This month in

Features PCUG News & Services

6 Linux 7 Membership Notes David Cock explains the inexplicable Mike Burke with information for new members 10 Ages of Empire 16 Internet Clinic Ken Livingston, empire builder and gamer Information about how to get commected 12 Exploring the Options 17 The Internet Project Terry Bibo changes options in Internet Explorer Iain Gould reports 18 10th Aniversary Report JAnnieQ 36 TIP Help Directory Ann Byrne confesses to a wild weekend Nhan Tran’s guide to TIP information 20 CD ROM Column 40 Internet Project Application Nick Thompson reviews a selection of software Get connected with TIP 24 Qool URLs 41 Member Services Anne Greiner selects the best of the Web Details of services available to members only 26 Bits and Bytes Have a laugh with Andrew Clayton 42 Special Interest Groups Where the real action is 27 Puzzle Corner Exercise the old grey cells with Vic Bushell 43 Training News Low cost training for members 28 Software Library News Phil Trudinger reviews a selection of software 44 Vendor Discounts Membership has its privileges 35 On the Record The camera never lies… 46 Members’ Ads Check here first for bargains 36 How to PDF without Acrobat Owen Cook offers a little good advice 46 PCUG Membership The official membership form 38 What’s News? Malcolm Morrison keeps up with the latest 47 Help Directory Stuck? Call the experts 48 Calendar Profile What’s on next month

Editorial Information How to contribute to Sixteen Bits Advertiser & Product Information 3 Contact Information How to contact us 9 InterACT Technology Group 13 Dynamite Internet 4 Editorial 15 L&S Associates, AB&T Anne Greiner 37 Bettowynd 37 Sustance 4 President’s Letter 44 Vendor Discount Scheme Ken Livingston Inside Front Software Shop Inside Back Computech Computer Group 5 Letters Back Cover Maestro From our readers...

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 1 EditorialEditorial InformationInformation

SIXTEEN BITS (ISSN 0817-0991) is published monthly by the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc PO Box 42 Belconnen ACT 2616 Managing Editor Australia Anne Greiner Deadlines For We welcome submissions of articles from members [email protected] of the Group. If you are interested in writing please [email protected] April 1998 Issue contact the Managing Editor and ask for a copy of our ‘SIXTEEN BITS - Guidelines for Authors’ (also Assistant Editor available on the Sixteen Bits Web site at Articles and Member Ads http://www.pcug.org.au/pcug/16bits/ Victor Bushell 16guide.htm). [email protected] Friday 27 February 1998 Correspondence and material for review or Commercial Ads publication should be forwarded, preferably as a Editorial Team plain text file with separate PCX/BMP graphic files, Mike Burke, Tamsin Sowden, Friday 6 March 1998 by the deadline specified, to the Editor as follows: Andrew Clayton, Malcolm Morrison, · By email to [email protected] Cover Design · By fax to (02) 6253 4922 Advertising in · By mail to the Centre’s address above. Russell Kerrison Anonymous contributions will not be published, Technical Editor SIXTEEN BITS though name and address can be withheld from Michael Phillips publication on request. Disks are not returned SIXTEEN BITS is a unique and powerful unless requested by the author. Commercial Advertising Manager medium for reaching the thoughtful decision © Copyright 1997, by the PC Users Group (ACT) Ken Livingston (02) 6285 3747 (bh) makers in the ACT area. Our circulation exceeds Inc. All rights reserved. Permission for reproduction (02) 6253 4922 fax 3500 copies each month, with multiple readership in whole or in part must be obtained from the [email protected] exceeding 4800. Many copies are retained by Managing Editor and is generally given, provided members for future reference. The advertising the author also agrees and credit is given to deadline is normally the first Friday of the month SIXTEEN BITS and the author(s) of the reproduced Production material. All other reproduction without prior Petra Dwyer and the Stuffing Team of publication. permission of the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc is Advertising options include prohibited. • Cover ads Contributors for this issue Members of the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc receive • Display ads SIXTEEN BITS each month. Registered by Australia Mike Burke, Anne Greiner, Post, Print Post Publication No. PP226480/00009. Andrew Clayton, Malcolm Morrison, • Special inserts Disclaimer: Ken livingston, Phil Trudinger, David Cock, • One-off mailing lists Although it is editorial policy to check all material in Terry Bibo, Owen Cook, Ann Byrne, Regular advertisers receive discount vouchers to SIXTEEN BITS for accuracy, usefulness and suitability, Victor Bushell, Nick Thompson, Iain Gould pay for any future advertising with SIXTEEN no warranty either express or implied is offered for any BITS (subject to account being in order). Every losses due to the use of the material in the journal. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the experiences and 12th consecutive ad placed is free. Please contact opinions expressed in any column or article are those of the Advertising Manager, Ken Livingston, on (02) 6285 3747 for further information. the author and do not represent an official position of, Authors and Advertisers please note or endorsement by, the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc. The PC Users Group (ACT) Inc is not liable for inaccuracy in Articles from SIXTEEN BITS are also published any advertisement and does not accept responsibility on the Internet as Sixteen Bits Online at http:// for any claims made by advertisers. It is the buyer’s Sixteen Bits responsibility to investigate the claims made by www.pcug.org.au/pcug/16bits/ and extracts are is produced with the products advertisers. Any material considered misleading or read on Radio 1RPH (1125AM) Thursdays inappropriate will be withheld at editorial discretion. 10.45am & 9.45pm. and support of Names of hardware, software and other products offered on a commercial basis may be registered names and Material published on the Web and broadcast on trademarks of the vendors concerned. SIXTEEN BITS radio is subject to copyright law and reproduction Adobe uses such names only in an editorial fashion and to the in any form without permission of the editor and benefit of the trademark owners, with no intent of the author is prohibited. If however you, as an infringement of the trademark. author, object to publication of your material on Corel the Internet or on radio for any reason, you must Corporation contact the Editor to request that your articles be omitted from the online version.

2 March 1998 SIXTEEN BITS PCUG Committee How To Make Contact President Ken Livingston 6285 3747 *Postal address [email protected] PO Box 42 Vice President Iain Gould 6255 2405 [email protected] Belconnen ACT 2616 Secretary Rod Farr 6286 1597 (For ALL correspondence) & Public Officer [email protected] Treasurer Allan Mikkelsen 6278 3164 J PC Users Group Centre [email protected] Northpoint Plaza, Belconnen Training Officer Nhan Tran 6254 5293 Open Mon, Wed and Fri 10am-2pm [email protected] Saturdays and Sundays 9am-5pm General Committee Owen Cook 6254 2009 (closed long weekends) [email protected] General Committee Basil Chupin 6285 2353 The PCUG Centre is the venue for PCUG training, some Special Interest [email protected] Group meetings and other activities. There is no charge for using the Centre General Committee Wolf Lieske 6258 5250 for PCUG activities. Contact Petra Dwyer at the PCUG Centre on [email protected] (02) 6253 4911for bookings. General Committee Nhan Tran 6254 5293 [email protected] (PCUG Main Phone number General Committee Peter Watney 6254 1914 (02) 6253 4911 [email protected] (Answering machine when Centre unattended) General Committee George Beaton 6254 6725 [email protected] 2 Fax number General Committee Anne Greiner 6288 2810 (02) 6253 4922 & Editor 16 Bits [email protected] ,Email General Committee Ian Johnston 6258 3409 [email protected] [email protected] (or use addresses at left) General Committee John Hambley 6248 9527 [email protected] ,The INTERNET Project Immediate Ann Byrne 6282 2536 (02) 6206 6200 [email protected] Past President [email protected] World Wide Web page PCUG Committee email to: [email protected] http://www.pcug.org.au/pcug/ Other Contacts : Bulletin Board Service (BBS) Executive Secretary Petra Dwyer 6258 2099 [email protected] (02) 6253 4933 (5 lines 33.6k bps) Membership Mike Burke Fidonet address 3:620/243 Secretary [email protected] (BBS Sysop voice number Novell Network Michael Phillips Administrator (02) 6253 4966 (6.00pm - 9.00pm) NT Network Nhan Tran Administrator BBS Sysop Michael Phillips 6253 4966 Main Meeting [email protected] Main meetings are held 7.00pm for 7.30pm, usually on the last Monday of The phone numbers listed above are home numbers unless otherwise every month at Manning Clark Theatre 1, Crisp Building Australian National specified. Please restrict calls to between 7.30pm and 9.00pm. University. New Members’ Information Night 7.30pm first Monday of the month PC Users Group Centre, Northpoint Plaza Belconnen.

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 3 Editor’sEditor’s DeskDesk TopTop

Anne Greiner, Managing Editor fuss than most people I know. Without the contributors of course, there would be nothing without them there would be no magazine. his is the first editorial I have written to edit or layout, and it is an unceasing source They all, without exception, give to the group for Sixteen Bits, and I acknowledge of amazement to me, the amount and degree much more than the hours they spend at the that I have not only one but a number of excellence in the knowledge base of the T Centre on layout and proof-reading days, as of hard acts to follow. Outside the editorial members of this group. Many of the articles they all contribute a regular page(s) on top of group as such, I doubt that many know just we print are of an equivalent or better standard the editorial hack work that they so willingly how many hours this job devours out of the than those in commercial productions. and cheerfully (mostly!) do. ‘spare’ time that most of us have soooo much Last, but by no means least, are the stuffers. On the production team we have, in no of. Vic has certainly found that to be so, and I went to my first stuffers’ evening last month, particular order, Mike Burke, who can turn has regretfully passed the reins to me. He has and have never seen such a hive of activity. his hand to anything. He writes the Membership promised to stay on the editorial team (and to There were 30 or so people there, and at first News, lays out articles, proof reads, continue to provide puzzles up to the calibre glance, absolute chaos reigned, however with spellchecks better than any PC, selectively of last month’s effort, which actually had time and the chivying of Gordon Urquhart, ignores what he doesn’t want to hear, and someone clever enough, or sober enough , to order emerged, plastic bags were stuffed, generally keeps us all in order. Andrew get a correct answer!), as has Tamsin, who labels were attached, post bags were stuffed, Clayton, otherwise known to most of us as still does the Calendar, and is the provider of and another edition hit the decks. ‘Amazement, DAC, has taken over the Bits and Bytes page, endless good advice and encouragement, as amazement’, in the words of Effie. compiles the Ten Years Ago section, writes well as serious practical help. I hope to meet many more of you over the occasional articles, and offers lots of good No magazine of this size is the work of one next few months, so send me an article, or a advice, often profane (and mostly to Mike). individual however, and even though they only review, or a cartoon, or a letter to publish; or Our quiet achiever is Malcolm Morrison, What get a one line mention in the front of the mag, an email telling me of what you do (or do not) New’s guru, who can get more done with less approve. This is your magazine, after all. President’sPresident’s LetterLetter

Ken Livingston, President

f you missed January’s Main Monthly underwhelming. As in zero response. Both wish to volunteer to help us out at our booth Meeting, you missed a real treat. Roger positions are important to the Group. The hiring at ACT Alive during the Canberra Festival this I Lowery’s presentation on Flight Simulator out of the training room helps to cover expenses year. The date is Monday, 16 March, and all ’98 was superb. The demonstration on the and the main meetings have long been a we need are a few volunteers to hand out big screen, combined with full stereo sound valuable service to members and the general pamphlets and magazines, chat with passers effects just, well, took off. Thanks also to community. If anyone is interested in either of by and generally be there to promote the Mike Dinn for the loan of his equipment and these areas, even on a temporary basis, do let Group. In past years the volunteers have assistance. Gordon Urquart moderated a me know. always had a jolly good time and it’s a great general PC question and answer session and The good news is that we have eight new opportunity to meet other members. promises to include excerpts of that – as well volunteers to help staff the PCUG Centre. And Note that new payment options are now as answers to unanswered questions – in the just a reminder that the new scanner and PC is available for The Internet Project. Members next edition of Sixteen Bits. See photos now installed and available for members’ use. can now pay for Internet access on a three- elsewhere in this issue. I’ve received much positive feedback regarding month term or six-month term as an alternative Our Editor, Vic Bushell, has stepped down the new equipment. Be sure to stop by the to paying for an entire year in advance. See as Editor due to other pressures and will be Centre and have a look. Iain Gould’s article elsewhere in this issue. taking on the role of Assistant Editor. Our The Group is offering members training Finally, our Executive Secretary, Petra Assistant Editor, Anne Greiner, will be courses again this year at very reasonable rates. Dwyer, has taken an additional month of sick assuming the role of Editor, I think due to You might want to consider volunteering to leave. I wish Petra a speedy recovery. And temporary insanity. In any case, many thanks teach a training course. You needn’t be an many thanks to Owen Cook and the other to Vic for his work as Editor and a hearty expert to contribute. I often hear the comment volunteers who will be filling in during Petra’s welcome to Anne. from members that they would love to help absence. The response to my plea in last month’s out in some way but feel that they lack the magazine for a training room manager and expertise or skills to contribute anything. This meetings coordinator has been decidedly is not the case at all! For example, you might Letters children learn or be hindered? And of course, if properly introduced, the calculator is an educational boon. Until the hand-held electronic calculator appeared, mechanical desktop calculating Oz User Groups machines had changed little since the days of Pascal (1623 – 1662) and Liebniz (1646 – Adelaide PC Users Group 1716) who built early calculating machines. All PO Box 2541 whirling wheels and cogs and handles. The Kent Town SA 5071 modern calculator (even an El Cheapo model) (08) 8331 0766 is cheap and several orders of magnitude more Meet: 7.30pm, 3rd Tuesday of the month at accurate than any previous calculating device. Enterprise House, 136 Greenhill Road, Unley. Visitors $5. A RETIRING EDITOR SPEAKS It has brought arithmetic to the people – t has become something of a cliché to talk democracy in action. No doubt, in time, Brisbane PC Users Group (Brisbug) about these times and how fast things are calculator, computer and communication changing. But it really hit me just recently PO Box 985 I technology will merge into the truly portable Toowong QLD 4066 when our four year old granddaughter was hybrid of science fiction. But in the meantime I (07) 3299 3943 Info Line visiting. She was squatting down and totally can’t help feeling just a little nostalgic when I (07) 3209 4980 (fax) absorbed in doing a jigsaw puzzle. But at the see adults or children who need to reach for a Pam Kirk (Pres) same time she had the flip-top lid of my calculator before they can do a simple ‘add- Home page http://www.brisbug.asn.au Meet: Kelvin Grove High School, Kelvin calculator open and held against her ear while up’ or ‘take-away’ (different connotation) let talking into the keypad. Every so often she Grove, Brisbane. 9am-5pm approx, 3rd alone a problem in percentages. Sunday of the month. would break off her ‘conversation’ to ‘do This month we have some upgraded numbers’ and then return to her conversation. hardware and software here at the Centre. Very Darwin Computer She informed me that she needed to use my impressive, and on behalf of the Editorial team Users Club calculator because she had left her (toy) mobile and all members may I take this opportunity Gary Drake (Vice President) phone at home! Her face had the same earnest to thank the committee for this considerable (08) 8932 4107 h look of the dedicated user of the mobile phone outlay. (08) 8945 0091 w Email [email protected] and of that other ubiquitous cranial appendage, I am very reluctant to resign as Editor, the Walkman. Perhaps in her innocence she howecver, because of some sudden and was acting out what future convergent Melbourne PC User Group unexpected commitments and new ventures 2nd Floor, 66 Albert Road technology will become. And to think that early undertaken, I have found it increasingly more in the second half of this century the famed ‘2- South Melbourne VIC 3205 difficult to devote as much time as I believe is (03) 9699 6222 way wrist radio’ of Dick Tracy was all the rage necessary for producing the magazine. Anne 10am - 3.30pm in childhood games. Greiner, our Assistant Editor, compiler of the (03) 9699 6499 Fax And speaking of calculators, we all Email [email protected] ever-popular Qool URLs column and Home Page http://www.melbpc.org.au remember how expensive and, by today’s committee member has bravely accepted the standards, primitive they were when first Meet: 6pm, 1st Wednesday of the month position of Editor, while I retire to that of (except Jan) at Pharmacy College, 381 Royal introduced. But as their prices tumbled and their Assistant Editor. Many thanks to all the Parade, Parkville. power increased, in a very short time they Editorial team members for their continuing and made redundant so called (and I suspect little- Perth PC Users Group † valued assistance. We wish Anne well. known) prostapheretic tables (also known as PO Box 997 tables of quarter-squares), logarithm tables, the † prostapheretic – derived from the Greek West Perth WA 6872 slide rule (they have long since ceased being (08) 9399 7264 words “prostesis” meaning adding and Terry Vernon (Pres) produced anywhere) and such checking “aphareisis” meaning taking away. For those techniques as the equally obscure ‘casting out Meet 6.00pm, 1st Wednesday of the month interested in such matters (and who isn’t? ) at Ross Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, 9s’ or ‘casting out 11s’. And a jolly good thing the tables were used, like the later logarithms, University of WA, Nedlands. too! It is an interesting fact that there were to replace multiplication with addition and probably more debates about introducing subtraction. They were based on the fact that Sydney PC Users Group calculators to schoolchildren than later about for any two numbers a and b, their product ab PO Box A2162 giving the same children access to computers. = (a + b)2/4 – (a – b)2/4 (hence quarter- Sydney South NSW 2000 (02) 9972 2133 Maybe because the calculator’s sole purpose squares). These values were tabulated in the is to replace arithmetic à la pen and paper, Meet 6pm, 1st Tuesday of the month at tables. So to multiply any two numbers, add main auditorium, Teachers Federation, 300 whereas the digital computer was the first and subtract them, look up their corresponding Sussex Street, Sydney. general purpose machine – its uses were quarter squares in the tables and subtract the manifold and it was not restricted solely to smaller from the larger. Simple! No wonder eliminating arithmetical drudgery. Would the the calculator won.

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 5 …a review by David Cock

ow, you may or may not have heard growing. Third, and this is probably the biggest as the GPL. GNU stands for Gnu’s Not Unix, of Linux, and if not, I’m hardly misconception about public domain operating GNU is the group which create and maintain Nsurprised. An unfortunate cloud of systems, the Linux community is known for its Linux. The GPL states that any software obscurity has hidden Linux, along with all of helpfulness and friendliness and there is nothing released under the license must be released the other alternative operating systems for the easier than to post a message on one of the into the public domain, that is the author 80386 processor. I feel that it is time that Linux help newsgroups and to get a reply. It is relinquishes sole copyright and other forms of people learnt about the options available to quite common to be able to get in touch with protection except those excluded under the them when selecting an operating system for the actual author of the software and to ask GPL. In a nutshell, Linux and most of the their PC. questions of them directly. So, there is no software released on it are freely available, Linux is a POSIX compliant UNIX-like practical reason why you should decide against redistributable or saleable. Not all Linux operating system primarily for use on 0386 Linux as an operating system. Linux complies software is released under the GPL, so it is architecture computer systems. Linux was to the POSIX standard for UNIX operating best to read the copyright information for each written in 1991 by Linus Torvalds to, “make systems. This means that the look and feel of piece of software. MINIX better” (MINIX was another Another advantage, which Linux UNIX-based operating system at the shares with other UNIXs, is that of time) and since then has grown One of the major advantages Linux stability. The design of the Linux exponentially. Linux is written, has over other systems is that it is public kernel and system means that it is maintained and supported entirely by seldom neccessary to reboot. For volunteers and is truly the “people’s” domain software example, it is possible to install all of operating system. Features and the software with a common applications have been developed for distribution without even having to Linux at an astounding rate over the last few Linux will be the same as any other POSIX reboot your machine. In fact, the entire years such that now the functionality of Linux based UNIX system. This has several installation process only requires one boot. rivals and in fact exceeds that of many advantages: First, experience on other POSIX Linux is a true 32-bit platform designed from commercial operating systems. systems will transfer onto Linux with little need the ground up to operate on a 32-bit processor, Many people believe, or are led to believe, to learn new commands, etc. Second, being such as the 80386. Linux is much more stable that the “major” operating systems are the only compliant to an officially recognized standard than an operating system such as Windows 95. real option when making the choice. Many has its own advantages, including that the Gone are the days of General Protection arguments to this end run like this, “First of all, system is more likely to be compatible with Faults, and Windows recommending that you can you really trust software that isn’t written other systems that comply to the POSIX close all programs and reboot your computer. by a reputable company; second, you won’t standard. The ability to maintain a system running 24 be able to run any software; and third, if it One of the major advantages Linux has hours a day has particular advantages in breaks, you won’t be able to get any support”. over other systems is that it is public domain applications such as servers of various Now these myths hardly need debunking, but software. This means that while the author descriptions. Though Linux is not just suitable just for the record: First, the stability and retains the copyright on the original software, for use on a server. Workstations, routers and reliability of Linux has been proven through the source code is freely available and anyone home computers can all benefit from the applications worldwide, an increasing number can read, use, re-release or even sell, as long stability and reliability of Linux. of servers and TCP/IP systems have moved as the resulting package is also released as One of the most useful “application” to Linux as their operating system of choice. public domain software. The system under features of Linux is TCP/IP networking. TCP/ Second, as previously explained the range of which this copyright is administered is known IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/ software available for Linux is huge and still as the GNU Public Licence, often referred to Internet Protocol.TCP/IP also incorporates Membership Notes

by Mike Burke Membership Secretary

elcome to new members reading normally held at 7.30pm on the first Monday The ‘Rules’ and Other Good Stuff Sixteen Bits for the first time, of the month (except January) at the PC Users For those who haven’t yet learnt through bitter Wwelcome to the PC Users Group. Group Centre (see map page 3). These personal experience, please remember that TIP Continuing members should also check this meetings are a chance for new and ‘older’ access is dependent on your continuing PCUG column regularly because I am sure that there members (who are always welcome to attend) membership, and that it takes time to process will be some little surprises from time to time, to meet with representatives of the Committee, your membership renewal - currently up to two even for the most jaded of old hands. to put names to faces, and to ask any questions weeks. We are looking at ways to reduce this that you may have about the Group and its time, but the best solution is for you to activities. Tea and coffee are available, and the remember to renew early. Members, If your PCUG atmosphere is informal and friendly. particularly TIP users, whose PCUG membership expires at Main Meetings membership expires at the end of the month the end of March 1998 Our main meetings, targeted at our general stated in the above box should renew their RENEW NOW membership, are normally held monthly, on the PCUG membership immediately. Do not delay to avoid losing access to last Monday of the month. The date, venue because your TIP access will automatically be The Internet Project. and topic of the meeting always appear on the cut off at midnight on the last day of the month front cover of Sixteen Bits which is timed to unless your renewal has been processed. Don’t forget! RENEW TODAY, if not Your Membership Card arrive in your mail-box in the middle of the week before the next main meeting. Main yesterday, if this copy of Sixteen Bits arrived Your membership card will be mailed to you meetings are also advertised in the computing with a pink label. as soon as possible after your application for section of the Canberra Times on the day of For those of you who would like to try it, membership, or renewal, has been processed. the meeting. Anyone is welcome to attend these John Carroll has produced a natty little This will normally occur within one week of meetings—you do not need to be a member. Windows program that can be configured to your receipt of your first issue of Sixteen Bits. For main meetings, we arrange guest speakers automatically provide you with up to 90 days’ Please be patient, however. There is only one on a variety of topics throughout the year. As prior warning of your PCUG membership print run of mailing and membership labels an added incentive, there are usually a couple expiry. The program is now included on the every month, and this normally occurs over the of door prizes to be won. You’ve got to be in New Members’ Disk, and is currently available weekend immediately before the Sixteen Bits it to win it. There is no main meeting in from the BBS. stuffing day (normally the third Monday in the December. month). Normally, membership cards and disks will be dispatched on the third Monday. If you Special Events lose your card, please leave a message with We also have some special events such as the the Executive Secretary on 6253 4911, or ‘Bring and Buy Night’ at the Albert Hall in contact me directly via TIP at November, and an annual Quiz Night in April. [email protected]. You should read Sixteen Bits thoroughly as Information Disk special events are publicised mainly through the magazine. Next New Members’ Night New members should also receive a disk containing information about the Group and its Annual General Meeting 2 March 1998 services. Please read the information on the The Annual General Meeting is held in 7.30pm disk carefully as you will find the answers to September each year. Even if you are unable PCUG Centre most of your questions there. to attend Main Meetings regularly, members Northpoint Plaza, Belconnen New Members’ should make every effort to attend this Meeting Information Night at which office bearers for the ensuing 12 months are elected. New members are especially urged to attend a New Members’ Information Night which is

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 7 protocols such as the User Datagram Protocol and the Internet Control Message Protocol. GATES TCP/IP is the protocol used to implement the world’s largest network, the Internet, and is one of the most widely used networking protocols today. Linus has an advanced and GETS flexible TCP/IP implementation. Unlike Windows 95, the Linux networking code is implemented within the kernel. This offers more reliability, stability and speed, features entirely CREAMED consistent with Linux’s best features. This allows the average user with an Internet By Margie Wylie February 4, 1998 connection to perform the functions of any Internet host. Uoe can route Internet packets ill Gates, a man used to having his cake from a local Ethernet host to the Internet, and eating it too today had his cake before the law. He even broke into song in a thereby providing Internet access. You can run and wore it too. In Brussels, Belgium, recent interview with Barbara Walters. an HTTP, FTP, Telnet or a variety of other B However, the billionaire, who is said to to visit European officials, the chairman was servers without having to purchase any struck in the face with a cream pastry—a cake dislike even a touch from strangers, didn’t seem additional software. Ypu can also use the or possibly a pie—as he was entering a to take the joke as well when he wasn’t the Network File System, which allows you to government building to give a speech on one making it. He appeared shaken and angry mount file systems over any TCP/IP network, education. The prankster escaped, but one as he rushed from the site of the creaming. including the Internet. accomplice and a cameraman were taken into “Oddly enough, [Godin] apparently There is a lot of software available for custody and later released after Belgian complained that [Gates] didn’t react strongly Linux, some of which is listed below: prankster Noel Godin appeared on television enough,” the Microsoft spokeswoman said. TeX/LaTeX - A typesetting/text formatting to take responsibility for the attack. Gates will “This incident is very unfortunate, system developed 15 years ago and accepted not press charges, according to a Microsoft especially in light of the types of things Bill is as an industry standard. spokeswoman. trying to do,” she added. “He later made a XFree86 - A free-ware implementation of Godin, a fun-loving anarchist, has made a joke about how the cream didn’t even taste the X Windows System version 11, release 6. name for himself targeting the rich, famous, and that good.” Only time will tell if that’s good XFree86 allows different way of looking at pompous with cream pies. His exploits have humored enough for the cream puff catapulting UNIX and access to a huge variety of software. become so renowned that a French word has Godin. : Samba - A software package that allows been coined to describe the act of being Linux machines to share file systems and creamed: entarter. POSITION VACANT printers with Windows machines.. Perhaps one of the most famous men in Training Room Manager Apache - A fully featured web server for use the French-speaking world, Godin himself is with Linux supporting CGI, image maps and called “L’entarteur,” or “the Pieman.” He often The PCUG Centre is looking for a more. appears on TV shows and films and is an author Training Room Manager. This is a GCC - A free ware C/C++ compiler. of a book about his exploits. responsible position and involves Perl - Larry Wall’s Practical Extraction and Those who take Godin’s public creamings organising the hiring out the Centre’s Report Language . with good humor are never bothered again. training room and equipment to outside Quake - Yes, the world’s favorite game is However, L’entarteur has been known to bodies as well as PCUG groups, and available for Linux with the executables repeatedly target people who react with ill negotiating appropriate fees. downloadable from Id Software. humor to his antics, what he calls the “revolt of These are but a small number of the laughter.” The incumbent is required to negotiate thousands of pieces of software available for In the wake Microsoft’s investigation for agreements, maintin accurate schedules, Linux. As you can probably see, though Linux antitrust violations, Gates has made a concerted ensure appropriate security for PCUG is less popular than most major operating public relations push to come across as a premises and equipment, and report systems, it has many advantages over them. regular, easy going guy who can take a joke. regularly to the Committee. The popularity of Linux is still increasing, and Starting at Comdex in Las Vegas last This position carries a small many systems all over the world are moving to November, Gates began screening videotaped remuneration in the form of commission Linux as their operating system of choice. parodies of himself at his frequent speeches. based on successful hire-outs. He has said in interviews that Microsoft’s haughty, defiant image is the fault of the press. To apply, contact the Secretary on The company is “humble” and “respectful” : [email protected]. BAD TIMES VIRUS - WARNING !!

The following message was received from It will give your ex-boy/girlfriend your new the grave to sully those things we hold most London today: phone number. dear. To: [email protected] (Receipt It will program your phone autodial to call It will rewrite your back-up files, changing Notification Requested) only your mother’s number. all your active verbs to passive tense and Subject: Subject: _EFW: VIRUS ALERT It will mix antifreeze into your fish tank. incorporating undetectable misspellings which hm-treasury.gov.uk> It will drink all your beer and leave its’ dirty grossly change the interpretation of key (Tel +44-171-270-5664) socks on the coffee table when there’s sentences. Date: Fri, 23 Jan 98 15:39:42 +0000 company coming over. Badtimes will give you Dutch Elm disease. It will hide your car keys when you are It will leave the toilet seat up and leave the If you see a message with a subject line of late for work and interfere with your car radio hair dryer plugged in dangerously close to a Badtimes, delete it immediately WITHOUT so that you hear 1940’s hits (that’s good!) and full bathtub. reading it. This is the most dangerous virus yet. static while stuck in traffic. It will wantonly remove the forbidden tags It will re-write your hard drive. Not only Badtimes will make you fall in love with from your mattresses and pillows, and refill that, but it will scramble any disks that are even someone who is like your Ex. your skim milk with whole. close to your computer (20' range at 72 It will give you nightmares about circus It is insidious and subtle. It is dangerous Fahrenheit). midgets. and terrifying to behold. It will recalibrate your refrigerator’s It will replace your shampoo with Immac It is also a rather interesting shade of coolness setting so all your ice cream melts and your Immac with Baby Bio, all while dating mauve. and milk curdles. your current boy/girlfriend behind your back These are just a few signs. Be very, very It will demagnetize the strips on all your and billing their hotel rendezvous to your Visa afraid. credit cards, reprogram your ATM access card. It will seduce your grandmother. code, screw up the tracking on your VCR It does not matter if she is dead, such is YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! and use subspace field harmonics to scratch the power of Badtimes, it reaches out beyond : any CDs you try to play.

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 9 A review by Ken Livingston

ge of Empires is a real time strategy would be to pay tribute to the attacking 4. Build a wonder. After reaching the Iron game spanning more than 10,000 civilization and beg for mercy. Sometimes Age, you may decide to build a wonder Ayears. I don’t mean that it takes this works but unless you have mined (similar to the pyramids in Egypt). 10,000 years to play: “real time” denotes sufficient quantities of gold, you have Wonders require great resources, labour that play is continuous rather than turn- nothing to bargain with. And as you were and time to build. But you win the game based. All players — whether human or stockpiling resources, your opponent(s) if you can construct a wonder that stands computer — play simultaneously. The had been using theirs to advance ahead (is not destroyed by an opponent) for historical setting begins in the Stone Age of you. 2,000 years. There are a variety of other victory around 10,000 BC following the last great Winning the game does not conditions that can be set, such as highest Ice Age. The exact starting conditions necessarily involve military conquest. score at the end of a time limit are configurable but typically or first player to reach a target you begin the game in the score. Stone Age on an unexplored An epic game of empire map with three or four Learning the Game villagers and perhaps a The user interface is intuitive building called a town centre. building and conquest and simple to master. An You guide your villagers to exhaustive tutorial consists of explore the surrounding a series of scenarios in which terrain in search of resources that your Victory conditions can be set beforehand you are taught the various elements of civilization needs to grow. By constructing and can be customized according to your the game in a stepwise progression. I buildings you can house additional wishes. Games are typically played using found that I was well into the game before villagers, train military units and research a set of standard victory conditions, which having to consult the manual or online new technologies. If your civilization is allow a player to win the game if any one help. located on a river or near the sea, you direct of five conditions is met: Death Matches your villagers to build docks where you 1. Military conquest. For players who want In normal play, AoE consists of an can construct fishing boats and navies. to battle it out to the death, you can win important economic component. The object of the game is, firstly, the game by annihilating all of your Resources must be carefully managed and survival. And to survive in AoE, you must opponents. trade can be established with other advance and develop your civilization 2. Capture all artifacts. Scattered about the civilizations to gradually build a strong through four distinct ages or eras: the map are several (usually five) treasures economy. When you choose to play a Stone Age, Tool Age, Bronze Age and or artifacts. You win the game if you can death match, you are initially given a huge Iron Age. During the Stone Age, you control all five artifacts for 2,000 years (about 15 minutes). supply of resources so all you have to don’t have to worry much about attack 3. Ruins. There are five ruins scattered about worry about is cranking out military units by other civilizations unless your the map. These ruins resemble as fast as possible to overcome your progress is so slow that you allow another Stonehenge and are controlled by the last opponent(s). If you get your thrills from civilization to advance into the Tool or player that gets close to the structure. destroying everything in sight, or if you Bronze Age ahead of you. If this happens, Ruins cannot be moved and must be just feel like letting off steam, playing a you cannot very well defend yourself guarded if you want to maintain control. death match is a good choice. Just be using sticks and stones against trained Ruins are similar to artifacts in that you prepared to be on the receiving end, as swordsmen or cavalry. Your only hope win the game if you can control all five well. ruins for 2,000 years.

10 March 1998 SIXTEEN BITS Graphics and Sound order to produce military units, research Civilizations The graphics are superb. Terrain is technologies, initiate upgrades and perform You can choose to be one of twelve beautifully rendered. Game pieces are other functions. For example, the civilizations in any game: Assyrian, detailed and highly animated. As you construction of a barracks allows you to Babylonian, Choson, Egyptian, Greek, scroll around the map you can watch train infantry units. An archery range is Hittite, Persian, Phoenician, Shang, villagers hunt, fish, forage for food, necessary to train bowmen, chariot archers Sumerian or Yamato. I must admit that I quarry stone, mine for gold, and and other archery units. In total, AoE offers had never heard of Choson (Korean), construct and repair buildings – as you forty different types of military and naval Yamato (Japanese) or Shang (Chinese) have instructed them to do. The military units, each having unique attributes with prior to playing AoE. So I’ve learned units are elaborate and varied, well respect to attack strength, speed, armour, something. I also imagine that the depicting the historical figures that they range, rate of fire, and so on. Several types inclusion of these lesser-known are intended to represent. And how this of towers can also be constructed, which civilizations probably can’t hurt the sales level of realism can be maintained with fire at any approaching enemy units. As of AoE in the Asian markets. up to three or four hundred units moving the historical period is not intended to Each civilization has unique attributes for about the map at any given moment is extend beyond about 1 AD, you won’t find play and slightly different technology trees. So truly astounding. any flying units or hi-tech weaponry. But the choice of civilization is a big strategic factor The background music is you might come to better appreciate the in play. As an example, if you’re playing on a unobtrusive and enhances the overall circumstances that our ancestors had to map with a lot of ocean, you’ll want to presentation. Sounds are coordinated to face. So I suppose that AoE can be an aid build a strong navy. I might choose match the terrain and activities of the to learning a bit about the history of Minoan for such a game, as shipbuilding units that are visible. And sounds can civilization. Nevertheless, AoE is not a costs are 30% less for Minoans. On the also provide cues and call your attention simulation nor intended as an accurate other hand, cheap shipbuilding would to unexpected events – such as when a historic recreation of events. Still, AoE does offer no advantages in a game that is lion decides to dine on a hapless villager capture the general flavour and played on an inland map. or a few enemy catapults appear from technological capabilities of each Age. The characteristic civilizations in AoE lend nowhere to attack the far side of your In addition to a wide range of military variety and challenge to the game. No town. and naval units, you can construct temples civilization is best for all situations and learning The excellent blend of graphics, music and create priests. Priests can convert the strengths and weaknesses of each can and sound really makes AoE come to life. (steal) enemy units and buildings to your greatly improve your game. Buildings and Units side. Unfortunately, enemy priests can be Scenario and Campaign Editors There are about a dozen different types very annoying. A scenario is played on a preset map with of buildings that can be constructed in customized victory conditions. The map might represent an historical recreation or a particular type of challenge. Campaigns consist of a series of scenarios having a common theme or storyline. The AoE scenario builder is a full-featured utility that is integral to the game and allows you to create custom maps and settings in great detail. Terrain features can be placed down to the individual tree or rock, if desired. Scenarios and campaigns can be exchanged amongst players and are readily available on the Internet. The AoE scenario builder is hands down the most impressive game editor that I’ve encountered — much more versatile than the scenario editors that are included with Civilization II or SimCity 2000, for example. Maps can be generated in five sizes ranging from 72 x 72 to 200 x 200 tiles. The perspective view window in AoE is 13 x 13 so the larger maps can contain much variety and detail.

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 11 Exploring

Changing some options in the Internet Explorer By Terry Bibo Now click Close and we are back at the File Types page again. Finally we will establish an alternative viewer for a file type. Win95 opens HTML files with Internet Explorer. I prefer Dipro32 Options for off-line viewing. To do this I scrolled down to Internet Document (HTML) and highlighted it. I chose Edit | New and as my Windows Explorer comes with support for There is no default Print option for .DAT files, Action I typed ‘Open with Dipro32’. For viewing numerous file types. To see the range while .TXT files are sent through Notepad. We my Application I entered the location of my and relationship of the various file extensions can change both of these options easily in Dipro32.exe file and exited as I have and the applications used to open them it is Explorer. explained above, finally closing my File Types only necessary to go to View | Options | File Let’s take the easier task first and print page and returning to Explorer. Now when I Types and scroll down the extensive list. .TXT files through NoteTab. This follows last right click a .HTM file my first option is But we are not confined to these settings weeks procedure of opening Explorer and ‘Open’ and I know that will go through nor even limited to them. We can change the selecting View | Options | File Types. Internet Explorer. My second option is ‘Open default viewers to others of our Scroll down and with Dipro32’. Selecting this is much faster own choice and also add highlight Text for off-line viewing and also gives me the additional viewers, Document. Select ability to edit and otherwise manipulate these including Quick View that Edit, and highlight the HTML files. comes with Win95. Last week Print option in the we changed the viewer for .TXT Actions box. Select These few examples should give you and .DAT files from Windows Edit again and then Notepad to a third party confidence and experience to customise enter your NoteTab Windows 95 to your own preferences rather program, NoteTab. location as your And I have added Dipro32 than settling for what comes out of the box. preferred printing Windows 3.1 is still very much alive and as an alternative to the default application where you Internet Explorer for off-line should not be overlooked. Nominating see Notepad viewers for its files is only a matter of selecting viewing of HTML files. I like to highlighted. Click open many of my clipart files a file with the desired extension in File OK, Close, and this Manager, then clicking on File | Associate, with Paint Shop Pro rather than will take you back to Internet Explorer. selecting from the proffered list or typing in the File Types page. the known application’s location, and clicking New file extensions that do not exist within Now let us provide a Print option for .DAT the Explorer knowledge base, such as might OK. A list of all known files and their opening files. Scroll back to DAT File and highlight it. applications is held in the WIN.INI file in be acquired from internet sites visited in Select Edit | New. In the Action box type ‘print’ association with new plugins or installing new the Windows directory of both Win3.1 and and in the Application box enter the location Win95. This can be viewed and directly applications, may be assigned a viewer by right of NoteTab.exe. Click OK and return to the clicking the file, choosing Open With, and edited using Sysedit, Notepad or any ASCII Edit File Type page. Select the down arrow editor. However, careless editing may cause nominating the desired application. This can for Content Type and scroll down to ‘text/ be a one-off use or it can be made the Windows to crash, so always have a backup plain’. Double click this entry to affirm its of your INI files before attempting the permanent viewer by ticking the box that calls selection. Select the down arrow for Default for this option. The right click option of Open unknown. Extension and choose .DAT. Double click this. Enjoy your computing. With is valid for any file that does not have a While on this screen you might like to ensure Win95 assigned viewer. hat Enable Quick View is ticked. This may not We can also add functionality to file types Copyright © Terry Bibo be the most elegant of viewers but is frequently November 1997 by being able to print them without having to the quickest and easiest way of peeking at or open the parent program. It might be quicker [email protected] identifying files after right clicking them. It is (This item was broadcast on 20th to print less important .DOCfiles through adequate for looking into INI files or DLLs. Wordpad instead of opening Microsoft Word. November, 1997) *** Canberra’s Biggest, Fastest and Most Complete ISP *** with over 7 years online communications experience.

Dynamite offers: n Biggest and Fastest link to the Internet in Canberra, n Flat rate and Hourly based Internet access n Policies with no busy tones 100 hours usage with upto 56k n World Wide Web page design and hosting modem access n Dynamite was the 1st ISP in Canberra to have 100, for only $125.00 200, 300, 400, 500 and now 670 dialup lines per block of hours n Internet literature and software sales n Mobile phone sales - for both Optus and Vodafone Networks n Comprehensive 1 to 1 Internet Training Plans from around $1.00 per day, or $1.00 per hour available with on-the-day connections Unlimited Hour Plans with different volume limits from Call one of our sales $32.00 consultants per month to find out why we are Canberra’s leading ISP. Phone: (02) 6242 4000 Facsimile: (02) 6242 4144 http://www.dynamite.com.au email: [email protected] 26-28 Winchcombe Court, Mitchell ACT 2911

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 13 Multiplayer Games Up to eight players can participate in a game over a TCP/IP, modem, serial, or IPX connection. One player sets up the game and acts as host. Players can play as teams or allies – or even choose to share control of the same civilization. As far as I know, the latter is a unique feature in multiplayer games. I’ve participated in an AoE multiplayer game on two occasions. There are several methods of locating AoE games to play online. I joined the IRC channel #AoE on Efnet and found action for beginners to experts. The first game that I played was against two other players – no teams. I lasted about half an hour and was almost ready to advance to the Bronze Age helpful). There is also a library of sounds Problems when about twenty chariot archers came out that can be played over the network or Despite the patch, CP pathfinding remains of nowhere and wiped me out. When you are directed to specific players – primarily to a problem. I’m not sure whether it’s defeated in a multiplayer game, the entire map be used as taunts. All great fun! pathfinding, per se, or perhaps a bug in is revealed and you can sit back and watch As to be expected, game performance retasking. Sometimes, CP villagers will the surviving players finish the game. It took and response rates are slowed come to a river or grove of trees and about five minutes before the third player significantly when played over the become hung up. This is probably was eliminated in a similar fashion. Internet. I did not find that the lag was acceptable if it happens to a villager or My second go in a multiplayer game intolerable, but it does require a bit of two, but on occasion you’ll see a dozen about a week later consisted of two teams adjustment to pace yourself accordingly. or so villagers that will be frozen on the made up of eight players. The game was banks of a river or at the edge of a forest, Upgrade Patch very cosmopolitan: we had players from confused and immobile. A timeout on this A free upgrade patch is available from the Denmark, Brazil, Syria, Israel, Hungary, me is needed. Keep in mind, however, that Microsoft web site. The upgrade improves in Australia and I’m not sure about the such difficulties apply only to the unit and CP pathfinding and raises the other two. The game lasted almost two computer player. Human players can population limit. No other new features hours and the good guys won. You can guide units around obstructions. have been added. All players in a chat to other players during the game (I multiplayer game must be using the same Cheat codes was too busy building and defending my version. If you buy the game, be sure to There are several cheat codes available empire to have much time for idle chat but obtain the upgrade patch as it improves (you can find them hidden – or not so in team play communications can be performance significantly. well hidden – on several web sites). I probably wouldn’t mention cheat codes at all but some of them are, well, cool. If you get bored with watching your catapults launch stones, one of the cheat codes causes your catapults to launch villagers and cows at the enemy. Another cheat code gives you a nifty sports car with a rocket launcher. Or you might want to try the storm troopers that fire tactical nuclear weapons. These fellows could be very handy against those pesky Bronze Age chariots. Hints and Strategies Although it’s tempting to concentrate on training military units early to defend your town, focus instead on creating villagers. Lots of them. Produce 20 or more villagers and put them to task gathering resources before you consider training military units. SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 15 ASCII script files in the data subdirectory. Age of Empires. It’s one of those instant There are hundreds of variables, which classics that come along but rarely. can be changed to enhance CP AoE was developed by Ensemble performance and to customize the AI for Studios and is distributed by Microsoft. particular scenarios. Changing the SRP is $89 and is available on CD-ROM at variables can also result in some incredibly software outlets everywhere. Requires stupid AI (Artificial Stupidity?) and Windows NT/95, Pentium 90 or higher, and experimentation is required. about 130 MB of hard-disk space. Fiddling with the scripts can give you a good

feel as to how the game is programmed – if 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 you’re curious about such things as I am. The 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234Find out if your software and 5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

AI in AoE is fairly complex and contains 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234hardware will handle the Year 5 much learning ability. The Computer 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012342000 bug at: 5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

Player does not cheat in AoE, though the 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234www.y2kregister.com.au, a joint 5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 computer has the ability to keep track of 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234effort by Standards Australia and 5 more things at once and can make quicker 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234the Australian Computer Society. 5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

decisions than most humans do. You can 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 “train” the Computer Player to play just 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234And the Internet Industry 5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

as you would play. And playing against 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234Association has posted its third 5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 such AI is uncanny – it’s like playing 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234draft code of practice at: 5 against yourself! 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234www.iia.net.au 5 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

For a taste of the state-of-the-art in real 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345

12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 Send at least one villager out to explore time strategy games, I highly recommend 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345 the map. You’ll want to find additional resources for later exploitation. And it’s to your advantage if you can locate your The Internet Clinic opponent(s). Also build a dock and four or five fishing boats right away. This will Internet Clinics are normally held at the PCUG Centre, Northpoint Plaza Belconnen help to establish a steady supply of food. the first Saturday of each month 9.30am to 1pm. There is no cost involved. And you’ll be able to advance to the Tool So if you (or another PCUG member you know of) are having problems you (or Age very quickly. Once you reach Tool, they) will be welcome to attend. It is suggested that you call the PCUG Centre on start building defences around the the day and check with the staffer that we are not overloaded before coming along. perimeter of your town. Put up several To get a problem on your PC resolved it is essential that you bring all of the following watchtowers and perhaps wall in. At this items with you: point, I still wouldn’t worry much about training military units, though you might • PC and Monitor, plus all interconnecting cables want to keep a few axemen and bowmen • Mouse on hand. Your primary goal should be to • Keyboard advance to the Bronze Age so that you • Modem can start building a real military. Most games • Modem power supply are won or lost in the Bronze Age. • Modem cables - from PC to modem What you do after this depends on your and from modem to telephone socket particular civilization, your opponent(s), and • Modem and PC manuals & documentation the type of map that you’re playing. The • All of your software disks - availability of resources is another i.e Win3.1. or Windows95 disks/CD important factor. But the key point is to If you don't have a PC to "fix" but you want to get some guidance on some particular not linger too long in the Stone and Tool aspect of using TIP, please feel free to come along and simply talk to us. Age or you’ll be playing “catch up” for the rest of the game. Clinics are not a free software/modem installation service. We do expect you to have made a reasonable attempt at getting the software installed & working. AI and Strategic scripting for the Computer Player Owen Cook [email protected] Probably ninety-nine percent of AoE players will never discover that the CP AI and game strategies are governed by THE INTERNET

by Iain Gould PROJECT

ell, for most of you, holidays will • Third hour: one minute equals two A reminder: be over. I certainly hope that you monopoly minutes Make note (or bookmark) the following enjoyed yours as much as I did addresses on our system. These are the main W • Fourth hour: one minute equals three mine. This was despite that fact that it rained pages where information or assistance relating monopoly minutes both times I headed to the coast, and there to using TIP are contained. are STILL no fish in the Pacific Ocean. • and so on. http://www.pcug.org.au Despite plenty of holiday resolutions (fix Note that this applies regardless of how The TIP home page. It is useful to make this up my home page, tidy up some TIP admin many times you connect in one day - the scale your ‘Start Page’ as quite often important pages, sort out some paperwork, fix my is cumulative from midnight to midnight each announcements regarding TIP are placed here. computer, work out my finances, etc etc) the day. http://www.pcug.org.au/tip/help past two months seemed to have slipped away The third serious change (one which we Pages listing information to help users access too quickly, and work got the better of me. hope will be appreciated by many of our users) the Internet through TIP and links to useful Oh well, there’s always next Christmas... is that we have introduced a ‘sliding scale’ of resources. Whilst most of you were enjoying the fees for reduced Full Access time. Up until now, http://www.pcug.org.au/tip/docs beautiful weather, TIP has ticked on. I would the only option for subscribing and renewing TIP policy documents including the Acceptable like to express thanks and appreciation to all access for TIP has been $120 for 12 months Use Policy (the terms & conditions of accessing the TIP admin team who managed to keep our access (with a maximum of 300 monopoly TIP) system going through a couple of minor crises. hours over that period). We now allow http://www.pcug.org.au/tip/charging The IPMC (the management committee for subscriptions as follows: The costs and rates of using TIP TIP) and the committees of the PCUG and http://www.pcug.org.au/pcug AUUG (the joint owners of TIP) also managed Amount Subscription Maximum Hours The PCUG Home Page to fit in a couple of policy changes. $120 12 months 300 *** Log off:*** $ 65 6 months 150 Recent Major Changes: $ 35 3 months 75 As I think I have once mentioned, I studied Firstly you may be aware that as of 1st January to be an enginner at uni. So here is another 1998, the PCUG no longer imposes a two- These rates apply from 1 February 1998. engineer joke: month waiting period for access to TIP. New As in the past, if your subscription expires or Five surgeons were taking a coffee break members of the PCUG can now immediately you use up your hours, you can re-subscribe and were discussing their work. apply for Internet access. The former delay once again. The first said, “I think accountants are the was first imposed around two years ago, but The TIP application form has been modified easiest to operate on. You open them up and the PCUG commmittee felt that the reasons to reflect these changes. everything inside is numbered.” for keeping it were no longer valid. Fourthly, some of you may have received The second said, “I think librarians are the Secondly, the charging rate has also emails over the past month reminding you that easiest to operate on. You open them up and changed from 1st October 1997. The time your TIP Full Access was about to expire. With everything inside is in alphabetical order.” The third said, “I like to operate on debited from your account do not necessarily any luck this will become a standard thing now, electricians. You open them up and everything equate to real hours on-line. Due to the adding to the email that reminds you to renew inside is color-coded.” relatively low modem-to-user ratio on TIP, this your PCUG/AUUG membership. This scheme is designed to discourage users from The fourth one said, “I like to operate on message should be sent to you one month lawyers. They’re heartless, spineless, gutless, ‘hogging’ our dial-in lines. The actual time before you need to renew your Full Access. debited from your account are commonly and their heads and their butts are Additionally, we will be automating and interchangeable.” referred to as ‘monopoly’ hours (as in enforcing our policy that states that accounts fifth surgeon said, “I like Engineers...they Monopoly money = pretend money). The will be removed from the system if a user’s always understand when you have a few parts current system is as follows: home group membership remains expired for left over at the end...” • First two hours (in any calender day): more than 3 months. one minute on-line equals one monopoly minute Thats all folks. Nanu Nanu.

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 17 th …from 10 JAnnieQ Report: Ann Byrne

it, routing the Jamie who has never returned. Sparks/Riesinger (the best wines are made The father of this fabulous kid is honored not from pure Rhine Riesinger grapes, you know), only for producing a scion of such sterling Sharon’s mother and brother Randolph. quality, but also for his unique song and dance Who else? Den, Dac and Val. Bob, Bob routines and his winning way with chocolate. and Kim. Some people with inconveniently Impossible to explain. You have to be there. polysyllabic names: Janet, Graham, and And at the 10th JannieQ you definitely had Andrew Freeman esquire. There was also this to be there! Visitors started arriving from scrawny Chinese guy but I don’t know who Melbourne and Perth (via Brisbane) on the he/she/it was. If I’ve forgotten anyone, well, Friday evening. It was decided that a quiet that’s obviously because you’re easily evening and dinner at the Southern Cross Club forgettable. was in order. Stuck to the wall were photos from fests Saturday morning dawned and I looked at gone by. There were graphic pictorials of the sky in horror, there they were, the low regulars come and gone, indulging in acts of black clouds! I shuddered and headed for the varying bad taste and indecency — which shops anway, cheeses, whipped cream and kinda matched what went on at the table, fruit were the main staples with bacon and really. Sparrow revealed in passing how he eggs (for the morning after breakfast) coming liked perving at crossdressers (for the geeks in a close second. out there, crossdressing is something like Back to house where the answering crossposting but is marginally more socially machine was filling up with messages, such as acceptable). “what time”, “where”, “how much”, to be The crowd in general feasted to their answered answering. hearts content, and then a few stalwarts The rain started pouring down, the decided to party on after. With Boop leading designated pack horse (David Sparrow) from the fray they headed to “Heaven” night club Perth arrived at 2pm, we must open this report with an answer headed off to a good friends given by Mike Burke When someone asked to collect mattresses, I‘What is a JAnnieQ?’ ‘The JAnnieQ is a doonas, pillows and garden longstanding tradition beloved of a largish furniture. I managed to fall section of the Canberra PC community. Its head over heels on the wet origins are lost in the mists of time (which is a concrete and said an polite term for a collective ‘alcoholic fog’). It intimate hello to the path, is a BBQ, held in January, at Annie’s place, slightly bloody and very hence JannieQ. People travel from as far afield bruised I heroically carried as Perth and Brisbane to attend these on carting furniture. My momentous events, and most people who have pack horse and I got fairly ever attended one would postpone their wet during this exercise but weddings, or even their loved ones’ funerals, managed to keep the lest they miss out on all the fun (not to mention furniture fairly dry. the T-shirt). Back to house to toss Friendships are made and broken, ditto mattresses strategically romances, BMWs motorbikes are attacked by around the house and it was time to get ready where upon entering Boop was seized by Camrys (with or without rampant bull-bars), for the prefest fest at Café Pronto. This the bouncer and hugged till her ribs were in bus-drivers detour for miles to receive (or to restaurant understands us well and over the danger of being cracked. It turned out that avoid) the traditional cheery waves from the years has managed to keep us from doing any this young man was her nephew who assembled horde. Beverages are consumed, real damage. Tho I must say I don’t approve proceeded to stamp elephants on all and and songs are sung. Roy Orbison is of their latest staff changes of replacing good sundry’s wrists. As this saved us a $7 occasionally to be heard, as is ‘Stairway to looking young men with good looking young entrance fee no-one complained. We drank, Heaven’. Food is eaten and chairs are damaged women. (But that’s a personal preference danced and for a while watched. As the place beyond repair. only). Hong (one of our regular festees has filled up rapidly (obviously word has got Coke-can cannons, various rubber already beaten me to reporting on some of the out that we were there) we thought a strategic appendages, and at least one small boy with a remaining fest so I will pass over to Hongs exit to the taxi rank was in order. penchant for ginormous water cannons, are version for the Saturday evening and Sunday The next day saw the fest proper at the hazards likely to be encountered. Beware the till around 4pm when his lift arrived to take House of Boop in Yarralumla – a notorious small boy - he is the reigning champion in most him back to Sydney. place of ill-repute. And the House is even events, and wears the scalps of his victims Saturday saw us degenerates at the Cafe worse. This year it was especially so, since with pride. On one famous occasion, he Pronto for the customary fest-before-the-fest. the Boopster had plastered ten years’ worth singlehandedly destroyed the Ego as we knew Present were Boop, Sandy, Sparrow, Sharon of photos all over the walls. What a collection! What a rogues’ gallery! What a undoubtedly continued far into the night. Here attendees don’t realise is that the amount of mountain of Blu-Tack! Some observations: are the unanswered questions which remain: “Irish” depends on Boops’ assessment of how - Dac, keep the beard. - How much JD did Neens consume, and is it much more alcohol they can consume. The - Carebear is cuter than Shane Day. true that after the 5th shot it starts to taste like usual judgement is that she is the only one - Quiggin in a dress isn’t. Ribena? Or am I thinking of Mr Rimmer’s red? there who deserves a full measure! - I have no idea what the Chinese person - Did Dac sing “American Pie” again, and does There were queues for the toilet as an sitting next to Darren was laughing about. his falsetto still sound fit to beat the Bee Gees? unnamed guest had locked themselves in to Probably a joke about sycophants. - Did anyone break out the Wallace & Gromit meditate LTUAE, people were falling asleep, The 10th aniversary t-shirts were unveiled tapes, and if so, were any uncanny matches to falling over and generally feeling the effects of and if you see anyone around town wearing a “Weird Al” Yankovic t-shirt with LTUAE in vivid purple print you songs discovered? will know where they got it. - Did Sparrow and Quiggin Food consisted of a spit roast catered by get “up close and a couple of guys, one of them a female of the personal” during the opposite sex, driving a van. Very nice. The night? spit roast, that is; not the van, and not the - How much was that guys, not even the female of the opposite sex. doggy in the window? They wanted payment in cash as opposed to - Has anyone ever wanted sexual services, which contrary to some fries with that? persons’ beliefs, is not (yet) legal tender in the - Will the bloody ACT. sycophant me never die? A whole bunch of people turned up who As you can see from weren’t at the Cafe Pronto the previous night, the above Hong has a very possibly because they got lost on the way: warped view of people Mr Rimmer, looking far more substantial than and events, an essential your average hardlight hologram: Allan part of being a player at a Mikkelsen – who treated Andrew very kindly; JannieQ. Michael Lightfoot – with hat and daughter With the hordes fed and the natives settling a very looong 24hours. Taxi’s were called, Laura in tow; Michael whatsisname, sysop of down to some serious comments on Life The guests were checked out by Boop before being the PCUG BBS (Phillips); Rex and his SO; Universe and Everything the alcohol trips handed keys to cars and the crowd generally Graham Jenkins and his SO (Paula); Neens, became more frequents, Dags (he with the faded away into the early hours of the morning. with requisite jackboots; Dooles, without Navara) who never drinks was the designated Those left were allocated mattresses and on requisite pink salmon top; Helen; Dags; chauffeur for these forays to the local shops. finally settling everyone down Boop found Caroline, Dags’ SO, wearing a fetching collar; The bus drivers were greeted with louder and that someone had beaten her to her bed. Brutus, Dags’ Navara 4WD; Quiggles – he of louder cheers as they went by. The neighbors Another mattress was located for her to the flamboyant dresses; Paddy, who in LTUAE and passers by crossed the road to avoid collapse on and all was quiet on the fest front. myth and legend, will always be age 8; Karen, physical contact. Did I mention before that Breakfast the next morning consisted of Sparrow’s SO, and son Jarrod; Some guy with this event takes place on the front nature strip? Dens scrambled eggs, Boops grilled bacon, lots an American accent who runs an ISP; Xuthus, Round 7pm a few of the more sober ones of toast and Andrew’s orange juice. (Thanks a friend of Dac’s; Birgitta and SO Paul; Friends wandered inside for Den’s latest collection of Andrew) of Boop’s who arrive each year to give her videos from the UK we saw an edition of Red As the last guest wandered on their way moral support or some such thing. Dwarf which was screened in Canberra on the around noon, Boop hosed out the house, If I’ve left you out, that’s because you’re 2nd February and it was only as the credits collected numerous cans and bottles and not important enough to be listed. Don’t take came up that I realised why I’d had a feeling generally restored the house to some sort of it personally though. of ‘de ja vu’ all of the way through it. order. Wondering as she had for the last ten Mr Rimmer sounded forth on all subjects Den is famous for introducing “Wallace and years if she is up to doing this again next year. under the sun, as well as some others. They Gromit” to LTUAE festees twelve months …LTUAE… were very boring, so I listened in for only two before they became a cult figure over here. He hours. He brought up (again) the topic of invariably turns up at these events with new Russell’s paradox, which if anyone doesn’t tapes from the UK some of which defy any know, goes like this. Russell’s paradox is really sort of explanation. an irreconcilable problem at the heart of The cheese and biscuits were brought out, mathematical logic, a deep result which some to be dispensed outside to those deep in Bertrand Russell discovered nearly one conversation, the rest to dispensed to the TV hundred years ago and Mr Rimmer has been watchers. A call for “Who wants Irish Coffee” talking about ever since. was greeting with every hand going up in the Unfortunately I was forced to return to place except one soul who wanted an “Irish the pits from whence I came (Sydney) early, Milo” (There’s one at every party) The Irish hence I missed the drunken debaucheries which coffee is yet another JAnnieQ ritual what most :

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 19 CDCD ROMROM

By Nick Thomson

elcome to the March 1998 edition of this column. This Wmonth I have included reviews included, as well as ‘100 years of of 3 of the 20 or so products that I have classic advertisements’. reviewed for InfoRom during the last All in all there are over 9,000 articles month - to see the other reviews check and thousands of excellent quality www.inforom.com.au . It features reviews photographs - a fascinating written and of educational, home reference and pictorial history of the peoples and places entertainment CD-ROMs. of the world over the last 100 years, ranging about 3 years) in the drive, and then search The reviews are of Pip Teaches from an article on ‘The Great Storm of by Covers or Contents. In Covers you can German, The Complete National March 11-14, 1888 (USA)’ to a 1996 article select a year to display thumbnails of each Geographic and Encarta 98 World Atlas. on ‘Modern Botswana’. The entire cover for the issues of that year - as in Copyright for the reviews rests with collection is fully indexed, and it represents Diagram 1. You can zoom any of them to InfoRom. a wonderful resource for primary and full screen display and then just page The Complete National Geographic secondary schools as well as families. through that issue, article by article. The Complete National Geographic is an There are two ways one can use this Alternatively the articles can be accessed extraordinary collection on 30 CD-ROMs collection - paging through each issue directly from a contents menu that of every National Geographic from the very article by article, or searching for provides a list of the articles within each first issue in 1888 to December 1996, all information on a specific topic. If you issue, each year. When you zoom to full packaged in a beautiful wooden box. Every choose the former, then you place the CD- screen, each page is displayed as a kind article, photograph, map (not the ROM for the time period you are of photo image, with photos, maps and supplement maps) and magazine cover is interested in (each one generally covers text laid out exactly as they are on the magazine page. The quality of the photos is excellent, but it has to be said that the text, while quite readable, is a little indistinct, and it might present problems for someone with weak eyesight. The photographs however, are excellent - without doubt the highlight of the package. I have subscribed to National Geographic on and off since 1964, and in all that time I don’t think I have read a single article, but boy have I loved looking at the pictures! I am ashamed to admit that I have allowed the children to cut out the pictures (only from issues at least 5 years old!) for those endless school projects - so it’s great to have them available on CD- ROM. The display quality of these is limited only by the display capabilities of your machine. Articles (along with their photos) can be printed - you have the option of printing the entire article or the current two-page spread. Again, the print quality of the text Pip Teaches German Pip Teaches German is one of a new series of ten language learning programs By contrast, a 1933 ad for designed in Australia for primary school the same product reads, children (ages 5 & over). Each one ‘Why come back from employs a good quality multimedia, lunch feeling drowsy? animated interface to make the learning of Choose a refreshing a foreign language fun and relatively easy. lunch, and be yourself. So far the languages available are English, Bounce back to normal Japanese, German, and Indonesian; with with an ice-cold Coca-Cola, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, the natural partner of so many Hebrew and French due for release during good things to eat.’ 1998. There is a consistent interface across It is possible to jump from all of the programs in the series, and almost within the program to the National the entire content is presented (by a native Geographic site on the World Wide Web speaker) in the language being taught (the at ww.nationalgeographic.com. For those Help section and the user guide are in who do not have an Internet Service is not great, but English). The games can all be played at Provider, a startup connection kit to AT & the print quality of the photos (depending two or three levels of difficulty, and most T World Net is provided. on your printer) is good. of them are for one or two players. As mentioned above, it is possible to Most users will probably be after This program features Pip, a slightly print articles or two-page spreads. You can information on a specific topic, and the zany cartoon character, and his pet also bookmark articles for future reference. program comes with a powerful search hedgehog, Igel. The pair of them introduce There is detailed online help, as well as a engine. One major plus of this is that the each menu with a zany animation eg when 14-page user guide that provides a useful entire search index is available on every you choose the Happy Birthday menu Pip summary of program features. disk, so you don’t have to start swapping uses a machine to create a birthday cake Australian Distributor Scholastic disks until you have found an article that complete with lit candles, but when Igel New Media (Tel: 0243 283555 looks interesting. Search has the following arrives to blow them out it explodes. (www.scholastic.com.au) options: Sometimes they will perform for you when Format: Multiple CDs for Set a Range - search every issue or you successfully complete one of the Windows 3.195 and Macintosh limit your search to a set number of months activities. The main program content Internet: www.nationalgeographic.com or years; consists of: Search for Articles and Features - searches descriptions of each magazine article as well as the short articles at the front and back of each issue; Search or Page References - search for specific references to items on individual pages within each article; Advertisements - search for specific products or company names; Boolean Operators - carry out more advanced searches with operators such as AND, OR, NOT; List of topics - alphabetical list of all topics covered; Save search - save your search criteria so that you can repeat the search later. The advertisements represent a fascinating history of trends and changes of fashion within Western culture. For example, a 1996 ad for Coca-Cola reads, There are times when you don’t want caffeine. Caffeine Free Diet Coke: all the coke you need and none of the caffeine.

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 21 Play with Alphabet; each case the word is spoken in German There is online help available at any Play with Numbers; and you have to click on the appropriate time (in English) on the contents of the Play with Animals; picture. current screen, and there is also a 14-page Play with the Backpack; Play with Animals has a song, a farm user’ s guide that provides a good outline Play with Happy Birthday; activity, body parts, a memory game and of program content and translations of the Sing Some Songs. an animals sounds activity (where you introductory statements on the various Play with Alphabet features the match words to the picture of an animal menus. It is also possible to obtain a alphabet song, word puzzles, a memory and then listen to it make the appropriate detailed teacher’ s guide from the game, help frog across the river, and sound. Play with Happy Birthday has a Australian distributor or publisher (see below). noughts and crosses. For example, in song and activities about birthday parties, One advantage of the program is that Noughts and Crosses (Level 1) a word is everyday greetings, and telling time. it runs almost entirely from the CD-ROM, pronounced e.g. ‘Hund’ and then you are Finally, Sing Some Songs enables you to and therefore takes up very little hard disk shown two words e.g. ‘Hund’ and ‘Hand’. practice the songs taught in each of the space. If you click on the right word then you get above sections. Australian Distributor: \tab Scholastic New to place a cross on the grid. Diagram 2 is The quality of sound and graphics is Media (Tel: 0243 283555)\line an example. very good throughout - clear, colorful and (www.scholastic.com.au) Play with Numbers features a song, join entertaining. Pip is very patient, and by trial Format: One Compact Disk for DOS, the dots, dominoes, bingo and an addition and error even young children will quickly Windows 95 and Mac & subtraction activity. Dominoes is master each of the activities and thereby Internet: www.smartypantsco.com \b\fs28 played much like the normal game, except the vocabulary and language concepts being Encarta 98 World Atlas that the number that matches he number taught - especially since there is no English Encarta 98 World Atlas is the latest edition of dots is spoken (in German) each time translation to \ldblquote help you\rdblquote of the popular multimedia atlas from you make your choice. At level 2 you have short-cut any of the games. Microsoft. The interface is similar to that to match numerals with the right number For each of the games and the activities used in Encarta 98 multimedia of dots. there is a reference section encyclopedia, and it is attractive and easy Play with Backpack features a song where you can practice the concept being to use. The program is one of the most plus activities for going out, going taught. So, for example, if you select this feature detailed multimedia atlases available, with shopping, going to school and going on while you are playing the alphabet game, a list information on 1.2 million places; a variety a trip. For Going on a Trip you have to of every letter of the alphabet (written on a of maps and views that range from a help Pip select the various things he will blackboard) will appear. To hear how each satellite view of the world at night to need e.g. camera when he goes to Austria letter is pronounced (in German) you click on detailed street maps; articles on the and a map when he goes to Bavaria. In it. geography and culture of every country in the world; 5,000 color images, music or sound clips; and over 9,000 links to relevant sites on the World Wide Web. From the main menu one has the following choices: View the World; Find a Place; Learn About the Earth; Play ‘Name That Place’; Take a Virtual Flight; Explore World Statistics. When one starts View the World one is presented with a comprehensive view of the globe. This can be rotated in any direction, or one can choose to zoom in through successive levels down (in some cases) to city map level. However, there are a variety of other map views available: Political (countries displayed in different colors); Physical (tectonic plates, natural features with or without labels); Satellite (surprisingly realistic views of country, or tabulate and compare between the earth by day or by night); different countries. It is quite sobering, Natural (eco-regions, temperature, for example, to see how average life rainfall); expectancy (male) ranges from 77 (San Human (population density, time zones). Marino) to 38 (Sierra Leone). All map view allow varying degree of One of the program’s strong points zoom, and one can display a legend that is its links to relevant sites on the Internet. explains what the various symbols and One can now jump from within an article coloured regions represent. In the directly to any relevant sites on the Comprehensive (default) level all major Internet, and one of the intriguing aspects cities, rivers and natural features are of this is that although the program uses displayed, and by clicking on one of them Internet Explorer as its default browser (a one can jump to articles about that city or copy of version 3.02 is supplied on disk), country or (where they exist) related web while you are connected to the Web you sites. retain the Encarta World Atlas interface, There are background articles available complete with menus and tool bar. Thus, once on every country. These provide a useful you have connected to the Web it is easy to summary of statistical data (current to about jump backwards and forwards between 1995 or later - though one can obtain updates related articles both on the Internet and within from the Internet) and topics such as land and World Atlas. When we jumped to the Web climate and society. Most include pictures (e.g. from an article on Rio de Janeiro we had a of the local wild life) and sound clips, and they choice of 3 sites, one of which was entitled: would be a useful resource for upper primary Welcome to Rio. This provided current : or lower secondary school projects. information on subjects such as the night life The Find feature allows users to search (Baixo Farme is one of the Carioca places to for information in categories such as Places, go!), eating out and (would you believe) ‘dogs

Countries, subject content, videos and from Ipanema’. http://www.pcug.org.au/pcug/16bits/ statistics. It is quite powerful and easy to use. There is no user guide, but the online Learn About the World provides a help provides an interactive guide to all collection of articles under the headings of features within the program, as well as Mapping the World, The Physical World, The suggestions as to how one can get started Living World, the World of People and in the program. Environmental Challenges. They provide a Australian Distributor: Microsoft (Tel: good, general introduction to topics such as 02 9870 2362) (www.microsoft.com.au) Earthquakes, Domesticating Animals and Format: One Compact Disk for Deforestation, and they include photos and Windows 95NT 4.0 \b short video clips. Internet: www.microsoft.com/mshome Name That Place tests your knowledge of the location of cities and countries of the world - a map is displayed with a city or country highlighted, and you have to choose the correct Nick Thomson is the manager of one from 5 possibilities. It has 4 levels of InfoRom, a service on the Internet that difficulty. reviews educational, home reference and Virtual Flights consist of unique 3-D flights edutainment CD-ROM software. It can across landscapes such as the Grand Canyon, be found at www.inforom.com.au. the British Isles and New Zealand. You are provided with an overhead view of the countryside, with labels for cities and landmarks, and you can control the speed, camera angle and direction of the flight. The World Statistics provides a range of statistics in categories such as format! Now in Adobe Acrobat Agriculture, Health & Education and Population- most of them current to 1995. You can view these individually by

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 23 Compiled by Anne Greiner ordering system. Moreover, these guys understand that if you’ve found their site you’re probably an addict in dire need of superior quality coffee blends. And that’s just what they say they want to deliver to you. As someone who orders premium coffee from a specialist CRAYOLA coffeehouse in Sydney, this may be a useful Crayola must be the world’s best known service. In addition to Australian blends, they colouring-in name, and the site is also very well import coffee from Laos that they describe as coloured-in. It is conspicuously colourful, ‘coal black caffeine syrup guaranteed to induce which seems to be attractive to those under spasms of hyperactivity’. Anyone studying this the age of any sort of visual discretion. There year? Just what you need (but definitely not is a history of the company, a rundown on how what the doctor ordered). craola crayons are made, a tour of the factory, http://www.ozcoffee.com.au/ plus way cool games, colouring-in and other projects and assorted things to, and an address to send them to when they are made. One of STARLIGHT FOUNDATION the best bits of information (for a mother, that This site starts with an almost blank page. There is) is whole section devoted to stain removal is the star which is the logo, and arrows tips (from wall, from clothes, from carpets, pointing (in opposite directions) to ‘kid’ and etc.etc. that is included. Obviously written by ‘adults’, and from then on in, the ambience is a woman. The anklebiters will love this site. very, very different, depending on which one http://www.crayola.com chooses. In fact on the first adult paage (rather restrained) is a star with ‘Boring!! Take me back to the kids section’ as a link back to by far the more spectacular part of the site. The SYDNEY SIDEWALK aim of the foundation is to grant the wishes of Sidewalk has finally reached antipodean seriously ill children between the ages of four shores: and it aims to transform the way you and eighteen. Even the website is fun, with experience Sydney. The site has a decidedly games, painting, up to and including web design funky design theme, and this draws you into is all there, and in the adult section (right under the extensive entertainment information on the ‘Boring!! Take me back to the kids section’ offer. Name your poison: the best pubs, coffee button) you can read about the Starlight emporiums and restaurants are all reviewed, Foundation, or discover how to become a and the list is continuously expanding. Like volunteer. Great organiization and great design. CitySearch, you can make detailed searches http://www.starlight.org.au such as finding a slick cocktail lounge near your favourite cinema, and plan your evening without even opening a newspaper. Where THE SYDNEY ROCKCLIMBING CLUB Sidewalk excels is in its selection of writers The warning acrosss the top of every pagr (such as Laurie Zion reviewing films) and its reads ‘Warning! Rockclimbing is dangerous. specialist coverage of gay and lesbian Sydney. You could be injures or killed if you attempt Although some of the other Sidewalk sites in OZ COFFEE amy of the activities described in SRC on- the States haven’t been wildly successful, this This site was even better than my expectations, line’, and I believe every word of it. The picture one looks to have a winning combination. and my expectations of anything to do with at the top of this section is not rotated (see the coffee are high. It’s well-designed, amusing, It’ll get you away from that computer bridge in the background), do not adjust your informative and best of all, it features the only and out making trouble. browsers.. Personally, I cannot understand the Australian on-line secure credit card coffee http://www.sidewawcom.au wish to hang upside down on a bit of not very

24 March 1998 SIXTEEN BITS substantial rope, a long way above some very Holmes, and the site has a complete, and I sharp rocks. I suppose it’s marginally better mean complete, bibliography, a history of the than hanging upside down on a not very author, and unusually, a good archive of substantial bit of rubber band, but only photographs and drawings from publications marginally. There is a lovely gallery of death and films. But all of that is not the reason for defying feats, calendars of up coming duels lingering too long. The sites author has with death, and links to all sorts of ways to kill generously found out which of Doyle’s stories ABC ONLINE oneself in other areas of Australia and the are out of copyright, and published them online. The ABC has embraced the Internet like almost world. The scenery at least is great. Over forty of the master’s works are here to no other organization, and with more effect. http://www.coastal.net.au/~rfs/ read. Holmes might have said, ‘From a close The site has almost completely changed since examination of the web address, I deduce that the last time I checked it out. It has all the usual the author has had great difficulty with his things that one would expect from a site like identity, and frequently is unable to remember this, such as regularly updated news and sports, his home address.’ Believe it – only the all the various radio stations, from ABC Classic dedicated will persevere with this address! FM to Triple J, with online scripts for many, http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/ such as the Science Show and The Health andrew.cmu.edu/usr18/mset/www/ Report. There are also some totally delightful holmes.html sections such as the the Science section called ‘The Lab’ that is a magificient site in its own right, with regularly updated articles and superb THE CRAFT CONNECTION illustrations. Then there is the the ‘Education Are you looking for a particular craft? Gateway’ with academic links and information, This is more a compendium of all those and of course one cannot forget the ABC things one does with the hands. The site Shop. Check out the books and CDs, and make a list for the next time you visit the real is essentially a directory of links to shop,even if you don’t shop online. Prima!! various sites dealing with such diverse http://www.abc.net.au sites as lead lighting, soap making, pottery and petit point needlework.. There are links as well to not so mainstream occupations, and whilst not visually arresting, the site is in fact a valuable resource tool for those who are interested in craft in either recreational or more entrepreneurial GEEKGIRL LANDS’ END way. Suppliers, associations, patterns If you have no idea who or what Geek Girl is This is more than yet another online catalogue, and anything else that could possibly be by now, I wonder where in the cyberworld even though it is a rather good example of the needed are all here – bookmark this you have been hiding. Geekgirl was a feminist genre. Hide the plastic before you log on, so one if you are crafty. magazine started by Rosie Cross, but has that good design doesn’t seduce the shopping http://www.coffs.net.au/clients/davo/ become rather more than that, and is now a genes too easily. The design is pleasing to the davo.htm feminist ezine that is not just for the fems. The eye, and the quality and design of graphics alone make the whole site worthwhile the produce is matched by the slick design and - there is an animation of a pair of pink rubber friendliness of the site, ease of ordering, (and I household gloves that writhe and then burst confess, I succumbed), excellent follow up into flames that is gorgeous, and the graphic service. It is a department store online, with here with printed circuits for shoe soles and clothes for all the family, and home goodies electrical leads for hair ribbons are but a few such as soft furnishings, linen, etc. The fun part of the delights on offer.It changes every month, is that they have bargains each week in the so bookmark it now because there is always ‘Overstock’ section, and each week a item is 221b BAKER STREET something new. If, as is quite easy, there is a still on the books, the price drops, however If you are interested in the writings of Sir Arthur small element of addiction there, back copies you have to buy before the item is sold out. Conan Doyle, and I cut my literary teeth on are available on CD, along with Geekgirl The trick is to hold out long enough to get a my grandmother’s collection or his works, then merchandise. Made with heaps of Grrrl power, bargain, but not so long as to miss out this site is for you. It is dedicated to that master and not a Spice Girl in site. Grrrls need altogether! of deductive reasoning reasoning. Mr Sherlock modems! http://www.landsend.com : http://www.geekgirl.com.au

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 25 Bits & Bytes Contributed by Andrew Clayton Bill Gates calls the Belgian Police Strange But True Department: (Original) In A Stew (joke from the rec.humor.funny archives at An arsonist was boiled to death in the Check out ACT Political Sites http://comedy.clari.net/rhf/ Philippines when he hid in a drum of water to Christian Democrats: This one was submitted by protect himself from a fire he’d started. Renato www.pastornet.net.au/cdp [email protected] (Mark Wutka)) Salazar, an employee of a haulage firm, entered ‘Brussels police department, how may I assist his company’s kitchen, opened two gas tanks Democratic Socialists: you?’ and then hid inside the water filled drum before www..peg.apc.org/~stan/ds/welcome.htm ‘Uh.. yes.. I just got hit in the face with a tossing a lit match at the gas tanks. cream pie.’ Abandoned Ship Greens: ‘Okay, sir. Have you called the Brussels police Customs officials from Thailand seized a act.greens.org.au department before?’ trawler drifting out at sea. There was no one ‘No’ on board except for 100 young kangaroos and Labor: ‘Well, let me get a little information about you various birds. www.alp.org.au for our records. Your name?’ Tracker Dog ‘Bill Gates’ A dog called Teddy managed to track down Liberals: ‘Country?’ his owners, Matija and Milora Mamuzic, when www.larkfield.com.au/canberraliberals/ ‘The USA’ they fled their home near Vrginmost in Croatia ‘Native language?’ last August. Their new home was 370 miles Moore Independents: ‘English’ away and took the clever dog seven months www.mooreindependents.com.au ‘Okay, sir. Your police department ID number to find them is BP31415927. Please use this number the Mind Your Language Progressive Labor Party: next time you call. Now, you say you were hit A national campaign against public swearing www.netinfo.com.au/~plpact in the face with a pie?’ is taking off in Holland. Railway stations have ‘Yes, I was just about to meet with the Belgian started to display posters reading: “Missed you Osborne Independents: Prime Minister. One person distracted me train? Cursing doesn’t help!”. (bloody idiots- [email protected] while another hit me with a cream pie.’ Ed.) ‘We’ve had other customers report that they were hit in the face with a custard pie. Are you sure it was a cream pie?’ ‘Well, I have white stuff all over my face and I don’t see any custard, so I really don’t think it was a custard pie.’ ‘Have you visited the Prime Minister before?’ ‘Yes’ ‘Were you hit in the face with a pie then?’ ‘No’ ‘Hmm... have you visited any other Prime Ministers in the past month?’ ‘Yes’ ‘Any pies then?’ ‘No’ ‘Okay, well.. let’s try something. Go outside the building and come in again. I’ll wait.’ ‘Just a minute..’ ‘Okay, I’m back.’ ‘Did you get hit by another pie?’ ‘Of course not’ ‘Well sir, I don’t know what could have caused the first pie, but it looks like things are working fine now. I’ll make a note of the problem, though. If it happens again, please note the exact details of the situation and call us again. Thank you for calling the Brussels Police Department. ’ puzzle corner compiled by Victor Bushell

Last month’s puzzle ---And the winner is ---- This month--- There were only two members, Joshua The winner of last month’s puzzle is And so to this month’s puzzle. Again it is McKinney and Lindsay Graham, who Lindsay Graham. concerned with time, but this time it’s more a submitted an answer, and, judging by their snail’s pace. comments, both had some fun in trying to solve Suppose a snail begins to climb up an 11- the problem. I’m not sure what, if anything, foot slippery brick wall. After one hour of the small number of submitted answers might steady climbing it manages to climb 5 feet. At signify — perhaps after all it was the wrong the end of every hour it rests for an hour. During month for such a puzzle. Anyway, in case some this hour’s rest it slips back down the wall 3 members might still want to try their hand at it, And the answer is ---- feet. How long will it take to climb the wall? I give just the answer without the solution Of course it then wants to climb down the A pickled-pepper picker will take 35 method. Perhaps I should add that, although other equally slippery side of the slippery brick minutes to pick and pack a peck of pickled both members used essentially the same wall. If it maintains the same routine (one hour’s peppers. method, and that this was probably the most steady descending followed by one hour’s obvious way of tackling the problem, rest), how long should it take to get to the nonetheless, this method leads to fairly bottom? awkward arithmetic. There is a simpler, more elegant method. (I do not know the age spread of all You can still contact the editor if you are members or readers so I should mention that interested, or need help, or just want to for those who have been raised on the metric comment. Lindsay and Joshua might even want system, 1 foot = 30.48 cm. I also forgot to to look at the problem afresh! It’s an open explain what a peck is. I apologise for this invitation. oversight, but for the record 1 dry peck (U.S.) = 8.809568 litres — very useful!)

Ten Years ago in Sixteen Bits

Compiled by Andrew Clayton from the Jan/Feb 1988 Sixteen Bits

Another selection from Volume From the Microsoft Excel article: The were advertised for $395. (You 5 number 1/2 (Jan-Feb 1988) Excel box comes with five 1.2MB would need one hundred and ninety 5.25" floppies, and 3.5" 720K two of these modems operating in From the For Sale column: IBM- floppies. 360K diskettes have to be parallel, to equal one of todays XT, genuine, Qubie 6-pak 640K, ordered. A runtime version of 56Kbps modems, a steal at 1 serial Windows 2. The recommended $75,840, minus cabling, computer 2 parallel, clock/calendar, Tandon retail price interface, and telephone line costs 20MB, Hercules/Taxan CGA for Excel in 1988 was $994. :-)). colour monitor, DOS 3.1, assorted public XITEL modems capable of domain software on diskette. communicating at 300bps and 1200/ $1950. 75bps modems

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 27 SOFTWARE

LIBRARY Phil Trudinger

Phil Trudinger Ph: 6248 8939 (11am-6pm) Email: [email protected]

ACCESSING THE BULLETIN BOARD CD-ROMS WITH NETSCAPE

Emil Joseph and Allan Mikkelsen have brought to my attention a method of down-loading files from the BBS CD-ROMs using FTP. With Netscape or MS Explorer the URL - ftp:// pcugbbs.pcug.org.au - will bring up a list of directories covering the BBS hard disk but not the CD-ROMs. There are two requirements for accessing the latter: Firstly, as Allan wrote, ‘The BBS ftp server is rather odd, and will not return the CD-ROMs to the proxy server, so the user must exclude the local sites from the proxy.’ In Netscape this is done by entering ‘pcug.org.au, tip.net.au, list has entries for each CD-ROM as well as EBLOCK1* (358898) auug.org.au’ (without the quotation marks) in the hard disk (labeled ‘files’). the ‘No proxy for’ box in the Proxy option. I pass on this information for those who may be EBLocker 1.0 allows you to block unwanted This does not work with MS Explorer, or at interested but, bearing in mind that PCUG email in Win95/NT. This gives you complete least with Version 2: I have yet to find out how membership includes direct access to the control your mailbox, and lets you decide who to exclude the sites with this WEB browser. Bulletin Board, I wonder why anyone would has the privilege of sending you mail. Requires Secondly, a slash must be appended to the use up Internet time to download BBS files. a MAPI compliant messaging service. Reg Fee URL, ie ftp://pcugbbs....au/. Now the directory $14 The files described in this article are on the NEW AND UPDATED FAX_V525 (787871) January 1998 CD-ROM (PsL Vol 6, #1) which is WINDOWS FILES FAX_N525* (826991) currently on the Bulletin Board: all are ZIP files. FaxMail for Windows 5.25 adds faxing Please quote the month or Vol/# when ordering (An asterisk denotes Windows 95 capabilities to all Windows applications. files on disk. specificity or compatibility) Features include an auto-print on receive The text files, CD1 to 7 inclusive, in Area 1 of option, background operation, custom cover the Bulletin Board, are the monthly CD-ROM COMMUNICATIONS pages, a fast fax viewer, timed sends, logging file lists. COFFEE10 (3292550) of all past and future fax events, and much Reminder more. Reg Fee $29-$59 Most CD-ROM programs are Shareware. A CoffeeCup StyleSheet Maker++ 1.0 allows reasonable time (generally one month) is cascading style sheet creation for Netscape 4+ JTF22K16 (1049540) allowed for evaluation, but if you continue to and IE 3+. Features include a detachable and JTF22K32* (1091641) use a program beyond this time you should expandable HTML source code viewer, 50 Just The Fax 2.2k easy to use personal fax comply with the author’s conditions that check off tags to create style sheets with, program with a WYSIWYG fax and cover usually require payment of a registration fee. multiple browser testing, and much more. Reg sheet editor. Features include the ability to Bear in mind that this is the only way by which Fee $30 an author receives any reward for his/her create unlimited cover sheet templates, the efforts. Unless otherwise stated registration ability to spell check fax documents and cover fees are in US dollars. sheets, an unlimited phone number database, and more. Reg Fee $20 PROFMK22* (902811) NOTECARD (172095) designed for use by all ages, from Profile Maker 2.21 automates the creation of NoteCard 1.21 is a simple drill program to professionals to children. Reg Fee $20 Microsoft Exchange mailboxes. Requires help you develop rapid recognition of musical SETERRA* (559014) Win95/NT. Reg Fee $20+ notes. It shows a note on a staff, and you Seterra 2.0 is a very comprehensive geography SS102* (691066) must correctly identify it before time runs program with more than 50 map exercises and out. Reg Fee $0 Sidescape 1.02 is a powerful browsing assistant 13 quiz exercises. This covers countries, for Netscape. Features include the ability to PERLIB17 (335306) capitals, flags, mountains and cities from across ‘record’ information about sites you have BK Periodic Library for Windows 1.7 is an the globe. Each exercise has a high score list to visited and retrieve/manipulate the information excellent periodic table for Windows. Features keep track of your progress. Requires Win95/ later, scheduled navigation of the web, a screen include the ability to search for elements by NT. Reg Fee $28 saver that can display previously-accessed web their names/symbols/properties, view periodic GAMES pages, a personal-ised search engine, and trends with the built-in graphing program, more. Requires Win95/NT. Reg Fee $20 change the temperature interactively and watch ANY_INST (5520731) XS3201 (2624833) the elements adjust their current properties, and much more. Both 16- and 32-bit versions are Uncle Julius and the Anywhere Machine 1.02 X-Site is a project-based integrated develop- included. Reg Fee $30 is a graphical adventure game in which you ment environment for building and publishing PTPRO (1376029) explore and solve puzzles. In this game, Uncle web sites. You can create a single project Julius is trapped in another dimension and is which can be simultaneously published to a PTPro is a periodic able of the elements for counting on you to rescue him. This is a World Wide Web server, an intranet server, a Windows. When you click on an element, a challenging game appropriate for both children CD-ROM or an HTML help application. window pops up with a variety of useful and adults. Requires 486+, 11 MB HD space, 8 Mirroring and spanning features allow you to information. Other features include two MB RAM, 256+ colours. Reg Fee $19 upload a web site to several different servers, chemistry games, graphing capabilities, and or to spread a web site across different servers more. This version only displays info for the COLORIS (145440) to avoid extra bandwidth charges. This first 36 elements. Reg Fee $35 Coloris 1.0 is a fun falling-block game for provides several different ways to view your RAPIDR20 (613441) Windows. Features include adjustable difficulty project, and offers single-click editing and levels, a high score listing, and more. Reg Fee viewing of any source file in your project. Reg RapidReader 2.00 helps teach you to read $0 faster both on and off your computer. This Fee $90 CRIBDEMO* (2728111) includes reading/comprehension test broken out Cribbage 32 1.0.0 is an excellent game of EDUCATIONAL by grade levels, It utilised two technol-ogies: Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP), and cribbage for Win95. Features include three CL12A_E* (1204698) (2) Tachistoscopic Scroll Presentation. This is levels of play, colourful animation, digitised ChemLab 1.2a is a chemistry lab simulation for Win95 that emphasises the critical principles and techniques of experimental chemistry. It is ideal for distance learning, demonstrations, lab run-through, pre-lab work and hazardous, expensive, or lengthy labs. Reg Fee $25 FLAGS150 (1252452) Flags (FT) 1.50 provides a wealth of inform- ation about international countries. It also provides an educational game that can quiz students about a country’s location, capitols, or flags. This demo version only runs for a few minutes at a time. Reg Fee $20 MUSBOX32* (241468) The Music Box 2.3 is a personal ear trainer for musicians of all skill levels. It allows you to practice intervals, triads, sevenths, rhythms and melodies. Features include point and click dictation, the ability to set your own tempo, a wide variety of instrument sounds, and much more. Requires Win95/NT. Reg Fee $26

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 29 sound effect, and 18 selectable tables. Reg Fee GRAPHICS sound support, a fast search function, to-do list $20 printing, and more. Reg Fee $12 FISHD122 (1624713) CP3SW* (1296806) CLCA10* (1538453) Fisherman’s Delight 2.20 is a fishing simulat-ion Child’s Play III is an excellent 256-colour Comm Assistant 1.0 helps you organise your for Windows that offers realistic fishing action children’s paint program for Win95/NT. names, phone numbers, addresses, and for trout, bass, sunfish, catfish, and salmon at a Features include incredible paint tool effects, important dates. You can easily check and send number of lake, river, and ocean locations. You rubber stamps, sound effects, and various e-mail, print records and labels, and dial any can select the rod, reel, line, and bait, as well as screen erasers. Kids can also load, save, and phone number. Requires Win95. Reg Fee $25 the technique for using them. Features include print their masterpieces. Reg Fee $28 ECAL102 (221639) beautiful graphics, authentic sound effects, and EDUCLIP (1069777) Easy Calendar 1.02 is a desktop calendar that a musical soundtrack. Reg Fee $20 Educlips: Educational Clip Art Volume One allows you to type information into any day of JUM_INST (362541) 2.22 includes over 25 original, high-quality the week. When you click on a specific day, it Jumble (ASI) 3.0 challenges you to decode a black-and-white and full colour graphics for expands to display any previously entered text. “jumbled” quotation or catch-phrase. You can many educational uses including: newsletters, A built-in reminder system will warn you of play against another person, or play in bulletin boards, banners, stationery, corres- upcoming events. Reg Fee $20 cooperative mode. Two word lists are included, pondence, awards, and more. All artwork is IT21E16 (384552) and you can create your own. This is a fun provided in BMP format. Reg Fee $5-$75 IT21E32* (389944) game suitable for the entire family. Reg Fee $0 ICN32621* (3748421) ItsTime! 2.1e is an easy to use alarm list KCHEL11 (760800) Icons Control 32 6.21 displays up to 100 icons manager for Windows. Features include K-Chess Elite 1.10 is a powerful and versatile at a time for quick viewing, printing, copying, support for an unlimited number of alarms, chess program designed to help you play better. renaming, moving, or deleting. A powerful icon repeating alarms, the ability to set alarms to ring It is ideal for casual players, children learning to editor is also provided. Requires Win95. Reg on selected days of the week as well as at play chess, and anyone wanting to improve Fee $25 specific times, WAV sound support, and more. their game. Features include lots of help and KVEC_WIN* (239121) Reg Fee $20 hints, the ability to set time limits and playing KVEC (Windows) 1.99 allows you to convert NOTIFY97* (822593) strength, printing options, the ability to undo/ raster graphics to vector graphics. Requires Notify 97 1.3 warns you about upcoming yearly redo moves, and much more. Both 16- and 32- Win95/NT. Reg Fee $25-$50 events when you start Win95. It does not stay bit versions are included. Reg Fee $45 PSP414* (3067332) in memory but unloads after notification, and SE3V102* (2833215) Paint Shop Pro 4.14 is a comprehensive Win95/ can notify you from one to nine days ahead of Space Empires III 1.02 is a massive space NT graphics utility for image creation, viewing, time. Requires VB40032. Reg Fee $0 strategy game for Win95. You control your and manipulation. Features include painting PB97 (1394160) empire in an ever-changing and hostile galaxy. with eight brushes, photo retouching, image Idyle Phone Book 97 2.70 is a complete You can design your starships and use them to enhancement and editing, colour enhancement, contact and personal information manager for explore new solar systems throughout the image browser, batch convers-ion, and scanner your home. Features include a variety of useful galaxy. There are hundreds of different support. Other features include 20 standard fields, the ability to send email or connect components to place on your ships and facilities filters, 12 deformations, plug-in filters, and directly to the Internet, phone dialing over a to build on planets. Use fighters, troops, and support for over 30 file formats. Reg Fee $69 modem and more. Printing options include mines to supplement your starships. Build your VIN16_77 (353227) several different sizes of print-outs, the ability empire through research, intelligence VIN32_77* (335379) to print envelopes, and a print preview function. operations, politics, treaties, and decisively Reg Fee $15-$25 planned strategy. Any combination of up to 10 Vinny Graphics 1.77 is a graphing and data human or computer players can participate. analysis program for engineers and engineering PCW95* (215371) Reg Fee $35 students. It is easy to use and accepts and PCWallet95 2.95 is a personal database for SH_INST (3062072) exports data through a variety of sources. Reg Win95/NT that provides a place to put all that Fee $10 information you ordinarily keep in your wallet I Live At Santa’s House 1.0 is a marvelous such as phone numbers, addresses, credit card interactive adventure for younger children. KEEPING IN TOUCH numbers, or any other type of information. All Players assume the role of an elf, and get to information is protected by data encryption and explore Santa’s house while making cookies, 16PSAM10 (359187) a personal password. It also has a handy decorating a Christmas tree, building toys, and Amigo-2000 (16-bit) 1.00 is a powerful calendar and calculator. Reg Fee $5 much more. The graphics and sound effects calendar/reminder system for WIN31 that can RBO20* (1391210) are very well done. Reg Fee $16 track any number of recurring and non- RedBox Organiser 2.0 is an all-in-one personal recurring events and computer tasks. Features information package with a calendar, To-Do include the ability to set any reminder list, anniversary list, business plan scheduler, a frequency, flexible advance warnings with contact manager, sticky notes, report generator, remaining balance, accelerated payments, compound/simple interest, balloon payment, lease vs. buy, affordable house and point comparison. Other features include what-if and on screen comparisons, the ability to print or paste results, international support, and more. Reg Fee $25 MEASURE (870638) Measure 97 2.3 converts a variety of metric and British measures back and forth including linear, surface, weight, volume, liquid, temperature, energy, power, paper sizes, number base, and more. Reg Fee $0 NGIDXW29 (1015479) EZ-Index for National Geographic for Windows 2.93 is a comprehensive reference index of articles published in National Geographic magazine from January 1990 to December 1996. Reg Fee $12-$28 PCCOUPLE (255968) PCCouple finds the time domain solution to structural problems, fluid acoustic problems, or fluid and structural coupled problems. All alarm reminder, message notificat-ion and features include scrolling tape, selectable theory and running instructions are within the more. Requires Win95/NT. Reg Fee $40 syntax (RPN, tenkey, normal), and a custom- help file in the program. Reg Fee $100 isable display. It can also easily calculate REMINDW (83008) UTILITIES monthly payments for most loans and perform Remind Me! for Windows 97.06 reminds you various other financial calculations such as of upcoming important dates and events. You expected investment growth, nec-essary A32_50 (3926486) can determine how many days notice you will retirement savings, and inflation adjustment. AccuSet/32 5.0a synchronises your system’s receive. A complete listing of events may be Other features include intelligent cut and paste, date and time with your choice of atomic clock printed.. Reg Fee $15 decimal point selection, red negative number at several different locations. Features include TD22D16 (572739) display, and much more. Reg Fee $20 a DayMap that displays areas of the world TD22D32* (621516) DYNAMO (646919) currently in sunlight and those in darkness, synchronisations through direct modem Things To Do 2.2d is a powerful, yet extremely Dynamo 1.02 is an analog simulator designed to easy-to-use task manager for Windows. You connections or via WinSock-compliant aid in the analysis of complex dynamic systems connections to Internet time services, support can keep track of an unlimited number of tasks, (mechanical, electrical, etc.). It allows a filter tasks by key word and date range, and for vocal time announce-ments in either twelve designer to easily model real world compo- or 24-hour format, and more. Reg Fee $10 print task lists with several options. Reg Fee nents and interactions, studying the resulting $20 responses with a computer rather than having BM95E* (1125365) WDATE301* (669226) to physically model the system. Reg Fee $65 BootMaster ’95 7.00 allows you to maintain WinDates 3.01 allows you to keep track of IMPRIN11 (278655) multiple boot configurations in Win95. You can activate a chosen configuration with a single important dates to remember during the year. It Imprint 1.1 is an easy to use printing program automatically calculates and reminds you of mouse click. It also provides exit/shutdown that can print text files on any local or options. Reg Fee $20 many important holidays such as Mother’s Day networked printer. Font, margins, line spacing, and Father’s Day which can be hard to header information, line numbering and more CLEANU (505385) remember since they may fall on a different can be modified without affecting the files CleanUp for Windows 95 2.0b1 helps remove date each year. Requires Win95/NT. Reg Fee printed. This can also be used to send those pesky TMP, BAK, and zero byte files $20 postscript or binary files directly to a printer. from your hard drive. Features include the Reg Fee $30 ability to remove files to the Recycle Bin or MISCELLANEOUS LSPL2632* (1186015) completely delete them, removal of broken shortcut links, the ability to confirm deletions, 10KEY40 (279016) Lease*Calculator! Plus 2.6 is an easy to use and more. Reg Fee $15 Judy’s Tenkey 4.0 is a powerful replacement loan calculator for Win95/NT. It includes ten for the default Windows calculator. The main calculators: loan, amortisation, refinance,

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 31 CLNSYS15* (70897) and SendKeys features. You can use the analog clock, a free disk space display, and Clean System Directory 1.5 scans your system Wizard to add commands to the macro window much more. Requires Win95/NT. Reg Fee $20 looking for all references to DLL files in your instead of typing them all in, or use the toolbars SHUTMN20* (1898582) Windows system directory. DLLs that have no to add commands at the click of a button. Reg Shutdown Monitor 2.0 runs programs and/or programs calling on them can be moved out of Fee $40 stored commands when Win95/NT shuts down. the system MACROM (512234) It can query you when Windows shuts down CLPTRK1 (1209718) Macro Mania 4.0 is an easy-to-use macro and you can select which to run, what order ClipTrakker 1.0 automatically maintains a program that works with any Windows you want to run them, or cancel the shutdown. history of data that has been on your clipboard. program. It enables you to run programs (or It can also execute different sets for different Every time data is copied to the clipboard, it switch to currently running programs) and then user profiles. Reg Fee $20-$22 takes a snapshot of it and creates a thumbnail send keystrokes to that program with one WILBR163* (1005938) image. You can create new pages within the simple command, just as if you had manually Wilbur 1.63 allows you to index, search and main window in order to organise snapshots for started the program and typed in the keys view files in Win95/NT. Features include fast long-term safekeeping and easy access. Reg yourself. It can also be told to switch back and and small indexes, support for wild cards, ZIP Fee $25 forth between programs to transport data via archive support, and much more. Reg Fee $30 EASYZIP* (270353) the Windows’ clipboard using cut, copy, and paste functions. Reg Fee $18 Easy Zip 1.5 makes it incredibly easy to SECURITY archive files with PKZIP in Win95. It allows M1QU1* (2324820) you to use point and click operations instead of The Q Utilities 1.0 provides a quick way to split EMF (132363) all the context switching and messy batch files files and make them self uniting. It can also Encrypted Magic Folders 97.10a is an of manually using PKZIP from DOS. Requires quickly zip together multiple folders and files, automated and transparent encryption package the VB5 runtime files. Reg Fee $22 and make them self extracting. Zip and split for Windows. You simply select folders whose EFCW* (477731) operations may be performed using the friendly files you want encrypted and it makes those Wizards, by drag and drop, or by Explorer right- folders and files completely invisible to others. Commander 1.3 is a Norton Commander clone clicks. Requires Win95/NT. Reg Fee $15-$140 It also decrypts and encrypts the files for Win95/NT. Reg Fee $39 PB155* (316962) automatically and transpar-ently as you use GC (1479097) PowerBar 1.55 allows fast and easy one click them. Reg Fee $59 Ground Control 1.03 lets you create Windows access to your applications and programs MFD* (111755) batch files. You have at your disposal around groups. Other features include instant drive Magic Folders 97.10a makes any folders 50 functions to do everything from basic access, support for virtual desktops, shut-down/ completely invisible to others but instantly Window controls to the more advanced DDE reboot options, drag and drop support, an available to you. This is an excellent utility for anyone who shares a computer. This works with both Win31 and Win95. Reg Fee $29 RED3032* (2098478) RedHand Security Monitor 3.02 will tell you exactly what someone did on your computer while you were away, exactly when they did it, and how long it took, and they won’t even know they were being watched. Requires the VB4 runtime files. Reg Fee 28 Pnds SENTR300* (375223) Sentry 95 3.00 will prevent all unauthorised users from accessing the Win95 desktop whenever your computer boots. Reg Fee $14 SNSFS10 (469506) SafenSigned File Signer 1.0 lets you generate a unique public key digital signature and use it to sign any digital content you want to distribute over the Internet or other insecure channels. The user can use the SafenSigned Verifier to verify the digital signature. This ensures that the digital content is authentic and has not been modified after it was signed. This program also lets you create signed ZIP archives and signed self-extractors. All ZIP and self-extractor frequently-used command, a built-in file manger, support for Unix and Mac-intosh text file formats, drag and drop support, and much more. Reg Fee $27-$35 WPB300 (590632) Word PhoneBook 3.00 is an add-in for Word for Windows 6 that provides a database of names, addresses and fax numbers and helps automate the process of writing letters, faxes and envelopes. Reg Fee $25 YW16 (1010336) YW32* (1117674) Yeah Write 1.2 is a unique word processor that allows you to fill-in the blanks on a variety of predefined documents including notes, memos, letters, a journal, and more. The tabbed interface is extremely easy to learn and use. Reg Fee $15-$20 NEW AND UPDATED DOS FILES

Books in plain ASCII text - all making functions are built-in and no other ZIP POWCLK (589624) free and self-extractor making utilities are Power Clock 2.05 is a powerful time-clock necessary. Reg Fee $35 package for Windows. Features include a 2CITY11 (301086) - A Tale of Two Cities by SNSVR10 (373693) familiar mechanical clock interface, automatic Charles Dickens. SafenSigned Verifier 1.0 lets you verify the synchronisation of files among different 0DAY11 (147111) - Around the World in digital signature in any file signed by the physical locations, a built-in email system, a Eighty Days by Jules Verne. SafenSigned File Signer to ensure that the file is wide variety of printed reports, and more. Reg ALEXB10 (69369) - Alexander’s Bridge by authentic and has not been modified in the Fee $89-$189 Willa Cather. distribution channel. Reg Fee $15 TIME95 (163830) BRNTP10 (81847) - Poems by Charlotte, WINCRY95* (429102) Time95 1.21 is a world clock for Windows 95/ Emily and Anne Bronte. CNGOP10 (50734) - The Congo & Other WinCrypt 95 is a file encryption/decryption NT. It displays the time in more than 250 cities Poems by Vachel Lindsay. package for Win95. Features include drag and world-wide. Reg Fee $10 FRANK11A (167444) - Frankenstein, or the drop support, the ability to use both identical WORD-CRAFT Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft and different passwords, the ability to integrate Shelley. with Explorer, and more. Reg Fee $? CLSN10 (1036870) HACK12 (263734) - The Hacker WORKLOCK* (253202) Crackdown: Law and Disorder on the Staccato Notes 1.0 is an easy to use notepad Electronic Frontier” by Bruce Sterling. WorkStation Lock 2.4 provides a simple and for Windows. This can be used to store MONST10 (127250) - The Monster Men by inexpensive, but effective way to password reminders, quick notes, WWW addresses, e- Edgar Rice Burroughs. protect your system without involving a screen mail addresses, to-do lists, and anything you ORTRL10 (288730) - The Oregon Trail by saver. It is easy to configure and requires no need to make your computer use more Francis Parkman, Jr. Games modifications to your current system efficient. You can also send a quick e-mail configuration. Requires Win95. Reg Fee $5 message without the hassle of opening your GAMES large e-mail client. Reg Fee $5 TIMSE TXP16310 (1044505) COINTOSS (22329) GDA32T (3996274) TXP32310* (1272806) Coin Tosser will toss a virtual coin and display Global Dialing Assistant 2.8.32 combines three TextPad 3.10 is a powerful text editor for the result, either heads or tails. You specify on powerful management tools that can assist in WIN31. It can handle files with up to 32,000 the command line how many tosses to process. managing international calling costs. This lines of 4095 characters, with multiple Reg Fee $0 includes a World Time Map, Conference simultaneous edits and up to two views on each DRONE_SW (7296421) Calculator, and International Dialing Guide. Reg document. Other features include full undo/ Drone 1.01 challenges you to survive a barrage Fee $? redo facilities, print previewing, a toolbar for of alien fighters, destroy the relentless, complex

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 33 wildcards. It performs an analysis of the memory allocation, programs, and boot sectors. It reports a list of infected files, disinfects files, and renames the infected files so they may not be executed. Optionally scans DOC and DOT files for Microsoft Word Macro-based viruses. Reg Fee $0-$20+ HTUTOR63 (447122) Tutor.Com Hypertext Version 6.2f is a mini- course in micro-computing and DOS through MS-DOS 6.2. It includes a simple track, a full story track, and advanced reference informat- ion on DOS commands. The tutorials are linked via hypertext links so if you need further information it is easy to find at the click of a mouse or press of a key. Reg Fee $16-$216 JOCMNU12 (127416) JOC-MENU 1.2 is a pull-down DOS menu system with mouse support, a built-in screen saver, low memory usage, calculator/calendar, a hypertext help system, and more. Reg Fee $20 PCAL1501 (190745) MISCELLANEOUS Personal Calendar 15.01 displays a three- alien bosses, disarm alien-launched nuclear month scrollable calendar, a running analog and missiles, to then do battle with the nasty mother DEMEN221 (248574) digital clock, and appointment and note lists. ship. Features include awesome fire and The program will alert you when a scheduled explosion animations, real-time detonation of DeMenu 2.21 is a graphical DOS menu program. Features include mouse support, a event is coming due or overdue. By swapping nuclear missiles, 3-D rendered ships, slick to EMS or hard disk, the program only uses 6k sounds, and beautiful scenery. Reg Fee $35 pop-up calendar, a built-in screensaver, and more. Reg Fee $0 of DOS RAM. improved use with Windows 95, FRACINST (724929) improved rescheduling of multi-weekly FPROT228 (1074294) Fracas 1.0 is a fantastic arcade/strategy game repeating events, position of cursor now where you try to clear each maze of a variety F-Prot 2.28 scans disks, hard drives, and all placed at most important position on each of monsters. Along the way you can collect network drives for viruses using one of 3 screen to help facilitate operation of speech- gems, potions, and miscellaneous power-ups. methods: a secure scan which is slow, but to-text interfaces for blind users. ASP) (Reg Up to four players can participate. Reg Fee $? makes an accurate identification; full scan Fee $39 : which is a little faster, or a quick scan that only searches for known variants. It detects 250 families of viruses. It scans diskettes or your entire system, and allows the addition of a user- defined hexadecimal search pattern with n the RECORD THE TWO FACES OF NHAN

Urquhart with a little help from his friends, about general computing problems, with as many answers coming from the floor as from the panel. Gordon has promised to write up both the questions and answers for the next edition of Sixteen Bits, and Nhan’s wedding face at his Nhan’s staffer face at the front to continue this Q marriage with Sheila desk of the PCUG Centre & A session format for subsequent Gordon Urquhart moder- han Tran is a most familiar face around to just about anything, including every Tori meetings. ates the Q & A session the Centre. We have seen him being Amos home page ever written. After the answers came the fun part of the Na staffer at the front desk, many of us This is the Nhan we all know, however he evening, when Roger Lowrey set up the Flight have seen him in front of a class in the training has showed himself to be capable of existing Simulator Demonstration. Those of us that had room where he teaches C and C+ (and outside this rarified and ozone laden probably C+/-), occasional Internet courses, atmosphere of the PCUG by finding for himself and anything else that anyone might want a beautiful wife whose personality is as pleasant taught. What most of us don’t realize is that he as her face, a rare combination indeed. is also responsible for the maintenance of the NT network that links all the training roon computers, and for the installation of all the appropriate software required for all the JANUARY MEETING courses run by the PCUG. The January Main Meeting was held at the As well, he is often present at Internet Clinic Manning Clarke LectureTheatre at the ANU, days as an integral part of the Boys’ Club that and was a great success. The meeting began operates there on the first Saturday of every with a Q & A session, chaired by Gordon month, helping members strong enough to carry a computer to connect to the Internet, Roger Lowrey and Mike Dinn demonstrate solving hardware and software incompatabilities at the wave of a sonic waited with bated breath were not screwdriver.. And if that is not enough, he has disappointed. The computer screen was been on the Committee for some longer than directed to the huge projection screen at the the call of duty period, participating in the policy front podium, and with full sound effects, was making and day to day running of our group. remarkably realistic. Due to a few technical He has one of the best home pages on our difficulties, such as not being able to speak into server, and off it as well, for which he has won the microphone and fly at the same time, a prize, at www.pcug.org.au/~ntran/ moving back and forth gave Roger a couple nhanlink.htm, on which can be found a link of rough flights, but still very impressive.

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 35 advice from Owen Cook

In the dialogue box, cross ( X ) Print to file Go to Printer Set PostScript Printer as default printer Go to Options Nhan Tran’s Now Official Mark “Encapsulated Post Script File” TIP Web Help Pages Give the file a name, no extension http://www.tip.net.au/tip/help Go to Advanced Mark “Conform to Adobe Document Structuring Convention” OK OK Close OK • What's new History of changes to TIP help page A file with the extension .prn will be • TIP Contact Details produced, lets call it cooktest.prn , so now Phone numbers, domain, proxies, email Go to File manager addresses Find this file and rename it .ps (ie • Useful TIP information cooktest.ps) Time allocation, usage statistics • TIP documents Now get onto the Internet and FTP to Agreement, Charging Scheme, ftp.babinszki.com Acceptable Use Policy, Access Log in anonymously with the initial Host Application Directory as /pub/distiller/INBOX • InternetFAQ Upload your .ps file, Close, and in 5 Answers to the Frequently Asked minutes, Questions about the Internet: what is the Internet, what you can do, FTP again anonymously to netiquette ftp.babinszki.com with initial directory /pub/ • TIP help FAQ distiller/OUT You will find you file there as cooktest.pdf, • Answers to the Frequently Asked so download it. Questions about various problems other people may have had with The Internet Project; your problem may not be a new You are now the proud owner of a PDF one file. • ‘How-to’ documents How to set up and use various Some tips about logging onto programs needed to make the most of HOW TO PDF

(in the absence of Adobe Acrobat) ftp.babinszki.com: your Internet account. Don’t call your file test.ps, give it a • Glossary distinctive name, even if it is a test. Everyone Translating acronyms, computer jargon, else calls their files test.ps too. 'netese and emoticons like ;-) in plain The site was readily accessible at 3pm on English. I have W3.11, Word 6, FTP and Acrobat Monday afternoon, but impossible to get at 9 Reader Ver 3.0, and this works for me. If you pm on Sunday night, so suggest consider the have W95, just follow the general idea and time zones for speedy service. you can do the same. http://www.babinszki.com/distiller/ gives plenty of further information on what gives. TIP Technical Information Step 1. Make sure you have a Post Script Before you upload, have a look at your printer installed. I don’t know how you do this .ps file in Notepad or similar to ensure it starts Domain pcug.org.au in W95, but for W3.1x, go to Control Panel | off as %!PS-Adobe-3.0 DNS server 203.10.76.34 Printers | Add The URL above tells you to do this. Mail server mailhost.pcug.org.au Find Post Script Printer and “Add” News Server newshost.pcug.org.au Note....You will need your original disks As usual, now I know how to do it, I am ftp server ftp.pcug.org.au for this printer driver. not sure why I would want to do it :-) WWW server www.pcug.org.au

Step 2. Start Word (and here thanks are due to Emil Joseph) Open the file you want to convert to PDF Go to File | Print Dr. Seuss Tech Support

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, And the bus is interrupted as very last resort, And the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort, Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, And the double-clicking Icons put your window in the trash, And your data is corrupted ‘cause the index doesn’t hash, Then your situation’s hopeless, and your system’s gonna crash.

If the label on your cable on the gable at your house, Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse, But your packets want to tunnel to another protocol, That’s repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall.

And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss, So your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse, Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang, Cause as sure as I’m a poet, the sucker’s gonna hang!

When the copy of your floppy’s getting sloppy on this disk And the microcode instructions cause unnecessary RISC, Then you have to flash your memory and you’ll want to RAM your ROM, Quickly turn off your computer and be sure to tell your Mom!

Contact: Kym Michael Phone: 05 0085 8687 Mobile: 0417 43 3903 Fax: 05 0085 8600 Email: sustance@ibm.net http://www.sustance.com/

Able to meet your customers' information needs on time and in the form they need?

Need to reach new markets or more people?

Are the yellow pages doing enough for you?

Let Sustance Internet Services show you new and more effective ways to manage your information resources.

Don't miss out. ACT NOW!

Sustance Pty. Ltd. is a customer focused organisation that assembles a package of Internet and information services and products that enable small businesses and

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 37 Compiled by Malcolm Morrison

resources. In 1998, the Compaq/Digital/ technology allows users to easily search, Tandem combination further strengthens the retrieve and translate Web search results from: focus on creating competitive advantage for Spanish - to - English, English to Spanish enterprise customers by delivering the widest French - to - English, English to French Compaq to Acquire Digital for $9.6 range of technology based solutions from hand- German - to - English, English to German Billion helds, notebooks, desktop computers, Portuguese - to - English, English to Compaq Computer Corporation and Digital workstations, servers; high-end servers based Portuguese Equipment Corporation have ann-ounced the on the 64-bit Alpha architecture and highly Italian - to - English, English to Italian completion of a definitive merger agreement. available and scaleable NonStop systems. Through a technology partnership with As Compaq continues its drive to become the Subject to the approval of Digital’s share- SYSTRAN Corporation, a pioneer of auto- global leader in enterprise computing solutions, holders as well as clearance under antitrust laws matic language translation technology, AltaVista this latest acquisition greatly accelerates its and other customary closing conditions, the has access to SYSTRAN’s tested multilingual momentum and strengthens its value transaction is expected to be completed in the dictionaries, containing more than 2.5 million proposition to customers. second quarter of 1998. For the latest terms and a wide range of vocab-ulary and “We put tremendous value on the customer company information, visit http:// professional specialities. The AltaVista Web relationships Digital has cultivated over the past www.digital.com. Translation Service provides near translation 40 years. We are committed to supporting results, equipping the end-user with a greater these key customer relationships by investing comprehension of foreign information. With the in Digital’s strategic assets, particularly its new technology, users from around the world worldwide service organization, as well as its will have access to: 64-bit leadership with Alpha microprocessors, Fully automatic translation of newspaper OpenVMS, Digital UNIX and Windows NT Free Web Translation Service articles posted on the Internet in Spanish, enterprise systems, open storage and software Digital Equipment Corporation has broken the French, German, Italian and Portuguese; products,” said Eckhard Pfeiffer, president and Internet language barrier, with the first language Worldwide tourist information and enter- CEO, Compaq. translation service for Web content. For the tainment. Business travellers will have a free “Digital’s focused enterprise strategy first time, non-English speaking Web surfers service to handle translation of train schedules coupled with demonstrable improvements in can translate information on the predominantly and local events anywhere in the world; operational performance make this a timely English speaking Web in real time. The new Translation of almost any type of research, choice for us,” Pfeiffer said. In Digital’s recently free service, provided on Digital’s AltaVista including academic, marketing and health reported second quarter, profits doubled and Search service, also gives English-only Web research, and Information from divisions of the company experienced tremendous growth surfers the ability to understand information in multinational corporations that operate in in its target markets. five of the world’s most popular languages. different countries. The combined company will create the “We are launching this technology as a With a click of the mouse, users can largest channel network in the world delivering global experiment and we invite our 12 million instantly translate a search query, Web page over 80 percent of its products and solutions monthly users to test drive this breakthrough or section of text - such as an e-mail - by cutting to customers. Compaq’s field resources will technology for the web,’ said Louis Monier, and pasting the text. Users can also compare continue to complement the strong reseller director of technology for Digital’s AltaVista the original page and translation side-by-side channel, focusing on building enduring customer Search service. or send their own query to the server. The relationships worldwide. These resources “For the first time, users will be able to technology works best when the text is include individuals dedicated to pre-sales and understand, in real-time, Web sites written in grammatically correct. sales account management, profess-ional and other languages. With 70 percent of the Web Digital’s fast and powerful AltaVista Search consulting services and global service and sites written in English, our technology provides Network is the premier solution for locating support. access to a world of information to a greater information in all concerns on the Internet. One The acquisition of Tandem Computers in population. of the top destination sites on the Web, 1997 extended the company’s addressable A test version of the AltaVista Web AltaVista has won numerous awards market with high-end, mission-critical solut- Translation Service is now available on the worldwide for its Internet innovation and ions and doubled the sales and service field AltaVista Search site, providing real-time advanced technology. The AltaVista Search language translation capabilities. The new Network’s flagship site is located at http:// www.altavista.digital.com. Computer Corporation has announced its most Compaq’s New Presarios powerful and manageable Deskpro PCs. Further extending its leadership position in Featuring just released Intel Pentium II the consumer and small business computing processors at 333MHz, new Compaq markets, Compaq Computer Australia has Win98 Preview Deskpro 4000 and 6000 products combine introduced its broadest line-up ever of Compaq Works better - that’s buzz number one. “Tune the fastest processing speeds and networking Presario multimedia PCs, configured and in,” it says. With Windows 98, tuning into the capabilities with enhanced Intelligent priced to deliver the best value in the Internet is easy. It’ll be a snap to get connected, Manageability features to deliver the highest marketplace. plus you get all the tools you could ever need performing and most manageable commercial “Compaq’s new Presario range delivers to take full advantage of the Internet: e-mail, desktops available today. The new Compaq unprecedented customer value, and sets a new newsreader, video conferencing - you’ll even Deskpro models are available immediately with standard for home and small business PCs,” be able to create your own web page. And prices starting at $5,095. With this said Geoff Anson, manager, Consumer for registered users with an Internet connection announcement, Compaq is among the first Products Group, Compaq Computer there’s a new feature called Windows Update. companies in the industry to feature the new Australia. “We are also proud to announce that They describe it is a web-extension of Intel Pentium II processor at 333MHz. three of the Presario models on sale in Australia Windows 98 - an actual Web site that not only The new Compaq Deskpro models, are now being manufactured at our Australasian gives you access to the most current support featuring the Intel Pentium II processor at Technology Centre at Rydalmere in Sydney. information available, but - get this - it has an 333MHz on a 66HMz system bus, are up to This decision demonstrates Compaq’s commit- “Update Wizard” that will check your system 10 percent faster than 300MHz Pentium II ment to delivering high quality, timely, to make sure you have the most current system processors and offer the fastest performance affordable computing to the Australian market.” files and drivers. And if you don’t, bingo! It available today. The new 333MHz Pentium II The Compaq Presario Series has been automatically brings your system up-to-date! processors support MMX technology and engineered and configured to deliver feature- The Fact Sheet also says “Tune up.” Looks Dual Independent Bus (DIB), and include 512 packed computing offering exceptional value like they’ve really increased the quality - more KB of secondary cache to maximise perfor- for users. All the new models are expandable than 3,000 refinements since Windows 95. Plus mance in processor-intensive, multi-tasking and include powerful MMX enhanced pro- they’ve added smart wizards that help you environments. cessors, amazing multimedia features, large keep your system up and running at optimal “The new Deskpro models with the latest amounts of memory, large hard drives, 56K performance. The new System File Checker Pentium II processor deliver on all cylinders modems and are designed for ease-of-use. wizard identifies when Windows 98 system for demanding business users - from integer to The new Presario home PC line includes files have been accidentally deleted or floating point and multimedia,” said Patrick the latest microprocessor technologies from corrupted, and then helps you restore them! Gelsinger, Vice President and General Intel, AMD, and Cyrix to deliver outstanding The Windows Tune-Up wizard makes your Manager of Intel’s Business Platform Group. performance and value at every price point. system more self-maintaining. And when your “Intel and Compaq have worked - and will System performance is further enhanced with system is tuned up, it’ll load applications up to work - closely together to give thousands of SyncDRAM memory technology and opt- 36% faster than Windows 95! users perfor-mance and value at all price imised graphics solutions. For example, the Plays better - that’s buzz number two. points.” new Presario 2240 and Presario 4540 desktop Multimedia types and gamesters will really like The new award-winning Compaq Deskpro models perform up to 35 percent faster than this one. Windows 98 has built-in support for 4000 model is designed to offer mainstream similarly priced competitive models and with DirectX5, so you’ll get 3D realism and multi- users very high performance with the flexib- the AMD-K6 MMX enhanced processor all user capabilities that rival or exceed dedicated ility, enhanced manageability and seamless models are upgradeable to faster speeds. The game consoles. Translation: this stuff really integration required in networked computing new Presario 4640 is one of most powerful makes graphics sing! Well, not literally, but environments. Like the rest of the Compaq multimedia PCs featuring a 300MHz Intel there are big audio improvements too. And Deskpro 4000 line, which now features Pentium II processor, 512KB L2 cache, with support for DVD, you’ll get full-motion Pentium II processors at 233MHz to 64MB of SyncDRAM, 6GB hard drive and video and lush, digital surround-sound that 333MHz, the new Deskpro 4000 includes a DVD-ROM drive. The new Presario 1220, beats hands down what you see on your Matrox MGA-1064 graphics card with 2MB priced at $3,799, is the most aggressively television today. This you’re gonna really like synch-ronous DRAM (SDRAM), a 3.2 GB priced full-featured multimedia notebook for - no more hassles when you want to plug in SMART II Ultra ATA hard drive, 32 MB home users ever introduced by Compaq. the latest, cool Universal Serial Bus (USB) SDRAM upgradeable to 384MB, an All Presario PCs come standard with devices, like scanners, cameras, mice, and autosensing Compaq Netelligent 10/100 TX several Microsoft products: Windows 95, others. USB is broadly supported in Windows UTP NIC with Remote Wakeup, and Works, Encarta, Soccer and Internet Explorer 98, so you can connect devices easily and enhanced Intelligent Manageability. Additional 4.0. The new Compaq Presario products are without rebooting! Check features include a 24X max CD-ROM , available now from authorised resellers and www.microsoft.com for more detail. embedded 16-bit audio and pre-installed retail stores. Compaq Powers Up! Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. The new Go to www.compaq.com.au for details. Furthering customers’ ability to harness the Deskpro 4000 is priced at $5,095. maximum power of computing, Compaq

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 39 The Internet Project

Applicant Details (mandatory) Important Notes - please read 1. Access to The Internet Project is available only to First Name members of PCUG or AUUG and is governed by the Internet Project Acceptable Use Policy, copies of which Last Name can be obtained at the PCUG Centre, or downloaded Principal Organisation from the PCUG BBS or from The Internet Project. q AUUG q PCUG 2. The Internet Project is managed and administered by Membership Number volunteers. The Internet Project aims to offer affordable access to as many members as possible, allowing I, the applicant, declare that I have read the terms of this application, and affirm that the details that I have members to experience all the resources of the Internet. provided are correct. No minimum level of access or service is offered or guaranteed. 3. There is a limit of one Internet account per non- Signed: corporate membership. Corporate members may sponsor Existing Accounts up to three individuals, who are then personally responsible for the operation of their accounts. Please q Change from LIMITED to FULL ACCESS complete one application for each person. q Renewal for FULL ACCESS - 12 months 4. Part of your email address will be determined by the principal organisation. If your membership of that Current Login Name organisation expires, so too does your membership of New Accounts The Internet Project. In this event, no refunds for unused allocation will be made. q NEW Application for FULL ACCESS 5. The Internet Project reserves the right to alter prices and q services offered at any time. Fees paid for Internet access NEW Application for LIMITED ACCESS are non-refundable and non-transferable. Login name request, in order of preference (optional) Access Categories 1. 6. Note: Hours debited do not necessarily equate to real hours on-line; time allocation will be debited in a non- 2. linear fashion depending on the amount of time spent on-line in any given day. The debit rate is set from time 3. to time by the Internet Project M anagement Committee. Your login name must be 2 to 8 characters long. It For more details, refer to may contain only letters and numbers, and MUST be http://www.tip.net.au/tip/charging clearly based on your real name 7. Limited Access Payment (Full Access only) a) Limited Access provides terminal-based email and news only. Please make cheques payable to: b) Limited Access is free on application. PC Users Group (ACT) Inc. c) In any calender year, calculated from the 1st February, Limited Access provides up to 100 ‘hours’ Payment: 12 months: $120.00 q usage. 6 months: $65.00 q 8. Full Access a) Full Access provides PPP or SLIP access and 3 months: $35.00 q includes email, news, WWW, etc. Method of payment: q Cash q Cheque b) Advance Access is not free. Current rates are shown at left with up to 25 'hours' per month usage over the q Visa q Bankcard q Mastercard period. Card Number: c) When your Full Access subscription expires OR you use up your hours of access (whichever is earlier), Expiry Date: / you will be required to purchase another subscription. Name on Card: d) Full Access users also receive a Limited Access allocation - see above. 9. All users joining The Internet Project receive a one-off, Signature: free five hour allocation of Full Access.

PCUG Office Use Only Collecting Your Login Details 10. For existing members, please allow up to two weeks for Processed by Accounts: / / your application to be processed. 11. Login details can be collected - in person by the applicant - from the PC Users Group Centre. We recommend that you phone the Centre first to check that Signature: the details are waiting for you. 12. You (and your parent/guardian if you are under 18 years of age) will be required to sign an Acceptable Use Policy Declaration when you pick up your login details. Proof of identification will be required at that time. Member Services

These special offers and services are only available to PCUG members. Please bring your memberhip card with you when collecting orders.

Disks & Tapes We offer high quality disks and tape cartridges new and updated software titles on each one week). Please bring your membership card in various formats at very reasonable prices. monthly CD. with you.

Disks & tapes are available from the PCUG One complete section of the permanent library The library provides access to equipment Centre Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10am to is also contained on each CD-ROM. In which members would not normally have 2pm or between 9am and 5pm on weekends. addition, there are many programs on the readily available. Most items have instructions BBS Access PCUG BBS which members have uploaded or manuals and software where appropriate. New members wishing to access the PC Users which come from other sources. Modems do not include software; check the Group (ACT) InterActive Bulletin Board This software is provided as ‘shareware’. If Shareware Library for suitable packages. Items Service (BBS) should dial (02) 6253 4933 and you continue to use it, you must register the may be borrowed for one week. There is no create an account on the system. Once the main software with the author. The Group does not charge, but you must collect and return the menu is presented, select the ‘Goodbye’ option ‘sell’ the software - it charges a fee to cover items yourself. followed by the ‘Yes’ option to leave a message the cost of obtaining the software, maintaining to the Sysop. the library and copying the software to the Equipment available includes: In this message state your membership number member. • modems (33.6k and 14.4k) (from your card or magazine address label) and Computers are available at the Centre which request an access upgrade. This will usually are connected to the BBS enabling members to • zip drives. occur within a few days. download software. Shareware Hardware & Video Library Videos include: Members have access to a huge selection of The hardware and video library is located at • Developing Applications with Microsoft ‘shareware’ software. The PCUG subscribes the PC Users Group Centre. Items may be Office to a CD-ROM which provides over 250 Mb of collected and returned on Saturdays and Sundays between 9am and 5pm (loans are for • Using Windows 95

Stuffed Again We now have a Giveaway Table at the We would like to thank Lew and Sylvie Yardley PCUG Centre. the following members and friends Neville Maddein for assisting with Keith Kloosterman If you have any SMALL the mailing out of our Journal. Rosemary Wright David Herewood items of computer related Eddie, Raymond and Karra De Bear Vernon Kronenberg equipment (software or Wayne Corbin Gordon Urqhuart hardware) that you no Marion Van Wely We are always looking for volunteers to longer need or use and Bruce Black assist us with the ‘stuffing’ of our journal. Geoff Lau We start around 5.00pm (latecomers are don’t want to throw Don Nicol welcome) usually on the 2nd last Monday John Starr of every month and are generally finished away, put them on the Charlie and Carol Syms by 8.00pm. Refreshments are provided. If table and someone else Graeme Taylor you would like to help, please ring Petra Rufus Garcia Dwyer at the PCUG Centre on 6253 4911. may find a use for them. Josh McKinney Joel and Jim Pearson Next Stuffing Just bring them to the Anne Greiner 5.00pm Monday 23 March 1998 Centre when it’s open and John Loggie at Northpoint Plaza, Belconnen. Owen and Roslyn Cook (see map page 3) we’ll pass them on Erwin and Chris Schwinghamer for you.

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 41 GUI Developers Networks Peter Harris 6287 1484 Garry Thomson 6241 2399 [email protected] Please call for details [email protected] Thursday after The Investment SIG main meeting Please call for venue. The group meets at the PCUG Centre at Computers and Vegetarianism 7.30pm on the fourth Thursday of every This SIG is designed for those who have an month except for December to discuss interest in both computers and vegetarianism. investment affairs, especially the stock It generally meets with the Bytes SIG. No market and share ideas and information. meetings are held in November, December, or Matters covered may be someone’s hot stock, January. Contact person: Andrew Freeman or a tax problem or an interesting Web site, Phone: 6258 7411 Email and sometimes a software demo. We are [email protected] or WWW at http:// looking for volunteers to present brief reviews www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman/cvsig.html of a favourite stock. Contact Mick Preskett ph 6252 5036.

The Internet SIG This a get together of those members of the PCUG who love to explore the Internet for The OS/2 SIG & Chat interesting sites, new Internet tools and novel The Coffee and Chat Group meet at the An enthusiastic forum for those operating or applications. It holds an informal meeting PCUG Centre in Belconnen on alternate interested in OS/2 Warp. Meetings include once a month on the first Thursday (January Tuesdays from 10.30am to 11.30am with wide ranging discussion and interesting hands excepted), at 7.30pm. The meeting has no set another 30 minutes to 12.00 for those who on demonstrations. Meetings are held on the agenda but free flowing chat on various want to stay. The dates of these meetings are third Thursday (except January) at 7.00pm Internet related topics and events. On shown in the Calendar of Events. for 7.30pm at the IBM Building 8 Brisbane occasion, we had presentations of interesting Ave, Barton. software. Among topics that are discussed Contact David Thrum Phone 6201 8806 (bh). from time to time are the upgrade of TIP, Full details about the OS/2 SIG can be cable and wireless access to the Internet and obtained from http://www.pcug.org.au/ the regulation of the Internet. The web page ~aacton/os2/welcome.htm. for the SIG is at: http://www.pcug.org.au/ Flight Simulator ~amikkels/intsig.html Meets 1.30 - 3.30 on Tuesday afternoons following Coffee and Chat at the PCUG Centre. Enquiries welcome. Roger Lowery (02) 6258 1583 [email protected] Internet Daytime Demo and Discussion SIG Bytes The Delphi SIG Meets every second Monday at the PCUG Centre from 10.00am to noon. We meet to The Bytes SIG is designed for those who like A lively forum for software developers who discuss internet issues, software, sites (and to talk about computing over a meal. It meets are working with or interested in Delphi. Our anything else of relevance), and demonstrate, on from 6 pm at the Asian Bistro, Australian meetings include wide ranging discussion and Centre equipment, selected software and National University Union, on the PCUG interesting hands-on demonstrations. Come techniques. The meeting starts with informal meeting nights. There are no Bytes SIG and see why Delphi is RAD! Some of our discussion and coffee, followed by a more in- meetings in November, December, or recent meetings have discussed Delphi depth look at a particular topic of interest. There January. Contact person: Andrew Freeman components, best shareware tools, database is also time for discussion (and hopefully solving) Phone: 6258 7411 Email: applications, and HTML tools. Meeting 3rd of members problems with the internet. A home [email protected] or WWW at http:/ Tuesday of each month 7.30pm at PCUG page for the SIG is at http://www.pcug.org.au/ /www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman/cvsig.html Centre. Convenor Al Kabaila email [email protected] are welcome to ~amikkels/intddd.html Enquiries or suggestions AutoCAD also subscribe to the PCUG Delphi mailing list for topics are welcome at Geoffrey May 6295 5942 Monday-Fri 4-5pm. by sending message ‘subscribe act-delphi- [email protected]. Please call for details. [email protected] [your email address]’ to C/C++ [email protected] Please email any changes in contacts, venue Peter Corcoran . [email protected] 2nd Linux User Group or information about SIG activities by the first Friday in the month of publication to Tuesday 7.30pm PCUG Centre Stephen Rothwell 6291 6550 (ah) Stephen [email protected]. [email protected] 4th Thursday 7.30pm Room N101 Computer Science Dept ANU. Training News by Peter Elliott

he program for 1998 has been adjusted hard drives and tips on how to maintain your to meet the demand for particular system. The course is designed for members Tcourses especially Windows95 and who want to improve their skills in understanding Internet courses. PCUG Training is able to, how a PC actually works and how to maintain and willing, to conduct a variety of courses in their own computer system. The course will also other areas of computing. If you have an involve some “hands on “ training. interest in a particular computer course and it Full Access Internet is not currently scheduled, contact Petra at the The Full Access Internet course is an Centre and let us know. and embedding (OLE) Excel to other introduction to the programs used to access the Windows applications. World Wide Web, send and receive email, : Our training courses are very popular. participate in news groups, and transfer files. Unfortunately, some people book and then do If you would like to attend the course, you will not turn up for their course. Someone on the Contacts need Full Access (Advanced Access) to the waiting list for the course could have filled the Internet. COURSE BOOKINGS: Petra Dwyer, at spot left vacant. If you have booked for a the PCUG Centre on 6253 4911 course and are unable to attend please let Petra MYOB Training coordinator and course know as early as possible so that another MYOB: In late March an introduction course information (not bookings): Nhan Tran, on Mind Your Own Business (MYOB) will member can attend. 6254 5293 (h) 7.00pm to 9.00pm held at the Centre. MYOB is world renowned COURSES business software package. The course is Microsoft Product courses (not designed for members who have an interest in bookings): Michael Lane 6242 9278 (h) Please note: The Centre will be closed on the keeping their business records together using 7.00pm to 9.00pm weekend of 11-12 April (Easter holiday an accounting software package. weekend). Subsequently there will no training that weekend. Microsoft Excel 5 All courses are held at the PCUG Microsoft Excel 5: In late March an introductory Intro to PCs and Basic PC Centre, Northpoint Plaza, Belconnen course on Microsoft’s Excel5 will be held at Maintenance - maximum 8 people. the Centre. This powerful spreadsheet program Intro to PCs and basic PC Maintenance: In Courses cost $35 unless otherwise early March an introduction course on PC’s is ideal for those members who would like to learn about spreadsheets or would like a indicated. Full day courses run from and basic PC maintenance will be conducted. 9.30am to approximately 3.00pm. refresher on the subject. Excel 5 forms part of The course will provide an insight into how a AM Courses commence at 9.30am. the Microsoft Office suite and offers the ability computer operates; including how to install PM courses commence at 1.30pm. software, identifying computer parts such as to create charts, databases, macros and linking

Date Day Course Length March 1 Sun Databases – (Access) Intermediate Full Day 7SatSixteen Bits Layout Day/Internet Clinic Clinic:Morning 8 Sun Intro to PC’s and basic PC Maintenance Full Day 14 Sat Closed Full Day 15 Sun Closed Full Day 21 Sat Introduction To Win95 Full Day 22 Sun Internet - Full Access Intro Full Day 28 Sat MYOB Full Day 29 Sun Excel 5 - Intro Full Day April 4 Sat Sixteen Bits Layout Day/Internet Clinic Clinic:Morning 5 Sun Internet –Full Access Intro Full Day 11 Sat Closed Full Day 12 Sun Closed Full Day 18 Sat Intro to Databases - Intro Full Day 19 Sun C programming - Intro Full Day 25 Sat Internet - Full Access Intro Full Day 26 Sun Intro to Win95 Full Day

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 43 VendorVendor DiscountDiscount SchemeScheme

The following local vendors offer discounts to PCUG members • Present your PCUG membership card when making a purchase • Benefits may not apply to some sale items • The PCUG does not necessarily recommend or endorse the products being offered If you offer a discount to PCUG members and are not in this list, please contact our advertising manager listed on page 2.

BUSINESS SERVICES/PRODUCTS PHONE/FAX/EMAIL ADDRESS DISCOUNT Accountants

Peng Lee BA, BEc(ANU), FCA Accounting and taxation Ph: 6258 0156 6 McGuiness Place 10% discount off Chartered accountant services Fax: 6258 0157 McKellar ACT 2617 the published fee Registered tax agent A fee schedule published 1 Mobile: 0419 625 801 schedule to PCUG Holder of Certificate of Public year in advance will be Email: [email protected] members Practice forwarded upon request

Lesley Piko Personal and business Ph: 6288 8888 Suite 1 15% discount off Certified practising taxation services 17 Trenerry St quoted fee accountant, registered tax General accounting Weston ACT agent services

Books

Collins Booksellers A wide selection of Ph: 6251 4813 Belconnen Mall 10% discount off computer titles for the Fax: 6251 3926 computer book novice and also advanced purchases only computer user

Daltons Books No. 1 for computer and Ph: 6249 1844 54 Marcus Clarke St 10% off RRP of business books Fax: 6247 5753 Canberra City computer books

Computer related

ACT Valley Computer Repairs Repairs, upgrades, new Ph: 6294 2592 10% discount on systems, software Mobile: 019 323 435 upgrades and installation. repairs Low rates Open 7 days

Amalgamated Business Ph: 6280 4887 65 Kembla St 5% discount on Machines Fyshwick repairs

Capital Simulations Fax/message: 6258 0110 PO Box 329 Free postage and Belconnen ACT 2616 handling (normally $4) and 2 free modem opponents ‘wanted’ notices (normally $10)

Clarion Database Systems Computer consulting Mobile: 041 108 7754 10% off RRP on Business applications, Microsoft and other development vendor products Software sales and consulting services

The Cartridge Factory Ph.: 6295 5935 Canberra Business 10% discount on Centre remanufactured 49 Wentworth Ave laser toner Kingston cartridges 10% discount on inkjet refill kits No discount available on new ink or toner cartridges BUSINESS SERVICES/PRODUCTS PHONE/FAX/EMAIL ADDRESS DISCOUNT Computer related (cont) Bettowynd & Taltech Prompt, gauranteed, fixed Ph: 6239 1043 Unit 5, Centrecoure 5% discount Solutions price repairs to monitors 1 Pirie St, Fyshwick and terninals Hi-Micro Computers Ph: 6280 7520 6/18 Whyalla St 5% discount on Fax: 6280 7540 Fyshwick accessories and upgrade installation L & S Associates Ph: 6257 7555 69 Paterson St Special price on any Ainslie Microsoft product: dealer price plus 5% NCH–Swift Sound Email to wav Ph: 6281 6124 25% discount to non- Professional voice overs, corporate members music and SFX for multimedia, IVR, games, software PE Computers & Software New systems Ph/fax: 6258 9806 5% discount on all Solutions Upgrades Mobile: 015 484 711 new systems and Hardware and software Email: upgrades installation, setup and [email protected] 20% discount on home PC support installation, tuition Software tuition including and home PC support Win95 and Internet software Rob’s Computer Help Desk Telephone and on-site Ph: 6292 3211 5% discount on help for all your computer (24 hours/7 days) consulting services and support needs The Software Shop Ph: 6285 4622 42 Townsend St 5% discount off our Phillip already low prices Sproatley Computer Services Upgrades Mobile: 0412 231 224 10% discount on all Pty Ltd New and used PCs Fax: 6231 3605 services MYOB specialists Software installation 24 hour help desk Michael Vetz Home PC support Ph: 6251 2184 Discount of $25 per available for all PC hour – maximum problems including charge $50 upgrades and tuition at your place – all hours WinBBS Australia (Doohan Windows-based BBS Ph: 6242 8696 ‘Belongapedi’ Free life membership OK! BBS (ACT)) featuring the latest Web or 6265 6752 2/13 Murrung Cres to PCUG members browsers, anti-virus Fax: 6234 0400 Ngunnawal ACT when membership software, games and Mobile: 0411 508 169 2913 number quoted to the demos, and electronic Email: Canberra, Australia SysOp (usually $10– versions of PCUG in webmaster@dynamite. $20). Call for details. Adobe Acrobat format com.au plus much more! Dial-up number: Operating 24 hours per 6241 1323 day, 7 days a week. World Wide Web Consultants Your key to the Internet. Ph: 02 6292 3211 PO Box 5145 5% to a maximum of Canberra (W3C2) Training, consulting and Fax: 02 6292 3914 Chisholm 2905 $100 on web site web site services. Mobile: 019 440 608 services. Email: [email protected] Other ANU Union Asian Bistro Upstairs, Union Union member Building, Union discount on PCUG Court, ANU (next to main meeting nights main meeting venue) ONLY Green-Grass Mower Service Lawn mower service, Ph: 6291 1458 8 Hutchinson St 10% discount spares and repairs Monash Aspect Computing Education Ph: 6247 7608 86 Northbourne Ave 10% discount Services Braddon Australian Management Ph: 6285 4888 Suite 4, 32–36 5% discount on Control Colbee Court, Phillip recordkeeping and payroll courses

Net Maths Tutor Email-based maths Ph: 6258 4791 10% discount tutoring service provided Email: by experienced teacher plavers@canberra. (high school to uni level) teknet.net.au www.teknet.net.au/ ~plavers/

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 45 Members’ Ads

FOR SALE WANTED

WordPerfect forWindows (V6); never opened. $40

Graham Nicholson. [email protected] Ph. H 6292-5172 W 6266-8995.

PC Users Group Membership Application / Renewal

I would like to ( þ one or more) Annual Fees Applicable (þ one) o Become a new member for ____ year(s) o General1 $ 50 o Renew for ____ year(s) o Concessional2 $ 25 o Change my address details o Corporate3 $130 o Change Corporate nominees o Additional Corporate4 $ 50 o Take my address off advertising list o International (Air Mail) $130 o Access the Bulletin Board (BBS) Notes Reasons for Joining þ (one or more) 1 General membership covers all members of a household except for BBS and Internet access. Two month waiting period applies to Internet access. o Sixteen Bits Magazine o Training Courses 2 Concessions apply to full time students and pensioners. o o 3 Corporate Membership covers up to three nominees. The Internet Project Advice and help 4 Additional Corporate nominees may be added at $50 each. Other ______I am paying by (þ one) o Cash (if paying by person) o Cheque to PC Users Group (ACT) Inc TOTAL PAYMENT DUE $______o Credit card –– Bankcard, Mastercard or Visa Please Post your application with payment to: PC Users Group (ACT) Inc Title Given Name Surname PO Box 42 Belconnen ACT 2616 Additional Corporate Membership Nominees Organisation (if applicable) PCUG Membership Number (if applicable) Title Given Name Surname ______Postal Address Position (if applicable) Phone (h) Phone (w) ______Title Given Name Surname Phone (h) Phone (w) Concession Type (if applicable) ______Position (if applicable) Phone (h) Phone (w) Credit Card Type / Number Expiry Date Signature The Help Directory

The people in this directory are volunteers so please observe the times given. The Help Directory is designed to help individual users and should not be used as a substitute for corporate support calls to vendors! This service is provided for members only. Please quote your membership number to the helper. For those helpers with an asterisk *, messages may be left on the BBS in either the General message area or as a Netmail message on 3:620/243. Send updates to [email protected] or via post to the PCUG Centre. Subject Name / Email Phone Days Times Access for Windows Graham Fry 6288 3138 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Assembly Language Thomas McCoy 6294 2226 Mon - Fri 8.00pm - 10.00pm Audio Peter van Runt 6288 5556 Mon - Fri All day Weekends 12noon - 8pm AutoCad Geoffrey May * 6295 5942 Mon - Fri 4.00pm - 5.00pm AutoCAD Rel 12, 13 and LT Neil Moffat 6292 7108 All days Noon - 10.00pm BASIC + Machine Language George McLintock 6295 6590 All days 8.30pm -10.00pm Bluewave Jorge Garcia 6282 2681 All Days 7.00pm - 9.00pm Batch Files, TSRs, Utilities Bill Ghysen 6287 1234 Mon - Fri 8.00pm - 10.00pm Braille transciption (Duxbury and Megadots) Carolyn Simpson [email protected] 6230 4795 All days Anytime Bulletin Board Service Michael Phillips * 6253 4966 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Chinese Star for Windows Peng Lee 6258 0156 All days 1.00pm - 9.00pm Excel Graheme Fry 6288 3138 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Flight Simulation Roger Lowery [email protected] 6258 1583 All days Anytime Free Agent / Agent Newsreading Allan Mikkelsen 6278 3164 All days Noon - 9.00pm Front Page Peter Tilbrook [email protected] 6242 4000 All days Anytime General Help Brian Gosling 6259 1116 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm GEOS/GeoWorks Phil Jones 6288 5288 All days 6.00pm - 10.00pm Hardware Anthony Glenn 6288 8332 All days Anytime HDK Lis Shelley [email protected] HDK Ivana Leonard 6231 4169 Mon - Thu 7.00pm - 9.00pm Internet Explorer (Microsoft) Peter Tilbrook [email protected] 6242 8696 All days Anytime Internet (Netscape, Eudora) Carolyn Simpson [email protected] 6230 4795 All days Anytime ISR CADDSMAN Modeller (Win) Neil Moffat 6292 7108 All days Noon - 10.00pm Lotus Ami Pro 3 / Word Pro 96 ed Peter Tilbrook [email protected] 6242 4000 All days Anytime Microstation Cad Andrew Novinc 6258 1907 All days 6.00pm - 10.00pm Midi Peter van Runt 6288 5556 Mon - Fri All day Weekends 12noon - 8pm Modem Communications Michael Phillips * 6281 1980 or All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Noteworthy Composer Andrew Purdam [email protected] 6230 2231 All days Anytime Online doc using Help Compiler (Win3) John Carroll [email protected] 6248 0781 All days 7.30pm – 10.00pm OS/2 Andrew Acton [email protected] 6293 1684 All days 9am-9pm OS/2 Dave Thrum [email protected] 6201 8806 Mon-Fri 8am-6pm OS/2 Michael Lightfoot * 6258 8185 All days 7.30pm - 9.30pm Scream Tracker 3 (3SM) / MOD Music Chris Collins 6258 8276 Mon - Fri 7.30pm - 9.00pm Small Business Computing Nick Thomson 6241 3239 Mon - Thu 7.30pm - 9.30pm SuperBase Paul Blair 6288 3584 All days 7.30pm - 9.30pm Telix Michael Phillips * 6281 1980 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm SCO Unix & Xenix Jeremy Bishop 6291 0478 All days 7.00pm - 9.00pm Unix Michael Lightfoot * 6258 8185 All days 7.30pm - 9.30pm Unix/Linux/*BSD Jonathon Ross 6288 1428 All days 6.00pm – 10.00pm Turbo Pascal Michael Phillips * 6281 1980 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Visual Basic for Windows Cedric Bear [email protected] 6258 3169 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm WinBBS Australia Peter Tilbrook [email protected] 6242 4000 All days Anytime Windows 95 Graeme Challinor [email protected] 6236 8166 All days 10.00am - 4.00pm Windows 95 (basic help) Carolyn Simpson [email protected] 6230 4795 All days Anytime Word 6 & 7 (Mac or PC) Carolyn Simpson [email protected] 6230 4795 All days Anytime Word for Windows Lis Shelley [email protected] WordPerfect 5.1 DOS, 6.1 Win Gayle Scott [email protected] 6254 1579 All days 7.30pm - 9.30pm WordPerfect for Windows Peter Tilbrook [email protected] 6242 4000 All days Anytime WordStar Dave Hay 6258 7310 All days 7.00pm - 9.00pm

SIXTEEN BITS March 1998 47 March

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Internet Daytime Sixteen Bits Internet Clinic TRAINING DAY Demo and Commercial ad PCUG PCUG Centre Discussion SIG deadline for Centre 9.30am PCUG Centre April 9.30- Intro to PCs & 10.00am-2.00pm 1.00pm Basic PC Main- tenance New Members’ Layout Day for Night Sixteen Bits PCUG 10.00am Centre 7.30pm 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Coffee and Chat PCUG Centre 10.00am CENTRE CENTRE Flight Simulator PCUG Centre CLOSED CLOSED 1.30pm–3.30pm

C /C++ SIG PCUG Centre 9 7.30pm 10 11 12 13 14 15 Committee OS/2 SIG TRAINING DAY TRAINING DAY Meeting IBM Building PCUG Centre PCUG Centre PCUG Centre 8 Brisbane Ave 9.30am CENTRE 7.30pm Barton 9.30am CLOSED 7.00 for 7.30pm Introduction to Intro to Internet Win95 Full Access

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 16 Bits Stuffing Flight Simulator Linux Users Group Sixteen Bits TRAINING DAY TRAINING DAY and Mailing PCUG Centre Room N101 Article deadline PCUG Centre PCUG Centre PCUG Centre 1.30pm–3.30pm Computer Science for May Dept ANU 9.30am 5.00pm 9.30am 7.30pm MYOB Intro to Excel 5

Coffee and Chat Investment SIG PCUG Centre PCUG Centre 10.00am 7.30pm 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Internet Daytime Internet SIG Internet Clinic TRAINING DAY Demo & Discussion PCUG Centre PCUG PCUG Centre SIG, PCUG Centre 10.00am-2.00pm 7.30pm Centre (tentative date – 9.30- 9.30am Main Meeting please check with 1.00pm Intro to Internet coordinator) Manning Clark Full Access Theatre 1 Layout Day for Crisp Bldg. ANU Networks SIG 7.00 for 7.30 Sixteen Bits (Call 6241 2399 10.00am Bytes SIG for venue) Asian Bistro ANU 6.00pm (before PCUG meeting) 30 31 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 April