Marketplace The Best of 1985 (and Some of the Worst) 501107New PC products of 1985: the best & worst (Editor's Choice). Memory Enlarging the Dimensions of Memory Petzold Charles Wiswell,P.,Rosch,W. 501120Entended & expanded memory options examined plus benchmark tests of 12 boards. Telecommunications Modems Take to the Airwaves Stone M. David 501184Modems: ESTeem Model 84 Wireless Modem communicates w/your PC via radio signals. Hardware New Looks for Replacement Keyboards Rosch Winn 501203Keyboards: 3 new keyboard configurations aim at faster, easier data input. Future View Is There Intelligent Life in the PC? Rothfeder Jeffrey 501139Artificial intelligence: is AI possible in the PC now or in the future? Database Management Paradox: A Database Manager with a Familiar Face Derfler Frank 501153Paradox database mgmt. software combines the best of 1-2-3, dBASE & Infoscope. Education Creating Corporate Training Courseware Pepper Jon 501197Authoring programs help nonprogrammers create sophisticated software tutorials. Marketplace The Copy-Protection Wars Taylor Jared 501164Copy protection: vendors' guard against theft vs. consumers' need to backup. Norton Chronicles A Reader's Thoughts on Ye Perfekt PC Norton Peter 501 81Response from a reader makes Norton change his perfect PC product picks. Graphics Graphics with No Apologies Seymour Jim 501 89Freelance graphics package combines MacPaint-like and CAD-like features. Computers in SocietyCan Computers Be Fail-safe? Augarten Stan 501 97Star Wars: do hardware/software bugs make this kind of scheme deadly? Programming/UtilitieSizing Up Your Files Merrill Art 501221SIZE & FREE programs tell you exactly how much file space you have. Book Review Learning Pascal Petzold Charles 501301Pascal programming language: 3 books reviewed. Word Processing The Business of Words Dickinson John 502 92Word Processors: 57 reviews of corporate, professional & personal wp packages. Word Processing Corporate Word Processors 502100Word processors for business: choosing the right wp for your corporate needs. Word Processors Professional Word Processors 502134Word processors for professionals: writers & lawyers favor extra features. Word Processing Personal Word Processors 502180Word processors for home users: fast & easy with limited extras. Word Processing Notes from the Underground WordStar 502257WordStar: tricks & tips on pulling more power out of this popular program. Norton Chronicles Letters...Lots and Lots of Letters Norton Peter 502 61Letters from readers on graphics adapters, printer drivers, etc. answered. Quantum Leap The Age of the Customized Chip Jeffries Ron 502 77Future hardware technology: new breakthroughs defeat former limitations. Computers in SocietyFlossie or the Tractor? Manes Stephen 502 89Decision support system spoof. Programming/UtilitieCustom-made Boot Messages Norton Peter 502271Boot program in assembly language that brings up user-friendly messages. Hardware Tape Backup: Measuring Speed and Cost per MegabyteMachrone Bill 503106Tape backup: evaluation of 13 standalone tape backup systems. Hardware Tape Backup: Technologies in Competition Stark Craig 503140Tape backup: the merits & liabilities of three 1/4" standards. Expansion Software The Organizing Principle Aarons Richard 503149Memory-resident programs: HomeBase & PolyWindows DeskPlus reviewed. Project Management Project Management Software: The Top Sellers Poor Alfred Brown, Bruce 503155Project management programs: 6 best-sellers reviewed. Printers Harnessing the Laser Printer Hart Glenn 503205Laser printer utilities that work with your word processor. Telecommunications RCA Enters the E-Mail Fray Krasnoff Barbara 503171RCA Mail for PC telecommunications: can it give MCI Mail a run for the money? Finance Live Market Quotes on Your PC Gianturco Michael 503181Stock market:2 radio modem/software pkges bring instant market quotes to your PC Accounting An All-Inclusive Accounting Library Falkner Mike Fitzhenry,Dauphinais503187Price Waterhouse Reports:The Business Library collection of acctng. software. Norton Chronicles An Imperfect B&W Monitor Norton Peter 503 69Monitors: Roland's MB-142 B&W monitor reviewed. Consumer Outlook Unbundling Software Support Seymour Jim 503 87Support for software users:possibility of 3rd party after-sale software support. Computers in SocietyTechnology with a Small "t" Augarten Stan 503 99Technology: four examples of innovation in from humble beginnings. Programming/UtilitieFix Up Commands with DOS-EDIT Petzold Charles 503217DOS-EDIT program lets you edit DOS commands on the full screen. Book Review The C Around Us Petzold Charles 503301C language books: 2 reviews. Operating Systems Operating in a New Environment Petzold Charles Duntemann,Chisholm 504108Alternate operating environments:TopView,Microsoft Windows,GEM Desktop & DesQ. PC AT Alternatives Computing Options for Power Users Derfler Frank Pepper,Taylor,Rosch 504134PC AT competitors: 8 high-powered PCs reviewed. Alternate Input Building a Better Mouse Interface Hart Glenn 504167Mice, 3 programmable systems interface with your favorite applications programs. Tax Preparation The Returns Are In: Tax Software for 1985 Meadows Laura 504217Tax software for doing your 1985 tax return at home. Word Processing The Business of Words: Special-Purpose 504176Word processing: 13 word processors with special or specialized features. Norton Chronicles Checking Out CHKDSK Norton Peter 504 81CHKDSK: what does it check and how does it work. Computers in SocietyFritter: The Ever-Present Enemy Manes Stephen 504 93Frustrations of bad software design or installation-resistant hardware. Quantum Leap Hello, REXX -- Goodbye, .BAT Jeffries Ron 504 97REXX: powerful new shell language that's as easy as BASIC. Programming/UtilitieA Mouse in Your Keyboard Rollins Dan 504233KBM.COM program speeds up your numeric keypad, as if mouse-driven. Book Review The Elegance and Power of C Petzold Charles 504255C language: 4 programming books reviewed. Design CAD: The Big Picture for Micros Hart Glenn 505106CAD (computer-aided design): reviews of state-of-the-art CAD packages. Database Management Q&A: A Database with a Smart Interface Aarons Richard 505185Q&A: database management program with natural language interface. Finance Javelin: A New Modeler Takes Aim at 1-2-3 Taylor Jared 505213Javelin spreadsheet/fin. modeling software review: is it competition for 1-2-3? Software Aids Getting the Most Out of Your Hard Disk Davis Stephen 505227Disk access speed enhancers: DiskOptimizer & Lightning reviewed. Business Software for the Sales Force Young Jan 505237Sales-oriented software pkgs.: Power-Base, Sell!Sell!Sell! & ExSell reviewed. Networks The IBM Token-Ring LAN: What? Why? Now? Derfler Frank 505197IBM token-ring network: setting the standard for the LAN market? Norton Chronicles Keeping Disk Space Clean with CHKDSK Norton Peter 505 69CHDSK: continuation of functions & workings of CHKDSK program. PC Perspectives Building in Those Essential "Options" Seymour Jim 505 87Add-in functions sold separately will soon become part of standard motherboard. Computers in SocietyA Sense of Responsibility Augarten Stan 505 99Military use of computers: is it fail-safe? Programming/UtilitieSpeeding Up Your Keyboard Forrest Leo 505255QUICKEYS utility: speeds up keyboard reaction time on PC & PC XT. Book Review Getting Started in Communications Stone David 505315Telecommunications: 4 books on communications software. Monitors The EGA Standard: Monitors That Measure Up Petzold Charles 506108Monitors:PC Labs test/reviews the first 4 enhanced graphics monitors on the mkt. Monitors Color Monitors: Challenging the IBM Standard Forney Jim Puglia,V.,Wiswell,P.506123Monitors:13 that run the original IBM Color/Graphics Adapter tested and reviewed Portables Here It Comes -- The Compaq Portable II Machrone Bill 506147Compaq Portable II: reduced in size, upgraded in performance. Hardware AT&T's Wonder Boards Stallings Stephanie 506151AT&T's high-performance color and graphics boards reviewed. Hardware Hard Disk Cards:Costly Solution Worth Considering Bermant Charles 506185Hard disk cards reviewed: expanded memory options. Graphics Diagraph Sets Pace for Business Quality Graphics Carroll Russell 506173Diagraph: graphics software with an enormous symbol library. Word Processing The Business of Words: Outliners Dickinson John 506199Outliners aka thought processors help you organize your ideas. Education The PC Plays Tutor Gordon Dawn 506222Training: 3rd party tutorials for the corporate user. Education Shopping for Seminars Dicker Shira 506230Training: seminars as training vehicles for new users or honing skills. Norton Chronicles A Standard in the Making Norton Peter 506 79Memory-resident programs: making them co-exist cooperatively. Portables Designing the Condensed PC Seymour Jim 506 87Portables & laptops: the trend to smaller computers. Memory Down Memory Lane Manes Stephen 506 95Memory: computer evolution & ever-expanding memory examined. Marketplace A Challenge to Compaq Alsop Stewart 506 99Proposal for hypothetical dream machine from Compaq. PC Lap Notes DOS Tips, Tricks, and Techiques Sheldon Tom 506237BAT files:what they do & how they work. Programming/UtilitieJust Looking, Thank You Petzold Charles 506253BROWSE.COM lets you wander around a file while still in DOS. Book Review Helpful (and Not-so-Helpful) Hints Petzold Charles 506331Tips & techniques for enhancing productivity: 3 books reviewed. Finance Rating Investment Software Assorted Authors 507104Investment software:analysts from 3 brokerage firms report on software packages. Finance Technical Analysis Assorted Authors 507113Investment software: software that helps chart market trends reviewed. Finance Fundamental Analysis Assorted Authors 507163Investment software: software that helps sift through stock data reviewed. Finance Portfolio Management Assorted Authors 507183Investment software: portfolio mgmt. pkgs track changing values of securities. Finance Using Spreadsheets to Monitor Your Portfolio Meyers Thomas 507227Investment software: using spreadsheet template and link pkg to update prices. Finance Software for Financial Security Woodwell Donald 507237Investment software: assessing bonds and other fixed-income securities. Norton Chronicles Recovering Data from Cross-Linked Files Norton Peter 507 59Data recovery from files whose allocation chains have converged. Lotus 1-2-3 Lotus's 1-2-3, Release 2: What Didn't Get Fixed Seymour Jim 507 77Lotus 1-2-3, Release 2 reviewed. IBM IBM vs. IBM Manes Stepehn 507 87IBM marketplace: is IBM letting product quality & service slide? Marketplace Why Compaq Should Make the ApplEater Alsop Stewart 507 95Proposal for hypothetical dream machine from Compaq (Part 2). PC Lab Notes Eradicating Erasure Errors Rosch Winn 507251Recovering lost files using DOS DEBUG or The Norton Utilities or PC Tools. Programming/UtilitieRENDIR Unto /Caesar Dickinson John 507259RENDIR.COM program lets you rename subdirectories. Book Review Refining Your Investment Strategies Gianturco Michael 507303Investment books: 3 books on PCs as tools for individual investors. PC AT Alternatives Courting Disaster: The IBM PC AT Dickinson John 508106Hard disk failures in the PC AT: an examination of the problem. PC AT Alternatives From Sea to Shining Sea Bermant Charles Howard, Bill 508115Hard disk failure of PC AT:computer stores/resellers/corporate buyers speak out. PC AT Alternatives Power Computing: Alternatives to the IBM PC AT Dyar Christina 508123Alternatives to the IBM PC AT: 10 PCs and 3 replacement hard drives reviewed. PC AT Alternatives Two New Alternatives to the PC AT Obregon David 508139Alternatives to the PC AT: NCR PC8 & TeleVideo AT Model II tested & reviewed. Printers Okidata Makes Good: The Microline Printer Series Stone David 508147Okidata microline printers: improvements make them rate a second look. Word Processing Power Performance:Nine Programmable Mail-Mergers Pearlman Dara Burns,D.,Venit,S. 508165Mail-mergers: 9 mail merge programs reviewed. Music Music: The PC's New Frontier Langdell James 508187Music generated by the PC:MIDI-compatible sonic software opens new possibilities Repair/Maintenance The Repairs Game Day Carol 508203Repair market--how to go about having your computer or peripheral fixed. Accounting Solomon III: Sophisticated Multiuser Accounting Dauphinais Bill Fitzhenry, Williams 508217Price Waterhouse Reports:Solomon III, multiuser version of great accounting pkg. Norton Chronicles Down with the PC AT, Up with the Compaq 286 Norton Peter 508 81Compaq 286 endorsed as an alternative to the PC AT. New IBM Products The Magic of the RT PC: Lavish Speed and Power Seymour Jim 508 91IBM's PC RT:exciting,expensive PC for the engineering/scientific/technical user. Graphics Graphics: Heading Off the Charts Manes Stephen 508 95Graphics: the lighter side of creative graphics. Consumer Complaints The Myth of Standardization Alsop Stewart 508 99Standardization:problems of building an integrated, compatible computer system. Telecommunications Choosing and Using Modems Stone David 508233Modems:tips on getting the most from them using AT command set & batch files. Programming/UtilitieDISKSCAN Finds Bad Sectors Petzold Charles 508241DISKSCAN: a program to monitor the health of your hard disk. Micro/Mainframe Micro to Mainframe: Making the Right Connection Derfler Frank 509116Mainframe/PC connection: overview of terminology and possible problems. Micro/Mainframe A Window on the 3278 World Petzold Charles 509127Mainframe terminal out of PC?: install 3278/79 coaxial terminal emulation card. Portables More Laptop Power for Less from Kaypro Derfler Frank 509161Kaypro 2000 laptop computer reviewed. Hardware Screen Cameras and Film Recorders Rosch Winn 509195Screen cameras & film recorders: new technology offers better business graphics. Finance Keeping Your Spreadsheet Honest Taylor Jared 509151Spreadsheet analyzers:these troubleshooters identify errors & trace their source Marketplace Shareware: Nominal Fees Can Yield Big Value Stanton Tom 509195Shareware: free softwares' unique marketing strategy & success stories. Software Aids Extending DOS's Utility Puglia Vincent 509209Hard disk utilities organize file & directory structure and add commands to DOS. Telecommunications 2,400-BPS Update: 8 Modems for a New Standard Pepper Jon 509229Modems: 2,400-bps--they double speed but present problems in a 1,200-bps world. Norton Chronicles Search and Identify Norton Peter 509 81Norton Utilities System Information: how it identifies machine it's running on. Expansion Software Looking for the Ultimate Pop-up Seymour Jim 509 97Memory-resident programs' collision problems & a wish list of desirable features Computers in SocietyPaper Is Truth Manes Stephen 509101Paper clutter:do computers reduce or increase amounts of paper around an office. Future View Rumors, Rumors Alsop Stewart 509107Speculation about IBM's unannounced computers: one based on a 80386 chip? Telecommunications Paring Communications to the Bare Essentials Petzold Charles 509261Modems: writing rudimentary communications programs for your modem. Programming/UtilitieMake Exceptions with NO.COM Petzold Charles 509275NO.COM utility lets your global DOS command act on all but specified files. Repair/Maintenance Power Corrupts (But You Can Protect Your PC) Rosch Winn 510106Power surges & irregularities: the #1 cause of malfunction & data loss. Repair/Maintenance Surge Suppressors: An Ounce of Prevention Wiswell Phil 510115Surge suppressors: PC Labs torture tests 34 power surge suppressors. Expert Systems Guru: Brave New Expert System? Helliwell John 510151Guru: an expert sytem integrated with 5 standard business applications. Business Desktop Organizers: Top-Notch Efficiency Tools Burns Diane Venit,S.,Puglia,V. 510165Desktop organizers make rolodex,calendar,clock,calculator & notepad obsolete. Word Processing The Quest for Style Raskin Robin 510189Style analyzers fix basic grammatical errors: 5 state of the art programs rev'd. PC AT Alternatives The Tandy 3000 HD: A Fraternal Twin of the PC AT Obregon Dave 510209Tandy 3000 HD: a compatible 80286-based PC that's a PC AT contender. Hardware One, Two, Breakthrough: The Core HC25 Rosch Winn 510181Core HC25 hard disk breakthrough:250 megabytes of storage & fastest access time. Finance A Guide to On-Line Investing Meyers Thomas 510213Telecommunications services for the on-line investor: 13 services reviewed. Norton Chronicles A Little-Known Bug in DOS 2.1 Norton Peter 510 71DOS 2.1 bug: when you COPY*.* many files, every 256th file will be ignored. Hardware Awaiting the CD-ROM Boom Seymour Jim 510 87CD-ROM read-only optical disks: an innovation waiting to happen. IBM Standard? What Standard? Manes Stephen 510 91IBM standard:hard to define but its flexibility has contributed to IBM's success Entrepreneurs The Zen of Arrogance Alsop Stewart 510 97Arrogance: as part of the personalities of industry leaders & entrepreneurs. Printers Printer Buffers: Productivity Tools Dickinson John Manes,Bermant,Petzol510231Printer buffers cut down on the time your computer is unavailable. Programming/UtilitieStacking Up Subdirectories Friend John 510243PUSHDIR & POPDIR: 2 DOS utilities that stack directories. Ergonomics Is There a Workstation in Your Future? Derfler Frank 511110Workstations designed for the corporate environment are entering the marketplace Ergonomics DOS Meets the Workstation Machrone Bill 511117Xerox 6085 workstation: a quality workstation for the business environment. Integrated Packages Integration w/Integrity:Framework,Symphony,Enable Poor Al 511127Framework, Symphony & Enable: features of these integrated packages compared. Accounting Price Waterhouse Report:Accounting Series from BPIDauphinais Bill Lee, T., Yesko, M. 511181Price Waterhouse Report: BPI Enterprise Series accounting software system rev'd. Project Management Project Management Under $200 Bermant Charles 511191Project Management on a budget: inexpensive alternatives. Software Aids Menu Generators: DOS Made Easier Puglia Vincent 511201Menu generating utilities make DOS easier for the novice. Hardware More Options for Enlarging Dimensions of Memory Petzold Charles 511156Memory: PC Labs tests 11 expanded and extended memory boards. Repair/Maintenance A Dollop of Prevention, a Pinch of Repair Day Carol 511213Repair prevention: maintenance tips for keeping the repairman away. Languages Taking the Bite out of Turbo Pascal: 14 Utilities Feldmann Peter 511225Turbo Pascal utilities to make this programming language easier. Hardware Hard Disk Partitioning Norton Peter 511 75Hard disk partitions: an introduction to the PC's subdivided fixed disk. Word Processing Advise and Consent Seymour Jim 511 91Writing programs should take a more active role in helping us write better. Consumer Complaints Artificial Stupidity Manes Stephen 511 95Tongue-in-cheek critique of poorly designed software programs. Entrepreneurs Differing Visions Alsop Stewart 511101Market dominance:what it takes. Gary Kildall's & Bill Gates' strategy compared. Data Security PC Lab Notes: No Backups Means Going in Reverse Dickinson John 511241Backup of data: its importance and DOS ways to accomplish the task. Programming/UtilitieChanging DOS File Attributes Petzold Charles 511249ATTR.COM: utility for changing file attributes. Database Management Project Database II Krasnoff Barbara Dickinson, John 512106Project Database II:100 database mgmt. programs rev'd in this & next 2 issues. Database Management Programmable Relational Databases 512114Project Database II: 32 programmable relational databases reviewed. Database Management Relational Databases 512184Project Database II: 24 relational databases reviewed. DBASE II & III Adding Speed and Functions to dBASE Hart Glenn 512229DBASE 3rd-party software enhancements add functions, generate code automatically Hardware Creating Hard Disk Partitions Norton Peter 512 69Hard disk partitions: set & control them with DOS's FDISK. Consumer Outlook How Important is Speed? Seymour Jim 512 87Speed: how important are speed accelerators & are they worth the cost? Consumer Outlook The Failure of Low Tech Manes Stephen 512 91Low tech: an examination of the simple, mundane failures in products & design. Marketing Selling Software: Some Univeral Truths Alsop Stewart 512 97Selling software: 7 golden rules of software promotion & sales. Software Aids PC Lab Notes: Keyboard Macros and Redefinition Petzold Charles 51255 Macros:changing strings of input to one keystroke and macro-building products. Programming/UtilitieSet 'em Up on the House Prosise Jeff 512255SETUP.COM utility lets you send your printer set-up control codes any time. Portables DOS to Travel Machrone Bill 513108Portables:9 portables reviewed and tested (including IBM's PC Convertible). Hardware Tape and Disk:Storage with a Safety Net Rosch Winn 513143Tape backup/hard disk units: reviews and benchmark tests by PC Labs. Consumer Outlook Breaking the Mold:Creative Software Solutions Rothfeder Jeffrey 513175Innovative individuals creatively apply software solutions to fit their needs. Database Management Project Database II: Flat-File Databases Krasnoff Barbara 513187Project Database II:continued from V.5 #12--reviews of flat-file databases. Telecommunications PC Magazine's Interactive Reader Service Johnston Christopher 513251Interactive Reader Service--trials & tribulations one year after installation. DBASE II & III Power Add-ons for dBASE Hart Glenn 513267DBASE add-ons: 9 dBase-specific utilities improve performance and add features. Peter Norton Display screen Issues Norton Peter 513 73PgDn:the psychology behind it/& FlickerFree memory-resident screen stabilizer. Future View Why the 80386 PC Will Be So Important Seymour Jim 513 8980386 chip-built PCs: why these machines will conquer the marketplace. Stephen Manes Confessions of an Unpaid Consultant Manes Stephen 513 99Free advise solicited from computer experts: a tongue-in-cheek complaint. Games Playing Games:A Worthy Pursuit Alsop Stewart 513 99Games:how playing computer games at work can lighten up the business environment Telecommunications Getting On-line with Your PC Stone David 513285On-line information:how to tap into databases/electronic-mail/communic. pkgs. Programming/UtilitieStatus Symbols for Your PC Socha John 513305Statline program for displaying status of toggle keys on screen. Graphics The Enhanced Graphics Standard Comes of Age Alsop Stewart 514140Enhanced Graphics Adapters: a new standard has evolved for the industry. Graphics Achieving the Standard: 12 EGA Boards Petzold Charles 514145Enhanced Graphics Adapters: 12 EGA boards (including IBM's) tested & reviewed. PC AT Alternatives Two Build-Your-Own Alternatives for AT Power Raskin Robin 514185Building your own PC AT compatible: 2 alternatives examined. Business Business Forecasting:16 Ways to Predict the FutureBryan Marvin 514211Forecasting & statistical analysis software for business: 16 packages reviewed. Software Aids Software Safety Nets for Hard Disk Data Puglia Vincent 514323Backup your hard disk with inexpensive backup software: 11 packages reviewed. Operating Systems Xenix System V: A Mulituser Answer for the AT? Raskin Robin Christian, Kaare 514253Xenix System V makes multitasking/multiuser UNIX available for PC users. Entrepreneurs PC Magazine Awards for Technical Excellence Bermant Charles Owen, Barry 514239PC Magazine's 2nd annual awards for techn. excellence in sftwr/hrdwr development Database Management Project Database II: Flat-File Databases Krasnoff Barbara 514269Project Database II:continued from V.5 #12 & #13--18 flat-file DBMS's reviewed. Lotus 1-2-3 1-2-3 Learning Aids: Many Paths to Proficiency Barr Christopher 514309Training aids for learning Lotus 1-2-3: 23 teaching aids evaluated & reviewed. IBM IBM Product Centers: The Final Analysis Dvorak John 514 89IBM Product Centers: the story behind their recent sale to Nynex. Entrepreneurs Kitchen-Table Entrepreneurs Revisited Norton Peter 514103Entrepreneurs: following the different strategies of an imaginary group. Marketplace A Better Way to Support Software Seymour Jim 514113Third-party software support: aiding a software publisher's customers directly. Networks Networking: A Rocky Road Manes Stephen 514125Networks & small businesses: a combination whose time has not yet come. Marketplace Designing the Perfect PC for the Home Alsop Stewart 514131Home computers:profile of a marketable home computer & most likely manufacturer. Programming/UtilitiePC Lab Notes: Give Your PC Added Utility Rosch Winn 514353DOS utilities let PC function as notepad,calculator,dialer--desktop organizer. Programming/UtilitieExploring the EGA (Part 1) Petzold Charles 514367Enhanced Graphics Adapter examined & utilites for exploring its potential. Hardware Accelerator Boards: Power for a Price Petzold Charles 515125Accelerator boards: 13 boards tested and reviewed by PC Labs. Hardware The No-Slot Alternative to Acceleration Davis Stephen 515169Accelerator compact cards that do not require a slot: 5 no-slot boards reviewed. Hardware Backup Power: When the Juice Stops Flowing Rosch Winn 515181UPS/SPS: uninterrupible & standby power supplies--PC Labs reviews 25 units. Telecommunications Fast, Faster, Fastest: 9,600 bps Modems Arrive Stone David 5152219,600 bps modems: high speed modems in need of a standard. PC AT Alternatives Two AT Alternatives with Personality Pepper Jon 515245Sanyo MBC-990 & TeleVideo TeleCAT286: two PC AT alternative reviewed. Data Security Protection from Prying Eyes Taylor Jared 515213Security: file privacy through password-based security programs. Integrated Packages Integrated Applications: The Smart Solution Ridington Dick 515251SMART Software System: integrated package from Innovative Software reviewed. Micro/Mainframe Micro-to-Mainframe Connections:Remote PossibilitieHarts Bill Teets,C.,Stone,D. 515251Micro/mainframe communication with 3270 emulation boards: 7 boards reviewed. IBM IBM Steals NCC by Default Dvorak John 515 81NCC Spring show in Las Vegas: a once-popular computer show slows. Marketplace Carving a Niche in the Software Industry Norton Peter 515 91Marketing software:how companies with kitchen-table roots made it to the top 100 Marketplace FCC Certification Wars (Part 1) Seymour Jim 515101RF/EMI-emissions problems: FCC tags some items as not meeting emission standards Future View Prediction: A Growth Industry Manes Stephen 515115Prediction of what will happen in the computer industry still a shakey business. Marketplace I Bought Mail Order! Alsop Stewart 515121Mail order purchasing: the pros & cons of buying by mail. Software Aids More Speed from Hard Disk Drives Rosch Winn 515275Hard disk performance:get more speed & efficiency by reorganizing your files. Programming/UtilitieExploring the EGA (Part 2) Rosch Winn 515287Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) examined:fonts,512-character set,screen formats. Hardware Page-to-Disk Technology: 9 State-of-Art Scanners Stanton Tom Burns,D.,Venit,S. 516128Scanners:machines which convert pages of text to disk files (9 scanners rev'd.) IBM The Two Faces of IBM's 8-MHz AT Petzold Charles 516179IBM's 8-MHz PC AT: high velocity entry into the turbo speed AT market. Voice Synthesis A Few Words About Voice Technology Rothfeder Jeffrey 516191Voice recognition & speech synthesis hardware: how they work & applications. Languages Generators Give New Life to COBOL Bank Eric 516203COBOL menu-driven programs generate high-quality code: revitalizing the language Accounting The Open Road to Integrated Accounting Dauphinais Bill Connor,T.,Lee,T. 516209Price Waterhouse Reports:Open System Accounting Software--latest release rev'd. Graphics Putting Your Business on the Map Day Carol 516219Mapmaking graphics packages for business: 4 software packages reviewed. Micro/Mainframe Micro/Mainframe Connections:SNA Remote Emulation Harts Bill Teets,C.,Stone,D. 516235System Network Architecture(SNA):15 remote emulation boards reviewed. Future View CASD, Coming Soon to a Programmer Near You Dvorak John 516 79Self-programming compilers:flowchart icons to hit market:their possible effects. IBM The New PC AT BIOS:Some Subtle Changes Norton Peter 516 93Keyboard changes & new BIOS(computer's internal control software) in IBM's PC AT Marketplace FCC Certification Wars (Part 2) Seymour Jim 516103RF/EMI (radio frequency & electromagnet interference) emission problems(Part 2). Marketplace The Curse of the Low Serial Number Manes Stephen 516119Purchasing time-tested computer technology vs. buying latest innovations. Consumer Outlook Diary of a Pseudo Power User Alsop Stewart 516119Assembling and formatting a new computer can be a test of wills. Data Security PC Lab Notes: Keeping Your Files Private Rosch Winn 516259Security for your hard disk data:passwords,hidden files,illegal filenames,etc. Programming/UtilitieWeed Out Excess Files with XDEL Czapala Ronald 516267XDEL utility: deletes unwanted files with a single keystroke. Compatibles The Cheapest PCs Ever Stafford Paul 517122Low-cost compatible PCs for under $1000--18 inexpensive PCs tested and reviewed. Hardware Optical Overview: What's Coming in CD-ROMs & WORMsHelliwell John 517149CD-ROMs & WORMs--optical disk technology to replace large reference databases. Spreadsheets 1-2-3 Knockoffs: How Close Do They Come? Taylor Jared 517167Lotus 1-2-3 competitors:3 low-cost imitators:VP-Planner,The Twin & Farsight revd Software Aids Six Utilities for Byte Level Editing Rosch Winn 517217Byte editors:6 programs recover erased files & more (easier than DOS DEBUG). Graphics New Plotters: All the Way from A to E (Part 1) Hart Glenn 517179Plotters: producing high quality graphics--5 desktop plotters reviewed & tested. Music Musical Interludes with the PC Rosch Winn 517265Music:learn to play music w/Roland's Musicom&play it w/Tecmar music synthesizer. Education Management Training: Business Simulation on the PCPuglia Vincent 517229Training:business mngmt. skills tested through 3 business simulation programs. Languages PROLOG: A Language for Artificial Intelligence Wong William 517247PROLOG programming language:for uses in AI & database applications-7 systems rvd Consumer Complaints WYSIWYG Mania Dvorak John 517 77Batch processing's advantages over trend towards what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Future View Waiting for the Next Leap Forward Norton Peter 517 87IBM & the future of PCs:what lies ahead for IBM & effect of cheap competitors. Telecommunications The Decline of the Central Office Seymour Jim 517 95Workplace: the future prospect of PC-connected suburban satellite offices. Future View The Permanent Interim Manes Stephen 517109Market:industry secret-keeping & promise of future brkthroughs lead to inertia. Publishing Is Desktop Publishing Fit to Print Alsop Stewart 517117Desktop publishing: low-cost laser printers are not up to the task. Programming PC Lab Notes: Exploring with DEBUG Petzold Charles 517285DEBUG (included with PC-DOS): its potential & applications examined. Programming/UtilitieA Calendar for All Seasons Forrest Leo 517301POP-CAL: pop-up window calendar utility. Telecommunications Asynchronous Communications: Shopping for SoftwareStone David 518126Communications software: 34 telecommunications packages tested & reviewed. PC AT Alternatives The Cheapest ATs Ever Pepper Jon Desposito, Joe 518203PC AT alternatives: 8 low-cost AT-compatibles reviewed. Graphics Animating Corporate Presentations Kunkel Gerard Luchak, G. 518220Animation: in-house created animation & 3D presentations enhance busn. graphics. Graphics New Plotters: All the Way from A to E (Part 2) Hart Glenn 518239Plotters: D & E-size plotters for heavy-duty CAD jobs & printer/plotter hybrids. Networks LAN Software Comes of Age Poor Al 518285Network software helps LANs come of age(& multi-user R:base and dBASE III+ revd. Future View Let's Modernize the Microcomputer Dvorak John 518 77Improving the computer: suggestions for getting rid of hardware inefficiencies. Future View The Future is Sitting in Our Laps Norton Peter 518 91386-based computers will bring speed & new operating system environment. Software Aids Great Pop-Ups:The Public Sounds Off Seymour Jim 518101Pop-up desk-accessory utility programs: readers' wish lists. Consumer Outlook The Dumpty Dictionary, Version 2.0 Manes Stephen 518111Tongue-in-cheek definitions of computer industry terminology. IBM An Open Letter to IBM Alsop Stewart 518117IBM's declining position in PC-DOS market & ideas on improving market share. Lotus 1-2-3 PC Lab Notes:Comprehensive Guide to 1-2-3's MacrosTaylor Jared 518301Macros for Lotus 1-2-3: a guide to how they work and how to use them. Programming/UtilitieBeat the Beeps with VISITYPE Holzner Steve 518313VISITYPE program: expands visible keyboard buffer to 80 edit-able characters. Printer Project The Third Annual Survey: Printers Dickinson John 519135Printers:3rd annual printer project--PC Magazine tests & reviews 97 new printers Printer Project Dot Matrix Printers 519141Dot matrix printers: inexpensive, easy to use & reliable--with a few stand outs. Printer Project Laser Printers 519261Laser printers:a host of competitors challenge Hewlett-Packard's monopoly on mkt Printer Project Daisy Wheel Printers 519305Daisy wheel printers: new daisy wheel entries into market. Printer Project Ricoh Laser Engine:Challenging Canon Harts Bill 519353Ricoh LP4080 laser printer engine boasts advantages over the Canon LBP-CX. Printer Project Index to Printer Reviews 519358Printers:alphabetical index of printers reviewed in last 3 annual printer issues Portables It's Not the Display, It's the Gestalt Dvorak John 519 87Laptop computers: is there a real market or need for portables? Consumer Outlook Notes from the Mailbag Norton Peter 519 95Letters from readers:tips, complaints & suggestions on laptops & disk formatting Marketplace On Telling the Truth Seymour Jim 519103Lies that users and vendors tell about products and productivity. Consumer Complaints The Famous Software School Manes Stephen 519117Tongue-in-cheek advice on how to design confusing software. Consumer Complaints The Arrogant Programmer Alsop Stewart 519125Complaint on why new programs often involve learning new user interfaces. Printer Project PC Lab Notes:Mastering Your Printer's Options Dickinson John 519363Printer options: setting up your own print routines for using printer options. Programming/UtilitieQuick-Change Artistry Mefford Michael 519373CHANGE.COM utility: change text strings & ASCII codes without word processor. Compatibles Compaq Leads the Way to Speed and Compatibility Howard Bill Wong, W. 520134Compaq Deskpro 386 PC: twice the speed of a PC AT with compatibility. Hardware Intel's 32-bit Wonder: The 80386 Microprocessor Petzold Charles 520147Intel 80386 chip: 32-bit microprocessor that powers the Compaq Deskpro 386. Marketplace Compaq Becomes a Technology Leader Seymour Jim 520157Compaq Deskpro 386 as new technology leader and how to market this innovative PC Expansion Software Taking Up Residence Raskin Robin 520163Memory-resident programs become a problem as they fight each other for control. Expansion Software How RAM-Resident Programs Work (And Don't Work) Petzold Charles 520176Memory-resident pop-up programs: how & why they interfere w/each other in RAM. Expansion Software When Your Pop-ups Need a Manager Davis Stephen 520200Memory-resident utilities that traffic-manage other RAM-resident utilities. Database Management TBMS: Database Power Unleased Puglia Vincent 520211Text-based mngmt. systems combine word processing & database mngmt.(10 reviews). Telecommunications Beyond the Hayes Standard Stone David 520233Hayes & its competitors are pushing the boundaries of advanced modem technology. Graphics Business Graphics Update Rothfeder Jeffrey 520247Business graphics:new packages add animation,slide show & video capabilities. Telecommunications On-line Searches Made Easy Krasnoff Barbara 520263Western Union's InfoMaster on-line service provides access to 720 databases. Accounting State of the Art's M*A*S 90:Beyond Acctng. Basics Dauphinais Bill Hunter,J,Fitzhenry,P520275M*A*S 90 accounting package for small businesses:comprehensive,innovative leader Networks The Network Shell Game Dvorak John 520 89Networks: tongue-in-check parable on risks of buying unstandardized networks. Compatibles Compaq's Bold Step Norton Peter 520 99Compaq Deskpro 386--Norton critiques Compaq's innovative 386-based PC. Marketplace Standards Versus Innovation Seymour Jim 520107Standardization: how 386-based PC's will start another standard identity crisis. Marketplace You Get What You Pay For? Manes Stephen 520119Criticism of software developers who try to get free advice from experts. Entrepreneurs What's on Steven Jobs's Mind? Alsop Stewart 520125Steven Jobs predicts in 5 years computers will incorporate desktop publishing. Operating Systems PC Lab Notes:Filtering Files with FIND Sheldon Tom 520303DOS utility, FIND:lets you search files,extract data,pipeline output,count lines Programming/UtilitieThe Power of Suggestion Mefford Michael 520317SUGGEST.COM resident program lets you flash supraliminal messages on the screen. Networks Connectivity: LANs and Beyond Derfler Frank 521118Local Area Networks (LANs):overview of what constitutes a local area network. Networks The Software Key to LANs Derfler Frank 521131Local Area Network software: what it does and how it operates. Networks An Overview of Networking Options Derfler Frank 521141Local Area Networks:alternatives to LANs discussed(from circuit-switch to minis) Networks Making Connections: LANs Under NetWare Derfler Frank 521149NetWare: 6 networks that run Novell's networking software tested & reviewed. Networks A Networking Tool Kit Derfler Frank 521191Network installation and administration: tips on making these tasks easier. PC AT Alternatives As Fast as an AT--or Faster Desposito Joe 521209PC AT compatibles:ALR System 286,ALR Dart,Tech PC AT Desktop,PC's Limited 286 12 Hardware Supercharging XT Hard Disk Performance Rosch Winn 521231PC XT: hardware for speeding up your XT's hard disk and increasing storage. Word Processing New Editions of Three Winning Word Processors Dickinson John Pearlman,D.,Stark,C.521255XyWrite, Volkswriter & Microsoft Word:new versions of these popular programs rvd IBM The Art of Disinformation Dvorak John 521 71Disinformation: John Dvorak's simple rules about IBM's modus operandi. Programming A Quantum Jump in Designing Interfaces Norton Peter 521 81Dan Bricklin's Demo program for designing program interfaces applauded. Future View Debugging AI Myths Seymour Jim 521 95Artificial intelligence: the myth vs. realistic expectations. Marketplace Underutilization: Next Year's Buzzword Manes Stephen 521105Underutilization: evaluation of why people are not using PCs for multiple tasks. Consumer Complaints Losing Sleep over DOS Shells Alsop Stewart 521113DOS shells: how the effort to make things easy for new users backfires. Programming PC Lab Notes:Interfacing BASIC and Assembler(pt.1)Winer Ethan 521289BASIC & Assembly language :Assembly lang. subroutines increase BASIC's power. Programming/UtilitieRetrofitting a DOS System Prosise Jeff 521303DISKPREP.COM--adds DOS system files to a nonsystem disk. Portables DOS Travels Better Now: What's New in Portables Pepper Jon 522118Portable PCs to go: 6 new & improved portables reviewed. Hardware Multiport Serial Cards:Breaking the Two-Port LimitRosch Winn 522147Multiport serial boards add ports for your mouse, modem, OCR, printer, etc. Graphics Making an Impact with Graphics Bryan Marvin 522167Presentation graphics programs: 6 packages reviewed & compared. Education Screen Test: Software for the Image Makers Poor Alfred 522199Presentation software:5 packages for making marketing demos,tutorials,prototypes Networks Making Connections: AT&T StarLAN Derfler Frank 522223StarLAN--AT&T network that can run software & hardware from different vendors. Hardware Big, Beautiful, and Black and White Rosch Winn 522243Monitors: 2 ultra-high-resolution monochrome monitors reviewed. Marketing Replay Officiating Needed for AT&T Dvorak John 522 67AT&T's shakey position in the microcomputer market examined. IBM Picks and Pans--Minus Passion Norton Peter 522 75IBM's booms & boondoggles of the computer industry. Future View Beyond Bigger, Faster, and More of It Seymour Jim 522 83Synergistic effects of combining powerful, disparate & unrelated products. Consumer Complaints Santa's Electronic Mailbox Manes Stephen 522 93Wish list of Xmas stocking stuffers:Manes pokes fun at computer products &people Consumer Complaints High-Tech Stop & Shop Alsop Stewart 522109Compatible PCs--Alsop takes a look at a fictitious Asian Compu-Stop & Shop store Programming Interfacing BASIC and Assembler (Part 2) Winer Ethan 522259BASIC-Assembly language--assembly lang. subroutines increase BASIC's power. Programming/UtilitieFREEZE Out File Filchers Prosise Jeff 522285FREEZE:memory-resident file security utility offers an alternative to encryption Portables IBM Laptop Dignifies the DOS-to-Go Market Howard Bill 510 33PCN:Convertible laptop computer from IBM: first look & review. Consumer Outlook Copy Protection Losing Its Favor Alsop Stewart Bermant,C.,Rosch,W. 510 33PCN:Copy protection--more and more software companies unlock their programs. IBM At Last, IBM Sanctions Faster (8-MHz) PC AT Dickinson John 510 38PCN:IBM announces faster PC AT, enhanced keyboard, TopView upgrade. Micro/Mainframe 3270 Emulation Programs Boost PC Connectivity Dickinson John 510 38PCN: IBM announces programs that link IBM networks to mainframes. IBM PC Update: IBM Price Cuts Stafford Paul 510 44PCN: IBM announces price cuts on PC/XT/AT. Consumer Outlook Working Around Copy Protection Rosch Winn 510 47PCN:Copy protection--programs that let you get around copy protected programs. Entrepreneurs Morals Clause Costs Central Point Sftwr. its AwardBermant Charles 510 47PCN:Award for selling over 100,000 withheld from copy-protection busting program Word Processing Microsoft Word 3.0 Gets Better in Most Every Way Dickinson John 510 52PCN:Word 3.0 released with useful improvements. Telecommunications Lower-Cost Modems Place Price Pressure on Hayes Johnston Chris 509 41PCN: Modems--how low cost modems stack up against the Hayes standard. Portables Toshiba Puts PC Power In a 9-Pound Package Stark Craig 509 41PCN:Toshiba T1100 portable computer--first look. Telecommunications TravelComm 1200: A Traveler's Companion Machrone Bill 509 43PCN:TravelComm 1200 portable modem--first look. Software Aids Borland's Traveling SideKick: Tsk, Tsk Manes Stephen 509 46PCN: Traveling SideKick helps put appointment calendar on paper--first look. Printers Superior Quality in Star, Toshiba 24-Pin Printers Rosch Winn 509 51PCN:Star NB-15 & Toshiba P321 24-pin dot matrix printers--first look. Printers Brother Enters 24-Pin Market with 2024L Wiswell Phil 509 51PCN:Brother 2024L 24-pin dot matrix printer--first look. 1-2-3 Farsight Claims 1-2-3 Compatibility Rosch Winn 509 52PCN:Farsight, self-professed 1-2-3 clone--first look. Monitors Quadram, Qubie, Tatung Release EGA Monitor Puglia Vincent 509 54PCN:Enhanced color display monitors--first look. Entrepreneurs PC Technical Excellence Awards Set for April 28 Howard Bill 509 62PCN:Date set for PC Magazine's 2nd annual Awards for Technical Excellence. Graphics Map-Master Mixes Data, Geography Bermant Charles 509 67PCN:Map-Master produces maps of U.S.,individual states,counties,zip code areas. Hardware 300-Megabyte Hard Disks Now in the Works for PCs Rosch Winn 508 33PCN:Hard disks--300 megabyte internal disks due out in a few months. Portables Laptops Gain Added Utility Bermant Charles Johnston, C. 508 33PCN:Laptop/portables--new technologies improve screen displays & allow hard disk Hardware Hard Disk Cards Flood the Market Bermant Charles 508 35PCN:Hard disk cards--some new entries into a growth market. Printers Enhanced Printer Options Mark Epson & Panasonic Wiswell Phil 508 38PCN:Epson & Panasonic dot matrix printers offer print enhancements--first look. Hardware CD-ROM Conference:Lured By 600 Megabytes on Disk Stark Craig 508 42PCN:CD-ROM read-only memory disks featured at Microsoft's CD-ROM Conference. Software Aids AutoMentor Builds Demos and Interactive Tutorials Derfler Frank 508 44PCN:AutoMentor enables contruction of on-screen lessons or demonstrations. Word Processing WordStar 2000 Picks Up Speed Krasnoff Barbara 508 46PCN:WordStar 2000 and 2000 Plus--first look. Software Aids Bricklin's Demo Progarm Breaks Original Ground Aarons Richard 508 54PCN: Dan Bricklin's Demo Program creates series of screen slides:first look. Word Processing PRD+ Mks Qk Wk of Oft Usd Wds Dyar Christina 508 56PCN:PRD+(Productivity Plus) shorthand program:first look. Hardware Nonvolatile RAM Boards Keep Data Safe as Disks Rosch Winn 507 33PCN:Multifunction memory boards make RAM memory invulnerable to power loss. Compatibles Epson on Target with Equity I PC Howard Bill 507 33PCN:Epson Equity I PC--a competitive winner:first look. Expansion Software Memory-Resident Porgrams Jockey for RAM Positions Dudek Ginny Bermant,C. 506 33PCN:Memory-resident RAM utilities'incompatibilities. PC AT Alternatives Tandy 3000 Has Right Features Stark Craig 506 33PCN:Tandy 3000--a competitive AT-compatible:first look. Entrepreneurs PC Magazine 2nd Annual Awards for Tech.Excellence 506 34PCN:PC Magazine to present 2nd Annual Awards for Technical Excellence. DBASE II & III DBASE III Plus: Power and Much More Speed Hart Glenn 506 38PCN: DBASE III Plus--first look. Printers New Xerox Printer/Copier Delivers Speed, Quality Dickinson John 506 43PCN:Xerox 4045 Laser CP Printer--serious competition for Canon. Hardware Intel Above Board PS Sets a New Standard Petzold Charles 506 43PCN:Intel Above Board PC--a multifunction board with hardware/software support. Database Management ButtonWare Hits the Market with PC-File/R Krasnoff Barbara 506 46PCN:PC-File/R--a no frills database manager. Hardware Iomega Doubles the Data Storage on Bernoulli Box Dickinson John 506 51PCN:20+20 Bernoulli Box disk drive packs 40 removable megabytes. Printers Affordable 24-Pin Quality with NEC, Epson PrintersPetzold Charles 506 52PCN:Epson & NEC introduce dot matrix printers with close-to-daisy wheel quality. New IBM Products IBM Targets RISC PC for Engineering and Graphics Machrone Bill 505 33PCN:IBM's RT PC:desktop minicomputer w/heavy engineering & graphics applications Hardware Hooked On the First WORM Stark Craig 505 33PCN:ISI 525 WC Optical Storage System(write once,read mostly):first look. IBM IBM UNveils Plotter and a Tape Backup System Howard Bill 505 35PCN: IBM announces 6-pen color plotter & tape backup system. Word Processing The WordStar MicroPro Won't Sell in the U.S. Manes Stephen 505 43PCN: WordStar 3.40 available abroad but not in U.S. Business Timeslips Keeps Tabs on Hourly Services Hart Glenn 505 46PCN: Timeslips, a general-purpose time-billing package. Graphics More Printer Support in Microsoft's New Chart Hoffman David 505 51PCN: Microsoft Chart, Ver.2.0--a good business graphics program gets better. Printers Brother's Twinriter 5:Two (Print) Heads are BetterPetzold Charles 505 51PCN:Brother's Twinriter 5 is both dot-matrix and daisy wheel printer. Marketplace At CES:New Portables, Encyclopedia on a Disk Hart Glenn 505 54PCN: Consumer Electronics Show's PC-related products. Telecommunications VN's Relay Gold Strikes Paydirt Stone David 505 56PCN: Relay Gold best of new generations of sophisticated communications packages Expansion Software Carbon Copy Allows Use of PC from Remote Site Stone David 505 56PCN:Carbon Copy,sophisticated memory-resident program allows remote PC operation Operating Systems GEM, DESQview Challenge TopView and Windows Bermant Charles 504 33PCN: Windowing packages--how they are doing against each other. Telecommunications IBM, Hayes, and Kyocera Unveil New PC Modems Stone David 504 33PCN:New modems enter the modem market. Telecommunications An IRS That's On Your Side Johnston Chris 504 34PCN:PC Magazine's Interactive Reader Service adds 6 more lines. Finance Planning Packages Track Your Personal Finances Gianturco Michael 504 38PCN: Personal finances--4 programs help you organize them. Word Processing Budget Word Processors: Brown Bag, DacEasy Word Raskin Robin 504 46PCN:Brown Bag & DacEasy Word--2 new word processors for under $100. Word Processing Volkswriter 3 More Power Pearlman Dara 504 46PCN:Volkswriter 3,souped up with more power, spelling corrector & on-screen math Graphics Chart Corporate Ladders Hart Glenn 504 53PCN:Org software generates organizational charts. Hardware Recordable Optical Disks in the Offing for PCs Schwartz Ariel 504 56PCN:Video,optical & compact disks will open CD ROM market. Programming Norton Editor Puts the Polish on Programming Rosch Winn 504 58PCN:Program editor by Peter Norton released. Graphics EGA Standard Evolves for PC Graphics Users Bermant Charles Johnston,C. 503 33PCN:Enhanced Graphics Adapters compete in EGA-compatible market. Database Management Reflex Adds Windows and New Analytic Capabilities Derfler Frank 503 33PCN:Reflex, The Analyst:low-cost database manager with enhanced features. Hardware Optimem, 3M Take Lead w/Erasable Optical Storage Stark Craig 503 35PCN:Optical storage devices from 3M & Optimem--promising technology. 1-2-3 VP-Planner Bests 1-2-3 on Features, Price Hoffman David 503 38PCN:VP-Planner, a 1-2-3 workalike enters the market. Software Aids Demo Programs Simulate Software, Aid Teaching Johnston Chris 503 46PCN:Dan Bricklin's Demo Program & AutoMentor simulate working programs. Portables Kaypro 2000: Small but Hefty MS-DOS Portable Machrone Bill 503 51PCN:Kaypro 2000, sleek, sophisticated 14lb. MS-DOS portable. Portables Starlet Features WordStar in 6 lb. Laptop Package Howard Bill 503 51PCN:NEC Starlet PC portable--an alternative to the Tandy 200. Software Aids Norton Utilities: Still the Best? Rosch Winn 503 54PCN:Norton Utilities and its competitors compared. Marketplace New Optimism Reigns at Las Vegas COMDEX Stark Craig 502 33PCN:COMDEX, annual fall computer convention--new products and technology. Hardware Mass Data Storage Finds Mass Appeal at COMDEX Stark Craig 502 33PCN:Mass storage products in full force at COMDEX. Marketplace Software and Modems: Speed But No Surprises Bermant Charles 502 35PCN:COMDEX, new & upgraded products introduced. Printers Printers at COMDEX: Hot Type at the Right Price Howard Bill 502 38PCN:New printers debute at COMDEX. Monitors RGB Monitors:New Tech.Smash Former Pixel ParameterKleinman Lisa 502 38PCN:New high resolution monitors form NEC & Tektronics introduced at COMDEX. PC AT Alternatives AT-Compatible Armada Sails at Fall COMDEX Bermant Charles 502 44PCN:PC AT compatible clones unveiled at COMDEX. Micro/Mainframe Micro-to-Mainframe:Prices Down, Features Up Johnston Chris 502 44PCN:Micro to Mainframe hardware & software introduced at COMDEX. Hardware Hardware Stars at Fall COMDEX Bermant Charles Howard,B. 501 33PCN:COMDEX features dBASE III plus/EGAs/printers/AT compatibles/LANs/hard disks. Apple/IBM Apple Will Lind Mac to IBM Computer World Bermant Charles 501 34PCN:Apple announces plans for software link between Apple & IBM computers. Printers Four Genicom Printers: New Kids on the Block Wiswell Phil 501 43PCN:Genicom introduces four American-made printers. Software Aids Clarity Presents AI Database Search Tool Dudek Virginia 501 53PCN:Logic-Line 1 data search and retrieval program. Integrated Package Framework: Even Better the Second Time Around Desposito Joe 501 56PCN:Framework II, a significant improvement over the original program. Hardware Data Cassettes Challenge Cartridge Backup Systems Rosch Winn 501 58PCN:New data tape cassette backup systems:BackPac25+ & Genoa Galaxy 3220T. Monitors Bliss for the Eyes:The Roland MC-142 Monitor Hart Glenn 501263RinB:Roland MB-142 high quality monochrome monitor. Repair/Maintenance The Shocking Truth:ACL's Electrostatic Locator Hart Glenn 501263RinB:ACL Electrostatic Locator meter measures data-dangerous static charges. Word Processing Ready-to-Go Label Printing:LABLMAKR.PC Langdell James 501264RinB:Lablemakr.PC offers 26 ready to go label formats. Real Estate The Professional Real Estate Analyst Wiswell Phil 501267RinB:Real estate investment analysis tool--a 1-2-3 template. Business Purchase Order Wiswell Phil 501267RinB:Purchase Order program prints standard purchase orders. Software Aids PathMinder Wiswell Phil 501267RinB:PathMinder facilitates file & subdirectory use & maintenance. Mathematics KSH-1 Scientific Calculator Wiswell Phil 501267RinB:KSH-1 Scientific Calculator--RAM-resident pop-up calculator. Games TSD:Rallying Without Dust or Burned Rubber Stafford Paul 502315RinB:TSD road rallying game reviewed. Software Aids SureStroke/Dvorak:New Tricks for Old Dogs Forney Jim 502315RinB:Dvorak keyboard software tutorial. Hardware The Megahertz High Speed Crystal Set:Revving Up ATHart Glenn 502318RinB:High Speed Crystal Set speeds up your AT. Hardware KEYMATE:An Upgrade for the PC Keyboard Danoff Victoria 503266RinB:KEYMATE software/hardware system upgrades PC & XT keyboards. Alternate Input uLYNX:Pointing with a Ball? Yes, a Ball! Luchak G. Heather Kunkel,G. 503266RinB:MicroLYNX uses trackball to move cursor. Education OLE DOS:Graphic Help With DOS Commands Ricks Stephanie 503267RinB:OLE on-line RAM-resident tutorial series on DOS commands/syntax. Lotus 1-2-3 Tools and Templates:Add-On Shortcuts for 1-2-3 Wiswell Phil 503268RinB:3rd party software makes Lotus 1-2-3 easier to use. Lotus 1-2-3 One Look Wiswell Phil 503268RinB:One Look, 3rd party Lotus-aiding software. Lotus 1-2-3 Instat 1-2-3 Wiswell Phil 503268RinB:Instat 1-2-3 contains 13 worksheets for 1-2-3 statistical analysis. Lotus 1-2-3 Quotation Estimator Wiswell Phil 503268RinB:Quotation Estimator template for 1-2-3 estimates job costs. Lotus 1-2-3 Form-Letter Generator Wiswell Phil 503268RinB:Form-Letter Generator template merges 1-2-3 database & form letters. Software Aids Glimpsing into Your document with In.sight Puglia Vincent 504261RinB:In.sight, text-based information retrieval system organizes your files. Data Management File It with A Clear-cut Winner: ClearCut Puglia Vincent 504261RinB:ClearCut, low-priced, form-based data retrieval database mgmt. system. Database Management PC Dossier:A Templated Personnel Database Puglia Vincent 504262RinB:PC Dossier, a relational database mgmt. system for information on people. Database Management New Templates for Power Users of Power-Base Wiswell Phil 504263RinB:3rd party software to make Power Base database management easier. Database Management Inventory Control Wiswell Phil 504263RinB:Inventory Control template for keeping track of invoices,POs,inventory,etc. Database Management Order Processing Wiswell Phil 504263RinB:Order Processing template tracks orders, invoices, products, credits,etc. Database Management Fixed Asset Management Wiswell Phil 504263RinB:Fixed Asset Management maintains/analyzes info. on individual fixed assets. Database Management Job Costing Wiswell Phil 504263RinB:Job Costing template tracks costs of current as well as future jobs. Software Aids Enhancing Your DOS Viewing Enviro.:Scroll & RecallStark Brad 505279RinB:Scroll & Recall, a screen keyboard utility brings back previous screens. Software Aids Opt-Tech Sort:Blinding Pace, Budget Price Stark Brad 505279RinB:Opt-Tech Sort utility helps sort & merge data quickly. Software Aids One Step at a Time:Pop-Up DeskSets Obregon David 505280RinB:Pop-Up DeskSet, a RAM-resident utility that's uses less RAM. Statistics Analyzing & Reporting Statistics on the PC Wiswell Phil 505283RinB:Statistical analysis software. Statistics Stat 1:A Statistical Toolbox Wiswell Phil 505283RinB:Stat 1, menu-driven program performs major statistical analysis functions. Statistics BetaSTAT Wiswell Phil 505283RinB:BetaSTAT, statistical analysis program lacks on-line help. Statistics ChiWriter Wiswell Phil 505283RinB:ChiWriter makes statistical analysis report tables easy to produce. Hardware PD1464:A Board with a Unique RAMdisk Forney Jim 506301RinB:Multifunction board increases RAM memory capacity to 832K. Repair/Maintenance Turbo-Cool:Keeping Your PC form Overboiling Forney Jim 506301RinB:Turbo-Cool add-on cooling fan reviewed. Finance Organizing Your Finances:hBudget Danoff Victoria 506302RinB:hBudget personal accting. prg.:financial planning,budgeting,cash-flow,etc. Word Processing Fast Text Editing:Point Danoff Victoria 508307RinB:Point, powerful mouse-driven text editor. Hardware IDEAssociates Diskit:Plug 'N Go Drive Kits Machrone Bill 508307RinB:Diskit Add-in Hard Disk reviewed. Repair/Maintenance Crystal 300 Power Conditioner Machrone Bill 508309RinB:Crystal 300 Power Conditioner maintains steady voltage output. Database Management askSam:Destructuring Your Database Files Krasnoff Barbara 508309RinB:askSam, a text-oriented, free-form database system. Graphics Fontastic Output on a Budget Raskin Robin 509341RinB:Fontasy, attractive font-generation program w/page-formatting capabilities. Design Bad Software Design Revisited:CADPAK Raskin Robin 509341RinB:CADPAK, computer-aided drafting/design tool with difficult user interface. Software Aids Electra-Find:Handy Way to Retrieve the Right FilesHart Glenn 509343RinB:Electa-Find, text-retrieval locates word(s) quickly, without indexing step. Hardware A Mail Order Risk Worth Taking Forney Jim 509344RinB:Mail-order 20-Megabyte Half-Height Disk installed quickly & w/satisfaction. Data Security How Secure Do You Want It? Forney Jim 510293RinB:Vfeature & Vfeature Deluxe offers file security & access control. Word Processing Whoops! The Spelling Checker That Came Too Late Puglia Vincent 510293RinB:Whoops, memory-resident spelling checker reviewed. Hardware Break Out of the Post-Test Blues:PC-Inmate Chip Puglia Vincent 510294RinB:PC-Inmate ROM chip quickens boot-up time, configuration & self-testing. Graphics Developers Chart Course for PC's Graphics Power Bermant Charles 511 33PCN:Graphics marketplace:from RAM-resident chart utilities to expensive software Hardware AST SixPakPremium Holds Up to 2 Mbytes on Board Hart Glenn 511 33PCN:AST SixPakPremium mulitfunction board--first look. PC AT Alternatives Four Makers Show New AT-Compatibles Johnston Chris 511 35PCN:PC AT compatibles introduced from Panasonic, ITT, NEC and PC's Limited. Hardware Persyst Video Cards Offer Best of Both Screen ModeHart Glenn 511 38PCN:Persyst upgrades 2 of its BoB monochrome/CGA-compatible color adapter cards. Software Aids PopDrop Removes Resident Programs from PC Memory Petzold Charles 511 46PCN:PopDrop utility removes memory-resident programs/frees space for other prgms Graphics Graph-in-the-Box: Pop Goes the Easel Rosch Winn 511 53PCN:Graph-in-the-Box memory-resident chart-building program--first look. Telecommunications Hayes Internal Modem Reduced to Half-Card Rosch Winn 511 53PCN:Hayes trims its 1200B internal modem to 1/2 its previous size. Hardware Videotrax Backs Up Hard Disk on VCR Rosch Winn 511 56PCN:Videotrax tape backup system uses videocassette tapes--first look. Networks IBM LANs Reach Deeper Into Corporate Computing Derfler Frank 511 61PCN:IBM announces new interfaces & features for its LANs:Token Ring & PC Network Finance SQL*Calc: The Data Connection Poor Alfred 511309RinB:SQL*Calc--a spreadsheet program that can log onto Oracle database program. Lotus 1-2-3 Add-on 1-2-3 Utilities Remember Your Macros Hart Glenn 511309RinB:Note-It and Quickcode:two 1-2-3 add-on utilities document spreadsheets. Hardware Enigma Keys Up with 40 Function Keys and More Hart Glenn 511312RinB:Enigma 9000 keyboard with 133 keys,40 function keys & separate cursor pad. Hardware Datran Add-in Compacts Text for Modem Transfer Stone David 511313RinB:Datran Modem Accelerator,data compression board for transmission via modem. Marketplace Comdex:Low-Cost EGAs, ATs, but Little Software Stark Craig Howard, Bill 512 33PCN:Spring Comdex--forward-looking show with no great revelations. Printers New Laser Printers Compete with Canon Dickinson John 512 33PCN:Canon's laser printers face serious challenges from competitors. Printers IBM Adds Size, Speed & Print Feature to ProprinterDickinson John 512 38PCN:IBM makes important improvements in its Proprinter XL. Integrated Packages Library Integrates Word Perfect Line Bermant Charles 512 38PCN:Word Perfect Library integrated software shell for linking its product line. Word Processing Five Thesaurus Selections Synonymous with Success Bermant Charles 512 42PCN:Thesaurus programs(3) & programs with thesaurus features(2) reviewed. Database Management Omnis 3 Works Out Database Relations Hart Glenn 512 46PCN:Omnis 3 relational database manager:menu driven and easy to use. Hardware Array's Half-Card Teams Video Options Hart Glenn 512 56PCN:ATI Graphics Solution half-card video adapter w/mono & color graphic ability Printers Primage 100:A Daisy Wheel Hammers Out Graphics,TooStone David 512321RinB:Primage 100 Daisy/Grapher adds graphics to an already superb printer. Hardware Low-Cost Scanner Digitizes On-Paper Images Rosch Winn 512321RinB:Microtek Image Scanner,Model MS-200:low cost,200-dot-per-inch image scanner Printers Alps P2000:A Fast, Reliable Printer Rosch Winn 512323RinB:Alps P2000 printer--a sturdy, reliable, compatible printer. Portables Toshiba T3100:Compaq Power, Compact Package Howard Bill 513 33PCN:Toshiba T3100 PC--80286-based,15lb.portable that pack the power of a PC AT. Portables PC's Limited Sets A Speed Record Desposito Joe 513 33PCN:PC's Limited 286 12 AT-compatible portable that runs at 6 or 12 MHz. PC AT Alternatives Sanyo MBC 990:Affordable IBM PC AT Alternative Desposito Joe 513 35PCN:Sanyo MBC 990 PC AT-compatible:well-built clone with 6 or 8 MHz clock speed. Lotus 1-2-3 What'sBest! Adds More Clout to 1-2-3 Taylor Jared 513 36PCN:What'sBest! linear-programming add-on to Lotus 1-2-3 and Symphony. Graphics Harvard Graphics Mixes Power and Ease of Use Pepper Jon 513 38PCN:Harvard Presentation Graphics combines text/charts/graphs in first-rate pkg. Portables Screen Test Proves Bondwell's Undoing Stafford Paul 513 43PCN:Bondwell 8 laptop portable fails screen test. Software Aids SmartNotes:Like Electronic Post-Its Aarons Richard 513 46PCN:SmartNotes memory-resident utility sticks notes on any program screen. Marketplace Uncle Sam's Micro Avialbe for $1,254 Derfler Frank 513 46PCN:Government standard PC available to federal employees at volume discount. Telecommunications The Smart Answering Machine:SAM Plays it Again Johnston Christopher 513379RinB:Smart Answering Machine(SAM)--telephone answering machine worth the money. Hardware Cauzin SoftStrips:The Paper Chase, Continued Raskin Robin 513380RinB:Cauzin SoftStrip/Reader encodes data onto paper, reads it from paper strips Lotus 1-2-3 SOS and 123 AutoSave:The Indelible Spreadsheet Barr Christopher 513381RinB:RAM-resident utilities automatically save 1-2-3 sprdsht @ regular intervals Lotus 1-2-3 The Twin: Slow Lotus for Less Barr Chris 514 59RinB: Twin, a Lotus 1-2-3 clone with nice features but slow performance. Software Aids Software Carousel Runs Many Programs at Once Stafford Paul 514 59RinB: Software Carousel loads & switches between many RAM-based programs. Word Processing Strike Out Those Typos Lewis Janet 514 60RinB: Strike, a speedy memory-resident spelling checker. Finance Checks & Balances: Home Accounting Danoff Victoria 514 62RinB:Checks & Balances, versatile home accounting prg. tracks personal finances. Hardware Under-$600 PCs: Worth the Price? Desposito Joe 514 33PCN: Budget PC compatibles--THE PC+ from PC Network examined and tested. Hardware Plus Shoehorns 20 Mbytes On a Single-Slot HardcardBermant Charles 514 33PCN: Plus Hardcard 20--the thinnest & fastest 20 Mbyte hard disk card. Hardware TurboSwitch Lets ATs Reach 8 to 12.5 MHz Rosch Winn 514 35PCN: AT TurboSwitch II increases AT running speed from 8 to 12.5 MHz. Graphics Show Partner Mixes Graphics, Animation Rosch Winn 514 36PCN: Show Partner, presentation graphics screen animator reviewed. Mathematics Point Five: A New Way of Looking at Numbers Aarons Richard 514 38PCN:Point Five, interactive scratchpad for scientific & statistical calculation. Graphics Tseng, PC's Limited EGAs Offer Features, Low PriceDesposito Joe 514 46PCN: Enhanced Graphics Adapter boards: EVA & EGAds--low priced alternatives. IBM IBM New Releases: InfoWindow, System 38 Stark Craig 514 46PCN:IBM introduces new products:touch screen InfoWindow & networking developmnts Graphics New Hercules Card Bridges World of Text, Graphics Petzold Charles 514 51PCN:Graphics Card Plus--an improved card that can bring graphics & text together Hardware Above Board PS/AT Extends Intel Line Petzold Charles 514 52PCN: Above Board PS/AT memory board adds serial & parallel ports. Spreadsheets SuperCalc4 Stalks 1-2-3 Stone David 515 33FL:SuperCalc4:non copy-protected spreadsheet program--a serious 1-2-3 competitor Graphics Perspective: Eye-Popping 3-D Presentation GraphicsMachrone Bill 515 33FL:Perspective--graphics package give you 3D representation for your graphics. Design $295 Drafix 1: Best Bet for Affordable CAD Hart Glenn 515 34FL: Drafix1:a superior computer aided design (CAD) pkg. at an afforable price. Hardware Turbo Cards: Cheap, Fast But No Panancea for PCs Puglia Vincent 515 36FL: Accelerator board & AT memory expansion boards rev'd.--speed up your PC AT. Hardware Microsoft MACH 10: Speed for Windows Petzold Charles 515 36FL: MACH 10 accelerator board plus mouse port and Windows. Portables Toshiba T1100 Plus: The Laptop of Choice Wong Bill 515 38FL: Toshiba T1100 Plus--possibly the best battery powered PC compatible laptop. Database Management Microrim Debuts R:base System V Stafford Paul 515 43FL: R:base System V-an upgraded multiuser database mgr. competes with dBASE III+ Languages Microsoft Gets Serious with QuickBASIC 2.0 Petzold Charles 515 46FL: QuickBASIC 2.0 compiler makes programming in BASIC easier. Printers Portable Printers: Laptop Companions Johnston Chris 515 55FL: Diconix Inkjet 150 & OnTheGo: lightweight printers to go. Software Aids Norton's DOS Shell: Only Name is Special Puglia Vincent 515 55FL: The Norton Commander--easy-to-learn DOS shell for the novice. Telecommunications Speed>S Speeds Binary E-Mail Krasnoff Barbara 515 63RinB: Speed>S on-line service improves accuracy of electronic data exchange. Programming Aldebaran Lab's Source Print Puglia Vincent 515 63RinB:Source Print--a programming aid that eases program organization & debugging DBase II & III Learning dBASE III Plus: A Total Approach Knittel Iris 515 64RinB: Dbase III Plus tutorial for the novice reviewed. Alternative Output Penmouse+: The Mouse Without a Tail Kunkel Gerard 515 66RinB:Penmouse+-cordless penlike device frees artists from mouse or digitizer pen Marketplace Store-Label PC's Shake Up Market Rosch Winn 516 33FL:ComputerLand & Businessland house-brand computers enter the marketplace. Hardware PC's Ltd. Breakthrough:16-MHz, $2,995 Screamer Somerson Paul 516 33FL:PC's Limited 286 16 AT-compatible--unbelievable speed at the right price. Word Processing New World Writer: Helping Hand for Writers Bermant Charles 516 36FL:Webster's New Word Writer--word processor with spelling checker & thesaurus. Word Processing Easy 1.5 Adds Mailing Lists Howard Bill 516 36FL:Easy 1.5 word processor with mail merge & ability to import 1-2-3 files. Programming Microsoft C Compiler 4.0 Adds Full-Screen DebuggerPetzold Charles 516 38FL:Microsoft C Compiler 4.0-enhanced version with full-screen/4 window debugger. Hardware Adaptec Controller Boost Hard Disk Capacity by 50%Rosch Winn 516 46FL:Adaptec Hard Disk Controller increases mass storage capacity of existing syst Software Aids Referee Blows Whistle on Memory-Resident Programs Rosch Winn 516 54FL:Referee memory manager stops RAM conflict by removing memory-resident program Software Aids V-EMM: Virtual Disk for EMS Memory Rosch Winn 516 54FL:Virtual Expanded Memory Manager turns hard disk storage into virtual RAM. Marketplace Tandy Expands Line of Low-Cost PCs,ATs Stafford Paul 516 56FL:Tandy introduces 4 compatible PCs to compete for home & business market. Lotus 1-2-3 Cell/Mate Locks Out Errors from Lotus SpreadsheetsKnittel Iris 516 61RinB:Cell/Mate utility for 1-2-3 & Symphony-documents worksheets & finds errors. Software Aids Tornado Notes: Whirling Disparate Data into Line Johnston Chris 516 61RinB:Tornado Notes--a RAM-resident notepad utility with overlapping windows. Software Aids Calendar Creator Creates Better Calendars Ricks M. Stephanie 516 62RinB:Calendar Creator keeps track of daily, monthly & recurring events. Hardware Data Zone's Hard Disk Card:Built for Speed Puglia Vincent 516 64RinB:Slot-20 TurboDrive:a 20-megabyte hard disk on a card fits into single slot. PC AT Alternatives Compaq Deskpro 386 Ushers in 32-Bit PC Era Howard Bill 517 33FL:Deskpro 386 AT compatible from Compaq runs almost twice as fast as IBM PC AT. Integrated Packages First Choice Integrates Ease, Economy, Options Poor Alfred 517 33FL:PFS:First Choice integrated package for under $200. Software Aids SafetyNet: File Insurance for the Accident-Prone Krasnoff Barbara 517 36FL:SafetyNet utility guards against file erasure & unformates hard disk. Hardware XT Expander Packs EGA, EMS, Ports & More Rosch Winn 517 46FL:All Aboard multifunct. board packs EGA adapter,h.disk controller,ports,clock. Graphics AutoCAD 2.5 Adds 70 Features&Copy Protection HrdwrHart Glenn 517 51FL:AutoCAD 2.5 updated version adds many new features. Programming Translator Upgrades from Turbo Pascal to Modula Rubenking Neil 517 52FL:Turbo Pascal to Logitech Modula-2/86 Translator converts Pascal to Modula-2. Hardware 19" Viking 1 Displays Tack-Sharp B&W Images Hart Glenn 517 54FL: Viking 1 high-resolution B&W video system from Moniterm w/sharp 19" monitor. Software Aids SQZ! Cuts Lotus Files Down to Size Barr Chris 517 59RinB:SQZ! RAM-resident utility for 1-2-3 compacts spreadsheets into less space. Word Processing G-Spell: $9.95 Spelling Checker Danoff Victoria 517 59RinB: G-Spell, bare-bones spelling checker from Pico Publishing. Word Processing PC-Write Improves with Age Smith J.H. 517 60RinB:PC-Write Version 2.6--improved shareware adds new features. Hardware Missing Link fills Port Shortage Rosch Winn 517 60RinB:Missing Link expansion card connects serial printer to your PC. Word Processing THE Wordprocessor Bargain of the Century Bermant Charles 517 62RinB: THE Wordprocessor--simple, efficient, inexpensive wp not for power users. Hardware IBM Revs Up the XT with a 286 and Zero Wait StatesPetzold Charles 518 33FL:PC XT, Model 286-IBM's new 80286, 20-megabyte hard disk XT. Database Management R:base System V Packs Punch to Challenge dBASE Aarons Richard 518 33FL:R:base System V-redesigned database management system reviewed. PC AT Alternatives NEC's AT-Class PC:Sturdy Value, Strong on GraphicsPepper Jon 518 36FL:NEC APC IV--a superior PC AT compatible reviewed and tested. Hardware The PhD: Crash-Proof Removable Hard Disk Rosch Winn 518 46FL:PhD hard disk system with removable cartridge backup. Graphics PGC Resolution on an EGA-Priced Board Hart Glenn 518 46FL:Eva/480 Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) board reviewed. Integrated Packages Open Access II:Many Options, Little Integration Poor Al 518 51FL:Open Access II integrated software package reviewed. Hardware The Core HC150:Fastest AT Hard Disk Alive? Rosch Winn 518 54FL:HC150 Hard Disk from Core International:fastest drive available for the PC AT Printers PrintQ Juggles Jobs Marks Howard 518 54FL:PrintQ form Software Directions--a sophisticated print spooler reviewed. Software Aids Cubit: Memory-Resident File-Compression Utility Barr Chris 518 59RinB: Cubit--memory-resident utility for compressing files. Telecommunications Fast Talkers:A Pair of 2,400-bps Modems Wiswell Phil 518 59RinB:IDEAcomm 2400 & Quadmodem II: two 2,400 bps modems reviewed. Marketplace Namer Names Names -- for Anything Johnston Chris 518 60RinB: Namer--software that generates unique names for companies, products, etc. Graphics Certificate Maker: Easy Achievement Recognition Johnston Chris 518 62RinB: Certificate Maker program makes awards in 200 different styles. Portables Dazzling Blue Z-181: Most Usable Laptop Somerson Paul 519 33FL: Zenith Z-181 laptop portable PC reviewed. Printers Six New Printers: $599 to $1,945 Brown Bruce 519 33FL: Printers--6 newly released printers reviewed. PC AT Alternatives Disk-Maker Tandon Drives PCA into AT-Class Market Rosch Winn 519 38FL: Tandon PCA--a PC AT equaivalent, reviewed. Graphics $99 Smalltalk/V: Bargain Applications Developer Wong William 519 53FL: Smalltalk/V--window-oriented graphics language and development tool. Hardware Mechanical vs. Optical Mice Stark Craig 519 53FL: Mice--SummaMouse 455, Logimouse C7 & PC Mouse reviewed. Hardware Breakthru 286: Fast, Cheap Turbo Contender Manes Stephen 519 54FL: Breakthru 286--a compatible, no hassle, reasonably priced turbo card. Word Processing PFS: Professional Write, Great for Personal Use Stafford Paul 520 33FL:PFS:Professional Write--high quality personal word processor reviewed. Compatibles Compaq 386 PC Still Out in Front Barr Chris Venditto, Gus 520 33FL:Compaq 386 PC with 80386 microprocessor beats its competitors to market. Publishing Easy Desktop Solution for Small Publishing Jobs Burns Diane Venit, S. 520 35FL:ClickArt Personal Publisher desktop publishing program for illustrating text. Database Management PFS:Professional File--Easy to Learn Desposito Joe 520 35FL:PFS:Professional File--easy-to-learn flat-file database manager. Spreadsheets Symphony 1.2 Plays Catch-up with Big Brother,Rel.2Poor Alfred 520 36FL:Symphony 1.2--modestly improved version maintains parity with 1-2-3,Rel.2. Lotus 1-2-3 1-2-3, Release 2.01: Fewer Bugs, Faster Barr Chris 520 36FL:Lotus 1-2-3, Release 2.01--bugs fixed & file retrieval quickened. Lotus 1-2-3 Will Lotus's HAL be the Ultimate Panacea for 1-2-3Barr Chris 520 36FL:HAL--Lotus' companion program for 1-2-3:a brief look at its features. PC AT Alternatives Sperry's PC/microIT: Stylishly Small AT Rosch Winn 520 38FL:PC/microIT--a cleverly styled, miniaturized PC AT compatible reviewed. Word Processing Volkswriter Deluxe Plus: More Features, Faster Pepper Jon 520 46FL:Volkswriter Deluxe Plus:first-class wp w/spelling checker,speed & lower price Graphics CADWrite:Competent CAD For Heavyweight Division Hart Glenn 520 60FL:CADWrite--IBM's new computer-aided design program reviewed. Hardware The Infrared Mouse That Cuts the Cable Rosch Winn 520 62FL:Manager Mouse Cordless--3 button, wireless mouse reviewed. Graphics RIX SoftWorks' EGA Paint: Freedom from Icons Kunkel Gerald 520 66FL:EGA Paint--a well-thought-out graphics package with English pop-up menus. Expansion Software HomeBase 2.0 Cuts RAM Demand, Adds Features Sagman Stephen 520 66FL:HomeBase 2.0--improved RAM-resident desk organizer reviewed. Hardware AST Advantage Premium: A Well-Made EMS Board Hart Glenn 520 66FL:AST Advantage Premium--multifunction board for the PC AT reviewed. Graphics HP's Gallery Collection Bryant Marvin 520 70FL:Gallery Collection from Hewlett Packard:excellent presentation graphics pkg. Networks IBM Adds SMDR Data to Token Ring Network Matzkin Jonathan 520 70FL:IBM network-related programs extend systems network architecture (SNA). Lotus 1-2-3 1-2-3 Magic: HAL Makes Speadsheets Intelligent Barr Chris 521 33FL:HAL--Lotus' RAM-resident companion program for 1-2-3 introduces new features. 80386 Chip DESQview 1.3: First True Extended Memory for 386 Petzold Charles 521 33FL:DESQview, Ver.1.3--1st program to use 8086 mode of 80386 for multitasking. Telecommunications Ideaphone Integrates Phone & PC Derfler Frank 521 36FL: Ideaphone add-in card integrates basic phone functions with PC. Programming TDebugPlus:Don't Program in Turbo Pascal w/o It Rubenking Neil 521 38FL:TDebugPlus--source-code debugger for Turbo Pascal reviewed. Programming Instant-C 2.0 Links Code With External Libraries Racko Roland 521 38FL:Instant-C,Ver.2.0--upgraded interpreter for the C language reviewed. Hardware Express 60-Meg Hard Card: Wide Body, Sturdy DesignMarks Howard 521 46FL:Hard Disk Card, Model 6060 from Express Systems--60 megabyte card reviewed. DBASE II & III+ FoxBASE+ Maintains Stunning Speed, Adds DBASEIII+ Hart Glenn 521 46FL:FoxBASE+--a fast executing dBASE III+-compatible interpreter reviewed. Games Orbiter: Simulating Space Labor Sagman Steve 521 48FL:Orbiter--space shuttle simulation falls short on graphics. Lotus 1-2-3 Goal-Seeker Answers Limited 1-2-3 Queries Knittel Iris 521 48FL:Goal-Seeker--Lotus 1-2-3 companion program finds "what if" contingencies. Graphics Imagenhancer Plots on a Printer Marks Howard 521 48FL:Imagenhancer card enables Epson FX printer to accept plotter commands. Programming PASM86 2.0:Better Syntax Checking Davis Stephen 521 54FL: PASM86, Ver.2.0 assembly language package that's compatible w/MASM standard. Education Instant Replay Adds Life To Software PresentationsMarks Howard 521 54FL:Instant Replay demo software creates tutorials & prototype screen layouts. Repair/Maintenance Elgar SPF 550 & SPF 1000:Defends from Power OutageRosch Winn 521 59FL:SPF 550 & SPF 1000 standby power supplies with noise & surge protection. Graphics OrgPlus Puts Personnel in Order Howard Bill 521 59FL:OrgPlus--software package for building corporate organizational charts. Accounting NewViews: Breakthrough In Double-Entry Accounting Amsden Loren 522 33FL: NewViews accounting package features nested-spreadsheet approach. Publishing Ventura: A Powerful Desktop Publishing Program Burns Diane 522 33FL: Ventura Publisher--powerful page design software reviewed. Graphics Freelance Plus Charts Data, Reads Worksheets Hoffman David 522 36FL: Freelance Plus from Lotus--graphics package reviewed. Alternate Input Microtek's 200-dpi OCR/Scanner Stanton Tom 522 38FL: MS-200A SmartReader--flexible medium-resolution scanner. IBM Getting IBM on the Phone Venditto Gus 522 43FL:IBM Master Locator--book for locating information within corporate IBM. Hardware BATRAM Creates Nonvolatile Storage with RAM Chips Wong William 522 46FL: BATRAM--speedy but costly hybrid hard disk/RAM disk. Software Aids Backup Master, Intelligent Backup Save Time Rosch Winn 522 48FL:Backup Master & Intelligent Backup--2 software backup programs reviewed. Telecommunications TeleVision Creates, Sends Graphics via E-Mail Krasnoff Barbara 522 54FL: TeleVision--software for transmission of e-mail text and images. Database Management Ausdata Entry: Fast but Inflexible Data Entry Marks Howard 522 54FL: Ausdata Entry--a limited database management package. Programming HELP!!! Lends a Hand to Program Developers Sklaver Ellen 522 59FL: HELP!!! programming aid package--lets you customize help windows. Lotus 1-2-3 101 Macros: A 1-2-3-Taming Arsenal Knittel Iris 522 59FL: 101 Macros for Lotus 1-2-3--collection of prewritten, all-purpose macros. Software Aids ConvertR: Measure for Measure Stafford Paul 522 59FL: ConvertR--memory-resident conversion calculator reviewed.