OS/2 Shareware BBS: 32 Periodic/32-Periodic.zip/gzt0794.zip/GZT0794.INF

OS/2 Help File | 1994-07-20 | 117KB | 502 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. About the Gazette ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Gazette comes in two formats - an INF file (this file) and a PostScript
file that is in the form of a 5-page newsletter and can be printed locally on
any laser printer that is running in PostScript mode.  The Gazette is published
quarterly and can be electronically downloaded from most OS2 Bulletin Boards,
Compuserve, and the Internet.  If you can't obtain a copy, contact
[e-mail] or call GREATER CHICAGO Online!! BBS and download
it. You can also send mail to the Gazette c/o GREATER CHICAGO,  Box 188,
Lansing IL 60438.

NOTE:  The archive where you'll find this file and the postscript version of
the Gazette is GZT0794.ZIP.  That's this file - previous 1994 Issues are
GZT0494.ZIP and GZT0194.ZIP.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Credits ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Page One ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

There's a new wind ablowin' in Chicago or should we say in the Chicago suburb
of Skokie, Illinois.  That's the headquarters location of the maker of fine
modems, U. S. Robotics  Their new 28,800 bps V.FC modem has really taken the
airwaves by storm.  V.32 ready, it has received rave reviews from just about
everyone and if the retail price of $795 doesn't stop you from reading any
further here, you'll find that this new hardware device is to communications
what OS/2 was to operating systems.  It can do everything.

And that's the nickname it has been given by BBS SysOps that have seen it
perform. It's the V.Everything modem.  Just as OS/2 bridges the DOS/Windows and
OS/2 operating systems by allowing you to run "everything", so do these new
modems from USR allow you to run V.32turbo/V.42/HST/V.34 at up to 28,800 Bps.

The V.34 standard isn't developed yet, but once it is available, this modem
will be upgradable to that standard with a soft upgrade that will be made
available by US Robotics.  It comes in two models: WITH and WITHOUT HST
compatibility. If you want HST compatibility (that's the old 16.8 Kbps that we
all know and love), the price is $795 for the external version ($50 less for
the internal version) and if you don't need HST compatibility, the price drops
significantly to $595 ($50 less for internal version).

This new modem is US Robotic's attempt at getting back the huge modem industry
market share that they have been losing to Hayes and Microcom.  USR had really
jumped in with both feet for the ATandT V.32Turbo protocol with their Courier
line.  They've marked these Turbo modems down significantly (up to $300 off
list price) just to get them out the door and it's unlikely they will pursue
this hardware architecture much longer with what the industry anticipates will
be wide acceptance of V.Everything.

Bill Cook, SysOp at GREATER CHICAGO Online!! says, " A BBS needs to address a
wide variety of user needs when it comes to modems.  I have callers who are
located in Europe, Puerto Rico and Japan, as well as all over the U. S.  I've
found that most of these long distance users are using a buncb of different
high-speed protocols.  I bought six of these new V.Everything modems because I
need to be able to connect to these users on any line they get to.  I think USR
really has it right this time."

Maybe so - it certainly makes sense to us.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Mister OS/2 Meets Mister Microsoft ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

It was the morning of April 6th and I was scheduled to work at the Chicago
Users' Group tables at a Chicago Computer Professional trade show. My
adrenaline level was still elevated from the NSCOUG 's "Who's Who in OS/2" the
previous evening.  I knew Bill Gates was going to be the keynote speaker this
year as he has been several times in the past. What I didn't know was how fate
was going to put yours truly and Mr. Gates face to face.

I managed to attend Bill's keynote address and when the microphones were open
to audience questions I was surprised how few people were queued up.  Edwin
Black (OS/2 Professional Magazine) got the first shot in with "When is
Microsoft going to start writing native OS/2 applications?" "Hey, Edwin, that
was MY question," I said to myself. Very soon, though, I was at the microphone
so I figured I'd put the screws to him with a pointed question on the Stac
Electronics lawsuit and the future of Microsoft software data compression. I
won't bore you with the details of his response other than to tell you that it
contained a lot of the expected soft shoe.

Having left the keynote a few minutes early to beat the rush back to the
exhibits, I was standing in the OS/2 Users' Group area when I noticed a
commotion near the exhibit entrance. Sure enough, there he was again, Bill
Gates with press photographers and a whole trail of reporters following behind.
This was neat. Bill was walking up the row of exhibits that were adjacent to
the OS/2 exhibits.

To his right was OS/2 and to his left were the Windows exhibits. I noted how
there were no people talking to him as he strolled down the aisle and I was
about to take bets as to whether he would take a right turn into the OS/2 area
or turn left into friendly Windows territory when... Well what do you know, the
photographer leading the procession made a right turn. "OUTSTANDING!" I said to
myself.  I'm not going to blow this opportunity to meet Bill Gates face to
face.

As he started down MY aisle I crossed over to the opposite side so I could
greet him properly. I was still amazed how no one else had approached him up to
this point. Well, he's 10 feet away and I surmised it's now or never.  Walking
toward him with my right hand extended, I was amazed when he broke ranks, came
toward me, and we shook hands. He has a very firm handshake, a definite plus in
my book.  "Hey, maybe this guy is really OK," I thought.

I introduced myself and our conversation went basically like this: "I'm Mister
OS/2 (actually I used my real name) and on behalf of myself and the entire
Chicago OS/2 Users' Group community I would like to request that you rethink
your decision not to have Microsoft write native OS/2 applications."  I looked
straight at him.  I was shocked to see just how grungy this Bill Gates guy
looked close up. Maybe this was a way to put OS/2ers like me off balance, but
he hadn't shaved in two days and his hair was a total mess. I know he's married
now but this was ridiculous.

At any rate, he began to respond to my question with standard reply #12. "It's
a matter of resources within Microsoft and how they are apportioned." "OK," I
said, "but could you explain what you meant with your widely quoted statement
that any operating platform including OS/2 that reached an installed base of 2
million (or was it 1 million) users would find Microsoft developing
applications for it." To that question he replied, "Spencer the Kat quoted me
as saying that." "So, you didn't make that statement?" I asked. "That's right,"
he said. "Hmmm, he wants to deny this?" I thought to myself.

This time I was quick on my feet (one of my few recently) and countered with,
"Well, Mr. Gates not 6 months ago at this very same show, James Cannavino (yes,
I drop names here and there) quoted you as having said you'd develop apps for
OS/2 when it reached an installed base of 2 million or more, and it's twice
that now." He just shrugged and answered, "It doesn't surprise me that he
(Cannavino) would say that." By now I saw things were going nowhere fast and
anyway, a reporter had his nose pressed up against my name tag. So I just
finished up with a polite "Thank you for your time Mr. Gates, this isn't the
answer I wanted to hear, but please have a nice day."  As his procession moved
away, he did throw a final quip at me, "If IBM were to subsidize Microsoft to
the same level they are subsidizing some of these OS/2 ISV's, perhaps Microsoft
would change its position."

Would they? I'll leave that speculation up to somebody else. I don't really
care, because personally, I LOVE OS/2.

Mr. OS/2


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. Mr. OS/2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Mr. OS/2 is alive and well and living in Chicago (or thereabouts).  There have
been countless sightings of Mr. OS/2 over the past year or so.  He may be in
your neighborhood next.  To schedule a visit or to correspond with Mr. OS/2,
contact him at [e-mail].


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. NSCOUG ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 North Suburban Chicago OS/2 User Group - call [phone] for information.
This Group meets in Deerfield, Illinois on the last Tuesday of each month.  5
30 PM to 9 PM, or contact James Schmidt, founder and group coordinator at
[e-mail].


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. OS/2 Book Review - Your OS/2 2.1 Consultant ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Your OS/2 2.1 Consultant by Herb Tyson is one of the best OS/2 books available.
There are many reasons I say this.  For example, check out the Q and A format,
the index, the Question Reference and over 300 questions and answers.

The Q and A format poses questions and answers presented using a short sentence
or paragraph along with a detailed answer that usually provides step-by-step
instructions.

Even if you don't have a specific question, this format provides an enticing
way to get you to continue to read questions page after page.  Gee, a computer
book that you just can't stop reading.  It's addicting!

There are so many OS/2 techniques this book describes, it's difficult to list
here; but let me tell you a few of them.  You can find out about how OS/2 uses
the Program tab.  For example; when looking at a programs settings notebook,
you'll not only get detail about using a programs parameter settings, but
you'll also find out exactly how OS/2 uses the working directory, as well as
how to get a program to issue multiple prompts?

Another instance shows you how to select the Start minimized option when it's
dimmed on the Session tab.  Just use the Program tab and put an asterisk for
the first character of the File/Program name, then select the Start minimized
option using the Session tab, and finally go back and take the asterisk out of
the File/Program name.  Now that's tricky, isn't it?  I love this stuff.

This book actually provides some useful information about how to use the OS/2
productivity programs.  Check out the section describing how to program OS/2
using the alarm clock to automatically open a file at a specified time?

There are a few instances where this book could have provided more information.
Such as the explanation about using a bitmap for a folder's background didn't
work. But these instances are few and far between.

Instead, I could continue to tell you all of the questions you can find answers
to but you could just take a glance at the book yourself.  I say glance because
the Question reference section allows you to find specific questions quickly.
This reference lists all of the questions in the book along with the pages
containing the answers.  If you don't like that, you still have a great index.

This book ranks right up there near the top at 3 1/2 stars!

  by Maria Tyne


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. Maria Tyne ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Maria is the author of two OS/2 books of her own.  The lastest, "Thinking
Person's Guide to OS/2 2.1" is published by QED/John Wiley and Sons. She also
wrote and published "OS/2, the Workplace Shell" a user's guide and tutorial for
OS/2 2.0.  Maria is currently looking for tips to be included in a new book
that she is working on. Please send your tips along with your name, title and
affiliation with OS/2 to Maria at one of the following E-Mail addresses:

  Compuserve 72271,276

  Internet - [e-mail]


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Someone You Should Know:  Brady Flowers ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Next time you pick up your Road Atlas, turn to the page that has the map of
Minnesota on it.  And look around and see if you can find a place called
Mankato.  You'll find it in the South-Central region of that state and that's
where our Someone You Should Know is located.  His name is Brady Flowers and he
writes OS/2 programs.

Anyone who's been around BBSes and OS/2 for any length of time has probably
heard of a communications program called TE/2.  And if you look at the doc that
comes with it, that's where you'll find Brady's name.  That's just one of his
programs.

Brady was born in Mankato, the home of Mankato State University where he
attended college and obtained his undergraduate degree in Math, Physics and
Astronomy.  Looking a little closer at that Road Atlas, you'll find that
Mankato is right next door to Walnut Grove, of Little House on the Prairie
fame.  Folks living in this famous Minnesota town might not even know that the
famous Brady Flowers is just a short shout away.  But if they use OS/2 like we
do, then they know.

They know that Brady started his company, Oberon Software, just 4 years ago and
that it has prospered quite beyond his fondest expectations.  Besides TE/2,
Oberon has produced an off line mail reader (PMQWK), and some other software
called LSTPM, FSHL and DiskStat.  And Brady will be releasing his new Compak/2
Programmer's Toolkit, software tools for Async Communications under OS/2.
Oberon has grown so quickly that Brady is planning to bring TE/2 into the
commercial software arena in the very near future.

Oberon started as a part-time thing for Brady.  The way he tells it, when he
first started getting into communications, he found that none of the terminal
communications programs supported what he needed when dialing up bulletin
boards.  Things like well behaved comm programs (under OS/2) and Zmodem batch
protocol were hard to find in a commercial product, so he wrote his own, and
shared it with some other early users like Pete Norloff (OS/2 Shareware BBS)
and Jim Gilliland (OS/2 enthusiast extraordinaire) who were really among the
first users of what later became known as TE/2.  The program actually became
shareware the day these two guys (among others) asked him how much he wanted
for it - and he accepted their cash in payment for a shareware license to use
his comm program.

Soon, doing his full time job as a Systems Analyst at a local Mankato company,
and working the part time hours at Oberon were just too much for Brady.  "I
couldn't do both," he says.  "Something had to give." And so, Oberon became
more than just a part-time fun-thing-to-do. It became his livelihood.  With his
wife, Colleen, helping with the business of shipping, billing and invoicing and
his two daughters (now 8 and 3), licking stamps and providing some at-home
entertainment, Brady has branched out on his own and Oberon is in the
programming business in a big way.

As Oberon grew, Brady became quite a celebrity among us OS/2ers.  Folks in the
Minneapolis OS/2 User Group look forward to his two or three trips a year up
the 90 miles of Highway 169 from Mankato.  And it's indeed a momentous occasion
when someone calls his Oberon Support BBS and gets a personal reply from Brady
to a note that they might have left about a problem or a question.  To some,
it's like getting a movie star's autograph.

Brady is very active in the local and national BBS networks.  His BBS is a Host
for the IBMNet store-and-forward network which is a part of the IBM Canada BBS
network.  IBMNet provides message echo conferences that allow IBM hardware and
software customers in Canada and the US to exchange files, information, ideas,
amd resolutions to problems. Messages are gathered each evening and passed back
and forth to the other BBSes in the network.  If you've heard of Fidonet, then
that's pretty much how IBMNet works.  Brady's BBS plays a very important role
in this messaging traffic.

Many ask about the meaning of Oberon.  The name has many origins: you can find
it in Celtic and British mythology; there was a character in Shakespeare's
Midsummer Night's Dream by that name.  And Brady is a fan of Roger Zelazny who
wrote the science fiction book, Nine Princes in Amber and the name, Oberon,
appears in that book also.  So you take your pick on its origin.  Brady is fond
of all of these.

Brady's off hours include playing the bass guitar.  In the 70's and 80's he
played in a rock and roll band professionally (did vocals, too). And the
Flowers family is in the acting business.  Recently, he and Colleen, proud
parents of their oldest daughter, watched as she played the role of one of the
orphans in a Mankato production of the musical, Annie.  He too, is active in
the community theater and played Mr. Witherspoon, the sanitarium worker, in
Arsenic and Old Lace and performed the role of Victor Velasco in Barefoot in
the Park.

Brady, it just sounds like you have too much free time, but, of course we know
that's not true because you're Brady Flowers, OS/2 software author, Team
OS/2er, fan of science fiction, BBS SysOp, father, husband, amateur astronomer,
musician, actor and founder of Oberon Software.

We thought Brady Flowers was Someone You Should Know.  And now... You do!


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. Brady Flowers ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 Brady welcomes questions and comments at his Internet ID:
[e-mail].


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2. Oberon Support BBS ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Dial [phone]


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. User Group Corner - The St. Louis Gateway/2 OS/2 User Group ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 This issue of the Gazette highlights the Gateway/2 OS/2 User Group in St.
Louis.  Their planned meeting schedule is as follows:

 July 12, 9AM - Subject - OS/2 and Novell

 August 9, 6PM - Subject - End-User Software

 September 13, 9AM - Subject - Mobility

 October 11, 6PM - Subject - Intel Presentation (Trends and Directions)

This user group is affiliated with the Gateway/2 OS/2 BBS and meetings are held
at the IBM Customer Solutions Center at 400 Maryville College Drive (off
Highway 40 about 3 miles west of I-270)

Contact Bryan Ferguson at [phone] x323 for additional information.
Yearly dues are $30 for full membership, $50 for full membership plus BBS
privileges and $30 for BBS only.  The Gateway/2 OS/2 User Group also has a
newsletter(the Update Folder) which is published regularly and sent out to all
user group members.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. OS/2 2.1 Settings for CorelDraw 4.0 for Windows 3.1 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Although there is a version of CorelDRAW for OS/2, we have found that the
Windows version has more features.  If you need to use the Windows CorelDRAW
Version 4.0 under OS/2, you have to set-up Corel manually. We talked to Corel
regarding the setup of CorelDRAW 4.0 for Windows under OS/2.  The following
steps are the steps we were given and they work.  We are providing them to you
so you may also have a solution to running Corel under OS/2. Corel Technical
Support for using CorelDRAW 4.0 for Windows under OS/2 as of 4/19/94 is
613-728-8200.


To Enter Settings:
 1.  Select a Corel icon
 2.  Open Settings
 3.  Select Session Tab
  Select WIN-OS/2 Full Screen
  Select WIN-OS/2 Settings...

Setup as follows:
 1.  WIN-Run Mode to Enhanced
 2.  DOS High = ON
 3.  DOS UMB = ON
 4.  DPMI Memory Limit = ( a number no higher than RAM on system)
 5.  EMS Memory Limit =0
 6.  HW Timer = ON
 7.  Idle Sensitivity = 100
 8.  Video_8514_XGA IO Trap = Off
 9.  Video FastPaste = On
10.  Video On Demand Memory = Off
11.  Video Retrace Emulation = Off
12.  Video ROM Emulation = Off
13.  XMS Memory Limit = 0

* Set each program Icon for Corel using the settings described.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Tom Watson, IBM's High Watermark of Success ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The passing of Tom Watson, Jr. just a few short months ago was, perhaps, the
final announcement that IBM's leadership had really passed to a new generation.
While Tom had retired as IBM's Chairman many years ago, he was still around and
in many of our minds, he was the high water mark of success for IBM that
everyone succeeding him had to measure up to.  Tom was one of my heros, and it
occurs to me now that he's gone, there will never be another Watson at the helm
of IBM.  Really, once and for all, it's final.

Tom wasn't the founder - it was his father.  And he took over at IBM very
reluctantly after World War II upon leaving the service.  He wrote several
books, two of which could be considered autobiographies, and just a short quote
from one of them tells a lot about how he felt about working for his father at
IBM in the early days:

From Father Son and Co., Bantam - "On the first business day of 1940,
I became the company's top salesman when U. S. Steel Products, an account
that had been thrown into my territory to make me look good, came across
with a huge order.  With one day's 'work' I filled my quota for the
entire year.  There were headlines about it in the company newspaper:
THOMAS J. WATSON, JR, FIRST MAN IN THE 1940 HUNDRED PERCENT CLUB.
I felt demeaned.  Everybody knew that I was the old man's son, and that
otherwise I never could have sold so much in such a short time.  From
then on, even though life outside of IBM seemed impossible to imagine,
all I could think about was finding a way out."

Well, lucky for IBM (and some of us who later worked there), Tom Watson found
a way back in after the War, and became the personal motivator that led IBM to
its greatness.  Every company that achieves success far beyond its competitors
like IBM did in the 60s and 70s does so because of a personal motivator at the helm.
Microsoft is a good example of that phenomenon today. Bill Gates is a personal
motivator.  He takes a personal interest in EVERY significant undertaking of that
company, no matter what level it occupies in the labor hierarchy.  He even writes
code at times. Tom Watson was like that.  He didn't write code, but he got out
in the trenches with his employees.

My favorite story about Tom was the time I first met him early in my career at IBM.
I worked in the Fort Wayne IBM Office and one Wednesday evening IBM Fort Wayne
was having its annual family dinner.  The event was held at a fancy restaurant
there and as was the custom, an executive from IBM Corporate in Armonk would
be the keynote speaker.

That year, we were to be visited by none other than Tom Watson, Jr, himself,
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of IBM. That was to be on Wednesday evening.
Unknown to any of us, including the IBM Branch Manager, Tom and two of his staff came
into Fort Wayne on Tuesday evening, and after a sound night's sleep, Tom was
at the front door of the IBM office greeting each of us as we came into work that
day.  He paused with each of us, asked us about our families, and in general, just
made all over us.

Later during the day, he went out on sales calls with some of us and made a day
of it at the branch.  The evening, was, of course, a grand affair, but the main event,
as far as we were concerned had taken place in the branch during the work day - we
all loved him and would have followed him anywhere.  That was Tom Watson!

His passing was a milestone for many of us who had worked for him all those
years and had come to believe in this man who had given so much to his employees.
Tom was born rich and he died that way.  And the rich get so much bad press
these days, perhaps some of it deserved.  But Tom was rich far beyond his
monetary wealth because he understood the importance of personal commitment
and involvement.

And IBM flourished under his leadership.

  by
Bill Cook


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9.1. Bill Cook ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Bill is the SysOp at GREATER CHICAGO Online!! and has his own LAN/PC consulting
business in the Chicago area.  You can reach Bill at [e-mail].


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Our Advertisers ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

We are proud of the quality of this INF and at the same time, don't mind
letting our readers know that we take advertisements.  If you have a service or
product that you'd like to see here in the Gazette, please contact our Editor,
Bill Cook at one of the following:

GREATER CHICAGO Online!! BBS  [phone]  data

[e-mail]

Compuserve 70404,3277

Prodigy CWDB80A

Post Office Box 188, Lansing IL 60438

Voice [phone]

We'll be glad to work something out that would be equitable for you and your
business/service.  We're not OS/2 Magazine and we don't charge the rates that
they charge either. (insert smiley face here)

BookStore Online!!

Internet Anyone?


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.1. BookStore Online!! ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 We take Visa and Mastercard as well as personal and company checks. We'll send
you an invoice along with the shipment.  You can contact BookStore Online!! for
questions, comments and information at [e-mail]. You may also send
orders to that E-Mail address - please remember to include shipping costs
($3.50 for 1 book, $1.50 for each additional book) and Illinois tax (if
applicable).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10.2. Internet Anyone? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Our Agreement With You ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The contents of the INF file are copyrighted by GREATER CHICAGO Marketing
Services, Inc.  All rights reserved.  These contents may not be modified, but
may be distributed in printed or electronic form. You may not alter or
otherwise change any of the articles or contents of this publication and you
may not use any of this material in another publication without our permission.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, please....