PC TOOLS DELUXE, Version 6.0 Data Recovery, Desktop Manager, Hard Disk Backup and DOS Shell Copyright 1990 David W. Batterson PC Tools Deluxe, Version 6.0, is the latest incarnation of this best- selling utility package, which is the best value available, bar none. Yes, the new version has been greatly improved, thanks to the programming wizards at Central Point Software. These guys kick butt and take no prisoners! No matter how good, no software program is EVER finished. All programs can be improved, and should be if the company expects to remain competitive. That has been Central Point's philosophy since they first came out with COPY II for Apple II computers. Just about every //c or IIe owner used that program to make copies of protected programs. I had a copy too. PC Tools Deluxe Version 6.0 is once again an incredible value, when you see how much it offers. It lists for $149, but is heavily discounted, so often has the lowest street price of comparable products. It's $35 for the upgrade from earlier versions. Besides the Compress program to optimize your disk, and PC Backup, which backs up your hard disk in a remarkably short time, there is the improved PC Cache to speed up hard drive access. The Mirror program protects against accidental formatting of your hard disk, while PC Secure is an encrypt/decrypt and compression/expansion utility. While my hard disk may not have needed optimizing, I did it anyway for test purposes. The Compress program is very simple to use, and fast. Its Disk Analysis mode indicated I had only 1 percent fragmentation, but it gave me the message: "Compress Recommended." Not long ago, my hard disk crashed, and I didn't have it backed up. Sure, I had all the original software, but I was forced to reinstall and reconfigure all those programs again. It took a long time. Plus I lost a few text files forever. It all could have been avoided by backing up to disk. I've learned my lesson, and now I do regular backups. Since PC Tools provides a lucid backup program, you can't say that it's too time-consuming. Take the time! It takes me only about 15 minutes with PC Backup, depending on how much I've added to and deleted from the hard disk. Now there's support for tape drives, including those from Mountain, Colorado Memory, Compaq or IBM. Another new addition is incremental/appended backups. PC Tools Deluxe also offers an improved Desktop: notepad with spell- checker, appointment scheduler, dBASE III/IV-compatible database, three calculators, communications program with background file transfers and enhanced script-file handling. Also, you'll find a macro editor, outliner, clipboard, and CAS-compatible fax board (such as Intel's Connection Co-Processor) support, to send/receive faxes anytime. But hold on, "thar's more." The DOS Shell will make you zap the MS-DOS 4.1 Shell from your hard drive. Its new features include being able to view over 30 different types of files, such as QUATTRO, PC Paintbrush (.PCX), R:Base, XyWrite and PKZIP. You can also locate files (by name or content), and customize function keys for quicker commands. There's a DOS command line too, if you want it, at the menu's bottom. A version of Traveling Software's LapLink is now bundled too, for laptop file transfers. Another new feature, DiskFix, is a disk-repair program that works automatically--it's idiot proof! It does far more than the CHKDSK/F command, and does its work fast too. PC Tools Deluxe Ver. 6.0 features pull-down menus, movable and resizable windows, and has full mouse support, including the right mouse button too. You can run it in pop-up TSR mode or from the DOS prompt. It supports LANs, including Novell NetWare and IBM Token Ring. At the bottom of PC Shell screen, are the Status Line, Command Bar and Message Bar. These make using PC Shell easier and faster than ever. For instance, the Zoom command expands a file window to fill the screen. Ver. 6.0 conforms to CUA/SAA (Common User Access/Systems Application Architecture) standards for the '90s. It comes with three professionally- written manuals, each containing lots of screen shots. Context-sensitive help is also available online by pressing . PC Tools Deluxe Ver. 6.0 deserves an A+ rating. The company is dedicated to quality, and has done 'the right thing' again. For more information, contact Central Point Software Inc., 15220 N.W. Greenbrier Parkway, #200, Beaverton, OR 97006-5764; 503-690-8090, FAX: 503-690-8083, BBS: 503-690-6650. # David Batterson writes articles and reviews for computer and business publications. Contact him via MCI MAIL: DBATTERSON.