 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group The President Exhorts .... Lloyd Borrett |
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I have enjoyed meeting many of you at our meetings, and I appreciate all the calls and mail received. Judging from the comments we arc on the right track. People seem to be finding out about us, and the interest even extends to the hallowed corridors of IBM.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Computer Power and IBM for providing us with venues for the first two meetings. Thanks also go to Chris Leptos whose considerable amount of time and effort made the second meeting possible. And he hasn't stopped there. Chris has arranged for the group to become a registered affiliate of the Australian Computer Society, and has also found us a permanent home at Clunies Ross House.
Now that we have a full interim committee we can not only distribute the workload. but also take on new projects such as this newsletter. Is there more to come? I most certainly hope so, but if both Melb PC and this publication are to prosper we need your involvement.
Some of us enjoy our journalistic attempts. but the newsletter becomes more useful with a diversity of contributors. This issue is a good start. if we don't loose momentum, but it really depends on you.
What kinds of articles do we want? Anything that the average PC user can learn from. Most of us have picked up tricks that go beyond the capabilities described in the manuals. Hints about quirks in the hardware are good. Do you have any success story to tell? If you've found ways of improving system performance, for example, many of us would like to hear about it. Product reviews, comparisons of applications, and case histories are popular.
Even non-success stories can be useful, if the gripes are stated constructively. If we can establish a dialogue about system problems. I think we'll find many manufacturers who are responsive to ideas for improvement. If you're not sure whether your idea would be of interest give either Terry Adair, our Senior Editor, or some other committee member a call. The newsletter is an excellent place to cover topics which are too technical to be aired al meetings.
If you would like to regularly contribute items about an IBM compatible. or be sub-editor of a column then please contact Terry Adair. We want to make this newsletter accessible to as many people as possible.
By now I hope, you're ready to send us something. If so. we have a selfish request. This newsletter is put out in our "spare" time without secretarial assistance. Sending your article to us in machine readable form can save several hours per issue.
Technical details: We can handle 5.25 inch diskettes in PC-DOS 1.0. 1.10, and 2.0 formats. Either an ASCII text file or a Wordstar file can be handled. Most word processing, database and spreadsheet programs allow you to create an ASCII text file. Please format your items based on 50 to 55 characters per line.
If you want your diskette returned, attach a note to that effect and we'll do it as quickly as we can. Don't forget to include a printed copy of the article just in case we have problems with the diskette.
That covers the newsletter, now for the meetings. The tone is much the same, a plea for your involvement. Let us know what you want at the meetings. The easiest way you can do this is by filling in the INTERESTS section on the membership application forms. Naturally we would prefer more feedback, but it all helps.
If you would like to give a presentation at a meeting then write down an outline and send it in. If you know someone who you think might he available then either get them to do the same. or tell the committee about them.
In summary, there is a lot this group can and should be doing but it won't just happen. If you can think or any way to assist, and it shouldn't be too hard, then do so. I think we have got off to an excellent start. Let's make sure we maintain the momentum.
Reprinted from the March 1984 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
