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Monster Media 1996 #14
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Monster Media No. 14 (April 1996) (Monster Media, Inc.).ISO
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SOFTWARE.LST
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1995-12-11
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SOFTWARE
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This section is an experiment. It is a list of software that I find to be an
outstanding value for price. It's not intended to be an inclusive listing,
only some "insider" tips to bargains available in (PC-compatible) software.
You will note my bias toward shareware versus overpriced commercial products.
BIBLIOTECH CD ROM COMPILATION, [ PDSL, Sussex, England, TN6 1UL UK], approx.
$12 - $15.
Superb and unusually comprehensive collection of reference material,
world literature, shareware. Best all-around collection I've seen.
BOYAN communications software, ver. 5.1. [Justin Boyan, BOYAN Communications,
PO Box 71, Woodstock, MD 21163, shareware with $40 registration].
One of the best communications programs, with many options and a
powerful script language. Better than the commercial equivalents at 2-5
times the price. Available for download on BBS's, etc.
EL-Fish, by Animatek. [Maxis, Two Theatre Square, Suite 230, Orinda, CA
94563-3346]. Approx $40 full price, but available for $15 or less through
surplus sources and at computer shows.
A wonderfully entertaining animated aquarium that allows you to create
your own fish, either by random selection or by "evolution". Fun and
educational.
FRACTINT [The Stone Group, freeware with $0 registration].
A must have for anyone interested in fractals, chaos, or graphics. This
is a complete system for displaying and studying fractals. Available
for download on BBS's, ftp sites, commercial services.
IMPROCES image processing software [John Wagner, 6161 El Cajon Blvd., Suite
B-246, San Diego, CA 92115, shareware with $30 registration].
A powerful pixel and palette editor for GIF and PCX files. Well worth
the modest registration.
LHARC file-compression software. Available for download from on-line
subscription services and BBS's. Freeware.
Useful software that is totally free is truly rare. This fits the bill.
Slower and not quite as functional as Phil Katz'es PKZIP, but the price
is right.
LINUX system software. Available on the Internet for download from various
SIG's and sites. Available on CD ROM from several vendors, priced at between
$15 and $50.
LINUX is a completely functional UNIX "clone". Student Linus Torvalds,
with the help of friends and associates, expanded the MINIX operating
system into the functional equivalent of the UNIX operating system,
including full C and C++ compilers and *all* the familiar utilities.
Best deal is for the "bare" CD's gotten at a computer show at the low
end of the price scale. If you need extensive docs, buy the book,
THE LINUX BIBLE (see * computer.lst *). Get the latest version of
Slackware, 2.3 at this writing.
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I recommend the InfoMagic 4-disk distribution, priced at about $25
direct from InfoMagic at PO Box 30370, Flagstaff, AZ 86003-0370 [email:
info@infomagic.com]. This is updated every few months. I have seen
this 4-disk distribution on sale as low as $15 at computer shows.
LIST utility. [Verno Buerg, 139 White Oak Circle, Petaluma, CA, 94952,
shareware with $15 registration].
LIST is the best text file lister available. It has many additional
features and options, such as the ability to list binary files and even
to dial the phone. This is one more instance where shareware outdoes
higher-priced commercial software. Available for download on BBS's, ftp
sites, and commercial services such as AOL.
PHONE DISK (r) POWERFINDER 5-CD Set. [Digital Directory Assistance, Inc.,
6931 Arlington Rd., Suite 405, Bethesda, MD 20814, (800) 284-8353], approx
$150 retail.
This package includes almost every listed telephone number in the U.S.,
both business and residential. May also be used as a "reverse
directory", to find names from the phone numbers. Contains complete
addresses for the entries and allows targeted searches. Worth the full
retail price, almost, but if you are willing to settle for a version 6
months or so out of date, you can get the set for $28.95 from Surplus
Software, 489 N. 8th St., Hood River, OR 97031, (800) 753-7877.
POWER C Compiler and PC Trace Debugger. [Mix Software, 1132 Commerce Dr.,
Richardson, TX 75081, (800) 333-0330 order, (214) 783-6001 tech questions,
(214) 783-1404 fax].
The Power C compiler is fully ANSI-compliant, and at $19.95 (plus
shipping) an unbelievable bargain. The included library functions are
more inclusive than those of the Borland and Microsoft compilers. Its
weaknesses are that it has only bare-bones support for graphics and no
support for C++. The PC Trace Debugger, at $19.95 extra is the absolute
best debugger in the industry at any price.
...I am waiting for Mix Software to come up with a C++ compiler at about
$30 that will blow away Microsoft and Borland. Are you listening, Mix?
PUBLISH IT!, version 2.0 on CD ROM. [Timeworks, 625 Academy Dr., Northbrook,
IL 60062, (708) 559-1300].
This simple-to-use desktop publishing program is ideal for beginners and
for DTP applications not needing complex design or color. Comes with
tons of fonts, templates, and clipart on the CD ROM. Available at
computer flea markets for as little as $15 or less, a super bargain.
Note that, IMHO, this ver. 2.0 on CD ROM is actually superior to ver. 3
at a much higher price.
SCRAMBLE game. [Diana Gruber, Ted Gruber Software, PO Box 13408, Las Vegas,
NV 89112, shareware with $15 registration].
An excellent Scrabble (tm) clone that plays with a very intuitive
interface. The graphics are adequate, if a bit clunky. This
implementation is better than the commercial one by Virgin Games at
twice the price.
SHANGHAI: GREAT MOMENTS DEMO. Activision, PO Box 67713, Los Angeles, CA
90067, $4.95.
Forget the SHANGHAI demo (haven't even tried it). The added bonus on
this $4.95 CD ROM is worth several times the price. There is a working
version of SARGON V "World Class Chess" on the CD. Only one chess set
and somewhat limited options, but still...
SIM LIFE. [Maxis, 2 Theatre Sq., Ste. 230, Orinda, CA 94563-3346]. Approx $35
- $40 retail, but available "surplus" or at shows for $10 - $15.
Play at creating life, manipulating genes, creating ecosystems.
Educational and fun, but addicting?
USENET (Archives) CD ROM Set. [InfoMagic, PO Box 30370, Flagstaff, AZ 86003-
0370, (602) 526-9565, e-mail: info@infomagic.com], $25 for 2-CD set, may be
available cheaper at computer fleas.
This is a 2-CD compilation of USENET newsgroups archives, including
FAQ's, tips, games, comp.sources, and alt.sources. If you are an
Internet newsgroup junkie (like me), this CD set will save you mega-
bucks of connect time. Mucho, mucho info.
WORDSWORTH game. [Graham Wheeler, PO Box 15525, Vlaeberg, Cape Town 8018,
South Africa, shareware with $25 U.S. registration].
An interesting attempt to revitalize the Scrabble (tm) concept. Removes
many of the restrictions of the original game by allowing free-form
board shapes, special letter distributions, etc. Uses hi-res graphics.
Definitely worth trying.