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Volume 3, Number 13 31 March 1986 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | - FidoNews - /|oo \ | | (_| /_) | | Fido and FidoNet _`@/_ \ _ | | Users Group | | \ \\ | | Newsletter | (*) | \ )) | | ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1. You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file FNEWSART.DOC, available from node 1/1. Disclaimer or don't-blame-us: The contents of the articles contained here are not our responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them. Everything here is subject to debate. Table of Contents 1. EDITORIAL One Year Later 2. ARTICLES AIDS Information Available on Fido 114/15 CommoLore Magazine Space Shuttle Questionnaire SYSREPT Update 3. COLUMNS Notes from Abroad Rainbow Corner New MS-DOS Dac Easy-Word Under $50 4. FOR SALE Entertainment Software for your PC! Public Domain Software Library Sale!! Special Offer to FidoNet Sysops 5. NOTICES The Interrupt Stack Fidonews Page 2 31 Mar 1986 ================================================================= EDITORIAL ================================================================= One Year Later It seems longer than that, somehow. Call it 31,536,000 seconds. That feels more like it. That's how long I've been editing FidoNews. Not long, I guess. FidoNet has been around lots longer than that. Even FidoNews has been around more than a year. Tom Jennings ran it for quite awhile before I took over. A digression, for the newer readers out there. Tom Jennings would get busy, and sometimes the newsletter would be a day or two late, so he called himself the "Chief Procrastinator". Sometimes when a highly regarded college professor retires he is given the title "Professor Emeritus", meaning that he isn't still a professor, but he is still honored as one. Hence, Tom Jennings became our Chief Procrastinator Emeritus. FidoNet has grown a lot in the past year. A year ago we only had about two hundred nodes. The latest node list shows over nine hundred. Even leaving out the nodes that are down and the known duplicates, we still have well over seven hundred nodes. We went from one monolithic net to the present multinet design, with a great hue and cry at the time, but we've settled down now into a stronger and more powerful net than ever before. We've also seen the birth of IFNA, which is still in its infant stage, but which holds great promise for the future of FidoNet. The newsletter has grown, too. When I first started doing this a year ago, I had to scramble for articles to publish each issue. Now I can publish an issue with at least a reasonable certainty that I'll have enough for the next week. There's more yet to come. The new method of distributing node lists is going to save on everyone's phone bill, while at the same time making it a little harder for a new sysop to figure out what's going on. People are writing new utilities and add-ons, such as Outside and Server, that add new functions to existing boards. And whole new FidoNet compatible systems, such as Colossus and SEAdog, are coming out. There's even a new wrinkle in network mail, called Echomail, that will greatly expand the whole meaning of FidoNet, if it doesn't break it first. More people join in on our net every day, adding their voices to our mighty throng. THAT is the true strength of FidoNet: our wide diversity in backgrounds, hardware, and viewpoint. We are a large and growing community of computer enthusiasts, pooling our knowledge. We have everything to gain, and nothing to lose. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 3 31 Mar 1986 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Dr. David Dodell Sysop Fido 114/15 Telephone (602) 235-9653 <300/1200/2400> St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center Phoenix, Arizona With the increased interest in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center Computer Information Service (Fido 114/15) has started a file section devoted to disseminating information about AIDS. Part of the problem with this new disease, is the public nervousness due to the lack of understanding on how the disease is transmitted. To provide an education forum on the disease the following files are available on our board for downloading and reading. Some of the files are copyrighted and can be used for personal reading but not for uploading to any other board. These files are clearly marked. EDUCATIO.AID -- Education: A forum for Attacking Fear AIDSINS.TXT -- Insurers: Watchful but Not Worried EDAIDS.TXT -- Education: A forum for attacking fear PRACTWK.AID -- Prudent Practices in the Health Workplace AIDSHOSP.1 -- AIDS:A Time Bomb at Hospital's Door AIDSRES.1 -- AIDS:Research Outlook Taking All Bets WKPLACE.AID -- AIDS In the Workplace - Legal Issue BLOOD.AID -- Blood Donation and AIDS AIDSDIAG.TXT -- Diagnosis AIDS Early AIDS.INS -- Alarm over Cost to Treat AIDS Patients AIDS1.PRG -- Blood Supply Safer AIDS2.PRG -- Public Health Service Recommendations AIDS3.PRG -- Recommendations for Patients with Positive Tests AIDS4.PRG -- Case Definition of AIDS AIDS5.PRG -- Epidemiology AIDS6.PRG -- Prevention and Treatment AIDS.FCT -- AIDS Facts - from the Public Health Service - Excellent Question/Answer format - explaining all about AIDS Best File To Read to get overall picture. AIDS2.TXT -- General Information about AIDS for Non-Medical Persons AIDS4.TXT -- AIDS in Arizona, Texas and Related Drug Use AIDS.TST -- HTLV-III Antibody Test : What is It??? AIDS.NWS -- Drug Successful in Lab Tests AIDS -- News Article about Recent Advances in Aids AIDS.TXT -- General AIDS Information Our board is available 24 hours a day at (602) 235-9653 300/1200/2400 baud except for FidoMail times. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 4 31 Mar 1986 Mike Roberts Fido 120/5 CommoLore Magazine Get ready for CommoLore Magazine from your local FIDO sysop this April 5, 1986. Yes, that's right. It's electronic, for Commodorians (though not limited to them), and available through FidoNet at no charge. In fact, IBM users may also be interested to read it for information about the Amiga, the latest IBM and Apple challenger. CommoLore is a revolutionary magazine because it is one of the first Commodore-orientated magazines to be available through telecommunications, specifically FidoNet although it will be available for direct downloading. It consists of articles, reviews, letters, answers to commonly asked questions, and many other things. There are reviews of new products, games, utilities, and books. New languages for your C=64 and C=128 will be the subject of some articles, as well as telecommunications, education, games, and others. Plus there's information on the new and powerful Amiga. We'll also be covering the new Commodore Information Service- QuantumLink. In the premiere issue, one of the many things we will be reviewing is the Write Now! Word Processor from Cardco, along with Spell Now!, Paint Now!, and Graph Now!. Yes, you probably haven't heard of it, but we will be extending upon things such as its large text buffer, conversion to ASCII directly to disk exactly as if it were on paper (great for writing electronic magazines). As of now we have several columns that will be touched upon each month such as languages for the Commodore, telecommunications, and others. How can you get in on this magazine? Well, CommoLore accepts virtually any articles from free-lance authors. If you're interested in submitting an article or writing a column, give us a call at the number below or write to us via Fido at the address below. If you would like to write an article, send us a Fido FidoLetter before March 15, 1986 (for the premiere issue). If we accept your article or request to write a column, the deadline for the premiere issue is March 30, 1986. The premiere issue is released April 5, 1986. To author a column, you must agree to write for three consecutive issues, articles are not restricted to this. CommoLore will also publish reprints of User Group articles, etcetera, if you'd like. Commodore User Groups: Send us any information you would like and we will print it in the CommoLore's User Group Update. We do, however, reserve the right to reject any articles or postpone them until successive issues. The CommoLore publication will be available, for downloading, bimonthly from Uticom Fido BBS 120/5 at no charge or through FidoNet (with a paid subscription). At 2400 baud the time spent is short. What? You'd like a copy but aren't near a FIDO BBS that has it? Simply call us up and download it or send us a check as described below under HOW TO SUBSCRIBE. The CommoLore Magazine may be copied and distributed freely. In fact, please Fidonews Page 5 31 Mar 1986 distribute it to every BBS, everywhere. All we ask is it's copied and distributed as a whole. ********* ************* TITLE: CommoLore Magazine **************** PRICE: None/Subscriptions *********** ********** EDITOR: Michael J. Roberts ********* ******* A. EDITOR: Michael A. Dryja ******** OMMOLORE S. MANAGER: James Held ********* ******* SOURCE: Uticom Fido *********** ********** PHONE: 313-739-1193 **************** BAUD: 300/1200/2400 ************* SYSOP: James Held ********* FIDO ADDRESS: 120/5 HOW TO SUBSCRIBE The subscription fee is not for profit. It is only to cover the cost of sending the magazine. The following figures are the subscription fees which we charge in order for US to send YOU CommoLore via FidoNet, Xmodem, Punter, or ASCII. If you are receiving via FidoNet please send us your name, BBS name, and Fido address. If you want us to send it direct please include your name, street address, and phone number (if your computer is not on 24 hours then also specify time to call). Price Baud rate Country # of Issues $06 300 U.S.A./Canada* 3 (1/2 year) $03 1200 U.S.A./Canada* 3 (1/2 year) $02 2400 U.S.A./Canada* 3 (1/2 year) $12 300 Foreign 3 (1/2 year) $06 1200 Foreign 3 (1/2 year) $05 2400 Foreign 3 (1/2 year) * If you do live in Canada but not Ontario, please call us first. Prices are subject to change for other Canada Provinces. Double all prices for a six issue (full year) subscription. Call us up or stay tuned to FidoNews for an update on prices. Please make all checks payable to "James Held" and send them to CommoLore Magazine, P.O. Box 268, Utica, MI, 48087-0268. The deadline to receive subscriptions to include the premiere issue is March 20, 1986. We're looking forward to a bright future for CommoLore. Let's support this and other specialty magazines via FidoNet. Thank you for your support! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 6 31 Mar 1986 RESULTS of a SPACE SHUTTLE RELATED QUESTIONNAIRE by Rick Pellicciotti 1717 Denison Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 362-7926 FidoNet Mail through 123/7, The Think Tank In the aftermath of the Space Shuttle Challenger accident and amid much controversy, I decided to do a public opinion survey. I am active on several computer bulletin boards in my area, and on several of them, many people expressed their views and feelings quite eloquently. What better place to survey? The bulletin board that is most popular in this area is a system called "Fido" written by Tom Jennings of San Francisco. When he wrote his system, he provided the facility for the operators of the program to place a questionnaire on-line for the users to answer. With the cooperation to several of the system operators in town, I wrote a questionnaire which they placed on their systems the week of February 22nd through March 2nd. The questionnaire was setup so that the respondents remained anonymous, not even the system operator could tell who answered the questionnaire. The following is the analysis of the survey: Number of respondents: 57 The seven questions are listed below with the results following each question. An asterisk flags the top response. Question #1: Do you feel that manned space flight should continue? YES:*87.7% NO: 3.5% UNDECIDED: 8.8% Question #2: Do you feel that "proven" technology should be turned over to private industry and NASA limited to research and development? YES: 10.5% NO:*68.4% UNDECIDED: 21.1% Question #3: Do you want the U.S. Government to build a replacement for Challenger? YES:*63.2% NO: 19.3% UNDECIDED: 17.5% Question #4: Would you be in favor of a one dollar earmark on your income tax return for building a new Shuttle? YES:*64.9% NO: 22.8% UNDECIDED: 12.3% Question #5: What would you name a new Shuttle if it were built? SEE COMMENTS FOLLOWING THIS SECTION Fidonews Page 7 31 Mar 1986 Question #6: Multiple choice; 1 = Highest, 5 = Lowest My confidence level in NASA's management is: VERY HIGH: 15.8% HIGH :*43.9% AVERAGE : 19.3% LOW : 14.0% VERY LOW : 7.0% Question #7: Multiple Choice; 1 = Highest, 5 = Lowest My confidence level in the Shuttle itself is: VERY HIGH: 33.3% HIGH :*38.6% AVERAGE : 14.0% LOW : 12.3% VERY LOW : 1.8 SUMMARY: Clearly, the respondents believe that manned space flight should go on. All were given a chance to enter their comments at the end of the questionnaire. Those comments, ranged from extreme cautiousness to energetic drive to continue. Many expressed a desire to fly on the Shuttle themselves, a testimony to the validity of the "Citizen in Space" concept. Most people who answered the questionnaire felt that NASA should continue to be in charge of using space. Many commented that industry should work with NASA in a "joint-venture" atmosphere, with industry providing the product and NASA providing the transportation. On replacing the Challenger with a new Shuttle, a majority were in favor of expanding the fleet. A few questioned wether we should build another Shuttle like the ones we have, or build a second generation shuttle utilizing knowledge gained from the existing vehicles. A large majority favored earmarking one dollar of their income tax for financing a new orbiter. Many suggested that one dollar would not be enough, and they would like the figure to be five or ten dollars. Clearly, this would not be enough money to build a new Shuttle, but would make a good start. A few suggested that private industry should finance a new Shuttle if they were going to use it. Here a lease-back arrangement with NASA could be made. Naming the new Shuttle. Unfortunately, NO OPINION came out as the top answer here. Perhaps because each of us were affected by the accident a different way, many suggestions dealt with patriotism, courage and remembrance. CHALLENGER II came in second, not particularly my favorite as I feel the "II" reminds us too much of the "I" we lost. Some names worth mentioning were: "Phoenix", "Explorer", "Spirit of America" and "Courageous 7". Some people were tasteless enough to suggest "Zippo" or "Boondoggle". The questionnaire ran over the week of the public hearings by the Presidential Committee. Although confidence in NASA's management remained HIGH there were quite a few more AVERAGEs and LOWs Fidonews Page 8 31 Mar 1986 recorded late in the week as opposed to the first few days of the survey. Confidence in the Shuttle system itself was HIGH on the average, as the news media seemed to focus on NASA's management decisions rather than the hardware. COMMENTS: This is my first attempt at anything like this. I'm sure that someone with a background in statistical analysis and polling would have done a much different and possibly better job. These were questions that I was asking myself, and I found that my answers and beliefs ran pretty much in agreement with the public at large. A couple of people questioned my position about the space program based on reading the questionnaire. I am steadfastly supportive of the space program, and very much want to see it continue. Hopefully, documentation like this will help to convince Washington that manned space flight should continue as soon as this problem is fixed. I intend to forward the results of this survey to my Senator, and the National Space Society. I encourage each of you to write to the President and Congress and let them know how you feel. I'm sure the result will be a safer space program that will continue to benefit us all. I would like to thank all of those who participated in the survey. Most took it very seriously and responded to the best of their ability. I would also like to thank Mr. Bill Paul, operator of "Think Tank", and Mr. Earl Bates, operator of "Grapevine", for allowing me to run my questionnaire on their systems. Your comments are welcome. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 9 31 Mar 1986 Alfred Anderson Fido 14/61 SYSREPT UPDATE -------------- Many (most?) FIDO Sysops are using a utility called SYSREPT to generate management statistics documenting their systems usage. SYSREPT reads the SYSOP.LOG file created by FIDO and provides an analysis of callers, times, durations, file activity, and the like. Many Sysops have automated SYSREPTs operation and directed the management reports into files so that their callers can easily determine new uploads, popular downloads, and overall system utilization. However, SYSREPT stopped working when version 11q was released. The format of the SYSOP.LOG file was altered. As versions 11r, 11s, and now 11t, were released the SYSOP.LOG file maintained its new format which is incompatible with SYSREPT. As the author of SYSREPT, I have been receiving network mail from all over the country asking for an updated version that will run with 11t. However, I need help in understanding the new format of the SYSOP.LOG file before a new version of SYSREPT can be con- sidered. For example, this is a normal entry: --------------------------------- = DL ibm_file\arc512.doc 1 OK --------------------------------- This I understand too, ---------------------------------- = DL ibm_file\fidodoc.arc * limit ---------------------------------- And this is fine also: ---------------------------------- = DL ibm_file\serpent.arc ERROR ---------------------------------- But, can someone explain the following examples which were taken directly from our SYSOP.LOG: ---------------------------------------------------------------- = DL ibm_file\arc512.doc ibm_file\turbo.arc = DL ibm_file\turbo = DL ibm_file\arc512.doc 1 OK ---------------------------------------------------------------- or perhaps this one: ---------------------------------------------------------------- = DL app_file\ERROR TXT 1 OK = UL app_file\D&D = DL C:\FIDO\FIDO_NWS\FIDO308.NWS + 8 times, 41 min ---------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 10 31 Mar 1986 Was the upload successful or not? Was the Fido308 download OK? Without a comma between the file name and the result (like in version 11a) it is very difficult to parse the result codes when the file name contains spaces. Or, how about this gem: ---------------------------------------------------- = DL ibm_file\pango.exe ERROR = DL ibm_file\pango.exe 1 OK ERROR = DL ibm_file\pango.exe ERROR ---------------------------------------------------- These are just a few examples. The old version of the SYSOP.LOG displayed EXACTLY the same information but the format was much easier to work with. I have more "horror" stories collected in SYSOP.LOGs that others have sent in efforts to help me decode the new LOG format. I've been in communications with Fido's author, Tom Jennings, regarding these problems. Although sympathetic, he can neither tell me how to interpret the new SYSOP.LOG format nor will he indicate that the old SYSOP.LOG format would be restored. Therefore, I must sadly inform all of the Sysops (and their users) that we must learn to live without the file activity reports from SYSREPT until one of three things happen: 1. I figure out how to interpret the current SYSOP.LOG, 2. A new version of FIDO is released with the old SYSOP.LOG format restored, or 3. A new version of FIDO is released with a new, but interpretable, SYSOP.LOG format. From my standpoint, option #1 is the best choice. If anyone can help, please send FIDOMAIL to me at: Alfred Anderson FIDO 14/61 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 11 31 Mar 1986 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= Notes from Abroad I ordered two USRobotics modems a short while ago, one for me and one for Henk Wevers. The modems subsequently arrived about three weeks later and I had to import them into the UK. I had to pay about 50 pounds for air freight and then about 150 pounds for import duty and VAT. I then sent Henk's modem to Holland, and I believe he had to pay VAT again. Even so it is still a very good deal, and the modem itself is superb! It needs a 110 volt power supply and also an adaptor to enable it to plug into the UK telephone socket. I had both modems on the same line but this caused several problems. I had two Fido's set up; both running from the same COM port. I made a special lead up that "daisy chained" the connections from the original modem. This seemed to work OK sometimes, but other times not so good. If I had a caller at 300 baud (V21) both modems would go on line at the same time and both would be trying to pick up the incoming carrier. My Duplex (CCITT) modem would hook onto the V21 tones and after about 30 seconds the USR would drop out as it couldn't detect a valid carrier. Unfortunately the USR sometimes connected as well. There could be a couple of reasons for this, but I never found out why for sure. I suspect that the originating modem's carrier was slightly off tone and made the USR think that the incoming call was at Bell tones. Of course it tried to connect but the other modem had already seized the line. This caused some form of feedback loop and the USR tried to latch onto what was in fact garbage. If it kicked in and thought the incoming call was 1200 it would try to phase shift until it connected. This caused enormous amounts of line noise for the caller and sometimes even made him drop out. I think this problem is not caused by the USR but by the incoming modem not transmitting an accurate carrier. If the USR was malfunctioning it would do so all the time! The second possible cause of the problem could simply be line noise. As I still wanted use the USR I decided to use my other line for callers at 1200, & 2400. This caused several other problems, but it seems to be working OK. I believe that several other Country coordinators are thinking of buying the USR modem. When this happens we will run our own mail slot to exchange mail and files at 2400. Until then, I would like an updated list of all new Fido's, and I would also like to know if anyone else in Europe was running at 1200, 2400 every night like myself. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 12 31 Mar 1986 The Rainbow Corner by Ted Needleman As I write this, it is now the second week in October. My "Great Free Software Offer" has been out about two weeks, and boy, did I ever get a response! So far, I've returned over 120 disks, and I haven't gotten to the post office in a few days. I've been really gratified by your response and your kind words. One gentleman even enclosed a five dollar bill (yes, I returned it!) I appreciate the thanks I've received, but to a large extent they are misdirected. All I've done is download some software, and dump it onto the disks you've sent in. The people who are really deserving of your appreciation are those who have allowed the fruits of their labor and creativity to be freely distributed. A piece of software such as Tom Jennings' FIDO or Larry Campbell's LCTerm takes literally hundreds of hours of work to develop, and considerable time to update and support. While neither of these programs are in the public domain, the authors DO allow you to copy and use them for noncommercial use. You just can't sell them, or include them in your own "for sale" software. Much of the software available on FIDO boards is subject to these restrictions. And when you consider that LCTerm is as good (or better) than many commercial packages selling for a hundred dollars or more, this restriction is not at all unreasonable. So, considering the effort involved, why do they do it? There are probably as many reasons as there are packages. Many of the people who allow you to use the result of their labor are just nice, generous folk. They've created something that they have found useful, and figure maybe someone else might also find it helpful, so they share it. For some, it's ego. Programming is a creative process, and a well designed and implemented piece of software IS a work of art. And, like many artists, there are people who are justifiably proud of their creation, and want to show it off. Whatever drives these people, they are actively involved in the user community. Have you found the FIDO bulletin boards useful? Then sign on to Tom Jennings' board (415-864-1418) and leave a "Thank You" message. How about LCTerm? Drop Larry Campbell a note at The Boston Software Works, 120 Fulton St., Boston, MA 02109) and tell him. The same holds true for any piece of software you've received for free. Take a look at the documentation. If it lists the author's name and address, drop them a note. Everybody appreciates a pat on the back now and then. By the way, Larry co-founded The Boston Software Works earlier this year, and they have some very interesting sounding products coming out, including LCTerm for the IBM-PC. As they become available, I'm looking forward to seeing them and letting you know about them here in the "Corner". As long as I'm on the subject of involvement, let me take a moment to talk about user's groups. If there's one near you, join it. I've mentioned user's groups before, as a place to get Fidonews Page 13 31 Mar 1986 help, but they're also a good place for you to get involved. All of us have a responsibility to not just take, but to sometimes "put a little back". Chances are that somewhere along the way, someone has helped you out. You can even the score by helping someone else. Even if you don't have the answers to another's problems, you can at least help duplicate disks for the group's library. Enough moralizing, you get the idea. Speaking of user's groups, one of the largest Rainbow groups in the country is The Washington Area Rainbow User's Group (WASH-A- RUG). Their newsletter, edited by Carolyn Mack, is outstanding! At the time this is being written, the newsletter is free, though they are considering charging for it. Doesn't matter though. It will still be worth whatever they ask. Write Carolyn at 6415 Adelphi Road, University Park, MD 20782, or leave a message for her on the WASH-A-RUG FIDO board (703/359-6179). Carolyn does an excellent job of editing the newsletter, and she's going to be doing an article on user's groups for an upcoming Hardcopy, so keep your eyes peeled for it. Progress Report...Emulate-84, the Rainbow/IBM emulator, has still not shown up here. I hesitate to use the word "vaporware", maybe they just keep running into problems. The "IDrive", mentioned in the last couple of "Corners", IS going into production. It should be available by the time you read this at a price of about $400. I have been using mine for about a month and a half, and love it. It's available from Suitable Solutions, 467 Saratoga Avenue, Suite 319, San Jose, CA 95129, phone 408/725-8944. So far, no takers of the "Rainbow Rumormonger" buttons. There must be someone out there who wants one bad enough to "spill the beans" - come on and write in! Rumormonger Happenings... I keep hearing about 2 new DEC micros, the PC-XX (said to be IBM compatible), and the VAXmate (an MS- DOS/VMS system). I'd like to hear more, and as always, promise to keep the identity secret of anyone who requests anonymity (Deep-DEC?)...This mornings' mail had a press release for a high speed tape backup unit for the Rainbow 100+. Backs up the 10 meg disk in 18 minutes and costs $1190. I'm going to try to get one to review, and if successful, will report the results here.... Half-height 20 megabyte hard disks for the Rainbow have been announced by DEC. The RCD-31 is available both as the first hard disk on your Rainbow, or as an upgrade for an existing 5 or 10 megabyte drive. (c)1985 Ted Needleman (all rights reserved) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 14 31 Mar 1986 NO NONSENSE BUSINESS WORD PROCESSING New MS-DOS Dac Easy-Word Under $50 Mike Guffey It has been said often that many of us "fall in love" with the first word processing (WP) software that we use. While this may not be the case for all of us, it can certainly be said that the first WP software we use gives us certain expectations for all future word processing. This is the case whether we start with a "good" or "bad" program. There are pros and cons for every commercial package on the market. Every now and then someone asks us for a recommendation of WP software. And the wiser of us will hesitate before suggesting our own preference and ask, "what kind of word processing will it be used for?" This is an important consideration, especially if the person asking the question is either new to word processing or new to computing. Few of us would wish the agonies we went through on others. And since many of the full-featured commercial packages cost several hundred dollars, the issue deserves serious thought, lest we give hasty, ill-considered advice. There are many good WP products on the market under $100. Most of them reside in the realm of the Public Domain and/or as ShareWare. For many reasons those types of software are repugnant or undesirable to the business user. And whether the Public Domain is ignored by design or ignorance, there has long been a gap in the spectrum of commercial WP software for the business user. That gap has been in the area of inexpensive, easy to learn and use programs. Large (i.e. expensive) programs almost all claim their fundamentals can be learned quickly. And this is true to some extent. But full-featured programs require a significant investment of both time and energy to prove their worth and pay their way. Many seeking WP software for their business are seeking no more than a program to write business correspondence and to perform light-duty office chores. Something on the order of a "smart" typewriter, only better. A product that can be learned or taught quickly when someone moves to the desk with the computer (that does the accounting but sits idle much of the time). Or perhaps a program to do away with the expensive and kludgy "memory- writing" monster electric typewriters. Or, better yet, to eliminate the need to hire expensive word-processing temporaries. DAC's new WP software is an excellent product to fill the needs of any business user needing an easily used tool rather than a master-technician's polished, matched, and balanced complete toolset. EASY-WORD's greatest strength maybe that it was not designed to do "everything" WP software can do. What some would call limitations will be for others "just enough". It is not a "full-featured" product, but it is surprisingly versatile for its low price. It works better in the creation of text than in editing it, but it can perform both functions well for average office use. Fidonews Page 15 31 Mar 1986 The program requires at least two disk drives and 256k RAM. It will work best in combination with a hard disk and/or an electronic RAMdisk (if the system RAM capacity is 512k or better). But, like the program itself, the minimum hardware configuration is "just enough". It supports a wide array of printers and (because of this) the installation process is short and sweet. Its use presumes a basic knowledge of the Disk Operating System but an above average knowledge (i.e. subdirectories and pathnames) will greatly enhance its utility. DAC Easy-Word can be learned or taught in a few minutes. It has online help available for all of its features. Because of this, there is no requirement to learn complex combinations of control characters to get started. It uses function keys which change definition as different tasks are performed. (Their current definition is always displayed at the bottom of the screen). There are also 20 <ALT-key> functions, all of which are related to their function (i.e. <ALT-C> = center text, <ALT-J> = justification, et cetera). The program can initially be used without the ^<ALT key> combinations and memorization isn't necessary since online explanation is always available. It has been designed with inexperienced computer users or computo-phobes in mind. But it doesn't underestimate the intelligence of potential experienced users, either. In spite of the fact that it is a basic level program, it also sports some advanced features which meet or exceed industry standards for "full featured" WP software. In addition to search/replace and cut/paste functions, it allows the manipulation of up to 4 documents onscreen, via windows. It also incorporates a database oriented feature called DAC file which can be used separately or merged into documents. (It is similar to mailmerge functions of other WP software, but the syntax is easier to learn/use and onscreen help is better.) Some of Easy-Word's nicest features are in the area of print functions. It supports over fifty printers and can be configured to support up to three printers on separate ports. Because of this, there is no complicated printer-driver installation procedure. It will also support the following features for most printers (without having to know the particular control codes for each printer): ITALICS | BOLD AND EMPHASIZED | UNDERLINE ELITE AND PICA | EXPANDED AND DOUBLE WIDTH NEAR LETTER QUALITY | SUPER AND SUB SCRIPT COMPRESSED The various type and print styles are embedded with control characters, as with most WP software. Experienced computer users familiar with the power and options of full-blown WP software may not care much for some of the limitations of Easy-Word. Cursor movement options are limited. (There is no single command to jump to the beginning or end of a line.) Formatting and justification are predefined and alternatives must be defined at the beginning of each session. (Some users may not care for the default values of a 10-character Fidonews Page 16 31 Mar 1986 margin and a 60-character line length.) Users experienced with using strings of control characters to perform functions such as SAVE & RESUME or SEARCH & REPLACE may be put off by the combination of keystrokes that Easy Word needs to perform these functions. But in keeping the syntax simple and by increasing the friendliness of the environment, this product will probably reach a market previously untapped by WP software publishers. There are only two serious limitations of Easy Word and neither may be of real importance to the average business user. First, the editing of documents prepared by other WP software is difficult. This is because the documents created by Easy Word use non-standard control characters to delimit ends of paragraphs and, in some cases, blank spaces. Documents created by other software which do not have the special characters don't sit well with the automatic justification of Easy Word. (The documents created by Easy Word are more easily handled by other WP software, but some minor problems will be encountered.) The second limitation is that the DELete function will not work when automatic justification is turned off. For most office use, this is not a problem and there are ways around it (but they will probably never be discovered by casual users). While the lack of these features keep the overall ease of use high, they may be enough reason to consider a more expensive product. The initial offering of Dac's Easy Word is at $49.95 and includes spell-checking software. As of early December it had not appeared in the laundry-list ads of discount mail order firms, but discount software stores (such as the DFW area BABBAGE'S) were discounting its price by 15%. (This is the best way to buy it in the DFW area and will save purchasers nearly $15.) DAC Easy Word is an excellent value considering its price and the market to which it is geared. For casual home use there are less expensive Public Domain/ShareWare products, but these lack the slick, well prepared online and hardcopy documentation that DAC provides. dac software inc. 4801 Spring Valley Road SUite 110B Dallas, TX 75244 (214) 458-0038 $49.95 (plus $7.50 shipping; Texas residents add $3.06 tax) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 17 31 Mar 1986 ================================================================= FOR SALE ================================================================= ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE FOR YOUR PC! SUPERDOTS! KALAH! Professional quality games include PASCAL source! From the author of KALAH Version 1.6, SuperDots, a variation of the popular pencil/paper DOTS game, has MAGIC and HIDDEN DOT options. KALAH 1.7 is an African strategy game requiring skill to manipulate pegs around a playing board. Both games use the ANSI Escape sequences provided with the ANSI.SYS device driver for the IBM-PC, or built into the firmware on the DEC Rainbow. Only $19.95 each or $39.95 for both exciting games! Please specify version and disk format. These games have been written in standard TURBO-PASCAL and run on the IBM-PC, DEC Rainbow 100 (MSDOS and CPM), CPM/80, CPM/86, and PDP-11. Other disk formats are available, but minor customization may be required. BSS Software P.O. Box 3827 Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 For every order placed, a donation will be made to the Fido coordinators! Also, if you have a previous version of KALAH and send me a donation, a portion of that donation will also be sent to the coordinators. When you place an order, BE CERTAIN TO MENTION WHERE YOU SAW THE AD since it also appears in PC Magazine and Digital Review. Questions and comments can be sent to: Brian Sietz at Fido 107/17 (609) 429-6630 300/1200/2400 baud ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 18 31 Mar 1986 Now available from Micro Consulting Associates!! Public Domain collection - 300+ "ARC" archives - 10 megs of software and other goodies, and that's "archived" size! When unpacked, you get approximately 17 megabytes worth of all kinds of software, from text editors to games to unprotection schemes to communications programs, compilers, interpreters, etc... This collection is the result of more than 10 months of intensive downloads from just about 100 or more BBS's and other sources, all of which have been examined, indexed and archived for your convenience. Starting a Bulletin Board System? Want to add on to your software base without spending thousands of dollars? This is the answer!!! To order the library, send $100 (personal or company check, postal money order or company purchase order) to: Micro Consulting Associates, Fido 103/511 Post Office Box 4296 200-1/2 E. Balboa Boulevard Balboa, Ca. 92661-4296 Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of your order. Note: No profit is made from the sale of the Public Domain software in this collection. The price is applied entirely to the cost of downloading the software over the phone lines, running a BBS to receive file submissions, and inspecting, cataloguing, archiving and maintaining the files. Obtaining this software yourself through the use of a computer with a modem using commercial phone access would cost you much more than what we charge for the service... Please specify what type of format you would like the disks to be prepared on. The following choices are available: IBM PC-DOS Backup utility Zenith MS-DOS 2.11 Backup Utility DSBackup Fastback Plain ol' files (add $50, though, it's a lot of work and takes more diskettes...) Add $30 if you want the library on 1.2 meg AT disks (more expensive disks). There are no shipping or handling charges. California residents add 6% tax. For each sale, $10 will go to the FidoNet Administrators. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 19 31 Mar 1986 SEAdog Electronic Mail System Special Offer for FidoNet Sysops System Enhancement Associates, the makers of the popular ARC file archive utility, are proud to announce the release of the SEAdog electronic mail system. SEAdog is a PC-based electronic mail system which is fully FidoNet compatible. In addition to all the functionality of FidoNet mail, SEAdog adds the following: o User directory support, for automatic lookup of node numbers o Return receipts o Audit trails o Message forwarding, with or without a retained copy o Twenty four hour mail reception o High priority mail for immediate delivery o The ability to request files and updates of files from other SEAdog systems. o No route files needed! o A full screen user interface that our beta test sites fell in love with! SEAdog is NOT a bulletin board system, but it can be used as a "front end" for Fido (version 11q or later), allowing you to add the full functionality of SEAdog to your existing system. SEAdog normally sells for $100/node, but for a limited time only we are offering SEAdog to registered FidoNet sysops for only $35! Orders may be placed by sending a check or money order to: System Enhancement Associates 21 New Street, Wayne NJ 07470 Or by calling (201) 473-5153 (VISA and MasterCard accepted). NOTE: The response to this offer has exceeded our expectations, and we are out of manuals. Our printer swears we'll have more manuals later this week. We apologize for the delay. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Fidonews Page 20 31 Mar 1986 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= The Interrupt Stack 11 Apr 1986 Halley's Comet reaches perigee. 12 Apr 1986 The Next Occasional MetroNet Sysop Meeting, to be held in West Milford, New Jersey. Contact The Wizard at node 107/16 for details and directions. 19 May 1986 Steve Lemke's next birthday. 24 Aug 1989 Voyager 2 passes Neptune. If you have something which you would like to see on this calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1/1. ----------------------------------------------------------------- We are thinking of publishing a hardcopy edition of FidoNews. If you would be interested in subscribing to it, then please send a note to Ken Kaplan at node 1/0. We anticipate a subscription cost of about $50 for six months. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Have you paid for your freeware yet? -----------------------------------------------------------------