AFTER READING THIS FILE, CLICK THE "FILE" MENU (IN THE WINDOWS PROGRAM) AND CLICK "PSL-NEWS". IN THE DOS PROGRAM, PRESS ENTER. Contents: - Some DOS Business Apps Dropped From Library - Dealers Ripping Off Customers With Outdated Hardware? - Program Descriptions in Text Files - Using the PsL CD =====Some DOS Business Apps Dropped From Library In putting together this month's CD-ROM, we once again had an overflow of programs: over 300MB of new programs received in the last 30 days and nearly 500MB of programs from the DOS and Windows Business sections of the library. To get the files to fit onto a 660MB CD-ROM, we went through the database and deleted over 100MB of large, old DOS apps from the Business section. Even though the deleted programs were older, there was not really anything wrong with them, it's just that there are a lot of similar programs on the CD and we did not feel that the duplication of function was worth the space. Actually, we did not delete the entries from the database, we just did not bring the files forward from the February 1995 CD-ROM (the last CD with all the Business files on it). So if you see entries in the Business section which refer to that CD, your first option is to look for similar programs on the current CD and your second option is to go back to the February CD. If you do not have that CD and you feel that you MUST have a specific business program from it, you can get the Feburary 1995 CD for a special price of just $6 plus $4 shipping. =====Dealers Ripping Off Customers With Outdated Hardware? Last month we discussed what an ideal PC system should have versus what stores and mail-order companies are advertising. Since that time, we have kept a close eye on ads and have not seen any improvement. The single biggest rip-off is the hard drive. Systems are still being sold with 500MB and 850MB hard drives instead of 1-Gig or larger drives. Since you can get a 1-Gig drive for $50 more than an 850MB drive and $100 more than a 500MB drive, it is hard to imagine that any knowledgable buyer would take the smaller drive if given the choice. Almost as big a rip-off is the 14.4 modem when you can buy a brand new 28.8 modem (essential for the Internet) for under $200. One reason for this scam is that dealers still have a large stock of the older drives and modems and are simply dumping them on customers who don't know any better. Another reason is that some dealers only put the state-of-the-art peripherals on the highest priced systems (i.e.: 133mhz Pentiums). You will almost never see a 28.8 modem and 1-Gig drive on a 486, for example. A Compaq rep told us that on the low-priced systems, they have to do everything they can to keep the prices down in order to be competitive, so if you want a low-cost system with a couple of top peripherals on it, you will have to bargain with the dealer to upgrade. Computer stores seem less inclined to customize their systems, while many mail-order companies show the cost of various upgrades right in their ads. The best place to find ads for good systems is still Computer Shopper magazine. Here are a few systems that are properly equipped at reasonable prices. Each system comes with 16MB RAM, a 1.2-Gig hard drive, 256k synchronous pipelined burst cache, 2MB Vram/MPEG video, 17" monitor, quad-speed CD-ROM, speakers, 28.8 FAX/modem, Sound Blaster 32 Wavetable sound card, and a 75mhz Pentium chip. (NOTE: Prices are subject to frequent change.) Mitra (800-324-1441) $2800: Sound Blaster card not wavetabled. Tagram (800-824-7267) $3100: 100mhz Pentium (Thunderbolt PT-100) US Computer (800-683-6616) $2300 + $300 to upgrade to a 17" monitor from a 15" monitor. No pipelined burst cache option (which can add about a 12% performance boost according to Computer Shopper). (Total: $2600) Quantex (800-836-0566) $2200 + $80 for pipelined burst cache + $260 for 17" monitor + $100 for wavetabled sound card. (Total: $2740) The Quantex system appears to have the best price for the recommended system specs, even though you do have to be sure to order the individual component upgrades as noted. And finally, here's a cool notebook from HyperData (800-786-3343): MediaGo CD Notebook ($3200): 75mhz Pentium, 8MB RAM, 540MB drive, 10.2" Active Matrix display, video capture card and video-to-TV port, 1MB Video DRAM, Wavetabled sound card, built-in speakers, built-in CD-ROM drive. A hot-swap battery adds $140 and a modem is not included. Slightly less cool but cheaper from Sager (800-669-1624): NP9500 CD Notebook ($2950): 75mhz Pentium, 8MB RAM, 540MB removable drive, 10.4" Active Matrix display, 32-bit Vesa local bus video with Windows accelerator, stereo audio (not wavetabled) and speakers and mic, removable 3.5" floppy drive. Options: TV tuner, additional battery (not hot-swappable). The $2950 price includes $245 to add a CD-ROM drive which swaps into the floppy's space. =====Program Descriptions in Text Files If you prefer to view descriptions of all the programs of one type in a scrollable file rather than viewing one program description at a time as this program does, you can do so by using the FILES.BBS file which appears in each directory. The file DIRECTRY.TXT in the root directory of the CD gives descriptions of all the directories on the CD. Change into a directory (example: CD \DOS\GRAPHICS) and type \VIEW FILES.BBS to read about all the files in that directory, using the cursor keys to scroll through the file. You can easily manually install a file to your hard disk by typing "\PKUNZIP . For example, to unzip SOMEFILE.ZIP to a directory on your hard disk, first create a directory for it (example: MD C:\SOME-DIR) then unzip the file to that directory: \PKUNZIP SOMEFILE C:\SOME-DIR Or in Windows, you may want to load a FILES.BBS file into Notepad in one window for easy reading and have WinZip (see previous article) in another Window for easy installation. =====Using the PsL CD If this is your first time to use a PsL Monthly CD-ROM, after reading the information in this window (use the scroll bars), follow the instructions above to get to the main program screen, then click on "Tutor" on the menu bar and also read the "Help" files. You are also welcome to call PsL at 713-524-6394 during our office hours for any assistance you might need. =====Important Features in Windows CD-ROM Access Program Print Author Labels: ------------------- A new feature in the CD-ROM Access Program for Windows is the ability to copy an author's name and address to the Windows Clipboard. From there, you can paste it into Notepad, Write, etc., to print a mailing label, write a letter, or whatever. To do this, you first must turn on the author display by clicking on "Author" on the menu bar, then click on "Show Author". Then either search for the author by name or bring up the author's program, which will cause his name and address to be displayed. Then click on the "File" menu and "Author Address to Clipboard". To paste the address into most Windows apps, you run the app, click its "Edit" menu, click the cursor where you want the address inserted, then click on "Paste" or press Ctrl-V. Search Descriptions: ------------------- You can search program write-ups for specified text. This is a slow search technique, but is the most thorough way to search for text. To speed up the search, first select the method to Browse By (e.g.: program name, file name, category, etc.), due a Get-Program, and THEN click on Edit and Search. For details, read the Help file. Context-Sensitive Help: ---------------------- The Help file offers context-sensitive help. To use the context-sensitive help for a menu item, click on the menu bar and use the cursor keys to move down to the desired option, then press the F1 key.