SPINE
MAY 1996 EVERYTHING YOU NEED UNDER ONE COVER PCW ON THE WEB
Lotus Notes 100MHz Pentiums P143 4.0 ● Group Test: Project Management software ● May 1996 £2.95 http://www.vnu.co.uk/hc/pcw Battle Chips: Cyrix 6x86 vs Intel Pentium Overseas Price £3.95 Germany DM 20,00 Italy 18,000 Lire Spain 1,225 PTS Malta Lm 2.85c Document Scanners Holland HFL 17,95 Belgium 364.00 BFr Finland FIM 49.50 Canada CAN$12.95 p251 VNU Business Publications 55to be Won THE NEW 100100 MHz MHz ENTRY
● LEVEL Apricot PCTV ● Personal Finance software PENTIUMSPENTIUMS STANDARDSTANDARD
● Battle Chips Cyrix 6x86
● vs Intel Pentium
Apricot’s http://www.vnu.co.uk/hc/pcw PCTV Money Matters Personal Finance software Lotus Notes 4.0 Leading groupware upgraded IF YOUR CD-ROM AND 3.5" DISK ARE MISSING Olivetti 200MHz ASK YOUR NEWSAGENT Group Test: Pentium Pro
Project 05
ALL HARDWARE TESTED Management BY THE VNU LABS
VOL19 NO5 Jumanji screensaver, Linux FT, Duke Nukem 3D, Win95 Shareware DOUBLE DISK PACK 9 770142 023069 May 1996 PCW May 1996
Contents Reviews Cover Story 54 Gadgets 73 Sseyo Koan Pro Cutting Edge The weird, A unique music-generating 197 Introduction the wonderful package. 100MHz Pentiums and the PCW Online useful. 74 Signal Box NeuroPredictor 198 Focus: Virtual Boasting power without the Specialist neural network facilities companies 80 price, 100MHz Pentiums are 56 Apricot MS530 Diamondtron 17 under Windows. 205 Net.newbies set to be the new entry-level The best home PCTV yet. 206 Net.news PC standard. Adele Dyer 76 TGI Picture Album 214 Net.answers benchtests 17 of the 58 Claris FileMaker Pro 3 PCW Cover Photography David Whyte latest models. The popular database goes 76 Iiyama Pro Lite 31 PCW Futures relational. High-resolution flat screen monitor. 222 Innovations Features 223 Horizons 62 Olivetti M6 6200 Suprema 114 Lotus Notes 4.0 224 Bluesky Group Test A 200MHz Pentium Pro which Team player Terence Green 226 Retro Computing really flies. grapples with the latest groupware. PCW Media 166 62 Digi Datafire ISDN Adaptor 228 Books Project Management Software 238 CD-ROMs 65 Cheyenne Inoculan PCW Fun Virus checking for Windows 95. 233 Kids’ Stuff 243 Screenplay (with 66 Pioneer DW-S114X CD Writer Leisure Lines, page 246) 120 68 Fractal Designs Painter 4 124 Personal Finance 251 Competition: WIN Software Microtek document scanners, hand- Linux Paul Begg calls the latest personal Linux is a powerful version of Unix that runs on PCs and is painted mice and finance packages to account. collectively owned by its many authors. Martin Houston multimedia bits explains the silent revolution. 156 Cyrix vs 143 70 Haventree EasyFlow 3 Intel PCW on The best all-round flowcharting Dylan package. Armbrust sets the Web the top PC Over the past few 71 GSP HOMEWise processors Screenplay: Top Gun — Fire At Will ● Making the best use of your resources? Michael Eagleton months PCW has been A budget-priced, family organiser. head to head. Hands On levels the field. putting together a real cracker of a Web site. Paul Fisher explains Regulars where it is and what’s 39 Sounding Off currently on offer. 8 COVER DISK NOTES 253 Introduction 41 Home Front 254 Windows 95 18 Newsprint 258 Windows 3.1 Virtual Working 198 Microsoft in new assault on 43 Straight Talking 264 32-Bit The Internet takes the utopian concept of the Web; Fake cache latest; 268 Word Processing 138 working from home into a new dimension. Nokia launches pocket Web 45 Business Matters 272 Spreadsheets Richard Vadon gets hip to the concept of tele- terminal; Lotus goes to 276 Databases 49 Letters working. pieces; Security alert over 280 OS/2 addressing software; Apple 287 Numbers Count 78 Long Term Tests zaps eWorld; Latest from the 288 Hardware NEW! Windows Show. Iomega Zip 100 Drive. 134 Microsoft Encarta 94. 295 3D Graphics NEW! 32 News Analysis 298 Graphics & DTP Interview: Software CEBIT report. 330 Buyer’s Guide NEW! 302 Multimedia Microsoft and the Net. 306 Sound William Latham Localisation 357 Direct 310 Visual Programming Pioneering cyberartist William Latham found To be really successful, software compa- Squeeze on Netscape. Buyers’ 314 Networks conventional drawing was just too slow to nies have to offer products in multiple World 37 Computations 318 Macintosh explore evolution. Clive Akass talked to him languages. Tim Frost found out how UK- Rowland Morgan’s facts and 323 Computer Answers about evolutionary art and his innovative based company, SDL, breaks the figures. 611 ChipChat 325 Beginners Organic Art CD-ROM. language barrier.
6 7 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 MAY 96 ON THE CD Shareware DOUBLEDOUBLE DISKDISK ● Cool Wave Editor - Audio SUPER PACK editor with everything ● TopDraw - Graphics utility ● Universal Word - Latest version of WP package. PCW On your CD-ROM and 3.5" ● LINUX FT -1.1 Latest version Disk this month: 3.5" DISK Demos Ulead’s Media Studio 2.0 software ON THE DISK ● Descent 2 - 3D action game ● Jumanji screen saver ● Ferrari Interactive based on the movie ● Dogz - Virtual desktop dog ● Animated cursors ● Cover OS/2 Warp for Window 95 ● Enigma GAMES ● Breakout-style game Duke Nukem 3D - 3D action game that knocks Doom for six Run A:\PCW.EXE from Windows Turn to page 8 for full details Disk This month’s floppy cover disk features three superb programs including an animated screensaver, a fast and furious action game, and some Windows 95 animated cursors.
will be (by default) in the nigma is a game of mental PCWMAY96\CURSORS directory. You Eand physical dexterity, written can install them using the INSTALL in assembler, with super-slick command, then add them to your system graphics and sound. It includes a in the usual way using the Control Panel. main game and five sub-games, with 150 levels of 60Hz arcade PLEASE READ THIS gameplay and perplexing puzzles, based on the game of Break-Out. If you have problems with the Cover Disk, The main screen consists of a such as receiving a “Cannot read from drive wall of blocks at the top and a bat A” error, please return the disk to the at the bottom. The score, level and duplicator: TIB PLC (PCW), TIB House, 11 pickup status are displayed along Edward Street, Bradford BD4 7BH (who may the bottom of the screen. be contacted on 01274 736990) together with Using the mouse, you must control a stamped addressed envelope and two 25p the bat in order to stamps. Where it is a duplication fault, the prevent the ball from postage will be returned along with a bouncing off the replacement disk. bottom of the screen. If your problem is not due to a faulty disk, When the ball hits a and a phone number is shown for the normal block, the publisher of the program in question, then it block will be destroyed Hooray for will probably be quicker for you to call them and there is a chance Hollywood: this first, as they will be able to provide direct that either a nasty or a month’s floppy assistance on their own programs faster than pickup will appear. features might otherwise be possible. You will have to learn screensavers based Alternatively, ring our floppy cover disk the best method to on Jumanji and hotline on weekdays between 10.30am and deal with each nasty for yourself — Seven 4.30pm on 0891 715929. Calls are charged touching a nasty is a BAD thing! at 39p per minute cheap rate and 49p at all Enigma contains five sub-games, each Jumanji other times. one weirder than the last. When you ere’s the screensaver based on the The PCW cover disk is virus checked at collect a sub-game pickup, the display will Hgreat new Robin Williams film. Just every stage of production. However, PCW switch to the Betting screen, then to a install it from the Program Manager group will not accept liability for any problems randomly selected sub-game. You will be created by the floppy disk installer, and arising from the use of the disk. Installing or shown some simple instructions on how to then use the Control Panel, Desktop utility running any of the programs on the disk play the game. It is in your best interests to configure and test it. Even if you don’t indicates your agreement to this condition. to win the sub-game, as this will give you normally use screensavers, try this one — You are advised not to install any software extra lives, etc. it’s great. on a networked PC before checking the disk. ● If the program will not run from While PCW maintains a high standard of Windows you should run ENIGMA.EXE Animated Cursors quality control, disks may be damaged in from the directory it was installed to on indows 95 users can add animated transportation. Check the disk’s shutter your hard disk. Wcursors to their system, and here before inserting it in the drive by sliding it to are a few more for your collection. They the left and allowing it to spring back.
8 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996
CYAN•MAGENTA•YELLOW•BLACK PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996
PCW INTERACTIVE: Interactive May 1996
Entire Contents List CD-ROM See page 8 for details 91 61644 PCW:08 4 o n SCREEN SAVERS o r e e m JUMANJI, SEVEN n a DEMOS li based on the movies t il ULEAD’S MEDIA o R NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE h N STUDIO 2.0 e I about the beer X Multimedia software h t O STD CODE DECODER l N l
SHAREWARE @ Phone code utility a
c
FEATURES Animated cursors C DESCENT 2
t
I r
for Windows 95 X 3D action game
o
.
p
Enigma C DOGZ p
Breakout-style game O Virtual desktop dog
BitCD — Multimedia demo u
M
Cool Wave Editor s GREED P l
a
audio editor with U 3D action game
c L
i
I
n
everything N MORTAL COIL h
Linux FT — Fully working Unix clone K
c
. e
TopDraw C
t 3D game
O r
. o U F graphics utility K Universal Word GAMES OS/2 Warp — Demo of the OS latest version of WP package DUKE NUKEM 3D action game LINUX-FT 1.1 latest version - complete Unix OS EXTRAS VIDEO FOR WINDOWS Version 1.1e DEMOS WINDOWS and DOS Descent 2 — 3D action game Dogz — Virtual desktop dog Engineering Office — Utility Ferrari Interactive — Rolling demo Greed — 3D action game Indycar Racing — Car racing game INTERNET Mortal Coil — 3D game Web FX — Web page creator STD Code Decoder — Phone code Worlds Away — Internet utility finder World Chat — Worldwide chat utility Taskey — Information utility Topdraw — Graphics utility MAGAZINE Universal Word — Word utility Hands On — Card file macro files Wetlands — Space shoot-em-up Mike Liardet — Two spline files
CONTINUES OVER
PCW Interactive CD-ROM FOLD HERE This month there’s a superb collection of demos, including SCREEN SAVERS SHAREWARE FOR WIN 95 Jumanji — Based on the film Animated Cursors — Allsoft’s games and utilities, Newcastle Brown Ale — Based on the animated cursors graphics, Internet, drink Wipeout — Fully-loaded screensaver business and much Seven — Based on the film more. There’s also a SHAREWARE FOR DOS EXTRAS huge collection of DOS, Duke Nukem 3D — 3D action game CD Test — CD-ROM integrity tester Graphic Drivers — Microsoft’s SVGA Windows 3.1 and SHAREWARE FOR WIN 3.1 drivers Windows 95 Cool Editor — Audio Editor Video for Windows — Version 1.1e shareware, Exit — Exit Windows quickly Tombstone — Strategy game screensavers and more. ● Minimum requirements: 4Mb free RAM (some can be in a permanent swapfile), 386SX/33 processor, Windows 3.1. Users with less than this should be able to run all the DOS programs on the CD-ROM directly from DOS or Windows (rather than using the MAIN FEATURES front-end). For best performance we recommend: 8Mb installed RAM, 486 DX/50 Linux FT 1.1 processor, Windows 3.11 or Windows 95. This is the latest version of a fully- working Unix clone that’s taking the industry by storm. It is a complete Important Note: We strongly suggest you any problems you may encounter when operating system that even has its own do not install Linux unless you are using it. If in doubt, don’t try to install it. graphical user interface. If you know technically proficient and know what you anything about Unix, you’ll want to give are doing. If you do wish to install Linux, BitCD it a try. For more about Linux, read our you do so entirely at your own risk, and by Multimedia demo. A simply stunning introductory feature on p120. For full the action of doing so you agree that demo with a trial version of a great details on how to install the program neither PCW or VNU are responsible for multimedia authoring package thrown in. please read the file README.FT in the root directory of this month’s CD-ROM. CONTINUES ON PAGE 153
9 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996
CYAN•MAGENTA•YELLOW•BLACK PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD CD-ROM
A taste of two operating PAGE 9 CONTINUED FROM systems — OS/2 Warp and There are also some extra buttons on Linux are both featured on the Video for Windows page, which allow the PCW Interactive CD you to fine-tune your PC’s performance without having to leave PCW Interactive or restart Windows. In particular, you can choose to have digital movies played back on your PC at full screen resolution. That’s right, without having to resort to hardware add-ons such as MPEG cards, you can have full-screen digital videos when you run the PCW Interactive CD-ROM. But please remember that when you exit from PCW Interactive, if you leave the option for full-screen video selected, then all video in other applications will OS/2 Warp also be full screen. If you don’t want this, Learn more about OS/2, what then re-run PCW interactive and select it can do and what it has to the “Windowed” option and quit again. offer you. Descent 2 Testing your CD-ROM Hot on the heals of Descent 1, If you suspect your CD-ROM may here’s an even more addictive actually be faulty or damaged, you can game that pushes the run the file CDTEST.EXE in the boundaries of 3D game SYSTEM directory of the CD-ROM. The playing even further. program will then examine every byte of Dogz data in the PC partition of the disc to see Have your own virtual dog on if it can be correctly read. The process your desktop. Pet him, play takes up to 35 minutes and generates a catch and much more — verification code if the disc passes the without having to take him for test. If the CD-ROM fails this test, try walks. cleaning it with a light solution of Ferrari Interactive washing-up liquid, dry it with a lint-free Drool over the cars most of us can only button on the first page of PCW cloth and run the test again. If it still fails, dream of owning. Interactive, you’ll have the opportunity to return your CD-ROM to the magazine for Jumanji install the latest version of the Video for a free replacement. A screensaver based on the box office Windows runtime, so that you can view You are free to copy the hit film. the digital movies on the CD. If you CDTEST.EXE program to your hard disk Newcastle Brown Ale haven’t installed Video for Windows from in order to test other CD-ROMs, as long Would you believe it, a screensaver a PCW Interactive CD before, then you as it is not distributed in any way. If you about ale? should install this new version, as it are running CDTEST from your hard Seven contains the latest drivers Another great film-based screensaver. which deliver higher quality, Duke Nukem 3D a larger size and a faster Wow. If you thought Doom was good, playback rate. If you don’t then you’re in for a real treat. Duke install the new version, Nukem 3D is the most innovative and some videos will display the engrossing 3D action game we’ve yet message “Cannot display seen. Even if you’re not a game player this video”, or give similar you must check this one out, just to see warnings. what your computer can do. Cool Editor Probably the best sound-editing package you can get — anywhere.
Macintosh We’re sorry, but Linux FT took up a big chunk of this month’s disc, leaving no free The sequel to the hit game, room to include any Mac software. We’ll try Descent, is nail-biting stuff. to bring you a larger collection than usual Plus, CoolEdit sounds good — next month. check out your Echo and Flange; and be thrilled to bits Configuring Video for Windows with the BitCD multimedia demo If you select the “New users start here”
153 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996
CYAN•MAGENTA•YELLOW•BLACK PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD CD-ROM COVER DISK The virtual world of PCW Interactive lets you test drive a Ferrari. Probably drive you need to specify the the only chance you’ll get... CD-ROM drive to test, as follows: CDTEST D: Note: We offer this tool “As is” purely as an aid to diagnosing possible faults, some of which may occur because an older version of MSCDEX.EXE is in use and not because of a faulty CD-ROM, and disclaim any responsibility for any erroneous error reports that it may generate.
IMPORTANT — Get down to business with Micro 90, and READ THIS! join Duke Nukem for a new adventure in LA line in your ● General Protection AUTOEXEC.BAT file. You should also Faults allow MSCDEX to set up its own buffers If you receive General by adding a line such as /M:10 to the Protection Faults when MSCDEX line, also in your running PCWI or playing any AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Please refer to digital videos, it is probably your manuals for full details. because your graphic display driver may not be entirely 100 ● Windows NT and OS/2 percent Microsoft compatible. Unfortunately Macromedia Director, the The answer is therefore to program used to create PCWI, is install one of Microsoft’s own incompatible with Windows NT. However, drivers, as follows (but NOT if you should be able to run PCWI from you are using Windows 95, as OS/2 by simply calling up PCWI.EXE from the drivers supplied with it are the command line. even newer than the ones on PCW Advice & Contacts this disc): 1. Run “Windows Setup” from The PCW CD-ROM is virus checked at File Manager, then select every stage of production. However, PCW “Options” followed by will not accept liability for any problems “Change System Settings”. arising from its use. You are advised not to 2. Scroll through the list of install software on a networked PC before displayed graphic drivers until checking the disc. you get to the final entry For technical support on the CD-ROM “Other Display (Requires Disk and the programs on it call the VNU 24-hour from OEM)”, and select it. Hotline on 0891 616 444. This is a 3. Insert this month’s CD- computerised touch-tone advice system, ROM into the drive and providing hints and tips on a wide range of replace the “A:\” prompt with topics. It also offers you the opportunity to “D:\SYSTEM\SVGA256” speak to a member of our technical support (changing the D: to the staff during office hours by pressing the 0 correct letter if your CD-ROM is not in ● If Video for Windows install key on your keypad. Calls cost 39p min off- drive D:), then press Return. fails peak and 49p at all other times (tone 4. Scroll through the new drivers until If the Video for Windows installation fails phones only). you find the ones beginning “Super and you receive an error such as Using the computerised system you can VGA....” and select the one for the “XXXXXXXX.YYY cannot be updated as access the information you need very resolution you prefer to use. The it is a shared file”: the answer is to delete quickly. If you request to speak to a driver will then be installed and Windows the file “XXXXXXXX.YYY” (or whatever it member of our technical support staff and restarted. PCWI and Video for is called) and reinstall Video for Windows. we cannot answer your question Windows should then have no further immediately, we will offer to call you back at problems. ● PCWI is slow to load or runs our expense. Outside office hours you can If this works (which it should in 95 slowly leave us a message by pressing the 9 key. percent of cases) you may wish to contact You need at least 4Mb of RAM free to If you leave your phone number we’ll call the supplier of your graphic card to see if use PCWI. If necessary, you can obtain you back at the earliest opportunity during they have an updated graphic driver. If this by creating a permanent swap file of office hours. Microsoft’s drivers don’t work, you will up to 4Mb. You are also advised to If you prefer, you can email need to contact your graphics card enable read cacheing of your CD-ROM [email protected], or on supplier anyway. by adding its name to the SMARTDRV CompuServe 70007,5547.
154 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996
CYAN•MAGENTA•YELLOW•BLACK PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD Editorial Advertising Editor Ben Tisdall Sales Director Brin Bucknor News Editor Clive Akass Head of Portfolio Sales Paula Barnes 0171 316 9194 Cutting Edge Editor PJ Fisher Portfolio Sales Manager Pranav J Oza 0171 316 9466 Features Editor Chris Cain Assistant Ad Manager Kevin Elderfield 0171 316 9303 Reviews Editor Gordon Laing Technical Editor Eleanor Turton-Hill PC Consumer Sales Associate Editor Simon Rockman Jon Miles 0171 316 9302 Staff Writers Adele Dyer / Dylan Armbrust Ben Hedges 0171 316 9308 Editorial Assistant Joanna Scott Nick O’Connor 0171 316 9304 Matt Rigney 0171 316 9306 Columnists Nick Beard / Barry Fox Beccy Carr 0171 316 9307 Michael Hewitt / Tim Nott / Rowland Morgan Fran Taylor 0171 316 9309 International Correspondent Tim Bajarin Stuart Mills 0171 316 9439 Micromart Sales Executive Robert Miskin 0171 316 9305 Editorial Phone 0171 316 9000 Portfolio Account Handlers Editorial Fax 0171 316 9313 Emma Beagley 0171 316 9502 Editorial Email Maggie Bedwell 0171 316 9504 Paul Heslop 0171 316 9501 first name—last [email protected] VNU Web Site http://www.vnu.co.uk/hc/pcw/ Catherine J Russell 0171 316 9461 Portfolio Administrator Janaya Warren 0171 316 9525 Production Advertising Customer Services Production Editor Lauraine Lee Susie Ross 0171 316 9465 Sub-Editors Patrick Ramus / Jessica Hodgson Sandhya Tanna 0171 316 9372 Paul Peters 0171 316 9435 Design Credit Control Manager Tosh Bruce-Morgan 0171 316 9667 US Sales Representative Global Media Representatives, Inc 0101 415 306 0880 Art Editor Darrell Kingsley Taiwan Sales Representatives Grace Chu/Kent Lai 010 886 2717 7663 Designer Simone Stern Production New Media Production Controller Melanie Thomson 0171 316 9481 Internet Editor Angela Collins Production Manager Adrian Brown 0171 316 9484 Interactive Designer Joolz Pohl Circulation Technical Consultant Frank Leonhardt Interactive Developers Steve Rogers / Barry Maylott Subscriptions Manager Leisha Bulley 0171 316 9712 Disk Editor Robin Nixon Subscriptions Supervisor Joanne Nicholls 0171 316 9713 New Media Phone 0171 316 2058 Publishing VNU Labs Founder Angelo Zgorelec Publisher Jon Ross 0171 316 9187 Labs Manager George MacDonald Marketing Manager Juliet Parker 0171 316 9191 Labs Technical Director Julian Evans Head of Corporate Marketing Erik Hoekstra Labs Testing Editor Jonathan Ricks Corporate Marketing Manager Tony Evans Operations Manager Alan Rider Marketing & Sales Co-ordinator Timothy Mickelborough 0171 316 9820 Labs Phone 0171 316 9067 Labs Fax 0171 316 9059 Test Results are based wholly or in part on methodologies provided by National Software Testing Laboratories, a division of McGraw-Hill Inc, and licensed to Personal Computer World. Neither NSTL nor the Publisher guarantees the accuracy or adequacy of its testing activities and makes no representations or warranties regarding tested products. Articles or portions of articles translated and reprinted (or adapted) in this issue from PC Digest or Software Digest Copyright (c) 1994, by National Software Testing Laboratories (NSTL), a division of McGraw-Hill, Inc, 625 Ridge Pike, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania Complaints or queries regarding any advertiser in this 19428, USA. Reproduction of the NSTL material in any manner or language in whole or in part without magazine should, initially, be presented in writing to: permission of NSTL is prohibited. Anthony George, ‘Customer Relations Department’, VNU Business Publications, VNU House, 32-34 Broadwick Street, London W1A 2HG. Readers are reminded that we are unable to provide technical help/support services, either written or verbal. 154,482 JAN-JUNE '95 VNU BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS
REPRINTS SUBSCRIPTIONS We offer a full reprint service for reproduction of all or part of any current or Annual subscription, £24.95. One year Europe only, £95. Rest of World, previous articles. Minimum order 1,000. For details contact Susie Ross or £125. P&P included. Freephone 0800 526669. Fax 0171 316 9699. Email Sandhya Tanna (0171 316 9000). [email protected]. Credit card orders welcome. USE OF EXTRACTS BACK ISSUES We are delighted for people to use quotations and segments of articles for We keep a stock of past issues and can provide individual copies at a charge of internal or promotional purposes. For clearance, contact Juliet Parker £5. Call Tom Costin (0171 316 9714). (0171 316 9000).
VNU House, 32-34 Broadwick Street, London W1A 2HG. Main Switchboard Tel 0171 316 9000. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent from the copyright holder © VNU Business Publications 1996. Advertisement typesetting by Typematters, London N1. Origination by Latent Image, 6 Balmoral Grove, London N7. Printed and bound in the UK by St Ives plc, Plymouth. Distributed by Comag, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex (01895 444055).
12 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 Editorial Next
he Internet. The most over-hyped, Tover talked-about topic in Month computing today. Right? Wrong. The Internet is still underestimated, derided, misunderstood and under- R D S hyped. A ' Channel 4 recently broadcast an 9 edition of J accuse, by Janet Street W 6 Porter, which presented all the old A prejudices about the Internet. It s PCWPCW used by sad people who can t relate to others, it s full of trivia that probably isn t true, it s a fad like CB AWARDSAWARDS radio. It all came flooding out. Street Porter was presumably given a large wad to trot out this rubbish. If any of it 19961996 was ever true, it certainly isn t now. Irresponsible attitudes like hers probably explain why, as usual, Britain We reveal is languishing behind the Americans on the Internet. In the UK, every this year’s company whose main business is Information Technology, communications, advertising, winners of television or publishing should have its own Web site and email on every the most desktop. A horrifying number of companies still don t. At VNU prestigious (publisher of Personal Computer World) email has yet to reach every IT Awards desk. The same is true at Racal Datacom, makers of modems and ISDN devices. And I m sure that s just the tip of the iceberg Every medium-sized or larger company of any kind should have company-wide email and a Web site to showcase its products, and should be ✩GraphicsGraphics CardsCards seriously considering using Intranets (internal Web sites) as a way of distributing information internally GroupGroup TestTest anything from telephone extension PCW compares the hottest lists to terms and conditions. For companies of any size, the video cards around Web has serious resource implications. The standards of the best Web sites have rocketed in the last ✩PentiumPentium 166s166s year. You don t necessarily need to spend a lot of money on creating a The first wave of 166MHz Powerhouse Web site (although it sometimes helps). What you do need to do is PCs go head to head think seriously about the kind of Web site you need and who you get to put it ✩AutoCad ‘95 together. Ben Tisdall The world’s leading Editor CAD package gets a new look
June 96 issue July 96 issue — On sale Thursday 2nd May — On sale Thursday 6th June ● Top 50 Utilities; Monitors
* Next month’s contents subject to change. 13 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PCW Newsprint NEWS Highlights It’s Web war as Gates puts the Cache confusion 18 Dummy-cache motherboard squeeze on Netscape language; but Active X controls maker not yet marking chips can as easily trigger routines icrosoft piled pressure on to will get Microsoft software. written in C++ or Microsoft’s own Corel gets suite 19 Web pioneer Netscape last Microsoft will in return put an Visual Basic. Corel targets Lotus and M month with a series of announ- AOL icon on the Windows 95 IE2 is already a formidable Microsoft cements apparently designed to desktop, in addition to the icon competitor to Netscape, and is Lotus in pieces 21 corner the Internet software for Gates’s own MSN service. better integrated into Windows. Its first software components market. Gates also announced a Gates said there will be versions are unveiled, aimed at Notes Most curious was a deal with new version of his Internet for Win 3.1, NT and the Mac, as 4.0 America Online (AOL), on one Explorer browser. Version 3.0 well as for Windows 95. reckoning the world’s biggest will introduce new controls, Ominously for Netscape, he Seeing red 22 online service, which will adopt called Active X, to facilitate the spelled out again his intention to Portables to get 4Mbit/sec Microsoft’s Internet Explorer as creation and use of multimedia- incorporate browser technology infra-red data ports its browser. Just a day before rich Web pages. “We think this into the operating system, leav- the announcement, AOL told will put us in a leadership posi- ing little room for third-party tech- Hacker’s paradise 24 1000 Web sites are wide the world that it was adopting tion,” Gates said. nology. But both he and Chase open to the perils of hacking Netscape’s riva, Navigator. A beta version is with third- said they expected Netscape to AOL chairman Steve Chase, party developers and the final remain as a competitor. Software bestsellers 30 in a joint news conference with version is expected to ship in Clive Akass Microsoft chief Bill Gates, said late summer. IE3, as Gates MSN charges cut — page 28. Netscape would be used by a calls it, supports Netscape plug- News Analysis — pages 33/35. subsidiary, GNN, “which has a ins and the fash- different class of user.” AOL’s ionable Java four million mainstream users No change yet on dummy cache marking
he maker of many of the dummy- UK marketing manager Steve Baxter T cache motherboards sold in the UK says it could outsell Intel this year to had made no decision as we went to become the world’s largest vendor. press about marking them to avoid He said in February that PIC would confusion or fraud. consider marking the dummies more It had to happen. We had GSM data phones. Protac International Computer (PIC) clearly. But after meeting company We had palmtops. We had cards to let admitted last month that it used dummy chiefs from the Far East last month, he palmtops talk to phones. In the shape of H-P’s cache to cut production costs and to said: “I cannot say what they will Omnigo 700 we even had a phone that slotted reassure buyers by filling chip slots. decide.” into a palmtop. PIC said dummies were stamped Meanwhile, Leslie Richards, MD of Now, at last, Nokia brings us the personal Writeback to identify the strategy for Eurosoft, warned of reports that fraud- oprganiser with a data phone built in. The using cache inside the main processor. sters have restamped Intel processors Nokia 9000 Communicator was one of the star Whatever the motives, the move with a higher clock speed than they are exhibits at last month’s Cebit in Hannover. It caused all kinds of fun and games at rated for. “It means they burn out before allows you to send and receive email, short point of sale (see Newsprint, March and their time.” messages and fax, and even access the Web, April). Newsprint has been flooded with A “lite” version of Eurosoft’s from anywhere within radioshot of a GSM letters and calls from readers complain- PCCheck program, which can be used network. And of course it also packs the usual ing of being misled or ripped off by to test for dummy cache, is available organiser functions. The price is expected to dealers. at PCW’s Web site at www.vnu.co.uk/ be about £1350. Protac is not the only board maker hv/pcw. We will also post there any Nokia 01480 434343 using dummy cache but it is the biggest. updates on this and other stories. More Cebit news, page 32.
18 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NEWSPRINT
Corel draws new Perfect world Short Stories orel previewed WordPerfect marketing work. Novell will Envoy, Netscape, Corel Presen- C7.0 last month and announ- continue to support Word- tations, CorelFlow, and Star- ced the product rollout with Perfect until 5th April. fish’s Sidekick and Dashboard. which it will take on the Lotus There is a major question It will cost £225 (plus VAT), or and Microsoft office suites. over whether Corel can offer £99 as an upgrade. The announcements were the kind of support expected by Corel WordPerfect Profes- marred by confusion over the corporate users. sional will add InfoCentral, fate of support staff following WordPerfect, once a best- Borland’s Paradox, and Novell’s Corel’s purchase of the Word- seller, still has millions of users Groupwise. It will cost £499, Perfect family from Novell. worldwide. Version 7.0, due in £149 as an upgrade. Corel was apparently taken June, will be a full 32-bit Win95 versions of the soft- by surprise when Novell made Win95 application, integrated ware will start to appear next ● The boy Gates, future more than a dozen people with the Netscape Web month. chairman of Microsoft, fea- ● redundant on the eve of the for- browser and including DTP Novell’s new Webaccess tures in a three-part Channel mal handover on 1st March. features such as guidelines and allows GroupWise users to 4 documentary called Corel has offered jobs to all graphics boxes. access their mail and schedules “Triumph of the Nerds”, support staff, five of them with Two Windows 3.1 bundles, from a Web browser. A 10-user which starts on 14th April. It the new freephone support due to ship this month, include pack costs £170. tells the story of how a group operation in Dublin. The rest the Corel WordPerfect Suite: Novell 01344 724000; of young techies, including were expected to be offered WP 6.1, Quattro Pro 6.0, Corel 0800 973 189 Gates, saw the potential for personal computing and became millionaires before The world’s a virtual stage reaching their mid-twenties. black comedy opening this month sounds Trident 3D chips like a more intelligent look at IT than the talk to your TV A ● tired “computer freaks are nerds” line that Trident has launched two graphics chips which offer currently seems to be de rigeur (see story, 64-bit graphics acceleration right). “Binary Dreamers”, by award-winning and 3D rendering, and will Robert Shearman, also attempts the difficult output to both a monitor and feat of putting multimedia on stage. The a TV. The ProVidia 9695 is Nexus Theatre Company production depicts for desktop models and the future technicians as having a virtual home Cyber 9395 is for notebooks. and (right, below) children because they lack Both support Microsoft’s new time for the real thing – largely because they 3D direct draw API. (See are the only people who understand how to page 27.) keep the computerised country running. The Kudos Thame 01734 351010 computer (right, top) is itself a character. The play runs at the Man-in-the-Moon Theatre, Chelsea, London from 2nd Toys and us ● April to 11th May, but may transfer to a larger venue later. Details at Fans of Disney’s Toy Story can access its Web www.vidzone.com/nexus, Web site of Nexus Multimedia, which is site www.bvi.co.uk/toystory doing the graphics. Or call the box office on 0171 351 2876. for features, games, film clips and competitions. For Pod’s sake … Intel pets gissed off over its Ps and Gs
ould you confuse the word “boy” with “toy”? Or “duck” with W...well, we’ll leave it at that. Which is more than Intel did when it discovered a UK firm had launched a product called Gentium. Gentium (Latin for “of nations”) is a development environment for executive information systems. Nothing to do with processors, nothing to do with Intel. But developer Planning Sciences has had to change the name to Gentia, after the chip giant’s lawyers complained that Gentium was too much like Pentium. Mega sales No-one at Planning Sciences would talk about the decision. ● Iomega claims to be QIC But someone close to the company said: “Some people are too cartridge market leader in big to take on in court.” US trademark law makes no distinction Europe, having taken 33 between hardware and software products. percent of sales. Intel spokesman Michael Sullivan said: “We have to protect Iomega 0800 973194 our trademarks. “ “He has to speak in English. It seems that Intel has trademarked Latin”
19 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NEWSPRINT
Lotus goes to pieces over Notes 4.0 Short Stories
otus unveiled the first of what 20 percent of an application’s Notes as if they are part of Lit promises will be a string of functions. Notes.” software components last month Users were also irritated by Roschfield said Lotus would — mini-apps that can be used having to load, say, a massive price components aggressively like extra tools within word processor to jot down in a bid to gain market share. A Law reports applications. notes while working in another starter pack, costing just £12 in The first release, due to ship application. Components volume or £39 to single users, on CD-ROM ● electronic Law Reports later this year, is targeted at the allowed them to pull up a little will include a chart, data query, (eLR) will be available this Notes 4.0 environment, but later text editor, or mini-spreadsheet, draw and diagram, file view, summer on a set of CD- ones will be designed for Java, without leaving their current comment tool, project ROMs. The full text of all perhaps Netscape, and Open- environment. scheduler, and spreadsheet. A 753 volumes of the Law Doc, which pioneered the use of Components also facilitate developer kit will cost £312. Reports published since component software. the embedding of active com- ● Notes 4.0 began shipping in 1865 will be accessible from Larry Roschfield, senior ponents. “If you are working in February and is selling well, the database. director of application product the Notes environment, you can according to Lotus. It claims to Powerful search tools management, said research reach for a tool, just like you are have doubled the number of help lawyers to develop a had shown that the “80-20” rule at a workbench. They enable Notes users in six months last case history. Single-user price is £5,000, but there is continues to operate: that is, 80 you to build richer documents, year. a 20 percent discount on percent of users only ever use faster... and they work within Lotus 01784 455445 orders before 16th June. Context 0171 267 8989 New software evolves for Framemaker gets SGML digital photography market ● Adobe has launched a new version of its Framemaker specialist sers of the graphics utility desktop publishing package UHijack Pro may have for all major platforms. wondered where it could go Framemaker+SGML 1.0 next, with low-cost paint is said to be the first of its packages bundling many of kind to offer Standard its viewing and format- Generalised Markup conversion facilities. Language editing and publishing within a what- Developer Quarterdeck has you-see-is-what-you-get taken two directions. The old environment. 16-bit Hijack Pro has been given SGML, a superset of the Paint and Draw modules and re- Web language HTML, is a launched as the £100 Hijack cross-platform formatting Graphics Suite for Windows 3.1. language much used for Launched at the same time frequently-revised critical at last month’s Windows Show documents such as manuals was Hijack95 (£50), which looks and academic reports — at first sight like a cut-down ver- Framemaker’s major market. sion of Pro. But it is quite differ- be dragged into the little more It is available for ent: essentially a 32-bit compo- Hijack window (screen efficiently Windows, Mac, PowerMac, nent that acts as an extension to left) for viewing and from the Solaris, Aix and HP/UX Win95. manipulation. Chinon — platforms. It iconises graphics files to This is the start of an though it Adobe 0181 606 4000 help you identify them in file list- evolution of software to can be ings viewed from any program. cope with the mass market for used with any Twain device. Kids’ deal You can get a full view either by digital photography, which looks It too is more like a compo- ● Microsoft’s six-month right-clicking the mouse or drag- set to emerge soon. Some of nent, allowing you to organise “Kids Promotion” finishes on ging the file to a Hijack icon. the existing stuff is a little flaky, and index your pictures, as well 30th April. Anyone buying Hijack even allows you to make as with the driver for the Chinon as store them fairly compactly — the new Deluxe package of the icons bigger. EZ 3000 camera (Newsprint, about 100Kb a full-colour shot. Creative Writer and Fine The screenshot (above) April). NBA, which distributes ● Quarterdeck also launched an Artist on one CD-ROM, and one other specified title, is shows a Win95 directory listing both the 3000 and the related new Internet suite which PJ entitled to a free product transformed into a scrolling Kodak DC50, sent me a £199 Fisher will review next month. worth £29.99. Quarterdeck 01245496699; picture gallery (screen right) package called Photo-Wallet Microsoft 01734 270001 from which any picture can (inset) which gets pictures a NBA 01483 301970
21 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NEWSPRINT
Short Stories Portables to see red with new, MO storage costs drop fast network links without cables ● Plasmon has doubled the capacity of current magneto- ll portables will ship with could not optical storage drives with a infra-red ports capable of account for new 2.6Gb model. The A passing data at up to 4Mbit/sec the price RF6940 costs £1,770, a big by the end of next year, says IR disparity. He drop in the cost per megabyte. specialist Extended Systems. said: “I have The drive is also That is the ceiling of the IrDA no idea of the integrated into Plasmon’s 1.1 specification, though current distribution Jukebox range, where the machines manage only a maxi- arrangements cost benefit is still more mum 1.15Mbit/sec — still ten in the UK.” marked. The 52-slot RF52J- times faster than IrDA 1 models. Extended 694 holds 135.2Gb, double Extended Systems has laun- Systems is the capacity of the ched two new IR network links not alone in RF52J690 which it replaces, capable of 4Mbit/sec, which it pushing its luck on prices: ed a video playing across a yet costs less at £10,995. showed linking to IBM Think- standalone infra-red ports in 4Mbit/sec IR link at Fall Plasmon 01763 262963 pads at 1.15Mbits/sec. IBM will general cost little less than Comdex. Hewlett-Packard, Adobe pack shortly ship 4Mbit/sec models. cheap televisions equipped with which has offered IR for five The JetEye Net and the Jet- an IR port and an IR remote years, is about to launch in ● Adobe has launched the Adobe Publishing Collection Eye Net Plus allow portable control. The silicon involved Europe a network adapter called for Windows 95, combining users to connect directly to a costs less than a cable. NetBeamIR, which will compete Photoshop 3.0, Illustrator network without the need to Companies have R&D costs head-on with the JetEye net. It 4.1, PageMaker 6.0 and hassle with cables. The Plus to recoup, but they have only too will offer speeds of up to Acrobat Pro 2.1. It offers a also has a printer port. They will themselves to blame for the fact 4Mbit/sec. The European price saving of up to 30 percent cost £210 and £180 respectively that infra-red links have yet to has not yet been announced but on the cost of buying the in Britain; US prices are $285 reach a mass market. it costs $289 in the US. products individually. and $242. Mark Willnerd (sic), But IR’s time does appear to Extended Systems 010705 875075; Adobe 0181 606 4000 US-based IR product manager, have come. Sharp demonstrat- Hewlett-Packard 01344 360000 Thank you, Fanfare ● SoftKey’s Fanfare! Hewlett-Packard keeps dot density Presentations lets you create interactive multimedia down on latest colour LaserJet presentations easily, works with both Windows 95 and 3.1, and is available at a ewlett-Packard has kept the 1200 dots per inch. is not alone in saying that for recommended £39.99. Hdot density on its latest True 1200dpi black-and- colour, in particular, the dot SoftKey 0181 789 2000 colour LaserJets down at 300 white lasers have been available density beyond a certain point per inch — but says image for some time, and dot density is less important than how the Hayes suite resolution enhancing technology has popularly been assumed to colour is placed on the paper. ● Hayes has launched a (iREt) makes this effectively be a measure of quality. But HP HP colour programme new £79 telephony software manager Darren Wall points suite called the Smartcom out that there are implications Message Center. It features for speed, too. “The more support for voicemail, fax on Turbo upgrade ‘faster than dots you have, the more data demand, and messaging. Pentium 75’ you have to process.” Hayes 01252 775500 The Colour LaserJet 5 and new 486 upgrade kit based 5M models are targeted at Award deadline on the AmD5x86 chip is workgroups requiring multiple ● Nominations for the A claimed to outperform rival Intel’s copies of colour documents. prestigious British Computer overdrive chips, giving the HP claims the average cost Society Awards for IT close on 31st May. Forms can be performance of a Pentium 75. of a colour page is just under accessed at www.bcs.org.uk Kingston Technology has added 6p, and that the machine has /cgibin/awards.htm a fan and voltage regulator, and is the lowest cost of ownership BCS 01793 417417 marketing the result through of any other colour laser. Datrontech as the Turbo 133. The Colour LaserJet 5 50in inkjet The Turbochip is clock-quadrupled to run internally at 133MHz costs £5,500 complete with ● ColourGen claims its 50in on a 33MHz bus, making it suitable for most 4865 SX and DX 20Mb of RAM; the 5M, for NovaJet Pro 50 inkjet is the motherboards, the company says. It includes a floating point unit Macs £7180, with 36Mb of widest available. and 16Kb internal cache. RAM. ColourGen 0113 277 3689 Datrontech 01252 303534 Hewlett-Packard 01344 360000
22 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NEWSPRINT
Tim Bajarin: Renewed terror campaign highlights Message from peril of instant address systems America Oracle chief Larry mailshot system which can names and address from the “We are aware that some pro- Ellison has unveiled a proto- instantaneously locate electoral roll, matched against vide this information in electronic A type of his cheap Net-access virtually anyone in England, the Post Office address file (see form. But users of this information box, seen as a replacement including leading politicians, was story below). GB says it has are required to register with us.” for the PC. I was shown one launched last month at the start retained former deputy data GB Mailing 01244 683333 by Andy Laursen, who is of the renewed IRA terror protection registrar John Clive Akass heading the project. campaign. Lamidey to advise The NC, as Ellison calls it, GB Mailing Systems said “on procedures to is square, with I/O ports in the that on police advice it was manage and main- rear, and is based on the “revising the script” of its tain best practice ARM Risc chip. It has a few Windows Show promotion of its in its national reg- megabytes of RAM, a Net interface, a keyboard and a GB Accelerator system — the ister work.” mouse. A TV is used as a first of its kind to be based Any would-be monitor. It can be used to around a desktop machine. terrorist seeking browse the Internet, send GB said it could legally allow targets would have email, or compose anyone to browse its data. “But to pay dearly for documents. considering the terror alert, GB Accelerator. It The NC can also receive chose not to use politicians’ costs more than and send audio and video, names and addresses to £30,000. subject to available bandwidth Form.Z RenderZone (above), MiniCad 6.0, demonstrate... the directory A spokes- (minimum 384Kbps, so they and Media StudioPro 2.5, previously only engine.” woman for the say). Oracle hopes to be the available on the Mac, are now available for major provider of the under- This heartwarming demon- Data Protection the PC. MiniCad supports 2D drafting, 3D lying database for NCs. It has stration of public spirit was Registrar said surface modelling, a powerful database and been developing a universal marred by the fact that the com- local authorities macros. Form.Z RenderZone from database with multimedia pany showed to journalists how are required by auto.des.sys is a fast 3D modeller with support with versatile it could find, within seconds, the law to provide rendering. Media StudioPro provides 32-bit indexing. It also lets compa- home addresses of John Major electoral roll infor- nies recast their data into new video editing under Windows 95 or NT. and other leading politicians. mation for a fee on NC paradigms. Gomark Design 0171 731 7930 The system uses 43 million request. Given the bandwidth needed, the NC is unlikely to hit the consumer market soon. First users will be You too can afford a correct corporations and schools. Ellison and Oracle have bet the farm on the Internet. address ages, such as QAS Rapid, pro- Oracle is counting on the NC vide more details but usually to make it bigger than Micro- require some soft. That’s quite a gamble. I he new commercially- expertise to customise. question whether users will Toriented Post Office, once a Postcodes can be linked to dump PCs in favour of the byword for public service values, several datasets to facilitate NC. But It seems to me that now urges us on the value of marketing, including census- the PC and the NC could co- exist as business, education correct addressing while derived information. and entertainment go digital. charging a huge amount for AFD was the first to bring A user may have a PC in addresses. makes them available to any prices down with a £154 product the den and a sub-$500 NC in Addresses and phone num- Windows or DOS application. called Postcode, which will also the kitchen or bedroom — bers in the free-marketing US The idea is that if you are provide Mailsort and (where even in the form of a smart are public domain information, taking an address over the possible) STD phone codes and telephone. but software and licenses to phone, you ask first for the interfaces for more than 70 So when you hear the access Britain’s Post Office postcode and most of the rest is Windows applications. rhetoric about the network Address Files (PAF) have in the filled in automatically: you need AFD has now announced a computer and how it will take past cost hundreds of pounds. only ask for a building number £125 add-on called Pinpoint, over the PC, remember that that debate is too narrow. Now Quick Address Systems and name. Not only does this which provides a grid reference The heart of the issue is is offering a £99 package that save typing, you also get a which can be imported into map- how each digital access looks very useful for small busi- double check on accuracy. ping software. Within Windows, system will work in your office nesses. It has crammed all the QAS Lite is designed to be it will also display the approxi- and home in the future, and addresses in Britain, short of integrated easily into standard mate location on a map and how they will change the way house names and numbers, into PC applications such as Word calculate distances. you work, learn and play in 5.7Mb with a front-end that or Excel. More advanced pack- QAS 0171 498 7777; AFD 01294 823221 our digital future.
23 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NEWSPRINT
Short Stories 1000 Web sites ‘open to hackers’
ore than 1000 Web sites use assume it will be secure forever.” useful. Even the software com- Ma version of Microsoft Netcraft started monitoring panies don’t know the figures.” Internet Information Server Web sites last year and Detailed figures, with links to software that is very vulnerable to produces monthly reports on the other relevant information, are at hackers, according to the latest software they are using. “No-one http://www.netcraft.com/ ● This Fujitsu notebook is survey by Web consultant Netcraft. else was doing it and we carried security/http/cgi_dos.html claimed to be the first pen- driven colour model to run They use IIS software, down- on because a lot of people find it Netcraft 01225 447500 Windows 95. The Stylistic loaded from Microsoft’s Web site 1000 uses a 486DX4 before 5th March — without a fix processor, an infra-red port, Microsoft posted within hours of and a Lithium-Ion battery the discovery of the bug. Computer security pack capable of a claimed The bug is even easier to six hours of operation. exploit than a similar one in early standard ignored It is aimed at niche Netscape server software — also ust two in a hundred companies have implemented a standard applications based on form- still in use at thousands of sites. introduced last year to improve computer security, according to filling and data collection, J Microsoft posted a fix within a new survey. More than half those polled by KPMG had not even which can be implemented easily without sophisticated hours after news of the bug was heard of the BS 7799 standard, which outlined ten key controls. handwriting recognition. posted on the Net. Three out of four lack a designated security office and even Fujitsu is offering a wide Many companies are reported fewer had a policy for reporting security lapses. A large propor- range of sylish peripherals, to be reluctant to link up to the tion of companies that had suffered a loss still had no plan to including a keyboard and Net because of the security prob- cope with a further incident. Unauthorised Internet connections stand that can turn it into a lem. But Netcraft’s Mike Prette- within companies presented one of the greatest security threats, desktop machine. Prices john says: “They are still careless according to the 1996 National Computer Security Survey. start at £2995. about it. Security is very hard to The survey is priced £235 from Brian Kearvell-White at Fujitsu 0181 573 4444 achieve. It is not the case that KPMG on 0116 256 6173. you can stick up a Web site and Intel boosts multimedia ● A new Intel technology is said to enhance multimedia BT consumer Internet service and comms applications. Intel plans to incorporate the is ‘too expensive’, say analysts MMX architecture extensions on all processors from late 1996 (see page T finally launched its access for just £6.99 per month 160). It is preparing to Bconsumer Internet service at as part of an annual payment release a new chip, the Windows 96 show, attracting plan. codenamed P55c, to launch criticism that it has priced the However, BT maintains that the technology. service too high. it is not “aiming to be the cheap- MMX is intended to BT Internet will cost £15 per est or the most expensive” but enhance rather than replace month for unlimited access, plus offering a higher level of service multimedia components such a one-off joining fee of £20. In and resources. It will offer 0345 as sound cards by reducing comparison, CompuServe’s new access outside London at the load on the CPU. Firms SpryNet service is charged at speeds of up to 28,800Kbps. sign up to the service. such as Microsoft, Macromedia and Criterion around £13 per month for unlim- New users will be given a com- Some newsgroups will not be have announced support. ited access, while UK based Net- plete starter pack, including a available, but BT says that Intel 01793 403000 Direct is offering unlimited copy of enhanced Mosaic to access decisions are based on illegality rather than censorship. CompuServe has announced its first foray into the virtual online For example, it will not carry Netscape cash world with the UK launch of Worlds Away. By typing GO AWAY newsgroups whose titles ● Netscape reported $40.6 suggest illegality, such as million revenues for the last members can enter a new chat area which is graphically rich and three months of 1995, an allows them to generate online personalities from a kit of graphical alt.rec.cockfighting, an illegal 80.5 percent increase. parts including, strangely, certain vegetables. activity in the UK. Users can create facial expressions and gestures. Virtual cash is BT Internet will be supported Print servers available to buy and sell objects from other users as part of an by billboard promotions and ● Microplex showed its accumulation game. The service has been working in the US since advertising in national $37510BaseT M205 and December, and a real marriage has already taken place as a result. magazines and newspapers. 10Base2 M206 miniature Worlds Away is the first of what CompuServe expects to be But BT believes that its market- multi-protocol Ethernet print many multimedia environments on its service and was developed in ing clout will not give it an servers at Cebit. conjunction with Fujitsu Cultural Technologies. advantage over smaller Microplex 001 604 444 4232 CompuServe 01734 525555 PJ Fisher competitors but instead boost the Internet market overall.
24 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NEWSPRINT
Short Stories Microsoft launches new 3D engine Textbridge for icrosoft has announced photographic textures and Microsoft is also set to make Web output MDirect3D, a comprehensive videos to animated 3D objects. Direct3D a cross-platform solu- ● The latest version of set of API services designed to It can mix animated 3D and 2D tion, with versions for Windows Xerox’s Textbridge text- provide mainstream PC users objects within a single scene, 95, NT and Apple PowerMacs. recognition product includes with realtime 3D graphics. It and works with hardware Likewise, Apple is planning features to help companies wishing to translate paper stems from the highly regarded accelerators to improve to bring its technology to the documents into Web pages. Reality Lab 3D technology, performance. Windows platform, fuelling Companies use browsers acquired by Microsoft when it Ann Mitchard, senior prod- another battle of the standards. to distribute information, but bought RenderMorphics. uct manager at Microsoft UK, Direct3D is currently shipping need an easy way to post Direct3D gives developers said: “PC users will soon to developers in beta form as and format it, says Wayne advanced 3D functions and a experience a whole new level part of a software development Crandall, managing director highly optimised software-only of 3D-realism in Internet, enter- kit (SDK). of Xerox’s desktop document rendering engine. It has integral tainment, education and busi- Microsoft 0345 002000 system division in Europe. support for mapping ness applications.” Chris Cain TextBridge Pro has sold on its ability to translate for- matting as well as text. The new TextBridge Pro 96 ISDN ‘value’ starter kits come online includes a light version of SoftQuad’s HotMetal editor wo more relatively low-cost ISDN kits were which can output in HTML. Tlaunched last month, amid whispers that BT will Xerox Imaging 01734 688421 cut its controversial £400 sign-on charge later this year. Piracy hotline Motorola demonstrated an ISDN version of its leads to writs successful Net starter pack, which was built around ● Microsoft has issued writs a V.34 modem. Its £329 ISDN start kit includes a against two firms for allegedly BitSurfer Pro terminal adapter with two analogue supplying illegal software.The ports as well as an ISDN jack. firms are Proteck (UK) of Cheaper adapters lack an analogue port, which Stevenage and Glasgow allows you to use existing equipment such as a fax (also trading as Pro- machine or phone handset. However, the Motorola Technology and Stevenage TA, which is styled very like its V.34 modem, is Computers), and Andrew Fullard, trading as FTS of Hayes compatible and so can be used with most Hayes is offering what it calls an ISDN value Plymouth. standard comms packages. pack, which includes a terminal adapter, a fast The writs follow calls to The pack, which comes complete with an Inter- serial port, and an Internet starter kit. It costs £449. Microsoft’s Sherlock Holmes net kit and cables, ships this month. Motorola also Paxdata’s Ultimate TA (pictured) can aggregate hotline, which “gives launches its Vanguard router family, providing two ISDN channels into one, and can imitate a customers the opportunity to ISDN access for LANs and including Frame Relay leased line so that it always appears to be on line. validate their software”. and X-25 support as standard to allow switched Motorola 01293 404343; Hayes 01252 775511; Paxdata ● Maidenhead-based Lead- access to private or public carrier networks. 01442 2363360 ing Technology, which trades under the name Protek, says it is not connected with the accused company. of a sine wave (think of the path Wavelet goodbye to noise Hotline 0345 300125 ext 1001 traced by the end of a bicycle spoke – the areas above and Apilink in the UK igh-class squiggles called below the hub cancel out). ● Paris-based Apilink has Hwavelets are the latest Wavelets can also have exotic launched a drive into Britain, wheeze to hit computing. The shapes, each suitable for a coinciding with the launch of maths behind them is devious, different class of problems. Oracle’s Universal Server. but you don’t need to get into it Wavelets are related to Apilink claims its product, to use them, according to Matlab fractals in that the same shapes which acts as a hub between developer The MathWorks. repeat at different orders of client and server, provides It has produced a Wavelet magnitude, like harmonics in fast, secure integration Toolbox for Matlab, which can represented as a set of sine sound. These different orders between mainframe data- be used for a multitude of tasks, waves. can be seen in the screenshot, bases and workstations. Apilink UK managing from image compression to But continuous sine waves which shows an analysis of director Stuart Kenley said: noise elimination and (not unre- are poor models for sporadic noise on a chirp sound. “We are not out to fight with lated) financial analysis. effects, and clumsy even for Image compression is Oracle, Sybase or other sys- Simple squiggles have some continuous wave forms – obtained by using such ripples tems. We want to partner been used for 172 years, since for instance, a square wave. within ripples to represent the them.” Fourier formulated the theory by Wavelets are discontinuous and subtle changes across a picture. Apilink UK 01344 382028 which complex waveforms are sum to zero, like a single cycle Clive Akass Jessica Hodgson
27 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NEWSPRINT
Short Stories New notebooks get battery-friendly Microsoft cuts Net charges Pentium as superfast video zooms in ● The Microsoft Network has been transformed into an ntel launched a resolution of their 12.1in TFT Internet Service Provider, battery-friendly colour screens: the 720 is capa- priced to compete head on I 133MHz Pentium for ble of 1024 x 768 resolution with CompuServe and AOL. notebooks last compared with the 710’s 800 x Prices start at £4.95 per month for three hour’s month, prompting 600. Prices and availability will access. Extra access is Toshiba and AST to be announced this month. charged at £1.95 per hour. announce models AST has also announced a Microsoft is promising based on it. new 133MHz Pentium notebook more UK content, which has The Toshiba range. Prices for the Ascentia P been sorely lacking. A forum models, launched at model start at £3595, with 16Mb based around the Euro 96 Cebit, also featured or RAM and a CD drive. football championships is a new PC Card port, And Viglen has introduced a one example. supporting superfast new Dossier CD range which all Microsoft is also testing a video. The Zoomed feature 16-bit sound and a new IP-based network. Available by the end of April, Video port passes the data fastest yet to run internally at quad-speed CD drive. Prices it will be based on native IP stream from a ZV-compliant 2.9V on a 3.3V rail, and sits in a range from £2,099 for a 57MHz and not IP running over X.25. MPEG video decoder PC Card thin Tape Carrier Package Pentium with 8Mb of RAM and a The UK will receive 100 directly to the graphics and packet. It runs clock-doubled on 540Mb disk, to £2,949 for a percent local call coverage, audio subsystems, leaving the a 66MHz bus. 120MHz Pentium with 16Mb also by the end of April, and processor and system bus com- The Tectra 710CDT and and a 1.2Gb disk. 28.8Kbps and ISDN will be pletely free to do other work. 720CDT both have a 6X CD AST 0181 232 5000 Viglen provided at no extra charge. The new Pentium is the drive and differ only in the 0181 758 7000; Toshiba 01932 828828 www.microsoft.com Paul Fisher SmartPad interface has the Tektronix WinDD proves common touch ● Database specialist Data- that new into old does go ease is offering a utility that provides a common graphical new network package lets Windows software on an NT central control. You need only interface for disparate you run Windows 95 on old network. upgrade one set of software on applications running under A PCs with 4Mb of RAM and a 386, Stephen King, Euro chief of the server.” DOS, Windows 3.1 or Win95. or even a 286, processor, Tektronix’s video and networking A 10-user server licence SmartPad is basically an application launcher, with a developer Tektronix claims. division, said: “An added advan- costs £3,513. bar of icons to summon Upgrading to a Win95 system tage is that at one stroke you get Tektronix 01628 403300 packages. But it also allows can cost £1,500 a machine, given you to insert extra menu the need for 16Mb of RAM and a items into any application, larger disk. Icons cut through the and to macros, or Visual Tektronix says its WinDD can Basic-type routines to icons. save up to 60 percent of this cost, confusion over PC Cards One use would be to by allowing companies to upgrade These icons have been approved to integrate Dataease for DOS only the server. It works rather like overcome some of the confusion into a Windows environment. remote control software: an app- over the capabilities of different PC SmartPad Professional, which is a full development lication runs on the server and the Card devices and slots. Three of the environment, costs £3295; old PC need only handle screen icons self-evidently signify 16-bit Desktop Lite modules which and keyboard data. operation, 3V and 5V cards or slots. can run SmartPad modules A single-Pentium 66MHz The DVB icon will mark a Digital cost £450 for a pack of ten. server can serve 15 average Video Broadcasting slot, which will DataEase 0181 554 9582 users or eight power users, says be used as an interface on set-top boxes (and perhaps PCs) when Tektronix. The package can also DVB takes off. Space case be used on a portable over an A PC Card logo will signify a manufacturer who is a member of ● Pipex Dial is offering Web Internet link. the PCMCIA body which governs the PC Card standards. DMA on space for home pages at a WinDD, which is essentially a card or slot signifies support for Direct Memory Access, and rate of £10 a month for 2Mb, an extention to Windows NT, has CardBus shows support for 32-bit bus mastering. or £30 for up to 5Mb. Dial been available on Unix platforms ZV signifies the new Zoomed Video which Toshiba has users get a mimimal home for more than two years. The introduced with its latest notebooks (see above). Full details can space free. Pipex 0500 474739 latest version means multiple be found at the PCMCIA site at www.pc-card.com. platforms can run the same
28 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NEWSPRINT
Short Stories The end of the PowerMac eWorld is nigh prices cut says Apple ● Apple UK has cut the PC cloners may switch to Macs prices of its latest range of pple finally succumbed to the mall PC makers squeezed distributor Macro, said this PowerMacs. An entry-level inevitable this month when it by big companies such as meant that motherboards and 7200 is now £850 (plus VAT), A S pulled the plug on eWorld, its Gateway and Escom may other components could be sold or £1,250 with a 17in proprietary online service. The switch to making low-cost Mac to systems integrators. “The Multiscan monitor. Prices on the 7500, 8500 cartoon-like service never fulfilled clones following a deal last boards will run the Mac OS, or and PCI-based 9500 are also expectations, peaking at around month to license the Mac OS to Windows NT, or IBM’s AIX, so reduced. A basic 9500 now 120,000 subscribers worldwide, Motorola. they can form the basis of a costs £3,460. well behind the leading online The deal was one of the whole range of machines from players. Add in the Cupertino- first moves by Gilbert Amelio cheap Mac clones to servers.” Web suite for based company’s financial (below) after taking over as Motorola 01628 763246; new servers troubles, plus an increasingly head of Apple. Macro 01628 604383 ● A second-generation Web competitive online market, and the The most suite for Mac servers is due scene was set for a pull-out. important to ship this month. Apple As a replacement, Apple and aspect is that Internet Server Solution America Online have agreed to Motorola is packs a claimed £2,500 promote AOL with special incen- the first com- worth of software onto a tives for eWorld subscribers to pany to be single CD. It provides all the switch to AOL. Apple will put granted sub- tools to create a multimedia- some of its technical support licensing rich Web site using one of areas on AOL, outstanding email rights, says Apple’s new workgroup servers, the 7250/120 or the will be forwarded free of charge UK branch 8550/132. and eWorld users will get 15 manager Phil hours free on AOL. Spivey. AOL says that it will continue to Mark support the Mac platform with new Hobbs, group ● CompuServe, in an overt “refined client software” and full marketing bid to tempt users of Apple’s World Wide Web integration. manager of benighted eWorld service America Online has always been Motorola’s (see story right), is bundling popular with Mac users in the Unit- Netscape’s browser with its ed States, and AOL disks will soon suite of Mac access software. be bundled with most new Macs. CompuServe 0800 000200 Ironically, the Mac client for the UK Dr Gilbert F Stilo SGML AOL service will not be ready until Amelio ● Stilo has released its mid-summer at the earliest. HTML and SGML document generator for Macs and Top 10 Peripherals Last Top 20 Windows Last PowerMacs. It costs £850. A Product Manufacturer month Product Manufacturer month Windows 95 version is 1 Quadspeed CD-ROM Drive Goldstar 6 1 First Aid 95 for Win95 RMG 4 planned for May. 2 Online Internet Kit Motorola 2 2 Encarta 96 Microsoft 1 Stilo 01222 483530 3 850MB IDE Hard Disk Kit Western Digital 1 3 Windows 95 U/G Microsoft 2 4 Sidewinder Joystick Microsoft 3 4 TurboCAD ISMT 8 Video board 5 3400 Modem Motorola 5 5 MS Office 4.2 U/G Microsoft 6 ● miro has announced a 6 Iomega Zip Drive Iomega - 6 Qemm Quarterdeck 3 PCI-based video-editing 7 Tape Backup 800Mb Travan - 7 MS Office Pro 95 CCP U/G Microsoft 12 system for PowerPCs, 8 AWE 32 SoundBlaster Creative Labs - including a JPEG board and 8 Uninstaller v3.5 Microhelp - Adobe Premiere software. 9 Epsom Stylus Colour Printer Epsom - 9 Dr Solomons Anti Virus Quarterly S&S International The miroMotion DC20 costs 10 SoundBlaster 16 Value Creative Labs 4 10 Cleansweep 95 Quarterdeck 7 £999 and supports Hi-8, Top 10 DOS 11 MS Office Pro 95 Microsoft 12 Video 8, S-VHS and VHS. 11 AutoRoute Exp UK & IRE Microsoft 8 miro 01484 510250 1 Flight Simulator v5.1 Microsoft 1 13 Corel Printhouse Corel 10 2 WordStar v6.0 Softkey - 14 Dr Solomons Anti Virus Quarterly ‘95 S&S International Newsprint welcomes 3 MSDOS v6.22 U/G Microsoft 2 15 MagnaRAM 95 Quarterdeck 11 feedback from readers. 4 MSDOS v6.22 MOLP Licence Microsoft - 16 MS Plus Microsoft 19 Send your news and 5 Turbo C++ Borland - 17 MS Office Pro 4.3 Microsoft - views to 6 Fun School Maths Europress 7 18 Pass Your GCSE Maths Mathsoft - [email protected]. 7 Doom2 Virgin - 19 Wincheckit RMG - compuserve.com, or call 8 Antivirus Quarterly S&S International 10 20 MS Publisher v3.0 Microsoft - 0171 316 9317 9 Accountant v7.01 Sage -
10 PCDOS Version 7 IBM 6 Figures supplied by Software Warehouse and relate to bestsellers for February 1996.
30 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 32 Hannover CeBITshow revealed. of theexhibitor at theexpense ofthevisitor, asthe caterTechnology for theneeds increasingly fairs trade It’s aseller’s market ANALYSIS NEWS http://www.fujitsu-icl.co.uk released. of newhardwaredevelopments.Nopriceswere match componentsandconfigurationstotakeadvantage but price-conscioushomeuserswhowishtomixand the endofyear. Trend PC/TVand17indisplays,availableintheUKby Highlights ofthenewrangewereaPentium-based new PCsatCeBIT,aimedbusinessandhomeusers. components madeituniqueamongPCmanufacturers. Fujitsu’s manufactureofitsowndrivesandother “Consumers demandandtrustJapanesebrands,” David Mills. five supplierglobally.“Wewilldothat,”saidabullish three Europeansupplierbytheendof1998,andatop Anglo-Japanese PCgiantwhichaimstobecomeatop that ICL’sdaysasaPCbrandarenumbered. Division intothePSG,amovethatledtospeculation trust Japanesebrands” “Consumers demandand Volume Products: David Mills,CEO,ICL ANALYSISA newTBirdrangeisaimedatthetechnicallysavvy To emphasiseitsintentions,FujitsuICLlaunched17 The 80percentJapanese-ownedcompanystated: The mergerisjustpartofaradicalshake-upbythe Fujitsu’s Easternpromise B themed standsandblaring halls ofcomputers,brash, exhausting traipsethrough24 CeBIT maystillbeworththe with aprofessionalincentive, through theturnstiles. 700,000 visitorshadclicked give ititspropername,upto For journalistsandothers Hannover Fair,orCeBITto OFTHE Y THECLOSE T ICL’s VolumeProducts been formedbymerging Group. Thedivisionhas Personal Systems within Fujitsu’sglobal a newvolumedivision from DavidMills,CEOof manufacturing came parallel withTV audience wastold.This Japan, aCeBIT soon allbemadein and theworld’sPCsmay being pushedtothewall Smaller suppliersare consolidating fast. he PCindustryis PJ Fisher Web sites.Or if learned onaquicktourofIT magazine like have beenseenina CeBIT thisyearthatcouldn’t and uncertaindemographics. with theircombatanoraks exhibitor-proof undesirables much biggergroupof telecomms manager)orthe desirable type(ITdirector, the visitorsareof useful. Thisistruewhether what isnew,interestingor or fallonitsabilitytodeliver visitors, theshowwillstand their businesscards.For large bytheinformationon attendees, measuredbyand show bythequalityof visitor. Exhibitorsjudgea exhibitor andtheneedsof between theneedsof easily impressed? all betterinformedandless every year?Orperhapswe’re innovations andsurprises capable ofdeliveringthrills, computer firmsarenolonger general, shows?Perhaps IT industryhasoutgrownbig, the organisers.Perhaps which isn’tentirelythefaultof industry. on thesupplysideofIT most ofwhicharesquarely diverse rangeofinterests, trade faircateringfora degenerated intoasprawling technology andhas be ashowcasefornew defunct, CeBIThasceasedto most ofwhicharenow attend. money andshoe-leatherto should wastetheirtime, professionals withabudget) most wanttoattract(IT those visitorstheorganisers increasingly hardtoseewhy Europop. Maybe.Butitis There wasnothingat There is,too,amismatch It offerslittleexcitement, Like thebigBritishshows, PCW, there was, or fun. instead. Itisboundtobemore look atcomputers,gotothat a needtogoGermany Home Electronics.Ifyoufeel show forAugust,CeBIT posters advertisinganew visible. Aroundthehallswere computer showsintheUK. successfully replacedthebig like thosewhichhave smaller, specialisedevents will eventuallyfragmentinto the originalHannoverFair,it another exhibitionhall.Like what lookssuspiciouslylike are layingfoundationsfor continue togrow—workmen context. able toviewtheproductsin showgoers wouldhavebeen industry’s buzzwordsand knew acoupleofthe given theimpressionthatthey labels theymightatleasthave organisers hadusedthese or “multimedia”.Ifthe would havereplied“Internet”, this year,it’sasafebetthey what theyhadcometosee useful. they aretoogeneraltobe Not onlyaretheselabelsdull, and “telecommunications”. labels like“officeequipment”, found groupedinhallswith classified as“IT”. broad arangeeventobe collating machines.Thisistoo photocopiers todocument incorporating everythingfrom telecommunications, worlds ofcomputersand sets outtospanthedual be heldresponsible.CeBIT walk furthertoseeit. you wanttoseeandhaving means seeinglessofwhat exhibitors butforthevisitorit diversity mayselltheshowto prominence. Sizeand innovation toachieve makes itsodifficultforan CeBIT, butitsdiversitythat it. Itisnotjustthesizeof they’d havebeenluckytofind The firstsignsarealready CeBIT willnodoubt If youweretoaskvisitors The exhibitsaretobe Here, theorganiserscan Julian Patterson E something likethis: inmid- many Websites. serve asthebackbonefor server technologythatwill have seriousNTInternet than thecompetition’s.Itwill more powerfulanddistinctive and makeWin95’sapproach sound controlstotheInternet works toadd3D,videoand Internet “embrace andextend”the religion, anditsstrategyisto Microsoft hasgottenInternet topic wastheInternet. information systems. the basisforre-engineered corporations choosingNTas more than40major the pastsixmonths,with has wonsomebigcontractsin expected thisyear.Microsoft 1995, withevenhighergrowth sales grew300percentin is thatWindowsNTserver Servers. Thesurprisingnews Office program,NTand the directionofBack more timesthannot. even ifitdoesgetthingsright human asthenextcompany, show thatMicrosoftisjustas issue. Sothesesessions mentioned asastrategic Internet wasnoteven systems. enough foruseinhigh-level server technologyrobust applications. Onlynowistheir servers formission-critical technology andcreating serious aboutclient-server convince usthatitwasreally hot potato. Microsoft droppedOS/2likea enough, sixmonthslater, bought thelineandsure generation ofPCs.Noneus operating systemforthenext that OS/2wasgoingtobethe software) triedtoconvinceus president ofoperating Ballmer (thenseniorvice 1989 BillGatesandSteve for astrategybriefing.Backin of analyststoitsheadquarters The roadmaplooks It hasvariousideasinthe But themostimportant One focusthisyearwason At lastyear’ssession,the In 1992,Microsofttriedto irsf invitesagroup Microsoft VERY WINTER, and Internetserversolutions. that aretiedtoBackOffice through newMicrosofttools be abletoextendtheInternet Visual Basicprogrammerswill Additionally, Windows95and least thex86desktopmarket. make amajorimpactonat party, Microsoftcanandwill being thislatetotheInternet through files. really wanttonavigate Internet andhowpeople number oneelementofthe that ittotallymissedthe caught upwithtreesandlists its OSstrategy.Itwasso hyperlinking acriticalpartof really missedwastomake Internet show,butwhatit Microsoft waslatetothe an Appleagain). Microsoft wenttoschoolon OpenDoc, soitlookslike CyberDog doesitwith application, onthefly(Apple’s pasted intoanydesktop site willbeeasilycutand documents fromanInternet just anotherdiskdrive. This willtreattheInternetlike what willprobablybeWin97). Nashville (thecodenamefor right intotheheartof integrate theInternetExplorer in 1997,whenMicrosoftwill operating system. the Internetfrom easy foruserstoconnect this year.)Thiswillmakeit the majorpartofitsupgrade gets theWin95interfaceas 95. (Actually,WindowsNT Windows NTand an Internetadd-onkitforboth 1996, Microsoftwillrelease With suchastrong move The ironyisthateven Some havesaidthat OLE 2.0embedded The majormovewillcome Gates seesthelight Gates nationwide. becomes available well beforecheapbandwidth configuration andpricepoint more likelythatwereachthis Pentium. Hebelievesitis of RAMandatleasta90MHz drive, 28.8baudmodem,8Mb having amonitor,CD-ROM under $1,000,withthatPC the priceofrealPCsdown feels thatthekeywillbetoget down PCmodel.Instead,he so hediscountsthestripped- pipes availableanytimesoon, we willhaverealbroadband back-end Internetservers. high-speed connectionto would allowthemtohavea bandwidth availablethat were largeandcheap only haverealvalueifthere out thattheseterminalswould down terminals,buthepoints when hetalksaboutstripped- taken off.” years andtheyhavenever They havebeenoutformany about Xterminalsagain? people aregettingexcited terminals, hesaid:“Gee, stripped-down access about hisviewofthese asked Bill appliances. Internet about $500 Gates, feels chairman, Bill Microsoft imagine how you can the Internet, to connect the majorway x86-based PCs towards making He doesnotbelievethat He isbeingfacetioushere When I Microsoft’s mission is to embrace and Microsoft’s missionistoembrace Tim Bajarin Having got Internet religion, Having gotInternet ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL with amission Gates isaman evangelist: Bill Internet starter to From late extend theNet. MAY 1996 ANALYSIS NEWS 33 ANALYSIS NEWS ANALYSIS
HE EARLIEST MOSAIC Tbrowser, which transformed the Internet into a global information highway, The Microsoft Net closes in sent a shiver down my spine the first time I used it. Here was a completely new kind of Putting browser technology into the Win95 OS is just the software; simple in concept latest stage in the tightening of Gates’s global grip. The yet enormously powerful in Microsoft/AOL deal may be a big smokescreen. effect. I got a similar frisson loading a beta suite of Hard drives are moving on up Microsoft’s forthcoming Internet software. It cannot The upward trend in hard-drive capacities continues with all compete with Mosaic for major manufacturers announcing 1Gb-plus models for the novelty but the power is mass market and predicting that 2Gb will be usual for next year. intoxicating. It includes all you Quantum increased its capacity by the simple expedient of need to set up a Web site and reverting to the old 5.25in format, now restricted largely to CD to create pages to post there. drives. The size of the new Bigfoot models slows access times It has the feel of the first of a slightly, but you get 1.2Gb for $270 (£168) or 2.5Gb for $380 long line; the Caxton press of (£236). Quantum also announced faster high-end drives. Internet publishing. Maxtor, like Quantum, is sticking with older thin-film head Microsoft can still give us technology for its latest drive targeted at the mass market; a exciting software, Gates be three-platter 3.5in model offering 2Gb for £270. Seagate announced a series of high-end drives using the newer M-R praised, but there are The Quantum Bigfoot technology, which supports higher data densities by using legitimate concerns over 5.25in drive whether limits should be set separate read and write heads. on the company’s power. The The rapid improvements in capacity have brought about a big increase in upgrade purchases; latest announcements (see previously, users tended to change their drives with their PCs. But the new large capacities are Newsprint) are both likely to encourage storage-hungry applications such as video-editing and digital photography, reassuring and alarming. which will push the demand for capacity still higher. Reassuring because The new breed of removable drives from Iomega and Syquest offer an alternative. Iomega has hidden behind the AOL deal is said that its £399 1Gb Jaz drive is now available in Europe, but on recent precedent you should call the fact that the Microsoft your dealer before making purchase plans, as demand has outstripped supply. Network (MSN) has not been A future development may be a scaled-down version of hierarchical storage management a success, despite being (HSM), used in large systems to shuffle information as needed between fast and cheap slow bundled with every copy of storage. You could, for example, dump a video from a CD to a hard-disk for playing, or shunt your Windows 95. The service was family photos to and from a cheap backup tape. not even half-way ready by the time of the Win95 launch, browser developers and only one winner on that score. and thus lost the benefit of a seems almost certain to At another point, Gates said: “It $200m hype — so Microsoft extend Microsoft’s dominance will all come down to people cannot always sweep the from the desktop to the Web. using what is built in.” In other world its way. Gates came close to words, there will be no point in Gates says MSN will contradicting himself on this people buying Netscape to do continue, and indeed there is score during his AOL press what the operating system no reason why it should not conference. He said he already does. thrive. But now AOL (and expected Netscape to remain Browsers are not the only perhaps other providers such a competitor, but when asked Net software, as Gates as CompuServe) will be on if there was room in the himself pointed out: “You have the ’95 desktop to give users browser business for two to think… also in terms of a choice. Microsoft’s focus players, he replied: “You have server software, or electronic has shifted back to what it to ask if there is room for one commerce, or media servers.” does best — software. player. I mean, it’s all free This shows just how big Its plan to integrate software. It is one of the most the stakes are. Perhaps the browser technology into the unusual software categories real reason behind the AOL operating system is eminently there has ever been.” deal is to get as many sensible. There should be He was referring, of course, different company names as little difference to a user to the fact that both he and possible up there on the between working off a local Netscape have made their Windows desktop. They might hard disk, a local network, or browsers freely available in a hide the extent of Microsoft’s a global network. But it puts financial war of attrition to gain near-monopoly.
the squeeze on third-party market share. There can be Clive Akass ANALYSIS
35 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 Computations
Taiwanese tie-up Red light on plastic When did Westminster last strategically Ninety-eight to 100 percent of a jumbled invest hundreds of millions in a factory? heap of plastic consumer waste such as The Taiwanese taxpayer is investing the diskettes, CD-ROMs and printer cartridges equivalent of £143m in an advanced can now be classified into different polymer computer chip (DRAM) factory in the types by near infra-red light, using the besieged Republic. The Taiwanese taxpayer vibrational characteristics unique to each. also co-owns the main partner in a £435m Apparently, the spectra are categorised venture with Philips. It makes you wonder with a neural network model. This is indeed how much Taiwanese giants Acer, Mitac and good vibrations, man, because in FIC, and the likes of IBM, Compaq, Apple, packaging alone Western Europe uses 2.2 NEC and Hewlett-Packard (who buy hugely million tonnes of plastic a year (or 22 Sea from Taiwan), owe to public sector subsidy. Empress supertankers’ full), and rising at ● Source: Craig T. Chin an annual percentage rate which wipes out (http://gurukul.ucc.american.edu/MOGIT BY ROWLAND MORGAN the overall rate of recycling. /cc3461a/ taiwan.html) ● Source: Sandia Technology Partnerships Program
Barcoded bins STATELLITE A barcode-reading zapper in the grimy hand of a British dustman? If it sounds about as A seven-hour day on the Web costs an likely as a corn circle in your carpet, just consider that clean-living US prairie cities have American nothing (after subscription) and been doing it for nearly a decade. There’s St Louis Park in Minnesota, for example, a Briton £16.80. A working week’s Net where the bins outside your office, house, or flat are labelled with stripe-talk so that the access costs an American nothing and a husky bin-men can swipe your details into an on-board computer: fill a bin so many Briton £84. A year’s office-work on the Net times a season and you get a rebate on your council charges. Ever heard of a rebate costs an American nothing and a Briton on council tax or business tax for recycling in Britain? Sounds about as Martian as a over £4,000. barcode reader held by a dustman, doesn’t it?… oh, alright, sanitation operative. ● Source: BT (8am-6pm local call ● Source: The US National Academy of Public Administration Foundation, 4p/min incl. VAT; 1p/min=20 weekends 1120 G Street, N.W., Suite 850, Washington, D.C. 20005 — US local calls are free).
On-line white pages Thanks to David Fletcher for pointing out (Letters, PCW April) that £199 is a high price for a CD-ROM telephone directory from BT, when wide disk distribution could massively reduce the forests felled by printed books. His proposal for free CD-ROMs, though, has been leap-frogged by the Internet, where a world phone book service is already in place. There’s no excuse for BT not to be providing at least its local directories on local servers, right away. Britain’s telephone books weigh roughly 61,000 tonnes, consume huge amounts of energy, machinery and toxic ink, and are reprinted at a rate of 20 million every 18 months, yet all 12,000 tonnes of them are out of date on delivery. BT is working on it. ● Source: University of Victoria website/British Telecom
Cable unable has been knighted by HRH and sits on the After so many pavements and trees having board of GEC. Ex-DTI boss, Tebbitt, is been ripped up, Britain still has only 1.6 million shaping public opinion at The Sun. cable TV connections of the sort that in about ● Source: Euromonitor World UK demand for moulded thermoplastic two years will deliver wide-band internetting at Marketing Data & Statistics 1995 components and business machines 100 times the present speed. Germany has ● Source: NEDO/BPF estimates over 12 million, Holland over five million and The Green-Gauge Belgium about 3.5 million. Euromonitor’s Book Polymer pile of European Forecasts puts all cable Fujitsu Ergo Pro 152v PC Plastics amounting to the weight of connections at 36.5 million; meaning Britain Energy Saving: Powermaster more than four Titanics are being has only one in 23 of these cable connections Take-back: No distributed every year in British electrical (for a population which is one sixth of Polymer codes: Yes and electronic equipment. Euro-laws are Europe’s), compared with a Euro-average of Packaging: Polystyrene looming which impose sanity in the form over 25 percent cabling. The Americans of take-back schemes. The suits in IT cabling Britain are going to have a job to meet Canon LBP-460 printer boardrooms are unhappy: watch them the 35 percent-plus cabling predicted for Energy Saving: Energy Star join Jimmy Goldsmith on the EU opt-out Europe in 1998. Who is responsible for the Recycled Paper: Warrantied bandwagon, thinking it’s a way to clueless decisions made a decade ago? One Recycling: 90% cartridge recovery escape responsibility. of them, the former Minister of State for Take-back: No ● Source: British Plastics Federation information technology, Geoffrey Pattie MP, Ozone pollution: None
37 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 COLUMNS Sounding Off
see the opinion pollsters have been at it Hence the development of the bound, paginated book, or “codex”, some time between 100 and 150 AD. At last, a Iagain. Towards the end of last year, book that you could put down without risking it rolling away. Although a completely different reading concept clipboard-equipped teams from MORI collared a few from the scroll, it caught on so quickly that by about 400 AD, all the big league authors — Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, thousand innocents in the high street on God — were demanding to be published behalf of one of the BBC's Horlickstime in one. The scroll soon went the way of book programmes. Of the 2,033 the 486SX. collarees who didn’t tell them to piss Likewise, the electronic book will off, 64 percent expressed the opinion supplant the printed variety because it that by 2010, we’ll all be reading our will be more portable, will carry more Jeffrey Archers and Jackie Collinses information and will be easier to from computer screens. In other navigate. It won’t be a dedicated words, a representative cross-section book per se, but an all-in-one device of the British public (i.e. the same about the size of a cheque book. It ones who are prepared to chat to will incorporate a computer, a complete strangers about the virtues cellphone, a television receiver, and an of new, improved Daz) has concluded ID card. (I’d also hazard a guess that that the demise of the printed book is they’ll put a bottle opener and a little nigh. Could they be right? mirror in there, too.) Data will be As soon the results were published, downloaded overnight through the the BBC brought on some Melvyn domestic ISDN link, so you’ll wake up in Bragg-league literati to say “Cobblers” the morning to find your little handheld in response. A bad move. Asking charged up with an electronic copy of The Oxbridge media types to talk about MICHAEL HEWITT Times, Personal Computer World, and War computers is like bringing Oliver Reed and Peace. Or whatever your on to say something coherent about predilections happen to be. temperance. Lacking any technological The really clever bit — the screen — know-how, their only argument against will be constructed from a flexible the computer and in favour of the plastic polymer. It will pull out from the printed book was that you can’t read a main unit like a piece of clingfilm and, computer in the bath. when fully extended and stiffened, will Except you can. It’s just that it’ll be about A4 size. This screen will be short circuit if you drop it or get high definition and reflective, able to shampoo in the keyboard. Then again, people be willing to make the cultural display graphics, moving pictures, and, it won’t do Lace or Scruples much good, change from reading mass-produced of course, the complete text of the latest either. No; the bath argument is a hard copy to screen-based text? Joan Collins bonkbuster. To advance rather trite one. What they’re trying to The last time humanity had to make forward or back, you’ll merely touch say, of course, is that a book is a go- such a profound choice was towards the either the upper right or upper left of anywhere, portable thing, whereas a end of the first century of the Christian the screen. And, most important of all, computer isn’t. But without entering era. Before then, your regular Book of the whole unit will be waterproof. So into the debate as to exactly how the Month Club title came in scroll you’ll be able to read it not only in the portable, say, the latest Vikram Seth format. To get from page 1 to page 101, bath, but in the shower, too. actually is, what the ignorant literati you had to wind the text on, page by The only fly in the ointment, of are forgetting is that in 14 years’ time, page, like a photographic film. This course, is that by 2010, the majority of the computer as we know it will have system worked well enough for several the world’s population will be completely changed anyway. It will be a millennia. The only drawback was that if functionally illiterate. So most people pocketable thing, albeit with the storage you accidentally dropped one end, won’t bother with reading electronic capacity of the Scott Report and more. Chapter 1 had unravelled and books and magazines; they’ll just be The real question is therefore: will disappeared halfway down the street. looking at the pictures.
39 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 COLUMNS Homefront
orking full time as a journalist on PC Firstly, is there adequate disk space I have to balance a tight schedule of for these 800 words? Let’s start by W matters, emptying the Recycle Bin. Am I sure I want to delete these 87 items? Well, I deadlines. I have to get hold of products for review, seek think so, otherwise I wouldn’t have put them there in the first place… but I’d out information, come up with ideas, better just check. Let’s clear out a few of these back-up keep track of what’s been submitted to files. And how about archiving some of whom and whether or not it has been this old stuff on to disk? And isn’t it paid for. about time I tidied up Program Naturally, to keep pace with such a Manager? (or the Start Menu or rich and varied life, I use a variety of whatever it’s called this year). And do I organisational aids: “To do” lists, the really need all these fonts? Let’s be backs of envelopes, Post-it notes, my honest — when did I last write in head, and requests to members of my Cyrillic or Hebrew? family for reminders. But every so Right, let’s just empty that often I think to myself: “There must Recycle Bin again. Now all that be a better way.” dross is out of the way, it would be a So one day I decided to try and shame to pass up the opportunity for get to grips with Microsoft Schedule a good disk scan. Good heavens, what +, the personal organiser that comes a lot of lost clusters. I wonder what’s with the Office 95 suite, which had been in them? Better take a quick peek. Well, lying fallow on my hard disk for several they’re either terribly important or months. It is a truly wonderful thing, complete gibberish — let’s be ruthless especially if you spend a lot of time and bin the lot. Oh, and empty the organising and attending meetings, or Recycle Bin again. know people with eight phone numbers Stone me — one o’clock already! — which I don’t, but let’s not be Never mind, I can give the disk a churlish about this. TIM NOTT thorough de-fragging while I have lunch. Anyway, having tired of organising Happiness is a full stomach and a tidy imaginary summit conferences and hard disk, but wait a minute — this scheduling this column as a repeating desktop really needs some attention. task with various priorities, alarms and Either this wallpaper goes (as Oscar levels of difficulty, my attention was Wilde said) or I do. And let’s take this drawn to a menu item entitled: “Seven walking in the woods when you come opportunity to create a really elegant Habits Quick Start”. across a man furiously sawing down a colour scheme. And perhaps change the The Seven Habits are, apparently, a tree. “What are you doing?” you ask. fonts in the title bars and menus. guide to self-improvement. The sort of The man (with admirable restraint, I My word, isn’t there a lot of thing that you see in bookshops with felt) replies: “Can’t you see? I’m sawing customising you can do? Now let’s get “This book will change your life” in large down this tree.” rid of some of this clutter, organise those print on the cover. What they don’t tell “You look exhausted! How long have shortcuts, and empty the Recycle Bin yet you is how. Initially, life is changed by you been at it?” again. And while we’re about it let’s everybody avoiding you in the pub. About “About five hours,” he replies. scrape the crud out of the mouse, find a third of the way through the book you “Why don’t you take a break and the screenwipes and give the monitor a give up the hopeless struggle for self- sharpen the saw? I’m sure it would go a good clean, shake the breadcrumbs out improvement and lapse into profound lot faster?” of the keyboard and er… despair; and this leaves you totally “I haven’t time. I’m too busy Good grief, is that the time? Was I vulnerable to the blandishments of the sawing.” meant to get my copy in today? Sorry… next life-changing tome. And so it is with computers — only a I didn’t have time… I was too busy Anyway, one of the first things you fool would rush in to write a column like sharpening this saw. Perish this must learn to do is to take time to this without checking that the cutting unworthy thought, but perhaps I could “Sharpen the Saw”. This is illustrated edge, so to speak, of one’s technology have saved myself a lot of time by by a folksy little story. You’re out was in tip-top condition. sharpening my pencil.
41 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 COLUMNS Straight talking
irst, we had manufacturers selling TOC, which normally lasts only a few seconds, is greatly extended to hold all FCD-ROM drives that wouldn’t play multisession the CD-ROM data. But as Virgin has found, to its cost, many ROM drives Photo CDs, long after the standard had been set. refuse to read extra data from the TOC. Says Rick Carter, head of multimedia Then we had manufacturers selling drives development at Virgin: “The only way to that wouldn’t play MPEG-1 Video CDs, discover how many players would play a long after the White Book standard was hidden track CD was to release a disc. announced. Now we have manufacturers That’s why we don’t charge any more for selling ROM drives that won’t play CD- it than an ordinary CD.” Extra or Enhanced CDs (ECD). The Stones’ Stripped carries a red In April 1995, in the run-up to the note on the sleeve which warns that Windows 95 launch, Microsoft the disc is “incompatible with some “announced its support for a new NEC drives”. So many complaints audio CD format”. This followed a have rolled in that Virgin has meeting in November 1994, at which published a 2,000-word message on Microsoft hosted more than 180 the Internet, listing all the CD-ROM record industry executives, drives which will not play the disc — representing more than 65 record NEC tops the list with 11 models. And labels. For two days they talked about Virgin has set up a telephone hotline setting a standard for a CD that played which plays callers a recording of the audio on a hi-fi and delivered video clips, same information. photos, animation and text from a PC. NEC states the problem was in the The object was to make Enhanced CD firmware which controls the ROM drive a feature of Windows 95. Last June, BARRY FOX and that it is developing an upgrade. Apple joined Microsoft and together with Users cannot change the firmware the main CD licence controllers, Sony Island Records to release the Cranberries themselves because it is frozen into an and Philips, released the so-called Blue ECD, Doors and Windows (one of several EPROM buried deep inside the drive Book standard for Enhanced CD, now ECDs reviewed in our February issue). electronics. NEC has now tested all its also to be called CD-Extra. Doors and Windows does not follow the drives and come up with a mixed bag of Ordinary (Red Book) audio is put on Blue Book standard. It uses the different results. Some drives read the data, the first track, or session, of the disc Rainbow system, also known as “Don’t others read the music, some read both, after the table of contents (TOC) which Play Track One”. The computer data and yet others read data only after they tells an audio player what songs are on goes into the first track on the CD. The have been “taught” to do so by scanning the disc. All the computer information is audio follows in the subsequent tracks. an ordinary data disc. put in later session tracks, and indexed ROM drives go direct to the computer “When new firmware is available … by an extra PC-style directory index data and play it as intended. But a CD if the user returns a drive directly to us, which an audio CD player ignores. audio player goes first to track 1 and we’ll upgrade the firmware and ship the A ROM drive can read the Blue Book tries in vain to play the data. The player drive back free of charge,” pledges NEC index only if the PC has been loaded with should then mute to protect the in the UK. the correct software driver. The user can loudspeakers from buzz-saw sound. I tried a recent NEC 273 and it pre-load this driver from a second CD. Some do, some don’t. This is why Doors successfully played Stripped. But the Microsoft’s plan was to build Blue Book and Windows carries warning notices same drive won’t play a Blue Book CD. driving into Windows 95. But even as the and spoken announcements about This spells big trouble for Sony Music, standard was set, Philips discovered that speaker damage. soon to launch several Blue Book CD- some ROM drives (mainly from NEC) The Rolling Stones decided, three Extra discs, including one by Bob Dylan. refused to read the discs, even with the weeks before release date, that they These come with an extra CD of Corel appropriate driver. Virgin carried out wanted Stripped to be an Enhanced CD. drivers — but if the drive is similar research. As 20 to 30 percent of Virgin dared not use the Blue Book, and incompatible, it will not load the drivers. all ROM drives are made by NEC, both did not like the Rainbow system, so they The whole situation is a mess which companies looked for other options. opted for a third choice; variously called makes Enhanced CD a nice idea that is Last August, Philips joined with “Track Zero” or “Hidden Track”. The still years ahead of its commercial time.
43 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 COLUMNS Business matters t seems unlikely that Alphonse Karr had
Ithe task of supporting PC users in mind working. He would shut it down — after all, he had to make his mark as a new when he wrote "plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose." man, and PCs were a vulnerable target. Why? Because everyone had heard of them. Mainframes were big, inscrutable In 1849 a personal computer was devices which, frankly, were boring. PCs probably a servant who was good at were fun, and found in high street stores sums. But the quote is very appropriate. at prices everyone could understand. By Ideas on the best way to keep corporate making a change that affected PCs, the PC users happy change all the time, yet director would have much more they often come full circle. publicity than by tinkering with Take a large company I’ve worked mainframes. with. Seven or eight years ago they His final masterstroke was to were struggling. Until then, personal change policy on buying software. The computers had been toys which were PC centre had provided standard, ordered by enthusiasts who knew supported packages, but we would buy more about them than the IT other software provided the users were department. Numbers were rising aware that we couldn’t be responsible uncontrolled, PCs were being bought for resultant problems. This approach for novices, and the small support worked. Almost everyone bought the department, operating from a cupboard, standard packages because they were so was being overwhelmed. easy to get and we kept the list up-to- A visionary manager had the idea of date. The few who went elsewhere were setting up the in-house equivalent of a happy and looked after themselves. But quality computer shop. Sited in a readily- the new director saw this approach as accessible building with shop fittings and BRIAN CLEGG anarchy. So he banned any software a pleasant ambience, this would be a safe outside a set of infrequently reviewed place for new computer users to see what packages. it was all about. I was lucky enough to The PC business went into decline. appear on the scene at this point, running small customer teams, focused on the Order times fell back to those of the bad the centre for a couple of years. In a few needs of a particular set of users. There old days. Support went out of the window. months of change, a new atmosphere was a chance to go out to customers and It took years to return to our standards, developed. The team took on a ask how we could make things better, not and while an excellent central helpline commercial approach to customer just wait for disaster. number covered the mess underneath, service which was quite unlike the usual If this sounds like the sort of success even now many users don’t know how to attitude of an in-house support story familiar to readers of Tom Peters get software or who to go to for support. department. It was exciting. and other management gurus, hold your Many remember the old PC centre fondly. Before long, remarkable changes were horses. All was not rosy. PC numbers Now the IT director has been happening. Software stocks were held on were growing phenomenally — much replaced. While no specific reasons were the premises. We could provide popular faster than we could take on staff to given for his departure, the continuing software titles straight off the shelf. support them. Although a large unhappiness with PCs must have made a Most other orders were turned round in a proportion of PC users were happy, there contribution. With his departure, strange week. And there was a proper system were problems, particularly with a new new concepts are being heard: Perhaps it underlying the orders, so none slipped hardware supplier: complaints were on would be sensible to give users more through the cracks. Delivery times for the up. We took a long look and put choice. Perhaps PC support should be many PCs fell from up to six months to together a plan to reinforce success. more visible — perhaps it could be given two weeks. We turned the organisation At this point, enter a new IT director. to an outside firm to do in a more on its head. Instead of being grouped by He saw the complaints and took a snap commercial fashion. Monsieur Karr had technical skills, staff were formed into judgement: the PC centre wasn’t a point.
45 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 would be to gain access. After face-to-face. They are not, downloading a listing of however, unblemished. The Send your letters to: 15,000 newsgroups, I went superstore chain, PC World, The Editor into the listing and couldn’t has just announced excellent Personal Computer World believe what I was reading. financial results but comments VNU House This was shortly after reports made by MD Terry Duddy are 32-34 Broadwick Street of the busting of a UK Internet somewhat ironic. London W1A 2HG paedophile ring. The very Mr Duddy rightly states that newsgroup that had been manufacturers and software or email plastered all over the news companies need to make [email protected] that night was listed. I feel that computers easier to use, and or CompuServe 71333,2330 sweeping this under the plug and play is more of a 0171 316 9313 or fax carpet and claiming it is slogan than a reality at the innocent is rather like saying moment. Following the launch that Hitler was a nice man of Windows 95, he goes on, who lost his way in life. his company’s support lines Michael Dickerson were “inundated” with Letters 100557,2317@ frustrated users. But was it not compuserve.com PC World that opened at Porn there for all to see on. The fact is that these midnight on W-Day, with its I was extremely surprised and newsgroups are very easy to Retailers are not glossy displays promising plug disappointed to read Michael access. If he is unaware of unblemished and play and ease of use? All Hewitt’s article on where to look, he shouldn’t be It is to PCW’s credit that you no doubt contributing greatly pornography on the Internet writing about the Internet in print letters and articles to its £90 million-plus turnover. (“Sounding Off”, March). such an esteemed magazine expressing dissatisfaction with It would be nice if users Why, oh why, do people as yours. direct sellers such as Gateway had no more problems with a not admit that they have I was concerned to read and Time/MJN. To any end- new operating system than a accessed areas of the Internet these articles about porn on user, such items emphasise can of beans, but PC World that are variously described the Internet because I have the risks of buying direct and and its like ask for it by selling as anything from titillation to teenage children who use my will no doubt be greeted with the product as if it were a can filth? His phrase “I am told it computer to write up their enthusiasm by the retailers, of beans, with no mention of [porn] takes a hell of a lot of homework, so I thought I’d who can at least be confronted the potential can of worms. looking” was a classic. Come have a go to see how easy it with problems This is not to knock Management Mumbo Jumbo Thank you for an excellent magazine… I think. You see, I am a NSPVS (News Stand Proprietors’ member of a family and, like any other family, we like to think of Vending Site), we set up a ourselves as a fairly efficient multi-aged, multi-sexed, multi-skilled, Peering Committee to peer multi-tasking group of individuals. into publications while still Recently, it became apparent within our group that the purchase on the NSPVS to gain of some sort of magazine might be appropriate to our corporate FCUK (Future needs. We had previously learnt at a seminar that the purchase of Customers’ magazines by groups such as ours, as well as individuals, was Unpurchased commensurate with proactive informative reading situations and skill Knowledge) of their enhancement. contents. Having read the There was, however, a conundrum here (let us assume for the job descriptions of the rest moment that it would be applicable for us to buy a magazine) in that of my unit and noted their we would need to purchase the right magazine, but without reading it input, I then felt that I had a (and to do this we would have to buy it) how would we be sure that it mandate to go out and buy whatever Nick Beard was the correct magazine? SP I wanted, and our Steering Committee is now the proud owner of As any family would, we started out by taking media measures the March ‘96 edition of PCW (Purchasers who Can’t Wait?) (largely proactive, of course, although some of them were also anti- magazine (sorry, SP!). active and retro-active), to ensure that the reasons for the Until all our committees have given their input (and remember, consideration of softbacked printware were understood by all some of this could be proactive) I cannot possibly say whether or not members of the group and that any possible future outlay on such a we enjoyed your publication. Speaking completely off the record, I commodity would not be regarded as a waste of resources by one or loved it. I especially enjoyed the spoof bit that pretends to be written other of our unit. by a typical middle-management prat who is so insecure about his Next, we set up a Softbacked Printware Steering Committee to try own position that he tries to protect himself by building a castle of to establish a mandate to review both the genre and NSPT (News meaningless jargon. I know it’s just a joke in your mag, but apparently Stand Publication Title) of the SP material required. Without such a there really are people like that. mandate we knew we could not proceed. To fulfil its function, the Ted Chance SPSC has to receive regular presentations from its SPSC director Norwich (that’s me, in case anyone didn’t realise how important I was) on PCW replies: Columnist Nick Beard, the offending “middle- SPSC Strategy. A strategy should sell itself by virtue of the benefits it management prat” to whom you refer, has now been replaced. brings, and so, to avoid having to buy up every piece of SP on the Starting this month, Business Matters is written by Brian Clegg.
49 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 LETTERS
Windows 95, the obvious layer. There are important Keep the Mac out of students’ hands! choice for anyone new to differences. I don’t recall ever I read with utter disbelief the item “Acorn goes for Apple turnover in computers or moving straight squirting paraffin under my UK schools IT” (Newsprint, April). I work in education, particularly from DOS. Upgrading from armpits, and aerosol with the use of computers in chemistry, so I see the IT ability of 3.1x is less clear cut. Do you propellants are not suitable school leavers at first hand. have the horsepower to run it fuel for aircraft. The quality of students’ mathematical skills has fallen or are you prepared to pay to ● Catalytic converters in cars dramatically in recent years as they have become reliant on the use upgrade your PC? Your old reduce emissions of oxides of of calculators. To use the Mac OS as the educational standard is to peripherals will probably not nitrogen and carbon monoxide remove yet another skill from the student. be plug-and-play-ready but will at the expense of burning How many Mac users know how to optimise their system, copy they work properly at all more fuel and increasing the files between floppy drives without using the HDD, install new (DeskJet 500s for example)? emission of greenhouse software and hardware, sort out errors (which are usually And unless you upgrade your gases. Oxides of nitrogen and unintelligible), and so on? I must admit I was a Mac user until last software to the latest Windows carbon monoxide are year, but I managed to kick the habit of five years. I became 95-aware versions, the unpleasant chemicals in the increasingly frustrated with the inflexibility of the Mac OS and the benefits are negligible. All of environment but they do not, inability of a memory-heavy OS to cope with the simple multitasking which means considerable primarily, attack the ozone (mainly due to out-of-memory errors on a 10Mb 475) of, say, Word investment in time and money. layer. Putting a catalytic 5.1 and Powerpoint. Since scrapping the Mac in favour of a Dan Following Technology P90 running Win95, I have never looked back. his comments I would implore those concerned with the provision of IT in to the press, schools to seriously consider the future implications of a move to a perhaps Mr “point and click” OS. If they still want to go with a Mac-type OS, it Duddy has might be cheaper for them to invest in the more educationally sent a memo challenging “Speak and Spell” or V-Tech’s “My First Computer”. to all sales Dr Peter Styring staff asking School of Chemistry, University of Hull them to warn unwary is not as free as advertised software? I am continually customers and put up notices converter into Concorde and should not have been disappointed and frustrated at next to the displays? I think would increase the emissions worded thus. the lack of interest in not. I suspect memos from on of burnt kerosene just as it I phoned AOL and spoke to applications that have been high will say: “Remember increases the emissions of a supervisor with a very replaced by their Win95 every Windows 95 upgrade burnt petrol on an ordinary cavalier attitude, who made it brothers. means lots more upgrades to car, by making the engine clear: no card, no access — As has been pointed out in come, and as for the support much less efficient. There is even though I had just given the informed press over the calls — never mind, just keep no evidence that catalytic them all my home details previous six months, an those cash tills ticking over.” conversion would reduce including phone number. optimum upgrade to Win95 Tony Bayliss Concorde’s impact on the This is not the way for AOL requires a certain degree of 100020.1217@ ozone layer. to achieve market penetration hardware and software compuserve.com Richard Howells in the UK. If the company had replacement. As a SoHo user, 100121,77@ half a brain cell they would I estimate that such an Concorde and the compuserve.com have issued me with a upgrade would cost me in the ozone layer password, enabling me to region of £600-700, with “Computations” is always an No such thing as free have ten free hours. Then, a minimal performance entertaining read but AOL access note could be displayed improvement in real terms. I sometimes the juxtaposition of I have just loaded your “free” informing me that I had used have therefore remained facts leads to unsound for a month AOL disk, as I am my ten hours and should hand faithful to my steadfast conclusions. For example, in willing to believe your articles over my card details if I wish WFW3.11/Office Pro 4.3 the March column, one item which inform us that it is in to continue. combination. juxtaposed Concorde, spray some ways better than If the amateur shareware I recently tried to obtain a cans, the ozone layer, and the CompuServe, to which I people can do it, why not copy of Microsoft’s Word 6 word “uncatalysed”. already subscribe. But having AOL? If this is how the Developer’s Kit from a high The implications are: successfully installed the free Americans now do business, street bookstore. The store ● Concorde would benefit disk and completed the they can go sell it to the couldn’t lay hands on it and from a catalytic converter. registration doc I was asked marines and I’ll advise all my contacted its wholesaler, Concorde is a problem to the for my credit card details. Now friends not to touch it with a which in turn contacted ozone layer; perhaps a bigger I don’t know about you, but bargepole. Microsoft only to be told that it problem than spray cans. having been urged to “try Nigel was no longer available, ● Concorde may well have before you buy” I was a little 100530,1036@ having been superseded by burned enough kerosene to fill perturbed by this as American compuserve.com the Third Edition (read “Win95 nine billion spray cans, but companies are famous for edition”). Yet again, we see how is this relevant? The zapping your card in a Negative response an example of Microsoft placement of the text hints that nanosecond and then taking a Can Microsoft give us a ramming Win95 down our it is equivalent to discharging month or two to grudgingly positive statement as to its throats — don’t want it; don’t spray cans into the ozone make a refund. Your free offer policy of supporting “old” need it; wouldn’t buy it if I did.
50 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 LETTERS
Unfortunately, it would to a faster unit, the The fact that you are able software or peripherals, I can appear that Microsoft has performance gulf between the to achieve the higher data also ring a selection of pulled off the marketing ploy combinations available will rates would seem to indicate suppliers. But here is where of the century and convinced become increasingly evident. that your modem/serial port the fun starts, because the the majority that its new In view of this, I wonder setup is OK, although I agree existence of an item in an operating system will whether it would be in the with Geoff’s comments about advert or catalogue is no transform their lives. public interest if an article checking your UART, etc. The guarantee that the product is However, if it’s so great, why were printed detailing the one thing I would add is that in stock, or that the actual do we have to buy Microsoft real-world effects that your link to the modem should price is the one quoted in an Plus to get the most out of it? motherboard specification has be set to run at a speed advert or catalogue. In summary, if you want to on a system’s overall speed? considerably higher than If I can find a supplier with develop Word applications Steve Greenslade 28,800bps, for example the goods in stock and accept you’d better get Win95, 100626,120 57,600bps or higher if the actual price rather than the Office95, more memory, a possible (which it probably is advertised one, I am then bigger hard disk and a copy of Bits and bytes since you achieve the higher invited to spend an additional the third edition of the Word Pardon me for jumping in, but rates). sum, plus VAT, for the Developer’s Kit. But you’d having read Mike Hicks’ letter Another point to remember privilege of having the goods better hurry; Win96 will be (PCW, April) and Geoff is the geography involved. For delivered next day. Often, this here soon and you’ll have to Marshall’s reply, I felt obliged instance, if I access a UK is a per-item charge. start all over again. to contribute. Web site via my CompuServe In practice, what usually Colin Barnes I’m not sure there is a account, the data rate is happens is that when I chase 100273,504@ problem: Geoff has pointed usually very slow compared the supplier next day to say compuserve.com out a number of factors, but I with accessing a US site: I the goods haven’t arrived, I think both Mike and Geoff assume this is because am told they are out of stock Cache concept have misunderstood the CompuServe goes out onto and will be dispatched shortly. Regarding your reporting of meaning of 28,800bps. the Internet from somewhere Yet I still pay for the “next day” the “Fake Cache Scandal”, I Mike complains in his letter in the US. If I do the same delivery. In two recent cases, am an occasional system- that his Internet connection is from my London-based UK the next day has been one, builder and I would like to say only managing 7.8Kb/sec, yet Internet provider, then the two or more weeks from the that I think you are doing a he has a V.34 modem reverse is true. By the way — order date. I am still waiting for sterling job. The trouble is, running at 28,800bps which the best throughput figure I a reply to my letter of very few end-users are aware means 28,800 bits per have ever seen with my V.34 complaint to one of these of the concept of cacheing. second, not bytes per second. modem is 3.1Kb/sec; so you suppliers, and am still waiting When I discuss the If you are running at eight are doing quite well. for the goods from another. various technical bits per byte, Mike, with no Chris Tanner Surely the profit on a £250 requirements with a parity and one stop bit, every [email protected] item of software or peripheral prospective client, one of the byte transmitted will comprise is considerably greater than on points I invariably discuss is a start bit (1.5 bit periods), Supplies and demand £30 worth of stationery, the cacheing system used on eight data bits and one stop In my job, I am responsible for especially as the latter is the motherboard. Looking at bit, i.e 10.5 bits per byte sent. purchasing supplies and already heavily discounted? your figures in the April issue, Simple maths reveals that equipment. This includes The couriers used by both the most cost-effective 28,800 ÷10.5 = 2,743 bytes office supplies and PC-related types of supplier are the same, combination is standard per second, the theoretical items. The contrast between and stationery tends to be DRAM with a pipeline- maximum speed at which you these two areas is quite bulky and heavy, so the burst mode second-level can send or receive data on a astonishing, and I suggest the carriage charges must be cache. Judging by the 28,800bps serial data link. PC industry should learn comparable. adverts in consumer The reason you achieve the some lessons from their office BN Whiteley magazines, most vendors are higher rate of 7.8Kb/sec is supplies counterparts. 100656.1512@ happy to sell systems on the that you have a compression Consider the following: I compuserve.com CPU’s spec alone, yet the feature in your modem (the can order from any one of a facts suggest that the faster V.42bis/MNP5, etc), which is number of office supplier’s PCW replies: While we agree the CPU becomes, the more compressing the true data catalogues, by phone, on a that PC dealers could learn a important it is that the stream to give a higher regular basis. I can also take lot from the practice of more components supporting it are throughput. The actual figure advantage of genuine special mature industries, selling PCs up to the task. achieved will be determined offers to further reduce my and peripherals is a far more I recently sold a P90 by the compressibility of the expenses. volatile business than selling system with pipeline cache to data in question, and the If I order over £30 worth of stationery. The prices and a client. He has since advised efficiency of the modem’s goods I get free next-day specifications of PCs change me that an associate has compression algorithms and delivery. During the past three on an almost daily basis. Store sourced a P120 system that, hardware. If you try years I have never been left a ton of photocopying paper for in use, seems to be slower up/downloading some already with goods “out of stock” or a a year and it will still be worth than his. Obviously, the compressed data (such as a missed delivery. Free gifts are more or less the same. Do the cache isn’t the only potential ZIP file) you will probably find automatically included in the same with a ton of PC bottleneck in a PC, but when that your data throughput falls order. equipment and the value will (and if) the CPU is upgraded to 2.7Kb/sec or worse. If I want to order PC have halved or even quartered.
53 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GADGETS GADGETS
Acer Aspire Psion Tree Eh?
Good-looking PCs have to be the way forward. Check Defying critics who said it wooden work, Psion has branched out out the Acer Aspire, “with curves where others use into special edition versions of the 3a. The new wood effect straight lines”. Acer also boasts OOBE, the Out Of Box case is the only change but there is a special box, and you can Experience, which basically means they’ve pre-installed be sure that you’ll have a distinctive organiser with which you loads of software and offer instructions on a big colour can log your daily activities. This might be seen as a natural poster. For £1,275 you’ll get a 100MHz Pentium, 16Mb progression of the special version of the Series 3 which RAM, 1Gb hard disk, quad-speed CD-ROM drive, 16-bit Psion makes for Acorn. This special limited edition sound card, modem, and 14in monitor with speakers. version is only available as a 2Mb unit and costs And don’t forget those good looks... £449.95. Psion 0171 262 5580 Acer 01628 533422
Modula-Executive Fed up with pesky peripherals occupying your desk space? Fancy something a little more stylish, perhaps for your business reception or top executive? Then look no further than the French designed all-in-one Modula-Executive. It’s a keyboard, it’s a pointing device, it’s a screen, it’s GoldStar GPI-1200 a pair of speakers, it’s a microphone, and yet, it’s no more than 15mm thick! A huge cable connects it to your PC, which sits out of view under your desk. The screen is a touch-sensitive 10.4in TFT running at 640 x 480 — simply For those who want the latest in presentations drag the pointer around with a pen or your fingertip. It may render your monitor, keyboard and mouse and interactive training on the move, the redundant, but measuring 725 x 500mm it’ll take up as much space. At least you can lean on it, and look over impressively named GoldStar GPI-1200 portable it. Price 15,600 francs (approx £2,000). CD-i could be just the ticket. With a 5.6in full colour Source Développement 00331 64 11 41 01 TFT screen it does everything a normal CD-i player can do, and provides both NTSC and PAL video CD playback. Guaranteed to impress the passenger next to you on the train, it’s yours for a mere £1,299 + VAT. IBM ChipCard TC 100 GoldStar 01753 500400 This amazing credit-card sized device is another of IBM’s Japanese marvels. It’s a PCMCIA card which doubles up as an address and telephone data carrier with Magellan microCOM-M its own keyboard, LCD The most sophisticated mobile phone systems will at best cover a few display and CPU. European countries, but it’s nowhere near worldwide coverage. Enter Simply slot it into the card the ultimate James Bond gadget: the satellite phone, which can make slot on an IBM ThinkPad or calls from anywhere in the world, completely independent of that Whyte desktop and transfer the data. IBM country’s telephone system. Unfortunately, you have to point the claims enough storage space to keep antenna at the desired satellite, preventing use on the move. They’re 500 personal records intact. It’s available in also big, heavy and expensive — until now. Magellan’s microCOM-M six colours but you’ll still have to go to Japan to satellite telephone weighs 2.5kg and measures 173 x 287 x 71mm.
Photography by David get one, with 19,800 yen (approx £110). Costing £5595 with a charge of £2.83 per minute, it’s relatively IBM 0345 727272 http://www.ibm.com cheap too.
Gadget Next Destination 01722 410800 PCW Gadgets
54 55 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996
CYAN•MAGENTA•YELLOW•BLACK CYAN•MAGENTA•YELLOW•BLACK PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD FirstFirst ImpressionsImpressions It’s a family affair as far VNU European Labs as Apricot’s Diamondtron Contents VNU Labs tests cover Application tests are the backbone of 56 Apricot MS530 Diamondtron 17 every kind of hardware all the VNU Labs system evaluations but and software including it’s nearly impossible to pin an application 58 Claris FileMaker Pro 3.0 goes — it’s the perfect PC hardware, printers, result to a specific machine component. 62 Olivetti M6 6200 Suprema network products, Only system-level tests (also known as multimedia machine. The Digi DataFire ISDN adaptor modems and software applications. low-level tests) can reliably tell the The tests are continually developed difference. VNU Labs’ system-level test 65 Cheyenne Inoculan for Windows 95 new FileMaker Pro goes and enhanced to reflect hardware and suite is called Euromark. The tests, which 66 Pioneer DW-S114X CD Writer software developments. are mainly Windows-based, are used to relational, and Olivetti’s 68 Fractal Designs Painter 4 Our tests closely simulate real- isolate specific components like hard 70 Easyflow Version 3.0 world use. For example, our suite of disks, graphics cards and CD-ROM drives. 6200 Suprema really PC benchtests uses complete ● To make them easy to read at a glance, 71 HOMEwise versions of industry-standard all graphs in PCW are drawn so that the flies. Pioneer’s new CD 73 SSeyo Koan Pro Windows 95 applications — currently bigger the bar, the better the result. Writer takes the strain, 74 Signal Box Neuro-Predictor Word, Excel, WordPerfect Normally we’ll also include 76 PictureAlbum and FoxPro. We also run the original data we a graphics re-draw test worked from: for example, and Painter 4 takes the 77 Iiyama Pro Lite 31 using CorelDraw 6, and a the time in minutes and Doom 2 frame rate test seconds to print a page in pain out of computer art. which is a good indication a comparative test of of games performance. printers.
HARDWARE 16s sound chip and Cirrus Logic 5434 control which features a built-in pointing The versatility of the MS530 graphics controller with 1Mb of VRAM device. All the software, including the TV overrides these minor problems, Apricot MS530 Diamondtron 17 (upgradable to 2Mb). tuner, can be operated by the however. But this versatility The MS530 comes with all the EasyManager remote control. By the doesn’t come cheap. Our All-in-one PCTV system which shows that Apricot has firmly grasped the concept of multimedia. expected serial, PS/2, joystick and simple press of one of four colour-coded review model is in the parallel ports so there’s no worries about buttons, based on the standard middle of the pack f you’re going to get your family in Lotus Organiser, Auditron (music not being able to connect peripherals. TV/Teletext remote controllers, you can and retails for Ifront of any PCTV, then get them in compositon software), Hutchinson There’s also room for expansion of the turn on the TV, blend it into your desktop, £2895. If you’ve front of the Apricot MS530 Diamondtron Multimedia Encyclopaedia and 3D inside, but it’s very tight. Already present read Teletext, send a fax, listen to a CD, got the 17”. It’s the essence of simplicity and the World Atlas, Windows 95 training CD- was a Win TV Prism TV tuner and a launch a spreadsheet and activate a money, epitome of plug and play. Turn it on and it ROM, High Octane, Magic Carpet and Dataflex PC Comms Office 14.4 modem. game. Apricot has firmly grasped that then the will run. We did, and were thoroughly Wing Commander III, and a free This left three PCI and one ISA slots users simply want to sit back and press a MS530 impressed. With the dearth of quality CompuServe trial. available for expansion cards, but the button to make things work. could be the PCTVs on the market it isn’t surprising Setting up the MS530 took only ten bird’s nest of wires and compact space The question most on our minds was perfect they haven’t taken off. Apricot may minutes with the aid of clearly illustrated could make the use of three-quarter or whether the TV picture quality was any multimedia home change all that. poster-sized instructions. Be sure to full-length cards problematic. This was good. The answer is yes. So long as your PCTV. The MS530 is the first multimedia home check that you’ve got all your cables — one of the areas where the MS530 came reception is good, so is the picture quality. Dylan Armbrust PC that has everything a family could ask our review model was initially short a up short. We were also disappointed to Also included was the ability to block for. It comes Internet ready, has a TV power cable and TV tuner cable loop. see that one of the system wires had access to any TV channel. This is PCW Details tuner/video card, comes loaded with The MS530 is a powerful PC in its own been crimped and stripped of its particularly handy for parents wanting to Price £2895 Contact Apricot 0800 212422 both games and application right, boasting a Pentium 133MHz insulation; obviously caused by a keep young, curious minds out of Good Points Easy pushbutton accessibility software, and, for the coup de processor, Triton chipset and high-quality careless assembler jamming the potentially corrupting situations, for application, communication and games gras, has plenty of Pentium 17in Diamondtron screen. Also fitted are motherboard tray into the unit without especially as the MS530 allows the user software. power and expansion bays a 1.2Gb Quantum hard disk, Sony quad- clearing the wire. to grab and save images and text from Bad Points Bird’s nest of wires makes using giving the user a respectable speed CD-ROM drive, 16Mb of EDO One area where the Apricot excels is the TV. Glitches did occur when we tried the expansion slots difficult. future-proofing buffer. RAM (upgradable to 64Mb) and 256Kb of in its fully integrated software and using the automatic tuner. It listed two Conclusion An excellent all-in-one PCTV The bundled software asynchronous cache. The package is hardware. The whole package is based BBC2s even though one channel was system with well thought out software consists of WordPerfect Home Works, rounded off with a SoundBlaster Vibra around EasyManager, a cunning remote ITV. A bit of fine-tuning sorted it. integration.
56 57 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
SOFT WARE Claris FileMaker Pro 3.0 Extra functionality in a relational database, but without support for Windows 3.1.
Left The Define t’s over a year ago now since Claris Relationships Iannounced that FileMaker Pro would dialogue box go relational, but it wasn’t until January allows you to link this year that version 3.0 finally appeared. key fields FileMaker Pro has always been a popular Below A tutorial database application for the Macintosh included in but in the past couple of years it has been version 3.0 well received by Windows 3.x users. explains how FileMaker’s strong selling point has relational always been its ease of use, and it’s this databases work which has given it its identity among other database packages on the market. Filemaker Pro has always offered simplicity — the ability to knock together simple data files without having to trample through a quagmire of Wizards repeating fields and and technical manuals. converted into relational So, given the attractions of the databases. This is not an package, why make it relational? Well, a entirely seamless process relational model does provide real as you have to decide benefits. Instead of having lots of isolated where a relationship is flat files, your data can be properly more appropriate than a integrated; there are many important lookup, and layouts must functions which simply cannot exist also be re-defined. without a relational structure. Secondly, FileMaker has never pretended to be a move to Windows 95 in order to upgrade, Claris has managed to include the extra programmer’s package, and the scripting which may prove costly. functionality without making the product language in version 3.0 is certainly no If you’re an experienced database intimidating. There’s no underlying power tool, but there are several user you’ll find FileMaker Pro limited in programming language for building significant improvements included in this lots of ways. Although it enables basic custom solutions in the dBase or Access version. There’s a new IF..THEN..ELSE relationship definitions, the relational sense, and the new interface feels very statement and a LOOP.. END LOOP model contains many holes and if you’re much the same as the 2.1 version. New command which makes row by row used to any degree of control via code, users will not feel out of their depth. processing and conditional sorting you’ll be far happier with a more fully- The only way of integrating data from possible. This gives a much greater fledged product like MS Access. If you multiple files in version 2.1 was by using degree of control over the behaviour of currently use FileMaker Pro on the Mac, lookups which, while useful, are also applications, allowing you to test for the then you’ll like the extra functionality in limited. A lookup does nothing more than occurrence of particular events and act this upgrade. take a snapshot of a piece of data and according to their status. If, on the other hand, you’re a copy it from one file to another. Version Other improvements in this version Windows 3.1 user who has not yet started 3.0 of FileMaker allows you to create live include forty new calculation and field thinking about Windows 95, this upgrade two-way links between files by defining validation functions as well as support for of FileMaker may be more trouble than relationships which link key fields, and TCP/IP. Being a cross-platform product it’s worth. allowing data from more than one file to FileMaker has not gone all out in its Eleanor Turton-Hill be displayed in the same layout. integration with Windows 95, but there is Setting up relationships is fairly easy a healthy sprinkling of right-click PCW Verdict once you’ve got used to the idea of functionality as well as support for long Price £239.70 full version; £99 (upgrade “portals”, a new concept injected into this filenames, and OLE 2.0 client. version) version to refer to an area on a layout This version is native on the Claris 0800 422322. Fax 01923 208430 used to display records from a related PowerMac and there are versions for Good Points Simple relational functionality file. To set up a one-to-many relationship, Windows 95 and Windows NT, but included without altering the appeal of the say, between a company name and a support for Windows 3.x has now been package. group of orders, a portal is used to dropped which is bound to cause some Bad Points No support for Windows 3.1. display a list of data from the order file. frustration. Many multi-platform users Conclusion Worthwhile upgrade for existing Files from version 2.1 can be converted who currently share databases between users, but let down by lack of Windows 3.1 to version 3.0 complete with lookups and Mac and Windows 3.1 will be forced to support.
58 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
HARDWARE expansion cards. On the software side, the M6 6200 comes loaded with Microsoft Olivetti M6 6200 Suprema NT for workstations 3.51. A fantastically high spec can only mean one thing — this With such a fantastically high spec one would expect the Olivetti to perform. machine is fast. specced configuration. Our review model And perform it did! Compared to the was fitted with a Pentium Pro 200MHz reference IBM PC 360 S150 machine hen you hear the words Pentium processor, 256Kb on-chip Level 2 cache, (150MHz Pentium Pro with 256Kb Level WPro you know there’s going to be 64Mb of RAM and a SCSI CD-ROM and 2 cache), the Olivetti’s performance a lot of processing power under the case. hard drive. ranged from 32 to 51 percent higher while The M6 6200, Olivetti’s newest Pentium Looking at the M6 6200 externally you its overall performance rating was 40 Pro PC, is aimed specifically at the high- wouldn’t know it’s a speed demon. The percent greater. end desktop/server market and the metal case is a simple, rather elegant Dylan Armbrust hardware configuration shows it. design. Two free forward-facing The last Olivetti Pentium Pro machine expansion bays, one 5.25in and 3.5in, Comparative test we looked at, the M6 950 Suprema, had plus the CD-ROM, FDD and a single Performance Graph a 150MHz processor with on-chip 256Kb power button are all that occupy the front. Overall relative performance Level 2 cache, 32Mb of RAM, EIDE hard To the rear the I/O consists of an drive and CD-ROM drive. The M6 6200 is enhanced parallel, two serial and PS/2 1 150 MHz a even higher- ports for keyboard and mouse. The DSM- 1.4 200 MHz 171 17in monitor delivers a good image and is MPR and EPA Energy Star 1 1.5 2 compliant. IBM PC 360 S150 The subsystem is made OLIVETTI up of a Sony CDU-76S SCSI quad-speed CD-ROM drive, PCW Verdict Adaptec AHA-2940 PCI SCSI-2 controller, Matrox Price £6,110 (or £4,735 for basic configuration MGA Millenium PCI graphics of 32Mb RAM and 15in monitor) card with 4Mb WRAM and a Contact Olivetti 0181 785 6666 Good Points Fast, with easy access to Seagate ST32430N 2Gb motherboard. SCSI hard drive. This leaves Bad Points None to complain about. three ISA, one ISA/PCI, and Conclusion Simple design and obviously fast. one PCI slot free for extra
HARDWARE Digi DataFire ISDN adaptor Fires up remote networking and Net access for Windows.
he Digi DataFire ISDN adaptor up the Internet. Tenables high-speed remote The Datafire’s networking and Internet access for WinISDN support Windows, with Microsoft’s Remote matches that in many but you are Access Service (RAS). It requires an ISA Internet suites, including effectively getting slot and an ISDN-2 Basic Rate Chameleon. Digi also has two lines, so to be fair, connection from BT. Novell server and client it’s really only double. ISDN Digi provides Microsoft Windows for software. national call charges may be the Workgroups and Windows NT 3.5x After the software has been same as a domestic telephone line, network drivers which enable remote installed under Windows NT and but overall, ISDN cost wavers connections via RAS. The DataFire will Windows 95, the DataFire simply somewhere between modems and work with Windows 95 but the Remote works and delivers either 64Kb/sec leased lines depending on the amount of Network Access software was still in beta throughput (or 128Kb/sec with both ISDN time spent connected. Unlike a leased at review time. Microsoft has promised B-Channels in use). With RAS line, however, ISDN is not a fixed point- an ISDN update for Windows 95 and as compression a dial-up link to a Windows to-point connection. Digi and Microsoft work closely together NT server feels like it’s on a LAN. At Terence Green it’s likely that Windows 95 will soon 64Kb/sec dial-up to an Internet service include native Digi DataFire support. provider, file transfers run at nearly half a PCW Verdict The DataFire is better suited to megabyte a minute. Price £395 Windows 95 and Windows NT, both of The catch is that although ISDN has Contact InterQuad Distributors 01753 536464 which come with Internet dial-up more bandwidth than a modem, BT’s Good Points Fast, reliable and easy to use. software. Windows for Workgroups users ISDN installation charges are excessive Bad Points BT’s ISDN pricing stinks. will need extra software such as (around £400). ISDN line rental is four Conclusion Worth it if you do your sums. NetManage Chameleon in order to dial- times that of a domestic telephone line
62 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
SOFTWARE Cheyenne Inoculan for Windows 95
tediously telling you that it is checking An easily installed and efficient virus checker. and only flashes an alert dialogue if it finds anything suspicious — it’s nice to know it’s there. lthough the threat of viruses tends to Win95 application and only runs when Following installation you will also Abe a little exaggerated, there is no you want it to. However, it always checks notice a new shell extension to Windows doubt that PCs, especially if they are for viruses in memory when it first fires 95. A right-click on files and folders now connected to the Internet, are at a certain up. If viruses are found, Inoculan displays a new icon in the options list amount of risk. A virus can really screw up provides several options for dealing with next to “Scan for viruses”, where Inoculan your day, so it makes sense to install infected files: delete, rename, cure, has taken over from the default Windows some form of protection that can detect move, purge, or move and rename. 95 virus scan. And if you have installed and eradicate any that may be sitting on Depending on circumstances, a cure or the Microsoft Plus! Pack you can your PC. Protection in this case comes in purge would be the usual choice. configure Inoculan to work with System the form of the new Inoculan from the Compressed files can also be checked Agent to scan for viruses at regular Cheyenne company. (useful for stuff obtained from the intervals. Both these examples It installs easily enough, immediately Internet) and extra Windows demonstrate Cheyenne’s care in backs up critical files and looks for viruses compression extensions can be added to designing Inoculan to take advantage of that may exist in memory. If any are the default list of compression formats to Windows 95 functionality, not just to discovered it advises you to restart be checked. make it look pretty. Inoculan via a clean Windows 95 (i.e. Inoculan’s other part, Wimmune, runs The level of options in such an original) bootdisk, then purge memory of in the background and provides a inexpensive package is comprehensive any viruses, just to make sure. constant check on PC activity. This and Inoculan offers more than enough There are two parts to Inoculan. The installs as part of the Start Up and protection for the known viruses. What it main detox unit allows you to examine watches every time a file is opened or lacks is a way of updating protection so and clean up files, folders or whole drives downloaded from the Net, or a floppy that it can deal with new strains of virus connected to the PC, or via a LAN. This inserted. Unlike other systems, as and when they arrive. A simple utilises a File Manager-style window Inoculan’s Wimmune scores by not download of protection files should be (complete with drive directory trees) possible from the which allows manual checking and Cheyenne or other cleansing of files. This all works sites on the Web. It intuitively and even new PC users would be useful, should have little trouble configuring too, if individual Inoculan. files could be dealt The main part won’t run with from the immediately; it sits in the program directory tree and group like any other well-behaved not just from a right click. As a plus, Cheyenne promises unlimited technical support on Inoculan, as is the case with all its products. PJ Fisher
Above The Options PCW Verdict dialogue allows you to Price £45 configure Inoculan as Contact Cheyenne 01737 775500 you like it Good Points Installs and works without a Left Inoculan makes it hitch. Runs in the background and watches easy to scan drives on everything. Good value. the LAN Bad Points Unable to check individual files from directory tree. No virus update facility. Conclusion Efficient virus checker that does everything it claims and produces peace of mind.
65 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
HARDWARE Pioneer DW-S114X CD Writer A solid CD Writer that can take the strain of serious use.
heck it out: Pioneer’s new CD Writer speed with my messy Windows 95 Cmay not have the most charming installation. name, but by golly, it’s a solid chap. Anyone serious about fast CD writing While the current craze is to release should clean out their system, or better cheaper and possibly flimsier internal CD still, start again with a fresh installation. writers, Pioneer has stepped back, You should also buy media designed for rubbed its chin in thoughtful use at fast speed. By serious I mean consideration, and chosen to release a those who need to load a disc, write at relatively expensive, but incredibly sturdy quad-speed, then load device. another disc straightaway Take a deep breath: the RRP of the for another project. bare drive is £2260, or £2760 with the I’m talking recommended, and rather good, Gear for about the Windows writing software. Compare that with the RRPs of complete bundles seen recently under £800 and Pioneer seems to be ever-so-slightly overpriced. But these internal cheapies are double-speed writers, often built for home use only, and supplied with mediocre software. The Pioneer writes at quad- speed, is an external device, and is built to withstand anything. Just eject that tray to experience true smoothness and solidity — it exudes physical confidence. Now compare it to Yamaha’s considerably lesser-built quad speed, which at street prices of £1499 internal or £1649 external, isn’t that much cheaper. The Pioneer is a SCSI-2 device and features a 1Mb data buffer which should constant (semi-) professional use that ensure uninterrupted data transfer during would justify the purchase of a quad- Probably the most solid CD Writer in the writing process. It also supports speed writer, built to take the strain. the world. The optional “Gear” writing multisession reading and writing. The The Pioneer DW-S114X is just that software is as capable as the writer physical process of writing a full 650Mb writer, and it’s great to see manufacturers itself disc should take around an hour at single- designing for this high-end market, rather speed, 30 minutes at double, and 15 than simply churning out cheaper and considerably more delicate than their pre- minutes at quad-speed. Remember that shoddier products. Of course these written silver discs, easily damaged, and you’ll have to add the time for the software shoddier products are fine for the rest of have a habit of fading over the years. You to format and ideally verify the information. us, who only write CDs every so offen. It’s should also be aware that some software You can plug the Pioneer straight into only when you start to run a mastering takes an age to format the data, rendering a Mac, or you’ll need a SCSI interface for service, with constant hammering, that the single, double or quad-speed issue a PC — we recommend an Adaptec PCI you may yearn for something faster and often irrelevant. 2940 Ultra or UltraWide SCSI card. The sturdier. The Pioneer fits this bill. Despite all this, CD writers remain Gear software comes on a CD which A quick note to any budding CD incredibly desirable peripherals. While the includes both Mac and Windows versions, writers. CD-R is great for distribution. The Pioneer confidently caters for the high-end the latter with specific 32-bit support for discs are fairly cheap at around £8 a go, pro market, the rest of us can go for one of NT and 95. Gear supports verification have a decent capacity of around 650Mb, the cheaper bundles constantly dropping before and after writing, making it suitable are small and light, but best of all, can be in price. for backup. It also formats the information read on virtually every CD ROM drive. Gordon Laing quickly, considerably speeding up the CD-R can be good for backup, but you overall process. can’t rewrite over portions already written PCW Verdict Fast CD writing requires quick to, and if the software doesn’t offer a Price £2260 (RRP), £2760 with Gear software hardware and a clean system. At quad- verification pass, it’s nigh on useless. A Contact Pioneer 01753 789789 speed you really should be using an AV medium which cannot be written over Good Points Fast, incredibly sturdy. hard disk over a PCI SCSI bus. Sadly, I would surely be great for archiving, but Bad Points Relatively expensive. could only get the writer to run at double- unfortunately, CD-R discs are Conclusion Ideal for serious or pro market use.
66 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
SOFTWARE Fractal Designs Painter 4 It may make a Cézanne of you, but you’re probably better off with cheaper tools.
well-known creator of electronic Amusic was once asked why his Right Painter synthesisers made such unnatural offers very noises? His response was that he could convincing not see the point of spending a lot of time natural brush trying to emulate a saxophone when a strokes and better result could be achieved by simply textures bringing in a saxophonist. The point of Below Creating this comment was that new technology seventies creates instruments in their own right, record-sleeve and these devices should have their own artwork is easy voice. This analogy can easily be applied using Painter’s to Fractal Design’s Painter. image distortion Painter was first launched in 1991 and features on an although mind-numbingly slow, existing photo seemed like a refreshing antidote to the austerity of the other professional art packages. As time went by people found that Painter’s ability to create messy oil paintings without getting your hands dirty was not enough, and lost interest. Later versions responded to this, appearing with added image editing facilities, in an attempt to win over users of the already established Adobe Photoshop. The interface consists of five large and somewhat clumsy palettes which tend to dominate the desktop, even at a resolution of 1024 x 768. They offer tools, brush types, brush controls, paper types and a colour picker. In the Brushes pallete, among the oils and charcoal, is The large clumsy palettes make high Image Hose, a cloning tool which allows resolutions a must. You’ll also find that you to paint with different objects such as Painter only really comes into its own trees and coins. Each hose contains with some kind of pressure-sensitive variations of the same image which the graphics tablet. user can change in size and angle to Painter is great fun and the facilities create irregular patterns. Animations on offer work really well, but do consider Photographs can be imported in and are created how many pencils, brushes, paint pots traced over in oils or other natural media. from scratch by drawing frame by frame, and sheets of paper you could buy for There are also photo-editing facilities and or existing movies can be manipulated £400. auto-effects, but little to rival dedicated and painted over, creating some weird Jon Mason photo-retouching packages. Vectors, and wonderful effects. Net Painter such as those in enables two artists to collaborate on the PCW Verdict Adobe Illustrator same canvas in real-time over a Price £399 files, can be network. They can also communicate Contact Computers Unlimited 0181 200 8282 imported and using the chat window while work is in manipulated in their progress. Good Points Great fun, and offers unique computer painting tools. original format, rather than being Hardware is a big factor in the use of Bad Points Still requires decent hardware, rasterized into bitmaps. this program. Don’t even consider using including graphics table.t Two other features that make Version Painter on anything less than a Pentium Conclusion No competition for the cheaper 4 unique from other paint packages are 90 with 16Mb of RAM. Sixteen or 24-bit use of paper, paint and scanning. the animation and Net Painter facilities. colour is highly recommended, while the
68 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 FIRST IMPRESSIONS FIRST IMPRESSIONS
SOFTWARE SOFTWARE
use, with large buttons and easy-to- Easyflow Version 3.0 HOMEwise understand icons pointing you in the right direction. This is why it doesn’t need a Obviously, the only choice for serious flowcharting. If you can’t remember where you put the guests, you need this. manual — it is completely self- explanatory. For those people who have never used graphical user interfaces here are two tasks which every OMEwise is a family organiser it’s better to err on the side of largesse. before, however, there is an introductory Tflowchart program should achieve. It Right Easyflow is Hpackage designed for completely A separate section of the control screen which takes you right down to the should be easy to use, and do all the simple, but has a inexperienced users and seasoned panel covers such things as records held basics, including the use of scroll bars work involved in creating good-looking comprehensive screen-gazers alike, enabling them to on house plants, emergency telephone and radio buttons. flowcharts. It is incredible that of the range of the options record almost anything, including what numbers, pets, home safety and medical You quickly realise that HOMEwise dozen or so programs around, there is you want houseplants they have, how many bottles information. In this latter section there is replicates many of its elements. This only one which fulfils both aims. There Below The grid of wine are in the cellar and what books a “More” button for the addition of new means that while the control screen are only two programs which actually do makes placement are in the kitchen. users, defining in which bedroom they promises many internal functions, closer the routing of lines properly, one being easy. Curves are It will work under Windows 3.1 or sleep so that they can be assigned inspection reveals that many of the AllClear, a great program but very much easy to shape Windows 95, requiring 3Mb hard disk personal journals. Password protection functions are structured identically but one for the computer programmer. space and 8Mb RAM minimum, to run for each user is also possible. with different labels and names. The winner on all counts is Easyflow. well. The “Quick Start” manual (the only When you click on the buttons An example of this is the Traffic Log This not only routes lines, it does the one supplied) accompanies a CD-ROM representing rooms, the control centre system which appears in the garage. It obvious. When you type text into a and two floppies. Installation is easy, and goes down a level, offering a number of enables you to list and recall information shape, it constantly resizes to fit, whereas after selecting the setup program you’re functions associated with that room. about your journeys such as miles programs like CorelFlow 3 just up and running inside a minute. Clicking on the Kitchen icon, for travelled, petrol cost and the time taken. let the text run on. Until now. shapes, although less than Under Windows 95 the program does example, lists icons for Recipes, Things It displays entries in a tabular format, and Easyflow didn’t work under some other packages. a very strange thing: when started, it To Do, a Microwave Snacks list, a Party accepts them on a screen filled with text Windows 95. Version 3.0 not Some of the shapes which takes over the desktop, pasting a non- Planner and Meal Planner among others. boxes. It bears more than a striking only sorts that out, it offers a few look open have a text area moveable, non-sizeable Window on a There are up to 15 separate functions for resemblance to logging facilities on improvements to what was which allows them to be black background. You can still switch every room. These functions, which are pretty much every screen, however, and already the best program filled, but if you really want between your other applications using the generally store and recall-type functions when analysed in this way the program around. to add text to an open Alt-Tab keys as per normal, however. for listing information, invariably enable boils down to around five different Few people use flowcharting shape you can do it by Presumably, this is done to avoid the user to produce a printout of any functions. software every day. Flowcharts using free-standing text and confusing inexperienced users who may stored information with just one icon. Other irritations include a lack of date are the kind of thing you only run grouping it with the shape. be frightened by using Windows directly. The printing function is just one validation on many screens but not on up at the beginning of a project, Lines can be set to route The layout of the system starts with a example of the system’s extreme ease of others, which could cause problems for making ease of use more through or avoid free- control centre, a front inexperienced users. There important than clever options. standing text. Many of the panel which divides the are no links to other programs, Often less is more, and the aspects of the design of a system into various either. For instance, an features which are present need chart can be stored as a rooms. There is the automatic program launcher to be easily discoverable. template, so once you have kitchen, study, cellar, from the Computer Software It’s quite fun to learn about an appearance you’re garage, bedrooms, a database would have been an Easyflow, because the manual is happy with, you can computer room and advantage, as would modem- excellent. The authors, Haventree, have you want to draw, Easyflow is quick to produce several flowcharts. others. There is even a based dialling from the phone a flippant attitude to the usually po-faced use. If you are a heavy user of flowcharting, family room in addition to book. business of learning: there are happy and There are several types of line, then Easyflow is for you. Without much the living room; in what It’s not a bad program, sad faces for good and bad points, and including simple lines which stay in place effort you can rapidly produce the graphs sort of houses do these though. Although a decent they reserve a special scepticism for the when the shapes are moved and smart- you want. If you are an occasional people live? Still, perhaps spreadsheet could do all copyright notice. However, this can lines which stay attached. You can also flowcharter, it is still for you. Along with HOMEwise does and much become annoying, with far too many tools have curved lines. All lines snap to a Power Point, it’s one of the few programs more, it would be more referred to as “gizmos”. separate grid. The manual gives good you can pick up 20 minutes before a expensive and not at all The basic program is simple, with a advice on using the grids, pointing out presentation and produce credible intuitive. It’s a simple matter of drawing area and palette of shapes. The that a coarse grid is faster, and that with results. The price is a little high for a horses for courses. shapes snap-to a position on the grid, simple diagrams the coarse line grid program which might only be used Danny Bradbury and you join them up with lines. Text can makes for simpler diagrams since the occasionally, but none of the cheaper then be inserted into a shape, which will lines will snap to the obvious place. If you programs are worth the difference. If you Above Each then grow to accommodate it. The font want to move a shape so that it is off the must buy something cheaper, get a bedroom has its PCW Verdict size is set, although you can modify it shape grid, you hold down control when pencil and stencil. own private Price £19.95 from shape to shape. you drag it. When you move a shape, you Simon Rockman journal for its Contact Global Software Publishing Shapes can either be set to overlap or can get a dotted outline of it by clicking occupant to use 01480 496666 Good Points Easy to use, quick to set up to replace existing shapes. Overlapping is and waiting an instant before dragging. PCW Verdict Left An easy-to- and extremely affordable. useful for some effects, such as drop This helps with positioning. use control centre Price £149 Bad Points Flexibility is limited, and shadows (there is no automatic drop Shapes can be open or closed, and Contact Rodderick Manhattan 0181 875 4400 gives you access experienced users may become bored. shadow feature as with AllClear), but for when closed can be filled with a colour or Good Points Easy to use, does the job. to different rooms Conclusion Not bad for £20, but it won’t ease of editing, drag and drop with text. The comprehensive library has a Bad Points Manual writers on Prozac. in the house stretch very far. replace makes sense. If you know what good selection of both open and closed Conclusion Sensible software.
70 71 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
SOFT WARE SSeyo Koan Pro This could be the biggest musical revolution since the birth of Rock’n’Roll.
oan Pro is best described as a Kcreative music tool capable of taking a handful of musical ideas and transforming them into accomplished musical pieces. Brian Eno, who is currently using the software to write an album, describes the package as “the most promising idea in musical technology for many years.” Although a degree in music theory will go some way towards helping you compose with Koan, little musical knowledge is actually needed to get you started. You will need a General MIDI sound source, though. A Creative Labs AWE-32 sound card is recommended. Koan Pro cannot be likened to any other software package, so a few hours need to be invested reading the manual. The learning curve is steep, but even at outcome would determine the order for Use the envelope tools to create the bottom it’s possible to create a half- which musical phrases should be played. mountain landscapes. You can edit all decent tune. With Koan the variations are infinite, and 150 parameters, too Koan Pro makes music by randomly because the calculations are determined selecting note values. These include in real time, the music will sound different note lengths, pitch and a host of other every time. occupy 100Kb. This offers interesting parameters. Templates are provided that By adding a second part you can prospects for music on the Internet. A cover several musical, and some not so either repeat the above process entering Koan file can be downloaded in just a musical, styles. Opening the normal new “rules”, or copy the part and few seconds, so you can have tunes template allows you to hear a random transpose, offset and apply micro-level wherever you decide to snowboard, surf melody. Two fundamental parameters controls for subtle, random-changing or jet-ski. determine how the melody develops — effects such as panning, start time and There are new opportunities for pitch and note lengths. The normal modulation. Koan has 150 parameters to games developers, too. By implementing template plays the notes that occur in play with. The software will also the Koan API into new titles, different any one of 13 scales. You choose the harmonise patterns, with sometimes very tunes can be heard each time the game scale and determine the probability and musical and inspirationa resultsl. is played. strength of how often each note will There’s room for up to 50 parts, and It has taken SSeyo the best part of occur. For example, if you only want the each can be played on 16 different five years to get this product off the root and the fifth note in a scale to play instruments simultaneously. When used ground. Time well spent, as it now has (C and G in the key of C major, for with the AWE-32, the software provides the potential to change the way in which example) you would give each note in access to all 25 oscillators, envelopes music is written. Whether you’re a games that scale a 0 percent chance of and LFOs, enabling subtle changes to be developer or just interested in computer- occurring. C and G can be given a made to instruments. It also allows sound aided composition, Koan Pro has a strength of 1 to 100 percent. If these banks to be loaded, opening endless wealth of features to offer, far more than notes are set to 100, each has an equal creative possibilities. we have space to write about here. chance of playing. One example would be to download a Steven Helstrip The same rules can be applied to human voice. By applying “rules” to that note lengths to determine the rhythm. part, the software can generate an ever- From a selection of note lengths changing choral piece in real time for up PCW Verdict (minims, crotchets, quaver, etc), you to nine hours. Price £129.95 determine which note lengths you want To store nine hours of music recorded Contact Sseyo 01344 712017 and the probability of them occurring. at CD quality on your hard drive, you’d Good points Versatile and fun. Bad points Tricky to learn at first. Mozart developed a similar method need a massive 5.4Gb of free space. The Conclusion Loads of potential. for writing music. By rolling a dice, the same file in Koan format would typically
73 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
SOFTWARE Signal Box Neuro-Predictor Specialist neural network facilities in a standard Windows environment.
eural Networks are software Neuro-Predictor can deal Narchitectures inspired by biological with large data sets. nervous systems. They are particularly Although interpretation of useful in applications where traditional the output requires a analysis would be difficult, and have degree of expertise, results proved invaluable in the solution of such can be excellent diverse problems as finger-print identification, robotic arm control and horse race form interpretation. Neural networks interpret data in a different way to statistical methods or expert systems. In statistical analysis the human assumes a model or data structure and then uses a computer program to test its validity or accuracy. In expert systems a program is used to apply rules which reflect the know-how of experts. Neural networks do not require the user to make assumptions about the data. They work by generating nodes which mimick synapses in a biological brain. The computer learns from the data and builds models which reflect its The architecture driving Neuro- structure. Predictor is an advanced Radial While far more processor intensive Basis Function (RBF), which means than traditional methods of data analysis, that the package is limited to data neural networks are usually at least as pattern recognition and time domain good and in many cases thought to have data modelling. Neuro-Predictor has a slight edge over other forms of analysis, features which forecast and find especially for complex or changing relationships in data. Noise models situations. In difficult dynamic situations can be estimated to cope with noisy such as these, the neural network data sets where other methods may program exhibits flexibility, adapts and be inapplicable. The RBF is learns from the data, where traditional considered to be one of the most claim that by concentrating solely upon methods would require a complete efficient routines currently available and RBF they have achieved a level of ease rethinking of the situation. this is a well constructed implementation. of use and functionality which leaves the The spectrum of currently available Software for specialist application competition trailing. This is probably the neural network software stretches from areas such as neural networks often has first serious neural network software in its packages such as Cortex Pro and Matlab an experimental feel to it — indeed, some price range which can be used as a Neural Network toolbox, which are packages are little more than a collection standalone product in a Windows designed for computer scientists with of developer’s tools. Neuro-Predictor is environment to generate sensible results. expertise in the subject, to business well constructed quality professional Neuro-Predictor has full online help application add-ons such as Neural software and has little competition in and a 200-page manual. Technical Connection, which require almost no terms of price. Other neural network support is a further £250 per year and specialist knowledge. Neuro-Predictor is packages which offer a wider range of consultant services are available. somewhere in the middle of this spectrum functions tend to be either command-line Eric Adler and provides specialist neural network driven or far more expensive. facilities in a standard Windows The point must be made however that PCW Verdict environment. many neural network specialists expect Data can be imported from to find a choice of routines such as back Price £399; technical support (optional) from spreadsheets and results output to other propagation with adaptive learning, £250 p.a. Windows programs. Despite the friendly Levenberg-Marquardt back propagation, Contact Signal Box 01709 889900 Good Points Relatively quick and easy to use Windows environment, Neuro-Predictor Kohonen and Multi-Layer Perceptron so with clear output. requires familiarity with the essential as to have a choice of learning rules and Bad Points Limited range of algorithms. concepts of neural networks in order to design methods available, not just the Conclusion Reliable neural network routines in produce and interpret results. RBF. The developers of Neuro-Predictor a Windows package
74 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 FIRST IMPRESSIONS FIRST IMPRESSIONS
SOFTWARE PictureAlbum
PictureAlbum is a good choice for home multimedia use, but be prepared to on the market which are better suited to compiling a professional collection — splash out on the kitchen sink as well. ImageAXS, for instance. As it is aimed at the home user, ultimedia albums have been various media on PictureAlbum is easy to use. The desktop Maround for some time. Kodak to a series of area has an array of buttons to import the has Shoebox and New Media Solutions pages which you media, but you have very few choices as has ImageAXS, but PictureAlbum is can flick through to how you import it. Pictures can either specifically aimed at the home market. later, or view as a be wallet, snapshot or standard-sized It can store various media, including slide show. (covers the whole page of the album). It image files, PhotoCD, video, text and You will need would have been handy to be able to sound, either your own voice or audio a fair amount of resize the images once they were in the CDs. equipment to get album to build better-looking pages. The press release for this product started in the first Adele Dyer hails it as a great way to create place, including a landmarks of your family’s greatest scanner or digital PCW Verdict events — births, marriages, Bar Mitzvahs camera for your and Christmas. To quote: “You can photographs, and Price £19.99 record those first precious words ‘spoken’ a video capture Contact Linefeed 0171 474 1765 by your new-born on to a page showing card for home Good Points Easy to use, very reasonably early pictures. Or you could include a movies. priced. recording of your own voice to remind Otherwise you will Bad Points Limited in its scope. and you will you of the heady emotions you felt at that have to put your photos on PhotoCD or Standard and wallet-sized pictures can need a plethora of equipment to use it properly. moment.” compile other people’s images, which be pasted anywhere on the pages of the Conclusion Lets you make good, if not The look of the product is very much defeats the point of a package with such album to build up a collection professional, looking pages. like a paper album. You can import the a personal feel. There are other packages
HARDWARE Iiyama Pro Lite 31 This good-looking LCD monitor for desktop PCs makes a bold fashion statement.
with the average CRT. better than 640 x 480 resolution and The market in which the monitor might remained prohibitively expensive. sell is rather limited at present — it’s more Enter Iiyama with the first decent of a fashion accessory than a serious specification LCD for a desktop PC. monitor. Nevertheless, it could well find a Capable of displaying 18-bit colour depth place in city dealing rooms or other (262,144 colours) at 1,024 x 768, the crowded areas where fitting monitors Iiyama Pro Lite 31 can match most CRTs presents a problem, or where space is, in terms of performance. literally, money. In most people’s case, The display requires its own supplied however, their monitor sits on top of a PC proprietary video card (PCI or ISA). This which has just as large a footprint as a is because LCDs are digital devices, so it 17in monitor, so the space saving is does not make sense to take an minimal. analogue signal from a VGA card and Simon Head convert it to a digital format in the monitor. Instead, Iiyama utilises a he death of the CRT straight-through digital path from the bus PCW Verdict T(cathode ray tube) in your PC to the monitor. Price £2,299 has long been predicted, The picture quality is excellent with a Contact Iiyama 01438 745482 but LCD screens have so high contrast and wide viewing angle. Good Points Ideal where space-saving, or far made a big hit only on The Pro Lite 31 does use an external good looks, are vital. notebooks. There have power supply, though, which is Bad Points Same price as a very good 21in CRT monitor. been LCDs designed for something of a nuisance. Even though Conclusion The first decent LCD display for desktop PCs in the past, 12 inches may be large for an LCD desktop PCs. but few were capable of panel, it’s small when compared
76 77 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 ogtr tests term Long PCW How You Can Contribute To The Long Term Tests Section
We welcome contributions from readers for our Long Term Tests section. If you’ve been using a piece of hardware or software intensively for some time, just write a 450-word article (for hardware) or a 750-word piece with screenshot — GIF format — for software and send it on disk, in MS Word (Mac or PC) or ASCII format, to: The Editor, Personal Computer World, VNU House, 32-34 Broadwick Street, London W1A 2HG. Mark your envelope clearly “Long Term Tests”. We’ll pay for any contributions we use.
HARDWARE MONTHS Iomega Zip 100 drive 6TEST Stave off deleting files or upgrading your hard disk with this rarely-sighted backup device. site revealed that its 1505 and 1515 cards share a Mac-type micro-D 25-pin connector that is compatible with the Iomega external cable. I opted for the cheaper 1505 that is sold as the Altra CD Connect Kit. The only disadvantage is T’S ONLY A DISK DRIVE BUT that you cannot boot an operating system II’ve found the Iomega Zip Drive to from any device connected to the card. I be a godsend. I no longer agonise over gained an internal SCSI connection, whether to keep files on my hard disk or however, which the Zip-Zoom lacks and archive them on multiple floppies. If was later able to add a CD-ROM drive to something is invaluable I put it on the the chain. hard drive, but if I tire of it then it is Setting up was easy. You can plug in relegated to a Zip. the card, run the Iomega installation disk I can back up my hard disk on a single and start working without any recourse to Zip disk. Given the age and size of my Adaptec’s EZ-SCSI. Similarly, Adaptec’s hard drive, the Zip’s speed is not a worry ASPI SCSI drivers are well up to the task and I happily run applications on it. Using of handling the Zip-drive, but they can’t the Zip drive has let me put off upgrading unlock and reformat the supplied Zip- my hard disk for a while yet. Tools disk. This disk is locked since it is Getting hold of a Zip wasn’t easy — initially partitioned with software for both they are widely advertised but rarely in the Mac and the PC: the Iomega setup stock. I was lucky to find a SCSI model at routine wipes one and uses the other. Technomatics and then discovered that You’ll need to run the Iomega setup au the Zip-Zoom interface card naturel and add in EZ-SCSI later if is practically impossible needed. to source in the UK. Much has been made of the Zip-Tools Adaptec’s suite of utilities but I’ve found them to be excellent Web fairly superfluous. However, Iomega’s support is good and Windows 95 drivers are ready to download at its new, improved Web site (although I’m still hanging in with 3.1). In my view, the “war of the super- floppies” is a non-starter as the Syquest EZ-135 is equally scarce at present. Whatever the relative technical merits of each, I suspect the winner will be the first to get them on the PC superstore shelves in bulk. Allan Toombs
The elusive Iomega PCW Verdict Zip 100: perfect for If you can get hold of it, this is the perfect those little (or large) intermediate solution before you have to backup jobs upgrade your hard disk. It’s easy to install, but not fast. Price £162.85 Contact Iomega 0800 973194
78 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 LONG TERM TEST
SOFT WARE YEAR Microsoft Encarta 94 2 The original multimedia encyclopedia is still an invaluable TEST reference work, and a bargain to boot.
A world of information HE AUGUST 1993 EDITION OF at your TPersonal Computer World featured fingertips: a review of what is now one of the most for successful CD-based encyclopedias — research, Microsoft’s Encarta. It wasn’t the first education, encyclopedia on CD-ROM, as it followed or those offerings from Hutchinson and Software little Toolworks, but it was the first to harness quizzes the capabilities of true multimedia, with between sounds, pictures, animation and video. friends Back in those days when a 386 with 4Mb of RAM was a tall order, Encarta cost around £300, the same price as better idea to include the videos on a pages of text on the eye with diagrams Word 2. Word still maintains its price tag separate disk, which adds the hassle of and an animation which can be printed or around this mark, but Microsoft’s latest changing disks but increases the space copied to your word processor. Or the offering, Encarta 96, can be snapped up on the main disk for pictures and text and third way, which is the most fun, is just for less than a sixth of the price it was the amount and quality of video which jumping aimlessly from topic to topic then. Nearly every new computer now could be offered. using hypertext links and taking in the comes with Encarta, and its formidable Maybe this is what should have been show along the way. success relies on the fact that Microsoft done with the rather pathetic Mind Maze Encarta’s content is pitched at about has drastically undercut all its competitors game too. Along with the fairly limited GCSE level. Much of the text is lucid and as well as on the quality of the product. Dictionary/Thesaurus, there is also the condensed, giving a good overall Unlike many people, I actually bought Timeline and the Atlas. The Timeline impression of the topic. Encarta 94 as a product in its own right, details events from the year dot to the The later Encarta 95 is not very rather than having it bundled with a new present day (actually, 1992) and the different from Encarta 94, except for an computer or CD-ROM drive — usually Atlas provides a selection of maps with updated interface and some updated more of an obligation than a choice. somewhat limited detail. Interestingly, articles. However, Encarta 96 seems to Encarta is essentially a huge with Encarta 96 Microsoft now markets hold the trump card: it is an English database, comprising 26,000 articles the atlas separately from the version, and the American feel and ranging from AA Milne to Zyomys (a type encyclopedia, which apart from making emphasis of Encarta 94 was one of its of rodent). The articles vary in length from the company more money should also main disadvantages. For example, the a few lines for John Major to about increase the quality of the two products. Labour party gets only about half a page 60,000 words for the United Sates. The Encarta can be used in three different compared to Bill Gates’ two, complete importance that Microsoft and the Funk & ways. First, there’s the individual with sound and photograph — obviously Wagnall’s Corporation (the people who question, like: What is the gestation someone’s jobs was on the line there. wrote the text) place on a subject can be period of the African Elephant? To find For general research, education and judged by the length of the text and the answer to this frequently asked entertainment, Encarta is highly useful. It whether there are any other multimedia question, you can either go to the is reliable, thorough, interesting and elements — diagrams, tables, photos, Contents and select “elephant” and then accessible, and at a new shelf price of sounds, animations or video (in scroll through the text looking for the about £50 it represents stunning value. increasing order of prestige). These word “gestation”, or more practically, hit Jonathon Thaw additional elements are generally of a the Find button and type in “elephant: very high standard. Due to their huge gestation”. A Found box then reports all PCW Verdict size, video files, however, are scarce, the articles with these two words, A vintage multimedia encyclopedia, numbering only 22. highlighting the word gestation, and there incorporating a host of features and frills all One of the first things I did when I got you have your answer — 21 months. built around a solid text base. At the new low Encarta was to watch the entire selection Second, you can use Encarta to find price, the latest version, Encarta 96, must be of videos (using the gallery feature) information on a broad topic, for example a winner. which, incidentally, took only about 10 the eye. On selecting “eye” in the Price Encarta Encyclopedia 96, £49.99 Contact Microsoft 0345 002000 minutes. Maybe it would have been a contents, you are presented with several
79 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
HOT ONE HUNDRED P100 chips are at the heart of these 17 entry-level machines.
UST A YEAR AGO THE P100MHz CONTENTS are falling fast. entry-level machine was a One-gigabyte hard disks are fast 83 Adams Accura Premium Plus DX2/66, a solid little plodder becoming standard. Applications are J 83 Amstrad Professional P100 which could deal with most things but 85 Armari eXPS-100 increasingly space hungry and it makes would take its time doing it. Then, P100s 85 Atlantic Pro 96 sense not to overload your hard disk, as were regarded with some awe as fast and 86 Carrera Panther P100AM this is like putting a millstone round its furious machines — sex in a chip. 86 Dan Ultimate PC 100MHz neck. Also, hard-disk manufacturers are Now, P100s are viewed as entry-level 88 Dell Dimension P100t ending the manufacture of smaller disks chips and a recent announcement by Intel 88 Digital Celebris GL 5100 in response to the trends, so prices are bears this out: with the launch of the 92 Gateway 2000 P5-100 plummeting. Finally, what would a Mesh Elite Pro 100 Pentium 166, the company expects to see 92 machine be today without multimedia 93 Mint Conqueror P100 133MHz move into the mainstream, capability? 93 Oasis Lightning P54/100 which in turn will make P100s more 94 Panrix Micron P100 We have expanded our usual suite of affordable than ever before. For all that, 94 Vale PlatTriton P100 tests to evaluate the machines in this though, the chip has lost none of its 96 Viglen Genie PCI P5/100 review. There are the usual Windows original cachet and is still highly desirable 96 Vobis HighScreen Skycase P100M applications tests, comprising business as the best trade-off between price and 100 Zenith Z-Station VP100 model 1200 packages including Word, WordPerfect, performance. 98 Hardware components/RAM Excel and FoxPro. On top of this we run The spec chosen for the P100 100 How We Did The Tests the Doom2 tests to see how the machines machines has otherwise been decided 103 Monitors perform on games, and we have added a by market trends. While Windows 3.1 104 Performance Results CorelDraw test to see how they do on was happy to plod along on a 486 with 105 Editor’s Choice graphics. 4Mb RAM, Windows 95 makes more 105 Buyer’s Guide We have tested 17 machines in this demands of the system, needing at least 106 Table of Features review. So whatever your budget, there 8Mb RAM although it makes sense to opt should be something in there for you. for 16Mb, especially as memory prices PCW Opening Photography by David Whyte Adele Dyer Pentium PC Photography by Bruce Mackie
80 81 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Adams Accura Premium Plus Amstrad Professional P100
mstrad is Aone of the most recognised he first thing names in the PC Tthat strikes industry, but in you as you get recent years its the Adams out fortunes have of the box is been somewhat how good mixed, and looking it is. The highly keyboard is also publicised. one of the few Recently, decent ones we however, saw in this test. Amstrad has Once you have redirected its easily slipped off the case, the insides are neat and forces. The company bought Viglen and in May will close compact, but sensibly put together. Part of this is due to the their Shoeburyness factory and move production down to design of the Micronics motherboard. On this board the Viglen’s new factory in Alperton. They will operate as a SIMMs sockets are on the outside edge next to the subsidiary of Viglen. processor, so upgrading the RAM should be relatively First impressions of the machine are disappointingly painless. dull, starting from the case, which is definitely a plain Jane. As for expansion room, there are four PCI and four ISA Inside, the approach is far from systematic. There was a slots, one shared, as well as one free 5.25” bay under the jumble of cables and the RAM was right under the hard CD and floppy drives — a little inaccessible — and one drive, which would have to be removed to do any internal 3.5” bay for a spare hard disk. The Connor hard upgrading. drive was less fast than some in this test, notably the The graphics card runs off an S3 chip. S3 make the Quantum hard drive. It is located over the power supply, but chips used by most of the graphics card manufacturers, more worryingly the cables were wedged between the hard people like Number Nine and VideoLogic. The soundcard disk and the power supply itself — just pray you don’t have is that old staple, the Creative Labs SoundBlaster 16, a meltdown. perhaps not the best card on the market anymore, but still The manuals were sadly rather skimpy. There is a a safe bet for games and multimedia. There were no description of how to set up your machine, but no diagrams speakers supplied, so we could not test the sound and the technical and upgrading information is sparse. You properly. do, however, get a manual for the motherboard. The software bundle is a little out of the ordinary, The speakers which fit on the side of the monitor are including games such as Descent and Links Pro, a golfing surprisingly good for such little things. The sound is not game. The office package was Lotus SmartSuite, which huge and rounded, but it is hiss free and not overly tinny. seems to crop up in more and more bundles. However, once you have put the speakers on the monitor, Performance was mixed. The office application scores there is no way you can pull them off again. were disappointing, but the Amstrad made up ground with a very fast Doom2 test. If you are going to use a machine Monitor primarily for games, this one might be worth considering. This ADI monitor is one of the better ones we saw in this test. It has a reasonable black screen and a thin surround. Monitor It does not suffer unduly from distortion or interference and Typical of CTX monitors, this one was characterised by performed adequately if not outstandingly. being relatively free of distortion and the colours were not bad, but suffered from some fading at the edges.
Details Details Adams Accura Premium Workstation Plus Amstrad Professional P100
Price £1,599 Good Points Well built, good Price £1,699 telephone and fax support Contact 0161 282 8822 keyboard and monitor Contact 0800 338844 Good Points Very good Doom Fax 0161 283 1001 Bad Points Skimpy manuals Fax 01277 209009 score Conclusion A good machine Bad Points Poor build quality Software Bundle Windows 95, Software Bundle Windows 95, Conclusion Average office Perfect Office std Lotus SmartSuite, Encarta, Links performance, but good for games Hardware Bundle ADI speakers Pro, Descent, Destination Saturn Warranty Terms 3 years, first Scores Hardware Bundle Warranty Scores year on-site. Optional 2nd year Bundle 3 Terms Optional 1 — 3 years Bundle 5 on-site for £150 Build Quality 7 £149, 5 years £299 Build Quality 5 Technical Support Free Warranty 8 Warranty Terms 1 year on-site. Warranty 4 telephone and fax support Value 8 Technical Support No free Value 4
83 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Armari eXPS-100 Atlantic Pro 96
his was Tonly the second rmari have machine from Asurpassed Atlantic themselves on Systems we extras on this have seen. machine. We They are a asked for a small to simple quad- medium-sized speed drive, but company instead we got a based near CD changer and Swansea. Like as the icing on the P120 from the cake, the Atlantic that we machine came complete with tape backup. While neither the looked at in the NEC MultiSpin or the HP Colorado tape backup are the best January group test, this machine had a SOYO motherboard. of their kind, they are extremely useful options to offer on the The board has Triton, Socket 7 and a CELP socket, with basic machine. Add to this a Quantum Fireball hard disk, a 256Kb of pipeline-burst cache. It also has the older type of Matrox Millenium video card and an AWE 32 sound card and secondary level cache sockets. There are four PCI and four you have a very highly specced machine. ISA slots, one of them shared. Inside the PC, the SuperMicros motherboard has been The peripherals are mostly quite standard, Diamond used, with its eight slots — four PCI and four ISA slots. The Stealth 64 Video VRAM and SoundBlaster 16, but the CD- board is American built and is considered much more ROM drive is a six-speed Aztech. This makes a huge reliable than many around. It is capable of running at up to difference to performance, especially when installing 200MHz, so can be upgraded for future chips. The RAM is software. The case is smaller than the one we saw in the last reasonably available, but at the expense of expansion room. group test, being an ordinary mini-tower, but there is still There is only one 5.25” bay, but then the machine is so well enough room for expansion, in one 5.25in and two 3.5in bays. specced to start with you would have difficulty finding The machine came loaded with an impressive array of anything else to put in there. software, including Lotus SmartSuite, Quicken, Adobe The hard drive has been partitioned, and on the smaller Acrobat and Corel 4. However, none of these was supplied section are a load of games and updated drivers. The idea of on disk as well. One other curiousity about the way Atlantic putting them here is to prevent configuration conflicts. You had set-up the machine was that Windows 95 did not have have the option to partition or not to partition when you buy, all the usual shortcuts floating around on the desktop. There and your decision depends very much on what you want to was no Briefcase and no Inbox, only the My Computer icon do with your machine. It is useful for running more than one and the Waste Basket. These can be put back, but it operating system, or for games, but otherwise has limited seemed strange not to let the user decide what they do and use. don’t want. The Doom score was impressive, one of the The speed of the machine proved that the whole thing fastest in the test, although as in common with other has been well put together. The added extras pushed up the machines containing the Diamond Stealth 64 Video VRAM, price. The basic system with no tape backup and a standard the Corel test was a little slow. CD-ROM drive would be £1655. Monitor Monitor This ADI had problems with pincushion, which the controls The Iiyama monitor was relatively free of distortion and could not right and reacted badly when switched on and off. flicker. It was clean and clear, giving good colour definition This marred an otherwise sharp monitor, which had good and has a pleasant look to it. colour separation. Details Details Armari eXPS-100 Atlantic Pro 96
Price £1,899 telephone and fax support Price £1,548 Options: 3 years on-site Contact 0181 810 7441 Good Points Very well specced Contact 01792 700002 Technical Support Free Fax 0181 810 5783 and fast Fax 01792 792888 telephone and fax support Bad Points Limited expansion Good Points Six-speed drive Software Bundle Windows 95, Software Bundle Bundle room Bad Points Fault on the monitor MS family pack Windows 95, Lotus SmartSuite, Conclusion Editor’s Choice Conclusion Not a bad bundle Hardware Bundle Jazz Hipster CorelDRAW! 4, Quicken speakers, HP Colorado T1000 Scores Accounts Scores tape back-up Bundle 4 Hardware Bundle SoundWave Bundle 8 Warranty Terms 1 year back to Build Quality 8 40 speakers Build Quality 8 base and options Warranty 5 Warranty Terms 1st year on- Warranty 8 Technical Support Free Value 9 site, 4 years back to base. Value 6
85 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Carrera Panther P100AM Dan Ultimate PC 100MHz
arrera are ome the Cfairly Csummer, regular entrants Intel fully intends in our group the P100 to be tests and so we the entry-level have seen quite chip and many of a few of their the machines in machines over this test have the past year or been specced so. It is accordingly. It interestingly to was therefore see a real encouraging to improvement in see the Dan the quality of the come up with machines they two upmarket put forward. components. The midi-tower they put in for review this time may not be Firstly it was the only one to have a 17” monitor. We only the design they will be selling by the time this is on the news- asked for a 15”, but to the mind of everyone in the office a stands as they are considering changing their cases. 17” is much easier to work with, especially if you are going to However the insides — the really interesting part — will stay be sitting in front of it for long hours. The Aztech six-speed the same. CD drive, the Matrox Millenium graphics card, the Creative Carrera have opted for the SuperMicros board — an Labs Awe 32 sound card and last but not least, the 512Kb of increasingly popular choice as it is designed with upgrading cache all make this a well specced machine. in mind. There is plenty of room with a total of four ISA and The Asus motherboard is something of a hybrid. So as four PCI slots, none of them shared and two 5.25” and two well as a CELP socket for the cache, there is also the old 3.5” bays. However, the expanded number of bays does type of cache connectors. So if current cache sources were mean that the RAM is trapped under the hard disk, which to dry up, you could still add cache to your machine. Dan say hangs in a drop-down bay. they chose this board over the Intel as they consider it an all- The Turtle Beach sound card was a nice surprise. It round better board. It is reliable and it offers the options Dan comes with a good software bundle, including manuscript, needs. The board of course features the PCI bus, Trition sequencer and mixer and was quite highly regarded in our chipset and Socket 7, plus four PCI slots, one of which is last soundcard group test. The wavetable sound on it is extended and three ISA slots. The RAM was within easy second to none, but cannot at present be expanded. The reach. sound was good and round when played through the Other plus points include a 14.4 modem, powerful excellent Typoon 120W speakers. speakers, four expansion bays and a useful sticker on the The manuals were well written and easy to follow, back telling you the DMA and IRQ addresses of all the including most things you would want to know from devices in the system. beginners to advanced users. There is also a manual for the motherboard. Monitor The excellent all round performance results were the The 17” version of the Iiyama Vision Master is excellent. It is icing on the cake making this a very good machine. almost completely flicker-free and is sharply defined, although it does suffer a little from some slight misalignment Monitor of horizontal lines. The Goldstar monitor is quite pleasant to use, with knobs rather than buttons to change the brightness and contrast. However, there was some distortion of the colours and the screen pulls a little towards the edges. Details Details Carrera Panther P100AM Dan Ultimate PC 100MHz
Price £1,789 telephone and fax support Price £1,938 good speakers Contact 0171 830 0486 Good Points Fast performance, Contact 0181 830 1100 Bad Points 14.4 kbps modem Fax 0171 830 0286 good sound card Fax 0181 830 1122 Conclusion Seems expensive Bad Points RAM trapped under at first glance, but is reasonable Software Bundle Bundle Software Bundle Windows 95, hard disk considering monitor and CD-ROM Windows 95, Lotus Home Works 95, Lotus Organizer Conclusion Good all round drive Executive, CD Bundle, MS Hardware Bundle Hi-fi speakers Encarta, PC Check Scores Warranty Terms 1 year back to Scores Hardware Bundle ADI speakers Bundle 5 base. Options from Coracplan Bundle 8 Warranty Terms Typhoon 120W Build Quality 7 Technical Support Free Build Quality 7 speakers Warranty 5 telephone, no fax support Warranty 4 Technical Support Free Value 10 Good Points Well speced, Value 7
86 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Dell Dimension P100t Digital Celebris GL 5100
ell are one of Dthe few genuine OEM manufacturers in operation today. he most They make their Tstriking fact own about the Digital motherboards is the way it and many of their manages to cram own so much into components. Dell such a tiny case. have opted to put The answer is many of the that everything is usual peripherals on Digital’s own straight on the motherboard, motherboard. with all The video was taken care of via an S3 chip on the connections handled via a thin line of ports on the back on motherboard with a riser card for the connections. Dell have the case. The quality of the installed components is not, however, opted to put the sound on the motherboard, as impressive, as is the way the whole machine is built. The have Intel with their Endeavour boards, but rather to use a video is controlled via a Matrox chip, the sound with a 16-bit Creative Labs Vibra 16 card. Also on the motherboard are ESS chip and the network capabilities are also on the board. four PCI and three ISA slots, one shared. The RAM is easy to You have a choice of either twisted pair or thick wire get to. Overall, however, the makeup was quite messy with connections and the thick wire can be converted to thin wire cables littering the internal space. via an attached unite interface connector. It was a surprise that the Dell did not perform better. They There is only one PCI and one ISA slot, and one shared normally put up a reasonable, if not outstanding, test result, slot, on a riser card. Any improvements you want to make on but this time they were well down on all the tests we rang. the installed components will have to come here. If you do This we put mainly down to the lack of cache. Although there not like riser cards this is something of a disadvantage, but was a CELP socket on the motherboard, Dell had not fitted there is plenty of room to fit full-length cards into a very small any secondary cache. This was not a typical Dell bundle. space. Normally with 16Mb RAM you get 256Kb cache, 2Mb of The bays and power supply are on a tip-up section, so the VRAM on the graphics card and Office Professional. This parts of the motherboard tucked under the bays can be easily brings the price up to £1549. Dell also now include six-speed reached, including the RAM. The swing-out mechanism also CD-ROMs as standard, rather than the quad-speed we saw. makes it easy to get at the bays. The Maxtor hard disk, for The manuals were nothing if not thorough. There were example, is at the bottom of the bays, but looks relatively three updates to the double pack of manuals which were all easy to replace. quite technical, but there are also two booklets of frequently The accompanying documentation was very well written, asked questions which are of more use to the beginner. with some excellent numbered diagrams showing how to set up. The performance of this machine was very good, Monitor showing its configuration to be equal to its build quality. The monitor was good, with very little distortion and being quite sharp. It pulled a tiny bit to the left, but otherwise was Monitor free from faults. The screen was a good shade of black. Although the picture was fairly sharp, the screen was very rounded and barrelling was apparent. There was also a slight flicker which made it less than ideal.
Details Details Dell Dimension P100t Digital Celebris GL 5100
Price £1,459 good manuals Price £2,640 Bad Points Expensive Contact 01344 720000 Bad Points Slow performance, Contact 0345 227228 Conclusion Highly Fax 01344 723699 perhaps due to lack of cache Fax 01789 200290 recommended Conclusion Disappointing Software Bundle Win95, Office 95 Software Bundle Windows 95 or overall, but with a better hardware Hardware Bundle Altec Lancing Windows 3.11 bundle could be much better value ACS5 speakers Hardware Bundle None Warranty Terms 1 year back to Scores Warranty Terms 3 year limited Scores base and options Bundle 3 warranty Bundle 1 Technical Support Free Build Quality 6 Technical Support Free Build Quality 9 telephone and fax support Warranty 7 telephone and fax support Warranty 4 Good Points Good monitor, Value 10 Good Points Very well built Value 8
88 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Gateway 2000 P5-100 Mesh Elite Pro 100 Mint Conqueror P100 Oasis Lightning P54/100
his was one of esh make e have not asis are a Tthe few Mthemselves Wseen a Overy small desktops in the test memorable Mint machine company, and is obviously through their since the end of operating since intended as an suspect adverts. 1994. The 1991. In the past, entry-level Remember the company has they have machine. As a Christmas one been in specialised in desktop, expansion with a scantily operation for 10 high-end space is limited to clad female years and up to systems for large two 5.25” bays Santa Claus now has corporations and under the CD-ROM bending over a concentrated government. The drive. Inside, the sack containing a mainly on the Oasis had, to my Intel motherboard Mesh PC, or the education and eyes, one of the is rather small, one of a Marilyn commercial ugliest cases in which has certain Monroe lookalike markets. The the test. It has a drawbacks. The with her skirt machine itself door on the front full-length Ensoniq sound card took one of the ISA slots, but there billowing up. Sexist? Surely not. was a very pleasant surprise. It was extremely fast on the concealing the drive bays, with a large black plastic stripe as was no room for a second full-length card here, as they would be The case looks at first glance as if it has built-in speakers. office applications tests and only slightly slower on the decoration. Inside the case there was one internal and one blocked by the batteries or the processor (under a jazzy electric In fact there is simply a bit of mesh covering (geddit?). The graphics tests — a good all-round performer. The case is external 5.25 bay, but both were under the CD and looked blue heatsink). The STB (Simply The Best) video card is CD-ROM drive did not seem to fit properly and was a different attractive, and the build quality of the machine itself is very hard to get at. unfortunately not the best one around and this showed on the poor colour, but the case does allow for easy upgrading, with the good. Despite this there were some extremely good peripherals Corel and Doom2 scores. three free bays easy to get to. The board is by PCI, and is The US SuperMicros motherboard is considered by many included. The VideoLogic GraphixStar 700 is regarded as The RAM has been fitted in 4Mb blocks, taking up all four fitted with 256Kb of pipeline-burst cache on board. It has to be much better than many of the Far East boards. It has a one of the best cards around. This was connected to one of SIMMs sockets, which will mean having to junk SIMMs as Socket 7 and a VRM slot with nothing in it. There are four ISA good reputation for being reliable with a very low failure rate, the better, if cheaper, video capture cards — the VideoLogic and when you want to upgrade. The performance of the slots and three PCI. None of them are shared, but one of the as well as being quick. There are four PCI and four ISA slots Captivator. The machine came with a Miro soundcard fitted, Gateway was also a little sluggish, perhaps due to lack of PCI slots is pointlessly blocked by the serial and parallel and the RAM is clear of bays. There is 256Kb cache in a but the sound produced was very broken up. Oasis can also cache. Gateway does not consider the home user would ports, when there are perfectly good positions for them away CELP socket for easy upgrading. Bays are not thin on the supply you with the excellent Turtle Beach cards. There was benefit enough from cache to make it worth putting it in an from the slots. ground. The hard disk is actually under the power supply in also a Miro modem. Unlike many of the bundled modems, entry level system. They are probably right if all you want to The software bundle was quite extensive, including Works, the mini-tower case, which leaves room for one 3.5in and this one was a V34 28.8 fax modem, so you should get good do is play games, but for office and graphics applications the Accent Express and a promise of Lotus SmartSuite to arrive two 5.25in free external bays and two free internal 3.5in transfer rates from it. situation is a little different. in a few days. Nothing was loaded except Windows 95. bays. The motherboard is a small TMC model, which none the One thing we found quite annoying was the display control However, one rather vital thing they did forget to put in the The peripherals chosen are also extremely good. The less allows enough room for all the components to be within screen which pops up whenever you reboot. The use of this box was the keyboard. Matrox Millenium graphics card and the Creative Labs AWE reach. The RAM was clear of immovable obstructions, but is something of a mystery, as it does the same thing as the The performance was good. The Doom score was the 32 are both regarded as among the best of their kind. The was under reams of cabling. Windows 95 control panel and is no easier to operate. The fastest we had, perhaps down to the graphics card/hard disk Yamaha speakers complete the deal to give very good Software bundled with the machine included TopLevel manuals were all quite basic, apart from the 29 pages on combination of a Diamond Stealth 64 Video VRAM and sound output. Disappointingly, the manuals are quite Complete Works (another integrated office package) and a CMOS settings. The backup disks were comprehensive and Quantum Fireball which proved so fast in the last group test skimpy. There is a brief explanation of how to set it up, but Miro phone dialling link to go with the modem. One thing all given the corporate treatment, coming in Fresian cow of P120s. little otherwise. There is a manual included for the worth a mention is the ergonomic keyboard. While not covers. motherboard. Plenty of software, including lots of games, everyone will like using a bent keyboard, I found it Monitor made up for this, however. remarkably easy to adapt to and pleasant to use. Monitor The ADI monitor was quite good, although it suffered very The Gateway Vivitron monitors are actually rebadged Sonys slightly from all the problems of distortion, flicker and Monitor Monitor and the quality of the choice shines through. They are stable indistinct colours. However, overall it is still acceptable. This Samsung monitor is not immensely attractive on the This monitor was one of the better ones for running with no and flicker-free and the colour is exceptionally good for a outside, but makes up for this with its Star Trek control panel distortion and the colours were reasonable. However the bundled deal. Details which glides down from the underside of the monitor. The picture was not entirely square at the top and bottom. colours were good, but there was some distortion. Mesh Elite Pro 100
Price £1,745 respond to any call or fax within Details Contact 0181 452 1111 two hours. If a hardware fault is Details Details diagnosed, an appointment with Gateway 2000 P5-100 Fax 0181 208 4493 Mint Conqueror P100 Oasis Lightning P54/100 an engineer is agreed within two Software Bundle Windows 95, Price £1,699 telephone and fax support hours. Price £1,794 telephone and fax support Price £2,139 Good Points Good graphics SmartSuite 3.1 on CD, Accent Contact 0800 973120 Good Points Very good monitor Good Points Very good Contact 0181 965 5151 Good Points Good build quality Contact 01707 329801 card, 28.8 modem Express, Works 4, MS Money, Fax 00353 1 848 2022 Bad Points Very slow and some performance all round Fax 0181 965 3243 and performance Fax 01707 336468 Bad Points Ugly case, problem Encarta 96 US, others including below average components Bad Points Sloppy build in Bad Points Skimpy manuals with the sound card Software Bundle Windows 95, Doom Software Bundle Windows 95, Software Bundle Windows 95, Conclusion Not up to some areas Conclusion Excellent all round Conclusion A reasonable all- Office 95 Hardware Bundle Mesh OEM MS Works, MS Dangerous TopLevel Complete Works v2 Gateway’s usual standard Conclusion Good value round performer Hardware Bundle Altec Lansing speakers 80W per channel Creatures, Golf, Encarta 95 Hardware Bundle Yamaha Scores Scores Scores Scores ACS31 speakers Warranty Terms 1 year on-site. Hardware Bundle Yamaha YST10 10W speakers Bundle 3 Bundle 9 Bundle 4 Bundle 2 Warranty Terms 1 year on-site, Options: upgradeable to 2 years speakers, Microphone/headset Warranty Terms 1 year on-site. 2 years return to base. Options: Build Quality 5 or 3 years. Build Quality 7 Warranty Terms 1 year back to Build Quality 8 Options: 2nd and 3rd year on-site Build Quality 6 2nd and 3rd year on-site Warranty 8 Technical Support Free Warranty 7 base, 1 year on-site £35 Warranty 3 Technical Support Free Warranty 6 Technical Support Free Value 5 telephone and fax support. Will Value 10 Technical Support Free Value 6 telephone and fax support Value 7
92 93 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Panrix Micron P100 Evesham Vale PlatTriton P100
anrix vesham Pconsistently Ehave opted turn out very fast to use the Intel machines and this Endeavour board one is no in this machine. exception. It was This is Intel’s one of the top latest all-singing performers on all all-dancing three of the tests, motherboard and proving itself a has the capacity good all-rounder. to handle those There are quite functions usually a few similarities taken care of by with the Adams. cards. So there is Both have similar a space for an S3 cases, the same Trio 64 PCI video very good keyboard and the same motherboard. All these controller, which Evesham have forgone, and a Vibra 16 chip components are of a sensible design. The motherboard is to handle sound. Evesham argue that most buyers want a from Micronics. The RAM is located by the processor and so good graphics card. By not including the S3 chip the within easy reach. There are three PCI only, three ISA only customer has greater flexibility in what they choose. In this and one shared slot. case the graphics card is the Matrox Millenium, regarded as In these slots nestle a Diamond Stealth 64 Video VRAM the best graphics card around. Evesham has loaded it with a graphics card and a Creative Labs Vibra 16. The former was whopping 4Mb of WRAM. considered the fastest card on the market before the advent The Vibra 16 chip can be disabled to add a separate of the Matrox MGA Millenium and its pioneer WRAM sound card, although this may be an unsatisfactory option. technology. However, the Diamond still gives stonking All chips on a motherboard are disabled via the BIOS, which performance, as demonstrated in the Doom test. can impede performance of any new peripherals you use The desktop case limits expansion room, with only one instead. However, later this year Yamaha are planning a free 5.25” and one free 3.5” bay. The hard disk is over the wavetable extension on an ISA card, so you should be able power supply. The hard disk was relatively clutter-free when to ginger up the performance of the Vibra chip using this it arrived with us. Only the basic operating system, drivers card. and Works for Windows 95 were loaded. These also came Also included on the board is a CELP socket, here with on disk and CD, although unlike some manufacturers, there 256Kb of cache. The RAM is also clear of obstructions. On was no start-up disk for emergencies. the processor, Evesham have put a very shallow heatsink, The manuals were very good. They covered everything allowing plenty of room for full-length cards without having from the basics right up to some quite complicated system them melt down between the prong of the heatsink. set-ups. They tend to assume you are thick as a plank, but One new feature on this machine comes from the power that is what you need if you are going to delve around in your supply and before you fall asleep, let me just tell you it is an machine. There is also a useful card showing you how to uninterruptable power supply which prevents data loss from connect your set up your PC when you first get it out the box. split-second power interruptions.
Monitor Monitor The Iiyama monitor that we saw with this machine has a The monitor, from Smile, is not the best we saw. The fault. It had a bright line down one side and was interlocking brightness and contrast controls give limited variability and furiously. However, Iiyama VisionMasters like this one are the colours were not that clear. usually quite good monitors.
Details Details Panrix Micron P100 Evesham Vale PlatTriton P100
Price £1,765 performer Price £1,719 Bad Points On-board sound Contact 0113 244 4958 Bad Points Limited software Contact 01386 765500 may not suit everyone Fax 0113 244 4962 bundle, faulty monitor Fax 01386 765354 Conclusion A very reasonable Conclusion A good machine let machine Software Bundle Windows 95, Software Bundle Windows 95, down only by its limited software MS Works 95 Media 96 bundle Hardware Bundle Yamaha M10 Hardware Bundle Zyfiz speakers Scores speakers Scores Warranty Terms 2 years on-site Bundle 2 Warranty Terms 1 year on-site, Bundle 4 Technical Support Free Build Quality 8 and options Build Quality 8 telephone and fax support Warranty 6 Technical Support Tel/fax Warranty 6 Good Points Fastest all round Value 8 Good Points Well built Value 8
94 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Viglen Genie P5/100 Vobis HighScreen Skycase P100M
iglen is obis is the Vknown for Vbiggest seller producing well- in Germany, built machines operating in very that are much the same invariably good way as Escom in performers and that they are both this machine is manufacturer no different. and retailer, but Viglen has again over here they gone for the Intel are little known. Endeavour The company motherboard, as has been around in all the for over 20 years, machines we but has only have seen from operated in the them in the recent future — the P150 and the P166. Like UK for about 18 months. Vale, they have opted to leave off the on-board video and The case on this machine was not desperately attractive have included a Matrox Millenium card. Once again, sound is to my eye. Its novel design makes it look more like a mini- dealt with via the Vibra 16S chip on the board and tower on its side than a desktop. However, the shape is connections are put on a riser card. The board comes determined by the location of the spare bays. There is one complete with a CELP socket, so upgrading the cache to expansion bay on the side of the others, so you can easily 512Kb will be painless. The overall impression is of a very slip in an extra device without disrupting everything too badly. clean built machine. The only downer is that the EDO RAM is Some of the components are a little out of the ordinary. just under the hard drive and so slightly inaccessible. The Trident graphics card usually comes with 1Mb VRAM , Multimedia options on this machine are entry level but but we asked for 2Mb. Vobis admit it is not the most fantastic quite adequate. The quad-speed CD-ROM drive is by card, but it is adequate. The sound card is by AudioStar. The Mitsumi, a very common choice among PC manufacturers, AudioStar card we looked at in the April soundcard group test and the soundcard is that perennial favourite, Creative Labs had a wavetable daughterboard, unlike this one. SoundBlaster 16. Played through the standard Viglen The Intel board allows for a cache upgrade in a CELP speakers the sound is a little thin, but acceptable for those socket. However, Vobis has not filled this with anything, who are not looking to replace their stereo with their PC. perhaps partly explaining its slower performance. Vobis say The documentation and back-up disks that come with the that EDO RAM with no cache is faster than FPM RAM and bundle are comprehensive, covering almost everything you standard cache, but they have plans to introduce pipeline- would want to know. The setting up card when you open the burst cache in the next few months. The RAM is under the box is very useful, as is the Viglen boot disk for when you drive bays, but there is plenty of room for full-ength cards. inadvertently trash your system. The Viglen performed well The speakers are better than one might expect, if a little on all tests, showing itself to be a good all round machine. muffled on the extremes of the high and low tones.
Monitor Monitor The monitor was acceptable, but not outstanding. It is quite The Vobis monitor had a few problems, namely that the attractive to look at, but faded a little to the edges and was a picture would go to the edges of the screen, leaving about an little blotchy. However, the colour separation was good. inch on either side. Despite this the screen itself was fairly flat and a good dark shade of black.
Details Details Viglen Genie PCI P5/100 Vobis HighScreen Skycase P100M
Price £1,787 Technical Support Free Price £1,499 inc VAT Good Points Easy to upgrade Contact 0181 758 7000 telephone, no fax support Contact 0181 207 7000 Bad Points No cache, not a very Fax 0181 758 7080 Good Points Strong performer Fax 0181 953 8209 pretty case Bad Points Speakers a little tinny Conclusion Not the fastest Software Bundle Windows 95, Software Bundle Windows 95, Conclusion A good bet machine, but it is cheap MS Works 95, Windows 95 Word 7, Lotus Organiser Multimedia CD-ROM bundle Hardware Bundle Screenbeat Hardware Bundle Standard Scores Pro50 speakers Scores Viglen speakers, Hands free Bundle 4 Warranty Terms 1 year on-site. Bundle 2 microphone Build Quality 7 Options: up to 5 years warranty Build Quality 8 Warranty Terms 1 year collect Warranty 4 Technical Support Free Warranty 8 and return, and options Value 7 telephone and fax support Value 6
96 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Video Cards RAM Sound Card Sense Video or graphics circuitry, usually fitted to a card but sometimes found RAM is an impermanent data storage area and is the There are many ways of reducing the cost of a PC. In such a price-sensitive capability of your machine, it’s worth checking to on the motherboard itself, is responsible for creating the picture your main memory area accessed by the hard disk. It acts, if market the sound card is often the first budgetary victim so it’s worth see whether the card has a Wavetable monitor displays. you like, as a staging post between the hard disk and the spending some time looking at the capabilities of the sound card included in daughterboard connector, as this can dramatically This picture is stored in dedicated video memory. The processor. The more data contained in the RAM, the your overall deal. upgrade your sound card if needed at a later date. higher the resolution or greater number of colours, the faster the processor can access that data and thus the Most sound cards, today, use Wavetable technology which gives you • List the compatible sound modes supported by more memory you’ll need, but since it is a shared faster you machine will run. sampled sounds of real instruments, instead of the synthesised sounds in use the card. Most sound cards in new PCs these days resource, reducing one will allow an increase of Windows 95 and many current applications are a few years ago. DSP (Digital Signal Processing) technology is also should support General Midi, SoundBlaster, and the other. extremely memory hungry and gobble up RAM. To run becoming more widespread on sound cards and this allows reverb, Adlib and should be capable of recording and • One megabyte of video memory is Windows 95 successfully you will need an absolute delay, and other digital effects to be applied to instruments or playing back 16-bit stereo, with sampling rates up capable of providing a resolution of minimum of 8Mb, preferably 12Mb, but to do justice to a samples. to 44.1KHz. 1,024 x 768 pixels in 8-bit colour; processor as fast as a P100, you should really run with • Check the size of the samples in ROM. A bog-standard • The sound card you get with your PC should be offering 256 colours. 16Mb. card should have at least 1Mb but more sophisticated happily pre-installed and ready to go, but it’s worth • Alternatively, dropping to an EDO (Extended Data Out) is now pretty much cards can have as much as 4Mb. Some cards, like checking that it conforms to Plug and Play standards. 800 x 600 pixel resolution will standard. It clearly performs better than standard DRAM the AWE 32, support the use of additional You may change the components in your system, or even free up enough video memory or FPM-RAM and as EDO-RAM prices fall, sample memory which allows you to add move your sound card to another machine. If so, Plug and for 16-bit colour; offering so you can expect to see all machines up to 28Mb of your own sounds, thus Play compatibility should make your life much easier. Plug and 65,536 colours. with EDO-RAM in six months’ time. improving the variety and quality of Play sound cards have been slow to appear but there are some around • All the PCs in this group test Adele Dyer the overall selection. Even if including the new AWE 32 and Soundblaster 32 from Creative Labs, and have at least 2Mb video memory you’re not deadly serious Orchid NuSound (all reviewed in last month’s Sound Cards group test). capable of 1,024 x 768 pixels in about the sound Eleanor Turton-Hill 16-bit colour; 1,280 x 1,024 in 8-bit; or 800 x 600 in 24-bit — just under 16.8 million colours. Photographic images or coloured blends look best in 16- Cache or 24-bit. DTP and CAD applications work best at high Cache is where the processor stores data resolutions where fine detail can be seen. which it will frequently need, so as to The type of the video memory highly affects performance: DRAM access it more quickly. It has the advantage (Dynamic Random Access Memory) is slowest, but cheapest; next up is of being much faster than RAM, especially as it the more expensive, but faster VRAM (Video Random Access Memory); cannot hold many bytes, and so search times are fastest and most costly of all is WRAM (Windows Random Access significantly reduced. Memory), currently only available on Matrox cards. The benefits of cache are much debated: many PC It’s no good having a video card capable of ultra-high resolutions at manufacturers are not currently bundling cache as standard, flicker-free refresh rates if your monitor cannot lock on to the signal preferring instead to rely on EDO-RAM for increased performance. frequency. Try to get the most out of your monitor, but don’t drive it too When playing games there is no advantage to having cache, as hard. All monitors in this group test should be able to display 1,024 x 768 games use only main memory. However, when running office packages pixels in a flicker free, non-interlaced mode. there can be performance improvements of up to 20 percent. Gordon Laing Adele Dyer
CD-ROM drives
Hard disk A CD stores digital information which could include audio, photographs, video, or plain computer data such as files or applications. Most CDs not containing The hard disk is the area where all the information on your PC is stored, pure audio or video are termed CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory) and you’ll including the system files that the PC needs in order to operate, your need a CD-ROM drive to read them. About the only things which differ applications and, of course, the data you input. This is permanent memory. on today’s CD-ROM drives are their speeds and means of connection. When you close down the machine, this data is stored, ready to be accessed The most common connection is IDE (Integrated Drive the next time you power up. Electronics) or Enhanced IDE (EIDE). It is possible to connect an The larger the disk the better the performance you can get from it. Hard IDE CD-ROM drive to most existing IDE hard disk controllers disks are made of a series of magnetic platters which spin at around but older PCs may need a newer, EIDE, controller. (IDE 5,400rpm. Heads read the data from the platters — the larger the controllers are found on many sound cards, too). hard disk, the more platters you have and the more heads to All PCs in this group test featured EIDE, with the hard disk access the data, thus speeding-up transfer rates. connected to the first channel, and the CD-ROM drive to the In addition, as applications grow ever-larger the second. Using the separate channels of EIDE prevents the CD- need for a big hard disk becomes more pressing. If ROM drive from slowing the hard disk and is highly recommended. your hard disk becomes overcrowded it takes The first CD-ROM drives spun the disc at the same speed as an longer to search and becomes audio CD and were known as single-speed, delivering a sustained data increasingly fragmented, so will not transfer rate of 150Kb/sec. Later, double-speed drives spun twice as operate at its optimum rate. By fast, doubling the data transfer rate to 300Kb/sec, and now, quad-speeds buying a large disk now, you are are twice as fast again, raising the rate of data transfer to 600Kb/sec. prolonging the life of your Quads are the current standard but six-speeds (900Kb/sec) are becoming machine by ensuring it will increasingly common. Additionally, manufacturers are beginning to release continue to operate well with eight-speed drives, offering up to 1200Kb/sec. (All figures are theoretical future applications. maximums). Adele Dyer As important as speed is compatibility. All drives will play yellow book CD-ROM and red book audio discs, but only those labelled “white book compatible” will play Video CDs. Gordon Laing PCW Photography by David Whyte
98 99 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Zenith Z-Station VP100 model 1200
enith are Zowned by Packard Bell, bought from Bull very recently. They are mainly known for their business and corporate market and this machine is obviously How we did the designed with this client in tests mind. The case is very flat, but ifferent types of applications measure different quite wide. The proprietary motherboard at the bottom is aspects of a PC’s performance so it’s important fitted out with a Cirrus Logic chip, so there is no need for a Dto use more than one benchmark to gain an separate graphics card. Sound is through a Creative Labs accurate and rounded picture of each machine. Here, SoundBlaster Pro card. we’ve put each PC through three separate performance The slots go on either side of a riser card. On one side tests. are two ISA and one PCI slots, where there is room for only 1. The first test assesses performance in three key one full length card. This would have to be in the top slot areas: word processing, spread-sheets and databases. and would have to be removed to get at any parts below it. It installs a selection of popular office applications On the other side of the riser card are one PCI and one ISA including Word, Excel, WordPerfect and FoxPro. A slot. Any card you put in the lower PCI slot would have to be collection of macros are then run in each application 8-bit, card as it sits behind the hard disk and floppy disk, and every process is timed and recorded. When a copy where room is short. operation in a spreadsheet is about to take place, the Unlike in the Digital the drive bays are fixed in place and macro containing the {COPY} instruction will first trigger so getting in to replace them would be difficult. The RAM is the stopwatch. When the copy has completed, the time placed in four 4Mb SIMMs, so you would need to dump at taken is written into a database file. Every test is run least two SIMMs to upgrade. three times, to provide a consistency check and the The performance was marred by not having EDO RAM three scores recorded are averaged out to produce one and pipeline burst cache, but only fast page mode RAM and overall figure. (genuine) write-back cache. However by the time this review 2. The second test, run in Corel Draw, records the time appears, EDO will be available as an option on a new model taken to open a series of large graphics files. This is a of the Z-Station VP. While upgrading this machine will be simple but revealing test which measures how each fiddly, the manual does offer plenty of help with lots of good machine performs when using memory-intensive diagrams. applications in Windows 95. The wide spread of results produced from the 16 machines included here shows Monitor the importance of this test. The monitor, made by Zenith themselves, is good and sharp 3. Thirdly, a low-level benchmark is run in DOS using with very little distortion, although the controls were the frame-rate performance test from Doom II. It tests uncomfortably placed right at the bottom of the monitor. the graphics card and hard disk, and it is noticeable from the list of results that certain combinations of components produce exceptionally high scores. The three highest results in this test came from machines with both a Quantum Fireball hard disk and a Diamond Details Stealth 64 graphics card. Zenith Data Systems Z-Station VP 100 model 1200 • A final test runs the program pccheck.exe, which is an analysis tool rather than a performance test. This Price £1,749 Technical Support Free interrogates the system and verifies the existence of all Contact 01442 211811 telephone and fax support claimed components giving the exact speed of the Fax 01442 884080 Good Points Good monitor processor and size of the cache. Any deficiencies Bad Points Jumbled build Software Bundle Windows 95, Conclusion Slow performance reported by this program help the tester to explain freak Norton navigator Anti-virus and generally disappointing results produced by any machine. Hardware Bundle Labtec • A separate monitor test, DisplayMate for Windows, LCS600 speakers Scores 2 tests each monitor for distortion, sharpness and Warranty Terms 1st year on- Bundle site. Options: 2nd and 3rd year Build Quality 6 horizontal resolution of images, colours and grey scale return to base, optional 2nd and Warranty 7 clarity and consistency of colour across the screen. 3rd year on-site Value 5 Eleanor Turton-Hill
100 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Monitors
Regardless of your computer application, you’ll be looking at your monitor for long periods so it’s important to have a good one. Some people claim not to see monitor flicker, but your brain will, resulting in fatigue and headaches. A refresh rate of 70Hz or higher will produce a flicker-free image on most monitors. Interlacing also results in flicker. Always run in non-interlaced modes and ignore interlaced quotes. The term “resolution” refers to the number of dots (pixels) horizontally and vertically on-screen. Standard VGA mode runs at 640 x 480 pixels while other, typical, modes include 800 x 600 and 1,024 x 768. The more pixels there are, the more you’ll be able to fit on screen but everything will be smaller and may only Typical controls on a monitor. From left to right: position; size; be suitable on a physically larger screen. barell and pincushion; controls to adjust the above; colour Putting all this into practice, a buyer should go for a monitor temperature; recall settings; manual degauss capable of running a resolution of 1,024 x 768, non-interlaced, at 70Hz or higher. A 15in monitor is a big improvement on a 14in, not only in terms of size but also because many companies only start unsuitable for serious Windows work. supplying the decent models at 15in and upwards. Be aware that the visible, usable area of most monitors (and TVs Typically, you’ll have the option to “add £100 for a 15in quality for that matter) is in actuality smaller than the model implies; monitor”. This, or a more expensive 17in monitor, is certainly the perhaps only 14.5in on a 15in model, or 16in on a 17in version. one to go for since most 14in monitors supplied today are Gordon Laing
103 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
Performance Results
Windows application performance Relative: Compaq DeskPro DX4/100 Editor’s Choice Manufacturer .0.00 0.50 1.00 150 2.00 Totals
Mint 2.18 ntry level systems are not what £300 extra you can opt to have both tape also be used to store large, little-used, Panrix 2.17 they used to be. In fact, they backup and a CD changer. files which clog up your hard disk but are Mesh 2.14 have improved out of all The tape backup is especially useful. nonetheless vital. Carrera FASTER 2.10 recognition. Components are With increasingly large hard disks, On price, performance and spec the Viglen 2.08 E becoming increasingly standardised and backup is a time-consuming business if Armari is a clear winner. Dan 2.02 the prices of all types of memory are you are using floppies. The tapes can Adele Dyer Armari 1.97 falling, so the machines offered today as Vale 1.96 entry level are not in the same league as Oasis 1.95 those entry level machines we saw, last Atlantic Systems 1.86 July, in the DX2/66 roundup. All but one Digital 1.85 of the machines came with EDO RAM Vobis 1.69 and most had pipeline burst cache. All Gateway 1.66 had quad-speed or even six-speed CD- Adams 1.64 ROM drives and most had excellent Amstrad 1.54 graphics cards. Zenith 1.27 The first of the Highly Recommended Dell 1.26 awards goes to Digital. Although its Doom2 test machine was the most expensive in the
Manufacturer 40 45 50 55 60 test and would not suit many people, the innovative approach to design together Frame Rate Actual with its build quality makes it a very good Mesh 5.0 3011 Doom2 test business machine. Atlantic Systems The two figures here relate to the 5.0 3013 The Adams wins the second Highly Panrix actual score of the Doom test and 49.8 3023 Recommended award. Although it was 48.4 Carrera the frame rate that can be derived FASTER 3144 not the fastest machine in the tests, it Amstrad from it. The command for the test 48.2 3125 was well-built, with a good warranty and Viglen is: doom2 -timedemo demo1 47.8 3148 There are two numbers produced. it bundles PerfectOffice. Add to that a Armari 47.8 3149 The first figure, the gametics, is a six-speed CD-ROM drive and you’ve got Oasis 47.7 3160 constant 4307. The second figure very good value for the excellent price of Dan 47.4 3178 is the realtics — the figure £1,599; a good £150 less than other Digital 47.3 3183 published here. The equation for systems of this spec. Mint 47.3 3184 the frame rate is as follows: The Editor’s Choice, however, goes Vale gametics/realtics * 35 47.1 3200 to Armari both for a very fast machine Gateway 46.4 3244 and for the inclusion of components Dell 46.4 3247 which go above and beyond the call of Adams 44.8 3367 duty. The basic machine is among the Zenith 44.7 3369 cheaper ones in the test, but for a mere Vobis 44.1 3411
CorelDraw 6 tests Buyer’s Guide to buying a PC Manufacturer 010203040 When you buy a PC there is more to the deal than simply a ● A few manufacturers offer lifetime labour guarantees. This Seconds machine about which you can boast to your friends in the pub. As sometimes includes the labour costs for upgrading your PC for you — Armari 13 CorelDraw test with any piece of electronic equipment the warranty is vital, but so is you only have to pay for the upgrade kit. Optional extra years may be Panrix 15 This test simply consisted of the backup in the form of technical support. In addition, there is the worth considering, especially for PC beginners. While if you depend on Digital 16 opening the “snowbarn” file and important factor of software which, if not bundled, can be costly to your PC for your livelihood, it might be worth discussing guaranteed Mint SLOWER 17 timing how long it took to draw acquire. call-out response times with your chosen manufacturer. Viglen 18 the full graphic. The results are The cost of the machine is affected by all the considerations ● The question of software bundles is a vexed one. Many of the Carrera in seconds, so the lower the 20 covered here, and there is no one answer. What is important is to smaller manufacturers will not include anything but the operating Vobis figure, the faster the test. 20 find a deal that suits your requirements. system in the price; in many cases because they cannot negotiate the Adams 23 ● Warranty options vary wildly. The two main options are either kind of deals wrought by larger companies. Zenith 23 back-to-base or on-site repairs. Which will be right for you depends However, buying the large office packages separately can knock Oasis 24 very much on how you use your PC. Back-to-base usually involves out any price advantage you gain when buying a non-bundled Mesh 25 returning the PC yourself, while “collect and return” means the machine. Think carefully about what you need. Some of the integrated Amstrad 27 manufacturer arranges the courier and pays the cost of carriage. packages are quite adequate for most people’s needs, while Atlantic 31 Back-to-base is fine if you do not mind waiting for your PC and it multimedia bundles are often regarded as a tad unnecessary by Dell 36 can work well if your live close enough to the manufacturer to ferry it others. Or the incentive of Internet software might be attractive to Vale 37 back and forth yourself. some although it does tie you down to one service provider. Dan 38
Gateway 38
104 105 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
PENTIUM 100MHZ TABLE OF FEATURES
Adams Amstrad Armari Atlantic Systems Carrera Dan Model Name Accura Premium Professional P100 eXPS-100 Atlantic Pro 96 Carrera Panther Dan Ultimate Workstation+ P100AM PC 100MHz Tel 0161 282 8822 0800 338844 0181 810 7441 01792 700002 0171 830 0486 0181 830 1100 Fax 0161 283 1001 01277 209009 0181 810 5783 01792 792888 0171 830 0286 0181 830 1122 Price (excl VAT) £1599 £1699 £1,899 £1,548 £1,789 £1938 Basics Processor Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Expansion Bus Local bus Architecture PCI PCI PCI PCI PCI PCI Free PCI only slots 233 233 Free ISA only slots 223 330 Free shared PCI/ISA slots 110 000 Motherboard manufacturer Micronics Intel Supermicro Intel SuperMicro Asus Chip set Triton Triton Triton Triton Triton Triton No. of spare 3.5in bays 1 internal 2 1 1 1 2 No. of spare 5.25in bays 1 external 2 1 2 1 2 Hard disk Manufacturer Conner Seagate Quantum Quantum Quantum Quantum Size 1.2Gb 1.05Gb 1Gb 1Gb 1.2Gb 1Gb Interface EIDE EIDE EIDE EIDE EIDE EIDE Average access time (ms) 10 11 12 10 11 10 RAM and Secondary Cache Main RAM 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb Max RAM 128Mb 128Mb 128Mb 128Mb 128Mb 128Mb RAM Type EDO EDO EDO EDO EDO EDO SIMM Type (pins) 72 72 72 72 72 72 Secondary cache 256Kb 256Kb 256Kb 256Kb 512Kb 512Kb Max secondary cache 512Kb 512Kb 512Kb 512Kb 512Kb 512Kb Cache type pipeline burst pipeline burst pipeline burst pipeline burst pipline burst pipline burst Multimedia CD-ROM Manufacturer Mitsumi Sony NEC Aztech Toshiba Aztech CD-ROM Model FX-400 77E 4X4C ZETA-CDA-668 5302B ZETA-CDA-668 CD-ROM Speed 4X 4X 4X 6X 4X 6X Sound Card Manufacturer Creative Labs Creative Labs Creative Labs Creative Labs Turtle Beach Creative Labs Sound Card Model Pro16 SoundBlaster 16 AWE 32 SoundBlaster 16 TBS2000 Wave Table AWE 32 Value Graphics card Manufacturer Matrox S3 Matrox Diamond Matrox Matrox Model Millenium S3 868 Millenium Stealth 64 Video VRAM Millenium Millenium RAM/max RAM 2Mb / 8Mb WRAM 2Mb 2Mb / 8Mb WRAM 2Mb/4Mb 2Mb / 8Mb WRAM 2Mb / 8Mb WRAM Max non- 1600x1200x256 1024x768 1600x1200 1024x768x256 1600x1200x256 1600x1200x256 interlaced resolution at 72Hz at 85Hz at 70Hz at 72Hz at 72Hz Monitor manufacturer ADI CTX Iiyama ADI Goldstar Iiyama Monitor model 4V 1565D 8115 4AV 1505 8617E Monitor size 15in 15in 15in 15in 15in 17in Monitor max refresh 72Hz 72Hz 72Hz 72Hz 72Hz 80Hz rate @ 1024x768 (Hz) Other Information Software supplied Windows 95 Windows 95, Lotus Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 Perfect Office std SmartSuite, Encarta MS family pack Lotus SmartSuite 4 Lotus Home Executive Works 95 Links Pro, Descent, CorelDraw 4 CD Bundle, MS Encarta Lotus Organizer Destination Saturn Quicken Accounts PC Check Speakers ADI Yamaha YST-10 Jazz Hipster SoundWave 40 Typhoon 120W Hi-Fi 14.4bps internal Dan 14.4 internal Any added extras fax modem HP Colorado T1000 fax modem Standard Warranty 3 yrs, 1 yr on-site 1year btb 1st yr on-site, 1 yr parts, 1 year back to base 1st yr on-site 4 yr btb 3 yrs labour, btb Warranty options £150 for 2nd yr on-site 1 - 3 £149, 5 £299 1 yr on-site 8 hr response 3 year on-site on-site first yr - £25 Coracplan 2 yr extended on-site on-site 3 yrs - £149 3 yr extended on-site Free tech support line Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Fax support Yes No Yes Yes Yes No
106 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS GROUP TEST: 100MHZ PENTIUMS
PENTIUM 100MHZ TABLE OF FEATURES PENTIUM 100MHZ TABLE OF FEATURES
Dell Digital Gateway 2000 Mesh Mint Oasis Panrix Vale Viglen Vobis Zenith Model Name Dell Dimension Celebris GL 5100 Gateway 2000 Mesh Elite Conqueror P100 Lightning Model Name Micron P100 PlatTriton P100 Genie PCI P5/100 HighScreen Skycase Z-Station P100t P5-100 Pro 100 P54 Series P100M VP 100 model 1200 Tel 01344 720000 0345 227228 0800 973120 0181 452 1111 0181 965 5151 01707 329801 Tel 0113 244 4958 01386 765500 0181 758 7000 0181 207 7000 01442 211811 Fax 01344 723699 01789 200290 00353 1 848 2022 0181 208 4493 0181 965 3243 01707 336468 Fax 0113 244 4962 01386 765354 0181 758 7080 0181 953 8209 01442 884080 Price (excl VAT) £1,459 £2,320 £1,699 £1,745 £1,794 £2,139 Price (excl VAT) £1,765 £1,719 £1,787 £1499 inc VAT £1,749 Basics Basics Processor Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Processor Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Intel Pentium 100 Expansion Bus Expansion Bus Local bus Architecture PCI PCI PCI PCI PCI PCI Local bus Architecture PCI PCI PCI PCI PCI Free PCI only slots 313 2 32 Free PCI only slots 32322 Free ISA only slots 232 3 40 Free ISA only slots 32213 Free shared PCI/ISA slots 111 0 01 Free shared PCI/ISA slots 11110 Motherboard manufacturer Intel Digital Intel PCI SuperMicro Intel Motherboard manufacturer Micronics Intel Intel Intel Zenith Data Systems Chip set Triton Triton Triton Triton Triton Triton Chip set Triton Triton Triton Triton Triton No. of spare 3.5in bays 010 2 11 No. of spare 3.5in bays 02210 No. of spare 5.25in bays 122 2 21 No. of spare 5.25in bays 22212 Hard disk Hard disk Manufacturer Quantum Maxtor Western Digital Quantum Quantum Quantum Manufacturer Quantum Seagate Quantum Quantum Conner Size 1 Gb 1.2Gb 1 Gb 1Gb 1.2 Gb 1.28 Gb Size 1.2Gb 1Gb 1Gb 1.2Gb 1.2Gb Interface EIDE EIDE EIDE EIDE EIDE EIDE Interface EIDE FAST ATA2 EIDE EIDE EIDE Average access time (ms) 12 11 11 11 11 Average access time (ms) 11 10 10.7 14 RAM and Secondary Cache RAM and Secondary Cache Main RAM 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb Main RAM 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb 16Mb Max RAM 128Mb 128Mb 128Mb 256Mb 128Mb 128Mb Max RAM 128Mb 128Mb 128Mb 128Mb 128Mb RAM Type EDO EDO EDO EDO EDO EDO RAM Type EDO EDO EDO EDO FPM SIMM Type (pins) 72 72 72 72 72 72 SIMM Type (pins) 72 72 72 72 72 Secondary cache 0Kb 256Kb 0 256Kb 256Kb 512Kb Secondary cache 256Kb 256Kb 256Kb none fitted - CELP socket 256Kb Max secondary cache 256Kb 512Kb 0 256Kb 512Kb 512Kb Max secondary cache 256Kb 512Kb 512Kb 512Kb 256Kb Cache type pipeline burst pipeline burst n/a pipeline burst pipeline burst pipeline burst Cache type pipeline burst pipeline burst pipeline burst n/a writeback Multimedia Multimedia CD-ROM Manufacturer Mitsumi Toshiba Sanyo Goldstar Mitsumi Toshiba CD-ROM Manufacturer TEAC Panasonic Mitsumi Goldstar Sony CD-ROM Model FX-400 XM-530ZTA FX400 XM5302 CD-ROM Model 56E CR-581 FX400B GCD-R540C CD-ROM Speed 4X 4X 4X 4X 4X 4X CD-ROM Speed 6X 4X 4X 4X 4X Sound Card Manufacturer Creative Labs on motherboard Ensoniq Creative Labs Creative Labs Miro Sound Card Manufacturer Creative Labs Creative Labs Creative Labs Audiostar Creative Labs Sound Card Model Vibra 16 ESS 1688 Ensoniq SoundScape AWE 32 Value SoundBlaster AWE32 Connect 34 Sound Card Model Vibra 16 Vibra 16S SoundBlaster 16 16 bit Audiostar SoundBlaster Pro Graphics Card Graphics Card Manufacturer S3 Matrox STB Systems Diamond Matrox VideoLogic Manufacturer Diamond Matrox Matrox Trident Cirrus Logic Model Trio 64+ Millenium Powergraph 64 DRAM Stealth 64 Video VRAM MGA Millenium GrafixStar 700 Model Stealth 64 Video EDO 2001 Millenium Millenium TGVI9440AGI 5434 64 bit RAM/max RAM 1Mb/2Mb 2Mb / 8Mb WRAM 2Mb/2Mb 2Mb/4Mb 6Mb 2Mb/4 Mb RAM/max RAM 2Mb 4Mb / 8Mb WRAM 2Mb / 8Mb WRAM 2Mb 2Mb/2Mb Max non- 1600x1200x256 1280x1024x256 1024x768x256 1600x1200x256 1280x1024x256 Max non- 1280x1024 1600x1200x256 1600x1200x256 1024x768x64K 1024x768x16 million interlaced resolution at 72Hz at 60Hz at 70Hz at 72Hz at 90 Hz interlaced resolution at 70Hz at72Hz at 72Hz at 75Hz at 72Hz Monitor manufacturer Lite-On Digital Sony ADI Samsung CTX Monitor manufacturer Iiymama Smile Viglen Highscreen Zenith Data Systems Monitor model 01524-LS PCXBV-SX Vivtron 1572 MicroScan 4V GLI15 1565GSM Monitor model 8115 CB1516SL Envy 15P MS1585P ZCM-1440-XT Monitor size 15in 15in 15in 15in 15in 15in Monitor size 15iin 15in 15in 15in 14in Monitor max refresh 75Hz 100Hz 75Hz 72Hz 75Hz 75Hz Monitor max refresh 72Hz 75Hz 75Hz 86Hz 72Hz rate @ 1024x768 (Hz) rate @ 1024x768 (Hz) Other Information Other Information Software supplied Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95, SmartSuite 3.1 Windows 95 Windows 95 Software supplied Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 Office 95 or Windows 3.11 Office 95 Accent Express, Works 4 MS Works, MS Golf TopLevel Complete MS Works 95 Media 96 MS Works 95 Word 7 Norton Navigator MS Money, Encarta ‘96 US Dangerous Creatures Works v2 CD-ROM bundle Lotus Organiser Anti-virus others including Doom Encarta 95 Speakers Altec Lancing ACS5 Altec Lansing ACS31 Mesh OEM Yamaha Yamaha YST10 10W Speakers Yamaha M10 Zyfiz Viglen speakers Screenbeat Pro50 Labtec LCS600 Hands free Any added extras Microphone/headset Any added extras microphone Standard Warranty 1 yr btb 3 yr limited warranty 1 yr on-site, 1 yr on-site 1 yr btb 1 yr on-site Standard Warranty 2 yrs on-site 1 yr on-site 1 yr btb 1 yr on-site 1st yr on-site 2 yrs rtb Warranty options 1 yr on-site, extended 3 yrs, 2nd and Various options 1 year on-site £35 2nd and Warranty options 2nd yr £69, up to 5 yrs warranty 2nd and 3rd yr rtb to 2, 3, 4 or 5 yrs first yr on-site 3rd yr on-site 3rd yr on-site 2nd and 3rd yr £149 2nd and 3rd yr on-site
Free tech support line Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Free tech support line Yes No Yes Yes Yes Fax support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Fax support Yes Yes No Yes Yes
110 111 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 LOTUS NOTES RELEASE 4.0 NotesTaking Lotus Notes Release 4.0 ships in the UK claiming improved usability and Internet integration. Does it measure up?
IX YEARS AFTER INTRODUCING employees — over 10,000 Lotus Notes databases are hosted by Notes SNotes Release 1.0 with a $64,000 Business Partners sell applications Servers and accessed by Notes clients. price tag, Lotus has started to ship based on Notes and they make a tidy 6:1 There are servers and clients for just Release 4.0 in the UK at a price level that ratio of profit on services over sales of the about any operating system that you will appeal to small to medium-sized base product. might have in mind — OS/2, Windows, businesses. IBM bought Lotus last July. Former NetWare, Unix and Macintosh — and The latest release of Lotus Notes is Lotus boss Jim Manzi left after deciding they can all communicate using standard easier to use, easier to administer and he couldn’t work with IBM chairman, Lou networking protocols. Notes 4.0 supports faster than ever before, but it’s still an Gerstner. Notes people weren’t all that TCP/IP, IBM/Microsoft NETBEUI and enigma to people who haven’t seen it in interested in what the new Lotus Novell IPX/SPX and transmission media action. Is it a workgroup application? A leadership or IBM had to say on the ranging from LANs through the Internet to workflow tool? A document database? A matter — they wanted to know what Ray wireless communications. client/server application development thought. And they jammed the Internet Notes databases have embedded environment? with joy when he confirmed that he was security which is independent of your In fact Notes is all of the above. The staying with Lotus and Notes. network security. There are several levels best description I’ve seen is one that Ray of access control for individuals and Ozzie, the creator of Notes, gave in 1985 So what is Notes? groups, and Notes also offers digital when Notes was just a glint in his eye. He At heart, Notes is a document database. signatures, 64-bit RSA encryption for said then that he wanted “to produce a A Notes database is a container for databases and transmitted data including product that would help people use multiple objects which may be any email. computers more effectively and enjoyably combination of text, images, sound, Notes Release 4.0 databases can be in their business”. video, graphics, OLE objects, links to linked to many external databanks and Ozzie’s image of Notes as a means to other applications. You name it — Notes applications. A document may accept automate business processes — stores it. It isn’t a relational database and responses which trigger a series of workflow if you like — and its broad it doesn’t support communications support for teleworkers transaction gelled at Lotus. He joined to head up the processing, but a late but not very lamented Symphony plethora of integrated suite but disliked the amount of associated tools time wasted commuting to work. Jim allows Notes to front- Manzi listened to Ozzie’s description of end SQL databases what would become Notes and agreed to and TP monitors. Ozzie setting up Iris Associates, an independent company contracted to Lotus to provide Notes. Late in 1989, Ozzie delivered. By 1995 Notes was Choosing an enough to convince IBM that Lotus was encryption level worth $4 billion. for databases that Ray Ozzie, just turned 40, is seen as will be stored something of an icon by Notes believers, locally on the and this doesn’t only include Lotus user’s system
114 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 LOTUS NOTES RELEASE 4.0
Below Entering user name and server details for the initial workstation setup
documents would appear on the right. The “view” window can be configured to show documents in a variety of formats and sort orders. Underneath the document view pane the Preview pane Above Starting the Lotus Notes altered at two or more sites) are flagged displays a scrollable image of the Release 4.0 client on Windows 95 as such, stored together with the original document. and all copies are replicated. The macro tools of prior releases have actions involving queries to an external been replaced by Agents which can database, query processing by the Notes And Release 4.0 does what? easily be assembled from set actions server, and routed responses both to the Release 4.0 addresses issues that made which are part of the LotusScript original enquirer and to other interested earlier releases difficult to administer, but language. Some simple actions are parties. Everyday Windows applications it also improves security, speed and already built into the graphical Agent can be used as a front end to Notes, so a usability through improved development Builder. user query against a sales database tools and a friendlier user interface. Notes developers also benefit from the could be triggered by a button in a word For the client, Notes Release 4.0 has new graphical features known as design processor form. The same query might new graphical navigation tools, action elements (the improved security and also trigger a memo which would be buttons which stay visible when you faster performance), all of which help delivered to a voice mailbox of a scroll down a document, collapsible them to create better applications. response team requesting a follow-up sections in documents so that readers LotusScript, a structured programming call. can view a document in outline and then As Notes runs on so many different expand the sections that interest them. A Main improvements for platforms, any Windows, Macintosh, preview window has been added so that Notes Release 4.0 OS/2 or Unix Notes client with a user can now view a document’s appropriate access rights may access a contents while retaining the document ●Single Document Interface; scrollable Notes server. And if the server runs out hierarchy on-screen. Navigator, View and Preview windows of steam you can simply move it to a With these new features, a company ● Action Bars, Navigators and more powerful system because Notes could provide a totally customised user Collapsible sections for ease of use. applications run on any supported interface with three panes: the navigator ● Common cc:Mail and NotesMail user platform. A Notes application can be pane on the left of the screen might have interface piloted on a Windows 95 server the company logo overlaid with icon ● User Limits raised, SMP support, 32- supporting about ten test clients, moved images of various company services — bit multi-threading, removed 64Kb limits. to an OS/2 or Windows NT or NetWare sales information, help desk, personnel ● OLE 2.0 server, OLE automation, server for production and scaled up to an data and so forth. Each icon is a “hot OCXes. Notes/FX 2.0 and OLE SMP server or Unix box when the going spot”. When clicked, the relevant integration. gets busy. ● Field level replication, simpler Another way of scaling replication management. performance with Notes is to ● Agents replace macros, personal or provide copies of the same public. database (known as replicas) at ● Actions extended to non-Notes multiple sites. Notes replication, applications via Notes/FX 2.0. once configured, occurs ● Full text search of attached and automatically in the background embedded documents. but can be manually overridden. ● Subforms store reusable form Replication conflicts (when components. replicas are simultaneously ● Location settings enable quick setup for mobile users. Navigating through a Notes ● Mail support for MAPI, CMC database, in this case the Help (Common Mail Calls), SMTP and X.400. file, with the preview pane open
115 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 LOTUS NOTES RELEASE 4.0
cc:Mail Internet integration With Release 4.0, Lotus has unified the When Sun produced Java, a lot of people thought that Notes was dead. Instead of cc:Mail and NotesMail user interface. They implementing an entire Lotus Notes suite of servers, clients and applications, one could now share the same look and feel, making bang out a browser and a few applets. Maybe, but there are a lot of issues this approach will NotesMail more fully-featured. Meanwhile, stumble over. cc:Mail will still use the old file structure Things such as data security while your server is hanging out on the Internet and mailbox system, except that it has been database connectivity for interactive Web publishing will need to be arranged. So too will decoupled from the mailboxes so that it automatic updates and user access controls cause additional work. With Notes, these are can run continuously without having to be part and parcel of the package. closed down for maintenance. Lotus is actively engaged in refining Notes as a Web tool. There are already a number of Notes 4.0 has its own “single copy” mail public and private Lotus Notes networks which can be used for intra- or inter-company database where all mail is stored only publishing. Some are provided by AT&T under the AT&T Network Notes name and others once. A future release of cc:Mail is meant on the IBM Global Network. to give it access to the Notes mail database Lotus also offers the Lotus InterNotes Web Publisher. Because it is under Notes security while retaining the cc:Mail directory- control, the InterNotes Web server can act as a firewall and filter for data on the Internet. orientated structure. The aim is to ease Currently there’s one running publishing migration from cc:Mail to the more powerful demonstration on the Internet with all the Notes client/server mail system. interactivity that Java promises. It’s a case of A new, simple, Notes client called jam today or Java tomorrow. NotesMail, released concurrently with The InterNotes Web Publisher is an extra, Notes Release 4.0, provides the easiest but Notes 4.0 clients can access the Internet migration step between cc:mail and Notes. through the InterNotes Web Navigator which A cc:mail system can be upgraded to is part of Notes Release 4.0. Any Notes Notes client/server mail by adding a Notes network can connect to, or host, a Notes server and Notes Mail clients. From there server running the Web Navigator and give the path to Notes applications is via the its clients access to the Web. Lotus Notes Desktop client which runs Notes applications but has no design A Notes Release 4.0 server can deliver capabilities. For that you need the full Lotus Web access to Notes clients who do not Notes client. need to run the TCP/IP protocol
agents from their applications but the organisations, lots of password and user data is stored in Notes under full security maintenance, many server control. communications configurations. Administering Notes has always been Additionally, there were multiple points a tricky operation. Low limits on users at which administration was controlled. (around 70 for an OS/2, Windows NT or With Release 4.0, most of the NetWare server under Release 3.1) administrative features have been meant plenty of servers in large gathered under a single Administrator’s Control Panel and the user limits have been expanded to The new mail interface based on cc:Mail 1,000 “light” users (mostly is more informative and more flexible email) when running on an SMP server or 500 language similar to BASIC is included in concurrent users. Lotus does Release 4.0 and will eventually be however charge a lot more included in all of Lotus’s desktop for an SMP server, currently applications too. LotusScript provides only OS/2 and Windows NT, easy access to the Notes API allowing than it does for a rapid development of Notes applications uniprocessor Notes server. which will run on all Notes platforms. It also interfaces with ODBC, giving access to external databases. Notes is now a full OLE 2.0 server and more tightly integrated with Above New properties Notes/FX 2.0. Notes/FX Field Exchange dialogue boxes make enables bi-directional communication configuration tasks much between Notes documents and OLE 2.0 easier than with previous applications. Notes/FX 2.0 allows Notes versions developers to export Notes actions to Right Notes Administration OLE 2.0 applications, so an Excel details for all features spreadsheet or WordPro document can including servers, mail and be used as a front-end. Users can initiate users, are now gathered in Notes actions such as searches and one screen
117 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 LOTUS NOTES RELEASE 4.0
Notes Timeline
1989 (December) — Lotus Notes Release 1.0. Notes R1 is pitched 1993 (December) Over 1,500 companies with a total of 360,000 at major corporates as a LAN-based group conferencing tool; seats use Notes which now runs on OS/2, Windows, Macintosh, priced in 200-user units at $62,500 the Notes Server and client run HP/UX, SunSoft Solaris, IBM AIX, SCO and NetWare. only on OS/2. 1994 (June) With more than 4,000 Business Partners now 1990 — Lotus does a deal with Soft*Switch which connects Notes developing Notes-based workflow applications, Lotus introduces to nearly all existing electronic mail systems. Most Notes sites still Notes Release 3.1 and adds Lotus Forms routing, Phone Notes and running pilots but users total 35,000 at the end of the first full year. Video Notes. The crowd goes wild — 3,200 companies cover 750,000 seats — even though any server or client still costs a hefty 1991 — Lotus Notes Release 2.0. Lotus describes Notes R2 as an £435. Lotus buys Soft*Switch. information sharing tool and lowers the gate price to an affordable $4,950 for a package containing one server and nine clients which 1994 (December) By the year end, Lotus has shipped a Windows it describes as a “workgroup”. The Notes server is still OS/2 only NT Notes Server, Notes Express (an entry level Notes client), but a Windows client is added. NoteSuite which packages SmartSuite and Notes, and the Developer version of Notes Release 4.0. AT&T Network Notes goes 1992 (January) — With 50,000 users (or “seats” in Notes parlance), into trial service. Notes 2.1, an “open workgroup computing environment”, starts shipping in the UK. Notes R2.1 mail-enables Windows applications 1995 (January) Nearly 1.5 million users now and Lotus introduces a via DDE. £115 Notes Desktop client which runs all Notes applications but has no design capability. The server price is reduced to £199. Both are 1992 (December) With 130,000 seats in over 400 companies, the for volumes of 50 or more, though, so Notes is still expensive for world’s “first and leading group collaboration software” now has its small to medium- sized businesses. first Companion Product, Lotus Notes: document Imaging; an image processing extension developed with Kodak. 1995 (July) IBM buys Lotus for $4 billion.
1993 (April) Lotus Notes Release 3.0. Now with added Macintosh 1996 (January) Lotus Notes Release 4.0 ships. Notes Mail £38 (50 client and Windows 3.1 Notes server users can purchase a Starter unit quantities). Notes Server £341 (uniprocessor), £1,584 (SMP). Pack for Windows which includes a server and two clients for £795. Further details at www.lotus.com
There are also significant changes in remote users place on the replication succession. Now, if administrators set it the performance and manageability of servers and for sometimes requiring up, a mobile client can make a single call major administrative headaches such as mobile users to dial into several servers in to a server which will pass on and co- replication, security access lists ordinate the transfer of replication data and the name and address book from several servers. which is Notes’ central directory. Once again, many of these new Conclusion features benefit users as well as Lotus Notes Release 4.0 administrators. Replication in is a significant particular is also far easier to improvement in terms of manage from the user side, more usability, administration, flexible, and through field-level performance and replication much faster. application development. Previously, each document It is particularly improved changed in a database was for administrators and replicated. Now only the changed mobile users. fields are replicated. Notes has However, it remains a been criticised for the strain technical product which requires a significant administrative and development input to create compelling workflow applications. Above Setting replication Even so, the new pricing options for a mobile user schemes, together with the so that dial-up lightweight Windows 95 Notes connections can be used server, open Notes up to a much efficiently wider audience who, once they’ve Left All system an inkling of what it can do, will then configuration settings are have the choice of developing an made using documents application themselves or buying stored in the main Name one off the shelf. and Address file Terence Green
118 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 RisingRising sstartar
Linux is the highlight of this month’s PCW Interactive CD. It is a non- proprietary operating system that is gaining worldwide acceptability.
Interactive May 1996 HOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
following Chris Bidmead’s 32- CD-ROM The universal appeal of See page 8 for details Bit section in PCW Hands On 91 61644 PCW:08 4 o an OS like Linux n SCREEN SAVERS o r e JUMANJI, SEVEN e m T n a DEMOS li during the past year will have at least a based on the movies t il ULEAD’S MEDIA o R NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE h N STUDIO 2.0 e I about the beer X Multimedia software h vague idea of what Linux is about. t O STD CODE DECODER The meteoric rise of a global Linux l N l
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. o U F graphics utility K Interactive, here is Linux in a nutshell. Universal Word GAMES Unix system re-awakened. I would not go latest version of WP package DUKE NUKEM 3D action game LINUX-FT Linux is the software phenomenon of 1.1 latest version - complete Unix OS EXTRAS so far as to say that everyone should be VIDEO FOR WINDOWS the nineties. Quite simply, it brings all the Version 1.1e using Linux rather than a proprietary WINDOWS and DOS power and flexibility of a Unix system to operating system, even one with anyone who possesses the computer “Windows” somewhere in the name. The hardware capable of running it. fact remains that Linux is the nearest thing At the same time as the PC developed and used, in a rather different we have to a universal Open System (and marketplace has blossomed and then direction. it’s getting nearer). virtually standardised on software If you are the sort of person who wants technology from a single company, The borrowers to understand what you are doing with the (namely Microsoft) the independence of The whole ethos of the Unix community is computer, you can invest in learning skills mind found in the Unix-using world has to abhor needless duplication of effort. and software based on Linux with the taken the way in which software is Getting a computer to do what you want knowledge that the ground rules are not going to be changed under your feet just because it suits somebody else’s corporate plan. The new age of a broad-based computer industry beckons, based on tailored service rather than just paying large amounts of money for “packaged” software.
Using the Linux-FT distribution on our PCW Interactive CD, you will be able to develop programs in various languages, use the X Window system, and much more besides
120 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PCW INTERACTIVE: LINUX
is a hard enough job at the best of times, A general and it has become acceptable to use and screenshot, build upon the programming work of taken while others. Mike Gancarz in his book The composing UNIX Philosophy has the quote: “Good the article programmers write good code; great with emacs programmers ‘borrow’ good code.” This Unix tradition, where a successful piece of software for one application is re-used for another, different, purpose leads to great productivity. The revolutionary insight is that the resulting growing family of derived programs is owned by all the people who have contributed to them. This “collective ownership” of software is not the same as the programs being orphaned in the “Public Domain”. If software is in the public domain then anyone is free to do exactly what they line have a chance to ask you questions GPL way of doing things are: the emacs like with it — even incorporating 99 about your work. editor, which provides an easy way to percent of the content into hit commercial You could say that GPL programs are work on other software (and, incidentally, applications — and without having to truly developed and supported by the what I am using to write this article); and admit to its public domain origins! very people who have the need for those the GNU C compiler for getting the programs to exist, rather than by some software source code into a form the On a legal footing remote software house looking for ideas machine can understand. On top of this Collectively-owned code is the property that “might sell”. base there are many high-quality tools. of the many authors. To prevent the The two great pillars that support the By the early nineties there were GPL unscrupulous cashing in on the hard work of others, the legal status of such How Windows/DOS programs run under Linux code was clarified by the formation of the Linux is a fully 32-bit or 64-bit operating system. It is not derived in any way from DOS or Free Software Foundation (FSF) and its Windows. Nevertheless, emulator programs are provided that allow the running of many General Public Licence (GPL). DOS programs under Linux (and an increasing number of Windows programs). The General Public Licence is a The dosemu program is a “virtual86” machine and actually requires you to have a real subject that justifies a whole article on its copy of DOS to boot up. The Windows emulator “wine” (although not included on our CD) own but the basic effect of it is to give a is more exciting as it does not require the presence of any Microsoft-licensed components, solid legal framework to allow the code apart perhaps from the program actually being run. The version of wine included with sharing and on-going development that Linux-FT can run simple Windows programs like the Solitaire game. The latest version of was already happening, to continue to wine “in the lab” is rumoured to run Word, Excel and Access, and this without needing a happen with the knowledge that the copy of the Microsoft operating system at all. contributors were not going to be ripped off by somebody stealing their ideas without due credit. GPL programs must be freely distributable. That is not to say that you have a right to have them supplied to you for free but you do have a right to pass those programs on to somebody else for a fee, or even no charge at all should you see fit. These rights can never be rescinded. GPL-licensed software cannot be pirated in the normal sense, as anybody has a right to pass on programs, or even their own derived versions, to other people. This freedom, like any worth having, carries some weighty responsibilities: if you do change a program, you should be prepared to clearly document what changes you have made, in a standard way and using provided tools (also free) and be traceable by name and email address so The Linux Windows emulator, “wine”, running Windows solitare that users of the code further down the
121 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PCW INTERACTIVE: LINUX
The Linux-FT desktop manager. Again, emacs is in the background, while the button bar on the right contains some handy utilities
The Linux-FT distribution on the CD is just a small selection from state-of-the-art Linux software. The new FT1.2 release, from Lasermoon, holds a place in history in that it is the first time that the Linux operating system has been submitted for, and passed, formal POSIX 1 (FIPS 151-2) certification. Lasermoon, the UK company that supplies Linux-FT, is already taking its Linux distribution through POSIX and XPG certification. This enforcement of standardisation will make Linux systems even easier to support and maintain in the future. ● I don’t have space here to cover the installation of Linux-FT or all its features, so do read the full installation guide on versions that could act as “slot-in” Software development, Internet our free CD-ROM. replacements for all the standard parts of navigation, games playing, document Martin Houston a Unix system and far more besides. preparation, leading edge computer Although OS/2 and Windows versions research. The low cost, and enthusiastic PCW Contacts of many of the FSF tools had appeared user community of Linux makes it an ideal & Bibliography over the years, you really still needed a way to get into a real 32-bit power Unix computer at a cost of many operating system. Linux-FT is provided and supported in the UK thousands of pounds to gain maximum It is so efficient, it even makes 8Mb by Lasermoon. [email protected] benefit from this productive way of 386-based systems look good. On a Tel 01329 834944. Fax 01329 834955 working. Pentium or Pentium Pro it should really If you have an interest in learning more about fly. There is even a multi-processing Linux, then join the UK Unix User Group Linux Not any more — Linux is here! variant of Linux for those of you who have SIG. See the file usergroup.txt on the CD or The term “Linux” has two usages. Firstly, multiple CPU Pentium Pro-based phone the UKUUG secretariat on 01763 273475, fax 01763 273255. The directory it is the name of the operating system systems. /UKUUG contains lots of information about the kernel, started in 1992 by Linus Torvalds Using just this PCW Interactive CD group in html format. To view it with a Web and contributed to by Unix “gurus” and you will be able to develop programs in C, browser start at /UKUUG/home.html other enthusiasts throughout the world. Perl, Awk or a number of other There are many megabytes of indexed, And secondly, it has additionally come to languages. You will be able to use the X searchable Linux documentation already on be used as a term for the whole software Window system and if connected to a your CD (the command to start the browser is system based on a Linux kernel at its network, use your Linux system as a “documentation”), and there is a growing core. It is, of course, this form of Linux front-end on to other systems. Linux number of useful books about Unix and Linux that graces this month’s PCW Interactive supports the TCP/IP networking protocol in print. CD-ROM. that is the native language of the Internet ● The UNIX Philosophy by Mike Gancarz, Linux is already being used by millions and also works well on Ethernet LANs. A ISBN 1-55558-123-4, Digital Press: of people, worldwide. That makes it the simple Web browser and server is built in Not a technical book but an ideal introduction most popular Open (i.e. non-proprietary) — it’s how the online documentation is as to why Unix systems work in the way they Operating system by a wide margin. provided. do and why they are so productive and Linux is also now taken seriously by the Because you are allowed to share efficient. Unix establishment. Open Systems Linux with others you could even install a ● Running Linux by Matt Welsh & software organisations like the X/Open whole office full of PCs from this one CD. Lar Kaufman, ISBN 1-56592-100-3, O’Reilly and the Open Software Foundation, and The first machine you install has to have & Assoc: A good general introduction to the capabilities even hardware manufacturers such as a CD drive but subsequent machines only of a Linux system and the sort of things you Apple are announcing Linux availability need a floppy disk and a network can hope to achieve with one. as an operating system choice for the connection. ● Linux Network Administrators Guide by PowerMac. Software that runs on top of a freely Olaf Kirch, ISBN 1-56592-087-2, O’Reilly & The global Internet is where Linux was distributable Linux system does not itself Assoc: nurtured and now makes it possible for have to be freely distributable. There is Covers the topics of networking your Linux people everywhere to freely co-operate plenty of scope for traditionally-licensed systems together and connecting them to the on Linux software projects of mutual commercial applications to work in Internet itself. interest. Linux is being used for just about synergy with the tool-orientated approach Martin Houston can be contacted by email. everything conceivable under the sun. of the Linux system itself. [email protected]
122 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PERSONAL FINANCE SOFTWARE
Balancing act
Personal finance managers can help you keep tabs on the increasingly complex business of home and small business budgeting. With Paul Begg.
124 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 FINANCIAL SOFTWARE
time for money-making jobs, and cutting “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen down on your accountant’s bills. ninety six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” “I went to the bank and went over my — Charles Dickens savings. I found out I have all the money that I’ll ever need. If I die tomorrow.” — Henny Youngman PCW Coin Photography by Phil Ward Bank Book This is a very, very basic program from VCI’s inexpensive range of utilities which includes an address book, Internet OES LIFE EVER address book and virus checker. There is seem like an “The advantage of keeping family no manual or online help worth endless round of accounts is clear. If you do not keep mentioning, and no real need for either. getting up, going to them, you are uneasily aware of the fact Bank Book doesn’t do much, and what it work,D coming home, going to bed, getting that you are spending more than you are does do could be written on the back of a up, going to work, coming home...? Do earning. If you do keep them, you know postcard with a chunky crayon. you seem to spend all your time working, it.” — Robert Benchley You just enter your opening balance, yet have no money to show for it? If so, then note your incomings or outgoings on maybe it’s time you took your personal Do you worry about where all your a form, assign each one a category such finances in hand. money has gone? It can be scary to find as “phone bill”, and the program Personal finance management out, but the only way to budget effectively immediately subtracts or adds the software is here to help. It has been is to know what you spend your money outgoing or incoming to the total. extremely popular in the United States on so you can decide where you can best Making entries on a form is a slightly because of online banking and because make cuts. Personal finance software long-winded process: you select the date most people in the US have to prepare should let you assign a category (such as of payment from a calendar, type in the their own tax returns for the IRS. In the “eating out”); by reviewing the categories person to whom the payment is made or UK the take-up has been less dramatic you can see exactly where your money from whom it has been received, and because we are taxed at source, don’t has gone, and where, with ruthless choose a transaction type, whether have on-line banking and generally know pruning, you can cut down without outgoing or incoming. Then type in the exactly how little we have coming in, how seriously hampering your lifestyle. category and the amount. You can add much is going out and how we have So personal finance software should fairly detailed notes and reconcile the nothing left to worry about. be part of every reasonably financially transaction with your bank statement by But these days managing your ordered home. It is also useful for the checking cleared instead of not-cleared. finances is tougher than ever before. Not self-employed and small businesses. In a That’s it. If all you want is a very simple only are you likely to have your money few minutes a day, you can not only keep spread across several accounts, such as a tight control over your income and Credit Card, Visa, Current Account, expenditure, but also save yourself Bank Book: A simple way of just Savings Account and so on, but demands hassle in preparing VAT returns and reconciling your bank statement on your disposable income seem to accounts, giving yourself a little more increase almost daily. Personal finance software can help you to do some serious budgeting, set financial goals and generally help you to spend your money more sensibly so you can enjoy some of the finer things in life. It can do this in a number of ways. Most obviously it can make sure that you know exactly how much you have in the bank. There are dozens of ways in which your bank statement does not tell you this. It doesn’t take into account standing orders to be paid after the issuing of the statement but before your salary cheque goes in. It doesn’t take into account money you may be setting aside for that continental holiday or for a deposit on a new car. And it doesn’t take into account unchashed cheques. If you live on a tight budget, knowing the exact state of your finances is essential.
125 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PERSONAL FINANCE SOFTWARE
Bank Book makes entering requirements, even those with such your incomings and esoterica as PEPs and personal pension outgoings a little long schemes, shares, gilt-edged stocks or winded bonds. For other sorts of assets, such as property, you can open a tailored asset to-use personal finance account. manager. From the main The report and chart gallery is where screen you have access to you can get a complete overview of your the account register, finances by creating a report or chart. payment calendar, account There are eight standard reports, manager, investment including income and expense, net worth, portfolio, report and chart and loan payments. gallery, the payees and The section called payees and categories section, and the categories is a particularly useful feature planning wizards. where you can list the name, address, Starting Money is simple: just enter phone number and account number of bank statement checking utility, look no the type of account, which is usually a the people to whom you pay money. further. current account, and enter the closing Money will even dial the phone number balance of your statement. Then all you for you and there is a place for making “Money can’t buy friends, but you can get have to do is enter the details of brief notes, such as what the payment is a better class of enemy.” subsequent transactions in the account for. You can also use this feature to note — Spike Milligan register. Transaction details, such as details such as product serial numbers how much you paid and to whom, are and so on. It’s a feature that I’d like to see PCW Details entered on a form and to each expanded to provide a detailed list of Bank Book transaction you attach a category and a possessions; not so much a home Price £14.99 (inc VAT) subcategory, such as “telephone” inventory, as provided with Quicken, but Contact VCI Software 01923 255558 followed by “home phone” and “mobile a place where you can log all the details Good Points Very basic. phone”. All your transactions are listed at of a purchase, such as the phone number Bad Points Expensive for something the top of the screen and you this basic. can view these in various Rating £ £ £££ ways, such as by date or cheque number. Microsoft Money for The new payment Windows 95 calendar is the place where Microsoft Money is a superb program and you enter the details of very nearly won our Editor’s Choice standing orders and direct award. It missed only because it is debits, giving the time of the Windows 95 specific and won’t run under month when the transaction Windows 3.1. Of course, it is also less is usually made. Money feature-packed than Quicken, but this automatically transfers the should not be regarded as a weakness; outgoing (or incoming) to the Microsoft’s Money is firmly targeted at account register at the home users and consequently doesn’t appointed time. In this way, need all the business-related features your records will always be up to date. Money: Nice charts and graphs and abundant financial advice that for The calendar can also be used to record many has made Quicken somewhat reminders of single transactions. cumbersome. If you have more than one account, of the authorised service agent and the Money for Windows 95 is the easiest- such as a bank account and a Post insurance policy number. Office Giro account or a Finally, Money has five planning building society account, wizards to take you step-by-step through the account manager is performing various tasks such as where you can switch calculating loans and mortgages. And if from one to another. you need help in any other way, there’s The investment portfolio loads of help in the shape of cue cards is surprisingly good for a and wizards and online help. home package. It will meet the needs of users PCW Details with fairly specialised Money for Windows 95 Price £39.99 Money has a Contact Microsoft 01734 270001 smashing opening Good Points Everything. Great for the screen. This is home user. software you actually Bad Points Windows 95 specific. Rating £ £ £ £ £ want to use
126 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PERSONAL FINANCE SOFTWARE
MoneyBox in all your transactions, making sure that When MoneyBox is first the closing balance is the same as on started it takes you to an your statement. You then enter all the empty bank account called transactions since the statement was current account. This is the issued. default – MoneyBox will You can have as many as 40 always start up by displaying accounts in Money Matters and this account – but you can automatically transfer between them. You easily change it to another can also automate regular payments account if you want to. such as standing orders or direct debits, You can make entries so that they appear in your account right away, which is useful if register on the appropriate date. you can’t find a recent bank Money Matters lets you assign statement from which to categories and groups and supplies a enter an opening balance. default list of categories whenever you Otherwise you begin as with start a new file. You should modify, the other packages reviewed delete, or add to these until you have a here. list that is right for you. The feature is When you have optional. When it comes to budgeting, completed all the entries Money Matters is strong, offering a MoneyBox will produce a monthly budget comparison graph and statement window which report which will total the value of entries should show exactly the in each category so that you can see same information as the bank where your money has gone and spot statement, including opening any trends. You can even attach a and closing balances. budget for each category – say, £100 a Double-clicking against each week for food – and Money Matters will entry – effectively adding a compare the budgeted figure with your tick – shows that the money has Top The ledger screen for transaction actual spending. appeared on your bank statement. Any entry in MoneyBox Groups is another way of viewing your transactions not on the bank statement, Below MoneyBox: Want to know what expenditure. Money Matters comes with such as payments made after the standing orders you pay? It’s easy two, personal and business, but you can statement was issued, remain unticked. modify or add to the list. This is very You can then ask MoneyBox to show you useful if you have various sources of only those items that are not on your income, like a friend of mine who has a statement. This way you get a true “Saving is a very fine thing. Especially day job but teaches music in the picture of your current finances. when your parents have done it for you.” evenings and at weekends. He uses a You attach categories to entries with — Winston Churchill single bank, but wants to keep track of MoneyBox, but it is distinguished by his account for both business and having three category types – student, Money Matters personal transactions. householder and business professional; In common with Bank Book, Money You can easily transfer money householder. It is also singular, and Matters has a disconcertingly empty between accounts, for example from a perhaps unique, in letting you choose a opening screen – all you get is an empty bank account to a building society, and beginner, expert, or professional skill desktop and an account bar with a single display six types of graph; they include an level, from basic bank and credit card scroll button. As usual, you begin by income-expenditure graph showing the account management through to VAT entering the opening balance given on total incoming and outgoing amounts for calculation together with both summary your latest bank statement and copying each month over a chosen period, and a and detailed VAT accounting. category pie Help features include cue cards and chart showing context-sensitive help. DOS and how your Windows versions are supplied in the income or box. expenditure is PCW Details MoneyBox Money Matters: Price £14.95 (inc. VAT) A familiar way Contact Database Direct of entering 0151 356 8000 transactions Good Points Solid and mature. DOS and Windows versions in the same box. Inexpensive. Bad Points Not as exciting to use as Money or Quicken. Rating £ £ £ ££
129 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PERSONAL FINANCE SOFTWARE
“The man who tips a shilling every time he stops for petrol is giving away annually the cost of lubricating his car.” — J. Paul Getty distributed among the categories. There Quicken are also six types of report. Quicken now comes in three PCW Details flavours. You can Money Matters get plain Quicken; Price £19.95 (inc. VAT) a home package Contact GST Software Publishing called the Deluxe 01480 496666 Home Pack which Good Points Inexpensive. contains Quicken Bad Points Not the easiest to get to 4, Quicken Home grips with. Inventory and Rating £ £ £££ QuickTax Planner 96; and the Deluxe The main screen in Quicken is Business Pack, which is the same as attractive but not all that friendly Moneywise the home pack except the home You may still find Moneywise in the inventory module is replaced by shops, although Sage has abandoned QuickInvoice. the personal finance market to Quicken is the world’s most popular transactions in the usual way. When you concentrate on its business accounting personal finance manager. There are need to see the total of your VAT liability, software. This leaves about 20,000 versions for DOS, Windows 3 and a non- Quicken simply prints a report. registered users in the lurch. Support will dedicated Windows 95, among other Like Money, Quicken has a number of continue for those who pay for it (Sage platforms, and it is available for a HP nifty tools for finance management. They charges for technical support) and there palmtop. In the US version 5.0 has are separated into the two areas of are discounts for users who wish to shift recently been released, but it isn’t yet budgeting and forecasting. For budgeting up to the entry-level instant accounting or available in Britain. Quicken lets you assign a certain amount beyond. Quicken works in exactly the same of money to a specific category and then Business users might benefit from way as most other personal finance keeps you informed about how well you Sage’s pioneering electronic banking managers; indeed, it set the pattern which are keeping to that budget. For example, services: deals with Midland Bank, Dun & most others have followed. All you could limit your annual clothing Bradstreet credit management and BACS transactions are recorded in the account expenditure to £X and Quicken will keep Payments from Active Business Services register, a ledger-book lookalike which is a running total of what you spend on mean Sage offers secure online banking, slightly more intimidating than the form clothing, alerting you before you exceed users of any size being able to access offered by Money, but is quicker to use. It your budget. account balances, transaction details, displays in chronological order all the Forecasting lets you estimate future salary and supplier payments and transactions that you have entered in the probable expenditures with known financial market information. The deal currently active account. outgoings to see how the best economies with Dun & Bradstreet lets users access You can split a transaction into a can be made. Once you have set money credit information (to avoid bad debts). maximum of 30 parts (or 16 if you are aside for that summer sun, the savings tracking VAT) and each split can be goal status bar shows your progress “A lot of people will urge you to put some assigned a category – useful if you visit without actually having to move money money in a bank, and in fact — within a supermarket, say, and buy things into a real savings account. reason — this is very good advice. But across a range of categories such as If you have shares and investments don’t go overboard. Remember, what you clothing, magazines, DIY equipment, you can track tax-exempt securities, tax are doing is giving your money to music CDs, food, all paid for with a credits and multi-currency investments. someone else to hold on to, and I think single cheque. You can also define a financial year that it is worth keeping in mind that the You can schedule transactions like instead of a calendar year and create businessmen who run banks are so standing orders and even direct debit with reports, graphs and budgets based on worried about holding on to things that an amount that varies with each payment. that year. they put little chains on all their pens.” Quicken comes with a financial calendar. —Miss Piggy Schedules transactions are automatically PCW Details registered here, but you can also add Quicken PCW Details one-off payments such as when you have Price Quicken alone £39.95 (inc VAT); Moneywise to pay the tax man, VAT man or when Quicken Deluxe Home and Quicken Price £57.58 (inc. VAT) other bills become due. Deluxe Business £69.96 (inc VAT) Contact Sage 0191 255 3000 On the subject of the VAT man, Contact Intuit 0181 990 5500 Good Points Users can move on to Sage Quicken has quite extensive tools to Good Points Everything. heavyweight accounting packages simplify VAT bookkeeping. You dictate Bad Points Getting a little complicated Bad Points Discontinued by Sage which accounts and categories are to use. Rating £ £ £ £ £ Rating £ ££££ (because discontinued) subject to VAT, then enter your
130 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PERSONAL FINANCE SOFTWARE
Editor’s Choice Tax and self assessment
Personal finance We pay taxes because the Government sends tax liability more straightforward and efficient. If management software easily you to prison if you don’t. Of course, taxes pay for you are self employed, a company director, an separates into three the prisons, so if we all refused to pay tax then employee or a pensioner with complex tax affairs categories: home, self- there wouldn’t be any prisons to send us to. The or a person with substantial investment income, employed and small trouble is, all the thieves would be on the streets you need to be aware of how these changes will businesss, and bigger stealing the money we’d saved by not paying tax. affect you. If you require further information business. And because we Overall, it is better to pay the tax. contact your local tax office (in the telephone can only bestow one Editor’s As from April 1997 those who complete tax directory under Inland Revenue) or alternatively Choice, it has to go to the returns will notice a difference in the tax returns phone the following response line as they will be product which best services sent out by the Inland Revenue. The emphasis is happy to send you details on how self user needs across all three now on self assessment of taxable income and assessment will affect you. The number is categories. the new system is designed to make working out 0345 161514. Quicken therefore gets the award. It is a powerful, near-perfect product, it is “The creed of the available for Windows 3.1 Inland Revenue is and will work with Windows simple: “If we can 95, DOS and Mac, and there bring one little is a version available for the smile to one little HP palmtop. We may even face today – then get to see a dedicated somebody’s Quicken palmtop if the slipped up machine available from somewhere.” Franklin Electronics in the — David Frost US makes it across to the UK. Who knows, we may even see a Quicken for the Psion 3a. Who pays VAT and why Having said this, a very honourable mention goes to VAT (Value Added Tax) is a transaction tax and “He fell into a vat of pudding mixture Money. It is a cracking not a tax on your income or profits. This form of and was found battered to death.” product, it looks attractive indirect tax is chargeable on supplies of goods and — Kenneth Horne and unintimidating, and is services purchased in or outside the European (Okay, it’s the wrong vat, but you find very easy to use. It is Community. In simple terms, to be a taxable something amusing to say about VAT.) unquestionably the best buy person your business turnover should exceed for home users wanting only £47,000 per annum. This calculation is based on customers and the VAT incurred on purchases. to keep track of their finances the preceding 12 months turnover. However, if Hence the net VAT paid to Customs relates to the and not interested in the your turnover is currently below this sum but your “value added” by your business when goods or more heavyweight business business is expanding, it may be wise to register services are sold. features of Quicken. Sadly, it with Customs and Excise earlier rather than later. The VAT treatment of the supplies you make is works only under Windows A taxable business pays VAT on the supplies dependent on your type of business. It is important 95 and currently that places received and charges VAT on the sales made. At before registering for VAT that you consult with the burden of an operating the end of an accounting period (usually three your local Customs and Excise VAT office for their system upgrade on home months) the trader should account to Customs on advice. Look in the telephone directory under users. the difference between the VAT charged to Customs and Excise.
FINANCE SOFTWARE
FEATURES Bank Book Microsoft Money MoneyBox Money Matters Moneywise Quicken Home/Business Operating system Windows Windows 95 Windows & DOS Windows Windows Windows Calculator ●● ❍❍●● Calendar ●● ❍❍ *❍● Context Sensitive Help ● - minimal ●●●●● On-line tutorial ❍● ❍❍❍● Memorise recurring transactions ❍● ●●●● Schedule future transactions ❍● ●●●● Reconcile account ●● ●●●● Split transactions ❍● ●●●● Budget features ❍● ●●❍● No of reports None 26 ** 8 6 17 22
KEY ● Yes ❍ No *(there is a special loan calculator) **+ you can create your own
132 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 WILLIAM LATHAM/ORGANIC ART
It'sIt's but not as we know it
MAJOR achievement of computers Cyberart explorer William Latham has seen has been the insight they have offered into why life looks as it where art and technology conjoin and has does. They have revealed A evolved techniques to imitate organic growth. unsuspected structures within chaos and the subtle dynamic geometry underlying organic growth. They have become almost like a sixth sense, projecting mathematics into graphics to show what we could not otherwise see. Some of these mathematical models are rather more than abstractions; they Many artists are very anti-science, but I are entities with form, movement and the didn’t have that hangup,” says Latham. ability to reproduce. If a computer is an He took a traditional fine art course at ecosystem, then they are something the Royal College of Art in London at a approaching a life form. time when interest in 3D computer On the threshold of this eerie meta- graphics was growing. In his spare time reality works cyberartist William Latham he studied Basic programming at the City who explores the aesthetics of evolution of London Polytechnic. “I was never going within computer space. There is nothing to be a great programmer, but I learned new about artists exploiting technology; if enough to realise what could be done.” they hadn’t always done so we would He became fascinated by the hardly have progressed from cave computer’s capacity for indefinite paintings. But perhaps not since the time repetition, or iteration. He also spent a lot of Leonardo da Vinci, who saw nothing of time studying natural forms at the strange in being as much of an engineer Natural History Museum, just down the as an artist, has the distinction between road from the RCA. These are Latham: “Many artists are very anti- technology and art been so blurred. themselves the product of iteration, being science, but I didn’t have that hangup.” Latham, born in 1961, has long had a the reproduction either of the cell or of the foot in both camps. His father, an whole organism, which is why computers iteration, and the pre-computerised industrial chemist, was head of research became crucial to their study. Latham, who could not draw fast enough for Esso and a lecturer at Reading There is an odd parallel between the to explore evolution. University. “So as a child I was brought pre-computer mathematician, who could “I started to draw an evolutionary up with a lot of scientific books around. not calculate fast enough to explore system independent of the computer. The
134 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 WILLIAM LATHAM/ORGANIC ART
rules were written down on a piece of scripting the drawing paper and I used my own brain as a of 3D models. The drawing device and carried them out. pictures they “So I started out with a few metrics produced of lifelike and a set of geometricals and a limited forms were exhibited set of deformations. And then I’d deform throughout the world those, and pick one from the list and and their animations deform it. So I’d quite quickly end up with were filmed and something that had all sorts of featured on TV. They imaginative connotations, completely wrote a book on their different from the starting point. techniques called “These drawings got bigger and Evolutionary Art and bigger, and became more and more Computers. detailed. So at the top you had these Latham’s method geometrical forms and at the bottom were begins with hand these extraordinary, ornate, complex drawings which are structures. But each of the deformations translated into was extremely simple.” mathematical primitives. He and IBM and the avant garde Todd developed an Latham had played with simple interface called computerised deformations using text Mutator which allows instructions under BBC Basic but he the artist to evolve forms by selecting “Mutation TI on the Plane of Infinity” realised he needed heavyweight help to preferred distortions. It can be used as a W. Latham & IBM take his ideas further. He turned to IBM, tool to design almost anything, as well as which has a history of backing avant for pure art. was 16 when he started his computer garde projects. Benoit Mandelbrot, for Latham was with IBM for six years. “It science degree at Glasgow University. example, carried out his pioneering work was a good time: lots of money, lots of In 1995 Sony released a Playstation on fractals, one of the great fruits of resources. IBM assigned a student to demonstration of Latham’s work called iterative maths, at IBM laboratories. help me. We published papers; and Evolution X, and he acquired a cult “I just rang them up,” recalls Latham. patents and all sorts of things came out following on the rave circuit after “Finally, I got through to this chap called of it. I retained the copyright of everything designing the cover for a Shamen album. Peter Quarrendon who was an ex-atomic I did, including the user interface of Now, Time Warner is releasing the physicist. He said: ‘This sounds really Mutator. Then the climate changed at first of what Latham says will be a series interesting. Come and see us’.” IBM and by that time there was so much of software products. The Organic Art Latham took the train to IBM’s labs interest from outside, I thought it was CD-ROM looks like being a must-buy for near Winchester. “I had this big roll of time to get out.” anyone interested in this drawings under one arm and just rolled area. It functions as a them out, and they were all really Cult following screen-saver but is interested. They said: ‘We are involved in In 1994 Latham formed a company also interactive, 3D modelling. Why don’t you come along called Computer Artworks and took on allowing you and work with us?’.” Mark Atkinson, a young artificial-life to change This move was to make Latham specialist. Atkinson, now co-director the famous. He worked with Stephen Todd, of the company, had begun who had developed a language called programming 6502 machine ESME, implemented in Pascal, for code at 11 years old, and
parameters Above An and play God example with the from the evolutionary Organic Art process. collection Todd’s work had been of screen- done on an IBM minicomputer with huge savers amounts of memory and Atkinson had to Left Latham port it to C++ on a PC. “It was a is on the horrendous piece of software engineering threshold of to get something that was ten times faster an eerie into a tenth of the size.” meta-reality Organic Art is the first product to use
135 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 WILLIAM LATHAM/ORGANIC ART
the real-time rendering engine from RenderMorphics, the UK firm bought out by Microsoft last year. “We knew Rendermorphics when they were just two people, so in terms of beta code we have had a favoured position,” said Latham. Atkinson stresses that the CD doesn’t just display an image file like an ordinary screen-saver. The starting point is a piece of code. “It uses the system to grow a form or shapes. Within that form there are a number of genes defined — you know, how twisty or how long… how much it bends round, or whatever. By attaching all these genes to this thing we’re able to free-run modes of evolution whereby it goes ahead and changes by itself.” So what is the position of the artist, when the computer appears to be doing the creating? Latham likens it to that of a gardener selectively breeding preferred versions of a plant: “It is like bringing human creativity and natural evolution together.” He says traditional artists, which on the whole means hard-up artists, envy his money and recognise his work as pioneering. But it makes them, and many Above “Bleeding other people, uneasy. Forms on the Plane of “It is attacking the one domain that Infinity” humans believe is unique to them — W. Latham & IBM being creative. They can understand computers doing accounting and things Right Another like that but they do like to feel that the example from the world of novels and painting is safe, Organic Art because as soon as that is obliterated, screen-saver the computer is becoming better than the human, or starting to be.” going to adapt to Behaviour patterns whoever is playing it.” Future plans would seem to threaten the This sounds artist’s role in the process. Atkinson is alarmingly like crossing keen to program “behaviour” into the the threshold into an entities thrown up by the Latham Mutator. ecology of computer “What you have currently is the space. “That’s what artificial life is all RNA, so more efficient ways of life will interaction between the user, or the artist, about,” says Atkinson. “At its most succeed hereafter. Life is defined by and the system. The selection process is fundamental, life is a process and the reproductive success. That’s the only the survival of the most aesthetic; the process is implemented in software. That criterion in which DNA is interested.” fittest are the things that look the most was proved by [cellular automata pioneer] But Latham is not given to such interesting. John von Neumann in the forties. extrapolation. “These are the kind of “But by putting behaviour patterns into “People have this notion that there is questions this work raises,” he says. “I am the system, it is going to start running something divine about life, that there is as fascinated by evolution as a genetic itself. In real life the driving force is something magical about reproduction. engineer is. But I am interested in looking reproduction; in this system it is about an Von Neumann proved, using cellular at the mechanism and then using that aesthetic from an outside point of view. automata, that you could have self- creatively. That is quite spiritual; using it By designing a system you can get to reproduction in a purely mathematical for something artistic. change the rules yet again. You get to system and that there was nothing Clive Akass decide what is your primary criterion for special about life forms.” success and then see how these things Atkinson predicts, emphatically: PCW Details behave and form themselves. “Proper artificial life forms will happen, as Organic Art costs £29.99 and is available at “We are thinking of applying some of will proper artificial intelligences. That is Dixons, HMV and other major outlets. these ideas to computer games. The not a separate process, it is a natural Evolutionary Art and Computers is published driving force is going to be something that process that continues from where we by Academic Press, 1992, is enjoyable to play against and which is are. In the same way as DNA succeeded ISBN 0-12-437185-X.
137 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 SOFTWARE LOCALISATION/SDL SOFTWARE LOCALISATION/SDL
real time means the network needs to be fast. While the current system can handle 10Mb/sec, SDL has found a hub/server technology that will give them transfer rates of up to 100Mb/sec and this will be installed at the heart of the recording system A little in the near future. Translating for multimedia presents its own problems. The text is often more colloquial, and has to be matched on a syllable-by-syllable basis so it can be lip-synced to the local software’s video or animation elements; just in the same way movies are dubbed. In the movies, though, the voice track is kept colour entirely separate Translating software is no easy matter — a look at from any the SDL company shows there is more to it than background you might think. SDL has built two effects and recording studios, atmospheres, so specifically for that the new voice ICROSOFT’S GLOBAL “Typically, a company starts up, gets translating voice clips can be overlaid marketing strategy has focused a hit, ships a lot of product and then in games and CD-ROM onto the existing Mother software companies’ wants to go into Europe,” says Mark office software effects. So far, attention on the need for localisation: Lancaster, managing director of SDL. multimedia taking a piece of software written with “But most companies don’t think about it developers put it English (or at least, American English) until long after the software has been all on to one track. on-screen text and documentation and produced, with the localisation hurdles including several BBSs and direct links This means that reproducing it in a local language version. already built in to them.” to clients. SDL has access to some 300 while recording the Whereas Microsoft launches its 30 or Instead of keeping all the text stored freelance translators scattered across fundamental change to the way these translation, the engineers have to so non-English versions more or less separately in specific resource files, it the globe, as well as clients wanting to things work before they will be able to do simultaneously add the atmospheres and simultaneously with the English release, tends to get merged within the software move huge files back and forth, so the the sort of translation work needed in equalisation to match the game’s original the majority of software houses prefer to and artwork elements, so half the comms links are an essential part of the localisation.” soundtrack. attack the English-speaking markets first. localisation work involves locating and hardware system When the files are all done they are Only when they have a success on their extracting the English text elements. “With the BBSs, people can drop or Multimedia matters down-converted from CD quality hands with English markets will they think pick up files. We are now putting a SDL’s localisation encompasses (44.1KHz sampling/16-bit) to the about selling to Europe or Japan. Bank statement 64Mb/sec line into the company, because multimedia projects, too. It has built two 11kHz/8-bit used by CD-ROM games to The conversion of an existing product After translation, any text that isn’t held in at this rate we can get a 400Mb file recording studios specifically for conserve space and speed up the is handled by localisation organisations the resource files is re-embedded deep transferred to or from the US in 11 translating voice clips in games, transfer of audio during gameplay. The such as Maidenhead-based SDL, which within the program and can cause minutes. When you are dealing with files edutainment and CD-ROM office conversion is handled with more works on products for many major problems, such as hotkey conflicts. These of a million words, this is important.” software, which is increasingly adding sophisticated software than you’d find in software houses including Corel and are identified by running the software on a Lancaster: sees multimedia translation audio, animation and video inserts. a normal recording package so that some Broderbund. SDL has a whole floor of bank of assorted PCs which are used to as the way forward, in the home and in Looking ahead to automation The recording is carried out directly to semblance of quality can be maintained. translators, software engineers, and check that the localised software is education In the future, there is the possibility of hard disk using a 24-track analogue drawing and DTP specialists working on working correctly. automating the translation process using mixer in one studio, and Yamaha’s latest Home and away some 15 different projects at any one Background and menu graphics inevitably means a re-jigging of layout. dedicated software. But the translation all-digital mixer, the 02R, in the other. But multimedia localisation is only a time. Most of the translations are into incorporating elegant text elements make “Documentation has a lot of products available fall short of the The computer line-up is half a dozen small part of the market — maybe only German, French or Japanese, so there software look great, but can be time- screenshots, and also because English requirements for real-world work. PowerPCs in a network with a 70Gb 15 percent of SDL’s localisation work at are a number of in-house native-tongue consuming to convert. Only a few is so concise; when you translate it the “There is machine translation where, Pentium server running on NT, which present. But Lancaster says it’s growing. translators who are technically-minded software developers think of creating the number of words increases. You have to in theory, you feed in English and out Lancaster feels is “the best server “Look at what’s happening in the US and able to think in software terms. text as an overlay on the graphics, which be careful to anchor the screenshots to comes German or French. It is a mechanism to Macintosh stuff. We don’t with the spread of PCs — the same will would then make it easy to remove the the matching bit of the text, or the text technology in which we are very really need to go to Unix boxes, which happen here. Approaching the hurdles English words and replace them. In all and the images can end up on different interested but unfortunately it is not at a are somewhat unfriendly.” “As the price of multimedia PCs On first pass you might consider other cases, a graphic artist has to pages.” level where it can be used. The area All the audio (mostly single words or comes down, the number of PCs in the localisation a simple matter of taking the manually erase the text from the image, The company’s computer systems are where it works well is mechanical phrases) is recorded at CD quality in home rises dramatically. As that help files, toolbars, dialogue boxes and fill in the holes in the backgrounds and substantial, linked together in one NT and translation — things like a maintenance separate voice files and stored on the happens, people will want to have their documentation and just translating them then find a suitable typeface to add in the three Novell networks. “In a sense, Novell manual where it simply states: ‘Take server’s hard disk array. A major multimedia software translated, into a different language. But it’s not that new language version. is more mature, but NT is better at cross- spanner No 2. Tighten bolt. Replace multimedia game like Myst will have up especially in the education market where straightforward, especially as few Alongside the graphics specialists are platform,” explains Lancaster. cover’. If you try and translate more to 4,000 separate voice files, which can nobody wants software in anything but software companies develop their the translators working on the manuals The networks talk to the outside world complex sentences, it won’t produce easily run to several gigabytes of data. the local language.” software in a localisation-ready format. using DTP. Converting from English via a range of telecoms systems, usable results. There has to be a Moving this level of data around in Tim Frost
138 139 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 w w W AOL site. member ofAOL,youcancheckoutour can visitourWebsite;orifyou’rea exciting options:usingtheInternet,you have amodemtherearetwo,new, your handsatthismoment.Butifyou the nicefatprintedversionyouhavein any ofthreeways.Thereis,course, Britain’s favouritecomputermagazinein trumpet, inprint. with oursitebeforeblowingown In theInternetnineties,youcanenjoy hot newsitemsinourchatareas features. Youcanrespondtoour The latestnews,reviewsand wait untilwewerehappy months now,butdecidedto forseveral INTERNET E’VE BEENONTHE http://www.vnu.co.uk/hc/pcw online online PCW PCW lines. backbone viaultra-fastleased Workstations andjointhe from thelatestSun Network. and theMatrixPublishing includes VNUEuropeanLabs Business Publications,which worldwide resourcesofVNU Our Websiteisbackedbythe The means abetterserviceforourreaders. parties todeliveronlineservices,which that from themagazine.Andremember, formers thatyouhavecometo expect the sameindustryexpertsand opinion our exclusiveareaonAOL,are writtenby Our in-housefacilitiesmean Our Webpagesareserved PCW PCW 0800 3765432forafree account, ringAOLon If youhaven’tgotanAOL area. and betakentothe logo onAOL’smainscreen charge. Simplyclickonour AOL membersatnoextra that online service,AOL,means the UK’sfastest-growing An exclusivepartnershipwith extra charge PCW trial disk. 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We always welcome feedback on the printed, and now online, versions of copy will be converted to hyperlinks. “back issue” section on the Web site and on AOL so that you can search for vital reviews, features or news stories you may have missed first time around. Just click on the icon at the start of either our Web site or our space on AOL, for the library of back issues. Acrobat files (PDFs). Once you’ve downloaded the Acrobat viewer, also available on our site, you will be able to view and print out articles, exactly as they appeared on the printed page. And, unlike rival From now on, you can From now via the World Wide access us brand new, Web on the improved, New technologies Access on the Web Access on publishers, we know that publishers, we know so download time is precious, Web we have designed our pages to keep download times to a minimum. Simply point your browser (Netscape 2.0 or Microsoft Explorer) at http://www. vnu.co.uk/hc/pcw and indulge yourself. 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And read our “rogues gallery” of editorial staff! both AOL and the Web site, all WWW addresses mentioned in ✩ PCW And now, with new Web sites and hotlinks for yourself. and HTML tools — you can download them instantly. Internet utilities in the world — coming soon! reviews in our ✩ Each month, we will put up at least two key features from our current issue. These will range from complete group tests, to industry analysis, to interviews with industry figures such as Bud Colligan of MacroMedia, and Ed Krol, author of PCW Internet and leading edge technology. If it’s happening on the Internet, you can be sure that ✩ ✩ Edited by industry veteran Clive Akass. New products, industry trends and alliances are all actively monitored. From now on, the hottest news stories will be selected and re- edited for online. But the real advantage of PCW interactive; you can respond in our chat areas and, as in the case of the fake cache to check scandal (March issue), even download software whether your PC is affected. PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 144 net.workingAOL ON PCW & SITE WEB PCW THE CYRIX VS PENTIUM Chip
Intelwars and Cyrix are the two main contenders in the battle of the chips. PCW looks behind the hype at what they have to offer, and asks: how serious a threat is Cyrix to the Intel crown?
CCORDING TO MOORE’S Law (formulated in 1965 by Gordon Moore, co-founder of A PCW Chip Photography by David Whyte Intel), CPUs double their capacity and capability every 18-24 months. A perfect purchase chips from Intel (the dominant company. The Pentium is a prime example of this is the development of the player in the market) due to familiarity, example of its guile and success. With an x86 line of processors. cost and availability. Intel supplies roughly estimated output of 50-60 million CPUs a A mere 18 years ago, the 8086 ran at 80 percent of the CPUs in the world’s year, Intel has a near world-monopoly. a “speedy” 4.77MHz and had under a desktop PC market. The introduction of the Pentium million transistors. Now we have the This situation has been complicated by revolutionised the PC market by putting Pentium Pro with a clock speed of the emergence of the new Cyrix 6x86 more power into the case of your average 200MHz and an on-chip total of 21 million chips. These are touted to outperform PC than NASA had in its air-conditioned transistors. Intel’s Pentiums, even though they don’t computer rooms in the early sixties. The Cyrix and Intel are continuing this run at the same clock speed. This Pentium’s architecture is a leap forward trend. Over the past six months each has indicates Cyrix’s ambitious plans to from that of the 486. What exists on the released chips that appear to have capture ten percent of the processor Pentium, as we will see later, now exists almost identical performance abilities and market before the year is out. on practically all PC-based processors, similar prices, although both claim their including the Cyrix 6x86 and especially chip is better than the other’s. If this is Pentium — the standard the Pentium Pro. true, it will be the first time in many years In every computer showroom or major First off, it is a CISC-based chip with that there has been genuinely equal sporting event across the world you’ll find over 3.3 million transistors and is competition in the processor market. the advertising legend “Intel Inside”. And currently fabricated on a 0.35 micron One of the hardest choices facing the why not? Intel is the dominant player in process. Internally, the processor uses a PC buyer today is what kind of processor the processor market and there’s a good 32-bit bus but externally the data bus is to get. Issues such as future-proofing, reason for it. It has managed, over the 64 bits wide. compatibility with hardware and software, past ten years, to doggedly follow The majority of Pentiums (75MHz and and above all, cost, mean the right choice Moore’s law and stay ahead of the above) operate on 3.3v with 5v I/O can be a gut-wrenching experience. competition by releasing more powerful protection. The Pentium has a dual Most consumers have tended to chips for the PC before any other pipelined superscalar design, allowing it
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Pentium 486. These caches contribute to around for a long time, the company increased performance because they act always comes across as a contender. as a temporary storage place for data and This is due to the dominance of the instructions obtained from the slower main market by Intel and the fact that Cyrix memory. was never able to take the lead in the A Branch Target Buffer (BTB) provides processor market. dynamic branch prediction. The BTB The tide may be changing in Cyrix’s enhances instruction execution by favour. During the last four months, Cyrix “remembering” which way an instruction has announced four new chips in its 6x86 branched and applying the same branch P-plus line that are touted to equal or the next time the instruction is used. When the BTB makes a correct Cyrix prediction, performance is improved. An 80-point Floating Point Unit provides the arithmetic engine to cope with the calculations involved in software such as Autocad and 3D rendering packages. A System Management Mode (SMM) for controlling the power use of the processor and peripherals rounds out the design. The Pentium’s architectural features have now become the standard for all PC chips. Few buyers would settle for anything less than what is currently on offer. BUS INTERFACE Pentium is fast. Ever since the introduction of DATA CACHE CODE CACHE TLB TLB 8 KBYTES 8 KBYTES BTB the Pentium 75MHz chip and now with the expected PREFETCH BUFFER arrival of the Pentium MICROCODE INSTRUCTION DECODE 200MHz chip, its ROM performance has never been concurrently CONTROL equalled, only followed. UNIT v-PIPELINE u-PIPELINE Now, though, there is a FLOATING POINT serious challenge to the PIPELINE Pentium in the form of Cyrix, its traditional REGISTER competitor.
Intel’s Pentium architecture set the standard by Cyrix — the including a dual pipeline and branch predictionchallenger The 6x86 incorporates Pentium Pro-like Even though Cyrix has been architecture that fits into a 296-pin P54C socket to execute more instructions per clock cycle. There are still five stages INSTRUCTION ADDRESS (Prefetch, Instruction Decode, Address IF Generate, Execute and Write Back) in the ID1 SEQUENCE INSTRUCTION DATA execution of integer instructions, like that ID2 ID2 CONTROL AC1 AC1 of the 486, but because there are two LINES AC2 AC2 X DATA ADDRESS pipelines the processor completes two FPU EX EX 256-BYTE INSTRUCTION LINE CACHE instructions per cycle. An important OPCODE WB WB Y DATA BUS aspect of superscalar design is that the FLOATING X PIPE YPIPE INTERFACE CONTROL QUEUE 16-KBYTE UNIFIED CACHE UNIT pipeline is always ready for another INTEGER UNIT DATA instruction: once past the prefetch stage, FLOATING POINT PROCESSOR X LINEAR Y LINEAR another instruction can be fed in. ADDRESS ADDRESS The Pentium also uses two 8Kb, two- FLOATING POINT way set, associative buffers (also known UNIT X PHYSICAL Y PHYSICAL ADDRESS ADDRESS as primary or L1 cache), one for MEMORY MANAGEMENT UNIT instructions and another for data. This is twice the amount of its predecessor, the
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surpass Pentium performance. prediction, speculative execution and more efficient chip. The chips that have been released are “out-of-order” completion. The presence the 6x86 P120+, P133+, P150+ and of these architectural components helps Pentium Pro P166+. Cyrix has chosen to implement prevent pipeline stalling by continually The Pentium Pro is still the big chip of the the new P-plus rating (see Newsprint, providing instruction results: predicting bunch. With a CPU core consisting of 5.5 April 96) as a way for the consumer to requirements, executing instructions with million transistors and 15.5 million compare Cyrix and Intel chips. What a high level of accuracy and allowing transistors in the L2 cache, it easily makes the 6x86 chips unique is that they faster instructions to exit the pipeline out out-muscles both the Pentium and the run at a much slower clock frequency than of order, without disrupting the program Cyrix. The 6x86 and Pentium Pro may be their respective Pentiums, yet they can flow. All this boosts 6x86 performance to superscalar, superpipelined, register outperform them. The P120+ runs at a a level beyond a similarly-clocked renaming, out-of-order executing, multi- clock speed of 100MHz, while the P133+, Pentium. branch predicting, number-crunching P150+ and P166+ run at 110MHz, The real key to the 6x86 is 120MHz and 133MHz respectively. its processing of code. It Pentium Pro The reason for this performance gain handles code in “native lies in the chip’s architecture. The 6x86 mode”; it fully optimises the differs radically from the Pentium; in fact, x86 CISC instruction set. This it’s almost identical to the Pentium Pro. applies to both 16- and 32-bit It’s a sixth-generation superscalar, code. The Pentium does this, superpipelined processor, able to fit a too, but by contrast a Pentium Pentium P54C socket. It contains 3.5 Pro requires the conversion of million transistors and is manufactured on CISC instructions to RISC (or a 0.5 micron five-layer process. This is micro) operations before they larger than a similar Pentium, but Cyrix enter the pipelines. expects to optically shrink this to 0.35 Consequently, the 6x86 microns by late 1996, to increase clock execution engine, unlike the speed. It has a 3.3v core with 5v I/O Pentium Pro, doesn’t take a protection. performance hit when The 6x86 features, like that of the handling 16- or 32-bit Pentium, are: superscalar architecture, applications because no code 80-bit FPU, 16Kb L1 cache and SMM. Its conversion is required. The differences become apparent when you Pentium Pro, on the other look at what’s been added. The 6x86 is hand, is known to be superpipelined, meaning there are seven, designed as a pure 32-bit instead of five, pipeline stages (Prefetch, processor and 16-bit two Decode, two Address Generation, instructions can stall Execute, and Write-back) to keep considerably while in its information flowing faster and avoid pipeline. execution stalls. Also present is Register All of these additional Renaming, providing temporary data architectural features add up storage for instant data availability to one thing for the Cyrix without waiting for the CPU to access the 6x86: better performance at a on-chip cache or system memory. lower clock speed. Compared Other new features include data with a Pentium on a clock-for- dependency removal, multi-branch clock basis, the 6x86 is a More features equals more silicon. The Pentium Pro’s complex architecture means a larger TABLE OF FEATURES package and 91 more pins
SYSTEM BUS LZ 256K CACHE
BUS INTERFACE UNIT Pentium Pro Cyrix 6x86 Pentium L1 DCACHE FETCH STORE Architectural Features L1 NEXT RESERVATION FLOATING INSTUCTION IP STATION POINT EU Superscalar ●● ● CACHE PART 0 INTEGER EU REORDER ●● ❍ BUFFER Superpipelined BTB INSTRUCTION JUMP EU Register Renaming ●● ❍ DECODE X3 PART 1 ADDRESS GENERATION Multi-branch prediction ●● ❍ MICROCODE STORE RETIREMENT X86 INSTRUCTION ADDRESS REGISTER INSTRUCTIONS SEQUENCE GENERATION FILE ●● ❍ PART 2 IN ORDER RETIRE UNIT Speculative execution CONVERTED LOAD
IN ORDER DECODE UNIT FETCH/ TO ●● ❍ MICRO-OPS Out-of-order completion REGISTER ADDRESS X86 ALIAS OUT OF ORDER EXECUTE UNIT DESPATCH/ PART 3,4 GENERATION REGISTERS 80-bit FPU ●● ● TABLE LOAD Data dependency removal ●● ❍ Full x86 instruction set optimisation ●● ❍ ●● ● 16Kb (or more) L1 cache INSTRUCTION POOL KEY ● Yes ❍ No
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mamas but they still have their Intel and Cyrix take on multimedia differences. A key feature of the Pro is the size of Multimedia is everywhere. It’s part of your PC in the shape of your sound its L2 on-chip cache. Starting at 256Kb, it card, CD-ROM drive, video card and (if you’re in the vanguard) your 3D is the largest of any PC-based graphics accelerator. What it isn’t on, is your processor; at least up until processors. Because the L2 cache is on now. This will soon change. Intel and Cyrix are currently going head to the processor it runs at the internal clock head on this issue but each are taking a different approach. speed, which means faster access to a Intel has recently announced its new MMX™ technology. MMX is an larger pool of stored instruction data. Also extension of the Intel Architecture that is said to enhance multimedia and different from the Cyrix and the Pentium is communications applications. Intel plans to incorporate the technology in the number of stages in the pipeline. At 14 all its processors, starting later in 1996, but is currently preparing to stages, divided into three sections, the release its newest chip, codenamed P55c, to launch the technology. MMX Pentium Pro gives true meaning to is not a replacement for multimedia components, such as sound cards, but superpipelining. is meant to enhance these capabilities via software programming by The in-order front-end section, which reducing the load on the CPU. handles the decoding and issuing of Cyrix is being a bit more cagey about its on-chip multimedia instructions, consists of eight stages. An intentions. What’s known is that its next chip, codenamed the M2, is out-of-order core, which executes the expected to have on-chip multimedia capabilities. Sources at Cyrix claim instructions, has three stages and the in- that it will a “big leap” forward in chip technology that could change the order retirement consists of a final three rules of the game. The M2 is expected to have SoundBlaster, MPEG, and stages. communications compatibility, all on-chip. As opposed to Intel, Cyrix is The other, more critical distinction of taking a more hardware-orientated approach. No date has been the Pentium Pro is its handling of announced for its release but it is expected by mid to late 1997. instructions. It takes the CISC x86 instructions and converts them into internal RISC-like micro-ops. The performance hit when processing or 512Kb and advanced architectural conversion is designed to help avoid instructions. The 6x86 with its native design, it out-muscles all before it. But its some of the limitations inherent in the x86 mode processing, however, is free from weakness with 16-bit applications instruction set, such as irregular this conversion load. currently limits its appeal to high-end instruction encoding and register-to- A second drawback is that the out-of- users. In contrast, the Cyrix incorporates memory arithmetic operations. The order design can be particularly affected Pentium Pro-like features without micro-ops are then passed into an out-of- by 16-bit code, resulting in stalls. These sacrificing performance of either 16- or order execution engine that determines tend to be caused by partial register 32-bit applications. whether instructions are ready for updates that occur before full register execution; if not, they are shuffled around reads and they can impose severe The results to prevent pipeline stalls. performance penalties of up to seven Admittedly, we were sceptical about the There are drawbacks, though, in using clock cycles. hype surrounding the 6x86. All the Cyrix the RISC approach. The first is that The Pentium Pro is Intel’s most publicity and previously published converting instructions takes time, even if powerful desktop chip available. With benchmarks point to the 6x86 processors calculated in nano or micro seconds. As a clock frequencies ranging from 150MHz with equivalent P-plus rating out- result, the Pentium Pro inevitably takes a to 200MHz, on-chip L2 caches of 256Kb performing the Pentium. However, our Benchmarks: what does it all mean? tests did show that the hype was true. With the subsystem components How do the Cyrix 6x86 and the Pentium really compare? Both companies have their identical, there was little room for error. own benchmarks which show that their processors are better, but how real are these The VNU Windows 95 test showed results considering they are benchmarked on highly-specified PCs? Consider the that the Cyrix 6x86 chips outperform the MDR labs P-plus benchmark. The subsystem of the MDR benchmark PC consists of Intel Pentium processors by an average 32Mb 60ns EDO-RAM, 512Kb pipeline-burst cache and a Matrox Millennium of two percent. This is an amazing feat if graphics card with 2Mb of WRAM — this is not your typical home or office PC. you consider that 6x86 chips run at a We tested the processors under Windows 95 on what we considered a fairly much slower clock speed than the average PC. We ran a Doom2 test, too. The 6x86 chip was compared with the Pentium. Cyrix’s use of advanced Pentium using its relative P-plus ratings, not its actual clock rates, because this is architecture such as superpipelining, how Cyrix has been marketing them. So, the Cyrix P150+ was compared to a speculative execution and out-of-order Pentium 150MHz chip, even though it has a clock frequency of 133MHz. completion make their mark. The chips were tested on an Amari Fusion P-series PC with an Elite Group The test results prove that the 6x86 is TR5510P motherboard and Award BIOS. The subsystem consisted of a Quantum far more efficient at processing 1208 1.2Gb IDE HDD, 16Mb 60ns EDO-RAM, 256Kb pipeline-burst cache and a instructions than the Pentium. As Matrox Millennium graphics card with 2Mb WRAM. A Dell XPS Pro 150 Pentium Pro expected, the Pentium Pro performed rounded out the test. Although there is no way to achieve a direct comparison with a poorly under the Windows 95 test, Pentium Pro due to socket, BIOS and motherboard incompatibilities, we included it to showing that it is a chip designed solely give a good idea as to how it performs under Windows 95. All the major subsystem for 32-bit applications. components were used in both machines (except L2 external cache and the The only odd result occurred with the EDO-RAM for compatibility reasons) to ensure consistency. Doom2 test. The 6x86 test scores came up about two to six frames slower than
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the Pentium. According to industry beats the Intel Pentium and could be price, it might just pull it off. sources, this has more to do with the considered a serious threat to the Intel Dylan Armbrust Doom2 software and the way it identifies hegemony. The question that remains is: processors, than the chip itself. will Cyrix be able to convince the average Of course, the proof of the pudding is PC buyer to change loyalties and make in the processing of applications, not the switch? With its top performance, games. So on this front, the Cyrix 6x86 some good marketing and a competitive
Performance Results CYRIX PENTIUM PRO Overall Relative Performance INTEL Relative: Intel Pentium CPUs of same speed where score equals 1.0 Speed 0.080 1.000 1.020 1.040 1.060 Values FASTER
120 1.020 1.000 150 1.012 1.000 166 1.047 1.000 PPRO 150 1.022 1.000
Word processing Cyrix 6x86 Individual Application Performance Spreadsheet Database Relative: Intel Pentium CPUs of same speed where score equals 1.0 0.900 0.950 1.000 1.050 1.100 Values FASTER Benchmark PC: Amari Fusion PC with Elite 1.011 120 group TR5510P motherboard, Quantum 1.000 1.2Gb HDD, Matrox Millennium graphics 0.900 card with 2Mb WRAM, 256Kb Pipeline 1.001 150 burst cache, and 16Mb EDO-RAM. 1.030 Benchmark Pentium Pro: Dell XPS Pro 150 0.999 with Intel motherboard, Quantum 1.2Gb 1.051 166 HDD, Matrox Millennium graphics card with 1.050 1.011 2Mb WRAM, and 16Mb ECC RAM. 1.010 PPRO 150 1.011 1.090
DOOM2 scores Values 20 30 40 50 60 (Frames per second)
Intel Pentium Pro FASTER 150 MHz 24.16 Intel Pentium 166 MHz 59.56 150 MHz 53.90 120 MHz 49.31 Cyrix x6x86 P166+ (133 MHz) 56.84 P150+ (120 MHz) 51.61 P120+ (100 MHz) 43.12
Lab Tests
Ensuring that like really is being tested with like is tricky errors. As we only ran these tests once, the data collected is when evaluating processors. Although Cyrix’s CPUs really probably too scanty to be a reliable performance benchmark, are Intel pin-compatible, after switching processors you but the indications are that the Cyrix processors hold up very need also to ensure that the motherboard jumper settings well in a 32-bit environment. are matched to the processor clock speed. This caught our The area in which we did notice a slight performance hit testers out on more than one occasion and rendered results way was with older DOS applications running in the Windows 95 DOS box. below par for the Cyrix chips. Although the processor may boot, These went slightly slower than we expected and were marginally incorrect motherboard and core speeds can turn in performance up beaten by Intel’s offerings. A speculative reason for this is that the to 43 percent below the comparable Intel benchmarks. predictive branching and other, more advanced, Cyrix features have So much for performance: compatibility is the other serious been fine-tuned for the more popular Windows-only environment. The concern if you decide to go with non-Intel processors. As well as the Pentium would not attempt such aggressive optimisation of the same standard range of Windows applications used to measure speed, code at all, and may therefore suffer from fewer cache misses than the we also ran all the tests in an NT environment to double check that Cyrix. In any case, the differences are too small to be noticed by any there were no hidden nasties: luckily, the Cyrix chips ran without real-life application users.
162 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Taken to task Whether you’re a project management neophyte or a corporate wizard, our 11-strong software review assesses a range of packages to suit all pockets.
FTEN SHROUDED in project planners developed methods to mystery and jargon, help them manage very complex Project Management projects and control expensive resources (PM)O software can play an important part 168 Acos Compact 6.0 and materials to ensure they delivered in your busy life. For private or 169 Asta PowerProject 3.1 their projects on time. The first nuclear professional work, it can help you plan, 170 CA-SuperProject 4.0 power stations, space missions and allocate and complete individual tasks to 172 Microsoft Project 95 submarines were constructed using achieve your goals. 174 Open Plan Professional 1.1 project management tools. The software In its simplest form, it’s quick, easy to 176 Primavera Project Planner 1.1 that can be bought today uses the very Project Scheduler 6 for Windows learn and ideal for occasional or home 179 best methods from this work, combining 181 Project Workbench PMW use. At its most complex it can be them with ease of use, powerful 182 Schedule Publisher 4.2 infinitely customisable to handle 185 SureTrak 1.5 processing and informative graphical corporate projects; planning thousands of 186 Timeline 6.5 displays. activities over hundreds of years. It’s also Windows project management 188 Editor’s Choice becoming increasing accessible, with software helps you to control the factors 188 Table of Features prices starting at under £200. 190 Step by step guide that will affect a project: the time, the If you’re completely new to project 193 Glossary of Terms materials, the cost, and the progress. It management — don’t panic, there are 193 Case Study: The Plymouth Rescue helps you to see where the problems sections to explain all: Steps in Project Boat Team and difficulties lie. It helps you to track Management, on page 190, takes you 195 Case Study: Atlantic Power and Gas the progress of a project and maintain through the construction of a simple the schedule. project; and our Glossary of Project In this group test we review the latest Management Terms, on page 193, will packages costing from less than £200 to help you decode the PM lingo. £12,500, to help you find the one best The background to modern project suited to your needs. management stems from the 1950s: PCW Artwork Illustration by Fred Salmon Michael Eagleton
166 167 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Compact 6.0 PowerProject 3.1
cos Compact is a derivative of the the application. and left mouse clicks sta PowerProject is a mid- to high- from their relative text, using a comprehensive Aprofessional package, Acos Plus 1, Acos Compact approaches allow you to clear and Arange tool aimed at people who need crosshair cursor with the start and range of developed and used within major projects in a unique way by make selections. to produce schedules in some detail. It end detail appearing, momentarily, histograms — organisations in Germany. This low-cost asking you to map out the Relationship linking is a comes as two, shelf-boxed, A5 ring in an adjacent box. Linkages and especially the package provides all the basic project Work Breakdown Structure right click to check folders that you can get your arm through relationships are set by clicking on histograms management tools and applies its own before task entry, applying a deselection, a left click and looks tough enough for departmental hotspots around the bars, and produced approach to project management top downwards approach to construction. on a bar to select, then a left click on reference and abuse (in the same vein as multiple bars can be positioned on covering processes. The first thing you are required to do is to another bar to bring up the confirm link older mainframe manuals) — a horizontal, if required. resource allocation and work done Acos Compact requires a 386 or build the mask or template for your WBS dialogue, and a right click to deselect PowerProject is certainly designed to The fundamentals of PowerProject, analysis. The package is also quite higher with 12Mb of free disk space. coding. Instructions suggest you set the again. When you add New items to last. task entry and manipulation can be meticulous about the way in which it There’s nothing in the front of the manual level structures to two, five and eight, the libraries, the text of the last item The first job is to assemble all the bits picked up quickly and the manual acts as handles baselines and has a Baseline about installation, so I popped in the first representing the character spacing for remains displayed, again requiring of paper, section dividers and software, a good accompaniment. An Admin Menu Manager for looking after the historical diskette and ran Setup from within codes such as 11,11-11 and 11-11-11, you to type over and delete the into the relevant sections. Once this has item holds the key to setting up resource changes. Historical baselines usually Windows. The installation routine including the separators. Another screen unnecessary. been done, you plug a dongle into the libraries, cost code libraries, calendars, allow quite detailed analysis of project prompts you for a choice of languages lets you input the WBS codes in graphical An interesting feature of the product printer socket and install the software. and preferences for more detailed modification over time, particularly for (German, English or French), then asks format. is its conversion (or aversion) to PowerProject requires a 386DX with 4Mb control. Resources can be set up as analysis of earned value, but it is a for default directories to be allocated. I Input of the WBS Boxes consists of Windows. Views disappear regularly of RAM and at least 10Mb of disk space. permanent or consumable and shame that PowerProject does not invoke promptly typed in the relevant information un-intuitive left and right mouse clicks, (as part of the program) and you The installer routine also installs an designated as one-off costs or per-hour earned value analysis. and the PC locked up. followed by a textual input screen. yearn for a Windows menu to try and application called Borders, along with the costs, and have availability profiles which Its LAN connectivity is good and it’s Having tracked down the installation Strangely, the input screens work in type- find it again. You also long for the Edit main program. are customisable for working hours and easy to install. It’s easy, too, to quickly requirements in the manual, I discovered over mode which can cause problems menu, or some kind of Undo, to Having started PowerProject, you’re future days. Cost codes can also be built train those who need to use it. For many that directories need to consist of exactly when entering new data if the new bits undo things that have accidentally taken straight to the bar-chart screen. in and handled, as can the modelling of projects it would be a suitable scheduling six characters — not exactly user are shorter than existing ones. The “happened”. Projects are built by entering tasks, which consumable resources over time aid and possesses the wherewithal to friendly, especially in this age of long graphical construction is a novel Acos Compact jumps from menu are labelled and coloured simultaneously allocation. produce some intricate graphs, given filenames. When you’re past this approach, but fiddly. options without warning, occasionally on (a nice feature) and displayed in a PowerProject’s greatest strength, dedicated personal application. The hurdle, a single icon appears on The next stage in the input process change of view, and in other unusual column on the left-hand side. The activity after the deft entry of tasks, task bars emphasis is definitely on the graphical your desktop and a double click starts gives you a bar chart view. Again, right ways sometimes locking you into list bars are drawn on to the screen, across and their relationships, is its abilities of the product to produce detailed screens with only a couple of buttons schedules, and it comes with a range of allowing an escape route — and these useful graphics for the job. Left Acos are hidden among the normal buttons. Left Asta The additional Borders application Compact is Strangely, modifications to tasks do not PowerProject has allows even more customisation of capable of update but delete over the original task, powerful graphical reports and views using scripts and producing which can make you nervous about displays for formatting to create personalised detailed losing data and make you quick on the scheduling templates for work — a simple but schedules cancel button. effective feature. To its merit, Acos does allow for a PowerProject is designed to put WBS approach to project management in together a project as swiftly as possible, its top downwards construction and some thereby providing a canvas on which to people will find this exactly to their liking. put clipart and textual descriptions: urging It is also quite capable with its time extra effort here, highlighting problems analysis, resource allocation and there, before communicating it to other graphical interpretation. However, It staff. It is suitable for advanced hasn’t made the transition to Windows scheduling only. very well and its translation from the German is verbatim and, hence, often PCW Details bizarre. Asta PowerProject 3.1 Price £845 standalone; £995 for server version; £395 each additional PCW Details Contact Asta Developments Acos Compact 6.0 Corporation 01844 261700 ☎ Price £190 Good Points Simple graphical Right Work Contact D&L Computer Services interface, with basic project breakdown and 01775 768287 ☎ Right Charts and management functions and good resource Good Points WBS approach to project displays can graphing. Good “Beginners Guide”. allocation is management. contain many Bad Points Limited specification and heavily code- Bad Points Obstructive, idiosyncratic, control generalised resource handling. based error-tempting interface. dimensions Conclusion More a project Conclusion Competent, but management drawing canvas than a enormously frustrating to use. numerical gridsheet.
168 169 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
CA-SuperProject 4.0
A SuperProject has consistently asserts that you need to plan things Once you’ve Cprogressed through its revisions, and understand that at stages you input the tasks, keeping abreast of the demands of mid- will need to provide the computer resources can be market project management software with information. It tells you the entered and while giving the high-end a run for its program is going to help you every cardfile-like money. This new version improves the step of the way, performing logical calendars control interface, help, and custom tailoring, automatic calculations, but it needs each resource’s while maintaining the product’s advice. The online tutorial is superb. work availability, based on a parent performance and integrity. There are many steps to using CA calendar. These provide you with plenty Minimum requirements are a 25MHz SuperProject: many views, each one of information and in fact one of the really 386 or better, with 4Mb of RAM and essential, each one interlocking data in pleasant things CA SuperProject does is 18Mb of hard disk space. informative ways, each one vital to your to bombard you with information, on- There are a number of ways to role as project manager, and they can be screen. The text is small but perfectly approach this professional product. On learnt quickly and simply using these readable. The graphics are small and startup it lays out an immense area of support materials. perfectly formed. You can see a great task, Gantt chart and data columns. The The process for using CA SuperProject deal in enormous detail, simultaneously. toolbar is laden with functional-looking begins with entering tasks, durations, and The most significant feature of CA buttons and the menus seem well- start/end times with hours and minutes on SuperProject after its tasks and resource appointed. While the brash will bash them — a nice detail. If you want the task handling is its application of given away at the first screen, trying intuitively to start at 8am you tell it so (and if nobody information to produce project to get data and links into the project, the starts work till 9am, you can force it to management devices and reports. Given studious will read the “getting started” indicate overtime or it will compensate). the WBS codes, or outline descriptions of manual providing the sublime: “Install, The tasks are built and can be displayed resources, the program builds WBS handles the installing”, to the ridiculous: in outline fashion, the main heading being charts perfectly, and organisation charts “File, properties dialogue with -n option”, the project title heading and allowing it to and PERT/CPM charts in impressive which bypasses the startup logo. be directly linked as a sub-project in the detail. They look so right, positioned The “Getting Started Manual” correctly much grander scheme of things. perfectly on the page/screen. The detail handled by CA SuperProject is impressive and its views and reports are Left CA fully customisable. The reporting aspects SuperProject are quite superb and the tracking of packs enormous projects in progress is just as detailed amounts of and numerically precise. information into Intricacy is the forté of CA easily-read SuperProject. If you need to manage screens projects on which someone can work for two hours this weekend, a short day of four hours on Monday, off for a birthday on Tuesday, and a long day on Wednesday of 12 hours (and whose rate of pay is variable) and much more besides, CA SuperProject 4.0 is designed for you. It is a detailed, competent product aimed at those requiring precision and absolute control in their daily work.
PCW Details
CA SuperProject 4.0 Price £495 Right WBS, Contact Computer Associates 01753 679679 ☎ Organisational and PERT charts Good Points Presents masses of are displayed information with ease and in detail. effortlessly from Bad Points It’s a challenge to get started. original data Conclusion Very well developed product with an eye for real-world detail.
170 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Project ‘95
icrosoft Project rules the lower end of this gentle journey you are which is called Mof the project management market, presented with the main view — a “levelling”. providing ease of use and power at a Gantt table, and Gantt chart — and With Project cheap price. As its name suggests, have the warm feeling that you know ’95 you quickly Project ’95 is the Windows 95 version. It it all. find that you have is every bit as good as its predecessors. Tasks are entered simply by entered all the (Project 4.0 for Windows 3.1 is still typing into the area for tasks, and tasks for a available for those who’ve yet to see the durations of tasks are entered by typing project, estimated durations, allocated 32-bit light, and it works in the same into the area for durations using the resources, and levelled the resources. way.) week-day-hour-minute notation. Inserting Your Gantt chart looks good and you can Project 95 requires at least 6Mb of task information lets you set see the basis for your project. If you want RAM and 10Mb of hard disk space. dependencies (the start-end relationships to know what the cumulative cost of the Installation is a straightforward affair. All vital for Critical Path identification), project will be, a change of view shows you have to do is Run Setup from the File percentage complete, and priority. you. If you want to see the daily costs by Manager, complete your registration A change of view allows resources to resource, another change shows you the details and you’re away. be set up. These can be assigned as part values. When a task has been The look and feel of Project ’95 will be of a group and the cost of each resource completed, you can easily drag the familiar to anyone who is used to allocated on a per-use, per-normal hour, progress indicator to 100 percent. If you Microsoft Office: you may know nothing or per-overtime hour basis. Returning to want to produce a wall calendar, about project management but the way in the Gantt view, the resources can then be identifying what activities are taking place which Microsoft has laid things out makes allocated for each task and identified as on which day, another menu click will you think you may just be able to crack it fixed duration or resource dependent. allow you to do so. blindfold. At the outset you are greeted by Microsoft Project then goes away and Microsoft Project is very, very, good a cartoon Einstein, Cue cards and checks for the same resource being used but it simplifies things for your use and tutorials, that lead you gently through the at the same time, and makes the occasionally you may find that it doesn’t stages of project management. The cue scheduling adjustment for you based on reflect real-world situations. cards are very informative and at the end the priority of the tasks — a process Nevertheless, it can be set up to handle fairly complex resource allocation, Left Microsoft complex task relationships and priority Project’s screen levelling. The bars and displays can be is clean, familiar customised and it performs a capable job. and functional I know, from experience, that it is possible to work and grow with Microsoft Project for many years, and be very satisfied. If you are putting together a business plan or project proposal, Project can be used to quickly estimate the times, task orders, resources and costs, and calendars working with predictable values where hourly rates and salaries are set, and steady progress is assumed. It is also the best starting point for project management packages and has applications to every aspect of life — anyone can use it to make planning simple.
PCW Details Microsoft Project ’95 Price £295 Contact Microsoft Connection 0345 002000 ☎ Right Work Good Points Very simple to use and scheduling very capable for basic operations. Value calendars are for money. produced quickly Bad Points Heavy-duty use will reveal and simply its shortfalls. Conclusion For the basics, nobody does it better.
172 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Open Plan Professional 1.1
pen Plan Professional 1.1 from The basic operations are actually quite OWelcome Software Technology is a easy to perform. A desktop metaphor, high-end corporate package, hiding its which includes icons representing data sheer power and capacity behind objects and views, makes it easy to simplicity and a clean, informative manage your activities, resources, facade. calendar and code data for multiple Installation of the 12 disks in a projects. Yet it is customisable to reflect standalone setup requires at least 10Mb the way in which your organisation works. Background Customisation utilities. of disk space (full installation is 25Mb) Key information is stored in filing cabinets The Project Management Director is and a 386 with at least 4Mb of memory and Project Notebooks. like having a non-executive director on (8-12Mb is recommended). It installs Another nice feature in Open Plan your desktop: policing your project for the simply enough and the manual describes Professional is that it allows you to enter good of the corporation, automating your exactly what is going to happen during some information using real-world terms procedures, documenting them, applying installation. rather than formulas. For example, a 16- templates of activities and checking The manual has been meticulously hour task doesn’t have to be described as “Project Management Body of prepared. The stages of building a project a certain percentage complete: you can Knowledge (PMBOK)” — as defined by are presented in well-written chapters instead state “worked on for 5.25 hours the American Project Management and appear in the software just as so far”, which makes a bit more sense. Institute Standards Committee. described. It does not assume prior Open Plan Professional also provides The PMD covers the Scope, Quality, exposure either to projects or project time-phased monitoring of saved Time, Cost, Risk, Human Resources, management software, or even working baselines for generating S-curves, graphs Contract/Procurement and in Windows, and so takes you effortlessly of progress and earned value analysis. Communications aspects of a corporate to inserting tasks, dates, and project The basics of Open Plan Professional project. Each step in your routine project codes. can be quickly learnt but there are many processing is checked for completion and The software opens to a blank activity more features available for controlling the if you need to produce regular, gridsheet with a ClipNote to guide you project constraints, and two other standardised reports the program can through the early stages of creating a important features: the Project communicate with applications like project. Neither the software nor the Management Director (PMD) and Microsoft Word, through OLE. This is manual build to a crescendo at any powerful support and you step effortlessly stage; the emphasis is on a logical, into using it. achievable progression through the The Background Customisation tools and facilities on offer. Resources utilities give you access to the deeper and calendars are built in to the project workings of Open Plan Professional and without drama. You are doing all the allow you to alter a project’s access things you feel you should be doing in rights, set protection levels and distribute a project management situation, complex projects across network broken down into well-explained and installations. mapped procedures. Relationships Open Plan Professional costs a great and resources are defined with deal of money but it performs the bog- precision using calendars, resource standard operations of a project profiles, and code libraries. management package very well and can grow to deal with even the most complex Above Open Plan of projects. Its desktop metaphor makes Professional’s it easy to use and the whole package is project filing ideally suited to corporate users. cabinets and notebooks PCW Details provide useful Open Plan Professional 1.1 desktop facilities Price £12,500 for a three-user LAN Contact Welcome Software Technology 0171 401 2626 ☎ Good Points Does everything you’d need with infinite customisability. The PMD provides an excellent framework. Left Split displays Bad Points £12,500 for a three-user are informative LAN. Effort is required to use it fully. and powerful Conclusion In regulated, controlled, demanding environments Open Plan Professional excels.
174 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Project Planner 1.1 Project Scheduler 6
rimavera’s Project Planner, nailed to the spot, so that they can’t move, citor’s Project Scheduler 6 comes fast, responsive and though a little abstract Potherwise known as P3, is a P3 gives you a little hammer tool with Swith glowing recommendations from rewarding to use, which when no data, or all heavyweight high-end package designed which to nail down times; light relief, the project management community. It interestingly speeds the constraints, on a project are for the most arduous and complex heavyweight application. fits into the mid-range of project learning cycle with the undefined. projects. Version 1.1 boasts many new It is features like these which provide management software while offering a product. If you know You can very quickly features and improvements. the human aspect to what is a massive fair number of high-end functions. roughly what you want, pick up the use and Installing P3 as a single-user version number cruncher. Many projects can be reporting processes; and Buy the Hour, a PS6 will install on anything from a 386 you can just smash buttons until it pops operation of PS6 and begin using it with requires a 486 or better with 8Mb of RAM integrated and planned within P3 and it is new utility for collecting and controlling with 4Mb of memory and 4Mb minimum up. If at any stage you do happen to ease. It puts WBS, OBS and RBS codes, and a minimum 30Mb of disk space. It quite happy resolving resource timesheet information before integrating it disk space, upwards. The process is pause over a button or device, a small hammocks, PERT analysis, levelling and works on a number of operating systems allocations and scheduling difficulties. with P3. straightforward and our review package blue helper balloon appears. baselines at your control, directly from the and networks. Its solid shelf display box One feature that’s a bit overworked is Using ReportSmith, project updates contained disks for v1.5, and a separate Once your tasks have been entered, main screen. It treats advanced functions comes with six scaled manuals (some P3’s over-use of colour on its main can be sent via email and easily patch disk for an instant upgrade to along with resources and relationships, such as earned value analysis, and the lightweight, others extremely thick and displays, but thankfully, as soon as you incorporated into the master projects — v1.53. they are plotted below on the Gantt chart brilliant Inflation Schedules (for future extensive) which lead you through the switch to more serious activities such as communications work just as effectively The program’s main work screen is a and this is where the lower toolbar uniform price increases), with process of installing and opening P3, the levelling, the display changes to a sober the other way around to provide good combined Gantt and datasheet, with an comes into play. By clicking through its nonchalance. task list and Gantt chart view. black and white. two-way control. informative toolbar across the top and Resource options you can change the PS6’s displays are informative yet P3 works around combining When levelling, P3 produces a text Buy the Hour can be integrated functional toolbar down the left-hand display to show information by task, delicate, with petite baselines drawn dictionaries and coding structures to report auditing every dependency, lag, through managers and workers for side. A further powerful touch you notice project or resource. below the activity bars. Its tracking skills provide filtered and grouped views of float and relationship, and reporting how monitoring availability and hours worked; later is the toolbar across the bottom of Every view is printable and PS6 are good, with group tracking facilities to tasks and activities which are displayed in each pass altered the schedule. If you are providing workforce access to keep your the screen. comes with a report writer which works in update all activities as of a given date — split screen Gantt-type views. Durations running multiple projects and making Earned Value Analysis and budgets on From this interface you can switch a similar way to database report highly useful. and start/end dates can be set and P3 will changes that could affect people target. Buy the Hour handles multiple quickly to any view. A button labelled P producers, whereby database field flags PS6 crackles with functions and make the relative modifications to throughout your entire organisation, this levels of reporting, and its security cycles through open projects and are placed into groups ready for the data operations. It looks good and has the schedules based upon dependency, time- is a change-tracking tool of some calibre. prevents unauthorised access to data. P3 resources are managed using the R to be composited into the body of the depth to handle some quite complex based calculations or resource levelling, New features in version 1.1 are the also has security passwords and button. The task spreadsheet, the textual page. Table construction is simple, planning functions. It should fit in well and then it goes a little further. For dates utility programmes: Reportsmith, for administrator control for projects and sub- companion to the Gantt with any kind of company and is and times that need to be pinned, fixed or building and controlling customised projects, and resource files. Especially chart, snaps into view on increasingly popular in academic circles, useful for things like salary information. pressing the T button. thanks to an educational discount. If the P3 is customisable, so if you want to Another button below this functions or formulas you require are not Left P3’s see time-scaled graphics over your Gantt takes you to the Gantt there, there is a facility to create your own colourful displays chart, or resource/cost/activity matrices, view. formulas as well as to customise most provide detail and you can. It supports database connectivity, It is not derogatory to other parts of the program. Graphs can grouping by task OLE and DDE, allowing for your word say PS6 has a gamer’s be generated simply and informatively, as category processing documents to sit within your facade — the interface is can Work Breakdown Structures and project task area for ready access. Critical Path Maps. It is very easy to like The only problem I came across with this product. P3 was with the handling of multiple Right Project Scheduler’s Data can be shared, imported and baselines, called Target Plans, which work breakdown structure exported with great flexibility, allowing for make it difficult to track your progress, codes are intelligently the distribution of project aspects and historically — there must be a way to do transformed into charts connectivity with ODBC databases. this but I couldn’t find it. With its easy-looking facade and Primavera Project Planner is a lightning-fast work pace, PS6 packs fun peerless product, commanding the high- with functionality into one colourful end of project management software, and package. It suits small to medium is particularly suited to integrated applications for people wishing to plan applications involving SureTrak. fast but effectively, without long learning curves. PCW Details PCW Details Primavera Project Planner 1.1 Project Scheduler 6 Price £1,995 single version Price £645 (educational discounts Contact Primavera Systems available) 0181 748 7300 ☎ Left Toolbars, Contact Tekware 01384 392121 ☎ Right For detailed, Good Points Powerful, multi-project sidebars and Good Points Fast, easy and powerful. audit-type reports management and total control. bottom toolbars Bad Points Its colourful interface may Bad Points A little too colourful the display is make for very give the wrong impression of its being a sometimes. simple and quick use lightweight package. Conclusion An excellent corporate informative Conclusion A good, young-looking, fully- application for demanding situations. functioned project management tool.
176 179 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Project Workbench PMW
roject Workbench PMW 3.0, from format using the structure Phase, Activity, PApplied Business Technology Task, Milestone and Comment, and the International, is widely used by those whole thing uses outline formatting. Activity needing high-end management tools. It codes presumably come from your external has many strokes of genius mixed with a planning as it does not generate any for good balance of missed opportunity. you, even from the implied WBS structure. PMW requires a 386 or better and at When activities are entered they are least 6Mb of disk space, relatively small automatically formatted in the outline font. oddly there’s no Done button for considering its ability, and installs with Activities also have a column for confirming your selection. few complications. It competently Deliverable, wonderful for sharpening the The fuller relationship functions of requires a password before letting you in, mind to what is achievable within a PMW allow lag and overlap, but only imbuing security and exclusivity of project task. The Gantt view places the apply at the lowest WBS level which access, and after that is the first flash of activities on the screen and allows mouse means more work for the project planner genius — the Process Flow window. This positioning and extension of activity to correctly identify which tasks will finish graphical process map lays the ground times, but does not allow relationship last, to link to the next phase. Other for creating projects, for defining projects, setting, an oversight perhaps. packages allow linking of phase to phase, scheduling, refining and tracking Relationships can be quickly handled regardless of the internal ordering. activities. Clicking into each of the by the FastLink button which, using Unlike other packages, PMW doesn’t mapped-out areas opens dialogues and default settings, I couldn’t find on the show relationships graphically on the sheets for collecting project information; toolbar, or by pressing the F9 key. To Gantt chart. There is no way of knowing if closing them returns you to the map. define a relationship you first select a two are connected just by looking at it. An Within the Plan area are buttons to task, press F9 and a dialogue appears. Autoschedule button transforms task define the project: WBS (which is actually You select your second task and link the scheduling using part levelling and part where the tasks and activities go in), two using a button labelled Connect in relationship criteria, at the resource Resources and Dependencies. Strangely, the dialogue. The dialogue remains, allocation stage and Task stages when you attempt to set up dependencies giving a single option of disconnect, but respectively. The Gantt bars are shifted after allocating tasks you are along and the critical path identified in presented with a blank CPM red, but there are still no graphical links chart and no obvious way of or obvious indication of relationships. establishing relationships. It PMW has some nice features, turns out relationships must be including libraries which store standard built from the WBS or Gantt views, sorts and filters. The timesheet view. function is deftly simple for collecting Tasks are entered in text actual activity times and values spent on a project. Then there’s QuickPlan, a spreadsheet for quickly allocating Right PMW’s Process Flow resources to your task list, and for makes project creation allocating ETC (Estimated Total Cost) by extremely simple day for the activities. When in spreadsheet view it acts like an accounting package, and in the split- screen view displays total resource cost allocations by individual resource, also a valuable control view. Project Workbench is very clever but surprisingly limited graphically, and suited to numerically-focused applications.
PCW Details Project Workbench PMW Price £1,250 Contact ABT International 01727 888000 ☎
Left Tasks can be Good Points Powerful project-building formatted into assistance and control. Phase, Activity, Bad Points Not graphically interactive, limited capabilities in areas. Tasks and Conclusion Numerically superb with Milestones limited graphical flare.
181 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
enjoyable to use, Schedule Publisher 4.2 SureTrak 1.5 and provide understandable information. For brightening up the chedule Publisher began life based relationships are just as easy to data: spread over ureTrak 1.5 is a small but perfectly dictionaries, to activities with starts displays even Son a sticky-tape planning board and, enter. The keyboard appears possibly tens of Sformed project management and ends. It allows you to set more, SureTrak through its excellent use of graphics has superfluous to your needs once you thousands of package from Primavera, a company activity revenues, percentage comes with a held true to those real life principles and have described the activities. activities, just as which concentrates solely on project complete, and “days still to do”, clipart library of grown into a comprehensive high-end You can set multiple baselines many sub- management packages. It’s a dynamic combining costs to date with really useful package. It maintains its ability to and indicate how they change over projects, and just and colourful package offering a wealth of completion to date, to estimate final project simulate the planning board, while time (keeping named historical records of as many years if needs be. Its report features and functionality at very low balance calculations. It handles resource management info-pics. allowing you to produce an enormous each) for future reference. You can attach publishing aspect allows time scaling to cost. analysis and resource levelling, ensuring It enables team access, even across variation of publications involved with the documents to tasks or files from other include weeks, leading into months and SureTrak 1.5 needs a 386, or better, that over-allocation is identified and different languages, and also supports project in a manner more akin to DTP. Its applications, too, and when you edit the years on the same chart. The focus and with 4Mb of RAM (8Mb is recommended) addressed. It can even identify email to communicate user-specific simple style makes it accessible to latter they launch their native application. pagination is superb. and 9-13Mb of disk space. After specialised calendars and fiscal periods. aspects to those involved. The split everyone — you don’t have to be the In the same way, process description Other nice touches include horizontal installation, it starts new projects by The depth of the product, when screens are customisable and can head of a planning department to use it. documents can be attached to the positioning of tasks alongside each other, taking you through a help wizard for approached as a long term aid, is provide a wealth of charted information Schedule Publisher requires a 386 or activities and accessed by whoever so if you want to display your entire creating “dictionaries”, describing immense. by combining data on histograms. The better with 4Mb of RAM and at least 6Mb requires them. One area in which this project as one page high by 20 pages Responsibility, Departments, Documents, Initially, using SureTrak is a little program saves an original baseline and of disk space. Following installation, it would be very handy is in the field of wide, you can do so. It handles 16 all the elements of groups for a project. difficult because of its structured allows for simple Earned Value analysis. opens to its task drawing screen which quality control, where changes must be standard colours so projects can be There is a button on the startup wizard approach. Its intelligent features can It has a wealth of customisable reporting allows the placing of activities onto a communicated in control documents. intelligently colour coded without worrying asking if you want it displayed each time confuse and frustrate until they have formats that ably help convey the status Gantt-like chart. These items can be Resource handling is simple and that colours will appear different on other a project starts — the answer should be a been fully grasped. The manuals and and priorities within a work schedule, and moved around, and the duration, start applies at a generalised level: work days monitors within your organisation. definite “yes”. After that, it presents the online tutorials provide excellent detail its flexibility and accessibility allow “what and finish can be manipulated. You are are indicated on basic calendars, and Schedule Publisher has a complement task and Gantt screen (for entering and information and are very helpful. if”- type changes and tests to be carried then able to annotate tasks on the left of specific work availability on resource of accounting facilities and budget analysis tasks). Once understood, SureTrak works out, providing extra planning options and the screen with activity names, codes, profiles. The intertwining of the two functions. It excels in situations of relative SureTrak’s main screen displays the superbly. If you wish to question your aiding understanding. WBS structures and up to 90 other provides the ability for allocation and predictability — the construction industry list of activities on the left-hand side and timings and resource allocation, it allows Another good feature of SureTrak is its project-definable details. Milestones can resource levelling. Conflicts of time and springs to mind. Manage all your projects the time-dependent display across the you to do so easily. spotlight function which emblazons, be set and the connections between cost can be indicated with ease and by bid and contract and the costs will be page. Complex starts and durations can You can quickly identify bottlenecks under a brilliant yellow spotlight, all activities are made by clicking portions of suggestions of “still available skill pools” relatively stable and immune to minute be set and graphically displayed as Gantt and over-allocation, and identify when activities either started or current. This the time bar and dragging the mouse allow confident re-assignment of work. variation. Accrual and cashflow can be charts. Each activity can be linked in to project revenues are expected to be due, kind of highlighting focuses attention pointer on to the related bar. Schedule Publisher’s strength stems from managed effectively and with the baseline the previously mentioned dictionary against costs. Its displays are colourful, extremely well on the tactical task in hand The hot spots on the screen are providing clear graphical and tabular “delay” indication, critical delays can be areas, allowing multi-project tasks to be and although its colours are bright, they intelligent and functional. For pinpointed and brought to book with the grouped person-by-person, or are easy on the eye. SureTrak has its example, dragging to the offending individual; an important process department-by-department in own function language, too — Softbridge middle of the bar indicates a for delivery deadlines and penalty clauses. an intelligent, filtering, way. Basic Language — for extra processes delayed (lag) start. Finish The system is designed as a strategic This detail provides insight and and ease of integration with the way you Starts, Start-Starts, and other tool for business, to sit across platforms, allows aggregated analysis. work. to be accessed by many users and to Among all the standard SureTrak competes at the cheaper Right Schedule Publisher’s infiltrate all aspects of the company “expected” functions, SureTrak end of the market while employing mid- graphical display is simple and involved in developments. Master project also provides automatic range project management functions. For effective to use; just like a files link to sub-project files and updates activity and resource levelling. this reason it is less easy to learn than planning board between the two preserve the integrity of It ably provides the framework Microsoft Project, but over time packs the original as they should. to build your project; from more power and functionality, and Schedule Publisher is simple and integrates with P3 (by Primavera) for very powerful. Although it’s positioned at the large projects. high end of the market, volume implementation multiplies its competitive position against mid-priced, feature- Above SureTrak intelligently PCW Details lacking packages. groups and “spotlights” SureTrak 1.5 PCW Details scheduled activities Price £199 (£69 for upgrade from version 1.0) Schedule Publisher 4.2 Contact Primavera Systems Price £995 (quantity discounts available) 0181 748 7300 ☎ Contact Advanced Management Good Points A very competent, capable, Solutions 01491 4119666 ☎ Left The professional package. Excellent value for publishing aspect Good Points Graphically intuitive. money. is reinforced with Powerfully interpretive. Bad Points Project management within superb, Bad Points Sometimes a little unfamiliar Left Detailed cost activities the hour is unlikely. informative in Windows. can be tracked accurately Conclusion Encompasses all project reports Conclusion A well-evolved product, within SureTrak management disciplines. A complete providing useful application. project management tool for Windows.
182 185 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Timeline 6.5
imeline 6.5 from Timeline Solutions (a All is thoroughly explained in the Reports (a Tdivision of Symantec) comes accompanying three manuals, which database analysis complete with an SQL database engine include easy-to-follow flow diagrams and reporting and the database reporting package, of the stages you go through when programme). This Crystal Reports. It promises that you’ll be building a project. Overall, the approach allows successfully managing within minutes, so manuals are well thought out and Timeline to be with my stopwatch ticking away I opened are a good aid. linked to external databases from other the packaging. There are two ways to construct a new parts of your computing organisation, and TimeLine recommends a 486 with project: either by following the procedures for reports involving them to be produced. 8Mb of RAM and requires a hefty 40Mb described in the user’s guide; or by using TimeLine likes to take its time updating of disk space for a full installation. The full TimeLine’s own GuideLine, a project and opening projects. While being worked monte takes quite a bit of time to creation utility which asks you questions on, or modified, projects are not complete too, and you can’t even go off as you go. A “Co-Pilot” help facility is also automatically updated; they have to be and make the tea as it comes on ten provided with this, in case you need recalculated on demand by using the diskettes which need swapping from time assistance, and frequently offers RECALC button. When you open a file, to time. shortcuts and advice. the program goes through many updating TimeLine’s user interface excels at Tracking control was very good with and calculating operations before you pulling the many pieces of a project on to TimeLine, allowing for resource usage to come face to face with your project. your desktop, and managing multiple be metered in hours, complete with the Nevertheless, the SQL database and projects. The TimeLine Overview drag and click “percentage” monitoring. recalculating makes your projects very appears like a cross between a large file The Reporting features are a little quirky up-to-date, especially when shared over a manager and a tab file, with sections with many pre-built, standardised reports, network, allowing for record locking; ideal divided into Projects, Calendars, but facilities are available for generating for multiple, simultaneous access. Resource views, Layouts, Conditions, your own. Timeline’s interface, while informative and Custom columns. Double-clicking Timeline approaches project and customisable, seemed a little jumpy within these areas opens them up to management from a computing aspect especially on combined grid views, with reveal your current projects. and included in a full installation is a mouse operations not always acting with “Calendars” handles the standard and Structured Query language (SQL) the precision expected, so column sizing custom calendars that you may wish to database engine, as well as Crystal and positioning was a little difficult. apply to your projects, while You can begin using TimeLine very Resource views provides the quickly and it provides a great deal of specific detail for each of the power, particularly for managing multiple resources you could apply to projects where a high level of access is projects. The conditions tab required to each project or task. There’s contains all the conditions that a plethora of computing tools, and its can apply to your selected own macro scripting language projects, as well as any filters (Symantec BasicScript), and it supports and customised sorts. Finally, DDE and OLE. the Custom Columns displays TimeLine 6.5 provides a great many the names of all user-defined professional project management columns in the database, functions in a large package, but for generated from formulas and smaller, less intensive users there is a functions. TimeLine Lite package which offers much simpler project scheduling capabilities.
Above Timeline shows PCW Details durations and delays of Timeline 6.5 actual vs planned tasks Price Timeline 6.5 £359 (£305 per on its Gantt chart additional node); Timeline Lite £49.95 Contact Deepak Sareen Associates 0181 423 8855 ☎ Good Points Open use of databases Left Project categories and external reporting tools. Manages provide ease of access multiple aspects well. to data with Bad Points Large, slow, and a little too customisable views. technological. Conclusion A programmer’s project For example, the management package for frequent Earned Value display simultaneous access.
186 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice
Highly Commended: • Loaded with functions. he range of project management software in From the middle range of packages, Timeline and Professional, despite its price tag, offers unique formalising Schedule Publisher 4.2 Tthis group test shows that there are many Project Scheduler are both excellent, bursting with and structuring facilities and infinite reporting flexibility. • Planning board analogy. Worth a look: packages available. All are highly evolved and well hands-on features. They are both easy to use and Primavera’s P3 is extraordinarily powerful, and offers the • Document linking. TimeLine 6.5 designed. There are considerable differences in elegant, too. combination of communicating and combining with its • Multiple historical baselines. • SQL databases. their specific strengths and abilities, as well as Project Scheduler comes very close to being the daughter-product, SureTrak, to form a formidable • Reporting and additional Crystal general approach, making it difficult to compare one best product overall and only misses out by a partnership. Worth a look: Reports. package’s methods with those of another marginal lack of detail control. Other than this, Our Editor’s Choice has to be CA SuperProject 4.0 Open Plan Professional 1.1 • Shareability. • Filing Cabinet and notebook and arrive at an overall winner. The key it is a superb product. TimeLine employs the (albeit by the smallest of margins). It requires a little effort metaphors. issue is whether the software can perform most modern access techniques and will be but grasps the complexities of forward planning, while • Customisability. Low-end packages what is required to define, track and loved by programming project managers. maintaining complex resourcing and detail for day-to-day • Knowledge-based support. Highly Commended: communicate a project; and is it helpful to At the higher end of the market, the changes in the plan. It embraces the irregularity of the Microsoft Project for use? But there are no losers in this group products vary greatly. The increase in price world in which we plan, and produces the insight and clarity Worth a look: Windows 95 test, only winners and non-winners. denotes a marked increase in the quality of the of information required to plan and forecast effectively. Primavera Project Planner 1.1 • Ease of use. Among the cheaper products reviewed support materials and customisation. Histories Multiple projects can be combined easily and resource • Integration with SureTrak. • Cheap. here, Microsoft Project and SureTrak also become trackable, allowing multiple allocated and tracked. • Multi-project auditing. • Powerful. provide enormous power and ability for little baselines and scenarios to be saved. • Powerful analysis tools. • Ideal for anyone. cost. Microsoft Project is incredibly easy to Schedule Publisher is Highly Commended Eight of the best high-end performers Mid-range power packages Worth a look: learn and use, and SureTrak provides for its intuitive approach, its applicability and its Highly Commended: SureTrak 1.5 comprehensive project tools for coding and competence at taking on the largest and most Editor’s Choice: Project Scheduler 6 • Cheap. communicating projects. Of the two, Project complex of projects. It, too, almost became our CA SuperProject 4.0 scheduling and resources. • Innovative screen. • Powerful coding and dictionaries. is Highly Commended. overall choice for best product. Open Plan • Clarity of information display. • Intelligent diagram production. • Very fast learning. • Email communication. • Flexible real-world simulation of • Historical baselines. • Very fast use. • Powerful reporting.
TABLE OF FEATURES TABLE OF FEATURES
Microsoft Acos Asta ABT Scitor Computer Assocs. Primavera Timeline Solutions Primavera AMS Welcome
Project Compact 6.0 PowerProject 3.1 Project Project Scheduler SuperProject SureTrak Timeline 6.5 Project Schedule OpenPlan for Windows 95 Workbench 6 4.0 for Windows Project Manager Planner P3 v1.1 Publisher 4.2 Professional 1.1 PMW 3.0 for Windows 1.5 Minimum Specification Win 95, 6Mb RAM 386, 12Mb 386DX, 4Mb RAM 386, 6Mb 386 with 386 25MHz, Minimum Specification 386, 4Mb RAM 486DX, 8Mb RAM 486, 8Mb RAM 386, 4Mb RAM 386, 4Mb RAM and 10Mb hard hard disk space 10Mb hard hard disk space 4Mb RAM 4Mb RAM.18Mb 9-13Mb hard 30-40Mb hard 30Mb hard 6Mb hard disk 8-12Mb hard disk space disk space hard disk space disk space disk space disk space disk space Win 95 compatible ●● ● ●● ● Win 95 compatible ●● ●● ● Gantt Views ●● ● ●● ● Gantt Views ●● ●● ● Work Breakdown Structures ●● ● ●● ● Work Breakdown Structures ●● ●● ● PERT Views ●❍ ● ●● ● PERT Views ●● ●● ● Critical Path Identification ●● ● ●● ● Critical Path Identification ●● ●● ● Resource Levelling ●● ● ●● ● Resource Levelling ●● ●● ● E-mail connectivity ●❍ ❍ ❍❍ ❍ E-mail connectivity ●● ●❍ ❍ LAN Application ❍❍ ● ●❍ ● LAN Application ❍● ● ● ● Earned Value Analysis ●● ❍ ●● ● Earned Value Analysis ●● ●● ● Multiple Baselines ❍❍ ● ❍❍ ● Multiple Baselines ❍● ❍● ● Passworded Access ●❍ ● ●● ● Passworded Access ❍● ● ● ● Import/Export ●● ● ●● ● Import/Export ●● ●● ● Multiple Calendars ●● ● ●● ● Multiple Calendars ●● ●● ● Distributor Microsoft Connection D & L Computer Asta Developments ABT International Tekware Computer Associates Distributor Primavera Systems Deepak Sareen Primavera Systems Advanced Management Welcome Software Services Corporation Associates Solutions Technology Price £295 £190 £845 standalone £1,250 £645 RRP £495 Price £199 £359, £305 per £1,995 £995, discounts for £12,500 £995 for server Educational discounts additional node quantity 3-user LAN £395 each additional node available (Timeline Lite £49.95) Telephone 0345 002000 01775 768287 01844 261700 01727 888000 01384 392121 01753 679679 Telephone 0181 748 7300 0181 423 8855 0181 748 7300 01491 4119666 0171 4012626 Facimile - 01775 713591 01844 261314 01727 888100 01384 378722 01753 679261 Facimile 0181 748 2846 0181 423 8992 0181 748 2846 01491 412723 0171 9228865
● ❍ KEY ● Yes ❍ No KEY Yes No
188 189 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Steps in Project Management Glossary of Project Management Terms Project Management evolved from the boxes. Developed from the Polaris Missile Accrual When costs are added. Can be at the 1950s and developed using specialist Project. beginning or end of a task, or prorated. Over-allocation Resources expected to work The first step with any project is to enter all the tasks that need to be techiniques and operations, many of SMART Stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. This is for more hours than they should in a given day. 1completed, by first breaking them down into stages and then within which sound more confusing than they the way a project should be structured. Resource Levelling Moving over allocated stages into tasks. For each task, set the duration that you expect each will are. Here is a glossary of the most Task An activity. tasks to times when resources are available. take. This task time information is displayed by horizontal bars on the Gantt commonly used terms. Milestone An event as a result of achievement chart (right-hand side). Start dates, expected end dates and other time- or tasks. Coding and Control Terms Baseline A snapshot of a project at a time to WDHM Notation for Weeks, Days, Hours and WBS Stands for Work Breakdown Structure. related information can be entered to structure tasks at the correct time identify at a later stage how the plan Minutes. For example, 52W7D24H60M. This is a method of coding activities in a developed. Relationships This refers to the way in which hierarchical structure: 1 for the first level, 1.1, Constraints The limitations on a project — tasks affect one another. They are normally 1.2 for its subordinates, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.1,1.2.2 After entering the tasks and durations, the dependencies Time, Cost, Resources, Tasks and Quality. either: for two successive subordinates each, providing CPM Stands for Critical Path Method. A accurate accounting and positioning within must be set. Dependency relationships describe the S-S: Start to Start, tasks start at the same time. 2 mathematical model that calculates the total F-S: Finish to Start, second task starts after first projects. successors and predecessors of tasks. The activities are duration of a project based on individual task is completed. RBS Resource Breakdown Structure. A code stretched out over time accordingly. This stretching is termed durations and dependencies. After identifying F-F: Finish to Finish, tasks end at the same for structuring resource relationships to each activity levelling, and the critical path activities are those 1 which ones are critical, you can then only time. other. activities which dictate the total length of the project from their affect the duration of a project by reducing one Hammock: A task floating between two tasks in OBS Organisational Breakdown Structure. A of the critical activity times. time. code for structuring the relationships between dependencies on each other Gantt Chart A Gantt Chart is a sideways bar Scheduling Scheduling is the placing of a task individuals or departments in an organisation. chart of Tasks with horizontal bars between two times or dates. Common terms Earned Value Analysis The cost assessment representing durations on a time axis. used in scheduling are: of project activity against scheduled work, and When the tasks, times and relationships have been Basically, Bar charts renamed after use by ASAP: As soon as possible baselines. Henry L Gantt for project management. EAC Estimated cost at completion. described, you can describe a pool of resources available ALAP: As late as possible 3 Histogram Graphical representation of Lag: Planned delay in an activity BCWP Baseline Cost of Work Completed, a for the tasks. Resources can be man-hours, materials or project data. Float/Slack: Spare time between tasks measure of cost to date. workspace and can be allocated cost units PERT Stands for Project Evaluation and Resources Refers to available people, BCWS Baseline Cost of Work Scheduled, a for regular time, overtime or usage. Costs Revue Technique, a Scheduling system using materials and work space. measure of scheduled cost to date. can be set to be accrued at the start, at the 2 statistical probabilities for task durations, Man Day 8 hours of 100% effort by default, 160 CSPEC American military standard for presented graphically as a chart with linked hours per month. governing the coding and planning of projects. end or prorated as they are used throughout a task. Each resource is set with a standard 3 working calendar describing availability. Case Study Once the resource pool has been described, The Plymouth Rescue it can be used for many projects 4 four, and can be busy working with Boat Team the Off Shore Circuit Race Drivers Association around Britain, at y day, Dave Morrish works for Social Cowes for support of the sailing, or BServices. His evenings and weekends at local events around the Port of are dedicated to the Plymouth Rescue Plymouth. The winter months are Each task and resource can have their Boat Team, which uses Microsoft Project taken up with sponsorship and event 4own work calendar, which describes the 95 to keep their schedules in order. planning. working hours, holidays and weekends. If a resource is not available for a The Plymouth Rescue Boat Team Planning started before given day, the task is levelled to provide rescue boat support for raft races Christmas last year for a Rescue be carried out later, when the and other water-based activities, through to Services Training Weekend in April resource is available again. A rescue support for the British Powerboat 96, an event aimed at voluntary and standard working day is eight Racing Championships, a role that takes rescue services, to allow specialist hours but can be customised them travelling all around the country. training and practice for the likes of for different working Rescue Boat Teams consist of two the Devon Air Ambulance. arrangements such as shifts 5 paramedics, a rescue diver and a The Plymouth Rescue Boat team, out on Organisations needed to be invited, the site coxswain, and there is one team dedicated the water three weekends out of four in planned, and as activities were allocated to to powerboating and one specialising in the summer , uses Microsoft Project 95 to members of the team and completed they When the task descriptions sailing events. The whole operation relies keep its schedules in order. were also ticked off as they went. The PRBT 5and resource descriptions 6 on the voluntary work of skilled individuals (Picture — Plymouth Evening Herald) has also been planning the elements for an are complete, resources can be and all-important sponsorship, which is upcoming trade show, again using Microsoft allocated to tasks. Resources where Microsoft Project 95 comes in. Project 95, replacing the limited capability of are allocated in the amounts Each member of the team contributes Project 95 has become like another member a desk diary for planning. they are required for each task. to finding possible sources of sponsorship. of the team. The power of Microsoft Project 95 allows Materials and Manpower can be linked to tasks, and form the basis for task Regular mailouts and telephone calls could The sponsorship activities from each of the Plymouth Rescue Boat Team to produce costs. Over-allocation can be detected for and activities rescheduled where quickly become uncoordinated, so the team members are added, and at Calendars covering the upcoming months, resources clash; this is termed resource levelling Microsoft Project 95 is used to map out the fortnightly intervals progress is tracked, allocate specialist personnel (i.e. a contacts and processes involved in ensuring that no possible lead slips through paramedic) to teams subject to availability, following up every possible sponsor, from the net. If there are any interested and manage the the rest of their operation in Finally, defined projects are monitored as they progress. The first contact through to mailout of companies, they are progressed through to an easy-to-use package. 6resources and hours are used to track the progress and cost of the sponsorship packs and follow-up meetings sponsorship as a subproject. ● Many Thanks to Dave Morrish of the project whole and cost of individual activities. Late activities can be and calls. With no computer training, a lot During the summer months the Rescue Plymouth Rescue Boat Team (sponsorship identified, rescheduled and monitored for future changes, as the plan of playing, and use of the on-line tutorial, Boat Team are out three weekends out of details on 01752 404779). changes over time
190 193 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 GROUP TEST: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
Case Study
Atlantic Power and Gas
tlantic Power and Gas A(APG) forms part of the integrated management operations for three oil platforms (Hutton, Murchison and Lyell) situated in the middle of the North Sea. Central project planning takes place at APG’s Aberdeen headquarters, which is connected to the two manned platforms (Hutton and Murchison) by satellite communications. APG uses Primavera’s SureTrak 1.5 for offshore planning in combination with the more powerful P3 (onshore) for its “planned and corrective maintenance” scheduling, as well as other tactical projects. The system was implemented about a year ago after the fields had been taken over by Oryx UK Energy. Project and planning management required detailed local planning on the oil platforms, allowing for feedback into a main plan, held onshore in Aberdeen, and giving hierarchical project and budget co-ordination. The specification activities. The planning system also The Hutton TLP rig (90 miles north east of required low maintenance and support produces on-board personnel lists. It Shetland). Atlantic Power and Gas uses (eliminating IT support divisions and the requires about a week’s notice to fly staff Primavera’s SureTrak 1.5 for offshore associated cost), and ease of use and from the onshore, static crew to the platform planning, in combination with the more training, so that planning activities could where they are required, and specified powerful Primavera P3 be designated to the engineers on the materials travel by ship. platforms. The offshore operations controller plans SureTrak’s simplicity and localised The core crew of a platform numbers and monitors day-to-day platform activities, application allows quick and flexible plans to about 100, plus specialist contractors. within a 14-day rotation window, and using be created in the event of a rig shutdown Each platform has an operations SureTrak’s unique email capabilities with (whether planned or not). During a shutdown, controller, on a two-weekly rota, who uses Microsoft Mail, communicates the project most activities on an oil-rig get put on hold SureTrak. Ninety percent of project activity activity updates to the P3 master — a and SureTrak identifies those activities that is “planned and corrective maintenance”: function which was seen as critical when can still proceed, or makes up ad-hoc work regular, weekly or monthly-scheduled using fixed-bandwidth satellite plans for the duration. maintenance activities to ensure the communication. The monthly updates range In this way, using Primavera’s P3 correct operation of the platform. These 90 days ahead, with the master plan ranging onshore, and remote SureTrak offshore, activities require the right people to be on- 18 months ahead. At headquarters, each Atlantic Power and Gas plans and controls board, with the right work materials, at the department performs its own low-level the safe, effective operation of its North Sea right time. planning on sub-projects, with an overall oil-platforms, crews, materials, and logistics, APG plans around 3,000 activities per senior planner working with P3. Project despite unusual and taxing constraints. month: the planning designates the work communications to specified staff, on • My thanks for this insight go to Jim Atack (operations to be carried out, the skilled staff required specified projects, are routed via SureTrak’s manager) and Jim Christie (business planner), at Atlantic on-board and the planned mobilisation activity coding and email capabilities. Power and Gas.
195 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 On the CUTTINGCUTTING EDGEEDGE
PCW Online PCW Futures elcome to Cutting Edge, 198 Focus — Is the Internet really the 222 Innovations — Tim Frost on W pathway to home teleworking, or is how ISDN is helping photo, the section in Personal the virtual corporation merely a sound and video libraries to Computer World that passing fad? Richard Vadon move into the Net age. combines our regular investigates the fact and the fiction. reviews of games, 223 Horizons — Sshhh…! Mark 205 net.newbies — How to get Whitehorn on anti-noise books and CD-ROMs online, the easy way. technology. with features bringing you the latest news 206 net.news — Internet Studio 224 Bluesky — Toby Howard gets delayed; mail-only Internet service his brain around how computers about computing, and announced; boost for Intercast… can help unfold the mysteries of consumer technologies and more news with PJ Fisher the human mind. and online services. We now have the 214 net.answers — Finding your 226 Retro Computing — Simon way around the Internet throws Rockman plucks the feathers off most comprehensive up all sorts of queries. Nigel a techno-turkey from four coverage of these Whitfield has the solutions. Christmasses ago. topics available in a general computing PCW Media magazine. Stay with us SCREENPLAY and we’ll take the pain 228 Books — A chance to win out of keeping on the Dummies books, and the PCW bookworms face the future of cutting edge. science.
238 CD-ROMs — Cézanne, Jack FOCUS Kerouac, MTV’s unplugged stars… a mixed group in this CD-ROMs month’s review. PCW Fun
233 Kids’ Stuff — Safer Internet- ting for kids; Paul Begg exercises his parental control. Plus maths, music and go,Granny, go!
243 Screenplay — Now you can Nukem in 3D, or Fire at Will (but not Tom), or zap Mr Dark if your name is Rayman. Plus, Screenplay news.
246 Leisure Lines — With JJ Clessa. If you’re a prize puzzler, you could play the weighting game.
251 Competition — Win personalised mice, document scanners or multimedia bundles.
NET NEWS 197 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 Offices Offices unite virtual working andasks:“Isthisthefuture?”virtual company obsolete. couldmakeThe Internet thewholeconceptoftraditional MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 198 T ution andhumancontact. doing business,storage,distrib- into questiontraditionalwaysof in thetraditionalsense.Itbrings company thatmaynotevenexist doing businessremotelyfroma given birthtoanewconcept: have anoffice? clients andstaffontheNet,why municate withyourcolleagues, efficiently fromhomeandcom- stepfurther.Ifyoucanwork a this dreamarealityandtakenit to shave.TheInternethasmade petty officepoliticsandnoneed attractive. Nocommuting,no of theworld
The ideaofteleworkinghas CUTTING EDGE home hasalwaysseemed he ideaofworkingfrom PCW ● FOCUS PCW a classicexampleofvirtual (http://www.verifone.com/) as companies theirstructure. ogy thatgavethefirstvirtual involved. Butitwasthetechnol- rather thanthetechnology in termsofitsorganisation looked atthevirtualcorporation guru TomPeters.Hisworkhas cept isAmericanmanagement for thevirtualcorporationcon- the world.Thechiefevangelist but itisnowdevelopingaround lives. ItstartedinSiliconValley, challenge tothewayweliveour corporation” anditrepresentsa non hasbeencalledthe“virtual looks at someemergingexampleslooks at of Peters usesVerifone This newbusinessphenome- company. MarkMcCurtie, Verifone’s European marketing manager, The companyhas computer network. linked togetherviaa every employee global basis,with operates ona tual company.It operated asavir- and fromdayone founded inHawaii “Verifone was company operates: explained howthe tors, customersandsuppliers communicates withitsdistribu- used internally.Verifonealso electronic mail;paperisnot munications areconductedvia located virtually. tion andmanagementtobe inventory management,distribu- documentation, testutilities, puter systemsdohoweverallow automation system.Thecom- of aVerifonetransaction be involvedinthemanufacturing Often morethanonefacilitywill a newfacilityinChinatogether. located inCalifornia,Taiwanand link threemanufacturingcentres and communicationssystemsto uses itscomputerinfrastructure card transactionequipment.It encouraged.” communication isactively operate aculturewhereopen organisational structureand the companytohaveaveryflat be takenquickly.Italsoallows instantantly anddecisionscan mation canbetransmitted expertise canbeshared,infor- be tiedtoaspecificlocation, way, resourcesdonotneedto spread aroundtheworld.Inthis no headofficeandfunctionsare All Verifone’sinternalcom- Verifone manufacturescredit PCW Illustrations byNick Grant one officegoeshomethecodeis application developments.As around theclockoncritical Internet, Verifoneisabletowork tise inthisarea.Byusingthe largely becauseofFrenchexper- development centreinParis, company openeditssmartcard skills orexpertiseavailable.The chosen fortheirhighquality centres locatedacrosstheglobe, of aVerifoner’soffice.” A laptopcomputerisattheheart ling orindeedwherevertheyare. their hotelroomswhilsttravel- also operatefromtheirhomes, have offices,butemployeescan extremes. Thecompanydoes does nottakethevirtualofficeto tion isnecessaryandassuch recognises thathumaninterac- people thatcount:“Verifone around acomputernetwork,itis although hiscompanyisbased customers. and, oncecompleted,to between developmentcentres transmitted acrosstheInternet tances. Applicationprogramsare zones andlargegeographicdis- working acrossmultipletime is particularlyhelpfulwhen via emailovertheInternet.This Verifone hasdevelopment McMurtie stressesthat on whatitdoesbest:making nature allowsittoconcentrate mann believesthatitsvirtual or lawyersonthepayroll. sonnel department,andnoPR turing staff,nofinanceorper- the factthatithasnomanufac- makes thecompanyunusualis multimedia networks.What area networksintohighquality ware thatturnsordinarylocal tual worksinnetworkinghard- (http://www.fvc.com/). FirstVir- tual Corporation the virtualcompanyisFirstVir- over theInternet. methods ofsecuringpayments as Netscape,willbeproviding conjunction withpartnerssuch merce solutions.Verifone,in tions toprovideInternetcom- alliances withotherorganisa- investments, andforming making acquisitionsandequity division whichhasbeenbusy formed anInternetcommerce use oftheInternet.In1995it with theresponsiveness. pany andcustomersarepleased cant timebenefitstothecom- overnight. Thisbringssignifi- testing anddocumenting passed ontoanothercountryfor eioeue h e safotdo oissrie InformationaboutVirtual Corporationsisfreelyavailable VeriFone usestheWebasafront doortoitsservices FVC’s founderRalphUnger- Another classicexampleof Verifone planstoexpandits large anddynamictodoevery- The networkingbusinessistoo the virtualcorporationconcept. shows theincrediblepowerof within traditionalorganisations. faster andmoreaffordablythan new productstothemarket deals makeitpossibletobring industry leadersandoutsourcing tions. Allianceswith engineering solu- developing deals and Ungermann explains:“This Multinationals arenowstarting more traditionalcompanies. lessons theycanteachother, virtual corporationsforthe Tom Petersarenowlookingat the market.” take severalmoreyearstoreach alliances ourproductswould thing ourselves.Withoutour Management theoristslike graphical interface. by developingahighlyintuitive advantage overitscompetitors The aimwastogiveReutersan financial informationservices. user friendlinessofReuters’ Group wasset-uptoimprovethe famous example.ItsUsability Reuters isperhapsthemost to employvirtualtechniques— PCW ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL ● FOCUS MAY 1996 199 CUTTING EDGE MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 200 tion atconferences. Organisers speak abouthisvirtualorganisa- Europe. on theirownintheUSAand members oftheteamworking cialists inEurope.Thereare observed onavideo-linkbyspe- usability laboratory,whilebeing products intheHongKong Customers cantryoutnew Internet andvideo-conferencing. makes extensiveuseofthe a bargain.TheUsabilityGroup the staff,makesvirtualteam coupled withthehighcalibreof ment costsandstaffbenefits, culates thatsavingsonrecruit- more money,butGarrisoncal- tual waymeanspayingthem to theirowncompanies. required teammembersgoback team’s workload.Whennot ing andgrowingtomatchthe “just-in-time” skillspool,shrink- The virtualteamworksasa basis atReuters’Londonoffice. ter oftheseworkonaregular around theworld.Aboutaquar- consists of83peopleworking sulting allprovidedstaff. Admiral ComputingandPACon- such asMicrosoft,Logica, different companies.Companies tion ofemployeesfrom12 rison createdavirtualorganisa- from theserestrictionsthatGar- were notviableoptions.Itwas consultancy firmoroutsourcing intelligence —sobringingina graphic designandartificial software prototyping,interface in manyfields—ergonomics, non-permanent basis. to bringadditionalstaffona staff butallowedhimthebudget board wouldgivehimonlytwo in humaninterfacedesign.His Reuters employeesspecialising the groupaskedfor24full-time
Garrison isoftenaskedto Employing peopleinthisvir- Garrison’s virtualteamnow Garrison neededspecialists CUTTINGGarrison’s start-upplanfor EDGE PCW ● FOCUS have ibility but They liketheflex- virtual techniques. on amanager’sanalysisof tion.” able forlowlevelcommunica- powerful toolbutitisonlysuit- copper wire.TheInternetisa can currentlysqueezedowna much widerbandwidththanwe non-verbal. Weoperateina percent ofcommunicationis ment gurustellusthat92 between thelines.Themanage- happen. Somuchhappensin- ing Idon’tbelievethatcan nology andtrulycreativethink- looking forbreakthroughtech- can guaranteeyouifare remotely, noproblematall.ButI your businessdeployed have certainservicepartsof deploy itsstaff.Ifyouwantto very carefullyabouthowitisto virtual techniqueshastothink multinational lookingtoadopt fully withsomeone.“Anylarge enough “bandwidth”tointeract nication doesnotgiveyou act andthatelectroniccommu- that tocreateyouneedinter- virtual organisation.Hethinks in sayinghedoesn’tbelieve cept, buthetakesgreatpleasure imagine hewillpraisethecon- Garrison opinionsarebased may beafadorindeed bytes —thevirtualcorporation ness asbeingaboutbitsand which cannotdefinetheirbusi- new informationindustries— virtual corporation. turn theclockbackandstop find thatvoterswantthemto partners. Politiciansmaysoon treat theiremployeesas means ofurgingemployersto stake-holding conceptasa Tony Blairhasadoptedthe at thecostsofAmericanjobs. transfer jobstotheThirdWorld national corporationswho port forhisattacksonmulti- has attractedconsiderablesup- Already PatBuchananintheUS lem ofjobinsecurityaddressed. their constituentswanttheprob- bad thing.Politiciansknowthat perceived bythemajorityasa security. It’slikelytobe corporation meanslessjob the westernworld.Thevirtual major anxietyamongadultsin Job insecurityhasbecomea company’s effectsonsociety. tions aboutthevirtual Others haveexpressedreserva- reservations aboutteleworking. For companiesoutsidethe remain commuters. over. Butuntilthenwewillall the virtualcorporationmaytake oped intotheasuperhighway information dirt-trackisdevel- these companies.Whenthe there willbemoreandof and commercesuggestthat ness. Currenttrendsinbusiness the standardwayofdoingbusi- tual corporationsmaybecome companies intheITworld,vir- something todiscourage.Butfor desks. Theyrenttheiroffices nothing —perhapsonlyafew see. Theirphysicalassetsare tions today,thereisn’tmuchto most oftheinterestingorganisa- manager. Hebelievesthatin that ofaphilosopherthan tion intheinformationage. have focusedonworkorganisa- Empty Raincoat.Hiswritings selling managementbook,The School andauthorofthebest- sor attheLondonBusiness Charles Handy,aformerprofes- their likelyimpactonsocietywas about virtualcompaniesand One ofthefirstpeopletowrite Handy approach Handy’s approachismore ple andpurpose in everyone’s used toprovidethe place,peo- indefinitely. Theseorganisations employ thousandsofpeople be massiveorganisationsthat you can’tgoback.Therewillnot reply thatIdon’tlikeiteitherbut ing, soIdon’tagreewithit’. like thisfutureyouarepredict- down everywhere. jobs-for-life systemhasbroken ried abouttheirjobs.Theold western worldpeoplearewor- sive insecurity.Alloverthe unfortunately alsomeansmas- employers. Butindependence longer dependentontheir the workersastheyareno would seemtobeinfavourof tem. Ononelevelthechange invention ofoureconomicsys- change willresultinathere- and no-oneelse.” which belongtotheworkers tion arenowintheirbrains, because themeansofproduc- argue thathasnowhappened hands oftheworkers.Iwould means ofproductioninthe brain? Marxwantedtoseethe you sayownsomeone’s either legallyormorally,can people’s brains.“Inwhatsense, ward inindustrieswhichrelyon sees thisasanaturalstepfor- for individualprojects.Handy consultants, comingtogether ple workingasindependent often basedontheideaofpeo- people fortheirnewroles?” doing? Howshouldweeducate what aremengoingtobe world offerswomennewroles, money topeople?Ifthenew ety. Howarewegoingget up questionsaboutoursoci- change allourlivesandthrows tories oroffices.Thiswill ple churningoutthingsinfac- will notneedmassesofpeo- their assetsarenottangible. are virtualinthesensethat their staff.Thesecompanies companies arethebrainsof erty thatmatterstothese and computers.Theprop- Handy believesthatthis The virtualcompanyideais “In theneweconomieswe “People saytome‘Idon’t the world. have itreadbypeople around write yourownnewspaperand the past.It’snowpossibleto own thattheycouldneverdoin ple cannowdothingsontheir come fromthistechnology.Peo- instead onthegoodthingsthat office.’ Wemustconcentrate and we’llallworktogetherinone won’t useemailortheInternet People arenotgoingtosay‘we togetherness. feeling ofcorporate hard timesustaininganykindof artificial communicationhavea purely virtualandrelyentirelyon tech’. Organisationsthatare has tobeputbackintothe‘hi- look onyourface.The‘hi-touch’ tell liesandno-onecanseethe can beverysuperficial.You net: “Communicationbyemail too muchrelianceontheInter- point ofmiddlemanagers? on toanybody,sowhatisthe anybody canpassinformation with theInternet(andIntranet) and distributeinformation.Now agers usedtobecollect,sort the mainrolesofmiddleman- before itmakesbetter.Oneof make lifeworsefortheworker that nowadays.” living butpeoplewantmorethan The purposemightbetoearna cyberspace foralotofpeople. away thentheplacebecomes lives. Ifyoutaketheorganisation up questionsaboutsociety” “Thisthrows Charles Handy: “Of courseyoucan’tgoback. But Handycautionsagainst Handy feelstheInternetwill of theinformation agewilleither something aboutit. inevitable effectunlesswedo leave othersbehind.Thatisits up. Itwillempowersomeand get leftbehindandcannotkeep by thetechnologybecausethey find themselvesimpoverished few. Therewillbemanywho rejoice inthetechnologywillbe world, becausethosewho unequal citizensofthatsame the sametimeitismakingusall to amuchgreaterextent.Butat We areallcitizensofoneworld example, technologyunitesus. good andapowerforbad.For itself isneutral.Itapowerfor depends onus:“Technology the longrun.Whethertheydo analysis makethingsbetterin technologies couldinHandy’s the meanstocommunicate.” and writebecauseitgavethem is likethepennypost.Oneof my wife’sancestors,Rowland Hill, introducedthepenny “The technological advances The Internetandothernew post toBritainwhereevery less ofdistance.Beforethis letter costapennyregard- only theveryrichcould afford tosendletters.So only therichsentletters learn toreadandwrite.The and thepoordidn’teven penny postgavepeoplethe incentive tolearnread “In manywaystheInternet nameless numbers onapayroll, destined tobeempty raincoats, paradox: thatpeoplewerenot sees associety’smostpressing Handy assymbolisingwhathe upright andempty.Thisstruck of abronzeraincoat,standing named afteramodernsculpture everything”. that therecanbeno“theoryof way ofunderstandingsociety— writing istheparadox.He frightened.” because alotofthemareterribly people whatishappening, tion agebringsusandexplainto opportunities thattheinforma- ety. Wehavetolookatthe underclass intotherestofsoci- is thekeyforincorporatingthis growing underclass.Education nary jobsandbeneaththem,a split betweenthosewhodoordi- the remaining80percentwillbe the population.Themajorityof will makeuponly20percentof nology, thesymbolicanalysts, majority. very fewandpovertytothe dark agebringingrichestothe age couldbringforwardanew available toall,theinformation master thetechnologymakeit its decline.Unlessthosewho vention ofsocietyoraccelerate provide themeansforrein- believes thatthereisnosimple PCW ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL h mt anotis The EmptyRaincoat Handy’s keyconceptinhis “Those whomasterthetech- ● FOCUS MAY 1996 201 CUTTING EDGE PCW ● FOCYS CUTTING EDGE
role occupants, the raw material of economics or sociology, statistics in some government report. “If that is the price, then economic progress is an empty promise.” It is easy to see a paradox in the virtual company: a method of work- ing that frees you from having to go to work in some ways imprisons you in your home; you may have more time with your family but if you don’t interact with people how are you going to meet someone to marry?
How to setup a virtual company
To set up a virtual company you need to find people with skills. The Internet is the obvious place to look. An Australian called Ian Taylor has set up a virtual corporation Web site that acts as a resource for would-be entrepreneurs. “The main difficulty is locating expertise. Is it the future? You need to find people that are good. That is why we’ve set up Is the virtual corporation just another Professionals Online, a tool Internet fad and management fashion? enabling rapid access to consultant and Ian Taylor of the Virtual Corporation contractor details.” he says. Another Web site thinks not. “It’s here to stay. way to find people is through industry- And it will just get bigger with cheaper related newsgroups and Web pages. The communications and bandwidth. It just Finishing Com page, for instance, acts makes sense. I think the term virtual as a bulletin board for virtual company corporation is a bit high-faluting for just ideas. a common-sense way to work if your Two other good sources are the company deals primarily with Future Work Forum and the Crossroads information. Translation agencies have Project. Henley Management College worked this way for years.” set up the Future Work Forum to study He’s probably right but at what cost? and promote teleworking and virtual Taylor feels that the negative side effects associations. It includes case studies on of virtual companies is nothing compared IBM, Digital, Rank Xerox and to the social upheaval of outsourcing and Andersen Consulting; and additional downsizing. This is a technological view material about British Telecom; but a manager would see virtual Mercury; Oregon Health Science techniques as being part of outsourcing University; General Motors. and downsizing. After all these terms are The Crossroads project explores the simply American management potential of virtual workplaces by euphemisms for sacking people. creating a virtual organisation of its Richard Vadon own. The project plans to use its acquired knowledge to help virtual PCW Contacts companies compete effectively against large, conventionally-structured ones. Ian Taylor Crossroads aims to resell its acquired http://www.wordsimages.com/virtcorp.htm The Finishing Com knowledge and skills to other http://www.finishing.com/virtuals/index.html organisations, which wish to adopt Future Work Forum elements of virtual operation to enhance http://www.henleymc.ac.uk/fwf/fwfbook.htm the competitive position of their own The Crossroads Project businesses. http://www.idiscover.co.uk/rodz/
202 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 million andgrowing. messages isestimatedtobe30 least exchangeelectronicmail those worldwidewhocanat users isdifficulttomeasure,but a globalnetwork.Thenumberof of computersinterconnectedin The Internetconsistsofmillions So whatistheInternet? T that ofyourcomputer.Buythe speed ofyourmodemthanby more likelytobelimitedbythe speed atwhichthingsworkis you areusingtheInternet, more thantentimesthat.When speeds, from2,400baudto with it.Theycomeindifferent a modemandcommunicate dial intoanothercomputerwith (although ithelps). machine tolookaround be abletoviewgraphicsonyour modem. Youdon’tevenneedto long asyoucanplugitintoa connected totheInternetas A PCofalmostanyagecanbe need togeton? Sounds great.WhatdoI It is Wide Webthen? What aboutthisWorld Internet forthenovice. reference guidetothe net.newbies what todo,wherego Getting startedontheNet: access totheWorldWideWeb. people aroundtheworldhave of justtext.About15million pictures andmultimediainstead pages ofinformationwith free) togiveusersaccess Web Browsers(usuallyavailable uses specialsoftwareknownas service ontheInternetwhich A modemallowsyourPCto to beaneasy-to-use hese pagesaredesigned not the Internet.Itisa below. Formoredetails,havea numbers isavailableinthepanel providers andtelephone at thesamerate.Alistof located: youarealwayscharged you areaccessingisphysically matter wheretheinformation connected, though,itdoesn’t long-distance phonerates.Once access, youmayhavetopay your homewhichoffersInternet have todialalocalnumber. across thecountrysoyouonly (points ofpresence),scattered have thenumbersyoudial,PoPs The biggerserviceproviderswill calls throughacablecompany. lucky enoughtogetfreelocal subscription, unlessyouare phone costsontopofany up, youwillhavetopayyour kind ofconnectionyouhaveset you wanttogetonline.Whatever you havetosubscribeoneif “service provider”comesin— number todial.Thisiswherea information, ithastohavea For amodemtobringyou Now what? Okay, I’vegotamodem. reducing yourphonebills. recoup theaddedcostby V.34 modem.Overtime,you’ll the money,gofora28,800baud cost aslittle£100.Ifyouhave over thepastfewyearsandnow these haveplummetedinprice “V32.bis” isvital.Fortunately, a speedofatleast14,400baud Internet, amodemwhichrunsat more excitingservicesonthe send andreceivefiles,orusethe electronic mailmessages,butto fast enoughtoexchange 2,400 baud“V.22bis”modelis fastest youcanafford.Anold If there’snocompanynearto with theJanuaryissueof look atthesupplementbanded standard Internetoperatorsbut known andmostpopularofthe some significantreductions. CompuServe hasannounced prices arefalling— becomes morecompetitive month. Butasthemarket set numberofhoursinthat you areonlineformorethana month, plusachargeperhourif cost between£5and£10per monthly subscriptiontendsto consumer information.A and databasesofbusinessor vast indexedsoftwarelibraries electronic mail,onlinegames, hardware andsoftwareby official technicalsupportfor access. Theseservicesinclude only theirsubscribershave services oftheirowntowhich also havealargenumberof all nowofferInternetaccessand Online, UKOnlineandMSNwho Or youcouldtryAOL,Europe CompuServe? Why don’tIjustjoin selection ofaccesssoftware. personal serviceorabetter may claimtoofferamore some higher-pricedproviders is largelythesame,although The basicservicebeingoffered enough todominatethemarket. access, noneofthembig offering thiskindofInternet are dozensofcompanies £8.50 and£15permonth.There costs more,currentlybetween of yourpotentialphonebill, of time,limitedonlybythesize Internet servicesforanyamount allows youtouseemailand Demon Internetisthebest Full Internetaccess,which PCW online, freeofcharge. most ofitcanbeacquired choose somethingdifferent, sign up,andifyouwantto priate accesssoftwarewhenyou should provideyouwithappro- and otherservices. plus accesstoonlinemagazines safer forchildrentobrowse, partially “censored”tomakeit unlimited accesstotheInternet, to £12.75permonthitoffers and anonlineservice.For£8.50 between anInternetprovider latter isaspecialcase;cross Edinburgh) or UKOnline.The only hasPoPsinLondonand newbie isEasynet(althoughit ners. Perhapsbetterfortheraw doesn’t catertoowellforbegin- . ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL Any goodserviceprovider Editorial addressonpage12. for thepost)to “snailmail” (Internet-speak compuserve.com [email protected]. us know.Contact any suggestions,pleaselet what’s writtenhereorhave If youdon’tunderstand email: [email protected] UK Online email: [email protected] 0181 9571003 Global Internet 0171 4473400 Europe Online Easynet email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Demon email: [email protected] Delphi compuserve.com email:70006.101@csi. CompuServe AOL PCW 0171 3859404 0171 7577080 ONLINE 0181 3711000 0171 2090990 01749 333333 Contacts PCW 0800 289378 MAY 1996 PCW , or 205 ☎ ☎ ☎ ☎ ☎ ☎ ☎ ☎ ☎ CUTTING EDGE [email protected] http://www.ssc.com A systems. the costoftrueUnixoperating tasking facilitiesatafractionof PCs andoffersmulti-user,multi- of UnixthatrunsonIntel-based nounced “Leenicks”)isaversion the kitcosts$13.95.Linux(pro- tion instructions.Availablenow fashion, ascantsetofinstalla- reference cardand,intrueLinux facilities andaWebbrowser. NCSA andApacheservers,CGI Linux (RedHatandSlackware), age includestwoversionsof Delivered ontwoCDsthepack- has beenannouncedbySSC. T MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 206 Linux fans Calling ate astandardfordisplayingTV Group, hasbeenformedtocre- grouping, theIntercastIndustry ited success.Anewstandards turn PCsintoTVs,butwithlim- conventional TVtunercardsto of PCvendorshavedabbledwith all giventheirsupport.Anumber Time Warner,NBCandCNNhave browsers. Tele-Communications, blends TVsignalsintoWeb backing tothetechnologywhich media giantsdecidedtogivefull PCTV? No, TVPC new Linux-basedserverkit There isalsoanHTMLquick- CUTTING EDGE received aboostwhenfour standard fortheWeb he fledglingIntercast PCW ● ONLINE show beingwatchedandstored played astextrelatingtothe PCs. Informationcouldbedis- programs forspecificviewingon broadcasters willbeabletotailor Web inanother. TV inonewindowandaccessthe users willalsobeabletowatch the fastestmodems,andend- nals atfourtimesthespeedof broadcasters totransmitTVsig- Packard Bell.Intercastwillallow oped byIntel,Gateway2000and signals onordinaryPCs. UU-What? If allgoesaccordingtoplan, The IntercastAPIwasdevel- 0171 7318558 http://www.mailbox.co.uk M directly connected,”headded. addressing onmachinesbutinsteadactsasifbothwere Justin Clements,MDofMailboxInternet.“Itdoesn’trequireIP email packagessuchasQuickMailandMicrosoftMail. UUCP canbeusedtobuildgatewaysbetweenpopularLAN-based “The bestthingaboutUUCPisthatmostISPsoverlookit,”said the UUCPservice.Itwillcost£35permonthafterwards. Mailbox saythatuserswillgetthreemonthsfreeaccessto who havenodesiretouseanyotherInternetservices, uses theUUCP(UnixtoUnix)protocol.Aimedatcutomers ailbox Internethasannouncedamail-onlyservicethat net.news with Web watchman net.news the backers another possibility,accordingto Customised actionreplaysare while watchingthegame. for example,couldbeaccessed statistics onafootballmatch, nised, sothatin-depth mation tobesynchro- TV andWebinfor- option wouldbefor disk. Another to hard Web informationandtheTV PJ Fisher colour TV. resolution thanaconventional screen imageatahigher end. Intercastclaimsafull and thenseparatedatthePC signal aretransmittedtogether . http://www.intercast.com Webless Wonder http://www.instantaccess.co under development. dows, aMacversionis available onlyforWin- extensions. Currently including Netscape2 can readHTMLfiles hypertext browserwhich floppy usesaproprietary Instant Access.The service availablefrom onto afloppydisk by loadingtheirpages without Internetaccess available topeople now makeWWWsites ● 0181 2052596 Web publisherscan PCW ● ONLINE CUTTING EDGE
Plug and Fire! Fire! View Wall! Wall!
new version of the plug and play BorderWare Firewall Server is now available and includes a Secure Server Net (SSN) layer to enhance security. ABorderWare is a complete firewall and server package that runs in conjunction with local TCP/IP networks on Windows 95, NT or Unix. It is designed to allow com- panies to provide access to Inter- nso Corporation has released a Microsoft net applications and services IWord viewer plug-in for Netscape 2.0. including Web servers and FTP Based on its QuickView utility which allows with full security. users to view virtually any file whether they The SSN serves as a LAN in have the application or not, the new plug-in its own right and sits on the allows users to view Microsoft Word 6.0 or inside of the firewall, but to the Word 7.0 (Win 95) documents within outside world the services it Navigator without having to have the Word provides appear to reside outside application installed. Inso claims that users it. Security is provided by can view attachments and Word documents network address transformation, embedded in HTML documents while in the internal domain information browser. The plug-in is available for free hiding and mail header stripping. download from Inso’s Web site and a copy Peapod Internet of QuickView is available for a month’s trial. 01753 581800 http://www.inso.com GermansGermans don’tdon’t gogo forfor graphics,graphics, sayssays IBMIBM
●IBM’s German subsidiary has published details of a major survey concise information available at no extra into user activity on the Web. Users cost. 65 percent considered a single were asked about how they used Web screen page to be sufficient volume and a as part of a doctoral research paper. further 20 percent said their interest Unsurprisingly, 97 percent of the waned if a second page had to be 2781 respondents were male and the accessed. Bad news for developers of average age was 27. Over 40 percent those multi-page Web site extravaganzas. had received a higher education of The German respondents were not some kind. The study also found that particularly impressed by graphics either the Internet has become the preserve — a massive 80 percent reported that of salary-earners and students, at 39 they did not want more graphics on Web percent each with a 9 percent grouping sites. The Germans however were not among the self-employed. 62 percent fazed by English as the lingua franca of were beginners with no more than 12 the Web; 60 percent said it was months experience of the Web. Forty- immaterial whether the site was in six percent spent up to three hours per English or German. week and 37 percent spent longer. IBM says it has plans to repeat the As far as information found on the survey at regular intervals to determine Web, most wanted up-to-date, accurate, whether user patterns change with technical development.
207 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 Net.surf MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 208 http://www.spiv.com/spiv.html. R and decipheritallon point: whatisitallabout?Try week ontheWeb.Justone about everywhereinitsfirst tic. Itwoncoolsiteawardsjust the SPIVsitewhichlooksfantas- game onhttp://www.rise.co.uk. ing theonlinespaceinvaders and otherRisehighlightsinclud- sonable rate.Takealookatthis come downthemodematarea- design andstillmanagesto shares thesameboldgraphic tained withinit.Basedonthe (http://www.rise.co.uk/dc/) con- lence oftheDazed&Confused itself, it’soutshonebytheexcel- bands. Thoughneatlydesigned street-cred magazinesand as aholderfornumberof music/style Websitewhichacts magazine ofthesamename,it M Internet Studiodelay Internet Sky TVlicensessport,andmore tent dealsareplannedmuchlike not yetanyway.Exclusivecon- development. ant toolforgeneralWebpage redesigned asanHTML-compli- Internet Studiowillnowbe switch inDecember1995, Microsoft’s Internetstrategy opers. However,following content builderforMSNdevel- nally intendedasaproprietary authoring softwarewasorigi- possibly later.Themultimedia been delayeduntillate1996, ise isthenameofa More wackyandAmericanis MSN isnottobeabandoned, CUTTING EDGE Internet Studiohas that fullreleaseof icrosoft hasconfirmed PCW ● ONLINE HTML functionalityintheirown the Webandtoincorporate ers tobuildapplications,bothfor Visual Basicwillallowdevelop- TrueType fontstoPCsfordisplay. might alsobeusedtodownload any TrueTypefont.VBScripts media andsupportforvirtually online ordering,enhancedmulti- development. Thiswillenable Internet Explorer,nowinAlpha Scripts) toworkinVersion3.0of ing VisualBasicextensions(VB from Sun’slanguagebyintegrat- pany iscounteringthethreat fully supportingJava,thecom- UK localcontentwillbeinstalled. http://www.microsoft.com. Microsoft’s Website: dows 3.11andSystem7.5from copy ofMicrosoftInternet in themeantimegetyourselfa happen. Theywill,promise,but still waitingforexcitingthingsto (http://horse.vnu.co.uk) andare visiting myWebsite Netscape userswhohavebeen interest foranyRed. Well designedandwithenough co.uk/sports/manu/meta.htm). home page(http://www.sky. arrival oftheofficialManUtd Manchester Unitedfans—the Sky andaspecialtreatfor to everysportnowcoveredby center/index.cgi. Itincludeslinks http://www.sky.co.uk/sports/ Sky Sport’sexcellentsiteon Sports fansshouldtakealookat PJ Fisher Explorer nowavailableforWin- An InternetActionPackfor Although Microsoftisnow Finally, apologiestoallthose http://www.microsoft.com/uk. accessible on Microsoft homepageisnow MSN andtheInternet.AnewUK unlimited freeaccesstoboth current chargebutwillbegiven be chargednomorethanthe mainstream inApril.Userswill when theservicegoes start inearlyMarchandend gramme forUKusers.Itwill MSN totheWebwithaBetapro- capability ofWindows95. the yeartoextendInternet will beavailablebythemiddleof users anewInternetPlus!Pack custom Webbrowsers.Forend- Internet applicationssuchas the finalfrontie Space — R Microsoft isalsoopeningup £20 upto5Mb. available for£10permonthand the offer. over 1000peoplehavetakenup to customers,PIPEXsaysthat began offeringfreeWebspace Dial SpaceExtraservice.Sinceit Dial istoofferextraspaceonits I per hour).AccordingtoBT:“Thereisnostandingchargeforthe (£1.50 perhour)andonly8.32paminuteatpeakhours(£5.87 network. Therearenocharges,except2.5paminuteoff-peak sure yousignupforthetrialsofWireplay,BT’sonlinegaming up asBob’sreplacement.Comeback,Busby,allisforgiven. campaign. Butdon’tcelebrateyet.BillyConnollyhasbeenlined invasively irritatingcockneyinits(too)long-runningTV received. It’sgoodtotalk. All BTrumoursanddirtgratefully the move.BThasdecidedtoenditscontractwith t’s beengoodtotalk.Accordingsources,BobHoskinsison PIPEX offersusersonline An extra2Mbofspaceisnow If yougotoBT’sWebsite(http://www.bt.com/home/)make of itscustomers,PIPEX esponding tothedemands duration ofthetrial,noranyintentiontointro- duce one.”Butisthatforthedurationof trial orafter? [email protected] engines. entry intoanumberofsearch HTML tutorialsandguides http://www.pipex.com Dial SpaceExtra0500474739 http://www.sun.com NetScape. friendly browserssuchas create appletsforuseinJava- Web browserandanAPIto for testingappletsoutsidea Web siteforfreedownload. Mac. It’savailablefromSun’s of theJavaDeveloper’sKitfor finally releasedaBetaversion pleased toknowthatSunhas the Javarevolutionwillbe been feelingalittleleftoutof ● Mac for Java Mac developerswhohave CONTINUES ONPAGE213 An appletviewerisincluded BT Watch r T — the onlineservices Battle oftheplanet of access toitsdial-upservice. ered amasterstroke:free0800 unleashed whatmustbeconsid- is open Java café Symantec U http://www.symantec.com from Symantec’sWebsiteat also available.Caféisavailable version forthePowerMacis around asetofJavasources.A allow projectstobebuilt including Wizard-liketoolsthat to speedJavabuildtimes, a numberoffeaturesdesigned of C++tools. (JDK) withSymantec’sownset Sun’s JavaDevelopmentKit available updateintegrates Symantec Café.Thisfreely of Javacandownloadacopy start investigatingthewonders “We havebeenableto UK, andPlanetOnlinehas he battlecontinuesinthe Developers willbenefitfrom tools whowishto development tec’s C++7.2 s ers ofSyman- shows thatamajorconcern Multimedia saysitsownresearch Planet Internet. stroke,” saidSteveNicholsonfor dles togoingonline,inone remove oneofthebiggesthur- Dutch parentgroupKPN legislation that some quarters have somequarters that legislation found unpalatable. The USA’s Telecommunications Reform Billcontains ✪ E traditionally notbotheredan the end. just thestartofdebate,not yet tobedecided,andthisis Parents? Theseissueshave government? TheEU? what isindecent?TheUS Who hastherighttojudge spotlights anemotivearea. have seizedupon,becauseit bill, butitistheonethatmost legislation containedinthe This wasnottheonlypieceof indecent materialovertheNet. for knowinglytransmitting AOL andCompuServeliable and onlineservicessuchas which potentiallyholdsISPs Communications DecencyAct try hasbecomevexed. Bill intolaw,theonlineindus- The Billincludedthe Such issueshave Net Opinion munications Reform signed theTelecom- ver sinceBillClinton part two part national inMay. numbers whentheservicegoes benefit fromthefreephone customers willbethefirstto the priceofphonecalls.Existing among potentialcustomersis will investigateandremove accessed throughitsserviceit complaint aboutcontent tion” mode,i.e.ifitreceivesa CompuServe isin“co-opera- Bavarian authorities tion. Whyshouldthisbeso? media wouldresultinprosecu- that wereittoappearinother exists ontheInternet,content know thathardcorecontent or sexualpersuasion.Weall the Netregardlessofpolitical allows anythingapresenceon attitude hasprevailedwhich concerned, alibertarian maybe. AsfarastheInternetis after thebillwaspassed.Well, Civil LibertiesUnion(ACLU) representative oftheAmerican speech inAmerica,”saida world. “It’sasaddayforfree apart fromtherestof got usedtolivingsomehow Internet communitythathas http://www.uk.pi.net 0171 3454100 After itsrun-inwiththe PCW ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL it isademandforrealism. This isn’tacallforcensorship, needed toresolvethisissue. mick butproperdebateis on Websitesareanicegim- bons andblackbackgrounds edging thisfact.Littlebluerib- Netheads muststartacknowl- is shapedbyit—romantic net existsintherealworldand the currentclimate.TheInter- as acensor. But itagaindoesnotseeitself such asalt.rec.cockfighting. activities (accordingtoUKlaw) must besaid)promoteillegal considers (bynameonly,it to anynewsgroupswhichit carefully. Ithasstoppedaccess vice, BTInternet,istreading a newconsumerInternetser- it is“notintocensorship”. sive orillegal.Butitmaintains access ifitprovestobeoffen- domain! that Register Both movesaresensiblein BT, whichhasjustlaunched 0171 3366777 register.html http://www.netbenefit.co.uk/ N contacting NetBenefitdirectly. Internet accesscanapplyby Committee. Companieswithout are ratifiedbytheUKNaming cost £100andallapplications Individual domainregistrations domain namesforfutureuse. the opportunitytoprotect business, theservicegivesthem yet startedusingtheInternetfor taken beforeregistering. chosen domainnameisalready allows applicantstocheckifthe names. Aform-basedpage companies toregisterdomain ● Even ifcompanieshavenot Website thatenables etBenefit haslauncheda ONLINE MAY 1996 213 CUTTING EDGE PCW ● ONLINE net.answersnet.answers
Nigel Whitfield guides you through CUTTING EDGE the Internet.
Internet Mailbox Q: “How do I set up Microsoft Exchange in Windows 95 to collect mail from my Internet service provider?” A: The answer depends on exactly which version of Windows 95 you have, and To send all mail via a single whether or not you have the Plus click on Advanced, then type the When you start Exchange, it gateway at your service Pack. If you bought a new PC name of your provider’s outgoing will automatically connect to the provider, fill in the name of the that had Windows installed on it, mail relay in the box; again our mail server you specified in the gateway machine, reached by you’ll have the Internet parts of example screen shows the set- Internet Properties screen, clicking on Advanced from the the Plus Pack anyway. If you tings for Direct Connection. retrieve all the mail that is wait- previous screen bought a Windows 95 upgrade, If you’re not using Exchange ing for you, and then delete it you don’t get the extra bits you to send mail to people on your from the provider’s server, leav- A. The attachments are created need and you’ll have to pay extra network, you don’t need to do ing everything in your Inbox. It by Exchange and include infor- for the Plus Pack. If you’re using any other configuration; if you do will also attempt to check for mation about fonts, colours and a provider that delivers mail to want to send to other people on new mail periodically — and if type sizes that you’ve used in you using SMTP, you’ll also your network, check the delivery you haven’t saved your your message. Other people need an SMTP-POP converter, options in Exchange to make sure password, you’ll have to type it using the same program can see like the ones we’ve discussed that addresses are checked on in each time. exactly how your message before. the network before the Internet. looked on your own screen. Once you’ve set up your Strange attachment Needless to say, the majority of Internet connection using Dial Q. “When I post mes- people on the Internet aren’t Up Networking, you’ll need to sages to the Internet using Exchange and don’t need ensure that the Internet Mail is using Exchange, peo- the attachments. enabled from the Mail and Fax ple tend to complain In a public forum, such as a control panel. Check that Inter- that there are strange mailing list or a newsgroup, it’s net Mail is listed as one of the attachments on the considered very bad manners to services. If it’s not, click on the bottom. How can I send attachments like this. Add button to install it. Now stop this happening?” Unfortunately, it is not possible click Properties and you’ll see a to turn attachments on and off screen like the one on the right, Reached via the for a particular message. Attach- where you should fill in the Mail and Fax control ments will only appear on your details of your Internet mail panel, this is where Internet mail if you have the account; the ones we’ve shown you fill in details of address of the recipient in your are for Direct Connection. If you your Internet mail address book. don’t fill in a password, you’ll be account When an address is not in asked to enter it each time you the address book you can use start Exchange, before it tries to colour, fonts and different styles fetch your mail. in a message, but Exchange will For sending mail you’ll need to silently discard it all before
214 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PCW ● ONLINE CUTTING EDGE
sending the message. If an address is in the rect, and then look at the check box below, book, you can tell Exchange whether or not which is labelled “Always send messages in you want the information about colour, Microsoft Exchange rich text format.” fonts and so on included when you send Unless you know that the people you are mail to that address. writing to also use Exchange, you should To configure this, pull down the Tools make sure that there is no tick in the box. menu in Exchange and select Address Book. When this box is ticked, Exchange adds Find the entry you want to change and attachments to your message. If you are in double-click on it. If it’s not on top doubt about the mail program that someone automatically, click on the tab marked “SMTP else is using, or if you are posting to a — Internet”. Check that the boxes labelled public forum, you should make sure that this “Display Name” and “Email address” are cor- option is turned off.
Information Manager for the Mac
Q. “The Windows version of CompuServe’s Information Manager can connect over the Internet. How can I do this on a Macintosh?” A. If you have a copy of CIM for the Macintosh that’s at least version 2.4.1, then you won’t have any problems at all. As well as the software for your Internet connection, such as MacPPP, you’ll also need one extra program, which is a “telnet tool”. It’s a system exten- sion that is used by a part of your Mac’s software called the Communications Toolbox. One of the most popular ones is called “TCE TCP Tool”; you’ll be able to find it, and a selection of others, by searching the Macintosh software archive at http://pubWeb.nexor.co.uk/public/mac/archive/welcome.html. As with other extensions, install it on your system simply by dropping it on top of the System folder. Now start CIM, and from the Special menu select Settings and then Connection. You’ll see a screen like the one in Fig 1 appear, and if all is well, when you click on the drop-down menu in the top right of the bottom section, the TCP Tool will appear as one of the choices. If you’ve currently selected one of the serial ports on your Mac, the menu will be labelled “Port”, but if you’re already using the communications toolbox to connect, it will be labelled “Method” instead. Now you need to click on the “Network” menu and then select Internet. Now, CIM knows how to log on over the Inter- net, but you still have to tell the communications toolbox how to find CompuServe. Click on the Configure button and you’ll see a screen like Fig 2 appear, with the names of any computers that you’ve already connected to, listed. In the box at the top, type “compuserve.com” and make sure that the connection type is set to “Transparent” before you click on “OK”. 1 To connect, just dial up your Inter- net provider in the usual way, and use any of the CompuServe commands that would establish a connection, such as “GO MAIL”. Although this may save you money on long-distance charges if you don’t have a high-speed local CompuServe number, it’s not a very quick way of accessing the service.
Fig 1 The TCP tool needs to be told the name of the 2 computer it should connect to
Fig 2 Connecting to CompuServe over the Internet from a Mac should be easy. Just select a TCP tool from your toolbox, and set the Network to the Internet
215 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PCW ● ONLINE CUTTING EDGE
Speed is of the essence Q. “I have just hooked up to CompuServe using an external Microlin 14.4 modem and I am having problems running it at 14.4Kbits, though it seems quite happy at 9.6. I have a 486 SX-40 with VESA bus. I have been offered a second-hand E-IDE disk controller with 16550 serial ports to replace my existing 8250 serial-based card. Is this likely to make a difference?” A. In general, if you are offered a card with 16550 ports, then it will almost certainly give some improvement, though with only a V32bis modem such as yours, that may not be very marked. In the case of CompuServe, you won’t be seeing very good performance anyway as the compression on your modem isn’t being used, so the computer should be quite capable of keeping up with the modem. However, if you anticipate upgrading to a faster modem or a different service provider, it’s worth adding the extra ports. Given your difficulties in connecting at faster speeds than 9,600, it’s probably worth trying the same modem on a different phone line — it’s unusual for a computer to be so slow that it won’t keep up with a modem at any faster speed. You should also ensure that you don’t have any unnecessary software installed, which could slow Windows down. If you do decide to install an additional card to provide faster serial ports, you should check carefully to make sure that it will be compatible with your existing PC, especially if your current disk controller or serial ports are fitted to the motherboard. If they can’t be disabled, you may have a hard job installing everything so that it works together.
Be properly addressed work that out from the name of the file, this Q. “What is the difference between http:// and is not always the case, which is why your ftp:// in Web addresses?” browser will sometimes say that it doesn’t A. The first part of a Web address is used to know what to do with a file and just save it indicate what sort of server a connection to disk. By sending information about a will be made to. An http server is the main file via http, it’s possible to give extra hints type of server you’ll encounter on the to your browser so that, for example, a Internet, and is usually used to send simple sound file can be converted to play on documents such as Web pages. An ftp your PC, or a Mac file can be decoded server is designed specifically for transfer- automatically, regardless of what the file is ring files from one system to another. You called. can connect to an ftp server using a dedi- There’s one other important difference: cated “ftp client”, as well as a Web browser, broadly speaking, when you retrieve a file but you can only connect to an http server using ftp, you’ll always have to give a user- using a browser. name and password (even if the name is Although files were traditionally made just “anonymous”). With http you don’t available for download from the Internet have to, though some servers can be set up using ftp, more and more sites are using to demand one. http instead. Although there’s not too much difference in the time taken to transfer a file, Gibberish unzipped there is an important advantage to using Q. “I have recently come across several files http, in addition to the ease of use of the on the WWW which had the extension ‘.GZ’. Web browsers themselves. While the instructions on the site claimed that When a Web server sends information to these were ‘Gzipped’ files that would be your browser, it can include details of the recognised and unzipped by my browser, all I kind of informa- tion it’s sending. While it’s some- times possible to
Gnu Zip is used to pack and unpack files with a .gz extension. It’s available for most computers, including the Mac and DOS
216 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 directory. the /pub/mac/Internet/Decoders MacGZip, whichcanbefoundin winzip, andMacuserscanuse /pub/ibmpc/win3/apps/zip/ higher ofWinZip,from users canuseversion5.6or /pub/gnu directory.Windows 1.2.4.msdos.exe fromthe you shouldfetchgzip- ftp.demon.co.uk. ForaDOSPC, understand theGZipformaton DOS andUnix. including Macintosh,Windows, all sortsofcomputersystems, called GNUZip.It’savailablefor or extractfilesinthisformatis and theprogramusedtocreate compression ontheInternet, A. browser toreadthem?” how Ishouldconfiguremy got wasgibberish.Canyoutellme GZip isaverypopularformof You canfindprogramsthat and isitimportant?” a memberofLINX.Whatisthis, the AtlanticonDemon’slink, would thentravelbackacross exchange intheUS,whereit over theirUSlinktoanInternet pass fromPipexinourexample, tion, ortrafficwouldhaveto that wanttoexchangeinforma- links betweenalltheproviders LINX, therewouldhavetobe made. Withoutasystemsuchas sonably directconnectioncanbe on Demon’sWebserver,area- ple, Pipexaccessesinformation when acustomerof,forexam- the UK. different Internetprovidersin tion pointbetweenmanyofthe Exchange. It’saninterconnec- A. Q. The vitalLINX LINX istheLondonInternet The aimistoensurethat My Internetprovidersaysit’s “ the PC MacEtte on program like use a simpler to but it’soften Exchange, use PC Mac youcan PC tothe files froma transferring For reaches theMacintosh. file willbeuselesswhenit one orotheroftheparts,and in thewrongway,youcanlose such asmenus.Ifyoucopyfiles data andonetoholdresources, two separateparts,onetohold A DOS copydoesn’twork.” them totheMaconfloppydisk? files tomyPC.HowdoItransfer Q . FilesontheMacintoshhave . Transferring filestofloppy members suchasPipex. connections providedbyLINX themselves, butareresellersof don’t qualifyformembership Internet providers,forinstance, story. Manyofthesmaller remember thatit’sonlyhalfthe benefits toLINXmembership, http://www.linx.net/. be foundbylookingat connects towhomatLINX,can LINX members. traffic directlywithalltheother mean theyexchangeInternet However, itdoesn’tnecessarily their ownconnectiontotheUS. requirements, andthattheyhave certain minimumtechnical LINX, itmeanstheymeet Cambridge toLondon. straightforward routefrom connections ratherthanamore using uptwotransatlantic “I’ve downloadedsomeMac To overcomethis,youneed Although therearedefinite Full details,includingwho If aproviderismemberof PCW ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL automatically. applications candothis first —mostMacInternet it’s convertedtoBinHexformat system, youshouldensurethat another typeofcomputer move afilefromMacintoshto Internet usingftporemail. you cansendthemoverthe files toMacBinaryformatsothat process inreversetoconvert the correcticons. Mac, allthefileswillappearwith that whenthediskisputina converted intothetwoparts,so copied, itwillautomaticallybe Macintosh formatdisks. be abletocopyfilesdirectly program suchasMac-Etteyou’ll for thesefiles.WithaPC the extension“.bin”isoftenused Internet inMacBinaryformat; to downloadfilesfromthe query cannotbeguaranteed. a personalresponsetoevery mon.co.uk. [email protected] them to like answered,pleasesend If youhavequestionsyou’d co.uk [email protected]. comments viatheaddress mailing lists.Hewelcomes maintainer ofseveralInternet freelance writerand Nigel Whitfield ● In general,wheneveryou You canusethesame When aMacBinaryfileis PCW . ONLINE Please notethat Contacts is a MAY 1996 219 CUTTING EDGE MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 222 soldbyISDN. multimediaproducts more moving and are Photo, withmore sound andvideolibraries intotheNetage, Sound I tors (OHPs),slidesorvideo, a PCorfromoverheadprojec- cial presentations. portable tolarge-scalecommer- few peoplegatheringarounda shows foranythingfromjusta and videoclipsintoPC-driven PCs, itispopulartorunaudio With theadventofmultimedia displaying picturesandgraphs. tant toolforcreatingand embracing thePCasanimpor- sentation worldisgradually to customers.Thebusinesspre- mail tosendphotosortapesout ally havereliedonconventional suppliers whowouldtradition- sorts ofmultimediainformation attracting theattentionofall multimedia realistic. large filetransferandrealtime 128kb/sec, aspeedthatmakes mitting dataatarateof from anywhereandstarttrans- phone-line —youcandialitup the samewayasanordinary outside, ISDNworksinmuch and cannotbeaccessedfrom which arepermanentlyinstalled duty digitaltelecomslinks moved about.Unliketheheavy- the waythatinformationis home, ismakinganimpacton plumbed intoanyofficeor phone systemthatcanbe SDN, thedial-upall-digital
Whether theyarecomingoff This capabilityhasbeen CUTTING EDGE Innovations FUTURES PCW n vision and thing fromyourPC.You’vestill are goingtobedoingthewhole in thepost. are doingaslidepresentation— copy —atransparencyifyou which willsendaphotographic then havetocallthelibrary, the shotsorclipsyouwant, changed. Onceyou’vechosen obtaining theimagehasn’treally ward, theprocessofactually engines, hasbeenabigstepfor- and sophisticatedsearch with itslargestoragecapacity down thetelephoneline. and-try purchasesystemdirectly speed ofISDNtoofferalook- and nowtakingadvantageofthe plying thumbnailsonCD-ROM the computerera,firstbysup- nies arenowalsomovinginto choose from,butthesecompa- catalogue ofitspicturesto library wouldsendoutaprinted people arelikelytoseeit. depends basicallyonhowmany bought onausagefeethat and soundsneeded.Theseare that cansupplyexactlytheshots users gotocommerciallibraries new photosandsoundtracks, the expenseofcommissioning to addabitofpizzazz.Toavoid artwork, photosandaudioclips presentations needfancy This isfine,butslowifyou While theCD-ROMroute, Until recently,animage “creative artist”feel—large Windows look,withmoreofa from thenormal“professional” front-end softwareisadeparture specific implementation,the browse-and-buy service.Inits video clipsthroughthisstyleof is supplyingimagesoundand print houses. for transferringlargeimagesto tion markethaveinstalledlines panies intheprintandpresenta- because ofthecost,manycom- been slowtotakeoff,partly the installationofISDNlineshas monthly subscription.Although front-end softwareanda vice, amodem/ISDNlink,some setting upwithanInternetser- systems ismuchthesameas display andplayback. “electronic” qualityforcomputer or print,andalower, traditional displayusingslides come intwoqualities,onefor computer users,thosefiles Because itisgearedtowards ties ofaCD-ROMremotely. which givesallthebrowsefacili- few tensofpeople. quality imagestobeseenbya when allyoureallyneedisVGA quality andlargenumberusage are probablystillpayingforhigh got toscantheimageandyou One libraryservice,Signpost, Signing intothesetypesof Enter theISDNcatalogue, digital ISDNlines. future lookstobecarriedalong of bothstillandvideoclipsthe card onPCisneeded.Forusers professional MPEGplayback and tohandletheseadedicated standard CD-ROMMPEGvideo data rateisnearlydoublethatof but forbroadcastqualitythe video isencodedusingMPEG1 the videoandaudioclips.All download. or soforafullprint-quality around £20ratherthanthe£120 eral, sotheusagefeesstartat much lower-costactivityingen- clips andimagesislikelytobea puter-based usageofmedia are goingtobeused. images, dependingonhowthey ity) oras1024x768SVGA images (glossymagazinequal- high resolution400dpiA4 Image clipscanbedeliveredas usage optionsarechosen. out. Atthatstage,qualityand icon whichistakentothecheck- drop itontoashoppingbasket happy withtheirchoicethey movies. Whentheclientis the lineassmallishimagesor category andthensampledover viewing andshoppingfunctions. buttons representingeachofthe The sameprinciplesapplyto The consensusisthatcom- Files aresearchedby Tim Frost No noiseisgood to shoutabout? Anti-noise technology: thesoundofsilenceorsomething N tem ( mechanics ofananti-noisesys- stand why,considerthe restricted bandwidth.Tounder- tively lowfrequencynoiseofa effective onlyagainsttherela- ple ofrestrictions. lunchtime borethereareacou- can instantlysilenceatedious, all startlookingforadevicethat fier andaspeaker.Butbeforewe ics toinvertthewave,anampli- is amicrophone,someelectron- resulting insilence.Allyouneed waves willcanceleachotherout, outofphase; thetwo 180° amplitude andfrequency,but generate awaveofthesame a wave,allyouhavetodois elegant. Sincenoiseconsistsof noise isseductivelysimpleand The conceptofactivelyreducing An elegantconcept cycles persecond). 20Hz to20MHz(20million hear arangeofsoundsfrom Hertz (Hz).Humanscantypically quency incyclespersecond,or sound andisexpressedasafre- wave determinesthepitchof (or volume).Thelengthofthe tude ofwhichdefinesthepower active, anti-noisesystems. am talkingabouthigh-tech, its effects a technologywhichcanreduce takes forthewave tophysically outofphase)inthetimeit (180° amplified andre-broadcast must bedetected,inverted, The firstisthatanti-noise Noise isawave,theampli- bear itbutno-onelikesit,so oise pollution:mostofus see illustration must be attractive.I Horizons ). Thewave source andrecombiningit inverting thenoisewaveat Anti-noise circuitsworkby with therequiredaccuracy. cult topositionthecomponents short wavelengthmakesitdiffi- metres or0.034mm.Sucha 340/10,000,000 =0.000034 much shorter;approximately 10MHz, thelengthofwaveis higher frequencysignal,say highly effective.Butgivena from thespeakerwillstillbe couple ofcentimetres,thesignal imately 340/200=1.7metres. the lengthofwaveisapprox- positions arenotcriticalbecause noise, say200Hz,therelative sound. Givenalowfrequency amplify, notnullify,theoriginal tion, thesignalitbroadcastswill half awavelengthineitherdirec- tion whilethespeakerismoved phone remainsinthesameposi- speaker arecrucial.Ifthemicro- tions ofthemicrophoneand speed oflight. signal travelsmuchfaster,atthe second), whereastheelectronic sound (about340metresper wave travelsatthespeedof isn’t toobigaproblemsincethe pass theanti-noisesystem.This Even ifmis-positionedbya However, therelativeposi- MICROPHONE WAVE INVERTED noise, youhavetounderstand successfully implementanti- victim ofitsownsuccess.To source isthatithasbecomea not usedmorefrequentlyat tems fittedinsidecabins. aircraft dohaveanti-noisesys- difficult, althoughcertainservice on aircraftistechnicallymore tem toenginesactuallymounted noise couldbeaviablesolution. 100W) andshowedthatanti- domestic stereorunsatunder pumped outseveralkW(a system wasinstalledwhich to localresidents.Ananti-noise proving particularlybothersome aero engineinstallationswere About 20yearsago,somestatic Anti-noise atsource target (yourears). (such asanengine),oratthe either atapoint-sourceofnoise suppressing lowfrequencynoise reinforce soundfromanother. noise foroneofthesourcesmay ling indifferentdirections;anti- range offrequencies,alltravel- this iscomposedofahuge erated byahousepartybecause well suitedtonoiselikethatgen- AMPLIFIER LOUD SPEAKER One reasonthatanti-noiseis Sadly, fittingthesamesys- Anti-noise isbestsuitedto Secondly, anti-noiseisnot noise isneverheardofagain.” that particularaspectofanti- “Once theprojectistakenover, military machine.Asheputit: became engulfedbyacountry’s appeared toendabruptlyasthey ing linesofresearchhave applications andmanyinterest- that anti-noiseoftenhasmilitary about anti-noise.Hepointedout from someoneIinterviewed CD/tape input. normal headphoneswitha The headsetswillevenactas so speechisperfectlyaudible. frequencies stillcomethrough frequency range,thehigher ate inthe30Hzto150Hz on. Evenbetter,sincetheyoper- noisy cars,aircraftcabinsandso in therightenvironment,suchas surprisingly effectivewhenused by 50to95percent.Theyare These canreducesoundlevels NoiseBuster, fromPowermark). the market(onesuchis£99 tion headsets”havecomeonto (and cheap). expensive) tothecommonplace sition fromtheexotic(and tions) hasfinallymadethetran- be calledinlow-powerapplica- noise (oranti-soundasitshould Some goodnewsisthatanti- Anti-noise atthetarget no longercosteffective. extent thatanti-noisebecomes physical means,tosuchan reduce orremovethenoiseby that thisproducesallowsyouto higher levelofunderstanding engine. Often,however,the noisy componentsin,say,an research whichpinpointsthe ated. Inturn,thisleadsto exactly howthenoiseisgener- ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL The finalwordmustcome Recently, “activenoisereduc- Mark Whitehorn ANTI-NOISE NOISE FUTURES PCW AND CANCEL WAVES COMBINE MAY 1996 223 CUTTING EDGE Brain MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 224 computers can help us understand themysteriesofhumanmind. canhelpusunderstand computers Volume justtwo viewingare ways andstereoscopic inwhich rendering T visualise it.Traditionally,under- obtain thedata;second,howto human brain.First,howto structures ascomplexthe problems inunderstanding of complexity. sation atanunprecedentedscale the needforanalysisandvisuali- us. Withthisshiftoffocuscame the onlynecessaryexplanationof and biochemistryofthebrainas approach, stressingtheanatomy superseded byamoreholistic this analogylostfavour,andwas really explaining.Intheeighties reflection, itexplainswithout data structures. desires werethesoftwareand our thoughts,feelingsand ware ofacomputer;andthat directly analogoustothehard- stance ofthehumanbrainwas puter scientists)thatthesub- was suggested(mainlybycom- ity organ?Intheseventies,it centre ofpassion,orthecreativ- form substance.Whereisthe a brainandyoufindfairlyuni- muscle fibresandveins;dissect distinguish skin,bone,cartilage, never before. to seeinsidethelivingbrainas graphics, researchersareable sation powerofcomputer niques coupledwiththevisuali- developments inscanningtech- known universe.Withrecent CUTTING EDGE There aretwofundamental It’s acompellingidea.But,on Dissect anarmandyoucan complex objectinthe he humanbrainisthemost FUTURES PCW machines Bluesky skull, heartandabdomen, tains volumetricdataofthebrain, of Hamburg,forexample,con- Man projectfromtheUniversity remarkable results.TheVoxel- technique isalreadyyielding structures andsurfaces.This rithms toidentifyandextract3D be processedwithfilteringalgo- dimensional dataset,whichcan represented asatrulythree- structure ofanobjectis two-dimensional pixels. dimensional analogueof lections of“voxels”,thethree- of 2Dslicesarerenderedascol- volume rendering,wherestacks data camewiththetechniqueof breakthrough invisualisingthis sional datasets.The be combinedintothree-dimen- tions oftissue,whichcanthen map two-dimensionalcross-sec- destroying them.Thesemethods structure oforganswithout is nowpossibletocapturethe Excitation Tomography(PET),it Tomography (CT)andPositron Imaging (MRI),Computerised such asMagneticResonance invasive scanningtechniques something ofadrawback. brains areconcerned,thisis have tokillit.Whenhuman invasive: tostudythetissue,you sional techniques,andtheyare These areessentiallytwo-dimen- then photographyordrawing. involved dissectionandstaining, standing humantissuehas With volumerendering,the With thedevelopmentofnon- wide overtheWeb,wheredata base, perhapsdistributedworld- to createasinglecoherentdata- more datawillarrive. as youobtainafasterCPU,yet tion, however,becauseassoon sors offersonlyapartialsolu- promise ofever-fasterproces- improved algorithms.The lel processingtechniquesand with speedingitupusingparal- much currentworkisconcerned is verycomputerintensive,and erating imagesof3Dvoxeldata quantities ofdatainvolved,gen- problems. Becauseofthehuge sue. Buttherearestillmajor computer modelsoflivingtis- access totruethree-dimensional viewing, researchershave ume renderingandstereoscopic exciting. Withtheadventofvol- graphical neuro-imagingis That’s 15Gb. and thereare1,871ofthem. huge: eachimagesliceis7Mb, cryosections. Thedatasetis gathered fromCT,MRIand on theInternet,asrawimages male cadaverisalreadyavailable orado. Heredataforacomplete tion withtheUniversityofCol- Library ofMedicineinconjunc- from theUnitedStatesNational ing istheVisibleHumanProject reveal theinternalstructure. data setwitharbitraryplanes,to virtual dissectionsbyslicingthe enables researcherstoperform Another excitingchallengeis The futureofcomputer Another ambitiousundertak- computer visualisation. without theincreasingpowerof will beincomprehensibletous however, thatwhateverwefind The likelihoodremains, telling whatweshalluncover. ies ofourownbrainsthereisno we delvedeeperintothemyster- ence withoutpredictableend;as possible. Thisisanexcitingsci- which haveneverbeforebeen visualise whatweareinways ics inparticularenableusto brain function.Computergraph- role intheunderstandingof the operatingtable. the actualbrainofpatienton perfectly opticallyregisteredto tions overtheirfieldofview, ated brainimagesandsimula- superimpose computer-gener- ity spectacleswhich will wearlightweightvirtualreal- Perhaps soonneuro-surgeons their functionandproperties. other informationdescribing actual 2Dand3Dimages features arecorrelatedwith on thegeometryofanatomical Today, computersplayavital oimg.html. http://ivory.lm.com/~nab/neur research maybefoundat about neuro-imaging An excellectcollectionoflinks magazine. and co-editorof University ofManchester, computer graphicsatthe Toby Howard PCW Contacts is alecturerin The Skeptic Toby Howard Computer World Justa computing was touted as the future, yetcomputing was toutedasthefuture, even todayit’s stillatechno-turkey. Momentawas toofar aheadofitstime,evenThe pen-based in1992when MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 226 T picked upthe“l”in handwriting recognitionhad March 1992issuereview:the There isacluetothisinour was thatitdidn’tworkverywell. and thefounderofCirrusLogic. by thedesignerofAtariST with $40mofinvestmentcapital Momenta, acompanystarted greatest proponentsofthiswas rather thantyping.Oneofthe by 1996wewouldallbewriting machines —itwasthoughtthat 1991, Comdexwasfullofsuch said itwasthewayforward.In any computerguruwouldhave the professionalwhowantedto plement thedesktop,aimedat be Pentium-taxing. tasks whichwestillconsiderto setup itwassupposedtohandle cost around£3,500.Withthis RAM anda40Mbharddisk The standardmachinehad4Mb described asbeingaRISCchip. 6502 —whichMomenta aided byacustomversionofthe in. Theprocessorwasa386SX although bothcouldbeplugged floppy driveweremissing, copper, logo.Themouseand on thefront—justasmart, knobs, buttonsLEDsorcontrols Crisp andunclutteredwithno CUTTING EDGE What weallfailedtospot is anovelty,butbackin1992 oday, apen-basedcomputer This wasamachinetosup- The designwaswonderful. PCW as a“1”. Momenta ● Personal Retro FUTURES market anditwas clearthat wanted tostealamarchonthe to beTheBigThing.Momenta when pencomputingwasabout remember thiswasbackin1992 hardware wasthesoftware— the stateofcharge. was dedicatedtolookingafter batteries aswell.Aprocessor Nicads andtenordinaryalkaline Hydride, althoughitwouldtake machines toofferNickelMetal Momenta wasoneofthefirst was astickofbatteries:the Newton). Poweringthedevice (you can’tdoit,notevenwitha room withoutlookinglikeanerd carry acomputerintotheboard- More importantthanthe be veryquickalthough not was likelytohappenthiscould the object.Onceyouknewwhat ing dependingonthenatureof opening, copying,orhighlight- sections diddifferentthings: Moving thepenintooneof piece fromTrivialPursuit. looked somethinglikeaplaying a compassappeared.This selected byrestingthepenonit, compass: whenanobjectwas though. Oneofthesewasthe had tore-bootrunWindows. based onSmalltalk.Themachine environment wasn’tDOS-likebut up bysubmarining. cursor was,anditwasn’theld It haditsownnovelfeatures, The Momentasoftware showed wherethe Microsoft wasbeing customarily laggardly with Windows forPen computing. The solution Momenta adopted wasto create itsown operating system. The Momenta Software Envi- ronment wasa pen-driven user interface which suited an LCD screen since the pen keen tobereminded. lost the$40marenotquiteso can besurethatthepeoplewho pen-based bandwagon.Butyou my faceforfollowingthe would knowthatIhadeggon believing themarketexisted. though, themistakewasin of themachine.Ultimately partly thereasonforfailure ahead oftheirtimeandthisis built-in networking. 2,400bps modemandplansfor tag, anditdidincludea which justifiedthehighprice ahead oftheMomenta. being usablebutit’sstillstreets lambast theNewtonfornot Eden machines.Today,we was theequalofGOand all thatitmightbe,saying handwriting recognitionwasn’t review commentedthatthe called PenCell. including aspecialspreadsheet third partysoftwarecompanies, was agooddealofsupportfrom inspired confidenceandthere impressive marketingcompany) offices inFrankfurt;andan holding aMomentapen;flash Comdex, withagianthand (underlined byitshugestandat particularly intuitive. Without thiscolumnno-one Some oftheideaswereway The hardwarewascomplex, Even myembarrassinglyrave The strengthofthecompany Simon Rockman MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 228 W Rating ISBN Pages Price Publisher Author The caseforscience Facing theFuture— original method. killed morefishthandidthe process, whoseby-products to adopta“green”bleaching dioxin lednappymanufacturers contained asubstancecalled suggested. Armageddon thathasbeen hardly theprecursorto seasons, soozonedepletionis changes significantlywiththe of ozoneintheatmosphere misinformed fears:thequantity about theenvironmenthasledto He pointsoutthatparanoia motley assortmentofLuddites. heavy fire,emergingatbestasa Green movementcomesunder Chernobyl toconsumerism.The to overpopulation;from of issues:fromozonedepletion escapism. itself, andretreatsinto rational attemptstoimprove alright”, shiesawayfrom believes itselftobe“doing has createdasocietythat we fearprogress.Consumerism Facing theFuture according toMichaelAllabyin indulgent anddecadent,
Fears thatdisposablenappies Allaby tacklesahugesweep Science isadirtyword,and CUTTING EDGE 0-7475-2485-8 BOOKS £7.99 frightened, negative,self- e liveinasocietythatis Windows NT would grace anyblockbuster. NTwouldWindows grace thedevelopmentsexism of andjealousysurrounding Michael in Allaby andwe word, fear says thefuture Science isadirty 280 ✒✒✒✒✑ Michael Allaby Bloomsbury MEDIA PCW . Jessica Hodgson Facing theFuture again inahurry. about usingtheword“anorak” science-sceptic. cency ofthemostardent guaranteed toshakethecompla- mental scaremongeryandis refreshing correctivetoenviron- well-informed book.Itisa Future established.” with theaccidentisfarfrom because, hewrites;“…thelink 168 between1986and1993) two orthreeayear,tototalof cancers (fromapreviouslevelof in theincidenceofthyroid between thisaccidentandarise propaganda. figment ofenvironmental the incidentwaslargelya virtually non-existentandthat Chernobyl disasterof1986was health threatposedbythe believe, forexample,thatthe generously. Hewouldhaveus sometimes “creative”,toputit evidence availabletohimis reactionary. Hisuseofthe deep sleepofcomplacency”. nourished andlulledintothe whose armswemayhappilybe maternal cosiness,agoddessin source ofall-embracing, example, isdescribedas:“A New Ageideologyinparticular. religious fundamentalismand rejoice intheirrational— fiercest venomforthosewho You’ll certainlythinktwice Nevertheless, He dismissesthelink At times,Allabysounds The cultofmotherearth,for The authorreserveshis is awell-writtenand Facing the . Andthepolitics, “S Rating ISBN Price Publisher Author Showstopper! ever, as Microsoft, wascreated. to makealotofmoneyfor new operatingsystem,designed of acureforcancerbuthow and anactofviolence.” creation isatonceanactoflove grasped thateveryworthwhile known. Andintheend,they marks theunknownfrom cross theblurryborderthat Others sawthearcoftheirlives who keepsalow profile all, justlikeanywhereelse. environment thatis,despiteit pressurised, fabulouslyrich book. Thisisadriven, what comesacrossmostinthis microserfs. Andthatreallyis of Coupland’srichlittle interesting —theyarejustmore they begintoblur.Veryfeware paragraph ofbiography,that bits ofNT,eachwitha many “characters”makinglittle have beenintroducedtoso genius ismorethanjustified. ing themythoflonesoftware functions. Itsclaimsondebunk- created butalsohowMicrosoft not justhowmodernsoftwareis itself tobeavaluableinsightinto Don’t beputoffbythis,how- No, thisisnotthediscovery There isBillGates,ofcourse, By theendofthisbookyou 0 751516295 £8.99 selves alongtheway. ome lostpiecesofthem- ✒✒✒✑✑ G. PascalZachary Showstopper! Warner Books proves on atestPC. hardware hadnotbeeninstalled because amundanepieceof how NTwasdelayedfordays could barelyoperateaPCand one oftheMicrosoft’scodeelite final sayonhowNTshouldlook. programmer himselfhadthe Ballmer, whoalthoughnota and hisright-handman,Steve ing targetsputforwardbyGates endless bugs,rewritesandshift- managed tobuildNTdespite — certainly,Butziwasunusual. families,” saysoneinterviewee Microsoft andhappentohave Microsoft. Otherfathersworkat who happenstoworkat throughout. work ethicisaliveandwell to getNTwork.TheMicrosoft surrounded thethree-yearbattle jealousy andsexismthat about thepolitics,pettyrivalries, technical genius.Itisasmuch referred tohisnewemployer. “scumbag company”ishowhe despite hisfreereinonNT;a love forGatesorhiscompany insensitive manwithnospecial days —amacho,boorish, story, particularlyintheearly Digital team.Hedominatesthe Redmond alongwithmanyofhis cancelled. Gatesluredhimto latest projectunceremoniously time butwasangryathavinghis programmer atDigitalforsome Cutler, whodoesn’t. throughout thebookandDave It isreassuringtohearhow This eclecticteamsomehow “Paul (Butzi)isafamilyman The storyisnotjustabout Cutler hadbeenthestar PJ Fisher E Rating ISBN Price Publisher Author Windows 95 The WholeInternetFor into cuteness, from dayone. Microsoft products,NTworked workable one.Andunlikemany marketable productaswella of commercetobuilda programming andthepressures a valuableinsightinto the newOSprovides. advantages (orotherwise)that Windows 95usersandthe edition thatfocuseson has comeupwitharevised marketing opportunity,EdKrol laurels, orindeedtoomissa and itsmission“toexplain”. this wasit,givenitsclearfocus subject, fewwouldcomplainif book shouldexistonthe law werepassedthatonlyone classic textontheInternet.Ifa Despite occasionallapses Not onetositbackonhis Internet d Krol’soriginal 1-56592-155-0 £18.50 Ed Krol&PaulaFerguson ✒✒✒✒✑ O’Reilly &Associates is recognisedasa Showstopper! The Whole is PJ Fisher efficiently. Altogetheressential. than thisandfewwilltellyouas Internet bookwilltellyoumore leaving Windows95.Noother Internet hastoofferwithoutever book toeveryservicethe without doubtanidealreference are alreadyoutofdate),thisis (inevitably thechaptersonMSN possible withtheInternet in clearEnglish. technology whenitisexplained issues. No-oneisfrightenedof people understandtechnical typography) totryandmake and “jokes”(orappalling don’t havetoresortcartoons anyone. instantly understandable,by cols andhowtheyworkthatis explanation oftheTCP/IPproto- For example,hisistheonly includes the experienced usersalike.Italso book isidealforbeginnersand Windows 95andMSN. connect totheInternetvia resource forallthosewishingto original butasavaluable not asareplacementforthe Being asuptodate Krol alsoprovesthatyou Like itspredecessor,this The publicationisdesigned Whole Internet effectively. much more to thereader knowledge impart his manages to experts, he other more than know any may not that whilehe standing is ing soout- Krol’s writ- makes Ed resources. other web and best ofthe guide tothe detailed which isa Catalog What S Rating ISBN Price Publisher Author Conference Proceedings) International WorldWideWeb World WideWebJournal(Fourth based aroundMosaic. Vosaic, arealtimevideobrowser might caretoreadthepaperon belongs toNetScape/Microsoft those whothinkthefuture advanced webapplications.And and aRADtoolforbuilding intelligent objectstotheweb Objects: aproposaltobring web inafewyears’time. and whicharelikelytoignitethe establishments aroundtheworld developed atresearch level technologybeingquietly developments dealwiththelow- tion aboutthelatestweb fine compensation. collection oftheproceedingsis last Decemberthiscomplete International WWWConference you didn’tmakeittotheFourth potential marketforthisbook.If Take thepaperonW3 Over 600pagesofinforma- the bestwaytodescribe trictly hard-coremightbe 1-56592-169-0 £29.50 ✒✒✒✑✑ Various O’Reilly &Associates your Internetreferenceshelf. should beadefiniteadditionto web seriously,thiscollection anywhere else.Ifyoutakethe you won’treadaboutit won’t seethelightofday,but bedtime readingandsomeofit into theOSitself. plans tointegratewebbrowsing and contrastwithMicrosoft’s residing withinwebbrowsers reading involvingvirtualGUIs browsers makeforfascinating the X-Windowsysteminto yet. researchers seelifeinMosaic enable allthisand,clearly,many enhanced Mosaicisproposedto extension, MHTML,runningon applications. AnHTML for Intranet-basedtraining displayed automatically:useful “must-see-first” pagesare be displayedsimultaneouslyand links sothatmultiplepagescan designers tocreateintelligent the designer’slinks.Italsolets browse ratherthansimplyfollow users todefinehowtheywish (MHMT) linkdesignedtoallow poses aMulti-Head/Multi-Tail ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL Much ofthisishardly The chaptersonextending Another Mosaicprojectpro- PJ Fisher MEDIA PCW MAY 1996 229 CUTTING EDGE PCW ● MEDIA CUTTING EDGE
Competition Don’t be a dummy…
Personal Computer World in To enter the competition, just send association with Transworld Publishers is us the answer to this simple offering the chance to win four of the question, on a postcard or the back excellent Dummies series of books, plus of a sealed envelope: a widescreen video of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. The Dummies books Q. Which one of the Reservoir Dogs have now sold over 19 million copies actors also starred in The Piano? worldwide. a) Harvey Smith The books on offer are: b) Harvey Keitel ● Internet for Dummies ● Multimedia & CD-ROMs for c) Harvey Nichols Dummies ● Windows 95 for Dummies Send your entry to: ● The new Sex for Dummies, by Dr PCW/Dummies Competition Ruth Westheimer — yes, that Dr. Ruth, Personal Computer World Editorial and, yes, it is about sex. VNU House Altogether we’re offering more than 32-34 Broadwick Street £100-worth of prizes. London W1A 2HG Top Ten Books: May 1996 1 Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days Sams.net £37.50 2 Inside Visual C++ Microsoft Press £41.99 3 Hooked on Java Addison-Wesley £24.95 4 Doing Objects in Microsoft Visual Basic 4 Ziff-Davis Press £37.49 5 Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML 3.0 in a Week Sams.net £26.95 6 Delphi How-To Waite Group £36.50 7 Microsoft Windows 95 Resource Kit Microsoft £46.99 8 Delphi Developer’s Guide Sams £46.99 9 Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML in 14 Days Sams.net £37.50 10 Web Page Design Cookbook Wiley £22.50
List supplied by The PC Bookshop, 11 & 12 Sicilian Avenue, London WC1A 2HQ Tel: 0171 831 0022. Fax: 0171 831 0443
230 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PCW FUN
❜ Kids s t Uf f An educational CUTTING EDGE month, this, with Safe Internet access for kids, as well as music, maths and swimming tutors. But there’s a bit of fun, too.
e’ve spent a lot of time this month, Siobán and I, exploring the latest online service to reach our shores: America Online (AOL), officially Wales and Scotland is launchedW in the UK at the begin- that America Online is ning of this year. offering free unlimited There’s a great kids’ area on access to itself, the AOL and a proud claim made by Internet and the World AOL is its family orientation: Wide Web. Jonathan search for something naughty, Bulkeley, AOL’s manag- even the procreation of the ing director said: “We human species, and you’ll be believe that it is imper- told in no uncertain terms to get ative that schools your face out of the gutter! become an active part of AOL offers parental control the wider electronic com- features which enable the mas- munity, which is why we are ter account holder — in this opening up AOL free of family, that means Dad — to charge for schools to use.” I restrict access to certain areas can only respond with two and features on AOL. and a half cheers; what about There are four such features: primary schools? I can block instant messages (the immediate, person-to-per- Education son conversations that can only AOL has also done a deal with be viewed by the sender and Anglia Multimedia, a partner of receiver); block access to inter- Anglia Television, to create a active chat areas; block access special National Curriculum- to the member-created rooms based at the online site Educa- within chat; and block access to tion Anglia. (Top) Get your head out of the gutter! special-interest rooms. It will be split into four main (Centre) A good childrens’ area already on AOL and it will The excellent news for sec- areas: Online Learning, provid- only get better! ondary schools and local educa- ing help with all National and (Above) CompuServe’s new Parental Control Centre tion IT centres in England, other curriculum topics; Parents
233 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PCW ● FUN CUTTING EDGE
understanding of music theory. sition and the software will automatically You would quickly learn the fundamen- notate it. Absolutely brilliant! tals of music and the relationship between written pitch and the piano keyboard: the Breakaway Maths staves, octaves, sharps and flats, key signa- Breakaway Maths is intended for schools tures and so on. The hard work of the and is, accordingly, on the more expensive lessons is rewarded by games but these are side of the software market. This seems games designed to hone music skills. thoroughly daft to me since the tight bud- The package also includes the “Music gets on which most schools seem to work Doodle Pad”: a software tool which gives these days precludes spending a lot on soft-
CUTTING EDGE you the opportunity to compose your own ware. music and hear it played back as well as to Nevertheless, it is a great disc which listen to and modify sample musical pieces. Siobán really enjoyed using. This was espe- Music Ace uses an on-screen piano key- cially good because it is designed to help board to present musical concepts, although children between the ages of seven and 12- and Teachers, an area for this is really no more than a convenience. years old who are experiencing difficulty adults interested in education; (Top) You’ll soon Music Ace can be used by students of with maths, which up to a point Siobán is, Out and About, which be reading music as if it were any instrument and you can select whether even though she really needs little more encompasses travel; In the Play- a book the instruction is presented for both treble than a bit of confidence building. ground, with an interactive bul- (Right) Breakaway Maths is and bass staves, treble staff only, of bass In essence, the CD-ROM is set in the letin board, chat areas, clubs designed to help 7- to 12- staff only. context of the rides at Breakaway Park (in and competitions, a changeable year-olds who are Music Ace supplements traditional class- reality, the Alton Towers theme park in home project and a sports area. experiencing difficulties room teaching methods but is also inexpen- Staffordshire). Children have a map which with the subject sive enough for the home — and since it is they must use to find their way around the New controls never too late to learn music, it can be used 12 locations, getting help along the way Last February CompuServe, too, by the entire family. from four friends; Rupa, Lisa, Nicky and introduced new parental controls David. following a partnership deal with Music Works 2 At each of the 12 locations, children Microsystems, developers of the If you have a budding Mozart at home, a encounter either an activity area or an inves- Cyber Patrol software. (Below) With over 20 more heavyweight program is Music tigation area. At the former, the child is Following a German investi- million books sold, Works 2. asked a set of questions. If these questions gation into Internet content, the adventures of This is a serious bit of composing soft- are correctly answered the child is shown a CompuServe suspended access Topsy and Tim now ware which can be worked in two ways. video of half a ride as it would be to more than two hundred news- come to CD-ROM Very simply, you can manually place musi- experienced if you were actually on it. To groups. The discontinuation of cal notes on the staves — there are many finish the ride, further questions must be this suspension for all except annotations provided, including rests, answered. five newsgroups, each identified ous in the wrong, small, dynamics, ornaments, guitar tablatures and Investigation areas present maths in a as containing explicit child hands) safe and secure so on. problem-solving situation. There is a pornography materials, from prying fingers. You can then play back your composition money-handling problem set in a toy shop, coincides with the introduction The idea is that soft- — providing you have a Windows-compati- for example. of parental controls. Parents can ware is allocated to ble sound card. Alternatively, if you have a At the start, children are given a range of now restrict access to Internet rooms; games to the MIDI device, such as a keyboard, attached questions and the level of difficulty they services and to several services games room and so on. to your computer you can play your compo- encounter thereafter is dependent on their on CompuServe itself There can be public and pri- answers. vate rooms and even private Looney Tunes on the mat From an adult Home PC restrictions sections of public rooms, so point of view, the Still on the subject of keeping that I can block access to Siobán is a big fan of some of the Looney Tune characters (a CD-ROM would be the kids away from places, it’s games like Doom which are five-foot high Wile E Coyote sits in her bedroom!) and my eye spoiled by the stilted also a good idea to restrict too gritty and graphic for pected, but what was caught this month by a range of mouse mats and wrist acting of the access to some material on the young users. about Music impressed me was how quickly rests featuring Bugs Bunny, Sylvester and Tweety, Wile E, and children, but Siobán home computer, such as the KidSecure could be the solu- Ace. I’d loaded it up on Siobán’s she took to the program — and the Tasmanian Devil, among others. They are very colourful got on with the pro- family accounts. tion to letting the children near computer and was messing stuck with it instead of switching and good quality. gram and her KidSecure for Windows 95 is the computer — especially one about with it. I had been called to a game, or some other I was particularly pleased with the Mini Wristpads for use delighted grin when designed to do just that. This that is also used for business. away for a while, during which favourite software. with a mouse — for some time now, I’ve been using the she got a particularly nifty bit of software actually time Siobán came in. I returned Music Ace teaches the funda- Microsoft Natural Keyboard which has a built-in wrist rest tough question cor- gives every computer user in the Music Ace after about three-quarters of an mentals of music. During 24 (which I now wouldn’t be without) but I’d recently begun to rect is a memory family their own desktop with Two of Siobán’s favourite soft- hour to find her happily going comprehensive lessons, you are feel a strain in my wrists when using the mouse for any that I’m sure will access to their own applications. ware packages this month were through the various questions in taken, step by step, through extended period of time: the Mini-Wristpad has been a boon. stay with me for the This means I could have my Music Ace and Breakaway the program. everything from an introduction rest of my life. personal finance manager and Maths. She actually knew more to the staff, through key signa- various utilities (highly danger- I must tell you a little story about music than I had ever sus- tures and major scales, to an
234 235 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 PCW ● FUN CUTTING EDGE
Essential Steps to Swimming There are some games, too. I came away from this CD-ROM with mixed Three titles are currently available: Topsy feelings: Essential Steps to Swimming and Tim At Granny and Grandpa’s; Topsy looked fun (Siobán being a keen swimmer) and Tim at the Supermaket; and Topsy and but I thought it was disappointing and Tim Go To School. expensive. Paul Begg Only after having persevered with it did I really begin to see its values. Although I nevertheless thought it could do with at least a 50 percent cut in price. PCW Details The CD-ROM is recommended by sev- AOL eral swimming associations and supports Price £29.95 the National Curriculum Key Stages 2+ and Costs £5.95 per month which includes five hours free online. Additional hours charged at 14+ Physical Education courses. £1.85. It can be used by absolute beginners, Contact America Online through experienced swimmers, to coaches Tel 0171 385 9404 and as a study aid, this CD-ROM could Rating n/a prove very useful. You can watch a video of a swimming KidSecure stroke with complimentary animations Price £29.95 (plus VAT) showing the stroke above and below the Contact Guildsoft water-line. You can watch these repeatedly, Tel 01752 895100 ★★★✩✩ until the body movement is perfectly fixed in Rating your mind. You can even get to grips with Music Ace complex theories such as counterbalancing, Price £25.49 floating and levers. Contact Guildsoft In addition, there is a lot of information Tel 01752 895100 about water safety, constant reminders to Rating ★★★★✩ reinforce the lessons learned and even a simple quiz. Music Works 2 Price £49 Topsy and Tim Contact Guildsoft I’m glad to see that very young children are Tel 01752 895100 Rating ★★★✩✩ being increasingly catered for. It was a plea- sure to discover that Penguin Children’s Breakaway Maths Books has released three CD-ROMS based Contact Yorkshire International Thomson on the popular Topsy and Tim books by Multimedia Jean and Gareth Anderson. Price £65 This series of pre-school books was Tel 0113 243 8283 written more than 30 years ago and sales Rating ★★★★✩ exceeding 21 million copies are testimony to their popularity. Essential Steps to Swimming The nice thing about these books is that Price £65 Contact Yorkshire International Thomson they deal with various things that happen in Multimedia a young child’s life and which can be Tel 0113 243 8283 disturbing at the time: such as having a Rating ★★✩✩✩ babysitter for the first time, going to school and so on. Topsy and Tim At Granny and Grandpa’s; The CD-ROMs bring Topsy and Tim to Topsy and Tim at the Supermarket; life. They are traditional, animated Topsy and Tim Go To School storybooks. The stories can either be nar- Price £19.99 (incl VAT) rated, or you can read along with your child, Contact Penguin Electronic Publishing clicking on difficult words to hear them Tel 0171 416 3000 Rating ★★★★✩ again. Clicking on-screen “hot-spots” results in an animation of some sort. Looney Tunes Mousepad, Wristpad and A few additions give these CD’s lasting Mini Wristpad appeal: there are six jigsaws (which help Prices £5.85, £9.35 and £6.80 respectively. shape recognition) and six pictures to Contact Fellowes colour on-screen. Or the outline can be Tel 01302 885331 printed and coloured, with crayons or Rating n/a coloured pencils, away from the computer.
236 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 238 C the AtomicBomb America’s RacetoBuild ● the Edge ● Portrait ofmyWorld ● are notownedbyCorbis,justthe ROM developers.Theoriginals publishers, newspapersandCD- one whoneedsit,includingbook tronically andlicensesittoany- company archivesmaterialelec- ness islicensingimages.The CD-ROMs Critical Mass: Volcanoes: Lifeon Paul Cézanne:
CUTTINGexhibition, andwatch unplugged. rock legends EDGEGet hiptotheBeats, enjoy aprivate viewoftheCézanne Bill Gatesanditsmainbusi- orbis isentirelyownedby chirping. Findingtheworksismade veryeasywiththischart Walk aroundCezanne’sstudioand listentothecicadas PCW ● MEDIA ject. Despitehavingacore ment ofaparticularpro- images forthedevelop- saves moneyinbuying archives, whichcertainly are suggestedbythe these archives.Thetitles launched aretakenfrom reproduction. rights totheirelectronic arrival attheTateof CD isveryaptlytimedwiththe on themarket. than manyoftheCDscurrently uinely interactiveandmultimedia has madethesetitlesmoregen- archive ofonemedium,Corbis The threeCDtitlesjust The releaseoftheCézanne that his wordsquotedfromletters. “Cézanne” speakingoverthetop, stylish animationswith theories. out moreabouthisartand works, andthroughthisyoufind where hecopiedmanyofthe artist’s studioortheLouvre, sketched inpencil,suchasthe around virtualenvironments highly accomplished.Youmove exhibition. Technically,itis The “video”sectionsare interpretation oftheartitself. theories makeupforanybland visuals andtheinsightinhis studio. Ultimately,however,the less oldmanpotteringabouthis He isportrayedmoreasaharm- areomitted. such asTheRape, and hismoretroublingworks, turbed characterisside-stepped suggestion ofCézanneasadis- content isgood,ifsafe.Any On aneducationallevel,the Mount Etnaasit Those takenof they arestunning. Geographic. And National assignment for shot themasan who originally Russ Ressmeyer, photographs of based aroundthe Volcanoes is tary approach. take adocumen- The othertitles in Volcanoes Russ Ressmeyer, photography by Geographic Stunning National PCW ● MEDIA
erupts are truly amazing, as Ressmeyer has got dangerously close to flowing, molten lava. The CD looks back at the his- tory and culture,
mythology even, CUTTING EDGE that has grown up around volcanoes. Helen Mirren abnegated all responsibility. provides the voiceover, but the All three Corbis CDs are well CD is interesting mainly for the made and visually splendid, but Ressmeyer photographs. they all suffer a little from super- Finally, Critical Mass is a ficiality. There is plenty to hold documentary on the your attention, but little to get development of the atom bomb you really excited. He’s on the ROM, Daddyo. Get out your black beret, slip on the and is actually one of the most Adele Dyer turtleneck and lay some jazz on the turntable. Without this, you inventive CDs. You can choose don’t know Jack the medium you prefer for most Paul Cézanne: Portrait of my of the disk — for example, in World the sections on the most promi- Contact Corbis UK 0171 278 1387 nent Los Alamos scientists, Price £39.99 you can choose either a video ●●❍❍❍ Critical Mass: America’s Race to presentation or a text-based Volcanoes: Life on the Edge Build the Atomic Bomb summary. The whole package is Contact Corbis UK 0171 278 1387 Contact Corbis UK 0171 278 1387 extremely slick, from the news- Price £49.99 Price £49.99 reel-style introduction to the ●●❍❍❍ ●●❍❍❍ virtual reality tour of the Los Alamos site. However, as in the Cézanne, the approach taken is somewhat facile. There is no discussion of the repercussions of the Los Alamos project or even of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki explo- sions. Corbis claims not to have made a CD which is purely pro, ● A Jack Kerouac but in side-stepping the moral ROMnibus danger areas they have ● The Crucible If you’re looking for a CD full of bongo-beating, black beret- wearing beatniks, you won’t find it in A Jack Kerouac ROMnibus. But if you want some serious, historical Kerouac edification A newsreel then yes, Daddyo, it’s here. presentation gives The Kerouac ROMnibus is an excellent really meant to educate rather introductrion to the than entertain and it’s been circumstances done impressively. It opens surrounding the with a video shot of a young development of the and hip-looking Kerouac reciting bomb, while there is passages from one of his books. a plethora of This sequence then brings you information on the to a point-and-click interface Los Alamos project that navigates you through his life. There’s plenty to learn about
239 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PCW ● MEDIA
A Jack Kerouac ROMnibus Penguin’s CD provides Contact Penguin Electronic an excellent introduction 0171 416 3000 to one of the 20th CD-ROM for PC and Macintosh century’s greatest Price (incl VAT) £49.99 playwrights Rating ●●●●❍
The Crucible Contact Penguin Electronic 0171 416 3000
CUTTING EDGE himself talking about the CD-ROM for PC genesis of the play and Price (incl VAT) £49.99 what it meant to many dur- Rating ●●●●❍ ing the Macarthyite era in the US during the 1950s. There are comments from actors — Dustin Hoffman, for instance — about their views of Miller and The Kerouac, and Penguin has done ROM for Windows. It’s perfect Crucible. The whole CD-ROM is a good job of distilling it. You for theatre buffs or teachers simple to interact with and clear can find out about his life and wanting their students to delve in its presentation of the back- relationships with other key Beat deeper into the meaning of ground material. ● MTV figures such as Neal Cassady Arthur Miller’s play. The whole Both CD-ROMs provide an Unplugged and William S Burroughs. Or, if CD is focused on the elements overflow of detailed information It was inevitable that a spin-off you’re feeling voyeuristic, you of the work, starting with its and are a good buy for the seri- CD-ROM would appear based can browse through his letters origins right through to its ous reader of literature. The only around the successful MTV and diaries, all of which are present-day relevance. real complaint that can be raised series of acoustic concerts fea- scanned in from original mater- Using the CD is like going out is that Penguin hasn’t released turing leading rock artists such ial. There are also recorded to the theatre. You first enter the any titles from UK authors, so as Nirvana, REM and, er, Tony recitations of his work, photos, foyer where you can pick up a the classroom relevance of these Bennett. interviews with his contempo- programme, venture backstage, titles may be diminished. That You are promised over 70 raries and, for the ambitious, meet the playwright, and view being said, both these CDs are unplugged artists, but if you 448 pages of The Dharma Bums (er, actually read) the play. excellent teaching tools and were expecting 70 video clips to read. One of the most fascinating Penguin offers teacher’s guides you are going to be Just as informative but a little and educational aspects of this for both. disappointed. Only a selected less slick is The Crucible CD- CD are the video clips of Miller Dylan Armbrust number of the featured artists
240 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 Young andPearlJam.Very ing, evenbignameslikeNeil a musiccliporjusttracklist- whole songs.Theresteitherget fewer areallowedtoperform get thevideotreatment;even MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 242 loaded itonmymachine,thescreen wasreducedtoanarrow and therecommendedresolution is640x480,butwhenI drivers. Itcanrunundereither Windows 95or3.1 looking forlinks. a bittiresomesecondtimearound,especiallywhenyouare many ofthepages—greatfirsttimethrough,butitcanbe happening. Littlevideosstartupautomaticallywhenyouopen as yourattentionisimmediatelyattractedbywhatever while. Youcangetincrediblylazyinfrontofadisklikethis, overwhelming; infact,itcangetalittleannoyingafter superficially. individual typesofplane,butthetechnologyisdealtwith sections focusonmilitaryandcommercialflying click backontotheoriginalpageclearlink.Other as eachofthelinksappearoveroriginalpage,andyoucan appear withlinkstootherpages.Youcannavigatequiteeasily American accents.Aseachguidetalks,aseriesofpages and anairlinestewardess.ThevoicesfeaturebothBritish So, amongothers,thereisaflyinginstructor,fighterpilot jolly, whoexplaincertainfieldsassociatedwithaeronautics. choose fromaroundtendifferentguides,allofthemquite accompany youreverymood.Inthe“guides”sectionyoucan people. and producedsomethingwhichshouldinterestmost anoraks. ButMicrosofthascunninglyavoidedthattrap some kindofaero-techie’sdream—planespottingfor like aWorldWar2bomber.Youassumeitisgoingtobe picture ofthefrontwhat,toaninexperiencedeye,looks The boxofthisCDdoesnotaugurwell.Itfeaturesahuge ● CUTTING EDGE in MTV’snewCD Kurt Cobainfeaturesheavily More unpluggedthanmost, Microsoft WorldofFlight The onlydownsidewasaproblem Ihadwiththegraphics The amountofsoundandvideoonthisCDispositively Throughout theCDyouhavevariousnarratorsto PCW ● MEDIA are luckyenoughtoownan sound isaboveaverage.Ifyou video clipsrunsmoothlyandthe the wholeMTVlook.All and thedesignisinkeepingwith of productionanddesignishigh it. Thequality ever. Farfrom ROM, how- a poorCD- unplugged. This isnot clicking althoughthecentral his age. few lip-synchproblems.Mustbe McCartney seemedtohavea screen, althoughpooroldPaul from acoupleoffeetatfull you cangetapassableimage Maniacs. EvenwithoutMPEG Paul McCartneyand10,000 resolution videoclipsofNirvana, you canenjoyfull-screen,high- Interactivity mostlyinvolves Rating Price Contact Adele Dyer it couldbeasourceofannoyance. read-me filesuggestsyoucheckyourdriversifthishappens,but strip inthecentreofmonitorandcouldnotbealtered.The £29.99 incVAT(RRP) MPEG-equipped PC ●●●❍❍ Microsoft Connection0345002000 Rating Price Contact MTV Unplugged unplugged frommyPC. PJ Fisher CD-ROMs, islikelytoremain more. Sothis,likeallmyother still leftwithafeelingofwanting listened tothemusic,youare watched allthevideoclipsand together. Havingdonethisonce, how Unpluggedshowsareput text welltogiveaninsightinto esting, usingvideo,soundand out ona16MbPentium120. I hadproblemswithvideodrop- need atleast8Mbtorun,although memory-intensive andyouwill have beenbetter.Thisdiscis control. Asimplesliderwould control whichisverydifficultto about all70bands,usesarotary section, whichaccessesinfo The infosectionsareinter- £24.99 ●●●❍❍ CIC 01818469433 movie... Game for a movie... Game for a 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Mindscape 01444246333 strategy gameinourMarchissue? a film.” and hascommented:“We’rewonderingifit’sgoingtobemadeinto Snoop. Meanwhile,theretailerhasbeeninundatedwithenquiries ing totheinteractivegameindustryforinspiration,”reported Shining, andtheself-bannedAClockworkOrange,couldbe“look- retailer. Kubrick,themanbehind2001:ASpaceOdyssey,The recently spiedbuyingacopyofthenewreleasefromMindscape reported thatthefilmdirectorwas Computer RetailNews,has at VNUBusinessPublication’s Panthers. the warcombatgame,Steel Stanley Kubrickcouldbebasedon Charts R Could thisbetheresultofDavidBrake’sreviewhit Snoop, the“in-storedetective” F C)Ocean Virgin Microsoft Domark Virgin Virgin Virgin Championship Manager:Italia(CD) Star Trek25th:WhiteLabel(CD) Acclaim EA TFX (CD) The Dig(CD) Microprose Encarta 96(CD) Tie-Fighter CollectorsCD Kixx Indiana JonesandtheFateofAtlantis(CD) Ocean Star WarsTrilogy(CD) EA EA Screamer (CD) Top Gun:FireAtWill(CD) Sierra FIFA 96(CD) Rebel Assault—WhiteLabel(CD) Virgin Gabriel Knight2:BeastWithin(CD) USGold Virgin Wing Commander4(CD) Virgin Day oftheTentacle—WhiteLabel(CD) Worms (CD) 7th Guest—WhiteLabel(CD) Virgin Terminator: FutureShock(CD) Command &Conquer(CD) Command &Conquer:CovertOps(CD) next boxofficehitfrom umours aboundthatthe Screenplay
NEWS
G
run onthesystemandresults titles, RaveRacerandTekken,to currently convertingtwoofitshit coin-op developerNamco.Itis the price;aclaimbackedbytop graphics performancewithout scaleable, arcade-quality, NEC andVideoLogic. latest 3Dchipsetfrom launch ofPowerVR,the dramatically withthe F swimming andshootingaffair Dolphin, anunderwater Megadrive hit,EccoThe as theminimumspecification. Sega hasseta60MHzPentium without specialhardware,but Unlike VFRemixtheywillrun games forWindowsusers. announced afurtherthree Edge 3Dcard,Segahas Remix, bundledwithDiamond’s dolphin friendly dolphin PowerVR promises version ofVirtuaFighter ollowing thereleaseofPC First upisaconversionofthe Congo: TheMovie—DescentintoZinjwillcost£39.99. are settoimprove raphics onPCgames . Power VRpowersin. Power VRpowersin ❜ ..Movie for PCW), issettoreleasea3Dactionadventurebasedonthe movie, Congo. industrial espionage,jungledeath-traps,activevolcanoes mission intheimpenetrableAfricanjungle,involving and treacherousrivers.However,inyoursearchforthe flawless diamondhiddenintheLostCityofZinjyou’ll find yourmainadversariesarethefierce,mutant“Grey there arecinematicspecialeffectsandalivelymusical Gorillas”. Alongwithover400photorealistic3Dscenes,
❜ accompaniment. V Players pickupwherethemovieleftoffandfaceanew ❜ i and ButtheadtoyourPC(reviewedlastmonthin acom NewMedia,thepeoplewhobroughtBeavis a game ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL Sega 01713733000 Each gamewillretailat£29.99. combat classic,ComixZone. simulator, andthehigh-speed Tom CatAlley,anaircraftcombat from Sega’s16-bitlibrary,are the original. 95, andmorevideofootagethan 800 x600pixelswithWindows high-resolution graphics,upto version boastsCD-qualitysound, fish anddeadlyriptides.Thenew with frenziedsharks,killerjelly- VideoLogic 01924268969 hidden surfaceremoval. correction andpixel-perfect shadow casting,perspective Gouraud shading,automatic The othertwotitles,alsotaken so farhavebeenstunning. include texturemapping, original. and bitdepththanthe PowerVR’s keyfeatures even higherresolution former willrunatan possibility thatthe There’s eventhe PCW FUN MAY 1996 243 ❜ CUTTING EDGE MAY 1996 WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL 244 D locked awayandsobbingin There areElectoonseverywhere; restore harmonyandbalance. Dark anditisRayman’sjobto totally destroyedbytheevilMr. Electoons’ worldhasbeen Rayman. will onceyoustartplaying mosquitoes? No?—betyou is howtozapthosenasty,huge, that’s buzzingaroundyourhead the-art presentation. the-art A six-pack fullofactionandstate-of- COMMANDER WING S Wing Commanderseries. ment inthehugelysuccessful Freedom isthelatestinstal- CUTTING EDGE Rayman isourhero.The unable tosleepbecauseall o youlieinbedatnight, PRICE CD-ROMs ThePriceof upplied onsix,packed, FUN PCW OF FREEDOM OF with numberfour. and Originhasn’tletusdown improved onitspredecessor, Each episodehasgreatly game, packedfullofourhero’s elled actionandadventure The formatisalong,multi-lev- good transitiontothePC. has madeanunusually for consoles,thegame from Betilla,thefairy. and powerdistribution help, withalittleguidance cages —onlyRaymancan Set twoyearsafterthewar Originally designed 1V -THE demonstrating his dynamic feats, acrobatic oraero- as somethingsaren’tatallobvi- trouble isn’tthatstraightforward ting aroundandsteeringclearof action, no-thinkinggame:get- interesting manoeuvres. can makeforsomevery hands andfeet,yes—butthis doesn’t haveanyarmsorlegs— a difference.Raymanhimself little extradetailsthatmakesuch animation issuperb,withthose colours arebeautifulandthe gives awonderful3Deffect;the scenery ismulti-layeredand package arebrilliant.The look. Thegraphicsinthis you’ve hadacloser in theroleofBlair. superb; especiallyMarkHamill thought outandthecastingis All thecharactersarewell (played byMalcolmMcDowell). the white-hairedAdmiralTowlyn Maniac (akaTomWilson)and these arethecockypilot, with severaloldfaces.Among a taskwhichseeshimreunited attacks onConfederationships; to investigatemysterious pher Blair.Blair’sjobthistimeis once againasColonelChristo- like Kilrathi,WingIVcastsyou between humansandthecat- a familiarformat, superhuman Rayman until This certainlyisn’tanall- don’t disregard powers. Despite being resolutions andsupportfor seen onaPC,withSVGA video issomeofthebestever to seewhat’scomingnext.The action sothatyoualwayswant way ofpullingyouintothe limits gameplay,Originhasa from timetotime.Whilethis step inandalterthestoryline but youdogetthechanceto the moviesequencesarelinear ous helpingsofvideo.Most missions inspace,withgener- mixing fast-paceddogfighting the sameformulaasothers, Wing IV’sgameplayfollows back tothoselittlemozzies. magical, whichremindsme… totally addictiveandtruly go outandbuyRayman.It’s powerful combo.Iurgeyouto switch offthe RAM andaPentiumbutyoucan you shouldideallyhave8Mbof To getthebestoutofRayman, should bekeptbusyforawhile. around tenlevelsineach,you out. — therestisuptoyouwork And that’sallI’mgivingaway purple grapesare,infact,boats. ous, initially;forinstance,giant Contact Price ROM, Win95compatible. compatible, double-speedCD- recommended), SoundBlaster 33MHz orhigher,4MbRAM(8Mb System requirements Janice Murray background ifrunningonaless With sixdifferentworldsand £30 (street) Ubisoft 01819414004 486DX2 PCW FUN DukeDuke NukemNukem 3D3D Duke nukes the competition with its all-new game engine.
uke Nukem 3D is the latest Dtitle from Apogee, the com- pany that kick-started the PC 3D games revolution. Id’s Doom may have become the bench- CUTTING EDGE mark by which others are judged, but Apogee’s Wolfenstein was first and had just as many fans. Duke Nukem 3D follows in the same baddie-blast- ing footsteps, but thanks to an all number of flying limbs and new game engine, occasional (pixelated) nudity, blows the compe- but there’s nothing too bad in tition away. there. The plot Duke Nukem 3D won’t win behind Duke any prizes for originality, but it Nukem is as your disposal, if So far, Duke Nukem 3D clearly shows the way forward predictable as ever — destroy you can find them, include a sounds the same as any other for out-and-out PC action the alien invaders before they rather satisfying rocket blast-em, but its presentation games. What’s more, in the take over the world and enslave launcher, a shotgun and impres- far exceeds that of its predeces- Apogee tradition, the first six all humanity. The game starts in sive looking pipe bombs. You sors. If your machine can handle levels are available for you to try a rundown part of Hollywood, don’t have to look too hard for it, the game can be played with as shareware. If you like it, you complete with seedy cinema, most goodies, but there are oth- SVGA graphics, at resolutions register to receive the whole and you know what you have to ers more difficult to locate. up to 800 x 600 pixels in 256 game. do as soon as you fire your first Among these are a highly useful colours. Most players will prob- Chris “Dook” Cain round. The idea is to explore pair of night vision goggles, and ably opt for the slightly faster ● Try the shareware version on your surroundings, investigate a jet pack for when you need to 640 x 480 pixels but even this this month’s free, cover- every nook and cranny, and rise to the occasion. offers four times the detail of mounted CD-ROM. shoot seven shades out of any- Other parts of the game have Doom. Couple this with excel- thing that isn’t human. you exploring a red light district, lent stereo sound effects and a System requirements No self-respecting hero a night club, the local space sta- gravely voice-over and you’ve 486DX2 66 or higher, 8Mb RAM, would be satisfied with a mere tion and another world. Each got all the ingredients for a SoundBlaster, double speed CD- hand gun and hard-bitten sol- level becomes harder and there highly enjoyable action adven- ROM dier of fortune, Duke Nukem, is are four difficulty settings to test ture. Some parental guidance is Price £39.95 (CD-ROM only) no exception. Other weapons at your skill. advised due to the sheer Contact US Gold 0121 625 3366
thousands of colours. can easily get lost in it for a couple of The dogfighting and other interac- hours and it would make a great tive sequences are better than before, introduction to the genre for those with new ships to fly, improved mis- who’ve never tried it before. sions and impressively devious ene- Chris “Wingco” Cain mies. A joystick is still the best way to handle yourself in the cockpit but the keyboard makes a good substitute. System Requirements The sensation of flying through space 486DX 75MHz or higher, MS-DOS 5.0 or is as bad as ever, but hey, this isn’t higher, 8Mb RAM, 30Mb free hard disk supposed to be a flight simulator. space, SoundBlaster, double-speed CD- With a gripping storyline and state ROM drive, MSCDEX 2.23 or higher, of the art presentation, Wing VESA Local Bus or PCI SVGA graphics Commander IV — The Price of Free- card, keyboard and joystick or mouse. dom is further proof that you can Price £59.99 (CD-ROM only) make a good interactive movie. You Contact Electronic Arts 01753 549442
245 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PCW FUN TOPGUN FIRE AT WILL
The Navy demands a lot from “a pilot: strength, courage, resilience and above all else, cool under fire.” For millions of people, Top Gun is an unforgettable film. Now, thanks to Microprose and Spectrum Holobyte, you can star
inCUTTING EDGE it. Top Gun — Fire At Will puts you in the cockpit of a Grummun F14 Tomcat and brings all the thrills of air-to-air combat without all that tedious and pull too many Gs while training beforehand. banking, you could be temporar- You take over from Tom ily blinded and shot down by a Cruise as hot shot pilot, Maver- nasty Mig-29 or Su-27. voice-over comments and music An excellent blend of a realis- ick, and everyone is relying on It pays to thoroughly master — even the Top Gun theme tune tic flight simulator and a combat you to successfully complete a the plane’s controls: to practice is in there. “fire at will” blaster. number missions. It’s not going your skills, try landing on the To make everything run Nicola Kingsley to be easy though, as piloting aircraft carrier after an exhaust- smoothly you really need a Pen- takes great skill and ing mission. But remember, tium 90MHz and upwards, but manoeuvring ability, while tar- these planes cost an absolute the minimum spec is a System requirements 486DX2/66 geting using the numerous head fortune to replace! 486DX2/66. The game’s setup 8Mb, 30Mb hard drive space, VESA up displays (HUDs) demands Top Gun is graphically excel- utility is quite thorough, provid- or PCI SVGA video card, DOS 5.0, more than a quick trigger finger. lent, displaying in either 256 or ing suggestions for problems double speed CD-ROM, joystick Microprose is famous for its thousands of colours at either such as freeing-up more base and mouse. simulations and while the game 320 x 200 or 640 x 480 resolu- memory. Most joysticks are sup- Price £44.99 is fundamentally a shoot-em-up, tions. Sound is first class, with ported, and are a must for this Contact Spectrum HoloByte / if you don’t watch your flying good use of sound effects, type of game. Microprose 01454 893893 Leisure Lines Brainteasers courtesy of JJ Clessa. Quickie We often read about people who sail around the world, either single- gives a remainder of 9. What are these two weighting numbers? Both handed or in yacht races. Big deal. I happen to know that at no time answers are required to qualify for the prize. during their trip are they more than 7 miles from the nearest land. Just to make the conditions clear: Why is this? 1. No two digits of the weighting number may be the same. 2. A zero may not be used. This month’s Prize Puzzle 1. 1234568 3. In every case, the sum of the products of corresponding digits A moderately difficult problem, this month. Those 2. 7652134 must be divided by 11 to get the required remainder. familiar with check digit methods will find similari- 3. 2578349 Answers on postcards or backs of sealed envelopes — no letters ties, but for the benefit of all, we’ll explain the 4. 6427891 and no floppy disks — to: PCW Prize Puzzle - May 1996, P.O. Box problem as follows: 5. 3946785 99, Harrogate, N. Yorks HG2 0XJ, to arrive not later than the 20th There are nine 7-digit numbers, shown right. 6. 4891276 May 1996. Good Luck! If I choose a weighting number of 4972853, 7. 4783952 containing seven different non-zero digits, and 8. 3615827 Winner of February 1996 Prize Puzzle calculate for the first of the nine numbers 9. 8169453 A good response — 166 entries in all, despite the problem being (1234568): fairly difficult. Alas, quite a few entrants misunderstood the problem a. The sums of the products of corresponding requirements and assumed, wrongly, that the solution had to be digits within the range 1-999. In fact, we said that the problem was about i.e. 4x1 + 9x2 + 7x3 + 2x4 + 8x5 + 5x6 + 3x8 = 145 the summation of consecutive positive integers within the range 1- b. The remainder when this sum (145) is divided by 11 = 2 999, and the required answers (two were requested) were 45045 and (i.e.) 145 modulo 11 = 2) 51975, both of which could be obtained in 26 different ways. Repeat the calculation for the other values in the list, and the The winning card, chosen at random as usual, came from Mr Phil same remainder (2) will always be ontained. This is only true if the Richmond of Daventry in Northants. Congratulations, Phil, your prize weighting number is 4972853. is on its way. However, it is possible to find a weighting number which gives a Meanwhile, to all the near misses, keep trying — it could be your remainder of 7 for every one of the nine values, and also one which turn next!
246 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 PageWiz Microtek a Win PageWiz Microtek a Win F which includesavideocapture Multimedia SuperBundle donated byBITUK. bits andpiecestogiveaway,all media softwareandhardware We haveawholehostofmulti- Multimedia bundles c) recognition b) reconnaissance a) tell uswhatOCRstandsfor.Isit: scanners wehaveonoffer,just Q1. and scanningwithinminutes. parallel port,andyoucanbeup package. operate filemanagement OCR softwareandaneasy-to- comes bundledwithOmniPage our Marchissue. PageWiz better thanthe And forthatyoucan’tdomuch solution: adocumentscanner. Open copyreplace Optical character Optical character One luckywinnerwillgeta Installation iseasy,viathe It istiny,robustandfast,and To winoneofthefive is onlyonesensible or apaperlessofficethere , whichwereviewedin Microtek , graphics b) group a) Is it: just telluswhatMPEGstandsfor. Q 2. MorphStudio a morphingpackage, other runners-upwilleachget the videoeditingpackage.Five will eachget package. and asoftwarevideoediting card, MPEGconversionsoftware
Multimedia bundles Moving picturesevolution Moving picturesexperts Four, second-prizewinners To winoneoftheseprizes, COMPETITION Media StudioPro . , graphics c) Moving pictureexpert but youcanchoosewhatever spraypainted speciallyforus, mice. WehadaPCWmouse to yourownspecification. off, personalisedmice,designed We areofferingindividual,one- different togiveawaythismonth. We’ve gotsomethingabit Microsoft mice Personalised you liketoputonyours— Microsoft isgivingusthe football team’sstrip.We for instance,yourlocal have 15micetobepainted and givenaway. Q3. reason whyweshould choose yourdesignidea. words onapostcardorthe Send usnomorethan20 back ofasealedenvelope. Just giveusaverygood ESNLCMUE WORLD COMPUTER PERSONAL London W1A2HG. 32-34 BroadwickStreet, Publications, VNUHouse, Editorial, VNUBusiness Personal ComputerWorld send to:MayCompetition, daytime telephonenumber,and with yourname,addressand back ofasealedenvelope,along your answersonapostcard,orthe To enterthecompetition,justwrite available inlieuofprizes. No cashalternativeis and hisdecisionisfinal. sole judgeofthecompetition 17th May1996 Microsoft. Entriestoarriveby UKand Microtek, BIT Business Publications, and theirfamilies,ofVNU World exceptforemployees, readers ofPersonalComputer This competitionisopentoall Rules ofentry The EditorofPCWisthe How toenter MAY 1996 . 251 CUTTING EDGE Hands On Contents
OPERATING SYSTEMS Hands On is the place where readers can contribute to PCW, Windows 95 254 and as always we’ll pay for Don’t desert good-old DOS just yet: you might anything we use. Macros, sections need it, says Tim Nott. of code and hints and tips will be rewarded with a £20 book or record Windows 3.1 258 token (please say which you’d DDE wins out over OLE in more ways than one. prefer) and we’ll pay hard cash for Tim Nott explains. longer, more involved pieces. Please include relevant screenshots in .GIF format. OS/2 280 All submissions should be Want to get switched on to OS/2? Then get emailed to the author of the online. Terence Green is your guide. appropriate section or snailmailed to Hands On, Personal Computer 32-Bit 264 World Editorial, VNU House, Warp’s Internet Access Kit lets itself — and 32-34 Broadwick Street, London Chris Bidmead — down. And if you were W1A 2HG. Questions and short wondering what happened to Taligent… hints and tips can be faxed on 0171 316 9313. APPLICATIONS We’re constantly working to 3D Graphics 295 improve the contents of Hands On. Liven up your net pages with 3D graphics, If you have any suggestions, send courtesy of VRML. With Benjamin Woolley. them to the Editor at the address above, or email them to: [email protected] Word Processing 268 Get smart, get SmartBoard to enhance your document editing. With Tim Phillips. Visual Programming 310 Class Assist helps VB 4.0 with its inheritance, and Borland’s Zack Urlocker Spreadsheets 272 gives us the lowdown on Delphi. Billing facilities and button boxes, with Stephen Wells. AND THE REST... NEW! Hardware 288 Databases 276 Our new column has a handle on all things Mark Whitehorn plucks pearls of wisdom hardware. This month, fitting a sound card. from a meter-reading problem. With Roger Gann.
Graphics & DTP 298 Networks 314 There’s more to making selections than Stephen Rodda trips the light fantastic with meets the eye, as Gordon Laing points out. the Samba suite.
Multimedia 302 Macintosh 318 CD-ROM making on a budget, with Panicos System 7.5 Version 2.0 brings all current Georghiades and Gabriel Jacobs. Macs into line. Chris Cain checks it out.
Sound 306 Computer Answers 323 Steven Helstrip paints a musical picture of Frank Leonhardt pulverises problems and subtle contrasts. quashes queries. Then it’s straight in to his Bargain Basement for a rummage around.
PROGRAMMING Beginners 325 Numbers Count 287 Get on a winning streak with Windows 95. Spring into Mike Mudge’s mathematical Eleanor Turton-Hill works wonders. miscellany.
253 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● WINDOWS 95
Brahms & List
There are some things for which we still need good-old DOS. Tim Nott shares some tips for saving and printing file lists, and indulges in an icon-fest involving tubas and footballs. It takes all sorts...
ome things never change. Under able, it was not what I wanted. While it was with a text file, DIR.TXT, located in the cur- SWindows 3.1 it is impossible to save doing so, the second opened into a new rent folder, containing a list of all the files or print a directory listing without either instance of Notepad, and that started print- and folders therein. By default, each line running a DOS session or using a rather ing. At this stage, I came to my senses and will contain the MSDOS filename (truncat- awkward kludge involving the back-up util- switched off the printer. This had the inter- ed to 8 + 3 characters), the size, creation ity. In Windows 95 there’s still no built-in esting result that Notepads kept on load- time and date, and the long filename. You way of saving or printing a list of the con- ing, but each also produced an error mes- can change this using “switches”. Typing tents of a folder — believe me, I’ve tried. sage. Trying to hit the Cancel button on the DIR /V >DIR.TXT, for example, gives a The Find File utility looked like a promising error messages and the Close button on “verbose listing” with the attributes, last start, as you can save a Find together with the Notepads was rather like one of those date accessed and allocation size added. its results — you end up with a *.FND file arcade games where you have to move Just to go an a brief tangent, this last on your desktop. Alas, this is only usable the mouse around very quickly and accu- tells you how much actual disk space the by Find itself: if you try to open it with rately, shooting things before they take file is taking up. This is a factor of “cluster Notepad, for instance, you’ll see mainly over the world. It must have taken about 20 size” — the minimum chunk of hard disk gibberish. minutes to get everything under control, that the operating system can allocate to a Having played around with File Find for and I wasn’t even invited to add my name file which depends on the size of the disk a while, I can tell you one thing not to do. It to the “high score” table. (or partition). If you’ve got a 500Mb parti- must have been one of those “bad brain” tion it’s 8192 bytes, so each of those little days, as in a moment of absent minded- Doing it the easy way shortcuts of a few hundred bytes waste ness I highlighted all the results of a So, back to DOS, where it’s easy, if a little over 7Kb of disk. Going up it gets worse — search for *.TXT files, right-clicked and primitive. Open a DOS session, change to 16Kb over 512Mb and 32Kb over 1024Mb. selected Print, in a misguided attempt to the folder of your choice with the CD com- print the list. mand, and type: DIR > DIR.TXT, omitting, Switch glitch Oh dear. The first file loaded into as always, the single quotes. Lo and There’s a whole load of other switches: /S Notepa, and started printing. Though in behold, the > sign redirects the output to a shows the contents of all sub-folders, /L hindsight this seemed perfectly reason- file rather than the screen, and you end up displays everything in lower-case, and /B
Left The results of sending the SendTo folder itself to the List shortcut
Right Changing the properties of the PIF shortcut
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Icon do anything....
And now for something more frivolous. actual file; but some people take a strong Tobie Osmond emailed from Devon to say dislike to it. TweakUI (February’s Hands On that “For a few months now you have been and CD-ROMs ) will remove these, but saying that it is possible to change the beware — there are bugs (see the readme icons in Windows 95 through the properties file) that can land you in trouble. sheet by right-clicking. For some reason, I Program (.EXE) icons can’t be changed, still can not work out how… I am getting unless you want to use a programmer’s bored with some of the icons I have and resource editor to hack them. In which case, would like to change them.” what are you doing reading this column? I think we’ve covered most of this in bits Data files can, however. Let’s say, for and pieces before, but let’s take the instance, you want all Text files to have a opportunity to indulge in a comprehensive football icon rather than the rather dull icon-fest. The first thing to notice is that all Notepad one. Go to the View menu of any icons are not equal. Taking the easiest first, folder or Explorer window, select Options shortcuts initially assume the icon of the and click the File Types tab. Scroll down to target. If that is a folder, you get the default Text Document (hint — type T to save a lot folder icon. With a program, you normally of scrolling) and highlight it. You’ll see the get the icon built in to the .EXE file, and if icons for both the file type and the the target is a data file then you get the application it opens with below. Click the program icon associated with that kind of Edit button, and at the top of the next file. In all cases, you get a small arrow dialogue box you’ll see Change Icon. The added to the bottom left of the icon. procedure is then exactly the same as for Changing a shortcut’s icon is simple — shortcuts, so browse to right-click, choose Properties, click the WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PIFMGR.DLL and Shortcut tab and you’ll see a button labelled scroll through the icons until you find the Change icon. This opens another dialogue football. Personally, I prefer the tuba, but it box showing the icons available in the takes all sorts. Close your way back through current file. If this is a program file, you’ll the dialogues and all your .TXT files will usually only get one icon to choose from, now be represented as footballs, as will all though some applications — Notepad, for future shortcuts to .TXT files. example — have more. If the shortcut is to Although there are file types — at least a folder you’ll probably get a choice of all on my system — for File Folders and the icons in WINDOWS\SYSTEM32.DLL, Folders, both of which let you change the which contains all the system-wide icons icon, this doesn’t actually seem to do such as folders and the Help book, as well anything apart from change the icon in the as a few others such as a rather fine tree. If file type list. If anyone has found a way to none of those turn you on, you can use the change the default folder icon, please let Browse button to explore any file on your me know. system. Icons can be embedded in .EXE or The system desktop icons can’t be .DLL files, in standalone .ICO file or in third- changed by mortal means — right-click on party “libraries”. Check out PIFMGR.DLL in My Computer or Recycle bin and the WINDOWS\SYSTEM for some nifty Properties dialogue doesn’t offer an option examples. for changing the icon. To do this you either No matter which icon you choose, you’ll have to edit the Registry (see the Tips panel still have the little arrow in the corner. in February’s column) or use something, Personally, I find this a great help — I like to such as TweakUI or MS Plus! that will do know if I’m about to delete a shortcut or an this for you.
gives a “bare” listing with just the file and below. If you want to go elsewhere, CD folder names. You can combine switches C:\OTHER\THINGS takes you there. If — /V /L will give a verbose lower-case list- you want to change drives, just type the ing, and if you want the full switch list, type drive letter and a colon — e.g. D:. If you DIR /?. Avoid using the /P (pause) switch if want to go up a level, type CD.. — three you’re redirecting output to a file: this is for dots takes you up two levels, and so on. I screen use only and stops the output after don’t know if there’s a limit to this, but my each screenfull. current record is five levels (six dots). With To move around folders you use the Windows 95 long folder names, there is a CD (Change Directory) command. Nor- problem. You probably have a folder mally, CD STUFF takes you from the cur- called Program Files in your C: drive. But if rent folder to the folder STUFF one level
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you type CD Program Files you’ll get an Fig 1 DDE speed test macro error message, as DOS doesn’t like the Sub MAIN space. The way round this is to either type channel = DDEInitiate(“Excel”, “rob.xls”) the MSDOS name, which in my case is If channel = 0 Then PROGRA~1, or enclose the folder name MsgBox “Failed to initiate conversation” in double quotes — CD “Program Files”’. Else start$ = Time$() On the right path For count = 1 To 5000 At this point you may be thinking: “Stop! I cell$ = “R” + Mid$(Str$(count), 2) + “C1” only wanted a file list, not a dissertation.” DDEPoke channel, cell$, “123” Fair enough — here comes the clever bit. Next count Start up Notepad, and type in, on the first DDETerminate channel line: end$ = Time$() DIR%1%> C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\DIR.TXT’ MsgBox “Started at “ + start$ + “ finished at “ + end$ then press the Enter key. If that isn’t the End If path to your desktop, or you want to save End Sub the list elsewhere, modify accordingly. Save this wherever you like as DIRLIST.BAT. Open the folder where you’ve just saved Strange goings-on in the Office Microsoft Office Support person Rob DIRLIST.BAT, and open also the SendTo There’s something strange about Microsoft spoke to, this is a “32-bit problem” and folder which should be in your main Win- Office 95, as reader Rob Thompson points DDE was “an outgoing function”. Howev- dows folder. Right-drag DIRLIST.BAT into out, and that is Dynamic Data Exchange. er, he had no suggestions for achieving SendTo and choose Create Shortcut. The Now I know we’re all supposed to be using the same end with OLE and couldn’t shortcut you have is not a normal .LNK file, OLE these days, but there are certain explain why the “32-bit” problem didn’t it’s a DOS Program Information File, or PIF. things that OLE just won’t do. Perhaps arise under NT. Right-click it, select Properties and go to the when Word eventually gets equipped with Program tab. Clear the box labelled Work- Visual Basic for Applications this will Roll-your-own-icon update ing and tick the Close On Exit box. Leave change, but at the moment, if you want, Should you want to roll your own icons Run as Normal Window — it won’t work say, Word and Excel to communicate auto- then the news at present is not encourag- minimised. You can rename the shortcut to matically you still need to use DDE. ing. The only icon utilities I’ve managed to something more elegant than Shortcut to If you haven’t a clue what I’m talking track down for Windows 95 are the dirlist.bat if you like — mine’s just called List. about, turn to this month’s Windows 3.1 Microsoft Imagedit utility that came with column (page 258) for a brief explanation some Beta versions of Windows 95, and a It only takes a second and tutorial. Everything there applies to program called Ezicons by Paul Traver. And that’s it. Right click on a folder, select Windows 95 too, and the macros work The former is an icon editor; it will import Send To and click on the new shortcut. In under Word 7/Excel 7. and export .ICO and .BMP files but can’t a second or so you’ll have a Notepad file Anyway, Rob sent in the short Word extract icons from .EXE or .DLL files. It on your desktop entitled DIR.TXT with a macro listed in Fig 1 (page 254). All this also carries an extremely forthright copy- listing of the contents of the selected fold- does is make a note of the time, then fill right message, so we can’t include it on er. Pretty cool, or what? Note that any 5000 successive cells in Excel with the the cover CD. The second is an icon man- existing DIR.TXT will get overwritten with value 123, then take a second time check. agement utility — it will extract icons from each Send To… You can change this so You need to run this from any open Word any file, and save them as .ICO files, the file gets added to, rather than replaced document, and have an empty spread- .BMPs or in its own libraries. It doesn’t, by, replacing the > sign with >>. If you sheet called ROB.XLS open in Excel. I’ve however, have any built-in icon editing want to save DIR.TXT in the folder you are changed Rob’s original macro slightly to facilities, though there is a rather awkward listing, rather than the desktop, then show the seconds. As it happens, sec- way round this using Windows Paint. It’s change DIRLIST.BAT to read: onds aren’t terribly important in Windows also still in a Beta version and the author cd %1% 95, as the total time taken was over 9 forbids inclusion on CD-ROM without dir %1% >dir.txt minutes. Under Windows 3.1 it was express permission, so I’m afraid you’re The %1%, by the way, instructs DOS to around 30 seconds, and 40 seconds out of luck on this one too. If you want to take the folder name as the target of the under Windows NT. contact him, however, his email address is CD and DIR commands. You can of Rob did his tests on a different Pentium [email protected]. I’ll dig fur- course incorporate any of the switches machine, so I thought I’d try on my humble ther into icon editors in a future column, mentioned earlier. dual-booting 486/50. Though the contrast but meanwhile, if you’ve written or know of Finally, you can send a list straight to wasn’t quite as spectacular, the job was one please let me know. the printer by putting LPT1: (or whatever completed in 1 minute 12 seconds under your printer’s connected to) to the right of Windows 3.1/Word 6/Excel 5 as against 8 the > sign. If for some reason it’s not work- minutes 38 seconds in Windows95/Word PCW Contacts ing, go back to the shortcut: Properties 7/Excel 7. Being a sucker for punishment, and clear the Close On Exit box — you’ll I tried once more under Windows95, this Tim Nott can be contacted by post via then be able to see any error messages time using Word 6/Excel 5. One minute 28 PCW or by email at that occur. seconds, this time. According to the [email protected]
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There’s life in the old dog yet
Tim Nott highlights areas in which dynamic data exchange still wins out over OLE.
hose of you with long memories, or Windows, controlling another, Cardfile, going on. There’s all sorts of room for Tlong bookshelves, may recall that without using DDE proper. improvement, but I’ve deliberately kept it some time ago I wrote that “DDE will be The object of the exercise is to prompt simple and you should see Cardfile leap covered comprehensibly in a future Hands the user to enter a word, then start Cardfile into action and fill in its own Go To… box On session.” I can’t remember whether I with a data file loaded and look for an entry when you run it. really meant “comprehensively” but I think whose title contains that word. An obvious ● Hint: click the OK button rather than I’ll try and stick with making it comprehen- example would be to look up an address press Enter after typing the name. sible for now — sorry about the wait. when writing a letter. It assumes you have Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) dates a Cardfile data file named ADDRESS.CRD Swimming the channel back to pre-Windows 3.0 days and pro- in the directory C:\LETTERS and that Proper DDE is far more functional — it vides a way of transferring information or CARDFILE.EXE is on your path. uses “channels” to communicate rather commands between applications without The macro in Fig 1 works Fig 1 Word Cardfile macro using the clipboard. To a large extent, it’s with version 2.0 of Word for been superseded by Object Linking and Windows and later. If you use Sub MAIN Embedding (OLE) but there are things a different word processor, name$ = InputBox$(“Type in a name”) DDE can do that OLE can’t, at least not in then I’m sorry, but it shouldn’t ‘prompts for a name its present incarnation. be too hard to translate. Any- restore$ = “%( )” + “r” One example of DDE at work is the way thing preceded by an apostro- SendKeys restore$ installation routines add icons to Program phe is a comment — Word ‘stores keystrokes to restore Manager, automatically. For end-user ignores these statements ‘cardfile if minimised access, the applications involved must which are simply there to find$ = “{f4}” + name$ + “{enter}” either have routines built in to the menus, explain to the reader what’s SendKeys find$ or a macro language with which to con- ‘stores the go to command struct them. Look, no hands — Cardfile On Error Goto whoops Let’s look first, however, at a very sim- fills in its own Goto box via ‘if the cardfile isn’t open ple example of one application, Word for a Word macro ‘we can’t activate it ‘so macro jumps to whoops label AppActivate “cardfile - address.crd”, 0 ‘activate cardfile ‘and carry out the keystrokes Goto skip ‘we don’t need the rest if ‘cardfile was running so ‘jump to the skip label whoops: Shell “cardfile.exe c:\letters\address.crd”, 1 ‘address.crd wasn’t loaded, so load it ‘and send the stored keystrokes Err = 0 ‘resets the error handler skip: End Sub
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Fig 2 Word-to-Excel DDE macro
Sub MAIN Dim data$(5) channel = DDEInitiate(“Excel”, “list.xls”) ‘opens channel 1 for DDE StartOfDocument lastinv$ = DDERequest$(channel, “R2C7”) thisinv$ = Str$(Val(lastinv$) + 1) ‘gets the last invoice number stored in G2 ‘and adds one to create a new invoice number firstinv$ = DDERequest$(channel, “R2C1”) currentrow = 2 + Val(thisinv$) - Val(firstinv$) currow$ = Mid$(Str$(currentrow), 2) ‘gets the first invoice number ‘and works out which row to go to data$(1) = thisinv$ EditGoTo “date” data$(2) = Selection$() EditGoTo “number” data$(3) = Selection$() EditGoTo “item” data$(4) = Selection$() EditGoTo “cost” data$(5) = Selection$() ‘reads the current invoice number and ‘bookmark contents into the array data$() For count = 1 To 5 cell$ = “R” + currow$ + “C” + Mid$(Str$(count), 2) DDEPoke channel, cell$, data$(count) Next count ‘fills in the spreadsheet row cell$ = “R” + currow$ + “C6” total$ = DDERequest$(channel, cell$) ‘gets the total in col F from Excel EditGoTo “invoice” Insert thisinv$ EditGoTo “total” Insert total$ ‘inserts Excel data into empty bookmarks DDEPoke channel, “R2C7”, thisinv$ ‘updates last invoice number DDEExecute channel, “[SAVE()]” DDETerminate channel ‘saves spreadsheet and hangs up End Sub than depend on the Sendkeys function. close a connection; DDERequest fetches There are only five basic DDE com- data from the remote application; and mands in Word Basic: DDEInitiate and DDEPoke sends data to it. Finally, DDEEx- DDETerminate are used to open and ecute runs a command or a macro in the remote application. So, let’s get our anoraks really muddy with the example in Fig 2. This takes data from an invoice created in Word, puts it in an Excel spreadsheet, picks up other items from there, places those back in
A sample Word document showing the bookmarks used in the DDE exercise
continued on page 262
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A quick tip from Reg
In March’s column I looked at reader Dejan Stojnic’s strange case of the disappearing associations — double-clicking a data file in File Manager would no longer launch the relevant application as the Registry was corrupt. My suggestion of moving REG.DAT and letting Windows re-create it didn’t quite go far enough. You can usually save yourself the trouble of redefining associations or re-installing applications by using the File Manager Search… command to find all *.REG files — these contain third-party registration information. Double-click on each of these and the information contained will be added to the registry. If you get an error message saying there’s “no association”, you’ll have to re-associate .REG files with REGEDIT.EXE.
the Word document and then saves the reference; it can’t find the end of the spreadsheet. I’ve kept it very simple and it spreadsheet on its own. So this method works with Word 2.0 and Excel 4.0 means the macro always knows where to upwards. look for the last invoice number, and by Before you run the macro, you need to comparing it with the first knows where to do a little groundwork. First do the easy bit poke the next lot of data. It’s quick and dirty — start a new worksheet in Excel and but means we don’t need any Excel enter the headings shown here in columns macros. And note that the DDE commands A-G in the first row: Invoice number / Date / Quantity / Description / Unit Cost / Total / Last invoice In row 2, enter any integer under “Invoice number” and the formula identify a cell by row number/column num- “=C2*E2” ber, so “A4” in Excel becomes “R4C1”. under “Total”. Use the Fill command to Try changing the contents of the book- replicate this formula down column F a marks and running the macro again — you’ll dozen or so cells. Under “Last invoice” get a new row in the spreadsheet. Take enter the same number that you put under care not to delete the bookmarks them- “Invoice number”. Save this as LIST.XLS. selves. Keep LIST.XLS open and start a new ● Hint: type in the new text before deleting document in Word. Type in a letterhead the old. and an address if you like, then on a new In Word 6 you can view bookmarks line the date, say 24/3/96. Highlight the (Tools/Options/View) as square brackets. date and create a “bookmark” (Edit menu In Word 2 you can’t, and you’re also limit- in Word 6, Insert menu in Word 2) named ed to 20 characters. “date”. This is a simple example, and not a par- On a new line, type “Invoice number”, ticularly robust or sophisticated piece of space, then insert another empty book- programming, so please don’t use it for mark at the cursor position and name it any real work. “invoice”. However, DDE can be an extremely On another new line type “20”, select it powerful tool. There’s an example bundled and bookmark it as “number”. Tab and with Autocad that takes an Excel spread- type “Universal grommets”, select that and sheet containing the calculations on a bookmark as “item”; tab again and type shaft, taking into account load, material “1.50”, select and bookmark as “cost”, tab properties, RPM and so on, to calculate again and insert another empty bookmark the minimum dimensions. This is linked to named “total”. Save the document as an Autocad drawing of the same shaft and BILL.DOC. as you alter the figures in the spreadsheet If all this seems too much like hard — increasing the load, for example — the work, then all the files and macros can be dimensions in the drawing change to suit found in DDESTUFF.ZIP on our free, and vice-versa. This needs a custom DLL cover-mounted CD-ROM. as well as hefty Autocad and Excel macros, but shows just what can be done. See how they run Still in Word, run the macro listed in Fig 2 Dealing with DOS (page 259). If all has gone well, the date, DOS users please note: In future issues, quantity, item description and unit price will Tim Nott will be covering DOS topics in this be inserted into the third row of the spread- column on an occasional basis. sheet and the document will itself be updated with an invoice number and the PCW Contacts total. The new invoice number will replace Tim Nott can be contacted either by the original “Last Invoice” in Excel. post c/o PCW or by email at DDERequest expects an absolute cell [email protected]
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NeXT stop, the Web
Chris Bidmead on the shortcomings of Warp’s Internet Access Kit, the demise of Taligent, and why .rtfd is the way forward.
ast month I was whingeing about Lsome of the shortcomings of IBM’s Web Explorer. My opinion of the Warp Internet Access Kit has gone down a cou- ple more notches since then, although the blame for this lies not with IBM, but with NeXT and the new PEP machine I told you about. Messing around with Internet- connected NeXTStep has opened my eyes to how this World Wide Web stuff ought to work in a properly designed 32-bit computing environment. As I said last month, there are several browsers on the NeXT machine. The one I’ve been using mostly is Netsurfer. It has some very important features that you won’t find with WebExplorer, which up to Netsurfer on the Next machine reads the now, despite my criticisms, has been my click-click-click on three different links and Windows NT Web server across my favourite way of getting onto the World spawn pages for each of those links, “intranet”. Sharp-eyed readers will notice Wide Web. I’ve already mentioned the retaining the original page? OS/2 is a multi- the word “Microsoftfi”, which should read pain of not being able to highlight a selec- tasking, multithreaded operating system “Microsoft®”. The “fi” is a single-ligatured tion of text from the browsers and copy it underneath, so why can’t we see some of character in the NeXTStep character set across to some other application. There this carried through into the application? where Microsoft puts ®, one of the minor are other annoyances: 3. How do you save a page that you want problems of multi-platform computing 1. You have to wait for a page to fill (or to refer to again? Yes, WebExplorer lets explicitly stop it filling) before you can you file it, but when you bring it back offline spring off from one of its links on to the all you get is the raw HTML-formatted text. Command key (usually Alt-Left, but map- next. Given that at least 50 percent of the The graphics have all fallen off. For pable). It holds on to your current page pages you visit are only stepping-stones, months now, I’ve just been printing pages (and goes on filling it if it’s in mid-fill), and you waste a lot of mouse clicks aborting that I wanted to keep intact. But not every- spawns a new page for the link you’re pages in mid-fill by clicking on the animat- body has a colour printer to hand, and springing off to. ed icon at the top left-hand corner, then those who do may not want to print pages Copying and pasting a section of text clicking again on the link you want to jump that may only be read once and then from the surface of Netsurfer works the off. Just clicking on a link should be binned. way it does in NetScape and Microsoft enough to tell the browser that it’s time to None of this is a problem on the PEP Explorer. A little disappointingly, the move on. NeXT box with Netsurfer. For a start, click- NeXTStep interface shows its age here. 2. When you move on to a new link, you ing on a link jumps you to the target page By modern lights you ought to be able to don’t necessarily want it to overwrite the whether the current page has finished filling highlight a section of text and drag it old one. The page you’re about to step off or not. Simple — NetScape does this too. across to an editor; instead you have to from might have several links you want to But look how Netsurfer behaves when copy and paste explicitly with the standard explore. Why won’t WebExplorer let you you click on a link and hold down the NeXT Command-c Command-v keystrokes or by
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pulling down the Netsurfer menu and down at a computer would expect no less. selecting Edit/Copy. A very similar menu But how does the decade-old NeXTStep appears in all NeXTStep applications, by interface do this? If it were Microsoft, it default at the top left of the screen, but would be using OLE 2.0 Structured Stor- power users arrange the application menu age. OpenDoc — supposedly arriving this to be invisible, only popping up when you year — will have a similar compound file click the right-hand button. storage mechanism called Bento, named So that’s copy and paste — don’t forget after the multiple-compartment dishes that this NeXT stuff was designed ten used to serve up Japanese food. Was years ago. That’s why it came as a real NeXT really this much ahead of the game? surprise when I used one of the NeXT standard mechanisms to save my first Net- The joy of .rtfd surfer page. Needless to say, I hadn’t both- Forget OLE 2.0 Structured Storage. An ered reading the online help, but I knew .rtfd file is so simple it makes me weep from messing around with NeXTStep that (with joy that people still remember how to when you see an icon in a “well”, you can keep it simple). There’s a neat trick that usually expect to do some drag and drop NeXTStep uses to shape its applications. with it. An icon well is a square frame, An application tends to be a whole mess of shadowed to look like a shallow indenta- different executables, resource and data tion in the surface. If you look at my files, so to keep them all neatly together, screenshot of Netsurfer (opposite), you’ll NeXTStep stores them all under a single notice that while the main icons running directory, then makes that directory from left of screen are on raised buttons, behave as through it were the sole exe- the icon at the far right is sitting in a well. cutable. All you see from the NeXTStep The icon shows a page with text and a pic- desktop is a single icon, on which you click ture, and represents the whole document to launch the app. The icon actually you’re looking at — technically it’s called a belongs to the directory, but you never get “proxy”. So one way of saving a page is to see the underlying files unless you simply to drag the proxy into a folder explicitly use the Workspace menu’s shown by the viewer. File/Open As Folder command. And here’s the surprise. NeXT works This is something you can also do with with three basic text types: plain ASCII, OS/2, as we discussed in this column Rich Text Format and PostScript, respec- once. And it’s the same way that the Net- tively named .txt, .rtf and .ps. Maybe I surfer saved pages retain their pictures. hadn’t been paying attention, but the drag- The .rtfd file is in fact a directory (hence the and-drop save from the icon well turned d), iconised to handle like a file. Inside the out to produce a file type that was new to directory is the main rich text file, and this me, an .rtfd file. When I recalled one of holds pointers to the picture files, which these files into NeXT’s standard editor, are also contained in the directory. Drag Edit, I was amazed to see that it came the page from the browser into a folder, back complete, with the text, pictures and and the .rtfd file is created on the spot. diagrams all perfectly in place. Double-click on the .rtfd file and it loads The amazement, of course, was a func- into the Edit app, NeXTStep’s standard tion of my previous experience with other editor, and is displayed like the original Web browsers. Any ordinary Joe sitting browser page.
Borland’s WWW versions of its press releases are far more attractive than the drab typed pages that arrive through the post. NeXTStep saves them as .rtfd “files”, but as the Viewer shows here, they’re really directories that hold the pictures and text necessary to rebuild the original page. Digital Librarian, NeXTStep’s standard text retrieval system, works fine with this .rtfd construction. It just ignores the pictures and indexes on the main TXT.RTF file
265 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● 32-BIT
Windows NT on the Web
In mid-February, Microsoft released the By default you start with a set of final version of its Web server package, ready-made Web pages that give you called the Internet Information Server (IIS). an executive summary of the new soft- ren *.tiff *.tif It’s downloadable over the Internet, and so ware and a tour of the features. The The equivalent command in Unix is mv is the seven-disk Service Pack 3 upgrade moment I pointed browsers from the (it stands for move), but unfortunately if you need to run it on your Windows NT Windows NT Workstation, the NeXT you try 3.15 server. If, however, you have a slow machine and the Warp connect box at mv *.tiff *.tif link, it could take you the best part of a http://mitac_nt, the hostname I’d given inside an xterm window on the NeXT day. This column was already overdue by to the Windows NT server, each picked machine, you get a syntax error. (My copy this time, so I’m very grateful to Barry up the home page across my network of Linux-FT is more helpful. It throws up Richards at Product Support Services, (which somewhat grandly gets to be the error message “When moving multiple Microsoft UK, for biking over the Service called an “intranet” once you start doing files, last argument must be a directory”.) Pack and the newly minted IIS on a CD- this Web stuff on it). Having gone In other words the Unix command is ROM they cut specially for me. through a similar exercise last year with more flexible, because it moves files as The service pack is commendably easy Linux-FT, which comes ready equipped well as renames them. But because it to apply, and the IIS install off the CD-ROM with a built-in Web server, I didn’t get moves them, it can’t handle renaming in was even easier. The only executive deci- quite the same initial thrill at making the batches. sions you’re asked to make during the connection, but I still find it amazing that Here’s the neatest way I’ve found of install is whether you want to allow anony- three or four quite different operating doing a batch rename under Unix. The mous ftp, and whether you want extra fea- systems can share the same world view NeXT machine’s shell by default is csh, tures such as a gopher server. I just said so harmoniously. not the most handy of shells, but you can yes to everything, and within minutes I had More about this next month, I hope, get away with this, entered directly onto a working Web server. when I get properly stuck in. the command line: > foreach f ( *.tiff ) ? mv $f $f:r.tif Batch name changes on your network, you’ll need to rename ? end NeXTStep calls its TIFF picture format them to
266 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● WORD PROCESSING
All ABoard
Tim Phillips finds a smart clipboard enhancement. There’s a WordPerfect macro, and help formatting between WordPerfect and Word, too.
’m not one for changing my software formats, in thumbnail views. To see the of component-based software because it Ivery often. Underwear yes, software no. data full size, you right-click over a takes Windows cutting and pasting and Look at my computer desktop now and thumbnail and up it pops in a box. marries it with the way we really work. If give or take a few macros, it’s the same as Pasting can be achieved by just you are filleting a document for the most ever. However, for all you Windows 3.1 pressing enter, or by clicking one of the interesting bits, you can just go through it and Windows 95 users, I have an buttons on the toolbar; you can assign a picking them out, then paste them into a excellent recommendation that will help hotkey to an item that will paste in when new document later, or even merge them your document editing no end. It’s only a the SmartBoard dialogue is hidden. on the clipboard. If you copied something clipboard enhancement but it’s one of There’s a simple text editor for clip- to the clipboard an hour ago and need it those that you wish Microsoft would come board items, which includes a macro for again, it won’t have been written over. up with instead of adding 17 new chart stripping out unwanted carriage returns. I get so many requests for solutions to types to Excel. And that, with a few refinements, is it. problems that SmartBoard would solve. I’m referring to SmartBoard, which you What I love about SmartBoard is that it For example, it short-circuits the long can get from Oakley Data Services for isn’t bloated like most software, or over- debate about HTML generators because £15, and I believe it is £15 well spent. complicated like the ClipBook equivalent you can use it as a palette of codes and SmartBoard runs in the background, only that Windows for Workgroups supplies. links to paste into an HTML document. It popping up when you right-click on the It’s a great argument in favour of this sort takes care of difficult names by allowing control menu button or you to store half a dozen at once type ctrl-0. It simply and then paste, using hotkeys. stores the last few pieces of data you cut or copied WordPerfect makes its to the clipboard — you sale set the exact number. Congratulations Corel, you This data is shown in four bought WordPerfect. And Novell views, presented as made its 31st January deadline tabs: text, bitmaps, for selling its applications. metafiles and other Buying WordPerfect must go down as one of the most spectac- ularly bad decisions in software history, being sold for a cool $700m loss, but no-one could have predicted how Microsoft would clean Novell’s clock Above SmartBoard pops (unless, that is, they took an up when you right-click objective look at the first Windows on the control symbol. It versions of WordPerfect). lists the recent clipboard Although the rebirth of Word- entries you made as Perfect is, initially, good news for text… users, I’m advising that you make …or if you want, you can plans immediately to dig an paste as metafiles (left). escape tunnel to Word Pro or Right-click on the Word, or even Works. I have thumbnails to see the file nothing against Corel, which has as it would paste into been very successful, but I have your application little confidence that the necessary
268 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● WORD PROCESSING
Tim’s Macro Club
● To celebrate the continuing existence of WordPerfect, there’s a prize for a WordPerfect 5.1 macro from Peter Kahrel in the Netherlands. It removes duplicate entries from a list, although in this case, the list must be sorted. Revisions, improvements and of course versions for other word processors are requested for this macro:
SAVESTATE your Windows subdirectory. It should WP51CursorMovement(On!) contain this (use Notepad to create it): DISPLAY(Off!) [InvoiceNumber] NOTFOUND(Off!) NextNumber= 106 The macro SearchCaseSensitive(No!) ReplaceLimitNumberOfMatches(No!) Bob explains: “In this macro, the value of the ReplaceConfirm(No!) next invoice is NextInvoice$ and this is CheckHrt() inserted into the document by moving to a WHILE(NOT Eof()) bookmark, InvoiceNumber. If you want more SearchString(GetLine()) than one insertion of the number, just use ReplaceString(“”) other bookmarks and duplicate the two lines ReplaceForward of text for each insertion.” DISPLAY(On!) DISPLAY(Off!) ENDWHILE EditGoTo .Destination = “YourBookmarkName” FUNCTION GetLine() Insert NextInvoice$ BlockOn(CharMode!) PosLineDown ● That’s the sort of code I’m looking for. Use RETURN(?BlockedText) it as a starting point, because it is sound and ENDFUNC compact. Remember, though, that some of your entries for the macro club are too long. FUNCTION Eof() I can’t print them because they would take RETURN(?RightChar=”” AND ?RightCode=0) up most of the column. The one shown in ENDFUNC Fig 1 doesn’t.
PROCEDURE CheckHrt() This month’s problem PosDocVeryBottom This is an easy one, so I’m looking for IF(?LeftCode<>-12284) elegance and presentation. EnterKey Ken Gray emailed me with the following ENDIF simple request: PosDocTop “I seem to recall there was a fairly ENDPROC elegant way of printing all installed FONTS in WFW6.0 along with the title of the font. ● It’s that invoice-counter macro again, with This could then be used as a reference the latest version of the same-ol’ thing coming sheet for selecting the font of choice. Please over the wires from Bob Lauder at the Univer- let me know if such a utility does exist, other- sity of Lancaster. I have shown it because I wise it could be the basis of a good macro.” like its work-in-progress feel. Again, it writes I only know that I can get a list of my the invoice number to a specialised .ini file printer fonts, but I’m sure you will all flood which you create and call invoice.ini. Save it in me with responses on this one. Fig 1 Bob Lauder’s invoice-counter macro
Sub MAIN
NextInvoice$ = GetPrivateProfileString$(“InvoiceNumber”, “NextNumber”, “invoice.ini”)
EditGoTo .Destination = “InvoiceNumber” Insert NextInvoice$
SetPrivateProfileString “InvoiceNumber”, “NextNumber”, Str$(Val(NextInvoice$) + 1), “invoice.ini”
End Sub
269 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● WORD PROCESSING
Problem solving: When home and work collide
● Julian Wickes, of Northallerton, has a problem using his Word for problem it occurred to me this applies to any number of word Windows at home and WordPerfect at work — formatting often gets processors — she can’t get small capital letters using the “small lost or messed up in the conversion process when he opens a file at caps” formatting option. Looking at her document, I couldn’t work out home. Is there anything that can be done to improve the filter? why not until I realised that the words she wanted in small capitals There is one step he can take, which is often overlooked because were already typed in capital letters. To get small caps from format- it’s a minor feature of Word for Windows (and not one I knew existed ting, you have to format words in lower case. until recently). Under Tools, Options in Word, click on the Compatibility tab. This lets you set a number of “problem” features so ● We’re covering all sorts this month, so Arthur Madsen gets his when you open the file at home it has more sensible formatting; WordStar query fixed. He’s a WordStar user who wants to use long features such as spacing at the top of a page and hanging indents. filenames under Windows 95. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible. Click on the other file format Firstly, because 2.0 pre-dates (WordPerfect is the only non- Windows 95, it is a 16-bit 3.1 Microsoft format supported) and it application, and this does not sets these formatting options auto- support long filenames. matically although you can change Secondly, WordStar’s way of them if you wish. There’s a custom creating temporary files which setting, too, for trial-and-error with change the main body of the your own conversions. filename are going to make a fix These settings don’t affect the difficult to achieve. So it’s a ques- formatting when you convert back to tion of waiting for a 32-bit version the original format so it isn’t a — unless someone out there “destructive” filter. It just makes them knows better. display more sensibly on the page in Word. It’s a bit of a kludge, but the ● Finally, this month’s grumble — few times I have used it, it works. it’s WordPad again. Note, as well, that the Font Martyn Bannister wants to use Substitution button here checks the WordPad to add a hard page break document to see if Word has to cope in his documents. with any non-system fonts and allows you to set the substitutions Setting the Compatibility No way, dude. It’s another stupid manually if you prefer. Options in Word gets around omission from a second-rate On the same subject, Word 7 users can edit their conversion some formatting and font attempt to make a cut-down word filters. In the Macros subdirectory of the Word Directory, find substitution problems processor. Instead of a simple Ctrl- CONVER7.DOT. Then in the macro names list, click on a macro Enter as in the rest of the world, on called EditConversionOptions, and click Run. Name the converter the moon applet of Planet Microsoft you cannot do it. you want to change, and it offers you the options to set. Why not, is the question we really want answered, and the answer might possibly be that if Microsoft gave people too much ● Janet Gee is an Ami Pro user, but when I found the solution to her functionality in WordPad, they might not buy Microsoft Office. development work will be carried out on little glumness among you Ami Pro users. It macros have run.” WordPerfect Office. is looking for 20 percent of the market in ● My regular correspondent, Shane This time last year it was probably the 1996. When number two is looking for one Devenshire, points out a feature of Word most powerful suite available. Now it isn’t, in five sales, you know what a mountain that I had missed: deleting files from within and Corel’s assertion that WordPerfect will Novell has to climb. the application. be “profitable from day one” doesn’t sound We’re all good Windows users, but like it will break the bank by pouring in Breaking the spell having to iconise Word to delete a file development resources. Despite my admiration for the Word would be one multitask too far. Instead, in Meanwhile, the LotusPhere annual spellchecker, not all of you are convinced. Word 2 and 6 you use the File, Find technical conference revealed Lotus and ● One reader contacted me to ask how to dialogue, find your files, highlight them, hit IBM executives being bullish about the turn it off and this coincided happily with the Commands button and select delete. prospects for Word Pro, which according this quick message from my macro-writing In Word 7, this has been greatly to my feedback is causing more than a friend, Chris McCarthy: “The automatic improved — nice one Microsoft. Instead, spellchecking in Word is you use the Open or Save As dialogue Fig 2 Buttons/hotkeys very useful but it’s a real boxes, mark the files you want to delete in pain to activate and deacti- the same way, hit delete and they’re off to Sub MAIN vate. A simple solution is to the recycle bin. REM Word Macro to turn automatic spell checking on. set up two buttons or ToolsOptionsSpelling .AutomaticSpellChecking = 1 hotkeys attached to PCW Contacts End Sub macros(Fig 2). Contact Tim Phillips by surface or “If you don’t have the airmail to PCW, otherwise email him at Sub MAIN status bar enabled to see if [email protected] and REM Word Macro to turn automatic spell checking off. the spellchecker is on, you CompuServe 100436,3616 ToolsOptionsSpelling .AutomaticSpellChecking = 0 could put in a message Oakley Data Services 01270 759739. ☎ End Sub box to tell you that the Web — www.smartcode.com
270 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● SPREADSHEETS
Is time money, or what?
Stephen Wells gives tips on preparing billing facilities in Excel and creates a button box in Office 95.
enjoy reading your articles and cut Fig 1 Just a minute! them out to keep,” emails Bernard “I AB CD E F G Harrison (we hope he similarly saves other 1 CLIENT IN OUT HRS MINS. RATE INVOICE pieces in the magazine). “I’m a relative 2 B Bloggs 9:30 am 11:45 am 2 15:00 £9.50 £21.38 newcomer to Excel but I want to prepare 3 J Jones 1:30 pm 3:55 pm 2 25:00 £9.50 £22.96 my own billing facility, recording the time a task was started, finished, and the total time spent on a job. There would be a “display” because dates are not stored as date results in a negative number: so, payment rate and the amount to bill the they are shown. They are converted to a 30-Jun-96 minus 31-Dec-96 gives the client. However, I can’t get Excel to number, with the number 1 representing answer -184. With another minus sign and a multiply minutes by £s and give me a January 1st 1900 as the default in Windows couple of parentheses in our formula, how- sensible answer.” and Lotus 1-2-3; and January 2, 1904 in ever, we could produce a positive answer. I’ve previously written about calculating Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh. Now we’ve covered the basics, we can time and formatting of all types but as I If you open a worksheet, created on a return to Bernard’s question. There are receive more questions relating to these Mac, on a PC Excel recognises the file many ways of producing what he wants but two areas than any other subject, I’m format and changes dates to the 1900 date here’s one simple method (see Fig 1). The confident that you won’t mind my system for you. Similarly, if you open a time his tasks start and finish will be in answering Bernard’s question. Microsoft Excel for Windows file on a Mac, columns B and C respectively. The hourly The first point to grasp is that Excel Excel changes dates to the 1904 date rate charged will be entered in column F. looks at what you enter into a cell, system. Excel calculates the hours and minutes intelligently — it tries to figure out what you On either platform, you can spent, divided between columns C and D. It want. It does this by associating certain optionally override the default and use the totals the amount to be billed for the job in punctuation marks with certain formats. A other system. The times of day (hours, min- column G. The formulas are simple slash (/) or a hyphen (-) makes Excel think utes, seconds) are represented as decimal enough and are repeated down their of dates. Use a colon (:) and Excel thinks fractions. If we change our entry from 1 to columns. of hours, minutes and seconds. 1.3 then that represents 7.12am on D2=C2-B2 If you enter a space after a number, January 1st 1900. Similarly, noon on E2=D2-HOUR(D2) then an “a” or a “p”, Excel not only December 12th 1996 is stored as 35411.5. G2=HOUR(D2)*F2+MINUTE(D2)*F2/60 assumes you mean AM or PM but that you If you subtract one date from another, The formatting is of critical importance. want to display the 12-hour clock rather Excel displays the difference as a number. I’ve used one of the regular time formats than the 24-hour clock which is its default. A whole number means the number of days for columns B and C, shown in the Ctrl+; enters today’s date and Ctrl+: between the two dates. Subtracting a later dialogue box options as 1:30 PM. Column enters the current time. If D is the custom format h. Excel is confused by your Column E is the custom entry it makes it text. To format mm:ss. Columns F display hours greater than and G are the standard 24, or minutes or seconds currency format using the £ greater than 60, place sign and two decimals. brackets around the left- The point to remember is most part of the time for- mat code. For example, Fig 2 An employee Time Card the time code [h]:mm:ss macro is included with allows the display of hours Excel 7; it produces a pie greater than 24. chart summary of the week’s I emphasise the word productivity
272 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● SPREADSHEETS
How to make a button box If you have the complete Office 95 suite, you Spreadsheets. can group shortcuts to all your current Go to View and select the colour of workbooks and commonly-used applications your choice, whether you want large or in a neat little box. The default position of the small buttons, or sound and animation. Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar is at the top of Click OK. (You might have to drag this your screen. But drag it down onto the dialogue box up a bit to find the OK desktop a little and it will turn into a box. button). This box can have several sliding doors ● To add shortcut buttons to your new which can open up with an animated toolbar you can choose Customize, Buttons, movement and a satisfying little “whoosh” Add File and pick your documents from an sound. At least, they look like doors to me. Bill Explorer-type list; or just drag existing Gates likes to say he’s got bars on his shortcuts from the desktop; or press Alt and Windows — I’d better stick to his terminology. drag buttons from other toolbars in the Office ● To add a bar right-click the mouse on the Shortcut box. background of the Office bar. Choose ● To hide a button on the toolbar, right-click Customize, Toolbars, Add Toolbar. and choose Hide Button. Type a name for the new toolbar in the ● To remove a button choose Customize, “Create a new blank Toolbar called…” box Buttons, and then put a checkmark against — in the example below, I’ve called it the button to remove, and choose Delete.
Here, I’ve added my own shortcut buttons to the MS Office Shortcut Bar. You can do this by simply dragging and dropping shortcuts from the desktop that although only “2” is displayed here in Array, awry D2 and D3, Excel is actually carrying a Roy Small emails: “I have a sheet created long number which has to be translated. in Excel 5 in which I chose the wrong axis That is why we have to use the HOUR and for accumulating my data — it grew across MINUTE functions in column E and the sheet instead of down. I am now using column G. the Office 95 version and can find no way If your company has a number of to transpose the columns to rows. The employees needing to divide their time Excel function TRANSPOSE seems to between clients or jobs, there is another have nothing to do with my requirement. solution to this: check through the Am I onto a loser or is there a way?” templates offered in your version of Excel. The TRANSPOSE function can be Excel 7 includes a Time Card template used on a worksheet or in a macro and it consisting of three worksheets. works with arrays. What it does is return The first sheet is a typical, fully- the first row of the array as the first column formatted, personal weekly time sheet. of the new array; the second row of the You just enter the account code and then, array as the second column of the new in the column for the appropriate day, the array; and so on. number of hours spent on the task (or work- It has its uses, but a better method is to ing for a client). mark your whole block, including all The second sheet shows a pie chart for headings in the columns and rows. Right this employee with the account codes and click your mouse and choose Copy. Go to total percentage of time spent during the a blank cell, or a new sheet in your week; on the task or against the client. workbook, where you would like to lay the The third sheet is a “Customise your range down again. Time Card” option macro, where you can Right click on this cell which will insert things like a company logo, and fixed become the top left cell of the new block. details for the employee. The Time Card Choose Paste Special. Check the and part of the productivity graph page are Transpose box. Click OK. Then your old shown in Fig. 2. rows will appear as columns and your old
273 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● SPREADSHEETS
Infuriating hang-ups Sometimes, a spreadsheet can be as stubborn as a mule. Here are some common hang-ups and the solutions in Excel 7. ● If you open a worksheet and the Status Bar reads “Filter Mode” and you want to get out of that, choose Data, Filter and check Show All. ● If some of your columns are missing Fig 3 Using and you can’t get to them with the Scroll the @RATE Bar, click to the left of a visible column function in heading and then right-click Unhide. If you Lotus 1-2-3 can’t move fast enough around a large and the worksheet, hold Shift while you slide equivalent either Scroll Bar with the mouse. formula in ● If, for some inexplicable reason, your Excel worksheet tabs aren’t visible choose Data, Options, View and check Sheet Tabs. If years. Assuming that the interest rate is don’t start paying on it until the end of the you enter, say, 101 and the cell insists on fixed in this instance and that the interest first period; typically, a month. displaying only 1 then you probably have is compounded annually (rather than An example of deposits made at the two different settings fighting each other. monthly or quarterly) what interest rate are beginning of a period are life assurance Under Tools, Options, Edit, the Fixed you being paid? premiums, which are called “annuity-due Decimal setting may be checked and 2 The 1-2-3 @RATE function uses the situations”. Here, you’re making payments decimal places chosen. Under Format, future value (FV), or £8,000; the present in anticipation of services to be received Cells, the Number Category and zero value (PV), or £2,000; and the total during the coming period. decimal places may be selected. number of periods in the annuity (Nper), or Excel starts the “guess” at ten percent. ● If all your worksheet is visible but the 20. Its @RATE function calculates that You can change that, but ten percent is vertical Scroll Bar won’t go above say, row you would be earning seven percent (plus the default. Then Excel starts an iteration 4 and the horizontal Scroll Bar won’t go a few minor decimal points). cycle until the actual interest rate is left of say column D, it means you’ve set In both spreadsheets, I put the number discovered. the Freeze Panes control in cell D4. Just of periods in column C, the present value Where it sometimes falls down is that if choose Window, Unfreeze Panes. in D, the future value in E and the answer it can’t arrive at an answer that works out in F. With an entry made on row 4, to within 0.0000001 after 20 tries at it columns will become rows — Paul Daniels arrive at the same answer in Excel when (iterations), it unhelpfully throws up a couldn’t do it better. provided with the same bits of information, #NUM! error value. you would use the following formula: How does it RATE? =(E4/D4)^(1/C4)-1 Not a lottery If there’s one thing that drives people So what does Excel tell you with its I’ve received my first lottery solution Excel bonkers, it’s finding that a function name RATE function? It works just like the template on disk from Belgium. Not that I has different meanings in different IRATE function in 1-2-3. You might start could run it, because when I tried to open spreadsheets. with nothing and then save £100 a year for it, all I got was an error message that said: Take the RATE function, for instance. 20 years. The difference between the “VBA Dutch object library not found.” In Lotus 1-2-3 it has the following syntax: £2,000 you eventually put in and the Grateful as I am to any reader who takes @RATE(FV,PV,Nper). In Excel it is £8,000 you might take out is the interest the trouble to send me examples of their RATE(nper,pmt,pv,fv,type,guess). you’ve earned and left to compound. work, I want to nip further contributions of Naturally, the formulas provide different Confusingly, your payment is entered this application in the bud. answers. as a negative if it’s a savings account and The lottery result is produced at The @RATE function in 1-2-3 calcu- positively if it’s a loan payment. (Down at random. No spreadsheet program is going lates the compound growth rate for an the bank they do it in reverse: loan to come up with the answer nor “better initial investment that grows to a specific payments are entered negatively and your chances” as they always put it — future value over a specified number of savings positively. It depends on who’s obviously if anyone ever cracked a periods. The RATE function in Excel paying out and who’s receiving.) solution, they’d keep it to themselves. returns the interest rate for a period for an The other elements in the Excel RATE As to the lottery itself; let’s hear no annuity based on equal periodic function are “type” and “guess”. Type is more in this column about this new tax on payments. either 0 or 1 and the default is 0. What is the poor. For non-financial types, let me define considered here is whether the payment is these terms. An “annuity” is any series of at the end of the period (0), or at the PCW Contacts equal payments made at regular intervals beginning (1). Stephen Wells welcomes comments on of time. The time intervals are called “pay- An ordinary annuity, sometimes called spreadsheets and solutions to be ment periods”. Interest is compounded. “payments in arrears”, involves payments shared. Send them to PCW Editorial at It always helps to use an example, so made at the end of each payment period. the usual address or see Fig 3. Let’s say that you invest £2,000. Most loans fall into this category. You take [email protected] You are promised £8,000 back after 20 out a loan and receive the money now but Files can be attached if you are on MSN.
274 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● DATABASES
Can you see the join?
Mark Whitehorn has been inundated with answers to a meter reading problem.
he question I posed in the March Tissue has opened up a huge oyster- full of pearls. To save you having to look it up, it consisted of a table of readings from electricity meters (Table 1). The problem was to generate an answer table consist- ing of records showing each meter read- ing, together with the previous reading (if available) from the same meter, and to cal- culate information such as units used. The answer is shown in Table 2. I concluded by stating that my col- league, Stephen, and I had “cheated” with the solution we presented in March (it Fig 1 The Access query builder for Eve Rocks’ works perfectly, but offends the relational they are still rolling in. first query. Note that the self-join is essentially model) and we both felt it was inelegant. The responses fell into three main treating a single table as if it were present Last month I documented the “cheat”, categories: twice, and joins it to itself. Eve has used two and now we’ll look at the solution. This ● Interesting, but ultimately incorrect; or aliases, one for each occurrence of the table. problem has produced the greatest num- correct in that they functioned but they In the text I have just aliased the second table, ber of responses I have ever received and offended the relational model in some way, but either approach is perfectly acceptable Table 1 Original readings just like the solution in the March issue. ● Correct; they solved the problem without Meter No. Date Reading Table 2 The answer 1 18/05/91 20 offending the model. 1 11/11/91 91 Meter Date Current Previous Units ● Pleas that the sender didn’t 1 12/04/92 175 No. Reading Reading Used understand the problem because 1 21/05/92 214 1 11/11/91 91 20 71 he/she didn’t speak SQL and 1 01/07/92 230 1 12/04/92 175 91 84 wanted to know more. 1 21/11/92 270 1 21/05/92 214 175 39 In order to try and satisfy 1 12/12/92 290 1 01/07/92 230 214 16 everyone (democracy at its best!) 1 01/04/93 324 1 21/11/92 270 230 40 I’ll publish some of the solutions, 2 18/05/91 619 1 12/12/92 290 270 20 and devote part of this and future 2 17/09/91 712 1 01/04/93 324 290 34 columns to a look at the basics of 2 15/03/92 814 2 17/09/91 712 619 93 SQL for the benefit of those who 2 21/05/92 913 2 15/03/92 814 712 102 want to know more. 2 17/09/92 1023 2 21/05/92 913 814 99 Incidentally, several people 3 19/05/91 20612 2 17/09/92 1023 913 110 suggested that Stephen and I 3 11/11/91 21112 3 11/11/91 21112 20612 500 actually knew what the answer 3 15/03/92 21143 3 15/03/92 21143 21112 31 was and had simply set the ques- 3 21/05/92 21223 3 21/05/92 21223 21143 80 tion as an academic exercise! 3 17/09/92 21456 3 17/09/92 21456 21223 233 This wasn’t the case. Although we 3 21/03/93 22343 3 21/03/93 22343 21456 887 eventually did come up with our own elegant solution, we hadn’t
276 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● DATABASES
Fig 2 The select command exactly, in the sense of A = B; they SELECT Readings.[Meter No], Readings2.date can match on an expression like A FROM Readings, Readings AS Readings2 > B. The easiest way of picturing a Fig 3 Using the WHERE clause self-join is to imagine that you can duplicate the table and then join it to SELECT Readings.[Meter No], Readings2.date itself, just as you would if they were FROM Readings, Readings AS Readings2 actually different tables (Fig 1, page WHERE 276). In SQL, the syntax for creat- Readings.[Meter No] = Readings2.[Meter No] ing a self-join is simple: you just AND Readings.[Date] < Readings2.[Date] name the table twice in the FROM clause, giving it an alias for the sec- solved the problem at the time of writing, ond version of the table (or indeed, an for publication in the March issue. alias for both occurrences); thus, the select command in Fig 2 is using Read- The solutions ings2 as an alias for the duplicate of the SQL is not as standard as many people table called Readings. The join conditions would like, particularly with regard to the can then be described using the WHERE style in which statements are formatted and clause as normal (Fig 3). capitalised. In presenting these solutions I This self-join matches records where have tried, as far as possible, to leave the the meter numbers are the same and SQL in the exact form in which it was sent where the date of the second reading is to me. However, minor modifications have earlier than that of the first. occasionally been necessary in order to The solution in Fig 4 (page 278), sent in make the SQL work with the original table I by Eve Rocks, uses exactly this type of supplied. join, although it is more detailed and uses The basis of all the working solutions is a GROUP BY clause to group the records. a self-join. This is a join in which records From the original data, this yields the from a table are combined with other result shown in Table 3 (page 278). records from the same table, when there This output table is named STAGE1 in are matching values in the joined fields. Eve’s solution. It has done most of the The matching values don’t have to match work in that it has produced records which
Tips & Tricks: When is FoxPro like File Manager?
This bit of FoxPro code comes from Matthew Cook-McQueen: “I wanted my FoxPro for Windows applications to operate like File Manager: you run it once and then when you double-click on the icon, the original instance is merely maximised. So I developed the code, below. It works for FPW and VFP, and maybe for the Mac if that supports DDE (but not for the DOS version): *----- (This goes at the start of the main program in your app) =ddesetoption(“SAFETY”,.F.) ch = ddeinitiate(“MyApp”,”SYSTEM”) IF CH != -1 =DDETERMINATE(CH) QUIT ENDIF DO DDE_SETUP
PROCEDURE DDE_SETUP =DDESETSERVICE(“MyApp”,”DEFINE”) =DDESETTOPIC(“MyApp”,”SYSTEM”,”DETECTED”) RETURN
*----- (This bit can go in your procedure file if you have one) FUNCTION DETECTED PARAMETERS A,B,C,D,E,F ZOOM WINDOW SCREEN MAX RETURN .T. “The theory is that your application is set up as a DDE server. When you run your application, the first thing it does is to see if it can connect to this server. If it can, the function DETECTED is run and the original application is maximised. Control is then returned to the second instance of the application, which quits itself. If the application cannot connect to the server, it ‘knows’ that it is not already running, so it sets up the server.”
277 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● DATABASES
Fig 4 Eve Rocks’ solution
STAGE1: SELECT DISTINCTROW r1.[Meter No], r1.date AS current_date, r1.reading AS reading_now, Max(r2.date) AS previous_date FROM readings AS r1, readings AS r2 WHERE r1.[Meter No] = r2.[Meter No] AND r2.date Table 3 Data resulting from for each meter) do not which used two SQL statements: some Eve Rocks’ solution have a preceding were similar to Eve’s; others used different reading. means to achieve the same ends. Nothing Meter Current DateReading Previous Date You may be wonder- in the relational model excludes the use of No. Now ing why Eve hasn’t sim- multiple SQL statements; indeed, using 1 11/11/91 91 18/05/91 ply pulled the rest of the two consecutive statements like this 1 12/04/92 175 11/11/91 data we need (such as makes the solution easier to understand. 1 21/05/92 214 12/04/92 the Previous reading) 1 01/07/92 230 21/05/92 into the table at the Single file 1 21/11/92 270 01/07/92 same time. The answer However, complete solutions can be gen- 1 12/12/92 290 21/11/92 is that using a GROUP erated as a single SQL statement, as in 1 01/04/93 324 12/12/92 BY clause restricts the this one from Peter Davidson (Fig 6). 2 17/09/91 712 18/05/91 fields that you can actu- As he says: “The use of a self-join in 2 15/03/92 814 17/09/91 ally display in the this way is very common. It is perhaps sur- 2 21/05/92 913 15/03/92 answer table. prising how often data is related to itself in 2 17/09/92 1023 21/05/92 However, the bulk of one way or another. The result of a self- 3 11/11/91 21112 19/05/91 the work is done and the join is the Cartesian product of the table 3 15/03/92 21143 11/11/91 SQL statement (Fig 5) with itself and, as with any type of join, it is 3 21/05/92 21223 15/03/92 joins this table back to necessary to restrict the rows only to those 3 17/09/92 21456 21/05/92 the original one (Read- that make sense. In my statement, that is 3 21/03/93 22343 17/09/92 ings) and pulls in the achieved in the first part of the WHERE missing information that clause which projects only those rows contain information from two records in we want. where both meter numbers are the same. the original table. Not only that, it has This yields the correct answer table “The second part of the WHERE clause managed to find the correct records to (apart from minor differences, such as the selects only those rows that have a current join together. Note that there are 16 field names) as shown at the start of the reading date which is greater than the pre- records in this table and 19 in the original; column in Table 2. vious reading date. This is not entirely nec- this is because three records (the first one Many people sent in solutions like this essary but it has a use, especially for tables with lots of rows. The advantage is Fig 5 SQL statement that it cuts down the number of rows pre- sented to the final, processor-intensive STAGE2: part of the WHERE clause.” SELECT DISTINCTROW readings.meter, stage1.current_date, readings.date AS previous_date, stage1.reading_now, From the Oracle readings.reading AS old_reading, Peter wasn’t the only one to send in a stage1.reading_now - readings.reading AS units_used complete solution as one SQL statement, FROM readings INNER JOIN stage1 and not all worked in the same way. Fig 7 ON readings.meter = stage1.meter is in Oracle (ANSII) SQL, which isn’t too AND readings.date = stage1.previous_date; surprising because it comes from Tony Willis-Culpitt, principal consultant with the Fig 6 Peter Davidson’s solution Oracle Corporation. Tony provided a detailed description of the working of the SELECT DISTINCTROW Readings.[Meter No], Readings.Date, statement, which included the following Readings.Reading AS [Current Reading], information: Readings_1.Reading AS [Previous Reading], “The function around the date just turns [Readings].[Reading]-[Readings_1].[Reading] AS [Units Used] it into a more readable format. The column FROM Readings, Readings AS Readings_1 alias’ (in double quotes) just give nice WHERE ((Readings.[Meter No]=[Readings_1].[Meter No]) headings to the SQL*Plus columns. AND (Readings.Reading>[Readings_1].[Reading]) “In order to add the previous readings to AND (((SELECT count(*) from Readings AS i each of the records returned, construct a WHERE i.[Meter No] = Readings_1.[Meter No] second set on the same table where, for AND i.[Date] > Readings_1.[Date])-(SELECT count(*) from Readings AS j each of the meter numbers, the read_date WHERE j.[Meter No] = Readings.[Meter No] is the next below the one in the current AND j.[Date] > Readings.[Date]))=1)) record. Unfortunately, this has to be done ORDER BY Readings.[Meter No], Readings.Date; as a correlated sub-query but careful index- ing should mean that it is still fairly efficient. 278 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● DATABASES Fig 7 Tony Willis- Culpitt’s statement select r1.meter_no “Meter No”, to_char(r1.read_date,’dd-Mon-yyyy’) “Reading Date”, r1.reading “Reading”, r2.reading “Last Reading”, r1.reading - r2.reading “Units Used”, to_char(r2.read_date,’dd-Mon-yyyy’) “Last Read” from meter_readings r1, meter_readings r2 where r1.meter_no = r2.meter_no and r2.read_date = ( select max(r4.read_date) from meter_readings r4 where r4.meter_no = r1.meter_no and r4.read_date < r1.read_date) UNION select r5.meter_no, min(to_char(r5.read_date,’dd-Mon-yyyy’)), min(r5.reading), 0, 0, null from meter_readings r5 group by r5.meter_no order by 1, 2 ; “The change to the order by clause is testing purposes is horribly slow, taking because the column names cannot be several seconds to produce an answer for used explicitly in a union query. 1 and 2 a single meter. The SQL answers are are the relative positions of the sort essentially instantaneous, producing columns in the select list. The ‘min’ func- answers in well under a second. So, that tion on the ‘r5.reading’ column does not answer is clear — use SQL whenever actually do anything positive; it is just there possible. to satisfy the rule that any returned column not in the ‘group by’ clause must have a The quest continues group operator applied to it.” I am now interested to know whether there is a difference between the single and mul- And thanks to... tiple SQL solutions. I know that the answer It seems grossly unfair to single out only the is going to depend on the optimiser which few who have been mentioned so far. The Access uses, and that any differences I respondents below each deserve a men- detect may well reflect differences other tion; either for correct answers, or for just than the number of SQL statements. But plain interesting ones. My solution and the I’m still going to construct a mega-table of best of the rest are in the magazine direc- meter readings and do some more speed tory on this month’s free, PCW CD-ROM. tests. Finally, in case this sounds like a dia- Malcolm Bacchus Alasdair Macdonald tribe against using an RDBMS’s internal Paul Bloomfield Alan Mackechnie programming language (in this case, Jose Femenias Charles Mawdsley Access Basic) I am quite happy to use the Adrian Fowle John Meads language to generate the large block of David Gould Brian Riley data I need for testing. SQL is not a full Dave Johnson Geoffrey Snook programming language; it is a subset of Andrew Kaye one. It is excellent (and very fast) for querying databases, but useless for other The speed angle things. Once again, it’s a case of horses You may remember that this question first for courses. appeared, in the March issue, with refer- ence to speed. The problem can be solved PCW Contacts with sequential programming in Access Mark Whitehorn welcomes readers’ Basic, but Stephen and I were keen to find correspondence and ideas for the an SQL answer for reasons of speed as Databases column. He’s on well as elegance. [email protected] A code solution that we produced for 279 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● OS/2 HANDS ON ● OS/2 cut coincided with the launch of AOL in the UK. ‘While the internet — and especially CompuServe’s leading competitor in the USA, the World Wide Web — are particularly America Online, where they are neck and neck good sources of information, they do with over three million subscribers each, uses require some form of internet access via a the AOL acronym as it On the line to OS/2 expands into the world company LAN or dial-up modem to an outside the US. AOL, in common with internet service provider’ If you want to know more about all things OS/2, there’s just one CompuServe, offers place to go — online. Terence Green helps you get switched on. Internet access in tandem with regular conferencing services and, like CompuServe, devotes service such as CompuServe or AOL. ompuServe is an excellent source of relatively up to date. Manager which will get you started. Com- most of its access software development Might it be better to move over to the Inter- COS/2 information and official IBM CompuServe is currently the best puServe has been reducing its charges to Windows. So if you’re an OS/2 user and net entirely? There you can use OS/2 support in the OS2SUPPORT forum. organised source of OS/2 information that steadily over the last few months in order would rather use OS/2 software, the ques- TCP/IP applications, which are plentiful, From the emails I’ve received since start- I’m aware of, and the Warp Bonus Pack to remain competitive as the availability of tion is whether it is easier, more conve- and increasingly you can find all the sup- ing this column six months ago, it’s easy to includes OS/2 CompuServe Information online services expands. The most recent nient, or even less expensive to stay with a port and downloadable software you need. generalise about the audience as it ranges from home users to corporate program- A small selection of OS/2 sources mers. You worry about hardware and applications; and you want more informa- BBS 2 tion on OS/2 and related subjects. IBM BBS 01256 336 655 This column attempts to keep you up to — Mainly drivers and updates. date on the first two requests, but the only Internet sites viable answer to the last requirement is to Hobbes ftp.hobbes.nmsu.edu point you towards the wealth of online OS/2 — Everything OS/2 from official and unofficial IBM fixes to shareware. resources. It really doesn’t matter which Walnut Creek www.cdrom.com operating system you’re using these days — Similar to Hobbes. — the latest information, the updates that LEO www.leo.org you need to fix bugs in the operating sys- — Link Everything Online: OS/2 drivers and updates via FTP or WWW. tem, and the most recent device drivers, AOL are almost always found online first. OS2 OS/2 Forum — CompuServe forums. Get up to Warp speed OS2SHARE OS/2 Shareware library. If you really don’t want to start exploring OS2SUPPORT OS/2 support and updates. the online world, send electronic mail to OS2USER OS/2 discussion and software. that effect and I’ll occasionally note a few other information sources. But the best solution is to get connected with Warp, (1) LEO, the German the first PC operating system to include source of drivers, 3 Internet Access software. 1 updates and applications While the Internet, and the World Wide bugfixes for OS/2 Web especially, are particularly good (2) AOL in action sources of information, they do require showing the OS/2 some form of Internet access via a com- support forum but pany LAN or dial-up modem to an Inter- having to use Windows net Service Provider. You also need a bit software more expertise to set up an Internet con- (3) CompuServe is an nection, and the information is far more excellent source of OS/2 widely-dispersed than on a highly-organ- information and official ised online service such as CompuServe. IBM support If you don’t have Internet access or a in the OS2SUPPORT subscription to an online service but do forum have a modem, you can use the Hyper- Terminal utility in the Warp Bonus Pack to access the IBM BBS which is free (apart from your telephone charges) and 280 281 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● OS/2 Fools rush in to FixPacks (the blue-box version with Windows appli- cation support included). Red-box Warp In a prior column, I warned against shipped before Full Pack, so it will also the dangers of picking up OS/2 need the following fixes in order to recog- FixPacks from unauthorised nise ATAPI IDE and NCR SCSI CD-ROM sources. Now I have to warn against drives. picking up authorised FixPacks too OS/2 drivers for the NCR are available, soon. The follow-on to FixPack 10 complete with instructions as to how to was FixPack 16, which was rushed install them on the OS/2 setup diskettes. out before last Christmas. Shortly I’ve been using older NCR OS/2 drivers, thereafter it was withdrawn due to but recently discovered an updated set on “problems”. In short, unless you’re LEO (www.leo.org), a German site which keen to experiment, don’t rush into has a particularly good selection of OS/2- FixPacks until others have tested related drivers. Look for NCR810.ZIP in them for you. The online OS/2 the pub/comp/os/os2 directory tree. community sussed this out rapidly, IDE drivers can be found in the file it was quickly withdrawn from ATAPI.ZIP, which is widely available on service, and FixPack 17 was bulletin boards, CompuServe and the released at the end of January to internet. This is the second ATAPI.ZIP replace the ill-fated #16. package (67,776 bytes; file date 13/2/95) Much interest was generated by and should be used in preference to the FixPack #16 because it contained a first update because it includes support for fix for the Single Input Queue. The The SIQ fix involves an increased queue- a number of early IDE CD-ROM drives SIQ issue means that a program size and closer monitoring of applications which don’t fully conform to the ATAPI which fails while in the foreground to determine whether they have hung. specification. awaiting input can freeze out any When an application doesn’t respond to Read the instructions carefully as you other process requiring user input, either a mouse click or being selected may need to edit the BASEDEV= effectively putting you on the road to from the Task List, it is marked IBM1S506.ADD line in config.sys manually, the big red switch because you can’t accordingly and the system focus is and be sure to check that the get to the task list to shut down the switched to the next running application. BASEDEV=IBMIDECD.FLT appears in offending program. Windows NT This will enable you to regain control your config.sys. specifically avoids this problem by of the system and allow you to kill the having multiple asynchronous input offending application if necessary. You ● See all drives in a CD-ROM Changer queues. may decide to leave the hung program If you have a SCSI CD-ROM Changer and A partial workaround via the Ctrl- hanging around in case there’s a chance Warp only sees the first disc, edit config.sys Esc handler was introduced with it will come to life. If you do, OS/2 will and add the /ET parameter to the SCSI Warp and a more effective fix has continue to monitor it to see if it begins device driver (*.ADD) which relates to your now been included in FixPack #17. accepting input again. particular SCSI card, usually an Adpatec or Future Domain. Until the end of 1995 I paid for all my OS/2 Warp Connect, except that it con- ● Discovering a faulty driver online access via CIX, Demon Internet tains a poor shadow of the network support While updating your system drivers can Services and CompuServe. I’ve since in the Intel-based Warp Connect. The cur- resolve issues, it sometimes goes wrong received sponsored CompuServe and rent iteration is mainly of interest to devel- and you can end up with a system which AOL subscriptions which leaves me with opers who would like to prepare for the day fails to boot. There a number of recovery nothing but a huge telephone bill to con- when PowerPC computers come of age, options available, some of which have been template. Accordingly, in future columns I but that probably won’t happen in 1996. discussed in earlier columns, but before plan to compare and contrast these four Development of OS/2 PPC has been rushing in, check which driver has failed by services and their offerings for the con- put on the back-burner in order to focus rebooting and pressing Alt-F2 when the nected OS/2 user, both in terms of on Intel-based Warp, which IBM will pro- white square appears in the top left-hand access software and for the quality and mote as the main competitor to Microsoft corner of the display. OS/2 will display the availability of OS/2 information and sup- Windows 95 and Windows NT in “the con- name of each driver as it loads. With a bit of port services. nected enterprise”. luck, you may be able to spot the offending driver as the last to load before it all goes OS/2 for the PowerPC Common hardware issues pear-shaped. OS/2 for the PowerPC slipped out at the ● CD-ROM drive not recognised end of December 1995, fulfilling the latest As of Warp Full Pack which shipped this PCW Contacts in a long line of revised projections. It isn’t time last year, OS/2 support for SCSI and Terence Green can be contacted either available to the general public as such, but sound-card attached CD-ROM drives is by post c/o PCW or by email to people who know they need it and can quite comprehensive, but support for the [email protected] make a case for being supplied, and who NCR-embedded SCSI interface found on Updates and fixes other than FixPacks know whom to contact within IBM, might many motherboards is not included and are to be found on CompuServe be able to pick up a copy. there’s only partial support for IDE-attached (OS2SUPPO) OS/2 PPC is the microkernel version of ATAPI CD-ROM drives in Warp Full Pack 282 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● NUMBERS COUNT is this the present record? ● Mersenne Primes These are primes of the form 2n - 1. Eric Adler has been beta-testing the new ver- sion of Maple (Maple 4 The Power Edition) and has found the 31st and 32nd Mersenne Primes in less than twenty min- Spring into action utes on his 16Mb 100MHz Pentium. These are 2216091 - 1 and Mike Mudge presents a spring-time miscellany — 2756839 - 1 (227832 digits). hailstones, factorials and points on a graph. He followed these with 859433 M33 = 2 - 1 having 258716 decimal digits. This exer- HAILSTONES (PCW January lem when the two powers in the first equa- cise is indicative of the evolution of the 1992) / WONDROUS NUMBERS tion may not be equal. Obtain empirical Personal Computer, as the final calcula- (PCW December 1995) data to test my interpretation of “Uber dio- tion was carried out on a supercomputer ... an alternative approach phantische Gleichungen der Form etc.” — the Cray at Harwell in about January Nigel Hodges of Cheltenham has studied (usw.) and, if possible, make some theo- 1994, I believe. the above problems extensively and has retical analysis of the results. ● Some other large primes reduced the special case “3n + 1” to the Factorial Primes: 3610! - 1 and 30507! - following: A Spring Challenge 1 having 11277 & 10912 digits respective- Problem NH. Are there any powers of 2, Problem MM. In general y = f(x) can be ly; C. Caldwell 1992/3. other than 2**3, which satisfy 6**n less represented by a graph on which there Primorial Primes: Define n* as the prod- than 2**n less than 6**n + 3**n**? More may be points with integer, rational (frac- uct of all primes less than or equal to n, generally, Nigel asks if, given real a & b tional) or irrational co-ordinates, e.g. y = 3x then we have 24029* + 1 and 23801* + 1 greater than 1 (integers if readers prefer) + 1 is represented by a straight line, here with 10387 and 10273 decimal digits 1 how many solutions can be found which (1,4) is an integer point, ( /3,2) is partly respectively; C. Caldwell 1993. These are satisfy a**n less than b**n less than a**n + integer and partly fractional while (31/2, the largest primes of each type pub- d where d can either be a constant value 33/2+1) is irrational. lished... Unless any reader knows better? or can increase with n. (But must be small- Consider the function Any investigations of the above prob- er than a**n.) In particular, are the solution y2 = x(x2 + p) lems may be set to Mike Mudge, 22 Gors sets finite or infinite? where p is a PRIME NUMBER. For a Fach, Pwll-Trap, St. Clears, Carmarthen, ** Anyone finding a second solution has given p determine fractional points on this Dyfed SA33 4AQ, tel 01994 231121, to cracked the “3n+1” problem, details of the curve i.e. points with fractional co-ordi- arrive by 1st August 1996. link from Nigel via M.M., and is assured of nates, e.g. p=5 leads to x = 1/4, y = 9/8 All material received will be judged instant fame! while p = 13 leads to x = 9/4 and y = 51/8. using suitable subjective criteria and a Determine a general method for the con- prize in the form of a £25 book token or Some Diophantine Equations struction of such points, illustrate graphi- equivalent overseas voucher will be involving the Factorial Function cally. (Consider the result of changing the awarded, by Mike Mudge, to the “best” Recall that given any positive integer n, powers/sign present in the equation solution arriving by the closing date. the factorial of n is defined by n! = above.) 1x2x3x..xn, while 0! = 1 for convenience, Smarandache slip-up further Diophantine Equations are those FEEDBACK The Enigma of Smarandache continues: is for whch solutions are sought in integers Perfect Digital Invariants (PDI’s) it worthwhile? Response to Numbers Count only. The following problems supplement These are integers which are equal to the -150- October 1996 did not warrant the those of PCW July 1989 where it was sum of the nth powers of their individual award of a prize. First International explained that ERDÖS had examined the digits in a given basis. Following upon the Conference on Smarandache Type Notions equation n! = 2a ±2bfinding solutions for n Steinhaus Problem, PCW January 1996, in Number Theory, August 21-24 1997. = 1,2,3,4 & 5 only. Henry Ibstedt has sent a quotation from Information from C Dumitrescu, Now, as early as 1937 Erdös and Madachy’s book Mathematical Recre- Mathematics Department, University of Oblath considered the equations ations (Dover, 1979) page 164: “It is a Craiova, Romania. Tel (40) 51-125302; n! = xp ±yp marvel that a tenth-order PDI should have Fax (40) 51-413728 (for Dumitrescu); and also been discovered: 4,679,307,774... There email [email protected] n! + m! = xp must be many other such digital invariants for positive integers m,n,p,x & y. Their list- of higher order, but the numbers get larger ing appears to consist of (the publication is and more difficult to work with. Recently PCW Contributions welcome in German!) the work has been extended to the seven- Mike Mudge welcomes readers’ 2! + 2! = 22, 3! + 2! = 23, 3! - 2! = teenth order.” correspondence on any subject within 22, 5! + 4! = 122 also 2! = 1p + 1p and Henry also refers to an article in the the areas of number theory and 122 + 242. Journal of Recreational Mathematics (lat- computational mathematics, together est issue) “Variants on Perfect Digital with suggested subject areas and/or specific problems for future Numbers Problem EO. Investigate the above equa- Invariants” but presents his own result — a Count articles. tions, together with the associated prob- 21-digit PDI or order 21 128...252.. asking 287 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● HARDWARE What our new section has Slot in some sound in store for you In the first of our new series, Roger Gann gives you Welcome to Hands On Hardware; a new, regular, slot which will deal with all matters a step by step guide to fitting a sound card. relating to PC hardware. Over the next few months, Roger Gann will be showing you how to go about upgrading your PC o kick off with, I’m going to show you PCW Step by step Photography by Graham Pearson hardware, step by step: from hard disks, to Thow to fit a sound card and then go on CD-ROMs; from motherboard upgrades, to to examine the thorny problem of resolving Nevertheless, the vast majority of sound fitting a SCSI card. Each month, Hardware hardware clashes — a common problem cards remain a jumper-fest. will be split into two sections: one will show with sound cards but equally applicable to In this step by step guide, I’ll assume you an upgrade project, the other will look other peripherals, too. that you’ll be installing an old-style, at a related hardware topic. non-PnP sound card — yes, we’re going to do it the hard way! Step-by-Step Step 2 Hardware • Remove the cover from your PC — it’s Installation probably secured by four self-tapping How to install a Phillips screws at the rear. sound card Step 1 • You can now see the innards of your PC: ust like fitting almost any kind of • We don’t want to lose you — so take the at the bottom of the system unit is the Jexpansion card or peripheral to your usual safety precautions of unplugging motherboard, which will have as many as PC, fitting a sound card consists of two your PC from the mains. It’s not strictly eight expansion slots along it’s rear edge. distinct phases: fitting the card into the PC necessary to disconnect peripherals, like • Unless you have got a highly-integrated and then configuring it and it’s software. printers or monitors, but it makes it easier motherboard, several of these slots will Although Plug and Play (or PnP) if you want to move the system unit about. already be filled by cards such as your promises an end to configuration • If you’ve never before removed your graphics accelerator. nightmares, it has yet to deliver these PC’s lid, make a note of which cable goes It might be wise at this point to promises. So far, Plug and Play sound where. Be sure to discharge any static you determine exactly what hardware cards have been slow to appear but may be carrying; earth yourself by touch- resources (IRQs, DMA channels and I/O Creative Labs has released Plug and Play ing a metal pipe, or a tap, say. Static elec- ports) are free, so as to avoid a hardware versions of its SoundBlaster 32 and AWE tricity is fatal for chips so try to minimise clash. 32 cards. Orchid has done similarly. your handling of the card. For the time being, however, let’s Left Slotting a sound card into the expansion slot Right Plugging in the bits: speakers, line connections and so on 288 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● HARDWARE assume that the default settings of the Fig1 This tabbed dialogue reveals the 1 card are OK and that no jumpers need Settings portion of the Microsoft Windows setting. Sound System sound card properties Step 3 Fig2 The SoundBlaster comes with a simple • Choose a slot — you can find four types diagnostics program, TEST-SBC.EXE, which of expansion slot in a PC: 8-bit ISA, 16-bit checks for hardware conflicts and plays some ISA, 32-bit VL-Bus and 32-bit PCI. I’ve not sample sounds to make sure that all is well come across any sound cards that fit the latter two slots; the vast majority of sound Fig 3 This Windows 3.1 installation of a cards are 16-bit ISA designs, although SoundBlaster card reveals I’m using the some cheap sound cards are 8-bit. default settings for the card • Pick an appropriate expansion slot for your card: if you do have a 16-bit ISA Fig4 Under Windows 95, the same information sound card, try to put it in a 16-bit slot is kept in Device Manager Properties (although it will fit a VL-Bus slot it is a waste of a local bus slot). If the sound card has an IDE interface 2 for a CD-ROM drive, try to pick a slot close to where the drive is going to go. Sound cards can be susceptible to RF noise generated by other PC hardware and you may have to shuffle your cards around to rid yourself of any annoying buzzes or hums it’s picking up. 3 Step 4 4 • Undo the bolt securing the blanking plate at the end of the slot and remove the plate. • Hold the card firmly by it’s top edge and press it’s connector edge firmly into the expansion slot — it may be a tight fit and you may have to use a modicum of steady force. Tighten up the bolt to stop the card from flapping around. • If you have a CD-ROM drive fitted, install the CD audio cable between the drive and the sound card: this will let you play audio CDs through your PC speakers. Step 5 • Put the system unit cover back on, do up the screws and plug everything back in. • Plug in any speakers to the sound card, plus any microphones or line connections. auto-identify your new sound card. When such as CIX, CompuServe or AOL, or Some sound cards have a volume control it does, you’ll be prompted for the direct from the manufacturer’s Web site. next to the audio connectors, so make Windows 95 installation disks or the • If you’re still running DOS+Windows sure this is turned up! manufacturer’s driver disks. You can then 3.1x, install the drivers that come with the • Power up the PC and make sure check its correct installation by clicking on card. Often it will come with a simple everything is working as it was before. the “System” in Control Panel, then on the diagnostic/confidence tester utility which Check that the sound card is not “Device Manager” tab and selecting the will confirm that the sound card is working interfering with anything. “Sound, video and game controllers” entry correctly (see Fig 2). • If you do have a problem, see the section on the device tree. • Once you’ve confirmed that the sound Resolving Hardware Clashes (p291). • Finally, click on your sound card and the card is working under DOS, the next step “Properties” button (see Fig 1). is to install drivers for Windows 3.1x. Software • If Windows 95 can’t detect it, or mis- Your sound card will probably have it’s configuration identifies it, you should then install the Windows own install program but it’s not Windows 3.1x drivers supplied with the difficult to indulge in a spot of D-I-Y and • If all is well with your PC, the next step is card; Windows 95 comes with a reason- install it manually. to install the software for your card. If you able range of sound card drivers but lacks • Load the Control Panel and select have Windows 95 your first stop should be drivers for Turtle Beach, Orchid and Miro Drivers, then Add… and you’ll be the “Add new hardware” wizard in Control cards, for instance. Often these drivers or prompted for the disk with the Windows Panel. more up to date versions can either be drivers. Here, I’ve installed the drivers for • You should let Windows 95 try to pulled down from Internet dial-up services an old SoundBlaster card (see Figs 3 & 4). 289 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● HARDWARE Standard DMA channel assignments 3. IRQ Resolving Channel Used by Width IRQ is an “interrupt request” line — DMA 0 System 16-bit a hardware link between a device and the hardware DMA 1 Free 8-bit processor. PCs use the equivalent of two DMA 2 Floppy disk controller 8-bit 8259 Programmable Interrupt Controller clashes DMA 3 Free 8-bit (PIC) chips and each controls eight IRQs. ntil Plug and Play heaven becomes a DMA 4 Slave DMA controller N/A The second, or slave, PIC is co-ordinated Ureality, we have to live with the ever- input into master via it’s IRQ 9 and the master PICs, IRQ 2. present problem of hardware clashes. DMA 5 Free 16-bit As a result IRQs 2 and 9 become one and These are caused when two hardware DMA 6 Free 16-bit the same. devices try to access the same hardware DMA 7 Free 16-bit resource. The end result can be a non- This is a list of IRQs and their owners: functioning sound card or, at worst, a hung Highest priority Used by? PC. These hardware resources in a PC 2. I/O port IRQ 9 Free are strictly limited and it can often take a This is an address in memory. It acts as a IRQ 10 Free bit of jockeying around to get all your cards gateway, permitting a device to IRQ 11 Free and devices to co-exist peacefully with communicate with the processor. There IRQ 12 Free each other. are several hundred of these and are thus IRQ 13 Maths co-processor But just what are these hardware not in short supply unless your card can IRQ 14 Hard disk resources? They fall into four categories: only use a few of them. IRQ 15 Free IRQ 0 Timer tick 1. DMA, or Direct IRQ 1 Keyboard Memory Access IRQ 2 Cascade to slave PIC This is a method whereby IRQ 3 COM 2 a device can access IRQ 4 COM 1 memory by itself without IRQ 5 LPT 2 (free) using the CPU, thus IRQ 6 Floppy disk cutting a corner and IRQ 7 LPT1 saving time. IRQ 8 Clock There are only eight Lowest priority DMA channels on machines with 286 Because “high” IRQs receive greater processors or better, but priority than “low” IRQs; if you have a five of these will usually device that makes intensive use of be free. interrupts, it makes sense to allocate it a Normally, you’ll be high IRQ number rather than a low one. able to use DMA You can’t normally share IRQ lines channels 1,3,5,6 or 7 for (Windows NT3.51 forbids it) but it is your expansion cards. common to share sound cards with the 291 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● HARDWARE very lowest priority, IRQ 7, which is resources. Then, when it’s time to add a normally assigned to the printer port. This new card you’ll know exactly which hard- is because the printer port is unlikely to be ware resources are free and which are used all the time and is therefore “wasted” spoken for, and thus be able to make the most of the time. It’s also unlikely that appropriate adjustments to the new card. you’ll be playing sounds while you’re OK, it’s a schlepp but it’s nothing printing, so it’s relatively safe to mix both compared with making wild stabs in the devices on this one IRQ. dark when your PC isn’t working properly For every IRQ line there’s a — forewarned is forearmed! You might corresponding I/O port address and here’s have to remove every card to find out its a table showing you typical values: precise settings but sometimes you can use software to do this, such as MSD or Device IRQ I/O port MEM WinCheckIt. decode ● Perhaps the best tool of all for resolving COM1 4 3F8 - 3FF N/A clashes is Windows 95, even if you’re COM2 3 2F8 - 2FF N/A using non Plug and Play kit. The Device LPT1 7 378 - 37F N/A Manager will flag all hardware clashes LPT2 5 278 - 27F N/A and, here’s the big advantage, tell you AT EIDE 14 1FO - 1F8 N/A which device it’s clashing with. AT IDE 15 170 - 177 N/A OK, so you probably won’t be able to VGA 2/9 3 COh - 35Ah colour A000 - BFF0 reconfigure the card via software but at VGA 3 COh - 3BAh mono C000 - C7FF least you will know precisely where the problem lies and that’s half the battle. 4. ROM address Some expansion cards will incorporate a ROM, or ROM BIOS, and this has to sit in Explanation of acronyms memory alongside other ROMs in the and terms used system: for instance, the boot ROMs and the Video BIOS. ●Low level • All ROMs must reside between 640Kb CPU Central processing unit. and 1,024Kb and must have a unique DMA Direct memory access. address. That is, it cannot share address IRQ Interrupt request lines. ranges with anything else. • All I/O cards will use all or a combination ● Hard drive and peripheral of these hardware resources. For exam- interface standards ple, a SoundBlaster’s default settings are: IDE Integrated drive electronics. EIDE Enhanced integrated drive DMA Channel: 1 electronics. I/O port: 220 SCSI Small computer system IRQ: 7 interface. Troubleshooting ● Bus standards ISA Industry standard architecture. ● You’ll know when you’ve got a hardware PCI Peripheral component clash because something will stop interconnect (a local bus working. standard; now fairly universal). A typical example of this is putting a VL-BUS VESA location bus (VESA is the modem on COM 3, which shares IRQ 4 Video Electronics Standards with COM 1 (your mouse port). The Association; another local bus mouse works just fine until you launch a standard). comms program, when it will stop, only to magically reappear when you quit the ● Other terms comms program. RF noise Radio frequency noise (radio-like ● We’ve seen that hardware resources signals which are emitted from are scarce and that it’s possible for cards your PC and which can cause to try and utilise resources already in use. interference). So how do you prevent these clashes occurring? PCW Contacts If you have DOS+Windows 3.1x there really is no substitute for conducting a Roger Gann can be contacted either by hardware resource “audit” of your PC, post c/o PCW, or via email at noting which device uses which [email protected],net 292 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● 3D GRAPHICS and inlines. These are nodes for making objects links to other objects stored any- where on the World Wide Web. In the case of anchors, when you point at the specified object, the scene to which it is linked replaces the current scene. In the case of inlines, the linked scene is imported into the current scene. Within months of its introduction, VRML has spawned countless browsers, includ- ing SGI’s own WebSpace, WebFX from Paper Inc (now Live3D, about which more below) and a plug-in for Microsoft’s Inter- Modelling job net Explorer. A VRML file, like an HTML file, is rela- VRML makes it possible to bring 3D graphics to tively simple: a straight ASCII text file con- Internet pages. The World Wide Web will never taining instructions and data. The funda- mental object (programming object, that look so good, as Benjamin Woolley explains. is) is the node, which can be a 3D geome- try or mesh (a cube, say, or a light), a tex- ture, surface features such as shininess n 1884 the pseudonymous author “A The specification for the VRML 1.0 stan- and so on. Nodes are arranged hierarchi- ISquare” (his real name was Edwin A dard now in use was set after a few months cally to determine how they influence Abbott) published a book called Flatland, of discussion over the Web among graph- each other. which told the tragic story of two-dimen- ics industry enthusiasts. It was decided to sional creatures trapped in a flat universe. base it on an existing file format, the one Light, camera, action Until 1994, the World Wide Web was like developed by Silicon Graphics (SGI) for its In the panel below, we have a simple Flatland, totally two dimensional. Then “Inventor” system. Inventor is a whole set example of VRML which creates a red along came VRML or “Virtual Reality Mod- of tools and libraries for creating and sphere and a blue cube lit by a directional elling Language”, a new standard for a 3D manipulating 3D objects on SGI graphics light and viewed by a camera. There is version of HTML. workstations. The bit borrowed for VRML is one overall Separator node for the entire just the file format, to which extensions scene, with sub-nodes and sub-separa- Best of both worlds have been added to make it more suitable tors describing various elements and how HTML, the lingua franca of the World Wide for use over the Web, specifically anchors they should be rendered. The blue cube, Web, was interesting and novel for example, is created because it was, in a sense, both Simply red and a bit of blue using a material node a data file format and a pro- which specifies its gramming language: as well as #VRML V1.0 ascii colour, a transform mode containing some of the data to Separator { which specifies its posi- be displayed (the text), it includ- DirectionalLight { tion and orientation, and ed the instructions specifying direction 0 0 -1 # Light shining from viewer into scene the cube node, which how that text should be laid out, } specifies its shape. the source of any pictures that PerspectiveCamera { You could add anoth- would accompany it, and the position -8.6 2.1 5.6 er node, Texture2, to behaviour of hypertext links that orientation -0.1352 -0.9831 -0.1233 1.1417 give a texture property, referenced other data. Among focalDistance 10.84 which will wrap the cube other things, this meant it was } with a particular image (a easier to make programs that Separator { # The red sphere picture of a stone sur- interpreted HTML (browsers Material { face, for example). such as NetScape Navigator) diffuseColor 1 0 0 # Red There are 36 different “platform-independent”, capa- } types of nodes in the first ble of running on Unix boxes, Translation { translation 3 0 1 } version of the VRML PCs and Macs alike. Sphere { radius 2.3 } standard. Bearing in It was a couple of program- } mind that these nodes mers from Massachusetts, Mark Separator { # The blue cube are all you have to Pesce and Tony Parisi, who Material { describe a scene using came up with the notion of diffuseColor 0 0 1 # Blue VRML, this is not that adopting the HTML model for } many. There are no integrating 3D graphics into the Transform { nodes for animating World Wide Web. They present- translation -2.4 .2 1 objects or giving them ed the idea at a special session rotation 0 1 1 .9 any sort of behaviour. of the first international WWW } There are no nodes for conference in Geneva in 1994, Cube {} advanced features such and thus VRML was born. 295 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● 3D GRAPHICS as NURBs (for describing VRML authoring flows from the Fountain VRML authoring tool, complex curved surfaces) something that has the or environmental proper- Truespace from limitations and peculiari- ties (for adding features Caligari was the ties of VRML built into its such as fog). Some of first full-bodied 3D basic design. There are, these, however, appear in graphics model- as yet, not many on the the specification for VRML ling and animation market. One for the SGI 2.0 (see later). to be developed is Ez3d from Radiance Nevertheless, there for Windows and, (a Windows NT version are enough nodes to cre- thanks to its inter- is due this year), and ate scenes quite complex face, it can be a SGI itself has produced enough for most PCs, and pleasure to use. WebSpace Author. For VRML has already That interface the PC world, there are demonstrated itself capa- now forms the several in development, ble of creating rich, com- basis of the same but perhaps the best plex spaces and providing company’s VRML known is Fountain (see the user with the means to authoring panel). “walk” or “fly” through program, The Fountain interface, with a VRML scene of the them. Fountain, which, VRML 2.0 globe in the main window, and a panel showing a You can, in theory, cre- at the time of writ- In early February the separate, non-textured version of the same scene from ate such worlds by hand. ing, was in the VRML 2.0 announce- a different angle. The spear-shaped object pointing at All you need is a text edi- final stages of ment came, though not the globes is a pointer put there by Fountain to show tor and a great deal of Beta testing. in the manner we had that the globe is the currently selected object patience. Most people, Fountain pro- expected. SGI and however, create their vides some neat NetScape decided they models using one of two tools for creating simple geometries and adding properties such as textures and had no time for the methods: a standard 3D anchors. It also supports such extra facilities as LOD (Level of Detail, which drawn-out discussion modelling package and allows for simplified versions of particular objects to be rendered while they are that usually accompa- some form of converter, or distant) and GZIP file compression. nies the emergence of a a VRML authoring tool. The Beta 5 version pictured is still very much a Beta release, and it is hard to new industry standard. The former strategy get consistent results with the VRML files it generates. That said, Fountain is an They pre-emptively works quite well in the SGI excellent starting point for VRML authoring on the PC. There is also one declared that SGI’s world, since much 3D soft- feature, introduced with this release, which is particularly attractive: the concept “Moving Worlds” specifi- ware that runs on Silicon of creating your own neighbourhood. This is the 3D equivalent of a bookmark cation become VRML Graphics systems uses the file. You simply select the neighbourhood icon, point at an object (usually one version 2.0, and got 50 Inventor tools from which that links to another world or Web page, though this is not necessary), and it will leading Internet and VRML was derived. Con- be copied into a separate VRML file. You can then edit this file to create your graphics companies to verting an Inventor format “neighbourhood” of favourite places. Neat. agree with them. file into a VRML format file NetScape simultaneous- is, theoretically at least, ly announced the Live3D simply a matter of chang- The Live 3D plug-in for its Navigator ing the header information logo viewed browser, a VRML brows- and adding WWW using the Live er which supports the Anchor and WWW 3D plug-in for Moving Worlds exten- Inline nodes with a text edi- NetScape sions. Two big names, tor. Of course it is not that Navigator Apple and Microsoft, easy in practice, as many were missing from the Inventor nodes are unsup- original announcement. Both had been ported by VRML. Howev- pushing alternative specifications for er, if you keep the model VRML 2.0. What Moving Worlds promises simple, you are unlikely to to provide is yet another dimension to the have any problems. World Wide Web — the fourth dimension Outside the SGI world, of time. Objects can now move. They can things start to get more change shape, precipitate and react to difficult. Translators for events, be programmed to display certain converting 3D Studio files behaviours. There is a whole layer of extra to VRML emerged soon nodes and features, and I will be grappling after the VRML standard with them in future editions of this column. was agreed, and Autodesk now supplies sion is a hit and miss affair, producing one as a plug-in (or “IPAS”, in their termi- VRML files that some browsers render PCW Contacts nology), complete with facilities for adding incorrectly (putting textures on the wrong Benjamin Woolley, a writer and anchors and inlines. Unfortunately, the object, for example) and others are unable broadcaster, can be contacted at distance in the methods used by 3D Stu- even to parse (decode). [email protected]. His home page dio and Inventor are so great that conver- A more satisfactory strategy is to use a is at www.illumin.co.uk/woolley/. 296 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● GRAPHICS & DTP recolour or delete, it can be very satisfying to select huge sections with the rectangu- lar, elliptical or freehand tool and wipe the lot out in seconds. More often than not, you’ll probably still have to go in and care- Natural selection fully outline a shape, but all those nerves could be eliminated with a bit of haphazard wiping out. Photo-retouching of bitmapped images is a tricky Before going any further, it’s worth business. Gordon Laing takes you through it with briefly taking stock. A selection can be any shape or size, but must be closed without one good eye and a steady mouse hand. any gaps. Most applications allow multiple selections to be made, such as two sepa- rate trees against the same background, irtually every process in the world of you’d like to select, say, the foreground and are usually implemented by holding Vgraphics and DTP consists of making object to protect it against any changes, or the shift key as you make each additional a selection, then doing something to it. cut it out and place on a new background selection. This month is not about the wealth of altogether. Anyone can do a good physical A selection is usually indicated on things you can do to a selection, but the job with pair of scissors, but digitally it can screen by a moving striped line, not at all process of selection itself. prove difficult. dissimilar to the flashing lights surrounding Selections in the clean-cut world of vec- The most obvious route is to draw a line a Las Vegas sign and often known as tor drawing apps are totally straightforward around the object by hand with the scissor marching ants. The selection is everything — just point at the desired object and click. or freehand selection tool, for which you’ll contained within this or these outlines. Multiple selections can be made by shift need a good eye and a steady mouse Many apps allow you to make an inverse clicking each element, or dragging a hand. There’s also the problem that most selection, with everything outside the out- marquee around them. It’s just as easy applications won’t allow you to go back lines selected. This is useful if, say, the within DTP. and edit this outline path, unless it was object you want to select is complex and It’s photo-retouching of bitmapped created with vectors. This feeling of better- on a plain background. Select the back- images that often becomes tricky. The get-it-right-first-time doesn’t half loom over ground, go for inverse, and the complex human eye can easily spot a person pos- you and induce the wobbles. It is an option object becomes the selection; see Fig 2. ing in front of a country landscape, but to however, and sometimes ideal for basic Virtually all paint or photo-retouching the computer, it’s just a load of coloured rough selections; see Fig 1. apps have at least rectangular and per- dots. There are often occasions when When you’ve got large regions to haps elliptical selection tools, which you drag out to size with the mouse; these are frequently known as marquees. The free- hand tool, where you literally draw out the shape by hand, is often known as a lasso. 1 Abracadabra The fun really starts with the temptingly titled Magic Wand tool, found in higher- end retouching applications such as Adobe Photoshop. The magic wand selects portions of an image based on the colour similarities of adjacent pixels. The degree of similarity is set by the user. In theory you could select an entire object in a single step with the magic wand see (Fig 3). In practice, it helps if the object is made up of similar colours and the background is Fig 1 This cheeky chappie surrounded by a dotted line is an example of making a selection by hand. It’s quite rough and ready, but this hand-drawn technique is quick and works well in many situations 298 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● GRAPHICS & DTP 2 2 4 The rather tempting present, Fig 2 (top left), could prove difficult to select. 6 Instead, select the background then choose Inverse to grab the prezzie Fig 2 (above centre). Part of the CD’s surface, in Fig 3, has been selected; choosing Similar has selected all other yellows, leaving the text untouched. Fig 4 (top right) shows the Magic Wand in action, selecting the whole area of sky in one step; now change it to any time of day (Fig 6). The parrot (Fig 5, bottom left) illustrates the perils of pasting a selected bauble; the bauble in Fig 5, bottom right, has been selected with anti- aliasing and had its contrast adjusted to better match the background 3 5 5 299 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● GRAPHICS & DTP Font of the Month completely different. You’ll usually have to edges don’t stick out so much. So long as play around with the tolerance level until the colour balance, contrast, focus and the wand accepts the range of colours grain match up reasonably, this should do required, to select the desired region. the trick. You could blur the edges of the Remember that holding shift as you re- pasted shape manually, or remove offend- click the wand will allow you to select spe- ing pieces of old background, but there are cific similar areas, while apps such as techniques available which may render a Photoshop additionally offer a similar great deal of hard work unnecessary. option, which selects all areas in the image with a similar range of colours (see Fig 4). Anti-aliasing Sometimes the wand works perfectly Anti-aliasing already effectively smooths first time, grabbing the desired area with- edges by popping dots of intermediate out complication, whereas with others it foreground and background colour around may be virtually useless. coarse outlines. Most magic wand tools Remember, the inverse function can be offer an anti-aliasing option which immedi- really handy. In the case of my famous ately smoothes the edges, ready for user- Christmas Card, which I won’t reproduce friendly pasting onto another background due to physical threats from colleagues, I (see Fig 5). began with a photo of myself against a vir- A more advanced blurring option is to tually black background. Wanting to select feather the outline by a user defined myself for pasting onto a totally different number of pixels. This more sophisticated background, the easiest way was to technique, along with vector-editable clip- roughly retouch the background until it ping paths will be covered in next month’s was completely dark and select the entire column. Until then, happy selecting. thing with one fell swoop of the magic wand. Going for inverse selected every- Font of the month thing that wasn’t the background (i.e. This month’s featured font is one of the myself) and bingo, I was off. latest releases from Adobe. So by one means or another, you’ve Bulmer, originally designed by William selected the desired region. In some Martin in 1790 and re-penned by M.F. instances you’ll only do this in order to Benton for publishing in its current form alter the colour balance or brightness of, between 1927 and 1928, is a smart and say, the sky in the background. However classy typeface, ideal for when you want in others, you’ll want to physically cut out to look good. the object and stick it on another Adobe has released an additional background. Expert Set, featuring a variety of specialist This is where you may run into unex- characters. These include fractions, pected difficulties. First of all it will be ligatures, and an entire set of small immediately apparent if you haven’t cut capitals. Several of these are shown on out the shape properly: a bit of rogue back- the bottom line, in the illustration above. ground here, a chunk missing there all add up to an incredibly unconvincing PCW Contacts composite. This somewhat cheesy effect Any hot selection tips? Write to me at the may indeed be what you’re looking for, but PCW address on Broadwick Street or if you want a convincing, realistic result, email me as gordon_laing@pcw. there are a few additional tricks up the ccmail.compuserve.com digital retoucher’s sleeve. Faces 01276 38888 Ultimately, the best advice is to blur the ☎ FontWorks 0171 490 5390 ☎ outline of the object so that the rough 301 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● MULTIMEDIA The raw materials Panicos Georghiades and Gabriel Jacobs take you through a basic list of requirements for making a CD-ROM on a budget. ❛ I have been asked by an administrator at minimum sustained transfer rate of You can also grab stills off video or live a local hospital for the mentally disabled if 1.5Mb/second if you wish to grab good material using a video camera and cap- I could produce a CD-ROM to help the video. A higher value is preferable. Accel- ture board. Or you may wish to use a dig- patients with severe learning difficulties to erator graphics cards, PCI or VL-bus ital camera. If you want to retouch, or be a bit more independent. We have con- graphics and hard-disk adaptors all help. draw original artwork, then a pressure- cluded that the program will have to So at a rough estimate, good basic hard- sensitive tablet instead of a mouse helps include video clips and sound samples, ware is going to cost anything between a great deal. and will therefore need to be authored £2,000 and £10,000. Flatbed scanners range between £300 using a multimedia authoring package. and £10,000 (average just under £1,000). We have access to a video camera and A testing time Digital cameras range between £400 and a variety of PCs, ranging from a 386 to a Then there are testing machines, of which £15,000. Film scanners start at about Pentium, and were wondering if you could you need as many as possible. They £700. Drawing tablets start at £150. recommend a reasonably easy-to-use soft- should preferably be low-end machines ware package. (as low as any user might have) so that In good voice What other hardware would we need? you don’t reduce the potential userbase. To record the human voice for narration or We want to produce about 30 discs and They should have varying hardware voiceovers you’ll need a good microphone have only limited financial resources. ❜ peripherals such as graphics cards, CD- — preferably a studio condenser micro- Dave Sharples ROM drives and sound cards of different phone plugged into a microphone pre- ([email protected]) makes. Most problems stem from incom- amplifier — and a compressor which elimi- patibilities between drivers of S-VGA nates variations in the voice signal. Heavy Thanks for this letter — we’ve been wait- cards, CD-ROM drives and sound cards. compression can help with sound to be ing for the opportunity to answer a To grab stills for backgrounds, main digitised at 8 bits (if you’re short of space). focused question like this for a while now. photorealistic material and screen buttons, Good microphones range from £200 to We’ll use the rest of the space in this col- you’ll need a standard scanner for flat sur- £1,000. Compressors and microphone umn to summarise what one needs to face reflective material such as pho- pre-amplifiers start at £200. You also need develop a “basic” multimedia CD-ROM. tographs and documents, and a film scan- a 16-bit sound card to record and playback ner (or transparency adaptor) for photo- sound with the PC. Sound cards cost ● Hardware graphic negatives or slides. between £25 and £1,000. You really do need a powerful authoring Ulead Media Studio (demo and free software) machine with lots of RAM and hard-disk space. The amount of power and disk space you need depends on the amount of audio, still-image data and video you want to process. As for the processor (Pentium or whatever) — well, the fastest you can afford. You need at least 16Mb RAM, and 32Mb or more can speed up the editing and processing of graphics files. Your hard disk should be 2Gb or more. A CD holds about 650Mb, but you may find yourself working with 10 to 50 times as much raw material, especially if you’re dealing with video clips. A good, flexible On this month’s CD there’s a demo of Ulead’s Media Studio 2.0 software, which we archiving and back-up system, such as a covered in these pages last December. The demo includes the video editing module magneto-optical drive or removable hard- in its entirety, with examples for you to play with. You can even save files, though the disk drives, may be a solution. demo program places an X over them so you won’t be able to distribute them. Have a The working hard disk should have a look at the competition section too — some copies will be given away free to readers 302 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● MULTIMEDIA If recordings need to be made away may need to employ the services of a from the computer, you need a tape scanning bureau, or use Kodak Pho- recorder, and preferably a DAT (Digital toCD. And you may need to employ a Audio Tape) machine which can record graphic designer/artist, the cost of which high-quality digital audio. Or you may will obviously depend on how good choose to record the sound in a profes- she/he is — but it won’t be cheap. sional studio. If you do, make sure that a Digitised sound will almost certainly DAT machine is used: you can then need to be edited (cut and pasted), its import the sound into a PC using a sound amplitude (signal strength) adjusted, and card with digital inputs (such as the Digital (almost certainly) cleaned of pops, clicks Audio Labs CardD). This will ensure the and other background noises. You may best possible quality. It can also be useful need to mix music, sound effects and if you’re grabbing sound effects or music voice in a single soundtrack, in which from CDs. DAT recorders start at £500. case sound levels of the individual tracks have to be adjusted. You’ll need a profes- Get it on video sional sound-editing program, and this will To record video, you obviously need a cost you between £100 and £300. video camera, but preferably one with an A great deal of video editing can be S-Video output. Video can be recorded done using Video for Windows acces- directly from the camera into a video cap- sories, but if you need to mix and combine ture card and onto the hard disk — video clips or create effects, a more there’s no need for it to be recorded to sophisticated video editing package will tape first unless your subject/material is be needed. This would set you back away from the computer. between £150 and £400. If you do need to record to tape, then a Digital, Hi-8 or S-VHS or S-VHS-C Going out in style capable recorder will yield better results. If you want your multimedia application to Three-CCD cameras give better quality have its own style, you may need to get than single CCD. Video camcorders start hold of fonts other than those distributed at £500. A three-CCD model can cost with Windows or other packages. over £2,000. New digital camcorders Remember that if you want to distribute start at about £3000. these fonts with the application, as opposed to using them on a bitmapped Throw some light on it image, you have to get permission from Lighting is a major factor in video quality. the owners. Diffused natural (day)light can give very You’ll also need a word processor, but good results even with cheap cam- its power is not that critical. You should corders. But if you’re using artificial light, save files in RTF (Rich Text Format) or as you need lots of it and it has to be white. TXT (text) — most multimedia authoring Ordinary tungsten light bulbs emit an packages accept both these formats. orange/yellow tint, and your video clips will resemble those from a certain Jeremy Author, author! Beadle TV programme. Studio lighting Then, of course, there’s multimedia equipment starts at £50. If you are to authoring software. Depending on the record sound with the video, you need type of application you’ll be developing, either to record the sound separately or and your own expertise, you’ll decide on use an external microphone with the either a standard multimedia authoring camcorder. package or a computer language (such To grab video from a camcorder or as Visual Basic or Delphi). VCR into a computer, you need a video For authoring software, you can say capture card. We recommend any capture that the cost will be between £200 and card that uses M-JPEG compression. The £1,000 — or more than £3,000 if you go video can then be edited and recom- for top of the range. pressed using any other compression method suitable for distribution, even Mastering the art MPEG. M-JPEG video capture cards start When you’ve completed the develop- at £350, average £700, and professional ment, you have to consider mastering. A models cost £2,000 plus. CD writer will be a good investment if you’ll be developing a number of multime- ● Software dia applications, not just one. All the above is hardware-related. Now to But in any case, you’ll need one-off softer matters. You’ll probably need CDs for testing purposes. They cost image scanning, retouching and editing between £25 and £150 each at a bureau software, and high-end paint software service. A CD writer and software can if you’re drawing original material. You cost anything between £900 and £5,000, 303 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● MULTIMEDIA Question time: MPG video, multimedia authoring Could you briefly answer the following — probably naive — question? To view an MPG file, do I need special software, special hardware, or both? I run everything under DOS/Windows (Word for Windows 3.11) on a Gateway P75, 16Mb RAM, an ATI Mach 64 graphics card with 2 meg of VRAM and an Ensoniq sound card. I can view the movies that come free on the cover disk okay. Nick Mahoney ([email protected]) You can view MPG video files under DOS or Windows as follows: 1. You can use a special software player program that uses either software decompression (such as XingCD) or works in conjunction with decompression hardware (such as the Media Station accessory Q&Athat comes with the Showtime MPEG playback card). 2. You can play MPG files using the Windows Media Player: a) if you have special decompression hardware that is installed with an MPEG MCI driver; or b) if you have a virtual MPEG MCI driver, such as one supplied with a number of the latest faster graphics cards (e.g. the Matrox Milleni- specific time. Toolbook works more like a book. It is easier than um card). Director when it comes to handling hotwords inside text boxes, Here’s some other useful related information: though they are both Software-only playback methods usually require a Pentium 90 or equally easy in handling hotspots on images. For straightforward above to deliver full-screen (640 x 480) full frame-rate playback. applications, it really makes no difference which one you use. Some software requires lots of free memory — under the DOS What you prefer to work with, and feel most comfortable with, may 640Kb limit — even if it’s running under Windows, and even if you do be more important. have masses of extended RAM. As for research material on multimedia authoring, there’s bags Finally, some CD-ROM drives don’t provide a sufficient sustained and bags of it. A starting point would be to look at some abstracts data-transfer rate to give smooth MPEG playback. on the World Wide Web. Use a robotic search engine (any one will Problems also exist with some CD-ROM drives (or CD-ROM drivers) do — Lycos, Infotext, Web Crawler ... whatever) and search for, not being able to play MPG files from Video-CDs. say, “multimedia authoring research” (remembering to AND these, Sometimes a later driver may be all you need. i.e. look for all three keywords in the same document). After that, expect to spend a few hours downloading and reading the masses I’ve read your articles in PCW and I need some advice on multime- of stuff you’ll get. dia authoring. I want to write a dissertation on the impact of multime- dia, and I want the document to be interactive (like a cover CD-ROM from a computer mag). For example, a front menu, text, references, video and audio. I have access to Director 4.0, Toolbook 3.0 and possibly Author- ware. I want to use the package which is easiest, without coding etc, and which can easily include hypertext, AVIs, TIFFs and so on. Also, do you know of any good research material on the subject? Asif Lakhanpal ([email protected]) You’ll be interested to know that PCW’s cover disk is done using Macro-media Director. Very briefly — without going into full product reviews of the three programs you mention — the fastest and easi- est is Authorware. Coding is required for the other two, at least for anything decent. Director is better for applications which have media that need to be placed on a timeline and synchronised so that they happen at a and blank CDs cost about £5 each if you which may be considerable in relation to PCW Contact buy in bulk (50 plus). the cost of pressing a CD. So, in terms of To press a CD in large numbers, you cost, multimedia could easily stand for If you have any multimedia-related need to pay a mastering charge (about multi-spending. However, as with film and problems or queries, email us at £500), then it depends on how many you music productions, some can cost thou- [email protected]. We’re sorry, but we can’t answer queries by press — typical prices are £1.20p each for sands and others can cost millions — and personal reply — we’d be at it all day! 250, 60p for 500, 50p for 1,000, and 40p unless you’re involved in the business you But we’re glad to publish queries, with for 10,000.The break-even point (between can’t tell the difference. our answers, which we think will interest using a pressing plant or writing your own) It is possible, with the use of imagina- PCW readers generally. is at about 150 to 200 CDs, excluding the tion, talent and professionalism, to over- Asymetrix products from ICS cost of the CD writer. Of course, prices are come the limitations imposed by a low bud- Solutions 01256 469460 ☎ changing all the time. Finally, you also get. Keeping things simple always helps in Illuminatus 3.0 from Digital WorkShop need to consider the cost of packaging, these circumstances. 01295 258335 ☎ 304 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● SOUND HANDS ON ● SOUND Mix-ability Chord of the Month more prominent. It’s important to create interesting contrasts in your production. 2. Introducing and dropping instruments This month’s gem is E flat with a major This can also help the build up to the Steven Helstrip paints a musical picture. seventh. The notes in this chord are E flat, chorus. G, B flat, D. Cole Porter’s favourite key must 3. Changing the instrumentation have been E flat, as most of his songs are in et’s take a further look at production production. At this stage, the most impor- tangent when you have access to new In a middle eight, for example, you may this key and this chord pops up regularly. L and mixing techniques, having cov- tant item on the agenda should be to lay gear. If you want the track to sound similar lose the bass line and compensate with a ered the basics of the approach and struc- down a rough “Lego” mix of the song. The to another song, take along the CD. pedalled, or sustained, note using a ture of commercial music in last month’s demo should capture the overall feel of the Probably the most important, and often strings timbre. Hands On. I’ve included plenty of ideas for track, though, and have a solid structure. the most difficult, aspect of the production Changing the instruments that play adding those little extra details in record- When you’re happy with the demo, is creating interesting contrast. If the track melodies can have a great effect, too. ings, too. have a rest from it for a few days. If there is all on one level, the listener will get 4. Key changes are any problems when you listen back to bored. Contrast covers many areas of the Key changes are great for adding con- It’s the little things that count it with a fresh pair of ears, they will stand production, not just its dynamic range. trast. There are several possibilities, the When you listen to a song for the first time out like a sore thumb — the outro chorus Here are some ideas which can help cre- it’s often quite difficult see (or should that needs to lift more, for example. At this ate interest. Super Sonic forges ahead be hear?) the overall picture. This is prob- point write down any ideas you have; it’s 1. Increasing and decreasing the ably because you are concentrating on amazing how quickly you’ll forget. dynamic range Sonic Foundry has released version 3.0 of its digital audio editor, Sound Forge. I recently listening to the vocal. But how many times Building up to the chorus means it will installed a copy and was more than surprised at what it had to offer. have you heard a song and said to your- Planning ahead have more effect. Then at the second If, like me, you spend loads of time editing and generally messing about with digital self “Eh? I’ve never noticed that bit Whether you’re recording a song in a verse, drop down to a lower level. As part audio, chances are you resort to “alt-tabbing” between a handful of editing packages to get before”? Whether it’s a subtle piano chord, friend’s bedroom with a four-track of the building process, double up simple jobs done. Sound Forge, however, appears to have all the features you’ll ever need a distant vocal harmony or a weird ana- recorder, or booked into Sarm West for sounds: for example, layer four string for mainstream two-track editing. logue sound, these are the makings of a three days, it’s important to plan ahead. pads and gradually increase the level of In addition to the standard features you would expect (cut, paste, fade, insert silence) great production. I’ve always found that writing down ideas each part. With pianos, copy parts over Sound Forge offers time stretching, normalising and resampling, and a range of effects that Last month, we briefly covered pre- helps because it’s easy to go off on a three octaves, leaving the middle octave include flange, distortion, reverb and noise gates. There’s also a 10-band graphic equaliser and a wave generator. Creative Essentials: Trance Formation Just as important as the feature set is ease of use, and Sound Forge has it. You shouldn’t need to open the manual, since everything is so straightforward. Trance Formation is the sixth CD in the Creative Essentials library. It contains Version 3.0 uses native 32-bit code for Windows 95 and NT and there are definite over 200 professional samples in both audio and Windows .wav performance gains. format. If you’ve had the chance to audition the Korg Prophecy synth Alternatively, there’s and liked what you heard, you will love this CD. Warm, analogue- Steinberg’s new 32-bit esque synth sweeps, dreamy LFOs, trancy sequences and editor, WaveLabs. filtered film scores can be found on each and every track. Although I haven’t yet Most of the samples have been recorded with stereo effects seen the program, giving them a spacious and deep quality. Like many CDs in this Steinberg claims it’s the genre, many of the sounds are impossible to describe. Names the fastest editor to date. producers have come up with include Haunting, Prayer Wheel and Fairy Dust — great names, equally fantastic sounds. Version 3.0 of Sound Wherever possible, the inlay card describes each track by way of Forge has an tempo and key. There are however no loop points given. impressive array of Among the trancy timbres you’ll also find a limited selection of bass and featues, including percussion sounds. Every sample in the Creative Essentials range is 100 percent The latest CD from Creative Essentials — warm, this 10-band graphic original and safe to use. As usual, you can find a selection of samples on this sweeping and, yes… trancy equaliser month’s free, cover-mounted CD-ROM in Hands\Sound. 306 307 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● SOUND most obvious being to shift the whole song This is a subtle way to change contrast. nating between a dry (untreated) vocal and up one or two semi-tones for the outro cho- You may also like to try splitting up the one with reverb and a short delay. Single- rus. You can try a more dramatic key chord and playing each note on a different line harmonies can be treated with over- change at the middle eight section; a four instrument to form new textures. the-top effects to introduce new textures. tone shift, for instance. This will grab the lis- 6. Effects Try movement between mono and stereo tener’s attention. Effects can be used greatly to create con- reverbs and delays. 5. Inverting chords trast. Here are some examples. Try alter- 7. Treating effects There are many ways to use effects pro- Voyage of Discovery cessing units. The most obvious is to patch Discovering Music is a new CD- them into the auxiliary buses, which ROM from Voyetra. It’s like a enables you to send an output from any musical rendition of Microsoft channel to the effect. If you are low on effect Works, only instead of a word units it is possible to pre-process your processor, spreadsheet and sounds before going to tape. This often pro- database you get a MIDI sequencer, duces excellent result and frees up your a score writer and an electronic valuable effects processor for another band to jam along with. There’s also instrument. The down side is that you can- a multimedia exploration of music not change the effect at a later stage. history and theory. If, on the other hand, you have several The package is aimed at 10- units to play with, try combining the effects. year-olds and above and introduces For example, send the signal to a compres- just about every sor, then take the output from the compres- genre of music from Above sor to a reverb, then to a delay or chorus. Baroque through to Discovering Different effects can be produced by exper- modern-day Music from imenting with the order in which you chain sequencing. Within Voyetra the effects. the Music provides an Conservatory you entire PCW Contacts can learn the musical difference between education Readers’ contributions to the Sound column are music to our ears. If you musical have any hints or tips, any MIDI-related consonance and Left Jam items or general comments, send them along with a dissonance, what a in to the usual PCW address, or to canon is and how virtual band [email protected]. counterpoint works. compuserve.com There are also video clips and musical examples of 75 instruments, and courses in music Sound Forge £149. Voyetra’s theory. Discovering Music £79.95. WaveLabs Whether you’re studying music at GSCE or A-level and need a valuable reference, or £299. All from Arbiter 0171 379 5148. ☎ you simply want to have a bit of fun with MIDI, Discovering Music has it all. And it’s a Trance Formation £19.95 from bargain at £79.95. Time + Space 01442 870681 ☎ 309 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● VISUAL PROGRAMMING A touch of Class Visual Basic 4.0 gets inheritance, thanks to Class Assist. And where now for Delphi? Tim Anderson gets the lowdown from Borland’s Zack Urlocker. heridan’s Class Assist is an ambi- under Windows 3.1. option. You can also import existing class Stious, intriguing Visual Basic 4.0 add- Class Assist installs itself as a VB add- modules, in order to inherit from previous on. It overcomes a key VB weakness — in. There is an executable file which runs designs or to avoid writing code in Class implementing inheritance, and supplies the Class Assist integrated development Assist’s primitive editor. an easy way to tap the power of the Win- environment and which opens automati- Under the bonnet, it is less appealing. dows API, too. It requires Windows 95 or cally with VB, plus several supporting The best way to see how Class Assist NT 3.51 to run, although code generated OCX controls and DLLs. works is via a small example: imagine you with Class Assist and 16-bit VB 4.0 runs The Class Assist IDE is a browser and have a CAboutBox class with just one editor for classes stored in method, Show. We are keeping things Fig 1 Access .MDB library files. simple, so here is the code (Fig 1). Public Sub Show() Source control is built in However, for some applications you MsgBox “MyApp “ & Chr$(169) & “ 1996 by Me” since classes are general- require an about box that beeps when you End Sub ly checked out to a work close it. In ClassAssist you create a new area for editing. A Team class, CBeepAbout, derived from CAbout- Development Manager Box. Choose the option to override the Fig 2 controls user access privi- Show method, and the code shown in Fig leges but there is no inte- 2 is displayed. ‘ The following line calls the overridden method. gration with SourceSafe. ‘ Remove this line to totally override method. Initial impressions are Inheriting from ancestors CAboutBox_Show good. When you open or In this case, the new method inherits the ‘ TODO: Add your override code here create a library, Class functionality of its ancestor, as well as Beep Assist shows classes in a adding its own code. To effect a total hierarchical list. replacement, delete the call to CAbout- To create a new base Box_Show. class, right-click on the top For this to work, the generated .CLS file The Class Assist IDE shows classes in a level and choose New which is pasted into your VB project has to hierarchical list. Double-click a class to edit its class. To inherit from an include the code from any ancestor files. In properties and methods, or to create new ones existing class, right- this example, ClassAssist generated the click on the class following methods in the CBeepAbout name and this time class in addition to the standard Initialize the new class will and Terminate: be based on the CAboutBox_Init() existing one. In the CAboutBox_Term() ensuing dialogue, CAboutBox_Show() you can add new CBeepAbout_Show() properties and Show() methods, and over- The point to grasp is that when you call ride methods from an ancestor method, you are not really the parent class as calling the method in the ancestor class required. You can but a copy of that method which Class then move classes Assist has pasted into the derived class. into the current VB If Class Assist is used correctly, the two project by drag- should be the same, but it is all rather clunky. and-drop or from a In cases where an extensive class hierarchy pop-up menu is designed, with several generations of 310 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● VISUAL PROGRAMMING Where next for Delphi? We talked to Zack Urlocker, Bor- converting a Delphi land’s director of Delphi product visual component into an OCX. management, about future But despite the prevalence of plans. Will there be a version OCX as a Windows-universal 2.0 of 16-bit Delphi? For component, it is not yet a firm Zack, it’s an ironic question: standard. OLE lacks support Delphi 2.0 was originally meant for inheritance and has a long to be a straight port to 32-bits, way to go in its evolution. but according to Urlocker “It devel- Will Delphi also support oped into something better. Urlocker: “We OpenDoc and CORBA-compli- There’s no decision yet about a typically win any ance? “We have cautious support revised 16-bit product.” technical for OpenDoc. But we’ve never Asked about other platforms, evaluation.” had a customer ask for it,” says like OS/2 or the Macintosh, Zack Urlocker. Some developers commented that “Windows has won on dream of a Delphi C++ version; but there the client side. We might license the Visual are no plans for such a thing. “C++ develop- Component Library (VCL) for another plat- ers find the Object Pascal language is up to form.” Even so, Zack claims the compiler strength and we want it to be easy to learn. has the potential to target other platforms We couldn’t achieve the same ease of use and could, for instance, compile for Power- in C++.” PC, Alpha or MIPS. Another problem is that the great com- Delphi 2.0 has a problem with OCX plexity of C++ means more work for the controls. “You can write OCXs in Delphi but compiler, so Delphi’s near-instant compila- it’s a lot of work,” Zack agreed. “By later tion would be impossible. “But Java has a this year we will make it easy.” similar object model to Delphi. There’s no Delphi 2.0 already contains multiple inheritance, or pointer problems. components for creating OLE automation We’ve licensed Java and our goal is to servers. What is envisaged includes an encompass the same tools as in Delphi, but Expert for making OCXs and a means of with the Java language,” says Urlocker. The eyes in this VB application follow the mouse pointer, even when it is over another application. It’s done using WinAPI hook oblets, along with Class Assist and a couple of Visual Base controls At runtime, and before it is drawn on the form, the visual control calls meth- ods in the associated OLE server. This means that VB code can modify the visual derived classes, there will be a huge prolif- control at a lower level than is normally eration of duplicated methods in your pro- possible; for example, drawing a different ject. Even so, it delivers what it promises: style of button or listbox. You can also inheritance for Visual Basic. intercept and respond to any Windows If that’s what it takes to get inheritance, message sent to that control. In effect, you might decide to do without it. But Visual Base Controls enable you to create Class Assist has two other tricks up its your own custom controls with VB code. sleeve. One is Visual Base Controls, a set of Introducing oblets basic OCX controls which can be linked to Visual Base Controls make extensive use VB classes in order to modify their behav- of WinAPI oblets, the third key element in iour. When you drag a Visual Class onto a the Class Assist package. VB form, Class Assist places the control Oblets are in-process OLE automation and also creates a new OLE server class objects which encapsulate the Windows module. For this reason you need the API. As an example, Fig 3 (page 313) Professional, or Enterprise, versions of shows how to set a form to be always on VB 4.0 to use visual classes. top, using oblets. Note that this is the 311 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● VISUAL PROGRAMMING Books for Visual Programming Not before time Microsoft has published the Jet Database Programmer’s Guide, by Dan Haught and Jim Ferguson. Eagle-eyed readers will spot some overlap with the Data Access Objects (DAO) SDK included with Visual Basic and Visual C++. A poster insert displays the DAO hierarchy in more detail than any of the online charts. There’s a good chapter on security, and plenty of tips for optimising performance with both local and remote data access. Although spoilt by a weak chapter specific to C++, this JET programmers need to learn this chart, the Data title is recommended for any database Access Objects hierarchy. The JET Programmer’s Guide developer using JET, the database explores the model in detail engine behind Visual Basic and Access. ● Visual C++ developers will welcome Inside Visual C++ 4.0, a ● Doing Objects in Visual Basic 4.0 will help VB developers make use major update of Kruglinski’s standard tutorial. It has grown by 300 of version 4.0’s new OO features. There’s a common-sense introduc- pages, of which over 100 are devoted to OLE in all its incarnations: tion to object-orientated programming and masses of advice on sub- OLE automation, OLE structured storage, and the OLE Component jects like coding standards and user-interface design. One section Object Model. describes how to fake inheritance in VB; another explains how to Kruglinski does not aim to be a comprehensive reference but build a VB AppWizard add-in. Along the way, a relational contact to give a clear introduction, with examples, using the Microsoft management system is developed, using the techniques described Foundation Classes throughout. In particular, this is an excellent and storing the data in a JET .MDB. There is useful technical material guide to the document/view architecture espoused by MFC and the here but the book’s strength is in the theoretical framework it provides, VC++ AppWizard. especially for those already familiar with VB 3.0. Fig 3 Dim MyWnd As New ssWnd ‘ declare the oblet MyWnd.Attach Form1.hWnd ‘ attach it to the form MyWnd.SetWindowPos ssSWPHwndtopmost, 0, 0, 0, 0, ssSWPNomove Or ssSWPNosize ‘ call the SetWindowPos API function MyWnd.Detach ‘ clean up entire code. There is no need for declara- objects, at time-critical moments. ly subscription service (call 0800 96 02 79 tions or constant definitions: all that is Class Assist is a superb extension to for details). It contains documentation for needed is a reference to the WinAPI oblets. Visual Basic 4.0 and demonstrates what most Microsoft products along with bug There are 24 oblets which encapsulate can be done with OLE. If you’re happy with lists, books and a host of further documen- most of the Windows API, including areas VB’s performance and want more power, tation and examples. It is excellent value for traditionally difficult for VB, such as call- look no further. On the other hand, if you Windows developers, but is not much use backs and hook procedures. Working with like the idea of inheritance, custom con- for DOS work. the API becomes a matter of interacting with trols and an object-orientated approach to the properties and methods of these oblets, the Windows API, maybe Delphi is worth PCW Contacts using familiar dot notation. Another advan- another look. tage is that oblets are non-visual, so you Tim Anderson welcomes your Visual can use an ssTimer oblet in a procedure Secret Rich Text Format Programming comments and tips. He without needing a timer control on a form. M. Hodges writes: “I write DOS programs can be contacted at the usual PCW This is cool stuff, but there’s a price to which create text files intended for import address, or on [email protected] pay. Oblets are OLE servers, and instantiat- into Word 6. I would find it a great advan- ing an OLE object takes significant time. tage to incorporate RTF formatting control Class Assist £175 from Contemporary Once the object is created, performance is codes but Microsoft has not been helpful: Software 01727 811999. ☎ good, although slower than direct API calls. its technical support people do not seem Books All books available from Computer For example, we wrote a routine using ssDC, to have heard of RTF. You refer to a Manuals 0121 706 6000 (prices shown ☎ ssRect and ssWnd oblets, making repeated ‘Developer Network CD’; I’m not familiar include VAT). calls to FillRect. The inner loop took about with this. Is there any other way I could get Jet Database Engine Programmer’s 50ms for oblets, as opposed to 20ms for hold of RTF documentation?” Guide Book and CD £37.49; Microsoft direct calls. At those speeds it may not mat- The document is called “Rich Text For- Press. ter. But the whole routine, including oblet cre- mat specification” and is Microsoft Product Inside Visual C++ 4.0 Book and CD ation, took 450ms with no equivalent over- Support Services Application Note 1/95 — £41.99; Microsoft Press. head for the direct approach. That is 20 times GC0165. It should be obtainable from the Doing Objects in Visual Basic 4.0, by slower. Careful application design is needed Word product support team. Deborah Kurata. Book and disk £37.49; to avoid creating oblets, or any other OLE The Developer Network CD is a quarter- Ziff-Davis Press. 313 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● NETWORKS command with “-n”, which told smbmount not to send the server machine a pass- word as it was configured to allow attach- ment without passwords. The reverse, however, was less easy. I had already configured the machine called “sanders” (my business partner Jeff’s machine with the login name of “Jeff”), to allow it to access the Novell network and Let’s samba! our NT server. Now, since his machine was already logged in to the network with Join Stephen Rodda as he hoofs it through the his user name, I had to create that name on the Linux system too, because all Samba suite to Linux. attachments to the system use the user name and password. s promised last month I’ve been come with the kernel). It includes the How did I create a new user under A playing with Samba, which I finally VFAT file system, which is useful since it Linux? I’d forgotten. But then I remem- managed to make work with my version of supports Windows 95 and NT’s long file- bered that I had to edit the /etc/passwd file. Linux. I’ve been looking at SuperPrint for names — the original Samba package I added a new line to this, cribbing most of Windows 95 and Windows NT, too, but was an add-on. the information from the “operator” more of that later. Once the computer had finished account and then, as root, ran the passwd To explain, for those who may not have compiling and linking the kernel, I modified utility to allocate Jeff a password on the read last month’s column: Samba isn’t a the loader batch file (I use LOADLIN Linux system. Once this had been done, I dance (well, not in this case). Samba is a rather than LILO, the boot manager) and only had to run the daemons, which allow suite of programs which allows rebooted. All went well; the machine access to the Linux machine as a connectivity between Unix and Windows booted into Linux and soon asked me for Windows for Workgroups share; see the for Workgroups machines. The easier part my login and password. I ran the extract from the rc.inet2 file (Fig 1). is to attach a Windows for Workgroups “smbmount” program, which came with Then I added the two lines which would share to the Linux machine. The harder the Samba package, and mounted the file auto-mount any drives available on Jeff’s task is attaching a Windows for Work- system on the Windows 95 machine onto machine to the Linux file system at boot groups machine (or Windows 95 machine, the Linux one. The smbmount program time. But before this would work through to be precise). The reason this is harder is (as long as the machine is visible on the the MS browser on the ’95 machine, I had that we have to “advertise” as a Windows network to “ping”, say) requires just the to change the Samba configuration file so for Workgroups file server and do the name of the share and the mount point that it would work with my system (Fig 2). sharing over the wire, too. (rather like the MS NET program) so I Happy Unixing! mounted the share called “C” from the How does he do that? machine named “Sanders” onto a directo- Durable budget network needed How did I do it? With a great deal of sweat ry located in “/sanders/c”, following the Stuart Davies writes: “I am the IT and tears. I first upgraded my version of co-ordinator of a 500-pupil GNU C++ to version 2.7.2 as 2.7.0 was secondary school and have quite buggy. Then I upgraded from Linux been given the go-ahead to 1.3.20 through all the patches available to lease a network for the IT 1.3.63. The latter version is quite impres- room. At present we have 24 sive compared with the former and even stand-alones of assorted the installation routine has been changed. parentage and varying ages, The new “make config” operation is so the prospect of a roomful much smarter, allowing IPX, Samba and of Pentiums is an exciting AppleTalk support to be built-in (these one. We have limited experi- ence with a small Novell network in our offices but essentially it’s a clean sheet Above The Windows 95 of paper. machine browsing the Linux A visit to the recent BETT exhibition shares before setting a gleaned some information from suppliers password for the 95 such as Research Machines (RM) and machine’s user ICL. Both were emphasising the benefits of Left The Linux machine, Windows NT as a network platform, run- showing the Windows 95 ning a Windows 95 front-end on the work- machine’s drives mounted stations. RM has even developed an education-orientated management utility 314 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● NETWORKS Fig 1 Share and share alike 1. Whatever we get will have to echo “sharing drives through Samba” last for five years. /usr/lib/samba/bin/nmbd 2. Our budget is finite, and tying echo “MS NETBEUI service started” it up on a five-year lease will not /usr/lib/samba/bin/smbd allow for any serious upgrades echo “Samba shares started” in that period. echo 3. Numbers are important; if it’s echo “Mounting remote file systems...” a case of twenty-four 486s or 12 /sbin/smbmount //sanders/c /sanders/c -n P120s, I’ll take the 486s and live with it. echo “//sanders/c “ NT and 95 may be a nice /sbin/smbmount //sanders/d /sanders/cd -n option, but perhaps we should echo -n “//sanders/d “ be considering a Novell-based system as well?” which would make my job a lot easier. My problem concerns the hardware How to go about it requirements. Both suppliers were recom- Firstly, five years is a long time in comput- mending P75s with 8Mb as workstations ing. Secondly, unless you pay income tax and a faster Pentium, with 16Mb, for the and other taxes which are levied on a limit- server. Quotes from two other sources ed company, leasing becomes a far less came up with basically the same set-up. attractive prospect, financially speaking. My knowledge of NT is sketchy and I In this situation it’s worth remembering wonder whether the RAM is enough to do that the “legacy” machines you already the job? In deciding what to get, I have to have may be capable of being “souped- bear in mind that: up”. No matter what operating Fig 2 All change for the Samba system you install, it is likely that the file server will bear the brunt [global] of the file and program storage. printing = bsd Since you already have 24 printcap name = /etc/printcap machines, it may be possible to load printers = yes replace the motherboards in half guest account = guest of them (assuming they are not ; This next option sets a separate of a proprietary design) — ; log file for each client. Remove remember, I am making a ; it if you want a combined log file. generalised guess. Assuming ; log file = /usr/local/samba/log.%m their RAM is unusable, a ; You will need a world readable lock motherboard with an AMD or ; directory and “share modes=yes” if Cyrix 486DX100 and 8Mb of ; you want to support the file sharing RAM should not set you back ; modes for multiple users of the same more than about £350. Add to ; files this price around £20 for a lock directory = /usr/local/samba/var/locks network card and you’ve got a share modes = yes workstation for somewhere in [root] the region of £370. comment = the whole Linux filesystem Remember, too, that not all browseable = yes Pentiums are better than all read only = no 486s. A 486DX100 will perform create mode = 0750 better on today’s software than path = / a Pentium 75. The other thing to [CD] look at is to make sure that comment = CD ROM these motherboards are browseable = yes capable of accepting a true read only = no Pentium as an upgrade (as are create mode = 0750 most motherboards on the path = /cdrom market nowadays), so if in the [printers] future you found the machines comment = All Printers to be sluggish you could always browseable = yes upgrade the processors to printable = yes Pentium chips, on-site — and public = no for a lot less money than you writable = no would now pay. create mode = 0700 Be aware, too, that the 686 is postscript = yes only around the corner and it won’t be long before clone 315 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● NETWORKS SuperPrint, I’m blue for you... another SCSI controller card for the tape drive, or replace Zenographics’ SuperPrint 4.0 for Windows 95 and happy with accessing the network printers — it didn’t the aforementioned Adaptec Windows NT came in a pretty blue box with clouds even seem to give me the chance to access a printer AHA 2940 with the AHA 3940 all over the outside, proclaiming “Advanced Printing through a network port. Nevertheless I thought, “I’ll (a dual-channel version of the Tools for Windows” and decorated with the unplug the LaserJet 4 from the server and pop it into former). Now, if I don’t qualify Microsoft Windows, Windows NT and Windows 95 LPT1. It must work…” this, people are going to be compatibility logos. Inside, the box was just so much One reboot later... in order to initialise the soft- howling for my blood, saying empty space: I pulled out a piece of cardboard, fold- ware (I was running Windows 95) but this time with- that you can have up to seven ed to take up the space of the box… and there was out the old printing services on the LaserJet and the devices on a SCSI card. Yes, nothing more. But then I turned the cardboard over DeskJet — and unfortunately, I had no printing ser- that’s true, although in the — neatly shrink-wrapped onto it were three pieces vices at all. Windows 95 has been on my machine, greater number of cases you of card and a CD. I installed it under Windows 95, beta and release version, for about a year. In that find that errors inexplicably removing the PostScript SIMM from the HP LaserJet time I’ve had to reinstall the beta version, but never creep in when running a tape 4 on my desk, since on the pretty box was printed: the release version. drive from the same physical “Not for use with PostScript-only printers”. I also SuperPrint 4, despite its uninstall routine, has PC SCSI interface, whether attempted to install an HP DeskJet 500C because made me reinstall Windows 95; a feat of which no under NT, NetWare, or what- one of those is on the network, too, in the guise of a other program has been capable. You can imagine ever. DeskWriter C. The installation seemed not to be too why I haven’t tried SuperPrint under Windows NT. The backup medium should be DAT; prices are pretty low now and about £500 should get makers are selling 686 clones. It would be their generic quality of being easily you a good DAT drive. advantageous if the motherboards could upgradable. NT provides its own backup program also accept this chip as an upgrade. As far as a server is concerned, Win- which, for a simple backup such as you So far I have spent around £4,500 of dows NT would be far easier to administer would require, should prove to be more your budget. Assuming that the other non- than NetWare: NT’s own server administra- than adequate. upgradable machines work, you should be tion tools would be quite enough for you to I’ve left your choice of operating system able to sell these off for a sum in the region administer the LAN without buying a server until last. I’ve already come down heavily of £200 each. This will nett you £2,400 — from a particular supplier, just because of a on the side of NT Server since I believe we have now spent £2,100. freebie administration package. this is the way that operating systems are As for the other machines, any rep- going. However, have you considered the utable clone supplier will be able to The safe way possibility of using Windows NT Worksta- assemble a reasonable 486DX/100 with I’d say that although it’s a reasonable tion on the client machines? It’ll run 8Mb of RAM, 420Mb hard disk, 14in mon- compromise, 16Mb in an NT server is respectably in 8Mb and version 3.52 will itor and VGA card, mouse, keyboard and a pushing it a bit; I’d be inclined to use provide you with the ’95 Explorer user case for about £650 — perhaps less if you 32Mb. Remember that you can only put in interface as well. assemble the machines yourself. 36-bit SIMMs in pairs with a Pentium, The reason I suggest this is that Win- This comes to a sum of about £7,800: a since it has a 64-bit data path and many dows NT Workstation gives you a hitherto running total of approximately £10,000. I motherboards don’t have any more than undreamed-of level of security against assume that this is the rough figure you four SIMM sockets, so you can either fit people breaking security on the file server would be looking at for leasing the setup 16Mb or 32Mb of RAM. Anyway, for £300- and, indeed, workstations. ’95’s security you had in mind. Of course it would take odd, and since RAM prices are falling measures are easily circumvented but only a few minutes’ work with a spread- quite drastically at the moment, it’s better NT’s are pretty solid. sheet to come to the point where you to err on the safe side. You could look at running NT on the could perhaps use more legacy machines, Do check out the availability of 686 workstations as a goal, because it is hun- phasing them out over a year or two and clones if you decide to use clone grier for resources than ’95, but I foresee upgrading with the surplus budget, which machines — I should really recommend ’95 being superseded by NT during the life ordinarily would have been swallowed up these in an NT server. of your project. It is for this and other rea- in the leasing charges. Another thing I should point out is, don’t sons that I am against the idea of your Nowadays, reasonable-quality clone settle for anything less than an Adaptec leasing machines, which within five years machines are every bit as reliable as their 2940 SCSI controller in your server with, could turn out to be as useful in teaching blue-chip cousins. The advantage lies in of course, SCSI hard disk(s). NT is a multi- computing as, say, a Sinclair ZX Spectrum tasking operating system and will make would now be. Incorrectly addressed the best use of a proper bus-mastering I must apologise for giving out some setup, which IDE and its variants are not. At your Service un-routable IP addresses in Hands On I’d also suggest a 2Gb hard disk drive at Microsoft has released Service Pack 1 for Networks last month. The 192.0.2.X the very least. With prices of disk capacity Windows 95 and I have put it on this month’s address which I used on our local LAN was on the same downward slope as RAM free, cover-mounted CD for you. wrong. For some reason, my brain kept prices it’s a false economy not to take telling me “192” whereas my memory, once advantage of this. PCW Contacts it had reasserted itself, said “10”. For the Stephen Rodda is an independent sake of completeness, the correct ones are: Back DAT up computer consultant specialising in DTP 10.X.X.X; 172.16.X.X and 192.168.X.X. Don’t forget that backup is a necessity, not and networking. He may be contacted as an option. For your setup I’d either get [email protected] 316 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● MACINTOSH Bringing the System into line The latest update to the Mac OS sees all current Macs using the same version of system software. Chris Cain checks out the changes. f all goes according to plan, by the time Iyou read this, Apple will have released the latest update to the Mac OS. System 7.5 Update 2.0 is designed to bring the system software for all current Macs into line, and provide new features and bug- fixes into the bargain. System 7.5 Update 2.0 is, unsurpris- ingly, the second major tune-up to the lat- est version of the Mac OS since its release in November 1994. As with its predecessor, it looks set to be freely downloadable from Apple support sites on eWorld and the World Wide Web. As well as updating all current Macs to the same version of system software, ver- sion 7.5.3, sources say that this addition will bring much needed changes for both 68K and PowerPC-based users. System 7.5 Update 2.0 should speed up applications, and the Finder, thanks to more Transport of delight PowerPC native code and improvements in QuickDraw and memory handling For a start, Open Transport will be updat- ed to version 1.1 to fix a number of bugs among which are more efficient flushing of are dragging more than one icon, only the and it should now run on 68030 and the processor’s cache, increased speed one under the cursor will be translucent. 68040-based machines as well as NuBus on 68040 and PowerPC machines, and Nothing stunning, but nice all the same. and PCI PowerMacs. The revision will longer name fields in list views. Changes to other parts of the OS that support faster networking links and be The file copying routines will be updat- will aid both types of Mac include a optimised for server applications. ed to work asynchronously, making the rewrite of the DMA serial driver for fewer For those who can’t wait until 7.5.3 for CPU available to other applications while hiccups with communications, and better improved networking support, Open these take place, and rebuilding the file sharing. PowerPC users can look for- Transport 1.1b16 can be downloaded desktop will no longer delete comments ward to better QuickDraw performance from ftp://ftptoo.support.apple.com/pub/ entered in Get Info boxes. Of course, it thanks to a new fixed point math library, apple_sw_updates/US/mac/ would be better if Apple could eliminate faster application launch times with virtu- Unsupported/. The extension comes the need to rebuild altogether. al memory switched on, and native ver- either as four disk images or one large sions of both the Resource and Memory network install file. But as hinted at by the Ghost in the machine managers. The latter is already native on address, this is not a final release and will If you have a PowerMac, installing the PCI Macs. therefore not be supported by Apple. It update will give the Finder translucent As well as all this, new versions of should work with all applications that cur- icons during drag-and-drop operations. QuickDraw 3D and OpenDoc are report- rently use Appletalk, and a list of known Currently when you move an icon from edly coming down the line before the incompatibilities is supplied with the code. window to window you get an outline summer. As I get either Beta or final Finder operations are set to be underneath the cursor; with 7.5.3 you will copies of these, I will let you know what improved by a number of changes, chief get a ghost image á la Windows 95. If you they’re about. 318 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● MACINTOSH Utility of the Month — DropConversion This month’s utility has been downloaded from the computer centre at eWorld. It’s a neat little program that can be used to convert one type of file to another with ease. DropConversion doesn’t do complex things like convert a TIFF picture to a GIF picture; it simply changes the file-type information. For example, it will change a SimpleText document into a Microsoft Word Text file, as all that needs to be changed is the association and creator information. Even better, you can drop a whole batch of files onto DropConversion and it will handle them all at once. DropConversion can currently switch between 17 different formats, including Photoshop PICT, CodeWarrior, ResEdit and Think C. It’s shareware and costs $8 to register. Details from http://grove.ufl.edu:80/~nikolsw. DropConversion easily converts file-type information Woof! Cyberdog goes walkies instantly connected. Double trouble Another important In theory, this works with email as well, Actually, I’m a fine one to talk about never Apple software release, so you could mail someone else who has learning. For months I’ve been telling peo- and one that I’ve been Cyberdog, with a document containing a ple who have Connectix Speed Doubler to trying to get to grips with this month, is link. You could even have your InTray use something like Norton Utilities to the long-awaited Beta version of Cyber- embedded in the corner of your favourite check that their hard disks are in tip-top dog. This is the codename for a set of stationery file. condition before installing the latest OpenDoc components that provide Mac I haven’t had much time to play with update. I’ve now had to reformat the drive users with “one-click access” to Internet Cyberdog, and the Beta isn’t exactly sta- on my own 9500 — almost certainly services. ble, but the whole thing looks very promis- because I didn’t practise what I preached. In lay terms, what Cyberdog lets you ing. I also love the name, although I just There I was the other day, working do is place objects into your OpenDoc know that Apple will mess that up by call- away, when the machine suddenly locked documents, mail messages or the Finder, ing the release version something like up and refused to boot from the internal which then provide live links to Internet “OpenNet” or “MacOS Internet Solution”. drive. I booted with a CD-ROM system services. For example, you could create Will they never learn? disk and found the Mac asking me an OpenDoc document containing text whether it was OK to initialise the unknown and a drawing, then place a Cyberdog Fetch boy, fetch. With Cyberdog you internal hard drive. The problem turned out link to a relevant URL (or ftp site) into it, can add Internet facilities to to have something to do with a serious too. When you click in this area of the any OpenDoc document, including a error in the b-tree data, and this is where page, Internet tools appear and you’re browser and email Speed Doubler experienced problems. Even if it wasn’t Speed Doubler that caused this, if I had run Norton Utilities before I upgraded, I’d probably still have a half-full hard disk. The moral of the story is: don’t ever take ReadMe files for grant- ed — they could just save your data. Buffer that As regular readers of this column will know, I occasionally take time out to look at the latest in Mac games. In particular, 3D titles such as Doom II and Dark Forces have been mentioned and the subject of texture tearing is something I’ve brought up time and again. Moving graphics “tear” apart on the screen if they aren’t properly double- buffered. Every Mac 3D title I’ve seen suf- fers from tearing at some point and it annoys me, not only because it’s unsightly, but also because it reveals a lack of quality control. 319 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● MACINTOSH “An error of type…” aaargh! At last, those system tests with sample QuickDraw 3D applica- codes explained tions have shown that these, too, suffer from the same problem. One of the most annoying things about the MacOS is its lack of proper error messages. If the Mac is to retain its reputation for How many times has your Mac crashed with “an error of type X”, without telling you exactly high-quality graphics, especially with the what “X” means? To help you out of some of these situations here’s a list of the most industry heading in the direction of 3D, common error numbers and their official meanings, as listed by Apple in its Technical Info Apple must move quickly to sort this out. It Library. If you have access to the World Wide Web you can get a more complete list from will not be taken seriously in the graphics Apple’s web site (www.apple.com). There are some errors that even the Apple technical or entertainment industry if it’s images documents don’t explain, specifically Type 11. If I find out what these mean I’ll let you know. tear and flicker all over the place. ● 01 = Bus Error The next time you see this on a Mac A type 01 error usually occurs when the computer tries to access memory that doesn't exist: application, do me a favour and tell the you can get this error on almost any Macintosh. In my experience, assigning extra RAM to developers. Maybe between us we can get an application, using its Get Info dialogue, can help prevent it. it sorted out. ● ID=02 Address Error The Motorola 68000 microprocessor can access memory in increments of one byte (8 bits), PowerMac price cuts or one word (16 bits), or one long word (32 bits). This microprocessor can access a byte of information at either an odd or an even memory address. But it must access one word or Apple has cut its prices across the entire one long word at an even memory address. So, when the microprocessor attempts to read PowerMac range. This is great news for or write a word (or long word) at an odd address, you see this error. Since that's a 50/50 anyone thinking of making the move to proposition when running random code, this one shows up quite often. Macintosh, or for existing users wanting to ● ID=03 Illegal Instruction move to PCI. The computer has a specific vocabulary of machine language instructions it can Examples of the new prices are: understand. If it tries to execute an instruction that isn't in its vocabulary, you see this error ● 7200/75 8/500 will cost around £830. code. It's less likely than error 02 but is nevertheless common. ● Bundle of 7200/75 8/500 with Multiscan ● ID=04 Zero Divide Error 1705 display (no keyboard), £1,250. This error results if the microprocessor divides two numbers, and the divisor is zero. ● 7500/100 8/500/CD has an expected Sometimes a programmer puts these in as debugging aids and forgets to take them out. street price of £1,645. The more powerful 8500 and 9500 systems are also affected by the price For the uninitiated, double-buffering is programming and the memory restraints put cuts. Anyone interested in further details a technique whereby graphics are drawn on developers, by publishers. From talking should call the Apple Customer into a memory buffer and then “flipped” on to developers however I have since found Response Centre. to the screen. While the picture is showing, out that this depends more on a lack of the computer draws the next screen into hardware support for double-buffering the buffer ready to be displayed. The graphics on the Mac itself. Worse, recent result is the kind of smooth animation you see on the PC versions of the games Everything looks fine in this stationary mentioned. The alternative to double- screenshot, but the graphics in Mac buffering is to just write frames directly to 3D titles tear thanks to a lack of double the screen, and this is when tearing can buffering. Find this location (first level, occur. first door on the left) in Doom II and Originally I had put all this down to bad see for yourself PCW Contacts Chris Cain loves to hear from Mac users. He’s on Chris—Cain@ PCW.CCMAIL.COMPUSERVE COM, [email protected] or as [email protected] Apple Computers 0181 569 1199 ☎ Apple Customer Response Centre 0990 127753 ☎ Apple’s home page is www.apple.com 320 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● COMPUTER ANSWERS “I would like to buy a good Qjoystick, for a PC, to use with flight Any questions? simulators and some arcade-type games. Reading through PCW I came across If you have a PC problem or think you could help three possibilities: the CH Flightstick Pro, out other readers, contact Frank Leonhardt. the MS Sidewinder Pro with Fury, and the Gravis Professional Analog. I have conventionally control the rudder and CD-ROM. As I have only a 3.5in floppy played around with the Flightstick but thus the yaw, you can’t perform the more drive, it seems a sensible answer. know nothing about the latter two. I do interesting manoeuvres like landing with I have tried some experiments to see not want to spend more than the price of a cross-wind. whether it would work but (as expected) it the Flightstick Pro. Please advise me.” However, analogue characteristics are wouldn’t, probably due to the drive letters Emilios Andreas just what you don’t need for arcade being assigned in hardware or BIOS. I Bradford games. I have been assured by PCW’s suspect that the manufacturers have resident leap-and-zap merchants that the already thought of this and that a solution best joysticks for them are digital; is either possible and coming; possible better still are digital game pads such as and not coming; or impossible.” the Phase 9 Phantom 2 from Euromax. David Laurie This explains why I’ve never got on with arcade games using my Flight Drive letter B has always been a special Simulator set-up — I had hitherto case, I’m afraid. The original IBM PCs assumed I was digitally challenged. could have a single floppy drive and This reasoning suggests that you nothing else, which presented problems would be far better off with a digital joy- copying files from one disk to another, or stick for arcade games and a good- even keeping your document files on a A joystick quality analogue one for flight simulators. separate floppy to the word processor. such as the There are any number of digital sticks To make a single-disk machine useful, Gravis Analog around. The thing to look for is a a little fudge was put low down in the Pro can be used both combination of microswitch construction system BIOS. Basically, any application for flight simulation and (meaning durable switches), solid build which asked was assured by the system arcade-style games and a price low enough to make it that both drives A: and B: were available expendable should you become over- for use. Only the BIOS and the user knew To make sensible use of a serious flight enthusiastic while in battle with the killer the horrible truth — and it was pretty simulator you need a good analogue rabbits from Hades. horrible. Whenever the software wanted joystick, at the very least. Flight simulator enthusiasts are to use drive B: the user was prompted to Analogue joysticks are different to the divided between products from CH and swap the current floppy for the one which digital type because software is able to Thrustmaster. The latter has a following would have been in drive B: if it had read exactly how far the stick has been in the military simulator camp, where the existed. Then, when A: was required, you moved in any direction, rather than bias is towards zapping the enemy. Flight were asked to swap them back again. simply reading the direction alone. simulator fanatics, who look for technical Should you ever want to show your For proper flight simulation this is accuracy above all else, prefer the CH grandchildren how tough life once was critical. You need to be able to make product range. you can still activate this feature — just precise and rapid adjustments of the The snag, as ever, is the budget; buy- type COPY A:\*.* B: with a floppy full of angle of all the virtual aircraft’s control ing a Flightstick Pro leaves you nothing files and wait for their arms to start aching surfaces and hold them in place. Using a for a separate arcade stick. However, the and their button-pushing fingers to turn digital joystick as a substitute would be Flightstick standard has a more reason- red. (This was even more fun if you had like dispensing with the steering wheel on able price tag of around £30. The differ- the basic 64Kb machine, of course.) a car and replacing it with a pushbutton to ence? The Pro version simply has some The BIOS actually stores the true turn left and right. extra buttons cluttering up the head of the number of floppy drives in bits 6 and 7 of You can switch most flight simulators stick to save some use of the keyboard. address 40:10 (the equipment list flags). into easy mode so you can control them Because this happens at such a low from the keyboard or a digital joystick, but Drive B for CD? level, whatever drive you are planning to where’s the fun in that? “Having read your answer about CD- use in place of drive B: had better look While I’m on the subject, you really ROM and hard-drive letter assignment in very like a floppy disk to the system — need rudder pedals to simulate the three- the March issue, I wondered whether and a CD-ROM drive just doesn’t. axis control found on most aircraft (pitch, there was any way of using the common- With clever software it can be done. bank and yaw). Without pedals, which ly redundant drive letter ‘B’ for the Iomega managed to map their 1.44/21Mb 323 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● COMPUTER ANSWERS Frank’s bargain basement the laser to misalign sufficiently to stop it reading anything; this could be as simple ● Further to discussions about installing several operating systems on one PC, Michael as dust having built up on the receiver. Hohmann wrote to me to sing the praises of System Commander, by V Communications Before you scrap it, try blowing into it Inc. According to its UK distributor, Ingram Micro Services, it is absolutely wonderful and very hard, preferably with compressed air. allows you to keep DOS, Windows 95, Novell, Unix (many flavours), OS/2 and just about You could also try one of those audio CD anything else, on the same drive. head-cleaning kits that hi-fi shops have Considering that some of these systems have different filing formats, this would be quite been selling since the bottom dropped out a feat and some combinations probably aren’t as simple in practice. At £59 it’s not cheap of the vinyl and dust-bug market. but nevertheless seems very popular in the US. As for the sound card, it could be picking up stray signals from the rest of ● If all you are after is a way to keep Windows NT, Windows 95 and MSDOS on the same the computer and amplifying them, to disk, then J. David Bryan has helpfully provided instructions on http://www.bcpl.lib. your annoyance. md.us/~dbryan/directboot.html. Thanks to James Roberts-Thomson for finding them. On your card there will be a mixer Before those without Internet access write in to complain, I’m afraid I can’t include the which is responsible for adding together details here because there just isn’t room! the different sound sources before they are amplified and sent to the speakers. floptical drive as B: and it worked rather you have in mind. For instance, if your These analogue devices have sometimes well until Windows 95 appeared. Now it principal interest is in games, then buy a proven rather sensitive to warming up and doesn’t, and Iomega appears unable or games console instead and keep the it could be that yours is leaking through unwilling to fix it. In general, however, it is change. noise on an unused channel. best to leave B: to the BIOS. Many PCs are just used for word Most sound boards have an unused processing, which is an an expensive mixer input for connection of the PC’s Best budget buy way to do it. For the price of a good internal speaker output. Most of the time “I have £600 to spend on a PC. What is computer printer you can get a complete this is left disconnected so your machine the best I can buy for my money?” word processor. The Amstrad PCW is can still beep without the aid of the sound [email protected] simple but efficient in this role and can board and external amplifier. often be found for sale at around the Another common source of noise is an I’m afraid your budget isn’t going to get £200 mark. As I write, Morgan Mail Order, unused microphone input. These are very you very much. You should carefully a well-established surplus dealer, is sensitive inputs and will amplify noise just consider what you intend to do with the advertising “refurbished” PCW 9512 as well as a microphone. machine before making your choice. machines at £150 (plus VAT), which In your case, it might even have been If it is your plan to run the latest PC includes a daisywheel printer — a very something from your iffy CD-ROM drive’s software, then forget it. You’ll need to usable word processing system. audio output.If you disable and re-enable spend £400 (plus VAT) on 16Mb of RAM each of your sound board’s channels in alone. You might be able to find a Dusting down a dead CD turn, using its configuration software, you secondhand PC within your price range “I have a multimedia PC which I’ve used should be able to isolate the rogue but don’t expect anything that will run for a while with no problems, until channel. If it was unused, and disabling it more than Windows 3.1 and Word for recently: my CD decided to die on me. It in software doesn’t work, you can connect Windows 2.0. responds with FAIL ON INT 24 when I a low-noise resistor across the input to The minimum specification to look for type DIR in DOS (and after several ‘F’ shut it up. would be: a 386 processor, 120Mb of key presses) on the CD ‘D:’ drive. PCW Contacts hard disk, a VGA monitor and 4Mb of There is power to the drive; I can eject RAM. You might be lucky and get slightly the tray, and the busy LED comes on Frank Leonhardt is an independent better than this — it depends on the mood after it has been closed again. But the technology consultant who can be contacted on 0181 429 3047 or via email of the seller. LED stays on for longer than usual. I can ☎ as [email protected] or If you work for a large organisation you only presume that this means the laser [email protected]. There is a may find that they are selling off old has packed up. web site at http://www.users.dircon.co. machines, to staff, at bargain prices. It is Am I right? I have tried audio CDs uk/~wombat/answers.htm which may often the case that company policy using the CD Audio package in DOS and contain late-breaking news. Letters may dictates a software upgrade which half its Windows — but again, no response. Can be sent to PCW at VNU House, 32-34 machines are incapable of running. By the CD be fixed, or is it worth my upgrad- Broadwick Street, London W1A 2HG. this stage, the older machines are worth- ing to a quad- or six-speed? Sorry, but due to the high volume of less in part exchange and it is cheaper to I have one more query: my sound card correspondence, individual replies are flog them to the staff for a nominal sum emits an annoying, high-pitched, not normally possible. than attempt to get more for them on the continuous tone after about half an hour ● Flight simulators RC Simulations ☎ open market. No doubt the possibility of in Windows. Any ideas?” 01275 474550 ☎ newly-computerised employees taking Paul O’Neill Strategic Plus Software 0181 977 8088 ● work home with them plays a part in the [email protected] Joysticks Simply Computers 0181 523 4020 ☎ reasoning, too! Ingram Micro Services (System Given that you probably won’t find Like most things, your CD-ROM drive is Commander) 0181 905 6969 ☎ anything to cope with current software, repairable. But the cost of having it ● Used computers Morgan Mail you may be better off considering a repaired may be more than it’s worth. It Order 0121 456 5565 ☎ non-PC machine for the specific purpose seems to me like something has caused 324 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● BEGINNERS which go with it are hungry for both hard disk space and memory, so when it comes to the RAM in your system the same rule applies; the more you can get your hands on the better. Unlike hard disks, however, RAM is expensive, so you’ll have to weigh up the pros and cons if your machine is in need of a significant upgrade. You can get hold of Windows 95 itself for as little as £60 but the money you pay out in hardware upgrades can easily run into hundreds of Working with Windows 95 pounds. Preparing your system for Windows 95 Let’s get practical — Eleanor Turton-Hill helps you There are a few clean-up tasks which it will get to grips with the new operating system. pay you to perform before you start the installation program: 1. First, defragment your hard disk (see last month’s Hands On Beginners). This ollowing much hype and a great deal and 35 to 45Mb of spare hard disk space. will rearrange all the free space on your Fof media debate, people are finally In practice, such a machine chokes at hard disk into one, uninterrupted area giv- getting to grips with the day-to-day the mere thought of Windows 95 and you ing the new OS a clean start. practicalities of Windows 95. can forget running any useful applications. 2. Next, check your system for viruses. If Nevertheless, judging from some of the I’d recommend a minimum spec of a there are any lurking around, now is the emails and phone calls I’ve been getting DX2/66 processor with at least 8Mb of time to get rid of them. recently, there are still lots of users out RAM and 50Mb of spare hard disk space If anything goes wrong with your Win- there who could do with a beginner’s — and by “spare” hard disk space, I mean dows 95 installation, you want to be able to overview of the new OS (operating sys- enough free space to install the operating eliminate viruses from the list of possible tem). system. causes. Lots of common viruses can be Here, I’ll be explaining some of the If you intend to install Microsoft Office, identified and cleared using MSAV technical terms which are used when talk- or any other applications built specifically (Microsoft Anti-Virus) which is included in ing about operating systems, as well as for Windows 95, you’ll need a decent DOS 6. providing a quick, practical overview of amount of spare space in addition to this if If you want to be really thorough, use a how to get started. you’re really going to benefit. Hard disks third party virus tool which has been are pretty cheap these days so it’s worth updated on a regular basis. Installation requirements treating your aged PC to some extra 3. Make yourself a boot disk so that you Microsoft states that to install Windows 95 breathing space in the form of a new can start your PC from the floppy drive if you’ll need at least a 386 processor with 850Mb (or even a 1Gb) hard disk. The for- necessary. 4Mb of RAM (Random Access Memory) mer costs just over £100. Do this by going to the File Manager in Windows 95 and the 32-bit applications Windows 3.1. Insert a clean floppy into the A: drive and go to the Disk menu. Select Is Windows 95 a better operating system? Make System Disk from the menu and the On the whole, the improvements incorporated into Windows 95 make it a more usable, essential system files will be copied to more stable and more fully-featured operating system (OS). Two things from which you your floppy. will benefit right away are the improved stability of the system when multitasking, and better handling of system resources. The installation program One of the fundamental weaknesses of Windows 3.1 is that all applications, as well as Installing Windows 95 is a fairly self- the operating system code, share a single address space called the system VM (Virtual explanatory process and you’ll find that the Machine). The single address space model is bad news when it comes to system integrity, documentation is quite clear, should you because applications are not protected from each other and key portions of the operating be unsure of anything. system remain exposed to buggy programs which can cause the entire OS to crash. ● If you’re upgrading from Windows 3.1, Ideally, each application should be run in its own independent session, or VM, where it you should start the setup program from is protected from other applications and does not jeopardise the OS itself: thus, when an within Windows. application fails, the effect of the failure should be limited to the session in which it is ● Go to File, and then Run, from the Pro- running. gram Manager and type d:setup (if you’re Effectively, what VMs do is to protect the system against crashes by ensuring that installing from CD-ROM). applications do not write to each other’s address spaces. But Windows 95 goes some way The initial Welcome screen appears towards sorting this out by providing private address spaces for Win32 executables. and examines your system for the Unfortunately, Win16 programs still execute as a single process within a shared address required amount of hard disk space. If you space which means that one faulty 16-bit app can still bring down the whole system. don’t have enough, the installation will let Despite this, however, the new OS is generally a good deal more stable than previously. you know early on in the process. ● Unless you have vast amounts of spare 325 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 HANDS ON ● BEGINNERS Setting up your desktop it is automatically added to the menu list. The desktop is less cluttered in Win- Windows 3.1 users like myself dows 95 than it was in previous versions. will be used to Alt-Tabbing The interface design is based on thou- back to the Program Manager sands of hours of usability testing and to open new applications. Here, careful analysis of the type of tasks which I’ve set up a folder full of all kinds of users perform. shortcuts to all my most When you minimise applications, they commonly-used applications. sit on the Taskbar at the bottom of the This can be left open all the screen so you always know exactly which time so that you can switch applications you are running at any time. back to it Tips to help you find your way The combination of the Start button and the Taskbar gives quick access to most Here, you can see that the files common operations. Here are a few tips to and folders showing in the Start help you find your way around: Menu folder in the Windows ● Press F1 at any time to go into the Win- directory are mirrored on the dows 95 Help system. This will display menu itself; so you can edit the information which is relevant to your loca- menu directly from Explorer tion on the desktop. You can also search the help system index for a subject area if you want an explanation or a step by step list of instructions. ● Right-click on everything. The right mouse button is used extensively all around the desktop of Windows 95. If you’re not sure what something does, right-click on it and you should find out by To create a shortcut to the way of a menu or information box. Look DOS prompt, create a path to out for the Properties option on menus as command.com this allows you to change the appearance of objects on the desktop. ● Experiment with your desktop. The Taskbar can be dragged and dropped to any side of the screen, and you can force it to hide by clicking the Auto-hide check box. Go into the Display option in the Con- trol Panel to control the colours, screen savers and wallpaper. ● Edit the Start menu but don’t bother with the Taskbar settings dialogue box. Instead, open up Explorer and take a look in the Start Menu folder in the Windows hard disk space, it’s a good idea to install you can delete the 6Mb of system files. directory. All files and folders listed here Windows 95 directly over your previous are mirrored on the actual Start Menu. You Windows installation. That way, your exist- Interface enhancements can add new program icons to the menu ing applications will be set up and ready to The Windows 95 interface takes some simply by dragging and dropping. use from Windows 95 when you’ve com- getting used to and feels quite awkward at ● Make use of shortcuts. They provide a pleted the installation. first. The Program Manager no longer way of accessing an application, docu- If you install Windows 95 in a separate exists and the File Manager has been ment or drive from the desktop without directory, you will have to reinstall all your replaced by the “Windows Explorer”. having to manually root around for it. All applications before you can get started. When you Alt+Tab to move between you need to do is drag and drop the exe- ● During the installation you will be asked applications, a box appears in the middle cutable file on to the desktop, or right-click if you want to save your existing system of the screen showing icons for all the on the desktop and select New, ShortCut, files. I would strongly recommend that you applications you have open. But you can’t and then Browse to find the file. answer “yes” to this as it allows the whole move back to the Program Manager to installation process to be reversible. start up a new program because it’s not Your old system files will take up about there anymore. PCW Contacts 6Mb of valuable space on your hard disk In Windows 95 everything hinges on and although this may seem extravagant, the “Start” button on the Taskbar. This Eleanor Turton-Hill welcomes any it is worth doing. If Windows 95 fails to gives you access to all the applications feedback and suggestions from install correctly, you can get your Windows and utilities on your system via a series of readers. She is on [email protected] 3.1 system back. If it installs okay, then menus. When you install a new application 326 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE PCW Best Specification What to look older Nicad (Nickel Cadmium) Our Best Spec is as good a PC as you are for in a batteries. likely to need for most software. For some notebook • TFT screens TFT or active manufacturer offer guaranteed response specialist applications, like professional DTP • Pointing device matrix screens are starting to times? or CAD, you may need to add even more There’s been a replace the slower dual-scan or • Check the technical support. Is it free? memory, a bigger hard disk, a more powerful wholesale move passive matrix screens. It means Is it easy to get through to? graphics card, or a larger monitor. from trackballs to the screen image is refreshed • Windows 95 trackpads. Some much more quickly. PCW Minimum • Pentium 133MHz PC notebooks, notably • Warranty Drop a notebook and Specification • 512Kb secondary cache IBM Thinkpads, use it may well break. This means it’s This is the absolute minimum spec we think • 32Mb EDO memory stick technology (a especially vital to check the you should even consider buying now. It’s • 1Gb hard disk thing which looks like the rubber on top terms of your warranty. How long is it? suitable for general business use: word • 3.5 in floppy disk drive of a pencil and is controlled using one What level of service is provided. processing, databases and spreadsheets. • Six-speed CD-ROM drive finger). • Windows 3.11 • 17in colour monitor • CD-ROM drives are rapidly becoming PCW Minimum • 486 DX2 66MHz processor • 2Mb VRAM graphics card (this means your standard in notebooks. If your notebook Specification • 8Mb RAM graphics card can display more colours and a is going to be your only machine, it’s Notebooks change rapidly. It’s often possible • Graphics card with 1Mb of memory higher resolution on your monitor — Sixteen worth getting one. to pick up end-of-line machines with 486 • 340Mb hard disk million colours at a resolution of 800 x 600, to • Floppy disk drive Often there’s a processors from brand-name manufacturers • 3.5in floppy disk drive be exact) choice between a CD-ROM drive and a such as Toshiba and Compaq at discounted • Double-speed CD-ROM drive • 32-bit sound card floppy disk drive. Again, if the notebook prices of £1,000 or less. These can be a very • 14in colour monitor • Quality speakers is to be your only machine, specify both. good buy. Just make sure they can run the • PCI local bus • PCI local bus Otherwise, reinstalling an operating software you need to use. They probably system can mean returning the machine aren’t up to running Windows 95. If you’re buying the PC for home use, you’ll Other things to consider to the manufacturer. probably want full multimedia capabilities so PCs have become a lot more similar in • PC cards Modern notebooks all have PCW Recommended that you can use CD-ROM games and the last few years. The days when at least one PC card slot. They take Specification edutainment products and play video clips. smallish computer companies designed credit-card sized expansion cards which • Windows 95 This should include at least a their own chipsets (the computer chips can add a fax-modem, a network • Pentium • 16-bit SoundBlaster-compatible sound card that assist the computer’s main interface card or even an extra hard disk • 256Kb secondary cache • Speakers processor) are long gone. Most small to your computer. • 16Mb RAM box-shifters buy their motherboards from • Battery life Battery technology keeps • On-board graphics with 1Mb of memory, PCW Recommended Taiwanese manufacturers. Larger improving, but unfortunately the power PCI local bus Specification companies either design their demands of ever more powerful • 500Mb hard disk If you’re not completely strapped for cash this motherboards themselves (Apricot, notebooks tend to • 3.5in floppy disk drive and/or dual- is the PC specification we recommend. Compaq, IBM) or get motherboards built keep pace. Battery life speed CD-ROM drive. Certainly no-one who works at PCW would by other companies to their specifications varies from as little as • Dual-scan screen. consider buying anything less. (Gateway). 30 minutes over six • Windows 95 hours. Lithium Ion and PCW Best Buying a PC • Pentium 90MHz or 120MHz processor (a Nickel Metal Hydride Specification faster processor will make your computer run Buying a batteries have now The state of the notebook art. he one universal rule with PCs is that they get “cheaper, better more quickly and smoothly) largely replaced the You’re either loaded, or your • 256Kb secondary cache (again this makes NOTEBOOK company’s picking up the Tand faster” over time. This can happen at a bewildering rate, your computer run faster) tab. with the result that your state-of-the-art PC becomes outdated and • 16Mb EDO RAM. 16Mb of memory speeds otebooks are one area in which it’s • Windows 95 or Windows old-fashioned in a couple of years. It may still work perfectly well, but your PC up a lot, particularly if you’re Noften safer to stick to brand-names. 3.11 it probably won’t run very fast and won’t run the latest software. If multitasking (using more than one application Not that some of the Far Eastern kit • Pentium you’re just planning to do simple word processing, this probably won’t simultaneously) doesn’t work perfectly well, but reliability • 256Kb secondary cache • Graphics card with 2Mb of memory does seem to be a problem and it can be • 16Mb RAM matter. But we’re assuming here that you want to buy a general- • 500Mb hard disk — modern computer fiendishly difficult to obtain spares. The • On-board graphics with purpose multimedia PC that can play games, use CD-ROMs and run software takes up a lot of space other useful guideline for notebooks is to 2Mb of VRAM memory, a range of modern sofware. • 3.5in floppy disk drive try before you buy. PCI local bus • Quad-speed CD-ROM drive (video clips will Standard notebook specifications are • 1Gb hard disk play more smoothly; you will be able to generally a step or two behind the • 3.5in floppy disk drive Things not to do when buying space. Spend extra cash on the next hard access files on CD-ROM disks more quickly) desktop equivalents. For example, • Quad-speed CD-ROM • Don’t buy a machine with less than 8Mb disk size up. • 15in colour monitor (one inch doesn’t sound quad-speed CD-ROM drives are still not drive of memory. • Memory is expensive, but upgrading a lot, but is easier on the eyes) standard on notebooks, where on • Active matrix TFT • Avoid older VESA local bus from 8Mb to 16Mb makes a huge • 16-bit SoundBlaster-compatible sound card desktops the six-speed variety are screen motherboards. difference to performance. • Speakers already well established. The latest • Long battery life • Avoid cheap 14in monitors. • Look at the bundle. What other software • PCI local bus generation of colour screens can cope For recent notebook is included — is it worth having? with 800 x 600 resolution, but that’s still reviews, see PCW Things to do when buying • Check the warranty. Is it on-site or back For up-to-date PC reviews, a step behind the desktop 1024 x 768 Notebook March, page 133 • You can never have too much disk to base? If it’s on-site, does the see this month’s cover story standard. 330 331 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE GLOSSARY OF COMPUTING: IMPORTANT TERMS AND ACRONYMS A keyboard, monitor and disk drives. are more common) but sitting inside Access Time Bit the PC. Expansion cards are The time it takes for a device to Binary digit, the basic binary unit for designed to be fitted and removed by access data. The access time, storing data. It can either be O or 1. people with little knowledge of PCs. quoted in milliseconds (ms) for hard A Kilobit (kbit) is 210, 1024 bits; and disks and nanoseconds (ns) for a Megabit is 220, which is just over F memory, is usually an average, as it a million bits. These units are often Floppy disk drive can vary greatly. Together with the used for data transmission. For data Practically all PCs come with a transfer rate, it is used to gauge the storage, Megabytes are more floppy disk drive. 3.5in HD (high performance of hard disks and other generally used. A Megabyte (Mb) is density) 1.44Mb floppy disks are devices. The lower the number, the 1024 kilobytes (Kb) and a Kb is now the standard. They come in hard better the performance. 1024 bytes. A Gigabyte (Gb) is 1024 plastic cases and have replaced the Acronyms Mb. A byte (binary digit eight) is refers to the main processor or chip older, literally floppy 5.25in disks. These form most of the composed of eight bits. inside a PC. (See Processor) Fonts technobabble which has been Bug (See Crash) Crash A font is an alphabet designed in a refined over many years to confuse Boot Common term for when your particular style. Fonts apply to both you, the user, and keep us, the Short for bootstrap. Refers to the computer freezes. Can be caused by screen and printed letters. Modern writers, in business. Try to take as process when a computer loads its a power surge, a bug (which is a TrueType and Type 1 fonts are little notice as possible of it: the operating system into memory. fault in software), or a GPF. stored as shape descriptions, computer industry is littered with Reboot means to restart your scalable to any size. TLAs (Three-Letter Acronyms). computer after a crash, either with a D Format Applications warm reboot (where you press Ctrl DRAM (See Memory) To wipe a floppy or hard disk in An application, or package, is one or Alt Del) or a cold reboot, where you DOS (Disk Operating System) order to prepare it to accept data. more programs used for a particular switch the computer off and back on Once the standard operating system Graphics Card task: for example, word processing, again. for PCs, it is now being replaced by An expansion card that interprets invoicing or spreadsheeting. Bulletin board systems (BBSs) Windows 95 and Windows NT. commands from the processor to Applications are bought shrink- A kind of electronic forum now DPI (Dots Per Inch) the monitor. If you want a better, wrapped (wrapped in cellophane for being replaced by the Internet. (See Common measure of the resolution higher-resolution picture or more general use) or custom-built for net.newbies, p207) on a printer, a scanner or a display. than your existing setup, you’ll need more specific uses. Bus Drive controller card to change your graphics card and/or ASCII (American Standard Code for A “data highway”, which transports An expansion card that interprets your monitor. Information Interchange) data from the processor to whatever commands between the processor GUI (Graphical User Interface) Usually a synonym for plain text component it wants to talk to. There and the disk drives. (See Windows) without any formatting (eg italics, are many different kinds of bus, Drivers bold or hidden text). Since including ISA, EISA, MCA, and local Pieces of software that “drive” a H computers naturally use binary bus (PCI and VL-bus). peripheral. They interpret between rather than Roman characters, text the computer and a device such as a has to be converted into binary for C CD-ROM. If you have a SCSI CD- the processor to understand it. Cache (See Memory) ROM drive connected, you will be ASCII assigns binary values to COAST able to use it on a PC or a Mac, just Roman characters. RTF, a Microsoft Cache On A Stick. by loading up the relevant driver on standard, adds extra formatting CD-ROM each machine. features to plain ASCII. A CD-ROM is the same as a normal audio CD, except it can store data as E B well as sounds. A CD-ROM player EIDE (See IDE) Hard disk Backwards compatible can be attached to your computer to EISA (Extended Industry Standard Sometimes called a fixed disk, hard Compatibility of hardware or read information from the CD-ROM Architecture) disks are hermetically-sealed rigid software to older versions of the into the computer’s memory in the A bus standard designed to compete disks able to store data and product or standard. same way that a domestic CD player with MCA now being replaced by programs. Disk capacities increase Baud rate reads information from the CD into PCI. Its advantage was that it was all the time. The standard is now The amount of data that can be sent your hi-fi. The advantage of designed to be backwards 1Gb, but disks of up to 9Gb are along a communications channel distributing information on CD-ROM compatible with the now-ancient but available. every second. In common usage, it rather than other media is that each still dominant ISA interface (as the Hardware is often confused with bits per one can hold up to 680Mb of data — name implies). All electronic components of a second. These days modem speeds equivalent to some 485 high-density Electronic mail (E-mail, email) computer system, including are normally measured in bits per 3.5in floppy disks. The disdvantage, (See net.newbies, p207) peripherals, circuit boards and second. (See V* and Bit) however, is that you can only write Expansion card input/output devices. BIOS once on CD-ROMs, but this makes Circuit boards that fit inside PCs to HTML (Hypertext mark-up Basic Input/Output System them ideal for archiving. provide extra functionality. For language) (pronounced buy-oss). Software CISC (See RISC) example, one might be an internal The standard language used in the routines that let your computer CPU modem, providing the same creation of World Wide Web pages. address other devices like the Central processing unit. Normally functions as an external one (which 333 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE GLOSSARY OF COMPUTING: IMPORTANT TERMS AND ACRONYMS by Apple, that is incompatible with read: you can’t make changes to it as Used by your PC to communicate I PCs. Developed as a rival standard, you can to RAM. It is commonly with the outside world, usually via a IBM-compatible its operating system looks like used for things that will never need printer. Information can travel in Originally meant any PC compatible Windows, except that it predates it to be changed, such as the parallel along a series of lines, with DOS. Now tends to mean any and (in many people’s view) looks information the computer requires making it faster than serial ports PC with an Intel or compatible and works much better. when you start it up. which can only handle one piece of processor capable of running DOS Maths co-processor Modem information at a time. or Windows. A specialised chip that handles The word is a contracted version of Pixel Internet mathematical calculations (floating “modulator/demodulator”, which Picture element. The smallest (See net.newbies, p207) point operations) for the processor. means that a modem is a box (or, possible addressable dot displayed IDE Modern processors such as the less commonly, an expansion card) on a monitor. Integrated drive electronics. A Pentium have a co-processor built that lets your computer talk over PowerPC control system designed to allow into them. phone lines to other computers. This family of RISC chips is the computer and device to Mbit (megabit) (See Bit) They are commonly used for result of a collaboration between communicate. Once the standard for Mb (Megabyte) (See Bit) sending electronic mail and IBM, Apple and Motorola. It is now PC hard disks, now being replaced MCA accessing the Internet. (See used in all Apple Macintosh by EIDE (enhanced IDE) which A kind of bus designed by IBM to net.newbies, p207) computers and many IBM offers improved performance and beat EISA. Although faster, it never Monitor workstations. extra features. EIDE can support became popular because every Your computer’s screen. Signals are Processor four external devices including hard machine that used it had to pay a sent to it from the video card. The chip that does most of a disks and CD-ROM drives. royalty to IBM, and because it was Motherboard computer’s work. IRDA not backwards-compatible with ISA. The main printed circuit board which Programs (See Applications) Infra Red Data Association — MPEG (Moving Picture Expert houses the processor, the memory Public Domain standard for exchanging data using Group) and various other components. Software that is absolutely free. The infra red typically from PDAs or A standard for compressing video author usually retains copyright, notebooks to a PC or printer. available in several flavours: MPEG 1, N but you can make as many copies ISA (Industry Standard MPEG 2 and MPEG 4. JPEG (Joint Network as you want and pass them to other Architecture) Photographic Expert Group) is a A network is a group of computers people. Public domain software This was the original bus standard for still image compression. linked together with cable. The often consists of small utilities the architecture on 286 PCs. Also Memory most common form is a LAN (Local author feels might be useful to known as the AT bus (the 286 was The term normally refers to RAM Area Network), where electronic other people. It is often confused known as the AT), it is still in use (Random Access Memory). This is mail and other files can be with shareware. today. Slow by modern standards, the kind that disappears whenever exchanged between users without but so widely accepted that you turn your computer off and is swapping floppy disks. Printers and Q expansion cards are still made for it. much faster to access than a hard other resources can be shared. QWERTY (See EISA, PCI) disk. It acts as a kind of staging post Typically, all the PCs on a LAN are The name of a standard English ISDN Integrated Services Digital between your computer’s hard disk connected to one server, a powerful language keyboard, derived from the Network and its main processor. PC with a large hard disk that can first six letters on the top row. The A digital voice and data telephone DRAM Dynamic Random Access be shared by everyone. There are French equivalent is AZERTY. network which looks set to replace Memory many other forms of interlinking the current analogue one. ISDN This requires its contents to be computers including WANs (Wide R adaptors are already starting to replaced every 1/1000th of a second Area Networks). RAM Random Access Memory (See replace modems as a fast way of and is the most common form of Memory) accessing the Internet and memory in PCs. O Reboot (see Boot) transferring data. SRAM StaticRAM Operating System RISC JPEG (See MPEG) Retains memory until the power is The operating system Reduced Instruction Set Computing. Kbit (kilobit), Kb (kilobyte) switched off. communicates with the hardware These are starting to replace CISC (See Bit) VRAM VideoRAM and provides services and utilities to (Complex Instruction Set Faster than DRAM, this is used by applications while they run, such as Computing), as they are generally L graphics cards. saving and retrieving files. faster. The PowerPC chip is a typical LAN (Local Area Network) EDO Extended Data Out RAM example. (See Network) The latest type of memory, offers P ROM (Read Only Memory) (See Local Bus improved performance. Package (See Application) Memory) PCI (Peripheral Component Cache memory PC Card RTF Rich Text Format (See ASCII) Interconnect), developed by Intel, is Temporary memory set aside to Formerly PCMCIA. A standard to now the standard for local bus store the information that is allow PCs, particularly notebooks, to S architecture. It is faster than the accessed most frequently. The be expanded using credit-card sized SCSI older VL-Bus (Video Electronic Pentium processor has 8Kb of cache cards. Small Computer System Interface is Standards Association local bus) it built in. This can be further speeded PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) a bus that comes as standard in a has now largely replaced. up by a secondary cache, typically Small electronic organisers. The Macintosh and is starting to rival 256Kb. Part of your DRAM is also Psion 3a is a typical example. EIDE on PCs. It is commonly used M often used to cache your hard disk. PCI (See Local Bus) for connecting devices such as hard Macintosh (Mac) ROM Read-Only Memory PCMCIA (See PC Cards) disk drives and CD-ROM drives. A kind of personal computer, made A kind of memory that can only be Parallel Ports Serial Port 335 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE GLOSSARY OF COMPUTING: IMPORTANT TERMS AND ACRONYMS Buying a Inkjets The serial port, of which there are applications graphics have 640 pixels horizontally interface. Now less prone to crashes sometimes two (com1 and com2), is and 480 vertically, and can display 16 and easier to use, but requires more SCANNER used by your PC to communicate T colours. SuperVGA (SVGA) graphics memory. with the outside world. They are Tape Streamer can display 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768 WYSIWYG canners are used to import text, predominantly used by modems and Magnetic tape recorder designed for in as many colours as the memory in An acronym for What You See Is What Sgraphics or pictures into a PC. They similar devices, which communicate backing up data from your hard disk. your graphics card will allow: up to You Get, an over-used but useful word vary from low-cost hand scanners not quite slowly. Some mice also use 16.4 million, or true colour. to describe much modern software. much bigger than a mouse, to drum them. Faster communications are U VL-Bus (See Local Bus) What you see on the screen is exactly scanners costing thousands of pounds. achieved via the parallel port. UART (Universal Asynchronous VRAM (See Memory) what you see when you print your The latter are designed to scan Shareware Receiver Transmitter) work out. photographic transparencies to A way of distributing software which Pronounced you-art. A chip that W Inkjets professional standards. is often used by smaller allows your PC to cope with high- Windows Inkjets work by spraying ink onto paper. programmers rather than big speed communications. A GUI (Graphical User Interface) Z They are cheap to buy but more Flatbed scanners software houses. It is freely V34, V32bis developed by Microsoft. Windows is ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) straight to your printer. expensive to run, and slower. Even The most common type of scanner. They available, but not free. You are A series of CCITT standards that supposed to make programs easier Sockets used for large CPUs. Lifting a They will only work with Windows, but cheap inkjets can print in good-quality range in price from £300 to over £3,000. honour-bound to pay a small fee to defines modem operations and error to use by giving them a standard, handle lets you remove the processor. are cheap and fast. They are also only colour. They’re capable of scanning colour pictures the software’s developer if you correction. There are over 20, but mouse-driven interface. ZIP suitable for a personal printer and will to a high standard. Most have transparency continue to use the program after a the key ones are: Windows 3.11 Better known as PKZIP, this is a not work across a network. Recommended products adaptors as an optional extra. set period. • V32.bis — the standard for 16-bit operating system. widely used shareware utility that Epson Stylus 800 colour: Epson 01442 SIMM (Single Inline Memory 14,400bps modems. Windows NT compresses files — making them 61144; street price £350 (see PCW August Document scanners Module) • V34, the new standard for Robust, fully 32-bit operating smaller, so that they take up less Recommended Products 95). Canon BJC-610: Canon 0500 246246; This is a new category which aims to The standard modules for memory 28.800bps modems (see Baud). system. Currently has the Windows room. You can tell when you have a Cheap lasers Epson EPL-5500: Epson 0800 street price £370 (see PCW, February 96). combine the reliability of flatbeds with expansion on PCs. Older 30-pin Don’t buy a modem that doesn’t 3.11 interface, but will soon be ZIPped file as its name ends in ZIP. It 220546; street price £300 (see PCW speed and portability. They’re intended for SIMMs have now been replaced by comply with one of these standards. available with the Windows 95 is widely available from bulletin February 96) Hybrids OCR and document management. Most the 72-pin variety available in VESA (See Local Bus) interface. boards. PKZIP is the most common Sub-£750 lasers Hewlett-Packard 5P: For home use and small offices a hybrid will cope with photographs and some with capacities of up to 16Mb. VGA Windows 95 form of compression of its kind. Hewlett-Packard 01344 369222 (see PCW could be the answer. These combine a colour, but it’s Software Video Graphics Array is the name Major improvement to Windows November 96) printer, a fax machine and some copying not their A generic word for programs or given to a popular display. VGA 3.11, with a completely redesigned Glossary ends Network lasers Hewlett-Packard 5P: capability in one unit. forté. Hewlett-Packard 01344 369222 (see PCW Flatbed scanners February 96) Recommended products Hewlett-Packard OfficeJet LX: HP 01344 369222; street price £499 (see PCW December 95) Continued from page 331 Laser printers Buying a PRINTER There are two main types of printer: Hybrid printer laser and inkjet. PCL Recommended This stands for Products: Flatbed Lasers Printer Control Scanners Most office printers are lasers. They work Language, and it Professional — Arcus II: Agfa 0181 231 pretty much like photocopiers, and are is Hewlett- 4200; street price £2,600. cheap to run and print quickly. Their Packard’s Intermediate — Epson GTX 9000: Epson disadvantage is higher initial cost and alternative to UK 01442 61144; street price £750. mono output. Laser printers are available PostScript, licensed Budget —Umax Vista T-630: IMC 01753 in all sizes and at all prices. Small desktop to many clone- 830999; street price £450 (PCW, July 95). printers cost as little as £400. You can buy printer colour laser printers but they are still PostScript manufacturers. Recommended Products: expensive, typically £5,000 or more. This sends an outline in vector form (see Printers using this tend Document Scanners “Drawing Software”) to the printer where it to be cheaper than PostScript ones, but Visioneer PaperPort VX: Computers is rasterised (converted into dots) and output will vary from one printer to Unlimited 0181 200 8282; street price Types of laser printed to the device’s best ability. another, making it less suited to £299. Logitech PageScan Colour: PCs work by sending a description of the PostScript is device-independent so that professional use. Logitech 01344 894300; street price page that’s being printed down a printer the image looks the same on a monitor Document scanners £299. cable. There are three commonly-used (75dpi), a laser printer (300dpi) or a GDI (graphical device interface) Plustek PageReader 800: Scan Direct page description languages (PDLs): professional image setter (2400dpi). These printers download the description 01292 671676; street price £149 (PCW, of your page already used by Windows March 96). 336 337 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE Buying a FAX-MODEM Fax-modem ou’ll need a modem to connect to Ythe Internet or an online service such as CompuServe or AOL, and to send and receive email. Modems are available in three formats: as PC cards to plug into notebooks, as external boxes, and as expansion cards. PC card modems cost the most and external modems cost slightly more than the expansion card variety. Apart from the case and the external power supply, there’s often little difference between the internal and external versions of a modem. Most modems now have fax capability built in, which means you can receive faxes on your PC to view or print out. If you’re strapped for cash, a V32bis 14,400Kbits/sec modem is adequate. However, prices have now fallen so rapidly that a V34 28,800Kbits/sec modem is probably a better bet. Recommended Products: Fax-modems Buying a External — Motorola 3400 Online: Motorola 01923 404343; street price CD-ROM ust about the only things which differ on £160 (see PCW February 96) Jtoday’s CD-ROM drives are their speed DRIVE and means of connection. The most common connection is IDE or Enhanced IDE (EIDE). It is possible to connect an IDE CD- ROM drive to most existing IDE hard disk controllers. Older PCs may need a newer EIDE controller. IDE controllers are also found on many sound cards. The first CD-ROM drives spun the disc at the same speed as an audio CD and were called single-speed, delivering a sustained data transfer rate of 150Kb/s. Double-speed drives spun twice as fast, doubling the data transfer to 300Kb/s, and quad- speeds twice as fast again, raising transfer to 600Kb/s. Quads are currently the standard, with six-speeds (900Kb/s) becoming increasingly common. CD-ROM Drives Manufacturers are beginning to release eight-speed drives, offering up to 1200Kb/s. All figures are theoretical 339 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE maximums. Buyers should go for quad- x 480 pixels, while other typical modes ● CONTACT MANAGERS (see PIMs) speed or higher. There is little to choose include 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768. The Buying a between models, but off-the-shelf more pixels, the more you’ll be able to fit D supplies are frequently short. Internal IDE on screen, but everything will be smaller SOUND CARD ● DATABASE At its simplest, an quads start at around £100 and six- and may only be suitable on a physically Graphics card electronic card index. For just a few speeds around £130. larger screen. Buyers should go for a 15in s their name suggests, they add hundred names and addresses, an or 17in monitor capable of running a Asound capability to a PC. Check electronic filofax such as Lotus’s Recommended Product: resolution of 1024 by 768, non-interlaced, compatibility with your CD-ROM drive, Organizer may be more appropriate. But CD-ROM Drive at 70Hz or higher. Be aware that the and remember that 16-bit cards for more sophisticated applications like Teac CD56-E six-speed: fitted to many visible area of most monitors (and TVs for capable of 44kHz provide higher- tracking products and customers, the new PCs and costing around £170 (PCW that matter) is smaller than the model quality sound than slower 8-bit cards. power of a relational database is required. January 96) implies: a 15in may only have 14.5in, and Better sound cards now include Databases are generally the least user- a 17in only 16in. wavetable synthesis which means they friendly of the main suite applications. In have samples of real instruments held most office environments you’re more Recommended Products: in ROM. likely to use a database application that Buying a Monitors The quality of wavetable synthesis somebody else has written for you. Sony 15sfII or NEC XV15 Plus costing still varies widely. Even cheap cards Recommended products: Lotus MONITOR around £300 on the street, or the larger Sony which have the inferior Frequency Approach, Microsoft Access 17sfII and NEC XV17 at around £550. Modulation synthesis should have a ● DRAWING SOFTWARE Programs for daughterboard connector allowing drawing that work using vectors. This egardless of your computer Sound card them to be upgraded to wavetable. The means each shape drawn is described Rapplication, you’ll be looking at your Buying a newer cards are also plug’n’play which using mathematical equations. monitor all day — so get a good one. means, in theory, that you should be Recommended products: At the budget Some people claim not to see GRAPHICS able to plug them straight into a PC end, GSP Designworks 3 stands out. At monitor-flicker, but your brain will, without any extra configuration. Most the professional end of things it’s resulting in fatigue and headaches. A CARD cards are bundled with extra software, FreeHand 5 which gets our plaudits. refresh rate of 70Hz or higher will normally sequencers, wave editors and produce a flicker-free image on most he graphics card sits inside the PC audio players. I monitors. Interlacing also results in Tand controls the features that the ● IMAGE EDITING SOFTWARE A flicker. Always run in non-interlaced software can display on the monitor. capability of the card. Video cards come Recommended Products: program for editing bitmap files (files modes and ignore interlaced quotes. Check the amount of memory on the as 16-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit and even 128-bit Sound Cards made up of pixels). Typically used for The resolution refers to the number of card. 2Mb is about standard these days, — all you need to know is that a large Creative Labs AWE-32: 01245 265265; converting graphics files, retouching dots (pixels) horizontally and vertically on 1Mb is skimpy and 512Kb is barely numbers of bits means faster £199 (PCW April 96) photographs and preparing pictures for screen. Standard VGA mode runs at 640 usable. Also, check out the performance performance and more colours. Budget: Aztech SoundGalaxy Waverider printing. The most important aspect of your Pro: Aztech 01734 814121; £79 (PCW Recommended product: For simple video card, and the most frequently April 96) image editing the popular shareware quoted feature, relates to the resolution program Paintshop Pro is fine. For which the card supports in Windows. This professionals, Adobe’s Photoshop is the is measured in terms of the number of industry standard. pixels that the card displays on the ● INTEGRATED PACKAGES Typically screen. The absolute minimum these Buying SOFTWARE these combine the functionality of a days is 1024 x 768 with a refresh rate of database, word processor and 70Hz. The refresh rate is an important spreadsheet in one application. This figure to look out for, as it relates to the ust a few years ago there were dozens of different software makes it easy to move data from one flicker which you will perceive from your Japplications in each category. In the last two years or so, however, component to another, but integrated monitor. there’s been rapid product consolidation. Other magazines list large packages tend to lack some of the Finally, find out whether your video numbers of packages, most of which are out of date and aren’t worth advanced features of individual card is “local bus” or not. “Local bus” is a considering. We’ve distilled each category down to just one or two applications in the Suites. type of interface which connects your Recommended product: Microsoft video card to the motherboard. It allows recommended products. Works the memory in the card to be addressed ● OCR SOFTWARE Optical Character directly by the CPU which makes it a lot Software A-Z Recognition software converts printed text faster than the standard ISA (Industry C into computer text you can edit. You will Standard Architecture) interface. ● CAD SOFTWARE Computer Aided also need a scanner or fax card to get the Design covers everything from printed text on to your PC. OCR saves re- Recommended Products: architectural drawings through office keying documents and can cut down Graphics Cards A planning to complex engineering drastically on paper filing systems. Videologic GraphixStar 700: VideoLogic ● ACCOUNTS SOFTWARE One of the drawings. Recommended products: Omnipage is 01923 260511; around £200 (PCW November few categories in which there are still Recommended products: AutoCAD, the best product we’ve found, but 95) masses of packages on the market at a now at release 13, is still the industry TextBridge offers most of the same Diamond Stealth 64: Microtonica 01732 huge range of different prices. Accounts is standard. However, it’s expensive and capabilities for less cash. Monitors 592820; from around £125 (PCW November also one of the last bastions of DOS. complex. For the casual user, Drafix ● PERSONAL FINANCE These help you 95) Recommended products: Lakeview QuickCAD is a cheap and accessible way manage home finances. They’re also well LMS and Exchequor from SBS Systems. to try your hand at it. suited to some small businesses and tend 340 343 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 MAY 1996 NO-NONSENSE BUYER’S GUIDE to be easier to use than full-blown accounts database. For Microsoft Office you pay SmartSuite respectively. packages. extra for Office Professional which ● PROGRAMMING TOOLS Applications Recommended products: Quicken is the contains Microsoft’s Access database. designed for writing software. These range outstanding product in this category and has Recommended products: Microsoft from “low-level” languages which are no serious rivals. Office is now close to the industry powerful but difficult to learn and use, to ● REMOTE CONTROL SOFTWARE standard. Its high level of integration gives “high-level” languages which are much Software which lets you access and control a it the edge over the opposition. easier to use but generally sacrifice PC remotely usually using a modem. performance and flexibility in the process. Recommended products: Reachout, for its P Recommended products: Delphi 2.0 is a simple interface and support for different ● PERSONAL INFORMATION great example of scalability, catering for networks, particularly TCP/IP. MANAGERS (PIMs) PIMs are an beginners and serious developers working ● SPREADSHEET An electronic version of electronic way of storing names, on major projects. Visual C++ is the pick of an old-fashioned ledger. Ideally suited for addresses, phone numbers and the high-end Windows development tools. balance sheets and sales figures. They now appointments. Contact managers take the include excellent graphing and charting idea one step further to include business V facilities. information about dealings with clients. VISUAL PROGRAMMING (see Recommended products: Lotus 1-2-3, Recommended products: Sidekick 95 Programming Tools) Microsoft Excel and Organizer are excellent PIMs. For contact managers we recommend W S Goldmine for Windows. WORD PROCESSOR An application in ● SUITES These days, most general ● PRESENTATION GRAPHICS which you write letters and reports or even business software (word processors, Increasingly the trend is towards doing produce a simple newsletter. The latest spreadsheets, presentation graphics presentations on a PC and the latest word processors have advanced features packages) is sold in Suites. Two suites are packages tackle this by including sound, such as outliners, table editors and widely available: Lotus SmartSuite and sophisticated transitions between slides facilities for adding up columns of figures. Microsoft Office. If you buy them bundled with and support for video clips. Recommended products: Microsoft Word a new PC, they can cost £100 or less. Bought Recommended products: Powerpoint is the clear market leader. separately, they cost between £200 and and FreeHand are both capable products WordPro (formerly AmiPro) £300. Lotus SmartSuite also contains a that are sold with Microsoft Office and is a capable alternative. A-Z of Recommended Software Products Category Product Supplier Contact Price Date of PCW review A Accounts Lakeview LM3 Lakeview Computers 0181 303 3329 “£8,750.00” Jan-96 Accounts Exchequor SBS Financial Systems 01202 298008 “£5,980.00” Jan-96 C CAD AutoCad Release 13 Autodesk UK 01483 303 322 “£3,150.00” Oct-95 CAD Drafix Quick CAD Roderick Manhattan 0181 875 4400 £69.00 Oct-95 D Database Approach Lotus 01784 455 445 £99.00 Nov-95 Database Access Microsoft 01734 270 001 £220.00 Feb-96 Drawing Freehand 5 MacroMedia 01344 761111 £450.00 Apr-96 Drawing Designworks 3 GSP 01480 496789 £39.95 Apr-96 I Image Editing Photoshop Adobe 0181 606 4000 £382.00 Apr-95 Image Editing Paintshop Pro Digital Workshop 01295 258335 £49.95 Jun-95 Integrated Package Works Microsoft 01734 270 001 £79.99 Oct-95 O OCR Omnipage Caere 0171 630 5586 £595.00 Nov-95 OCR Textbridge Xerox Imaging Systems 01734 668 421 £349.00 Nov-95 P Personal Finance Quicken Intuit 0800 585058 £49.95 May-96 PIM/contact manager Organizer 2.1 Lotus 01784 455 445 £99.00 Mar-96 PIM/contact manager Goldmine for Windows Elan Software 0171 454 1790 £395.00 Mar-96 PIM/contact manager Sidekick 95 Starfish UK 0181 875 4400 £39.00 Mar-96 Presentation graphics Freelance Lotus 01784 455 445 £415.00 Sep-94 Presentation graphics Powerpoint Microsoft 01734 270 001 £220.00 Sep-94 Programming tools Visual C++ Microsoft 01734 270 001 £379.00 Feb-96 Programming tools Delphi 2.0 Borland 01734 320 022 249 (exc. VAT) Feb-96 R Remote Control Reachout Stac Electronics 01483 740 763 £110.00 Nov-95 S Spreadsheet Excel Microsoft 01734 270 001 £220.00 May-95 Spreadsheet 1-2-3 Lotus 01784 455 445 £365.00 May-95 Suite Office (Standard) Microsoft 01734 270 001 £360.00 Mar-96 Suite Office (Professional) Microsoft 01734 270 001 £460.00 Mar-96 W Word Processing Word Microsoft 01734 270 001 £220.00 Feb-95 Word Processing WordPro (AmiPro) Lotus 01784 455 445 £99.00 Jun-95 344 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 ORDER FORM BUYER’S CHARTER Buyer’s Charter MAIL ORDER PROTECTION SCHEME ello, I’m Anthony HGeorge, your Customer Services Manager. Personal Computer World My job is to assist you when Buyer’s Charter things go wrong or when you have a complaint about When you purchase goods as a private individual advertisements in Personal reader from an advertisement appearing in this Computer World. 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The Buyer’s Charter only applies to goods a return to base war- advertised in this magazine.It does not cover goods ranty can be extended, depicted in classified advertisements, loose inserts, how much does it catalogues or any other sales material obtained cost? from any relevant advertiser, or products that have 9. Check that all not been advertised even if they are from the same branded components supplier. are genuine. 3. The “Buyer’s Charter” will not safeguard any 10. Is the supplier commercially orientated outlet, neither will it cover reputable? Do they goods which are purchased outside Great Britain or comply with BS5750 any goods which are obtained for resale. or ISO900? If in doubt, ask to see customer testimonials. ORDER FORM 358 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 RE FORM ORDER ALWAYS Use this form when you order by phone, fax or post. KEEP A COPY ! SUPPLIER'S DETAILS CUSTOMER DETAILS COMPANY ...... NAME ...... SALESPERSON'S NAME ...... COMPANY ...... ADDRESS ...... 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POSTCODE ...... SIGNED ...... DATE ...... / ...... / ...... DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER ...... 359 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD MAY 1996 ChipChat 611 MAY 1996 PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD you want”. Again the boy took the frog out, you want. Why won’t you kiss me?” The boy said, “Look, I’m a computer programmer, I don’t The frog spoke up again and said: “If you kiss me Finally, the frog asked: “What is it with you? I’ve told you A frog he a would wooing go... A frog he a- would wooing go... have time for girls. But a talking frog is really cool.” A boy was crossing the road one day when a frog called out to him and said, “If you kiss me, I’ll turn into a beautiful Princess.” He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket. and turn me back into a beautiful Princess, I will stay with you for one week.” The boy took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it, and returned it to the pocket. The frog cried out: “If you kiss me and turn me back into a Princess, I’ll stay with you and do anything smiled at it, and put it back into his pocket. I’m a beautiful Princess, that I’ll stay with you for a week and do anything , page perhaps… glands, Newsprint of mammary physiology on the dissertation a learned young minds: all quite suitable for revealed. No doubt it was off contact before more was s featured in this month’s s featured the Sciences has changed 19, Planned information Gentium executive name of its appears Intel talks with Intel. It software after Frauen”. Sadly, Bulkeley broke The chat in progress was on the subject of “die Nippels der chatline.” announced: “This is our German It’s still unclear which speeds the processor will be It’s still unclear which speeds the processor The specifications are sketchy at best, but are The specifications are But rumour has it there is another, more interesting, But rumour has it there the international section and The problem of linking schools to the Internet is that The problem of linking schools to the Internet available in at launch, but it is thought a 100MHz unit available in at launch, but it is thought a 100MHz readying a will be bog standard. Cyrix was apparently gone down challenger, but the project seems to have the pan. rumoured to include advanced cache flushing and rumoured to include — allowing more than one user multiprocessor support instructions at a time. A subset of the MMX multimedia Des will deliver on-seat entertainment, including on Elm O’Connor tracks and brief clips from Nightmare Street for those with constipation. story behind this latest move. It is believed that story behind this latest of a new processor currently Gentium is the name Intel’s UK labs. Based on low- under development at as used in notebook PCs, it is power Pentium designs for use in new automated public being built exclusively toilets — Superloos. thought it was a bit too much like Pentium, and so a bit too much like thought it was might be more another moniker politely “suggested” appropriate. lads will download smutty pictures instead of buying lads will download smutty pictures instead them from top shelves, thus depriving WH Smith of a tidy slice of income. So AOL’s amiable UK head, Jonathan Bulkeley, was duly careful, when he launched his offer of a free account for Britain’s 6,000 secondary schools, to stress the provision for parental and school control. Clicking his way live through the other features, he reached ● A