Scanlines

                     Mini-Reviews by Alan Berger

  Xtree For Windows

  I have to admit that the first few times I used XtreeWin I found
  it a bit clumsy and hard to use. As a long time Xtree user (from
  its first appearance at a softeachþthe staff of Executive
  Systems, the company's name at the time, went around the Vendor
  display room handing out diskettes to anyone who would take them)
  I found the Windows version to be a step backward from the high
  speed intuitive interface to which I had become accustomed. I
  have seen the product get more comprehensive and flexible from
  the time it was introduced to its present XTreeGold Version 2.5
  incarnation, but none of the jumps in the program's functionality
  and usability have approached the jump experienced in moving from
  XtreeGold 2.5 to Xtree Windows.

  However, as I have used the product on a more continuous basis I
  have begun to become accustomed to its new functionality and
  interface. Indeed, much of my difficulty with the new incarnation
  of this old favorite is probably due to the fact that it really
  is a true Windows application. It shares and makes use of the
  windows interface quite fully. It does however, provide a
  complete set of command key alternatives to the mouse and the
  menus.

  I have even come to appreciate some of the things it is easier to
  do in the windows version than in Xtree Gold. For example, the
  Tree window showing (as my selection) one or more of the branches
  on the directory tree in all my local drives (a-i) while being
  able to zoom in on any of them is quite nice. Similarly the
  ability to keep this display in another windows session while
  writing this review is also nice. But of course, many of these
  nice features are a result of this being a windows application.

  I do think, without having performed any rigorous time testing,
  that the Windows version is slower than the DOS version, but not
  by a lot.

  The hardest part of getting used to the windows version is that
  the command keys are not always the same as the DOS command keys.
  You do have to learn a new way of working with the product. It is
  however, probably worth it in the long run.

  The one problem I am continuing to have with the Windows version
  is using the Autoviewer to look ar GIF files. While this is an
  instance in which the viewer seems faster to me than the DOS
  version, the DOS version views the image in the same colors that
  CSHOW produces. The Windows version produces some colors, but
  mostly shades of gray.

  I checked on this problem with XTree Tech Support on Compuserve,
  their answer was that it must be the Windows graphics driver. But
  all other viewing programs in Windows produce the correct colors.
  I stayed with XTREE for Windows for about a week. It may be a
  wonderful program for people who are not used to Xtree Gold, but
  for me it proved a frustrating experience. Not only is it slower
  than the DOS version run in a full screen Windows session, but it
  isn't as intuitive. That may be a matter of time but more serious
  is the fact that when you tag a group of file in the Windows
  version the display does not provide you with information on the
  total size of the tagged files as the DOS version does. I've
  become used to using this feature in transferring files and I
  cannot live without it.

  In conclusion, I'll stick with the DOS version even in Windows.

  Star Trek  The Screen Saver

  Berkeley Software, the publisher of the After Dark Windows screen
  saver made a big splash at COMDEX with the introduction of Star
  Trek, the screen saver. Their booth was decorated as the bridge
  of Captain Kirk's Enterprise and a Klingon or two were in
  attendance. The rest of the staff wore Star fleet uniforms.
  Berkeley has licensed a set of images and characters from
  Paramount pictures and turned it into a windows screen saver that
  will delight and amuse Star Trek fans.

  I've has it running a week or so now and I've still not seen all
  the scenes that are included. One of the reasons I like this
  screen saver more than Intermission (which I had used previously)
  is that this one is constantly surprising me with new images.

  There is a whole list of images one can choose as one's screen
  saver, but the best choice to my mind is the randomizer. Once
  you've picked randomizer you can add individual savers to it or
  all of them. Then each one can be adjusted in duration, and you
  will be continually pleased and surprised by what comes up on the
  screen. Several of the images have sound which works minimally
  over the built in PC speaker. I turned it off. Several images
  also allow you to choose if the screen should be blanked before
  they begin, I generally say yes.

  Among the images are: The Enterprise being trapped in the Thalian
  net. Jim Kirk on the bridge (occasionally with the Nomad floating
  by), Mr. Spock with and without Nomad, Visuals of intercepted
  Klingon transmissions, The Enterprise in orbit over a beautiful
  plant or two as it whirls through the galaxy, excerpts from star
  fleet plans for various devices ranging from phasers to star
  ships, and there are more but I don't want to spoil all the fun.

  Of course, Berkeley gives you the usual password, system locking
  security functions which I assume will work but since I've used
  it at home haven't bothered to test.

  When loaded, the program installed 25 files taking 3.4Mb on my
  drive. When it's active there is some disk access, but not as
  much as when the sound was turned on.  Despite the use of
  resources, I'm leaving it active on my system at least until the
  Enterprise reruns to Star Base 1 for refitting.