The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group For the Bookshelf

Macintosh Multimedia Workshop
Reviewed by Stephen Davey

Ives, occasionally we even look at things Macintosh! However, DOS users can get a lot out of this book by ignoring the first word in the title and concentrating on Multimedia.

IBM computer users just starting either computing and/or multimedia might find the book rather confusing or misleading. However, experienced users interested in learning more about multimedia will find it most interesting. While parts describe hardware and software specific to the Macintosh, most of the concepts and techniques can be applied equally in the Dos/Windows environment. Serious IBM multimedia technicians will also find it useful for comparing notes with the Mac boffins.

The book is clearly written and presented. It is divided into five logical parts.

• An introduction to the concept of of multimedia with a description of what can be done with various multimedia projects.
• Details of developing and dissecting multimedia projects, taking the reader step by step through the planning, design, and testing of a multimedia prototype.
• A detailed description of hardware and software tools required. This part is heavily Mac orientated. While it describes various Mac hardware configurations, and not of direct interest to the IBM user, it is interesting to compare the minimum hardware requirements of the two platforms. There is also a description of some broad techniques and specific software tools (Mac) for text, graphics, animation, 3D, and sound. There is information about clip art and copyright laws - yes, American, but with relevance here.
• A description of the various environments that might be used to present a multimedia project. Slide presentations, interactive presentations, authoring, and custom programming are compared and evaluated. The last part is a multimedia workshop, taking the reader step by step through creating a project.

dBASE Q & A
Reviewed by Major Keary

The xBASE language is still widely used in spite of other database programs that have flooded the market. For cost-effectiveness in terms of system resources, xBASE running under DOS is probably the most efficient real database software. There are flat-file programs for those with simple needs, and all-singing-all-dancing Windows packages for those who like that sort of thing.

If you run dBASE 1V for DOS there is a book, dBASE IV 2.0 for DOS Hotline Q&A, that provides a very useful resource for coping with common problems.

The material is well-organised on more than one plane. Chapters deal with particular aspects (forms, query by example, reports, printing, multiuser issues, etc.) Within each chapter there is descriptive information supported by examples and walk-through exercises with discussion of the various steps. That is followed by material presented as questions and answers. For example:

• Q. How can I create an index that treats two DATE fields as primary and secondary chronological indexes?

• A. First, convert both fields into CHARACTER fields with the DTOSO function, then concatentate them 
INDEX ON DTOS(DATE1)+DTOS(DATE2) TAG XTIME

The book is not intended as complete reference manual or a tutorial covering every aspect of dBASE It is designed to help "beginners and intermediate users get up to speed". The authors, software support experts, wrote the book on the basis of their experience is helping dBASE users. They were joined by a member of Borland's Technical Support Staff to present this very useful supplement to the manuals. It is, of course, relevant to all flavours of the xBASE language.

 
The Winn Rosch Hardware Bible
Reviewed by Mckjor Keary

Now in its third edition, the Winn Rosch Hardware Bible has grown to a substantial 1520 pages. It is not a how-to, repair, or upgrade manual and there are very few illustrations, but provides information essential for anyone wanting to buy new equipment, upgrade, or undertake repairs.

It is written for all levels of PC user and does not require a computer engineering background to comprehend the technical descriptions. The author writes clearly, without jargon, and does not resort to patronising humour.

Who would want a heavy-weight reference like this?

• Any user with a desire to be better informed about the equipment he or she uses, or is thinking of buying
• Libraries-public, corporate, or private -that require serious computer-related holdings
• Those who write about computers or who provide assistance to other users

The operating principles of silicon-based microprocessors are explained in easy-to-understand language: logic gates, instruction sets, registers, clocked logic, pipelining, microcode, RISC, and other topics are described. The author then moves on to the way in which computers are constructed with descriptions of the various microprocessors. Intel and Intel-compatible products are described as well as those from Motorola, Texas Instruments, and other manufacturers.

We then move through motherboards, math co-processors, memory, expansion bus, I/O system, power supply, input devices, display system, monitors, ports, hard disks, floppy disks, and support circuitry. Each topic has its own chapter.

There are also chapters on networking, mass storage systems, tape drives, audio, compact discs, and modems. Serial port communications, modems, and the problems that arise from them are given excellent treatment, a chapter being devoted to serial communications troubleshooting.

Anyone looking at upgrading to multimedia-suitable equipment will benefit from reading the chapters on audio, CD, and display adapters. Video cards abound in the market and some of the claims made by manufacturers can be misleading; would-be buyers will find the real facts here.

Reprinted from the September 1994 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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