All the Software News From Softcon
THE MINDSET COMPUTER GAMBIING ON GREAT GRAPHICS
COMPUnRS OVERRIDi DISABILITIES
71896 46908 REASONS WHYTHE PARADISE MUm-DISPLAYCARDIS SELLING FASTERTHAN WE CAN MAKE THEM.
External switch for easy selection of monochrome or color mode on system startup without having to open the machine. Switches easily between mono- chrome and color modes under software control. IBM character sets and text modes. a Paradise delivers character sets identical to IBM offerings. (9x14 character box for monochrome and 8x8 character box for color/graphic modes.) Q Built-in fully compatible IBM type printer port. 4^ Use two cards for simultaneous lU. display. Two Multi-Display cards— or one in conjunction with an IBM video card— give you the ability to perform simultaneous display on two screens. More perfor- Individually selectable horizontal and polarities; I . mance, dollar for vertical sync Compatible with dollar. Paradise Systems, Inc. the widest range of RGB monitors. delivers a color display control- HQ Illustrated manual with step-by-step ler, monochrome display con- l^m instructions. troller and printer interface all on Fully IBM compatible light pen and RF a single card. 13 . modulator ports. Compatible with IBM* PC/XT •A A Separate connectors for easy function 2 . and the best productivity It". changes without changing jumpers. The Multi- software. You can work with all the Display Card has separate connectors for monochrome great IBM productivity packages, like Lotus 123 display; composite video; RGB video; parallel printer; light Standard monochrome display with no additional pen; and RF modulator.
3. software; Fully IBM compatible. All the clean, fully- It’s no wonder the Multi-Display Card is in such formed characters you’d expect from IBM. high demand. High-resolution color graphics: Fully IBM com- Look for the Multi-Display Card from Paradise 4. patible. 640 x 200 black and white; 320 x 200 Systems, Inc. at your local computer dealer. Call (415) medium resolution; 4 colors. 468-6000 or write to 150 North Hill Drive, The best working display available Brisbane, CA 94005, for more 5 for IBM. Flicker-free scrolling- information. in color. PARADISE even IBM 18 a registered trademark of Internaitonal Business Machines.
Lotus 1 23 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation SYSTEMS, INC Copynghtad material PICKUPWHERE lENT LE^WES OFF.
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Portable or desktop, SPEED. you re way ahead when Our RAM-disk you pick up CORONA PC^“ software gives you tem- Because we give you porary disk-type storage everything you’ve ever that works many times wanted in an IBM' -com- faster than disks. patible PC and more. PLUS SOFTWARE. For a great deal less. Our systems come COMPATIBLE AND MORE. with the operating Our systems run all system: MS-DOS.^ A pro- software that conforms gramming language: to IBM PC programming standards. And the GW BASIC.^ A training course: PC Tutor.^ A most popular software does. professional word processor: MuItiMate.'* Plus We deliver twice the memory, with room DOS utilities and demonstration programs. for eight times as much. Or you can get the p-System® from N.C.I. and We deliver a fast-access 320K floppy write or run portable Pascal packages. drive, a communication port and an improved ALL FOR A GREAT DEAL LESS. IBM PC keyboard with indicator lights. Even with all the extra features and Our systems include high-resolution performance, our systems still cost signifi- monitors (12" desktop, 9" portable) for cantly less than the equivalent IBM PC. crisper, cleaner displays, and both have built-in Drop by your nearest CORONA PC high-resolution graphics (640 x 325). dealer for a very convincing You get a complete system, ready demonstration. Or contact to go to work. us at 31324 Via Colinas, Westlake Village, CA 91361. (213) 991-1144 or (800) 621-6746 toll-free. Telex 658212 WSLK, in Europe 76066 CDS NL.
©Corona Data Systems 1983. 1. TM International Business Machines. 2. TM Microsoft. 3. TM Comprehensive Software Support. 4. TM Softword Systems. 5. TM University of California.
MORE VERSATILITY. With all the necessary features built into the main unit, the four expansion slots can be corona used for your special needs. For example, color clotQ systems^ inc. or our optional 10MB hard disk.
Copynghted malarial Don't married to a computer until youVe had a meaningful reladonship.
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® Apple is a Registered Trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
® IBM is a Registered Trademark of bifoWocId The Newsweekty for Microcomputer Users
Volume 6, Number 12 March 19, 1984
Computers with adaptive hardware de- vices and specialized software act as equalizers for disabled users. 30
Computer-doctor businesses are Roger Badertscher, former head of Atari’s personal- springing up around the country computer division, has high hopes for his start-up The most automated personal-computer as dealers, manufacturers and company’s new Mindset computer. 20 factory in the world is producing Apple’s third parties compete for shares of Macintosh at record rates. 82 the rapidly growing market. 56 Cover Photo: Michael Carr/Pacific Horizons
Editorial 5 Events: March 19-25 34 Reviews: Compaq Plus; NEC PC- 8201 6J Letters 6 Review Capsules 66 Viewpoint 7 SOFTWARE Review Responses 70
NEWS Lap models are getting loaded . . 39
* * Reviews: Cut & Paste; Knoware . 45 Late News and News Index ^ 9 Review Capsules 52 The Mindset computer: Gambling Advertising Services; Advertisers’ on great graphics 20 Review Responses 52 Index: InfoLink: InfoMart: Classified 75
Clapp-Trapp 24 Electronic Antics 53
News Briefs 27 New Programs 54 THE INDUSTRY
The Macintosh factory 82
USING MICROS HARDWARE Q&A: Chris Rutkowski 85
Heard on Tech Street 86 Computers give independence to Business is booming for computer- the disabled 30 repair shops 56 Inside Track 88
InfoWorld March 19, 1984 3
Copyrighted i 1 Introducing the Most Powerful Business Software Ever! FOR YOUR TRS-80’- • APPLE" • IBM PC'* • OSBORNE" • XEROX’* • KAYPRO" • ALL COMMODORE Computers • TELEVIDEO’* • ZENITH'' • SANYO" • NEC" • DEC" Tl PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER * s SUPERBRAIN JR. ’* s EPSON’* s Any CP/M" Computer urith 8" Disk Drives CP/M-bascd Computers must be equipped with Microsoft BASIC (MBASIC of BASIC-80)
Each VersaBusiness module can be purchased and used independently, or can be linked in any combination to form a complete, coordinated business system.
VERSARECEIVABLES™ $99.95 VersaLedger n™ $149.95 VersaReceivables™ is a complete menu-driven accounts receivable, invoicing, and Versa Ledger ir“ is a complete accounting system that grows as your businesa monthly statement-generating system. It keeps track of all information related to who grows. VersaLedger ir“ can be used as a simple personal checkbook registen; owes you or your company money, and can provide automatic billing for past due ac- expanded to a small business bookkeeping system or developed into a larg<( counts. VersaReceivables” prints all necessary statements, invoices, and summary reports and can be linked with VERsaLedger II™ and VersaInventory™. corporate general led^r system without any additional software. • VersaLedger IT™ gives you almost unlimited storage capacity VeRSAPAYABLES™ $99.95 (300 to 10,(XX) entries per month, depending on the system), Versa Payables” is designed to keep track of current and aged payables, keeping you • stores all check and general ledger information forever, in touch with ail information regarding how much money your company owes, and to • prints tractor-feed checks, whom. Versa PAYABLES” maintains a complete record on each vendor, prints checks, • handles multiple checkbooks and general ledgers, check registers, vouchers, transaction reports, aged payables reports, vendor reports, prints 17 customized accounting reports including check registers, and more. With VERSA PAYABLES”, you can even let your computer automatically select • , which vouchers are to be paid. balance sheets, income statements, transaction reports, account listings, etc. VeRSAPAYROLL™ $99.95 Versa Payroll'* is a powerful and sophisticated, but easy to use payroll system that VersaLedger ir“ comes with a professionally-written 160 page manual des keeps track of all government-required payroll information. Complete employee records signed for first-time users. The VersaLedger IF" manual will help you becomrr are maintained, and all necessary payroll calculations are performed automatically, with quickly familiar with VersaLedger IP", using complete sample data fileis totals displayed on screen for operator approval. A payroll can be run totally, automati- supplied on diskette and more than 50 pages of sample printouts. cally, or the operator can intervene to prevent a check from being printed, or to alter information on it. If desired, totals may be posted to the V^saLedger IT” system. VersaInventory" $99.95 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! Versa NvenTORY” is a complete inventory control system that gives you instant access Every VERSABUSINESS” module is guaranteed looutperform all other competitive systems, to data on any item. VERSAInventory* keeps track of all information related to what and at a fraction of their cost. If you are not satisfied with any VERSABUSINE^” module, you items are in stock, out of stock, on backorder, etc., sales pricing stores and data, alerts may return it within 30 days for a refund. Manuals for any VERSABUSINESS” module may be you when an item falls below a preset reorder point, and allows you to enter and print purchased for $25 each, credited toward a later purchase of that niodule. invoices directly or to link with the VERSARECEIVABLES” system. VERSA iNVENTOR'i" prints All CP/M*based Computers must be equipped with Microsoft BASIC all needed inventory listings, reports of items below reorder point, inventory value re- (MBASIC or BASIC 80) ports, period and year-to-date sales reports, price lists, inventory checklists, etc. To Order: Write or call Toll-free (800) 431-2818 (N.Y.S. residents call 914-425-1535) * add $3 for shipping in UPS areas * add $5 to CANADA or MEXICO •CQinPUTH[miCS; * add $4 for C.O.D. or non-UPS areas * add proper postage elsewhere DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME Bssa— 50 N. PASCACK ROAD, SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. 10977 All prices and specifications subject to change / Delivery subject to availability.
- trademark Apple Corp. IBM PC trademark IBM Corp. trademark - TRS 80 trademark Tandy Corp APPLE OSBORNE Osborne Corp. XEROX trademark Xerox Corp. - KAYPRO trademark Non Linear
Inc TELEVIDEO trademark Televideo Systems. Inc. - SANYO trademark Sanyo Corp. NEC trademark NEC Corp. - Systems. DEC trademark Digital Equipment Corp. ZENITH trademark Zenith Corp. i Tl PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER trademark Texas Instruments. Inc SUPERBRAIN trademark Intertec Corp. - CP/M trademark Digital Research EPSON trademark Enain Com £ • • • 115Q6UJ91R ITDieUU W 1 1 kUOl.CQ'ajrvijiur /“/"vtajurv t ru itonKuratiz i •(launiiKiua* nir , r*i/r«j\jit j iiantLiitQi v OOlK’ r'W\UJ LL9a6LU9LK niaU9i US?69tCU FkPOW fvU> LETTERS
IntoWoEld Worthy pursuits especially bright children, have a tendency Tlw Ncwsu>c«Mf foe Mtrcocompcftvf Dmzs to want to specialize in particular endeav- The article ‘‘Professionals turn pro- ors for a period of time, devoting almost all Stewart Alsop II grammers” in the February 6 issue quotes of their free time to that activity and later Editor me on page 84 as stating that . teach- moving to a new endeavor. Michael Lowe ing requires more energy than it’s worth, This tendency toward specialization Managing Editor and free-lancing isn’t that profitable.” I comes from a desire to be competent and, Claudia Steenberg-Majewski believe that this ascription presents a in fact, even to somewhat master a Design Director quite untruthful view of my feelings on particular activity. Computing is a perfect Senior Editors: David Needle (News), Rory J. both issues. example of this. Specialization of this type O’Connor (Technical), Jacqueline Rae While teaching certainly does require is natural and, in fact, is a healthy part of (Applications) considerable energy, if I did not consider it growing up for many children. Senior Writers: Jim Bartimo, Scott Mace, apprehensive Marguerite Zientara (East Coast) ‘‘worth it,” I should not have pursued that There is little need to be profession for ten years. Were free-lancing a child begins to spend more time Design Staff: Sahnta Pannutti (Assistant), K, when Gypsy Zaboroskie (Photo Editor) not “that profitable,” however, I should than usual at any healthy activity, whether
have forsaken it years ago (I’ve been free- it be computers, chemistry, math, art, Associate Editors: Robert J. Dunn (Special Projects), Patricia Sinervo lancing audiovisual and print media for ten music or baseball. Certainly children have Reporters: Denise Caruso, Katherine Chin, years now) in favor of what my mother still other responsibilities that they must live Tom Shea, Peggy Watt refers to as ‘‘a rea/job” (emphasis hers). up to, such as homework and household Copy Editors: Laura Singer (ChieO, Deborah InfoWorld should have more clearly chores, but pursuing computers to the Branscum, Vince Leone delineated the distinction between pro- ultimate in their spare time has few, if any, Researchers: Barbara F. Borgel, Barbara Gerk, grammers and author/artists who happen hazards attached. Christine McGeever (Reviews), Carol Ranalli to program. For many programmers, As adults we are more and more Contributing Editors: John C. Dvorak (Con- knowledge of the intricacies of chip becoming specialists in what we do in our sulting), Doug Clapp, John Gantz architecture and low-level languages are a careers and in how we spend our free time. John Barry way of life. For those such as I, program- This is considered normal and healthy. Managing Editor, InfoWorld Books ming is a tool — a means to just one more Why should it be any different for children? Assistant Editor: Carol Person medium by which to get our ideas and Expose children to all the diverse techniques across to others. activities that are available, but let them Cynthia Puig Finally, the "distributors around the choose those in which they wish to spend Production Manager country” to whom I sell my wares consist some time specializing and encourage Production Staff: Roberta Edwards. Lynn of Educational Activities, in Baldwin, New them in these pursuits as much possible. Fujikawa, Nancy Groth, Robert Hoskins, Lauren A1 in the article, of Katz-Tinsley, Elizabeth Mann, Ellen Markoff, York, where Harris and Martin Batey The dangers spoken of Camille Massey, Suzi Poore, Karin Powell, have been kind enough to give me a children becoming addicted to the comput- Stevens, Wasser Lynne Rachel E. relatively free creative hand, just as long er screen and becoming “technical-iso- as I don’t mind staying just a little bit lates,” are farfetched and have little Circulation Staff: Gerry Kemmet (Kable), Bill Prendergast hungry. research basis.
David Alan Herzog Ronald J. Baillie Thomas H. Kothman Highland Park, NJ Pittsburgh, PA President Popular Computing, Inc. a subsidiary of CW Communications Let kids compute Mac revolution Administration: Sophia Alvarez, Anqunette Flemmings, Sheryl Heaney, Arline ^rensen After reading your article “Preschool I must take issue with the comment of Advcrlihini* staff and sales personnel are listed on InfoWorld .Advertising Services paj»e. which is lix'ated directly after the computing: Too much, too soon” (Febru- Patrick Stauter of On Line Microcenters Hardwjire section. ary 20), 1 felt prompted to respond. that “People who have used Apples will Parents and teachers all wish to have stick to Apples, and people who know IBM
Editorial, advertisinj{. and business offices: 1060 Marsh children and students that are “well will stay with IBM.” I have never laid K«>ad. Suite C-200. Menlo Park. CA 94025: (415) 328-4602. Telex: 176072 (InfoWorld PLA). CompuServe; 70001. 1150. rounded” (whatever that means). To some hands on a machine produced by Apple. I tir GO INK-1. The Source: TCX939. East Coast bureau: 375 people it certainly means that children have been working eight-plus hours a day Cochituaie Road. Framingham. MA 01701: (617) 879-0700. Postal information: Second-class postage paid at Franiing- should not study all of the time, should not on an IBM PC (or compatible) for the last hain, MA. and additional mailing offices. InfoWorld (ISSN 0199- 6649) is published weekly, except for two single combined read too much, should not engage in two years. As soon as the Mac has 512K issues, one for the last week in December and the first week in scientific experimentation to any great RAM and a Pascal compiler. I’m throwing January, and a single combined issue (he second and third weeks in January, by Popular Computing Inc., a subsidiary of CW extent but should have a passing interest my PC into the ocean. For Mr. Stauter and Communications. Inc.. 375 CfK'hituate Road. Framingham. MA 01701. in all of these things and also take time to all those other people who believe in brand Reprints: Copyright 1984 by Popular Computing. Inc. All play ball, swim and have some fun. loyalty over good sense I have just these rights reserved. Reproduction of material appearing in InfoWorld is forbidden without written permission. Send all Computing has now joined the above words: “The revolution is on,” and I’m reprint requests to Permissions Editor, InfoWorld. 1060 Marsh Road, Suite C-200. Menlo Park. CA 94025. InfoWorld will much abbreviated list of activities that one betting on the underdog. supply for nominal InfoWorld camera-ready art a charge. can must not get “too much” of. This P. Adrian Z. Calta also be purchased on 35nim microfilm from University Microfilm. Peruxiical Entry Dept.. 300 North Zeeb Road. .Ann somewhat arbitrary categorization of ac- Washington, D.C. .Arbor. MI 48106: (313) 761-4700. Subscriptions: Cali toll-free (800) 343-6474 (or (617) 879- tivities attempts to determine what activi- 0700 in Mas.sachusetts) or address subscription Inquiries to ties the so-called normal child should Remember that sinking feeling we all InfoWorld. 375 CtK'hiluale Road. Framingham. MA 01701. Single copy price; $1.50. Subscription prices; $31.00 a year enjoy. It leaves little room for the personal had about our Apple IIs when the IBM PC (U.S.): $65 a year (Canada. Central and South America); $100 a Well, I year (Europe); $170 (all other countries). Please allow six interests of the child, however. started to take off? suspect a funny wt-eks for new subscription service to bt*gin. Research has been conclusive in stud- thing is about happen to a few PC owners. Change of address: Please allow four weeks for change of address to lake effect. POSTMASTER; Send change of address ies such as those of mathematically gifted It has become a fairly safe bet to (Form 3579) to InfoWorld, 375 Cochiluate Road, Box 880. Framingham. .VIA 01701. children from the Johns Hopkins Universi- imagine the demise for any product not ty in Baltimore, Maryland, that children. related in some way to the IBM PC, such
InfoWorld March 19, 1984 5
Copyrjghted material LETTERS
as the Macintosh (Heard on Tech Street, monitor screen, she might think it neces- know that the Wiz was out there even if I InfoWorld, February 27). Well, I chal- sary to pull out the power plug. never mailed him anything.
lenge anyone with an interest in the I did try to think of a good alternative Bring him back, please.
subject to actually try\ht Mac. As one who for this necessary symbol. The best I can Dan Fisher recently did, 1 strongly suspect that one come up with seems a bit silly too, but it Indiana, PA trend is about to peak, and a new one to just might work: why not a “flat tire” icon? begin. Whoever becomes the eventual This icon does not imply danger, nor In the Wizard of Menlo Park column in leader will at least have to contend with electrical nor mechanical problems. It the February 27 issue, you wrote that that
Apple, judging by its head start and by all suggests that some minor corrective was the last installment. I hope this is of the large software houses rushing to action or assistance, not necessarily repair temporary, caused by loss of a key person,
come out with versions for the Macintosh. or a part, may be all that is necessary in or- and not a budgetary or policy decision.
Indeed, we may be seeing a new bandwag- der to get going again. (And if it helps any, That column was the one item that on just starting to roll. I find it a bit there is a pun here too, in that a flat tire is separated your magazine from the rest of
refreshing. indisputably “soft.”) the pack. Credibility is gained by positive H.C. William Anderson Jeffrey D. Kopp interaction with the public on a highly Seattle, WA Bremerton, WA technical level, and you have just lost a great deal of credibility.
I certainly admire the editorial diversi- Contrary to the views of Mr. Dvorak in Presenting the facts intelligently takes ty in your February 27 issue. First, you the February 27 issue and a dealer too much time and leaves your magazine have Tom West of Data General alluding mentioned in one of your recent articles, vulnerable to its own accurate/inaccurate
to the “'scenario” of IBM dropping MS- “everybody with a brother-in-law at statements, it appears to me. I get the
DOS. On the next page, John Gantz is Harvard” probably won’t get a discounted impression that you think all the public
fantasizing how Apple took the dive Macintosh. At least, not if their brother-in- really cares about is news, reviews and because Mac wasn’t “compatible.” law goes to the University of Michigan. As your opinions.
I agree with West. To expect a player a student here, I am allowed to purchase I read good magazines such as Byte and
of Apple’s magnitude to base a major new only one discounted Apple, and I plan to inCider with a lot of good information in
product on such a hyped-up feature as MS- hold onto it. In addition, a prospective them. I used to read your magazine, but
DOS is ludicrous and myopic. If MS-DOS buyer has to sign an agreement stating now I’m not sure if I will continue. has the longevity of CP/M, I will be that he will not resell or lease his computer Just because you see yourself as as surprised. In this case, imitation is not only for at least two years. While this latter micro newsweekly doesn’t mean you have the sincerest form of flattery, it is also the condition is harder to enforce, the $2,000 to pattern yourself after Newsweek.
kiss of death. Even Bill Gates, by fine is sure to discourage most people from I spend approximately $30 every predicting that half of Microsoft’s 1984 atttempting to make a quick buck. month to keep informed from quality
revenues will come from the Mac I believe many irate local Apple dealers magazines. Not buying your weekly will (InfoWorld, February 13, page 20) seems are missing the point. Sure, they’re going save me $6 a month, but I’d rather be to be acknowledging that the IBM PC to lose a few sales, but the majority of the surprised when the Wiz is resurrected. phenomenon is mostly a marketing fluke students and faculty would not have even Al Mills that was totally unanticipated and by no considered purchasing a computer if it Cleveland, OH means represents the IBM microcomputer were not for the price. Besides, in a few entry for the long term. When this months, when third-party hardware and unprecedented stroke of luck has run its software starts arriving on the scene, Fight sexism course, Big Blue will settle down to these dealers will have more business than business-as-usual. Don’t expect to see they can handle. You went too far in the photo caption much of MS-DOS at that point. Jeff Miller (February 20, 1984, page 13) that Meanwhile, Dvorak lobs mortar rounds Ann Arbor, MI identified the Macintosh development at “bootlickers” and whines about getting team: “Mary Atkinson (wife of Bill the cold shoulder from Steve Jobs. Keep Atkinson ...” The implication of the up the good work! Resurrect Wiz caption is that man possesses wife; that R. W. Sauer men rule — and rank — over women; that Durango, CO What do you mean: “This is the last she has no identity or worth of her own installment of the Wizard of Menlo Park” without being linked to him.
I, too, am charmed by the new (February 27)? Computer professionals and enthusi-
Macintosh — that is, by what I have read This really burns me! What, did the Wiz asts have the distinction and ability to
about it. Only one small thing about its die? I just got my subscription to solve many old problems and to blaze new iconography disturbs me: the “sizzling InfoWorld. First you got rid of the trails into the future. The elimination of bomb” icon that accompanies a program cartoons. Sad, but I guess I can live sexist comments and allusions in computer
crash. I think this inappropriate; someone without cartoons. I guess I can live literature and circles is one way to help
in Cupertino either was being cute or was without the newsprint too — although, I eliminate an old problem and to encourage
simply stuck for a descriptive visual always thought it lent a certain air of a new awareness of sexual equality. Let’s metaphor for a program that had currentness to the issue. all try to be more thoughtful in our “bombed.” This may make an undesired But life without the Wiz! This is comments and writings. impression on the sort of unsophisticated horrible! What are you, nuts? News is nice Fred L. Conner user toward whom Apple would like to and all, but the Wiz was genuinely Ithaca, NY
direct its icon-driven system, a user who educational! Really, I could always count fear that the drastic symbol on learning something from the Wiz. (Next may indeed Please write to Letters, InfoWorld, 1060 Marsh indicates that damage is about to occur to you’ll rotate Dvorak and Clapp on alternat- Road, Suite C-200, Menlo Park, CA 94025. the computer. My wife suggested that if ing weeks). Now you are headed toward Letters selected for publication will be edited she were confronted with a bomb on her mediocrity! It was always a comfort to for length and clarity.
6 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld
CopynghteO material VIEWPOINT SOFTWARE GALORE A blind computer CP/M-APPLE-IBM-PC-EPSON Discounts up to 52% on user speaks out Software and Hardware ULTIMATE SELECTION LARGE INVENTORY LIGHTNING FAST SERVICE BY DAVEED MANDELL consequently, most computer manufactur- ROCK BOTTOM PRICES Contributor ers, including Apple, have made little or no effort to provide documentation in braille ! ! ! THIS MONTHS am a blind radio journalist. The or on tape — or even on computer disk. sighted woman I live with is a print They haven’t provided us with adaptations EXECUTIVE BUSINESS journalist. We wanted to purchase a to their hardware. To add to our frustra- SPECIALS ! ! ! computer that was capable of everything tion, most software — especially protect-
from word processing to games. It had to ed software — is off limits to blind people OUR
be expandable to accommodate such since it won’t accommodate speech or LIST PRICE peripherals as a voice synthesizer and a braille output. dBase ll/DB Plus or QuickCode $1120 $ 599
WordStar/dBase II 1195 649 braille printer. Last April, we settled on Apple has an extensive community NEW! — SuperCalc Ill/dBase II 995 599 the Apple-compatible Basis 108. grants program. Yet the company has EasyWrlter 11/Mall ll/Spell II 650 250 At the same time, we looked for turned down proposals to help braille lUS-GL/AR/AP 1785 1249 appropriate software to allow both of us to transcribing groups to acquire computers. MulliTool-Word w/Mouse 475 339 WordStar Pro Pack/Lotus 1-2-3 1190 759 interact with the computer. My sighted I am forced to ask: Why? SOFTWARE partner soon became involved with the Perhaps most computer buffs out there dBase II 380 intricacies of CP/M and Perfect Writer. It don’t know that it’s possible to use a Friday! 189 took longer for me to get involved. computer as an electronic braille typewrit- Home Acct. Plus 99 Was there any software out there that er, given the appropriate software. With a Dow Jones Market Analyzer 285 1-2-3 339 a blind person could use? Harvey Lauer of program called Ed-It, developed by a Lotus WordStar 279 the Veterans Administration Central Blind sighted engineer named Robert Stepp, WordStar ProPack 429 Center in Hines, Illinois, suggested two volunteer braille transcribers gain the MultiPlan 165 word-processing packages for the Apple. facility of transcribing via computer. Due Multiword 250
SuperCalc 11 209 One is called Documents. It is sold by to a quirk in the Apple keyboard, a user SuperCalc III 249 Computer Aids Corporation, a company can press several keys at once; thus, the VisiCalc 256K 179 owned by blind people (but staffed by both six-key braille cell and the various dot PFS:File 89 sighted and blind workers). The compa- combinations can be easily preserved on HARDWARE ny’s entire product line is geared toward disk and transferred to paper (or cassette CORONA PC 2450 i visually users. Among its prod- to with braille EPSON QX-10/HX-20 CALL |i impaired be used a soft-copy device). Cumana Drive-PC 289 ucts are an address filer; a scheduler; a The Basis keyboard doesn’t allow a Hayes-Smartmodem 1200B 434 ' powerful data-base manager/forms gener- user to press several keys at once, but Ed- Hayes- Smartmodem 1200 489 ator; and Talking Transend, a talking it developer Stepp told me that he’d TEAC Halt Height Drive-IBM 229 version of the popular Transend 2 termi- consider modifying his program to gain Rana 1 000 Drives-Atari 329 Microsoft Ramcard 256K-IBM 399 nal program. this capability. Microsoft System Card 256K-IBM 435 is The other word-processing package All is not lost for blind Basis owners, Ouadram products CALL Braille-Edit, sold by Raised Dot Comput- though. Raised Dot Computing has includ- Rana Elite One/One Plus CALL 79 ing. RDC has produced an impressive and ed a braille translator in Braille-Edit. Microtek RV611C Magnum 80 215 powerful $300 package, permitting con- Anyone who can type text on a regular Dumpling GX 89 soft-copy ventional print, speech, and both keyboard can now automatically produce Cool&Time Apple Fan 70 and hard-copy braille output — provided high-quality braille material. As if this EPS Keyboards-Apple 269 the appropriate devices are attached to weren’t enough, one can also translate the PRINTERS the computer. braille text back into print. With the EPSON * BROTHER * C. ITOH * * I soon found out that blind people proper adaptations to hardware and soft- OKIDATA STAR NEC Oki 83A 599 cannot use most of the thousands of ware, there need be no communication Oki 84P 1168 for granted by software packages taken gap between blind and sighted computer NEC 3550 1895 the sighted. After months of phone calls users. Of course, if complex text in music Epson FX-100 699 Epson FX-80 529 and correspondence, 1 had to accept the or mathematics is required, it must be bitter truth: When push comes to shove, typed in manually by expert braillists ACCESSORIES Verbatim-Single & Double Side CALL despite much lip service about their skilled in these special codes. Flipn'Files CALL interest in computers and the handi- I blind people, braille transcribers, urge Ribbons CALL capped, Apple and other computer manu- educators and other interested people to Cables CALL 800 (423-6326) facturers couldn’t care less about assisting check out the above programs for the REFERENCES: Dun t Bradstreet. blind users. blind. Now organizations can provide Security Pacilic Bank, Marina Del Rey FDIC. Rockwell After all, we’re a small market; newsletters in both print and braille. Int. ‘We are a Membership Buying Service. Calit (213) 827-1851 Teachers can type tests and print them in SOFTWARE GALORE: 4079 Glencoe Ave.. Marina Del Daveed Mandell works at radio station KPFA both braille and print. Blind people can Rey. CA 90291 - Terms M/0 OK, M/C or VISA add 2% American Express add 4%. NO C.O.D.'sSI.SO Handling in Berkeley, California. He wants to establish produce and proofread documents with and $5.00 Freight except hardware. Prices subject to a computerized braille transcribing service. ease and confidence. • change without notice. Calitornia residents add 6'k% sales lax.
InfoWorld March 19. 1984 7
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Late Breaking News
NEWS INDEX • DRI buys educational software firm: As part of a continuing ef- fort to expand its consumer product line, Digital Research has ac- quired Owlcat International Corporation, a small • DOS to run on Unix educational-software firm based in Chicago. Owlcat, which will func- A new software company has been formed tion as a division of Digital Research, will be headed by Beth in order to produce a utility program that will let MS-DOS applications run on the Newburger. The year-old software-development firm recently Unix operating system. Uniform Software completed work on a series of software packages designed to help Systems is headed by William Agee, a high school students improve their SAT scores (college entrance ex- former chairman of Bendix. The product is ams). The initial Digital Research/Owlcat software packages will in- scheduled for release this fall. 1 clude a $249.95 60-hour SAT program that has equivalent versions • Experts visited on IBM PC of the SAT verbal test, basic math test, standard written English Expert systems can now be created on exam and a diagnostic pretest. There is also a 15-hour version with microcomputers with Expert-Ease, an just the basic math and verbal tests for $89.95 and a pretest program expert-system creator that was intro- for $19.95. “We were looking for a company that was designing duced at Softcon. 1 products that make sense,” said Ken Harkness of DRI’s consumer di- • VisiCalc feud contines at Softcon vision. Initial versions of the SAT software will be available for the Software Arts announced the availability Apple II Plus, Apple lie, IBM PC and PCjr computers. of VisiCalc Advanced Version, a VisiCalc upgrade for the IBM Personal Computer • UPI picks Zenith: United Press International said it plans to pur- and PC compatibles. 12 chase 6,000 Zenith Z-100 Personal Computers as a central hardware • Timex cancels home computers component of a planned broadcast computer system being offered by Timex has decided to drop out of the UPI to radio stations nationwide. The new system, reportedly the home-computer market and end produc- first microcomputer-based hardware and software package to be of- tion and sales of the Timex/Sinclair models fered by a wire service to its clients, will accept and store news- 1500 and 2068. 16 agency reports in addition to performing billing and trafficking •Traveling with computers functions for the broadcast industry. U.S. citizens and residents traveling abroad are being advised to register their •IBM unveils multi-user microcomputer: IBM’s Instruments portable computers with U.S. Customs division has announced the IBM 9002, a desktop system based on the officials before departure to avoid possible confiscation upon their return to this 32-bit Motorola 68000 microprocessor. An optional version of country. 16 Microsoft’s Xenix operating system, available from IBM, permits up to four people to use the system simultaneously. Xenix is derived • law to punish pirates New from the Unix operating system developed under license from Louisiana hopes to attract software com- AT&T. The basic 9002 is priced at $6,495 for the system unit, dis- panies by passing a bill that is designed to prevent software pirating. 1 play keyboard and standard operating system. A one-time Xenix li- cense charge is an additional $995. A complete system with Xenix, • PCjr gets window program 10-megabyte hard disk and memory-management card installed is Trillian, a California software start-up priced at $15,960. company, has announced VisuALL, the first windowing package for the IBM PCjr. VisuALL functions as an accessory pro- •Harvard Business School picks IBM PC: Harvard Business gram in conjunction with existing off-the- School said it will require its first-year students to purchase IBM shelf software products. 1 Personal Computers. The computers will be offered at an undisclosed discount price and will be included as part of the student’s overall tu- • Model 100 gets disks drive ition costs. A 5 '/4 -inch single disk drive has been introduced for the Radio Shack Model 100. 17 OsviH NAAHlia This on®
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BY MARGUERITE ZIENTARA almost every single one of them is worth form’s president and CEO, Peter Senior Writer looking at.” Wensberg. “We foresee wide acceptance of Uni- Agee took exception to a suggestion new software company has form’s first product,” Weiner said. Based made at the press conference that his formed that may have the answer on that expected success, Uniform’s main presence was mainly to attract attention to the slow acceptance of the focus will be to develop Unix-based and capital for Uniform. “I’ll be giving as Unix operating system on microcomput- vertical applications to serve small- and much as 20% of my time to Uniform, ers. Uniform Software Systems, to be medium-size businesses. “But I wouldn’t setting up a broad strategy plan and other based in Santa Barbara, California, plans to be surprised to see large corporations business details,” he said. release a utility software product this fall interested in this capability,” said Weiner, “We feel no need to educate Bill on the that will be designed to let MS-DOS Not everyone is so sanguine about software industry or anything else,”
application programs, such as WordStar, Uniform’s initial product’s future. “It’s Weiner said. “His strengths fill in the
Lotus 1-2-3 and dBase II, run on Unix- potentially exciting, but I wouldn’t make areas 1 need help on.” based systems. MS-DOS is the operating any sweeping statements that it’s going to Wensberg was most recently the system for the IBM PC, PC compatibles revolutionize the software industry,” said president of AtariTel, a division of Atari. and several other 16-bit computers. John Kiefer, senior analyst at InfoCorp in Prior to his experience at AtariTel, he was The firm is headed by William Agee, Cupertino, California, an executive vice-president at Polaroid, former chairman and CEO of Bendix, who “The real question is the future of where he worked for 24 years in various served briefly as president of Allied after Unix,” he said, noting that a number of marketing-related positions. the merger of those two firms. He is new companies, such as Horizon Systems For Weiner this venture can be seen as currently chairman of Semper Enter- and Quadratron, are writing word-pro- the culmination of a long love affair with
prises, a venture-capital firm in Osterville, cessing and spreadsheet software for Unix. “In 1973 I went to the Rand Massachusetts. Unix. Corporation and Unix was then available The product, as yet unnamed and Agee announced the formation of the only to universities,” he recalled. “I unpriced, will offer DOS users the advan- company at a New York press conference, wanted Unix for the Rand Corporation so I tages of Unix’s multiuser and multi- where he introduced Weiner and Uni- got the first commercial license.” • taskine caoabilities and its near machine independence. Under the Unix operating system, only minimal modifications are ^ r«#r> r needed to move applications software Ca from one processor and hardware environ- ment to another 0X001*11 SVStOITIS Oil IBlVl PC^ With an installed base of more than 100.000 Unix systems. Uniform expects to eliminate Unix’s traditional lack of application software with the addition of BY SCOTT MACE “These systems could reduce reliance MS-DOS applications. “The unique archi- Senior Writer on human experts who are in short tecture of this product allows the DOS supply,” said Expert Systems CEO Sy operating system to run as a Unix process, here are times when you think you Bosworth at a Softcon press conference at concurrent with other Unix programs,” 1 need an expert and times when you which prototype expert systems created said Uniform’s director, Peter Weiner. 1 think you are an expert. In re- by Expert-Ease were displayed. Weiner was the founder and CEO of sponse to both situations, Expert-Ease, Expert-Ease’s entry screen is divided Interactive Systems, the developer of the the first so-called expert-system creator at the top into cells similar to a Unix-based PC/IX operating system that for microcomputers, was introduced at the spreadsheet with a word-processing win- IBM recently announced for its Personal recent Softcon exhibition in New Orleans. dow at the bottom. An expert indicates Computer. He is currently a director of Expert systems condense the knowl- examples of potential problems by enter- Interactive, which he said may become the edge of an expert into computer programs ing a mnemonic eight-letter word in each
marketing arm for Uniform’s first soft- that nonexperts can use. For example, cell. If he wants to elaborate on his eight- ware package. expert systems developed on big comput- letter word, he can open onto the word- Unix’s lack of applications software is er systems are used to diagnose medical processing window below and enter more not universally regarded as a problem, problems, troubleshoot engine repair and information. however. “People complain about the lack play the stock market, After he has filled the cells, he gives a of application software, with 3,000 pack- Expert-Ease, developed in England and command and, within 3‘/2 minutes or less, ages available for the IBM PC and only a distributed in the U.S. by Expert Systems Expert-Ease creates an expert system few hundred for Unix,” said Peter Marvit, of New York, costs $2,000, runs on the that is built on a series of rules that the senior analyst at Yates Ventures in Los IBM PC or PC XT and requires 128K created system follows in the most logical Altos, California. “But how many of them random-access memory and one disk drive and efficient manner. Bosworth said users are really worthwhile? In the Unix world — two drives are strongly recommended. can learn the Expert-Ease commands in
InfoWorld March 19. 1984 11
Copyrjghted material NEWS
about ten minutes. to debug knowledge,” he said. Expert Systems is also planning to sell The expert system generated by using Bosworth said that the artificial intelli- licenses so that experts can sell the Expert-Ease can involve up to 250 gence algorithms in Expert-Ease can look systems they develop with the Expert- questions. Each question can have up to 31 at any grid of examples and come up with Ease software; a price has not been set. possible conditions, or answers. The rules from patterns on the grid. “It’s Jeff Milman, president of Expert Sys- expert system asks the nonexpert who is similiar to regression analysis.” tems, cautions that Expert-Ease gener- using the system multiple-choice ques- Expert-Ease was written by Donald ates multiple-choice analyses and cannot tions and avoids asking those questions Michie, director of the Machine Intelli- predict by percentage the likelihood of logically eliminated by previous answers. gence Research Unit at the University of something happening. Expert-Ease can
Among the demonstration expert sys- Edinburgh in Scotland. Michie consults for conclude, however, that there is no tems shown by Expert Systems was a buy- U.S. corporations such as IBM and solution to a problem.
sell program based on a stock-market Hughes Aircraft. During World War II he Bosworth said some of the fear that analyst’s own assessment of the market. worked on the British team that broke expert systems will replace human special- Another diagnosed a faulty gearbox in a Nazi codes with early computers. ists is justified. “Some people may be helicopter and recommended that the So far, about 60 sites worldwide have making mistakes continuously,” he said. gearbox be removed for maintenance. bought early versions of Expert-Ease. “Those so-called experts can and should
Expert-Ease is merely a tool, however. Jeffrey Perrone, distributor of the pro- be replaced.” He cites doctors whose The human expert must enter all the gram on the West Coast, said a new, faster faulty medical diagnoses cause unneces- questions and answers. Bosworth admits and easier-to-use version of the program sary surgery, or who run 20 tests when 14
that nothing prevents an incompetent will be released this spring as it goes into of the tests are superfluous. “We want to expert from creating incompetent expert wider circulation. The current version of replicate the knowledge of the truly
systems. He said systems are easy to Expert-Ease is slow, partly because it is expert, with fewer wrong decisions and create and change, though, ‘it allows you written in Pascal. wrong moves,” Bosworth said. •
for a limited time only, probably about two Creators of VisiColc months, he added. VisiCalc owners can send their disks and payment to Software announce program Arts, which will in turn send them a disk new containing a reference the upgrade and card. Some confusion arose concerning BY DENISE CARUSO Arts from using the VisiCalc trademark. which versions would be replaced by Reporter VisiCorp introduced an Apple He Software Arts, since VisiCorp sells other version of VisiCalc Advanced Version last versions of VisiCalc, including VisiCalc he ongoing feud between Software August, but the Software Arts’ upgrade Extended Version and a product called Arts, creator of the popular version for the IBM Personal Computer VisiCalc IV. Rampe claimed, however, T VisiCalc electronic spreadsheet has some additional features, according to that “anyone who can prove they’ve program, and VisiCorp, its exclusive Daniel S. Bricklin, chairman of Software purchased VisiCalc in whatever form” is distributor, flared up again at the Softcon Arts and codeveloper of the original eligible for the upgrade. Software Arts will show in New Orleans. Following through VisiCalc. return upgraded disks to customers “in on its promise to negate VisiCorp’s Upgrades will be available to “anyone five working days,” he said. marketing rights to VisiCalc, Software with a VisiCalc disk” for $99.95, said One extra feature of the upgrade from
Arts announced the availability of its own Bruce Rampe. The price will be offered Software Arts is the product’s ability to version of VisiCalc Advanced Version, a VisiCalc upgrade for the IBM PC and PC compatibles. The two companies have been hurling suits and countersuits at each other for six
months (InfoWorld, March 5). VisiCorp has been marketing VisiCalc since 1979. Software Arts recently decided to break its marketing agreement with VisiCorp after more than a year of dissatisfaction and antagonism between the two compa- nies. “Our strategy for marketing has to be a bit different,” said Bruce Rampe, Software Arts’ vice-president for market-
ing and sales. “VisiCalc is our newest
product and at the same time it is our oldest product.”
Recently, Software Arts announced its intention to begin immediately marketing VisiCalc. A Massachusetts court refused to grant VisiCorp a temporary restraining order that would have prevented Software Daniel Bricklin, Software Arts' chairman and codeveloper of the original VisiCalc
12 March 19. 1984 InfoWorld
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Mdtitool (CP/M or DOS) S 7S UKeo, Essential Data Diplicatff III 80 8 K«y Tronic, KB200 keytoard (11+) 8 296 S Zll Budget. Miititool (CP/M or DOS) 8 116 Ko^ Touch TaUet w/Micro Muslratff 8 ia I a * Oatoomo/CP. Boll, (Disk and Book)(Stat.. Bus. & Math) HOME & EDUCATIONAL U ALPS. A40. Belt Dr. 163K 299 8 1 IK Joystick N/I+) 65 Cffnmon Basic '* Krit, (Ap 8 8 a Some RogarrdTS ea.) 8 100 8 46 SmoN Bros., Beagle Bag 8 30 8 zz TEAC. T40. Direct Dr..163K 8 349 8 ZK Po(tdle(ApH/R+) 8 50 8 a Practical Basic Po(yams(40 ea.) 8 100 8 46 BrodartaundLCtvpiher 8 35 8 n TEAC.T80. 0bl.Sided.326K 8 449 1 SZI MAR,St|>Rfan(+ore) 8 50 s a < Anade Machine $ 60 8 m DxiboHer Card by (kxnX 8 110 8 H * MtciooofL ZBO Softcanf (+ or e) 8 345 I ae Series 40 6L & AR & AP. all 3 8 395 8 286 LodeAfner 8 35 8 n * Z80SoftCffdPlus(+ff6) 8 645 I 4a Series9Texl&Spel&Mffl.aH3 8 395 8 ZM BudgaCo, Pinfaal Constr. Set 8 40 t Z7 * Z80 Softtard Rem. Pack(ll+) 8 695 I 4a PorfacL Perfect Miter 8 349 8 ZI6 * Coninantoi, Home Accountant 8 75 1 K Bite 1.163K. 40 Track 8 379 t Z4I Rana * ZBO Soficard Rem. Paddlle) 8 495 S as FWect Wrtter/SpeHer-2 pak 8 399 S 246 Dataaot, Aztec ff Zaxxon. each 8 40 S n Bite 2. 326K. 80 Track 8 649 8 m Micro Tok, Dffnpng 64. Buffer 8 tafect Filer or Perfect CA. ea. 8 249 8 IK Edia-Wara, (Large Inventory) CM Bite 3. 6S2K. 160 Track 8 849 8 m * Micro, Gr^ifiler Plus (e or 175 Orampo +) 8 Miter/Speller/ Fiier/Cdc(4) 8 969 1 4K Haydan, Sargon II (Chess) 8 35 1 21 Bite ControHer 8 145 •4 8 16K6itffer Board for Qqppler + 8 175 PoarlaoB, F%rsonat Poof 8 295 8 IK Sarmill (Chess) 8 50 1 14 Buffered Grappler+.16K 8 245 Ouartt, Word Jug^ (lie) 8 239 8 176 Infocom, Zffk I.IMtI. or Starcross. each 8 40 8 n RAM EXPANSION Paymar, Lower Case Chip (11+) 8 50 Lexicheck lie (use w/Juggler) 8 149 S K Koata,Fuline in stock. CAU CM * P^, AppH^. 14feal^ 6Wtz 8 375 S ns 8onaWa,Sen SpeNer. specify aOcolBd. 8 125 8 K Laamlng Co., (Large Inwntvy) CM 128K RAM Ext. w/AppKdl* 6MH 8 595 S 471 Bookands 8 125 8 K Micro Lob, Miner 2049er 8 40 S n (ll-r-) 16K 100 * ALS. ADD Ram $ s a RH Elocffonica, Super Fan II 8 75 8 a Slorra/OrvLJno, Screenwriter Rd 8 200 S IK Mortograim, DoHars and Cents 8 100 1 K #Cof?0L60col.+64XRAM. Acceierator II 599 448 * Tlan/Salum, 8 I Screenwriter II 8 130 8 K Scartmowgh/Ughinirn. Mastertyoe 8 40 1 27 ffflle. lYr Wty $ 199 I AlOII. Serial/Pffa l/F 225 a Trartaand/SSM, 8 8 la TheDictiffiaryNEW! 8 100 8 K Siaira /On-Lino, Ultima II 8 60 8 K * ComX,RAM Cffd. 1 Yr Wty (ll-r-lieK $ 179 I a TG Producta, Game Paddtas (11+) 8 40 I » Gen MffEQerll NEW! 8 230 8 IK Sfer-Toch, Wizanty 8 50 8 K (11-^) 16K 100 * MIctomR. RAM Card $ I a Joystick (11+) $ 60 8 45 r SMcon Valoy. Wffd Hffxler S 60 1 39 Splnnokar, Kmdefoomp (others in slock) 8 30 8 20 Cffd (ll-f) 32K 249 s r * TMan /Saturn RAM $ m Vld«x.PSI0 l/F Cffd $ 229 8 ia List Hander S SO 8 35 Sub Logic. Fhght Simutatff II $ 50 S 37 RAM Cffd (11+) 64K $ 425 t Z99 WICO, Mouse. Complete $ 179 S 119 r Hander Pak(Word.Ltsi&Spell) $ 130 1 N Tarrapirv Logo $ 150 n RAM Cffd (11+) 128K $ 599 t 399 Handler Pak (Word. Lot & Spell) S 130 a Software PubNahin^, PFS F4e $ 125 $ 64 OTHER BRANDS AND PROGRAM W STOCK. CALL LIST OUfI OVERSTOCK SPECIALS DISKETTES UST cue MODEMS ACCESSORIES PRICE PRINTERS ACCESSORIES UST on PRICE PMCE MATRIX PRINTERS: PRICE ma BROWN DISK ANCHOR, DOT RX80 Signaiman MK I Modem (RS232) EPSON. S 399 WHILE THEY LAST 10 ea. Pulse!. DS/0D.48TPI $ 45 1 32 Signalman Mark XII FX80 S 699 lOea.Pdsell. 0S/0D.96TPI S 60 S 45 •d 6 Mag 82095 S I4K IBM-PC Smartmodem 12008 $ 995 1 CDC, 100 ea SS/OD. 40T (Apple. IBM) $ 550 8 179 HAYES, M CORVCJS 11 Mag $2750 SZ19S FX100 IBM-PC Smanoom II Sofhvare $ 895 10 eaSS/00.40T (Apple. IBM) $ 55 8 16 Drtvw Are WMad IdfftMw 20 Mag 83750 12895 Stack Chronograph (flS-232) Apple II Graphics Dump $ IS 8 ] 100e8D$/00.40T(IBM. H/P) S 750 1 IBM-PC Intertace Manual. 5/W&Cff)ie Kit 300 248 2K 8 t Stack Smartnxxfem 300(RS-232) LEADING EDGE, Gonfia Bffiffia $ 250 I0ea0s/00.40T(IBM.H/P) 75 35 IBM'PC Omni Transporter. 4 Pak SPECIAL $1895 8 1395 $ Smartmodem 1200 (RS-232) MANNESMAN TALLY. 1 60L. 80 Cd $ 796 OYSAN, lOea SS/SD (Apple), etc.) $ 69 t 39 Apple Interface. Manual. S/W & Cable Kit $ 300 8 249 Miemmodem 399 1801.132 Cd $1096 lOea OS/00 48T(IBM.H/P.etc 8 89 8 49 100 (S-100 bus) ‘a * CCS,Senai intertace 7710A (Set Baud) $ 150 1 99 Micromodem lie w/Smartcom $ 329 Spmt.SOcps $ 399 MAXELL, 10 each. MD1. SS/OD $ 55 8 29 u * 11+ NEC. PC-8023A. FT. 120cp$. 80cd. para 599 ComX16K RAMCa.'d. 1 Yr Wty . for 179 to Cable $ 8 411 S 8 39 10 each. M02. OS/DO $ 75 $ 39 IBM-PC Modem S 39 * ComX. 80COI.+64K RAM NOVATION PC-8025. 120cps. 1 36 od. para 8 895 8 771 VERBATIM. 10 ea M0525K)1 . SS SO $ 49 S 25 forlle.tYr Wty 199 99 IBM-PC Access 1-2-3 Package 595 445 Cade. 8023/8025 to IBM-PC S 50 8 4 $ 1 10eaM034. OS 00 $ 84 8 45 8 62A. SMcon Vaiey, Let Hander Appiecat II Modem. BAUD OKIDATA, 80cd . 120 cps. pffa S 349 Cl $ 50 8 35 « GENERIK"* DISKETTES 300 8 269 Wffd Hander $ 60 8 36 212AppteCal. 1200 BAUD I 559 63A, 132 cd. 120 cps. para $ 749 Ci I $1 92. 160 * Vldax, Videotem. 80 column card tor 11+ $ 345 8 229 — AS -OW AS PC-Cat with Crosstab 8 419 80cd . cps. para $ 599 G Cal 8 139 93. 136 cd.. 160 cps. para $ 999 G 10 ea SS/SO. 35 Track (Apple. Atan) $ 42 1 17 J-Cat 8 t04 23S0P.PaceiTBrk.350c|kpara $2695 G 100 ea SS. SO. 35 Track (Apple. Atan) s 415 8 130 212 Auto Cal S 695 8 579 24iOP.(^cemak.350(pspara $2995 G MISCELLANEOUS 1000 ea SS. SD. 35 Track (Apple. Atan) $4150 8 965 SmanCai 103/212 8 595 I 415 $ 165 1 It 10eaDS/00.46TPI(iBM.H/P) $ 63 8 25 Eladrordc Prolacttorv Lemon TRANSENO/SSM, PRACTICAL Moobdt ln-Lre64K.Paa $ 349 8 28 lOOeaOS. DD.48TP (IBM.H/P) $ 626 8 170 1 for II Mxxobuft lTFLffe64K.Ser $ 349 8 21 Lme 10Xea0S.00.48TP1(l6M.H/P) $6260 81400 Transend A^ S 69 8 69 (3uad|et. Jet Printer Peach ModemCard lor the Apple tl S 299 8 259 QUADRAM. Cdar Q W/|ackets. no labels, lop ejuahty 90 day limited warranty by is Orange Trarwnodem 1200 $ 695 S 559 * STAR MICRO.. Kanainglon, PC Saver'** Lxie Cord Gemn1(rX.120cps.23K S 499 8 26 SOFTWARL SEE APPLE Oft MM UTtUTY SOFTWARE SECTIONS Gemni1S''X.120(p5.23K NatvvorX, Wreiree. 4 outtei. w/fiftff CM G WOMAtUC IBM-PC to Epson or Star Mcroncs Cade $ 60 8 3 Computer. PC8201A. atCMcr«ACi> Apple l/F and Cade tv Epson or Gemn $ 95 8 8 OWMMrTfE l6K(to64K) 8 799 ^GENERIK^** LETTER OUAUTY — DAISY WHEEL PRINTERS: OWaiNtNK % MONITORS ACc'^^IES Parfflel Data Recxxder. PC8281A S 115 JUKl.8100.17cps.80cd . $ 700 8 H * AMDEK. ir (keen. «300G $ 200 S 135 Printer. PC8221A. Thermal. DISKETTES NEC.1SLO. 14cps.Pffa.w/TF.10fcd $ 695 8 8t * ir Amber. t300A $ 210 8 149 40 cd $ 170 $ 149 35LO. 3lcps. Para.w/TF. I32cd $1335 8 H * 12~ Amber. «310A tor IBM-PC $ 230 8 109 * TTX 1014. 13qs. Para &Ser .Pin&Fnc 8 649 1 41 * ir Color I.Composte 379 269 H/P12C.Calculatff $ 120 t 99 $ 8 SUPPLIES: Tractor Feed Paper, ftbbons. Daisy Wheels H/PlIC.CakxAator S 90 S 75 SSSD $1.00 Each * ir Color II. RGB. Hi Res $ 529 8 439 4tCX. Calcutator NEW' S 325 S 275 OVM. Color II or III to Apple II l/F S 199 1 175 m 41C. CalcUator $ 195 8 149 DSDD $1.40 Each ir. Color IV. RGB. 720HX400V CM UST 41CV. Calc. W/2 2K Mem $ 275 S ZiS NEC. ir Green. Model JB1201M S 199 8 159 PRftE Each at 1000 quantity. PLOTTERS ir Color. Composite. X1215M $ 400 8 299 14” AMDEK. DXY-100. 1(T x Pffa $ 749 8 I ir Cdor. RGB. IBM Model S 400 8 299 X1203 Ampkxll. 1(Tx14''.6cdff.S/P $1299 8 for the ATARI * RGB Hi Res. HX-12 795 499 V 1983 by PRINCETON. S S RANA 1000 Dove. 320K $ 449 MANNESMANN TALLY. COMX Cwporaton Mnmum order quantities apply QUADRAM, Ouadchrome ir RGBCokx $ 795 8 496 KOALA. Pad w/Mcro IHus $ 100 Pixy 3. Microptotier S 795 8 8f A Above money back gjaraniee Ouadscreen tr 968x512 $1995 81595 ZENITH, ir Green. Md ZVM123 NEW' $ 200 8 ns 6 by COMX Cotpoation. not us ir MEANS A BEST BUY ir Amber. ZVM124 (IBM-PC) $ 200 8 115 CASH & CARRY OUTLETS: ADnCDIkir^ IklCADUATinil AH MMI: P.O. Boi 23068. PorticnO, Ofl 97223. IfKhid* telephone numbef and douMe ch*cl( vour ttgufM lor SIAH. AAinTCDUC. Over-the-counief sales ody. Open Monday through SaluRt L/nUCnlNUl IlirUnMAI lUN AND I CnMw.MinemsusuAlyvtsiocX Cssn*efsChecks.MoneyOiders.FortuneiOOOChecksand(3ovefnment Checks, wemneckaieiyhonor Personal or ffher - . . " — Company Checks aitow 20 days to dear No C 0 0. Prices reflect a 3S cash dscount so ADO 3\ to above pnees,(o»viSAorr*“lot MC ForU.S Mamard.add3%($Sinnnium)lor shipping. nsuranceandhandting(SIAH)by 1000 until 5:00 UPS UPSffOund 13 Standard so add3%($f0innmum)more 256K MegaPk£ II Bfiander $ 395 $ 296 Ouadboad 64K. e)fiand to 384K $ 395 S 279 SixPAPkfi. 64K. S/P/C -fS/W S 395 I 296 * Quadboad. 384K $ 595 S 396 SixPakRiG. 2S6K.S/P/C +S/W $ 695 $ 466 Quadboardll.noRAM. eq>andto256K CaH Cal S(xPakPlus.364K.S/P/C-t-S/W $ 895 I 596 Quadboad II. 64K.expaxl to 2S6K S 395 I 295 For SixPak w/ Game Port, add S 45 Quadboardil.2S6K. 6 function S 595 8 386 256KIBM-PC irOP1usll.2S/P/C $ 315 $ 186 Quad 512 f-64K plus serial port $ 325 $ 266 Quad 512 -f-256K plus serial port $ 550 t 420 Two 320K Disk Drives by CDC Quad 512 'FSIZK plus serial port S 895 S 625 p/^CSuperVson. 132 col . rnono board $ 850 I 566 Quadcolorl. board. 16 colors $ 295 I 226 90 Day Warranty By Us 64. tastZ806.64K para port $ 875 I 686 Ouadcolor II. board, use vrith Ouadcolor I $ 275 S 209 Ouadchrcme, \Z‘ RGB IRonita $ 795 S 408 Call for Details Prices and availabiltty subfeci to change Call *r^omV 2S6K RAM Cad with Fastrak’* RAM disk emulatoi Ouadscteen.ir966xS12Momia $1995 SIS05 art ^xjoler software $ 495 I 296 Mioofaza.w/copy. PP.8K.«MP8w/PS $ 189 I 129 Microfazer, w/co^. PP. 64K.#MP64w/PS $ 319 I 219 tor Display 80 66 Microfazer. PP. 128K. $55 ^ ID^C PC Pedestal’* $ I w/Ccjpy. 3 to 9 foot kcytward cable $ 40 $ 30 #MP128w/PS $ 465 S 296 9 Each. 4164. 200 ns. MEMORY EXPANSION Vertical CPU ’System StancT $ 25 I 19 Microfaw. Snap-on. 8K. PP. Epson ISmorltT DRIVES A^ESSORIES 90 Day Wananty by us Monodrome Ext . Cable Pair $ 50 I 35 ffMEa.w/PS $ 179 I 146 Microfazer. Snap-on. 64K. PP. Epson »ME64.w^PS $ 319 I 235 $ 499 I 349 All Mcrofazen are ofendable (w/copy to SIZKXSrepdn to 64K) or mort. HERCULES $325 $295J Two I 296 KBSISO SuL keyboard S 269 S 198 ComXZS6K RAM BOARD Key Tronic 1st MATE. 256K t 438 Captain, 64K. Fully Compatible 2 Year Limited Wananty by ComX Ko^PacTw/PCC $ 150 8 108 , S/P/C/Prog $ 424 $ 324 Fasirak Disk Emulator and Spooler Softwan i Programmer’s Guide $ 15 S 12 With RAM Captain. 384K. Woiks on DOS 1 1 or 2 0 S/P/C/Prog S 795 I 586 UAVMADnMutlt(ifictx)n{6}Card.MFC$ 89 I 79 HIM T RMnU Mobiles tor ^»ve cad m TG PRODUCTS joystKk $ 60 S 40 MEANS A BEST BUY SandSta. no RAM card S 230 I 160 SandSta.2S6KCad S 499 I 396 WICO, IBM-PC Mouse $ 100 I 68 DATA OR I andan 320K/360KDS DO DISK DRIVES SOFTWABE for IBM-PC or XT With Detailed installation Instructions 1 BUSINESS 1 1 BUSINESS 1 1 UTILITY & SYSTEM 30 Day Warranty by Factory Authorized Distributor LIST Mil Muitiplan 275 175 1 MICROSOFT, $ OIQITAL RESEARCH. Sameasnow PRICE rwn 0000 word $ 375 276 Concurrent CP/M-ff"* $ 350 m installed IBM. $239 For One. by 9^9 with 475 ALPHA, Database Manager It $ 295 116 Word Mouse $ 331 CP/M-86*” $ 60 49 ASHTON-TATE Financial Statement $ 100 99 CBASIC 86'- $ 200 Iff 700 Budget $ 150 100 CBASIC Compiler or MSDOS). each HALF $199 HEIGHT * dBase II. req.PC*OOS&12BK $ 395 (86 $ 600 Off dBase 11 Users Guide (Book) $ 30 29 MONOGRAM, Dollars & Sense $ 165 119 Pasc^MT-t-(CP/M-96} S 400 299 Everyman's Primer (Book) $ IS 12 OSBORNE/COMX, (Books Business. Statistics Pascal/MT (MSDOS) $ 600 399 LIST M DB 1 PRICE PMCE The Financial Planner $ 700 395 & Math Programs on DS/DD Daks) PU1 (MSDOS) orCP/M-86. each $ 750 419 1 Amdtsfc V. ^ height, intemal. Fri^ $ 295 198 Some Common Basic Rog. (70 68.) $ 100 99 Access Mngr.(MSOOS or CP/M-86),ea. S 400 179 320K/360K $ 329 S Z49 APPUEO SOFT. TECK. Versaform $ 389 295 ' Practical Basic Rogams (40 each) $ 100 99 Display Mig(MSOOS a CP/M-86).ea. S soo 339 3“ 1 Amdisk III. Dual Micro Floppy. ASK MICRO, 6L.AR.AP.INV a PR ea. $ 495 296 P6L CORPORATION. Spaed Roo.Pkg.(CP/M-66) $ 200 Iff 320K/360K S 599 S 529 BPl, GL.AR.APorPR $ 595 396 Personal investor 1.1 S 145 19 CIS COBOL-86 $ 650 Cable. Amdisfc III to IBM-PC nterface CONTINENTAL, Home Accountant $ 150 96 PEACHTREE, Peach Pak (GL.AR6AP) $ 395 238 DRLOGDff $ 100 99 FCM(Fiing. Cataloging. Mailing) $ 125 98 F%ach Text 5000 $ 395 239 HA1^S,SmartcomH( Data Com.) $ 119 N MAYNARD Roperty Management $ 495 329 PEARLSOFT, %sonai (DBMS & MIS) $ 295 196 : MICROCOM, MicrotBrminBkOata Com.) $ 100 ff Floppy Dhve Control Brd *up to 4 drives $ 195 I 165 DOW JONES, M»ket Analyzer $ 350 279 PERFECT.PerfectWHer"* $ 349 211 MiCR08TUF,On365ial(XVKDataCom.) $ 195 129 same with Parallei Port $ 275 I 205 Market Manager $ 300 239 Writer &SpeHer. 2 Pak $ 399 241 MK^ROSOn.muMath/muSirp S 300 2ff AAarket Microscope $ TOO 625 Perfect RIer'” or Pwfect Calc, each S 249 149 Business BASIC Comp. S 600 489 EINSTEIN, VWtter Hm S 300 198 Perfect Writer. Speller. F9er. Caic (4) $ 969 490 Pascal Compier $ 350 256 QUADRAM 6 Meg. Remove $2295 $1795 Memory Trainer NEW! $ 80 56 SOFTWARE ARTS, TK! Solver $ 299 2)9 CCompder $ 500 175 QUADISK 6 Meg. Fixed $1995 11595 SpetW NEW! $ 150 96 SOFTWARE PUBU8HtNQ.PFS:File $ 140 94 BASiCCongiler $ 395 2ff CAaON 12 Meg Foced $2250 $1750 Maier NEW! $ 80 56 PFS:Report $ 125 14 FORTRANCompdtf $ 350 286 Compier 750 AVAILABILmr 20 Meg Fixed $2650 1 2050 Letter Scenes NEW! S 300 195 PfSWite NEW! $ 140 96 COBOL $ 561 27 Meg. Fixed $2895 $2295 FOX $ GELLER, Qukkcode (MSOOS) S 295 179 PFS:(^ NEW! $ 140 H BASIC Interpreter $ 350 286 72 Meg. Fixed $6500 S49S0 dGraph (MSDOS) $ 295 179 SOflOM, SupeK^ II $ 296 116 NORTON, Utitte 2.014 programs $ 60 ff dUtI (MSDOS or CP/MBG.ea.) $ 99 68 SuperCalclll $ 395 216 R08E80FT, Rokey * $ 75 u u Grzdox (Color Graphics Brd) $ 295 195 S8l/8ATEUJTE,WordRnect $ 495 376 1 HOME & EDUCATIONAL 1 8" HAYDEN, IBM Pie Writer S 200 136 Personal WordPerfect $ 195 149 CP/M-80 SOFTWARE Pie Speller $ 100 69 STC/SOFTEC, The Creator $ 300 Iff B*YX/Aulo. SkiL, Temple Of Apehai $ 40 a MUCH MORE INSTOCK LIST OM H0WARD80FT. STONEWARE, Advanced O.B Master $ 595 3M OilBarons $ 100 75 pnce n«i RealE^ateAriaiyzBrtl $ 250 199 SYNAPSE, File Manager $ 100 17 ARMONK, Executive Suite $ 40 V ASHTON-TATE, dBase II $ 700 s 365 T» Preparer. 1964-for 1983 $ 295 220 SYNERGISTIC. Data Reporter S 250 Iff BLUE CHIP, MiicnaireorTycoon.ee. $ 60 m Friday $ 295 S 248 lUS, EasyWriterlKWP) $ 350 259 T/MAKBI.T/Makerlll $ 275 Iff BPl SYSTEMS, Parson^ Accounting $ 195 Iff BLUE CHIP. Miionm $ 70 s 43 EasySpeHerll $ 225 \m VI8ICORP.V6iCalc4 $ 250 170 wBROOERBUND, Apple Panic (Color) S 30 10 DIGITAL RES^ CBASiC $ 150 1 99 EasyFSer(aDBMS) $ 400 299 VisFHeorVisiSchecUe $ 300 219 Lode Rumer or Serpentine, each $ 35 u CBASIC Ccnp^CBeO) $ 500 1 339 Bustness System: GL-»-AR-*-AP $1495 996 Desktop Plan 1 $ 300 219 COMPRCHEN8IVE. Pascal/MT-h s 350 s 239 GLAR.AP.PR.OEorlNV.eedi $ 595 885 YtsiWord with VisiSpeil (128K) $ 375 299 PCTuttr{1.1 or2.0.ea.) $ 60 40 as COBOL $ 850 1 575 IN80FT, Data De^eesy to use DBMS) $ 225 199 CONTTNENTALHomeAccounait-f $ 150 •9 PL/I $ 550 1 375 UFETREE,Vol(Swriter $ 285 199 UTILITY & SYSTEM 1 DATAMOST.RgPen/Spece Strike.ee. S 30 a CCompiler $ 350 t 250 LOTUS, 1-2-3 $ 495 329 DAVIDSON, The Speed Header II $ 75 40 1 983 AWARD: FOX & GELLER, Quck Code s 295 s 185 MICROCRAFT,Verdct or Biiceepw.ea. S 995 499 CL SOFTWARE INFOCOM, DettSne/SUSPENOED.ea $ 50 33 xopy ii h; by uenirai rant bottware s sia me best dUtil $ 99 t 62 MICRO LAB. Tacx Manager $ 250 160 ZorfclorZorkllorZorklll. ea. $ 40 27 software of 1963 and 1964. It wll copy more copy dGraph $ 295 1 165 MICROPRO, WordS»« S 495 239 bw INSOFT, Mystrix. Wdrdbix or Quotrix.ee. $ 35 a protected scrftware and faster than any other backup systera INFOCOM, StarctDSS. Zoik 1. II or II, ea $ 50 1 34 $ 250 129 MICRO LAB, Miner 2049 $ 40 a Unbke other copiers it makes an exact dupficate of your Deadline or Planetfall, each $ 60 1 40 SpellStv"* $ 250 129 MtCROSOFT, Flight SnUator $ 50 a originai and it does 100% verification of copy. Documentation MICROCRAFT, Verrfct a Bftceepff. ea. $ 995 t 495 * WordStar Rotesional. 4 Pak S 695 429 MONOGRAM. DoN»s& Sense $ 165 110 sexcenent. MICROPRO. Wordsta* s 495 s 238 Starindex”* $ 195 109 PBL CORP., Pemonal investor $ 145 n MailMerge’” $ 250 1 129 WoStar" $ 495 299 CENTRAL POINT. Copy II PC. Backup $ 40 s 39 SPMNAKBL Snooper Troops (lor 2} $ 45 36 WordStar Prof Story . 4Pak(Cal) $ 895 1 429 ReportStar~ S 350 109 * COMX. Fastiak’-. RAM/Oisk emulator Machine or Face Maker $ 35 u MICROSOFT, Multiplai s 275 s 195 StarBifst’* $ 195 116 and printer spooler progam. Works on any STRATEGIC, The Waip Factor $ 40 a COBOL-60 Compiler SPHML $ 750 s 350 MICRORtM, Riase. Series 4000 $ 495 335 PC/DOS version a RAMCard Menu Diivm $ 100 t 69 8UBLOQIC, Nigit Wsskm Pirttf $ 40 27 j” P.O. box Portland, OUR AD TOLL FREE FREE GIFT mail TO: 23O68 . OR 97223 Use of ou order forms qualifies you for a free (800) 547>1289 I #F1 I gift with your order. Get on our mailing list now NAME Order Desk Hours: SAM to 6PM PST for order forms, and oirnew newsletter and j ’ Oregon TOLL FREE Hot Lirw For Informatiorf sate specials announcetTient Our custorneis ADDRESS already on our list. On Your Order I are ^1984 by Conroy-LaPointe, Inc. (800)451-5151 Portland: 2454200 (503)245-1030 I CITY STATE ZIP All rights rMerved. COUPON Copyrighted materia' NEWS support Microsoft’s mouse. This ability lawsuit, Rampe said he was convinced that When asked about the possibility, some makes VisiCalc one of the lowest priced Software Arts would win. months down the line, of VisiCorp and mouse-supported spreadsheets for the Rampe also wasn’t willing to disclose Software Arts sharing shelf space with the IBM PC. Other features include variable the particulars of the firm’s upcoming same product, Rampe said he wasn’t sure column width, keystroke memory, and a retail-marketing campaign, including the that situation would arise. “state of the art” help system, according amount of money the firm intends to spend Software Arts, however, wants to keep to Bricklin. on advertising, but he said that advertising the trademarked name. “We want Although neither Rampe nor Bricklin would be “a significant part” of the ‘VisiCalc,’ ” he said. “That’s the name we wanted to discuss particulars of the company’s strategy. feel is ours.” • continued price wars, creates a risky Timex says it’s leaving environment and risky investment.” Manufacturing at Timex has slowed, the home-computer market and once the company has used its remaining inventory of components, it will cease production. Jacobi estimated that the shutdown would take place within four BY PEGGY WATT also relates to depletion in inventory months. Reporter following Christmas sales, he added. A spokesperson for Sinclair Research When the Timex/Sinclair 1000 was (Timex’s European marketing agent), said imex joined the list of home- launched in 1982 as the first home the company was disappointed that Timex computer drop-outs with last computer priced at less than $100, its was leaving the home-computer market, T month’s announcement that it plans novelty and low price captured consumer but that Timex’s withdrawal will not affect to cease production and sales of the attention. At one time, the T/S 1000 Sinclair’s own operations. The market Timex/Sinclair 1500 and 2068 color accounted for 28% of home-market sales. instability cited by Timex as reason for its computer. The company plans to continue As a result of competition from the likes of retreat is not a problem overseas or in manufacturing computers and peripherals Commodore and Texas Instruments (an- Sinclair’s $500 price range, according to for other companies. other home-computer dropout) Timex was the spokesperson. Calling the home-computer market forced to sell its more advanced T/S 1500 Sinclair still plans to go ahead with “risky and volatile,” analysts at Timex and 2068 models at reduced prices in direct mail sales of its new personal/ have recommended that the company put order to keep the company in the home- professional QL computer in the fall. The its energies and resources into its other computer market. $500 32-bit QL was planned as a separate divisions, said C. Michael Jacobi, vice- The withdrawal of both Texas Instru- venture from Timex and was announced president of marketing and sales. The ments and Mattel from the market helped earlier this year in London. Timex, which decision was announced at this time to convince the company of the dangers of manufactures Sinclair products at a plant give fair notice to wholesale buyers who the industry. “You read about the turmoil in Dundee, Scotland, will continue to i are curently preparing catalogs, Jacobi in the industry every day,” Jacobi said. operate as Sinclair’s largest manufacturing said. The timing of production termination “The possibilities of other entrances, of supplier. • | Customs officials recommend that trav- U.S Customs cracks down elers register their computers with a U.S. Customs office several days or hours on computer-toting travelers before leaving the country. The customs agent records the computer’s serial num- ber for identification upon the owner’s return to the U.S. If a traveler doesn’t BY PEGGY WATT military applications. Small personal com- have time to register before departure, he Reporter puters and other portable high-tech items may be able to protect himself by carrying are presenting a new challenge to Opera- a copy of the sales receipt. The receipt itizens and residents of the U.S. tion Exodus, with Customs officials taking provides U.S Customs with proof of traveling abroad with personal a close look at the easily transportable ownership and eliminates any suspicion C computers are being advised to technology leaving the country. that the computer was purchased abroad, register their machines with U.S. Customs The office of representative Ed Zschau thus being subject to duty taxes. before departing from the country. At this (R-California) reports that the congress- “There is no firm policy yet,” says Sue time registration is not mandatory, but man has received several inquiries from Eckert, a staff person for the House bypassing the procedure may cause delays Silicon Valley constituents, who are con- Foreign Affairs Committee. She did indi- and result in the confiscation of travelers’ cerned about restrictions in traveling with cate that whatever specific ruling evolves personal computers when thev return to their portables. “Customs has reported a will fall under the Export Adminstration the U.S. number of successes [preventing technol- Act. According to congressional sources, ogy leaks] with Operation Exodus, and A technology leakage to other nations the crackdown on travelers with comput- that’s great,” says Jim LeMunyon, an aide won’t necessarily be stopped by Customs ers is a part of Operation Exodus, the to Zschau. “But we wonder if Customs seizing computers owned by U.S. citizens. Reagan administration’s attempt to pre- can’t conduct its business in a way that “Personal computers can be purchased at vent foreign powers (in particular the wouldn’t create difficulties for any store. If Soviet agents wanted to buy Soviet Union), from learning about U.S. businesspeople traveling with personal one, they could do so in this country,” says computer technology that could have computers.” Eckert. • 16 March 19, 1984 InfeWorld Copyrighted r-‘- ' g NEWS laws,” Brown said in conjunction with a Louisiana legislation would joint statement from the legislators. “This bill strikes a balance between the legiti- punish software pirates mate interests of the software industry in preventing piracy and the legitimate interests of the customers who acquire copies of software pursuant to license BY JIM BARTIMO ware protection company, said that the agreements.” Senior Writer Software License Enforcement Act will be Vault Corporation chairman Krag introduced in the current legislative ses- Brotby said his company helped write ouisiana politics briefly took the sion by two Democrats, State Senator most of the bill for Brown and the spotlight at Softcon in New Orleans William Atkins and Representative A1 legislators, and that the announcement L when Louisiana Secretary of State Ater. Under the proposed law, a user was timed to coincide with Softcon coming James H. Brown announced pending would automatically agree to accept the to New Orleans. Vault, of Westlake, legislation designed to prevent the unau- terms of an enclosed licensing agreement California, markets the Prolok Software thorized duplication and distribution of by purchasing or opening a software Protection System to software developers computer software. If passed, the bill will package. By becoming a licensee of the who want to protect their software from make Louisiana the first state to have such software, a user then could be punished for being copied. Prolok is used by many a law. State officials hope the law will any copyright infringement. software developers, including Ashton- make Louisiana more attractive to high- “This bill is intended to strengthen Tate and Informatics, said Brotby. The tech companies. significantly the ability of software pub- Louisiana legislation is needed, he said, Brown, speaking at a press conference lishers and distributors to enforce their because software protection schemes can sponsored by Vault Corporation, a soft- rights under trade secret and copyright always be broken. • have developed a window system that will Start-up firm announces function within the boundaries of PCjr’s more limited memory,” said Bedford. The windowing package for PCjr Trillion offering does not integrate mulitiple programs, but makes individual applications easier to use. “This program eliminates the user’s BY KATHY CHIN mands, users can select from an on-screen dependence on lengthy manuals, which are Reporter window of options with a mouse or with more of a hindrance than an aid,” Bedford designated arrow keys. Software develop- said. “Our windows let people tell the rillian, a Los Gatos, California, ers are calling VisuALL a “shell” product computer what to do in plain English, software start-up, has announced it that functions as a kind of accessory rather than in computer languages.” T will be offering the first windowing program for existing off-the-shelf Users who wish to customize their own package for the new IBM PCjr this April. software. IBM PC applications can purchase the Unveiled at Softcon in New Orleans, Trillian’s president Peter Bedford said VisuALL PC-DOS shell for $99.95. VisuALL is a program designed to simplify the firm will be shipping a VisuALL shell Bedford claims that users can create shells the use of existing software on the market. for the IBM Personal Editor for the PCjr for any software that operates on the IBM Instead of memorizing keyboard com- that will sell for between $50 to $70. “We PC and its look-alikes. • the drive, they must remove the ROM Radio Shack introduces module door and replace it with one designed to accept the disk-drive cable. disk drive for Model 1 00 The video-interface section of the drive includes a built-in BE modulator for connecting the computer to a television. A computer/television switch box is included BY SCOTT MACE those for the Color Computer or Model 4. with the drive. Monitors or televisions will Senior Writer Unlike the lap-size Model 100, the display 25 lines of copy on the screen. Model 100 disk drive is not portable. It is When connected, the disk drive auto- adio Shack has introduced a $799 about as long and wide as the 100, but is matically loads special software into the 5*/4-inch single-disk drive for its approximately three times the portable’s Model 100 that links the drive to the R Model 100 portable. height. The Model 100 itself can store up computer through the built-in Basic lan- Included with the drive is space for an to 32K in its nonvolatile random-access guage. A Model 100 must have a minimum optional second floppy-disk drive, which memory. Previously the only additional of 16K RAM to use the drive. costs $240. The drive box also includes storage available for the 100 was through NEC, which manufactures a lap-size connections to link the Model 100 to a a separate cassette tape recorder. computer similar to the Radio Shack computer monitor and/or television set. The disk drive attaches through a cable product, plans to introduce a disk-drive The 5 ‘/4-inch single-sided disk drive that plugs into the bottom of the Model unit for its machine this June. Unlike the stores 184K of information on one floppy. 100. The plug fits into the slot reserved 5‘/4-inch Radio Shack unit, NEC's model According to Radio Shack spokesperson for ROM (read-only memory) modules will have a CMOS battery-powered, 3‘/2- Ed Juge, the disk format is incompatible located behind a door on the bottom of the inch double-density drive. The price of the with other TRS-80 disk formats, such as machine. Juge says that when users buy NEC drive has not been set. • InfoWorld March 19. 1984 17 Copyrighted material NEWS People New Orleans is full of interesting sights, but few were more interesting than the sight of Apple’s chairman, Steven Jobs, intently engaged in conversation with LSD veteran and recent computer-convert Timothy Leary, in a hospitality suite at Softcon. Jobs was there to cut software deals for the Macintosh, and Leary’s attendance was in connection with XOR Corporation, a Minnetonka, Minnesota, software firm. Leary is working on his design of a 24-module “brain game’’ that he believes will help people change the way they think and live. Leary’s presence attracted the attention of both Jobs and Apple cofounder Stephen Wozniak, who visited Leary’s suite at separate times for a demonstration. XOR officials, who seemed to be accustomed to the film- indu-stry style of doing business, did a THOMAS Hollywood blitz on Jobs. They were trying WES to sell him the rights to their brain game and two other XOR products — but rumor Steven Jobs and Timothy Leary discuss “brain games" at Softcon. has it the negotiations were somewhat less than cordial and we won’t be seeing Chaplin’s Little Tramp character. So the Psycomp, of the poster that can be seen I-eary's game on the Macintosh. good doctor has recently been adopted by between Barnett and a show goer. And we .Armor Systems as a symbol for the Florida must admit, yes, it is a grabber. Psycomp company. “Einstein had a unique formula sells self-help software that relates to four with E=MC squared,” said Neil Peiman, different areas of psychology. The poster vice-president of sales for .Armor, “and we advertises a program called Treating think we have one too.” Einstein is really Sexual Problems that is supposed to treat actor Mike Basile. His makeup for just what the poster says it will treat. It’s Softcon was done by former Disney artist an “interactive” ten-session program Bruce .’Vliller, who spends an initial four which, according to the literature, “clari- hours transforming Basile into the tousle- fies frequently-held misconceptions and haired professor. Because of the heat in introduces corrective measures to over- the Superdome, Miller had to do touch ups come the problems. every 45 minutes. " Tom Synder sings "Run for the Money. Tom Snyder had party goers doing double takes at the Scarborough Systems bash at Softcon. Not only did he show off packages of his latest game (entitled Run to be marketed by for the Money) STUD.O Scarborough, but Snyder also showed off his talents as Tom Snyder, CBS recording lAGNIAPPE artist, by doing a couple of full-tilt versions of his latest song called — you guessed it — "Run for the Money.” (Snyder also .\’ick Barnett discusses Psycomp software. created the popular games Snooper Troops and the Search Series.) Rock This issue of InfoWorld is the debut of our wasn't the only musical genre represent- People page. Well be running it every other ed: Scarborough hired the Southern Uni- week with pictures and. we hope, somewhat quirky and stories about people in the versity Marching Band to put on a great unusual burgeoning microcomputer industry. We wel- Mardi Gras-style show, and a blues and come contributions to People. Ideally, we would jazz band filled in between Snyder’s like a black and white 8 X lO-inch photograph renditions of “Run for the Money." to accompany your anecdote. You won't get Mike Basile poses as Albert Einstein. any money, but you’ll get your name on the Charlie Chaplin may have been cute, page — and you 11 have our undying apprecia- but .Albert Einstein was smart as well — “It really grabs you. doesn’t it?" said Nick tion. What more could you want? and he is as immediately recognizable as Barnett, marketing director for — Denise Caruso. People editor. 18 March 19. 1984 InfoWorld Copy8ght0cl material BEFORE YOU DAMAGE YOUR COMPUTER, PLUG IT IN RIGHT. INTRODUCING THE WIRE TREE'' power surge protection AC SURGE PROTECTOR. that conforms to IEEE FROMNETWORX]'* guidelines. Power surges and voltage It comes with a bracket to spikes. Their causes can be as mount underneath your desk simple as someone opening or table and has a unique ca- your refrigerator or running a ble support feature which or- power tool, or switching on a ganizes your system's power fluorescent light. cords into a neat bundle and But their results can be dev- moves them out of your way astating. They can wipe out And it lets you control system your computer's memory. Even power from a single illuminated damage its sensitive circuits. on/off switch. That's why smart computer You 've invested a lot of time users protect their per- and money in your com- sonal computers by system. Protect that plu^~ Tputer ging them into The Wire^ ___ I investment with The Wire Tree from Netwonc. ^ if Tree. Only $69.96. Ask for The Wire Tree has local ^ I one at your com- four outlets and provides puter store. Voltage Constar^ R.F. Inter- Filtered ; surge eit 'power cut- ference power out- ters The put f: enters The put Wire Tree. Wire Tree. Networx. Brooklyn, N.Y. 11237 (212) 821-7565 NEWS The Mindset Computer Gambling on great graphics BY SCOTT MACE total) you can upgrade to a 128K RAM is somewhat transportable. More impor- Senior Writer system with one 360K double-density disk tantly, the 2000 is not disk compatible drive; or for an additional $1,299 ($2,398 with the IBM PC while the Mindset largely he last thing the personal-computer total) you can have a 256K RAM system is. industry needs right now is another with two drives. What separates the Mindset computer T IBM PC -compatible system, right? The Mindset uses an 80186 micro- from the rest of the PC-compatible bunch Mindset, a new start-up company processor, the same processor used in is two custom graphics coprocessors based in Sunnyvale, California, hopes most of the newer MS-DOS machines produced with VLSI (very large-scale consumers will think the answer to that (such as the Tandy Model 2000). The integration) technology. One of these question is no. The firm is betting that the 80186 is a faster, more advanced proces- chips has more than 25,000 transistors on superior graphics capability of its Mindset sor than the Intel 8088 found in the IBM it, which puts it in the range of many micro will make it the surprise personal- PC and many PC compatibles. central or main microprocessors for per- computer success of the year. The Model 2000 is probably Mindset’s sonal-computer systems. Mindset offers an appealing combina- most direct competitor in terms of One of the two coprocessors increases tion of advanced graphics resolution and graphics. The Tandy machine, which like the speed with which the Mindset comput- speed, and it runs a large number of disk- the Mindset has a separate graphics er can display graphics on a color monitor, based software for the IBM PC without processor chip, can drive eight colors and the other one allows Mindset to any modifications. The basic Mindset versus Mindset’s two. Even with the extra display more bits (or pixels) on that screen computer, with 64K random-access mem- colors the Model 2000 matches Mindset’s than any other MS-DOS computer. ory (RAM) and two cartridge slots, will high resolution — a crisp 640 X 200 When using an optional high-resolution sell for $1,099 when shipments begin this pixels. But the Mindset is lighter in weight monitor. Mindset can generate 640 X 400 April. For an additional $699 ($1,798 than the Model 2000 desktop system and pixels of two possible colors. Mindset 20 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld NEWS displays 320 X 200 pixels in up to 16 Graphics coprocessors colors at one time in the next highest aren’t new. The most mode. famous one is the NEC Mindset’s president, Roger 7220 that is now being Badertscher, says this resolution makes incorporated into many the Mindset computer attractive to two IBM PC -compatible ma- emerging markets — users of “window- chines to enhance graph- ing” software and dedicated-graphics ics. But the 7220, a software. version of which is manu- “We thought graphics would be the factured under license next major step,” Badertscher says. “The from NEC by Intel, didn’t visual interface is very important, and we make it into the Mindset wanted to make sure we had the machine machine. to do that phenomenally well.” “It draws lines and Mindset’s primary strategy is to sup- circles very well,” port Microsoft’s Windows {InfoWorld, Badertscher says. “But if November 21) and to make Windows run you take something faster than anybody else’s version of the where you have a couple window manager. of windows, and you want Since the final versions of Windows to move one down and have not yet been released, it’s difficult to reformat the screen, the say whether the Mindset machine will run 7220 is real slow. It does Windows faster than other machines. The not address at all the only software running under Windows that fundamental mathematics HORIZONS has been widely disseminated is the of graphics, or how people demonstration program displayed by are writing software.” He Microsoft at last November’s Comdex says that people trying to CARR/PACIfIC show. write bit-mapped But according to Badertscher, the two windowing or icon-based graphics coprocessors will allow the software for other ma- Mindset computer to run Windows and chines are bumping up MICHAEl other graphics-intensive software “many against the limits of the BY times faster” than the IBM PC and other 7220. PC compatibles. The Mindset graphics PHOTOS The two coprocessors sit on the coprocessors are the re- 80186’s processor bus, a sort of main sult of a year-long VLSI When using an optional high-resolution monitor, the Mindset highway through which all instructions to design project. Mindset computer can generate 640 X 400 pixels of two possible colors, and in the next highest mode it displays pixels in to and from the computer’s central process- designers worked with 320 X 200 up 16 colors. Several graphics packages will be available under its label. ing unit must pass. When software VLSI Technology of San requires something to be done on the Jose, California, a compa- screen, it has the coprocessors take over ny that specializes in giving designers tools that was developed by Time Arts of Glen the bus for a fraction of a second and that cut the development time of new Ellen, California. Lumena is a renamed perform the complex arithmetic necessary chips. “Three years ago, it took three version of Easel, an IBM PC program that to generate graphics. Then the 80186 years to do a VLSI device,” Badertscher gives artists full control of high-resolution resumes control of the bus. says. “We thought we could do it with our graphics (InfoWorld, December 5). All graphics on the Mindset are bit people and the latest tools in 12 months.” Badertscher says that Lumena creates mapped. The graphics coprocessors con- Although the company is working professional graphics heretofore only trol an individual pixel’s color and status hardest in the areas of productivity available on $50,000 graphics machines. (on or ofO. Badertscher calls one of the applications and windowing, it will also At a later date Mindset will have two chips a “hardware accelerator.” “It gets push hard for a new generation of graphics add-on programs — Lumena Font and out, addresses all the pixels and does all software for professionals. Lumena Animation — for creating fonts of that pixel arithmetic,” he says. “It runs At the release of the computer. type and animated sequences while using like a $50,000 computer in terms of doing Mindset will have three graphics packages Lumena. that arithmetic.” under its label. The low-end product. Badertscher says these new sophisti- The other graphics chip processes the Designer, will sell for $99. Developed by cated color-graphics programs will be video display itself. Its job is to control the Datasoft, in Milpitas, California, Designer useful for artists, industrial designers, logo computer’s frame buffer, a section of uses the optional Mindset joystick ($40) designers, space planners, architects and memory that contains the video signal on and/or a mouse (approximately $150) to interior designers. its way to the monitor. create drawings. Designer includes two Advertising agencies and people doing “We looked at how companies like levels of zoom for detail work. storyboards will also use this software. Microsoft are going to write future At the middle range is Four Point “Right now these people either take a software,” Badertscher says. “ [We looked Graphics Plus by IMSI of San Rafael, sheet of paper and they draw, or they go at] how they are going to do Windows.” California. This $249 package will let hook into some expensive machine,” The result was a graphics accelerator in users create graphics for slide presenta- Badertscher says. “A lot of people work by hardware. Badertscher compares it to the tions, and they can control slide sequences drawing with pictures and fonts.” 8087, a chip developed by Intel to do one with the keyboard or a mouse. Badertscher likens this market to the thing — perform floating-point arithmetic The high-end graphics product for large number of people who worked with very quickly. Mindset is a $399 package called Lumena financial-planning models. When VisiCalc, InfoWorld March 19, 1984 21 Copyrighted i NEWS the first electronic spreadsheet program, software better than IBM does. Irvine graphics rather than bit mapping. To run came along, it benefited the personal- says the company has tested and validated 1-2-3, according to Irvine, the Mindset has computer business. Mindset hopes to have 60 IBM PC programs (see below) that run to emulate IBM’s character mode via an impact on the graphics applications of on the Mindset with no modifications. some “elegant and high-performance algo- computers in much the same way. The Mindset generates bit-mapped rithms.” At one point, Microsoft’s Bill Mindset is eyeing other markets as graphics only. The IBM PC has another Gates became involved, helping Mindset well. The computer’s sophisticated graph- way of generating video images that is decide how to emulate the character ics and advanced sound capabilities will character based. Much IBM PC software, graphics without degrading the perfor- appeal to educators, and, as befits a .such as Lotus 1-2-3, uses character-based mance of the IBM software. “We had to company with several former Atari live up to the earlier standard,” employees, Mindset will have some Badertscher says. Irvine says startling new game software. One Mindset runs the IBM PC charac- new game. Viper, from Synapse ter-based software without any Software, is a tour de force for color degradation. graphics and cartoon-style anima- Eventually, Mindset officials de- tion. cided that they already had most of The appearance of the Mindset the desirable software included, so computer is striking. Its white they froze the operating system’s components are low and small. The 0 read-only memory (ROM) and thus main unit contains two cartridge locked out perhaps 20% of the total g slots in front and three slots for ^ IBM PC-software base. Programs plug-in modules in the back (unlike g such as Microsoft’s Flight Simula- that for IBM machines, the add-on 5 tor, for example, will not run on the hardware is in modules, not on 1 Mindset computer. cards). On top of this sits one of the 2 A number of packages for the two plug-in expansion units. The I Mindset machine are under devel- main unit with keyboard weighs 15 1 opment by third-party software pounds. With the expansion unit. The Mindset displays a 3-D map. companies. Among these are The Mindset weighs only 20 pounds and Writer, a Hayden Software word is somewhat transportable (although its processor that uses Mindset’s graphics; component design makes it awkward to Out of the box Deep Sea Danger, an underwater graphics move around). adventure from HES for children; and a Mindset will initially offer five different chess/checkers/Othello combination pack- hardware modules. There’s a $200, 300- The following is a partial list of age from Odesta. Spinnaker Software also baud direct-connect modem; a $500 300/ software for the IBM PC that recently announced that it will support the 1200-baud direct-connect modem (which Mindset says will run — straight Mindset computer. Of course, when is the only module that uses two slots); a out of the box — on the Mindset Microsoft Windows — and the wide range $100 RS-232 serial interface module; and computer. of applications under development for it — a $100 Centronics printer module. The becomes available this spring. Mindset’s fifth add-on is a stereo-sound module (also .Ashton Tate’s dBase 11 and Friday! software base should grow dramatically. available for about $100) that doubles the BPl accounting software For Mindset Corporation to succeed, Mindset’s four music or six voice channels Cdex training software for Lotus however, it has to establish marketing, to a total of eight or 12. The extra 1-2-3 advertising and sales organizations and channels allow the computer to produce Condor 3 data-base manager such essential items as a strong dealer stereo output. The Mindset has no Continental’s Home network. It also has to overcome its status internal sound speaker. .Accountant Plus as the latecomer, and IBM’s status as the Mindset will sell two different commu- Early Games learning software big bully on the block. nications programs to work with the Forth from FIG In addition to Microsoft’s support, optional modems. Telecom is a $79 Financier Badertscher says Mindset has a close cartridge that plugs into the front and Hayden’s Pie Writer relationship with Intel, which participated drives either mode. The $99 Telecom-f All Infocom adventure games in the early discussion about the machine’s program comes on a floppy disk and lUS’s General Ledger and graphics technology. He adds that Mindset , includes extra telecommunications func- Easy series does not expect the current shortage of | tions. Both programs use color-coded Knoware 80186 chips to present a problem, though I prompts and help files to simplify commu- Lifetree’s Volkswriter 1.2 he admits that supplies of several different nications. As the MacTerminal program Lotus 1-2-3 computer components are worth watching for the Macintosh represents a mouse- Metasoft's Benchmark series with a careful eye. based attempt at ease of use. Mindset’s MicroPro's Star series A much more serious problem would Telcom is an attempt to use color to do the Microsoft’s Word, Multiplan, develop if the rumors about IBM abandon- same thing. Typing Tutor, Adventure, C, ing MS-DOS and switching to a propri- [ Mindset’s sophisticated graphics made Pascal etary operating system were to prove | it difficult, if not impossible, for the Peachtree's PeachText true. Badertscher places no faith in such company to make its machine as compati- Software Publishing’s PFS series rumors — as of yet. ble with the IBM PC as other PC clones on Sorcim’s SuperCalc 2 & 3, At a lunch a few months back. Mindset the market. But Mindset’s software chief, SuperWriter engineer Louie Kirvay received a fortune Bruce Irvine, says he is satisfied that the VisiCorp's VisiCalc and VisiCalc2 cookie message that’s still around the Mindset runs the best selling IBM PC (but NOT the VisiOn series) office. “Get your mind set — confidence software and that it runs all bit-mapped PC will lead you on,” the fortune read. • 22 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld II . ATTENTION ALL HACKERS! MULLEN DOES IT AGAIN! Mullen Computer Products DISK DRIVE ENCLOSURE has made an arrangement with a SPECIAL ORDER #SPM-02 leading supplier of IEEE 696/S-lOO All-metal disk drive enclosure including systems and components and is offering two Qume Trak 842 double-sided double- computer enthusiasts their inventory of density 8” drives with regulated power older revision, used microcomputer en- supply, fan, line filter and fully arbitrated closures. These units are electrically and DMA disk controller with CP/M-86 oper- mechanically fully-functional. Because of ating system for executing both 8- and cosmetic imperfections and evolutionary 16-bit programs with above dual processor. improvements in the product, the manu- $1,350.00 facturer will not sell these products to All items sold are backed OEMs or dealers without the latest en- CONDITIONS: by a 90-day factory warranty. Quantity hancements. We cannot tell you the brand limited; all sales on first-come, first-served name of these components, but it is eas- either ily recognizable. basis. Specify desktop or rack mount enclosure (no guarantee on choice). COMPUTER ENCLOSURE We accept cashier’s checks or money orders— no credit cards— personal checks SPECIAL ORDER #SPM-01 require 30-day clearance. All-metal enclosure with constant voltage For specific product information, power supply, line filter, fan and 20-slot active terminated/shielded motherboard; call Dick Jennings at (415) 783-2866. Send dual processor CPU including 6 MHz payment to: Mullen Computer Products, Inc. 2306 American Ave. Suite Hay- 8085 and 8 MHz 8088. $695.00 , , 6, ward, CA 94545. ©1984 Mullen Computer Pn>ducts —»»— ORDER FORM-——— YES! I want to take advantage of Mullen’s special offer to hackers . . QTY. DESCRIPTION UNIT PRICE TOTAL NAME #SPM-0I Computer Enclosure $695. ea. Desktop Rack Mount (No guarantee on choice) COMPANY TITLE #SPM-02 Disk Drive Enclosure $1,350. ea. Desktop Rack Mount (No guarantee on choice) STREET ADDRESS SUBTOTAL CITY, STATE, ZIP California residents add 6 % sales tax TOTAL PHONE \KL SHIPPING CHARGES WILL BE FREIGHT COLLECT — OR CALL FOR SEND ORDER FORM WITH PAYMENT TO: AMOUNT. CASHIER’S CHECKS, MONEY ORDERS OR PERSONAL CHECKS (30-day MULLEN COMPUTER PRODUCTS. INC. clearance required ) ONLY — NO CREDIT CARDS. CALL DICK JENNINGS FOR 2306 AMERICAN AVE.. SUITE 6 FREIGHT AMOUNTS OR FURTHER INFORMATION AT: HAYWARD. CA 94545 (415) 783-2866 (415) 783-2866 Copyrighted material NEWS Clapp-Trapp Computer talk This is not the way programming is and everyone is partying. Everthing’s explained in college. “It’s really, really great. The conversation moves to housing simple,” the programmer says. “These prices, which are astronomical in Silicon guys hold the screen stuff, and this guy — Valley. Someone says, “What about the just one byte, actually — points to these store clerks and the guys that pump gas? other guys, and those guys have all the disk Where do they live?” Silence. The thought stuff that, you know, is just like hanging hasn’t occurred to them, and they have no around. Neat, huh?” answers. It sounds like total nonsense, but, for some strange reason, it makes sense. The male flight attendant, it turns out, Later, you realize that you understand a owns three computers and does contract BY DOUG CLAPP tricky programming feat for the first time. programming in C. The man in the seat Contributing Editor These guys? next to you manufactures 100-megabyte disk drives. The woman at the hotel’s evin Goldstein and I are having Don Knuth, the Obi-Won Kenobi of front desk is learning dBase in her spare dinner in L.A. And arguing. After computer science, is visiting a computer time. The family physician takes you aside K taking our order, the waitress company. He’s just received a software and asks for advice about 1-2-3 macros. says, “Excuse me. Are you computer demo. He’s floored. Afterwards, he says, And you start to wonder what life is like in people? I couldn’t help overhearing your “I used to believe that the best program- Fiji. conversation earlier.” ming was done in the university environ- We admit it. ment, not in private industry. Now, I think The banker has come to the users’ She then asks for advice. She wants to it’s the other way around.” group meeting for help. He’s having buy her child a computer, but she’s not trouble generating reports from his data- sure which one to buy. We ask her a The freeware author pleasantly puts base program. The questions begin, and number of intelligent questions and finally aside the question of how much he’s made users are intent on pinpointing, then ask how much she wants to spend. “Well, from his program. At the computer solving, the problem. What’s he trying to gee, for sure not over a hundred dollars,” companies, it’s bad form to inquire about do? He’s trying, he says, to keep track of she says, then waits for our reply. salaries, possibly the only remaining mortgage foreclosures. Without the com- The anecdote above is just one of conversational taboo. When the subject is puter, he couldn’t handle nearly as many, many: broached, people blush and change the he says. Oh. subject. The young man is a top programmer. My friend is a welder. I’ve just shown He was. and is, an ace at mathematics. The man is a sociologist, a former him my newest computer. He’s interested. He’s also an ardent environmentalist, a colleague of Alfred Kinsey, an expert on He says, “So you get the computer. Then lover of wild things and a liberal Democrat. sex and relationships. The talk has veered you’ve got to buy programs, right? And He’s saddened at the division between into computers, and I’m trying to veer it they’re how much? Ten, twenty bucks liberal-art types and science types. “Hey, I somewhere, anywhere, else. While I each?” listen to music, I read books, I can patiently answer questions, the man is appreciate art. Why don’t they try to silent. Soon, I realize that he’s taken a The computer-store salesman is angry. appreciate what I do? There’s a lot of dislike to me. I’m a “one of them,” an “Why do they keep coming out with new beauty in math.” antihuman byte-brain. The talk finally stuff? I haven’t learned how to work the shifts to Buddhism, and I regain his graces, stuff we’ve got now! How am I supposed to The editor is a punk-rock musician in but not without a lingering suspicion. sell this stuff? Do you think it’s fun looking his spare time and an accomplished Basic like an idiot?” programmer. “Why don’t you write about The woman who answers the phone is the fact that computers aren’t good for stonewalling. You’re trying to reach the If you look closely at the top of the Intel anything?” marketing director, with no success. building, you’ll notice a TV camera Pause. Here’s the problem: you don’t know the sweeping the parking lot, hour after hour, “They’re not?” I ask. person's name. If you know the name, you day and night. Inside, there is surely a “Well, nothing important,” the editor get through. If you don’t, you don’t. person whose job it is to watch a parking answers. “Company policy,” she says. It didn’t help lot, hour after hour. • that you said, “I’m not with a company” It’s the last year for Applefest. Next when asked the inevitable, “What compa- Clapp-Trapp is moving. Starting next issue, year it’s going to be an Apple/IBM fest. ny are you with?” The frustration is Clapp-Trapp will be moving from the News The Apple stalwart is trying to salvage incredible. Is this how the Japanese do section of InfoWorld into the Using Micros some pride. “But notice which name is things? Pity the user, again. section. Doug wilt continue to focus on first,” she says. “For now, anyway,” is the consumer-oriented issues of interest to person- reply. It’s evening in Los Gatos, California, al-computer users. 24 March 19. 1984 InfoWorld Copynghtad materiaJ A LETTER FROM VALUE LINE Dear Investor: When I founded Value Line, I didn’t dream that the essence of the investment data and recommendations my company created would some day be mailed to customers for analysis on their personal computers, I just wanted to give investors a standard of information for all companies they followed so they could quickly compare the prospects of each. That became The Value Line Investment Survey, the world’s largest circulation investment advisory publication. Now we^re ready for the next generation ot investors. Our new VALUE/SCREEN gives you sophisticated software and up-to-date data on stocks that enable you to identify those “needle in a haystack” stocks that meet the unique investment criteria you personally select. Up-to-date data disks provide you with the key Value Line investment information for stocks that account for about 95% of the trading activity on all U5. stock exchanges Data for each company includes 12-month performance prospects, total appreciation potential over the next 3 to 5 years, price-earnings ratiq profits, growth rates. . .and many other important variables for your analysis The software is frankly, powerful yet simple It’s an incredibly efficient tool with which you can specify twq three, or even up to nine simultaneous criteria that stocks must meet to fulfill your demanding requirements Just select the criteria you want, enter them, and receive the results of your screening on the spot. Will you need classes to learn it? Certainly not. We’ll send you a user guide. . . but you’ll need it so little that it’s best used as a paperweight. Order VALUE/SCREEN today. I’m confident you’ll value it as much as I da Arnold Bernhard Sincerely, Founder, Research Chairman Value Line; Inc ValiM Lin* Software 711 Third Av*. NY, NY 10017 If using a compatibla check the appropriate Apple or Dept. 461L03 IBM boxes above Works with Chameleon, Columbia, YES. send the me complete VAIJUE/SCREEN sottware Compaq, Corona, Olivetti, Sperry, and TeleVIdeo models. program, the full user gulden and two full months of up-to-dafe data for just S49. (This trial offer may be My check for $ is enclosed. used only once in two years.) Please bill my American Express: MasterCard: I’d like an Immediate 12-month subscription for $495. Visa: BONUS: Include fhe 72- page guide to Value Line's * Investment Survey, free Account Expiration date: Tax-deductible If used In managing your investmenfs. Purchase is nonassignabla NY residents add sales tax. Personal computer equipment: Apple II, II lie with 64K, two drives. 80-column display recommended. IBM PC: XT: * of drives: Single-sided Double-sided FEATURES INCLUDE: 16 Bit CPU With 128K RAM Memory Expandable to 256K, Two 320KB Slimline Disk Drives, Floppy Disk Controller, Monochrome Monitor and Adapter, Parallel and Serial 1/O’s. BEST OF ALL! TEN DAYS FREE TRIAL! ALL YOU PAY IS SHIPPING! FOR MORE DETAILS CALL OR WRITE TO: TAVA CORPORATION 16861 Armstrong, Irvine, California 92714 7I4/26I-0200 Hcadquartersn'clcx: 181667 Answer Back COMPDSHACK IIUN IBM® COMPATIBILITY AFFORDABLE PRICE TAVA PC THE SMART COMPUTER USER WANTS REAL VALUE WITH IBM COMPATIBILITY! THE TAVA PC. The ultimate Personal Computer. It gives you IBM PC® Compatibility at a fraction of the cost. Choosing a personal computer is a difficult decision. But, when your deci- sion is a TAVA PC, it’s not hard at all! The TAVA PC runs under DOS 1.1, 2.0, CP/M86®, and p-System®. You can choose from a large library of all the most popular IBM PC software products such as dBasell®, Lotus 1-2-3®, Visicalc® and thousands more. ©lAVA CORPORATION 1983 tCalifcMnia residents add 6% sales ox. dBASF. II is a registered C.P/MR6 is a registered trademark of Digital Research. Inc. IBM PC Is a registered trademark of IBM Corp. trademark of ASHTONTATE. Inc. LOTUS 1-2-3 is a registered trademark of Lotus Development L'CSDp is a registered trademark of Softech .Micros)'stems VlsiCalc is a registered trademark of Visicorp NEWS News Briefs Mandatory Macintoshes at school? efficiency through mathematical reason- Drexel University has declared that a ing, but their conclusions are, at best, personal computer is a required education- estimates,” according to Cohen. His al tool for every one of its 1,870 incoming software should “give the user a true freshmen. Apple Computer will supply picture of each program’s efficiency on any more than 2,000 of its Macintosh micros given computer.” to the university, and Drexel will, in turn, sell the Macs to students at the discounted Focusing on the micro market: price of $1,000. InfoCorp, a computer-industry market- Drexel was one of the first universities analysis firm in Cupertino, California, has in the nation to announce that freshmen in announced a syndicated service that will all disciplines would be required to have provide computer makers with videotapes access to a personal computer. Students A resident bets on the Washington lottery. of focus-group sessions on the latest studying liberal arts, design and nutrition trends and whims of the computer market. — as well as engineering, science and of $693,270 to 8,564 lucky bettors in its ConsumerVision is supposed to keep business — will have to become compe- first month of operation, according to marketing, sales and engineering depart- tent at using computers. The ability to use Christine Yorozu of the state lottery ments in touch with the realities of the computers is “increasingly essential for commission. marketplace. Focus groups are expected the well-educated individual,” says Drexel Lottery agents punch in the three-digit to give computer and peripheral makers President William Hagerty. bets on Cyber 18 computers connected by insight into the “paradoxes that surround Students will not be encouraged to dedicated telephone lines to a central the people who buy and use computers,” carry their micros to class, but to take computer in Olympia, Washington, main- according to the company. The service will their diskettes to university facilities tained by Control Data Corporation. also look at those who influence computer developed for this program. After gradua- Players can place bets six days a week buys: MIS directors, managers and com- tion, students can take their Macintoshes (Sundays and Christmas are excluded) at puter retailers. home for keeps. about 500 convenience stores and other Topics for the first year of the service businesses. The state lottery commission include: mobile computers, the opportuni- A Taiwan copy that’s legal: Not all expects another 1,600 to 2,000 terminals ty for non-IBM microcomputers in For- made-in-Taiwan computers are illegal to be installed before the end of the year. tune 1000 businesses, microcomputers as copies of the Apple 11 Plus. Romar Daily drawings award winnings of between office workstations and what kinds of Computer Systems of Woodland Hills, 50c and $25,000, depending on the odds advertising campaigns for hardware and California, distributes the Romar II, a legal when the bet was placed. software are effective. Apple-compatible computer manufactured Washington is the first western state in Taiwan and approved for entry and sale and the fourteenth state in the country (as Get-well messages in the Help menu? in the United States by the U.S. Customs well as the District of Columbia) to launch Hallmark Cards has become a dealer of Service. The $695 computer is a 6502- an on-line game, Yorozu said. RealWorld accounting software, which the based micro with 64K of random-access greeting-card company is selling to its memory and a typewriter-like keyboard Software that rates other software: franchised card stores as part of a program with numeric keypad. It comes with a Z80 The National Science Foundation has to automate its network of 12,000 card that allows users to operate CP/M at awarded a $120,000 grant to a scientist at franchises. The General Ledger, Accounts no extra cost. Brandeis University to develop a comput- Payable and Payroll packages run on the “The Romar is Apple compatible, not a er program that can measure the efficien- IBM Personal Computer and PC XT. clone or a copy,” says Hal Smith, chief cy of other computer programs. Jacques Computer Data Corporation of Kansas executive officer of Romar. “It has been Cohen, professor of computer science, will City, Missouri, is providing Hallmark with designed to work with Apple programs and direct a team developing a program to the software and will provide seminars and accessories without infringing on Apple’s analyze and evaluate the speed and product support. The RealWorld programs proprietary circuitry or read-only memo- accuracy of other software by using the run on 8-, 16- and 32-bit microcomputers ries [ROMs]. To accomplish this legal computer itself. and run on many operating systems. milestone, Romar engineers had to break “There is an endless choice of comput- new ground in computer design, which is a er programs to do specific tasks, but a Attention photo bugs: In addition to publish- much more expensive way to enter the program which can analyze these pro- ing all the microcomputer news fit to print, InfoWorld would like to improve the appear- business then merely copying an existing grams — finding strengths, weaknesses ance of this section with interesting, if not system,” he says. and, above all, efficiency — has never arresting, photos. We’d especially like candid been developed,” Cohen says. The new shots of some of the movers and shakers in the On-line lottery launched: Washington program is expected to eliminate the need microcomputer biz. Photo credits will be given. state’s year-old lottery entered the com- to actually run computer programs to test Send black-and-white prints to InfoWorld, puter age with the recent addition of an their efficiency. “Theoreticians have been attention Tom Shea, lOW Marsh Road, Suite on-line numbers game that paid out a total trying to analyze programs to determine C-200, Menlo Park, CA 94025. InfoWorld March 19. 1984 27 Copynghtefl DATABASE MAN d old number of records. . 65,535 I I I I Copyrighted r EMENT SYSTEMS R numbei: It’s the difference between the limits of your software, and the limits of your imagination. R:base" from Microrim takes the limits off both. You may never create an application using 100 billion records. But with Ribase, you can. You can access up to forty files at the same time. (The other leading DBMS packages give you only one or two.) You can sort or qualify your data by as many as ten different attributes or criteria- concurrently! And you can perform sorts, selects, even totals and formats with just one simple command. But there’s more to R:base than sheer power. See for yourself. For only $9.95 (plus shipping), we’ll send you a full demo packet, including a comprehensive tutorial and diskette. Just call 1-800-547-4000 and ask for dept. 855 (in Oregon and outside the USA, call 503-620-1602, dept. 855). Or ask for it at your nearest software retailer or participating ComputerLand' dealer. Ribase It’s easy when you do it R way. A product of Microrim, Inc., 1750 112 N.E., Bellevue, WA 98004 R:base is a trademark of Microrim, Inc. Copyrighted material USING MICROS Computers give independence to the disabled Micros may give new meaning to the word ‘disabled’ — or eliminate the need for the distinction BY PEGGY WATT forward to a programming internship Reporter this spring. He couldn’t find work with his architectural degree, but is confi- t makes no difference to a comput- dent he’ll find a programming job in the er if its programmer is a paraplegic Bay Area. i sitting in a wheelchair, a “There are probably 150 people quadraplegic tapping on the keyboard working now who wouldn’t have been with a stick held between his teeth or a without this class,” Kliss says. “I was person reading a screen with fingers trying to get into a field that is difficult instead of eyes. In fact, microcomput- for an able-bodied person to get into. ers may give new meaning to the word Here, it’s incredible. They really open disabled — or eliminate the need for it up and give you the opportunity to be the distinction. worth something.” The disabled are finding that they The course is tough. Students learn aren’t necessarily at a disadvantage Basic, Cobol and assembly language, when it comes to working with comput- and must pass review boards conducted ers. Because computer access can be by panels of professionals, some of facilitated by modifications to hardware them graduates of the school. Don and software, such as a lower typing Lively of Santa Rosa, California, also table or an accessory that produces paraplegic, had almost finished an braille printouts, many physical disabil- associate’s degree in programming ities can be circumvented. The result is when he entered the Berkeley school, more independence, and in some cases, and found he still had plenty to learn. new jobs for the disabled. “It gives you a cold slap in the face of | The career opportunities in com- ^ what they’re looking for,” he says. He ' puter programming for the disabled 2 finds the hands-on experience most were realized early by the Center for > practical. “Some of us practically live j Independent Living in Berkeley, Cali- ? here in the lab.” i fornia, which for nine years has Students Ed Kliss (foreground) and Dave Smith Sam Vaughan said the rehabilitation ^ operated an intensive training course at The Center for Independent Living. counselor warned her the course was I that has placed 92% of its graduates. grueling. “But grueling is probably an , Students may be blind, deaf, students get a hand in class from Joe understatement,” she says. Still, she i quadraplegic, paraplegic, mentally or emo- Quinn, a sign-language interpreter, and found the school a welcome alternative to j tionally disturbed or coping with a combi- from notetakers like Rebecca Haddock, retraining for a new field after she lost her i nation of disabilities that are immaterial or who received a tuition waiver in return for hearing several years ago. It also made her j| surmountable at the terminal. A few low her services. Modems and speakerphones more aware of the usefulness of computers |i tables are available for wheelchair-bound allow students to keep up with the class if in everyday life. Vaughn says she would ij '1 students, said Joan Breves, director of the they are unable to make it to the like to see more micros linked to TTYs Blind the deaf to training program. students use classroom. (teletypewriters that allow the || Optacon, an attachment that prints the The job-placement assistance is a big type messages over the telephone). II terminal readout in braille. “Some of them boon, says Ed Kliss of Berkeley, who is The center is one of 27 across the are very fast at it,” she says. Deaf confined to a wheelchair and looking country that are sponsored by IBM and 30 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld USING MICROS munications package for the Apple II and Apple lie), a Transend modem and an ECHO II speech-synthesizer board to create a talking word processor. With the equipment in place, each character is spoken through the speech synthesizer so that the user can verify the input. Multiple-key commands can be difficult for the user with impaired motor skills, and the problem has been tackled on several fronts. Keyloc, a free program written by John Black of Bethesda, Maryland, solves the problem on IBM PCs and compatibles by converting momen- tary-action keys to alternate-action keys, Guest instructor Joe Pratt and sign-language interpreter Joe Quinn work together to teach which are identifiable by a tone sequence. assembly at the Center for Independent Living in ^rkeley, California. The program can be downloaded from CompuServe and is available to all who can State rehabilitation departments. IBM Its product line includes talking Apple benefit from it. It is also available from the became interested after a salesman who computers; software packages including Silicon Valley Computer Society at P.O. had lost the use of his limbs was word processing; data-base management; Box 60506, Sunnyvale, CA 94088. successfully retrained as a programmer. a mailing list; a calendar; and Braille Out, Medical Equipment Distributors of IBM remains a strong supporter of the which produces printouts in braille. The Maywood, Illinois, manufactures inter- schools, providing equipment and access company’s manuals, tutorial documenta- faces that allow the severely handicapped to its mainframes, offering internships and tion and sales literature are recorded on to control keyboard functions via two hiring graduates. “Most of us never think cassette tapes. switches and Morse code. The switches can be activated by slight movement, breath or pounding, says Jan Little, The development of adaptive devices executive vice-president. She says it is particularly beneficial for cerebral palsy victims, who often have very limited may not keep up with the growth of control of movement. Related equipment allows the disabled user to spell out words thereby leaving on a screen by choosing letters with a nod computer technology, or exhalation. “The new electronics is one of the best things that has happened for the handicapped even further behind. the disabled individual,” Little says. Despite the recent increase in the numbers of adaptive devices for the about this other world until some accident Computer Aids’ aim is to provide disabled, there is still plenty of room in the happens,” says Norman C. Hammond, a affordable aids for the growing market of development field according to David member of the four-person IBM Rehabili- blind computer users, Grimm says. “We Holladay. Holladay founded Raised Dot tation Training Programs Department. could develop the most fantastic gizmo or Computing in his Lewisburg, Massachu- “There are a lot of people out there widget in the world, but if nobody could setts, home three years ago and has seen it whose bodies are handicapped but whose afford it, who could use it?” He believes grow into a full-time venture for himself minds are very sharp, and given the that the market for the blind is overlooked and his wife, Caryn Navy. As a result of chance for training, they would be able to by many researchers and devel- Navy’s blindness, their main do something.” opers. “But there’s a lot of tools interest is in adaptive devices for In addition to career centers, a number the sighted world has that the the sight-impaired. Holladay and of companies are developing adaptive blind market doesn’t, because Navy concentrate on software devices for disabled users. Computer Aids, nobody has tailored them to the development, interfacing tradi- of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is owned by blind blind,” he explains. Companies tional tools for the handicapped people and is exclusively devoted to like his are gaining a larger pool with computers and promoting meeting the needs of blind computer of resources as more blind information exchange among users. people enter the field, Grimm people who use adaptive de- Computer Aids founder Bill Grimm says. “The technology has vices. “There has been an in- says he built his first “Talking Apple” for opened many doors. The bottom crease in interest by companies his own use and then discovered that many line is giving a person a tool to al- in using adaptive devices for other sightless people were unable to find low him to be independent. handicapped employees,” computer equipment that they could use. We’re not doing this because we found a Holladay says. “But I’m not seeing a lot of ” At first he made a sideline of marketing niche in the market. We know what the programmers working in this area. the device that causes the computer to needs are.” He worries that development of adap- speak each character as the key is Among the company’s projects is a tive devices may not keep up with the depressed. A year ago, he went into the cooperative effort with Telesensory Sys- growth of computer technology, thereby business full-time and developed a compa- tems of Mountain View, California. The leaving the handicapped even further ny with a majority of blind stockholders. Talking Transend allows visually impaired behind. “Too many rehabilitation centers The company has grown to six employ- computer users to use electronic mail by are staffed by counselors who don’t know ees, with installations all over the world. blending Transend 2 (an electronic com- RAM from a floppy disk,” he says. • InfoWorld March 19, 1984 31 Copyrighted material Introducing: Offlx The Personal Office System The World’s easiest to use Integrated Software Package. Here’s what you get: 1. Filing 2. Word Processing 3. Forms Design 4. Report Generation Imagine, a program so easy to use that it doesn’t even need! user’s manual! By using pop-up menus, help screens, and on-U documentation, OFFEX7"' teaches you everything you need 1 know as you go along. All in plain English. Best of all, OFFEX} is only $99.00 (yes, only $99.00! ). Ask for OFFDC™ at your local computer store, or call us toll-free at (800) 782-4896. Dealer inquiries welcome. EmcwiiiG TCCHNaocir 2031 Broadway Boulder, Colorado 80302 (303) 447-9495 ‘Requirements: MS-DOS, 192K RAM. two 320K disk drives (or hard disk). IBM PC and IBM XT, TI PC. NEC APC, DEC Rainbow. Zenith Z-IOO, Victor 9000. HP 150, COMPAQ, Hyperion and Tlrndy USING MICROS Micros break silence for deaf editor BY DENISE CARUSO Reporter enry Kisor’s instrument of liberation was not a sword nor even the mightier pen. It was a modem that was connected to his first microcomputer. Because of it — after years of deafness — he was finally able to “hear” the language of another human being. It transformed his eyes into his ears. Kisor’s liberation began in 1982, during the halcyon days of Osborne Computer Corporation. He had decided to invest in the tiny-screen portable, because “just like every other journalist, I wanted to do a little free-lancing and work at home when I wanted to.” Kisor, a 20-year veteran of the newspaper business, works for the Chicago Sun-Times as both book editor and computer columnist. Writing the computer column is a new occupation that resulted from his fascination with a newly discovered world. The Osborne provided him with a workstation, and he soon purchased a modem to send articles from home to the Sun-Times’ Atex system. As book editor, Kisor rarely did interviews. When he did interview people, the obvious problems relating to his deafness arose. Telephone interviews, the cornerstone activity of any busy journalist’s life, were impossible without an interpreter. And although Kisor can speak fairly clearly and is an excellent lip read- er, his in-person interviews were always somewhat questionable. Henry Kisor of the Chicago Sun-Times Then Kisor bought the Osborne 1 and heard about a writer named Burke Campbell. As a publicity stunt at a certain trade between 45 and 50 electronic bulletin boards and telecommunica- show, Burke, in one sitting, wrote a science-fiction book on an Ap- tion services. In fact, the bulletin boards got him started on his ple computer and sent the book out over The Source so that it computer column. was instantly readable by subscribers. “I used to send out help messages about my Osborne, and Kisor himself had recently subscribed to the The Source and within two or three hours someone would send me the answer. figured he could interview Campbell via the communications The bulletin boards are a big part of my life now,” says Kisor. network. “I’ve made friends I would never have made otherwise. I ask for The words, “Henry, this is Burke Campbell,” appeared on opinions and anecdotes for my computer column, and I get a lot of Kisor’s computer screen, breaking Kisor’s longtime isolation of them. Bulletin boards, to a deaf person, are a wonderful way to silence. plug into the party line of human interaction.” Kisor says it’s unfortunate that microcomputers aren’t more Kisor no longer works frequently on the Osborne — “I do widely utilized by the deaf community. “There’s a bulletin-board when I can get it away from my wife,” he says — but now uses a system [BBS] for the deaf in Washington D.C., but so far very few TRS-80 Model 100 and a Compaq. And the modem didn’t turn deaf people have computers. The biggest reason is money, but out to be the interviewing tool he thought it was, though the po- also, a majority of them are born deaf and have never learned tential is still there. Kisor says literary people generally use enough language to be confident with spoken or written computers for writing not for communications. language,” says Kisor. His deafness was gradual, thus his “Not many authors have modems yet. Writers are slow to command of English is excellent. “But it would be a wonderful adapt to new technology, and they don’t perceive the need, way to teach language. Teaching language on a computer is although 1 don’t see why novelists couldn’t send chapters of their dynamic, it is language being creative. Deaf people could be more books to their agents or editors for instant feedback. But most responsive to this because it’s interactive.” writers don’t even know what modems are.” Kisor says another problem is the TDD (Telecommunications Kisor’s familiarity with modems and various BBSs eventually Devices for the DeaO telephone system. “Many deaf people don’t got him interested in writing the Sun-Times computer column, even have TDD, and those who do can’t use it to communicate called “Personal Computers,” which he’s been doing on his own with their computers because it uses Baudot code, and computers time for months. Hoping for recompense, Kisor recently decided use ASCII, and the two codes don’t communicate to each other. to syndicate this column and has already sold it to the Los Angeles Also, only the deaf have the TDDs, since they aren’t of value to Herald-Examiner and the Orlando, Florida, Sentinel. Kisor’s anyone else, so they don’t help cross-communication between the dedication to his trade and his hobby must be wearying for the deaf and the hearing. It’s worthless for social interfacing.” man who figures he’s the only deaf newspaper- But micros and telecommunications have certainly helped person in the United States, but he doesn’t seem to mind. “It’s all Kisor to “reach out and touch someone.” He now subscribes to an education,” he says, “and every day I learn something new.”# InfoWorld March 19, 1984 33 USING MICROS Events: March 1 9 - 25 business computers. Contact: Carol feature forums and regular conference Tschudi, New York Power Authority, sessions by other industry pioneers and MON 681-6363. Location: (914) Roosevelt Ho- leaders. Visitors will be able to try out new tel. Admission: $75 including full luncheon products at 300 company exhibits. Con- and wine. tact: Computer Faire, West Coast Office, (415) 364-4294. Location: Civic Auditori- o New York, NY: The New York IBM um and Brooks Hall. Admission: $20 for all Blacksburg, VA: A Microcomputer Personal Computer Users’ Group , a New four days, $12 per day. Seminar and Trade Show, being held York City-based group for users of IBM March 19-21, will focus on how a PCs and compatibles, will discuss local- Los Angeles, CA: A conference entitled microcomputer can be used by all mem- area networks at their monthly meeting. Video Games: The New Creative Frontier bers of a family, particularly a farm family. Contact: (212) 533-NYPC. Location: Call will feature some of the industry’s top General sessions on telecommunications for meeting place. Time: 6:30 P.M. creators including Chris Crawford, manag- and data-base management will be offered er of Game Design Research at Atari; along with special sessions for agriculture, San Francisco, CA: Steve Wozniak, co- Joyce Hakansson, president of Joyce business and home uses. Contact: Adult founder of Apple Computer, and Dr. Hakansson Associates; and Bill von Registrar, (703) 961-6247. Location: Vir- Henry Tropp, a leading authority on Meister, president of Control Video. ginia Tech’s Donaldson Brown Center for computing, will be the guest speakers this They, and other speakers, will address the Continuing Education. Admission: $30 for night as part of a lecture series that will future of the video-game industry and the the first family member, $15 for each run each Wednesday through April 4. This creative elements that make certain additional member. series is being held in conjunction with the games successful. Contact: University of national Chips and Changes exhibition that California Los Angeles Extension, (213) Phoenix, AZ: The Third Annual Phoenix is premiering at the Exploratorium till 825-9971 or (213) 825-9981. Location: Conference on Computers and Communi- mid-May. Contact: Linda Dackerman, Ambassador Hotel, 3400 Wilshire Blvd. cations will focus on the “Challenge of (415) 563-7337. Location: Palace of Fine Time: 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Admission: Change” March 19-21. Three tutorials on Arts Theatre, 3 Lyon Street. Time: 7:30 $185 general public, $150 special student such topics as computer-aided design and P.M. Admission: $1, free for fee. local-area networks will be offered on Exploratorium members. March 19. A variety of papers on the main theme of change will be presented during FRI the following two days. Contact: Susan THUR Brewer, Honeywell, (602) 862-4371. Lo- cation: Adams Hilton Hotel. Admission: $260 for IEEE members for the full conference; $340 for nonmembers; $160 for IEEE members for two days only, Cleveland, OH: Frederick Way III, from excluding tutorials; $220 for nonmem- Case Institute of Technology, will give an bers. Reduced rates available for students. address entitled “Computer Users and Misuses: A Prospective for the 80s” at the 1984 Computer Law Institute sponsored by the Bar Association of Greater Cleve- WED land. Other topics to be covered include proprietary rights in software, software- licensing agreements and financial and tax considerations related to the acquisition of O software and hardware. Contact: Carole New York, NY: Representatives from Falcone, (216) 696-3525. Location: The Source and Newsnet will be among Stouffer’s Inn on the Square. Admission: the speakers at the American Society for $135. Information Science’s Spring Information publicity micro- Seminar, entitled Micro Update — 1984. This calendar offers free for computer events including users’ group agen- The seminar will focus on consumer- das. Nonprofit and educational organizations information services, applications for in- Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft Corporation are encouraged to contribute. Please allowfour formation management, software for to five weeks advance notice. Contact Barbara Bill of libraries and information centers and using San Francisco, CA: Gates, CEO Gerk, Events Editor, InfoWorld, 1060 Marsh data bases. In addition, a microcomputer Microsoft, will be the keynote speaker at Road, Suite C-200, Menlo Park, CA 94025. exposition and cocktail reception will the Ninth West Coast Computer Faire Check with contacts listed this week for any feature the latest personal and small- being held March 22-25. The Faire will schedule changes that might have been made. 34 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld Copyrighted matariaJ " Learn to use yourMacintosh almostas histasyou can eatone. Soon after Macintosh joins the Apple Congratulations Macintosh! Together family tree we’ll have an ATI training we’ll help users- and dealers- bear fruit fast. program ready to teach you how to use it. Contact ATI, 12638 Beatrice Street, ATI’s “How to Use Your Macintosh’’ Los Angeles, CA 90066 (213) 546-5579. training disk and handbook will Join our Dealers: Call (213) 546-4725. rapidly growing “how-to” series. We’ll also have training programs for all the best software available for Macintosh. All ATI training programs take you through the basics, step-by-step. Our interactive simulation method lets you practice as you learn. It’s simple and fun! ATI Training Power'" is a trademark of American Training International 8^ ATI Training Power Learn software the natural way. Copyrighted material Like the molecules in a snowflake, the elements of a computer database can be structured and related in an infinite variety of combina- tions. Being able to present these combinations quickly and efficiently, with maximum flexibility and minimum pro- gramming knowledge, is the mark of excellence which sets the sophisticated data- base management system apart from the ordinary. Thousands of satisfied users, from amateur and profes- sional programmers to major government agencies, Compatible with CP/M, corporations and industries, CP/M-86, MP/M-86, have found that Dataplex MSDOS, PCDOS, TurboDOS, has no equal in applications Novell Sharenet, PC-Net, software. development Molecular N-Star, Televideo Write or phone for our latest MmmOST, Action DPC/OS, literature and a list of existing Omninet, IBM PC w/Corvus applications. and OSM Muse. APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE DATA ACCESS CORPORATION 8525 S.W. 129th Terrace, Miami, Florida 33156 (305) 238-0012 TELEX 469021 Data Access Cl MSDOS is a trademark of Microsoft. CP M and MP M are trademarks of Digital Research. Dataplex is a trademark of Data Access Corp. — 1 Better Subscribed Than Sorry Sorry, Honey. Sorry, Mac. Sorry, Williams. I forgot. Sold out. Smith found the answer in InfcWorld. — riJ /^r L ( } LULL V- LLU ‘‘tJ The shopper returns: InfoWorld goes fast And a corporate battle No InfoWorld! at the newsstand! is lost! VW ou’II be two months behind if you’ll get news about the personal single-copy newsstand price of X you rely on the information in computer industry, profiles of $76.50 ($1.50 per copy). It’s also a monthly personal computer maga- leaders and losers, and product savings of 26% off our basic $31.00 zines. As the only weekly f>ersonal announcements screened by annual subscription rate. computer magazine, InfoWorld is our knowledgeable staff. first with the facts. Get an Don’t be sorry. Subscribe InioWmM InfoWorld subscription, and you’ll today. Ray only $22.95 to receive never be sorry. InfoWorld each week for a year Insist on it. You will have all the per- (45t an issue). 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SEE US AT BOOTH # 514 & 516 Copyrighted materiai GREAT PRICES! GREAT SERVICE! ooking for a great deal on CHECK OUT ALL OUR INCREDIBLE degree of professional ability.” Lbusiness software? Joe Neil, Lihue, HA is hard BUSINESS SOFTWARE PRICES: 800-SOFTWARE “Thank you very much for beat. see, we became to You WordStar® $269 the very prompt service one of America’s largest WordStar® Pro. Pack. $389 you gave me. I would be software marketers by offer- $169 delighted to do business prices and a SuperCalc® 2 ing great — with you anytime in the SuperCaU® 3 $279 lot more. future that you have some- Here are some of the Lotus 1-2-3"' CALL thing I need.” reasons to pick up the phone dBase \r $399 William Drescher, and pick up a bargain; Quickcode'” $199 Lansing, MI $119 LOW DISCOUNT PRICES. Crosstalk’” RELIABILITY Our prices are fabulous! EasyWriter II System’” $229 AND REPUTATION. sug- Generally 40-50% off I.U.S. Accounting” $299/mod When you buy from us, gested list price. How do we Norton Utilities’” $59 you’re in good company. You it? By buying and selling ” do Perfect Link $119 see, some of our best in enormous volume. (All Multiplan’” $149 customers are America’s our programs are the very biggest corporations. like 4-Point Graphics’” $129 latest versions. And when IBM, Chevron, Hewlett- SmartModems’' CALL “updates” appear, we’ll get Hayes Packard, G.E., Price them for you, fast!) Maxell’ Diskettes CALL Memorex’” or Waterhouse and Hone5well. WE ALSO CARRY SOFTWARE FROM: They order from us FAST DELIVERY. because they know we’re Ashton-Tate, Aspen, ATI, CDEX, Digital The key to our quick not running our business Research, Fox and Geller, IMSI, I.U.S.,Life- delivery is our giant inven- from a phone booth (we tree, MicroPro, Microsoft, Peachtree, tory. We have what you have a million dollar Perfect, Software Publishers, Sorcim, Visi- want. Now. And we’ll rush inventory!). And because Corp and much, it to you like our business we offer extra discounts much more! depends on it. (Because on quantity orders and it does.) other special services for our National Accounts FREE TECHNICAL SUPPORT. customers. That’s right. We offer Also, we fully full technical support at no guarantee every charge whatsoever. product we sell That means if you have against defects. That’s how we questions about any software earned our membership in the you buy from us, just call us and CUSTOMERS TELL respected Direct Mail we will answer them for free. OUR STORY BEST. Marketing Association. Our technical support staff is “I very much appreciate your IS READY made up of full-time experts who helpfulness and speed in filling 800 SOFTWARE SERVE YOU. are helpful and patient. Their my order. Rarely today do I have TO only job is helping you get the the opportunity to deal with a TO ORDER CALL TOLL-FREE most out of your software. firm which shows such a high 800-227-4587or 415-644-3611 charges, other low Quantity discounts available Call for shipping or for a free catalog. through our National software prices Accounts Program. Aoo-software) Prices may change. dealers and orders Purchase orders accepted. Please International Berkeley, CA 94710 welcome: TELEX #751743 call in advance. 940 Dwight Way, 800-SOFTWARE UD. Prompt U.P.S. or Federal Express shipping. CA residents add sales tax. 800-SOFTWARE 1983 Overnight delivery available. Copyright ^ogynghtB^nateria! SOFTWARE Lap models are getting loaded The number ofprogramsfor notebook-size machines is on the rise BY JIM BARTIMO function is Remote Control, developed by their word processor at home once they’re Senior Writer Sigea Systems for Kensington Microware. on the road.” Sigea president Harry Brawley believes Gottheil also noted that Lotus’s new robably no one would have pre- that such packages will become popular for product. Symphony — which requires dicted that such a weighty after- their ability to act as a supplement to the 320K RAM and enhances 1-2-3 by adding P market would spring up, but user’s main computer, rather than as solo word processing, communications and an software for portable notebook-size com- packages. open-ended architecture — will also fit puters is available in increasing quantity. “Nobody in his right mind is going to do into the new breed of portables. Lotus Almost everything, from a data base to a serious editing on the Model 100,” could not reveal the name of the portable’s typing lesson, now can be put onto these Brawley said. “You have to upload it to a manufacturer with which it is working due lap computers available from Radio Shack, NEC and Epson. The Radio Shack Model 100, for instance, can run 8 application programs offered by Tandy and at least 15 more from third-party vendors. Among the packages Tandy offers are an investment- analysis tool, a statistics package, an electronic-calculator package, a graphics plotter, a Basic language tutor, an execu- tive calendar and a space-alien game. Offered on cassette tape for loading via a tape recorder, this software is offered in addition to the word-processing, schedul- ing and Basic utilities resident in the Model lOO’s read-only memory (ROM). One company that has invested heavily in the Model lOO’s success is Portable Computer Support Group (PCSG) of Dallas, Texas. This firm’s Businesspak-l- software features six separate applica- tions. Write+ is a word processor capable of advanced formatting; Expns-I- is an 18 X 18 cell spreadsheet; Graph-1- allows the printing of pie, bar and line charts; bigger machine first. Most people who to a nondisclosure agreement. Telex+ is an enhanced communication own a Model 100 also own a desktop Software Arts — which is still battling package; and Put-l- and Sort-1- work system.” VisiCorp for the right to VisiCalc — plans together as a data base. Noting that the Model 100 is about to to put the spreadsheet on a similar, if not These applications are available on be upgraded to the Model 200, Brawley identical, machine to that referred to by larger machines, and PCSG has had to believes a disk drive will eventually Lotus. “Just as we had to be secretive make some adaptations to put them on a become available for the Radio Shack about the Macintosh, we can’t talk about machine the size of the Model 100. The machine. PCSG said it is considering the portable under development now,” Businesspak-t software takes up only 3K putting all of its software on disk for both said Tracy Licklider, chief operating to 5.5K of random-access memory (RAM) the Radio Shack and NEC computers. officer for Software Arts. on the Model lOO’s limited memory and Small software houses are not the only But Licklider gave some indications of costs $89.95 for all sbt functions. PCSG businesses that believe portable comput- what the next generation of machines will also markets some of its packages for the ers will grow into value-added, bigger be like. In addition to having 256K RAM NEC 8200 series of lap computers and machines. Lotus Development Corpora- and IBM PC compatibility, the new makes a package that will allow access to tion and Software Arts are both planning portables will improve on today’s screen files on a remote IBM Personal Computer. to put their memory-hungry packages (1- size, sluggish CMOS processors, slow PCSG’s Disk+ is one of two packages 2-3 and VisiCalc respectively) on as-yet modems and a lack of removable storage on the market that allow users to call their unannounced portables. media. “All five of these points will be IBM while they are on the road. Once a “Integrated software such as 1-2-3 is addressed by machines coming out in the modem connection is made, the Model the perfect product for the portable next year,” Licklider said. 100 can display and manipulate files loaded market,” said Ezra Gottheil, manager of While the machines Licklider describes into the IBM as well as upload more files. technical communications for Lotus. “Peo- are similar to the GRID Systems briefcase- The other package that performs this ple don’t want to realize they’ve forgotten size Compass computer, the Compass InfoWorld March 19, 1984 39 Copyrighted material SOFTWARE requires an AC outlet for any serious and salespeople, usually for under $100. vertical applications, the HX-20 has been computing. “You need to break the power Vertical applications are an obvious sorely lacking in common utilities. The cord [to have a truly portable computer],” niche for a dedicated portable — witness initial word processor offered with the Gottheil said. Convergent Technologies’ Workslate. The HX-20 was only upgraded with the release The super portables wait in the wings Workslate will perform spreadsheet analy- of Ski Writer in the past year, and it was as NEC continues to develop software for sis applications sometimes tailored specifi- only in the past few months that a the 8200 series lap computer, both cally for the user by Convergent. The communications package called EpsonLink internally and in conjunction with outside company is also rumored to be working on was added. Prior to EpsonLink, communi- developers. Like the Model 100, the NEC a dedicated word-processing portable cation with other computers was impossi- ble. A spreadsheet, EpsonCalc, was also recently added to the HX-20. Game software for portables is Although a blackjack game is available from Epson, five games developed for the HX-20 by Neosoft of Arlington Heights, sorely lacking. Radio Shock, Epson Illinois, and sold to Epson have yet to surface on the machine. and NEC all offer token game ploy, In fact, game software is sorely lacking for portables. Radio Shack, Epson and NEC all offer token game play, but no real but no real challenges are found. challenges are found — perhaps owing to the portables’ small screen. There is one application almost all machine features resident word process- which will be called Wordslate. portables feature. With the minor hard- ing, communications and Basic, but it also A machine that may have otherwise ware addition of a bar-code wand, software runs some 45 additional packages on been destined to abject failure may be allows fast input of bar-coded information. cassette tape. Included in the NEC salvaged by the vertical applications Bar-code readers are especially useful in packages are a tax planner, a data base, a market. The Epson HX-20, the first lap retailing markets where inventory can be time-management package and a financial computer, can run independently devel- easily tracked with a portable machine. analysis package. Packages from third- oped software for calculating everything For instance, a news dealer could keep party vendors, such as PortaSoft Corpora- from flight data for pilots to construction track of this magazine’s sale by passing a tion of San Francisco, offer vertical bids for swimming-pool contractors. bar code wand over the code in the lower applications for construction companies While it features a handful of these left hand corner of the cover. • Ad Changed 2 / 15/84 PROGRAMMERS- COMPARE Products. Get Answers. GUARANTEES We research and specialize only in software for programmers of micros, if a product is unknown to you and we recommend it then we take the risk. PHILOSOPHY! We carry every programmer's product for CPM80, MSOOS and CPM86 plus every key product for APPLE, Commodore 64, ATARI and TRSOOS. "C" LANGUAGE 1 1ST OUR PASCAL OUR OTHER PRODUCTS FEATURES PRICE PRICf [NVIRONMtNI PRIC! NEW CPM86/PC Microshell improve CPM 8080 150 125 APaE: AZTEC C-Full, ASM $199 call PASCAL MT*86 $400 $289 For MICROSOFT C without SPP CPM80 350 255 10 LISP-lulUOOOKRAM PCDOS 175 call 8080: BOS C-Fast. popular 150 125 Halo - Graphics $125 MS PASCAL 86 . MSDOS 350 255 PLINK-86 - overlays 8086 350 315 8080: AZTEC C Full 199 call Panel -Screen $315 SBB PASCAL great, fast PCDOS 350 315 PL/ 1-86 8086 750 560 Z80: ECOSOn-Fast, Full 250 225 PHACT-ISAM $250 PASCAL 64 nearly lull COM 64 99 89 Prolog - with samples PCDOS NA 125 8086: optimizer, Meg call C86- 399 C Tools! -String $115 LooRalike ot Hayos Smart 1 200 modem 369 8086 Uttice - Newt. 18 2.0 600 495 LANGUAGE LIBRARIES C Tools 2 -OS Interlace 92 COBOL - Level II 8080/861600 1275 $ Microsoft (Lattice) MSDOS 500 call 10 interlace $125 $115 Others coming Digital Research Megabyte 8086 350 280 C OBASE 8080/86 Desmet by CWare Fast 8086 109 99 C Tools 1 • String. Screen PCDOS NA 115 2 NA 92 BASIC C Tools -OS Interlace PCDOS C Tools XOR Graphics. Screen NA 96 Active Trace-debug 8080/86 $ 80 73 FLOAT87 La.tice, PLl PCDOS NA 115 PRODUCTIVITY USING MSDOS MBASIC-8U - Microsoft 8080 375 $255 GRAPH GSX 80 CPM80 60 50 or BASCOM 86 - Microsoft 8086 395 279 HALO PCDOS ISO 125 Assume use of compiler and typical editor What commercial public do- 449 ISAM Access Manager 86 8086 400 300 ' is CB-86 DRI CPM86/PC 600 main products Improve productivity'/ ' MSDOS Programming a grow- PHACI with C PCDOS NA 250 - DRI 8086 150 119 PBAStC request it Help it. FABS CPM80 ISO 135 ing document with some answers Call to improve BASIC Dev't System PCDOS 79 72 PASCAL TOOLS PCDOS NA 115 Earn SSO credit toward any purchase when we add to ' MSDOS Pro- SCREEN Display Mgr 86 8086 SOO 375 EDITORS Programming gramming" any description, code, or idea received from you PAN EL -86 many PCDOS NA 315 WINDOWS - AMBER PCDOS 295 call BELLESOFT PASCAL MSDOS $245 call SUGGESTED PRODUCTS FOR PRODUCTIVITY C Screen withsource8080/86 NA 60 FORTRAN Full use 01 lues across 2 0 Pireclones AKA ALIAS $60 Overlays headers m all directory EDIX PCDOS 195 149 Recover erased or damaged tiles - use Notion UlHItios $65 or POWER $139 which also includes MS FORTRAN-86 Megabyte MSDOS S3S0 $255 FINAL WORD 8080/86 300 225 diieclory management memory move bad seclois tile elc SS FORTRAN 86 CPM 86 42S 345 MINCE CPM. MSDOS 175 149 Programming tools lor tilecompare cross reterence combining/splitting files iinenumber FORTRAN 80 66 OecenI CPM80 SOO 350 Micro 250 215 radix conversion coiuninmove sctollspeeO piettyp'inl use Progrommef 's Helpof $175 SPF PC INTEL FORTRAN 86 IBM PC NA 1400 86$l35many0ieal Call DISCOVERIES SERVICES tor a citalot Meraturo. comparisons, pncts. Shippmg $2.50 RECENT per Item purchased AS FORMATS aviilable HIGHLIGHTED * Programmer's Referrai List * Deaier's Inquire C Helper includes source in C * THE PROGRAMMER’S SHOP^" * Compare Products Newsletter lor CP/M80. MSDOS tor a: 908-1 Providence Highway. Dodhom, MA 02026. XREF. * Help And a Publisher * Rush Orders DIFF. GREP. Flowcharler. 617-461 0120. Moss: 800442-8070 C Beautilier and others. $115. * Evaluation Literature Note: all prices subiect to change without notice. * BULLETIN BOARD - 7 PM to 7 AM 617-461-0174 VISA 8(X)42 1-8006 master card 40 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld Quality you expect, at a price you don’t. BECK DOUBLE DENSITY DISKETTES SINGLE SIDED DOUBLE SIDED Our message to you is simple.W22If you like the quality of Dysan.Verbatim, 3M, et al, you’ll like the quality of Beck soft sector, 5V4" flexible diskettes. The only major difference is cost. We’re less expensive. In fact, a lot less expensive. Why does Beck cost less? What about quality and reiiability? Our philosophy is: Excellent quality and reliability, at a cost At Beck, our success as a diskette manufacturer depends that beats the jackets off other diskettes. We can do it be- upon our ability to provide you with a fully reliable, quality cause we (1) put our money into the product, not mega- diskette - every time. For that reason we take no shortcuts. marketing schemes and fancy packaging; and (2) sell our You get the best because we are committed to excellence. money-saving 25-diskette pack to you direct via a toll free Every diskette is manufactured to very strict quality stand- order line, so you get fast, door-to-door service efficiently. ards. We test and retest 21 times throughout the manufac- turing process to insure compliance with no less than 42 - When you buy Beck, you’ve got the best. rigid specifications. We make sure you get the very best a 100% certified, 100% error free diskette. Beck Quality. Beck Reliability. And, of course. Beck Price. Our satisfaction beck money-back guarantee and full year warr- 1 D, soft sector 5V4" diskette $2.19 each 7 anty # are proof of 2D, soft sector SVa" diskette $2.79 each our commitment to exceilence and For IBM, Apple, TRS and 97% of popular confidence in microcomputers. our product. (in New Hampshire call 924-3821) Door to Door in 48 hrs. Toll Free . V/S4* Miotfvrvora CASH Order Toll Free 1-d00-23^5634. Available in 25 pack only, plus freight, Complete with hub reinforcing rings, Tyvek envelopes, color coded user labels, and nonmetallic write protect tabs. All Beck Diskettes meet or exceed ANSI specifications. Copyrighted material UndaWindows. New Microsoft* Word. It makes your IBM Personal Computer think its better than a $10,000 word processor. Wim Microsoft Word, what you see on the screen is what you get on the paper. So its easy to spot mistakes. Boldfece, underline , and italics look like this, not this: ABboldfaceAB, ASunderlineAS, AHtalicsAl. And, when you make changes, paragraphs are automatically reformatted. Flush right, flush left, centered or justified. It even gives you several columns on a page, like a newspaper. Word foigives and doesn’t forget There’s an “uh-oh” command called Undo. Make a mistake? Or just want to experiment? Hit Undo. Mouse*Finally* Word undoes your last change and remembers things the way they were. Word does windows. Up to eight, to be exact. So you can transfer or edit between eight different documents. Or between eight different pieces of the same document Word travels fast Word has a Mouse, a handy little critter that lets you move copy, select commands and edit faster than you can say “cheese.” Word also lets you create your own style sheets, so you can standardize your documents, memos, files and letters. Its not surprising that Microsoft has a way with Word. We designed the MS-DOS operating system that teUs the IBM® PC how to think. And we pioneered the first microcomputer BASIC, the language spoken by nine out of ten micros worldwide. For a few final words, call 1-800-426-9400 (in Washington State call 206-828-8088) for a free Word brochure and the name MICROSOFT of your nearest Microsoft dealer Tlie Higli Perfomiance Software Copynght0d malarial . FEELING THE SOFTWARE “BYTE”? ^foy, Let the InfoWorld Report Card on soft- ware take the “byte" out of your software CpiSlPute purchases. This unique publication pro- vides an objective source of new software iSfon reviews you can trust. Collected from 1 983 issues of InfoWorld, these in- depth evaluations represent a cross- So section of software for a variety of personal computers. Each review summarizes the product’s features, evaluates performance, judges docu- mentation, assesses ease of use and error handling, and then rates the product from “excellent" to “poor." ^'^•^ordfrr, InfoWorld sorts through the thousands of software packages on the market, selects the most significant, and provides unbiased, timely software reviews. The Report Card is a must if * Speech « i you buy—or are thinking of '"'Punicati r buying—software To order the InfoWorld Report Card, fill out the coupon below and mail it today. Yes, send me a copy of the InfoWorld Report Cordon Software for only $3.95 + handling. $1.25 postage and ». f/ My check is enclosed DAm Ex BA/VISA DMC EACH REVIEW: (MC only— List four digits above your name.) Summarizes the product's features Cardholder's Signature Exp. Date Name Evaluates performance (Please Print) Address Judges documentation City State Zip Assesses ease of use/error Address shown is Home Business handling Return form to: InfoWorld, 375 Cochituate Rd., Box 837, Framingham, MA 01701 Delivery from 4-6 weeks Rates products from excellent to poor Copynghtsd material SOFTWARE Review: Cut & Paste BY MARTY PETERSEN point in the document or delete it. The Cut menu and then select “cut,” or you can Contributor & Paste method for doing so is very simple simply press Control-C directly without — after you learn it — but not as going to the scrolling menu. ut & Paste, a $50 program from straightforward as you are lead to believe. The material that is cut disappears Electronic Arts, is hyped as being It certainly will take you longer than the from the screen and is stored temporarily C a remarkably simple word proces- 90 seconds its producers say it takes to in a special area of memory (a buffer). If sor for the Apple II. Its publishers would figure out that there are two methods to you desire to paste this material some- have you believe it is also a simply cut and paste. Both methods require you where else in the text, you move the remarkable word processor. We think it is to mark the text to be cut or moved by an- cursor to the desired insertion by pressing simply mediocre, performing just ade- choring one boundary and moving the the arrow keys, then either pressing quately, and not nearly as good a buy as cursor with the arrow keys to highlight the Control-P or going to the scrolling menu some other low-cost word-processing rest of the text. Then you can choose to and selecting “paste.” If you subsequently programs. press Escape to activate the scrolling cut another part of your work, the Although with Cut & Paste you are previously cut material stored in the buffer able to use several types of formatting for will be wiped clean. your printed text, you can’t make enough It would have been nice for Electronic adjustments to give you the document you nifoWofld Arts to have used the icons (scissors and want. While this removal of options may Report Card paste pot) it has used well in some of its make the program easier to learn, we other programs. In addition, many users don’t think it will be worth the sacrifice in will undoubtedly confuse the Control-C the long run. Cut & Paste “cut” command with the more standard The program does perform a passable use of Control-C, which is to bail out or job of taking care of the text you enter. abort a program. The product features automatic word Printing is where you will find most of wrap, and you can also move in the entire Cut & Paste’s other limitations.The pro- left margin of a part of your text, which the gram only works if the printer-interface program authors refer to as Block Indent- card is in slot No. 1. Only those ing. Here is where you will encounter one combinations of cards and printers tested of the program’s annoying limitations: You— by the publisher can be used. There are no can indent — and for that matter tab Performance o S' options within the program to tell it which in increments of five spaces. You also have, or which only Documentation S' of these combinations you cannot indent both the left and right characteristics of the combinations you Ease of Use S' margins at the same time. want to use. We could not use any printer Error Handling S' You activate various functions within features such as underlining, boldface the program by selecting them from a print or any printer-control characters “scrolling” menu bar displayed at the (except for adding or not adding a line feed bottom of the screen. Only two main after a carriage return). menus are used throughout the program. When printing, you do have the option One permits you to select a function Summary: Although this is a $50 of setting margins and paper sizes in relating to the text. The other has choices home word processor, not expected inches, a nice touch for those who don’t relating to storing and retrieving to do everything, Cut & Paste does think of margins in terms of characters or documents. not give you enough options when page lengths in terms of lines. Also nice is The scrolling-menu idea is rather nice; formatting your text. If you plan to Cut & Paste’s ability to handle widows, it permits owners of Apples with either do anything more involved than those single lines at the bottom or top of a 40-column or 80-column screens to use letters or other tasks normally page. They are automatically eliminated as the same structure to operate the pro- delegated to a typewriter, there are the document is printed. gram. Depending on the size of your much better products in the same Headings on a page are limited to one screen, as many of the menu choices that price class. line, centered and no more than 38 will fit are displayed; those that don’t fit characters. You can number the pages, can be reached by “scrolling” the menu Product details; List price, $50. beginning with any page number you sideways using the arrow keys. When you Available for Apple II Plus or lie specify, but you can’t change where the have placed the cursor on the menu item running DOS 3.3. Requires 48K number will appear. There is no justifica- you want, you press Return to activate the random-access memory; one disk tion, other than left-justification. You selection. drive; supported printer and cannot align the right margin or center As its name implies, primarily this interface card; 80-column card text, and there is no way of underlining. program cuts and pastes text; that is, it optional. Published by Electronic The documentation has little straight allows you to take a section of your work Arts, 2755 Campus Drive, San talk on how to use the program. There is and either pick it up and move it to another Mateo, CA 94403; (415) 571-7171. no index, making it difficult to find InfoWorld March 19, 1984 45 Copynghted material Adds Anadex Amdek Anchor Automation CompuPro Data Products P Series Diablo Eagle EDP Epson Esprit Systems GIS Hayes Microcomputer Products Innovative Concepts Lexi- con Mannesman Tally Maxell MicroPro NEC Novation Pragmatic Designs Qume Sorcim SRW Surge Sentry Taxan Teleram TeleVideo Tl Toshiba US Robotics USI VisiCorp 3M So for even faster delivery call 800-FOR-BYTE Qyte Distributest Hayward, California • Lincoln Park, New Jersey A Division of Byte Industries Inc. SOFTWARE information about printers and interface you cannot copy the program disk. The echo the publisher’s sentiments. True, cards, how to connect them or how to product is warranted for 90 days, during this is only a $50 program. However, we adjust the paper so that the top and bottom which time defective merchandise will be have tested other home word processors margins come out even. The documenta- replaced without charge. Beyond that a with similar price tags whose features are tion just doesn’t give you what you need, defective disk will be replaced for $7.50. superior to those of Cut & Paste. Cut & unless it happens to be the philosophy of The implication of the terms of the Paste is little more than a glorified the package and the life history of its warranty is that you can only replace a typewriter that can knock out a memo or a authors. defective disk, not purchase a backup disk. letter to Mom, but cannot accomplish The document disk, which includes The ads for Cut & Paste proclaim: “If much serious work that involves even a some canned documents you can call up as you can learn to use this word processor in moderate degree of customized form letters and change, can be copied; but 90 seconds, can it really be any good?” We formatting. • oriented PCs are purchased with the IBM Review: Knoware Monochrome Display. The Knoware pack- age notes this requirement only in fine print; it should be more prominently displayed on the package. BY ALAN J. FRIDLUND standard PC-DOS commands. It doesn’t Knoware will strike you as more of an Contributor tell you what a RAM chip or a disk drive is. adventure than a tutorial. This is the And it won’t teach you how to program. adventure: You start as a clerk in the noware is one of the most For this information you will need to go Knoware company. In order to be promot- imaginative, motivationally sound elsewhere. K introductory tutorials on the Then why the fuss? Knoware is for you market for the IBM PC. It is a delightful if you don’t know anything about comput- initiation to the IBM PC for those who are ers and probably don’t want to learn AltoWOKld computer-shy or otherwise resistant to anything about them — but do want to use Report Card computers. them for specific applications in your Its debut has been accompanied by profession. As such, if you use Knoware splashy ads and a trumpeting of the people you will not gain much “computer litera- Knoware involved in the venture: Archie J. McGill, cy,” but you will probably lose your fear of who left as president of AT&T’s Advanced computers. Information Division to join the company; The Knoware tutorial comes on three Thomas B. Towers, former marketing single-sided (160K) diskettes. There is no vice-president for VisiCorp; and the pro- manual, but there is a four-page foldout gram’s authors, two professors in MIT’s sheet showing you how to insert the Alfred P. Sloan School of Management, Knoware diskette in the left-hand drive John j. Donovan and Stuart E. Madnick. and turn on the PC. Knoware requires an is front: with Happily, all this hoopla not a IBM PC or PC XT at least 128K of Performance [S' Knoware delivers. random-access memory (RAM), DOS 1.1 Documentation Knoware is not like other tutorials, or a more recent version and a monitor Ease of Use S' which spend their time inundating you attached to the IBM Color Graphic with technical information. It doesn’t give Adapter. The latter requirement may be a Error Handling S' you much knowledge of, or practice with. severe liability, since most business- Summary: An educational and training program aimed at reducing computer phobia, Knoware is simply one of the best such products you could buy. It would be improved, though, if its well-conceived training were accompanied by documentation that gave you a better idea of how to apply your knowledge when you’re through. Product details: List price, $95. Available for the IBM PC running PC- DOS 1.1 or a more recent version; Apple II Plus or Me running DOS. TYPE A LINE COMMAND.,, SIMILAR TO Requires 1 28K RAM, color graphics adapter (for IBM); 64K RAM (Apple); rnrm« H ifTnuyaiH InfoWorld March 19. 1984 47 Copyrighted material . SOFTWARE ed within the company, you have to pass muster on tasks that are, lo and behold, similar to common computer applications. By the time you have become chairman of NL SL j| II I the board, you have familiarized yourself with the PC keyboard; written a Basic llS[l]lMl!ll®[il 0 [y]II]®IE[I]B [EII1I0E] graphics command; written a Basic arith- metic statement; solved a problem on a VisiCalc-like spreadsheet; corrected a Knoware is not BEFORE BEGINNING^ ME MOULD LIKE TO REUIEM FOUR KEVS ON THE COMPUTER like other tutorials. KEVBOARD. FIND AND PRESS THE . . .. KEV which spend their Knoware's keyboard orientation: time inundating the correct key is in red. rhythm” and calculate an IRA account. As you are promoted, you can invest Further, you can invoke the Knoware your salary and cash bonuses in the stock you with technical applications independently when you have market. The program keeps a running mastered the game and want additional account of your investment successes. information. practice. The beauty of the learning approach As the diskette is booted, you are taken by Knoware is that success is treated to a colorful and musical introduc- guaranteed. The program prompts you to letter using a WordStar-like word proces- tion that shows birds flying over the make the correct response, and if you sor; and created and retrieved records on a Knoware logo. Superb graphics (including make errors, the program guides you dBase Il-like data-base program. your name in dancing letters) greet you around them. Professors Madnick and Extra functions enable you to make pie with each promotion. The keyboard orien- Donovan exist as consultants with the and line graphs, compute your “bio- tation and specific applications follow. game — when you ask for them with the OPEN (IP AN ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT Why staff up? With the Desktop Accountant all the accounting help your office needs can he at your fingertips! No matter what type of business you're in. Desktop Accountant iet $395.»« wili you manage the financiai end of it more professionally than ever before. FOR A Complete System with Support. Desktop Accountant includes accounts receivable, accounts payable, • California residents add 6'/i% Sales Tax • Payment by ViSA/MasterCard/COO/MO/Cashier s Check • All brand payroll and general ledger programs, along with comprehensive user manuals and training aids, including names are manufacturers' registered trademarks • No an audio cassette tape. And our telephone "hotline" means personalized support. sales to Dealers • Foreign orders please call or write before Produces 42 Reports. "Keeping the books" has never been so easy! Desktop Accountant prepares every ordering « 1983 Rocky Mountain Software Systems. bookkeeping/accounting report your growing business requires: from invoicing to statements to aged A/R listings: from cash distribution to A/P checks to vendor activity reports: from complete payroll checks and stubs to W-2 forms; from the chart of accounts to balance sheet and income statement, as well as many others vital to efficient management. Desktop Accountant is available for nearly every portable, personal and desktop computer. The sys- tem requires either CP//A® or MS-DOS™ (PC-DOS), Microsoft BASIC ™. 64K RAM, two disk drives or hard disk, and a 132-column printer (or an 8'/2"xll " printer with compressed print mode). You won't find better quality software at such a low price. Just $395.00 for most CP/M' formats ($495.00 for IBM® and some CP/M formats) complete. Call for available formats. Order Desktop Accountant today! You'll soon see why we call it INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE FOR INTELLIGENT PEOPLE. To order Desktop Accountant or for tomprehensive literature, call toll-free: or send orders to: DESKTOP ACCOUNTANT ® 1 - 800 - 832-2244 1280-C Newell Avenue, Suite 1202 (In California call 1-800-732-2311) Walnut Creek, CA 94596 ROCKY MOUNTAIN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS Business Microcomputers and Software 48 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld Copynghtad material SOFTWARK Question Mark key, they give you varying levels of advice as you require it. The use OPPORTUNITY of “corporate promotions” and “cash bonuses” as rewards for success guaran- tees that you’ll be motivated and excited by the adventure. Crucial to any tutorial intended for the RISK. computer novice is the program’s error- WITHOUT trapping. If you’re new to computers, causing a program to fail is a crushing The biggest improvement Bond ideal is that you’re experience. You’ll have no such worries in 40 years has made U.S. protected by a guaranteed here: the error handling in Knoware is matchless. Savings Bonds an ideal minimum. And if the Bond For example, in the spread- investment. is held to maturity, you’ll sheet program (Knowcalc), you are asked A variable interest double your money. to change your “April salary.” If you try to type a change in the wrong cell, the rate lets you share in rates T^e another look at program prompts you in bright type to offered by today’s securities this opportunity without “Press right arrow key” to locate the cursor properly. market. No limit on how risk. Knoware screens your keyboard input much you might earn. \^^t makes Knoware screens this improved your keyboard input exceedingly ui^^erica. well. We could A public service of this publicatioitland The Advertising Council, not cause the Ends computer theft/damage fail. program to worries! For as little as ... $35 a year If you use your personal computer for business, or if your com- exceedingly well. We could not cause the ^ puter use is all business, and you haven’t bought SAFEWARE program to fail or otherwise defeat its you could be in for an expensive shock. Most homeowners error handling. insurance excludes computers used for business of any kind. Should you have any difficulties with Now there’s SAFEWARE. An insurance professional developed the program, the manufacturer provides SAFEWARE to cover his own personal computer. Since then, telephone support; since the program ran thousands of other owners have purchased the only coverage flawlessly, we had no need to contact that protects all hardware, all purchased software, and all Knoware. media- regardless of use-after a low $50 deductible. SAFEWARE Knoware falls short in one area — once protects against: • Theft • Fire • Accident • Damage in transit you have finished the adventure, you are • Earthquake • Power Surges. All for one low annual premium. literally left “nowhere.” This is a severe documentation problem. If you’re a com- CaU todayfor novice, the puter you’ll want to know that immediate protection. 800-848-3469 skills that you have learned have direct In Ohio (614) 262-0559 application. Knoware should include a Phones open 8a.m. to 8p.m. booklet you can read after you finish the Monday thru Saturday adventure (perhaps called Getting Some- where after Knoware ?), one that tells you about available word processors, Select coverage for your total system SAFEWARE, P.O. BOX 02211, COLL'MBLS, Oil 43202 IW computer needs immediate protection! spreadsheets and so on. It could be self- Amount of Annual Yes, my Insurance Premium Issue my SAFEWARE coverage immediately. paced and self-reinforcing, like the pro- Name gram. At the very least, the program or UptoS 2,000 $ 35 documentation should include references $ 2,001-S 5,000 $ 60 Street for further reading. $ 5.001-$ 8,000 $ 75 City State Zip This lack of follow-through should not $ 8,001 -$11,000 $ 90 Svstem Value $ detract from the important contribution of $11,001-$14,000 $105 Check VISA MasterCard Exo. the Knoware program. It is, very simply, the best tool for reducing computer- Qll for rales on higher limits. Card # Coniraa form differs in Texas. phobia you can buy. • .N'o risk, tow may return contractforfull refund within JO days. CoreraMes and limits are subject to the terms, conditiom and exclusions actually included in the contract. InfoWorld March 19. 1984 49 Copyrighted i ANNOUMJING A FTOUD AEDITIW TOOTR FAMILY Copyrighted materia] The next addition to your family could IBM home budget program makes keeping be the bright little newcomer in the growing track of money easier. There’s also a selection of family of IBM® personal computers. educational programs for children at home and Name: PQV. Weight: 12 pounds. at school. Heritage: more than 30 years of computer And when the work is finished (or experience. perhaps before), the fun can begin. Just slip in “Junior” is a powerful tool for modern a game cartridge and stand back. times. \bt it’s simple enough for a child to enjoy. GROWING UP WITH JUNIOR BRINGING HOME BABY Add a printer. A diskette drive. An 1 internal modem for telecommunications. Increase It’s a big day when PQ’r comes home. user memory from 64KB to 128KB. With The surprises begin the these and other add-it-yourself options, even moment you open the lowest-priced PQ'r can grow up real fast. the carton. PQ)' is a powerful tool for home, school ^ Surprise 1 is or college. With its optional carrying case, it’s a the IBM “ Freeboard’— powerful tool anywhere you care to take it. a keyboard that doesn’t need a connecting cord. ~ The Freeboard frees you SEE JUNIOR RUN move around and relax. Then there’s the Junior’s starting model includes a 64KB Keyboard Adventure — cassette/cartridge unit and Freeboard for about $700. A 128KB model with diskette an instructional exercise drive is about 31300. (Prices apply at IBM for first-time users. It’s built into the computer Product Centers. Prices may vary at other stores.) and explained step-by-step in the Guide to V)Lir local authorized IBM PQ'r dealer Operations. It will help anyone begin learning proudly invites you to see this bright little as soon as PQr is h(X)ked up to a TV set. addition to the family. For the store nearest In systems ec]uipped with a diskette you, just call 1-800-lBM-PCJR. In Alaska and drive, there’s a program that lets you explore Hawaii, 1-800-447-0890. computer fundamentals at your own pace, with PQr as your teacher. And to get you off and running from the very first day, a sample diskette with eleven useful mini-programs (ranging from a spreadsheet for monthly expenses to a w'ord at game and a recipe file) is also included. But there are still more surprises. cr FAMILY COMPUTING MADE EASY Many IBM software programs v ritten for other IBM personal computers will run on PCyr. And inexpensive new ones written especially for PQr are being released. An easy-to-use diskette word processing program, for example, uses pictures as well iis words to guide you along. A comprehensive The character Chaplin licensed by Bubbles, Inc. , S. A. Copyrighted material A SOFTWARK measures up, with good visual interaction, Capsules rapid transfer of data and good ease of use. For large spreadsheets, though, it can be slow. (3/12/84) Every week, we present a summary of Knowore (Knoware) — Intuitive- Word (Microsoft) — A genuine significant software products we have ly designed and visually attractive step toward creating software for reviewed over the past months, including training program aimed at reducing tomorrow’s hardware. We have some the date our full review appeared. The list computerphobia for professionals. One of philosophical differences with the tile- will be updated periodically to reflect the the best such packages. (3/19/84) window interface, but it formats docu- rapid change in the software industry. ments any way you could possibly want. Lotus 1 -2-3 (Lotus Development) (12/12/83) Atari Logo (Atari) — Despite its — The first integrated package is a speed and certain error-handling super spreadsheet with speed, power and ^ Word Vision (Bruce and James) problems, this is a solid example of the graphing and data-management functions. 2 — One of the few low-cost word popular educational programming lan- Deservedly king of the hill. (1/30/84) processors with all the bells and whistles. guage. (1/23/84) The publisher has taken great pains to Magic Desk I (Commodore) — An make it easy to use. (12/19/83) Atari Writer (Atari) — Adequate attempt at placing an icon-based for casual word processing, but you integrated system on a low-cost machine, can’t use this to write documents longer only one of the several functions is now than 20K or display more than 38 implemented. It is only passable at Responses characters across. (11/14/83) creating documents. (2/13/84) 1^1 BPI General Ledger (BPI Sys- n Offix (Emerging Technology Con- halfl terns) — A comprehensive ac- am sultants) — Integrating electronic Software standards counting package, it covers all the financial filing cabinets with limited word process- bases, but speed, documentation and ing, this visual program is an adequate With all the talk of standards for support are problems. (2/20/84) low-cost file manager that has some hardware, there is not enough concern for practical limitations. (3/12/84) software standards and the user. fl BPS Business Graphics (BPS) — The standardization by the industry of a Business users who need a variety n PFS:Write (Software Publishing) menus, the access to commands and of graph-making abilities at the office can’t a — Simple-to-use, inexpensive word saving reports or data to disk would help go wrong with this business package. processing not cluttered by seldom-used most of us who have to spend excessive (10/31/83) features. (11/14/83) amounts of time reading the owner’s manual to learn the basics. After spending Condor 3 (Condor Computer) — Power-Base (CMS Systems) — five minutes with a new piece of software, Data-base management is less flex- complete, effective, easy-to-use I refuse to go any farther if I cannot get a ible and slower than dBase II and almost as data-base system that you can use produc- reasonable working relationship going expensive. But English commands and tively in a short time. (3/12/84) without the manual. For instance, PFS: copious help make it a choice for novices. File uses Control-C to accept the first (2/20/84) R:base 4000 (Microrim) — A menu screen. This is different from most relational data base with its roots in other packages where the Return key DB Master (Stoneware) — In minicomputers, it comes out remarkably does the trick. Why not a standard? response to user feedback, the well on micros. It is fast, flexible and David Stover latest versions of this data-base-manage- combines ease for the novice with power Littleton, CO ment system are more flexible and easier for the expert. (12/26/83) to operate, especially in the area of report Author, Author generation. (12/26/83) SuperCalc3 (Sorcim) — Integrat- ed software that turns a first-rate Why do you consistently leave out a DR Logo (Digital Research) — An spreadsheet into an impressive collection significant piece of information about each excellent example of this educa- of modules including color graphics and program reviewed: the name of the tional programming langauge. Colorful and data management. (1/23/84) author(s)? In fairness to you, I understand easy to learn, it should tempt those who that in some instances the publisher have never used a computer. (2/13/84) SuperWriter (Sorcim) — This neglects to put this information in the word-processing program excels at packaging. In all but the most extensive Friday! (Ashton-Tate) — An easy- helping you create complicated document team efforts, this should not be tolerated. to-use file-management and report- formats and includes a spelling checker. It A book publisher would never release a ing program suffers from a lack of speed has great error handling. (2/27/84) product without an author’s name! due to a design suited to both 8- and 16-bit David Balsam machines. (10/31/83) TKISolver (Software Arts) — Ver- Berkeley, CA sion 1.2 alleviates problems found KnowledgeMan (Micro Data in previous versions of this equation- InfoWorld welcomes comments about its soft- Base Systems) — A relational data- solving tool. It is much faster and its Help ware reviews from both readers and software base manager based on IBM’s mainframe facility is a better learning tool. (1/23/84) publishers. Please address your correspon- Structured Language, the program Query dence to the Technical Editor, InfoWorld, 1060 is suitable only for experienced users. The n Visi On (VisiCorp) — The long- Marsh Road, Suite C-200, Menlo Park, CA documentation is a big drawback. (2/6/84) S awaited applications environment 94025. 52 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld ^MHIAhiia'natariaJ SOFTWARK Electronic Antics Oil hunt on the IBM 12 possible terrain types, such as desert, tion of the square’s terrain appears. plains, ice pack, ocean, coastline, moun- Trucks or boats drop explosive charges tains, jungle and city. and survey cables. After a short count- The object of this game, for one to down, the charges explode, and the game eight players, is to explore and drill for oil evaluates the simulated readings from the all across this vast map. Games can last earth. Players then get a number repre- anywhere from 1 to 30,000 turns. You can senting the probability that oil is in that play the shortest games in two hours and square. the longest games can last months or — If a player chooses to drill, he pays an possibly — years. amount of money (as with surveying) and a The computer’s job is to generate an oil derrick appears. The player can drill to BY SCOTT MACE field underneath the map, which is differ- 25,000 feet or less. If the well is a dry Senior Writer ent every game. The computer then hole, the player gets a message such as, assigns four starting parcels (a parcel is a “You hit Kryptonite!” or “At the maxi- or one reason or another, the best- grouped number of squares) to each player mum depth you hit caveman bones!” selling games for the IBM Personal and conducts the financial transactions of If the drill is successful, that well begins F Computer have been adventure the game. It also assigns more parcels as producing income for the player. The games, especially Zork and others from the game progresses. player can also survey another parcel Infocom. They are text-based and don’t Players are on the honor system to during the same turn, but squares adjacent require a color graphics card or monitor. keep track of their holdings. As with all to the well may not contain oil. A vast, untapped area of game software board games, the potential for cheating Naturally, it costs more to drill at sea for the PC is simulation software. The PC exists in Oil Barons. Nothing prevents you or in the jungle than it does in the desert. and its compatibles have enough memory from drilling on someone else’s property Unlucky players can go into debt and end and graphics capability to create some and withdrawing oil — nothing, that is, up paying hefty interest charges to the memorable simulated worlds. Like adven- except your knowledge that the property bank each turn. ture games, they would be interactive and is previously owned. Another hazard is the possible environ- complex, but they could also include color Dependence on a board creates other mental damage done by oil exploration. graphics and sound. problems. Any player, in anger or clumsi- The act of surveying a forest requires So far. I’ve only looked at one ness, can scatter the playing pieces, building an access road or cutting down simulation game for the IBM that really making reconstruction of the board diffi- timber. After exploration, the computer fills the bill, but the game is so imposing cult. Fortunately, the program produces a asks the player if he wants to replant the and complex that it took me months to get computer representation of the board, cut area, always at some stiff cost. If the around to really playing it. which all players can survey to check player refuses, he risks incurring the The game is Oil Barons by Epyx, and which holes are producing oil and which wrath of the government or environmen- while it has a number of flaws, it offers an are dry holes. Also, each square need only tal groups, which can file for damages. interesting peek at what’s possible. It be surveyed once, and this special comput- If a player’s oil company is sued, that requires a PC with 64K, color and er map will note which ones have been player has several (mostly humorous) advanced Basic. (According to a spokes- surveyed but not drilled. But it’s best for choices. He can choose from a range of person for Epyx, a version for the everyone to take notes on what they’ve lawyers, from “expensive but good” to Commodore 64 was shipped in February.) surveyed and which parcels they own. defending himself, which is “risky.” Once The first thing different about Oil Let’s assume you are all honest, careful while playing, my company was sued, and I Barons is the game box. It’s huge, the size souls who can coexist with these condi- gambled on a public defender (who worked of most bookshelf-style board games. This tions. Another handicap with Oil Barons is for free). Amazingly I got a not-guilty makes sense, because Oil Barons is a that it’s slower than molasses. The verdict from the jury. hybrid, part board game and part comput- program, designed and written in Basic by You can also try to bribe the judge, but er game. A playing board and hundreds of Tom Glass, includes two disks, one for you run the risk of an investigation for playing pieces, some representing oil start-up and one for use during game play. bribery if you do that. derricks and others representing owner- There are lots of messages to “stand by’’ Each round also has a point where ship markers, are included along with the as the program moves from one activity to players are paid the royalties from their instructions and two game diskettes. another. Patience is a virtue here. active wells, with a check typed out on the The Oil Barons board, which consists of Once you get into Oil Barons, it’s screen and suitable sound effects. six interlocking sections, measures fascinating. The chances of hitting oil are Oil Barons is intriguing despite its slow 30 X 20 inches when assembled. It’s a slim. Luck is a big factor, just as in the real speed and dependence on the game board. grid measuring 50 by 40 with 2,000 world. There are nine different options of game squares total, much too large to fit on the Oil Barons includes a reasonable simu- play, including some versions that shorten PC screen. lation of the exploration process. If a the playing time. The winner of the game, Each of the 2,000 squares on the grid player chooses to survey a parcel, the not surprisingly, is the one with the most has a photograph on it, representing one of screen clears, and a graphic representa- money. • InfoWorld March 19. 1984 53 Copyiightad material SOFTWARE New Programs Protect your dBase II files: A package Eagle, Apple He, Apple III, Texas Instru- of the Pick system need not displace other dubbed dSecur is said to be able to provide ments Professional and Wang Professional operations on the IBM PC. multiple levels of protection for dBase II computers. A companion program. Rapid Pick Systems, 17911 D Skypark Cir- programs. Only two program statements Transfer, can transfer accounting data cle, Irvine, CA 92714; (714) 261-7425. need to be added at the beginning of a from the modules directly to spreadsheet dBase program in order to implement the programs such as Lotus 1-2-3, VisiCalc It’s mailed in pictures: The ITSoftware protection scheme. and Multiplan. series now has two additional family A name and password are assigned to Great Plains Software, 1701 S.W. 38th members that are designed to transfer any authorized user, who must provide Street, Fargo, ND 58103; (701) 281- documents and create business graphics. them when trying to run the programs or 0550. The IBM PC-compatible program set now certain functions of the programs. If an consists of ten programs for everything operator attempts to perform a prohibited Information in a nutshell: Leading from word processing to filing. function, the computer will refuse to do so Edge has released the Nutshell Informa- ShowIT provides the user with the and will exit from dBase II. tion Manager, a package the publisher ability to generate pie charts, bar charts The dSecur program runs on the IBM claims will bridge the gap between simple and graphs. In addition, three-dimensional PC. The $100 purchase price also buys filing systems and complex data-base- pie charts, pyramid charts and slide-show you documentation, installation instruc- management systems. preparation are also facilitated by the tions and hot-line support. Microclear, Available for the Leading Edge PC or program. When combined with the data- 342 Madison Avenue, New York, NY the IBM PC and compatibles, the Nutshell base-manager KeepIT, ShowIT can be 10017; (212) 867-0481. program is supported by visual instruc- used to create interactive training tions provided by a learning disk. Menu modules. Model 100 protection for wire trans- choices are visible at all times and can be MaillT is a document-transfer program mission: Secure is an assembly-language remembered by the program to permit that provides communications between program for the Radio Shack Model 100 easy resumption of interrupted tasks. IBM PC users or between host main- that prevents unauthorized use of the Fields can be “virtually unlimited,” the frames and micros. Password control and machine, encrypts and decrypts files and firm says, allowing more complete records mail-list services are also provided. allows the user to eliminate the display of to be kept. Every word is indexed, and any ShowIT and MaillT are priced at $250 for sensitive file names. word can be found by using its first two let- single copies; MaillT is available at a Secure can require the entry of a ters. The company calls this technique discount when more than one copy is password in order to operate the machine. prefix matching. Word-processing-style ordered at a time. Another keyword can be used to encrypt functions such as word wrap, insert, ITSoftware, P.O. Box 2392, Princeton, data files before they are transmitted to overstrike and delete make entering data NJ 08540; (609) 799-7500. another site. Thus, a user will need to easy. know both the machine’s password and Files may be sorted in any order and What’s in a name: It seems the People’s the special keyword in order to access are cross-indexed. Figures and formulas choice programs — Joe’s Writer, Fred’s scrambled files. The encrypted files are may be entered, calculated and automati- Filer and Jack’s Calc — have proven a bit still in ASCII form and can be sent through cally recalculated when a new number of too generic for publisher Creative Soft- conventional modem lines. consequence is added to the file. ware. The company has announced it is The program requires 821 bytes and Leading Edge Products, 55 Providence changing the recently announced moni- costs $39.95. Secure Systems, P.O.Box Highway, Norwood, MA 02062; (617) kers to, respectively. Creative Writer, 30, Blue Bell, PA 19022; (215) 567-7600. 769-8770. Creative Filer and Creative Calc. “While the series got a fantastic Hardisk Accounting enhanced: The Have your Pick on the PC XT: The reception at CES, people didn’t seem to Hardisk Accounting software from Great Pick operating system, long available on like the names,” said Elliott Dahan, vice- Plains has been enhanced in version 3.0. It certain minicomputers, will be unveiled in president of marketing. is composed of modules for General an IBM PC XT version by Pick Systems. The newly titled products, which Ledger with Financial Reporting and The system will provide multiple-user otherwise remain the same, are available Budgeting, Accounts Receivable, Ac- capability with virtual-memory manage- for the Commodore 64, IBM PC and PCjr counts Payable, Payroll and Inventory ment for the machine. at $49.95 each. Management with Point of Sale Invoicing. The product is basically designed as a Creative Software, 230 East Caribbean More than 90 improvements and 15 “data-base operating system,” incorporat- Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089; (408) 745- additions have been made to the pro- ing a high-level programming language to 1655. grams, according to the firm. New create data-base-management systems manuals, with pages indexed to screen and provide high-speed, direct-memory Specifications for products described on this displays, are also part of the enhanced access to any desired information. The page are supplied by the manufacturers or package. $495 version of the product will be able to firms marketing these products. InfoWorld The products are available for IBM PC, share the XT’s hard-disk drive with any does not guarantee their accuracy. PC XT, Compaq, Corona, Columbia, other operating system, which means use — Compiled by Christine McGeever 54 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld Copyrighted material THE BUSIER YOU ARE, THE BEHER YOU LIKE IT. PASSWORD™ is a modem so efficient and convenient there is little to do but turn it on to transmit at 300/1200 baud. Operating features include auto dial/answer, auto mode/ speed select, full/half duplex. PASSWORD has all this, plus a two-year limited warranty, at a price of just $449.* TELPAC™ telecommunications software (optional) programs PASSWORD to transfer files, in terminal or host mode, with multiple error checks. Phone directory gives choice of timed automatic or one-touch dial and logon. Command mode includes file dis- play and update, menus and help, and much more. Write or call for complete specifications. *Suggested list for PASSWORD complete with power, phone, RS232 Interface cables. TELPAC software optional extra, $79. PASSWORD, TELPAC, USR logo and U. S. Robotics are trademarks of U.S. Robotics Inc. U.S. ROBOTICS INC. 1123 WEST WASHINGTON CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60607 (312) 733-0497 Copyrighted material HARDWARE BUSINESS IS BOOMING FOR COMPUTER-REPAIR SHOPS Companies rangingfrom major corporations to television-repair shops are realizing there is a gold mine in fixing computers. BY KATHY CHIN 1959. Sorbus started servicing personal the small-computer stores is the potential Reporter computers three years ago. to use the Xerox name to attract large “The opening in the market was corporate-service customers. or years a broken microcomputer obvious, but we didn’t know who the users Honeywell has taken a different ap- had to be returned to a dealer or were, where they were or how to reach proach in entering the repair market. It F manufacturer for repair. Now the business of repair is becoming so big that owners can call a computer doctor to make ‘It’s a myth that computers don’t break. a house call, diagnose the problem and put a technical bandage on the problem right away. Users may abuse the machines, or the Microcomputer repair shops that are primarily geared toward businesses are machines may be defective, ’ says the cropping up across the country. The high- priced repair services are being offered by companies ranging from major corpora- president of one repair service. tions that hope to corner a new market to television-repair shops that realize there’s a gold mine in fixing computers. “It’s a them. But we wanted to quickly enter the has allied itself with Coleco as the official myth that computers don’t break,” says market,” says Puccini. service representative for the Adam home Earl Humphreys, president of Computer By the end of 1984, Sorbus figures to computer. And by April the corporation Doctor in New York City. “Users may rake in over $150 million in total earnings, will have established 35 repair centers abuse the machines, or the machines may 5% of which will be related to micro across the country. “Our primary thrust be defective.” repairs. Puccini predicts that percentage will be in the office, data-processing and By the end of 1984, third-party will double as people use their computers telecommunications market,” says Dick computer-repair businesses, not counting more often and as more micros continue to McDermot, director of marketing and dealers and manufacturers, will earn $951 invade homes and offices. sales for Honeywell. million annually, according to International Well-known vendors such as Bell and The home market will not be pursued Data Corporation (IDC) in Framingham, Howell, Xerox, Western Union and ITT by these centers, he stresses, adding that Massachusetts. The market will be worth are all taking a stab at the business. Each the Coleco deal is not representative of the $2.4 billion by the end of 1988, reports expects to use quality instead of price as firm’s plans. “It was a primary opportunity the research firm. the cornerstone of its marketing. By last for us to implement our service-center Traditional mainframe fix-it shops that November, Xerox had signed up 2,500 strategy. The combination just happened have been in the game for years are now independent retail shops under its to fit. We were capable of offering the type mending micros. “We know there’s pres- Americare service program. Under the of service they needed.” sure and that we can’t afford to rest on our program. Xerox technicians will heal the It’s not all wine and roses for repair laurels,” says John Puccini, manager of ailing machines, relieving the burden of providers, despite the seemingly unlimited new products and services for Sorbus computer-store employees who need to be market. Ron Schugan, an analyst at IDC, Systems of Frazer, Pennsylvania, a con- better salespeople rather than expert estimates a shakeout in the repair industry cern that has repaired computers since technicians. Xerox claims the benefit to could occur within two years. Because of 56 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld HARDWARE that possibility, some entrepreneurs are compete with IBM in the Fortune 1000 obtaining parts harder for single-shop setting up computer-repair franchises that territory. IBM supports only its own owners. “The little guy consists of only will offer a smorgasbord of services at machines, though, so Serviceland’s strate- the one- or two-man operation. The small more affordable prices than their corpo- gy is to provide tune-ups and overhauls for dealer just does not have the resources or rate brethren. These franchisers are agressively competing for customers by offering on-site repair, annual mainte- nance agreements and overnight service. “When I first investigated this market, I could not believe what a void there was,” says Humphreys. “Most dealers are good at sales, but service is nasty business. To the product dealer, it’s an evil.” Specialty stores view computer repair as more of an obligation, rather than a service, he says. Computer Doctor’s two-year efforts in computer repair have been so successful that the firm is expected to make its initial public offering of stock within a month. Humphreys, who has spent a decade in the office-products industry, says that micros should be treated no differently than telephones and copiers. “The computer is no longer a ‘hackers’ product. Now it’s a business tool.” Computer Doctor’s prices are slightly lower than those charged by manufactur- ers, but the services are not cheap. Costs are generally less at third-party sites such as Computer Doctor because less expen- sive labor is available, Humphrey says. Computer Doctor aims at individual customers and small businesses. The firm lures customers by offering attractive on- site repair support. To Humphreys, it’s an obvious advantage. “Not too many bring OlSON their telephone or copier in to the shop to RIK have it repaired. Anyone who doesn’t want to offer on-site repair will just be fighting the market.” IBM PCs, Apples, Radio Shack/Tandy the contacts compared to the big guy.” Computer Doctor provides carry-in machines and Corona PCs. “We estimate Small repair shops are already having service as well as on-site. Those who we can capture 5% of the market. Only 5% trouble. Not only do these firms have to prefer to carry computers or printers into — that’s all we’re asking for,” says offer competitive services and prices, but the Computer Doctor’s offices are guaran- Harmon. they must also keep up with changes in teed overnight repair of their machines. “We want to combine two things,” technology. “Training these people is an immense problem,” says Puccini of Sorbus. And although a company may The intimote relationship between boast service for a wide range of comput- ers, it may still be difficult to keep enough spare parts on hand. the neighborhood computer-repair The common thread linking big and little operations is the concept of mainte- Store and the computer owner may not nance contracts. “Everyone’s going to try to sell you a contract,” says Schugan. “Most of the companies live on survive the onslaught of chain stores. contracts.” Mention maintenance contracts to computer-repair reps, and they’ll rattle off Serviceland, which opened last August says Ken Patrick, vice-president of fi- figures faster than they can say their own in Tarzana, California, has already em- nance, “the professionalism of the corpo- names. Each service company offers a barked on the franchise warpath. By the rate-service approach and the personal different contract with a price that’s end of the year, president George Harmon touch of ‘Ma and Pa’ stores.” dependent on the type and the number of hopes to open 82 sites in 17 states. Like The intimate relationship between computers and peripherals owned. There Computer Doctor, the firm offers on-site today’s neighborhood computer-repair are monthly fees, biannual and annual fees. repair and carry-in services. But unlike the store and the individual owner may not A monthly contract with Sorbus to service New York company, Serviceland is geared survive the onslaught of chains and the IBM PC costs $30. Prices of contracts toward Fortune 1000 corporations. behemoth conglomerates. Schugan points are coming down, says Puccini. “For $30, The firm is well aware that it must out that a lack of resources makes a couple of years ago, all you could get InfoWorld March 19. 1984 57 Copyrcghted material Theiy^ideo IBM K The best hardware for — u.n rm u.tx — ll.lt l»»u B ^ 7l C»» leli^tdeo TeleVideo versus IBM. Make a few THE BEST HARDWARE FOR THE BEST PRICE. simple comparisons and you'll find Features Tele-PC IBM PC Tele-XT IBM XT there is no comparison. Monitor YES OPTIONAL YES OPTIONAL RUNS IBM SOFTWARE. Screen Size 14" 12" 14" 12" Tilt Screen YES YES With the TeleVideo® IBM Compatible NO NO Quiet Operation YES NO YES NO line— PC, XT and portable com- Memory 128K 128K OPTION 256K 256K OPTION puters— you'll get the most out of all Graphics Display YES OPTIONAL YES OPTIONAL the most popular software written (640x200 resolution) for the IBM® PC— more than 3,000 Printer Port YES OPTIONAL YES OPTIONAL programs. Communication Port YES OPTIONAL YES YES MS™-DOS/BASIC® YES OPTIONAL YES OPTIONAL Because every TeleVideo Personal System Expansion Slot YES YES YES YES Computer offers the highest level of Typical System Price $2995 $3843 $4995 $5754 Copyrighted Dmpatibles. he best software. IBM compatibility on the market and has the standard — not optional —features you need to take full advantage of every job your software can do. Study the chart at the left. It proves that TeleVideo— not IBM— offers the best hardware for the best price. Note thatTeleVideo's ergonomic superiority over IBM extends from fully sculpted keys and a comfort- able palm rest to a 14-inch, no glare screen that tilts at a touch. THE BEST MICROCHIPS. THE BEST PORTABLE FOR THE BEST PRICE. What is perhaps most impressive Features TPCII COMPAQ about the TeleVideo IBM PC Com- High Capacity Storage Yes No patible can be found deep within its 2nd Disk Drive Yes Optional circuitry. We use the same 8088 Quiet Operation Yes No central processing unit that runs an Ergonomic Display Yes No IBM PC. But we also employ new Communication Port Yes Optional (Very Large Scale Integration) International Power Supply Yes No microchips that are de- MS™-DOS 2.11 Yes No signed and built exclu- Typical System Price $2995 $3710 sively for TeleVideo. PCs force you to put up with. And ware than COMPAQ™ Better hard- These interface more TeleVideo compatibles accept any ware— standard— at a better price. efficiently with the IBM hardware options without powerful 8088 and THE BEST MANUFACTURER. modification. numerous benefits. The TeleVideo IBM PC Compatible THE BEST LINE. line is made by the world leader For example, our tiny custom chips But theTele-PC is only one element in multi-user computer systems do the work of many of the larger, of the TeleVideo IBM PC Compatible and the number one independent more expensive circuit boards in an line. manufacturer of terminals. IBM PC. So we can offer a computer system that comes in one attractive, The TeleVideo XT is the best hard- Our compatibles are available integrated case, is ready to run and ware for users of popular IBM XT at participating ComputerLand and occupies less desk space. A compu- software who would appreciate an Entre (call 800-HI-ENTRE) dealers ter that edges out IBM's added-cost extra 10 megabytes of storage or you may call 800-538-8725 for the component system for reliability, ease capacity along with the advantages dealer nearest you.CA408-745-7760 of service and purchase simplicity. listed on the preceding chart. Before you invest, make a few simple comparisons. You'll find Fewer circuit boards to cool also As the chart above demonstrates, our that TeleVideo— allowed us to eliminate the noisy, portable IBM compatible computer, not IBM or COMPAQ — has the best hardware for the best irritating fan IBM and most other theTPC 1 1, is farand away better hard- software. At the best price. IBM is a registered trademark of International Busir>ess Machir>es. MS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. CW Basic is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. COMPAQ is a tradema^ of COMPAQ Computer Corporation. Tel^idea Personal GomputErs A^'mc^tdeo Systems, Inc. Copyrighted i HARDWARE serviced for a month would be a dumb terminal.” Serviceland offers 6-month and 12- month contracts. The annual contract prices are usually between 5% and 10% of the system’s list cost. The price includes unlimited on-site repair. The benefit of an agreement is that it provides savings in the long run, say vendors. To hire an independent techni- cian may cost a business $60 to $100 per hour. On-Line, a repair service in San Jose, Calfornia, charges its customers at least $75 an hour if the serviceperson goes to a business site or to someone’s home, and the client must pay for a minimum of two hours labor. If users bring the computer into the shop for repair, costs run $60 an hour for labor and parts. The turnaround time is anywhere from three to five working days. Disk failure, printer failure and opera- tor errors are the the three major reasons for service calls. “Sometimes a customer just messes around with a unit or spills something on it,” says Mike Killingsworth of On-Line. “There are a million things An elegantly designed game that’s a challenge at any level of that could go wrong.” Printers are, by far, play, from novice through expert. It will play itself, display play the hardest to repair. A typical printer lists, check moves for legality and give you help whenever repair may cost as much as $140 to fix at you want it — even select the best move for you. On-Line. You can play black or white, set up and start from any Although maintenance contracts are board position, make en passant pawn captures, take back popular among businesses, individuals are unwanted moves. And you can change display color, sides, more likely to bring their systems into a board setup or play level (7 skill levels, plus postal chess) any shop for repairs. The prices for walk-in time you want during a game. service for these customers will be lower at franchise or independent stores than In graphics mode the chessboard fills the screen with they would be manufacturers or attractive U.S. Chess Federation standard pieces. On IBM at dealers. Despite the growth in the computer- Monochrome monitors, the full-screen display offers easily repair industry, users with home comput- distinguished colors and pieces. The program automatically ers purchased for less than $1,000 will determines which monitor is available, gives a choice and find obtaining service difficult. Most repair if you have both. stores fix IBM, Apple, Kaypro and Radio Cursor piece movement, superb graphics, sound, and Shack systems. People who own Timex/ simple menu prompts make it easy for anyone to be playing Sinclair machines or Commodore 64s will within minutes, and a continuing pleasure for even the most have a harder time reaching a experienced players. serviceperson. “These are disposable computers,” says Schugan. “People who $49 . 95 . Sturdy plastic diskette storage box, included, find out the repair costs would have a hard makes an easel when it’s opened; 16-page Bluebush Chess time swallowing the service rates.” documentation booklet fits For many, it simply will not be neatly inside. and 64K memory worthwhile to pay more for repairs than one disk drive, either single or for the machine itself. Even repair dealers double-sided required. Contact tell customers to buy another unit. your local dealer or order directly Humphreys of Computer Doctor says, (please add $2.00 postage and “We get a significant number of calls handling; Calif, residents add wanting service for $300 computers. We 6.5% sales tax) from Bluebush even recommend to them to throw it Incorporated, RO. Box 3585, away, but they still want it repaired. We’re watching the home market like a hawk.” Santa Clara, CA 95055. Tele- And so are other repair operations. phone toll-free, 800-241-1994; “The home market will hit in the next few in California, 800-241-1989. years,” says Puccini of Sorbus. “It’s all Credit card orders welcome. dependent on the application. Once com- munications and information services Bluebush Chess is a trademark of Bluebush Incorporated. make computers a necessity for the home, IBM is a trademarkof International Business Machines Corp. then it will be necessary to offer repairs.” • 60 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld material HARDWARE Review: Compaq Plus BY STEPHEN SATCHELL 2.02 as the operating system. The supplied, but it requires an external Contributor machine comes with one floppy-disk drive, monitor, as the phosphor used in the built- one hard-disk drive, either 128K or 256K in monitor will not permit a light pen to eed the power of an IBM PC — of random-access memory (RAM), green- work properly. Two open board slots are and lots of disk storage — when phosphor/monitor, RGB (red-green-blue) provided for add-ons. N you’re on the road? If so, the and composite video outputs for a true The only differences between the Plus Compaq Plus is for you. With its 10- color monitor or RF (radio frequency) and the original appear to be the addition megabyte, built-in hard disk, you can modulator and a Centronics parallel print- of the hard drive, the controller for the collect and process enormous amounts of er port. Unlike the XT, no asynchronous drive and new ROM (read-only memory). information on the spot. communications port is provided with the In fact, Compaq offers an upgrade kit for Because our review of the the original Compaq Plus. A light-pen interface is owners of the original machine, which Compaq portable (November 7, 1983) is contains just the above-mentioned items. generally applicable to the Compaq Plus, Setting up the hardware was as easy a this review will concentrate on the process as you will find with any personal performance and benefits of the 10- iWocId i computer. Just remove the computer from a megabyte Winchester drive. We base our Report C the box, plug it in and turn it on! There is perceptions and opinions on over 200 no special set-up, no restraining pins or hours of usage during more than 300 miles screws to remove, no program required to of travel over Illinois’ winter-damaged Compaq Plus “park” the hard disk and no opening the roads. The Compaq Plus sat on desks, machine. coffee tables, drafting tables, restaurant Formatting the hard disk and loading tables, workbenches and, on one occasion, the operating system onto it was simple, a chair! Throughout this ordeal, the but took about an hour to complete. Then c machine worked flawlessly. a> we spent four hours filling up and The original Compaq was designed to O t § s structuring the hard disk from three boxes resemble the IBM PC as much as possible. £ (3 of floppy diskettes. The Plus does not mimic the IBM PC XT Setup S' The improvement in the speed of data as closely. Though the latter two comput- Ease of Use O' transfer realized with the hard disk was ers’ disk drives differ extensively, the Performance O' py about the level we would have expected. Plus’ software allows it to run IBM’s PC- Otherwise, we noticed no significant Documentation DOS 2.00 without problems. This means changes in processing speed between the Serviceability O' that most programs written for the XT — two Compaqs. except those that are tailored specifically One particular item, the power supply, for the internal circuitry of the IBM shows Compaq’s attention to detail. If the machine — should run without a hitch. electricity should falter, the power supply You’re not necessarily going to find will cut off current to the circuitry for 10 your favorite package running on the Summary: The Compaq Plus has the to 15 seconds before it returns. This Compaq Plus, however. We attempted to power of the IBM PC XT and can run protects the Compaq from power surges. run Context Management System’s MBA, most of the same software. It is an For users that run prepackaged soft- a spreadsheet system that runs under excellent, convenient machine that is ware, the documentation is adequate. The UCSD Pascal, on the machine. (We must designed for professional use. The excellent setup information comes with stress that Context makes no claims that Winchester disk makes this product many pictures. General operating instruc- its package will run successfully using a a must for the busy executive on the tions are good. Compaq Plus hard disk.) It almost worked, go. There is one welcome change from the but we could not get the data-management original documentation: the operations facility to function properly. We also Product details: List price, $4,995. manual now describes how to install contacted several companies that provide Includes 1 28K RAM (expandable to additional memory and cards into the operating systems for the IBM PC XT 256K); one 5 'A -inch disk drive; 10- machine. It also shows where to install the about compatibility with the Compaq Plus. megabyte hard-disk drive; 9-inch, 8087 coprocessor. The most common response was: “Of 25-lines X 80-columns integral For users who wish to develop their course we talk to the hardware directly!’’ display; detachable keyboard; own software, however, the documenta- The moral? Try before you buy. You parallel port (Centronics interface); tion leaves much to be desired. The MS- should not have problems with software composite and RGB video outputs; DOS manual is sketchy and gives very few that runs from floppies; you need to check MS-DOS 2.02 operating system. examples. The Basic manual is just as only those that require a dedicated portion Manufactured by Compaq Computer sketchy. If you are serious about develop- of the hard disk. Corporation, 20333 FM149, ing software, then we recommend you get The heart of the Compaq Plus is an Houston, TX 77070; (713) 370- IBM’s DOS 2.0 package as the IBM Intel 8088 microprocessor, with MS-DOS 7040. manuals are much more complete. InfeWorld March 19, 1984 61 Copyrighted material HARDWARE For a portable machine, on-line docu- mentation is a must. It’s too much to ask a user to carry a briefcase full of manuals in addition to 30 pounds of machine. Neither Microsoft nor Compaq currently provide anything similar to CP/M’s Help facility. In the original version of the Compaq, with only 640K of on-line storage available, this is understandable. When you have ten If the Compaq Plus should break. don 7 try to work on it yourself. megabytes there is simply no excuse. The quick reference cards provided by Compaq help, but details and restrictions are found Setting up the Compaq Plus is as easy a process as you will find with any personal computer. only in the manuals. If the machine breaks, don’t try to Never mind that IBM uses the same list, we are impressed with the Compaq work on it yourself. Service information is method — we would like to see a Plus. It has performed as well or better simply not available. Compaq believes connector for an optional external tape than its nonmobile Big Blue brother. The service should be left to the dealer. cartridge drive for archival backup. This hard drive has successfully survived a long We are quite enamored with the same connector could also be used to series of moderate shocks with no com- Compaq’s hard disk. We do not have the connect additional external hard drives. plaints. If you add your own serial card, same feeling about backup to floppy disks. Despite Compaq’s neglect of our wish this is one dynamite machine. • keyboard’s design is the more natural Review: NEC PC-8201 access to the four arrow keys, which are positioned in a crosslike arrow pad rather than in a line of four small keys as on the Model 100. BY SERGIO MELLO-GRAND Model 100. Its width and depth are almost In addition to these, and the ordinary Contributor identical (approximately 12 X 8.5 inches); alphanumeric keys, the PC-820 Ts key- NEC’s unit is a little higher (2.5 inches board includes several special keys, includ- n the year 1983 we saw personal versus 2.2 inches). The latter unit is ing the traditional Esc, Tab, Ctrl, Caps, computers shrink to the size of the so- slanted so that the user has a better view Shift, Delete/Backspace and Return (or I called notebook computers — bat- of the liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen. Enter). A less-ordinary Paste/Ins key, tery-operated machines weighing four to There are some interesting differences which is very useful in text editing, and an five pounds and measuring approximately in keyboard designs. The Radio Shack even less-common Grph key that doubles 11 X 8 X 2 inches. InfoWorld recognized industry ingenuity by awarding Product of the Year distinction to the Radio Shack The sleek NEC PC‘820 1 has some Model 100, one of those notebook computers. features that compare quite favorably In the same league is another product from Nippon Electric Corporation (NEC), a Japanese computer heavyweight. Al- with the Radio Shack Model 1 00. though both the Model 100 and the NEC entry, the NEC PC-8201, are both manufactured by Kyocera, the machines Model 100 has a row of eight small the ordinary keys for graphics characters, are not copycats. True, they have some function keys whereas the NE PC-8201 are also included. similarities, but there are differences offers only five of them. Each key of the The LCD display has a resolution of worth mentioning to anyone thinking NEC machine can assume a new function 240 X 62 dots, which provides eight lines about investing in a notebook computer. when pressed along with the Shift key, so of 40 characters each. The Model 100 has The sleek 8201 has some features that NEC is claiming that the PC-8201 has ten a similar display resolution. compare quite favorably with the Radio function keys. NEC’s programs use the Both units use the 80C85 8-bit Shack entry. complete range of ten “virtual keys” (five microprocessor, a CMOS version of the The external design of the NEC PC- direct and five shifted). popular Intel 8085, as a central processing 8201 is similar to that of the Radio Shack A definite advantage of the PC-8201 unit. They also both use CMOS random- 62 March 19. 1984 InfoWorld WE'RE DIRECT&BFTWMm MAKING NEWS! DISCOUNT DIGEST TO ORDER CALL (415) 459-1282 • TOLL FREE (800) 533-3012 CA (800) 533-3011 USA Direct Software® Discount Prices Save $$ and Make Sense to Smart Buyers Who Know What They Want!! DIRECT SOFTWARE MAKES PRIME PROD- List Sale List Sale UCTS SO AFFORDABLE THAT THOSE IN- FOX & GELLER MICROSOFT THE-KNOW WILL FIND IT UNWISE TO RE- Quickcode 295 175 Multiplan 250 159 SIST. 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A cost breakthrough in hard disk storage for the IBM PC and many compatibles. At last! A real cost revolution in hard ers. You're assured of complete One year warranty. disk storage. The Megaflight 1 00 is a compatibility with all future XT re- Megaflight 100 is covered by a one high-performance, half-height hard leases, and network systems such year warranty on parts and labor. disk system which includes a state- as PC Net,** Etherseries** and of-the-art drive unit, disk controller Omninet.** To order, send check or money order for $895 (includes shipping and card and software. You get 10 Mega- Installation in less than 20 handling) to the address listed be- bytes (formatted) of high-speed data minutes. low. Or use Visa or MasterCard and storage for less than half the cost of Megaflight 100 includes everything call our toll free number to order comparable PC hard disk systems! you'll need for internal installation in today (add 3% service charge for Full hardware and software the PC, Compaq, and others. This Visa and MasterCard). compatibility. includes cables, easy installation Call toll free 800-522-2237. Megaflight 100 features full plug instructions and a comprehensive In Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii compatibility with the IBM XT, re- manual. Installation typically takes call 503-626-6877. quires no extra power and uses less than 20 minutes and requires IBM's DOS 2.0 or 2.1 software driv- no special technical knowledge. Dealer, OEM inquiries invited. *IBM Is a registered trademark of International Business "PC Net is a trademark of Orchid Technologies. Omninet For more information call Machines. COMPAQ is a trademark of COMPAQ IS a trademark of Corvus Systems. Etherseries is a Computer Corporation. trademark of 3Com. 503-626-6877. Kamerman 7787 S.W. Cirrus Dr., Bldg. 26, Beaverton, OR 97005 KLabs Phone 503-626-6877 HARDWARE access memories (RAMs), read-only mem- lect it as a working memory with a single many retail and industrial applications of ories (ROMs) and peripheral chips. keystroke. these portable computers. Despite using similar internal architec- The RAM cartridge design is clever Although the Radio Shack computer tures, the two systems are not equivalent because it gives compact, portable mass- has a modular phone jack for connection to from the standpoints of performance and memory to the machine. If you are running communications lines, the NEC offers only expandability. The NEC PC-8201 is, out of memory, you can simply plug in a serial I/O port for modem connection. An overall, more expandable and powerful another RAM cartridge and immediately external modem is available for less than than the Model 100. The Radio Shack have more memory at hand, postponing $100. A third serial I/O port (multiplexed system, however, has an integral modem the eventual need to move your data or with the other two) is also available on the that the NEC does not have. programs to a larger system or to store back of the PC-8201. The PC-8201 has internal memory that them in a slow and less-secure audiotape From the performance standpoint, the can be expanded to G4K RAM, uses RAM cassette. NEC again shows a certain advantage over cartidges for additional memory and Each RAM cartridge includes its own the Model 100. Although the two systems includes 32K of ROM with Basic, operat- backup lithium battery, which provides use the same microprocessor, in Basic the ing system, text-editor and telecommuni- enough power to allow it to be unplugged NEC clearly outperforms the Radio Shack. cations programs. In order to access this from the main unit for up to six months. To It runs almost twice as fast as the Model ample memory, the NEC system uses a make sure that you don’t accidentally 100 with some programs. This is mostly bank-switching approach that divides erase a cartridge on which you have stored due to a difference in Basic operation. Both memory into 32K banks. valuable data or programs, you can even systems offer a Microsoft Basic but Radio Through a command shown in the main use a protect switch that NEC has wisely Shack has opted for double-precision menu, a user can easily select a new bank put on each cartridge. arithmetic as standard, whereas NEC has to work with. Because the RAM cartridge Although generally wonderful, the chosen single precision as the default is itself equivalent to a bank, a user can se- RAM cartridge idea has a significant mode. Even with single-precision arith- drawback — price. Each cartridge costs metic, the Radio Shack still won’t perform almost $400. We hope that with the rapid as fast as the NEC. Other programs, spread of CMOS technology this price will though — especially those written in iWorld go down, thereby making the RAM assembly langauge — work about the Report Card cartridges a more popular feature. same on both machines. Besides its more expandable main In addition to Basic, the PC-8201’s memory, the NEC PC-8201 has no ROM includes two application packages NEC PC-8201 significant hardware advantages over the (versus five for the Radio Shack 100). Radio Shack Model 100. Both systems These packages are a text editor and a have a serial (RS-232) and a parallel telecommunications program. The text (Centronics-type) port for the connection editor (Text) is substantially similar to the of communication devices and printers. lOO’s. Text offers most of the basic Both include a cassette-recorder interface features of a traditional text editor, such as -a = O o *1) that allows you to store programs and data full-screen editing and cursor-keys aid and 0 o ° X ^ u. O m on regular tape recorders and load them automatic wrap. You can also select a Setup (S' back. Both also offer a bar-code-reader word, a sentence or even an entire Ease of Use O' interface, which is particularly useful in document (if you have enough main Performance O' Documentation S' Serviceability cr Summary: The NEC PC-8201 is a lap-size portable very similar in circuitry — and quality — to the Radio Shack Model 100. Though it has no internal modem and fewer programs in ROM, it comes with more memory and can be easily expanded beyond the capabilities of the Radio Shack unit. Its Basic programs operate faster as well. Product details: List price, $799. Includes 8085 CMOS processor; 1 6K RAM; 32K ROM; serial port; parallel port; cassette port; 8 line by 40 character LCD screen; software. Manufactured by Nippon Electric Corporation, 532 Broad Hollow Road, Melville, NY 1 1747; (312) 228-5900. The NEC PC-8201 computer has internal memory expandable to 64K RAM. InfoWorld March 19. 1984 65 Copyrighted material HARDWARE memory) and cut or copy it to a “paste three manuals: a beginner’s guide, a guide buffer.” You can then paste the content of to the cassette-based software and a Basic the buffer in another part of the current programming guide. They are reasonably document or even in a different document well done, though not perfect. They have (in the same memory bank). some misspellings and a few sentences The telecommunications program look as if they were literally translated Telcom allows you to define a broad range from Japanese. But they will tell you what of transmission options such as baud rate you need to know. (from 75 to 19,200 bits per second), Servicing the machine should be a little COMPUTER SYSTEMS ALL PRODUCTS ARE FACTORY-FRESH The NEC PCS20 1 is one of the best AND GUARANTEED! PRODUCTS FOR IBM & COMPATIBLES contenders in the notebook-computer HARDWARE & RETAIL MICRO PERIPHERALS FLASH AST Research Sixpack 64K $395 00 S279.9S 64K Ramchip Sets 100 00 64.00 arena; an alternative to the Model 100, CDC 9409 320K Drtve 52500 249.9S Davong 10 MB External 2395 00 1774.95 Hayes Smartmodem 1200 69900 499.95 Hayes Smartmodem 1200 B 599 00 449.95 parity, word length (6, 7 or 8 bit), stop bit more difficult than servicing the Model Hercules Graphics Card 49900 399.95 Microsoft^ Mouse 19500 139.95 and control parameters. 100, simply because Radio Shack has 64K SyslemCard'* 395 00 239.95 You can easily overcome a lack of many more outlets in the U.S. than does Pnniers — Epson, TTX NEC Oaisywnier Oki, others SCALLS further applications in ROM by loading in NEC. Princeton Graphics HX-12 680 00 529.95 Ouadram Ouadimk 680 00 539.95 memory application programs stored on a Overall, the NEC PC-8201 is one of the Piantfonics COLORPLUS 475 00 379.95 cassette (called the Personal Application best contenders in the notebook-computer Disks — 3M, Dysan others 9CALU SOFTWARE Kit) that NEC provides free of charge with arena. Its competitive price and better Ashton Tale dBase ii 700 00 399.95 the basic unit. The Personal Application add-in and cartridge-memory expandabil- Friday' 295 00 199.95 BPI Personal Accounting 195 00 146.95 Kit cassette includes 25 programs for six ity make it a good alternative to the Continental UltraFiie 195 00 124.95 business applications, six utilities, two popular Radio Shack Model 100, especially Digital Research CP/M 86 65 00 44.95 Concurrent CP/M 86 350 00 279.95 games and a music program. for users who are oriented towards Basic Financier Personal Senes 195 00 159.95 Documentation for the unit consists of programming. Fox & Geiier Ouickcode 295 00 199.95 • dUlii 99 00 74.95 dGraph 295 00 199.95 Lifetree voiKswnter 195 00 99.95 MicrOSOtt* Multi-Tool Word** 395 00 279.95 Multi-Tool Word •hI Mouse 495 00 349.95 Capsules Multiplan’* MS DOS 250 00 159.95 Business Basic Compiler 600 00 419.95 C-Compiier 500 00 349.95 Pascal Compiler 350 00 244.95 Fortran Compiler 350 00 244.95 CoPoi Compiler 750 00 524.95 Every week we present a summary of byte for the buck. (3/12/84) Scitor Proieci Scheduler 285 00 229.95 significant hardware products we have SotiWord MuHiMaie 495 00 326.95 reviewed over the past months, including Kaypro 10 (Kaypro) — A trans- PRODUCTS FOR APPLE & COMPATIBLES the date our full review appeared. The list portable, rock-solid computer with & HARDWARE will be updated periodically to reflect the a 10-megabyte hard disk built in. A terrific PERIPHERALS Advanced Logic CP/M Caro 399 00 299.95 rapid change in the computer industry. bargain for what this CP/M machine gives ll 269.95 Hayes Micromodem 379 00 you. (10/31/83). Microsoft® Premium Softcard"* //e 495 00 339.95 Ace 1200 (Franklin) — Im- Premium System'* 69500 426.95 provements over the Ace 1000 still NEC 8201 (Nippon Electric) — Rana Elite One Disk Drive 37900 269.95 Videx Uilraterm 379 95 249.95 leave this almost Apple-compatible ma- A worthy competitor to the Tandy Videoterm •n! Softswitch 31900 199.95 SOFTWARE chine a bit short of the mark. Documenta- Model 100, this lap-size portable is more Ashton Tate dBase li 700 00 399.95 tion is only adequate for plug-and-play expandable, but has less built-in software. Friday' 295 00 199.95 BPI Systems Accounting ea 395 00 309.95 types. (12/26/83). (3/19/84). Brooerpund Banx St Writer 7000 52.95 Microsoft® Multiplan'* 275 00 165.95 Compaq Plus (Compaq) — The Premium Softcard He MANY OTHER PRODUCTS AVAILABLEI B original IBM PC-compatible trans- (Microsoft) — Expands an Apple Please send certified or cashier's check portable now has a built-in hard disk. It system with a Z80 coprocessor, 80- to our NEW ADDRESS: works as solidly as the original. (3/19/84). column display circuitry and 64K addition- MICRO FLASH al RAM. (2/6/84). 1110 Burnett Avenue, Suite K Dragon (Tano Microcomputer 94520 Concord, CA Products) — Despite a toy-store Speechmaster (Tecmar) — A Orders Only: appearance, this low-cost home computer board that, along with its compan- 800/45S-2433 has a lot of muscle. Its major drawback is ion software package, uses some of the For Price Ouotes, Technical Service and California Orders, call: an ill-designed keyboard. (1/30/84). latest available technology to generate 415/680-1157 speech, if you're willing to experiment. No Credil Card Surcharge HP-150 (Hewlett-Packard) — (IBM PC; 2/27/84). ONLY $6 00 UPS shipping/handling and insurance per order This machine proves there are Higher for printers & monitors— please call intelligent alternatives to the IBM hoopla. Spark Jet JP 101 (Olivetti) — CA residents add applicable sales lax Items & prices subject to change With an innovative touch screen and a lot 1^9 Ink-jet technology is coming but it ' Winimum order $10000 Dealer inquiries welcomed more, this one gives you a solid name and isn’t here. Poor print quality and hard-to- I 66 March 19, 1984 InfeWorld . ANNOUNCING the premiere of Learning to use your IBM PCjr becomes easy and fun with jr magazine. Because jr keeps things simple, the whole family will learn and understand while they enjoy themselves. jr will explain how the PCjr works and guide you step-by-step in setting up your system. Most of all jr will answer your most important ques- tions month after month . . .like • What can I use my PCjr for? jr magazine will teach you how to pre- pare household budgets, balance your checkbooks, do your taxes and organize schedules and lists. • What about the kids? From kindergarten to col- lege, jr helps the kids with educational programs in every subject area. • Are there more serious uses for PCjr? Yes! You'll improve your own business skills by learning about word processing, spreadsheets and graphics. • What about having fun with PCjr? Relax and enjoy all the latest games with your whole family. Plus: • What programs should I choose for the PCjr? jr magazine will tell you what programs on the market will run on the PQr, and which ones won't. Plus what new programs are on the way. jr will evaluate them before you buy. Order your subscription to jr today and you'll get the special charter subscription rate of $14.97. That's 25% off the basic subscription rate! Plus, with your Sign up as a charter subscriber to jr. pre-payment of check, American Express, Visa or me I understand that with prepayment of check or Mastercard we'll send you a FREE issue making a credit card I'll receive a FREE issue making a total total of 13 issues for $ 14.97. of 13 issues for $14.97. Save $5.00 off the basic rate! Take advantage of this incredible charter subscrip- tion offer. Mail the attached coupon or call TOLL FREE CHECK/MO DMC AE VISA BILL ME 1-800-258-5473. In New Hampshire call 1-924-9471 . . TODAY! Card # Exp. Date Signature Name Address City State Zip Canada & Mexico $17.97, 1 year only, US funds drawn on US bank. M g For IBM's Home Computer Foreign Surface $34.97, 1 year only, US funds drawn on US bank. Foreign airmail, please inquire. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. 743FIW J Box 903 Farmingdale, NY 11737 Copyrighted materiai We wrote the book on portability In nine 8080/8085/Z80 808&W88/8186 808&B088 8O86/8O881 MC-68000 CP/M CP/M-86 IBM MSDOS CP/M-68K MP/MIl Concurrent PC DOS CP/M'" 1 FORTRAN-77 y y y TBA C BASIC Compiler / y y y y Pascal/MT+ / J y y y .o II TBA d Level COBOL J J y y PIVl J y y y TBA C v'' y y y Assembler Plus Tbols y y y y TBA Access Manager y y y y TBA Display Manager y y y y TBA micro/SPF y y y i COBOL Animator y y y y TBA / Personal BASIC y TBA ^ Dr, Logo y TBA 1 RtstarchI iQWGffAl I 15'BEARch 0DIOITAII RESEARCH I o Copyiightad material Tb every software developer who’d written off portability as an impossible dream, Digital Research humbly announces a few monumental breakthroughs. We not only offer languages that are portable from 8 to 16 to the 32-bit chips of the future, they’re portable across all popular operating systems, too. What’s more, we supply the broadest range of quality Imguages and development tools available today. And will tomorrow So rest assured. Whether you design applications at a major corporation, plan to become a major corporation or just qualify as a hobbyist, you only have to write it once. Simply pick the Digital Research language that’s right for you. From Personal BASIC™ to Digital Research FORTRAN-77.™ The newest member of our remarkable family. Tb complement languages, we offer a complete workshop of development tools. Our Display Manager™and Access Manager™ simplify the design of screen displays and data bases. So you spend less time and effort. If you write in COBOL, our Animator™source level debugger will get your software running in record time. And for programmers skilled with IBM mainframe SPF, we offer micro/SPF.™ An editor that helps turn your invaluable experience into valuable new software applications. At Digit^ Research, we work as hard for you after the sale as we do to get the sale. Withbacloip like quality documentation, software updates and a phone line to our technical support team. With so much productivity and service to draw on, ifs small wonder IBM chose our languages for its IBM®PC, XT and the H DIGITAL new IBM 3270/PC. RESEARCH* For more information, We make computers work® call your IBM representative. Or, for the Digital Research retailer nearest you, call 800-227-1617, ext. 400. In California, 800-772-3545, ext. 400. micro/SPF is a trademark of Phaser Systems. Inc. Animator and Level II COBOL are trademarks ol Mkjo Focus, Ltd. IBM is a regstered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation The Digital Research logo and products are either trademarks or regstered trademarks of Digtal Research Inc ® 1984 Oigtal Research Inc All ri^ts reserved. Copyrighted material HARDWARE find parts point to other printers in the tive for beginners as well as programmers. InfoWorld same price range. (12/19/83). (12/19/83) Spirit-80 (Mannesmann Tally) 1^1 Toshiba PI 350 (Toshiba) — Introduces — Low-cost dot-matrix printing This three-in-one dot-matrix print- with good special features such as dot- er is usually fast and gives excellent print addressable graphics. (11/14/83). quality. It’s documentation is incomplete and inadequate, though, and you may have Teletex TTX-1014 (Teletex) — trouble reaching some of the printer’s If you can manage the horrible switches. (2/6/84). documentation, you’ll get a great letter- quality printer cheap. (12/5/83). Transtar 130S (Transtar) — For a reasonable price you can get TI-855 (Texas Instruments) — yourself a well-made, letter-quality print- Hybrid printing gives both fast er. Best suited to low or moderate usage. draft and numerous letter-quality fonts, (1/30/84). supplied as ROM cartridges. A solid performer, a reasonable price. (12/5/83). TRS-80 Model 4P (Tandy/Ra- dio Shack) — The company’s first TI Professional (Texas Instru- transportable is an outstanding machine at ments) — Can anyone go one an excellent price; a better Model 4 in a better than IBM? 'You bet! Superior smaller case. (11/21/83). graphics, an excellent keyboard and IBM compatibility. (12/19/83). Zenith Z-100 (Zenith) — Dual- processors make this machine Timex 2068 Color Computer worth its high price tag. It runs CP/M and (Timex) — Excellent home com- MS-DOS programs, and its high-resolu- puter comparing well with more expensive tion screen and great keyboard gain it high computers. This microcomputer is attrac- marks. (11/7/83). User-Friendly Responses Softwear Satisfaction survey please put them on separate pages. Ask your friends to contribute their experi- To order your baseball jer- My firm wants to publish a study of ences, too. Please write to Abaire Data microcomputer users’ experiences with Services, P.O. Box 29157, Richmond, VA sey, send $6.95 (plus $2.00 computer-hardware manufacturers and 23229. Thank you. for postage and handling) vendors. The purpose of the study is to Archie L. Abaire, Jr., President along with your size give microcomputer buyers information Abaire Data Services about vendors and manufacturers that can Richmond, VA (S,M,L,XL) and quantity de- not be obtained just by talking with sired to: The Logo Compa- acquaintances and reading reviews. We ny, c/o InfoWorld, 1531 would like to include the following points On Apple slots Almaden Rd., San Jose, CA in our study: 1. The make and model of the Your review of the Microsoft Premium 95125. computers, any installed options, the Softcard He (February 6) twice mentions vendor and the date of purchase. that the Softcard He is placed in slot 0 of I 2. How much the computer is used and the Apple He. There is no slot 0 in an Ap- for what. ple He. Perhaps you are referring to the Name 3. Reliability. Has it ever broken down? auxiliary slot, which is not slot 0. I hope If so, what went wrong, and what was your that you will be a bit more alert for such Address experience in having it repaired? discrepancies in the future. 4. How well is this computer suited to S.D. Scott City/State/ZIP your needs? What is good about it? What is Longwood, FL bad? 5. useful the vendor was in Total Enclosed $ How helping you to evaluate your hardware Discuss feeders S M L XL needs. Although all kinds of responses are Your generally excellent reviews of needed, it is vital to obtain a large number printers would be improved if you would | Make checks payable to The Logo Company ($6 95 each I 1 of reports from people who have had report on performance with both the pkjs $2 00 each for postage and handling) ! 2 Send to The Company, InfoWorld. positive experiences. Anecdotes will be tractor-feed and the friction-feed mecha- I Logo c/o 1531 Almaden | Rd . San Jose. CA 95125 I I helpful. If you want to write about your nisms. I own the Daisywriter 2000 and the Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer good in continental J U.S. a adventures with more than one computer. Mannesmann Tally 160L. You gave both I only. I I 70 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld Copyrighted material HARDWARE printers very favorable reviews, and for good reason, since both are quality The world’s second printers. But the Daisywriter tractor feed is terrible. With the tractor, the type seems to be climbing and descending most irritating noise. invisible hills — a minor annoyance for double-spaced text, but a real embarrass- ment with single-spaced letters. The Tally 160L is great with the tractor, but the fricton feed works well only if the operator is very careful in inserting the paper. I would have bought the Tally 160L anyway, but I regret my choice of the Daisywriter. Michael J. McIntyre Ann Arbor, MI Review ethics While I enjoy and generally respect your publication, there is one thing I find very questionable — you appear to rely on the manufacturers to provide you with hardware for your reviews. The issue isn’t whether or not you pay for the hardware (do you?), but rather, whether you can be sure that you are reviewing the same product that is produced for the consumer. 1 can imagine the extra care spent on every machine that is carefully sent to InfoWorld for review. I can also imagine the different view the public would have of Consumer Reports magazine if it only te.sted tuna, razor blades or automobiles that were provided directly by the manufacturers. Lawrence Matasar What’s the first? Those noisy little office printers. “Screech, Portland, OR screech, screech,” all day long. Like thousands of little fingernails Reader Matasar is correct in assum- dragging slowly across a chalkboard. It’s enough to make your skin ing that we acquire hardware for review crawl. Not to mention the pace of your work. directly from the manufacturers. The Fortunately, there’s relief. SoundTrap. Just put your printer software that we review we also obtain inside SoundTrap and those irritating screeches are reduced to a directly from the publisher. The hardware soft whisper. Now you can work comfortably and productively is loaned to usfree ofcharge for a definite period of time, after which we return it. with your printer close at hand. That’s especially handy because However, Matasar is incorrect in SoundTrap ’s slanted face makes a great copy stand. assuming that extra care is taken with SoundTrap has some other unexpected benefits like saving the machines sent to us. We insist that desk space, keeping printer paper under control and integrating our review models be production ver- your system. what you’ll appreciate is the sions; in addition, we inspect the comput- computer But most way ers, as do our reviewers, to ensure that SoundTrap brings printer noise to a screeching halt. they are the correct models. To order or for more information, see your It might interest readers to note that, dealer or call 800-24TRACE. in the past four months, no fewer than In California call collect five full computer systems from major manufacturers have been delivered to us (415) 964-3115. for review — in nonoperating order. When reviewing full systems, such prob- lems seem to be the rule rather than the ex- ception. — Editors Two SoundTrap models InfoWorld welcomes comments about its hard- accommodate small dot-malri.\ ware reviews from both readers and manufac- printers, wide-carriage dot- turers. Please address your correspondence to matrix printers and smaller the Technical Editor, InfoWorld, 1060 Marsh letter quality printers. Road, Suite C-200, Menlo Park, CA 94025. 9QQ Stisrlin Road, Mountain view, CA 94Q43 Copyrighted material HARDWARE New Products tems, 132 West 24th Street, New York, The parallel version is priced at $199 and NY 10011; (212) 989-6876. the serial version at $299. Titan Technologies, 310 West Ann Professional word-processing key- Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104; (313) 662- board for IBM PC: A replacement 8542. keyboard for the IBM Personal Computer is designed for the word-processing pro- Typewriters to computer printers: fessional. Only 15-inches wide (four inches With the SuperCord II from Cord, an narrower than the IBM original), the ordinary electric typewriter can become a Colby Key-2 keyboard is compact enough printer for such computers as the IBM PC to sit comfortably in the lap. A thin-wall, and compatibles; the Apple II family; the die-cast magnesium frame is rugged but Atari 800; the Commodore 8032 PET, 64 Computer, ET Computer Systems lighter in weight than the plastic original. VIC the ET and 20 ; and TRS-80. The Shift keys are located in the tradition- The SuperCord II contains a 4K ET, but not from outer space: Yes, al positions, and four additional cursor memory buffer, which enables the electric there is an ET Computer, from ET keys at the upper left are active at all typewriter to print at approximately 110 Computer Systems in San Diego, Califor- times, which facilitates spreadsheet work. baud even with data coming faster from nia. The ET-2010 is a two-piece CP/M 2.2 List price is $259. the computer’s port. With the cord turned machine priced at $1,349. off, the electric typewriter functions It sports a Z80A microprocessor run- normally. ning at 4MHz and 64K of random-access The SuperCord II is available in a memory (RAM), which is expandable to variety of versions to facilitate its connec- one megabyte. Also included is a built-in, tion with RS-232 serial ports, IEEE-488 9-inch green-phosphor screen that dis- bus or Centronics-type parallel ports. plays 24 lines by 80 characters. A parallel. Cord Ltd., 1548 Brookhollow Drive, Centronics-style port as well as an RS-232 Santa Ana, CA 92705; (213) 595-4446. serial port are included along with a 76- key keyboard and a numeric keypad. Disks and peripherals for the Macin- Software that comes with the system Colby Key-2 Keyboard, Colby Computer tosh: Davong Systems will ship a series of includes ETPM II, an enhanced version of add-on hard-disk drives for Apple’s recent- the CP/M 2.2 operating system; a busi- Colby Computer, 849 Independence ly announced Macintosh computer by the ness Basic language; NewWord word- Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043; (415) end of the first quarter of 1984. The processing software; and accounting 968-1410. capacities of the drives will range from 5 software including a spreadsheet, general to 32 megabytes. Mac Disk will be shipped ledger, accounts receivable, accounts pay- Triple threat: A single board that will with all the necessary cabling, adapters able and payroll with job costing. A 10- add a clock, game port and printer and instructions. megabyte hard disk is optional. interface to the IBM PC and PC XT has Scheduled for a later introduction will ET Computer Systems, 8161 Broad- been packaged on a very small card, be a 28-megabyte streaming cartridge way, Lemon Grove, CA 92045. according to the manufacturer. tape drive that will provide efficient The Cygnus card, which measures backup capabilities for the hard disks. Amber ambience: Change that tired 5'/2 X 4 ‘A inches will fit into the short The company is also planning to green phosphor to amber with a replace- slots of the XT. The real-time clock and incorporate many of the functions of its ment CRT picture tube for your calendar keep track of the date and time MultiLink local-area network, first devel- TeleVideo, Kaypro or DEC computer. The and have a removable lithium battery with oped for the IBM PC, into a product replacement tubes, available in both 9-inch a 12-year shelf life for backup power. The known as Mac Link. That product will and 12-inch sizes, will fit more than 20 Whatime support software supplied with allow as many as 255 Macintosh comput- computers and terminals, according to the the system supplies the time and date for ers to be hooked together and make use of manufacturer. the IBM’s system clock. The game- the same hard-disk drive, as well as to The tubes have high-contrast, anti- controller port will allow connection of a communicate directly with each other. glare faceplates, lead-strontium impreg- joystick and is fully compatible with IBM’s Davong Systems, 217 Humboldt nated glass and European Amber game adapter. It will support the use of Court, Sunnyvale, CA 94089; (408) 734- phosphor. The new tubes are mechanically any device that could be connected to the 4900. and electrically compatible with the re- adapter. spective tubes they will replace and can be The board is available in two versions, Specifications for products described on this installed by the owner. Priced at $99.95, one for parallel-printer connection and one page are supplied by the manufacturers or the tubes come with a 30-day, money-back for serial-printer connection. The serial firms marketing these products. InfoWorld guarantee and a full-year warranty. version of the board will also allow you to does not guarantee their accuracy. Langley-St.Clair Instrumentation Sys- connect a modem or other serial device. — Compiled by Christine McGeever 72 March 19. 1984 InfoWorld — integrated sottnare integrated software integrated software integrated scrftware integrated sctftware integrated scrftware integrated software Uls not all the same, you know. Everybody’s got integrated software these days. make in the Spreadsheet Mode get made in the But most everybody else’s "integrated” software is a Business Graphics Mode, too. collection of separate programs tiiat happen to be on And our new Macro feature will memorize your the same disk. Or don’t do the job you expect them to. keystrokes. So now your best work gets easier and Something you won’t find with The New Context faster the second time arovmd. MBA™ and The Corporate MBA™. Call us at 1 -800 -437-1513 (In CA, call 1-800 Of course, both have il the functions you’d expect of 592-2527) for more info on The New Context MBA an integrated software product: Spreadsheet, Database and The Corporate MBA. Management, Business Graphics, Word Processing, Integrated software with a difference. Telecommunications and Forms Creation. They’re fest, too. MS-DOS’^” compatibility means TIk New CraitexitMBA. each of the fimctions work together, almost as quickly r— I YES. Tell me more about Ihe New Context MBA and Ihe Corporate MBA. I I as you can define your problem. I Have a Context repreaentahw call me. I 1 We’ve got fiill 3270 emulation, so you don’t wait in ! I TWft _ line to get data from your compands IBM mainframe. I I I Our new Data Exchange Facility^” lets you crank in I 1-2-3’^”, I I data you’ve created with other programs like I C«y State Zip m I I VisiCalc’^", WordStar etc. No problem. I Area Code Phone I SEMOTO: | And True Data Integration”' means the changes you I Context Management Syatems, 23868 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505. | Context MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Personal Computer Software For Business Decisions. The New Context MBA, The Corporate MBA. True Data Integration. Data Exchange Facility and Context 500 are trademarks of Context Management Systems, Inc. Copyrighted ; ' LOWEST ADVERTISED PRICES IN THIS ISSUE OF INFOWORLDI* GUARANTEED SATISFACTION OR YOUR MONEY CHEERFULLY REFUNDED!** ALL STOCK ITEMS SHIPPED WITHIN 24 HOURS OR WE PAY FREIGHT!*** CHECK OUT OUR EVERYDAY LOW PRICES: dBASE II $389 MULTIPLAN $159 LOTUS 1-2-3 $320 QUICKCODE $185 WORDSTAR $245 MULTIMATE $310 SUPERCALC 3 $245 WORD/MOUSE $350 DBPLUS $ 85 EASYWRITER $195 INFOSTAR $245 PROPAK $369 APPLICATIONS/ACCOUNTING WordSlar/MailMerge (MicroProl {349 WordStar/Spellstar (MicroProl {375 ABSTAT (Anderson Belli S267 WordStar/Spellstal/MailMetg^Pro Pak (MicroProl {369 Accounts Payable (Hayden Softwarel {284 Word (MicroSoftl {255 Accounts Payable (Intormation Unlloiiledl {320 Word/Mouse (MicroSoftl {350 Accounts Payable w/Cbeck Writing {381 Accounts Payable |MBSI| {381 24-HOUR BOOKS Accounts Receivable iHayden Soltwarej {284 Accounts Receivable llnlormation Unlimitedl {348 M C R o Using 6502 Assembly Language (Datamosll 12 Accounts Receivable w/Invoicing |M6A| {381 7210 Jordan Ave., Suite A70, Canoga Park, CA 91303 Games Apples Play (Datamosll 11 Accounts Receivable |MBSI| {381 Computer Playground (Datamosll 8 ADIOS iraiMATH (Micro SoftI { 82 Tbe Elementary Apple (Datamostl 12 ORDER 24 HOURS A DAY! Tbe Elementary ADIOS muMATH/muSIMP (Micro Sofll {1 59 Commodore (Datamosll 12 Bank Street Writer (Broderbundl { 49 365 DAYS A YEAR The Elementary Timex/Sinclair (Datamostl 12 The Bill ol Material (Hayden Soltwaiel {1 50 Elementary Vic (Datamostl 12 How to Write an Apple Program (Datamosll 12 Dalebook II (Digital Markelingl {1 83 California Residents (800) 556-4500 Dental Piactice Management (Digital Markelingl {645 How to Write an IBM-PC Program (Datamosll 12 IntePlan (Schucbardtl { 97 Ail others (800) 223-3691 How to Write a TRS-80 Program (Datamostl 12 Financial Mgml Series (Inloimation Unlimitedl How to Write a TRS-80 Program VoL 2 (Datamostl { 12 Mam Street Filer (Mam Street Softwarel {181 TRAINING GnI Ldgr/Accts Rec/Accts Pay {799 Kids and tbe Apple (Datamostl Notebook (Digital Markelingl { 99 Inventory Cntrl/Drder Eniry/Accts Rec {799 American Training International (A.T.I.I Kids and the Atari (Datamostl Office Filer (Digital Markelingl {249 Fixed Asset Accounting |MBA| {253 CP/M { 45 Kids and the Panasonic (Datamosll Perfect Filer (Perfect Softwarel General Ledger (Hayden Softwarel {284 {259 PC DOS { 45 Kids and the Commodore (Datamostl { 15 PFS FILE (Software Publisbingl { 95 Kids and the Tl 99/4a General Ledger/Financial Reiiorter (lUSI {348 dBASE II { 45 (Datamosll PFSGRAPH (Software Publisbingl 95 General Ledger w/Financial RpL Writer (MBA| {381 { EasyFiler { 45 Kids and tbe Vic (Datamostl PFS:WRIIE iSoftware Publisbingl { General Ledger (MBSH {381 95 Lotus 1-2-3 { 45 Kids and tbe IBM-PC (Datamosll Publisbingl PFS REPORT ISoftware { 95 dBASE II Users Guide (Adam Tbe IMSI Accounting Series: SuperCalc I { 45 Greenel OuickCode (Fox A Gellerl {185 1 General Ledger {169 VisiCalc { 45 Inlebase (Schucbardtl {299 DISKETTES 2. Accounts Receivable {169 MultiPlan { 45 Sequitui (Pacific Softwarel 3 Accounts Payable {169 {495 EasyPlanner { 45 MEMDREX 5V Visidex (ViviCorpi {179 4. Inventory Control {169 MicroPlan { 45 DS/DD Soft Sector 10 Pack { 39 VisiFile (VisiCorpI {205 5. Order Entry {169 MBasic { 45 DS/DD Soft Sector 2 Pack { 9 Data Base Manager I (Alphal { 89 6. Purchase Dider {169 WordStar { 45 SS/DD Soft Sector 10 Pack { 29 Data Base Manager II (Alphal {175 7. Bill of Materials {169 Easywriler { 45 SS/DD Soft Sector 2 Pack { 6 6 lob Costing {169 BPI { 45 VERBATIM 5''i" 9 Materials Requirement Planning {169 DATA COMMUNICATIONS Benchmark { 45 SS/DO Soft Sector 10 Pack { 23 Base Accounting System-Parts 1. 2. S 3 {370 Crosstalk (MicroSluffl {119 Sampler III { 45 DD/DD Soft Sector tO Pack { 31 Complete 9Part Accounting System {1 .265 Move It (Wolf Softwarel { 85 UTILITIES ACCESSORIES Home Accountant (Continentall { 65 Remote (MicroSluff) { 95 EXECUTIVE PERIPHERAL SYSTEMS: Intevale (Schucbardtl {126 Telecom (Metasoftl { 94 MSoit (Micro Solti {165 EPS Keyboard. Includes: {295 Inventory (Hayden Sollwarel {284 Tbe Micro Link It (Digital Markelingl { 60 Premium Soltcard He (MicroSoftl {365 Keyboard/EPS PromWare Module for Inventory w/Invoicing (MBA| {381 LVNC (Norton Lamberll { 95 SID (Digital Researchl { 85 a Invoicing (Hayden Softwarel {ISO SID-86 (Oigilal Researchl {125 BASIC and standard rnterface board Ibe MBA Accountant |M6A| {964 LANGUAGES SuperSort (MicroProl {135 lor use with Apple II and 11= muLISP/muSIAR (Micro SottI {132 Typefaces lAlphal { 85 MODULES: ALDS (Micro SoftI { 95 MuMATH/muSIMP (Micro Solti {169 Applewriter 11/ Basic 8 DOS { 27 Applesoft Compiler (Micro SoftI {130 WORD PROCESSING Order Entry w/lnvenloiy Control (MBSII {392 dBASE ll/Basic 8 CP/M { 27 Basic Compiler (Micro SoftI {285 Payroll (Hayden Soffwaiel {284 Benchmark Speller |IMSI| {125 MultiPlan/Basic 8 DOS { 27 BASIC Interpretei-Basic 80 (Micro SoftI {265 Payroll w/Cbeck Writing (M6A| {381 Benchmark W P (IMSII {335 Pascal/Pascal { 27 Business 6UIC Compiler (Micro SoftI {420 Payroll (MBSII {381 Benchmark MailLisI (IMSII {156 PFS:File/Basic8D0S { 27 C Compiler (Micro SottI {359 Professional Time Accounting |MBA| {315 Bibliography (Digital Markelingl { 85 Piewriter/Basic 7 8 DOS { 27 COBOL Compiler (Micro Sofll {525 Purchase Order/Req. lor Inventory (MBAI {253 Easy Filer (Information Unlimitedl {225 Screenwriter ll/Basic 8 DOS { 27 FORTRAN eo (Micro Sofll {329 RM Time Cobol (MBSII {132 Easy Writer (Information Unlimitedl {195 Visicalc/Basic 8 DOS { 27 FORTRAN 60 Compiler (Micro Solti {295 Sales Analysis (MBSII {207 Easy Speller llnfoimalion Unlimitedl {115 Wordhandler/Basic 8 DOS { 27 Macro Assember (Micro Solti {1 60 SottCard Plus (Micro SottI {379 Footnote (Digital Markelingl { 85 Wordstar/Basic 8 DOS { 27 Pascal Compiler (Micro Sofll {250 SofiCard Premium System (Micro Sofll {499 Giammalik (Aspen Softwarel { 65 EPS Softswitch { 35 He Interface SofiCaid System (Micro SoftI {199 Hyper-Typer (Oigilal Markelingl { 21 { 65 SPREAD SHEET/FINANCIAL PLANNING tntost3( (MicfoPiol {245 Design Your Own Prom Kit (Masterl { 85 DATA BASE MANAGEMENT 1-2-3 (Lolusl {320 MailMerge (MicroProl {125 Design Your Own Prom Kit (Replacemeoll { 22 1-2-3 (Lolusl {320 Bottom Line Strategist (Ashton-Iatel {295 MemoPlan (Chang Labsi {135 20 Foot Extension { 29 HEAD COMPUTER Access Manager iDigilal Researchl {215 Business Forecasting Model (VisiCorpI { 88 Mullimate (Soflword SystemsI {310 PRODUCTS Bisybase (IMSII {169 Calcsiar (MicroProl { 89 PIE Speller (Hayden Softwarel { 79 System 1. 5T Head Cleaning Kit { 19 8' CbeckBase (IMSII { 65 Consolidation Module (Chang Labsi {195 PIE Writer (Hayden Softwarel { 99 System 1. Head Cleaning Kit { 19 Condore 3 (GKE Softwarel {346 Easy Planner (Information Unlimitedl {165 Perfect Writer (Perlecl Softwarel {219 STORWARES Black Leatherette 75 disc capacity Condore 1 (GKE Softwarel {161 FPL Financial Planning (Ashton-Tatel {440 Professional Pak (MicroProl {369 { 8 CROSSDATA (GKE Softwarel { 84 GraphPlan (Chang Labsi {195 Perlecl Speller (Perfect Sollwarel { 99 Walnut 75 disc capacity { 8 Black Leatherette 160 disc capacity dBASE DOOR (Tylogl { 95 Link Module (Chang Labsi {195 Perfect Writer/Spellet (Perfect Softwarel {299 { 11 dBASE-ll (Ashlon-Talel {389 InteCalc (Schuchardll {205 Proof Reader (Aspenl { 45 Walnut 160 disc capacity { II Index dBASE Window (Tylogl {159 MicroPlan (Chang Labsi {325 Punctuation 8 Style (Oasisl { 95 Five Dividers { 2 Ten Index Dividers DBPIus IHumansoftI { 85 MultiPlan (Micro Solti {160 Select Word Processor (Select Inlormalioni {220 { 3 dCRAPH (Fox 8 Gellen {179 Multi-Tool Budget (Micro SoftI { 99 Spellbinder (Lexisoftl {245 HARDWARE Display Manager (Digital Researchl {299 Multi-Tool Financial (Micro Sofll { 85 Spellguard (Sorciml { 99 dUTIL (Fox 8 Gellen { 69 PeilectCalc (Perfect Softwarel {169 SpellSIar IMicioProl {125 MONITORS: EasyFiler (Information Unlimitedl {225 Plan 80 (Digital Markelingl {195 Writer (Sorciml {125 TAXAN 12" FilePlan (bang Labsi {181 SuperCalc 1 (Sorciml {145 The Thesaurus (Oasisl {125 Hi Res Green {125 FRIDAY' (Ashton-Talel {199 SuperCalc II (Sorciml {155 Word Plus (Oasisl {115 Hi Res Amber ir {135 1 Infoslar (MicroProl {275 SuperCalc III (Sorciml {245 Volkswriter (Lifetreel {125 RGB Vision {285 InleSoft (Schuchardll { 55 Visicalc (VisiCorpI {179 Index IBorlandl {150 RGB Vision III {420 InieMale (Schucbardtl {129 VisiSchedule (VisiCorpI {229 Master (Microprol {115 IBM Look Alike Color {499 Investment Manager (IMSII {170 VisiTrend/Plot (VisiCorpI {229 WordStar (MicroPro! {245 ir Medium RES RGB {275 OUR GUARANTEE: 'If you find advertised prices in this issue lower than ours, call and give us the page number the ad appears on. and we ll beat the price by S5 D0'! "24 HOUR MICRO fully guarantees all products to be tree from defects as covered by manufacturer's warranty. If you have a problem with any product you buy from us please call For your proleclion. products are not accepted lor return at our warehouse unless an RMAv is visible on the label "‘All products in stock are guaranteed to be shipped within 24 hours via UPS Ground, or we pay tbe freight!! Special order items take a little longer, and you'll be advised of an HOW TO PLACE YOUR ORDER: Phone orders are invited using Visa or MasterCard Visa and MasterCard orders carry a 3% handling charge All orders over $500—we pay the yearl Mail Orders may send charge card number (include expiralron dale and your signaturel. cashiers check, money order, or personal check (please allow 14 days lor personal checks to clear our bank|. Sorry no C.O.D.'s or will calls. Please add 4% ({5.00 mrnimumi tor UPS sbipprng. handling and rnsurance All products are in manufacturer's cartons with manufacturer's warranty Opened products are not returnable All products sub|ect to price change and availability California residents add 65% sales tu. Corporate and School purchase orders accepted upon verification and approval NEED A COMPUTER? CALL AND ASK US A80UT PURCHASING PRE-OWNED COMPUTERS AT LOW PRICESI C3opyrightecd material ADVERTISING SERVICES EnioWmid The Nru>su>cckl|* foe M( President Thomas H. Kothman American Training International . 35 Micro Flash 66 Director. Corporate MarkelinK/.Adverlisinj* Services Bruce A. Fr>'mire Ashton Tate C3 Micro Machines 84 Director. .Advertising Sales Roger A. Leen Beck Manufacturing Co 41 Micronet Corp 74 Advertising Supervisor Bobby Brown Bluebush, Inc 60 Microrim, Inc 28,29 Display Advertising C«>ordinators V'l Carre, Byte Industries, Inc 46 Microsoft Corp 42,43 Pat Carrington Classified 81 Mullen Computer Products, Inc. . 23 Kxhibil C(M>rdinator Delia Charmell Daniels Computer Exchange 14,15 National Ad Council 49 Classified .Advertising Coordinator Richard Hengehold Computronics 4 Networx 19 infoLink .Advertising CiHirdinator Leah Dansby Conroy-LaPoint 14,15 Paradise Systems, Inc C2 .Advertising .Assistant Rhonda Young Context Management Systems . . 73 Programmer’s Shop, The 40 Advertising Billing Clerks Grace Duarte. Mary l^wis Corona Data Systems 1 Rocky Mountain Software. . . . 10,48 Supt'rvisor I^auren Katz-Tinsley .Advertising Pnxluction DataAccess 36 Safeware 49 INFOVVORU) ADVKRTISING Digital Research 68,69 Software Galore 7 RKPRKSKNTATIVKS Direct Software 63 Sysgen, Inc 8 Northern California: Eagle Enterprises 87 Tava Corp 26 I.vnne .Matthes, InfoVVorld. 1060 Marsh Road. Suite C-200. .Menlo Park. CA 94025. (415) 665-1330. 800-Software 38 TeleVideo Systems, Inc 58,59 Emerging Technology Trace Systems 71 Southwest: Kay Young. InfoWorld. 4000 MacArihur Boulevard. Suite Consultants Inc 32 Transtar/Vivitar Comp. Prod. . . . C4 .3000. Newport Beach. CA 92660. (714) 720-1008. 'I'errilory: Orange and San Diego counties. Fox & Geller 13 U.S. Robotics, Inc 55 General Electric Rental 2 Value/Screen 25 Robert .A. David. InfoWorld. 401 Wilshire Boulevard. Suite 1 100. Sjinia .Monica. CA 90401. (213) 393-0312. IBM Corp 50,51 Wayne Green Pub. Group 67 Territory: Southern California (all other counties). .Arizona. Texas. New Mexico. InfoLink 76-80 InfoWorld Circulation Dept 37 Mid-Central /Nt>rthwest: This index is provided as an additional Laura Larson. InfoWorld. 1060 Marsh Road. Suite C-200. InfoWorld Report Card 44 Menlo Park. CA 94025. (408) 662-3622. service. The publisher does not assume any Territory: North Dakota. South Dakota. Colorado. Oklahoma. InfoWorld T-Shirt 70 .Arkans;is. Oregon. Washington. .Nevada. Utah. Wyoming. liability for errors or omissions. Idaho. .Montana. Hawaii. .Alaska. Canada. Kamerman Labs 64 Midwest: Gordon Early. Robert Deming, Dwight f!)arly & Sons. 405 North Wabash .Avenue. Suite 1514. Chicago. IL 6061 1. (312) 1 644-6400. ' Territory: Kansas. Missouri. Iowa. Minnesota. Wisconsin, Illinois. Kentucky. Michigan. Ohio. Nebraska. Indiana. t New England: Terri Hamilton, Mitch Hall A.ss New York/ New Jersey: tions in 18 major countries. Nine million people read one or more of the group’s publica- Robert .A. D'.Ambrosio, Steven Branda, Greg Kohles, tions each month. Members of the publication group include: Australia: Australasian Target Media Companv. 114 East Main Street. Biigota. NJ 0760.3. (201) 488-790(). Computerwortd, Micro Computer Magazine; Argentina: ComputerworldlArgentina; Brazil: DataNews, MicroMundcr, Denmark: ComputerworldlDanmark, MikroData; France: Le Mid-.Atlantic /Southeast: Monde informatiquer, Germany: Computerwoche, Micro Computerwelt, PC Welt Italy: Warren I..anger, Warren Langer .Assixiates. 1337 N.W. 84th Computerworld Italia; Japan: Computerwortd Japan; Mexico: Computerworldl Mexico; Drive. Coral Springs. FI. 33065. (305) 753-4124. Territory: Pennsylvania, Delaware. Maryland. District of Norway: Computerworld Norge, MikroData; People’s Republic of China: China Columbia. Virginia. North Carolina. South Carolina. Florida. Computerworld; Saudi Arabia: Saudi Computerworld; Spain: Computerworldl Espana, Georgia. .Alabama. L<»uisana. Mississippi. West Virginia. Tennessee. MicroSistemas; Sweden: ComputerSweden, MikroDatom, Min Hemadator, United Kingdom: Computer Management, Computer Business Europe; United States: InfoLink: Computerworld, Hot CoCo, InCider, InfoWorld, Microcomputing, Micro Marketworid, PC Kathleen Haberek. InfoWorld. 1060 Marsh Road. World, 80-Micro, Run. Suite C-200. Menlo I’ark. CA 94025. (415) ,328-4602. Classified .Advertising: Richard Hengehold. InfoWorld. 1060 Marsh Road. Suite C-200. .Menlo Park. CA 9402,5. (415) 328-4602. InfoWorld March 19, 1984 75 Copyrighted material I N F 0 L I N K InfoLink is the only weekly Access to Book Catalog diskette CONVERT software directory listing Mainframe Data manufacturers and dealers of PC Users Book Specialist CONVERT systems, microcomputer MAI Basic Four Users Maximize your PC investment. Al la>l — a program which With books you resolves nuiny 5" disk conversion software, supplies and Convert your micro-computer into the right can your problems. runs under services. It provides the a Basic Four terminal. master hardware & CONVERT software.. .make better business MS-DOS on the IB.M/PC. Compaq. direct link between these • IBM PC decisions... create powerful CDP. Hvperion. Conona and • APPLE 11(e) suppliers the and InfoWorld graphics.. .communicate with other rKS80 .Model 2000. It reads, • APPLE III reader. systems.. .& much more. ALL writes and formats diskettes for 13 • OTHERS BOOKS RATED. REVIEWED & different CP/M svstems and Epson The standard InfoLink 9600/1200 Baud * MB Function with Valdocs. '($99) MC/VISA Keys * True Basic Four Screen DESIGNATED NOVICE TO AD- listing includes a 25- Display * Print Screen Feature VANCE. Annual catalog subscrip- accepted. Dealer inquiries invited. character product I.D., a *** Custom Modifications *** tion & updates: $5.00 MC/VlSA SELFWARE. INC. Bridge Rd., 300-character (counting Write or Call for information. PC Book Source 3541 Chain 48C Solar Park Suite 8.A spaces, punctuation) AZIMUTH COMPUTING 719 E. Elizabeth Pawlet, VT 05761 Fairfax. VA 22030 descriptive ad, and 4 lines Fresno, CA 93728 Toll Free (800) 84BOOKS (703) 352-2977 for company name, address (209) 266-8022 (800) 842-6657 and telephone number. Advertisers have the option " (^Selfware of including a IV2 wide X W' high logo at the bottom BoolcSfeurce of their listing. Please include black & white logo Computer Supplies with typewritten advertising Assemblers Diskette Copy Service copy. First-time advertisers Ribbons/Diskettes Allenbach Industries, Inc. are required to send CROSS-ASSEMBLERS Cartridge: Epson 80 $4.50 ea. Itoh Pro Allenbach created the industry, payment. Use your desktop computer as a Epson 100 $8.50 ea. C. development system with Avocet writer, NEC 8023, Apple Matrix and we’ve since been Be sure to specify the assemblers — the industry stan- $4.65 ea. imitated—but never duplicated. category under which your dard since 1980. Available for CP/ Zip Box: Epson 80 $3.00 Epson Copies supplied on OEM quality 100 $3.90 ea. Allenbach LIFETIME GUARAN- ad is to appear: M-80, CP/M-86, and PCDOS/MS DOS host systems, in most popular 3M/Scotch Diskettes: TEE diskettes. Virtually all for- Accessories, Consultants, disk formats. Target chip families: 5‘/4: SS-DD $1.95/DS-DD mats and systems. Copy Diskettes, Hardware, 6805, 6809, 1802/05. 8048, $2.70 ea. protection, serialization, Publications, Retailers, 8051, 6502, 6800, NEC7500, F8, 8: SS-DD $2.55 DS-DD $3.30 ea. downloading and packaging avail- Order: Rib/$25.00 able. Rapid delivery on 100 to Software, and Suppliers, Z8. COP400, 8085. Z80. $200 to Min. $500. Disk/20 ea. 1,000,000 copies. For more information on AVOCET SYSTEMS, INC. Freight: $3.00-C.O.D. add $1.65 Allenbach Industries rates and deadline dates, 804-1 South State Street Shipped next day. Call/Write for 2101 Las Palmas Drive please call Kathleen Haberek Dover, Delaware 19901 supplies catalog. Carlsbad, CA 92008 SuperStar Data Supplies, Ltd. Toll Free (800) 854-1515 at (800) 227-8365; in CA (800) 448-8500 (302) 734-0151 P.O. Box 2244 CA Collect (619) 438-2258 (800) 344-INFO. Mt. Vernon, NY 10551 InfoLink Advertising (914) 668-4035 InfoWorld 1060 Marsh Road, AVOCET yT Suite C-200 SYSTEMS INC. Menlo Park, CA Sr^ INDUSTRIESALLENBACHINC 94025 data supplies, ltd. Conversion Aids Access to Mainframe Data Books Converts any CP/M to DOS “Each A Perfect Original” CROSSDATA CONVERTS ANY IBM-PC Specialists dBASE II in ENGLISH I Duplication & formatting for PCs, DATA/TEXT FILE Format From New Book Sensation. Simple-Logi- both 8". 5'/4" & 3'/2”. Protocols ... Special equipment ... CP/Mxx to MS/PC-DOS, CP/Mxx cal-Easy to understand. 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(714) 863-1201 (213)452-9114 Box 453 DataEnctwe- Livingston, NJ 07039 a Verbatim Company (201)731-4382 InfoWorld .March 19, 1984 77 I N F 0 L I N K Photography Security Systems /Consulting Software/ Agriculture Software/CB80 Language PHOTONET Data Security Specialists Experienced Software CP/.M Calls from CB80 The network for photography, NO MORE HACKERS. WIRE Fifteen years service bureau expe- Access the FULL power of CP/M publishing and advertising. Lead- TAPS OR COMPUTER rience behind version 8.0 of or MP/M direct from your CB80 ing photo agencies accept photo BRE.AKINS! Our full line of securi- .AgData farm accounting software progs. Execute BDOS or XDOS requests via electronic mail; hun- ty products include customized for CP/.M 80 & CP/M 86 micros. calls. Get such info as user or CP/ dreds of pro photographers on-line black box devices, secure termi- G/L, P/R. and Cost .Accounting M version number, time of day, list specialties and itineraries; bul- nals, public key technology and an come in all disk formats, adapt to directory, etc. BDOSMASTER letin boards; industry news and IBM PC plug-in card. We will any size farm. Demo disks available consists of CB80 Basic code to be information; shop by computer for identify and solve your security specialty programs for dairy, beef, “INCLUDED” in your prog and a photo. AV equipment and more. problems with professional consul- crops, and land leveling. Dealer module for use by LK80. Complete Photonet tation and specific recommend- inquiries welcome. package $75. 250 West 57th Street ations. .AgData Practical Solutions, Inc. York, Merritt Software Inc. Suite #1 134 So. Central Ave. New NY 10019 891 Hazel Street (212) 307-6999 P.O. Box 1504 Valley Stream, NY 11580 Gridley, CA 95948 Fayetteville, AR 72702 (800)FARMUSA TO ORDER: (501) 442-0914 (800)FAR.MCAL l-(800) 227-3800 ext. 983 MERRITT” PRACTICAL SOFTWARE, Inc. TttT AgDataru SOLUTIONS AgData Gridley, Ca. INC. Software / Accessories Publications Software / Business Be Certain! “ONLINE” INFORMATION Software/Churches Get the best software at the best Linear Programming Pkg. MODEM NOTES — for every- prices! Proven software like LPP is currently used by universi- thing you can access by computer dBASE II. Wordstar and SuperCalc Record of Contributions ties. telephone companies, re- & telephone! Mo. publication for available for IBM, Apple, NEC- Menu driven system that accounts search institutes and medical online database searching, elec- .APC and many others. Specials: T/ for contributions made to the organizations. tronic mail, BBS, & other info, MAKER III $199, SuperCalc 3 church. .Audit trail, data validation From 250 vars & 10 consts to services. Inch valuable search tips $245, The Benchmark Graphics on entry, balancing process, bank 90 vars and 44 consts. Available & strategies as well as applications $CALL!! dBASE II $385, ALS CP/ deposit report. 4 data presenta- for CP/M-80, MP/M II and IBM- for using over 200 databases. Pub. M Card $295. with T/MAKER III tions for each offering. .Master file PC DOS Systems. by information broker Katherine $399 and Lotus 1-2-3 $320!! The maintenance. Detail reptorts to IBM version supports 8087 Ackerman. 12 issues $24. Sample Handlers pkg. $99. contributors. .And more. $825. For NDP for faster process time and $3.50. COD/Cashiers check/MC/VISA IBM-PC-XT. higher accuracy. Notes Certain Software .MICRO-DYNA.MICS Modem Demo disk and manuals $45. P.O. Box P.O. Box 276 P.O. Box 40691 408472 Package $417. Chicago, IL Graham. TX 76046 Houston, Texas 60640 .Microwizard, Inc. 77240 (312) 764-7407 (817)549-7081 (713) 937-9535 31255 Cedar Valley Dr., Suite 306 Westlake Village, C.A 91362 modem. cer™ (818) 707-1033 notes a SQFTWflRE MICRO-DYNAMICS Software/.Agriculture Publications/Newsletters “FACS” Software Online Business Information and “SMART/CHART” / Communications Linear Programming 160 business newsletters online, •FACS,” FARM ACCOUNTING MINl-.MAX is saving a Direct.connect full-text, including 45 for the CONTROL SYSTEM. Full, single- ($395) in Ashland IL computer professional. Every entry, cash based accounting with copper refiner Communicate with other comput- $10,000 a month. “It’s extremely word indexed in current/back is- unlimited enterprising, 300 user ers and databases. Transfer files at easy to use,” says an investment sues. Issues online before print definable chart of accounts, flexi- 9600 baud without loss of data. counselor in Oakland C.A. See how editions. Equiv. print value: ble. '‘SMART/CHART”, COM- Capture files to disk or printer. linear programming can boost your $35, 000/year. Low-cost service MODITIES CHARTING Designed for ease of use. 25 help profits. The demo disk ($30) includes NewsFlash, unique elec- SYSTEM. Seven studies, lightning .screens. Easy to remember Alt key includes a Beginner’s Guide and tronic clipping service, plus UPI fast graphics. Both avail, for Apple commands. Programmable func- 70-page manual with 7 examples and PR Newswire. & IBM PC. menu-driven, friendly. tion keys. IBM PC/PC-XT or from business & industry. NewsNet See your local author, computer compatible. $145 plus $5 shipping. 1706 Santa Fe, Dept. I 945 Haverford Road dealer, or call: Direct. aid, Inc. Kingsville, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 Vertical Software, Inc. TX 78363 P.O. Box 4420 595-1937 (800) 345-1301 502 E. War .Memorial Dr. (512) Boulder, CO 80306 (215) 527-8030 Peoria, IL 61614 (303) 442-8080 (309) 688-2377 AGRICULTURAL NEW$3 SOFTWARE For the Business Information Edge I CONSULTANTS ^IPcIirect-aid Since 1979 78 March 19. 1984 InfoWorld Copyrighted material I N F 0 L I N K Software / Construction Software/ Engineering Software /Low Cost CP/M Software/Taxes 1-2-3''’ Construction Management Mech./Elec. Design $89.00 or Less Delivered! Template for $45 Integrated system designed specif- Programs for HVAC Loads, Build- Menu driven, user friendly, com- 1983 tax planning & preparation 1-2-3. ically for construction companies. ing Energy Analysis. Faser Energy piled machine language programs software template for Lotus General Ledger, Accounts Pay- Accounting, Duct Sizing, Lighting, AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE Too powerful for other calc pro- able/Receivable, Job Cost, Esti- Short Circuit, Voltage Drop, Pipe DELIVERY FOR 8080/Z80 COM- grams. 256K requ. Includes tax mating, Variable Rate/Certified Sizing, Multiple Phased Life Cycle PUTERS IN MOST 5" & 8" DISK tables for 1983 & 1984. Flexible, Payroll. Operates on CP/M based Costing, & more avail, for CP/M, FORMATS. Personal & small busi- menu driven. Follows IRS forms by micros. Price includes system CP/M-86, and MSDOS computers. ness accounting, maillist, profes- line number and includes; 104() warranty,user training, and ninety All disk formats supported. Demo sional billing, touch-typing, sch. A.B.C.D.E.G.W.SE forms (90) days free telephone support. disks are avail, on each program MBASIC XReference & more. 2119. 2441,3468, 6251. Annual updates available. Dealer for $30. Send/call for liter. Write or phone for free data William A. Permar, C.P.A. inquiry invited. Elite Software package. 1125 Sunnyhills Rd. Dept. I Construction Data P.O. Drawer 1194 Micro-Art Programmers Oakland, CA 94610 Control Inc. Bryan, TX 77806 173 Birch Ave. (800) 227-1617 Ext. 644 CA 6140 Northbelt Pkwy, Ste. A Bus.; (409) 775-1782 By Cayucos, CA 93430 In CA call Norcross, GA 30071 Modem: (409) 775-0760 (805) 995-2329 (800) 772-3545 Ext. 644 (404) 448-4722 CONSTRUCTION (iiltg Software 1 040PLAN DATA CONTROL Dev«lopm«nt, Inc. MAP Software / Terminal Emulations Software/dBASE/ Software/ Real Estate Downloading For the Professional The Impersonator Real Estate Analysis DISCO-TECH offers the best soft- An asynchronous communications dBASE II Disassembler • REAL ANALYZER” is 5 Pro- ware for Land Surveying, Archi- tool, w/emulations for ADM-3A, Only $49.95 to modify dBASE II grams in 1; for INCOME PROP- tecture, Civil and Structural VT-52/100, Hazeltine Esprit, IBM RunTime code by disassembling it It Engineering. DISCO-TECH’s easy ERTY & the RESIDENCE. 3101, Televideo 912, and Tele- to ASCII text and recompiling helps you decide when to refi., buy, to run programs do the job right type terminals. Custom design after making changes. Reduces sell or exchange ANY property by the first time. We have the additional emulations. Features size and execution time by remov- projecting cash flow profitability software that professionals can & XMODEM protocol, window sup- ing spaces and trailing remarks. before & after taxes, count on. CP/M-80 & 86, MS- port. Remembers complex log-on Downloading service and the com- R. 0.1. ..Partial 1st year analysis. DOS, TRS-I. Ill & IV. procedures. IBM PC or compati- plete CPMUG & SIG/M library is Infinite # of years. Easy to use. Disco-Tech ble. $195 plus $5 shipping. also available for virtually all soft P.O. Box 1659 Easv "What If?". ACRS deprecia- Direct. aid, Inc. sector CP/M formats and PC-DOS. tion. Apple $195. Santa Rosa, CA 95402 IBM PC/XT & P.O. Box 4420 Software MICOM (707) 523-1600 Visa/MC. 30 day money back Boulder, CO 80306 304 North 17th St. guarantee. (303) 442-8080 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 Real-Comp Inc. (206) 428-0475 disco-. P.O. Box 1263 Cupertino, CA 95015 REAL-C0MP INC. ^Indirect-aid Software /Legal Software/Taxes Software/Utilities Software / Education LawSearch TAX-PREP for Multiplan Disk Mechanic for IBM PC New! Swift’s Directories The Floppy Disk Communicate with the Westlaw'" For Multiplan users, fast, easy. 19 ULTIMATE Backup Repair Utility. Can Back 1983-84 DIRECTORIES OF legal databa.se using an IBM PC or linked templates for 1983 taxes. & up ALL software protected disks EDUC.ATIONAL SOFTWARE: compatible. Fully certified by Prints on 1040. IRS approved written on the PC. Works For Apple 11s, $18.95. IBM PCs, West. Automatic log-on with one printout other forms. Use for IBM automatically. $14.95; 2 updates. $8.40. COR- keystroke. Utilizes West’s high- planning 1984 taxes. To order, manually or Re- 11 stores deleted files. Files or sec- VUS NETWORKS (APPLE lighting scheme. Saves information indicate: Apple, IBM PC. XT and tors can be searched, Ed.), $14.95. Also, call/write for to disk or printer. Forward and compatibles inch ZlOO, or TRS 80 examined catalog of software, print materi- and changed. Checks disk drive reverse pagination on saved infor- (4), $89.95 -t 3.00 shipping. TRS als. administrative, language speed. Requires IBM PC, DOS New mation. $350 plus $5 shipping. 80 (II. 12, 16) add $10. Visa/MC. 1. and floppy arts, and music software, plus IBM Direct. aid, Inc. Dealer prices. 1/2.0, 128K mem. 2 PC versions of math, programming P.O. Box 4420 EZ Ware Corporation drives. $73 Ppd. USA. Call for materials. Boulder, CO 80306 17 Bryn Mawr Ave. info/MC/VISA. Sterling Swift Publishing (303)442-8080 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 MLI Microsystems Company (215) 667-4064 P.O. Box 825, Dept. IL 7901 South IH-35 Framingham, MA 01701 USA Austin, TX 78744 (617) 926-2055 Hotline (512) 282-6840 ^Indirect-aid MiemSYSTEMS PUBLISHING COMPANY InfoWorld 19. 1984 March 79 ightsd material I N F 0 L I N K Software/Word Processing WordStar • Electric Pencil and other CP/M word processor users! Are you still without MagicPrint, MagicBind and Magicindex? You are missing a lot.. .true proportional spacing, footnotes, indexing, multi-line heading/footing, form letters, la- bels, legal documents and much more.. .all printed in image-making typeset quality. Ask your dealer or contact: Computer EdiType Systems 509 Cathedral Parkway lOA New York, NY 10025 (212) 222-8148 System Enhancement/ Software Talisman-Terminal Magic TALISMAN gives you terminal- compatibility so CP/M-80 software works fully on any CP/M-80 com- puter, no matter what the configu- ration. Also TALISMAN and a communications package makes your microcomputer the correct terminal for any interactive main- frame. TALISMAN does key re- definition too. ($125). Disco-Tech P.O. Box 1659 Santa Rosa, CA 95402 (707) 523-1600 disco-. The Missing Piece? System Utility Software Printer & Lang. Utilities InfoLink is the most cost-effective way to tell your story to buyers on a P-FILE ($99) - A printer output to weekly basis. InfoLink generates soles ... it reaches buyers at that file utility that allows you to route crucial moment — after they’ve decided to buy, but before they’ve printer output to a disk file. P-SPOOL - Allows ($49) CP/M chosen a supplier. Plus, it maintains contact with buyers between your other based micros to print the contents advertising efforts at a minimal cost. of a file while another program is being used. CB-80 CB-86 UTILITIES & InfoLink gives buyers your vital statistics: product name,- product features and ($149) - Functions for: directory benefits; display, drive-select & read/write delivery and price data; company logos for easy brand name error trapping, user level mgmt. identification. Categories separate each product classification making this section Elite Software easy-to-use for quick reference. P.O. Drawer 1194 Bryan, TX 77806 775-1782 (409) Put it all together. InfoLink is an essential piece of any media plan aimed at the active microcomputer buyer. lElltg toftworp For more information on InfoLink, call Kathleen Haberek at (800) 227-8365; Development. Inc. inside California at (800) 344-4636. 80 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld Co£^n2hM^TiaIsrig CLASSIFIED Positions Available Consultants Software Software - - (2.3D) $250. Word- COMPUTER SERVICES CONSULTANT I MICROCOMPUTER EXPERTS — If you THE CHURCH Information Management ALL NEW D Base 11 Full'time. permanent position. Salary have the knowledge and communication System ADAM It is a modular software star Professional Pacli (3 3) $295. VIsifile $1 826/Month. Requirements: Associate/ skills to teach the use of popular microcom- package written in dBASE II by Melvin $50 201-687-0434 Arts Degree in data processing and 2 years puter and software programs to computer Schell, a nationally known Church Consul- experience in design, development or main- novices, contact us for a lucrative publish- tant and former IBM executive. ADAM II is SOFTWARE CATALOG for all computer tenance of software systems. Proficiency in ing opportunity or send resume. TALK- the most comprehensive, easy-to-use systems, programs plus related items. BASIC or PASCAL or FORTRAN. Two WARE. INC.. 5455 Wilshire Bt., Suite 1805. Church software available. It will run on vir- $2pp KHALEEL-Comp.Div., 224 Centre years additional programming or systems Los Angeles. CA 90036 (213) 930-0936. tually any microcomputer For full informa- • St , NY, NY 10013 (212) 966-4426 analyst work may be substituted for re- tion call (404) 329-0091 or whte OMEGA quired education. Application materials may INFORMATION SYSTEMS. P.O. Box be picked up at the Clark College Personnel Services 450125. Atlanta, GA 30345. Dealer Inqui- It's easy to sell your Software in Office, 1800 E. McLoughlin Bivd.. Vancou- ries Welcome. InfoWorld's Classifieds. Call Richard ver. WA 98663 (206) 699-0105. and must Hengehold at 800-344-INFO in California or be returr>ed by 4:00 P.M., March 26. 1984, 800-227-8365 outside California. DISK CONVERSIONS — Over 100 formats 1983 TAX PREP PROGRAM Multiplan’* - (8- & 5'/4 ) - CP/M. CP M-86 & PC-DOS. templates for IBM-PC. TRS-80 Mods 11/12/ MANAGING. TECHNICAL MAGAZINE EDI- Golden Computer Systems. 2303 Lake 16, and Tandy 2000. 28 sched's. calculates Hardware TORS: Live in a Coastal Maine Town. Harbin Rd.. Morrow. GA 30260. AC 404- deprec , fully supported. Prints forms COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS. 67 ELM 961-2485./2345, 0MB ST.. CAMDEN. MAINE 04843, (pg 1&2 inci) $95. 84 Planner avail. April. PRINTER - C Itoh F10 (40 cps). 6 Mos, Old. Call for club discounts. Objective Planning. Mint Condition w.Tractor $700. 201-687- TELEMARKETING YOUR PRODUCTS Na- 3301 Executive Dr., Ste. 102. Raleigh. NC WRITER to evaluate accounting, tax. and fi- 0434, tional Vmktg firm provides toll-free #'s to 27609 919/878-0022 Visa/MC accpt. Full nance software. time or free lance. use in your ads for lit, orders. & tech sales. Send resume and samples to Box 26183. Hi-tech mgmt. 1-800-547-5000. Milwaukee. Wl 53226. APPLE PROGRAMMERS! STOP PIRATES Games NOW! Flexible software protection for Ap- Business Opportunities Legal ples. (IBM PC soon). Allows user to COPY NEW EDUCATIONAL GAME for School or your disks for BACKUPS or to HARD DISK, Home - TUTOR TAG. Requires two Apple but inhibits use by unauthorized Apple com- Computers. Includes chase game diskette, MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR MICRO — 50 Delaware Incorporation Service $295 Dei- puters, Galway Electronics. 1325 Snell Isle documentation, and Micro-Cable connec- Great Ideas. Send $10 to MicroInfoCenter. CorpServ -. 302-652-2226. Box 2205.Wil- Blvd.. St. Petersburg. FL 33704. Call (813) tor. $79.95. Zorich. 16 W, Mission Street. PO 1176. Scarsdaie. NY 10583, mington. DE 19899. 821-8855. Santa Barbara. CA 93101 (805) 682-7763. IVs the race for response, and InfoWorld's Classified Advertising will put you out in front. Classified ads offer readers the pertinent information that will make your sales message clear, bringing the buyer to the sale. Also, InfoWorld is published every week, with the fastest lead time (13 business days) of any publication devoted to microcomputers. InfoWorld’s stimulating reading results in an action-oriented consumer, who is reminded weekly of the fast-paced information processing industry, and encourages him or her to be on the lookout for promising opportunities. It’s a psychological advan- tage that can make all the difference in your Classified response. For more information on InfoWorld Classifieds, call Richard Hengehold at (415) 328- 4602. Outside California call toll free at (800) 227-8365. Inside California (800) 344-4636. InfoWorld March 19. 1984 81 Copyrighted material HORIZONS CARR/PaOFIC MICHAEI BY Above: Macintosh computers are tested for quality during a 24-hour burn-in cycle. Top right: A PHOTOS tote stacker, a cranelike vehicle used to deliver parts to workstations. Bottom right: Circuits are taken by a machine from reels and automatically inserted on printed circuit boards. The Macintosh Factory BY KATHY CHIN at Creative Strategies in San Jose, Califor- Reporter Apple invests in nia. But another industry observer who monitors factory automation criticizes the hen the founders of Apple press for lauding the factory, which she Computer began “manufac- state-of-the-art says offers little new in equipment that turing” the first Apples in a hasn’t already been installed in other W in set a garage back 1976, they production manufacturing plants. “It’s an exciting target of 50 units a month. Today, Apple manufacturing move for computer companies,” says says it can produce up to a million units a Susan McGarry, senior market analyst at year of its latest computer, the highly The Yankee Group in Boston. “But it’s not touted Macintosh. To help reach that goal as revolutionary as everyone makes it. It Apple built a 160,000 square-foot comput- came along only because computer firms er-manufacturing facility in Fremont, Cali- are feeling pressure from offshore compet- fornia. itors. The automobile makers felt that “We’ve spent over $20 million to build pressure first.” the [personal-computer) industry’s first “We have great respect for Japanese automated plant . . . we’ll be producing up manufacturing,” says John Sculley, Ap- to one Mac every 27 seconds by March,” ple’s president. “We’ve decided to be a said Steven Jobs, cofounder and chairman major player in manufacturing technology. of the Cupertino, California, company, in In three years we want to be as good as an interview two months ago. the Japanese.” To date the factory has only been able Although Apple’s state-of-the-art fac- to reach job’s speedy production goal on tory may be a first for personal-computer an irregular ba.sis. Still, the Apple employ- manufacturing, some of the equipment is ees connected with the project maintain a already in use at automobile plants such as high degree of enthusiasm and many Chrysler's. outside observers say they’re impressed high-tech is adopting techniques The analog and logic boards produced at “Now with what the firm’s accomplished so far. .Apple’s Macintosh factory will pa.ss by the that have existed in ‘smoke-stack’ Ameri- “Apple has the premiere automated stations of seven assembly workers on their ca,” says Rob Howie, of The Yankee microcomputer factory,” says an analyst way to completion. Group. But whereas factory automation is 82 March 19. 1984 InfoWorld Copytlghted tr,atsr:.-i I THE INDUSTRY often implemented to save on labor costs, Polaroid eye scans the storeroom and sees occurs, the machine will stop. That’s when Apple officials insist that their efforts are a tray that needs to be transferred, it will human intervention plays a part: It takes a not focused on replacing workers, but on send a signal to the AGVS microprocessor human operator to align a skewed circuit ensuring that the computer is absolutely that will then cause the entire vehicle to or to replace a defective part. perfect when it rolls off the assembly line. move. The factory has five of these A tote stacker is yet another automat- “Unlike the Lisa, the Macintosh is $30,000 machines. Although highly ex- ed delivery device. The narrow, yellow, treated as a high-volume product,” says pensive, Koo says the electronic devices cranelike vehicle slides along a track, George Irwin, one of the engineers who save on manual-labor costs and result in a placing 50-pound totes full of parts into planned the factory from the ground up. preselected chutes that are stacked 18 “We expect to sell millions, so we have to levels high and 110 chutes across. During produce them quickly.” any given time, there are at least 4,000 Quickly is an understatement. It takes totes in the racks. This automatic delivery 26 minutes to build one machine. Precisely system minimizes the need to carry the every 27 seconds, a pristine, $2,495 trays over to the various workstations. Macintosh rolls off an assembly line ready .^l the Mac factory, the process of to be boxed and delivered to distributors burn-in, a procedure for testing chip nationwide. At Apple’s Dallas factory, an components, receives more stringent at- Apple lie comes off conveyor belts every tention titan at other personal-computer six minutes and takes far longer than the manufacturing facilities, says a plant Macintosh to build. official. Two assembly lines of Macintosh Irwin says he hopes to crack the 27- components are tested for quality by being second record and is shooting for a Mac turned on and off every hour during a 24- every 13 seconds. hour burn-in cycle. (A Macintosh controls To remain competitive with computer the flow of parts down the two lines.) manufacturing in Japan, Macintosh was “Other companies turn the computer built with eight major compo- on and just let their comput- nents that fit together in a ers sit there. We cause more simple fashion. “Before Japan stress to the components by comes up to speed with turning it off and on. This computers, we want to stay way the defective compo- ahead of the game,” says nents will appear right Irwin. away,” says Khoo. The goal In order to keep produc- here is to achieve less than a tion on schedule, the assem- 3% mortality rate. That goal bly workers have less than 22 has already been attained, seconds to complete tasks according to Khoo. such as adjusting the chips on In addition to selling the the analog boards or check- Macs it manufactures at the ing the housing for scratches. Fremont site, Apple also When an overhead carrier plans to use some of them in is Currently, installed, sometime this z plant operations. month, it will travel along the o there are approximately 120 red tracks suspended from Apple lies and Apple Ills that the ceiling to deliver parts to double as terminals, feeding each employee’s accounting and inventory workstation. “If any employ- data into two DEC PDF ee has to reach further than 11/70 minicomputers. In the 30 inches for a part, we near future, Apple plans to haven’t done our job,” says y use the Macs to handle those Irwin, explaining the thinking 5 tasks and to control testing behind the assembly-line de- procedures as well. O sign. 5 A visitor has no trouble When engineers sketched identifying the Freemont site plans for the site, they de- Top: George Irwin, one of the original factory engineers, shows off stacks of new as a factory, but it’s an Apple- signed the assembly lines in Macintosh computers and proudly displays his shirl with the IBM logo. It stands style factory. Red pipes that such a way that very few for I build Macs, Bottom: Observers have compared the Fremont, California resemble the chaos of Los planl to a Lego block factory. The 160,000 hands would actually touch or square-foot manufacturing facility cost Angeles freeways, yellow Apple more than $20 million and is designed to keep the company competitive lift the computer parts. “We stairs and blue assembly lines with computer manufacturing in Japan. Apple's goal is to produce one believe the less human inter- that seem to meander on for Macintosh every 27 seconds at the plant. vention, the higher the prod- miles make the country’s uct quality,” says production manager higher output. most sophisticated personal-computer fac- Sam Khoo. Over in the printed circuit board tory look as though it were constructed An automatic guidance vehicle system assembly area, each analog board auto- with giant Lego blocks. (AGVS) — a three-foot high vehicle — matically slides out onto the assembly line, Apple architects deliberately designed roams from one station to another deliver- eliminating the need for the operator to lift the plant with the vivid hues not only to ing keyboards, circuit boards and other it off the rack by hand. Auto-insertion match those found on the Apple logo, but components that make up the 20-pound, machines mount circuits and modules on also to eliminate the drabness usually 32-bit computer. When the electronic the analog and logic boards. When a defect inherent in manufacturing facilities. InfoWorld March 19. 1984 83 Copyrigh micro THE INDUSTRY machines Ud n_n fu\_n finn lULn fui_ fuui firm. n_fui n_n_ The majority of the site’s 68 employees problem has been fixed, Irwin says, and n_n fu^ funn nn_ nnnn fuui_ n_jui mui futn perform assembly tasks. Along the assem- production is moving forward again. The SPECIALS! SUPER bly line, 20-year-old Stacy Sorensen must plant recently went from running one shift (SOME QUANTITIES LIMITED, S/H INCLUDED) carefully align the cathode ray tube with a day to two, and Irwin hopes to have a * COLUMBIA COMPUTER - IBM COMPATIBLE the front piece of the housing. At the end third shift running soon. (Incls — Software. CRT Caril. Keyboard) S2655 * COLUMBIA PORTABLE (Green or Amber Screen) 2345 of the Macintosh line, where two conveyor Although he calls the Fremont location, * HAYES SMARTMOOEM 1200 469 300 220 belts merge into one, an elderly woman’s “automation in the purest sense,” he * VIDEX VIOEOTERM sole responsibility is to polish the Apples. admits that in a couple of years the factory (W/SOFT SWITCH S INVERSE CHAR SWITCH) 159 employees feel about will considered obsolete. But Irwin * C. ITOH DAISEYWHEEL PRINTERS How do these be F10 PRINTMASTER (55 CPS) 1429 their assembly-line jobs? claims that giant computer manufacturers F10 STARWRITER (40 CPS) 1149 F10 TRACTOR (W/F10 Prlnlers) 199 “Well, it’s just assembly work, but the such as Hewlett-Packard and IBM are ten PROWRITER (PAR) 375 * C. ITOH morale is high here,” says 20-year-old years behind Apple in factory automation. * TAXAN RGB VISION 3 COLOR MONITOR 449 * TAXAN 12' AMBER MONITOR 120 Tawnda Spilde. “You couldn’t work at a “The factory will never be completed,” better place.” sighs Irwin, “There will always be a way NEW PRODUCTS qUR SIH PRICE Another worker. Sue Taylor, ANCHOR MOOEMS adds, “The people are nice and (w/SOURCE SUBSCRIPTION i TIME) helpful, and you learn a lot.” VOLKSMODEM (300) (w/CABLE) 5 79 MARK XI) 5 289 Learning is another goal at the HAYES SMARTMOOEM 1200B assembly plant. Because employees (W/SMARTCOM 1) (IBM) 5 399 HAYES MICROMOOEM 2E become so specialized at their jobs, (W/SMARTCOM 1) (APPLE) 5 225 LOTUS 1-2-3 (IBM) 5 329 plant bosses encourage workers to INDUS GT-DISK DRIVE (wo/CONTROLLER) move to other tasks to learn new HORIZONS (W/SOFTWARE) (DATA MANAGER. WORD PROCESSING. SPREADSHEET) 5 259 jobs. Every six weeks, operators are DANA FAN w/SURGE SUPPRESSION (APPLE) 5 45 given the option to rotate into DANA LOZO LETTER DUALITY PRINTER (PAR) 15 379 DANA TRACTOR FEED (W/PRINTER 5 79 another area to acquire new skills, CARR/PACIPIC TERRAPIN LOGO (APPLE) 5 120 whether it be testing power-supply ELECTRIC PENCIL (WORD PROCESSOR) IBM (INCLS. PENCIL-ACE S PENCIL TUTOR) 5 199 boards or operating a new piece of PROMODEN 1200 STANDALONE 5 355 equipment. This emphasis on cross- INVIEW 5 199 MICHAFI MICROSOFT MOUSE (IBM) 139 training means that Apple will be in MICRORIM RBASE 4000 S 325 a position to move workers around PREMIUM SOFTCARD HE 325 BY without having to do a lot of BEST SELLERS retraining. Apple hopes this strate- PHOTOS GIBSON LITE PEN (APPLE) S 235 VISICORP VISICALC IV (IBM) 5 185 gy will help it to avoid the problems MICROSOFT WORD w/MOUSE (IBM) 5 128 of high turnover that are inevitable OUADRAM E RAM 80 (80 COLUMN) (APPLE 2E) 5 115 at many assembly plants. OUADRAM OUADCOLOR 1 (IBM) 5 199 RANA DISK DRIVE ELITE 1 w/0 CONTROLLER 5 259 As a result of the recent hoopla WESPER BPO (16K) 139 surrounding the product, employ- DOW JONES INVEST/EVALUATOR (IBM/APPLE) 5 119 SWEET P PLOTTER (APPLE/IBM) 10 525 ees feel proud to be associated with HAYES CHRONOGRAPH 179 the Mac. All of the factory employ- NEC 8201 PORTABLE COMPUTER 599 NEC 8221-A THERMAL PRINTER 155 ees were invited to the January MODEM 395 NOVATION SMART CAT stockholders meeting and a compa- SORCIM SUPERCALC 3 (IBM) 239 nywide bash held at the posh St. COMPUTERS Francis Hotel in San Francisco. ALTOS • COLUMBIA • COMPUPRO • DYNABYTE “When I think about the project, EAGLE • MOLECULAR • NEC • NORTH STAR SYSCOM • TELEVIDEO • ZENITH it still gives me a good feeling,” says MODEMS Irwin. But even as Irwin looks back ANCHOR • HAYES • LEXICON fondly at how the factory got to Above: Tote trays begin their travels at the small-parts MICROCOM • NOVATION • RACAL-VADIC site. Vehicles SSM • UDS • VENTEL where it is today, he realizes that it Below: such as the yellow automated guidance vehicle system (lower left) deliver necessary MONITORS still has significant hurdles to clear. parts to operators. AMDEK • BMC • COMREX • ELECTROHOME Currently, the assembly site is up to NEC • SANYO • TAXAN • USI • ZENITH only 70% of production speed, for PRINTERS example, and production output was to make it faster and better.” ANADEX • BROTHER • COMREX • DIABLO IDS • C.ITOH • MANNESMANN • NEC sharply reduced during a recent three-day The Fremont site was selected last OKIDATA • OUME • STAR • TELEVIDEO period when a defect was discovered in April and opened for operation last June. TRENDCOM • ZENITH TERMINALS some of the CRTs. Another problem Irwin was one of the two original ADDS • HAZELTINE • OUME • TELEVIDEO • WYSE • ZENITH delaying full production is that delivery of engineers who worked on the project DISKS some of the equipment that was ordered when it was scheduled for operation in AMOEK • CORONA • CORVUS • MICRO-SCI the site transferred to PERCOM • OUME • VISTA • RANA for the plant has been delayed. The Dallas. When was APPLE HARDWARE/SOPTWARE warehouse, for example, is waiting for Fremont, he commuted from his Texas * ALL MAJOR BRANDS * overdue machines that will pick up the home to California for nearly a year. While IBM HARDWAREISOFTWARE * MANY MAJOR BRANDS W computers, lower them gingerly into manufacturing the mysterious product, cardboard boxes, place packing foam on workers were constantly reminded not to THE FIHE MtNT OuolsdpucssiviciuMs discount fo4 cash PisassA004Hlo>Visa Mssisicafdo>c}Bfs top, close down the boxtops and tape the divulge the secret. Management informed AOOSHchargss CharossguottdwsfOfUPSsuYtacs Cat for chaross tot other modes ofdsArvsry Ale shrprnwnsdMtetywiffi cashier schecii money order or charae card Per- cartons. the staff, “If anyone asks you what you’re sonnefotcamoanychecKswereQuire i Seweksloclear CaMoma rosklenis AOO 6S safesiax Pness are subieci to change AJ)merchand 84 March 19, 1984 InfoWorld Copyrightod mate THE INDUSTRY Q&A: Chris Rutkowski BY TOM SHEA have had the most trouble with Valdocs. Reporter How do you compare the QX-10 with hris Rutkowski is the 35-year-old the Macintosh? president of Rising Star Indus- Some of us are referring to the C tries, a Torrance, California, re- Macintosh as a Valdocs clone. A mouse search-and-development company that is stinks for word processing, though. Apple presently conducting projects in the areas made a serious error — thinking that of antipollution, physics, political systems pointing is dependent on the mouse. The — and software. In the personal-computer mouse is not the best way of pointing. For industry. Rising Star is best known as the graphics a mouse is good, but not for word developer of the Valdocs “operating processing. I would say the QX-10 will environment” for Epson’s QX-10 comput- outdo the Mac in some ways. er. Like his idol, the late R. Buckminster So how’s the QX-10 selling? Fuller, Rutkowski is a futurist and a man of Pretty damn good. I don’t have the many diverse pursuits. The motto of his exact figures, but I heard there are 50-person company is “Only the impossi- between 40,000 and 60,000 out there in ble is worth doing.” the field. I’m not trying to impress the What exactly is your firm’s relation- computer scientists out there. I’m trying ship with Epson? Chris Rutkowski, Rising Star Industries to impress their mothers. We have a close association with Epson, but we’re a separate entity. They the interface. The overwhelming majority Do you think you’ve missed the boat have a minority interest in Rising Star, and have found it satisfactory. The point of by not writing software for the 8088, we do work for them on a contract basis. version 2 is to have done it right. We’re al- now that everybody’s hopped on the most finished with version 2. It will be IBM standard? InfoWorld had a QX-10 for a while released some time this spring. I don’t No. I may be Polish, but I’m not just off with your Valdocs operating system. want to predict just when, because Epson the boat. I’ve been around in this industry We had a hard time making it work will decide when to release it. a long time, and my predictions are so right, and it got low review marks accurate they’re scary. This is the first (July 11, 1983). What’s the story Some people have called Valdocs Z80 machine that’s been properly imple- with Valdocs? slow and inflexible. How do you mented. There is not yet an 8088 properly The review copy that we provided to respond to that? implemented. InfoWorld was a prefinal beta-test copy. It Slow compared to what? The first had some known disaster-level bugs in it. version does a number of functions that no You said there were three phases to Those bugs haven’t been there since that other machine at any price does at all. It the development of Valdocs. What’s time. The evolution of the Valdocs has a cross-indexed filing system. With phase three? software is continuing. every other word processor, you have to Phase three is to complete the circle of Ever since we first began to develop it, store a file as some strange name, like applications originally conceived in the Valdocs [which stands for valuable docu- LETTER.DOC. In Valdocs, you can file it HASCI concept.The idea is to complete a ments] was supposed to be a three-phase as “Letter to Joe Hurly on November 23 particular computer-science model. The development program. The first phase concerning his order for widgets.” And goal is that 90% of the average users will was simply to prove that the HASCI later you can go into the index and pull it never need any other software. The interface [Human Applications Standard out any number of ways — letter. Hurley, software environment will be so complete Computer Interface] could be made to widgets, orders. Valdocs cross-indexes that most people will be able to do work so that programs would be easy to everything against everything. anything. We expect to complete that way use. The theory was that we could come before the end of the year. out with a computer that any average, We heard that Stewart Brand, pub- nonbrain-damaged individual should be lisher of the Whole Earth Software Did you say earlier that your work in able to guess how to use. Catalog, called the QX-10 “a fascist computer software is the way you .” It was supposed to be a manual-less machine . . . finance your other research projects? system. And it would not have a big Help This is nonsense. The QX-10 is Yes, that’s really what the research is file either, because that’s no help to the probably the most flexible machine ever here for. It’s hard to get government user. It should be self-instructing. Version produced. Brand’s statement is so stupid it grants to study these other things, like 1 was to prove that it could be done; it was would require a 200-page response. I’ll political systems and alternative ways to put together by six people over a few turn him on to the housewife in Duluth generate energy. We’re making our mon- months, so there were very few man-years who has no trouble using it. Left-brained ey on computers and using that to explore of development time. Even so, it proved people with vast computer experience other concepts. • InfoWorld March 19, 1984 85 Copyrighted material THE INDUSTRY Heard on Tech Street Stocks run topsy-turvy Industrial club. The drop is a double February 17, 23 hit new lows in 1984. whammy, given that the strength of the And three of those that didn’t were Altos economy continues to surprise everyone. Computer, Vector Graphic and Computer I’d feel more guilty about taking Devices, all of which had scraped bottom pleasure in the pain of others if I didn’t in 1983. Apple Computer and Lotus know: Development are the only two of those •The smaller, over-the-counter-type companies that we charted that have issues that comprise most of the personal- gained ground since January 2. computer-related stocks have heavy insti- The table below gives a breakdown of tutional holdings. the market falloff. • The institutions run as a herd. Even Some of the most badly hit stocks were BY JOHN GANTZ those whose nature would incline them to Contributing Editor hang in for the long term must run with the pack — wild market swings defy Badly hit stocks he stock market is, after all, fundamentals. remarkably consistent. It reacts So. when the institutions got nervous include those of T badly to good news and badly to bad over the high price/earnings (P/E) multi- news and badly to no news.” — Alan ples and initial public-offering valuations of Abelson, Barron’s, February 20, 1984. last summer, they beat feet. High tech was Compaq, Tandon Pity the widows and orphans and all the the first to be abandoned, personal others with their equity in the blue-tiled computers the first within high tech. Once coffers of the 30 companies that make up one cashed in, it was almost foreordained and MiniScribe. the Dow Jones Industrials. Their equity that they all would cash in. lost 9% of its market value in the first six The migration went from technology weeks of 1984. stocks traded over the counter to technol- Commodore International, Compaq, For- The fact that those people are repre- ogy stocks traded on the New York Stock tune Systems, Tandy, Victor Technol- sented by the savviest of money manag- Exchange and then to nontechnology ogies, Wicat, Ashton-Tate, MiniScribe and ers. mutual-fund portfolio directors and stocks, keeping the Dow alive through the Tandon. pension-fund captains makes their losses first week in January. But then, as the The biggest 52-week fall from grace no less acute. transmogrification from wheeler-dealer to was that of the systems suppliers — the As someone who watches the high-tech Milquetoast ran its course, the institutions sum of their 52-week highs is almost four scene, though, I must admit a certain sick began drawing down their equities and times that of the 52-week lows. But the fascination with the carnage. stockpiling cash. most spectacular decline of 1984 has been It was those institutional money men Although high-tech stocks led the that of the disk suppliers, whose trip who pulled out of high tech en masse last Dow’s crash by five months or so, they southward leaves the nine-company group summer and fall — they had to wait a year haven’t been immune to the general trading at a spot 7% above the bottom of after the 1982 bull market began to get market condition. They went down while the 52-week high-low spread. the capital-gains tax break — and wiped the Dow was going up in 1983; they went Most market watchers agree that the out the nice thing we had going here in down even more when the Dow started to market is near bottom and that a bull personal-computer stocks. drop in 1984. phase will commence sometime soon — The fact that personal-computer stock Looking at the 30 personal-computer- within, say, from one week to two years. prices were overly inflated — well, this is related stocks we charted in the February The question then is, will it happen the age of electronic blips, isn’t it? Don’t 6 edition of this column, we find that, as of FIFO or LIFO? Will high tech lead the way techies deserve higher valuations than as it did in 1982 (First In, First Out) or will fast-food outfits, steel companies and Number of % Off the institutions simply retrace their in- automakers? Sector Companies 1984* vesting steps (Last In, First Out) and buy Now the same thing is happening in the DOW 30 - 8.8% into high tech last? “high-quality” issues — the institutional At any rate, this could be the time to IBM 1 -10.0% sell-off has resulted in too few dollars buy. Some solid companies are trading at Personal chasing too many stocks — even in the ridiculously low price/earnings multiples; Computer firms: 32 -10.2% rarified atmosphere of the Dow Jones first-quarter sales and earnings look good Systems 13 - 1.8% for high tech in aggregate; and there is John Gantz is editor of the Tech Street journal, Software 4 - 8.8% (contrary to the signals from Wall Street) an executive netvsletter on high-tech stock Distribution -14.8% still demand for personal-computer market and business performance. The news- 6 products. letter is published by Technology Financial Peripherals 9 -17.2% All it takes to take advantage of current Services, which is registered with the SEC. 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TM of and copyright 1982 Lifelines Publishing Corp ^Copyright 1982 by Popular Computing. Inc., a subsidiary of CW Communications. Inc., Reprinted from InfoWorld. ^Reprinted from interface Age. 8/83, page 104. copyright 1983 Interface Age Magazine. Inc. CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Research. CITATION is a trademark of Eagle Enterprises. THE INDUSTRY Inside Track Spotting real trends brief resume. Since I don’t want to waste “Hey, you know you can’t outrun a column space asking questions every few grizzly.” weeks, I will do the Delphi directly with The first camper looked up and, while the participants in the future. So if you tying the knot said, “I don’t have to outrun think you can help, send me that brief the bear, 1 just have to outrun you!” resume and I’ll put you in the group for fu- So if IBM is the grizzly (an appropriate ture issues. metaphor), then Compaq is the high-speed Let’s guide trends rather than floun- camper. By the way, credit for the joke der among them. must go to Tim Berry of Creative A Threat to Education Dept. While Strategies. computers will provide new opportunities So Compaq will come out with both a BY JOHN C. DVORAK in the field of education with both regular desktop and a lap machine. It’s Consulting Editor computer-assisted instruction plus self- possible that the lap machine may be a paced learning, it seems as though we can joint venture with Lotus Develop- ser-friendly Dept. I’ve had a forever kiss off the concept of the term ment Corporation. couple of people suggest that I set paper or any outside writing projects for Lotus, I’m told, may be bringing out a U up Dvorak’s Delphi Group that matter. dedicated lap computer that will run 1-2-3 (DDG) to take a more national look at With the advent of the cheap modem, as well as additional word-processing and trends. Both Neil Larson and Pete kids with a computer can easily form a communications programs. Simmons suggested that 1 establish a nationwide network of paper swap- There will sure be a lot of machines to network of industry leaders who have pers. And with a word processor, they can outrun. The contenders include the Coro- enough different perspectives that if customize reports and papers effortless- na, the new TeleVideo series, the Colum- shared might help everyone see the forest ly. This will surely take place on the bia and a dozen others. instead of the trees. college level in the near future. A new entrant is OSM. It builds a To take part you’ll be asked to provide For years, certain fraternities provided IBM PC look-alike that really looks like a either an audio tape or a transcript raw papers for rewrites to their members. PC. It tries to put most of the circuits on elucidating your opinions on a particular Any attempts to police this activity once bus cards. The machine is designed with issue. By working as a nationwide group, I it becomes computerized will be a lost more slots than a regular PC, but think we can determine which trends cause. externally it is identical. are real and which are dead ends. The major implications are that the A Must Utility Dept. I’ve always I would appreciate hearing from those already low standards for writers will liked good utilities — those programs that who feel that they can contribute some- deteriorate. do little chores and functions for you. My thing. You know who you are! Curiously, nobody except InfoWorlds newest favorite is Crossdata. It allows Here’s how it works. Either members John Barry, the good-grammar watchdog, you to transfer files from various 8-bit of the group or 1 will pose a question. will notice. CP/M disks and the IBM CP/M-86 disks to Members of the group will express first- By the way, Barry has produced a book PC-DOS or MS-DOS. thought analysis. (These things are best with super cartoonist Rich Tennant called With this package you can do things not mulled over.) I’ll edit and publish the The Unofficial I Hate Computers Book. such as move a file from an Osborne best observations in this column. It’s published by Hayden and is the first double-density to an HP-125 disk. It Send your responses to the following genuinely funny computer book that costs $99, and it’s available from Award two questions directly to me: John C. I’ve seen. Look for it at your local Software, 236 North Santa Cruz Avenue, Dvorak, 704 Solano Avenue, Albany CA bookstore. Los Gatos, CA 95030; (408) 395-2773. 94706. Send either a letter or a cassette Since IBM just announced its new I should note that the program is also (microcassette is OK). portable, Compaq is scrambling to make programmable and you can enter weird or This week’s two queries are: 1. Will sure it doesn’t get killed by a fickle public oddball disk formats in order to read and pointing devices become popular? choosing the IBM over the Compaq. So write the disks. (Comment on the mouse, KoalaPad, light Compaq is bringing out a line of This is a must program for those of you pen and touch-sensitive screen — trend, machines in order to provide a range of with different computers. drawback or fad?) 2. Why have the IBM equipment. Big-time manufacturers should note PC and the Apple II both been It wants to be the only alternative to that Award also has a $10,000 software successful? (What do they have in the IBM PC. Its strategy reminds me of system that will thoroughly check your common and why aren’t other machines the joke about the two campers. At hardware for PC compatibility and with the same features as popular?) some point in their adventure as the two check the software for PC-DOS Comment on either or both questions if guys entered grizzly bear country one of compatibility. you want to take part in this session. Write them stopped to put on some track shoes. It’s a very elaborate system and it’s (or speak up) as soon as possible so I can “What are you doing that for?” asked already being used by five of the clone meet a tight deadline. If you want to his pal. makers. If you’re making a clone you participate in a future session, send me a “In case of grizzlies,” was the reply. should call these guys. • 88 March 19. 1984 InfoWorld Copynghtad malarial “dBASITh^ kero us c«i ourtoe&” Robert Hubert Marketing Director The Boston Ballet 'The Boston Ballet was a company in search of a com- puter when I joined the organi- zation earlier this year. And, after discovering that a large computer system was being considered, I urged a smaller, more sensible first step. "Since almost no one at The Boston Ballet had any pre- vious computer experience, I strongly recommended the purchase of a microcomputer and dBASE II. The real kicker. "dBASE II, the relational database manage- "Recently, we hired a custom systems house ment system from Ashton-Tate, would give the to develop a long-range computer program for people in the Company the time and the opportu- The Boston Ballet. Without prejudice, they came nity to get used to computing before bringing in a back and said the new system should be based on larger, more expensive system later on. dBASE II." II is "dBASE a command- driven, highly flexi- dBASE II can provide you with virtuoso per- ble system that can be used for a great variety of formance, regardless of your application. applications ranging from very simple to highly For more about dBASE II, contact Ashton-Tate complex." today. 10150 West Jefferson Boulevard, Culver City, A premier performer from Day One. CA 90230. (800)437-4329, ext. 213 . In Colorado (303) 799-4900. In the UK. (0908) 568866. "dBASE II manages our extensive season sub- scriber mailings; keeps track of all our advertising insertions, costs and efficiency; and makes pro- ject time management a snap. We are now making plans to use dBASE II in handling the special pro- ;^HTON -WE motions and manpower analyses critical to our day-to-day management. dBASE II is a registered trademark of AshtonTate. 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