• Tag Archives PC

  • PC World (March 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC World – March 1988

    PC World was one of the most successful PC magazines (PC meaning x86 compatible). It had a long life before the Internet killed it. The March 1988 issue includes:

    Review

    • Excel – Should You Switch? – Excel makes its debut, ultimately spelling the end for products like Lotus 1-2-3 and VisiCalc.
    • Thoroughly Modern Modems – Hayes releases new V-Series modems which include internal and external 9600bps and 2400bps models. They sure were expensive though with prices ranging from $849 to $1299. Prices would drop like a rock over the next few years.
    • Smartcom Wises Up – Smartcom III, a communications/terminal program, was released to coincide with Hayes’ new modems. Crosstalk Mk.4 still had more features.
    • Making the E-Mail Choice – E-mail in the 1980s was a hodge-podge of various services. Typically they charged by the e-mail or by the length. Various services all had their own limitations and pricing scheme.
    • Worksheets Without 1-2-3 – A look at worksheet compilers that create standalone applications from your worksheets. The two products examined here are The Baler and @Liberty.

    • The Hardware Shelf – A look at the Amstrad PC1640 (XT-compatible 8086 from $899 to $1899 depending on the floppy, hard drive, and graphics options you want), the Wang PC 380 (80386 based system starting at $6495), the Toshiba T1000 (an 80C88 based laptop with 512K and 3.5″ disk drive for $1199), the Polaroid PallettePlus (a “film recorder” that converts CGA and EGA graphics to film slides for $3000), and the FastTrap trackball.

    • The Software Shelf – Reviews of some of the latest software, including Microsoft Works, PageMaker Portfolio: Designs for Newsletters, OfficeWriter Express, Vu/Text, and MemoryMate.

    Feature

    • 1988 World Class PC Contest – A contest in which you get to vote for your favorite hardware and software for a chance to win prices worth over $40,000.
    • Putting E-Mail to Work – A look at various e-mail services as an alternative to more traditional and expensive methods of sending documents (FedEx for example).

    • A License to Clone – An article about the supposed deluge of PS/2 clones to come. This never really happened and Micro Channel Architecture never really took off except for the relatively brief years that IBM used it.

    How To

    • E-Mail to Anywhere – A tutorial on how to send e-mail between various networks.

    Departments

    • David Bunnell – A look at what was a somewhat novel idea at the time, an external hard drive system. Today you have a USB device the size of a key (or smaller) that holds hundreds of gigabytes (or more) for a few 10s of dollars. Then you had an external 2 pound brick that held 40MB for $350
    • Letters – Readers write in about computer journalism ethics, benchmarking, DacEasy Accounting 2.00, the Remedy Removable Winchester drive, and more.
    • Richard Landry – OS/2’s high cost and incompatibility is leading to a split in the market but software vendors are working to make data compatible between applications on OS/2 and other operating systems.
    • Stewart Alsop – A prediction that the hottest new persona computer for software development in January 1990 will be from Sun Microsystems.
    • On IBM – IBM’s strategy of using SAA (Systems Application Architecture) to allow their various non-compatible mainframes, minicomputers, and PCs to talk to each other.
    • Top of the News – Micro Channel clones come closer to market; as VRAM prices drop, manufacturers of graphics cards start using faster VRAM instead of DRAM; HP introduces NewWave, a development tool for Windows 2.0; and more.
    • Industry Outlook – A look at Hayes’ strategy of high end modems and ISDN support; 376,400 laptops sold in 1987 with a projected 621,000 by 1989; memory prices hold steady at $0.65 to $0.75 per kilobyte; four floppy disk formats still common (low and high density 3.5″ and 5.25″); and more.
    • Product Outlook – A look at upcoming products including Info-XL (information management software), Canon Bubble-Jet BJ-130 printer, ImageCard (PostScript-compatible printer controller), Fill & File (forms generator), TransFormer 2 (PS/2 expansion bus), Pixie (presentation graphics software), and the GS/1-IP Gateway Server (network server for connecting separate LANs).
    • Briefly Noted – A brief look at new products including DataPerfect 2.0 (database management), Diconix 300W (ink jet printer), NexView, The Wheel, CM-1430 (hire-res color monitor), and Paradise VGA Professional and VGA Plus cards.
    • Update – Recent software and hardware updates including Word for Word (conversion utility), Clipper Summer ’87 (dBASE III Plus compiler), Quicksilver Diamond Release (another dBASE III Plus compiler), Zenith Z-183 laptop (added hard drive), and more.
    • Consumer Watch – What to look for in computer benchmarking.
    • The Help Screen – How to capture printer output to a disk file, port Apple II files to the PC, disable the Print Screen key and more.
    • Tech Notes – The upgrade dilemma… 286 or 386? OS/2, DOS or Windows?
    • Sourcebooks – Book reviews including Big Blue: IBM’s Use and Abuse of Power, High-Tech Society: The Story of the Information Technology Revolution, Expert System Technology: Development and Application, The Gem Operating System Handbook, and more.
    • Another Angle – On the selfishness of BBS users.

    …and more!


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  • PC Magazine (October 17th, 1989)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC Magazine – October 17th, 1989

    PC Magazine was one of the most popular and long lasting PC magazines, at least in the U.S. Ultimately, it suffered the death of most other computer magazines as they were essentially replaced with the Internet. The October 17th, 1989 issue includes:

    Up Front

    • Inside – An overview of the contents of this issue.
    • Letters – Reader letters about Type Director, the NEC ProSpeed 286, form letter software, the history of the fax, Amax 386 computers, MCA vs. EISA, and more.
    • Advisor – Questions answered about auto-rebooting from within a batch file, creating plots with an HP LaserJet, adding a floppy controller to have more than two floppy drives, and using COM ports beyond COM2.
    • First Looks – Previews of new software, including HP’s NewWave, Finesse desktop publishing software, the HP LaserJet IIP, PC Paintbrush IV, FastLynx, and What-If Analyst for Lotus 1-2-3.
    • New and Improved – A look at new products, including an car power adapter and external battery charger for the Compaq SLT/286, Pacific Page (a cartridge to add full postscript capability to LaserJet printers), the Omnifax PPI (sends faxes to a laser printer), and more.
    • Pipeline – Lotus and Symantec plan Deskmate versions of their products; AT&T plans online service to compete with CompuServe and Prodigy; Okidata and Hewlett-Packard plan slower, cost-reduced printers.
    • Bill Machrone – Unix based 386 computers and LANs are starting to replace minicomputers and terminals.
    • John C. Dvorak – He predicts compatibility problems with PC clones will get worse before they get better. I don’t really think that ended up happening though.
    • Inside Track – Intel is starting to manufacture the 486 chip (at 25-MHz). But the 8088 isn’t dead yet as versions up to 10-MHz are being produced. Clones of the 8088 like the NEC V20 would reach 12-MHz.
    • Jim Seymour – Upgrading Lotus 1-2-3 to release 3.0 may be more trouble than it is worth.
    • William F. Zachmann – An impending recession may put a damper on the fast growing PC industry.
    • Stephen Manes – A skeptical view of the OS/2 GUI, the Presentation Manager. It had pretty stiff hardware requirements for the time.

    Cover Story

    • Presentation Graphics – A detailed look at presentation graphics software, including SlideWrite Plus, Graph Plus, Harvard Graphics, Kinetic Graphics System, Lotus Freelance Plus, Xerox Presents, and The Graphics Gallery Collection. Eventually, PowerPoint would come along and destroy them all.

    Features

    • Graphics – A detailed look at clip art software and libraries, including ArtRight Image Portfolios, Arts & Letter Graphics Editor, Bitfolio Computer Art & Symbols Library, Click & Clip 500, ClickArt Series, Clip3D Library, Corel Draw!, DeskTop Art, Freelance Maps, Harvard Graphics Accessories, Pages with Impact, Metro ImageBase, Micrografx ClipArt Libraries, PicturePak, Presentation Task Force, and ProArt Professional Art Library.
    • Lightweight Laptops – A detailed comparison of laptops that at the time were considered Lightweight. Models looked at here include the Datavue Spark, Toshiba T1000, Bondwell B200, Sanyo MBC-16LT2, Epson Equity LT, Zenith MinisPort, Toshiba T1200, GRIDLite XL, Sharp PC-4602, Datavue Snap 1+1, Zenith SuperSport, GRID 140XT, NEC UltraLite, Sharp PC-4641, and NEC MultiSpeed HD. The Zenith SuperSport, for example, weighed in at over 13 pounds.

    Productivity

    • Lab Notes – The second part of a two part series on the communications capabilities of OS/2, including a terminal emulator example.
    • Utilities – A look at a utility that can dim your VGA monitor and also provides a screen blanking screen saver.
    • Environments – Part one of a series on mixing text at graphics. This part focusses on the OS/2 Programming Interface.
    • Power Programming – The second part of a series on programming the 386. This part looks at converting existing programs to 32-bit protected mode.
    • User-to-User – Creating temporary files with unique names in batch files; naming files using high-ASCII characters; using the BREAK command; and more.
    • Power User – Automatically calculating blank space needed for inserting figures in Microsoft Word documents; backing up large database files; creating vertical lines and grids in WordPerfect; and more.
    • Languages – Using the INSTR command in BASIC; using BIT arrays to define flags; large number accuracy in Turbo Pascal 5.0; and more.
    • Connectivity Clinic – Connecting a Toshiba laptop to an Ethernet LAN; Mixing Ethernet adapters; log-in scripts on Novell networks; and more.

    After Hours

    • Prodigy – Prodigy, an online service that is a joint venture between IBM and Sears, provides a graphical interface.
    • LiveWire – A PC expansion card that extracts stock market crawl data from the Financial News Network via cable or satellite.
    • InfoLook – I dial-in service that offers multiple, individually priced services.

    …and more!


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  • PC world (June 1993)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC world – June 1993

    June 1993 was the month and year I graduated high school. I would buy my first “PC” (I had a Commodore 64 at the time) a couple of months later, right before going off to college. The June 1993 ‘Lotus Edition’ issue includes a special Lotus 1-2-3 insert with articles that I assume Lotus paid for. The normal contents of this issue includes:

    Cover Story

    • 486s for $1250 – Budget 486 systems reach new low prices. Current best buys include the Micro Express ME 486DLC/40, Acma 486SX-33 VESA, Blackship BLK 486DX/33 LB, USA Flex 486SX/25, and Diamond DT 486DLC/40. There are also categories for best price, best service and support and best performance. A total of 25 486 based systems are reviewed here.

    Spreadsheets

    • 50 Spreadsheet Tips – Tips and tricks for using Excel, Quattro Pro and multiple versions of Lotus 1-2-3.

    Windows

    • Windows NT: The New DOS? – Windows NT may be the future of PCs. Ultimately that would prove true when Windows XP took over circa 2001…but not in 1993.
    • Word Processor or Desktop Publisher – A comparison of Word Processing software vs. Desktop Publishing software. Software in the comparison includes Ami Pro, Microsoft Word for Windows, WordPerfect for Windows, Publish It, Express Publisher, and Microsoft Publisher.
    • Databases Come to Windows – A look at Database software for Windows including FileMaker Pro 2.0, AceFile 2.0, DataEase Express 1.0, Superbase 2.0, Microsoft Access 1.0 and Paradox for Windows 1.0.

    Top of the News

    • 1-2-3 Leapfrogs Excel and Quattro – An overview of the latest release of Lotus 1-2-3 (version 4.0 for Windows). Supposedly it offered more features and usability than Excel and Quattro Pro at the time.
    • In Touch on the Go – A look at the new HP 100LX palmtop/PDA which features an 80C186 processor capable of running DOS applications (up to 300K in size), a CGA black and white screen, and more.
    • HP’s LaserJet 4L Makes Itself at Home – A “low cost” $849 laser printer.
    • cc:Mail for Windows Plays by Your Rules – A look at cc:Mail 2.0, an e-mail system designed for local area networks (Internet e-mail wasn’t yet a thing for the vast majority of people).
    • How to Survive If Your PC Maker Doesn’t – There used to be far more major computer manufacturers and a seemingly unlimited number of smaller computer builders in the 1990s. However, it wasn’t uncommon for smaller computer makers to come and go, potentially leaving you without support.

    New Products

    • Zeos Contenda and Micro Electronics WinBook notebook PCs – A look at the new Zeos Contenda notebook featuring a 25 MHz 386SL processor, backlit VGA screen, 2MB of RAM and a 80MB hard drive for $1495 and the Micro Electronics WinBook featuring a Cyrix 25-MHz 486SLC CPU, 4MB of RAM and a 120MB hard drive for $1699.

    • CompuAdd 450SLC2 486 desktop PC – This PC features a 486SLC2-50 CPU and 4MB of RAM for $1695.
    • Pinnacle RCD-202, RCD-200 CD ROM recorders – What would eventually be called CD-RW drives were not really affordable/popular until around 1998 or so (even then they were pretty expensive). However, they were available much earlier. Here’s a couple from Pinnacle Micro for a mere $4095 and $4195 (five years later such drives would be priced in the hundreds of dollars).
    • Packard Bell 486 PCs – In the Pentium era, Packard Bell developed a very poor reputation. However, before that I think there hardware tended to be more standard and more reliable. In 1993 they introduced a whole new line of 486 PCs.
    • Maxtor MXL-105-III – Tiny PCMCIA based 42MB and 85MB hard drives for $475 and $600. I have a 1GB IBM PCMCIA hard drive lying around somewhere…
    • Adobe Photoshop 2.5 for Windows – Photoshop used to be a Mac only program. Not anymore…
    • MapInfo Maps&Data – Presentation/mapping software designed for things like illustrating layouts of sites for new proposed commercial buildings and such.
    • Microsoft Visual C++ 1.0 – A much easier way to develop Windows apps than there had been up to that point.
    • Serif PagePlus 2.0 desktop publisher – A desktop publishing package that would have competed with things like PageMaker.
    • Asymetrix Compel 1.0 presentation software – Presentation software with new features such as video, sound and animation. Would have competed with software like Lotus’s Freelance and of course Microsoft’s PowerPoint.
    • Polaris PackRat 5.0 – A personal information manager with features such as a calendar, tools to organize your documents, and more.
    • askSam for Windows – A database management program with a friendly user interface.
    • Artisoft LANtastic 5.0 – Software for setting up a local area network which includes software and features for voice chat, sharing text/graphics/sound via the Scrapbook, sharing files (of course), support for 500 users, and more.
    • Quick Takes – A brief look at new products including Searcher 3.0 (Windows file manager), Strategic Mapping’s Eurostat Editions (mapping software), Diamond Stealth Pro VLB and Viper VLB video cards, FilemakerPro Translator (translates Symantec’s Q&A database format to FileMaker Pro), Matrox MGA Impression video cards, and more.

    Here’s How

    • Help Line – Questions answered from readers including tips about terminal auto-dialing in Windows, using Print Screen, choosing an on-line service, using XCOPY, and more.
    • Spreadsheets – Questions answered about spreadsheet programs including using edit, search and replace in Quattro Pro, hiding and formatting columns in Excel, using macros in Excel, book recommendations and more.
    • Word Processing – Word processing question answered about changing the font in WordPerfect 5.1, temporary files in WordPerfect for Windows, converting documents from WordPerfect 5.1 to Ami Pro 3.0, and more.
    • Windows – Windows questions answered about drag and drop in Windows 3.1, using file manager, removing Norton Desktop (I loved this program back in the day), managing postscript fonts, and more.
    • Data Management – Database questions answered about printing and dBASE III Plus, saving deleted dBASE records, counting records in Paradox, formatting Paradox 4.0 reports, and more.
    • Publishing & Presentation – Publishing and presentation related questions answered about backgrounds in Harvard Graphics 3.0, creating fractions in PageMaker, and printing transparencies in CorelDraw 3.0 (another program I loved though I may have had 3.x or 4 .x).
    • Communications – Telecommunications questions answered about Internet access and e-mail addresses and hanging up in Procomm Plus for Windows with a Zoom modem.
    • Hardware – Hardware questions answered about upgrading hard drives, upgrading 486 CPUs to clock doubled models and dead batteries.
    • Star-Dot-Star – Miscellaneous questions answered including questions about importing data into Lotus 1-2-3 from comma delimited files, dialing a modem direct from DOS, and more.
    • Instant Reference Card – Detailed reference cards for Microsoft DOS 6.0.

    Departments

    • Letters – Readers write in about organizing your hard drive, tax software, multiboot in DOS 6.0 and DR DOS 6.0, shareware, and more.
    • Consumer Watch – Mail order company BCS violates FTC rules, Dataworld disappears, Bulldog Computer Products fails to deliver, and more.
    • Real Problems, Real Solutions – Linking remote offices via a dedicated data line offers solution to inconvenient faxes, phone calls and overnight delivery of documents.
    • Business Fixtures – A look at Improv, a simplified spreadsheet program from Lotus.
    • Games: Break Time – A look at some recent PC games including Ultima Underworld II – Labyrinth of Worlds, Contraption Zack, David Leadbetter’s Greens, and Links 386.
    • Home Office – A look at a few programs for Windows that help to make sure all pieces of uninstalled software are really gone. Software examined includes Uninstall for Windows, The Uninstaller, and System Engineer.

    …and more!


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