CompuNotes Notes from The Cutting Edge of Personal Computing September 19, 1998 Issue 130 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= To subscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@peach.ease.lsoft.com SUBSCRIBE COMPUNOTES-L FirstName LastName To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to listserv@peach.ease.lsoft.com SIGNOFF COMPUNOTES-L For Contact and Other Information See Bottom of Publication! +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= ************************** Get Paid to Surf the Net!* ******************************************************************** Get paid for using the Internet? With the MyPointsr Program you can! You earn Points in the MyPointsr Program for a wide variety of activities. Visiting a Web site, taking a survey, joining a program, or about anything. Points accumulate in your personal account and can be spent on travel, entertainment, merchandise, and more. And it's totally FREE to you! Sign up now and receive 100 FREE Points to get started! Click Here: http://www.get-it-for-free.com/compunotes/mypoints.htm ******************************************************************** CONTENTS My Notes: 1=> CompuNotes Notes, mailto:pgrote@i1.net 2=> This Issue's Winner! News: 3=> News of the Week, mailto:pgrote@i1.net Reviews: 4=> Product: Casino CD, Game Reviewed By: Robin Nobles, mailto:smslady@netdoor.com 5=> Product: Nascar 2, game Reviewed By: Rick Atkinson, mailto:ratkins@COMPDENT.COM 6=> Product: Now You're Cooking! Version 4.60, home Reviewed By: Robin Nobles, mailto:smslady@netdoor.com 7=> Product: Extensis PhotoTools(R) v2.0 (Mac) & v1.1 Windows Reviewed By: Howard Carson & James Todd (Chimera Graphics & DDT) mailto:lrhc@interlog.com 8=> Product: Designing & Implementing Microsoft Proxy Server, book Reviewed By: Don Hughes, mailto:dmha@on.aibn.com 9=> Product: QEMM 97, utility Reviewed By: Don Hughes, mailto:dmha@on.aibn.com 10=> Product: Special Edition, Using Microsoft Office Professional 97, book Reviewed By: Don Hughes, mailto:dmha@on.aibn.com --- BEGIN ISSUE 1=> CompuNotes Notes, mailto:pgrote@i1.net None this week. 2=> Winner! This week's winner: nsr@MBA.COM. 3=> News and Game Bits, mailto:pgrote@i1.net or mailto:dr2web@sprynet.com DVD in a Car . . . http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,26563,00.html?st.ne.fd.mdh Virtual Memory Blues . . . http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/stories/columns/0,4351,349450,00.html Microsoft May Split Next NT Release . . . http://www.crn.com/sections/news/808/808ntsplit.asp Stephen Case, AOL President or the $160 Million Man . . . http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,26532,00.html?st.ne.fd.mdh Women's Content on AOL . . . http://www.wired.com/news/news/culture/story/15090.html Using Your Spellchecker for the Truth . . . http://www.salonmagazine.com/21st/ Low End PCs Looking for an OS . . . http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19980918S0013 No Future for WebTV? http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB19980918S0007 4=> Product: Casino CD, Game Reviewed By: Robin Nobles, mailto:smslady@netdoor.com Requires: Windows: 386DX or higher PC; Win 3.1 or Win 95; VGA or SVGA; 4 MB of RAM; CD-ROM drive; 9 MB hard drive space; Windows-supported mouse. Macintosh: 68020 CPU or higher; system 7 or higher; 5 MB of RAM; CD-ROM drive; 9 MB hard drive space. MSRP: $19.99 Casino CD by Expert Software is a fast-paced casino game program that offers nine Vegas-style games in a learn-as-you-go atmosphere. Installation was simple. Then a screen popped up, asking for my name and giving me an initial bankroll of $1,000. I immediately chose to increase that dinky bankroll to $11,000. However, when I clicked through to play the game, the program kept crashing on me. I rebooted a few times, but the program continued to crash. So I visited Expert Software's website and went to their Technical Support area. The game's FAQ file suggested shutting down all of the running programs except Explorer and Systray by hitting Ctrl/Alt/Delete, which I did. After that, I was able to play the game and had no more problems with the program crashing. The program offers the following casino-type games: Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Slot Machines, PaiGow Poker, Video Poker, Keno, Baccarat, and Red Dog. The sound effects aren't overpowering, and you can even choose to turn them off, and the graphics are very realistic. Each game features a detailed Help file with an overview of that game, game rules, and strategies. I found these files very valuable, since I wasn't familiar with all of the games offered. You can also access the program's on-line manual, which is quite extensive. The tutorial literally walks you through each step of playing the games. If you know the rules of the game, playing is almost self-explanatory. To place a bet, you simply select a chip value, which goes from $1 to $500 increments, then position your pointer over the desired table area, and press the left mouse button. After placing your bet, you click on the cards or dice (depending on which game you're playing), and the game begins. The game keeps up with your bets, lets you know how much you've won or lost, then adds your winnings (or subtracts your losses!) from your overall account. Let's play Red Dog, a game that I found particularly fun. With Red Dog, you place a bet and two cards are dealt. You can choose to raise the bet at that point. You win when the value of the third card drawn is between the values of the first and second cards. If the first two cards are consecutive, the hand is a tie and you don't win or lose. If the first two cards are a pair, you can not raise your bet, and the computer immediately deals a third card. If it makes three-of-a-kind, you win. If it doesn't match, the hand is a tie. It's easy to learn and a lot of fun to play! Casino CD is an ideal "playground" for you to learn the rules and tricks of each game before visiting a "real" casino using "real" (and hard-earned) money. It's easy and stimulating enough for children to enjoy, yet challenging enough for true casino buffs. Not only that, it's highly addictive! Expert Software Casino CD Product Website: http://expertsoftware.com/casinocd2.htm 5=> Product: Nascar 2, game Reviewed By: Rick Atkinson, mailto:ratkins@COMPDENT.COM For those of you who have been waiting for a realistic NASCAR racing game, look no further. NASCAR 2 goes to painstakingly detail to recreate the experience. The game allows you to race individual tracks or, for the true diehards, the opportunity to compete in a full NASCAR racing season. Installation was a breeze. It uses the standard Sierra installation program for those of you who are familiar with other Sierra games. It test the hardware on your system, then installs the files to the system. I tested it on a Pentium 133mhz with 64 megs of RAM, a Matrox Millennium video card, and an AWE64 sound card. Additionally, I used a Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro Racing Wheel. The graphics are adequate. Given the current gaming competition, NASCAR 2 offers nothing new to the genre. That's not necessarily a bad thing. The graphics are good enough to make the game enjoyable. Great detail seems to be paid to the actual race cars. Unfortunately, it does not take advantage of a 3D card. Many of the details outside the track, such as the horizon, the stands, etc.. are somewhat dated in comparison to other racing games (MotoRacer, for instance) that do take advantage of a 3D card. This game has a zillion different options you can tweak to your heart's content. You can customize every feature of the car you race. Before beginning a race, you can open the 'Race Car Setup Development Sheet', which is a car lover's dream. Within this screen, you can do everything from adjusting the suspension to setting the stiffness of the shocks. I experimented by adjusting the gear ratios to give me faster acceleration in first gear. My adjustments seemed to put my car at a disadvantage, though. The car became difficult to control. My recommendation after experimenting with a few of the options is to just stick to the basic default settings. Though, given my knowledge of NASCAR is quite limited. The true car racing enthusiast might find this setup sheet quite useful, though. In addition to adjusting the mechanics of the car, you can also have your car painted to your specs. You can choose your favorite color, then add decals, logos, and a number. And if that is not enough, you can even paint the uniforms of the pit crew. As I said earlier, this game pays attention to detail! NASCAR2 comes with 28 different tracks. Being an Atlanta native, I preferred the Atlanta Motor Speedway. One nice feature is that you can adjust the length of the race by changing a percentage. For instance, setting the Daytona 500 to 10% changes the number of laps from 500 to 50 (it takes some endurance to go the full 500). You can even change it to 1% and take a quick 5 laps. Thus, if your racing time is limited, you can customize a track to fit your time schedule. Additionally, the weather can be modified to allow different wind and rain conditions which affect the track and visibility. Finally, a nice touch in the manual is after the description of each track, racer Bobby Labonte gives you some hints and insight into how to handle the track. Since this is an official NASCAR game, all the big NASCAR racing names are here including Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, even Dick Trickle. This helps add to the realism as their cars are identical to real life. Also, the driving styles of the computer drivers match their real life counterparts. With car racing games, it all comes down to how realistic and entertaining the actual game is. I tested the game with the Thrustmaster, a Gravis gamepad, and the keyboard. My conclusion is that you need the Thrustmaster, or at least a comparable steering wheel, to get the most out of NASCAR 2. The game pad proved quite difficult to control the car and the keyboard fared even worse. If you are going to invest in the game, then spend the money to purchase a quality steering wheel. As you would expect, you can play at many different levels. There is an arcade version as well as the super realistic version. I found the game most entertaining at the arcade level. I have never been particularly adept at racing games in the past. Therefore, I was quite impressed that I was able to get up to speed with the game. In no time, I was making respectable finishes. My brother, a game racing expert, also took it for a spin. He commented that it was too easy at the beginning levels and too difficult at the ultra realistic level. But, that's a good sign that the game is accessible to everyone. You want a game that you have to work at to improve. Otherwise, the game loses it's appeal. NASCAR 2 does allow multiplay through direct connection or a network. This gives you the option of racing head to head against friends. There is no indication of an Internet connection. This is a must buy for any serious racing fans. The attention to details and level of realism is amazing. For the casual game racing fan it does have appeal. Stick to the arcade levels, ignore all the endless settings you can tweak, and it's quite entertaining. The only drawback are the lack of 3D graphics. While the graphics are decent, there are racing games that have done a better job in the graphics department. NASCAR2 http://www.sierrasports.com/motorsports/index.html *************************** Money Magazine Free Offer!* ******************************************************************** Worried about the markets? Concerned about your retirement? Why not listen to the experts? Why not secure professional advice for free? FREE TRIAL ISSUE of Money Magazine! Your personal guide to a great future of Financial Success! This offer good only in U.S. and Canada. Click Here: http://www.get-it-for-free.com/compunotes/money.htm ******************************************************************** 6=> Product: Now You're Cooking! Version 4.60, home Reviewed By: Robin Nobles, mailto:smslady@netdoor.com Requires: Win 95, 3.11, 3.1x; VGA+ video driver; 7 MB hard disk space for files and 2.7K disk space per recipe; 1 MB RAM for program plus 2 MB RAM per 10,000 cookbook indexes; text editor. MSRP: For the full version: $27 to register and download over the Net; $36 to receive the manual and a floppy disk. What could be easier than managing your recipes on your computer? You can add new recipes, determine their nutritional analysis, develop a shopping list, and even keep track of coupons--all with Now You're Cooking! by Food-for-Thought Software. The program was simple to install with no problems. The registered version of the program allows you to upgrade to the latest version as new updates are available. I highly recommend ordering the floppy disk and owner's manual versus simply downloading the file over the Internet. The owner's manual is quite extensive and explains the software's concepts in great detail, and it's definitely worth the extra $9. Now You're Cooking! allows you to maintain as many cookbooks are you like. The program comes with 16 recipes, but you can import recipes into the program or enter your own. In fact, at the Food-for-Thought website, you can download a "gazillion" recipes to import into NYC. Importing recipes is a breeze. You simply click on File, Import, and then find the file you want to import. With just a few mouse strokes, the recipes are imported into your cookbook. A very nice function of the program is the ability to zip, or compress, your cookbooks to save disk space. When you want to unzip the recipes to utilize them, you click on Unzip and you're ready to go. The program also features a nutritional analysis of your recipes by simply clicking on Nutrition, then Analysis. Can't get much easier than that. As you work with your recipes, you'll build a "droplist" of popular ingredients, thus reducing your keystrokes as you add new recipes. As you begin typing an ingredient, for example, the program will search its droplist and make a "guess" of the ingredient you want to use so that you won't have to type the whole word. How many times have you wondered how a certain unit converted to another unit? Wonder no more with Now You're Cooking! Click on Shopping, then Conversions, and you'll find that 1 cup equals 48 teaspoons or 16 tablespoons, or 435 other conversion possibilities! If you're a coupon user, you can enter in your coupons along with their expiration dates, and the program will help you keep track of them. You can even enter in your favorite store's name, the aisle on which you can find certain items, and the price at that store. So, when the program is preparing your shopping list, it can even list the aisle for each item and the price! Whether you enjoy developing your own recipes, simply want an easier way of keeping track of your favorite ones, or whether you want to utilize a computer cookbook for the ease and efficiency it allows you, Now You're Cooking! is for you. I was very impressed with the program and it's myriad of features. It's simple to use, and the owner's manual offers tip after tip on getting the most out of the program. I highly recommend Now You're Cooking! for anyone who enjoys cooking or who wants to maintain his or her recipes in the easiest way possible. At the Now You're Cooking! website, you can download the full or lite version of the software for a free trial period of 60 days. Food-for-Thought Software Now You're Cooking! Product Website: http://www.ffts.com/ 7=> Product: Extensis PhotoTools(R) v2.0 (Mac) & v1.1 Windows Reviewed By: Howard Carson & James Todd (Chimera Graphics & DDT) mailto:lrhc@interlog.com Requires: Windows 95, 98 or NT4, Macintosh System 7.5 or later, CD-ROM drive, SVGA video, Adobe PhotoShop(R) v3.0 or later. MSRP: US$129.95 Extensis PhotoTools for Windows is a collection of eight powerful productivity and everyday effects tools for Adobe PhotoShop(R) 3.x, 4.x and 5.x. PhotoTools includes a powerful WYSIWYG text formatting module for creating and modifying type at the character level, and four modules for automating the creation of commonly used special effects. PhotoTools also includes customizable toolbars (PhotoBars), PhotoShop 3.0 and 4.0 Tips & Tricks by Deke McClelland, and Intellihance Lite - an RGB only version of Extensis' intelligent image enhancement tool. In the past decade of using DTP and photo editing software, the most important thing we've learned is that software design must strive for transparency. It should inspire and conspire with the user to get the task done. Truly great software is implemented elegantly and can be customized to a user's preferences. Extensis PhotoTools is one such product. Primary testing was done on a Pentium 166 with 128MB of RAM running Windows NT4 Service Pack 3. Secondary testing (mainly for assessing compatibility and speed differences) was performed on a Pentium 133 with 32MB of RAM running Windows 95, a Pentium 200MMX machine with 64MB of RAM and a 300MHz Pentium II with 128MB of RAM. All the machines were fitted with 4MB Matrox Millennium video cards. Too often, users suffer from mouse, arm, and shoulder aches after a session of digging around in PhotoShop's drop down menus. The PhotoBars plug-in tames PhotoShop by allowing the user to create an efficient and easy to use workspace within PhotoShop. Included with PhotoBars are some useful PhotoEffects plug-ins for creating text, casting shadows, beveling, embossing, applying glow and creating buttons for web design. These plug-ins are not as inspiring or as wild as some other third party plug-ins, but they get the job done by providing useful tools for creating commonly used photo effects. Using PhotoShop in a workmanlike environment or in an artistic manner, PhotoBars will increased your productivity. The plug-in will also make PhotoShop much more transparent and fluid for a variety of working styles. Repetitive tasks can often be the order of the day, while not being repetitive enough to use PhotoShop's Actions feature. By creating customized PhotoBars of these repetitive tasks, you'll be able bypass all the menu digging by simply clicking on a button or hitting a user-defined hot key. The process is simple and extremely flexible. You can create both Floating and Embedded Toolbars of buttons which give you instant access to every menu item or keyboard command in PhotoShop. A typical setup could include a standard top tool bar (an embedded toolbar that is attached to the top side of the window beneath the drop down menus.) This toolbar is perfect for accessing common tasks and for creating shortcuts to the drop down menu flyouts. The floating toolbars (which can be saved as part of an image file you're working on), are great for creating custom palettes for any specialized actions you require. In the assembly line digital workshops of today, this product is a tremendous asset which increases productivity. Adobe is continually moving items in drop menus and continually changing hot keys; it's another reason you need PhotoBars. Perhaps Adobe doesn't realize how incredibly frustrating it is for users to abandon old habits and relearn new ones to accommodate every release of PhotoShop. The PhotoText and PhotoEffects plug-ins feature easy to use, flexible interfaces, and do pretty much what you would expect from them. With PhotoText you have great control over traditional type manipulation such as kerning, spacing, leading, sizing and alignment, all from within PhotoShop. Be forewarned that on older machines, circa 1996, this plug-in and some of the PhotoEffects Plug-ins can be incredibly slow. The PhotoEffects include PhotoCastShadow, PhotoBevel, PhotoEmboss, PhotoGlow and PhotoButton. These plug-ins are both predictable and familiar. They do what their names imply and provide easy to use interfaces with traditional controls for achieving particular effects which are extremely useful, functional and well implemented. The Extensis PhotoTools package is highly recommended. PhotoBars turns PhotoShop into a customizable workspace that becomes transparent to the user. This plug-in alone is worth the price of the CD. Extensis Corporation PhotoTools 1.1 for Windows 95, 98 and NT4 and v2.0 for Mac Product Web site: http://www.extensis.com/products/PhotoTools/ ******************************** Free Small Business Newsletter!* ****************************************************************** SMARTBIZ NEWS E-Mail Newsletter - - What Is It? It's a newsletter filled with a wealth of valuable info to help you in every aspect of your job. Whether you own the company or just started working for it, SMARTBIZ.COM NEWS has something for you. You may not use everything but you're sure to find lots of valuable information in every issue. Subscribe now! It's FREE! Click Here: http://www.get-it-for-free.com/compunotes/smartbiz.htm ****************************************************************** 8=> Designing & Implementing Microsoft Proxy Server, book Reviewed By: Don Hughes, mailto:dmha@on.aibn.com MSRP: $39.99 USA / $56.95 CAN Designing & Implementing Microsoft Proxy Server is a two hundred and forty-three page guide on how to install, configure, and maintain your own proxy server. Microsoft's Proxy server is designed for small business, looking for a low cost way to have an Internet presence. A Valid subnet connection may take months to acquire and needs a hefty investment in hardware, plus monthly connection charges of $1000.00 or more. A standard single modem or ISDN connection ranges from $20 to $70 plus any metered charges, and about $300.00 in total hardware costs. The small business or individual using proxy server and NT could LAN access to the Internet using a single dialup link. The business using proxy server can also have better control over the type and amount of access each workstation has, and providing better security. The UNIX world has enjoyed for some time now the ability to use proxy servers. Microsoft's Proxy Server is the company's first attempt at creating this type of server for an NT operating environment. The book author, David Wolfe does an excellent job of explaining what a proxy server is: ...Actual definition of a proxy server is a server that performs an action for another computer that cannot perform the action by itself. A real world analogy for a proxy server can been seen at high-priced art auctions...bidders do not attend the auction themselves...the actual bidders are the proxies for the real buyers. In the world of computers and the Internet, workstations behind the proxy do not have a valid Internet connections and therefore cannot talk to the Internet on their own... The proxy sits at the juncture of the Internet and the local LAN connection. There are in the book, five parts, containing thirteen chapters, and appendixes A & B. The chapter topics are: Proxy Server Overview, Proxy Server IIS and Windows NT, System Requirements and Preparation for Proxy Server, Planning Your Installation and Configuration, Installing Proxy Server, Configuring Proxy Server, Configuring NT Security for an Open Environment, Configuring Proxy Server Security and Authentication, Concepts and Realities of Name Resolution with Proxy Server, Proxy Server Performance Issues, Proxy Server and Client Applications, Controlling the Proxy Server Cache, Monitoring Proxy Server Directly and via SMNP. The Appendixes A & B cover Troubleshooting and Auto Dial. David Wolf's book "Designing & Implementing Microsoft Proxy Server" is no nonsense hand on tool to help anyone setup and maintain a proxy server. The book is well written and the author has taken great pains to explain the subject matter in plain English. An added bonus are the many screen shots and graphics throughout to guide the user. If you or your company is thinking about setting up a proxy server, then this is necessary book, which will make the process easier. Designing & Implementing Microsoft Proxy Server By David Wolfe Publisher Sams Net http://www.mcp.com/publishers/sams/catalog 9=> QEMM 97, utility Reviewed By: Don Hughes, mailto:dmha@on.aibn.com Requirements: IBM PC or compatible and a Intel CPU, VGA Monitor, CD-ROM, 8 MB of free space on the hard drive, a 486-DX2/66MHz or higher 16 MB RAM, Windows 95. A 386 and higher CPU, 2-- 8 MB of ram for DOS or Windows 3.1 Price $69.95 US (Quarterdeck on-line store) I tested QEMM 97 on our 486 DX 100MHz, computer, with 16 MB of ram, ATI graphics card, and a svga monitor running at 800 x 600 resolution. Install time from start to finish was 14 minutes, including time needed to optimize memory. However, I should note I backed up the win.ini, system.ini and the Windows 95 registry files System.dat, and user.dat, before I attempted to install QEMM 97--better safe then sorry. Quarterdeck states that QEMM97 can: ...Reclaim under-used memory, streamlines your system for more memory, and boosts your performance, QEMM 97 picks up where Windows 95's memory manager leaves off, unleashing the full power of your memory. As you use your PC, Windows 95 swaps and scatters your memory all over, slowing you down to a crawl...QEMM 97's finds and organizes your mixed-up memory, to dramatically increase Windows 95 application performance...Unlike some other memory maximizers, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to put QEMM 97's advanced memory management to work for you. QEMM 97 is fully automatic. There's no complicated installation or configuration to hassle with. QEMM 97's Optimize reviews your system's setup then configures itself, making more memory available to your applications. It is that easy. Could it be just that easy to run QEMM 97 and install the software, without being a computer nerd or "rocket scientist"? In a one simple one word answer, yes. The new QEMM 97 is easy to install, and all one has to do is follow the screen prompts. One of the first things QEMM does is to copy Adobe reader to your hard drive; this allows you to access the CD-ROM's technical documents, which are in PDF format. Next, the program asked me if I wanted to remove "Himem.sys" from my config.sys file and the program replace it with Quarterdecks version. I had chosen the "express" installation to see how much more memory QEMM would free up on the 486 system. Before the installation of QEMM 97, I checked the memory used at the DOS prompt, using MEM command. Before QEMM was installed, the memory was: Conventional Total: 637K Used:43K Free: 594K Upper memory Total:75K Used:66K Free:8K Extended Total: 15,997K Used: 611K Free: 15,386K ------------------------------------------- After QEMM Installed Conventional Total: 637K Used:38K Free: 599K Upper memory Total:141K Used:56K Free:85K Extended Total: 15,997K Used: 400K Free: 15,597K Once QEMM had completed it "Optimize" of the computer memory, the program then displayed the following data on the conventional memory: After Optimize 618K Before Optimize 614K Conventional gain 4K I had also clocked the start time for Windows 95, from a cold boot, until the hour glass disappeared and all icons were on screen: Before QEMM 1: 55 sec, After QEMM 2:05 sec. This time of two minutes and five seconds caught me by surprise, as I thought it would have booted faster with QEMM installed. The "QuickBoot" feature of QEMM 97 only works when you do a warm boot of the system. Although I had not timed a warm boot-up of the system, before installing QEMM, I noticed it was faster when I exited from DOS, and returned to windows. Readers of this review, will look at the 4K-memory gain, and wonder if QEMM 97 is worth buying, if the actual gain is so small? In all fairness to Quarterdeck, I have spent many years tweaking computer systems to gain every drop of memory available for a system and so this computer was already to the max--memory chips used to be very expensive. I thought I was good, but Quarterdeck has always been a leader in memory management managed to get more memory. In addition, some of the techniques I learned over the years came from using QEMM, and reading Quarterdecks technical information. QEMM 97 has many new features that make using the program for anyone an easy task: The new QEMM 97: * Reclaims under-used memory * Applications run up to 30% faster! * Turbo Load II speeds loading of 32-bit applications by up to 60% * Intuitive user interface shows how much memory and time saved * Run DOS programs and games from the Windows 95 desktop with the full memory maximizing benefits of QEMM 97 * Update-It automatically updates QEMM 97 over the Internet. Once installed the end user can click on the "QEMM Control Panel" and see graphic display is the program memory management--a nice feature. Quarterdeck also added four buttons to the display that the user can click on to: get more DETAILS of memory management, UPDATE-IT to update the program automatically over the internet, OPTIMIZE to fine tune memory, MANIFEST shows the user information about the computer system and gives recommendations of how to tweak the system even more. No doubt about, Quarterdeck's QEMM 97 will give you that extra bit of memory your software might require. QEMM 97 also contains a wealth of information on memory management, and is an excellent resource for anyone. It is fast and easy to install--but does not auto-play. QEMM has built in options that allow the user to define how the memory is to be used, and guides one though the process with the click of a mouse. QEMM works with disk compression software such as; Stacker, DriveSpace, DoubleSpace, SuperStor and SuperStor Pro. If you are running multiple boot configuration (DOS 6.X and up), QEMM's install will show you the batch file list and asked which one you wish to modify. During my testing QEMM 97 was a real performer, and worked exactly as Quarterdeck declared. Although the start time for Windows 95 was longer with QEMM, then without, I gained on warm boot speed and also executing speed of applications. If you are having problems managing memory in, DOS, Windows 3.X, or Windows 95, you should try QEMM 97. Quarterdeck Corporation http://www.qdeck.com/qdeck/products/qemm/ ************************************* The Best Business Magazine for Free!* ******************************************************************** Fast Company Magazine - - A special, exceptional Internet offer from the magazine that gives you the resources to help you work: more creatively, productively and profitably. Get a FREE trial issue of Fast Company! Click Here: http://www.get-it-for-free.com/compunotes/fastco.htm ******************************************************************** 10=> Product: Special Edition, Using Microsoft Office Professional 97, book Reviewed By: Don Hughes, mailto:dmha@on.aibn.com MSRP: $39.99 USA / $56.95 CAN. In their new book "Using Microsoft office Professional 97," the Que. Corporation continues their fine tradition of publishing high quality easy to use guides for the world wide computer industry. The book is a heavy weight containing over one thousand, twelve hundred and thirty four pages, and designed to be use as a desktop reference. Que.'s "Using Microsoft Office Professional 97" is broken into eight chapters: Features You'll Only need to learn Once, Using Word, Using Excel, Using Multimedia in Microsoft Office, Using Power Point, Using Access, Inter-grating Microsoft Office Applications, Internets-Intranets-and Workgroups. Large as this book is there are hundreds of illustrations throughout that assist the reader in mastering the new Microsoft Office Professional 97. The authors cleverly use conventions in the margin to aid the reader such as: A price tag (the best of 97) so one can quickly see the new office 97 features, NOTE-paragraph format that indicates addition information to avoid problems, TIP paragraph format to suggest methods of executing a procedure, CAUTION a paragraph format warns the reader of hazardous procedure such as delete, TROUBLESHOOTING-anticipate common problems and the provide you with practical solutions. Using Microsoft Office 97 is not intended to be an instruction manual for Windows 95 guide "This book assumes that you are familiar with Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT but not familiar with all the applications in the Office suite." The leading software vendors, Microsoft, Corel, Lotus, have placed their core programs, word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation products into multi-packages or suites. Contained within the Microsoft Office Professional 97 software suite are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Bookshelf Basics, Office assistant, and Office Binder. Microsoft in Office 95 offered an application called "Schedule+" which was an appointment, to-do list, and scheduling manager. Office 97 takes the organizational day-planner into the 90s with the addition of features such as: unified e-mail address list, fax numbers for quick faxing, message management, calendar planning, meeting scheduling, to-do list management, and note taking. The authors have done an excellent task in the chapter "What's New with Office 97," explaining each of this suites new features per section--word, excel, access, etc. The reader who is already familiar with the many functions of the early version of office will find this chapter an invaluable resource. As in all of Que.'s books on Microsoft Office the basics of naming and saving files, changing the font, size, type, and page layout are covered in great detail and with screen shots to guide you. An example of the best of 97 (price tag type logo) Note: Another form of highlighting is adding Text Borders. With Word 97, you can apply borders to selected text just as you do paragraphs or tables. First, select the text; then, use the Borders tool on the formatting toolbar to apply the border. You can also use the Format; Borders and Shading command to see all the new borders you can chose from. For more information on applying borders, see chapter 11, "Working with Tables & Borders." Another example of how the authors anticipate and explain problems one can encounter are covered by Troubleshooting tips: I have changed the font, font size, font style, and alignment of the selected text, and now I want to change the text back to its original formatting. Undo the formatting using the Undo drop-down list in the Standard toolbar. To remove formatting, you also can select the text first and then press CTRL+SHIFT+Z. One of the most major changes to Microsoft Office 97 is Outlook, the replacement for Schedule+. The scope of this program is very broad has the abilities to handle: unformatted text, rich text format--different fonts and colors, OLE, e-mail, faxes, and a contact manager. Other topics covered: ...Create hyperlinks...Navigate, publish your intranet to the web...create professional documents and presentations...insert charts, graphics and video...create database and reports...customize office programs...examples...tips...troubleshooting. Que.'s "Using Microsoft Office Professional 97" covers every aspect of the new office version with easy to follow illustrations and plain English text--no difficult to comprehend terms. The well placed Illustrations, Notes, Tips, Troubleshooting; the Best of 97, all deigned for ease of use by the experienced Office user and the novice. If you or your company has purchased Office 97, you will find this book and invaluable resource to using the many features of the software package has to offer. This is one book you will use over and over to aid your successful mastering of Microsoft Office Professional 97. Special Edition, Using Microsoft Office Professional 97 By Rick Winter & Patty Winter Que. Corporation http://mcp.com/que +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= Managing Editor: Patrick Grote -- mailto:pgrote@i1.net Assistant Editor: Doug Reed-- mailto:dr2web@sprynet.com Assistant Editor: Robin Nobles, mailto:smslady@netdoor.com Archives: ftp://ftp.compunotes.com/pub/archive Website: e-mail: mailto:notes@compunotes.com Want to Write for Us?: mailto:writers@compunotes.com fax: (314) 909-1662 voice: (314) 909-1662 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= CompuNotes is: Available weekly via e-mail and on-line. We cover the PC computing world with comprehensive reviews, news, hot web sites, great columns and interviews. We also give away one software package a week to a lucky winner for just reading our fine publication! Never dull, sometimes tardy, we are here to bring you the computing world the way it is! Please tell every on-line friend about us! 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