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ZIP Magazine Volume 2 Issue 6
Ú-----------------------------------------------------------¿
| É------------------» |
| ±±±±±±±±± Editors: | Volume 2 Issue 6 | |
| ±± Ron Alcorn | November 1989 | |
| ±± W.H. Lambdin È------------------¼ |
| ±± |
| ±±± Here's A Peek At What's Inside! |
| ±± ------------------------------- |
| ±± |
| ±± þ New ZIP Magazine Policy 10 |
| ±±±±±±±±± |
| þ Installing A New HD 23 |
| ±±±±±±±±±± |
| ±± þ High Speed Modems 13 |
| ±± |
| ±± þ Satellite Data Via Modem 36 |
| ±± |
| ±± þ Sota 286I Accelerator 33 |
| ±± |
| ±± þ PFS: First Publisher 28 |
| ±±±±±±±±±± |
| þ Telemate 1.2 32 |
| ±±±±±±±±± |
| ±± ±± þ BannerMania 29 |
| ±± ±± |
| ±± ±± þ Doorway Update 40 |
| ±±±±±±±±± |
| ±± |
| ±± Ú¿ Ú-¿ Ú-¿ Ú-¿ Ú-¿ -Â- ¿  Ú-¿ |
| ±± | | Ã-´ | ¿ Ã-´ / | |À¿| Ã- |
| ±± Á Á Á Á À-Ù Á Á À-Ù -Á- Á ÀÁ À-Ù |
| ----------------------------------- |
| "For Home MS-DOS users" |
| |
| /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ |
| \ "Be sure to read every section in this issue" / |
| / We have made some important changes. Thank you! \ |
| \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ |
| ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Up coming reviews... |
| |
| LogiTech ScanMan Plus, Logitech new series C9 mouse, |
| Digicomm Systems Inc. V.32 9600 modem, |
| Kraft Premium II joystick, and much more... |
| |
| É-------------------------------------------------------» |
| | ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ A T T E N T I O N ® ® ® ® ® ® ® | |
| Ç-------------------------------------------------------¶ |
| | ZIP BBS now supports the V.32 standard at 9600 baud! | |
| | Call (606) 878-9500 from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M. [EST] | |
| | SnapShot Express supports 2400 baud. Call anytime at | |
| | (606) 843-9032 24 hours a day. GIVE US BOTH A CALL! | |
| È-------------------------------------------------------¼ |
À-----------------------------------------------------------Ù
É-----------------------------------------------------------»
| |
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| |
| VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6 |
| |
Ì-----------------------------------------------------------¹
| |
| EDITORS CORRNER ................................. page 3 |
| FEEDBACK ........................................ page 5 |
| ZIP MAGAZINE POLICY CHANGES ..................... page 10 |
| A T T E N T I O N................................ page 11 |
| SICK OF VIRUSES ................................. page 12 |
| HIGH SPEED MODEMS ............................... page 13 |
| PROTECTION DELIMA ............................... page 17 |
| CONSERVING HARD DISK SPACE ...................... page 18 |
| TOM'S TIDBITS ................................... page 22 |
| HOW TO INSTALL AND FORMAT A NEW HARD DISK ....... page 23 |
| PFS FIRST PUBLISHER ............................. page 28 |
| BANNERMANIA ..................................... page 29 |
| MULTIBAK 2.3 .................................... page 30 |
| TELEMATE 1.2 .................................... page 32 |
| INSTALLING A SOTA 286I ACCELERATOR CARD ......... page 33 |
| HOW TO RECIEVE SATELLITE DATA ................... page 36 |
| CALCSP .......................................... page 39 |
| PROGRAMMERS CHALLENGE ........................... page 40 |
| DOORWAY 2.05 .................................... page 40 |
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ........................... page 42 |
| BBS LISTING ..................................... page 43 |
| USERS GROUPS .................................... page 45 |
| ZIP INFO ........................................ page 46 |
| CMW ENTERPRISES AD .............................. page 47 |
| |
È-----------------------------------------------------------¼
EDITOR'S CORNER
ZIP BBS has upgraded to a new V.32 9600 baud modem. SnapShot
Express will be upgrading to a V.32 9600 baud modem in the
near future. We will try to continue to upload ZIP to BBS's,
but we are having a hard time with the busy signal on certain
BBS's due to increased activity. If you are a sysop that
carries ZIP, and we don't get it uploaded to your BBS within
7 days, feel free to call ZIP BBS and download the issue.
ZIP has reprinted another article from 518 connect. 518
Connect is a newsletter on BBS's in the 518 area code area. I
read the article "Sick of Viruses" by Moses Harris, and had
to reprint it for the readers of ZIP magazine.
Ron Balewski has agreed to write a column in ZIP magazine
about programming in C. If anyone is interested in writing a
column on another language, you are more than welcome to do
so. This column should appear in the next issue. If his
name sounds familar, then you may have played his great VGA
game of VGA Mah Jongg.
I recently found a new terminal program. Telemate 1.20 is a
terminal with multi-tasking features. Look for my review of
this product later in this issue. With Telemate, you can
upload or download and edit a document at the same time.
Some people have asked me to explain the benefits of
subscribing to ZIP magazine.
Upon completion of ZIP magazine we send you a copy of ZIP
magazine on diskette with the Share Ware programs reviewed in
ZIP providing we can find them all. A subscription to ZIP
magazine costs $9 a year. If you choose to subscribe to ZIP,
let us know what type of disks you need.
We are releasing Ditto (a program written by Robert Bullock)
in this issue. Ditto is a collection of utilities that are
combined in to one program. It comes in very handy for those
that like using their computer at the DOS level.
With DOS, you are limited to one file specification or one
wildcard specification per DOS file command. With Ditto you
can use more than one file specification on the command line.
Below is an example of Ditto and it's commands.
Example: DITTO COPY GAME.EXE BBS.LST TERMINAL.COM B:\
Copy : Copy files
Del : Delete files
Dir : Directory
Rd : Remove directory (can also delete files in
the subdirectory being removed)
These command functions should be part of DOS.
Move : Move files
Add : Add multiple text files together
Mr. Bullock asks for a $10 donation if you use Ditto.
We are also including a Dbase compatible data base in this
issue. It contains every article published in ZIP with the
authors name, volume and issue it appeared in, and the page
number too.
We have changed the BBS listing too. It will be in the pages
of ZIP instead of being a seperate file.
FEEDBACK
Hi Ron, I read your review on Doorway and just had to check
it out. I enjoy the magazine very much. Glynn Dagenhardt
ZIP has to be the best magazine that has came down the pipe
recently. I love it! Thank's for telling me about PC-Tools
deluxe. It is superb!!
I have noticed that you and Ron alcorn don't disperse with
many 5 star acclaims. I know if I see a review with 5 stars
it has really earned it. James Parker
To: W.H.Lambdin, London, KY 24 Sep 1989
c/o SnapShot Express BBS
I have a great deal of respect for someone who takes the
initiative and begins development on a worthwhile enterprise.
Your ZIP magazine is such an endeavor, and you are to be
commended for your efforts in creating this communications
facility.
I personally shudder at some of the grammar found, but the
context is meaningful and of course (for current issues)
timely. When you say that no editing is done, except for
spelling, I wonder what kind of spell checker you use? As I
say, I shudder when I see such phrases as "turn you printer
on...", or "..has recently came to my attention". But maybe a
proofreader would help, before releasing an issue.
I do enjoy browsing the contents of each issue, and I was
pleasantly surprised to find ALTPAGE in the 2-5 issue.
Thanks! In return, I am sending CALCSP (with DOC file). This
utility is the kind of hip-pocket tool most folks need and
reach for automatically (I have mine in a menu utility, and I
call CALCSP when I exit to DOS). The program summarizes the
amount of available disk space remaining on ALL hard drives,
and has helped me determine when I need to worry about
available space. As most active PC'rs know, space is always
insufficient on the hard drives, and we're always having to
back files off to diskette. I use CALCSP as a barometer to
tell me when C, D, E, F or G are filling up. This is a
ShareWare program, so if the tool is useful I'm sure that the
pocket-change price is right ($5).
É-------------------»
É--------¼ John Benjamin Moss|
| PERSONAL COMPUTING SERVICES|
È----» 444 E. Verdugo Ave. #4|
È---» Burbank, CA 91501|
È---» (818) 841-7409|
È---------------¼
What happened? A few months ago, you were asking for
information about GRid, and Toshiba laptops. Then I found
that you bought a Tandy 1400 LT. I can't imagine anyome
actualy buying a Tandy! I have been bitten. Joe Davidson
Editors Note: The 1400LT is not made by Tandy. GRID makes
them, "or at least that is the info I could find before I
bought it". I am not a fan of Tandy, but I am not blind. The
1400LT does not have compatibility problems as other Tandy's.
In short, "The 1400 LT is the only Tandy computer I would
buy."
Hi, I just wanted to drop a note and thank you for
introducing me to Doorway. It proved to be all you claimed in
your magazine and just what I was looking for. I've sent in
my registration this morning. My compliments to your
publication. Glynn Dagenhardt
Editors Note: Glad we could help you find Doorway, and it
filled your need.
Yes, I would like the old copies. I read that issue. I
really appreciate the nice write-up. BTW I made your
challenge. Check out DRWY205. <GRIN> It IS better than
Doorway 2.04. Once again thanks. Marshall Dudley
I just D/Led a copy of your magazine ZIP from this BBS. It
was real good! I loved the article on MIDI -- I'm planning
to get a MIDI system for the PC in the very near future (from
CMO, probably). Ron Balewski
Mr. Lambdin,
You *sold* your mouse? Shame on you!!! I would've sold my
joystick first >GRIN<!!!
But, really, your comments in ZIP about Mah Jongg -V-G-A-
are appreciated. And I AM glad that you enjoy the game -- or
used to, anyway.
Yes, I do realize that not everyone has a mouse. I know
that there are actually people out there who can't STAND
mice. I, however, am at the other extreme - if it doesn't
"mouse", I don't like it.
I've seen versions of Mah Jongg for the PC which don't need
(actually, can't use) a mouse. I tried to play them, but I
couldn't. The frustration of typing coordinates, or moving a
pointer around with the arrow keys, more than outweighed the
pleasure from the game. Mah Jongg seemed to actually cry out
for a mouse interface.
When I wrote MJVGA & released it as shareware, I realized
that a number of people would be unable to play it because
of the strict hardware requirements -- both VGA & mouse. I
seriously thought about adding a keybord-method to play. But,
frankly, I couldn't think of ANY way to make the keyboard
interface "fun." No matter what I came up with, my final
reaction was always "I'd rather not play." So, I decided to
abandon a keyboard method & just "take the heat."
An analog joystick interface, however, is an interesting
idea. It should be almost as convenient as a mouse, and
will let some non-mousers play. I may just add that to the
next release.
I have a couple of suggestions for you until then, though.
First, Quarterdeck's DESQview will emulate a mouse using the
keyboard arrow keys. I've never tried it (because I have a
real mouse), but it should work. Granted, a mouse is cheaper
than DESQview. But if you're already using it, you have
nothing to lose.
I've also seen a shareware package which will use the
joystick as a mouse. It's supposed to be compatible with
Microsoft's mouse standard. I haven't tried this either, but
it too should work.
By the way, I also wrote a version of Mah Jongg for laptops.
It requires CGA graphics and (of course) a mouse! And yes!
I do indeed carry a mouse around with my laptop!
Ron Balewski
Editors note: I was not upset about your Mahjong game
supporting a mouse. I was upset because your game demands
one. If you want to support mice, that is fine. Just give
your perspective buyers an alternate method of play. I now
have another mouse. Scanedit 2 for my hand scanner demands a
mouse too. I will buy a mouse to use a hand scanner, but not
to play a game.
Mr. Lambdin. I want to thank you for running your BBS as you
do. I am used to calling a new BBS, and filling out a
validation form, and then having about 10 minutes to look
around. But not able to do anyhing till I get validated in 10
days to 2 weeks.
I was surprised to find SnapShot Express BBS set up a little
strange. First I couldn't believe I had 90 minutes access,
automatically validated, and had full upload, and download
priveliges. I hope more sysops will catch on. Brian Hurley
Editors note: I get tired of the limited access I get on new
BBS's I call. That is why I set up SnapShot Express. A
friendly BBS to call, and complete access for new callers.
Glad you like my BBS, and hope you call in often.
ZIP IS the best paperless magazine going. I was astounded
that it was formatted properly, and laid out real nice. It
does have timely info. Keep it up. Trent Mason.
Enjoy the magazine. Keep up the good work, Carl Davis
Gents: I just found your magazine, about 1 year late, sorry
to say. Got all of the so-far-published issues from BIOS
BBS, 616-382-3555, up here in scenic Western Michigan. The
sysop of BIOS had previously downloaded it from a BBS in New
England. Hope you can get a Michigan distribution point
soon; let me know if I can be of any help. Nice magazine,
guys. Hope you can use the attached. Robert L. Abramowitz
Editors Note: I am glad that you like ZIP magazine, and
submitted your article. It appears later in this issue. If
you write more articles later, send them over this way.
Did you get a chance to look over the way I am presenting
ZIP? I would be happy to serve as a distribution point for
you at 9600 baud if you like. I have a USR Dual Standard
online for this. File request hours don't start until 3 AM
right now. Don Chick
I am part of the corporate ownership of Schaefer Publishing
(Dan Schaefer, Publisher). We publish into the local East
Tennessee market, and also are establishing a
Windows/Presentation Manager oriented user magazine that
should premeire nationally about late January 1990.
We are also involved in specific area user newsletters
regarding the Windows-based Ami/Ami Professional word
processors/page layout programs from Samna Corporation, and
the Superbase family of products from Precision, Inc.
(Windows-based relational database, forms and database
programming language).
We will be in increasingly frequent contact, you and I, over
the next week or so.
I am looking forward to discussing both your and our
publishing efforts, as we both seem to have interesting
ideas, reader interest, and a basically good publication.
Best regards,
Joseph Rotello Jr.
VP Computer Publications
Schaefer Publishing
PC Power Windows Magazine (already known in the computer
industry as PCPW) will be a four-color 54 page avg issue,
distributed nationally and by paid subscription...it will
contain display advertising.
Other Windows-related publications will be a paper and disk
based Windows software/related hardware catalog of all
programs, available by yearly subscription, updated most
likely quarterly.
Of course, by Windows, we also mean Windows, Presentation
Manager, and most likely eventual coverage of HP's New Wave
Windows-modified GUI also.
Joe Rotello (615) 573-1118
Well, it sure sounds easy enough to carry ZIPs. I'll pass
that info along to Jami.
I enjoyed those back issues you uploaded. That magazine
seems to be getting better all the time!
You mentioned that you were looking for someone to write a
"Programming in C" type article. Did you get one going? If
not, I'd like to offer my services. I program in C and have
written awhile back for 80 Micro back in my Model I days.
You also said that you need a multi-tasker. I highly
recommend DESQview by Quarterdeck. I use that here all the
time. Granted, I'm using a '386 with megs of memory. But I
also used it successfully with my old 8088 and 640k. Of
course you can't do as much. But it still works just fine!
Ron Balewski.
Editors note: The OFFER for you to write a dept about C
programming is ACCEPTED! I have Desqview, I'll need to let
you know what I have and everything later. Thanks for the
offers!
ZIP Magazine Policy Changes
PLEASE READ, THIS MAY PERTAIN TO YOU!
ZIP has grown more than I could have ever imagined. So much
in fact, that it is time to change our policy. Nothing
drastic, just some minor things. Not that we want to, but
business is getting out of our hands. To begin with, several
sysop's want ZIP placed on their BBS. Well that is fine, we
couldn't be happier, but if you want ZIP, you will have to
download it from either of the ZIP BBS's or a certified ZIP
distribution point. Distribution points will not have to
download it directly from us, unless it is by their choice.
Otherwise we will upload it to you. We have not yet defined
our distribution points, but we have 4 in mind currently.
Overall we will approximately have 10 distribution points. As
for our decisions on point locations, it will either be by
geographical location or the BBS's popularity and size. You
will be notified before our next issue and we will
re-advertise your BBS in the actual magazine section if you
are chosen as a distribution point, that is if you want to be
a distribution point.
NOTE: If you are already a distribution point, you still are!
If you are a distribution point, then please consider the
following. We would like for you, or one of your own BBS
users, to upload ZIP to 4 BBS's or try and get someone to
submit something for ZIP. And for each of those 4 that do
so, have each of them try and get 4 people to do the same. If
we could get a chain reaction going, ZIP would literally be
all over the place. None of this is mandatory, just if you
have the time or you know someone who has the time.
NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO CARRY ZIP, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK US ANY
MORE. YOU HAVE OUR PERMISSION AS OF NOW TO CARRY ZIP
ON YOUR BBS. BUT DON'T SAY YOUR A DISTRIBUTION POINT,
UNLESS YOU WILL ALWAYS DOWNLOAD ZIP YOURSELF FROM A
KNOWN ZIP DISTRIBUTION POINT AND YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE
IT ONLINE BEFORE THE CURRENT ISSUE'S DATED MONTH IS
UP. JUST MAKE A NOTE TO PEOPLE CALLING YOUR BBS THAT
YOU ARE AN INDEPENDENT ZIP DISTRIBUTION POINT.
We have had several complaints (just tiny ones) on the
subject of grammatical/typo/punctuation errors. Our policy
was not to change any ZIP submitter's text, meaning there
submission would be published on a as is basis. We know that
our errors can't be completely be removed, but there is one
idea that comes to my mind. If you submit something, please
let us know if we can or can't make certain changes. Also
let us know what changes we can make and which ones we
shouldn't make. Now your saying what the heck do you mean
by certain changes. Well there is more than one type of
change that could be done. I'll give you a few examples on
what we could fix.
Mis-spellings
Punctuation
Wording (Example: "I that do" to "I do that")
Case (converting uppercase to lower case when necessary)
False information to true information
Don't worry, we aren't going to re-write your submission like
some big magazines do. We just want to make sure that your
information gets across clearly to everyone.
To make sure you pay attention, here is how we will handle
the situation. If you don't specify what we can and can't
do, then we will make necessary modifications. If you say
for us to keep our fingers off, then that we will do. If we
did change your text, and you didn't like it, then please
send us a replacement for the incorrect changes and please
accept out apologies.
If you disagree with our attitude, please speak. The changes
are not effective yet, but starting after this issue they
will, unless we have several people that disagree.
A T T E N T I O N !
*** Programmer's and Author's ***
ZIP Magazine is trying to press forward to complete yet
another step. Nearly all Shareware people know that very few
of their programs make it to a national publication.
Commercial programs only get attention because they are
"commercial", even if the program is a complete piece of
"junk". As you know, most of the time you can find a
Shareware program that is equivalent or better than it's
commercial competition, at a much cheaper price! Here at ZIP
Magazine, we intend to help you out. Please send in your
program, along with documentation, and we will review it for
the public eyes. ZIP Magazine gets spread nation wide, so
your program will be heard about all over the country. If
the Shareware version of your program is not fully
functional, then please send a registered version so the
public will know what to expect if they pay for it. This is
not necessary, but if you want everyone to get a complete
view of the product, this would definitely help.
Sick of Viruses
By Moses Harris
Reprinted with permission from 518 Connect
This past month we've heard even more hype about computer
viruses. Columbus day and Friday the thirteenth, two days
that are supposed to trigger any number of nasty FAT eaters,
fell in the same week. The media predicted that everyone's
data was doomed.
When the week was over less than a dozen installations
reported being hit. Only one, an organization in England,
permanently lost data. It was their own fault: they had
foolishly neglected making backups for over two years.
The mass media loves computer viruses. They are fascinated
with the idea that computers can get sick, and the disease is
contagious. As with most complicated subjects, they don't
understand what they are talking about, so they spread
misinformation and half truths. As a result people with
limited computer expertise are afraid to use Shareware, or
even call a BBS. I've had clients that were afraid of reading
text files from another PC.
Two summers ago Time magazine ran a cover story on viruses.
It was typical of the dreck that passes for news on the
subject. The article was full of obvious errors (for
instance, they said that there were 3,000 BBS's in the United
states). It started by blaming Shareware and BBS's for
viruses, then related several horror stories of people losing
years worth of work. In each instance the virus lurked in
COMMERCIAL software, usually pirate copies. No BBS's were
involved. The fact that regular backups would have saved the
virus victims from losing more than a few days work was
overlooked.
I have been involved with the computer industry for the past
five years, both in sales and technical support. During that
time I've talked to literally thousands of computer users. Of
those thousands I've met exactly two people who have been
hit. (I've also talked to five or six via BBS's.) One of the
two was hit with a genuine virus which erased his FAT table.
The other was a sysop who was hit, very lightly, with a
Trojan horse uploaded by a local Juvenile Delinquent. This
JD wrote a crude program specifically designed to go after
the Sysops setup, but it was detected and stopped before it
did any damage.
Of course, I've talked to dozens and dozens of people that
claim to have been hit by viruses. One told me "A friend of
mine played a game on my computer, and it was working funny
after that. I formatted the hard disk, and it was OK again."
He was sure he had a virus. After he answered a few questions
it was obvious that he was dealing with a flaky hard disk.
Your hard disk is going to fail. Someday. You may find that
some of your files are corrupted, you may begin seeing "Data
Error Reading Drive C:" or the thing may just crash without
warning. Savvy computer users know that this is because all
mechanical devices wear out. Less informed people insist that
they are the victim of a virus.
Some programs change the config.sys and/or autoexec.bat
files when they are installed. When someone's computer
starts acting differently due to such a program, it's easy to
scream "VIRUS", especially when they just read a misleading
article in the New York Times.
Viruses do give brain dead computer users a convenient way
to cover up their mistakes. It's much easier to tell the
boss "I just got hit by a virus" than to admit "I was trying
to format a floppy and accidently erased the hard drive."
Yes, viruses do exist. But they are extremely rare, and a
few simple precautions will provide nearly total protection.
The next time someone tells you they were hit with a virus,
or knows someone who knows someone who was, tell them to shut
up. We're sick of hearing about them.
HIGH SPEED MODEMS
by Ron Alcorn
I have been confused about 9600 and 19,200 baud modems for
quite a while. I finally figured out what the deal is since
I got my new Digicomm Systems modem (soon to be reviewed in
the next issue if it performs well). Out of all the BBS's I
call, I have not found one that actually supports a true
19,200 baud. The phrase 19,200 baud is very misleading. The
speed output of the modem to another modem is 9600 baud, the
speed from the modem to the computer is 19,200 baud. This is
not a true 19,200 baud, but it is faster than 9600 baud
straight out. This method is what's called a "locked baud
rate". With a locked baud rate, you can connect to another
modem, not only at 9600 baud, but even at 300, 1200, 2400, or
4800 baud, and have the speed from the computer to the modem
at 19,200 baud. Examine the two charts below in figure 1.
Hopefully it will help cut down on any confusion you may
have.
Figure 1
A - Host computer
B - Host computer's modem
C - Remote computer's modem
D - Remote computer
= - 19,200 baud flow rate
ù - 9600 baud flow rate
~ - 2400 baud flow rate
A D
Ú---------¿ 19,200/9600 baud flow rate Ú---------¿
| | | |
| | | |
ÀÂ-------ÂÙ B C ÀÂ-------ÂÙ
ÚÁ-------Á¿====Ú-----¿ùùùùùùùùùùùùÚ-----¿====ÚÁ-------Á¿
À---------Ù À-----Ù À-----Ù À---------Ù
A D
Ú---------¿ Normal 2400 baud flow rate Ú---------¿
| | | |
| | | |
ÀÂ-------ÂÙ B C ÀÂ-------ÂÙ
ÚÁ-------Á¿~~~~Ú-----¿~~~~~~~~~~~~Ú-----¿~~~~ÚÁ-------Á¿
À---------Ù À-----Ù À-----Ù À---------Ù
I suppose there actually might be a 19,200 baud modem, but
I've not come across one. Even if I did, I wouldn't be able
to connect with it unless I had the exact same modem
specifications as the one I'd be calling.
When using high speed modems, it is highly recommended to use
the new NS16550AN fast serial chip. This chip supports baud
rates all the way up to 115,200 baud. It also includes a
FIFO buffer. This buffer is either 14 or 16 bytes (I've read
two different sources of information, so I assume one of them
should be correct) opposed to the 1 byte buffer in the old
slow 8250 serial chip. Not only is the 8250 serial chip
slower (9600 baud maximum), but it has also been reported
that there are some buggy versions floating around. One
cheaper alternative to the 8250 is the 16450 serial chip. I
don't have the spec's on this chip, but it is faster than the
8250, but not as powerful as the NS16550AN chip. You may
wonder why I use the entire part number of the chip. The
reason is because there are 2 versions of this chip. The
other version is just a plain 16550 chip. I don't have the
spec's on this chip either, but I've come across some
information that states the NS16550AN chip is better and
supported by more programs. The list below shows what serial
chips are the best as logic would have it. The chips are
listed in respective order from top to bottom.
NS16550AN NOTE: All of these chips are
16550 compatible with the
16450 8250 to my knowledge.
8250
Now that we think we know the truth about so called baud
rates and types of serial chips to use, let's discuss another
related topic that confuses people, "Modem connections".
Below in figure 2 is a compatibility chart.
Figure 2
Ú-----------Â-----------------------------------------------¿
| Baud rate | Compatibility standard |
Ã-----------Å-----------------------------------------------´
| 300 | Bell 103J |
Ã-----------Å-----------------------------------------------´
| 1200 | Bell 212A / CCITT V.22 |
Ã-----------Å-----------------------------------------------´
| 2400 | CCITT V.22bis |
Ã-----------Å-----------------------------------------------´
| 4800 | Some odd balls have their own so called 4800 |
Ã-----------Å-----------------------------------------------´
| 4800 | Same as 9600 |
Ã-----------Å-----------------------------------------------´
| 9600 | CCITT V.42 |
Ã-----------Å-----------------------------------------------´
| 9600 | CCITT V.32 |
Ã-----------Å-----------------------------------------------´
| 9600 | USRobotics V.29 |
À-----------Á-----------------------------------------------Ù
Normally, all modems that support 300, 1200, and 2400 baud
will connect with any modem that supports those same baud
rates. Some odd ball 4800 baud modem manufacturers made
their own standard, so they will only connect with the same
brand modems. The 9600 baud modems started off the way the
4800 baud modems, but they have nearly stabilized a varying
standard. USRobotics is the one that really got 9600 baud on
it's feet. They created their own standard, which only
stayed alive because of their friendliness with the
telecommunications public. Their own propriety standard,
V.29, is the most common used method as of date. The V.32
and V.42 standards are next in line. Between these two
standards, I just can't say which is more popular, but I do
know that they are on the move. I see more and more BBS's
using these 2 standards as time goes on. Below is a listing
of information that I've been able to gather. I can't
actually state that this information is true, but it's based
on the ad's I've seen in several computer magazines and
catalogs. With this information, I'll let logic decide on
which is more popular, V.32 or V.42?
1 - USRobotics makes a modem that supports both V.29 and V.32
in the same modem. It's called the "Dual Standard"
2 - Universal Data Systems makes a modem that supports both
V.32 and V.42 in the same modem
3 - Several popular and non-popular companies are using V.32
(including clone makers, both foreign and American).
There are too many to list.
4 - The only makers of V.42 is Hayes, Universal Data
Systems, and ATI (ATI V.42 is only for 2400 baud).
5 - I have yet to see a V.29/V.42 combo modem
Answer: Logic says V.32 is more popular than V.42
Note: V.29 doesn't have a CCITT specification, but I base
it's standard on popularity.
I can't recommend what you should buy, but if you do buy, I
would highly advise that you get V.29, V.32, or V.42 type
modems. If you see any other type of 9600 baud modem, I
wouldn't touch it. You'll end up alone, just you and your
9600 baud modem, all buy yourself! Personally, as you may
have noticed on the cover sheet, I chose the V.32 standard.
That is what I would recommend to buy, but of course don't
you think I'm being biased? I know V.29 is more popular, but
I keep on seeing BBS's replacing their USRobotics V.29 HST
modems with the USRobotics Dual Standard. So if the leader
of the pack is going to support V.32, logic would have it
that V.32 is here to stay for quite a spell.
"Rule Of Thumb"
4800 & 9600 V.29 connects with 4800 & 9600 V.29 only
4800 & 9600 V.32 connects with 4800 & 9600 V.32 only
4800 & 9600 V.42 connects with 4800 & 9600 V.42 only
300/1200/2400 should be compatible with all of the above
My knowledge about this subject is not too broad, but I feel
that several people are confused as I was (I probably still
am a wee little bit). Hopefully my piece of information was
useful.
Again, as ZIP Magazine says, if I am mistaken about
something, or lacking some information, please let us know
so we can inform the public.
PROTECTION DELIMA
by W.H. Lambdin
I can understand the need for computer security when you have
sensitive material. I even use a password protection
technique to protect my data.
However, I went to a store in Lexington, Ky, to look at the
Packard Bell Laptop computer. The computer looked nice, and
attractive. This was until I tried to use some programs I had
with me. I had taken Norton's SI, Galaxy, and ZIP magazine.
I had taken SI to check the speed of the CPU, Galaxy and ZIP
magazine to check the screen, and speed of the floppy drive.
I turned the computer on, and promptly, the machine asked for
the password. I tried five or six passwords while I was
waiting for the clerk to help me. After the clerk came over,
I explained what I wanted to do. Then I asked him what the
password was. He replied saying that he didn't know what the
password was, and had no way of bypassing it.
About then I was loosing my temper, and so I asked. "How do
you expect to sell any of these computers when they are
locked up so tight, that prospective buyers can't try them
out?"
I see no need for this type of security on a demonstration
unit with no data. Some stores are afraid that people will
steal the operating system from the hard drive. If I wanted
to protect the operating system from being stolen, I would
erase the format, and sys commands from the hard drive. This
would virtually make it impossible to steal the operating
system.
If they want to use a password scheme to protect the
computers. At least make sure all workers know the password.
Nobody is going to buy a computer unless they get a chance to
try it out.
I left the store when the clerk accused me of being a pain.
I seriously doubt that I will ever return to that store. I
was unimpressed with the store, the clerk's attitude, and the
password protection on the Packard Bell. The computer looked
nice, but there is no way I would buy anything at that store,
or recommend that store to perspective buyers.
I can mention names, but I don't want a liabel suit. If you
are in the Lexington area, and find a password protected
Packerd Bell Laptop in a store, more than likely you are in
the right place.
This happened before I bought my Tandy 1400 LT.
"CONSERVING HARD DISK SPACE BY
AUTOMATING THE FILE COMPRESSION PROCESS"
Robert L. Abramowitz
INTRODUCTION:
For some time I have been conserving space on my hard disk
using a technique that is neither innovative nor brilliant,
but which I have not seen described elsewhere. When I
mentioned this technique to several other hard disk users,
their responses were "I wish I had thought of that," so I
figured it was time to spread the word. I've tried to write
this so that relatively inexperienced users should be able to
understand and use the technique. Experienced users will
probably need no more than 30 seconds of reading in order to
say either "Aha!" or "So what?".
OVERVIEW:
Most hard disk users have applications on their hard disks
that we use relatively infrequently. For example, I keep my
database software, Wampum, along with several large data base
and index files, in a \DBMS subdirectory that I typically
access no more than once a week. The files on this
subdirectory took up about 1.9 megs of precious space.
When my disk space began to get scarce, I decided to
compress all of those files into 1 big compressed file with
Phil Katz's PKZIP, thereby saving about 1 meg. Then, when I
wanted to use my database, I would decompress the ZIP file
and use the decompressed files. When I was finished, I would
update the ZIP file with any changed or added files, and
finally I would delete all the decompressed files, while
keeping the ZIP file for the next use. This worked, but it
was a tedious process.
A few months ago, I decided to automate the process by
writing a batch file. There are several ways to do this, but
I settled on a technique that uses a program called DELBUT,
which is found on many BBS's and that is apparently in the
public domain, and which deletes all files in a subdirectory
BUT FOR a named file specification.
In this article, I'll show you an example similar to the way
in which I have set up batch files on my own hard disk, after
which I will discuss somewhat more advanced variations of the
technique described in that example.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
1. A file compression-decompression program. I currently
use Phil Katz's PKZIP and PKUNZIP v. 1.02, which I consider
to be the best of the bunch. I suppose that other programs
would work, but of course you will have to use different
commands with another program.
2. A copy of DELBUT.COM, compressed as DELBUT.ZIP and
enclosed in this issue. Decompress it and delete the ZIP
file you downloaded. DELBUT.COM works as follows. If you
issue the following command:
DELBUT *.ZIP
then you delete all deletable files on the current directory
except files ending in .ZIP.
IMPORTANT! Place PKZIP.EXE, PKUNZIP.EXE, and DELBUT.COM on a
subdirectory accessible via the DOS PATH command, and NOT on
the same subdirectory as the files you wish to compress.
(If you don't understand the previous sentence, read "How to
Use the DOS PATH Command", by Donald R. Kelley, in Volume 2,
Issue 1 of ZIP.)
HOW TO DO IT-AN EXAMPLE:
Let's use the subdirectory \DBMS I mentioned above. Here we
go:
1. Make \DBMS the current directory, i.e., CD\DBMS (enter).
2. Compress all the files on the subdirectory into 1
compressed file. We'll call the compressed file DATA.ZIP. Do
this by issuing the command:
PKZIP DATA *.* (enter)
Compression may take awhile, but don't despair: you only have
to do it once.
3. Test the integrity of the newly created ZIP file by
issuing the command:
PKUNZIP/T DATA (enter)
If the file doesn't test out OK (unlikely), delete the ZIP
file and repeat steps 2 and 3. Otherwise, proceed with step
4.
4. Delete all the files on the subdirectory except the ZIP
file, as follows:
DELBUT *.ZIP (enter)
5. Create a batch file. You could use EDLIN or a word
processor, but this batch file will be very short, so we'll
do it from the keyboard. In this example, we'll call the
batch file BASE.BAT. Type the following:
COPY CON: BASE.BAT (enter)
Now type the following commands, one per line, each followed
by hitting the (enter) key:
CD/DBMS [makes \DBMS the current
subdirectory]
PKUNZIP DATA [decompresses the ZIP file]
WAMPUM [executes the application program]
PKZIP/U DATA *.* [adds any new or changed
files to the ZIP file upon exiting]
DELBUT *.ZIP [deletes everything on the
subdirectory but the ZIP file]
Now hit the F6 key and you've created a file. You might want
to hit the F6 key right after the last character of the last
line, which is "P" in this example, followed by (enter). That
way you get a cleaner screen after the batch file finishes
executing. Either way is fine.
If you make a mistake typing, just hit the F6 key, then
(Enter), and start over with the COPY CON: command.
6. Store the new BAT file in a different subdirectory than
the ZIP file you created earlier, preferably a subdirectory
accessible via the DOS PATH command. This is so that the
batch file doesn't commit suicide and wipe itself out when
DELBUT *.ZIP executes.
RESULTS:
You have stored all of the files in the subdirectory in
compressed format, freeing disk space. When you type BASE in
this example, you execute the batch file, the files
decompress, and the database goes to work. When the database
quits, the batch file cuts back in. It updates the ZIP file,
erases all the decompressed files and leaves you with only
the updated compressed file.
EXTENSIONS (for more experienced users):
Once you understand the logic of the example, you can go on
to bigger and better things. Three examples are:
1. If some of the files used by your application program are
stored in other subdirectories, create a batch file that
decompresses the files on each ZIP'ed subdirectory, runs a
program or programs, and subsequently updates the compressed
file and deletes the decompressed files on each subdirectory.
All you need to do is incorporate the /cd command into the
batch file at appropriate spots.
2. Tie the batch file into a menu system. When you make a
menu selection, the batch file executes. At the end of
execution, you're back at the menu. Neat way to fly.
3. Suppose you like the idea of keeping the batch file in the
same subdirectory as its associated ZIP file, but don't like
the idea of having the batch file wiped out courtesy of
DELBUT. You can modify the batch file so that the ZIP file
is decompressed into another "working" subdirectory,
followed by un update of the ZIP file using the files in that
working subdirectory as an argument. In that case, using the
DELBUT *.ZIP for the working subdirectory will normally have
the same effect as issuing the command DEL *.*, as there will
be no ZIP files in the working subdirectory.
An alternative, if you know exactly what types of files you
are updating in any given subdirectory, e.g., *.wk1, is to
specify those filespecs with the PKZIP/U command, while
leaving the batch file in the same subdirectory as its
associated ZIP file. If you do this, YOU MUST WRITEPROTECT
THE BATCH FILE, or it again will be DELBUT'ed into oblivion.
You can do that with the DOS ATTRIB +R command, with The
Norton Utilities, PC Tools Deluxe, or other proprietary
programs, or, for the terminally macho, with DEBUG. This is
actually the method by which I have set up most of my
compressed subdirectories.
CAVEATS:
1. It doesn't make sense to go overboard and to use this
technique on frequently-accessed subdirectories. Exec- uting
the batch file takes time, especially in the decompression
phase.
2. You must keep sufficient free space on your hard disk to
hold the decompressed files that are created when the batch
file executes. Nevertheless, if you compress several
relatively inactive subdirectories, you should achieve a
considerable net gain in your ability to store files on your
hard disk.
COMMENTS:
PKZIP and PKUNZIP are Copyright 1989 by PKWARE, Inc. I would
very much appreciate any comments you may have about the
technique described above or about other simple and
inexpensive disk space conservation techniques. Please feel
free to write to:
Robert L. Abramowitz
P.O. Box 1361
Kalamazoo, MI 49005-1361
TOM'S TIDBITS
by Tom Croley
associate editor
RECOVER
If you are having a problem with a few files on your
computer's hard disk. DO NOT mess around with the dos
"recover" program to try to save them. I have a friend that
recently did that and boy was he sorry. The "recover"
program was written for floppy disks and it does not
understand the workings of a hard disk. It will convert all
your filenames to meaningless names and waste everything in
sight.
VIRTUAL SPEED
If you use FDISK to divide your hard disks into smaller
"virtual" drives it will operate faster. Less info to sift
through for each "seek". Don't fool around with this unless
you backup the whole thing first or you will be sorry.
MORE RAM
How would you like to expand your RAM to 4 megabytes for only
$75.00. Buy "Software Carousel". A memory management
program that works on any PC. It will use any type of memory
available and will even use the hard disk as a RAM device. It
is really slick. I use it always and will review it in the
next issue.
24 PINS HEAD TO HEAD
I recently had the opportunity to compare a Panasonic 1124
side by side with a Star XB2410. If you want the most BANG
from a printer, buy the STAR. If you want the best value for
the bucks, buy the PANASONIC. Stars for the Star include:
28K memory buffer (great), 7 front panel fonts with more
accessible through printer commands, very easy to use, heavy
duty. Stars for the Panasonic include: superior ribbon life,
lower price, slightly nicer looking character sets
(debatable). Both are loaded with all the latest features,
the Star is loaded abundantly.
ABOVE BOARD PC
The Intel Aboveboard PC expanded memory board apparently will
not work with anything except a PC or PC/XT. It chokes on an
AT or 386 machine. This info comes from direct experience
and a phone call to Intel.
STICKY DATA
What happens if you set your only copy of an important floppy
disk into a glob of stick syrup or peanut butter. If you
have a dirty, gummy floppy disk that you really need, the
info can possibly be saved as follows.
1. Slit the case of the disk carefully and remove the
contents. Do not fold, spindle or mutilate.
2. Fill a basin with lukewarm, soapy water.
3. That's right! Gently wash the disk in the water. Do
not crinkle it. Dry it with a soft cloth in a blotting
fashion. Do not rub.
4. Carefully slit the case of a new disk and replace the
contents of it with the washed disk. Do not put it in
upside down. Place a small piece of tape over the slit.
5. Backup the disk immediately.
6. If you are lucky, you will save the contents.
7. I tried this with a disk damaged with peanut butter. It
worked great.
HOW TO INSTALL AND FORMAT A NEW HARD DISK
by Tom Croley
associate editor
Suppose you run out and buy yourself a new hard disk and a
bargain discount price. Chances are, if the price was low,
it is in a RAW state. That is, it has never been unpackaged
or monkeyed with in any way. You may think you can plug it
in and start hacking. But you may be in for a surprise. If
you do not have some special hard disk management software
such as "Disk Manager" you may spend several hours before
your store you first bit of information on that disk. Here
is a brief run down on the three step process for preparing a
hard disk without the aid of any crutches. I am assumning
you have purchased a "Plain Jane" control card, a 20 or 30
meg. drive and are using an XT type computer. AT setups are
a little different but similiar enought for this article to
be helpful.
A. Ingredients - You will need the following
1. One PC type computer
2. One Hard disk (RAW)
3. One Hard disk control card
4. One set of cables (a wide one and a narrow one.)
5. A Philips screw driver
6. A DOS disk (Floppy disk with operating system) The
disk must also contain the following files
a) Debug.com
b) Fdisk.com
c) Format.com
B. Installing the hardware.
1. Mounting the hard disk
a) Remove the five screws in the back of the
computer that hold the case together. One in each
corner and one in the top middle.
b) Carefully slide the top of the case forward. Place
your finger inside the top, middle, back of the
case as it opens. Feel the little metal tab that
hangs down in the spot where the middle screw
was? Do not let that metal tab snag anything as
you slide the case open.
c) Take the hard disk and mount it in one of the
open drive bays. Look at how your floppy drive
is mounted and do likewise. Secure it in place
with little screws.
HANDLE THE DISK DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY. DISCHARGE STATIC
ELECTRICITY FROM YOUR BODY BY TOUCHING A GROUNDED OBJECT SUCH
AS A METAL DOOR KNOB. DO NOT DROP IT! TRY NOT TO TOUCH THE
ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARDS OR CONNECTORS. HANDLE IT BY THE
METAL PARTS. DO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE POWER ON.
d) Locate one of the power plugs from the power
supply and plug it into the hole on the back of
the disk drive. It only plugs in one way. Do
not force it.
2. Mounting the countrol card
a) If you have an PC-AT type computer, skip the
instructions below. If you have a PC or PC-XT
type computer, continue. You can tell an AT by
looking at the sockets on the bottom board of the
computer. If some of the sockets are almost twice
as long as others, it is an AT. Actually, if you
don't know what kind of computer you have you
shouldn't be doing this at all.
b) Observe how the other function cards are mounted
in the computer. They stick up from the bottom
of the computer mounted in little sockets (slots)
and are attached with a single screw at the top,
back.
c) Remove the screw and cover plate from an empty
slot. It is best to use the slot nearest to the
power supply but it is not required.
d) When handling the card, try to touch it only on
the edges. Try to avoid touching the connector
or the electronic parts. Static electricity on
your body is bad for the card and in extreme
cases has been known to cause damage.
e) Carefully but firmly, press the control card into
the slot. A slight rocking motion sometimes
helps. Make sure it is firmly seated but do not
push so hard that you break the base board
containing the socket (the "mother board").
Place a screw in the proper hole to secure the
card in place.
NOTE - some cards do not have their own cover plate and
require that you NOT remove the back cover plate. If this is
the case, remove the hold down screw from the cover plate,
place the card into the slot and replace the screw through
the card and the old cover plate.
3. Connecting the cables
a) Connect the cables to the pin connectors on the
control card. If the connecting pins on the card
are horizontal, the red line on the cables should
be oriented toward the front of the computer. If
the pins are verticle, the red line on the cables
should go up. There is usually one large
connector for the large cable and two small
connectors for the small cable. If the pins are
horizontal, connect the small cable to the upper
set of pins. If the pins are verticle, connect
the small cable to the set closest to the large
connector.
b) If you connect the cables wrong, no damage will
be done. The drive simply will not work and you
may spend a few extra hours trying to discover
why.
c) Connect the other end of the cables to the disk
drive. Most cables only connect one way because
of a little slot in the connectors.
d) You are now ready to initialize, partition, and
format your drive.
C. Software Preparation - Warning, the following information
will erase the contents of your hard disk. If your hard
disk boots already and can be used you do not have to do
this. If it is a new disk and will not boot without a
floppy disk in the drive and will not respond to the
"C:" dos command, then you must proceed.
There are three step to preparing a disk drive for use
once it is installed. They are all done with software
contained in your dos disk.
1. How to inialize the disk (Low Level Format)
a) Place your dos disk in drive A and turn on the
computer. (Boot the Computer) It may take longer
than usual to boot but if it boots not at all,
your cables may be plugged in wrong.
b) Type the following lines and press enter after
each line.
1) DEBUG
a> The debug program must be on your dos disk.
A period should appear on the screen.
Nothing else happens.
2) g=c800:5
a> A program should begin to run and you will
be asked a series of questions. The program
resides on you hard disk control card.
Since there are different version of this
program floating around, I can not cover
all the answers here. If you do not know
the answer to a question, try pressing
enter. Here is a list of typical answers.
b> Drive Interleaf - 3
c> Dynamically configuring - NO
d> Virtually configuring - NO
e> Number of heads - 4 (Seagate ST-225,238)
f> Number of Cylinders - 613 (Seagate
ST225,238)
1> Other types of drive may have a
different number of heads and cylinders.
If you are asked to give this info it is
important to get it right.
2> Do not worry about the list of errors
that may appear on the label of your
disk drive. Dos will find them and
handle them automatically.
3) If all has gone well so far, the drive should
begin to initialize (low level format). It
should take 20 minutes to 1 hour depending on
the number of errors encountered. A message
will appear when the process is over. An old
drive in bad condition can take all day.
4) If you cannot get this far, check your cables
and try again. If you have tried every
possible cable connection and you still cannot
get this far, get help.
2. How to partition your disk.
a) You cannot do this until you have completed the
Low Level Format. The partition defines how the
disk will be used and in some circumstances
allows you to devide the disk into different
parts for different purposes. All you need to
know for now is that you MUST partition your disk.
b) Boot the computer using the DOS disk in drive A.
c) Type FDISK and press enter. A program should
appear with only four options on a menu. (Usually)
d) Select the option that says "Create DOS
partition". If other questions are asked, just
press enter. The computer may reboot when you
select this option. Don't worry, your partition
has been prepared. If the computer does not
re-boot, select the option that "Exits" the
program.
e) After the computer re-boots, you are ready for
the last step.
3. How to prepare (format) your hard disk partition.
a) This is the easy step. It is just like
formatting a floppy disk except it takes longer.
b) Boot the computer using a floppy DOS disk in
drive A.
c) Type FORMAT C:/S/V and press enter.
1) The format program file must be on the dos
disk or this will not work. If you get the
message "bad command or file" then the program
is not there...find a copy of it.
2) You will be asked to enter a "Volumn Label" of
11 characters or less. Use your name or
whatever. This is caused by the /V switch in
the command above.
3) The disk will begin to format...it may take 10
to 20 minutes. When done, you may see a
little report stating the disk size, the
amount of space used, the amount available for
use, and the amount of errors. Don't worry
about the errors, all disks have them and DOS
skips over them.
D. You may now use the hard disk.
1. To test it, remove the floppy disk and reboot the
computer. If all went well with the installation, the
computer should boot from the hard disk and a "C:"
prompt should appear on the screen. If you get an
error message, repeat step C. above and work
backward from there if necessary.
2. Doing all of the above is tedious and sometimes
frustrating but it can be done, keep at it. If you
can master this procedure, you will know more than
most folks that use computers.
3. When putting programs and information onto your hard
disk, do yourself a favor and organize it well.
a) Don't put everything in the "root" directory.
Sometimes called the "boot" directory or the
"main" directory.
b) A hard disk is like a house will an unlimited
number of rooms. The "root directory" is the
main room. To get there you type CD\ and press
enter.
c) Make Sub-Directories for your programs and files.
1) The command MD\SOMENAME will make a sub
directory called "somename".
2) The command CD\SOMENAME will change to that
sub-directory.
3) The command PROMPT $P$G will tell you where
you are at all times.
4) The command COPY A:*.* C:\SOMENAME will copy
the contents of drive "A" to the sub-directory
called "somename".
5) Use your own names in place of "somename" of
course.
6) Don't be a program hog and slop every thing
you can get your hands on into your hard disk.
E. GOOD LUCK
PFS FIRST PUBLISHER
by Jim Lambdin
When recently buying a new computer, which I will pick apart
later, I received a promotion package which included PFS
First Publisher. The program quickly obtained my full
attention.
PFS First Publisher gives you a quick, easy, and fun
introduction to desktop publishing. You can create
newsletters, flyers and many other short publications without
a lot of complicated procedures. Better still the need of
detailed preparation is limited. You can switch from graphics
to text quickly and easily. Changing fonts and size,
baselines and art is only a mouse click. The only thing not
readily at hand is imagination.
PFS First Publisher lets you combine text and graphics on a
page in a variety of formats. You can format text in up to
four columns and add professionally drawn graphics from its
art collection. The original program contains a combination
of 8 fonts in 3 to 5 point sizes each. Also included are over
150 art files. More art and fonts are available in a
separate package.
Of all the PFS software that I have seen, PFS First Publisher
is by far the most productive.
There are some features that the larger publishers (Aldus,
etc.) offer, such as the need of MS 286 Windows and extended
memory just to run them. But these are not needed with PFS
First Publisher. We don't even have to hold that heavy manual
in our lap all the time.
PFS First Publisher supports many graphic forms. MAC, PCX,
and it has its own art capture program (SNAPSHOT). With
snapshot you can capture your favorite .GIF file off screen
and add it to your publication. Snapshot can capture almost
anything that is viewed on screen, making your art files
virtually endless.
There are quirks however to Snapshot/Snap2art;
1 Snapshot can take only one snapshot at a time.
2 You must exit and run Snap2art before you use
snapshot the second time.
3 Snapshot captures art that is on screen in
compressed form and you need to use the First
Publisher art resize command before printing. First
Publisher does provide on screen rulers and full
page view to aid this procedure. As a thumb rule the
picture width is divided by 2 or the length doubled.
4 Art capture of .GIF must be in your lowest video
mode. Force CGA mode.
If you need a Desktop Publisher or just want to add your own
flair and style to letters and reports. This program is worth
its meager investment. With this product PFS has improved
their software line.
Rating ****
BANNERMANIA
a Terrific Banner Making Program
by David N. Hoshor
BannerMania is one of the slickest programs I have seen for
an IBM computer. BannerMania lets absolutely anyone make
professional looking banners in just minutes. After opening
the BannerMania box, I was able to make very acceptable
looking banners without even reading the manual. BannerMania
is a breeze to use.
I hardly know where to start describing BannerMania.
BannerMania lets you choose from nineteen different fonts,
thirty-four different effects, twenty-seven different shapes,
and a multitude of different shading or colors. BannerMania
supports dozens of printers including color printers. It
smoothly integrates mouse control into the program.
One of BannerMania's neatest features is that it always shows
a miniature version of the banner you are designing on the
screen. Each change you make is immediately apparent to you.
The screen even shows the perforations in the paper so you
have an idea of how long the finished banner is going to be.
Before committing your banner to paper, BannerMania allows
you to preview a large version of your banner on the screen.
The preview is really amazing! It shows your banner
completely as you'd see it on paper even to the point of
having the tractor perfs on the edges of the paper.
If you run out of ideas for a banner, BannerMania will even
create banners for you. With it's "transmogrify" mode, you
just type a message, choose a font, and turn BannerMania
loose. BannerMania will produce a huge array of
permutations of your original banner. It will change the
shape of your message into comets, ribbons, and undulating
waves, show the letters with different shadings and shadows,
put the letters in balloons, change the margin
justifications, just an endless parade of ideas. Some of
these computer generated banners are laughably hideous, but
many of them will look good, or at least show a spark of
promise. When you see one you like, you can stop the
transmogrification, and either print it, or edit the banner a
little to punch it up.
BannerMania will work on most graphic monitors, but when I
tried it out in the CGA mode, the results were far less
impressive than when run in EGA. In the EGA mode,
BannerMania uses a 43 line display, and the previews of the
banners are excellent. BannerMania can also reverse your
banner so you can make iron on messages for tee shirts. The
BannerMania documentation tells you where you can get special
ribbons for making iron on transfers. My only complaint
about BannerMania is that is has very limited graphics such
as hearts, arrows, and pointing fingers.
BannerMania lists for $35 and I got my copy for $25 at a
local software store. On a scale of one to five,
BannerMania rates a five and a half.
MULTIBAK 2.3
by Ron Alcorn
Before I start, I'd like to thank Gilbert Shapiro for sending
his program in for ZIP Magazine to review.
Multibak is a multiple generation file backup utility. It's
a very simple program, yet it is much easier to use than if
you chose the DOS method.
This program comes in handy for those people who's data is
money or very valuable time. For instance, programmers and
business people fall in to this category. Also those people
that say safety comes first, which is really a good idea, may
consider usage of this program too.
The author releases Multibak as a free program. But if you
send in $20 bucks, you'll get memory resident versions of
Multibak, plus two additional utilities that give you more
flexibility and cleaner control over your backup files.
Included in this free package, is a COPY backup program,
RENAME backup program, and a PURGE program to get rid of
unwanted backups. The COPY and RENAME programs are almost
identical. Just like DOS, the RENAME doesn't work across
drives, and COPY does. There a few other differences between
COPY and RENAME, but none of great importance.
There isn't much to say about the program, because it does
what it does, nothing more, and nothing less. Anyway, here
is a brief description of what the program does.
Say you create your original file, then you take Multibak and
have it backed up. If you call your file, WORK.LST, the
backup will be called WORK.L01, and then when you use
Multibak again, the next backup will be called WORK.L02, and
so on and so on. The highest number will always be the
latest version of your file. Simple, but effective when
safety plays an important role.
Multibak gives you options to save your data to another drive
and/or directory, and set the most amount of backups you can
have. Multibak has a limit of 99 file backups per file.
The PURGE program just lets you delete a specified range of
backups by number. Again, this method is much easier than
the string of DOS commands you would have to type in.
You can use Multibak at the DOS level, a DOS shell command in
your program, or a DOS command line in your program. If your
program has macro or script functions, you can make Multibak
easier to use.
I have few gripes with Multibak, but then if I needed
Multibak, I may not have any gripes. Well I may as well tell
you what they are huh? Mainly it's the documentation, it's
understandable, but would be better if it was formatted for
printing and got quicker to the point being discussed.
The only other improvement that I have, not knowing how the
TSR version works, is it would be nice to pop up Multibak on
the screen and have it know what file to backup automatically
as soon as it was saved. What I have in mind, is for
Multibak to monitor "disk writing" operations and get the
file name being written to, and then pop up automatically,
and ask if you want this file backed up. But have a hot key
to toggle the automatic function on or off.
This feature would be nice, although it may be extremely hard
to implement to Multibak.
Rating: ***
TELEMATE 1.20
by W.H. Lambdin
Telemate 1.2 is one AWESOME terminal program. It is written
by Mr. David Wu. The address is:
Mr. Tsung Hu
C/O. Mr. David Wu
P.O. Box 1223
Belle River, Ontario
N0R 1A0.
The author asks that you send a donation of $50 in U.S
currency, or $60 canadian currency if you continue to use
Telemate. There are price breaks if you order more than 10
copies. For the rates, or site license information, please
refer to the ducumentation.
It is very easy to set up, and configure Telemate. Run the
TMINST.EXE file. This program will come up in black and
white, with a box of options on the left of the screen. After
you configure Telemate with the baud rate, com port, color
choices, etc., save the configuration. You are now ready to
load TM.EXE.
After you get into terminal mode, you will see some pull down
menus at the top of the screen. In the upper right corner of
the screen, you will notice two clocks. The one in the
brackets [] is the amount of time you have been online. The
other clock is the actual time.
Telemate supports the following protocols:
Zmodem
SEAlink
Telink
Ymodem
Ymodem-G
Xmodem
Modem7
Relaxed Xmodem
ASCII
CIS Quick B
Kermit
It is very easy to add up to a maxinum of 4 additional
extrernal protocols.
When you run TeleMate for the first time, you will notice
quite a few features you won't see in just any terminal
program. Telemate offers multitasking. While I am writing
this review, I am uploading Telemate to a friend's BBS, and
viewing the documentation of Telemate, all at the same time.
Telemate has a fair text editor, and a real nice text viewer.
There is no loss in efficiency. My text isn't bogging down,
and I am averaging 233 CPS on the upload of Telemate. I am
not about to trade in Galaxy, but the text editor built into
Telemate lets me write letters, reviews, etc while my modem
is busy with a transfer.
Telemate has complete support for mice. It supports Mouse
System's mice, or the Microsoft standard. Changing windows is
very simple, move the mouse cursor to the window you want
active, and click the left button. To close a window, click
the right button. Very simple to operate. I have tried almost
every terminal package on the ShareWare Market, but Telemate
even blows away my favorite terminal program (Telix).
Believe it or not, this is my first time to use Telemate. A
friend of mine was telling me about Telemate just earlier
today, and when he said it had multitaskig capabilities, I
just had to see it to believe it.
Telemate offers several different display options. Telemate
supports CGA - VGA. You can set CGA for 25 to 32 rows of text
on the screeen. Telemate also suppots 43 line EGA, and 50
line VGA.
In using Telemate, this one time, I have to say I have
finally found a terminal program that I like better than
Telix. I know that I should wait till I am comfortable with
Telemate, but the ZIP deadline is coming up, and I want to
get the word out about this fantastic terminal program.
I know that some will find this review hard to believe, but
in my opinion, Telemate is SUPER!
Rating *****
INSTALLING A SOTA 286I ACCELERATOR CARD
in an IBM XT Turbo Clone
by David N. Hoshor
In a quest for higher speed from my XT clone, I decided to
install a 286 accelerator card. I chose the Sota 286i based
on a couple of reviews I saw in popular computer magazines.
After going through the installation process and fine tuning
my computer around the card, I can shed some light on the
pleasures and problems that you may encounter if you add an
accelerator card in your computer.
Features:
The Sota 286i uses a 80286 chip running at 12.5 MHz, but it
retains the original microprocessor chip, so you can reboot
your computer in the native 8088 mode with a flip of the
switch. The switch is on the back edge of the card,
accessible just by reaching behind the computer. In most
cases, you will want to stay in the 286 mode, but it is
comforting to know that you can always go back to the
original chip if you run into some software incompatibility.
The Sota 286i is a half length card.
A 16K cache of 16 bit high speed static memory comes on the
board, and is expandable to 64K. The card also has a 16 bit
local bus expander that allows adding other Sota products
such as a memory expander card, and high density floppy disk
interface. Driver software comes with the disk to enable
memory caching, hard disk caching, and printer spooling.
Sota claims its card is compatible with XT clones working at
clock rates up to 10 MHz, but my experience didn't bear this
out.
Installation:
Installing the Sota 286i is easy. You remove the original
microprocessor and insert it into a socket on the Sota card.
A ribbon cable connects the socket on the motherboard to the
Sota card. The biggest problems were removing the old chip
and trying the fold the ribbon cable neatly within the case.
After rebooting the computer, you must change the config.sys
file to load the Sota memory caching software. Without the
driver, there is no improvement in system performance.
Operation:
The Sota 286i did speed up my computer. After fine tuning
the installation, programs typically ran from two to six
times faster. There is quite a bit of variation depending on
the program. Here are some typical results:
Action 8 MHz XT Sota 286i
Loading XyWrite III+ 15 sec. 12 sec.
Compiling and linking about 2:06 min. 1:23 min.
10,000 lines with Turbo C
Extracting 258 lharc's files 9:04 min. 4:04 min.
Getting to the first screen 48 sec. 9 sec.
of Arkanoid II to start
play.
Updating the screen of 21 sec. 3 sec.
GEOEGA, a world clock.
Grammar checking a draft of 1:22 min. 33 sec.
this article.
There was no disk caching used for these tests; only the
memory caching defaults of the Sota driver.
PC Tools' System Information command returned a figure of
675% of the speed of the IBM XT as the speed with the 286i
card active. Running my computer at 8 MHz, I get a figure of
180% on the 8088. Pop-up DOS returned a speed 11.3 times
faster than the XT. I feel that the PC Tools number is more
realistic.
The degree of speed up seems to depend mostly on how much
disk activity there is. If the program is already in memory,
the accelerator has the most pronouced effect. The Sota 286i
improves disk activity only slightly, if at all.
Overall, I have noticed that screens change much faster when
editing files, and that games seem to play better.
Fine Tuning:
I had some unexpected side effects from installing the Sota
286i in my computer that took a little while to fix.
The computer booted after installing the Sota 286i, but I had
trouble running many larger programs when I first installed
the card. Programs would hang in the middle of loading. I
found that by setting the speed of the motherboard to 4.77
MHz, programs would load and run flawlessly. I checked with
Sota, and they told me that this is normal on some turbo
clones, despite their claim of compatibility with 10 MHz
clones. By adding a command in my autoexec.bat file to
throttle down the clock speed on boot up, everything works
fine. I tried running the PC Tools' System information
command at 8 MHz on the 286i, and it reported 725% of the
speed of an XT. The penalty for using the 4.77 MHz clock
speed of the motherboard is a small one.
I also noted that some programs loaded considerably slower
than in the 8 MHz XT mode. At first I blamed this on the
slower clock speed, but some files were really pokey
loading. I checked the hard disk interleave on my drive and
found that with the Sota 286i installed, the proper
interleave rose from 4:1 to 5:1. Using Spinrite, I did a
dynamic low level format on my hard drive, and files loaded
quickly again.
Recommendations:
The Sota 286i works, and does improve the performance of an
XT type machine to near that of an AT. However, at $299, the
board isn't cheap, and you may have to compromise on the
loading speed and the clock speed of your machine. A new AT
motherboard may be a better alternative for many XT owners,
particularly if you can reuse the memory and some of the
parts from your XT board.
In my case, the memory chips in my computer are soldered in
place, and the serial and parallel ports are built onto the
motherboard. I also like my computer's small footprint case.
The Sota 286i is a good upgrade for me, but your equipment
may make a new motherboard a better choice.
I bought the Sota 286i from PC Connection of Marlow, N.H. for
$299. Their service was very fast. Their normal shipping
of only $3.00 was sent by Airborne Express. I had the card
in less than 48 hours from when I placed the order. PC
Connection's number is 1-800-243-8088.
Sota Technology can answer questions about the 286i's
compatibility in your machine. Sota Technology's number is
1- 800-237-1713
HOW TO RECEIVE SATELLITE DATA VIA THE C-SAT PAD SERVICE
by Darrel Toepfer
C-SAT Radio is a satellite audio service that is transmitted
on Spacenet 3 transponder 9. They are the main audio service
on the channel which is 6.8 mhz audio subcarrier. This video
transponder is home to WPIX. They are a VideoCipher II [r]
(VCII) scrambled SuperStation. If you have a VCII decoder it
must be disconnected or disabled to receive the audio
subcarriers.
The C-SAT Public Access Data Service is the fastest way for
listeners with personal computers to get hard copy of
information from the NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT database BBS system.
First off I assume that you own a satellite video receive
system. If you own one that receives signals with clear audio
heard through your television then it should be compatible.
All satellite receivers have an RCA audio output jack. Make a
cable to go from this jack to a (NON-TELCO CONNECTED)
standard RJ11 or RJ14 telephone jack. Connect the shield to
the green connector of this phone jack and connect the center
conductor to the red of this phone jack (polarity is not
critical). Now plug your modem into this PAD INTERFACE
(telephone jack). Now set your terminal program for N/8/1 and
program in the dialer directory for it to dial a 1. This is
for term programs that don't allow you to alternatly PICK UP
and HANG UP the modem. All PAD service broadcasts begin with
the appropriate baud rate carrier.
Some sample AT commands for smart modems:
CLEAR MODEM SETTINGS: AT & FZ
300 BAUD: AT X0 H1 AT X0 & C1 H1
1200 BAUD: AT X1 H1 AT X1 & L1 H1
2400 BAUD: AT X1 & L1 H1 AT X3 & L1 H1 O
These commands are followed with an ENTER or CARRIAGE
RETURN. This will configure your modem. When you hear the PAD
modem CARRIER then type an ATD for originate mode or an ATA
for an answer mode PAD. PAD's are sent in both modes but it
will be announced ahead of time which way it will be sent.
Be sure that your communications port is set for the baud
rate PAD that you wish to receive. The previous commands
work for ZOOM, SUPRA, & PRACTICAL PRERIPHERAL HAYES type
modems. The above or variations of the above should help you
if you don't have these modems.
PAD Schedule: Saturday 3:30pm est 300 baud occassionally a
short 2400 baud test follows Sunday 5:30pm est 1200 baud
Thursday 11:00pm est 300 or 1200 baud
Listen to the show or check the NWAF BBS for time and baud
updates or changes.
All PAD transmissions are usually 1 hour in length and
usually transmitted in 30k or less blocks. This allows for
easy recording and direct capture by the majority of
computers.
If you want to record the PAD's you can use either a video
cassette recorder ,a C90/C60 audio cassette, or a reel to
reel recorder. If you use the VCR you will have to run the
audio directly into the VCR and tune the VCR to a local TV
signal. This will give it a stable video signal. If you
tried to use the scrambled video from the satellite it will
cause audio interference.
I personally have no problems with the 300 baud taped PAD's,
but have not had much success with the 1200 and 2400 baud
ones. Generally the tape flutter causes interference. I have
heard that by using a HI-FI VCR you can overcome this problem
and get good 1200 and 2400 baud PAD recording. I have used
the Sony 8mm digital and had decent results with the 2400
baud tests. I most always work the PAD's live and this way
eliminate any loss or interference that might occur with
tapes. Unless you just want to read the data as it comes
across the screen then you will need to be able to do BUFFER
or LOG CAPTURES. This way when you see the data pause you can
save the data to disk if you have a fair- ly fast drive. Most
pauses are less than 2 minutes in length, so be quick. For
users with little computer memory or RAM it might be best
that you tape the PAD's to take full advantage of being able
to pause the tape player while you make your file saves. The
appropriate carrier is available during the text dump pauses.
This allows persons who run the PAD from tape to be able to
restart your modem. The previously mentioned modem strings
allow you to jump into the data without the carrier tone.
This way it is easy to restart your data capture should you
start late or start up without constant carrier being heard.
Some PAD's include telco dial tone which allows you to
connect by simply having your terminal program dial any
number. These modem strings strip the dial tone search and
dial commands and use lease line commands.
C-SAT is much more than just a way to receive computer data
from 23,000 miles in outerspace and not have to pay for the
phone call! They have informative talk shows that are
available 24 hours a day. They have a large and diverse
listener group that makes the shows vary greatly in content
and are rarely boring. If you would like to have your
messages transmitted on the PAD service, the NWAF BBS is
(213) 947-5307. Configuration N/8/1 300/1200/2400 baud.
C-SAT needs funding to pay for the telco charges to the
satellite uplink as well as the uplink charges. These
charges are in access of $10,000 per month. Anything you can
do to help offset this bill would be appreciated. After-all
this helps us to save money because we get data via
satellite, and the information transmitted is invaluable in
terms of the freedom of the airwaves. There is not an
alternative. And if you need computers and the supplies to
keep it going give Simon's Data a call at 1-800-2-SIMONS.
They are the ones who have paid the bills so far 100%.
Supporting them supports the PAD. Their phone numbers is
available 24 hours a day. Get their catalog today, and check
out the great deals, their prices even include shipping!
For more information call or write and include a SASE to:
C-SAT Broadcasting c/o Richard Gamberg
Simon's Data Services
225 W. Loockerman St.
Dover, Delaware 19901
(800) 688-CSAT Computer Information Line
(800) 274-6667 Sales/Orders
(302) 678-8941 Fax
There are several Satellite Information BBS's in operation
and I run one of them. Not only are we fighting for equal
access and fair pricing of satellite delivered programming.
But we want to compete head to head with cable oper- ators in
rate pricing. Think about it, satellite delivered
programming is the only competition that cable television has
because that is where they get it from too. Get in the fight,
even if you don't have a satellite dish you can help us to:
"TAKE A BITE OUT OF CABLE, THEIR PRICES ARE A CRIME." If you
operate a BBS add a consumer rights section to it. If your
not a SySop then you need to contact us so we can supply you
with the software to start one. Or you could talk to the
SySop of your favorite BBS and get him in the fight.
Darrel Toepfer
Toepfer's Electronics
Rt 2 Box 239
Eunice, Louisiana 70535
Voice (318) 546-0848
Data (318) 457-1538
Fax (318) 457-1410
Voice Mail Box Louisiana Toll Free (800) 633-7872
Tone Dial At Request 457-6186
We operate: Citizens
aLigned The CLRTV Network
foR Fighting For Fair Pricing
betTer And Equal Access To
teleVision Televised Programming
[r] VideoCipher II is a registered & copyrighted trademark
of: General Instruments Inc.
CALCSP
by W.H. Lambdin
Calcsp is written by John Moss of Burbank, California. The
author asks that you send $5 if you continue to use this
product. Mr Moss uploaded this utility to my BBS SnapShot
Express, for me to review in ZIP.
Calcsp is a little program that check's and reports the
amount of free space on drives C and above. This program does
it's job very quickly, and then reports the total amount of
free space on each drive.
This little program has one bug that I have been able to
find. If you have a floppy drive letter higher than C, and
the drive door is open, the program will crash.
If you are running low on hard disk space and only have two
floppies, this program will work perfectly for you. ***
PROGRAMMER'S CHALLENGE DEPARTMENT
As an editor of this magazine, I will be challenging you,
programmer or user, to make or find a program that is better
than one(s) I will be discussing. Usually I will only be
discussing one or two programs per issue. Reason being is
that I'll only be picking what I consider to be top quality
programs that are the best in their category.
Also you, as a programmer, are welcome to send in a challenge
yourself. If you write a program that you think is better
than anyone else's, send it to us along with an article, not
a document, about your program showing off its features so
that we can place it here in this department for others to
know about. This may help you make some money if your
program is Shareware, news can travel around pretty fast on
BBS's. Along with reception of your program and article, you
will get a reply from me in this department, whether it be
compliments, comments, suggestions, or criticism. So don't
complain about what I might say, because you can clearly see
what all possible statements can be made toward your program.
Remember, if you send in a program and article, it would seem
that you are confident in what you do. Also all statements
are toward your program, not you. I would not want to offend
any person and start a argument. Don't let these statements
scare you off, I'm not a bad guy, I just try to give public a
general view. Everything I will be saying will be my
opinions only, unless I actually run tests to get true
statistics about your program.
Reader's please send in your responses to me. Let me know if
you think my choices are good or bad. It doesn't matter to me
if you agree or dis-agree with me because everyone has their
own opinion.
DOORWAY 2.05
"Update"
by Ron Alcorn
Marshall Dudley has out done himself! He replied to the
"Programmer's Challenge" and out come out in front with a big
smile. Marshall was the first person brave enough to send in
a challenge, although he out did his own program. Real big
grin huh? Anyway, he lived up to his word. Doorway 2.05 is
much better than Doorway 2.04!
The first thing you will notice different about Doorway 2.05
when comparing it to Doorway 2.04 is speed! This new version
has increased text output speed by about 50 percent. The
only speed limitation of text output to the com port is the
baud rate itself, unless you have a horribly slow CPU. I
compared Doorway's ANSI conversion to that of a BBS, and
Doorway seemed just as fast, if not faster! Reckon I have
used enough of these exclamation points so far? I have good
reason for it don't I?
Another new feature is the ability to disable/trap a shell to
DOS. Useful in case you want a user to load a program, but
not have access to DOS via the program's DOS shell function.
There isn't much else to say about the new Doorway, other
than it has some minor bug fixes. Now really, isn't what
I've said about the speed increase enough? Well I sure do
know that it's more than enough to satisfy me!
Just call in to my ZIP BBS and grab a copy of DRWY205.ZIP and
give it a try.
Rating *****+
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: I am interested in building an MS-Dos computer. How
Should I go about obtaining the peices of hardware I need?
Jim Benfield.
A: Since you intend to assemble the computer yourself, I
would advise you to buy an issue of Computer Shopper. You
will find more ad's in there than you can imagine. When you
order your peripherals, order with a credit card or COD. This
way you can be protected in case something unfortunate
happens. Computer Shopper has a stringent rule of honesty of
it's advetisers, but you can never be too careful.
Q: I found ZIP on a local BBS, and I like it a lot. I
have three questions.
1. What caused you two to start ZIP magazine?
2. Why is it one ascii file?
3. Why is it on BBS's free to the public?
A: I am glad you like ZIP. Most of our readers like it.Like
you, I will break the answer into three segments.
1. I got tired to getting rejection notices when I
submitted my work to MS-Dos magazines.
2. It is an ascii file so anyone can enjoy this
magazine no matter what computer they have.
3. It is on BBS's because it is less expensive to
distribute that way, and people will download a
50K file on impulse.
BBS LISTING
201 471-6391 PASSAIC BBS. Baud 300 - 19,200 using Hayes
V-series. Storage unknown. Sysop James Roy.
207 374-2303 CELEBRATION SHOP. Baud 1200, soon to be 2400.
Storage unknown. Operates 24 hours a day, Sysop Paul
Stookey. #3 Neworld Square, Blue Hill Falls Maine, 04615.
Paul Stookey was Paul in the singing group {Peter, Paul,
and Mary.}
216 264-5116 <TRI>-<WAY> BBS. Baud 300 - 2400 24 hrs.
Running Wildcat 2.0 multinode. Storage 130 meg. Carrying
ZIP magazine. Over 500 files. Located in Wooster, Oh.
Sysop Dann Way
314 774-2736 The Waynesville BBS. Baud 300 - 2400. Running
Wildcat 1.13. with 104 meg. Sysop Raynond Andrell.
Specializes in FUN!!!
318 352-8311 Genesis BBS. Baud 300 - 2400. operating 24
hours a day. 65 meg storage. Sysop James Pottorff.
Genesis BBS is located in Natchitoches, LA.
318 457-1538 Toepfer's Electronics BBS. Baud 300-2400 Running
* M&M BBS on a C-64. 24 hours of operation. Free
Registration. Storage 2 meg. Files for C-64, and MS-DOS
computers. Member of KSAT QDP. Home BBS of Citizens
Aligned for Better Television. SYSOP Darrel Toepfer.
Located in Eunice, La.
416 751-6337 (Data on 20 Node RBBS Customized System) Operate
BBS under the name of THE TORUS SUPPORT NETWORK,
Division of PCanada Systems Inc. 3 Giabytes on-line
including 4 CD-ROM's and operate primary server under
Microsoft OS/2 base LAN Manager (330 megabyte Priam Main
Server on a 386 20 Mhz Acer platform). System Sysop is
Bob Eyer, and we are currently in our seventh year of
operation.
501 422-8777 The Personal Resource System. Baud 300 - 9600
with USR HST. 24 hours of operataion. Sysop Gary Funk.
No further information on this BBS is available at
present.
606 432-0879 STRAWBERRY PATCH. Baud 300 - 9600. Running PC
* Board on a 286 machine. storage 1000+ meg (with PC Sig
library on CD-ROM. Files for MS-DOS. No download ratio,
but uses a point system. 45 mins access on first call.
Sysop Terry West. Located in Pikeville, Ky.
606 789-3423 The AdventureComm BBS. Running RBBS 17. Baud
300 - 2400. Storage 20 meg soon to be 70 meg. Sysop
Charles Baldridge. Located in Paintsville, Ky. Has
Dungeons and Dragons, and TradeWars online games for
verified users.
606 843-9032 SnapShot Express. Baud 300 - 2400. Running
* TPBoard 6.0 on a 12 mhz AT clone. Storage 54 meg. This
BBS operates 24 hours a day. Files for IBM-DOS and
MS-DOS. Ratio 25 to 1. 1 hour access, and full priveliges
on first call. Sysop W.H. Lambdin. Ron Alcorn, John
Baker Del McPhetridge, and Robert Bullock co sysop's. I
am specializing in Graphics. So far, I have over 100 gif
pictures, and a few mac pictures. THis BBS only supports
the ZIP archives. We are located in East Bernstadt, Ky.
606 878-9500 ZIP BBS. Baud 1200 - 9600 using V.32 standard!
* Running TPBoard 6.0 on 12 Mhz AT machine. Storage 60
MEG. Files for MS-DOS. Download ratio 15 to 1. Full
access on first call, no registration hassles. Operates
from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M. (EST) 7 days a week. Sysop's Ron
Alcorn & W.H. Lambdin. Located in London, Ky.
609 327-5553 UNION LAKE BBS. Baud 300 - 2400. Running PC
* Board on an 8088 machine. Free Registration. Storage 94
meg. Sysop George Cuccia. Carries 29 mail conferences.
703 742-6279 CORVETTE DRIVERS. Baud 1200 - 19,200. Running PC
/ Board on a 386 machine. Storage unknown. Files for
MS-DOS Download ratio 25 to 1. 45 mins access on first
call. Sysop David Arline.
714 785-9176 THE SOLID ROCK (CACOL) BBS. Baud 1200 -2400
Running WildCat 1.13. 80 meg storage. Sysop Ron Hossack.
Christian oriented system and doors available.
802 748-8449 HILLTOPPER. Baud 300 - 2400. Running TPBoard
* 6.0 on a 16 mhz 80286 machine. Storage 146 meg.
FidoNet # 1:132/401.0 in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont. Sysop
Brian McQuade
802 888-7218 BEEHIVE. Baud 300 - 9600 with US Robotics HST
* Running PC-Board 12.1 on an 80286 machine. Storage 160
meg. Has quite a few forum's for writers, and items for
sale, etc. Has relay mail with Terry West's BBS
(Strawberry Patch). Files for MS-DOS. No download
ratio, but uses point system. 30 minutes access on first
Call. Sysop Helenmarie B. Robitille.
919 383-8707 Bull City BBS. Baud 300 - 2400. Running Wildcat
* 1.13 on an 8088 machine. Storage unknown. 24 hrs
operation. Sysop Roy & Shirley Gurley. This BBS has over
55 doors.
If you would like to post a BBS in ZIP, just write a message
to Ron Alcorn, or W.H. Lambdin on any of the BBS's with a *
or / under the area code.
When you post a BBS in ZIP, it will remain in the list until
you ask us to take it out, or the BBS goes down. You don't
have to continually inform us the BBS is still operational.
But if your BBS under goes some changes, then it's at your
advantage to let us know what's new.
The asterisks mean, that BBS will support the latest issue of
ZIP, and also accept submissions. The slash's mean, that BBS
will only have the latest issue of ZIP.
USERS GROUPS
É-----------------------------------------------------------»
| |
| B.G.A.M.U.G. |
| The Bowling Green Area MS-Dos Users Group |
| |
| BGAMUG meets the 4th Tuesday of the month in the library |
| of Bowling Green High School at 7:00pm. Beginning Dos |
| classes are being planned and will be held in the |
| Computer Science classroom of Bowling Green High School |
| on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. |
| |
| For more information contact: |
| |
| BGAMUG |
| P.O.Box 20384 |
| Bowling Green, KY |
| 42102 |
| |
È-----------------------------------------------------------¼
ZIP INFO
by W.H. Lambdin & Ron Alcorn
This is ZIP, a paperless magazine. All submissions will be
printed, unless you ask us not to. We will not modify any
text you submit except for spell checking. So views
expressed here do not necessarily reflect views of editors.
If you want to send us a submission, upload it to one of
BBS's with a * beside it. You can also send them to ZIP BBS
at (606) 878-9500, or SnapShot Express at (606) 843-9032.
When you upload a submission, use MAG as the extension. We
would appreciate it if all submissions were just ascii, and
margins set at 10 on left, and 10 on right. This isn't
demanded, it would just be easier on us. If you want to
submit programs you have written, send them along in an
archive with your text. We will check all programs and if
they prove to be unsuitable, we will reject them. (You know,
trojans, viruses, and other harmful programs).
If you submit a review, follow examples here. If you think
it is a very good program, rate it at 5 stars. If you think
it is of poor quality, then give it one star. If you think
it falls between grades, use a plus as this. ***+ This means
a rating of 3 1/2 stars, or a little better than average.
We will not make you run from place to place in order to read
one article. When we start an article, it will be printed in
it's entirety before another article will be started. All
advertisements will be found in back. I like to read articles
with as little trouble as necessary, and the same goes for
ad's. We will have advertisements, but the editors take no
responsibility in what you may see advertised, so buy at your
own risk.
ZIP is being written on an AT compatible, and a Tandy 1400LT
laptop using Galaxy 2.4. Galaxy is written by Omniverse
Incorporation. If you want to find a great Shareware word
processor, give Galaxy 2.4 a try. I liked it so much, I
registered my copy.
In order for this magazine to survive, it will need help from
it's readers. If you wish to correct us on something, or
write an article or review for ZIP, please send us your
responses. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If you
wish to reprint an article or review from ZIP, feel free to
use it any way you wish, we only request that you give author
credit, and report that article appeared in ZIP.
**** UPGRADES FOR OLDER COMPUTERS ****
If you have an older IBM PC/XT or compatible, chances
are you have wondered if you could speed up old reliable.
After all, computers are supposed to be fast and they are
supposed to increase our productivity! Somehow it just
doesn't seem very productive when you have to take a break
while computer slugs it out with a complex program.
Welcome to 1988 (soon to be 1989). There are ways to
upgrade your tired 8086 and 8088 machines and at a cost lower
then buying a new computer. Our company specializes in
selling upgrade boards and cards that can speed up almost any
IBM compatible computer to 12MHZ operating speed using Intel
80286 chip.
One product we are very excited about is Transformer
upgrade motherboard which replaces your old motherboard. It
comes in a PC and an XT version that operates at either 10 or
12 MHZ. PC has 5 expansion slots, 2 are 8 bit slots and 3
are 16 bit slots, XT version has 8 expansion slots, 4 are 8
bit slots and 4 are 16 bit slots. board will hold 1 megabyte
of RAM chips in several configurations that user can select.
It is hardware and software selectable between turbo speed
and slower speed that you are used to from your computer. So
if you need an excuse to take a break, slow machine down,
otherwise enjoy new speed performance available from
Transformer board.
If you don`t want to scrap your present computer but
you also don't want a new computer try upgrading your
computer and save some serious money. We have boards, they
are a good product and most important-they are fast!
Our company has upgrades for other computers as well,
if you own an AT&T 6300 or other brands we have an
accelerator card that will run your machine at same 12 MHZ
speed using Intel 80286 chip. Call us for all your upgrade
needs.
We have just added to our line of quality products
Peacock VGA board. It is made by same people that
manufacture Transformer board and it too is a quality
product. It comes with 512k of 80ns DRAM on board and will
operate in VGA mode as well as EGA,CGA,MDA, and Hercules
modes. It has good documentation for programmers among us as
well as device drivers and several utilities that will make
this card one to have.
Transformer board price... $480.00
Accelerator card price.... $450.00
Peacock VGA card...........$625.00
For other cards call us...........
CMW ENTERPRISES, INC.
3691 WOODHILL DRIVE SUITE 100
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32303
PHONE ( 904 ) 562-6140
