 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group For the bookshelf |
Official Hayes Modem Communications Companion
reviewed by Allan McKenzie
On an intimidation index, modems and modem manuals must rank very high! It is difficult to understand the manuals, let alone cope with what is left out.
My modem came with a 50-page A5 manual plus a small folder listing AT Commands. The User's Guide for the bundled software covered data communication in just ten pages. What I needed was an introductory level, third-party manual covering data and fax operations and written in clear technical language. I find it easier to learn what to do when I know why it is being done. The book, intended for beginning to intermediate users, more than met my requirements.
Chapters cover topics from the advantages and disadvantages of different types of equipment - helpful if you are still deciding what to buy - to system fine tuning with "survival and efficiency tools".
I found it easy to read and learn from. Discussion of technical aspects is separated from the main text, which makes reading easier for those who are looking for direction and don't want to know the whys-and-wherefores.
The book is structured around the 100 questions most frequently asked of the Hayes customer support staff, bulletin boards, user groups and magazines as well as the author's own experience. Each question is highlighted in the text and listed in an appendix. Finding answers to particular problems is very easy.
Other appendixes include the AT Command Set and a brief introductory tutorial on instillation and use of the Smartcom software. I loaded Smartcom and worked through the description and use of the AT commands to the point where the procedure for calling Hayes' BBS is described. I decided it would be cheaper to logon to the Group's BBS rather than ringing America! Although prepared to receive an error message, I need not have doubted. I logged into the BBS at the first attempt - not a single hitch. I now feel confident and ready to load Telemate and WinFax.
For those looking for a comprehensive data and fax modem reference, the Companion is well worth considering. Communications beginners need no longer be intimidated by modems.
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Caroline M. Halliday: Official Hayes Modem Communications Companion ISBN 1 56884 072 1 462 pages plus disk Published by IDG RRP $59.95 |
First Look at Windows 95
Reprinted from the May 1995 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
reviewed by Tony Stevenson
If you just can't wait for the next release of Windows this book is definitely for you!
Windows 95 is heir apparent to Microsoft's MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, and Windows for Workgroups 3.11. You might be confused by magazine and newspaper references to
Chicago as the successor, but that has been the name used for pre-release development (beta) versions.
This book is the next best thing to having your own Windows 95 beta version. It contains plenty of screen shots so you can see what the newly designed interface is going to look like. But even better than that, the author has provided comparison screen shots from Windows 3.x so that you can see the differences.
Windows 95 is a fully integrated 32-bit protected-mode operating system, whereas Windows 3.x is a 16-bit operating environment that sits on top of DOS. That means Windows 95 will be more robust and will offer performance increases whilst still being backwardly compatible. The other good news is that if you can run Windows 3.x on your current machine then Windows 95 will also run without having to change the hardware configuration.
Let's look at some of the new features to be found in Windows 95:
If you are a professional Windows developer this is a must read book that will enable you to become familiar with Windows 95 and so be ready to help your clients make the switch.
Alternatively you might just love new technology and can't wait to see what this fully integrated Windows 95 has to offer.
Laura Acklen: First Look at Windows 95
ISBN 0 7897 0074 3
Published by Que
174 pages
RRP $32.95
