Death of a cult. (Apple Computer needs to alter its strategy) (column) The Apple Macintosh has become a mainstream business computer rather than the 'cult' machine it was when first introduced, and Apple needs to change its marketing strategy accordingly. Macintoshes gradually began to appear in corporations over the years, but price has remained a major obstacle. The new low-cost Macintosh Classic makes Apple's technology more accessible to the corporate mainstream and offers better performance than AT computers running Microsoft Windows. NuTek Computers has announced a Macintosh-compatible chip set that could lead to the introduction of Mac 'clones.' Users who believe in the Mac 'religion' need to realize that there is no longer 'one true' operating system as file transfers become easier and more IBM-compatible machines are interconnected with Macintoshes. Today's managers can be 'platform agnostics' who choose equipment based solely on practical considerations. Next year in Xanadu. (Ted Nelson's hypertext implementations) Swaine, Michael. Hypertext innovator Ted Nelson's Xanadu Operating Company is nearing the completion of a potentially revolutionary new operating environment, Xanadu/Server, which could make Apple's System 7.0 operating system appear incremental by comparison. Xanadu/Server implements a new data storage and retrieval model designed specifically for hypertext and electronic publishing. It could link such information as literature and summaries or reviews and can be networked. Xanadu/Server supports an unlimited variety of link types. Xanadu documents are not files because they can include parts of many documents and integrate them into a single identity. Documents can include graphics or multimedia elements as well as text. WordPerfect. (WordPerfect for the Macintosh 2.0) (evaluation) Taub, Eric. WordPerfect Corp's $495 WordPerfect 2.0 for the Macintosh is a long-awaited upgrade that offers more powerful formatting controls and style management features than any other Macintosh word processor but is difficult to use. The new version offers a totally reconstructed user interface and style sheets that automatically create a set of formatting codes when the user defines a style. WordPerfect 2.0 has very powerful page-layout features including the ability to anchor text and graphics frames to pages or paragraphs and let frames 'flow' as if they were characters. Column formatting is extremely flexible, and there is an outstanding macro editor that lets users record macros for playback and edit them with a full-scale macro language capable of generating mini-programs. Documentation is good, but its import and export capabilities are weak; the program cannot import most popular Mac formats or export to anything but PC WordPerfect. WordPerfect is also slower than Microsoft Word, but power users will appreciate its wealth of features and those in mixed environments who have standardized on WordPerfect for the PC will enjoy its compatibility. Radius Pivot for Built-In Video an Radius Color Pivot. (Hardware Review) (new Mac monitors)(includes related article on design of Radius Inc's $1,995 Color Pivot and $1,295 Pivot for Built-In Video are two new variations on the company's popular Pivot monitor for the Apple Macintosh. Both share the original Pivot's ability to switch from portrait to landscape mode on the fly as the user rotates the monitor 90 degrees. Each has a screen slightly larger than that of the AppleColor High Resolution RGB Monitor and can refresh the screen after rotation in a few seconds. Driver software is provided. The manuals warn against rotating the monitor while a dialog box is on-screen, a procedure which could force users to reboot. Pivot for Built-in Video is a gray-scale monitor designed for use with any Mac that has internal video circuitry; performance is excellent. The color Pivot has very high resolution, but its electron beams tend to misconverge around the edge of the display, and its reds look somewhat orange. It is nevertheless a superior product. CrystalPrint Express. (Software Review) (high-speed desktop laser printer) (evaluation) Qume Corp's $5,595 CrystalPrint Express laser printer is the fastest desktop unit available, combining a small footprint with a print rate nearly twice that of the Apple LaserWriter IINTX. It has a 12-ppm Sanyo print engine and a powerful reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor that quickly handles graphics-intensive jobs. The CrystalPrint Express uses a Weitek PostScript clone, which generally works well but cannot read the 'hints' in Adobe Type 1 fonts. Its 35 built-in fonts come from Bitstream Inc and have their own hinting scheme. Resolution can be set at 300 or 600 dpi. The CrystalPrint Express is a good buy, selling for less than some slower and less versatile printers. Its main drawbacks are the lack of support for hinted fonts and the lack of a SCSI port for attaching a disk drive to store downloadable fonts. 4D Write, 4D Calc, 4D XREF. (Software Review) (add-ins for Acius' Fourth Dimension database software) (evaluation) ACIUS Inc's 4D Write, 4D CALC and 4D XREF are add-in programs for the company's 4th Dimension relational database management system that offer word processing, spreadsheet and database analysis capabilities respectively. The three products offer a higher level of integrated functionality than 4D itself, and each directly references fields in 4th Dimension databases. The database designer can control the user of the modules within applications, adding them for personal use or restricting others from accessing them. Users can have varying degrees of interaction via free-floating windows. 4D Write and 4D Calc are not replacements for stand-alone programs but compare well with such midrange products as WriteNow. 4D Calc is not as powerful as Excel but has many of the most frequently used spreadsheet tools. 4D XREF is a tool for developers that analyzes scripts and provides lists of procedures, variables and commands. 4D Calc and 4D Write cost $295 each, while 4D XREF is $200. ConvertIt! (Software Review) (utility for converting HyperCard stacks to IBM PC format) (evaluation) Heizer Software's $199 ConvertIt! is a utility for converting HyperCard stacks between the Macintosh and the ToolBook program for IBM-compatible machines running Microsoft Windows. It consists of a Mac program for exporting stacks and other PC software and a PC program for importing stacks to ToolBook. ConvertIt! does not completely map stacks into ToolBook format; developers will still need to do some work to ensure compatibility. It does convert all HyperCard objects to ToolBook objects, but the two programs treat graphics differently; ToolBook does not use icons and tends to 'trap' mouse clicks in Mac bit maps that have been converted into graphic objects. Icons are no longer associated with buttons when they become ToolBook objects. A major drawback is the fact that ConvertIt! does not completely convert HyperTalk scripts to the ToolBook equivalent. Users can choose to convert as much of a HyperTalk script to ToolBook's OpenScript as possible, a slow process, or to leave them out entirely and rewrite them from scratch. A HyperTalk script converted to ToolBook is nevertheless a useful reference. ConvertIt! does not convert external commands and functions, a potentially serious problem for some users. ConvertIt! is indispensable for those who use both HyperCard and ToolBook despite its inadequacies. Reports 2.0. (Software Review) (Nine To Five Software Reports 2.0 report generator for HyperCard 2.0) (evaluation) Nine to Five Software's $149.94 Reports 2.0 is a report-generation package for HyperCard 2.0 that offers a layout integrator integrated with HyperCard itself and new features such as color support and custom ImageWriter page sizes. The program adds a Reports button to any HyperCard stack that brings up a palette for creating, editing and printing reports. It can be launched only from within HyperCard, and sophisticated reports demand user-written scripts. The user can divide layouts into header, footer, detail, break and total sections. Printing is a matter of returning to the original stack, clicking on the Report button and clicking the Print icon. Documentation is poor, but Nine to Five offers excellent technical support via telephone and CompuServe. Project-scheduling tools. (FastTrack Schedule, MacSchedule) (Software Review) (evaluation) AEC's $235 FastTrack Schedule 1.5 and Mainstay's $245 MacSchedule 2.5 and $345 MacSchedule Plus are project-scheduling tools that specialize in creating professional-looking Gantt charts and presenting project information intelligently. The programs are not designed as full-scale project management packages, but are solid tools for project managers. A Gantt chart is a time line showing all scheduled project tasks with start and stop dates. FastTrack Schedule allows multiple custom column layouts, making it easy to enter many project details; MacSchedule supports only one custom column. MacSchedule has the better spreadsheet and graphing tools of the products. It can report slipped start and completion dates, a feature FastTrack lacks. FastTrack can manipulate data more precisely than MacSchedule and responds better. It also has a better-designed interface. MacSchedule Plus is an enhanced version of MacSchedule that includes job costing. Digital Darkroom. (Software Review) (new version of image-processing software) (evaluation) Silicon Beach Software's $395 Digital Darkroom 2.0 image editing software is an upgrade of an already powerful package that adds new selection and painting tools, colorization features and an improved user interface. The program has new pop-up palettes for easy access to tools and options; the palettes can also be torn off and moved around the screen. Digital Darkroom 2.0 lets the user have up to 20 open files at a time and includes five new selection and enhancing tools. A new brush tool lets users paint with selected portions of images, and there are Replace, Blend, Texture, Blur, Stamp, Lighten, Darken, Smudge and Sharpen brush modes. A new text module supports Adobe Type Manager and TrueType scalable fonts. Text strings can be stamped into images, and new colorization controls let the user apply color washes to selected portions of a gray-scale images. Performance is slightly slow but adequate, and Digital Darkroom is an excellent value for many users. CalenDAr. (Software Review) (Psyborn Systems Inc. CalenDAr desk accessory) (evaluation) Psyborn Systems Inc's CalenDAr desk accessory is an inexpensive and convenient scheduling program that displays a small calendar of the current month and lets users access every program function from one simple display. Clicking the correct sport on the calendar brings up the windows used for listing, entering and editing appointments and reminders. It offers superior sound enhancements, letting users attach any number of different system sounds and supporting Farallon's MacRecorder driver for voice annotation. A frustrating limitation is the fact that CalenDAr automatically deletes reminders when they come due, but the program has all essential reminder-software features and a convenient user interface. It sells for $49.95. DisplayServer II-DPD. (Hardware Review) (DisplayServer II video card for using VGA monitor with Macintosh) (evaluation) Lapis Technologies' $549 DisplayServer II-DPD video board for the Macintosh lets users attach a VGA or multiscanning monitor or even a television set to an Apple Macintosh as a display device but suffers from some compatibility problems with popular applications. Versions of the DisplayServer are available for every Mac model. The monochrome NuBus version supports nine different resolutions and can run several Apple monitors. Users add an INIT to the System Folder and configure an 18-pin jumper block. The DisplayServer has standard DB9 and DB15 connectors; a $15 adapter is necessary in order to use an Apple monitor. It does not work properly with Word 4.0 and Excel 2.2, but produces a crisp, clear image once running properly. DisplayServer is best for those who want large-screen monitors; its is more expensive than Apple's standard monochrome card and monitor, but far less expensive than full-page or two-page displays. SnapJot. (Software Review) (evaluation) Gruberman, Ken. Wildflower Software's $59.95 SnapJot 3.0 Macintosh screen-capture software is a combination INIT and desk accessory program that lets users capture any or all parts of a window, dialog box, menu or the entire screen. The image can be sent to the Clipboard, printed, saved as a paint or PICT file or placed in a 'floating' window that acts like any other Mac window. SnapJot can automatically convert color images to black and white, capture an entire group of images in multiple windows and activate functions with hot keys. The program is easy to learn, easy to use and works flawlessly. Studio Vision. (Software Review) (Lehrman, Paul D.) (evaluation) Lehrman, Paul D. Opcode Systems' $995 Studio Vision is a powerful MIDI sequencing and sound editing program that lets users record audio tracks along with MIDI data and edit the two tracks together or separately. It imports sound files from Audiomedia, Passport Designs' Alchemy and Digidesign's Sound Tools. Editing operations work by changing pointers; the data on disk remains unchanged, and any operation can be easily redone. Studio Vision supports Digidesign's Sound Designer II through 'hot links' for filtering, time compression and sound mixing. A Strip Silence feature lets users remove low-level portions of a track. Users can have up to 16 tracks on-line, although only two can be played at any one time. Studio Vision requires large amounts of disk space; one minute of sound on one track uses 5Mbytes. The program also requires a IIci or faster Mac and a hard disk with at least a 28-millisecond access time. 70 things you need to know about System 7.0. (includes related articles on past reports about System 7.0, Adobe Type 1 fonts, Apple's upcoming System 7.0 operating system has been referred to as Apple's answer to Microsoft Windows 3.0 and will radically change the way users work with their Macintoshes. It requires at least 2Mbytes of memory and a hard disk drive; machines such as the 1Mbyte Classic configuration will continue to ship with the latest version of System 6. The most important System 7.0 features are underlying technologies such as file sharing, interapplication communication, virtual memory and 32-bit addressing. 'Aliases' will let users create duplicate icons for any file, folder or volume that can be freely partitioned while remaining linked to the original file. 'Apple Events' allow two-way communication between applications on one Mac or across a network. System 7.0 adds a 'logical desktop' on which the users can see all disks from inside a Save or Open dialog box. Reasons to upgrade to System 7.0 include its new TrueType scalable fonts, the convenience of aliasing, the ability to easily customize the desktop, virtual memory and support for almost unlimited physical memory. Tips and shortcuts are presented, along with a list of 'obsolete' utilities users will still need. Data on the run. (Hardware Review) (palmtop organizers)(includes related article describing the WristMac from Microseeds Four hand-held computers that offer an interface to the Apple Macintosh are reviewed. All the machines offer a current date-and-time display, a calendar display, a telephone-book database, an appointment-book database with optional advance alarms, a calculator and a mini word processor. Each has an LCD screen, but none is backlit. The Sharp Wizard OZ-8000 has 64Kbytes of RAM and support for many kinds of appointments. Sharp and Traveling Software market software and cable combinations for data transfer between the Wizard and the Mac, but neither takes advantage of all the OZ-8000's features. Casio's B.O.S.S. 9500 has membrane keys for functions and displays 6 lines of 32 characters each. It features world-time, secret and mark functions in addition to its standard functions. Data entry is complex, and appointment, phone and memo entries may contain up to 384 characters each. Poqet Computer's Poqet PC is a true DOS computer with 512Kbytes of RAM and DOS in ROM. It includes a communications program for PC-to-PC transfers, but the software does not work with the Mac. Atari Computer's Atari Portfolio suffers from a poorly designed keyboard, a scrolling calendar display and no Mac software support. High-speed, low-cost IIci cache cards. (includes related article on caching for other Mac models) (buyers guide) A guide to cache memory cards for the Apple Macintosh IIci is presented. Cache cards contain high-speed static RAM chips which are much faster than the dynamic RAM chips used in system memory. The cache memory stores frequently used instructions and data, and gives them to the CPU on request, speeding performance. Installing a cache card in the IIci is easy; the board plugs into the machine's 120-pin cache slot. Cache size makes only a slight difference in performance, and of eight cards reviewed all are good investments. Users should choose a cache card based on price and bundled software. The UR Micro MacCache LP32, Total Systems QuickCache IIci and Micron Xceed IIci are all good buys. Mac, DOS and VAX file servers. (multiplatform file servers)(includes related articles on optimizing server A guide to file servers for Apple Macintosh networks is presented. File servers all consist of a computer, hard-disk drive and software that lets network users access the hard disk, but a wide variety of configurations are available. Distributed servers, such as Sitka Corp's TOPS, let each Mac on the network act as either a client or a server. Dedicated file servers require that a Mac be set aside to send files to other Macs and allow server processes such as E-mail to run in the background. AT&T's StarGROUP LAN hardware and software can provide file service to the Macintosh via a Unix-based implementation of Microsoft's LAN Manager. Novell Inc's NetWare for Macintosh is an add-on to its powerful PC-based network operating system that lets users add Macs to a network with a PC file server. Several vendors also make Mac file servers for DEC VAX minicomputers. Installing server software on non-Mac platforms is a complex process. The best price/performance ratio for all-Mac networks is Apple's own AppleShare. NetWare for Macintosh offers excellent security features and lets users share files with DOS or OS/2-based machines. A table of file-server features is included. Is it time for CD-ROM? (guide to 16 CD-ROM drives)(includes related articles on using IBM-compatible CD-ROMs with the Mac, A guide to CD-ROM drives for the Apple Macintosh is presented, along with a report on tests of 16 drives. CD-ROM discs are read-only and are not used for personal data storage. One reason why only 300,000 CD-ROM drives, 10 percent of which are connected to Macs, have been sold is the fact that CD-ROM technology is locked into aging standards. The drives are slow, and access software is often awkward to use. CD-ROM drives are also expensive, but prices are falling. The potential advantages of distributing software and data on CD-ROM are enormous. Compaq, Mack Truck and others are distributing their manuals, corporate databases and training materials using the technology, and many reference books and shareware libraries are available on CD-ROM. Buyers should consider how they plan to use their drives before making a purchase; some drives work better with Adobe Photoshop than others, while others include superior features for playing audio CDs. Drives from Mirror, PLI and EMAC are recommended. Silver platters that matter. (CD-ROM titles) (buyers guide) A guide to CD-ROM titles available for the Apple Macintosh is presented. Software libraries available on CD-ROM include public-domain libraries published by large user groups and bundled applications such as Microsoft's The Microsoft Office. Many CD-ROMs are educational, such as Wayzata Technology's About Cows; others are sophisticated game programs, such as the award-winning Cosmic Osmo from Activision. Macintosh CD-ROMs often use HyperCard as a front end. Voyager's Exotic Japan is a HyperCard 2.0 stack with such features as an animated display of how to handle chopsticks. There are approximately 200 Mac-based CD-ROM titles now available. Desktop publishing. (Adobe Multiple Masters font technology; Streamline 2.0 auto-tracing program; product news) (product Adobe announces Multiple Masters, a new font technology that lets users and developers create many variations on a single font. Font weight, width, size and/or style can be altered, and optical scaling allows maximum readability at all point sizes. Adobe will ship its first Multiple Masters products by the end of 1990 and will provide a stand-alone program for creating new fonts. The company has also introduced Streamline 2.0, an upgrade of its $195 PostScript auto-tracing package that supports gray-scale images and can assign grays or colors to art. Streamline 2.0 can save images in PICT or DXF format and sells for half the price of earlier versions. Altsys has introduces Fontographer 3.2, a new version of its font-creation program that supports NeXT-compatible and Windows 3.0 fonts as well as Macintosh fonts. Ventura Software now offers 12 international dictionaries for its Ventura Publisher 3.0.1 desktop-publishiing software. Photoshop unmasked. (using Adobe Photoshop image-editing software) (tutorial) Tips and techniques for using Adobe's Photoshop image-editing software are presented. Photoshop and other high-end painting programs use the 'masking' principle, which lets users isolate an area in which to work and protect the area outside the selection from the effects of all tools. Adobe provides a unique 'Alpha channel' feature for storing and manipulating masks in Photoshop. Photoshop can save and restore masks, moving them between foreground and background. Alpha channels are editable images and can be used with any Photoshop filter, painting tool or selection tool. The program supports eight-bit masking because its alpha channels are gray-sale images. Eight-bit masking lets the user creates such special effects as montages and textured masks. Tips for producing unusual effects are presented. Screened effects. (altering halftone screens) (tutorial) Ashford, Janet. Tips for creating special effects by altering the halftone screens in graphics programs such as Aldus FreeHand, Adobe Photoshop and Digital Darkroom are presented. Specific instructions for transforming a pencil drawing into an eye-catching design with FreeHand are given. A scanned image can act as a template for tracing with FreeHand's corner and curve tools. The next step is to add solids and gradations with basic and linear graduated fills. Specifying and applying a line screen renders the background and the graduated fills as a series of slanted parallel lines. Color is added next, and the image size and screen type can be changed. Bridges. (networking) (product announcement) Bortman, Henry. The AG Group introduces LocalPeek, a new software-based LocalTalk network-analysis tool for the Apple Macintosh that provides a graphical view of network traffic statistics. It gives highly detailed information about individual LocalTalk data packets. IBM will now market and support Novell's NetWare network operating system for OS/2 and AIX file servers. Oracle Corp's new $299 Oracle Card is a full-color front end for Oracle databases that strongly resembles HyperCard. It lets users store draw and paint images as data on Oracle servers. Macintosh and Windows 3.0 versions of Oracle Card will be available in the 2nd qtr of 1991. Groupware grows up. (Software Review) (Group Technologies Aspects work-group software) (evaluation) Group Technologies Inc's Aspects work-group software for the Apple Macintosh lets 2 to 16 users sharing a document on a network see each other's changes in 'real time.' The product uses a new concept in sending documents across a network by 'holding meetings' in which the document is sent to all participants and unloaded into the RAM of each user's Mac. Participants can be on any AppleTalk-compatible network or on a modem line. Aspects has native word processor, drawing and painting formats and can import files from Microsoft Word, MacWrite II, ASCII, PICT and MacPaint. There is no outliner or spreadsheet program, a significant drawback. The initiator of a meeting becomes its moderator by default and can choose 'mediation levels' such as Full, Medium and Free For All depending on the number of users who are allowed to edit a document at the same time. Aspects is a powerful product, but it is useful primarily as a brainstorming tool. It does not support color graphics, and its import capabilities are limited. Aspects is nevertheless an example of an up-and-coming trend in networked computing. It costs $299 for a single user, $895 for a five-user package, and $1,295 for a 10-user package. The hit-or-miss method. (random approach to network troubleshooting) (tutorial) Network troubleshooting is a difficult process, but much of it can be performed effectively using a random approach. Tips for troubleshooting Macintosh-based networks are presented. Cycling the power to network devices can pinpoint problems on a LAN, and using the Chooser to turn AppleTalk off or clicking Restart isolates an individual workstation. Switching network drivers is another way to force the Mac to rejoin the network repeatedly and realert other devices of its presence. A utility program for turning off all INITs helps eliminate INIT conflicts. Viruses are another source of network trouble. Other tips include reloading software, swapping out devices, reinstalling Ethernet or token-ring software, reconfiguring passwords, adding more RAM and reading the manual. Living without System 7.0. (guide to utilities that implement System 7.0 features under System 6.x) A guide to utilities that implement capabilities similar to those in System 7.0 for the Macintosh under System 6.x is presented. Many users will not want to upgrade to System 7.0 itself immediately because bugs are inevitable and because not all applications will be System 7.0-compatible. Commonly used file-management utility packages duplicate many of the features of Finder 7.0. Magic Software's POWERicons offers an aliasing-like capability that lets users close' an application's icon while the program itslef remains open. EveryWare's allShare and Symmetry Software's EasyShare use the Chooser to retrieve files from other Macs. Connectix Corp makes several memory enhancement utilities for System 6.x: Virtual lets a 68030 Mac use up to 14Mbytes of virtual memory, while Maxima gets around the Mac's 8Mbyte RAM limitation. Optima/32 lets users work with all available RAM on the Mac IIci, IIsi and IIfx. Apple offers a free TrueType INIT that lets System 6.07 use TryeType screen and printer fonts; earlier versions of System 6.x support Adobe Type Manager. The public-domain GeoPanel utility lets users bypass the Control Panel DA and open multiple cdevs from the Finder. Olduvai Software is readying Balloon Helper, an INIT that lets System 7.0-ready programs display balloon help under System 6.x. Keyboard care and feeding. (Apple Macintosh keyboards)(The Expert's Edge) (tutorial) A guide to selecting and caring for an Apple Macintosh keyboard is presented. Apple supplies keyboards only with its Mac Classic and Mac LC models; it offers a small Standard keyboard and a large Extended keyboard, and there are several third-party keyboards available. The $129 Apple Standard keyboard has only 81 keys and is best for users with little desk space. The Apple Extended II keyboard costs $229 and has 105 keys in a very good layout. DataDesk International's Mac-101 is a $194 101-key Mac keyboard with 15 function keys and a bundled macro utility. The $239 Switchboard can be used with either PCs or Macs; the user can mix and match accessories. Northgate Computer Systems' OmniMac Ultra costs only $99 and has 119 keys and a PC-like layout. Key Tronic's $197 MacPro Plus resembles the Apple Extended II keyboard and has an adjustable response. Most users buy extended keyboards but ignore the function keys. Many macro utilities are available for assigning commands to function keys, but the MacroMaker program bundled with System 6.x is under-utilized. Tips for using MacroMaker are given, along with a guide to keyboard maintenance. Users should clean keyboards with a vacuum-cleaner attachment at least once a month. List magic. (creating scrolling lists in applications)(Power Programming) (tutorial) A programmer's guide to creating scrollable lists in Macintosh applications is presented. Every list has an associated window and is located with a view rectangle called rView. Developers create a list with the List Manager routine LNew; a dataBounds argument defines the list's dimensions. The LSearch routine lets the programmer search for strings within the list and returns the cell ID of the cell in which it found the data in a VAR parameter. LSetCell and LAddToCell add data to cells created via LAddRow and LAddColumn. Mouse-based list tracking is automatic. Turning off drawing capabilities until the user has entered all data in a list is a good idea. Routines used by modal and non-modal lists are discussed. A coprocessor for a coprocessor? The 34082 floating point coprocessor for the 34020 graphics processor. (Hardware Review) Texas Instruments' TMS34020 Graphics System Processor and 34082 floating point coprocessor are designed to work closely with each other. The excellent graphics performance of the combination is demonstrated by the use of a C language program to execute Mandelbrot equations representing three fractal images. The TMS34020 features a 32-bit external data path, support for several video RAM capabilities, multiprocessor interface, faster cycle times and larger internal cache than predecessor 34010 plus a coprocessor interface. The 34082 is designed to work with the TMS34020 coprocessor interface, including an internal ROM that contains firmware programs that can be triggered by instructions sent by the TMS34020. Details of the design and functioning of the TMS34020 and 34092 and their performance on the Mandelbrot routines relative to other processor architectures are discussed. Adding the power of DSP to your application. (digital signal processing) (tutorial) The use of off-the-shelf digital signal processing (DSP) products to add DSP capability to microcomputer applications to achieve real-time processing performance is demonstrated through the use of several fast Fourier transform (FFT) DSP algorithms. The FFT algorithms are implemented in three ways: as C-language programs running on an IBM PC-type microcomputer, as C programs running on a DSP add-in coprocessor board from Communications, Automation and Control (CAC, Allentown, PA) and as DSP assembly language programs running on the same DSP board. AT&T Microelectronics DSP32c Assembler and DSP32c C Compiler are used for code generation. The FFT algorithms are run from within the Digital Signal Processing Headquarters programming environment from Bittware Research Systems (Baltimore, MD). Performance improvements of as much 80-fold over non-optimized C code were achieved. Getting numeric coprocessors up to speed: new processors require new techniques. (includes related article on the advent of the Analysis of Cyrix 83D87 and EMC87 floating-point (FP) coprocessors demonstrates how new generations of FP coprocessors achieve FP math performance equivalent or even better than their complementary Intel microprocessors (MPUs) executing integer operations. Historically, the FP counterparts to the Intel 8088 through 80386 MPUs have executed corresponding FP multiplication, division and other instructions at a far slower rate. The Cyrix coprocessors, though, employ improvements in internal architecture and in microcoded algorithms plus a 'memory-mapped' operation mode to achieve their outstanding performance. The memory-mapped coprocessors exploit a page high in the 32-bit address space in the protected mode of the 80386 where the MPU does not insert internal wait states when accessing locations on the page. The space can be used to double the rate of information that a Cyrix device sends to the MPU about instructions the coprocessor will carry out. The functioning of the Cyrix coprocessors, porting to memory-mapped mode and generating FP code are discussed. The initial root filesystem: porting UNIX to the 386. (an ongoing series on porting UNIX BSD to the Intel 80386 microprocessor) A viable filesystem is developed to contain files and programs used by a port of the UNIX BSD operating system kernel to the Intel 80386 microprocessor environment. The filesystem provides the ability to create, read, write to or destroy programs and data files stored on some bulk media. A root filesystem contains those programs necessary to boot the operating system, create a hierarchy or tree of filesystems and to fix filesystems, even the root filesystem itself. The programs include installation, universal bootstrap, operating system kernel, initialization, utility and operation applications. The creation, debugging and downloading of the root filesystem is described. Implementing the GPIB: developing polled and interrupt-driven routines. (general-purpose instrumentation bus) (tutorial) Polling and interrupt-driven routines are developed that enable the Texas Instruments TMS9914A General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) Controller to implement an embedded GPIB. The GPIB is a bit-parallel/byte-serial bus with a unique handshaking facility that requires all systems attached to the bus accept the current byte before the next byte is delivered. A complete GPIB only requires the TMS9914A chip, one OR gate and two drivers. The TMS9914A provides the functionality specified by the IEEE 488.1 standard for the GPIB. The parallel and serial polling routines developed set the SRQ command line low to tell the controller that a device requires the TMS9914A's services. Code for TMS initialization routines and integrated interrupt handler is provided. Details of the functioning of the TMS9914A and the serial and polling routines are described. Making Smalltalk with Widgets: an extensive class library and a sophisticated interface editor highlight Widgets/V 286. (Software The 149.95 Widgets/V 286 software package from Acument Software (Berkeley, CA) is an easy-to-use toolkit that improves the efficiency and productivity of Smalltalk/V 286 programmers. The toolkit consists of two major components: a library of about one hundred classes of enhanced programming objects consisting of alternative user interface components for the Smalltalk/V 286 environment and an easy-to-use interactive interface editor that facilitates the visual development of Smalltalk window-based applications. The editor can create sophisticated user interfaces with the advanced pop-up menu, menu bar, button, valuator, pane, prompter and other 'widgets' included in the class library, many of which are unavailable or crude in Smalltalk/V 286 itself. The programming of an appointment management utility program demonstrates the usefulness of the Widgets/V 286 package. Array bounds checking with Turbo C: hardware assisted bounds checking thanks to a DOS extender. (Borland International's Turbo A program is developed that adds hardware-assisted bounds checking of arrays to Borland International's Turbo C 2.0 compiler when it is used with the MS-DOS extenders from ERGO Computing-Extenders (Peabody, MA). MS-DOS extenders enable most of the code of a program to be run in protected mode and the addition of array bounds checking to programs. The Intel 80286 (80386 and 80486 as well) microprocessor (MPU) maintains two kinds of descriptor tables, local descriptor tables (LDTs) in which applications have their respective memory allocation information stored, and global descriptor tables (GDTs). LDT and GDT registers hold the size of and point to their respective tables with sels (selector:offsets). General-protection faults due to faulty pointers or sels, array overruns or problems in address arithmetic sometimes occur in the conversion of programs to protected mode. The Ergo extenders provide a private sel that accesses the LDT data arrays to enable the MPU to perform bounds checking with no runtime overhead. The Turbo C/Ergo heap structure is also discussed. Windows and Gates. (Microsoft Windows is a viable development environment; Bill Gates is profiled) (column) Microsoft Windows 3.0 graphical user interface and related Software Developer's Kit (SDK) constitute viable development environments, as illustrated in brief product comparisons and an analysis by a panel at the spring 1991 Windows & OS/2 Conference in San Jose, CA. Microsoft continues to add capabilities to Windows in contrast to Macintosh System 7.0, where the firm is eliminating features to get the product out the door. Asymetrix's ToolBook and Spinnaker Software's Plus provide HyperCard-type functionality to the Windows environment. Panelists at one session at the conference concurred that there are Windows programming tools that offer more performance or functionality than SDK, but no mainstream applications have been written with them. Microsoft Corp co-founder and CEO Bill Gate's power, influence in the computer industry and history are briefly discussed. D-Flat. (development of a C language library that converts a subset of the IBM SAA Common User Access interface library into C The first in a series of columns develops the basic source code to implement the D-Flat programming environment C-language library for creating MS-DOS text-mode applications. The D-Flat C library was designed to be a small text-based subset of the IBM SAA Common User Access (CUA) interface library that could run on low-end laptop computers while providing 'adequate' performance. D-Flat provides CUA-standard windowing, menu, clipboard and dialog box facilities for applications development. Applications written with D-Flat compile with Borland International's Turbo C 2.0 or Microsoft Corp's Microsoft C 6.0 compilers. Hardware platform-dependent C files that bind the D-Flat library to the IBM PC microcomputer platform and support the D-Flat operating environment are developed in this issue. The lesson of the fallen Viking. (structured programmers should understand the host hardware environment) (tutorial) PASCAL and other structured language programmers should have a basic understanding of their host hardware. Developers of communications programs, for example, should understand the functioning of the UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) chip employed in each serial port on IBM PC- and AT-class microcomputers. The UART provides serial/parallel/serial conversion of data and interrupt management to ensure the reliability of the serial communications. Details of the functioning of the UART input/output ports, I/O addresses and registers are discussed. A good strategy for learning how to use the UART registers is to construct procedures for reading a character from and writing a character to a UART. A basic Turbo PASCAL terminal program is developed that uses polling to access the UART. UART register bit fields, testing flags, baud rate and divisor latches are also discussed. Further ruminations of the Edsun CEG/DAC. (Hardware Review) (Continuous Edge Graphics Digital-to-Analog-Converter) Edsun Laboratories' CEG/DAC (Continuous Edge Graphics Digital-to-Analog Converter) (CEG/DAC) enables a VGA system to display graphics at near 24-bit-per-pixel (bpp) quality, but is better suited to static than dynamic images. The CEG/DAC is not a true 24-bpp device but achieves its performance by embedding information to reprogram the palette in the bitmap and pixel weighting, a process of specifying pixel colors as weighted mixes of adjacent pixels. Pixel weighting also works well for eliminating jaggedness in lines in static images but does not work well for performing temporal aliasing for sequences of animated images. Methods for working around CEG/DAC's limitations in generating dynamic images are discussed. Several routines demonstrate the visual capabilities of the technology. A fast pseudo random number generator. (tutorial) Maier, W.L. Routines are developed to implement the fast 'r250' pseudo-random number generator of E. Stoll and S. Kirkpatrick and test the output results. The r250 algorithm, named for a 250-element array it employs, is based on a recursive formula that is discussed at length. Implementing the r250 algorithm requires a function to initialize the generator and one to return a random integer when called. The r250 method performs one XOR and two index calculations to generate a pseudo-random number, while the commonly used linear congruent algorithm requires a multiplication, addition and division. The XOR operation is less time-consuming than multiplication, making the r250 method an often faster way of generating a pseudo-random number. The authority of voice. (voice input) (column) Wiggins, Robert. Voice recognition has not developed sufficiently to be an efficient method for computer input, but current products, especially those from Articulate Systems Inc, constitute the first step toward the input method of the future. Voice-controlled computers will be easier to use and more efficient than technologies such as keyboards and mice. Currently, Articulate's Voice Navigator II allows users to input short verbal phrases, such as commands. Voice Navigator can also act as a mouse extension, allowing users to change tools within a program without moving the mouse. One problem with voice-input products is the increased noise levels associated with such devices. Human psychology can also be problematic because users tend to raise their voices when repeating commands, but the raised voice is difficult for the computer to identify. In praise of Prodigy. (videotex service) (column) Kawasaki, Guy. The Prodigy videotex system, which was designed by Sears, IBM and CBS, has been criticized for censoring public messages on the system, charging for electronic mail messages and terminating dissenting members. Macintosh users should attempt to antagonize Prodigy, which represents IBM and everything wrong with IBM computing. Macintosh users should join Prodigy, send electronic mail messages to Prodigy's system operators complaining about children accessing obscene messages on the service, threaten to boycott Prodigy's advertisers and cancel their memberships. Personal best: two new Apple printers. (Apple StyleWriter and Personal LaserWriter LS) (Hardware Review) (includes related Apple's $599 StyleWriter ink-jet printer and $1,299 Personal LaserWriter LS laser printer are quiet, easy-to-use and aggressively priced. Both printers offer TrueType, Apple's new scalable font strategy. The StyleWriter has a modular design that allows a sheet feeder to be added. The StyleWriter offers 360 dots-per-inch (dpi) resolution, but the ink tends to smudge and printing is very slow. The StyleWriter cannot be networked. The LaserWriter LS uses a Canon four-page-per-minute print engine that offers 300 dpi print resolution. The printer does not include as much firmware as its predecessors, but it uses compression to accelerate the printing process. The LS is connected to the printer via a serial port that transfers data at 909K-bps. Despite this fast transfer, the printer is slower than similar products. Fast, full-featured fax modems. (review of six facsimile modems)(includes related articles on one-way fax upgrades, Six facsimile (fax) modems with 9,600-bps fax transmission speed and 2,400-bps data transmission rates are reviewed. The products, ranked in order of reviewer preference, are Dove Computer's DoveFax, Abaton's InterFax 24/96, Cypress Research's FaxPro, Orchid Technologies' OrchidFAX, Computer Friends LightFAX 9624 and Prometheus Products MaxFax. All the fax modems use CCITT Group 3 protocol. The products require optical character recognition (OCR) software to turn received faxes into text. The fax resolution is greater than Mac screens, so small type is illegible without being magnified. Fax activity reports and multiple directories of fax contacts can be useful. The packages are rated on several criteria: ease of fax creation, minimizing call duration, performance on bad phone lines, printing time, image fidelity, data transmission capabilities and overall ease of use. Printing from Mac to LaserJet. (16 add-in products for using HP LaserJet laser printers with Apple Macintosh microcomputers) Sixteen products that allow Apple Macintoshes to print with HP LaserJet laser printers are reviewed. The reviewed software packages are Custom Applications Inc's Freedom of Press, QMS Software Products' UltraScript, TeleTypesetting Co's TScript, GDT Softworks Inc's JetLink Express, Insight Development Corp's MacPrint and Orange Micro Inc's Grappler. The reviewed printer-sharing devices are ASP Computer Products Inc's Maestro and SuperJet, Extended Systems Inc's ShareSpool and Pacific Data Products Inc's Pacific Connect. The other hardware products are Extended Systems Inc's BridgePort LocalTalk bridge, HP's PostScript Cartridge and Interface Kit for AppleTalk/HP LaserJet, Pacific Data Products Inc's PacificTalk LocalTalk bridge and PacificPage PE 4.0 PostScript cartridge, Extended Systems Inc's JetWriter serial board and software. Desktop Publishing. (FontMonger, Page Director and FrameMaker 3.0) Abernathy, Aileen. Ares Software Corp introduces its $99.95 FontMonger type conversion software. Type can be converted between Type 1, Type 3 and TrueType formats, and data can be converted between Adobe Illustrator or EPS files and font characters. Characters from different typefaces can be combined in one font, and customized characters can be generated. Managing Editor Software Inc's $895 Page Director, a QuarXTension, is targeted for producing newspapers or magazines. Quark has also released NetworkConnection and FeaturesPlus, QuarkXTensions that add groupware features and utilities to QuarkXPress. Quark introduces $2,495 Passport, a multilingual version of QuarkXPress 3.0. Frame Technology Inc's FrameMaker 3.0 is close to release. The new version includes comprehensive tables and adds other features. Designing for fax. (designing facsimiles) (Desktop Publishing: Design) (tutorial) Facsimile (fax) designs should take into consideration the capabilities and quirks of the fax equipment being used. Standard fax resolution is 203 by 98 dots-per-inch (dpi), while fine resolution is 203 by 196 dpi. Designs should be legible at the lower-quality standard resolution. Fax modems produce better-quality faxes because they do not require scanning, which reduces fax quality. Fax modems also offer more scheduling features and programmability, but fax modems induce scaling distortions resulting from differences between the Mac's screen resolution and fax resolutions. Adobe Type Manager 2.0 produces sharp PostScript type on-screen and on the fax. Most fax modems produce low-quality photographs and screened artwork. Use sans serif type with heavy, consistent line weights and large character openings on fax machines. Printed letterheads, small margins and type overlays should be avoided. Bridges. (data communications and connectivity products) Bortman, Henry. Outbound Systems Inc introduces the $279 Pocket Port, a 2.4-ounce, 2,400-bps Hayes-compatible modem powered by the telephone line. Novell Inc ships new network operating system packages. NetWare 3.11 prices range from $3,495 for 20 users to $6,995 for 100 users to $12,495 for 250 users. NetWare for Macintosh 3.0 includes AppleTalk print spooling and file service similar to AppleShare. It costs an additional $895 for 20 users or $1,995 for 100 users. DataViz Inc ships its $199 MacLinkPlus 5.0, which translates between Word for Windows, WordPerfect 2.0/Mac, MultiMate 4.0, FrameMaker and Windows graphics. DIT's $250 FloppyWorks allows a NeXT computer to read from and write to Macintosh disks. RDI Computer Corp offers $1,695 Companion, an S-bus card and software that allows a Sun SPARCstation to run Mac SE or Classic software. A software-only version should be available for $895. Nutek Computers Inc is developing Macintosh-clone technology consisting of custom ROMs and software that runs Mac applications under the Motif interface. The Mac-to-mini connection. (Bridges: Integration) (tutorial) Elms, Teresa. Apple Macintosh microcomputers can be integrated into IBM minicomputer networks to provide intelligent terminals capable of running user-friendly applications and a familiar graphical user interface. Establishing the connection between the micro and mini requires IBM 5250-series terminal emulation, which allows the mini to send text to what it believes is a dumb terminal. Printer emulation and file transfer capabilities are also required. A Mac running MultiFinder can run minicomputer tasks in separate windows while running Mac applications in their own windows. Protocol converters without expansion slots can be connected via protocol converters, which translate ASCII to EBCDIC to connect the Macs with the IBM mini. Internal 5250 emulation boards can be added to Macs to provide full-speed connections, but token-ring networks provide faster links, but the Mac must be connected to an IBM PC-compatible microcomputer, although Apple is working on a direct connector to facilitate direct Mac-to-mini connections. Preventative medicine. (network maintenance) (Bridges: Trouble Shots) (tutorial) Network troubleshooting can be difficult if there is no way to measure its performance and no 'baseline' data with which to compare performance. Running tests on a 'healthy' network can provide familiarity with troubleshooting tools and give the network analyst normal data to compare with results from an ailing network. Recording results from progressive echo tests (PETs) provides reference points. Traffic monitoring tools can show network responses to file activity. These responses show how the network responds to various traffic patterns. Packet-monitoring tools tell what type of packets are running through the network. Studying packet patterns can help distinguish when there are too many or too few packets. Information-gathering tools provide analysis of the equipment on the network. Do-it-yourself Mac repairs. (Power Tools) (tutorial) Pina, Larry. Apple Macintosh II, IIx, IIcx, IIci and IIfx can be easily opened and some problems can be easily repaired. Macs under warranty should always be serviced by the dealer. Floppy drive problems may be caused by loose cables or dirty heads, which can be repaired by users, or damaged heads, which must be fixed by a repair-person. Hard disk problems can result from corrupted Finder software, but loose small computer systems interface (SCSI) cables, ID number conflicts and termination problems could also be problems. Boot blocks could be corrupted, or the drive heads may be stuck. Video cards and monitors can be faulty. Weak motherboard batteries can cause Mac II, IIx or IIfx computers to fail to start. If the blinking question mark icon or an error tone appear upon startup, a single in-line memory module (SIMM) may be the problem. Applications are talking too. (Power Tools: Beating the System) Swaine, Michael. System 7.0's most important feature is interapplication communication (IAC). IAC allows programs to communicate, allowing users to pass information between applications. IAC also allows applications to become more focused. Software packages are becoming increasingly inclusive, including modules of peripheral interest to the basic task. Applications should be specialized, and System 7.0 allows specialization while still allowing the user to perform the functions previously performed by the peripheral modules. System 7.0's IAC tools are Publish and Subscribe, AppleEvents and low-level IAC. Microsoft Corp's Excel 3.0 includes object linking and embedding (OLE), an incompatible IAC technique. UserLand Software Inc's IAC Toolkit is already available. HyperCard uses IAC to send messages between stacks. Living with Murphy. (Murphy's Law; hard disk data transfer) (Power Tools: The Expert's Edge) (tutorial) A hard disk problem can be difficult to recover from or even diagnose, particularly if the disk utilities disagree on the source of the problem. The experience reinforces several rules all users should follow. More than one backup disk should be kept because disks sometimes lose data for mysterious reasons. The backup disks should never be used until the system problem has been identified and repaired. Once each six months, users should back up all their files, reformat the hard drive using a low-level formatting utility, run a disk testing utility, install the System on the hard disk again, add System enhancements and other files, restore application programs and restore data files. How to hire a programmer. (Power Tools: Power Programming) (tutorial) Those who are not proficient programmers can still bring their software ideas to life by hiring programmers. The program's intention must be defined, and its target users should be identified. The program's user interface should be determined and developed using drawing programs. Next, features should be listed and defined, menu by menu. A programmer can be located by asking colleagues for recommendations, checking Macintosh user groups, professional organizations such as the Macintosh Consultants Network (MCN) or newspapers. Using headhunters, or contract brokers, can be complicated and costly. Involving a third party in the deal can ruin a relationship with the programmer. Advertising in the Help Wanted section of major newspapers read by programmers can also be helpful. The perfect image: true-color displays. (evaluation of 20 24-bit display systems)(includes related articles on true-color for the Twenty 24-bit color display systems are reviewed. Included in the evaluation are Apple's Display 8-24 and Display 8-24 GC, E-Machines Inc's ColorPage T16, T19 and TX/24, Generation Systems Inc's Color 24, MegaGraphics Inc's 2024 16-inch and 2024 19-inch, Mirror Technologies Inc's ProView/24, Moniterm Corp's Viking C24, PCPC's II 16-inch Color and II 19-inch Color, Radius Inc's DirectColor/24, RasterOps Corp's 24L, Relax Technology Inc's Ikegami DM2060, Seiko Instruments USA Inc's 14-inch Color, Sigma Designs Inc's ColorMAX 8/24, SuperMac Technology Inc's Hitachi 19-inch, Hitachi 21-inch and Sony 19-inch. Factors to consider when purchasing these systems include the display resolution, Trinitron or competing technologies, brightness, focus, sharpness, glare, convergence, color tracking and included software. Easy hard copy: color PostScript printers. (includes related article on new products and an evaluation summary) (Hardware Five color thermal-wax-transfer PostScript printers are reviewed. The reviewed printers are NEC Technologies Inc's $8,995 Colormate PS 80, Oce Graphics USA Inc's $8,990 OceColor, QMS Inc's $8,995 ColorScript 100 10, Seiko Instruments USA Inc's $6,999 ColorPoint PS and Tektronix Inc's $7,995 Phaser PX. Thermal color printers currently offer the best balance of price and performance. The Seiko printer uses an Intel 80960 microprocessor to run raster-image processors (RIP), while the other printers use Motorola 68020 chips. The Tektronix and Seiko printers use proprietary PostScript-compatible RIPs. The Tektronix is incompatible with Adobe Type 1 fonts. The 300-dots-per-inch printers produce poorly-defined halftone screens, and the color is not completely accurate. The printers offer flexible connection schemes. PageMaker 4.0 makes short work of long documents. (Software Review) (Aldus Corp. PageMaker 4.0 desktop publishing Aldus Corp's $795 PageMaker 4.0 desktop publishing software includes a new Story Editor that acts as a text-editing window with a 100,000-word spell checker, user-defined dictionaries and a search-and-replace function. The Story Editor can also act as a very fast text formatter, letting users modify type styles and non-printing characters. PageMaker 4.0 can handle documents up to 999 pages long and has a 'Book' command for linking multiple documents. New linking options make it much easier for users to update PageMaker publications without tediously re-importing elements every time they change. Using Aldus's bundled Table Editor allows a different kind of linking; the user can build live links among tabular charts. These features make PageMaker 4.0 ideal for network use. Users can also import new 24-bit .EPS and .TIF color images for photographic-quality pictures. The program provides extensive typographic controls, but these are not as good as those in Quark Inc's Quark XPress for the Macintosh. Zeos and Dataworld SX notebooks: easy on the road and the pocket: $2,295 Zeos Notebook 386. (Hardware Review) (ZEOS International Zeos International Ltd's $2,295 Notebook 386 is one of the best values available in a 16-MHz 80386SX-based notebook computer. The machine has a 9.5-inch, eight-shade VGA display, solid keyboard and 2.5-inch Conner Peripherals 20Mbyte hard disk drive. It comes with parallel and serial ports as well as an external VGA monitor port, but there is no connector for an external keyboard or a numeric keypad, The screen is also dim, and removing the battery is awkward. Battery life is a healthy 2 hours and 30 minutes, and the machine is sturdily constructed. At 7.1 pounds, it is somewhat larger and heavier than competing machines such as the Texas Instruments TravelMate, but it is also less expensive. $2,650 Dataworld NB/320SX. (Dataworld Inc.'s laptop computer) (Hardware Review) (Zeos and Dataworld SX notebooks: easy on the Dataworld Inc's NB/320SX laptop computer offers 2Mbytes of RAM, a 20Mbyte hard disk, a high-density floppy drive, a backlit VGA display, and bundled software for a price of $2,650. Options include a 'Plus' configuration with 4Mbytes of RAM and a 'Super' system that includes an internal modem. The NB/320SSX weighs 7.06 pounds with its battery and includes a combination AC adapter and battery charger. Its 80386SX microprocessor runs at 20 MHz, and the 16-shade VGA display uses a paper-white cathode fluorescent backlit LCD. One serious drawback is the poor keyboard layout; there are no non-shifted PgUp, PgDn, Home or End keys, and the Up Arrow cursor key is awkwardly located. Users can attach an external keyboard via an adapter. Battery life is only 1 hour and 58 minutes, although the battery is rated for 3.5 to 4 hours of use. In addition the system must be turned off for the 2.5 to three hours it takes to recharge the battery. Dataworld uses a power management chip set to monitor system activity. Q-Print accelerator board battles Windows printing. (Hardware Review) (Quintar Co.'s Q-Print; Microsoft Windows graphical user Quintar Co's $495 Q-Print graphics accelerator board is a hardware/software combination that speeds up the printing of vector-based graphics under Microsoft Windows. It uses a 50-MHz Texas Instruments TMS34010 graphics coprocessor to rasterize images and send them to the printer in the background while the user continues with other work. Q-Print comes with an OEM version of Zenographics' SuperPrint 1.1 font rasterizer and replacement Windows driver as well as SuperQueue, a print manager. Users can automate printing by creating and spooling a series of metafiles. Q-Print should be disabled when printing bitmaps or text-intensive work because it can actually slow down printing in these cases. The product is a good choice for users who work heavily with vector graphics and can pay for itself when used with complex vector files. SAS for OS/2 brings mainframe power to desktop statistics. (Software Review) (SAS Institute Inc.'s statistical SAS Institute Inc's SAS for OS/2 6.06 is a powerful statistical package that offers desktop users features generally only found in mainframe-based statistics programs. It takes advantage of OS/2's ability to handle more memory than DOS, allowing up to 7,500 variables in a system with 8Mbytes of RAM. The software includes a variety of modules; the $825 Base SAS module includes the SAS programming language, a text editor, a macro language and two types of language procedures for I/O and statistics. Other modules, including advanced statistics, a graphical interface and matrix manipulation language, cost $625 each. The SAS/Assist interface in the SAS/Graph presentation graphics module is disappointing, but most of the modules are well designed. SAS for OS/2 is especially expensive because SAS Institute charges annual 'seat' fees, such as the $360 for additional years of licensing for Base SAS, to ensure support and upgrades. Borland's heftier C++ now does Windows, too. (Software Review) (Borland International C++ 2.0 compiler)(First Looks) (evaluation) Borland International Inc's $495 C++ 2.0 compiler is a powerful development environment for both the DOS and Microsoft Windows programs. It replaces Turbo C++ Professional and offers an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with pull-down menus, pop-up boxes and mouse support; an excellent debugger; a profiler; and an assembler. Windows support is the most important new feature in C++ 2.0. The package includes licensed versions of Microsoft's resource and help compilers and The Whitewater Group's Whitewater Resource Toolkit, which together let users program for Windows without spending $495 for Microsoft's Software Development Kit. The Turbo Debugger has been extended for use with all Windows programs and offers a similar interface under both DOS and Windows. Borland does not provide a printed Windows reference with the documentation, but there is a coupon for either a free or discounted copy of Charles Petzold's 'Programming Windows.' AutoShade adds photorealistic imaging to its repertoire. (Software Review) (Autodesk AutoShade computer-aided design rendering Autodesk Inc's AutoShade 2.0 computer-aided design (CAD) rendering program now incorporates Autodesk's own implementation of Pixar's PhotoRealistic RenderMan specification to provide powerful three-dimensional graphics capabilities. AutoShade 2.0 seamlessly integrates RenderMan into its own interface, using prepackaged 'shader' routines to compute how surfaces should look and determine displacement and lighting characteristics. Users can achieve sophisticated effects such as smooth-shading even without resorting to the RenderMan features. RenderMan lets the user add spotlights and complete shadows. The user works with AutoShade by generating a 'filmroll' file in AutoCAD for export to AutoShade and then and either shading .FLM scenes or creating RenderMan Interface Bytestream (.RIB) files. AutoShade 2.0 has AutoDesk's usual excellent documentation, sells for $1,000 and requires an 80386 or 80486 microprocessor. The Unmouse: a more versatile mousetrap. (Hardware Review) (MicroTouch Systems Inc. UnMouse input device)(First Looks) MicroTouch Systems Inc's $235 UnMouse is a combination mouse, trackball and digitizing pad that is exceptionally versatile and can substitute for a wide variety of input devices. It faithfully emulates a traditional mouse in its mouse mode but acts like a digitizing tablet in its 'absolute' mode. The 'trackball' mode employs ballistic tracking. An additional mode lets users use the UnMouse as a function keypad. It relies on voltage-field linearizing technology and is touch-sensitive; an included driver directly supports MS-DOS 2.0 and later as well as Microsoft Windows 3.0. A jump connector splits power from the keyboard, and the transparent glass tablet has a resolution of 330 by 220 points per inch. The absolute mode is the most pleasant to use. No bus version is available; users can only install the Unmouse via a COM port. Xircom's Multiplexor Magic turns one parallel port into two. (Hardware Review) (Xircom Corp. Parallel Port Multiplexor)(First Xircom Corp's $95 Parallel Port Multiplexor is a connector device that lets users connect laptop machines to multiple printers, disk drives and local area networks by converting a single parallel port into two ports. It is a plug-and-play device that includes a small driver for ease of installation. Default settings designate the lower connector as LPT1 and the upper connector as LPT2; the top connector recognizes interrupt 7 by default. The Parallel Port Multiplexor gives users who already have two parallel ports a third one. It works correctly with a variety of different applications, but some products that write directly to hardware and bypass DOS and BIOS calls may cause it to malfunction. PC-File gains ready-to-go apps and viewer. (Software Review) (Buttonware Inc. PC-File Ready-To-Run Applications)(First Looks) Buttonware Inc now offers a variety of pre-written applications and add-in programs for its popular PC-File data base management system. PC-File Ready-to-Run Applications is a set of ready-made programs that cost $24.95 each. The 14 databases, some for home use and some for business, include a checkbook, address book, accounts payable, pre-pay and purchase order invoicing, business contacts, personnel, inventory and church record keeping. Each application has of a database with sample records, report forms suitable to the particular application, predesigned mail-merge letters and mailing labels. Buttonware also has a new $59.95 memory-resident utility called dbCrayons dBCrayons that lets users enter a PC-File database via hot keys. Users can search for and display records, print output and dial phone numbers from database fields. Northgate OmniKey 101: keyboard with versatility. (Hardware Review) (Northgate Computer Systems Inc.)(First Looks) Northgate Computer Systems Inc's $89 OmniKey 101 keyboard offers customization capabilities for greater versatility. Users can configure the keyboard for virtually any type of computer via an eight-position DIP switch and option selection push button. The Backslash and Asterisk keys can be transposed or the keyboard set to any of three Dvorak layouts. Settings remain in effect only until the user shuts off the computer, but Northgate provides bundled utilities for placing preferred settings in a batch file. The OmniKey 101 has a crisp, 'clicky' touch in a high-quality product. Recognita Plus: OCR with strength in hardware. (Software Review) (Recognita USA Corp.'s optical character recognition Recognita USA Corp's $495 Recognita Plus optical character recognition software supports a wide variety of 70 scanners but suffers from poor accuracy compared with competing products. It includes separate versions for DOS and Microsoft's Windows 3.0 and works with Chinon, Sharp, and Siemens scanners as well as more common hardware. The program uses Omnifont technology but fails to recognize some fonts; it works well with 12-point Courier but not with underlined text, smaller point sizes, proportional fonts or dot-matrix print quality. There is also no spelling checker. Recognita Plus is a fast scanning package recommended only for those users whose esoteric hardware is not supported by leading packages such as Calera's WordScan and Caere's OmniPage. Pen-based computing: get the point? (column) Machrone, Bill. Early pen-based computers will not be remarkable in themselves but will provide an indication of what direction pen-based computing will take in the future. Dramatic changes in the market are likely in the early 1990s, just as the laptop market evolved rapidly. Pen-based machines will start at notebook size and become smaller, down to the size of pocket calendars, as their potential to eliminate the need for a keyboard is realized. Graphical user interfaces are a given for pen-based computing, and virtually every application must be redesigned for it. A pen-based interface is very direct and does not force users to learn new coordination skills, but handwriting recognition remains the technological problem area. Some pen systems are marketed as being less 'antisocial' than laptops for business situations, but taking laptops to meetings is seldom actually frowned upon. The microcomputer of the future may be a hybrid machine with a liquid crystal display, a keyboard and a pen interface. How Microsoft blew it with Word 5.5. (word processing software) (column) Microsoft Corp made a major mistake when it redesigned the interface of its Word 5.5 word processor to make the character-based product resemble the software publisher's Windows graphical user interface. The company traditionally did an excellent job of keeping the Word interface consistent over many upgrades, but Word 5.5 differs so substantially from Word 5.0 that it can be termed more of a replacement than an upgrade. Word 5.5 uses drop-down menus, a 'ribbon' stripe at the top of the screen that resembles Windows' menu bar and a small on-screen 'work area' that provides a pale imitation of a graphical interface. Microsoft also changed almost all of the commands, a move which alienated thousands of loyal Word 5.0 users. The company bundles a copy of Word 5.0 with each copy of 5.5, but users who upgrade to Word 5.5 and discover that they do not like it have little recourse. How much PC power is enough? (short-term vs. long-term value of 8088- and 80286-based systems) (column) Some users firmly assert that microprocessors earlier than the 80386SX are obsolete and that older systems should be replaced promptly. Other users and analysts place short-term needs first and economize by purchasing 80286- or even 8088-based systems. Many argue that buying more powerful systems is a better investment, but there is nevertheless a case to be made for 8088s and 80286s when budgets are severely constrained and when a business is heavily invested in older equipment. Proponents of 286-based systems continue to point out that inexpensive machines can still perform the basic word processing and spreadsheet functions most users require. No microcomputer system can be too powerful, and those users who can afford to buy powerful machines should do so. Some must nevertheless respond to difficult economic times by not buying more power than is sufficient for corporate needs. Improving information access. (cover story) (Software Review) (overview of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications Seventeen asynchronous communications packages for microcomputers are reviewed. All are general-purpose packages and include the ZModem file-transfer protocol, the de facto standard for computer bulletin boards. The programs range from $30 shareware packages to sophisticated products costing as much as $300. Some of the packages run under Windows, while others implement the 16550A Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) first in, first out (FIFO) buffer mode. Windows suffers from a mediocre communications driver that does not support FIFO and uses nonstandard COM3 and COM4 addresses. Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc and others plan to ship a Windows driver for the Hayes Advanced Serial Processor card. Digital Communications Inc's Crosstalk Mk. 4 is an especially good product and is rated an Editor's Choice along with Hayes's Smartcom Exec, which is fast and reliable under DOS, and DynaComm Asynchronous Edition. BLAST PC, version 10.2.0. (Software Review) (Communications Research Group Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous Communications Research Group Inc's BLAST PC 10.2.0 communications package supports almost all platforms; it is available in versions for Unix, Xenix, Apple Macintosh, VMS and DOS. This capability makes it an excellent solution for corporate minicomputer and mainframe connections, but the program is relatively weak with systems management. It lacks support for IBM 3270 terminal emulation and relies heavily on user intervention in many situations. BLAST supports the Kermit, XModem, Ymodem-G, and ZModem file transfer protocols as well as its own proprietary protocol. Terminal emulation options include DEC VT100, VT52, VT220 and VT320; HP 2392; IBM 3101; ANSI; and TTY. There is no support for file transfer rates of 57.6K-bps. BLAST PC is nevertheless a good program for companies that require communications among disparate computers since any two computers running BLAST can communicate. COM-AND, version 2.7. (Software Review) (Caber Software)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications software in 'Improving Caber Software's $35 shareware COM-AND 2.7 communications program offers many of the features of more expensive packages but suffers from some limitations. It includes a sophisticated script language, mouse support and accessory 'chat' programs. The program senses first-time execution and asks the user hardware configuration questions at installation, but only a limited number of modem types are supported. COM-AND 2.7 has built-in file transfer protocols for CompuServe B, CompuServe Quick-B, Kermit, XModem and YModem-G. It supports run-length-encoded graphics and ANSI, CompuServe Vidtex, DEC VT52 and VT100 and TTY terminal emulation modes. The learning script is flawed; it does not always record keystrokes correctly, although the supplied CompuServe script works correctly. The inability to use RTS/CTS flow control is COM-AND's biggest drawback. Crosstalk Communicator, version 2.0. (Software Review) (Digital Communications Associates Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of Digital Communications Associates Inc's (DCA) $99 Crosstalk Communicator 2.0 asynchronous communications package is a 'downsized' but equally fast version of the company's high-end Crosstalk Mk 4 but offers excellent value, especially for users familiar with the Crosstalk script language. Crosstalk Communicator uses a subset of the DCA CASL script language, and there are 10 pre-configured but customizable entries in the dialing directory. It makes many on-line operations very simple, and users can capture incoming information to disk or print the data as received. Technical support is free. The product is targeted at those users who prefer ease of installation and use and low cost; it takes advantage of many built-in protocols and is a good value with clear documentation for the novice. Crosstalk for Windows, version 1.1. (Software Review) (Digital Communications Associates Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of Digital Communications Associates Inc's (DCA) $195 Crosstalk for Windows 1.1 asynchronous communications package for Microsoft Windows 3.0 has scrollable window displays and can capture session information for later replay in a script. It also supports background file transfers and user-defined programmable function (PF) keys for macros. The package offers ANSI, IBM 3101 and DEC VT52 and VT102 terminal emulation and supports CompuServe B, CrossTalk, Dart, Kermit, XModem, XModem 1K, YModem-batch and ZModem file-transfer protocols. It does not, however, support IBM 3270 terminal emulation. The scripting language is similar to Crosstalk Mk. 4's CASL, also from DCA. Crosstalk for Windows 1.1 is a powerful product for the Windows market and is easy to set up and use. Tailor-made communications. (Software Review) (guide to communications packages for specific on-line services) Communications packages designed for accessing specific on-line services such as CompuServe and MCI Mail are reviewed. Most such programs include a built-in message editor for electronic mail, mechanisms for organizing mail and automating the mailing of binary messages, address books and lists of current topics. Lotus Development Corp's $150 Lotus Express 2.0 is designed for MCI Mail users. It lets the user attach binary files to MCI Mail messages, but suffers from severe limitations: it runs only as a terminate-and-stay-resident program and often conflicts with other memory-resident software. The $79 TAPCIS is a popular shareware program for managing CompuServe data. AutoSIG (ATO) is available at no charge and has a more powerful script language than TAPCIS, but TAPCIS has direct links to CompuServe's libraries. CompuServe's own $24.95 CompuServe Information Manager offers a smooth graphical interface but does not let users do as much off-line as other programs. General Electric Information Services' GEnie PC Aladdin 1.41 program resembles TAPCIS and ATO, but is tailored for the peculiarities of GEnie. TappeT and RECON are shareware add-ons for TAPCIS. Crosstalk Mk. 4, version 2.0. (Software Review) (Digital Communications Associates Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of Digital Communications Associates Inc's $245 Crosstalk Mk. 4 2.0 asynchronous communications package is a powerful, high-end product with many terminal emulations, file transfer protocols and scripting capabilities. It is not designed for casual users; the CASL script language provides full-featured application development capability and demands some programming expertise. Installation is easy, however, and the number of terminal emulation types supported is amazing; virtually all DEC, IBM and ANSI terminals can be used. Documentation is excellent, and the program can operate as a host for callers , can log calls and provides password security for local operations. There is also context-sensitive on-line help. Crosstalk Mk. 4 is rated an Editor's Choice. DynaComm Asynchronous Edition, version 3.00.08. (Software Review) (Future Soft Engineering Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of Future Soft Engineering Inc's $295 DynaComm Asynchronous Edition 3.0.08 is a high-powered Microsoft Windows-based communications software package that can emulate a wide variety of terminals and log on to many on-line services and bulletin boards. It includes a powerful script language, support for the Windows Dynamic Data Exchange protocol and the ability to work with ZModem, ASCII, Kermit, YModem-batch, YTerm, and CompuServe B Plus file transfers. There is no automatic ZModem download/upload feature and the learning curve is higher than with some of the other reviewed products. Users select session parameters from menu options and DynaComm 3.0.08 includes context-sensitive help. The program supports 14 terminal emulation types, including DEC VT42, VT100, VT102, and VT320; IBM 3101 and 3270; ANSI; and TTY. DynaComm includes preconfigured log-on scripts for AT&T Mail, BIX, GEnie, CompuServe and MCI Mail. It is rated an Editor's Choice for overall quality. HyperAccess/5, version 1.2. (Software Review) (Hilgraeve Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications software in Hilgraeve Inc's $199 HyperAccess/5 1.2 asynchronous communications software offers powerful features rivaling those in packages costing much more. It supports both DOS and OS/2 Version 1.2; the DOS-only version is $99.95. The program includes over 100 pre-programmed setup strings for modem compatibility and is very easy to use. Installation is automatic, and the product supports DEC VT52, VT100, VT220, and VG330 terminals as well as the IBM 3101 and 3278, ANSI and TTY. Users can direct incoming information to the screen, printer or disk. HyperAccess/5 has a built-in editor and a powerful script language that lets users assign scripts to specific keys or log onto services directly from batch files. HyperAccess/5 even includes IBM's virus-scanning signatures. The documentation is also excellent. Mirror III, version 2.0. (Software Review) (Softklone)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications software in 'Improving SoftKlone's $149 Mirror III 2.0 asynchronous communications package is easy to install and use, and offers a pull-down menu interface, MNP error control and data compression and a very powerful script language. The program supports background operation, includes a strong dialing directory and has a built-in full-screen editor. It is also compatible with Crosstalk XVI scripts. File transfer capabilities is another of Mirror III 2.0's major strengths. Mirror III supports ASCII, CompuServe B, Crosstalk, Hayes, Kermit, Kermit Server, XModem, XModem 1K and YModem-G file transfer protocols. It also supports communications management when used with an auto-answer modem. Users can control file access with a password protection feature by assigning security levels to each caller. The program has some operational problems; it sometimes times out rather than establishing a correct link with a bulletin board, and lacks some real-time error messages. It is nevertheless an excellent value, and SoftKlone backs its product with good technical support. MTEZ, version 1.10. (Software Review) (MagicSoft Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications software in 'Improving MagicSoft Inc's $50 MTEZ 1.1 asynchronous communications program uses a modular approach, letting users build a communications system via add-on programs. The basic package provides DEC VT102 terminal emulation; ASCII, XModem, YModem-batch, and YModem-G file transfer protocols; and mouse support. A $24 Protocol and Emulation Add-On module adds ZModem, CompuServe B Plus, Kermit and Kermit Client file transfer protocols; support for CompuServe Vidtex, ADDS ViewPoint, DEC VT52, IBM 3101 and 3270, Televideo, Wang and Wyse terminals; and a full-screen text editor and viewer. The $49 Script add-on module gives MTEZ a script language. MTEZ does not support 115.2K-bps or 57.6K-bps data transfer speeds, but it is a straightforward program with mouse support and context-sensitive help for beginning users; it is bundled with many modems and laptop computers. ObjectTel: communicating the French way. (Software Review) (Matesys Corp. ObjectTel communications software) (evaluation) Matesys Corp's upcoming $199 ObjectTel communications package for the Microsoft Windows 3.0 graphical environment was designed in France and is marketed there under the name 'TwinTalk' for more than a year. ObjectTel is expected to include scripts for logging onto US on-line services. It has a unique open network-drive architecture that supports both Novell NetWare and Microsoft LAN Manager. ObjectTel's parameter settings include a 57.6K-bps rate, but Windows does not yet support rates higher than 19.2K-bps. Byte sizes can range from 4 to 8 bits, and there is support for multiple comm ports. Matesys plans to offer toll-free technical support. ObjectTel should be a strong competitor in the US Windows-based data communications market. PereLine, version 3.0. (Software Review) (PereLine Data Systems Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications PereLine Data Systems Inc's $49.95 PereLine communications program offers an easy-to-use menu system along with a 188-verb script language for expert users. It lets users reconfigure its menus with titles, headings, footers or additional features. Installation is easy, and the package provides ZModem support via a DSZ protocol module. It does not operate at 115.2K-bps in some situations, and performance is only average. PereLine nevertheless lets users exit to DOS and run other applications while conducting file transfers in background. It has a memory-swapping option that lets it use only 35Kbytes of RAM when the user runs other applications. PereLine offers many of the advanced features of higher-priced programs such as mouse support, security features, and free technical support; it is an excellent value despite its relative slowness. ProComm Plus, version 2.0. (Software Review) (DATASTORM Technologies Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous Datastorm Technologies' $119 ProComm Plus 2.0 communications software adds ZModem support and many enhancements to the already powerful feature set of the original ProComm. Users invoke the dialing directory, terminal emulation and other features via 'exploding' menus, and there are 100 modem setup strings. ProComm Plus 2.0 is exceptionally easy to use and offers some security features, including password protection, when it is used as a remote host. Supported file transfer protocols include ASCII, Kermit, CompuServe B Plus, XModem and ZModem. The program sometimes locks up during high-speed file transfers, and it tends to freeze when receiving file transfers from a ZModem auto-start. ProComm Plus 2.0 is nevertheless a good value. Professional YAM, version 17.70. (Software Review) (Omen Technology Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous Omen Technology Inc's $139 Professional YAM 17.7 communications software allows a wide variety of custom configurations for communications sessions and is designed for users who are interested in learning the finer points of data communication. It stresses the ZModem file transfer protocol, which Omen developed, but also supports CompuServe Quick-B, XModem, YModem and Telink transfers. An auto-download feature works with Kermit and ZModem. Professional YAM can emulate DEC VT100, VT102, and VT220 as well as Wyse 60 terminals but does not support CompuServe Vidtex. Performance is fast but not always reliable. Professional YAM takes a no-nonsense approach, emphasizing functionality over ease of use. QModem, version 4.2E. (Software Review) (The Forbin Project Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications The Forbin Project Inc's QModem 4.2E is a $30 shareware program that offers many of the capabilities of expensive commercial programs and is very easy to use. It includes a script language, a robust help table and seven terminal emulations. Installation is easy, and users can quickly create telephone directories and scripts. There is no internal text editor or file user, but users can substitute an external program; shelling to DOS is also easy. QModem includes ASCII, XModem, YModem and ZModem file transfer protocols and performs very well at data transfer speeds of 38.4K-bps. Users can obtain the software from on-line services or get an evaluation copy for $20. Communications for databases. (Software Review) (CompuSolve Comet; SilverWare Inc. SilverComm Library) (evaluation) CompuSolve Inc's $99 Comet 2.41 and SilverWare Inc's $189 SilverComm Library 2.05 are both powerful communications libraries designed specifically for use with data bases. The programs consist of dBASE routines that can be included in dBASE and compatible applications that perform such functions as dialing a company headquarters and uploading point-of-sale data. Comet includes a total of 21 functions along with support for the ASCII, XModem and YModem file transfer protocols. It is easier to use than SilverComm Library and can perform file transfers in background. Its documentation is sparse but adequate, and the manual includes source code for a demonstration program. SilverComm supports COM3, COM4 and the AST 4 PORT AT board and offers over 100 functions. It includes extensive documentation and a powerful sample communications program. Smartcom Exec, version 2.0. (Software Review) (Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc's $129 Smartcom Exec 2.0 communications package includes some of the advanced capabilities of Hayes' Smartcom III but is almost as easy to use as the stripped-down Smartcom EZ. It includes a powerful script language, built-in text editor, LAN modem support and support for Hayes's Enhanced Serial Processor card. Smartcom Exec 2.0 is exceptionally fast, easy to install and offers comprehensive telephone-directory management. Users can run scripts for file management and other common tasks through the phone book. Terminal emulations available include ANSI, DEC VT102, Show Control and TTY; the program supports Autotype, Kermit, XModem, XModem 1K, YModem Batch, YModem-G and ZModem file transfer protocols. Other features include a capture buffer for temporarily storing information in RAM, disk capture for saving text in a disk file and concurrent printing. Smartcom Exec 2.0 is rated an Editor's Choice. The 16550A UART: breaking old bottlenecks. (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter)(new communications technology) (technical) Many of today's microcomputers include the 16550A Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) chip for faster communications throughput, but not all communications software can take advantage of the new hardware. A DOS DEBUG script for experimenting with the UART is presented. The script generates FIFO.COM, a small program that activates the first-in, first-out (FIFO) communications buffer in the UART. FIFO.COM cannot make a communications program recognize the UART but can help eliminate potential problems associated with overrunning the UART. Complete source code is included; the FIFO.COM program itself can be downloaded from the PC MagNet online service. Telix, version 3.12. (Software Review) (Exis Inc.)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications software in 'Improving Exis Inc's $39 Telix 3.12 is a shareware communications package that is easy to install and use, but its terminal emulations are somewhat limited. The program supports ASCII, CompuServe Quick-B, Kermit, Modem7, Sealink, Telink, Xmodem, Ymodem and Zmodem file transfer protocols and has a status window that displays file transfers in process. It includes a fully functional scripting language with many of the features of C and a dialing directory with room for 1,000 entries. Performance is average or below average at typical file-transfer speeds. Telix suffers from limitations, but is a good value for its price. Unicom, version 2.0C. (Software Review) (Data Graphics)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications software in 'Improving Data Graphics' $45 Unicom 2.0C communications package is a Windows-based shareware program that is easy to learn and use but not very sophisticated. It emulates only ANSI, DEC VT32, and TTY terminals and supports ASCII, CompuServe B, Kermit, XModem, YModem and ZModem file transfers. The program lacks automatic ZModem file transfers; ZModem must be selected manually every time it is used. Data Graphics provides an informative graphical display to indicate what percentage of the file has been transferred and the estimated total transfer time. The dialing directory is flexible, and the script language can schedule up to eight events. Speed is average for Windows-based communication. Data Graphics does not offer much technical support, even for registered users. WinComm, version 1.4. (Software Review) (Synappsys)(one of 17 evaluations of asynchronous communications software in 'Improving Synappsys' $149 WinComm 1.4 communications package for Microsoft Windows offers Dynamic Data Exchange support, password security for local operations, and a variety of other features but suffers from some significant drawbacks. It can operate at speeds above 19.2K-bps but not very efficiently, and its scripting language is overly complex for a limited program. There is no built-in support for the UART FIFO buffer. File transfers are very simple and viewable, and the program supports Kermit, CompuServe B, XModem, YModem and ZModem protocols. A Monitor tool allows easy file preview. WinComm requires numeric result codes from the modem; technical support is available at a toll number. Communications without ZModem: old standards and a new favorite. (Software Review) (four communications packages) (evaluation) Four communications packages that do not use the new ZModem file-transfer protocol are reviewed. Crosstalk XVI 3.71, Smartcom III 1.2 and Relay Gold 4.0 are long-time standards that retain their popularity, while MicroPhone II 1.01 for Windows is a relatively new product designed for graphical environments. MicroPhone II has an excellent script language, and Relay Gold provides strong IBM 3270 terminal emulation and easy connection to popular on-line services. Crosstalk XVI offers excellent scripting capabilities but is not as easy to use as newer products. Hayes's Smartcom III has a strong script language that is compatible with the lower-cost Smartcom Exec. File transfers with Crosstalk XVI are simple, but the program supports only Kermit, XModem and proprietary protocols. Smartcom III has similar capabilities but adds YModem support. Microphone II supports XModem and YModem, while Relay Gold supports Kermit and several versions each of XModem and YModem. Crosstalk XVI offers eight different terminal emulations, while Smartcom III and Microphone II support only ANSI, TTY and DEC VT52 and VT100. Relay Gold supports many mainframe terminals. To the limit: caching the 386SX/20. (Hardware Review) (overview of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based microcomputers)(includes Nine microcomputers based on the 20-MHz 80386SX microprocessor and include cache RAM are reviewed. The machines are positioned as powerful entry-level systems that can run the most up-to-date software, and most are rated FCC Class B, making them suitable for home use. The 386SX is a 32-bit processor with a 16-bit data path; it can run 80386-specific programs but is not as fast as the full-scale 80386DX. Cache memory helps 80386SX-based machines come closer to their higher-priced siblings in performance. A RAM cache works by temporarily storing information in very fast memory that the CPU would otherwise have to retrieve from much slower system memory. The typical machine comes with 2Mbytes of RAM and 60 to 100Mbytes of hard disk space. Prices average $3,000; a machine configured with 4Mbytes of RAM and a 150 to 200Mbyte hard drive can cost as much as $7,000. The CompuAdd 320sc is rated an Editor's Choice. AGI Computer Inc.: AGI 3000B. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based microcomputers in 'To the AGI Computer Inc's 3000B 20-MHz 80386SX microcomputer can hold 8Mbytes of RAM on its motherboard and has three drive bays. It costs $3,998 when configured with 4Mbytes of RAM, a 1.2Mbyte floppy drive, a 132Mbyte hard disk and an Everex VGA video subsystem. It is very fast in processor benchmarks, but very slow in memory tests; disk performance is apparently fast but can be deceptive because the disk controller BIOS does not perform a disk seek. The motherboard is made by Everex and uses an AMI BIOS. All the drive bays can hold removable media, and there are a total of eight expansion slots, three of which are occupied by a video card, drive controller and I/O card. The 3000B offers average performance overall and may be a good value if purchased at a discount. AST Research Inc.: AST Premium II 386SX/20 Model 113V. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based AST Research Inc's Premium II 386SX/20 113V is the company's top-of-the-line 80386SX-based microcomputer and uses AST's proprietary Completely Universal Processor I/O Design (CUPID) 32-bit architecture. The Premium II costs $4,770 when equipped with 4Mbytes of RAM, Super VGA video, a 110Mbyte hard disk and a floppy drive. The system board has six expansion slots, three of which have 32-bit extensions. It uses a backplane design with the processor and RAM located on an upgradable processor card that fits into one of the CUPID slots. The case has front-mounted power and reset switches, three half-height drive bays and a proprietary port for attaching a 3.5-inch drive to the right of the bays. AST's processor card can handle up to 16Mbytes of RAM. Video performance with the built-in Super VGA subsystem is disappointing, and disk performance is also poor. The Premium II's price is not far from that of a 33-MHz Intel 80386-based system. Based on its performance/price relationship, the Premier II is not recommended. CompuAdd Corp.: CompuAdd 320sc. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based microcomputers in 'To the CompuAdd Corp's 320sc 20-MHz 80386SX microcomputer offers 4Mbytes of RAM, a 64Kbyte RAM cache, a 200Mbyte hard disk drive, two floppy disk drives and a 20-MHz 80387SX math coprocessor for only $3,381. It also includes a Super VGA graphics subsystem and 1Mbyte of video RAM on the motherboard. The 'slimline' design has five free expansion slots, but the lowest one cannot be used for a full-length card because it is too close to the memory banks. CompuAdd allows up to 32Mbytes of system RAM in single in-line memory modules, and the 320sc uses very-large-scale-integration chips on its well-designed motherboard. Performance and speed are excellent, the system includes video and system BIOS shadowing and all switches are clearly labelled. The CompuAdd 320sc is an excellent value and CompuAdd provides toll-free technical support and good warranties. This system is rated an Editor's Choice. Computer Market Place Inc.: Ultra 386SX-20. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based microcomputers in 'To Computer Market Place Inc's Ultra 386SX-20 microcomputer is a small-footprint machine that is aggressively priced but does not offer high performance or maximum expandability. It costs only $2,357 when equipped with 4Mbytes of RAM, an 89Mbyte hard disk, a single floppy disk drive, Super VGA video board and monitor and MS-DOS 4.01. A machine with a Seiko monitor, Focus keyboard and two floppy drives is $3,563. The AMI BIOS offers shadowing of all ROM in RAM, but benchmark results are only average. There are four device connectors on the 200-watt power supply, but not all are usable because there are only three drive bays. A unit configured with one hard and two floppy drives has no room for additional drives. Computer Market Place sells by mail order and does not offer on-site service. It nevertheless produces a reasonably well-constructed machine at a very low price. Diamond Technologies: DT-386SX-20. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based microcomputers in 'To the Diamond Technologies' DT 386SX/20 microcomputer is a small-footprint, 20-MHz 80386SX-based machine that sells for $2,179 equipped with 4Mbytes of RAM, 16Kbytes of processor RAM cache, a 100Mbyte hard disk, two floppy drives, a Super VGA subsystem and MS-DOS 4.01. There are two 3.5-inch drive bays in addition to the three half-height bays, and all the components work well together despite having come from disparate manufacturers. Performance is good, and the machine is a strong competitor in its class, although Diamond does not offer on-site service and forces users to do their own shopping for enhancements such as additional memory. Eltech Research Inc.: Eltech 2200. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based microcomputers in 'To the Eltech Research Inc's Eltech Research 2200 20-MHz 80386SX-based microcomputer costs only $2,649 equipped with 4Mbytes of RAM, a 64Kbyte RAM cache, a 106Mbyte hard disk, one floppy drive, a Super VGA graphics subsystem, MS-DOS 4.01, Microsoft Windows 3.0 and a Logitech mouse. The Eltech offers impressive expandability, with three half-height and two 3.5-inch drive bays. It has eight 16-bit expansion slots on the motherboard, six of which are available on a fully-configured machine. Eltech provides a 200-watt power supply. The 2200 is one of the fastest machines on processor benchmarks, but its hard disk is relatively slow. It is nevertheless one of the better values available in an 80386SX-based machine. Leading Edge Products Inc.: Leading Edge D3/SX20c. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based Leading Edge Products Inc's D3/SX20c microcomputer offers only average performance and costs a mid-range $3,874 when configured with 4Mbytes of RAM, a 106Mbyte hard disk, a 32Kbyte RAM cache, two floppy disk drives, a Super VGA graphics subsystem, MS-DOS 4.01, GW-BASIC and Microsoft Windows 3.0. The Daewoo motherboard is well integrated, and users can install two internal half-height and one 3.5-inch drive as well as one third-height drive. This capacity should be sufficient for most users, but does not leave room for a CD-ROM or tape drive. Memory is expandable to 8Mbytes on the motherboard using interleaved single in-line memory modules. Performance is somewhat slow, and the machine is not a particularly good value. Micro Express: Micro Express ME 386-SX/20/Caching. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based Micro Express Inc's ME 386-SX/20/Caching microcomputer appears similar to the company's ME 386SX but uses an entirely different chip set, motherboard and BIOS. It sells for a remarkably low price: $2,364 including 4Mbytes of RAM, 16Kbytes of cache memory, a 200Mbyte hard disk, one floppy disk drive, Super VGA graphics and MS-DOS 4.01. Micro Express has modified the machine's interior to allow access to more than 8Mbytes of RAM; the new motherboard holds up to 16Mbytes but requires larger single in-line memory modules. There are six expansion slots available even with the video card installed, and the case holds three half-height drives and one 3.5-inch drive. One expansion slot cannot hold a full-length card because the drives get in the way. The machine suffers from sloppy workmanship, but performs very well on benchmark tests. It may be an excellent value for many individual users. Zenith Data Systems: Zenith Z-386 SX/20. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of 20-MHz 80386SX-based microcomputers in 'To the Zenith Data Systems Corp's Z-386 SX/20 microcomputer is relatively expensive but provides good features and options. A configuration with 4Mbytes of RAM, 32Kbytes of processor RAM cache, an 80Mbyte hard disk, one floppy disk drive and VGA graphics costs $4,598; this price includes MS-DOS 4.01 and Microsoft Windows 3.0 as well as a Microsoft mouse. Performance is only average for a machine equipped with cache memory, but is still good among 20-MHz 80386SX machines in general. The unit is sturdy and well-designed, and there is a setup screen that provides password control, port enabling and video BIOS shadowing. Zenith is well known as a reliable brand name, and the Z-386 SX/20 is recommended for users who want the security of a well-known vendor label and who can find this system at a deep discount. Training tools for laser users. (overview of reviews of 17 books, four videotapes for laser printer users)(includes description of Laser printers are becoming more and more common as prices decline, and many new books and videotapes are available to train computer workers in their use. The original HP LaserJet cost $3,495; today's HP LaserJet III, which offers far more advanced technology, lists for $2,395. Today's laser printers are extremely complex and use elaborate control languages that novice users find discouraging. Programming capability is one of the most powerful attributes of laser printers, but it is inherently complex. Seventeen books and four videotapes containing information on how to use laser printers are reviewed. Users should of course peruse HP's manuals first, since the company provides excellent documentation. The LaserJet Handbook, Second Edition, by Steven J. Bennett and Peter G. Randall, is rated an Editor's Choice. Buffered printer-sharing devices. (building workgroup solutions) (Hardware Review) (overview of nine evaluations of printer-sharing Nine buffered printer-sharing devices that let microcomputer users share printers without requiring a complex local area network (LAN) are reviewed. Printer-sharing devices generally support six to 10 microcomputers and at least two parallel printers. They can also handle PostScript and large graphics files at a price of less than $150 per port. Buffered printer sharers are transparent to the user; the printing process is identical to that used with a direct connection. Users also do not have to worry whether a particular printer is occupied because the buffer stores multiple print jobs and sends them to the next available printer. Dedicated printer sharers include the PrintPoint 6x2, Byteway 1000 Plus 8P1MB and others; these are limited to connecting specific input ports to specific output ports. Data switches, such as the PrintDirector Silver PDSSP and Buffalo SL-512, can connect any port to any other. Some products use a foreground control program, while others use a memory-resident utility; most base prices do not include cabling. Specific cabling schemes are discussed. Digital Products's PrintDirector Silver PDSSP is rated an Editor's Choice. Buffalo Products Inc.: Buffalo SL-512. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of printer sharing devices in 'Buffered Buffalo Products Inc's SL-512 printer sharing device is a buffered data switch that lets users connect any port to either a microcomputer or a printer and includes an extensive collection of software utilities. A 'Supervisor' mode manages setup and configuration, and the SL Manager software modifies all existing AUTOEXEC.BAT files. Customizing the standard SL macros invoked from the terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) control program is recommended. Users can designate the unit to handle input or output at transmission rates of up to 115.2K-bps, but the highest transmission rate that can be realistically used is 19.2K-bps. Buffalo's support includes a one-year warranty and 45-day money-back guarantee, and the product is a good value overall at $575 for a unit with six serial and four parallel ports and 512Kbytes of RAM, but without cables, which cost an additional $85. Consolink: Super Spooler II. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of printer sharing devices in 'Buffered Consolink's $999 Super Spooler II buffered printer-sharing device works well once installed but is difficult to set up and use. It comes with eight ports, 512Kbytes of RAM and a minimalist memory-resident control program. Users will have to buy their own cabling, and the parallel ports are all atypical and difficult to distinguish from serial ports. Nearly all Super Spooler options must be implemented in hardware by setting DIP switches. The Super Spooler II generally prints faster than competing units, and is compatible with most applications other than terminal-and-stay-resident ones in graphics mode. It also causes some applications to print more slowly than normal. Consolink does provide a toll-free technical support telephone line and a three-year warranty. Digital Products Inc.: PrintDirector Silver PDSSP. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of printer sharing devices in Digital Products Inc's PrintDirector Silver PDSSP printer-sharing device is a buffered data switch that offers a wide variety of powerful features as well as excellent performance. The unit has LED status indicators, four parallel and six serial ports, 1Mbyte of memory and RAM-resident software for a price of $1,095. Cabling increases the cost considerably; two 15-foot parallel cables and four serial connections made via telephone-style cables cost a total of $340. The included terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) program comes with nearly every feature needed and takes up only 13Kbytes of memory. It includes an expanded version of 'SmallPop,' which tests each connection, and a 'Doctor' diagnostics program. Performance is admirable, and the unit passes all compatibility tests. The PrintDirector is rated an Editor's Choice for overall quality. Excellink Inc.: PrintPoint 6x2. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of printer sharing devices in 'Buffered Excellink Inc's PrintPoint 6x2 uses an extremely simple method to share printers and is easy to set up. There is no need for a terminate and stay resident (TSR) utility; users switch between printers via batch files. Six serial ports are dedicated to microcomputers, and two parallel ports are for printers The base price for a machine with 256Kbytes of RAM is $650; a unit with 1Mbyte is $797. Despite the ease of installation, the machine may be confusing for users who do not have a working understanding of serial ports and printers. Two of the serial ports are limited to 9,600 bps, but the other four can use higher speeds if the user adjusts settings on both the microcomputer and PrintPort ports. The PrintPoint is a good value for users familiar with batch files and other computing concepts and offers better-than-average performance under heavy-duty printing connections. Fifth Generation Systems Inc.: The Logical Connection. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of printer sharing devices in Fifth Generation Systems Inc's Logical Connection printer-sharing device costs only $495 for a system with eight ports and 512Kbytes of RAM. It offers high reliability as well as support for other hardware platforms such as the Apple Macintosh. The Logical Connection is a data switch, and its ports can be used either for microcomputers or printers; one must be set as serial port 0, and the computer attached to this port is used to configure or reconfigure the device. Its POPLC utility can run either in nonresident mode or as a 23Kbyte terminate-and-stay-resident program. There are some slight compatibility problems in graphics mode, and its serial transmission speed is limited to 9,600 bps. The Logical Connection is nevertheless a very good value for many users as it is reliable and versatile. IMC/Data Manager: Data Manager XL-100. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of printer sharing devices in 'Buffered IMC/Data Manager's Data Manager XL-100 peripheral sharing device costs $995 equipped with a 512Kbyte buffer, eight serial ports, two parallel ports and one Ethernet port. It is a sophisticated device that lets users connect it to an Ethernet network with up to 16 workstations, but is still easy to set up. There are three top-level menu selections on the liquid crystal display control panel. The supplied 30Kbyte terminate-and-stay-resident utility is useful for sending commands to printers and devices but is incompatible with MS-DOS 4.01. The Data Manager XL-100 is a powerful and versatile device that will be far more competitive when the manufacturer updates it for the current version of the MS-DOS operating system. Protec Microsystems Inc.: Byteway 1000 Plus 8P1MB. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of printer sharing devices in Protec Microsystems Inc's $895 Byteway 1000 Plus 8P1MB printer-sharing device offers versatile control approaching that available with local area networks. It lets system managers control which microcomputers can print on which printers and provides password security. The machine has one dedicated input port, one dedicated output port and six user-definable ports. Cables are not included with the unit and not sold as options; users must buy their own 25-wire shielded cables for each port. Installation is somewhat complex, and users must know the password in order to access the configuration manual. Flexibility is the main strength of the Byteway 1000 Plus; it is not very expandable, but it offers excellent administration features and performance, although at ordinary speeds. Q4 Instruments Inc.: Data Shuttle 8400. (Hardware Review) (one of nine evaluations of printer sharing devices in 'Buffered Q4 Instruments Inc's $899 Data Shuttle 8400 printer sharing device