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MARCH 1993

WAYS TO

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2^TH-ANNIVERSARY
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VOLUME 15, NO. 3, ISSUE 150

MARCH 1993

FEATURES
8

TEST LAB

Edited by Mike Hudnall

We test ten 15- and 17-inchi

monitors.

10 WAYS TO SUPERCHARGE

WINDOWS

By William Harrel

If you really want to make

Windows sing, here are ttie

tools.

BACK IT UP WITH TAPE

By Paul C. Schuytema

It's easy to use and faster

than floppies.

PRODUCTIVITY CHOICE

By Richard Rapp

Approach Software's

Approach for Windows 2.0.

WORLDS OF CONFLICT

By Philip Chien

Master interrupts with this

step-by-step guide.

COLUMNS

6
EDITORIAL LICENSE

By Clifton Karnes

Why 1993 will be the year of

the Windows database.

NEWS & Nons

By Jill Champion

Top computer news.

FEEDBACK

Answers to tough questions.

WINDOWS WORKSHOP

By Clifton Karnes
Power Recorder macros.

PROGRAMMING POWER

By Tom Campbell

The 1-2-3 worksheet format

revealed.

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Cover photo by Steve Krongard

TIPS & TOOLS

Edited by

Richard C. Leinecker

Keyboard magic, DOS

command parameters,

mixed-case arguments, and

more.

HARDWARE CLINIC

By Mark Minasi

Interrupts made easy,

part 2.

INTRODOS

By Tony Roberts

Even if you do use Windows,

you still need DOS.

ON DISK

By Tony Roberts

High-productivity

shareware.

SHAREPAK

By Steve Draper
Shareware treasures.

PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY

By Philip Chien

How to upgrade your

mouse.

ART WORKS

By Robert Bixby
Bits and pieces.

MULTIMEDIA PC

By David English
New audio programs.

136

NEWS BITS

By Jill Champion
Top stories at press time.

ENTERTAINMENT
92

DISCOVERY CHOICE

By David Sears
MECC's Storybook Weaver.

ENTERTAINMENT CHOICE

By Alfred Giovetti
Three-Sixty's Theatre of War.

GAMEPLAY

By Paul C. Schuytema
Classic games.

100

TO BOLDLY GO

By Paul C. Schuytema
Star Trek's 25th anniversary.

REVIEWS
105

BCC Avanti 486SLC,

SyDOS 441,

Rex Nebular and the

Cosmic Gender Bender,

Star Trek: The Screen Saver,

Dune,

DacEasy Accounting 4.3,

DacEasy Instant

Accounting 1.0,

Flight Simulator Add-ons,

MAG InnoVision MX17F,

Video Poker,

Makeup for Windows,

Berlitz Interpreter, and

Guy Spy and the Crystals of

Armageddon.

TREASURE HUNT

See page 38.

ADVERTISERS INDEX

See page 121.

COMPUTE (ISSN Q194-357X) ,s published monttiiy in !he Unrted Stales and Canada by COMPUTE Publications Internationai Ltd.. 1965 Broadway. New York. NY 10023-5966. Volume 15.
Number 3, Issue ISO. Copyriaht e 1993 by COMPUTE Publications Inlernalional Ud. All righis reserved. COMPUTE is a regiaterad trademark of COMPUTE Publications International Ltd
ftinted In the USA by B. R. Dannelley & Sons Inc. and distributed worid'/zide (except Australia and the UK) by Curtis Circulation Company, PO. Box 9102, Pennsauken, NJ 08109. Distributed
in Australia by The Hotwitz Group, RO. Box 306. Cammeray NSW 2062 Australia and in the UK by Northern and Shell Pic, PO. Sox 381 , Mrllhafbour, London Ell 9TW. Sooond-class postage
paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing offices, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to COMPUTE Magazine, RO. Box 3245, Harlan. lA 51537-3041 Tel (800) 727-6937, Entire
contants copyrigtited. All righis reserved. Nothing may bo reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Subscriptions: US. AFO • $19 94 one year: Canada
and elsewhere -$25,94 one year Single copies S2.9S in US. The publisher disclaims all responsibility to rolurn unsolicited trattor, and all rights in portions published thereof remain the sole
property of COMPUTE Publications International Ltd. Letters sent to COMPUTE or its editors become the property of the magazine. Edrtorial offices are located at 324 W. Wendover Ave..
Sie, 200, Greensboro, NC 27408. Tel, (919) 275-9B09. ,

2 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

Fj]ia% M-modon
video lor your PC

Now you can create full-motion
video and multimedia presenta-
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wdth Video Blaster'" hardware and
Miaosoft* Video for Windows'"
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Complete video
hardware PLUS full-
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Video Kit for special effects and
JPEG compression software to
store images in a fraction of die
disk space required
by other PC video
systems.

...all in one

package.

FORlNDaVS „
Video Blaster lets you

capture, freeze, store, manipulate and export fully-
scalable digital \'ideo images from as many as
three sources (both PAL and NTSC),

Video for Windows software adds Windows-
compatible, Audio- Video Interleave (AVI) format to
your Video Blaster hardware. So you can now cap-
ture and store full-motion video and incorporate it
into OLE-compatible applications.
Use the tivo together to produce
and edit full-color digital video
sequences in a resizable window.
Combine still and mo\Tng \ddeo
with computer-generated grapMcs
and animation, or o\'erlay text and
grapliics onto \i\'e \adeo. With just
these tools and a video source, you've got an entire
multimedia xddeo studio on your desktop.

To add CD-quality 16-bit stereo sound and
on-screen digital mixing, just plug in a
Sound Blaster'" 16 ASP"' or other
Sound Blaster audio card. Your presenta-
tions will sound as good as they look.

Included in your Video Blaster package is
over $1500 in software-including Macromind
Action!" and Tempra ' presentation packages for
DOS or Windows emaronments. Plus Creative Labs'

Microsoft Video for Windows:
puts thcpmceroffidl-motioK digilal
video onto your PC screai .

Special Edition
Tcmpra GIF ami
SHOW: [or DOS.

It's the complete

multimedia author

ing and editing

solution, Everything you need to
get rolling with h.ill-motion multimedia video. . .
and all at a price you can afford.

For more information and the name of your
nearest dealer, call 1-800-647-9933.

Creative Labs and Microsoft

team up to offer state-of-the-art

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EDITORIAL LICENSE

Clifton Karnes

The year 1993 will

go down in

the history books

as the year

of the Windows

database.

The year 1992 will proba-
bly go down in the comput-
er history books as the
year of the operating sys-
tem. We saw Microsoft re-
lease Windows 3.1 and Win-
dows for Workgroups, both of
which brought the promise of
Windows 3.0 to fruition. And
we witnessed the release of
OS/2 2.0. IBM's much4alked-
about full 32-bit operating sys-
tem. To counterpunch OS/2
and diffuse its impact, Micro-
soft also announced Windows
NT, that company's full 32-bit
operating system, planned to
be released by the end of

1992, but delayed.
Usually, we don't know un-
til a year is over whether it
was the year of the LAN or
the year of the dog, but the
writing for 1993 already
seems to be on the wall — or,
more appropriately, on the
desktop.

We'll see 1993 go down in
the history books as the year
of the Windows database. We
saw the first volleys of the da-
tabase wars in 1992, but big
guns are going to be fired in

1993, Here's a guide to the
players.

Preseason. In 1992, a cou-
ple of amazingly good Win-
dows databases appeared.

The most successful of these
is Approach, an easy-to-use
database that works with
dBASE and Paradox files and
uses the Windows interface to
great advantage. In fact, we
gave Approach a COMPUTE
Choice Award as one of the
best software products of
1992. And Approach 2.0, the
latest version, is this issue's
Productivity Choice.

Negotiations. Ashton-Tate in-
vented the PC database mar-
ket with dBASE way back in
the days of CP/M. By 1990,
however, Ashton-Tate was in
trouble. It was obvious that
someone was going to buy
the company, but who? Who-
ever got A-T would get the
huge, if somewhat troubled,
dBASE market along with it.

Borland jumped in and
quickly signed a deal with A-
T. Borland already owned a
significant piece of the DOS
database market with Para-
dox. Buy buying Ashton-Tate,
Borland increased its data-
base holdings to 79 percent
of that market.

Microsoft counterpunched
by buying Fox Software, mak-
ers of the amazingly fast and
powerful dBASE clone,
FoxPro. Microsoft said there
would be a FoxPro for Win-
dows soon.

Pregame. Microsoft realized
that bringing a product to mar-
ket first is a big plus. There
was no way to ship FoxPro for
Windows in 1992, but the com-
pany was able to release Ac-
cess, a powerful Windows da-
tabase with an easy-to-use
front end like Visual Basic. And
Microsoft launched Access at
an introductory lowball price of
$99. Watch this one. It may
come from behind and sur-
prise us all.

That brings us to two of the
biggest players in the Win-
dows 1993 database game:
Paradox for Windows and
FoxPro for Windows.

Showtime. Microsoft's Ac-

cess may have been re-
leased early, but Paradox for
Windows was late. Originally
planned for early 1992, the
product was rescheduled to
ship in January 1993. Was it
worth the wait? In a word,
yes. Paradox is dazzlingly pow-
erful, full-featured, amazingly
fast, and, perhaps even more
amazing, easy to use,

Paradox for Windows isn't
just Paradox for DOS translat-
ed into Windows. It's a rede-
sign from the ground up, and
it shows. The program makes
excellent use of the Windows
environment for both develop-
ers and end users, and it has
the best visual design tools
I've seen.

Early reports of FoxPro for
Windows, still due to ship as
I write this, show it to be an im-
pressive product with the
speed and power of its DOS
brother and with excellent
code compatibility with the
DOS version.

In databaseland, while
speed isn't everything, it's al-
most everything, and the ques-
tion on everyone's lips is.
Which is faster, FoxPro for Win-
dows or Paradox for Win-
dows? Based on examination
of the DOS products, my
guess is that they'll be about
the same in speed. Both will
work with Paradox DB and
dBASE DBF files, and theyll
cost about the same — rough-
ly $795.

So here's a wrap-up of the
major Windows database play-
ers to watch in 1993. First,
there's the preseason star, Ap-
proach, and there's the pre-
game winner, Access. Then,
there are the two contenders
for the heavyweight title, Par-
adox for Windows and
FoxPro for Windows.

And there's a good
chance we'll have an exciting
and entertaining halftime
show with SuperBase for Win-
dows and Clipper for Win-
dows as headliners. o

COMPUTE MARCH 1993

Introducing the Macintosh for
every member of the family

The new Apple Akicintosh Performa' family of per-
sonal computers is especially designed for your family.
They're flexible enough to run the

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soft^\'are your kids use at school. Powerful enougli to am
the programs you use at work. And getting started on
one is incredibly eisy because of everything it iiiciudes.
You'll get the b^Lsic software, already built in. A toll-free
helpline, And a one-year limited warrant)^ with in-home
service for warrant\' repairs: For a retailer near you, call
800-538-9696, ext.'215. Or visit one of the stores below
And bring home the power every famih' needs. The
power to be
your best.

Macintosh Performa.*

TEST LAB

Edited by Mike Hudnail
Reviews by Tom Benford

ncredibly fast and powerful
microprocessors supply tfie
brains and brawn of today's
computers. But the beauty of
a system — tine display your eyes
follow hour after hour, day jn and
day out — can be just as impor-
tant. And there's much more to a
monitor than meets the eye.
Should you opt for a larger moni-
tor when you buy your next com-
puter system? Should you
upgrade from your present 14-
inch monitor to a 15-inch or 17-
inch monitor? What features
should you loo)<for, and what prob-
lems should you look out for?
This month's Test Lab helps by
examining ten monitors with a
variety of features — three 15-
inch monitors and seven 17-inch
monitors, ranging in price from
$595 to $1,789.

Knowing what to look for as
you shop around is half the battle
in your quest for the right moni-
tor. Our grid of monitor features
provides you with specifics
about dimensions, video modes,
operational specs, emissions stan-
dards compliance, and FCC cer-
tification. In his reviews, Tom Ben-
ford offers his expert evaluation
of each monitor, commenting not
only on performance but on ease
of use and the distinctive features
of these monitors.

In addition to the standard
brightness, contrast, and horizon-
tal and vertical controls, many of
these monitors offer a pretty re-
markable array of controls that
handle everything from barrel
and pincushion distortion to mag-
netization. Because not every ap-
plication uses the same screen
settings, some of these monitors
offer factory-preset and user-de-
finable settings. Once you've op-
timized the settings for a particu-
lar application, you can save
them. Whenever you call up that
application, the monitor automat-
ically recalls the correct settings.
With controls like these, not only

8 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

KITACHI/NISSEI SANBYO AMERICA

800 Soutll St.

WalUiam, MA 02154

(800) 441-4832

(617) 893-5700

List price: $7S5

Warranty: two years, parts and

labor

do you improve the appearance
of your apps, but you also work
smarter and more efficiently

For a detailed look at perform-
ance, check the grid with the mon-
itor scores for the Video Obstacle
Course in DisplayMate Profession-
al. Tom Benford and his team
checked each monilor for flicker,
bbunce, distortion, moires, and a
host of other problems, using the
more than 30 tests in the VOC. The
"fvlonitor Test Lab Methodology"
sidebar details the lab's testing
equipment and procedure, and
you1l find a glossary to help you
with terms that may be unfamiliar.

If you're in the market for one
of these feature-rich, highly capa-
ble monitors, read on. The facts,
figures, and evaluations in this
Test Lab can help you make a
more informed decision.

MIKE HUDNALL

HITACHI/NSA
SUPERSCAN15

The physical styling of the Hitachi/
NSA SuperScan 15 monitor is
nice and clean, but the monitor's
good looks don't end there.

Positioned as an ideal monitor
for business graphics and Win-
dows applications, the Super-
Scan 15 delivers a 15-inch dis-
play in about the same amount of
space required by the average
14-inch monitor. A permanently at-
tached pedestal base provides a
highly stable tilt-swivel platform
while occupying a footprint only
about 10V? inches square.

At the rear of the SuperScan
15, you'll find a permanently at-
tached video cable fitted with a
standard 15-pin D connector and

an AC power outlet for plugging
in the detachable power cord.
The manufacturer has placed the
adjustment controls at the front of
the SuperScan 15, right where
they should be for easy reach.

All of the controls occupy an
apron that runs beneath the vid-
eo display and, though not con-
cealed by a door or flip-down pan-
el, aren't visible from the user's
perspective. The rotary dial con-
trols are recessed about an inch
from the edge of the apron, effec-
tively removing them from view un-
less you lower your head to the
same level as the monitor's base.
Icons representing the functions
of the corresponding controls ap-
pear on the apron lip, helping to
keep the SuperScan 15's appear-
ance neat and uncluttered.

As you look from left to right
while facing the monitor, you'll
see that the control complement
consists of vertical position, ver-
tical size, horizontal position, hor-
izontal size, brightness, contrast,
and a flush-mounted power
switch with embedded LED pow-
er indicator. The manufacturer
does not provide memory or de-
gaussing circuitry in this monitor.

Generally speaking, the Super-
Scan 15 is an easy monitor to
look at for extended periods, ow-
ing to its bright screen and good
resolution. The monitor did, how-
ever, have a tendency to bow in-
ward slightly on both left and
right sides at the center of the
screen and, since there is no pin-
cushion compensation control,
not much can be done by the user
to correct it. Adjusting horizontal

size and position made it some-
wlnat iess noticeable witti a few ap-
plications, but there was no way of
eliminating ttie inverse barrel dis-
tortion of the screen sides. Surpris-
ingly, the screen's geometric linear-
ity was excellent despite this.

Flickering seldom marred the
SuperScan 15's display. Even
with dot and Crosshatch patterns
that proved troublesome for oth-
er monitors, flickering on the
SuperScan 15 was either totally
absent or not as severe. The Vid-
eo Obstacle Course caused the
SuperScan 15 to flicker in two of
the tests, but every other monitor
covered here flickefed in those
same tests.

If there's an Achilles heel on
the SuperScan 15, it must be
moire patterns. While generally
very slight and only noticeable on
large screen areas containing uni-
formly gray-shaded areas, the
shimmering moires were neverthe-
less visible on several of the Vid-
eo Obstacle Course tests as well
as with some DOS and Windows
applications. Additionally, I no-
ticed some screen bouncing dur-
ing the screen and local regula-
tion tests as well as during the
mode-switching tests. Despite
these problems, however, the Su-
perScan 15 turned in a very re-
spectable score in the VOC.

If your needs and budget
seem to point toward a 15-inch
monitor as the best choice for
you, then you should definitely
consider SuperScan 15.

circle Reader Service Number 371

lOCOMM
THINKSYNC 5
CM-512S

lOcomm'sThinkSyncS CM-5128
has some features that consum-
ers should find attractive, but it
turned in a generally disappoint-
ing performance.

The ISnnch monitor takes up
about the same amount of physi-
cal space as the average 14-
inch monitor and weighs in at the
relatively light weight of 38
pounds. The CfVl-5128's physical
appearance is Spartan and unclut-
tered, with all of the display con-
trols ergonomically located at the
front of the monitor, just below the
display screen. A rocker power
switch occupies the lower right
corner of the monitor, with a
green LED located just above it
to signify when the power is on.
You'll find it easy to adjust picture
characteristics, thanks to conven-
ient placement of the rotary dial
controls for brightness and con-
trast next to the LED. This loca-
tion proved to be a good one, as
adjustment to the image bright-
ness, contrast, or both was fre-
quently necessary to maintain the
best viewing characteristics
when switching applications.

A drop-down panel door con-
ceals the five additional knob con-
trols, used for adjusting horizon-
tal and vertical size and position;
a fifth knob adjusts the screen's
geometry (pincushioning), !
used all five of these knobs exten-
sively to readjust the screen
while switching between DOS-
based applications, since the CfVl-
5128 has no digital memory for

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storing preferred settings. Win-
dows applications did not require
further adjustment once I set up
the initial preferences.

On this monitor, the video ca-
ble is detachable. It plugs into the
rear of the monitor, along with the
AC power input.

The characteristic of this mon-
itor that I found most objectionable
is that the image "runs uphill," Pre-
sumably, the CRT isn't mounted
perfectly square in the chassis
mounting cradle. Whatever the
cause, I found it most disconcert-
ing to see the text at the left side
of the screen about one-eighth
inch lower than that at the right.

The Crv!-5128 found several of
the tests in the Video Obstacle
Course to be tough going as
well. The display screen exhibit-
ed a slight red tinge at the left
side and a red and blue tinge at
the right side. The screen's uni-
formity was less than perfect,
with variations in brightness in sev-
eral areas, especially noticeable
against light background colors.
The screen also displayed better
focus at the center than at the edg-
es, along with a tendency toward
"blooming" at the center (this was
very apparent in test 5 of the
VOC — Horizontal Versus Vertical
Line Thickness).

Screen flickering and moire pat-
terns proved to be additional
gremlins which made their pres-
ence known numerous times —
not only during the VOC tests but
also in 1024 X 768 mode when hi-
res images with certain dot pat-
terns (shaded gray backgrounds
in particular) were being dis-
played. Streaking and ghosting
were also noted, as well as
screen regulation weaknesses

Benchmark/performance testing
was conducted by Computer Prod-
uct Testing Services, Inc. CRTS is an
independent testing and evaluation
laboratory based in Manasquan, NJ.
Every effort has been made to en-
sure the accuracy and complele-
ness of this data as of the date of test-
ing, Perfofmance may vary among
samples.

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE 9

TEST LAB

and bouncing when I switched
graphic modes.

Because of the "uphill" image
and the problems encountered in
the Video Obstacle Course, I can-
not recommend this monitor.

Circle Reader Service Number 372

MAG INNOVISION
MX15F

If the monitors covered here
were in a beauty contest, the
MAG InnoVision iVIXISF would
probably walk away with top hon-
ors. It is indeed a handsomely
styled 15-inch monitor that pleas-
es the eye in many ways.

Devoid of any nonfunctional
frills, the cabinet perfectly comple-
ments the flat-screen design of
the MX15F, A detachable tilt-swiv-
el base provides a stable and eas-
ily adjustable support for the mon-
itor, although the unit also has its
own rubber feet, which will come
in handy if you decide not to use
the tilt-swivel base.

tviAG's placement of the moni-
tor's controls up front and within
easy reach makes sense. Rotary
dials at the left side just beneath
the video display allow you to ad-
just brightness and contrast. A
flush-mounted power switch with
green LED power indicator
flanks the right side in the same
position under the display.

In the center, a drop-down
door conceals the other adjust-
ment controls and indicators, in-
cluding a digital LED mode indi-

10 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

MAG INNOViSrON

4392 Camorate Center Dr.

Los Alamltos, CA 90720

(714) 827-3898

List price: $899

Warranty: one year, parts and labor;

two years on CRT

cator. A smoked window in the
drop-down door lets you see the
numerical mode indicator, and
four small "portholes" in the door
facilitate your monitoring any of
the four LED status indicators. If
you don't want to see these dis-
plays, you can use an auxiliary
panel door, which doesn't have
any window or portholes in it — a
nice extra toucfi.

Planning to take your monitor
abroad? No problem. The MX15F
comes with a universal autoswitch-
ing power supply, which permits
you to plug it in and use it any-
where in the world (you might still
need a converter for your PC and
other gear, however).

Eight plus/minus push-button
controls adjust the picture attrib-
utes. You'll use pairs of these con-
trols to adjust vertical size, verti-
cal position, horizontal phase
(position), and horizontal size. Ad-
ditionally, fVlAG furnishes a pro-
gram set/recall push button and
a slider switch for selecting any
of either the eight preset timing
modes or eight ^jser-defined
modes, fvlemory recall is automat-
ic for the factory presets with man-
ual override possible.

The illuminated digital display
and four LED indicators keep you
abreast of the monitor's current
mode and status. A single digit
(1-8) in the mode indicator iden-
tifies the monitor's current video
mode. Without the red user indi-
cator illuminated, a number rep-
resents a factory preset mode;
with the user/preset switch in the
up position, the user LED is acti-
vated, and the mode indicator re-
flects which user-programmed
mode is active. A green LED la-
beled SOG indicates when the in-
coming signal has a composite

sync signal, while an amber LED
lights up if the input is a compos-
ite signal. (These signals are rel-
evant to users of fvlacs only.) The
fourth LED, also red, goes on if
the Input signal exceeds the mon-
itor's frequency range and the
monitor cannot display the image
satisfactorily. These features are
sure to find favor with users who
like to know what's going on at all
times with their PC system, but
this information probably won't
mean too much (if anything) to
the average user. That's probably
why MAG provides the extra no-
window panel door.

The f^XISF's image is bright
and well defined with excellent ge-
ometric linearity and uniformity
across the entire viewing area.
The only flaws detected using the
Video Obstacle Course were a ten-
dency to show moires with some
patterns, a minor bit of screen reg-
ulation deviation, and local distor-
tion and some bouncing while
changing video modes. Screen
flicker, a weakness detected by
the VOC on all the monitors cov-
ered here, was also present but
not as pronounced or as objec-
tionable as on some of the other
monitors.

The MX15F has a lot going for
it and makes a good choice if
you're considering a 15-inch
SVGA-capable monitor.

circle Reader Service Number 373

MITSUBISHI
DIAMOND PRO 17

If you're interested in upgrading to
a large-screen monitor that has all
of the leading-edge technological
bells and whistles in addition to a
superb image with rock-steady sta-
bility, the Mitsubishi Diamond Pro
17 may be just the ticket.

All of the Diamond Pro's con-
trols are conveniently located at
the front of the display. A drop-
down door occupying the left
half of the apron under the dis-
play houses some of the controls,
while exposed flush-mounted

A NEW CAR FROM THE
THAT IHED ROCI

Y
ROLL

The Heartbeat of America"

OH E VY CAM ARO

TEST LAB

push buttons fill up the right half
of the apron and complete the con-
trol section.

The controls normally con-
cealed behind the panel door in-
clude a pair of push buttons used
to select the desired function for ad-
justment; the choices include hor-
izontal position and size, vertical po-
sition and size, horizontal static
misconvergence, and vertical stat-
ic misconvergenoe. Two more
push buttons are used to increase
and decrease the settings of the
selected adjustment, and a mem-
ory preset recall switch is located
next to them.

The exposed controls consist
of a pair of flush-mounted bright-
ness push buttons (an embed-
ded LED on the minus switch
lights up when either of these con-
trols is touched), a pair of push
buttons for adjusting contrast
(again with an embedded LED in

MITSUBISHI ELECTRONICS

AMERICA

Inlormation Systems Division

5757 Plaza Drive, P.O. Box 6007

Cypress, CA 90G30-0007

ISOO) 843-2515

(714) 220-2500

List price: $1,599

Wananty: two years, parts and

labor

the minus switch which signifies
adjustment activity with either of
these controls), and a momentary-
contact degauss switch. An illu-
minated LED power indicator and
a flush-mounted power switch com-
plete the lineup of controls. The
overall appearance of the monitor
is clean and contemporary.

You'll find three connectors at
the rear of the monitor: an AC pow-
er input connector, a 15-pin D
jack, and a special-purpose 13W3

MONITOR TEST LAB METHODOLOGY

To test the 15- and 17-inch monitors
featured in this month's lineup, we
used a computer system that
includes a Mylex i486DX/50 mothier-
board with 32MB of RAM and 64K
internal caching, mounted in a min-
itower case with a regulated and cali-
brated power supply from Triton
Technologies.

The video card that we used
throughout our extensive monitor test-
ing is a Renoir Uitra-SVGA card,
which is capable of all modes up to
and including 1280 x 1024 with 16
colors and which is equipped with
a full megabyte of video RAM and
a Sierra HiColor RAMDAC chip for
32,768-color capability. The VESA
driver that came supplied with the
Renoir Ultra-SVGA card was auto-
matically loaded at boot-up via an
included tine in the system's
AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Prior lo testing, we set up and ad-
justed each monitor for optimal view-
ing, using the Setup utility in Display-
Mate Professionai.

All of the monitor tests were sub-
jective. We conducted them with the
DisplayMate Professional Video Ob-
stacle Course test suite, which us-
es 33 test patterns to uncover video

anomalies or substandard perform-
ance. We ran this test suite in Display-
Mate video mode 105 (1024 x 768
interlaced). The displayed test pat-
terns allowed us to identify common
video irregularities, including bloom-
ing, defocusing, geometric linearity,
moir6 patterns, flicker, streaking
and ghosting, and other conditions.

Mode 105 was selected for the
test suites, as it's a high-resolution
interlaced mode which all of the test-
ed monitors are capable of display-
ing. It also makes certain video mal-
adies such as flicker and ghosting
more pronounced and thus more
noticeable.

A jury of three CPTS staff mem-
bers scrutinized each monitor for
each test and voted using a 1-10
scale, with lower numbers represent-
ing poorer performance and a 10
representing a perfect score. We
compiled the votes of these three
testers for all of the tests and totaled
the results. None of the monitors test-
ed achieved a perfect score, al-
though many scored in the high 9s,
indicating excellent performance
and viewing.

TOM BENFORD, PRESIDENT
COMPUTER PRODUCT TESTING SERVICES

COMPUTE MARCH 1993

connector, used for connecting
the Diamond Pro to a dedicated
CAD workstation. This monitor al-
so works with a color Macintosh
computer; just use the optional
cable/adapter assembly available
from Mitsubishi.

A small-footprint (about ten inch-
es square) tilt-swivel base pro-
vides a stable platform for the mon-
itor while making adjustments to
the viewing angle effortless.

I found the image clarity and
stability of the Mitsubishi pristine;
color saturation and hue were vi-
brant and bright without a hint of
ghosting, blurring, or streaking. In
fact, the only flaws noted during
some long sessions with the mon-
itor were its tendency toward
some slight barrel distortion (the
sides of the screen are wider at
the middle than at the top and bot-
tom), with the toe-in appearance
more pronounced at the bottom
of the screen than at the top.
And, as with every other monitor
covered here, a screen flicker
was also noticeable during two of
the DisplayMate Professional
tests in the Video Obstacle
Course where high-resolution sin-
gle-line raster images were dis-
played. The Diamond Pro proved
to be unflappable in other VOC
tests which were troublesome for
other monitors (for example,
screen regulation, local regula-
tion distortion, and text-graphics
mode switching).

The Diamond Pro is an excel-
lent 17-inch monitor for virtually
any type of work, from text to com-

"Sure, I remember my first modem...

"Myjirst modem? It was a cheap IbrilL Ami that iDipiilsiioiess

really cost me. Aoir I know butter. The DataPort 14.4 Daki/Jxix

Modem gives me real value; even puts mone}> in my pocket/"

Now I Know Better/'

THE NEW AT&T DATAPORT
14.4/FAX MODEM

Introducing the powerful, robust V.32bis DataPort 14.4/Fax
Modem. It pays for itself by significantK' reducing yoLir long
distance costs— and features fax capability, too! For IBM
I'C/AT./XT and Macintosh, it:

• Sends/receives text, data, and Images

• Links PCs to PCs, fax machines, and mainframes
anywhere in the world

• Transfers data files; exchanges images with fax machines

• Accesses E-mail, bulletin boards, and information
services

THRILLING, AND PAYS FOR ITSELF

It's all in the technique. The Dalal'on U.4.''Fax Modem
features ATi&T's exclusive, new Opiical phone Line Interface
(OU), pat. pending; and V.42bis data compression and error
correction. It excels in performance, especially on extremely
weak "re;il world'' lines!

This faster transmission, with effective throughput of up to
57,600 bps, significantly reduces your long distance cosLs. And it
improves your producti\ity — no more waiting for your screen to
refresh; no standing in line to send faxes.

YOU INHERIT AT&T VALUE

Designed by AT&T Bell Libs and AT&T Parad)^ne with
built-in reliabilit)' and the industry's widest compatibility— tested
and pro\'en. And only AT&T gives you a lifetime warranty and
toll-free technical support for as long as you own your Datid'oil
family product!

READY TO GET SERIOUS?

From just $415 suggested retail!
5 models to meet your exact needs
for price, speed, features, and func-
tions: the DataPort 14.4/Fax Modem and
DataPort 9.6/Fax .Modem, in standalone and PC-internal card
models; and the DataPort l4.4 .Modem st;indalone.

Proudly made by AT&T Paradyne in the USA.

For more information on the DataPort family or the name
of the dealer nearest you — call us at 1 800 554-4996 ext. 53.

SOLIDLY-BUILT, SOLIDLY-BACKED BY AT&T

circle Reader Service Number 170

ATST

C t932 »mT Pan(t(nt oaiPllilisatralBiaHolAIil. *ll«*piBjuOsa5en(icestimionH)tW6mthelT3*!lB(*lMrw8ll«rt3.i«is)!«li»^^

TEST LAB

DISPLAYMATE UTIUTIES PROFESSIONAL
VIDEO OBSTACLE COURSE TEST RESULTS^

Hitachi/NSA lOcomm ThinkSync MAG InnoVision Mitsubishi
SuperScan 15 5CM-5128 MX15F Diamond Pro 17

Optlquest
4000DX

Screen uniformity and 10 8 10 10
fliclter

Freedom from background lO 10 to 10
interference

Darl< screen 10 10 10 IQ

Geometric linearity 8 6 10 8

Circular test pattern 10 10 io 10

Horizontal versus verticaf 10 5 10 10
line thickness

Line brightness versus 9 8 10 10
thickness

Defocusing and blooming 10 8 10 10

Raster visibility 8 8 8 8

Resolution 8 8 6 10

Corner resolution 8 6 9 8

Normal and reverse video 10 10 10 10
resolution

Line moire pattern 9 8 8 10

Fine line moire pattern 8 8 B 10

Dot moire pattern 9 8 8 10

Fine dot moire pattern 8 8 8 10

Horizontal color 10 8 10 10
registration

Vertical color registration 10 10 10 10

Horizontal color 10 8 10 10
rugistfation blink

Vertical color registration 10 10 10 10
blink

64 intensities for primary 10 10 10 10
colors

Color timing 10 10 10 10

Digilal color timing 10 10 10 10

While level shiH 10 10 10 10

10 .

Black level shift 10 10 10 10

Two-dimensional streaking 10 10 10 10

Streaking and ghosting 10 8 10 10

Persistence 10 10 10 10

Screen regulation 8 B 8 10

IjDcal regulation dislortion e 8 8 10

Texl/graphics switching 8 4 fa 10

AVERAGE TEST SCORE 9 32 8 48 9.29 9 81

9 06

'See the "Monitor Test Lab Methodology" sidebar for a lull explanation of how the lab derived the results in this

grid.

14 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

Soutt 1

•/.

Not»

rb"

^,}

' tt

a. \>

Create Songs on
Your Sound Card with
MusicTime,

Whatever your musical

ability, MusicTime will

inspire you to create your

own breathy love songs,

root-lapping jazz or

head-slammin' rock 'n'

roll. With MusicTime

and either a sound card

or a MIDI instrument,

you can compose, edit,

play back Etnd print sheet

music on your PC.

Bring Your Music to life.

Use your mouse to click
musical notes and
symbols onto a staf.f
sheet. If you've got a
Miracle™ or MIDI key-
board, MusicTime will
record and transcribe
your live performance into music notation in real
lime — right before your eyes!

Easy to Play Back, Edit and Print.

Play back instantly through your sound card or MIDI
gear. Editing is easy with MusicTimes cut, copy and
paste commands. Auiomatically transpose notes into
any key. Add guitar chords. Write beautiful lyrics.
Print out publishing-qualiiy sheet music.

MusicTime couldn't be
easier, to use.

Windows, Mac and
MIDI Compatible.

MusicTime is available
for PC's with Windows'"
or the Macinioshf and is
compatible with The

Miracle Keyboard, Sound
Blaster Pro* Media Vision
Pro Audio Spectruiri" and
Thunder Board'," AdLib
Gold" and most popular PC sound cards.

For your copy of MusicTime, call Passport or visit

your nearest computer or

music store. If you're tired of

just playing games with your

sound card, gel MusicTime and

turn your beeps and blasts into

be-bop and hip-hop.

1 PASSPORT.

\ln.»)soi-i-
wiNrxMSi.

III

/
m

Passport Designs, Inc. • 100 Smne Piiie Rd- 1 Half Moon Bay, QV 94019 USA • Phone: (415) 72Sfl280 • Vssl (415) 726-2254

Passpoil MusicTime is a tr^Jara^lt oi Passport Designs, l[>c AH olhu produds and biands are Iraijemarks or reglsleied tia<ieniariis o< Ili«it fts^ive holders,
ClFde Ftoader Senria Nuntlwr 273

It works for beginners
as well as experts.

It helps manage complex systems with
ease. And no matter how hart! \ou tr\', you
can't exhaust its potential.

in many ways, it's a lot like CompuServe.

If you're a beginner at interactive com-
puter services, we've got what you're looking for.

Late-breaking news, stock quotes and financial
data, travel infonnation and reservations, enter-
tainment and games, a complete encyclopedia,
and more. And we make it simple, with on-screen
menus, a hand) index, and free time to sharpen
your online skills.

For the experienced u.ser and the computer
professional, we feature hardware and soft%vare
support, special- interest forums, lots of free soft-
\vare and shareware, a wealth of online computer

expertise, and sophisticated research tools,
hi fact, no computer service offers the number
and quahty of choices that CompuServe does.

Now, for just $8.95 a month, and a one-
time membership fee, you get all the basics as
often as you like: news, sports, iveather, shop-
ping, a complete encyclopedia, and much more,
plus up to 60 E-mail messages a month. And,
there are lots of other valuable services available
on a nominal pay-as-you-use basis.

Whether you're a beginner or an
expert, to make the right choice in selecting
an interactive service, just use your brain.
Pick CompuServe. For more information
or to order, see vour computer dealer or call
I 800 848-8199. Outside the United States,
call 614 457-0802.

CompuServe*

The information ser\'ice you won't outgrow.

circle Reader Service Numlwr lOa

TEST LAB

„...„. i

""displaymate utiuties professional

JlpfO^f^^l^l^ cnURRF TEST RESULTS^ j^,^g^.

Samsung
SyncMaster 5C

Samtron
SC-726V

Sony
CPD-1604S

ViewSonic 7

Zenith Data
Systems ZCfJI-1790

Screen uniformity and
flicker

Freedom from bacl<groiind
inierference

Dark screen

Geometric linearity

Circular test pattern

Horizontal versus vertical
line thickness

Una brightness versus
thickness

Defocusing and blooming

Raster visibility

Resolution

Corner resolution

Normal and reverse video
resolution

Line moir^ pattern

Rne line moir6 pattern

Dot moire pattern

Rne dot moire pattern

Horizontal color
registration

Vertical color registration

Horizontal color
registration blink

Vertical color registration
blink

64 Intensities for primary
colors

Color timing

Digital color timing

White level shift

Black level shift

109

Two-dimensional streaking

Streaking and ghosting

Persistence

Screen regulation

Local regulation distortion

Text/graphics switching

AVERAGE TEST SCORE

9.23

9.39

9.71

9.23

9.29

'See the "Monitor Test Lab fiilethodology" sidebar for

a full explanation of how the lab derived the results in

this grid.

18 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

ikAA^

v^BoaJ>

A!\ \t

PlCKQftffeYEAR

NX-2420 ^■KmKCWIBi^

Multi-Font ^^lUsMi^m^

We created our new line of laser printers
under very strict guidelines.

Introducing Star's LS-5 series of laser printers.

when we set out to create our new laser printers, we were
bound by the same standards that enabled our dot-matrix
and ink-jet printers to garner so many industry awards.

Our mission was to produce a line of lasers that pos-
sessed the very same attributes: superb print quality, unsur-
passed compatibility and excellent paper handling.

The result is a family of laser printers of uncompromis-
ing quality, yet outstanding value.

Introducing the Star LS-5, LS-5EX and LS-5TT. The LS-5
series has all the features you'd expect from a high-end
printer: dual-bin printing, which allows you to use two types
of paper; a maintenance-free, high- definition one-piece

TUieType js a trademark of Apple Computer, inc. Windows is a trademarlt of Microsoft Corporation

toner/drum cartridge for blacker blacks and more striking

detail; and 15 scalable Tl-ueiype™ fonts for Windows™ 3. 1.

Plus, the added assurance of Star's TWo Year Warranty With

so many features at such an affordable price, you're sure

to be hearing a lot about the LS-5. And judging by our past

successes, reading about it, too.

For a brochure or your nearest

Star dealer, call L 800 -4 4 7-4 700.

To have additional product

information sent to you by fax,

call 908-

572-4004.

THE LASER PRINTERS

cirela Readw Swvica HunHMr 209

TEST LAB

plex CAD design. Its image qual-
ity, ergonomic control placement,
and extended-range video capa-
bilities make it a good choice for
the discerning PC user looking
for a superior large-screen video
display.

circle Reader Service Number 374

OPTIQUEST 4000DX

Another 17-inch Super VGA mon-
itor to break the $1 ,200 price bar-
rier, the Optiquest 4000DX is
also one of the more lightweight
17-inch monitors.

Featuring a 32-mode digital
memory (the largest capacity of
all the monitors covered here),
the 4000DX comes with factory
presets for 16 of the major video
modes. You can store 16 addition-
al settings (defined by you), all
ready to be automatically re-
called when you run the particu-
lar applications associated with
them. The monitor always detects
and displays the last mode
stored in the user setting area
when you first turn it on, and it
checks all of the other user-
stored settings before selecting
a factory-set default mode. This
negates the need for a manual
memory recall switch, so Op-
tiquest doesn't provide one on
the 40G0DX.

All controls are front mounted
and exposed on the monitor,
which has an otherwise frill-free
appearance. They reside just be-
low the display screen in the
apron area of the monitor. To ad-
just your viewing angle, just use

20 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

OPTIQUEST

^90 E. BDsliiess Pkwy.

Walnin. CA 91789

(809)468-3750

Ust price: $1,195

Warranty: one year

the supplied tilt-swivel base. If
you elect to bypass the tilt-swivel
base, you can set the monitor,
which is equipped with four rub-
ber-tipped feet, directly on the
PC or desktop.

The brightness and contrast
controls are traditional rotary-dial
units, located at the right front cor-
ner of the unit, next to the rocker
power switch; a small green dot-
shaped LED power indicator ap-
pears just above the switch. The
other controls include four flush-
mounted push buttons and five ad-
ditional green-dot LEDs. The se-
lector push button lets you
choose among the five controls
used to make adjustments; once
you select, the plus or minus
push buttons adjust the value. A
reset switch restores the original
(factory) default value.

In addition to the usual bright-
ness, contrast, and horizontal
and vertical size and position con-
trols, the 4000DX also provides a
pincushion distortion control to
compensate for horizontal and ver-
tical edge curvature, which may
occur in some video modes.

The overall picture quality was
good, especially when you con-
sider the CRT's .31-mm dot
pitch; this is a larger pitch (result-
ing in a larger pixel) than that of
any of the other 17-inch monitors
reviewed here. There was a no-
ticeable red tinge at the left
screen border and a less objec-
tionable yellowish halo ail along
the right screen border, which
may be indicative of the electron
guns being slightly out of align-
ment. This hypothesis is borne
out by the fact that the green align-
ment was off during two of the Dis-
playMate Professional tests in the
Video Obstacle Course.

The 4000DX also exhibited a

tendency to produce moir6 pat-
terns whenever a tight, high-res-
olution pattern was displayed.
Screen flickering was noticeable
with hi-res patterns, and the fo-
cus at the outer edges and cor-
ners of the screen was not as
crisp as at the center.

The 4000DX delivers digital
memory and a large viewing ar-
ea at a price that brings it within
the affordable range of many PC
users.

circle Reader Service Number 375

SAMSUNG
SYNCMASTER 5C

If you're looking for a large, ergo-
nomic monitor ready to handle a
variety of applications, you'll
want to consider Samsung's Sync-
Master 5C 17-inch color monitor.

The 5C features a .26-mm dot
pitch, which makes it capable of
handling 1280 x 1024 resolution
as well as every other VGA and
Super VGA mode. With the built-
in digital memory you can switch
between video mode screen set-
tings and optimal positions when
you switch applications. You can
save these settings for instant re-
call whenever you run a particu-
lar application again. The monitor
permits storing up to 12 modes,
all accessible via the front pane!
controls.

Beneath a drop-down door,
you'll find the front panel with
eight LEDs indicating the active
functions. These include horizon-
tal image shifting, horizontal im-
age stretching and condensing,
horizontal concaving and convex-
ing (barrel distortion), vertical im-
age shifting, and vertical image
stretching and condensing (pin-
cushioning).

To select the function you'd
like to set or alter, use the func-
tion button; up- and down-arrow
buttons augment and diminish
the settings. A save button
stores the current mode and po-
sition settings in memory To de-
magnetize the screen, ridding it

s'^

latch yovir computing capabilities soar with the new Amiga* 4000 and 1200.

Save up to S 1,500* on the A4000, including DeluxePaint*' IV AGA and Art Department
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Both computers feature the Advanced Graphics Architecture™ that
lets you display and animate graphics from a palette of 16.8 million colors.
You also gel a 24-hour Helpline and optional on-site sennce.** This offer
is only good from January 1,1993 through March 31, 1993. So take off for
your Amiga dealer today Or, call 1-800-66 AMIGA.

Circle Reader Service Number 269

C' Commodore'

AMIGA

.^-

O IW CcfttinDdote BuunHS Mathinn ItK- G^tratkulLic, ihr CiisniKJorr \pfff. aid AnhTittJ Graptucs Ardulmurt at trxlmaib vi (jmsjuixt [kitrmm Ud Air.)p u x indrnuTV irfCiTTHTniilcirr-Amipt. Inc. DrtcwPiFii is.i jrywcrrd rrainruit of EVctrmlcATU. An IVpaJtntcn rmiMk^Tial U i rqidflrd
iiadfioariirfAStKW.FidCt^yliatrailrimkofioJniiKdlni. "BiwdonHiiff oitlfrl7S«thf AUC0huridkm(lS4l^3lLiiiiitcA*Xtf iwwJk. "Ak»iWtk(cJym*>s«mt|wiK»sdnifirll,S.th(sui;hfflaiU)(jfmdG«uii^^^

TEST LAB

of any residual static charge build-
up, use the degauss button. And
to choose between the D-15 and
8NC input ports, use the output
selection button next to the arrow
buttons.

At the rear of the computer,
you'll find four discrete BNC con-
nectors (used with Macintosh com-
puters and special-purpose vid-
eo peripherals) and a 15-pin D
connector, along with two slide
switches. The first switch selects
either the high or the 75-ohm ter-
mination setting, and the other se-
lects the input signal level (either
1.0 or .7 volts). Since the cable
connections and switch settings
don't change once the monitor is
installed, the rear of the unit is a
good location for these items.

A flush-mounted power switch
with a built-in LED indicator is con-
veniently located at the lower
right corner of the monitor, and
Samsung has also placed the
brightness and contrast controls
here within easy reach for making
any desired viewing adjustments.
Ergonomically, the monitor rates
a 1 0 for its well-placed control lay-
out and easily adjustable tilt-swiv-
el stand.

During testing (see the "Monitor
Test Lab Methodology" sidebar),
a few weaknesses of the 5C be-
came apparent. The monitor had
a marked propensity to bow in-
ward slightly at both the left and
right sides of the screen, although
the bowing at the left side was con-
siderably more pronounced.

The monitor also exhibited an
annoying flicker on the tight res-

22 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA

Inlormation Systems Division

105 Challenger Rd.

Rlifgelleld Park. KJ 07660-0510

(8001 440-0262

(2011229-4005

List price: $1,399

Warramy; one year, parts and labor

olution (single-line) patterns of
the raster visibility and corner res-
olution tests, which detracted
slightly from its overall perform-
ance scores. It also exhibited bow-
ing during the screen regulation
and local distortion tests, and it
was totally unable to successful-
ly complete the text/graphics
mode-switching test in the Video
Obstacle Course, blanking the
screen completely during the
test. These weaknesses affected
its overall performance score.

Aside from these flaws, this
large-screen monitor is handsome-
ly styled and provides an excel-
lent display for virtually any type
of textual, graphics, CAD, or de-
sign work.

circle Readsr Service Number 376

SAMTRON SC-726V

Samtron packs plenty of good fea-
tures into its SC-726V monitor,
while keeping the appearance util-
itarian and simple.

Samtron provides rotary con-
trols for degauss, horizontal size,
vertical size, horizontal shift, ver-
tical shift, brightness, contrast,
and power. These controls ex-
tend inconspicuously beneath
the apron on the front of the mon-
itor and are identified by a series
of embossed icons. Although a
novel departure from the push but-
tons and slide switches found on

SAMTRON DISPLAYS

14^1 L Rrestone Blvl, Ste. 101

La MIrada, CA 9W38

(310) 802-8425

List price: $1,19§ (A low-radiation

model, the SC-726VI, Is available.)

Warranty: one year, parts and labor

many other monitors of this size
and class, the rotary controls are
quite functional and easy to ac-
cess, which is what really counts
in the final tally.

Samtron places a switch for
manually selecting either 110-V
or 220-V operation at the rear of
the unit, along with a nondetach-
able cable fitted with a 15-pin 0
connector. A socket for inserting
the detachable AC power cord
completes the list of items found
at the rear of the monitor.

The SC-726V doesn't come
with digital memory or the ability to
store user-defined screen settings.
The monitor is equipped, howev-
er, with autosizing circuitry, so the
absence of digital memory won't
be a major issue for most users.
The autosizing worked just fine
with all of the applications I ran dur-
ing my evaluation.

I found the overall image qual-
ity and display resolution surpris-
ingly good for a monitor with
such a low price tag. Aside from
a tendency to produce moires on
high-resolution screen patterns,
the image definition and clarity
were certainly acceptable. The
DisplayMate Professional Video
Obstacle Course detected a
slight misalignment of the blue
gun registration on two of the
tests. Local screen regulation
and distortion are other areas
that caused the SC-726V to re-
ceive less than perfect scores.

Samtron produces two varie-
ties of the SC-726V. The standard
version is the one supplied for
this review, but the company

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TEST LAB

MONITOR FEATURES

Hitachl/NSA
SuperScan 15

lOcomm ThinkSync
SCM-5128

MAG InnoVislon
MX15F

Mitsubishi
Diamond Pro 17

Optlquest
4000DX

GENERAL

Screen size (in inches)

Dimensions (HWD, in
inches)

14,88 X 14.09
X 16,29

13.97 X 14.65
X 15,50

13.80 X 14.00
X 16.30

10.02 X 16.14
X 17.32

16.80 X 16.10
X 16.10

Weight (in pounds)

36.0

38.0

36.3

47.4

41.8

RxBd/detachable video
cabie

fixed

detachable

fixed

detachable

fixed

lUODES

1024x768

noninterlaced

■

Super VGA

■

VGA (640 X 480)

■

MCGA

■

OPERATIONAL SPECS

Maximum noninterlaced
resolution (pixels)

1024 X 768

1280 X 1024

Vertical scanning
frequency range (Hz)

50-100

40-100

50-120

50-130

50-90

Horizontal scanning
frequency range (kHz)

30-58

30-65

30-68

30-64

31-60

Phosphor'

jhort persistence

short persistence

medium short
persistence

short persistence

Dot pitch or aperture
pitch (mm)

0.28

0,26

0.31

CONTROLS

^: ^^m

Brightness

Contrast

Horizontal position

Vertical position

Horizontal size

Vertical size

Pincushioning

□

Memory save

□

Automatic sizing

■

Degaussing

□

EMISSIONS STANDARDS COMPUANCE

MPR

■

MPRII-VLF

■

MPRII-ELF

■

FCC CERTIFICATION CLASS 1

■ =yes a =no

'Short persistence phosphor

is the most desirable. With this duration,

the screen is less

subject to gho

sting and streaking.

24 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

MONITOR FEATURES

Samsung Samtron Sony
SyncMaster 5C SC-726V CPD-1$04S

ViewSonic 7

Zenith Data
Systems ZCM-1790

GENERAL

Screen size (in inches} 17 17 17

Dimensions (HWD, in 17.50 x 16.50 x 16.00 x 16.00 x 14.00 x 13.75 x 16.69 x 16.25 x
inches) 17.90 16.80 16.13 17.00

16.64 X 17.49 X
17.39

Weight (in pounds) 48.3 48.5 44.0

42.7

56,0

Rxed/detachabie video detachable fixed fixed
cable

detachable

fixed

MODES

1024x768 ■ ■ ■
noninterlaced

SuperVGA ■ ■ P

VGA (640x480) ■ a a

MCGA ■ a a

OPERATIONAL SPECS

• r^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B

Maximum noninterlaced 1024 x 768 1024 x 768 1024 x 768
resolution (pixels)

1280 X 1024

1024 X 768

Vertical scanning 45-90 50-90 50-87
frequency range (Hz)

50-90

52-97

Horizontal scanning 30-60 31.5-56.4 30-57
frequency range (kHz)

30-64

31-57.51

Phosphor' short persistence short persistence short persistence

RGB short
persistence

short persistence

Dot phch or aperture 0.26 0.26 0.25
pitch (mm)

0.28

0.26

CONTROLS utuami

Brightness ■ a a

Contrast a a ■

Horizontal position a ■ a

Vertical position a a a

Horizontal size a a a

Vertical size a a ■

Pincushioning a a □

□

Memory save a □ □

Automatic sizing a a a

Degaussing a a a

□

EMISSIONS STANDARDS COMPUANCE 5

■MR:

MPR □ □ a

MPRII-VLF □ a a

MPRII-ELF O a a

FCC CERTIFICATION CI-ASS

B B B

■ =yes n =no

'Short persistence phosphor is the most desirable. With this duration, the screen is less subject to ghosting

and streaking.

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE 25

TEST LAB

also produces the SC-726VL,
which is the low-radiation model.
The VL model features very low
magnetic fields of less than 25 mil-
ligauss when measured 20 inch-
es from the screen. This makes
the VL model compliant with the
Swedish MPR-II emission stan-

dards. Excessive radiation emis-
sions are a significant concern for
many PC users nowadays. Spend-
ing the extra dollars for the VL
model, you can buy affordable
peace of mind.

If you're itching to move up to
a 17-inch monitor that is capable

of running all of the current and
emerging video display modes
but the bottom line is a major fac-
tor in you purchasing decision,
the SC-726V (or VL) may be the
monitor you seek. It's certainly
worth a look!

Circle Reader Service Number 377

barrel distortion. In monitors and TV
recslvers, barrel distortion makes all
four sides of the image curve out
tike a barrel.

degausser. A device that clarifies
the color picture by means of coils
within the set. The coils eliminate the
magnetization which builds up
around the monitor when it's moved
around or when other electrical de-
vices are brougiit too close to it.

flicker. An unevenness and rapid
fluctuation in the overall picture inten-
sity, particularly noticeable in shad-
ed areas of an image but less in-
tense than strobing. Flickering is
produced when the field frequency
is insufficient to completely synchro-
nize the movement of the images.

interlaced display. A monitor in
which the electron beam refreshes
(updates) all odd-numbered scan
lines in one sweep of the screen
and all even-numbered scan lines
in the next. Interlacing takes advan-
tage of both the screen phosphor's
ability to maintain an image for a
short time before fading and the ten-
dency of the human eye to average,
or blend, subtle differences in light
intensity. By refreshing alternate
sets of lines on the display, inter-
lacing halves the number of lines
that must be updated in a single
sweep of the screen and also
halves the amount of information
that must be carried by the display
signal at any one time. Thus, inter-
lacing updates any single line on
the screen only 30 times per sec-
ond, yet it provides the equivalent
of a 60-cycles-per-second refresh
rate.

moire". A wavy or satiny effect pro-
duced by the convergence of tines.
A moir6 pattern is a natural optical
effect when the converging lines in
a picture are nearly parallel to the
scanning lines. To a degree, this ef-
fect is sometimes due to the charac-

MONITOR GLOSSARY

teristics of the monitor's or TV's pic-
ture tube, although scanning frequen-
cies and synchronization signals are
more frequently responsible for the
phenomenon.

muitisync display. A monitor able
to respond to a wide range of hori-
zontal and vertical synchronization
rates. Multisync monitors, also some-
times called multiscan monitors, are
versatile in that they can be used
with a wide variety of video adapt-
ers, since they can automatically ad-
just to the correct synchronization
rate of the video signal.

noninterlaced display. A display in
which the electron beam scans
each line on the screen once during
each refresh cycle. Noninterlaced dis-
plays effectively pay attention to eve-
ry pixel on every line of the screen
as the electron beam sweeps across
and down the inner surface of the
screen, refreshing the displayed im-
age several times each second.
This feature greatly reduces flicker,
strobing, and user eyestrain, making
noninterlaced displays preferable to
interlaced displays.

persistence. A characteristic of
some light-emitting materials (such
as the phosphors used in CRTs)
that causes an image to be retained
for a short while after being irradiat-
ed (for example, by an electron
beam in a CRT). The decay in per-
sistence ts sometimes called lumi-
nance decay. If the persistence of
a phosphor is too short, the tenden-
cy of an image to flicker is in-
creased; if the persistence of the
phosphor is too long, images tend
to smear on the screen.

phosptior. Any substance capa-
ble of emitting light when struck by
radiation. The inside surface of a
CRT screen is coated with a phos-
phor that, when excited by an elec-
tron beam, displays an image on
the screen.

pincushion distortion. With this
kind of distortion, the four sides of
the image are curved inward, leav-
ing the corners extending outward.

pixel. Short for picture element.
One spot in a rectilinear grid of thou-
sands of spots that are individually
"painted" to form an image pro-
duced on the screen by a comput-
er. Just as a bit is the smallest unit
of information a computer can proc-
ess, a pixel is the smallest element
that a monitor and software can ma-
nipulate in creating letters, num-
bers, or graphics.

raster. A rectangular pattern of
lines. On a video display, the horizon-
tal scan lines from whicli the term ras-
ter scan is derived.

RGB. Short for Red, Green, Blue,
a mixing model, or method of de-
scribing colors, used with many col-
or monitors {or other light-based me-
dia as opposed to printed media).
RGB uses the additive primaries
method, mixing percentages of red,
green, and blue to get the desired
color. Adding no color results in
black; adding 100 percent of all
three colors results in white.

scan. In TV and computer display
technologies, to move an electron
beam across the inner surface of
the screen, one line at a time, to
light the phosphor that creates the
displayed image.

scan line. On a TV or raster-scan
computer monitor, one of the horizon-
tal lines on the inner surface of the
screen that is traced by the electron
beam to form an image.

SuperVGA. A superset of display
modes which extend the resolution
and color palette beyond VGA. Reso-
lutions of 800 X 640, 1024 x 768,
1280 X 960, and 1280 x 1024 with
palettes of 16 and 256 colors are
included in the Super VGA ranges.

—COMPILED BY THE STAFF OF
COMPUTER PRODUCT TESTING SERVICES

26 COI^PUTE MARCH 1993

Stepway F^erAs
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Circle Reader Service Number 230

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TEST LAB

SONYCPD-1604S

The names Trinitron and Sony
have become synonymous in the
public mind in the 20+ years
since Sony introduced its first Trin-
itron TV. Over 40 million Trinitrons
have been sold worldwide since
then, which might lead you to be-
lieve that Sony is doing some-
thing right. The dazzling display
and excellent performance of the
Sony CPD-1604S, which is
based on Trinitron technology, pro-
vide solid testimony that Sony is,
indeed, doing something right.

The 1604S has a flat screen di-
agonally measuring 17 inches.
For its CRT size class, it boasts
the narrowest dot pitch in the in-
dustry, an impressively fine .25
mm, delivering a crisp, finely re-
solved image approaching pho-
tographic quality in the Super
VGA modes.

Mounted atop a highly stable
tilt-swivel platform base, the
1604S puts the power switch, il-
luminated power LED, and rotary
brightness and contrast controls
at the front of the unit within easy
reach just beneath the display it-
self. This gives the monitor a very
clean, uncluttered look.

The automatic sizing switch
and controls for adjusting horizon-
tal and vertical size, horizontal
shift, and vertical centering all re-
side in a recessed well at the left
side of the monitor, about midway
between the front and rear. Any
adjustments to these controls will
require either getting up and go-
ing over to the side of the monitor

28 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

SONY

655 River Oaks Pftwy.

San Jose, CA 95134

fSOO) 352-7659

List price: $1,789.95

Warranty: one vear, parts and iabor;

two years on Tlinitron tube

or, if space and cabling permit it,
rotating the monitor on its swivel
base 90 degrees to gain access
to these controls. While these con-
trols shouldn't normally require ad-
justment, it would be nice to
have them up front at arm's
reach should the user wish to do
some tweaking. In fairness, how-
ever, the automatic screen-sizing
circuitry worked well for all of the
applications I ran during the re-
view process; I found no reason
to override the monitor's automat-
ic control.

The rear of the 1604S houses
the AC input connector jack as
well as the video signal cable fit-
ted with a 15-pin D connector. No
degauss or memory setting or re-
call functions are included in this
model.

The display of the monitor is tru-
ly outstanding, thanks to the ultra-
fine dot pitch and the black
matrix background, a standard
feature of the Trinitron technolo-
gy Virtually every type of image,
from straight text to the most com-
plex CAD drawing or 24-bit color
TIF file, looks superb when
viewed on this monitor.

The Video Obstacle Course in
DisplayMate Professional once
again proved to be a tough prov-
ing ground, especially in mode
105 (1024 X 768 with 256 colors).
In this mode some flickering be-
came evident on two of the tests
which use very high-resolution
one-line raster segments. During

VIEWSONIC

20480 E. Business Pkwy.

Walnut CA 91789

(909) 869-7976

List price: $1,29S

Warranty: one year, parts and labor

the screen regulation and local dis-
tortion tests, i noticed some bow-
ing and bouncing as the test im-
age blinked, and there was also
some bouncing as video modes
changed from text to graphics
and back again during the last
test in the series.

if you're thinking of moving up
to a 17-inch Super VGA monitor,
the 1604S should look really
good to you. After all, it's a Sony

circle Reader Service Number 37S

VIEWSONIC 7

A 17-inch display, noninterlaced
resolution as high as 1280 x
1024, and a 26-setting digital
memory are just a few of the
ViewSonic 7's attractive features.
Mounted atop a small-footprint
(ten inches square) tilt-swivel
base, the ViewSonic 7 is attrac-
tively styled in a two-tone beige
and putty color scheme. The man-
ufacturer front-mounts all the mon-
itor's controls for easy access,
starting with a flush-mounted pow-
er switch and LED. Just below
the power switch, you'll find plus
and minus push buttons for adjust-
ing the brightness, along with
another pair for adjusting the con-
trast setting.

A drop-down panel door to the
left of these controls conceals the
remainder of the display controls.
These controls consist of a pair
(augment and diminish) of push
buttons for horizontal position, a

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TEST LAB

pair for horizontal size adjust-
ment, a pair for vertical position,
another pair for vertical size ad-
justment, and a single push but-
ton for memory.

The rear of the unit provides ac-
cess to the AC power connector
and to a 15-pin D connector for
attaching the video connector ca-
ble. Since this monitor is a multi-
frequency unit, you can also use
it with color fvlacintosh computers
and special-purpose CAD work-
stations simply by substituting the
appropriate connector cable.

Twelve factory-preset timing
modes are stored in the digital
memory, and ViewSonic reserves
a 13th memory position for cus-
tom timings in 1280 x 1024 reso-
lution. You also have blank mem-
ory areas for storing 13 additional
user-defined modes, and, if you
like, you can override and repro-
gram all of the factory presets.

The memory recall is autosen-
sing, which means that the moni-
tor's sensing circuitry analyzes
the signal coming from the video
card and then compares it to its
memory listing of preset (both fac-
tory and user) modes. When the
circuitry finds the matching set-
ting for that signal, the monitor dis-
plays the image according to
those settings. Each memory stor-
age area can contain data regard-
ing the horizontal and vertical fre-
quencies, horizontal and vertical
polarization, and horizontal and
vertical position.

Creating a custom memory set-
ting is a simple procedure that
merely involves adjusting the pic-
ture size and position exactly the

30 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS'
2150 E.Lake Cook nd.
BuHalo Grove, IL 60089
(800) 553-0331
List price: $1,219
Warranty: one year

way you like it and pressing the
memory button to register the cur-
rent mode settings. The next
time you run that application, the
autosensing circuitry will retrieve
the settings and set up the display
according to these preferences.
For a monitor with such lauda-
ble specifications and features,
the ViewSonic 7's display was
somewhat disappointing. While
color, focus, and geometric linear-
ity were all excellent on the mon-
itor's bright, large screen, the
screen exhibited a pronounced
tendency for generating moires
with many high-resolution images
and screen backgrounds. The
ViewSonic 7 was also prone to
flicker on tight-resolution pat-
terns. This was particularly notice-
able along the horizontal scroller
bar in fvlicrosoft Works and other
Windows applications running in
1024 X 768 256-color mode us-
ing a Renoir Ultra-SVGA card.
The monitor didn't rapidly make
smooth transitions from text to
graphics modes and back again
either, producing more than a
slight bounce and generating vid-
eo "noise" on the screen during
that segment of the Video Obsta-
cle Course. Otherwise, it's a nice
monitor that's handsomely styled
and fully compliant with all of the
current low-radiation standards.

Circle Reader Service Number 379

ZENITH DATA
SYSTEMS ZCM-1790

Zenith Data Systems (now a Bull
company and no longer part of
Zenith Electronics) presents its
ZCM-1790 monitor as an ideal dis-
play for multimedia, CAD/CAM,
and other high-resolution graph-
ics applications.

The 17-inch monitor is housed
in a very large cabinet that pro-
vides a 2-inch border on all four
sides of the display, making it
look larger than it actually is. This
illusion is furthered by the mon-
itor's tilt-swivel base, which occu-
pies a good amount (approximate-
ly 12 inches x 13 inches) of desk-
top real estate itself. Size aside,
the styling of the ZCIvl-1790 is
functional, if somewhat Spartan.

Zenith places all of the controls
within easy reach at the front of
the monitor, just below the dis-
play screen. All controls are ex-
posed and visible at all times;
there's no drop-down panel to con-
ceal them on the ZCM-1790.

All of the adjustment controls,
including brightness and con-
trast, are push buttons rather
than the wheels, knobs, or dial
controls more commonly used.
These push buttons are almost
flush mounted. In addition to an
LED power indicator next to the
rocker On/Off switch, the manu-
facturer provides five other LEDs
to designate which function con-
trol you've selected with the func-
tion-selector push button. Each of
the adjustments is represented
by an icon just above its corre-
sponding LED, and the controls
include vertical and horizontal
size and position, in addition to
brightness and contrast. An adjust-
ment reset function resets all dis-
play adjustments to their default
settings.

The video cable, with a stan-
dard 15-pin D connector, attach-
es permanently to the rear of the
monitor, although the AC power
cable is detachable.

The ZCM-1790 uses a flat
screen based on flat-tension-
mask technology, which, accord-
ing to company literature, pro-
vides "excellent linearity." Using
the tests in the DisplayMate Profes-
sional Video Obstacle Course in
mode 105 (1024 x 768 with 256
colors), I found that the ZCM-
1790 did not appear to live up to
these claims, producing a notice-
able bowing at the top of the

You may have noticed most
personal laser printers are
pretty much the same.

So although you'd like a
personal laser to adapt to your
way of working, it's mostly the
other way around.

So, besides lots of fonts,
speed, and paper capacity we
gave our KX-P4410 personal
laser printer two features you'll
find intelligent indeed. One lets
you proof the first copy of a
multiple printout, before out-
putting the remainder The other
is automatic shutdown, for those
of you who use delayed printing.
Together, they help you print
intelligently And complement
the PCL 4-compatible 4410's
full range of features that give
you the look you want.

Like 28 internal fonts, side-
loading font card. 512K standard
memory, .expandable to 4.5
megabytes. And flexible paper
handling, with a 200-sheet
muiti-purpose cassette,
accommodating letter and legal
sized sheets plus envelopes-
without changing cassettes,
All this and a true 5 pages-per-
minutepnnt speed!

You'll find these same
features on our PCL 5-compatible
KX-P4430...and more! For
example, 8 outline and 28 bit-
mapped fonts; 1 MB RAM
expandable to 5 MB; and our
SatinPrint™ resolution
enhancement.

Panasonic" personal laser
printers. Performance by design.
For the Panasonic dealer
nearest you, call us toll-free at
1-800-742-8086.

Panasonic,

Office AutomatJon/^^

Printers, Computer^.

Peripherals, Copiers. Typewriters

and Facsimiles

LPC-COM
circle Reader Service Number 104

TEST LAB

screen. The display adjustment
controls were unable to eliminate
or compensate for it.

The review unit also displayed
a reddish area (which can best
be described as a rouge spot)
about three inches in diameter at
the lower left quarter of the
screen. Again. I found no way to
eliminate this problem using any
of the monitor's controls. While
this didn't seem to affect the per-

formance of the monitor, it was
somewhat distracting and was
noticeable, even to the casual
observer. I suspect that this
rouge-spot phenomenon has
something to do with the align-
ment of the monitor's red electron
gun; I base this suspicion on the
fact that the horizontal color and
blink registration proved less
than optimal in the Video Obsta-
cle Course.

The screen gives the illusion of
being slightly concave, although
it's absolutely flat (I put a metal
straightedge against the screen
to check it). Apart from the slight
bowing at the top of the screen
and the rouge spot, the ZCM-
1790 provides a bright, colorful
display, and the CRT's .26-mm
dot pitch provides excellent im-
age resolution.

circle Reader Servico Number 380

ABOUT DISPLAYMATE PROFESSIONAL

If you happen to be a regular reader
of the Test Lab section of COfvl-
PUTE. tiien you may recall my side-
bar describing the original Display-
Mate software product that was
used for benchmarking and review-
ing the monitors and video cards in
the August 1992 issue. I thought
that the onginal DisplayMate was an
excellent product, and it was imme-
diately inducted into our arsenal of
test and evaluation utilities. Now, Son-
era Technologies has taken a good
thing a step further (several steps, ac-
tually) by adding extended VGA ca-
pabilities and a load of other nifty fea-
tures in Its new product, DisplayN/iate
Professional.

Like the original version of the soft-
ware, Displayfvtate Professional pro-
vides a complete set of utilities for set-
ting up, evaluating, testing, and
adjusting your monitor and video
adapter to get optimal performance.
And because it supports all VESA-
compatible Super VGA graphics
modes including 800 x 600, 1024 x
768, and 1280 x 1024 in both 16-
and 256-color modes, Displayivlate
Professional Is an indispensable
tool for evaluating the performance
of SVGA-capable monitors.

A nifty reporting feature has been
added to the test suites so you can
give the hardware being tested a nu-
merical performance rating for each
test. You can also include a single-
line commentary on any peculiarities
or on anything else you feel is perti-
nent. The test files can be saved to
disk and printed using your favorite
word processor. Having a hardcopy
of your test results, complete with
numerical ratings and comments,
makes it very handy and easy to
draw comparisons among several dif-

ferent pieces of hardware when you
go shopping for a monitor or video
card.

Although the Sab's copy of Display-
Mate Professional lacked the fin-
ished packaging and a printed man-
ual (we received one of the early
copies), the documentation did in-
clude a line-printer draft of ttie actual
user manual. If it's any indication of
the finished product, you can expect
awell-organized, thorough, and clear-
ly written manual.

Displays that meet with your ap-
proval at 640 X 480 don't always
fare so well at the higher resolutions:
1024 X 768 and 1280 x 1024
modes really separate the wheat
from the chaff when it comes to mon-
itor performance, and that's where
Displaylvlate Professional excels. It's
been designed and tested to run all
of the VESA Super VGA graphics
modes and adapters, and it's the on-
ly product currently available that
can do so. The Video Obstacle
Course test suite in these extended
modes is positively grueling, and it
really puts a monitor through its pac-
es unmercifully.

In addition to the extended-mode
test suites that comprise the pack-
age, numerous enhancements to the
user interface of the program have
been added to make it even easier
and more versatile to use. You can
customize, completely control, and
even automate the test execution of
DisplayMate Professional by creat-
ing simple user-defined command
files. Constructing these files is very
simple, consisting in most cases of
merely specifying the name of the de-
sired test along with the optional com-
mand line switches to include or ex-
clude any special parameters, includ-

ing the video mode the test will be
run in and whether to keep a test re-
port log.

The tests, video patterns, and
VESA modes available make Display-
Mate Professional one of the most
sophisticated utility software prod-
ucts I've seen to date, yet it's so easy
to use with its online help and
prompts that even a novice user can
test video hardware successfully
within a few minutes of opening the
package.

The $249 list price for the pack-
age may seem a bit steep at first,
until you consider that spending
only 10 hours a week staring at your
computer monitor adds up to over
1500 hours in a three-year period.
That's a long time to be viewing
a screen that isn't properly adjusted
or suffers from flickering or other
anomalies that contribute to
eyestrain.

And if you're considering the pur-
chase of one of the larger-screen
monitors, like the 15- and 17-inch
monitors covered in this Test Lab, pur-
chasing a copy of DisplayMate Pro-
fessional will prove to be a sound In-
vestment when you go shopping
and want to measure monitors using
the siame performance "yardstick."
With large-screen monitors selling at
or over the $1,000 mark, you
shouldn't purchase one blindly. Dis-
playMate Professional provides a
clear picture of which hardware
looks the best. If you'd like to order
DisplayMate Professional, contact
Sonera Technologies In Rumson,
New Jersey, at (800) 932-6323 or
(908) 747-6886.
TOM BENFORD

Circle Reader Service Number 381

32 COtvlPUTE f^ARCH 1993

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NEWS & NOTES

Jill Champion

Molecular Storage

CD players with multiple-disc
changers can give you sever-
al hours of screaming guitars
or whispering cellos — whichev-
er you prefer. But imagine be-
ing able to store your entire
music library on a single disc
with the option of days — or
even weeks — of continuous
play with no repetition.

It sounds amazing, but re-
searchers at the Department
of Energy's Oak Ridge Nation-
al Laboratory have developed
a technology called surface-
enhanced Raman optical da-
ta storage (SERODS) with a

WatchlTiyv lets you

view "Monday

Night Football" while

you view Monday

night's homeworlt.

potential for mass storage
that not too long ago would
have been inconceivable. A
12-inch SERODS compact
disc will be able to hold in ex-
cess of 100 times more infor-
mation than today's standard
12-inch CD and 1.5 million
times more than a standard
5y4-inch PC floppy disk, To
put that in more concrete
terms, a single SERODS disc
could hold 18,000 sets of the
Encyclopedia Britannlca.

Today's compact discs
with read-only memory (ROM)
store data in bits — a binary-
digit system of Is ("on" bits)
and Os ("off" bits) arranged se-
quentially into a meaningful
code. The bits are formed
when microscopic pits are
burned into a disc using a la-
ser, which results in the

disc's surface being physical-
ly fiddled with "peaks" (Os)
and "valleys" (Is). The disc is
read by a detector that distin-
guishes between laser light re-
flected from the peaks and
light scattered by the valleys.
By comparison, a SERODS
disc is based on an optical ef-
fect in which laser light
shines on a molecule, and the
molecule vibrates and scat-
ters the light. The scattered
light modulates at a frequen-
cy corresponding to the mol-
ecule's vibration, an effect
called Raman scattering,
When molecules are close to
a microstruc-
tured metal
surface, their
Raman scat-
tering is en-
hanced up
to 100 million
times. This
phenomenon
is known as
surface-en-
hanced Ra-
man scatter-
ing, or SERS,
and it serves
as the basis
on which sur-
face-enhanced Raman optical
data storage operates. Be-
cause data is stored at the mo-
lecular level (no physical alter-
ation such as burned-in pits
occurs; molecules are simply
manipulated), a SERODS
disc dramatically outperforms
ordinary discs.

Organizations in both gov-
ernment and private indus-
try— including the entertain-
ment industry — are now pursu-
ing licensing agreements to
use SERODS technology.
That means you might soon
be able to forget about a CD
carrying case for your car's
new Discman, Your entire m;u-
sic collection will play from
one 12-inch CD. For more in-
formation, contact Oak Ridge
National Laboratories Public
Affairs. Attn: Darryl Arm-

strong. PO, Box 2008, Oak
Ridge, Tennessee 37831-
6266; (615) 574-4160 (voice),
(615) 574-0595 (fax).

TV in a PC

Picture-in-Picture television has
been around for a couple of
years now, but what would you
think about a television picture
in a window on your computer
screen? If the idea sounds too
futuristic — and expensive — to
be true, think again, A mere
$299 will buy WatchlTJTV— a vid-
eo board that lets you watch
your favorite television pro-
grams on your PC screen
while you work in any Win-
dows or DOS application.
Sounds complicated? Assum-
ing your VGA card has a fea-
ture connector (most VGA
boards do), the board installs
in your computer in minutes —
with only a screwdriver.

Instead of staying at the of-
fice, you can bring home
your electronic paperwork
and still catch "The Simp-
sons" on Thursday nights —
without glancing away from
your computer screen. Or, if
you need to stay tuned con-
stantly to financial markets or
other news sources, you'll no
longer have to race back and
forth between the television
set and your PC.

Position the television win-
dow anywhere on your com-
puter screen and size it to
one-fourth or one-sixteenth of
your screen size. Want to
take a break from your work?
Display the television picture
on your entire screen. Further-
more, you can capture the tel-
evision image at any point
and save it as a still image in
any of a variety of popular for-
mats, including PCX, Bfvip
BMP-24, and all TGA formats.

Use the onscreen pop-up
"remote control" panel to
change channels; adjust vol-
ume, color, and screen size;
and save screen images — all
without leaving your current ap-

34 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

"...no other game, no matter how

graphically advanced, captures |fee

true essence of roleplaying '

like this one."

(Compter Game Review, Oct. 1992)

is.

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Compter Gaming World, Aug. 1992)

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entertainment products, teleconferencing, nationwide matchmaking and news scrviccas arc also available.

NEWS & NOTES

Hook-up blues are

a thing of Uie

past widi Unlimiteii

Systems'

KONEXX Konnector

modem interface.

plication. And, you can use
the programmable timer to
turn on the television at any
time and on any channel you
select. And since WatchIT!
wiil connect to an antenna, ca
ble, VCR, or video camera,
you can view video from a va-
riety of sources — even use it
to monitor the baby's room.

For private listening, ear-
phones that hook into the vid-
eo board are included with
WatchlTljy, or you can plug
in your own amplified speak-
ers for regular listening. If you
would like more information,
contact New Media Graphics,

780 Boston Road, Billerica,
Massachusetts 01821-5925;
(508) 663-0666 (voice), (508)
663-6678 (fax).

Lure of the Liberated

The effects of women's lib —
specifically, where equal rep-
resentation is concerned —
are finally trickling down to
one traditionally male-dominat-
ed area of computer role-play-
ing games: that of the villain
(or in this case, the villainess).
Not that any male adversary
has ever been labeled a
"tempter," but at least in
Konami's latest release. Lure
of the Temptress, developed
by Revolution Software, the pri-
mary antagonist, Selena, has
enough dirty deeds up her
spiteful sleeves to out-evil the

best of her macho peers,

To make matters even
more interesting. Lure of the
Temptress is played in Virtual
Theatre, the latest in artificial-
intelligence technology, where
the game world advances
and develops in realtime,
evolving independently of
your actions. Other charac-
ters take on a life of their own,
and you never know what
might happen. However, in-
stead of controlling only your
own character (a peasant, in
this case), you're allowed to
give commands to other char-
acters as well, a key element
to the game's outcome. In the
medieval village of Turnvale,
where your primary mission is
to defeat the nefarious Sele-
na, your actions affect rather
than dictate what happens.

The driving force behind
your desire to defeat Selena?
If you guessed the very cli-
ched "to rescue a captive prin-
cess," give yourself a gold
ball and chain. Perhaps the
princess should take lessons
from the liberated Selena.

Suggested retail price for
Lure of the Temptress is
$49.95. If you would like
more information, contact
Konami, 900 Deerfield Park-
way, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
60089-4510; (708) 215-5100
(voice), (708) 215-5122 (fax).

No Mo' Modem Blues

Probably one of the most gall-
ing problems of portable com-
puting is making peace v;ith
all the different kinds of hard-
ware you encounter on the
road. Say goodbye to the frus-
tration of trying to connect
your modem to a hotel tele-
phone— or even to your office
system. Unlimited Connec-
tions' KONEXX Konnector
Model 112, a tiny, portable mo-
dem-interface device, is so
simple to use you won't lose
your cool when it's time to
send data through your mo-
dem or fax board. The Model

112 lets you quickly and easi-
ly connect your computer's mo-
dem to almost any PBX, multi-
line, hotel, or motel telephone,
including digital systems.

The Model 112 connects to
a telephone line through your
phone's handset — between
the coiled handset cord and
the base of the telephone —
to provide an RJ-11 interface
to the modem. In the office,
the Model 112 eliminates the
need for an expensive dedicat-
ed line. When out of the of-
fice, it operates from an inter-
nal battery, allowing you to
send data from most hotel
and office phones. With the in-
cluded adapter, you can
even connect to phones with
the older hardwired handsets.

To use, you simply plug
the short cord on the Model
12 into the handset-cord jack
on the telephone base, plug
the coiled cord from the hand-
set into the handset jack on
the KONEXX Konnector, and
plug the telephone cord from
the computer or fax machine
into the dataport jack on the
Konnector.

Powered by an internal 9-
volt battery or the included
AC adapter, the Model 12 Kon-
nector features automatic
voice/data switching and trans-
fers data between 1200 and
9600 baud. Suggested retail
price is SI 49. For more infor-
mation, contact Unlimited Sys-
tems, 5555 Magnatron Boule-
vard, Suite J, San Diego, Cal-
ifornia 92111; (619) 277-3300
(voice). (619) 277-3305 (fax).

Companies or public relations
firms witf) items of interest suit-
able for "News & Notes"
should send information
along with a color slide or col-
or transparency to News &
Notes, Attn: Jill Champion,
COMPUTE Magazine, 324
West Wendover Avenue,
Suite 200, Greensboro, North
Carolina 27408. □

36 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

Experience the ultimate in joystick
performance without paying for costly
game cards, or separate control devices.
The APS-2001 gives you all these
features plus much more:

• Three optically controlled axis of
movement

• 19 fully programmable buttons. All
of which you can personally
customize to suit your own
preference.

• State-of-the-Art on board
microprocessing technology

• Ergonomic injected molded design
for right and left handed users^

• Five year warranty
Don't rip your wings off by I
buying anything less than the
best in its class. Experience .^
the next dimension ^

in joystick excellence,

and bring a little I
computer magic
into your life
today. ^^

Company

Strike Bach

<i.

ft-r— :'jfT---V,J^j^-'.J".»-Tt;^r;

fQT IBM-PC Compatibles. Available soon for Macintosh Computers.

For ordering information and release dates contact

The Maxximum Company at 1 ■8B0-7BB-6299. circi* rhu*

and surprise your

opponent with the

APS-2001-Cobra,

the only fully

Programmable,

Microprocessor

Controlled,

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that works through

"-- keyboard port!

V:A

Jrtfl

larii CrEdlls: APS-2001 Cobra,
' The Maxxjmum Company

are trademarks
of The Maxximum Company.

1992 The Maiximum Company.

The 1993 Great Treasure Hunt is on, and ifs easy to enter.
HOW TO PLAY: Each of the dozen picture discs shown
on this page is a portion of a photo or illustration in an
advertisement appearing in this issue of OMNi. To solve tfie
Treasure Hunt, find the ads from which the discs were taken, and
note the page number for each. If an ad appears on the inside or
outside of the front or back cover, count that page number as
zero. If there is no page number, turn to the next numbered
page and use that number. If there is no numbered page
between the ad and the end of the magazine, stop at the inside
back cover, and use zero as your page number. Then add up all
12 numbers. That is the solution you'll need to enter.

Now, print your name, address, daytime phone number,
and the solution on a 3" x 5" piece of paper. Mail your entry
to: Treasure Hunt/COMPUTE, P.O. Box 612
Gibbstown, N.J. 08027. Hurry — entries must be
received no later than 5/31/93. Good luck!

OFFICIAL RULES. No purchase neces
sary. To enter, follow the instructions
above. Enter as often as you wish; each
entry must be mailed separately.
Entries must be received by
5/31/93.

PRIZES/APPROX
VALUES: (1) 1993
Chevrolet Camaro
Z28/ $18,500
based on 1992
MSRP: (1) Boston
grand piano

designed by Steinway &
Sons/$15,990; (1) round^rip
economy - class tickets for two
on All Nippon Airways to Tokyo
from New York, Washington, D.C., or
Los Angeles/$5,100; (1) 1993 Honda
Nighthawk Motorcycle/ $4,400: (1) Hitachi
50" TV/$3,300; (1) NEC fvlultimedia
Gallery/$999; (10) Casio watches/$70 each. Total
prize value: $48,989. Prizes are not transferable or
redeemable for cash. No substitution of prizes except as
necessary due to availability. Licensing, transportation, regis
tration, and dealer charges on the automobile and motorcycle
prizes are the winner's responsibility. Winners will be required to
pick up these prizes from the nearest dealership. Travel to and
from Tokyo must take place Monday — ^Thursday; dates subject
to availability. Travel to and from ANA U.S. gateways not includ-
ed. Travel is not available 8/1/93 — 8/31/93 and 12/20/93 —
1/10/94. Blackout dates are subject to change, and additional
restrictions apply. Travel must be completed by 6/30/94. Any
major prize won by someone under 21 will be awarded to win-
ner's parent or guardian. Taxes are the winner's responsibility.

Open to U.S. residents except employees and their families
of OMNI Publications International, Ltd., COMPUTE Publishing,
Ltd., and POWER GROUP, Inc., their respective subsidiaries or

affiliates and. advertising agencies. Winners release sponsors,
the judging organization, prize donors, and their respective sub-
sidiaries and affiliates from all liability regarding prizes awarded.
All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Void
where prohibited.

This sweepstakes is sponsored jointly by OMNI
Publications International, Ltd. , and COMPUTE Publishing,
Ltd. ,1965 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10023; 212-496-6100.
Winners will be selectetj at random from among all eligible cor-
rect entries on 6/30/93 by POWER GROUP, INC., an indepen-
dent judging organization whose decisions are final. Odds deter-
mined by number of entries received. Neither sponsors nor their
parent companies, affiliates, service providers, fulfillment com-
panies, advertising agencies, or POWER GROUP, INC.,
are responsible for lost, illegible, misdirected, or late
entries. Winners will be notified by mail. Major prize
winners will be required to execute and return an
affidavit of eligibility and release within 21
days of date on notification letter or alter-
nates will be selected at random. Limit
one winner per household. Except
where prohibited, win-ners
agree to use of their names
and likenesses for adver-
tising and publicity
without added
compensation.
For solu-
tions, send a self-
addressed stamped
envelope to: "Treasure
Hunt" Solutions, P.O. Box
526, Gibbstown, N.J. 08027 by
4/30/93; no return postage
required for residents of VT and WA.
For a list of winners, send a self -
addressed, stamped envelope to: "Treasure
Hunt" Winners, P.O. Box 743, Gibbstown, N.J.
08027 by 6/30/93. Winners List requests will be ful-
filled after the sweepstakes ends.
GIFT FINDER'S GUIDE. For information on the prod-
ucts and services seen in the Great Treasure Hunt, contact
the following companies: 1993 Chevy Camaro Z2B: Contact your
local Chevrolet dealer. Boston GP-178 grand piano: The Boston
Piano Company, 37-11 19th Avenue, Long Island City, N.Y.
11105 Tel: 1-800-842-5397; For All Nippon Airways; Contact
your travel consultant or call ANA at 1 -800-2-FLY-ANA (1-800-
235-9262); Honda Nighthavi/k 750 Motorcycle: American Honda
Motorcycle, 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, Ca. 90501-2746;
Hitachi 50-inch Ultravision TV: Hitachi Home Electronics
(Amehca), Inc. 3890 Steve Reynolds Blvd., Norcross, Ga.
30093 Tel: 1-800-HITACHI; NEC Multimedia Gallery: NEC
Technologies, 1255 Michael Drive. Wood Dale, 111.60191 Tel; 1-
800-NEC-INFO; CASIO Poseidon Watches: Casio, Inc., 570 Mt.
Pleasant Avenue, Dover, N.J. 07801 Tel: 1-800-962-2746,

COMPUTE MARCH 1993

To Challenge
THE Empire in an

X-WlNG,YOU

Need Desire. ^

URNING DESIRE,

Climb into the cockpit of an X-Wing and battle for
freedom. The galaxy is being plundered by the Dark
Side, and you are desperately needed by the Rebel
Alliance. Take the controls of the X-Wing
Starfighter— now! Experience the incredible realism
of polygon graphics and bit-mapped special,je^cts
as you fly against deadly TIE Fighters and menacing**'
Star Destroyers. Be swept along by the interactive^
^■sical score and digitized Star Wars movie sound
.jcts. At last, a new generation of space combat
technology to challenge the evil Empire. Destroy
the Emperor's ultimate weapon and end his tyranny.

Visit your local retailer or
cain-SOO-STARWARS

Ctnematic scqueiun

CIrete nMritof Swvlos Hunlbir'

FEEDBACK

Passing over perls,

defining a BBS,

turning SMARTDrive

on and off,

adding up errors,

and more

Being Constructive

I'm looking for software for
this construction trades. Can
you give me the name of a
company tfiat makes this
kind of specialized software?

DWIGHT HOLMAN
LITTLE ROCK. AR

Check out TImberline Soft-
ware, 9600 SW Nimbus, Beav-
erton, Oregon 97005; (503)
626-6775. Timberllne also pro-
duces specialized software
for property managers, arctil-
tects, and engineers.

Multimedia Update

In your recent Test Lab of mul-
timedia upgrade kits, you stat-
ed that tfie Pro AudioSpec-
trum 16 did not have MPU-
401 compatibility. That was
true at the time the piece was
written, but since then, this
compatibility has been added
to the board.

CLAIRE MERRIAM
MEDIA VISION
FREMONT. CA

Border Guard

I want to print out a text file
by typing copy filename prn,
but my printer prints right
through the perforations. Is
there any way to control the
length of page when copying
a file to PRN?

ABIGAIL FURTH
KA^^JSAS CITY. MO

There's no way to control ttie
Copy command, but here 's a
simple BASIC program that in-
telligently breaks a file Into
lines and prints them. When
you run the program, it will ask
for the name of the file to print.
You can enter the complete
path at this prompt. The third
tine sets the width of the print-
ed page. The fourth line sets
the length of the page in lines.

INPUT "File to type"; a$
OPEN a$ FOR INPUT AS #1
llnelength ^ 50
pagelength = 20

lop:

WHILE (I < linelength) AND NOT
(E0F(1))

a$ = INPUT$(1,#1)
bS = b$ + aS
1 = 1 + 1
WEND

WHILE LEFT$(b$, 1) = ""

[ = 1-1

b$ = RIGHT$(b$, I)

WEND

FOR k = 1 ID I

a$ = IVIiD$(bS, k, 1)

IF a$ = CHR${13) THEN

MID$(b$, k, 1) = ""

l = k

GOTO printer

END IF

WHILE (I > 0) AND (a$<>""|
a$ = MIDS(b$, i, 1)
1 = 1-1
WEND
printer:

IF (I = 0) OR (I = linelength) THEN
LPRINT bS
b$ = ""
i = 0
ELSE

a$ = LEFT$(b$. i)
LPRINT a$

i = (llnelength - 1 - 1)
b$ = RtGHT$(b$. I)
END IF
j = j + 1

IF j > pagelength THEN j = 0:
LPRINT CHR$(1 2)
IF NOT E0F(1) THEN GOTO top
CLOSE 1 END

File Opener

I have several data files on a
floppy disk. What coding can
I use to open different files
from the same GW-BASIC
program?

ARNOLD MOSS
BRONX, NY

You saw the technique in the
previous program. The compo-
nents of the file-opening com-
mand are Open, followed by
the name of the file, followed
by the use you intend to make
of the file (Input or Output in
GW-BASIC), followed by the

number of the file. For exam-
ple, the following little piece of
code opens the files called AU-
TOEXEC.BAT and CON-
FIG.SYS for input as #1 and #2
and SYSTEM. FIL for output as
#3. It uses a variable In place
of the filenames to show how
this is done. If you prefer to
specify the file to be opened,
just place its name In quotation
marks where you see FILE-
NAMES in the example. If
you're using a different BASIC,
leave off the line numbers.

1 READ FILENAMES

2 OPEN FILENAMES FOR INPUT
AS#1

3 READ FILENAMES

4 OPEN FILENAMES FOR INPUT
AS #2

5 READ FILENAMES

fi OPEN FILENAMES FOR OUTPUT
AS #3

7 WHtLENOTEOF(l)

8 LINE INPUT #1,3$

9 REM Note that you access the

10 REM file by Its number (#1)

11 REM rather than Its name.

12 PRINT #3, a$

13 WEND

14 WHILE NOT E0F(2)

15 LINE INPUT #2, a$

16 PRINT #3, a$

17 WEND

18 CLOSE

19 REM CLOSE with no arguments

20 REM closes all open files.

21 END

22 DATA "C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT",
"C:\CONFIG.SYS",
"C:\SYSTEM.FIL"

If you're really interested in BA
SIC programming, you
should move up to a higher-
powered BASIC, such as
QuickBASIC, True BASIC, or
PowerBASIC.

None of Your BBS

What, exactly, is a BBS? A
few months ago, you had an
article about how to start one,
but you never said what it
was.

BILL FINGER
CHAMPAIGN-LIRBANA, IL

40 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

THEY'RE Bf)CK!!!

with new skills, for a new world...

* 12 BRAND NEW TRIBES OF
LEMMINGS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN
SKILLS

* SKIERS, SURFERS, BONGO PLAYERS,
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* PUZZLING PROBLEMS WITH
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* RRfETlNG GAME PLAY IN THE
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in recognition of your
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and tiie profits generated by

your creative use of clip art...

You are hereby promoted to.

IheArf o/Bi/siness

I *All clip art in this advertisement is included in Masterdipi.

Over 4(XX) artist-drawn colordip art images
Prints in Black & White witfi great results
CGM Formatfor DOS/Wi ndov/s applications
■ AvoilqbbondisketteorCDROM

Avdilldble flow at your favorHs relailer or coll

(800) 292-2547

circle Reader Service Number 140

FEEDBACK

Wb received a few letters about this.
BBS stands for Bulletin Board System.
A BBS is a computer system tt\at you
can call using your computer and mo-
dem. The BBS might have shareware
programs, special-interest groups, and
data files of interest to you. CompuSer-
ve is a BBS, but most BBSs are small,
noncommercial services run by com-
puter hobbyists who charge little or
nothing.

The term has been in wide use for
so long that it didn 't seem necessary to
spell it out. Thanks for pointing out the
error of our ways.

SMARTERDrive

In Clifton Karnes's "Productivity
Choice" review in the October 1992 is-
sue, he mentions that SMARTDrive can
be turned on or off. How do I disable
SMARTDrive?

DAf^ E. QUACKENBUSH
PORT HADLOCK. WA

Assuming that you're using Windows
3. 1, you'll find that Sf^ARTDrive is now
an EXE file instead of a SYS file That
makes it a lot more accessible.
To see all that you can do with

42 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

SMARTDrive, type its filename followed
by the /h parameter, as in smartdrv /h.
(Most DOS 5.0 commands wilt
give you help if you type the
command followed by /? or /h.) That
will display a menu of options including
+ and -.

These options turn the caching on
or off for a given drive. To turn the
caching on for your C drive, type
smartdrv c+, and to turn it off, type
smartdrv c-.

The Other 560K

I've just purchased a nev^f SVs-inch dou-
ble-sided, high-density disk. The box is
labeled 2MB, which I take to mean
that the disk can store 2MB. The prob-
lem is that my PC will only format to
1.44MB. How can I format the disk to
its full capacity?

M[KE PERRY
CENTREVILLE. VA

You can 't format it to Its full capacity.
Or rather, you already have. A large por-
tion of the Information on any disk is
invisible to you. The 2MB referred to on
the box Is Its unformatted capacity.
The formatted capacity of a 2MB flop-
py is 1.44MB. Adding to the confusion,
the new 2.8MB ED floppies have 4MB
unformatted capacity.

Grandmaster

I'm writing in response to your article
"Check and Mate" about chess
games. Grandmaster Chess, which
wasn't mentioned in the article, is guar-
anteed to beat Chessmaster 3000 as
well as Sargon V and has also defeat-
ed Zarkov in head-to-head play Grand-
master Chess features Super VGA
graphics and digitized voices for only
$59.95. As reflected in its name, we
offer the Grand Master of chess
programs.

JAMES WHEELER
IMTRACORP
MIAMI, FL

Diouble, Double

T'y out the following little program.

FOR i% = 0 TO 22

IF i% * i% <> i%«2 THEN

PRINT 1%
NEXT

Most of the values between 0 and 22
will show a different resuil from these
sjpposedly identical commands. The
same thing happens in QBASIC and
QuickBASIC.
What's going on?

PETER MILNES
PIERREFONDS, PQ

EDITORIAL
Editor Clifton Kames
Senior Art Director Dwayne Flinclium
Art Director Ftobin C. Case
Managing Editor Da^id English
Foaturos Editor Robert Bi)fby
Reviews Editor Mil<e IHudnali
Editor, Gazette Tom Netsel
Editor, Amiga Resource Denny Atkin
Senior Copy Editor Karen HuHman

Copy Edhor Margarei Ramsey
EditQr^ai Assistant PoPy Cillparn
Contributing Editors Sylvia Graham. Eddie HuHtman,
Tony Roberts. K^ren Snepak
ART
AMistant Aft Director Kenneth A Hardy
Designer KaiiG Mutdock
Copy Production Manager Terry Gash
PRODUCTiON
Production Manager De Pclte'

Traffic Manager Barbara A. Wiliiams

PROGRAMMING & ONLINE SERVICES
Manager Troy Tucker
ProgrammarB BrucG M Bowden
Steve Draper
Bradley M. Sma]i
ADMINISTRATION

President, COO

Executive Vice President.

Operations

Editorial Director

Operations Manager

Office Manager

Sr. Adminietrative Assistant

Administrative Assistant

Receptionist

Kalhy KeetOn
Wiiitam Tynan

Kertn i=e"eii
David Hensley Jr-
Sybil A gee
Juija Fleming
Lisa Ca&nger
LeWanda Fox

ADVERTISING
Vfee President, Beler T ^ohnsmeyer
Assoclale Publisher i2^2} 496-6100

ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES

East Coast: pLJI-Pageand Standard Display Ads— Fteler T Johns-
meyer. Ctiris Coelho, COMPUTE Publicaiions IniorriaiiQnai Ltd-
1965 Broadway. New York, NY 10023; (2^2) 496-6100. South-
east -Harr«et Rogers, 503 A St.. SE, Washington. D.C. 20003
(202) 546-5926- Florida— J M. Remer Associates. 3300 NE
192nd St . Suite 192. Aveniura. PL 33160: i:305} 933-1467. (305]
933-8302 (FAX). u,dvvest— Full-Page and Standard Display
Ads— Starr Lane. National Accounts Ivlanager, 115 East Wack-
ef Dr.. Suite 508. Chicago. iL 60601; (312)819-0900- (312} 819-
0313 (FAX) Norihv^sl— Jerry Thompson. Juies E Thompson
Co. l29QHowafdAvB-,SLfita303.Buflingame.CA 94010. (415)
348-8222 LuciHeDennis.(707)451-8209 Southwest-ian Ling-
wood. 6723 Eton Ave . Canoga Park. CA 91303; (S18) 992-
4777, Product Mart Ads- Ljcjile Dennis, Juies E Thompson
Co.. 1290 Howard Ate., Suite 303. Burrmgame, CA 94Q;0; (7071
451-8209- U-K S Europe— Beverly Wardale. 14 Lisgar Terr. Lon-
don W14. Engtand; 0^1-441-602-3298. Japan— intergroup Com-
ffiLirikcawns. Ltd,; Jito Semba. President; 3F Tiger BEdg 5-22 Shi-
ba-koen, 3-Chome. Mmato ku. Tokyo "05. Japan, 03"434-
2607 Classified A^s— Maila Manasen. l VA»ds Ct . Hunilngion
NY 11743. (TEL/FAX) (516) 757-9562

THE CORPORATION

Bob Guccione (chairman and CEO)

Kathy Keetorj (vice-chairman)

David J- Myerson (president and CEO)

William F Marheb (pfesidenl, marketing, sates and circulation)

Pat/ick J Gavin (senior vice presifJeni and CFG)

Anthony J Guccione [secrelary and ifeasuer)

Jen Winston (senior vice president, administrative servicer)

Hal Halpner (vice presideint. director ol manulactunng)

William Tynan (vice president, lechnoiogy and inlormaiior^

services)

ADVEFmSING AND MAflKETING

Sr, VP/Corp, Dir,. Nev^ Business Devefapment; Beverly
Wardale; VP/Dir-. Group Advenismg Sales Nancy Kestenbaum;
Sr, VP/Southern and Midwesi Advertising Dif- Peter Goldsmith
Olfices: New York, 1965 Broadway, New York, NY 10023-5965.
Tel. (212) 496-GlOO, TeleK 23712B. Midwest: 111 East WacKer
Dr.. Suite 508, Chicago. IL eo60l; (312) B19-D900 (312) 619-
0813 (FAX). South 1725 K St NW. Suite 903, Washinglon. DC
20006. Tel, (202) 728-0320. West Coasl; 6723 Eton Ave., Can-
oga Paik. CA 91303, Tel, (813) 992-4777 UK and Europe: 14
Lisgar Terrace. London W14. England, Te!, 01-828-3336. Japan:
Intergroup Jiro Sembs, Telex J25'l69lGLTYO. Fax 434-5970. Ko-
rea: Kaya Advtsng,. Inc , Rrn 402 Kunshin Annex B/D 251-1,
Dohwa Dang. Mapo-Ku, Seoul, Korea (121). Tel 719-6906, Tel-
ex K32l44Kayaad

ADMINISTRATION
Sr. VP. CFO: Patrick J. Gavin; Sr, VP/Administralivo Services:
Jen Winston: EVP/Graphics Director: Frank Devrno; EVP/
Circulation: James B. Marlise; VP Director Sales Promotions- Bev-
efJy Greiper; Dir, Newsstand Circulation: Paul Ftolnick; Dir.. News-
stand Operatiotis: Joe Gallo. Dir. Subscription Circulation: Diane
Morgenthaler; VP Daeclor ol Research Robert Ratlner; Adver-
tisir^g Production Director: Chadeno Snnith, Advertising Prcduc-
tion Trallic Mgr.: Pam Pizk; Tralfic Dir. William Harbull: Dir,. Budg-
et and Finance: Tom Malay, Production Mgr. Tom Stinson. Assi
Prodjcttan Mgr.: Nancy iRice; t/gt., InternatiDnal Div : George
Rojas: Exec. Assl. to Bob Guccione: Diane O'Connell, Exec-
Asst. to David J. MyecsoniTeriPisani; Special Assl to Bob Guc-
cione: Jane Homlish.

Since QBASIC and QuickBASIC use
the same Interpreter, it isn 't surprising
that they yield the same result. The
differences are caused by round-
ing errors.

Before any value can be worked on
by your computer, it must be convert-
ed into binary numbers. The operation
Is then performed on the binary num-
bers. Finally, the binary values
are converted back into decimal
numbers. The conversion process
usually involves some loss that
shows up In most BASICs In one opera-
tion or another. This loss Is called
rounding error.

Despite the discrepancies that your
program illustrates, the difference be-
tween the values Isn't very significant.
Try this change to your program to see
how large the difference between the
squares Is.

FOR i% = 0 TO 22

IF i%*i% <> i%'^2 THEN

PRINT i%, i%*i%-i%'^2
NEXT

Note that the numbers are accurate to
17 to 18 decimal places — between a
hundredth of a quadriilionth and a
quintillionth.

To put this into perspective, a quin-
tillion miles is equal to about 1.5 billion
tight years (or about a tenth the width
of the known universe). There are
about 150 quadrillion microns between
the sun and the earth and about 1.5
quintillion microns between the sun
and Saturn.

The good news is that the round-
ing error is very easy to deal with.
If you assign the value to a variable,
for example, It's truncated to its
true value.

Although we weren't able to get a
statement from Microsoft to this effect,
we suspect that the powers function
(^) actually uses logarithms. You will
generate similar errors If, instead of rais-
ing to a power, you simply add the
logs of the numbers as in the following.

PRINT EXP(LOG(x%>
+LOG(x%))

Do you have a question about hard-
ware or software? Or have you discov-
ered something 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, Greensboro, North Carolina
27408. We regret that we cannot pro-
vide personal replies to technical ques-
tions. Letters submitted to "Feedback"
become the property of General Media
International. □

When the world

is out of balance,

someone has to tip

the scales!

fiM magical scroll reveals that the
HsourGe oF the deadly magic
storms and disease in Britannia lies
on the Serpent Isle.

Irom a full-length view, you
I select clothing, armor, weapons
and other items you'll carry on your
journey through the Twin Pillors
of Fire.

toryline picks up where Ultimc^
VII The Black Gate" ended.
Game features new terrain and
magic, and an unexplored region
of Britannia.

PART TWO

SERPENT
ISLE

sMsRIGIN

Wccn.&'i^^^^'^^

Ulrima ii a f*giitar*d trademopk of Richard! Garritin. The RlatM

Oat*, 5*fpMl kl« and >*•* dlitincttvd ORJGIN Iftgb an,

iTOi^Bmarki orf ORIGIN iyittmt, inc. W«. f nar* worlds if g

ngiiMnd trodAmork (rf ORIOIN SyttOnU, Inc.

Circle Reader Service Number 192

10 WAYS TO SUPERCHARGE

WITH A LITTLE HELP

■-•-rfi *'■*»■*■?■'

FROM OUR RESIDENT

EXPERT, YOU CAN

MAKE WINDOWS RUN

LIKE A CHAMP

' " '.3 •'■■■.•'•V-t'--'-.'' '■'-'-■ '■'

BY WILLIAM HARREL

No dcubt about it, Win-
dows takes the doldrums
out of PC computing. We
no longer must stare at
the boring, unforgiving
DOS JDrompt. It's easier
and njiore fun to launch
and manage applications,
and the impact of our work
is enhanced by Windows'!
ability [to display millions of
color^ and play sound.
Even computer games are
more [exhilarating. How-
ever, on its own, Windows
is still somewhat cranky
and uinexciting. if not con-
figured properly, it can be
excruciatingly slow. And
you can't really get the
full potential of mar^
Windows applicatiot^-
withoilit additional hard-
ware.

Computer users (espe-.
cially Windows enthusi- .
asts) are on a constant
quest to get more perfor-
manc3 from their ma-
chines. To help you, here
are ten fairly inexpensive
ways to soup up Win-
dows, mailing it run faster
and rraking the ride more
intereiiting. So, reach be-
yond tne ordinary and give
Windows some pizzaz. l

^"^^■^^^m»J^f■r:^^.(^

■■-■; •T!'.-' ■.■-;. c*,:

;^?^aia?'-^

^^M^

Improving
Performance

Because of the huge
amounts of code required
to run applications in a
graphical environment,
Windows encounters sev-
eral bottlenecks while run-
ning on your computer.
Your CPU spends a lot of
time waiting for other parts
of the computer. Most
often, these clogs occur
during hard disk access-
ing and while displaying
data on your monitor. The
first five ways you can
soup up Windows are
methods to speed up your
system's performance.

1. Install additional
RAM. On a system with
only 1MB or 2MB of RAM,
a surefire way to speed up
Windows is to add more
memory to your comput-
er— which, nowadays, is
quite inexpensive. On
most machines you can
add memory for well
under $50 per megabyte if
you shop around. While
most software for
Windows requires only
1MB-2MB RAM to run,
many programs benefit
greatly from having an

additional 2MB-4MB to
stretch out in. More of the
program code can load
into memory, resulting in
less disk accessing. When
you're working on large
documents or graphics,
it's faster if all of the file is
in RAM. And you can use
the extra memory to
improve the performance
of SmartDrive (the disk
cache bundled with
Windows) or to install a
RAM drive.

2. Optimize Smart-
Drive. Before Windows
3.1, computer pundits
almost unanimously rec-
ommended replacing
SmartDrive with a third-
party product. However,
the latest version, 4.0, is
as fast and proficient as
most of the others. What
SmartDrive does is to
reserve a portion of sys-
tem RAM as a temporary
storage bank. When you
execute a command from
the hard disk, depending
on the size of the cache,
SmartDrive scoops up and
loads not only the code
needed to execute the
command but also blocks
of code on either side of

the command. The theory
is that the computer will
probably soon be called
on to use the surrounding
code as well. And you'd
be surprised how often the
theory proves true. So, up
to a certain point, the larg-
er the cache, the less
often your system has to
call to the hard disk — your
computer's slowest com-
ponent— for information,
thus causing your system
to run faster.

When you installed
Windows, SmartDrive was
also installed to load from
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file,
one of the files DOS reads
while the computer boots.
SmartDrive configures
itself according to avail-
able system memory. It
also has the ability to
make itself smaller when
Windows is running, to
provide more memory for
your Windows applica-
tions. The default settings
are shown below.

If you add more RAM to
your system or you don't
run a lot of programs
simultaneously, you can
cut down how much you
access your hard disk by

■>.-fi

DEFAULT SETTINGS

System RAM

Size in DOS

Size in Windows

1MB and less
1MB-2MB
2MB-4MB
4MB-6MB

All extended RAM

1MB

2MB

No cache
256K
512K
1MB

hard disk by changing the size of your
cache. Do so by editing AUTO-
EXEC.BAT in a text editor or in
Windows' SysEdit. To set the cache to
1MB while using either DOS or
Windows, for example, the SmartDrive
entry should read C:\WINDOWS-
\SiVlARTDRV.EXE /e 1024 1024. In this
example, SmartDrive loads into
extended memory (/e) and is llvlB in
size while in DOS and while in
Windows. Keep in mind, though, that
a cache bigger than 2MB does little
good and in some cases can slow
down your computer.

There are many other configuration
options to enhance SmartDrive's per-
formance. To get a list of them, type
smartdrv /? at the DOS prompt. There
is additional information on SmartDrive
in chapter 14 of your Microsoft
Windows User's Guide.

3. Install a RAM drive. If your
computer has more than 4MB RAIVl,
you can further reduce disk accessing
by using part of the memory as a RAM
drive. A RAfvl drive is a portion of sys-
tem memory that DOS sets aside and
treats as an additional fixed disk.
Windows and many Windows applica-
tions create temporary files on your
hard disk as you work. You can tell
DOS to save temporary files to the
RAM drive, which allows Windows to
save and access the temporary files
faster.

Use RAMDRIVE.SYS, which should
be located in either your Windows or
DOS subdirectory (or both), to create
a RAM drive. Using a text editor or
Windows' SysEdit, include the follow-
ing line in the CONFIG.SYS file in the
root directory on your hard disk:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\RAMDRIVE.SY
S 2048 /e. This example creates a
2MB RAM drive in extended memory
(use /a for expanded memory). The
RAM drive is given the letter of the
next drive on your system. If, for
example, you have just one hard
drive, drive C. the RAM drive will be
drive D.

Now you need to tell DOS to use
the RAM drive for temporary files. Do

A6 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

SO by adding the following line to your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file: SET TEMP=D: {or
your RAM drive letter, if different). Note
that if there is already a SET TEMP=
statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT,
you need to be sure to delete it.

4. Install a graphics acceler-
ator. Windows' graphics environment
is both pretty and easy to work with,
but it demands a lot of your computer
to display all those windows, scroll
bars, and icons on your monitor. If you
spend too much time waiting for
screen redraws, you can really super-
charge Windows by adding a graph-
ics accelerator, such as Diamond
Computer Systems' SpeedStar 24X.
Depending on your needs, graphics
accelerators range from a few hun-
dred to several thousand doliars — with
the price usually determined by how
many colors are available at which
resolutions and the amount of RAM on
the boards.

Graphics accelerators speed up
your system by taking the actual pro-

cessing of the graphics data (which,
when displaying 16.7 million colors at
1024 ¥ 780 resolution, is substantial)
from the CPU. This allows your com-
puter's processor to work on other
tasks, such as calculating a spread-
sheet or doing a mail merge.

5. Install a data compression
utility. If Windows and its appiica-
tions are nothing else, they are disk
hogs. Depending on your system and
how you configure Windows, the envi-
ronment itself can eat up the better
part of 10MB. And many Windows
applications require at least 5MB, with
several using upward of 20MB. With
appetites like that, it doesn't take
many programs to devour a 40MB or
63MB fixed disk. Until recently, your
only recourse was buying a new hard
disk. But now, thanks to data com-
pression utilities such as Stac
Electronics' Stacker, Integrated
Information Technology's XtraDrive,
and Addstor's SuperStor Pro you can
inexpensively double the storage
capacity of your hard disk.

Data compression software works
slightly differently from product to
product. Some programs, such as
Stacker, create a separate partition for
compressed files; others, such as
XtraDrive, do not. For slower
machines, such as 80286s and slow
80386s, some companies also make
compression boards that work with
the software to speed up compres-
s on. However, if you use a fast 80386
or 80486, data compression software

Adding Sound to
Windows Events

Are you tired of Windows beeping at
you every time you turn around?
After installing your sound card, use
this procedure to assign sound clips
to Windows' events.

Certain events in Windows —
Exclamation, Question, Top, and
others — have beeps assigned to
them. For example, when you're
installing some applications,
Windows displays a dialog box and
beeps at you each time the setup
program calls for another floppy
disk. Once you've installed a sound
card, you can assign WAV sound
clips to this. and other Windows
events from Control Panel by using
these steps. First, from Program
Manager, double-click on the
Control Panel icon. Next, in
ControlPanet, double-click onSound.

Finally, select the Enable Sound
System check box.

Windows is shipped with several
WAV sound clips. When you open
the Sound dialog box, all the WAV
files in your Windows directory are
listed in the Files list box. To assign
a file to a specific event, select it in
the Events list; then select the sound
you want assigned to it in the Files
list. You can hear the sound by click-
ing on the Test button. When you
close the dialog box, the sound sys-
tem is activated.

You can copy and delete WAV
files from the Windows directory at
w II, and you can assign an event to
any sound you want. For example,
wnen I make a mistake that causes a
Critical Stop, a voice admonishes
me with an indignant "Wrong!" You
can have a lot of fun with sound,
especially if you take the plunge and
add a microphone.

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is sufficient. In most cases, you'll
hardly notice the difference between
the time it takes for these products to
compress and decompress files and
the time required for normal operation.
And sometimes, such as in loading
and decompressing executable pro-
gram files, the process is actually
faster than loading an uncompressed
file from the hard disk.

Especially impressive is Stacker
3.0 for Windows and DOS, which
allows you to control data compres-
sion from inside Windows. The
Stackometer gives you up-to-the-sec-
ond data on compression ratios and
disk performance, allowing you to
fine-tune Stacker to your machine and
application.

Give Windows a New Face

While Windows' Program r\/lanager,
File f^/lanager, and outline fonts offer
definite advantages over computing in
a DOS-only environment, they are by
no means perfect. Depending on how
you work, there are many options tor
making Windows (and your docu-
ments) better looking and more effi-
cient. Try one or more of the next
three options to make launching pro-
grams and loading documents easier,
to automate tasks, and to improve on
the standard-fare fonts (Times and
Helvetica equivalents) that ship with
Windows.

6. Install a new front end. The
Windows application market is loaded
with products that replace or enhance
Program Ivlanager. Some features that
most of them have in common include
the ability to launch a group of appli-
cations in various application window
sizes and positions for performing
specific tasks, memory and system
resources management, macros,
drag-and-drop printing and file load-
ing, a way to change keyboard config-
urations, and even the option to select
functions to assign to the right mouse
button. Between shareware and com-
mercial products, there may be as
many as 50 of these utilities, and they
vary in features and functionality. Five
of the most popular are Hewlett-
Packard's Dashboard and New Wave,
hoc Computer's hDC Power
Launcher, Symantec's Norton Desktop

48 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

for Windows, and XSoft's Rooms.

All but New Wave let you decide
whether to replace Program fvlanager
or run the utility over it. For example,
Dashboard (above) creates a strip
that looks iike a car dashboard, com-
plete with instrument gauges, that you
can place anywhere on your monitor.
You can assign often-used programs
to the dash for one-click access, and
you can create layouts consisting of
several applications — such as, say,
graphics, DTP, and word processor —
for a desktop publishing task, fvlemory
and system resources permitting, you
can have up to nine layouts open at
one time. And there are, of course,
many other features, such as a fuel
gauge that constantly displays avail-
able memory, one-click printer config-
uration, and an alarm clock.
Dashboard (and Power Launcher) can
also be configured to run on top of
other windows, even when, inactive, so
that Windows' shell functions are
always just a mouse click away.

Power Launcher offers many of the
features of Dashboard and several
others as well. You can, for example,
reconfigure your keyboard and mouse
and even create a separate set of
tools for each of your programs. The
program even helps take some of the
confusion out of Windows' powerful
OLE (Object Linking and Embedding)
and DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange).

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To assign sounds to Windows events, sel-
ect Sound in the Windows Control Panel.

—1 Sound Recorder - HARVEST.WAV [ '

Eile Edit Effects Help

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27.S4sec.

1*1 1 1

1*1

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11-/ 1

With a microphone, making recordings in
Windows is as easy as clicking an icon.

Rooms uses an office-building
metaphor, allowing you to separate
tasks into virtual desktops called
rooms and suites. Norton Desktop is a
group of utilities (such as a file viewer,
an automatic backup utility, a sched-
uler, a data recovery utility, and an
icon editor) that you can run from the
Norton Desktop shell or from a Norton
program group in Program ivlanager.
New Wave, which requires a substan-
tial commitment to install and use,
actually changes the way Windows
operates by giving your desktop a
Ivlacintosh-like feel — tasks separated
into folders and a trash can for delet-
ing files.

7. Install a macro utility. One
thing Windows sorely lacks is a good
macro language, fy/lacros, of course,
are smafi programs containing record-
ed keystrokes and programming com-
mands that allow you to automate
tasks, along the same lines as macros
in your word processor, There are
enormous benefits to a universal
macro language that works across all
Windows applications. You can use
them to merge data from one program
to another, program timed events
(such as data transfers in the middle
of the night when long-distance rates
are lower), and perform countless
other tasks. Recorder, the utility cur-
rently shipping with Windows, is hard-
ly adequate (hardly worth mentioning,
for that matter). Microsoft plans to
Include a macro language in future
Windows releases, but for now we
must rely on third-party utilities.
Luckily, most of the ones available are
quite good.

Some of the shell utilities, such as
Norton Desktop, Power Launcher, and
New Wave, include macro languages,
and they even allow you to play
macros from the shell. These are the
most efficient and the easiest to use.
Two good stand-alone macro prod-
ucts are Publishing Technologies'
BatchWorks and AutoSoft's AutoRun.
While they have slightly different inter-
faces, the idea behind them is the
same: recording and playing back
aclions in Windows.

8. Install TrueType fonts. A
truly notable addition to Windows 3.1
is the built-in TrueType font rasterizer.

(Version 3.0 users should install Type
1 fonts.) TrueType fonts are easy to
install and manage, and they print and
display faster ttian fonts used in earli-
er versions of Windows. However, the
program is shipped with only a few
TrueType typefaces: Courier, Ariel,
and Times New Roman. You can
improve the appearance of your draw-
ings, presentations, and documents
by installing additional fonts.

TrueType font packages abound.
When looking for one, consider collec-
tions that contain a variety of strictly
business serif and sans-serif fonts,
such as Bodini and Universe, as well
as a few decorative fonts, such as
Cooper Black or Old English,
Decorative fonts work well in display
ads and fliers. Beware, however; Not
all TrueType fonts are created equal.
Since the release of Windows 3.1, the
market has been deluged with
TrueType font collections. For best
screen and printer reproduction,
choose font collections from reputable
type foundries, such as Bitstream and
Agfa. Two good collections are
AgfaType Desktop Styles and
Microsoft's TrueType Font Pack for
Windows.

If you're reluctant to switch to
TrueType because you already have
an extensive Type 1 collection, con-
sider a font conversion utility, such as
FontMonger from Ares or AIIType from
Atech. These programs handily con-
vert Type 1. Type 3, and other formats
to TrueType outlines, as well as vice
versa — TrueType to other formats.
FontMonger also lets you create your
own font sets from EPS drawings, and
you can even alter existing fonts to
create your own unique collections. Or
you can create a font made up of
logos and symbols you use often.

Listen to Windows

The final two ways you can optimize
Windows boost its multimedia capabil-
ities. Perhaps frilly accessories to
some, these improvements can
enhance your enjoyment and thus
your productivity.

9. Add a sound board. To take
full advantage of Windows' multimedia
capabilities, you should install a
sound board. Once a niche market,
PC sound is catching on like wildfire.
Leading software vendors, such as
Microsoft and Lotus, have released
multimedia versions of some of their
more popular products. Word for
Windows & Bookshelf, for example,
integrates WinWord with Microsoft's
multimedia reference library,
Bookshelf. Bookshelf's encyclopedia

Where to Buy

Call the manufacturers listed for the
latest pricing information. Many
have great deals on upgrades and
bundled packages.

AgfaType Desktop Styles —

$79.00 (for 39 TrueType fonts)

Agfa

(800) 424-897

FontMonger for Windows —
SI 49.95

Ares Software
(800) 783-2737

AIIType — $59.95 (converts to and
from Type 1 , Type 3, TrueType,
Intellifont, and Nimbus-Q)
Atech Software
(800) 786-3668

AutoRun— S119.00

AutoSoft

(404) 594-8855

Viva Maestro Pro 16— $229.00

Computer Peripherals
(800) 854-7600
(805) 499-5751

Sound Blaster Pro — $229.95

Creative Labs
(800) 998-5227

SpeedStar 24X— $249.00

Diamond Computer Systems
(408) 736-2000

hDC Power
Launcher— $99.95

hDC Computer
(206) 885-5550

Dashboard— $49.00

New Wave— $99.00
Dashboard and New Wave 4.1
bundle— SI 34.00

Hewlett-Packard
(800)554-1305

XtraOrive— $99.00

Integrated Information Technology
(800) 832-0770

Pro AudioSpectrum 16— $299.00

Media Vision
(800) 845-5870

TrueType Font Pack for
Windows— $69.95

Microsoft
(800) 426-9400

BatchWorks— S99.95

Publishing Technologies
(800)533-1744

SuperStor Pro

Addstor
(800)732-3133

Stacker 3.0 for Windows and
DOS— $149.00

Stac Electronics
(619)431-7474

Norton Desktop for Windows-
Si 79.00

Symantec
(800)441-7234

Rooms— $99.00

XSoft

(800) 626-6775

contains numerous narrated anima-
tions that demonstrate processes
such as solar eclipses, continental
drift, and others. Not only does the
dictionary provide a word's spelling
and definition, but it also pronounces
it for you. The multimedia version of
Lotus 1-2-3 has a complete automat-
ed help system that provides narrated
examples of spreadsheet procedures.
And a number of Inexpensive presen-
tation software packages — Asy-
metrix's MediaBlitz and Macromedia's
Action!, to name two — allow you to
create your own multimedia shows,

When buying a sound board, make
sure that it meets Microsoft's MPC

standards, and, if you want the best
quality, make sure that it's a 16-bit
card. It should afso have jacks for CD-
ROM output and a microphone.
Creative Labs' Sound Blaster Pro is
one of the most popular and least
expensive; however, Computer
Penpherals' Viva Maestro Pro 16 and
Media Vision's Pro AudioSpectrum 16
are also quite good.

If you want to talk back to your
computer, look for Computer
Peripherals' Viva Maestro Pro 16VR
voice recognition system, which
should be released before you read
this. This board comes complete with
a headset and allows you to control

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE 49

your computer with voice commands
such as "open," "cut," "paste," and so
on. According to Computer
Peripherals, you can train it to execute
any commands your applications nor-
mally perform.

To hear the sound produced by
your sound card, you'll also need
speakers. Labtec makes several good
pairs, ranging from $20 to $100. When
buying speakers for your PC, make
sure that they're shielded so that their
magnets won't damage your monitor.
And, since sound boards don't crank
out a lot of wattage, your new speak-
ers should also be self-amplified.

10. Add a microphone.
Perhaps one of the least expensive
ways to have fun with Windows — and
enhance your multimedia prowess —
is to install a microphone. Unlike
almost everything else on your com-
puter, this is the one peripheral that
doesn't require its own card and soft-
ware. The jack is built into your
sound card, and Windows' Sound
Recorder utility is waiting, ready to
capture your voice and whatever else
you want to record.

Installing a microphone is almost
too easy. You can get one at the
neighborhood Radio Shack or other
electronics stores for a little over $10.

Why TrueType Prints Faster
ThonATM

Does TrueType print faster than the
leading Type 1 font rasterizer,
Adobe Type Manager (ATM)? The
answer is yes, but not always notice-
ably so. When using TrueType fonts,
Windows enhances printing speed
by reducing the amount of data
that's downloaded to the printer.

On LaserJets and compatible
printers, TrueType speeds perfor-
mance by streamlining the font infor-
mation downloaded during printing.

Instead of sending an entire page
in the form of a huge bitmap as with
ATM, Windows sends only the char-
acters needed to print the document
when using TrueType. New charac-
ters are not sent until they're
encountered in the document.
Unused characters are not sent at
all. Since individual characters are

downloaded rather than entire font
files, no time is

wasted sending and processing
unnecessary data.

On PostScript printers, imageset-
ters, and slide recorders, the same
process (downloading only neces-
sary characters) is used, as well as
yet another optimizing technique.
Smaller point sizes (14 points and
smaller on SOO-dpi laser printers) are
downloaded as bitmaps, rather than
as outlines. The bitmap files (Type 3
fonts) are smaller and therefore don't
take as long to download.

When you're printing short docu-
ments, such as letters and memos,
the speed gained from this process
is hardly noticeable. But TrueType
can really speed printing of long
documents or those that contain a
lot of different fonts at various point
sizes. The longer your document,
the more time you save.

If you plan to do high-end multimedia
presentations, you'll want a better
microphone, but for most home and
small business uses, the inexpensive
ones are fine. I use an $11 Realistic
microphone with my system. There

are, of course, hundreds of other ways
to soup up Windows, and the technol-
ogy is changing all the time. I'm look-
ing forward to the day when my com-
puter will load and unload the dish-
washer and feed my fish. □

50 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

Get a preom Tii-

Now you can get all the speed,
performance and reliability

Windows can deliver
without any

New WinScnse is the only software
that helps you optimize Windows by automating
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changing the settings contained in yout Windows
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Just answer a few simple questions about the
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which ones to change, and
makes the changes for you. So you avoid the
risks of struggling with complex syntax in a text
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you get it wrong.

Plus, there's a comprehensive,
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Of course you want everything from Windows

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Or if

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Oplifiti Sftttng*. hy INI Tile

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Circte Reader Service Number 102

WINDOWS WORKSHOP

Clifton Karnes

One of the best

ways to entrance

Windows is

right under your

Ilngeis—

flie keyboard.

TWO KEYBOARD
MAGIC TRICKS

Windows is a mouse-driven en-
vironment, and much of its pow-
er and ease of use comes
from the mouse. But don't sell
the Windows keyboard short.
When i1 comes to speed, you
simply can't beat keyboard
commands, especially if your
hands are on the keyboard al-
ready. As you probably know,
Windows has a fair number of
keyboard shortcuts built in,
but there's plenty of room for
more, and that's this column's
topic.

First, much of Windows' in-
terface is standard across ap-
plications, fvlost windows
have a title bar, menu bar, and
scroll bars (if they're needed),
and the windows themselves
can be moved and resized.
You'll also note that almost eve-
ry menu bar includes entries
for File and Help. Digging
deeper, if you examine almost
any File menu, you'll see en-
tries for New, Open, Close,
Save, Print, and Exit. This struc-
ture is all part of Windows' stan-
dard interface, and it's one of
the reasons that Windows is
so easy to use — the parts of dif-
ferent applications that work
the same way have the same
menu choices.

If you look at the keyboard
shortcuts in several different
File menus, however, you'll
see a variety of key combina-
tions. The Save command, for
example, may be Shift-F12 in
one application, F2 in another,
Ctrl-S in a third, and many pro-
grams will have no shortcut
key at all. Unlike menu op-
tions, shortcut keys are not
standard.

You can change all that,
however, with Windows' Re-
corder.

Let's say that you want Shift-
F12 to save the current file in
all your Windows applications.
[ use Shift-F12 because it's the

shortcut in Word for Windows
and I've grown accustomed to
it, but you can substitute any
key combination you'd like.

To get started, run any Win-
dows program that can save
files, and fire up Recorder. To
make sure Recorder is not re-
cording mouse movements,
■ go into Options, Preferences
and select Ignore Mouse.
Next, name your macro Save
(or something similar) and
choose Shift-F12 for the key
combination. Now, choose
Macro, Record and press Alt-
F, S in your application. Alt-F
activates the file menu, and S
selects the Save command.
Stop recording and, under Op-
tions, Properties, select Play-
back to Any Application. Now,
Shift-F12 will save the current
file in any Windows program
that follows the minimum Win-
dows standards.

You can probably think of
other Windows shortcut keys
that might be worth implement-
ing. Open, Save All, and
Close are possibilities.

The second keyboard short-
cut I'm going to discuss in-
volves running DOS under Win-
dows. One of Windows' most
famous shortcut keys is Alt-
F4, which closes the active win-
dow. This is a quick way to ex-
it any Windows app. Unfortu-
nately, it won't work in a full-
screen DOS session under Win-
dows nor in a DOS box under
Windows. With a little help
from ANSI. SYS, however, we
can create an Alt-F4 macro
that will close a DOS window.

What our macro will co is
simply map the strings for Ctrl-
C (to end any running tasks)
and the Exit command (fol-
lowed by a carriage return) to
the Alt-F4 key combination. It
might be dawning on you that
this macro will only work at the
DOS prompt or when a pro-
gram that Ctrl-C can exit from
is running. That's true, but
those instances will probably
cover most of the times you

52 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

need a quick DOS exit.

OK. The first thing you
need to do is put ANSI.SYS in
your CONFIG.SYS file, if it isn't
already installed. Use the line
DEVICE=ANSI.SYS or DE-
VICEHIGH=ANSI.SYS.

Next, we need to create an
ANSI .SYS macro file that's go-
ing to look like this.

4-[0;107;3;"EXIT";13p

Here's a rundown on what this
bizarre-looking string does.
The <- Is the escape charac-
ter. The [ starts the macro. The
number 107 is the Alt-F4 mac-
ro shortcut key. The number 3
represents Ctrl-C. "Exit" is, of
course. Exit, and 13 is the num-
ber for a carriage return.

To create this macro, run
the DOS Edit command
(found in DOS 5.0 or higher) or
run any editor that will let you
embed an escape code in a
file. To enter the escape char-
acter in DOS Edit, first press
Ctrl-P, then Esc. Then, enter
the remaining characters exact-
ly as shown above and save
the file.

To install this macro, you sim-
ply type it at the DOS prompt.
For example, if you named
this fiie ALT-F4.TXT you install
the macro with the following
command.

type all-f4.txl

The easiest way to use this
macro is to put the line above
in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If
ANSI.SYS is installed, and
this macro is installed before
you run Windows, the Alt-F4
key combination will be avail-
able in any DOS session run
under Windows.

To test this macro, exit Win-
dows (if Windows is running),
type alt-f4.txt at the DOS
prompt, and rerun Windows.

Now, run DOS Prompt, ei-
ther in a window or full
screen; when you press Alt-
F4. you'll exit — fast. o

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Qrcle Rwder Service Number 180

PROGRAMMING POWER

Tom Campbell

The woi1(sheet

fonnat is

elegantly simple

and extensible.

OPEN UP YOUR
WORLD

If you've ever wondered how
to open up your programs to
data from the outside world,
the 1-2-3 worksheet format
probably came to mind. It's
easy to use, especially if you
stick to the basics — labels,
numbers, dates, and so on —
because it was made public in
the product's first release.

Later formats weren't made
public by Lotus, but every-
thing that you need is on Com-
puServe's LOTUSA forum, li-
brary 9, under the name
WSFF.ARC.

The worksheet format, ele-
gantly simple and extensible,
is made of variable-length re-
cords as follows:

Bytes 1-2: Record type

Bytes 2-3: Length of record

body

Bytes 4-n: Record body

In the two-byte quantities
(such as record type and re-
cord length), numbers are
stored in the standard Intel
fashion: the first byte is the
remainder when the number is
divided by 256; the second
byte is the quotient. These two-
byte values are often called
words. The first byte is called
the least significant byte
(LSB), is the lower part of the
word, and is stored first. The
second byte is called the
most significant byte (MSB).
As well see later, sometimes
the length word will be 0, and
there will not be a record
body.

A worksheet file is made up
of at least two records: the
BOF (Beginning Of File) and
EOF (End Of File). The BOF al-
so serves as a version indica-
tor; it's different among WKS,
WK1, and WKS files. For our
purposes, the original WKS
fiie will be fine, as any pro-
gram that imports worksheets

supports it. Since information
on the newer WK1 and WK3 for-
mats wasn't made public, ap-
plications are less likely to
read them.

The BOF record contains a
0 for each of the type bytes,
so the BOF record type num-
ber is 0. The next two bytes rep-
resent the length word, which
tells how long the rest of the re-
cord will be (it does not count
the type or length words). The
BOF record is only two bytes
long: the 2 in the length v/ord
comes first and is stored in the
LSB; the MSB contains 0. For
a WKS file 04 04, the bocy of
the BOF record contains the
version bytes BOFRecord: DA-
TA 0, 0, 2, 0, 04, 04.

The EOF doesn't need any
version info; it consists solely
of the type word — who has a
value of 1 and is stored as a
byte value of 1 followed by a
0 byte for the MSB — and a
length word, whose value is 0.
These two items make the min-
imum legal WKS file, EOF-
Record: DATA 1, 0, 0, 0.

A label is sandwiched be-
tween. The WriteLabel subrou-
tine lets you pass any text,
along with row and column in-
fo. It automatically creates a la-
bel at the specified row and col-
umn. Cell Al's row value is 0
and column value is 0; B2
would be 1,1; D4 would be
2,3; and so on.

Download WSFF.ARC for
the numeric format. The listing
that follows here begins with la-
bels because they can be con-
verted to numbers once
they're in the program.

' Create a Lotus wks file with la-
bels in it using QuickBASIC.
DECLARE SUB WriteLabel (LabelS,
LRowl, LCoI!, Handle!)
Filenames = "lest.wks"
Handle = FREEFILE
OPEN Filenames FOR OUTPUT AS
Handle

RESTORE BOFRecord
FOR Index = 1 TO 6

54 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

Archive

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Insider 90 Pro (internal

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Bernoulli drive)

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a backup program to your own
needs). What programs do you
use most often? Do you work with
many files or a single file during
the day? Try to organize your hot
working projects into directories
that you can back up as a unit.

If your computer runs con-
stantly, set up a scheduled
backup for the evening, when
you're gone. Be sure to turn off
your screen saver (it won't mat-
ter if you also turn off your moni-
tor when you leave at night).
Test out a scheduled backup
before you rely on it. The scheduling
program is a memory-resident pro-
gram that might interfere with other
programs on your system.

For normal uses, a complete back-
up every month or so, with a daily
backup of all your latest files, will be
all the protection you'll ever need. This
is the first line of defense against both
disk crashes and viruses.

Hard Drives, Easy Choices

Hard disks are taken for granted on
today's PC systems. It's difficult to
imagine what life was like when there
was just a box full of floppies for all of
your software and data. But like all
things taken for granted too long, a
hard disk can and will fail (Murphy's
Law stacks the deck against you).
Most of the time, the failure doesn't
mean the end of your hard disk's life
— just the end of any important data
you've neglected to back up.

Backing up offers the safeguard of
redundancy to protect the time,
money, and effort you've invested in
your data. You can back up to floppy
disks manually using the DOS Backup
command, but with the size of today's
hard drives, a quarter-inch tape sys-
tem is a better alternative. The price is
reasonable, the media are readily
available and standardized, and the
software is on the shelves.

If you have a really large hard disk,
Tandberg Data (805-495-8384) and
Sankyo Seiki have developed a 2 GB
OIC technology. The least expensive
Tandberg unit, the Panther 2000,
costs $3,495. It can back up data at a
rale of 300K per second, or 2,4 Mb
per second.

Soon, Bernoulli drives and magneto-
optical drives (and perhaps other for-
miats yet to be imagined) may be the
alternatives of choice, but for now, the
p'ice for these options is still too high to
justify their use as backup systems for
a personal computer's hard drive.

Only you know how valuable your
data is. But if you need protection, a
tape drive unit is the way to go. □

COMPUTE MARCH 1993

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A properly

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MOUSE
EVOLUTION

In this day of WYSIWYG word
processors and GUIs, point-
ing devices are considered re-
quirements instead of options.
With all of the different point-
ing devices available, there's
plenty of confusion.

The key difference among
pointing devices is how move-
ments are measured. Abso-
lute devices like digitizing tab-
lets have a 1 : 1 correspon-
dence between the pointer's lo-
cation and the position on the
screen. While these devices
are excellent for sketching,
they require large hand move-
ments for most operations.
Most pointing devices use rel-
ative motion. When the device
is moved, the cursor moves a
proportional distance on your
screen. Accelerated-move-
ment pointing devices require
less hand motion to operate.

As a rule, pointing devices
connect to a serial port (serial
mouse) or to a special control-
ler card (bus mouse). The pri-
mary advantage of a bus
mouse is that it doesn't take
up one of your serial ports,
while a serial mouse costs
less because it doesn't need

an additional card.

Here are three typical point-
ing-device upgrades. One of
them might be right for you.

Installing a serial mouse. It's
extremely simple to install a se-
rial mouse. Just plug it into a
spare serial port. Serial mice
use standard DB-9 serial con-
nectors. Most will include an
adapter for computers with 25-
pin serial connectors.

Your device should come
with a software driver. The driv-
er should be compatible with
Microsoft or Mouse Systems
drivers. Follow the directions
to install the M0USE.COM or
MOUSE. SYS driver, configure
your programs to tell them to
use your mouse as an input de-
vice, and you're ready to go.

Upgrading a serial mouse to
a bus mouse. For many users,
the two standard serial ports
will be occupied by a mouse
and a modem. But what hap-
pens if you need to install an
additional serial device'? It's
possible to add more than two
serial ports to a computer, but
another solution is to convert
from a serial to a bus mouse.

Bus mice have slightly bet-
ter software support than seri-
al mice and are slightly more
efficient. A serial-to-bus con-
verter consists of a half-slot
controller card with a DB-9 con-
nector. Your pointing device is
plugged into the card, which
converts the device's signals
so they look like those of a bus
mouse. Any serial pointing de-
vice that looks like a mouse
(for example, a trackball) can
be attached.

The important things to re-
member when converting a se-
rial device into a bus device
are that you must upgrade
your driver to the bus driver
supplied with the card and
that your programs must be
reconfigured to indicate that
you're using a bus mouse.

Upgrading to a more sophis-
ticated pointing device. Your
computer may have come

with an inexpensive mouse.
While that mouse may be ad-
equate for simple tasks, you
might want a better pointer for
fine-resolution desktops, CAD,
or drawing applications. If
you're using a new pointer
with the same physical connec-
tor (for example, if you're re-
placing a serial mouse with an-
other serial device), then you
may be tempted just to leave
the software drivers alone, par-
ticularly if everything appears
to be working properly.

This solution works be-
cause most pointing devices
emulate the Microsoft Mouse,
and a nfew device usually will
work with your existing drivers.
However, if you don't update
your drivers, your software
won't recognize the device's
special enhancements.

To use your pointing device
to its full potential, install the
drivers that came with your
new device and reconfigure
any program that lists your de-
vice among its choices. If you
have a program that doesn't
specifically support your point-
ing device, it's appropriate to
select a generic mouse or
pointing device.

One of the simplest up-
grades is just to make sure
you're using the latest Micro-
soft driver for your standard
mouse. Microsoft drivers
come with most Microsoft prod-
ucts. If your mouse does more
than the standard Microsoft
mouse, check periodically
with your manufacturer for up-
grades. Most manufacturers
operate bulletin boards where
tfiese drivers can be download-
ed free of charge.

A properly installed point-
ing device, with software de-
signed to use it to the limit of
its capabilities, is an excellent
enhancement for any comput-
er, Try out a few pointing de-
vices before deciding which
one to use. The variety of op-
tions assures that one will be
perfect for your work. □

80 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

COMPUTE Bookshelf

Official Guides For Your PC

Pro Links:

The Official Guide to Links and

Microsoft GoK

For all versions of linb and Microsoft Golf. Includes

holeby-fiole lips for all nine courses.

$16.95/C2699

The Official Book of King's Quest,
Third Edition

Covers King's Quest I to VI. Hints, lips, and maps.

Availofiie November.

$16.95/C274S

The Official Book of Ulrima,
Second Edition

Covers Ulimo I tfifougli VI, Savage Empire, Martian

Dreams, ond the
Nintendo versions. Hints, tips, maps, and solutions.

$18.9S/C2648

The Official Guide to Sid Meier's
Civilization

Includes insider flints, tips, and strategies.
$14.95/02591

The Official Guide to Sid Meier's
Railroad Tycoon

'If you love Railroad Tycoon ... get

Russei Sipe's Book.'

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$12.95/C2443

The Official Book of Leisure Suit Larry,
Second Edition

Written wilfi itie help of Al bwe. Covers oil of
lorry's odvenlures.

S14,95/C2567

The Official Book of Police Quest

Covers Police Quest I through III.
Includes jusi the right hints and tips, Complete maps.

$14.9S/C2605

The Official Guide to

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Covets Space Quest 1 through IV.

Hundreds of hints and clues. Complete maps.

$14.9S/C3370

Spellcasting 101: The Official
Hint Book

Wriflen fjy the staff at legend Entertoinment Com-
pany, publishers of Spellcosling 101.
$9.95/C2583

Other Books from COMPUTE for Your PC
A'Train Railroading

The comprehensive guide. Available November.
$16.95/C2737

COMPUTE Magazine's Pov/er Tips

Our readers favorite hints ond

lips for gelling more from your FC. Compiled by

the editors at COMPUTE

mogozine. Avoibble November,

$14.95/C2761

The Big Book of PC Sports

A must for every computer sports fan,
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Desktop Publishing with GeoWorks

From GeoVVorks Press.

The comprehensive guide to DTP wilh GeoWorks.

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101 Essential Word for Windows Tips

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101 Essential Windows Tips
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101 Essential Excel for Windows Tips

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YES!

Please send me the boob listed below

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PRODUCTIVITY CHOICE

This powerful database
heats up the

Windows market.

Richard Rapp

APPROACH FOR
WINDOWS 2.0

Love it or hate it, no one can
deny Windows' overwhelming
success in both the home
and business markets. Appli-
cations lil<e Excel and Ami
Pro offer enough power and
flexibility to handle almost
any job that comes along.
But despite its excellent ap-
plications, Windows has
been woefully deficient when
it comes to database manage-
ment systems. Until recently,
that is.

Approach for Windows has
changed the picture. Its initial
version offered plenty of fea-
tures and an easy upgrade
path from existing database
packages. Now, in version
2.0, it provides the speed and
power necessary to make it a
leader in the Windows data-
base market.

One of Approach's main
strengths has always been its
excellent compatibility with ex-
isting products. Third-party
products enable it to access
DB2 databases, and it can al-
so import and export data
from both Lotus 1-2-3 and Mi-
crosoft Excel.

For network users. Ap-
proach supports most major
networking systems. Best of
all, there are no LAN packs to
buy and no special setup is re-
quired. System security fea-
tures have also been upgrad-
ed in version 2.0, offering a
variety of record-locking and
password-protection options.

Approach's designers
have updated its interface
with Windows 3.1 in mind. It
now uses the most current ver-
sions of Windows' common di-
alog boxes to maintain consis-
tency of look and feel with
other Windows 3.1 applica-

^fi^/rpff,

*"4i.t,

WC6

APPrpfSE

tions. It also sports new ther-
mometer gauges to show the
progress of sort and find op-
erations, and it has a preview-
mode button to allow the jser
to access this frequently
used option with a single
mouse click.

Approach offers the user
many options for manipulat-
ing data and uses the Win-
dows environment to good ad-
vantage with its PicturePlus
fields. These fields enable it
to handle some data types
not supported by standard da-
tabases. Validation options al-
low the user to enter data au-
tonnatically in some cases or
to ensure that it meets speci-
fied criteria. Approach also
supports check boxes, radio
buttons, and several styles of
pick lists to help ensure fast,
consistent data entry.

PicturePlus fields have
been greatly enhanced since
Approach's original release,
and they offer some interest-
ing possibilities. Using Win-
dows' OLE capabilities, they al-
low the user to store objects
created in other applications
in Approach databases.
Such objects could be
graphs, charts, pictures, or
even sounds. The objects
maintain a link with the appli-

cations in which they were cre-
ated, so with a simple mouse
click, that application can be
called up and the object edit-
ed. For graphical objects. Ap-
proach supports most of the
popular formats, including
BfViP EPS, PCX, and TIFF.

Approach's paper meta-
phor makes designing forms
and reports a snap. Graphi-
cal objects represent fields,
headings, subtotals, and the
like, and the user simply
drags them into place with
the mouse. Optional rulers
and a user-definable grid
help keep everything aligned
properly. Pages can include
headers, footers and multiple
fonts, and you can specify au-
tomatic insertion of the time,
date, and page number. Files
can include up to 50 forms, re-
ports, and mailing-label defini-
tions, a hefty increase over
the previous limit of 16 defini-
tions per file. Approach can al-
so perform mail merges.

The program makes short
work of producing mailing la-
bels. If you use Avery-brand la-
bels, you simply choose the
appropriate part number
from a pick list, and Ap-
proach formats the labels au-

82 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

tomatically. No hassle, no both-
er, no wasted time. Approach
can handle about 50 different
styles of labels, so even if
you're using a different
brand, you can probably find
one that works. If not, you
can still easily create custom
formats.

At the heart of this pro-
gram, though, lies a powerful
relational database. Ap-
proach allows up to ten data-
bases to be joined at a tirfie,
in any combination of file for-
mats. It also presents a graph-
ical depiction of the relation-
ship among joined databas-
es, so you can confirm that
you performed the operation
correctly. You can create one-
to-one, one-to-many, and
many-to-one relations with a
few mouse clicks, and Ap-
proach handles much of the
formatting of information from
the child records automatical-
ly. In network environments,
you can choose between pes-
simistic record locking, in
which only one user at a time
may access a particular re-
cord, or optimistic record lock-
ing, in which Approach allows
simultaneous access but
keeps users informed as
changes are made.

Approach uses a form of
query by example to specify
search criteria, It displays a
blank version of your regular
data-entry form, and you sim-
ply type the search criteria in-
to the appropriate fields. The
criteria may contain wildcards
or specify a range of values,
and searches can be case
sensitive or not. A new wrinkle
in Approach's search capabili-
ties is its ability to perform
"sounds like" searches. This
feature enables Approach to
find records that are phoneti-
cally similar to the search cri-
teria, so that finding oddly

spelled last names, for exam-
ple, is no longer a hassle.

Though Approach doesn't
support a full-fledged program-
ming language, such as one
of the various xBASE dialects,
it does have a very complete
macro language for automat-
ing common tasks. Creating
macros can be as simple as
clicking your way through a
couple of dialog boxes, and
you can attach macros to on-
screen buttons. Features add-
ed in version 2.0 allow you to
assign macros to function
keys, chain macros to unlimit-
ed depth, and create special
macros that execute when a
file is opened or closed. Ap-
proach also now supports vari-
able fields, which act just like
global variables in a regular
programming language.

The designers have done
an excellent job of improving
the program's speed in sever-
al areas. Claimed improve-
ments include the ability to
sort 10 times faster than ver-
sion 1.0 and save files 100
times faster. It also is said to
be 100-percent faster in im-
porting and exporting data.
While an in-depth evaluation
of these claims is beyond the
scope of this review, my im-
pression is that the speed im-
provements are substantial,
though Approach itself still
takes far too long to load. Pic-
turePlus fields represent an
improvement in its support for
Windows' OLE capabilities,
and system security is great-
ly enhanced by its support for
read-only fields and many
password options.

Still, despite these improve-
ments. Approach has its
share of faults. It supports on-
ly one level of undo, the unfor-
tunate standard among Win-
dows apps, and its icons' func-
tions are not always obvious.

Easij.

Relational.

Ctmijxitihh'.

Database for Windows

Plan to spend some time
thumbing through the well-writ-
ten manuals familiarizing your-
self with them.

Upgrading from version 1 .0
is easy. Approach can install
itself over the older version,
leaving all user files intact.
When opening view files or us-
ing indexes created under ver-
sion 1.0, Approach gives you
the option of updating them
so they can take advantage
of the new features. Once
they're updated, though, they
won't be readable by version
1.0, so make a backup if you
plan to run both versions.

With the recent release of
several products and the prom-
ise of more to come, the Win-
dows database market is
heating up. But if you need a
powerful relational database
right now, Approach for Win-
dows 2.0 has no equal. n

circle Reader Service Number 391

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MARCH 1993 COMPUTE 83

-he more boards and

software you add to
your computer, the
more likely it is that
you'll experience inter-
rupt conflict. Here's how
to identify and resolve
conflicts.

You've just added a
new accessory to your
computer, and suddenly
something doesn't worl<
anymore. Or a new
device hooked up to an
input/output (I/O) port
doesn't seem to work
properly. The source of

your problem may be
defective equipment or a
bad cable, but it's more
liRely to be a hardware
interrupt (IRQ) conflict.
Interrupts are the way an
I/O device such as your
modem or* your key-
board can tell your com-
puter that it needs atten-
tion. If you have two
devices set to the same
hardware interrupt, they
can conflict with each
other, which can result in
strange and often con-
fusing error messages.

'{•*i&»l!

Ti. - ' - •'; V -J' 7; Rj ' If:

?;i^'-3ra:?^^

What's especially mys-
tifying is tlnat it's possible
for an interrupt problem
j:iot to sfio\« up for a wfiile.
You can Sfe using your*
computer for a long time
wttfiout any problems, apd
then suddenly something
strange happens, possibly
because you're, using a
new program or art old
program you haven't used
for a while«Dr because
you've upgraded an exist-
ing program to a hew ver-
sion that uses interrupt-
driven drivMS.

The Polite Interrupt

While interrupts.may be
confusing* they're ex-
tremely useful ^ools for
your computer, especially
when it's communicating
with the outside world. For
example, a send/receive
fax/modem generates an
interrupt when its phone
line rings. Your comput- ^
er's processor recognizes 5
the interrupt, temporarily J
stops the program it's run- |
'ning, runs the fax subpro- ?

BY PHILIP CHlEN f

Table 1: Standard Interrupts

IRQs marked with the word reserved are

not used for standard

I/O devices and can be assigned to user

XT-class

IRQ

Purpose

IRQ

Purpose

timer

hard disk

keyboard

controller

reserved

floppy drive

COM2 serial port

controller

C0M1 serial port

LPT1 parallel port

AT-class

computers (includtng

ATs and tiigher-performance

IRQ

Purpose

IRQ

Purpose

timer

realtime clock

keyboard

redirected IRQ2

slaved to IRQ9

reserved

COM2 serial port

reserved

C0M1 serial port

reserved

LPT2 parallel port

coprocessor

floppy drive

hard drive

controller

LPT1 parallel port

reserved

gram to receive the fax
message, and ttien contin-
ues the main program from
where it was temporarily

stopped. The entire pro-
cess takes less time than it
takes to read about it, and
normally you w/on't notice

any reduced performance
in your program.

On the other hand, if
your fax/modem's interrupt
is incorrectly set. the
modem may not be able to
recognize incoming faxes
unless you're running a fax
program that doesn't re-
quire interrupts {for exam-
ple, a menu-driven program
that constantly monitors the
phone line to detect incom-
ing calls). The first time you
notice that the card is incor-
rectly configured may be
when you upgrade to a new
operating system — or when
you get calls from cus-
tomers wondering why your
fax machine isn't working.

Besides interrupts, most
hardware devices have
their own assigned I/O
ports: memory locations
assigned to transfer data
between the computer and
hardware device. Some
cards have DMA (Direct
Memory Access) channels
with the ability to read and
write to your computer's
memory directly. As with

(ROs, you should make
sure you don't have more
than one card set up to use
the same location.

Hard Versus Soft

Another confusing factor is
that there are several differ-
ent types of interrupts.
Programs can generate
their own software inter-
rupts, and they often use
interrupts to call operating
system routines.

TSRs (Terminate and
Stay Resident programs)
are examples of routines
that use both hardware and
software interrupts. Hitting
the proper combination of
keys causes a hardware
keyboard interrupt. The TSR
software uses a software
interrupt to temporarily stop
your current program and
allocate memory space for
the TSR routine until it's
completed.

An Isolationist Policy

The simplest way to solve
hardware interrupt prob-
lems is to avoid them in the

"I'm afraid Mr. Ludlow, what you have is a terminal illness."

<§^/f0^^t.^

86 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

ver wish you had a personal mentor who could
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Entrepreneur

Table 2: Typical Hard

ware IRQs in an

AT-Clas5 Machine

IRQ Status

IRQ

Address

Description

Detected

Handled By

1C67:00AA

timer ciicl<

yes

system area

1067:0124

keyboard

yes

system area

F00O:FF53

second 8259A

yes

BIOS

1C67:02A1

COM2, COM4

system area

1C67:0329

COM 1. COM3

yes, as C0M1

system area

1C67:03B1

LPT2

system area

1C67:0439

floppy disi<

yes

system area

0070:0756

LPT1

yes

system area

1C67:01A3

realtime clock

yes

system area

FG00:C0F5

redirected IRQ2

yes

BIOS

1C67:04C1

reserved

system area

1C67:0549

reserved

system area

1C67:05D1

bus mouse

yes

system area

FO0O:COE6

math coprocessor

yes

BIOS

first place. Whenever you
install a new peripheral,
write down the device's
characteristics and configu-
ration. As a general rule, I
include a text file named
WHO_AM_I.TXT on each
computer I set up, docu-

menting the computer's
configuration and each of
its peripherals and acces-
saries. I tape a hardcopy of
this documentation to the
inside of the computer's
case for future reference.
When installing a new

device that uses an IRQ,
you should check to see
which IRQs are available.
Table 1 shows the standard
interrupt assignments for
XT-class (8088) and AT-
class (286, 386, and 486.
machines. The device pro-

bably has a set of switches
or jumpers to select different
IRQs. You may also need to
configure the device's soft-
ware drivers to tell it which
interrupt you've selected.

But what should you do
if you unexpectedly en-
counter a hardware inter-
rupt problem?

The first rule to remem-
ber is that interrupts have
different priorities, with
lower-numbered interrupts
getting higher priorities. For
example, if the keyboard
(IRQ1) and primary printer
(IRQ7) generate simultane-
ous interrupts, the keyboard
gets priority. After it com-
pletes its routine, the printer
interrupt can be processed.
The second major point of
confusion is the IRQ2 on an
AT-class machine. There is
no IRQ2 on an AT-class
machine. Anything as-
signed to IRQ2 is automati-
cally switched to IRQ9.

Internal modem and
fax/modem cards are gen-
erally designed to emulate

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a standard serial port
attached to a modem.
Since they look like serial
ports to your computer,
they're configured as COM
ports. You should remem-
ber that they must be
assigned to an unused port
within your system. Higher-
quality internal modem
cards can be configured as
COM3 or COM4 to avoid
conflicting with the stan-
dard COlvll and COM2
ports which may already be
installed in your computer.

If you suspect an IRQ
conflict, you should run a
diagnostic program that
displays each of the hard-
ware interrupts and its sta-
tus {table 2). If the diagnos-
tic program crashes (stops
working and refuses to
accept any keyboard
Input), then it's likely that
you have two devices set to
the same IRQ.

The most obvious source
of your IRQ conflict is the
most recent change you've
made to your computer

(that is, a new hardware
peripheral, a new device
hooked up to your comput-
er, a new program or driver,
and so on). This may be
misleading, though. I had
accidentally configured my
mouse and COfvll serial
port to the same IRQ. Both
the mouse and a modem
hooked up to the C0M1
serial port worked normally
until I disconnected the
modem and hooked up a
scanner to the C0M1 port.
My scanner's software
package indicated that it
couldn't find the scanner
attached to the serial port
(a message that was partic-
ularly irritating, since the
scanner was sitting right
there on the desk next to
the computer).

The solution didn't seem
obvious until I checked the
switch settings for the IRQs
for the C0M1 port and
mouse and found that they
were both set to IRQ4,
Since IRQ4 is the standard
location for the C0M1 port

(and also for the COM3
port, with IRQS being the
standard location for the
COM2 and COM4 ports), I
reset the mouse card to
another IRQ. My mouse
card has a set of DIP
switches to configure the
card's address and IRQ,
and fortunately, the card
had enough documentation
to permit easy reconfigura-
tions. After the switch, the
scanner software was able
to find the serial port and
scanner, and everything
worked perfectly.

You may have to open
up your computer to exam-
ine how its ports are config-
ured. If you've never
opened up your computer,
you should have an expert
help you. A small flashlight
can be extremely useful for
examining switch settings.
In general, any ports built
into your computer have
their setting jumpers or
switches on the mother-
board, and peripherals
have jumpers on their

boards in the expansion
bus. In some rare cases,
settings are extremely diffi-
cult to establish and may
require a knife or soldering
iron, but almost all peripher-
al cards use standard
switches and jumpers.
Some cards include
enough documentation
printed directly on the
board to indicate how the
switches or jumpers should
be set; others include cryp-
tic labels like J5, and you
have to refer to the docu-
mentation to determine how
to set up the card properly.

Don't Give Up the Chip

Look for interrupt conflicts
when you install new
peripherals and software
and whenever you have a
degradation in performance
for no obvious reason.
Interrupt conflicts are far
more common than other
sources of computer prob-
lems, such as hardware fail-
ure or viruses, and are
much more easily fixed. □

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"...the ground texturing is dramatically realistic." circle Reader service Number 299

ART WORKS

Robert Bixby

As much as a

painting or a

sculpture, a book

can be a

real work ot art.

BITS AND PIECES

I appreciate the time and ef-
fort of all tfiose who respond-
ed to what I now think of as
"the ox column" (COMPUTE,
October 1992). There are few
issues mors central to comput-
ing than desktop publistiing
and few issues of greater con-
cern to desktop publishers
than censorship. I think I gave
a few readers the mistaken
impression that I was speak-
ing out in favor of pornogra-
phy. In fact, the column made
the case that pornography is
an inevitable outgrowth of the

same right to free speech that
provides our culture with
great literature, that you can't
have one without the other,
and that it is a small price to
pay. There are plenty of plac-
es in the world where you can
risk your life by publishing ei-
ther great literature or pornog-
raphy. I, for one, am proud
and grateful to live in one of
the few nations where toler-
ance is the law of the land.

On a completely unrelated
matter, I received a letter from
a woman in the Bahamas ask-
ing for more details regarding
my wife's grandfather's book.
Long-time readers of this col-

umn will recall that my wife
and I undertook to typeset
and publish a book of mem-
oirs of John Russell Seal, her
family patriarch (COMPUTE,
May 1992). The letter writer in-
tends to publish a book about
the Church of England in the
Bahamas and wanted to
know what software I used
and what book on desktop pub-
lishing I would recommend.

I used Ventura Publisher
2.0 to typeset the book. I have
a special regard for Ventura
over many other products be-
cause it leaves the text of your
publication in a simple text file
that can be edit-
~^^^ ed with any word
.^1^1 processor or text
^^ editor. Its tags are
easily inserted
from the word
processor, allow-
ing you to do all
your chores in the
lightning-quick en-
vironment of a
DOS word proces-
sor, usually with a
simple search and
replace. Page-
Maker took a gi-
ant step forward
when it incorpo-
rated a simple
text editor in the
program, but I
can do much
more with a word processor
than with PageMaker's text ed-
itor. Sorry, Aldus; I still prefer
venerable old Ventura.

Truthfully, though, since I fin-
ished work on the book, word
processors have taken so
many strides that I believe I'll
simply use Ami Pro or Word
for Windows to do my next ma-
jor book project. I publish a
small literary magazine partly
because of a love of literature
and partly to have an excuse
to use all the desktop publish-
ing hardware and software
that comes my way. I pasted
up the last two issues using on-
ly Word for Windows and end-

ed up with a very short list of
complaints. If all you're doing
is a book made up primarily of
text (really one of the simpler
projects you could under-
take), a word processor will
probably fill all of your needs.
Ami Pro even has an image ed-
itor that will let you adjust the
brightness and contrast of
gray-scale images.

The best book on desktop
publishing — and on publish-
ing in general — is The Chica-
go Manual of Style. It's the
manual we use at COMPUTE
and the one I use at home. It
contains an exhaustive review
of ail those troubling questions
that never arise unless you
remember that your work will
be in print for everyone to see.
But even more important, it
has a chapter on assembling
a book, section by section.

There are a handful of excel-
lent books on desktop publish-
ing and design, including
Roger C. Parker's best-selling
Looking Good In Print
(Ventana Press).

Another way to make sure
you put your book together
right is to find a book whose de-
sign you admire and emulate
it. Most book designers get in-
to the game because they ad-
mire the work they've seen on
the shelf. As much as a paint-
ing or a sculpture, a book can
be a real work of art.

Finally, almost as soon as
my column on desktop typeset-
ting went to bed (COMPUTE,
January 1993), LaserMaster
came out with yet another
amazing product. Using the
brand-new Hewlett-Packard
LaserJet 4 as a platform, Las-
erMaster now produces plain
paper typesetting at 1200 dpi.
The WinJet 1200 is an add-on
for the 600-dpi LaserJet 4 that
includes 50 TrueType fonts, a
PostScript interpreter, and a
superfast video interface. Its
price is $995 (plus the cost of
the printer). Call (800) 365-
4646 for more information, o

90 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

A HardBall III takes a lull cut at major teagud realism. A power line-up that includes p[intable slats. standings and
box scores; the atiility to import data from HariiBall irEarl Weaver ir and Tony Lal1ussa~; plus a Team & Player Editor
that allows you to alter ererything from team logos to a player's ability.

A HardBall III leails off wilti iligilizeil players
a/irf25ecoyor-|/GyiffrapMes. Nobody heals this
doutile play combo. Visuals as eye openinj as a line
drive up the middle. Animation as smooth as a

Gold Glove shortstop. From fresh mowed grass
to i«y covered walls, details that capture

The Show.

HardBall III tests each hitter's power wilti eight
real tialtparks. Famous fields from both major
leagues. Your catcher may have just enough pop
to put it out of Chicago's 'friendly confines;' hut
can he go deep in Toronto?

A HardBall III has the
best play-by-play man in the business. Metwoik
broadcast great Al Michaels joins the HaidBsIl
III Team up in the booth, with a digitized
description of all the action.

A HarilBall III ttirusts you into the heatafa pennant
race. It's a 162 game, major league season- complete with
toad trips and an all-star game. Compile good numbers
along the way and maybe you'll make the roster.

Tlie only computer game witti Hall of Fame credentials. You don't

outsell every baseball title in Iristory by standing pat in the

off-season. Um HarnBali ill redefines computer baseball once

more with real play-by-play announcing; unprecedented graphics,

realism and playability; plus more of the authentic baseball

nuances that serious fans want in a simulation. Mote runs.

More hits. No errors.

To order, visit your lavorite sottware retailer or call

1-800-245-7744.

The best in entertaiDment software.™

Play-by play announc.ngreqiiires2t^BollWM, Actual game screens fnOT IBM t=C VGA VH3«W or IhtgarreOIher version
t; ademafk of Eleclionic Alls. Toriy LaR^SM isa trademark cr SlratESic Simulations, Inc. All otr^ pnWucl arid C0f00»aw riarni^ are trademarks and registe

Circle Reader Service Number 271

DISCOVERY CHOICE

Here's the perfect
electronic platform for kid-
level storytelling.

David Sears

STORYBOOK
WEAVER

Unleash your child's creative
energies with Storybook Weav-
er, Thanks to the program's
sumptuous graphics, legions
of personalities, and suites of
sound effects and music,
your budding Nobel laureate
Vi/ill be encouraged to create
imaginative tales to share
with family and friends.

No one could doubt the val-
ue of the hands-on creative
process; perhaps more signif-
icant is the appeal of creating
something tangible to show
friends, parents, and siblings
that declares, "I'm smart,"
"I'm funny," or "Let me enter-
tain you." Parents love to see
children learning to spell as
they grapple with language,
stimulating their imaginations.
MECC has made the experi-
ence even more appealing by
making it digital, replacing ink
and processed pulpwood
with your child's new best
friend and tutor, your PC.

Young authors have deci-
sions to make right away as
they create their title pages.
Will they include gingerbread
borders or have no borders
at all? Using the mouse to
point and click through these
choices, kids are rewarded
with instant pop-up graphics
low in resolution but highly
colorful.

Next, writers click on emp-
ty text blocks to name their sto-
ries, type their own names,
and comment on their stories
if they please. Already, kids
have some idea of what direc-
tion their work will take — and
they haven't even reached
page 1 yet! To move forward,
authors simply need to click
on the page-turning arrows
that are located ai the bottom

-^ wM

of the screen. But before mak-
ing that step, they'll probably
want to add some music — Sto-
rybook Weaver will play mu-
sic at the beginning and the
end of a story if the author
commands it.

The program automatically
adds pages as kids write, up
to the program limit of 50.
Each page consists of either
text and graphics or only
text. In the case of text-and-
graphics pages, children se-
lect everything from the sky-
line to the foreground; an
open block for words waits at
the bottom of the page, ready
for input at any time.

To select a background,
kids just click on the appropri-
ate image in the tool palette,
in this case, Scenery. A new
row of thumbnail pictures ap-
pears below the composition
space; selections range from
meadows to mountains, for-
ests to ravines. Storybook
Weaver even provides light-
ing effects: dusk, dawn, day,
and night. If nothing seems ap-
propriate for the story in
mind, your child can choose
from a range of colors to pro-
vide the desired background.

With a set stage, the plot

can really begin to thicken.
From the tool palette once
more, aspiring scribes simply
click wherever their hearts
take them, from mythical
beasts to everyday people
and objects. Under the auspic-
es of nature, kids will discov-
er lightning bolts and beaver
dams, blazing fires and gust-
ing winds. Clover, cabbages,
fields of corn, fruit trees — a
whole world of special effects
and environmental props
stands ready to help tell a
new story.

A search through the real-
world people brings kids
face to face with a cross-cul-
tural melting pot: Asians, Na-
tive Americans, Nordic men in
Alpine dress — all performing
various activities such as
climbing, walking, and sleep-
ing. Boys and girls fill the
ranks too; kids will have plen-
ty of virtual friends to identify
with here.

Where shall all these peo-
ple live? How about a sinister
castle or a gingerbread
house? Maybe Baba Yaga
would enjoy the move from a
dancing hut on chicken legs
to an ornate pagoda. Would
that lighten her mood? Possi-

92 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

biy, and if that thought occurs
to your child, then Storybool<:
Weaver does more than just
act as palette; it interacts, pro-
voking thought.

What's more, Storybook
Weaver introduces children to
Russian folklore and Native
American mythology, among
other, often previously unex-
plored, realms. And Ihe fantas-
tic creatures that MECC
threw into the mix here will set
young minds racing and per-
haps a few future copy edi-
tors or history professors run-
ning to the encyclopedias to
do some research.

Storybook Weaver allows
as many as 50 objects on a
single page — more than
enough to obscure even the
most lavish backgrounds. Gi-
ants, already towering over
normal men, meet their
match in babies that grow a
dozen times over. Authors
can manipulate object charac-
teristics with ease from the
tool palette. They need only
click on an object to select it
and then choose from shrink

■ ftlnntr* tu*»ts prvpsrvd to -nit •(
1 th* banquet cablii .

Stories come to life onscreen.

and expand options, flip (to
flip the object horizontally), col-
or (to change skin or clothing
hues), and sounds (to add
sound effects). Sound effects
range from clangs to whistles,
car horns and screeching
tires to bird calls and foot-
steps. To move objects
around the screen, the visual
artist just clicks, holds, and
drags.
Every computist encoun-

ters a menu bar at some
point in life, and Storybook
Weaver makes the experi-
ence simple for first-timers. Au-
thors can click once to acti-
vate a menu and then click
twice on an option to activate
it. Here, they may alter the sto-
ry text from plain to bold or ital-
ic; open, close, or save files;
or request help on any aspect
of the program.

Under the Goodies menu,
kids find more ways to
change object attributes
(should an object the reader
clicks on always cover other
objects it touches?) and the
way to insert and delete story
pages. The choices that are
available from the menu bar
are neither numerous enough
to intimidate a youthful novice
nor in the least bit obscure:
Everything works exactly as
its label implies. Best of all, if
your kids run into trouble spell-
ing the name of an object,
Storybook Weaver will actual-
ly drop the word's correct
spelling into the text of the sto-
ry. Budding writers can find
everything they need to pull to-
gether perfect fictions in a sin-
gle package.

And for those children who
want to give their stories to
grandparents and others. Sto-
rybook Weaver supports a
gamut of printers. Output is
understandably a bit hazy on
standard, noncolor printouts;
the best dithering remains on-
ly gray scale, after all, Thought-
fully provided markers make
the difference though. And af-
ter completing a story, kids
can print it and then bind it
just as in the old days — with
string and staples.

What has MECC left out
here? Unless your friends
own a copy of Storybook
Weaver, your children can't
swap stories on disk. Each

mueHC

'miminiinnnn'niiiiniiiiiiinnnniinnn'iTiT]

T@RY

WEAWR

iiiiiiiiiiin,iiiiiiinniiiiiiniiiiiiiiiinniriiiiiiiii«i«niinnn!mmi:iTr

IBM/TflHPY

saved file requires only a few
thousand bytes of hard drive
space; the images and music
files already reside on the
drive so the actual story file
can be quite brief. Also, kids
might want to compose their
own melodies or draw their
own dragons. At present, the
program limits them to the
data on file — a prodigious
amount of data, to be sure,
but ultimately finite. Sugges-
tions? Well, how about some
inexpensive expansion sets?
In the meantime, your kids
probably won't complain as
they add wings to babies and
put giraffes in pickup trucks.
Every image complements eve-
ry other image here, and even
after spending weeks with Sto-
rybook Weaver, young writers
will still mix and match with
surprising results. O

Circle Reader Service Number 392

IBM PC or
compatible; 640K
RAM; MCGA or
VGA; hard drive;
supports Ad Lib,
Sound Blaster,
Covox Sound
Master, Roland MT-
32, and Tandy 3-
voice; mouse
recommended—
$49,95

MECC

8160 Summit Dr. K

Minneapolis, MN

55430-4003

(800) B85-6322

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE 93

MULTIMEDIA PC

David English

New Windows

programs let yeu

take full

advantage of your

sound card.

THE SOUND
AND THE FURY

Ever since Microsoft brouglit
sound to Windows, there has
been an explosion in Windows-
based audio products. Sound
cards are selling as fast as
stores can get them in, and 16-
bit sampling cards — the
ones with CD-quality audio —
are quickly becoming the
standard.

Software companies are re-
acting just as Hollywood did
following the success of The
Jazz Singer in 1927 — sound is

being added to everything in
sight, whether it needs it or
not. You can buy talking icons,
talking clocks, and even talk-
ing solitaire games.

One fast-growing category
of audioware lets you attach
sounds to your Windows sys-
tem events. These events can
include Windows open, Win-
dows close, default beep, crit-
ical stop, application open,
and control panel minimize. A
good place to begin with this
kind of software is with one of
the SoundBits collections
(Microsoft, One Microsoft
Way, Redmond, Washington
98052; 206-882-8080; $39.95
each), The three current collec-
tions consist of Hanna-Bar-
bera cartoon sounds (includ-
ing the Flintstones, the Jet-
sons, and Yogi Bear), movies
(including The Wizard of Oz,
The Maltese Falcon, and

North by Northwest), and mu-
sical instruments from around
the world. You can buy five sim-
ilar packages from Sound
Source Unlimited (2985 East
Hillcrest Drive, Suite A,
Westlake Village, California
91362; 800-877-4778). Sound
Source currently offers two
"Star Trek" packages ($59.95
each}, two "Star Trek: The
Next Generation" packages
($69.95 each), and one 2001:
A Space Odyssey package
($69.95). Three packages of
sounds from the Star Wars mov-
ies will be available soon.
In all these packages, you'll
find sounds ap-
propriate for
specific Win-
dows system
events. For ex-
ample, you
could have Win-
dows start
each time with
Captain Picard
saying to you,
"Welcome a-
board," or
have Windows
exit with Cary
Grant saying, "I've had
enough stimulation for one
day." I especially like the
"Star Trek: The Next Genera-
tion" computer and communi-
cations sounds because
they're less intrusive than
the usual dialogue-based
sounds.

Almost all sound cards
come with software that lets
you create your own sound
files. But if you're interested in
recording, editing, and manip-
ulating sounds with profession-
al-quality tools, you'll want to
check out three new Windows
sound programs. If you're look-
ing for the best set of editing
tools, your best bet is WAVE
for Windows (Turtle Beach Sys-
tems, Cyber Center #33, 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, York,
Pennsylvania 17404; 717-843-
6916; $149). WAVE includes a
full undo, a fascinating 3-D vis-

ual analysis of your sound file,
time compression and expan-
sion, volume adjustment of all
or any part of your sound file,
and four-band digital equaliza-
tion. Despite the elaborate
tools, WAVE is easy to use. Tur-
tle Beach has been selling a
similar recording-and-editing
system to professional musi-
cians for years and clearly
knows how to turn your PC in-
to a powerful recording studio.

The other two programs are
Sound Impressions (DigiVox,
991 Commercial Street, Palo Al-
to. California 94303; 415-494-
6200; $149,00) and MCS Ste-
reo (Animotion Development,
3720 Fourth Avenue South,
Suite 205, Birmingham, Ala-
bama 35222; 205-591-5715;
$79.95). While they don't
have the editing savvy of
WAVE for Windows, they
make up for it by offering a sol-
id group of features for Win-
dows audio, MIDI, and audio-
CD. Both model themselves
on a home component-stereo
system. Both offer a WAVE-
format recorder-and-playback
system that looks like a cas-
sette recorder, a CD-ROM play-
back system that looks like a
standard audio-CD player, a
MIDI playback system that
looks like a digital recorder,
and a mixing panel that lets
you set the input and output
levels for the other three
components.

Both programs are well de-
signed, though I would have
to give the edge to Sound Im-
pressions for its ease in load-
ing individual files and its spe-
cial editing features, MCS Ste-
reo is a little easier to learn,
but currently has conflicts
with Adobe Type Manager
and Squeegee.

Look for even more audio-
ware throughout 1993 and for
sound-card circuitry to be
built into many PC mother-
boards. As Al Jolson said in
The Jazz Singer, "You ain't
heard nothin' yet!" rj

94 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

i,<

Continuing our fifteen-year evolution
of the best-selling flight simulation
software, the voice of Air Traffic Control
now comes alive for SoundBlaster
users! Flight Assignment: ATP (Airline
Transport Pilot) lets all computer users
experience the wonders of flight. Watch
the ingenious autoflight mode fly a
Boeing 737, 747, 767, Airbus A-320 jet
airliner or Shorts 360 turboprop across a
scenery-filled United States. When
you're ready to earn your wings as an
Airline Transport Pilot, take the controls
and fly any of hundreds of predefined
flight assignments with onscreen text
(and optional spoken) Air Traffic Control
instructions and feedback. Or go explor-
ing on your own in free flight mode.

As a fifteen year anniversary promotion,
new ATP buyers will receive a free
SoundBlaster-compatible Air Traffic
Control voice module that will launch
you into an entirely new level of flight
realism. Other leading edge features
(full autoflight, structured assignments
with grading, much more) have been
newly refined to make ATP the standard
in traditional flight simulation software.
For IBM and compatibles. Suggested
retail price $59.95.

ENTERTAINMENT CHOICE

With its fast action, fluid animation, and
incredibie sound, this war game
is like no other you've seen before.

Alfred Giovetti

THEATRE OF WAR

Get ready to play a game
like no other. One that de-
mands such fast reflex-
es that it puts some ar-
cade games to shame;
one that requires the in-
tense strategy and fore-
thought of the most heated
chess game. Get ready for
Theatre of War, a game so un-
usual that it's difficult to under-
stand unless you actually
play it.

With Theatre of War. Three-
Sixty pushes the envelope of
computer strategy games,
using the full capacity and
power of the newer, faster
computers equipped with hi-
res 640 X 480 SVGA graph-
ics and voice-capable sound
cards.

It's a visual and aural
feast. Its musical algorithm
composes variations on a va-
riety of preset jazz themes,
synchronizing the music to
the ebb and flow of the bat-
tling pieces. Accompanying
the music is a high-quality, dig-
itized vocal part that com-
ments on and embellishes
game functions. The pieces
themselves — abstract ray-
traced, 3-D forms rendered in
bright, ciear colors, using the
full 256-color palette — spin
and glide their way across
the board like ballet dancers
or ice skaters in free-form com-
petition.

On the surface, Theatre of
War is like chess. The ulti-
mate goal parallels the
chesslike kill-the-king idea. It
has simple rules that can be
learned quickly: but game-
play is complex, with the ca-
pacity to provide an infinite va-
riety of subtle moves and coun-
termoves. Strategy is based
on the personality of the
ganrie player; players can be

equally successful with an ag-
gressive or a patient route.
There are three playing sets;
complex concepts are incorpo-
rated into the modern set's
rules, while the medieval set
has the simplest and most ba-
sic rules and strategies.

The stage is a cyberspace,
represented by a matrix of
squares that can be varied
from the 8- x 8-square pattern
of the familiar chessboard to a
50- X 50-square battlefield.
The board can be displayed in
overhead view, end-of-board
oblique view, or as a series of
checkered hills. The squares'
colors and textures reveal ter-
rain features that affect move-
ment, endurance, and combat
effectiveness.

Surrounding the board are
various icon-based controls
and display features. The 30
increasingly difficult scenarios
provided will be supplement-
ed by the future production of
a scenario editor, new play
sets, additional scenarios,
and a network-play option.

Within the cyberspace,
your 16 abstract, bright-blue
shapes are poised on one
side of a checkered battle-
field. Facing them is an army
of red shapes. Observing the

battle from your control moni-
tors, you must be a quick-act-
ing general, sending your
troops racing across the
board, while the monitor speak-
ers blare a continuous
stream of jazz music. The tem-
po of the music increases as
a line of red soldiers glides
across the board in the direc-
tion of your blue line. As the
reds near your line, your sol-
diers move out to meet them,
executing your commands.
The convincing sound of explo-
sions punctuates the action,
and various pieces speak, re-
lating their status.

The game's three playing
sets are medieval. Great War,
and contemporary. Each set
is composed of 16 pieces of
six different types, with up to
six separate functions per
piece. Each set has a com-
manding kinglike piece with
certain healing and authority-
based powers. Other pieces
serve the roles of infantry, ar-
tillery, cavalry, and fire sup-
port. Each set has its own
strengths and weaknesses.

Both chess and Theatre of
War are abstract strategy
games that simulate warfare,
but Theatre of War provides

96 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

some advantages over the an-
cient board game. Combat is
conducted in realtime {save
in the two-player, one-comput-
er mode, in whicli players
take turns), and it presents a
challenge in the placement
and deployment of troops as
well as in effectively using
and conserving the troops' ex-
pendable resources. There-
fore, the conflict addresses
both strategy and tactics.

As the leader, you can
give any number of com-
mands to any number of piec-
es; you're limited only by the
time it takes to point and
click. The pieces do the rest,
executing your commands au-
tomatically, The realtime play
makes the game more realis-
tic than the rounded (you
take a turn, I take a turn)
play. It also emphasizes fast
action and quick reflexes.

Learning the names and
functions of the pieces in the
sets was an enjoyable expe-
rience on its own. The highly
intuitive interface almost
makes the well-written instruc-
tion manual and command
cards superfluous. The sitting-
duck scenarios provide an ex-
perimental battlefield that al-
lows you to learn the pieces'
functions without being
blown up. After you've inves-
tigated with the mouse, the
functions of each piece and
command tile are revealed. Be-
fore you know it, you're play-
ing the game with ease.

Theatre of War allows
three modes of play: one-man
show, human versus comput-
er, or two-player. You can use
human-to-human combat on a
single computer or in realtime
over a null or phone modem.

The different methods of
play involve different strate-
gies. The rounded play of two-
player, one-computer mode

gives the player with the first
move an initial advantage, fvlo-
dem and one-player play are
in true realtime; your strategy
will require you to choose be-
tween the advantages and dis-
advantages of the various
modes of piece display and
board display and piece stat-
us will also be important.

The pieces were designed
in 3-D; then they were ray-
traced, using 3-D software.
The images were compressed
to fit more easily on the disks.
Three to six animations were
prepared per piece for Fight-
ing, Moving, Dying, Special
fighting, In-trouble, and Protect-
ed modes. Traditional paper-
and-pencil animation drawings
enhance the ray-traced anima-
tions. The transparencies and
reflections of ray-tracing com-
bine with the flat animations
to create a smooth flow of tex-
ture and form. The bright,
transparent, primary colors of
red and blue are set off by
the ray-traced, veined marble
of the board and the icon-
based controls.

Digitized speech and mu-
sic have the dual effect of
both setting and following the
tempo of the game. Humor
has been interjected into the
largely somber mood of the
game to remind you that The-
atre of War is. at its heart,
just a game. The script gives
the pieces personality as
they say, '1 am too tired" or "I
am dead," The voice replac-
es the need for a text-based
warning window and enhanc-
es the play significantly for
those whose hearing is not im-
paired.

Theatre of War's games
are designed to be complet-
ed in one sitting, obviating
the need for a save-game fea-
ture; however, you can pause
the game In the single-player

mode or in the two-player,
one-computer mode. The de-
velopers expect modem piay
to be the most satisfactory, in
spite of early indications that
solitaire play seems to be the
most popular.

The designers have taken
the war-game expertise that
made Harpoon such a hit and
have created an abstract
game of strategy and tactics
that not only challenges the in-
tellect in three different eras
of military history but also is a
feast for the eyes and ears.
The bright, crisp colors, de-
tailed 3-D graphics, online
composition of synthesized
jazz, digital voice, and intui-
tive, interactive interface
leave little to be desired. The-
atre of War is a well-thought-
out abstraction of war — a
game that may rival chess's
power to entertain. □

circle Reader Service Number 393

IBM PC or compailble
(80286 compatltile
required, 80386
compatible or faster
recommended); 640K
RAM tor 256-COlor VGA,
2MB RAM for SVGA witll
25GK on Uie video card;
hard drive; DOS 5.0 and
mouse highly
recommended; supports
Ad Lib, Sound Blaster,
and Sound Blaster Pro—
$49.95

THREE-SIXTY PACIHC

Distributed by

Electronic Arts

P.O. Box 7530

San Mateo, CA 94403-

7530

(800) 245-4525 (orders)

(408) 879-9144
{intormallon)

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE 97

GAMEPLAY

Paul C. Schuytema

The only way to

tell whether 3

game designer Is

working on a

classic is to check

the gameplay.

All the graphics In

the world

won't make up tor

leaden play.

THE LONG MARCH

What makes a computer
game a classic? Is It longevi-
ty? Originality? Mass appeal?
It could be any or all of these
things, but one thing is certain
in the world of computer enter-
tainment: A classic is not a clas-
sic because it has remained
stagnant.

Take The Oregon Trail by
MECC. The game has been
around forever (in terms of
PCs, that means since the Ap-
ple !l in 1979), and it's still
here. The task is simple (or so
it first seems): to guide a wag-

Accolade's

on from Independence, Missou-
ri, to the Willamette Valley in Or-
egon during the 1840s. It's a
logistical game: You have to
know what supplies are impor-
tant from the start, and you
have to keep your people fed
and healthy. What the game ac-
complishes beyond just great
gameplay is to make you think
about the millions of variables
and unknowns the settlers had
to face during that trek of
2000-1- miles. You learn along
the way, by listening to com-
plaints and hopes and histo-

ries, just what it might have
been like. The Oregon Trail is
not the same game it was. It
has just moved to 256-color
VGA and full mouse support,
and during its evolution. The
Oregon Trail has become a bet-
ter game. Now. when you
hunt, you must actually aim
your weapon, lead the prey,
and shoot carefully (you
brought along only so many
bullets, remember?). If and
when you get to the Columbia
River, you must navigate it your-
self, avoiding rocks and swirl-
ing eddies.

sports game
from the mid
1980s, Hard-
ball, is another
game that has
stood the test
of time. The
baseballsimula-
tor began with
CGA graphics
and a simple
premise: to sim-
ulate the feel of
full-diamond
baseball, from
play to man-
agement. The current incarna-
tion is Hardball 111, which is an-
nounced by a digital Al
Michaels and features wood-
grain scoreboards, customiza-
ble players, rosters, and
zoomed-in shots of key plays.
Accolade has also [ust re-
leased the MLBPA Players
Disk, which allows you to play
real teams in Hardball III.

One category of games
that faded from view during
the graphic revolution is the
text adventure. Beginning
with the original Adventure at
MIT, the genre grew into
interactive fiction. In 1982,
Zork I, Infocom's first interac-
tive story set in the Great Un-
derground Empire, was the
top-selling computer game. In-
focom tackled nearly all gen-
res, from the hard-boiled detec-
tive story in Witness to cryogen-
ic science fiction in Suspend-

ed to tropical diving adven-
tures in Cutthroats— all without
a single screen of graphics.

Not many games have yet
come up to the storytelling
depth of Infocom's adven-
tures. So Activision has rere-
leased a two-volume set con-
taining Infocom's 31 classic
stories of interactive fiction.
There are enough games in
those two heavy boxes to
keep even the most expert play-
er challenged for years.

Back in the early days of
computerized entertainment,
games like Adventure and
2ork were the first to take us
to other worlds: fantasy
worlds. There is a tradition of
fantasy role-playing that is eve-
ry bit as long as computer gam-
ing itself, and one of the most
stunningly evolved and dynam-
ic series is Origin's Ultima. The
first trilogy still sells well, and
it should: The adventures are
addictively playable.

The first Ultima adventure
was released in 1980, utilizing
tile graphics: It was a bird's-
eye view of the lay of the land
with the hero at the center.
The Ultima trilogy (Ultima I. II,
and 111) takes place in the king-
dom of Sosaria, ruled by the
benevolent Lord British. Sosar-
ia is a world full of castles and
dungeons and creatures of eve-
ry flavor, and exploring is the
name of the game.

Currently, the series takes
place in Britannia and has pro-
gressed into Ultima VII, Ultima
Vli Part Two (Serpent Isle),
and Ultima Underworld: the
Stygian Abyss. The graphics
have pushed the technology
to the edge (Ultima I requires
a PC with 256K RAM and
EGA, while the Stygian Abyss
needs a 386 with 2MB of RAM
and VGA), but the story is still
the thing. And Ultima delivers.

Perhaps the acid test for a
classic (no matter how old) is
this: Do you still ponder the
game after you shut off the
computer and walk away? n

98 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

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Plain Wrap Prices,
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circle Reader Service Number 227

oldly 90 where no man
has gone before/'*

While it seems as if tl's
been around forever, tl>e
original "Star Trek" televi-
sion series never came
close to finishing its five-
year mission. Now, 25
years after the first epi-
sodes on that' cardboard
and primary-color set, we
have the chatice to return
to the helm of the Enter-

BY PAUL C. SCHUYTEMA

prise ana exDerierrce the
fourth year or exploration
and wonder. But this tiTne,
instead of living vicariously
tijrough the actions of_one-»
James T. Kirk, we have tlie.
opportunity to be. Kirk.
Interplay Productions' Slar
Trek: 25th Anniversary
gives us the chance to €it in
that Naugahyde canter
chair, lean hard injo the

turns of a mighty starship,
and experience seven epi-
sodes of the continuing
voyages of the starfhip
Enterprise. .

Hero Without a Name

Interplay's Star Trek is lov-
ingly faithful to the look and
feel of the original television
seriee. The game is played
in episodes which have the
same sense of closure as
the original episodes. And
we have the opportunity, as
Kirk, to continue our work
with our trusted colleagues'
at our side: Spock, Bones,
Scotty,- Chekov, Sulu, Uhu-
ra, and, of course, th«
nameless postadolescent
security guard dressed in a
red yelour top. * '

• •1^

Bruce Schlickbernd,
S?ar Trek's producer, want-
ed a game with the episod-
ic look and fee! of the tele-
vision series. Star Trfek is-a
precious commodity, one
that Paramount guards
carefully, and Paramount
spends a great deal of
energy making sure that
the myriad of Star Trek
products remain true to the
Star Trek mythos. Bruce's
team would run its scripts
and videotapes past Para-
mount for approval for each
episode. There was never
. really any Wiajor conflict
Between the game's devel-
opment and Paramount's
Star Trek unive*Jse. Most of
the corrections, Bruce told
Ine, were details that need-

ed to be ironed out. In one
episode. Paramount felt
that the shields of the
Enterprise vfere weaker
than they- should be. and in
another, a writer ihadv^r-
• lently referred to Bones by
his given ngme, not his
quintessential nickname.

Bruce told me tha^ Para-
mount did set some lyTiits
as to what Interplay colild
not do. The Klingon home
world was off-limits, for
example, because a future
"Next Generation" episode
, was going to be dealing with
that. AlsQ, the planet Vulcan
was off-limits— but that still
left Interplay with a lot of
Federation real estate to
explore.

When 1 asked Bfuce

what he considered the
most enjoyable facet of<
working on the game, he
told me Itiat it was the
characters. The original
"Star Trek" was bbilt on the
foundation of the bridge-
crew, and it was their inter-
action as much as their
individuality that mad^ the
fantasy seem real. For
Bruce, getting the charac-
ters right was the major vic-
tory. After that, he said,
"the episodes would almost
write themselves." *

The characters do seem
alive in this game. SpoCk
and Bones trade verbal
barbs, and that no-na*ne
security guard always has
some down-on-the-farm
innocence to bring to light.

Also, each episode ends
with the familiar bridge
banter and a cerebral
observation by Kirk. The
first episode of Interplay's
Star Trek is Demon World,
and the story is slightly
reminiscent of the science-
fiction movie classic For-
» bidden Planet. Kirk sums it
all up'by'stating, "We all'
.have demons of our own.
Bones. The ones that we
can't confront a(e often the
hardest to deal with."
When I asked Bruce
■ \^hat' hie crew did to
rese'arch the ^ame, his
reply was immediate. "Oh,
tha^s'easy. Just watch
'St^ Trek' endlessly." And
what bits and pieces did
tljey glean from their Trek-

" r-'i "■!■ I- Jli~-rT- •

:^'5i¥i3

^-fc-fciBfW'--?:*?-?--^,, --^ -^^:^ va.2 ■

tests? For one thing, the color of the
Enterprise's phasers and photon tor-
pedoes changes. Bruce explained
that the first episode to feature really
heavy space combat was episode 11,
The Balance of Terror. In that episode,
the Enterprise used blue phasers and
red torpedoes to battle a Romulan
Bird of Prey. But by the 16th episode,
the colors had been reversed.

Mudd in the Shadows

One of the interesting development
snafus came near the end of the
design process, according to Bruce.
The character of Harry Mudd was well
rendered and looked just like the Mudd
in the television series. But Paramount
insists that all detailed character art
must be approved by the actor or
actress who played the role, and the
actor who originally played fvludd had
passed away. There was no time to go
through the lengthy channels of
approval. The solution? The dialogue
was tweaked a little, and the designers
placed fvludd in shadows, obscuring
the carefully rendered details of his
character. But it's still fVludd— and he's
a character who should be lurking in
the shadows anyway.

It would be hard to classify the Star
Trek game. It's not really a space-
combat simulator, though skill in
space combat plays a vital role. It's
not a true role-playing game because
you are bound to the conventions of
the established characters (one of
them being that if either Kirk, Bones,
or Spock dies, the game is over). It's a
sort of hybrid that is extremely
playable, and what makes the game
so playable is the episodic format. We
focus on a very specific mission, and
since all of the puzzles and chal-
lenges relate to the ultimate goal of
the episode, it's very easy to stay
edge-of-your-seat involved.

The game basically takes place on
the bridge or with the actions of an
away team featuring Kirk, Spock, and
Bones (as well as the security offi-
cer— what was his name?). The bridge
feels like a set right out of the televi-
sion series, but with one major excep-
tion: Most of the blinking lights and
bars of color actually mean some-
thing. Spock leans over his mysterious
periscopelike scanner, and Uhura
holds the receiver to her ear for better
reception. We have control, through
Sulu and Chekov. of shields,
weapons, and navigation, and we can
even order Sulu to "increase magnifi-
cation," just as in the series. In the
game, Scotty is on the bridge (he was
there sometimes during thie series),
manning the engineering, furiously

102 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

repairing damaged systems, bringing
up emergency power, and chortling
lovingly that Romulan ale will never
beat a good Scotch.

One of the most entertaining
aspects of the game is the ship-to-
ship combat. In the original series, the
battles were often a means to an end,
but in Interplay's Star Trek, we have
control of the helm. Kirk controls the
phasers and photon torpedoes
(though, ostensibly, through Chekov).
We maneuver the ship, control the
impulse engines, roll the Enterprise,
and bark repair priorities to Scotty.
The battles can get furious, and if Kirk
isn't up to snuff, the Enterprise
explodes in a tumbling ball of flames.

To prepare Kirk for the battles,
every time the game begins, the
Enterprise must duke it out in simulat-
ed combat with the Federation ship
Republic. Do well, and the Republic's
captain sends congratulations. Do
poorly, and Kirk shouts, "It's only a
simulation!"

When the away team beams planet-
side, we have the familiar array of equip-
ment at our disposal: scientific tricorder,
Bones's weird little medical wonder,
communicator, and phaser (with stun
and disintegrate settings). Through an
ingenious icon-driven command system.
Kirk can use any of the capabilities of his
crew, as well as converse, manipulate
objects, and pick up items.

While it's always important to
remember the Federation's Prime
Directive and to recognize that Kirk is
a servant of Starfleet, it's nice to see
that he still has a bit of the cowboy left
in him. His banter can be as crass as
we remember, and he slings his phas-
er more like Jesse James than a digni-
fied Starfleet captain.

Back to the Future

The graphics in Interplay's Star Trek
are superb. The colors are bright and
overvibrant (just as in the television
series), and the scientific gizmos
(accelerators, synthesizers, and so
forth) all look wonderfully mysterious
and gadgety. When a foe stumbles
back from a phaser blast, the anima-
tion is realistic and properly theatrical.
Even the wounded seem to convalesce
at that odd angle (up on one arm) that
was so peculiar in the original series.

One of my favorite features of the
Star Trek series (both the original and
"Star Trek: The Next Generation") is
the characters' serious attitude toward
science. I don't mean real science,
because most of the science in either
series is hokum: but it's taken with a
great deal of seriousness, as if it were
real and true in their world. And

Interplay's Star Trek maintains this tra-
dition. It would have been easy to
gloss over the litany of scientific terms
that were so colorful in the series, but
Interplay didn't. You can access med-
ical databases to learn how to synthe-
size TLTDH gas, laughing gas for
Romulans and Vulcans (their physiolo-
gy is similar, remember?). You can
use a cryptic and mysterious tool to
repair a broken transporter, only after
you jury-rig a "comb bit. "

One of the hardest design tasks is
to create new adventures in such a
familiar universe. Paramount has
made sure the universe is solid and
consistent while allowing Interplay to
be wonderfully creative in its scripting.
These episodes are at once familiar
and all new. Familiar because the fab-
ric of the original "Star Trek" series
remains intact, and all new because
the challenges are fresh and exciting.

The game can be played in comfort-
able chunks, thanks to the episodic
design, and you can save the game at
any time. The entire game should take
a player around sixty hours to com-
plete, but there's no rush, since there's
plenty to lool< at and interact with.
Interplay designed the game for a Star
Trek enthusiast, but not necessarily a
Trekkie (though Bruce did admit to
putting in a few extra goodies that will
be apparent to Trekkies' eyes only).

Outside of Time

So what's the future of Star Trek? I'm
sure that it will still be vibrant after
another 25 years. Spectrum HoioByte
is working on an interactive entertain-
ment center based on "Star Trek: The
Next Generation." There is Task
Force's strategy board game, Star
Fleet Battles, and, of course, you can
find Star Trek letterhead at any Trekkie
convention. But what about Star Trek
for our personal computers? We can
now experience Star Trek as a screen
saver (available from Berkeley
Systems) and hear the voice of Spock
coming through our sound boards.
Bruce told me that Interplay has just
signed a contract with Paramount for a
continuing series of Star Trek games
based on the original series, and while
he couldn't give me specifics, he told
me that a new adventure game is just
over the horizon,

Like the Republic serials and Hal
Roach's Our Gang comedies. Star
Trek has become lodged in our cul-
ture, to be enjoyed through the gener-
ations. It may still be with us when real
science has surpassed the fictional
science of the Starfleet world. The
catch phrase for Star Trek is truly "Live
long and prosper." □

M^m^iSHtMkMM

BlIlLfMAMY-HOWMIMGWELrrTiypSTOlJ?

circle Rssder Service Number 168

Impressions Software. Inc. 7 Miilroso Drive, i'armington, CT 06032

,V^a.M^"'

beVo^^-

• ^'"n..^^-^'^

Qqo^

^a<«^

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^siS8^

; AT VOUR LOCAL SOFUVARE RETAILER OR DIRECT RIOM lOV WORLD AT

1.800325.8898

(0R1.8i8.<»St».0«07aU

D, CALirORHU 90078

^HnrMZieuitBtDCfflffUtuBiiit a sfU wwKt i s <BuitiwH<« MiitTM^imB Lwwt m_iitw_HijHJi laiMm M it» ftCBiDaMMnHii mmaitm imoEMmoF m\ ntms cow'jtnio i« iBMStntEnsaiowii AcrjALStntttsHAYVWi:

Circle Reader Service Number 232

64/128 VIEW

Can't find a distributor for the
great 64 software you've written?
Maybe Mad Man can help.

Tom Netsel

Last July in this column, I
mentioned a major new
adventure game for the
64 called Messiah III.
It's a product of a group of
programmers and artists
who go by the name of Mad
Man Software.

When I last talked with
chief madman Gene Barker,
he said we should expect to
see Messiah in the spring.
Finding a national distributor
has been tough, however.
Major software companies
are not exactly thrilled to
add a 64 game to their list
of inventories, so Barker de-
cided Mad Man would han-
dle its own distribution.

Meanwhile, other independ-
ent programmers have been
contacting Barker about dis-
tributing their products. Reluc-
tantly, Barker has had to re-
fuse. He knows how difficult
it can be for an individual to
find a distributor because his
own company was having
doors slammed in its corpo-
rate face.

Blocked by the distribu-
tion hurdle, many program-
mers release their products
as shareware and hope for
the best. Barker says that
90 percent of the people
who use shareware don't
pay for it, and that's no way
to encourage new products.

To help his own company
and to attract talented pro-
grammers back to the 64
platform. Barker has set up
Independent Author Service
as a new division of Mad
Man Software. This service
is designed to help program-
mers get their products to
market. IAS offers disk and
manual duplication, low-lev-
el software theft protection,
copyright processing, market-
ing, and distribution.

In this arrangement. Mad

Man is the product's distrib-
utor. The author is solely re-
sponsible for content and us-
er support- Mad Man will
have an exclusive distribu-
tion right for a period of one
year. After that time, the au-
thor may continue with Mad
Man or go on his own.

Mad Man will run select-
ed software through its qual-
ity control department for
fine-tuning and polishing.
The author then gets a per-
centage of the profits result-
ing from the sale of the prod-
uct. That percentage is nego-
tiable, depending on how
much polishing Mad Man
has to do to make the prod-
uct marketable. Best of all,
the service has no up-front
fees. If Mad Man accepts a
product, it'll also accept
some of the financial risk in
getting it to market.

"Our goal is to promote au-
thors to the best of our abili-
ties, because their success
directly leads to our suc-
cess," Barker explains.
"With some extra work by
our existing staff, we can pro-
vide authors with services
that have taken us years to
develop."

Mad Man has put togeth-
er an Independent Author
Kit that contains everything
a programmer needs to
know about Mad Man's serv-
ice. You can get a kit by writ-
ing to Independent Author
Service, Mad Man Software,
Enterprise Center, 1400
East College Drive, Chey-
ene, Wyoming 82007.

It's encouraging to see a
company such as Mad Man
offering its help to talented
programmers, and I wish
the venture luck. Success
will benefit all of us who
want to see new products
for the 64. • D

GAZETTE

64/128 VIEW G-1

Here's help for programmers looking for a distributor.
By Tom Netsel.

DISKS, DRIVES, AND DISASTERS

Save your disks from corruption or destruction
By Calvin Guild.

G-2

REVIEWS

Easy Books- 1.

G-8

WORLD VIEW

The Commodore scene in Australia.
By John Buckingham.

G-12

FEEDBACK

Questions, answers, and comments.

G-14

BEGINNER BASIC

Take a new look at FOR-NEXT By Larry Cottor

G-16

MACHINE LANGUAGE

Put an undocumented opcode to work.
By Jim Butterfield.

G-18

PROGRAMMER'S PAGE

Here are opcodes the manuals never discuss.
By Randy Thompson.

G-20

GEOS

Put four drives to work with GEOS.
By Steve Vander Ark.

G-22

DIVERSIONS

What if home appliances go berserk?
By Fred D'lgnazio.

G-24

PROGRAMS

Umbrellas (64)
Stepman (128)
Powersprlte (64)
Math-A-Thon (64)
Xinput (64)
Spiral (128)
MLX (64)

G-25
G-27
G-29
G-32
G-34
G-36
G-38

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE G-1

Losing important computer
data or programs can be a
traumatic experience. Here
are some tips to help you
prevent data loss, corrup-
tion, and destruction.

Because I'm a librarian
for a computer user group in
Houston, Texas, a large
number of floppy disks pass
through my drives. As most
user groups do, we ex-
change computer disks and
maintain a large library of
public domain computer
programs.

What with all this activity,
we've come across a num-
ber of hardware and soft-
ware practices that are use-
ful in protecting computer
data and programs from
loss, corruption, and
destruction. This article is a
collection of those tips,
recommendations, and sug-
gestions regarding storage
devices and magnetic
media.

Cooling Fans

Heat is the greatest enemy
of electronic components,
and all electronic equip-
ment—disk drives includ-
ed—must be kept cool in
order to work properly.
Different types of drives
have different cooling needs
because of their design and
the heat sinks that are pro-
vided by the manufacturer,
but they all benefit from an
adequate supply of moving
air.

The 1541-11 disk drive
solves part of the heat prob-
lem by using an external
power supply. I have seen
old 1541 drives get hot
enough to affect their opera-
tion. These older models
should definitely have a fan

DISKS,
DRIVES,
AND
DISASTER

CALVIN C. GUILD

that pulls air through the
drive mechanism.

Early Micro-Systems
Development drives, SD-1
and SD-2, suffer degraded
operation in hot rooms or
where cooling is bad. The
drives get very hot to the
touch and need space for
air circulation. Later drives
from this company, howev-
er, are some of the best hot
operation drives around.
Our user group has several
SD-2 drives, and they per-
form well in the hot Houston
weather, even in buildings
that lack air conditioning.

For the 1571 and 1581
drives, I recommend a small
personal fan to maintain
adequate cooling. As with
all electronic equipment,
you should plan your setup
to include space around the
drive to provide air circula-
tion.

Raising the drive above
the working surface is an
effective way to provide
more air circulation. At one
time, many of our user
group members placed their
drives on top of small plastic
storage baskets. These
raised the drives three or
four inches above the desk
and provided for extra air
circulation below the drive.

Avoid the habit of laying
disks on top of your drive.
For one thing, this practice
interferes with the drive's

cooling, but it should espe-
cially be avoided because
the drive can get hot enough
to damage disks or data.

Head-ffeaning Kits

There is considerable dis-
agreement over the useful-
ness of head-cleaning kits.
These include dry systems
that have a special disk that
you run in your drive as if it
were a data disk. This pro-
cedure cleans your disk
drive heads of dust and
debris. There are also wet
systems which use a clean-
ing disk that's covered with
an absorbent material. A
solvent is added to the sur-
face to aid in the cleaning
action.

I have used both types of
kits. I usually use them
whenever I start to get error
messages that disks will not
load or read data correctly.
Using them usually returns
the drive to operation.

These kits do work, but
they may introduce contami-
nants into the drive, if
excessive fluid from a wet
system gets onto a disk sur-
face, it can destroy the sur-
face and ruin data.

If you use the dry system
extensively, it can damage
the read heads through
abrasion. In one drive that I
examined, the interior was
very dirty because of the
accumulation of solvent
from a cleaning disk.

Head-cleaning kits
should be used sparingly.
The preferred procedure is
to open the drive and clean
the heads manually. While
the case is open, you can
lubricate the drive assem-
bly, which is important for
proper operation.

Head-cleaning kits can

be useful, but using them
too often can damage your
disks or drive. Try one if
your drive won't load or
save properly. It may prove
to be a quick fix. It won't
help, of course, if your drive
head is out of alignment and
needs proper maintenance.

Disk Ratings

SD, DD, and HD are abbre-
viations for single-density,
double-density, and high-
density. These terms are
used to indicate the size of
the magnetic particles used
in the sensitive coating on a
magnetic disk. HD disks
have smaller magnetic parti-
cles than SD or DD disks.
The smaller particles pro-
duce a lower magnetic field;
therefore, drives for HD
disks require more sensitive
heads to handle (he lower
voltages generated when
reading the disks.

Commodore drives gen-
erally work best with DD
disks. In our experience,
however, no problems have
been definitely linked to the
use of SD disks. The 1571
drive is a sensitive drive and
can often read disks that a
1541 can't read. Our user
group has encountered sev-
eral cases where a 1541
drive could not read data
from an HD disk, although a
1571 drive could read the
same disk. Naturally, older
drives with alignment,
speed, or other data-read-
ing difficulties are more
prone to read errors when
attempting to read HD
disks.

You may come across
Preformatted disks, but
these aren't usable in Com-

modore drives. Available preformatted
disks use a format that's not compati-
ble with the 64 or 128.

Flippy Disks

Many Commodore users know they
can use both sides of what's normally
thought of as a single-sided (SS) disk.
Because you can flip these disks over
and use the reverse side, they're often
called flippy disks or simply flippies.

Many of our user group members
regularly use flippy disks with their
single-head drives. When disks were
much more expensive, our 51/4-inch
disk library collection was saved on
flippy disks.

A flippy is made by cutting or
punching a write-enable notch in the
disk so that it can be flipped over and
inserted in the drive as if it were a dou-
ble-sided (DS) disk. The notch is cut
on the side opposite the disk's normal
notch. It can be cut by using a regular
disk as a template. Any paper puncher
can be used, but a disk puncher can
be purchased to place a neat square
notch in the correct place.

The nap of the mat inside a disk is
generally designed for only one direc-
tion of rotation so that it cleans the

disk surface of any dust or other small
particles. Flippies, being inserted up-
side down, rotate in the opposite
direction. Rotating the wrong way can
supposedly release accumulated dirt
and debris.

We have used flippies for six or
seven years with no problems. There
have been no known instances of disk
read errors or other failures that indi-
cate that the back side of the disk
used as a flippy is any less reliable
than the front side. Some failures do
appear, but they can occur on either
side. There's no indication that the use
of flippies is the cause. (See the side-
bar "The Flip Side at 3M.")

This observation applies to home
computer or amateur usage. In
commercial applications, it may be
prudent not to use flippies, but most
commercial users generally use dou-
ble-head drives anyway. Some users
regularly discard used disks to avoid
the occasional disk problem that may
occur. For home use, however, any
reduction in life or efficiency caused
by using flippy disks is very small.

Commercial software producers of-
ten use flippy disks for their software.
They may supply a program for one

Beware tlie Magnetic Monster

It's pleasant being near someone
who has a magnetic personality. On
the other hand, magnetism is some-
thing computer disks should avoid
like a vampire avoids sunburn. The
merest hint of a magnetic field can
destroy the data on a valuable com-
puter disk. Or can it?

Just how much magnetism is too
much? We've all heard about the
secretary who keeps data disks
stuck to the side of a filing cabinet
with a magnet. How can some peo-
ple get away with such stunts when
a ringing telephone will erase any-
thing on a disk that's within two feet
of it? Or will it?

The National Bureau of Standards
recently conducted a variety of
experiments to determine just how
much magnetism is detrimental to
the health of computer disks and
tapes. The results of that test have
debunked some old myths about
magnets and disks,

As any physics student can tell
you, the strength of a magnet's field
is inversely related to the cube of the
magnet's distance from an object. In
other words, if you move a magnet
away from an object by a factor of 2,
its strength drops by a factor of 8.

Here are some true/false ques-
tions about magnets, The answers,
based on the bureau's tests, may
surprise you.

• A small magnet can erase
disks or cause data loss.

True — but you have to work at it.
A lOOO-oersted magnet, which can
lift 40 pounds, was placed within
one inch of a computer tape with no
effect. At one-half inch, the data was
destroyed. The read/write heads in a
disk drive have a field strength of
between 750 and 1000 oersteds,
and they must practically touch the
disk surface to operate. An extrane-
ous field of 200 oersteds can cause
a loss of data, but one of 150 oer-
steds will not. Maybe that secretary
wasn't so dumb if he simply hung
the disk by its hole on the magnet.

• Airport metal detectors can
damage computer disks-
False. Walk-through and hand-
held detectors have a strength of
about five oersteds. That strength is
much too weak to affect a disk. Of
course, if you check your suitcase
with an airline and you have valuable
disks inside, that almost guarantees
their loss.

• A magnet near your disks can
cause gradual damage,

False. Magnetism is not like

computer on the front side and the
same program converted for use on
another computer on the back side.

Disks designated SS and DS can
both be used as flippy disks. For SS
disks, only one side of the disk is cer-
tified, but we've found that certification
doesn't seem to be necessary. Few
disks have been found to contain
errors due to manufacturing. The
errors that have occurred have been
on either side, showing little regard for
certification,

The most common errors have been
a result of physical abuse, such as
bending, finger marks, or scratches on
the disk surface. A number of disks
have also become warped from heat or
pressure. Pressure problems can oc-
cur when disks are piled flat in a box.

Disks can also suffer in the mail.
The weight from other packages and
letters can compress the disk enve-
lope, making it difficult tor the disk to
spin. This problem can often be reme-
died by gently prying up the folded-
over corners of the disk.

Baclcup Disit Copies

Most problems associated with home
computer software, hardware, or

ation. Its effects are not cumulative.
The magnetic particles in a disk
change polarity almost instan-
taneously. It just seems to take for-
ever with a 1541. So don't worry
about a magnetic paper clip dis-
penser that's sitting next to your
computer.

• Radiation from a microwave
oven can damage magnetic media.

False. The bureau warmed cas-
sette tapes in an oven without losing
any data. Slip the disk and a cheese
sandwich into a microwave, howev-
er, and they'll both melt from the
heat. A warped disk doesn't spin
very well, but the cheese improves
its flavor.

The bureau's tests prove that while
magnets can cause data loss, dis-
tance is the deciding factor. A small
magnet can be harmful if it comes in
contact with a disk's surface, but you
shouldn't have any problems with
even a large one as long as you keep
it an inch or two away.

(Editor's note: This article was
adapted from National Bureau of
Standards data and an article by
Keith Faulkner that has appeared in
a number of user group newsletters,
including "Dis-Klosure," from the
Saft City Commodore Club of
Hutchinson, Kansas.)

G-4 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

SOFTWARE SUPPORT

IMTERMATIOI^AI.

C-64/128 Specialists For Over Five Years

Thousands of Commodore Owners Choose Us
Jis Their One Stop Suppfier . :Here 's 'Why.'

* Great Selection of Front Line Software.

We slock most major Commodore titles tiiat are still in
Production.

+ Hardware & Peripherals.

Although we can't get keyboards and disk drives any longer,
we can offer disks, modems, cables, interfaces, and much
more.

* Closeouts & Bargains.

We're constantly seeking out those hard to get gems, and
offering them at prices that would make Scrooge grin.

+ Used Software Trade In Program.

A Software Support exclusive. It takes a bit ofextra work, but
we don't mind. Another commitment to personalized service.

+ Un-Advertised Specials.

Our regular customers enjoy VIP .service and great bargains
that are hard to pass up.

* Expert Technical Support.

As a regular Software Support customer, you have access to
the most knowledgeable Commodore technical departments
in the country. Of this, we're dam proud.

* Friendly & Courteous Order Takers.

You'll have a hard time Finding order takers as anxious to help
you as Sandy, Ann and Connie.

+ Fast Order Processing.

Thanks to our automated computer system, huge inventor>'
and effecient shipping staff, most orders are processed the
same day.

+ Walk In Sales Department.

We welcome visitors to our warehouse outlet. The same great
deals are available and best of all, no shipping charges.

* Worldwide Distributor Of Major Products.

Ever hear of Maverick, Super Snapshot, Super 1750 Clone,
and the 1581 Toolkit? We've been actively involved in the
ground up production and worid-wide distribution of these
and many other fine Commodore products.

* Purchase From Us With Confidence.

We were very pleased when the
Better Business Bureau came to
us and told us that our outstand-
ing reputation qualified us as
members in their organization.
We're here to stay, not a fly by
night, here today and gone to-
morrow outfit.

* Extensive Catalog.

Our contacts at other mail order
companies have told us that pro-
ducing a catalog such as ours is
too lime consuming and worst
of all - too expensive. We say it's
the least we can do for our cus-
tomers, and wouldn't have il any
other way. Simply call or write
for your free copy.

m-i-H\\\\v^

SDMinilt tSJl CIAUUXTOU.-RSl*£:aD-U6-ll71
---7-, -■ Ma»iBi««*Miiii«iMttirm«i.5a!

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GAMES

Tony LaRussa Baseball $9.97

Bard's Tale 3 $12.97

Blackjack Academy S9.97

Cutthroats $6.97

Test Drive 2 $12.97

California Challenge $6.97

European Challenge $6.97

Muscle Cars $6.97

Super Cars $6.97

Jack Nicklaus Golf $1297

JN. Courses 1,2 or 3 $6.97

TV Sports Football $9.97

Batman(Arcade Ver) $9.97

Batman(Movie Ver) $9.97

Solo night $9.97

Suspect $6.97

Shoot'Em Up Const $9.97

Terror ; $6.97

EDUCATIONAL

Carmen Europe $26.97

Carmen World $24.97

Carnien Time $26.97

Carmen USA $26.97

Mavis Beacon Typing $27.97

Donald's Alphabet $9.97

Sky Travel $19.97

Perfect Score SAT $9.97

Songwriter $9,97

PRODucTrvnr

Super 1750 Clone $99.95

Dome Accounting $37.97

Create A Calendar $19.97

Fleet System 2 $12.97

Graphic Label Wizard $14.97

Home Designer 128 $24.97

C-128 Graphics Pack $29.97

Mastertype/Writer $12.97

Printshop $29.97

Paperclip 3 $29.97

Paperclip Publisher $29.97

Items Listed Above Do Not Include Shipping. Call Or Write For Your Free
Catalog Listing Hundreds Of Produces And Special Offers For Your
Computer. Our Order Takers Are On Duty 6:00 a.m. - 5;00 p.m.
M - F and 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Sat. - Pacific Time.

SOFTUIHRt

siippoiir

Software Support Int.
2700 N.E. Andresen Rd.
Suite A- 10

Vancouver, Wa 98661
(206) 695-1393

CALL TOLL FREE TODAY!

1 -800-356-1179

Major Credit Cards Accepted.

Clrcts Reader Service Numtwr 1M

security can be alleviated by keeping
backup copies of all software. Backup
software must be stored away from
the computer to avoid loss of both
copies in a common disaster.

Theft, fire, or natural disasters are
often thought of as major culprits
responsible for software losses, but
they're not the chief offenders. Heat,
humidity, electrical storms, and mag-
netic fields in the environment dam-
age many more programs.

Commercial software should be
backed up immediately after pur-
chase, if possible. An archival copy
that won't be used unless the original
is damaged should be maintained.
For important software this might even
mean purchasing a second copy of
the disk. Commodore users realize
that many good programs are no
longer available, ff you're down to one
copy of such a program, a backup
copy is a necessity.

Public domain software is usually
not copy-protected. Several copies
should be made and distributed to
friends, relatives, and your local user
group. Then, if your copy is lost or
damaged, a replacement copy can
easily be obtained.

Disk Utility Programs

Good disk utility programs can resur-
rect or reconstruct programs that are
lost. These vary from programs that
can undo a NEW or SCRATCH com-
mand to sector editors and disk doc-
tors. An excellent sector editor for the
128 is T/E 80 (August 1991), Doc
Block (October 1992 Gazette Disk bo-
nus) is a similar program for the 64.
Directory Aid {January 1993) can also
recover scratched files that haven't
been overwritten.

Many public domain disk utilities
are also available. They can be found
at your local user group or from
electronic bulletin board systems
serving Commodore computers.

When Trouble Strikes

You usually become aware of a disk
failure when an error message
appears while you're trying to load a
file. If other disks load properly, the
error is probably on the disk and not
related to the drive. If you have prob-
lems with several disks, however, the
problem may be due to a drive mal-
function or head misalignment. Failure
of an often-used disk may be due to
wear of the disk's magnetic oxide sur-
face.

A disk utility can be used to recov-
er any usable files on the disk. It's a
good idea to make a copy of the
entire disk before recovery is atlempt-

G-6 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

The Flip Side at 3M

When manufacturers make any
floppy disk, they apply the magnet-
ic medium to both sides of the disk.
This also applies to disks that are
eventually sold as SS or sJngle-
sided disks.

According to tales told in user
groups and other computer-related
gatherings, if disks pulled from a
batch for testing fail the manufac-
turer's quality control checks on
their flip sides, that batch of disks
is earmarked as SS, If they pass,
they're certified and sold as DS,

Some computer users who want
to double their disk capacity witti-
out paying for a guaranteed medi-
um often cut another write-enable
notch on the disk and use the disk
as a flippy. While the process usu-
ally proves successful, many users
shy away from using those disks to
store valuable data. There's usually
some concern about running info
bad sectors on the flip side.

After hearing this story about
flip-side tests from many sources,

Gazette checked into it and discov-
ered that the procedure is a little
different at one large disk manufac-
turing company.

A spokesperson at 3M's
Diskette Hotline (800-328-9438)
said 3M never tested the flip side
of its SS disks, (All 3M disks are
now rated as DS,) When SS disks
were available, they were made
vj\\.h exactly the same care and
precision as the DS disks. They
were simply packaged and sold as
SS disks. They cost less because
fewer tests were required.

According to 3M's spokesper-
son, users with single-head drives
can feel confident about using both
sides of 3M disks, but she offered
some words of warning and
advice. Make sure the notches are
cut in exactly the right place. A
careless cut could damage the
magnetic medium and ruin the
disk. Also, be aware that cutting a
second notch voids the lifetime
warranty that 3M puts on each of
its disks,

—TOM NETSEL

ed. Then use the copy to perform the
recovery operations. This is just a
safeguard to prevent further damage
to the damaged disk. Next, copy any
usable files to a third disk.

Errors may also be detected using
a disk check program. The disk check
will identify the tracks and sectors that
contain errors. However, disk check
programs will also identify some
benign errors that will not affect disk
operation.

A copy program can often recover
scratched files if they haven't been
overwritten. Some disk errors can be
eliminated by using a file copier to
transfer all files to a new disk. Errors in
file linkage can be corrected in this
way, as the file copier will build a new
BAfvl for the disk.

The utility required to salvage dam-
aged disks is a disk editor. It's used to
transfer information or parts of a pro-
gram to a new disk. This is done by
using the sector editor to correct and
transfer the good sectors to another
disk. Parts of the program may not be
recoverable, but important routines or
data can often be retrieved.

Another function of a rescue pro-
gram is the ability to isolate bad sec-
tors from damaged software. Once
these sectors are isolated, the
remaining portions of the program
can then be employed.

The power of disk drive utility pro-
grams allows even inexperienced us-
ers to recover deleted files. Many pro-
grams also have procedures for
recovering data from a reformatted
disk. When a program is scratched or
deleted, the file is not erased. A cou-
ple of bytes are simply changed to
eliminate the program's name from the
disk directory. Disks with such files
can even be recopied or transferred
by modem and the files recovered
from the disk copy.

If you wish to maintain any security
or privacy regarding programs or
data, it's necessary to reformat the
disk and overwrite the files you wish to
conceal. Keep this in mind when
swapping disks with other users to
safeguard your data and programs.

Catvin Guild is a retired NASA space
mission designer and rocket engi-
neer, f-le has worked with computers
since 1952, when he worked on a
team to evaluate the DISIAC compu-
ter for space and missile applica-
tions. The DISIAC consisted of a dou-
ble EN I AC, the first all-electronic com-
puter, built in 1946. Mounted In two
44-foot semitrailers and a van, it was
the first large-capability, general-
purpose, "portable, " all-electronic
computer Q

Software Hut

Folcroft East Business Park 313 Henderson Dr Sharon Hill, PA 19079

Commodore

AMIGA

Info 215-586-5701
FAX 215-586-5706

Orders 800-932-6442

Hours: Mon-Fri 9 to 6
Sat 9 to 5 - Eastern

Wg do notai'lbh a catalog.
Fha&G call if you don't ecc what you tvant:.

One of the East Coasts largest Authorized Commodore deaJers
Full line of Hardware, Software. & Peripfierals... IN STOCK

Games & Clomeoutg

Arachnophobia

$22.00

Back To The Future 3

14.95

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29.00

Bridge 5.0

22.00

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16.00

Curse oflhe Azure Bonds

14.00

Death Knights of Krynn

14.00

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12.00

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13,00

Duck Tales

22,ra

Elvira, Mistress of the Dartt

34.00

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14.00

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42.00

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13.00

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20,00

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13.00

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28.i»

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29.00

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17.00

Payday

7.00

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35.00

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6.00

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48.00

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11.00

Where (Sfiecify) is Carmen S. Diego

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Win, Lose or Draw

10.00

Xenophobe

10.00

1541-2 DRIVE

Refurbished $79.00

Cabling & Power Supply

Add $20.00

Each drive has been

individually tested by CBM

and is of consistent high

quality!

MINDSCAPE

POWERPLAYERS

JOYSTICK

• Microswitches

• Steel shaft

• Bait-bearing pivot

• Pistol grip

• Large trigger

• Originally $34.95
One fBr$S.9S - Two fyrSSJOeae/i

Software Hut Delivers a
Commodore EXCLUSIVE!

A BRAND NEW production run of 1581s, by Commodore, has
been made available to Software Hut EXCLUSIVELY! These
drives come with Commodore's full 90 Day Warranty. The
drives are complete with all Cabling & Software. Call for
special quantity pricing for Dealers and Users Groups.

3.5'

Brand New
1581 Floppy Drive

Hardware

5 or 8 pin Composite Cable $8.95

1S41-2 Disk Drivs NEW 164.95

CISa to M5gnavos'1084 (Specify) 14.9S

Computer/Disk Drive Cable - 6 ft. 1 2.95

Disk Noteher 4.95

ErgoJoysSck 18.00

G Wii Printer Irrterlace 40.00

IconTroller 15.95

JVC Disks 3,5' -10 Pack 8.00

JVC Disks 3.25'- ID PacK 7.00

Kraft Triple Trackball 40.00

mitont (Spttlly) 7.B0

SpeedKing Joystick 15.00

SiijiarSnipiHat S5.BS

Super GrsphixJr 36,95

Surge Protector w/EMl (6 OuHet ) 1 4 J)0

UPGRADING?

AMIGA

A600 $379.

A600W/40HD $599.

A600W/85HD $679.

1084S Color Monitor

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We carry over 800
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Call for additional

information and pricing

on our complete line of

AMIGA computers, from

the A500 through the

A4000.

CHIPS CHIPS CHIPS I

IC6526A

$9.00

IC 6567 40 COLIC VIC

14.00

IC 6581 R4

14.00

IC 7700-00 PLA82S100

14.00

IC 8701 Clock Gen

5,00

IC 8701 EG

5.00

IC LSI 8564 VIC Rev 5CA

22.00

ICPLA8721 R3

14.00

IC ROM 2332 Character

9.00

IC ROM 2364 Basic or Kernel

9,00

We offer these drives at a

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Low Price

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1802 MONITORS

These REFURBISHED

composite Monitors are
individualty tested & Warranted
by Commodore for 90 days.

$139.0a

1750 CLONE

From Chip Level Design
■niisREUhas512KRAM
Compatible w/CBM 1750 Units
Works w/ALL 64 & 128 models

$115.00

PARTS

Many of the following CBM parts

are In SHORT SUPPLY.

Except as noted, alt are NEW

&wy90DayWan^ty.

•1541/1541C Internal Drive - $85.00
•1571 Interanal Drive - $85,00
•64 P. Supply -$m

• C1 28 Keyboard -JKfltf

• CI 28D Keyboard- ^,2-,
•C128Dlnt, P. Supply -^fl
•C128 Ext. P. Supply Rifutt>-$34.

• P. S. for 1541-2 1571-2 1581 -^i'tf;

Productivity

1541^571 Drive Allgnmeni

1541/1571 Physical Exam

1581 ToolKit

Algeblaster

Big Blue Reader 4

CAD 3D

Data Manager 2 (64)

Dome Home Accourrting

Elemetttary Srade Builder

Family Tree 2.x

Fast Load

QEOS (64)

SEOS 128 V2

GEOS International Fonts

Jr. High Qrade Builder

Mavericl<V5

Math Blaster or Spell It

Pocket Writer

Pocket Writer 2

Pocket Writer 3

Poclet Writer Dictionary

Pocket filer 2

Pocket Planner 2

PrintShop

Print Shop Companion

Speed Reader

SwiftCalc (54)

Super 81 Utilities 64-128 (Specity)

WcrdWritere

29.00
29.00
^00
22.00
3S.Q0
29.00
ie.OD
44.00
22.00
42.00
28.00
39.00
45.00
25.00
22.00
29.00
22X0
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42.00
49.00
17.IX)
22.00
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saoo

27.00
22.00

16.W
14.00
34.00

MICE & MODEMS

1351 Mouse

Refurbished $22.00

NEW $32.00

CBM 1670 -1200 Baud
S29.00

Aprotek 2400 w/software $89.95

Supra 2400 -$87.00

Peak Modem Interface for
non-CBM units - $29.00

OUR POLICIES

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day. Second Day S Overnight
shipping Is available. International
orders are shipped by Air Parcel
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or Uonsy Order. Soltware and accsssoriss
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welcome, We will bill only for actual shipping
oharges & insurance attlms o1 order. MS re-
stodong fee on all retuna not aehanaed.

e Cop^rl^ tME, tecliV^riim inc. Al nva Ffcwviii

eiEws

EASYBOOKS-1

Its title isn't deceptive.
While keeping track of your
business or personal finan-
cial records can be compli-
cated, Easy Books-1 is a
bookkeeping program
that's easy to use. Just be-
cause it's not complicated,
don't make the mistake of
thinking this program isn't
complex. Using Easy Books-
1 makes it easy for you to re-
cord checkbook and cash re-
ceipts, prepare and print a
balance sheet, project year-
to-date data to the end of
the year, print a summary of
weekly financial activity with
or without a percent analy-
sis, and print all annual ex-
penditures for each ex-
pense account.

Easy Books-1 is much eas-
ier to use than other, more ex-
pensive accounting pro-
grams that I've tried in the
past. It's also easier to read
and understand its basic
printouts than it is to deci-
pher spreadsheets.

Easy Books-1 is de-
signed for the cash basis
business that doesn't need
inventory tracking, yet it's al-
so set up for the individual
who wants to track house-
hold expenses and budg-
ets. Its uncomplicated de-
sign makes it ideal for the
computer beginner as well
as the veteran. Another fea-
ture that I appreciate is trail-
ing Os. I prefer to see
$45.60, rather than $45.6.

More than half of the man-
ual is devoted to a sample
week of business activity. Af-
ter you load the program, 1
highly recommend that you
work through this sample.
It's a well-thought-out tutori-
al that contains what you'll
need to know, starting with
an explanation of the main
menu and the preparation
of a data disk.

The main menu has 10 cat-

G-8 COMPUTE tvlARCH 1993

nTfT«^rrafnriw'iiTHirf!TOKmT!y»Ti

BE FOR? KEV 'F9' TO RETURM TO »iftIN MEMU

fM:j;i<:f«iiM;iif^:f;W<rii;fMii:w;VJ<«.Tiif=^

A-ADUERTISIN6
C-BAHK SERUICE CHI
E-CHILPCftRE

6-DEPREC./SEC 179

H-LEGAL B PROF.
0-PEKSlON/PRF SHft
P-REHT
R-SUPPLIES

T-TRAUEL & EHT
U-NATURAL GAS
X-TELEPHOME
Z-HMOFLL PRF TX ••

e-BAD &EBTS
D-CftR/TRUCK EXP

F-coreiissioHs

H-DUES & PUBLICAT,
J-IHSURANCE
L-LAUHDRV 8 CIEAH.

H-OFFICE SUPPLIES

Q-REPAIRS
S-TAXES

U-WATER/SEHER/TRSI
M-ELECTRICITV
V-Hft6ES PAID
Fi-OTHER ITEHS

The Easy Books-1 expense menu lists 27 diffsrent predefined
categories found in most businesses.

E ) TO EXIT

Easy Books- 1 makes it easy for you to track and anaiyze weekly and
annual expenditures for your home or tiusiness.

egories that take you to all
sections of the program,
each with its own in-depth,
individualized menu. The ex-
pense menu, for example, is
a listing of 27 different prede-
fined categories, including
one for miscellaneous ex-
penses that don't fit into any
of the 26 other categories. Al-
though many expense cate-
gories are already defined,
most of them can be
changed. Therefore, if you
don't have a need for one of

the listed expenses, you
can change it to one you
can use.

Included in the expense
categories are advertising,
bad debts, bank service
charges, car/truck expens-
es, commissions, dues, em-
ployee benefits, insurance, in-
terest, laundry, professional
fees, office expenses, pen-
sions, rent, repairs, sup-
plies, taxes, travel/entertain-
ment, wages paid, and wind-
fall profit withholding. All of

these categories can be
changed by the user. Non-
changeable categories are
child care, depreciation, wa-
ter-sewer-trash, natural gas,
electricity, telephone, and
other. The costs of the four
utilities are presented as a to-
tal utility expense for your
analysis, but they are kept
separate for total expense
purposes.

With a list this extensive,
most of your personal and
business needs should be
covered. But since this pro-
gram allows you to be crea-
tive, you aren't limited to
this list. You can tailor the
program to fit your needs, to
make it a personalized book-
keeping program.

Most individuals and com-
panies borrow money at
some time or another. It's im-
portant to keep track of inter-
est paid to credit cards,
home loans, or other busi-
ness-related loans. To use
the interest category, which
records the interest part of
your payment only, you'll
need an amortization sched-
ule for each loan. As an al-
ternative, you can wait until
the end of the year when
you receive statements
from financial institutions
showing your total interest
payments. Either form of da-
ta entry will work to ensure
that your annual amount of in-
terest paid is correct. You
can also set up more than
one interest category, if you
need them.

One of the expenses list-
ed is depreciation. I have lit-
tle working knowledge of
this topic. Fortunately, this
program doesn't expect you
to be a depreciation whiz.
When you enter an expense
in the depreciation catego-
ry, the program automatical-
ly takes you to a deprecia-
tion worksheet instead of
the expense summary. If
you don't use an account-

143 Western
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CIrcIs Ronder Service Numtwr 234

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Yes, save time and money! Subscribe to the Gazette
Disk and get all the exciting, fun-filled Gazette pro-
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Subscribe today, and month after month you'll
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New on the Gazette Disk! In addition to the
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So don't waste another moment. Subscribe to-
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D Payment enclosed (clieck or money order)
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Mail to COMPUTE'S Gazelle Disk, P.O. Box 3250, Harlan. lA SlSQa-SWO

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orders, add To goods and sarvces tan.

C64/128 PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE

REQUEST FREE CATALOG or send S2 for sample disk ond catalog (RE-
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NEXT DAY SHIPPINGI SINCE 1986

CALOKE INDUSTRIES (Dept. GK)

P0 30X 18d77.RAYTOWN,MOM133

VISA

Circle Reader Service Number 18t

Great Programs & Articles From Botli Sides o1 the Atlanticl

C54 ALIVE! is U.S. produced. LIGHT DISK and clubLIQHT are UK pioduced.

C64 ALIVE! Sample disk $3: 5 issues ending 12/92 $20; 6 issues starting 1/33 $25

clubLIGHT Single issue S5

LIGHT DISK (only 4 issues! 6 Disks $30

LIGHT DISK and clubLIGHT are for 61/128 — C64 ALIVE! is 64 only

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IN U.S.: Jack Vander While, 064 ALIVE!, P.O. Box 232115, Saeramenlo, CA 95823

Oulside North America wnle ior prices.

C-64, 1541, C-128, or '[5T\:.^=FAST TURNAROUND}

00,

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Senci corTiputef* or drive wnh name, ad^
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return (o you insured by UPS PayrTient

can be COD or VISA. M.'C Mfnlmum i

cha/ge. est mate only is S20 ' Inciude power suppJy.

TYCOM inc. fsnsfield. ma otjoi

Circle Reader Service Number 242

AUTHORIZED COMMODORE
SERVICE CENTER

90 nW WARRANTY
ON ALL HEPAIHS

(413) 442-9771

COMPUTER REPAIR ^^^

C-G4: $40,00 1541: $54.95 B4C: $50.00
1541-M: $64.35 C128: $64,95 C128D: $74.95

1581: $64.95 ETC

WE ALSO REPAIR IBM Clones, Sega, Genesis, Nintendo

For more inla call BEAR TECHNOLOGtES

CompiiLpr Sales. ^ervicR fi Hpnuir
lUOf) liflcKiian Rrri;(;t. I'liiliailclpliin. I'A 11)110

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Circle Reader Service Number 152

Upgrade your Commodore system 'December' SALE HELD OVER

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New APROTEK modems

HOWTOflS DHIVES OTHEB

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New CMD accessories

1301 -ties tag isai'«wtite ci28-(4^si»

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10Ws-«»t299 1530O*TASETTE.«5

ADDITIONAL DflWE ROMS-MS

MANrBOOKS.«10 SOFTWABE • SlO-a

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eiEws

G-10 COMPUTE h/IARCH 1993

ant, the manual tells you which IRS pub-
lication to consult to set up a depreci-
ation schedule. In the back of the man-
ual are another four pages that ansv^fer
almost any question you might have on
how to figure depreciation.

Data input is simple to master.
Press a single key to make most any
menu selection, and then enter your da-
ta when you see a question mark be-
fore a blinking cursor. The program
will not proceed until you press Return.
You can correct any typing errors with
the Del key before you press Return.
Pressing Return one or more times will
usually let you exit a screen if you don't
want to enter any data.

If you need to make a correction af-
ter you've hit the Return key, wait until
you're at the end of a section. There
you'll receive either the prompt IS
THIS CORRECT? or the prompt DO
YOU WISH TO START AGAIN? These
prompts will give you an opportunity to
correct any mistakes that you might
have made. You'll have another
chance to make changes when you
use the second menu and review your
input for expenses and receipts.

The author states that the printing
module is the system's best feature,
and he's right. The format is easy to
use and understand. Forget about mas-
tering complicated spreadsheets filled
with little-used options; with this pro-
gram that's not necessary. The print
menu offers 11 different printouts. One
rather nice feature is a list of checks by
expense. At the expense menu, each
category that has an expense entered
will be highlighted. By selecting only
the highlighted categories, you don't
have to wait for the computer to
search all the weekly files. That's a re-
al timesaver!

Easy Books-1 wasn't written with
speed in mind. It doesn't have the fast-
est execution time, but it makes up for
that with its ease of use. You don't
need to consult the manual constantly
to use this program either. Its clear, con-
cise menus and onscreen instructions
make it easy to master. Devote your
time and energy to running your busi-
ness, not bookkeeping. If easy book-
keeping is what you're looking for,
then Easy Books-1 is what you need.

CHERyL TURNEY

Commodore 64 or 128-
ping and handling

■S39.95 plus S3.50 ship-

EASY BOOKS DISTRIBUTING
P.O. Box 216

lov/a Park, TX 76367-0216
(817) 592-4727

Circle Reader Service Number 414

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CHIP SAVER KIT protects computer's ctiips tiom static electricity 5 S 95

Y-N0T7 6-1oot serial Y cable, 1 male 4 2 female connectors S1500

Y-YESI 6-tcx)t serial Y cable, 3 male connectors ,-, JIS.OO

80 MONO CABLE produces 60 columns monochrome video tram C12S % 9.00

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Circle Header Service Number 137

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Circle Reader Service Number 162

WORLD VIEW

John Buckingham

Inexpensive

secondhand hardware

and software

have caused a 64

resurgence

in Australia.

G-12 COMPUTE

THE VIEW FROM
AUSTRALIA

Australia, the land down un-
der, is a commonweaitli of
some 17 million people from dif-
fering backgrounds and ori-
gins. Commodore entered the
Australian market years ago
with the VIC-20 and then fol-
lowed up with the popular 64,
which went on to become the
most popular home computer
in the nation.

Until the onslaught of the
Amiga, every computer store
and large retail chain was clam-
oring to have 64/128 stock on
its shelves. But with Commo-
dore pushing the Amiga and
its PC line, it's now difficult to
find 64 products except at a
few computer games outlets
or by mail order.

It's inevitable that some 64
owners upgrade to larger sys-
tems. When they do, many of
them sell their older equip-
ment. By making inexpensive
secondhand hardware and
software available to new buy-
ers, they've caused a resur-
gence of 64 activity. The reces-
sion is keeping people to tight
budgets, but they're finding
that ttie 64 represents good val-
ue for their money

The number of user groups
and clubs catering to the 64/
128 user is diminishing, al-
though larger groups in big
population areas are still ac-
tive. One of the main problems
seems to be a lack of commu-
nication between user
groups. I'm presently working
to establish a register of
groups in Australia to enable
users to maintain regular con-
tact with a greater number of
other 64 users. By staying to-
gether we can survive.

There are only three or four
nationally advertised public do-
main libraries in Australia, but
many user groups have their
own software libraries. The
few bulletin boards that cater

MARCH 1993

to the 64/128 user still have a
lot of PD programs for down-
loading. The main PD libraries
charge around $A5 for a dou-
ble-sided disk, but it's possi-
ble to buy disks for as low as
$A3. Blank disks vary from
about 40 cents to a couple of
dollars each. These prices are
in Australian dollars ($A}. With
the current exchange rate,
one Australian dollar is worth
about 75 U.S. cents.

Most PD software ema-
nates from the U.S. these
days. We occasionally have
problems with such software,
especially programs that use
dates. Here in Australia, we
use a day/month/year format,
while programmers in the U.S.
apparently use a month/day/
year format. Also, our state ab-
breviations have three letters,
not two as in the U.S.

GEOS is very popular over
here, and more users convert
to it every day, A lot of 64s are
used only as game machines,
so game software far outsells
any other type of program.

Both hardware and soft-
ware are less expensive in the
U.S. than here, and many Aus-
tral ian users purchase
through U.S. mail-order deal-
ers. Here are several exam-
ples of price comparisons: a
1541-11 drive— $A279, $185;
GEOS— $A68, $39; Xetec inter-
face—$A109, $59; The Print
Shop— $A80, $35; Where in
the World Is Carmen Sandi-
ego?— $A70, $29. A 9-pin print-
er such as a Star NX-1000
costs around $A300 over
here, but in the U.S. you
would pay no more than $180.
So we Australian users are cer-
tainly paying much more than
our U.S. counterparts. Most
U.S. hardware is unsuitable for
us because of the voltage dif-
ferences, but software, interfac-
es, and REUS are OK.

There are many thousands
of bulletin boards operating in
Australia, but very few cater
Specifically to 64/128 users ex-

cept to offer message boards
and echo areas. Those that do
have 64 files for downloading
are usually very busy. Three
main bulletin boards cater to
GEOS, and these are very pop-
ular. Some software clubs and
user groups have small BBSs
that are used regularly by
their members. But a great
number of 64 users don't
have modems because of the
lack of nearby BBSs.

CompuServe has now be-
gun operating in Australia, but
its minimum cost is $36 an
hour, plus long-distance call
fees for those who live outside
the major cities. This high
price makes it out of reach for
most 64/128 users.

The Australian Commodore
& Amiga Review (ACAR) has
been the only commercially
produced magazine for 64/
128 users in Australia for
many years. It started out as
a VIC-20 magazine — without
Amiga in Its name, of course.
Now. out of its 80 pages each
month, only 5 or 6 are devot-
ed to the 64. In September
1992 the number dropped to
only one page for the 64.

Fortunately for us, a new 64/
128 magazine called Commo-
dore Network has just begun.
It's produced in a newsletter for-
mat, but we expect it to im-
prove with time. Former ACAR
columnists are now part of the
new magazine. I hope Austra-
lian users will support it,

The U.S. magazine COM-
PUTE with its Gazette section
is available, and RUN was
here until it folded. We also
get U.K. magazines Zzap,
Commodore Format, and YC.
They are quite popular and
readily obtainable here.

The 64 is still alive in Aus-
tralia despite other machine us-
ers telling us that we're a dy-
ing breed. If the user groups
and publications that support
us now stick with us, we'll cer-
tainly be around for many
more years. {j

Everything's included!

Features, games, reviews,
education/home applications,
programming, bugswatter,
feedback, and columns!

A superb inlerface includes pull-
down menus, help screens, and
keyboard, joystick, or mouse con-
trol. Features include super-fast
searching and sorting capabilities.
An options screen allows you to
choose text colors, drive number,
and input device. And there's full
documentation on di.sk.

Choose From three modes of opera-
tion— browse for quick scanning,
view for detailed information and
descriptions, and edit for adding
items from upcoming issues — and
prin! to any printer. There's even a
turbo-load option for maximum
disk-access speed.

ORDER YOUR

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(MasterCard and Visa accepted on
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Originally developed as a software package, then converted to a readable format, the Diagnosti-
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REPLACEMENT/UPGRADE CHIPS & PARTS

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Circle Reader Service Number 145

FEEDBACK

Corrections to

articles and

programs, liints for

beginner 128

users, and more

Bug-Swatter

We printed some incorrect in-
formation about Compsult in
"A Buyer's Guide to Commo-
dore Software, Hardware,
and Services" (December
1992). Here is the correction.

COIMPSULT

P.O. Box 5160

San Luis Obispo, CA

93403-5160

(800) 676-6616 for credit card

orders only; $25.00 minimum

(805) 544-6616 for information

Catalogue— $2,00.

We regret any inconven-
ience our error may fiave
caused eitlner Compsult or
our readers.

(VIelvin Breyfogle notified us
that Ham Antennas (Decem-
ber 1992) has a couple of
problems with its Long Wire
option. The screen colors
make a portion of the pro-
gram difficult to read, and the
calculation for the coax wave-
length in feet is incorrect. If
you've already entered the pro-
gram or if you have Gazette
Disk for that month, load Ham
Antennas and enter the follow-
ing lines before you run it.
This should correct the prob-
lems. Remember to save the
corrected program,

GH 4027 GOSUB4097:INPUT:PRIHT"
{CLBH6 SPACES]LONG WI
KE CALCULATIONS"

MX 4953 PRINT'MhvS) (VEL( {down!
LENGTH OF WIRE IN FEET
" W

BX 4a68 PEINT")DOWN("492*V/F"
(3 SPACES(«l/2 WAVE CO
AX AT DESIGN FREQ IN F
EET"

For the prompt in the Long
Wire option that requests
coax velocity factors, supply
the following decimal values,
depending on the type of
transmission line you are us-
ing. Include the decimal
when you enter the factor. For
RG8 (50 ohm) use .66, for
RG11 (75 ohm) use .88, and
for flat TV line (300 ohm) use
a factor of ,82.

G-14 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

If your transmission line is
made of material not listed
here, check with a good ham
antenna reference book for
the correct velocity factor. For
convenience, you may want
to store this information as a
REfvl statement within the pro-
gram or have it print in con-
junction with line 4059.

Reset to 64 Mode

Six months after I bought my
128, I joined a user group to
find out why I couldn't reset to
64 mode from 128 unless I
had my FastLoad cartridge in-
serted. No one could help. I
wrote to Commodore and
even visited other user
groups, but no one offered a
viable solution.

Several months later, I was
making up a list of hints and
tips for printer commands,
and I came across the solu-
tion; Hold down the Commo-
dore key while pressing the Re-
set button.

Once you know this trick,
it's obvious, but perhaps it'll
help some newcomers.

B!LL CUFIK
LYNDEN, WA

To Scratch a Comma

I have a file that I want to
scratch from a disk, but I
can't seem to do it. The file-
name is simply a comma (,),
I've tried using the SCRATCH
command, but it doesn't
work. Got any suggestions?

MAX YOUNT
WALDEN, TN

That file is going to be difficult
to remove. Ttie 64 processes
the comma as a delimiter,
which is a character that's
used to separate two parts of
a command. For example,
when you want to read a se-
quential file, you have to open
it with OPEN 2.8, 2, ••file-
name,S,R" (note how the com-
mas separate the filename
from the S for Sequential and
the R for Read). The commas

perform a special function,
and the disk drive doesn't rec-
ognize them as characters in
the filename. As a result, your
drive sees the file as "delimit-
er/end of filename. " This ren-
ders the SCRATCi-l and RE-
NAt\4E commands useless.

There is a solution to your
problem, however If you
have a disk editor (a program
that can change a byte direct-
ly on the disk), you can
change the comma on the di-
rectory to. say, an X, and
then scratch that new file-
name. We published such an
editor. Doc Block, as a bonus
program on the October 1992
Gazette Disk.

Another way to clear up
the problem is to copy any
files or programs on that disk
that you wish to save to anoth-
er disk. Then reformat the
disk with the bad file. To
avoid this problem next time,
stick to letters and numbers
when naming disk files. Avoid
punctuation marks like com-
mas, colons, and asterisks.

Multicolor Sprites

How can 1 use more than one
color with a sprite?

GEOFF CU\RK
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND

Sprites are powerful graphics
tools, but they can be com-
plex to use. After you've
worked out the shape that
you want, the sprite must be
converted to data statements
and poked into a safe area of
memory A pointer must be
set to the sprite shape, the x-
and y -coordinate designated,
the color defined, and the
sprite activated.

Multicolor sprites give you
more flexibility and more inter-
esting shapes to work with. If
you've reached the point
where you can define sprites
and move them about the
screen, now's a good time to
experiment with color There
are two ways to do it.

The first is fairly easy. De-
fine two sprites, using differ-
ent colors, and put one on
top oftfie other Sprites are dis-
played in a certain order of pri-
ority, from lowest number to
highest. This means that
sprite 0 will always appear on
top of (or In front of) all other
sprites. Sprite 1 has priority
over sprites 2-7, and so on.

Normally, If a bit Is turned
on, it'll appear on the screen
in the color of the sprite. An
off bit will let the background
color show through. If you
have one sprite on top of an-
other, the off bits will let the
second sprite's color show
through. (The second sprite Is
the one with the lower priori-
ty.) As long as they have the
same (x,y) location, It will ap-
pear that you have a single
two-color sprite.

There are two drawbacks
to this method, however. The
first Is that Instead of having
eight one-color sprites, you're
limited to four two-color
sprites (or two four-color
sprites). Second, if your pro-
gram needs to check sprite
collisions, you have to be care-
ful that the bits of the overlap-
ping sprites do not intersect.
You may get collisions when
none actually exist if the pro-
gram is written in BASIC,

A better way to make color-
ful sprites is to switch to mul-
ticolor mode, controlled by a
register at 53276. The eight in-
dividual bits correspond to
the eight different sprites. To
make all sprites one color, en-
ter POKE 53276,0. Poking a 1
makes sprite 0 multicolor
(and the others one color),
poking a 2 makes sprite 1 mul-
ticolor, poking a 4 makes
sprite 2 multicolor, and so on
up to 128, which affects
sprite 7. Poking a 255 makes
all of the sprites multicolor.

f\4ultlcolor mode gives you
up to four different colors in
each sprite. The four colors in-
clude the screen color (actu-

ally a transparent part of the
sprite allowing the back-
ground screen color to show
through), individual sprite col-
or, sprite multicolor 0, and
sprite multicolor 1. The individ-
ual sprite color can vary from
sprite to sprite, but screen col-
or and the two multicolors are
the same for all eight sprites-
The register for screen color
is 53281. The registers for
sprites 0-7 are 53287-53294,
respectively Por multicolors 0
and 1, the registers are
53285 and 53286.

To turn on the multicolor
mode for a single sprite, enter
POKE 53276, PEEK(53276)
OR (2tN), where N is equal
to the sprite number (0-7).
To turn off the multicolor
mode, enter POKE 53276,
PEEK(53276) AND (255-2TN).

Unlike the first method of
adding color, multicolor
mode lets you have eight dif-
ferent sprites moving around,
but resolution Is cut in half. In-
stead of coloring individual pix-
els, pairs of pixels are turned
on or off. Let's say that one of
the data statements is 50,
which translates to a pattern
of 00110010 in binary With
one-color sprites, a 1 repre-
sents a pixel that is turned on.
In multicolor mode, however,
you have to look at the pat-
tern as bit pairs: 00, 11, 00,
and 10. The first two pixels
(00) would be transparent,
the same color as the screen.
The next two (11) would be
multicolor 1, followed by the
screen color again. The last
two (10) would both be the
sprite color Even though the
two bits are different, 1 and 0,
the corresponding pixels
would be the same color In-
stead of each byte controlling
eight different pixels, each
byte controls four different
pairs of pixels.

Two Drives for SpeedScript

I've been using SpeedScript,
which i typed in from your

How to

use multicolor
sprites and
SpeedScript witii
two drl¥es

magazine in September
1989. It works great, but I
have one problem. Can you
get a patch for it or a short pro-
gram that will let you use it
with two drives?

LEONARD PFEIFFER
DAYTON. NJ

In the July 1992 issue,
George Gunn wrote an article
about the 1581 drive called
"The Smaller, The Better " As
a sidebar to that article, he in-
cluded several POKEs which
enable SpeedScript users to
access drive 9 instead of
drive 8. This will let you load
SpeedScript from drive 8 and
then direct all disk commands
to drive 9.

To accomplish this, load
but do not run SpeedScript.
Then enter the following two
lines In Immediate mode.

POKE 4843,9: POKE 4908,9: POKE
5274,9: POKE 5873,9: 5967,9
POKE 6367,9: POKE 6883,9: POKE
7003,9: POKE 7073,9

Save this modified version
with a unique name, such as
SPEEDSCRIPT9. When you
load and run this program, all
normal disk commands will
be addressed to drive 9. You
won't be able to switch back
and forth between drives, but
you can load and work with
whichever version of Speed-
Script you wish, depending
on your needs.

To switch between two
drives while In SpeedScript,
check out Speedram-64 (De-
cember 1992). This short
patch by Frank Gordon lets
you use SpeedScript with a
1764 RAM expansion unit or
with two drives.

Send your questions and com-
ments to Gazette Feedback,
COMPUTE Publications, 324
West Wendover Avenue,
Suite 200, Greensboro, North
Carolina 27408. □

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE G-15

BEGINNER BASIC

Larry Cotton

Use the FOR-NEXT

statement to

put a BASIC program

into a loop.

IN A LOOP WITH
FOR-NEXT

Last March, I issued a plea for
topics to discuss in this col-
umn. I received many helpful
suggestions — and not one sug-
gesting that I pack it in! I tiad
several requests for columns
that adhere to the title's prem-
ise— BASIC for beginners.
Therefore, this month, we'll re-
view the seemingly ubiquitous
FOR-NEXT statement.

FOR-NEXT is used to put a
program in a loop; FOR and
NEXT are at the ends of the
loop. The whole process re-
quires seven distinct items.

1. the word FOR

2. acounter (any valid numer-
ic variable)

3. an equal sign

4. a counter's starting value

5. the word TO

6. the counter's ending value

7. the word NEXT

The starting and ending val-
ues for the counter must be
valid numeric expressions —
that is, numbers or variables
that represent numbers.

Here's a simple time delay
loop. It uses all seven items in
lines 10 and 20.

10FORC=1TO1000

20 NEXT

30 PR[NT"END OF LOOP"

C is the counter; it incre-
ments itself from 1 to 1001 , as
fast as the BASIC language
and the computer will allow.
Try pressing the Run/Stop
key while this program is run-
ning; then enter PRINT C.

The first six parts of a FOR-
NEXT loop must be written on
the same line. The NEXT com-
mand may be written on the
same line (with a colon sepa-
rating it from the FOR part of
the loop) or on another line.

ff uninterrupted, this delay
loop increments C to 1001,

G-16 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

NEXT kicks in after the value
for C exceeds the upper limit
of 1000, and control then
falls through to line 30. When
things happen between FOR
and NEXT, they happen the
number of times specified by
the counter's ending value.

Delay loops are often used
just after a message is print-
ed on the screen. I don't like
them, however, because
they're usually too short the
first time they appear and too
long after the user becomes fa-
miliar with the message. A bet-
ter way is to eliminate the de-
lay loop altogether and use
GET to wait for the user to
press a key whenever he or
she is ready to move on.

There are many, many us-
es for FOR-NEXT One of
them is to gather multiple in-
puts from a program's user.
This is often used in conjunc-
tion with arrays. (We'li review
arrays in a later column.)

10 PRINTCHR$(147)

20 F0RC=1T04

30 INPUr'NAME OF A

SmTE";S$(C)
40 NEXT:PRINT
50 PRINT"THE STATES YOU

ENTERED ARE"
60 PRINT:F0RC=1T04
70 PRINTS$(C)
80 NEXT

As C is incremented from 1
to 4 in line 10, the array is
filled with words the pro-
gram's user enters. S$(1)
might be Virginia. S$(2)
might be Utali, and so on.
The program will ask for just
four state names and then
move on to line 50.

You can use C again in
line 50, but it's not necessary.
The following would also
work for lines 50-70.

SO PRINT:F0RZ=1T04
60 PRINTS$(Z)
70 NEXT

You can accomplish lots of

tasks between a FOR and a
NEXT. However, it's quite
easy to lose track of where
you are, especially if you use
multiple or nested FOR-NEXT
loops. Here's a nested one.

10 PRINTCHR$(147)
20 F0RJ=1TO3
30 F0RK=1TO4
40 PRINTJ;K
50 NEXT:PRINT:NEXT

The first NEXT in line 50 clos-
es the inner K loop; the sec-
ond one closes the outer J
loop. To keep track of what's
happening in nested loops,
it's a good idea to use BA-
SIC'S option of printing the
counter's name after the
NEXT, Line 50 could've been
written as follows. Note the or-
der of the J and K.

50 NEXTK:PRINT:NEXTJ

The PRINT in line 50 just
gives a visual separator be-
tween the three groups of
four numbers on the screen.
Here's a short graphic pro-
gram that contains several
FOR-NEXT loops.

10 POKE53280,1:POKES3281,1

20 PRINTCHR$(147)

30 F0RJ=1T01D:READC(J):NEXT

40 B=4:H=32:R=1B

50 P0KE214,24:PRINT:

P0KE211,B
60 FORT=1T023:REM NUMBER OF

LINES
70 F0RU=1TO10:REM NUIVIBER OF

COLORS
80 PRINTCHR${C(U))CHR$(R)

CHR$(H);
90 NEXTU:PRINT:PRINnAB(T+B);:

NEXn
100 FORD=1TO1OO0:KEXT
110 F0RP=1T025:PRIHT:NEXT
120 DATA149,2B,129,15D,158,
153,159,154,156,31

You may have to adjust
your monitor's color controls
for maximum effect. Next
month, we'll see what STEP
does to a FOR-NEXT loop. □

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\r>

■fA-

111

U-

circle Reader Service Number 253

Does Your Heart Good.
^American Heart Association

PHOTO; TOM & PAT LEESQN

Life in the wild can be pretty tougii these
days. Wittiout ttie necessary ancient-forest
tiabitat to live in, some species like ttie
norttiern spotted owl of ttie Pacific Nortii-
west are severely threatened.

At the Sierra Club, we believe that these
owls and the ancien! forest ecosystems they
depend on need our help.
To learn more about our work protecting the
forest habitats of endangered species such
as the northern spotted owl, write or call:

Sierra Club, Dept. PB

730 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

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G-17

MACHINE LANGUAGE

Jim Butterfield

Unconventional

opcodes

sometimes do

strange,

interesting, and

useful Oilngs.

G-18 COMPUTE

Strange Opcodes

An operation code is the in-
struction ttiat tells tlie comput-
er what to do. The opcodes for
the 6502 CPU fit in a single
byte; out of 256 possible conn-
binations, only 151 are "legal."
The remaining combinations
are not supported by the chip
manufacturer, but some of
them work, often producing
strange results.

You shouldn't use these
codes in your regular program-
ming sessions because they
are not guaranteed to worl<
consistently. Some of them
are more reliable than others,
however, and they appear in
software occasionally without
causing any problems. Some
family versions of the 6502 in
other computers put these un-
defined codes to work regular-
ly; you would find this to be
true in the case in the Apple
lies, for example.

Even so, many of the extra
codes sometimes do interest-
ing and useful things. We'll ex-
periment here with one of
these. Even so, try not to
mal<e a habit of using these
nonstandard instructions in
your programs.

Perhaps the most interest-
ing codes are those whose
last two binary bits are 11. Writ-
ten in hexadecimal, these
codes would have a second
digit of 3, 7, B, or F. No such
codes are legal, but almost all
of them exhibit an interesting
characteristic: Their action is
a combination of the next two
opcodes in numeric order. For
example, the code for load A
(absolute) is hex AD and for
load X is AE, so hex AF
causes both A and X to be load-
ed! Other address modes
worl^. For example, A7 does
the same thing using 0 page
addressing.

Some codes are deadly.
Hex 02, 12, 22, and soon up
to 72 will cause the processor
to crash. Resetting will put

MARCH 1993

things back to normal, of
course.

The first complete documen-
tation of these extra opcodes
was compiled in 1981 by Bri-
an Grainger, a member of a us-
er group in the United King-
dom. The various opcodes
were given names about that
time. The LDA/LDX mixture
above, for example, was
dubbed LAX.

For a small project, let's cal-
culate the parity of a byte by
using extra-code instruction
LSE, which is a mixture of LSR
and EOR. First, we logically
shift right the accumulator
(LSR) and then exclusive-or
(EOR) the operand value. If
we were writing a convention-
al parity calculation program,
we might use EOR and LSR as
separate instructions to do the
joli). In absolute addressing
mode, LSR would be an op-
code of hex 4E; EOR would
be 4D. Code 4F combines the
two to make LSE.

The program calculates par-
ity— odd or even — of binary val-
ues from 0 to 16 (hex 10) in-
clusive. The parity subroutine,
at address $201A, is called
with the selected value in the
A register and also stored at
address $203F We'll look at
the subroutine code in detail.

The parity bit we are calcu-
lating will be in the low-order
bit of the accumulator. The
first bit is already there, so we
need to loop seven times to
get the eight bits. Set our count-
er to 0.

201A AO QD LDY #$00

Here comes our nonstandard
opcode. LSE, code $4F, will
right-shift the contents of ad-
dress $2G3F and then EOR
that value into the accumula-
tor. Bit 0 of the accumulator
will then contain the exclusive-
or value of the two low bits,
and as the loop continues,
the remaining bits will be
worked in.

20tC 4F 30 20 LSE $203F

The remaining subroutine
code bumps the Y counter
and loops seven times.

201 F C8

INY

2020 CO 07

CPY #$07

2022 DO F8

BNE $201 C

2024 60

RTS

It's worth noting that when
the subroutine returns, the par-
ity information is stored in the
low bit of the A register. We
can extract and test it very sim-
ply by moving it into the carry
flag v/ith instruction LSR.

2009 AO 45 LDY #$45
; ascil E for Even

200B 4A LSR A

; move test bit to C llag
200Cg0 02 BCCS2010
; even parity, sitip ahead
200E AO 4F LDY #$4F
; odd parity, 0 for Odd

2010 98 TYA

; move E or 0 to A reg

2011 20 D2 FF JSR SFFD2
; print E or 0

Here's a listing that pokes the
data in from BASIC.

100 PRINT "JIIVl BUHERFIELD'S

ILLEGAL OPCODES!"
110 DATA 162,0,138,141,

48,32,32,26,32
120 DATA 160,69,74,144,2,

160,79,152
130 DATA 32,210,255,232,

224,17,208,233,96
140 DATA 160,0,79,48,32,

200,192,7,208,248,96
200 FOR J=8192 TO 8228
21DREADX:T=T+X
220 POKE J,X
230 NEXT J

240 IF T<>42Z8 THEN STOP
300 PRINT "PARITY OF BINARY

VALUES 0 TO 16:"
310 SYS 8192

(Editor's note: For more infor-
mation about unconventional
6502 opcodes, see Randy
Thompson's "Programmer's
Page" on page G-20. n

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PROGRAMMER'S PAGE

Randy Thompson

Think you

know all of the

opcodes for

tfie 6502? Here are

some that the

manuals never

mention.

SECRET 6502
OPCODES REVEALED

CPU manufacturers often re-
lease their chips with several
undocumented opcodes hid-
den inside. Take the 6502, for
exannple. The sleuthing of sev-
eral exceedingly curious pro-
grannmers has turned up
about a dozen unofficial 6502
machine language instruc-
tions— instructions such as
LAX, which loads both the ac-
cumulator and the X register
with a value from memory.

Whether these opcodes
were omitted from the CPU's
specifications accidentally or
were an unintentional by-prod-
uct of the chip's design is un-
clear. In any case, there are
more functional 6502 op-
codes than most assembly lan-
guage manuals reveal. Here
are a few that I discovered in
some old articles and books,
most notably "Complete Inner
Space Anthology" tiy Karl J.H.
Hildon in Transactor and Pro-
gramming the PET/CBM, by
Raeto Collin West, published
by COMPUTE Books.

Because these opcodes
are unofficial, I'd be surprised
if you could find an assembler
that supports them. In fact, the
opcodes' mnemonics (the let-
ters used to identify each in-
struction) were invented by
the programmers who discov-
ered the instructions. As a re-
sult, to use any of the opcodes
listed below, you'll probably
have to enter their numerical
value into your code using a
machine language monitor or
an assembler's byte editor.
Now, this is programming at
the machine level. (See Jim But-
terfield's "Machine Language"
column in this issue for more
information about how to put
one of these secret opcodes
to work.)

Please note that all opcode
values in this article are given
in hexadecimal. These hexa-

decimal values are listed imme-
diately to the right of any sam-
ple code. The lowercase let-
ters found in these examples
represent the hex digits that
you must provide as the instruc-
tion's immediate byte value or
as the instruction's destination
or source address. You
should have a good under-
standing of the 6502's differ-
ent addressing modes and
how machine language is
stored in memory if you plan
on putting any of these "se-
cret" opcodes to work.

ALR

This opcode AMDs the con-
tents of the A register with an
immediate value and then
LSRs the result.

Supported modes:

ALR #36 ;4B ab

Here's an example of how you
might write it in a program.

ALR #$FE ;6B 02

Here's the same code using
equivalent instructions.

AND #$FE
LSRA

ARR

This opcode ANDs the con-
tents of the A register with an
immediate value and then
RORs the result.

Supported modes:

ARR *ab ;6B ab

Here's an example of how
you might write it in a pro-
gram.

ARR #$7F ;6B 02

Here's the same code using
equivalent instructions.

AND #$7F
RORA

ASO

This opcode ASLs the con-
tents of a memory location
and then ORs the result with
the accumulator.

Supported modes:

ASO abed

OF dc ab

ASO abcd.X

IFdcafi

ASO aircdj

1B dcab

ASOaJ)

07 ab

ASO 3b,X

M ab

ASO (ab),y,

03 ab

ASO (ab),y

13 aA

Here's an example of how

you might use

this opcode;

G-20 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

ASO$C010;OF10CO

Here's the same code using
equivalent instructions.

ASL $C010
ORA $G010

AXS

AXS ANDs the contents of the
A and X registers (without
changing the contents of ei-
ther register) and stores the re-
sult in memory.

Supported modes:

AXS abed ;8F dc ab

AXS ab ;87 ab

AXS ab,Y ;97 ab

AXS (ab).X ;e3 ab

Example:

AXS $FE ;B7 FE

Here's the same code using
equivalent instructions.

STX$FE

PHA

AND $FE
STA $FE
PLA

INS

This opcode INCs the con-
tents of a memory location
and then SBCs the result
from the A register.

Supported modes:

INS abed

EF dc ab

Equivalent instructions:

INS abcd,X

FF dc ab

INS abcd,X

FB dc ab

ORA #$EE

msab

n ab

AND #$AA

INS abj

n ab

TXA

INS (ab),X

E3 36

INS (ab),y

F3 36

RLA ROLs the contents of a

Example:

memory location and then
AMDs the result with the accu

INS $FF ;E7 FF

mulator.

Here's the same code using
equivalent instructions.

INC $FF
SBC $FF

LSE

LSE LSRs the contents of a
memory location and then
EORs the result with the accu-
mulator.

Supported modes:

LSE abed

4F dc ab

LSE abcd.X

5F dc ab

LSE abcd,\

SB dc ab

LSE 36

AT ab

LSE ab,X

57 ail

LSE (ab).X

43 ab

LSE (ab),y

53 3d

Example:

LSE $C100,X ;5F

00 C1

DAL #$AA ;AB AA

Here's the same code using
equivalent instructions.

ASL$C100,X
EOR$C010,X

OAL

OAL ORs the A register with
#$EE, ANDs the result wfith an
immediate value, and then
stores the result in both A and
X.

Supported modes:

OAL Mab ;AB ab

Here's an example of how
you might use this opcode:

Supported modes:

RLA abed
RLA abcd.X
RLA aficd.Y
RLAaA
RLA 3ii.X
RLA (ab),X
RLA fafi^Y

;2F dc ab
;3F dc ab
;3B dc ab
■,21 ab

■,3,1 ab
-,23 ab
■,33 ab

Example;

RLA $FE,X ;37 FE

Equivalent

nstructions:

ROL $FE,X
AND $FE,X

BRA

RRA RORs the contents of a
memory location and then
ADCs the result with the accu-
mulator.

Supported modes:

RRA abed

;6F dc ab

RRA abcd,X

;7F dc ab

RRA 3Acd,Y

;7B de ab

RRAab

;67 ab

RRA ab,X

;77 ab

RRA (ab),X

■,53 ab

RRA f36J,Y

•,73 ab

Example:

RRA $Q30C ;

6F OC 03

Equivalent

instructions:

ROR $030C

ADC $D3QC

SAX

SAX ANDs the contents of the
A and X registers (leaving the
contents of A intact), sub-
tracts an immediate value,
and then stores the result in
X.

Supported modes:
SAX #3i) ;CB ab

Example:

SAX #$5A ;CB 5A

Equivalent instructions;

STA $02
TXA

AND $02
SBC #$5A
TAX
LDA $02

Note: fvlemory location $02
would not be altered by the
SAX opcode.

XAA

XAA transfers the contents of
the X register to the A register
and then ANDs the A register
with an immediate value.

Supported modes;

XAA #3(1 ;8B ab

Example:

XAA #$88 ;BB 88

Equivalent instructions:

TXA

AND #$88

Do you have an interesting pro-
gramming tip or tncl< for the
64 or 128 that you'd like to
share? "Programmer's Page"
is interested in receiving
them. Send ail submissions to
Programmer's Page, COM-
PUTE'S Gazette, 324 West
Wendover Avenue, Suite 200.
Greensboro, North Carolina
27408. We'll pay $25-$50 for
each tip that we publish. O

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE

G-21

GEOS

Steve Vander Ark

Power GEOS users

can fully access

four drives with this

latest update

from New Horizon.

G-22 COMPUTE

FOUR-DRIVE GEOS

Not long ago I spent a good
deal of space in ttiis column be-
moaning the lack of a good
way to handle four drives from
GEOS. Since then I've re-
ceived several new products
which make all my worrying a
thing of the past.

Yes, GEOS can handle four
drives. The problem is that the
GEOS program itself is whtten
to look at drives in groups of
two — A and B together, and
then C and D. All GEOS appli-
cations, such as geoWrite and
geoPublish, use those rou-
tines and therefore inherit an
invisible barrier which pre-
vents you, if you're in A and B,
from talking to C or D, and
vice versa. GEOS 2.0 jerry-
rigs a way around this prob-
lem by letting you swap your
third drive for either your first
or second drive from the desk-
Top. You still have only two ac-
tive drives, but you can ac-
cess a third with some effort.

The fourth drive became
part of the game with the re-
lease of DualTop, a program
that I've mentioned in this col-
umn before. In the latest ver-
sion, released by New Horizon
Software last summer, you
can access drive D as long as
you're on the DualTop screen
itself. Once you enter an appli-
cation, however, the old bias-
es surface, and you run the
risk of crashing your system tf
you don't have the right things
on the right drives.

For the author of DualTop,
Paul Murdaugh, that wasn't
good enough. He decided it
was time to fix things once
and for all. So, he wrote a se-
ries of patch programs which
modify GEOS and GEOS ap-
plications to fully support the
third and fourth drives. Yes, ful-
ly auppor[ them. If you run his
patches over your copy of
geoWrite, for example, you
can have your document in
drive A and geoWrite in drive

MARCH 1993

D, and when you double-click
on the document, it'll open
just as nicely as you please,
Four-drive support is here.

One more thing. Back in the
December issue, I reported
that DualTop, while support-
ing CMD devices such as the
RAMLink and FD-drive,
couldn't access native mode
partitions. I said that to use
one of these devices most ef-
fectively in GEOS, you need-
ed to use native mode parti-
tions, subdirectories, and so
on. I concluded, sadly, that
there was no four-drive file han-
dler which could properly ac-
cess these high-powered
drives. Well, I was wrong. Dual-
Top will handle native mode
partitions just fine, providing
that you boot up with Gate-
way. You can get yourself a
copy of the latest version of
DualTop by writing to Paul Mur-
daugh at New Horizon Soft-
ware, 2253 North Kansas Av-
enue, Springfield, Missouri
65803. New Horizon will also
patch your applications and
GEOS 64 or 128 kernel to run
fully with three or four drives.
Send $5 per patch and a disk
with whichever applications
you want patched, and you're
in business.

Another new program will
let you access all four drives.
It's called geoSHELL, and it
brings a new twist to the
GEOS interface. Using
GeoSHELL, a command line in-
terface, is a lot like using a
Commodore before GEOS
showed up with its point-and-
click environment. GeoSHELL
provides you with a prompt
where you type in commands
to make GEOS do its tricks. Its
commands are very powerful
indeed, containing enough
bells and whistles to make
geoSHELL a very attractive al-
ternative to the deskTop or oth-
er replacement, GeoSHELL is
available for $24.95. You can
order it by writing to Maurice
Randall, PO. Box 606, Char-

lotte, Michigan 48813.

Creative Micro Designs, the
company which brought you
the RAMLink and Jiffy-DOS,
has released new versions of
Gateway and Perfect Print, as
weil as a disk of some of some
excellent GEOS utility pro-
grams written by Jim Collette.
This Collette Utilities disk in-
cludes geoWizard, which no
GEOS user should be without,
and Font Edit 2,5, the best font-
design tool around. For more
Information, write to Creative Mi-
cro Designs, PO. Box 646,
East Longmeadow, Massachu-
setts 01028.

Another company that sup-
ports the GEOS community
with new products is The Soft
Group. It sells VideoByte II, a
digitizer that plugs into your
computer's user port. This prod-
uct creates images in multicol-
or mode, which until recently
meant that they weren't direct-
ly compatible with GEOS and
its high-resolution mode. A
new cartridge called Video-
Mate provides a bridge be-
tween the two wilh a GEOS ver-
sion of the VideoByte driver.
When you activate the VideoBy-
te desk accessory in ge-
oPaint, you're given a control
panel which lets you activate
the digitizer. Once you've cap-
tured an image, the Video-
Mate carthdge converts it into
high-resolution mode and plac-
es it in the geoPaint window.
VideoMate ($49,99) and Vid-
eoByte II ($69.99) are availa-
ble from Tenex, P.O. Box
6578, South Bend, Indiana
46660.

There are many more great
products that deserve a men-
tion here, but I'm running out
of room. Hang on until next
month, when I'll run through a
list of some of the latest share-
ware and public domain pro-
grams Ihat have made appear-
ances recently on Q-Link.

Speaking of Q-Link, feel
free to contact me by E-mail
there. I am SteveV14. O

I Only UnSi

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DIVERSIONS

Fred D'Ignazio

FRANK THE
FIREPLACE AND
LARRY THE LAMP

It's fine and
magical to bring

good things

to life— Dut tbm

is a ItmiL

A recent issue of the New
York Times reported on new
electronic gadgets that let you
control every appliance in
your home. The gadget de-
luxe, SmartHome, is an all-in-
one product that costs
$15,000 and lets you auto-
mate over 200 common house-
hold devices. SmartHome is
an alarm system and a heat-
ing and cooling controller, It
starts your coffee perking at a
set hour, and it starts cooking
your roast. One universal "zap-
per" with only 4000 buttons
lets you walk around your
home, magically bringing
good things to life.

Unfortunately, SmartHome
is already a dinosaur: a wired
labyrinth with hundreds of
feet of cable lurking behind
the walls. It's bulky, difficult to
install, and far too expensive
for the average homeowner. In
fact, SmartHome uses an old-
er generation of microproces-
sors and really isn't so smart.

A new generation of wire-
less home-control gadgets is
just around the corner. These
gadgets are slick, tiny, and
inexpensive, featuring the lat-
est microprocessors and min-
iaturized circuits. These devic-
es will spring to life instantly —
when a person enters a room,
when a person speaks, when
daylight dawns, when the tem-
perature drops, when night
falls. The complicated zapper
will be rendered obsolete by
a new generation of "personal
digital assistants" that re-
spond to spoken words, the
snap of fingers, the silent
rhythms of morning and eve-
ning, and coolness and heat.

I can imagine that almost
every conceivable item has be-
come an electronic personal
digital assistant with its own

G-24 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

name and probably its own
voice and personality.

The question is whether the
accumulation of these human-
like assistants will be a home-
owner's dream or a disaster.
Let's peek into the living room
of an average home, in late win-
ter, sometime in the late
1990s. Enter one male human
adult, theoretically the master
of the household. Instantly, doz-
ens of tiny, invisible electronic
gremlins spring into action.
The lights in the room blink on.
The fireplace gasps, and gas-
fed flames curl up metal logs.
The CD player consults its
built-in digital clock-calendar,
notes that it is 5:00 p.m., and
selects a CD filled with roman-
tic music. The thermostat
checks its program and de-
cides that the room is a bit
chilly. It cranks up the furnace
and heat flows into the room.

Everything is working
smoothly except for one tiny
helper — the semi-intelligent
home security alarm that's
been caught off guard, since
its schedule teiis it that no one
is supposed to be home on a
weekday until 6:00 p.m. "Who
goes there?" it booms in a
threatening baritone voice.

"Just me. Butch," says the
master, "I'm home early. I
think I'm catching a cold."

"How do I know it's you?"
asks Butch suspiciously,
"What's your wife's name?"

"Margaret."

"Wrong!" says Butch, who
doesn't realize that the master
has remarried and forgotten to
inform him. "Intruder alert! In-
truder alert! Police are on
their way. You have a right to
remain silent or request the
presence of an attorney,"

Things may not get this car-
ried away. But think of how in-
teresting it will be if the appli-
ances in the room not only
respond to human cues but al-
so to each other.

Again, enter the master. He
sits on Catherine the Couch.

Catherine is intelligent and re-
arranges her shape to cushion
him comfortably. The lights
blink on, the fireplace blazes,
and the temperature soars.

"Stop! Stop!" yells Frank
the Fireplace to Thelma the
Thermostat. "I'm supposed to
.warm the room. If you keep
warming it, Ron the Room will
tell my sensors to shut me off.
The master wants my fire for at-
mosphere as much as my
heat. He'll be really angry if I
suddenly switch off."

Thelma the Thermostat is
about to make an angry retort,
but she is interrupted by Larry
the Lamp. "Shut up, Frank!"
cries Larry, who is very rude
for a lamp. "You don't have
any real heat; you're just for
show. And take a look at the
master. He's got a book in his
hand, so he must want to
read. Lighting the room for
reading is my job."

As the other appliances
hear the argument, they join
in. Stan the Stairway begins
complaining to Ruth the Rug.
Catherine the Couch unwinds
at Tubby the Table. Wendy
the Window starts whining at
Dora the Doorknob. Pretty
soon, the entire room is filled
with the screams and shouts
of disgruntled appliances.

In the middle of the room,
the master has been dumped
on the floor by Catherine,
flipped on his back by Ruth,
left in the dark by Larry and
Frank, and frozen by Thelma.
He starts to complain. But his
tiny human voice is drowned
out by the taunts and threats
of the incensed appliances.

This story's moral: It's fine
and magical to bring good
things to life. Soon, we'll have
the technology to do this in-
expensively for almost every
device in our homes. But may-
be there's a limit, beyond
which we wave bye-bye to
common sense and sanity
and say hello ... to the twi-
light zone. □

PROGRAMS

UMBRELUS

By Maurice Yanney
Acid raindrops are falling and destroying
the plants. In order to provide ttie vege-
tation with a temporary measure of pro-
tection, you can shield them with a pair
of umbrellas. The umbrellas move in uni-
son, so it will take some skill to protect the
plants from the rancid rain.

Ty|ung It In

Umbrellas is written entirely in machine
language, but it loads and runs like a
BASIC program. To type it in, use fvlLX,
our machine language entry program.
See "Typing Aids" elsewhere in this sec-
tion. When fvlLX prompts you, respond
with the following values.

Starting address: 0801
Ending address: 15A0

Be sure to save a copy of the program
before exiting MLX.

Playing the Game

The Umbrella playing screen consists
of two umbrellas, a row of 12 seeds
near the bottom of the screen, and
plants of various heights above the
seeds. The top of the screen contains
a random number of clouds. The bot-
tom line of the screen displays the num-
ber of raindrops remaining in the cur-
rent level, your extra seeds, your score,
and the current level.

You begin with your two umbrellas
placed at the far left and far right of the
screen. The umbrellas move in unison.
To move the umbrellas toward the
sides of the screen, use the cursor up/
down key or the = key. If you are us-
ing a joystick, move it left or down. To
move the umbrellas toward the center,
use the cursor left/right key or the t (up
arrow) key. If you are using a joystick,
move it right or up.

The umbrellas will wrap around the
screen if moved too far in one direc-
tion. If the umbrellas are in the center
of the screen and you make another
move toward the center, the umbrellas
will move to the far sides of the
screen. Conversely, if the umbrellas
are at the far sides of the screen and
you make another move toward the
sides, the umbrellas will move to the
center of the screen. This maneuvering

is a little tricky at first and will take
some time for you to master.

When you move the umbrellas, they
position themselves automatically on
top of a plant or seed. To prevent a rain-
drop from destroying part of a plant or
a seed, you must shield it with an um-
brella. (This is one game where you
may find the keyboard more respon-
sive than a joystick.)

If a raindrop hits an umbrella, you re-
ceive 50 points, and the drop count is
reduced by one. !f the raindrop hits a
plant, the plant's height is diminished,
and the drop count is reduced by one.
If the raindrop hits a seed, you lose a
reserve seed. Move to a new level
when the number of drops reaches 0.
When you complete a level, you re-
ceive an additional 1000 points. The
game ends when a raindrop hits a
seed and you have none in resen/e.

As you advance to higher levels, the
game gets harder. The number of rain-
drops increases by 5 at each level, be-
ginning with 50 on level 1. You'll notice
that the plants don't seem to grow as
well on higher levels. You can help im-
prove growth on subsequent levels by
leaving the plants on the current level
in a good state. The third level adds an-
other dimension of difficulty, and a bo-
nus seed is awarded each 2500
points.

You can pause the game by holding
down the Shift key or by pressing the
Shift Lock key. Release the Shift key or
press the Shift Lock key again to re-
sume play.

UMBRELLAS

32 30 A4

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8D C8 EC
15 A9 B4
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15 8D 7F
24 8D 9D
15 8D 68
03 11 E9
AD 01 63
8D 02 97
20 16 9C
20 3C A3
15 F0 EE
D6 15 37
AD B5 29
80 B5 9D

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MARCH 1993 COMPUTE

G-25

PROGRAMS

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G-26 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

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5F
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1379
1381

Maurice Yanney

, th

e author of Cats

1389

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815

and Mice (January 1993), tends his gar-

1391

:AD

den in Lebanon,

Per

nsy

Ivar

)/a.

STEPMAN

By David Williams

Stepman is a simple game for the 1 28 in
40-co!umn mode that's designed to im-
prove a child's spelling. The game in-
cludes colorful animated graphics, mu-
sic, and sound effects.

Entering the Progrom

Stepman consists of two parts: the
main program and sprite data. The
main part is written entirely in BASIC.
To help avoid typing errors, enter it
with The Automatic Proofreader. See
"Typing Aids" elsewhere in this sec-
tion. Be sure to save a copy of the pro-
gram before exiting Proofreader.

The second part is data for
Stepman's sprites. Enter this part of the
program with MLX, our machine lan-
guage entry program. See "Typing
Aids" again. When MLX prompts, re-
spond with the following values.

Starting address: OEOO
Ending address: OFFF

Be sure to save this data with the file-
name STEPMAN, SPR. The main pro-
gram looks for and loads this filename
when it runs.

A Helping Hand

Stepman is a very tiny person. In order
to make it to his girlfriends' house by
lunchtime, he must get to the top of a
very large staircase. It's way too large
for him to climb, but fortunately he's a
champion high jumper at school. This
is where you come in. At every step,
Stepman is presented with a word that
may or may not be spelled correctly.
You must type in the correct spelling in
order to help him on his upward jour-
ney. If you spell the word correctly,
he'll be able to jump to the next higher
step. Spell it incorrectly, and he'll fall
back one step, bruising a sensitive
spot of his anatomy.

Once Stepman has reached the top
of the staircase, he'll be very grateful to
you for your invaluable aid. He'll jump
for joy and ask if you'd like to play
again.

When you're entering a word, use
the Del key to correct any mistakes you
may make. An invalid keypress will
cause a bell to ring. Use the Return

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE G-27

PROGRAMS

key when you believe you've entered
the word correctly.

The words that the program uses
are listed in data statements. These
can be modified at any time. Remem-
ber, however, to enter a pair of words
for each entry: one with a common spell-
ing mistake and the other spelled cor-
rectly Of course, you could make an en-
try with both words spelled correctly if
you wish.

Stepman can be used for situations
other than spelling. The words could
be replaced with atomic elements to
help you study for a chemistry test.

Stepman also has a Help function
that contains brief instructions. It can
be called at any time by pressing the
128's Help key,

STEPMAN

SQ 0 FAST:BL0AD"STEPMAN.SPR":I
=RND(-TI) :CLR:GRAPHIC. : RE
STORE:SYS24 812,,9,,,CHR$(
27) +"H": COLOR., 12 :C0LOR4,
16:F0RI=2T07:SPRITEI,. ;NE
XT:SPRITE1,1,16,.,. ,. ,.:T
EHP06

DR 1 w=49:dims,j,a$,b$,c$,s$,a

$ (W-1) ,C$ (W-1) :F0RI=.T0W-
1:READA$ (I) ,C$(I) :NEXT
XB 2 PRINT"{2 HOME} {CLR}{BLK}
{N}{RVS}2TEPMAN
{10 SPACES}DH WILLIAMS &
{SPACE}SR PATTON":PRINTTA

B{8) "{downT{3}easy steps

{SPACE]T0 SPELLING!

JJ 3 PRINTTAB (7) "{ YBL } COMPUTE
{SPACE}PUBLTCATIONS 1993"
: PRINTTAB (6) "PROGRAMMING
{SPACE}: DAVID WILLIAMS":
PRINT"{2 D0WN}{6}Y0U MUST
HELP S^TEPMAN CLIMB UP AL
L THE

RR 4 PRINT"STAIRS. TO DO THIS,
YOU ARE GIVEN A":PRINT"S
ERIES OF WORDS, WHICH MAY
OR HAY NOT BEMISSPELT. Y
OU ARE TO TYPE IN THE COR
RECTSPELLING, AND IF YOLT
{SPACE}ARE CORRECT,

SQ 5 PRINT"STEPMAH WILL CLIMB
{SPACeTOP h STAIR, OTHERW
ISEHE WILL FALL BACK DOWN
ONE ! !":SPRITE8, . ,16,. ,1
,1, . :MOVSPR8,150,170

BJ 6 GRAPHIC1,1:C0L0R1,2:F0RI=
12TO24:FORJ=ITO40-3* (24-1
) :CHAR1,40-J,I," ",l:NEXT
iNEXT

GG 7 C0L0R1,1:CHAR1, . , . ,"STEPM
AN{10 SPACES}DM WILLIAMS
{SPACE3& SR PATT0N",1:C0L
0R1,11:CHAR1,31,24,"STEP

G-28 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

{SPACE}: ",1:SL0W
CD 8 SPRSAV8,l:MOVSPRl,25,222:
CHAR1,15,2,"{10 SPACES}":
CHARl, . ,3,"{40 SPACES}":C
HAR1,2,4,"{35 SPACES}"
MH 9 S=. :GOSUB30:PLAY"V1O4T7U8
X0V2O4T0U8X3V2O1IRV1O3IEV
2O2QAV10 3SA0 4CO3BEV2O2I#G
V1O3SB0 4DV1O4ICV2O2SAEMV1
O4lEV2O2SAO3CV10 3I#GV2O2S
BEV104IEV2023B03D
QJ 10 PLAy"V203ICV103SAEV202lA
V10 3SA04CV202I#GV10 3SBEV
2O2IEV1O3SB0 4DV1O4ICV20 2
SAEV1O3IAV2O2SA0 3CV104QR
V202SBEB03D
SB 11 CHARl, . ,2, "YOUR WORD IS
{SPACE} :":CHAR1, . ,3, "HOW
DO YOU SPELL THIS CORRE
CTLY?
RQ 12 I=INT (RND (.) *W) : AS=A$ (I)
:C$=CS (I) :IFRND(.)<.1THE
NA$=CS
GM 13 CHARl, 15, 2, "{15 SPACES}"
:CHAR1,15,2,A$:CHAR1,1,4
,"{€}■" :B$=""
SC 14 GETKEYS$:IFS$=CHR$ (27)TH
ENGETS5: IFSS="H"THENGRAP
HIC. : SPRITE 1, . :SPRITE8,1
:GETKEYS$: GETS $: GRAPH ICl
: SPRITES, . : SPRITE 1,1: GOT
014
AE 15 IFS$=CHRS (20) ANDLEN{B$) >
.THENBS=LEFTS (B$,LEN (B$)
-1) :CHARl,LEN (B9)+l,4,"
■C@> ":G0T014
CG 16 IFS$=CHRS{13)THENCHAR1,L
EH(B9)+1,4," ":GOTOia:EL
SEIFS$<"A"ORS$>"Z"THENPR
INT"{G}":G0TO14
CQ 17 B$=B$+SS:CHAR1,LEN(B$) ,4

,SS + "'f(?J":G0T014
EQ 18 IFB$=CSTHENBEGIN:CHARl,l
5,7, "WELL DONE!":S0UND2,
20000,50, . ,2000, 100 :SPRS
AV2,1:FORJ=1TO10:MOVSPR1
,+2,-l:NEXT:SLEEP.5:SPRS

AV3,1:F0RJ=1T0 2:M0VSPR1,
+ 1, + 1

RD 19 NEXT:M0VSPRl,+2,+. :SPRSA
V8,1:S=S+1:GOSUB30:IFS=1
2THENSPRSAV7,l:FORI=lT0 3
:FORJ=1T015;HOVSPR1,+.,-
1 ; NEXT: SLEEP. 5: FOR J=1T01
5:H0VSPRl,+. ,+l:NEXT:NEX
T

RS 20 CHARl, IS, 7, "{10 SPACES}"
:BEND

RC 21 IFBS<>CSANDS>.THENBEGIN:
CH ARl ,17,7, "OOPS ! " : SOUND
2,49152,70,1, . ,100, 1, . :S
LEEP , 5 : SPRSAV4 , 1 : MOVSPRl
,-2,+. : FOR J=IT0 2: MOVSPRl
,-1, -1 : NEXT: SLEEP. 5 :SPRS
AV5,1

GA 22 FORJ=lTO10:HOVSPRl,-2,+l
: NE XT : S LEE P . 5 : S PRS AV6 , 1 :

SLEEP1:SPRSAV8,1:S=S-1:G

OSUB30:CHAR1,17,7,"

{5 SPACES}":BEND

HE 23 CHARl, 1,4, "{14 SPACES}":
IFS<12THENGOT012

KH 24 CHARl, .,2, "{15 SPACES}WE
LL D0NE!":CHAR1, , , 3,"yOU
HAVE HELPED STEPMAH CLI
MB THE STAIRS

DF 25 PLAY"V203ICV104SREV202IA
V10 4SCEV20 3ICV10 3SA0 4CV2
0 2IAV10 2SEGV10 3IFV203SDO
2AV103IAV20 2SFAV104IFV20
1SA02C

BH 26 PLAY"V201IFV104SC03AV201
IDV103SFAV10 3IDV201SG0 2G
V10 3IBV20 2SFGV201IAV104S
C03AV202I#FV104SCEV201IB
V104SD03BV20 2I#GV10 4SDF

DB 27 PLAY"V202ICV104SECV202IA
V104SEGV202IDV1O4SFEV20 2
ISBV10 4SDCV202ItGV10 3SBO
4CV202IFV104SDEV202IDV10
4SPDV20lIBV104S#GD

SP 28 PLAY"V202I#GV104SBDV202I
AV10 4SCAV20 2IDV104SPDV20
2IEV103SB04DV20 2IFV103S#
GBV2Q2I#DV10 4SC0 3AV202IE
V103SEAV202IEV103SB#GV20
1HAV103SAECE0 2QA

EB 29 SLEEP2:CHRR1,2,4,"W0ULD
{SPACE}Y0U LIKE TO PLAY
CSPACE}AGAIN? (Y/N)":P0K
E20 8,. :GETKEYA$: IFAS="Y"
THENG0T08:ELSESPRITE1, . :
GRAPHIC. : PRINT" {CLR}G00D
BYE!":END

KC 30 C0L0R1,11: J=S:SS="00":IP
S>9THENMID$ (S$ , 1 , 1 ) =" 1 " :
J=S-10

QB 31 M1D$ (S$,2,1)=CHR5 (ASC("0
")+J) :CHAR,38,24,S$,l:CO
LORl, 8: RETURN

JO 32 DATAWURD, WORD, BLUD, BLOOD
,BISKIT,BISCUIT,CIRKIT,C
IRCUIT,DISPARE,DESPAIR,P
ROFFESOR,PROFESSOR,ENDEV
ER, ENDEAVOUR, WALLNUT,WAL
NUT,DISDANE,DISDAIN,KONV
OY, CONVOY

CB 33 DATASELEBRAITIONjCELEBRA
T ION, WEMDSDAY, WEDNESDAY,
DREEH, DREAM, CAPTIN,CAPTA
IN, GAURD, GUARD, CO0K0O,CU
CKOO,BAISIN,BASIN,BASAUL
T , BASALT , PEECH , PEACH , CLE
ER, CLEAR

PH 34 DATAMEENING, MEANING, PERF
ORHENSS, PERFORMANCE, INVE
STAGATE , INVESTIGATE ,THON
DER , THUNDER , NECESARY , NEC
ESSARY,LURN,LEARN,NURV,N
ERVE,TURH,TERM,FORTEEN,F
OURTEEN

RA 35 DATASIMALAR, SIMILAR, SATE
RDAY, SATURDAY, SE SON, SEAS
ON , JELY , JELL Y , COMAND ,COM

MAND,C0NSTELAT10N,C0NSTE

LLATION,BaSINES, BUSINESS
,DIFICOLT, DIFFICULT, HA RB
OR, HARBOUR

AA 36 DATACHALLANGEjCHRLLEMGE,
INTELLAGANT , INTELLIGENT ,
DUPLICAIT, DUPLICATE, PEEP
LE , PEOPLE, AMUSMENTS ,AMUS
EMENTS,SPESHEL,SPECIAL,B
UTEY,BEAUTY,LISSEN,LISTE
N

DJ 37 DATADISTANS, DISTANCE, CAM
ARA, CAMERA, CHOCLET,CHOCO
LATE

STEPMAN.SPR

0E00

0E08-

0E10

0E18-

BEZa

0E28

0E33

0E38

0E40

0E48

0E50

0E58

0Ee0

0E68

0E70

0E78

aE8 0

0E38

0E90

0E98

0EA0

0EA8

0EB0

0EB8

0EC0

0EC8

0ED0

0ED8

0EE0

SEES

0EF0

0EF8

0F00

0F08

0F10

0F18

0F20

0F28

0F30

0F38

0F40

0F48

0F50

0F58

0F60

0F68

:0F

0F70

:01

0F78

:80

0F80

:03

0F88

:00

0F90

:04

0F98

:02

0FA0

:00

0FR8:C3
0FB0:0E
0FB8: IC
0FC0:03
0FC8: 00
0FD0:04
0FD8:lA
0FE0: 60
0FE8;C3
0FF0: 0E
0FF8:30

80 03 81 C0 07

00 70 IC 00 38

70 00 0E 00 00

F8 00 04 04 00

08 22 00 08 72

00 03 F8 00 0E

05 80 31 04 C0

OC 44 30 00 FF

80 03 81 C0 07

00 E0 IC 01 C0

70 07 00 00 00

00 E0 44
38 00 F6
00 00 El

06 92 Al
00 04 3B

07 00 27
18 84 40
00 01 BE
00 E0 84
38 03 72
00 00 54

David Williams is the auliior of l-iang-
man 128. Typing Tutor, and Mega Ad-
venture. He lives in Charlestown, New
South Wales, Australia.

POWERSPRITE

By Danny English

If you've ever used sprites in yourowri pro-
grams, you know how time consuming
they can be. Setting their colors, expan-
sion, coordinates, and other pointers can
be tedious.

Powersprite, a program for the 64,
makes setting up sprites a snap. A sim-
ple onscreen editor allows total control
over all sprite registers. You can then
save the data to disk for use in your own
programs.

Ivlany programs require graphics larg-
er than a single sprite. Connecting
sprites and moving them together can be
a serious task, but Powersprite makes
that chore easy Powersprite lets you con-
nect up to eight sprites to form one giant
powersprite. which can be moved or an-
imated with a single command. All you
have to do is draw the sprites!

Getting Started

Powersprite is written entirely in ma-
chine language. All codes and data re-
side in memory locations $C000-
$C6FF. A demonstration is included as
an example of how to use Powersprite
in a BASIC program. Since Powersprite
doesn't draw sprite shapes, they must
be drawn using a sprite editor, such as
COMPUTE'S Sprite Magic. Powersprite
is compatible with almost any sprite ed-
itor if the sprite data can be loaded in-
to bank 0.

You must enter Powersprite with
MLX, our machine language entry pro-
gram; see "Typing Aids" elsewhere in
this section. When MLX prompts, re-
spond with the following.

Starting address: COOO

Ending address: C6FF

Be sure to save a copy of the program
with the filename POWERSPRITE be-
fore you exit MLX. This is the filename
that the demonstration program loads
when it runs.

The demo program is written entire-
ly in BASIC. To help avoid typing er-
rors, enter it with The Automatic Proof-
reader; see "Typing Aids" again. Be
sure to save it on the same disk as the
Powersprite program. By running the de-
mo and following its code, you'll have
a good idea of how to use Powersprite
commands.

The Editor

To use Powersprite, load it with the ,8,1
extension and then enter NEW. Next,
load your sprites. To enter the editor,
type SYS 49152. You will be prompted
about how many sprites to connect. If
you don't wish to create a powersprite,
press 0 to skip that option.

If you are making a powersprite.
press 1 through 8, depending on the
number of sprites you want to connect,
The editor commands will now appear
at the top of the screenwith a block of
sprites below them. The commands
are similar to those of other sprite edi-
tors. Press X or Y to expand, 0 to turn
sprites off or on, and so on. Press the
key again to undo that command.

The current sprite being set is dis-
played in gray in the upper left corner
of the screen. To select another sprite,
press keys 0-7. !f you select a sprite
that isn't enabled, simply press O to
turn it on.

Use the cursor keys to move individ-
ual sprites. Sprites can be moved any-
where on the screen. Multiple sprites
can be connected in any way to form
a powersprite. The @ / : ; keys move a
defined powerspnte up, down, left, or
right, respectively For example, if you
define four sprites to be connected,
sprites 0-3 would move together as
one powersprite.

Pressing the + or - keys will incre-
ment or decrement the frame of an in-
dividual sprite. All sprite frames default
to 192, meaning sprite data is stored at
12288. Please see the animation sec-
tion below for details on powersprite
frames.

To edit the colors on an individual

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE G-29

PROGRAMS

sprite, press C. A new menu will ap-
pear that will let you set sprite and back-
ground colors using keys 1-4. All
three sprite colors can be accessed on-
ly if the sprite is in multicolor mode.

When all sprites are in place, press
Q to quit the editor. You will then be
prompted to save your data to disk or
abort. If you choose to abort but
change your mind a short time later,
don't worry. The data will still be
stored in memory. At anytime after quit-
ting, you can enter the editor again,
and all sprites will remain intact for fur-
ther editing. If you choose to save to
" disk, you will be prompted for a file-
name. A copy of the code is stored
along with your custom data. A saved
file will function independently of the
original Powersprite program.

Storing and Recalling

In some cases, you may wish to set up
your sprite display manually using
POKEs and PEEKs, or you may wish to
leave it under program control. To
take a snapshot of all sprite registers,
type SYS 49155. If you wish to define
a powersprite, enter POKE 49192, N
wfiere N is the number of sprites con-
nected. To store the snapshot on disk,
simply enter SYS 50754.

To recall your stored sprite registers,
load your saved file. Enter SYS 49158,
and the sprites will appear exactly as
you positioned them. If you decide to
make any more changes, simply enter
SYS 49152 to use the editor again.

Powerful Sprites

The most advanced feature of Power-
sprite allows you to move and animate
multiple sprites. To move a power-
sprite, it should first be displayed using
the RECALL command. The format for
moving a powersprite is SYS
49164,X,YM. The X and Y values cor-
respond to the X and y coordinates of
sprite 0. All other sprites will be
moved respective to these values. The
legal limits of X and Y are 0 to 255. To
move beyond the 255th X position, set
X back to 0 and M to 1 . When you set
M to 1, the program will automatically
add 255 in the x-axis to each sprite
that is beyond that range. For exam-
ple, to move a powersprite to location
265, 100, the command would be SYS
49164,10,100,1.

G-30 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

Limitations

There are restrictions when manipulat-
ing a powersprite. First, don't move a
powersprite more than 255 positions at
a time. The program won't add or sub-
tract a value greater than 255.

Second, be careful when moving larg-
er powersprites off the border. Some of
the sprites may wrap around, causing
unwanted effects. If your powersprite
does wrap around, simply move it
back in the opposite direction a few
times. Any other sprites on the screen
won't be disturbed by a powersprite.

Animation

Animating a powersprite is much like an-
imating a normal sprite. The only differ-
ence is that one frame of a powersprite
may consist of up to eight normal
sprite frames. To set the frame of a pow-
ersprite, enter SYS 49161, Fwhere F is
the starting frame number. Legal
frame values range from 0 to 255. For
example, if you enter 192 for F and
three sprites have been defined as a
powersprite, sprite 0 will point to 192,
sprite 1 to 193, and sprite 2 to 194,
The next frame should start at 195. De-
signing correct frames should be
done using a good sprite editor,

A moving animated powersprite can
produce a high-speed, commercial-
quality display Whether you're making
a giant animated dragon for an adven-
ture game or just setting up a simple
sprite display, Powersprite will make it
a lot less painful.

POWERSPRITE

C000:
C008I
C010;
C018;
C020;
C028;
C030;
C038:
C040;
C048;
C050;
C058;
C060!
C06a;
C070;
0078;
C080i
C088:
C090:
C098:

C0A8:

4C 40
C0 4C
8 5 7C
85 91
00 45
08 00
Fl Fl
C0 C0
40 43
C2 4C
50 4F
49 54
13 12
45 20
37 5D
54 20
20 43
4F 56
2D 5D
20 20
45 58

C0 4C

49 C0
9D 7C
9D 91
4C 45
00 00
Fl Fl
C0 C0
C3 4C
FB C4
57 45
45 20
9B 53
20 05
20 53
23 5B
52 53
45 20
20 46
20 SB

50 41

20 5B 4F 5D

4 3 C0
4C 4C
B5 7C
B5 91
43 FF
00 00
Fl Fl
C0 C0
34 C2
4C IB
52 53
20 20
50 52
20 5B

45 4C
40 2F
52 5D
20 20
52 41
58 59
4E 44

46 46

40 46 90
C0 00 47
CD 7C A6
CD 91 AE
20 00 2B
F2 F3 87
Fl Fl Bl
C0 C0 B9
40 7F BA
C5 00 64
50 52 DF
20 20 20
49 54 4B
30 2D E4
45 43 47
3A 3B 54
20 4D F7
58 2B 55
4D 45 DF
5D 20 BE
20 20 DC
2F 4F 09

C0B0;
C0B8;
C0C0;
C0C8;
0000;
C0D8:
O0E0i
O0E8:

caF0;

C0F8;
C100;
C108;
C110;
C118;
C120;
C128;
C130:
0138;
C140:
C148:
C150:
C158:
C160:
C168:
0170:
C178:
0180:
0188:
0190:
0198:
O1A0:
C1A8;
C1B0:
0188:
0103:
0108:
C1D0:
01D8:
C1E0:
C1E8:
C1F0:
OlFS:
0230:
0208:
0210:
0218:
0220:
0228:
0230:
0238:
0240:
0248:
0250:
0258:
0260:
0268:
0270:
C27S:
0280:
0288:
0290;
0298:
C2A0:
C2A8:
C2B0:
0268:
C2C0:
0208:
O2D0:
C2D8:

4E 20

5D 55
4F 52
4F 40

51 5D
56 45

53 50
20 05

45 53

46 4F

52 20

54 05
50 52
40 4F
5B 32
49 43
31 20

55 40
52 20
5B 34

47 52
20 20
54 45
23 53
20 54
45 43
29 3F
23 53
20 9B
4F 52
52 54

20
2fl

46 49
3A 20
D2 FF
22 C2
60 A0
FF CB
02 18
A0 00
08 CO
B9 85
2F D0
01 20
F5 60
40 80
00 A2
00 D0
D0 99
F5 AD
17 D0
8D 2B
0 3 AD
30 B9
F8 07
D0 EF
AD 26
00 C2
AD 27

00 8D
10 D0
A0 00
B9 38
08 D0
D0 AD
A0 00
08 00

01 20
40 Dl

20 20

40 54
20 20
4F 52
55 49
20 20

52 49
20 2D

53 20
52 20
20 SB
20 5B

49 54
52 20
5D 20
4F 40
20 5B

54 49
23 32
5D 20
4F 55
93 12
52 20

50 52
4F 20
54 20
20 20

41 56
44 35
20 9B
3F 20
20 23
23 20
40 45
A3 30
08 00
18 69
00 B9

00 7E
69 B0
B9 5A
28 D0

01 23
F5 63
D2 FF

01 32
00 01
00 OA
F8 60
10 00
15 D0
8D 27
00 AD

10 D0
27 D0
99 38
AD 2 5
D0 8D
AD 25
00 8D
IB D0
AD 2D
B9 30
00 99
EF AD
2F 00
B9 13

11 D0
E4 FF

02 09

20 20
49 43

20 5B
20 20
54 2F
13 12
54 4 5
20 98
31 2D
43 4F
51 5D
31 SD
45 20
20 20
4D 55
4F 52

33 50
43 4F
20 20

42 41
4E 44
05 23
23 23
49 54

43 4F
28 31
20 93
45 20
49 53
41 35
20 20
20 20
20 93
4E 41
B9 60
7D D0
B0 8D
DC 00
D0 FS
8D 07

01 23
F5 63

02 FF
A3 30
08 00

34 38
A9 14
D0 FD
A0 00

08 00
80 25
00 AD
10 D0
8D 2D
99 30
00 08
D0 80
2F 00
00 8D
17 D0
AD 20
00 8D
00 99
F8 07
2E 03
SD 26

03 99
F5 60

09 2F
39 90

SB 4D EC
4F 40 4F
43 SD D6
20 SB 31

53 41 D8
9B 20 15
20 20 17
50 52 Ea
34 20 ID
40 4F FC
55 49 62
20 S3 43
43 4F 3F
20 20 03
40 54 38
20 23 F6
20 4D AA
40 4F D7
20 20 5E
43 4B ID
20 20 2F
45 4E 09
4F 46 2A
45 53 79
4E 4E 47
2D 38 94
12 05 E6

54 4F 21
4B 20 32
42 4F 08
20 20 2E
20 20 20
05 92 3E
4D 45 E6
00 20 6E
F5 AD A3

07 04 7D
20 D2 4D
AD 22 72
04 60 FC
D2 FF D5
A3 00 F5

08 00 E6
B9 B5 40
0D D0 0D

10 20 71
8D 4F FD
CE 4F OE
B9 00 E7

11 D0 D6
03 AD 00
IB D0 7 5
80 20 05
00 A0 9D
03 B9 3F
03 38 95
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;32

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29 C9
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IE C9
22 C9
AC 22

01 99
25 D0
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00 EE
18 69

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60 C3
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63 E8
93 20
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60 C3

03 4C
22 C2
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40 0E
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AC 22

01 99

22 C2
99 F8

04 20

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80 02

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60 20

00 Fa

23 C2
00 A9
33 C3

04 FE
18 6D

00 9D
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20 F0
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DO SD

01 80

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20 64
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15 C5
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15 C5
C5 A9

05 20
31 F0
33 FO
51 DO

02 B9
27 00
4C CO
C4 EE
9B B7

00 FO

01 CA

38 E9 A6

80 15 70

00 F0 53

15 D0 2B
C2 60 56
BD 00 EA
02 FO 4D
00 00 A9
BO 00 E2
00 D0 73
22 02 52
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06 80 El
CE 02 8F
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80 23 04
90 29 6F
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FO 3C 83
FO 3C 40
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4C BO 86
70 C3 F3
AA 20 2F
ID 4C CO
C3 A2 3^
40 BE 6F

02 18 7D
F8 07 4A
38 B9 20

07 40 F6
24 C2 54
09 02 8F

09 01 A3
8D 02 R0
C4 20 B6
20 33 83
33 C3 16
04 DE El
38 ED 47
FF 90 6B
BO 00 20
00 Oe 98

10 D0 5D

00 D0 98
24 C9 10
46 09 FE

03 BD 27

16 C5 62

17 05 B3
CE 16 79

04 EE 00
64 C4 27
09 00 BO

01 8D IC
64 C4 BF
09 FF 05
00 80 32
D9 01 BF
13 09 60

20 C9 6F
E9 40 7F
27 00 D5
40 CO 60
04 EE 20

21 00 40
8A A6 EA
OD 99 39

08 CC FC

C510:

0518:

0520;

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0550:

0558'

C56a

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C570:

C578

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C5B8

0590

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C5C0

0508

0500

C5D8

C5E0

C5E8

C5F0

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C600

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C610

0618

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0628

0630

C638

C640

0648

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0660

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0670

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0680

0688

0690

0698

C6A0

06A8

C6B0

06B8

0600

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:28 00

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:C9 01

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:14 20

:20 AC

:00 8D
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: 20 BD

:01 20

:86 FA
:A9 FA

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00 EF
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18 C5
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11 00
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20 FE
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54 C6
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02 FF
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60 06
0A 04
02 FF
54 06
15 D0
54 06
FF A9
BA FF
8 4 FB
20 D8
OF A9

01
lA

17
8D

60 00 00
9B B7 8E
8E 16 05
05 AO 16
12 A9 01

00 38 EO
40 56 05
AD 16 C5
lA C5 A2
05 C9
18 60
78 C5 BD
05 90 11
28 CO DO

01 CD
A9 01
ED 15 C5
00 18 6D
EE 19 C5
80 IB 05
00 8D 19
60 19 05
C5 40 Fl
10 00 B0
05 AO 10
80 19 05
80 18 05
10 00 80
00 AD 18
18 BD 10
10 CO A9
F0
CO

BD 10 CO
03 A9 00
0A AO 20
80 20 00
C0 DO B6

20 E4

29 B9

80 20

F9
20 03
8D 54

09 41

06 99 0A

00 F0 Fl

00 F0

2F B0

03 40

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54 C6 99
EE 54 06
06 C9 00
A9 20 AC
OE 54 C6
40 60 06
99 0A 04
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AO CO A2
00 A2 08
AO CO A2
AO 06 A2
FF 4C 06
FA 20 08

00 FB

15 93
20 FD
05 89
80 D0

16 E0
A9 A2
38 20
00 35
F0 B3
05 80

11 4B
00 51
DA 4D
05 C6

18 94
80 09

19 33
4C A5
A9 05
05 3D
80 83
05 C2

12 FO
CO 6A
40 A3
AD 12

19 as

05 5E
00 52
00 F3
lA 3D
00 Fl
ED 93
E9 F6
CO 3F
ES IF
40 SB
FF 2B

03 B2
CO D3

06 91

04 7A
09 40
C9 40
4C 3F
60 68
03 87
50 41
40 8B
D0 39
54 BE
A9 88
A9 CD
A9 27
D2 OE
50 5E
AO BB
00 9B
FF 2E
CO Al
00 99

D" POWERS PR ITE", 8,1
FA 30 POKE53280,11:POKE53281,6
PB 40 PRINT"{CLR}"CHR$(14) :POK

E53269,0
MS 50 PRINT" {DOWN) {WHT}

{6 SPACES} {RVS} POWERSPR

ITE (2 SPACESlDEHONSTRATI

ON"
SC 60 PRINT"{2 D0WN}(0YN1 POSI

TIONING, MOVING AND ANIM

ATING{6 SPACES}"
CR 70 PRINT" MULTIPLE SPRITES

{SPACE) IS NOW A SNAP.

{2 SPACES)THIS{2 SPACES}

DA aa PRINT" UTILITY CONNECTS
{SPACE)UP TO EIGHT SPRIT
ES TO"
CJ 90 PRINT" CREATE A GIANT 'P

OWERS^PRITE ' , THAT CAN "
ES 100 PRINT" BE MOVED OR ANIM

ATED WITH ONE COMMAND,

(SPACE}"
HM 110 PRINT" POWERS^PRITE IS A

CCESSED USING SIMPLE

{3 SPACES}"
AJ 120 PRINT" SYS COMMANDS FRO

M DIRECT MODE, OR YOUR

(SPACE}"
JR 130 PRINT" OWN BASIC OR MAC

HINE LANGUAGE PROGRAMS.

EH 140

PJ
ER

POWER DEMO

PK 5 REM COPYRIGHT 1993 - COMP
UTE PUBLICATIONS INTL LTD
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
AE 10 REM POWERSPRITE DEMO
EB 20 IFPEEK (49152) O76THENL0A

150
160

HX 170

PK 180

HK 190

GG 200

QJ 210

FX 220

AF 230

JX 240

SPRITES,
X AND Y

COLORS,
AND EXPA

EA
RE

250
260

PRINT"{DOWtJ}{YEL}

[7 SPACES}- HIT A KEY T

0 CONTINUE -"

GET KS:IFK$=""THEN150

PRINT"(CLR} (3 DOWN}

(CYN} POWERSPRITE CAN

E USED TO STORE DATA

(2 SPACES}"

PRINT" FOR ALL

INCLUDING ALL
(5 SPACES}"
PRINT" VALUES,
(SPACE }FRAMES,
NSION. "

PRINT" A SIMPLE EDITOR
{SPACE} ALLOWS SPRITE SE
TUP{4 SPACES}"
PRINT" WITHOUT TEDIOUS
{SPACE} PEEKS AND POKES.
{2 SPACES)DATA "
PRINT" CAN BE STORED ON

DISK FOR USE IN YOUR
(2 SPACES)"
PRINT" OWN PROGRAMS.
(2 SPACES)DATA IS RECAL
LED WITH{3 SPACES}"
PRINT" ONE SIMPLE COMMA
ND.{2 SPACES}PLEASE HIT

A KEY {2 SPACES}"
PRINT" TO SEE A POWERS P
RITE IN ACTION. . ,
(6 SPACES)"
GET K$: IFK$=""THEN250
REM ** POWERSPRITE DEMO

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE G-31

PROGRAMS

AF 270 PRINT"(CLR}":POKE53281,

0
JO 280 PRINT"{DOWN) {CYN}THE BI

G BLOCK IS A POWERS^PRIT

E USING{4 SPACES}"
HG 290 PRINT"ALL EIGHT SPRITES
CONNECTED. (2 SPACES}A

{SPACE)SINGLEf 2 SPJ^CES)

GE 300 PRINT"COMMAND WILL MOVE
OR ANIMATE THIS GIANT

{SPACE}"
RB 310 PRINT"SPRITE. (2 SPACES)

NOTE: POWERSPRITE IS NO

T a'Ts SPACES)"
FF 323 PRINT"SPRITE EDITOR.

{2 SPACES }AN¥ SPRITE ED

ITOR, SUCH "
QX 330 PRINT"AS SPRITE MAGIC W

ILL CREATE GRAPHICS

{4 SPACES}"
EB 340 PRrNT"COMPATIBLE WI-^H P

OWERS_PRITE.
AC 350 PRINT"{2 D0WN){YEL)

{4 SPACES}- HIT A KEY &
WAIT TO CONTINUE -"
BQ 360 FOR X=122a8 TO 12352:PO

KEX,255:NEXT
PS 370 SYI) 49158: REM ** DISPL

AV/RECALL SPRITES
XH 380 SYS 49164,50,200,0: REM
** SET START X AND Y C

OORDINATES FOR POWERSPR

ITE
XC 390 FOR X=50 TO 200 STEP 2
EA 400 SYS49164,X,200,0:NEXT
HD 410 FOR Y=200 TO 100 STEP -

1
AE 420 SYS49164,200,Y,0:NEXT
CA 430 FOR X=200 TO 50 STEP -2
FC 440 SYS49164,X,100,0:NEXT
XR 4S0 FOR Y=103 TO 200
SH 460 SYS49164,50,Y,0:MEXT
PB 470 IF PEEK(198)=aTHEN 390
CS 480 POKE53269,0:POKES3281,6

:POKE19a,0
JQ 490 PRINT" {CLR} {DOWN} {WHT}

{9 SPACES ){RVS) POWERS?

RITE{2 SPACES}COMMANDS"
FB 530 PRINT" {2 00WN}TyEL)ALL

{spaceJaccessable thru
{space }basic or direct

{SPACE}M0DE"
AQ 510 PRINT" {2 D0WN){WHT} SYS
49152 (CYN}- ENTER POW

ERS^PRITE EDITOR
BB 520 PRINT"CD0WN) (WHT) SYS 4

9155 {CYN}- ^TORE SPRIT

E INFO MANUALLY"
MR 530 PRINT"{DOWN} {WHT} SYS 4

9158 {CYN}- DISPLAY/REC

ALL SPRITES"
HP 540 PRINT"{DOWN} {WHT} SJS 4

9161,F{CYN) - ANIMATES

{SPACE)A POWERS_PRITE"
AX 550 PRINT"tDOWN) {WHT} SYS 4

9164,X,Y,M {CYN}- MOVES

C-32 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

A POWERSPRITE"
HF 560 PRINT"{2 DOWN){YELj

{3 SPACES) PLEASE SEE AR

TICLE FOR A DETAILED

{4 SPACES}"
BA 570 PRINT"{6 SPACES ) EXPLANA

TION OF EACH COMMAND."
HF 530 GET KS:IF K$=""THEN580
JK 590 GOTO 3 0

Danny English, the author of Tunnel
Trap (November 1992), lives in Moreno
Valley, California.

MATCH-A-THON

By Troy McBain

Match-A-Thon is an amusing game for
the 64 that tests your memory in the
style of "Concentration," the old television
game show. Match-A-Thon can be
played by one or two players using one
or two joysticks. The object is to match 15
pairs of shapes hidden behind 30
squares on a 5 x 6 playing grid. Ttie play-
er who matches the most shapes wins-
When only one person is playing, the
game keeps track of the number of guess-
es it takes to clear the board. Single play-
ers can try to better their scores by match-
ing all 15 shapes in a fewer number of
attempts.

Entering the Game

Match-A-Thon is written entirely in ma-
chine language. To enter it, use fvlLX,
our machine language entry program.
See "Typing Aids" elsewhere in this sec-
tion, When MLX prompts, enter the fol-
lowing starting and ending addresses.

Starting address: 8000
Ending address: BD27

Be sure to save a copy of the program
before exiting MLX,

Playing the Game

Load Match-A-Thon with the ,8,1 exten-
sion and then type SYS 32768 to start
the game. You'll be asked whether
this is a one-player or two-player
game using one or two joysticks.
Make selections by moving the cursor
with a joystick in port 1 and pressing
the fire button. Then move the cursor
to the Start Game option to begin

play-
When the grid appears, move the cur-
sor to one of the squares and press

the fire button. One of 15 shapes will ap-
pear. Move to another square and
press the fire button again to reveal an-
other shape. If the two shapes match,
you'll hear a tone, and those two
squares will be removed from play If
they do not match, the shapes will dis-
appear. As the game progresses and
more shapes appear, try to remember,
their locations so you can make future
matches.

This game is fun and addictive to
play. It makes good use of the 64's SID
chip to produce sounds as the players
make selections. The graphics are very
crisp since each shape is created
with four programmable characters.

MATCH-A-THON

8000

:A9

8008

:A9

8010

:8D

8018

:8D

8023

:D0

8H28

:a8

8030

:88

803S

8040

8048

•D0

8050

8058

8060

8068

8070

8078

8080

8088

8090

8098

80A0

80A8

80B0

8088

80C0

80C8

80D0

80D8

80E0

80Ea

80F0

B0F8

8100

8108

8110

8118

8120

8128

8133

8138:

8140

8148

8150-

8158-

8160:

8168:

8170:

8178:

33A8:

8508:

8180:

BiO

83B0:

85E0:

8188:

83B8:

3SE8;

8190:

83C0:

35F0:

8198:

33C3:

8 5

35F8:

81A0:

33D0:

8630:

81A8:

CF.

8308:

8608:

81B0:

83E0:

8610:

81B8:

83E8:

8618:

81C0:

83F0:

3620:

81C8;

83F3:

8628:

81D0:

843C:

5£

8630:

81D8:

8408:

8638:

81E0;

8410:

8640:

81E8:

8418:

8648:

81F0:

8420:

8650:

81F8:

8428:

8653:

8200:

8430;

8660:

8208:

3438:

8668:

3210:

8440:

8670:

8218:

8448:

(10

8678:

8220:

8450:

3630:

8228:

8458:

8683:

8230:

8460:

8690:

8238-

8468-

3698:

8240:

8470

86A0:

8248-

8478

86A3:

8250

8480

86B0:

8258

8438

86B8:

8260

8490

86C0-

8 268

3498

8608

8270

84A0

8600

8278

84A8

3 6D8

8280

84B0

86E0

8288

84B8

86E8

8290

84C0

86F0

8298

84ce

86F3

S2A0

84D0

3700

82A8

84D8

8703

82B0

84E0

8710

8238

84E8

8718

82C0

34F0

8720

.A3

82C8

■Bl

84F8

8728

:A3

82D0

:88

8500

8730

:C0

8208

:88

8508

:A9

8738

:C0

82E0

:B4

8510

:18

8740

:AE

82E3

:A0

8518

:B3

8748

:20

82F0

:83

8 5

3520

:60

8750

:C0

82F8

:B5

3528

:30

3753

tOB

8300

:69

8530

:84

8760

:C0

8308

:38

8538

:00

8768

:9E

8310

:8C

8540

:84

8770

:C0

8313

:B5

8548

:00

8778

:B1

8320

:8a

8550

:84

3780

:52

8328

:AD

8558

:21

8788

:43

8330

:4C

8560

:20

8790

:A3

8338

:8C

8563

:A2

3793

:A3

8340

:51

8570

:E0

87A0

:50

8348

:A9

8578

:BB

87A8

:4E

8350

:ftC

8580

:FF

87B0

:41

2f»

3353

:3D

8588

:C4

87B8

: 3A

8360

:0E

8590

:20

87C0

:54

8363

:B9

3598

:04

87C8

:4F

8370

:83

85A3

:A9

8700

:49

8373

:B6

35A8

:30

8708

:92

8380

:C9

35B0

:F0

87E0

:a3

8388

:3D

85B8

;D0

37Ea

:A3

8393

:0A

85C0

:C9

87F0

:A3

8398

:99

85C8

:C4

87F8

:47

83A0

:00

85D0

:16

8800

:45

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE G-33

PROGRAMS

8R08

:59

8810

:9D

8B18

:54

8820

:45

8828

:00

8830

:20

88:i8

:80

3840

:00

8843

:00

8850

:4F

8858

:45

3860

:4C

8868

:00

8870

:53

8878

:45

8880

:47

8888

:52

8890

:1D

8898

:05

88A0

:20

88A8

;4E

88B0

:8D

38B8

:0O

83C0

:64

88C8

:00

8SD0

:FF

88D8

:FF

88E0

:F0

88E8

.0F

aaF0

38F8

8900

8998

8910

891S

8920

8928

8930

89J8

8940

3943

8950:

8958:

8963:

8968:

8970:

8978:

8930:

3983:

8990:

8998:

89A0:

89A8:

B9B0:

89H8:

8 9C0:

89C3:

89D0:

89D3:

89E0:

a9E8:

89F0:

B9F8:

SAOB:

8A08:

8A10:

8A18:

8A20:

8A28:

8A30:

;IF
;8A

8A33:FF

8A43:F9

8A48: 3F

8A50:FF

8A58:FF

8A60:F2

8A68:4F

8A7fl:FF

8A78:FF

8A8tJ:Fl

8A88:FF

8A90:FF

8A98:FF

8AA0:F8

8AA8

8AB0

8AB8: Al

8AC0:A5

8ACe:00

8AD0:91

3AD8:C8

3AE0:i8

3AEa:FF

8AF0:C8

8AF8:B0

8B00:D0

8B33t85

eB10:8C

8818:88

8B2O:00

8B28:88

3a30:EE

8B3 3:F0

8B40:B0

8B48:FD

3B50:8D

8B58:18

8860:00

8B68:85

8B70:F0

8B78: 00

8B80:74

8B38:F0

8890:00

8B98:8C

8BA0:00

8BA8:9C

8B80:C5

8888:31

8BC0:C9

8BC8:4C

8BD0:00

8BD8:C8

3BE0:A0

8BE8:AD

8BF0:15

8BF8:88

8C00:C5

8C08: 16

8C10:88

8C18:A2

SC20:BB

8C28:60

8C30tEE

SC38:D0

8C40:4C

8C48

8C50

8C58:F0

aC60:0n

;D0
:01

7F 7F
F9 Fl
3F IF
FE FC
7F 3F
FC FC
3F 3F
FC FE
07 07
E3 E7
FF FF
FF FD
7F 5F
F8 FC
IF 3F
8D FE
8D FF
Bl 13
AD FF
B2 EE
91 B0
69 27
03 91
EE FF
A9 01
29 FE
BO A9
66 88
8C FD
F0 OD
AD CB
66 88
14 A5
A5 Bl
03 C8
66 88
69 69
85 Bl
60 IB
FF A0
F0 07
BB 18
FF A0
F0 07
88 A0
F0 07
8B A9
88 09
DO 11
00 F0
BD 8B
C9 00
4C CE
OF 20
BB 3 8
A0 17
AR B?
88 09
A0 0F
AD BD
16 A0
88 AD
AD C5
85 88
05 A9
82 60
08 AD
60 13
FF A0
FO 07

IF 2F 2F
FF FF FF
FF FF FF
F8 FO EO
IF 0F 07
FF FF FF
FF FF FF
FF FF FE
07 07 07
FF FF FF
FF FF FF
FD F5 F5
5F 5F 57
FF FF FF
FF FF FF
03 OA 0A
03 A5 B0
69 D4 85
03 91 B0
FF 03 AD
A9 01 91
AS EE FF
80 A9 01

03 AD FF
91 B2 60
8D 15 D0

04 85 Bl
80 67 88
03 B9 CI
20 AE 8 A
88 C9 02
AD 66 88
80 18 69

59 00 85
40 19 8B
EE 67 88
85 B0 A5
40 47 8B
A2 13 A0
00 B9 70
20 02 FF
A2 14 A0
00 B9 SE
C8 20 D2
00 B9 9F
20 D2 FF
0D 20 D2
02 D0 01
A0 00 B9
07 20 D2

60 A0 00
F0 07 20
3B 60 18
F0 FF AE
20 CD BD
20 F0 FF
88 20 CD
02 FO 22
20 FO FF
83 20 CD
17 20 F0
B9 88 20
88 C9 02
AD B5 88
00 8D B5
AD 68 88
69 8 8 C9
A2 3A A0
00 B9 6A
20 D2 FF

FS F8
3F 3F
FF FF
FF FF
E0 E0
07 07
FF FF
FF FF
FC F8
67 F7
FF FF
FF FF
F0 FB
07 0F
AA CA
18 69
35 82
B3 A0
A9 01
FF 0 3
82 98
03 AD
91 B2
03 91
AD 15
A9 79
A0 00
8C CB
02 C9
EE CB

F0
09
03
Bl
A9

A5 B0
Bl 69
20 51
0D 23
87 09
C8 4C
0D 20
87 C9
FF 4C
37 C9
C8 4C
FF AD
60 C9
AD 87
FF C8
B9 00
D2 FF
A2 15
BA SB
18 A2
AE B6
BD AD
18 A2
AE BC
BD IB
FF AE
CD BD

F3
C9
88

12
02
20

09 FF
FF D0
00 20
88 C9
08 4C

8C68:5C

8070: 20

BC73:C9

8CS0:4C

8088:02

8C90:88

BC98: AD

8CA0:AD

8CA8:88

8CB0:04

8CB8:Ba

8CC0:C8

8CC3:20

8CD0:00

8CD8:0O

8CE0:FE

8CE3:AD

BCF0:B5

8CF8:DC

8D00; 38

8D08:00

8D10: IF

8D18:84

SD20:EB

80 AE 68
CD BD A0
00 F0 07
75 80 60
D0 21 AD
90 0D F0
BA 88 CD
BA 88 8D
8D 69 88
20 FO FF
C9 00 F0
4C B6 80
D0 F9 60
F0 01 60
F0 01 60
18 69 01
07 88 C9
88 09 00
29 IF 8D
ED 84 03
F0 EB 60
8D 84 03
03 8D 84
60 00 00

83 AD 69
00 B9 A3
20 D2 FF
AD 05 88
BB 88 CD
03 4C AC
68 83 B0
63 88 AD
18 A2 09
A0 00 B9
07 20 D2
20 E4 FF
AD 05 88
AD B5 88
AD 15 D0
3D 15 D0
00 F0 ID
F0 16 AD

84 03 A9
8D 84 03
AD 01 DC
A9 IF 38
03 C9 00
00 00 00

88 85
BB 85
C8 lA
C9 14
69 DA
8C Fl
0C P7
BB AS
A0 ID
7D E7
FF F5
09 4F
C9 CA
C9 6B
29 E0
60 7F
AD 2 4
00 7B
IF 2A
09 CI

29 37
ED 07
F0 60

30 49

Troy McBain is a computer technology
student at Soutliern Alberta Institute of
Technology in Calgary, Canada.

XINPUT

By Farid Ahmad

Xinput is a replacement for BASIC'S IN-
PUT command for the 64. It overcomes
all the weaknesses of INPUT and offers
many additional features.

Xinput can handle strings up to 255
characters in length. It supports all of the
usual editing keys, including cursor up,
down, left, and right and the Inst/Del key.
In addition, Xinpuf offers tight control over
the characters that a user might enter.
Up to 25 ranges of ASCII codes can be
set up, allowing any combination of char-
acters to be defined as valid.

Entering the Program

Xinput is written entirely in machine lan-
guage. To enter It, use MLX, our ma-
chine language entry program. See
"Typing Aids" elsewhere in this sec-
tion. When MLX prompts, enter the fol-
lowing values.

Starting address: CC06
Ending address: CECF

Be sure to save a copy of the program
before you exit MLX.

Using Xinput

To use Xinput in your BASIC program,
first load it into memory with the ,8,1 ex-

G-34 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

tension, Type in or study thie demonstra-
tion program that follows ttie Xinput list-
ing. It shows how to use Xinput from
within a program.

The demo is written in BASIC. To
help avoid typing errors, enter it with
The Automatic Proofreader; again see
"Typing Aids." Note that line 430 com-
pletely fills two screen lines. You
might want to use a question mark as
an abbreviation for PRINT when enter-
ing that line. To get the correct Proof-
reader checksum, after you've entered
line 430, list it, cursor back to it, and
press Return.

The XINPUT command requires the
foilowing format.

SYS 52232,X,Y,L,S$

The X and Y represent the row and col-
umn at which the input field will start. X
may be 0-24 and Y 0-39. L is the max-
imum length of the string that can be en-
tered. This can be 2-255 characters in
length

S$ is the variable in which the string
will be returned. If SS contains a string
prior to using the XINPUT command,
that string will be placed in the input
field as the default string. If the default
string is longer than the specified max-
imum string size, it will be truncated.

When the XINPUT command is exe-
cuted, an input field appears on the
screen in reverse video. The user can
type in any valid keys (see below) and
use any of the editing keys. The user
won't be able, however, to move the cur-
sor out of the input field.

If you attempt to place the input
field in such a position that it cannot fit
on the screen, you will get an ILLEGAL
QUANTITY ERROR message. For exam-
ple, SYS 52232,24,0,41,1$ will produce
an error condition.

Is It Valid?

To control the characters that can be
typed in, you must define the range of
ASCII codes that will be considered val-
id. For example, to allow entry of only
the unshifted alphabet, the range
would be 65 (the ASCII value for a) to
90 (ASCII for z). If you want to declare
a single, isolated character as valid, its
ASCII code would be both the upper
and the lower limit of the range. To in-
clude the space bar, for example, the

range would be 32-32. Up to 25 sep-
arate ranges can be defined.

To set up these ranges, first poke
the number of ranges into 52940.
Then poke the lower limit followed by
the upper limit of the first range into the
next two locations. Similarly, poke the
lower and upper limits of each range in-
to successive locations.

Because of the way in which charac-
ters are stored by BASIC, you must
use the codes 192-223 for the shifted
keys, rather than codes 96-127.

The easiest way to poke the correct
values is to set up a string consisting
of the characters at the lower and up-
per limits of each range and then call
a subroutine similar to the one starting
at line 520 in the demo program. For ex-
ample, to allow only the lowercase al-
phabet, the digits, and the space bar,
use AL$="A2 09"; and the a GOSUB
to your subroutine. The demo program
shows other examples.

If the default string contains any out-
of-range characters, they will be re-
moved by Xinput. If you poke 52960
with 0 or any number greater than 25,
all keys will become valid.

A Little Extra

If you simply want to position the cur-
sor anywhere on the screen, use the
XINPUT command and leave out the
last two parameters and preceding com-
ma —for example, SYS 52232,9,8.

The speed with which the cursor
blinks can be changed by poking a
number into location 52579. The fast-
est blink rate is 1, and 255 is the slow-
est. The default value is 60.

Xinput uses memory from 52941 to
53247 for temporary storage.

XINPUT

ecus

:20

CC10

.20

CC18

CC20

CC28

cc3a

CC3 8

CC40

CC48

CC50

CC58

CC6B

CC68

CC70

CC78

CC8 0

CCBB

:4C

CC90

:90

CC98

:C9

CCA0

:99

CCAB

:CE

CCB0

:20

CCBB

:ES

CCC0

:A5

CCC8

:A0

CCD0

:05

CCD8

:CE

CCE0

:04

CCE8

CCF0

CCF8

A 5

CD0a

CD08

CD10

GDIS

CD20

■09

CD28

.FF

CD30

:40

r:D38

:E9

CD40

CD48

:C7

CD50

CD58

■85

CD60

:0C

CD68

CD70

CD78

CD80

CD88

CD90

CD98

CDA0

CDA8

CDB0

CDB8

CDC0

CDC 8

CDD0

CDD8

CDEa

CDSe

CDF0

CDF8

CE00

CE08

CE10

CE18

CE20

CE28

CE30

CE38

A 9

CE40

CE48

CE50

CE58

CE60

CE68

CE70

CE7B

CE80

CEB8

CE90

CE98

CEA0

CEA8-

CEB0-

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE G-35

PROGRAMS

CEB8:C8 CE 91 FB C8 A5 04 91 06
CEC0-.FB C8 AS 05 91 FB 60 32 D2
CECa:31 04 FF 00 FF 09 00 00 E7

XIHPUT DEMO

PK 5 REM COPYRIGHT 1993 - COMP
UTE PUBLICATIONS INTL LTD
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
GG 10 IF LL= 0 THEN LL=1:L0AD"

XINPUT",8,1
FG 20 POKE650,128:PRINTCHR$ (14

) :PRINTCHR${8)
KD 30 XX=S2232
XE 40 PRINT"{CLR}":POKE53281,0

:POKE53280,0:POKE646,1
AK 50 SYSXX,0,15:PRIHT"(RVS}XI

NPUT"
MJ 60 SYSXX,3,0iPRINT"XIMPOT I
S h REPLACEMENT FOR THE
(SPACE}BA5IC
PB 7 0 PRINT:PRIHT"INPUT COMMAN
D. I^T PROVIDES COMPLETE
{SPACE)"
EE 80 PRINT:PRINT"CONTROL OVER

THE INPUT PROCESS. "
AJ 90 PRINT: PRINT: PRINT"

{4 SPACES}WHAT IS YOUR N
AHE? "
GS 100 SYSXX,13, 2:PRINT"yO0 M

AY USE ONLY "
PG 110 SYSXX,15,3:PRINT"THE UP
PERCASE/LOWERCASE ALPHA
BET KEYS"
FQ 120 SYSXX,16,3:PRINT"AHD TH

E SPACE BAR."
XS 130 SYSXX,18,0:PRINT"USUAL
{SPACE}EDITING & CURSOR
KEYS ARE ACTIVE."
RE 140 ALS="AZAZ{2 SPACES)":GO

SUB520
EJ 150 SYSXX,10,23,15,NS
FM 160 REM-LONG

GJ 170 PRINT"{CLR}OK, " ; N$ ; " ,
{SPACE) NOTE THAT XINPUT
CAN"
HS 183 PRINT"HANDLE STRINGS OF
LENGTH UP TO 255":PRIN
T "CHARACTERS."
PB 190 PRINT :PRINT"ENTER A LON

G STRING. (THIS TIME";
CA 191 PRINT" ONLY THE LOWERCA
SE ALPHABET & NUMBERS C
AN BE"
FQ 192 PRINT" ENTERED.)"
GP 200 SYSXX,20,0:PRINT"REHEMB
ER THAT (RVS}CRSR UP, D
OWN LEFT, RIGHT {OFF} KE
YS AND ";
ME 210 PRINT"THE {RVS)INSERT t.
DELETE KEYS{OFF}
{3 SPACES}ARE ACTIVE."
DP 220 ALS=^"AZ{2 SPACES)09":GO

SUB520
SD 230 SYSXX, 10,0, 255, Nl$
KS 240 PRINT"{CLR)Y0U ENTERED
{SPACE }THE FOLLOWING ST
RING: {DOWN}"

G-36 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

GE 250
KB 260
AA 270
FA 280

PRINTN1$:GOSOB480

REM-RANGE
PRINT"{CLR)Y0
L CONTROL OVE
RS{3 SPACESjT
ENTERED."

KA 290 PRINT" {DOWN} {
NTER A NUMBER
NT FORM,"

MG 300 PRINT"SUCH AS
10.

DH 310 PRINT" {DOWN} {
LLOWING KEYS

U HAVE FUL
R CHARACTE
HAT CAN BE

5 SPACES)E
IN EXPONE

-6.254 E+

RVSjTHE FO
ARE ACTIVE

CQ 320 PRINT"{DOWN} {2 SPACES)N

UMBER KEYS
RM 330 PRINT"{2 SPACES}PLUS &

{SPACE}MINUS KEYS
GC 340 PRINT" {2 SPACES}THE LET

TER E
RR 350 PRINT"{2 SPACES}THE DEC

IMAL POINT
Mg 360 AL$="09{2 SPACES}EE-.++

":GOSUB520
RP 370 SYSXX, 16, 3,15, N2S
CH 380 SYSXX, 13,0 :PRINT"YOU E

NTERED THE FOLLOWING NU

MBER: (DOWN)"
JD 390 PRINTN2$:GOSUB480
XK 400 :

EJ 410 REM-FINAL
PE 420 PRINT" {CLR}XINPOT ALSO

{SPACE }OFFERS A DEFAULT
STRING."
AQ 430 PRINT"ENTER A STRING US

ING ONLY THE {RVS}SPACE
BAR{OFF} & {RVS}LOWERC

ASE. ALPHABET KEYS{OFF}"

ALS="{2 SPACES}AZ":GOSU

B520

N3S="DEFAULT STRING":

{2 SPACES}SYSXX,09,5,30

,N3S

SYSXX, 13, 0:PRINT"YOU EN

TERED THE STRING {DOWN } "

:PRINTN3$:GOSUB480

PRINTCHRS(142) rPRINTCHR

5 (9) :PRINT"DEMO OVER":E

ND
HQ 480 SYSXX, 23, 8:PRINT"{RVS}P

RESS ANY KEY TO GO ON":

POKE 198, 0: WAIT 19 B,1:P0K

E198,0

440

450

460

470

490

RETURN

500

510

REM INCLUDE THIS SUBBOU
TINE IN YOUR OWN PROGRA
MS

520

AL=LEN{AL$) :IF(AL AND 1
)= 1 THENPRINT"{FVS}BAD
LENGTH FOR XINPUT" :STO
P
FOR R= 1 TO AL

530

540

POKE52940+R,ASC (KIDS (AL
S,R,1))

550

FF 560 POKE52940, AL/2
JM 570 RETURN

Farld Ahmad is a mechanical engineer
in Islamabad, Pakistan, and he's seek-
ing employment. He says the 64 Is a
great help for filling the vacant hours
and keeping mentally active.

SPIRALS

By Frederic Isaman
Spirals for the 128 is a simulation of. a
Spirograph set. allowing you to draw in-
tricate geometric designs on the com-
puter screen. Spirals duplicates most of
the features of those old sets and also
adds new ones, and you never have to
worry about your pen slipping!

Spirals is written entirely in BASIC 7.0.
To help you avoid typing errors, enter it
withi The Automatic Proofreader. See
"Typing Aids" elsewhere in this section.
Be sure to save a copy of the program be-
fore you exit Proofreader.

Spirals acts by mathematically simu-
lating the act of rotating a wheel around
a Stationary circle called the rim. An imag-
inary pen is set into tfie wheel, and its
■path is traced onto the screen. The disk
can be set inside or outside the stationary
rim, and the pen can be set anywhere
within the wheel.

Because this is only a simulation, you
can even set the pen a fixed distance out-
side the wheel. Finally, results can be al-
tered by Changing the number of points
the program calculates when drawing
the spirals. This feature can make de-
signs rounded or angular.

Go Sptralfng

To use the program, just load it and
run it. Enter the data that Spirals re-
quests, and watch as the picture
draws on the screen.

Here are some points to remember
about Spirals' prompts. Rim radius Is
the radius of the stationary circle.
Wheel radius is the radius of the ro-
tating disk, f^en location is where the
pen is put on the wheel. A value of 0
puts it in the center of the wheel, and
a value equal to the radius of the
wheel puts it on the edge.

Pen color is assigned with the same
numbers used by Commodore's COL-
OR command. Number of points
drawn is a measure of how smooth or

choppy the picture will be. The higher
the number, the smoother and mora re-
alistic the picture. Very interesting re-
sults can occur if you make the chop-
piness extreme, using values less than
10 or so.

The program then asks where you
want the wheel. It can be placed lo ro-
tate either outside or inside the rim.

Finally, you are asked if you wish lo
clear the screen before starting. Spirals
then goes to the graphics screen and
begins to draw. You can halt drawing
by pressing the space bar. Press it
again to restart.

When a drawing has finished, you
can start a new spiral by pressing Re-
turn. When you do, you'll see the par-
ameters that you've just entered. To al-
ter a parameter while leaving the oth-
ers as they were, press Return until the
desired parameter appears,

It's important to note that when a spi-
ral is drawn and the screen cleared,
the screen is scaled so that the spiral
will occupy the whole screen. The pro-
gram will keep this scale factor until
the next time the screen is cleared.
Thus, if you draw several spirals with-
out clearing the screen, you must
draw the largest one first in order to set
the screen's scale correctly,

Finally, if circles are distorted into
ovais, you can remedy this by drawing
a circle, measuring its height and
width, and using the value of the width
divided by the height in place of the
1.12 in line 140.

Here are a few sample settings to
show what can be accomplished and
how the various parameters are used.
The following are replies given to
prompts asking for the rim radius,
wheel radius, pen location, number of
points, and whether or not the wheel
should be outside the rim,

200,45,245,20,N

200,45,245,40.N

200,70,270,20.N

100,124,200,5,N

200,245,350,5,N

200,20,220,60,N

200,5,100,25,Y

200,5, 100,200,Y

200,270,470,10,N

Experiment by changing any of
these numbers to create new spirals.

PX
SJ

EE
CJ

QX
GC
KG

RH
JS

89
90
100

SPIRALS

PK 5 REM COPYRIGHT 1993 - COMP
UTE PUBLICATIONS INTL LTD
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
10 GOTO180

20 DRaWl,XH+LR-IR+E,YM:DF=L
R-IR:DR=LR/IR-1
GJ 30 D0:T=T+S:TM=DR*T:X=DF*CO
S (T) +E*COS {TM) :Y=DF*SIN(
T) -E*SIN (TM) :GOTO60
DRAW1,XM + LR + IR-E ,5fM:DP = L
R+IR:nR=LR/IR+l
DO:T=T+S:TM=DR*T:X=DF*CO
S (T) -E*COS (TM) : Y=DF*SIN (
T) -E*SIN (TM)
DRAW TOX+XM,y+YM
GETAS:IFA$=CHR${13)THEN1
00

IFAS=" "THENWT=1-WT
IFWTTHEN70
LOOP UNTIL A$=CHR$(13):
GRAPHIC0:GOTO190
BE lim PRINT"BACK COLOR? (1-16
) ?"BCI: PRINT "{UP} "TAB (1
8) :INPUTBC%:IF(BC%<1)0R
{BCI>16)THEN110
120 COLOR0,BC%:COLOR4,BC%:Q

Q = 0
130 IFXS="Y"THENYM=LR-IR+AB
S(E):ELSE YM=LR+1 R+ABS (
E)
PE 140 XM=YM*1.12:IFXM<160THEN
PRINT"VALUES TOO SMALL.
{2 SPACES)TRY AGAIN. ":Q

Q=l
GH 150 IFXH>163a3THEtgPRINT"VAL

1;ES TOO LARGE.

{2 SPACES}TRY AGAIN. ":Q

Q=l

IFQQ=0THENGRAPHIC1,1

RETURN

DIMT,TM,E,DF,X,Y,DR,XM,

YM,S:XS="N":CS="Y":CL%=

2:BCI=1

LR=200:IR=4 5:E=24 5:D=20

PRINT"RIM RADIUS?"LR:PR

I NT "{UP} "TAB (10) ; : INPUT

LR
BK 200 PRINT"HHEEL RRDIUS?"IR:

PRINT"{UP}"TAB(12) ; :INP

UTIR
HF 210 PRINT"PEN LOCATION?"E : P

RINT"{UP}"TAB (12) ,- : INPU

TE
SP 220 PRINT"PEN COLOR? (1-16)

?"CL%: PRINT "(UP} "TAB (17

) :INPL'TCL%: IF (.CL%<1) OR (

CLl>16)THEN220
23fl COLORl,CL%
240 PRINT"PLOT HOW MANY POI

NTS?"D: PRINT" {UP} "TAB (2

0) ; : INPUTD:IFD=0THEN24 0

QJ 250 PRINT"WHEEL INSIDE RIM?

(Y/N)? "X5: PRINT" {UP]"

TAB(23) :INPUTX5
KC 260 IFX$<>"y"ANDX$<>"N"THEN

250

GR
RB
KJ

MG
DP

160
170
180

185
190

IF(XS="Y") AND(IR>=LR)TH

ENPRINT"RIM MUST BE LAR

GER THAN WHEEL .": GOTO20

PRINT"CLEAR SCREEN? (Y/

N)? "CS:PRINT"{UP}"TAB(

19) : INPUTCS

IFC?="N"THEN330

IFCS="Y"THENGOSUB110:EL

SE27f:?

IFQQTHEN190

WT = 0:T = 0:S = 2*]_/D: SCALE 1

,XM*2,YM*2

IFXS="N"THEN40:ELSE20

gO=0: IFXS="Y"THENIFYM<L

R-IR+ABR (E>THENQQ=1

IFX$="N"THENIFYM<LR+IR+

ABR (E)THENQQ=1

IFQQ»0THENGRAPHIC1,0:GO

TO310

PRINT"SPIRAL LARGER THA

N SCREEN. TRY AGAIN. ";G

OT0190

Frederic Isaman creates spirals and
computer programs in Holland, New
York.

265

270

200

290

300

310

320

330

340

350

363

ONLY ON DISK

Here are the bonus programs on this
month's Gazette Disk.

Runestone

By John Cameron
Newcastle, NB, Canada

Magical runestones in this two-player
strategy game attack, bless, or eradi-
cate areas of the playing field.

Electronic Billboard

By Bob Markland
Newcastle, WY

This multifeatured message display us-
es sprites for big letters without jaggies.

TYPING AIDS

MLX. our machine language entry pro-
gram, and The Automatic Proofreader
are utilities that help you enter Gazette
programs without mistakes. MLX is list-
ed in this issue. For a free printed copy
of Proofreader, send a self-addressed,
stamped envelope to Typing Aids, 324
West Wendover Avenue, Suite 200,
Greensboro, North Carolina 27408.

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE G-37

Machine Language Entry Program
MLX for Commodore 64
Ottis R. Cowper

Type in and save some copies of
MLX — you'll want to use it to enter fu-
ture ML programs from Gazette, When
you're ready to enter an ML program,
load and run MLX. It asks you for a start-
ing address and an ending address.
Tfiese addresses appear in tlie article
accompanying thie MLX-format pro-
gram listing you're typing.

If you're unfamiliar witfi machine lan-
guage, the addresses {and all other val-
ues you enter in MLX) may appear
strange. Instead of the usual decimal
numbers you're accustomed to, these
numbers are in hexadecimal— a base
16 numbering system commonly used
by ML programmers. Hexadecimal —
hex for short — includes the numerals 0-
9 and the letters A-F. But even if you
know nothing about ML or hex, you
should have no trouble using MLX.

After you've entered the starting and
ending addresses, you'll be offered the
option of clearing the workspace.
Choose this option if you're starting to
enter a new listing. If you're continuing
a listing that's partially typed from a pre-
vious session, don't choose this option.
A functions menu will appear. The first
option in the menu is Enter Data. If
you're just starting to type in a pro-
gram, pick this. Press the E key and
type the first number in the first line of
the program listing. If you've already
typed in part of a program, type the
line number where you stopped typing
at the end of the previous session (be
sure to load the partially completed pro-
gram before you resume entry). In any
case, make sure the address you en-
ter corresponds io the address of a
line in the listing you are entering. Oth-
erwise, you'll be unable to enter the da-
ta correctly. If you pressed E by mis-
take, you can return to the command
menu by pressing Return alone when
asked for the address. (You can get
back to the menu from most options in
the program by pressing Return with
no other input.)

Entering a Listing

Once you're in Enter mode, MLX
prints the address for each program
line for you. You then type in all nine
numbers on that line, beginning with
the first two-digit number after the co-
lon (:). Each line represents eight data
bytes and a checksum. Although an

G-38 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

MLX-format listing appears similar to
the "hex dump" listings from a ma-
chine language monitor program, the
extra checksum number on the end al-
lows MLX to check your typing.

When you enter a line, MLX recalcu-
lates the checksum from the eight
bytes and the address and compares
this value to the number from the ninth
column. If the values match, you'll
hear a bell tone, the data wiil be add-
ed to the workspace area, and the
prompt for the next line of data will ap-
pear. But if MLX detects a typing error,
you'll hear a low buzz and see an er-
ror message. The line will then be re-
displayed for editing.

Invalid Characters Banned

Only a few keys are active while you're
entering data, so you may have to un-
learn some habits. You do not type
spaces between the columns; MLX au-
tomatically inserts these for you. You
do not press Return after typing the
last number in a line; MLX automatical-
ly enters and checks the tine after you
type the last digit.

64 MLX

Keypad

■

B C

Space

Only the numerals 0-9 and the letters
A-F can be entered. If you press any
other key (with some exceptions noted
below), you'll hear a warning buzz. To
simplify typing, a numeric keypad func-
tion is included. The keypad is active
only while entering data. Addresses
must be entered with the normal letter
and number keys. The figure below
shows the keypad configuration,
MLX checks for transposed charac-
ters. If you're supposed to type in AO

and instead enter OA, MLX will catch
your mistake. There is one error that
can slip past MLX: Because of the
checksum formula used, MLX won't no-
tice if you accidentally type FF in
place of 00, and vice versa. And
there's a very slim chance that you
could garble a line and still end up
with a combination of characters that
adds up to the proper checksum. How-
ever, these mistakes should not occur
if you take care while entering data.

Editing Features

To correct typing mistakes before fin-
ishing a line, use the Inst/Del key to de-
lete the character to the left of the cur-
sor. If you mess up a line badly, press
CIr/Home to start the line over. The Re-
turn key is also active, but only before
any data is typed on a line. Pressing Re-
turn at this point returns you to the com-
mand menu. After you type a charac-
ter, MLX disables Return until the cur-
sor returns to the start of a line. Remem-
ber, press CIr/Home to quickly get to a
line-number prompt. To make correc-
tions in a line that MLX has redisplayed
for editing, compare the line on the
screen with the one printed in the list-
ing and then move the cursor to the mis-
take and type the correct key The cur-
sor- left and -right keys provide the
normal cursor controls. (The Inst/Del
key now works as an alternative cursor-
left key.) You cannot move left beyond
the first character in the line. If you try
to move beyond the rightmost charac-
ter, you'll reenter the line. During edit-
ing. Return is active; pressing it tells
MLX to recheck the line. You can
press the CIr/Home key to clear the en-
tire line if you want to start from
scratch or if you want to get to a line-
number prompt to use Return to get
back to the menu.

Display Data

The second menu choice. Display Da-
ta, examines memory and shows the
contents in the same format as the pro-
gram listing (including the checksum).
When you press D, MLX asks you for a
starting address. Be sure that the start-
ing address you give corresponds to a
line number in the listing. Otherwise,
the checksum display will be meaning-
less. MLX displays program lines until
it reaches the end of the program, at

which point the menu is redisplayed.
You can pause the display by pressing
the space bar. (MLX finishes printing
the current line before halting.) Press
the space bar again to restart the dis-
play. To break out of the display and
get back to the menu before the end-
ing address is reached, press Return,

Other Menu Options

Two more menu selections let you
save programs and load them back in-
to the computer. These are Save File
and Load File, When you press S or L,
MLX asks you for the filename. You'll
then be asked to press either D or T to
select disk or tape.

You'll notice the disk drive starting
and stopping several times during a
load or save. This is normal behavior,
MLX opens and reads from or writes to
the file instead of using the usual
LOAD and SAVE commands. Also
note that the drive prefix 0; is added to
the filename (line 750), so this should
not be included when entering the
name. This also precludes the use of
@ for save-with-replace, so be sure to
give each version saved a different
name.

Remember that IVILX saves the en-
tire workspace area from the starting ad-
dress to the ending address, so the
save or load may take longer than you
might expect if you've entered only a
small amount of data from a long list-
ing. When you're saving a partially com-
pleted listing, make sure to note the ad-
dress where you stopped typing,

MLX reports the standard disk or
tape error messages if any problems
are detected during the save or load.
It also has three special load error mes-
sages: INCORRECT STARTING AD-
DRESS, which means the file you're try-
ing to load does not have the starting
address you specified when you ran
MLX; LOAD ENDED AT address.
which means the file you're trying to
load ends before the ending address
you specified when you started MLX;
and TRUNCATED AT ENDING AD-
DRESS, which means the file you're try-
ing to load extends beyond the ending
address you specified when you start-
ed MLX. If you see one of these mes-
sages and feel certain that you've load-
ed the right file, exit and rerun MLX,
being careful to enter the correct start-

ing and ending addresses.

The Quit menu option has the obvi-
ous effect — it stops MLX and enters BA-
SIC. The Run/Stop key is disabled, so
the 0 option lets you exit the program
without turning off the computer. (Of
course, Run/Stop-Restore also gets
you out.) You'll be asked for verifica-
tion; press Y to exit to BASIC, or press
any other key to return to the menu. Af-
ter quitting, you can type RUN again
and reenter MLX without losing your da-
ta, as long as you don't use the Clear
Workspace option.

The Finished Product

When you've finished typing all the da-
ta for an ML program and saved your
work, you're ready for the results. Re-
fer to the corresponding article for
details on loading and running the
program.

An Ounce of Prevention

Don't take chances — use The Automat-
ic Proofreader to type the new MLX,
and then test your copy thoroughly be-
fore first using it to enter any significant
amount of data. Make sure all the
menu options work as they should. En-
ter fragments of the program starting at
several different addresses; then use
the display option to verify that the da-
ta has been entered correctly Test the
save and load options to ensure that
you can recall your work from disk.

64 MLX

SS 10 REM VERSION 1.1: LINES 8
30,950 MODIFIED, LINES 4
85-487 ADDED
EK 100 POKE 56,50:CLR:DIM IN5,

I,J,R,B,A$,B$,A(7) ,N$
DM 110 C4=48:C6=16:C7=7:Z2=2:Z

4=254 ;Z 5=255 :Z6=256:Z7=

127
CJ 120 FA=PEEK(45)+Z6*PEEK(46)

:BS=PEEK(55)+Z6*PEEK(56

) :H$="0123456789ABCDEF"
SB 130 RS=CHRS(13) :L$="{LEFT}"

:S$=" ":DS=CHR$(20) :Z$=

CHR$ (0) :TS="{13 RIGHT}"
CO 140 SD-'54272:FOR I = SD TO SD

+23:P0KE 1,0: NEXT: POKE

{SPACE}SD+24,15:P0KE 78

8,52
FC 150 PRINT"{CLR3"CHR$ (142)CH

R$(8):P0KE 53280, 15:P0K

E 53281,15
EJ 160 PRINT T$" {RED}{RVS}

{2 SPACES5{8 @}

FR 170

JB IE

GF 190

KR 200

PG 210

DR 220

{2 SPACES}"SPC(28) "

{2 SPACES}{OFF){BLU) ML

X II {redHrvs}

{2 SPACES }"SPC( 28) "
{12 SPACES} CBLU}"
PRINT" {3 DOWN}
{3 SPACESJCOMPUTE! 'S MA
CHINE LANGUAGE EDITOR
{3 DOWN}"

PRINT"{BLK}STARTING ADD
RESS'C4}"; :GOSUB300:SA=A
D:GOSUB1040:IF F THEN18
0

PRINT"fBLK}{2 SPACES}EN
DING ADDRESS<4>"; :GOSUB
300:EA=AD:GOSOB103C5:IF
fSPACE}F THEN190
INPUT"{3 DOWN} tBLK}CLEA
R WORKSPACE (y/N]{4}";A
$:IF LEFT$(A$,1)<>"Y"TH
EN220

PRINT" {2 D0WN}{BLU5W0RK
ING. . ."; :F0RI=BS TO BS+
EA-SA+7:P0KE 1,0:NEXT:P
R I NT "DONE"

PRINTTAB(10)"{2 DOWN}
{BLK}{RVS} MLX COMMAND
{SPACE}HENU {D0WN}<4}":
PRINT TS"{RVS}E(0FF}NTE
R DATA"

PRINT TS"{RVS}D(0FF}ISP
LAY DATA": PRINT T$"
{RVS}L{OFF}OAD FILE"
PRINT T$"{RVS}S{OFF}AVE

FILE":PRINT TS"{RVS}Q
{0FF}UIT{2 D0WN}{BLK5"
GET A$:IF AS=NS THEN250
A=0:FOR 1=1 TO 5:IF A$=
MID$("EDLSQ",1,1)THEN A

=l;l=5

NEXT:ON A GOTO420,610,6
90,700,280:GOSUB1060:GO
TO250

PRINT"{RVS} QUIT ";INPU
T"{D0WN}{4}ARE YOU SURE
[Y/N] ";A$:IF LEFTS (A5,
1) <>"Y"THEN220
POKE SD+24,0:END
IN$=NS:AD=0:INPUTIN$:IF
LEN(IN$) 04THENRETURN
B$=IN§:GOSUB320:AD=A:BS
=MID$(IN$,3) :GOSUB320:A
D=AD*256+A:RETURN
A=0;FOR J=1 TO 2:A$=MID
$(BS,J,1> :B=ASC (A$)-C4+
(A$>"@")*C7:A=A*C6+B
IF B<0 OR B>1S THEN AD=
0:A=-l;J=2
NEXTtRETURN
B=INT (A/C6) ;PRINT HID$(

H$,B+1,1) ; :B=A-B*C6:PRI

NT MID$(H$,B+1,1) ; :RETU

A=INT (AD/Z6) :GOSUB350:A

=AD-A*Z6:GOSUB3 50: PRINT

BE 370 CK=INT (AD/Z6) :CK=AD-Z4*
CK+Z5* (CK>Z7) :GOTO390

230

240

250

260

270

280

290

300

310

320

330

340

350

360

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE G-39

PROGRAMS

PX 380 CK=CK*Z2-I-Z5*(CK>Z7)+A
JC 390 CK=CK+Z5* (CK>Z5) :RETURN
QS 400 PRINT" (DOWNjSTARTING AT

{4}";:GOSUB300:IF INSO

NS THEN GOSUB1030;IF F

[ SPACE )THEN400
EX 410 RETURN
HD 420 PRINT" (RVS} ENTER DATA

!SPACE)":GOSUB400:IF IN

S=N$ THEN22(?
JK 430 OPEN3,3:PRINT
SK 440 POKE198,0:GOSUB360:IF F
THEN PRINT IN$:PRINT"

f«P){5 RIGHT}";
GC 450 FOR 1=0 TO 24 STEP 3:BS

=S$:FOR J=l TO 2: IF FT

HEN BS=HID$ (INS,I+J,1)
HA 460 PRINT"{RVS}"B$LS; :IF I<

24THEN PRINT"{OFFl";
HD 470 GET AS: IF AS=NS THEN470
FK 480 IF(AS>"/"ANDA$<":")OR(A

$>"@"ANDAS<"G")THE!aS40
GS 485 A=-{AS="M") -2*(AS=",") -

3*(.AS=".")-4* (A$="/")-5

*(AS="J")-6*(A5="K")
FX 486 A=A-7*(AS="L")-8*(AS=":

")-9*(A$="U")-ia*(AS="I

")-ll*(A$="0")-12*(A5="
p..)

CM 487 A=A-13* (AS=SS) :IF A THE
N A$=HIDS("ABCD123E456F
0",A,1) :GOTO 540

MP 490 IF AS=R5 AND t (1=0) AND(J
=1)0R F)THEN PRINT B$;:
J = 2: NEXT: I = 24: GOTO 550

KC 500 IF AS="{HOME)" THEN PRI
NT BS: J=2:NEXT: I=24:NEX
T:F=0:GOTO440

MX 510 IF(AS="{RIGHT}") ANDF TH
ENPRINT BSL$; :GOTO540

GK 520 IF AS<>L$ AND ASODS OR
( (I=0)AND(J=1) )THEN GOS
OB106a:GOTO470

HG 530 A5=LS+S$+LS:PRIHT B$LS;
:J=2-J:IF J THEN PRINT
{SPACE)L$; :I=I-3

QS 540 PRINT AS;:NEXT J: PRINT
{SPACE)S$;

PM 550 NEXT I:PRINT:PRINT"{UP)
{5 RIGHT}"; : INPUT#3, INS
:IF IN$=N5 THEN CL0SE3:
GOTO220

QC 560 FOR 1=1 TO 25 STEP3:BS=
MID$(INS,I) :GOSUB320:IF
K25 THEN GOSUB380:A(I
/3)=A

PK 570 NEXT: IF AOCK THEN GOSU
B1060i PRINT" (BLK} {RVS}
{SPACE5ERR0R: REENTER L
INE <4>":F=1:GOTO440

HJ 580 GOSUB1080:B=BS+AD-SA:FO
R 1=0 TO 7:P0KE B+I,A(I
) :NEXT

QQ 590 AD=AD+8:IF AD>EA THEN C
LOSE 3 : PRI NT " { DOWN } {BLU ]
** END OF ENTRY **{BLK}
{2 DOWN}":GOTO700

GQ 600 F=0:GOTO440

QA 610 PRINT"{CLR} {DOWN} {RVS}
{SPACE)DISPLAY DATA ":G
OSUB400:IF IN5=NS THEN2
20

RJ 620 PRINT"{DOWN} {BLU}PRESS:
{RVS} SPACE {OFF} TO PAU
SE, {RVS} RETURN {OFF} TO
BREAK'(4HD0WN]"

KS 630 G0SUB36g:B=BS+AD-SA:FOR
I=BTO B+7:A=PEEK(I) :GOS
UB350:GOSUB380:PRINT SS

;

CO 64 0 next:print"{rvs3"; :A=CK

:GOSUB3S0:PRINT

KH 650 F=l:AD=AD+8: IF AD>EA TH
ENPRINT"{DOWN} {BLU}** E
NO OF DATA **":G0TO22a

KC 660 GET AS: IF A$=R5 THEN GO
SUB1080:GOTO220

EQ 670 IF AS=SS THEN F=F+1:G0S
UB1080

AD 680 ONFGOTO630,660,630

CM 690 PRINT"{D0WN}{RVS} LOAD
{SPACE} DATA ":0P=1:G0T0
710

PC 700 PRINT"{DOWN) {RVS} SAVE
{SPACE}FILE ":OP=0

RX 710 IN$=NS:INPUT"{DOWN)FTLE
NAME<4>"; INS:IF INS=NS
(SPACE}THEN220

PR 720 F=0:PRINT"{DOWN}{BLK}

{RVS}T{OFF}APE OR {RVS}

D { OFF } I S K : < 4 } " ?

GET A$:IF AS="T"THEN PR

INT"T{DOWN} " :GOTO880

IF A$<>"D"THEN730

PRINT"D{D0WN}":0PEN15,a

,15,"I0:":B=EA-SA: INS="

0:"+INS:IF OP THEN810

OPEN 1,8,8,INS+",P,W":G

OSUB860:IF A THEN220

AH=lNT(SA/256) :AL=SA-(A

H*256) :PRINTll,CHRS(AL)

;CHRS (AH);

FOR 1=0 TO B:PRINT#1,CH

n$ (PEEK(BS+I) ) ; :IP ST T

HEN800

NEXT: CLOSE 1:CL0SE 15: GOT

0940

GOSUB1060: PRINT" {DOWN)

{BLK}ERR0R DURING SAVE:

<4J":GOSUB860:GOTO220

OPEN 1,8,8,INS+",P,R":G

OSUB860:IF A THEN220

GET#1,A$,B$-:AD=ASC(A$ + Z

5)+256*ASC(B$+Z$) :IF AD

OEA THEN F=l:GOTOe50

FOR 1=0 TO B:GET#1,A$:P

OKE BS+I,ASC (AS+Z$) : IF(

I<>B)AND ST THEN F=2:AD

=I:I=B

FA 840 NEXT:IF ST064 THEti F = 3

FQ 850 CL0SEl:CLOSE15:ON ABS {F
>0)4l GOTO960,970

SA 860 INPUT#15,A,AS:IF A THEN
CLOSE 1: CLOSE 15 :GOSUB10
60:PRIHT"{RVS}ERROR: "A
$

730

740

750

760

770

780

790

800

810

820

830

GO 870 RETURN

EJ 880 POKEl83,PEEK(FA+2) :POKE
187,PEEK(FA+3) :POKE188,
PEEK(FA+4) t IFOP=0THEN92
0
HJ 390 SYS 63466:IF(PEEK(783)A
ND1)THEN GOSUBia60:PRIN
T" {DOWN} {RVS} FILE NOT
{SPACEjFOUND ":GOTO690
CS 900 AD=PEEK(829)+256*PEEK(3
30) :IF ADOSA THEN F=l:
GOTO970
SC 910 A=PEEK(831)+256*PEEK(83
2) -l!F=F-2*(A<EA) -3*{A>
EA) :AD=A-AD:GOTO930
KM 920 A=SA:B=EA+1:GOSUB1010:P

OKE78a,3:SYS 63338
JF 930 A=BS:B=BS+(EA~SA)+1:G0S
t)B1010:ON OP GOTO950:SY
S 63591
AE 940 GOSUB1080:PRINT"{BLU5**
SAVE COMPLETED **":GOT
0220
XP 950 POKE147,a:SYS 63562:IF

{SPACE}ST>0 THEN970
FR 960 GOSUB1080:PRINT"{BLU}**
LOAD COMPLETED **":GOT
0220
DP 970 GOSUB1060:PRINT"{BLK}

{RVS}ERROR DURING LOAD:
{D0WN}<4}":ON F GOSUB98
0,990,1030:GOTO220
PP 980 PRINT" INCORRECT STARTIN
G ADDRESS ( " ; :GOSUB360 :
PRINT") ": RETURN
GR 990 PRINT"LOAD ENDED AT ";:
AD=SA+AD:GOSUB360: PRINT
DS: RETURN
FD 1000 PRINT"TRUNCATED AT END

ING ADDRESS" :RETURN
RX 1010 AH=INT (A/256) ;AL=A-(AH
*256) :POKE193,AL:POKEl
94, AH
FF 1020 AH=INT (B/256) ;AL=B-(AH
*256) :POKE174,AL:POKEl
75,AH:RETURN
FX 1030 IF AD<SA OR AD>EA THEN

1050
CR 1040 IF (AD>511 AND AD<6528
0) THEN GOSUB1030: F=0
: RETURN
HC 1050 GOSUBl060:PFtINT"{RVS}
{SPACE}INVALID ADDRESS
{D0WN}{BLK}":F=1:RETU
RN
AR 1060 POKE SD+5,31:POKE SD+6
,208:POKE SD,240:POKE
{SPACE}SD+1,4:P0KE SD+
4,33
DX 107 0 FOR S=l TO 100: NEXT: GO

TO1090
PF 1080 POKE SD+5,3:P0KE SD+6,
240:POKE SD,0:POKE SD+
1,90:POKE SD+4,17
AC 1090 FOR S=l TO 10a:NEXT:PO
KE SD+4,0:POKE SD,0;PO
KE SD+1,0:RETURN

G-40 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

eiEws

BCC AYANTI
486SLC

Just a couple of years ago,
a laptop or portable comput-
er had little in common with
a desktop model. Essential-
ly, the portables were just
make-do, low-power devic-
es used when "real" comput-
ers were unavailable. No
more! Today, a notebooi<
computer selling for the
same price as one of those
make-do models of the re-
cent past not only packs the
power of a desktop unit but
also includes a multitude of
enhancements enabling it to
serve in both desktop and
portable roles. Case in
point: the Avanti 486SLC.

The Avanti 486SLC note-
book computer from BCC is
as aesthetically pleasing as
it is powerful — and it's a pow-
erful machine! It's built
around the Cyrix 486SLC 25-
MHz, 32-bit microprocessor,
with all the 486 features in-
tact. On board are an
87SLC math coprocessor
for those arithmetic-inten-
sive chores, a high-speed
cache controller {on-board
cache memory is 1K), and
an Advanced Power Man-
agement (APM) controller. It
has a 2y2-inch hard drive,
with a 19-ms average ac-
cess time.

Most eye-catching about
this notebook PC is its well-
thought-out physical design.
The soft-touchi rubberized
case is sleek and stream-
lined—both stylish and pro-
fessional. The contoured
shape also makes the unit
easy to carry. The 80-key lay-
out is neatly arranged and in-
clined foHA/ard for comfort.

My standard of good de-
sign is how well a small key-
board approximates the om-
nipresent 101-key variety.
Minor variations in key size
and placement aren't usual-

ly a problem, nor is a miss-
ing keypad. But 1 begin
throwing fits if major keys
are out of place or awkward
to actuate. In the case of
the Avanti 486SLC, the cur-
sor keys are at the lower
right in an inverted-T forma-
tion, as they should be.
While the Esc, Ctrl, and Alt

connector supplied with the
machine.

You're not really inhibited
when it comes to the dis-
play, either. The unit's own
10-inch nonglare, triple su-
pertwist, backlit LCD has a
gy^-inch viewing area and
1 : 1 aspect ratio. VGA col-
or emulation utilizes 32

The BCC Avanti 486SLC joins oilier notebook computers that
emuiate desldop performance in a portable package.

keys occupy familiar posi-
tions, the oft'used Home,
Page Down, Page Up, and
End keys are accessed as
special functions on the cur-
sor keys — a very annoying
arrangement.

If you hate notebook key-
boards regardless of the
cleverness of their design,
remember that this is a new
era of notebook design.
You can still enjoy a full-
size keyboard by plugging
it into a PS/2-type mini-DIN
socket on the side of the
computer. The very same
plug can accommodate a
mouse instead — or both key-
board and mouse using a Y

shades of gray — a very
sharp and adequate emula-
tion, in most cases. You
can time the backlighting to
go off at a convenient inter-
val. If an LCD isn't to your
liking and there's a VGA
monitor available, a handy
15-pin video port on the
side allows you complete col-
or VGA capability.

In terms of power manage-
ment— always a considera-
tion with notebook comput-
ers—the Avanti 486SLG us-
es a nicad battery rated at
three to six hours under nor-
mal use. It can be fully re-
charged in an hour's time.
The speed of the CPU is

switched automatically as us-
age allows. There's sleep-
mode shutdown of the CPU,
video display, hard disk
drive, floppy disk drive, and
ports. You have complete
control of the intervals be-
fore it enters sleep mode.

The power button is re-
cessed at the rear of the
right side — easy to reach
and use, but unlikely to be
depressed accidentally. The
socket for the keyboard or
mouse is on the right side
near the front. The 9-pin
RS232C serial port, 25-pin
parallel port, and video port
are located behind a flip-
down hatch at the rear of
the left side. The hatch can
be something of a problem
because it hinges open and
lies level with the base of
the unit and can't be re-
moved for convenience.

The unit also comes with
a 9600-bps fax and 2400-
bps data modem. You can
receive faxes even while the
unit is in sleep or suspend
mode.

You get an interesting
pointing device which can
serve as a mouse substi-
tute. It's a hand-held track-
ball with measurements of
about one inch by one inch,
and it consists of the track-
ball with three buttons. The
trackball is a tiny plastic
thing which works surprising-
ly well. Two of the buttons
correspond to those of a
two-button mouse, while the
third serves as a lock for
dragging.

Directly below the LCD
screen lie LED indicators for
power, battery charge, low
battery, floppy drive access,
hard drive access, caps
lock, number lock, and
scroll lock. On either side at
the base of the LCD panel
are the brightness and con-
trast slider controls.

After a month's frequent
but typical use, I timed the

MARCH 1993 COMPUTE 1C6

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Gameof the Yearis rcognized because of it.s unique subject matter, excellent
presentation, and exceptional game paly." Computer Gaming World

"If not the best. Railroad Tycoon is certainly among the best computer
giuncs ever created..." Game Players

"thoroughly engrossing... may well be the game of the year." Video Games
& Computer Entertainment

3 Yr 36 Issues
2 Yr 24 IssLjes
1 Yr 12 Issues
RAILROAD TYCOON

1 Yr 12 Issues

USA

D $79
D $56
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FOREIGN AIR MAIL

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n$ii2

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n$ 82

RAILROAD TYCOON AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA ONLY

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Address,

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US & Canada: Payment must be in US Funds. Vermont residents
add 5% sales and use tax. Make checks payable to: Strategy Plus
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Visa & Mastercard accepted.

HONEST REVIEWS
TIMELY PREVIEWS
CUTTING EDGE DESIGN NOTES
DETAILED GAME HINTS
IN-DEPTH STRATEGIC ADVICE

Strategy Plus writers are hard-core gamers who give their honest
opinion of games they have played at length. We give you the
previews as soon as the information on titles such as Patriot, Star
Trek: The Next Generation, Aces Over Europe, Warlords 2, and
Might & Magic 5 is available. Game designers Chris Crawford of
Patton Strikes Back, Dan Bunten of Global Conquest, Bruce
Shelley of Civilization, Mark Baldwin of Empire Deluxe, John
Almberg of Worlds at War and many others, bring you up to date
as the design process unfolds. They share their design decisions
with you, what's in the game, what might be included and what's
been excluded. Afterthe previews, design articles, and reviews we
give you detailed game hints and complete walkthroughs for
games such as Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, The Dagger
of Amon Ra, Ultima 7 Black Gate, Wizardry Crusaders of the Dark
Savant, and Might & Magic 4: Clouds of Xeen. The Perfect
General, Civilization, Railroad Tycoon, Empire Deluxe, V for
Victory, Power Monger, Great Naval Battles and similar games,
get coverage with in-depth strategic advice. Computer Games
Strategy Plus includes previews, reviews, design articles, game
hints, and in-deptfi play advice for the newest IBM, Macintosh,
Amiga, and CD-ROM based computer games,

circle Reader Service Number 143

CHIPS & BITS CALL 800-753-GAME

IBM MAC & AMIGA GAMES FOR LESS

UPS Grounit $4 per oriler. PO Boi, APO, FPO, SS per Order. 2 BubI ness Day AirSBperOrder.

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PO Box 234

Rochester, VT 05767

Fax 802-767-3382

802-767-3033

800-753-4263

IBM HARDWARE

Adiiti

359

Adiib Gold 1000

S179

Flighlstick

$33

Gravis Ultrasound Board

S129

Maxx Cobra Flightslick

S54

Pro Audio Spectrum 16

S179

Pro Audio Spectrum Plus

SI 39

Sound Blaster

sag

Snd Bl Multimedia Upgrade S499

Sound Blaster Pro

SI 69

Sound Blaster Pro Basic

$139

Sound Card Spealors

S15

Thrustmaster Joystick

S69

Thrustmaster Pro Joystick

S99

Thrustmslr Rudder Pedals

SI 09

Thrustmstr Weapn Control

S79

Thundertjoard Soundboard

334

IBMCDROM

7th Guest

$56

12 Roads to Gettysburg

S48

Aesop's Fables

S32

Battle Chess DOS/WIN

S46

Buzz Aldrin Race Space

$59

Capstone Game Collection

$45

Chessmaster 3000

S46

Conan

S21

Conquest Robin Hood WIN

S42

Dune

S35

El Grito Del Jaguar WIN

S46

Guy Spy

$29

Jones in the Fast Lane

$42

King's Quest 5 WIN

S42

Legend of Kyrandia

$49

Lost Treasures o( Infocom

$46

Mantis ExperimentI Fighter

845

Secret of Monkey Island

S39

Secret Weapons Luftwaffe

S4B

Shuttle

S24

Space Quest 4

S42

Star Child

S32

Star Trek 25lti Anniversary

S46

Ultima Bundle

S59

While Horse Child

$32

Wing Commander Bundle

S45

THE ULTIMATE FANTASY DRIVING GAME

CAREDRIVER

'CAR & DRIVER'

lets you test drive
lOofthebestper-
fomiancecarsiike
the Porshe 959.
Shelby Cobra, and
FerrariTestatossa.
Features 10 differ-
ent tracks, bit-
mapped land-
scapes, drive in
anydirectiononor
off road, head to
head competition
via modem, in-
stant replay with
multiple views,
and Hi-res 256
color VGA. S3 8

1 Test Drive
1 Ten of the Best

l'-m,.lw i^t »^! h-Ar it|> t"j!i!i'fr.J** n^i^ntln* HJt:Ji«,i^ I. Or uU iKc
.i.iJc IjTic ic \l<.ntrfr( ■ R».r»<.v ir . Lw K.fnt TuiKt. M.wr imiOi

IBM ADVENTURE

Adventurs of Willy Beamish

$34

Amazon

S39

Castle of Wolfenstein 3D

$37

Codename Iceman 2

S39

Conquest of the Longbow

S36

Demon's Gate

$32

Gateway

S32

Heart of China

S34

Heaven & Earth

$32

Humans

S21

Indy Jones Fate of Atlantis

S38

King's Quest 6

S45

Legend of Kyrandia

S35

Leissure Suit Larry 5

$36

Lost Files Sherlock Holmes

S44

Lost Treasures of lnfot:om

S42

Out of this World

$36

Police Ouest 3

$36

Rex Nebular Cosmic Gendr $39

Riftwar Legacy

$39

Secret of Monkey Island 2

$38

Sierra Adventure Bundle

$39

Space Quest 4

S36

Spaceward Ho!

S38

SpetlcastingSOf

S34

Star Trek 25th Anniversary

S34

Summoning

$38

Terminator 2029

S42

Where in the World is CSD

S29

Wonderiand

$16

IBM STRATEGY

IBM SIMULATION

A Train

$38

Air Bucks

$34

Air Force Commander

$32

Armada 2525

$29

Battle Isle

$32

Battles of Destiny

$38

Breach 2

$19

Carriers at War

$37

Castles

SIB

Castles 2

S36

Civilization

S39

Command HO

$19

Conquered Kingdoms

$38

Conquest of Japan

$34

Dark Seed

$34

Dune 2

$42

Empire Deluxe

$39

Gary Grigsby Pacific War

$46

Global Conquest

$37

Great Naval Battles

$45

Harpoon

$25

High Command

$45

Lemmings 2

$32

Lost Admiral

$24

I\/lercenaries

$38

Pacific Theater of Operation $42

Paladin 2

$34

Perfect General

$32

Patriot

$44

Populous 2

$38

Powemionger

$34

Railroad Tycoon

$34

Realms

$17

Rules of Engagement 2

S38

Second Conflict WIN

$34

Seven Cities of Gold 2

$38

Siege

$38

Siege Exp Dogs of War

$19

Sim Life

S41

Solitaire's Journey

$34

Spaceward Ho!

$38

Special Forces

$39

Star Control 2

$36

Star Legions

$38

Task Force 1942

$39

Utopia

$31

V Victory

$44

Wariords

$24

IBM SIMULATION

Aces of the Pacific $42

Aces of Pacific Missn Disk $27
Aces over Europe $46

Aces over Europe Mssn Dsk$27

Visa&MC Accepted. COOsS5.ChecksHeId4Week$. Money OrdersTreatedQS Cash.
Most It&msShipped Same Day. Shipping times notguaranteed. Check compallbllily
beforeyou buy. Deleclives replaced withsameprDdi;cl.Price&ava(labllity subject to
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Circle Reader Senica Number 149

AH64 Helicopter

$46

ATAC

$29

B17 Flying Fortress

$39

Bat1lefieId2Q00

$37

Birds of Prey

S32

Car & Driver

S38

Dynamics Bundle

S39

Eye of the Storm

S29

Fl 1 7A Nightkawk

S42

F15 Strike Eagle 3

$44

Falcon 3,0

$45

Falcon Scenario 1

$24

Flight Simulator 4

$42

Fly the Grand Canyon 3D

$45

Gunship2000

$39

Jetfi9hter2

S39

Jump Jet

S39

Ml Tank Platoon

$29

Ivlantis Experimental Fighter $39

Mantis Speech Pack

$19

Maximum Overkill

$44

Megafortress

$12

Megafortress Mega Pack

$38

Power Politics WIN

S34

Privateer

$49

$31
S36
S37
$42
$44
$21
$44
$26
$34
$45
$34
$29
$37
$39

Reach for the Skies

Red Baron

Road & Track Grand Prix U

Sailing Simulator'VGA

Secret Weapons Luftwaffe

Secret Weapons Exp Disk

Shadow President

Shuttle

Silent Seniice 2

Strike Commander

Stunt Island

Test Drive 3

Ullrabots

Wing Commander 1

Wing Commander 1 Bundle $45

Wing Commander 2 $45

WC 2 Speech Pack $15

X Wing $46

IBM ROLE PLAYING

AD&D Collector's Edition 2 $45

AD&D Starter Kit $45

AD&D Eye of the Beholder 2 $38

AD&D Gtwy Savage FrontierS32

AD&D Pools of Darkness S38

AD&D Spelljmmr Pirates RS $38

AD&D Treasur Savage Frntr $32

Black Crypt $32

Challenge of the 5 Realms $44

Champions

CHARACTER EDITORS

Dark lands

Daughter of Serpents

Dungeon fi/laster

Dusk of the Gods

Elvira 2 Jaws of Cerberus

Hera's Quest 3

Legend of Valor

Lure of the Temptress

Magic Candle 3

Megatraveller 3

Might & Magics

Might & Magic 4

Pirates Gold

Spellcraft Aspects of Valor

Twilight 2000

Ultima Trilogy

Ultima Trilogy 2

Ultima 7 Black Gale

Ultima 7 Forge of Virtue

Ultima 7.5 Serpent Isle

Ultima Underworid

Ultima Undera/orid ?

Waxworks

Wizardry 6 Cosmic Forge

Wizardry 7 Crusaders DS

$37
$16
$39
$32
$34
$24
$27
S36
S39
S37
$45
S3a
S39
$34
$37
$34
S38
$34
$35
$45
$46
$21
$46
$48
$46
S34
$34
S39

IBM SPORTS

4D Boxing $17

Front Page Football $39

Greens S34

Hardball 3 S32

Links Golf $29

Links 386 Pro $35

Links Pro Course Disk $20

Madden Football 2 $32

Michael Jordan Flight Sim $44

MicroLeagueBasebtUUSA $31

Microsoft Golf WIN $39

NASCAR Challenge $31

Nicklaus Signature Ed Golf $39

PGA Tour Golf WIN S38

Road to the Final Four S37

TonnyLaRussa Baseball S24

Wayne Gretzky Hockey 3 S39

World Circuit $34

C0M1

REVIEWS

battery and power-warning
functions. After powering up
at full charge, I used the
unit only in spurts.

During that time, the hard
drive was accessed for no
more than a total of 5 min-
utes. It took two hours and
45 minutes for my first warn-
ing beeps to begin. The fi-
nal warning beep came 10
minutes later; I had [ust
enough time to append a
note to a text file and save
the file before the computer
shut down entirely. After a
complete power-down
(even the battery-charge in-
dicator went out), it took an
hour and 8 minutes for a full
recharge.

The unit, with battery,
weighs only about six
pounds. It's about 8'/2 inch-
es deep, 11 inches wide,
and 2yz inches high.

In other respects, it's hard-
ly a pint-size lightweight. Al-
though there's room for im-
provement on the keyboard
and it powers down awfully
quickly, the Avanti 486SLC
from BCC does everything a
notebook should do — and
does il well.

BRUCE M. BOWDEN

BCC Avanti 486SLC— $2,295 with
BOMB hard drive: $2,495 with
120MB hard drive; $2,795 with
200MB hard drive

BCC

1610 Crane Ct.

San Jose. CA 95112-4201

(403) 944-9000

Circle Reader Service Number 434

SYDOS 441

There is one and only one im-
mutable law of physics in
the universe, one and only
one constant true from the
depths of the blackest
black hole to the wispiest ex-
tremes of the most nebulous
nebula — or from San Jose
to Atlanta; Your hard disk is
running out of space.
SyDOS offers several solu-

108 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

tions. all removable car-
tridge drives that work like
fixed hard disks yet offer un-
limited capacity. Just as
with a cassette tape record-
er, you have one host unit,
but as many cartridges as
you want.

I tried the SyDOS 441— a
unit using 44MB cartridges
(the / is for internal). An
88MB drive is also available.
I used the 44i on a 40-MHz
386, using the removable
drive both as a local drive
and as a network directory
over a Novell NetWare Lite
network.

The unit works the same
as fixed hard drives. No spe-
cial techniques are required
for access.

Access times are not
blindingly fast, but they're
quite acceptable. An aver-
age seek time of 20 ms is
claimed, and I found the
claim to be true. I ran a num-
ber of tests copying large,
multimegabyte files from
and to the 44i, both locally
and over the network. A re-
movable drive won't match
a big SCSI or ESDI drive in
speed, but it will effectively
give you a lot of megabytes
for less money.

The removable cartridges
contain the hard disk plat-
ter, which is actually visible
through the dark plastic
case. The system is just tike
a regular hard drive in all as-
pects except that an unlimit-
ed number of cartridges
can be employed.

SyDOS removable drives
are SCSI devices, but an in-
terface board is included
that coexists with other
types of disk controllers. I in-
stalled the SyDOS remova-
ble drive without conflict in a
machine with an IDE control-
ler. If a SCSI controller is al-
ready present, the SyDOS
drive uses it instead of the
supplied board. Installation
is straightfonA'ard — merely a

matter of plugging in the
board, mounting the drive in
an empty bay, and attach-
ing two cables. Running the
SyDOS installation software
takes only a couple of addi-
tional minutes. For those
who don't care for even this
minimal amount of hardware
installation, SyDOS also has
units that are completely ex-
ternal and use your comput-
er's parallel port rather than
an internal card slot.

The SyDOS and other re-
movable drives offer several
advantages. They are better
than fixed hard drives in
that there is no limit to the
amount of room for storing
data — simply add additional
cartridges as needed. One
disadvantage, obviously, is
that only 44MB (or whatever
the size of the cartridge) is
available at any one time.
Still, removable drives elimi-
nate or at least put off the
need for costly fixed hard
disk upgrades. If security
considerations are impor-
tant, sensitive data can be
stored on a removable car-
tridge and the cartridge
kept in a safe unless it's ac-
tually in use.

Removable cartridges are
much better than tape for
backup because you can
randomly access them {just
like a regular hard disk) in-
stead of waiting perhaps
hours to find and restore a
particular file from tape. (I
had to do that yesterday; it's
a pain.)

Optical drives offer a lot
more storage space (more
than 600MB for some) but
are three times slower and
cost several times more
than a SyDOS or other re-
movable cartridge system.

I like the SyDOS 44i. It
fills a need many computer
owners have. In fact, 1 like it
so well that I'm considering
buying one for myself.

RALPH ROBERTS

SyDOS 44i— $719 for unit with 8-bit
adapter and add-on cartridge; addi-
tional 44MB cartridges— $178 each

SYDOS

A Division of SyQuest Technology

6501 Park of Commerce Blvd.

Ste. 110

Boca Ralon, PL 33487

(800) 437-9367

(407) 998-5400

Circle Reader Service Number 435

REX NEBULAR
AND THE COSMIC
GENDER BENDER

Rex Nebular, the main char-
acter in Rex Nebular and
the Cosmic Gender Bender
from MicroProse, resembles
Han Solo of Star Wars. He's
the space smuggler pilot of
a specially altered cargo
ship called the Slippery Pig,
which resembles Solo's Mil-
lennium Falcon. Rex is most-
ly a down-on-his-luck pilot
who will do almost anything
for money where galactic de-
liveries are concerned.

Rex gets a request from
Colonel Stone, a wealthy El-
vis impersonator, to retrieve
a valuable vase from Terra
Androgena, a planet populat-
ed only by xenophobic wom-
en. Apparently, Terra Andro-
gena's biology-proficient
women killed all the technol-
ogy-proficient men in the
Gender Wars and promptly
used a cloaking device to
make the planet disappear.
In order to reproduce with-
out men, the women invent-
ed the extremely distasteful
Gender Bender, a machine
that turns women into men
and vice versa.

Rex discovers Terra Andro-
gena, and his ship is imme-
diately disabled by a plane-
tary defense craft. The Slip-
pery Pig crashes into the
sea, and Rex must find the
vase on a planet of hostile
women. Rex also finds it nec-
essary to use the Gender

he Game You Grew Up With
Has Grown Up T"^

WINDOWS '" version

IBM PC version

MOlN^POU

t's more mercenary than
your lawyer, shrewder than
your accountant, greedier than
the IRS and tougher thon your
granny. Get ready for the
most challenging game of
Monopoly® you've ever played
with MONOPOLY® DELUXE.

Combining 90's technical
know-how with plenty of good
old-fashioned fun, the best-
selling boordgome of all time
is back and better than ever

with completely revamped
levels of difficulty and
greatly enhanced graphics
for your computer! You'll
get more deluxe for your

bucks with dazzling anima-
tion of all ten official
tokens, eosy-as-pie inter-
face, a game activity log
thot keeps track of all

previous moves and the
obility to play by traditional or
custom-designed rules.

Enjoy the thrill and excite-
ment of wheeling and dealing
Qs you amoss, or reluctantly
port with, great fortunes
buying and selling railroads,
utilities and properties of all
types. This game's a must for
the library of any TRUE
gamer or future real estate
tycoon! mTwni,

WINDOWS '" version features oil of His DELUXE feotures listed above plus the odded bonus of eosier-to-use |5oinl-and.did( inlerfate.

MONOPOLY ^ DELUXE with the ultimate ens^-to-use point-ond-dick inleriote will be nvoibble this fall in PC end WINDOWS " versions.

fm more informolkm, pririnj ond orders, pleose toll BBfl-VliG-INB?, VISA, WASTERURD, AMERICAN EJPRES5 nnd checks occeptsd,

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VulinijorejiStrtdnndBimitalVirjiiiEcltipnsH.Ud Wimfowi-dortjisttrsdlrademrtrfMimnid CwpwUBi.

Circle Reader Service Number 155

REVIEWS

Bender to change into a
woman (who resembles
graphic adventure game in-
ventor Roberta Wiiliams of Si-
erra On-Line).

Bug-free Rex Nebular is
the first graphic adventure
produced by MicroProse,
right on the heels of the com-
pany's first role-playing ad-
venture, the unfortunately
bugridden Darklands. Rex
Nebular has very high pro-
duction standards, and fvli-
croProse has virtually rein-
vented scanned images
with a nevt^ graphic rotoscop-
ic process that produces at-
tractive, realistic, and smooth-
ly animated images from
filmed actors. The process al-
so integrates the animated
images with the back-
grounds, blending them into
one picture.

The music, which can be
turned on or off but has no
volume control, is mood en-
hancing, interesting, and nev-
er monotonous, repetitive,
or annoying — unlike many
of the barnyard noises pass-
ing for music in other soft-
ware. There are an
enormous number of Foley
and electronically produced
squashes, splats, thuds,
and squeaks. The begin-
ning animation is enhanced
by more than a minute of dig-
ital speech with simultane-
ous text display.

The game has both a
naughty and a nice mode, ei-
ther of which might be de-
sired in a game where there
is only one man on a planet
full of women. The nice
mode eliminates the one sex-
ual encounter and most of
the gratuitous — and ubiqui-
tous— blood and gore.

The interface uses a
mouse-activated, text-con-
structed parser that com-
bines ten standard action
words with object-specific ac-
tion words to produce text
parseriike sentences. The

110 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

Captain! Captain! If we don't turn the ship around, we'll never be
able to protect the monitor screen from phosphor burn-in!

treasure-hunt puzzles re-
quire the player to find ob-
jects and discern how
they're used. The game has
no dead ends; you get sec-
ond chances to acquire es-
sential artifacts. It can be
played in easy, intermedi-
ate, or advanced mode. I'd
recommend intermediate,
since the advanced mode
has significantly fewer hints
and is more lethal, while the
intermediate mode has
more interesting puzzles.

There are a variety of inter-
esting characters, such as
the intelligent, 12-foot-tall rep-
tilian "buddy beast" that be-
friends Rex in the female un-
derground complex. Happi-
ly, Rex Nebular has no an-
noying, obligatory arcade se-
quence. The logically de-
signed connecting scenes
are simple but interesting, ob-
viating the need to map or
have an automapping utility.
Essential items can be main-
tained and manipulated in
the unlimited and versatile in-

ventory. Rex Nebular is high-
ly recommended for novice
and advanced players alike.

ALFRED C. GIOVETTl

IBM PC Of compatible {16-MHz
80286 Of faster [20-MHz 80386 or
faster recommended]), 640K RAM
(uses 575K active), MCGA or VGA,
hard disk with 12MB free; supports
mouse, supports Roland, Ad ijli, Pro
AudioSpeclrum, Sound Blaster, and
Covox— $69.95

MICROPROSE

180 Lakefront Dr.

Hunt Valley. MD 21030-2245

(410) 771-0440

Circle Reader Service Number 436

STAR TREK: THE
SCREEN SAVER

These days, screen savers
are almost as popular as
spreadsheet programs and
word processors. Walk
through any office building,
and you'll see many of the
computers running After
Dark, Intermission, or Win-
dows 3.1's built-in screen
saver. Swirling colors, flying

toasters, fractal landscapes,
dueling blenders, tropical
fish — few computers get
any rest during the day

Berkeley Systems, the de-
veloper of After Dark, has
created yet another screen
saver — this one based on
the original "Star Trek" tele-
vision series. The 15 differ-
ent modules include Spock
walking across your screen,
the sick bay's medical
readouts, an atlas of plan-
ets, the ship's crew stalking
the silicon-based horta, Scot-
ty's technical files on various
electronic devices and
space vehicles, an animat-
ed sequence with Kirk in the
captain's chair, two Tholian
ships entrapping the Enter-
prise in an energy web, a
Starfleet Academy final ex-
am, and, of course, a room
filling up with fribbles.

If you're running Windows
with an 8-bit (256-color) dis-
play card, many of the mod-
ules will be of photographic
quality. If you have a Win-
dows-compatible sound
card, you'll be able to hear
digital recordings of Kirk,
Spock, Bones, and Scotty.
(A PC-speaker sound driver
is included, but its perform-
ance can vary greatly among
computers.) In addition, you
can use the Star Trek mod-
ules with After Dark.

Whether you need to pro-
tect your screen from phos-
phor burn-in or you're simply
a fan of the series, Star Trei<:
The Screen Saver is a great
way to brighten up (and dark-
en) your computer screen.
Live long and phosphor!

DAVID ENGLISH

IBM PC or compatible. 2MB RAM,
VGA or Super VGA, Windows 3.0 or
higtier— $59,95

BERKELEY SYSTEMS
2095 Rose Si.
Berkeley. CA 94709
(510) 540-5535

Circle Reader Service Number 437

fflim

ill Fantasies

Bringing a Ufhole
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lnli]JiistlilatE81orouEr.

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taanailaUefliilislietteiSirpad
PC CompoNet,

15731 Imperial Hwy, Sti
La Mirada, CA 90638

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circle Reader Service Number 169

BEST ADULT DISCOVCIIY
SOFTWARE

DUNE

What's so special about a
barren planet, some spice,
and two warring factions
drawing lines in the sand?
Wlien combined with the
theme of Frank Herbert's re-
nowned novel and Virgin Soft-
ware's technical wizards,
you get the computer ver-
sion of Dune.

While Dune purists will
scoff at any computer (or mov-
ie) version of their beloved
book, Virgin's Dune flawless-
ly blends adventure with stra-
tegic elements (while taking
liberties with the original sto-
ry). It offers compelling game-
play, good characterizations,
and stunning graphics influ-
enced largely by the David
Lynch movie. And unlike
most movie-based games, it
succeeds.

Dune is the sweltering plan-
et whose redeeming feature
is its exclusive natural re-
source— melange. The ability
of this spice to prolong life
and bend space and time
makes it the most valuable

112 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

commodity in the universe.

The emperor, who con-
trols the spice, offers mining
rights to your House of Atrei-
des. Your bitter rivals, the
Harkonnens, have been suc-
cessfully mining the spice at
the expense of the indige-
nous population — the Fre-
men tribes, who have been
enslaved to extract the ore.

As Paul Atreides, you
must provide the leadership
to persuade the Fremen to
side with you against the
Harkonnens and eliminate
their threat from the planet.
This involves slowly recruiting
and building your forces.

But there's more. In re-
turn for the right to mine the
spice, the emperor de-
mands an ever-increasing
percentage of your yield.
Cross him. and his collec-
tion agency stops at nothing
short of killing you (game
over) for failing to send his
cut. So you must also main-
tain your shipments of spice
and ensure that your forces
are diligently mining it.

Supernatural elements al-

so play a key role in the
game through visions, men-
tal communication, and the
Fremen prophecy of a great
leader who will release their
people from bondage.

As your forces grow, you
have to keep track of your
troops and assign them to
the various tasks, including
prospecting, spice mining,
and military training. Be-
sides dealing with the emper-
or and outright attacks from
your friendly neighborhood
Harkonnens, there are the gi-
ant sand worms (which play
an important role later in the
game) that destroy your min-
ing operations.

The interface is straightfor-
ward and easy to use — espe-
cially with a mouse. The
main screen depicts the
scene through Paul's eyes,
and an options window tells
you what you can do in
each scene.

The games graphics —
particularly in the character
closeups and the travel se-
quences through various
times of the day — are excel-

lent. Also, the music and
sound effects are first-rate
(with an audio card).

The only negative aspect
is the sparse manual. The au-
thors seem far more con-
cerned with providing biog-
raphies of the game's design-
ers (who, admittedly, de-
serve a lot of credit) than
adequately explaining how
to play the game.

In Dune, the hours fly by
like the sands of time, and
the game succeeds with a
strategic line that is refresh-
ingly different from those of
other adventure games,
with a strong sense of
theme and character.

WAYNE N. KAWAMOTO

iSr^ PC or compaltble. 64QK RAM,
VGA, hard driva; supports EMS.
XMS, mouse, and the following
sound cards: Roland UT-32 and
LAPC-1, Act Lib. Ad Lib Gold,
Sound Blaster, and Sound Blaster
Pro— S49.99

VIRGIN SOFTWARE
18061 Fitch Ave.
Irvine. CA 92714
(714) 833-8710

Circle Reader Service Number 438

Select any 5 books

CValues to »149.75)

IliASK 1V1.5

4ia7P'XX US.9S
Counts as Z/Soltcover

snap $1B.9S

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Advanced !
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BB1E9II S19.95
Softcover

' Special Book/Disk Offer '

Cc!un:s as 2

394$P-XX S3d.9S
Counts as 2/Sottco\'er

3916P-XX S2gJ5
Counts as Z'Sottcover

As a member of

The Computer Book Club. . .

. . .you'll enjoy receiving Club bulletins every 3-4
weeks containing exciting offers on tfie latest books
in the field at savings of up to 50% off of regular
publishers' prices. II you want tfie Main Selection do
notfiing and it will be sfiipped automatically. If you
want another book, or no book at all, simply return
the reply form to us by the date specified. You'll have
at least 10 days to decide, and if you ever receive a
book you don't want, due to late mail delivery of the
Bulletin, you can return it at our expense. And you'll
be eligible for FREE BOOKS through our NEW Bonus
Book Program, 'tbur only obligation is to purchase
3 more books during the next 2 years, after which you
may cancel your membership at any time.

AH books afe hardcover unless oifierwise no^ed Publishers' prices shown
It you seleci a book Ihai counts as 2 choices, wftie ihe book number m one box
and XX in the next. A shipping/handling cfiatge and sales tax will be added
10 al orders. ©1993 CBC CMPT393

If card is missing, write tot
The CompuWr Book Club. Blue flidge Summil, PA 17294^1820

Orela Header Service Number 139

Think of it as trim fast
for your data*

Hard disk a bit tight
around the waist? Don't
spend money on a bigger
drive. Put your data on a
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software that reduces
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Cubit compresses lL,
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phone line charges
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Once your hard disk
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or visit your dealer.

SqftLogic

SOLUTIONS

One Perimeier Road, Manchester, NH 03103
603-627-9900 •800-272-9900

Circle Rwder Service Number 247

DACEASY ACCOUNTING
4.3, DACEASY INSTANT
ACCOUNTING 1.0

DacEasy Accounting is kind of like the
Volvo of inexpensive accounting soft-
ware, It's not glamorous, and some-
times it's kind of fiard to drive, but It's
reliable. It works. It's not an overpriced
luxury car, but neltfier Is it a Yugo.

DacEasy introduced a sportier, low-
er-priced model In tfie spring of 1992.
DacEasy Instant Accounting, available
in both DOS and Windows versions
(bundled In tfie same package for less
than $50), isn't as powerful or feature
packed, but It's a good entry-level prod-
uct for the Individual or small business
looking for an accounting package
that can be learned quickly and easily
recalled upon use.

The recent upgrade of DacEasy Ac-
counting contains the same 12 integrat-
ed modules found In earlier versions:
General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Ac-
counts Receivable, Cash fvlanagement,
Billing, Inventory, Product Assembly, Pur-
chase Order, Budgeting, Forecasting,
Graphics, and Report Generator,

Version 4.3 uses the same menu-
driven DOS user Interface with lookup

114 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

windows for easy access to lists of
such things as customers, vendors,
products, and services. New features
Include a dramatic Increase In print
speed, the ability to print multiple cop-
ies of the same Invoice, the ability to
keep two full years open at once, on-
line help screens that explain error mes-
sages, footer text for invoices and pur-
chase orders, and expanded address
fields. Many other functions have
been enhanced to make the product
more flexible.

Entering transactions is easy. You
pull down the menu you want (using ei-
ther the keyboard or mouse), select the
activity you want, and fill In the blanks
In the dialog box or on the form pro-
vided {check, Invoice, and so on). You
can enter an unlimited number of trans-
actions (Including automatically recur-
ring ones), add customers or vendors
on the fly, and run a wide variety of re-
ports, like Trial Balance, Balance
Sheet, Income Statement, Aging, Pay-
ments, Products and Services, Price
Break, and Product Activity and Alerts.
If you want a graphic representation of
a report, you can generate any of nine
types of charts and graphs.

DacEasy Accounting can be used
as a stand-alone. But if your needs are
sophisticated enough, you may want to

consider purchasing one of the pro-
gram's add-on products: Payroll 4,3
($99.95) or Point of Sale 4,3 ($149,95).
DacEasy Accounting and Payroll can
be purchased as a bundle; this Bonus
Pack retails for $199.95.

Instant Accounting's operations are
divided slightly differently, by Custom-
ers, Vendors, General Ledger, Invoic-
ing, Bank, Financials, Reports, Period

DacEasy's accounting programs aren't
pretty, but they get the job done welt.

End, and Backup/Restore, The DOS
and Windows versions are practically
Identical In both appearance and func-
tionality. You click on the module you
want (both mouse and keyboard are
supported in the DOS version), and the
work area for that function appears, ,
with Icons representing the options avail-
able there. For example, in the Ven-
dors module, you can scan the activi-
ty there, create a new record, write an
Invoice or debit memo, make a phone
call or send a fax, write a letter or re-
port, or print labels.

The two programs offer a similar
core of features. You can use them to
build databases of customers and ven-
dors, write checks and send Invoices,
set up and track budgets, and compile
and print reports. Each Includes a sam-
ple chart of accounts, step-by-step writ-
ten documentation, and online help;
and both are based on double-entry ac-
counting principles simplified for users
who aren't financial professionals.

Instant Accounting was designed
with the absolute novice or occasional
user in mind; It's easier to navigate
than DacEasy Accounting, and it's
much less expensive. It's an excellent
choice for someone who runs a small
business and needs quick access to fi-
nancial Information. Instant Account-
ing's user Interface Is one of the most
attractive and intuitive I've seen In any
accounting software product.

DacEasy Accounting Is more of a
workhorse, though. It's not as pretty,
but It can service much larger business-
es with far more complex needs. The
growth and flexibility provided by the
add-on modules make It one of the
most reliable products of Its type.

KATHY YAKAL

D UN E-II

The Building of A Dynasty

Hid checks acceptisd.

This is for every hard disk
that's lost its drive.

File fragmentation.
It shifts your hard disk
into low gear. And
takes the "varoom"
out of your PC's
perfonnance.

Restore your hard
disk to its youthful
speed, with Disk
Optimizer. The
utility software
that lets you retrieve
your files up to three times foiter.

Disk Optimizer undoes nasty file
fragmentation that occurs naturally
under DOS. It puts your files back
in one piece. So your hard disk
doesn't bum up your precious time
or itself retrieving bits of data
scattered all over the place.

aSXOPIMZERTOOLSJ

wmunGUMtiMN

It's the little
utility that's a big
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a real power boost
under the hood.

Disk Optimizer

is just $69.95.

See your dealer.
Or call

800-272-9900
to order.

SqftLogk:

SOLUTIONS

One Perimeter Road, Manchester, NH 03103
603-627-9900-800-272-9900

® 1990 ScftLnsk Solutions, Inc.

Circle Rsadsr Service Number 246

DacEasy Accounting 4.3: IBM PC or compatible,
640K RAM, hard disk with approximately 4MB
free — $149.95 for single-user version; $299.95 for
network version; S60.00 for upgrade from
DacEasy Light, DacEasy Instant Accounting, or a
previous version of DacEasy Accounting

DacEasy instant Accounting 1.0: IBM PC or com-
patible, 640K BAM (1MB for Windows version),
hard drive with 1MB free. Windows 3.0 or higher
(for Windows version), modem (for autodial fea-
ture), fax/modem (for fax function)— $49.95 (DOS
and Windows versions included)

DACEASY

17950 Preston Rd., Ste. 800

Dallas. TX 75252

(800) 322-3279

Circle Reader Service Number 439

FLIGHT SIMULATOR
ADD-ONS

After a long, hard day, there's nothing
like leaning back in your captain's
chair, climbing to 5000 feet, and cruis-
ing with ttie clouds. I'm willing to bet, in
fact, that Microsoft's Flight Simulator
has tieaded off more nervous break-
downs than most $200-an-hour
shrinks. After hundreds of hours in the
air over the same terrain, though, some-
times you've got to have a change.
Luckily, there are plenty of add-on mod-
no COMPUTE MARCH 1993

ules for Flight Simulator: not only new
scenery but also computer-assisted
flight planners, airport databases, pi-
lots' logbooks, and much more.

One of the most prolific of the add-
on developers is Mallard Software,
which boasts an impressive line of scen-
ery disks and other enhancements.
One of Mallard's recent offerings is the
Hawaii scenery upgrade. In this trop-
ical tour, you can sightsee from the air
as you discover the mountains of Ha-
waii, the beach resorts of Maui, the ship-
wrecks of Molokai, the infamous Pearl
Harbor, the canyons of Kauai, and
more tourist attractions than the land-
bound can hope to see from their lim-
ited viewpoint. The package includes
a small map of all the islands — even
the tiny leeward islands — and a manu-
al chock-fu!l of tour suggestions. With
this detailed scenery disk, your Hawai-
ian vacation may be closer than you
think.

Besides its many scenery disks, Mal-
lard produces handy utility programs
for Microsoft's Flight Simulator. One,
called Flight Planner, helps armchair pi-
lots plot their courses, needing only the
names of two airports to get the job
done. You simply enter your departure
and destination points, and the comput-
er applies itself to the task, filling in

your flight plan with the information re-
quired to complete your trip. {If you
like planning your own flights. Flight Plan-
ner also features a manual entry
mode.) A database of airports and a pi-
lot's calculator that figures wind correc-
tion, descent rate, and descent distance
round out the package. Both DOS and
Windows versions are included.

Mallard also markets a similar prod-

Don 'f go to therapy or a travel agency — fly
to Hawaii or Great Britain on your PC.

uct called FS-Pro, which provides
much of what is found in the Right Plan-
ner package but with a more hands-
on approach. For example, FS-Pro's
flight planner isn't as automated as the
one in the Flight Planner package. FS-
Pro will, however, automatically calcu-
late your initial heading and the dis-
tance between airports.

FS-Pro also features a series of
ready-to-fly scenarios that you can se-
lect from FS-Pro's main menu. When
you choose a scenario (or adventure,
as Mallard calls them), FS-Pro gives
you a description of the challenge at
hand and then automatically transfers
you to Flight Simulator, with your en-
gine humming and the scenario ready
to go. In addition, FS-Pro includes a
more powerful pilot's calculator than
the one in Flight Planner, an airport
and aircraft database, a pilot's log-
book, an airport graphics editor, and a
pilot's ground school, where you can
learn the basics of flying.

Another company that produces
add-ons for Microsoft's Flight Simulator
(not to mention for its own flight sim-
ulator) is subLOGlC. The company's lat-
est offering, the Great Britain Scenery
Collection, comes with three disks,
each packed with more than 300,000
square miies of new terrain for you to
explore. With this package, you can
wing your way over England, Wales,
Scotland, Ireland, and other areas sur-
rounding Britain. An excellent set of nav-
igational maps is included, as is a plot-
ting and navigational tool. The com-
plete manual features navigation and
information charts for more than two
dozen major airports. An impressive
package.

So, the next time you're ready to

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REVIEWS

strap in for a sky-high jaunt,
you might consider adding
one of these modules to
your basic Flight Simulator.
Chances are that you'll be-
come so engrossed in explor-
ing new worlds that you
won't even notice your troub-
les blowing av/ay like
leaves in the wind.

CLAYTON WALNUM

Right Planner— $39.95
FS-Pro— $39.95
Hawaii— $29.95

MALIJ^RD SOFTWARE

3702 Justin Rd.

Flower Mound, TX 75028

(214) 539-2575

Circle Reader Service Number 440

Great Britain Scenery Cotleclion —
$59.95

SUBLOGIC

501 Kenyon Rd.

Champaign, IL 61820

{217} 359-8482

Circle Reader Service Number 441

MAG

INNOVISIOK

MX17F

When I first opened the car-
ton containing the MX17F, I
expected to see a bigger ver-
sion of MAG InnoVision's 15-
inch monitor, the MX15F.
While there's an unmistaka-
ble family resemblance —
both share the same clean
lines, for instance — there
are other differences be-
sides size and weight that
soon became apparent.

This larger-screen unit
boasts a fine .26-mm dot
pitch. Like its sibling, it's ca-
pable of 1280 x 1024 nonin-
terlaced resolution. The
MX17F also comes with a de-
tachable tilt-swivel base and
rubber-tipped feet (in case
you decide to forgo using
the base).

At the rear of the MX17F,
there's an AC power socket,
along with two D connectors

118 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

for inputting the video sig-
nal. The input used with
PCs and PS/2 machines is
an elongated 15-pin D con-
nector (two rows of holes in-
stead of the usual three)
that looks like a joystick con-
nector rather than a video
hookup.
A standard IS-pin D con-

display at the right side,
flanked by an unobtrusive
LED power indicator. At the
left side you'll find rotary di-
als for adjusting brightness
and contrast. Next to these
dials is mounted a two-line,
32-character backlit display,
with a drop-down door next
to it concealing all the im-

The MX17F Irom MAG InnoVision packs lots of helpful features into
a 17-incf^ monitor that will plug into just about any macfiine.

nector (the familiar three
rows of holes) is also pre-
sent, but this one's used for
connecting the MX17F to Ap-
ple Macintosh II computers!
if you want even more flexi-
bility for using the MX17F,
you can also use the five dis-
crete BNC connectors for in-
putting your video signals. A
high/low (75-ohm) imped-
ance selector switch is also
located on the rear for tailor-
ing the input signal
strength.

All the real action takes
place at the front of the mon-
itor, however, since that's
where you'll find all the user-
adjustable controls. A flush-
mounted power switch nes-
tles comfortably beneath the

age adjustment controls.

The LCD keeps the user
constantly informed of the
currently active video
mode, with the top line (16
characters) displaying either
Interlaced or Noninterlaced
and the lower line (also 16
characters) showing the res-
olution and frequency (for ex-
ample, 1024 X 768 70 Hz).
This is a nifty feature that
gives you instant confirma-
tion of the mode you're run-
ning in.

The control panel next to
the LCD contains a push-but-
ton switch for degaussing,
along with eight additional
push buttons divided into
four pairs (decrease/aug-
ment) of controls. One pair

is used for each of the follow-
ing: vertical size, vertical po-
sition, horizontal phase (po-
sition), and horizontal size.
Anothier single push button
to the right of this bank is
used for storing and recall-
ing memory settings. Next
to the memory button is a
two-position slider switch for
selecting either user-pro-
grammed or factory-preset
timing modes, and another
slider switch for selecting ei-
ther the BNC or D-subcon-
nector inputs. The MX17F's
nonvolatile memory comes
with 13 preset modes and
can also accommodate 8 us-
er-programmed modes.

The monitor has an FCC
Class B compliance certifica-
tion for input signals with hor-
izontal frequencies of 58
kHz or lower. It should be not-
ed that this monitor isn't cer-
tified Class B for frequen-
cies above 58 kHz because
of a lack of Class B-compli-
ant input devices that oper-
ate at such frequencies. In
other words, monitors that op-
erate in the MX17FS frequen-
cy range didn't exist when
the Class B compliance stan-
dards were set. My, isn't it
amazing how technology
has progressed!

The image quality and
overall performance of the
MX17F is more than accept-
able, especially when the
higher resolutions (1280 x
1024, 1024 X 768) are run
with a video card capable
of running in noninterlaced
mode, such as the Renoir Ul-
tra-SVGA I used. If there's a
monitor in your future, the
MAG InnoVision MX17F
may fit the bill nicely.

TOM BENFORD

MAG InnoVision MX17F— $1,(199

MAG INNOVISION
4392 Corporate Center Dr.
Los Alannitos, CA 90720
(714) 827-3998

Circle Reader Service Number 442

ZERO'S & ONE'S PC WAREHOUSE

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Circle Reader Service Number 114

REVIEWS

VIDEO POKER

Step into any Las Vegas or Atlantic
City casino and prepare to be over-
wlielmed: video poker machines, as far
as tine eye can see, each adopted by
a hopeful gambler looking for a lucky
draw. Now, three softv/are versions of
this popular casino attraction allow play-
ers to hone strategies and have fun with-
out risking the rent money.

Behind facades of flash and glitter,
there's some intense number crunch-
ing going on. Each package takes the
business of tracking odds, percentag-
es, and payoff schedules very serious-
ly. In addition, the simulations offer as
much depth and detail as the user
cares to indulge: fast and fun entertain-
ment or meticulous tools with which to
develop expert, workable strategies.

Features common to all three pack-
ages include Las Vegas and Atlantic
City variations of the most popular ca-
sino machines: Draw Poker, Jokers
Wild, and Deuces Wild. Most provide
the option to change payback sched-
ules and other values to create unique
games. Other common features in-
clude multiplayer tournaments, on-
screen strategic advice, hand evalua-
tion tables, automated statistical play,
and detailed game reporting. Each com-
pany has a Windows version of its prod-
uct available or in development.

Of the three products reviewed, Stan-
ford Wong's Video Poker makes the
most effort to re-create the look and
feel of a real casino machine. It's also
the only game in the group to offer
sound card support, adding atmos-
phere with digitized crowd noise and
the incessant clinking of coins. On the
other hand, the game's low-resolution,
garishly colored graphics are authentic
almost to the point of distraction, The
game's many strengths include a
unique split-screen, two-player tourna-
ment mode and the option to save mul-
tiple play sessions in progress. Anoth-
er big asset is the ability to redefine
and save custom machine configura-
tions. Weaknesses are mostly cosmet-
ic— cluttered screens and meager au-
diovisual feedback — coupled with a
slow graphics display and poorly pro-
grammed mouse option.

Masque Video Poker trades bells
and whistles for lightning speed and
statistical prowess. As a token of its em-
phatic dedication to real-world strate-
gy, the game simulates only "full pay"
machines — units with unaltered pay-
back schedules. Strong points include
a detailed play history analysis, show-
ing alternate outcomes to all hands

120 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

played against the computer's advice.
The game is also highly configurable,
with excellent mouse and hot-key con-
trols. Beyond its narrow scope of ma-
chine simulations, the game's only
weakness is its dour personality. If not
for some rudimentary graphics and
sound effects, you could almost mis-
take it for a spreadsheet.

Strategic Video Poker falls comfort-
ably between a flashy arcade-style
game and rigid statistical simulation.
Featuring clean, high-resolution graph-
ics and fast gameplay, this could be
the one to beat. Strong points include
the ability to play off credits— thus pre-
serving your nest egg — and a unique
"hand tester" to compute odds before
committing to play.

The game also features 31 preset
payoff configurations, players' session
stats saved to disk, and the ability to
print strategies for use in real casinos.
Audio feedback is excellent, despite
the program's having no sound card
support.

Annoyed by the constant nagging of
the computer strategist? Turn it off by
playing smarter: The more you've
learned, the less advice it gives. And un-
less you're a long-lost relative of "Dia-
mond Jim" Brady, playing with a
$1,000 bankroll simply isn't realistic. Lim-
iting your coffer to a reasonable
amount adds excitement to winning
and agony to defeat. As diehard gam-
blers say, "No threat, no thrills."

Overall, the only clear winners in
this race are video poker enthusiasts.
For both casual and serious players, all
three products offer a wealth of enter-
tainment and instructional value.

SCOTT A. MAY

Masque Video Poker: IBM PC or compatible, 256K
RAM; mouse supported— $49.95

MASQUE PUBLISHING

PO- Box 5223

Englewood, CO 80155

(800) 765-4223

Circle Reader Service Number 443

Strategic Video Poker: IBM PC or compatible:
512K RAM; Hercules, CGA, EGA. MCGA, or VGA;
mouse optional — S49.95

LWS SOFTWARE

P.O. Box 6B8

Broomall. PA 19008

(800) 828-2259

(215) 520-9858

Circle Reader Service Number 444

Stanford Wong Video Poller: IBM PC or compati-
ble: 512K RAM: CGA, EGA, MCGA. or VGA; hard
disk recommended; mouse supported: supports
Sound Master, Ad Lib, Sound Blaster— $29.95

VILLA CRESPO SOFTWARE
1725 McGovern St,
Highland Park, IL 60035
(800) 521-3963
Circle Reader Service Number 445

PENTHOUSE ONUNr''

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• Near real-time picture

display

• Photo E-Mail

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• PetPoints™ Awards
• Program

• Low monthly and

connect fees!

Exciting news! Penthouse introduces an
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capability. Send a message, ..and a
photo.,.at the same lime!

Log on and access Chat. E-Mail,
Penthouse Letters, Penthouse
Photos. ..plus special Navigation and
Help areas. New areas are being added
continuously. Navigate anywhere using a
mouse or Tab key.

The Penthouse photos you'll find on
PENTHOUSE ONLINE are the same
high quality seen every month in
Penthouse. Our unique speed-view
system lets you browse in 256-coior
VGA, then download the photos you
wish to l<eep. That's right. View BEFORE
you download.

There's more! Keep up to date on
national and world events, the financial
markets, entertainment news and
more. ...Thinking about travel? See our
DISCOUNT TRAVEL SERVICE
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MERCHANDISE MART! Thousands of
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All this for just $5.95 a month basic fee,
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As a member of PENTHOUSE ONLINE,
you receive valuable PetPoints for every
dollar you spend. Redeem PetPoints for
Penthouse ball caps, T-shirts, can
coolers, key rings . and more. Or use
them to purchase sought-after Penthouse
books and videos. Or trade points for free
online time, it's your choice!

Plus, we've arranged with a major
modem manufacturer, USRobotics, to
offer a deluxe, 9600 bps data/fax
modem, with custom Penthouse Key
insignia, for under $300.
To order your membership kit
call 1-800-289-7368 or circle the
reader service number below.

circle Reader Service Humber 103

Advertisers Index

Reader Service Humber/Adverliser

Page Reader Service Number/Advertiser

Page Reader Service Humtier/Adveniser

Pane

162 8-Bit G-11

123 A Tech Software 128

299 Access Sollware 88.69

271 Accolade 91

2B8 Amish Outlaw Sharewae Co 12B

244 Antigrav Toolkit G-17

Apple 7

170 AT&T/PaFEdyne C-13

151 Bear Technologies A-29

152 Bear Technologies G-10

Best Personalized Books 81

173 Blue Valley Sollware 128

218 Body Cello 131

181 Calolte Industries G-10

229 CEE-64 Alive G-10

Chevrolet 11

149 Chips & Bits 107

272 Colorado Spectrum 131

269 Commodore 21

128 ComPro Sollware 131

150 Compsull 129

220 Compsull G-23

108 CompuSe-ve 16,17

Computer Business Services 133

270 Computer Liquidalors 133

107 COMPUTE Modem 127

141 Computer Produclions 130

125 Creative Labs 3

226 Crosley Sollware 130

175 D & K Enterprises 81

154 De Vine Computer Sales A-9

161 Delphi 29

131 DemoSnuice 132

20S Disk-Count Software 125

122 Diskoveries G-17

253 Disks O'Plenty Inc G-17

160 Disney 63

227 Duslin SoSaare 99

Epson _ IPC, 1

217 Fairbrolhe-s A-23

PGM Connection G-23

115 Free Spirit Sollware 123

215 Genesis Electronic Services . - A-27.A-29

145 Grapevine Group , G-13

265 Home Base Products 129

234 Horse Feathers Graphics G-9

239 Hypermedia Concepts A-20

168 Impressions 104

202 Inner Circ e 35

231 Jackson Marking Pioducis Co 130

JP PBM Products by Mail G-ID

Kasara Micro Systems G-17

206 Lance Haftner Games 132

117 Legacy Soft*'are .128

267 LivingSolt 75

118 Lucas Arts ... - 39

250 Mad Man Software G-11

298 Mailard Software 75,77

199 Maiiard Software 73

137 Master Sollware G-11

140 Maslerclips. Inc 42

225 Maxxtmum Company 37

MECA Software 57

176 Merit Software iBC

Micro Designs G-17

180 MicicGrafx 53

111 MicioProse 59

Walural Graphics A-3

191 Needhams Electronics 132

New Car Price Line 124

237 Mew World Computing 117

232 fJew World Computing 104

NRIMcGraw Hill 65

192 Origin 43

104 Panasonic 31

164 Paiscns Tectinology 23

106 Paith Galen A-29

219 Passport Designs 15

177 PC CorapoNet. Inc 111,133

PC Travel . 126

Pendragon Software 126

103 Pentt:ouse On-line 120

107 Penirouse Modem 127

146 Peoples Coliege 122

153 Performance Petipherals G-23

211 Phone Technologies 47

169 Pixel Pertect 112

185 Poor Person Soltvate A-27

Presto Print Books .81

165 Psygnosis 41

212 SaleSolt Systems Inc 130

116 SeXXy 130

148 Sierra On-Line BC

266 Sierra On-Line ■ 61

109 Sman Luck Sollware , . 128

138 SfvIC Software Publishers - A-29

121 SMC Soltwaie Publisfiers 133

246 SoftLogic Solutions 116

182 SoftLogic Solutions 51

247 SoftLogic Solutions lH

126 SoftShoppe Inc 130

Sollvtare Hut G-7

210 Software Support Inlemational 130

190 Soltvrare Support International G-5

SOGWAP Sollware G-9

SOGWAP Software , A-25

236 Sole Source Systems 123

184 SOW 4.5

252 Sparks Electronics G-17

158 Spirit ol Discovery 55

203 Star Micronics 19

130 Slarwaie Pubiishmg , , , , 131

230 Stepway 1 Software 27

143 Strategy Pius 106

179 SubLogiC 95

112 Syracuse Language Systems 128

139 "AB/Compufer Book Club 113

147 "hrustmaster 129

242 Tycom Inc G-10

183 Virgin 115-

1S5 Virgin 109

195 Virgin 87

132 Virtual Reality Labs A-?

172 Wedgwood Computer 133

Windows 900 132

133 WOL Direct/ICS 133

110 WOL Direct/ICS 33

World of Commodore A-13

114 Zeros & One's 119

228 Zipperware Ar-27

Income Opportunity Mart 79

Product Mart l27,l2B,iai30,13l,132,l33

ClassliEds 134.135

COMPUTE'S Best Utilities A-27

COMPUTE Books 81,A-22A-25.A-2B

Gazette Disk Index G-13

Gazette Disk Subscription G-9

Gazette Productivity Manager , . G-19

SharsPak Disk Subscription 69

Single Disk Older 67

CREDITS

Cover: Steve Krongard; cover background:
Masahiro Sano/Stock Market; page 6: Walter
Wick/FPG International; page 22: Mark Wag-
oner; page 70: Paul Zwolak; page 80:
Douglas Bowles/Image Bank; pages 82-83:
Mark Wagoner; pages 84-85: Michel Tcher-
evkoff/lmage Bank; page 90: Bonnie Timmons/
Image Bank; pages 92-93: Mark Wagoner;
pages 96-97: Mark Wagoner; pages 100-
101: courtesy of Paramont Pictures; page
G-2: Steven Hunt/Image Bank.

f^^ The Time
Has Come...

...to send for the latest copy of the free Consiimer
Information Catalog.

It Uste more than 200 tree or low-cost govern-
ment pubUcatlons on topics hbe money, food, Jobs,
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Don't waste another min'ute, send today for
the latest free Catalog and a free sample booklet.
Send your name and address to:

Consumer InJormatlon Center
Department TH
Paeblo, Colorado 81009

if'

(vflARCH 1993 COMPUTE

121

Learn

Computer

Pregrannming

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People trained in compuler programming are
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eiEws

MAKEUP FOR WINDOWS

A buddy of mine dropped by today to
show trie a promo flier for fiis wife's
gift shop. He'd created it on tiis PC, us-
itig standard dry-as-dust type fonts,
and he made the mistake of asking my
opinion.

"It's boring as day-old toast," I said.

Uh-oh. Mr. Subtlety strikes again.

"I guess it does need work," my
friend said. Then he asked The Big
Question.

"Can you help?"

"Sure," I said, "All it really needs is
a little Makeup!"

fvlakeUp is a typographic special-
effects program from Bitstream. Remem-
ber what word processors did for writ-
ing? That's what IVlakeUp does for
type. It lets your creativity run free, and
all you need to make it sing is Win-
dows and a 286-compatible PC.

fvfakeUp gives you complete control
over basic type characteristics. No sur-
prise there. But that's just the begin-
ning. Imagine letters that seem to float
above the page or appear embossed
into it. Envision characters shaded so
they appear to be made of polished
metal. Picture words that stretch and
twist and curve around complex
shapes. The possibilities are endless,
and MakeUp makes them happen.

Text entry — the first step — is easy.
Simply draw a box and type in your
characters. They're automatically fitted
into the space you've outlined.

Then the fun begins. Want an em-
bossed look? Click on the Emboss
tool. Three-dimensional letters are equal-
ly easy So is bending type around arch-
es or circles or forming text blocks in-
to complex shapes. You can even cus-
tomize individual letters, perhaps to cre-
ate a one-of-a-kind logo or a typeface
of your own design. f\/lakeUp gives you
all the tools you need.

You can further enhance your crea-
tions by adding geometric shapes {cir-
cles, ovals, rectangles, polygons, and
stars). There's even a Blend fool that
transforms one word or shape into an-
other, opening the door to some very
unusual effects.

IvIakeUp also lets you "wash" type (in-
dividual letters or entire words) and ob-
jects with color or gray-scaie v/ashes.
Colors can be specified using red-
green-blue (RGB), cyan-magenta-yel-
low (CfvlY), and hue-saturation-value
(HSV) values. Pantone process colors
can also be specified. You can't print
color separations, but you'll have no
trouble exporting files to separation-
capable programs. In addition, Make-

Up supports more than 20 different
graphics formats.

Also very useful is MakeUp's sup-
port of Object Linking and Embedding
(OLE), a Windows 3.1 feature that lets
you edit and update objects directly
from the application in which you
placed the object.

Makeup is supplied with an exten-
sive clip art library and with five type-
faces (Americana Bold, Bitstream Oz
Handicraft, Poster Bodoni, Revue, and
VAG Rounded) in three formats
(Speedo, PostScript Type 1, and True-
Type). Program setup automatically
loads the Speedo fonts; you can load
the PostScript Type 1 fonts with a font-
scaling program such as Adobe Type
Manager or load the TrueType fonts di-
rectly in Windows 3.1. Additional type-
faces are available,

fVlakeUp's documentation is outstand-
ing. The 276-page manual is highly
readable, carefully organized, and lav-
ishly illustrated. Also included is Make-
Up Techniques, a separate guide
which illustrates several effects and ex-
plains step by step how each was
done.

If you've ever felt there's a type de-
signer inside you, give MakeUp a try.
Once it's installed, you can be doing
real work in less time than it takes to
read this review. Who knows? it might
be just what you need to unleash your
typographic talents on the v/orld!

STEVE HUDSOM

IBM PC or compatible (80286 compatible), 2MB
RAM {4MB recommended), hard disk. Windows
3.0 or higher (TrueType fonts supported in Win-
dows 3.1)— S149

BITSTREAM

215 First St.

Cambridge, MA 02142-1270

(800) 522-FONT

Circle Reader Service Number 446

BERLITZ INTERPRETER

Who can follow in the Renaissance foot-
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Berlitz Interpreter puts a full 62,500
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Invoke the interpreter — which runs
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FOR

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REVIEWS

word for dog. Select English as the
source language, type dog, and you
have your translation: cane. You also re-
ceive the appropriate words in French
(chien), Spanish (perro). and German
(Hund), all with their respective gen-
ders noted. Lookup times pass without
notice; in spite of decompression
work, Berlitz Interpreter offers instant re-
sults. To make keyboard entry of
those pesky alien characters — tildes
and umlauts, for example — possible,
Berlitz Interpreter allows you to
choose them via cursor keys. Once se-
lected, the appropriate character ap-
pears on the text entry line.

Berlitz Interpreter installs in less
than 1MB of hard drive space, making
it a prime candidate for notebook trav-
els. The program even sports a quiz fea-
ture. Just choose a source language
and type in your best guess for the
word that appears. As you build your
command of foreign languages, you'll
see that they're not quite so foreign an-
ymore (and not quite so enervating as
hour-long games of laptop solitaire).

You may also summon the interpret-
er from within other programs; Lotus
Works, Microsoft Works, Microsoft
Word, WordPerfect, and WordStar.
With helpful Berlitz Interpreter to prod
your imagination, love soon turns to
amore. and nausea gives way to
Obelkeit. You need hardly stop typing
to include these little gems, and your
writing — at least your correspondence
and your fiction — may profit by your ex-
otic word gathering.

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For foreign-language first-timers, the
sheer volume of available words might
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sweet. Limpid text files overburdened
by inept locutions will surely litter the
hard drive. Practice some caution,
though, and the glamour passes, re-
placed by a strong sense of utility. In
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sure to new words, and Berlitz Inter-
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GUY SPY AND THE
CRYSTALS OF
ARMAGEDDON

As if the world needs another threat,
despicable Baron Von Max lacks only
the elusive Crystals of Armageddon to
power his doomsday device. The
worst fears of pulp heroes could come
true unless Guy — the spy who never
sleeps — can shoot and slug his way
through a series of adventure vignettes
to beat the evil baron to the punch.

You'll immediately recognize the vis-
ual similarities between Guy Spy and
the Crystals of Armageddon and Drag-
on's Lair. Knowing a good thing when
it has one, Readysoft has pursued the
interactive movie approach to gaming
for some time now, and Guy Spy,
while more or less as linear as its
predecessors, offers much more action
within each of its constituent episodes.
At the Berlin train station, for example,
Guy must dodge bullets and fire his
own — arcade style. A life meter gaug-
es his proximity tO death, and when it
comes, Guy reappears to blithely try
again. That's a far cry from the make-
one-mistake-and-you've-lost-a-quarter
mentality of the original Dragon's Lair.

Guy's travels also bring him face to
face with an animate mummy and take
him on ski runs down grenade-pocked
slopes, headlong into bar brawls, and,
finally, to the Doomsday Tower for a vi-
cious altercation with Von Max. Multiple
backdrops and ample animation make
these excursions into serial verit6 a car-
toonish pleasure; the engaging action
renders this less an exercise in mem-
orization than a playable game. Of
course, to make Guy Spy more playable
still, the designers might rethink the in-
terface for the next installment — some
system of movement allowing for simul-
taneous attacks would act as proof pos-
itive of Guy's superspy status.

For now, Guy Spy will capture the in-
terest of anyone not already exhausted
by other Readysoft adventures, and it
stands well above the company's ear-
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Crystals of Armageddon could give es-
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DISK-COUNT
SOFTWARE

4 D Boxing 20

A Train 39

Consinjction Set 2Z
A320 Airbus 52

ABC Wide Wrid Box 30
ABPA Baseball 25
Aces of tha Pacifc 39

Mission Disk 25
Action Stations 29

Addon Disk 22-45 14
AD*D Collect Ed 2 44
AD&D Startef Kit 44
Adv Willy Beamish 37
Air Bucks 35

Air Force Command 36
AlgeBlaster Plus 30
Algebra Made Easy 25
Amarillo Slira Dl Cti 32
American Gladiators 25
Ancient Art War Sky 35
Animation Studio 69
Are We Tliere Yet? IB
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Armourgeddon 29
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Automap 49

Aytomap Windows 48
Automap Europe 74
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Back to Future 3 25
Bacl^Bamn By Geo 26
Bane Cosmic Forge 3B
Barbie Design 16

Barbie Fastiion 25
Barbie Adventure 25
Bart Simpson Hous 30
Battlectiess (all vef) 30
Batlleotiess 2 29

Batllsdiess 400 39
Batile Isle 32

Battles of Napoleon 31
Batfeslorm 31

Berenstn Bear Cnt 19
Be/ensin Bear Color 25
Berenstn Bear Lettr 25
Berlitz Inlefpreler 37
Bicyde Poker 37

Bill Elliott NASCAR 30
Birds of Prey 32

Blitzkrieg 29

Bloodwych 25

Bo Jackson BaseB 30
Bodiworks 42

Bridgemaster 30

Bug Bunny WrkStip 31
Buzz Aldnn 39

Captain Comic 2 15
Carl Lewis Challng 29
Carrier Strike 42

Carriers at War 35
Casino Pack 1 32

Castles 36

Northern Campgn 19
Castle 2 35

Castle of Dr. Brain 30
Cathy Daily Planner 43
China Ancient Emp 30
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Champions 36

Champions of Krynn 20
Chemistry Works 36
Chessmaster 3000 32
Chessmstr 3000 Win3e
Children Writ & Publ 39
Chip 'n Dale 15

Civilization 39

Civilization MPE 47
Classic 5 29

Coaster 25

Comic Book Creator 17
Conan: Cimmerian 30
Conflict: Middle East 32
Conflict Korea 29
Conquest Longbow 39
Conquest of Japan 35
Crime Wave 37

Crisis in ttie Kremlin 39
Crossword Magic 32
Cruise lor a Corpse 33
Daffy Duci! P.I. 15
Dagger of Amon Ra 39
DarT( Han 39

Dark Queen Krynn 32
Darklands 39

Darkseed 39

Dark Sun 50

Deatti Knight Krynn 32
DIx Paint Animation 65
Dli Paint II Enhncd 65
Desijn Yr Own Hm 39
Design Youf Raiird 35

Railroad Robbery 19
Designasauois ll 23
Disnev Entertain Pk 47

Or, Oyandfy 31

Dragon's Lair 25

Dragon's Lair 2 37

Dragon LnSing Cst 37

Due* Tale:Ost GId 15

Duerk BaseB. Encyl 20

Dune 29

Dungeon l^aster 29

Dusk of ttie Gods 38

Dynarjiix Bundle 39

Earl Weaver 2 20

Commisioner Dsk12

Play & Mgf. Disk 12

Earttiquest 37

Eco Phantoms 31

Eco-Quest 1 34

Elvira 2Jaws 42

Entf Pak Win (aa) 26

Eye of Beholder 32

Eye of Beliolder 2 38

E Z Cosmos 42

-14 Tomcat 19

IS III 44

IS III Master Edit. 49

117a Stealth FighlerAI

■acts in Action 31

alcon 3.0 45

Oper Fight Tiger 25

araity Tree Maker 42

ar Side Calendr 49

■anri Creativity Kit 17

■emme Fatale 26

F. F. Data Disk 21

ighting Iw Home 29

■inal Conflict 29

lames of Freedom 31

light of Intruder 37

light Simul AT.P, 37

light Simul (M.S.) 41

Arcft/Scen Dsgn 28

Caiifomia 37

Rigtil Planner 25

FSPro 24

Great Britian 37

Hawaii 19

Instant Facit Log. 26

Instrumnt Pilot Seen

East /West U.S. 69

Scenery Set A 37

Scenery Set B 37

Scenery Enhn Ed 25

Sound 4 Graphic 25

Tahiti 19

Western Europe 1 9

Floor 13 15

Fly Grand Canyon 37

Follow the Reader 29

Four Crystal Trazer 32

Free 0 C 37

Front Page Sports 39

Gateway 35

Global Conquest 37

Gobblins 25

Godfattier 29

Gods 25

Gold of ttie fetec 31

Gold Sheet Pro F B 37

Grand Slam Brdge2 31

Great Naval BattTes 44

Greens 35

Gunsfiip 2000 36

Scenario Disk 24

Guy Spy 29

Hardball 3 35

Data Disk 17

Hare Raising Havoc 29

Harpoon 32

Headline Harry 37

Keimdall 19

Heros of 357th 32

Hole In One Gotf 22

Hong Kong Mahjona 32

HoyTe Bk Game 1/2 22

Hoyle Bk Game 3 30

Huraans 25

Indiana Jones 4 37

Island of Dr. Brain 29

Jack Nicklaus Signtr 42

J. Nick. Crse 3.4,5 14

J. Nicklaus Cfip Art 17

Jetfighter 2 39

Adv. Mission Disk 1 9

Jobhunt 30

John Madden 2 31

Jump Jet 39

Kid Pix 35

Kid Pin Companion 25

Kid Works 29

Kings Quest Bundle 39

Kings Quest 1 VGA 37

King's Quasi 5 42

King's Quest 6 39

Knowledge Advent 47

Konami fiFL Foots 30

Laffer Utiiity 22

Leather God Phb 2 42
Legend 41

Legend of Kyrandia 35
Legion's of Krella 37
Leisur Sull Lar Bndl 39
Leisur Suit Larry 5 37
Lemmings 29

Oh No More Addon 22
Lemm.-Oh No More 31
L'Empefeur 37

Lexicross 25

Liberty or Death 35
Life and Death 2 32
Links 25

Links 386 Pro 39

Course Disk aa 16

3 or more (ea) 15
LoneyTunePrnvPly 19
Lord of Rings 2 37
Lost Admiral 35

Lost File Sherick H 41
Lost Treas Infocom 42
Lost Treasures 2 29
Magic Candle 2 38
MainSlCreatvityKil17
Manhole 31

Mantis 39

Mario Teaches Type 25
Martian Memorndm 32
Marvin Moose 1/2 31
Math Blaster Mystry 29
Math Blaster Plus 29
Math Blaster Wind 36
Math Rabbit 25

Math Zone 31

Matrix Cubed 32

Mavis Beacon Type 32
Mavis Beacon Wind 38
McGee at Fun Fair 25
Mean Streets 19

Medieval Lords 36
Mega ForUess 26

Mission Disk 27
Mega Traveller 1/2 37
Mega Man 3 17

Mental Math Games 35
Merchant Colony 31
MetroGnome Music 31
Michael Jordon Flight42
Mickey ABC's,

Color or 1-2-3's 25
Mickey's Crossword 19
Mickey Jigsaw Pzl 31
Mickey ASC Combo 37
Mickey Word Advent 25
Micro Cookbook 31
Microleagu 4 BaseB 39
Microleague FB DIx 42
Microsoft Golf 39

Midnight Rescue 30
Might and Magic 3/4 38
Millennium 22il»0 25
Milliken Storyleller 32
Mike Ditka LlltimI FB 37
Mixed-Lip Fairy Tale 30
Mixed-tJb Mother Gs 30
Monopoly Deluxe 34
Moonbase 25

Muncher Bundle 30
Murder 29

Mutanoid Math Chig 31
WFL Challenge PremS9
NFL Print PfO 17

tJFL Pro League FB 35
Nigel's World 31

Ninja Turtla Arcade 25
fjinja Turtle: AdventrSI
NoDunagas Ambition 37
No Greater Glory 42
Omar Stiarif Bridge 37
Operation Neptune 35
Orbits 29

Oregon Trail 28

Origin FX 25

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Patriot 43

PC Globe 39

PC USA 31

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Data Disk 22

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Strip Poker Data (ea)1 7
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Stuclyware for ACT 30
Studyware GMAT 30
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Studyware LSAT 30
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Team Yankee 37

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Terminator 2 37

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in Time 30

in USA 30

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Speech Disk 15
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Business Master 39
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CD Game Pack 55
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Conquest Longbow 37
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Font Master 39

Food Analyst 49

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Print Shop 36

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Master Card, Visa Ameiican Express & Discover Accepted. No
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write to: Shareware 4 less, Rt. 2,

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COMPUTE Classllied Is a low-cost way to tell
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Addlllonal Information. Please read carefully.

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first line set in capila! letters at no change Add St5 per
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Terms: Prepaymenl s required We accept checks, mcsn-
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General Information: Advertisers using post otf^:e box nurn-
Cer in their ads m^st supply permanent address and
telephone number. Orders will not be acknowledged. Ad
will appear in next available issue after receipt

CLASSIFIED DISPLAY RATES

Classified display ads measure 2V*' wide and are priced
according to height. 1' = $285, 1 'If = S420: r = S550,

HOW TO ORDER

Call Maria Manaseri. Classified Manager. COMPUTE, 1
WDOds Ct,. Huntington, NY 117-13, at 516-757-9562.

This publication is available
in microform from UMI.

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SOFTWARE

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circle Reader Service Number 353

IBM-C64/128
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Circle Reader Service Number 352

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135

NEWS BITS

Jil! Champion

Cray-DOE plan to

reduce R&D,

intelligent amplifiers

using neural

netwoi1(s, and super

notebooks

Wliat Price Technkal Help?

"Since so many people have
questions about their software
but are frustrated by conven-
tional technical-help choices,
we created a service to help
people obtain fast, accurate
answers to their software ques-
tions," says EveryWare pres-
ident and founder Ruth ivlun-
son of Expert on Call (Every-
Ware can be contacted at
356 Dundee Avenue, Suite
226, Elgin, Illinois 60120; 708-
695^9476 [voice]; 708-695-
8623 [fax]). The subscription
service, which covers all ma-
jor PC applications, allows
you to call a software special-
ist who accesses an answer
for you within minutes via the
company's database or other
resources.

Although corporate and vol-
ume discounts are available,
knowledge isn't cheap — un-
less, perhaps, your software
is booty. A $99.00-per-year
subscription fee entitles you
to two free Basic Searches. Af-
ter that, you pay an addition-
al $15.00 per answer for
each Basic Search and
$40.00 per hour {or $0.67 per
minute) for answers requiring
an Extended Search. For Chi-
cago-area subscribers, in-per-
son troubleshooting services
are available for an estimated
postconsu nation fee.

DRAM Dumping Accused

Last October, the U.S. Depart-
ment of Commerce an-
nounced a preliminary determi-
nation that dynamic random
access memory (DRAfvl) sem-
iconductors from the Repub-
lic of Korea were being sold
in the U.S. at less than fair val-
ue, a process known as dump-
ing. The investigation was
prompted in April 1992 by a
complaint raised by ivlicron
Technology.

Already, since the initial an-
nouncement, the prices of
1MB and 4fVIB chips have
nearly doubled in the U.S. If

the Commerce Department
finds that Korean DRAfVl
chips w/ere dumped, the Inter-
national Trade Commission
will have 45 days to deter-
mine whether the imports ma-
terially injured or threatened in-
jury to the U.S. industry, if the
ITC's findings are affirmative,
the Commerce Department
will order the U.S. Customs
Service to collect antidump-
ing duties that can run as
high as 87 percent of the cur-
rent DRAM price. The Com-
merce Department's final de-
termination is expected this
month. Stay tuned.

Intel-ligent Notebooks

Intel announced a family of In-
tel486 SL microprocessors
that give PC manufacturers
highly integrated, high-perform-
ance, power-efficient solu-
tions for "next-generation"
notebooks. The microproces-
sors allow full-featured note-
book computers to convert to
true 486 performance.

The Intel486 SL, designed
specifically for mobile comput-
ing, delivers twice the process-
ing speed of the fastest In-
tel386 SL CPU while cutting
power consumption in half,
and the smaller packaging re-
quires 60 percent less board
space than previous Intel386
SL microprocessors.

Intel's 25-MHz version, cur-
rently in production, operates
at 11 million instructions per
second (MIPS); a 33-MH2 ver-
sion, which should be in pro-
duction by the end of this
month, operates at 14.5
MIPS. For more information,
contact a local Intel sales of-
fice or the Intel Literature Cen-
ter, Packet #D8P03, PO. Box
7641, Mt. Prospect, Illinois
60056-6741; (800) 548-4725.

Teaching itself

Electrical engineers at the
Georgia Institute of Technolo-
gy move one step closer to
the future with a new high-

speed analog integrated-cir-
cuit (IC) amplifier that learns
to accurately control its own
performance through a neural-
network technology that uses
15 individual amplifier circuits
working in parallel. Their
work could have widespread
applications for sensors, fiber-
optic communications, and
other equipment requiring
high-speed analog IC amplifi-
ers. Like humans, the IC am-
plifier learns accurate perform-
ance by performing a task
and then getting feedback on
it. And like the human brain,
neural circuits are wired to "re-
flect" the experience. Neural
networks have been studied
widely for applications in are-
as such as machine vision
and artificial intelligence.

Made in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Ener-
gy and Cray Research en-
tered into a preliminary agree-
ment calling for two of the En-
ergy Department's premier re-
search facilities, the Los
Alamos and Lawrence Liver-
more national labs, to work
with the supercomputer mak-
er on developing massively
parallel processing (MPP),
which will result in enhanced
competitiveness for U.S.
firms in the global market.

Under the agreement,
Cray's developmental T3D
MPP computers will be in-
stalled at Los Alamos and Liv-
ermore by fall 1993 and will
be connected over a high-
speed data network to each
other and to a system located
at the Cray Research head-
quarters. The network will
serve as a "distributed comput-
ing environment" for tackling
industry problems, resulting in
solutions that will increase pno-
ductivity, reduce R&D costs,
and improve manufacturing
techniques for American com-
panies. That will allow the
U.S. to bring higher-quality
products to market faster, n

136 COMPUTE MARCH 1993

Have it delivered straight to yonr front door!

1 per issue off the newsstand prieeS

D YES! Send me one year of Compute for just $9.97!

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D Payment Enclosed DBill Me nVisa DMastercard

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$1997 PayjT*eni acceptable in US funds on!y Regular sutjscrptiqn price for l3issi;es is $1994.

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Circle Reader Service Numtier 176

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