 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Ash Nallawalla ash@melbpc.org.au |
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Get well, Ron
Ron Wilby is back in hospital for another "motherboard" checkup, so has asked me to apologise to readers for the temporary absence of his award-winning columns for beginners. Stan Johnstone, Dave Mitchell and I visited him in hospital to present yet another award, this being the Readers' Choice Award for Best Regular Columnist. Congratulations, Ron, and get well soon!
PC Update matters
Ron passed on to me a suggestion from a reader who feels that there is a class of member that we don't cater for. These are people who use computers as tools to get a job done, who are happy to use DOS, and see no need for "Windows 1, 2, or 3 let alone 95."
I agree; we could use some articles featuring the use of modestly configured computers to work smarter. Is your old AT any good these days? I am sure a few government departments, small businesses and individuals still use them. Please offer to write a feature article on how your old XT/AT/386 still gets your job done. Tips and techniques for the DOS user are also welcome.
Reviews emphasise, by their nature, the other end of the price spectrum. Our last survey suggests that about 80 percent of our readers are in the workforce, and are thus more likely to want information about new products.
Intel's Pentium Pro
I upgraded to a 486/66 when many of you were buying your first Pentium. I was going to skip the Pentium for my next upgrade, but I read that its successor, the Pentium Pro will be optimised for 32-bit software, which means Windows 95 and older software will not run efficiently. Read the 12 September issue of PC Magazine for a good write-up of this chip.
Election
A scanned image of the election ballot paper for postal votes will be made available on our web page and the BBS for the convenience of voters who do not have access to a photocopier. You cannot submit votes by fax or electronic mail, so you will have to print it out and follow the instructions as per the December issue.
Readers' Choice Awards
PC Update is pleased to announce... wait for it... the forthcoming announcement of the other winners of the annual Readers' Choice Survey conducted earlier. Please come to the November monthly meeting to find out the names of the winners. The list will be printed in the December issue. I would like to thank Stan Johnstone and Dave Mitchell for administering all aspects of the awards this year and Peter Smith for preparing the award certificates.
Microsoft Project for Windows 95
Microsoft is running free seminars about Project in all mainland capitals and has offered special seating for members. The Melbourne seminar is on 28 November during 12.30-2.00 pm and our Adelaide PCUG readers can attend one on the 29th. Phone 1800 673 892 to reserve a seat.
Microsoft + Compaq = Seminar
Microsoft and Compaq are running another series of seminars. Entitled Growing Business Seminars, they are available in Melbourne on 31 October during 4-6 pm but the Adelaide one will have finished before you read this. Phone 1800 621 622 to register.
Business Software Library
Do not judge a shareware CD-ROM by its cover. Five years ago they used to sell for $600 each but today a typical compendium can be bought for $40 or so. It is so easy to overlook a good program that is hiding in your CD-ROM collection because it has a cryptic file name or a brief description. So when I saw Walnut Creek's Business Software Library CD-ROM I was rather impressed.
What makes this CD-ROM different from others is its accompanying 160-page paperback catalogue. Each program is described in about 100 words and there are many screen dumps that tempt you to try them out. Less than half of this volume features what I would regard as "business" software, but anyone running a small business should browse through the catalogue at your favourite CD-ROM reseller. It has a good selection of other topics including education, food, games, genealogy, astrology, graphics, hobbies, sound and "more."
Reprinted from the November 1995 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
