This month in
Features Profile
8Woody’s Office Watch 2Editorial Information Explorer Worm/Virus vital information How to contribute to Sixteen Bits 11Random Jottings 3Contact Information Ken Meadows achieves lift off! How to contact us
13The TransAct Pilot in Aranda 4Editorial Jane Taylor follows up Paul Free’s article Anne Greiner
15Freeware - Bargain Priced Software 4President’s Letter Terry Bibo’s favourite downloads Anne Greiner
17The Rosetta Page 6Letters Don Nicol philosophises From our readers...
18Ockham’s Razor Transcripts from Auntie PCUG News & Services 20CD ROM Column Nick Thompson reviews a selection of software 7Membership Notes 23Memories Mike Burke with information for new members Helen Pryor/Frew remembers 40 Internet Project Application 24Committee Nomination Form Get connected with TIP So who’s helping out next year? J 41Member Services 25How NOT to Travel With a PC Details of services available to members only Member No 881215 confesses 42Special Interest Groups 27Angband - a Software Review! Where the real action is Andrew Clayton role plays 43 Training News 30Bits and Bytes Low cost training for members Have a laugh with Andrew Clayton 44 Vendor Discounts Membership has its privileges 31Puzzle Page Exercise the old grey cells with Vic Bushell 46Members’ Ads/PCUG Membership form Check here first for bargains 32Software Library News Phil Trudinger reviews a selection of Software 47Help Directory Stuck? Call the experts 38What’s News Malcolm Morrison keeps up with the latest 48 Calendar What’s on next month
Advertiser & Product Information
6 Canberra Lawyers
9, 11, 13 Hi-Micro
10 Bettowynd
14 L&S
16 AB&T
22 Interact
26 Context
Eddie de Bear, 44 Vendor Discount Scheme Volunteer of the Year
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 1 SIXTEEN BITS (ISSN 0817-0991) Managing Editor is published monthly by the Anne Greiner PC Users Group (ACT) Inc [email protected] PO Box 42 [email protected] Belconnen ACT 2616 Deadlines For Australia Online Editor August 1999 Issue Tamsin Sowden We welcome submissions of articles from members of the Group. If you are interested in writing please [email protected] Articles and Member Ads contact the Managing Editor and ask for a copy of our ‘SIXTEEN BITS - Guidelines for Authors’ (also Editorial Team Friday 25 June 1999 available on the Sixteen Bits Web site at Mike Burke, Tamsin Sowden, Commercial Ads http://www.pcug.org.au/pcug/16bits/16guide.htm). Andrew Clayton, Malcolm Morrison, Correspondence and material for review or Ann Byrne, Ivan Kramer, Vic Bushell, Friday 2 July 1999 publication should be forwarded, preferably as a plain Brian Thomason, Philip Grundy text file with separate PCX/BMP graphic files, by the deadline specified, to the Editor as follows: Cover Design • By email to [email protected] Russell Kerrison • By fax to (02) 6253 4922 Technical Editor • By mail to the Centre’s address above. Michael Phillip Advertising in Anonymous contributions will not be published, though name and address can be withheld from Photographer SIXTEEN BITS publication on request. Disks are not returned unless Brad Van Wely requested by the author. SIXTEEN BITS is a unique and powerful Commercial Advertising Manager © Copyright 1999, by the PC Users Group (ACT) medium for reaching the thoughtful decision Inc. All rights reserved. Permission for reproduction Brian Thomason makers in the ACT area. Our circulation in whole or in part must be obtained from the [email protected] exceeds 3500 copies each month, with multiple Managing Editor and is generally given, provided the readership exceeding 4800. Many copies are author also agrees and credit is given to SIXTEEN Production retained by members for future reference. The BITS and the author(s) of the reproduced material. Petra Dwyer and the Stuffing Team advertising deadline is normally the first Friday All other reproduction without prior permission of the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc is prohibited. of the month of publication. Advertising options include Members of the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc receive Contributors for this issue SIXTEEN BITS each month. Registered by Australia Mike Burke, Anne Greiner, • Cover ads Post, Print Post Publication No. PP226480/00009. Malcolm Morrison, Phil Trudinger, • Display ads Disclaimer: Victor Bushell, Tamsin Sowden, Peter Elliott, • Special inserts Although it is editorial policy to check all material in Ann Byrne, Andrew Clayton, • One-off mailing lists SIXTEEN BITS for accuracy, usefulness and suitability, Terry Bibo, Don Nicol, Nick Thompson, no warranty either express or implied is offered for any Ken Meadows, Jane Taylor, Regular advertisers receive discount vouchers losses due to the use of the material in the journal. Unless Member No 881215, Helen Pryor/Frew to pay for any future advertising with SIXTEEN specifically stated otherwise, the experiences and opinions BITS (subject to account being in order). Every expressed in any column or article are those of the author and do not represent an official position of, or endorsement 12th consecutive ad placed is free. Please by, the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc. The PC Users Group contact the Advertising Manager, Brian (ACT) Inc is not liable for inaccuracy in any advertisement Authors and Advertisers please note Thomason, on and does not accept responsibility for any claims made by (02) 6295 2423 for further information. advertisers. It is the buyer’s responsibility to investigate Articles from SIXTEEN BITS are also the claims made by advertisers. Any material considered published on the Internet as Sixteen Bits Online misleading or inappropriate will be withheld at editorial at http://www.pcug.org.au/pcug/16bits/ Sixteen Bits discretion. Names of hardware, software and other is produced with the products offered on a commercial basis may be registered Material published on the Web and broadcast products and support of names and trademarks of the vendors concerned. on radio is subject to copyright law and SIXTEEN BITS uses such names only in an editorial reproduction in any form without permission fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owners, with no intent of infringement of the trademark. of the editor and the author is prohibited. If Adobe however you, as an author, object to publication of your material on the Internet or on radio for any reason, you must contact the Editor to request that your articles be omitted from the Corel online version. Corporation
2 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 PCUG Committee How To Make Contact President Anne Greiner 6288 2810 *Postal address [email protected] Vice President Ann Byrne 6282 2536 PO Box 42 [email protected] Belconnen ACT 2616 Secretary Hugh Bambrick 6249 7667 (For ALL correspondence) & Public Officer [email protected] Treasurer Rod Farr 6286 1597 J PC Users Group Centre [email protected] Northpoint Plaza, Belconnen General Committee Allan Mikkelsen 6278 3164 Open Mon, Wed and Fri 10am-2pm [email protected] Saturdays and Sundays 9am-5pm General Committee David Schwabe 6254 9086 (closed long weekends) [email protected] General Committee Russell Kerrison 6257 4063 The PCUG Centre is the venue for PCUG training, some Special Interest [email protected] Group meetings and other activities. There is no charge for using the General Committee Michael Lightfoot 6258 8185 Centre for PCUG activities. Contact Petra Dwyer at the PCUG Centre [email protected] on General Committee Peter Elliott 6258 9806 (02) 6253 4911for bookings. [email protected] (PCUG Main Phone number General Committee Ted Macarthur 6286 3536 [email protected] (02) 6253 4911 (Answering machine when Centre unattended) General Committee Anne Meade 6231 7881 [email protected] 2 Fax number General Committee Tamsin Sowden 6286 4340 [email protected] (02) 6253 4922 General Committee Nhan Tran 6254 5293 [email protected] ,Email General Committee David Voss 6258 2178 [email protected] (or use addresses at left) [email protected] ,The INTERNET Project PCUG Committee email to: [email protected] (02) 6206 6200 [email protected] Other Contacts World Wide Web page Executive Secretary Petra Dwyer [email protected] http://www.pcug.org.au/pcug/ Membership Mike Burke : Bulletin Board Service (BBS) Secretary [email protected] (02) 6253 4933 (5 lines 33.6k bps) Novell Network Michael Phillips 6253 4966 Administrator Fidonet address 3:620/243 NT Network David Schwabe 6254 9086 Administrator [email protected] (BBS Sysop voice number (02) 6253 4966 (6.00pm - 9.00pm) BBS Sysop Michael Phillips 6253 4966 [email protected] Centre Manager Wolf Lieske 6258 5250 [email protected] Main Meeting Training Rm Mngr David Voss 6258 2178 Main meetings are held 7.00pm for 7.30pm, usually on the last Monday [email protected] of every month at Manning Clark Theatre 1, Crisp Building Australian The phone numbers listed above are home numbers unless otherwise National University. specified. Please restrict calls to between 7.30pm and 9.00pm. New Members Information Night 7.30pm first Monday of the month PC Users Group Centre, Northpoint Plaza Belconnen.
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 3 EditorsEditors DeskDesk TopTop Anne Greiner, Managing Editor
his month I and burnt to the extent that there was very against such things is to unplug the modem really need to little useful information, and no reliable and tape up the disk drives, but how much Ttalk about information left on it when David Schwabe fun is that? There is an excellent overview housekeeping, real took it apart , said a few spells over it, and of the Explorer.Zip Worm in this edition. and electronic, and I connected the innards of it up to the back of Worms are types of viruses which differ in have to admit at this the server with a bit of blue cable. the way they are able to spread. Worms do point that I am really not very good at either, Like the good little pack rat that I am, I not require a “host” in order to replicate though probably rather better at the latter had all the files also on my machine at home, themselves: they can send themselves, than the former. A very old friend of the and had also a lot of it on zip disks, and all using internal processes. So a worm is able family who spent most of her life in pre- the back copies of Sixteen Bits burnt onto to initiate an email message for example, as independence India, recognised that, even CD Rom. in the case of the Melissa virus. Since the as a child, I had a great resemblance to a So, even though I will have to go through beginning of 1999, we have seen 4 different small Indian rodent called a pack rat. the tedium of downloading drivers and viruses which exhibit worm-like behaviour, Apparently this little beastie collects up all import filters, and reloading all that or can be classed as worms: Happy99, sorts of bits and pieces, and stashes them software, and finding where I stored those Melissa, Papa, and now ExploreZip. Worms away in its nest. Now, I have a great affinity templates that I only use once a year, like spread themsevles via networks and the with this animal, and unfortunately, my the Committee Nomination form in this Internet, and as a result are capable of very cupboards reflect this. I love clear, bare edition, it’s all there, somewhere. Over the swift transfer across large numbers of surfaces, but can only achieve them when years I have learnt, by disastrous first hand computers. living alone, and even then, am rarely able experience, that not only must one backup, Just as easy and relatively cheap airline to maintain them for long. Of course, I can but in several different places. One of these travel has facilitated the rapid spread of always find an emergency present, or days I’ll be a little more organised about it. viruses and other ailments pathological something to read, or the right coloured The other field of housekeeping that is to humans, so has the internet button, etc.. becoming more and more critical these days, facilitated the rapid spread of electronic Electronically, though, these pack rat is the vigorous war that we all have to wage ailments, but I for one am not going to tendencies can be positively beneficial. On against virii and worms, not to mention give up either aeroplanes or layout day this month, the editorial spam and other unmentionables. Of course, computers – what about you? removable hard drive at the Centre crashed the totally secure method of protection PresidentsPresidents LetterLetter : Anne Greiner
his month I have a real dilemma. As Currently there is no ‘Seniors’ category and of course the first of these is to ask the you all know, last month the of membership, and treatment of a Seniors opinions and advice of the membership as a TCommittee raised the membership card has been idiosyncratic to say the least, whole. Constructive input would be most fees a little to make up for increasing with some cardholders having been given welcome. We would need to have a good charges associated with running the group, Concession rates and some cardholders idea of the numbers involved, and do an and I must admit that I thought there may paying for full membership – clearly not analysis of the financial feasibility. Next, of have been some moans and groans about the equitable. course, is to change the categories yourself, increases. However, somewhat to my Now, I am well aware that some self and this is quite easy and eminently possible. surprise, the flak has come so far from the funded retirees have a considerably more Just go to page 24 of this edition, and holders of Seniors Cards, and this leads me restricted budget than others, and others are nominate for next year’s committee J, and down a garden path that has more landmines very comfortably situated and possibly more I’m only being a little bit facetious here. than Kosovo. As you can imagine, the able to pay a full membership than I am, That time of year is rapidly approaching question of the fee structure excited some but my dilemma and that of the rest of the again, and we need to look back over the quite vigorous debate on the committee committee arises in trying to tell one from last year and assess just how well (or poorly) email alias and around the table, and the the other, particularly without some sort of we have performed, and whether we care to question of including the Seniors in with documentary evidence. And if it comes to do it all again next year holders of pension concession cards, or that, what sort of documentary evidence This year we’ve had a cross section of setting a separate category somewhere would be appropriate? As I said, a minefield, the membership as a committee, and it’s between Concession and Ordinary and we ended up not adding ‘Seniors’ as a worked well. We have a diverse range of membership was argued back and forth and new category at this time. As I see it there skills, ages, outlooks, and a wide range of sideways. are several avenues open to us at present, opinions on any given subject, leading to
continued on page 5 …
4 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 Games MainMain MeetingMeeting SIG Guest Speaker: Peter Kokinakos Cognos Problem: You’re spending too much Date: 28 June 1999 time on your own playing computer Established in 1969, Cognos is the world’s games Solution: eter Kokinakos has been in the leading supplier of business intelligence Play against other people at the PCUG Information Technology for ove software, providing organisations with The Games SIG is a friendly group of P18years. His early experience began solutions for easy data access, analysis, people with one thing in common: They all with programming in the finance industry, reporting, and data mining. With over like their multiplayer games. And on Fridays before moving on to analysis and design at 1,000,000 users worldwide, Cognos 26th June and 2nd June you can join us for 5 the Australian Stock exchange, and products deliver the highest productivity hours of fun and (controlled) mayhem with ultimiately to strategic consulting on IT gains to the user, the most manageable games like Quake, StarCraft, and Mech management issues. solution to the administrator, and the fastest Warrior. So why sit at home playing alone Peter Kokinakos is responsible for the return on investment to the enterprise. when you can get out and meet new people? marketing and product management of Cognos success is built on over 28 years’ It’s from 12pm to 6-ish at the PCUG Centre Cognos’ leading edge Business Intelligence experience in the software industry. Training Room, the cost is zero, and all you products. In his 19 years with Cognos, he Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, its need to bring is yourself. has been widely quoted in local and business focused on designing, developing, Sure, you can sit at home and play with international publications on a variety of and implementing custom information yourself. But doing that is as bad as it sounds. technology topics. He is also a frequent systen\ms. This experience gave Cognos Get off your arse and do yourself a favour, speaker at industry eventson topics including significant insight into the productivity come along for some fun that you’ll savour. business intelligence and knowledge issues, backlog problems, and user demands management in organisations. faced by MIS management; this insight has Peter Kokinakos holds a Batchelor of enriched the company’s product Questions? Call John Plumidis, e-mail Applied Science (Computing)degree and is development ever since. [email protected], ICQ#25886924, or a long standing member of the Australian phone 6281 2350. Computer Society.
FromFrom thethe Excerpts from the ○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○ May Committee Meeting:
continued from page 4… CommitteeCommittee Note that these exerpts are always from the previous month - as healthy debate, and hopefully to consensus the minutes they are taken from have (so far, at least!). Consider joining us. Committee Stuff – Meeting 10th May been confirmed by the committee. As we all know, this group exists because of the efforts of a number of Draft copies of the new form for PCUG and Michael Lightfoot announced that an volunteers, and we have decided to name a TIP membership were passed round for electrician was need to check all the power ‘Volunteer of the Year’ in recognition of a comments and amendments. circuits in the Centre. A notice to be put in significant contribution to the group. I am The Chairman noted that the new forms will tip.announce and tip.general. pleased to say that the Committee state the groups volunteer status more clearly The Committee authorised expenditure (unanimously, I might add) has named to new members. Moves are underway to for an Uninterruptable Power Supply be Eddie de Bear for 1999. Those who go to conduct a once a month course on “How to purchased for TIP stuffing will know that Eddie and his 4WD connect to the internet.” Centre Staffers are The Broadcasting Services Amendment must have transported literally millions of being advised on how to promote the group (Online Services) Bill, if the Bill is passed copies of Sixteen Bits from the Centre to the to new members. each ISP will be forced to implement filters Post Office over the last few years. The Volunteers Day will be on Sunday July to block “unsuitable” sites which would Committee and the membership as a whole 25th seriously slow down access, greatly increase are keenly aware of the contribution made The service agreement with Scitec had costs and may have severe adverse effects by this quiet man been agreed. on TIP. The Editor has submitted 3 copies of A Network Administrator to be advertised for on tip.general and Computers are not Sixteen Bits to the “Intergalactic 12” User tip.announce. intelligent. They only Group Competition. Trainers are still needed for weekend think they are. : courses : Anne Greiner
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 5 LettersLetters
Dear Editor I’ve been a member of PCUG for less than twelve months and want to say that I appreciated Ian Gould’s sobering Dear readers explanation about the e- I was wondering if any other TIP users have mail policy. I say thanks taken up the AOL free offer. I am halfway to all the volunteers who through my one months free usage and an started PCUG and have waiting to see if there is any hidden charges kept it up until now. I am attached eg. download limits certainly very happy with It does seem a too good to be true offer the services provided and though. the generosity of those And ! it connects at 33bps with my who keep it going. AAA Maestro unlike the “new” TIP’s 31,200. But Personal Injury COMCARE RSI as a loyal user I’ll stay with TIP Jose A ACT & NSW Worker’s Compensation Ian Penhagigon [email protected] A [email protected]. Motor Vehicle Accidents A Product Liability Well done to the A Well I have tried the AOL offer. committee for their efforts Y2K & Internet Litigation It was a breeze to set up. Just insert the to resolve this problem A Wrongful Dismissal (family memberships). CD and follow instructions Need to provide A your Credit Card Number The solution offers a slight Employment After my 30 day free trial was nearly up, saving, novel these days, I rang to cancel. Took 30 minutes waiting but lets parents release because they were having a large number of their breath and feel a little client enquiries. They disconnected my easier when letting their account on the spot. kids use the parents Just my experience for what it is worth. account. D Fry Paul Blair [email protected] [email protected]
Ten Years ago in Sixteen Bits
Compiled by Andrew Clayton from: Volume 6, Number 6, July 1989
Malcolm Street did an article on Macintosh Computers, of a paperless office. Shane Bergl reviewed DrDos, the hyping the sound, graphics, printing and range of applications MSDOS clone which had heaps of additional functionality, available. Chris Conran wrote an article on Magellan, a dos but died because Microsoft changed certain parts of MSDOS data management facility, something like X-Tree, with data- to be ‘imcompatible’ with Dr Dos. Ian Spratt also reviewed viewing ability for various word processor formats and the Wang PC 382, Yet Another PC clone, with nothing spreadsheets. Karl Auer wrote an article on Basic Dos extraordinary to recommend it (perhaps I’m just jaded?). That Commands, how to use DIR, TIME, FORMAT, CLS, COPY, edition of the magazine was produced with Word Perfect 5, etc. Ian Spratt does a review on Wang Freestyle, which (I supplied by R. C. Electronics. Some prices from July 1989: believe) evolved into a Workflow system. Providing a 720K 3.5" floppy disks were $20 for a box of 10, and 1.44MB document capture and editing ability, in effect the beginning floppy disks were $40 for 10. :
6 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 …by Mike Burke Membership Secretary
in November, and an annual Quiz Night in April. You should read Sixteen Bits thoroughly as special events are publicised mainly through the magazine. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting is held in elcome to new members reading New Members September each year. Even if you are unable Sixteen Bits for the first time, Information Night to attend Main Meetings regularly, members Wwelcome to the PC Users Group. New members are especially urged to attend should make every effort to attend this a New Members’ Information Night which Meeting at which office bearers for the is normally held at 7.30pm on the first ensuing 12 months are elected. If your PCUG Monday of the month (except Jan-uary) at Other Good Stuff membership expires at the PC Users Group Centre (see map page For those who haven’t yet learnt through the end of July 1999 3). These meetings are a chance for new and RENEW NOW bitter personal experience, please remem-ber ‘older’ members (who are always welcome that TIP access is dependent on your to avoid losing access to to attend) to meet with representatives of the The Internet Project. continuing PCUG membership, and that it Committee, to put names to faces, and to takes time to process your membership ask any questions that you may have about renewal—currently up to two weeks. We are Continuing members should also check this the Group and its activities. Tea and coffee looking at ways to reduce this time, but the column regularly because I am sure that are available, and the atmosphere is informal best solution is for you to remember to renew there will be some little surprises from time and friendly. early. Members, particularly TIP users, to time, even for the most jaded of old hands. Main Meetings whose PCUG membership expires at the end Your Membership Card Our main meetings, targeted at our general of the month stated in the above box should Your membership card and, for new membership, are normally held monthly, on renew their PCUG membership immediate- members, a New Member’s Information the last Monday of the month. The date, ly. Do not delay because your TIP access Disk, will normally be mailed to you on the venue and topic of the meeting always will automatically be cut off at midnight on third Monday of the month in which you join appear on the front cover of Sixteen Bits the last day of the month unless your renewal or renew your membership. Those who join which is timed to arrive in your mail-box in has been processed. or renew after the third Monday will receive the middle of the week before the next main Don’t forget! RENEW TODAY, if not their card/disk the following month. If you meeting. Main meetings are also advertised yesterday, if this copy of Sixteen Bits arrived lose your card, please leave a message with in the computing section of the Canberra with a pink label. the Executive Secretary on 6253 4911, or Times on the day of the meeting. Anyone is As a further service, one month before your contact me directly via TIP at welcome to attend these meetings—you do membership is due to expire, I will send a [email protected] and it will not need to be a member. For main meetings, reminder letter with a renewal form on the be replaced without charge.. we arrange guest speakers on a variety of reverse. This letter, printed on paper of a Information Disk topics throughout the year. As an added very noticeablecolour, should arrive a day New members should also receive a disk incentive, there are usually a couple of door or so before Sixteen Bits. containing information about the Group and prizes to be won. You’ve got to be in it to its services. Please read the inform-ation on win it. There is no main meeting in Next New Members’ Night the disk carefully as you will find the December. 5 July 1999 answers to most of your questions there. This Special Events 7.30pm disk now contains instructions on how to We also have some special events such as PCUG Centre connect to the Internet Project. the ‘Bring and Buy Night’ at the Albert Hall Northpoint Plaza, Belconnen
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 7 Explorer ZIP Worm/Trojan/virus
nother email virus is now spreading also be affected. Reportedly also Netscape is designed to trick the unwary into thinking around the Internet. Unlike the mail but we’ve been unable to verify this. the attachment was invalid, when in fact the AMelissa virus and its copycats The virus look for the names of common virus is doing its nasty business as you read. which did no direct damage, this latest MAPI profiles — one of those profiles must 2. The virus makes copies of itself troublemaker (commonly called W32/ be present for the virus to use email to spread (using the name Explore.exe or _setup.exe) ExplorerZIP.worm but also known as — so it’s not a simple case of saying certain put into the \Windows\ System folder Worm.ExploreZip or I-worm.ZippedFiles ) programs are potential carriers. In theory any (\Windows\System32\ on NT and possibly does real damage to files on your computer. MAPI email program (from Microsoft or Windows 2000 systems). It can spread without you realising it and not) could be misused by the virus, 3. To make the virus work whenever remove files from your computer to boot. depending on what profiles are present. In you start your computer, it puts a line in the Reports indicate that companies like practice the most likely programs are those WIN.INI file (for Windows 95/98 systems) Microsoft, Intel and NBC have been affected listed above. like this: so if they can get caught, we mere mortals Even if you don’t use one of the targeted run=c:\windows\system\explore.exe had better watch out. email programs, you can still be infected by for Windows NT computers it does this via As with our acclaimed coverage of the the virus by running an infected file the registry key: Melissa virus in Woody’s Office Watch, attachment which will destroy vital files on HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ we’ll try to sort out the rumors from fact and your computer. Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ tell you what you need to know about this Windows\run=”C:\WINNT HOW DOES IT ARRIVE ? latest threat. You may have heard about this \System32\Explore.exe Normally it arrives as an email virus in the mainstream media. A 20-second Now the virus is running on your attachment but, like any virus, it could also clip from a general rounds journalist isn’t computer, in the background, all the time arrive on a floppy disk or other media. ALL enough to properly prepare you and may doing two things to you: files should be checked before you load them mislead more than inform. 4. DELETING FILES The virus will onto your computer — regardless of the With the memory of the Melissa virus scan all your hard drives (C to Z including media they arrive on or who gives them to fresh in everyone’s mind, the reaction from network drives mapped to a letter) and looks you. We’ve said it before and say it again - IT managers to this new threat was swift for files with any of the following extensions: TRUST NO ONE and firm. This fast action has undoubtedly .h .c .cpp .asm .doc .xls .ppt that targets any The infected attachment can have ANY stopped even worse trouble in large C or Assembler program code plus NAME. We’ve seen it arrive called companies. However, home and small documents (mainly Microsoft Word), zipped_files.exe or zipped_files.doc but it business users need to be watchful because Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and Microsoft could be any name. You can’t use the name they don’t have a ‘guardian server’ checking Powerpoint presentations. Files created by of an attachment as any good guide to the their incoming mail. any version of these programs can be real nature of the contents. Because of the This virus is NOT a macro virus run with affected since the virus only looks at the long file name, the extension of the Microsoft Office programs, it is a stand- extension of the file name before deletion. attachment may not be visible. This could alone program that pretends to be a Strictly speaking the files aren’t deleted, they fool people into thinking it is a ZIP file, as compressed file of documents. In fact when are changed to a 0 byte length which the message suggests, and thus ‘safe’. you open / run this file (say when it arrives removes any information in the file and Since the infected message seems to in your email) it will infect your computer leaves only the file name remaining. come from someone you know (or at least immediately. Recovering files deleted this way is difficult sent a message to recently) it can easily trap if not impossible. WHO CAN BE INFECTED ? the unwary. 5. SPREADING VIA EMAIL Anyone who has a 32-bit Windows WHAT DOES IT DO? The virus watching your incoming email system — meaning Windows 95, 98, 2000 Once you run the Explorer virus it does via any MAPI programs listed above for or NT can be infected and lose files. If you the following things: each and every incoming message (even have a MAPI compliant email reader like 1. It may display a fake error dialog box before you read it) it will send a reply looking Microsoft Outlook (any version) or that says: “ Cannot open file: it does not like this: Microsoft Outlook Express (this is the free appear to be a valid archive. If this file is TO:
8 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 BODY TEXT: and should not be ignored. Since the level the web site to ensure that the update Hi
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 9 F-Prot is a widely respected anti-virus Windows, Word and Office macro viruses KEEPING IN TOUCH tool around that can be carried by any Office For the latest developments on this document, spreadsheet or program with new latest virus outbreak keep an eye on ONGOING PROTECTION ones are certain to appear in the future. You MUST get regular updates to your ZDnet’s continuing coverage. Of course, in that future Woody’s Office virus information from the maker of the anti- THANKS Watch and Woody’s Windows Watch will virus software. The W32/Explorer virus isn’t Peter Deegan would like to thanks deliver the latest virus warnings plus all the the first email spread virus and it sure won’t Vesselin Bontchev from FRISK Software other goodies you’ve come to expect. be the last. Check your anti-virus software International http://www.complex.is/ and for any automatic updating facility that’s HOW TO REMOVE THE EXPLORER Nick FitzGerald from Virus Bulletin http:// available. For example, Norton Anti-Virus VIRUS www.virusbtn.com/ for their help and has the LiveUpdate feature which can grab Bring up the list of running programs advice. Thanks also to Ed Bott and Phil the latest virus information from their web (Ctrl + Alt + Del in Windows 95/98. Young for late night help. Of course, any site and automatically update their program Windows NT and 2000 users then click on errors are WWW’s responsibility entirely.
on your computer. the Task Manager button). : End any task / process with a name like ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ OPENING EMAIL ATTACHMENTS Zipped_files or Explore or _setup . Running The most important protection you can provide for you and other computer users an up to date anti-virus program over your (family, workmates etc) is knowing how to hard drive should remove any copies of the safely deal with incoming email attachments virus on your computer. Failing that, they so you don’t infect your computer or spread can be deleted manually from the folder / nasties to others. Reading email usually isn’t file names given in Item 2 above. a problem, but attachments to email (like Then remove the tell-tale registry / any other document or program you receive) WIN.INI entries listed above in Item 3 can contain a virus. above. Before opening ANY email attachment Carefully check your email Inbox, you should check it for nasties. That means Deleted Items folder and ANY attachment from ANYONE. As the anywhere else an infected recent events have shown an innocent message may be stored message from someone you know and trust and delete the message can be infected, not only because the with the infected BETTOWYND message was sent from their computer attachment. Then delete without their knowledge or consent. the deleted messages For ALL attachments you should save from the Deleted Items monitor repair specialists them to your disk, scan them for viruses folder! before opening. Some anti-virus packages Reboot your will do this automatically if you open or save computer. As a final No Fix ---No Fee to disk a file, but here’s the slow, but check, re-examine the cautious way if you’re not sure: running task list to make In Outlook click on the attachment icon sure the program hasn’t Prompt, guaranteed repairs to ALL and you’ll get the familiar Opening Mail restarted and run another types of monitors and terminals Attachment dialog. Choose ‘Save it to disk’ scan of your hard drive (NOT ‘Open it’) and select a temporary (probably not necessary (including Apple and NEC) directory. except for your peace of Then open Windows Explorer and locate mind). Fixed price, with discount to the file you just saved and run the anti-virus If possible, work out Members program over the file (most of them offer who might have received this as an option on the right mouse menu). an infected file There are more automatic ways, but attachment automatically Quality second hand that’s what you can do today with any current from you (ie anyone who anti-virus program. A properly up-to-date sent you a message after monitors are also available anti-virus package which is properly you were infected). Send for purchase configured to check files as you access them all of them a polite should be enough for desktop users. Other message saying they may Unit 5 Centrecourt, 1 Pirie st, options include anti-virus packages that have been infected and FYSHWICK integrate with email programs to suggesting they check automatically scan incoming messages and their system. You can attachments for virus nasties. send them a copy of this It’s not just this latest virus you should issue of WWW to give be worried about. There are plenty of other them the info they’ll need.
10 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 here was I? Oh yes. With Start the computer. Near the beginning …by Ken Meadows Windows installed, Setup there is the message “Press Del to enter Wreboots the computer and Setup”. You don’t want to enter setup but attempts to start Windows 98 for the first when you see this message, press and hold sure these settings are correct in Control time. For the final phase of the installation down the Ctrl key until the Startup Menu Panel, then try starting Windows again. For Setup configures the hardware and takes you appears. You are given six choices. more information, see the troubleshooting through a few tasks designed to set it up the 1. Normal section in Help. While in Safe Mode some way you want it. If the BIOS and all the 2. Logged (\Bootlog.txt) devices may not be available.” hardware is new they will be Plug and Play. 3. Safe Mode STEP-BY-STEP CONFIRMATION (4) That is, hardware and device cards are 4. Step-by-step confirmation enables you to step through the various detected automatically and the correct 5. Command prompt only commands in starting Windows 98. I cannot drivers loaded. You may be prompted to 6. Safe mode command prompt only tell you what they are on your computer as insert the Windows 98 CDROM, or if you they vary according to what you have have drivers included with your devices or Enter a choice: 1 installed. This technique is invaluable for hardware then you will be asked if you wish Time remaining: 30 isolating problems. When you step through to install them from the floppy or CDROM The “Time remaining” is a countdown the commands you have the choice to press which came with the device. in seconds. Y or N to load the driver or run the “Legacy” cards or devices can be tricky, command. You watch the screen for error as they may not be compatible with The NORMAL option (1) loads messages and try to narrow the problem to Windows 98. My installation went very Windows 98 in the usual fashion. The other a specific command or driver. well, Windows recognising all my bits and options control the startup procedure to pieces except one – a legacy device. And isolate the cause of a problem. that one left me with less hair than when I started. I did all the right things. I had the LOGGED (\Bootlog.txt) (2) is the same original discs and while my particular model as the Normal option except that the boot was not in the list that Windows 98 process is logged in a text file named, presented to me, I could not see why surprise surprise, Bootlog.txt which can be Windows refused to load after I installed it. found in the boot drive’s root folder. This is What was the cause of my frustration? My useful as a troubleshooting tool. well beloved Hewlett Packard 3C scanner. It cost me nearly $2,000 when I bought SAFE MODE (3) runs a stripped down it a few years ago. It is much sturdier than version of Windows 98 in a desktop resized the cheap ones readily available now and I to a resolution of 640 x 480 using the am convinced that it does a better job. How standard VGA display driver. The registry I discovered the cause of Windows 98 and other parts of the normal Windows 98 refusing to load is an exercise in detection. setup are bypassed and only essential drivers It may help you some time so I shall go for the keyboard, mouse and standard VGA through the exercise. display are loaded. When Windows 98 is If you’re having trouble with Windows finally loaded a dialog box appears and you 98 when it’s started, or if it won’t start as in cannot forget you are running in Safe mode my case, you can use the Safe mode option because Safe Mode is displayed in each to run a stripped down version of Windows corner of the desktop. The dialog box tells 98. If it fails to start properly, on rebooting, you what to do. Windows 98 automatically displays a Startup Menu. That is what happened to “Windows is running in Safe Mode. me. You can, however, get to the Windows This special diagnostic mode of Windows 98 Startup Menu yourself if it does not enables you to fix the problem, which is display but the computer goes into the start keeping you from starting Windows routine then hangs. normally. The problem could be caused by your network or hardware settings. Make
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 11 COMMAND PROMPT ONLY (5) The scanner was top of my list. Beryl Expecting to have to buy another SCSI card boots to DOS. Thompson had the same scanner and also I loaded the drivers supplied by Beryl. I SAFE MODE COMMAND PROMPT had problems. Not the same problem, as didn’t even try the patch and I do not know ONLY (6) runs in Safe Mode but it boots to mine revolved around the SCSI card what the patch does though Beryl did need DOS without loading the Windows 98 supplied with the 3C. In her case she had a it to resolve her problem. With fingers interface or any protected mode drivers. new hard drive installed, along with an crossed I restarted the computer. It started I am not sure how useful options 5 and updated version of Windows 95 and from without a hitch. Without uncrossing my 6 are. It seems to me that having a start up that point the scanner did not work. She was fingers I tried a scan. It scanned! As good disc does all that options 5 and 6 do. You not using the HP supplied SCSI card as she as it ever was! And all with the old SCSI did make a start up disc, didn’t you? had a Plug and Play SCSI card installed for card that HP authoritatively states will not I first started in Safe Mode to see if the another purpose and one of the advantages work with Windows 98. If they can con computer would boot. No problem. It went of SCSI is that up to six devices can be enough customers, think of the drivers and through the start procedure and finished with connected to the one card. SCSI cards they can sell! the safe mode desktop. Everything available Assuming new drivers were required she I now subscribe to the scanner to me on the desktop seemed to work. This rang Hewlett Packard and as the scanner was newsgroup. Hewlett Packard is the firm that was reassuring as it showed that the over twelve months old they wanted $25 gets the most comments, usually not very computer had been assembled correctly, was before they would even discuss it. This, complimentary ones. Many complain that working, and the problem was most likely regrettably, is similar to many firms these their scanners will not work under Windows in one of the peripherals. Looking at the days where phone assistance attracts a 98 unless they replace their SCSI card and settings in Control Panel was no help to me, charge, even if the only advice given is that ask if is there a solution. The advice, given as they seemed normal. My guess is that the item is not repairable and to scrap it! by others and myself, is “Get a copy of Safe Mode would be most useful when the After some argument they agreed to send a Deskscan V2.7 and try it. Do not use the computer develops a problem after it had set of discs with the new drivers for $9. latest versions, V2.8 or V2.9 – these will been running normally. These duly arrived, were installed, but the stop your computer from working and do Step-by-Step confirmation pinpointed scanner still did not work. not have any advantage over V2.7. You the problem. I wrote down each step and All HP equipment in Australia has to be should not need a new SCSI card.” It is my response, Y or N. For my first run sent to Adelaide for repair and the repair nice to receive grateful thanks! through I pressed the Y key for each step charge is very steep even for a minor repair. Most of the posts are from North until the computer stalled. Restarting, again For the cheaper HP scanners and printers it America and users are not happy with HP’s in Step-by-Step mode, I pressed the Y key may make economic sense to scrap them and policy of having only one repair site for the until I reached the command where the buy new ones. That was Beryl’s thought so whole of the USA (like the one Australian computer had stalled and here a couple of she put a ceiling on the repair of $200 and repair site in Adelaide), HP’s costs and No’s ensured the suspect drivers did not sent it off to Adelaide. The “repair” cost insistence that earlier scanners will not work load. These were the drivers for the HP 3C $215 but it still did not work when returned, without an expensive replacement of the scanner. Without these the computer started and further, it had a huge scratch on the SCSI card. It is perhaps not surprising that and ran normally. glass! Now Beryl is a very astute lady and many state an HP product will be the last The scanner, while important to me in has many cyber friends. One, in Los on their list when buying scanners or the long term, is not necessary for day to Angeles, who had been there, done that, printers. No one criticises the scanning or day use of the computer. I could now load emailed her where she could get a patch printing results of HP products but they do my programs, activate the new you beaut which might solve her problem. It did. She condemn their customer relations. modem and generally enjoy the upgraded gave me copies of the drivers and the patch, With my gripe about HP off my chest I computer over which I had sweated blood which she had downloaded. can state I am very happy with my new and tears – not literally, you understand. In the meanwhile I had scoured the Web computer. I have no regrets on attempting Actually, if you follow the installation to see if there was a solution. HP’s web site my own assembly. Everyone who acquires instructions for installing Windows 98, confirmed that drivers could be had for $20 a new computer, no matter how advanced it which are very good, you should have no American. HP also advised that the 3C is or how satisfied with what they paid, after problems. So if you are considering scanner, among others, would not work with some months of enjoyment makes the same upgrading, go to it. Remember that if you Windows 98 if the SCSI card was the non comment. “If only I had waited a couple of are upgrading you cannot use the Windows Plug and Play type that mine was. HP’s site months. Look how the prices have come 98 version for a new installation. You can, had a plug for another commercial firm and down!” But then, if I had always waited I though, if you are a legitimate user of one of a link to its site where suitable SCSI cards would still be using my old Microbee. : Microsoft’s operating systems and have the could be ordered for something under $200 floppies or CD, use the upgrade version for American. These amounts, converted to either an upgrade or a new installation. And Australian dollars, would buy one of the the upgrade version is cheaper! newer scanners now on the market and of With the computer running to my which many PCUG members are satisfied satisfaction I could in slow time set up the users! modem to do my wishes, resolve the I was not very happy as if I had known problem of the scanner and dip my toe into that I needed a new SCSI card I could have the world of Video editing. bought my motherboard with SCSI built in.
12 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 …by Jane Taylor
ane Taylor is a Project Officer with network, 20 cent local calls and competitive to re-transmit Free to Air television to ensure TransAct Communications Project, rates for long distance calls. During the pilot a perfect picture without an antenna to any ACTEW Corporation. (This is a this service has operated almost without a home in Canberra with poor television J problem. There were a few faulty handset follow-up story to Paul Free’s article last reception. month) problems and a few faulty connections which The high speed data service has been As most PC Users Group members are were quickly resolved. the most well-received service during the probably aware, ACTEW Corporation has TransAct has a telephony switch installed pilot. During the pilot there are two Internet been trialling an advanced communications in the Operations Centre in Ainslie and it is Service Providers offering Internet access - network in the Canberra suburb of Aranda. anticpated that a number of telephone Spirit Networks and Ozemail (not Telstra The pilot is trialling a variety of services companies will offer local calls as well as as indicated in Mr Free’s article) on the including telephone, television and a high long distance calls within Canberra when the network. Participants selected the ISP and speed data service. The TransAct network is fully deployed. The telephone price package they wanted. The difficulties Communications Project, as it is called, is services will have all the capabilities of the Mr Free experienced maintaining a project operating within ACTEW - not a Telstra network with a few added bonuses simultaneous access to an existing ISP subsidiary company. such as simple and cheap conference calls account as well as to his new Spirit account Aranda was selected through a and many other free features. was not really a TransAct problem but one telephone poll of four northern suburbs on Video services during the pilot have which we resolved anyway. Our original the basis of interest in the concept and included a limited Foxtel Pay TV package (9 keenness to participate in a trial. About channels for $34.95 per month); some free 65% of respondents interviewed in Aranda European channels and two channels from expressed support for their suburb to be the National Film & Sound Archives. We chosen for the site of the pilot network. have withdrawn video services from a small The technology used is different from number of video participants located more that used by Telstra and Optus in their than 250m from their service node (usually a Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) cable rollouts in pole-mounted enclosure). The set top boxes other capital cities throughout Australia. being used in the trial are rated to 200m only This network is a Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) and whilst we have found they work reliably or a Switched Digital Broadband (SDB) to 250m, service quality could not be assured network. This means the fibre is taken above this distance. This is not a long-term much deeper into the network and the problem as we are expecting new technology bandwidth is not shared between that will work to at least 300m to be received customers. Each house is capable of within the next few weeks. receiving up to 36 Mbps downstream and Experts visiting from Sydney recently sending at 1 Mbps upstream. Each house were very impressed with the quality of the has its own dedicated bandwidth back to picture on our network. Both had the Gateway Site in Ainslie which connects experienced Pay TV operating over the TransAct to the rest of the world. Hybrid Fibre Coax cable network and both During the pilot in Aranda, over 200 found the picture quality on the TransAct homes have been connected to the network network was superior. with participants trialling either one or a There is capacity on this network for combination of services. As indicated in virtually unlimited television channels. On Mr Free’s article, there were initial delays a commercial network we would like to be in the cabling and connection of homes due able to offer both Foxtel and OptusVision Pay to a number of factors. As you would TV. As well there could be European expect, the process became faster as the channels, a community channel, a tourism pilot progressed. channel, a distance learning channel and any The telephone service during the pilot other type of channel some enterprising offers participants free calls on the TransAct person might think up. We would also like
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 13 goal was to try and identify experienced access to high speed data transfer. It will means each customer has their own Internet users who could deal with routine be priced according to the speed provided. dedicated bandwidth. configuration issues themselves. It was Speeds will range from 500kbps to up to Other high speed data participants have decided however, that during the pilot we 10Mbps. The NetFLX modems used are been very happy with the service as the would try to make connections to the high capable of delivering 10Mbps at this stage. following quotes indicate: speed service as simple as possible for the Although speeds on the TransAct network “I have been using the Aranda Transact participants which is why we had throughout Canberra will be guaranteed it high-speed internet link for less than two technicians on hand to assist anyone weeks. with problems. Network cards were I write to say THANK YOU!! It is installed into computers that did not A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!!!! have them and a technician installed the ...... Thanks for making modem and configured the PC to the Web browsing fun again!” customer’s requirements if the person could not do this themselves. As you “I’m finding the high speed can imagine every computer in Aranda connection fantastic. was different and the technicians had to I am a freelance web developer and adapt to a wide variety of set-ups. IT person at ANU so I’m really noticing In the longer term we hope that most the difference between the high speed ISPs will offer access via TransAct and link and my modem.” therefore the average user won’t have to will be impossible to predict speeds on the confront the sort of difficulties Mr Free Internet links out of Canberra or to the rest For more information about the TransAct encountered in maintaining connections of the world. However, it is hoped that trial you can visit the TransAct shop which from a single PC to multiple ISPs. On a Internet Service Providers will cache often- is open between the following hours: commercial network TransAct will be the visited sites in Canberra or popular sites will Wednesdays and Thursdays: 4.00pm to network provider not the service provider. be mirrored here. The beauty of this network 7.00pm and Saturdays from 1.00pm to The high speed data service will offer homes is that the service does not deteriorate with 4.00pm. : a permanent link to the Internet as well as more users. The architecture of the network
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14 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 erry Bibo …by T
ow many of us can resist a bargain? www.spellchecker.com. It is a fully-fledged And they don’t come any cheaper program that can replace Microsoft Hthan this. I know a lot of non- crippled shareware becomes freeware, but I This provides wheel support for those will only promote software that is openly programs that do not support the IntelliPoint proclaimed by its authors as being cost-free. Mouse. It is highly configurable and works There is an enormous amount of free in both Windows Explorer and, of course, software out there on the Internet and on Notepad+. So now we have the best of all those CDs that cling to the covers of almost worlds; a great notepad with spellcheck and every computer magazine these days. Some a mouse wheel. Get the latest version from of it is big and powerful, and the CDs bulge dictionaries and works with Eudora, www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2060/. at the seams. But for the benefit of the Outlook Express, Wordpad, Windows Microsoft now support Universal majority of readers I am presenting only a Notepad, Notepad+ and more. For most of Scrolling with Intellipoint 2.2, handful of utilities that I don’t see included these it is shareware with a 25-day trial, but downloadable from the Internet, but you and that I find almost indispensable. They it remains free for use with Notepad+ after might like to check out FreeWheel for the certainly make life on the computer more this period. extra features it has. productive and enjoyable. I am grateful to From time CacheSentry. Internet Explorer immemorial I have apparently does not manage its cached used the Capture files very intelligently. When the cache function from Paint is full it should release the least used Shop Pro to grab files first, keeping the more current screen shots to ones in your history for review. Instead illustrate articles. it releases files at random, so you may those authors who make them available. That is, until I found find recent files suddenly no longer They are all Win95/Win98 compliant. this magnificent available for recall. CacheSentry NotePad+ — a 100% 32-bit compiled utility, Printkey, ensures that files are deleted on a least Win32 executable — does not idly boast in that sits in the used basis. It also clears orphan files its accompanying text file when it says background waiting such as those no longer linked to a ‘NotePad+ is a free drop-in replacement for to be called. It still URL because the download was Windows 95/NT 4.0 notepad, which eats works from the stopped standard notepad for lunch!’ basic PrintScrn key, but has assumed power prematurely; With a theoretical limit of 20MB it beyond imagination. Clips can be of the URLs that have almost rightly claims ‘no more file size entire screen, the active window or any no related files; barrier’, but later admits it is really useful defined rectangular portion of the screen. and stray cookies. ‘For files up to somewhere in the 500-1000 They can then be resized; greyed; framed; Additionally it kB range’. I’ve had no problems with that. have their colour depth, brightness and allows for the size It does open multiple files and has user- contrast changed, and further manipulated of the cache — definable fonts and colours. It can in other ways that would normally require a your Temporary automatically associate itself with .txt, .bat, sophisticated paint program From such Internet Files .ini and .reg files, obviating the necessity to humble beginnings PrintScrn almost needs Folder — to be more precisely set. Instead manually set these associations through a diploma to understand and operate now. of being a percentage of the disk size it can Explorer. Its icons give some idea of more Worth its weight in gold. From: be rigidly defined in Megabytes. You never power, with proportional/fixed font toggle, www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Bay/ have to worry about emptying the cache line wrap toggle, increase/decrease font size 3053 folder again. Let it look after itself. and much more. Download it from http:// This is only a tiny program at 44KB, www.xs4all.nl/~theroge/. and sits in the systray quietly monitoring To supplement NotePad+ there is events. Available from EnigmaticSoftware AutoSpell with multi-language support. It at www.mindspring.com/~dpoch/ speaks for itself and is available from enigmatic/cachesentry.html. continued on page 16…
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 15 available free in the new guise of and, of course, the one that started it all, I InoculateIT. Computer Associates has think, made this free for personal users, along www.tucows.com, mirrored here at with free software updates, Internet e-mail www.tucows.interact.net.au. support and online help. Registered users are automatically notified whenever a new Enjoy your computing. virus is found and a solution to it posted Rain is freeware by Leading Wintech. on the Internet. What more could you Terry Bibo : It is a CPU cooler like the probably better ask? Download it from www.cai.com/ known CPUidle. These, and similar antivirus/personal/. programs including Waterfall, issue HLT commands to idle parts of the CPU. HLT Volunteer Comms Expert commands put parts of the CPU into suspend mode so that it consumes less TIP requires a competent Comms power and generates less heat. There are expert with experience with Cisco claims of anywhere from 10C to 30C Just a few of the most useful sites for devices, preferably the AS series of cooling. There is still a version of Waterfall freeware: access servers. Initially this person available free, along with Rain, from www.download.com will assist our comms person, but it www.datascribe.com.au/mirrors/nonags/ www.nng.simplenet.com is hoped that eventually much of the miscu.html, but it has been advanced to a www.blackstump.com.au/software.htm work can be taken off his hands. Pro version that performs other functions www.zdnet.com/swlib/ It would be preferable if we were too, and is available as shareware from http:/ able to attract two new volunteers for /cpu.simplenet.com/leading_wintech/ this task as that would make for product.htm. I am pretty sure that I am lighter load on each person. getting better battery life out of my laptop Remember, if you have specific running this little utility. Unix/Internet/Comms skills the TIP Everybody needs a capable, up-to- admin team is always looking for date virus control program. One of the fresh faces. leaders in the field was Vet, which is now
16 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 …by Don Nicol ave you ever wondered why it is like fire or earthquake so why should we that the milk bin always seems to care? Hbe at the corner of the super-market In any case, what can we do about it? If you are an Internet user this sort of furthermost from the check-out? We don’t get to vote on these sorts of analysis is already being done. In some cases ‘A minor inconvenience and not worth questions (it’s not like they’re trying to it is done without your knowledge. Your own worrying about!’ you say. Perhaps you’ve change the shape and colour of our flag). machine can and is often used to keep the never been in a wheel chair or pushed a Also, what’s all this got to do with details of your preferences. This information stroller with a toddler clutching your skirts. computing? is often used to assist in the effectiveness of Perhaps you may not have noticed that the Maybe, just maybe, this question is a lot dissemination of information (ie, the system number of these minor inconveniences are more serious and profound than is apparent is being used to your advantage). growing, seemingly keeping pace with the to the casual eye. Maybe it is one urgent and Under current usage these techniques advances in technology. vital reason for everybody to get to seem to be working for you and can be How is it that when one TV channel understand how computers work and how considered to be ‘good’ but what is the decides to air a ‘blockbuster’ the other computers will influence the course of social chance that some stranger is able to access channels decide to broadcast programs that evolution during the coming generation. Let computers that process information about are equally attractive to you? Why is it that me try to elaborate. you, collect and collate those data and use the up travelators in the shopping malls start Wouldn’t it be great if, when we were to them to build a dossier on your personality?. from the centre of the building and not from turn on the Telly it would play our favourite Would you be happy to have a stranger the entrance doors? Why is it that succeeding program (from the beginning)? Wouldn’t it explore the contents of your coat pocket? escalators in multi-storied buildings no be great if only the Ads spoke about the Would it make any difference for you to longer stand heel-to-toe? Why is it that products that are of direct relevance and know that the contents of your pockets are department stores no longer have clear interest to our current needs? Wouldn’t it be valueless? We have a debt to hackers and passage-ways from entrance to exit? great if only we could have the world do our manufacturers of viruses on three counts. Not, it seems, from an interest in bidding for a change? First they continually remind us that effectiveness and efficiency. Not from a point Don’t blink for too long. These things computers are vulnerable to attack. of view of safety (have you ever considered are technically possible and if you stay Secondly, the number of viruses running your avenue of escape from a shopping mall asleep for too long you may miss the around the world prompt us to the in the event of disaster like fire or opportunity to contribute to the construction conclusion that there are a lot of (intelligent) earthquake?) Nor, apparently, from the of a better world. people out there who are happy to perpetrate objective of minimisation of building costs. Already hard disk capacity is down to violence with reckless disregard for the level When you come to think about it these the cost of around 30Mb per dollar. This is of harm that they might cause. Thirdly, they questions seem to be not so trivial to the a trifling sum for data storage. If you were remind us that the price of freedom is eternal creators of these ‘minor inconveniences’. to spend $300 you could buy enough vigilance. We should not forget that anything We presume that the motivators and capacity to record all the thoughts that ever that goes down a wire is vulnerable to attack designers, builders and fabricators are crossed your mind (provided you have lived from anybody who would have the will and intelligent beings and that the fruits of their to 80 years of age and have never taken a determination to access it. And this labours are the result of deliberate planning. wink of sleep). vulnerability is not restricted only to your We must conclude, therefore, that the added Alternatively, if you could link your computer. costs of construction; the loss of shopper computer to your TV and VCR you might Hardware manufacturers are now convenience and the increase in danger are be able to get it to do an analysis of your introducing the concept of firmware of lesser materiality when weighed against patterns of viewing and schedule play-back identification to their products. This could the reasons for existence of these ‘minor of your favourite preferences at the time that develop into a facility which might enable inconveniences’. you are ready to watch them. Your Taken individually the effect of these computer already has the capacity to do this undesirables to keep track of your sort of analysis. The only thing that stands whereabouts (even though you might change changes to our environment are of little in the way of this achievement is the will consequence. Not too many of us suffer your name and address), again to you and motivation of the developers. detriment. physical incapacity and when we do we can To do this task the computer will need
always take advantage of the corner store; to ‘learn’ the essential elements of your Is 1984 approaching? : or get a friend to do our shopping for us. personality. This could be done without the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ And we’re never likely to run into disasters need of your conscious involvement.
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 17 obyn Williams: Today’s program come I can get up a whole hour earlier if a had largely worn off and it all became just was prompted, in part, by the whole city agrees to pretend it’s a different another mathematical slog to be copied out Rdecision to extend daylight saving time, but I can’t force myself to do it by of a text book and learnt for later next year, by a couple of months, to suit the myself? regurgitation in an exam. But still, a Olympic Games. But it’s also a reflection But anyway, none of this is the main modicum of intrigue remained. Could this on the meaning of time, how we perceive point of what I want to say. In my thinking really happen? And if it could, would I want the minutes or seconds passing, exquisitely about time, I believe I’ve discovered a way to be on that space ship? slowly, if you’re meditating or looking at a to slow time down to the point where it What is the value of slowing time down? beautiful scene; speeding like a train if practically stops. My theorising began when Would you get more done” Theoretically not. you’re trying to clean the kids, fix a meal I discovered a bag of grapes that had fallen Since your brain would also be functioning and answer the phone, all in one non-fluid behind the bread bin. They’d only been there more slowly, and as far as you were movement. three days, but they’d gone orange and soggy concerned, you’d only have experienced one Birds react ten times more quickly than and were attracting a zillion fruit flies. year, irrespective of the fact that everyone we do. They see the world as if it’s slowed Meanwhile another bunch of grapes that I’d else had experienced thirty. down, which is why they are able to dart put in the fridge were still fresh, firm and But actually, if you want to experience about, escape the cat, and generally do things green. So why did this happen? a time distortion and slow time down, you much more quickly than we can. Since I am a graduate physicist, and not don’t need to go into space. Anyone can do So, what does it all mean” Here with a a plant specialist, I shall ignore cell biology it, right here on Earth. It takes dedication, temporal reflection is Berry Ann Billingsley, and instead postulate that time moves more but anyone can do it. sitting in her kitchen in Melbourne. slowly in the bottom of the fridge. As I To understand how, you have to think Berry Ann Billingsley: I’m on maternity compare these two bags of grapes, it reminds about the nature of time. And when I say leave at the moment and I’m waiting for me of the Einstein paradox about the two time, I don’t mean laboratory time or baby Harry to turn up. We know the sex, so twins. One goes into space and returns a theoretical time, I mean real time, real out- we’ve given him a name. Now all I need is mere year older, while the other stays on there time. The kind of real time real people the baby to go with the name. The days have Earth and ages by thirty years or so. This contend with: the slippery, marching kind been passing slowly as I waddle of time that breaks all the around looking like Winnie the laboratory rules. Because as with Pooh, big tummy, skinny legs. so many other examples, what And clearly I find myself with too Since I am a graduate physicist, and not a plant takes place outside the tightly much thinking time, since I’ve specialist, I shall ignore cell biology and instead scrutinised zone of the lab is very been doing a lot of thinking. postulate that time moves more slowly in the different to what takes place inside. And I’m thinking bottom of the fridge. So hey, let me tell you about appropriately enough about time. real time as opposed to theoretical And what a fickle, slippery, time. Firstly, real time is not so irksome, lawless, anarchic kind of much relative, it’s elastic. It thing time has turned out to be. happens because of the way that the passage stretches and contracts from circumstance Here’s an example. I find it a struggle of time is altered when you accelerate, and, to circumstance. For example, the ten to get up in the mornings. I manage it, but says Einstein, if you accelerate fast enough, minutes I wait for another train, having just it’s a struggle. Of course if I went to bed a the passage of time slows down to a mere missed the 5.17, is a long time. It is much bit earlier, I’d probably find it easier, but trickle. longer than the hour I spend in front of the despite good resolutions, that never seems When I first encountered this paradox, TV. What’s more, sometimes time is so to happen. which was sometime in secondary school, elastic it’s like it’s flipped out completely But then, once a year, we move the clocks it was presented as a great mystery, a kind and snapped. Two hours by the clock can be forward by an hour, and after a couple of of ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ scenario. gone in a flash, faster than the bat of an days of adjustment, I find I am able to eat There was no explanation offered for why eyelid if it’s the two hours in which I’m my dinner at what was six o’clock but is accelerating should alter the passage of time, trying to get something done before a five now called seven o’clock, go to bed at ten just that it does. The scientific equations on o’clock deadline. o’clock which is now called eleven o’clock, which the thing is based didn’t come till I’m not telling you anything you don’t and amazingly, get up at five o’clock, just university. Unfortunately by that stage, the know here, but I’m just pointing out because it’s now called six o’clock. So hw surprise factor in the paradoxical twin story something which as far as I know hasn’t yet
18 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 The Nature of Time
been noted in our scientific description of Now this leads to another interesting enough just to know it’s coming. Remember [Image] the physical universe. angle. And it’s the main point of what I want standing in line to get a jab in the arm at It’s just typical really. With mind to say. Because of the discrepancies between school? Wasn’t that the longest ten minutes boggling accuracy, scientists play with the different kinds of time, you can slow you can remember? concepts like five nanoseconds and ten to down the rate of personal time with respect Maybe if the boredom was tedious the -37 seconds and the time it takes for an to external clock time. You can make enough, or the moment of truth serious electron to pop across the room. But all this yourself feel as though you are living ten enough, time would stop altogether. I’ve is about theoretical laboratory time. It’s got years, but by everyone else’s measure you read it in fiction, ‘Time stood still’, the books nothing to do with reality. It’s almost like will actually only have aged by five. say. Inside this capsule of frozen time, there are two times, lab time and real time. nothing happens, breaths are bated, hearts So belatedly, in Einstein’s absence, let me So in my case, if I am to get the miss beats, the world stands still. During write an equation for how things work in most out of my life, I should spend my days the excruciating microseconds before the real time: How about T-brackets watching sitting at a train station. I will then drag out answer is revealed it may be that this TV = 5 times T brackets waiting at train the duration of each and every minute, ultimate temporal distortion is possible. Is station, close brackets. particularly as I will see them clicking by it possible to stretch the moment until it But as I think this through, it occurs to on the station’s digital clock. never ends? The closest I have ever come to me that maybe time’s got more dimensions This puts me in mind of an experiment experiencing such a temporal standstill was than just two. In my experience we that could be carried out using one or more as I clutched the envelope containing my have lab time, personal time, exam results and braced myself to universal time, quality time and space open it. Perhaps the moment could time. I’ll just define a couple of these. perhaps I should be grateful for delayed trains be recreated and the effect Lab time obeys strict rules and works and cancelled buses, since they are extending strengthened. It may be worth a try. in the lab and only in the lab. It can the perceived length of my lifetime So excuse me, while I go and be measured with incredible accuracy. prepare another bucket of icy water, Quality time is time spent with the pick up a sealed envelope and head family. It’s often blocked out in one or two volunteers. These people would be confined for the train station, to literally put my life hour units. Universal time is big grand time, to a station platform for the period of one on ice. measured in millions of years, the kind of year, external clock time. At the end of the Robyn Williams: And there’s another time it takes for continents to move and stars year, they could report back on whether they way of doing so, as Dr Paul Davies, the to go supernova. Personal time is regulated felt as though one year had gone past, or science writer, has explained. Just as your by our individual sense of time. All these five, or ten, or even thirty, thus replicating life is said to play out in one long display different times are running along their own the spirit of Einstein’s twin experiment. I just as you’re facing death, so the last courses, obeying their own rules and every suppose a key difference is that whereas minutes of the world could be extended into now and again crossing and comparing Einstein came up with something surprising almost an eternity. This too is perception, notes. and paradoxical, I don’t suppose many but actually that’s what counts. Who knows, The multiple dimensions of time help to people would argue with my thesis, that time perhaps the butterfly which lives for only explain many of the temporal anomalies that seems to drag when you’re sitting on a 24 hours feels like it’s threescore years and arise in everyday life. At the essential core station platform. ten. of the postulate is that these time strands do With this in mind, perhaps I should be Berry Ann Billingsley got her physics not run in synch, and this is why anomalies grateful for delayed trains and cancelled degree from Oxford and now lives in and distortions arise. Many conflicts arise buses, since they are extending the perceived Melbourne. : because our internal sense of time, or length of my lifetime. Sitting on a platform personal time, does not run in synch with is like sitting in the fridge: it may seem like twenty minutes when measured by my external time or clock time. For example, internal sense of time, but it has actually only it’s a cruel twist of fate that while our minds Ockham’s Razor is broadcast at cost me ten minutes of external biological register personal time, our biological clocks 8.45am every Sunday and repeated at lifetime. Actually, I could slow things down run on external clock time. So during my 2am every Thursday on Radio still more by putting my feet in a bucket of National, the Australian Broadcasting schooldays, which seemed to me to pass ice, for surely time spent in misery passes incredibly slowly, I actually only aged by Corporation’s national radio network even more slowly than time spent in of ideas. twelve biological time years. At other times boredom. This could form another real time The transcripts are reprinted here in my life, the years were rushing by so equation. Perceived time in discomfort is with the kind permission of the quickly, no sooner had I seen one Christmas greater than time in boredom is greater than Australian Broadcasting Corporation. out, then we seemed to be seeing another time in enjoyment. Actually there is no need one in. to experience the pain to get the effect, it’s
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 19 cdcd romrom
elcome to the June 1999 edition and actually follow one of of this column — this month I the trains as it moves along Whave included reviews of four of the tracks. the 15 products that I have reviewed for One of the interesting aspects InfoRom during the last month. To see the of this game (and one that I think is other reviews check www.inforom.com.au. a bonus), is that rather than building a It features reviews of educational, home park from scratch, you select a scenario, reference and entertainment CD-ROMs. which includes a partly built park and a The reviews are of Roller Coaster number of objectives for you to try to Tycoon, World Book 1999, Active Play: achieve. For example, Bumbly Beach is A Bug’s Life, and Winnie the Pooh and small amusement park that they want you • Water Rides — enjoy the thrill of Tigger Too. Copyright for the reviews to develop into a large theme park. zipping along (and cooling off!) on rests with InfoRom. Diamond Heights is a large and successful fast moving water rides. park with quite a few rides —t he objective Shops and Stalls — a vital ROLLER COASTER TYCOON • in this case is to double its value over a compon-ent of any theme park, and Roller Coaster Tycoon is a simulation three-year period. whether it’s food and drink or game in the same genre as Theme Park, the The first scenario is a tutorial — quite souvenirs, one of your best basic idea of which is to create and manage basic but a good way to learn the rudiments sources of profit. These also a theme park in such a way that it actually of the game. There are over 20 of these include those most essential of makes money. It is great fun to play, but it scenarios altogether, and the more complex amenities — toilets. ones only become available once you have also has excellent educational value — • Footpaths — includes queuing lines successfully completed the objectives of teaching young players a great deal about and tunnels; some of the smaller ones. The big plus is some of the principles of running a business. that you have a working park (with money • Landscaping — various types of Our three junior evaluators gained a great coming in) to wander around and explore trees, shrubs and bushes, grass, deal from playing Theme Park several years (and give you a few ideas) before you have ponds, fountains — even statues and ago. This program is a considerable to start adding your own rides, shops, etc. objects in themes such as Ancient improvement in many respects, and it too In each park there are the following types Egypt and Mine. has a lot to offer. of ride, facility and feature available: All in all, the variety is huge with This game is relatively easy to learn, but different choices in each scenario. Each thing • Transport Rides — fairly mild rides quite difficult to master. It is extraordinarily you build costs money, and the trick is to try such as trains that basically ferry realistic, partly I suspect because the game to assemble a good mix of entertaining rides, people around the park, and that are designer, John Wardley, has been a ‘ride interesting shops and attractive amenities, suitable experiences for the elderly while charging appropriate prices and designer’ for many years, designing such or the easily frightened; mega rides as The Vampire at Chessington employing sufficient staff. • Mild Rides — low-thrill attractions (England) and Dragon Khan at Port Siting of your various shops, etc is very such as merry-go-rounds that are the Aventura (Spain). The roller coasters reflect important — people don’t want to have to bread and butter of most travelling this expertise — wonderfully detailed and walk miles in search of food or toilets, but carnivals; exciting to watch. On that point, both the they are generally not going to be too graphics and the sound effects are excellent, • Thrill Rides — more exciting stuff interested in food just after exiting a high- especially if you have a graphics accelerator such as the Octopus and the Flying speed ride. card. As well as music, there are mechanical Saucer — watch out for nausea! You can choose what rates to charge for admission and/or the rides, and the options roars and people screams from whichever • Roller Coasters—the big attraction, and by far the most interesting even give you a choice of about 10 currencies ride you happen to be looking at, as well as (including the relatively new European variety of rides in this game. They all the other sounds of people having a good ‘Euro’). Of course your park needs to be come in all kinds, from ricketty- time at a theme park. Another feature that maintained — if you don’t employ enough racketty wooden terrors to high- we really liked was being able to view each staff or direct them to the right places, rides speed steel monsters with cork- and every part of the park from every angle, will break down, rubbish will begin to screws, loop-the-loop and tunnels. in close, medium or far distance. This accumulate, etc — none of which is good means, for example, that you can survey a for business. large roller coaster from afar, or zoom in
20 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 — a monster that had a maximum speed of 107kph, G forces on the bends up to 4.96G and negative G forces on the big drop (ie free fall) of 2.1G! The learning experience for him was that it was so terrifying that hardly any of the paying customers were willing to go on it—hence it lost … by Nick Thomson money. All in all, this is an of the competition, this encyclopedia will excellent game, and we run on just about anything—the minimum recommend it very highly. It is great requirements are listed as 486DX with 16 fun, very varied, and very educational. MB of RAM. We tested it on a Pentium 133, I have had several conversations with my and it flew along without any trouble. 15 year-old about issues such as safety, As mentioned above, the layout for each marketing and cleanliness in these sorts article is good. The following options are If you are after more paying customers, of parks. As he put it, ‘Now I understand available via buttons at the top of the screen: marketing campaigns are not a bad idea. For why places like EuroDisney and Wonder- • Article Outline — a useful summary example, you can give away free entrance land make such a big deal about keeping of subheadings and media items for vouchers, free food passes, or run ad the park clean, and why they spend so longer articles (click on one to go to campaigns in the local media. Another much money on TV ads’. it); As well as the introductory tutorial option is to spend a bit of money on • Related Info on CD-ROM — hot- research and development — new food scenario (which takes you step-by-step through the various elements of the game), linked list of relevant articles; concoctions, new rides, etc. • Related Info Online — list of related One particularly interesting (and there is an 83-page user guide that provides websites that you can jump to; impressive) feature of the game is Guests. a comprehensive explanation of all game This allows you to track each and every features. For further tips and ideas there is a • Search — powerful and fast tool that person in the park — what they are current- dedicated website at allows you to search by topic, word ly doing, and what they are thinking. You www.rollercoastertycoon.com or media, and that allows the use of can get summary information, eg on which Australian Distributor: Hasbro Boolean operators such as AND and rides are the most popular or lists of the Interactive OR; ‘thoughts’, eg ‘I’ve been queuing for ages Tel: 61 2 9953 8788 • Dictionary — double click on any Fax: 61 2 9953 8877 for the Big Dipper’, ‘I’m hungry’, etc. word in the text for a full dictionary www.hasbro-interactive.com If you use these data appropriately then definition of it; it should help with your planning. To further Format: One CD for Windows 95/98 Publisher: Microprose • Article media — a kind of drop assist you, messages regularly appear in a down filmstrip that allows one-click bar at the bottom of the screen. For example, www.microprose.com WORLD BOOK 1999 access to pictures, video clips, sound ‘The Ferris wheel has broken down’, or clips and animations; ‘People are complaining about the MULTIMEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA • Took Kit — one-click access to disgusting state of the park’. World Book 1999 Multimedia Encyclo- There are almost unlimited custom- printing, highlighter, sticky notes isation options available for the big rides. pedia is the latest edition of one of the (add your own comments to art- You can lay out roller coasters in almost any leading multimedia encyclopedias. It icles) and Homework Wizards (five configuration you like (funds permitting), provides access to 20,500 articles on CD and wizards that greatly assist stud-ents and then make decisions about how many 12,000 online, and it includes thousands of in processes such as research and carriages in each train (long trains hold more pictures, videos, animations and sound clips. chart creation). people, but mean longer waits in the queue). The deluxe edition (which comes on two All in all, it is a useful and user friendly Each and every ride can also be decked out CD-ROMs) includes a virtual tour of San in all sorts of different colour combinations. screen layout. You can highlight and then If you get things right then you can win Diego zoo, a number of simulations and a copy or print sections of text, and it is also various awards which, of course, is a great variety of wizards to help you navigate and possible to copy or print whole articles. For advertisement for your park. make best use of the program. those who want to have a bit of a browse, When you select a ride to build you are World Book has traditionally (in our there is a Browse feature that allows you to given all sorts of information about its key opinion) been the most suitable multimedia specify particular categories and then features, maximum angles of climb, etc. encyclopedia for primary students — and browse via article or media item (a selection Once it is ready, you can then get information this edition is no exception. The inform-ation about maximum speed, G forces on the of text/media bubbles appears on the screen, drops and bends, etc. is presented in a fairly straightforward, easy and you then click on one to go to it). The 15 year-old evaluator got a bit to follow language, the font is relatively There is also a handy little feature called carried away with one of his roller coasters large, and the screen layout is user friendly Monthly Spotlight. This provides a day and easy to follow. Moreover, unlike some
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 21 by day listing of important historical • Web sites — sites related to The basic aim of the game is to help events for the current month. I was articles on the CD-ROM; the ant hero Flik (who was hero in the fascinated to learn that on the day of movie) save the ant colony from an • Our century — a trip back through writing this review (May 15) in 1928, the invasion of grasshoppers by building a World Book archives to see what Flying Doctor Service was started in ‘contraption’. Before you can build it you was happening years ago; Australia. Each month there is also a focus have to collect six vital pieces, and to earn on a particular topic — Spain for this • Online Library — special reports on these pieces you have to successfully month. a wide range of topics. complete six activities. These are as There are two other main research tools: There is online help available, as well follows: • Maps — maps by country and as a 40-page user guide that provides a good • Ant Island —sort berries into their explanation of all program features. region. You can enter a place and proper piles by controlling which Australian Distributor: Dataflow then jump to a regional map, and way they roll down the tunnels; Tel: 61 2 9417 9700 (where there is one) jump to articles Fax: 61 2 9417 9797 • Spiral Root — help a worker ant put about that place. There is also a http://www.dataflow.com.au four parts of a picture story in order; distance calculator that allows you Format: Two CD-ROMs for • Council Chambers — help Aphie to to quickly calculate the precise Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 look for buried treasure; distance between any two locations. Publisher: World Book Inc • The City — help a lost beetle find • Time Frames — select a year, dec- www.worldbook.com his dad by guiding him through ade, millennium or era (eg Age of various obstacles; Reason), and then specify a categ- ACTIVE PLAY: A BUGS LIFE ory, eg History or Geography, then • P.T.Flea’s Circus — arrange the select from the range of text bubbles Active Play: A Bug’s Life is a collection performers and the props to enable that appears. of games based on the Disney animated them to carry out their stunt properly; The online features of the program are movie, A Bug’s Life. It features characters, • Bug Bar and Grill — help Tse Tse impressive. Via the website at voices and scenes from the movie, and deliver the right orders to the right www.worldbook.com you can obtain the basically consists of a series of entertaining people in the grill. following: games. The quality of the sound and There are two other activities that you graphics is excellent, and it recreates the • Article updates; can undertake — Puppet Show and Bug atmosphere of the movie very well. It is • The month in brief — day-by-day Board Game. In the Puppet Show you select suitable for children aged 3-7. from one of five skits, then choose story news from around the world; lines, puppets and backgrounds to create
22 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 eading Ken Meadows’ welcome return article in Sixteen Bits April R1999 has brought back some fond memories of ‘yesteryear’. I was Assistant Editor to John Hilvert when Ken’s first article was published in February 1991. Unfortunately, that volume appears to be the …by Helen Pryor/Frew only copy of Sixteen Bits that is not in our household collection. (Ken, did you really come by a pre-release copy of Windows 95 remember these??? in 1991?) At that stage we were trying to give catchy article titles to our valued regular contributors and Ken’s baptism was as ‘Random Meadows’. Our talented design editor, Peter Farrelly, was given the task of designing suitable banners for our regular article titles, and he had little trouble dealing with the best we could come up with. Ken dealt with many topics including the use of AUTOMENU (one of his favourites), BBS and modem blues, backing up data files using XCOPY, Genealogy (another favourite, giving us much useful information), ASCII tables, DR DOS, and batch files. He was proud to ‘luxuriate with a 386SX’. Ken’s final article of that series was printed in March 1993. One of his closing phrases was: ‘. . . perhaps later I shall be able to start again.’ :
Welcome back, Ken! ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ a show. It is possible to print out the It is a colourful and entertaining interactive • Pooh’s Icy maze — help Pooh make puppets and the backgrounds. The Board book for young children. The youngest it through the maze to rescue Tigger Game can be played on the computer, or evaluator is a dedicated fan of Winnie the and Roo; you can print it and play it away from the Pooh (her room is a kind of shrine to the • Everyone Bounce! — repeat the computer. various characters), and she gave the bouncing patterns created by Pooh It is also possible to take ‘photos’ of the program a definite thumbs up. and his friends. various bugs that you encounter, and build The main feature of the program is a story All in all, an entertaining program that up a collection of these snapshots in your featuring the irrepressible Tigger, whose is sure to be a hit with young Winnie the own bug photo album. All in all, an endless bouncing can begin to annoy some Pooh fans. There is audio help when you entertaining and colourful program that of the others, especially Rabbit. It features need it, as well as a 16-page user guide that young fans of the movie will get a lot of fun about 10 story pages, with two or three provides a good explanation of all program out of. sentences of text per page. The sentences are activities. There is a 16-page user guide that narrated, and then you can either click and Australian Distributor: Dataflow provides a good explanation of all program point on various objects to make things Tel: 61 2 9417 9700 activities. happen, or play one of the activities. The Fax: 61 2 9417 9797 Australian Distributor: Dataflow pages are colourful and engaging, and http://www.dataflow.com.au Tel: 61 2 9417 9700 feature most of the characters and voices Format: One CD-ROM for Fax: 61 2 9417 9797 from the series. Windows 95/98 and Power www.dataflow.com.au As mentioned above, the story includes Macintosh Format: One CD-ROM for Windows a number of activities, which appear at Publisher: Disney Interactive 95/98 various points. These can be played at three http://www.disneyinteractive.com : Publisher: Disney Interactive different levels of difficulty, and they are as www.disneyinteractive.com follows: • Gardening with Rabbit — a WINNIE THE POOH memory game that requires you to Nick Thomson is the manager of TIGGER TOO AND find matching pairs of fruit and InfoRom, a service on the Internet that vege-tables; reviews educational, home reference Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too is an and edutainment CD-ROM software. It • Tic-Tac-Roo — a ‘wintry’ version animated storybook featuring the two can be found at www.inforom.com.au characters (and some of their friends) from of noughts and crosses; the Disney movies, videos and TV series.
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 23 Committee Nominations
In September, the Annual General A member may nominate for more than Meeting of the PC Users Group (ACT) one position. Election of office bearers Candidates should bear in mind the large Inc will elect a new Committee to lead will be in the order shown in this Notice, commitment of time and talent involved the Association for the ensuing year. followed by election of the ordinary in being a committee member, and are committee members. If elected to one strongly urged to provide profiles for Nominations are now called for your position, a member will not be eligible publication in SIXTEEN BITS. This will 1999-2000 Committee. to be elected to any other. enable the membership, prior to the Annual General Meeting, to give serious Under the Rules of the Association, the Persons who have been nominated for an regard to the nominations received. Committee consists of four office office bearer position may also wish to Profiles of candidates must reach the Editor by the deadline for the August bearers and up to ten ordinary consider being nominated for an ordinary issue of SIXTEEN BITS (in which members, together with the Immediate member position in the event that they formal notice of the Annual General Past President. are not elected to an office bearer position. Meeting will also appear). The office bearers are: Nominations need not be on the form provided in this issue of SIXTEEN BITS, Nominations for committee positions • President but all names, relevant membership must be received in writing on or • Vice President numbers and the position nominated for before Friday, 30July 1999 by: • Treasurer must be clear and legible. The Secretary • Secretary Members may nominate themselves as PC Users Group (ACT) Inc long as another member seconds the PO Box 42 nomination. Nominator, seconder and BELCONNEN ACT 2616 • 10 Committee members nominee must be financial members of the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc. 1999-2000 COMMITTEE NOMINATION FORM NOMINATED:
I, ______, a financial member of the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc, hereby nominate (full name)
______for the position of ______(full name) (see above for committee positions)
Signed: ______Membership No. ______Date ___ / ____ / ____ (signature of nominator)
SECONDED:
I, ______, a financial member of the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc, second the above (full name) nomination
Signed: ______Membership No. ______Date ___ / ____ / ____ (signature of seconder)
ACCEPTED:
I, ______, a financial member of the PC Users Group (ACT) Inc, accept the above (full name) nomination
Signed: ______Membership No. ______Date ___ / ____ / ____ (signature of nominee)
24 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 …by Member No. 881215*
his was the plan: we were going to because only one message at a time gets you forget to load your FTP program into spend a few days in Melbourne, downloaded to the screen. Secondly, there your computer you are dead in the water. Ttravel along the Great Ocean Road, is no way to read your newsgroups. No worries, the world is full of internet spend a week in Adelaide and then come This time I was travelling in Australia access. Just lob into your local library and home via Broken Hill, all in three weeks. and was going to do it smarter. A new fix it up from there. Silly me: I should have No worries: last year we had been overseas product had just arrived: Telstra’s Easymail. remembered from, my experience as an for three months and the computer had What Easymail does is that it enables one “internet for oldies” trainer that libraries worked OK. to collect their e-mail anywhere in Australia have limited capacities in ancillary software. I am an investor who keeps in touch with for the cost of a local call – and to the same Increasingly frantic visits to and searches his investments, a magazine editor; I also number; magic. So I got hold of a copy of in libraries elicited the perception that FTP receive a lot of personal e-mail, much of it Easymail, loaded it into the computer, and is the secret program par excellence; even from overseas; and I also subscribe to dot.forwarded my e-mail from TIP to when I included computer stores (including newsgroups with which I wanted to keep in Easymail (for how to do this, see the TIP one so-called internet service provider!!) in touch during the trip. As it turned out, I Help pages). the Geelong area. almost couldn’t get my e-mail; it took a lot This is where matters started to unravel. To cut a long story short, thank you Petra of effort to get news; and I ended up having Easymail comes with fine print – which I at the PCUG Centre who responded to my to contact my broker by telephone because had not read! Easymail’s CD-Rom cover telephone call for help; and thank you to the internet wouldn’t work properly. states: Allan Mikkelson and to Owen Cook who So this is a catalogue of mistakes, how Using your personal easymail did the actual work of going into my TIP to avoid them and how to overcome them. I address you can collect your messages files and deleting the dot.forward program. hope it is helpful. anytime, anywhere in Australia from any PC I have placed the Telstra Easymail CR-Rom I travel with a Toshiba Libretto – a small loaded with easymail software. on the help-yourself table at the Centre. handheld computer about the size of a Psion This is simply not true, and on a number What that meant was that I was now or a large electronic organiser. I selected it of counts. First of all, my mobile telephone back to making long-distance telephone because it is a full Pentium machine (not service is provided by Optus. But Easymail calls back to TIP in Canberra in order to Windows CE like others of its size) which is not provided to Optus’s customers (thank download my mail and news. As daytime makes it more versatile. One of its main uses you, Telstra!). Secondly, Easymail will not STD is relatively expensive, my flexibility on a trip is that it stores the images that I receive message attachments. This was most of access was substantially reduced. This download from my digital camera. For e- inconvenient because much of my made the whole experience much less mail and news I use Microsoft’s Outlook investment e-mail takes the form of convenient. It normally takes me about a half Express. attachments such as end-of-day stock market hour to download my stuff, process the most At home, the Libretto is networked to results, reports and charts; also, several of immediately urgent material, check my my full-size computer and thus can access my e-mail correspondents have the habit of shares portfolio and brokers’ messages etc. the CD-Rom drive. On the road the Libretto forwarding information and even their main Assuming local telephone access, I had has only a floppy disk drive plus a modem messages in attachment form. Also, counted on doing this flexibly almost daily, card. This was to become significant. Easymail places a limit on the number of including some world-wide-web access. In the past, I had subscribed to Yahoo messages that can be received and sent (for Now that I was trying to do this at STD night Mail and had my regular e-mail forwarded no obvious reason). There may be other rates (from Youth Hostels) I was running from TIP to Yahoo (i.e. I had not told anyone limitations. I never got around to testing into peak time telephone access problems, I was on Yahoo; the mail came in to TIP as Easymail because it became quite clear that the costs were mounting, and severe per usual and then got forwarded to me). it would not provide for what I needed and I economies had to be exercised, including This works well, provided that, first, one is conclude (even while acknowledging that it just about forgetting about www access for prepared to find an internet source; and provided for free) that Easymail is an reason set out below. It certainly did not go secondly, that one’s mailbox does not unnecessarily degraded product designed to according to plan. overflow, in which case the receipt of mail maximise Telstra’s revenue at the expense Another unforseen complication was ceases and the mail starts to bounce, which of its customers. that, because my little Libretto is a couple can confuse the senders. Regrettably, these deficiencies became of years old, the copy of Internet Explorer There are two problems with receiving apparent only when I hit the road. I could originally loaded on it was about version your mail at Yahoo, or Hotmail or any of the not continue to use Easymail and had to 3.0. What I discovered, the first time I tried other World Wide Web sources. The first is revert to my normal Outlook Express. This to use it, is that versions this old just can’t that if one is receiving a large volume of mail is easy: one uses one’s FTP program to go cope with the modern security access this can be very time-consuming, because back into one’s personal files area at TIP and checking systems used by banks and by only one message at a time can be read; cancels the dot.forward program. If, like me, internet brokers. This was confirmed in
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 25 roadside telephone-booth conversations between insitutional employees and an The Internet Clinic alzheimer-ridden old fogey who couldn’t remember his telephone access codeword, Internet Clinics are normally held at the PCUG Centre, Northpoint Plaza because he had never envisaged having to Belconnen the first Saturday of each month 9.30am to 1pm. There is no cost use the telephone to make financial involved. transactions – the internet was going to take care of all that. As I understand it, it all has So if you (or another PCUG member you know of) are having problems you (or to do with the capacity of older programs to they) will be welcome to attend. It is suggested that you call the PCUG Centre deal with security cookies – way beyond me. on the day and check with the staffer that we are not overloaded before coming But in the absence of CD-Rom access there along. was no way I was going to be able to update To get a problem on your PC resolved it is essential that you bring all of the my stuff on the road; another reason to check following items with you: everything out before you leave town, to • PC and Monitor, plus all interconnecting cables make sure it’s all working. • Mouse One good thing about TIP: every time I • Keyboard dialled in over that three week period it was Modem there, and all was available even though in • many country areas the telephone line speed • Modem power supply was considerably slower. • Modem cables - from PC to modem Next time we’re doing it differently. I and from modem to telephone socket have bought 100 hours of Internet access • Modem and PC manuals & documentation from a mob called microplex • All of your software disks - (www.microplex.com.au) whose map of i.e Win3.1. or Windows95 disks/CD Australia indicates that it will provide local If you don't have a PC to "fix" but you want to get some guidance on some call access from all the places I expect to be particular aspect of using TIP, please feel free to come along and simply talk to over the next two months, in Far North us. Queensland. I’ll let you know how it goes. Clinics are not a free software/modem installation service. We do expect you to have made a reasonable attempt at getting the software installed & working. * The author wishes to remain anonymous, in order to disguise his [email protected] obvious ineptitude : Practical small system development Context Training & Consulting Pty Ltd ACN 008 643 703 - Established 1988
üMicrosoft Access development üUp-sizing to SQL Server üSupport for existing systems
E-mail [email protected] Free telephone support Phone 02 6287 1500 to PCUG members.* Fax 02 6287 1508 * Offer does not apply where commercially inappropriate
26 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 ngband is more a way of life than a object of the game is to create a ‘character’ …review by Andrew Clayton game. So saying, it is still a game. which has various attributes, and you (the AThis article attempts to skim the player) guide your character through a series of Anne McCaffrey) and Mangband, the surface of what the game is about, how it is of encounters in a computer generated multiplayer version of Angband (somewhat played, and what features are available in dungeon, trying to improve your character’s experimental). the game. A real review could take tens of ‘stats’, and possessions and abilities. Your The world of Angband is split into two pages of closely packed text, obviously not aim is to work towards wiping out the modes – the uppermost area has towns, suited for Sixteen Bits. So this will be a biggest most fearsome computer generated forests, lakes, shrines and outposts, as well kind of overview of the game, glibly monsters that the designers could describe. as entrances to the cavernous dungeon mentioning this and that and the other, but All of this is achieved without the use below. The other mode is the dungeon, with an onus upon the reader (that’s you) to of sophisticated graphics. There are only which consists of randomly generated levels, delve deeper into the world of Angband, to text descriptions and on-screen iconic with each level having rooms, corridors, find out more about the references I make. representations of your character, the items lying around, traps, and of course, A long time ago, Gary Gygax (among dungeon level you’re in, and the items and monsters. There are a hundred ‘levels’ of others) created a game called Dungeons and monsters currently visible to you on the dungeon, each level is fifty feet (or about 15 Dragons (D&D). It consisted of some rule screen. That is to say, it isn’t high tech metres), so the bottom-most level is about a books, and was played with pen, paper, dice, computer gaming. mile (5,000 feet) underground. and a sense of imagination, usually in groups Early Rogue and Moria versions were Your character is what interacts with the of four or more people. D&D touched an simplistic in the extreme. Angband is an world, and you get to choose what kind of entire generation of game players, and is extension of these earlier games, and is quite character you’re going to ‘run’. Your major now just another part of society, but there horribly complicated. There are versions of choices are sex (Male or Female), race (30 was a time when it was considered Angband that use graphics to represent choices, including human, half-orc, vampire, outrageous, and Role Playing Games were information, instead of just letters and zombie, etc), class (11 choices such as considered to be the mad twitterings of a ASCII symbols, using the TK (ToolKit) warrior, mage, monk, mindcrafter), after this bunch of nerds and geeks. language, and graphical tiles. But I won’t the computer rolls ‘virtual dice’ in various The hassle of D&D was getting together go into the details. ways, to come up with your character enough like-minded people to actually do There are many variants of Angband. statistics, including age, height, weight, anything. D&D is a perfect game for The variant I’m familiar with is Zangband, status, hit-points, spell-points, strength, computers. The game is rule based, turn which has additional features brought in intelligence, wisdom, dexterity, constitution, based, and there are squillions of pieces of from Roger Zelazny’s Amber series charisma, as well as a dozen more various information that the computer can (weapons and monsters). Zangband is a lot skills and abilities. Base skills are modified comfortably track, instead of having to use more complex than generic Angband. There according to your race and your class, so the a pen and paper. are about 20 major variants of Angband, number of possible characters is very large In the depths of some computer lab at including Pernband (based on the writings indeed (many trillions of combinations). some university, the history is available on the web, someone created a D&D single player computer game, called Rogue. Rogue in turn spawned Moria. From one of the information files included in Angband: First came “VMS Moria”, by Robert Alan Koeneke (1985). Then came “Umoria” (Unix Moria), by James E. Wilson (1989). Details about the history of the various flavors of “moria”, the direct ancestor to Angband, can be found elsewhere, and a note from Robert Alan Koeneke is included in this file. Note that “moria” has been ported to a variety of platforms, and has its own newsgroup, and its own fans. In 1990, Alex Cutler and Andy Astrand, with the help of other students at the University of Warwick, created Angband 1.0 So what is Rogue/Moria/Angband? Well, it’s a Role Playing Game (RPG) A shot of the town in ZangbandTK, showing some shops (doorways) - my character is the one in with the computer as the Game Master. The the middle of the screen. The lighter squares are the extent of my characters visibility.
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 27 Once you’ve rolled your character, you’re Angband has various ASCII symbols whatever. The level generator can (and will) plonked into the middle of a town. The main representing walls, doors etc. Dungeon throw anything against you, including ‘out town has a number of shops, including an levels are almost always dark. That’s why of depth’ monsters which are hugely more inn (food, drink), armoury (shields, caps, it’s a good idea to buy a lamp and some oil difficult to kill than the normal monsters on helmets, boots, gloves, body armour), when you’re in the town. When you first go that level. weaponry (swords, pikes, axes, arrows, in any level within the dungeon, you can only For each monster your character kills, bolts, crossbows), General Store (ale, food, see where your light shows, and everything the character will be rewarded with lanterns, shovels, picks, cloaks), The Black else is black, so you don’t know how big experience points. The first few kills will Market (very expensive magically enhanced the level actually is until you’ve explored it. probably reward the character with many items), and the magic shop (potions, As you walk around (explore) the map points, and after a certain number of spellbooks, the alchemy shop (scrolls ‘remembers’ where you’ve been on the level. experience points, the character will go up potions). There are various guild buildings The map is done quite well, with a level. Level raising is where you will get with ‘special offers’ for various character representations of threats and goodies, and a chance to gain more skills (commonly classes, libraries when you can ‘study’ an indication of how far you can ‘see’ (even known as ‘stats’). As you go up levels, you monsters, the casino where you can gamble inside previously explored areas, you can get more and more able to wield better your gold. Ah, I forgot to mention the money only ‘see’ so far, 10 paces or so). weapons, cast more potent spells, and – all the things you can buy cost you money, and money is represented by gold-pieces. It’s easier to think of gold as a credit card, since you can carry as much money as you find. All items have a weight associated with them. If you’re a weak character (race or class characteristic) then you can less easily carry things, and if you attempt to carry too much , you slow down. So whilst there isn’t anything to stop you buying a 15kilo sword, it’s going to be practically impossible to run away from monsters if you’re over your encumbrance limit. So, you create your character, wander around town and wisely spend the few gold pieces you start with to equip yourself. There A representation of a level in ZangbandTK. are various ‘town characters’ that wander around. Most of them are either annoying, Within a few turns in the dungeon you generally make dispatching the more or want to pick your pocket/kill you. Some will come up against monsters. It might be mundane dungeon inhabitants that much of them may offer you information, but a giant earwig, or a toothy rat, or anything easier. Unfortunately as your character goes mostly it’s best to avoid them or kill them at all. Monsters can attack you in various up levels, the experience point reward for J . Movement is via the keyboard – you ways, including (but not limited to) biting, killing monsters goes down, usually by a tell your character to move in a particular squashing, oozing, stinging, bashing, massive factor. As a level 1 paladin, killing direction with the numeric keypad. Various crushing, gassing, clawing, ‘touching’, a giant white centipede might score you 100 keys tell your character to do various things poisoning, and many other forms of experience points. As a level 2 paladin, – eat food, drink potions, cast spells, pick interaction. It’s very simple to die in killing the same monster may only get you up items, wear armour, use weapons, pick Angband, and once your character dies, it 12.5 experience points. As a level 10 locks, open locked doors, run in a particular is erased. You have to start again from paladin, only .2 experience points will be direction, or manipulate items. Each move scratch, roll a new character, equip it, and awarded for killing that particular kind of you do is a turn. Nothing will happen until try again. The first time you play Angband monster. So you can’t just wander around you’ve done your turn, so there isn’t any time you die a lot. You get really bored with getting better and better at killing the same penalty for thinking about a situation. You rolling new characters and equipping them, monsters – you have to go down to lower can play as ‘quickly’ or as slowly as you and going into the dungeon and being killed levels, and kill tougher monsters. The care to. by a pesky bat. You have to learn techniques higher the level of your character, the more Once you’ve explored the town and that keep your character alive, including how experience points you will need to go up to equipped yourself, you find the dungeon to use weapons, spells, items, or even the the next level. So it gets exponentially more entrance, and go down to the first level. architecture within the dungeon, as aids to difficult to gain levels (thus stats) as you play Dungeon levels can be big or small. keeping the character alive. Going into a the game. Usually they are quite large. The entire map room that is full of green slimes, when you’re The addictiveness of ‘just one more level’ representation spreading over many a level 1 character, is probably a bad move. is the key to this game. Whilst it can be ‘screens’. The map in ZangbandTK is So don’t do that! Running away is a viable horribly frustrating to have your character graphical, and shows you walls, doors, alternative to having your character get get killed at the beginning of the game, once items, monsters, whereas normal generic toasted/spiked/frozen/splattered/stabbed or you’ve built your character up, and equipped
28 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 it with bigger and better items, survived a few trips down into the dungeon levels, it becomes much more fun. I haven’t mentioned a heap of things about the game – the spells, the scrolls, the entire Nhan Tran’s Now Official ‘identification’ thing (where you start out TIP Web Help Pages knowing very little about an item when you pick it up, and have to work out what it does http://www.tip.net.au/tip/help either by using it, or by spending gold pieces to get someone to ‘identify’ it for your character). There are various potions, artifacts with powers, special abilities, • What's new mutations, psychic powers to be gained. History of changes to TIP help page There are various debilitating ways the • TIP Contact Details dungeon generator can maim your character, Phone numbers, domain, proxies, including sleep, dizziness, paralysis, email addresses poisoning, radioactivity, confusion, • Useful TIP information teleportation, etc. There are staffs, wands, Time allocation, usage statistics rods, all with special abilities. Mostly you • TIP documents won’t know until you try (and if you get a 10 turns will teleport you back to town. Agreement, Charging Scheme, wand of summon monster, drop it as soon Acceptable Use Policy, Access Be sure to have scrolls of recall at all Application as you find out). There are rings, gloves, times. Be aware that scrolls in your • InternetFAQ boots, robes, leather armor, chainmail, plate- posession can be ‘burnt’ by monsters, mail, helms, orbs, magic swords, enchanted Answers to the Frequently Asked and money or items can be pinched by Questions about the Internet: what is arrows. The levels may have gems thieves/monsters, plus items can be the Internet, what you can do, embedded in the walls (use a pick to dig damaged, destroyed or even cursed. netiquette them out), or secret doors/passages. For a free game, Angband is an amazing • TIP help FAQ Each level has stairways that go up or down. piece of work, created by hundreds of • Answers to the Frequently Asked Once your character leaves a level it is lost different programmers incorporating Questions about various problems forever. You might go to the same level of thousands of suggestions from people in other people may have had with The the dungeon many times, but each time, it Internet Project; your problem may not the Angband newsgroup. be a new one is a different map! Unique artifacts might appear on a level, and you will get a ‘feeling’ I’ve only touched on what the program • ‘How-to’ documents about the level (“you have a superb feeling offers, but this is about as much as I can How to set up and use various write without boring people to tears. programs needed to make the most of about this level”). If you leave the level your Internet account. before finding the unique artifact (which will Angband’s disk footprint is relatively small (most installations are less than a couple • Glossary always have great value) then you will lose Translating acronyms, computer that artifact; they only appear once. So of megabytes), and can run on almost any hardware (386 computers handle Angband jargon, 'netese and emoticons like ;-) exploration of each and every level you visit in plain English. is almost always required. perfectly well). I encourage you to explore the world of Angband, and perhaps instead It should be obvious that going down of playing mindless Solitaire, go on a quest levels involves having to go back up or two, and wipe out the dreaded levels to get back to town, cash in the cyberdemons, or the bunches of gaze- TIP Technical Information stuff you’ve found in the dungeon, and hounds braying for your head. re-equip your character with better armour, I hope I haven’t put people off with the spells, etc. What isn’t obvious is where Domain (PCUG) pcug.org.au apparent complexity of the game. Once the stairs are (either down OR up). When Domain (AUUG) auug.org.au you start playing, things become a lot you enter a level, the stairs up will DNS server 203.10.76.34 normally not be where you appear. So clearer. There are many resources on the Mail server mailhost.Domain you might have to search the entire level Internet, for people to work out about News Server newshost.Domain just to find the stairs to get back up one Angband, including Angband’s home ftp server ftp.Domain level. When you’re 12 levels deep, and (http://www.phial.com/angband/) or WWW server www.Domain you’re running out of oil for your lamp, look in the newsgroup: you can be sure that the random number rec.games.roguelike.angband generator will place the UP stairs in the : most inaccessible or monster-infested part of each level. Fortunately there is a scroll you can buy which you activate, and with
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 29 wisted Logic, pinched from I always try to do things in chronological
http://www.auburn.edu/ order. …by Andrew Clayton T ~piperak/complex.html A plateau is the highest form of flattery. Some people say that I’m superficial, but I have a twin brother; he’s identical, but I’m A story about Everybody, that’s just on the surface. not Somebody, Anybody and Nobody On one hand, I’m indecisive; but on the I can’t define irony; but, I know it when I other, I’m not. see it This is a story about four people: Everybody, If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s I keep telling myself that I am a pathological Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. intolerance. liar, but I am not sure if I believe it There was an important job to be done and The world’s full of apathy, but I don’t care. Reality is a big, nasty, vicious dragon, but I Everybody was asked to do it. Perspective is in the eye of the beholder. don’t believe in dragons. Prejudiced people are all alike. To understand recursion, you must first Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. understand recursion. Anybody could have done it, but What is the probability that something will Nobody did it. happen according to the odds? I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous! Those who judge others will burn in Hell! If you believe in telekenesis, raise my hands. Somebody got angry about that because it Exaggeration is not all it’s cracked up to Exaggeration is a billion times worse than was Everybody’s job. be. understatement. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Evil is not all bad. ❇❈❊❋❁❄❅❉✻✽❘❃❖❂❍✌✎✏ Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn’t I’m still not sure if I understand ambiguity. do it. J Always be on the lookout for conspicuousness (or, It’s hard to tell if someone is inconspicous). There’s no such thing as nonexistence. Cooperation can only be reached if we work together. As far as I’m concerned, treachery will sometimes bring loyalty into question. He doesn’t have much of a reputation, or so I’ve heard. I disagree with unanimity. I have my doubts about disbelief. Avoid Alliteration. Always. Prepostions are not words to end sentences with. One should never generalise. Avoid cliches like the plague. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake. Profanity sucks.
30 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 elcome to Winter. In the cold time if, for example, it loses (or gains), 1 Bushell …by Victor climes of Calcularia, they suffer minute a day.) A clever grandfather Wsome nasty ills. This winter, adjusted his clock to give the correct time indeterminate. This gives a total of N^2 - 70% of Calcularians have been laid low at least twice a day, while running at the 2N + 3 days or 83 days when N = 10. by The Lurgi, 75% have been bed-ridden normal rate. Assuming he was not able to (On the 82nd day, it could definitely be with The Najers, 80% are overcome with set it perfectly (a reasonable assumption), stated that he was not in the first city.) The Spon and 85% are tormented by The how did he do it? Both the poorest and the richest group Scringe. What percent, at least, of the What property is common to the planet should prefer averaging from the top population are plagued with all four Uranus, the sport of rowing, one other of down. The rich would wish to be averaged ailments? this month’s puzzles and one other of this with the second richest group before the Calcularians enjoy a 3-day weekend. In month’s puzzles? latter had been reduced by the averaging. one particular family, a teenager wants to Determine the next three terms of the The poor would prefer to be averaged with go out on two consecutive nights of a sequence 12, 1, 1, 1, … . What about 1, the second poorest group after the latter weekend. (Sounds familiar!) Permission 12, 1, 1, 1 … ? had been increased by the averaging. for each night is obtained (or denied) by Just last week we celebrated our nth One of Charlie’s children must have been asking either Father or Mother. She knows wedding anniversary (where n is an less than 4 years old. that Father is more likely to grant integer between 1 and 50) and so to my Tabulate all factors of 96 in sets of three: permission. (Sounds familiar!) However, if wife Annita I happily dedicate the next 24 16 12 16 12 she asks the same parent on two conundrum. 886 consecutive days the answers are never the When first the marriage knot was tied 46834 same two days running. Whom should she between my wife and me, 644 ask first? My age did hers as much exceed as three 11122 It is well known (?) that a stopped clock times three does three. 234 gives the exact time twice a day, while a When six good years and half six years we Totals 29 23 21 21 18 normally running clock will not be exactly man and wife had been, 16 15 14 right more than once over several months. Her age to mine compared the same as Now, Ted obviously knew the number of (It’s an interesting problem to work out twelve to just fourteen. the house. The fact that he was still in just how often a clock will show the right How old d’you make the two of us? You’ll doubt shows that the ages must have do it in your head. totalled 21. But, if the ages had been 16, 3 How old d’you say we must have been the and 2, there would have been only one happy day we wed? child 4 years previously. Hence, the ages Congratulations to Paul Free for his must have been 12, 8 and 1 years. solutions to the May puzzles and his Say Jake painted 3 lamp posts on the West interesting reminiscences. side and x on the East side, while Bill did In Calcularia, the simplest method of y on the West side and z on the East side. determining who is a Dissembler, Each side had the same number of posts, Soothsayer or Diplomat is to ask the same so x + z = y + 3. Jake painted twice as question twice. “ Are you a Diplomat?”. many as Bill, so x + 3 = 2y + 2z. Two “No’s” would be a Soothsayer, two Subtracting the first equation from the “Yes’s” would uncover a Dissembler and second, we have 3 - z = y + 2z - 3; whence a “No” and a “Yes” would mean that you y + 3z = 6. Neither y nor z can be zero; are talking to a Diplomat. hence y = 3 and z = 1 with x = 5. So Bill Each lap of the cities after the first painted 4 lamp posts. :
contributes one degree of uncertainty to the salesman’s location. If there are N ○○○○○○○○○○○○ cities, N - 2 laps of N - 1, plus the first lap of N, plus one more city of the (N-1)st lap Send your replys (or gifts and/or will be necessary in order to make the bribes) to Vic at: salesman’s whereabouts completely [email protected]
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 31 OFTWARE S LIBRARY …by Phil Trudinger
Files from CD-ROM Vol 7 No 5, CDR910* Phil Trudinger Ph: 6248 8939 (3965435 bytes) (11am-6pm) May 1999, category Utilities CD-ROM Runner (32-bit) 9.10 automatically Email: [email protected] NEW AND UPDATED identifies a CD-ROM when it is loaded and WINDOWS FILES allows the user to run the application(s) which have been previously entered into the Every month the library receives several (Programs marked with an asterisk are CD-ROM Library. Custom passwords, titles, hundred files on CD-ROM from the 32 bit and will not run under Windows 3.1) descriptions, sound/music files and icon/ Public software Library in Houston, graphics may be entered for each application. Texas. Each CD features a different AUDIO Reg Fee $20 category of files (eg, Games, Utilities, POPFIX11 (222856 bytes) Communications etc) as well as a batch ACID12* (2156576 bytes) of new and updated files. It is from the Popfix 1.01 speedily and effectively removes Acid WAV 1.2 is an advanced sound editor latter that the files described in these pops and clicks from wave file recordings of and synthesiser featuring an intuitive user news-letters are selected (NOTE: all are vinyl records and similar sources. It is easily interface, visual scripting and many powerful ZIP files). configurable to optimise its performance for synthesis and editing functions. Requires The CD-ROMs themselves are not various different types of sound material. Reg Win95/NT, and a Pentium recommended. available to members but the latest 7 are Fee $30 AUS Reg Fee $45 on the Bulletin Board and are available for downloading. The text files, CD1 AUDIO32* (3503348 bytes) BUSINESS/HOME OFFICE through 7, in Area 1 of the Board are the Audio Librarian 2000 3.0 helps organise and monthly file lists. manage an audio collection on any type 2DAY62* (4749996 bytes) The BBS and CD-ROMs can be accessed media. Find any selection, by title, artist, Visual Day Planner 6.2 is a customisable using a communications program such as media, file# or any other field using the calendar program for Win95 that provides Telix, or via the Internet with Netscape. Query Wizard. Other features include import/ scheduling, events, memos and However, in the latter case the local sites export capabilities, the ability to print a wide appointments. Other features include must be cleared first by entering variety of reports, label printing for cassettes WYSIWYG printing capabilities, MIDI and ‘pcug.org.au,tip.net.au,auug.org.au’ in the or CDs, and more. Requires Win95/98/NT. WAV alarm support, drag and drop support, ‘no proxy for’ box of the Proxy option. Reg Fee $36.95 and much more. Reg Fee $29.95 Now the URL ftp://pcugbbs.pcug.org.au/ will display a list of the CD-ROM and hard disk directories. Note the terminal forward slash: if this is omitted, or the local sites are not cleared, only the hard disk information will appear. Also note that the trick does not work with MS- Explorer.
Reminder
Most CD-ROM programs are Shareware. A reasonable time (generally one month) is allowed for evaluation, but if you continue to use a program beyond this time you should comply with the author’s conditions that usually require payment of a registration fee. Bear in mind that this is the only way by which an author receives any reward for his/her efforts. Unless otherwise stated registration fees are in US dollars.
32 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 ADC* (779781 bytes) Active Desktop Calendar 1.0 is a fully customisable personal information manager which runs in the System Tray and is displayed on your desktop wallpaper. Requires Win9x. Reg Fee $14.95 ANYPIM* (1302163 bytes) Anywhere PIM 1.0 is a small, fast and intelligent Personal Information Manager designed to be used on as many computers as you want. It include an address book, calendar with alarms, stopwatch, timer, yearly Planner, and more. It runs in the System Tray and is easy to customise. It will update your data whenever you need, automatically taking care of new, deleted and changed data. Requires Win9x. Reg Fee $19.90 IT32* (834873 bytes) ItsTime! (32-bit) 2.8b is an easy to use alarm list manager for Win95. Features include support for an unlimited number of alarms, SYMSEL2 (396907 bytes) FAX repeating alarms, the ability to set alarms to Symbol Selector 2.0 allows you to easily ring on selected days of the week as well as FAX_N903 (947867 bytes) select and copy symbols from TrueType fonts at specific times, WAV sound support, and that are of the ‘symbol’ variety (such as FaxMail for Windows 9.03 adds faxing more. Reg Fee $20 Wingdings and Symbols) to the Windows capabilities to all Windows applications. PML32* (903481 bytes) Clipboard. Reg Fee $0 Features include an auto-print on receive Personal Mailing List (32-bit) 1.2c is a high- option, background operation, custom cover GAMES quality mailing-list management program pages, a fast fax viewer, timed sends, logging aimed at personal or small business use. of all past and future fax events, and much APOLO132 (1317707 bytes) Features include support for an unlimited more. Reg Fee $55 number of name/address records, the ability Apollo 13 Lunar Lander 2.0 challenges you to print on all standard Avery mailing labels, FAX_X903* (926459 bytes) to guide your Lunar Excursion Module over the ability to Import records from DBF 32bit Fax 9.03 is a complete faxing package and through increasingly challenging lunar terrain to reach the moon-base. There are (dBase) and ASCII files, and more. Reg Fee for Win95/NT. This allows printing from any program that can print. Features include a seven levels of increasingly difficult surfaces $19.95 and subterr-anean landscapes, and you may fax/modem tester, support for timed sends, QRYER40 (6023076 bytes) customise the difficulty. Reg Fee $7 back-ground fax printing, and more. Reg Fee QUERYer 4.0 allows you to create and $55 BINFUN2A (546936 bytes) manage Jet databases, tables and queries. JTF32* (1219026 bytes) Bingo Fun lets you play Bingo on your comp- This includes support for Access, Lotus, uter. The computer can call numbers for you - Dbase, FoxPro, Paradox, Excel, SQL Server Just The Fax (32-bit) 2.8g easy to use you control the speed of the calling and personal fax program with a WYSIWYG fax and other ODBC external databases. Reg Fee decide whether you want the numbers to be and cover sheet editor. Features include the $95 spoken (requires a sound card). You can play ability to create unlimited cover sheet SM28E32* (1619233 bytes) one of thirteen different pre-defined Bingo templates, the ability to spell check fax doc- variations (or define your own game) using SuperMail for Windows (32-bit) 2.8e is a uments and cover sheets, an unlimited phone up to four cards on the computer screen. Reg mailing list package for Win95 that allows number database, and more. Reg Fee $20 Fee $9.99 you to maintain an unlimited number of FONTS BPUZZ32* (577842 bytes) records. It prints labels, envelopes, letters, B-Puzzle for Windows (32-bit) 2.0 is a and reports. Other features include the ability FNT_VIEW (149945 bytes) combination sliding puzzle and jigsaw puzzle to import/export dBase and ASCII records, that allows you to use your own BMP and zipcode checker, duplicate checker, and Font View allows you to easily view all the fonts installed on your system. Reg Fee $40 JPEG files. You can create puzzles from 9 to more. Reg Fee $39 400 pieces. Requires Win9x. Reg Fee $10 TD32* (669530 bytes) FONTCOMP* (818931 bytes) Font Compare 1.0 allows you to view fonts CHECKERS (1189303 bytes) Things To Do (32-bit) 2.8b is an extremely on your system according to their style and Checkers International 1.1 allows you to play easy to use task manager for Win95. You can weight. You can compare your own sample nine different checkers variations from keep track of an unlimited number of tasks, text in up to four different windows. This is throughout Europe, including Alquerque (the filter tasks by key word and date range, and an excellent way to assist in the selection of oldest living checkers variation) and Polish print task lists with several options. Reg Fee just the right font for your needs. Requires Draughts (played on a ten-by-ten board). $19.95 Win95/98/NT. Reg Fee $19 Requires Win9x. Reg Fee $20
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 33 y
browse through images, bookmark them, and perform various commands such as copy, move and edit between different albums. Reg Fee $39.95 IA4BW95* (1081641 bytes) Icoholics Anonymous 4.b is a collection of over 2000 icons for Win95/98. Reg Fee $0 TVIEW18* (354891 bytes) TruView 1.8 is an image viewer for Win95. It allows you to easily view, preview, delete or copy BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX and TGA images using a file-open type dialog box interface. Reg Fee $20
MISCELLANEOUS
BIBLE5* (11580708 bytes) Holy Bible King James Authorised Version 5.1.1 is a comprehensive study Bible with 12,000 topics, parables, prophecies, maps, and book marks. Also included are Nave’s, Eastons, Matthew Henry Commentary, Torry’s and Hitchcocks Bible names dict- ionary. Requires Win9x. Reg Fee $0 DIGJIM* (4497391 bytes) anywhere. Fortunately, you can move parts of FM332 (5178829 bytes) Digging Jim 1.01 is a challenging game the maze. The tricky part is visualising how where you try to collect diamonds from a cave the map will look when you rearrange things Family Matters allows you to maintain your while avoiding falling rocks and deadly in the most efficient manner. This can be as detailed family genealogy information using a creatures. You are given a quota and a easy as Tic-Tac-Toe or as hard as chess, and Lineage- and Event- Linked Relational specific amount of time to collect it. The is appropriate for all ages. Reg Fee $19 Database powered by the Microsoft Jet excellent graphics and sound effects make Database Engine. It tracks individuals, this a fun game for the whole family. GRAPHICS families, spouses, children, and inter- Requires Win95/98/NT and DirectX 3.0+. relationships. It can also generate a Reg Fee $20 3DVIEW (4988732 bytes) professional-quality web site for you, using MJONGG70* (6478401 bytes) 3D View 3.0 is a powerful 3D CAD/CAM your genealogical data. A sample database is included to help get you started. Reg Fee $25 Moraff’s MoreJongg 7.00 is a 32-bit implem- viewer. Features include native CATIA(tm) entation of the ancient oriental tile game. support, the ability to view multiple parts in GATOR32* (2020673 bytes) Features include traditional and 288-tile different file formats, real-time cross section- Gator Edit 32 2.0.9 is a powerful 32-bit text layouts, the ability to use your own images on ing, the ability to annotate 3D models with editing package with drag and drop toolbars, tiles, save/recall game options, and more. multimedia notes, and more. Reg Fee $120 built in spell-checking, literal and absolute Requires 386+, VGA, and 4MB RAM. Reg A1WALL1 (1899471 bytes) block fills, and much more. Reg Fee $10 Fee $? A-1 Wallpaper Pro 1.0 will display an MCB30* (4520480 bytes) MYSTO732* (939490 bytes) unlimited amount of your images, photos or MCBase 3.0 is a relational database system Dr. Mysto 7.32 is an artificial intelligence/ graphics as your desktop wallpaper with your for the Win95/98/NT that helps manage educational game where you think of a word own captions. The easy to use interface music collections, regardless of the media on and the computer asks questions to determine makes customising your wallpaper a snap. which the music is recorded. A powerful your word. If it cannot guess your word, it Reg Fee $14.95 User Report Designer is included, with SQL will ask you to supply information to help it ALLNVIEW (1585711 bytes) capabilities. Reg Fee $30 ‘learn’. Requires Win95. Reg Fee $0 ALLnView 2.7.8 is a graphics viewer that MUSPUB32* (958414 bytes) PASSTIME (2318151 bytes) automatically re-sizes image files to fit your Music Publisher 32 is a professional quality PassTime Puzzler is a terrific jigsaw that will screen if they are larger than your viewable Music DTP system. It is not a sequencer, challenge your sense of depth perception. The window. Features include slide-show rather it is a tool for professional-level music- game uses pieces of different sizes and capabilities, a variety of file management ians who need to be able to print out very shapes, and the images distort and rotate. You functions, and support for JPG, WMF, GIF, high-quality music. Like a word-processor it can use any pictures you may have for the BMP and ICO formats. Reg Fee $19 relies on your abilities to produce correct puzzle image. A unique ‘Grab’ feature allows FA30EVAL (2839215 bytes) output. In fact if you wish to break the rules you to screen-capture anything on the screen. FlipAlbum 3.0 allows you to view and edit of music to produce certain effects, it will not Sample pictures are included. Reg Fee $12 images resident in a folder by automatically complain. Requires Win9x. Reg Fee $130 PSTG103 (1780968 bytes) creating a virtual photo album. The photo RBTSETUP (4653036 bytes) Thingk! 1.03 at first glance this looks like a album created works like a real one, with Rebate Tracker 1.0.0 provides an easy way to maze, but the labyrinth doesn’t seem to go pages that can be flipped. The album lets you keep track of the rebates you send away for. It
34 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 maintains a detailed database, and a statis- output options including frames. Thumbnail generally improves your mail system. tics box can quickly show you how much your picture files to reduce memory usage Requires Win95/98/NT. Reg Fee $13.50 money you have coming back. Reg Fee $8.95 and transfer time. You can easily save, open S1V200EN (1806877 bytes) and merge lists of files for future use or make RCKP60* (6176955 bytes) Style One 2.00 allows you to create Web additions. Requires Win9x and the VB5 run- The Recipe Keeper 6.0 is an easy-to-use pages with the latest features of today’s times. Reg Fee $? system for filing recipes. It will organise all browsers. Stylise your texts and images. your recipes under categories. Pictures may CPG16 (2418985 bytes) Pinpoint exact locations. With the use of be added for each recipe. Requires Win9x Cool Page 1.6 is an extremely easy-to-use scripting-languages you can even create and the VB6 run-times. Reg Fee $5 package for creating web pages. It uses a dynamic content. Reg Fee $15 WDWEB16A* (4470132 bytes) unique ‘drag and drop’ approach, which SPDML300* (939324 bytes) allows you to place objects anywhere on your WordWeb 1.6a is a powerful thesaurus/ SpreadMsg Lite 3.00 automatically captures page and easily move them to any location. dictionary for Win95/NT. Features include a cell data values from your workbook or Reg Fee $28 template for use with Word, over 100,000 spreadsheet application, and/or streaming synonym sets, over 120,000 root words, and FTPCTLR* (4803752 bytes) Internet-delivered real-time financial data more. Reg Fee $18-$25 TransSoft’s FTP Control 3.08 is a powerful delivered by Quote Com. Then, it turns them WISDOM52 (1561892 bytes) FTP client for Win95/NT. Features include a into Email messages, or wireless messages scheduling wizard that will let you easily delivered to pagers, PCS/GSM digital Wisdom of the Ages - Windows 5.2 is an schedule uploads and downloads, and a cellular phones, and other devices. The electronic book of quotes, sayings and ideas. Windows Explorer-like interface that will let messages are formed according to your rules It contains 6,561 carefully selected thoughts you drag and drop files as well as rename and content specifications. You can trigger from over 1,000 of history’s greatest them both on your machine and on an FTP message delivery based on rules such as any American, European and Asian minds. server. It can also resume aborted file trans- change in data value, data above or below a Features include a handy toolbar interface, fers, provided that the server you’re down- specific numeric level, textual content match, colourful iconic subject menus, word loading from supports it. Reg Fee $20 periodic time interval, and more. Requires searching capabilities, custom fonts and text Win95/98/NT. Reg Fee $119 colours, subject finder, and more. You can HTMASC32* (688415 bytes) also add, edit, and delete entries. Reg Fee HTMASC (32-bit) 3.0 instantly converts URLORG21 (176050 bytes) $49-$79 HTM files to TXT files. Features include URL Organiser 2 2.1.1 is a simple utility for support for multiple file processing, the storing and organising large collections of INTERNET ability to convert special characters, drag and URLs. It offers an innovative, intuitive and drop support, dual-window view, and much highly-customisable interface. Each URL is ADBST108* (1542932 bytes) more. Reg Fee $25 no more than three mouse clicks away, plus AdBuster Rising Newsreader 1.08 is a there’s a quick search facility. Reg Fee $15 POPITW* (1155343 bytes) powerful newsreader with an HTML view WEBGURU (2016007 bytes) screen that decodes and displays most graphic POPIt Mail Notifier PLUS! 1.896 is an easy Web Image Guru is a state-of-the-art image files in line on your screen. Features include to use mail notification program that can optimisation tool that easily connects digital an extensive ‘killfile’ filter that blocks large monitor multiple mailboxes for new cameras, scanners, and your favourite image amounts of advertising, a sender lockout messages, can send mail messages, and editing tools to the World Wide Web. It can filter, a built-in address file, and more. Requires Win95/98/NT. Reg Fee $19 ADBST110 (1548888 bytes) AdBuster Rising 1.10 helps filter out annoying advertisements from news-group articles. Reg Fee $19 AIPICX20* (1039521 bytes) AI Picture Explorer 2.0.33 is an integrated Viewer and Explorer that creates Instant Web Pages and HTML image catalogues. It quickly displays thumbnailed directories and tracks images on CD-ROM and removable disks (eg ZIP drives) via HTML thumbnails of JPG, PNG, BMP, PCX, TIF and TGA files. Its flexible, easy-to-use interface runs multiple copies and can mimic My Computer or Windows Explorer. Requires Win9x. Reg Fee $34.95 APICS201* (671874 bytes) Ace Pics 2.01 allows you to index picture files on your hard drive into HTML documents. You can select multiple files from different directories and choose from several
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 35 be run as an Adobe Photoshop plug-in Various tools are provided on the top toolbar screen, as many as you want, move them module or as stand-alone application. for placing text and drawing graphical items around, add or move your text with different Requires Win9x. Reg Fee $39 on the envelope drawing canvas. This gives font styles and effects, play some sound and you complete control over the look and feel of much more. Preview and test your work and PRINTING your envelopes. Reg Fee $14.95 then just click on Make SS option and VL32D* (1303413 bytes) your_name.scr file will be ready for use. Reg EZM16V31 (1006283 bytes) Fee $29.90 EZM32V31* (1355719 bytes) Visual Labels for Windows 3.2d is an easy- to-use label design and printing package BLOONEYS* (1688524 bytes) Easy Mail 3.1 allows you to write a note, which allows you to create an unlimited Ballooneys Screensaver is an interactive memo or letter, and then fax it, print an variety of labels using text, pictures, boxes, screen saver that challenges you to try and envelope, or print a label with just a few ovals, lines, counters, and patterns in any pop all of the balloons by clicking them with mouse clicks. Reg Fee $35 font, colour, or rotation. This includes a your mouse. If you choose not to interact, a POLFF32* (450308 bytes) comprehensive database of Avery label and nail will emerge at the bottom of the screen to do it for you. You can adjust the speed business card templates. Requires Win95/ Page ‘O Labels for File Folders (32-bit) 2.8b settings to heighten or lessen the challenge, NT. Reg Fee $20 allows you to easily create one or more pages and sound options are available. Requires of file folder labels. This works with all WINLABEL (2874172 bytes) Win9x. Reg Fee $10 Avery file folder labels and all Laserjet, WinLabel 2.1 is an easy-to-use label-printing CLCARS10 (832358 bytes) Deskjet, Inkjet, and other sheet-fed printers. package for Windows. Features include Reg Fee $14.95 Classic Cars Lite Screensaver 1.00 displays sizeable and stretchable text, graphics beautiful photographs of classic cars on your POLML32* (449861 bytes) import, bar code support, the ability to merge Win95 desktop. Reg Fee $14.95 Page O’ Labels for Mailing Labels (32-bit) from text or database files, and more. It CREATA3* (1886287 bytes) 2.8b allows you to easily create one or more comes with all Avery sheets predefined or pages of mailing labels. This works with all you may define your own. Reg Fee $50-$150 Creata Screen Saver 3.0 allows you to float Avery mailing labels and with all Laserjet, WPSETUP* (432123 bytes) an unlimited amount of (JPEG, JIF, GIF, BMP or DIB) images gracefully about your Deskjet, Inkjet, and other sheet-fed printers. WPrinter 1.5a allows you to easily change the screen in Win95. The easy to use interface Reg Fee $14.95 default printer in Win95. Reg Fee $17 makes customising your screen saver a snap. VBC32D* (1444121 bytes) Reg Fee $15-$20 SCREENSAVERS Visual Business Cards 3.2d is a business card ERTHSP10* (724006 bytes) design and printing program with a APLMIS10* (811380 bytes) Earth From Space Lite Screensaver 1.00 WYSIWYG interface. Features include displays photographs of the Earth as the support for any Windows font, a variety of Apollo Missions Lite Screensaver 1.00 bytes) astronauts on the Space Shuttle see it. special effects, BMP/WMF graphic support, displays beautiful photographs from the Requires Win95. Reg Fee $14.95 Apollo Missions to the moon on your Win95 and much more. Requires Windows 95/NT. SCRPAVER* (586218 bytes) Reg Fee $19.95 desktop. Reg Fee $14.95 Screen Paver 2.0 is a Win95/98/NT screen VE32* (591117 bytes) ASSB (1608427 bytes) saver that can display an unlimited number of Visual Envelopes (32-bit) 2.8b provides a Active ScreenSaver Builder 1.0 allows you to your own JPEG or BMP images from local WYSIWYG drawing canvas that is the size design your own cool screen savers. Display and/or network directories. Options are and shape of the envelope you are designing. your images and drawings anywhere on the provided to control the image display time, to display the images randomly or alphabetically, to use transition effects, to stretch or shrink the images to completely or proportionally fill the screen, to use image sets, and to display your own personal message over the images. A manual slide show mode is also available. Reg Fee $5 SCRSAVER (1425429 bytes) Distant Suns 5 Screen Saver displays several space images generated by the popular Astronomy program Distant Suns. Reg Fee $? SPLATSHP* (1525681 bytes) Splatter Shapes 1.0 deposits colourful 3-D spheres, rings and cubes on your Win95 desktop. Reg Fee $0
SECURITY
HIDDEN32 (12818 bytes) Hidden 5.0 allows you to hide files and directories on the hard disk of your computer. Reg Fee $15
36 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 easy way to backup any file located on any disk or network drive to any other disk or network drive. These files can be restored when needed by following a few simple steps. This version allows two backup entries. Requires Win95/98/NT. Reg Fee $20-$230 GODZIPV4* (414076 bytes) GodeZIP 4.0 is a (de)compression and encryption program for Win95/98 . It provides a very simple to use drag and drop interface, and can be integrated to the Windows shell. It accepts GZIP, ZIP, Z, BZ2, ARJ and TAR files. Reg Fee $24.95 MACEX16A* (2442497 bytes) Macro Express 99 1.69 is a powerful keyboard macro package for Win95/NT that allows you to automate all your common tasks. You can insert text, dates, launch programs and Web sites, and much more. IBACK15A (3514104 bytes) 2XPLOR09 (225454 bytes) Reg Fee $34.95 InterBack 1.51a is an automated backup 2xExplorer 0.99 is an Explorer replacement SH700ZIP* (1567153 bytes) utility program designed to backup your that allows two folders to be displayed Shorthand for Windows (32-bit) 7.00 allows critical files to a remote host using an simultaneously, enabling the head to head you to replace frequently used words or Internet connection. The program uses a zip comparison of their contents. Items can be phrases with a shorter abbreviation or key- module to compress your files into more copied or moved between folders with a word. It works in the background and is single command. A built-in file editor/view is compact zip files. Files can then be activated when you enter a hotkey followed also provided. Reg Fee $? transferred using a standard FTP protocol to by the abbreviation. Requires Win95/98/NT. a remote location over your phone lines. 32EXA300* (554537 bytes) Reg Fee $49 Requires the VB6 run-time files. Reg Fee Examine32 3.00 is a powerful text search TALK2D (10926876 bytes) utility for Windows 95/98/NT. It can search $29 Talk 2Desktop 1.0 allows you to control your LOCKIT41 (2109858 bytes) both text and binary files using ordinary text, the logical operators OR, AND, NOT and PC using your own voice. An animated ScreenLock 4.1 provides easy, yet secure XOR, and GREP-like regular expressions. cartoon character will provide feedback and access to your desktop while denying others Files within ZIP archives can be searched. guide you as you go along. You can launch attempts to access Windows. Keep intruders Searches can be across multiple drives over programs, go to your favourite web sites, and unwanted visitors from invading your networks or can be restricted to a single open any document on your PC and much privacy and track their unauthorised attempts folder. Reg Fee $27 more without touching the keyboard or to access your system. It is unlocked via ALLNSYNC* (1528715 bytes) mouse. Requires a microphone and sound- card. Reg Fee $19.95 answering a question that you provide ALLnSync 1.8.5 is a directory and file yourself and can change or edit at any time. synchronisation utility. Its main function is to VM32* (421026 bytes) Reg Fee $19.95 synchronise the files in a selected directory Visual Month 2.8b is a desktop calendar NUBAK363* (377186 bytes) and its sub-directories on two different drives system for Win95/NT. You can enter multiple that can be on the same computer, or NTuS Realtime Backup 3.63 is a hard disk notes for any day of the month, and drag and different PCs over a network. It can synch- drop notes to save typing. Reports of the backup utility for Win95/NT. Features ronise to/from a floppy, Zip Drive, external/ monthly notes may be printed. Reg Fee include the ability to automatically back-up internal hard drives, Super Drive, or any $14.95 updated files in designated folders, very little drive that is directly writeable from your load on the operating system, the ability to operating system. Requires Win9x. Reg Fee WN_150 (1770312 bytes) keep a copy of deleted/overwritten files, and $16.50 WinNavigator 1.50 is a powerful replacement more. Reg Fee $29 CCLIP110* (1096545 bytes) for Windows Explorer or Norton Commander. Besides the usual file UTILITIES Classic Clipboard 1.10 is a multiple clipboard and clip library for Win95/NT. Just management (copy/move/delete etc), it 1TTL152C (243582 bytes) copy in the normal way up to nine times, then contains a built-in viewer for 9 of the most- popular graphic formats, 11 sound/music #1-TuffTEST-Lite 1.52C is specifically paste your clips using Ctrl+1 for the first, Ctrl+2 for the second, etc. You can save over formats, as well as video clips (Microsoft designed for end users who want to AVI). Other features include a DOS rigorously test their PC’s basic hardware (ie, 3000 clips - 96 in each of 32 groups. Reg Fee $40 command line, two built-in games, and much memory, hard drives, floppy drives, parallel more. Reg Fee $?
and serial ports, video, etc.) prior to calling FBBETA* (1196562 bytes) : for professional help. It is self-booting with FileBack PC 3.2 is a file backup and synch- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○ its own operating system. Reg Fee $0 ronisation utility. FileBack PC provides an
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 37 by Malcolm Morrison
The Au$500 PC - Maybe first twelve hours online, alone, saw almost marked by ease-of-use comparable to the 83,000 download attempts. “We expected popular - but proprietary - Windows the Linux version to do well,” said Dr. interfaces, KDE 1.1.1 unleashes the power, Michael Cowpland, chief executive officer freedom and potential of Linux for the and president of Corel, “but one million typical home or office user. In recognition International Software Warehouse is download attempts is extraordinary. Not of KDE’s usability, KDE was recently offering an EISA PC as a hire purchase only does it speak volumes for WordPerfect, awarded the Ziff-Davis “Innovation of the deal. Before purchasing, you will be I think it is somewhat indicative of the year 1998/1999” award in the Software required to fill out an agreement with EISA, growing popularity of Linux.” category. stating that you agree to the 2-year internet KDE 1.1.1 is available for free download contract. The monthly payment of $49.95 from numerous mirrors (see http:// can be paid through your bank account or www.kde.org/mirrors.html) and also from direct from your credit card. This contract is KDE’s primary ftp server (ftp://ftp.kde.org/ for the full two years, and cannot be pub/kde/stable/1.1.1/distribution/). It will cancelled unless agreed with EISA. also be available in most future Linux and After the inital payment of $499, ISW will BSD distributions. ship the pc to you, with a delivery charge of MPEG video and VCD $25. From that point on you will be able to with mtv for Linux ! use your computer and acess the internet. At Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux delivers the mtv (aka MpegTV Player 1.0) is a real-time the end of the 2 years, you can decide same word-processing capabilities as the software-only MPEG-1 Video Player with whether you want the computer or return it. Windows version, plus it has many features audio/sync for Linux and Unix platforms. If you decide to keep it, there will be a available only for Linux. New and enhanced The Linux and Solaris SPARC versions can residual payment of $100. The machine is features include extended Internet play VCDs. yours to keep, you can choose whether to publishing capabilities, grammar and mtv was developed using MpegTV SDK maintain your internet access on the same spelling tools, charting and drawing 1.0, a Software Development Kit that deal. If you decide to return the computer, features, table enhancements, and revision allows an X Window application to play their is no residual to pay. Return the tracking. The free download is available real-time MPEG Video (with audio/sync) machine and walk away. Simple! through www.corel.com and at various using a simple API and MpegTV’s real-time The total amount payable on this agreement mirror sites on the Internet. software MPEG video library. It offers real- is $524 (PC and delivery), and $1198.80 AOL UK has recently made a time software MPEG for Linux & Unix. (unlimited internet access), giving a grand downloadable version of WordPerfect 8 for Based on MpegTV’s advanced MPEG total of $1722.80. You will of course have Linux available to all of its members, software technology, the Player achieves to pay local telephone call charges when directly from the AOL UK software real-time MPEG playing on most platforms. logging on to the internet. Each internet libraries. session has a four hour limit, but there are Corel also announced in March its plans to no limits on the number of sessions. Email introduce a user-friendly, simple to install files are limited to 3Mb. See graphical interface for the Linux Operating www.iswh.com.au System later this year. Corel’s Linux interface will create ease of use for Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux - consumers of all levels. Also in the same One Million Downloads time-frame, Corel is on track to deliver a Corel Corporation, award-winning developer Linux version of their new flagship release, of graphic and word processing solutions for WordPerfect Office 2000. the corporate, retail and academic markets, It offers VCR-like controls. Control panel has announced that the free Corel K Desktop Environment 1.1.1 Ships includes basic VCR-like commands: play- WordPerfect 8 for Linux has surpassed one The K Desktop Environment (KDE) Team pause, fast-forward, stop, frame-step, million download attempts on the Internet. (http://www.kde.org) has announced the seeking, mute/volume/balance controls, The 23.6 megabyte file, which went live on shipment of KDE 1.1.1, the latest stable loop mode, 2x2 zoom, auto-play. Displays December 17, 1998, has reached an release of Linux’s most advanced open total time and elapsed play time. Menu outstanding level of an average of more than source desktop environment. By offering an options and commands include open/save 70,000 downloads attempts per week. The elegant, intuitive and familiar interface file (with file browser), mono/stereo and
38 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 audio quality selection, video mode selection easier to use and manage than ever before. The new Spreadsheet, PivotTable, and Chart (grey, 8-bit dither, full-colour), framerate/ Collaboration and the ability to share components provide the functionality of sync controls, bitstream information, frame information quickly are vital to business Microsoft Excel in Microsoft Internet capture, and more. Go to http://mpegtv.com/ success. Office 2000 delivers great new Explorer version 4.0 or later. These player.html tools for the Web that enhance your components tie into a variety of data personal productivity and the productivity of The Ultimate Financial Planner sources, such as Excel, Microsoft Access, your workgroup. and Microsoft SQL Server, so you can not only access information, but also edit and manipulate that data. Better yet, you can take any data in the component and “round- trip” it back into the original application with the click of a button. The Spreadsheet component provides spreadsheet functionality in Internet Explorer 5.0, such as entering text and This program has been developed to help numbers, creating formulas, recalculating, people realize their dreams and financial and sorting. The Chart component allows goals and face up to the biggest hurdle you to create interactive charts tied to an With Office 2000, you can save Office confronting us all - Financial Independence. existing data source for others to view in a documents in HTML file format and retain It includes all the necessary tools to realise Web browser. the fidelity of your native Office file format. that dream. The entire installation process for Office By saving as HTML, you ensure that anyone 2000 has been upgraded not only to make with a Web browser can view your Botanica Plus the applications more resilient to documents. Editing those documents is not The largest single volume Plant reference installation problems, but also to add a problem either because Office 2000 available on CD-Rom, Botanica Plus intelligence features that can fix problems contains over 8,600 entries referencing allows you to “round trip” them back into that may occur with your software. For 10,000 plants, together with 3,000 the original Office program without losing example, if essential files have been deleted photographs, Featuring an expandable any of the rich functionality of the Office from your hard disk, and you try to run an database, a gardener’s journal, three file formats. Office application that requires them, Office powerful search functions, garden lists, 2000 will automatically find and reinstall personal notes, it is indispensable for the missing files so you stay up and recording the development of any garden. running. Both Financial Planner and Botanica Plus The Office 2000 Clipboard lets you copy up are Australian and come from to 12 different pieces of text or pictures www.softwareaustralia.com from one or more documents or other files Go Digital with Kodak at the same time and paste them into any Office application—either individually or all at once. Stuff Office 2000 also simplifies publishing your Stuff says it is Australia’s first online Office documents to your intranet or to an auction site. At Stuff no matter what you’re Internet site. New File Open and File Save looking for (or trying to get rid of) there’s dialog boxes make saving documents to a sure to be someone to meet your price. Web server as easy as saving them to your There are some surprises for an introductory hard disk or to a file server. When Web page links are sent to you in e- period during the opening. Interested in digital photography but not mail, they can be opened directly within the Go to www.stuff.com.au for details. sure where to start? Try www.kodak.com for view pane in Microsoft Outlook, giving you heaps of advice on digital and conventional a quick look at your business information. photography and how to get the best out of Likewise, with the Enhanced Outlook Bar, both systems. you can host links to commonly visited Web What’s New in MS Office 2000? pages, documents, and even applications in Microsoft Office 2000 is the exciting new the Outlook toolbar. Office suite that helps you get better results. The ability to get your hands on relevant, Compare Stuff with the big one in the US: With new tools that use Web technology to timely business information is more Ebay: 2,155,919 items for sale in 1,627 enhance collaboration capabilities, Office important now than ever. It is also categories now! Over 1.5 billion page views 2000 makes it possible for you to important to view and analyse that per month! How about a 1973 Cadillac significantly improve your workgroup information with your familiar desktop Eldorado Convertible, road ready at a tools. Office 2000 provides innovative new productivity and more efficiently access and reserve price of $2500.00? Try tools that allow you to use your Web analyse important business information. www.ebay.com Office 2000 also provides new levels of browser to more easily access business data : intelligence and integration, making it and work with it.
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 39 The Internet Project
Applicant Details (mandatory) Important Notes - please read 1. Access to The Internet Project is available only to members First Name of PCUG or AUUG and is governed by the Internet Project Acceptable Use Policy, copies of which can be obtained at the Last Name PCUG Centre, or downloaded from the PCUG BBS or from Principal Organisation The Internet Project. q AUUG q PCUG 2. THE PCUG IS NOT A COMMERCIAL ISP. The Internet Membership Number Project is managed and administered by volunteers, and is I, the applicant, declare that I have read the terms of this intended as a service to members. The Internet Project aims application, and affirm that the details that I have provided are to offer affordable access to as many members as possible, correct. allowing members to experience all the resources of the Internet. No minimum level of access or service is offered or Signed: guaranteed. Existing Accounts 3. There is a limit of one Internet account per non-corporate membership. Corporate members may sponsor up to three individuals, who are then personally responsible for the q Change from LIMITED to FULL ACCESS operation of their accounts. Please complete one application for q Renewal for FULL ACCESS - 12 months each person. 4. Part of your email address will be determined by the principal Current Login Name organisation. If your membership of that organisation expires, New Accounts so too does your membership of The Internet Project. In this event, no refunds for unused allocation will be made. q NEW Application for FULL ACCESS 5. The Internet Project reserves the right to alter prices and q NEW Application for LIMITED ACCESS services offered at any time. Fees paid for Internet access are Login name request, in order of preference (optional) non-refundable and non-transferable. Access Categories 1. 6. Note: Hours debited do not necessarily equate to real hours on- 2. line; time allocation will be debited in a non-linear fashion depending on the amount of time spent on-line in any given 3. day. The debit rate is set from time to time by the Internet Your login name must be 2 to 8 characters long. It may Project Management Committee. For more details, refer to contain only letters and numbers, and MUST be clearly http://www.tip.net.au/tip/charging based on your real name 7. Limited Access Payment (Full Access only) a) Limited Access provides terminal-based email and news only. Please make cheques payable to: b) Limited Access is free on application. PC Users Group (ACT) Inc. c) In any calender year, calculated from the 1st February, Limited Access provides up to 100 ‘hours’ usage. Payment: 12 months: $120.00 q 8. Full Access 6 months: $65.00 q a) Full Access provides PPP or SLIP access and includes 3 months: $35.00 q email, news, WWW, etc. b) Full Access is not free. Current rates are shown at left with Method of payment: q Cash q Cheque up to 25 'hours' per month usage over the period. q Visa q Bankcard q Mastercard c) When your Full Access subscription expires OR you use up your hours of access (whichever is earlier), you will be Card Number: required to purchase another subscription. d) Full Access users also receive a Limited Access allocation - Expiry Date: / see above.
Name on Card: 9. All users joining The Internet Project receive a one-off, free five hour allocation of Full Access. Collecting Your Login Details Signature: 10. For existing members, please allow up to two weeks for your renewal application to be processed. 11. Login details for new members can be collected - in person by PCUG Office Use Only the applicant - from the PC Users Group Centre. We recommend that you phone the Centre first to check that the Processed by Accounts: / / details are waiting for you. 12. You (and your parent/guardian if you are under 18 years of age) will be required to sign an Acceptable Use Policy Declaration Signature: when you pick up your login details. Proof of identification will be required at that time .
40 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 Member Services
These special offers and services are only available to PCUG members. Please bring your memberhip card with you when collecting orders.
Disks & Tapes We offer high quality disks and tape cartridges of new and updated software titles on each one week). Please bring your membership in various formats at very reasonable prices. monthly CD. card with you.
Disks & tapes are available from the PCUG One complete section of the permanent library The library provides access to equipment Centre Monday, Wednesday & Friday 10am is also contained on each CD-ROM. In which members would not normally have to 2pm or between 9am and 5pm on weekends. addition, there are many programs on the readily available. Most items have instructions BBS Access PCUG BBS which members have uploaded manuals and software where appropriate. New members wishing to access the PC Users or which come from other sources. Modems do not include software; check the Group (ACT) InterActive Bulletin Board This software is provided as ‘shareware’. If Shareware Library for suitable packages. Service (BBS) should dial (02) 6253 4933 and you continue to use it, you must register the Items may be borrowed for one week. There create an account on the system. Once the software with the author. The Group does not is no charge, but you must collect and return main menu is presented, select the ‘Goodbye’ ‘sell’ the software - it charges a fee to cover the items yourself. option followed by the ‘Yes’ option to leave a the cost of obtaining the software, maintaining message to the Sysop. the library and copying the software to the Equipment available includes: In this message state your membership member. • modems (33.6k and 14.4k) number (from your card or magazine address Computers are available at the Centre which label) and request an access upgrade. This will are connected to the BBS enabling members • zip drives. usually occur within a few days. to download software. Shareware Hardware & Video Library Videos include: Members have access to a huge selection of The hardware and video library is located at • Developing Applications with Microsoft ‘shareware’ software. The PCUG subscribes the PC Users Group Centre. Items may be Office to a CD-ROM which provides over 250 Mb collected and returned on Saturdays and Sundays between 9am and 5pm (loans are for • Using Windows 95 Stuffed Again We would like to thank We now have a the following members and friends Peter Roberts Giveaway Table at the for assisting with Keith Sayers the mailing out of our Journal. Fred Schaeffer PCUG Centre. Rod Smith If you have any SMALL Bruce Black Gordon Urquhart Jeff Colwell Marion Van Wely items of computer related Owen Cook Peter Watney equipment (software or Eddie & Raymond de Bear Sylvia & Lew Yardley Graham Dietrich hardware) that you no Jim & Chris Fogg We are always looking for volunteers longer need or use and Ken Ford to assist us with the ‘stuffing’ of our don’t want to throw away, Rufus Garcia journal. We start around 5.00pm Anne Greiner (latecomers are welcome) usually on put them on the table and John Hempenstall the 2nd last Monday of every month Emil Joseph and are generally finished by 8.00pm. someone else may find a Jenny Laraman Refreshments are provided. If you use for them. Anne Leach would like to help, please ring Petra Wolf Lieske Dwyer at the PCUG Centre on 6253 Just bring them to the John Loggie 4911. Centre when it’s open and Neville Maddern Next Stuffing Anne Meade we’ll pass them on 5.00pm Monday 21 June ‘99 for you. Don Nicol at Northpoint Plaza, Belconnen. Keith Owen (see map page 3)
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 41 discussion and coffee, followed by a more in- depth look at a particular topic of interest. There is also time for discussion (and The OS/2 SIG hopefully solving) of members problems with the internet. A home page for the SIG is at An enthusiastic forum for those operating or http://www.pcug.org.au/~amikkels/ interested in OS/2 Warp. Meetings include intddd.html Enquiries or suggestions for wide ranging discussion and interesting topics are welcome at hands on demonstrations. Meetings are held [email protected]. on the third Thursday (except January) at 7.00pm for 7.30pm at the IBM Building 8 Brisbane Ave, Barton. Contact David Thrum Phone 6201 8806 (bh). Full details about the OS/2 SIG can be obtained from http://www.pcug.org.au/ ~aacton/os2/welcome.htm. Linux User Group Stephen Rothwell 6231 6648 (ah) Stephen [email protected] 4th Thursday & Chat 7.00pm Room N101 Computer Science The Coffee and Chat Group meet at the Dept ANU. PCUG Centre in Belconnen on alternate Linux Learners SIG Tuesdays from 10.30am to 11.30am The For newcomers to Linux - installation doors are open from 9.30 to 12.00 for 30 The Delphi SIG and use of one of the currently available minutes of individual discussion before and A lively forum for software developers who Linux distributions. Designed for the end after the meeting. The dates of these are working with or interested in Delphi. user rather than the systems programmer or meetings are shown in the Calendar of Our meetings include wide ranging administrator, Meets 10 until 12 every Events. discussion and interesting hands-on second Thursday. Contact: Allan Mikkelsen demonstrations. Come and see why Delphi 6278 3164 or [email protected]. is RAD! Some of our recent meetings have discussed Delphi components, best shareware tools, database applications, and HTML tools. Meeting 3rd Tuesday of each month 7.30pm at PCUG Centre. Convenor David Gray email [email protected] Bytes are welcome to also subscribe to the PCUG The VB SIG The Bytes SIG is designed for those who Delphi mailing list by sending message Meets 10am to 12Noon on alternate like to talk about computing over a meal. It ‘subscribe [email protected] [your Thursday mornings (in the Coffee & Chat meets from 6 pm at the Asian Bistro, email address]’ to [email protected] week) to discuss the tips and tricks not Australian National University Union, on Networks disclosed in the Help files. Enquiries the PCUG meeting nights. There are no Garry Thomson 6241 2399 welcome. Bytes SIG meetings in November, [email protected] Thursday after Don Nicol (02) 6254 6584 December, or January. Contact person: main meeting Please call for venue. [email protected] Andrew Freeman Phone: 6258 7411 Email: Computers and Vegetarianism Flight Simulator [email protected] or WWW at http:// Meets 1.30 - 3.30 on Tuesday afternoons (if www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman/cvsig.html This SIG is designed for those who have an room available) following Coffee and Chat AutoCAD interest in both computers and vegetarian- and on every 2nd Wed at 6.30 - 8.30 pm at ism. It generally meets with the Bytes SIG. Geoffrey May 6295 5942 Monday-Fri 4- the PCUG Centre. Enquiries welcome. No meetings are held in November, 5pm. Please call for details. Roger Lowery (02) 6258 1583 December, or January. Contact person: The Investment SIG Andrew Freeman Phone: 6258 7411 Email The group meets at the PCUG Centre at [email protected] or WWW at http:// 7.30pm on the fourth Thursday of every www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman/cvsig.html month except for December to discuss [email protected] investment affairs, especially the stock Internet Daytime Demo market and share ideas and information. and Discussion SIG Matters covered may be someone’s hot The Games SIG: Meets every second Monday at the PCUG stock, or a tax problem or an interesting A SIG that runs Fridays in school holidays Web site, and sometimes a software demo. Centre from 10.00am to noon. We meet to at the PCUG centre. We are looking for volunteers to present discuss internet issues, software, sites (and Contact John: Phone 6281 2350, email brief reviews of a favourite stock. Contact anything else of relevance), and demonstrate, Mick Preskett ph 6252 5036. on Centre equipment, selected software and [email protected], or techniques. The meeting starts with informal ICQ# 25886924"
42 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 Training News
NB: Courses The Full Access intro to the Internet he PCUG is seeking members with course is an introduction to the programs used some experience ( either Win95, …by Peter Elliott to access the World Wide Web including how Internet software eg. Netscape), that T to download files, send and receive e-mail and can help out the group by training members participate in news groups. If you would like on weekends. It’s voluntary work of course, to attend the course, you will need Full Access so if you’re (even slightly) interested and (Advanced Access) to the Internet. Please would like to help, please call peter on note that Netscape Communicator 4.05 will 62589806. Contacts be used to teach this course. COURSE BOOKINGS: Petra Dwyer, at the The program for 1999 has been adjusted PCUG Centre on 6253 4911 The Win95 - Intro course is designed to to meet the demand for particular courses Training coordinator and course introduce members in the use of Win95 especially Windows95 and Internet courses. information (not bookings): including creating folders and files, how to PCUG Training is able to, and willing, to Peter Elliott 6258 9806 (h) 7.00pm to cut, copy and paste. The course also covers conduct a variety of courses in other areas 9.00pm lots of tips and tricks to make Win95 work of computing. If you have an interest in a Microsoft Product courses (not bookings): for you. Please note that if you have Win98 particular computer course and it is not Henk Brummelaar 6258 9332 (h) 7.00pm as an operating system, then most if not all scheduled, contact Petra at the Centre at the to 9.00pm of the content of this course will be Centre and let us know applicable to Win98 users. Our training courses are very popular. A Visual Basic Programming – Intro All courses are held at the PCUG Unfortunately, some people book and then course is planned for July. This course is Centre, Northpoint Plaza, Belconnen do not turn up for their course. Someone on designed for those members who are - maximum 8 people. the waiting list for the course could have interested in the popular programming Courses cost $35 unless otherwise filled the spot left vacant. If you have booked language Visual BASIC. Participants will be indicated. Full day courses run from for a course and are unable to attend please taught the basics of how to prepare simple 9.30am to approximately 3.00pm. let Petra know as early as possible so that user –friendly form based screens. No pre– AM Courses commence at 9.30am. another member can attend. requisite of programming is required. PM courses commence at 1.30pm.
Date Day Course Length June 5 Sat Sixteen Bits Layout Day/Internet Clinic Clinic:Morning 6 Sun Word 7 - Intermediate Full Day 12 Sat CLOSED Full Day 13 Sun CLOSED Full Day 19 Sat Intro to the Internet – Full Access Full Day 20 Sun Designing your own web page - Intermediate Full Day 26 Sat Win95 – Intro (suitable for Win98 users) Full Day 27 Sun Excel 7 - Intermediate Full Day July 3 Sat Sixteen Bits Layout Day/Internet Clinic Clinic:Morning 4 Sun Word 7 - Intro Full Day 10 Sat Win95 - Intro (suitable for Win98 users) Full Day 11 Sun Intro to the Internet – Full Access Full Day 17 Sat MYOB Full Day 18 Sun Excel 7 - Intro Full Day 24 Sat Visual Basic - Intro Full Day 25 Sun Reserved Full Day 31 Sat Intro to the Internet - Full Access Full Day
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 43 VendorVendor DiscountDiscount SchemeScheme
The following local vendors offer discounts to PCUG members • Present your PCUG membership card when making a purchase • Benefits may not apply to some sale items • The PCUG does not necessarily recommend or endorse the products being offered If you offer a discount to PCUG members and are not in this list, please contact our advertising manager listed on page 2.
BUSINESS SERVICES/PRODUCTS PHONE/FAX/EMAIL ADDRESS DISCOUNT Accountants
Peng Lee BA, BEc(ANU), FCA Accounting and taxation Ph: 6258 0156 6 McGuiness Place 10% discount off Chartered accountant services Fax: 6258 0157 McKellar ACT 2617 the published fee Registered tax agent A fee schedule published 1 Mob: 0419 625 801 schedule to PCUG Holder of Certificate of Public year in advance will be [email protected] members Practice forwarded upon request
Lesley Piko Personal and business Ph: 6288 8888 Suite 1 15% discount off Certified practising taxation services 17 Trenerry St quoted fee accountant, registered tax General accounting Weston ACT 2611 agent services
Books
Collins Booksellers A wide selection of Ph: 6251 4813 Belconnen Mall 10% discount off computer titles for the Fax: 6251 3926 computer book novice and also advanced purchases only computer user
Daltons Books No. 1 for computer and Ph: 6249 1844 54 Marcus Clarke St 10% off RRP of business books Fax: 6247 5753 Canberra City 2600 computer books [email protected] Computer related
ACT Valley Computer Repairs Repairs, upgrades, new Ph: 6294 2592 10% discount on systems, software Mob: 0419 990 669 upgrades and installation. [email protected] repairs Low rates Open 7 days Amalgamated Business Computer, printer, Ph: 6280 4887 65 Kembla St 10% discount on Machines monitor repairs and Fax: 6280 7729 Fyshwick ACT 2609 repairs upgrades, networking and [email protected] cabling
Capital Simulations Fax/message: 6258 0110 PO Box 329 Free postage and Belconnen ACT 2616 handling (normally $4) and 2 free modem opponents wanted notices (normally $10)
The Cartridge Factory Premier re-manufacturer Ph.: 6260 4571 65-B Dundas Court 10% discount on of inkjet, laser, copier and Fax: 62604572 Phillip ACT all remanufactured fax cartridges [email protected] inkjet and toner www.tcf.com.au cartridges No discount on new ink or toner cartridges Hi-Micro Computers Computer upgrades, Ph: 6280 7520 6/18 Whyalla St 5% discount on trade-ins, service, parts, Fax: 6280 7540 Fyshwick ACT 2609 accessories and new systems [email protected] upgrade installation Bettowynd Prompt, guaranteed, fixed Ph: 6239 1043 Unit 5, Centrecourt 1 5% discount price repairs to monitors Fax: 6239 1043 Pirie St, and terminals [email protected] Fyshwick ACT 2609
44 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 • Present your PCUG membership card when making a purchase • Benefits may not apply to some sale items • The PCUG does not necessarily recommend or endorse the products being offered If you offer a discount to PCUG members and are not in this list, please contact our advertising manager listed on page 2.
BUSINESS SERVICES/PRODUCTS PHONE/FAX/EMAIL ADDRESS DISCOUNT Computer related (cont) L & S Associates Ph: 6257 7555 69 Paterson St Special price on any Ainslie ACT 2602 Microsoft product: dealer price plus 5% NCHSwift Sound Multi-media audio Ph: 6257 7221 GPO Box 1169 25% discount to non- Professional voice overs, Fax: 6257 7889 Canberra ACT 2601 corporate members music and SFX for multimedia, telephone, games, software PE Computers & Software New systems, upgrades, Ph/fax: 6258 9806 5% discount on all Solutions Hardware and software Mobile: 015 484 711 new systems and installation, setup & home [email protected] upgrades PC support. 10% discount on Software tuition including installation, tuition & Win95 & Internet sware home PC support Robs Computer Help Desk Telephone & on-site help Ph: 6292 3211 5% discount on for all your computer and (24 hours/7 days) consulting services support needs The Software Shop Suppliers of all business, Ph: 6285 4622 42 Townsend St 5% discount off our educational and personal Fax: 6285 4614 Phillip ACT 2606 already low prices software, plus selected [email protected] hardware. Sproatley Computer Services Upgrades Ph: 6231 5397 10% discount on all Pty Ltd New and used PCs Fax: 6231 3605 services MYOB specialists Software installation, onsite/home service 24 hour help desk Kelehe Bisnis Sevis ACT written software for Ph: 6231 1813 P.O. Box 1187 5% for single copies, home & small business Mob: 0418 607 748 Tuggeranong higher discounts for from Lanyon Management [email protected] ACT 2901 resellers solutions. New release of Automobile Workshop Business System World Wide Website Creation Your key to the Internet. Ph: 02 6292 3211 PO Box 5145 5% to a maximum of & Consulting (W3C2) Training, consulting and Fax: 02 6292 3914 Chisholm 2905 $100 on web site Canberra web site services. Mobile: 019 440 608 services. [email protected] Other ANU Union Asian Bistro Upstairs, Union Union member Building, Union discount on PCUG Court, ANU (next to main meeting nights main meeting ONLY venue) Steves Mower Service Lawn mower service, Ph: 6291 1458 8 Hutcheson St 10% discount on all spares and repairs Monash ACT 2904 repairs Aspect Computing Education Ph: 6247 7608 86 Northbourne 10% discount Services Ave Braddon ACT 2612 Australian Management Ph: 6285 4888 Suite 4, 3236 5% discount on Control Colbee Court, recordkeeping and Phillip payroll courses ACT 2606 Net Maths Tutor Email-based maths Ph: 6258 4791 10% discount tutoring service provided plavers@canberra. by experienced teacher teknet.net.au (high school to uni level) www.teknet.net.au/ ~plavers/ Canberra Lawyers Litigation specialists - Ph: 6287 1223 Unit 7 13 Napier 1st interview free and canberralawyers@ Close, Deakin 10% discount to homeorder.com ACT 2600 PCUG members
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 45 Members Ads
FOR SALE WANTED
SOFTWARE Cleansweep Uninstaller (Quarterdeck) for 95/98/NT CD ROM and User Guide FOR SALE Access to an AMSTRAD 9512 (very old) $40 neg. (RRP $69.95) to print data from a disk. My machine has ceased to work Family Tree (Ver 2.0a 1997) CD ROM Laplink Professional Software. and User Guide (brand new) $15 Remote access and file transfer software Donald Munro for Windows 98/95/3.1 or NT. Virtually 6247 9429 Origins of Mankind (for Win 95) brand unused. Comes with Serial and USB new $10 Cables. $150 ono.
BOOKS Nick Thomson Windows 95 for Dummies 2641 43239. $200 (RRP $39.95)
Complete Idiot’s Guide PCs 5th Ed for Microsoft Windows 98 W95 $15 (RRP 29.95) Unstable on my computer...
Miss Jennifer Kelly Charlote Henderson 6258 6558 [email protected] PC Users Group Membership Application / Renewal
Annual Fees Applicable (þ one) I would like to ( þ one or more) 1 o General $ 55 o Become a new member for ____ year(s) 2 o Concessional $ 35 o Renew for ____ year(s) o Associate Family $ 25 o Change my address details 3 o Corporate $130 o Change Corporate nominees 4 o Additional Corporate $ 50 o Take my address off advertising list o International (Air Mail) $130 o Access the Bulletin Board (BBS) Notes Reasons for Joining þ (one or more) 1 General membership covers all members of a household except for BBS and Internet access. o Sixteen Bits Magazine o Training Courses 2 Concessions apply to full time students and Social Security pensioners. o The Internet Project o Advice and help 3 Corporate Membership covers up to three nominees. 4 Additional Corporate nominees may be added at $50 each. Other ______
I am paying by (þ one) TOTAL PAYMENT DUE $______o Cash (if paying by person) o Cheque to PC Users Group (ACT) Inc o Please Post your application with payment to: Credit card –– Bankcard, Mastercard or Visa PC Users Group (ACT) Inc Title Given Name Surname PO Box 42 Belconnen ACT 2616 Additional Corporate or Associate Family Membership Nominees Organisation (if applicable) PCUG Membership Number (if applicable) Title Given Name Surname ______Postal Address Position (if applicable) Phone (h) Phone (w) ______Title Given Name Surname Phone (h) Phone (w) Concession Type (if applicable) ______Position (if applicable) Phone (h) Phone (w) Credit Card Type / Number Expiry Date Signature
46 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 The Help Directory
The people in this directory are volunteers so please observe the times given. The Help Directory is designed to help individual users and should not be used as a substitute for corporate support calls to vendors! This service is provided for members only. Please quote your membership number to the helper. For those helpers with an asterisk *, messages may be left on the BBS in either the General message area or as a Netmail message on 3:620/243. Send updates to [email protected] or via post to the PCUG Centre.
Subject Name / Email Phone Days Times Access for Windows Graham Fry [email protected] 6288 3138 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Access 97 Andrew Bartlett [email protected] 6254 0272 M-F (ex Tue) 4.00pm - 9.00pm Weekends 10.00am - 9.00pm Assembly Language Thomas McCoy [email protected] 6294 2226 Mon - Fri 8.00pm - 10.00pm AutoCad Geoffrey May * 6295 5942 Mon - Fri 4.00pm - 5.00pm AutoCAD Rel 12, 13 and LT Neil Moffat 6292 7108 All days Noon - 10.00pm BASIC + Machine Language George McLintock 6295 6590 All days 8.30pm -10.00pm Bluewave Jorge Garcia 6282 2681 All Days 7.00pm - 9.00pm Batch Files, TSRs, Utilities Bill Ghysen 6287 1234 Mon - Fri 8.00pm - 10.00pm Bulletin Board Service Michael Phillips * 6253 4966 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm C/C++ Nhan Tran ntran@pcug org.au 6254 5293 All except 7.00pm – 9.00pm w/end & Tue Chinese Star for Windows Peng Lee 6258 0156 All days 1.00pm - 9.00pm Eudora Nhan Tran ntran@pcug org.au 6254 5293 All except 7.00pm - 9.00pm w/end & Tue Excel Graheme Fry 6288 3138 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Flight Simulation Roger Lowery [email protected] 6258 1583 All days Anytime Free Agent / Agent Newsreading Allan Mikkelsen 6278 3164 All days Noon - 9.00pm GEOS/GeoWorks Phil Jones 6288 5288 All days 6.00pm - 10.00pm except Wed Hardware Anthony Glenn 6288 8332 All days Anytime HDK Lis Shelley [email protected] HDK Ivana Leonard 6231 4169 Mon - Thu 7.00pm - 9.00pm Hypertext Markup Language Peter Tilbrook [email protected] 6242 4000 Weekdays 10.00am - 6.00pm 0411 508 169 6253 8153 (ah) ISR CADDSMAN Modeller (Win) Neil Moffat 6292 7108 All days Noon - 10.00pm Microstation Cad Andrew Novinc 6258 1907 All days 6.00pm - 10.00pm Microsoft Front Page Peter Tilbrook [email protected] 6242 4000 Weekdays 10.00am - 6.00pm 0411 508 169 6253 8153 (ah) Modem Communications Michael Phillips * 6281 1980 or All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Noteworthy Composer Andrew Purdam [email protected] 6230 2231 All days Anytime OS/2 Andrew Acton [email protected] 6293 1684 All days 9am-9pm OS/2 Dave Thrum [email protected] 6201 8806 Mon-Fri 8am-6pm OS/2 Michael Lightfoot * 6258 8185 All days 7.30pm - 9.30pm Outlook, Outlook Express Chess Krawczyk [email protected] 6247 1218 All days 7.00pm - 9.30pm Scream Tracker 3 (3SM) / MOD Music Chris Collins 6258 8276 Mon - Fri 7.30pm - 9.00pm Small Business Computing Nick Thomson 6241 3239 Mon - Thu 7.30pm - 9.30pm Telix Michael Phillips * 6281 1980 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm SCO Unix & Xenix Jeremy Bishop 6291 0478 All days 7.00pm - 9.00pm Unix Michael Lightfoot * 6258 8185 All days 7.30pm - 9.30pm Unix/Linux/*BSD Jonathon Ross 6288 1428 All days 6.00pm - 10.00pm Turbo Pascal Michael Phillips * 6281 1980 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Visual Basic for Windows Cedric Bear [email protected] 6258 3169 All days 7.30pm - 8.30pm Windows 95 Graeme Challinor [email protected] 6236 8166 All days 10.00am - 4.00pm Windows 98 Chess Krawczyk [email protected] 6247 1218 All days 7.00pm - 9.30pm Word for Windows Lis Shelley [email protected] WordPerfect 5.1 DOS, 6.1 Win Gayle Scott [email protected] 6254 1579 All days 7.30pm - 9.30pm WordStar Dave Hay 6258 7310 All days 7.00pm - 9.00pm
SIXTEEN BITS July 1999 47 July
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
TRAINING DAY Visual Basic Sixteen Bits Internet Clinic PCUG Centre SIG commercial ad PCUG Centre 10.00am– deadline for 9.30– 9.30am 12noon August 1.00pm Word 7 – PCUG Centre Intermediate Layout Day for Networks SIG Sixteen Bits (Call 6241 2399 10.00am for venue)
1 2 3 4 Internet Day-time Assisted Access TRAINING DAY TRAINING DAY Demo and SIG PCUG Centre PCUG Centre Discussion SIG 9am–11am PCUG Centre PCUG Centre 9.30am 9.30am 10.00am–2.00pm Windows 95 – Intro to the Intro Internet – Full New Members’ Linux Learners Access Night SIG PCUG Centre 11am–1pm PCUG Centre 7.30pm 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Coffee and Chat TRAINING DAY TRAINING DAY Committee OS/2 SIG PCUG Centre PCUG Centre PCUG Centre Meeting IBM Building 9.30am– PCUG Centre 8 Brisbane Ave 12.00 9.30am 9.30am 7.30pm Barton MYOB Excel 7 – Intro 7.00 for 7.30pm
Visual Basic SIG 10.00am–12noon PCUG Centre
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Internet Daytime Delphi SIG Assisted Access SIG TRAINING DAY Demo and PCUG Centre 9am–11am PCUG PCUG Centre Discussion SIG 7.30pm Linux Learners SIG PCUG Centre 9.30am 11am–1pm PCUG RESERVED 10.00am–2.00pm Visual Basic – Investment SIG Intro 16 Bits Stuffing PCUG Centre and Mailing 7.30pm PCUG Centre Linux Users Group 5.00pm Computer Science Dept ANU 19 20 21 7.30pm 23 24 25
Main Meeting Coffee and Chat Visual Basic Sixteen Bits TRAINING DAY TRAINING DAY
PCUG Centre SIG article deadline PCUG Centre PCUG Centre Manning Clark 9.30am– Theatre 1 10.00am– for September Crisp Bldg. ANU 12.00 12noon 9.30am 9.30am 7.00 for 7.30 PCUG Centre Intro to the Internet – Full
Networks SIG Access (Call 6241 2399 Bytes SIG Asian Bistro ANU for venue) 6.00pm (before PCUG meeting) 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 August
48 SIXTEEN BITS July 1999