221 lines
17 KiB
Plaintext
221 lines
17 KiB
Plaintext
|
RAndY's RumOR RaG
|
||
|
|
January 1992
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
THE LAFFER UTILITIES
|
||
|
|
Have you ever wished there were a utility for creating office betting pools - or
|
||
|
|
creating funny fax coversheets - or wondered where you could get some new jokes?
|
||
|
|
The Laffer Utilities claim to be America's first non-productivity tool. This collection
|
||
|
|
of "utilities" lets you create forms for office betting pools, generate excuses for not getting
|
||
|
|
something done, be constantly ready with stupid sayings, print ridiculous forms for office
|
||
|
|
use, and much more. I'm not sure how to describe this software except to say that it's
|
||
|
|
outrageously funny and some of the programs may actually be useful.
|
||
|
|
The joke database is my favorite where there are tons of jokes with variable levels
|
||
|
|
of good taste. This is FUN software, the likes of which I haven't seen before. There are
|
||
|
|
tons of clip art in both PCX and CGM formats which could conceivably be used in other
|
||
|
|
programs. Printer support is limited to Epson 24 and 9-pin printers, HP LaserJet, and
|
||
|
|
PostScript. For a street price of about $20, this is a cheap investment in fun.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
PKZIP VERSION 2
|
||
|
|
By the time you read this, the new PKZIP and PKUNZIP will probably be available.
|
||
|
|
I've had the opportunity to sample a beta version, so here's the scoop on what's changed.
|
||
|
|
This generation of PKZIP offers the following significant improvements over
|
||
|
|
previous releases:
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1) ALL NEW COMPRESSION ALGORITHM. This new process allows PKZIP to
|
||
|
|
compress data TIGHTER and FASTER. In fact, the new FAST method gets more
|
||
|
|
compression than the maximum compression in PKZIP 1.10, yet is almost as fast as
|
||
|
|
Shrinking!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2) MULTI-VOLUME ARCHIVES. PKZIP can now create and extract ZIP files which
|
||
|
|
cross more than one disk.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3) EMS SUPPORT. When sufficient EMS is available PKZIP now requires only 85K of
|
||
|
|
conventional memory to run. Without EMS PKZIP requires 183K. PKUNZIP requires
|
||
|
|
approximately 75K if EMS is present and approximately 81K without EMS.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I could not notice a significant difference in speed, but the compression seems to
|
||
|
|
have been improved. The new compression scheme will likely require people who write
|
||
|
|
software like NARC to redo their products once again. Anticipated release was the end
|
||
|
|
of November, but as I write this, I still have not seen a release version.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
WINDOWS UPDATES
|
||
|
|
Expect to see WordPerfect Version 6 and DrawPerfect 2 sometime in 1992. No
|
||
|
|
details on features, etc.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
Lotus is working on adding an assumption manager to 123-W Version 1.1 while
|
||
|
|
Microsoft has already added it to beta versions of Excel 4.0.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
QUATTRO PRO 4
|
||
|
|
Besides working hurriedly on a Windows spreadsheet, Borland is also working on a
|
||
|
|
major revision to their DOS product (code-named Crom).
|
||
|
|
Quattro Pro 4 will feature a full-fledged optimizer that will work with multi-variable
|
||
|
|
linear and non-linear problems (huh?). Excel's solver is based on similar technology. It will
|
||
|
|
also have the SpeedBar found in the soon to be released Quattro Pro for Windows.
|
||
|
|
Also included in the upgrade will be tight support for networks and the ability to read 1-2-3
|
||
|
|
files with Impress and Allways formatting intact. Beta copies of the program are expected
|
||
|
|
to ship soon and the Windows product will go into general beta by year's end.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
POLITICS
|
||
|
|
I am growing increasingly tired of companies who think their products are the only
|
||
|
|
ones in the world. Here's an example:
|
||
|
|
I recently purchased a Cyrix math chip. I figured Intel had nicked me enough
|
||
|
|
through the years and wanted more performance for my dollar. Wouldn't you know it? The
|
||
|
|
diagnostic program for the Intel 80387 determines that I have a non-Intel co-processor
|
||
|
|
(shame on me) and refuses to run.
|
||
|
|
So, I give my Cyrix diags to a friend who has an Intel 80387 and he has the same
|
||
|
|
problem - the software knows he doesn't have a Cyrix and won't run.
|
||
|
|
Why do companies do this? I'm getting tired of it.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
BBS SCORES WITH INGRAM
|
||
|
|
For the first time ever, a BBS program will be in retail distribution. Mustang
|
||
|
|
Software's popular Wildcat BBS software is now being carried through Ingram Micro (a
|
||
|
|
large distributor of software and hardware). It's a long and somewhat involved story how
|
||
|
|
this came to pass, but it was an endorsement from Novell that had Ingram Micro even
|
||
|
|
consider carrying the product (having a brand-new booth at Comdex, a strong following in
|
||
|
|
England, and numerous mentions of the product in the press didn't hurt either).
|
||
|
|
This is the first time that a BBS program has been available at a retail level.
|
||
|
|
Mustang will have a wider market for sales, and this is expected to pave the way for other
|
||
|
|
telecommunications products.
|
||
|
|
I like the Wildcat software, but it's gotten so popular that "everyone" is using it and
|
||
|
|
I'm getting a little tired of it. It's nice when writing script files, though - because you already
|
||
|
|
know the system prompts.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
|
||
|
|
Well, they've still got until the end of March, but word has it that the latest beta
|
||
|
|
release of OS/2 Version 2 has trouble loading. No surprise there, folks.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
There's trouble around the corner for lots of folks. Researchers say that 2 million
|
||
|
|
hard drives will be sold this year as opposed to 489,000 tape drives.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
Things are still on track for a late March or early April release of Windows 3.1 and
|
||
|
|
expect to see new versions of Excel, PowerPoint, and Project about the same time. Don't
|
||
|
|
be surprised to see MS-DOS 5.01 (a maintenance release) just around the corner, too.
|
||
|
|
Microsoft officials are still confident of Windows NT release by the year's end. More on
|
||
|
|
Excel 4.0 below.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
THE MOTHER OF ALL MODEMS
|
||
|
|
I started with modems back in 1984 with a Novation J-Cat (300 baud - the size of a
|
||
|
|
pack of cigarettes), then went through a couple of Anchor modems (deserving of the name),
|
||
|
|
and then bought one of those BSR 1200's from DAK (which worked OK if you only made
|
||
|
|
local calls, but wasn't worth crap on noisy lines). A few years ago I bought a real Hayes
|
||
|
|
2400 external and it has been a reliable friend, faithfully connecting under poor conditions
|
||
|
|
and never missing a beat during a file transfer.
|
||
|
|
I also remember starting with PC-Talk for communications software. I later switched
|
||
|
|
to Qmodem, but once I discovered the shareware version of ProComm, I knew that was the
|
||
|
|
one. When ProComm Plus was released, I switched to that and continue to use it to this
|
||
|
|
day.
|
||
|
|
But our world is now working at a faster rate and 9600 modems are now pretty
|
||
|
|
commonplace. My phone bill is atrocious and so a faster modem seemed like the best way
|
||
|
|
to go. I just hate to give up Mr. Hayes.
|
||
|
|
Well, I did a lot of checking around and asking questions before plunking down the
|
||
|
|
dough. I talked to people who had experience with high-speed modems and finally
|
||
|
|
determined that the one to get was the US Robotics HST Dual Standard.
|
||
|
|
Now this sucker is fast!! Of course you can connect with non-USR 9600 modems,
|
||
|
|
but when you connect with another HST Dual Standard you can get a connect rate of 14,400
|
||
|
|
baud. File transfers really move at that rate! And to sweeten the pot, the overwhelming
|
||
|
|
majority of BBS's using 9600 modems are using the Dual Standard. I expect to see a
|
||
|
|
significant reduction in my phone bills. Using Ymodem-G at 14,400, expect an average cps
|
||
|
|
of about 1675 (for ZIPped files). MNP error correction Levels 1-5 are built in.
|
||
|
|
I purchased mine on a special through a distributor, but expect to find a street price
|
||
|
|
somewhere around $900 to $1000. That's a pretty steep price, but in the long run it's worth
|
||
|
|
it.
|
||
|
|
This sucker is also huge. The big black box measures about 8x13 inches, but there's
|
||
|
|
a lot of power inside. Included in the documentation is a supplement which tells which
|
||
|
|
DIPswitches to change and initialization commands for a wide variety of popular
|
||
|
|
communications software.
|
||
|
|
If you can afford it, this is the one to go with.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
EXCEL 4.0
|
||
|
|
The beginning of 1992 should see a beta release of Excel 4.0, giving Microsoft
|
||
|
|
another edge over Lotus' troubled 1-2-3/W.
|
||
|
|
This new Excel will feature a customizable/moveable Toolbar and a 1-2-3 macro
|
||
|
|
interpreter, along with a Scenario Manager, and "auto-fill" capability, and predefined formats
|
||
|
|
to aid in spreadsheet setup.
|
||
|
|
Excel 4.0 will mimic Word for Windows 2's ability to highlight, drag, and drop ranges
|
||
|
|
of text, charts, or formulas. The current method of cut-and-paste and reaching for the
|
||
|
|
menus will be a thing of the past.
|
||
|
|
The Scenario Manager lets you set up, name, and manage Best Case/Worst Case
|
||
|
|
scenarios. Using what-if analysis and data tables to manage assumptions can be difficult to
|
||
|
|
manage. This new technology will allow users to run multiple scenarios and keep track of
|
||
|
|
them by name. Lotus already has this technology and is planning to add it into 1-2-3/W
|
||
|
|
Release 1.1, but they've got enough to do to get the bugs out of the current product.
|
||
|
|
Much of Excel 4.0's drive is aimed at making spreadsheet setup easier. The Autofill
|
||
|
|
feature automates insertion of column and row headers. Says one source, "If you type in
|
||
|
|
quarter one for column one, the spreadsheet will fill the rest in across the board - the same
|
||
|
|
with months, days, etc.". Non-date sequences can also be automated. Users will also be
|
||
|
|
able to select and preview one of 30 predefined formats from a dialog box.
|
||
|
|
The ability to run Lotus 2.01 macros is crucial but it is not known if the new Excel
|
||
|
|
will also handle macros written for 2.3 or 3.x. Strong macro compatibility can only help to
|
||
|
|
loosen the hold that Lotus has on the spreadsheet market. Purchasers will then have to
|
||
|
|
consider Excel, considering the problems that Lotus has had with 1-2-3/W.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
CHIP NEWS
|
||
|
|
There are a number of developments taking place with chips these days. In a few
|
||
|
|
months we should see Intel's 586. The 586 is said to have 256K of cache which will free up
|
||
|
|
some motherboard space. This trend toward single-chip solutions has affected other
|
||
|
|
manufacturers as well as Intel.
|
||
|
|
Adaptec recently announced a single-chip implementation of the SCSI adapter for
|
||
|
|
PC's that have an EISA bus. This chip, however, lacks the caching needed to store data bits
|
||
|
|
for I/o intensive applications and is more suited to low-end EISA applications. Adaptec
|
||
|
|
rival Distributed Processing Technology is expected to follow suit with a similar product
|
||
|
|
soon.
|
||
|
|
NCR is expected to announce data integrity technology for their family of 53C700
|
||
|
|
EISA SCSI adapters. At this time, additional programmable logic array circuitry is still
|
||
|
|
required to connect to an EISA bus.
|
||
|
|
Don't be surprised if at some point in time, this one-upmanship tendency results in
|
||
|
|
support being built into the microprocessor.
|
||
|
|
---------------
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
UPGRADEABLE COMPUTERS
|
||
|
|
Seems like in every advertisement I see now somebody is hawking upgradeable
|
||
|
|
computers. Just buy whatever system you think you need and if you decide to upgrade in
|
||
|
|
the future you only have to buy a CPU module.
|
||
|
|
On the outside, this seems like a good idea. When you really think about it, it's
|
||
|
|
stupid. I would imagine that this type of thing appeals to people who are just getting into
|
||
|
|
computing and don't know any better.
|
||
|
|
I started in computing with a TI 99/4A and it served me well. One if it's liabilities
|
||
|
|
was the cartridge port. After shoving cartridges in and out for a while, the connections get
|
||
|
|
worn and dirty and pretty soon you're shoving a matchbook under the cartridge to get it to
|
||
|
|
work.
|
||
|
|
I would imagine that the same principle applies to these upgradeable CPU's.
|
||
|
|
Granted, you're not constantly plugging and unplugging the connection, but any time you
|
||
|
|
have two pieces of circuit board connecting, it's a place to collect dust and corrosion. It's
|
||
|
|
the weakest link in the chain.
|
||
|
|
Another argument against these things is the money involved. The upgrade modules
|
||
|
|
tend to be pricey. If a shopper is smart, he can determine his needs in advance and make
|
||
|
|
an intelligent purchase. Do you really need these incremental upgrades - SX-16, SX-20,
|
||
|
|
DX-25, DX-33, DX-40, etc? I would hope that if you're buying an SX, that you'd go with
|
||
|
|
a 20 mhz model, the price should be within $75 or so of a 16 mhz machine. Who's going
|
||
|
|
to quibble between a DX-33 and a DX-40? (Did I forget the 486SX? I wish I could!) And
|
||
|
|
what happens if your company goes out of business and the upgrade modules are no longer
|
||
|
|
available once you've saved up your money?
|
||
|
|
Just like full motherboard integration (video, I/O, etc. all on the motherboard), this
|
||
|
|
is one idea that deserves to die. It's a marketing ploy - simple as that.
|
||
|
|
=================================
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
DISCLAIMER
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
RAndY's RumOR RaG is published on a monthly basis by AINSWORTH
|
||
|
|
COMPUTER SERVICES and is available on various BBS's, GEnie, and America Online
|
||
|
|
with excerpts in Modem News.
|
||
|
|
RAndY's RumOR RaG is produced on a DTK 386-33 with 16 MB of memory, 105
|
||
|
|
MB Toshiba hard drive, 1.2M-360K-1.44M floppy drives, Cyrix FasMath CoProcessor, ATI
|
||
|
|
VGA Wonder+ (1 MB) display card, Sceptre 14" SVGA monitor, and transmitted through
|
||
|
|
a USR HST Dual Standard external modem (for whoever cares).
|
||
|
|
Opinions expressed are those of the author. Comments should be addressed to
|
||
|
|
Ainsworth Computer Services on GEnie or America Online.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
AINSWORTH COMPUTER SERVICES
|
||
|
|
605 W. Wishkah
|
||
|
|
Aberdeen, WA 98520-6031
|
||
|
|
(206) 533-6647
|
||
|
|
GEnie Address: RAG
|
||
|
|
AOL Address: RumOR RaG
|