께께 께께 께께 께께� � � � 께께� � � 께께� � � � � � � � � � � � � � 께께 � 께께 께께 � � � 께께 � � � 께께� � � 께� � � � � � 께 께 � � 께께 � 께 께께� � � 께께� � � 께께� Hands-on evaluations of PCs, printers, peripherals and software COPYRIGHT 1990-91 DAVID W. BATTERSON 旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � PC REVIEWS is dedicated to John Michael Thomas, (1939-89), � � a valued friend who loved life, liberty and computing. � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� PC REVIEWS is distributed by shareware companies such as PC-SIG, The Public (Software) Library, The Software Labs, Micro Star, Best Bits & Bytes, Softshoppe, SHARE-NET and $izzleware. I've contributed computer articles, reviews and commentary to PC WORLD, MicroTimes, LINK-UP, Computer Currents, Los Angeles Business Journal, Information Today, PC WEEK, The Editorial Eye, and other publications. We encourage you to distribute copies of PC REVIEWS to others, as long as you keep it intact. If you upload it to a BBS, make a .ZIP or .ARC file of the ENTIRE disk. Thanks. There's now a star rating to the left side of each listing in the menus. ***** = Outstanding product; highly recommended. **** = Excellent value and features. *** = Good, useful product. ** = Fair, but you may want to pass on it. * = Not good enough for brother-in-law's birthday. LICENSE Like other shareware programs, PC REVIEWS is copyrighted, and is NOT public domain or free software. It is distributed under the user-supported software concept. Non-registered users are granted a LIMITED license to use PC REVIEWS for a trial period. Any use of non-registered copies of PC REVIEWS by a business, organization or any type of institution is forbidden. Register your copy of PC REVIEWS and you receive the latest update. To read about registration, at the DOS prompt type: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A:> TYPE REGISTER.TXT | MORE To start PC REVIEWS, at the DOS prompt type: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A:> GO Then press a number key, following the menu's instructions. To copy the files to your C: hard drive, type: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A:> HDINSTAL ### Following is a description of the text files on the disk: FRACTALS.TXT - FracTools is an electronic kaleidoscope of nature's geometry. You'll spend hours viewing and manipulating these beautiful fractal images. MICROLAS.TXT - The microLaser PS35 from Texas Instruments is a high-quality, 6 page-per-minute, true Adobe PostScript printer, in a compact size. PPM.TXT - The Practical Pocket Modem from Practical Peripherals is a 2400bps, Hayes-compatible modem, in a tiny package. Fine quality and affordable. ABOVEBD.TXT - Intel's new Above Board Plus memory board adds conventional, extended or expanded memory (EMS) to your PC. Works great but expensive. PAINTBR.TXT - PC Paintbrush IV Plus is ZSoft's newest graphics package. Lots of new featues, especially the full range of scanning commands. WORDBOOK.TXT - The WordPerfect Book by Leo Scanlon is a book for beginners, covering versions 4.1, 4.2, 5.0 and 5.1. Somewhat overpriced. BACKLOAD.TXT - BackLoader 2 is an automatic font handler; it downloads soft fonts to HP LaserJets/DeskJets (and compatibles). Efficient and easy to use. ARTLINE.TXT - Artline Version 2.0 is a professional object-oriented program for making logos, headlines and illustrations. Greatly improved version. FREEDOM.TXT - Freedom of Press Version 2.2 is a PostScript Language Compatible Interpreter. You get PostScript output on non-PostScript printers. SYC.TXT - Solicit Your Congress (S.Y.C.) is a database and mailing program that allows mass mailings of letters to members of Congress. PRODIGY.TXT - PRODIGY Interactive Personal Service is the advertiser-supported online system that offers news, information, shopping, banking and more. LQ860-TXT - Epson's new LQ-860 24-pin letter-quality dot matrix printer is about as good as it gets using the dot matrix technology. Solid performer. README.TXT - You're reading this one right now! COMPLETE.TXT - The Complete Communicator is an integrated, add-in card containing 9,600-bps fax, voice mail and 2,400-bps modem. Utilitarian! SPLASH.TXT - SPLASH! is a VGA paint program, featuring 256 on-screen colors, unique icons, 60 patterns & brush sizes, plus many drawing features. AHED.TXT - The American Heritage Electronic Dictionary is a real dictionary, offering definitions, pronunciation, hyphenation points, synonyms & more! SAGELINE.TXT - Sageline's Write*On, GPOStyle and Almanac are hypertext-based reference tools for writers and managers. Easy, rapid access to text info. WORDPUB.TXT - BetterWorking Word Publisher 5.0 is a very affordable word processor/outliner with handy DTP features. Six bitmapped fonts too! PCCOM.TXT - PC COMplete is a communications program that automates your e-mail activities. Supports MHS (LAN messaging) and all the major e-mail services. PM9600.TXT - Practical Peripherals scores another win with its Practical Modem 9600SA. A fine V.32, V.42, V.42bis error correcting, data compressing modem. PCKWIK.TXT - The PC-Kwik Power Pak features five utility programs: disc cache, print spooler, RAM disk, screen accelerator, and keyboard accelerator. LABELPRO.TXT - Avery LapelPro Laser Software lets you create address, shipping, diskette, file folder, etc. labels and print them on your laser printer. 4DOS.TXT - 4DOS is a "PC-DOS/MS-DOS Command Processor." It replaces your current COMMAND.COM, giving you dozens of new and enhanced commands. PFSPUB.TXT - PFS:First Publisher, Version 3.0. It's now a high-resolution (300 dpi) desktop publishing package, with more fonts and graphics images. FAXPORT.TXT - The Complete FAX/Portable is a pocket-size external FAX unit. It is handy, but the software needs improvement. No background FAXing, either. HUMOR.TXT - The Humor Processor is a unique program that helps you write jokes and humor for all occasions. It's fun to use, and useful for fun! GRAMATIK.TXT - Grammatik IV is the new and improved version of Grammatik III. This is a superb grammar and style checker. Highly recommended. EXPRESS.TXT - Express Publisher 2.0 is the newest version of this DTP program. It's better than its competitors, like Publish It! and PFS:First Publisher. BROWSE.TXT - PC-Browse is a pop-up file scan and hypertext tool. It lets you search for words and files, and link files using hypertext. High quality! ONTIME.TXT - OnTime is a lifetime calendar and to-do list manager. It also does pocket-size printouts. It's not as handy as a day planner book. WORDFIND.TXT - Word Find Plus is a combination thesaurus, spell checker and actual dictionary (gives definitions) Easy and fun to use; recommended. TEFAX.TXT - The Tefax is both a standalone fax machine and an exterior fax modem. It's also a scanner and line printer. A clever combination. VIRUSCAN.TXT - VIRUSCAN Ver. 3.1V62 is the latest version of this computer virus tamer. Identifies over 80 viruses. Excellent and useful shareware. SCANMAN.TXT - The ScanMan Plus is the new and improved hand-held scanner that lets you scan, and import images into most graphics and DTP programs. RE5155.TXT - The Relisys RE-5155 Multiscan is a high-resolution color monitor, with .31 dot pitch, 800x600 resolution, TTL or Analog modes, and many options. PCGLOBE.TXT - PC GLOBE 3.0 and PC USA are two computerized atlases. They provide maps, graphics and extensive information on countries and states. PROWRITE.TXT - Professional Write Ver. 2.2's new features include automatic hyphenation, added printer drivers and Grammatik IV add-in. Recommended. WEATHER.TXT - WeatherBrief lets you access the latest weather information, including detailed 16-color maps, via modem. Quick and easy to use. VPEXPERT.TXT - VP-Expert/SQL ("Intelligent Front Ends for SQL Databases") provides SQL capability to this rule-based expert system development tool. FINESSE.TXT - Finesse Ver. 3.1 is the improved version of this easy-to-use desktop publishing software that runs under GEM (like Ventura Publisher). PRNTRITE.TXT - PrintRite is a professional print spooling system based on mainframe time-slicing technology. Has oodles of sophisticated features. POPDROP.TXT - PopDrop Plus is a memory management utility. Added to the earlier PopDrop program is PopLoad, which puts TSRs into expanded memory. DRDOS.TXT - DR DOS 5.0 is the newest version of this substitute operating system. It offers tremendous features, so why wait for MS-DOS 5.0? 1450PLUS.TXT - The GoldStar 1450 Plus VGA Monitor supports all VGA modes plus Super VGA (800x600 resolution). Fine picture quality and handy controls. COPROCSR.TXT - The Connection CoProcessor fax board uses the Communicating Applications Specification (CAS). Lower price & improved software too. PRNTSHOP.TXT - Broderbund finally upgraded The Print Shop, the most popular graphics software in history. They did a great job on it too. 2400ETC.TXT - ATI Technologies Inc. has produced this 2400 baud internal modem with MNP error-correcting protocol. Now with v.42 error-control too. CALENDAR.TXT - Calendar Creator Plus 4.0 is the latest version of this great calendar creator program. Packed with features and quick to learn. EPL7000.TXT - Epson's EPL-7000 laser printer is faster, and has improved features since the previous EPL-6000. High quality and an excellent value. CERTMAKR.TXT - Certificate Maker allows you to make personalized awards for office, school, organization and home use. Quick, easy and fun to use. PUBLISH.TXT - Publish It! Ver. 1.2 is the latest version. It now supports HP Soft Fonts, Encapsulated PostScript And TIFF files; more improvements too. MIRROR3.TXT - The updated MIRROR III, Ver. 2.0 adds pull-down menus, ZMODEM protocol, additional emulations, backscroll, mouse support and MORE! FIRSTWD.TXT - GEM 1st Word Plus 2.0 is a GEM-based word processor. Included are GEM/3 Desktop Ver 3.1, GEM 1st Mail and GEM Paint Ver 2.01. $99 list. PCTOOLS.TXT - PC Tools Deluxe Ver. 6.0 is the newest update to this excellent collection of utility programs. Another GREAT value for the low price. JTFAX.TXT - QUADRAM's JT Fax 9600 fax board gets a B- grade. Inferior display capability is one drawback, plus it gobbles up too much RAM. STARLASR.TXT - The Star LaserPrinter 8II is HP LaserJet II-compatible, and is PostScript-compatible with the optional LincPage board. Works great! NOTE: To print any review, just type at the DOS prompt: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A:> COPY PRN Latest update: June 24, 1991