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MICROBEE 256TC. COMMODORE Amiga 1000. ATARI 520ST. APPLE tic. Made in Australia, suc- Technically the most ad- A fast-calculating compu- A classic school computer, cessful as a school computer. vanced in the test — best ter with good graphics and but a bit dated. The keyboard There is an excellent range of graphics and sound, built-in sound. Because of the limited is cramped, the operating educational software for it speech generator and PAL range of software, it isn't rec- system old-fashioned and but not so much for business. compatible video system ommended for business or rather difficult to learn, and it Very compact design but still which (with the appropriate educational use, but a is certainly not a good busi- very service-friendly. The software and hardware) lets hobbyist gets many interest- ness computer. Furthermore, guarantee is six months and a you record computer images ing features at a reasonable screen quality is not among modem (see Glossary) was on your VCR, play tricks price. The keyboard looks the best. But at the time of included in the 'Executive' with images from your video neat but feels mushy. Too writing, the range of edu- package. camera or use the monitor as many modules and cables for cational software and games Recommended for edu- a high-quality TV monitor. comfort — needs a lot of desk is second to none. cational use. Unfortunately, there is com- space. Recommended for edu- paratively little business and Acceptable for enter- cational use. educational software for it tainment use. yet, but as an enthusiast's ma- All computers are shown without their printers. chine, it's ideal. The Commodore Amiga is shown without Recommended for the add-on disk drive - it was out of stock at entertainment use. the time we bought.

COMMODORE PC10-II. DSE MULTITECH AMSTRAD PC1512DD. TANDY 1000 EX. An average IBM compat- PC-500 System 2. Fastest among the IBM An IBM compatible with ible. Its best point is a good An IBM compatible with compatibles, recommended an incompatible keyboard. keyboard. A minimum of average performance but for business use and a good The screen is very poor and software supplied. neatly built and with service, performer overall. De- the software supplied is of Acceptable as a small software and accessories eas- signed in the UK — where it low quality. We disliked its business computer. ily available from the large is very popular — but made in unusual edge connections for Dick Smith Electronics chain Korea (the monitor comes printer and external disk of stores. from Taiwan). drive. Acceptable for business Recommended for use. small business use.

M T E S

Wnta to buy a personal compu- The CPU doesn't depend on colour for its oper- ter? First, let's define it. A per- The is the ation. However, if you also want to sonal computer or 'PC' is a more ad- computer's brain. It contains a num- use it for games and educational pur- vanced, useful and professional com- ber of circuit-boards with sets of inte- poses (as most people do), you need puter than the 'home computers' grated circuits (chips) and other elec- colour. So that's what we bought. which flooded electronics shops a tronic components. Most have at You can mix and match computers couple of years ago, but it is small least one disk drive built-in. Others with monitors and printers to some and relatively affordable. have an integrated keyboard. extent and some package deals may What can it do for you? What most combine one brand of computer with people want is a machine for keeping Disk drives other brands of monitor and printer. records or for word-processing. It can A single disk drive is sufficient for he used to do the bookkeeping for a some uses but most programs work Keyboards small business, the membership roll best with two disks and it is much PCs come with QWERTY keyboards, for a club, register data for research more convenient for the user — a lot that is, the same order as on a normal and calculate. With appropriate of disk swapping can be eliminated. typewriter. But there are also extra software it can write letters, reports, As you would soon need a second keys for different computer functions, documents or a novel. It can teach disk drive it's better to get it from the including the ones that move the cur- children and adults anything from beginning and maybe save a few dol- sor. Generally, the more keys, the bet- science and maths to music and what lars. The COMMODORE Amiga had to ter, otherwise you'll have to press two to eat when dieting. With some be tested with only the built-in disk or three at the same time for some

Confused by the bewildering choice of computers and programs? Our test of eight popular brands cuts through the computerspeak to the facts. accessories, it can help severely drive — the add-on disk drives for it functions. If you use a mouse (see handicapped people communicate have been in short supply and we Glossary), you'll depend less on the and run their own affairs. It offers couldn't get one in time for the test. function keys. Indicators for 'power' more advanced and realistic games There are two disk sizes for PCs: and 'caps lock' are helpful (see table). than a . Some PCs in- 31/2" (90 mm) and 51/4" (135 mm). The teract with or simulate musical in- larger size is the current standard and Printers struments and can be used by com- the disks cost about half as much as There are several types of printers — posers and (with an extra software/ the smaller ones. The trend in the in- what the home user can afford is usu- hardware package) can be used for dustry is towards more 31/2" disks, ally the dot matrix type. Some com- manipulating a video recording to which usually store more infor- puter brands have their own printers, achieve new creative effects. mation than standard 51/4" disks (it de- others not, and even when they have, All this may sound wonderful un- pends on how they are formatted by a package from a computer shop less you are one of the many families the computer) and are well protected often includes a printer from a with a 'home computer' gathering against damage by a plastic 'shell: specialist manufacturer such as dust on a shelf after a couple of weeks You can buy add-on disk drives for Brother or Epson instead of the of use. both disk sizes for some computers — `original: So we did not let printers However, buying a PC is a different for example, COMMODORE Amiga influence the overall ratings of the matter. It has to be good, and you and TANDY 1000 EX. computers in this test. The ones we need a reason for buying it. It isn't in bought were the types recommended the impulse buying price range. Monitors by the retailers. We used $3000 as a target price for We know some people disagree with When you buy your printer, check everything you need to get started — a our choice of a colour monitor. Yes, that ribbons are easily available and CPU (central processing unit) with monochrome gives better resolution don't cost the earth. (See also the two disk drives and serial and parallel (more distinct letters) for less money printer test in CHOICE September ports, a colour monitor and a dot — a lot less in the case of DSE- 1986). matrix printer, plus a software pack- MULTITECH. If you want to use your age with programs which put the PC for word processing or account- Setting up computer to work on usable tasks ing and nothing else, buy a mono- To set up a PC system is as easy as from the beginning. chrome as long as the software connecting your HiFi. The ATARI

CIIOICE, November 1987 - 9 szosT system consists of eight separate suddenly died. After we rang the cessing document and a spreadsheet. components, plus the mouse. if you COMMODORE hotline and got in- We measured the time it took for need a transportable computer, or structions about how to set some each computer to perform a number need desk space for papers, this is one switches inside the computer, it of normal operations — to load and to avoid. worked satisfactorily. The MICROBEE save tiles, move rows and paragraphs, We found all handbooks easy to was replaced by the manufacturer. make calculations and find words. follow APPLE has the best one — it's The AMSTRAD'S disk drives were Two computers — DSE MULTITECH very easy to follow for a beginner. noisier than normal at the beginning and TANDY — could not run the test You'll soon be ready to use your but the noise abated and no servicing software with the standard memory computer — if there is nothing wrong was necessary. (although they had no problems with with it. We got the systems working the software supplied with the re- quickly except the COMMODORE Testing spective machines). PC10, which refused to boot (see Computer performance was tested Both the 'routine' graphics (the Glossary), and the MICROBEE, which using two types of files — a word pro- definition and legibility of letters and

Glossary of computer terms

Backup: disks can be damaged, so all Hard copy: output printed on paper. Pixel: the little dots (picture elements) important disks should be copied to pre- Hard disk (or Winchester disk): a non- on the screen that make up a graphics im- vent loss of data. removable disk used instead of a floppy age. High resolution screens have smaller BASIC: a programming language, Be- disk drive. A hard disk rotates much fas- pixels, a higher number of them, and ginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruc- ter and can store much more information give a more detailed image. tion Code. than a floppy Port: an input/output connection point Bit: the smallest unit of information a Hardware: anything tangible in a com- on a computer. computer can process. puter system. RAM: random access memory — stores Bootstrap: loading a computer with a High (or double) density disk: a disk program and data for short-term use. program to make it ready for use. Re- with a higher number of smaller-sized Data are erased when the computer is boot: to start up the system after clearing magnetic particles than in a normal type; switched off — before that, they have to the random access memory (`warm with more particles per square mm, the be saved by recording on, for example, a boot'). 'Cold boot': to clear the memory high density disk can store more data. disk. industry term used by turning off and then turning on the Icon: screen symbol representing a file, `Real soon now': computer. program or procedure . for software or hardware which is not yet available but will be coming . Often 'real Bug: mistake in a program or a Interface: an adapter connecting two malfunction in the computer. soon now' is a lot later than promised devices which converts signals so that the and sometimes the goods fail to materi- Byte: a group of eight bits, usually repre- devices can work together. alise at all. Bugs are discovered in senting one character. The capacity of a K (Kilo-): prefix meaning 'one thou- software, unexpected teething troubles in computer memory is stated in kilobytes electronics. So don't pay in advance for (K). Each K is not 1000 but 1024 bytes. sand' except in terms of memory storage, when it is 1024 (2"). products that don't yet exist and maybe Chip: integrated circuit. never will. Light pen: used for computer graphics. Clock: a generator of pulses of current The pen is connected to the computer. ROM: read only memory — a permanent with great accuracy and high frequency By moving it across the screen, the oper- memory for instructions, fixed when the which controls the timing of the compu- ator can draw, move and change sections computer is manufactured. It cannot be ter. of fhe picture. erased or changed by the operator. CPU: Central Processing Unit, the Modem: (modulator-demodulator) a de- Software: programs to be used in com- computer brain. It has a memory, arith- vice for data transmission from one com- puters, usually supplied in the form of a metic logic circuits and a control unit puter to another over the telephone; elec- disk or tape and printed instructions. which carries out different operations ac- trical signals are converted to audible and Spreadsheet: program primarily in- cording to the program. back again. tended for handling numbers, for Cursor: not an angry computer operator Mouse: a computer-connected device example in accounting. but the bright little symbol that shows which, when it is moved around on the Videotext: an information service dis- where you are on the screen. desk, moves a pointer around the screen. playing text on a TV screen, using either Database: files of data stored in the The pointer selects procedures or new a broadcast signal or a coded telephone computer, which can be processed using positions for the cursor. signal. With a computer and a modem, different software. : a program working you can access information about share- or diskette: a magnetic as an intermediary between the software market, race results or your own bank disk which rotates in the disk drive while you are using and the computer. It inter- balance and interact with other compu- being recorded or read. They are avail- prets the commands from your program ters — for example, pay your bills by able in three sizes and with normal and and passes them on in a form the CPU transferring money from your account to double density. understands. The most common operat- others. Formatting: pre-magnetising a disk to ing systems for PCs are CP/M (Control Word processor: computer software for make it ready for use (and erasing any Program for Microprocessors) and DOS writing text in letters, reports and docu- previously recorded data). (Disk Operating System). ments. Peripheral: any device in a computer system except the CPU.

- I( )1( I , 19X7 figures) and graphics from special Future shocks? software were evaluated. The quality You must be prepared tor sonic ex- What we bought... of whatever sound each machine of- penses shortly after the initial pur- We had $3000 as a price guideline fered was evaluated, and we also mea- chase. You'll probably spend quite a and bought the most popular sured the noise from fans and disk bit on software — games or edu- budget-priced I'Cs from major drives. (AMSTRAD and MICROBEE cational programs for the kids, more manufacturers. Prices are not di- were very quiet, but the COMMO- businesslike ones for yourself. You rectly comparable — the software DORE PCIO cooling fan is more than may also find that you need to up- supplied with different package audible and the TANDY's disk drive is grade your system to he able to use deals differs from minimal to exten- noisy.) the software you want or to run what sive, and there were also differences Our user tests were performed by a you have more efficiently. in hardware — for example, the consulting computer expert, a scien- Service costs must also he taken MICROBEE 'Executive Solution tist from our electronics laboratory into account. Guarantee was only Package' includes a modem which and professional typists. three months for most brands when can be used for data communi- All computers passed our electrical we bought oror computers but cations such as Viatel access, elec- safety tests. AMSTRAD and DSE-MULTITECH now tronic banking, etc. Interference with radio trans- have one-year guarantees and others We exceeded $3000 in one case — mission is a problem. The AMSTRAD, may follow suit in a year. If there is by choosing a rather expensive COMMODORE Amiga and DSE- something wrong with the elec- monitor for the DSE MULTITECH. MULTITECH caused annoying inter- tronics, it will probably show during ference on the AM band, while the first weeks and be fixed under ...and what we didn't buy COMMODORE PC10 and MICROBEE warranty. We could not buy some of the well- permitted reasonable enjoyment lis- The monitor should be expected to known brands of PCs at our guide- tening to AM. None interferred with be at least as reliable as a TV set. The line price. IBM, NEC and Olivetti FM radio or television (tested on both computer should be reliable in a dry were too expensive. UHF and VHF). and reasonably dust-free environ- Performance ment. Disk drives have moving parts, The AMSTRAD, MICROBEE and enforced by law. With PCs, it's differ- which may need servicing sooner or TANDY were the fastest in the word ent — the prevalent standard is the later. The keyboard may have to be processing and spreadsheet tests, IBM PC, which means a compatible cleaned or adjusted. with COMMODORE PC10 and DSE- computer will be capable of using the You can reduce the risk of unexpec- MULTITECH following. same programs as the IBM PCs, will ted, costly breakdowns by doing COMMODORE Amiga had the best be able to communicate with IBMs or what you can to protect the whole graphics followed by the ATARI — other machines built to the same system from dust. Don't put your these two were superior to all others in this department. We also tried functions which When you buy your printer, check that couldn't be directly compared as only one or a few PCs had them. For ribbons are easily available and don't cost example, we used the MICROBEE modem on Telecom's Viatel service — the earth. it worked well — and tried the Amiga's voice synthesiser, which speaks standard and can use the same acces- coffee cup on the desk next to the English well but is less successful in sories (or peripheral equipment, if computer — a spill into the keyboard some other languages. you prefer computer-speak). IBM may be expensive. Cigarette ash and Ergonomics equipment is covered by a multitude smoke don't do much for computers, A separate keyboard is a great advan- of patents which will not expire until either. tage as different people want the today's PCs are in museums, and Obsolescence may be a major cost screen at different distances depend- some manufacturers have taken a dif- factor. Technology develops fast in ing on their eyesight. The angle of ferent approach by buying licences the computer field and a reasonable the screen may have to be adjusted to from IBM, circumventing or infrin- prediction would be that most manu- avoid reflections from windows or ging patents. facturers will maintain the current light fittings. Some have an adjust- Most clones or compatibles can price level for a PC system but build able base which is an advantage. run all the more commonly used in more features and improve per- Adjustable tilt for the keyboard can software written for the PC DOS op- formance when component prices also be an advantage but keys with a erating system used by IBM. Com- fall. positive, distinctive feel and a con- patibility differs with different brands If you buy an IBM or IBM compat- venient layout may be more impor- and models. Among IBM compat- ible, you have a computer built to a tant. ibles in our test, the TANDY was the standard the industry will have to least compatible, being difficult or stick with for quite a while, so you The 'Industry Standard' unsatisfactory to run with some can be sure software, disks and other Standards arc usually rules agreed software because its keyboard differs supplies will be available for a long upon in an industry and sometimes from IBM's. time to come. However, new

CH( )ICE, November 1987-11 thumb is to pick your software first Australian market, almost a necessity For people with disabilities and then look for a machine which for word processing because its The computers in our test have runs that software fast and reliably software needs a lot of memory capa- been assessed for use by people and is convenient to use. You'll prob- city. with disabilities. However, the ably (but not absolutely necessarily) Of the IBM compatibles in our test, uses and requirements vary widely he looking for an IBM compatible or the AMSTRAD performed best. The from person to person and to des- — if you can afford it — an IBM or software supplied was comprehen- cribe all possibilities you'd need to possibly APPLE Macintosh. sive and easy to use, but did not in- write a hook (let's hope somebody All the computers we tested can be clude word processing. does!). If you'd like more infor- used for office work like word pro- Our second choice for business use mation drop us a line, or contact cessing, but the ones we recommend is DSE MULTITECH PC-500. It wasn't the Independent Living Centre on for business use do it more efficiently as fast and easy to use as the (02) 8082233 for an appointment. than the others. Likewise, there are AMSTRAD (a new PC-500 version Its experts can make an individual educational programs for IBM com- launched October 15 is claimed to be assessment of the possibilities and patibles, but the computers we rec- much faster),kut it is a neatly built problems in each particular case. ommend for this use have more to computer with good features and we offer. got an integrated software package software may be written mainly for Some of the business software you containing word processing, spread- new machines with improvements may be interested in requires more sheet, file management and a com- memory capacity than, for example, within the standard which may not munications program. 256K. So don't buy a new software be possible to build into yours. For educational purposes, the choice package without checking — before The risk of being left in the lurch may be more difficult. MICROBEE you buy the computer, try to find out after a short time is greater with the scored slightly better in our test than whether you'll need more memory non-IBM-compatibles, particularly if APPLE but both work well. Choose and check the cost. The difference in you choose one of the less common the same brand as the one used at cost for expansion can be dramatic — brands on the market. Many compu- school...or if the school hasn't got a for example, it was cheap with the ter manufacturers are losing money computer, get the MICROBEE because DSE Multitech but very expensive with in today's competitive market, and it's Australian made. If you want to the TANDY (see Cost for memory ex- some will have to get out in the near trial a MICROBEE you can rent their pansion). future, possibly leaving customers `Executive Package' for $100 a without service backup. month. The success of a computer — in- Cost for memory expansion For entertainment, the Amiga is a cluding its life as a marketable pro- AMSTRAD: 512K to 640K $139 clear winner. It has lots of duct and its resale value — depends to APPLE: possibilities, some still unexplored a great extent on the software avail- 128K to 256K 8385 due to the limited supply of software. able for it, and the software specialists 128K to 1Mb $730 It can also perform some office wouldn't write special programs for a COMMODORE Amiga: functions like word processing and model they don't believe will sell in 512K to 1Mb $690 budgeting. The Amiga was also just in numbers great enough to make it to 2Mb $1000 front in our overall points rating — a worthwhile. to 9Mb about $4000 weighted score for usability, perform- DSE-MULTITECH: 256K to 512K $64 ance and user support — but this rat- Trends TANDY: 256K to 640K $660 ing is really beside the point if you Among features beginning to appear want to run software which isn't in computers for home use is the abil- The COMMODORE Amiga has a available for it. ity to connect to home video and — standard RAM of 256K but is sold with a connection for MIDI (Musical with the expansion to 512K on the What to buy Instrument Digital Interface) which (in performance order) works with synthesisers, other in- RECOMMENDED ($)* struments and audio systems. Com- October 1986 results COMMODORE Amiga 1000 posers use personal computers for APPLE Macintosh Plus MOOIAP. (incl add-on disk drive) 2299 writing music, and with a video Expensive ($5460 when tested), but MICROBEE 256TC digitiser and an Amiga, your home recommended for business and `Executive Package' 3641 videos can be transformed from the educational use. AMSTRAD PC1512DD 2948 APPLE IIc 2330 ordinary to something very different DSE MULTITECH MPF-PC/500. Good DSE-MULTITECH PC-500 on the screen. value ($2732), recommended for System 2 2441** business use. Conclusion ACCEPTABLE If you know exactly what you are go- IBM XT 5/60. Recommended for ATARI 520ST 2443 ing to use your computer for, it isn't business use on the basis of perform- COMMODORE PC10-11 1750*** difficult to choose. ance — but about twice as expensive *pre-publication price check. If you need a business computer or a ($5195) as the similar DSE MULTITECH **improved version but package now doesn't home machine to complement the PC 500. include software one you use in the office, the rule-of- ***package does not include printer

12 - (1101( :1,, NovL iiihcr 1987 PERSONAL COMPUTERS (In performance order) Brand & model COMMODORE MICROBEE AMSTRAD APPLE DSE-MULTITECH ATARI COMMODORE TANDY Amiga 1000 256TC PC1512DD HC PC-500 System 2 520ST PC10-II 1000 EX Distributor Commodore Mitsubishi Commodore Business Microbee Electric Apple Dick Smith Business Machines Systems AWA Computer Electronics Mobex Machines Tandy Origins Japan Aust Korea Singapore Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan US IBM compatible no no yes no yes no yes yes Package price paid (6)2 2549 2999 2948 2580 3178t 2757t 2689 2997 Separate price(s)3 p: 650 p: 599 c: 1495 c: 1645 c: 1799 c: 1500 c: 1499 (Epson) d: 550 m: 949 d: 499 m: 539 d: 499 p: 535 549 p: 399 m: 599 p: .5. . (Epson) (Epson) p: 400 Guarantee (months)4 3 6 3 3 3 3 3 3 Memory capacity 512K 256K 512K 128K 256K 512K 7 640K 256K Expandable to 9Mb - 640K 1Mb 512K - - 640K Operating system AMIGA CP/M MS-DOS Pro DOS MS-DOS TOS MS-DOS MS-DOS DOS SHELL 3.2, GEM 1.1.1 3.1 GEM 1.2 2.11 2.11 Type of disk drive one built-in both built-in both built-in one built-in both built-in two separate both built-in one built-in one separate one separate one separate 51/4 51/4 Disk size (inches) 31/2 31/2 51/4 3'/2 51/4 3'/2 Formatted disk capacity Kbytes 880 776 360 143 360 360 360 360 Type of keyboard separate integral separate integral separate integral separate integral Number of keys 89 92 85 63 84 85 85 90 Monitor screen Diagonal size (mm) 335 290 330 335 330 295 333 335 FEATURES mouse, Dedicated ports5 mouse/ none joy stick/ audio 240V AC MIDI, mouse/ none joystick (2), joystick (2) mouse(2) joystick(2) audio audio Clock with battery backup V V V V' Mouse included V $•• 200 Modem vo Keyboard caps lock power caps lock power caps lock power caps lock caps IOCk indicators num lock disk use num lock num lock num lock scroll lock power power Volume control fro V fro i•• V Channels 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Software supplied ba ds ba ba db ba ba bass ds tc pa ds ss wp db tc wp tc pa wp wp

1 when components in a system are of a Of- t cable required (for Atari $60, DSE ferent origin the origin of the CPU Is listed Multitech $35) 2 all prices rounded to nearest dollar. The ba BASIC package Included CPU, 2 disk drives, db database monitor and printer except Commodore ds demonstration software Amiga (1 disk drive) and Microbee which Included a modem pa paint 3 c — CPU incl. keyboard, d — disk drive, m — as spreadsheet monitor, p — printer. Add-on disk drives tc telecommunications only for machines with single disk drive. wp word processing 4 distributors claim guarantees for Amstrad K kilobyte and DSE-Multitech have been extended to Mb megabyte 12 months 5 all machines had serial and parallel ports except the Apple which had no parallel ❑ recommended ports. Some machines had dedicated ports for mouse, joystick, light pen, etc, but with others these could be connected ❑ acceptable via the RS-232 (serial) port.

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C11010E. November 19/.17 - 13