Fritz: All Fritz/All Fritz.zip/All Fritz/FILES/INFOTEXT/REVIEWS.LZH/CORDATA.TXT

Text File | 1988-11-04 | 9KB | 141 lines

                       Review of Cordata WPC Model CS 40
                       Copyright 1987 by David Batterson


    Another South Korean-made XT clone has joined the ranks of Leading Edge,
Blue Chip, Epson Apex, Amstrad, Vendex, and GoldStar.  This is another low-end
(but good quality) PC for the home office, student, or for use at a company
work station.
    Cordata Technologies, Inc. (founded as Corona Data Systems, one of
the first PC clone makers) markets the computers which are made by
Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    The WPC CS 40 has a clean look to it.  Instead of separate monitor, it has
the monochrome monitor (green) built into the main unit.  There is CGA
graphics (providing 16 shades of gray), and AT&T 6300 support, which allows
full 640 x 400 resolution for CAD/CAM use.  This latter support is not usually
offered as a standard feature on other IBM-compatibles.
    There are the usual other standard XT clone features, including a video
port for color monitor.  You get MS-DOS 2.11--why the old version--plus the
now standard bundled software, including beginner's disk (PC Pal), PC Tutor,
and an integrated package called Electric Desk.
    For those PC users who have experienced fuzzy screens, you'll be pleased
with the excellent resolution.  When I loaded my regular communications
program, ASCII Pro, I re-installed it and changed the computer type.
Instead of IBM XT-compatible, I switched it to AT&T 6300, which the Cordata
can emulate.
    ASCII Pro's Editor seemed to display the lines faster on the Cordata than
it did on the Vendex Turbo-888-XT, which I reviewed recently for another
publication.  And the text is sharp and clear.
    With many programs, like ASCII Pro, TRACKER or Electric Desk, you can
change the color palettes.  Of course, with the Cordata, those `colors' are
different shades of green.  You can type with black on light green, light
green on black, or other variations depending upon your personal choice.
    Setup of the Cordata is easier than a VCR.  Plug in the power cord, your
modem in the serial port, your printer in the parallel port, and plug the
keyboard in the front socket.  Make sure the monitor switch in back is set to
MONO.  The speed switch should be set to 8MHz already; if not, change it.
Done!
    You get the usual self-test upon booting, including display of speed
selected.  (If it says 4.77MHz, you switched it the wrong way!)  You'll have
to set the clock and calendar to correct time and date.  (Sorry, no indication
for temperature; maybe one of these days we'll have that too.)
    The first-time user should probably boot PC Pal at this point.  It's a
basic primer on the computer's parts, terminology, plus explanations of the
keyboard, software types and BASIC.  If you are switching from Apple,
Commodore, etc., you can skip this disk, and instead look at PC Tutor.
    This disk starts out with basic MS-DOS commands, explanations of
FILESPECS, and continues into more complex areas.  This is must reading if you
are not familiar with IBM-type filenames.
    One example of a proper filename, however--4_SCORE.&7--seems to be a bit
off-the-wall.  It is a legal name, but would not be commonly used by most, so
it could be confusing to newcomers.  They should have stayed with names like
LETTER1.TXT or FUNGAME.BAS
    Many users will never get into the more arcane areas of MS-DOS, such as
"REDIRECTION, FILTERS AND PIPES" (sounds like a lesson in plumbing and air
conditioning, doesn't it?)  But it is good that the explanations are here, and
in the included MS-DOS manual.
    Formatting, checking disks for errors, copying files, and similar commands
are explained fairly well.
    Before looking at the Electric Desk software, a few more comments about
the system are in order.
    Although there is a standard 9-contact "D" video port for an RGB monitor,
where would you put the monitor?  Unlike most clones, the Cordata's monitor is
part of the main unit.  It is attached by 4 screws, but that would leave the
frame in front still attached.
    Therefore, a color monitor might have to be put to one side.  It's
confusing, and there is no explanation.  If you want a color monitor, you
should ask the salesman about this first.  The actual viewing area of the 12"
monitor is 10 3/4", by the way.
    Installation of adaptors is explained and illustrated.  It looks like a
routine job.  If you want to install an 8087 math co-processor, you should get
some help if you are not familiar with this process.
    You have a choice these days of a regular hard drive, or newer ones which
are on a card.  The Cordata does not come with a hard drive controller.  But
hard drive cards are still more expensive than hard drive/controller combos.
    The 130-watt power supply could prove a bit skimpy as you add on, and you
might want to replace it with a 150- or even 200-watt supply.  Prices of these
are dropping, just like drives, chips and printer paper.
    The 512K memory can be upgraded to 768K.  It depends on your uses whether
to increase memory capacity.  (Remember when we thought 128K was a lot of
memory?)  For most purposes, it will be fine.  If you are into heavy desktop
publishing, or are running memory-hogs like Symphony, by all means get the
extra 256K.
    The CS 40 (main unit) takes up little desk space: 13.5"W x 14.5"D x 16"H.
The keyboard is 16"W x 7.6"D x 1.34" H.  Keep in mind when picking it up off a
desk that you are lifting around 40 pounds, and you CANNOT move the monitor
and main unit separately like you usually do.
    The keyboard feels better than many clone board keyboards.  It has a light
touch, and the layout is standard.  Functions keys are across the top.  LEDs
for Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock are in the upper right corner, instead
of on the keys themselves.  The backspace key (like on ALL keyboards) is not
conveniently located.  (Use CTRL-H instead for easy error correction).
    OK, what about Electric Desk?  Not a bad name for it, either.  You can
switch back and forth among the word processor, database, spreadsheet and
communications modes with ease (for instance, F10 + C moves you to the
communications mode).
    These programs are not top-of-the-line, but are definitely not public
domain stuff either.  The Electric Desk tutorial is optional via mail for $5;
the new user could find it helpful.  Otherwise, the manual and onscreen help
files will familiarize you with all the features.
    It is VERY important to follow the instructions for installation and
configuration carefully, or it will not work properly.  The disks are not copy
protected, so you should make backups before you do anything with them.
    The database and spreadsheet look adequate for normal needs.  Using your
modem with Electric Desk causes no pains, except for writing log-on macros.
These are tricky, and unless you have some experience in this area, you might
want to just dial manually.  I got my MCI Mail number macro working after
a struggle.
    Writing is done in the Document Service.  You can write up to 1000 lines
without saving to disk, which is a LOT of writing for a session!  This is a
basic vanilla word processor, but with nice features.
    Document Service has italics, bold, superscripts, subscripts, underline
and other text types; these are indicated onscreen according to how you set
this in the configuration.  Italics might be shown in inverse, or simply in a
different shade.
    You can fix transposed letters like "incredibel" to "incredible" with the
Ctrl + T.  All caps/lower case can be done with Ctrl + C/Ctrl + L.  Block
moves and deletions are made easily, since they are held in memory, not on
disk (unless you wish to save them).
    Margin settings default to 5 and 75 each time you begin writing.  These
are NOT standard, and must be changed each time.  Why those settings were
chosen is a mystery.  You can define a memory key (such a Alt + 1) to change
margins, however, or store phrases (up to 1,000 keystrokes).  These are real
timesavers, like when typing your name and address in a letter.
    Files are saved with the extension .DOC added to them (unless you use
"Export" to save as a pure ASCII file, in which case it uses the default .TEX
extension).  When you use the pop-up directory window, other files on your
disk like ARTICLE.TXT or LETTERS.MOM) do NOT appear in the directory.
    In such cases, you can select "Access DOS" and read your true directory.
It slows you down though.  Cursor commands in Document Service could also be
improved:  you must type End End -> to go to the end of a line.
    Embedded formatting commands are also supported, to number pages
automatically, create headers/footers, include a date or select compressed
print from your printer, among other choices.
    Cordata has put together an admirable package of software/hardware in the
CS 40.  It isn't "premium quality" but it's a fine clone worthy of your
consideration, especially if you can find a discounted price.
    For more information, contact Cordata Technologies, Inc., 1055 W. Victoria
St., Compton, CA  90220; [phone], FAX: [phone].
                                  #
David Batterson has been a freelance writer for many years, and was formerly a
BBS co-Sysop.  Send comments to MCI Mail: DBATTERSON.