST and LOAD ML to program-mode
commands.
Otherwise, alPs great, and kudos to COM-
PUTE for the new design,
RICHARD VAN FRANK
MONTCLAIR, NJ
Once you have some experience with a soldering
iron, removing ROM chips and soldering in new
ones without damaging anything may not be such a
difficult task. But it 's not the place for a beginner to
start. If you have a newer 64 with chips that slide in
and out of their sockets, installing the JiffyDOS re-
placements is a snap, CMD recommends you check
to see which type you have before ordering JiffyDOS.
Reader-to-Reader Help
I am desperate and don't know where to turn next. I
am looking for a 36-pin plug so I can print docu-
ments in Epson mode for my SR 2000 Dual Inter-
face printer. I have a 64 and a 1 541 disk drive. Does
anyone know where I can purchase this plug?
BOB CHALFANT
12229SE196THST.
RENTON,WA 98058-7518
The information about my modem was recently
destroyed, so 1 wrote a letter to the company re-
questing a copy. My letter was returned, since the
company apparently has gone out of business. Can
anyone help me find an instruction manual for a
Westridge Communications modem, model
MFJ-1237?
GARY LEE REYNOLDS
t5D.ANIELST.
UNIONTOWN. PA 15401
Blasts from the Past
I read in one of your magazines that you could or-
der a back issue of COMPUTE, but I was wonder-
ing if it's possible to order a full year's worth.
Also, is it possible to get back issues of the
disks?
ERIC SCHNEIDER
KJLLEEN, TX
We have back issues of many magazines
and disks, but supplies vary. If you contact
Single Copy Sales, COMPUTE Publications,
324 West Wendover Avenue, Suite 200,
Greensboro, North Carolina 27408,
(919) 275-9809 and specify which issues you
want, we'll see what we can do. Back issues
Big Blue Reader 128/64
Read & Write IBM PC Disks!
Big Blue Reader 128/64 is a fast, easy-to-use, menu driven program
for novice and expert alike. Transfers word processing, text, ASCII, and
binary files between Commodore 64/128 and IBM PC compatible 360K
5.25" and 720K 3.5" disks. Includes both C64 & 01 28 programs.
Requires 1571 or 1581 Disk Drive. Does not work using 154t
BBR 128 Version 3.1 upgrade, $18+ original BBR disk.
Big Blue Reader 128/64 only $44.95
(BiS[eSearcH3.1
The only Bible Study Program with:
1) Entire Old and New Testament on (4) 1541/71 or (2) 1581 disks.
2) An Exhaustive English Concordance on (2) 1541/71 or (1) 1581
disks; includes more than 700,000+ references.
3) Incredible five (5) second look-up time, per/word, per/disk.
4) Instant, automatic spell checking of more than 12,800 words.
5) Boolean Search operators including AND, OR & NOT logic.
6) Search entire Bible in 5 seconds with 1581 or Hard Drive (v3.5).
7) A Money Back Guarantee!
Includes: Easy-to-use, C64 and 0128 (40/80 column) programs,
printer and disk output, users guide, disk case, and more.
":s- Available on (7) 1541/71 , or (4) 1581 disks. {Demo disk $5}
KJV $49.95 ->-.Vi^^^ NIV $59.95
D5* Any questions? Call or write for more information.
^5' NOW Available! AMIGA Bible Search
Order by cfieck, money order, or COD. US Funds only.
^' FREE shipping in North America. No Credit Card orders.
Foreign orders add $S S/H ($1 2 wfiole Bible)
SOGWAP Software ^ (219)724-3900
115 Bellmont Road; Decatur, Indiana 46733
of magazines are $6.00, and disks are $9.95. There are no issues
for July August, or September 1990, as we did not publish during
those months.
Final Help
This is in reply to David Richards* Final Cartridge III question in
the February 1991 issue about the Help and Replace commands.
There is a slight difference in the way the commands act in 64s
with different ROM versions, but all commands work. Enter
PRINT PEEK(65408) to see which version you have. I have com-
puters with versions 0 and 3.
Help is useful in debugging BASIC. It lists the last executed
line. Just enter HELP after pressing Stop or after an error occurs.
3-D GRAPHICS DESIGN
li Voted Best Graphics Program
—Run Magazine 198S
For CommodoTC 64/128 in 64 mode
View Designs in Multiple Perspectives
G
fi
^
K]
n
rt
-~
S©
Professional-Educational^Home Applications
Architects, Engineers, Designers,
Programmers, Students
CAO-3D!! enter me inlo the fastest growing field in
grjpliic technology. A1 j ipecijl introducfory price
553,^5. Add S4.00 foV shipping and handling, for
C.O.D. add an additional S4,00, (California resi-
dents please include 6^0 sales tax>,
fh^ Software
2269 CHESTNUT STREET
SUITE 162
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123
ORDER LINE * (415) 923-1081
FAX • (415) 923-1084
Dealers/Distributors inquiries welcomed.
Circle Reader Service Numbef 184
FEEDBACK
It's nice when you can't see an error
message onscreen.
Replace is my favorite command.
It changes BASIC commands, num-
bers, or anything in quotes, excluding
commas and quotation marks. For ex-
ample, if you were to enter REPLACE
"FOR y\ "FOR K", it would change
J to K in FOR-NEXT loops.
BRIAN KISSINGER
EVANSVILLE, IN
Software Resource
Here's a hint for your readers who
want to find certain software for the
64, Amiga, Plus/4, VIC 20, or PET. It
will also help you find the names and
addresses of companies that produce
that software. It's a book called Soft-
ware Informal I on for Commodore
Computers by Menu. It can be found
at pubUc libraries. It's up to date and
extensive.
JOHN REALING
SPOKANE. WA
You're right, John. We me it quite
■ often. Menu, which is a division of
Black Box, sold this 400-page directo-
ry to Commodore, which is now dis-
tributing it. If you would like to
purchase a copy write to Commo-
dore—The Menu, Attention Customer
Support, 1200 Wilson Drive, West
Chester, Pennsylvania 19380. The cost
is $12,95 plus $3.00 for shipping and
handling.
Mangled Memory
I am working on a game program that
uses redefined characters on the 64.
The program also uses three-dimen-
sional arrays. I have a problem with
the screen elements turning to garbage
after it runs for a while. A few reverse
characters can be identified, but that's
it. Can you help? Is it a problem with
memory?
AL FREEMAN
MfAMI. FL
It sounds like you are experiencing a
memory conflict You've put new char-
acter shapes used in your game into a
certain block of memory. As the pro-
gram runs and uses different variables,
BASIC stores these variables in the
same memory where the character
shapes are stored. This causes the indi-
vidual character shapes to turn to gar-
bage. Reverse character shapes are in
the second half of the character set, so
they are the last ones to be garbled.
The Video Interface Chip (VIC-
II) handles all the video-related chores,
including the display of character
shapes. This chip can access only I6K
of memory at a time. The default video
bank is 0 (from location 0 to 16383),
which means the screen, custom char-
acter shapes, and sprites must all re-
side in thai same 16K block. Since a
complete character set uses 2048 bytes,
it 's common to use the 2K at the top
of the video bank for that purpose.
This puts the custom characters at
14338-16383.
A 64 's BASIC is built into a con-
tinuous section of memory. The 64
uses locations 0-1023 for its own pur-
poses, and screen memory and sprite
pointers occupy 1024-2047. The first
byte available for BASIC is 2048.
Read Only Memory (ROM) starts at
40960. So under normal circum-
stances BASIC controls the 38,911
bytes of the memory^ from 2048 to
40959.
What about the custom charac-
ters that are stored at 14336-16383?
They are in the middle of the block of
memory BASIC expects to use as its
own. This is where the problem arises
with your custom characters turning to
garbage when your program runs.
BASIC expects to use this area for its
own purposes. As it uses more and
more variables, memory fills up, and
before long your character shapes have
been overwritten by BASIC
There are a couple of things you
can do to get around this problem.
Move the characters to another loca-
tion, or move BASIC Moving the
character sets requires moving the vid-
eo banks, which also means you have
to move the screen and the HIBASE
pointer at 648. If you do this, then you
have to either disable the Restore key^
or avoid pressing Run/Stop-Restore.
Most programmers find it easier to
move BASIC to another location. To
transfer the start of BASIC from 2048
to 16384 (which is just past the end of
your character set), enter the following
lines in direct mode before you load
your program:
POKE 43,l:POKE 44,64: POKE
16384,0: NEW
An ST Magazine?
First of all, I want to say that I'm not
precisely happy with your decision to
integrate Gazette into COMPUTE. Of
course, I understand your decision,
since there are fewer 64 owners; that
means fewer subscribers. But I think
you're going to lose more subscribers
with this decision. Time will tell. Any-
way, ril probably renew my subscrip-
tion, since I don't know of any good
Commodore-only magazine other
than yours.
The main purpose of this letter is
not to complain, however. I've just
bought an Atari 520 ST (111 keep my
good old 128), and I was wondering if
you pubHsh any ST-specific maga-
zines or books.
JOSE LUrS REGUEIRO
MONTEVIDEO. URUGUAY
As 8-bit Commodore users upgrade to
other systems, the}^ also make changes
in the computer magazines that the\^
buy. It's true that Gazette doesn V have
as many subscribers as it did when in-
terest in the 64 was at its peak, but a
more significant problem is the shrink-
ing number of advertisers. For most
publications to remain healthy, they
must have advertisers as well as sub-
scribers. Look at a Gazette from a few
years ago and then look at this issue.
Compare the number of ads for Com-
modore-related products.
By combining Gazette with
COMPUTE, which now has a PC fo-
cus (and more advertisers), we can
somewhat offset the loss in 64 advertis-
ing revenue and yet still provide Com-
modore owners with the useful,
entertaining, and informative material
that they want.
From 1986 until 1988, we pub-
lished COMFUTEVs Atari ST Maga-
zine with a companion disk It failed
10 attract sufficient advertisers or a
large enough base of subscribers to re-
main profitable. Back issues of the
magazine and disk are still available.
The price for each magazine and disk
combination is $8. Foreign orders
should add $6 for postage. To order
back issues of any of our magazines,
write to our Greensboro, North Caroli-
na, address printed below.
If you have a question, comment, or
problem, we want to hear from you.
Send vour letters to Gazette Feedback,
COMPUTE Publications, 324 West
Wendover Avenue, Suite 200, Greens-
boro, North Carolina 27408, B
G-IS COMPUTE
JULY 1991
PROGRAMMER'S PAGE
RANDY
THOMPSON
This month "Programmer's Page"
presents 128 programming tips —
that is, programming tips for the
Commodore 128 (not 128 tips).
Got it? Good!
Taking It with You
Like to move to 64 mode without los-
ing the current BASIC program? It's
easy. Simply enter the following
commands:
POKE 43,1
POKE 44,28
These POKE statements tell the
64 portion of your computer that the
current BASIC program may be found
in memory at 7169 ($1C01), the de-
fault location in 1 28 mode.
HENNING VAHLENKAMP
MATAWAN, NJ
Timely Program Saves
This utility programs one of your
computer's function keys so that it
saves the current BASIC program to
disk. To keep successive saves sepa-
rate, the elapsed time is added to the
end of the program*s filename.
When you run this utility, you
are asked to enter a filename and a
function-key number. As an example,
enter MYPROGRAM, 5 (the 5 speci-
fies the f5 key). Answer Yes at the RE-
SET CLOCK prompt. Next, load the
program you want to edit, make your
changes, and then press f5. If 20 min-
utes and 32 seconds have elapsed,
your program will be saved to disk
using the filename MYPROGRAM
002032. Now let's say you make addi-
tional changes which take exactly 5
minutes. When you press f5, the pro-
gram is saved with the filename
MYPROGRAM 002532.
10 C$=CHRS(34):BL$= "
20 INPUT '^PROGRAM NAME,
FUNCTION-KEY
NUMBER'^;PS,K
30 P$=LEFT$(P$+BL$,10)
40 PRINT ^^RESET CLOCK?"
50 GET K$:IF K$<>**Y" AND
K$<>"N" GOTO 50
60 IF K$=*V THEN
TI$= "000000"
70 KEY K,"DSAVE"+C$+P$+
C$+TI$+CHR${13)
In addition to providing a way to
differentiate between multiple ver-
sions of the same program, this utihty
also allows you to see how much time
you spend between programming
sessions.
JAMES A. SWIFT
ORL.ANDO, FL
HANDY
PROGRAMMING
\\l
128 ONLY
In Focus
To increase the readability of the
128's 80-column screen, try entering
the following POKEs:
POKE 54784,9
POKE 54785,232
This smooths out the vertical ap-
pearance of the 128's slightly grainy
80-column character set.
JESSE SIEHLER
CUMBERLAND, MD
Undocumented Info
Although it's not mentioned in the
128 System Guide, you can use
CTRL-S instead of the Scroll Lock
key to pause screen scrolling. Press
any other key to continue scroUing.
Another undocumented keyboard tip
is the ESC ESC sequence. Hitting the
Escape key twice provides an aherna-
tive to the traditional ESC O sequence
for canceling quote mode.
If you have a 128D or 128 with a
ROM upgrade, enter the following
instructions.
BANK15:FOR L=25589 TO
25611:PRINTCHR$
(PEEK(L));:NEXT
It reveals a secret message.
HENNING VAHLENKAMP
MATAWAN, NJ
Double-Spaced Listings
With the 128's expanded memory,
programs can reach enormous
lengths. Large BASIC listings can be-
come quite a headache to debug, too.
The following function-key definition
can help out. After executing the code
below, pressing the f 7 key prints a
double-spaced program listing to the
screen.
KEY 7,"OPEN128,3:
ClVn>128:LIST:ClJOSE128:
A"+CHR${13)
Note the A at the end of the func-
tion-key string. This forces a syntax
error which resets the computer's text
output to normal, sin^e-spaced print-
ing. Without this A, strange side ef-
fects occur. If you'd like the option to
list a specific range of program lines,
use these function-key definitions:
KEY7/*OPEN128,3:
CMD128:LIST"
KEY 8,":CIjOSE128:
A''-fCHR${13)
To use these keys, press f 7, enter
the line-number range you want to list
(or don't enter anything if you want to
list the entire program), and then
press f8.
ARTHUR MOORE
ORLANDO, FL
'Trogrammer*s Page" is interested in
your programming tips and tricks.
Send all submissions to Programmer's
Page. COMPUTE'S Gazette, 324 West
Wendover Avenue, Suite 200, Greens-
boro, North Carolina 27408, We'll pay
$25-$50for each tip we publish, B
JULY 1991
COMPUTE a-19
MACHINE LANGUAGE
J I M
BUTTERFIELD
Programming hi-res graphics on
the Commodore 64 or 128 (in 40
column mode) has always been a
mystery to newcomers. The most
confusing thing about the Commo-
dore hi-res screen is the fact that it
isn't laid out the way you might ex-
pect. The eighth pixel on the top row
of the screen appears next to the
ninth, but they are actually eight bytes
apart. As you might expect, plotting
points on a screen like this can in-
volve some pretty complicated math.
This month's column should
make it crystal clear. Given X (0-319)
pixels from the left of the screen, and
Y (0-199) pixels from the top, the cal-
culation goes as follows. Divide X and
Y by 8 (keeping the remainders XR
and YR). The quotients represent the
row (0-39) and column (0-24) of the
character cell in which the pixel is lo-
cated. Multiply the Y quotient by 40
and add the X quotient; that gives the
character cell number. Multiply this
result by 8 to get the byte number for
the start of the graphics cell memory;
add YR to get the actual byte. The re-
sulting number, from 0 to 7999, deter-
mines the byte within graphic
memory. Add the graphics base to get
the actual address. The XR value will
tell us which of the eight bits will be
involved.
It sounds complex, but it can be
worked out neatly in machine lan-
guage. Multiplying and dividing by 8
is just a matter of three shifts, left or
right. Dividing by a value such as 8,
the remainder is even easier The
AND function will extract it for us.
Looking more closely, we see that a
division by 8 is followed by a multi-
plication by 8; that provides another
shortcut.
In fact, multiplying by 40 seems
to be the hardest part, and that's just
multiplying by 5 and then by 8.
Assuming that the graphics base
is at address $2000, and that the user
will POKE values of X into addresses
78 (high byte, $4E) and 79 (low, $4F),
and POKE Y into address 80 ($50).
033C A5 Sa LDA $50
033E 29 07
0340 85 52
AND #$07
STA $52
Note that the EOR command will
produce the equivalent of lNT(Y/8)*8
in a single instruction. We'll do this
again later for X.
0342 45 50 EOR $50
0344 85 FC STA SFC
0346 A2 00 LDX #$00
0348 86 FD STX $FD
We'll multiply by 4 and add the
original value to get the effect of mul-
tiplying bv 5. We're arriving at the
equivalent of INT(Y/8)*40.
034A 06 FC ASL $FC
034C 26 FD ROL $FD
034E 06 FC ASL $FC
0350 26 FD ROL $FD
The earlier value is still in A, so
we may add immediately. Can you
see why we may be sure that the carry
flag is clear?
0352 65 FC ADC $FC
0354 90 02 BCC $0358
0356 E6 FD INC $FD
The calculated value is in the A
register (low) and address $FD (high).
Next you want to multiply by 8, so
continue to use A. A loop is possible,
but straight code is easy.
0358 OA ASL
0359 26 FD ROL $FD
035B OA ASL
035C 26 FD ROL $FD
035E OA ASL
035F 26 FD ROL $FD
0361 85 FC STA $FC
Time to work on X,
0363 A5 4F LDA $4F
0365 29 07 AND #$07
0367 85 51 STA $51
0369 45 4F EOR $4F
The three low bits of the A regis-
ter must be 0. We want to add the val-
ue in A to the value in SFC and $FD,
and then add the Y remainder that we
stored long ago in address $52. These
values have no bits in common, so we
can combine them and save a step
using the ORA instruction.
036B 05 52 ORA $52
036D 65 FC ADC $FC
036F 85 FC STA $FC
Video base address is assumed as
$2000.
0371 A5 4E LDA $4E
0373 09 20 ORA #$20
0375 65 FD ADC $FD
0377 85 FD STA $FD
0379 60 RTS
In the above coding, the carry flag has
been doing exactly the right thing ev-
ery time. A happy occurence.
Address FC/FD contains the ad-
dress of the byte for manipulation.
You'll need this bit-lookup table.
037A 80 40 20 10 08 04 02 01
Finally, this calHng routine will
calculate the location and set the
pixel.
0382 20 3C 03 JSR $033C
0385 A6 51 LDX $51
Q-20 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
MACHINE LANGUAGE
0387 AO 00 LDY #$00
0389 Bl FC LDA ($FC),Y
038B ID 80 03 ORA $037 A,X
038E 91 FC STA ($FC)»Y
0390 60 RTS
POKE 78,X-high (0 or 1); POKE
79,X-low; POKE 80,Y and then SYS
898 (that's address $382), and the
pixel will be plotted. Although the
above might seem like a lot of code,
it's surprising how much good math
you can pack into a relatively brief
machine language program.
The following BASIC program
may seem slow, but that's the fault
of BASIC, not the ML code. Note
that address 8 1 92 (hex 2000) is with-
in the activity area of the BASIC lan-
guage; a larger program using this
kind of code would need to look
carefully so that the screen would
not collide with BASIC.
100 DATA 165,80,41,7,133,82
110 DATA 69,80,133,252,162,0
120 DATA 134,253,6,252,38,253
130 DATA 6,252,38,253,101,252
140 DATA 144,2,230,253,10,38
150 DATA 253,10,38,253,10,38
160 DATA 253,133,252,165,79,41
170 DATA 7,133,81,69,79,5,82
180 DATA 101,252,133,252,165
190 DATA 78,9,32,101,253,133
200 DATA 253,96,128,64,32,16,8
210 DATA 4,2,1,32,60,3,166,81
220 DATA 160,0,177,252,29,122
230 DATA 3,145,252,96
300 FOR J=82e TO 912
310 READ X:T=T+X
320 POKE J,X
330 NEXT J
340 IF T09391 THEN STOP
400 REM SWITCH IN HI -RES
410 POKE 53272,24
420 POKE 53265,59
450 REM CLEAR COLOR
460 FOR J=1024 TO 2047
4 70 POKE J, 118: NEXT
480 REM CLEAR CHARACTER
490 FOR J=8192 TO 16383
500 POKE J, 0: NEXT
510 FOR X=30 TO 200
520 y=20:GOSUB 900
530 Y=X-10:GOSUB 900
540 Y=X-9:G0SUB 900
5 50 NEXT X
790 FOR J=1024 TO 2047
800 POKE J, 32; NEXT ^^
810 REM SWITCH OUT HI-RES
820 POKE 53272,20
830 POKE 53265,27
840 END
900 POKE 78,X/256
910 POKE 79, (X AND 255)
920 POKE 80,Y:SYS 898
930 RETURN
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. Pt)stil Code -
BEGINNER BASIC
LARRY COTTON
Although we studied this not long
ago, we'll continue our BASIC
math with a review of the some-
what arcane, but nevertheless
quite useful, trigonometric functions
sine, cosine, and tangent (or SIN,
COS, and TAN, as they are used in
BASIC). Bui first a brief course in
trigonometry.
Triangles are the reasons trig ex-
ists. Without those ubiquitous three-
sided figures, SIN, COS, and TAN
probably would never have been in-
vented. In the good old days, you had
two methods for finding various sides
and angles in triangles: trigonometry
tables in books and a slide rule.
Thanks to calculators and computers,
trig functions are now a mere keypress
away and more accurate than either
the slide rule or tables. SIN, COS, and
TAN can handle most iriangulation
problems you'd want to solve. Yes,
there are more trig functions, but
most of them can be derived from
these basic three functions.
To use trig to discover unknown
sides or angles, the triangle must be a
right triangle — that is, one angle must
equal 90 degrees. (In this column, tri-
angle means "right triangle.")
You must also know at least two
other things about it: the length of one
side and the size of one angle, or the
length of two sides. However, know-
ing all the angles is not sufficient to
calculate the sides. Possibly the most
common triangle is a 45-45-90 (so
called because of its angles); both its
short sides are the same length.
The next most common is a 30-
60-90. The length of its shortest side is
always half the length of its longest.
Notice that the sum of a triangle's an-
gles is always 180 degrees; if you know
two angles, just subtract their sum
from 180 to find the third angle. By
knowing the lengths of any two sides
of a triangle, you can find the length of
the third side by using squares and
square roots (see last month's col-
umn). Here's an example:
10 PRINTiCIRlfDNIIF YOU DONT
KNOW A SIDE,"
20 PR1NT**JUST PRESS RETUBN."
:PRINT
30 INPUP^LONGESTSIDEnSL
40 INPUP*SHORTEST S1DE";SS
SO INPUr^ECOND LDNGEST
SIDE";SM
60 IFSL=0THENUS=SQR(SSt2+SMt2)
70 IFSM=0THENUS=SQR(SLT2-SST2)
80 IFSS-0THENUS=SOR(SLt -SMt2)
100 PRINT:PRINT"UNKNOWN SIDE
IS"US
When running this program, just
press Return to denote the side you're
trying to find. For instance, if you
press Return at the first prompt, the
value of the longest side will be 0.
Then, after you enter the values of the
two other sides, line 60 will execute. It
detects that SL (the longest side) is 0,
or unknown, and calculates its value.
WeVe using the Pythagorean
theorem, which says that the square of
the longest side of a triangle is the sum
of the squares of the other two sides.
Look at line 60. US (the unknown
side) is calculated by taking the square
root of the sum of the squares of the
other two sides. Remember that math
inside parentheses is done first. There-
fore, SS (the shortest side) is squared
first; then SM (the next longest side) is
squared before those two numbers are
added. The square root of that num-
ber is taken, giving the length of the
longest side.
Line 70 or 80 is used if the long-
est side and one of the shorter sides
are known. The longest side is
squared first; then the known short
side is squared. The latter result is
eo*"
SIN 30**=-^ =.5
10
10*
90°
30°
KNOWN ANGLE
Figure 1
Figure 2
C-22 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
BEGINNER BASIC
subtracted from the former, and the
square root of that result is taken to
gel the answer. One of the IF-THENs
will always be true if two legal values
are entered. Even though three ques-
tions are always presented, only two
positive values can be entered. Line
100 always prints the answer.
Try entering 5 for the longest side
and 3 for the shortest. The second
longest side will be 4. Another whole-
number triangle is one whose sides are
5-12-13. In other words, if you just
press Return at the first prompt and
then enter 5 and 1 2, the answer will be
1 3. If you enter 13, skip the next, and
enter 1 2 for the second longest side,
the answer is 5.0000001, which should
be exactly 5.
The reason for the very slight
mathematical error is that the com-
puter converts every decimal number
you enter to a binary number, does
the calculations in binary math, and
then converts the binary answer back
to decimal form. Some accuracy is
lost in this conversion process.
SIN is simply a ratio of the
lengths of two sides of a triangle. In a
30-60-90 triangle, if the shortest side is
5 feel, the longest will be 10 feet. The
ratio of the two sides is 5:10, which
can be written 5/10 or .5, The shortest
side will be opposite the 30-degree an-
gle. The SIN of 30 degrees is .5. The
SIN of any angle is the ratio of the
side opposite the angle to the longest
side. (See figure 1.)
To find this value using the com-
puter, try entering the following in the
immediate mode.
PRINT SIN(30)
Surprisingly, the computer spits out
-.988031623. What gives?
The computer calculates trigono-
metric functions in radians. There are
pi (about 3. 14) radians in 180 degrees;
one degree equals about .017 radian.
Therefore, in order to calculate SIN in
degrees we must type the following:
PRINT SIN(30*7t/180)
This will yield the correct answer, .5.
The side opposite the known an-
gle is called, appropriately, the oppo-
site side. The side next to the known
angle is called the adjacent side, and
the long side is the hypotenuse. (See
figure 2,) As an example, if you know
one angle and its opposite side, you
can calculate everything else.
10 INPUT1CLR1IDN1SH0RT SIDE";SS
20 INPUT^'IDNIANGLE OPPOSITE
SHORT SIDE*^;KA
30SL=SS/SIN(KA*K/180)
40AN=180-90-KA
50SM=SQR(SLt[2-SStl2)
60 PRINTrPRINT'LONG SIDE IS"SL
70 PRINT:PRINT"NEXT lONGEST SIDE
IS"SM
80 PRINT:PRINT"SHORTSIDE IS"SS
90 PRINT:PRINP^ANGLES ARE 90,"KA",
AND"AN
Next month: more trig! 0
COMPUTE'S
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and 128 owners
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• Spelling checkers
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• Date-and-time stamp
• 80 -column preview for the 64
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fuU documentation)
■ t&« Send me copies
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US, and Canada add 11.00 for surface mail or $3-00 for
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City Sratp
7,\?
Mail personal check or money order to
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orders, add 7'V, good and services [ax
Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Program availabJe only on 5'4-inch disks,
JULY 1991
COMPUTE a23
DIVERSIONS
FRED
D ' ) G N A Z I O
About a year ago I wrote a column
announcing the Design-a-Robot
Conlesl. Shortly after that piece
appeared, COMPUTE! Publica-
tions went through major changes,
and the Design-a-Robot Contest had
to be postponed. Recently weVe had a
resurgence of interest in this contest,
so we've decided to run it again.
When I was a little kid, the only
robots I saw were on TV and in the
movies. Back then there were no real
robots, only robots of fantasy and sci-
ence fiction — robots like Robbie, To-
bor, Klaatu, and Gog. That didn't
stop me from trying to build a robot
of my own. I scavenged parts from old
bicycles, washing machines, photo-
copiers, and toasters. I once even used
a bedpan as a robot's body. During
school I daydreamed about building a
robot of my own — a man Friday, a
servant, a buddy, a friend.
When I grew up, I learned that
while I was dreaming up make-believe
robots, real robots were being built in
the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The real
robots looked like long skinny sea
monsters with pliers for jaws. They
were called roboi arms and were bolt-
ed to factory floors. They painted cars,
welded, and lifted heavy objects.
NASA built other robots and
launched them into outer space. In
space or on earth, robots journeyed
where humans could not go—into the
poisonous atmosphere of Venus, the
crushing gravitational pressure of
Jupiter, and the cores of nuclear reac-
tors. They became a sort of human
telepresence that could explore the
universe and take risks we humans
dared not take.
Robots began doing jobs that
were dull, dirty, or dangerous. Robots
never got sick, didn't take coffee
breaks, had an infinite attention span,
and could work three shifts without
dropping. Bosses liked them because
they never talked back, didn't go on
strike, and didn't belong to a union.
All these outer space, undersea,
and factory robots were neat, but they
weren't what I really wanted. 1 wanted
a robot like C3P0, R2D2, or Vincent
in Walt Disney's The Black Hole.
For a while, in the early 1980s, it
looked as if I would get my wish. As
personal computers grew in populari-
ty, a new field of personal robotics
emerged. An International Personal
Robotics Congress was held in Albu-
querque, New Mexico, in April 1984.
The following two years personal ro-
bots were everywhere. Every week new
robots came to my house so I could re-
view them for COMPUTEI's Gazette
or for the TV program I was on, "The
New Tech Times.'* When the show's
TV crew arrived, I would plug the ro-
bots into my Commodore 64, turn
them on, and let them roam the house.
For one of the TV shows I had 27 ro-
bots (monkeys, turtles, and robo-balls)
all running at the same time.
I was in seventh heaven. My
childhood dreams had (almost) come
true. But then the bottom fell out in
the personal robotics business. No
new robots came to stay. I was sad. I
missed the whir and buzz of the little
motors, the tire tracks across my
scrambled eggs, and the occasional
wandering robot who ended up stuck
in the bathtub, wedged under the toi-
let, or lost among the galoshes in the
back of the closet. I missed their chip-
per voices, their songs (like "Old Mac-
Donald Had a Robot"), and their
clever remarks when they encoun-
tered the broom or the cat. "Hi!"
they'd say. "Are you a human being?"
I can't wait around any longer. If
the robot revolution isn't going to
happen on its own, FU make it happen
with the Design-a-Robot contest.
Entering the contest is easy. All
you have to do is invent a new per-
sonal robot on paper. It can be com-
pletely original or a combination of all
the robots you've seen, dreamed
about, or imagined. Draw a picture of
the robot, label all of its interesting
parts, and describe what each part
does. Show me how the robot relates
to your computer. Does the computer
control the robot? Does it program the
robot? If so, how? How are the signals
and commands transmitted and re-
ceived? What kind of programming
language should the robot use? Can
you invent commands of your own?
Along with the robot's diagram I
would like a short description of what
robots mean to you. Reach down into
your heart. What would you do if you
had a robot just Uke the robot you've
designed? Be specific. Be imaginative.
Be wild. Send me your creations.
All entries must be received by
August 30, 1991, and winners will be
selected by October 15. The first-place
winner will receive a model robot val-
ued at $200; five runners-up will each
receive a smaller robot valued at $30.
Please send me your contest en-
try (pictures, labels, description, and
so on) to Design-a-Robot Contest,
COMPUTE Publications, 324 West
Wendover Avenue, Suite 200,
Greensboro, North Carolina 27408.
Be sure to include your name, ad-
dress, and telephone number. Win-
ners must consent to have their robots
featured in a future "Diversions" col-
umn without additional compensa-
tion. The odds of winning a prize will
be determined by the number and
quality of entries. The decision of the
judges will be final, and COMPUTE
Publications cannot be held responsi-
ble for entries misdirected in the mail.
Entries become the property of COM-
PUTE Publications and cannot be re-
turned. Employees of COMPUTE
Publications are not eligible. H
G-24 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
D
ROGRAMS
SIMON
EDGEWORTH
In ancient times humans regarded
Jupiter as the ruler of the slc>'. Re-
cently, interest in the giant planet
has rocketed due to the weahh of
new information discovered by the
Voyager spaceships. This program
displays the 1 6 major moons and their
orbits around Jupiter.
The program consists of two
modules: JURBAS and JUP.ML. The
first is written in BASIC. To avoid
typing errors, use The Automatic
Proofreader to type it in; see "Typing
Aids" elsewhere in this section. When
youVe finished typing it in, be sure to
save a copy of the program.
The second part of the program,
JUP.ML, is written in machine lan-
guage. Enter this module with MLX,
our machine language entry program;
again, see ^Typing Aids." When MLX
prompts you, respond with the values
given below.
Starting address: COOO
Ending address: C18F
When you've finished entering
JUP.ML, be sure to save it with that
name to the same disk as JUP.BAS.
Load and run JURBAS; it will auto-
matically load JUP.ML.
Choosing Moons
After a short pause, the main menu
will appear. You'll see a list with Jupi-
ter at the top, then the 1 6 moons,
starting with Metis (the moon closest
to the planet) and ending with Sinope
(the moon farthest from Jupiter).
Use the up- and down-cursor
keys to select which moon orbits you
wish to see. Discs on the left of the
screen will indicate which moons are
currently selected. You can choose a
group of either four or eight moons.
Press the G key to display the moon
orbits. After a pause for calculations,
the graphic screen will appear.
Orbit Graphics
Jupiter is shown in the center of the
screen. The scale depends on which
moons you select, so Jupiter will ap-
pear as a circle when you select the in-
ner moons and as a dot when you
select the outer moons.
The moons are shown as dots at
various distances from the planet. Press
G, and the moons will move around
the planet in their orbits, leaving a trace
behind them. You can adjust the speed
of the graphics by pressing the F key
(faster) or the S key (slower).
At the lower left corner of the
screen, a readout shows how many
earth days have elapsed. The innermost
moons take only a few hours to com-
plete an orbit. The outermost moons
take more than an earth year. To halt
the moons, press X.
LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE NUMEROUS
MOONS THAT ORBIT
AROUND THE PLANET
JUPITER WITH THIS
ASTRONOMY
PROGRAM FOR
THE 64
Names and Facts
While the graphic screen is halted, you
can identify the moons shown by press-
ing the N key. A moon will flash while
its name appears on the screen. To
identify the next moon, press N again.
When a moon is flashing, you can
press I to view information about it.
To exit from any part of the pro-
gram, simply press X. It will take you
back to the previous screen.
Comparing Moons
Go back to the main menu and press
the C key. The comparison menu will
appear. Now hit P, D, E, or S to com-
pare period, distance, eccentricity, or
size, respectively. To make the figures
more meaningful, the corresponding
data for our own moon is also shown
for comparison.
Customizing
You can easily change the program's
colors on line 380, CO is the border
color, CI is the screen color, C2 is the
text color, and C3 is the color used for
Jupiter and moon traces. Similarly,
you can change the 1 6 moon colors on
line 390, but don't make anything the
same color as the screen, or it will be
invisible-
Callistro's orbit should appear
circular on your screen. If not, try
slightly adjusting the value of SC on
line 380.
If you want to tinker with the or-
bits, here's the data format in lines
1 10-270: name, diameter, semimajor
axis, eccentricity, period, longitude of
perihelion, longitude at start.
Notes
The graphics show views approxi-
mately from the ecliptic north. When
viewed from the north, all the planets
and most of the moons in our solar
system orbit counterclockwise. Notice
that four of Jupiter's moons orbit the
other way around. One possible expla-
nation is that they might have been
asteroids captured by Jupiter's gravi-
tational field.
JUP.BAS
RF 100 REM COPYRIGHT 199L - CO
MPUTE PUBLICATIONS INTL
LTD - ALL RIGHTS RESER
VED
JK 110 DATA HETIS,40f 128,0, ,29
5,0,0
DX 120 DATA ADRASTEA, 40,129,0,
.295,0,120
PF 130 DATA AMALTHEA, 270X165X1
50,180, .003, .439,0,231
MD 140 DATA THESE , 80, 222, . 013 ,
.670,0,331
XP 150 DATA 10, 3640,422, .004,1
.77,0,233
JULY 1991
COMPUTE G-25
PROGRAMS
DR 160
DATA EUROPA, 3100, 671, .0
1,112
XE
1040
I=PA(M) :J=X*CS(I)+Y*SN
1,3.55,0,273
MS
560 T=0:PRINT"{CLR}"TT$"MAI
(I) :Y=Y*CS(I)-X*SN(I) :
EQ 170
DATA GANYMEDE, 527 0,1070
N MENU": PRINT
X=J
,.001,7*16,0,81
RC
570 PRINTCHR$(113) "JUPITER"
MF
1050
y=INT{YC+Y*RA(M)*YS) :X
HG 180
DATA CALLISTO, 4990, 1885
BE
580 FORI=0TO15:PRINT" "NA$(
=INT(XC+X*RA(M)*XS)
,.007,16,69,0,332
I) :next
XX
1060
IFY<4 0ORY>239ORX<14ORX
EE 190
DATA LEDA, 16,11110, ,14 7
PE
590 PRrNT:PRINT"UP/DOWN-SEL
>333THENY=0:X=^0
,240,280,309
ECT MOONS"
HE
1070
P0KES1+N,INT{X/256) : PO
FG 200
DATA HIMALIA, 96, 11470,.
158,251,249,101
JB
600 PRrNT"G-GO";PRINT"C=COM
PARE":PRINT"E=END PROGR
KES2+N,XAND25 5:POKES3+
N,y:NEXT
XE 210
DATA LYSITHEA, 16, 11710,
AM"
RF
1080
SYS49281:SyS49331:IFHF
,107,260,11,297
EK
610 IFMI>6THENMI=0
THEN1150
BG 220
DATA ELARA,32,11740,,20
AQ
620 IFMI<0THENMI^6
HX
1090
PRINT" "RIGHT${" "+STR
7,260,149,81
CK
630 BI-(6ANDMI)*2
$(INT(T)) ,3)"{UP}"
DF 230
DATA ANANKE, 16, 21200, .1
KP
640 BO^BI+3 + 4* (lANDMI)
RR
1100
GETK$: IFK$=^""THENT^T+T
7,-610,180,36
DB
650 PRINT" {HOME} {2 DOWN}":F
S: GOTO 10 10
FC 240
DATA CARME,16,22600,,21
ORI=^0TO15
MM
1110
IFK$="X"THENGOSUB1600:
,-690,6,239
JF
660 J=113;IFI<BI0RI>B0THENJ
GOTO1150
BQ 250
DATA PASIPHAE, 16, 23500,
= 32
RQ
1120
IFK$^"F"THENTS=^TS*1.5:
,38,-734,0,90
MX
670 PRINTCHR$(J) :NEXT
IFTS>THTHENTS=TH
BM 260
DATA SINOPE,16,23700,.2
XD
680 POKE198,0
PC
1130
IFK$="S"THENTS=TS/1,5:
8,-760,226,243
GJ
690 GETK$:IFK$="G"THEN750
IFTS<TLTHENTS=TL
RM 27 0
DATA OUR MOON, 3478,384,
SP
700 IFKS="C"THEN1200
BE
1140
GOTO1100
,055,27*32,0,0
XJ
710 IFK$="{DOWN}"THENMI=MI+
CX
1150
POKE198,0
DR 280
IFI=0THENr=l:LOAD"JUP.M
1:GOTO610
BM
1160
GETK$: IFK$="N"THEN1660
L",8,l
PE
720 IFK$="{UP}*'THENMI=MI-1:
FS
1170
IFK$="G"THENGOSUB1630;
XX 290
POKE55,0:POKE56,136:CLR
GOTO610
GOTD1100
:Q = 16
AF
730 IFK$<>"E"THEN690
CQ
1180
IFK$="X"THENGOSOB2010: '
JR 300
DIHSN(255) ,CS(255) ,NA$(
AG
740 PRINT"{CLR}":END
GDTO560
Q),DI${Q) ,CR[Q) ,RA(Q) ,B
SP
750 PRINT"{CLR}"TT$:PRINTWT
QQ
1190
GOTO1160
C(Q) ,PE(Q) ,PA(Q) ,EA(Q}
$
JJ
1200
PRINT" {CLRl"TT$"COMPAR
JE 310
V=53248:PP-34816:SP=368
BJ
760 ONMI+1GOSUB770,780,790,
E MENU": PRINT
56
800,810,820, 8 30 :G0T08 4 0
GE
1210
PRINT"P=PERIOD": PRINT
DJ 320
S 1=53 200 :S2=S 1+8 :S3=S2+
8
QP
770 TL=,0004:TS=.005:TH=.04
: RET URN
SK
1220
PRINT"D=DISTANCE" : PRIN
T
MF 330
YC=139.5:XC«173*S:MI=0:
RJ=71.6
MC
780 TL=.005:TS=.02:TH=.1;RE
TURN
GH
1230
PRINT"E=ECCENTRICITY" :
PRINT
SJ 340
TT$="{RVS} THE MOONS OF
EM
790 tl=.02:ts=.1:th=.4:retu
RE
1240
PRINT"S=SIZE":PRINT
JUPITER {OFF}
RN
HP
1250
PRINT"X=MAIN MENU"
{2 SPACES}"
XC
800 TL=,1:TS=,2:TH=,7;RETUR
EE
1260
POKE198,0
JM 350
CP$="COMPUTE PUBLICATIO
N
JM
1270
GETK$: IFK$="X"THEN560
NS INTL LTD (C) 1991"
HF
810 TL=,4:TS=3:TH=12:RETURN
HG
1280
K=VAL(K$)
JB 360
WT$="{3 DOWN}CALCULATIO
FH
820 TL=1:TS==4:TH^1€:RETURN
SG
1290
IFK$="P"THEN1340
NS WILL TAKE A FEW SECO
GS
830 TL»I,5:TS=6:TH=45;RETUR
FK
1300
IFK$="D"THEN1410
NDS . . .":CH$="COMPARIS0
N
RC
1310
IFK$^"E"THEN1460
N"
AR
840 MA=RA(B0)*{1+EC(B0))
AP
1320
IFK$="S"THEN1520
RS 370
DJS=" DISTANCE FROM CEN
FE
850 YS=99/MA:XS=YS*SC
MH
1330
GOTO1270
TER OF JUPITER" :TK$="TH
BD
860 QB=BO"BI;CN=0
AR
1340
PRINT" {CLR} "TT$CM$ : PHI
OUSAND KM"
BQ
870 FORN=0TOQB:POKEV+39+N,C
NT
FS 380
C0=06:C1=0;C2=14:C3^11:
R(N+BI):NEXT
PA
1350
PRINT"ORBIT PERIOD"
SC=1,3
SQ
880 FORr=0TO23:POKESl-l-I,0:N
DH
1360
PRINT" (EARTH DAYS)": PR
RF 390
DATA 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
EXT:SYS49281 ■
INT
,12,13,14,15,4,3,2
BX
890 POKE53247,Cl+C3*16:SYS4
FQ
1370
FORI=0TO16
EK 400
PRIi^T" {CLR} "CHR5 (142)CH
RS (8) :CT = 11
MF
9521 '
900 FORI=36800TOI+63:POKEI, '
MR
1380
PRINTNA$(I) ,ABS(PE(I) )
PG 410
POKEV+32 ,C0 : POKEV+33 ,C1
32:NEXT
XS
1390
IFPE (I)<0THENPRINT"RET
:POKE646,C2
AS
910 SYS49208 '
ROGRADE"?
KA 420
PRINT CP$:PRINT
QP
920 IFMK3THEN960
FH
1400
PRINT:NEXT:GOTO1570
BR 430
PRINTTAB(8)TT$:PRINTWT$
PH
930 FORI=158TO160:FORJ=98TO
XK
1410
PRI NT " {CLR } "TT $CM$ ; PRI
BS 440
FORI-0TO2 55:J=I*X/128
100
NT
JA 450
SN{I)=SIN(J) :CS(I)-COS (
J) :NEXT
GK
940 POKE253,I:POKE254,0:POK
E255,J
DH
1420
PRI NT "AVERAGE DISTANCE
FROM PLANET CENTER"
KM 460
FORN^0TOQ
FP
950 SyS49373:NEXT:NEXT:GOT0
SB
1430
PR*I NT "(THOUSAND KM)":P
BS 470
READNA$(N) ,DI$(N) ,RA(N)
1000
RINT
,EC(N) ,PE{N) ,J,K
MM
960 FORI=0TO255
KD
1440
FORI=0TO16
KH 480
PA (N) = (J* 256/360+ , 5 ) AND
255
DS
970 POKE253,159,5+XS*RJ*SN(
I) :POKE254,0
ME
1450
PRINTNAS(I) ,RA(I) :NEXT
:GOTO1570
PM 490
EA(N)=(K-J)/360:NEXT
JH
980 P0KE255,99.5+YS*RJ*CS(I
BF
1460
PRINT" {CLR] "TT$CM5: PRI
KP 500
FORN=0TOQ-1:READCR(N) ;N
)
NT
EXT
SG
990 SYS49373:NEXT
SO
1470
PRINT"ORBIT ECCENTRICI
FC 510
FORI =PPT0PP^-126 : POKEI ,0
PE
1000 GOSUB1980:GOSUB1600
TY"
:NEXT
MJ
1010 FORN=0TOQB:M=N+BI:E=EC
XJ
1480
PRINT" (CIRCLE = 0)":PRIN
QQ 520
POKEPP+28,112:POKEPP+31
(M) :A-EA(M)+T/PE(M)
T
,112
SG
1020 A=( (A-INT(A))*256+,5}A
MH
1490
FORI=0TO16
KP 530
P0KEPPf3 4,112:POKEPP+89
,112
ND255: IFE< . 1THENX=-CS (
A) ;y=SN(A) :GOTO1050
MQ
1500
PRINTNA${I),:IFEC{I)<.
01THENPRINT0: NEXT: GOTO
CB 54 0
POKEPP4-92,24 8:POKEPP + 95
QD
1030 Z=(E*E-1>/(E*CS{A)"1) :
1570
,248
X=2*E-Z*CS (A) : Y=Z*SN (A
XR
1510
PRINTEC(I) :NEXT:G0T015
JD 550
POKEPP+98 , 248 : POKEPP+10
>
70
G-26 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
PROGRAMS
DG 1520
SB 1530
JS 1540
QH 1550
HF 1560
PG 1570
FA 1580
JM 1590
AB 16 00
FG 1610
CC 1620
XC 1630
JQ 1640
BA 1650
XS 1660
QM 1670
FK 1680
QB 1690
AP 1700
FS 1710
DD 1720
PX 1730
XS 1740
QE 17 50
KK 1760
FQ 1770
MH 178 0
HK 1790
KC 1800
QH 1810
SC 1820
:NEX
:P0
PRINT" {CLR} '*TT$CH$lPRI
NT
PRINT"DIAMETER"
PRINT" (KM) ": PRINT
FORI=0TO16
PRINTNA${I) ,DI$(I) ;
T:GOTO1570
PRINT: PRIHT"X=MENU"
KS198,0
GETK$; IFK$="X"THEN12 00
GOTO 1580
GOSUB1790
PRINT"G=GO N^NAME X=^ME
NUCUPl"
HF=1: RETURN
GOSUB1790
PRINT"{4 SPAGESjEARTH
(SPACE}DAYS{2 SPACESjF
=FAST S=SLOW X=HALT
(UP}"
HF«0: RETURN
POKE19e,0
GOSUB1790:CM=CN+BI
PRINT"*''NA$(CM) "*"TAB{
11)"I = INF0 N^NEXT X=^CO
NTINUEfUP}"
J=9
J=J+1 : 1FJ*10THENPOKESP
+CN,3 3
IFJ>19THENJ«0:POKESPfC
N,32
GETK$: IFK$ = "'»THEN1700
POKESP+CN,32
IFK$^"I"THEN1800
IFK$^"X"THENGOSUB1600:
GOTO II 50
IFK$<>"N"THEN1690
CN^CN + 1 : IFCN>QBTHENCN'=
0
GOTO1660
PRINT" {37 SPACES} {UP}"
: RETURN
GOSUB2010
PRINT" {CLR}"TT$: PRINT
PRINT"*"NA$(CM)"*":PRI
NT
C030
:A9
00
8D
14
03
4C
31
EA
10
DC 1830
PRINT"AVERAGE"DJ$:PRIN
C038
:A9
00
85
FB
A9
A0
85
FC
D6
TRA(CM)TK$:PRINT
C040
:A9
00
A8
A2
20
91
FB
C8
DD
DR 1840
PR1NT"MINIMUM"DJ$:PRIN
C048
:D0
FB
E6
FC
CA
D0
F6
60
C5
TINT(RA(CH)*{1"EC{CH) )
C050
:AD
00
DD
29
FC
09
01
3D
92
+.5)TK$:PRINT
C058
:00
OD
A9
8C
8D
88
02
60
42
HD 1850
PRINT"HAXIMUM"DJ9: PRIN
C060
'78
A9
7F
8D
0D
DC
A9
01
81
TINT(RA(CH)*{i-»-EC(CM) )
C068
.8D
lA
D0
A9
IB
8D
11
D0
ED
+.5)TK$:PRINT
C070
:A9
F2
8D
12
D0
A9
00
8D
11
AH 1860
PRINT"ORBIT ECCENTRICI
C078
:14
03
A9
C0
8D
15
03
58
25
TY"
C080
:60
A2
07
BD
D0
CF
4A
2E
20
CK 1870
IFEC (CM)C*01THENPRINT0
C088
:F8
CF
CA
10
F6
A2
07
A0
C5
:PRINT:GOTO1890
C090
:0F
BD
E0
CF
99
E8
CF
88
BA
EK 1880
PRINTEC(CM) :PRINT
C098
:BD
D8
CF
99
E8
CF
88
CA
25
HC 1890
PRINT"ORBIT PERIOD"
C0A0
:10
EF
A2
10
AD
11
D0
10
DE
EE 1900
PRINTABS (PE (CM) ) "EARTH
C0A8
:FB
BD
E8
CF
9D
00
D0
CA
0B
DAYS": PRINT
C0B0
:10
F7
60
A2
07
8E
F9
CF
A4
RK 1910
PRINT"DIAMETER"
C0B8
.BD
E0
CF
F0
IC
38
E9
28
18
BX 1920
PRINT" "DI${CM) " KM":P
C0C0
:35
FF
BD
D0
CF
85
FE
BD
lA
RINT
C0C8
:D8
CF
38
E9
0E
85
FD
B0
83
QX 193 0
PRINT"X-CONTIN0E"
C0D0
.02
C6
FE
20
DD
C0
AE
F9
30
BB 1940
POKE198,0
C0D8
;CF
CA
10
D9
60
A9
00
85
C3
PK 1950
GETK$
C0E0
,02
A5
FF
29
F8
0A
26
02
9D
JS 1960
IFK$-"X"THENGOSUB1980 :
C0E8
:0A
26
02
0A
26
02
85
FB
lA
GOTO1660
C0F0
A6
02
86
FC
0A
26
02
0A
DD
XC 1970
GOTO1950
C0F8
:26
02
18
65
FB
8.5
FB
A5
FA
HF 1980
POKE808,234:SYS49232:S
CI 00
:02
65
FC
85
FC
A5
FD
29
79
YS49248
C10e
:F8
18
65
FB
85
FB
A5
FE
E0
FG 1990
POKEV+21,2|(QB+l)-l:PR
C110
65
FC
85
FC
A5
FF
29
07
8C
INT" {HOME}"
C118
18
65
FB
85
FB
A9
A0
65
06
AP 2000
FORI=2T024:PRINT"
C120
FC
85
FC
A5
01
29
FE
85
AD
{ DOWN } " ; : NE XT : RETURN
C128
.01
A5
FD
29
07
AA
A9
00
IE
RX 2010
SYS49474:SYS49497:POKE
C130
38
6A
CA
10
FC
A0
00
11
40
808,237 .
C138
FB
91
FB
A5
01
09
01
85
AB
JQ 2020
POKEV+21,0: RETURN
C140
01
60
78
A9
00
8D
lA
D0
41
CI48
A9
31
8D
14
03
A9
EA
SD
02
JUP.ML
C150
15
03
A9
81
8D
0D
DC
58
IF
C158
60
AD
00
DD
09
03
BD
00
C4
CI60
DD
A9
14
8D
18
D0
A9
04
F3
C000:A9
0F 8D 19 D0 A9 IB 8D 4E
C168
8D
88
02
A9
IB
8D
11
D0
Bl
C008:ll
D0 A9 34 8D 18 D0 A9 06
C170
60
A9
00
85
FB
A9
8C
85
0C
C010:FF
8D 12 D0 A9 IC 8D 14 31
C178
FC
AD
FF
CF
A0
00
A2
04
31
C018:03
4C 81 EA A9 0F 8D 19 CA
C180
91
FB
ca
D0
FB
E6
FC
CA
32
C020:D0
A9 38 8D 18 D0 A9 3B E6
cise
D0
F6
60
00
00
00
00
00
3E
C028:8D
11 D0 A9 F2 8D 12 D0 2C
m
DANIEL
L I G H T N E R
If you call an electronic bulletin
board system (BBS) and browse
through its library of programs
available for downloading, chances
are that many of the files have been
archived — that is, several programs
and instruction files may have been
combined into one master program.
If all of a program's related files
have been combined, a caller has only
to download one file to obtain all the
programs, modules, sprite data, music
files, and instructions required for
proper operation. Archiving (or arcing
as it's often called) is a convenient
method for uploading and download-
ing BBS files.
Some archived files need a spe-
cial rate program to separate (or
dearc) the files into their original
form. Others are self-dearcing (SDA),
meaning that one has only to load and
run the master program for it to sepa-
ARCHIVE FILES FOR
EASY UPLOADING
AND DOWNLOADING
'WITH THIS UTILITY FOR
THE 64
rate and save its individual files to
disk, ready for running.
Typing It In
Noah's Arc is such a program. It cre-
ates SDA files that separate automati-
cally. It is written entirely in machine
language, but it loads and runs like a
BASIC program. Use AfLX our ma-
chine language entry program, to type
it in; see "Typing Aids" elsewhere in
this section. When MLX prompts, re-
spond with the following values.
Starting address: 0801
Ending address: 1298
Be sure to save a copy of the program
before exiting MLX.
Using the Program
Noah's Arc will load a collection of
files and save them in a single master
JULY 1991
COMPUTE C-27
PROGRAMS
file. It accepts program, sequential, or
user files, and it does not matter if dif-
ferent types are loaded together. In ad-
dition to making it convenient for
sending files via modem, SDA files
are also useful for creating backups.
When you run Noah, it asks for
the number of files you wish to ar-
chive. Respond with a number less
than 100. Try not to use more files
than will fit into memory at one lime.
Noah can handle about 160 disk
blocks, depending on the number of
files, not the file size. Noah reserves
25 bytes of memory per file in its own
directory located at $0960 hex or 2480
decimal. This director)' has to be
saved along with the SDA file.
If you aren't sure of the number
of files, you can check the directory by
entering $ and pressing Return. The
directory listing can be stopped and
started by touching any key. This is
useful in determining which and how
many files you wish to load.
After you enter the number,
Noah asks for the filenames. It will
then ask if it is a program, sequential,
or user file. Just press the correspond-
ing number. Noah checks the disk for
that file and returns the disk error sta-
tus. If all is well, it continues loading
the file into memory.
This process repeats until the
memory is full or all the files have
been loaded. Anytime you are asked
for a filename, you can enter $ to get a
directory or enter @ to abort and save
the files already loaded.
When all the files have been load-
ed, Noah asks for a master filename.
At this point make sure that the disk
has enough room on it for the file you
are saving, Noah appends an SDA suf-
fix automatically to the file name. If a
disk error occurs during a save, Noah
lets you try the procedure again.
Noah can be useful as a file copier
as well. If you enter @ when Noah
prompts for a Save filename, it will
dump all files in memory to disk in
their original form. To make more
copies of these files, when Noah
comes back with a prompt asking if
you wish to create more files, press N,
and you will be returned to BASIC
Put another disk in the drive and en-
ter SYS2088. You can repeat this pro-
cess as many times as you like. Noah
always saves to drive 8.
If you load an SDA file and list it,
youUl see the number of files the SDA
file contains. To dearc an SDA file,
just load and run it. If you wish to
save an SDA file to another disk, load
it and enter SYS2088.
Most smaller SDA files can be
loaded and saved like BASIC pro-
grams, but some larger ones may jxjse
a problem because Noah stores files
under BASIC ROM. If you t^^ saving
a file that is too big, you'll get an OUT
OF MEMORY message. Noah's Arc
itself can be loaded and saved like a
BASIC program, but do not try to
save it after it's been run. If you wish
to restart it at any time, enter
SYS50675 and press Return.
NOAH'S ARC
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75
G-28 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
PROGRAMS
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_
JULY 1991
COMPUTE G-29
PROGRAMS
Q U S
V A K A L 1 S
Mining for precious meta!s is a
tough and dangerous occupa-
tion that's part skill and part
luck. Miner is an arcade-style
game that requires some skill and a lot
of luck. It can also be dangerous for
your onscreen miner.
The action is simple and straight-
forward. Use a joystick plugged into
port 2 to control your miner as he digs
around the screen searching for gold
nuggets. Each screen contains 40 nug-
gets, and you must collect at least 20
of them in a specified amount of time
in order to advance to the next screen.
That's the simple part.
In addition to the gold, the earth
your miner tunnels through contains a
couple of deadly hazards — namely,
pockets of methane gas and deposits
of highly radioactive uranium. You
want your miner to collect the gold
and make it back to the surface with-
out succumbing to these subterranean
perils or running out of time.
Miner is written entirely in ma-
chine language, but it loads and runs
like a BASIC program. Enter the pro-
gram with MLX, our machine lan-
guage entry program; see "Typing
Aids" elsewhere in this section. When
MLX prompts you, respond with the
values given below.
Starting address: 0801
Ending address: IBBO
Be sure to save a copy of the program
before exiting MLX,
Starting the Game
The game begins with one of your
three miners standing in the doorway
of a local bank. The bank is where you
sell your gold for cash. You'll collect
any gold nuggets that your miner un-
covers, but you must deliver them to
the bank before lime runs out, or
you'll lose whatever he's found.
Push the fire button to start the
game and pull down on your joystick
to have the miner dig straight down;
push forward to move him up. Push
left or right, and he'll dig in that direc-
tion in search of gold. You'll have to
maneuver him around boulders that
you see scattered across the screen.
Occasionally he'll uncover immov-
able blocks of granite and have to
make a detour around them.
DIG FOR GOLD BUT
WATCH OUT FOR
DEADLY SURPRISES IN
THIS ARCADE GAME
FOR THE 64
Deadly Perils
There's more than gold and granite
waiting for your miner to uncover.
The two hazards, as mentioned earli-
er, are methane gas and uranium de-
posits. The number of hazards per
screen is proportional to the skill level
you've selected. Skill level 1 contains
one or two uranium deposits and two
to four methane pockets. Skill level 2
has two to four uranium deposits and
four to six methane pockets, and so
on up to skill level 5. Methane pockets
appear as blue bubbles, and uranium
deposits appear as gray oblong balls,
not to be confused with the gray boul-
ders that litter the screen.
When you first expose a hazard,
you'll have about one second to get
away from it before it becomes lethal.
Once the grace period expires, the
methane bubble will begin to move
through the tunnel network that
you've dug. Uranium deposits remain
staiionar\^ at first, but they soon begin
to flash and emit deadly radiation.
This radiation slowly spreads
throughout the tunnel system unless
you can seal off tunnels with some of
the boulders you've uncovered. Posi-
tion your miner next to a boulder and
push it in the desired direction.
If the gas or radiation reaches a
miner or if he's below ground when
time runs out, you'll lose one miner.
You can play with a longer time limit,
but nothing is free. Gold nuggets are
worth 100 points in the 150-second
game, 75 points in the 200-second
game, and 50 points in the 250-second
game. Before you start a new game,
you can buy more time by pressing
the 1, 2, or 3 key to select either a
1 50-, 200-, or 250-second game.
Onscreen Info
At the top of the screen, you'll see a
readout of the number of miners you
currently have, the number of gold
nuggets that the active miner is carry-
ing, the time remaining on the clock,
and your score. Also displayed are the
skill level and whether you're playing
screen 1 or 2 of that level. You must
complete two screens at each skill lev-
el in order to advance to the next lev-
el. You'll receive an additional miner
for every 5000 points.
Once you deposit some gold in
the bank, a counter will appear in the
bank itself displaying how much gold
you've deposited. Once this coxmter
reaches 20, you can advance to the
next screen by pressing the fire button.
You may continue to mine the pre-
sent screen, but be sure to deposit any
gold you have before pressing the fire
button.
Press the space bar to pause the
game. When the border turns red, the
game is paused. Press the space bar
again to resume play. The Restore key
resets the game to the title screen.
Strategy
Avoid digging laiige cavernous rooms,
since the more surface area the radia-
tion has, the more quickly it spreads.
Try to protect the entrance to the
bank, or you won't be able to deposit
your gold Remember that the clock is
just as deadly as the radiation or
methane. Don't let time run out on
you.
After playing a few games, you
may discover that some areas are
G-30 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
PROGRAMS
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13 EA
JULY 1991
COMPUTE G-31
PROGRAMS
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1721
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20
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20
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1989:20 99
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When you buy Gazette Disk ($9.95 plus
1739
1741
1749
:45
:20
;4C
3A
20
3A
05
20
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IF CC
05 20
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00 85 13 60
18 A5 04 8D
84 18 85 03
A5 03 78
85 18 9A
AD 85 AA
$2.00 shipping and handling), you not
only get all the type-in programs found
1751
:20
20
20
20 20
20
20
20 7F
19B9:18 85
04 60 A5 03
8D 34 B8
in that month's magazine, you also get
1759
:20
20
20
20 20
20
20
IF 86
19C1:18 A5
04 8D 85 18
A5 05 9F
"Gazette Gallery," bonus programs,
1761
:D3
43
52
45 45
4E
3A
05 C5
19C9;8D 86
18 A5 06 8D
87 18 4F
and more. To order, write to Gazette
1769
:20
20
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20 20
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9A 12
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Disk, COMPUTE Publications, 324 West
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CD
49
4E 45
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20 6B
19D9:89 18
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Wendover Avenue, Suite 200. Greens-
1779
:52
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4D
41 49
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19E1:0C 8D
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18 8D 75
boro, North Carolina 27408. Here's a
1781
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20
20
05 30
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20
20
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20 91
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description of this month's bonus.
1791
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20 D6
20
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20 B6
19F9:18 85
04 AD 86 18
85 05 99
Sectof Patrol
1799
:D2
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Grant Young
17A9
:9A
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20 42
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18 85 43
BattJe Thraxion space fighters in this
17B1
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Al
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fast-paced arcade game in a race to
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coliect four quarters of a magic crystal
of unlimited power. For each fighter you
17D1
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destroy, you'll collect one bomb to be
17D9
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used against the renegade unit patrol-
17E1
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ling that sector. Destroy a unit and tete-
17E9
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port to a new sector.
17F1
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JULY 1991
COMPUTE G-33
D
ROGRAMS
BRYAN
C H R
S T
you and your allies have been ac-
cused of murdering the king of
Acacia. Due to uncertainty about
your guilt among the High Coun-
cil judges, you and your party have
been locked in a maze filled with mag-
ical doors and powerful demons. Leg-
end has it that the gods of the
underworld will determine who is
guihy and who is not.
Here is where you will be tested.
Those who are untruthful have their
fates sealed from the beginning. It
will only be a matter of time before
it's apparent who among your party
is innocent and who is guilty. Those
who escape the dungeon trials alive
will be excused of all charges, and
their names will be cleared.
Typing It In
Dungeon Trials is written entirely in
BASIC To avoid typing errors, enter
the program with The Automatic
Proofreader: see "Typing Aids" else-
where in this section. Be sure to save
a copy of the program when you've
finished typing it in.
Enter the Dungeon
Plug a joystick into port 2 to play
Dungeon Trials. Load and run the
program; then wait for a minute while
the computer reads the sprite data.
When the main screen appears, you'll
see what your party sees.
There are doors on all sides of
each room. These doors match a com-
pass rose in that north is straight
ahead, east is to the right, and west is
to the left. South is always behind you
and can't be seen. Above the room are
the six members of your party.
As you search for the exit, a vari-
ety of evil foes will appear, blocking
your path. You can't leave a room un-
til you've defeated each demon in
combat. Even after one of your party
has defeated a foe, another one may
appear immediately.
When you select Fight from the
menu, you'll be asked which of the six
members of your party will engage the
monster. Enter that member*s num-
ber and press Return. At this point the
background screen will clear, and a
crosshairs pointer will appear. Try to
maneuver the crosshairs over the
head of the demon, and press the fire
button before the demon can move
away. The head is the only vital spot,
and your timing is very important.
DEFEAT THE
POWERFUL DEMONS
THAT BLOCK YOUR
WAY TO SAFETY IN
THIS ADVENTURE
GAME FOR THE 64
The snake is the exception. You
must aim just over its head and strike
the lower part of its tail. If your blow
strikes it there, the snake will be ban-
ished to its realm.
You get only one chance to defeat
a demon. If you miss, your party
member dies. The maze has 1 50
rooms; the object is to reach the last
one. There are Ciyq magical doors that
will teleport you to other parts of the
dungeon, but you won't be able to re-
turn to the teleport by retracing your
steps.
Good luck — I hope you have
been truthful.
DUNGEON TRIALS
XG 100 LVL=1:RM=5
AP llfl MF=12;TSF=63
PF 120 FOR T=1T06
MM 130 CH (T) =0
KE 140 NEXTT
CM 150 PRINTCHR$(147) ;
FJ
160
P0KE53 28 1,0: POKE 53 280,1
1
PRINTTAB(12) ;"{YEL}READ
BG
170
ING DATA...*'
PX
180
FORCA-12672T012734;READ
QA:pokeca,qa:next
KM
190
FO RGB" 127 36TO 12796: READ
QB:pokecb,qb:next
SF
200
FORCC^12800TO12862:READ
QC:POKECC,QC:NEXT
HE
210
F0RCD=12864T012926:READ
QD:pokecd,qd:next
XM
220
FORCE=129 2BTO12990:READ
QE:POKECE,QE:NEXT
AQ
230
FORCF=12992TD13054:READ
QF:POKECF,QF:NEXT
MM
240
FORDA=12288TO12350:READ
2A:pokeda,2A:next
FJ
250
F0RDB-12 3 52T012414:READ
ZB:P0KEDB,ZB:NEXT
DD
260
FORDC=12416T012478;READ
ZC:POKEDC,ZC:NEXT
JF
270
FORDD-124 8 0TO12542:READ
ZD;POKEDD,ZD;NEXT
KP
280
FORDE=12544TO12606 : READ
ZE:POKEDE,ZE:NEXT
CC
290
FORDF»12608TO1267 0:READ
ZF:P0KEDF,2F:NEXT
PD
300
PRINTCHR$(147) ;
GB
310
V=53248
HA
320
P0KEV+23,TSF
ES
330
P0KEV+28,TSF:P0KEV+37,7
:POKEV+38,10
KE
340
POKEV+0 , 50 : POKEV+1 , 58
HC
350
POKEV+2 , 80 ; POKEV+ 3,58
HJ
360
POKEV+4 ,110: POKEV+ 5,58
DH
370
POKEV+6, 140:POKEV+7,5S
SX
380
POKEV+8 , 170 : POKEV+9 , 58
CH
390
POKEV+10 , 200 : POKEV+11 , 5
8
POKE204 0,198:POKE2041,1
SP
400
99
QQ
410
POKE204 2,200:POKE204 3,2
01
HG
420
POKE204 4,202:POKE204 5,2
03
CM
430
P0KEV+21,TSF
JQ
440
POKEV+39 , 5 : POKEV+40 , 6
KG
450
P0KEV+41,8:P0KEV-»-42,4
FS
460
POKEV+4 3,6: POKEV+4 4 , 5
GG
470
PR1NTCHR$(19) ;
JC
480
P0KE214,6:PRINT
BE
490
PRINT"{WHT}{4 SPACES }1
{3 SPACES} 2 (3 SPACES} 3
{2 SPACES}4{3 SPACES} 5
{3 SPACES} 6"
AJ
500
PRINT''{2 SPACES) {RVS}
{WHT}{24 SPACES}"
JX
510
F0RT=1T08
HM
520
PRINT" (2 SPACES} {RVS}
{WHT} ";TAB(25) ;"{RVS}
{WHT} "
AC
530
NEXT
BH
540
PRINT" {2 SPACES} {RVS}
{WHT} f 24 SPACES}"
FP
550
PRINTCHR$(19);
DE
560
POKE214,8:PRINT
BC
570
F0RT=IT08
PF
580
PRINT- (3 RIGHT} (RVS)
0^34 C O
M P
V
U T E
JULY 1991
PROGRAMS
{BLa){22 SPACES} {WHT}"
RJ
1000
POKE214,7;PRINT
KA 1590
POKE1024+(PY*40)+PX,32
JH 590
NEXT
CB
1010
PRINTTAB(29) ;"{WHT}
HJ 1600
PX=PX+WX
QK 600
PRINTCHR$(19) ;
{OFF}OPTIONS"
XR 1610
PY=PY+WY
MP 610
P0KE214,8:PRINT
PX
1020
PRINTTAB(29) ;"{WHT}
XJ 1620
POKEPC+(PY*40)+PX,3
SM 620
PRINTTAB(ll) ;"{RVS}i5>
{0FF}i7 T>"
KE 1630
POKEl024+(Py*40)+PX,91
iB><R>iE><R><E><R>"
RD
1030
PRINTTAB(29) j"{WHT}
:WX=0:WY=0
KC 630
PRINTTAB(ll) ;"{RVS}i5}
{RVS}F{0FF}IGHT"
CF 1640
POKEV+12,MY:POKEV+13,l
:R><E>{OFFl£i*HRVS}
OX
1040
PRINTTAB(29) ;"{WHT}
40
<R><E>"
{RVS}N{OFF}ORTH"
XM 1650
GOTO 1450 1
CR 640
PRINTTAB(ll) ;"{RVS}i5>
KD
1050
PRINTTAB{29) ;"{WHT}
CB 1660
SWX=1664
iE><R}{0FF}{2 SPACES}
{RVS}S{OFF}OUTH"
KS 1670
FX=SWX+PX
{RVSKE>iR>"
GA
1060
PRINTTAB{29) ;"{WHT}
SE 1680
FOR FY^FX TO (1024+40*
JS 650
PRINTTAB(ll) ;"{RVS}i5>
{RVS}E{OFF}AST"
PY+PX) STEP-40
{RHE>{0FF}{2 SPACES}
PB
1070
PRINTTAS(29) ;"{WHT}
AC 1690
POKEPC+(FY-1024) ,WC
{RVS}<R>{E>"
{RVS}W{OFF}EST"
MJ 1700
POKEFY,CW
MX 660
PRINTTAB(IL) ;"tRVS}<5>
CK
1080
GETKY$:IFKY$=""THEN1080
SJ 1710
FORGJ=1TO10:NEXTGJ
iEHR>C0FF}{2 SPACES}
BJ
1090
IF MC$^"{5 SPACES} NONE
DE 1720
P0KEFY,32:NEXTFY
{RVS}<E>iR>"
" THEN 1120
BB 1730
IF MDR=1 THEN MY-MY+8
RX 670
PRIHTTAB (10) ;"{BLO}£
PS
1100
IF KY$=^"F"THEN 1170
HR 1740
IF MDR=2 THEN HY=MY-8
{6 SPACES}i*>"
JG
1110
GOTO1080
SG 1750
HM=INT(HY/8)
GR 680
PRINTTABt9) ;"{BLU}(0FF}
BH
1120
IF Ky$="S"THEN2040
JH 1760
IF PY=11 THEN 1790
£{8 SPACES}<*^"
PQ
1130
IF KV$="N"THEN2200
AF 1770
IF PY-12 THEN 1790
SM 690
PRINTTAB(8);"{BLU}{0FF}
AD
1140
IF KY$="E"THEN2350
BJ 1780
GOTO 1890
£{10 SPACES}<*>"
KG
1150
IF KY$="W"THEN2490
SF 1790
IF PX+1=HM THEN 1820
JD 700
PRINTCHR$(19) ?
KM
1160
GOTO 1080
KF 1800
IF PX+2=HM THEN 1820
SS 710
POKE214,10:PRINT
FG
1170
PRINT CHR$(19) ?
MP 1810
GOTO 1890
DP 720
PRINTTAB(8);"{BLU}{0FF}
ED
1180
POKE214,ia:PRINT
BG 1820
FORGJ^1TO10:FORT=0TO15
£";TAB[19) ;"{BLU}(OFF}
DA
1190
PRINTTAB(2) ;"{WHT}CHAR
XR 1830
POKE V+45,T
<*>"
ACTER TO"
XC 18 4 0
NEXTT:NEXTGJ
AG 730
PRINTTAB(7) ;"{BLU} {OFF]
PG
1200
INPUT" {2 SPACES}FIGHT
MD 1850
P0KEV+2X,TSF
£ ";TAB(19) ;"{BLU}
{SPACE}WITH";C
FE 1860
POKE53275,0
Toff} i*y"
FC
1210
IF C>6 THEN 1250
QX 1870
PRINTCHR$(147} ',
DJ 740
FORT=1T02
EX
1220
IF C<1 THEN 1250
PH 1880
GOTO 470
GD 750
PRINTTAB(7) ;"{OFF}
SQ
1230
IF CH (C)=255 THEN 1250
QA 1890
IF C=l THEN VP=39:TSF=
{2 SPACES}" ;TAB (19) ;"
BX
1240
GOTO 1320
TSF-1
{OFF} {2 SPACES}"
SJ
1250
PRINTTAB(2) ;"THAT CHAR
BH 1900
IF C=2 THEN VP=40:TSF=
FP 760
NEXTT
ACTER DOES NOT EXIST!"
TSF"2
RR 770
PRINTTAB(7) ;"{BLa}{OFF}
<2 P>";TAB(19) ;"{BLU}
XM
1260
PRINTTAB(2) ;"CHOOSE AG
AIN."
BB 1910
IF C-3 THEN VP=41:TSF-
TSF-4
{0FF}{2 P>"
FG
1270
FORO^1TO1000 : NEXTO
KJ 1920
IF C=4 THEN VP=^42:TSF==
CF 780
PRINTTAB(7) ;"{OFF}
AK
1280
PRINTCHR$(19) ;
TSF-8
{2 SPACES }";TAB( 19);"
KP
1290
P0KE214,18iPRINT
FA 1930
IF C=5 THEN VP=43:TSF-
{OFF} {2 SPACES}"
GA
1300
F0R0=1T04; PRINT"
TSF-16
BX 790
DM = INT(RND(0)*MF)-H
{34 SPACES }":NEXTO
BB 1940
IF C=6 THEN VP=44:TSF=
KK 800
IF DH>6 THEN MC$="
SF
1310
GOTO 1170
TSF-32
{5 SPACES} NONE"
JX
1320
PRINTCHR$(19) ;
XS 1950
CH (C)=255
DB 810
IFDM-1THENSM=I9 2:MNC=12
KC
1330
POKE214,8:PRINT
XX 1960
FORGJ=1TO10:FORT=0TO15
:MC$="{4 SPACES} SHADOW"
RJ
1340
F0RT=1T08:PRINTTAB(3) ;
HH X970
POKE V+VP,T
PF 820
IFDM-2THENSM=193:MNC=1:
"{22 spaces}":nextt
FP 1980
NEXTT iNEXTGJ
MC$="{4 SPACES}GHOST"
QE
1350
PL=1024:PC=55296
AR 1990
POKE53275,0
HD 830
IFDH=^3THENSM = 194:MNC = 5:
QQ
1360
MY=124
CM 2000
P0KEV+21,TSF
MC$="{3 SPACES} SERPENT"
DJ
1370
PX=l4:py=13
AF 2010
IF TSF=0 THEN 2810
PF 840
IFDM^4THENSM=195:MNC=6:
DJ
1380
IF C=l THEN CW=30:WC=9
FH 2020
PRINTCHR$(147} ?
MC$="WINGEO WARRIOR"
EH
1390
IF C = 2 THEN CW=66:WC=^6
CJ 2030
GOTO 300
XM 850
IFDM-5THENSM=196:MNC=I:
DK
1400
IF C=3 THEN CW=30:WC^9
SP 2040
IF RM^l THEN 2640
MC$="{3 SPACES} SKELETON
PX
1410
IF C^4 THEN CW=42:WC=4
PJ 2050
IF RM=4 THEN 2640
It
BF
1420
IF C=5 THEN CW=43:WC=7
AS 2060
IF RM-5 THEN 2640
SA 860
IFDM=6THENSM^197:MNC=2:
GF
1430
IF C^6 THEN CW=30;WC=9
EX 2070
IF RM=10 THEN 2640
MC$=" VAPOR DEMON"
DJ
1440
POKE53275,255
QS 2080
IF RM^ll THEN 2640
BX 870
PRINTCHR$(19) ;
DD
1450
MDR=^INT(RND(0)*2)+1
EQ 2090
IF RM=12 THEN 2640
HX 880
PRINT
PH
1460
IF MDR-1ANDMY^4<50THEN
FD 2100
IF RM=15 THEN 2640
CP 890
PRINTTAB{31) ;"{WHT}
MDR^2
AB 2110
IF RM=17 THEN 2640
{OFF} FOE"
MJ
1470
IF MDR=2AKDMY+4>192THE
JA 2120
IF RM=18 THEN 2640
MD 900
PRINTTAB(31);"{WHT}
N MDR=1
JQ 2130
IF RM=20 THEN 2640
{0FF}<3 U>":PRINT
KR
148 0
IF MDR=1 THEN My-MY-8
RB 2140
IF RM=23 THEN 2640
DM 910
PRINTTAS{26) ?"{WHT}";TA
PQ
1490
IF MDR=2 THEN MY=MY+8
FH 2150
IF RM=24 THEN 2640
B{26) ;MC$
RM
1500
JY'=PSEK(56320)
RG 2160
IF RM=25 THEN 2640
CX 920
IF DM>6THEN990
GO
1510
IF JY=127 THEN1620
XP 2170
IF RM=28 THEN 2640
HM 930
POKEV+23 ,TSF+64 : POKEV+2
KD
1520
IF JY='119 THEN WX=1
AS 2180
IF RM=29 THEN 2760
8,TSF+64
RQ
1530
IF JY=123 THEN WX="1
FP 2190
RM=RM+1: GOTO 300
XB 940
POKEV+37,7:POKEV+38,10
AD
1540
IF JY=125 THEN WY=1
FB 2200
IF RM=1 THEN 2640
MA 950
POKEV+12 , 124 : POKEV+13 , 1
RK
1550
IF JY-126 THEN WY=-1
SG 2210
IF RM=5 THEN 2640
40
AG
1560
IF JY=111 THEN 1660
BE 2220
IF RM=6 THEN 2640
BG 960
POKE2046,SM
XQ
1570
IFPEEK(1024+PY*4 0+(PX+
CF 2230
IF RM=li THEN 2640
FP 970
POKEV+21,TSF+64
WX))=160THENWX=0
ME 2240
IF RM=12 THEN 2640
PA 980
POKEV+4 5,MNC
QP
1580
IFPEEK (1024+ (PY+WY) *40
CM 2250
IF RH=13 THEN 2640
DH 990
PRINTCHR$(19) ;
+PX)-160THEN WY=0
EX 2260
IF RM^16 THEN 2640
JULY 1991
COMPUTE Q-35
D
ROGRAMS
. DR 2270 IF RM^IS THEN 2640
CJ
2860
IF KY$<>*'Y"THENSYS6473
EFT""
9Q 2280 IF RM=19 THEN 2640
8
GA
3280
DATA0, 0,0, 0,42, 0,0, 168
MJ 2290 IF RM=2i THEN 2640
BM
2870
IF Ky$^"y"THEN RESTORE
,128
JX 2300 IF RM^24 THEN 2640
:GOTO100
JG
3290
DATA0, 248,0,0, 56, 0,0, 2
AR 2310 IF RM=25 THEN 2640
EA
2880
FOR J=1TO10:FORT=0TO15
48,0
JQ 2320 IF PM=26 THEN 2640
FC
2890
PRINTCHR$(19) ;
PP
3300
DATA0,48,0,2, 186, 192,1
PB 2330 IF RM=29 THEN 2640
XB
2900
POKE214,ll;PRINT
5,171,240
KB 2340 RM = RM-'1;GOTO300
KM
2910
P0KE646,T
GP
3310
DATA62,34,48,48,136,16
MS 2350 IF RM=2 THEN 2640
JK
2920
PRINTTAB(6) ; "CONGRATUL
,0,168,68
RR 2360 IF RM=3 THEN 2640
ATIONS!"
PM
3320
DATA0, 168, 0,0, 32, 0,0,1
PA 2370 IF RM=9 THEN 2640
BS
2930
NEXTT: NEXT J
68,0
QD 2380 IF RM=ll THEN 2640
GX
294 0
GOTO2840
GX
3330
DATA2, 170, 0,2, 138, 0,10
SA 2390 IF RM=14 THEN 2640
GJ
2950
REM — ARCHER (GIRL) *LE
,10,0
QH 2400 IF RM=17 THEN 2640
FT""
FE
3340
DATA10, 2,128, 15, 3,192,
BF 2410 IF RM=18 THEN 2640
QA
2960
DATA1,0,0,4,0,0,4,85,8
63,15,192
QE 2420 IF RM=19 THEN 2640
0
DD
3350
REM— 'HUNTER (GUY) *RIG
CH 2430 IF RM=22 THEN 2640
FX
2970
DATA16,63,80,I6,15,64,
HT""
KE 2440 IF RM=26 THEN 2640
16,63,0
KD
3360
DATA2,0, 0,10, 160,0, 8,1
BM 2450 IF RM^27 THEN 2640
DG
2980
DATA16,12,0,62,170,160
68,0
KK 2460 IF RM=2S THEN 2640
,30,171,232
EQ
3370
DATA0,172,0,0,176,0,0,
JX 2470 IF RM=25 THEN 2760
MD
2990
DATA16 , 42 , 224 ,16,42,0 ,
252,0
PS 2480 RM=RM+5:GOTO300
16,8,0
BP
3380
DATA0, 32,0,3, 168, 80, 95
PF 2490 IF RM=1 THEN 2640
XK
3000
DATA4,34,0,4, 170, 128,1
,233,16
AF 2500 IF R«=2 THEN 2640
,170,128
BC
3390
DATA93,85,85,0,164,64,
KE 2510 IF RM=^3 THEN 2640
MC
3010
DATA0,170,128,3,192,24
0,165,0
CM 2520 IF RM-4 THEN 2640
0,3,192,240
SH
3400
DATA0, 168, 0,0, 32, 0,0,1
PK 2530 IF RM=5 THEN 2640
FG
3020
DATA3, 192, 240, 10,0,40,
68,0
MX 2540 IF RM=7 THEN 2640
42,0,168
CJ
3410
DATA2,170,0,2, 138,0, 10
DR 2550 IF RM=B THEN 2640
QQ
3030
REM""HUNTBR (GIRL) *RI
,10,0
KS 2560 IF RM=^14 THEN 2640
GHT""
FH
3420
DATA10,I0,0,12,3,0,15,
KD 2570 IF RM=16 THEN 2640
JS
3040
DATA128, 0,0,128, 0,0, 12
3,192
HE 2580 IF RM=19 THEN 2640
8,21,80
PJ
3430
REM"-SHADOW""
SQ 2590 IF RM=22 THEN 2640
AP
3050
DATAi28,87,192,64,31,0
HA
3440
DATA0,0,0,0, 32,0, 0,32,
CQ 2600 IF RM=23 THEN 2640
,128,95,192
0
FD 2610 IF RM=24 THEN 2640
ED
3060
DATAl29,95,i92,I28,12,
KM
3450
DATA0, 136,0, 0,136, 0,2,
DA 2620 IF RM=27 THEN 2640
0,131,191,128
70,0
PE 2630 RM=RM-5:GOTO300
JD
3070
DATA131, 239, 176,143, 17
EQ
3460
DATA2, 2,0,0, 136, 0,0, 16
PD 2640 PR1NTCHR$(19) ;
1,172,240,42,172
8,0
XG 2650 P0KE214,8:PRINT
QB
3080
DATA 128, 15,204,12 8,10,
PQ
3470
DATA2, 170,169,10,170,1
XF 2660 F0RT=1T04
128,128,58,240
69,10,42,40
PB 2670 PRINTTAB(3) ;"{RVS}{5>
AS
3090
DATA128,62,240,12S,60,
RC
3480
DATA10, 138, 8,10, 106,0,
iE>iRHE>iRJiE^<R>iE>
240,128,252,252
1,106,0
{R><EJiR>iE><R><E><R>
SG
3100
DATAi28,240,60,128,160
EM
3490
DATA2 , 170 , 0 , 10 , 170 , 0 , 1
<Ey<RHE>{R><EHR><E>
,40,128,168,42
0,170,0
<R>"
RQ
3110
REM—ARCHER (GUY) *RIG
PM
3500
DATA4 2,170,128,4 2,170,
RB 2680 PRINTTAB{3) ;"{RVS}<5>
HT-"
128,170,170,128
iRHEHRHE>iRHEHR}
GM
3120
DATA10, 160,32,42,168,8
FS
3510
REM — GHOST —
{E>iRHEHH>iEJ{RHE>
,34,252,8
BS
3520
DATA0,40,0,0, 170, 0,0,1
70,0
{R><EHR>iE>iR>iE>iRj
DB
3130
DATA2, 192, 2,0,252, 2,0,
<E>"
48,2
HJ
3530
DATA2,40,128,10,4 0,160
QP 2690 NEXTT
QS
3140
DATA10, 138,2, 14, 171,2,
,42,170,168
KA 2700 PRINTCHR$(19) ;
63,175,194
EB
3540
DATA42, 170, 168,40,170,
XR 2710 P0KE214,11:PRINT
EX
3150
DATA240, 168,254, 192,16
40,160, 170, 10
SA 2720 PRINTTAB(7) ;"{WHT}A WA
8,2,0,168,2
GP
3550
DATA162, 170, 138, 162,17
0,138,130,170,130
LL BLOCKS"
BG
3160
DATA0, 3 2, 2, 0,168,2,0,1
AP 27 30 PRINTTABf7) ;"{WHT}
68,2
QK
3560
DATA162, 170, 138,34,170
,136,2,170,128
{2 SPACES}THIS HALL
MG
3170
DATA2,170,2,2,138,8,10
(2 S PACES } "
AM 2740 FOR O=1TO1000 : NEXTO
GX
3180
,138,8
DATA10, 10, 32, 12,3,0,15
PE
3570
DATA10,170,16 0, 10, 170,
160,10,170,160
DG 2750 GOTO 300
,3,192
AF
3580
DATA4 2,170,16 8, 10, 17 0,
160,0,0,0
FB 2760 IF LVL=1 THEN LVL«2:RM
KE
3190
REM--WIZARD (GUY) *RIG
-3 :GOTO300
HT —
AA
3590
REM — SERPENT —
RK 2770 IF LVL=2 THEN LVL=3:RM
SQ
3200
DATA2, 160, 0,10, 168, 0,8
BR
3600
DATA0, 0,0, 0,160, 32,2,1
68,160
=18:GOTO300
,188,0 :
QA 2780 IF LVL=3 THEN LVL=4:RM
GK
3210
DATA4, 240, 0,0, 252,0,0,
GJ
3610
DATA10,170,176,10,138,
192,42,0,0
=11:GOTO300
48,8
SA 2790 IF LVL-4 THEN LVL=5:RM
HE
3220
DATA0, 168, 38,2,170,8,1
JA
3620
DATA42,10,128,42,42,16
0,42,22,80
=2S:GOTO300
0,170,172
SG 2800 IF LVL=5 THEN 2880
QF
3230
DATA10,170,172,56,170,
AR
3630
DATAi68, 38,96,168,42,1
60,168,32,32
QK 2810 PRINTCHR$(19) ;
40,50,170,8
DF 2820 POKE214,ll:PRINT
JP
3240
DATA0,136,8,10,34,8,10
FA
3640
DATA 16 8, 10, 128, 170, 15,
192,42,175,192
DX 2830 PRINTTAB(7) ?"{WHT}
,170,8
{2 SPACES }GAME OVER"
XJ
3250
DATA10,170,8, 10,170, 8,
DE
3650
DATA42, 191,0, 10, 191,0,
RH 2840 PRINTTAB(7);"{WHT}REST
42,170,8
2,252,0
■^«iB«»*./v ^^ f^ f9 i^ fw /ir n n
ART (Y/N) "
AK
3260
DATA42, 170,8, 170, 171,8
AQ
3660
DATA0 ,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
GD 2850 GETKY$:IF KY5==""THEN28
50
MK
3270
,60,3,200
REM—WANDERER (GUY) *L
SA
PK
3670
3680
REM— WINGED WARRIOR-"
DATA 0,0,0,0,0,0,5,65,8
G-36 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
D
ROGRAMS
0
DATA21, 125^94, 21, 255,8
4,21,60,84
DATA21,255,84,21,125,8
4,23,191,212
ss
3690
DR
3700
AA
3710
PQ
3720
GX
3730
PM
3740
KS
3750
MS
3760
239
DATA117,254,93,125,170
,125,85,170,85
DATA86,130,149,70,130,
145,70,130,145
DATA66,130,129,2,0,12e
,10,0,160
REM""SKELETO« —
DATA0, 170, 0,2, 170,128,
2,40,128
PD
3770
DATA2,0,128,2,170,128,
0,170,0
RP
3780
DATA0, 130,0,8,40, 32,34
,40,136
KE
3790
DATA0,130,0,32,40,8,32
,130,8
JD
3800
DATA32,40,8,32,130,8,0
,40,0
XR
3810
DATA0,130,0,0,130,0,0,
130,0
GR
3820
DATA2, 0,128, 2, 0,128, 10
,0,160
FR
383 0
REH— VAPOR DEMON —
PC
3840
DATA2,170, 128, 10,170,1
60,8,170,32
XS 3850 DATA10, 40, 160, 10,170,1
28,2,170,160
AC 3860 DATA10, 130, 160, 10,40,1
28,2,170,128
CR 3870 DATA0, 170, 128,2,170,0,
0,170,128
JR 3880 DATA0, 170, 0,0, 170,0,0,
40,0
AM 3890 DATA0,168,0,0,40,0,8,8
GM 3900 DATA0, 32, 136,2,32,0,32
,2,32
MARK GERHARDSTEIN
The Meteor Mining Company is
hiring pilots to fly a fleet of ships
for collecting asteroids in outer
space. It has devised a test to dis-
cover people who have the necessary
talents to pilot a spaceship while si-
multaneously solving problems to de-
cide which asteroids are valuable.
The object of Meteor Math is to
collect correct answers to simple math
problems while avoiding the incorrect
ones. You'll be given the first number
in an addition or multiplication prob-
lem and its answer. It will be your job
to maneuver your ship through a field
of moving numbers to collect the one
that completes the problem.
Getting Started
Although Meteor Math loads and runs
like a BASIC program, it's written en-
tirely in machine language. Use MLX,
our machine language entry program,
to type it in; see **Typing Aids" else-
where in this section. When MLX
prompts you, respond with the values
given below.
Starting address: 0801
Ending address: 1658
When you've finished typing, don't
forget to save a copy of the program
before exiting MLX.
Playing the Game
When you run Meteor Math, the title
screen will ofTer you several options.
Press fl and B to set the beginning
and top levels. The level is the first
number in the math equation. You
can solve problems that start with the
same number each time or cycle
through them in consecutive order.
Press T to set the gamers time
limit. Games can last from one to
nine minutes and will continue until
that time limit has been reached or
three ships have been destroyed.
You set the speed at which the
answers scroll by pressing B for begin-
ner, N for normal, or E for expert.
This option always defaults to nor-
mal, although the other options will
remain as you've set them.
PRACTICE ADDITION
OR MULTIPLICATION
WHILE FLYING
THROUGH SPACE IN
THIS EDUCATIONAL
GAME FOR THE 64
When you're ready to begin,
press n to complete addition prob-
lems or f5 to complete multiplication
ones. Control your ship with a joy-
stick plugged into port 2.
As your ship flies through the
field of possible answers, you want to
collect the right one. Touching a cor-
rect answer with your ship collects it.
Youll receive two points for each cor-
rect answer and a bonus for each level
you complete. The amount of the bo-
nus depends on the level that you've
finished. Level 9 is worth more than
level 8, for example.
Running into an incorrect answer
will destroy your ship. You may have
to let some correct ones go by if
they're too close to other numbers.
When a ship has been destroyed or
you've collected the correct number,
the math problem changes; stay alert.
If your ship needs extra speed to
snare the correct answer, press your
fire button. This engages your turbo-
thrusler, which doubles the speed of
your ship. Turbo fuel is expensive;
this speed can be maintained for only
about ten seconds per ship. The game
ends when either the time limit has
expired or you've crashed three ships
into incorrect answers.
There's no real qualifying score
in Meteor Math. I wrote this program
to give my children practice with ad-
dition and the multiplication tables
and to keep them from figuring out
the answers by counting on their fin-
gers. I made it flexible so that they
could design their own tests, spending
more time practicing problems in
their areas of biggest need.
METEOR MATH
0801:14
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JULY 1991
COMPUTE 0-37
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_
JULY 1991
COMPUTE G-30
How to Type In
COMPUTE'S Gazette Programs
Each month. Gazette publishes pro-
grams for the Commodore 128 and 64.
Each program is clearly marked by title
and version. Be sure to type in the
correct version for your machine. All 64
programs run on the 128 in 64 mode. Be
sure to read the instructions in the cor-
responding article. This can save time
and eliminate any questions which
might arise after you begin typing.
We regularly publish two pro-
grams designed to make typing easier:
The Automatic Proofreader, for BASIC
programs, and MIX, for entering ma-
chine language programs.
When entering a BASIC program,
be especially careful with DATA state-
ments, as they are extremely sensitive
to errors. A mistyped number in a
DATA statement can cause your ma-
chine to ''lock up" (you'll have no con-
trol over the computer). If this happens,
the only recourse is to turn your com-
puter off and then on, erasing what was
in memory. This could cause you to lose
valuable data, so be sure to save a pro-
gram before you run it. If your computer
crashes, you can always reload the pro-
gram and look for the error.
Special Characters
Most of the programs listed in each
issue contain special control characters.
To facilitate typing in any programs
from Gazette, use the following listing
conventions.
The most common type of control
characters in our listings appear as
words within braces: {DOWN} means
to press the cursor-down key; {5
SPACES} means to press the space bar
five times.
To indicate that a key should be
shifted (hold down the Shift key while
pressing another key), the character is
underlined. For example, A means hold
down the Shift key and press A. You
may see strange characters on your
screen, but that's to be expected. If you
find a number followed by an under-
lined key enclosed in braces (for ex-
ample, {8 A}), type the key as many
times as indicated (in our example, en-
ter eight shifted A's).
If a key is enclosed in special
brackets, | |t hold down the Commo-
dore key (at the lower left comer of the
keyboard) and press the indicated
character.
Rarely, you'll see a single letter of
the alphabet enclosed in braces. This
can be entered on the Commodore 64
by pressing the Ctrl key while typing
the letter in braces. For example, {A}
means to press Ctrl-A.
The Quote Mode
You can move the cursor around the
screen with the Crsr keys, but you may
want to move it under program control,
as in examples like {LEFT} and
{HOME} in the listings. The, only way
the computer can tell the difference be-
tween direct and programmed cursor
control is the quote mode.
Once you press the quote key,
you're in quote mode, which can be
confusing if you mistype a character
and cursor left to change it. You'll see a
graphics symbol for cursor left. Use the
delete key to back up and edit the line.
Type another quotation mark to get out
of quote mode. If things get too confus-
ing, exit quote mode by pressing Re-
turn; then cursor up to the mistyped
line and fix it. If the mistake involves
cursor movement, you must press the
quote key to reenter quote mode. Q
When You Read:
{CLR}
{HOME)
{UP)
{DOWN}
{LEFT}
{RIGHT}
{RVS}
{OFF}
{BLK}
{WHT}
{RED}
{CYN}
Press:
See:
SHIFT
CLR/HOME
CLR/HOME
SHIFT
f CRSR I
\ CRSR I
SHIFT
^— CRSR— *
^CRSR —
CTRL
[mri[
CTRL
CTRL 2
CTRL
$
CTRL
4
When You Read:
{PUR}
(GRN}
{BLU}
{YEL}
{ Fl }
{ F2 }
{ B }
{ H )
( F5 }
{ F6 }
{ F7 }
{ F8 }
Press:
See:
CTRL 5
CTRL 1 6
CTRL 7
CTRL 8
When You Read:
t
Press:
See:
m
For Commodore 64 Only
fl
SHIFT
fl
B
SHIFT
f3
f5
SHIFT
is
f7
SHIFT
a
1 COMMODORE 1 1
: COMMODORE 1 2 |
COMMODORE 3
COMMODORE 1 4
COMMODORE | 5
commodore! 6
COMMODORE 7
D
El]
■I
□
COMMODORE B
COMPUTE JULY 1991
COMPUTE'
BEST PC GA
Don't miss these six dazzling, ready-to-run games complete
with a 16-page magazine jammed with instructions!
■'•.■;<>:*,
^
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iCuJ
w^
^
I III
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twiilf »« 6».1i* L^
Laser Chess
Award-winning, two-player strategy
game patterned after chess— but
with an exciting new twist.
Power Poker
Addictive strategy game with a new
dimension. Fun for one player or a
group.
Block Out
Colorful and delightful strategy
game that everyone in the family
will want to play.
Bounty Hunter
Catch the crook and collect the
bounty! So much fun, you'll never
know you Ye mastering U.S.
geography.
Wormburner
Skill and arcade action combine to
form an unbeatable challenge.
Supplies Limited, So Order Early!
QuikServe
Fling those fries! Sling those
shakes! Bounce those burgers! A
frenzied arcade-style game for the
stout-hearted only.
YES!
I want to have the time of my lifel Send
me COMPUTE'S BEST PC GAMES disk. I'll pay just
$5.95 for each 5V4-inch or $6.95 for each 3V2-inch
disk plus $2.00 shipping and handling per disk.
Please indicate how many disks of each format you'd like:
5V4-mch disks at Jgifr^fich $5.95 each
^3y2-inch disks at $Tp:»:agch S6.95 each
Subtotal
., Sales tax (Residents of NC and NY, please add appro-
priate sales tax for your area. Canadian orders, add 7%
goods and services tax. )
Shipping and handling ($2.00 U.S. and Canada, $3.00
surface mail, $5.00 airmail per disk. For delivery out-
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REVIEWS
IRESnHI
H' hat can you do if it's Saturday
afternoon and there's nobody
around you can play chess
with? Or if you're a shut-in
and there's no one around to talk to?
Or if you're an avid Red Baron or
Stellar 7 player looking for a new level
of excitement? The Sierra Network
(TSN), which was announced on May
6, may hold the answer. It's the first
computer network dedicated to online
game playing.
^^dVbaTtre
I Tn'*
Your dossier and mugshot (which you
create yourself) help other people to get
to know — and play — you better.
In fact, the philosophy behind the
Sierra Network is person-to-person
game playing. There's no option to
play against the computer, nor will
there be. Human interaction is key.
Chess, checkers, hearts, backgammon,
bridge, and cribbage are the games
available as this is being written, but
according to the comments left in the
bulletin board area, there is a strong
demand for other kinds of two-player
adventure and action games. Sierra
intends to use TSN as a conduit for
modem games like Red Baron and
Stellar 7, allowing players to fight a
realtime dogfight or tank engagement
against a human opponent anywhere
within the bounds of Telenet.
TSN displays the distinct Sierra
EGA 16-color look: blocky letters,
Larry Laffer graphics, and two-line di-
alog boxes for conversation. But the
company promises that soon the net-
work will boast 256-color graphics
and scanned images for playing
boards, a segregated area for grown-
ups called Larry Land (complete with
a casino), and other exciting amenities.
TSN can also be used to carry on
a text conversation. And you can get
in some checkers at the same time!
ROBERT BIXBY
Scheduled to come online: June 1 991
For IBM PC and compatibles— $1 1 ,95
per month in selected cities; $2.00 an
hour from 6:00 p,m, to 6:00 a.m. in others)
SIERRA ON-LINE
P.O. Box 485
Coarsegold, CA 93614
(209J 683^68
CHUCK YEAGER'S
The new Chuck Yeager'sAir Com-
bat is the most versatile, exciting
combat flight simulator to land on
the PC You'd think a program
that lets you fly six combat aircraft
ranging from the piston-engined P-51
Mustang to the Mach 2-capable MiG-
2 1 Fishbed against 1 7 different types
of enemy aircraft would be full of
compromises. Not this one. Whether
your combat is over WWII Europe,
Korea, or Vietnam, you'll fmd the
program as realistic as single-era
simulators.
As you'd expect in a simulation
bearing the Yeager name, the planes
fly very accurately. You won't be
making hairpin turns at Mach 2 in
your F-4, and you can't climb vertical-
ly in a Focke-Wulf 190,
The preset scenarios are a wel-
come change from standard flight
simulator fare. Many missions bring
unexpected complications, such as en-
emy MiGs showing up on what's sup-
posed to be a ground attack mission.
Others are unique; in one mission,
you take on the role of Lt. Kim Sok
Ho, the North Korean MiG-15 pilot
who defected with his plane for a
$100,000 reward.
Take wing against a variety of enemy
aircraft in this fatest simulation.
The game uses a refined version
of the graphics system used in EA's
LHX Attack Chopper sind Stormovik
simulators. The full release version
promises digitized speech and explo-
sions, as well as sound card support.
Control with a mouse or trackball was
awkward; this game definitely re-
quires a joystick for full enjoyment.
Fast action, original missions,
and fascinating fantasy combat make
this a must-have program for PC
pilots.
DENNY ATKIN
Scheduled Release: Jurte 1 991
For IBM PC and cx>mpatibles. 640K
RAM— $59.95
ELECTRONIC ARTS
1820 Gateway Dr.
San Mateo. CA 94404
(415)571-7171
What Are Sneak Peeks?
Sneak Peeks are advance reviews of
upcoming software and hardware prod-
ucts. Every effort is made to ensure that
the information contained in these re-
views is accurate at the time they are
published. COMPUTE will review the fi-
nal edition when it becomes available.
106 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
'M^^^^^MM&M
A?4t»Va5^""(iy,&f*tii«<V
i-reCH
XHIEF
7
vDIBK 15
I63e -'LEATHER CUIBAS3
57 3^ SUEDE FAMTS
■ ■■■ ■ -BIT3KIMS
'^ STAYEo^W ISSUES
COPPER KE^^ 3
^yOU &AIMEJD S HIT FOIlCrSI
Actual Screens from MS-DOS Version
A NEW WIZARDRY
Ten years ago. Wizardry set the standards in
FRP. Now, after two million copies have been sold
and 25 international awards have been won,
Bane of the Cosmic Forge raises and redefines
i those standards. This new Wizardry, the truest
\ simulation ever of Fantasy Role Playing, will
\ push your computer, your mind and your sense
\ of adventure to their very limits.
\ True FRP Simulation!
\ Like a true game master. Bane of the Cosmic
\ Forge rolls the dice, consults its charts and
\ applies the rules. From the 400 items of armor
\ and weaponry researched for authenticity -
\ right down to their weights -to the realistic
\ combat structure - incorporating Primary and
^ \ Secondary attack- everything, absolutely
^ •" \ everything, is calculated.
\ Full-Color, Animated Graphics!
\ You'll see swords swinging before your
\ eyes; creatures of all shapes and forms will
\ move before you,- spells coming from your
\ magician will swirl through the air. You'll
\ walk under gargoyle-laden arches and
i,,,.^ — ^ watch candles flicker in their sconces.
Your PC's internal speaker will play
all of these digitized sounds without any add-on
hardware . . . swords swinging, monsters venting
their anger and spells letting fly.
Uncompromising Variety!
• 1 1 Races I53:-^ -
• 14 Professions with Ranks
• Dozens of Weaponry, Physical and
Academia skills
• Multiple Fighting and Parry Modes
• Ranged, Primary and Secondary Weapons
• Six spellbooks, 462 spell combinations
• Multiple Armor Classes
Artificial Intelligence!
Find the ancient and cryptic dwellers who can aid
you in your quest. Talk to them as you would your
friends "in sentences. Only through the power of the
latest in programming technology could the full
dimensions of conversation this real be possible.
Now Available for: MS-DOS, Amiga b Macintosh
Circle Readftf Service Numb#r 257
^]zhd4^*
P.O. Box 245, Ogdensburg, New York 13669
(315)393-6633
To order: Visit a Dealer or caii 1 (800) 447-1230
REVIEWS
EUniU, MISTRESS
OF THE DARK
Killbragant Castle looms before
you, looking nothing like the de-
scription the adventurers' union
gave of a quaint castle in the
peaceful English countryside. Still, all
youVe got to do is help the sweet
young thing that lives there solve a
tiny problem with some unwanted
guests. *Tiece of cake," they said, *'a
pleasant vacation." One glance at the
captain of the guard confirms your
worst fears— Killbragant is hardly
quaint. You're in trouble all right, big
trouble!
Thus begins the fantasy adven-
ture game Elvira, Mistress of the Dark,
a successful mixture of a graphics ad-
venture and fantasy role-playing
game. As for that nice vacation, forget
it; this vacation is the stuff of night-
mares. It seems Elvira's great-grand-
mother. Queen Emelda, is due for a
resurrection and plans to rule the
world with the help of her evil min-
ions. Your task is to help Elvira find
her chest and the six keys that open it
in order to put a stop to Grandma's
imminent return. Of course, Elvira's
unwanted, not to mention undead,
houseguests, including everything
from zombie soldiers to a beautiful
but deadly vampiress, are dead set on
seeing to it that you fail.
Elvira may start a new trend in
graphics-oriented adventures. Many
games sacrifice depth and length of
play in favor of striking graphics. Ac-
colade, however, has created a game
that provides hours of play in addi-
tion to stunning graphics. As you en-
ter the castle, the attention to detail
becomes apparent, and thanks to El-
vira 's first-person perspective, the
feeling of being there is immediate. As
you wander the ancient grounds of
Killbragant, you'll have the opportu-
nity to battle a variety of creatures, all
of which will grimace, scream, and
snarl at you in remarkable detail I
found the animation to be excellent.
At one point in the game you'll en-
counter a falcon, which scrolls
smoothly across the screen just before
ripping out your eyes. Another excel-
lent animation sequence is the were-
wolf transformation. I recommend
that you bring some silver when you
visit this guy, and Fm not talking
about your fork and spoon.
Visually stunning and full of dangerous
surprises, f/Wra's only for the intrepid.
The box states that Elvira con-
tains blood-curdling graphics. This is
a warning as well as a selling point;
the game contains graphic violence.
You will be beheaded, have your
throat ripped out, and sustain various
other fatal and unpleasant injuries —
all with minute attention to detail
The resuhs are sometimes shocking.
For this reason, I feel that Elvira is not
suitable for young children.
Of course, a superior adventure
game relies on more than good graph-
ics for its appeal, and Elvira is no ex-
ception. The game boasts an excellent
soundtrack and supports today's most
popular sound cards, I found the mu-
sic to be very^ well done, creating ten-
sion at just the right moment.
.Another excellent feature is the incor-
poration of digitized sound effects. No
matter what sound card you're using,
you'll still be able to hear screams,
cries of agony, and the clash of steel
on steel as you engage in battle. For
those of you whose only source of
sound is the PC speaker. Accolade has
done a creditable job with the music,
and you'll even be able to hear the
digital sound.
Elvira is an icon-driven game
that uses a point-and-click interface.
All the necessary icons are located on
one screen, which speeds gameplay by
minimizing the amount of mouse
pushing you'll do. Needless to say, be-
cause of the nature of the interface, a
mouse is highly recommended.
During the game all text, descrip-
tions, and inventory items will appear
in a lower window. Arrows direct your
movement along the four compass
points, and up or down arrows allow
you to negotiate stairways. You ma-
nipulate objects by using command
icons such as Examine, Open, Close,
Use, and the like. Picking up an object
is a simple matter of clicking on it and
dragging it to your inventory. Another
interesting feature, the abihty to drop
things in a room and retrieve them
later, isn't found in many of today's
graphic adventure games.
During combat, when you con-
front one of the castle beasties, a spe-
cial combat window appears, alter-
nately displaying Lunge/Hack and
Block/Parry. The intelligent combat
interface requires you not only to se-
lect the proper attack or defense but
also to time your defense correctly.
Not that it's going to help you much.
There's going to be a lot of blood
spilled here — mostly yours. One more
note on combat: Once you engage in
battle, it's a fight to the death. If you
wish to run or use magic against your
enemy, you must do so before the
combat window appears.
Out for your blood, the ghastly denizens
of Killbragant close in for the kilL
Strategy for Elvira is somewhat
simplistic; try to stay alive and grab
everything that isn't nailed down. In
the castle, you find some of the better
weapons and other items used
throughout the game. YouMl have to
108 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
Remember Hhen He Couldn't
Jeep His Hands Off He!
Now he's got that NEO-GEO
He used to play all night with
me. Hot action, fantasy
games..., you name it.
Now he soys his NEO»GEO^
gives him more, plus major
league sports, ninja warriors,
and flame throwing enemies.
Can you do that? he asks.
I make my play but he's glued
to NEO»GEO's vivid 4 dimen-
sional graphics and 65,000
colors.
1 scream but he doesn't hear
me above 15 channels of
pure pulsating stereo sound
with 7 dedicated to real voice
speech!
He says NEO»GEO is the most
powerful home entertainment
system in the world and that
other systems don't even
come close, ...and lately
neither does he.
I'll show him. HI play that
NEO«GEO and beat the pants
off him!
Circle Reader S«rvice Number 221
SNK
Home Entertainment, Inc.
For more information or the name
of your local NEO-GEO dealer
Call 1-800-800-NEO-GEO ext . 404
Tlie mdemariti of NEOKJEO are Tegistered b>' SNK Home EnieitainirwfK Inc.
REVIEWS
GAMES
engage in combat to enter many of the
rooms in the castle, and since fighting
is strictly on-the-job training, save
often. The game has so many items
you can pick up that I recommend se-
lecting a centrally located room in the
castle as a repository. I found that the
library serves nicely, since it's never
guarded. Make sure you read the doc-
umentation, as it contains some good
pointers. Last, but not least, if you tru-
ly get stuck, Accolade does offer an ex-
cellent hint book that includes a
layout of the castle and grounds.
Despite my disappointment with
the lack of a user-friendly installation
process and some minor documenta-
tion oversights, I consider Elvira a
noteworthy achievement. If a dank
and dangerous setting is your element,
you'll be right at home in Castle Kill-
bragant. Grab a copy and begin your
adventure — exploring Elvira may
take days, but every moment's a thrill.
GREGG OWENS
IBM PC and compatibles; 640K RAM:
EGA, VGA, or Tandy l6-co!or: hard drive-
8-MHz or faster prcx^essor recommend-
ed; mouse recommended; supports Ad
Lib, Sound Blaster, Roland MT-32, Casio
CT460, and CMS— S59.95
Also available for Amiga — $59.95 and
Atari ST— $59.95
ACCOLADE
550 S. Winchester Blvd.
San Jose, CA 95128
(408)985-1700
THE DREAM TEAM
3 ON 3 CHAllENBE
H' ith the long, hot days of sum-
mer quickly approaching, bas-
ketball fans find themselves
dreading the long wait for the
action of their favorite sport to heat
up. The wail is over! In The Dream
Team S onS Challenge, three of the
NBA's top stars are waiting to bring
their brand of half-court action right
into your living room.
Joe Dumars, Patrick Ewing, and
Dominique Wilkins are the team to
beat in this fast-moving arcade chal-
lenge. For one or two players, The
Dream Team can be played either
competitively or cooperatively and
with one-, two-, or three-man teams.
In any variation, players are chosen
from a roster of 24 of the NBA's
finest.
You can also participate in the ul-
timate challenge, the Dream Team
Tournament. This single-elimination
showdown is played between eight
three-man teams, which are randomly
paired in each game. Up to eight of
the teams can be controlled by hu-
mans, so you can invite seven of your
friends over to see which of you really
is number 1.
Basketball season never ends with The
Dream Team Three on Three Challenge.
The mechanics of this game are
easy to master. Your players dribble
automatically as they move; every-
thing else is just a matter of position-
ing and timing. Press button 1 on your
joystick to shoot, rebound, or block a
shot; press button 2 to pass. The col-
ored "pad" that appears beneath the
feet of one of your players makes it in-
stantly apparent which player you
control at any given time.
The Dream Team also involves
tactical considerations, requiring you
to select one of four active plays
before inbounding the ball Choose
from 1 6 preprogrammed plays, or de-
sign your own. You can change your
active plays as often as you like. Call-
ing plays adds a bit of realism to the
game and makes passes easier to exe-
cute because you can anticipate the
movements of your players.
The Dream Team's designers ob-
viously paid a great deal of attention
to creating an attractive game, and it
shows: This is easily the best-looking
basketball game on the market. The
graphics are rich and detailed to the
point of shading the ball so that it ap-
pears rounded and three-dimensional.
Unlike some other games, The Dream
Team won't strain your eyes. The
players are large, bright, and colorfully
animated, with moves such as a be-
hind-the-back lay-up and a soaring
two-handed slam along the baseline.
The weakest part of this game in-
volves the sound effects, which are
limited to the sound of dribbling, the
ball hitting the rim, and the referee's
whistle. While these effects are well
done, there should be more. Where
are the squeaking sneakers? Where is
the roar of the crowd when a player
comes up with a big slam-dunk or a
long three-pointer?
Overall, this is a commendable
effort from Data East. The graphics
and animation are engaging, the sound
effects are sparse but good and, most
important, it's fun to play. So all you
sports gamers out there — grab a joy-
stick, lace your sneakers up, and try
The Dream Team 3 on 3 Challenge.
RICHARD RAP?
IBM PC and compatibles; 51 2K RAM for
CGA. EGA, and Hercules; 640K RAM for
VGA and Tandy 1 6-coIor; 1 0 MHz or fast-
er recommended for VGA or Tandy
graphics; supports Ad Lib and Sound
Blaster sound cards; joystick recom-
mended—$49,95
DATA EAST USA
1850 Little Orchard SL
San Jose, CA 95125
{408)286-7074
KING'S QUEST I
A classic game, King's Quest
now boasts a new, easier-to-use
interface that hasn't upset the
game*s balance. It only enhances
by eliminating the drudgery of key-
board control. To find out about an
object, just point at it and click the
right mouse button. To move the
hero. Sir Graham, you merely need to
click on the desired location, and Gra-
ham obligingly moves in that direc-
tion. And while KQ'% graphics are no
longer state-of-the-art, the soundtrack
and overall quality of the game are
still remarkable. In sum — bravo!
King's Quest has been given a new
lease on life.
TOM CAMPBELL
(BM PC and compatibles, 51 2K RAM,
CGA. EGA, VGA; n:>ouse recommend-
ed—$59.95
SIERRA ON-LINE
P.O, Box 485
Coarsegold. CA 93614
(800)326-6654
110 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
ADVENTURE INTO
A LI\/ING UNiy/ERSE
•••:
*i ^, m ^ v)]-^'' '
■\V.$|
TMi pamraM
.ou ana your comrades will follow a
path of clues across the adventure-
filied cosmos on a quest to return
the Earth to its own space-time
continuum. Buckle up, lay In your
course and hang on.. .you've just
crossed over the PLANETS EDGE!
BOLEPLfl'"""'
flDVENT««^'
HOTTES
T fiRflPMlC'' *
SOUNDS
Available at your local retailer or direct from New World at
1-800-325-8898 {U.S. and Canada) or at 1-818-999-0607.
a: copyrighi 1991 Planet's Edge is a trademark of New World Computing. Inc.
New World Computing is a trademark of Nevy World Computing, inc,
fBM screens shown, actual screens may vary.
P.O. Box 4302. Hollywood, CA. 90078
REVIEWS
GAMES
FUTURE CLASSICS
COLLECriUN
Arcade lovers will gel a bang out of
this five-game omnibus. In Disk-
man you gather floppy disks,
while avoiding magnets, bombs,
and other deadly devices. Diet Riot,
on the other hand, gives you a chance
to close down junk-food restaurants.
Don*t eat those hamburgers and
French fries! You'll get fat. Other
games include Bhckalanche, a 3-D
TetrisAike puzzle; Lost 'N Maze, a
firsi-person-perspective maze treasure
hunt; and Tank Battle, a simple com-
bat game.
While none of the games is con-
ceptually original, each is cleverly im-
plemented. Moreover, they boast
much better graphics than you might
expect from a budget collection. At
the price, Future Classics Collection is
a steal.
CLAYTON WALNUM
IBM PC and compatibles. 51 2K RAM,
CGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA, and Tandy 16-
color; supports Ad Ub. Sound Blaster
sound cards; joystick optionai— $39.95
Also available for Amiga— $49.95
LIVE STUDIOS
30151 Branding Iron Rd.
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(714)661-8337
SPACE PST IV:
ROGER WIlGIl
THE TIME RIPPERS
Roger Wilco foils Sludge VohauPs
plans for revenge by jumping
into the Time Rip, and the ad-
venture has just begun. Roger
won't rest until he's seen Space Quest
XXII, revisited Space Quest I, and
stopped briefly at Space Quest X.
Familiarity with Sierra's line of
terrific software didn't prepare me for
the dazzling opener. Stunning 256-
color MCGA graphics, a soundtrack
rivaling Hollywood's best, and a well-
planned introduction to an exciting
story kept me on the edge of my seat.
When you play, don't try typing
Look Around. The parser of old has
been replaced with a new-generation
interface* Click the Eye icon in the
area you want to look, and you're
given a full report. With the Hand,
Walking, Nose, and Tongue icons,
you'll have an easy time figuring out
what to do.
You run into some pretty tough
customers in Space Quest IV.
The story line is full of surprises.
When the Latex Babes captured Rog-
er, I witnessed Roger's former lover
exacting revenge. And experiencing
the Skate-0-Rama in the mail, with
its antigravity instead of skates, re-
minded me that the Galaxeria Mall,
after all, was in the middle of deep
space. One of the biggest surprises is
meeting Roger's son and seeing a
hologram of his wife. I won't give
things away, but youll be in for a
shock because of his wife's notoriety.
There are technological twists,
too. Roger plugs into Vohaul's super-
computer to fmd the programming
room for the supercomputer and
avoid the security detail Once at the
programming room, he has an oppor-
tunity to format Vohaul's evil storage
media.
If you're a Space Quest fan or you
just love games that have great graph-
ics and wonderful sound, get this
game. It's hard to guess how Sierra
will follow this act after exposing you
to the far-flung future of Space Quest
XXII, but I imagine it will be every bit
as stimulating as this adventure.
RICHARD LEINECKER
IBM PC and compatibles. 640K RAM,
MCGA or VGA; supports mouse or joy-
stick, supports Ad Lib, Roland, Game
Blaster, PS/1, and Sound Blaster sound
cards-"$59.95
SIERRA ON-LINE
P,0. Box 485
Coarsegold,CA 93614
(800)326-6654
LORD OF
HE
, VOL. I
Hobbits are good guys, honest and
tough, the kind of folks you
wouldn't mind having next door.
One of them. Bilbo Baggins,
found a ring of unimaginable power
and gave it to his nephew Frodo. Now
Frodo must destroy the ring, but its
creator, the dread Sauron, wants it
back.
Are these the makings of adven-
ture? You bet! Author J. R. R. Tolkien
used these very ingredients to create
his celebrated fantasy, Lord of the
Rings. Now Interplay Productions has
adapted them to the phosphor screen
with Lord of the Rings, Vol, /, a
computer-based version of the
Tolkien classic.
The denizens of Tolkien's Middle Earth
come to life in Lord of the Rings.
Interplay has done a good job of
equipping you for your quest. You
move with your mouse (highly recom-
mended) or keyboard (awkward), and
the interface is icon-based, allowing
you to readily procure and use objects,
cast magic spells, and attack enemies.
You can recruit some characters to
help you in your quest and talk with
others to get information you need.
Depending on where you are, you can
acquire new weapons, learn new
spells, or eat food to restore lost life
points. You can even put the ring on
your finger, rendering yourself invisi-
ble. But be careful if you do; the ring
drains your will, and if your will falls
to zero, you are, for all practical pur-
poses, dead.
Icons initiate action, and youll
see plenty of that, but youMl need
information, too, and information
comes from written words. Some of
those words are written on neat little
112 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
CONQUER
NINTENDO
WITH THESE BOOKS
FROM CQIUIPUTE
COMPUTEl's Guide to
Nintendo Games
Packed with hints and tips for better
play and dozens of reviews of avail-
able game cartridges for the Nintendo
Entertainment System.
272 pages, $9,95
COMPUTE'S Nintendo Secrets
More strategies, hints, tips, reviews,
and ratings for dozens of the newest,
most popular Nintendo games. Max-
out scores on Super Mario Bros. 3,
Batman, Ninja Gaiden II, and more,
198 + 8 color pages, $8.95
Conquering Zelda:
The Unauthorized Guide
Finally — the hints and techniques you
need to conquer two of the most
popular Nintendo games. The Legend
of Zelda® and The Adventure ofLink^.
Step-by-step instructions to rescue the
princess!
128 pages, $7.95
I want more hints
and tips. Please send me the books
checked below.
D COMPUTEi's Gufde to Niitteitdo Games
(2214) %%.%S
0 CQMPUTPs Klntendo Secrets (2346) $8.95
D Conquering Zelda: The Unauthorized Guide
(2397) S7.95
Sales tax (Readents o* NC. NY, & NJ add
appfDpriate sales tax) Canadian orders add
7% Goods and Service tax.
Shipping and Handling $2 per book US: S4
Canada; S6 foreign.
TotiJ Enclosed
n Check or
money
order D MC D VISA
$itfatirP.
tRequifrt)
Aotno .
F^p natP
Wanrw
Street Address
{No PO Sa)«s pleas£j
Qty
<i*3fp 7!P
A] I orders must be paid m US funds drawn on a U-S, bank.
Orders will be sh^pped via UPS Ground Service. Offef ^ood
while supplies last
MAiL TO Coinpute Doolts
c/o CCC
2500 McCieiian Avenue
Pennsauicen, NJ 08109
Nintendo and The Legend of Ze!d3 are registered trademarks of Nintendo at Anwica. Snc
The Aivenuie of Link is a trademark of Nintendo of Anierica, fnc.
JULY91CG
REVIEWS
GAMES
yellowed scrolls that magically appear
and then automatically unfurl when-
ever the need arises. These may, for
example, give you the lowdown on
what's in a room. As you explore, the
ever-helpful scroll also tells you if
there are desirable items to be found
wherever you happen to be. It works
like this: As you enter a room, the
scroll may pop up and roll down and
notify you that there are items of in-
terest nearby. Sure enough, when you
call up the Get icon, you'll find that
there are indeed worthwhile objects
wailing for you, but you'd never know
it by looking, since there's no visual
hint. Don't real adventurers always
depend on their eyes?
Other words are printed in your
Lord of the Rings play manual, where
you'll find 259 numbered blocks of
text. From time to time, the yellowed
scroll will prompt you to refer to para-
graph such and such, and you've got
to open the manual and locate the
paragraph. Is this the poor man's text
adventure? Admittedly, the para-
graphs add depth to the game, but
why not just put the information on
the screen?
The program has other quirks,
too. For example, you can pick up
something useful and then discard it,
but if you try to pick it up again, it
may not be there. Another thing that's
puzzling: Since wearing the ring
makes you invisible, you'd expect
your cohorts not to notice you when
you sHp it on. But even when you
wear it, they'll still dutifully follow
you around.
Another problem lies with the
scrolling screen itself It's good, not
great When you move, your character
stays more or less stationary on the
screen while the background scrolls
past. The scroIHng is jerky, and with
more than 9000 screens worth of Mid-
dle Earth terrain to explore, eyestrain
is inevitable.
How effective is this translation
of a fantasy classic into the language
of microprocessors? Tm caught in the
middle, loving the gameplay but dis-
appointed by visuals that could never
live up to those of my imagination.
Interplay's Middle Earth citizens are
remarkable in VGA, but some of
them seem to be a cross between Elvis
Presley and Mr. Spock. If you're a
reader of Tolkien, this computer-
granted glimpse of the land the Hob-
bits call home may or may not match
your own mental image, but even if it
doesn't, don't let that keep you from
enjoying Interplay's Lord of the Rings.
Rest assured that those little guys will
keep you on the road to adventure for
a long time to come.
STEVE HUDSON
IBM PC and compatibles; 51 2K for CGA
or EGA, 640K for MCGA, VGA, or Tandy
\6 color; hard disk and mouse recom-
mended—$54.95
INTERPLAY PRODUCTIONS
3710 S. Susan, Ste. 100
Santa Ana. CA 92704
(714)549-2411
Hhen a designer tries to graft
role-playing onto adventure,
the result is usually a Franken-
stein monster of a game that
returns to haunt the author, the pub-
lisher, and the game players of the
world. Hero 's Quest scored high
marks as one of the few games to suc-
cessfully blend the puzzle-solving as-
pects of an adventure with the combat
and skill elements that characterize
role-playing games. The sequel, which
bears a different name due to a trade-
mark conflict with a board game, is
even better than the original
Tightrope waiking in Trial by Fire isn't
safe, but it certainly is heroic.
Our hero has traveled from the
forests of Europe to the burning sands
of the Mideast for this story. In the de-
sert city of Shapeir, things have not
been shaping up according to the sul-
tan's plan. The emir in the nearby city
of Raseir has fallen victim to the evil
plot of his sinister sibling. Your quest
is to fmd the missing ruler and set
things right in Raseir before the vil-
lain takes over Shapeir, too.
You may use a character from
Hero 's Quest or roll up a fresh one. As
before, the choice is fighter, thief, or
magic user^ — each profession possess-
ing strengths and shortcomings in
skills necessary to solve various puz-
zles. Some puzzles are unique to the
different classes, and many problems
have different solutions for each class.
The fighter, for example, obtains the
bellows needed to defeat the air ele-
mental by arm-wrestling the man in
the weapon shop, while the magic user
casts Fetch on the bellows (at night) to
get it. In most places, the magic user
and thief rely more on wits; the fighter
on strength.
1 enjoyed battling the brigands
and giant scorpions of Trial by Fire
more than the villains of Hero's
Quest, because the combat system has
been revamped and improved. In-
stead of viewing a first- person picture
of the foe, you watch animated figures
of both characters. There are only a
few combat commands, so they're
easy to learn and execute. Magic is
useful in combat as well as when solv-
ing puzzles.
As in Hero's Quest, your charac-
ter can improve certain skills if he or
she uses them successfully. Pick
enough locks, and you'll find the next
lock easier to pick. In a major leap for-
ward over Hero's Quest, Trial by Fire
lets your characters advance to higher
classes; a fighter strives to become a
paladin, for instance. This gives the
quest a dual purpose: to save the land
and to get your character promoted.
An added feature is a difterent final
scene for each character class, so you
have more incentive to replay that
character, and more fun doing so.
Trial by Fire supports everything
from 16-coior VGA to Hercules and
sound boards that haven't even been
invented yet, but it doesn't employ
the ''cinemagraphics" and icon inter-
face of King's Quest K You still type
words into a parser to interact with
people and things, and the graphics
are cartoonish. This is apppropriate,
however, considering the abundance
of humor here. Authors Lori and
Corey Cole display a rare talent for
114 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
JUST GOT MEANER!
Announcing COMPUTE'S
Mean 18 Course Disk
Six originally designed, challenging golf courses
to add to your Mean 18 collection. Each course
has a unique theme. Play Apple Arbor, a genu-
ine test of strategy; Pines Par 3, a fast-play
course for which you'll need all your clubs; City
Lakes, where water is your best friend and
worst enemy; Island Green, which requires pre-
cise distance calculations and deadly accuracy;
and much, much more.
ThB disk is designed to v^xK with Accolade's Mamt 18. The Mean 78 program is sotd
separately.
Mean 18 Ultimate Golf is a trademark and copyright of Acoslade, Jnc, 1986, 1987, 1988,
1989. 1990.
► Only $12.95* plus $2.00 postage and
handling.
► Available in IBM 5y4- or SVa-inch formats or
in Amiga format
► Send your order to GOLF, 324 West
Wendover Avenue, Suite 200, Greensboro,
North Carolina 27408. Be sure to specify
format desired.
' Residents of Nevv York and North Carolhia add appropriate sales tax. Canadiah or-
ders, add 7% goods and services lax. All orders must be in US. funds drawn on a U.S.
tjank. MasterCard Of VISA accepted (or orders over 520. Include credit card nurrvtser and
expiration date. For delivery outside the U.S. or Canada, add $1 for surface mail or $3
tof airmaiJ. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.
The Mother of
All Scenario
Disks. . .
Experience the excite-
ment and danger of the
Persian Gulf War with the
Operation Desert Storm
Scenario Disk for F- 15
Strike Eogie //.
Includes: • Eight
historicaiiy- based
^k missions drawn from
'T^* actuoi war events •
^^ Hundreds of random
^^^ missions based on
coaiition strategies
and objectives • North Cape
and Central Europe theatres from F-19Stealft)
Figliter • New, night-combat capability and
much more!
f- 75 Strike Eagle II required to play.
' E N T E rj r A I N r.i E N 1 . s O ? r A' A D E
180 Laketront Drive • Hunt Valley, MD 21030 • (301) 771-1151
■^^^^
Circfe Reader Service Number 142
IMPORTANT NOTICE
FOR
COMPUTE DISK
SUBSCRIBERS
COMPUTE Offers fwo different disk
products for PC readers: the
SharePak disk and PC Disk. SharePak
is monthiy and has a subscription
price of $59.96 for 5^^-inch disks
and $64.95 for 3y2-inch disks. A
subscription to SharePak does not
include a subscription to the maga-
zine. PC Disk appears In even-
numbered months and has a sub-
scription price of $49.95, which
includes a subscription to the PC
edition of COMPUTE. You can sub-
scribe to either disk or to both, but a
subscription to one does not include
a subscription to the other.
REVIEWS
GAMES
demented puns and obscure jokes. The weapon shop, for
instance, is run by a man called Issur, a play on A, E. van
Vogt's classic novel. The Weapon Shops oflsher. For its
playfulness and improvements over the original, Trial by
Fire is highly recommended.
SHAY ADDAMS
IBM PC and compatibles, 640K RAM. CGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA, or
Hercules; 8 MHz or higher recommended, supports Roland MT-32,
Ad Lib. Sound Blaster, PS/1 Audio Joystick Adapter, and ottier mu-
sic synttiesizers— $59.95
SIERRA ON-LINE
P.O. BOX 485
Coarsegold.CA 93614
(800)326-6654
ZBIUD
I
don't like sword-and-sorcery games, but twenty min-
utes after beginning Zeliard, I took the phone off the
hook and put my rudest Do Not Disturb sign on the
front door.
You come across a mountain fortress in Zeltard.
A Japanese import from Sierra's Game Arts division,
Zeliard is a well-crafted, entertaining hack-and-grab fanta-
sy adventure. As Duke Garland, you must search for the
Tears of Esmemanti, nine crystals that are the only de-
fense against the demon Jashiin, who has laid waste the
land and turned the princess into stone. Your quest takes
you through caverns where you do battle with evil frogs,
slugs J owls, fire-spitting serpents, and the inevitable giant
monsters. Along the way, you have the chance to buy bet-
ter weapons and increase your strength and endurance,
and if you persevere to the end, you'll restore the land of
Zeliard to its former happy state. OK, you've heard it all
before, but Zeliard s familiar premise profits immensely
from detailed graphics (even on CGA), Hmited but clever
animation, satisfyingly convoluted labyrinths, and an
original musical score that, for a wonder, is pleasant to lis-
ten to.
Not that there aren't problems: On slower systems
the lags during screen changes may be infuriatingly
116 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
REVIEWS
GAMES
slow, playing the game without a hard drive will involve
frequent disk swapping (three 5V4S, two 3 '/2s), and after
several deaths, you'll wish it were possible to save a game
without leaving the cavern to go to the Sage's house in the
village. Bui the first two problems are probably signs that
it's time to upgrade your system, and the last problem will
at least keep you on your toes. On the whole, the obvious
care that went into the creation of Zeliard makes playing
the game a lot of high-quaUty unsophisticated fun.
ANTHONY MOSES
IBM PC and compatibles. 51 2K RAM. CGA, EGA, MCGA, Tandy
16-color, or Hercules; hard drive recommended — $34,95
SIERRA ON-LINE
P.O. Box 485
Coarsegold, CA 93614
(209) 683-4468
II:
AT
Have you ever wanted to fight a battle in a war game
that hasn't been developed yet? Have you ever won-
dered what would have happened had Napoleon
faced Alexander the Great in battle in the twenty-first
centur>' with nuclear weapons, missiles, and air power?
This capability is what Ezra Sidran and the stafTof Inter-
galactic Development have programmed into their new
Microplay release, UMS II: Nations at War.
VMS II is a computer war game simulation which
purports to have real artificial intelligence and a depth of
simulation not yet realized in any other war game. This
may or may not be true, but UMS H certainly does have
complex algorithms that define thousands of variables in-
cluding leadership, morale, supply level, experience, effi-
ciency, and unit strength. The game player can set and
reset these values to study the effects of a variety of com-
bat circumstances. Terrain, weather, elevation, and mili-
tary formations must also be taken into account. For the
realist, these are welcome details,
UMS II has the further advantage of being a game
system that promises the imminent release of a planet edi-
tor that will allow you to create your own plane twide bat-
tles. While the editor doesn't come with the game, it's
easily the most appealing aspect of UMS IL Expect the
editor to be available within the next two months, though
there is some confusion as to whether the planet editor
will be a free upgrade to the original program. Unlike its
predecessor, UMS, UMS U transcends the limitations of a
mundane, geographically limited battlefield and engages
you in planetwide conflicts instead.
Obviously, UMS II targets the true war gamer who
has hours of time to pore over manuals and to enjoy and
master the intricacies of gameplay, not the average gamer.
Even when you use one of the three enclosed scenarios,
the game isn*t an undertaking for a few afternoon hours.
Schedule a whole day or night to complete a single game.
Functioning better with a mouse than a keyboard, the
interface is adequate, but not obvious or easy to learn. Ex-
'27 Yanks vs. 90 Reds.
Tonight.
OnlyOnMLSPN.
(YOUR MICROLEAGUE SPORTS NETWORK)
Tune in to MicroLeague Basebal!-The Manager's Challenge-new
from MicroLeague Sports, your Computer Network for the finest in
true-to-life sports simulation software- You control all the action-
for all aspects of the game. Manage 26 major league rosters-past
and present. How would the '27 Yanks do against the '90 Reds?
Could the Mets beat Boston again? Find out. You get graphic dis-
plays of 3 big league stadiums (other stadium disks available), 30-
player rosters, complete stats and box scores, Stat Compiler for
season and league play Quick-Series option, Quick-Play option,
and much more -p/f/s;
• GM/Owner disk for making trades-
or create your Dream Team.
• Season disks available.
• Pitch & hit vs. Lefty or Eighty.
• Stealing & base running.
• Pull, spray, or hit straight away
• Fatigue and power factors.
• Season tiring for league play
• Full-colorAction 3-D Graphics.
For: IBM/Tandy/Compatibles 39.95.
Coming soon for Macintosh & Amiga,
Cant find MLB-MC at your local retailer?
Call, or mail check/money order to:
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Watch for /VfW MicroLeague Baseball— the book- coming this
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;c: 1991, MiiCroLeagsje Spois. Referenced products and companies aie resistered tradeniarks of tlieif respective holders
Ctrde Reader Service Number 124
JULY 1991 COMPUTE 117
REVIEWS
GAMES
pact to make many mistakes, and
don't expect the manual to answer all
your questions: The documentation is
not quite sufTicient. To make up for
this problem, the designers provide a
free newsletter, complete with tips
and warnings against pitfalls.
Offering no sound effects and
possessing limited color graphics ,
VMS 11 has sacrificed glitz to afford
players greater control of the simula-
tion. When designing the artificial in-
telligence of generals, for example,
you decide whether they're passive or
aggressive, or desire the destruction of
opposing forces over the conquest of
territory. But if you're looking for a
stereo shoot-'em-up, this is not your
game. Only the highly cerebral need
look into this military simulator. The
current version of VMS II is version
1 .2.4. You need to send your original
game disks and registration card to In-
tergalactic Development to get the up-
grade. This new version improves on
the earlier version and addresses
many user complaints. The newer
version runs faster and is far more
capable of unattended play than the
prior game. Lengthy battles need trou-
ble you no longer; array your forces
and let the game resolve the combat
while you clean the garage or make a
sandwich. Upon your return, view the
results and issue another set of
commands.
VMS II: Nations at War is by far
the most monumental and ambitious
undertaking in military war game his-
tory. Be aware of the drawbacks of the
system, however, and remember that
this game is not for everyone, I would
recommend VMS II for anyone who
intends to purchase the planet editor
(assuming the upgrade isn't free) and
who is an avid war gamer — or per-
haps for anyone who enjoys alternate
history or wants to set his or her own
conditions for worldwide conflict
without actual bloodshed.
ALFRED GIOVETTI
IBM PC and compatibles, 640K RAM,
CGAor EGA, hard drive— $59.95
Also available for Amiga — $59.95, Atari
ST— $59.95, and Macintosh— $59.95
MICROPLAY
Distributed by MicroProse Software
leOLakefrontDr.
HuntValley.MD 21030
(301)771-9150
njODniTY
MBNSiin ma.
If there's one immutable law in per-
sonal computing, it's this: For any
hardware platform or operating sys-
tem to succeed, it must be the deliv-
ery system for a killer spreadsheet.
This may sound strange, but if you
look at history, you'll see that it's true.
The new Exce/'s toolbar makes the
program faster and easier to use.
When VisiCak hit the scene in
1 979, it turned the Apple II from a toy
into a powerful business tool Apple II
sales skyrocketed, and the machine
became the personal computer for
computing's first generation. Lotus I-
2-3 was the next standard. It was a
great improvement on VisiCak and
the epitome of user-friendly software
in 1983. Lotus J -2-3 made business-
men and -women really want to buy
MS-DOS-based, 8088-powered PCs.
And they did . , . by the millions.
Since 1-2-3'% success, there have
been many spreadsheet contenders,
but none have really captured the
computing public's imagination and
driven users to a new hardware or
operating-system platform.
Lotus tried recapturing the magic
and setting a new standard with /-2-i
3.0, but without much success — most
users who upgraded went with the
lower-end 2.2 version of 1-2-3. And
Microsoft has tried before with Excel
1 .0 and 2.0, but previous versions of
Excel simply didn't have the wiles to
lure people away from the comfort of
DOS, 1-2-3, and their 8088s.
Now we have Excel 3.0. Is it just
another also-ran, or is it the spread-
sheet to set a new standard and fuel
the blastoff of Windows 3.0 and the
386 hardware it demands?
Keep reading. In the next five
minutes, you'll find out.
First, don't let anything you've
heard about previous versions of Ex-
cel influence you. Version 3.0 has
been completely redesigned from the
ground up. Not only does Excel 3.0
have amazing new features and pow-
er, but Microsoft has made dramatic
strides in making the program easier
to use.
Right off the bat, you'll notice
that the new Excel looks different.
When you run it for the first time,
you'll see one of its most impressive
new features, the toolbar. The toolbar
is a horizontal bar that rests under the
menus and contains groups of push
buttons. These push buttons are short-
cuts for commonly used commands,
the mouse equivalent of accelerator
keys, and they make using Excel both
easier and faster.
The toolbar isn't a new idea. It's
borrowed from Microsoft Word for
Windows, which places often-used
word-processing commands on a bar
called the ribbon. But the toolbar con-
cept seems even more of a natural for
a spreadsheet than a word processor.
You can easily get a feel for
what's new with Excel by looking at
what's on the toolbar. Going from left
to right, you'll see buttons for select-
ing styles, promoting and demoting
outline elements, toggling outline dis-
play on and off, selecting visible cells,
autosumming (which automatically
sums rows or columns), bold and ital-
ic, alignment (left, center, and right),
selecting gmphics objects, drawing (in-
cluding buttons for drawing lines, rec-
tangles, ellipses, and curves), auto-
charting, creating text boxes, creating
your own user-defined buttons, and
recording macros.
One of these buttons, autosum, is
especially useful. Microsoft did some
impressive research to determine just
what users wanted and needed in a
spreadsheet. One of the things the re-
search showed was that summing
rows and columns was the most re-
peated task for almost all spreadsheet
users.
To make summing as easy as
possible, Microsoft created autosum. >
lie COMPUTE
JULY 1991
END BAIDNESS AND THINNING HAIR
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REVIEWS
PRODUCTIVITY
To use it, you place Ihe cursor at the
end of any row or column at the point
where you want your total to go. Next,
click on the autosum button. The pro-
gram places the SUM formula in the
current cell and selects a range based
on the configuration of your data. If
autosum finds cells filled in to the
right or left of your sum cell, it
chooses that part of the row. If it finds
cells above the formula (the more
common situation), it selects the col-
umn above. I*ve found that autosum
almost always chooses the right range
for the sum, but when it doesn't, it's
easy to compress or extend the selec-
tion or to move it somewhere else on
the work sheet
You can control both the color and
perspective of Excei's 3-D charts.
Autosum may be Excei's most
frequently used new feature, but it*s
just one example of the care that went
into the design of 3-0. Another
thoughtful extra is Excei's new auto-
matic best fit for column width. To
use this, place the pointer between any
two cells and double-clicL The pro-
gram adjusts the width of the column
on the left and makes a best fit for the
data therein. Resizing your spread-
sheet's columns for optimum width is
now easy — and it's almost fun.
When you need to take a quick
look at a note attached to a cell, you
don't want to have to navigate
through menus. With 3.0, all you have
to do is double-click on any cell that
contains a note (cells with notes are
identified by a small red dot in the up-
per right corner of the cell) to display
the note's text.
When it's time to print your
spreadsheet, you1l be pleased to find
that this new version of Excel knows
all about fonts. Version 2.0 was limit-
ed to four fonts per work sheet, but
3.0 gives you unlimited access to your
system's entire font arsenal. It's also
worth noting that Excel works flaw-
lessly with both Bitstream's Eacelift
and Adobe Type Manager font
packages.
To top off new output enhance-
ments, 3.0 now offers style control.
You can access styles with the style
combo box on the toolbar, just like
the style box on the Word for Win-
dows ribbon. To define a style, select
an area of your work sheet and formal
it with the font you want (you can
specify bold, italic, underline, or
strikeout) and its point size. Click on
the style box and type in the name for
your new style. Now the style appears
on your style combo box menu. Fonts
and style control are a double-edged
sword, however. If you want to keep
your spreadsheets from looking like
ransom notes, stick to Helvetica for
numbers and perhaps one sen fed
font — like Times or Bookman — for
headlines.
All the features mentioned so far
make Excel faster and easier to use,
but this version also has several new
tricks to make power users' mouths
water. At the top of the list is outlin-
ing. With it, you can structure your
spreadsheet in an interrelated hierar-
chy, and even more important, you
can display selected parts of the
spreadsheet based on that hierarchy.
Here's a quick look at how out-
lining works. Let's say, for example,
that you're working on a balance sheet
containing several subtotals, and each
is the sum of 50 to 100 numbers. The
work sheet to contain all these num-
bers could easily be 400-500 rows
long. With a length like that, it would
be nearly impossible to see the impor-
tant data. The trees would block the
forest.
With outlining, the solution is
simple. First, select the range of the
rows that comprise each subtotal and
demote them with the right-pointing
arrow on the toolbar. You'll see a
small button with a minus sign on it
and a line indicating the range of the
button. Click on the button (which
will change to a +), and the range will
be hidden. If you click on the + but-
ton again, your range will appear. If
you change your mind and want to
promote the cells you demoted earlier,
just select the range again and click on
the left-pointing arrow on the toolbar.
The small outline button with the mi-
nus sign in it will disappear.
If you have several outline levels
in your spreadsheet, you'll appreciate
the program's outline display button,
also on the toolbar. Press this, and the
outline buttons disappear. When
you're ready to work with outlining
again, press the outhne display but-
ton, and you'll see your outline levels
and their associated buttons.
The toolbar, autosumming, and
outlining are all great, but Excel has a
little something extra for the kid in all
of us — dazzling, eye-popping graph-
ics. You'll find all the standard (and
often boring) graphs supplied, but
you'll also find gorgeous 3-D area, col-
umn, line, and pie charts. With all
Wrth ExceVs new drawing tools, you can
fine-tune your spreadsheets.
graph types, you have complete con-
trol over the chart's rotation, perspec-
tive, and color. You can also
incorporate graphs right in your
spreadsheet. It's easy, and as you
might expect, you do it with the
toolbar.
To create a graph, select a range
of cells, click on the graph button on
the toolbar, and draw a box on your
work sheet (by clicking and dragging
the mouse) just where you want the
graph to go.
If you have the soul of an artist,
you can even use Excei's on-board
drawing tools to jazz up your chart
and make your point in style.
Last, there's Excei's database.
This is the only module in the pro-
gram not completely redesigned and
upgraded for release 3.0, and it does
show its age a little. Microsoft, howev-
er, has solved the database problem
by bundling Pioneer software's Q-hE
database with Excel.
Q+E has been billed as a data-
base editor, but it's much more than
that. With it, you can import files (Ex-
120 COMPUTE
JULY 19 9 1
REVIEWS
PRODUCTIVITY
eel, dBase, and text), edit ihem, and
perform SQL queries. You can also
create databases in Q+E. The whole
affair is wrapped in a MDI (Multiple
Document Interface), like Excels
own, that features multiple overlap-
ping windows. Q+E is an impressive
and useful database program in its
own right. Match it up with Excel and
DDE, Windows' Dynamic Data Ex-
change, and it's a real winner.
So, is Excel the one? The new
spreadsheet standard that's going to
propel us into the next generation of
hardware and operating systems? It is
indeed. It's the spreadsheet we've
been waiting for.
CLIFTON KARNES
IBM PC and compatibles, Microsoft Win-
dows 3.0— S495
MICROSOFT
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
(800)426-9400
COREIDRAW!
nrdinarily, I would be wary of rec-
ommending a graphics package
that costs as much as Corel-
DRAWL If it costs thai much, it
had better do it all After working with
CorelDRAW! intensively for about a
year and with Corel DR/iW! 2.0 virtu-
ally full-time since January in connec-
tion with a book project, I can tell you
without hesitation or fear of contra-
diction that CorelDR.4W! mil do the
job for you as far as graphics are con-
cerned, almost without regard to the
kind of job you need done. If you've
outgrown Corel's list of options, you
have simply outgrown the PC, and
you should be shopping for a
workstation.
I would've had a more difficult
time making that recommendation
prior to the emergence of the 2.0 ver-
sion (which may be updated to a high-
er number by the time you see this, to
account for minor bug fixes that are
underway as of this writing). Although
the earlier version was a noble effort
and certainly a heavy hitter among
graphics packages, there was nothing
that sufficiently distinguished it from
the pack of other CAD programs to
make a specific recommendation.
Each of the major players had a spe-
cial trick or two, and there was as
much compelling evidence that you
should purchase one as another. Cor-
el's programmers eliminated all the
waffle room with version 2,0, beating
the competition at its own game and
leaving it in the dust. The cleaned-up
version that will shortly emerge from
the current upgrade process will be
bulletproof,
I will attempt the daunting task
of listing the reasons why you should
invest $695 in a graphics program —
and why you will count that invest-
ment as money well spent.
CorelDRAW! is easy to learn and
use, as it always was. It features intu-
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JULY 1991
COMPUTE 121
REVIEWS
PRODUCTIVITY
itive little pluses like a Repeat com-
mand in the File menu that allows
you to reiterate an action, no matter
how complex, with a single menu se-
lection. It allows you to add perspec-
tive to your drawing automatically, to
"extrude" a two-dimensional object
into the third dimension, and to dis-
tort at will the envelope containing a
drawn object as if it were printed on a
sheet of rubber or Silly Putty. Corel-
DRAW! has a complete blend option
for the first time with version 2.0. It
features a broad range of import and
export features that will make it a
ready partner for all your other graph-
ics software. The CorelDRAW! fonts
are famous for their variety and at-
tractiveness, but they offer much
more: These fine fonts can be export-
ed in various forms for use with your
other applications, provided that you
have a font manager to work with
Windows,
The Mosaic feature turns your
CorelDRAW! on-disk graphics portfo-
lio into an onscreen gallery of draw-
ings that you can peruse at will,
looking for the specific piece of art
that you need at the moment. But
even if you opt not to use Mosaic for
whatever reason, the Open dialog box
displays a thumbnail sketch of what-
ever file is selected in the list box, pro-
viding a similar, if less dramatic,
service in the basic software.
New in CorelDRAW! 2.0 are the
vector and raster fill options. These
options provide you with the ability,
for example, to grab a section of a
drawing on the screen and use it as a
continuously tiling fill inside of anoth-
er object. You can also import any bit-
map (TIFF or PCX) drawing as a fill
pattern. Once the fill has been import-
ed, you can color it as you please, size
it, edit it with Corel's pattern editor,
and save it for future use in the gallery
of raster fills or, if it's a vector fill, as a
special kind of CorelDRAW! fill file.
One of the drawbacks of the earli-
er versions of the product was that
you couldn't offset a fountain fill. A
fountain fill was always squarely cen-
tered in the selection rectangle of an
object, and the only way you could al-
ter the way it filled was to combine
the filled object with some irrelevant
bit of data off in the direction of the
desired offset. This minor irritant was
removed in the 2.0 version with the
addition of an offset option.
In many ways, CorelDRAW! was
always just as good as its principal ri-
vals, Micrografx Designer and Arts d
Letters Graphic Editor, but it lacked
the friendly fountains of Designer and
the powerful blending options of
Graphic Editor.
There are still areas that could
■M
■■■■i
jZ/^^^Kh
%^^^^
i«^
^
Both intuitive and powerful, CorelDRAW! is
the premier paint pmgram for Windows,
use improvement. The powerful Corel
TRACE, an associated program pro-
vided with CorelDRAW!, is functional
enough when it comes to turning ras-
ter graphics into line art, but its op-
tions aren't particularly intuitive, and
it seems slow, particularly when com-
pared with the spritely performance of
Designer, Corel also has an autotrace
feature within the program. Someday
it would be nice to have this autotrace
made powerful enough to stand up
next to Designer's so you wouldn't
have to leave the program to perform
your traces. Likewise, the font-export
option is the envy of the industry, but
for a novice at moving fonts around,
it's not well documented (and the
information in the Windows 3.0 man-
ual is as good as nonexistent). The
ability to alter fonts and use them as
your own is another good reason to
purchase CorelDRAW!, but you'll
have to become a Windows expert
before you'll discover how to use
these fonts with other Windows
programs.
But even with these minor prob-
lems, CorelDRAW! has more to rec-
ommend it than any other Windows
graphics program.
ROBERT BIX BY
IBM PC and cwinpatbles, Microsoft Win-
dows 3.0— $695
COREL SYSTEMS
1600 Calling Ave.
Ottawa. ON
Canada K1Z8R7
(613)728-8200
WILLMAKER
Nobody enjoys making a will and
keeping it current, but everybody
knows that the chore must be
done for the sake of loved ones.
One way to do it is to visit a lawyer.
That places some demands on your
time and checkbook. A more conven-
ient and inexpensive method is pro-
vided in WillMaker 4.0.
WillMaker 4.0 comes from Nolo
Press, a company well known for its
authoritative books on legal matters
for lay people. The manual states that
in the past 50 years the legal profes-
sion has scored a public relations coup
by convincing many people that writ-
ing a will without a lawyer is like do-
ing your own brain surgery. This, the
authors insist, is nonsense. Their pro-
gram produces a will which you can
understand, in clear language without
jargon such as "I hereby give, be-
queath, and devise." And it's a will
that will stand up in court.
After a simple installation pro-
cess, WillMaker takes you through a
series of questions regarding the allo-
cation of your estate. When you type
an answer, a window shows you how
your answer will appear in your will
and seeks your approval.
Let's say you are married and
wish to leave everything to your
spouse and your children. A will
meeting these conditions can be com-
pleted in a very few minutes. The pro-
gram asks for your name, your social
security number, your state and coun-
ty of residence, and the names of your
children. The program prompts you
for the name of a contingency custodi-
an for any beneficiaries who are mi-
nors, and suggestions for alternate
forms of custodianship are given.
If your will is more complicated
and you have specific bequests, the
program makes provision for those. It
also cautions you about what you can-
not do in a will with provisional be-
quests. For example, you cannot leave
something to Uncle Bill provided that
he quits smoking. Such a bequest
would probably be set aside by a pro-
bate court.
When you have fmished the se-
quence of screens, you may review the
finished document, make alterations
to your answers if you wish, and print
the will, which makes provision for
122 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
REVIEWS
PRODUCTIVITY
the signatures of three witnesses, plus
their initials, on each page. The print-
out also produces a "self-proving" af-
fidavit. Nolo urges you to complete
this document, which must have the
notarized signatures of yourself and
your witnesses. In most states, its exis-
tence will make it unnecessary for
your witnesses to appear in probate
court.
Documents produced by IVill-
Maker^re state specific, taking into
account variations in stale laws. The
manual asserts that the documents are
valid in all states except Louisiana,
where laws are based upon the French
legal system. The manual contains far
more information than just instruc-
tions for the use of the program. It
points out the limitations of a will,
provides information about the pro-
bate process, and discusses action you
may wish to take, outside your will, to
avoid probate. It also discusses situa-
tions which a simple will cannot cover
and suggests steps you may wish to
take to avoid estate taxes if your estate
is substantial. It even suggests that
there are circumstances under which
you may wish to consult a lawyer.
WillMaker 4.0 is an excellent
program and deserves your consider-
ation for use in matters of estate. Ask
yourself these questions: Is your will
up to date? Are you sure? WillMaker
4.0 offers some peace of mind.
CHARLES IDOL
IBM PC and compatibles, 256K RAM.
5y4- or 3V2-inch floppy drive; supports
hard drive— S69.95
NOUO PRESS
950 Parker St,
Berkeley, CA 94710-25^
(415)549-1976
LAPTOP
COLLECTION
Iaptop software can unfortunately
be a bit like microwave meals —
convenient, but less substantial
and satisfying than conventional
fare. If you've longed to beef up your
laptop menu, now's the time. That
longtime favorite of touch-typists,
WordStar, is now available in a laptop
version you can really sink your teeth
into — WordStar Laptop CoUection,
The collection gives you basically
a modified version 6.0 along with
LapLink Special Edition, which facili-
tates transfers between your laptop
and desktop (the cable costs extra),
and OnTime, a flexible calendar pro-
Take touch-typing power on the road
with WordStar Laptop Cof/ect/on.
gram. Although you don't have every
single feature offered in the desktop
version, there's still plenty to work
with: a spelling dictionary, a thesau-
rus, a definitions dictionary, multiple
help levels, pull-down or classic
menus, an extra-window capability,
dot commands, word counts, headers,
footers, an advanced page preview,
abundant printer support, and much
more. (For a fuller discussion of basic
program features in version 6.0, see
the December 1990 COMPUTE
review,)
In using the program, I haven't
felt that I lacked any features neces-
sary for normal laptop use. WordStar
seems every bit as full-featured on the
laptop as it does on my desktop com-
puter. In addition to the program
proper, you get WordStar's MailList
program for generating form letters,
printing labels or envelopes, and cre-
ating mailing lists. You also get a
quite capable communications pro-
gram, TelMerge, which lets you access
online services, send or receive elec-
tronic mail, and communicate with
other computers. Conveniently, each
of these programs is accessible from
within WordStar.
Like the desktop version, Word-
Star Laptop Collection offers free
membership in CompuServe with $ 1 5
usage credit, free Bitstream typefaces,
and free Agfa typefaces.
What's missing from the original
6.0 version? You don't get integrated
text and graphics, PC-Outline, Pro-
finder {a shell program), and Star-
Exchange (which converts file
formats between this and several oth-
er word processors). Once you be-
come a registered user of the laptop
edition, however, you qualify to buy
the desktop version for a mere $99.
And as the company points out, that's
like getting both products for less than
the retail price of the desktop ver-
sion— quite a bargain.
While you'll enjoy many of the
desktop version's features in the lap-
top edition, the company has clearly
adapted the program with the laptop
user in mind. The README file, the
installation and customization pro-
gram, and the manuals all reflect that
a laptop is being used. And yes, you
can run the program on a floppy sys-
tem. WordStar supplies a quick-start
disk with a condensed version of the
program, and you also get tips on
installing the program on a high-
capacity disk.
If youVe been waiting for a full-
featured word processor for your lap-
top, this is a great one. And if you've
enjoyed WordStar on a desktop com-
puter, this new laptop edition might
be just the excuse you need to buy a
laptop.
MIKE HUDNALL
IBM PC and compatibles; 640K RAM;
CGA, EGA, VGA; two floppy drives or sin-
gle ftoppy and a hard drive— $295
Registered WordStar users— $89
WORDSTAR INTERNATIONAL
201 A!ameda del Prado
Novato, CA 94948
(415)382-0606
ARTBEATS FULL
If you're serious about desktop pub-
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Artbeats offers five different
packages: Dimensions 1 & 2, Natural
Images 1 & 2, and Potpourri L Each
package contains light and dark ver-
J U L V 19 9 1
COMPUTE
123
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ost of the con-
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T CUTLERY: A CUT ABOVE THE REST
The secret behind Regent
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A soft, cushiony sofa, as inviting as it is to some,
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TheOmnivac- by Metro® is the portable canister
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the competition. So compact (17 inches x 7 inches)
and weighing only 11 pounds, it is a homemaker's
dream. But dont let the compact size and portabili-
ty fool you' The Omni vac- features an all-steel body
and packs a f ut! 4.0 peak h.p 2-speed motor for incre-
dible suction and deep cleaning power that is far su-
perior to most ordinary vacuums. The turbo-driven
powerhead attachment features a high speed rotat-
ing brush that removes ground-in carpet dirt as ef-
fectively as bulkv upright models, Plus, its double swiv-
el neck gets into tight spots under furniture and in
corners. But it doesn't stop herei A reversible air blow-
er provides 200 mph power for sweeping garages, pa-
tios, and walkways— and it inflates inflatables too The
Omnivac* can be carried easily over your shoulder
with the comfortable shoulder strap or it can roll
along effortlessly on its swivel caster wheels. The full-
featured 10-piece accessory kit comes with a 6 foot
hose 2 extension wands, bi-turbo powerhead, nozzle,
crevice tool, dust brush, floor/wall brush, inflator,
powenzer and shoulder strap UL approved and made
in the USA. And ... as if the Omnivac' weren't
enough, we are pleased to offer ABSOLUTELY FREE
with your order, the Vac 'N' Go, (a S40 value) the high
performance Vi horsepower electric hand
vacuum, ideal for quick clean-ups around
the house, office, workshop, or in the car,
RV, or boat, Includes 110 volt power unit and
Pik-all nozzle Omnivac- attachments will
also fit the Vac 'N' Co Full one year war-
ranty TWO GREAT VACUUMS - FOR ONE
LOW PRICE! Who can resist an offer like
this??? $199.98 (S20.0Q) #A1996.
4 BI-TURBO BRUSH
ABSOLUTELY FREE WITH ORDER!
f THE DAZER'
Even the most dedicated canine affi-
cionado can sometimes encounter un-
friendly dogs. Dazer'" provides a humane
way to repel their advance, emitting ultra-
sonic sound waves inaudible to humans and
totally safe for dogs (unlike mace and other
common deterrents). Pocket size iAW long)
plastic case can also clip on belt; takes 1*9V
battery, included. For joggers, hikers, bikers,
seniors and kids— plus the proverbial post-
maa $29.98, {$5.00) #A1829X.
f GOURMET POPCORN POPPER
All new high temperature 6 qt, popcorn
popper Most electric and hot-air pop-
pers "puff" the corn more than they "pop"
it leaving it tough with hard centers. This
flat-bottomed stove-top popper reaches
475'^ and pops full in two minutes with 6
quarts of the best popcorn you ever tast-
ed. Stirring paddle with through-the-crank
handle virtually eliminates burnt or un-
popped kernels. Wooden handle for safe
grip, two dump lids. Pop without oil for de-
licious diet popcorn, 370 calories per 4 qt.
bowl. Produce tender, fluffy old fashioned
movie theater popcorn. Made in the USA.
$27.98 ($5.25) ^A1963.
T INNOVATIVE lOMZER
A sophisticated electronic device that
uses nature's way of cleaning air —
emitting trillions of negatively charged ions
that act like magnets, attracting microscop-
ic particles of dust, smoke and pollen. One
belongs in every room, but sometimes a
table-top ionizer just isn't practical or desira-
ble for reasons of space or your decor. This
tiny unit (iy2"x3") provides an ingenious so-
lution, plugging right into any wall outlet
where it will
remain incon-
spicuous while
performing its
mighty task,
With "on" indica-
tor light and col-
lector pad that
can be rinsed
and, eventually,
replaced. By
Pollenex, for
fresher air in
home or office
$39.98 (S4.00)
i?A1857.
HOW TO
ORDER
30 Day
Money Back
Guarantee
For Exchange
or Refund
CALL TOLL FREE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
1-800-365-8493
For Customer Service Only
1-800-678-4955 (M-F: 9 AM-5 PM EST)
We Honor:
MasterCard, visa, and American Express.
If ordering by mail send remittance to
MAIL ORDER MALL, Dept PH 071
PQ Box 3006, Lakewood, NJ. 08701.
Item price is followed by shipping
and handling in ( ). Be sure to add
both together to arrive at total price
NJ. residents add 7% sales tax. When
using credit card — include account
number, exp date, signature Sorry, no
Canadian, foreign or COD. orders.
Magalog Marketing GrouD inc © 1991
1905 Swarthmore Ave, Lakewood. NJ 08701
REVIEWS
PRODUCTIVITY
sions often basic designs. All are high-
ly recommended.
DAVID ENGLISH
IBM PC and compatibles, PostScript or
other printer ttiat can print EPS graphfes,
CorelDRJii/]/! required to edit graphics—
$79.95-$1 29.95 per package
ARTBEATS
Box 20O83
San Bernardino. CA 92406
(714)881-1200
Every player a god, every pixel
a species.
Thai neatly sums up SimEarth,
the expansive exploration of plan-
etary management from Maxis. Like
its ancestor SimCity, this simulation
puts you in charge of hfe, lets you say
who gels liberty, and even demands
that you oversee the pursuit of happi-
ness. But instead of lording it over a
measly city, Sim Earth sets you up as
master of an entire planet.
SimEarth is nothing if not ambi-
tious. It may be a toy compared to
planetary models developed for ch-
mate and weather research, but it's a
toy that's hard to put down. Loosely
based on the Gaia hypothesis — that
our world is a living system that
adapts to changing conditions — Sim-
Earth includes everything from cli-
mate control and continental drift to
evolution, mutation, and the quest for
fire. All of these are integrated into an
entertaining and educational look at
the dynamics between a planet and its
inhabitants.
You can sit back and watch a
world develop on its own, but the real
fun is in getting your hands dirty and
messing around. You'll make a dozen
decisions every minute, many under
pressure, so ease of use is critical. Sim-
Earth sports a graphical interface
clearly taken from its Macintosh ver-
sion (Maxis develops first on the
Mac), so you'll need a mouse to enjoy
the game. Though the interface proves
more than adequate, PC users
wouldVe been more comfortable with
a true Windows approach.
SimEarth offers up seven ready-
to-evolve planets, from Earth of the
Cambrian Era to Aquarium, an all-
water world. You can terraform Mars
and Venus, build continents on
Aquarium, or even test the Gaia hy-
pothesis on Daisyworld. Play with
Earth of 1990 and see if you can moti-
vate humanity to head into space. Or
try to make dinosaurs the intelligent
Create and maintain a world.
life form by manipulating Earth of
550 million years ago (they're not that
smart: they still have wars).
The real challenge comes in \tX-
Xm% SimEarth create random worlds.
You can start at any of four points in
time, but the best place is at the begin-
ning, when the world's a slag heap.
Customize continents with earth-
quakes, tidal waves, meteors, and
more. As oceans form, you populate
them with single-celled species and
propagate life. At your whim you can
extinguish some creatures while pro-
moting the evolution of others.
As millions of years slip by, you'll
evolve multicell organisms — it's not
hard — and move to the next step, cre-
ating intelligent life. That's not always
easy, for some planets seem stubborn
about letting advanced Hfe flourish.
Fortunately, you've got a well-stocked
set of planetary tools. Windows open
to show you simplified models of the
geosphere, atmosphere, and bio-
sphere. A click of the mouse button
slows down the greenhouse effect to
cool off a hot world, speeds up muta-
tions to push evolution, or puts a stop
to continental drift to hold land in
place. Changing a variable costs ener-
gy, the currency of SimEarth, but if
you're playing in experimental mode,
money's no object. In any other
mode, energy is limited, and your op-
tions restricted to what you can af-
ford. It's a nice brake on out-of-
control terragenesis.
Later, if your world matures,
you'll get a shot at guiding the domi-
nant species toward civilization and
then through its technological stages.
You set priorities for your wards in an
attempt to stop plagues and wars (or
□ Eaotphsn Model
"^
~V"" ■ Eraiion
1
AxiatTIH
RHHI mjm^^^K^^^^M
jS
You can modify and monitor planetary
formation in the geosphere wmdow.
promote them if you're in a bad
mood). And you can try to nudge
them to use more efficient energy
sources, though the consequences —
emissions from fossil fuels and possi-
ble radiation poisoning from atom-
ics— are as well known to your
random world as they are to our own.
Manipulating all this sounds
daunting. It's not. Icons and buttons
change the satelHte-from-space view
to give information about cataclysmic
events, air and water temperatures,
animal and plant distribution, and
wind and water currents. Other icons
open selections to place life forms or
perform acts of God. Menus at the top
of the screen lead you to the reports
and graphs you need to keep track of
your world's development.
Play SimEarth on a VGA-
equipped system if you can — the reso-
lution and colors add to the
experience. The program also sup-
ports the Ad Lib, Sound Blaster, and
Sound Master boards, so you can lis-
ten to quality sound effects and music
when meteors splash and new life
evolves. You may have problems
with mouse cursor ghosts in high-
resolution modes, but the solution is
simple for most, and Maxis' technical
support is helpful. SimEarth is slightly
unstable; the simulation crashed twice
in as many days with no warning and
for little reason. Memory require-
ments are high but not unreasonable
126
COMPUTE
JULY 1991
CQfUIPUTE has the
HINTSJIPS,
& STRATEGIES
for the most popular
PC games!
The Official Book of Ultima
by Shay Addams
Introduction by Lord British
Written with the assistance of Lord British, Ultima's creator, this book
includes inside information found nowhere else. Packed full of hints, tips,
anecdotes, and never-before-published clues for all six Ultima adventures.
244 pages
The Official Book of
Leisure Suit Larry
by Ralph Roberts
with help from Al Lowe
Written with ttie hetp of the creator
and designer of Leisure Suit Larry,
this best-selling book covers Larry 1,
II, and IIL Packed full of all the hints
and tips. Includes Lary's life story
an exclusive interview with Larry
Laffer, and some candid connments
from Larry's women. 228 pages
Ttre Official F-19 Stealth Fi§liter
Handbook
by Richard Sheffield
Foreword by Major "Wild Bill" Stealey
Take to the skies with F-19 Steaith
Fighter and test this amazing aircraft.
Learn all the thrilling maneuvers of
this fantastic new fighter. Here's the
key to mastering MicroProse's F-19
Stealth F/jjWef simulator. 184 pages
U I CSa I want more hints and tips.
Please send me the books checked below.
vki
All orders
shipped
> within 48
^ hours. ~
The Official F-15 Strike Eagle
Haadbook
by Richard Sheffield
Foreword by Sid Meier
Fty like an ace with MicroProse's
best-selling F-t5 simulators. Covers
both F-15 Strike Eagle and F-15
Strike Eagle II You'll perform tactics
and maneuvers you never thought
possible. Filled with step-by-step
instmctions and clear diagrams.
224 pages
Turn & Burn: The Authoritative
Guide to Falcon
by Howard Bornstein
Foreword by Gilman Louie
For both the beginner and experi-
enced Falcon pilot, this book has a
wealth of information, special tips,
and proven strategies that will make
you the master of the skies. Covers
all versions of Falcon and each of the
12 missions. 248 pages
D Check or money order D MC D VISA
. Signature
Acct no ^ .^
.95 f
. Exp. I
Mame.
D The Official Book of Leisure Suit Larry (21 5X) $12.95
D The Official M5 Strike Eagle Handbook (2311) $12.95
□ The Official Md Stealth Fighter Handbook (2176) $14.95
G The Official Book of Ultima (2281) $14.95
O Turn & Burn: The Authoritative Guide to Falcon (1978) $12.95
Subtotal
Sales tax (residents of NC. NY, & NJ add appropriate sales tax).
Canadian orders add 7% goods and services tax.
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Total Enclosed
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Peiinsauken, NJ 08109 JUL91CE
REVIEWS
LEARNING
for most systems, assuming you don't
run TSRs or crowd RAM with device
drivers. Even on a 20-MHz 386SX
system, though, SimEarih seemed
sluggish.
More than just a good time, Sim-
Earth is an excellent example of trans-
parent learning. You walk away from
this simulation with a better under-
standing of global interconnections.
Watch firsthand how planetary' heat
buildup snuffs out species, how high
mutation rates make evolution leap
like a Mexican jumping bean, and
how technologies always have trade-
offs.
True, SimEarth makes assump-
tions not everyone agrees with. All
SimEarth life is carbon based, worlds
easily form oceans, and the game de-
velopers apparently take the Gaia hy-
pothesis as gospel. No one said the
world — even a made-up one — was
perfect. On the other hand, you can
play with ideological incorrectness if
you want. Smash civilizations by
Add new life forms to your developing
planet and subtly alter the biosphere.
eliminating moral barriers to war or
obliterate entire species with the click
of a button. It's all fun because none
of it's real.
SimEarth may be less inviting
than the boffo bestseller SimCity, if
only because it's more complex, and
the intricacies of the 'ologies— geolo-
gy, meteorology, biology, and technol-
ogy—are scar>' compared to simple
city planning. On the other hand, al-
though SimEarth demands more
from you, it gives back much more in
return.
This is a landmark PC program
that everyone must play. Not because
it's the morally correct thing to do,
but because it fires your imagination
like few other pieces of software. If ab-
solute power corrupts absolutely, I
plead guilty to addictive corruption.
I've nurtured worlds, and I've killed
worlds. Go ahead — indict me. Just
keep your hands off my planet.
GREGG KEIZER
IBM PC and compatibles; 640K RAM
(540K RAM free): EGA. MCGA, VGA. Her-
cules, or Tandy 16-color; hard drive with
at least 1 .5MB free; Ad Lib. Sound Blast-
er. Sound Master, and Tandy sound sup-
portGd— $69,95
Also available for Macintosh— $69.95
MAXIS
Distributed by Broderbund
17 Paul Dr.
San Rafael. GA 94903
(800)521>6263
(800)33-MAXtS
Advertisers Index
Reader Service Number/Advertiser Page Reader Service Number/Advertiser Page Reader Service Number/Advertiser Page
173 Aamiga Warehouse ............ A-28
141 Abracadata 138
160 Action Management, Inc , 134
162 Alpha Software 29
166 Best Computer Supplies 135
148CAPPCO , ..A-21
210 Citizen American Corp IBC
175 Compsult A-19
161 Compsult G-15
103 CompuServe , 9
230 Computer Business Service .,.,..,.. 139
1 14 Computer Direct 42. 43
137COVOX . . 137
196 Dariana Technology Group 35
120 DCS Industries , . . , 57
202 Delphi 49
131 Demo Source ,,.... 136
171 Digital Micronics A'21
208 Digitek Software 11
199 Direct Link 77
203 Feltch s Software 139
105 GEOWbrks .IPC, 1
149 GfxBase Inc. A-15
198 Gold Hill . . ......... 47
165 Gosch Productions A-18
1 74 Grapevine Group 1 37
164 Great Cover-Ups A-20
Hair Dynasty for Men 119
157 Hammond Photo Services A-18
Hard Drives International 53
I. Den Videotronics A-1 7
184 iht Software G-17
10S International Toner Cartridge 140
156 Interplay 7
191 JEK Graphics ... A-20
127 LWS Software 138
158 LivingSoft 141
183 Lucky Compuler .... 136
Magalog 124, 125
145 Maxximum Company ..,,....,...... 141
146 Meggido A-7
1 24 MicroLeague Sports 117
Micro Logic 37
1 38 MfcroMiga A-30
119 MicroProse Software ................. 5
142 MicroProse 116
1 66 Montgomery Grant A-3
1 87 Montgomery Grant G-3
113 Mutual of New York ................ 134
135 Natural Graphics , A-22
1 25 Needham's Electronics 1 36
153 Nev/ Worid Computing 111
194 NSf Computer Product 39
152 Origin 103
129 Paradise Software G-13
176 Parson Technology 4
130 PC Enterprises 140
207 Poor Person Software A-17
143 Prodigy ...... 26
Professional Cassette Center 92, 93
151 Professor Jones. Inc. ............... 141
168 Psygnosis 97
Quick Study Software, Inc. 137
121 Ramco .... 140
221 SNK 109
209 SFA 31
116 SeXXy Software' \\\.\\\\\\V.\'.'.\'.\'.^AQ
1 67 Shark Byte Software A-18
144 Sierra OnUne , BC
136 Signs Etc. By D. Knox A-18
257 Sir Tech 107
109 Smart Luck Software 140
126 SoftShoppe 140
1 63 Software Excitement A-5
241 Software of the Month Club 140
SOGWAP .. .....G'17
118 Spectrum Holobyte 98. 99
130 Starware Publishing Corp. 140
Strategic Simulations, Inc 13
111 Tangent 270 A-22
170 Tenex .,.,....,, G-5
134 The Krueger Co A-29
145 The Maxximum Company 141
132 The Other Guys A-19
123 The Soft Group , ,G-15
122 The Sterling Connection . . A-13
172 Wedgewood A-29
193 WritePro 140
Amiga Resource Disk Subscription . 1 21 . A-1 1
COMPUTE'S Best PC Games 105
COMPUTE Books 55, 85, 113, 127, 130, 131.
132. 133. 138, 141. G-13, A-28
COMPUTE Subscription 89
Gazette Disk Subscription G-14
Gazette Productivity Manager G-11
Gazette Subscription 1990 Gazette Index G-21
Mean 18 Golf Course 115
OMNI Subscription , 89
PC Back Issues 142
PC Disk Subscription 65
PC Productivity Manager 79
Power Up Your PC 45
SharePak Disk Subscription 15
Single Amiga Disk Order A-26
SpeedScript Disk G-23
Tutor Toys & Math \fciyager 95
128 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
REVIEWS
LEARNING
STICKYBEAR
Uh-oh . . . Stickybear is stuck
among ener;gy-ealing spheres. But
good news! Energy stars stand by
to help, if our hero's helper can
only solve some word puzzles. That's
Stickybear Word Scramble, a fun and
attractive educational package from
Optimum Resource. Featuring key-
board control and speech capabilities,
it offers three difficulty levels and suf-
ficient challenge for children ages
7-1 1 and beyond. Within levels, Word
Scramble monitors response accuracy
and adjusts problems accordingly —
a nice touch. Bonus points reward
speed and accuracy. Top players
earn a spot on the high-scorer board,
and custom word lists are easy. With
an assortment of scrambled words,
hidden words, and word-oriented
Concentration-style matching
games, replay value is high.
STEVE HUDSON
IBM PC and compatibies; 51 2K RAM;
CGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA. Tandy 1 6-COlor:
supports Echo Board, Govox Speech
Thing, and Tandy speech — $49.95
OPTtMUM RESOURCE
10 Station PI.
Norfdk. CT 06058
(800)327-1473
(203) 542-5553 (in Connecticut)
SUPER SOLVERS
TREASURE
How do you engage children's at-
tention long enough to teach
basic skills? What can you do to
encourage kids to practice skills
they've learned? Try inviting Ihem on
an electronic excursion to Treasure
Mountain! This "fantasy-exploration"
software combines action-packed, ar-
cadelike entertainment with puzzle-
solving challenges to keep players
creatively absorbed for hours. The
Learning Company's Treasure Moun-
tain! pits infamous Morty Maxwell
against fast-thinking Super Solver de-
tectives. Immoral Morty has mali-
ciously made off with the mountain's
magic crown. Sagacious Super Solvers
must stop the merciless Maxwell from
using the crown to steal the moun-
tain's magic gold. Will Super Solvers
successfully rescue the crown and beat
misguided Morty at his own game?
Super Solvers Treasure Mountain! scores
major points for educational fun.
Enterprising detectives embark
on a journey up the mountain in
search of hidden treasures. To prevent
the unrelenting Maxwell from carry-
ing out his dishonorable deeds, play-
ers must successfully retrieve enough
booty to fill the treasure chest at the
mountaintop. The task is not an easy
one. There are several obstacles to
overcome along the way.
Success depends on capturing the
mountain's elusive elves. Youngsters
must hunt for elves who carry scrolls.
When nabbed in Super Solver nets,
the sprightly (but sometimes pesky)
beings offer clues to treasure where-
abouts. Players who correctly answer
an elf's question win a clue. Answers
may require solving a math problem,
completing a word puzzle, recognizing
word patterns, or applying a scientific
principle.
Super Solvers have three chances
to answer an elf's question. They win
two gold coins and a clue word for an-
swering correctly on the first try, one
gold coin and a clue word for a correct
answer on the second try, but just a
clue word (no gold coin) for questions
answered correctly the third time
around. As Super Solvers move up in
the clubhouse ranks, scroll-bearing
elves become harder to catch, there
are more hidden treasures on each
mountain level, and players must suc-
cessfully avoid mischievous elves who
throw coin-eating magic dust.
Treasures are hidden in places
that match two of the three word
clues. For example, if clue words are
five, flowers, and round, enterprising
detectives must be on the lookout for
items like five fiowers, round flowers,
or five round objects (possibly rocks
or bushes). When youngsters come
upon a mountain location that match-
es two of the clue words, they drop a
coin. If there's a treasure hidden in
that spot, it is automatically theirs.
When Super Solvers find the spot that
matches all three clue words, they ob-
tain a key that unlocks the path lead-
ing up to the next mountain level.
Players' nets deteriorate with ev-
ery elf captured. Eventually, nets are
so damaged that elves can easily es-
cape. When this happens, Super Solv-
ers must locate a ''net cave" and use
the gold to pay for repairs. Luckily,
players who do not have enough coins
eventually find more coins along the
mountain path.
Unlike conventional arcade di-
versions, Treasure Mountain! offers
more than just mindless entertain-
ment. The game encourages children
to use analytical reasoning to solve
puzzles, inductive thinking to infer
connections, deductive logic to test
hypotheses — all without imposing
time limitations. Colorful animated
graphics, realistic sound effects, and
positive audiovisual reinforcement
make the mountain a wonderful place
to visit.
Treasure Mountain! rewards curi-
osity, motivates exploration, and rein-
forces basic elementary school subject
areas. In the final analysis, however,
the software succeeds because chil-
dren find that it's a lot of fun to play!
And for parents, Treasure Mountain!
means that children spend playtime
productively.
CAROL HOLZBERG
IBM PC and compatibles, 51 2K RAM
(640K RAM for the Tandy 1000 series).
CGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA. or Tandy 16-
color; 8 MHz or faster recommended, in-
cludes SVz- and 5V4*inch disks, supports
Ad Ub and Sound Blaster sound boards,
mouse optional, hard drive tnstaUable —
$49.95
THE LEARNING COMRt^NY
6493 Kaiser Dr.
Fremont. CA 94555
(800)852-2255
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 129
NEW
FROM
cannpuTE
THE
OFFICIAL
BOOK OF
KING 5 QUESTJ
SECOND EDITION
COVERS
KING'S QUEST I-V
11 ere 's the
updated, authorized guide to
King's Quest, America's
most popular series of 3-D
animated adventure
games. In no time, you'll
puzzle out the
answers to some of the
most nagging
enigmas of this series
of best-seliing
games, including the latest
version, King's Quest V
To order send $12.95
plus $2 shipping and handling
for each book ($4 Canada,
$6 foreign) and applicable tax* to;
COMPUTE Books
C/O CCC
2S00McClellanAve.
Pennsauken, NJ 08109
•ResidentsofNC, NJ.andNY
add appropriate sales tax. Canadian
orders please add 7% Goods
and Services tax.
All orders must t» paid in U.S.
funds drawn on a U.S. bank. Please
allow four weels for delivery.
Offer good while supplies last.
JUL9ICW
REVIEWS
LEARNING
PLAYING WITH
MICKEY MOUSE
You sit at your home computer,
your favorite driving simulation
loaded and running. As you con-
centrate on avoiding a fiery crash,
suddenly a small voice about hip level
pipes up,"Mom, can 1 play, too?"
Your three-year-old can't race
cars with you but wants to play com-
puter games. What should you buy
that can involve both of you? An ex-
cellent first purchase would be one of
the following Mickey Mouse packages
from Disney.
Mickey's Colors and Shapes is
subtitled The Dazzling Magic Show.
In this particular package, America's
favorite mouse comes on stage and
performs various magic acts, such as
juggling and pulling an animal out of
his hat, A friendly lady's voice leads
your child through the game, and you
can watch and help him or her make
choices.
Mickey's 123"s is called The Big
Surprise Party Your child plans a par-
ty for one of the Disney characters;
buys toys, food, and decorations; and
sends invitations. At the end, he or
she serves the food.
Mickey's ABC's offers you A Day
at the Fair You begin by waking
Mickey up at home and then go with
him on a interesting trip to a country
fair. Again, the friendly voice helps
your child along.
Children will find the controls for
all these games to be user-friendly.
There are no wrong moves. The ani-
mation is lop-quality and quite imagi-
native. Your child will be entertained
and may never notice he or she is also
learning numbers, letters, and shapes!
How do the three packages com-
pare to one another? I played all three
games with my three-year-old son,
and he liked each one. But ABC's is
my favorite by far. My son is well ac-
quainted with the alphabet and spell-
ing, and we both were challenged by
the game. Besides offering a chance to
become familiar with letter shapes
and sounds, this game also teaches
many useful cognitive skills necessary
for computer use — ^primarily learning
to make the connection between what
you see on the screen and what you
need to do with the keyboard. Your
child will learn how to control Mick-
ey's actions and how to anticipate
events that are offscreen. He or she
will learn to go through several steps
to arrive at certain places or to see cer-
tain actions.
ICE
CREAM mi
jiH^^^^Hr^
'^"WKMf^^M
_^ ;
m
iSw-
.0.
1 w^ghOjjN; PI
Your child and Mickey spend a day at
the fair together in Mickey's ABC*s,
My least favorite Mickey Mouse
adventure is I23's, It is only slightly
more interactive than television. Each
number that is pressed causes a
lengthy animation sequence. My son
enjoyed looking at it, but he was not
very involved in what was happening.
A lot of number information was
handed to him, without much oppor-
tunity for active thought until the par-
ty at the end of the game.
Colors and Shapes is my son's fa-
vorite game. It calls for the most cre-
ativity, particularly during the
segment in which he creates his own
picture by selecting colors and shapes.
The animation is less dramatic than
that in ABC's, but that didn't affect
his level of interest. This game comes
with a soft rubber template printed
with color blocks and shapes that fits
over the keyboard. I think this makes
it an especially suitable first computer
game for the youngest of children.
Which of these packages should
you purchase if you can afford only
one? Colors and Shapes is best for the
child who has the least computer
experience and is still unfamiliar with
letters and numbers. If your child
likes Candyland, he will love Colors
and Shapes. ABC's is the most com-
plex, interactive game. It is best for
the more computer-literate, verbal
child who is able to discern patterns
and make complex connections.
Somewhere in between, 123 's is the
130 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
REVIEWS
BOOKS
one to pick if your child is one of
those who has a love of numbers.
BETH A^fN MURRAY
IBM PC and cximpatibles: 51 2K RAM,
640K for Tandy 16KX)tor: CGA, EGA,
MGGA, VGA. Tandy 16K;o!or; Hercules;
two floppy disk drives or a hard drive—
$49,95
WALT DISNEY COMPUTER SOf=TVVARE
500 S- Buena Vista St.
BurbanK.CA 91521
(818)841-3326
COMPLETE LAPTOP
I
Some recent analytical surveys
suggest that the laptop PC, the
category of personal computers
with the fastest-growing sales,
will in a few years account for more
than half of the computers sold in the
United Slates, More and more people
are looking to portables, laptops, and
notebooks as their secondar>', or even
primar)', machine. Students, writers,
accountants, sales reps — anyone who
needs portability and functionality
needs a laptop. That person also needs
a solid grounding in what the laptop
computer can and can't do.
This book, by David H. Roth-
man, leads readers through the prom-
ise and peril of laptop use. The early
pages are devoted to detailed descrip-
tions of various laptop designs, with
pros and cons cleariy spelled out
Chapter 3 is devoted to software solu-
tions for laptop users (who are always
short of storage space, especially with
less expensive models).
In light of Rothman's statement
that laptops are superior to all other
communication devices, it isn't sur-
prising that several of the book's chap-
ters are devoted to that idea. Here
you'll find everything from a tour of
online services to a primer on logging
on, no matter how inhospitable or ad-
versarial the terrain.
Throughout, the author main-
tains a good balance of fact and hu-
mor, which will help readers gel more
from these pages. Only a couple of
biases mar an otherwise clear — if
somewhat lighthearted — approach.
Rothman hates mice and especially
abhors graphical user interfaces
(GUIs). Considering the movement
toward such environments, Rothman
could have served his readers belter
with solid information about using a
laptop with a GUI, rather than dis-
missing them outright. These faults
are outweighed, however, by the
book's overall usefulness.
PETER SCISCO
AutfTor: David H. Rothman
384 pages— $18-95
ST. fVlARTiN'S PRESS
175 Fifth Ave,
NewYork. NY 10010
CYOEOPONK-
lOTLAWS ANO
lACKERS ON
THE COMPOTER
ER
It all started with the phone
phreaks. These outlaws made mon-
keys out of the biggest monopoly on
earth^ — the telephone company —
and tweaked the noses of the electron-
ic lawmen determined to track them
down. And because nobody really
loves AT & T, there may've been a
certain amount of tacit support for
their activities among the common
folk, who were happy to see someone
finally getting back at the big, imper-
sonal bureaucracies of the world. Wil-
liam Gibson knew how to tap into
that latent desire for revenge when he
wrote Neuromancer, as did John
Brunner when he wrote Shock Wave
Rider, Bruce Sterling when he wrote
Islands in the Net^\xsX as George Or-
well knew it when he created the trag-
ic hereof/ 954.
It was an easy step for these mis-
creants to lake from telephone hack-
ing to computer hacking, and since
THE
OFFICIAL
TO
ROGER WILCOS
SPACE
ADVENTURES
COVERS SIERRA DN-LINE'S
SPACE QUEST MV
1 he waiting
is over! Now, for the first
time, Space Questers
can learn what goes on
in the mind of
the most legendary janitor
in the universe.
With this book, you 11
accompany
Roger Wilco as he stumbles
into all sorts
of ridiculous predicaments,
barely escaping
by the skin of his teeth.
This Official Guide
is packed full of hints, tips,
and maps for all
four Space Quest Adventures.
To Order send $1495 plus $2
shipping and handling for each
book ($4 Canada, $6 foreign) and
applicable tax^ to:
COMPUTE Books
c/o CCC
2500 McCEellan Ave.
Pennsauken, NJ 06109
'Residents of NO, NJ, and NY add appropriate
sales tax. Canadian orders piease add 1% Goods
and Sen/ices tax.
All orders must be pasd in U.S, funds drawn on
a U.S. bank. Please allow four weeks for delivery.
Offer good while supplies last.
JUL91CN9
JULY 1991
COMPUTE t31
QUICK & EASY
SALE
— Q & E Guide to AppleVtorks (109-9)
_ Q & E Guide to Borland's Quattro (148*X)
_ Q & £ Guide to dBASE III Plus (107-2)
_ Q & E Guide to dBASE IV (206-0)
_ Q & E Guide to Desktop Publishing (112-9)
„ Q & E Guide to Harvard Graphics (214-1)
_ Q & E Guide to HyperCard (187-0)
— Q & E Guide to Learning Lotus 1-2-3 (174-9)
_ 0 & E Guide to Lotus 1-2-3 Macros (141-2)
_ Q & E Guide to Microsoft Excel on the Mac
(131-5)
_ Q & E Guide to Microsoft Word 3.0 on the Mac
(135-8)
_ Q & E Guide to Microsoft mr6 5 (219-2)
_ Q & E Guide Microsoft Vtord on the IBM PC
(133-1)
--Q&EGuide to OS/2 (137-4)
_ Q & E Guide to PC Excel (1404)
_ Q & E Guide to R:BASE System V (132-3)
_ Q & E Guide to Using MS-DOS (218-4)
_ Q & E Guide to ^ntura Publisher (223-0)
_ Q & E Guide to WordPerfect Series 5 (181-1)
_ Q & E Guide to VtordStar 2000 \fersion 3.0
(168-4)
Total Number of Books ,
X $8 each equals
Saieslax(NaNJ.NY
resident add appropriate
sates tax. Canadian orders add
7% goods and services tax.)
Shipping and Handling
(S2 U.S., $4 Canadian,
S6 foreign)
Total Enclosed
(Check or Money Order in U.S. funds only, made
payable to COMPUTE Publications)
Please Priat
tone
Street Addr^-
Gty -.
State „
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L
Mail this entire coupon to:
COMPUTE Books
c/o CCC
2500 NcCtetlan Ave.
Fennsauken, NJ 08109
Offer good onfy whi'^e supplies East.
Please allow fow to sa weeks fof delivery.
REVIEWS
BOOKS
JULSICNB
'U
this was primarily a province of juve-
niles and the juvenile at heart, it was
inevitable that some frat-house pranks
might occur. The problem is that
dropping a cherry bomb down a toilet
in the campus administration build-
ing frosts only a few well-deserving
cookies. Dropping an electronic bomb
on an international network of mil-
lion-dollar computer installations rep-
resents a hazard to business, the
military, and millions — perhaps bil-
lions— of lives.
The stories related by the hus-
band and wife team of Katie Hafner
and John Markoff are legend: Kevin
Mitnick, the telephone hacker ru-
mored to have ruined the credit rating
of a judge who ruled against him; Karl
Koch, the paranoid computer spy who
identified himself as Hagbard Celine,
after the hero of a conspiracy novel,
and ended up horribly killing himself
by self-immolation; and rtm, the bril-
liant Cornell student and son of a
computer security expert whose inno-
cent worm crashed computers from
coast to coast and landed him in a
legal quagmire.
Many of the people in this book
lake on other identities online— Pen-
go, named after a penguin in a video-
game; Obelix, after a French cartoon
character; Captain Crunch; the Phan-
tom; the Cheshire Catalyst; and so on.
But what makes the book so success-
ful is that it enters these identities.
And, as you can imagine, the human
stories behind a man who would iden-
tify himself as a penguin or a woman
who would call herself Susan Thunder
are rife with attendant ironies.
By using stolen credit card num-
bers and network user identifications,
the hackers were able to take advan-
tage of system operators' gullibility,
huge corporations' fear of bad publici-
ty, and a kind of telephone con game
called human engineering to break
down seemingly impregnable security,
and in the process they earned the ad-
miration and respect of fellow hackers
and impressionable young people
throughout the world.
The authors take you inside the
minds and value systems of hackers,
showing how human curiosity, and
longing to be on the inside and privy
to secret power, can become highly
destructive impulses. The writing
takes on a tense journalistic style that
reveals the incredible depth of the re-
search performed. Without becoming
bogged down in technical details, it
explains in layman's terms how the
nets operate and how they were
breached. Each of the hackers' stories
is told in an insightful biography.
Many of the characters in Cyberpunk
seem driven, like addicts, unable to
control their appetites for power,
more to be pitied than censured.
But there is no ambiguity about
the carnage they have left behind. The
authors look with a jaundiced eye
upon the kind of society that results
when fears of terrorism and vandal-
ism overwhelm the desire to commu-
nicate and remain open to human
interaction.
In all, Cyberpunk is a valid look
at recent history, as important in its
own way as any of the industry insid-
ers' books about the corporate role in
the computerization of America, and
far more broad ranging and complete
than Cliff Stoirs book The Cuckoo's
Egg (to say nothing of the fact that
Cyberpunk is far better written). Stoll
appears now and then as a minor
character in Cyberpunk, It was very
enlightening to see this character
(whom I felt I had come to know so
well through his book) from the out-
side. Cyberpunk is a masterwork of
reportage, and it belongs on your
bookshelf.
ROBERT BIXBY
Authors: Katie Hafner and John Martoff
336 pages— $22.95
SJMON& SCHUSTER
Simon & Schuster BIdg.
Rockefeller Center
1 230 Ai/e. of the Americas
NewYork, NY 10020 o
This Publication
is available in
Microform.
University Microfilms
International
Please seiid udditivnal iiiloniLitioii
./.|,.
3TO Norm Zeett Road. I>epl PR . Ann Artjor, Mi -18106
132 COMPUTE
JULY 1991
REVIEWS
BOOKS
ALEX RANIMLL'S
Known as a computer hardware
junkie by most of my friends and
associates, I spend a fair amount
of lime out looking for '"good
deals." I own two complete systems,
but there always seems to be some
card or peripheral needing an upgrade
to a newer/faster/enhanced version.
For those of you looking to buy a
computer, whether for the first time
or as an upgrade to a better system,
reading Alex Randall's book will ex-
pedite the decision-making process.
This 240-page book covers the
ins and outs of acquiring a used com-
puter for both you and your business.
Randall explains the tactics to employ
whether you're the seller or the buyer
of a system. Also covered well are
where to advertise a computer and
what to look out for, from both the
seller's and buyer's perspectives. Even
a computer novice will soon gain a
better idea of what to look for and
how much to pay.
The author relates a few amusing
stories regarding people he's dealt
with and reveals common misconcep-
tions concerning both price and value
of different products (hint: four- to
five-year-old computers are generally
not worth 90 percent of the original
sales price, but you'd be surprised at
how many people hold this miscon-
ception). The explanation of how sys-
tems depreciate is useful if you're
looking to sell a computer (as I am)
and may help steer unwary first-time
buyers away from that *'real good
deal" that isn't. Quite useful and en-
joyable, Alex Randall's Used Com-
puter Handbook makes clear the state
of the secondhand computer market.
Don't shop without it.
MIKE HUBBARTT
Authors: Alexander Randall V and Steven
J. Bennett
240 pages— $14.95
MICROSOFT PRESS
One Microsoft Way
Redmond. WA 98052-6399
(800)888-3303
THE COMPUTER
'S
If you're in the market for a person-
al computer or just want to learn
more about computers in general,
then you should take a look at this
new guide. Author Wayne Parker*s ex-
periences as a writer and a computer
programmer/user allow him to cover
the A"Zs of selecting a computer to fit
your needs.
The Computer Buyer *s Handbook
cuts through the rhetoric so pervasive
in today's advertisements, explaining
in layman's terms the technical jargon
that surrounds peripherals such as
monitors, modems, hard drives,
printers, and mice; and the handbook
offers recommendations regarding
brands to try. Unix and OS/2 also re-
ceive coverage, and new computer
owners will welcome the overview of
software.
Although quite partial to 80386
IBM and IBM-compatible systems,
the author does briefly cover other
systems like the Macintosh, NeXT,
and Amiga computers. The Computer
Buyer's Handbook lacks an index,
does not cover in any detail either in-
terrupt or I/O address conflicts be-
tween add-on cards, and uses price
information that was inaccurate as of
April, 1991 (understandably, since the
publication date is November, 1990,
and six months can make a big differ-
ence for prices in the computer
industry).
Loaded with valuable infor-
mation, The Computer Buyer's Hand-
book proves both useful and an
enjoyable read. Before wantonly pur-
chasing your peripherals, consider
picking up The Computer Buyer's
Handbook Its $ 1 6.95 price tag could
save you money, time, and plenty of
headaches.
MIKE HUBBARTT
Author: R. Wayne Parker
238 pages— $16.95
FAST FORWARD PUBLISHING
P.O. Box 45153
Seattle. WA 981 45-Ot 53
(206)527-3112
THE
OFFICIAL
GUIDE
TO
SID MEIER'S
RAILROAD
TYCOON
HERE AT LAST IS
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE
TO THIS
POPULAR RAILROAD
SIMULATION.
Hussell
Sipe, publisher of Computer
Gaming World magazine,
has put together a mix of the
essential gaming tips
for Railroad Tycoon and
entertaining stories
from railroad folklore and
history. Intrigue,
insight, and humor wind their
way through these pages.
To order send $12-95
p!us $2 shipping and handling
for each book ($4 Canada,
$5 foreign) and applicable tax* to:
COMPUTE Books
c/oCCC
2500 McCleJIan Ave.
Ponnsauken, NJ 06109
*R^identsofNaNJ,andNY
add appropriate sales tax. Canadian
orders pfease add 7% Goods
and Services tax.
All orders must be paid in U.S.
funds drawn on a U.S. bank. Please
allow four weeks for delivery,
Offer good while supplies last.
JUL91CD5
JULY 1991
COMPUTE
133
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Write Programs in Basic
Senior Citizen Check-Fn
S299
*799
M125
M625
ILEhlO_Kir
818 772-7729
^25
JTradgmartts jjgfesgn'iw) belong to tneif respectrve publish er^ ■ C^eck stata regutatior>s befofe using otrtboufxf sofiwafB
DemoSource
8646 Corbin Avenue • Nortliridge, CA • 91324 • USA
Circle Reader Service Number t31
EPROM PROGRAMMERS
Stand- Alone Gang Programmer
8 ZfF Sockets for Fast Gang
Pfogfamming and Easy
Splttting
20 Key Keypad
20 X 4 Une LCD Display
Internal Programmer for PC
• Comptetely stand-alone or PC-driven
• Programs E{E|PROMs
• T Ntegami ol DHAM
• User upgradatile to 32 Megabit
• .3/,6" IIF Sockets. flS-23Z.
Parallel In and Out
' 32K internal Flaslr EEPROM for easy
film ware upgrades
• Quick Pulse Algorttltm (27250
InSsecj MegablHnl7s8Cj
• 2 year v^arranty
•Made in the U.S.A.
•Technical support by phone
• Complete manual antJ schematic
• Single Socket ProBrammer also
available. S550.00
• Spilt ,ir.a Shuffle 16 & 32 bit
■ 10D User Definable Macros, 10 User
Definable Conhgurations
• lnie!iigent Identifier
• Binary. Intel Hejc. and Motorola S
• 2716 to 4 Megabit
This
s|lit
iir
rfew inteliigent Averaging Algorithm Programs 64A in 10 sec. 255 in 1 min , 1 Meg (27010. 01 1 )
in 2 min. 45 sec, 2 Meg (27C2001 ) in 5 min. Internal card with external 40 pin ZIF
• Reads, Verifies, and programs 2716, 32, 32A.
64. 64A. 128. l2flA 256, 512, 513, 010, 01 1 . 301 ,
27C2001. MCM 66764. 2532, 4 Megabits
• Aiitomaijcallir tets programming voltage
• Load and save butter to disk
• Binary. Intel Hen. and Motorola S formats
• No persoRBlltr modfllu roqttired
• 1 Year warranty
• 10 days money back guarantee
• Adapters available for 8748, 49. 51, 751 . 52,
55. IMS 7742. 27210. 57Ct024., and memory
cards
• Made in U.S.A.
EMPDEMO.EXE available BBS (916) 972-8042
NEEDHAM^S ELECTRONICS
4539 Orange Grove Ave. • Sacramento, CA 95841
iMoncay-Ffioa,-. 8am-5pmPST) COD
by
iiore
than
readers
each
month.
136
Circle Reader Service Numbef 125
COMPUTE JULY 1991
386-25MHZ
O40mb VGA Laptc»>
Laptop System Featurje:s
Q4MB RAM exp.to8M&32KCache
Q 1-16 Bit Exp. Slot (1/2 Card)
a 42MB HD, f9ms, 1.44 Floppy
a Integrated VGA (640x4B0r
U Badoit LCD Disday 32 Gmyscai^
□ 65W AC Power 2^1 10V Autoswitch
a MS DOS 4.01 / Windows 3.0
G 2 Serial, 1 Parallel Port, FCC Class B
lOOMB 18ms HD $375.***' extra
Complete Systems
1WB«Dno/40MB
lES&ta |7d5.00
38$8X20ln»&.00
m-m iiadswoo
386-33 116^.00
Cifl for Cofqpteltt
486-33 ISA
C-an^lA* D*ftk±«(» £ficcdl
QSUPER VGA, 4MB RAM
ai20 MB Haid Drive, 18ms
ai28K Cache, exp. to 256K
f'SlOS.
00
Since 1984
Location! Nationwide
Ckfl ftif tto 6H NHfMt T«tj
4151 Bdtltnc, Suite 120
Ad£H*on,TX752«
1(800)966*7687
FAX (214) 387-1560
1733a Sotrthcdtter Pkwy
Tukwita, WA W18«
1(800)367-5826
10773 SW Bvrtn,-Hill*. Hw>
Beavtttoft, OR 97005
1(800)348-5825
HOURS 9«m to fipm
Uiacr«J^B<TBP^tK»<AL
MICR(iNICS
COUPCTIll INC.
atjthorized distributor
Circle Reader Service Number 163
Make
Tracks...
... to your nearest mailbox and
send for the latest copy of the free
(Consumer Information Clatalog.
It lists about 200 free or low-cost
government publications on topics
like health, nutrition, careers,
money management, and federal
benefits. Just send your name and
address to:
Consumer Information Center
Department MT
Pueblo, Colorado 81009
ir
\ public service of ihls publicaUon and
the Consumer Inrormaiion Center of the
U.S. General Ser\ ices Administration.
Qxi^
CONTROL
*^ Memorize almost
anything !
*■ Create an-screen
fjashcards.
*^ Review and quiz
yourself on what
YOU need to
remember.
CD
CD
3
Quiz Control ht-lps pctiple of aH agei nvemoriT^ Lifge volumes of
n^ieftaLs, This s(Kiightforv,-ird, inienctivt siuth' prt)grain gives student a
chance u> take control of iheir ij^ti learning.
Cn'amiH}\)ur own Jiles for Quiz Control is so bemtiijuUy sitnpk ami
lix' iristmaiom so fkmisiakifigfy dear that nfeti the most diehanl
computer plsdjtc cannot fxp bu I succeed
Deborah Landes.PCM Magazine (January 199U.
Qui/ CaniR)l p<wes questions on the saetn in
either a multiple choice or fill in the blank format
After each qiiii. yixir score is displaced on the
scTeen. You can then s^ne the incofteclK' aas-^ered
questitms for further reiiew and quizzing
Create your own c|uesiions and anmers or purchase
ready made Siud>' Mtxlules, Modules now available include
American HisliMy. Basic French. Basic English Skills, Basic Writing
Skills. Basic Science, Calories and Nutrition, Medical Terms, Qjmputer '
Literacv and IX)S
OUIZCOMTROL S49.95
STUDY MODULES - SmS each. US shpghdlg 14.95.
■• NY orders add applicable sales tax . Site licenses available.
For IBM PCs and compatibles
^\
Call 800 JB2- 5930.
I ©Copyright 1991
'' Quick Study Software Inc.
' 170 Hamilton Avenue
White Plains. New York 10601
Circle Reader Service Number 121
SOUND MASTER^n
THE MOST COMPATIBLE SOUND CARD IN THE WORLD
• A high quality aJternative to
"Sound Blaster, Better sound,
less noise, more features.
• 100% AdLib " Compatible.
• Co vox Voice Master {voice
commands), Speech Thing ,
and MIDI Maestro'" compatible,
Internal PC speaker supported.
• AH digitized speech and sound
formats supported, including
synthesized speech, PCM,
ADPCM, & CVSD.
"Direct-to-disk" DMA digitizer,
variable sample rales to 25K/sec
for recording, 44K^'sec for
playback.
Full duplex MIDI interface.
Cables and software included.
FM Music. MIDI, and Digitizer can
function together.
Audio amplifier with volume
control. Low noise, low power
electronics. Speaker included.
Proudly Made in the U.S.A.
Your Best Choice For Multi-Media Sound,
ONLY $229.95 ( plus S5 Shipping & Handling)
ORDER HOTLINE: (503) 342-1271 M-F 8 AM to 5 PM PST.
VISA/MC/AMEX phone or FAX orders accepted. NO CODs, 30 Day Money
Back Guarantee if not completely satisfied. One year warranty on hardware,
CALL OR WRITE FOR FREE PRODUCT CATALOG
CX)VOX iNC, 675 Conger Street • Eugene, OR 97402
^ Phone (503) 342-1 271 • FAX 503-342-1283^
Circle Reader Service Number 137
<;r7;;:;>vTHE grapevine group, inc. .^wise^T,
Mb-UU3> COMPARE OUR PRtCBS ^m ^
IBM & COMWTIBLES AMIGA/COMMODORE
UPGRADE/R£FLAC£MEKT
CHIPS/MODULES
AMIGA UPQRAO€/REPLACEMENT
CHIPS
IBM PS/2
PS;2 25/286 1512K) . . . . , 45 25
30,286 (2MB) 1*3 7S
PSf2 (;MB) 72 50
50z, &5s«. 65&* (2MB) 13350
55a* a 65«ix t^MS} 320 25
SO. bQi. 55sx, 60 & 65SK (2-8MB BO) . . . 37S.S0
{4.8MB BD) . S1O-0O
(BMB BD} , - . 823.75
70-E61, 06T. 121 nWB) . . . , 74,00
12MB) 134.00
70-A21 , AX1 , BX1 (2MB) ............ 134.00
30^041 11MB MOO) = 9375
BO-nl. 121. 311 & 321 (2M8 MOD) . 150 00
B0-A21. A31 14MB MOO) 350.75
COMRAQ
Deskpro 286e (IMS) 762S
(2MB) 14375
(4MB) , - 343-25
tDeskpfO 386s (1MB BD) 157,50
(4MB BD) 336 25
(mSMOD) .95,75
(4MB MOD} .,.,.,. - . 286.25
Deskpro 386/200 (IMB BO) .......... 157,50
(4MBB0I 340 25
(1MB MOD) .9575
14MB MOO) 266 25
Oesk^O 386/33, 486/25, 33 (2MB MOD). 15175
(8WS MOO) 76875
LTE (512K MOO) . . , 151.73
LTt/286 (IMB MOOJ 75,75
j2MB MOD) . 155,00
t4MB MOD) - - , 6Bfi 75
AST
Cupfd-32 Premium Series (1M8) . , , 75,00
386 Oesktop-l6SX, 25, 33 (4MB), ,..,,, 33775
Premum II Desktop (8MB) , 679.50
386SX20. 486 Desktt^25. 25E. 33
iCupKf} 396.25
Premium Exec (iMB) 19075
3S6SX. 266 (4MB) 427,50
Tl
TravfltMate 2000 (tMB MOO) . , ^81 ,25
TraveiMato 3000 (2MB MOO) expandaCte 225,00
APPLE
Elsi NEW {2MB) 1B6-K
(SMB) 650.00
Classc NEW (1MB BD) .,.,-.. 84.50
(2MB) ...107.50
UserWrttef (1MB) . . ; 87 50
l)/N7X(4MB) , .24125
LASER PRINTER UPGRADE
HP Lflsef Jel If i 110 (2MB MODJ 1 4fl 00
(4MB MOD) 229 95
IIP HP3 A 3D (1MB MOD). 89 00
(2MB MOO) , 135 00
(4MB MOO) , - 224,00
Epsor EPL-6000 (1MB MQO\ 156,75
(2MB MOO) -,. 181-25
(4MB MOD) 300 00
Panasonic KX-P4420/440i (1MB MOO) , - 68-75
(2MB MOD) - 206 25
(3MB MOD) , . 262 50
14MB MOD) ■ . . . , 331 ,25
Fatter Agnus (e372A) 1MB witn chip pufler
(a necessity) srd new nstructtons S9450
8362 Dentsa HaH Bngfrit 26 50
8520A aA dUp 15,50
1 ,3 ROM Kickstarl 27.96
2 0 ROM Kckstart cal
S71& Gary ctiip 14.50
A500 Keytjoam 109.50
A2000 Keytxjard - 114.95
PLCC Agnus chip pullof 8.95
MEMORY EXPANSION
1 X4/80 SC Zip for A3000 - - 34.95
1X1/100NS 750
256X4/12 fw \CD. GVP. ate ,..,.., 5.50
Ixa^SIMM 49.»
A2236 AT Bnidgetttanl KJt (oom()teta) . , , 499.^
Insider II Board for AlOOO (1.5 Megs,} - . 283.55
A501-512K RAM Modute (fof A500) 49.50
Kwfikstart (AlOOO 1,3 ROM) 87.50
ICDPflOOUCTS
AdRAM 540 (A500) OK 97.50
(Each additional Mag add S38.00)
AdRAM 5600 I7a00
AdSCSl 2O0O 127.50
AdRAM 2080 (A2000) OK - - . - . . , 11*00
(Each adcMranaf 2 Megs add $68}
AdSCSl 2080 BK 194.00
(Each addtionaJ 2 Me^ add S9S)
AdSpeed - - 207.00
AdlDE 40 (3.5 k«) ....,.,,- 110.00
Flici^ Free Video 306,00
Flicker Fixef (Oy Microway) . - 234-50
COMMODOftE REPLACEMENT CHIPS
6510 CPU , 1150
6526A CIA 12^
6581 SIO 12^
PLA/82S100 (ceramic) 1235
6567 R3 V3C n 1S.9S
Al 901/225/226/227 10J5
8563 R9 CTT Control - 19-95
064 Keytward (NEW) 19.95
C^64 Ca£*oe( (NEW) 14 95
AJ Commodofa chaps m stock. See catatog-
AMIGA/COMMODORE DI/JfiHOSTTCS
Amiga Oiagriostician Book/Sottwara . 1435
C-64/A500 Service ManuaJ 34.95
A1000/A2000 Sefvice Mamiai 4450
C-128 Service ManuAl 4450
Docteif AMI (software) 29,35
AMI AS^iment System ^-50
RERURABLE CO«IMO00RE/AMKU
POWER SUPPLiES
Low cosl/retHJilt printtiea<!3 .
H« catAk>g
A500 45 watt unit ineavy duty) 6750
A2O00 Replaoement P/S - , . - . 1*7.00
C64RB 1 8 amp (our beat seBer) 24.95
C64 specif 4.3 amp. Heavy Oirty 37-95
(Indudes FREE "Diagriosbaan' 46.95 vakie)
Cl2a Heavy Duty 4-3 amp , 39.95
Commodora/Amiffa R«<palra. CaB for pdCM.
• *• OUR 12th YEAR •**
HOT COMMODORE/AMIGA UPGRADES
Me{|AChip 2000— upgrade your A2000 lo 2MB of chip RAM pr ffie powof of the A3000. Indudes
A3O0O 2MB Agrus chip CooimoOOra navw wanted (o sob this roach the goooraJ pot*c . $339.00
less reCkaie (ASOO version availatrfe soon)
Muttislart (I— NEW ROM swrtcr? lor 3 ROMs (1.2, i-3. 20) and keytjoard oorlrtited $47.50
Swilcn Activated Vter SKXi- tBoih units v«xH on al Amigas) ,..,-.- $37.95
150 Watt ''Big Foot'* Universal Power Supply with fan. Aji absolute must idr tt>ose
adding on nmore menrKyy/perpheralS- Usabte worWwtde $87.50
Emergency Amiga Startup Kit— Sow to government PXs and now avaRaWe to al.
Kit has aii cMips parts, sdiemaitc. Mistructions and dia^v>stic software programs, etc $99.50
Computer S«ver (C-S4 Protection System) — Pvom oostiy repairs. Ow 52% of fafcjras are
caused Oy ma(fufict)oning power suppfces Installs m seconds, ^io sotdenng 2.year wafranty, $17.95
Commodore 1 750-51 2K RAM Expander (REU) (inciud^ Cominodofe
Dtagnostcan 11, a S6 95 waiu©) $169.00
Commodore Diagnostician II— Ut*jtes sophisticated gptis to locate fayity components on al
C-64S & C1S41S (C-1 28/64 rrxxfe)- Save money and downtime by promptly kxabng fated chips- Nto
equipment needed Success rate is 9&%. Over 28.000 SOW , . postage paid $5.^
(At^ailabie for Amiga computers at $14,95)
New Commodore Power Supply— Super-tieavy. repairabte C-$4 PS wttti 4.3 amps, indudes
©xt fuse, schemabcs and 1 year warranty. Comes with FREE ComnfxxJofB Diagnostoan II ($6.95 vak»
OR programmers utilrty" p(ug-<n cartridge ($995 value). $37-95
STU'A powerful Amiga diagnostic program oy Global upgrades, Inc $29.95
Call for FREE 36-pa9e IBM/Amiga catalog.
Contains products you wont find anywtwre else.
C/S (914) 357-2424
Pnces subject to change
The Grapevine Group, Inc.
3 Chestnut Street, Suffern, NY 10901
Order line only
1-800-292-7445
Add UPS charges to above.
m
Fax (914) 357-6243
Ws ship wor^dwtde
Circle Reader Service Nunnbef 174
DESIGN YOUR OWN HOME
with your IBM, Macintosh, Apple II, or Apple IIgs
Architecture Program
Draw floor plans, side views, and structural
details Calculate dimensions (feet/inches or
metric), area & lumber. Use 154 architectural
symbols, text, icons, pull-down menus.
Interiors Program
Arrange a room from the top. try different color
schemes, then automatically view it from the
side. Over 100 furniture pieces, each with 8
rotations: text, on-screen measurements, pull-
down menus.
Landscape Program
Create a full-color plan ot your property. Create
a top view and use the auto side view feature to
view your plan from any direction. Includes
Slopes, scaling, and plant "aging." plant iden-
tification, and shopping lists.
Ask about our LIBRARIES,
The Instant
>:ui^^*^ Decorator
This never-fail design coordinating method lets
you analyze your interior decor. The program
analyzes the compatability in each room of fur-
niture and other elements and determines the
degree of harmony or disharmony. Become an
expert interior decorator overnight!
Applell, Laser 128 (64K)
Macintosh (512K); IBM [256K)
Instant Decorator ... ONLY $49.95
Arclutecture, Interiors or Landscape
System Requirements and Prices
A"pplefl/Laser128, 64K .... . $69.95 ea.
Apple IIGS, 1 MB $89.95 ea,
Macintosh, 1 MB $99.95 ea.
iBM.640K $99^5 ea-
To order call
800-451-4871 or
FAX (503) 683-1925
By Mail: Add S7 shipping first program, plus
S2 ea. additionaL Send Visa/MasterCard num-
ber with expiration date or check.
bracadata
the source of plan-making software
SINCE 7985
PC BOX 2440
EUGENE, OF 97402
(503} 342 3030
Circle Reader Service Number 141
OMNI
TIME CAPSULES
Now the magazine of the future con be
kept for the future. Store your issues of
OMNI in a new Custom Bourd Library Case
made of bkick simulated leather It's built to
last, and it will keep 12 issues in mint
condition indefinitely. The spine is embossed
with the gold Of^NI logo, ar>d in each case
there is a gold transfer for
recording the date.
Send your check or money order
($8.95 eoch; 3 for $24.95; 6 for $45.95)
postpaid USA orders oniy. Foreign
orders odd S 1 .50 odditionol for
postage ond handling per cose.
To; Ofy^Ni MAGAZINE
Jesse Jones Industries, 499 E. Erie Ave.
Phila., PA 19134
CREDIT CARD HOLDERS (orders over $15)
CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-972-5858
Or mail your order, clearly showing your
account number ard signature. Po. residents
odd 6% soles tax,
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Discover What The Casinos
Don't Want You To Know
About Video Poker!
Experience all the fasi-paced excitement of
casino poker slots in the most vivid, excit-
ing video poker program ever developed
for the PC. Find out what cards to hold and
why. Test strategies with the Simulator.
Experiment with options - bet units, coins
played, payoff rates. Even print out a guide
to lake to the casino if you go!
Features include on-line strategy advice,
complete session statistics, tip rich 40-page manual, realistic
color graphics. Even if you never go to the casino, you'll enjoy
the endless challenge of this exciting game.
'*Not only does it simulate a 'casino-quality* video poker
screen with excellent graphics, but it provides an online
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PCM Magazine 3/91
''Strategic Video Poker is one of the most complete pro-
grams to be released. For any video poker player, [it J is the
light at the end of the tunnel," The Player 12/90
Order Now!
$49.95
plus S5 shipping & handling
(PA residents add S3.30 tax)
Visa/MC call toll-free:
800-828-2259 ext. 410
LWS SOFTWARE
Dept. 4C • P.O. Box 688
BroomalK PA 19008
Requires IBM PC or compatible ; 5 1 2K: VG A, EGA, CG A or Mono.
Circle Reader Service Number 127
2 Books 15 Bucks
40 Great Flight Simulator Adventures (C022X)
40 More Great Flight Simulator Adventures (C0432)
Flying on Instruments with Flight Simulator (C0912)
Jet Fighter School (C0920)
Learning to Fly with Flight Simulator (C1 153)
The Electronic Battlefield (C117X)
Sub Commander: Tactics and Strategy for WWII Submarine
Simulations (CI 277)
Gunship Academy: Tactics and Maneuvers for Attack Heli-
copter Simulations (C1536)
Realistic Commercial Flying with Flight Simulator (01 692)
40 Great Submarine Simulator War Adventures (CI 722)
Order your copies today. Minimum 2 books per order. Shipping
and handling $1 per book ($5.00 for orders outside U.S. and
Canada).
Send check or money order (in U.S. funds only) and appropriate
sales tax (if you live in NC. NJ, and NY). Canadian orders add
7% goods and services tax. Mail to:
COMPUTE Books
c/o CCC
2500 McClellan Ave.
Pennsauketi, NJ 08109
Please include ISBN number on your check or money order.
Offer good only while supplies last.
Please allow four to six weeks for delivery
JUL91CP2
Get the
OFFICIAL
GUIDES
to these Sierra Games
The Official Book of
King's Quest, 2nd Ed.
cx>vers King's Quest 1-V
$12.95
The Official Guide to Roger
Wilco's Space Adventures
covers Space Quest l-IV
$14.95
The Official Boole of
Leisure Suit Larry
covers Larry l-!l!
$12.95
To order, send the titles and quantities of
books ordered, checl< or money order,* and
your name and complete street address;
COMPUTE Books
c/o CCC
2500 McClellan Ave.
Pennsauken, NJ 08109
■Pleas* acid S2 sl"ipp<ng & handfcng (S6 lofetgn) tor ea*^ book
(resKiente of NC. KkJ. NY ptease add appicabte sates tax}
Canadian orders add 7*8 goods and sefvces tax.
Alt payments musr be in U-S funds, Please aikjw 4 waaks lof
delivery.
Sierra. King's Ouest. Leisure Suit Larry, and Space Quest are
copyrighi and/or fademarks oi Sierra On-Lne, Inc. JULSlCNS
Earn $4,000 Per Month
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To receive a free cassette and color literature, call toll-free:
1-800-343-8014, ext. 303
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Computer Business Services, Inc*, CBC Plaza, Ste* 303,
Sheridan, Indiana 46069
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FREE CBS 286 Computer
Circle Reader Service Kumber £30
The Menu (tm)
The "Premier" Hard Disk Drive Manager
help rz-4kw Editor FG-flew UtUttJes ri-Other
DtUUses
]nte«r4tN Sortit«nr
Desktop milxhlrtg
■»jm»miii«
Uord F
Gepy rUcs
Dclde riles
HeTMK riles
terd rtrfcct
terfaUr
Dlrectonj
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Delete i Urcctory
neiw a. DlMCtOTV
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DUAL MENU SYSTEM
MOUSE SUPPORT
PASSWORD SECURITY SYSTEM
TEXT EDITOR
BUILT IN DOS UTILITIES
CUSTOMIZED SCREEN COLORS
ON-LINE HELP
Call our Toll Free Number Today!
1-800-421-5121
Free Shipping!
Visa and Master Card Accepted
Dos Version Only $49.95
Lan Version Only $1 99.95
FSDS, Inc.
1201 West Elm Avenue
Hanover, PA 17331
Phone: (717)633-7759
Fax:(717)633-7878
Circle Reader Service Number 203
FREE -15 DISKS -FREE
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since 1985
Circle Reader Service Njmber 241
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than with original cartridge
• We buy used cartridges
Canon. H?wiett'PscianlL25€r-jst, Apple-User
Writer. Corona, QMS. IBM, Ricoh, Eliarp, etc
mm- INTERNATIONAL
t^ TONER CARTRIDGE
313*666-9440 or 800-827-3058
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mef>v
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over 20,000 user* in 37 counlrieal WeffPro 7/2/3/4^
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COLOR RIBBONS & PAPER
Colors: Black. Red. Blue. Green. Brown, Purple. Yellow
Ribbons:
Pfic8 each
Brother 1109
Cftizen 200/GSX 140
Citizen GSX 140, 4-Co!or
Epson MX/f=X/RX 80/85
OkkJata 182/192
Panasonic 1190/1124
Commodore MPS
Star NX1000
Star NX1000, 4-Color
Black
$4.95
4.00
3.75
5.00
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Color
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For
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6.25
T-Shlrt
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7.50
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6.75
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CoJors: Black. Red. Blue. Green. Brown. Purple, Yellow
COLOR PAPER
Color Paper 200 aheeis assorted
Bfi'ohl Pack: 9-1/2x11 S10.90/pk
Pastel Pack: 9-1/2x11 S 7.9(ypk
Color Certifcate Paper: 100 sheets S 9.95/pk
Color Banner Paper: 45 ft/rpli S 8.95/pk
Min. orders S25.00. Wm'mum S4H S4.S0, Call for oth^f ribbons and
supplies. Price and spec are sijbiect to change w/o notice.
RAMCO COMPUTER SUPPUES
PO. Box 475. Manteno. IL 60950 U.S.A.
(USA) 800522-6922 or 815-468-8081
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Circle Reader Service Number 221
Disk #1 • /^ unbelievable
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$7 eadi any 3 for S17, or
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AVAILABLE f RO^M US'
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Send Check or Mon©^ Ordef to:
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RemetTtber— Whan you pitrchtte all ytiur PCjr pmducti
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PO Box 292 Belmar, NJ 07719
• 'Dedkmed to the Support of the PCjr Since 1984"
Circle Reader Service Number 1t>5
(g) SOFTSHOPPE, INCX
ASP Member
o Selected Programs
a Latest Versions
Q As Low as $1.50
FREE CATALOG
IBM PD/SHAREWARE
POB 3678, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106
Call 800-829-8EST (2378)
or 313-761-7638
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Circle Reader Service Numtwr 126
Circle Reader Service Number 116
NEW SOFTWARE FOR HOME SEWERS
MAKES CUSTOM FITTING A SNAPl
Introducing DRESS
SHOP""', the exciting new
way to use your PC. Pal-
terns for more than two
dozen garments are con-
tained on an IBM disk:
dresses, blouses, skirts,
slacks, blazers, vests, etc.
All can be tailored to your
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the most flattering fit pos-
sible.
Requires 640K, and a dot-matrix printer with form-
feed paper. Both 5-1/4" and 3-1/2" disks included.
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE I
To order, send $99.95 (CA Reside nls add 6% sales tax) to;
LivingSoft, Inc.
3400 Ave. of the Arts, iJ202
Dept. C
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
For more information, call:
(800)626-1262 or (714)979-5829
Circle Reader Service Number 158
Conquering
Super
Mario Bros.
Here's the book you need to beat all three
Super Mario Bros, games. No matter where
you're stuck, this is the book that will help you
get back on the winning path. Bowser doesn't
stand a chance!
To Order send $7.95 plus $2 shipping and handling for
each book ($4 Canada, $6 foreign} and applicable tax* to:
COMPUTE Books
c/o CCC
2500 McCIellan Ave.
Pennsauken, NJ 08109
* Residents of NC, NJ, and NY add appropriate sales lax. Canadian
orders please add 77o Goods and Services tax.
All orders must be paid in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. Please
allow four weeks for delivery.
Offer good wfiile supplies last.
Super Maiio Bros, is a registered trademark of Nintendo of America, Inc.
JULdlCSM
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since
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^DEMO DISKS
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(refundable)
lie??
PROFESSIONAL
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Available at your local
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for Information and a
FREE CATALOG.
1-800-553-2256
1940 W. State St.. Boise, ID 83702
Circle Reader Service Number 151
lu're in flight . . . V^^ the c
You're in flight
Suddenly out of nowhere, A
MIG appears behind you. It's
closing fast. Missile alert! You hit
the chaff ejector; break left! Mis-
sile launch break rightl You
shove throttles to Maxximum
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Congratulations. You have just
entered a new dinnension in real-
ism. Whether "threading the
needle," or attempting a difficult
approach. Maxximum Company
products give you the precision
you always wanted in computer
flying.
Works with your favorite
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Circle Reader Service Number 14S
JULY 1991 COMPUTE 141
THE DEFINITIVE MAGAZINE AND DISK
FOR PC USERS
COMPUTEI's PCi
B4CfC ISSUES
Note:
• Selected titles are listed under con-
tents for each issue
• 3V2'inch disi^s available for all issues
except t^arch 1988 and May 1988
• Programs requiring more than 256K or
a color monitor are so noted
March 1988, [ssue 4, Vol. 2, No. 2
Feature
Flying Home: Rigftt Simulator adventure
Software on Disk
TheDraw: Design custom menu screens, presenta-
tions, or animated sequences
Tonto!: Pop-up with ASCII ctiart, clock/calendar,
directory, tiex converter, ke> board scan code
reader, and printer setup
Font Typeset ten New- fonts for your printer
(CGA)
Designing Custom Fonts; Create your own fonts
for Font Typesetter (CGA)
FileFinder: Locate any file, in any directory
SuperTiler: More power for B ASICs RMNT (CGA)
Hover: Futuristic tennis game (CGA)
DOS Help: Help screens for DOS commands
May 1988, Issue S, Vol. 2, No. 3
Feature
Advanced Spreadsheets: Special tecliniques for
power tools
Software on Disk
Quick Sctieduler: Organize yourselfl
Source Code XREF: Debugging made easy
Text File Compare: Find out which file is which
WHOA!: Control your PC's speed (EGA not
supported)
Las Vegas Solitaire: Solitaire with casino rules
States & Capitals: Learn U,S. geography and have
some fun (CGA)
QikServe: Arcade fun in a fast-food setting (CGA)
July 1988, Issue 6, Vol. 2, No. 4
Features
How to Build Your Own PC Clone: Expert advice
on a mone)-saving alternative
In Praise of PC Play: PC blasts into the game
market
Talking to Your Printer: Make your printer do alt
its (ricks
Buyer's Guide to Simulation Software: 38 excit-
Ing games put you in command
Software on Disk
JLSCAN: Super file lister
Presentation Graphics: Create professional-
looking graphs and charts (CGA)
File-It: Save text screens to disk
Graphics Shape Editor: Design your own graphics
for games (CGA)
Ancient Empires: The glory of battles past (CGA)
Power Poker: An old favorite with a new twist
March 1989, Issue 10, Vol. Z, No. 2
Features
Laser Power from Your DotMatHx Printer:
Supercharge your 9-pin printer
RAM Charge! How to Expand Your PCs Mem-
ory: Everything you need to know
Buyer's Guide to Expanded Memory Boards: 83
memory boards for more RAM power
COMPLETE YOUR
COLLECTION!
ANY ISSUE JUST $16
Issues not listed are
sold out. Limited
quantities available.
ORDER TODAY
Software on Disk
Arcade Volleyball: Klectnfying on-courl action
Spin 'n' Print: Print spreadsheets sideways (CGA)
HDtest: Tune up your hard disk
Cribbage: The game of kings and queens
FixBeep: Control your PC s speaker
CobrSet: Choose your own screen palette (CGA)
May 1989, Issue II, \bl. 3, No. 3
Features
Game Designers' Favorite PC Games: Five pros
pick their favorites
How to Install a Hard Disk: It's as easy as 1-2-3
Future Games: Put your imagination into
overdrive
Buyer's Guide to Sports Games: 62 super
diversions
Software on Disk
Iskib: Save the planet from hostile aliens (CGA)
Dr. Steeptite and the Nightmare Factory: Foil
the villain and destroy his Dream Machine (CGA)
Block Out: Fast-paced strategy for the whole fam-
ily (CGA or EGA)
Vmusic: Compose and play three-part music
Rich Levin's Checkup: Defend your system
against virus attack
Searchin: Find the text you want— fast!
Subdir: Soar through directories
Snooper: Uncover messages hidden in program
files
July 1989, Issue 12, Vol. 3, No. 4
Features
PC Video Systems Made Easy: It's all in the
cards
Desktop Publishing Revolutioii: (kt started in
style
King's Quest IV: A new dimension in PC
entertainment
Buyer's Guide to Desktop Publishing Software:
50 hot publishing packages: 101 clip*art collections
Software on Disk
TurboTYPE: Kiss DOS's TYPE command good*bye
CGA: At last! CGA programs on your monochrome
graphics card
MenU'Matic: One keypress runs any program
Nifty James' Famous Utilities: Zap backups, cal-
culate online, and get a quote for the day
PrtL^bel: Design and print custom labels
September 1989, Issue 13, Vol. 3, No. 5
Features
Best-Kept Secrets: Five word processors priced at
under $100
Learning is FUN!: 60 games that instruct and
delight
CD-ROM: Dazzling new graphics and sound
Buyer's Guide to SelMmprovement Software:
70 ways to improve your skills and career
Software on Disk
Lampies of Lotis IV: Aiiens meet their match!
WPK: Ward processing for kids
DOS Help: Never look up a command again
Touch Type Tutor: Be a keyboard superstar
QDups: Zap duplicate files in a flash
November 1989» Issue 14, Vol. 3, No. 6
Features
Hot Paint: How to get started with PC art
Get It Together with Integrated Software: 5 pro-
grams that do it all
Online Art: Best PC graphics
Buyer's Guide to integrated Software: 30 inte-
grated solutions; 16 desktop organizers
Software on Disk
MemTooi: Organize your desktop
To_Qulck: Subdirectories at your fingertips
DynaBoot: Reboot any configuration
BIO-CAL: Master biorhjihms
Kingdom of Kroz: Run for your life!
March 1990, Issue 16, Vol. 4, No, 2
Features
High-End Word Processors: Four writers meet
four top-rated tools
Power Breakthrough: How to Upgrade to a 386
FYI: Floppy Disks
Buyer's Guide to 386 Motherboards: High-
powered replacements
Future Computing: Expert's guide to neural
networks
Software on Disk
CheX: Masterful checkbook manager
Viruscan: Detect viruses before they strike
Whereis: Never lose a file again
HexEdit: F>dil hexadecimal like a pro
Upgrade: Hands-on advice for upgrading to a 386
Individual back issues of COMPUTEI's PC Magazine
and disk are available by mail only while quantities
tast> Please clip or photocopy, and mail completed
coupon and check to:
COMPUTE Publications
324 W. Wendover Ave.
Suite 200
Greensboro, NC 27408
Name.
Street .
City-
state-
Issue (Monlh/Year)
, ZIP.
Price
$2,00
Subtotal:
Sales Tax:
Shipping:
Total: ___
Issues are Si6 each. Residents of NC and NY
please add appropriate sales tax for your area.
CLASSIFIEDS
SOFTWARE
IBM - COMMODORE 64 & 128 - AMIGA.
lOOO's of PD/Shareware programs on lOO's
of disks. Free listing or $1 for large
descriptive catalog {specify computer).
DISKS OTLENTY INC.. 7958 Pines Blvd.,
Suite 270B. Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
BUY/SELL used software! Lowest Prices!
Free list. Specify 64/128, Amiga or IBM.
Centsible Software, PC Box 930,
St. Joseph, Ml 49085. 616-962-0327
FREE! IBM PD & SHAREWARE DISK CATALOG
Specify 5V* or 3V:. Low prices since 1988 !
ASP APPROVED VENDOR, Fin to Software,
Dept M, Rt 2 Box 44, Rosebud, TX 76570
DO YOUR OLD GAMES RUN TOO FAST on your
new PC? TSR program slows your 286/386/
486 to XT speed. Send $9.95 + 52.00 S/H to
DSl, 13633 128th Ave N.E. Kirkland, WA
98034 or call 206-454-7336
IBM Compatible PD and Shareware.
Programs as low as 12 cents each. Send $1
for catalog disk to: SMJ SOFTWARE. Dept
PC, 2912 SHERMAN AVE. RQCKFORD, IL 61101
C64-C128-IBM / lOOO's of PD Prgs on 950 +
dsks/ Prices LOW as 65 c per dsk/Cat & 4
Samples dsks S4.00/ MECATRONIC SOFTWARE
807 W. Pine, Suite *i3/Missou]a, MT 59802
COLL. ALGEBRA. Equation solving programs
for Tandy PC-6. Listing $19.95. Cassette
$29.95. SASE for info, FORMULA SYSTEMS
INC. P.O. Box 348, Roseville, MI 48066
ALPHA/THETA BRAINWAVE STIMUUTION SOFTWARE
for IBM or 100% clones. Why pay S300.00
plus for brainwave stimulation devices?
Our low-cost program allows experimentation
with selectable colors, patterns and
frequencies. Let your PC generate hypnotic
pulses! Requires color monitor whh EGA or
VGA card. Warning! Epileptics must not use!
5Vr $19,95 3V2" $21.95. Templehof, Dept.
113-CT, POB 19300, Austin TX 78760-9300
NEURAL NETWORKS for your IBM compatible.
EG A/ VGA software from $10. Free catalog
or $5 for demo. Intellimetrics,
4508 Cheltenham Dr., Bethesda, MD 20814
NATIONAL USED SOFTWARE CLASSIFIEDS
Buy or Sell used software nationwide
IBM - Mac - Commodore - others
1-800-779^5007, toll-free
WIN UTTTO MILLIONS!
NEW DOS RELEASE!
TOUR LOfTTEHY IS BIASED! Un-
intemionally certain number patterns
will be selected with a greater frequerK^
than others, LOTTO MCKIII 3 wiii uncover &
exploft these biases & tell yw which numbers to
play— no guesswork required! 6UJUIANT1E0 to work
for all lotteries worldwide or your miOHET BACK! WHEEL-
ING now included in DOS version! BEAT THE LOTTEflT
lODAT! $38.85 (+2.55 s/hj. 3.5" add S5. Ver. Z1 for Apple
II & C64/128. NY add tax.
OBOER TODAY! 1-B00'835-224fi X 121
6E R10GE SERVICES, INC., 170 Broadway,
Suite 201-CP, New York. NY 10038
Info/Dealers 718-317-1961,
HARDWARE
SOFTWARE PLUS - Your Commodore, Amiga +
IBM connection! lOOO's of generic + orig.
prgnns, hardware -t- computer systems. For
catalog, write: SOFTWARE PLUS, 64 W. Cutts,
Btddeford, ME 04005 or call 207-284-9426.
Tandy 1000 Subscribe to "One Thousand"
the magazine for your Tandy 1000. Send $7
for 3-mos trial or $24 for one year
(12 issues plus free software disk) to:
OTM, Box 1688 A, Mar\-Iand Heights MO 63043-0688
DISCOUNT COMPUTER BOOKS. Thousands of
titles available. Please call or write
for your free catalog today. BOOKWARE,
147 Campville Rd., Northfield, CT 06778
(203) 283-6973 (800) 288-5662
COMPUTER REPAIR
24 HOUR Computer Repair. Commodore,
Amiga, IBM, Apple. A & M Computer
Repair, 20 Guernsey Dr. New Windsor,
NY 12553. 914-562-7271 1-800-344-4102
Auth. Comm. repairs C64/128, 1541/1571,
SX64, 128D & Amiga. Selling DTK-comp
computers. Quick service'30 day warranty
MOM & POP's Computer Shop. 114 M. i6th,
Bethany, MO 64424 (816) 425-4400
SERIAL PORT TESTER SAVE $S$ ON SERVICE
CALLS. Simple, plans to build serial,
par port tester. For tester plans + disk,
send $6.95 to; INF Computer, 921 Wherry Rd.
#10, O'Fallion, IL 62269.
COMPUTE Classified is a low-cost way to tell over 355,000 micro-
computer owners about your product or service.
Additional Information. Please read carefully.
Rates: S38 per line, minimum of four lines. Any or all of the first line set in capital letters at no
charge. Add $15 per line for boldface words, or $50 for the entire ad set in boldface (any num-
ber of lines.)
Terms: Prepayment is required. We accept checks, money orders, VISA, or MasterCard.
Form: Ads are subject to publisher's approval and must be either typed or legibly printed. One
line equals 40 letters and spaces between words. Please underline ivords to be set in boldface.
General [nformation: Advertisers using post office box number in their ads must supply per-
manent address and telephone number.
Orders will not be acknowledged. Ad will appear in next a%'ailabie issue after receipt.
Closing: First of the second month preceding cover date (e.g. October issue closes August 1,)
CLASSIFIED DISPLAY RATES
Classified display ads measure 2V*" wide and are priced according to height. T = $275; IV2' =
$400; 2" = $525. Preferred supplied material is Velox or PMT.
HOW TO ORDER
To place an ad, send order and payment to Sharon Steinkemper, Classified Manager,
COMPUTE, 1965 Broadway, New York, NY 10023-5965, or call Sharon Steinkemper at 212-
724-0911, FAX 212-724-0825.
SERIAL PORT TESTER SAVE $$$ ON SERVICE
CALLS. Simple, plans to build serial,
par port tester. For tester plans + disk,
send $6.95 to: INF Computer, 921 Wherry Rd.
#10, OTallion, IL 62269.
EDUCATION
EVANGELISTIC, TEACHING, treasure-hunt
game for the C64/128 on 5%' disk.
255 scrolls of Scripture to find.
$18.50/disk. U.S. funds only. N.Y.S.
residents add local sales tax. Or send
S.A.S.E. for more info to: B & V HANCO
PO Box 11, Rome, NY 13440.
Call
212-724-0911
for
Classified Ad
Information
B.S. & M.S. in COMPUTER SCIENCE
The Aniefican kistrtuie fix Compuier Soenas oilMS an m dcpSi cofrespon-
oenoe progfam to Mfn yoa Bachew of Sctencc and Master c* Sctencc de-
flrees m Computer Soencs A home BS subjects covefed aie MS/DOS.
BASIC. PASCAL C, Data Fde Proctssjng Dita StnK:tarei A Opera&ig sys-
tems MS pfograiti tndudes ^ub^s m Software Etx^neenng and ArtrfioaJ
Intelligence, and oiher topics,
AMERICAN iKST. for COMPUTEn SCIENCES
3101 CC Magnoha Avb Soutt. Suite 2O0
Btrnwighani. AL 35205
600-767-2427 CAU (20S) 933-0339
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Let the government finance your new or
existing small business. Grants/ loans to
$500,000. Free recorded message: 707-449-8600(KS7)
WANTED: A mighty hero to save the lands
of Tirela from Its deranged ex-king. To
undertake QUEST FOR TRUTH, the new adv.
role-playing game for C64, send $8 -I- $2
S/H to Q/T, PO Box 295, Cartfiage, IN 46115.
ISOMETRICS The businessman's total stay fit
program book, 20 dynaniic muscle-toning
exercises. Can be done anywhere. No spec
equip- lllustrd. Send $4 to: LLL Pub,
POB 438, Unthicum HIS, MD 21090.
SUPPLIES
GO FIRST CLASS! 100 Sheets of Quality
Computer Paper. "PERSONALIZED" with your
name and address. Add distinctive touch
to your letters. Only $14.95 + $3.55 s/h
($18.50). SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! Send
to: Print Trax, Box 905C, Burlington, NC 27216,
Research works.
0
American Heart
Association
JULY 1991
COMPUTE 143
FAST FACTS
Public interest in using a home computer to obtain information
online from the public library (in percent):
Very interested
Somewhat Interested
Not Interested
]
i
34
34
32
According to a recent report published by the American Library Association (ALA), two out of three Ameri-
cans would like to use a home computer to connect with the public library. The report was based on a sur-
vey conducted for the ALA by Louis Harris and Associates and sponsored by Equifax. The report also said
that 46 million Americans — 25 percent of the population — have or have access to a home computer to
make such a connection.
EXCELLENCE IN SOFTWARE AWARDS: 1991
This past March, the Software Publishers Association met in San Francisco and granted awards for what its members con-
sidered the best in software for the past year. The Association presented awards for business and consumer products. In ad-
dition, the SPA's Consumer Software and Critics' Choice sections presented several other prizes, including one for best
industry analysis to Keith FerreU, a former senior editor with COMPUTE and now editor of Omni magazine.
BUSINESS SOFTWARE AWARDS
BEST NEW BUSINESS SOFTWARE
PRODUCT
Microsoft Windows 3.0
Microsoft
BEST BUSINESS APPLICATION:
GRAPHIC OR DISPLAY
ORIENTATION
aliCLEAR
CLEAR Software
BEST BUSINESS APPLICATION:
NUMERIC OR DATA
ORIENTATION
Quattro Pro 2.0
Borland International
BEST BUSINESS APPLICATION-
WORD OR TEXT ORIENTATION
Ami Pro
Lotus Development
BEST PROGRAMMING TOOL
Turbo C+ + Professional
Borland International
BEST UTILITY PROGRAM
The Norton Uiilities 5.0
Symantec
BEST VERTICAL MARKET
APPLICATION
Ashlar Vellum
Ashlar
CONSUMER SOFTWARE AWARDS
BEST COMPUTER PROGRAM
Geo Works Ensemble
GeoWorks
BEST ACTION/ARCADE PROGRAM
Faces . . . Tris HI
Spectrum HoloByte
BEST FANTASY ROLE-
PLAYING/ADVENTURE PROGRAM
King's Quest V
Sierra On-Line
BEST PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY/
CREATIVITY PROGRAM
Geo Works Ensemble
GeoWorks
BEST SIMULATION PROGRAM
SimEarth
Maxis
BEST SPORTS PROGRAM
Links
Access Software
BEST STRATEGY PROGRAM
Railroad Tycoon
MicroProse Software
144 COMPUTE
JULY 1 9 9^ 1
COMPUTE'S Free
Product Information
Resource
Use these cards to request
FREE information about prod-
ucts advertised in this issue.
Clearly prim or type your full
name, address and phone num-
ber. Only one card should be
used per person. Circle the num-
bers that correspond to the key
number appearing on the
advertisement and in the
Advertisers Index.
Mail the Postage-Paid card to-
day. Your inquir>^ will be
forvvarded promptly to the
advertisers. Althougli every ef-
fort is made to ensure that only
advertisers wishing to provide
product information have reader
service numbers, COMPUTE
cannot be responsible if
advertisers do not provide lit-
erature to readers.
Please use these cards only for
requesting product information.
Editorial and customer service
inquiries should be addressed to:
COMPUTE, RO. Box 5406,
Greensboro, NC 27403. Cards
are valid only until the expira-
tion date.
USE THESE CARDS AND
THIS ADDRESS FOR
COMPUTE PRODUCT
INFORMATION ONLY. DO
NOT SEND PAYMENT IN
ANY FORM,
COMPUTE INFORMATION SERVICE
Nairte -
Address .
City
State/Province _
.Zip.
Country -
Pnooe _
A wnai Hind o1 coniput«r(s) do you own'> Q ISM PC c cqrTiipatrE>se O Tandy U Amga
1 ^ 3
DMaantosn DApp»ei( a CommocJofe 64/128
4 5 6
B IS tfus youf 1ff« compule*'' D Tfttt DWo
C How lortg have you owr*d your compyter? , Vears Months
9 10
0 Oo you Lj*e youf compuier mostly for O playiing games D vwrtti^ at tvjrm Q wofkmg at Oflice 0
11 12 13
SKJe Home D sc^oo( wofk/learning'
H
£ Do you f«d COVPUTE s new lormat t»eOtul m tmding uilotrnatcn you need'' Q ¥bs CTto
F wnal otner awrtpulef niagazme do you read' D PG/Computmg D Home CHfce Computing
\7 IB
n Compuier Sftoppef D PC Sources O f*C Magaiirw D PC World
19 20 21 22
G VVr.at rs your toiat rrousehoid fficome' D -S30.000 U -540,000 D -550,000 D >S7S.000
33 24 2B 2&
H Whal IS your age'? Years
27
1 How many Times per year do ypu purcfiase Oy matt ordw'' D 1 O 3-5 D S-TO D -10
2B 29 30 31
J Oo you atlvise tA^vr
K Comments - — --
on comptJter purchases'* O'f&S Q No
3? 33
COMPUTE INFORMATION SERVICE
City-
. State/Province -
.Zip.
Country _
. Phooe.
A Wrvai kmc oT conrpuief(s) do you own'> O IBM PC or compaftbte D Tandy D Am^ja
1 2 3
D Macimosh n Appi«e II D Commodore 64/1 £a
4 5 6
B Is tf*5 yt3ur firsl computef^ O res DNo
7 B
. Months
C How long have you owned your oomputsf' ™ ~ Years _
9 10
0 Do you use your computer mostty fof D playing garms D wofKtfig at home Q working at o(tiC« owt-
11 12 13
SKte fxjme Q SCfiOOt worK/learning'*
M
E Do you lind COMPUTE s new Tormal neipluf m lincJing mform^tton you need'' D Ves ONo
F V&iai othef computer magazff>e do you reacP D PC/Compucr^ D Home Otlce Computng
17
\S
D Compuler ^lOpper □ PC Sources D PC Magazme U PC VAjfiO
19 20 i^ 22
Q What IS your total hou5«*ioW ■ncome'' D -$30000 D -540.000 D -S50.000 D -S75.0O0
23 24 25 26
H wnai IS your age' . Yeafs
27
I How many times per yeat do you purchase by mail order'' Q 1 Q 3-5 □ S-lO D >10
23 29 30 31
J Do you aa^iise otre* people on computer purchases'' a ves [I No
32 33
K Comrnents
10^
102
103
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ni
112
n3
114
nS
116
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11B
119
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1,^
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14B
149
IfiO
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17B
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2t6
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??0
??1
???
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22S
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7M
235
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300
M1
302
J03
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31S
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a34
3a*>
336
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3S4
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36?
3fi3
364
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363
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5
Expiration
date 9-3-91
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in
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12?
l?3
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1B2
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^m
1R6
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1B9
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19?
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?77
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3a3
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5
EstplratSon date 9-3-91
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TheGSX-145
Makes Your Forecasts
Even Brighter.
Once :igain (Citizen iusserLs ils leadership in color print technolo^n:
Introducing the new 24-\vire wide carriage GSX- 145.
Like the GSX-140, the print qualit)^ rivals that of any printer in its
class, while iLs six resident fonts give you more flexihilit;^ to design
your own output.
Like all our new printers, it's equipped with our exclusive Color
On CommaJid "' feature wiiich gives you the capiibilit)' of instiilling
dynamic color to make your spread sheets color efficient, graphs e^isier
to understand, and your presentiitions simply brilliant.
S[)eaking of hrilliant, it doesn't take a
Phi Beta Kiippa to operate the GSX-145.
That's kcause the 0)mm:md-Vue'"
control panel promptii you witli
plain English directions on it5
LC[) pimel. The *"Quick" menu
gives instiuit access to the
printer settings most often
changed. It remembers your "
four favorite software pro-
grams iuiu sets them tip just
^«»^«fliiiim@n^niH^«^i»MMK9i
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Blending 192 cps. logic seeking, hidirectiond
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Circle Reader Service Number 210
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