Big Blue Disk 26/bbd26.zip/BLUENOTE.TXT

Text File | 1988-09-29 | 19KB | 352 lines

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Dear Sirs,

   OK, I give in, your readers have arroused my curiosity to such great heights
when refering to back Nos. in Blue notes that I will have to collect them
all.  My written order for the first 6 issues is included.  Too much of a good
thing is not good for you; I'll order some more when I've got all I can out of
this lot.

   I would like to point out to you that we New Zealanders have been in a bit
of strife in the last few years with the US of A over your steadfast refusal
to "either confirm or deny" the existence of Nuclear Arms on/in your Naval
vessels visiting NZ; therefore, I have deleted "Frigate" from my issue 22.  Our
non-Nuclear stand must be upheld, especially since you have effectively taken
the NZ out of ANZUS.  My son has kept his copy though, which I may borrow.

   You ask in your notes what would we readers like you to include.  I, for
one, think for the money, you are doing all you could be expected to.  I'm
sure there will always be something there to interest me.  You could possibly
induce your people to spell coloUr the right way.  You drive cars on the wrong
side too.

^RJ. C. Collier
^RWellington, New Zealand
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To Big Blue Disk People,

   First of all, let me tell you how much I am enjoying your disk magazine.  I
am 57 years old now, retired, and even though I got into computers only
recently, I enjoy many wonderful hours here at the keyboard.

   Most every issue contains several things that I enjoy now or figure that I
will be able to use later.  Keep up the good work!  Even though your readers
have such a variety of interests, you seem to include things to benefit each
one of us.

   Some of the programs I enjoy or use the most are: First and foremost are ALL
of your text adventures!  Then there are these: Hangman(and other word games),
Alfredo's ventures, the Print Shop graphics, all the solitaire programs (card
and otherwise), Western, and naturally the Dungeon and Dragon types.  Among the
business (etc) programs that I use are: Calendar, Find It, Software Indexer,
Astronomy, Procomm, and the graphic programs.  I am saving many others for use
in the future.

   I do have one suggestion.  It concerns the exact duplication of filenames on
your programs.  I found myself in trouble when I tried to copy the quizzes
"States and Capitals" and "Nations and Capitals" on the same disks.  With the
duplication of file names on the two programs, I found myself with only one
program on that disk.  A slight name change would have helped.  I realize that
you have many programs, probably too many to check, but it would really help.

^RPatricia Adams
^RSpokane, WA

^1>  Those two programs used the same driver program with different data files,
^1>hence the filename duplication.  You'll need to make separate subdirectories
^1>or use two different disks for these programs.  We'll see what we can do about
^1>avoiding such name conflicts in the future, but as you state, it's difficult.
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Dear BBD:

   Let me begin by saying that your publication is truly impressive,
especially to a neophyte like myself.  Since buying my computer this spring, I
have been confounded by the lack of readable books and magazines in the
marketplace (New owners/users require some spoon-feeding, to be sure).  Your
magazette presents a wide range of useful material while, at the same time,
leaving the novice operator without a sense of ineptitude, as many others do.

   I have found the Software Indexer (#23) and the Family Tree (Best Of)
programs quite useful in the applications I envisioned for my system.

   One thing I would like to ask about is User Groups.  Having acquired an older
text on PC's, I found mention of these groups as being a useful tool in
learning to use these machines.  Is this a realistic concept currently? Do they
still exist, or have they yielded in the face of the onslaught of flood of
periodicals in the marketplace?  How does one contact such a group?

^RDavid A. Rawson
^RBeverly, MA

^1>  There are still many active user groups, and they are a good place for
^1>beginners to pick up computer knowledge.  COMPUTER SHOPPER magazine publishes
^1>a long list of these groups; you might want to check it out on the stands.
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Dear BIG BLUE DISK,

   I've noticed that some of your readers complain about specific issues and
programs.  I have also found that some issues are more useful to me than
others, but overall, everything is so well done that I would not want you to
change your editorial policies on choosing material a single bit.  You do an
excellent job of presenting a varied, well rounded magazine with something for
almost everyone.  Which also accounts for why my twelve year-old stands over
me like a vulture waiting for his turn at the computer when your magazine
arrives in the  mail.

^RJames Lewis
^RLos Angeles, CA
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Dear Big Blue Disk:

   I have been a subscriber since issue 19.  So far, I have been impressed with
the quality of the programs provided and the overall professional "look and
feel" of BBD.

   My initial subscription included a disk called "Best of Big Blue Disk" which
I liked very very much.  Along with my last renewal, came a listing of all
previous issues of BBD.  I find the synopses of the older issues intriguing,
but I am hesitant to order the dozen or so back issues I am interested in (at
$9.95 each) when there is, generally, only one or two programs I am curious
about on each one.  I would be far more inclined to order back issue materials
if they were available by program classification.  For example: "Big Blue
Disk: Fun 'n' Games (games from issues 1 thru 23)" or "Text Adventure Games
from BBD: Issues 1 thru 23" or "Bits 'n' PC's from Big Blue Disk" (covering
the Bits 'n' PC's column in Issues 1 thru 19) or "Print Shop Images: the
Complete Collection (Issues 1 thru 23)" or ... well you get the picture.  I
wouldn't think it would be too much trouble to reorganize the back issue
materials in some sort of coherent fashion.  All materials would not have to
be included, just major areas that may be of interest to your subscribers.  It
may be worth your while.  I can think of at least ONE person that would be
enticed to reach for his checkbook (or VISA card), certainly there must be
others!

^RTony Waller
^RPortland, OR

^1>  Good idea; we may do it.  Keep checking our on-disk ads and paper inserts.
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Dear Big Blue Disk,

   I have a few comments about BBD, some good (most of it) and a little bad.

   First, the not-so-good comments.  (Please keep in mind that my experience
with computers is limited and some of my problems may stem from that).

   The PC-Key-Draw program was a big disappointment.  I thought from trying to
use it that it had many problems to be worked out.  Also, the documentation
read "sold as is" but I could buy an original copy if I registered for a
certain amount.  I don't mind registering (I've done it many times) but I'd
like the initial program to work as advertised.

   The other big loss was the "Screenmaker" program.  As I said, I have a 256K
capacity, but when I tried to load this program my computer kept telling me
that the program was too large.  So, I never even got inside the darn thing.
Too bad -- it looks like a nice program.  Maybe when I boost to 384K I can try
it again.  I checked the packaging for this program and verified that only
256K was needed.

   "States and Capitals" is a real good program except that the capitol of
North Dakota is not Fargo--it's Bismarck.  I happen to be from North Dakota
and we take things like that personally.  It was almost as bad as when
National Geographic Magazine sent out maps of North Dakota and left off my
home town, Linton, the county seat of Emmons County.  But, I do have a good
sense of humor.

   Lastly, "Form King" left me high and dry.  I just couldn't figure the darn
thing out and make it print out.  Forget the printing--the making of the form
was hard enough to figure out.

   Now the parts that I don't have the backround in computers to understand.
These include the programs or utilites:
               DETAB, ML TO TURBO INLINE, EASYMENU, GREP COMMAND,
             DOS COMMAND HISTORY, THE COLOR COMMAND,QUICKSORT DEMO,
                        ANY PROGRAM FEATURING "ANALOGS".
Please remember that I lack the knowledge or experience to figure these
programs out, but that will change also.  (I'm a night school student in
college).

   I'd like to end this note on the positive side with some of the things I
like/liked best about BBD.

   First, this program [BlueLine].  This is a great program for letters,
notes, anything! I love it because it works, looks, and acts very professional
with the commands and help at the bottom of the screen.  It also has a "Quit"
command so that I don't have to reboot the computer unlike a program such as
"Marble Madness".

   Then there was the life saver, Check King.  I would have killed for a
program like that only one year ago.  My wife and I would set aside an entire
afternoon to fight with our checkbook balancing.  Now, with this program, I
can balance the dreaded thing in about 20 minutes.  I always come out 0.00
where before we'd be off anywhere from $3.00 to $50.00.  Where were the
mistakes?  I found out from this program that the mistakes were usually ours
to begin with.  I sent the author money for registration along with a thank
you note.  In addition, he sent me "Othello", "Solitaire", and "Chess".  I'll
always hate him for sending me "Othello";  playing that game with the computer
brings back shades of Hal.  Is this computer really laughing at me?

   Any and all games you provide are fun.  I'm still a kid at heart and the
games keep me up nights. "Kitadel" and "Willy the Worm" don't have help
windows, so I wasn't able to finish those.  They're pretty tough--at least for
me.  I especially like the card games.  The graphics are excellent.  More
recently, "Knight Exchange" and "Western" prove to be a delightful addition to
my ever growing collection.  "Frigate" has me in a state of rage.  The rage
stems from the fact that I can't work a nine hour day when I play this game
until midnight the night before.

   Your publication is a very good one and well worth the money.  It's
professional, well written, and easy enough (and hard enough) for anyone to
use.  I'll continue to subscribe as long as you people are there to publish it.
Please keep up the good work and thanks for keeping people on my level of
understanding in mind.

   My computer courses in college are coming up in a few short months and I
hope to go back to those programs I wasn't able to understand for another
crack at them.

^RLou Wangler
^RElkhart, IN

^1>  We're sorry you had difficulty running some of our programs.  We try to make
^1>them understandable to all, but don't always succeed.  Try re-reading the
^1>instructions, then run the programs and experiment a little.  FormKing and
^1>DOS COMMAND HISTORY aren't very difficult to use once you get the hang of them,
^1>and the same is true for most of our programs.  ML TO TURBO INLINE, however,
^1>is not recommended for anyone who isn't already a "hacker."
^1>  Some larger programs won't work on 256K Tandy computers due to their mapping
^1>of screen display memory into the main RAM, thus giving 16K less memory for
^1>programs than with other brands of 256K PC's.
^1>  Sorry about the States & Capitals error; we goofed!  (Or, rather, the author
^1>goofed, and we failed to catch it as editors should.)
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Dear BIG BLUE DISK,

   I was absolutely delighted with my first issues of Big Blue Disk.  In
addition I received some software that I had been looking for, but wasn't sure
about the quality of "public domain" stuff advertised.

   Specifically I was interested in a family tree program so that I could record
and print information on our family and pass along an on-going record.  So,
when I saw Family Tree on the Best Of Big Blue Disk, it was wonderful.  Even
better, the program was easy to use, and let me enter information on deaths,
relationships, children, multiple marriages, etc.  Super.

   But, when I went to put this on paper, all I had for options was an ancestors
and descendants choice, no marriages, relationships other than parent/child...
rats...the most important stuff, who married who and was sister/brother to who
couldn't be shown.

Is there a more expanded version of this software available?
Is there a different program available?
Is there one that will run "sideways" to get more than three generations on a
piece of paper?

   Anybody have knowledge of a really complete "family tree" that allows not
only data entry but complete data display?

Thanks for the help.

^RKay Ellen Grant
^RBedford, TX

^1>  You're in luck; we've released an enhanced version of Family Tree.  It will
^1>be sent free to all who renew their BIG BLUE DISK subscriptions.
^1>  The Enhanced Family Tree has a better user interface, and more output
^1>reports.  No "sideways" report is available, though; however, you can get
^1>into compressed type mode on your printer and choose a column width greater
^1>than 80, which will allow more generations to be output.  The descendant
^1>tree will show spouses too.  A chronological family history report is also
^1>available.  A conversion routine comes with the program to take all your data
^1>you've entered under the old Family Tree program.
^1>  In general, everyone who liked Family Tree, but was frustrated by its
^1>limitations, should love the new Enhanced Family Tree.  Renew your subscription
^1>now!  (No need to wait until you get a renewal notice: just place a toll-free
^1>call at [phone].)
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Dear Dan,

    I have finally finished the Kingdom of Kroz, the game that was in your
Issue No. 20.  That was a very captivating adventure.  A couple of small
problems for Mr. Miller to work on, though.  On a couple of levels there are
earthquake traps that shake the screen.  I'm not sure if it's my Tandy's fault
or what, but after the "tremors" quit, the screen is off the top of my monitor.
Also the "Increase in whip power" on level 7 does nothing like the later levels
which show a "+" sign next to your number of whips.

    Mr. Miller wanted to know if anyone gets past level 11, enclosed you will
find a slide show of all 25 levels with my high score list at the end.

^RM. Martone
^RBossier City, LA

^1>  We don't have room to present your slide show here, but it did indeed show
^1>that you completed the Kroz program successfully.  Congratulations!
^1>  Do you have an EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter) board?  These boards always
^1>had a problem with screen bounces we used on our menu (which is why these
^1>bounces are presently disabled when an EGA is detected).  It could be that
^1>Scott Miller did a similar trick.  (I don't know myself, since I never managed
^1>to get nearly so far; I may be good at programming, writing, and editing, but
^1>hand-eye coordination is another matter entirely!)  We're sorry if it didn't
^1>quite work on your machine, though it apparently didn't deter you from
^1>completing the game.
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Dear BBD,

   I have to tell you.  When I saw your ad in FAMILY & HOME OFFICE COMPUTING, I
was a little sceptical about mags on disk.  I had seen another disk mag, and
just wasn't impressed at all.  But I read your ad, and the price was good, so I
decided to give you a try.  (It did help to offer a free disk.  That's what set
the hook.)  Well, you will find enclosed, my subscription order.

   I've only received 3 issues so far (Best of..., #21, & #22), and I really
like the "Blue Notes" section.  I've seen a lot of letters concerning PRINT
SHOP.  I have both PRINT SHOP and PRINT MAGIC.  If you are looking to buy a
printing program, I HIGHLY recommend PRINT MAGIC.  Its graphics are unbeatable.
Plus, you can use PRINT SHOP graphics with it.  The only thing PRINT SHOP has
over PRINT MAGIC is that PRINT SHOP allows for graphics on banners, where PRINT
MAGIC doesn't.

^RDarryl Spurlock
^RSikeston, Missouri

P.S.  I thought the Fireworks Display program on #21 was a BLAST (no pun
intended).  Will you be having any more Holiday graphic displays in coming
issues?

P.P.S.
TO: Andrea Ariola
    Clewiston, Florida (Blue Notes, Issue 22)

   I know how you feel moving from an active BBS area to an out-of-the-way town.
I moved from Venice Florida in 1985 to Southeast Missouri and found nothing
here.  I disconnected my modem because I couldn't afford the bills of long
distance.  Plus the temptation was too great.  I know how small Clewiston is.
I've been around that area a lot going to Belle Glade on highway 27.  Look at it
this way.  You do live on one of the best fishing lakes in the USA.
^CHang in there,
^C"D"

^1> Well, on the subject of holiday displays, how do you like the Christmas Card
^1>in this issue?
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^1>  NOTE:  Some people in BBD #22's letter column expressed interest in convert-
^1>ing Print Shop images to Print Master.  I've got a note here from a reader
^1>(the name is illegible, and the enclosed subscription order got separated in
^1>our processing, so I can't give credit here) that with Print Master Plus,
^1>if you rename the Print Shop *.NAM files to *.SDR, and the *.DAT files to
^1>*.SHP (e.g., GRBBD23.NAM to GRBBD23.SDR, and GRBBD23.DAT to GRBBD23.SHP),
^1>the images will be usable.  Apparently Print Master Plus uses the same data
^1>formats as Print Shop but different file extensions.