Big Blue Disk 32/bbd32.zip/DESK.TXT

Text File | 1989-04-05 | 9KB | 154 lines

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    We have several interesting products to tell you about this month!  For
 those of you interested in improving your knowledge of DOS, ^1Professor DOS
 could be the tutorial you are looking for.  Microsoft's recent upgrade to its
 popular ^1QuickC^0 compiler should please the programmers in our audience.
 Last but not least, ^1Life & Death^0 from Software Toolworks is the type of
 game even the non-gamer can enjoy.

^CBecome a DOS Master with Professor DOS

    You've just bought yourself a new computer and boy are you excited!
 Finally, you will be able to use the spreadsheet and word processor that Fred
 keeps telling you would make your life so much easier.  You get the computer
 home and everything comes to a screeching halt.  There, sitting before you, is
 an animal called DOS.  "What is this?  Nobody told me anything about this!  I
 want my money back!"

    From the very beginning, DOS, short for Disk Operating System, has been the
 bane of many a computer user's existence.  I have heard many stories similar
 to the one I opened with.  For those individuals that would like to learn how
 to tame the DOS beast, ^1Professor DOS^0, from Individual Software, Inc.
 provides a pleasant environment.

    Professor DOS is an interactive tutorial that covers everything from the
 History of DOS to advanced topics such as Pipes, Filters, and Redirected I/O.
 The tutorial is geared to let you set your own pace.  If you are a complete
 DOS novice, the program will lead you through each subject step by step.
 However, should you find this approach too slow, just open the Index window
 and choose a specific topic or command to study.  In either case, Professor
 DOS provides a thorough discussion with plenty of examples.

    Accompanying Professor DOS is Smart Guide for DOS, a memory resident
 reference utility that puts all the operating system information you could
 ever want just a few keystrokes away.  With Smart Guide, you may never have to
 reach for another DOS reference manual again.  In addition to name, function,
 and syntax information, each Smart Guide help screen provides a listing of
 possible errors of usage and useful examples of each command.  An extremely
 nice feature of the Smart Guide is the ability to remove the utility from
 memory without having to reboot the system.

    Professor DOS and Smart Guide for DOS both provide a simple environment to
 work with.  Each program requires at least 256K of RAM, DOS 2.0 or higher, and
 an IBM PC, PC XT, PC AT, PS/2 or PC compatible.  The entire package has a
 suggested list price of $49.95 and is available in both the 5 1/4" and 3 1/2"
 disk formats.  If you are in need of a little help to master the DOS beast,
 this is a package well worth considering.

^R^1-- Bob Napp


^CA Powerful C Development Package for Serious Programmers

    Microsoft's QuickC package is a complete and powerful environment to
 develop your C programs in.  It includes extensive on-line help, a pull-down
 menu interface with either the mouse or keyboard and multiple windows. QuickC
 consists of an Editor, Compiler, Linker, Make Utility and Help system.

    The editor is very easy to use and understand. All cursor movement is
 standard and function-key shortcuts are easy to remember.  Developing
 multiple-module C programs is VERY easy to do and compiling, linking and
 executing can all be done in a single keypress.

    The compiler is speedy and efficient. After compilation, all errors are
 stored on an error screen which you can pull up and read through. If you want
 to know where a particular error is located in the source, merely click on the
 line the error message is on and press a key to display the offending line in
 the source with the error highlighted. You can then instantly edit the line
 and step on to the next error (or re-compile)! QuickC also has a very nice
 interactive debugger which will let you trace variables, set breakpoints and
 step through your code as it executes.

    QuickC includes a DOS shell so you can execute DOS commands without having
 to leave the QuickC environment, a Make Utility which allows for the creation
 of multiple-module programs (similar to creating a link-file list for you
 Assembler programmers), and the ability to set up your own pull down menu
 which will allow you to run other editors, utilities, etc. and return to
 QuickC upon exiting.

    The on-line help feature is as extensive as it is context sensitive. Click
 on a C keyword such as "#include" and press F1 (help) and you will open up a
 window which tells you about the include directive.  Click on "printf" and
 another window will open up telling you about "printf" and which library file
 it's located in.  You can pull up an index of topics to get help on; you can
 even get help on a menu bar item!  Suffice it to say, you won't get lost in
 QuickC!

    The system requirements are an IBM PC or compatible with DOS 2.0 or higher
 with a hard drive and a floppy drive OR two floppies and at least 448K (512K
 is recommended).  If you have a VGA card, you can run in 50 line mode,
 otherwise you have the standard 25 lines.  Suggested retail price is $99.

^R^1-- John Romero


  Become a Powerful Surgeon, or remain a sadistic Intern!

    Life & Death by Software Toolworks puts you in the role of an intern at
 Toolworks General Hospital. Your goal is to become a powerful surgeon -- a
 task that's not very easy. You'll make many mistakes along the way and perhaps
 lose many patients, but eventually you will achieve success, if you stick with
 it.

    This game is compatible with CGA, EGA and VGA although the graphics are all
 CGA quality. The graphics are very detailed and nicely drawn as this entire
 game is graphically based. A mouse is the best input device, but the joystick
 is also supported.

    The main area of the game is the hallway which usually has a nurse and
 phone at the registration desk. Looking down the hallway, you can see seven
 doors: four are for patients, one is the Operating Room, one is the Classroom,
 and one is for the Staff.

    In the Classroom you learn of your mistakes with your patients and are
 given insight as how to avoid future mishaps.  The Staff room allows you to
 change the doctors that will work with you in the Operating Room, as well as
 get some background on them.

    You perform your diagnosis in the patient's room. You see a patient lying
 in bed with a medical chart at the foot of the bed. Upon reading the chart you
 can decide whether to Observe the patient, perform an X-Ray, Refer the patient
 to a specialist, Medicate the patient, perform an UltraScan, or perform an
 Operation. You check a box with what you think is the correct procedure and
 then sign your name.  If an X-Ray or UltraScan were (in your opinion) needed,
 you get to turn the machine on and see for yourself what's going on in the
 patient. If your decision is to operate, you leave the patient's room and go
 into the Operating Room.

    The Operating Room is where the REAL action takes place!  You are presented
 with a large view of the patient's stomach on the right side of the screen
 while the left side depicts the cardiogram, gas status, operating instruments
 (mainly Instruments of Death!), and drawers which contain blood, antibiotics,
 dopamine, etc.

    All aspects of an operation are covered.  You will need to wash your hands,
 put your gloves on, use antiseptic on the area, cover the area to be incised,
 turn the gas on, fill the blood I.V. and inject antibiotics before you can go
 to work.  The rest is up to you!  I won't give anything away since the entire
 program is a great learning experience.

    All in all, this is a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging game not for the
 weak-of-heart. Depending on your particular bent, you MAY find yourself
 laughing while the patient screams his/her last scream because you just forgot
 to turn on the gas before cutting!  (And what a scream it is!)

    The suggested retail price is $49.95 and is compatible with the IBM
 PC,XT,AT,PS/2,Tandy and Compatibles. CGA,EGA or VGA graphics adapter required
 and the game comes in both 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 formats.

^R^1-- John Romero