The Window Box by John Martin, Madison PC Users Group Windows SIG Leader New things New things that are available on the market for the Windows user are becoming more and more like Star Trek. This past weekend I was able to attend the Detroit Softteach, sponsored by one of my suppliers. There were hardware and software vendors showing off their wares by putting on 45-minute demonstrations and sales pitches of their products. Remote Control One of the most interesting, and for myself, useful products is by Island Systems. Remote Control is similar to some of the other connection software, with one major difference; this one has neat stuff like security and virus checking that separates it from the others in the category. The security for this system is what many network supervisors look for in products that allow outside access to their networks. Some of the security measures are intruder detection and lockout of these nasty little creeps that are known as hackers(1). For those not familiar with this plague, they are the second weirdest people that I know, the weirdest are those who create computer viruses. What this product does is allow you to call your work computer from home or the field, and it functions as if you were sitting at your keyboard. Once connected, you can lockout the keyboard, mouse, and/or the monitor so no one sees your password or what you are doing. For myself, the ability of remote support is the most important and impressive feature. It would allow me to solve my clients' problems without making on-site service calls. I could also help clients with Windows configuration problems in a few moments, as opposed to a few hours. Remember, it takes a lot longer to explain what you are supposed to be clicking on than to do the clicking yourself. AutoDesk Another manufacturer that had something impressive was AutoDesk. They presented their retail products Generic CADD, 3D Concepts for Windows, and AutoSketch for Windows. I admit I was an AutoCAD bigot. I thought the only worthwhile CAD should cost thousands of dollars and need months or even years to learn how to operate it. AutoDesk introduced me to three packages that have changed my mind. They are easy to learn and incorporate most of the power of major league packages, but at a lower cost, and the system requirements are not as costly either. Generic CADD 6.0 requirements are: IBM/PC/XT/AT or compatibles, 640K RAM, DOS 3.0, CGA monochrome or better, math coprocessor, and a mouse or trackball is recommended. There is support for dot-matrix and laser printers, and pen plotters. The requirements for Auto Sketch for Windows and 3D concepts for Windows system requirements are the same for Microsoft Windows Version 3.1 IBM OK, you all that know me -- I seldom stop from taking shots at Big Blue. Well, they put on a very impressive show and locked up OS/2's newest version due to be released in a few weeks. Needless to say, it was hard to control myself since I had just spent the last half hour listening to how much better and error tolerant this package is than Microsoft Windows. The complex thing that they were doing was changing the default font for the Program Manager. From what I could gather from other attenders, locking up was a normal problem. Does this sound like an UAE? To me it does. Hey, IBM, before you pan a competitor's product, you better make sure that your package runs better. I heard that you crashed your system in at least six of the 16 sessions you conducted. I believe that Windows 3.0, which was really tipsy, could perform better than yours did during the conference. Power On the lighter side, I was once again reminded of the importance of a properly configured power supply or UPS (uninterruptable power supply). Those $6.98 power strips do not quite cut out the spikes, surges, or sags. The better power strips will come with a guarantee attached to the box. The guarantee will replace electronic equipment that is damaged by electric line problems that the strip fails to correct or inhibit. The amount of the guarantee depends upon the cost and reliability of the protection device. The dollar amounts run from $1,000 to over $10,000. Those inexpensive hardware or discount store protection devices do not come with any guarantee other than that if the device fails to protect your computer, the company will replace the power strip. Oh person(!), what a guarantee. They will replace a $6.98 piece of equipment, and you can replace thousands of dollars of computer equipment out of your own pocket. My recommendation is to take your power strip into your favorite computer store and have the technician compare what is inside the case of your $6.98 power strip with a good quality protection device. Then you make the decision. Is your computer worth a few dollars more for the protection, or is your computer worth the protection that a $6.98 power strip will offer. Fonts If your forte is fonts, there is a neat little package for customizing fonts. TrueType Effects for Windows, by Micro Logic, makes the best of your TrueType fonts. According to the literature, you can create thousands of special effects. The price on this package is not bad either. Frame Maker Last but not least was a Windows word processor/desktop publishing package called Frame Maker. This product looks and acts like my favorite package, but does one flashy thing that made me go ooh-aah. It will not only allow you to typeset complex formulas, but it can actually solve it for you (ooh-aah). Manufactures mentioned: TrueType Effects for Windows is from: Micro Logic Software 1351 Ocean Avenue Emeryville, CA 94608 (510) 652-5464 Reachout Remote Control is from: Ocean Isle Software 49 Royal Plain Boulevard Vero Beach, FL 32960 (800) 677-OCEAN Generic CADD, AutoSketch for Windows and 3D Concepts for Windows are from: AutoDesk Retail Division 11911 North Creek Parkway South Bothell, WA 98011-9914 (800) 228-3601 UPS systems are from: American Power Conversion 132 Fairgrounds Road West Kingston, RI 02892 (800) 800-4APC OS/2 is from: Big Blue International Business Machines (800) 3-IBM-OS2 Windows is from: Microsoft (800) 426-9400 (1) Hackers are the humanoids that relish in the thought of breaking through your's, or any other computer's, security and causing disruptions or erasing and changing of programs and data.