 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group President's Page John Drake |
Mucking About with PCs
Many of us are happy to use our computers without ever troubling ourselves with how they work. Many others are never happier than when they are dabbling around inside them. Back in late April, 22 of these, our more adventurous members, spent a weekend at the Microhelp premises in Brunswick taking a course on maintaining and upgrading computers under the tutelage of Tom Coleman, our chief trainer, and Felix Hofmann and Doug Brooke of the Hardware SIG. The course was a really practical affair and was such a success that pressure is already mounting for a repeat event. That it was such a success was in considerable part due to the classrooms and other facilities made available by
Serafino and Giuseppe de Simone of Microhelp; the de Simones are long-time supporters of our Group (Joe has been a member from about the start and also an occasional Committee member) and we are most grateful for their help on this occasion.
Out of Melbourne
Some of the most active members of this Group we hardly ever see. They are members of regional special interest groups in Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Geelong (where are you Geelong?), and Bairnsdale. Members from Sunbury and Frankston we see a bit more often. A few months back we had an enquiry from a member up in the Blue Mountains who was thinking of setting up a SIG for us there, but I don't think anything came of this.
Yet these country groups are a hive of activity with regular meetings and training activities and, in the case of Bairnsdale at least, they have even set up their own BBS.
I have been visited in Melbourne in the past couple of months by both Rob Seller and Ron Yeates from Bairnsdale and our discussion of their activities and the problems they face have left me thinking very actively about what we might do to support them more and what they have to contribute.
A year or so the suggestion was floated in Bendigo that the Group might occasionally subsidise a bus to bring a bunch of Bendigo members down to a monthly meeting at Clunies Ross House. The Committee at the time was favourably disposed towards this suggestion but I don't think the folk up in Bendigo took it any further. A similar measure might work for groups in Shepparton, Ballarat and Geelong but, obviously, would not be practical for members who are four to five hours away in Bairnsdale.
In his recent visit from Bairnsdale Ron Yeates suggested we might hold a special meeting in Melbourne for country groups on a Saturday afternoon a couple of times a year. I think this is a suggestion the Committee might well take up.
Let the Buyer Beware
A member has recently sent me photocopies of correspondence with a computer dealer in the
Maribyrnong area who sold him a 386 for almost $4,000 and is now, apparently, refusing to accept responsibility for a series of breakdowns because he says ownership of the firm has changed and if our member wants his guarantee honoured he should approach the Taiwan manufacturer.
I don't think our member will have much trouble establishing the fact that he bought his computer from a proprietary company, and not from an individual who owned the company at some time, and that, this being so, the company continues to be responsible for the computer. However, his case does point up one of the most basic principles to be followed when buying a computer; the most important thing is the stability and track record of the firm you buy it from If you are thinking of buying from a particular firm ask around a bit and try to find out how long it has been in business and what has been the experience of other people who have dealt with it.
Are you Paid up or Aren't You ?
We have had complaints from a number of members who have received demands for subscriptions they have already
paid. Others who paid back in March want to know where their new membership cards are. These members are all quite justified in being annoyed. However, our membership database is currently undergoing a review such as it hasn't undergone in some years and some very curious errors and discrepancies are turning up. So, please be patient for a little longer and all will be attended to.
The June meeting
0ur next monthly meeting, on Wednesday 5th June, will be a highly timely event. The Microsoft Corporation is releasing DOS 5, with a considerable number of completely new features, on the 11th June. They are going to introduce it to us in a full presentation almost a week beforehand. And also on the program will be a presentation of Quattro Pro 3.0. It's not a program specifically written to run under Windows but Borland describe it as Windows-friendly and it looks as though it is running under Windows. Our expectation is that Borland International will be announcing a special update price and possibly an additional special deal for our members.
Reprinted from the June 1991 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
