The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Peter Smith

The equipment previously used for the production of PC Update Wyse 386, Apple Writer Laser Printer and Sigma LaserView screen) are in the Office, to be used for all sorts of thing, more of which later. 

At present production is done on a pair of 33 MHz 386, 4 MB cached, 150 MB ESDI Hard Disk, Super VGA systems, supplied by AISystems. I have one at home and another in my office. (They are connected by the most rudimentary Wide Area Network - Diskettes) There is a Hewlett Packard ScanJet 300 dpi scanner at home. Both computers have Texas Instruments microLaser postscript printers (purchased from our advertiser Compustar). This and the last two issues of PC Update have been printed on this printer - a very impressive device that also has the best HP LaserJet+ emulation that I have worked with.

Production and Deadlines

Apologies for the later than expected delivery of this year's first issue. I'm sure you will appreciate that the colour preparation and printing process takes a little longer than plain old monochrome. With the support of a major advertiser like IBM last issue, we had the last minute opportunity to provide another three pages with colour - let's hope other advertisers will see the benefit of advertising to our readership. This month we have the second of two reviews by Major (it's his first name) Keary on ways of capturing, displaying and converting graphic images. These should make it a straightforward task for authors to illustrate their articles - so, go to it. Many thanks, Major, these two sets of software seem to cover all the "wants" I listed in the December editorial)

Reviews/Reviewers

We are in need of computer- and English-literate authors, prepared to take a new piece of software, or book, and provide a review for PC Update. If you think that you fit the bill, please contact Ash Nallawalla (the Associate Editor in charge of reviews) and let him know your particular interests.

Other Articles

Together with the usual departments and our wide range of articles there are two items of particular note in this issue - the 1991 Training programme and a tutorial on the C language. The training schedule is published in full - although additional courses can and will be added if the demand is there. These courses are excellent value, run by people who know what they are about and are at convenient non-working hours. Please take a few minutes to consider your own (or your staffs) training needs, and book as soon as possible. Our training co-ordinator will then be able to schedule more of the most popular courses to better suit your needs. Give a thought, too, to one or more of the weekends - put off mowing the lawns, washing and ironing, painting the house and all the other boring chores - and spend time getting to know your computer better!

Other Publications

As John Drake mentioned in the Jan/Feb Presidents Page, we have started a publications subcommittee. I need volunteers. As well as those already involved with PC Update (and there is always room for more helpers) we need assistance to plan, write and publish a series of pamphlets/booklets on particular topics, as reference material for our members. Topics are unlimited - suggestions are sought and welcomed) Writing/publishing experience is not necessary, enthusiasm is! The opportunity to learn some DTP (we may even send you on a Ventura course!), editorial, layout and publishing skills is offered. This is where the Wyse/AppleWriter etc. that I wrote about earlier comes in. There will be (is?) a complete DTP system set up at Cecil Street, which is available for this use, amongst others. If you have any thoughts, queries, suggestions or comments about these new publications, please call met (BBS or phone).

Reprinted from the March 1991 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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