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  •  PC World (December 1992)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC World – December 1992

    PC World was probably the most popular PC magazine in the late 1980s and early 1990s and maybe longer than that (it was certainly around longer). This issue from December 1992 was from about 7 months or so before I bought my first PC (not counting my Commodore 64). It includes:

    Cover Story

    • The Readers’ Choice: World Class 1992 – Readers pick the best hardware and software of 1992. Some of the winners in the hardware category include the ATI Graphics Ultra video card, the Seagate ST3144A hard drive, the Bernoulli Transportable 90 Pro external drive from Iomega, the Jumbo 250 tape drive from Colorado Memory Systems, the ScanMan 256 handheld scanner from Logitech, and the Microsoft Mouse. Gateway 2000 was voted as the vendor with the best service and support, followed by Dell, Zeos, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard. Winners in the software category include WordPerfect, Excel, Windows 3.x, Norton Utilities, Paradox, ProComm Plus (I loved this terminal software), PageMaker, CorelDraw (another favorite of mine), Quicken, and more.

    Windows

    • Windows NT: A DOS for the ’90s – A detailed look at the upcoming new operating system from Microsoft, Windows NT.

    Systems

    • 486SX-25s vs. 386DX-40s: The Upstart Fights Back – While Intel had moved on to the 486, AMD was still pushing the 386 to faster speeds with the 386DX-40 (I had a roommate in college with one). More than 50% of new sales were 486 systems by this point but the 386 was still thought to be a good budget choice at the time. In reality, it would be woefully out of date within a year or two. In this overview, it shows that the budget 486 processor (486SX-25) is faster than the 386DX-40 though doesn’t have as good of a price/performance ratio. However, the 486 systems were also more easily upgradeable. The best performer in their lineup was the Boss 486SX/25 Cache. The best value was the Compudyne 486SX/25 with the Blackship BLK 386/40 taking second.
    • The Complete Guide to the New CPUs – A look at the latest 386 and 486 processors. Also, benchmark comparisons of 24 processors. From fastest to slowest: 486DX2-66, OverDrive-33/66, 486DX-50, OverDrive-25/50, 486DX-33, OverDrive-20/40, 486DX-25, Cyrix 486DLC-33, AMD 386DXL-40 (with math coprocessor), IBM 486SLC2-20/40, Cyrix 486DLC-33 (with math coprocessor), 486SX-25, 386DX-33 (with math coprocessor), AMD 386-40, 386DX-33, 486SX-20, Cyrix 486SLC-25, 386DX-25 (with math coprocessor), 386SL-25, 386DX-25, AMd 386SXL-25, 386SX-20, 386SX-20.

    Top of the News

    • You Can Take It With You – A look at a bunch of recently released laptops, including the Compaq LTE 4/25c and Lite/25E (with 25-Mhz 486SL CPU); TravelMate 4000 WinDX2/50, WinDX2/40 Color, and WinSX/25; Grid Convertible (386SL-25 based); and Z-Lite 320L (386SL based).
    • Vendors Speed Up PC Introductions – Vendors are introducing new PCs at an increasingly rapid pace. PC tech started rapidly advancing starting in the late 486/early Pentium era. Within two years or so there were cheaper PCs available that were at least 400% faster than the 486-DX2/66 I got in 1993.
    • Microsoft’s Accessible Database – Microsoft releases the easy to use Access database software.
    • Windows for Workgroups – The latest version of Windows, Windows for Workgroups 3.1 made networking easier.
    • ‘Tis Better to Send Than Receive – Fax-Modems combined the ability of a modem with the ability of a fax machine and were all the rage in the early 1990s.
    • Quicken Gets Financial Management Tools – A brief look at the latest version of quicken (6.0 for DOS and 2.0 for Windows).

    Printers

    • Next Generation Lasers – Reviews of the latest laser printers, including the Compaq Pagemarq 15, Compaq Pagemarq 20 (best buy), Helett-Packard LaserJet 4 (best buy), Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4M, IBM LaserPrinter 10P/Lexmark, Kyocera Ecosys a-SI, NewGen Systems TurboPS/660, Okidata OL810, and Xanite Accel-a-Writer 8000.

    Video

    • Best Monitors for $1000 – Reviews of the latest “big-screen” monitors (we are talking 15 to 17-inch CRT based monitors) for prices ranging from $700 to nearly $1500. Models reviewed include the Amdek AM/815, Amdek AM/817, Compaq QVision 150, Dell 15LR, HP Ultra VGA 17-Inch Display, IOcomm ThinkSync 5, IOcomm ThinkSync 7A, Mag MX15F, Mag MX17F (best buy), NEC MultiSync 4FG (best buy), Rellsys RE1558, Samsung SyncMaster 5c, Sony CPD-1604S, Taxan MultiVision 550, TVM MediaScan 5A+LR (best buy), TVM MediaScan 6A Digital (best buy), and ViewSonic 7.
    • Fast Video for Less – A huge round-up of 95 graphic accelerator boards. These were designed to speed up displays in Windows more so than games.

    Backup

    • Tape Backups You Set and Forget – A look at the latest “high-capacity” tape drives (typically with 120MB capacity and up to 250MB compressed capacity). Tape drives were a pretty common accessory from about this time through the early Pentium era. After that, they sort of faded away in favor of other options (Zip drives, etc.).

    New Products

    • Toshiba Satellite Notebooks – Toshiba launches three “low cost” 386SX Notebooks. The T1800 featuring a 20-MHz 386SX, 2MB of RAM and a 60MB hard drive for $1800, the T1850 with 25-MHz 386SX, 4MB of RAM and an 80MB hard drive for $2200, and the T1850C which is the same as the T1850 except with a color screen for $3300.

    • HP DeskJet 550C, DeskJet Portable Printers – The new DeskJet 550C inkjet printer for $1099 and the new HP DeskJet Portable for $599.
    • Tecmar QICVault tape drives – SCSI based tape drives with 720MB capacity for prices ranging from $1139 to $1889.
    • SyDOS Marlin, Puma hard drives – A look at the new SyDOS 3.5″ drive with removable media.
    • PerForm Pro Plus – Software for creating forms.
    • Superbase 2 – A relational database for Windows. I believe there was actually a Commodore 64 version of the original Superbase.
    • Fontographer 3.5 for Windows – Create and modify fonts.
    • Publish It 3.0, Publish It for Windows – Desktop publishing packages for DOS and Windows.
    • Golden Retriever 2.0 – A file manager for Windows.
    • Dynamics accounting software – A high end accounting package for Windows from Great Plains Software.
    • DrivePro hard disk utility – A utility for helping you set up a new hard drive in Windows without having to resort to DOS commands.
    • Surefire 1.5 word processor – A low cost word processor with spreadsheet and database functions.
    • InfoTAC wireless modem – A $1350 4800 BPS wireless radio modem designed for sending and receiving e-mail.
    • OnTime for Networks – A group scheduling package that notifies you about meetings via e-mail, allows you to respond immediately to meeting requests, and more.
    • The Wire for MCI Mail – A Windows front end for MCI Mail.
    • CreditCard Ethernet Adapter – A ~$445 PCMCIA Ethernet adapter that operates up to 8MB per second.

    Here’s How

    • Help Line – Questions answered about Stacker disk compression software, turning extended memory into expanded memory, printing screen graphics, OS/2, and more.
    • Spreadsheets – Questions answered about displaying negative percentages in parenthesis in 1-2-3, calculating the last day of the previous month in Excel 4.0, hiding columns in Excel 4.0, and more.
    • Word Processing – Questions answered about using clip art in WordPerfect 5.1, gridlines in Word for Windows 2.0, creating text with background shading in WordPerfect 5.1, and more.
    • Windows – Questions answered about playing WAV sound files via the PC speaker in Windows 3.1, using 32-bit disk access in Windows, and more.
    • Instant Reference Card – A reference card for Word for Windows 2.0 Macros.

    Departments

    • Letters – Letters from readers about fraudulent ads in magazines, Hewlett-Packard’s NewWave, CAD software, and more.
    • Real Problems, Real Solutions – Overcoming the feat of computers.
    • What’s Next – A look at navigation software which at the time amounted to map software for your PC, some with subscriptions for updates.
    • Managers of the Universe – A look at computer games including Chessmaster 3000 Multimedia Pro and Loom.
    • Home Office – Tools to make online services and BBS’s easier, including the OZCIS auto-navigator program for CompuServe and Robocomm for BBS systems.

    …and more!


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  • PC World (September 1987)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC World – September 1987

    PC World was perhaps the widest read PC magazine during its life. Issues from the 1980s were massive with this issue from September 1987 coming in at around 420 pages. The page count gradually decreased over the years with the Internet finally destroying this magazine as it did so many others. Contents of this issue include:

    Getting Started

    • Worksheets by Design – A beginner’s guide to creating a worksheet in your favorite spreadsheet program.
    • Laser-Perfect – Using the LaserJet Plus with WordPerfect 4.2.

    Community

    • DOS Amigos – Interviews with Compaq’s Rod Canion and Tandy’s John roach in which they talk about the PS/2 and the future of personal computing.
    • The Knowledge Engineers – Capturing knowledge with Expert Systems.

    Review

    • NewViews Breaks the Rules – A look at a new accounting software product from Q.W. Page that combines a spreadsheet with an audit trail.
    • Letters From Cell A17 – A look at three add-in products for Lotus 1-2-3 that add word processing capabilities. These are 4Word, InWord, and Write-in.
    • Dimensional Fortitude – A look at two three-dimensional spreadsheet programs (basically combining the functionality of multiple worksheets), Boeing Calc and MVP Spreadsheet Plus.
    • Magical Multiscan Tour – MultiScan monitors were a relatively new technology at the time. Their advantage being that one monitor could handle multiple video standards so you didn’t have to buy a monitor every time you went to a new graphics standard. They were not cheap though. This review looks at seven different monitors and they all come in at somewhere near $900 and we aren’t talking big screens either, probably maxing out at around 14-inches with most having a max resolution of around 800×600. Monitors reviewed include the NEC MultiSync, Sony Multiscan, JVC GD-H3214, Taxan Super Vision 770, Magnavox Multimode, Thomson Ultra Scan and Nanao 8060S.
    • Cache on Demand? – A look at various disk caching programs including Flash 5.0, Lightning 4.5, PolyBoost 1.7, Quickcache 2.1, Super PC-Kwik 1.5, and Vcache 2.01.

    State of the Art

    • Routines for Rent – A look at APIs and DOS. APIs were a relatively new fad at the time. This article points out that the best known example at the time was how Lotus Developer supports the creation of add-ons for Lotus 1-2-3 and Symphony 1.1.

    Hands On

    • From Ledger to Spreadsheet – Using EasyBusiness Systems, Lotus 1-2-3 and DOS Exports, you too can movie data from a Ledger to a spreadsheet.
    • Up From WordStar – Various macros to make Microsoft Word and WordPerfect work more like WordStar.

    Departments

    • David Bunnell – The FCC proposes to add “access fees” to dial-up to online services such as CompuServe of $4.50 to $5.40 an hour.
    • Letters – Letters from readers regarding IBM, the PS/2 Model 60, the PS/2 Model 50 and converting programs to 3.5″ disks, the Kyocera F-1010 laser printer, software piracy, PC-Talk, and more.
    • Harry Miller – Using new to tools beyond spreadsheets for financial analysis and budgeting.
    • Stewart Alsop – The strategy behind new product announcements.
    • Top of the News – Toshiba gets in trouble for selling submarine propeller technology to the Soviet Union; Koryo Systems announces the Inchon, a 286/386-upgradable desktop system the size of a laptop; Hercules announces PS/2 card; Daybreak announces Satin integrated package that includes spreadsheet, file manager, word processor, communications package and idea processor; Epson to release low end PC clone called Apex featuring an 8088-2 processor, 512K RAM and two 360K floppy drives.
    • PC World View – An interview with Ashton-Tate CEO Edward Esber, Jr. about dBase IV and Ashton-Tate’s future plans.
    • Product Outlook – Recent product announcements and upcoming releases including Byline (desktop publishing software); the Zenith Easy PC; new Wyse models including the PC 286 Model 2108, Model 2112, Model 2214 and Model 3216; the Turbo 888-XT Headstart Computer System; and more.
    • From the Software Shelf – Reviews of the latest software, including Xerox Ventura Publisher (desktop publishing program), True BASIC 2.0 (BASIC compiler), Eureka: The Solver (equation solver), and Opt-Tech Sort (DOS sort utility), Glyphix (font designer).
    • From the Hardware Shelf – Reviews of the latest hardware, including Datavue Spark ($995 laptop with 384K and 384K), PC Laser 6000 (laser printer), Slimline 4200 (286 based with 360K floppy for $1495), and the Maynstream 60 (60MB-125MB tape drive).
    • The Upgrade Path – A look at various PC upgrades including: The MicroSoft Mach 10 turbo board featuring a 9.54/4.77-MHz 8086 for $549; the Essential Card, a 256K RAM expansion for the Epson Equity I; and more.
    • Consumer Watch – What to look for when buying floppy disk drives and cheap disks. Plus, reader letters about the Tandy 3000 and PC compatibility, The Source and fees, the AT&T 6300, and more.
    • Soucrcebooks – Book reviews of The Cognitive Connection: Thought and Language in Man and Machine, The Brady Guide to Microcomputer Troubleshooting and Maintenance, Microcomputer Data Security: Issues and Strategies for Business, Quick Start Guide for 12 Top PC Programs, and more.
    • The Help Screen – Questions from readers answered about searching text files, Dvorak keyboards, installing a 3.5″ floppy drive in an IBM PC XT, syncing files between PCs, PageMaker hardware requirements, and more.
    • Next in PC World – Coming in the October 1987 issue, readers choose the best hardware and software of 1987, a review of Crosstalk MK.4, a look at Borland’s Reflex, and more.
    • Another Angle – Software piracy and the cost to consumers.

    …and more!


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  • PC World (January 1989)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC World (January 1989)

    PC World was one of the most well known and widely distributed PC related magazines for many years. There was a LOT of content in 1989. This issue has over 300 pages. This was the better part of 5 years before I had my first “PC” (I had a Commodore 64). If you were using a PC you were probably using DOS though you might have been using Windows 2. XT compatible machines featuring an 8088 or 8086 processor were still widely in use but if you were lucky you had a 286 or even a 386 but those were expensive. The January 1989 issue of PC World includes:

    Reviews

    • Fast Floppy Backup – Reviews and comparisons of six backup tools designed to back up your hard drive to floppy drives. This was when a typical hard drive could be anywhere from 20MB to over 100MB and you were probably using a 1.2MB 5.25″ floppy drive (though it could be as small as a 360K disk drive). Tools looked at here include Fastback Plus, Corefast, Back-It, PC-Fullback, BackEZ and DS Backup+.
    • The Hardware Shelf
      • Intel Connection CoProcessor – A PC fax expansion card designed to convert disk files to fax format and send them to a fax machine.
      • NEC PowerMate 386 – A high-end 20-MHz 386 based computer with 2MB RAM, 1.2MB floppy drive, 130MB ESDI hard drive and a whopping 237 watt power supply. All for the low price of $9295. Apparently this is a poor performer compared to similar IBM and Dell machines.

      • Mitsubishi MP 286 – A 12-MHz 286 based computer for $3895 which is cheaper than a similar model Compaq Deskpro but about $1000 more than other comparable machines.
      • Microscience HH-3120 – A 112MB SCSI hard drive for $1195.
      • ThumbScan PCBoot – A unique hardware based security device that consists of an add-in board and key fob. Upon boot, the screen flashes while you hold up the key fob. Then a PIN appears in the key fob for you to type in to gain access to the PC.
    • The Software Shelf
      • AlphaWorks 1.0 – A low-end integrated software package featuring a word processor, database, spreadsheet, and telecommunications that uses dBASE III and 1-2-3 file formats.
      • WordStar Professional 5.0 – The latest version of this once powerhouse word processing package that features updates for desktop publishing, mail merge, menus, and more.
      • Windows/286 2.1 – The latest version of Windows. It didn’t REALLY get popular until version 3 though.
      • Norton Commander 2.0 – A DOS shell enhancement that adds things like directory trees and the ability to display 1-2-3 and dBASE files along with much more.
      • SpinRite 1.2b – One of the best hard drive utilities of the time. Allows you to reformat a drive without losing date, reset a disk’s interleave ratio, and more.

    Feature

    • Buyers’ Guide: EMS 4.0 Memory Boards – Memory expansion was much more complicated in the XT/AT days. The EMS 4.0 standard allowed 8088 CPUs to access up to 32MB of RAM with an individual executable using up to 1MB. This overview covers twenty-one EMS 4.0 memory boards to extend your PC beyond the 640K barrier.

    News

    • Top of the News – AST releases three new 386 based systems starting at $4195; Plus Development ships hard drive targeted for network file services; Hayes introduces first V.42 modem, $899 for 2400bps and $1299 for 9600bps; and more.
    • Industry Outlook – A new category of software is coming: Personal Information Mangers; new laptops feature lighter screens and disk drives; 80286 based laptop sales exceed 8086/8088 based machines and expected to continue growing fast; Digital Video Interactive (DVI) offers multimedia capabilities; and more.
    • Product Outlook – New products include the PS/2 Model 30 286, Turbo Pascal 5.0 and Turbo C 2.0, Adobe Illustrator, and more.
    • Briefly Noted – A brief look at upcoming products including DualPage and PS 2000 monochrome monitors, FlexCache 25386DT memory cache for 386 machines, TG-1140 40MB tape backup system, and more.
    • Update – Updates to existing products include AST’s Premium/286 Model 140V which offers new VGA graphics and a memory board, version 2.0 of Fastback Plus, and more.

    How To’s

    • Accelerating Excel – Various tips for Excel to help improve productivity including pre-selecting the data entry area, using mass data entry, Filling instead of Copying, using custom number formats, and more.
    • Macros for Word – Twenty tools for Word in the form of macros. Macros given here include saving the current document in ASCII format, making a document double spaced, toggling hidden text, justifying text, listing files in a specific documents directory, drawing a box, opening and closing notes, selecting a printer, and more.
    • Tips and Techniques – Design tips for creating and organizing a worksheet; WordStar tips for printing a file to ASCII, running Telmerge as a stand-alone communications program, stripping carriage returns from an ASCII file, and more; tips for maintaining your LaserJet printer; modem commands and other tips; and more.

    Perspectives

    • Richard Landry – Between 1984 and 1987 the cost of business PC ownership more than doubled from $7500 to $18,000 but return on investment remained flat at 10%. However, upcoming improvements in multitasking and GUI development are expected to improve productivity.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about WordStar, the GridCase 1520, accounting software, and more.
    • David Bunnell – Discussion about creating a national network for education. The Internet seemed to supersede any such concept. I know four years later the college I went to was already Internet connected.
    • Stewart Alsop – IBM licenses NextStep from Next (headed by Steve Jobs at the time).
    • Another Angle – ISA vs. MCA vs. EISA…

    Departments

    • In This Issue – A preview of what to expect in this issue.
    • 1988 Annual Index – An index of the previous year’s (1988) reviews, features and how to’s.
    • Consumer Watch – Beware of recommendations from your computer dealer…they’re probably getting paid to push certain products; Make sure that when you buy online, you are getting everything you need. E.g. a $1599 laser printer really is going to cost you $1720 if it doesn’t include a toner cartridge and cable; Beware of cheap power supplies (good advice still today); when buying a computer pay attention to the number of free slots, not just total slots; and more advice.
    • The Help Screen – Printing worksheets on legal sized paper in landscape mode on a Laser Jet Series II; dot matrix printer recommendations, using multiple config.sys files, advice for computers in the classroom, connecting an external floppy drive to an IBM PC; and more.

    …and more!


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