Review: Star Trek, The Screen Saver

Prevent Screen Burn-In

Fascinating. It is quite illogical for humans to want a computing machine to be personalized, and yet we find that 20th century Macintosh users used a product called After Dark to decorate and animate their inactive computers.
Given this fact, it was, however, quite logical for the phenomenon known as ÒTrekkiesÓ to invade EarthÕs monitor space.
ÐSpock, stardate unknown

Red Alert! Star Trek, The Screen Saver has beamed aboard! Kirk, McCoy, Spock, and Scotty can now appear on a screen very near you. The Berkeleyans have outdone themselves this time; while protecting your monitor, this screen saver will faithfully recall episodes and themes from the original TV show, from the opening ÒSpace: the Final Frontier,Ó to multiplying Tribbles squealing when a Klingon appears.

One of the most elaborate modules (perhaps we should call them ÒepisodesÓ) is called ÒThe Mission.Ó It condenses scenes from many episodes, many aliens, many threats. The view randomly switches between animated views of Kirk at the conn and the main view screen.

Techie Trekkies will be fascinated by the Planetary Atlas, a catalog of the planets visited by the Enterprise, and ScottyÕs Files, carefully detailed drawings of various Star Trek hardware, including the Enterprise, a Klingon battle cruiser, UhuraÕs earpiece, the universal translator, phasers, communicators, and many more, all Òaccurate to Starfleet specifications.Ó

Spock has a module all to himself, beaming in and out of your screen, taking tricorder readings, mind-melding with Hortas, burning holes in your desktop with his phaser, and occasionally even playing music on his Vulcan lyrette.

And thereÕs lots more: Watch the Enterprise orbit around spinning planets. See Klingon and Romulan star ships. Watch the Tholian Web being constructed. See an ion storm. See Horta creating tunnels through solid rock. Visit McCoyÕs sickbay and see his monitor registering vital life signs and diagnosing alien diseases. YouÕll hear BonesÕ comments (ÒMedically impossible;Ó ÒIÕm a doctor, not a mechanic;Ó and of course the classic, ÒHeÕs dead, Jim.Ó

While weÕre on the subject of sounds, youÕll find plenty! If youÕre in the next room, you might think someone is watching reruns on TV. Voices and sound effects galore! Squink. Bleeble. ThereÕs even an interactive Starfleet Academy Final Exam where you can test your knowledge of Star Trek Trivia. 

The Star Trek screen saver is completely compatible with earlier versions of After Dark, and old favorites like the Multimodule and Randomizer work just as they always did. The only possible drawback is the amount of space it takes on your hard driveÑapproximately 3.2 megabytes. ThatÕs a lot of graphics and sounds. The package advertises Òover fifteenÓ modules, and we counted sixteen. Truth in advertising.

ThereÕs so much here, in fact, that youÕll be tempted to just sit and watch them from start to finish. If you do this, be prepared to spend several hours! It might be better to just install it and let the pleasure last for months.
Live long and phosphor!

by Jim Alley
© 1992 The Savannah Macintosh Users Group

Star Trek: The Screen Saver
Berkeley Systems, Inc.
2095 Rose Street
Berkeley, CA  94709
(510) 540-5535
Street price: $38
Requirements: Minimum Mac Plus, 2MB RAM, hard drive, System 6.0.4 or later.

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This article may be reprinted in a single issue of newsletters published by non-profit user groups. Payment shall consist of a single issue of the newsletter in which the article appears, sent to the following address:

Jim Alley
320 East 54th Street
Savannah, GA  31405