January ; 93 HANDS ON: UNIVEL UNIXWARE page 51 1 ^1 ^J $3.50 U.S.A./S4.50 IN CANADA A McGraw-Hill Publication/0360-5280 1984 The Luggables 35 pounds 8088-class CPU 512KRAM Floppy drive No hard drive AC only Monochrome display $4000 to $5000 1987 The Laptops 1 15 to 20 pounds 8088 or 80286-class CPU 640KRAM Floppy drive 10 or 20MB hard drive AC only or 1.5-hour battery CGA display $3500 to $4500 1990 The Notebooks 6 to 9 pounds 80286 or 80386SX-class CPU 640K RAM Floppy drive 20 to 40MB hard drive 2 to 3-hour battery ;' CGA or VGA display $2900 to $4500 ■Sir HANDBOOK' Weight: 2.75 Lbs. Dimensions: 5.9" x 9.75" x 1.4" : 4.5-Hr. NiMH 2.3Ah Battery and AC Adapter/Charger ■: Alkaline Battery Pack 286-Class Performance lMBRAM,Upgradeableto3MB 40MB Hard Drive Backlit 7.6" CGA Screen 1 Parallel and 1 Serial Port 78-Key Touch-Type Keyboard MS-DOS 5.0, LapLink® XL, MS Works"' for DOS, Central Point® Desktop & Serial Download Cable Carrying Case $1295 '■"Ballery life was measured using PC Magazine's Battery Rundown Test with power management enabled. Results max vary. NOMAD Weight: 5.6 Lbs. Dimensions: 8.5" x 11" x 1.8" 6-Hr. NiCad 5.7Ah Battery and AC Adapter/Charger 4MB RAM 3.5" Diskette Drive Backlit 10" VGA Screen, 64 Grays Simultaneous Video 1 Parallel and 1 Serial Port 79-Key Keyboard & FieldMouse 1 " I MS-DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 MS Works for Windows 2.0 NOMAD 325SXL $1795 25MHz 386SXL, 80MB Hard Drive NOMAD 420SXL $1995 20MHz 486SXL, 80MB Hard Drive NOMAD 425SXL $2295 25MHz486SXL, 120MB Hard Drive NOMAD 425DXL $2695 25MHz 486DXL, 120MB Hard Drive Into A New ™ GATEWW2000 "You've i'j>t (i friend in ihc huwtvss." 8 0-523-2000 610 Gateway Drive • P.O.Box 2000 • North Sioux City, SD 57049-2000 605-232-2000 • Fax 605-232-2023 All prices ami configurations are subject 10 change without notice. Prices do not include shippiiiii. rl 992 Gateway 2000. Inc. HaudBook and FteldMouse arc trademarks of Gateway 2000, Inc. All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Today The HandBook 2.8 pounds C&TCPU, 286-cIass performance 1MB RAM 40MB hard drive 4.5-hour battery CGA display $1295 You've been wrestling with over-sized, under-powered and over-priced portables for nine long years! Now Gateway 2000 emerges from the struggle and takes a giant step in the evolution of portable computing. With Gateway's line of portable PCs, there's a perfect combination of power, portability and price for all Homosapiens. If you're a power user, a Nomad is the natural selection. Nomad notebooks give you 386SX, 486SX or 486DX desktop performance, yet they're smaller than most notebooks - 8.5 x 1 1 inches, 5.6 pounds - and run for over six hours on a single battery with power management enabled. The biggest advance recently is new, lower prices. Now you can buy a 486 Nomad for under $2,000 - an unprecedented find! If you're a traveler or executive looking for even more portability for writing, e-mail and appointments, the Gateway HandBook is for you. This new species in portable computing is a one-of-a- kind PC in miniature form. In fact, the HandBook was just named one of the year's "Best of What's New" products by Popular Science magazine. Measuring a mere 6x10 inches, the HandBook weighs only 2.75 pounds, yet it gives you 286-class performance, great battery life, a comfortable, touch-type keyboard and a bright, backlit screen. The HandBook now includes an alkaline battery pack, too, so you can use drug-store batteries if you don't want to carry your NiMH battery and AC adapter. The Gateway Nomads and HandBook were designed specifically for you - today's on-the-move computer user. Struggle no more with a Neanderthal artifact. Call Gateway 2000 and let us take you into a new age of portable computing! Today The Nomads 5.6 pounds 80386SX, 80486SX or 80486DX CPU 4MB RAM Floppy drive or 120MB hard drive 6-hour battery VGA display $1795 to : $2695 So Powerful It Can't Be A PC Transform Your PC With The INTERACTIVE UNIX System. Unleash the 32-bit power in your PC with the INTERACTIVE'" UNIX'" System from SunSoft. Charge through applications at record speeds. Use real-world multitasking and networking. Get on the path to a distributed computing future. Just Say No To SCO. Why? The INTERACTIVE UNIX System is easy to use, simple to administer, all at a great price. Open Systems Today* says the INTERACTIVE UNIX "system management... is easier to use and more comprehensive" than SCO 1 and "is simply a masterpiece of good design." Looking Glass Professional" desktop manager makes the INTERACTIVE UNIX System easy enough for novices, yet powerful enough for experienced UNIX users. And the award winning Easy Windows makes setting up graphic environments infinitely simpler. You can't afford not to take advantage of the already low cost of the INTERACTIVE UNIX System. And SCO UNIX/XENIX' 9 users can save an additional 50% by switching to the INTERACTIVE UNIX System today. That's something to say yes to. Everything You Like About YourPC-AndALotMore. INTERACTIVE UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2 supports hundreds of the most popular Intel- based platforms and peripherals. So getting started is fast, easy, and cost-effective. Thousands of UNIX and XENIX applica- tions are at your command. And our VP/ix package runs virtually all DOS software. You get Lotus" WordPerfect , and Oracle. You get SCO applications. You get it all. See What Develops. The INTERACTIVE UNIX System is the environment of choice for 80X86 application development. You get access to a full range of development tools including compilers, debuggers and libraries. And for graphical applications, the XI 1 INTERACTIVE environment is a revelation. Partner With Power. The INTERACTIVE UNIX System is a powerful business partner for companies who know something about power. Companies like BMW, Goodyear, Leica, and Dunlop to name a few. That power can be yours, too. All from SunSoft, the leading supplier of 32-bit UNIX system software. Call today and save 50% on UNIX power that's so cost-effective, it can't be anything bill a PC. 1-800-227-9227. ^SunSoft w A Sun Microsystems, Inc. Business •Issue date: April 13, 1992 ©1992 Sim Microsystems, Inc. Sun, .Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, SunSoft, the SunSoft Logo, VP/ix untl Easy Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. INTERACTIVE is a trademark of INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. Looking (diss Professional is a trademark of Visis Software. Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective holders. The promotional discount is available to SCO UNLX/XENIX users and is subject to certain restrictions. Contact SunSoft for terms and conditions of promotion. SunSoft reserves the right to stop the promotion at anytime. SunSoft can be reached at 2550 Garcia Avenue, Mountain View, CA94M3, (510) 460-3267. B-1/93 Circle 201 on Inquiry Card. BVTE January 1993 Volume 18, Number I COVER STORY FEATURE The 1992 BYTE Awards PAGE 116 32 41 46 51 54 72 NEWS MICROBYTES Preliminary info on Motorola's 68060 is impressive, but the PowerPC 601 will probably ship first. REPORT FROM HONG KONG by Andrew Reinhardt Hong Kong hopes to profit by its ties to mainland China. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Two Toshiba Systems to Go by Gene Smarte The T4500 notebook and the Dynapad T100X pen-based computer. A HIGHER END FOR COMPAQ NOTEBOOKS by Ed Perratore UnixWare: New Hope for Unix? by Tom Yager The friendliest Unix around. Turbo Pascal 7.0 and Borland Pascal with Objects 7.0, a new generation of Pascal Epson Progression, a 486/33 with a graphics-acceleration Wingine Flexscan F340iW, Graphite Card, and Paradise Accelerator, working toward clearer Windows WinFax Pro 3.0, fax software with OCR and a cool cover-page designer Visio, a new approach to graphics CoIorFrame, a portable color display for Macs Datafax, a Windows fax program WHAT'S NEW The ScreenStar displays two full-size documents; the Digibot II "reads" multidimensional objects; and more. FEATURES 116 The 1992 BYTE Awards by Michael Nadeau BYTE editors pick the best products of the past year. 145 Computing Without Clocks by Dick Pounlain Asynchronous processors turn computing on its head. STATE OF THE ART MACHINE TRANSLATION 152 Overview: Machine Translation by Muriel Vasconcellos Machine translation is coming to your computer. MT AT YOUR SERVICE by Eduard Hovy 167 How MT Works by Eduard Hovy There is more than one way to perform machine translation. THE FIVE LAYERS OF AMBIGUITY by Bernard E. Scott 177 Babelware for the Desktop by L. Chris Miller Many machine-translation systems are available on workstations and personal computers. IS MT RIGHT FOR YOU? by Muriel Vasconcellos 185 Resource Guide: Machine-Translation Software 4 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 COVER IMAGE: PAUL AVIS ©1993 REVIEWS OPINIONS 188 202 209 217 221 225 231 239 241 246 SOLUTIONS FOCUS Putting Your Data on the Map by Ben Smith and Howard Eglowstein Connecting maps with data helps visualize information. \j Making Windows Rock and Roll by Rick Grehan The BYTE Lab looks at 16 accelerators that speed up Windows operations (for as little as $139). AST's PowerExec Goes Modular by Rob Mitchell Upgradability meets portability in AST's new PowerExec. Desktop CD-ROM Publishing by Jon Udell Philips' CDD521 ushers in the second CD-ROM revolution. Neural Net Adds Smarts to Spreadsheets, Slowly by Maureen Caudill If I only had a brain: Braincel aims to smarten spreadsheets with neural-network technology. Next-Generation Code Generators for Windows by Steve Apiki Latest versions of Case:W and WindowsMaker Professional ease the task of generating Windows code. Topas 4.0 Simplifies 3-D by Tom Yager Topas 4.0 makes quick work of realistic 3-D graphics. Commodore Gets Tough by Tom Yager Two new 68040-based Amigas. Photography by the Numbers by Howard Eglowstein Professional electronic cameras from Kodak and Sony deliver instant results to your Mac or PC. Reviewer's Notebook: How to Give Windows a Workout by Rick Grehan The BYTE Lab introduces new Windows benchmarks. HANDS ON 97 248 334 12 20 USER'S COLUMN The Principle of Pursuit by Jerry Pournelle Microsoft moves to dominate with Access and Windows for Workgroups. BOOK AND CD-ROM REVIEWS Goings-On at the Edge by Hugh Kenner, Bob Ryan, Raymond GA Cote, and Tom Thompson The science of complexity. STOP BIT Cinema by Computer by Roger Ebert Movies no longer offer an escape from reality. EDITORIAL 1993 by Dennis Allen LETTERS Responses on BYTE's global perspective, the October editorial, and other topics. 251 UNDER THE HOOD Digitizer Renaissance by Jean Renard Ward and Debra Schultz Pen computers are reinvigorating digitizer tablet technologies. 261 SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED OS/2's System Object Model b\ Barn' Nance The OS/2 2.0 System Object Model offers a language-neutral approach to object-oriented programming. 269 SOFTWARE CORNER Your Own Devices by Barry Nance, Tom Thompson, and Ben Smith DOS device drivers, hexadecimal editing in Unix, and monitoring System 7.0 memory partitions. 271 BEYOND DOS Connecting Windows to Data with ODBC by Jon Udell Open Database Connectivity is an API for database-enabled Windows applications. 278 ASK BYTE Internet access solutions, Procomm problems, and other issues. READER SERVICE 333 Editorial Index by Company 326 Alphabetical Index to Advertisers 328 Index to Advertisers by Product Category Direct Link Cards: 240A, 328A PROGRAM LISTINGS From BIX: Join "listings/frombyte93" and select the appropriate subarea (i.e., "jan93"). From the UUNET: ftp to ftp.uu.net, log on as ''anonymous," and enter your user ID as your password. Type "cd /published/byte" and type "DIR." Files appear in subdirectories arranged by month. From the BYTE BBS at 1200-9600 bps: Dial (603) 924-9820 and follow the instructions at the prompt. INSIDE BYTE BYTE (ISSN 0360-5280) is published monthly with additional issues in April and October by McGraw-Hill, Inc. U.S. subscriber rate $29.95 per year. In Canada and Mexico, $34.95 per year. European surface mail subscriptions $50, airmail $70. Non-European subscriptions. $50 surface mail or S75 airmail. All foreign subscriptions are payable in U.S. funds that can be drawn on a U.S. bank. Single copies $3.50 in the U.S., $4.50 in Canada. Executive, Editorial, Circulation, and Advertising Offices: One Phoenix Mill Lane, Peterborough, NH 03458. Second-class postage paid at Peterborough, NH. and additional mailing offices. Postage paid at Winnipeg, Manitoba. Registration number 9321 . Registered for GST as McGraw-Hill, Inc., GST H123075673. Printed in the United States of America. Postmaster: Send address changes and fulfillment questions to BYTE Subscriptions, P.O. Box 552, Hightstown, NJ 08520. COVER CORNER PHOTOGRAPHY: SCOTT PARKER / AVIS STUDIO ©1993 JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 5 TYPE: 3.5" OPTICAL CAPACITY: 1 28 MB SIZE: 6.9" (H) X 2.7" (W) X 8.3" (D) WEIGHT: 4.1 1 LBS MOUNTING: VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL First you bought a 40MB hard Introducing the first line of optical drives that are lightning drive, then an 80MB, stepped up to a 150MB, made the fast and have unlimited capacity. The PMO-130™ and move to a 300MB, and took out a loan to buy a 600MB. It PMO-650™ are the world's fastest optical drives with never ends - until today. performance that rockets past most magnetic hard drives. Seagate*"' Fujitsu Maxtor'" ST4766N 630MB , M2266SA 1.2GB i XT-8760SH 676MB Drive Pinnacle Tested PMO-650'' Xcopy 20MB Tree to Optica! Drive Moxoptix Hewlett-Packard; Ricoh Tahiti" II Corsair™ ; R0-5031E Xcopy 50MB Tree lo Optical Drive FIWARE TESTING LABORATORIES, Inc. ■nets: PMO-130, PMO-650. OHD, Optical Hard Drive, and Pinnacle Micro are Trademarks oi Pinnatle Micro, Inc. ©I 992. Trademarks and regislered marks to their respective owners. All test results performed by NSTL 8/92. Retail prices acquired from dealer survey 1 0/92. 19 Technology • Irvine, CA 92718 • Int'l (714) 727-3300 • Fax (714) 727-1913 tME Last dfuve You'll j Jlld, pa . liio PiMO-650 wis voritnhlo rockol." Christonhor Stetson KWook fe. _ "riioPi\10-6.^ is liio first rowritKDIChildWodProc > Ro 1 easeCa pt ure PROCEDURE AT 0697 PROCEDURE AT 06qF baseBaseVector : :~bas Inline baseVector: :angl baseVector: : testing 32 boseVector::x baseVector: :baseVect 0BBF:6706b baseVector: :basaVect 0BBF:63CAh baseVector: .-baseVect 08BF :6632b baseVector: :~baseVec Inline pop op 999 Memory - Contents Memoiy Assembly :ChildWndProc /leas ft Capture fOCEDURE AT D65F 10CEDURE AT 065F aJCEBURE AT 065F *0CEOUR£ AT 06 9F WCEDURE AT 069F jleoseCapf reatelDEChi ldWi n< reatePtWiDdow jHewWmdow as&Window H* 0001 Q04F 0B96 0000 QlJOO _ACTIVATEAPP G84F 0000 0000 Ln n 0-, h-i m~ Help Breakpoint Wotdi Graphic Data Assembly CPU/Coprocessor Application Debugger Decode Registers Functions Help Stack Call Chain Window Application Files Window . C++ Class Hierarchy Browser - Application Breakpoints Window Message Spy Graphical Representation of Data Structures and Objects 386/486 Watchpoints Only MultiScope 2.0 has what it takes to nail the bugs in your code, whether in Borland 9 C++ 3.0 or 3.1; Microsoft? C/C++ 7.0; or Microsoft C 6.0. When it comes to true C++ debugging, there's only one way to go — directly to MultiScope Debuggers Version 2.0. That's because only MultiScope can offer you real C++ debugging in a Windows environment today. It 's The Real C++ Thing — MultiScope. As the only Windows-hosted debugger on the market today, MultiScope 2.0 delivers powerful features you won't find elsewhere. PLUS, MultiScope C/C++ debugging features include the capability of browsing pointers to structures as arrays by INCLUDING: • A point-and-shoot C++ class hierarchy browser • C++ object browsing • Automatic C++ object mapping for alt C++ inheritance types • An alternative C++ class information display for clarity of member scope • Windows-hosted debugging of Windows applications on the same screen • A CodeView compatible command line • A fully integrated SPY utility for spying multiple windows at the same lime • 386/486 hardware memory breakpoints for quickly finding memory overwrites • Object-oriented breakpoints simply double-clicking on the desired array index, and the ability to browse any variable as if it was declared in any other type by simply using the sticky type transfer command. Real Power Is In Sight. More importantly, it's all there at your fingertips. The MultiScope screen you see here tells the whole story; it's a powerful, feature-rich, integrated Windows environment, where the capabilities you need are just a mouse-click away. A Real Value In addition to real C++ debugging, the new MultiScope Debuggers 2.0 offer you real value. The MultiScope Debuggers for Windows provide the Windows Run-Time Debugger, MED, the Crash Analyzer System and more - all in one package. Act now! To order direct, please call 1-800-2284122 x 8354. We even offer a 60-day money- back guarantee. To get corporate pricing or additional technical product information, call 1-800- 999-8846 or 408-252-1652. MULTISCOPE MULTISCOPE DEBUGGERS © 1992 Symantec Corporation. * Offer valid in U.S. and Canada only — price in U.S. dollars. International phone: Canada, 1-800-465-2266; Europe, 31-71-35311 1; Australia, 2-879-6577; others, 1 -408-252-3570. All trademarks or registered trademarks are those of their respective holders. Circle 191 on Inquiry Card. SYMANTEC. i™ A highly placed engineer reveals his technical assessment of the new $7,995, 59 MIPS, accelerated graphics, eye-popping SPARCstation LX. Compliant I SCD I ©1992 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, and PC-NFS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCstation is licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. AH other products or service names mentioned herein arc trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. "Can I keep it?" To more than 650,000 people around the world a Sun™ workstation on their desk has become a way of life, a must. Let us present the latest addiction, SPARCstation™ LX. A graphics workstation -*■*«* that will take you screaming through your appli- cations. Whether you work with CAD, AEC, CASE, design automation or document process- ing, imaging and office automation, SPARCstation LX is for you. \bu can look at the LX in two different ways. Just put on your numbers hat and you'll see 50 MHz, 59 MIPS, 64-bit memory bus, lOMb/sec I/O, and so forth. Or just sit down, load your favorite applica- tion, and you might not want to leave your desk. Because the 8-bit accelerated graphics will make you use the full extent of your software, like interactively manipulating 2-D and 3-D wire- frame models. j, And the built-in ISDN lets you share documents that combine text, graphics, images, audio, and video with anyone, any- where. All with an intuitive graphical user "»■*■* interface called OPEN LOOK? \bu can even create powerful workgroups of SPARCstation LXs and existing PCs with Sun's PC-NFS 8 technology. Any way you look at it, chances are this re- markable machine will end up staying on your desk. Just call 1-800-426-5321, ext. 520 for more in- formation or a demo. It's worth your time. A Sun Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation A Sun Microsystems, Inc. Business Circle 1 69 on Inquiry Card. EDITORIAL DENNIS ALLEN 1993 1993's hot technologies will include local-bus adapters and credit-card size hard disks While this issue of BYTE officially names the best products and technologies of 1992, I'd like to look ahead at what 1993 holds in store. Two hot technology areas in which we'll see a lot of activity are local-bus adapters and PCMCIA cards. By mid- 1993, nearly all high-end sys- tems will include fast local-bus video, and by the end of the year, non-local-bus video cards will virtually be things of the past. Soon afterward, we'll see a sizable number of local-bus adapters speeding up tasks other than fast video. In the meantime, PCMCIA cards — those little credit-card- size devices that you may have seen on notebook computers — will make their way to main- stream desktop systems. Already IBM has shown its Energy Desktop PC, which accepts four PCMCIA cards. Because of their convenient size, which makes them easy to insert into an external slot, PCMCIA cards may spell the beginning of the end of traditional internal expan- sion boards. For 1993, though, the biggest thing in PCMCIA cards will be tiny, removable hard disks. Ex- pect to see several notebook computers with 60- to 120- MB hard disks on removable PCMCIA cards by March. Another exciting area for hardware will be mobile computing. In 1993, a notebook computer with an ac- tive-matrix color display may actually become afford- able. Or, if you're willing to forgo the color, you'll be able to buy an easy-to-carry 486-based subnotebook for $2000 (and maybe less). If you're into exotic systems, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) will make their debut. Ap- ple may have raised expectations too high with the promise of its Newton, but check out the Personal Com- municator from EO and AT&T — it's very clever. More- over, the EO Personal Communicator raises the bar for other pen-input systems. Also important will be the Intel Pentium micropro- cessor (previously known as the P5 or 586). You can ex- pect to see some fast — and expensive — desktop systems using the Pentium in 1993, but that's not where it will have the greatest impact: Where this new CPU will really make its mark is in the file-server arena. For the desktop, expect to see more clock-doubling technology in the form of very high-speed 486 chips. You'll hear more about non-Intel CPUs, too. The on- going hardware price war is forcing several PC makers to look for alternative CPUs whose price/performance ratios can beat those of Intel's chips. Cyrix, AMD, and other Intel rivals will take advantage of this window of op- portunity, so you should see some new and interesting non-Intel CPU offerings that will compete directly with the Intel 486. As the hardware price war rages, the applications soft- ware industry will join the battle. At the end of 1992, we witnessed Microsoft offering its Access database pro- gram at an introductory price of $99. Well, there'll be plenty more bargains like that one. As many software makers reach the limit of what they can add to existing products to justify high prices in a competitive market (consider the latest CorelDraw, for example), they will have no choice but to lower prices (as Corel did). Re- member all that money you put into the budget for ap- plications software this year? You'll be able to buy a lot more applications with it. Operating systems, on the other hand, may be just as confusing as ever. Yes, you can expect to see Windows NT sometime in 1993, but once it's available we'll have to answer the bigger questions of where it fits and whether it was worth the wait. There will be a lot of talk and a lot of coverage of NT, Unix, OS/2, Mac OS, Windows, and Desqview, to name a few. By year's end, however, we will consider most of the debate as strategic planning for 1994. When 1993 is done, the only real change in oper- ating systems will be in continued migration from plain DOS to Windows. Finally, I see 1993 as the year of the document. With Adobe's recent introduction of Acrobat, a portable doc- ument-encoding format, we at last have a sensible way to exchange electronic documents. Adobe's Acrobat will have as profound an impact on documents as PostScript had on desktop publishing. If rumors hold true, though, Acrobat may have some stiff competition from as-yet- undisclosed features of Xerox's Paperworks. Either way, add in low-cost CD-ROM drives and affordable (less than $8000) CD-ROM recorders, and you can see how in 1 993 we may move pretty close to the ideal of the elec- tronic office. — Dennis Allen Editor in Chief 12 BYTE •JANUARY 1993 Sfeafli BORLAND C &APPLH" ^^M C WORtC n, • f^ORLD CLASS AWARD RECOMMENDED | PRODUCT I loo 'E!»*£S ofiftfSJSP feijf BOW***? Undefeated champion! Borland C++ /^afc Microsoft C 7.0 in every comparison REPORT CARP AUGUST 17, 1992 C++ Windows //p? development \\)<,'v-y INFO WORLD ? Borland C++ & Application Microsoft* Frameworks C/C++ version 3.1 version 7.0 Performance Programming environment Excellent Good Language Very good Good Productivity Excellent Good nnr,imEntalion _ Very good Excellent Very good Good Ease of learning Ease of use Excellent Good Support Support policies Excellent Very good Technical support Very good Very good Value Excellent Very good 8? J 6^9~ The decision is unanimous! Borland® C++ & Application Frameworks™ is unquestionably the best C++ and C development system available for Windows and DOS. Check out the reviews in PC Magazine, BYTE, InfoWorld, and PC Week. Borland is the clear winner in every single review and product comparison published. Only Borland C++ offers the advanced features, powerful tools, most complete language implemen- tation, and DOS and Windows- hosted development environments to streamline development and increase productivity. Find out why every leading PC publication has chosen Borland C++ & Application Frameworks as the best C and C++ I development system available. ■ See your dealer today or call now, i I 1-800-331-0877, ext. 5032 In Canada, call 1-800-461-3327 Ask for our comparison white paper. wnue paper. BORLAND The Leader in Object-Oriented Programming Copyright© 1992 Borland International, Inc. All rights reserved. All Borland product names are trademarks of Borland International, Inc. BI4787 Circle 81 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 82). Increased 386 Perform AMD's 3-Volt 386 Microprocessors Deliver The Longest Battery Life For Portable Computing. The power struggle continues. While you can get a 386 microprocessor that goes fast, you'll still burn through a battery charge in a hurry. Low- voltage 386 CPUs from AMD are the answer — the Am386'"SXLV and Am386DXLV micro- processors. Here are two CPUs made not only to go fast, but to go the distance with portable computer users. Unlike common power- ., ; ,, ;i irj , hungry 386s, these low-voltage CPUs mmdriki* run on 3 volts. And they automatically slip into a static "sleep" mode to save power whenever the processor is idle. So users depend less on recharge units — and get the longest operational battery life. Both Am386 CPUs were designed to fit as comfortably in your budget as they do your portable computers. But you won't compromise on performance because „ the Am386SXLV and Am386DXLV 3-volt and the 25MHz SXLV pQfp wham microprocessors both run at 25MHz. So 901 Thompson Place, P.O. Box 3453, Sunnyvale. CA 94088. © 1 992 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Microprocessors For The Masses is a service mark and Am386 is a anceAt No Extra Charce 3 they're plenty powerful for running Windows™ Now there's nothing stopping you from charging forth with more efficient 3-volt laptops, notebooks, and palmtops. AMD also has your memory needs covered with our 3-volt EPROMs. And now that the industry at large has welcomed low- voltage portable computing, you'll find the rest of your components equally easy to come by. For more information on low-voltage 386 micro- processors and support logic, call 1-800-222-9323 and ask for Literature Pack 15F. And become the current leader in portable computing. a Advanced Micro Devices Microprocessors For The Masses™ trademark of Advanced Micro Devices. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Circle 70 on Inquiry Card. BYTE EDITOR IN CHIEF Dennis Allen EXECUTIVE EDITORS New York: Rich Malloy Peterborough: Rich Friedman ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Lauren Stickler Thompson NEWS Peterborough; Senior Editor. Dan Muse News Editors, What's New: Martha Hicks, Carol Swartz Microbytes: David L. Andrews News Assistant: June Sheldon San Francisco/West Coast: Bureau Chief: Andrew Reinhardt Senior Editor Tom Halfhill News Editor Patrick Waurzyniak Editorial Assistant: Barbara J. Caravello Los Angeles: Senior Editor Gene Smarte New York News Editor: Ed Perratore U.K./Europe: Bureau Chief: Andrew Redfem BYTE LAB Senior Editor & Director: Alan Joch Technical Director: Rick Grehan Technical Editors: Stephen Apiki: systems, networking D. Barker: applications software Stanford Diehl: graphics software, add-ins, peripherals Tom Yager: multimedia, Unix, operating systems, software development Testing Editors/Engineers: Raymond GA Cote, Howard Eglowstein, Ben Smith, Stanley Wszola Lab Assistant: Selinda Chiquoine STATE OF THE ART/FEATURES Senior Editor. Michael Nadeau Technical Editors: Janet J. Barron, Anthony J. Lockwood, Robert M. Ryan SENIOR TECHNICAL EDITORS At Large: Tom Thompson, Jon Udell Columns: Rob Mitchell ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL EDITORS Ellen Bingham, Susan Colwell, Jeff Edmonds, Tom Kevan, Cathy Kingery, Margaret A. Richard, Warren Williamson SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jerry Poumelle CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Hugh Kenner, Barry Nance CONSULTING EDITORS Roger C. Alford, Jonathan Amsterdam, Nicholas Baran, Don Crabb, Anne Fischer Lent, Laurence H. Loeb, Trevor Marshall, Dick Pountain, Wayne Rash Jr., Kenneth M. Sheldon, Jane Morrill Tazelaar, Ellen Ullman, Peter Wayner EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Office Manager Peggy Dunham Assistants: Linda C. Ryan, Janet A. Young DESIGN Director Nancy Rice Associate Director: Joseph A. Gallagher Designers: Jan Muller, Sharon Price PRODUCTION AND FINANCE Director: Claudia Flowers PRODUCTION Director David M. Cohen Production Manager: David R. Anderson Advertising Graphics Manager: Susan Kingsbury Editorial Graphics Manager: Virginia Reardon Graphics Product Coordinators: Barbara Busenbark, Christa Patterson, Donna Sweeney, Lillian J. Wise Advertising Sen/ices Manager: Linda Fluhr Senior Advertising Sen/ices Representative: Lyda Clark Advertising Services Representatives: Dale J. Christensen, Karen Cilley, Rod Holden Quality Control Manager Wai-Chiu Li Operations Assistant: Lisa Jo Steiner FINANCE Senior Financial Analyst: Kenneth A. 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Bradley Browne Administrative Assistant: Carol Cochran Marketing Communications Manager: Pamela Petrakos Marketing Art Director: Stephanie Wamesky Market Research Manager Julie Perron Copyrights Manager Faith Kluntz Reader Service: Cynthia Sands Marketing Assistant: Carol Sanchioni CIRCULATION Director Glyn Standen Subscriptions Manager: Paul Ruess Assistant Manager Pam Wilder Subscriptions Assistant: Christine Tourgee Newsstand Manager: Vicki Weston Assistant Manager Karen Desroches Back Issues: Louise Menegus Direct Accounts Coordinator: Ellen Dunbar PRODUCT MANAGER Kip Bryan EXCHANGE EDITORS Amiga Exchange: Joanne Dow Entertainment and Leisure Exchange: Rich Taylor IBM Exchange: Barry Nance Programmers Exchange: Bill Nicholls Professionals Exchange: David Reed Tojerry Exchange: Jerry Poumelle WIX Exchange: Karen Kenworthy Writers Exchange: Wayne Rash Jr. PUBLISHER Ronald W. 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Penglase; Executive Vice President, Publication Services: Norbert Schumacher. 16 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 The ALR PowerFlex FLYER/SG The ALR PowerFlex FLYER/SD The ALR PowerFlex FLYER Introducing The PowerFlex FLYER/SmartChoice From ALR Call ALR' s Primehine Direct 800-4444ALR 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE LIMITED TIME OFFEP ALR ProCare ONSITE SERVICE as little as $9.95 33-MHz i386SX 2-MB RAM Integrated Super VGA 25 -MHz i486SX 2-MB RAM Integrated Super VGA Model 80 Includes 80-MB Hard disk, ALR MS"-DOS™ 5.0, MS Windows™ 3.1 and ALR Mouse $799 25 -MHz i386SX 1-MB RAM Integrated Super VGA Model 170 Includes 170-MB Hard disk, ALR MS-DOS 5.0, MS Windows 3.1 and ALR Mouse Model 80 Includes SO-MB Hard disk, ALR MS-DOS 5.0, MS Windows 3.1 and ALR Mouse $899 Model 170 Includes 170-MB Hard disk, ALR MS-DOS 5.0, MS Windows 3.1 and ALR Mouse $1099 Model 60 Includes 60-MB Hard disk $699 Model 60D Includes 60-MB Hard disk and ALR MS-DOS 5.0 $749 Advanced Logic Research 9401 jeronimo Irvine, CA 92718 (714) 581-6770 FAX: (714) 581-9240 In Canada Call: 800-465-5979 • 30 Day Money Back Guarantee only applies to purchases of ALR PowerFlex FLYER SC. ALR PoweiPie- FLYER SD and ALR PowerFle* FLYER 3/25s when purchased through ALRS Piimeline Direct only. Prices and c on figure lions subject to change wilhouf notice. Systems shown with optional equipment. Systems shown with optional monitors. Venty e*acl specifications with ALR. Prices based on U.S. Dollars ALR is a registered trademark ol Advanced Logic Research, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their lespective owners. Intel Inside is a trademark ot Intel corp. «>1992 by Advanced Lonic Research. Inc. Circle 63 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 64). No one else gives you so much upgradabiliJy in your computer. Notice the extra row of pins in the CPU socket? Now you can upgrade from any i486 all the way to the 1993 super OverDrive processor based on Intel's Pentium" architecture. And the ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket makes it so easy! The on-board SCSI option lets you add SCSI I or II devices anytime. SCSI hard drives, opticals, tape backups and more are easy to add. FREE software. In addition to DOS and Windows, you now get the Lotus Organizer- the Personal Information Manager highly recommended by PC Magazine. Plus yew get your choice of an additional pop- ular Windows application from Lotus. With all the free software you get with your ZEOS, you save hun- dreds of dollars'. ZBOSGksYou More. Consider the Vertical Option. We can build your new upgradable system in our eight-bay vertical case. It comes complete with our high- capacity power supply and two cooling fans. Add only $95. You simply get more. For less. When everyone else began cutting prices by giving less, ZEOS had a better idea — use the very latest technology to design an entirely new line of high-performance upgradables that allow us to charge less while giving more. We did it and you'll love it! ZEOS. THE UPGRADABILITY EXPERTS. ZEOS was one of the first to offer truly high performance upgradable PCs. Now using the latest in high integration technology, we've made a good thing even better! Start with the CPU of your choice. Select between the 486SX-25 or 33, the 486DX-33, the 486DX2-50 or 486DX2-66. Next year, if you choose, you can upgrade all the way to the new super OverDrive processor based on Intel's Pentium architecture. Maximum power today and tomorrow. CPU UPGRADABILITY IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY. In their haste to cut features, the others seem to have forgotten about your future. That's why ZEOS provides eight expansion slots, high-capacity power supplies with built-in surge suppression, and six drive bays in our SpaceSaver desk- top cases. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ These are the features that ""■*' " "***■ will make the difference in your satisfaction down the road. And only ZEOS gives them all to you. THE MORE YOU LOOK, THE MORE OBVIOUS YOUR ZEOS ADVAN- TAGES BECOME. With ZEOS, you get more than just a rosy future. You start out with more than any- one else. Today. We've used the latest tech- nology to incorporate more Your choice: 128 K or256Kcache. For the most memory- intensive applications, a secondary cache is highly recommended. ZEOS gives you your choice of high-speed cache options. ^1\ierV:w > ZEOS systems feature award- , w > . winning reliability and support. Details like built- in surge suppression and twin cooling fans make the V difference. Awarded PC 4 Magazine's Editors' Choice 4 nine times! < < features than ever before. Features like two VESA-standard local bus slots and a local bus video card for lightning-fast performance. Flash BIOS for easy BIOS upgrades via disk or modem. Optional secondary cache and onboard SCSI. And much, much more. QUALITY. A ZEOS HALLMARK. Such as the two cooling fans you'll find in every ZEOS system. While ZEOS systems run cooler than most with one fan, we still give you two whisper-quiet ones. The cooler your system runs the longer it will last. We also include a built-in surge suppressor in every system. Of course every ZEOS system carries the Underwriters Laboratories listing as well. These are extra features the others can't or won't offer you. But you deserve them, and from ZEOS they're yours. No additional charge. FREE LOTUS SOFTWARE, TOO! And now, when you purchase any new ZEOS Windows-based system, you get DOS, Windows, and the new Lotus Organizer— the Personal Information Manager highly recommended by PC Magazine. You also get your choice of either Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows, Ami Pro, or Freelance Graphics. You'd pay hundreds of dollars for this software alone. And we're giving it to you absolutely free. Now that's ZEOS value. R)r Less! I 24-HOUR-A-DAY SUPPORT. AND MORE! Remember too, ZEOS pro- vides you with our top-rated 24-Hour-A-Day Toll-Free Technical Support. Plus your new ZEOS system is covered by our 30-Day Absolute Satisfaction Money-Back Guarantee, One Full Year Limited Warranty, and our Express Parts Replacement Policy. CALL NOW AND GET THE BEST. Ordering your new ZEOS upgradable system is easy. Simply give us a call. A friendly and knowledgeable ZEOS Systems Consultant is ready to answer any questions you may have. So take a closer look. You're going to love your new ZEOS system. We guarantee it! CALL NOW TOLL FREE: 800-423-5891 Want your computer now ? Many of our most popular configurations are available for same-day shipping. Call for details! Purchase orders from Fortune 1000 companies, governments and institutions subject to approval. Leasing programs are available. All prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Please call to confirm pricing, specifications and warranty details. All products and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. ©1992, ZEOS International Ltd 530 5th Avenue N W. St. Paul, MN 55112 USA. ZEOS is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ symbol: ZEOS). UPGR-BYT-9301 GO WITH THIS HIGH- PERFORMANCE PACKAGE Or we can custom-build a sys- tem to your exact specifications! 3 Your choice of CPU with upgrade options. "i 8MB of RAM expandable to 64 on the motherboard. ~> A super-fast 12ms 245MB high-speed IDE hard drive with built-in cache. Both 1.2 and 1.44 Teac® FDD. ■ ZEOS 14" Hi-Res 1024x768 non-interlaced VGA color monitor with 1 MB high- speed VESA Local Bus card. ' Two serial and one parallel port. Shadow RAM/EMS support. Optional SCSI port (plug-in chip) for SCSI I & II devices. Upgradable high-speed cache options of 128K and 256K. i Flash BIOS for easy BIOS upgrades. 1 High-capacity 200 watt power supply with built-in surge suppression. 1 Rugged ZEOS SpaceSaver case with six drive bays and two cooling fans. I ZEOS RS/101-key keyboard. I Microsoft DOS, Windows, a genuine Microsoft Mouse, Lotus Organizer and your choice of a Windows soft- ware application from Lotus! ZEOS 24-Hour-a-Day Toll-Free Technical Support and complete Customer Satisfaction Package. 486SX-25 $2295 486SX-33 $2495 486DX-33 $2695 486DX2-50 $2895 486DX2-66 $3095 800-423-5891 Fax Orders: 612-633-1325 Government: 800-245-2449 TDD Orders: 800-228-5389 Outside U.S. and Canada: 612-633-6131 MasterCard, VISA, Am Exp, Discover, Z-Card/ M COD and Leasing Programs. Open 24 Hours a Day, 365 Days a Year! Circle 1 90 on Inquiry Card. LETTERS Mac OOP Explained Parshall Credit I found James Parshall's Some Assembly Required article ("Mac OOP Ex- plained," October 1992) quite helpful. I have been using the Think C version of the Think Class Library for a few months, and I'm just starting to feel comfortable with it. I particularly liked the emphasis on data (instance variables) and how it is manipu- lated within a class. John Kordybac Calgary, Canada Presidential Brouhaha I am disturbed by Dennis Allen's endorsement of George Bush in the October editorial titled "Open Markets, Better Computers." Allen's remarks can be faulted on a number of grounds. If he is so concerned about R&D bud- gets, why does he say nothing about the drastic decline in both private-sector and total R&D expenditures during the Bush administration? But more important, this kind of politicking has no place in BYTE. Allen may believe sincerely that reelect- ing Bush will be the best thing for computer users and for the country and that one-sentence descriptions of the candidates' positions on world markets are all we need to know to decide how to vote. But I read BYTE for in- formation about computers, not for Allen's political views, and I find their intrusion into the magazine offensive. I will seek advice about how to cast my vote from other sources that take a broader and more informed view, and I will certainly cancel my subscription to BYTE if it con- tinues to endorse political candidates. George Avrunin Amherst, MA Gee, nice timing... a little commercial message, "Vote for George Bush," appeared in the October editorial. By the time there can be any balancing re- sponse, say the printing of this letter, the election will be over. Robert Lynch Berkeley, CA It is ironic that I read Dennis Allen's October editorial on the day after hearing an announcement that the lead- ers of numerous high-technology companies, including John Sculley of Apple, support Governor Clinton for pres- ident. Would Allen have us believe that Sculley hopes to see the computer industry take a nosedive during the next five years? I think not. Robert M. Luzenski Haslett, Ml WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. Address correspondence to Letters Editor, BYTE, One Phoenix Mill Lane, Peterborough, NH 03458 , send BlXmail c/o "editors, " or send Internet Mail to letters@bytepb.byte.com. Letters may be edited. Land of the Double Byte T: R. Reid's observations on the Japanese computer environment in the Report from Tokyo ("In the Land of the Double Byte," October 1992) are basi- cally correct, but the comment from his Japanese friend who said using a com- puter to write a story is too slow is unbe- lievable. His comment was valid when NEC's 8088-based PC-9801 appeared in 1982, but not today, when most Japanese PCs are equipped with a 386SX or faster processor. It is true that most Japanese journalists don't use a laptop computer or even a Wah-Puro. (The name is an abbreviation of the phrase "wah-doe purosessah," the Japanese pronunciation of "word pro- cessor.") However, this is because a mental barrier pre- vents reporters from using a computer. Many friends of mine testify that writing by computer has accelerated their writing speed by two or three times. Also, the most common operating system in Japan is not DOS/V, but NEC's MS-DOS, which runs on the PC-9801 series (and is incompatible with the IBM PC). American software houses don't bother to spend much money to ana- lyze such closed architectures. The language barrier matters to some extent, but the difference in computer architecture is a far more serious obstacle for foreign software houses. Enomoto Makoto Saitama, Japan Internet Plug Daniel Dern's "Plugging Into the Internet" (October 1992) is very timely, and I hope that you expand your coverage of the Internet. We can use all the Internet infor- mation we can get our hands on. My compliments to Dern for his excellent article. T. Pat Kelly Atlanta, GA Hidden Requirement o thar Hansson's review of Microsoft C/C++ 7.0 (or C7) ("Microsoft's Lucky Number," September 1992) failed to mention a significant drawback: the requirement for a DPMI (DOS Protected Mode Interface) manager. This isn't mentioned in Microsoft's ads, nor in the com- pany's upgrade information. Microsoft bundles 386Max with C7 as a partial remedy for those programmers who don't choose to run under Windows. When I substituted 386Max for QEMM386, some of my Desqview windows stopped working, and some of Micro- soft' s own programs, such as Profile, wouldn't work either. It's bad for any product to require a total revamping of a user's system. It's worse for Microsoft to try to rope users into running Windows just to get C7 going. It's still worse for the company to provide a less-than-adequate product as a workaround. Robert L. Wears Jacksonville, FL 20 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Here. There. STAYING PRODUCTIVE AWAY FROM THE OFFICE ere. The HP DeskJet Portable. $ 599. Hewlett-Packard presents the DeskJet for the jet set. The new HP DeskJet Portable printer lets frequent travelers create great-looking documents any- where they go. It's small enough to fit in a briefcase and weighs only 4.4 pounds. But the DeskJet Portable prints high-quality 300 dpi black and white text and graphics on plain paper, transparencies, or labels. It's everything you expect from an office printer in a portable package. Compati- bility with most major software. A fast print speed of up to three pages per minute. A wide variety of typefaces, sizes, and styles. And Hewlett-Packard inkjet technology, so you don't sacrifice print quality for portability. The DeskJet Portable is built to take more than the usual amount of jostling. And, to offer your employees even more versatility, an optional rechargeable battery is available, along with a World- wide Rapid Recharger, a 50-page cut- sheet feeder, and a handy carrying case. To top it off, the DeskJet Portable has a price tag befitting its small size. Just $599? Who says you can't take it with you? For the name of the authorized HP dealer nearest you, call 1-800-552-8500, Ext. 7108+ To receive information by fax, call 1-800-333-1917, choose HP FIRST, document #9606. DeskJet Printers Make it happen. 1992 Hewlett-Packard Company PE 12215 •Suggested U.S. list price. Optional cut-sheet feeder not included. tin Canada call 1-80O-S87-3857, Ext. 7108. ia HEWLETT PACKARD The drive and determination to advance canbe seen in many forms. Here's a couple we think you'll be excited about. moMSS Introducing the Microsoft database management systems. Some people aspire to become famous athletes. Others to become great scholars. But for a group of us here at Microsoft, there's nothing more important than creating a new line of databases with the tools and technology you need to do your everyday tasks. For example, some of you will need dBASE* 5 compatibility and unequaled per- formance.That's why we have Microsoft" FoxPro 8 2.5. Some of you need seamless access to data in multiple formats. For you we have the Microsoft Access" database for Windows: But all the tools in the world won't do you much good if you can't get help when you need it. So we have a world-class product support organization to quickly answer all of your database questions. In addition, we've created a special program for developers that will put you directly in touch with some of our senior product support people. In the future, our technology will con- • »•> tinue to evolve with you in mind. So what you create today will still work tomorrow. In short, there will be no dead ends. We're also committed to supporting open standards and compatibility. Cur- rently we are working with ANSI to develop a standard Xbase language. Plus we fully support the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) technology, which will allow you to access files from even more of today's database management systems. And to ensure there will always be a vast supply of industry- specific products and services to meet your database needs, we're forming strong business partner- ships with many other companies. So if you'd like additional information on Microsoft's database solutions, give us a call at (800) 882-2000, Dept. JF6. And find out just how motivated we are to be- come your database company. Microsoft Making it easier MICROSOFT WINDOWS Both Microsoft FoxPro 2.5 and Microsoft Access were created to take complete advantage of the Windows operating system. Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in the USi\. In lite SO United Slates, call 1800) 882-2000. Dept. JF6. Customers in Canada, call 1800) 563-9048. Oidsidc the 50 United States and Canada, call (206) 936-8661. Microsoft a FoxPro are registered trademarks and Microsoft Access and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. dBASE is a registered trademark of Borland International, Inc. Since the beginning of time, people have been obsessed with reaching ever increasing rates of speed. So what else is new with Microsoft FoxPro 2.5? H 30.33 K. ..J I m MS I J 1.00 «mk m Microsoft FoxPro version 2.5 is the fastest PC database management system available today. Plenty. For starters, the newMicrosoft*FoxPrd'2.5 for Windows" has a rich and pro - ductive environment with an intuitive graphical interface. Which means it's never been easier for you to use and de- velop powerful Xbase applications. Plus there's avirtual hardware store of tools for both developers and users. For developers, there are profession- al tools designed to help you create the most powerful applications possible. like the Trace and Debug windows, Project Manager, Menu Builder, Screen Builder and Report Writer. For users, there are handy tools that make it easy to do complex database tasks without programming. Like Relational Query By Example (RQBE), which allows you to build and see queries instantly. Or the graphical Browse tool, an intuitive way to view data. And finally, Quick Screen and Quick Report, two easy ways to create objects and see data. And now with the arrival of FoxPro 2.5 s. for both the Windows and MS-DOS' oper- ating systems (and soon for the Macintosh 8 and UNIX 8 ), you can have the most power- ful and most graphical Xbase applications across all major PC platforms. And if you are thinking about migrating to Windows in the future, have no fear. Because Microsoft FoxPro for Windows will easily run allyour FoxPro 2.0 files. But no matter which platform you choose, you can count on Microsoft FoxPro to provide you with the fastest PC-based database management system. For additional information, just zip on over to your nearest reseller, or call us at (800) 882-2000, Dept. JF7. We'll be more than happy to tell you all the ways Microsoft FoxPro 2.5 for Windows can get your adrenaline pumping. Microsoft Making it easier FoxPro 2.5 takes advantage of Windows and allows you to create dazzling applications. 'Qiwry test pcrforrrwdl^ Micro Entkamirsjnc.. an imk-^mlcnt consulting fmn United Stales and Canada, call (206) 936-8601. Microsoft, MS DOS and Fa\l'r» arc registered trademarks and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh is a registered tradttnark of Apple Computer, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX Systems Laboratories. People always seek the most direct route to achieve their goals. So you've probably been looking for a database like Microsoft Access. If you're a database user or programmer, we'd like to show you a great shortcut. It's called Microsoft Access: It's a wm Accesswuards, new database management toZkyoutZih system for Windows™ that can comblex tasks • om step at a time. give you something no other database can. Easy access to the power- ful features you need to do your job. To start with, Access takes complete advantage of the Microsoft 8 Windows operating system. Which means it has never been easier to create great- looking forms and reports. Plus you can store objects like pictures, graphs, sound, and video. Right in your database files. And if you ever get stuck, there are ReportWizards, FormWizards and Chart- Wizards to come to your rescue. They'll ask you questions about format, content and style.Then they'll automatically cre- ate your report, form or chart. There are also Cue Cards to walk you through the most difficult database tasks. Guiding you one step at a time. In addition, it's easy to create complex queries by using the graphical Query By Example, "feu just drag and drop tables, join fields, and plug in all of the specifics. And you developers can write sophis- ticated database applications with Access Basic. A powerful, extensible program- ming language. What's more, Microsoft Access Create complex queries visually with our graphical Query By Example. can easily read and write all the major database formats directly, including dBASE 1 , Paradox* and Microsoft SQL Server. So you and your coworkers can still use all your old files, no matter what format they are in. That means, your investment is safe and everyone can easily migrate to Microsoft Access at their own pace. To receive additional information on Microsoft Access, call (800) 882-2000, Dept. JF8. We'll give it to you straight. Microsoft Making it easier 2 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. In the 50 United States, call (800) 882-2000. Dept. JF8. Customers in Canada, call (800) 563-9048. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, call (206) 936-8661. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Microsoft Access and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. dBASE and Paradox arc registered trademarks of Borland International, Inc. LETTERS Inmark Responds The article "Code on the Move" (July 1992), which covered portable libraries, contained several signifi- cant errors regarding zApp. The most troubling was the general theme that zApp was designed to work only with the Windows API. Statements in the article position zApp as a nonportable user interface. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our current support of OS/2 clearly demon- strates zApp's portability beyond the Windows API. The article also stated that zApp achieves its portability by distributing Magma Software Systems' Mewell inter- face for DOS. This is true for the DOS version, but not for the Windows, Windows NT, OS/2, or planned X/Motif versions, which all use native-mode calls. Also, although the screens from zApp were labeled as DOS and Win- dows screens, they were actually the same DOS screen. The article classifies zApp as a shell-style library. While it is true that zApp encapsulates the breadth of the Windows API (and most GUIs, for that matter), it is not a shell library. zApp's advanced, portable design is not a wrapper of the Windows API as are Microsoft's Founda- tion Classes. In fact, zApp includes many advanced class- es that have no analogy in the Windows API. Many of zApp's customers have moved away from real shell-style libraries (e.g., MFC and OWL) because they wanted the more powerful constructs that zApp provides. Howard M. Love Jr. President and Chairman of the Board Inmark Development Corp. Mountain View, CA Lab View in Review I have been using Lab View for years and disagree with some of Andy Reinhardt's comments regarding Lab- View programming ("Acquiring Data Through Windows," September 1992). In my experience, structuring and debug- ging a sophisticated application is far easier with LabView than with any of the conventional languages I've used. Some of Reinhardt's comments refer to LabView's layers of modules as a source of difficulty when creating and modifying LabView programs. I find this puzzling. I consider LabView's ability to encapsulate program details in discrete modules to be one of its strengths. I would hate to have to develop a sophisticated system using a lan- guage that does not support structured programming. Jeffrey M. Parker Round Rock, TX Andy Reinhardt's first impressions of LabView for Windows appear to be just that — impressions. His sentiments are favorable, but I can't help thinking that the purported difficulty of structuring and debugging Lab- View programs stems from only a superficial exposure to this excellent programming environment. LabView repre- sents a new paradigm in programming. Reinhardt's com- ments indicate that he couldn't quite shake the dogma of procedural programming. Had he spent more time with LabView, Reinhardt would have come to the same conclusion I did four years ago: I will never type another line of code again! David A. Moschella Boston, MA I agree that object-oriented software may boost program- ming productivity in data acquisition , and I don ' t dispute that LabView's visual nature can aid application develop- ment. In fact, my article was quite favorable to LabView, which I found extremely powerful. The point I was trying to make in my critique was that for some users, especially those automating simple test procedures, the software may be overkill. Not all BYTE readers have made the paradigm shift from procedural to event-driven program- ming, and for them, I sought to highlight that LabView will open up new vistas only after a period of adjustment. After all, there are still a lot of users out there who prefer command-line interfaces to GUIs! — Andy Reinhardt Iomega Pricing In "The New Wave of Removable Mass Storage" (Octo- ber 1992), the cost per megabyte for the Bernoulli de- vice was miscalculated. The cost, given at $12.04/MB, should have read $2.54/MB. At today's street prices, the cost comes down to$1.50/MB. Also, the interface adapter for the Bernoulli Trans- portable 90 Pro drive is a $239 option, but it is included with the Bernoulli PC Powered 90 Pro drive. Iomega's drives are now price competitive with hard drives. And when you consider cost per megabyte over time, the Bernoulli is less expensive. Mike Joseph Vice President of Marketing Iomega Corp. Roy, UT BYTE apologizes for this typographical error. — Eds. FIXES • In "BYTE's Guide to 128 Top Windows Products" (BYTE Special Issue: Essential Guide to Windows), the latest release date for Smalltalk/V 2.0 for Windows is in- correct. The current version was introduced in June 1992. • The two photo captions in the text box "Putting VL-Bus to the Test" (October 1 992, page 1 24) were inadvertently switched. Photo A is the UltraStor hard drive controller; photo B is the Micronics VL-Bus motherboard. • In "FileMaker Pro 2.0 Unites the PC and Mac" (October 1992), we stated that both versions of FileMaker are net- work-ready out of the box and include a license for up to 25 users. In fact, the network licensing is an option. • The CPU benchmark graph in "Compaq's Newest Note- books" (October 1992) inaccurately shows a very low score for the Dell NL25 notebook computer. The NL25 fell between the slower Compaq LTE/Lite and the faster Compaq LTE/Lite 25 C. • In "Operating-System Trends" (October 1992), an edit- ing error resulted in our identifying Mike Nash as a prod- uct manager at Intel. Nash is Microsoft's product manager for Windows NT. The error carried into a subsequent pas- sage which refers to "Intel's Windows NT." The idea stirs the imagination, but NT is still a Microsoft product. BYTE regrets these errors. ■ 28 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 The Only Multidimensional Spreadsheet For Windows. CA-Compete! Up to 12 different dimensions you can navigate through with the click of a mouse. Use simple _ English -no' column or row references needed. Name and save - multiple views. Look at up to 12 at a time. Extra sheets available/or custom reports and additional ■ calculations. CA-Compete! - ME.MDL File Edit Formula Format Options Tools Window Global Units = Sales.Total Cost -<- Help Actual January 1991 | :» 1 1 January |»[|Eait Price Sales COGS SGtA. Total Cost its LPs I Tapes [CDs I Tota l 235; 1251! 2541! 8.35! 5.50! 13.00! 6.14 J2E ! V- -:-■!: : .$1J23i |4772i $261! $9.G70! $590! $3,303! $951 - i1 .334! .$1,227 L. fcales Plan for LP's LPs Units January February March |Ap Price COGS SGtA. Total Cost Profits Plan * East 350; 8 35] 392 903 $1,288: $372! Ready $1,483 $425 433 9 21| ,! • $1,709! $485! Variance Report by Product Variance Report Eastern Region - by Product - January LP's Actual Plan Variance Units Price Sales Cost of Goods Sold Selling & Admin. Total Cost 295 $8.85 12,611 $1,123 1261 SI .364 Profits 350 $8.85 S3 ,098 51 ,288 $372 $1 ,660 $0.00 ($4871 ($165) ($111) ($276) $1 ,227 $1 ,438 ($211) CD's Actual Plan Variance Units 2541 2600 £9) Price $13.00 $13.00 $0.00 Sales $33,033 $33,800 [$767) Cost of Goods Sold $9,670 $9,569 $101 Selling & Admin. $3,303 $4,056 ($753) "Total Cost $12,973 $13,625 ($651) Profits $20,060 $20,175 ($116) ^"r" Global formulas you . can apply to a range of cells. Presentation- quality output withjonts, - borders and shades. Looks like a spreadsheet with standard ■ commandsyou know, like cut, paste, copy and sum. Chosen "Best of 1990" by PC Magazine. Allocate... Curve Builder- WelCOme to the world of multidimensional modeling and viewing. Unlike two-dimensional . .. ANNUAL spreadsheets, CA-Compete!™ y ""™"'° lets you model up to 12 different dimensions and navigate between them instantly with the click of a -...m mouse. And ;.;;3t4-J CA-Compete! ■'» J ^ „„„„1,„ MICROSOFT-. speaks windows.- English too, so you can use C0MmilBl£ recognizable names you define, like Sales, Units, Costs and Profit, instead Audit Irail... Qaal Seek... Data Table... Audit (View 3) *0.33 [812559 000000006] iperalinq Expense [2162300.00000002 (3000000 00000002] •Produoion [1687500.00000001 ] •Unitsl.5 p 406250 00000001 ] 'ls9z.0pcrnllng InHIa] Value: Current value: Source CcH lo be Modeled - of cryptic col- umn and row references. For smarter decision mak- ing, there's a broad range of powerful tools, like Goal Seek, Allocate and Forecast, so you can perform exten- sive "what-is" § C and "what-if " analyses. You can also trace the origin of any value with a quick, graphical Audit Trail Tool. CA-Compete! reads and writes CA-Competef Lotus® 1-2-3 • Excel, dBase, 8 ASCII and Script Files so you can work with all of your current files. And with Windows' j Dynamic Now Just Data Exchange, -inch 1 .44-MB floppy drives accept disks formatted for NEC's proprietary 1.2-MB standard. So far, however, IBM's machines are not priced sufficiently below those of NEC to make a big difference. Of a bevy of invaders that include Ap- ple, Dell, and DEC, Compaq may be the vendor most responsible for escalating the pitch of the Japanese price wars to that of the U.S. market's. The company recently began shipping its Deskpro/I and Prolinea lines here at prices barely above what they cost in the U.S. But Compaq did so months after introducing them in the U.S. "Low cost is perceived as poor quality in Japan," said Compaq spokeswoman Yvonne Don- aldson. Compaq, to be safe, built a foun- dation of trust with a year of Systempro and Deskpro/M promotions before making its low-cost systems announcements. What eventually may weigh against NEC is that Windows and OS/2 need more power than NEC's architecture can offer. "The NEC 9800 is not sufficient to run Windows," said Ishizuka. "The I/O bus structure is very inefficient." NEC tech- nicians, he added, have said it themselves. "They have revealed to me that they think OS/2-J kanji will not run nicely on 9800 ar- chitecture." — Ed Perratore A Bad Exchange Causes U.K. Price Increases LONDON — Fluctuations in European exchange rates are pushing PC prices up in Europe, particularly at the low end of the market. Many manufacturers are hold- ing prices steady, and many more have al- ready passed increases, halting the two- year European price-reduction trend. The hardest hit by the increases is the U.K. market, following a 25 percent de- valuation of sterling against the U.S. dol- lar and even greater instability against the German deutsche mark. "If the pound keeps falling, then everyone will have to raise prices," said Steve McCall, U.K. managing director of Dutch company Tulip Computers. Most other European currencies have not suffered as badly. U.K. supplier Dan Technology in- creased prices last November, and techni- cal manager Chris Bakolas predicted un- avoidable price hikes for future months as well. "Even if you can resist the pressure of the pound, there is a temporary shortage of 486s, which makes them more expensive. There is a shortage of chip sets from Tai- wan, and there is an embargo on Korean memory within the EC [European Com- munity]. It almost looks like a conspira- cy to push prices up," he said. CompuAdd's U.K. subsidiary is ex- pected to raise prices by 10 percent, along- side price hikes from Viglen (7 percent) and Elonex in the U.K. ■ — Louise Cole NANO BYTES Last fall, at the NetWorld show in Dallas, Texas, Novell previewed NetWare 4.0 but downplayed its upcoming release. The company instead focused on SFT (System Fault Tolerant) Level III and ex- isting NetWare 3.1 1 features. SFT III promises reliable fault-tolerant LAN operation, a feature designed to appeal to companies moving their mission-critical operations from mainframes to LANs. The NetWare 4.0 SDK (Software De- velopment Kit) is available and the operating system itself is in solid beta, Novell says. One im- portant feature of NetWare 4.0 is the NDS (NetWare Directory Ser- vices) component that replaces the file-server-based NetWare bindery with a single, network- wide, distributed database. □ With Borland's Paradox for Win- dows not expected to ship until sometime in the first quarter, Mi- crosoft hopes to make inroads into the Windows database market by selling its Access database at just $99 until January 3 1 , when the price will go up to $695. But at least one database developer be- lieves that, in 1993, most of the PC database action will remain in DOS. "Our feeling is at least in the database mar- ket, [DOS database pro- . grams] will ac- J^ K count for 80 B ' I percent of the ^m ,<(►* ■ programs sold in 1993," said Richard Rabins, cochairman of PC database vendor Alpha Soft- ware (Burlington, MA). Rabins said products like Access and Par- adox for Windows "show flashes of brilliance, but they are not prod- ucts to run your business on yet." Still, Rabins said, "People will be evaluating Windows databases like crazy in 1993." Alpha is develop- ing a Windows version of its Alpha database, said Rabins. ■ 40 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 NEW BREED 486SX/33-H999 This Hyundai 486SX-33 can out-muscle those barnyard bovines of cow country. But you be the judge. Our 32 Megapixel "Longhorn" Local Bus?... or a I Megapixel moo cow? Our "faster-than-a-blink" Windows accelerator video processing tied to the speed of your 486 CPU?... or an old-fashioned bottleneck? Our 1MB VRAM controller producing 1024 x 768 ultra-high, non-interlaced resolution?... or their tired cow VGA? Clearly, the prize goes to the Hyundai New Breed. Compare our standard 128KB of zero-wait state cache with non-cached cows. And don't forget, the Hyundai 433S flexes its pro- cessing muscle up to 256KB of cache expansion. This sys- tem runs at the head of the stampede! And we don't just drive the Hyundai stampede, we over- drive it! Double your speed by sim- ply snapping in the Intel Overdrive"' Processor. And our advanced "warp- speed" L2 cache and "Longhorn" Local Bus graphics engine give your upgraded system the 32-bit video and fast SRAM you'll need for your higher-speed 486 CPU. Hyundai 433S Want to talk add-ins? We test our 486 systems with literally hundreds of industry-standard cards and software applications. We test software compatibility on Novell (we're fully certified and a Novell Alliance Program mem- ber), Banyan Vines, OS/2 2.0, LAN Manager, and SCO UNIX, plus hundreds of programs running under Windows and MS DOS. Trouble on the data frontier? Relax. The Hyundai 433S is loaded. A beefy 70MB superfast hard disk, two floppy drives, five external/two internal drive bays, and seven expansion slots mean you won't go hungry for performance. And dressed up with our 14" flicker- free, non-interlaced, color display, the New Breed 43 3S is the new king of PC country. Hyundai 433S • 33MHz 486SX w/ 8KB integrated cache • 32-bit VESA local bus UVGA graphics w/IMB VRAM • 128KB "warpspeed" write-back 20ns SRAM L2 cache (expandable to 256KB) • Upgradable to 486DX power via Intel "Overdrive" socket • 4MB system memory expandable to 64MB on system board • 170MB 19ms IDE HDD, 32KB disk buffer • 1.44MB 3-1/2" and 1.2MB 5-1/4" FDDs, (2.88MB-ready FDD interface) • 14" non-interlaced, ultra-high resolution, .28 dot pitch, 72Hz refresh rate, flicker- free, color display w/1024 x 768 resolu- tion, tilt and swivel base • 2S/IP, integrated PS/2 mouse port • 5 external drive bays, 2 internal • 7 expansion slots, including I VESA local bus slot • 200 watt power supply •101 keyboard, 2 button mouse • Built-in virus protection, front keylock, 2 level password • MS DOS 5.0 and MS Windows 3.1 HYUNDAI PCs designed and built in America FOR DIRECT SALES I -800-933-3445 AND PUT THE OLD BREED OUT TO PASTURE. Every cow has its day. But it's time to put that milker out to pasture and make way for the Hyundai 486 stampede. It's time to Do Something New Breed®. Say goodbye to "cow-shed" engineering and mother-board-of-the- month manufacturing. At Hyundai, we're doing U.S.-based, end-to-end, value engineering and manufacturing. That means benchmark-blasting power from the new Hyundai family of 486 Systems. And with up to 32 Winmarks of Windows processing power, Hyundai's bulletproof, 32-bit 486 Systems are designed and engineered for your high- throughput applications. For instance, Local Bus Graphics are standard on every system, from our entry-level computers up through our top-of-the- line desktops. You'll tear through Windows with our razor-sharp, 32-bit processing. Plus, up to 32 Megapixels of mind-bending GUI acceleration is standard with every New Breed 486 from Hyundai. And here's more New Breed value engineering. Our expandable,"warpspeed" L2 cache architec- ture is standard on every Hyundai 486 system. Made-in-America engineering excellence is coming through the gates with the backing of a global high-tech leader. Now Do Something New Breed. And turn the page.... •HYUNDAI PCs designed and built in America 486 STAMPEDE WIN MARKS That thunder you hear on the PC prairie is the New Breed Hyundai 486 stampede. The hardest- charging, price-lean, MlPS-mean herd of computers you'll ever see. We're bringing everything from powerful 66MHz 486DX2 machines to Overdrive-Upgradable 486SX-25 computers. And with our 50MHz 486DX2 desktop PC and 486DX-33 blasters, you can handle today's demanding applications. Do something "Longhorn" Local Bus. That flash you see on the graphics horizon is the image of our Windows processing power triggering the Hyundai 486 stampede. Your 486 processor was meant to run today's applications. So why rein in all that power? That out-to-pasture, 1 6-bit VGA card can only deliver 2 Megapixels at best. That's already dated technology. Let her rip with 32-no-blink-bits of "Longhorn" Local Bus video acceleration. And with up to 32 Megapixels standard, believe it, you'll see an incredible difference in Windows performance. Do something thunderbolt. m Lightning-fast "warpspeed" L2 caching is another max-performance feature that's designed into every Hyundai 486. Thunderbolt write- back operations blast your DOS, Windows, or OS/2 data into a box canyon of ultra-fast SRAM. Start out with 1 28KB standard (more than the cow computers), then expand to 256KB to , handle today's big applications. Cache hit for cache hit, the Hyundai 486 Family, with 1 28KB standard caching, delivers twice the MIPS of non-cached cows. Do something upgradable. The Hyundai 486 New Breed Family is designed in Silicon Valley, U.S.A., to out-perform the herd. All of our systems are CPU-upgradable through a single chip via a ZIF or Overdrive socket, so the New Breed lets you double your speed. We won't let tomorrow's 32-bit operating systems blast a hole in your productivity. Just upgrade your Hyundai 486 to any higher-speed Intel 486 CPU in the future. 40 30 20 10 Standard VGA HYUNDAI Local Bus 32 BIT VESA LOCAL BUS GRAPHICS POWERFUL $4700 Hyundai If 5KI 425S 25MHz Intel 486SX w/8KB integrated cache 32-bit VESA Local Bus UVGA graphics w/IMB VRAM 128KB "warpspeed" write-back 20ns SRAM L2 cache (expandable to 256KB) Upgradable to 486DX power via Intel Overdrive™ 4MB system memory expandable to 64MB on board 80MB 17ms IDE HDD, 32KB disk buffer 1.44MB 3-1/2" and 1.2MB 5- 1/4" FDDs 14" non-interlaced, ultra-high resolution, .28 dot pitch, 72Hz refresh rate, flicker-free, color display w/ 1 024 x 768 resolution, tilt-and-swivel base 2S/IP, integrated PS/2 mouse port 5 external drive bays, 2 internal 7 slots incl. I VESA Local Bus slot 200 watt power supply 101 keyboard, 2-button mouse Built-in virus protection, front key lock, 2 level password MS DOS 5.0 and MS Windows 3.1 Other hard drive, video, memory, and monitor options available $OOCCI Hyundai 433D 33MHz Intel 486DX w/8KB integrated cache 32-bit VESA Local Bus UVGA graphics w/IMB VRAM 128KB "warpspeed" write-back 20ns SRAM L2 cache (expandable to 256KB) Processor upgradable via ZIF socket 4MB system memory expandable to 64MB on board 200MB 12ms IDE HDD, 256KB disk buffer 1.44MB 3-1/2" and 1.2MB 5-1/4" FDDs 14" non-interlaced, ultra-high resolution, .28 dot pitch, 72Hz refresh rate, flicker-free, color display w/1024 x 768 resolution, tilt-and-swivel base 2S/IP, integrated PS/2 mouse port 5 external drive bays, 2 internal 7 slots incl. I VESA Local Bus slot 200 watt power supply 101 keyboard, 2-button mouse Built-in virus protection, front key lock, 2 level password MS DOS 5.0 and MS Windows 3.1 Available in floor-standing server model as 433DT, call for price Other hard drive, video, memory, and monitor options available $OCQQ Hyundai 450D2 50MHz Intel 486DX2 w/8KB integrated cache 32-bit VESA Local Bus UVGA graphics w/IMB VRAM 128KB "warpspeed" write-baclc 20ns SRAM L2 cache (expandable to 256KB) Processor upgradable via ZIF socket 8MB system memory expandable to 64MB onboard 200MB 12ms IDE HDD, 256KB disk buffer 1.44MB 3-1/2" and 1.2MB 5-1/4" FDDs 14" non-interlaced, ultra-high resolution, .28 dot pitch, 72Hz refresh rate, flicker-free, color display w/1024 x 768 resolution, tilt-and-swivel base 2S/IP, integrated PS/2 mouse port 5 external dnve bays, 2 internal 7 slots incl. I VESA Local Bus slot 200 watt power supply 101 keyboard, 2-button mouse Built-in virus protection, front key lock, 2 level password MS DOS 5.0 and MS Windows 3.1 Other hard drive, video, memory, and monitor options available $OQQE Hyundai 466D2 66MHz Intel 486DX2 w/8KB integrated cache 32-bit VESA Local Bus UVGA graphics w/IMB VRAM 128KB "warpspeed" write-back 20ns SRAM L2 cache (expandable to 256KB) Processor upgradable via ZIF socket 8MB system memory expandable to 64MB on board 360MB 12ms IDE HDD, 256KB disk buffer 1.44MB 3-1/2" and 1.2MB 5-1/4" FDDs 14" non-interlaced, ultra-high resolution, .28 dot pitch, 72Hz refresh rate, flicker-free, color display w/1024 x 768 resolution, tilt-and-swivel base 2S/IP, integrated PS/2 mouse port 5 external drive bays, 2 internal 7 slots incl. I VESA Local Bus slot 200 watt power supply 101 keyboard, 2 button mouse Built-in virus protection, front key lock, 2 level password MS DOS 5.0 and MS Windows 3.1 Available in floor-standing model with ISA architecture as 466D2T, call for price Other hard drive, video, memory, and monitor options available m ifel m m DO SOMETHING SMART. CALL HYUNDAI DIRECT SALES. "HYUNDAI | -800-933-3445 BYT 2 PCs designed and built in America 1 66 Baypointe Pkwy, San Jose, CA 95 1 34 Hours: 6AM-5PM PST M-F We accept MasterCard. Visa, money orders, certified checks (allow 10 days for processing), CODs, approved company and institutional purchase orders, and wire transfers.. All return items must be accompanied by a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number. Opened, defect-free software is non-refundabie. Prices and product descriptions are subject to change without notice. Hyundai is not liable for damage due to omissions or typographical errors. All trademarks are the property of their respective companies. The Do Something logo is a trademark and Do Something New Breed is a registered trademark of Hyundai. © 1992 Hyundai Electronics America. All rights reserved. EXTRA ■i! .. ■ .. i j, ■■ .1 I ! SawrW F "Sfc ' I f u \ - , We'll give you more than you bargained for. When you go with the 486 stampede, from our 425SP to our powerhouse 466D2TE, we give you exclusive low prices on software. Our size and reputation allow us to forge alliances with all the major players in the industry, which means we can bring you soft- ware specials from firms like Microsoft, Borland, Lotus, and Symantec. Do something safe. The PC range war can shake everybody's confi- dence. Except ours. We're a $50 billion global company, which means we have the resources to guarantee outstanding service and sup- port. When you buy New Breed technology, you get New Breed service from a world- wide leader. In addition to our service and support, we have a TQC (Total Quality Care) program that makes us the double-safe buy. Our 18-month warranty on all systems is a soft ride in the saddle. The bottom line is your satisfaction. Buy the Hyundai 486 stampede, and you get more than New Breed technology. You get New Breed Service that leaves that old breed behind. _j _•_ NEW BREED SERVICE AND SUPPORT • One-year, next-business-day, on-site service with all direct orders, followed by 6-month, ship-in warranty on parts and labor. • 30-day, no-risk, money-back guarantee on anything you buy direct from Hyundai. • 48-hour turnaround on ship-in repairs. • Beginners Help Line: 800-933-9917. • Product spec fax: 800-723-4843. • 7-days-a-week tech support: —24-hour lifetime tech support: 800-289-4986. —24-hour tech fax: 800-283-4986. —24-hour tech bulletin board: 800-955-5432. — Tech support through CompuServe access. Great deals on optional software! Hyundai 466D2TE New Breed Power Server • 66MHz 486DX2 CPU w/8KB integrated cache • 128KB high-speed L2 cache • 32-bit EISA architecture • 8MB RAM standard (expandable to 32MB on system board and 96MB via memory expansion board) 32-bit caching SCSI host adapter 360MB 12ms SCSI HDD, 256KB disk buffer 1.44MB 3-1/2" and 1.2MB 5-1/4" FDDs SVGA graphics card 14" interlaced, ultra-high resolution, flicker- free, color display with 1024 x 768 resolu- tion, .28 dot pitch, 72MHz refresh rate Seven 32-bit EISA slots, one ISA slot 5 external and 2 internal drive bays 300 watt power supply Built-in virus protection, front keylock, 2 level password 101 keyboard, 2 button mouse MS DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 DAYS. $ 3995 FOR DIRECT •HYUNDAI PCs designed and built in America sales | -800-933-3445 NOW Hey, do something pronto! Fax your standard (or targeted) system configuration to one of our System Specialists. We'll spec it out and call you back with a system quote that beats the cows. Or anyone else! Fax your specs to I -800-283-4986 Your Name_ Company Address City Title State _Zip. Phone( ) Number of PCs in your current site Other brands you are considering Number of PCs installed 486 386. Tell us about your targeted system configuration _FAX( )- .Brands you have standardized on_ 386SX 286 CPU Type Architecture Memory Floppies □ 486 □ ISA MB installed □ 1.44MB 3-1/2" Hard Disks (IDE) □ 100MB (SCSI) 3.5" □ 360MB 5.25" □ 330MB □ Tape MB □ 486SX □ EISA Cache Memory □ 128 KB □ 1.2MB 5-1/4" □ 120MB □ 200MB □ 540MB □ 1.2GB □ 760MB □ 1.6GB □ Sound Card □ Other □ 386DX □ 386SX □ Notebook □ 256KB □ 250MB □ 2.0GB □ Fax/Modem □ 330MB □ 500MB □ CD-ROM Call for more options! Number of PCs you intend to order:. Other special needs: Hyundai's recommendation and quote. Based on your input, here's what we recommend:. And here's our price:. If we don't beat your other quotes, call us. Call Hyundai Direct at 1-800-933-3445 •HYUNDAI For the dealer nearest you call I -800-288-4986 m microsoft. Windows. RfL.VDY-TO.RUN wetn {conductor •r ELECTRONICS NOVELU Novell Labs Certification Alliance for File Server Manufacturers Headquarters: San 136-1, Ami-Ri, Bubal-Myun, Ichon-Kun, Kyungki-Do, Korea. Tel: (02) 741-0661/4. TLX : K23955/7. HDETN FAX: (02) 741-0737 Worldwide PC Operations: 1 66 Baypointe Parkway San Jose, CA 95134 (408) 473-9200 A utomottve. \ REPORT FROM HONG KONG ANDREW REINHARDT The Guangdong Gateway HONG KONG — When outsiders contemplate the Asian computer industry, they usually think first of Japan. Many also know about the huge suc- cess of Taiwan and Singapore, which have es- tablished themselves as electronics manufac- turing powerhouses, and some are aware of Korea's struggle to capitalize on its success in semiconductors. But for most people, Hong Kong does not spring readily to mind. The reason is simple: The computer industry here is rel- atively small and nearly invisible, especially to Ameri- cans. The bulk of the territory's computer industry con- sists of OEM manufacturers of motherboards, floppy drives, add-in cards, and clones. Most of the companies are small — some have 20 or fewer employees — and with the notable exception of an AST facility, there are few local manufacturing plants operated by foreign multi- nationals. As personal computers become more commoditized and buyers more price-sensitive, however, Hong Kong's role could greatly expand. The territory's trump card is its close relationship with mainland China, which offers a nearly inexhaustible supply of inexpensive and reliable labor. (Economic prosperity has come so fast to Taiwan and Singapore that labor costs there are already too high for dime-a-dozen products like serial I/O or VGA boards.) Strong ties to China also promise another potential pay- off: Hong Kong vendors look across the border and see a mouth-watering market of 1.2 billion consumers. The Fastest Tiger Ruled since 1898 by the British, Hong Kong has long been an international center for trade and commerce. It is one of the "Four Tigers" — four nations in east Asia (the others are Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea) that have experienced massive economic growth in the last two decades. Hong Kong leads the pack, with a per-capi- ta GNP of more than $10,000 and sustained annual growth rates of more than 8 percent throughout the 1980s. Boosters credit the growth in pail to Hong Kong's laissez- faire economic policy, which has encouraged a business culture of entrepreneurship and opportunism. It is hard to picture what will happen to Hong Kong when it returns to Chinese stewardship on July 1, 1997. Under an agreement signed in 1985 between the British and Chinese governments, Hong Kong will remain a "special administrative region" of China for at least 50 years, which means, in theory, that it will be allowed to maintain a capitalist economy with little Chinese inter- ILLUSTRATION: HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION (9 1993 As 1997 approaches, Hong Kong hopes to profit from China's huge labor ffoi ce — and its vast potential market vention. Still, anxiety about 1997 led to a "brain drain" from Hong Kong in the late 1 980s: An estimated 260,000 people and perhaps tens of billions of dollars fled the country to Canada, Australia, Singapore, and the U.S. The situation has stabilized since then, however, as many former residents — foreign passports safely secured — are now returning here to con- duct business. Aside from the worry about the long-term future of Hong Kong, the factor that has most affected the colony's role in the personal computer industry is government action, or lack thereof. With its policy of "pos- itive nonintervention," the gov- ernment eschewed the publicly sponsored industry parks and technology consortia that have propelled Taiwan and Singa- pore to prominence, preferring to let market forces run their course. This has meant that more start-ups were launched in Taiwan and more foreign businesses moved production to Singapore. Says one busi- nessman, "Singapore really puts out the red carpet for people. They even have chauf- feured limos pick up executives at the airport." Hong Kong offers instead a rough-and-tumble brand of cap- italism, backed by ready access to capital and excellent com- munications and transportation infrastructures. This recipe has attracted finance, marketing, and distribution companies, and Hong Kong houses the regional offices of many Fortune 500 companies, in- cluding DEC, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft. These tend to be front-office, not manufacturing, operations. The trend now gathering steam here is to foster a front- end/back-end business model that combines Hong Kong's world-class connections, technical skills, and business savvy with low-cost Chinese labor. Businesspeople here believe this duality may someday allow Hong Kong to surpass other "tigers" in the computer business. continued JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 41 REPORT FROM HONG KONG The Ties That Bind The front-end/back-end model isn't unique to Hong Kong. As labor costs have risen in Singapore, for example, manufacturers there have increasingly turned to poorer countries like Thailand and Malaysia for assembly and testing. What sets Hong Kong apart is that the division between it and China is only a political boundary, just one hour by train from downtown. The people on either side of the border speak the same dialect (Cantonese) and share a common heritage, and they are quickly moving toward economic inte- gration, as well as eventual political union. By comparison, when Singaporans go offshore to seek less expensive labor, they must contend with air travel, different lan- guages, and shipping logistics. For the Tai- wanese, the situation is even worse: Tai- wan uses the Mandarin dialect and is several hours by air from southern China, and Taiwanese law prevents businesses from owning plants in China. Thus, people here believe that their city could become the gateway to one of the world's great electronics manufacturing centers. To back up their beliefs, they are investing millions of dollars in Chinese plants in the neighboring province of Guangdong. Most of this investment is in the Shenzhen Economic Zone, just across the border from Hong Kong. Millions of Chinese workers are employed there in plants that have sprung up over the last 1 years. One firm typifying the dual model is CIM Systems, founded in 1984 by its pres- ident, Peter Yim. CIM Systems has facil- ities in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Fre- mont, California. "The Hong Kong plant offers fast turnaround and responsiveness for high-margin products, while the Chi- nese facility does higher-volume, lower- cost items," says Yim. Among the products manufactured in China are desktop and laptop motherboards, fax modems, power supplies, and video-game assemblies. Yim says his goal is to "combine the best of both worlds." To an increasing de- gree, that includes shifting engineering tasks to China, where, he says, there are "very talented people lacking only in ex- perience of doing the job." CIM Systems has opened a "software factory" in Shek- ou, China, to reduce software development costs. As with hardware projects, the work is split up: Engineers in Hong Kong de- sign and specify projects, while program- mers in Shekou write and test code. "The programming capabilities of Asia, espe- cially China, should not be overlooked," Yim says. Ergo System, a maker of floppy drives, motherboards, and clones, has embraced a similar strategy. The company employs 500 manufacturing workers in China and is establishing an R&D center there. Ac- cording to marketing manager Connie Ang, land costs in China are 10 to 100 times lower than in Hong Kong, and labor is easier to find. "We think manufacturing in China gives us a competitive edge," she says. "There is some loss of flexibility, some occasional problems in transporta- tion, but the cost savings outweigh this by a long shot." Ang and other Hong Kong managers argue that the stability of the Chinese work force is a strong draw. According to Dr. James Fok, a program director at the Hong Kong Productivity Council, "We pay them higher wages than they're used to, so we can obtain the best people and keep them c hina uses incentives to lure investment deeper into the mainland. for a longer time." Nobody seems to dwell on the irony of laborers from a "worker's state" clambering for employment with capitalist enterprises, nor do they exhibit any concern about possibly exploiting Chi- nese labor. Says Wilson Chan, a marketing executive for Juko Electronics, a maker of motherboards and palmtops: "Getting a job with Juko makes them feel very lucky, and they will fight to stay." The Glittering Prize Under the complex rules established by the Chinese government, foreign compa- nies can bring parts into the Shenzhen free- trade zone and ship out finished goods with no import or export duties. Products made there, however, cannot be sold into China except with tariffs of 100 percent to 200 percent. A second region, farther north in the Guangdong province, offers different rules: Some duties must be paid, but finished goods can be sold in China with no tariffs. Juko Electronics, for ex- ample, has an 800-employee plant in the Suwa Scientific Park 2 hours north of Hong Kong, from which it is allowed to sell 30 percent of its output to Chinese customers. China can use incentives like this to lure investment deeper into the mainland, be- cause every Hong Kong company's ulti- mate dream is to get a chunk of the virtu- ally untapped Chinese market. Although China now lacks the means to purchase much computer technology, most people expect this situation to change dramati- cally. Peter Yim predicts that Shenzhen's economy will catch up to Hong Kong's in 10 years. Only 10 years after the Shen- zhen Economic Zone was established, its economy is already half the size of Hong Kong's, according to Yim. The opportunity to sell products in China is especially attractive to Hong Kong companies because their late entry into the computer business cost them the chance to compete in the U.S. market. Most Hong Kong manufacturers sell large- ly in Europe, where smaller, more frag- mented markets and generally higher prices have allowed them to get a foot in the door. "We decided to concentrate on Europe a few years ago," says Connie Ang. "It was too hard to tackle the Taiwanese makers in the U.S." The late start has also caused many Hong Kong companies to forfeit the es- tablished desktop sector in favor of emerg- ing product areas. Thus, interest in imag- ing, multimedia, and hand-held systems is high. Perhaps the best-known Hong Kong brand name is Bondwell, a maker of laptops and notebooks. Another com- pany, Ever-Success Computer, has devel- oped a hybrid fax machine and 386SX computer that attaches to a TV set and sells for $1 150. Others are aiming to de- liver 1 -pound systems based on Chips & Technologies' PC/Chip, which has been well received here. The focus on hand- held systems meshes well with efforts to sell into China: Dr. Fok predicts that Chi- na may leapfrog over dated technologies such as wired telephones and desktop com- puters directly into cellular phones and portable systems. The common thread in Hong Kong's computer business is relentless energy tem- pered with pragmatism. While some wor- ry that China's takeover of Hong Kong will indelibly alter the territory's free- wheeling economy, almost everyone is forging ahead with ambitious expansion plans. "We don't know what will happen politically, but we're sure we'll be able to manufacture and distribute our products the same as before," says William Yuen, a sales manager at Bondwell. "We see China as a great growth opportunity." ■ Andrew Reinhavdt is BYTE's West Coast bureau chief. You can reach him on BIX as "areinhardt." 42 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Insider Information Get the inside stoiy behind the Microsoft" next generation operating system! This breakthrough book is the authoritative guide to the philosophy, the architecture, and the design of Microsoft's powerful 32-bit operating system. Inside Windows NT "reads like a wide-ranging, in-depth discussion with the Windows NT devel- opers. It begins with a description of the system and a discussion of its design goals, then covers each component of the system, and closes with impor- tant information on Microsoft's operating system strategy and the future of Windows NT. Whether you are programming for Windows NT or making decisions about how to proceed into the future of personal computing, Inside Windows NT is an essential resource. Wherever books and software are sold, $24.95. Microsoft Press Accessing the Source To order direct, call 1-800-MSPRESS. Refer to adABY. Microsoft Press, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399. In Canada, call Macmillan Canada. 416-293-8141. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows NT is a trademark af Microsoft Corporation. HI IBM WorfcFrame/2 File Options Language: Dps Co La nguage . MS Di Compile Link Build Configure lools Windows Switch list He Ctrl+C Ctrl+L Ctrl+B Debug Run La nguage:WA I CUM T Dii Ctrl+D Ctrl+R IBM C Set/2 project - PML [U; Action Log ocul ill uic^i - r piuj started at 5-6-19 Language: IBM C Setf2 Directory: F:\IBMQWKFRAME\PMLINES KLINES. File mask Proj ect Co ntrol 1.5 ( Writir 256.! Writinc £ji PMLINES. piPMLINES.DEP wj PMLINES.DLG PMLINES.H PMLINES.ICO PMLINES.MAK PMLINES.obj PMLINES.PRJ PMLINES.RC SourceLink ♦ ;E:\SLINK\SAM Directory: F:\IBMWF >» BASE project- Lib r> BASE project -Lib COMPOSITE project- DL BASE project- DLL A ExtD Win I |Win( WinF LEDAT 000000 000000 000000 000000 000000 000000: alize CODE32 DWORD USE32 P ateMsgQuel DATA32 DWORD USE32 PI isterClass | |CON$T32 DWORD USE32 I JNST3;: DWORD ■ 1ST' OFFSET LENGTH 8f 4D795F57 696E646F 77000000 4C 73204D6F 75736520 42757474 6F 20746F20 43686 16E 67652046 6F 726F756 y~ i SF722C 2 73652041 p574746F 6E f03220 It 6C65617 J2E202044 6 75626C To a software developer, this is what heaven looks like. Most people wouldn't know what to make of a screen like this. But developers like you know a screen like this can help make all kinds of applications. With OS/2" 2.0, you can develop the DOS, Windows," OS/2 and host-based apps end users need. And you can do it faster and easier than ever before. Because OS/2 2.0 can make the most of your 386 or 486 processor. Now you can edit in one window, compile in another, profile in a third and test in a fourth. Pre- emptive multitasking makes everything run smoothly and responsively. And OS/2 Crash Protection" helps shield running applications from each other, so if one goes down it won't affect the others. Instead of reboot- ing, you just restart the affected app and continue. And since OS/2 2.0 is a 32-bit operating system, pro- grams are easier to write and run faster, too. Which all adds up to improved productivity and reduced develop- ment cycle time. But maybe the best part is that for less than the cost of DOS and Windows, OS/2 gives you a whole lot more. And to keep your cycle rolling, a full range of services and support are available, like on-line help through OS/2 Support line, Bulletin Board and IBM Link. Or you can join the IBMOS2 and OS2DEV conferences on CompuServe* where you can meet IBMers, users and developers who can find fast answers to your questions. For an IBM authorized dealer near you, or to order OS/2 2.0 from IBM, call 1 800 3-IBM-OS2.* OS/2 Crash Protection helps shield applications from each other. The integrating platform of choice for DOS, Windows and OS/2. Preemptive multitasking for responsive, reliable execution. ■ 32-bit flat address space for productive programming. A full range of IBM services and support. Circle 1 1 1 on Inquiry Card. NEWS FIRST IMPRESSIONS Two Toshiba Systems to Go Toshiba stays on the cutting edge with a 3.3 -V 486 notebook and a promising pen-based system GENE SMARTE Toshiba America Information Systems thinks that a lot of business users are in the market for a more powerful notebook. It also believes that a smaller group of computer users with specif- ic applications needs a pen-based system. Based on a look at preproduction versions of the T4500 series notebooks and the Dynapad T100X, Toshiba should have hits in both categories. T4500: Beefed Up for Business According to Ron Smith, product mar- keting manager for Toshiba, the T4500 is targeted at business users. Considering what's included in the system, though, power users won't be disappointed, es- pecially with the competitive pricing. Suggested retail prices are $2799 for the Based on a 3.3-V 486SX processor, the T4500 notebook series comes with an active-matrix color or monochrome display. The Dynapad T100X (see inset) is a capable 3-pound pen-based system. 46 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 system with a monochrome display and $4399 for the system with an active-matrix color display. While you'll pay a hefty price for the T4500C with its color display, its 6'/s- pound weight compares favorably to the monochrome version's 6 pounds, and its thickness increases only slightly from the 1 VA by 8M by 1% inches occupied by the monochrome version. The monochrome display is 9'A inches diagonally, with 640- by 480-pixel resolution and 64 shades of gray. The color display is also 640 by 480 pixels, but it has 256 simultaneous colors. It measures 8^ inches diagonally. Aside from the major display and minor weight and thickness differences, the two units are identical. Both use a new 3.3- volt 20-MHz Intel 486SX processor. Keith Comer, senior product planner, said that Intel asked Toshiba if it wanted a 3.3-V 486SX. This processor fit in with Toshi- ba's future plans, and the company de- signed the T4500 with the new processor in mind, including use of 3.3-V RAM. Smith says that while Toshiba believes it's the only company using the processor right now, Intel may make it available to others. The 486SX includes 8 KB of in- ternal cache memory. According to Toshi- ba, the T4500's battery life will equal or surpass systems based on Intel's new 3.3- V 486SL (see the text box "A Higher End for Compaq Notebooks" on page 47). The T4500 includes a nifty LCD strip that replaces the usual set of LED status in- dicators. Icons show battery capacity re- maining; power-saving modes; hard disk access; cursor, number, and Caps Lock modes; and other system operating con- ditions. This is a nice, well-executed touch. Other standard system features are an 80- or 120-MB hard drive, 4 MB of RAM (user-expandable to 20 MB using Toshi- ba's memory cards), a 1.44-MB floppy drive, an 18-mm PCMCIA slot, and a snap-on (i.e., no-cord) Microsoft Ballpoint pointing device that clicks into a hot-shoe connector on the right side of the system. Smith acknowledges that this puts left- handed users at a disadvantage, but Toshi- ba will exchange the Ballpoint for a tra- ditional mouse. Around back are connectors for simul- taneous external video output (up to 1024 by 768 pixels), serial and parallel expan- sion, Toshiba's docking station, and an external keyboard and mouse. There is no coprocessor socket. A PCMCIA modem card that fits entirely inside the machine, NEWS RST IMPRESSIONS A Higher End for Compaq Notebooks Ed Perratore Compaq understands that differentiation is the key to success in the burgeoning notebook market. But it's not ignoring another business axiom: Don't mess with success. Among features of its new LTE Lite 4/25C and 25E, the company managed to honor both rules while letting you choose between two options: lower power consumption and a brilliant monochrome display. Compaq introduced the notebooks on November 9, the same day Intel announced the 3.3-volt 486SL micro- processor that nans the LTE Lite 4/25C, which ranks among the first notebooks available to use the low-pow- er processor. The LTE Lite 4/25C, however, owes its rat- ed 2- to 3-hour battery life more to advanced power management than to its 25-MHz 3.3- V CPU. In ad- dition to existing LTE Lite features such as hibernation, advanced power management reduces the clock speed of the processor between keystrokes. Other features of the LTE Lite 4/25C will be familiar: an 8M-inch, 256-color, active-matrix display (made by Sharp); 4 MB of RAM standard; and a 120- MB hard drive. Besides the processor and advanced power management, oth- er new items are a whopping 209-MB hard drive option, 32-bit memory cards, and an LTE Lite option called Quick- Connect ($79), which plugs into the unit and replicates the ports for fast hookups to your desktop peripherals. There's one more notable option. The SpeedPaq 144 Modem, expected to sell at $649, is an internal fax modem that can interface using an optional ca- The Compaq LTE Lite 4/25C (right) uses Intel's new low- power 486SL processor. The LTE Lite/25E features an eye- grabbing active-matrix display. ble to a Motorola or Nokia cellular phone for 9600-bps wireless transmis- sion. (For some other phones, you'll need to add a cellular interface box as well.) Available for all LTE Lites using an enhanced option slot, the SpeedPaq will send data (other than faxes) at 14,400 bps. The "black-and-white" description of the LTE Lite/25E's brilliant Ultra- View active-matrix, TFT (thin-film transistor), 9^-inch display is a mis- nomer. You get a light blue on black that is about as pleasing to the eye as you're likely to see in a monochrome display. Viewed under a magnifying glass, the pixels betray no fuzziness; you'll never see a hint of ghosting. The VGA display supports 16 lev- els of gray — 64 if you descend to 320- by 200-pixel resolution. If you're run- ning an external display, you can get 256 colors at VGA reso- lution or 16 colors at Su- per VGA. Extended text is also new: The screen will display slightly taller characters to fill the top and bottom of the screen. Other notable points of the 25-MHz 386SL-based unit are the same 64-KB cache found in existing LTE Lite/25C units (see "Compaq's Newest Note- books," October 1992 BYTE). The model num- bers 84 and 1 20 represent hard drive capacities (DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 are installed on both the LTE Lite/25E and 4/25C), RAM is 4 MB standard (with a maxi- mum of 20 MB), and the typical duration of the nickel-metal-hydride bat- tery is 3 hours. The prod- uct weighs 6'A pounds. In BYTE's low-level benchmark tests, the preproduction LTE Lite/25E ranked more than a third faster than the Toshiba T2200SX on CPU perfor- mance. Keep in mind, however, differ- ing factors such as Toshiba's slower 20-MHz 386SX processor and the 386SL's internal cache. The 4/25C beta version scored only 80 percent as fast as the 486SX-based Toshiba T4400SX in CPU tests, but video and disk tests pushed the Compaq well ahead. Compaq is doing all it can to keep its products up to date. In this flurry of new products, the next best thing after price is distinctive features. Compaq hopes to catch your eye on both counts. Ed Perratore is a BYTE news editor based in New York. He can be reached on BIX as "eperratore. " JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 47 Circle 77 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 78). Making the best better wasn't easy, but we did it Model 24SII DES Printer sharing at it's best! , The New Model 24SII DES data exchange system is printer sharing at its best. Now network workstations, file servers, graphic workstations, and PCs can off-load print jobs at the blaz- ing rate of 60,000cps parallel or 46,000cps serial. If you want to eliminate the need for multiple laser printers without los- ing productivity, off-load network print jobs faster, or increase your print- ing throughput, the Model 24SII DES is for you. Contact a BayTech representative today for more information on the best printer sharing solutions available. • Expandable from 4 to 24 ports • Compatible with Windows® • Computer-to-computer communication for file transfer or modem sharing • Up to 16MB buffer • 1 year warranty Because Resources Should Be Shared BayTech Data Communications Products Division 200 N. 2nd St.. P.O. Box 387, Bay St. Louis. MS 39520 Fax:601-467-4551 Phone:601467-8231 or toll-free 800-523-2702 NEWS RST IMPRESSIONS including the jacks, is in the works. The monochrome system comes stan- dard with a nickel-cadmium battery pack that will give you more than 3 hours of typical use. The color system includes nickel-metal-hydride batteries that also provide at least 3 hours of life. Smith says that you can expect about 20 percent and 38 percent speed improve- ments, respectively, in Excel and Word compared with a 25-MHz 386SL. Going to 3.3 V also gets you about 40 minutes more operating time per charge. While I didn't have time to fully discharge the battery pack, the BYTE benchmarks showed that the T4500's performance ranks it about where you'd expect: between a 33-MHz 386 and a 25-MHz 486 desktop system. Dynapad T100X: Pen Progress Toshiba admits that pen-based computing is a vertical market. The technology, par- ticularly the handwriting-recognition ca- pability, just isn't ready for broad-based applications. There is, however, plenty of pen appeal for niche applications. The Dynapad is built around a 3.3-V 25-MHz 386SLV from AMD. This sleek electronic tablet measures 10% by l'/m by VA inches and weighs just over 3 pounds. Kyp Walls, the senior brand manager for Toshiba, says research suggests that 3 pounds is the most a user wants to lug around all day. The Dynapad has a 40-MB hard drive (with 18-millisecond access), 4 MB of RAM (user-expandable to 20 MB), a 9'A- inch VGA (i.e., 16 gray scales) transre- flective display, two PCMCIA slots, and serial, parallel, PS/2 keyboard, and floppy drive connectors. Power comes via nickel- metal-hydride batteries, with a nominal operating time of 2'A hours. Walls said that the batteries may last up to 7 hours if the system remains in the lowest power-com- sumption mode. Recharge time is 1 'A hours. You can order the Dynapad configured with either Windows for Pen Computing or PenPoint. The pen fits into a slot on one end of the enclosure and remains visible. Toshiba reports that while some pen-based systems store their pens out of view, this can lead to trouble if you don't notice that the pen isn't in its storage compartment. Walls says that many projected Dyna- pad owners will use the system outdoors. The backlit transreflective screen lets you turn on backlighting when needed. In sun- light, however, you can switch off the backlighting and still have a readable dis- play. At night, you can use the backlight; during the day, save the batteries and let the sun do some of the work. While handling the Dynapad, I had some reservations about being able to hang on to the smooth, rounded-corner design. The rubberized-paint finish does provide a finish that can be gripped, though, and dif- ferent cases (some water-resistant) should be available soon. It's difficult to get too excited about pen-based systems unless you have a spe- cific use in mind. Toshiba believes that medical personnel, salespeople, fleet work- ers, and nonoffice workers everywhere are eager to move from paper to pen. Mean- while, the promise of pen-based computing continues to intrigue us all, and the Dyna- pad is a great example of technology in progress. ■ Gene Smarte is a BYTE senior news editor based in Los Angeles. He can be reached on BIX as "gsmarte." THE FACTS T4S00 with 80-MB hard drive, $2799 with 120-MB hard drive, $2999 T4500C with 120-MB hard drive, $4399 Dynapad T100X $3499 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. Computer Systems Division 9740 Irvine Blvd. Irvine, CA 92718 (800) 334-3445 (714)583-3000 fax:(714)587-6034 Circle 1 172 on Inquiry Card. Compaq LTE Lite 4/25C Model 120, $4099 Model 209, $4399 Compaq LTE Lite/25E Model 84, $2999 Model 120, $3199 Compaq Computer Corp. 20555 State Hwy. 249 Houston, TX 77070 (800)231-0900 (713)370-0670 fax:(713)374-1402 Circle 1 173 on Inquiry Card. 48 BYTE -JANUARY 1993 Oar goal at NEC is the complete integration of computers and communications. The Silentwriter Model 95 fx is just one of many innovative products that help us to realize this goal. For example, we not only developed the first notebook com- puter with a built-in phone and fax, we make satellite dishes capable of sending data worldwide. mi rt MODucn I W I H H E R | "...all ihc PostScript primer you'll ever need" PC/Computing. 'The Ideal ll'inatnvs PC." June 1W1 for any printer/fax multifunction combination. The Silentwriter Model 95fx Printer/Fax Because t is the way you want to go. To upgrade your existing Silentwriter Model 95 printer with fax capability (U.S. only), or for more information about the Silentwriter Model 95fx, call NEC at 1-800-325-5500. Circle 1 28 on Inquiry Card. an" 'box! Tl« ,i„g ? , RA* (l/ ' c ,>ROM 250/0 ,„ Si ,| mo"- Wl. 30 I ,r 'Oo, Jade* 1 " ,iiflg cS ' «l C" r l Type le« ers ' ads enures! '0 0lVs m ^# CorelDRAW 3.0 Look at all you can do with CorelDRAW 3.0! Create logos! f& [Ellis = 121 Graprtc Place. N«v v M ». n™, VOrfc &5«37l front 555-123* Fan 55M3?I ■ ... ■ 3&S**' 1 ,65A32' ; 7o(/crt op photos! • Create Effective Charts and Pictographs! Choose from dozens of preset templates or create your own. With over 14,000 clipart images available, you can add power to your message with exciting pictographs! • Type Letters and Produce Dynamic Newsletters! With spellcheck and thesaurus, CorelDRAW is a convenient word processor. Incredible type control and many import/export filters let you add flair to your communication. • Create Inspirational Ads and Brochures! Easily combine photos, scanned images, text, and graphics. A dazzling array of colors are available with world standard color matching. • Design Impressive Corporate I.D.s! Create exciting logos using CorelDRAW's special effects: 3-D, blending, extrusion, and more! You can choose from over 250 fonts. • Make Powerful Presentations! With CorelDRAW's import features, transition effects, hundreds of animation sequences, and professionally designed backgrounds, exciting presentations are at your fingertips! • Touch up Photos and Bitmap Images! Enhance your photos and bitmap images with impressive paint and retouching capabilities. CorelDRAW has 24-bit color and Kodak Photo CD technology support! No wonder CorelDRAW is the world's best selling graphics software! DGAM Make powerful presentations! | tfn £rtH frivrt flrwpr UKpl"y yfintHr* COMPETITIVE UPGRADE OFFER! Limited time only. %pZ4u You can take advantage of this sensational offer if you own a competing Windows/DOS product. Call Corel for details. Suggested list price $595 COREL 1 -800-836-DRAW CORELDRAW WORLD DESIGN CONTEST Call to get your FREE DEMO DISK and brochure! Free 24-hour technical support. OVER $1,000,000 IN PRIZES TO BE WON! Enter now and win valuable prizes in the monthly contests (from Sept.'92 to April '93). Each monthly winner qualifies as atinalist in the Annual Design Contest in May '93. CorelDRAW is NETWORK READY and is MULTIPLATFORM for corporate standardization: Windows, OS/2, UNIX, CT0S. Soon available for the MAC, and in 20 languages! Circle 93 on Inquiry Card. NEWS FIRST IMPRESSIONS UnixWare: New Hope for Unix? Is Univel's UnixWare enough to finally bring Unix to the PC user's desktop? TOM YAGER The coming together of Unix System Labs and Novell to form Univel resulted in what may be the PC Unix that can do real battle with the likes of Windows NT — UnixWare. Probably the biggest bombshell to hit the Unix market in years, UnixWare is Univel's hope for networked applications. I evaluated the beta release of the UnixWare Application Server Edition on a Uniq 486/50 with 8 MB of memory and an AMI EISA SCSI caching hard drive controller. The entire software set is contained on a single CD-ROM, easing installation considerably. It required an overnight instal- lation, however, to bring in all the modules. At least two potential audiences might be served by UnixWare: traditional Unix users who are looking for better application compatibility and support, and those with demanding applications who seek a standards-based way to distribute the applica- tions through a network. For the first group, UnixWare will feel familiar. System V release 4.2 inherits many of its traits from previous System V releases. Of course, UNIX Pwjctae - Memo File E-*^v y* - -~--- s?~«- ■*? *#- ■»& ■#- v..«o n 1992 Microsoft Corporation. Ail rights n-scrvcd. Printed in the United States of America. For mom information inside the SO United Stales, coll (800)426-9400, Depl. HM4. Outside the US. and Canada, ail! (206) 936-8661. Customers in Canada coll (800) 563-9048. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. THIS SIDE UP # III I MICROSOFT WINDOWS READY-TO-RUN *% NEWS FIRST IMPRESSIONS i ', [i'in- ) by name or company, organize them into groups, and within seconds send a fax with a cus- tomized cover page to multi- ple recipients. While testing a beta version of WinFax Pro 3.0, 1 found that the degree of recognition ac- curacy varies from fax to fax and even from sentence to sen- tence within the same fax. Character recognition of a fax document is no picnic. Not only does the program have to deal with the usual riddles of OCR (e.g., determining if a character is a 1 or an /), it also has to deal with compressed characters and sentences, streak marks, and other extraneous doodles. WinFax Pro 3.0 incorporates Caere's AnyFax OCR engine, which is optimized to handle the anomalies of fax-to-text con- version. Delrina provides several options to maximize recognition accuracy. You can block out graphics portions of a fax so the program will not attempt to "OCR" it and tell WinFax to automatically recognize multiple-column articles. A Vacuum tool helps clean up faxes. Even with all those tools, you can still get a few words or partial sentences of gib- berish when recognizing poor-resolution faxes. For example, in one fax press re- lease that I received, the words We see File Edit View Page Bccognize Help F« Si*', heh f»9s1 provide wrHesS vereion 6rccTlv?aS ~ r Business Editors/Computer Writers SAN FRANC(SC0--(BUS1NESS WtKE)-Lonjs to develop links from cc:Mail to RAM wide-area wireless network Louis Development Corp. todny announced at (he Electronic Messaging '92 conference JKUluei^llip Will* RAM MuUtU. Duia (w JvTtl^p .virolcaa Tvitte iM*Q network toelinolorjy. ' developed wiil allow mobile cc:Mail users to send and receive electronic mail messages access phone jacks while traveling. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "We sec communications and messaging as the defining elements of tomorrow's widesp «>^I«««^*.rt«o," «,td Ji™ F <„,.,:, |irt»ll»iUal nod CCO eft r.t„e IV,.«.|n r rtv.nl PrtfTl "TrltC ft campaign lo make cc:Mail -- already the industry's leading LAN-basedclectroiiic mad s ieveloped will allow mobile "W'mll users to send and receive electronic moll messages Instantrj access phone jacks while traveling. Terms of the agreem ent were not disclosed. We see comrllurtications and massaging as the definlni i J Y tkfP dPPid_..t anti C1 1 C\ o T At ..0 nptpTnpnlpnt an' campaign to make cc:Mail - already the industry's leadli gateway and client drivers for the RAM network. To send ep,U rplpe pf mrTjrl mnAPrrtc rqPcionpAl in llnnnrt thP communications and messaging as the defining elements were recognized as We see comrllunications and massaging as the defining elements. However, other sen- tences in the same press release were rec- ognized perfectly. A split-screen Interac- tive Text Edit option lets you view the original fax as you fix the text version (see the screen). With so many faxes floating around these days, you want to get your fax no- ticed. This is where WinFax's cover-page designer comes in. Using the designer, you can create a cover page with bit-map logos or an attention-getting cartoon to make your fax stand out. In about 10 minutes, I was able to design a fax cover page with variable text fields. With variable text fields, Win- Fax can automatically insert a recipient's name, company, subject, or other variable into a cover page. If you're not feel- ing artistic, WinFax Pro comes with a selection of predrawn cover pages. Features such as compres- sion of fax send-and-receive logs, archived faxes, support for TWAIN-compliant scan- ners, and fax annotation make this a well-rounded program. If you're standing in line at the fax machine or retyping fax documents, you're wasting time. What are you waiting for? — David Andrews THE FACTS WinFax Pro 3.0 $129 Delrina Technology, Inc. 6830 Via Del Oro, Suite 240 San Jose, CA 951 19 (800) 268-6082 (408) 363-2345 Circle 1 180 on Inquiry Card. Shapeware's Visio Draws a New Path If you cringe at the mere thought of drawing, Shape- ware has the software you've been waiting for. A Seattle- based software firm started in 1990 by two founders of Al- dus, Shapeware has introduced Visio, a Windows drawing tool that's meant for the rank-and- file business user rather than the sophisticated graphic arts community. Visio is designed to create business forms in dozens of va- rieties. The $299 program lets graphics novices build business or technical drawings easily by using drag-and-drop drawing techniques with hundreds of objects included with the more than two dozen stencils (or templates) that are included with the package. Although it is possible for you to draw fairly complex images with Visio, the pro- gram isn't designed to compete with two-dimensional drafting and CAD packages. Likewise, Visio isn't targeted at graphics stalwarts such as Aldus Free- Hand or Adobe Illustrator; nei- ther does it compete with pre- sentation packages such as Harvard Graphics, Lotus Free- lance, or Microsoft's Power- Point. Instead, Shapeware's found- ers are hoping to usher in a new drawing metaphor, one using precut shapes that can be dragged into an image and shaped, massaged, or manipu- lated into the exact form you need to convey your message. With Visio's 15 stencils, you have 300 objects, or master shapes, at your disposal. These master shapes allow you to 64 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 PICTURE WINDOWS. Picture This... a real-time television monitor built right into your PC. ..Now, picture vising this monitor while running Windows™ 3 applications at the same time... And, picture taking that video image and resizing, (right down to crystal- clear icon size!) or clicking and dragging it to any position on the screen as easily as moving any other Window... Picture Perfect. With Win/TV's "frame grabber" you capture and save any "still" frame and save it to disk. Using Win/TV and Microsoft® Video for Windows™ , you capture FULL MOTION VIDEO, saving synchronized video and audio clips to disk. You can then send those video and audio files across the network. Seamlessly integrate still and full motion video images into productive multimedia applications such as databases or training and marketing presentations... or give your E-mail a powerful new dimension! Any Windows 3 user can access 122 channel television reception with the built-in tuner, PLUS two additional video sources, (such as VCR, video camera, laser disk, etc.,) all with stereo audio capability! Automatically fit real-time video images into any size Window while running your other Windows 3 programs. Hauppauge Computer Works introduces Win/TV™ , the Windows television adapter Picture Yourself owning your own "Windows on the World"! Maybe you want to work on your spreadsheets but don't want to miss an important news flash or a current stock market report. Win/TV \s perfect for you. Keep an eye on current events while keeping control of your inventory... No problem! Get the new Win/TV and open a window on some fresh, new, and exciting possibilities. Suggested Retail: $495.00 PC Connection ZSfc. Micro Warehouse, call: 1-800-367-7080 PC Zone: 1-800-258-0270 Please mention code 21244 when ordering. PC Connection, call: 1-800-243-8088 Trademarks: Win/TV is a trademark of Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc., Windows $ is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. |HU: t-ilil Change Cajbrfi Prcli.-rcm,,:,; I!cl|i .i.iii,,.i.i3i.i.i.i Si It doubles your performance. It doubles your disk capacity. ■,;-. It's fast and easy to install. SSI It's priced right It's winSTORE,™ created for the Windows' 1 ' user. The first product of its kind, winSTORE combines two award-winning technologies: high-speed diskcontrolfrom Perceptive Solutions and advanced Stacker ™ data compression from Stac," in a plug-and-play solution. It'swinSTORE— think of it as overdrive for Windows! m Perceptive Solutions, Inc. 800-486-FAST Main: 214-954-1774 • FAX: 214-953-1774 ■ ©1992 by Perceptive Soiutions, Inc. -winSTORE and the Perceptive Solutions logoare trademarks of Perceptive Solutions, toe Windows is a trademark ol Microsoft B Corp. Stacker is a trademark and Stac is a registered trademark of Stac Electronics, Inc. Circle 1 39 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 140). NEWS FIRST IMPRESSIONS Flexible Windows-Based Fax Facilities I ONDON— Fax fcimachines be- came popular be- cause they're so simple to use, and it's reasonable to expect PC fax soft- ware to be just as easy. Datafax from the Swedish firm Trio Information Systems comes as close to this ideal as any other product I've encountered. Datafax is a suite of five Windows programs, two of which you leave running as background tasks to receive and send faxes. Datafax works by installing its own printer driver and capturing print- er output from any Windows application to send as a fax. When you print from inside an application such as Microsoft Word, the Datafax phone-book window pops up and you click on the recipient's name to put the output into the fax queue. The main module of Datafax is Win- serve, a fax-server program that controls your fax modem and monitors incoming and outgoing traffic. When Winserve is running, faxes are automatically sent in the background (either immediately or according to a schedule). When Winserve is not running, the faxes accumulate in the outbound queue, ready to be sent in chronological order the next time you run the program. Running the Faxq program lets you in- spect the four fax logs — outbound, in- bound, successfully sent, and erroneous — at any time, and you can view any pending fax simply by clicking on its name. To re- ceive incoming faxes, you run the Infax program. The Infax icon is designed to stay on top and to blink whenever a new fax arrives. The other two modules are Faxoffice and Captive. Faxoffice is your general command post, where you set up your fax modem parameters, design cover sheets with a built-in drawing program, view the fax logs, and maintain your phone book. Datafax supports Class 1, Class 2, and SendFax-compatible modems, among oth- ers. An ingenious import dialog box in Datafax 's phone book lets you convert data from most other database formats without any preprocessing. International support is excellent. You can specify a na- tional character set for each phone-book entry. Faxoffice really comes into its own in a networked Datafax installation, where it allows you to relay faxes to other network users, reject junk faxes, and produce com- prehensive statistics with bar charts of fax usage that are broken down by hour/day/ week/month and country. You can use a nondedicated 386 workstation as the fax server. The Captive program enables you to clip material directly from the screen and send it as a fax. Even more convenient is the ability to dash off a cover-sheet-only fax note at any time simply by clicking on the Captive icon. Datafax is generally good-looking and slick to use. It was completely robust dur- ing my test. I recommend Datafax with- out hesitation. ■ — Dick Pountain THE FACTS Datafax single-user, $99 (about 600 krona); five-user network license, from $595 (from about 3570 krona) Trio Information Systems Odelbergsvag 17 134 40Gustavsberg Sweden +46 8570 30590 fax: +46 766 35292 Circle 1 183 on Inquiry Card. PhJD^uOiAMjmM VoJUjJj^t WATCOM SQL Developer's Edition by WATCOM Complete client/server development tool allows you to develop and deploy single-user standalone applications, and to develop applications for use with the Network Server Edition (sold separately). Includes: Single-user database server (both 16 and 32-bit versions); ACME application devel- opment system; Embedded SQL C/C++ preprocessor; SQL libraries for WATCOM C. C/386, MS/C ++ and BC/C++. List: $795 Ours: $299 FAXc«era# 1683-0010 Essential Graphics Chart™ for Windows by Lifeboat Software Essential graphics chart for Windows lets you turn your data into charts and graphs that make an immediate visual impact. Features include: DLL-works with any Windows API compatible lan- guage, 2D bar, 3D bar, legends for all chart types, real-time charts, true per- spective and rotational capability. No Royalties. List: $399 Ours: $299 FAXcetera* 2089-0020 HUGE SELECTION AT THE RIGHT PRICE! CALL TODAY! QOMPUTER riSSOOATES Software superior by design. CA-Clipper by Computer Associates Clipper is a comprehensive PC applica- tion development system for PCs offer- ing network support, user extensibility, a replaceable database driver and executable file generation. An open architecture system, Clipper includes a robust language, pre-processor, compiler, linker, virtual memory manager, editor and debugger, and permits development of applications that are larger than available memory. List: $795 Ours: $499 FAXcetem # 5400-0001 386MAX $72 Baby Driver $239 Baler $399 BalerXE $695 Bar Code Library $350 Blinker $269 BlueMAX $91 Borland C++ $319 Brief CALL C Communications Tlkt. $139 C Windows Tlkt. 386 $179 C++/Views $449 C-DOC $170 C-DOC Professional $269 C-scape $449 CAD/CAM Dev. Kit/2D $449 CAD/CAM Dev. Kit/3D $899 CAD/CAM Dev. Kit/DXF $525 CASE:W Corporate CALL Clarion Personal $59 Clarion Professional $549 Clipper $499 DanBricklin'sDemoll $215 dANALYST Gold $99 DataBoss CALL ilBASE IV $499 dBFast Windows $395 Designer QuickWindows $62 dGT $249 Unlimited Runtime $499 DiskBase $79 DR DOS 6.0 $59 Dr. Switch-ASE $159 Essential Communications $295 Essental Graphics GUI $135 Essential Graphics Kernel $179 FilePro+ $579 GFA-Basic for Windows $235 GFA-CAD $89 Graf/Drive Plus Dev. $269 Greenleaf Comm++ $169 GX Developer's Pak $626 GX Effects $179 GX Graphics $224 GXText $134 IBM OS/2 2.0 $149 Image Prep $89 INSTALIT $119 lustallSHIELD $349 JetForm Designer $99 Kansmen Products CALL KPWin++ CALL Label Master $429 Lahey EM/32 5.0 $1,015 Magic Fields CALL Menuet $319 MKS Learning UNIX $99 MKSLEX&YACC $199 MKS Toolkit $205 MS C/C++ $309 Upgrade from MS C6.0 $134 Compet. Upgrade $189 MS FoxPro $499 MS Quick C for Windows $139 MS Test $275 MS VB DOS Prof. Edition $325 MS VB Windows CALL MS Windows 3.1 $135 Multi-Edit $89 Multi-Edit Professional $139 Norton Anti-Virus $99 Norton Desktop/Win CALL Norton Utilities $119 object-Menu $269 ObjectVision 2.1 $135 Opt-Tech Sort/Merge $119 Origin $449 Outside In for Windows $79 Paradox 4.0 $569 PC Lint $99 PCX Prog.Tlkt. Windows $219 Persona for Windows $109 PGL CALL Phar Lap 286/DOS Ext. $435 Phar Lap 386/DOS Ext. $435 PLink86+ $335 PRO-C $99 ProBas 5.0 $169 Q+E Database/VB $179 QEMM 386 $68 QuickWindows Advanced $134 R&R Report Writer $179 Robolielp $399 RTLink/Plus $445 RTPatch $69 SlickEdit $149 Smalltalk/V Windows $395 SourceSafe $199 SQA:Replay $79 SQA:Robot $419 SVS Products CALL TLIB $125 Tools h++ $269 Turbo C++ for Windows $112 Turbo Pascal for Windows CALL Vitamin C $339 WATCOM C 9.0/386 $599 WATCOM FORTRAN 77/9.0 $449 WinGen Screen Designer $99 w/ DBMS App Designer $419 Zinc 3.0 CALL Zortech C++ Dev. 3.0 $445 B, ti Phone ordf Mon-Fri8:~~ MCVisa,, please add . shipping/ha fifteen poum at actual UP COD shipmei Rush service; Mail or FAX Im Orders/Domes. Orders Phone num Returns Subject to $2 charge per produc* GUARANTEED BEST PRICES! (Call for details) To order call: 800-445-7899 Corporate (CORSOFT): 800 422-6507 FAX: 908 389-9227 International: 908 389-9228 Customer Service: 908 389-9229 For more information on the products featured on these pages call- FAXcefera®: 908 389-8173 • All prices are subject to change without notice. I Software that WATCOM C 9.0/386 by WATCOM Develop and Debug 32-bit applications for extended DOS. Windows, and OS/2 2.0 with the most complete 32-bit C development package available. Includes the royalty-free D0S/4GW DOS entender by Rational Systems, components from MS Windows SDK. compiler, linker, debug- ger, profiler, plus numerous development tools. Supports other industry standard 32-bit DOS extenders. Create ADS Applications for AutoCAD or embedded systems development. List: $895 Ours: $599 FAX ce t«ra# 1683-0001 ^4 - •&* miniED Tools for Text Processing by Strategic Software Easily add sophisticated text func- tions and spell-checking to your appli- cations. Handle text windows, memo fields, formatted text display and more with a simple call to a_miniEd func- tion. _miniED-RAM based, Toolkit- RAM/ File based editing engine, _miniSpell-spell checking engine. Compatible with all standard languages, the _miniEd family of tools are written in "C" and come with complete source. Ideal for cross-platform developers. CALL TODAY FOR PRICING! FAXcetem # 0027-3001 .4 WindowsMAKER Professional 4.0 by Blue Sky Next generation of industry standard C/C++ devel- opment tool for Windows. The easiest fastest way to create Windows apps, just point and click. New architecture uses Switch-It™ Code Generation Modules for generating ANSI C, MFC++. or OWL C++ code among others. Award-winning Visual Prololyper lets you test the look & feel and make changes on the fly. TrueCode technology ensures the user code is preserved during code regeneration. Generates Windows .EXE w/fully commented C or C++ source. CUA & SAA compliant List: $995 Ours: $695 FAXcetera # 2602-0003 SVS C°/Fortran-77 by Silicon Valley Software Version V 2.8.2 SVS C 3 /FORTRAN-77 runs in and creates 32-bit executables for use with MS Windows 3.x as DPMI executables. Compiler, devel- opment tools and applications are DMPI conforming and support most VCP1 require- ments. Extensive graphics and Scientific function library is included. Executables are run-time royalty free. List: $395 Ours: $356 Faxcetera* 2863-0001 ED- The Programmers Editor by Lifeboat Software At last! A full-featured windows based pro- grammer's editor is here! ED is setting the standard with features like background compilation, automatic code indenting and completion, hypertext function/pro- cedure lookups, "smart" language-specif- ic editing, a fast "C" extension language. Windows Toolbar, unlimited undo and redo, keyboard macros and remapping, and emulation of popular DOS editors (BRIEF. Wordstar. Qedit, Norton). Discover the Windows editing tool for the 90s. List: $269 Ours: $199 FAXcetem* 0233-0011 MediaDeveloper by Lenel Systems Create multimedia-enabled applica- tions with MediaDeveloper and Object Vision. MediaDeveloper is the Multimedia Development Toolkit to integrate sound, images, animation and full-motion video (analog or digital) into Windows applications. Includes media and device control for multimedia peripherals including CD-ROMs, VCRs and laserdisc players; support for major animation, video, audio and graphics formats; a multimedia database; an OLE server; and a suite or DLLs. List: $595 Ours: $499 FAXcetem # 1005-0302 Microsoft Visual Basic for DOS by Microsoft Corporation Award-Winning productivity-now available for DOS! Draw forms and controls. write event-procedures, use and create custom controls-in DOS! Create all-new apps or combine with existing C/C++ or Pascal code. Highly compatible with VB/Win for multi-platform development. Even run existing MS Quick Basic/Basic PDS code! Includes a native 80 x 86 compiler that creates 100% standalone .EXE files, 386 code generation. MOVE overlays, an inte- grated ISAM and much more! Standard Edition List: $199 Ours: $139 Professional Edition List: $495 Ours: $325 FAXcetem* 1269-0039 Lahey F77L-EM/32 by Lahey Computer Systems Industry leading 32-bit FORTRAN Language System includes Phar Lap's 386/DOS Extender. VCPI, XMS, and DPMI compliant extender enables users to access up to 4GB and operate in the OS/2 and MS Windows DOS box. The extender is royalty-free and includes virtual memory support. 5.1 includes Editor, profiler, make utility, library manager, video graphics and 486 optimizations. Support for popular VAX, IBM VS and 90 fea- tures. List: $1390 Ours: $1015 FAXcefera# 1476-0004 P fw^jjuiAAMAM Patoufabt Multimedia Toolbook by Asymetrix Complete Multimedia Authoring. Create your own multimedia applications for MS Windows. Simple interface and set of ready-to-use multimedia objects make it the fastest and easiest way to develop multime- dia apps. This award-winning tool provides a complete package versatile enough to develop new applications or put a new face on exist- ing ones, with no runtime fee. List: $695 Ours: $599 FAX«tera# 2776-0005 Bsupport for Novell's | — »' ' |. Btrieve by Information Architects A set of utilities to create, edit and manip- ulate Btrieve data files. Other functions include data recovery, application debug- ■'* ging, exporting, and BUTIL replacement Some products include Royalty-Free Distribution and C source. Versions for DOS text, Windows, and OS/2. An absolute MUST for any Btrieve developer. List: $309 Ours: $259 FAKceiera # 2390-0007 DocMaker by Task Software Create complete User Manuals four to five times faster! Manuals include Contents, Tutorials, Figures, Reference, Index, Appendices, and more! Flexible "Intelligent Text" writes up to 90% of the manual. Features 28 soft fonts, automat- ed page layout, and global format control! Easy to use DOS system with pulldown menus, mouse support, and on-line help! List: $199 Ours: $179 FAXatem # 1004-9001 DocMaker | Aucomazeo Documentation System I" nual I lorator in 1.1 documentation, C-Heap by Library Technologies Best-fit malloc( ) cuts fragmentation. Dole facility reduces per-block overhead and fragmentation. Three ways to use virtual memory -autoswap or blocks copy; optional disk I/O cache. Allocate heap and vmem blocks >64K. Access UMBs, page frame via malice ( ), D0S=UMB not reqd. Two near, two far heaps. All memory models supported. Hundreds of functions, thorough no royalty. Specify compiler. List: $229 Ours: FAXcetcra # 1003-1701 $209 RoboHELP by Blue Sky Software Cut your Development time by 95%. RoboHelp enables you to design, test and create a comprehensive on-line, context sensitive Help System for Windows applica- tions using graphical objects, a tool palette. a mouse, and Word for Windows. Just till in the actual text when prompted and RoboHELP generates all the source code for the On-line Help System. List: $495 Ours: >t^ NOW! $399 FAXcctero# 2602-0005 m m Help Authoring System C/apprentice by SymbTech New technology for maintaining and constnicting C source pro- grams. C Functions can be mechanically evaluated, ana- lyzed and changed based on your maintenance objectives. Every part ofaCsoureelile can be analyzed/changed, including comments, whitespace, preprocessor commands, as well as C code itself. Convert C source to equivalent C++ code, migrate C code to paral- lel vector machine architecture, or locate and change windowing function calls. DOS 386 List: $895 Ours: $759 FAXcetera # 2553-0002 PROTOGEN 3.0 by ProtoView Development NEW VERSION! The industry standard for code generation and prototyping Windows applications. Develop the user interface of' your application using Visual prototyping methods. ProtoGen generates expert level, commented code for ANSI C, Microsoft. NT Win32. All generators included! User Code Is presewed from one generation to the next. It's easy and fast. List: $199 Ours: $99 FAXcetera # 2553-0002 Circle 1 1 9 on Inquiry Card . ■~z p n lifts 3 m GUARANTEED BEST PRICES! Should you see one of these products listed at a lower price in another ad in this magazine, CALL US! We'll match the price, and still offer our same quality service and support! TERMS OF OFFER • Offer good through January 31, 1993* plicable to pricing on current versions of software listed. • January issue prices only. r does not apply towards obvious errors in competitor's ads * Subject to same terms and conditions. HMjoM • All prices are subject to change without notice. NEWS WHAT'S NEW SYSTEMS An Open Platform for Your Pocket The 4.6-ounce Digital Book System- 1 hand-held personal computer uses West- ern Digital's 16-bit CPU. An open-platform machine, the DBS-1 is designed as a mo- bile information tool that fits in a shirt pocket. Capable of storing up to 90 MB of information in two re- movable interactive "digital books," the index-card-size unit has a QWERTY key- board and eight function keys. The independent built- in notepad holds up to 60 lines of text, and the unit's search and spelling-checking capabilities are based on fuzzy logic. Four lithium but- ton cells provide up to 60 hours of battery life. Digital books currently available in- clude The Medical Letter Handbook of Adverse Drug Interactions and the Merriam- Webster dictionary. Price: $199. Contact: Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc., Mt. Holly, NJ, (609) 261-4800; fax (609)261-1631. Circle 1272 on Inquiry Card. Large-Screen Portable 486 Bitwise Designs' Screen- Star Model 450S, built around a 50-MHz 486 CPU, has 16MBof60-nsRAM Secaucus, NJ, (800) 742- 8086 or (817) 685-1213. Circle 1274 on Inquiry Card. Digital books snap in and out at the base of the Digital Book System- 1 . You can cross-reference, highlight, and transfer text from one book to the other. (expandable to 32 MB), 256 KB of cache RAM, and 500 MB of magnetic disk storage (expandable to 1 GB). The portable workstation is in a rugged suitcase shell. The ScreenStar's 21 -inch gas-plasma screen, which folds flat within the suitcase, displays at full size two 8'/>- by 1 l-inch documents at a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels. Two full-size ISA slots are available for appli- cation-specific adapter boards; a 5'A-inch bay can handle a second hard drive, a CD-ROM drive, or a read/ write optical drive. The unit ships with Windows 3.1. Price: $13,995. Contact: Bitwise Designs, Inc., Sche- nectady, NY, (800) 367-5906 or (5 18) 356-9741; fax (518) 356-9749. Circle 1271 on Inquiry Card. ScreenStar Model 450S. Variable -Voltage Notebook A 5-pound notebook that uses the Am386SXLV microprocessor, the CF- 1 000 from Panasonic has 4 MB of RAM (expandable to 12 MB). With Addstor's Super- Stor disk compression utility installed, the 60-MB hard drive has a capacity of 110 MB. VLSI Technology's VL82C315A Scamp II sin- gle-chip low-power system controller supports 3.3-V, 5- V, and mixed-mode operation without external level shift- ers. The CF-1000's 9'/.-inch VGA LCD screen has 640- by 480-pixel resolution. A detachable floppy drive lets you insert an optional second nickel-metal-hydride battery for 3 to 5'/2 more hours of use. The unit has serial, parallel, VGA, mouse, and dedicated AT bus ports, as well as two internal slots for RAM ex- pansion and a modem. Price: With 60-MB drive, $2299; with 120-MB drive, $2699. Contact: Panasonic Commu- nications & Systems Co., Modular Choices The modular Maxum 4150DE2 offers config- urations with up to 16 GB of memory on the hard drive. Memory on the motherboard is expandable to 64 MB. Based on the 486DX2 chip, the 50-MHz system is avail- able as a desktop, tower, and minitower. A typical desktop model comes complete with 4 MB of RAM; 64 KB of memory cache; a 330-MB IDE hard drive; dual floppy drives; a three-button mouse; and a 14-inch, noninterlaced VGA color monitor with 1024- by 768-pixel resolution. DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 are pre installed. Price: $4759. Contact: Maxum Systems, Inc., Brooklyn, NY, (718) 643-3385. Circle 1 273 on Inquiry Card. Unstoppable PCs The Unstoppable series of fault-tolerant 486-based PCs and servers uses RAID-5 disk arrays, ejectable hard drives, and a UPS (uninter- ruptible power supply) to allow the Astrix ArrayServer and ArrayPC to automatically recover data in the event of power or drive failures. Equipped with EISA or ISA buses, the ArrayServers have 1 . 1 GB of storage using four hot-swappable SCSI drives (380 MB or larger), a 500-W UPS, and a 486DX/50 with a 256-KB cache and 16 MB of RAM. Price: Starts at $7991. Contact: Astrix Computer Corp., Milpitas, CA, (408) 946-2883; fax (408) 946- 1610. Circle 1275 on Inquiry Card. 72 BYTE • JANUARY ! 993 NEWS WHAT'S NEW PERIPHERALS Smart Input Not a robot but a 3-D laser digitizer, the Digibot II measures 44 by 28 by 30 inches. It "reads" multidi- mensional objects up to 18 inches in diameter and 18 inches tall and then produces a list of a', y, and z coordinates accepted by any CAD/ CAM/CAE software that reads 3-D points. Designed to be fast and precise, the Digibot II scans at 1 200 points per minute at an accuracy within 0.002 inch. Digibotics includes sys- tematic and adaptive scan- ning software for even or uneven surfaces. Price: $49,000. Contact: Digibotics, Inc., Austin, TX, (512)832-6544; fax (512) 832-1 163. Circle 1276 on Inquiry Card. Bifllttel FIHgf VB ,1 Ctipyriyhl [C] lU'JU. blglbmies liicotpiitmcil. I'f I'iiims t'lllei Windows Help •I' Portable Printing The 4.4-pound Hewlett- Packard DeskJet Portable printer can be easily toted on trips, offering HP's laser- quality ink-jet printing to travelers. Using the same thermal ink-jet print technol- ogy as HP's DeskJet desktop printer line, the DeskJet Portable offers 300-dpi reso- lution and prints up to 3 ppm. You can manually feed in letter-, legal-, and A4-size paper as well as transparency film and labels. An optional sheet feeder that holds 50 sheets of paper or transparen- cies is available. The printer offers several built-in fonts and can use TrueType fonts. The unit has an internal recharger as well as an optional rapid recharg- er; battery life averages 100 pages per charge. Price: HP DeskJet Portable, $599; cut-sheet feeder, $99; rapid recharger, $99. Contact: Hewlett-Packard Co.. Palo Alto, CA, (800) 752-0900; in Canada, (800) 387-3867. Circle 1277 on Inquiry Card. Hun: I |IiIih = /1ll«l|«|i jm Hun: ■/ IMIIci = 'W.(IK|LtL*J! ' Run: i-IHIlur . .Ill ir;,| | . | »"| Rtllalc !■» nun: I lllltiti - ^Il.ll^llij/J Vli'w .^illilti Hiilnli- Adaptive screening software in the Digibot II automatically produces a greater number of points in an object that contains a sharp curve than in one that contains a gradual curve. The WriteMove II, a portable printer for Mac PowerBooks, weighs 2'fc pounds (including a recharge- able battery) and tucks into your PowerBook carrying case. Supported fonts include 21 from Linotype, Adobe Type Manager, and True- Type. The WriteMove 's print features include 360-dpi reso- lution, preview, print later, and print in the background. You can choose to use the multistroke or the single- stroke ribbon. The Write- Move II also prints on en- velopes and transparencies. Price: $599. Contact: GCC Technologies, Bedford, MA, (800) 422- 7777 or (617) 890-0880; fax (617) 890-0822. Circle 1278 on Inquiry Card. operating systems. A new technology in the system achieves data transfer ratesof300KBps(18MB per minute) and compressed data capacity of 4 GB per car- tridge. The PowerTape com- plies with the QIC-2GB in- dustry standard but costs only about half as much as previ- ous QIC systems that use 4-mm helical scanning tech- nology. Price: $1995. Contact: Colorado Memory Systems, Inc., Loveland, CO, (800) 45 1-0897 or (303) 669- 8000; fax (303) 667-0921. Circle 1 279 on Inquiry Card. Power Backup The PowerTape QIC (quar- ter-inch cartridge) backup system, available as internal SCSI 5'/i-inch drives or exter- nal devices, runs on AT, ISA, and EISA PCs. The Power- Tape is also compatible with a variety of major network Grabbing Eyes Grab that image with the ComputerEyes/RT frame grabber. But why isn't this software? Because this SCSI device for Macs can capture 24-bit color images from any standard video source. The ComputerEyes/RT connects easily to a wide range of Macs and can cap- ture color or black-and-white images at '/» second. Video inputs include NTSC com- posite video and S-video. You may predefine capture size and number of frames while choosing among TIFF-. PICT-. PICT2-, MacPaint-, or Quicktime-compatible for- mats. You need a Mac with at least 2 MB of RAM running System 6.07 or higher. Price: $599.95. Contact: Digital Vision, Inc., Dedharn, MA, (617) 329- 5400; fax (617) 329-6286. Circle 1280 on Inquiry Card. CD Fever With either a Mac or a PC, you can watch movies on CD with Chinon's line of multimedia CD-ROM drives. Using nonproprietary SCSI drives, these models call on a 64-KB data buffer to average a 350-ms access time and a data transfer rate of 1 50 KBps. They support the full MPC and Quicktime specifi- cations. The top-of-the-line Model CDC-435 works with both the Mac and PC and includes a 12-function remote control; a headphone jack with vol- ume control; and random- play, intro-only, repeat-sin- gle-track, and repeat-all buttons. The other models, internal and external, repre- sent a variety of features with a range of audio and multi- media capabilities. Price: $695 to $895. Contact: Chinon America, Inc., Torrance, CA, (310) 533-0274; fax (310) 533- 1727. Circle 1281 on Inquiry Card. The PowerTape QIC comes with Colorado Backup for DOS software and a DT-4000 data cartridge. JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 73 Duracell Introdu Nickel-Metal Hydride A world of change is coming. Portable products like computers and cellular phones are fast becoming a part of our everyday life. And as the market for these portable products grows and shifts to mass retail distribution, so will consumer demand for a readily available, long lasting rechargeable battery. Introducing DURACELL Nickel-Metal Hydride Rechargeable Batteries, a limited number of standard sized packs that will soon be conveniently available in millions of retail outlets worldwide. Exactly where your portable products must be found if you hope to gain a larger share of the growing consumer market. ces Standard Sized Rechargeable Batteries Consider the advantages DURACELL Rechargeables offer you, the manufacturer. Up to 40% longer life than ordinary nickel-cadmium. Freedom from the burden of custom pack design and inventory. Reduced product costs and cycle time to market. Worldwide availability of replacement packs. DURACELL Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries can make your portable computers and cellular phones as convenient, affordable and consumer friendly as your changing market demands. Join Duracell in a power partnership today. Circle 21 7 on Inquiry Card. DURACELL RECHARGEABLES NEWS WHAT'S NEW A D D - I Four-Channel Converter B i uilt to the Inmos TRAM 1 (transputer module) for- mat, the adtl64 high-speed A/D converter provides four channels of simultaneously sampled data at 1 MHz per channel with a resolution of 12 bits. Sophisticated trigger- ing lets you set the conver- sion rate via a software-pro- grammable trigger level on an analog input signal, an ex- ternal TTL-compatible signal, or a software command. The maximum conversion rate is 1 megasample per second. The 4'/i- by 3 : /i-inch mod- ule can store up to 4 MB of data in on-board memory and has an on-board 32-bit trans- puter. The adtl64 is built around a CMOS converter from Burr-Brown and uses a T400 or T805 processor. Price: About $3050 to $4240 (£1795 to £2495). Contact: Sunnyside Systems, Ltd., West Lothian, U.K., +44 5()6 460345; fax +44 506 460314. Circle 1282 on Inquiry Card. Sentry in a Slot The System Sentry PC monitoring system tracks DC voltages from the power supply and the battery and monitors the PC's internal temperature. The half-card signals readings that exceed whatever high and low limits you define, notifying the host PC via an interrupt or report- ing to another PC over a di- rect connection via its serial port. The card fits in an 8-bit slot and has an LED built into its bracket. Price: $379.95. Contact: Berkshire Products, Inc.. Duluth, GA, (404)418- 1286; fax (404) 418-1289. Circle 1283 on Inquiry Card. The adtl64 is built around Burr-Brown 's new CMOS converter, which allows the module to reach high speed with low power consumption. Control Your Cache A caching controller that's compatible with the ISA bus, the MC-2068 connects two IDE hard drives as large as 2 GB each, two floppy drives, and a Colorado Mem- ory Systems tape backup sub- system. The controller has a cache access time of less than 0.5 ms and a disk transfer rate of 24 Mbps. The 5 12-KB cache is expandable to 8 MB through the use of 256-KB or 1-MB SIMMs. Price: Without DRAM, $249. Contact: Maple Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA, (408) 456-0355: fax (408) 456- 0356. Circle 1284 on Inquiry Card. 640 by 480 pixels. TV-Show software turns your TV into a presentation device while letting you watch and control the action on an Apple 12-inch monitor. The software also includes keyboard-selectable flicker filters to adjust the picture quality on the TV. Price: $349. Contact: Lapis Technolo- . gies, Inc., Alameda, CA, (510)748-1600; fax (5 10) 748-1645. Circle 1285 on Inquiry Card. TV on Your Mac Lapis Technologies' L-TV NTSC interface card lets you connect your Mac LC, LCII, or Performa 400 to your TV and use the TV as a display device. The L-TV provides up to 16-bit-mode displays on your TV at a maximum resolution of Double the Resolution An add-in card that fits in the optional I/O slot of the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Series II and III printers, the doubleRES IV raises the res- olution from 300 dpi to 600 dpi. With its own Windows driver, the card can use all the features of Windows printing, such as embedded and down- loaded TrueType fonts. Other characteristics in- clude proprietary data com- pression, which enhances printing speed, and enough self-contained memory that no additional memory is needed on the LaserJet for the increased resolution. Network and shared connections are supported. Price: $595. Contact: Laser Printer Ac- cessories Corp., San Diego, CA, (619) 485-8411; fax (619) 487-5809. Circle 1286 on Inquiry Card. Two for Sound The MPC-compatible BSR MediaMaster sound board has a built-in microprocessor, 384 KB of RAM, and 16-bit A/D and D/A converters. The result is the ability to record and play back sound at 44.1 kHz, the sampling rate used to record audio CDs. The board includes vector-based processing with 128 built-in digitized instruments and sound effects and ships with MPC Windows applications and audio recording, mixer, jukebox, and CD music launcher programs. Price: $199.90. Contact: DAK Industries, Inc., Canoga Park, CA, (800) 325-0800 or (818) 888-8220. Circle 1287 on Inquiry Card. Advanced Gravis's Ultra- Sound, a 16-bit play- back, 32-voice sound card is equipped with wave-table synthesis and 256 KB of memory (expandable to 1 MB). The card is AdLib and SoundBlaster compatible and has a Windows 3.1 multime- dia driver and a set of general MIDI patches. The Ultra- Sound Studio 8 program lets you record and play back sampled music. Price: $199. Contact: Advanced Gravis Computer Technology, Ltd.. Bumaby, BC, Canada, (800) 663-8558 or (604) 431-5020; fax (604)431-5155. Circle 1 288 on Inquiry Card. 76 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Why do they call it a dongle? He wasn't famous. He didn't drive a fancy car, but dressed in his favorite Comdex T-shirt and faded blue jeans, he set out to change the course of the computer software industry. Quite a task for a lonely software developer. Sitting in front of his computer, ' drinking pots of coffee and smoking 'cartons of cigarettes, he'd write pages of code. ft took time. Years in fact. But he did it. He wrote the most powerful computer program in the world. Now came the hard part. Selling it. The Most Powerful Program in the World Determined to make those long years pay off, he called on every distributor, VAR and dealer in the world. He drove from Beantown to San Diego. Flew from Dublin to Borneo. Everyone loved the program. So he sold a few. Only a lew. Back in Boston he waited. After a long year with only 13 orders he set out to see what happened. As he drove across the ^^^^» country and flew around the world he discovered everyone knew about his program. Everyone had it too. The Global Marketplace From Paris to Prague, his program was everywhere in Europe. When he got off the plane in Hong Kong he found his program stacked to the ceiling in every computer store. Amazed in disbelief, he bought a hundred cartons of cigarettes and a hundred pounds of Indonesian coffee and flew back to Boston. Beaten, battered and bruised he went back to the drawing board. This time he would really change the face of the software industry. He would develop a device that would prevent unauthorized distribution of software programs. Call It What You Like He developed a hardware key. His peers applauded his efforts. Finally, a solid solution for revenue protection. But he didn't know what to call it. He thought of naming it after an exotic place he visited in his travels Madagascar was a bit too long, though. "Name it after you, Don!", urged his peers. So he did. Soon everyone was calling the key a dongle, * after Don Gall— |* the lonely software developer who did what he had to do. You've Come A Long Way, Baby Today, dongles are different. Fact is, they've come a long way. Leading the industry with security solutions, Rainbow Technologies has changed the face of hardware keys. They work with multiple applications, are programmable and network versions control concurrent usage. And they're always transparent to the end-user. Sentinel Family from Rainbow Truth is, more and more developers are using keys. And the Sentinel Family is the most widely used in the world. In fact, over 6,000 IS" developers use Sentinel from Rainbow. Why? They are simply the most effective, reliable and easy to implement keys on the market. Learn more about securing 0$^ mr y your software ^f and how keys provide developers with extra value. Call for a free copy of "The Sentinel Guide to Securing Software." And see just how easy it is to install a hardware key into your application in just minutes. Try it with our low cost Sentinel Evaluation Kit. Order one for your DOS, OS/2, Windows, Macintosh or UNIX based application. And remember, when you need a dongle, you need Sentinel — the only dongle Don Gall would use. CALL 800/852-8569 FOR YOUR FREE GUIDE TO SECURING SOFTWARE SEIITinEL Securing the future of software Some call it a dongle. Those who know, call it Sentinel. ^RAINBOW I E C II N L G I E S 9292 JERONIMO ROAD, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 927 1 8 ■ 7 1 4/ 454-2 1 00 ■ fax 714/ 454-8557 International offices are located in the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Circle 1 54 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 155). BEST BUY 486DXI33 Laptop Issue, September 1992 We are to note- books what Griselda of Skyland was to Pomeranians; the lightest. Compudyne. Latest Technology. Highest >0 ompudyne is the PC manufacturing and direct marketing arm of i^/ CompUSA™, the Computer Superstore (MSDAQ symbol; CUSA)—, inventors of big volume, deep discounting PC retailing, and the largest chain of computer super stores in the country. Compudyne manufactures lop quality, fully-supported computers as available from only the largest PC manufacturers at prices typically found only at garage shop clone houses. Result? We're already one of the largest direct PC companies in the country and guarantee that our prices are the lowest of any currently advertised. 486DX/33 "lli)nonible mention" August 1992 DIAL TO SAVE DOLLARS CHJ^DTl Feast your eyes on "one of the best note- book values around" (Mobile Office 7/92), snugly packed into a slim, trim, 5.5 lb package (including battery). All include these nifty features: • n"x8.5"x 1.6" (yes, only 1.6" thick!) • Full 10", 64 grayscale brilliant VGA screen ■ Internal 3 1/2" 1.44 MB floppy drive • Built-in trackball saves carrying a mouse •MS/DOS 5.0 and Microsoft® Windows 3.1 installed ready to run • Polaris PackRat 4.1™ Personal Information Manager™ • External SVGA monitor and keyboard support • Expansion Station • User-installable FAX modem and other options • Full keyboard— dedicated 'page up/down', 'home' and 'end' keys ■ Built-in serial (2) and parallel (1) ports • FCC Class B certification Battery Life (Hrs) 386SX/20 Intel 80386SX-20 MHz Optional 80387 SX^-——-^ Z standard, 16 max Last years' model, 6.5 lbs. ^tllfflllllilB 1 ^ 1.5+ 386SXL/25 386 SXL- 25 MHz Optional 80387SX This years' model, 5.5 lbs. 2 standard, 4 S 6 options -& •999t 537/mo' '1,399 S52/mo' 386SXL/25 386SXL-25MH2, Optional 80387SX 2 standard, 4 &6 options 80 *"* 3.5* •1,599 S59/mo' 386SL/25 Intel 80386SL-25 MHz, 64 K CPU cache Advanced SL power mgm't, Optional 80387SX co-processor as above 80 3.5* •1,799 S67/mo' 486SX/25 Intel 80486SX-25 MHz, Built-in 8KCPU cache 4 standard, 8 & 20 options 80 2.5+ •1,999 S74/mo' 486DX/33 Intel 80486DX-33 MHz, Built-in 8K CPU cache •2,899 S1D7/mo' ORDERING - 1-800-932-COMP(2667) > International callers dial: 1-214-702-0055 ► 24 hour fax: 1-214-702-0300 *■ Corporate credit and volume terms available. HOURS OF OPERATION - 7am-10pm (CST) Mon.-Fri. and 9am-5pm(CST) Sat. WARRANTIES ► 30-day, no questions asked, return policy.^ *• 1 year limited warranty. SERVICE £ SUPPORT *■ Toll-free technical support ► On-site service for desktopstt and overnight replacement for portables. *■ Next-day shipping for most systems. I-800-932-COMP (2667) tt Within 100 miles of any Dow Jones Service Center. "Does not include Windows 3.1 or mouse. V Must be returned "as new" in original ILast years' model. Actual photo not shown. Actual weight 6.5 lbs. Trackball not included. Most specs different from current model. Quality, lowest Prices. Guaranteed. .pftVtt 4j^^^ Order one of our pre-configured sys tems or custom-configure your own ; choosing from a myriad of options. All systems include... •Microsoft® Windows 3.1 and MS/DOS 5.0 • Microsoft compatible serial mouse '200 watt power supply • 101 AT-style keyboards ■ FCC Class B certification • Built in serial (2), parallel (1) and gamed) ports • Artisoft's LANtastic® LAN • 8 i/o board slots •U/L listing MICROSOFT® WINDOWS™ READY-TO-RUN Get Horizontal. .; I KllllOH / I gfflfcl Mr LANtastic in all systems! Our standard desktop systems feature aesthetic yet rugged plastic-over-steel construction with "one screw"assembly for quick easy upgrades. They support 3 externally accessible 5.25" drive bays and 2 internal 3.5" units. Get Vertical... For those who prefer the aesthetics and footprint of a desktop tower or need the added drive capacity for file server applications, our mini tower offers an astonishing 6 drive capacity; 4 external plus 1 internal 5.25" and 1 internal 3.5" unit in a mere 8"x 16" desktop footprint for only S100 more. llptioo,s,flptions, Options.. If you can find a PC that meets or exceeds our equiv- alent specification, but is shipping at a lower advertised price, we'll match the price. 386DX/33 Intel 80386DX-33 MHz 1 standard 32 max 40 12or 1.44 16 bit SVGA card, 14" 640x480 VGA Color Monitor 449 S32/mo- 386DX/33or 4S6SX/2S Intel 80386DX-33 MHz or Intel 80486SX-25 MHz, w/btlllt-in 8K CPU cache 2 standard 32 max 80 as above as above S37/mo - 486SX/25 Intel S0486SX-25 MHz Built-in 8K CPU cache as above 80 1.2 & 1.44 16 bit SVGA card, 14' 1024x768 SVGA Color Monitor 4,199 M4/mo' 3860X/33 CACHE Intel 80386DX-33 MHz 64K CPU cache 4 standard 32 max 120 as above 16 bit SVGA cards Hi-Color Support 14' 1024 x768 SVGA, .28 Interlaced Color Monitor >1,399 S52/mo' 486SX/33 Intel 80486SX-33 MHz 8K CPU cache as above 120 as above as above >1,499 JWrno' 486DX; 33 CACHE Intel 80486DX-33 MHz 128K CPU cache as above 120 as above 16 bit SVGA card, 1MB Video RAM S Hi-Color Support, 14" 1024x768 SVGA Non-interlaced Multisync Color Monitor 4,799 K7/mo' 486DX/50 CACHE Intel 80486DX-50 MHz 128K CPU cache, True 50 MHz CPU as above 120 as above as above =1,999 S74/mo' m 486SXI2S ''Honorable mention" October 13, 1992 486DX2/66 CACHE Intel 80486DX2-66 MHz, I28K CPU cache New Double Clock CPU 8 standard 32 max 16 bit SVGA, Superfast Windows, Accelerator s2 499 card, 1MB RAM, 14' 1024 x768 SVGA S93/ m0 - Non-interlaced Multisync Color Monitor COMPUDYKE THE LOWEST OF THE LOW PRICES. GUARANTEED. Prices and specifications subject to change without notice. Compudyne Direct, 15167 Business Ave., Dallas TX 75244. 1 the Intel Inside logo are trademarks of Intel Corp. "■V® Trademarks belong to their registered owners. 'Leasing arranged through Leasing Group, Inc; payments based on 36 month open-end rate. Circle 207 on Inquiry Card . NEWS WHAT'S NEW CONNECTIVITY Intranet working Hub Integrating routing/switch- ing, wiring-concentrator, and communications-server technologies, the Network 9000 intranetworking hub lets you hot-swap processor mod- ules, I/O modules, power supplies, and even the cool- ing fans without powering down the chassis or disturb- ing users. In addition, when you swap any processor mod- ule, the hub automatically reloads the new module with software and reconfigures it. The Network 9000 is available in five- or 14-slot chassis. Both chassis contain three Ethernet segments, four Token Ring segments, two FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) segments, and a dedicated management bus. Modules available for the Network 9000 include high- density Ethernet concentra- tors, local and remote bridges/routers, high-density terminal servers, and inte- grated routers/concentrators. Price: Five-slot version, $2495 and up; 14-slot ver- sion, $4495. Contact: Xyplex, Inc., Boxborough, MA, (508) 264- 9900; fax (508) 264-9930. Circle 1289 on Inquiry Card. 600-MB Tape Backup Designed for networks with storage capacities of up to 600 MB, the Master/ DC 5'A-inch half-height inter- nal or external tape drive has a data transfer rate of 243 KBps uncompressed and comes with two levels of error correction: Read-After- Write and ECC (Error Cor- rection Coding). With the drive, you get either Giga- Trend's MasterSafe Lite, a workstation-based backup- Xyplex's Network 9000 improves network reliability and manageability. and-restore solution that backs up from and restores to any file server on the network (as well as the host worksta- tion), or its MasterSafe NLM (NetWare loadable module) advanced network backup software (for networks that have from one to four file servers). Price: $2250 and up. Contact: GisiaTrend, Inc., Carlsbad, C A, (619)931- 9122; fax (619) 931-9959. Circle 1 293 on Inquiry Card. cc:Mail for Unix An Open Look GUI imple- mentation of cc:Mail, cc:Mail for Unix lets you create multimedia messages and file attachments in the Unix environment and share them with other cc:Mail users regardless of their computing platform. In addition, you can store cc:Mail message files on any file server that is ac- cessible from your Sun Sparcstation through NFS (Network File System). The package provides graphical icons, pull-down menus, pop-up dialog boxes, pinnable windows, and built- in support for SMTP-based E-mail systems. You can drag and drop files, including sound and graphics files, from the File Manager into any cc:Mail message; send and receive faxes within cc:Mail; ask for return re- ceipts; and access the bulletin boards shared by all cc:Mail users. You can also com- municate with users of most major mainframe and public E-mail systems, such as PROFS, X.400, and MCI Mail. Price: Unix Platform Pack, $895. Contact: Lotus Development Corp., Cambridge, MA, (617) 577-8500; fax (617) 253- 9150. Circle 1294 on Inquiry Card. Token-Ring Adapter Cards All three of Madge Net- works' new token-ring products — the Straight Blue 16/4MC Adapter Card, the Straight Blue 16/4 ISA Plus Adapter Card, and the Straight Blue 16/4 ISA Adapter Card — can operate at 16 or 4 Mbps. Both the Straight Blue 16/4MC(a 16- bit Micro Channel architec- ture bus card) and the Straight Blue 16/4 ISA Plus (a 16-bit ISA card) support shielded twisted-pair cabling, unshielded twisted-pair ca- bling, and remote booting via built-in support for remote program load. An 8-bit ISA card, the Straight Blue 16/4 ISA supports remote booting but only STP cabling. Price: Straight Blue 16/4 MC and Straiaht Blue ISA Plus, $545; Straight Blue 16/4 ISA, $445. Contact: Madse Networks. Inc., San Jose, CA, (800) 876-2343 or (408) 441-1300; fax (408)441-1335. Circle 1290 on Inquiry Card. Receive and Answer E-Mail Arewritten-from-scratch version of the original shareware program, Qmo- dem-Pro communications software for the PC lets you receive E-mail messages and, regardless of the source, send replies to BBSes, E-mail ser- vices, and fax machines. New features include an enhanced off-line mail read- er; mouse support; pull-down menus and resizable win- dows; a spelling checker; up to 4095 entries per telephone book, with an unlimited num- ber of books; Class 1 and 2 send-only fax capability; group dialing; and MCI Mail and CompuServe E-mail gateway support. Qmodem- Pro also supports 125 precon- figured modems; ZMODEM, Kermit, CompuServe B+, YMODEM, XMODEM, and ASCII internal protocols; up to 10 external protocols; and Wyse 50, VT220, VT320, and TVI 925 terminal emula- tions. Price: $99. Contact: Mustang Software, Inc., Bakersfield, CA, (805) 395-0223; fax (805) 395- 0713. Circle 1291 on Inquiry Card. 80 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Program M anager lie Options Window Help Yes, it's definitely time you expanded your view to the non-interlaced 15" ViewSonic 6FS monitor. For one thing, you get 36-percent more viewing space than with a standard 14" monitor. And, since you can display more information on the screen with the larger 15" flat square screen, this is an ideal monitor for Windows, Graphical User Interface (GUI) and desktop publishing environments. Thanks to the ultra high 72Hz refresh rate with resolution up to 1,024 x 768, the ViewSonic 6FS produces the most vivid and precise flicker-free image anywhere. In addition, the non-glare screen reduces irritating reflections. The monitor, compatible with all standard resolutions, features 32 programmable modes with digital controls to store and customize the display to fit your specific needs. It also is certified to meet strict MPR-II Swedish certifications for low emissions, which makes it environmentally safe. It's a fact- the ViewSonic 6FS offers special features normally available only on larger, more expensive monitors. Expand your view, not your budget, with the affordable 15" ViewSonic 6FS monitor. ViewSonic ® 20480 E. Business Parkway Walnut, CA 91789 (714) 869-7976 (800) 888-8583 Fax: (714) 869-7958 For immediate faxed information, call the FaxSonic "hot line" at (714) 869-7318-ifs available 24 hours a day. All products and brand names are registered trademarks of rJieir respective companies. Circle 1 85 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 1 86). As they say, it's all in the genes. Introducing the .ThinkPad" from IBM. The slickest, sleekest little number that ever crunched one. A mere seven-and- a-half pounds of brains and beauty that begs you to take it anywhere. And once you own one, that's exactly what you'll do. -All this in only 11.7."- Introducing ThinkPad The top-of-the-line ThinkPad 700C sports a screaming 486 SLC™ 25 MHz processor. But it's built for comfort too. There's a surprisingly roomy interior, with a full-size, ergonomically designed keyboard. And a screen that literally bends over backwards. Strategically placed on the keyboard is a little red spot called the TrackPoint II!" It does what a mouse would do with a few million more years of evolution. Nothing dangles; it's part of the soul of the machine. You can operate it with one fingertip. And it lets you think on any terrain, even one without any Hat surfaces. The ThinkPad's screen is a thing of almost aching beauty. Its 640 X 480 VGA resolution is sharper than that of many desktop computers. It displays 256 colors. And it's the biggest screen on any notebook. So it's very easy on the eyes. The ThinkPad comes standard with things some other notebooks don't even offer as options. Like 4MB "Depending on usage and configuration. "MSRP. Dealer prices may vary. tWarranty informalion available from the Personal Systems HelpCenter or an IBM authorized dealer. 700T warranty is available in USA and Canada only, ttln Canada, call 1 800 465-7999. IBM is a registered trademark andThinkPad, HelpWare, HelpCenter, SLC andTrackPoint II are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. PRODIGY is a registered trademark of Prodigy Services Company. © 1992 IBM Corp. Its mother was Its father wa of memory upgradable to 16MB. 120MB of hard disk space. Pre-installed DOS 5.0 and PRODIGY.' You can soup it up with a turbo-charged 486SLC2 50/25 MHz processor— just one of the upgrade products 1 BM offers. And the hard disk is removable, so it's easy to upgrade and share your ThinkPad, not to mention the great security and virtu- ally unlimited storage. ThinkPad blows the doors off its competition in an even more surprising arena. Price. Any ThinkPad in the line will give you more for your money — and for your psyche — than any other notebook. If you have questions along the way, ThinkPad Models 700C and 700 are supported by HelpWare™ an invaluable service package that includes a three-year international warranty?" ThinkPad Model 700C Model 700 Processor 486SLC/25MHz 486 SLC/25 MHz Display 10.4" Active Matrix 256-Color Screen 9.5" Monochrome Display 64 Grayscale Screen Battery Life* 2-4 Hours 3.8-7.5 Hours Weight 7.6 Lbs. with Battery 6.5 Lbs. with Battery Warranty 3 Years (International) 3 Years (International) Price** $4,350 $2750 For more information or an IBM authorized dealer near you, call our Personal Systems HelpCenter " 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1 800 772-2227. ++ Then just park one in your lap and see what happens. :® a mainframe. s a Maserati. Circle 1 1 2 on Inquiry Card. WHAT'S NEW NEWS PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE CLOS-Based Development Based on CLOS (the Com- mon Lisp Object Sys- tem), Allegro CLNPC 1.0 is a full-featured OOP (object- oriented programming) solu- tion for Windows that lets developers design, build, and maintain complex applica- tions. The software's pro- grammable and extensible development tools include an editor, a structure editor, an inspector, a debugger, a trac- er, and a stepper and time profiler. Allegro ClAPC 1 .0 also features Common Graphics, an object-oriented layer on top of the Windows API, and a DLL interface to code written in languages such as C and FORTRAN. Price: $595. Contact: Franz, Inc., Berke- ley. CA. (510) 548-3600; fax (510)548-8253. Circle 1 296 on Inquiry Card. UUCP for MKS Toolkit New features of MKS Toolkit 4. 1 include MKS UUCP, an awk compiler, MKS Make, and Windows icons that put frequently used utilities, such as sh, find, vi. grep, and awk, just a click away. The MKS UUCP facilities provide interactive mail composition and mail reading, a uucp command that prioritizes requests to transfer or receive files, a uux command that allows command execution from a remote machine running MKS UUCP, and the ability to create custom applications. The new awk compiler creates freestanding DOS programs from a working MKS AWK program, so you can create and distribute ap- plications without royalties. In addition, you can use these applications independently of MKS Toolkit and MKS Allegro CIXPC's Garbage Collector automatically manages memory allocation, reducing the number of design errors, and the Runtime Generator creates compact, faster applications for royalty-free delivery. AWK. The MKS Make fea- ture minimizes file mainte- nance by letting you create a recipe for large or small soft- ware projects. Price: $299. Contact: Mortice Kern Sys- tems, Inc., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (519) 884-2251; fax (519)884-8861. Circle 1297 on Inquiry Card. CASE Tools for Autocoding SAGA, a CASE tool for acquiring and processing data in a real-time environ- ment, provides synchronous data streams for safe and effi- cient application coding and presents graphics and text through block, gate, and logic diagrams. SAGA lets you capture, check, and imple- ment your software designs. You edit and display infor- mation at three levels: Hierar- chy, which displays an over- all view of the software architecture; Network, which displays data hierarchy and data communication between components; and Data- View, which displays data types and definitions. SAGA coordi- nates information at each level so that changes are im- mediately propagated during the development process. SAGA also provides 70 ready-to-use components and the facility to add further components with C code or SAGA's own formal lan- guage. In addition, SAGA lets you verify completed system, subsystem, or com- ponent designs at any stage prior to final code generation. Price: About $188,080 (100,000 French francs). Contact: Verilog, Toulouse Cedex, France, +33 61 19 29 39; fax +33 61 40 84 52. Circle 1298 on Inquiry Card. Prefabricated Software Tools Now you can quickly cre- ate applications from prefabricated software com- ponents using Digitalk's open language-neutral technology called PARTS (Parts Assem- bly and Reuse Tool Set). The first product using this tech- nology, PARTS Workbench for OS/2 2.0, consists of a catalog of prebuilt compo- nents, both visual and non- visual, and a workbench win- dow. You create applications by dragging parts from the catalog into the workbench and then "wiring" parts to- gether by drawing lines be- tween them. The PARTS technology lets you assemble and reuse software compo- nents written in languages such as Smalltalk/V or C. Price: $1995. Contact: Diaitalk. Inc., Los Anaeles,CA, (310)645- 1082; fax (310) 645-1306. Circle 1 299 on Inquiry Card. Port Windows Applications WNDX Portable Devel- opment Tools 2.0 com- bines WNDX run-time li- braries and resource creation tools that let you create GUIs that transport in as little time as it takes to recompile and relink to other popular plat- forms. The company says the tools let you build Windows applications that are portable to popular graphical operat- ing systems (i.e., Mac, OSF/Motif, Open Look, OS/2, and DOS) with no loss of performance. The WNDX portable GUI run-time libraries provide a single consistent API of more than 1000 functions and at- tributes for any language with a C-style interface. The pack- age's WNDX Opus, an ob- jected-oriented GUI design tool, makes developing GUI resources (i.e., dialog boxes, menus, icons, cursors, pat- terns, color palettes, and strings) as easy as "pick and drop." Price: $695. Contact: The WNDX Corp., Caleary. Alberta. Canada, (403) 244-0995; fax (403) 244-1039. Circle 1 300 on Inquiry Card. 84 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Since when is Raima first in Co I kt/JJ mejji "-tSsB I V:; ■Ml r ^**^ Hra« Listen to what some of our customers-say about our products: "No other products matched Raima for '.the price," James Lisiak, developer, Chevron "Raima provided us with speed, flexibility, and royalty-free dis- tribution which allowed us to meet aniexceed our customers' needs" Dave Cooper, developer, Atlantic: Research 'Corp, (subcontractor, Naval Electronic Systems Engmeeimg Ach^ry) • PorfaW%:runs on DOS^ Windows, OS/2, UNIX, VMS,QNX "Database Manager 'gave us the edge weweMlO h^lelarge • Roydltyrfree distribution: increase your, profits. amounts of data quickly and effieienttj rwitlm^osof^mdmsJ' • Source-code availability: totai programming flexibility. . Kelly Patrick, developer, PHHFantus • Affordable pricing: starting at just $395. If you're looking for an award-winning application deye-lopment • Langudge support: ANSI C, C++, and Visual; Basic. tool, give us a call. And discover the Raima advantage; Raima Database Manager rite high-performance dbms W5*?|T|]Mfl^^ Raima Database Manager was th? database of choice in the First Annual Windows World Open. The competition featured in- novative/custom applications built with Windows development tools, three of the seven winners-, and two of the finalists, used Raima Database Manager to solve their critical application needs. For professional developers like yourself, Raima products offer: High performance: unmatched application speed. Ra^a; Object Manager Tlte object storage class library Raima Carpbratipn'; 1605:NW Sammamish Rdy Suite 200 Issaquah, WA. 98027 (206)557-0200 Fax: (206)557-5200 , Circle 1 53 on Inquiry Card. DOS, OS/2, and UNIX Cafttjrlghl<%7992Baf> i] C^r/forutiou: Alt. righto reversed. ■BY13WA Novell Labs Tested & Approved i" % HP Vectra 486N Specifications • 32-bit Intel SX, DX and DX2 processors at 25, 33, 50 and 66 MHz • 4 MB RAM, expandable to 48 MB • Local bus integrated Ultra VGA+ Video with graphics accelerators • 85-430 MB hard drive • 3.5" floppy drive • Three 16-bit. expansion slots • ROM-based internal diagnostic and system guide • Integrated Flash BIOS and boot-ROM • Multilevel hardware security • Chip-upgradable "Suggested U.S. list prices for HP486725N arid HP 480/33N Model 1 PCs. Monitor not included. Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Windows :i.l is a product of Microsoft Corporation. The Intel Inside logo is a U.S. trademark of Intel Corporation. € 1992 Hewlett-Packard Company PPG-658 Now we're calling the shots. Those cheap PCs don't stand a chance. Hewlett-Packard has intro- duced 486 models starting at under $1,200.* With prices of our entire line of HP486 and 386 PCs down as much as 42% in the last 9 months. But our low prices have not come at the expense of quality, performance or the features you want. To scream through those high- powered Microsoft* Windows and CAD projects, our revolutionary local-bus technology and fast graphics accelerators really fly. And, with true multivendor compatibility, HP PCs fit easily into your computer environment. We've also made big advances on the networking front. Many models come with preinstalled network interface cards and boot-ROMs. And, of course, HP PCs are fully tested and certified with all the major NOSes. Our security features are so conveni- ent your people will actually use them. And our 486 desktop PCs are chip- upgradable. So you can count on always having the latest and greatest. All this for as little as $1,200! And for a few hundred dollars more, we'll throw in a hard drive with preinstalled DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 and a mouse. To be a winner in the price wars, call 1-800-752-0900, Ext. 7094 for your nearest HP PC dealer. Or call 1-800-964-1602 for immediate details. Then start calling the shots. m HEWLETT PACKARD NEWS WHAT'S NEW BUSINESS SOFTWARE PowerPoint 3.0 for the Mac Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0 for the Mac integrates word processing, outlining, graphing, drawing, and pre- sentation management tools. You can produce presenta- tions that include 35 mm slides, overhead transparen- cies, speaker's notes, audi- ence handouts, and electronic slide shows. Version 3.0 for the Mac also has menus, commands, and keyboard equivalents consistent with PowerPoint 3.0 for Windows, so you can share files be- tween them and run cross- platform presentations. Features include 1 60 tem- plates; the Slide Master, which provides visual consis- tency and format control; 84 graphing styles; automatic build slides with flying bul- lets, transition effects, on- screen notation, sound, and video; 35 PostScript fonts; over 500 pieces of full-color clip art; graphics importing; and 5000 professionally de- signed color schemes. The Slide Sorter lets you view miniatures of all your slides, copy and paste between pre- sentations, and rearrange your slides. Price: $495. Contact: Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, (206) 882- 8080; fax (206) 936-7329. Circle 1302 on Inquiry Card. Proposed Route to the Indies Productivity for X Window System GlobalView for X gives Unix workstation users in the X Window System en- vironment the ability to cre- ate, manage, retrieve, share, and distribute documents. You can also share Global- View documents via Sun's A new route to the Indies will bring: More trade Now land - Increased revenue Westward route is: - Safer Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0 for the Mac comes with a Freeform tool for combining polygons and freehand drawing in one object; drawing manipulation tools; a toolbar; and 24 adjustable shapes for creating diagrams. NFS (Network File System) or distribute them via stan- dard Unix mail. You can create and inte- grate text, graphics, and ta- bles into a single document using creation tools such as color, style sheets, redlining, a thesaurus, a spelling check- er, equations, footnotes, and long-document options. GlobalView for X also in- cludes file filters for import- ing and exporting 20 popular PC, Mac, and Unix worksta- tion file formats. To extend the functions of GlobalView for X, XSoft offers six addi- tional software modules. Price: Floating license with all file filters and one option- al software module, $1495; additional software modules, $495 each. Contact: XSoft, Palo Alto, CA, (415) 424-01 11; fax (415)813-7162. Circle 1 303 on Inquiry Card. Manufacturing Control Software Team One provides full control over manufactur- ing operations, customer or- ders, scheduling, inventory, vendors, and warehousing. It lets you control 100 million individual product structures, 2 billion customer records, 2 billion processes per product, and 100 million product levels, all on a DOS PC. Eclipse Software also of- fers Team One Lite, a single- user version that limits the maximum number of inven- tory items to 10,000 and the number of products and sub- assemblies to 250 items. Price: Team One, about $3000: Team One Lite, about $1200. Contact: Eclipse Software, Lakewood, CO, (303) 238- 9431; fax (303) 238-9720. Circle 1304 on Inquiry Card. A Pinboard on Your PC A business planning tool for the PC, MapBase combines a simulated pin- board with databases, spread- sheets, and detailed maps. The software also includes tools for defining and manag- ing territories, calculating drive-time zones and catch- ment areas, analyzing data, adding pictures and graphics, and producing graphs, charts, and maps for presentations, reports, and slide shows. A built-in dBase-compatible database lets you edit, browse, calculate, replace, sort, and search. MapBase uses a digital map of Great Britain that in- cludes more than 67,000 road miles; 33,000 places; post- code sectors; telephone codes; national, county, and district administration bound- aries; and population data. It is also available with maps of Germany, Benelux, France, Europe, and the U.S. Price: About $758 (£495). Contact: NextBase, Ltd., Farnham. Surrey, U.K., +44 784 421422; fax +44 784 420072. Circle 1305 on Inquiry Card. Windows Contact Management The Windows version of the Maximizer contact management package pro- vides priority tasking; four- view schedulable calendars with conflict notification and alarms; data-entry tables; templates for creating letters, fax forms, invoices, and re- ports; fax transmission to one person or the entire database; database search and list-ma- nipulation capabilities; and a separate editor for multitask- ing editing and printing. The software's to-do Hotlist lets you prioritize tasks and mark them as completed. You can sort the Hotlist by date, time, priority, client, task, or com- pletion status. Maximizer for Windows automatically logs call results in the client's notes as a file containing the name and phone number of the person called, the date/time, the sub- ject, personal notes, appoint- ments, and any changes in database categories. Price: $249. Contact: Richmond Tech- nologies & Software, Inc., Bumaby, BC, Canada, (604) 299-2121; fax (604) 299- 6743. Circle 1306 on Inquiry Card. 88 BYTE • JANUARY 1 993 Plug and Play Tape Backup. The Plug. That sit Go Play. Now, tape backup is easier than ever. Unpack Trakker and plug it into your computer's parallel printer port. That's it. No assembly, no installation, no problem. Trakker goes anywhere. It's light and compact, the ideal solution for backing up notebooks and laptops. And Trakker can back up unattended, so you can go anywhere, too. LOR\DO SYSTEMS inc. Trakker is available in two models. At $448, Trakker 120 (120 MB capacity, using data compression) is the price leader. And Trakker 250 (250 MB capacity using data compression) is the fastest in its class at up to 8 MB/minute. Both give you QIC Industry Standard Recording Format, as well as Novell' and LANtastic* certification. For more information, please call 1-800-451-0897 ext. 1667 today. Traldcer. Backup so simple it's advanced? Mini data cartridge sold separately. © 1992 Colorado Memory Systems Inc. All rights reserved. Jumbo, Trakker and Colorado are trademarks of Colorado Memory Systems, Im: All oilier trademarks are property of their respective companies. Circle 84 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 85). We have laurels at Toshiba, we just dont PRESENTING THE T 4 4 REST ON THEM. August 1992 Toshiba T4400SXC The PC Magazine's Editors' Choice Award is just one of the many awards our highly ac- claimed T4400SXC has captured. The neu» T4400C is available with a blaz- ing 25 MHz 486DX processor. c Immediately after capturing the "Editors' Choice" award from PC Magazine for our T4400SXC, we asked our engineers to better it. They responded with the T4400C. A notebook that redefines what is possible in 486 color technology. Take for example its TFTLCD active ma- trix color screen. We pioneered this technology and now we've advanced it even further by en- larging the screen to a full 9.5 inches. Amazingly, it provides an eyeball-popping 256 simultaneous colors at 640 x 480 resolution from a palette of 185,193 colors, making it the best TFT color display on the market. If you think that's impressive, check what's under the hood. You'll find a choice of either a blistering new 25 MHz 486DX processor with a massive 200MB hard drive or the renowned 25 MHz 486SX with a 120MB hard drive. And both offer 4MB RAM expandable to 20MB. Of course, if your needs are more modest, we offer a T4400SX with a large 9.5" mono- chrome LCD screen, a not-so-modest 25 MHz 486SX microprocessor and 120MB hard drive. Our engineers even extended battery life. By offering such MaxTtme™ power management features as automatic display and hard drive shut down, AutoResume and AutoSave. To test-drive the T4400C yourself, feel free to call the number below for the location of your nearest Toshiba dealer. Our operators don't like resting either. In Touch With Tomorrow. TOSHIBA 1-800-457-7777 © 1992 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All products indicated by trademark symbols are trademarked and/or registered by their respective manufacturers. With our T440OC, you have a choice of either a 200MB or 120MB hard drive. Our T4400 series features our MaxTime power management system that gets the maximum out of every battery charge. Circle 1 78 on Inquiry Card. NEWS WHAT'S NEW • S C I E N C E / E N G I N E E R I N G SOFTWARE BBN/Probe for Unix The Unix version of BBN/Probe provides in- teractive data reduction and analysis capabilities on Sun Microsystems and DEC workstations. BBN/Probe 3.0 gives you direct access to complicated and nonstandard data sources without refor- matting and provides an in- teractive environment that lets you perform sophisticat- ed analysis and graphing. The interface also provides a means to create real-time dis- plays of data streams for monitoring critical parame- ters of a test. The software's high-level structured programming lan- guage lets you create proce- dures to perform repetitive analyses, produce quick-look reports, and automate entire applications. With BBN/ Probe's Flexible File Server, you can directly access the data in its original pulse-code modulation frame format without having to reformat data into standardized files. In addition, the Data Dictio- nary helps you unpack vari- ous standard and nonstan- dard data formats. Price: $13,000 and up. Contact: BBN Systems & Technologies, Cambridge, MA, (617) 873-2559; fax (617)873-3776. Circle 1307 on Inquiry Card. CAD Software for Surveyors Available for Windows and the Mac, Pythagoras 2.0 is a CAD program for professionals involved in road engineering and land measurement and manage- ment. The software integrates specialized calculating and In a typical lime-series analysis session, a BBN/Probe graphics window can show spectral plots, real-time displays, color thresholding, and interactively labeled time plots. drawing functions with the ability to read field memory data, generate nearly final- ized drawings, and import and export various file for- mats. The package includes se- lectable, multiuser, and fixed- page coordinates; dynamic calculation of intersections and elevations; parallel and perpendicular lines; arcs and circles; and snapping to tan- gential points of arcs and lines. Calculation functions include intersection, three- point resection, traverse, and transformation. A control panel shows you the current layer, coordi- nates, and coordinate system. Other features include a tool- box; undo and redo; and zoom in multiple levels. zoom out, actual size, and fit in window. Price: Mac version, about $30,350 (98,000 Belgian francs); Windows version, about $36,544 ( 1 1 8,000 BF ); optional modules for reading field memory data, about $34,067(1 1 0,000 BF). Contact: ADW Software B.V.B.A., Vosselaar. Bel- gium, +32 14 61 32 70; fax +32 14 61 82 15. Circle 1 309 on Inquiry Card. Visual Data Analysis on a PC DADisp/Pro-32 is a 32-bit version of DSP Develop- ment's general-purpose pro- ductivity software for scien- tists and engineers. The package, for 386 and 486 PCs running under Windows 3.x, uses native 32-bit instructions to address up to 64 MB of on- board memory for processing large datasets. This data analysis and dis- play package also includes hundreds of data reduction, mathematical, statistical, Fourier transform, peak anal- ysis, and graphical tools; mouse-controlled 3-D plot ro- tation; user-specified rotation angles; commands for adding, removing, and ar- ranging windows; and new functions for saving and load- ing worksheets. Price: $1895 and up. Contact: DSP Development Corp., Cambridge, MA. (617) 577-1 133; fax (617) 577- 8211. Circle 1308 on Inquiry Card. Predictive Modeling ModelWare Professional is the professional ver- sion of TeraNet's predictive modeling software package for DOS. It features a new Drivers tool, which automati- cally selects the best group of predictor variables for a user- specified dependent variable, and a new Patch tool, which fills in missing values for a given data set. The package also includes tools that normalize data, smooth data, randomly parti- lion data files, and provide descriptive statistics for a data file. In addition, the core modeling algorithm has been enhanced to handle extremely large training files. Price: $1495. Contact: TeraNet IA, Inc., Nanaimo, BC, Canada, (800) 663-861 1 or (604) 754-4223; fax (604) 754-2388. Circle 1310 on Inquiry Card. 32-bit Schematic Design Tools Schematic Design Tools 386+ is a set of tools for designing schematics for printed circuit boards, field- programmable gate arrays, and programmable logic devices. It provides virtually unlimited design capacity, increased netlisting perfor- mance, and larger graphics part size on 386- and 486- based platforms. OrCAD has removed the 640-KB DOS memory barrier by using extended rather than expanded memory. Using ex- tended memory also results in smooth memory management and lets you load more li- braries in RAM without com- promising design capacity. Price: $895. Contact: OrCAD, Hillsboro. OR, (503) 690-9881; fax (503)690-9891. Circle 1311 on Inquiry Card. 92 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 sS *C i d$> <$ 8P &P four different angles. BallPoint* mouse raises your comfort level several degrees. JA And its easy-to-see cursor lowers your frustration level just as much. The point being, if you use the Windows "operating system on a laptop, BallPoint makes your work even easier. So call us at (800) 426-9400 to find out how UMirmHrvH to get one. Because next to this mwHtt%fZ}%JM[ mouse, others are hard to handle. Making it easier © 1992 Microsoft Corporation. Alt righto reserved. Printed in the USA. In the 50 United States, call (800) 426-9400. Outside the 50 United States, call (206) 936-8661. Customers in Canada, call (80(!) 5h.'!-'J048. Microsoft and Ballpoint arc registered trademarks and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. \r> ' -9/ t [J Shift all of your soft Introducing Intel doubling" technology, an OverDrive OverDrive" Processors Processor gives you plenty of added for your i486" DX PC. power— up to a 70% performance Would you like to visibly increase boost systemwide. the speed of all your applications? And that power will benefit Then it's time you shift your i486 every application you run on DOS, DX or SX system into high gear. OS/2? Windows! or UNIX— from Using Intel's ingenious "speed AutoCAD* to WordPerfect* and ©1992 Intel Corporation. *A1I products arc trademarks of their respective companies. tin cases where there is no OverDrive Processor socket, Intel recommends installation by a qualified technician. i486™ DX System Performance Word for 1 Windows* B Lotus ■ 12-3- fE Improvement H H 4J j§67 ■ 25 BHH 45 wfoOvwOrive AB \uloCAD' 1 ■103 .n„,„™3 J ■ >\: 1-12 'e»w. <® ■*•?• ware into high gear. over 50,000 applications in between. It's easy to install an OverDrive Processor. Just plug the single-chip upgrade into the vacant OverDrive Processor socket and you're ready to go. Faster. So to rev up your i486 system and keep up to speed on all the latest software developments, you need the future of PC upgradability: Intel OverDrive Processors. To find out which OverDrive Processor is right for your system or Circle 233 on Inquiry Card. to locate your nearest dealer, call 1-800-538-3373, ext. 228. Because when it comes to running software, there's only one gear. High. iny NEWS WHAT'S NEW OTHER SOFTWARE Unix-Based Image Management The PixelFX 2.0 family of image management soft- ware products for Unix sys- tems includes five packages: PixelScan, PixelView, Pixel- Edit, PixelOCR, and Pixel- Print. Each features a common Motif-based user interface, which allows multiple win- dows to use different toolkits interactively and simultane- ously; photo retouching and image manipulation; and sup- port for major import and ex- port file formats. PixelScan interfaces to popular scanners and lets you capture line art, gray-scale, and true-color images. With PixelView, you can format and display image data and convert images from one for- mat to another. PixelEdit in- cludes PixelBrush for image editing and photo retouching and Pixellmage for manipu- lating images in multiple windows. With PixelPrint's Visual Printing interface, you get page preview and support for RGB to CYMK conver- sions. PixelOCR is an option- al module that lets you con- vert scanned copy to text. Price: $1595. Contact: Mentalix. Inc.. Piano, TX, (214)423-9377; fax (214) 423-1 145. Circle 1 3 1 2 on Inquiry Card. Antivirus Toolkits S&S International offers Windows and OS/2 ver- sions of Dr. Solomon's Anti- Virus Toolkit that feature a faster engine, more efficient memory usage, and a new user interface. The packages can detect, identify, and deal with 2200 viruses. The user interface lets you select the right operational level for your requirements: The checksum facility pro- vides four levels of security and a new memory-resident PixelFX 2.0 Unix products let you scan, convert, manipulate, and print line art, gray-scale, and true-color images. checksummer, Certify, that allows program checking on the fly. The memory-resident scanner, VirusGuard, now in- cludes support for the Ex- tended Memory Specification to improve operational speed on systems with more than 1 MB of RAM. Price: Windows version with quarterly upgrade, about $192 (£125); with monthly upgrade, about $330 (£215); OS/2 version with quarterly upgrade, about $229 (£149); with monthly uparade, about $406 (£265). Contact: S&S International, Ltd., Hertfordshire, U.K., +44 442 877877; fax +44 442 877882. Circle 1 3 1 3 on Inquiry Card. New Version of SuperPrint Zenographics offers two new versions of its Su- perPrint software utility that speeds and enhances Win- dows printing. SuperPrint 3.0 features Zenographics' new SuperRIP 32-bit Windows driver, and SuperPrint 3.0 with ZScript features the Su- perRIP drivers and a 32-bit PostScript interpreter. SuperPrint 3.0 offers SuperText, SuperPrint's type manager that scales typeface outlines from major type foundries to screen or printer, and SuperQueue, Super- Print's fast replacement for the Windows Print Manager. ZScript translates PostScript into the GDI (Graphical De- vice Interface) environment and turns any SuperPrint-sup- ported printer into an ultra- fast PostScript printer. You can view your PostScript out- put in a window, copy it to the Clipboard via a scalable GDI Metafile, or print it via the 32-bit SuperRIP drivers. Price: $149; with ZScript, $295. Contact: Zenographics, Irvine, CA, (908) 577-8303; fax (908) 303-9594. Circle 1314 on Inquiry Card. Double Your Disk Capacity SuperStor Pro 2 increases your PC's disk capacity and adds Windows-based utilities that improve usabil- ity. Version 2 includes JPEG image compression and also features password protection, an integral disk cache, ex- tended memory support, and enhancements to Addstor's proprietary Universal Data Exchange technology. SuperStor Pro 2 compress- es data automatically as it is stored and decompresses it when you retrieve it. Com- pression and decompression occur in real time at the record level, eliminating the need to compress or decom- press an entire file before you can retrieve or write data. Price: $99.95. Contact: Addstor, Inc., Menlo Park, CA, (800) 732- 3133 or (415) 688-0470; fax (415)688-0466. Circle 1315 on Inquiry Card. Information Management Recollect is a Windows desktop information management tool that gives you quick access to color and black-and-white photos. Its software-only image-com- pression features let you easi- ly store and retrieve images. You store information in Recollect by scanning pages or by importing files. Recol- lect converts scanned pages that contain text sections into ASCII format and then auto- matically processes the text with its built-in autoindexing. Once the information is stored, you can search through documents using free-form search capability. Price: $795. Contact: Rebus Technology, Inc., Auburn. CA, (916) 888- 6452; fax (916) 885-0388. Circle 1316 on Inquiry Card. 96 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 First SL notebook. First Microsoft peer-to-peer notebook First upgradable-to-color notebook V First notebook pre-loaded with network client shells. We'd also be the first to Iff we had any. You may be surprised to learn Zenith Data Systems is one of the world's biggest names in SL notebooks. Equally surprising is that we're #1 in the U.S. in SL based portables P Maybe we're first in sales because we're first in technology. Zenith Data Systems created the first SL notebook. We're the first peer to peer notebook, first up- gradable to color notebook and first with pre-loaded network client shells. Now being # 1 doesn't mean diddily if we don't deliver. But we're For the Ollly notebooks with built-in networking right out of the box, call Z- DIRECT. jajjijsy satisfying thousands by offering Z-NOTEs of uncompromising quality, RANYAN® vines w i tn ultra-low Z-DIRECT prices, with unstinting customer assistance and unrivaled Z-CARE service. ILAN So since you're shopping, we invite comparisons. Only Z-NOTE u^AfjFR comes with built-in networking with Ethernet-compatible, high- _i While competitors have been busy yelling, we've been busy selling. Guess who's #1 in SL portables? The Z-NOTE speed communication pipes for LAN connectivity. Only r ti i ~ i ' a " a ' a " ti , -a ' ti ".-ti " a : a "■ a n ~ n " tt" ti' ti" p" p w« ",ti V* 'ti' p 7~ ' <&' jj~ ti~ ti ti ti ti . ti ti » ti a m«M' i 4~ a r ti. i i 1 ■DIRECT. o ups, no add-ons no extras. JANUARY 1993 Z-NOTE is pre-installed with client soft- ware for all three leading network sys- tems—Novell, Microsoft and Banyan. Only Z-NOTE could be the first to pre-install Microsoft a '•v*m •-;:;!«! Windows for Workgroups. Only Z-NOTE MICROSOFT® WINDOWS™ i-i T *- t to^^t read, to run exclusively uses Intel 386SL microproces- sors. The Z-NOTE has an active matrix color display The Z-NOTE comes with MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows fully loaded and ready to run, right out of the box. And only Z-NOTE has the low Z-DIRECT price without additional or hidden charges. Those other guys will charge up to $500 on extras to match Z-NOTE features, and you still won't Sandy Blagojev, g;et networking. Z»DIRECT to ** Account Executive "You can spend up to $SOO over quote will you buy? and still So, which not get networking from those other guys." A johnny-come lately notebook from one of them. With none of the above. Or an award-winning Z-NOTE from Z-DIRECT. With all of the above. " Prices change rapidly. Call for our latest and lowest." 48 hour delivery on all featured products. For product specifications via FAX, please call 1-800-582-8194. Z-NOTE™ 325L " Built-in networking" • Intel' 25 MHz i386™SL upgradable to i486" • 4MB RAM user expandable to 1 2MB • 85MB hard disk drive with MS-DOS" 5.0, Microsoft 1 Windows™ 3.1 and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups'" pre-installed " Logitech" TrackMan" Portable mouse ' 9.5" black-on-white LCD, upgradable to active matrix color, 640 x 480 VGA with support for 64 grey shades; and simultaneous video support • 3.5" 1.44MB floppy disk drive • 8.5" x 11,9" x 1-9," only 5.9 pounds • Rapid-charge nickel metal-hydride battery for up to 4 hours* continuous use or up to 10 hours* under Rest/Resume condition ' Pre-installed network client software for Novell 1 NetWare; Microsoft LAN Manager," Banyan VINES' • Ethernet-compatible high-speed communication port for LAN connectivity • 82-key keyboard with 1 2 full-size function keys $2399 M ,™ __-- v. :/ ; *-i " '.".-J ->'i :.:*■' - Z-NOTE 32 5Lc "Incredible color and price" » Intel 25 MHz i386SL upgradable to i486 • 4MB RAM, user expandable to 12MB ■ 1 20MB hard disk drive • MS-DOS 5.0, Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups pre-installed • Logitech TrackMan portable mouse • 8.4" active matrix color VGA LCD, simultaneous video support • 3.5" 1.44MB floppy disk drive ■ 8.5" x 11.9" x 2.1 ," only 6.5 pounds • Rapid-charge nickel metal-hydride battery for up to 2.5 hours* continuous use or up to 6.5 hours* under Rest/Resume condition » Pre-installed network client soft- ware for Novell NetWare, Microsoft LAN Manager, Banyan VINES • Ethernet-compatible high-speed communication port for LAN connectivity • Optional READYDESK™ Port Replicator C$107) New Lower Price $3999 *BaMery life depends on application used, power man- agement features selected and peripherals attached. Network now with Z'DIRECT. 1-800-289-1273 Call Z-DIRECT for the first flyweight heavyweight. Chances are, what those new lightweight subnote- books you're considering are light on are features and functionality. Especially if you use Microsoft Windows. So it's a good thing you've discovered new Z-LITE 320L. Because no lightweight does Microsoft Windows like Z"LITE. Z-LITE combines every heavyweight feature you need to run Microsoft Windows in an ultra-lightweight PC. Like the power of Intel 386SL technology— instead of the no-name chip others foist off on you. The Z-LITE 320L includes our energy- efficient 3.3V design. It's our newest technology breakthrough, rewarding you with extraordinary battery life and extra- ordinary features. We even include an "at-a-glance" battery fuel gauge. Then there's our full The first subnolebook with back lit VGA. The first subnolebook with two PCMCIA TYPE II SLOTS. fl size 8.4'/ backlit VGA window^ display Rather than HI [ADf-TO-RUN the pint-size unread- able screen you find else- where. You'll enjoy handling our upfront and center, integrated LITEPOINT point- ing device. Others offer a tiny control that seems designed for Lilliputians. The first 3.3V 386SL subnolebook. in i fe JANUARY 1993 So what more can we do for you? Z"LITE 320L gives you flexibility and options. There's two PCMCIA card slots for accom- modating high speed data/fax modems, wireless communications and more. And to make your life easier, we've combined the external floppy disk drive and AC adapter/ charger in an all-in-one design. Z-LITE 320L is the best of Zenith Data Systems technology with an unbeatable Z-DIRECT price. If lightweight is the way New Z-LITE "Z-LITE is light years ahead of the „ „ competition/' y° u want to go, Z"LITE 320L IS Margie Silha, Zenith Data Systems the route to take. Get Z LOW PRICE, call Z-DIRECT 1-800-289-12T3 Z-LITE™ 320L "Full featured sub notebook" • Intel 20 MHz I386SL (3.3V) » 2MB RAM user expandable to 6MB « 60MB hard disk drive • MS-DOS 5.0 pre-installed » Optional 3.5" 1.44MB external floppy disk drive « Optional LITEPOINT™ two-button detachable pointing device ' 8.5" VGA backlit black-on-white display with 64 grey scales > Two PCMCIA type II slots ► NiCad battery pack for up to 3-hours* con- tinuous or up to 6-hours* charge ' 7.6" x 9.9" x 1.5" sloping to 1.1 " ' 3.9 lbs. $1899 ZDS 620nl "Entry level i386SL notebook" ' Intel 20 MHz 1386SL ' 2MB RAM user expandable to 8MB ' 60MB hard disk drive ■ 3.5" 1.44MB floppy disk drive ' MS-DOS 5.0 pre-instolled * 9.5"black-on--white VGA display ' 85-key full-travel keyboard 'Serial porl, enhanced parallel port, video port, mouse/keyboard/keyboard port 1 One internal modem socket ' NiCad battery pack for up to 3 hours* battery life ' 8.5"x 11," x 1.9,"6.5 lbs. New Lower Price $1449 Call Z- DIRECT for the only PCs that come with all these big names: Intel, Conner and Jeffrey Crouch. At Zenith Data Systems we believe you deserve nothing less than blue chip components. So for our PCs, we of- fer names like Intel for microprocessors and Conner™ for hard drives. m C "*»»«* And for customer assistance, we offer names like Jeffrey Crouch. Now while Jeff may not be top of mind today one call and you'll never forget him. Because all our Z» DIRECT customer assistance reps are more than high tech trouble shooters, they're investment counselors. They understand Z-NOTEs and Z- STATIONS are designed for integrated connectivity, with an unprecedented ease and breadth of upgradability It's what we call investment protec- tion. With so many options for upgrading your investment avail- able on the market today the good advice of our Customer Assistance Center can be a big help. Jeffrey Crouch, Z-DIRECT Customer Our Customer Assistance Center is ready to A ss,stance Center * Representative. answer your questions Mon.-Fri., 7 AM to just your helpful hardware man." 11 PM (CST). Call 1-800-CARE-360. All of which brings us to our renowned Z-CARE service. We think it's the best in the i — I 9S°/o 95% off calls to the XDS Customer Assistance Centers enjoy one call problem resolution. business. Because we offer over 400 authorized service centers in North America and more than 2,000 service reps around the world. With that kind of blanket cover- age, you can enjoy on-site service for all our desktops the next business day. There's 4 8 -Hour Repair-and-Return or carry-in service for portables. And now Z-CARE offers optional support up- grades including network planning, start up, operation and expansion services. Even the com- petition finds our service excep- tional. Because we're authorized to keep your network opera- tional even if there is a variety of other PC brands or software in place. As for our competitors, they can only send you to "3rd party" service centers. But why go anywhere else when you can come to Z-DIRECT? Get z series notebooks and PCs you want at a great low Z- DIRECT price— along with unrivaled Z-CARE service. That's what you can expect from the #1 name in SL portable computingi ' "Prices change rapidly. Call for our latest and lowest." Z-DIRECT Customer Assistance Center. Not just troubleshooters, investment counselors. JANUARY 1993 Z BEST service is Z»DIRECT. 1-800-2 89-1273 Z-433DX "Affordable i486 performance" ' Intel 33 MHz i486DX ► 4MB RAM user expandable to 40MB ' 1 70MB hard disk drive with MS-DOS 5.0 and Microsoft Windows 3.1 pre-instailed ► VGA color monitor, 256 colors ► 3.5" 1.44MB internal floppy disk drive 1 Mouse ■ 5 open 16-bit ISA slots * One 5.25" accessible drive bay » One-year limited warranty $1979 Z- STATION 466Dh "High performance low price" • Intel 66 MHz i486DX (upgradable) • 8MB RAM user expandable to 64MB • 200MB hard disk drive pre-installed and optimized with MS-DOS 5.0, Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups » Super VGA color monitor, 1024 x 768 upgradable to 256 colors • Pre- installed network client soft- ware for Novell NetWare, Microsoft LAN Manager, Banyan VINES • Ethernet-compatible high-speed communication port for LAN con- nectivity • 3.5" 1.44MB internal floppy disk drive upgradable la 2.88MB • State-of-the-art modular "snap-in" system design with 4 EISA slofs • Module sockets for SCSI and WAM (Windows Accelerator Module) " Flash ROM BIOS • Dual password security protection • Serial, parallel, mouse, keyboard, video ports ■ Microsoft mouse • One-year limited warranty and on-site service included with extended Z'CARE 5 " service available $2900 Ydu can't go wrong with our Buyer's Bill of Rights. Buy Z-DIRECT for investment protection. Z series has un- precedented upgradability, integrated connectivity, ease of use and design. |^^^ Buy Z-DIRECT for experienced direct sales consultants. No order takers at Zenith Data Systems. I;in:i Buy Z-DIRECT for direct answers. 95% of your problems are solved in one call. I Buy Z-DIRECT for direct, 48-hour shipment: [TQQ Buy Z-DIRECT for no hassle returns. No questions asked, whatever the reason. Return your PC within 30 days:* |"7£T^J Buy Z ' DIRECT for direct technical support and a complete array of direct-to-you peripherals, accessories and software. Right *Based on advertised products as configured and availability. ^^ k Terms: MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express accepted. No surcharge for credit card orders. Money orders, certified checks, personal checks accepted {allow ten days for processing). Company and institutional P.O.'s upon credit approval. Prices do not include applicable sales lax, shipping ond handling. Government, Education and Volume Purchase buyers please call for a quotation. Federal Government Sales please call 1-800/843-4 13 1. "-30-day money-back guarantee applies only when buying through Z-DIRECT. Excludes opened software and purchase which have been subject to abuse. Most notebooks include one-year limited mail-back warranty with optional Z-CARE service available (call, or see a Z-CARE contract for important details). tBased on ZDS price and manufacturer's suggested retail price for third party products. ttSource: Interna- tional Data Corporation for 1991, published 10/92. Order by FAX 1-800-472-7211. All products subject to availability. Specification and prices subject to change without notice. Zenith Data Systems is not responsible for typographical or photographic errors. Z-NOTE, Z-LITE, Z-SPORT, Z-5TATION, Z- VISION, READYDESK and LITEPOINT are trademarks and Z-CARE is a servicemark of Zenith Data Systems Corporation. MS-DOS and Microsoft are registered trademarks and Windows, LAN Manager, Windows for Workgroups, Works for Windows and the Windows Ready- To-Run logo are trademarks of Microsofl Corporation. Intel is a regislered trademark and i386, i486 and the Intel Inside logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation. Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. Banyan and VINES are registered trademarks of Banyan Systems, Inc. Logitech and TrackMan are registered trademarks of Logitech, Inc. Conner is a trademark of Conner Peripherals, Inc. Okidata and MICROLINE are registered trademarks of Oki Electric Industry Co, Lid. Texas Instruments is a trademark of Texas Instruments, Inc. Copyright © 1992 Zenith Data Systems Corporation. New Year's Specials Small business productivity package "Z-425SX" • Intel 25 MHz i486SX " 4MB RAM user expandable to 40MB • 80MB hard disk drive with MS-DOS 5.0 and Microsoft Windows 3.1 pre-installed • Z-VISION™ 14" VGA color monitor • Mouse and mouse pad • Okidata MICROLINE 380 SO column dot matrix printer (24 pin) • Daceasy Instant Accounting for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows consisting of accounts receivable, accounts payable and general ledger • Microsoft Works for Windows'" consisting of spreadsheet, word processor tan*§ chart maker • 10-3.5 DSHD formatted diskettes • Premium parallel printer cable New Lower Price $1895 Over S2.200 v ufocturer's suggested Desktop publishing combo "Z "STATION 433Dh" • Intel 33 MHz i486DX • 4MB RAM user expandable to 64MB • 200MB hard disk drive with MS-DOS 5.0, Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups pre-installed » Elhernet-compatible high-speed communication port • Z-VISION 14"SuperVGA color monitor • Microsoft Mouse and mouse pad • Texas Instruments™ MicroLaser Plus PS1T postscript printer • Publisher's Showcase for Windows consisting of Aldus Pagemaker, Aldus Freehand and Aldus Photo Styler ■ Premium parallel printer cable New Lower Price $4195 Over $5,000 value based t Now call Z-DIRECT 1-800-289-1273 ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS A Bull Company Thinking Ahead. USER'S COLUMN The Principle of Pursuit JERRY POURNELLE Every now and then, Microsoft holds a big meet- ing to trot out their latest stuff. It's attended by any number of journalists and financial analysts, there are receptions and cocktails and dinners, and a great time is had by all. It ends with Chair- man Bill Gates telling where he thinks Microsoft is going. This year it was called Strategy Day, and while there was a lot of talk about future products, the most signifi- cant remark was about the past. Gates said, "A few years ago I asked developers to write applications for Win- dows. They wouldn't do that, so I went to the Microsoft Applications Group, and they didn't have that option." What he meant was that he bet a significant part of his company's future by investing in Windows applica- tion programs; and now that Windows has succeeded in a big way, Microsoft intends ruthlessly to exploit that decision. In military parlance, it's called the principle of pursuit. Microsoft doesn't intend to leave much when it comes to Windows applications. The big announcement at Strategy Day was what I think should have been called Windows 4.0, but which Microsoft chooses to call Windows for Workgroups. In- ternally there's a great deal of 32-bit code, much of which I presume will go over seamlessly to Windows NT. WFWG is nor just an upgraded Windows 3.1, although it's compatible with all known 3.1 applications that don't do strange things — or so Microsoft says. WFWG has built-in peer networking and works with most network adapters, as well as with the Intel network cards that Microsoft optionally bundles with their soft- ware. WFWG's peer LAN capabilities don't take the place of sophisticated dedicated file-server software like NetWare; instead, it works neatly as a supplement. One caution: as I write this, WFWG works just fine with ARC- net cards, but it will not coexist with NetWare running on ARCnet. That may be fixed by the time you read this. The networking capability of WFWG is important be- cause it is as simple to install and use as Windows it- self. And yes, I know some don't think Windows is all that simple. Anyway, from the user's point of view, the network capabilities are just more Windows applica- tions. Moreover, the networking integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Windows applications, as well as with DLLs and the new and improved OLE. Two users working with WFWG can exchange objects — words, spreadsheets, code, drawings, video — with simple drag- and-drop operations, and it goes surprisingly fast. Naturally there's file sharing, and that has been done well. You can make some file directories public (any- one can get them without a password), others public but read only, yet others shared but only by those with the proper password, and so forth. Again, this is simple to set up and works right within Windows. WFWG is aimed directly at NetWare Lite and LAN- tastic; and it has just enough ease-of-setup and ease-of-use features to be formidable competition. The Microsoft juggernaut continues with new database and workgroup applications Databases Also shown at Strategy Day were Microsoft Access (a rela- tional database that uses Visu- al Basic as its programming language) and a new version of FoxPro that uses and is com- patible with Xbase languages such as dBase and Clipper. Mi- crosoft didn't say their strate- gy would be to use FoxPro to beat dBase while providing a smooth path from FoxPro to Access; but it's pretty clear that is what they intend. Whether they can do it isn't as clear. Access integrates seamlessly with WFWG, and it has the ca- pability of getting data from a variety of formats — Paradox, dBase, Excel — while being ex- ceedingly easy to use. Access incorporates a new concept in help files: Cue Cards, which remain on-screen and prompt you through whatever complex act you have requested help on. The ones that I saw were really useful. You find data by construct- ing views. This sounds harder to do than it is. The whole point of Access is to let you use the database without programming. During the presentation, Microsoft made a telling re- mark: "We believe that a relational database is the prop- er place to store everything: files and filenames, voice mail, videos, frame captures, mail, pointers to archived material, anything you keep on your computer." As- suming they meant it — and they usually do mean what they say at these dog and pony shows — the implication ILLUSTRATION: STEVE TURK© 1993 JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 97 Circle 101 on Inquiry Card. Video Frame Grabber ComputerEyes/RT - affordable, accurate, 24-bit video frame grabber for IBM PC computers. Includes everything you need to capture high-resolution 8-, 16-, or 24-bit color (or 8-bit gray scale) images from any standard composite or S-video source in real time. Supports VGA, SuperVGA, HiColor, and true-color display boards. Saves image files in all common formats - TIFF, Targa TGA, PCX, GIF, BMP, and more. Hundreds of applications! ComputerEyes/RT includes new CineMaker animation capture software for capture of motion video clips in standard animation formats. Also supports popular audio boards for simultaneous capture of sound with animations! Windows and developers software packages also available. ComputerEyes/RT - $599.95. New Monochrome /RT version now available - $399.95! Also available - new low-cost TelevEyes VGA-to-TV converter - under $300! Great for computer video titling, recording screens to video tape, or computer presentations to large monitors. See your dealer or call (800) 346-0090 for more information and free demo. USER'S COLUMN Digital Vision, Inc. 270 Bridge Street huhm Dedham. MA 02026 blbd (617)329-5400 is that Microsoft intends to use Access to build something, much as Traveling Soft- ware did with their ViewLink program. ViewLink, which turned your computer into one giant relational database, was a great idea, but it was a bit before its time. Perhaps that time has come. Microsoft clearly intends to market an integrated set of products built around WFWG; their goal is to have you do al- most everything you do on a computer us- ing a Microsoft product and store the rest in a Microsoft database. We'll see. I don't recommend anything I don't have in use at Chaos Manor, and as I write this, the only part of the new Mi- crosoft integrated family of products I have running is WFWG. That was easy to in- stall, and it works well (a report next month). I have no reason to suppose the others won't also. Think of this as an early warning. If all this stuff works as well as it demonstrates, and it all ships on time, the software de- velopment environment has changed sig- nificantly. Support? Microsoft has brought out a daring new product line — at a time when dealer and customer dissatisfaction with the cost and level of Microsoft support is at an all-time high. If they can't support what they have, how can they take on all these bold new products? Microsoft is aware of the problem, of course. I was told that one out of four Microsoft employees now works in sup- port services. (Cynics will say, "Yes, and they're all new employees who can bare- ly look up things in a database.") There's also a bold new strategy: support costs are billed back against the product manager's profits. This gives product managers a strong incentive to make things work the first time. Microsoft has made a bold strategic move, and I'd like to help them out. Here's a list of things I think they should do: • Create a decent debugger for WIN. INI, a program that knows about the weird state- ments in that file. No one understands what's going on in WIN. INI, but at least they could give us a way to see that we're not doing something stupid. • A deinstaller for all new software. • Publicize the support group's fax number. Microsoft has fax-back support capability for end users, but many dealers say they have never seen the number. It's the main fax line: (206) 936-7329, and you can send in technical questions on any Microsoft product. If you haven't heard from them in a day or so, call (214) 714-6789, which is the Letter Response Group. Tell them you sent the fax and when and where you can be reached, and things can happen. • Have a few regional phone nodes out- side area code 206. An 800 number would be belter. It's annoying to call long dis- tance only to get someone who knows less about the product than you do. • Make software smarter at determining why it won't run. • End the Microsoft versus Microsoft in- teroperability problems. It was very an- noying to find that Excel 3.0 didn't work properly with Windows. And MSCDEX is a hack and badly needs fixing. • If Windows is truly an operating system, shouldn't it work with non-Microsoft prod- ucts? When you call for support and are told you have to deinstall Norton Desk- top, QEMM, 386Max, and just about every other third-party program, you're entitled to wonder just what's going on. If it's a proprietary operating system that supports only Microsoft applications, fine, tell us that; otherwise, test it thoroughly with some of the more common add-ons and stop having the support people tell us we have to deinstall everything before any- one will talk to us. • Make Setup saner. Include in it a set of checksums so that once programs are de- compressed, Setup can see that they're not corrupt. It's wearying in the extreme to discover that somehow there's a corrupt WIN.COM after spending half an hour in- stalling everything. • Provide us a suite of tests to check hard- ware compatibility. Let the software poll everything, and if something won't run with Windows, tell us before we spend hours installing with that lamebrained Set- up program. Competition One: WOSA Microsoft bashers complain that Gates doesn't leave much for anyone else. It's true, in the sense that he's left little room for big companies to become giants or, for that matter, for medium-size companies to get really big. PC software developers will just have to learn how to live in a world that contains a 900-pound gorilla. Some principles apply. Microsoft is a very large ship. It won't turn quickly. You can see where it's head- ed. You may be able to get there before Microsoft does. They'll even help you. If you remotely compete with Microsoft, you should sub- scribe to their bimonthly newspaper on development works. Developer Network News. (To order it, contact Pat Bellamah, 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052, fax (206) 936-7329, Attn.: Developer Net- work. To order by credit card, call (800) 98 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 MINUTEMAN TAKES CHARGE IN OVER 1000 JCPENNEY STORES. Every time JCPenney sells a pair of j eans , a toaster or a bottle of perfume, MINUTE- MAN takes charge. That's because more than one thousand JCPenney stores rely on MINUTEMAN UPS systems to back up power to their point-of-sale systems. Every day your company relies on its voice and data communications equipment to stay productive. Unfortu- nately, the electricity that powers these vital systems is not reliable. Blackouts, brownouts, spikes, surges and even lightning strikes are common in most business environments. And the high MINUTEMAN Alliance 425VA $259 cost of losing vital informa- tion and productivity due to power outages and surges calls for preventive measures. Power requirements can be confusing. And your company has unique needs that often require Recently JCPenney Co., Inc. changed its operations from the old POS systems to the new PC-based technology, relying on PC platforms for point-of-sale and in-store support. And they back each DickPatefield, Senior Project Manager for Store Systems Support, JCPenney one up with help from MINUTEMAN. "There was a violent surge in one of our stores, " says Patefleld. "If we didn 'thave the MINUTEMAN unit, it probably would have seriously damaged all of our point-of-sale equipment. "The key was the switch-over time from AC to battery," says Patefleld. "It really has the best continuity of the UPS systems we evaluated. Also, the price was very favorable. When you 're installing them in as many locations as we are, the pricing was very attractive." custom solutions. MINUTEMAN PRODUCTS: ■ On-line and standby UPS 300VAtolOKVA ■ Shutdown software for every available operating system • Automatic voltage regulators ■ Surge suppressors ■ International models ■ Two year warranty -i> Circle 1 36 on Inquiry Card. t 1992 Para Systems, Inc.. 14s5 LeMay Drive, Carrollton, Texas 75007 (214) 446-73S3 (214) 446-9011 fax Call our toll-free POWER HOTLINE now for your free Power Protection Guide. (800) 238-7272 MINUTE. MAN UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES Reduced prices up to 36% Call for complete price list. See us at Networld, Booth #1414 USER'S COLUMN 227-4679 ext. 1 1771.) Also get their De- veloper network CD-ROM (Microsoft will even offer you a discount on a drive). It's a quarterly CD-ROM filled with code, comments, help files, and technical arti- cles on the Microsoft programming envi- ronment — all indexed and accessible. Microsoft insists that their new policy is WOSA (Windows Open Systems Archi- tecture) and they'll make it easy to write applications for Windows. I also know that in the past, Microsoft hasn't been very prompt in sharing interface secrets. They say that's changed, and it's early yet: not everyone in the company has got The Word. OK, but hold their feet to the fire. If they say WOSA, make them mean WOSA, and if you can't get what you need at the product manager level, go higher. Keep the press informed. I'm not interest- ed in random Microsoft bashing, but you have every right to know whether Mi- crosoft is following their own policies. V t"ff f* WE'VE JUST ADDED A NEW DIMENSION TO VT340 FUNCTIONS— WINDOWS. KEAterm 340 gives the power of Windows to your host applications. KEAterm products combine the features of Windows with the features of a VT terminal for true PC-to-host integration. Control your host data just as you control PC applications — with access to the same powerful software and printers. Host data becomes truly useable. With KEAterm 340, you can use PC graphics tools to expand the use of host graphics. Copy ReGIS, Tektronix and sixel images into desktop publishing or draw packages for further manipulation, Picture new power for host applica- tions with KEAterm 340 for Windows. ^> Full VT340/420 Terminal emulation ► ReGIS, Tektronix & sixel graphics ^ Multi-sessions ► Multilingual menus ► Copy & paste ► DDE ► File transfer ► Network interfaces ► Script language ► On-screen buttons Ik KEAterm 340 KEA Systems Ltd. Call 1-800-663-8702 Phone: (604) 431-0727 Fax: (604) 431-0818 KEA SySems LM 373B Hat Eraser Way. Urtf 1 01 . air®/, DC. Carats VSJ 5G 1 KEAW. KEAlEm ZSTEM, Pw^Sltcn, KEA ml lies icixiI'a; topsare b:.l:rv(i'.DfKEASvyuit.Ur|.Alatelffiinlarel[Jra'''^Tn«s;unlwtenv^ti(« <■■/.'■ I'-l^.torefoiiBiareqMlwfcttas &p,n)rl G KEA SYSTEMS LTD 199> A) ra/ts lesmel Competition Two: Goals Microsoft doesn't deliberately leave much, but there's a lot they can't handle. Take LANs: WFWG provides many capabili- ties, but it doesn't understand backups well, it's far from optimized for sharing resources like CD-ROMs, and, while it does a neat job of connecting three or four people into a workgroup, it's not so hot on connecting several workgroups. The thing for competitors to do is add to what WFWG does, rather than going head-to- head with it. On that score: the ability to network, share files, and arrange schedules is one thing. Using that capability to increase productivity is another. It's easy to mis- use networks. If everyone has to see and sign off on every thought the president has, and every notion has to go through a committee because it's easy to do that, the company ought to buy an expert system on Chapter 1 1 proceedings. The goal isn't connectivity and communications, it's to get more product out the door. Because they're big, Microsoft has to be general. They can't tailor applications to particular niches. Smaller companies can. Competition Three: Usability One lesson Microsoft has learned: talk to real users about what they do, not what they say they want. If you ask people what features they want, they'll never stop talk- ing. If you look to see what features they use, and how they use them, you'll proba- bly be surprised. Microsoft was surprised. As a result, they have yet another competitive advan- tage: the usability group, which actually watches naive users face up to new soft- ware. Most companies aren't large enough to have a group like this, and it shows. For that matter, it's relatively new to Microsoft, and that shows, too; but Microsoft stuff is getting easier to understand. They've developed Wizards — a sort of tamed-down expert help system — and Cue Cards; and they're working on systems that watch what you're doing wrong so they can pop up with suggestions on where you made a wrong turn. One day, all soft- ware will have intelligent help systems. Microsoft is still feeling their way in this area; and once again, a company as large as that moves slowly. There are plenty of chances to get ahead of them. Indeed, if I wanted to get rich in the computer business, I'd start a firm offering usability services to small developers. Microsoft has made a bold move toward radical changes in the PC software envi- ronment. The company is big enough that you have to take them seriously; but that very bigness leaves them vulnerable to 100 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 1 16 on Inquiry Card. EISA SCSI Cachinq How do you move volumes of data from your SCSI device fast and efficiently? With the East Disk EISA SCSI Caching Host Adapter from American Megatrends. THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE SOLUTION The Fast Disk SCSI controller supplies the industiy's highest transfer rates and uses a 386SX CPU to manage up to 16MB of cache. "... superlative disk performance - the best seen by PC Labs thus far - thanks to AMI's Fast Disk Controller, a 32-bit SCSI EISA card with a 386SX/16 microprocessor and 16MB cache. "PC Magazine - June 16, 1992 UNBEATABLE COMPATIBILITY The Fast Disk SCSI Host Adapter is compatible with the popular Adaptec 154X and BusLogic drivers, and sup- ports a wide assortment of SCSI devices, including hard drive, tape, CD-ROM and WORM. FROM THE LEADING EISA DEVELOPERS As the leading developer of EISA motherboards and EISA BIOS, American Megatrends has the knowledge and resources to support your EISA applications. With over 150 combined years of EISA/SCSI design experience and the only company with both board and BIOS design knowledge, you are ensured compatible designs that work. For full information on America's premium EISA peripheral cards, call American Megatrends today and see why more people move more data with AMI. AMERICAN MEGATRENDS, INC. 6145-FNORTHBELT PARKWAY NORCROSS, GA 30071 (404) 263-8181, FAX (404) 263-9381 (800) 828-9264, (800) U-BUY-AMI IN SINGAPORE (65) 294-6714 IN THE U.K. (0293) 536-365 American Megatrends Distributed by MERISE L (800) MERISEL Circle 71 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 72). The Outbound MicroPC. USER'S COLUMN SMALL SIZE. NO COMPROMISE. Now you can have the punch of a powerful desktop system in a compact, lightweight package from Outbound™ Systems - the new Outbound MicroPC family of 486 computers. The Outbound MicroPC measures a scant 11.75 x 4.8 x 2.7 inches and weighs just 5 pounds. You get more desktop space and true transportability. Just slip your Outbound MicroPC into your briefcase and take it home, to a satellite office, or wherever else work takes you. You'll be able to do more than just transfer files from one workstation to the next. With an Outbound MicroPC, you can mobilize the power of your complete computer system. The Outbound MicroPC's mix and match design makes it easy to customize and upgrade your CPU, hard drive and memory. Processor options range from 486SLC/25 to 486DX2/66 with hard disk drive capacities from 85 MB to 240 MB. System memory is expandable up to 32 MB. Options include integrated Ethernet" and Novell"' NetWare Lite™ software for networking, business audio and high quality monitors. Standard features include an internal 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy drive, 101- key keyboard, 3 button mouse and local bus video. MS-DOS" 5.0 and Windows™ 3.1 are already installed so the Outbound MicroPC is ready to use right out of the box. Order direct today at 1 - 800 - 444- 4607 7am to 6pm Monday - Friday. 9am to 1 pm Saturdays. Mountain Time. Risk free 15 day money back guarantee and a one year parts and labor warranty. visa D 1 ■'<■■ Outbound Systems, Inc. 4840 Pearl East Circle Boulder, CO 80301 303.786.9200 Fax: 303.786.8611 The Outbound n;inu: and logo 8 lurk* of Outbound Systems, Inc. Novell is a registered trademark and NelWai certain kinds of smarts. I foresee interest- ing times.... When, When, When Will I Learn? My big Cheetah crashed again. One minute it was working fine, the next it locked up and wouldn't reboot. Memory parity er- ror. I turned it off and let it rest a minute and then back on. Same thing. Start-up would run through standard memory tests and then stop in the middle of the extended memory tests. OK, thought I, bad chip; and I did a foolish thing. My Cheetah has 16 MB of memory in SIMMs. I figured that if 1 wrote down the location of the memory error and swapped those SIMMs around, I'd soon enough locate which one was bad; after which I could easily live with only 12 or 14 MB of memory while 1 got a replacement. So, I started swapping. The first thing wrong with that scheme is that SIMMs are held in by little plastic clips, and after a couple of years, these be- come very brittle. They break; and once broken, there is no way to fix them short of unsoldering the SIMM holder and replac- ing it. That is a major job. Fortunately, there is a temporary fix: it's possible to hold the memory in place with rubber bands. You can also use a dot of Super Glue, but of course you aren"t going to do much memory swapping once the glue goes on. Duco Cement is belter. I'd imagine Model Airplane Cement would work. I am told you must not use Silicone Cement, which is acetic acid-based: the acetic acid will play merry hob with the traces on your boards. Eventually I got the memory swapped and the machine put back together with rubber bands, and of course I got the exact same error message, for the same location. This made no sense, it was late, there were deadlines, and in panic I called my son Alex's beeper number. Alex is a partner in Workman and Associates, and they spe- cialize in recovering data off crashed disks, as well as installing new systems that won't crash in the first place. Alex came over and decided the sensi- ble thing to do was swap hard drives in the two Cheetahs. That is: the Cheetah 486/25 sits out in the Great Hall to be used by Larry Niven when he works here. The other, a 486/33, sits under my desk as my main machine. Clearly, if I had my old hard drive in the 486/25, that would be good enough while Alex and Barry Work- man looked into the 486/33. Swapping went easily enough. Both of the machines have large (600-MB) SCSI hard drives with caching controllers: a Distributed Processing Technology con- troller on one, and a Perceptive Solutions 102 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 135 on Inquiry Card. The only Windows statistics package you'll ever need. NEW SYST^T® for WINDOWS #1 for DOS and Windows Rated "the best general-purpose statistics program" for the PC by Software Digest®, SYSTAT for DOS is now joined by SYSTAT for Win- dows. This addition to the SYSTAT family takes full advantage of Windows, with pull down menus, dialog boxes, sizable windows, and the ease of use you expect in a Windows package. SYSTAT for Windows runs in standard and 386 enhanced modes and can take advantage of Win- dows advanced memory manage- ment. No matter how large or complex your analysis is, you can use SYSTAT. SYSTAT delivers a balance of power and simplicity. It lets you analyze and manipulate data TUT i -"> I -T"-f "l-'-|.n -■|35-.|M|r Novell, Inc. Excellence in dialling the flow of ideas! Patton & Patton Software Corp. 485 Cochrane Circle, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 down your system: when IBM designed the PC, they didn't think anyone would need many megabytes of memory. Later, they found that programmers were doing memory tricks turning address line A20 on and off. There wasn't any way to do that in the XT, so they delegated the func- tion to the controller chip in the keyboard. This is the A20 handler; and goofy as it sounds, even in these days of 486 com- puters, one vital part of what's going on is done by the rather obsolete keyboard con- troller chip. Interestingly, if you run Unix, the speed at which the A20 gate is turned on and off can be significant, so you can actually speed up your computer by getting a better keyboard! (For more on the A20 problem, see Mark J. Minasi's "Exorcising the A20 Poltergeist," August 1992 BYTE.! The keyboard controller chip is rather sensitive to voltages; so if you drop some- thing conductive into your keyboard, you can gel what amounts to a short that drags down the voltage as seen by the keyboard controller chip. The result will be that your machine won't boot and probably will re- port a memory error. Recalling the broken SIMM clips, the moral of this story is, be sure what you're fixing is the part that's broke. And Yet Another Instructive Tale... Our youngest son, Richard, is now in Washington as an intern, and he wanted a portable computer for the job. Since he's been a Mac user in the past, he wanted something that would run Windows. After some thought, I let him take the NCR 3170 (formerly the AT&T Safari). This is the older model, with an integral floppy drive and no PCMCIA slot. He started using it before he left and loved it. Then he let the batteries run down, so much so that it forgot all its Setup infor- mation. No problem, he thought. The Set- up program offers an option of resetting to the default, so he chose that. Alas, the machine didn't work right. Files had vanished. You could see the file- names and sizes, but attempts to access them failed. There were similar problems. "I'll fix that," foolishly said I, and got out Norton Disk Doctor. NDD looked at the disk and reported all kinds of munged directories and screwiness with the FAT (file allocation table). I let it try to fix things, and after each pass I tried to delete the problem files. Many of them wouldn't delete. Finally, in despair, I had Richard take it over to Barry in Pasadena. Barry opened the machine — not some- thing I'd want to do with a laptop — and read off the hard disk type. "There's the problem," he said. The default disk type in Setup was for a 20-MB hard drive; but 104 BYTE -JANUARY 1993 Circle 137 on Inquiry Card. Four reasons to buy aTI microLaser printer* * x ■ aaaa 1 1 - LETTER 1 • i ain " hSG • .' 1 Now there's a way for you to put the power of Microsoft® Windows™ on paper — microLaser from Texas Instruments. Designed to be Windows-compatible, there's a microLaser just right for your needs, whether you need a personal or shared printer. Here's why: M Qr .i w~ 1. Compatibility With HP 2K5 LaserJet® emulation and "" Adobe® PostScript® software, microLaser easily supports your demanding applica- tions. And with our Microsoft Windows driver, set it and forget it with all Windows applications. Not only does PostScript give you scalable outline fonts and graphics, it also means that your microLaser works in computing environments like Windows, DOS®, Apple® Macintosh®, OS/2® and UNLX®. 2 Performance rfm P0STSCRIPT . When It COmeS to H Software From Adobe printing high-quality documents fast, microLaser really makes you look good. At either nine or 16 pages-per-minute, microLaser printers speed you through documents in a hurry. Plus PostScript means what you see on your screen is what you get on paper. You can even tur- bocharge your microLaser with a RISC processor for blazing fast graphics. 3. Reliability When you buy a printer, you want it to print And print And print That s just what the microLaser does. Take our personal microLaser Plus for example. With its high duty cycle of 10,(XX) pages-per-month* and a standard one-year limited warranty* * you can rely on your microLaser to work the first time, every time, for years. 4. Value Starting as low as $999f , there's a microLaser designed to fit any budget From the single user all the way up to a network. Con- sider this, too: microLaser's average cost per page is only 1.9 centst, while some laser printers average around 3.3 cents. The microLaser not only makes sense, it saves you money, too. For details on the right microLaser for you and the name of the nearest dealer, call 1-800-527-3500. The microLaser PS17 has earned the 1990 PC World Best Buy award; microLaser PS35 has earned the 1990 InfoWorid Excellent Value award and 4'/z mice from MacUser, October 1990. yr Texas Instruments 'Based on estimated typical usage. * 'For more information on service upgrade options, call IS0O847-5757 in the U.S. and 1-300-26&6314 in Canada- tSuggested retail price - dealer prices may vary. tBased on suggested retail price of consumables and approximate page coverage rating for each consumable at 4% black (toner, developer and OPC). microLaser is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated. Microsoft and DOS are registered trademarks, and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Adobe, PostScript and the PostScript logo are registered trademarks of Ado^Sysremslncoiporatwl which may Ix registered in certain jurisdictions. La^ Packard, Inc. Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. OS/2 is a registered trademark oflnfcrnational Business Machines Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T. ©1992 Tl 76543 Circle 176 on Inquiry Card. Features microLaser Plus microLaser Plus microLaser microLaser XL Basic PS17/PS35 Turbo Turbo PPM 9ppm 9 ppm 9 ppm 16 ppm Emulation HP LaserJet II HPLJII/PostScript HPLJII/PostScriptll HPLJII/PostScriptll 1 Processor 68000 68000 RISC/8220 RISC/8220 Fonts 14 HP Fonts 17 or 3 5 Scalable 35 Scalable 35 Scalable List Price $999 $1,399/$1,499 $1,749 $3,649 USER'S COLUMN what was really installed was a 40-MB drive. Changing that setting instantly fixed all the problems. One moral of this story is, if you haven't written down all your Setup information, particularly your disk type, for all your machines, go do it now. You never know when you'll need that. The other moral is, before you have at a disk with NDD, you might give a few seconds thought to what else might be wrong. Anyway, I'm pleased to report that Richard has the 3 170 in Washington and it works just fine. He loves the built-in fax modem, and he finds the AT&T Mail pro- gram powerful and easy to use. The 3 1 70 seems to have made a Windows convert out of a former Mac user. A Retraction A couple of months ago 1 wrote about surge protectors and said that I had two kinds that don't use MOVs (metal-oxide varistors). Apparently I misread the spec- ifications on one of the brands; at any rate, I was wrong. The only surge protector I have that does not use MOVs is Zero Surge's ZS900. This doesn't mean that the units that do have MOVs are bad or won't protect you; they probably will. The problem is that each surge that goes through the MOV damages it, not much, but some; if there's enough damage, it won't do the job prop- erly. There is no test available that can de- termine just how safe the MOVs in your protector might be; thus, some experts ad- vise you to replace MOV protector units at regular intervals, say, every couple of years. Zero Surge units don't have MOVs. As far as I can determine, they aren't dam- aged at all by any surge that doesn't actu- ally destroy the unit. They cost more, but you don't have to replace them. Me, I like the peace of mind. 1 also have a suggestion to those making MOV-based surge protectors: ever thought of putting those in a removable cartridge? That way, a nervous user could replace them annually. EDOS If you like to play with Windows and you run a lot of DOS programs, you probably want this. It lets you allocate and deallocate Windows memory for DOS sessions; and it will create Really Big DOS Windows, above 700 KB in size. There are other neat features, like the CLIPBOARD command that will tell you if there's any text in the Clipboard and if so how much, and lets you examine or print what's there. There are time-slice controls, status information, a way to tell how long a DOS session has been running, and what percentage of your computer's CPU that DOS window has eaten. Fair warning: I've used this without problems, and so have others, but when I mentioned to a Microsoft Windows pro- grammer/manager that EDOS let you have 700-KB DOS sessions under Windows, he shuddered. That hasn't caused me to take EDOS off my machine. It really is useful. However, understand that I save both programming and text work early and often; and be aware that EDOS does things Microsoft doesn't believe possible. Mystat and Systat Mystat comes with a foreword from Le- land Wilkinson, the president of Systat, and is an introductory course and tutorial on statistics using Systat. The package is designed for use by educators. No statistics training program is all that easy for people Z vlNDEX v yt** e \o° A N° with - ^e**" ZylNDEX, you ^\ can find information contained in any document collection on network or stand alone computers in just seconds. Quick, precise, fun; ZylNDEX can search word processing, database or graphics files in plain english. Many output features. Powerful search tools: Word or Phrase; Boolean; Proximity; Synonyms and more... Powerful InfoApps features: HyperLink; Notes; Cut & Paste; Print; Launch. ..put your information to work for you. ZylNDEX works with WordPerfect, Word for Windows, dBase, graphics and other file formats. Developers API Toolkit available. Call 1-800-544-6339 for free demo or update info ZyLAB "Division of 100 Lexington Drive • Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 Information Dimensions, Inc. Phone: (708) 459-8000 • Fax (708) 459-8054 / " r--r-~: MULTIMEDIA NoteBook AVerKey (NTSC or PAL) — VGA to VIDEO for Notebook f — Flicker-Free filter — Supports Windows 3.0 and 3.1 — Supports all IBM standard modes up to 640x480 with any colors (256, 32K, 64K,...)for NTSC or PAL. For PAL TV system, 800 x 600 is supported if Cirrus CL-GD64I0 VGA chip is used. — Supports 640 x 480 mode without loading any A VerKey driver. — Compatible with all VGA cards — Simultaneous graphics display on both VGA and TV monitors. AVerKey VGA Monitor We also have following ilems: — VGA to Video OVERLAY/GENLOCK card — Live Video Window controller — VGA to Video Converter card — TARGA 16 compatible card — JPEG compression card — TUNER card &BIT93 UlAH * N HOVER 24. — - 31. 03. lit) Hall 008 Booth No. D27 MANUFACTURED BV: ADDA (USA, CA) ADDA (CANADA, BC) ADDA (TAIWAN) TEL: 1-510-7709899 TEL: 1-604-2783224 TEL: 886-2-2484131 FAX: 1-510-6231803 FAX: 1-604-2782909 FAX: 886-2-2484276, 2488214, 2404538 All trade marks are the property of their respective holders. 106 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 192 on Inquiry Card. Circle 193 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 194). BEFORE PROTECTING YOUR SOFTWARE... 1 .Your Software ...against piracy and unauthorized use, make sure that your protection system has all the following qualities-. A GOOD HARDWARE KEY Hardware-based software protection systems are now the standard worldwide. However, not all keys are the same. A good key should have all the following features: V Compatibility and transpa- rency. The key should work without any problem on your s customers' computers. The user should be able to forget the key after connecting it. V Unbreakable electronics. A customized ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) component should be integrated in the key. This prevents reverse engineering and makes cracking virtually impossible. V A unique and inaccessible software developer's code burnt into the ASIC. (This code should not be held in the key's memory, where it can be read and altered.) V A Read/Write Memory inside the key should be available on demand. The memory should be writable in the field, on any PC, without any special programming equipment. V Very low power consumption, enabling the key to work even under the worst power conditions, on PCs and laptops, with or without a printer. POWERFUL SOFTWARE Since it's practi- cally impossible to crack or duplicate a key having all the features mentioned above, a pirate will usually go for the software linking the protected program to the key. Therefore, check that your protection soft- ware has all of the following: V A Linkable Protection Module with which calls can be made to the key from any point in the protected program. V An "Envelope" installation program. Such programs enhance security while making it possible to protect a software even without its source code. V Sophisticated antidebugging and encryption mechanisms. HASP®, THE PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE PROTECTION SYSTEM, OFFERS YOU ALL THESE FEATURES AND MORE: HASP was designed by a team of computer experts, professional cryptologists, and electrical engineers. As a result, HASP keys are supported by what is probably the best software in the market, and the HASP system has worked on every computer it has been tried on. In addition to all the features mentioned above, HASP provides: V A Full Authorization System for protecting dozens of programs using only one key. t/ A Pattern Code Security System (PCS) enabling parallel processing of multiple calls by the Linkable Protection Module. V A Virus Detection option that can be incorporated in the protected program to check whether it has been infected by a virus or tampered with in any way. V Several HASP keys can be daisy-chained. NETHASP, SOFTWARE PROTECTION FOR NETWORKS \/ Only one NetHASP key is needed to un a protected program from many stations in a network. NetHASP provides full support for protecting DOS and WINDOWS software under network environments, including Novell dedicated & non- dedicated servers, Lan Manager, Lantastic, Banyan, DLink, and NET-BIOS based LANs. IN A TEST CARRIED OUT BY AN INDEPENDENT LAB, HASP WAS THE ONLY KEY WHICH WAS NOT BROKEN*. OPERATING ENVIRONMENTS l/ PC: DOS, WINDOWS, OS/2, SCO UNIX, SCO XENIX, INTERACTIVE UNIX, AIX, AUTOCAD, DOS EXTENDERS »/ MAC (ADB Port): System 6.0.5 and up */ NEC (Serial Port): DOS, WINDOWS AND THE BOTTOM LINE: We offer some of the most competitive prices in the market. Since 1984, HASP has enabled thousands of software producers in more than 40 countries, including several Fortune 500 companies, to protect their software. To learn more about why so many professionals have chosen HASP, call us for our low price evaluation package. 1ADD1N SOFT S EC U R WARE T Y INC. North America: International Office: 200 Broadhollow Rd., Suite #207 Melville, NY 11747. USA Tel: 800-223 4277 516-424 5100 Fax:516-424 8300 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS LTD. 15 Beit Oved St., Tel-Aviv, Israel RO.Box:11141 Tel-Aviv 61 110, Tel: 972-3-5375795 Fax: 972-3-5375796 ■ Australia Conlab Pty. Ltd., Tel: 3 8985685 ■ Belgium Akkermans bvba, Tel: 3 2338826 ■ CSFR ATLAS Ltd., Tel+l-'ax: 2 766085 ■ Chile Micrologic;! S.A., Tel: 562 222 1388 ■ Denmark SC Metric a/s, Tel: 42 804200 ■ France Logidata Intl., Tel: 50707375 ■ Germany CSS GmbH, Tel: 201 749860 ■ Greece Unibrain SA, Tel: 1 6856320 ■ Holland Akkermans BV, Tel: n 241444 ■ Italy Partner Data S.r.l., Tel: 2 33101709 ■ Korea Dae-A Engineering, Tel: 2 848 4481 ■ New Zealand Training Solutions, Tel: 4 5666014 ■ Poland Systhenn Tel: 061 15065 ■ Portugal Fulurmalica l.da., Tel: I 4116269 ■ South Africa D Le Koux, Tel: 1 1 886 4704 ■ Spain PC Hardware, Tel: 3 4493193 ■ Switzerland Opag AG, Tel: 61 7112245 ■ Taiwan Teco lad.. Tel: 2-555 9676 ■ Turkey Mikrobela Ltd.. Tel: 4-4677504 ' CT Magazine, May 1990. S Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd. 1985-1992 Circle 65 on Inquiry Card. USER'S COLUMN who don't understand statistics, but Mys- tat is relatively painless. In my judgment, you can't really operate in the modern business world without understanding something about statistical inference. You may not need to know how to do statistical tests of advertising copy, or sales pitches, or to analyze masses of incomplete data, but you sure had better be aware of what's possible; and if you hire experts, you cer- tainly will want to know enough to avoid being snowed. Most college introductory statistics courses are absurd: they teach cookbook methods for calculating means and stan- dard deviations and conduct "Student's T" tests; but they don't give you any real understanding of what statistics is about. I don't say working your way through this book/course will make you a statistician, but it's my judgment that it will teach you more than any of the statistics courses for education majors I've seen. Moreover, when you've finished, you'll have a good HANDTOP Computer 100% Compatible 100% Touch screen 100% Pen based 100% Portable and self contained But, best of all the DIRECT INPUT mode, Imagine.. I would like : □ receive a documentation □ trading visitation Name : Fonction : Society: Address: Postcode : City : Tel : Reply coupon returned to : HANDTOP Computers International 23, ALLEE DES VENDANCES FRANCE-77325 CROISSY BEAUBOURG MAKNE-LA-VALLEE CEDEX 02 Phone : 33 (1)60.17.70.94 F.ix : 33 (I) 60.17.70.77 idea of what Systal can do. Mystat is rec- ommended. Info Select for Windows Info Select for Windows is a free-form database program in which you can col- lect all those notes that pile up on your desk, and it really is neat. Moreover, the Windows version is an improvement over the DOS program without taking away the simplicity that made it easy to use. Info Select organizes things the way I do, into small notes that I can stack into related piles. You can also use it to dis- play information or do queries. A neat fea- ture lets you find out what city and time zone correspond to a given area code, and looking at how they did that suggests sim- ilar things you could do. There are other features (e.g., a phone dialer and calendar) that I don't use be- cause those are built into FranklinQuest's Ascend time management system, but they work. Mostly, though, if you get into the habit of using Info Select, you may cure yourself of scribbling phone numbers on the backs of old envelopes and then find- ing they're lost when you need them, or making notes on Post-its and sticking them all over your monitor until you can't see the screen. Recommended. Fotoman Fotoman is a digital camera from Log- itech. I've written about digital cameras before. They're a quick way to get mono- chrome images into your portable (or desk- top) computer. Image formats include TIFF, PCX, and BMP. From there, you can paste them into documents for printing or sharing over a WFWG network, or you can use them in image-aware databases like Thinx. Alas, there's no way I know of to paste one into Info Select, which is a pity because that might be a good way to organize the photo images. Fotoman works. The image quality isn't all that high, and even when fully charged, the camera takes several seconds to get ready to take the next picture. The reso- lution (256 gray levels, 376 by 240 pix- els, meaning 75 dots per inch in a 3/<- by 5- inch photo) isn't good enough to do what I would like, which is to take it to the li- brary and use it as a kind of scanner to make notes from books, but the pictures aren't bad. There are limits to what you can do with a single battery charge. If you take a full load of 32 pictures with flash on every pic- ture, you'll have about 24 hours to either recharge the camera or get your pictures transferred to your computer. If you need medium-quality mono- chrome images on-screen or in documents, 108 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 203 on Inquiry Card. TheWbrld's Best Selling UNIX Clone Just Got Better. Now with full 32-bit implementation! If you want to ignite your 32-bit hard ware with the multi-user, multi-tasking power of UNIX, Coherent 4.0 has arrived. And if you're operating or selling small business network systems with dozens of users, that's really good news. Because Coherent 4.0 is what you want in UNIX at a price that's hard to believe. Run UNIX applications today! Coherent is now bin- ary compatible with UNIX. Most UNIX PC applications port with a simple recompile and many now run right out of the box. The list is growing everyday, so call for details. Yes, It's For Real! How can it be? First of all, Coherent was independently developed by the Mark Williams Company, so you don't pay for UNIX licensing fees. You don't pay any mark-up or reseller costs either. Coherent is only sold directly to you six disk installation is a breeze compared to their 25. You'll also learn it faster and increase over- all performance. All because Coherent is smaller, faster. . . and better. Small, But So Complete. Make no mistake, Coherent is a wholly professional develop- ment system. You get a complete "Coherent comes so fully qualified as a UNIX clone, you find yourself thinking, 7 can't believe it's not UNIXr-Sean Fulton, UNIX Today! Coherent; Still $99.95. " . . (Coherent) may be the best thing that has happened to UNIX yet." -William Zachmann, PC Week In fact, over 40,000 copies of Coherent have already been sold. And, like the ones we quote here, virtually every critic who's reviewed Coherent has raved about it. So Much Less, Yet So Much More. As a virtual clone of UNIX, Coherent embraces the original UNIX philosophy: Small is beautiful. Small price, yes. But there's more, much more, to Coherent than its amazing price. Requiring only 10 megabytes of disk space, Coherent can reside with DOS. So you can keep all your DOS applications and move up to Coherent. And it runs with as little as 1 MB of memory versus 4 MB for other UNIX versions. The World's Only Plug And Play UNIX Clone. You'll have Coherent up and running with a fraction of the time and effort it takes for other UNIX versions. Our MWC COHERENT Version 4.0 SCO UNIX/386 Version 3.2V2 No. of Manuals 1 14 No. of Disks 6 25 Kernel Size 100 K 375 K Install Time 40 min. 3-4 hours Suggested Disk Space 10 meg 60 meg Min. Memory Required 1 meg 2-4 meg Performance* 85.7 31.3 Price $99.95 $2590 *Byte C Compiler Benchmark: Compiles per minute on 25 MHZ 486. C compiler, assembler and over 200 UNIX commands including full sets of functions for development, administration, maintenance and text processing. Coherent also comes with UUCP capabilities that connect you to a world-wide network of free software, news and millions of UNIX users. And it's all clearly documented in Coherent's highly praised 1200 page manual. Experienced, Supported, Guaranteed. Mark Williams Company has been developing professional programming tools since 1976. Our commitment to our products and users is unsurpassed. Users applaud our popular BBS and the widely acclaimed telephone support they get free from Coherent developers. Still, we're not asking you to take a chance on Coherent. We've made it fool- proof to see for yourself-with a 60-day money-back, no hassles guarantee. So pick up that phone and order Coherent now. And the best way to UNIX will be on its way to you! 800-MARKWMS (800-627-5967 or 708-291-6700, FAX: 708-291-6750) 60-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! Mark Williams Company 60 Revere Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062 Coherent is a trademark of Mark Williams Company. UNIX is a trademark of USL Distributors: Australia + 07-266-2270, Brazil + 011-883-2299, Czech. + 06-32-62877, Denmark + 42-887-249, England + 091-29-62219, Finland + 941-871-871, France + 1-47414519, 1-4672-8074, Germany + 0511-53-7295, 030-313-7015, Holland + 023-386-599, Hungary + 153-0988, Malaysia + 03-756-4477, Norway + 0-211-0950, South America/Caribbean + 1-809-723-5000, Sweden + 06-60-19290. Circle 92 on Inquiry Card. Images in your Computer from Video or full page Scanners. Double your productivity in DeskTop Publishing, OCR and Multimedia applications. ColorSnap FL $599.00 Professional, REAL TIME, video image cap- lure in color (24-bit. 16.7 million colors) and gray scale. Capture from any NTSC/PAL video source, camcorder, live TV, still video etc. VGA, SVGA supported, files saved in standard formats. Superb image quality, Windows support. PageReader 30( — -"^ Artiscan 24-bit true 600 or 800 dpi on both axes Professional, desk-top, fast (SCSI interface included), 24- bit color scanner. True 600 dpi $ 1 1 99.00 on both axis. Superb picture quality in color and gray scale. Includes Image Processing software. Optional X-Ray, Transparency Scanner ($699.00). OCR software options available.Recognita (add $159.00). 800x800 dpi version $1545. Best magazine ratings. USER'S COLUMN Full Page. 300 dpi Scan- ner complete with OCR WordScan software & line-art Imager software!! HP-ScanJet compatible driver hence compatible with any OCR package. Fast! Reads avg. page in <10sec. Incredible introductory price $399.00 complete!!! With Recognita, add $159.00), with 9600 fax/modem send/rec. add $99.00. Ideal in any office for text, autoCad drawings, presentations etc. Color 3000 Full Page, color (24-bit) scanner (16.7 million col- ors or 256 gray scale). Complete with Color Image Processing Soft- ware. Fully HP ScanJet emulation driver. Color 3000 599.00 WordScan 99.00 Recognita 159.00 Call or write for info on Scanner or Video Based Image Transfer Systems 30-day return guarantee on all products. 1 year warranty. Major credit cards. Resellers Welcome. Computer Friends, Inc. - 14250 NW Science Park Dr. - Portland OR 97229 Toll Free 1-800-547-3303 - tel. (503)626-2291 - fax (503)643-5379 this will do the job. Taking an image out of the camera and squirting it into the com- puter through a serial port is slow — about a minute per picture — but it's painless, and once the image is in the machine, you can manipulate it in various ways. Fotoman is a pretty good deal for real estate companies and other outfits that use a lot of pictures and need speed and con- venience rather than high resolution and detail. It can save a bundle on film. Pascal Returns Windows is written in C, and for a while it looked like the only way to write Win- dows applications was to learn C pro- gramming. Microsoft released Visual Ba- sic, which in my judgment is far preferable to C, but there's a widespread belief thai real programmers don't write in BASIC. Comes now two new Borland Pascals. Turbo Pascal 7.0 is the introductory level. The real news is Borland Pascal with Ob- jects, a complete package that contains Object Vision, Turbo Assembler, Turbo Debugger, the new Pascal compiler, and DLLs that let you write code for DOS or Windows. You can also do DOS DLLs for Win- dows. Not even Microsoft has a compiler that will do that. Borland Pascal uses the same DOS memory extensions that power Borland Paradox, meaning that it's a very proven engine, and you can write DOS programs as large as 16 MB if you like. Recall what I said about competition with Microsoft. You probably don't want to write a 35,000-line program in any kind of BASIC; and writing something that big in C may take decades. Borland Pascal compiles fast, has tons of productivity tools, and makes efficient code. As an ex- ample. Generic CADD is written in Turbo Pascal; the new Borland Pascal is even more efficient and is backward-compatible with Turbo Pascal. My guess is that both Windows and DOS applications written in Borland Pascal will ship months before the same application written in C or C++. More next month after I have the final-re- lease product, but I find it exciting that Pascal has come back in a big way. Learn About Counting Generally Roberta looks at educational software, much of which can only be de- scribed as bloody awful; but of Learn About Counting with the Berenstain Bears, she says: "This is worth putting under some little one's Christmas tree. It comes with sound and is for children as young as 4. It's a snap to install, unlike some ed- ucational software designed for kids with a rocket scientist in the family. The user gets to choose whether Brother or Sister 110 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 1 59 on Inquiry Card. __ PRESENTING A NEW GENERATION OF SUPERIORITY. ; he Nanao FlexScan® family of award-winning big-screen monitors introduces our newest family member. The FlexScan F340iW- an affordable monitor for Windows applications. Our new 35lb., 15" addition has the same traits as its big brothers. Features like our exclusive Advanced Image Control System that lets you adjust color balance, store picture adjustments and recall the settings. ..automatically. And a flat-square, .28mm dot pitch Invar Shadow Mask CRT combined with Dynamic Beam Spot Control to optimize both resolu- tion and convergence over the entire screen. You get a brilliant, sharp image and 20% more work area than a 14" monitor, plus 1024 x 768 resolution at a 76Hz flicker-free refresh rate, up-front controls and compli- ance to MPR-II guidelines - all of which make the F340iW a healthy addition to any work environment. So, if you're looking for a quality monitor for Windows applications, but a 17" is beyond your budget, you've found it. Congratulations. ,® 23535 Telo Avenue, Torrance, CA 90505 (310)325-5202 NANAO Superior in every detail? NANAO U.S.A. CORPORATION 1-800-800-5202 Circle 1 25 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 1 26). USER'S COLUMN Bear will take the kiddies on a colorful trip. The program uses the integral speak- er to prompt the user, and if there's an er- ror, the designer walks the student through the why of the correct answer. It doesn't just give you the lame 'Try again' you see too often. "They even throw in some finger pup- pets. Many kids will enjoy their mom or dad starting them on this package, and af- ter a bit, the youngster can work indepen- dently to play the eight different games." Winding Down We have the new Kyocera Ecosys printer that doesn't use cartridges, and we like it. The learning tool of the month is Learn Programming Today with Turbo Pascal from Borland; this is a videotape, work- book, and compiler that starts at the be- ginning and moves rapidly to complex pro- grams. If you're just beginning to learn programming, or if like me you got out of the habit of Pascal and want to get back in, this is an excellent tool. Two computer books this month: Michael Young's Visual Basic: Game Programming in Windows (Microsoft Press, 1992). This is intermediate level. Games use a lot of programming tech- niques, including sound and animation. It has plenty of examples. The second book is Peter Fink's PostScript Screening (Adobe Press, 1992). It's the best intro- duction to the whole subject of visual screening, halftones, and so forth, that I have yet seen; I sure learned a lot from it. Another book I learned much from is Stephen Bigelow's Understanding Tele- phone Electronics (Sams, 1992). This will tell you as much — more, probably — as you want to know about telephones, from the handset to the central switchboard. It includes faxes and wireless phones. The book of the month is Robert Hein- lein's Take Back Your Government (Baen Books, 1992). I wrote the introduction and some notes, but I don't get royalties. This was written years ago, when the structure of U.S. politics was quite different; and, as I say in my introduction, a time when, in my judgment, citizens had more control of their government. We could do worse than go back to such times. The game of the month is Darklands from MicroProse. The game was released too early (although way behind schedule) and the first versions had serious bugs, but that ought to be fixed by the time you read this. It's a new twist on role-playing games, set in the Holy Roman Empire as it believed itself to be. I am installing NetWare, as well as working with WFWG. I continue to look at operating systems: Windows, OS/2, and NextStep for the 486. Networks and op- erating systems, along with development languages, will be major themes during the next year. The computer revolution continues. ■ Jerry Pournelle holds a doctorate in psy- chology and is a science fiction writer who also earns a comfortable living writing about computers present and future. Jerry welcomes readers ' comments and opin- ions. Send a self-addressed, stamped en- velope to Jerry Pournelle, c/o BYTE, One Phoenix Mill Lane, Peterborough, NH 03458. Please put your address on the let- ter as well as on the envelope. Due to the high volume of letters, Jerry cannot guar- antee a personal reply. You can also con- tact him on BIX as "jerryp. " ITEMS DISCUSSED ] Borland Pascal with Objects $495 Fotoman $799 Mystat $18.95 Learn Programming Today Logitech, Inc. Course Technology with Turbo Pascal $59.95 6505 Kaiser Dr. 1 Main St. Turbo Pascal 7.0 $149.95 Fremont, CA 94555 Cambridge, MA 02142 (800) 648-7450 Borland International, Inc. (800)231-7717 1800 Green Hills Rd. (510)795-8500 (617)225-2595 P.O. Box 660001 fax:(510)792-8901 fax:(617)225-7976 Scotts Valley, CA 95067 Circle 1 1 64 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 1 67 on Inquiry Card. (800)331-0877 (408) 438-8400 Info Select for Windows $ 1 49.95 NCR3170 $3999 fax: (408) 439-9344 Micro Logic Corp. Safari Systems Circle 1161 on Inquiry Card. P.O. Box 70 Hackensack, NJ 07602 14K World's Fair Dr. Somerset, NJ 08873 Darklands $69.95 (800) 342-5930 (908) 302-5800 MicroProse Software, Inc. (201)342-6518 fax: (908) 469-4578 180LakefrontDr. fax:(201)342-0370 Circle 1 168 on Inquiry Card. Hunt Valley, MD 21030 Circle 1 165 on Inquiry Card. (800) 879-7529 Systat $895 (301)771-1151 Learn About Counting $24.95 Systat, Inc. Circle 1 162 on Inquiry Card. Comptons New Media 2320 Camino Vida Roble 1800 Sherman Ave., Suite 801 Evanston, IL 60201 EDOS $39.95 Carlsbad, CA 92009 (708) 864-5670 Firefly Software Systems Coip. (800) 532-3766 fax: (708) 492-3567 32345 Southwest Arbor Lake Dr. (619)929-2500 Circle 1 169 on Inquiry Card. Wilsonville, OR 97070 Circle 1 166 on Inquiry Card. (800) 248-0809 ZS900 $149 (503) 694-2282 Zero Surge, Inc. Circle 1 163 on Inquiry Card. 103ClaremontRd. Bernardsville, NJ 07924 (908) 766-4220 fax:(908)766-4144 Circle 1 1 70 on Inquiry Card. 112 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 If You Need PCs That CanTake It, Take This ToYour Mailbox. For free information about Texas Micro PCs, send in this card; FAX this card to 1-713-933-1029; or for immediate attention, call 1-800-627-8700 ; 1 PURCHASE COMPUTERS FOR: □ Internal company use □ Resale □ Both SOLUTIONS YOU PROVIDE: APPLICATIONS YOU ARE RUNNING: PROCESSOR: □ 386 □ 486 D Other configuration: D Rackmount □ Bench/desktop D Tower □ Industrial workstation □ Cards IMPORTANT SPECIFICATIONS: D Heat D Dust □ Shock D Vibration □ Fault tolerant □ Other COMPANY . TENTATIVE PURCHASE TIMEFRAME: □ One month □ Three months □ Six months D Over six months 1* European inquiries call 31-36-536-5595. Other international inquiries call 1-71 3-933-8050 Attention Resellers: Customize For Your Customers. As a reseller, you know that you can't simply squeeze solutions to fit your customers' needs. At Texas Micro, we'll work with you to bring customized, rugged solu- tions to your customers. We've been doing it for years for some of America's biggest corporations. We offer: • Custom and standard solutions for specialized markets such as factory automation, telecommuni- cations, medical, maintenance and field sites, and harsh office environments. • A regional network of field application engineers for design, integration and support. • A complete, one-stop source for CPUs, option cards and peripherals. • Custom BIOS development, which we file for quick reordering. • Custom chassis designs with custom, screen-printed front panels. Give us a chance to assess your needs. Mark the "Resale" box on the card above and we'll send you complete reseller information. TEXAS For Immediate Attention, Give Us A Call At 1-800-627-8700: 1 European inquiries call 3 1 -36-536-5595. Olher international inquiries call 1 -71 3-933-8050, BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST-CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 2484 HOUSTON, TX NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNIT ED STATES POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE TEXAS MICRO TEXAS MICRO 10618 ROCKLEYRD. HOUSTON, TX 77099-9986 ll...ll...lll...l.l..l.l..l.l..l.l..l..l„llml„ll To Hell And Back: Texas Micro Systems Ate Built To Withstand The Most Demanding Environments. I N THE ARCTIC A ND IN THE ON THE WORLD'S LARGEST DESERT , a "Big 3" U.S. auto maker uses Texas Micro PCs in every test car in temperatures ranging from 140° desert heal to -50° arctic cold. COMMODITIES TR A DING FLOOR , customized Texas Micro PCs speed transactions by functioning as two systems with two monitors, two keyboards and two operators. IN REMOTE NORTHEASTERN U.S.A. STEEL MILL PLANTS , ruggedized rackmount Texas Micro PCs are mounted next to molten steel foundries to monitor and control various processes. IN A HARSH ENVIRONMENT, AN ORDINARY PC IS A DEAD PC . A lol of PCs do well to survive a desk- top. But on the production floor or in the field, the dust, heat, vibration and traffic can finish an ordinary If You Need A PC That Will Go Through Hell, Get One That's Been There. PC-and your operation- in a hurry. Even if your PC has to withstand hell, your business doesn't have to. As long as you're using ruggedized PCs from Texas Micro. OUR PCS TAKE A BEATING FROM THE FORTUNE 100. In fact, 70 of them put Texas Micro PCs through the wringer every day in everything from industrial applications to severe office environments. And we don't spare our PCs, either. During factory tests, we shake, bake and beat them like there's no tomor- row. Because with an ordinary PC, there may be none. OUR PCS ARE THE BEST BECAUSE THEY'RE BUILT FOR THE WORST. We design our 286, 386 and 486 systems using rugged design techniques that give them up to three times the life expec- tancy of other PCs. Our passive backplane, for example, gives you instant access to plug-in CPU cards and compo- nents, reducing Mean Time To Repair to under 10 minutes. We shock-mount the drives within our nickel-plated, all-steel chassis to withstand vibration. We implement VLSI and PAL technology to increase component reliability. And we use positive airflow filtration to reduce contam- ination and system heat. STRONG SUPPORT IS OUR STRONG SUIT. We provide toll- free technical assistance and a regional network of field application engineers. We also customize PCs to meet your particular specifications. FIND OUT WHAT OUR PCS ARE REALLY MADE OF . Call us for complete product information and specifications. Or send in the attached card. But don't delay. The path- way to hell is paved with good intentions. Ruggedized Rackmount • 1 4 option slots, 3 drive bays " Nickel-plated, steel chassis • 1 00,000 hr. MTBF' power supply • Complete front panel accessibility • 14" VGA Multisync monitor Ruggedized Workstation • 9 option slots, 2 drive bays • NEMA-4 compliant • 100,000 hr. MTBF* power supply • CRT/CPU in one unit • VGA monitor - - •*■ - Ruggedized Benchtop • 1 option slots, 2 drive bays ■ Nickel-plated, steel chassis • 1 00,000 hr. MTBF' power supply • Extra small footprint Ask A Few Tough Questions: 1-800-627-8700. All Irade names referenced are ihe service mark, trademark or registered trademark of the respective manufacturer. 'Mean Time Between Failure, t European inquiries call 31-36-536-5595. Other international inquiries call 1-713-933-8050. Circle 177 on Inquiry Card. Introducing Mcroso The difference between present Microsoft PowerPoint- Presentation File Edit View lext Object Arrange Slide Window Help «*=► \ c -. □ O «o 18 7] IjljjLIaQlLlI lillAl_9_l (IH Exotic Excursions Telemark Skiing In Sunny Saudi Arabia Enjoy a thrilling sand skiing" holiday! Take dune skiing lessons from local Bedouin legends. Slalom down some of the steepest, dunes on Earth. Ride camels to picturesque summits after every run. After hot days on the dunes, discover the magic of the Arabian nights. FORWras Add a new dimension of visual impact to all your busi- ness communications with Microsoft" Video for Windows™ It's the easy way to take your Windows-based word process- ing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations and put them into action. In fact, you can incorporate digital video clips into any OLE-aware application for a more complete and engaging message. To start with, you can choose from over 240 different clips in the video library* that's included standard on a CD-ROM disc. Or you can easily create your own digital video Video BLASTER sequences with our VidCap tool and a video capture board like the low-cost Video Blaster™ from Creative Labs. Simply use video footage you've shot with your own camcorder. Or incorporate existing video clips from your company's library for product demon- strations and customer presentations. With Microsoft Video for Windows, editing is easy, too. Just call up the VidEdit tool. Click your selection on the toolbar. And you're well on your way to assembling video sequences that show off your unique directorial style. lb run new Video for Windows, all you © 1992 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. 'Portions provided by FirstLighl '. Inc."Plus applicable sales tax. Reseller prices max varv.Offcr good until March 30. 1993. Please allowZ-4 weeks for delivery upon receipt of this order by Microsoft. In the 50 United Slates, call (800) 882-2000. Ext. JA4. For information only, in Canada call (800)563-9048; outside the 50 United States and Canada, call (206)936-8661. Trial Pack system requirements: Personal computer with 3S6S.X or higher microprocessor running ft Video for Windows. ing the facts and telling the story. Media Player - SKIING.AVI [playing] Edit Device Scale Help nr aHBDH^BBlEBl With the Media Player, you can easily view video clips or incorporate them into any OLE-aware application. need is the Microsoft Windows operating system and a 386 or higher PC with no extra hardware. And, since Intel* Indeo™ technology is built in, you can add special video hardware ■■• *|^^» (which supports this technol- KIBES ogy) for enhanced video quality. For a preview of Video for Windows, order our Trial Pack for just $9.95.** It contains everything you'll need to see how Video for Windows can impact your communications Or see the entire performance by getting your own copy of Video for Windows. We think you'll get the picture. And so wiU your audience. Experience Video for Windows on your own PC. You can order the Video for Windows Trial Pack directly from Microsoft for just $9.95. Or you can get a copy of the full pro- duct from an authorized reseller near you. To place your Trial Pack order or to get the name of a reseller in your area, call Microsoft today at (800) 882-2000, Ext.JA4. Microsoft Making it easier Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1, audio board compatible with Windows, VGA display (256 color or greater recommended). Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device and a 3.5-inch high density (1.44 MB disk drive) are required. Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation. Intel is a registered trademark and Indeo and the Indeo logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation. Video Blaster and the Video Blaster logo are trademarks of Creative Labs. COVER STORY BYTE Awarcls The world's best for 1992 sets new standards for excellence MICHAEL NADEAU very fall, BYTE selects the best products, technologies, and standards of the past year for special recognition. Editors and BYTE licensees around the world nominate and vote for candidates that, in their judgment, represent the most significant developments in terms of innovation, performance, and price. (For a description of the se- lection process, see the text box "How BYTE Selected the Best" on page 122.) 1992 While the economy may have been in the dumpster in 1992, the computer in- dustry still managed to turn out a record number of innovative products, stan- dards, and technologies. The 109 BYTE Award winners — 25 more than last year — are important not just for what they did in 1992, but also for the direc- tion they will provide for 1993. For example, users will crave yet more power in the coming year. As software products such as Award of Excellence winners Adobe Premiere 2.0, CorelDraw 3.0, FrameMaker for Windows, and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups establish themselves, users will discover that these programs work best on high-performance hardware. But not to worry — other Award of Excellence winners have this angle covered. Intel's 486DX/2, the Radius RocketShare, and the VL-Bus standard all provide significant performance boosts to their respective platforms. The PC price war of 1992 has led users to expect to pay less for products, and many of the award winners were chosen in part because of their ability to deliver quality at a lower cost. Kyocera's Ecosys aSi laser printer, which won an Award of Excellence, is reasonably priced and features a low cost per copy. Artisoft continues to set the price standard for peer LANs with its Award of Distinction winner LANtastic 4.1. 116 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Another Award of Distinction winner, Compaq's ProLinea PC line, should re- main both a price and volume leader through 1993. A Big Year for Windows The Windows juggernaut continues this year, as 30 Windows-specific prod- ucts — nearly twice as many as last year — won awards, including three of the top five vote-getters. Of the three new versions of Windows that Microsoft launched in 1992, two — Windows for Workgroups and Windows 3.1 — placed second and third, re- spectively, in the overall voting. (The third, Windows NT, was not eligible because it was not expected to ship in 1992.) Software products accounted for 27 of the Windows win- ners, and several popular software packages made their Win- dows debut in 1992. They include Award of Excellence win- ner Quattro Pro for Windows and Award of Merit winners LANtastic for Windows, Mathcad 3.1 for Windows, Mathe- matica for Windows, Procomm Plus for Windows, and Quick- en 2.0 for Windows. Award of Distinction winner Approach for Windows 2.0 and Award of Merit winner FileMaker Pro 2.0 for Windows helped fill a significant need for Windows database managers. Two other Windows database managers announced in 1992, AWARDS GRAPHIC: ROGER GOODE 1-1993 BYTE Borland's Paradox for Windows and Microsoft Access, were not eligible for awards because of uncertainty over whether they would be commercially available in 1992. Clearly, Windows' strong showing in this year's awards reflects the growing number of companies jumping on the Windows bandwagon. The decline in the number of winners among DOS, Macintosh, and Unix software is evidence that developers are devoting most of their efforts to the platform with the highest installed base. The number of DOS software winners dropped from 13 to nine, Mac software winners dropped from 12 to eight, and Unix software winners dropped from three to one (see the fig- ure). New Categories, New Uses Some of the most exciting winners are products that represent new categories. The Philips CDD521 CD-ROM recorder, for instance, makes it possible for even small organizations to publish data on CD-ROM in-house. The Kodak DCS 200ci Digital Camera lets you take photographs digitally for fast, easy insertion into elec- tronic documents. The Mobidem from Ericsson GE Mobile Communications brings wireless mobile communications to a hand-held form fac- tor using a packet-radio link. And although we are not quite sure what the most important practical application of the Gryphon Morph image-morphing software will be, it's a hoot to use. Hewlett-Packard shrank the hard drive to 1 .3 inches with the Kittyhawk. In the process, HP made the drive more energy effi- cient and less susceptible to shock. With hard drives this small, it is now feasible to use rotating media in devices such as hand- held PCs and cellular phones. Pens Are Getting Mightier Last year, some pen PCs and Go Corp.'s PenPoint operating sys- tem won awards. This year, two pen-based applications made the cut. PenMagic's Numero, a spreadsheet-like math package, and PenSoft's Perspective, an innovative personal information manager, both won Awards of Distinction. In addition, the Slate PenApps applications development tool was given an Award of Merit. Fujitsu's PoqetPad and the Grid PalmPad won an Award of Merit and an Award of Distinction, respectively. Both are small, hand-held devices, unlike the larger tablet systems that won last year. Also, Pi Systems' Infolio pen tablet was an Award of Merit winner. Predictions The trends of this year's BYTE Awards give us a clue to what 1 993 may hold. Windows will continue to dominate, as new ver- sions of the operating system target specialized areas such as workgroups. With the investment that software and hardware developers have in Windows 3.0 and 3.1, it is safe to assume that many of these developers will support Windows in all its incarnations. The drop in Mac software winners may be deceiving. Apple garnered four awards for its systems, ranging from the high-per- formance Quadra 950 to the popular PowerBook 1 80 to the low- cost Performa 600. With hardware of this caliber, Apple stands a good chance of gaining market share and, more important, the attention of developers. You could see more Mac winners next year. Potential winners of next year's BYTE Awards are already starting to surface. Microsoft's Windows NT and Access database manager barely missed being eligible for awards in 1992. Bor- land's Paradox for Windows has received praise from beta testers. Intel's Pentium is slated to appear this spring. Apple will introduce a new crop of Macs. And a new generation of notebooks and subnotebooks will have been announced by the time you read this. We are entering another exciting year of new computer de- velopments. Michael Nadeau is a BYTE senior editor. You can reach him on BIX as "miken." continued 30 25 20 15 10 5 AWARD-WINNER CATEGORIES, 1991 AND 1992 4H C 1 m i L' H W fl A 91 f HBB I i _ albi-Ml ^H DOS software Windows Mac Unix LAN Printer Processor- Systems software software software products products based products Storage products Video products The biggest difference between the 1992 BYTE Award winners and the 1991 winners is the big jump in the number of Windows-based products — almost twice as many. There was a small decline in the number of winners in the DOS and Mac software categories. JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 117 BYTE Excellence :U: Clip: painted films trip 111] == jj Adobe Premiere 2.0 Adobe Premiere 2.0, Adobe Systems This electronic storyboard /video editor got even better with ver- sion 2.0. It now supports external device control, 16-bit 44-kHz sound, SMPTE time-coding, and edit-decision lists. Thus, a Pre- miere 2.0 storyboard made with clips from high-end videotapes can control the equipment you use to edit and create broadcast- quality output. Mac PowerBook 180 Cx486SLC Borland C++ 3.1 Borland C++ 3.1, Borland International Borland's Windows-hosted C++ compiler is simply a joy to use: user-friendly, capable, and blazing fast. Color syntax highlighting, an integrated re- source compiler, new 386 and C++ optimizations, and sup- port for the Windows 3.1 ex- tensions top the list of new fea- tures that make what had already been the premier Win- dows compiler even better. The compiler's application frame- works— OWL (ObjectWin- dows Library) and TurboVi- sion — continue to demonstrate Borland's excellent grasp of object-oriented principles. CorelDraw 3.0 for Windows, Corel Systems In one $595 package, Corel- Draw 3.0 for Windows delivers nearly all the graphics applica- tions you could ask for, in- cluding illustration, an image tracer, an image editor, chart- ing, a slide-show feature, and a visual catalog. The program's ease of use, coupled with its power, has users singing its praises. At press time, Corel was expecting to release a 32- bit version of CorelDraw for OS/2 2.0 and was developing a Mac version as well. Cx486SLC and Cx486DLC, Cyrix A lot of factors fed the PC price wars of 1992, and the 25-MHz SLC and 33-MHz DLC from Cyrix played important roles. Cyrix's new CPUs support the instruction set of the i486, but with different pin-outs, a small- er cache, and no built-in FPU. Their performance falls be- tween that of the 386DX and that of the 486SX. Pricing for the Cx486SLC, which includes a separate math coprocessor, allowed vendors such as Com- puAdd to market desktop sys- tems for under $2000 and was a catalyst for other CPU ven- dors to lower prices. DEC Alpha, DEC Workstations keep getting faster and faster, and DEC's scalable Alpha RISC CPU will help ensure this rising perfor- mance curve for the foresee- able future. This 64-bit CPU is rated at 200 MHz, for which DEC claims a theoretical rat- ing of 400 MIPS. At that speed, other RISC chip vendors will have to pedal faster to keep up. Ecosys aSi, Kyocera Electronics The Kyocera Ecosys printer is extremely cost-effective. It uses an amorphous silicon drum and microfine ceramics toner to produce copy at high speeds, with no necessary maintenance beyond toner replenishment and minor cleaning every 5000 copies. There are no cartridges to replace. Installation and maintenance, including mem- ory expansion, are easy tasks for the average user. Excel 4.0, Microsoft The Windows spreadsheet that set the standard keeps getting even better with successive re- leases. Excel 4.0 aims to be smarter about how users work, automating common actions and making clever guesses about what users want to do. New "Wizards" walk you through the procedures for charting and report generation, greatly improving Excel' s ease of use. FrameMaker for Windows, Frame Technology FrameMaker helps legitimize Windows 3. 1 as a platform for serious high-end applications. Developed for Unix and pre- viously ported to the Mac, FrameMaker boasts cross-plat- form capability at its best, al- lowing you to ship files direct- ly from one platform to the next. Its main strength is in handling book-length docu- ments and technical publica- tions. With support for OLE and the Multiple Document In- terface, FrameMaker is a true Windows application with the power to handle the biggest jobs. 118 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 i486DX/2, Intel The cornerstone of Intel's ag- gressive product rollout strat- egy in 1992, this so-called clock doubler gives PC users a simple, inexpensive (about $600) performance upgrade, eliminating or postponing the need to purchase a whole new system. The 50- and 60-MHz DX/2s run on 25- and 33-MHz motherboards, respectively, so systems designers can deliver the benefits of the faster speeds without additional design costs. A sign that the faster CPUs did not require heavy reworking: Scores of vendors, including Hewlett-Packard, Gateway, and Dell, had systems ready for shipment on the day of Intel's chip introduction. i486SL, Intel With the i486SL, Intel has per- formed a rare feat in CPU de- velopment: It has created a new generation that is more power- ful and more highly integrated but requires much less energy to operate than its predeces- sors. The i486SL is a 3.3-volt device designed for use in note- book and subnotebook PCs. With its low-power operation and 486 power, it could make 386-based notebooks obsolete. Kittyhawk, Hewlett-Packard Only 1.3 inches wide, the 21- MB Kittyhawk hard drive might be mistaken for a book of matches. It's also rugged, able to withstand a 100-g shock while operating, according to HP. AT&T Microelectronics worked with HP to develop the highly integrated drive circuit- ry, while Citizen uses its watch-making experience to manufacture the drive. The Kittyhawk's size and durability make it an ideal can- didate for use in hand-held PCs, cellular phones, laser printers, and pen PCs — appli- cations where the use of rotat- ing media has up to now been clumsy or impossible. Kodak DCS 200ci Digital Camera, Eastman Kodak The Kodak DCS 200ci shares a lineage with Kodak's original electronic camera, but some important advances distinguish it. Its price comes in at under $10,000, yet it provides the same resolution and quality as its $25,000 stablemate in a smaller, consumer-oriented package. Pictures are stored on an internal hard drive and downloaded directly to a PC or a Mac. Operating costs are vir- tually eliminated: There's no film to buy and no need for a high-quality scanner. Results are almost instantaneous, and in an ecology-conscious world, there's no film or chemical waste to worry about. Mac PowerBook 180, Apple Computer Like its predecessor, the Mac PowerBook 170, the Mac Pow- erBook 180 weighs just 6.8 pounds. But Apple has based the PowerBook 180 on a 33- MHz 68030 instead of the 170's 25-MHz processor, with a 68882 FPU and 70-nanosec- ond pseudostatic RAM. The maximum RAM in the 1 80 has been extended to 14 MB (an increase of 6 MB over the 1 70), letting you tax System 7.1's multitasking capabilities even further. The 120-MB SCSI hard drive option lets you pack even more files onto your portable system. As long as Apple keeps churning out portables like this, office work- ers may never go back to the desktop. Microsoft Windows 3.1, Microsoft Version 3.1 makes Windows faster, stabler, and easier to use. It also brings a slew of new and improved technologies, in- cluding TrueType, OLE, mul- timedia and pen extensions, better file management, more robust DOS support, faster disk access, and smarter printing. Taken together, these im- provements add up to much more than a simple point re- lease. Version 3. 1 shows that .fl„, l .,1l„. l J.„ l „l,,i„:i,-,;iJ. A,,l;1,iA:lIHL Learn /Tennis i? lay t Tennis H an IB £1 SOUTH WHIDBEY PARKS & RECREATION ■») T »< i» S«,«iX |«,™.S ■" EDS EH jb| i | s' 1 Appiy 7 ; CorelDraw 3.0 for Windows i FrameMaker 3.0 - [c:\mrnbook\preface| JMPI *'r u &fi* Format Special View Page Graphics Tabic Window Help Pi In. , 1 . , . 12 . , . |3 . , . |4 . , . 15 |6, , , |7, s book's coverage toward any platform or espiuring any ore fclit't point of Quite t he contrary a fail bit of what appears in this book goes against so- prevailing wisdom. I'll tell you what I mean by that in the. next section. What You'll Learn What atd how much you learn from this booh depends on how you read it go through it cover-to-cover, you certainly won't retain it all. Y/hat will : you are those things you find most applicable to your present condition. U ever, you skip around based on research you've already done, or based on . lions you'te mailing about where yourinteresis lie, you'll retain more ust information Either way, effective use of ttie material in itus book depends on narrov/i The fi-htlitncsin Pvcs'ucc/'s h'an your breadth oil iiiertji I'd like io i In tik t very chapter tia: *orii-: thing in it fot everyone, but I know that's not so The people who read the chapters on desktop video production very well might not #ve a hoot about computer- telephone inter- facing. So in a way. this is a different book for every reader. Your interests will guide you to read or skip chapters accordingly. To help you in this, 1 have organised each cha /" "1 Body CellBody CeflHeadingji ChapTitfe Footnote Head! Heading Default 1 Fart] Emphasis Headl HelvBold Helvetica Normal Subscript Superscript Times TimesBold Tiroesltaiic FrameMaker for Windows I486DX/2 Windows' modular DLL-based architecture supports the rapid evolution necessary to satisfy the escalating demands placed on it by applications and users. For developers, Windows 3.1 presents a more solid base on which to build applications. continued Kittyhawk Kodak DCS 200ci JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 119 "FEW, COMFORT, POWER, AND Actually, we'd say impossible to beat. And so will you. Just compare Express notebooks to the competition — the way leading computer publications have been doing. And you'll see that we have the most features at the lowest prices. You'll see why Computer Shopper (8/92) said the Express 325NXL was "...destined to be the power accessory of the future." Why Computer Buying World (8/92) praised its "small, light, attractive and reasonably priced package." Why PC Magazine (8/92) said the 325NXL is the notebook made for "those looking for a good value at the $2,000 price point." And why there should be no question which notebook computer to buy. "... will help you get your work done comfort- ably at the right price. " PC Magazine, August 1992 These are the notebooks you've been waiting for — whether you need a 25MHz 386SX like our 325NXL or a 25MHz 486 like our 425CXL. As Computer Buying World said, "CompuAdd Express' 325NXL has most of the extras every notebook should have." So does the 425CXL. And they've got performance, too. PC Magazine gave the 325NXL high marks on video and graphics benchmarks and on battery life tests — "the third- highest score of the 70 systems tested." Our super-twist backlit liquid crystal display has 64 levels of gray scale and a .30mm dot pitch. It measures 9.4" diagonally. We install a 9600 baud fax/ 2400 baud modem, both with send/receive capabilities. And we include Quick fink II fax/ modem software FREE. Brightness and other display controls are on the keyboard surface. Most notebook microprocessors run at only 1 6MHz or 20MHz. Ours run at 25MHz. 425CXt contains Cyrix CX486StC; 325NXL contains AMD 386SX. Sleep button and built-in power management logic for over 2 hours battery lite on the 425CXt; 3 to 4 hours on the 325NXL. High density 1.44MB internal floppy drive. Two click buttons work with the trackball to select icons and commands. See for Yourself, fxpress Has The Most features 'fV.iV' VV'i LL bush Express Dell Compudyne Gateway Austin PC Brand MSDOS/W1N 325nxl 325N 386SXL/25 325SXL 386SX/25 386SX/25 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes HDSIZE 80 60 80 60 60 WTw/ADAPTER 6.6 LBS 7.6LBS 7.6LBS 7.1 LBS 8.7LBS 8.8LBS RAM 4MB 4MB 2MB 2MB 1MB 2MB FAX/MODEM Yes Option Option Option Option Option GRAY SCALE 64 32 64 64 32 32 ZDIGIT RUNDN 5hr 28min 5hr 12min 3hr 26min 5hr41min 4hr 48min 2hr45min BLTNTKBALL Yes No Yes No No No PRICE $2,095 $2,698 $1,806 $2,095 $2,293 $1,944 True notebook size (8.5"xl 1 "x2") • "T\ie clear winner... with its terrific balance of performance and exfras. " Computer Buying World, August 1992 Based on PC Magazine Survey. August 1 992 PRIG -REM TOUGH TO BEAT \ Weighs only 5.3 pounds, even including the battery. Add the AC adapter, and it still weighs only 6.6 pounds. 425CXL includes a math coprocessor; 325NXL contains socket for Cyrix FasMath™ 83S87 math coprocessor One serial port, one parallel port. External 800x600 VGA video, PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse connectors. 425CXL has a 1 20MB or an 80MB hard drive. The 325NXL has an 80MB or a 60MB hard drive. Both have 4MB of RAM — so big Windows programs run great! 1 01 -key function keyboard implemented with 84-key layout has an IBM "feel" because it's made by Lexmark, formerly IBM's keyboard division. Fullsize function keys, too! Built-in trackball with 200dpi for accurate pointing. Our FREE carrying case has a shoulder strap and pockets so you can pack adapters, diskettes and other supplies. Inverted "T" arrow keys are in the lower right hand corner, where they belong. FREE LotusWorks 3.0 integrated ^"'*Bl business software pre-loaded. - ?!S£pl FREE AC wall adapter FREE MICROSOFT. WINDOWS READY-TO-RUN Computer Shopper, August 1 992 TYnrOCC ^ 7 1 MYI Ever yb°dy l° v es our notebooks' LApiC)) J LJV\M. features. Computer Shopper wrote that "The built-in 2,400bps fax/modem is snazzy" and called the keyboard, sliding door covering ports and general design "an admirable piece of work." PC Magazine wrote: "The Lexmark keyboard is comfortable to use. Large and prominent function keys are ranged along the top, and the cursor keys are in an inverted-T layout just left of the trackball." Computer Buying World also praised the keyboard, which it said "is remarkably well laid out." wem is snazzy $1895 80MB Hard Drive Lease for only $70/mo 51,695 60MB Hard Drive* Lease for only $62/mo 425CXL fynrpcc 4 7 S fYl The 425CXL has a11 ft^ terrifk LApi C» T L J\.M. features that made its 386 partner so popular. But it has extra speed, thanks to its Cyrix CX486SLC microprocessor. This processor is smaller than other 486 chips, so it fits easily into a portable computer. It uses less power than other 486 chips, so you're less likely to run out of juice in the middle of a big job. Yet it has a built-in cache. And the 425CXL contains a math coprocessor, so applications that use floating point instructions are swift indeed. 1, thanks to its ft»5 120MB Hard Drive Lease for only $88/mo $2,245 80MB Hard Drive* Lease for only $83/mo "While supplies last The Best Technical Support CompuAdd Express has just introduced the best thing ever to happen to technical support — our Remote Rescue program. Using Close-Up 4.0, remote communication software, our support technicians now can use a modem to talk with your PC and solve hardware and setup problems online. We install Close-Up's Customer/Terminal program on every CompuAdd Express system. Our notebooks already have a built-in modem. CompuQdd Scf^U44 Windows 3.1 and MS DOS 5.0 To Order, Or For Information On Our Full Line of desktop systems, call 800-925-3525 12301 Technology Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78727 Hours 8am-6pm (CST) M-F 512-219-1800 Fax 512-219-2890 351 We .icccpr MasterCard, VISA, CompuAdd Express Charge, money orders, certified checks (please allow ten days for processing), CODs (minimum order {(50), company and institutional purchase orders (minimum initial purchase £250, thereafter #50 wrth approved credit) and wire transfers. Shipping charges are calculated according to weight and distance. Texas residents, please add appropriate local sales tax. CompuAdd Express will replace or repair defective hardwar softwarc and consumable items. A \5 percent restocking fee may he charged. All return items must he accompanied by a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number. 30-day money-back guarantee does not include return freight or shipping and handling. Opened software and other consumables are nonrefundable. CompuAdd Express sells and services equipment within the United States only and will pay no customs, duties or tariffs on returned merchandise. Prices and product descriptions are subject to change without notice. CompuAdd Express is not liable for damage due to omissions or typographical errors. A copy of our limited warranty is available prior to sale from your sale; Pre-installed MS DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, LotusWorks 3.0 and Close-Up 4.0 are OEM versions. representative. Circle 86 on Inquiry Card. BYTE tsnssm Excellence How BYTE Selected the Best As they have always been, the BYTE Award winners were se- lected this year through a demo- cratic process. All BYTE editors participate, including the 42 staff edi- tors, 13 consulting editors, and three contributing editors. BYTE has 14 li- censees around the world who reprint BYTE editorial in the native language of their respective countries. This year, six licensees chose to participate: RAM in Greece, Nikkei BYTE in Japan, BYTE Brazil, 0-1 BYTE in Taiwan, Micro- systemes in France, and BAJT in Czechoslovakia. The process begins with nomina- tions. To be eligible, a product or tech- nology must have been introduced since the previous year's award process end- ed (early October) and must be likely to ship to users by the end of the current calendar year. We judge the likelihood of a nominee's shipping based on the vendor's announced shipping date and the apparent maturity of the product or technology. Nominated products must have been covered previously or have planned coverage in BYTE or its li- censees' publications. A nominated product should be one that breaks new ground in terms of new technology, performance, price, or in- novative use of existing technology. An editor can nominate only products that he or she has had some hands-on experience with or those that BYTE editors are reasonably sure will per- form as advertised. After the nomination process, every editor and licensee receives a ballot listing all the eligible products and tech- nologies. Each voter then selects what he or she believes to be the 10 most significant ones for the year; a voter may pick fewer than 10. Awards of Excellence, Distinction, and Merit are assigned based on the number of votes received. Cutoff points for each award are determined accord- ing to how the votes are distributed along a curve. Microsoft Windows for Workgroups, Microsoft This long-rumored Windows peer LAN, with its bundled E- mail and group-scheduling ap- plications, brings groupware into the mainstream. It also al- lows users to send documents back and forth via Windows for Workgroups' networked Clipboard function. Innovative features such as automatic network card detec- tion make installation about as painless as it can get. New pro- tected-mode protocol stacks save a great deal of precious real-mode RAM, enabling pockets of Windows for Work- groups stations to coexist painlessly and peacefully on NetWare LANs. Paradox 4.0, Borland International Borland has successfully re- vamped Paradox, giving it a new interface without sacrific- ing its compatibility with older versions. Paradox 4.0 is faster, and the enhanced PAL (Para- dox Application Language) has support for event-driven pro- gramming. Philips CDD521, Philips Consumer Electronics The $7995 Philips CDD521 CD-ROM recorder will help revolutionize CD-ROM pub- lishing. For the first time, busi- nesspeople can now create discs in-house for prototyping, demonstrations, and even small-scale distribution. Bun- dled software converts the as- sembled data from your hard disk to the CD's ISO 9660 for- mat. You can then ship the fin- ished product directly to a mass-production facility for duplication. The double-speed CDD521 CD-ROM recorder can write 600 MB in a half hour. CD-ROM publishing on the desktop has arrived. Quattro Pro for Windows, Borland International The long-anticipated Windows spreadsheet from Borland is finally here, and it was worth the wait. Quattro Pro for Win- dows tackles the problem of Excel 4.0 File Edit Formula Microsoft Exce - EXAMPLE.XLS Options Macro Window I I =sum(f;f8) I Div1 Oiv2 Div3 Div*-' ptv5 OivS Ow7 T se.sui; *1.503 $404 $9,677 $9,497 7.532 $1,199 $6,805 $2,301 $6,-165 $5,078 $623 $6,470 OTALi $37,691 $28,940 STD 4752283914 Year total $129,953 ; $7,349 $3,481 $3,530 $6 722 $6,621 $1,422 $6,191 S35.316 SHHBagB I5lpsffl»ra@l aaio \SM HBl SB [ Visual Basic for DOS File Etlil V -Tools Check Box Cbnbrj Bex Command Bin Dir lis! Drive List File List frame HScrollBar Label List Box Op] ton Btii Picture Box Text Box Timer VScrollBar tools Options Window iiglllHIII'llllflllTCT : -t-t — : — Common Dm log- Help m^amwrnm File ame: filOpenList IdrvQpenList H dirOpenList 122 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 IMAGINE BROWSING THROUGH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AT 1500 MPH. That's how quick the world's fastest CD-ROM drive moves you through volumes of information. The new Pioneer DRM-604X Minichanger is TWICE AS FAST as any drive on the market. It has a data transfer rate FOUR TIMES the normal speed. And it holds SIX discs at once — more than any other drive. High speed data trans- fer rate is an astounding 600 KBytes/sec. High speed access time averages 300 msec Change time between discs has been reduced from seven to five seconds. If six discs are not enough, you can daisy- THE PIONEER HIGH SPEED CD-ROM MINICHANGER chain up to seven Minichangers from a single controller, giving access to 42 discs — more than 5 million pages of data. The greatest amount of information at the greatest speed. It makes so much sense, it's hard to imagine why anyone would even consider any other drive. For more information, call 1-800-LASER-ON today. Or write to Pioneer Communications of America, Inc., Optical Memory Systems Division, 3255-1 Scott Blvd., Suite 103, Santa Clara, * K CA 95054. CiD PIONEER Pioneer DRM-604.X is a trademark of Pioneer Communications of America, Inc. Circle 145 on Inquiry Card. EVTE Excellence multipage spreadsheets with an innovative "notebook" meta- phor that tags each page with a tab. It also offers Borland's Menus on Demand, an elegant object-properties inspector. RocketShare, Radius What's better than one 33- MHz 68040 Rocket accelera- tor board in your Mac? How about two or more Rockets, each working in tandem on your toughest jobs? Rocket- Share is software that imple- ments point-and-click simplic- ity to Mac multiprocessing. You assign applications to one or more Rocket boards and let them operate separately or tackle shared data together. Toshiba T4400SXC80, Toshiba America Information Systems What sets the T4400SXC80 apart from other color note- books is its fantastic video and 486SX CPU. Toshiba uses a Philips CDD521 custom graphics chip set to provide color gradations that are smoother than those of its competitors, most of which use 386-class CPUs in their color systems. The T4400SXC80's excellent keyboard and full range of options are simply ic- ing on the cake. TWAIN scanner standard Interfacing scanners, digital cameras, and other imaging equipment to PCs has never been a job for the faint of heart: Each device typically required its own driver and sometimes produced files in a unique format. In 1991, a group com- posed of Aldus, Caere, Hew- lett-Packard, Kodak, and Log- itech agreed on a standard for imaging peripherals that lets compliant devices be addressed with a common driver. Just as emulation of popular Epson and HP printers helped stan- dardize output formats, the TWAIN (which stands for Toshiba T4400SXC80 "toolkit without an important name") API codifies input, let- ting you add images to docu- ments by simply selecting an option from a menu. VideoSpigot, SuperMac Technology This is the board that launched a thousand video clips. Apple's QuickTime enabled Macs to handle time-variant data such as digital video, but it was the VideoSpigot that supplied the video data. VideoSpigot is a NuBus board that converts on- the-fly live video and audio sig- nals into a QuickTime movie that's continuously saved onto a disk file. VideoSpigot sup- ports both NTSC and PAL video, and 24-bit-deep frames can be captured up to 30 times per second, depending on the Mac used. A supplied applica- tion lets you view and edit the stored movies, and several compressor/decompressors let you compress and view the movie files. Visual Basic for DOS, Microsoft Marry the strong compiler and debugger technology in Mi- crosoft's BASIC 7.0 Profes- sional Development System with the wildly popular Visual Basic development system, and you've got a sure winner. Win- dows is hot, but there's a lot of life yet in character mode. VB DOS handles many of the same widgets as does its Windows cousin, using the same event model. And its mature opti- mizing compiler churns out re- ally fast programs. Portability between DOS and Windows and a radically simplified mod- el for developing custom con- trols make VB DOS a very at- tractive tool. VL-Bus, Video Electronics Standards Association Before VL-Bus, no standard for local-bus slots existed. This meant that if you wanted the higher-performance video or storage that local-bus architec- ture provides, you had to ac- cept an expensive, proprietary design. VL-Bus provides a common interface that will en- courage third-party develop- ment of less expensive local- bus video boards and hard drive controllers. Since it builds on the existing PC architecture and is relatively easy for PC vendors to implement, VL-Bus has met with early acceptance. Companies such as Gateway 2000, Micronics, and ATI Technologies have already an- nounced VL-Bus products. continued VideoSpigot Microsoft Windows for Workgroups g File Edit Project Clip UUndoujs 124 BYTE -JANUARY 1993 "I couldn't find a powerful CASE tool that was affordable. So I designed one." JAN POPKIN, CHIEF SCIENTIST POPKIN SOFTWARE & SYSTEMS, INC. "I'm an engineer. And I know what it's like to need a high- performance and easy-to-use CASE tool. One that I could afford to place on every project team members desk, not just a select few. That's why I devel- ! oped System Architect".' As Chief Scientist at Popkin Software, my role is to bring the real-world experiences of our developers to bear on the design and implementation of the best CASE tool possible. System Architect is the result. It's also the result of listen- ing to our more than 10,000 users. We take your advice because we know it's real. Then we incorporate it and feed it back to you in real-world solutions and new product innovations." Low Price. High Performance. Since its introduction in 1988, System Architect (SA) has proven that many of the features offered by more expensive CASE tools are available for a fraction of the cost. There are now more than MICROSOFT 10,000 SA copies in use at WINDOWS. 2,500 installations worldwide. Quick and Easy. System Architect works on IBM® and IBM-compatible PCs running MS Win- dows' 3 and OS/2 PM' S . It comes with an integrated data dictionary that users can customize to meet their needs. Project per- sonnel can easily share information both on and off a network. It's so user-friendly WCenerate schema from entity diagrams. ©1992 I'o|>kin Software & Svaems Inconvinued. The Smem Archkeei !c that even from the first day you can sit down, get to work, and produce results. Multiple Choice. System Architect works with multiple methodologies: Yourdon/DeMarco, Gane & Sarson, Ward & Mellor (real-time), Booch, Shlaer/Mellor (OO), Coad/Yourdon, Information Engineering and SSADM. And diagram types and charts including: DFDs, Entity Relation diagrams, Decom- position diagrams, State Transition dia- grams, Structure Charts, and Flow Charts. The Power To Grow. To respond to advances in technology such as Client/Server Architecture, SA continues to grow in functionality and productivity. A few optional modules now offered are: SA Schema Generator: Translates entity models from the encyclopedia into schema for DB2, Oracle, Ingres, SQL Server, Rdb, PROGRESS, Paradox, SQL Base, AS400, (SQL & DDS), Interbase, OS/2 DBMS, dBASE III, XDB, SYBASE, and Informix. Generates Windows DLGs, and C type data definitions or COBOL data structures. SA Screen Painter: Develops screens for GUI or character- based applications, which are a trademark of Popkin Sofnrarc & SjSttms, Int. All oilier brand names and produces arc trademarks or rcgim-red iraderr Circle 1 47 on Inquiry Card. data models. DFD. and structure charts simultaneously. automatically populated from your SA Data Dictionary/Encyclopedia; generates MS Windows dialogs and Microsoft or Microfocus COBOL Screen Sections. SA Object Oriented Analysis & Design (OOA/OOD): Supports Booch 91 and Coad/Yourdon. SA Netiuork Version: Diagram and data dictionary record locking allows multiple project members to work concur- rently on the same project. Built for Engineers. SA also has other advantageous features: automated documentation; extensible data dictionary; normalization, rules and balanc- ing; requirements ttaceabiliry; import/export; custom reporting; and CRUD Matrices. Call us toll-free today at 800-REAL-CASE, xl09. To find our how to qualify for your free 30-day evaluation copy, simply call us today or fax us at 212-571-3436. SYSTEM ARCHITECT Popkin Software & Systems, Inc., 1 1 Park Place, New York, NY 10007 England 44-926-881 186; Benelux 31-3406-65530; Germany 49-6 1 5 1 -82077; Italy 39-®-8700366; Australia 61-02-346499; Sweden 46-8-626-8100; Switz. 41-61-6922666; Denmark 45-45-823200. ksof mar itspccnvc holders. Spcdfcauonssubjea to change ai ilifsolediscreTionof[in.'a)mp.inv. BYTE EMM Distinction AcerPac 150, Acer America Perhaps the first true "info- tainment" appliance, the Acer- Pac 150 sets a standard for multimedia PCs. The MPC- compatible system comes com- plete with a 20-MHz 386SX; 4 MB of RAM; a 130-MB hard drive; a CD-ROM drive; Win- dows; and built-in audio, fax, and telephone hardware. An AM/FM radio is also part of the package. Acer sweetens the deal with bundled software that includes Microsoft Bookshelf, QuickBasic, Windows Enter- tainment Pack, and Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia. Adobe Illustrator 4.0 for Windows, Adobe Systems This is a much-needed upgrade for Adobe's object-based draw- ing package for the PC. Its new features include 24-bit graph- ics, direct entry of text, pre- view-mode editing, and selec- tive magnification. With the ability to open and edit files made by versions of Illustrator on both the Next computer and the Mac, Illustrator 4.0 pro- vides a cross-platform solution for quality graphics. Adobe Multiple Master, Adobe Systems Got the right typeface, but it just doesn't fit in your layout? Multiple Master fonts let you tweak a typeface's weight, size, width, and style while preserv- ing its visual fidelity. Approach for Windows 2.0, Approach Software Approach for Windows brings ease of use to Windows data- base management. The prod- uct shines brightest as a front end to dBase, Paradox, SQL Server, FoxPro, DB2, or Oracle SQL files. Designing your databases is a breeze with Ap- proach, making it an ideal product for novices. Its Pic- turePlus fields allow you to store image files and sound as part of the database. Canon CJ10, Canon USA The CJ10 combines a 400-dot- per-inch color ink-jet printer, a color copier, a fax machine, and a 24-bit color scanner into a single, compact unit. The CJ 1 is noteworthy simply for its excellent color output. Its four-color BubbleJet technol- ogy produces vivid color prints. Add the other components, and you have a one-stop graphics- imaging solution. Compaq ProLinea series, Compaq Computer Compaq may not have started the PC price war of 1 992, but it certainly fired the loudest shot with its ProLinea line of PCs. Starting at less than $1000 (without a monitor), the Pro- Lineas do not sacrifice tradi- Adobe Illustrator 4.0 for Windows "j File EdU Arrange View Paint Type Graph Window PT NOURISHMENT FOR THE MIND ._ XT / '6a; <*il!»feifcssi dife-fettisl laafckfc.fcd.1 4M&fc*l ! r"^Li"C" ."':':'::' '<' :.(...r W f v Mac Performa 600 tional Compaq quality. Com- paq did sacrifice some expan- sion capability, but it used its engineering prowess to pro- duce a powerful, cost-effective PC that meets the needs of most users. Dell 320SLi, Dell Computer The 3M-pound Dell 320SLi is a bold move to provide a light- weight machine without skimp- ing on performance or usabil- ity. The keyboard is full size, the nonbacklit VGA LCD is easy to read and requires no metal frame, and the external floppy drive fits snugly into a jacket pocket. Desqview/X, Quarterdeck Office Systems DOS-to-Unix interoperability is a key advantage of Desq- view/X, but what really sets it apart is its ability to make X Window System-style dis- tributed computing happen on pure-DOS networks. Decou- pling an application from its display makes for a powerful computing model. Implement- ing that model for DOS, over standard PC network protocols, is a major achievement. Epson ES-300C, Epson America The Epson ES-300C is a 300- dot-per-inch scanner that reach- es 600-dpi quality via software. The Epson scanner collects its RGB color information in a single pass, unlike the three- pass method common to most 24-bit color scanners. The ES- 300C earns its award by virtue of its outstanding color-scan quality alone. Gateway 2000 HandBook, Gateway 2000 The $1295 HandBook is ar- guably the best subnotebook to date. It manages to cram most of the standard notebook amenities, including a 40-MB hard drive, a full complement of external ports, and a reason- ably good keyboard, into a 2M- pound package. Despite its CGA video and 286-class CPU, the HandBook is a good choice for those who like to travel light without sacrificing capabilities. Compaq ProLinea ',pIpi 126 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Grid PalmPad, Grid Systems This ruggedly made pen PC straps on your wrist and weighs less than 3 pounds. The Palm- Pad is intended for use in en- vironments where up to now computers have not been prac- tical. The power-line repair- person, for example, can use the PalmPad while working in the field. The warehouse work- er can keep track of inventory more conveniently. The Palm- Pad's durability and use of the established PenRight develop- ment system make it a reliable choice for custom pen applica- tions in the field. Gryphon Morph, Gryphon Software Morph brings the ability to do Terminator 2— style effects (i.e., where an android smoothly metamorphoses from one per- son to another) from high-end workstations to the Mac. You simply pick starting and end- ing images, designate common reference points on both im- ages, pick the number of itera- tions, and let Morph work its magic. The output quality is good, and the price ($149) is terrific. HP Vectra 486u, Hewlett-Packard The first PC to use Intel's 66- MHz 486DX/2 CPU, the Vec- tra 486u is a well-engineered and very fast system. It gives you easy access to all the major components without using tools; upgrading is a cinch. A local bus provides speedy video to complement the sys- tem's performance. Iris Indigo XS, Silicon Graphics Silicon Graphics has taken the very successful Unix-based In- digo graphics workstation, im- proved its performance, and lowered the price to $13,000. Overall graphics speed gets a boost from a proprietary graph- ics processor, and the Indigo XS now supports true 24-bit graphics. LANtastic 4.1, Artisoft Artisoft has boosted the per- formance of its peer-LAN op- erating-system leader, LAN- tastic, without sacrificing ease of use or making it more ex- pensive. New features include automatic log-in, improved print handling, and an im- proved System Manager. Lotus Ami Pro 3.0, Lotus Development Lotus Ami Pro 3.0 is a high- end Windows word processing program. It's high-end because it has many of the features found in full-blown desktop publishing packages. Many of the new features added to ver- sion 3.0 are in response to the latest upgrade of its major com- petitor, Word for Windows. But most of the features, like its "fast format" ability, make Ami Pro 3.0 a leader in its field. Lotus Organizer, Lotus Development This well-conceived, $149 per- sonal information manager makes consistent use of the notebook metaphor for all six of its modules: calendar, to-do list, planner, address book, notebook, and anniversary tracking. This consistency im- proves ease of use. The mod- ules all work exceptionally well together. Mac Performa 600, Apple Computer The Mac Performas are Ap- ple's line of home computers sold through mass-market channels. The line includes the low-end 200, the midrange 400, and the high-end 600. Priced at about $2500, the 600 is the only model that is totally new. Its 68030 processor is clocked at 3 1 .33 MHz on a 32- bit bus. It comes with 4 MB of RAM soldered to the main log- ic board, and it can be expand- ed to 68 MB. Apple made the right move with the pricing of these sys- tems, even if the Performa 200 and 400 are actually the Mac Classic II and LC II. Gryphon Morph Mac PowerBook Duo 230, Apple Computer Apple's innovative docking unit/notebook computer com- bination weighs in at an im- pressive 4.2 pounds and sports a 33-MHz 68030 CPU. The in- telligently designed docking units come in two varieties. The large Duo Dock houses the PowerBook with its two NuBus slots, additional hard drive slot, math coprocessor, and SIMM slots for extra video RAM. The MiniDock clips onto the back of the Power- Book and provides all the stan- dard Mac external ports. Mac Quadra 950, Apple Computer Apple's high-end 68040-based Mac, the Quadra 900, has been Dcsqview/X revamped to run even faster as the new Quadra 950. The en- gineers ratcheted the 950's pro- cessor clock from 25 to 33 MHz and boosted the I/O bus clock from 16 to 25 MHz. The fast, built-in 24-bit video sup- ports bigger monitors plus a new 16-bit-deep mode that's ideal for handling digital video. Microsoft Sound System, Microsoft Compared to Macs, PCs have always lacked good-quality au- dio and standards for sound output. With its enormous stan- dard-setting capability, Mi- crosoft may have cured that problem in a single stroke. The Microsoft Sound System not only offers exemplary Win- dows-compatible audio but also adds exciting speech- recognition features, overdue in the PC arena, for less than $300. continued JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 127 EVTE ehee Distinction Microsoft Video for Windows, Microsoft Video for Windows serves a purpose similar to that of Ap- ple's QuickTime for the Mac. It is both an architecture and a set of tools for creating, edit- ing, and playing back digital video images under Windows 3.1. It is important because it allows any Windows-capable system to play digital video files. Microsoft Word for Macintosh 5.0, Microsoft Word for the Mac is more than a word processor. It includes a spelling checker, a grammar checker, a thesaurus, and a graphics editor. But perhaps most important is that it is file compatible with Word for Windows and DOS, two of the most popular word processing packages. Microsoft Word for Windows and Bookshelf, Multimedia Edition, Microsoft Microsoft has packaged Word for Windows 2.00 and the 1992 edition of Bookshelf onto one CD-ROM disc, making it one of the best arguments yet to buy a CD-ROM drive. The two integrated applications render Bookshelf's reference works accessible through Word's toolbar. Mobidem, Ericsson GE Mobile Communications The Mobidem is one of the first entries in what promises to be a rush of wireless mobile com- munication devices. Used in conjunction with a hand-held PC, the Mobidem connects you to E-mail and other broadcast data services through a packet radio network. MultiSync FG series, NEC Technologies The FG line continues NEC's important role as a desktop monitor standard-maker. The FGs introduced NEC's flat- panel display and its crisp im- ages. The FG line ranges in size from 14 inches to 21 inch- es, and all but one model in- clude an innovative color-cali- bration system that helps you fine-tune on-screen colors. Numero, PenMagic Software PenMagic calls Numero a "fi- nancial work processor," and the name fits. Loosely based on a spreadsheet model, Nu- mero lets you do a wide range of financial calculations by tak- ing advantage of the pen inter- face. This unique product runs under Go Corp.'s PenPoint op- erating system. Olivetti Quaderno, Olivetti Advanced Tech This 16-MHz NEC V30HL- based 214-pound subnotebook features a built-in digital sig- nal processor, providing speech support. You can expect to get about 10 continuous hours of battery operation from the Quaderno. Its small size (8 inches by 5 inches by 1 inch), DOS 5.0 in ROM, and good performance make it an out- standing small system. Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, Electronic Publishing, Oxford University Press This CD-ROM-based product is the ultimate guide to the En- glish language. Its cross-refer- encing capabilities make it much more useful than the pa- per version, allowing you to, for example, quickly jump to related words. In addition, the CD-ROM version of the OED is less expensive and consumes less shelf space than its more primitive predecessor. It's also fun to use. PaintJet XL 300, Hewlett-Packard HP has fooled a color ink-jet printer into thinking it's a laser printer. The XL 300 produces 300-dot-per-inch output in bright, solid, 24-bit color, and it uses the color version of HP's PCL 5 printer-control lan- guage. The printer accepts the same memory and network in- terface cards as the HP Laser- Jet III. Perspective, PenSoft Pen-based computers may find acceptance among executive users as electronic substitutes for the traditional appointment book. Perspective is a personal information manager for Pen- Point that harnesses computer power to simplify a chore faced by every busy manager. Its in- tuitive approach sets an exam- ple of how software can adapt to people instead of the other way around. POET, BKS Software Persistent object storage is a hot topic in OOP (object-ori- ented programming) circles these days. Expensive object database systems married to languages such as Smalltalk have been available for several years, but they haven't met the needs of developers at the low end. POET, which stands for Persistent Objects and Extend- ed Database Technology, works with the Microsoft and Borland C++ compilers and is also available for several versions of Unix, including Next's. In POET's integrated devel- opment environment, you spec- ify and refine systems of C++ objects. A precompiler con- verts these descriptions into definitions of classes whose data members are persistent — that is, automatically and trans- parently swappable between memory and disk storage. POET tracks multiple versions of class definitions; code that uses a newer definition will adapt dynamically to data writ- ten under an older definition. POET has generated a lot of excitement in the OOP com- Mobidem munity, and we look forward to a forthcoming multiuser ver- sion. RangeLAN, Proxim Wireless networking got a boost last year from the Prox- im RangeLAN, a PC-based spread-spectrum-radio LAN that costs less than $500 per node. RangeLAN operates at speeds comparable to those of AppleTalk — more than fast enough for the small work- groups it's aimed at — and yet costs only half as much as some competing wireless so- lutions. Rocket 33, Radius Do you lust after the processing power of a 33-MHz Quadra 950. but you're stuck with an old Mac II? The Rocket 33 is a NuBus accelerator board with a 33-MHz 68040 processor that is sure to rejuvenate your old workhorse. Installation is plug- and-play. with no scary yank- ing of chips or trace-cutting. For certain applications, the Rocket 33 delivers a 60 per- cent performance boost when installed in a Mac Quadra 900. continued 128 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 *, Don't Shoot It, LANDMARK. . . the widest sek of PC diagnostic software, firmware, and hardware in the world! PC WON'T BOOT? KICKSTART IT! Don't replace your motherboard, use KickStart 2"'. When serious hardware problems occur, nothing gets you up and running as fast. KickStart 2 measures power within 2.5% on all four voltages, shows Power-On Self-Test (POST) failure codes, and features on-board ROM-based diagnostics allowing you to determine and remedy the problem quickly, easily, and inexpensively! Built-in serial and parallel I/O allows for testing remote via modem, or simply logging results to a remote terminal, printer, or laptop. You can configure your own test routines and store them in KickStart 2's battery backed-up CMOS RAM for quick future use. On-board switches, LEDs, and digital displays allow complete control over testing in systems lacking video or disk. KickStart 2 is the ultimate SECURITY CARD, too. With two levels of password protection and pre-O/S activation, you can confidently prevent unauthorized use of your PC. Includes serial and parallel loopback plugs and the Landmark JumpStarr AT ROM BIOS for testing ATs that don't issue POST codes. KickStart 2 works independent of your operating system. You can use it on DOS or UNIX systems. CALL for current pricing. THE 5 MINUTE SOLUTION TO FLOPPY DRIVE FAILURE With Alignlt 'you can clean, diagnose, and align your floppy drives in minutes without a scope. Patented technology requires only a screwdriver to pertorm ANSI-accurate alignments (.3 mils). Alignlt is ideal for corporate users with multiple PCs. The GOLD STANDARD feature allows you to align all your PCs to the same in-house standard, guarantee- ing that all your floppies are perfectly interchangeable between PCs! Available in 3.5" or 5.25" for both high and low densities CALL for current pricing. "The number of lests KickStart 2 can perform is mind- boggling. . . IF THE KICKSTART 2 CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, IT PROBABL Y EXISTS IN YOUR HEAD, not in the hardware. " Rich Santalesa. Computer Shopper "KickStart 2 system diagnostics board helps users check out virtually every aspect of a PC 's hardware system... THE BOARD IS A WORTHY INVEST- MENT tor computer maintenance. " David Claiborne, PC Week PROFESSIONAL LEVEL PC TROUBLESHOOTING Landmark Service Diagnostics'" is ideal for professionals requiring the most exhaustive diagnostic test capabilities. Service Diagnostics is not just a single product, but a complete LINE of products. It's comprised of software, hardware, and firmware so you can choose the best "tool" for the job. Aiigusl 1990 Service Diagnostics: The Kit Overall Service Diagnostics: The Kil was the best perloimer. you're miming a service department. SERVICE DIAGNOSTICS IS NOT AN OPTION, ITS A NECESSITY. Bill O'Brien, PC Magazine When your PC won't boot, you'll need ROM POST firmware, a plug-in chip that virtually "jumpstarts" the system to determine what's wrong. And, when your printer isn't working, you won't know whether it's the LPT port, cable, or printer without hardware, like our loopback plugs (which together with our software completely test the COM ports). To provide you a complete troubleshooting resource, Service Diagnostics is offered in single modules or in "kits." Components include; CPU-specific software (PC, XT, AT, 386/486, PS/2), ROM POSTS (PC, XT, AT) and floppy alignment disks (3.5" and 5.25"). All the Service Diagnostics software modules are available in self-booting versions for use with non- DOS operating systems like UNIX. Service Diagnostics is powerful and flexible. Hundreds of tests can be performed on your mother- board, memory, video, COM ports, floppy and hard drives, printer, and more. CALL for a customized quote on the kit that's right for you! PC DIAGNOSTICS MADE EASY You don't need to be technical to use PC Probe"". With clear, intuitive, pull-down menus and 206 pages of on-line help, troubleshooting your PC is truly MADE EASY! And, you don't have to be handy with a screwdriver to make PC Probe pay for itself. Just by providing a diagnostic report to your service and repair shop, you'll save money and receive quicker service. PC Probe runs over 150 tests including; motherboard and CPU, memory, video card and display, keyboard, COM ports, floppy drive and controller, hard drive and controller, and more. Includes VirusCure, Landmark Speed Test, AT SetUp & loopback plugs. CALL for current pricing! SLASH HARD DISK SET-UP TIME If you install, upgrade, or maintain hard drives, then you need DiskBase It'll save you boat-loads of time and money by putting the exact hard disk information you need at your fingertips. . . whenever you need it. DiskBase reveals 1 2 technical specs on over 2500 hard disk drive models and 8 technical specs on over 220 controllers. Once you've located the correct hard disk model, you can instantly bring up a listing of all compatible controllers. CALL for current pricing! • Toll Free Tech Support • 90 Day Money Back Guarantee • Federal Express Shipping CALL (800) 683-6696 FAX (813) 443-6603 • Int'l (813) 443-1331 niANDMARK RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION 703 Grand Central Slreel • Clearwater, FL 34616 Circle 171 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 172). Circle 99 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 100). Space - Savers Stand-Alone LCD Monitor $995.00 This 10" black on white monitor is easy-to-read, yet compact. Resolution is 640x480 for sharp, flicker-free image. Sharp's high refresh rate, triple supertwist nematic technology with back lighting provides a super bright, low radiation screen with a wide viewing angle. The adjustable monitor base is only 29x14 cm. It lets you mount the LCD monitor on vertical surfaces or fold for transport. Comes with 1.5 m cable and VGA adaptor card. No external power required. IBM AT compatible. fsjoW'. MAC Versi° n A vaNa ble Popular Space-Saver Keyboard $98.00 First successful alternative to conventional keyboard saves 60% desk space with a foot print of 27.3 x 15.2 cm. Has full travel tactilly responsive keys with standard left-right spacing for easy touch typing. 100 keys, compatible with IBM XT/AT PS/2. Many language versions available. 9" VGA Monochrome Monitor $1 98.00 640 x 480 resolution black on white screen with a foot print to match the Space-Saver Keyboard of only 25.0 x 25.7 cm. Tilt and swivel stand. No adaptor card included. To Order Call Toll Free 1-800-328-2589 1 year warranty on all products shown. Order direct from stock with 15 day full return privileges. Visa, MasterCard, AmEx charges and COD accepted.OEM and reseller volume discounts available. Spec Sheets Sent By Automatic 24 hr. FAX Transmission 1-703-662-1675 f:.t : / First Choice In Space-Saver Peripherals 2836 Cessna Drive • Winchester, VA 22601 Phone 703 662-1500 • Fax 703 662-1682 (MastejCardj BYTE EZHM Distinction Satisfaxtion 400E, Intel More than a fax modem, In- tel's Satisfaxtion 400E also di- rects calls when voice, modem, and fax populate a single line. Other innovations include a PCL 5 emulation (for convert- ing output, fonts and all to fax) and downloadable firm- ware updates — plus the orig- inal Satisfaxtion's 16-MHz 80186 processor and 512-KB buffer. S3 86C911 GUI accelerator, S3 By taking over the processing chores of key Windows graph- ics functions, this chip speeds up the overhead operations de- manded by Microsoft's inter- face. Because of low chip prices, users can buy acceler- ator boards with 32,000-color RAMDACs and noninterlaced resolutions of up to 1024 by 768 pixels for the cost of stan- dard VGA adapters. Tek Phaser USD, Tektronix Other vendors offer dye-subli- mation printers for just under $10,000. At the same price, the Phaser USD comes to the par- ty with 300-dot-per-inch reso- lution, a RISC-based PostScript Level 2 interpreter, 1 6 MB of RAM, and an edge-enhancing technology that makes this dye- sublimation printer suitable for high-quality artwork as well as scanned images. Of the very few available 300-dpi dye-sub- limation printers, the Phaser USD has the best feature set and the lowest initial and op- erating costs. Tek Phaser USD Video Machine, Fast Electronic U.S. For $4000, the Video Machine multimedia expansion board turns your 386 PC or Mac II into a high-quality video edit- ing and mixing system. Worldport Palmtop Fax/Data Modem, USRobotics USRobotics has built the first fax modem designed specifi- cally for palmtops or personal organizers, which just don't have the CPU speed (or the RAM) to successfully run fax software on their own. The WorldPort Palmtop Fax/Data Modem uses the Hayes AT command set for data trans- mission and comes with ex- tensions that support fax oper- ation. XVT Portability Toolkit 3.0, XVT Software When we gave XVT an Award of Distinction in 1989, we said it was "clearly the right way to bring order to the chaos of competing GUI systems." Last July, we rated version 2.12 the best of its breed in a review of cross-platform development systems. Then in December we noted further improvements in version 3.0: better support for specific operating-system fea- tures (e.g., Apple events and common Windows dialog box- es), an optional C++ library, and an application prototyping tool. XVT was a good idea to start with, and it keeps getting better. Z-Note 325L, Zenith Data Systems If looks were everything, the Z-Note would have been the top vote-getter. It's not just a pretty face, though. The Z-Note has a built-in Ethernet LAN connector. Its edgelit mono- chrome triple-supertwist ne- matic LCD video is among the best we've seen, and you can expect over 4 continuous hours of battery operation from this 386SL-based notebook. An op- tional Port Replicator allows you to plug in all the cables you use for the desktop. continued 130 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 NDP ™ Fortran Drives Them All. . . 386/387 (1 Megaflop) i487™#™ 486/487 (5 Megaflops) QuadPuter-860 (200 Megaflops) Extended DOS • OS/2 • NT • UNIX V.3/4 • Solaris • Coherent NDP Fortran has been the leading 32-bit PC Fortran since its introduction in 1987. It produces the highest quality numeric code and supports virtually all x86 operating systems, processors and numeric devices. These are just a few of the reasons it was used by hundreds of ISVs to port their 3090, VAX and Cray codes to the 386. NDP Fortran is required to run packages from IBM, Aspen Technologies and Fluid Dynamics. IBM chose it to port their Optimization Subroutine Library to DOS and more recently OS/2. Aspen Plus, the world's leading thermo/chemical-process control software package, is the standard employed by corporations like DuPont. Every copy of Aspen Plus for the PC ships with NDP Fortran-486! One reason NDP Fortran is still the 32-bit leader is tools. It runs with native tools on UNIX, OS/2 and NT. For DOS, Microway created 32-bit tools that were tuned to the needs of our customers. These include efficient demand paged virtual memory for our Extender and a linker that could handle a 20-megabyte library without going to sleep. We are the only vendor that provides a variety of numeric runtime libraries that make it possible to tune speed against Microway precision and error recovery. The correct choice of a library vs inline intrinsics can result in a factor of three increase in speed for some applications. Then there is the issue of numeric code quality. NDP compilers are not only globally optimized, but take good advantage of the Intel 387/487 stack, use advanced numeric optimizations and schedule instructions - all of which favor fast numeric and RISC devices like the 860 and 586. Finally, Microway customizes its compilers to the environment. Our DOS 386/486 product includes over 1,000 pages of documentation, 300 of which are devoted to our GREX™ graphics extensions. The 200 megaflops of our QuadPuter-860 are optimally harnessed using NDP Fortran-860, libraries from IMSL, NAG and KAP and the PSR Vectorizer. Microway can build you a gigaflop NFS computational server using five QuadPuters housed in our industrial grade 486-B 3 for just $50K - massive power without massive price. If you plan to use a 386, 486, 586 or 860 and require portability, numeric speed, precision and technical support, then NDP Fortran, C I C++ or Pascal is the only solution. Please call our UK office to register for NDP '93 - Microway's i860 and Compiler Products Seminar in London on Feb. 17, 1993. Technology You Can Count On Corporate Headquarters, Research Park, Box 79, Kingston, MA 02364 USA • TEL 508-746-7341 • FAX 508-746-4678 Kingston-Upon-Thames, U.K. 081-541-5466 • Germany 069-752023 • Greece 30 12915672 • Japan 047423 1322 • Poland 22-4 1004 1 Circle 122 on Inquiry Card. BYTE Merit Ascend, Franklin Quest It organizes your busy schedule paperless!}* in Windows. AST Bravo series, AST Research A well-engineered, low-cost desk- top line. aSSBggg ■ r ia^.l~Hraj .— ■, i 4STSrai>o AutoCAD release 12, Autodesk The latest version of the venera- ble market-leading CAD program. ColorFrame, Envisio A flat-panel LCD that brings viv- id color to your portable or desk- top Mac. Compaq PageMarq 15 and PageMarq 20, Compaq Computer Compaq enters the network print- er market with two feature-rich of- ferings. Connectix CPU PowerBook Utilities, Connectix A grab bag of necessary utilities for your Mac PowerBook. DE-809TP Hub, D-Link Systems A compact network hub that sup- ports eight nodes for about $450. Describe Word Processor 3.0, Describe A powerful WYSIWYG word pro- cessor for either Windows or OS/2. Doc.lt, Okidata A printer, scanner, fax machine, and copier all in one in a well- thought-out design for under $4000. FileMaker Pro 2.0 for Windows, Claris The Mac's most popular flat-file database manager comes to Win- dows. GammaFax MLCP-4/AEB, GammaLink It allows you to create voice/fax response applications for multiple lines using a single PC slot. HP LaserJet 4, Hewlett-Packard A standard-setting 600-dot-per- inch laser printer. Image Pals, U-Lead Systems First-rate image file conversion software for Windows. Infolio, Pi Systems A lightweight pen tablet for cus- tom-designed applications. Intel PCI bus standard, Intel A local bus implemented on the motherboard that updates the aging PC architecture. JetFax 8000-D, JefFax A laser fax printer for the LAN that also allows PCs to send faxes. LanRover/L, Shiva A plug-in device for Mac Power- Books that permits remote log-in to an AppleTalk network. LANtastic for Windows, Artisoft The most popular peer LAN for the best-selling GUI. Lotus Freelance Graphics for Windows, torus Development Freelance Graphics features Smart- Master templates that simplify the creation of presentations. Mathcad 3.1 for Windows, MathSoft Engineering software that features OLE, color surface plotting, and formula publishing. Mathematica for Windows, Wolfram Research The Windows version of the best- known mathematics software gets faster and less RAM-hungry. Micromaster 486/33, Aox Breathe new life into your PC with this superfast upgrade board. Microsoft C/C++ 7.0, Microsoft The latest C and C++ compiler from Microsoft for both DOS and Windows software development. NCR 3170, NCR This good-looking notebook is loaded with features. NetModem/E 1.1, Shiva The best LAN modem for mixed- LAN and AppleTalk support. NewWave 4.0, Hewlett-Packard Object-oriented desktop manage- ment for Windows. Norton Desktop for DOS, Symantec A file manager, disk manager, and utilities set rolled into one. Now Utilities 4.0, Now Software A greatly improved revision of the popular $149 utility package for the Macintosh. Picture Publisher 3.1, Micrografx A top-notch editor for color bit maps and scanned images under Windows. PoqetPad, Fujitsu Personal Systems The PoqetPad proves that "low-cost pen system" is not an oxymoron. PowerPort Gold, Global Village Communications High-speed data communications and faxing come to the Mac Pow- erBook. Primax Colormobile SC-424A Scanner, Primax Electronics A color hand scanner that drives itself over the image. Procomm Plus for Windows, Datastorm Technologies The popular DOS communications package gets the Windows inter- face. Iris Crimson QMS-PS 815MR, QMS PostScript printing in a small, easy-to-use desktop unit. QMS-PS 1700, QMS High-quality 600-dot-per-inch PostScript printing at 17 pages per minute. QuarkXPress 3.1, Quark A Mac-based desktop publishing package that keeps getting better. Quicken 2.0 for Windows, Intuit Personal accounting at its best moves to Windows. Silicon Graphics Iris Crimson, Silicon Graphics The first Mips R4000-based workstation. Slate PenApps, Slate Easy applications development un- der Go Corp.'s PenPoint pen op- erating system. Spectator Real-Time Recorder, Rock Ridge Enterprises A Mac screen recorder that stores images as QuickTime movies. ThinkPad Model 700C, IBM IBM's first pen system hits the mark. Toshiba Dynanote, Toshiba Japan A powerful 3-pound pen tablet that supports both PenPoint and Win- dows. Unix System V release 4.2, Unix System Laboratories Unix slims down and rallies un- der one standard to remain com- petitive. UserLand Frontier, UserLand Software This scripting utility brings batch files to the Mac. with the ability to reach inside compliant applica- tions and manipulate them. ■ continued 132 BYTE- JANUARY 1 993 ^Jhds Really The I^stest? DRIVES COMPARED FOR 50Mb TRANSFER*(in seconds) Quantum 105s hard drive made PMO-650 "optical hard drive" Sony®SMO-E501 optical drive 91.95 102.82 I 155.50 %u Make The Call: 1-800-&49-5807 As you can see, the INSPIRE II optical drive is far faster than the much-ballyhooed "optical hard drive" is comparable to your typical hard drive and is many times faster than previous optical drives. And the INSPIRE II is made with the superior quality and reliability that has made Alphatronix the acknowledged leader in high-end optical systems. Call Hie Source Of Optical. Our reputation for quality and innovation goes back to 1988, when we shipped die world's first rewrit- able optical system. In 1989 we were presented the national Distinguished Inventors award. In the years since, we've received even more national awards for quality and excellence. Alphatronix has become the hands-down choice of some of die world's toughest cus- tomers, including NASA and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. The world's first optical drive is now the world's fastest. Gain Significant Advantages. Now that same level of quality, performance and support is available for your PC, PC-compatible, Mac, DEC or UNIX workstation at a lower cost per megabyte. You can have die speed of a hard drive with die added advantages of optical: greater relia- bility and more megabytes on a removable, portable media. Aside from having vastly more storage, your system will never know die difference. INSPIRE II lets you simply "plug and play'.' Why Waste Time? So what are you waiting for? You know who's got die fastest optical drive, and you know who's got the best. Stop waiting and call us today at 1-800-849-5807. We'll send you free comparative test re- sults, specs and everything you need to order the INSPIRE II. Only you can make die call. SEEK TIME (in milliseconds) Pinnacle PMO-650 39 Actual times recorded in identical tests for average time to seek any random sector on disk. ^ A L P H AT RO N I X ° Tloe Source Of An Industry. P.O. Box 13687. Research Triangle Park NC '27709-3687 Phone ( 91 9) 544-0001; Fax (919) 544A079 'Read 50 Mb data stored in sequential sectors at 32 Kb read request. Complete details of benchmark environment and procedures available upon request, Alphatronix. the Alphatronix logo, and Inspire are U.S. registered trademarks of Alphatronix, Inc. Other trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners. For Macintosh information circle 66; for IBM/Compatible information circle 67; for SUN information circle 68 on inquiry card. BYTE mnM. 1 COMPANY INFORMATION j Acer America Corp. Claris Corp. Electronic Publishing Global Village (800) 733-2237 (800) 544-8554 Oxford University Press Communications (408) 432-6200 (408) 727-8227 U.S.: (212) 679-7300 (415) 329-0700 fax:(408)432-6221 Circle 1071 on Inquiry Card. fax:(212)725-2972 fax: (415) 329-0767 Circle 1 060 on Inquiry Card. U.K.: +44 865 267979 Circle 1 372 on Inquiry Card. Compaq Computer Corp. fax: +44 865 56646 Adobe Systems, Inc. (800)345-1518 Circle 1 362 on Inquiry Card. Grid Systems Corp. (800) 922-3623 (713)370-0670 (510)656-4700 (415)961-4400 Circle 1072 on Inquiry Card. Envisio, Inc. Circle 1 373 on Inquiry Card. fax:(415)961-3769 (612)339-1008 Circle 1061 on Inquiry Card. Connectix fax:(612)339-1369 Gryphon Software Corp. (415)324-0727 Circle 1 363 on Inquiry Card. (619)536-8815 Aox, Inc. fax:(415)324-2958 fax:(619)536-8932 (617)890-4402 Circle 1 073 on Inquiry Card. Epson America, Inc. Circle 1 374 on Inquiry Card. fax:(617)890-8445 (310)782-0770 Circle 1 062 on Inquiry Card. Corel Systems Corp. fax:(310)782-5220 Hewlett-Packard Co. (613)728-8200 Circle 1 364 on Inquiry Card. Personal Computer Group Apple Computer, Inc. fax:(613)761-9176 (408) 746-5000 (408)996-1010 Circle 1 074 on Inquiry Card. Ericsson GE Mobile fax: (408) 746-5520 fax:(408)974-6412 Communications, Inc. Circle 1 375 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 063 on Inquiry Card. Cyrix Corp. (800) 223-6336 (214)234-8388 (201)265-6600 Hewlett-Packard Co. Approach Software Corp. fax:(214)234-8397 fax:(201)265-9115 (printers) (415)306-7890 Circle 1 356 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 365 on Inquiry Card. Direct Marketing fax:(415)368-5182 Organization Circle 1064 on Inquiry Card. Datastorm Technologies, Fast Electronic U.S., Inc. (800) 752-0900 Inc. (508) 655-3278 fax: (208) 344-4809 Artisoft, Inc. (314)443-3282 Circle 1366 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 376 on Inquiry Card. (800) 846-9726 fax:(314)875-0595 (602) 293-4000 Circle 1 357 on Inquiry Card. Frame Technology Corp. Hewlett-Packard Co. fax: (602) 293-8065 (800) 843-7263 (software) Circle 1 065 on Inquiry Card. DEC (408)433-3311 (800)525-9283 (800) 344-4825 fax:(408)433-1928 (415)857-1501 AST Research, Inc. (508)897-5111 Circle 1 367 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 377 on Inquiry Card. (800) 876-4278 fax: (800) 234-2298 (714)727-4141 Circle 1 360 on Inquiry Card. Franklin Quest Co. IBM Corp. fax:(714)727-9355 (800)877-1814 (800) 426-9292 Circle 1066 on Inquiry Card. Dell Computer Corp. (801)975-9992 Circle 1 378 on Inquiry Card. (800)426-5150 fax:(801)975-9995 Autodesk, Inc. (512)338-4400 Circle 1 368 on Inquiry Card. Intel Corp. (800)445-5415 fax:(800)727-8320 Personal Computer (415)332-2344 Circle 1358 on Inquiry Card. Fujitsu Personal Systems, Enhancement Division fax:(415)331-8093 Inc. (800) 538-3373 Circle 1067 on Inquiry Card. DeScribe, Inc. (408) 764-9300 (503) 629-7444 (916)646-1111 fax:(408)720-8221 fax:(800)525-3019 BKS Software fax:(916)923-3447 Circle 1 369 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 379 on Inquiry Card. (617)621-7047 Circle 1 359 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 068 on Inquiry Card. GammaLink Intuit, Inc. D-Link Systems, Inc. (408)744-1400 (800) 624-8742 Borland International (714)455-1688 fax:(408)744-1900 (415)322-0573 (408) 438-8400 Circle 1 352 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 370 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 380 on Inquiry Card. fax: (408) 438-8696 Circle 1 069 on Inquiry Card. Eastman Kodak Co. Gateway 2000, Inc. JetFax, Inc. (716)714-6404 (800) 523-2000 (415)326-0600 Canon USA, Inc. fax:(716)724-9829 (605) 232-2000 fax:(415)326-6003 (516)488-6700 Circle 1361 on Inquiry Card. fax: (605) 232-2023 Circle 1381 on Inquiry Card. fax:(516)488-3623 Circle 1371 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 070 on Inquiry Card. continued 134 BYTE* JANUARY 1993 Now There's A Whole New Wyy To Get Energy Out Of Thin Air. The 20 Hour Laptop Battery From Aer Energy. This may come as a bit of a shock, but our new rechargeable zinc-air computer battery runs on air. Introducing the AER Energy™ Power 20™ Rechargeable Battery System.. Through pat- ented design, AER Energy's stand-alone battery system uses oxygen from the atmosphere to generate electricity. Enough electricity to give a portable computer 20* hours of run time between charges. Three Times The Energy Of NiCd. This amazing ability to run on air also batteries. All of which explains how our Power 20 12-volt accessory battery can increase a Laptop's run time to an unprecedented 20 hours on a single charge. More Portable Comp- uting. Our dramatic improvement in energy per pound also improves portability. You can forget about the hassles of car- rying a charger and multiple battery packs, the mem- ory effect of NiCds, or worrying about where and when to recharge. Plus, our battery system allows you to simulta- gives the Power 20 battery an extremely high energy neously power your computer and handheld density, which means more energy per pound. In fact, cellular phone. So see why there's so much tests prove it produces an incredible three times the electricity in the air. For more information energy by weight of conventional nickel-cadmium call 1-800-Power 20 (1-800-769-3720). *20 hours of mil time is the average for all computers tented, Actual results will depend upon the computer being powered and the application in use. ©1993 AER Energy Resources, Inc. AER Energy '" and Power 20'" are trademarks of AER Energy Resources, Inc. Circle 21 8 on Inquiry Card. BVTE j COMPANY INFORMATION ] Kyocera Electronics, Inc. Olivetti Italy Quarterdeck Office Toshiba Japan (908) 560-3400 Ing. C. Olivetti and C, Systems +81 33 4574511 Circle 1 382 on Inquiry Card. S.p.A. (800) 354-3222 fax: +81 33 4564776 +39 2 88362213 (310)392-9851 Circle 1353 on Inquiry Card. Lotus Development Corp. fax: +39 2 861 109 fax:(310)314-4217 (800) 343-5414 Circle 1393 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1403 on Inquiry Card. TWAIN (617)577-8500 (800) 722-0379 Circle 1 383 on Inquiry Card. PenMagic Software, Inc. Radius, Inc. (206) 628-5737 (604) 988-9982 (800) 227-2795 Circle 1414 on Inquiry Card. Lotus Development Corp. fax: (604) 988-0035 (408)434-1010 Word Processing Division Circle 1 394 on Inquiry Card. fax:(408)434-0127 U-Lead Systems, Inc. (800)831-9679 Circle 1 404 on Inquiry Card. (310)523-9393 (404) 698-7653 Pensoft Corp. fax:(310)523-9399 Circle 1 384 on Inquiry Card. (415) 802-6925 Rock Ridge Enterprises Circle 1415 on Inquiry Card. fax:(415)802-6942 (313)663-0706 MathSoft, Inc. Circle 1 395 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 405 on Inquiry Card. Unix System Laborato- (617)577-1017 ries, Inc. fax:(617)577-8829 Philips Consumer Shiva Corp. (800) 828-8649 Circle 1 385 on Inquiry Card. Electronics Co. (800) 458-3550 (908) 522-6555 (615)521-4316 (617)252-6300 Circle 1416 on Inquiry Card. Micrografx, Inc. fax:(615)521-4406 fax: (617) 252-4852 (800) 733-3729 Circle 1 397 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1406 on Inquiry Card. UserLand Software, Inc. (214)234-1769 (415)325-5700 fax:(214)234-2410 Pi Systems Corp. Silicon Graphics, Inc. fax:(415)325-9829 Circle 1 386 on Inquiry Card. (503) 293-9585 (415)960-1980 Circle 1 354 on Inquiry Card. fax: (503) 293-9590 fax:(415)961-0595 Microsoft Corp. Circle 1 396 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1407 on Inquiry Card. USRobotics, Inc. (800) 426-9400 (800) 342-5877 (206) 882-8080 Primax Electronic, Ltd. Slate Corp. (708)982-5010 fax:(206)883-8101 (Taiwan) (602) 443-7322 fax: (708) 982-5235 Circle 1 387 on Inquiry Card. +886 2 648 3073 tax: (602) 443-7325 Circle 1 41 7 on Inquiry Card. fax: +886 2 648 3064 Circle 1408 on Inquiry Card. NCR Corp. Circle 1 399 on Inquiry Card. S3, Inc. / a r\o\ r\n s~ 01 a a Video Electronics Personal Computer Division Standards Association (800) 225-5627 Primax Electronics, Inc. (408) 986-8144 fax:(408)986-1457 Circle 1409 on Inquiry Card. (408) 435-0364 (513)445-2078 Circle 1388 on Inquiry Card. (408) 379-6482 fax: (408) 370-2009 fax: (408) 435-8225 Circle 141 8 on Inquiry Card. NEC Technologies, Inc. (800) 632-4636 (508) 264-8000 Circle 1 389 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 398 on Inquiry Card. Proxim, Inc. (415)960-1630 fax:(415)964-5181 SuperMac Technology (408) 245-2202 fax: (408) 735-7250 Circle 1410 on Inquiry Card. Wolfram Research, Inc. (800)441-6284 (217)398-0700 fax:(217)398-0747 Now Software, Inc. (800)237-3611 (503) 274-2800 Circle 1400 on Inquiry Card. QMS, Inc. (800) 523-2696 Symantec Corp. (408) 253-9600 fax: (408) 253-4092 Circle 141 1 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1355 on Inquiry Card. XVT Software, Inc. (303) 443-4223 fax: (503) 274-0670 (205) 633-4300 fax: (303) 443-0969 Circle 1 390 on Inquiry Card. fax:(205)633-0013 Tektronix, Inc. Graphics Printing & Imag- Circle 1419 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1401 on Inquiry Card. Okidata ing Division Zenith Data Systems (609) 235-2600 Quark, Inc. (800)835-6100 (800)553-0331 Circle 1391 on Inquiry Card. (303)934-2211 (503) 682-7377 (708) 808-5000 fax: (303) 377-6327 fax: (503) 682-3063 fax: (708) 808-4434 Olivetti Office USA Circle 1402 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1412 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1420 on Inquiry Card. (800) 527-2960 ext. 5538 fax: (908) 2 1 8-5527 Toshiba America Circle 1 392 on Inquiry Card. Information Systems, Inc. (800) 334-3445 (714)583-3000 fax:(714)587-6034 Circle 1413 on Inquiry Card. 136 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 25MHz Intel® 386SX Processor 4MB RAM ; - 5.25" and 3.5" Diskette Drives 80MB 17ms IDE Hard Drive Windows Accelerated Video with 1MB DRAM (Faster Than Local Bus VGA!) 14" Color CrystalScan™ 1024NI Mini Desktop Case 5 16-Bit ISA Slots 124-Key AnyKey™ Keyboard MS-DOS,® Windows™ & Mouse Cool Tools for DOS MS Works for Windows™ 2.0 $1295 25MHz Intel 486SX Processor 4MB RAM 5.25" and 3.5" Diskette Drives 170MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Local Bus IDE Interface Windows Accelerated Video with 1MB DRAM (Faster Than Local Bus VGA!) 14" Color CrystalScan 1024NI Mini Desktop Case 5 16-Bit ISA.Slots 124-Key AnyKey Keyboard MS-DOS, Windows & Mouse Cool Tools for DOS MS Works for Windows 2.0 $1495 • ■' ■ V ;',„ ii i ' t§92 Service & Reliability Sur ■11 I iuh iy'a) sysu rns iii$.;xt>u \lu> ultimate peiforimwce •r; ' * Ml'ti f)lSAw\k'i '■: i nd OverDrive sohkets ■■ . ■■ UAItWt GATEWAY 2000 33MHz. Intel 486SX Processor 4MB RAM, 64K Cache 5.25" and 3.5" Diskette Drives 170MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Local Bus IDE Interface Windows Accelerated Video with 1MB DRAM (Faster Than Local Bus VGA!) 14" Color CrystalScan 1024NI Mini Desktop Case 5 16-Bit ISA Slots 124-Key AnyKey Keyboard MS-DOS, Windows & Mouse Cool Tools for DOS Choice of Application Software $1695 *m&m 33MHz Intel 486DX Processor 4MB RAM, 64K Cache 5.25" and 3.5" Diskette Drives 250MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Local Bus IDE Interface Windows Accelerated Video with 1MB DRAM (Faster Than Local Bus VGA!) 14" Color CrystalScan 1024NI Mini Desktop Case 5 16-Bit ISA Slots 124-Key AnyKey Keyboard MS-DOS, Windows & Mouse Cool Tools for DOS . i Choice of Application Software $1995 i; M'One-yeur limited warranty and 30-dayMoney-hack guarantee ' . ■ Ail systems are FCC Chss-B, UL and CSA certified ' 1 Free lifetime toil-free technical support ' INFO WORLD GATEWAS2000 800-5 23-2 00 DESKTOP AND TOWER SYSTEMS WAY 2000 *M*5? 33MHz Intel 486SX Processor 8MB RAM, 64K Cache 5.25" and 3.5" Diskette Drives 170MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Local Bus IDE Interface VESA Local Bus ATI Ultra Pro with 1MB VRAM ( Faster Than The New ATI Graphics Ultra!) 15" Color CrystalScan 1572FS Desktop Case (Tower Upgrade) 8 16-Bit ISA Slots, 2 with 32-Bit VESA Local Bus 124-Key Any Key Keyboard MS-DOS, Windows & Mouse Cool Tools for DOS Choice of Application Software $2195 GATEWAY 2000 ■ 33MHz Intel 486DX Processor I 8MB RAM, 64K Cache I 5.25" and 3.5" Diskette Drives I 250MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive ■ Local Bus IDE Interface ■ VESA Local Bus ATI Ultra Pro with 1MB VRAM ( Faster Than The New ATI Graphics Ultra!) ■ 15" Color CrystalScan 1572FS ■ Desktop Case (Tower Upgrade) ■ 8 16-Bit ISA Slots, 2 with 32-Bit VESA Local Bus 124-Key AnyKey Keyboard MS-DOS, Windows & Mouse Cool Tools for DOS Choice of Application Software $2495 Gateway s local bus meets VESA standards for compatibility On-site st met available to most locations Free lifetime BBS membership EVTE . 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NiMH 2.3Ah Battery and AC Adapter/Charger Alkaline Battery Pack 286-Class Performance 1MB RAM, Upgradable to 3MB 40MB Hard Drive Backlit 7.6" CGA Screen 1 Parallel and 1 Serial Port 78-Key Touch-Type Keyboard MS-DOS 5.0, LapLink® XL, MS Works™ for DOS, Central Point® Desktop & Serial Download Cable Carrying Case $1295 Weight: 5.6 Lbs. Dimensions: 8.5 M x 11" x 1.8" _ 6-Hr. NiCad 5.7Ah Battery and AC Adapter/Charger 4MB RAM ~ 3.5" Diskette Drive Backlit 10" VGA Screen, 64 Grays Simultaneous Video 1 Parallel and 1 Serial Port 79-Key Keyboard & FieldMouse™ MS-DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 MS Works for Windows 2.0 NOMAD 325SXL1 $1795 25MHz 386SXL, 80MB Hard Drive NOMAD 420SXL1 $1995 20MHz 486SXL, 80MB Hard Drive NOMAD 425SXL1 $2295 25MHz 486SXL, 120MB Hard Drive NOMAD 425DXL1 $2695 25MHz 486DXL, 120MB Hard Drive 5 118 1 j IH tt#Hl !! 1 : "S? 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FEATURE Computing Without Clocks Asynchronous operation could signal a new era in portable, low-power computing DICK POUNTAIN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND— In recent years, clock speed has become the signifier of computing ma- chismo, possibly because it's the only feature that distinguishes otherwise seemingly identical PC clones. In view of this symbolic importance, computing without a clock might seem inconceivable, but that is precisely what Steve Furber of Manchester University and his team are working toward. Their goal is the world's first asynchronous implementation of a commercial microprocessor. Asynchronous logic is relatively unfamiliar in the comput- er industry, which for decades now has relied on clocked cir- cuits. Most parts of your PC — CPU, memory, disk subsystem, even the serial port — work in lockstep with the master system clock, just as Roman galley slaves rowed to the beat of the overseer's drum. Asynchronous or self-timed logic runs at its own speed, governed by local timers and the availability of data to work on. It's hard even to imagine an asynchronous pro- cessor because there is no simple metaphor, such as slaves rowing or soldiers marching, that helps you grasp the way the different parts work to- gether. This difficulty is just as real for VLSI de- signers; clocked logic has become so popular pre- cisely because it is easier to design with than asynchronous logic. The Power Factor So why would anyone want to design an asyn- chronous processor? The main reason is to save power. Power consumption has suddenly become a hot issue, partly because of the new interest in battery-powered portable computing devices (see "The PC Gets More Personal," July 1992 BYTE) but also for less apparent reasons. As VLSI feature sizes shrink to the 0.5-micron level and below, you'll be able to buy chips that contain tens of millions and then hundreds of millions of tran- sistors. Given that heat dissipation is a serious ILLUSTRATION: DAVE LAFLEURB1993 problem with current generation technology, chips of these densities will aggravate the problem enormously. There are many tricks designers can use to save power, the most popular being to employ a static CMOS fabrication pro- cess so that the system can slow or even stop the clock when the computer is idle. A static CMOS process can help, but the fact remains that clocked CPUs are intrinsically wasteful of power. Even when those "soldiers" aren't doing anything useful, the clock forces them to "run in place" and use energy. The Clockless Advantage An asynchronous CPU running under maximum load would use the same amount of energy as a standard CPU, but in PC JANUARY 1 993 • BYTE 145 COMPUTING WITHOUT CLOCKS Inside Micropipelines Clocked computer components use two voltage levels (normally 5 and volts DC) called "high" and "low" to distinguish logical true and false. Ivan Sutherland's micro- pipelines abandon this scheme in fa- vor of transition signaling, where the absolute voltage levels are ignored and only the change between two voltages is recognized as a signaling "event." Response to transition signals is edge- triggered, with rising and falling edges considered to be identical events. (Some magnetic and optical recording schemes employ such an edge-triggered logic.) Transition signaling is poten- tially twice as fast as clocking — and more energy efficient — because it uses both signal edges rather than just one. Only the control circuits of micro- pipelines employ transition signaling; the data is still represented using high and low voltage states for Boolean true and false. Timing in the event-driven world of micropipelines is controlled by a simple handshaking protocol called the two- phase bundled-data convention (see fig- ure A). Two wires, called Request and Acknowledge, connect the sender and receiver, as do an arbitrary number of data lines. In phase 1 , a sender places a value on its data lines and then (when the data is stable) produces an event on its request line. In phase 2, the receiver accepts the HANDSHAKING IN MICROPIPELINES Request Req\ Req/ ', i '. * ! New ', ; New '• ne :V ', New ZZXSBC- \ [4 :/ \ if 1 \ : Ack/ Ack\ ; AckV Acknowledge Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Figure A: The first phase of the bundled-data convention (red arrows) is initiated by the sender. The second phase, initiated by the receiver, is in green. The convention is said to be "bundled" because the request, acknowledge, and data lines must be treated together when factoring in circuit delays. data and then replies with an event on its acknowledge line. Request and ac- knowledge events can be either rising or falling transitions in different cycles, and the three actions — assert new data, request, and acknowledge — alternate in a strict cyclic order. This protocol is somewhat simpler than that used in the most popular two-phase clocked log- ic, which has five events per cycle. More significantly, this protocol per- mits its two phases to be of different and variable duration; in other words, it's an asynchronous protocol. Unlike some purer asynchronous ap- proaches, the bundled-data protocol is not entirely insensitive to delays: The delay in transmitting data from sender to receiver must be less than the delay in transmitting request events; other- wise, the request could arrive before data is valid. For this reason, VLSI de- signers must treat the control wires and the data wires as a single bundle for timing puiposes — hence the name two- phase bundled-data convention. It turns out that you can't process events using just the standard set of Boolean logic gates (conceptually, NOT, AND, OR, and XOR gates; in practice, NAND and NOR gates and inverters). The conventional XOR gate works for events, but it actually com- putes OR. To perform an AND on events, a device has to remember its previous inputs, which purely Boolean devices cannot do. Sutherland employs the Muller C-element (named after its inventor, David Muller), which con- tains a 1-bit memory cell. The C-ele- ment outputs an event only when both applications the CPU is very rarely loaded to the maximum. An asynchronous CPU running under partial load expends only as much energy as it has to; any circuit on the chip (e.g., the adder or the multiplier) not used by the current instruction is quiescent and effectively consumes zero power. A quiescent circuit is not switched off, however, and is ready to begin processing with minimal delay as soon as data arrives. The metaphor that I find useful to describe asynchronous op- eration is a taxi service, where cabs depart not at fixed times but only when they are carrying passengers. Trying to achieve this fine-grained level of economy in a clocked processor would in- volve such complex sensing and switching of circuits that the exercise would be counterproductive. Another advantage of asynchronous operation is that it avoids the problems of propagating ever-faster global clock signals around a system. Clock skew is a serious problem for the fastest CPUs; witness DEC's Alpha, where more than a quarter of the sil- icon is devoted to clock logic. A more esoteric advantage of asynchronous logic is that it of- fers VLSI engineers the opportunity to design better circuits. For example, the operating speed of an adder circuit varies, depend- ing on how many carries are needed to process different operands. In a clocked processor, the adder design must be a compromise that accommodates the worst (i.e., slowest) cases, because every- 146 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 COMPUTING WITHOUT CLOCKS its inputs enter the same logic state, af- ter both have received an event. In log- ic diagrams, the Muller C-element is represented by an AND gate symbol with a C inside it. The other element you need to make micropipelines is an event-driven stor- age device. You can make such an ele- ment using three latches and three in- verters, the event-driven equivalent of a D flip-flop. This storage element has two event inputs called PASS (which renders it transparent) and CAPTURE (which latches a 1-bit data value). You can assemble these devices in parallel, just like flip-flops, to build byte- and word-wide storage registers. The sim- plest micropipelined FIFO would con- tain one such register per stage. Empty pipeline stages are completely trans- parent, with a direct path from input to output. Figure B shows the control logic for a section of a simple micropipelined FIFO, built only from inverters, Muller C-elements, and latches; the data lines run through the latches in the middle. Each stage is a loop around which con- trol events flow, obeying the follow- ing state rule: IF predecessor and successor differ in state THEN copy predecessor's state ELSE hold present state This circuit is stable when all the stages are in the same state (an empty pipeline) or when alternate stages are in opposite states (a full pipeline). The state rule is actually equivalent to a dig- Figure B: Data moves through the pipeline in waves, depending on the state of the inputs at each stage. The bubbles on the acknowledge inputs of the Muller C-elements represent inverters. ital description of wave motion; in un- stable states, control events will prop- agate down the micropipeline like waves, and the data values will "surf" along with them. It's often easier to think about event logic dynamically, in terms of event streams. From this viewpoint, the XOR gate performs the operation MERGE on two streams, while the Muller C- element performs RENDEZVOUS (i.e., don't proceed until all the events have arrived). There are several other useful prim- itive-event-logic operations, all of which can be implemented by 10 to 100 transistors. TOGGLE steers events alternately to each of its two outputs; SELECT steers events according to the value of a second Boolean input; CALL triggers another process and then re- turns a "done" event to its caller; and ARBITER decides which of two events arrived first. CALL and ARBITER connected together act like a sema- phore, thus permitting two or more asynchronous processes to share a sin- gle resource. You may be struck by the similarities between these elements and high-level- language constructs (e.g., SELECT be- haves like IF. . .THEN. . .ELSE). Using these circuits as building blocks, digi- tal designers can make micropipelines that fork and rejoin, insert or delete val- ues from the middle of a pipeline, and even set up a counterflow of data back up the pipeline. thing must keep in step with the clock. For an asynchronous pro- cessor, you design the fastest adder you know how, and the fact that it will run slower for the rarest operands doesn't matter. Given these advantages, it's not surprising that asynchronous operation is beginning to command more than passing interest from VLSI designers. In fact, a team at Caltech (Pasadena, CA) has produced an experimental 16-bit asynchronous CPU (see reference 1). At Manchester University, the Amulet project, head- ed by Steve Furber, means to create a fully asynchronous imple- mentation of a "real-life" commercial architecture — the ARM6 RISC architecture (see "A Call to ARM" in the November 1992 BYTE). In the Pipeline To understand how a clockless ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) might work, you must first understand the asynchronous logic framework that Furber has adopted, namely Ivan Sutherland's micropipelines (see the text box "Inside Micropipelines" above). A pipeline is a linear array of processing elements that work concurrently on a stream of data values passed from one to the next like a Detroit production line. Pipelines don't reduce the time required to process a single element (the latency of the pro- cess), but by overlapping operations in time, they process more elements per second, thereby increasing the throughput of the operation. Sutherland's micropipelines are elastic, event-driven JANUARY 1993 • B Y T E 147 COMPUTING WITHOUT CLOCKS pipelines that operate solely us- ing locally generated timing sig- nals (see reference 2). In this context, elastic means that the number of elements in a pipeline can vary up to a maxi- mum number, so a pipeline can be empty, full, or anything in between (a bit like strings in Turbo Pascal). Event-driven means that the micropipeline is triggered by the availability of data items rather than by global clock signals, and an individual pipeline element gets control in- formation only from its imme- diate neighbors. Each element waits for new data to arrive at its inputs and passes it on only when the next element is ready to receive it. Therefore, every element works at its own pace. This requires a timing protocol quite unlike that for clocked circuits. The simplest micropipeline is a FIFO (first-in/first-out) buffer, which, because it has no pro- cessing elements, passes data through unchanged. A micropipelined FIFO can inherently tolerate different data rates at its input and output ends, an ability that requires very complex arbitration logic in a clocked FIFO. If the input arrives faster than the output for too long, the micropipeline becomes full and new data must wait. Conversely, if the output is faster than the input, the micropipeline empties and the output must wait. This "patient" behavior has important consequences when you de- sign with micropipelines. Designing for Tolerance Because the timing of clocked circuits is highly context-depen- dent, chip designers almost always have to redesign the whole chip to make a change in even a minor part. Micropipelines, on the con- trary, are timing-tolerant, so modules of widely differing speeds will work together, with throughput limited to that of the slowest module. This is Sutherland's strongest claim for micropipelines: They bring the concepts of modularity and composability so fa- miliar to software engineers into hardware design. Micropipelines compose like procedures in high-level languages, whereas clocked circuits are more like machine code subroutines. For example, if one day you discover how to make a micro- pipelined adder circuit twice as fast, you can pop it into the next iteration of your CPU with the assurance that the rest of the pro- cessor will still work as before and that operations that were lim- ited by the speed of the adder will automatically speed up. Such a stepwise refinement process has the potential to revolutionize VLSI engineering. THE ASYNCHRONOUS ARM Prefetch unit PC f8 Address output « pc Data path Address out -« — i -*-i Mew Data Data out Data Data input in Instruction or data Figure 1: The asynchronous ARM processor is a micropipeline made up of smaller micropipelines. It takes data and instruction inputs and spits out addresses and data. PC stands for the "program counter. " should not be able to tell whether the chip in your sys- tem is clocked or not. But this first iteration of the design treats external memory as if it too were micropipelined — an improbability, because no one makes asynchronous RAM. To use the asynchronous ARM in real-life systems, you'd need an interface converter between the internal two-phase bundled- data convention and the exter- nal clocked RAM. The eventu- al goal is for the asynchronous ARM CPU to become a macro- cell — a self-contained gate lay- out that a fabricator can drop into any chip — with a micro- pipelined memory manager and cache memory on the same chip to isolate it from the ex- ternal RAM. Thus, it makes good sense to treat the asynchronous/clocked memory interface as a peripheral rather than part of the core design. Considered at the highest level, the asynchronous ARM is one big micropipeline that takes in a stream of data and instructions and outputs a stream of addresses and processed results (see fig- ure 1). Internally, many of the ARM's subunits also behave as micropipelines; for example, the whole cycle of address genera- tion, instruction fetch, instruction decode, and execution is pipe- lined, just as in most modern RISC CPUs. The difference is that here the pipeline is elastic and the number of prefetched instruc- tions varies from time to time. After a branch, some instructions in the micropipeline may become invalid, and these are discard- ed by comparing a 1-bit parity flag attached to each instruction with a similar flag in the ALU that gets toggled every time a branch is taken. (This is an entirely separate issue from the "con- ditional execution" property shared by all ARM instructions.) The data path is itself a three-stage micropipeline containing the register bank, the shifter/multiplier, and the ALU. The register bank offers a nice illustration of the problems an asynchronous de- signer faces. Banking on Registers Executing a typical ARM instruction involves three registers: the two operands (A and B) and the result register (W). In an asynchronous implementation, a new instruction can start exe- cuting as soon as A and B have been read by the previous in- struction. This raises the possibility that the instruction might try to read W before the result of the previous instruction has been written to it. This could happen with a pair of calculations such as the following: The Asynchronous CPU Using the basics of asynchronous logic, the Amulet team has designed a full simu- lation of the asynchronous ARM6 archi- tecture and has successfully run an ARM validation suite that tests all the major in- struction types used in the architecture. Silicon layout is under way. Obviously, the asynchronous ARM has to be fully instruction-compatible with its clocked equivalents, and in principle you Asynchronous Logic Advantages • low-power operation • no clock skew • design flexibility • fewer heat problems Rl :=R2xR3 R4:=RI +R5 where the addition would be completed well before the slower multiplication has finished. To avoid such a disaster, all at- tempts to read registers have to be delayed until the correct value is available — a pro- cess called register locking. The asynchronous ARM tackles this problem by incorporating a lock FIFO, a 148 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 THERE'S NOTHING LIGHTWEIGHT ABOUT THIS 3% POUND NOTEBOOK. At just mer 3.5 lbs, the Dell® 320SU offers features and functions usually reserved for systems twice its weight. So call and order one today. At this price, it shouldn't be a heavy decisiort. You're not the only one working late. Dell's toll-free support lines are note open 6AM to midnight every day. There's also nationwide on-site service and a 24-hourTechFax"liiteA Comes with everything you need to run even the most hardcore software: MS-DOS* 5.0, Microsoft-Windows'"}.!, Lotus" Oiganizer and a keyboard mouse. That's not till you'll find in here. 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To make this lookup as efficient as possible, the FIFO holds regis- ter addresses as unary numbers (i.e., bit masks where 1 bit cor- responds to each possible register). The ARM has 3 1 registers, but R15, the program counter, is addressed via wholly different cir- cuits, so lock addresses need only be 30-bit words with exactly one bit set. In the above example, the FIFO would contain 0000000000000000000000000 1 0000 (R4) 0000000000000000000000000000 1 (R 1 ) To check whether a particular register is locked, you perform an OR on all the bits in the column representing that register's number. In hardware terms, the FIFO has an output for each col- umn that indicates if a bit is set anywhere in that column. Regis- ter write operations use the register address in the last stage of the FIFO directly to enable the next register to be written, which removes the need for a separate write-decode register. This lock FIFO mechanism will work correctly given three conditions: • Bits must be copied from one stage to the next in such a way that the value appears in the second stage before it's removed from the first (otherwise a 1 bit could be missed if the FIFO were checked while it was "in transit"). This is an innate property of Sutherland micropipelines. • Empty FIFO stages must present all 0s so as not to mess up the bitwise OR. This is achieved just by holding the FIFO's data inputs at whenever addresses are not being inserted; the trans- parent property of empty micropipeline stages does the rest. • Nothing should be inserted into the FIFO while it is being checked. This condition is met by forcing all instructions to read their operand registers before locking their destination register so that the FIFO cannot be updated during register reads. You can see how the properties of micropipelines help to achieve a simple and elegant solution to the register-locking problem, and the ARM contains several other examples that I don't have space to describe. Off the Drawing Board A commercial asynchronous processor would be a boon to de- signers of portable, low-power systems. Although one is not yet in silicon, Steve Furber is confident not only that the asynchronous ARM will work, but that it will offer significantly higher per- formance than the clocked version for lower power-consump- tion benefits that Apple's Newton project may one day reap. The Amulet project is keen to demonstrate that asynchronous logic is sufficiently mature to move out of the laboratory into real-world systems. If successful, it will pave the way toward a new era of portable computing. ■ REFERENCES 1. Martin, A. J., S. Burns, T. K. Lee, D. Borkovie, and P. J. Hazewindus. "The Design of an Asynchronous Microproces- sor." In Advanced Research in VLSI: Proceedings of the 1989 De- cennial Caltech Conference. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1989. 2. Sutherland, Ivan. "Micropipelines." Communications of the ACM, vol. 32, no. 6, June 1989. Dick Pounlain is a BYTE consulting editor based in London. You can reach him on BIX as "dickp. " 150 BYTE -JANUARY 1993 If you need to communicate something clearly say it more than once, mm say it more than once, say it more than once. Say it with Multimedia. Say it with Bravadd Truevision Bravado is the multimedia engine that lets you multiply ideas. Add and control live video and audio. Merge VGA text and graphics. Repeat your message with power. If you're ready for people to get the message, clearly, what you need is Truevision Bravado. For more information about Truevision and Bravado, CALL 1-800-344-TRUE. When it comes to video, it comes from Truevision? 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New common markets and stepped-up trade throughout the world have created overwhelming demands for linguistic support. Just communicating in the nine official languages of the European Community means translating in 72 different directions. A thorough translation meticulously captures all the nu- ances of the original text. Sometimes, though, a rough trans- lation is all that is needed. Most translations are still performed by people, but computers are shouldering part of the burden (see the text box "An International Network" on page 156). Interpreters — translators who deal only with spoken lan- guage — don't have to worry about problems with input and output. But translators who must produce written output need a way of transferring their results to hard copy. Whether they use a dictating machine, a typewriter, or a word processing pro- gram, the process is slow and costly. Computers can take on much of the drudgery of this process and free the human trans- lator for the more creative aspects of the task. MT: What Is It? MT comes under the generic heading of NLP (natural-lan- guage processing). At the same time, because the technolo- gy involves many complex tasks, it's often seen as a category unto itself. MT's special status may also stem from the fact that it was the earliest kind of NLP. The first translation ma- chines were designed in the early 1930s, and serious efforts to develop MT were under way soon after the ENIAC (Elec- tronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) made its debut in 1946. Unlike software that merely looks up words, MT analyzes the text in the original language (the source language) and automatically generates sentences in the target language in which you want the translation. Input to a computer for trans- lation is machine-readable text written in the source language. Output consists of text in the target language, which may be displayed on-screen or printed. Hard copy often shows the source and target texts side by side (see "How MT Works" on page 167). MT can involve human assistance, but it shouldn't be con- fused with MAT (machine-assisted translation), a related but different mode. In MAT, a human translator prepares the tar- get version using a word pro- cessing program and musters the aid of automatic terminolo- gy managers, on-line multilin- gual term banks, text-critiquing software, repetitions process- ing, and other computer-based tools that help to boost produc- tivity. The difference between MT and MAT is becoming less clear. Innovative systems in the re- search stage are blurring the distinction between the two by providing pieces of text that can serve as translation building blocks. Computer-based tools have become standard compo- nents of the translator's work- station, which may include full MT as well. What Does It Do? The dream is to build the equivalent of the babblefish of Douglas Adams' book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy — a wearable device JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 153 Machine Translation BY MURIEL VASCONCELLOS 152 How MT Works BYEDUARDHOVY 167 Babelware for the Desktop BY L. CHRIS MILLER 177 Resource Guide: MACHINE-TRANSLATION SOFTWARE 185 MACHINE TRANSLATION *Ji i « . llll , HI ■ , Ml uilllU «■ , ' " L a sample »«-*^! e Jd J** W XB JU ei f ^ Xl conv eI t|d into »<~~* «°»¥* I ■ - ■ ■ I .. I I THE QUALITY CALORY CONTENT OF COAL IS DETERMINED BY Photo 1 : The first known trial oj'MT took place in January 1 954. Shown here are a card punched with a sentence in Russian and a printout of the translation in English. that simultaneously interprets from and into any language of the world. This con- cept sounds like science fiction, but in re- ality, speech-to-speech technology, in lim- ited forms, is already in the wings. In the meantime, MT of written text is proving its mettle in a respectable range of settings. MT works best if the subject matter is specific or restricted (e.g., maintenance manuals). The results are even better when the original text is straightforward and de- void of ambiguities. Car manuals, for example, are consistent in style and vocabulary. Peter Wheeler of Antler Translation Services (Sparta, NJ) uses MT to translate automobile manuals from English to French for General Mo- tors. "Automobile manuals are ideal MT texts — very dry, very objective, very fac- tual, extremely repetitive, and very bor- ing. That's not the sort of stuff a human translator works with well. With MT, I've achieved a threefold increase in through- put." Progress in MT is measured by a sys- tem's ability to gradually handle more dif- ficult text types and language combina- tions, with as little human assistance as possible. Another key goal is to be able to translate between European languages and languages that have non-Roman alphabets and structures (e.g., Japanese, Korean, Chi- nese, and Arabic). Finally, progress in the field is also gauged by how flexibly the system fits into the user's operation. Key Features • fills a huge and growing need for its technology • is moving to desktop systems • can double human output • is cost-efficient • offers dial-up services Future Enhancements • provide better-quality systems • add more applications Two key factors have come together to make MT easier to use. For a long time, the primary obstacle to more widespread use of MT was the cost and difficulty of getting text into the computer (see photo 1). Now there are large volumes of text in electronic files ready to serve as fodder for MT. But the most dramatic difference is that personal computers and workstations now offer enough processing power to take on the MT functions that have been main- frame-dependent for nearly 40 years. Down- sizing from the Goliaths to the Davids of computing has produced a new generation of devices that will soon be able to per- form MT applications on the fly. MT systems spend a lot of time looking at the various ways in which a sentence can be parsed and considering the roles and meanings that each word can have. Most of this time is spent mulling over possible choices. For example, the main- frame-based Systran system from Systran Translation Systems (La Jolla, CA) pro- cesses about 10,000 rules per second. If 154 BYTE ■ JANUARY 1993 581 The Quality Memory Solution PharLap Attention Win32s and NT Developers: Run Microsoft's 32-bit Windows NT tools under DOS with Phar Lap's QuickStart ! 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Registered trademark holders: Phar Lap 1 - Phar Lap Software, Inc.; AutoCAD"' - Autodesk, Inc.; Borland* Turbo Debugger* ■ Borland International, Inc.; IBM* • IBM Corporation; CodeView*, Microsoft", MS-DOS* - Microsoft Corp. Circle 142 on Inquiry Card. Phar Lap Software, Inc 60 Aberdeen Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 617-661-1510 FAX 617-876-2972 MACHINE TRANSLATION you are performing MT on a desktop sys- tem and your document has many pages, the process may tie up your computer for quite a while. Junior Babel-Busters As the technology gravitates to smaller and more personalized computers, MT is be- coming accessible to a larger public. The first personal computer-based system — the MicroCAT (which is no longer pro- duced) — appeared in 1983. Today, the Sun Microsystem Sparcstation and other midrange Unix workstations are host to many commercial MT systems, as are vir- tually all the laboratory prototypes (see "Babelware for the Desktop" on page 177). Unix workstations, 386 and 486 PCs, and high-end Macs all provide sufficient power on the desktop to run the biggest MT sys- tems. The challenge is to adapt the soft- ware to the new environments. A recent example of a system designed for the capabilities of the 386 is the Eng- span, which was developed by the Pan American Health Organization in Wash- ington, D.C. In late 1992, this system, which translates from English to Spanish, was ported from a mainframe computer and runs efficiently on a 33-MHz 386 with DOS, 2 MB of RAM, and an 80-MB hard disk. MT on Your Desktop Being able to tap into MT from your desk- top has several advantages. For example, you can use OCR (optical character recog- nition), CD-ROM, and internal modems and faxes to capture text and graphics, download databases, and exchange elec- tronic files with clients anywhere in the world. Many databases offer information in languages other than English. For ex- ample, you might search other countries' patents or a body of legal decisions or up- date your client on the latest Japanese ad- vances in superconductivity. With database management tools for re- trieving terminology and previously trans- lated text, style checkers, and desktop pub- lishing software, you have everything you need to set up your own multilingual op- eration. Executive Communication Sys- tems (Provo, UT) makes MT ToolK.it, which enables you to create your own dic- tionaries, write your own linguistic rules, and customize the basic architecture of an MT system. It has been used to develop systems for Korean and Norwegian trans- lation. LANs offer large groups of users the potential to centralize some of the more time-consuming tasks. You can farm out a CPU-intensive translation to a less-used machine and receive the results back as a An International Network MT users and would-be users, as well as researchers and commercial devel- opers, have recently joined in a com- mon endeavor to improve and promote the technology as well as share infor- mation about MT. They have formed the IAMT (International Association for Machine Translation) and, within its overall framework, the AMTA (As- sociation for Machine Translation in the Americas). IAMT and AMTA publish MTNews International every four months and the MT Yellow Pages once a year. In November 1992, IAMT/ AMTA held a workshop that evaluated MT tech- nologies and provided a showcase of MT systems. For further information, write to the Association for Machine Translation in the Americas, 655 15th St. NW, Suite 310, Washington, D.C. 20005. file on a server. You can store the large main lexicon and specialized glossaries in one location and make them available to all. Use of a centralized dictionary makes it possible for managers and terminolo- gists to control the introduction of updates. You can also incorporate MT into the desktop publishing process. By the time it reaches the MT phase, input text will have already been tagged with the pub- lisher's markup codes. Here MT can of- fer considerable savings, because the rein- troduction of markup codes can double the cost of translating a text. Graphics and tables, which are expen- sive and painstaking to translate by hand, can be reproduced exactly as they appear in the original. MT can not only speed up the task but also prevent errors that could slip in if the data were rekeyed. These sav- ings, of course, are multiplied by the num- ber of target versions generated. An alternative way of bringing MT to the average personal computer user is through a dial-up service. From your com- puter, you can send a file by modem to a mainframe host. In the U.S., you can call up Systran and access a smorgasbord of languages. In France, you can get Systran translations through the nationwide net- work Minitel. And in Japan, you have a choice of Fujitsu's Atlas-II on NiftyServe or NEC's Pivot on PC-VAN, another large network. CompuServe will soon be offer- ing similar services. How MT Works The philosopher I. A. Richards once wrote that translation is "probably the most com- plex type of event yet produced in the evo- lution of the cosmos." It's no wonder, then, that the architectures of MT systems vary in seemingly infinite ways. Certain ele- ments, however, are common to the pro- cess. In any MT system, the computer uses three sets of data: the input text, the trans- lation program (including I/O routines), and the permanent resident knowledge sources. The most essential of the knowl- edge sources is the dictionary — a file of records containing the words and phrases of the source language against which the input text must be matched. Knowledge sources also include the sets of rules that are fired at various points in the transla- tion process. Finally, many systems store a bank of information about the concepts invoked by the dictionary. The largest MT systems work with dic- tionaries containing several hundred thou- sand words. For each word, a record holds formalized representations of information about how the word functions. Even when condensed, the record for each word can be as much as 100 bytes long. With a heavy- duty system, the dictionary is measured in tens of megabytes. The first task of any MT system is to match the words of the input text against those stored in the dictionary. It can use either a binary or hash search strategy. When it needs to look up a word, it first goes to the index residing in memory and locates the appropriate page of memory. For each word that it matches, it retrieves a complete record that includes information about the possible functions of the word 156 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 TWO GREAT WAYS CONVERTBLE g Introducing the new GRiD" Convertible, the notebook computer that redefines convenience by setting new standards for mobility. With its top down, the Convertible functions as a mobile pen tablet, able to be used even when space is at a premium. Unlike WITH THETOP DOWN. traditional keyboard-based notebooks, the Convertible uses a pen for data input and pen-based applications. In fact, the Convertible can store your handwritten input as either ink or text. The pen also serves as the ultimate pointing device, much simpler to use than a mouse or track ball it replaces. Yet you can run all of the programs you're using now. And, unlike many tablet computers, the Convertible has a rugged magnesium case to provide the light weight and durability you need for everyday use. Flip the top, and the Convertible becomes a notebook with a 9. 5-inch screen and full-sized keyboard. With the top up, you can run tradi- tional keyboard-based MS-DOS'" programs, and enter data as you would on a regular notebook computer. The Convertible comes with a 125 WITH THE TOP megabyte hard drive, an Intel386'" SL microprocesor, a math coprocessor and sufficient RAM to run even the most powerful applications. And it's bundled with MS-DOS 5.0"' and Microsoft® Windows for Pen'" Yet its sleek design and light weight offers unsurpassed mobility. Test drive the new GRiD Convertible today, with the top down and the top up. For details on where to find this revolutionary new computer, or the name of the GRiD sales representa- tive near you, call GRiD On-Line Express at 1-800-934-GRiD. And hurry- convertibles like these won't last long. GRiD is a registered trademark ut GRiD Systems Corporation. GRiD Convertible, and GRID On-Line Express an.- trademarks GRiD Systems Corporation. MS-DOS and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademark and trade names ate held hy their respective owners and should he tteated as such. MACHINE TRANSLATION MT at Your Service EDUARD HOVY Perhaps within a decade, MT (ma- chine translation) will appear in your life in several ways — trans- lating telephones, multilingual E-mail, and machines that scan and translate letters and articles written in foreign languages. You may be buy- ing toys over the phone from a sales agent in Japan with the telephone doing the translating. And when you travel to a foreign country, you'll be able to get the same bargain rates that the na- tives do with your trusty PET (Portable Electronic Translator). Several technologies will make such scenarios possible: automated speech recognition, speech generation, OCR (optical character recognition), and ma- chine translation. Although PETs are years away, intermediate tools are al- ready available, either as research pro- totypes or as commercial products. From "Mushi-Mushi" to "Hello" One of the most complex component technologies is speech recognition. Al- ter about 30 years of research, systems can recognize limited amounts of speech without first having been trained on specific voice patterns. Systems have error rates of only a few percent when the domain (i.e., a vocabulary specific to a certain environment or discipline) is limited to a few thousand words. Most speech-translation efforts are taking place in Japan. Researchers at the ATR Laboratories (Advanced Tele- communications Research Institute In- ternational, Kyoto, Japan) have been working on a translating-telephone pro- ject for about six years. Working in English and Japanese, the prototype system, SL-TRANS, will translate in- quiries about conference registrations. The company's goal is for the system, using a vocabulary of 1500 words, to be able to translate anyone's speech with- out the system being tailored to specif- ic voice patterns. Speech-recognition systems combine hardware (e.g., microphones) with sta- tistically based software to match in- coming phonemes (i.e., sounds) against Photo A: The Passport combines digital photography and character- recognition technologies with bilingual dictionaries on chips. Using this hand-held device, you can capture an image of something you'd like translated and see the translation of the words or symbols. (Courtesy of Carnegie Mellon University) stored phoneme patterns and to produce strings of text. The best experimental systems using standard workstations operate at well over 90 percent accura- cy on domains of a few thousand words. An NEC system can recognize a 5000- word vocabulary of isolated words or a 1 500-word vocabulary of fluid speech. A consortium of 10 universities and companies in Germany is planning an ambitious speech-translation project. Personnel associated with the Verb- mobil project will build a portable de- vice to help translate languages for business discussions. Because it's eas- ier to understand a foreign language than to speak one, the project personnel say, the system will use English as a kind of interlingua. The Bibliotheque Nationale Multilingual information-retrieval sys- tems are closer to becoming commer- cially available than speech-recogni- tion systems are. With retrieval sys- tems, you'll be able to get information on your favorite topic by giving a col- lection of keywords or a few relevant paragraphs. Researchers at Fujitsu Laboratories (Tokyo, Japan) have built a multilin- gual information-retrieval system that translates query words in German or English into Japanese. It retrieves rele- vant articles; translates their titles into German or English; and, on request, translates the article as well. E-Mail from A to Z Computing environments are becom- ing increasingly dependent on net- works. Communications are more elec- tronic and less paper-based than they were in the past. Thus, people have a greater need for inexpensive technol- ogy that offers browsing-quality trans- lation assistance of E-mail messages. Although most of the technology for this application already exists, no prod- ucts are on the market yet. Fujitsu has demonstrated a prototype, and Dragon Systems (Boston, MA) is developing a PC-based product that will handle Japanese, Spanish, and English trans- lations. Future Applications In a competition sponsored by Apple's Advanced Technologies Group, stu- dents at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design offered several in- novative ideas. One prizewinner was the Illumina, an MT machine that stands in an office or library next to the printer and photocopy machine. Combining optical-scanning and OCR technology with personal comput- er—based MT, the Illumina translates whatever text you place on its face- plate. Given the high character-recog- nition rate available in commercial systems, this type of system may start appearing as soon as more general-do- main MT systems develop out of the prototype stage — perhaps by the end of the decade. Carnegie Mellon students have also 160 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 MACHINE TRANSLATION and its relationship to words that may oc- cur with it. developed the Passport, a hand-held word-translation device that uses pho- tography to input text (see photo A). For example, on your travels, you spot graffiti on a wall. After photographing the slogan onto the Passport's display, you circle the words you're interested in, and the Passport's bilingual dictio- nary chip provides a translation on an LCD. Granted, for a few hundred dol- lars you can buy systems that will trans- late the foreign words that you type in, with a separate chip for each language pair, but try typing in a few Chinese characters. A third Carnegie Mellon project ad- dresses the needs of hearing-impaired people. The Signspeak System is in- tended to translate American Sign Lan- guage and spoken English (see photo B). Its design calls for a glove with sen- sors and an attachment to track arm po- sition and hand motion. These sensors feed their signals to a personal comput- er, which converts them into English words and uses voice-synthesis soft- ware to convert the reply to text, which is displayed on the computer's screen. Several neural-network and connec- tionist project developers are also work- ing toward future MT applications. Carnegie Mellon and the University of Karlsrule in Germany are jointly de- veloping the C-Star System. In this sys- tem, trained connectionist networks rec- ognize English text, create internal data structure patterns, and generate Chinese text as output. A set of neural-network programs called ANN (Architecture for Neural Networks), developed at the Huntsville Achievement School (Hunts- ville, AL), follows a similar approach with English and Russian. These applications are but the van- guard of the MT revolution. More have yet to come. Over the past few years, fax machines have quietly changed our lives. In a few decades, automated MT systems will be doing the same. Thanks to the innovative use of MT and related technology, speech and writing in a multitude of languages will become easier to find, read, and understand. Photo B: To help hearing-impaired people communicate with those who don 't use American Sign Language, students at Carnegie Mellon developed this prototype translator. The design uses gloves with sensors to send hand- and arm-movement information to a personal computer. Software converts the signals into English words, which are synthesized and output over a loudspeaker. (Courtesy of Carnegie Mellon University) Eduard Hovy is a project leader at the Information Sciences Institute of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He is the author and co- editor of two hooks on automated lan- guage generation. You can reach him on BIX c/o "editors" or on the Internet at hovy@isi.edu. Translation Quality Translation quality generally improves as the systems acquire more rules and larger and more detailed lexicons. But there is a trade-off. In the long run, systems that have ro- bust dictionaries and rule bases demand less human intervention, but they are more costly to develop or tailor to a particular environment. On the other hand, systems that do not have these resources require more human labor to turn out a finished product. Other factors of consideration are the structural proximity of the two languages, the domain, and the type of text. Most im- portant, the quality required of the trans- lation depends on how it will be used. Can the raw output be delivered without fur- ther polishing? How much human inter- vention is needed to make it acceptable to the client? The quality of MT is also closely tied to the amount of human assistance the user is willing and able to provide. The raw MT product — direct from the machine — may be usable for certain purposes, but some human participation is usually involved. You can intervene at any point along the way: before, during, or after the auto- matic translation process. People's time costs more than that of computers. The idea is to keep the number of human steps to a minimum by choosing the form of in- tervention that offers the best mileage for the application. When to Edit If the operator intervenes before a source text is translated, the step is called preed- iting. The idea is to eliminate lexical and structural ambiguities before a translation program takes over. Preediting comes in two flavors. In the first instance, you revise a text that already exists. Sometimes, there is easy-to-use in- teractive software to help you with the task. For instance, The Smart Expert Edi- tor by Smart Communications (New York, NY) is designed to serve as MT prepro- cessing software. In the second kind of preediting, you prepare the text for the machine. It may be a new version of an existing text, or it may be a text that was drafted for the pur- pose, according to preestablished rules and vocabulary. Although preediting makes the job eas- ier for the machine, you often have to edit the output. Preediting is worthwhile when you are translating from one language to many, because it reduces the need for JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 161 MACHINE TRANSLATION human assistance downstream. This step can also be justified when the source lan- guage poses major linguistic problems at the input level. When an operator responds to questions posed by the computer during the transla- tion, the mode is called interactive edit- ing. The operator is asked to resolve am- biguities that the program has identified. The computer offers various alternatives, and the operator clicks on the most ap- propriate choices. By making these decisions before the target-generation phase, interactive edit- ing reduces the manual editing required after the translation. An early product that offered interactive editing was Transac- tive by Alpnet (Provo, UT). And making its debut is the Augmentor, developed at Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA). Carnegie Mellon hopes that the com- bination of a rich interlingua, a domain- specific application, and an interactive interrogation component will eliminate Comolete, Powerful H Tee Multiprotocol Kit! Implementation ! FTP Support for third-part) TCP/IP n RinL'ilrr. IN ew SmarTerm for Windows clearly puts more VT text and graphics emulation power and ease at your fingertips. Corporate support features include a toolbox, button palettes, trace and remapping utilities, scripting, keyboard mapping, and customizable-help. SmarTerm 340 for Windows provides outstanding ReGIS, Tektronix, and sixel graphics capabilities. SmarTerm, connecting users worldwide, is also available for VT320 and VT340 emulation using DOS. Persoft, Inc. 465 Science Dr. P.O. Box 44953 Madison, WI 53744-4953 Call toll-free 1-800-EMULATE Fax (608) 273-8227 European Headquarters World Trade Ctr. Beursplein 37 Box 30237 3001 DE Rotterdam The Netherlands Phone+31 10405.3560 Fax +31 10405.5073 persafr CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS DOS • Windows • Ethernet • Token Ring ©1992, PersoK, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Person and SmarTerm are registered trademarks of Persoft. Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are properties of their respective owners. Rev. 1 1/92 manual preediting or postediting. The most common form of human as- sistance is postediting. In this mode, you add the finishing touches to the machine- translated output after the computer has finished its job. Postediting is more labor- intensive than the other forms of editing, but it gives you control over the quality of the text. You can rarely avoid this stage when the translation is intended for a large number of readers. In most situations, the posteditor, who is ordinarily a professional translator, thor- oughly reviews the output and makes any necessary changes. The standards and pur- poses of the user will affect how long the process takes. Typically the posteditor works at the computer, using an off-the-shelf word pro- cessing package. Macros designed for MT can speed up the process. Depending on the text, posteditors can double the output of traditional human translation, turning out between 3000 and 1 0,000 words in an 8-hour day. Gathering vs. Disseminating Data How you use MT depends on whether you want to gather or disseminate information. When gathering information, you trans- late text from a foreign language into your own. When you disseminate information, you translate it from your language into another. Often, the usefulness of the information you gather is time-dependent (e.g., weath- er reports, job listings, and patent infor- mation). And at times, only a few people will see an information-only translation. For this reason, the quality doesn't have to be perfect. Because you can rarely pre- dict what the style and subject matter of source text will be like, you need an MT system that is robust enough to deal with whatever it encounters. This is known as a general-purpose system. The demands of general-purpose MT place a heavy burden on the system's anal- ysis component: The grammar must cover a broad range of situations, and the dic- tionaries and knowledge sources must be large and detailed. Even with the best lin- guistic preparation, however, the quality of the output will not be as smooth as that produced by a system tailored to a specific domain. In information-gathering operations, the input documents usually come from a wide range of sources and are available only in hard copy. The cost of converting the in- put into an electronic file may be pro- hibitive. And the use of OCR in combi- nation with automatic postprocessing and human monitoring might not make enough of a difference to warrant the introduction 162 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 141 on Inquiry Card. UPGRADING YOUR PS/2 IS NOW EASIER THAN EVER VTE AWARD MERIT Convenience Good news for all MicroChannel-based PS/2 owners who need more performance for today's power hungry applications. As of December 1, 1992, MicroMASTER, your best choice in processor upgrade products, will be available through your local Kingston Technology reseller. Developed by Aox Incorporated, the MicroMASTER is a BUSMASTER processor upgrade that won an Award of Merit from "BrT£" magazine. Now, BYTE magazine has confirmed what thousands of users have known all along; MicroMASTER simply plugs into any slot of a MicroChannel- based PS/2. 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That's why we make sure that every MicroMASTER board is fully performance and quality-tested. ■ Features: Easy one-step installation Maintains existing hardware and software compatibility 128K of built-in cache Runs new generation 32-bit software Dual ported memory — Accessible to the MicroMASTER, the system processor, and any other BUS MASTERS in the systems in % Aox Now through our agreement with Kingston Technology to manufacture, market, and sell the MicroMASTER line, accessing the processing power you need is easier and more convenient than ever. Simply visit your Kingston reseller and ask for the best upgrade for your PS/2: MicroMASTER. For more information on this exciting development, or for the name of a Kingston Technology reseller near you, call: Aox, 1-800-232-1269 or Kingston, 1-800-835-6575 M i croM ASTER"^ Ktafl ™ 486 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, Massachusetts 02154 (617) 890-4402 Fax: (617) 890-8445 The High Performance BUS MASTER That Upgrades Your PS/2 to 486 Power. All products are registeried trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders. The Intel Inside Logo is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Circle 74 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 75). MACHINE TRANSLATION of MT. However, what is making MT more feasible for information-gathering purposes is the widespread availability of text in digital form. General-purpose MT systems can speed up the work of in-house translators who have to produce publication-quality copy in various subject areas. For example, the Logos system, developed by Logos (Mt. Arlington, NJ), supports translators that perform this kind of work in the Canadian Department of the Secretary of State and in a number of translation service bureaus. Similarly, the translation team at the Union Bank of Switzerland uses Metal, marketed in the Americas by SieTech of Siemens Nixdorf (Munich, Germany). The most widespread use of MT is in the translation of texts in limited domains (e.g., customer support manuals). This ap- plication allows companies to launch their products in several countries simultane- ously. Here the users call the shots: They reduce input ambiguity by having a sin- 1 introducing new ScreenStar™ from Bitwise, the world's first portable with dual-page display. It's a 486 50MHz PC workstation constructed within a suitcase for unrivaled performance in a portable package. ScreenStar's massive 21.3" gas plasma screen folds flat within the suitcase, and easily displays two 8-1/2" x 11" documents at full size, to powerfully present data in meetings, in the field, or on the road. 5-1/4" bay for optical/CD drive 1280 x 1024 resolution 3 full-length slots Up to 32 MB RAM Up to 1 GB hard drive See us at COMDEX Booth Sands 650 Imagine the possibilities. Impressively present to large groups. Effortlessly run the most demanding software. Effectively travel with a powerful document imaging system. Portable computing without compromise. Discover the quality and innovation of ScreenStar. Otherwise, it's not a Bitwise. 800-367-5906 Bitwise Designs, Inc. Technology Center Rotterdam Industrial Park Schenectady, N.Y. 12306 Fax: 518-356-9749 Bitwise DESIGNS I N C COMPUTERS WITHOUT COMPROMISE 1 gle domain, and they can predict, and even control, the style of the source text (see the text box "Is MT Right for You?" on page 180). In these applications, MT also helps to keep the terminology consistent throughout a firm's branches — an impor- tant feature in large projects, where prod- uct manuals can be thousands of pages long. Now What? The written-text MT systems of today will give way to the voice-based systems of tomorrow. Soon special-purpose, speak- er-dependent applications will begin to emerge (see the text box "MT at Your Ser- vice" on page 160). Progress in this area will depend not only on advances in the MT environment but also on breakthroughs in speech-recognition technology. On a broader scale, the research that has gone into developing knowledge sources and internal representations for MT is use- ful in other areas. Progress in MT fore- shadows a bigger step toward the general availability of NLP applications. Natural- language analyzers and text generators — key components of MT systems — will be standard software. The results of MT research are also be- ing used to explore better ways of captur- ing, representing, and storing knowledge. The basic step that must taken before any- one can use text is to parse it. As general- purpose parsers become available, it will be possible for computers to parse the en- tire body of knowledge that is stored in the world's libraries. The establishment of an archive holding parsed information available to all would be a boon to scien- tists who build large knowledge bases — and ultimately to you. MT has never enjoyed greater public awareness or a more favorable climate of opinion than it does today. If you can't conquer Babel, at least, thanks to MT, you can have a better idea of the knowledge that's available in the world and how you can tap into it. ■ ACKNOWLEDGMENT CrisA. Fitch, vice president of engineering for Systran Translation Systems; Marjorie Leon, of the Pan American Health Orga- nization; and Mark Clarkson, a freelance science writer from Wichita, Kansas, con- tributed to this article. Muriel Vasconcellos is president of the Association for Machine Translation in the Americas and is a Washington, D.C.~ based consultant in translation and ma- chine translation. You can reach her on BIX c/o "editors" or on CompuServe at 71024,123. 164 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 79 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 80). Has been erated DOS is still the preferred operating system on over 80% of the PCs in Fortune 1,000 companies, according to recent studies. Bring Windowing Advantages to DOS. Many Fortune 1,000 compa- nies are using DESQview™ as the best solution for keeping the dependability and familiarity of DOS programs and adding multi- tasking, windowing produc- tivity. DESQview users give up nothing— since it actually runs MS Windows better / . Oefitkir nitia, nutty mttatn,* Help far DESQvteu Quit DESQuieu fil: ' INCOME STATEMENT Cre«tiue R ^Quarterdeck-rlamf est-™ IKiuCJJSJ CONFIG AUTOEXEC Adopters t Sales S3. 125.94 S Advanced Logic Research Processor I486 uideo Adapter UGft BIOS Phoenix S6/S6/91 DESOview adds multi-windowing, multitasking productivity to DOS should users wish to run Windows programs. As you may know, DESQview 386 has been around for years, evolving into a highly efficient multitasking, windowing environ- ment that extends the power of DOS, giving you increased productivity while conserving precious memory and disk space. In fact, the vast majority of 386 and 486 PCs need no additional memory or disk space to run DESQview. DESQview 386 gives you pre-emptive multitasking like OS/2, but with Ml of the disk space and M of the memory requirements. It gives you windowing like MS Windows, but with greater speed and efficiency and fewer 'crashes' And DESQview lets you use a mouse or stick to the keyboard. You Create the Standards; We Follow. We've never been confused about our role. We believe software companies exist to make your job easier and your working day more productive. When publishers step out of that mold and begin to tell you what hardware you need and that you should throw out somebody else's perfectly good software— well, they simply are not operating in your best interest. Software publishers don't create standards. You do. And whatever standard you choose, we support it. If you like a program that only runs in MS Windows, like Wordperfect for Windows, DESQview 386 supports your choice. If you prefer a spreadsheet that runs in DOS, Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3, for example, we support that too. In fact, DESQview 386 lets you run your favorite DOS and Windows programs side-by-side. Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too. DESQview 386 comes with QEMM-386, the number one memory management utility, and Quarterdeck Manifest, the award-winning memory analysis and monitoring program. Between them, they assure you every last 'K' of memory is put to use* In many cases, QEMM can mean the difference between running the TSRs you want and not having enough memory. And DESQview is an open doorway to the future, too. Our next step up, DESQview/X, opens your PC to a network full of possibilities, including graphic workstation standards— X Window System software— all while retaining the compatibility of DESQview. If you're as committed to DOS as we are, and feeling left out by the so-called industry leaders, take heart. There's no reason to leave DOS. If more productivity is what you need, we can provide it. Quarterdeck helps you get the most out of the hardware and software you own today. Quarterdeck Office Systems, 150 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310) 392-9851 Fax (310) 314-4219 Quarterdeck International Ltd., B.I.M. House, Crofton Terrace, Dun Laoghaire Co. Dublin, Ireland Tel.(353) (1) 284-1444 Fax: (353) (1) 284-4380 * DESQview makes multitasking and windowing available to users of 286-dass machines with similar memory efficiencies through QEMM-50/60 for IBM™ PS/@ 50 and 60 users and QRAM for other 286 users. ©1992 Quarterdeck Office Systems, Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Circle 151 on Inquiry Card. "Sure, I remember my first modem... "My first modem? It was a cheap thrill. And that impulsiveness really cost me. Now I know belter. The DalaPort 14.4 Data/Fax Modem gives me real value; even puts money in my pocket!" Now I Know Better." THE NEW AT&T DATAPORT 14 A/FAX MODEM Introducing the powerful, robust V.32bis DataPort 14.4/Fax Modem. 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AT&T © 1992 AT&T Paradyne DalaParl is a trademark of AT&T All other products or services mentioned here am the trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered service marks of their respective owners. Lifetime warranty is limited and applies to original purchaser only. STATE OF THE ART/Machine Translation HOW MT WORKS MT systems tackle translation in several ways- each has its own benefits and trade-offs Languages are complicated, and this makes translation a formidable chal- lenge. Each language is unique, with elements that make it colorful and special. But that's precisely what makes languages difficult to translate, whether a human or a machine does the job. For example, the Dani people of New Guinea have only two words to describe color: mill for dark cool and mold for light warm. How would you tell a Dani store owner, "I prefer the strawberry-red shirt over the pink one"? Fortunately, automat- ed translation is feasible, because some applications (e.g., technical documents) are straightforward. As MT (machine translation) systems evolve, they will take on the challenge of general translation. MT systems become more complex as you move from the simplest direct sys- tems to transfer systems to the most com- plex interlingual systems. You can also categorize MT systems another way: those whose knowledge bases are built by hu- mans and those that collect their rules sta- tistically. Direct-Translation Systems Software that translates languages by re- placing source-language words with tar- get-language words is called a direct-trans- lation system. Such a translation system is appropriate for applications where you translate text that has a limited vocabulary and a defined style. Direct MT systems contain correspondence lexicons, or lists of typical patterns of words and phrases in a source language and the corresponding target-language words and phrases. De- pending on the size of the system's cor- respondence lexicon and on how cleverly the replacement patterns are defined, the ILLUSTRATION: GREG RAGLAND©1993 EDUARD HOVY JANUARY 1 993 • BYTE 167 Circle 270 on Inquiry Card. PC-Translator™ Language Translation Software The best computer tool for translation. WHY? © Easy to learn. Easy to use. © Most EEC languages available. Now offering 1 2 language pairs. © Support for most popular wordprocessors with total format preservation. © The easiest term definition in the industry! © Dictionary's open design allows easy integration with existing term databases. © Our design allows you to organize your terminology. Access 1 single-word and 1 phrase dictionaries per translation. © Complete sentence by sentence translation method. © Longest phrases in the industry, up to 2000 characters each. © Since 1 984, the leader in PC based Machine Translation. © Only $985.00 per language direction. Benefit from our experience, contact: Linguistic Products PO Box 8263 The Woodlands, TX 77387 USA Tel 713-298-2565 Fax 71 3-298-1 91 1 HOW MT WORKS SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE PRODUCED BY A PARSER noun phrase proper noun Washington I sentence verb phrase — verb adverb i i announced yesterday ^^^ complement complementizer"" sentence that nojjn phrase verb phrase quantifier noun verb etc. i i / \ each home auxiliary have will Figure 1 : Part of the syntactic structure produced by the parser for the sample sentence. In the tree, all nonleaf nodes are syntactic categories. resulting text is more or less readable in the target language. Let's say you want to translate the fol- lowing sentence into German: Washing- ton announced yesterday that each home will contain an MT system by the end of the decade. Assume that the system builder hasn't defined Washington, home, or MT system in the lexicon. When the MT sys- tem translates this sentence, it places these words unaltered into the target-language sentence. The lexicon produces the Ger- man equivalent for the words and phrases that have been defined, substituting an- kiindigte for announced, gestem for yes- terday, and bis zum Ende des Jahrzehnts for by the end of the decade. Untranslated words are bracketed by the system. The result looks like this: /Washington] ankiindigte gestem dass jeder [home] wird haben ein [MT system] bis zum Ende des Jahrzehnts. Although the result is horri- ble German, the sentence is understand- able. Most German-speaking people would not have a problem rearranging the words and changing the inflection to come up with a better version: Washington kiindigte ge stern an, class bis zum Ende des Jahr- zehnts jeder Haushalt ein MU-System haben wurde. Direct MT systems handle substitution from English to German relatively well, but they have a problem handling other languages. For instance, Japanese requires the addition of several preposition-like Four MT Approaches direct translations syntactic transfer statistical interlingual particles that indicate the role of each part of the sentence (e.g., subject, object, and cause). The Australian aboriginals com- bine all the parts of their sentences, in- cluding separate markers for tense and number, to form one long sentence-word. Another problem with direct MT sys- tems is the need for massive lexicons of specific words and phrases. As the sys- tems grow, the lexicons become more cumbersome. It's redundant, for example, to store separate entries for announced, announces, and announce. This problem plagued early direct MT systems, such as Georgetown University's system in the 1 950s and the first versions of the Systran from Systran Translation Systems (La Jol- la,CA)inthe 1960s. Usually, system builders try to factor out commonalities by creating a root form and rules for variations, but then they must create additional routines to handle the in- flection. Most direct MT systems include some analysis of word form and structure. By doing so, they take the first step to- ward the more sophisticated technology of transfer systems. Syntactic Transfer Systems Transfer systems use software to analyze the input sentence and then apply linguis- tic and lexical rules, called transfer rules, to map grammatical information from one language to another. The simplest trans- fer rules specify only the syntactic structure of the sentence (i.e., how it's constructed of nouns, verbs, and other grammatical objects). To identify the structure of the input sentence, transfer systems use soft- ware called parsers. Although there are hundreds of different parsers and dozens of theories regarding syntax, most parsers would come up with the type of sentence analysis that you see in figure 1 . After creating a parsing tree, the system 168 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 WHY WHEN YOU Now there's an easy and affordable way to pour video directly onto your hard disk. A way to display it in full color at rates up to 30 frames per second. A way to play it in windows up to 320 x 240 pixels. Now there's VideoSpigot™ for Windows™ from SuperMatch. And it comes with everything you need to get started in desktop moviemaking. It comes with Microsoft's Video for Windows'! It comes with MediaBlitz™ It comes with Make Your Point™ ■ rA.yiM OTAPE IDEOSPIGOT. It comes with Multimedia ToolBook® software. All from Asymetrix. That's more than $1,000 worth of software, FREE. So you can manipulate video as easily as text and graphics. And with the click of a mouse, you can put your movies into training material, electronic presentations, storyboards, or anything else you'd like. Best of all, VideoSpigot costs $499. Call 1-800-334-3005 for the reseller nearest you. And get into the movies with VideoSpigot for Windows today. SUPERMATCH. by SuperMac Technology VIDEO FOR THE 21sr CENTURY Circle 1 70 on Inquiry Card. ) 1992 SuperMac Technology, Inc. VideoSpigot is a trademark ot SuperMac Technology, Inc. Windows and Video for Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. MediaBlitz and Make Your Point are trademarks, and Multimedia Toolbook is a registered trademark of Asymetrix Corporation. PAGES. 26 SECTIONS. 2,800 TABLES. 10PANELS.6x7V2l 1 BUSINESS REPLY CARD. ONE SOLUTION. gums: mm The single solution for professional publishing power. Ventura Publisher." It should come as no surprise that The 1992 Spoils Illustrated Sports Almanac was clone in Ventura. 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A Xerox Company 15175 Innovation Drive, San Diego, CA 92128 • (800) 822-8221 c 1992 by Ventura Software Inc. All rights reserved. Ventura Publisher' is a registered trademark of Ventura Software Inc., a Xerox Company. XEROX > is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation. The Sports Illustrated 1992 Sports Almanac was published by Little, Brown & Company, B1991 by The Time Inc. Magazine Company. Production services and typesetting through Ventura Publisher were provided by Editorial Inc The Life Fitness testimonial self-mailer was produced in-house by Life Fitness, Inc., ©1992 by Life Fitness. All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Circle 1 83 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 1 84). Circle 1 58 on Inquiry Card. HOW MT WORKS uses its transfer rules to rewrite the tree so that it obeys the syntax of the target language. In figure 1, this mapping is straightforward (it's often more complex), and it produces the output that you see in figure 2. Once the target-language tree has been built, the system's sentence generator builds the sentence, making sure the words are the appropriate tense and number. It's difficult to delineate where direct MT systems end and where transfer sys- tems begin. Systran, one of the most suc- cessful systems produced, began as a direct system and evolved into a syntactic trans- fer system. Most commercial systems and many prototype systems use transfer MT of varying depths of analysis (e.g., IBM Japan's Shalt [Japanese and English] and Mitsubishi's Meltran [Japanese and En- glish]). Shallow Semantic Transfer Although syntactic transfer works well in simple cases, you usually need deeper anal- ysis for better translation. Shallow se- mantic transfer systems analyze sentences for their meaning. Researchers in computational linguis- tics and AI are adept at building software representations called shallow semantic frames, which capture the main aspects of the sentence's meaning without going into too much detail. By using representation terms that are tied closely to the words of the source and target languages, system builders construct lexicons of shallow se- mantic frames. In the example, after semantic analysis of the English sentence is complete, the sys- tem applies its transfer rules to rewrite the resulting frame into one suitable for Ger- man. The rules specify appropriate substi- tutions, operating on frame items instead of grammatical classes. Even though the re- sulting German-oriented frame looks sim- ilar to the English one, in general, shallow semantic frames differ between languages. System developers also build programs called analyzers, which identify the ap- propriate representation terms for each word or phrase and assemble the terms into a coherent structure. The analyzer of- ten contains a parser, and sometimes it uses the parser as a front end. Next the system must generate the nat- ural language from the computer's internal data. Semantics require more generator sophistication: The generator has to find appropriate target-language words for the semantic frames it encounters. In simple systems, each frame has just one lexical item, but in more complex sys- tems, a semantic primitive may be linked to several alternative lexical items. For ex- ample, announce-act may be expressed .^1C jr PS/2 Processor ;rades... ■ 486 upgrades for Models 70 & 80 ■ 386 upgrades for Models 50, 50z & 60 33 MHz Speed! Zero Slot Solution! Call 800.446-4525 today for details! igtnaData *-^ THE UPGRADE SPECIALISTS P.O. BOX 1790, NEW LONDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE 03257 FAX 603-526 lossaDoad Aaowa iava: with the word state, proclaim, or say. To make a decision in such cases, the gener- ator requires more information on the for- mality of the text, the relationship between the author and audience, and the style. Many recent systems perform seman- tic transfer and are implemented on sin- gle or multiple workstations, although the goal in many cases is to eventually shift them to personal computers. These sys- tems include Logos (Logos, Mt. Arling- ton, NJ), Metal (Siemens Nixdorf, Mu- nich, Germany), and Astransac (Toshiba, Kawasaki, Japan). Astransac operates on Toshiba's personal workstations, and Met- al operates on multiuser workstations, us- ing a Lisp environment server in the back- ground. In recent years, groups at the Universi- ty of Kyoto (Japan) and the University of Manchester (U.K.) have started developing example-based MT systems. This software blends the two approaches, using the direct approach for stereotypical phrases (e.g., greetings) and a variant of the transfer ap- proach in other cases. Semantic Representation Constructing valid representations of mean- ing is difficult — terms can't be combined SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE PRODUCED BY TRANSFER RULES noun phrase proper noun Washington sentence verb i kundigte verb phrase- \ x adverb particle gestern an complementizer complement s sentence . dass noun phrase verb phrase quantifier noun etc. i i jeder Haushalt verb haben wiirde Figure 2: Part of the syntactic structure produced by the transfer rules from the tree in figure 1. Notice the movement of the embedded verb to the end of the sentence. JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 171 HOW MT WORKS DEPTH OF ANALYSIS OF MT APPROACHES ^ > Interlingual (deep semantics) Shallow semantic transfer % Syntactic transfer ~^> Direct Source text Figure 3: The approach taken in an MT system is correlated with the amount of analysis performed on the input sentences before they are translated. Direct systems perform little analysis, while interlingual systems construct complex interned representations of the meaning of the input. willy-nilly. Each term must be chosen with care, because it limits what other terms can be used. A wrong choice can mean that an aspect of the sentence can't be rep- resented. In this case, the sentence would have to be analyzed again. Consider the clause "each home will have an MT system." In what sense will each home have an MT system — the way one has an arm, a child, an idea, or a car? Languages such as Hungarian, which make more delicate distinctions than English and have different words for these senses of have, need more precise information. In a simplified shallow semantic nota- tion, the sentence of the earlier sample would be as follows: announce-act actor: Washington act-time: yesterday announcement: possess-state actor: home quant-determination: every object: MT system quant-determination: single state-time: decade meas-determination: end Notice how the verb have in the sam- ple sentence is represented as possess- state. The semantic lexicon entry for have contains a pointer to several possible mean- ings, including possess-state, think-act (i.e., the act of having an idea), and parent- state (i.e., the act of having a child). Each of these meanings is a frame with empty slots labeled actor, object, and time. Each slot contains information that spec- ifies the kinds of frames that can fill the slot. For example, the object of a possess- state must be a nonhuman physical object. Thus, neither an idea, which is defined as a nonphysical object, nor a child, which is a human, can be objects of possess-state. Conversely, the verb have must be repre- sented as possess-state when it is applied to a physical object. Although the matter is not as simple as I have described it here (see the text box "The Five Layers of Am- biguity" on page 174), most analysis pro- grams work along these lines. As analysis of the source language goes deeper, it becomes more semantic, but gen- eration back to the surface becomes more difficult. Fortunately, at least one function becomes easier for the system to perforin: The amount of transfer required by the transfer rules decreases — the end point of analysis approximates the starting point of generation. This diminishing distance is illustrated in figure 3, which shows an arrangement of MT approaches along a gradient of increasing depth of analysis. More and more, the internal representa- tions approach the ultimate goal: deep se- mantics, or language neutrality. Interlingual Systems Interlingual systems are software programs that translate text using a central data-rep- resentation notation called an interlingua. These systems have been experimental prototypes, usually written in Lisp and run on workstations. The East Asian consor- tium CICC (Center of the International Cooperation for Computerization) has been building an interlingual system since 1987, working with groups in Japan, China, Thai- land, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In the U.S., recently developed inter- lingual systems include KBMT at Car- negie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA), Ultra at New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM), and Pangloss, which is being jointly developed by the aforementioned universities and the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Insti- tute (Marina Del Rey, CA). CICC and Pangloss systems run on multiple chained workstations. Systems like these should be available on personal computers by the end of this decade. Constructing a set of transfer rules is tedious, but constructing an interlingua powerful enough to represent all the in- formation every language may require, with the appropriate analysis and genera- tion rules, is much more difficult. Con- sider the sample sentence again. Humans immediately realize that the word Wash- ington is shorthand for "an announcer for the U.S. government" (this type of short- hand is called metonymy). A deep seman- tic representation must explicitly reflect this fact, because some languages may use different verbs for announce, depending on whether the announcer is a person or an official notice or bulletin. Interlinguas must handle many phenom- ena similar to metonymy. In the example, the past tense reflected in the word an- nounced means that the announcement took place before the author wrote the text. In general, in an interlingua, what is ex- pressed by verb tense in English becomes a complex theory of temporal relationships involving the event, the text production, and the perspective the author takes on the event. Similarly, the meanings of words such as this, that, all, evety, the, and a be- come a theory of how definite, unique, and near the object is to the author. The meanings of these microtheories must be worked out and represented, and the values for the meanings must be asso- ciated with the words of the languages that express them. Although no analyzer has yet incorporated many microtheories of phenomena, most semantic analyzers con- tain rudimentary versions of them for com- mon phenomena (e.g., time and focus). The same increased complexity carries over to the generator. Given the semantic nature of an interlingual representation, a sufficiently powerful generator can usu- ally produce several paraphrases of the in- put sentence. Interlingual vs. Transfer A debate is raging over which is the better approach — interlingual systems or trans- fer systems. Interlingual systems are criti- cized because they require more detailed analysis than is necessary for any language 172 BYTE- JANUARY 1 993 SONY ENHANCED DATA GRADE D8. DESIGNED TO SAVE YOUR BUSINESS. NOT YOUR BIRTHDAYS. BThe more information your business generates, the more you stand to lose. Because not all the 8mm tapes used by business are designed for business. So before risking valuable data to a tape made for saving video memories, rely on new Sony Enhanced Data Grade D8. This compact D8 cartridge starts out where our video grade leaves off, holding up to 5 gigabytes, for today's high-capacity storage and archiving. With data security features you'd only expect from the inventor of the 8mm video format. For instance, new D8 has a more durable media for greater data integrity, taking over 1,500 full back-ups, to keep your business moving forward. The shell is made to resist warping, while an improved lid reduces friction through over 10,000 openings and closings. The result is a shelf life that will exceed 30 years under recommended conditions. So your data will be around when you need it. Since lost data can cost your business its lifeblood, trust yours to the safest place of all. Sony Enhanced Data Grade D8. A memory worth celebrating. SONY Circle 1 63 on Inquiry Card. SONY RECORDING MEDIA SI H2 Sony Corp. at Aneito. Sony sod H 0" Sony ftwytoj Medio we itjiOittd nodtirarb. HOW MT WORKS The Five Layers of Ambiguity BERNARD E. SCOTT Computers stand up well to a grand master when it comes to the log- ic of chess, but they can't match the skills of a 7-year-old when it comes to language. The reason for the glacial pace of progress in MT (machine translation) over the past four decades can be found in one factor: the intractable ambigui- ties of natural language. An MT sys- tem must peel away at least five lay- ers of ambiguity before it is able to map sentences from one language to anoth- er with any degree of accuracy (see figure A). If you understand how MT copes with these difficulties, you will have a clear idea of just how these sys- tems work and why they do not work better. Step Inside the Beasty Step inside an MT system and see how it handles the following simple sen- tence: The heavy-duty truck turned into a driveway. As you follow this sen- tence through the system, notice how nearly every other word poses a chal- lenge — and an opportunity for error. When the system looks in the dic- tionary for the word truck, it immedi- ately encounters ambiguity: The word is encoded in the dictionary as both a noun and a verb. The system's dictio- nary can tell you only that truck can take the form of two parts of speech. It can't tell you which form it takes in this sentence. To make that determination, you must move further into the system and view the word in the context of the sentence. At this point, the system still has no idea what the sentence means and sees it only as a syntactic string containing elements that have more than one in- terpretation. To operate at the sentence level of the syntactic stage, you must have some kind of grammar — typically stored as a set of rules. One of these rules will de- termine that, in the given sentence, without violating grammatical rules, truck cannot be anything but a noun. So far, so good — although it is not al- ways going to be that easy. Now that you know that heavy-duty truck is a noun phrase, a second layer of ambiguity comes to light. The system still sees your noun phrase purely syn- tactically, as the string Adj Nl N2. It has no idea, for example, whether the adjective heavy modifies duty or truck. The system has to resolve this ambi- guity if it's to get the agreement right. Therefore, you have to go beyond syn- tax into lexical semantics. The Next Stage At this deeper stage, more intelligent rules come into play and use the se- mantic properties that were retrieved for the words earlier in your sentence during the dictionary lookup stage. These semantic-property codes are de- signed to resolve ambiguities such as that posed by heavy-duty truck. Now you're going to run into some rough going. The majority of low-end MT sys- tems don't get into semantics — or they do so only in trivial ways. These sys- tems generally are weak, but even high- end systems will have trouble trying to figure out which noun heavy modifies. The issues are subtle. At this point, most developers will resort to brute force by storing the phrase as a unit in the dictionary. Slightly more tractable examples of this kind of ambiguity would be old people and children and smart girls and boys. If a smart rule uses a test for semantic symmetry (or lack thereof) among the noun pairs, it could figure out that the adjective old modifies only people and that smart modifies both boys and girls. Clearly, getting a ma- chine to cope with this challenge isn't easy. Processing at the lexical semantic stage introduces its own kind of con- fusion — the third layer — having to do with multiple meanings of words. For example, the verb turn into has at least two lexical meanings: One is the sense of motion, and the other is the sense of becoming. To decide which meaning applies in your sentence, you have to move to sentence-level semantics, where the verb turn into can be examined in its semantic context. A semantic rule associated with the words turn into would know that the meaning of this verb is going to be a function of the verb's direct object. So, in this sentence, the rule has to test only the semantic-property code for drive- way to determine the verb's meaning: If driveway were given a semantic-prop- erty code signifying a path, the rule would know to select the verb's mo- tional sense. Such a rule would work with Cinderella, too, if her carriage turned into a driveway rather than a pumpkin. Going for the Gold A fourth layer of difficulty has to do with ambiguities introduced at the sen- tence level of the semantic stage. Un- fortunately (or fortunately), the sam- ple sentence doesn't illustrate this kind of complexity. But to get the idea, con- sider the meaning of the preposition for in the following sentences: Check the newspapers for errors. Check the newspapers for dates. In the first sentence, the preposition for signifies for the presence of, and in the second sentence, it means for in- formation about. As used in this ex- ample, in a language like Vietnamese, the preposition/or would be expressed differently in each case. Thus, the system has to determine which case applies if it's to translate the meaning correctly. You can see that the meanings of the word for are a func- tion of the sentence as a whole; you won't find them in any dictionary. Also, notice how the sentence as a whole af- fects the meaning of the verb check. In the first sentence, check means to ex- amine. In the second, check means to consult. A fifth layer of ambiguity concerns more technical issues, such as ellipses and anaphora (e.g., antecedents of pro- nouns). This level of translation so- phistication calls for processing at a 174 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 HOW MT WORKS A STRATIFIED VIEW OF LANGUAGE AND AMBIGUITY "The nurses keep clean sheets and blankets in them." Lexical syntactic level: Ambiguity Sentential syntactic level: Ambiguity Lexical semantic level: Ambiguity Sentential semantic level: Ambiguity nurses Noun or Verb The + nurses (Determiner) clean sheets and blankets (Adjective) (Noun) (Conjunction) (Noun) I Noun (plural) or Verb (plural) Noun (plural) (clean sheets) clean sheets and or and blankets clean blankets keep (Verb) to store or to retain clean cloth and cloth (sheets) (blankets) clean sheets and clean blankets keep + in = (Preposition) to store them (Pronoun) animate or inanimate Extra- sentential level: The room has two cabinets. The nurses keep. Figure A: MT systems are composed of one or more levels of parsing sophistication (going from syntactic to semantic). A simulated, advanced, multilevel system such as this one might determine the meaning of each word or phrase in the sentence (i.e., parse the sentence) by posing and/or resolving questions, eliminating ambiguity as the words or phrases move through the various levels in the system. discourse level — something few sys- tems can do. But don't worry. MT systems are steadily becoming more robust. The key is semantics. As the semantics of these systems improve, so will the pow- er of the systems to dispel ambiguity and, in the final analysis, to translate. Bernard E. Scott is the head of his own consulting agency, Parse Internation- al (Ledgewood, NJ). Previously, he founded Logos (Dedham, MA) and was the principal architect of the Logos MT system. You can reach him on BIX c/o "editors. " pair. Why bother resolving the "Washing- ton" metonymy when English, German, and French all say it the same way? De- pending on the flexibility of the interlingua itself, however, this complaint is not al- ways valid. In most systems, the analyzer is free to fill in less detail, and as long as the generator doesn't fail, the translation proceeds satisfactorily. A major advantage that interlingual sys- tems have over transfer systems lies in the number of rules used. A three-language transfer system, for example, requires trans- fer rules between languages A and B, A and C, and B and C in both directions — six sets of rules altogether. Adding anoth- er language involves creating rules to and from the new language to each of the first three languages, bringing the total to 12 sets of rules. In general, for n languages, you need n x (n- 1 ) sets of atles. That num- ber can grow prohibitively large, because modern commercial MT systems have lex- icons of over 150,000 words and gram- mars of several hundred rules. Interlingual systems deal with this chal- lenge by creating one representation mid- way between all the languages. Analyz- ers and generators have to work harder to reach this interlingual representation, but less human effort is required to construct the transfer rules. Adding a new language to an interlin- gual system involves just two sets of rules: the analyzer's rules for going from sen- tences in the new language to interlingual representations and the generator's rules for going from interlingual representations to sentences in the new language. Because of the language neutrality of the interlin- gua, the analyzer does not require infor- mation about what the target language will be, nor does the generator have to have information about what the source lan- guage was. Statistical Systems Whether the MT system is interlingual or transfer, it requires large lexicons and rule sets to ensure that it will be robust when handling new text. In direct MT, you can encode information in dictionaries, phrases, and words; in transfer systems, you can place the data in grammars, lexicons, and transfer rules; in interlingual systems, you can locate the information in representation ontologies and lexicons. The work required to create these re- sources by hand is daunting. As a result, in the past few years, there has been a resur- gence of attempts to acquire the requisite information automatically. What makes statistical systems different isn't so much how they perform translation but how their correspondence lexicons are JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 175 Breaking The Foreign Language Barriers! Globalink Translation Software... * 9 incredibly accurate foreign language translations at record speeds. • Works with WordPerfect! • Up to 100 times faster than human translators, with an accuracy rate often exceeding 90%, Globalink Trans- lation Software (GTS) makes quick work of foreign lan- guage translations. Sentence by sentence — not word by word — in correct grammatical structure, GTS trans- lates entire documents to and from English and Rus- sian, German, French, Spanish. From only $495, GTS is on the job in thousands of companies worldwide. Call Globalink now. And break through your own foreign language barriers! See your software dealer or call Globalink today! 1-800-255-5660 lobalink I'nreign Language Translation Software 9302 Lee Highway, 12th Floor, Fairfax, Va. 22031 U.S.A. • Phone: (703) 273-5600 • Fax: (703) 273-3866 HOW MT WORKS constructed — automatically, not by hu- mans. For a computer to create a corre- spondence lexicon, there must be two du- plicate sets of a large amount of text — one set in each language. One such body of par- allel text is the parliamentary record of the Canadian government. It contains several years' worth of representatives' debates in both English and French. Approximately 3 million sentences of this text are on-line. Given such a mass of information, you can build programs to line up, as accu- rately as possible, each word in each sen- tence with its foreign counterpart. Recent alignment algorithms achieve over 90 per- cent accuracy. The result of such an align- ment can be thought of as a bilingual cor- respondence lexicon of words and phrases. Once the alignment algorithm has con- structed the correspondence lexicon for the system, translation is effected by di- rect substitution, followed by a process of reordering the words to achieve good gram- mar. The reordering is performed using statistically derived rules regarding the probable order of words in given contexts. Breeding Hybrids for Strength The various approaches to MT theory have crystallized into a smooth continuum from direct systems to interlingual systems. The strengths and shortcomings of each ap- proach are well understood. It's unlikely that new developments will uncover a mag- ic formula that will make MT easy. Recent developments in the Candide system from IBM (Hawthorne, NY) show that it's possible to create hybrid statisti- cally based transfer systems. In such hybrid systems, the correspondence lexicon con- tains not only words and phrases but syn- tactic terms that represent time, number, and part of speech. Statistically based systems require sev- eral mainframes to build and store their correspondence lexicons. They also need millions of sentences of parallel text con- taining the words to be translated. Given their capabilities and resources, however, hybrid systems are one way to minimize the human effort required in lexicon, gram- mar, and rule construction. In the future, all major MT systems will be hybrids of one kind or another. Statis- tical lexicons and rule acquisition will pro- vide the raw material that will be incor- porated into MT systems, using increasingly powerful interlingual theories of meaning, pragmatics, and style. ■ Eduard Hovy is a project leader at the In- formation Sciences Institute of the Uni- versity of Southern California. You can reach him on BIX c/o "editors " or on the Internet at hovv@isi.edu. 176 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 105 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 106). BVTE viYES! Enter my one-year (12 issues) subscription to BYTE for only $24.95*. I'll save 40% off the single copy price. Plus, I'll also receive BYTE's Annual Special Issue FREE with my paid subscription. If at any time I'm not satisfied with BYTE, I may cancel for a full refund on all unmailed copies. Q Payment enclosed □ Bi me NAME . COMPANY. ADDRESS. CITY _STATE . _ZIP IW31136 'Plus applicable state and local tax, il any. Please aliow 6-8 weeks tor delivery. Basic subscription rate is $29 95. (Mexico. $29.95 payable in U.S. funds ) Above rates are for US delivery oniy. Please see (able of contents tor international subscription rates BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 42 HIGHTSTOWN, NJ POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE: EVTE Subscription Department P.O. Box 558 Hightstown, N.J. 08520-9409 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES I...I..I..I.I...I.IIIm.I.I,..ImIII...I.I.,..II. If youte looking for a computer that will grow withyour needs, there are basically onlytwoways you can go. The hard way Add networking curd, reconfigure your system, lb share files and semi e-mail lo other PCs. you may hare to add a card. This means going through the long, tedious process of reconfiguring your system. On a Mac. you just plug in a cubic Upgrade your memory, reconfigure your system. Add memory to a Mac. audit reconfigures itself accordingly. 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A Mac recog- nizes u new monitor and adjusts to il automatically. © 1MI il I I EEES— Setup wei unable to modliV the PATH In your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Plense add the Mlnoan Ward directory lo your PATH. r^n Whoops! When you add something lo an ordinary PC. you may have lo "reconfigure" your system - a process of hardware and software adjustments, which can be complex. tedious, and lake up hours of your lime. 500 Tablets Expand your PC, take Iwo aspirin, luevilablyyou'll waul lo expand your computer's capabilities by adding extra devices. The more instructions you slog through anil switches you fiddle with, the more lime il will lake. And the more pain reliever you'll need. Manual labor. Software like Windows purports lo make things easier. But the reality is. you'll still spend hours reading manuals just to make il all work - lime you could spend doing more useful things will) your computer. On a typical PC, even adding a simple hard disk can be extraordinarily complicated. You'll probably have to "reconfigure" your system -the time- consuming process of telling your computer what pieces you've added. You may have to edit complex CONFIG.SYS and SYSTEM.INI files, install special device drivers and fiddle with DIP switches. And, of course, building even a basic network is extremely difficult -what with installing The easy way _ \» /_>; _.:fc_VL___.1r L Vr li:-ii:tVi;ii!li-^s _.; u = ' _.; ir_; i/' in-; --?,-_; la" la/; la . ]»-, la ~ — Ui ~ !fl.rJ| t_W •: _y " j* " 6. • {• - & : I* ■;. fa : ia : la •; la • la, : la, ' la— vC • « ~ 1 w t^ ,' u«- v hi~ .-uic _-"_-" _.,'_.; Ail.; _-,,._. iu "» ■ i i ■■■.. . - 1 - tf___.5i._LJL* Macintosh is designed la mate it easy to grow. Networking and sound support are dread}' buill in. File-sharing mid multi- media capabilities are standard So is sup- port far up to seven peripherals. Winch means you can add everything you see on the other page to this Macintosh llvx without using up a single expansion slot Leaving room for things like tin accelerator card, an Ethernet or Token Ring card or other cards thai allow you to customize a Mac for high- performance or specialized tasks. t_. v_ cards and networking software. An Apple Macintosh, on the other hand, knows when you've added a hard drive. Installing a CD-ROM drive or scanner is a matter of plugging in a cable and clicking a couple of buttons. Even installing a network requires nothing more than plugging one Mac into another. It's just one more example of how a Macintosh works in a simple, logical way. So you can, too. If you knowhowto use a plug, you knowhowto expand a Macintosh. '•■W. l\W\\\\Z 1 This Macintosh Ilvx has built-in monitor support for up to a 14" color monitor. Buy a cant, and you can add a second monitor— significantly enlarging your desktop work area so you can more documents, files mid folders across both screens. Plug in mi AppbCD'300 CD-ROM drive, and you'll have access to huge libraries of reference sources, fonts, clip art and video images on CD. (II even supports Kodak's exciting new Photo CD technology.) ., t i Mac gives you profes- sioual-ijualily documents even if you're on a student budget, fust plug in on Apple SlyleWriter printer. You can easily record sound into every new Macintosh computer. Most even come with a microphone. Plug in a SyQuest drive, mid you'll have virtually unlimited bard drive storage via remov- able 44MB or 88MB cartridges. Plug hum Apple Personal LaserWriter NTR, and everyone in your workgroup will have access to the fastest printer in its class. (II works will) PCs. loo.) Plug in an Apple LaserWriter Ilg. and everyone on your network will instantly be able to lake advantage of Ibe Apple PbotoCrade" technology that rivals 800 dpi printers costing thousands wore -for speclacular-lookiug documents. Plug in an Apple UneScanuei: unit you can add beau- tiful black-and-white photographs to your documents will) one touch of a ballon. No fussing or fiddling required. Adding a peripheral to ' a Mac is as easy as using one. Plug II in. click a couple of bullous and gel back, to work. For the second consecutive year, J. D. Power and Associates ranked Apple highest among Personal Computer Companies in Overall Customer Satisfaction!*And no wonder: whether you're writing a letter or adding a CD-ROM drive, only Macintosh '^ m * makes things genuinely easy. Giving you the power you really want from a personal computer. The power to be your best. Apple Ffrfawmqf)wrmwrthtt//i>< l ri:aL\/>i>krw 'Mvlce prices are dasedonine6^rrmv)^!s.*'J.Utbim ami /^sc^kf i'M ami P)92Coi)UiiuerBHdlimSatM»$o»SuiM& imstutfoamdudeti « I ;((iJ))te,«l>., i :);ni,^. .-a. ■/•"L-Alfl-iyim.kr.iw.Mlrrl^n.nh'.l \/fU ihr Afflr !;■■,, iasn'Writa: \hi< M^ml^h.slvh-Wnh-r,,,!,! Ih'l-m, r ft. /.v v-w /W „:v ,r^hr,;i InU nuirh ■■/ \[,pli' Computet !m mi^lOtlllS^nmrimd'BotoGnukUTt InuhmtrbtijAWkU.mpuhrJnchHhikmdPhitnaitw Wimlimis ,< tnulvimtrk ft/ Miami/) uirjm.iliim. SvQucsl iuir^iskmliriulmurhifSyllm^iirh^frv ih t , tll i ii,i> muted nw> \hiah pcr^uti oaiihuh-r-- HW6UJA STATE OF THE MT/Machine Translation BABELWARE FOR THE DESKTOP Personal computer and workstation translation software offers you the most affordable access to MT L . CHRIS MILLER Now that personal computers and workstations are powerful enough to run MT (machine translation) software, many MT products are becoming available for the desktop. Some applications have migrated from the main- frame; others are new and are designed for desktop use. MT software for personal computers translates language sentence by sentence, using AI or linguistic rules to deal with syntax and grammar. Sets of rules or al- gorithms enable verb conjugation, syntax adjustment, gender and number agreement, and word reordering. MT software will process your docu- ment in either a batch mode or an interac- tive mode. The interactive mode might ask you to choose among multiple translations of a word or allow you to choose from a list of synonyms, or it may translate one sentence at a time and pause to let you postedit the output on-line (see screen 1). Retail prices for these packages range from $79 to $ 1 200. The languages that are available include Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Translation software for Por- tuguese, Chinese, and Norwegian is being developed. The software is generally sold in language pairs (e.g., Spanish to English or English to Spanish). The Language As- sistant Series 5.0 from MicroTac Software (San Diego, CA) and GTS-Basic 1.0 and GTS-Professional 3.0 from Globalink (Fair- fax, VA) are sold in bidirectional units (e.g., Spanish to English and English to Spanish). Toltran (Barrington, IL) uses a patented modular-language-translation concept for its Professional Translation System 2.0. continued ILLUSTRATION: GRES RAGLAND (3 1 993 JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 177 BABELWARE FOR THE DESKTOP == — = Original Cuando tenia 30 alios* tenia tres meses en California y todavia no habia visto la playa. =^=== Translation When I was 30 years oldj 1 had been in California for three months and still had not seen the beach. Sentence 1/ 11 T - Translate Sentence M - Modify Translation P - Previous Sentence E - Edit Original Document C - Control Commands - Output Translatio Spanish Assistant Copyright (c) 1992 Micro Disk:3.B0 Meg Memory: 149K Screen 1 : This sample of an on-line translation using MicroTac Software 's Spanish Assistant shows the original Spanish sentence in the upper left box and the English translation in the upper right box. =- = Original =i tener Verb 311 have; hold; own Uerb 31) get: possess Fhr. bO que : have to Phr. 50 gusto en: be glad to Fhr. 36 " en .haue "been" in <5> for <2 Adj> <3> Fhr. id " : be old Add EElQHBi Search Browse Next Preu MICROTAC. SE Copyright (c) 1992 MicroTac Software, Inc. Disk:3.80 Meg Memoru : 152K Screen 2: The dictionary coding for the verb tener (which is Spanish for to have) includes the part of speech (verb); the morphological rule code (3B), which determines conjugated forms of the verb; and the translations of the verb. Rules for advanced pattern matching (e.g., noun + time) are encoded to enable the computer to correctly translate the verb in various phrases. In this approach, a language is sold as ei- ther a source-language module or a target- language module. Any source-language module can be translated into any target- language module. MT software for personal computers typically runs under MS-DOS and requires 640 KB of RAM and from 1 .5 to 1 5 MB of space on your hard disk. You must have a VGA card and a VGA monitor to trans- late languages with graphical characters (e.g., Russian and Japanese). For exam- ple, E J Bilingual (Torrance, CA) requires one expansion slot for the KanjiBoard in- cluded with EZ JapaneseWriter 1.09. Mac owners have limited options. The Translator 2.0 by Catena (Tokyo, Japan) runs on a Mac using a Japanese operating system called KanjiTalk. Unfortunately, the only way to run many MT software packages on a Mac is by using a DOS en- vironment emulator, such as Insignia So- lutions' (Mountain View, CA) SoftPC. Under these conditions, the software will run much slower than in a true DOS envi- ronment. The translation speed varies from 10,000 to 30,000 words per hour on a 16-MHz 386 computer. The smaller programs can easily be placed in RAM to increase the speed. The translation process may be- come faster if the software is temporarily storing previously found words in a buffer or in RAM. MT Possibilities for Your Desktop All MT products for personal computers allow you to send ASCII text files to be read and translated. Some systems link di- rectly to your word processing programs via a menu to simplify the conversion of text to and from ASCII files. A few sys- tems can process WordPerfect and other leading word processor files. And several companies offer products that retain the formatting codes of the original document. This is an important timesaving feature, because attributes such as boldfaced type, underlining, and chart and table formats are restored in the output. The quality of your output is dependent on the dictionaries (sometimes called lex- icons) that are included in the software. A core, or general, single-word dictionary (i.e., one with 20,000 to 80,000 canonical terms) is standard. Most programs also in- clude a multiple-word dictionary that stores phrases and idiomatic expressions. A Different Kind of Dictionary MT dictionaries provide grammatical in- formation regarding the use of words and phrases. The computer uses the informa- tion to enact the rules or algorithms nec- essary to convert the text in the source lan- guage into intelligible output in the target language (see screen 2). Subject-specific dictionaries are available for technical ar- eas, such as finance or law. If you regularly translate documents from more than one technical area, you'll find it useful to have a feature in your sys- tem that allows you to stack dictionaries. This enables you to define the search order according to the text you are translating. PC-Translator by Linguistic Products (The Woodlands, TX) allows you to stack up to 10 single- word dictionaries and 10 phrase dictionaries. Creating your own dictionary or cus- tomizing the one included in your software Key Features of Desktop MT • available for PC, Mac, and Unix platforms • applications have migrated from mainframes • works in batch mode or interactive mode • provides good dictionaries Future Enhancements • more variety of products • more sophisticated technology • additional language pairs 178 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 t The new PacificPage 9 PE/XL. Switching to PostScript has never been easier. AUTOMATIC POSTSCRIPT AND PCL LANGUAGE SENSING AND SWITCHING. We want to make your life easier. To do it, we've added autosensing and switching to our latest release of PacificPage PE/XL for the LaserJet® IIP, IIP Plus, III, HID, and HIP. What it does is eliminate the inconvenience associated with manual switching between PostScript and PCL languages. It's especially useful to users of networked LaserJet printers or individuals who send both PostScript and PCL files to their printer. No special software, drivers, PC boards or special cables are required. PacificPage PE/XL is easy to use, but it's also fast. The accelerator board utilizes an Intel i960 processor for output up to 8 times faster than any other cartridge. And our new automatic inter- face switching feature allows users to simultaneously use all interface ports. PacificPage PE/XL includes 35 fully scalable typestyles and is compatible with all Windows and DOS software programs that support PostScript. All you need to do is slip the cartridge and accelerator board into the printer, select the standard PostScript driver, and you're ready to print! Pacific Data Products offers a full lifetime warranty, free technical support, convenient upgrade programs, and of course, our 60 day money-back guarantee of satisfaction. Getting all the benefits of PostScript on your LaserJet has never been easier. For more information, call us at (619) 625-3583 or fax (619) 552-0889. Typestyles: Courier Swiss 721 (Helv) Swiss 721 Narrow (Helv Narrow) Dutch 801 (Tms Rmn) Zapf Calligraphic 801 (Palatino) ITC Avant Garde 8 ITC Bookman" Century Schoolbook lie Zapf cfiancerf ITC Zapf Dingbats'O*^© Symbol afab Each typestyle comes in normal, bold, italic and bold italic treatments except lor Chancery. Zapf Dingbats, and Symbol. PACIFIC DATA PRODUCTS PadfJcTage is a reg&Wted trademark of Pacific Data Prixlucis, Inc. PostScript is a registered trade- mark nl Adobe Systems, Inc. Userjct Is a registered trademark of Hewlett-ftJdaid Co. I960 is a lr.idum.irk of Intel Co rpor.it ion. Phoenixl'iijjc is j registered trademark of Phoenix Technologies ltd. 6 1987, 1988 Phoenix 'ftchnologtes Ltd. All other trade manes referenced are the trademarks oi registered trademarks of the respective manufacturer. Pacific Data Products, Inc., 9125 Rehco lioad.San Diego, CA 92121. USA. European Offices: EnglatldTel 080051 55U, Tax (44i 442 Z36540; France Tel OS 'X) as IP. fax (33) 1 39 63 20 41; Germany . Tel 0130-81 36B5;toelandTell353)61 475609.1 ax i353m>1 475608; Switzerland Tel (411 22 341 26 SO, Fax (4 1 1 22 34 1 06 R2; Belgium Tel 078 1 1 1 2<>2; Netherlands .^.^ Tel Of. 02220(.fi. *:> 1992 Pacific Data Products, Inc. r >,,:,!■ BABELWARE FOR THE DESKTOP Is MT Right for You? MURIEL VASCONCELLOS You need to keep several points in mind when deciding if MT is right for you. First, you must de- termine if you have an applica- tion for which MT is appropriate. It's important to pick your application and then decide on your system rather than vice versa. Costs soar when the input isn't in machine-readable form, and an OCR (optical character recognition) device, while helpful, isn't a panacea. If your documents aren't in electronic form, you may want to think twice about us- ing MT. In addition, there should be a large volume of material (e.g., 100,000 words per month) to be translated, with the expectation that more will be com- ing from the same source. In the be- ginning, there should be only one do- main (i.e., subject matter); you can branch out later as you become more familiar with all the ins and outs. Your decision to use MT will hinge, in large part, on the format, volume, and linguistic characteristics of the source-language text. The text should contain no ambiguities. Hardware and Human Factors You need a hardware platform that an MT system will run on. In a multiuser setting, you must be sure that there is good word processing support and that all the users have strong word process- ing skills. Multitasking workstations designed for translators are helpful. Be sure to recruit people who have a positive attitude about using MT. This is especially important during the first few months while you are getting your system up and running. This stage in- volves customizing the dictionaries and gaining proficiency in postediting. Your choice of a system will depend on the characteristics of your applica- tion, so it's important to identify crite- ria that are specific to your needs. And don't be tempted to buy software just because it's inexpensive. As with a house pet, the price you pay up front is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the care and feeding for the rest of your mutual lives. For example, a less expensive system might cost more in terms of support personnel and cus- tomer support (some MT companies charge you for it). Also, if your time frame for translations is tight and if your budget for human intervention is limited, it's crucial that you test the system's performance on randomly se- lected texts. Despite decades of scientific study, the evaluation of translations is an un- certain exercise. The definition of an error will vary, depending on the pur- pose of the translation and the values of the end users. Errors in raw output are important mainly to the analyst, who knows the inner workings of MT sys- tems and can classify the error types according to their causes. Such an anal- ysis can tell something about the sys- tem's potential and the effort that will be required to fix and to maintain it. You should make sure that you com- pare outputs from different systems produced under the same conditions. The value of a system depends on its potential to grow and to improve its performance, as well as how easy it is to use and to maintain. It's important to know the language combinations that have been developed for the system, the size of the dictionaries or knowl- edge bases, the ease with which you can add to the dictionaries, and the pos- sibilities of extending the system to in- clude the domain that you are inter- ested in. Muriel Vasconcellos is president of the Association for Machine Translation in the Americas and is a Washington, D.C -based consultant in translation and machine translation. You can reach her on BIX c/o "editors" or on Compu- Serve at 71024,123. is essential with any MT product for per- sonal computers, because it lets you add your own terminology to the program. PC- Translator simplifies the creation of your own dictionaries by importing lists of terms in ASCII format directly into the software. In addition, MT software generates lists of words not found in a given text to help you customize your software. You decide which words and phrases to add to the dic- tionaries. The ability to add, delete, or modify dictionary entries dramatically im- proves the quality of a translation and re- duces the time spent postediting an out- put. You'll find that it can take from two to four weeks to customize a system. All these systems ask you to insert the part of speech of the word you are adding and to provide its translation. With exten- 180 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 sive dictionary coding, the system can deal with ambiguities that arise from the use of words that can take the form of multiple parts of speech. For example, the program will recognize the different translations of a homograph (i.e., a word that is spelled like another but has a different meaning or pronunciation) used as a verb and as a noun in the same sentence (e.g., "The can can explode"). Because Globalink's GTS- Professional can classify can as both a verb and a noun, it's better able to translate the sentence than a product that requires less dictionary coding. Workstation-Based MT Products MT workstation products are designed to handle heavy volume — when you have to translate 2000 or more pages of text per year. Translation speeds range from 20,000 to 1 million words per hour. A workstation MT system is a large in- vestment. Software prices start at $10,000. A system can cost several hundred thou- sand dollars, and pricing structures are as diverse as the possible configurations. Socatra (Quebec, Canada) spent over 12 years preparing its XLT computer-as- sisted translation system for the commer- cial market. Access to XLT is uniquely controlled by the company. Socatra rents software for a specific number of words. After you pay an initial subscription, So- catra provides you with the software and an access card, which resembles a credit card. The card contains a microprocessor that counts the words translated and acts as a security device. You can obtain an XLT "...the industry's best keyboard." — Personal Computing "...a byword for quality and tactile I66ClDclCK... —Which Computer? "...its the leader among computer Keyboards. -pcMamme "...nobody has been able to match the quality..."-K:»M Now We'd LikeTo Give Y)u A Quote On Price. The "industry's best keyboard" is now for sale. If you're putting together systems or need keyboards customized for your OEM operation, we make the best, in 35 languages. Call (33) 38 83 4308 in Europe, or 1-800-777-4886 in the U.S.A. Our quotes will impress you as much as those above. Lexmark International, Inc., a former division of IBM® is an independent, worldwide company that Circle 1 97 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 198). develops, manufactures, and markets IBM personal printers, IBM typewriters, related supplies and keyboards. EDITORS' (HOICK February 25. 1992 Lexmark Enhanced 101 Key Keyboard Lexmark Fax (33) 38 83 4048 in Europe, (606) 232-7241 in U. S. A. IBM is a registered trademark ol International Business Machines Corporation in the United States and/or other countries, and used onder license. PC Magazine Editors' Choice Ic 200 , Hesh->ralse ] Starting Out When you first get start- ed, you can use Mathemat- ica just like a calculator. But it is a calculator that lets you do calculations as large as you want, and that can handle the full range of mathematical functions, ma- trices, algebraic manipulation, and calculus as well as creating publica- tion-quality 2D and 3D graphics. Flexible Programming The easy-to-use language that is built into Mathematica requires no learning Technical Information: Numerical computation with unlimited precision integer, real, and complex numbers. Exact symbolic computation. Wide range of mathematical functions, including hypergeometric special functions, number theory functions, statistics. Nu- merical and symbolic matrix operations. Numerical and symbolic equation solving, root finding, integration, differential equations, optimization. 2D and 3D color graphics, animation, and sound generation. Graphics language for representa- tion of arbitrary structures. Output in standard PostScript. Data importing and exporting. External program linkages. Full built-in symbolic programming language, with procedural, functional, and rule-based capabilities. Notebook front end with hierarchical documents, style sheets, importing and exporting of graphics, sound, animations, and typesetting. Net- work operation supported. Journal, newsletters, more than 30 books on Mathematica available. Add-on packages; free MathSource electronic resource. Versions: Microsoft Windows • Macintosh • MS-DOS • NEC PC • SPARC • DEC RISC, VAX • HP • IBM RISC • NeXT • SGI • Convex • and others. Student versions available. Now shipping Version 2.1 . for simple calculations, but has the power to let you create even the most sophisticated programs. And with the Notebook concept pioneered by Mathematica, you can create interac- tive documents that mix text, graph- ics, animations, and sounds with live formulas and programs. A Range of Applications Whether you design airplanes, solve quantum field theories, analyze med- ical experiments, or just want to do your algebra homework, Mathematica provides a unique environment for solving your problems. And you can run your same Mathe- matica programs without change on everything from Macintosh and PCs (with or without Windows) to Unix workstations and supercomputers. To get the latest information call: 1-800-441 -MATH Extension 400 Wolfram Research Wolfram Research, Inc. 100 Trade Center Drive, Champaign, IL 61820-7237, USA +1-217-398-0700; fax:+1-217-398-0747; email: info@wri.com Wolfram Research Ltd. Evenlode Court, Main Road. Long Hanborough, Oxon 0X8 2LA, UK +44-(0)993-883400; fax: +44-(0)993-883800; email: info-euro@wri.com Representatives in over 30 countries; contact main office. ©1992 Woifram Research. Ire. Martanarra is a registered trademark of Wolfram Research. Inc. Maihematica is not associated with Mathematics inc., Mathematica Policy Research. Inc.. or MathTech. inc. All olher product names mentioned are trademarks of their producers. DESKTOP MAPPING SOFTWARE Arc/Info Features • command-line interface • rich command set • application programming language (SML) • screen, digitizer, and printer/ plotter support • fully relational database analysis • MS-DOS platform • price: $5995 for all modules; $1495 for starter kit Arcedit is the main data-entry and editing module. You must go through Arcedit to change existing map features or to add new ones. The Arcplot module handles the graphics display and any printer or plotter you have installed. The Overlay module controls the interaction among multiple pieces of data. For example, you would use the Overlay module to calcu- late the overlap of one map feature onto another. If you have one map of all the major interstates and highways and an- other of all the retail magazine outlets, the Overlay module could show you the places within 5 miles of an interstate or a highway where you could buy the latest copy of BYTE. Finally, the Network module han- dles geocoding, routing, and address man- agement. Arc/Info incorporates a custom- command processor to turn these modules into one cohesive unit. Arcshell serves as an interface menu to save you from memorizing and typing all the commands (see screen 1). You still have to know what the commands mean, but Arcshell has them grouped by logical function and can prompt you for argu- ments. The standard Arcshell interface is the/orw? handler, an on-screen graphics box with one line for each command ar- gument. You simply Fill in the blanks and press the OK button. If you need more help, the form handler gives you a scrolling list of possibilities to choose from. This combination of forms entry and Arcshell is easier than using the raw command line, but it's not the same as using a true graph- ical interface; even with Arcshell running, Arc/Info still feels like a command-line package with the shell doing the typing for you. The last component of the Arc/Info package, and perhaps the most important, is its SML (Simple Macro Language). SML is a cross between a programming language and an extension of DOS batch Fdes. It offers many of the features you'd expect to find in a programming language: variables, macros, I/O functions, and flow control (e.g., IF... THEN, WHILE, and GOTO). SML lets you automate the pro- cedures you would otherwise input from Arc/Info's command line or the shell. Arc- shell itself is written in SML, as are other Arc/Info functions. If you use Arc/Info to write a vertical-market application, you'll use SML to handle the flow between mod- ules and provide the interface. SML's com- piler makes your finished programs run quicker and take up less space, and it pre- vents end users from making changes to your program or reading your code. A variety of attributes make Arc/Info stand out among the packages in this re- view. First, Arc/Info is a big package: It took over 12 MB of disk space to install, and the installation itself was delicate. Our graphics tablet (a Summagraphics Sum- maSketch II Plus) wasn't directly sup- ported, and it took a call to ESRI's tech- nical support to get the right patch to the driver table. Once we got past that, parts of the package still wouldn't work until we reinstalled them a second or third time. At least we discovered ESRI's technical sup- port to be knowledgeable and patient. Another attribute is Arc/Info's learning curve. We worked with the package for a few weeks and felt rather frustrated. The tutorial itself takes the better part of a week to get through, and after a reasonable amount of time, we still didn't have much to show for it. After talking with ESRI, we found out that the company expects a new user to spend six months or longer getting comfortable with the package. We weren't able to become proficient with Arc/Info during the course of this review. Uieu Select Edit Operate Thematic Display Prin File: Geographic Attribute Datapoint Hapfile Run System Quit fit las GIS Rel: 2.00 1 G: FLAMINGO ft: DftTfl D: POINTS M: FLAMINGO P: LI Gsel: ( Asel: Dsel : Scale: 1: 33253.62 Mod: Final Screen 2: Atlas GIS 2.0 uses drop-down menus that require only a series of single keystrokes or point-and-click operations from the mouse or digitizer. You can remap any of the commands (or your own combinations of commands) to any of the function keys, Alt keys, mouse buttons, or tablet buttons. Atlas GIS 2.0 If your mapping-software requirements go beyond a mapping front end to data- base queries and instead focus on gener- ating maps for your output, then Atlas GIS 2.0 from Strategic Mapping should fit your needs. Atlas GIS focuses more on producing maps than on interfacing to ex- ternal databases. All the geographic in- formation is stored in a proprietary file format. The data information is stored in the same file format (the .DBF file) that dBase and FoxBase use. To use data from other databases, you must import it. There are translation utilities for dBase, Lotus 1-2-3, and various ASCII-based delimited and column-format files. As is typical with many of the Atlas GIS configuration screens, you specify the mapping of source fields to internal fields by filling out spec- ification tables. An Atlas GIS map project 192 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 When a bug showed up in a new program, the first to know was a guy in Montana. And everyone on CompuServe. Why settle for always being the last to know when you can be among the first with a CompuServe membership? We put an entire world of up-to-the- minute information right at your fingertips. Our online, interactive hardware and software support forums can put you in touch with thousands of experts. Even the authors of new and popular software programs. Whether you're a novice or an expert, there's someone out there who can help you with your specific problems and concerns. Or keep you on top of the latest developments. There are libraries of software available for each hardware and software forum that you can download for free as a CompuServe member. And there are forums that can offer you help on just about everything: cameras, pets, model building, scuba gear — you name it. So get CompuServe today. See your computer dealer, or call 1 800 848-8199, for more informa- tion or to order. Outside the United States, call 614 457-0802. CompuServe® The information service you won't outgrow. Visit our booth #1308 during Windows and OS/2 Conference, January 20-22 at San Jose Convention Center. We will be demonstrating and selling our Windows OS/2 interface. Circle 87 on Inquiry Card. DESKTOP MAPPING SOFTWARE consists of a dozen different files, some specifying configuration information and others containing the data. Atlas GIS has borrowed more than con- figuration screens from the spreadsheet paradigm; you access commands through a hierarchical menu system that requires only a series of keystrokes or point-and- click operations from the mouse or digi- tizer (see screen 2). You can remap any of the commands (or your own combina- tions of commands) to any of the function keys, Alt keys, mouse buttons, or tablet buttons. You can also define your own tablet template and submenus. Other than the macros that you can create for keys and buttons, Atlas GIS has no underlying programming language. The concept of map layers is integral to the Atlas GIS design. The key to geographic information is based on longitude and lati- tude, but you can create free-floating maps, using your own values for scale and your own grid system. The simplest are the x, y coordinates of your digitizer. Atlas GIS can easily convert a map between any of the standard map-projection and coordinate systems, so you can combine information from many different sources. We found Atlas GIS the easiest package to use for digitizing new maps or adding detail to existing ones. You can access all the commands from a menu bar, which is fully functional, from the digitizer, a mouse, and the keyboard at the same time. You draw maps in Atlas GIS using three kinds of map objects: regions, lines, and points. You can define a region by its boundaries or by its proximity to another object (as a buffer zone). Regions are ren- dered using solid colors and overlay tex- tures. You can control the rendering of a line's color, width, and style (including a railroad style with left- or right-ticked lines, which are appropriate for rendering eleva- tion lines). There are over 100 different symbols that you can use to display points. You are limited to two themes for dis- Atlas GIS Features • single keystrokes drive menus • extensive tools for developing thematic maps • keystroke macros • digitizer, plotter, and printer support • dBase-oriented • MS-DOS platform • price: $2595 playing any single thematic map. but you can construct the themes from complex expressions that pull their data from any number of quantitative data fields. You can use expressions not only to calculate the appropriate display for thematic maps but also to define the fields within a layer. Expressions can be as simple as the name of a field or complex enough to include a subset of the dBase operators and func- tions. By the time you read this, there will be a Windows version of Atlas GIS. Atlas GIS is a true GIS product m that it lets you build your own applications, maps, and databases. It gives you substantial con- trol over the format of your maps. Unlike most of the vertical-application mapping software, the emphasis of Atlas GIS is on the map as output, not as an interface for querying databases. File Edit Select Map Data Analysis Format rja m Screen 3: GeoQuery 3.0 uses a standard Mac interface to access the package's search and display features. Although the toolbox has some unfamiliar icons, they are easy enough to use after a bit of practice. Curiously. GeoQuery doesn 't have a real zoom feature — to zoom on a piece of a map. you have to delete the other regions first and then set the scale. GeoQuery 3.0 GeoQuery 3.0 is a Macintosh applica- tion that is primarily designed to ex- amine preexisting databases and maps for details. For example, you might issue each of your salespeople a Mac PowerBook, a copy of GeoQuery, and a database of your current customers. With a minimum of training, your sales force can find out the location of each customer and their prox- imity to major landmarks and plan out an appropriate route. While GeoQuery lets you create new maps, you're mostly lim- ited to assembling them from pieces of larger ones. The package we reviewed has exclusively U.S. coverage. The metaphor in GeoQuery is the push- pin. The home office loads in the customer database (which is imported from format- ted ASCII files, Apple's DAL (Data Ac- cess Language), or some other mainframe link) and geocode each data point as a pushpin. The basic GeoQuery package has the five-digit ZIP codes for all 50 states. Other coverage is available from the ven- dor. Using the pushpin metaphor makes it easy to balance sales territories, find cus- tomer sites, analyze market saturation, or generate reports on individual customers in a given area. GeoQuery's other data-analysis modes are centered around shaded maps. Unlike the pushpin approach, the shaded map treats each data point as one of many and performs data collection based on a large group of customers. Using editorial-sur- vey information, a magazine could pro- duce a map showing the areas of the country with the most active OS/2 use, or a national moving company could find the cities that produce the most business. continued 194 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 ArcView for Windows. Geographic User Interface: State-of-the-art hitman interface concepts bring advanced CIS functionality to your desktop hi an intuitive, easij-to-Ieani environment . Database Queries: Create sophisticated query expressions instantly. Features from the database that meet the criteria are highlighted in the tabular view and map displays. File Windows Help V' Inteistate Highways r- V Slate Boundaries *"- V Net Miqi alien P* err: -243800- -14a {rrr ; -1400- -5oo CTj -500 -100 e:: -loo -400 C 1400-2500 MH 2500 -301400 2212642.7003 21 37654.4263 Net Migration QSetected PIQlollffillfli 13112380 oonnno 5658204000.000000 5400707.000000 4555768000.000000 SG61 271 000000 145834300.000000 -IT 14881.310000 418244.300000 14240.230000 403206.400000 14770.570000 87351.080000 slalefips ; cntyfips m A True Network Product: Run ArcView on PCs, Macintoshes®, UNIX® workstations, and access and integrate databases across networks. Output Options: Save graphics and tabular listings to industry standard graphics files, or share data with other Windows-based applications. "ArcView for Windows provides a major breakthrough in the usability of GIS, making it easy and fun for users to visualize, analyze, and explore geographic information. " -Jack Dangermond, ESRI President ArcView for Windows is a powerful, new software tool that brings geographic information to your desktop. ArcView gives you the power to quickly visualize your data together with existing geographic da- tabases and explore it in a different way. The world's first geographic user interface to spatial data, ArcView gets you up and running quickly with its unique approach to visualizing geographic phenomena. ArcView is highly integrated with other Windows-based applications, creating a more comprehensive environment for analy- sis and desktop publishing, spreadsheet, database, word processing, publication graphics, and other Windows-based soft- ware applications to extend ArcView's power in the Windows environment. ArcView displays and querys ARC /INFO databases, and displays a wide variety of im- age data. Thousands of cities, counties, states, national agencies, and private businesses main- tain large inventories of map and tabular data in ArcView-compatible formats. And with ESRI's ArcData" Publishing Program, you have direct access to hundreds of off-the-shelf data products from the world's leading pro- viders of digital data. ArcView opens up the world of geographic information to everyone. Experience for your- self why ArcView is changing the way we look at the world . To order your copy of ArcView for Windows or for more information, call ESRI at (909) 793-2853, ext. 1375. ESRI ■ 380 New York Street ■ Redlands, CA 92373 Exploring your world has never been easier. Copyright' ■ 1992 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc ah rights reserved ESRI and arc-info are registered trademarks ot Environmental Systems Research Institute, Ine AreVie» and the ESRI logo are trademarks of EnvironnKDi.it Systems Research institute, Inc ArcData is a service- mark ot Environmental Systems Research Institute. Inc. Other companies and products herein are trademarks ol their respective companies. Circle 21 1 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 212). DESKTOP MAPPING SOFTWARE GeoQuery is also System 7.0-savvy. Besides supporting Apple's DAL for data entry, it also supports Publish/Subscribe for sharing completed map images with other applications. For example, the news- letter you send out to your regional sales staff might have a map of the last month's activity, using Publish/Subscribe to link the map to your desktop publishing pack- age. If you have a spreadsheet or database application that can publish data, Geo- Query can subscribe to it and, as the data changes, automatically update the docu- ment. Using both capabilities, you can establish a link from a remote mainframe database right through to the final news- letter layout; as the mainframe data changes, a few mouse-clicks will update the printed document with minimal in- tervention. If you need to incorporate a mapping capability into your custom application, GeoQuery supports Apple events for load- ing and manipulating map data from with- in other applications. The current release is supported by Acius's 4th Dimension data- base package; the Apple event documen- tation is available from GeoQuery if you want to drive it from your company's cus- tom software. Simply being a Macintosh application suggests ease of use, and GeoQuery is con- sistent with other Mac applications. The toolbox has selection tools, a text tool, and drawing tools, as well as some map-spe- cific tools, such as query tools and special selection tools. An information tool lets you click on anything on the map and find out the name of a region, road, or land- mark. A snooper tool (a magnifying glass) lets you bring up the data record for any pushpin object on the map. The package was very easy to learn and use. GeoQuery has a couple of unusual fea- tures. You can zoom in and out of a map by setting the map scale, but you cannot zoom in close enough to exclude any vis- ible states (see screen 3). To zoom in on a GeoQuery Features • standard Mac interface • strong market-analysis and reporting focus • no programming language • System 7.0 support, including Publish/Subscribe • fully relational database analysis • Macintosh platform • price: $395 particular area of the country, you have to delete the rest of the country from the map. That seems odd and a bit contrary to the standard Mac interface. We suspect that GeoQuery does this to speed up redrawing it's still disconcerting. It's also unfortu- nate that there's no macro language or other way of automating a mapping se- quence. As easy as GeoQuery is to use, some functions and tools will be unfamil- of the increased detail as you zoom in, but iar to a novice Mac user. Maplnfo 2.0 File Edit Analyze Table Style Window Browse Maplnfo 2.0 for Windows Maplnfo 2.0 for Windows from Map- Info Corp. is a map-drawing and map-querying package, although the com- pany is targeting it primarily as a query package for sales management. Like Geo- Query, Maplnfo attaches data records to map features and lets you query them through the user interface or access them through MapBasic, Maplnfo's program- ming language. When most manufacturers port a prod- uct to several platforms, they try to keep the interface consistent across the different platforms. That approach is both good and bad: It makes it easier for users in a mixed- computing environment to switch between machines, but it makes it difficult for a user of a given platform to learn the pack- age. Maplnfo takes on the look and feel of a standard Windows application. You build a Maplnfo image as a series of layers. One layer might be state or coun- try outlines, the next layer could be lakes and rivers, and the next might be roads followed by cities. You can choose to dis- play or hide any layer at will, and you can edit data on any layer at any time. To Screen 4: Maplnfo 2.0 for Windows lets you merge multiple databases and maps together into one display, including multiple views of the same map. The Info tool (selected here) displays information on any map feature, and the Browser window displays the map's underlying data. Maplnfo has a full data-analysis capability that uses both an interactive data-entry form and a programmable language interface (MapBasic). The inset shows a map of the U.S., shaded to show the number of customers located in each state. The legend is auto- matically created to reflect the current shading. 196 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Jr. r r JMhM ?M&tj&M&M&'i£\ SKfS/ Developers Say... "Hardlock is Networking! Now everyone on the Network can access my application without having the Hardlock on their PC. NET Hardlock's interface allows me to easily limit the number of simultaneous users without having to build this up myself. Since NET Hardlock contains an algorithmic response ASIC, I'm assured of the highest level of protection. And Clenco's software interface choices couldn't have been easier to use!" Accountants Say... "NET Hardlock is a welcome addition to the Hardlock family of revenue protection products. Now limiting and expanding the simultaneous user portion of the license agreement is the easy part! Our costs are lowered and the end user benefits - it's a perfect solution!" End Users Say... "NET Hardlock is the easiest protection system I've ever used! Once the NET Hardlock is plugged in, I don't even know it's there. Now the application can find the NET Hardlock regardless of which PC I'm using. We can easily add more users to the license without shipping Hardlocks back and forth. Just knowing the software developer is paid for their efforts makes me feel confident that the next upgrade is coming and my investment is secure!" Other products in the Hardlock Family: Hardlock & Hardlock with Memory (Single User) Hardlock DES (Data Security) Hardlock SE (Workstations) Call for your 30-Day No Risk Evaluation Kit! Supporting Windows, DOS, OS/2, Unix Shown actual size. 'Ifth only product thai Eoinb'mm a mtmor/ option wjiii pfogtiiiri- inabJi;, ul^uniiiin'ic rnopunab — all in unt cjinpii^i unit. ■. rAud* in iiii USA MJ0O562^43 re - G r 270 Lexington Drive Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089-6930 708/808-0300 Fax: 708/808-0313 For a distributor in Europe contact Fast Electronic GmbH, Tel: 49-89-539-800-20 Fax: 49-89-539-800-40 In Korea contact Finecom, Tel: 82-2-690-5811 Fax: 82-2-605-5729 In Brazil contact HT-MACH, Tel: 21-257-0314 Fax: 21-235-6808 In Chile contact Datasoft S.A., Tel: 562-246-7443 Fax: 562-208-0591 In Peru contact V.C.H.I., Tel: 51-14-440537 Fax: 51-14-475984 For International information circle 1 03, For Domestic information circle 1 04 on Inquiry Card. DESKTOP MAPPING SOFTWARE Maplnfo Features • standard Windows interface • full-featured map drawing and a query application programming language (MapBasic) • screen, printer/plotter, and Windows-device support • point-and-click and SQL database query • fully relational database analysis • MS-DOS, Windows, and Macintosh platforms • price: $995 ($795 for MapBasic) access data beneath the layers, Maplnfo offers a rich set of selection tools and ac- cess methods (see screen 4). For example, you can select a point on the map and then select any city within 500 miles of that point that has a population of over 100,000, or you can show all petroleum storage sites that sit within a half mile of a watershed area. If you don't like any of the existing maps, Maplnfo lets you digitize your own maps or import maps in other formats. Spe- cific data for cities and other map features can come in from formatted ASCII-, dBase-, Lotus 1-2-3-, and Microsoft Ex- cel-formatted files. The first step is defin- ing the correlation between the incoming data and your map's field layout. As the data is drawn into the map database, geocodes are assigned to each element of data, and the data becomes associated with a location on the map. During the geocoding process, Map- Info compares the incoming data to known features that already have map coordinates assigned to them. In most cases, postal codes will provide a good match; street addresses can provide an even closer match if the information is available. If Maplnfo can't find an exact match during the pro- cess, it stops and displays the data and lets you manually assign geocodes. That pro- cess can be tedious for large databases, so you also have the option of ignoring any uncodable data and assigning geocodes to it later with a different database. Analyzing map data is Maplnfo's forte. Each map layer has its own database, and all the analytical functions are relational; therefore, you can analyze data on any one layer as a function of the data on another layer. For example, if your company is a wholesale manufacturer of recycled con- tainers, you might want to see which cities in a given area need more resellers. You would probably put the cities on one layer and your existing reseller base on another. By relating the two layers, you could high- light those cities where the resellers' in- ventory is insufficient to cover the popu- lation in those cities. Maplnfo handles dozens of projection types and has a primitive page-layout ca- pability for combining multiple maps onto a single printed page, a sophisticated SQL implementation (for complex queries), and MapBasic, a full programming language for creating turnkey applications. Com- pared to the other packages we reviewed, Maplnfo for Windows is full-featured, fast, and easy to use. While we can't know if Maplnfo will solve your mapping prob- lem, it's hard to imagine one it can't handle. 9924750 ! 7417726 1 1345531 1 15783263 1 7495236 \ 10882105 i 13675618 1 11625152 | 2099229 ! 21550440 i 11868546 | 12650705 | 19207970 • 7546665 ■ 2248702 ! 27543396 ■ 7433908 i 18356856 i 14501818 ; 11712857 ; 2540543 1 29159608 I 1 1 598308 ■ 13085737 i 6587137 i 3715713 1 804315 • 9347329 • 3804776 i 5980606 1 I KEQH Screen 5: Tactician 2.0 runs on the Macintosh and under Windows, but it doesn't look or behave like your typical Macintosh or Windows program, because it migrated from the DEC VAX I VMS world. Tactician 2.0 If the data you want to display resides on several different hosts within differ- ent database systems, then you should look at Tactics International's Tactician 2.0. Tactician runs on the Macintosh and under Windows. (The Macintosh version has more functionality; therefore, we evaluat- ed Tactician on a Mac Quadra 950.) But it doesn't quite look or behave like your typ- ical Macintosh or Windows program, be- cause it migrated from the DEC VAX/ VMS world (see screen 5). Even though the focus of Tactician is on market analysis, you can use it for other projects. It doesn't qualify as a full-blown GIS (you must get your geographic infor- mation from some other system — Auto- CAD or a GIS program), but it has more data-analysis and display options than some GIS programs. If you plan to use Tactician for general-purpose mapping, there are several missing elements; for ex- ample, there is no provision for creating buffer zones (although Tactician lets you create a similar feature using a territory), and the map-format generation is not as flexible and full-featured as that of most of the other products we reviewed. The emphasis of Tactician is on the data. The map is a consequence of the data. This isn't to say that the mapping capa- bilities of Tactician are lacking; in fact, there are more ways to map data with Tac- tician than with any other package that we looked at. Not only can you generate the- matic maps using color and dot density, but you can also call out data using sever- al different types of charts that are dis- played right on the map. By putting the emphasis on the data underlaying the map, Tactician ends up displaying more data windows than windows with maps. Most of the data windows look like spreadsheets, but they are actually table- formatted representations of the data Tac- tician is looking at. You still need to import 198 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 ATLAS SOFTWARE A NEW DIMENSION IN DATA MANAGEMENT Site Evaluation -- Supreme Burger Franchise lost business and government pro- fessionals view and analyze data with spreadsheets, databases and occasionally in business graphics packages. While these types of software work well when displaying statistical data, they are blind to impor- tant geographical information — such as market potential by sales territory, distri- bution coverage by product, or customer loca- tions by ZIP codi or street address. Atlas Software"" is changing that. By link- ing data from spreadsheets, databases and even other applications — on your PC or Macintosh" - you can now add the important geographical dimension to your information system. And when we say important, we mean mission critical. For example, Atlas Software can help business professionals answer "what il " and "show me where" questions for optimizing sales territo- ries, targeting customers, and select- ing ideal site locations. Government professionals can use Atlas Software for everything from political redis- Iricling to land-use planning and public safety analysis. Without Atlas Software decision makers often overlook important geo- graphic information and allocate resources inef- fectively. Atlas Software programs come equipped with built-in data management capabili- ties, map file importing and a generous base map and data sampler from our comprehensive library containing over 75 gigabytes of geographic files, business statistics and demographic- data. Atlas Software comes in a variety of "flavors" to suit your specific needs and supports MS DOS", MS Windows" and Macintosh operating systems. So if you're ready to add a dynamic new dimension to die way you use informa- tion, like 25,000 other Strategic Mapping customers, call us lor a free Desktop Mapping Guidebook and demo disk. We'd be happy to map out a plan for you. Phone: (408) 970-9600 \&t o INC. FAX: (408) 970-9999 7™ In Canada, ..ill +16-693 +166 In ill.- UK. all 44-S1 99+-2780 In Germany, call +9-228-62-73-82 In Australia, ..ill 61-3-866-1766 In II.Ijmiiiii/I UX, call J2-2 771 25 75 In il„. N.tli.rl.in.K. call M 140 In ft-ance, call ill +5-27 20 6 In D.inn.nl. call 45+225 17 7 In Spate, ..ill S+-1-S6+-I lib In Brazil, ..ill 5 52 1 2h2 'M5 l > Circle 1 68 on Inquiry Card. DESKTOP MAPPING SOFTWARE Tactician Features • menu-driven • strong market-analysis and reporting focus • fast access to data • flexible filtering for external data querying and importing • spreadsheet-oriented • Macintosh and Windows platforms • price: $2495 the data from other systems. You can click on samples of your data to specify what goes where. Unfortunately, you must do this for all external data. There is no built- in way to get this information out. But once you have determined how to do it, you can automate the information using Tactician's scripting language. Unfortunately, Tactician suffers from many of the user-interface problems typi- cal of an application brought to the Mac- intosh from a miniframe or mainframe en- vironment. For example, the typical Macintosh user is not accustomed to listing all the files that are associated with a pro- ject and having to reopen them, one by one, until the full set of necessary files is available on the desktop. There are other problems: The icons on the map window don't have the same look and feel as other Macintosh programs, there are too many layers to each of the operations, and, worst of all, the code is not foolproof — a novice user will crash the operating system by trying to do oper- ations that are not appropriate. The Macintosh is known for the intu- itive and consistent interface of the appli- cations on it. Tactician is far from being in- tuitive. Even though Tactician excels in data manipulation and retrieval, it is a com- plex program that is beyond the capabili- ties of a nontechnical person. Nonethe- less, the package can be of great value to those who will take the time to climb the learning curve. Its most impressive fea- ture is speed. It is far faster at data retrieval and recompilation than any of the other products. Mapping Your Options Each of the five mapping-software prod- ucts reviewed here has unique strengths and weaknesses. You will need to match your needs to the attributes of the soft- ware. For example, if you are dealing with vast amounts of data from a database and the speed of data access is the most im- portant criterion, then Tactician shines above all the rest. But don't pick Tacti- cian if you are looking for a complete GIS for your research project; it is designed for marketing analysis and reporting only. Arc/Info is complete and extensible, but you shouldn't pick it if you want to get your data up and running as soon as possible. It is the most difficult package to install, configure, and learn. The easiest package to learn is also the most feature-limited one: GeoQuery. It is best implemented on the Macintosh, since it uses many of the capabilities that are specific to the Macintosh. However, it lacks a programming language and is not designed for repetitive tasks. The most balanced mapping-software packages are Atlas GIS and Maplnfo. Both are designed for creating maps, as well as querying them. Even though they are complex, the average technical user can get a good grasp of their design and functionality in a week or less. The dis- criminating factor is one of focus. If you need to produce your own maps, Atlas GIS is your best choice. But for managing, analyzing, and visually displaying your data, Maplnfo is the best product. Take your pick. ■ Ben Smith and Howard Eglowstein are testing editors for the BYTE Lab. Ben is the author of UNIX Step-by-Step (Howard W. Sams, 1990); you can contact him on BIX as "bensmith " and on the Internet at ben@bytepb.byte.com. Howard holds an S.B. from MIT. You can contact him on BIX as "heglow stein. " 1 COMPANY INFORMATION 1 Environmental Systems Strategic Mapping, Inc. Automap, Inc. Softkey Software Products Research Institute, Inc. (Atlas GIS 2.0) (Automap — The Intelligent Florida, Inc. (Arc/Info 3.4D) 3135KiferRd. Road Atlas) (Keymap 2.02) 380 New York St. Santa Clara, CA 9505 1 9830 South 5 1st St. 4800 North Federal Hwy. Redlands, CA 92373 (408) 970-9600 Building A-l 31 Third Floor, Suite 300D (714)793-2853 fax: (408) 970-9999 Phoenix, AZ 85044 Boca Raton, FL 33431 fax:(714)793-5953 Circle 979 on Inquiry Card. (800) 545-6626 (407) 367-0005 Circle 976 on Inquiry Card. (602) 893-2400 fax:(407)367-1611 Tactics International, Ltd. fax: (602) 893-2042 Circle 985 on Inquiry Card. GeoQuery Corp. (Tactician 2.0) Circle 982 on Inquiry Card. (GeoQuery 3.0) 16 Haverhill St. Summagraphics Corp. 475 Alexis R. Shuman Blvd., Andover, MA 01810 DeLorme Mapping (SummaSketch II Plus) Suite 385E (800) 927-7666 (Street Atlas USA) 60 Silvermine Rd. Naperville, IL 60563 (508) 475-4475 P.O. Box 298 Seymour, CT 06483 (800)541-0181 fax:(508)475-2136 Lower Main St. (800) 729-7866 (708) 357-0535 Circle 980 on Inquiry Card. Freeport, ME 04032 (203)881-5400 fax:(708)717-4254 (800)227-1656 fax:(203)881-5367 Circle 977 on Inquiry Card. OTHER COMPANIES MENTIONED c L mo « MO fax: (207) 865-9628 Circle 986 on Inquiry Card. Maplnfo Corp. A ■' Circle 983 on Inquiry Card. TTG, Inc. (Maplnfo 2.0 for Windows) 200 Broadway (4th Dimension) 10351 BubbRd. Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 252-4444 fax:(408)252-0831 Circle 981 on Inquiry Card. Maptcch (StarManager) 10 State St. Troy, NY 12180 (Tru-Chart 2.11) Woburn, MA 01801 (518)274-6000 fax:(518)274-6066 225 Sperry Ave., Suite 1000 Ventura, CA 93003 (617)932-6500 fax:(617)932-6238 Circle 978 on Inquiry Card. (805) 654-8006 fax:(805)654-8147 Circle 987 on Inquiry Card. Circle 984 on Inquiry Card. 200 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Afford lo Buy >-%c At $149, any budget can afford ViewRx, the Windows Business Applications Accelerator Kingston knows that staring at an hourglass isn't the best use of your time. We know that people who run Windows spreadsheets W I and word processors don't like to wait for text scrolls, reformats, cuts and pastes. We know that your time is valuable. But we also know that budgets are tight, and when faced with the choice of just muddling along with slow business applications or spending hundreds of dollars on a Windows accelerator, you may reluctantly choose to just muddle along. The affordable Windows Accelerator. That's why we created ViewRx, the cure for slow running Windows business applications. Windows spreadsheet tests show that ViewRx makes your applications run three times faster. ViewRx is based on the Weitek 5186 chip that has Windows BitBLT and line draw functions built in. That means that these often used Windows functions are handled by ViewRx, not by the CPU. And that means better performance for you. ViewRx supports up to 1024 x 768 screen resolution to fit even the largest spreadsheets on the screen. For the least possible screen flicker, ViewRx offers a 72Hz refresh rate and supports non- interlaced mode. ViewRx comes complete with trouble free drivers for Windows 3-1 and popular CAD packages. Kingston Reliability. Every ViewRx is thoroughly tested and warranted for five years. You can always count on Kingston's free tech- nical support if you have even i the slightest problem. For more information on the remedy for slow Windows or a reseller near you, call Kingston at (800) 835-6575. Identical Excel spreadsheet tested on 3S6SX-20 PC with ET-4O00 VGA and ViewRx cards. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are of their respective holders. Kingston and Kingston 'Technology are Registered Trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. n Kingston l"! JUtechnolocy corporation The Inside Name in Upgrades 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, California 92708 (714) 435-2600 Fax (714) 435-2699 Circle 1 1 7 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 118). HARDWARE Making Windows Rock and Roll RICK GREHAN If you're running Windows, your PC's central processor is working over- time. It has to take all those window frames and dialog boxes and put them on the screen. Quickly. Meanwhile, the recalc or redraw command you sent it has to sit in the pipeline while the CPU does its Windows-related chores. Every- thing slows down, and you spend valuable time waiting for your screen to refresh. The solution: Pass those Windows chores off to a Windows accelerator board. AH a Windows accelerator does is graph- ics; it takes the graphics load off the host CPU, which is then free to work on the computing task at hand. Windows is rife with repeated graphical elements and operations. Just look at your typical Windows display and see how many rectangles there are: window frames, title bars, dialog boxes, tool palettes, scroll bars, check boxes, and on and on. Chances are that a single Windows low-level rou- tine drew all those rectangles. If you want to speed up a piece of software, then opti- mize those operations that the software performs most frequently. Hardware designers have taken those operations and moved them into silicon. The results are chips like the S3 86C91 1 and 86C801 , the Weitek W5 1 86, the West- ern Digital WD90C31, and the Texas In- struments 34020. A graphics board con- taining one of these chips looks like a standard VGA card when you boot your system up. But with the right display driver (i.e., software that knows there's a graph- ics accelerator hiding on that card), graph- ics operations that used to require the host CPU's total involvement now become a handful of instructions that amount to no more than storing a few parameters in some on-chip registers. In this review, I look at 16 PC boards that speed up Windows. Some are fixed- function accelerators; they take over com- mon Windows operations from the CPU. Others are built around a programmable processor, TI's 34020; they rev up appli- cations, such as CAD programs, written to take advantage of them. Windows ac- celerators now range in price from less than $200 to more than $2000. While the high-price boards have definite advan- tages, such as rapid drawing of ellipses, you don't have to spend a fortune to sig- nificantly boost the speed of Windows. What They Do No matter what chip they're based on, Windows accelerators typically boost a few fundamental operations: • Line drawing. Next to text, lines are prob- ably the graphics elements that most fre- quently appear on a screen. All those rect- angles on your Windows screen require horizontal and vertical lines. Because rect- angles appear so frequently, and because of the simplicity of an algorithm to draw one, some accelerators include special routines just to draw rectangles. • BitBlts. In its simplest form, this is the act of copying a rectangle of the display — pixel by pixel — from one location on the screen to another (or from some location in nonvideo memory to the screen). When you grab a window's title bar and drag thai window to another spot on-screen, the system moves that window's display con- tents with a BitBlt operation. • Rectangle fills. Whenever you open a window in Windows, the system has to draw a rectangle and fill it with some spec- ified background color. Some accelerators can do the filling for the host CPU; all the driver need do is specify the rectangle's location, size, and fill color — the acceler- ator does the rest. Many Modes and Drivers The most striking feature of all these cards (beyond their graphics prowess) is the number of display modes they support. They are all at least compatible with VGA, which makes them backward-compatible with the IBM PC MDA, CGA, and EGA modes; most can also mimic a Hercules HGC adapter. The boards all support a big array of graphics modes; see the features table on page 204 for more information. Except for the ViewRx from Kingston Technology, every board reviewed here supports at least 256 simultaneous colors in resolutions of 640 by 480, 800 by 600, and 1024 by 768 pixels. The ViewRx can de- liver 256 colors only in 640- by 480-pixel mode — it supports 16 colors in the other modes. This is because the ViewRx comes with only 5 12 KB of on-board RAM. The Weitek W5 1 86 graphics accelerator used by the ViewRx is capable of 65,536 colors in 640 by 480 and 800 by 600 modes, and 256 colors in 1024 by 768 mode, but it re- quires 1 MB of video-board RAM to pro- duce the additional colors. Although I focus on the cards as accel- erators of Windows 3.1, all the boards I cover are supplied with drivers for specif- ic applications. The most popular drivers 202 BYTE -JANUARY 1993 PHOTOGRAPHY: SCOTT PARKER/AVIS STUDIO©1993 BYTE ACTION SUMMARY are for DOS versions of AutoCAD. Lotus 1 -2-3, Microsoft Word, and WordPerfect. See the table for which drivers are includ- ed. Board suppliers are adding new drivers all the time, so it's likely that the driver list provided by a particular board will be different by the time you read this. Two of the 34020-based boards— The Texan, from Omnicomp Graphics, and WinSprint, from Artist Graphics — also support TIGA (Texas Instruments Graph- ics Architecture). From the user stand- point, TIGA is a collection of graphics routines. TIGA-compatible applications can communicate with graphics boards based on TI's 340x0 chips. A TIGA board has to support a minimal set of graphics operations. (For a more thorough discus- sion of TIGA, see "The Brains Behind the Graphics," November 1989 BYTE.) Some Unique Traits Although the boards are similar in func- tion, some of them have interesting side- lines. The Truevision 1 024-32, for exam- ple, features pan and zoom. Press the Alt- + key combination and the screen is mag- nified two times; press it again and the screen is magnified four times. You don't have to be in any particular application to use this magnifier, which would be espe- cially useful inside drawing software or helpful to people with poor vision who have to read small text. Orchid Technology's Fahrenheit VA has two extra connectors on the back: one for a microphone, the other for an external speaker. The board supports a Voice Notes utility. Plug a microphone and speaker (or use the PC's internal speaker) into the Fahrenheit and you're ready to attach a voice note (an audible sticky note) to any application that supports OLE. ATI Technologies' Graphics Ultra Pro, based on the company's own Much 32 graphics controller, distinguishes itself with a multimedia hook: The video-RAM- based board can play back Microsoft WHAT WINDOWS ACCELERATORS ARE Graphics cards that speed up graphical operations. LIKES Eliminate time wasted waiting for windows to redraw; lots of drivers; easy to set up. DISLIKES The 34020-based boards are not worth the price for general- purpose Windows operations. RECOMMENDATIONS For all-around Windows performance, the Actix Systems GraphicsEngine 32 is the best of the bunch. If you're looking for a big boost in speed without spending more than $300, the top choice is National Design's Volante Warp 10. If speeding up your drawing and design work is more important than speeding up regular Windows operations, a board based on TI's 34020 processor, like Truevision's 1024- 32 or Omnicomp's The Texan, is worth the higher cost. Video for Windows (formerly AVI) "movies" in windows of up to 1024 by 768 pixels and at speeds of 30 frames per second. Besides being a Windows accel- erator, the $799 Graphics Ultra Pro is a cost-effective means of playing full-mo- tion video. The WinSprint includes a handy Win- dows application, called Command Center, that lets you access menu-bar commands from a small pop-up window that you ac- tivate by clicking the right mouse button. So, for example, if you're inside your word processor and want to save a file, instead of having to move the mouse up to the top of the screen and pulling down a menu, you just click the right mouse button. The pop-up appears under your pointer. (You can tailor the pop-up for your favorite ap- plications.) Testing with New Benchmarks I tested the accelerator cards using a mod- ified version of BYTE's low-level Win- dows benchmarks. Specifically, the un- modified benchmarks time themselves JANUARY 1993 YTE 203 MAKING WINDOWS ROCK AND ROLL PERFORMANCE AND FEATURES OF WINDOWS ACCELERATORS We used the new BYTE Windows benchmarks to measure how fast each board is in three categories. If your work involves applications such as CAD and illustration, results in the basic-graphics category are most important; these tests time the drawing of ellipses, lines, rectangles, and polygons. If you're more interested in speeding up general Windows operations, the speeds ofBitBlts and text display are most relevant. The numbers represent how many times the board performed a particular operation in 1 second. The results were normalized agcdnst a standard VGA card (Orchid's Pro Designer II). Performance leaders are in red. Basic- BitBIt Text Chip type Maximum Maximum graphics index index RAM refresh index Actix Systems GraphicsEngine 4.60 11.32 2.33 86C924 1 MB 72 Hz Actix Systems GraphicsEngine 32 4.93 20.51 3.18 86C801 2MB 72 Hz Artist Graphics WinSprint : 5.30 Hill 2.60 1.08 34020 20 MB 1 75 Hz ATI Technologies Graphics Ultra Pro 4.50 19.36 2.88 Proprietary 2MB 76 Hz Cardinal Technologies VGA90G 4.53 HHfe0.96 2.29 86C91 1 1MB 72 Hz Celerite Graphics Galaxy 2000 1.82 5.51 1.14 Primus P2000A 2MB 72 Hz DFI VG-8000W 1.88 7.93 1.14 WD90C31 1 MB 72 Hz Diamond Computer Systems SpeedStar 24X 3.21 9.84 1.37 WD90C31 1 MB 72 Hz Kingston Technology ViewRx 1.27 5.61 ,1:52 W5186 512KB 72 Hz mm National Design Volante Warp 10 4.90 12.60 2.53 86C801 1 MB 70 Hz Omnicomp Graphics The Texan 5.85 10.00 1.64 34020 10 MB 2 72 Hz Orchid Technology Fahrenheit VA 4.75 15.78 2.81 86C801 1 MB 72 Hz Sigma Designs Legend GX 4,11 10.95 2.26 86C924 1 MB 76 Hz HH Truevision 1024-32 3.54 2.58 1.91 34020 20 MB' 120 Hz Video Seven WIN.VGA 1.69 3.23 0.98 HT216/F 1 MB 76 Hz Western Digital Paradise 1.86 6.66 1.18 WD90C31 1 MB 72 Hz NOTES OTHER DRIVERS ' 3 MB of video RAM plus 1 7 MB of DRAM. A = AutoCAD/ADI C = GEM E = Lotus 1 -2-3 2 2 MB of VRAM plus 8 MB of DRAM. B = Cadvance D = Generic CADD F = Microsoft Word G = TIGA H = Ventura Publisher I = WordPerfect Chips That Accelerate S3 86C911 S3's 86C91 1 GUI accelerator, used in the Cardinal VGA900, enhances graph- ics performance by executing a number of primitive graphics operations in hardware. S3 has aimed the 86C91 1 straight at windowing environments such as Microsoft Windows, OS/2 Pre- sentation Manager, and even the X Window System. You can see this if you examine the graphics primitives that the 86C9 1 1 supports in hardware. These include line drawing, BitBlts, rectangle fills, hardware clipping, and hardware cursor. A software driver running on the host "talks" to the 86C91 1 by loading specified registers on the chip with command parameters and then storing a command in the chip's command reg- ister. These commands and command parameters are actually placed into an eight-command-deep FIFO (first- in/first-out) queue, which serves as a buffer between the host and the 86C911. Consequently, the 86C911 can be processing one command while the host is busy sending it another. S3 86C924 The 86C924 (used by the Actix Sys- tems GraphicsEngine and Sigma De- signs Legend GX) is basically an 86C91 1 with minor enhancements and corrections. Apparently, there is a bug in the hardware clipping that the 86C911 performs in modes that sup- port 1280 pixels across the screen. This means that drivers have to handle clip- ping in software for 1280- by 960-pix- el modes when run on the 86C9 1 1 . The 86C924 hardware fixes this problem. S3 86C801 S3's 86C801 can handle up to 16 mil- lion colors in its 640- by 480-pixel mode. Where the 86C91 1 allows only up to 16 colors in 1280 by 1024 mode, the 86C801 can deliver 256. For added performance, the 86C80 1 contains a read-ahead cache, so when the host CPU requests data directly from video memory, the 86C801 can actually prefetch additional bytes in anticipation of upcoming requests. The 86C801's outstanding perfor- mance can be easily seen in Actix's GraphicsEngine 32 and National Design's Warp 10. Not only did the GraphicsEngine 32 turn in first-place individual scores for rectangle draw- ing and BitBIt operations, it also placed first in the aggregate text-output index. The Warp 10 — though not placing 204 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 MAKING WINDOWS ROCK AND ROLL Color modes* Price 640 x480 800 x600 1024 x768 1024 x1024 1280 x960 1280 x1024 A,B,C,D,E,F,H,I y a a D a $299 A,B,C,D,E,F,H,I ■ a a □ a $199 with 1 MB G ■ ■ ■ $1995 A,C,E,F,H,I ■ ■ a a $799 A,E,F,I m a a □ □ $349 with 1 MB A,C,E,F,H,I H H a a □ $139 A,B,D,E,F,I H H a □ a $179 A,B,D,E,F,I ■ H a □ a a $249 A,E,F,H,I □ a u $149 A,B,C,D,E,F,H,I ■ a a a $299 A,G a a a $1450 A,B,C,D,E,F,H,I ■ a a i i a $299 with 1 MB A,C,E,F,H,I a a a a D $329 A,E,H,I ■ m ■ $2295 A,B,C,D,E,F,H,I a a a $129 A,B,D,E,F,I H a □ a a $249 COLOR MODES D 16 colors □ 256 colors H 32,000 colors J 65,536 colors ■ 16 million colors ' Blank spaces mean color modes not supported. internally — timing consists of a "software stopwatch" turned on and off before and after the Windows GDI (Graphical De- vice Interface) routine under test. Ordi- narily, this would be fine, since the stop- watch would time how long it took the host CPU to carry out the graphics opera- tions. With an accelerator in place, how- ever, such a scheme would time only how long it took the host to pass the request to the graphics coprocessor. (As an example, the 86C91 1 has an eight-entry command queue; it can be carrying out one graph- ics command while the host CPU is si- multaneously loading the next command.) I therefore modified the benchmarks to display a white rectangle at the bottom of the screen while a particular test was under way. The rectangle would turn black when the test was completed. Thumper, the BYTE Lab's automated testing device (see Reviewer's Notebook on page 246), was watching the screen. One of Thumper's light sensors was placed near the screen over that rectangle, and Thumper simply timed how long the light sensor saw white. In this way, I could time how long it actu- ally took graphics commands to be pro- cessed. Each accelerator card was plugged into a Tangent Model 433i. a 33-MHz 486 PC (with 7 MB of RAM and a 100-MB hard drive), connected to a Nanao FlexScan first — turned in scores that consistently put it in the top four. Weitek W5186 The Weitek W5 1 86 Windows accelera- tor, found on the Kingston ViewRx, fo- cuses solely on boosting line drawing and BitBlt operations. (Weitek says 50 percent to 85 percent of the overhead in a typical unaccelerated Windows sys- tem is consumed in line-drawing and BitBlt operations.) The host communicates with the W5186 in a style reminiscent of SCSI transfers. Specifically, the host processor initiates an operation on the W5186 by sending a 16-byte command packet to the graphics processor. Since the W5186 supports a 4-KB command queue, up to 256 commands can be queued up at one time (i.e., as long as there's room in the queue for a command, the host doesn't have to wait for the graphics coprocessor to finish one command before sending the next). Primus P2000A The Primus P2000A chip, used on the Celerite Galaxy 2000 board, was de- signed by Primus Technology. The P2000A is a graphics engine plus mem- ory-control circuitry, host interface, video FIFO, and font-control circuitry on one chip. This hardware boosts such Windows activities as rectangle filling, screen-to-screen BitBlt operations, line drawing, and displaying of bit-mapped fonts. Western Digital WD90C31 Western Digital's WD90C31 rides in the Paradise board. This graphics accel- erator includes a hardware cursor and hardware BitBlt operations. Like other accelerators, it is VGA-, EGA-, CGA-, MDA-, and Hercules-compatible. The WD90C3 l's BitBlt hardware can speed the filling of rectangles. And, like the Primus P2000, the chip does color ex- pansion, a means of accelerating the dis- play of bit-mapped fonts. TI 34020 Texas Instruments' 34020 is the off- spring of the 34010, the original silicon heart of the TIGA (Texas Instruments Graphics Architecture) interface; it's faster than the 34010 and has a 512-byte instruction cache (compared to its pre- decessor's 256-byte cache). Inside the 34020 you'll find a host bus interface and registers, circuitry to support local memory, and 3 1 32-bit reg- isters. Most of the 34020' s general-pur- pose instructions execute in a single cy- cle, although the 34020 also supports multicycle graphics instructions. (For example, the FILL instruction fills a 2-D pixel array with a color specified by one of the 34020's color registers.) Some of the fastest benchmark times came from a 34020-based board. Take ellipse drawing, for example; The Texan whipped out ellipses more than 17 times faster than an unaccelerated board. Most accelerators were lucky to get them out 1 .5 times faster. JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 205 MAKING WINDOWS ROCK AND ROLL T660i multisync monitor. I ran only the graphics and text portion of BYTE's low- level Windows benchmarks, dividing the results into three groups: basic graphics (which includes drawing lines, rectangles, polygons, and ellipses), BitBlts, and text display. I loaded each card's driver and set the resolution to 1024 by 768 pixels and 256 colors where possible. The test results were normalized against an Orchid ProDesigner II VGA card, used in the same Tangent computer. To see how each card did in terms of speed, see the table. I couldn't run some of the cards in the chosen color mode. As mentioned, the Kingston ViewRx allowed only 16 colors at 1024- by 768-pixel resolution. On the other hand, the 34020-based Truevision 1024-32 and WinSprint handled 16 mil- lion colors regardless of the pixel dimen- sions. You should keep these facts in mind as you examine the results — particularly for the Truevision and the WinSprint; these cards are moving 32 bits around for each pixel, whereas the others are moving just 8 bits per pixel. Pick of the Pack Omnicomp's The Texan and Artist Graph- ics' WinSprint scored in first and second place, respectively, under the basic-graph- ics category. They owe their high marks to the rapid ellipse-drawing capability of their 34020s. However, unless your application specifically demands lots of circles, el- lipses, or elliptical arcs, it's likely that you'll see no real benefit from high-speed ellipses. It's more likely that a typical Win- dows application will draw heavily on the accelerator's rectangle drawing and Bit- Bit operations. Consequently, I'd pick the GraphicsEngine 32 from Actix Systems as the best of the bunch for all-around Win- dows performance. If you were to drop The Texan's and WinSprint's ellipse-draw- ing scores out of the equations, the Graph- icsEngine 32 would have scored first in all categories — basic graphics, BitBlts, and text display. The GraphicsEngine 32 does 16 million colors in 640- by 480- pixel mode and 65,536 colors in 800- by 600-pixel mode, and it comes with plenty of drivers. I've got to hang an honorable mention on the Volante Warp 10 from National Design. The Warp 10 scored in the top four for all our tests, making it one of the speed leaders. It, too, comes with plenty of additional drivers, and the $299 price tag looks very attractive when you recognize that the Warp 1 0's 640- by 480-pixel mode can pump out 16 million colors. In terms of price/performance, the Warp 1 is an ex- cellent buy. Likewise, Orchid's Fahren- heit VA did very well in the BitBlt and text tests and, at $299, is a great buy. If you do decide you want to upgrade to a Windows accelerator, you've got to base your decision on what you need it for instead of simply checking raw benchmark results. Do you want to speed up screen redrawing under Windows, or are you more concerned with running AutoCAD faster? Be sure to check the list of sup- ported drivers to see if your favorite ap- plications are there. Does your work de- mand lots of colors or involve drawing lots of fine lines'? Also, consider your mon- itor; some of the low-end cards don't sup- port wide screens. And, of course, the price is always a consideration. But with prices starting at $ 1 39, that part's becoming less of an issue. ■ Rick Grehan is technical director of the BYTE Lab. He holds a B.S. in physics and applied mathematics and an M.S. in math- ematics/computer science. You can reach him on BIX as "rick_g. " [ COMPANY INFORMATION Actix Systems, Inc. Cardinal Technologies , Inc. Kingston Technology Corp. Sigma Designs, Inc. (GraphicsEngine, (VGA900) (ViewRx) (Legend GX) GraphicsEngine 32) 1 827 Freedom Rd. l7600NewhopeSt. 479 Bayside Pkwy. 3060 Tasman Dr. Lancaster, PA 17601 Fountain Valley, CA 92708 Fremont, CA 94538 Santa Clara, CA 95054 (717)293-3000 (714)435-2677 (510)770-0100 (408)986-1625 fax:(717)293-3055 fax:(714)435-2699 fax:(510)770-2640 fax:(408)986-1646 Circle 1231 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1235 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 239 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1228 on Inquiry Card. Celerite Graphics, Inc. National Design, Inc. Truevision, Inc. Artist Graphics Co. (Galaxy 2000) (Volante Warp 10) (1024-32) (WinSprint) 46560 Fremont Blvd., Suite 1 1 3 1515 Capital of Texas Hwy. S 7340 Shadeland Station 2675 Patton Rd. Fremont, CA 94538 Austin, TX 78746 Indianapolis, IN 46256 St. Paul, MN 551 13 (510)226-6390 (512)329-5055 (317)841-0332 (612)631-7800 fax:(510)226-6393 fax:(512)329-6326 fax:(317)576-7700 fax: (612)631-7802 Circle 1232 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1236 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1 240 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1229 on Inquiry Card. DFI, Inc. Omnicomp Graphics Corp. Video Seven ATI Technologies, Inc. (VG-8000W) (The Texan) (WIN.VGA) (Graphics Ultra Pro) 135 Main Ave. 1734 West Sam Houston Pkwy. N 4622 1 Landing Pkwy. 3761 Victoria Park Ave. Sacramento, CA 95838 Houston, TX 77043 Fremont, CA 94538 Scarborough, Ontario, (916)568-1234 (713)464-2990 (510)683-6223 Canada m!w 3S2 fax:(916)568-1233 fax:(713)827-7540 Circle 1241 on Inquiry Card. (416)756-0718 Circle 1 233 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1237 on Inquiry Card. fax: (416) 756-0720 Western Digital Circle 1230 on Inquiry Card. Diamond Computer Systems, Orchid Technology, Inc. (Paradise) Inc. (Fahrenheit VA) 8105 Irvine Center Dr. (SpeedStar 24X) 45365 Northport Loop W Irvine, CA 92718 532 Mercury Dr. Fremont, CA 94538 (714)932-5000 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (510)683-0300 fax:(714)660-4909 (408) 736-2000 fax:(510)490-9312 ■ Circle 1 242 on Inquiry Card. fax: (408) 730-5750 Circle 1238 on Inquiry Card. Circle 1234 on Inquiry Card. 206 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Hercules Windows Accelerator • Blazing Speed • Ultra-High Resolution • Ultra-High Refresh • 24-bit True Color • Software Compatibility Amazing new 32-bit graphics coprocessor with fast VRAM Up to 1280 x 1024 for more real estate and less scrolling Upto90Hz SuperStable" refresh rates Switch to 16.7 million or 65,536 colors from within Windows From VGA and VESA to accelerated Windows and CAD Faster Than ATI's Mach 32 Boards! 800-532-0600 Copyright © 1992 Heicules Computer Technology, Inc., 3839 Spinnaker Court, Fremont, CA 94538. Hercules is a registered trademark and Hercules Graphite Card, and SuperStahle are trademarks of Hercules Computer Technology. Inc. Mach 32 is a registered trademark ol ATI. All other product names are trademarks uf their respective holders who are not associated with Hercules. Her-HG2I8SS Ver. 1.1 1 1/92 Circle 108 on Inquiry Card. JANUARY 1993 • B Y T E 207 I I «#«a »<«', ^° &■*> :#% Doivii f o Fnffff. 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The slots accommo- date a wide variety of industry-standard expansion cards, including AST's option- al SCSI adapter, data/fax modems, and network adapter cards. Sticker Price The PowerExec comes well equipped (see the photo). For $2395, the base system in- cludes a 25-MHz 386SL CPU with a 64- KB cache; 4 MB of RAM; a monochrome sidelit triple-supertwisl LCD; a 60-MB hard drive; a high-density 3'A-inch floppy drive; serial, parallel, video, and expan- sion connector ports; and DOS 5.0. AST padded my unit with a 2400-bps PCMCIA modem card ($279), a security cable lock ($79), and its SmartPoint Cableless Track- ball ($69). The system weighed in at 5.9 pounds (7.3 with power supply and cord) and measured 11.5 by 8.5 by 1.8 inches. The trackball assembly clips to the case just below the space bar and plugs into a small interface that AST calls a "hotshoe." It works adequately (you'll still want to use your mouse at your desk) but is rather clumsy to install or remove. That's unfor- tunate, since it completely blocks the bay for the removable hard drive. AST offers a long laundry list of op- tions. You can upgrade to an 80-, a 120-, or a 160-MB hard drive, or you can add a desktop drive-bay adapter ($99) and share the drive with your desktop machine. If you're using the PowerExec as your desk- top computer, AST's docking station in- cludes two 1 6-bit expansion slots and two 57j-inch drive bays for $499. The Power- Exec supports up to 20 MB of RAM using proprietary, user-installable memory mod- ules. An access panel above the keyboard pops off easily to expose the memory slots and math coprocessor socket. continued AST's new PowerExec notebook features PCMCIA support, a clip-on trackball, an upgradable screen, and (inset) a removable hard drive and an upgradable CPU. BYTE ACTION SUMMARY WHAT THE AST POWEREXEC IS A modular, 386SL notebook computer with upgradable components (including hard drive, display, and processor) and two PCMCIA 2.0 slots. LIKES Good performance; very good battery life; convenient removable hard drive; two PCMCIA slots and modular architecture make upgrades easy; processor architecture supports upgrade to 3-volt 486SL CPU; and screen and power management control buttons and lights are easily accessible. DISLIKES Unresponsive keyboard and poor key layout; PCMCIA card didn't eject easily in test unit; optional trackball is awkward to remove. RECOMMENDATIONS Ideal for users who want maximum expandability as well as good performance. PRICE $2822 ; tested) FOR MORE INFORMATION AST Research, Inc. 1621 5 Alton Pkwy. P.O. Box 1 9658 Irvine, CA 9271 3 (800) 876-4278 (714)727-9292 Circle 1 226 on Inquiry Card. JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 209 AST'S POWEREXEC GOES MODULAR BYTE NOTEBOOK BENCHMARKS AST PowerExec Zenith Z-Note Dell NL25 Compaq LTE Lite/25C AST PowerExec Zenith Z-Note Dell NL25 Compaq LTE Lite/25C BENCHMARK SUMMAFT AST Zenith Dell Compaq PowerExec Z-Note NL25 LTE Lite/25C Low-level benchmarks CPU index 1.35 1.43 1.23 1.35 Disk index 1.27 1.41 0.95 2.41 Video index 1.57 0.83 1.15 1.24 DOS applications Word processing index 1.64 1.46 1.43 1.40 Spreadsheet index 1.80 1.83 1.74 1.83 Database index 1.57 1.42 1.27 1.44 Overall DOS applications index 1.67 1.57 1.48 1.56 Windows applications Word processing index 1.63 1.80 1.57 1.62 Spreadsheet index 1.59 1.58 1.47 1.57 Database index 1.20 1.19 1.18 1.10 Overall Windows applications i idex 1 .47 1.52 1.41 1.43 Battery-life tests (Hours:minutes) 4:09 4:28 3:19 3:04 Except for the battery-life tests, all results are indexed, and higher numbers indicate better performance. For each index in the DOS and Windows tests, a Toshiba T22O0SX running DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.0=1. The BYTE low-level benchmark suite iden- tifies relative performance at the hardware lev- el, breaking down performance by system com- ponent. The results of these tests can help you identify the relative performance of a given subsystem and determine where performance bottlenecks may lie. For a complete descrip- tion of these tests, see "BYTE's New Bench- marks: New Looks, New Numbers," August 1990 BYTE. The BYTE low-level benchmarks, version 2.2, are available in the byte.bmarks conference on BIX, or you can contact BYTE di- rectly. BYTE's application performance suite mea- sures the performance you can expect to see running a given application category under a given operating environment. We test under two environments: DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.0. We test three application categories for each environment, running test scripts using the fol- lowing programs: Word Processing: WordPer- fect 5.1 and Lotus Ami Pro 2.0; Spreadsheet: Lotus 1-2-3 release 2.3 and Microsoft Excel 3.0a; and Database: Software Publishing Su- perbase 4 version 1.3 and Borland dBase IV. The data files and test scripts are available from BYTE. BYTE benchmark results show that the computing performance of the PowerExec ranks even with fast 386SL machines. The PowerExec 's battery-life test results were outstanding. The processor and display upgrades re- quire dealer installation. AST hadn't re- leased pricing for a 3-volt 486SL proces- sor upgrade at press time. The two color displays are expensive; for the price dif- ference, I recommend the active-matrix display ($2000) over the lesser-quality pas- sive-matrix model ($1499). Ergonomics The PowerExec is a solid, well-built ma- chine that's about as sturdy as other mod- els we've tested. The 83-key keyboard has a poor feel and an awkward layout that features half-size PageUp, PageDown, Home, and End keys along the top row and a small right Shift key that's easy to miss. Two tiny support legs under the ma- chine extend to create a better typing angle. A keyboard-based mouse emulator is awk- ward, but it's usable in a pinch. The PowerExec's 9-inch VGA display, with 64 shades of gray, offers plenty of contrast. The external port will simulta- neously drive an external color monitor at 210 BYTE* JANUARY 1993 486/860 Speed. . . Microway Quality. Microway has engineered four distinctive black tower systems. The 486-B 2 T is designed for high-end users. It comes standard with American 486 motherboards and power supplies, yet has a reasonable starting price of $2,195. A broad range of options can be installed including high speed and capacity hard disks, intelligent serial con- trollers, tape back-up units, high end graphics adapters and our Number Smasher-860. These systems are ideal for configuring Novell or UNIX file servers, multiuser systems, and workstations for graphics, CAD and scien- tific uses. The 486-B 2 T comes with dual fans, Across the Board™ Cooling and American industrial grade power supplies. All systems are thoroughly tested, burned in and include the best technical support in the industry, which we've provided since 1982. O Number Smasher-860 The key to attaining workstation performance is Microway's 40MHz Number Smasher-860. It features a four-way interleaved 64-bit memory system that runs at 160 megabytes/sec. The Number Smasher's i860 has been clocked at 80 megaflops doing matrix multiplies, 67 megaflops doing FFTs and 11.8 Double Precision Unpack Megaflops on large arrays— ten times the speed of a 486 and twice the speed of a Cray 1F! One happy user recently reported that his "Baby Cray" was happily humming away saving him thousands of dollars per month in 3090 rentals. The Number Smasher comes with the finest i860 compilers on the market, your choice of Microway's NDP™ FORTRAN, C|C++ or Pascal. Call or write today for more information on Microway's new black tower systems. ; $ The Intel Inside Logo is a trademark of Intel Corporation Technology You Can Count On Corporate Headquarters, Box 79, Kingston, MA 02364 USA • TEL 508-746-7341 • FAX 508-746-4678 • UK/Europe 081-541-5466 France 01 43 2 69593 • Germany 069-75-2023 • Holland 40 836455 • Italy 02-74.90.749 • Japan 0474 23 1322 • Norway 6-892020 Circle 1 23 on Inquiry Card. AST'S POWEREXEC GOES MODULAR 800 by 600 pixels with 256 simultaneous colors. Easily accessible control buttons locat- ed above the display turn on power, ad- just contrast and brightness, turn the dis- play on and off, and put the computer in suspend mode, which shuts clown every- thing except system and video memory. Other features include a removable hard drive, which slides out easily. The side- mounted floppy drive and PCMCIA slots worked fine, although the modem card I tested didn't eject properly. One note of caution on PCMCIA cards: The ink was still drying on the software specifications as we went to press. While the cards complied with PCMCIA 2.0 hardware specifications, the driver soft- ware (designed by the BIOS manufactur- er) did not. As a result, a card that works in the PowerExec requires a different driver to work in another machine. When ver- sion 2.0 drivers are available (they should be when you read this), differences be- tween software implementations may still hamper compatibility between two ma- chines that use different BlOSes. Written documentation consists of a sin- gle pocket user's guide. There's no tech- nical reference manual; the more complete documentation is on-line, but that doesn't help much when you're troubleshooting. Power and Performance The PowerExec uses one nickel-metal-hy- dride battery and offers just two power management options: "maximum perfor- mance" and "maximum battery life." It has no individual time-out settings for the display, processor, and hard drive. The PowerExec performs these functions au- tomatically, based on your usage patterns. The SmartSleep option mirrors the cur- rent memory state to the hard drive and completely shuts the system down. The PowerExec did well in BYTE's bat- tery-life tests, running for just over 4 hours (see the figure). When the battery is de- pleted, the PowerExec drops into suspend mode and preserves the machine's current state while you drop in a second battery or hook up external power. The machine also accepts 12 AA alkaline batteries, which AST estimates will last 1 'h hours. Recharging takes 90 minutes. On BYTE's performance benchmarks, the PowerExec scored about as well as the fastest 386SL machines BYTE has tested (see "Eight Notebooks Keep a Tight Grip on Power," September 1992 BYTE). De- spite relatively slow hard disk results in the low-level tests, fast video helped the PowerExec post strong results in the DOS and Windows application suites. Beyond Upgradability The PowerExec '$ processor and display upgrade options are appealing as a hedge against obsolescence, but as experience with desktop PCs has shown, few users of modular PCs ever upgrade. Planning ahead and buying what you need up front is usu- ally a better solution. Beyond upgradability, the PowerExec offers unprecedented flexibility, strong performance, and long battery life. The removable hard drive and dual PCMCIA slots are especially attractive if you want to use a notebook computer as your primary machine. The one disappointment is the keyboard's feel and poor layout — a prob- lem common to many other notebook com- puters. ■ Rob Mitchell is a senior technical editor at BYTE. You can reach him on BIX as "rob mitehett" or on MCI as "rmitchell. " THE FAX SERVER IS TROUBLE-FREE. THE PHONE CALL IS TOLL-FREE. THE TRIAL OFFER IS ABSOLUTELY FREE. i Now you can try out the network fax server that has everything, for nothing. Just ;j call toll-free for an evaluation unit of Castelle's FaxPress 3.0. And see for yourself how P easy it is to add fax capabilities to your network. Free. Unlike most fax servers which require a PC to work, FaxPress 3.0 is fully self-contained. It's easy to install, easy to use, and easy to manage. No other fax server is so trouble-free. And no other fax server offers such a range of features: Auto routing of faxes. Full HP III font support, which ensures fax quality. And, integration with Novell's Print System, so each user can define where to receive personal faxes. And whatever you work with, FaxPress works with, too. Novell, LAN Manager/ LAN Server networks on Ethernet or Token Ring. DOS, Windows 3.1, API. You name it. Plus its enhanced (MHS-based) e-mail faxing lets you fax as easily as you e-mail, without learning a new user interface. FaxPress even serves as a two-port Novell print server. Best of all, you're free to try the FaxPress 3.0 for 30 days; absolutely free. CASTELLE Enhancing your network productivity. IBM.PUBJTn Askfordept.421 Casfelle, Inc. 3255-3 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 45054. (-108) 496-0474. 1 : AX (408) 496-0502. FaxPress is a trademark of Caslelle. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Iheir respective holders. ©1993 Castelle. *The evaluation unit is available within the U.S. to qualified companies for up to 30 days. 212 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 200 on Inquiry Card. What You Want, JAMECO ServiceUne™ Computer/Printer Repair and Support 1-800 -831 -8020 Keyboards Fujitsu 101-key enhanced keyboard Part no.: 1B17128 Product no.: FKB4700 $79.95 Computer Cards 16-bit VGA Card Part no.: 1B67459 Product no.: VG7700 $99.95 Floppy Disk Drives Toshiba 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Disk Drive Part no.: 1B40774 Product no.: 356KU $99.95 Memory Part no.: 1B41769 Product no.: 421000A9B-80 SIMM Module Function: 1MB 80ns $54.95 Part no.: 1B42251 Product no.: 511000P-80 18-pin DIP Function: 1MB 80ns $5.99 Cables, Gender ^ < Changers, and Adapters 6-foot parallel DB25-pin male to Centronics male printer cable Part no.: 1B28716 Product no.: PPC6 $7 ' 95 t^ DE9 female to DB25 male serial adapter Part no.: 1B10305 Product no.: AD925 $4.95 ' :■!, . ., 1' . Hard Drives (IDE) Part no.: 1B14074 Product no.: CP30104 Capacity: 120MB Speed: 19ms $389.95 Metex Digital Multimeters 4.5 digit w/frequency & capacitance & data hold switch Part no.: 1B27158 Product no.: M4650 $69.95 t ,-^. Power Supplies 150 watt 8088 Part no.: 1B19465 % Product no.: JE1030 M $99.95 When You Want H. Jameco offers a full line of competitively priced computer products for immediate delivery. Select what you want from our 100-page catalog. Orders placed before 2:00PM(PST) are shipped the same day. All products are backed by our customer service experts and a 30-day full-refund guarantee. Once you buy, you'll understand why millions of customers have been choosing Jameco for over 20 years. GET A FREE JAMECO CATALOG CALL 1 • 800 • 637 • 8471 m* © 1*93 Jameco Electronic Components Computer Products. All trademarks are registered trademarks of their respective companies. Terms: Prices are subject to change without notice. Items subject to availability and prior sale. Complete list of terms/ warranties is available upon request. J AMECO ^^ ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS COMPUTER PRODUCTS 1355 Shoreway Road, Belmont, CA 94002 Sales: 1-80O831-4242 Jameco ServiceLine™: 1-800-831-8020 Technical Support: 1-800-831-0084 Circle 1 1 5 on Inquiry Card. 1 Winning Streak, u Great Software, SD'93... The Winning Streak Goes On! You may have worn • Fully-haded 386SX Notebook from GRiD Systems • Scientific Calculator • $10 or $20 off your next Shop purchase of $249 or $399, respectively & Your Winning Streak prize code is: BP1SL. Call for your prize and official game rims. Winning Streak is back by popular demand, with valuable prizes and cash discounts for Programmer's Shoppers. Call 1-800-421-8006 for your prize and more information, then head to your fax machine for a free Priority Pass to SD '93, the place where the industry happens. Test drive new and updat- ed products from 200+ companies who cater to developers, and lots more. To get your free Priority Pass to SD '93, call (617) 740-0025 from a fax machine and enter SHOP-093 when asked for a FastFaxts number. WATCOM SQL Developer's Edition by WATCOM New Product-Special Introductory Offer. Complete client/server development tool allows yon to develop and deploy single-user standalone applications, and to develop appli- cations for use with the Network Server Edition (sold separately). Includes: Single-user data- base server (both 16- and 32-bit versions); ACME application development system; Embedded SQL/C preprocessor; SQL libraries for WATCOM C, C/386, MS C/C++ and BC/C++. LIST: $795 PS Price: $379 FastFaxts 1044-035 High C/C++ v3.0 by MetaWare Incorporated MeiaWare Incorporated Introduces its newest product: the 32-bit High C/C++ compiler, version 3.(1. High C++ is a true compiler, not a C to C++ translator. 'Incremental Strengths" lets you spe- cify the level of C++ compilation, allowing you to migrate from C to C++ one C++ block at a time. 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Includes royally-free 32-bit DOS extender, true 32-bit Windows GUI Application Kit, our fast, light, and reliable 32-bit Code Optimizer, licensed Microsoft Windows SDK Components, an interactive Source-Level Debugger, an Execution Profiler and more! Now includes OS/2 2.0 support. UST: $895 PS Price: $599 FastFaxts 1044-029 SVS C3 ANSI C, Pascal, or FORTRAN-77 by Silicon Valley Software Only from the Programmer's Shop! ANSI compliant, optimizing. 32-bit compilers; DPMI-compliant, royally-free DOS extender; source level debugger; utilities. Supports "flat model" code. Linker, librarian, make, i.3S7 emulation, W3 1/4167 support. Interoperable languages! Call: 413-572-880 LIST PS Price ANSI C $325 $315 Pascal $325 $315 FORTRAN $395 $375 FastFaxts 1958-048: (C), 1958-050: (Pascal), 1958-049: (FOKTOAN) SLATE with Graphics by Symmetry Group SLATE with Graphics is a universal primer driver library, It supports dot matrix, laser, and PostScript printers. It includes over 250 lext and graphic printing functions to select fonts, print texl, prim images from the screen, PCX, and TIFF files, and much more. It allows royalty-free distribution of your application, the 750 printer database, and the setup and testing programs. LIST $448 PS Price: $419 FastFaxts 891-005 [I EXH 'Bit io« 1-800-421-8006 ..the Programmer's Shop gives you all three. Shop the Shop. Visual Basic for DOS Microsoft Corporation Draw forms, controls; write event-procedures; create custom controls — in DOS! Create new apps or com- bine with existing C/C++ or Pascal code. Highly com- patible with Visual Basic for Windows. Run existing Quick Basic/Basic PDS code! 80x86 compiler creates 100% standalone .EXE files; 386 code generation; MOVE overlays; an integrated ISAM and much more! LIST PS Price PRO $495 $339 Standard $199 $139 FastFaxts 502-408: (PRO), 502-407: (Stand.) 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I • Get free information on all of our more than 10,000 products any time you like • Dial from a fax machine or fax-hoard equipped PC • Follow the voice computer's instructions • Receive literature instantly via fax Visual Basic for Windows 2.0 by Microsoft Corporation When you need to create a Windows application quickly, nothing offers the sheer productivity of Microsoft Visual Basic 2.0, Standard Edition. A visual development environment, flexible pro- gramming language, and fast runtime execution make this the shortest route to full-featured Windows applications. The Professional Edition includes messaging and data access capabilities, a wide variety of add-on tools, and more. LIST PS Price PRO $495 $399 Standard $199 $139 FastFaxts 502-443: (PRO), 502-431; (Stand.) ProtoGen 3.0 by Protoview NEW VERSION! The industry standard for code generation and prototyping Windows applications. Develop the user interface of your application using Visual prototyping methods. ProtoGen generates expert level, commented code for ANSI C, Microsoft MFC C++, Borland OWL C++, Turbo Pascal, and Microsoft NT Win32. All generators included! User Code is preserved from one generation to the next. It's easy and fast. LIST: $199 PS Price: $99 FastFaxts 21 15-009 Q+E Database Library by Pioneer Software Q+E Database Library provides complete database connectivity to Windows and OS/2 applications using Dynamic Link Libraries. QELIB can read, insert, update, create or delete database records for the following data- base formats: Btrieve, (BASE, DB2, Excel files, INGRES, NetWare SQL, Oracle, OS/2 DBM, Paradox, SQL/400, SQLBase, SQI7DS, SQL Server, Sybase, Tandem NonStop SQL, text files, andXDB. LIST: $399 PS Price: $339 FastFaxts 2137-012 Star Trek™ : The Screen Saver. by Berkeley Systems Beam aboard the Enterprise"' with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock on a mission to prevent screen burn-in. Encounter trilling Tribbles, Klingon haltlecruisers, and burrowing horta. 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Low Radiation (MPR1I) models are available for an additional protection against electro- magnetic radiation. To rediscover 'what is coming through your bright WINDOWS, CPS1460/CMS1461 CPS1760/CMS1761 CPS1560/CMS1561 look mto a brilliant CTX Professional monitor today. CTX INTERNATIONAL 20530 Farlgate Street Walnut, CA 91789 714/595-6146 Fax 714/595-6293 CTX SOUTH 6090-F Northbelt Pwy Norcross, GA 30071 404/729-8909 Fax 404/729-8805 CTX Where Monitors are CTXellent CTX EAST 146 Division Place Hackensack, NJ 07601 201/646-0707 Fax 201/646-1998 CTX MIDWEST 500 Park Blvd., Ste. 425 Itasca, 11. 60143 708/285-0202 Fax 708/285-0212 CTX OEM 1225 E. Crosby Rd., A21 Carrollton. TX 75006 214/416-9610 Fax 214/245-7447 ©Copyright 1992. CTX International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Circle 94 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 95). REVIEWS HARDWARE Desktop CD-ROM Publishing JON UDELL As the multimedia juggernaut rolls along, PC buyers have — at last — be- gun to view CD-ROM drives as stan- dard equipment. Meanwhile, affordable CD-Recordable drives beckon to a legion of newly empowered desktop CD-ROM publishers. The $7995 Philips CDD521 was a star attraction at the revitalized CD- ROM Expo in Boston last September, and I rate it (along with similar products from Sony and JVC) as one of the two or three most important developments I've seen during my career at BYTE. Six years ago I worked for one of the first companies to commercialize CD- ROM for the delivery of large quantities of data to the desktop. Dropping a half-giga- byte silver platter into a PC peripheral and rummaging through seemingly inex- haustible databases was a thrill I'll never forget. Producing those platters, though, was a formidable challenge. ISO 9660 (the now-standard CD-ROM file system) and MSCDEX.EXE (Microsoft's CD-ROM redirector for DOS) hadn't arrived yet, so our engineers had to invent a proprietary file system. To test our PC retrieval soft- ware against large data sets on a VAX- based premastering system required an- other clever hack: a CD-ROM emulator. By 1988, the advent of MSCDEX, ISO 9660, and commercial emulators had taken a lot of the black magic out of CD-ROM publishing but hadn't eliminated the ex- pense, delay, and uncertainty of the disc- mastering process. As a result, the growth of the CD-ROM industry has been a long, slow burn — until now. Hardware and Software At 16 by 13 inches, the CDD521's foot- print is only slightly larger than my old Hitachi 1503S CD-ROM drive. Its 5-inch height, however, is twice that of the Hi- tachi drive. Into the extra space Philips jams the additional parts needed to not only detect but also create pits on the sur- face of a CD: a high-powered laser, a po- larizing beam splitter, lenses, and control circuitry. Externally, the package is Spar- tan. On the back panel, you have access to a pair of SCSI-2 connectors, a SCSI DIP switch, a voltage selector, and the power switch. The front (see the photo) sports an open/close button and LEDs for power, read, write, and error status. The Philips CDD521 double- speed CD recorder writes 600 MB in a half hour. Philips bundles the drive with an Adaptec 1542 SCSI-2 adapter and ASPI (advanced SCSI programming interface) driver, a SCSI cable, MSCDEX.EXE, and a set of DOS utilities called CD-Write. Why ship the Adaptec controller with the drive? CD recording depends critically on an uninterrupted stream of data, particu- larly when — as with the CDD521 — the drive runs at twice the normal CD play speed, requiring a sustained transfer rate of better than 300 KBps. (The drive's meager 256-KB write buffer doesn't help matters, and some resellers of the drive offer soft- ware that adds extra buffering.) To ensure best results, Philips chose to control CD- Write's environment by optimizing for the Adaptec. The company also specifies that your data source must be a hard disk with a sub-20-millisecond access time. That hard disk, by the way, is the work- space where you assemble the material you'll write to the CD. CD-Write converts on the fly from the hard disk's DOS file system to the CD's ISO 9660 file system. It can also redirect the ISO 9660 image that it creates to a hard disk and can write such a preformatted image to the CD. You're unlikely to need the image-to-hard disk feature, since the recorded CD itself is ideal for archiving the image, testing it, and conveying it to a disc-mastering house. The image-to-CD feature could be handy if your authoring system can produce only ISO 9660 outputs. Although CD- Write records only "mode 1" discs, the drive is also capable of "mode 2" formats such as CD-ROM XA (Ex- tended Architecture) and CD-I (Compact Disc Interactive). To create such discs, you need an authoring system that can in- terleave streams of audio, video, and data, along with a formatter that can lay out sec- tors according to the XA and CD-I stan- dards. Dataware Technologies is one re- seller of the CDD521 that can use the drive this way. Anatomy of a Writable Disc The spiral track of conventional read-only CDs consists of a series of pits etched into a polycarbonate substrate that's covered by a reflective layer. Intensity of reflected laser light varies due to diffraction caused by the pits. In the case of writable CDs, the substrate has a (7-shaped groove (600 nanometers wide and 100 nm deep) cov- ered by a sensitive layer of organic dye and a reflective layer (usually gold). Using the groove to control rotational speed and radial tracking, the laser fuses the dye to the substrate to create impressions that or- dinary CD-ROM readers can detect. The price of a writable disc was initial- ly $40, but it's coming down fast. Kodak recently announced a single-disc price of $25 and predicted $10 discs in three years. Why Kodak? The company's Photo CD JANUARY 1993 BYTE 217 DESKTOP CD-ROM PUBLISHING technology creates economies of scale for makers of writable discs and CD recorders alike. (The CD recorder that writes Photo CD discs is, in fact, the Philips CDD521.) That's great news for the nascent CD- recordable industry. The writable disc's layout reserves two regions for control information. Innermost is the power calibration area. Here the drive performs a series of test recordings to find the optimal laser power for each par- ticular disc. (Once this has been deter- mined, the drive remembers the setting and retrieves it from memory when it sees the same disc again.) Next comes the pro- gram memory area. Since the drive can record up to 99 incremental sessions and does not store a permanent directory in the lead-in area until you finalize the disc, this area serves as a temporary directory. Each session written by CD-Write is an ISO 9660 image. You can select and read any of these sessions with the CDD521. Only the first one, however, is visible when you load the disc into a standard CD-ROM reader. While Kodak's Photo CD player will read multiple sessions, CD-ROM drives available today — including those bundled with MPC upgrade kits — will not. BYTE ACTION SUMMARY WHAT THE PHILIPS CDD521 DESKTOP RECORDABLE CD IS A CD recorder and ISO 9660 formatter that writes discs readable in standard CD-ROM players. LIKES A revolutionary technology that heralds the dawn of personal CD-ROM publishing. DISLIKES Its immature, quirky software. RECOMMENDATIONS Invaluable for testing CD-ROM discs prior to mass replication, or for low-volume production of discs. Also useful for archiving and transporting large quantities of data. PRICE $7995 FOR MORE INFORMATION Philips Consumer Electronics Co. 1 Philips Dr. P.O. Box 14810 Knoxville, TN 37914 (615)521-4316 fax:(615)521-4406 Circle 1221 on Inquiry Card. P. reducing the CD-ROM disc was an amazing experience. Do-It- Yourself CD-ROM Publishing I've always wanted to put the indexed full text of BYTE onto a CD-ROM, and the CDD521 gave me the opportunity. Prepar- ing the data, pumping it through the two authoring systems that I chose for the ex- periment, and running a series of small- scale tests on the CD took several days. Writing 265 MB to the final CD was anti- climactic — it took just 20 minutes. I started with a collection of 4000-odd files representing the textual content of the last six years of BYTE— about 60 MB of data. First I ran a series of filters to clean up and reformat the text. Next I married die text to the contents of a database of BYTE articles, embedding headers at the top of each file to enable fielded as well as free- text search. Then I unpacked two text-retrieval sys- tems I'd been wanting to try out: Retrieval Technologies' re:Search for DOS (see "Searching for Common Threads," June 1992 BYTE) and Personal Library Soft- ware's Windows Personal Librarian (see the Reviewer's Notebook in the September 1992 BYTE). I used both to index por- tions of the data set and then eventually all of it. Duplicating the 60-MB data set to accommodate field codes specific to each retrieval system, along with adding the in- dexes, brought my image size up to 265 MB — still less than half the space avail- able on the CD. The drive's multisession capability al- lowed me to test small samples of data directly on the CD. Little problems (e.g., absolute rather than relative path names) become big problems when multiplied by 4000 files, so the ability to test incremen- tally is incredibly useful. CD-Write has one very annoying quirk. It can write one or more source trees to the CD, but it lops off the top level of each tree. This con- fused both retrieval systems. Indexes re- ferring to files of the form \ARCHIVE\ 1991\fil ename broke when those files showed up on the CD as \1991\f ile- name. To work around this oversight, I had to use a fake root that I alternately hid and revealed using the DOS SUBST com- mand. Philips acknowledges the glitch and agrees it should be fixed. Some valid DOS file and directory names aren't legal in ISO 9660. Filenames with hyphens and directory names with extensions are the notable examples. CD- Write alerts you when it spots an incom- patible name and aborts. After a few false starts, I wished the program would scan the entire input name space and produce a comprehensive list of problem names. Some resellers of this drive offer software that wiO write non-9660-compliant names to the CD or that can map such names to legal 9660 equivalents on the fly. At issue here is the ability to use a CD recorder not only as a publishing tool but as an archiver. Obviously, if you're pub- lishing a disc, you'll want to comply with 9660. It's a different matter, though, if you simply want to dump the contents of your hard drive to long-term storage on a CD. In that case, you'll want to keep hyphenated names (which MSCDEX can, in fact, read) or else correct them automatically. Opinions differ as to how useful CD recorders are for archiving. Sustaining 300 KBps for the duration of the write session is a stringent requirement, and if there's a break in the flow of data, you've wasted an expensive disc. It's impractical, therefore, to feed the recorder from a network drive. Even a heavily fragmented local DOS vol- ume could pose a problem. While the abil- ity to archive to CD is limited, however, it can still be useful in some circumstances. Philips agrees that a future version of CD- Write should deal with names in a way that better supports archiving. Quirks aside, producing the CD-ROM disc was an amazing experience. For mass production of discs, you'll still need the services of a disc-mastering house, but the money you'll save by producing and dis- tributing your own beta discs could pay for the drive in short order. Limited pro- duction you can simply do yourself, writ- ing CDs on demand. The OSF/1 distribu- tion discs, for example, are published this way using Young Minds' CD-mastering software for Unix and the Philips drive. If you think Quark, Frame, and PageMaker are the be-all and end-all of desktop pub- lishing, you ain't seen nothing yet. ■ Jon Udell is a BYTE senior technical edi- tor at large. You can reach him on BIX as "judell. " 218 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 ite s&ue vitysome people Still do calculates* Aside fro^i the quarter mil- lion or so people who already H6.fi Mathcadf most tmifltlrz and scientist? continue +& do calcwlatioKiS-by nand. l/sina Calculators and math notation. Maf/ic-ad comes w)ifh m^re. 5cra-tch pads. 0r jamming +hewi into spreadsheet. Or pounding away' at code or\ their [uor|c- I sheet: (9rapio result? in j-p and . 3-p. Change variably and ' instantly update answers. Add | text \t> Support your work. And print presentation quality \ to fw|/y interactive formulas, doc-umerrte complete uicHi text, dia^nawis and daia -fables, graphics and equations in real directly drow popular reference books. \jOork lAii-Hi fViCw rtyht m tHe handkwk ifeel-f Or dick arid paste, -them {or use in your /Mathcl 7-577-1 Ot 7 I f-*O0-M/\THCAD tono- Kitfnly -wsed •functions built- in, in dud m 9 exponentials, differentials, cubic $plmes, PFfsand more. Full symbolic^ Capabilities are available with a menu pick, 50 you can Evaluate any integral, Taylor series or in-finite Sum ju5>t by C-l ickina . Optional Electronic -Hand- books* ai/e you instan-tdecsss FREE Mathcad Working Model. Mathcad Working Model: The /Mathcad Working Model includes a concise demonstration a«d a fwll/ functioning version of tV|e product It's tVie best way to introduce yourself -fa -rtie power and esse of MatVicad.. s»f Nawe Ti'tie Company ISPECfFV: ' | P PC u'indouis"' | P PC POS □ UNIX® □ Macintosh® Address City Stare ■Zip ■I Country Prione _____ J ' Math Soft, Tlv\Cs. 701 Broadway, CatoWidgBj AMQ2-t3- user anci Progress superior to com- client/server environments. But petitors on everything from strength of product don't take our word for it. Listen to a source to quality of service and support. Which is only far more convincing. Your peers. For survey logical, since Progress is the one develop- results or a test drive, call 1-800-4 Progress. THE APPLICATION DEVELOPER'S CHOICE. Progress applications are fully portable across the broadest spectrum of hardware platforms, operating systems, network protocols and user inter- faces. So many, in fact, that we had to list them here in small type: aix,™ ctos, hp/ux,™ Novell* nlm, osf/i, k os/2,* os/400,™ unix* ultrix,™ vms™ XENIX,' MICROSOFT* WINDOWS,™ X WINDOWS,™ DECnet,™ LAN MANAGER,™ neTBIOS,™ NOVELL* SPX/lPX, TCP/lP and SNA APPC LU 6.2. Also, Progress lets you process information in other databases, including as/4oo,c-isam,™ ct-isam,™ oracle, Rdb, and rms. Circle 148 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 1 49). NEURAL NET ADDS SMARTS use its automatic heuristics, the network never dropped below 45 percent error af- ter extensive testing, producing near-ran- dom outputs. For my comparison, I specified a back- percolation network the same size as in my regular simulator, which uses a fully connected back-propagation architecture. 1 also set the learning parameters with sim- ilar values in each case. I trained the three networks — Lotus and Excel versions of Braincel, plus my regular simulator — with this data for 5300 training passes and then tested each version on both the original training data and on the unseen test data. The results are shown in the table. Braincel's back-percolation network performed marginally well in both tests. While the error reported by Braincel was half the rms (root mean square) error re- ported by Ansim, all three of the networks achieved similar levels of competence. I found no indication that the Braincel back-percolation networks learned the problem any faster than an ordinary back- propagation network — if anything, their performance was a bit worse. According to Promised Land vice president Murray Ruggiero, back-percolation networks train "much faster than back-propagation and give better answers." He claimed an im- provement of as much as tenfold in learn- ing speed using back percolation; my re- sults dispute this claim. When I described the problem and my training results to Mr. Ruggiero, he said the problem should be recast to a single output (the analog value), thus eliminat- ing the confidence-level categories, and suggested that when any network takes more than 1000 passes to train, the pre- processing has been done incorrectly. Such advice is totally misleading for many real- world problems. Difficult problems do lake longer to learn. His suggestion does imply, however, that back percolation may have difficulty with problems that have more than a single output response or with binary/analog mappings. Since Promised Land does not provide details of this algorithm, there is no way to judge its effectiveness except through side-by-side tests such as the one 1 used. To make matters worse, what took 2 hours and 35 minutes in my regular Win- dows-based simulator took over 1 8 hours in Braincel's Lotus package to achieve. (The Excel simulator was somewhat faster, training in only 15 hours and 24 minutes.) 1 suspect that part of the performance prob- lem is due to the overhead from the graph- ical Excel and Lotus environments. The Bottom Line While I love the notion of a spreadsheet- based simulator and had hoped that this product would rescue me from extensive drudgework, I have to give Braincel a thumbs-down for my purposes. Despite its nice charting functions and easy-to-use interface, its performance is too slow. With a rewritten manual and better se- lection heuristics, Braincel might suffice for relatively small and simple applica- tions, but performance considerations make it inappropriate for large-scale or difficult problems. ■ Maureen Caudill is author of In Our Own Image: Building an Artificial Person (Ox- ford University Press, 1992) and has writ- ten extensively on neural networks and AI. She is a consultant based in San Diego, California. She can be reached on BIX c/o "editors. " AITech Ride the Aitech Wave, and You are Sitting On Top of the Desktop Video World ! »4& ProPC/TV Plus • Portable PC-to-TV flicker-free encoder box • Allows TV/VGA concurrent display • Output VGA text and graphics into NTSC/S-VI IS/PAL • Supports VGA Hi-Color and True-Color modes • Supports all DOS and Windows 3.x applications • Converts VGA/S-VGA/PAL signals up to 16 million colors VideoSurge • 24-Bit full-motion video and image-capture board • 24-Bit True-Color, Real-Time video windows • Up to three NTSC/PAL video sources selectable • 640x480 resolution, up to 16 million colors • Under SVGA 1024x768 resolution • Supports stereo audio passthrough with volume control 224 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Aitech International, World Headquarters, 830 Hillview Court, Suite 145, Milpitas, CA 95035 Tel 408-946-3291 • 1-800-882-8184 • Fax 408-946-3597 Circle 234 on Inquiry Card. [N4W U U6' 34» x W075O18- 45 l:22M Recenter Map 4 22p To see if you need SureiMaps, take this simple test- Do you work anywhere on the earth's surface? Why Desktop Mapping? A recent study showed that as much as 80 percent of all information held by business and government can be geographi- cally referenced. That means, if you're not already working with a mapping program. ..you should be! See Your Data in a Different Light By plotting your data on a map, you can uncover trends, patterns, strengths and weaknesses you've never seen before. Whether you use this tool for your own analyses or to present your ideas to your colleagues, maps create a clearer picture of the data for better business decisions. Create Your Own Database SureiMaps™ comes with 36 standard symbols that you can overlay anywhere on the maps in many brilliant colors to heighten the impact of your displays. By defining up to 12 attributes for each symbol, you can turn your maps into a custom database which you can sort by symbol or attribute. Sure!Maps also lets you create your own symbols from scratch. A full-featured icon editor makes fit easy to build the shapes and sizes you want by drawing with A your mouse or using your keyboard. J Get Full-color Detail SureiMaps is the only program of its kind to offer full-color raster maps, complete No matter the industry... Transportation, Utilities, Real Estate, Manufacturing. Government, Education, Banking. Retail. Consulting. Healthcare, Insurance. Engineering, Oil & Gas. Legal, Research and Development No matter the job title... Property Manager, Architect. Accountant, Engineer, Surveyor, Franchise Manager. Relocation Specialist, Geologist. Manager, Sales Rep, Marketing Exec, Urban Planner. Administrative Assistant with topographic details! U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maps are provided in both 1 :100K and 1 :24K scales, so you get both a birds-eye overview and detailed close-ups of your areas of interest. Use Custom Maps and Applications Even old, unique or non-standard maps can be used with SureiMaps. For an addi- tional charge we'll scan and convert your charts or maps and return them to you on a CD-ROM for use with the SureiMaps software. Custom mapping applications are also available for special systems such as information kiosks. Scroll Across Seamless Map Displays SureiMaps' technology allows you to scroll from map to map in one continuous, seamless presentation. You can easily locate a city by selecting a city name, zip code, or area code and prefix. And you can even calculate line-of-sight distance or the area within a circle or rectangle you designate on the screen. This special introductory offer includes USGS maps for 10 major metropolitan areas, a sample of SPOT satellite imagery, a world map, and a vector outline map of the United States all on a single CD-ROM. All on CD-ROM for Only $349/?? (a $1000 value* Order Today! Call Horizons Technology at 1-800-828-3808 (VISA and MasterCard accepted.) * Package includes: • Raster maps for ten major metro areas • World map and oudine map of U. S. • Zip code and area code/prefix data sets • A powerful icon editor • Free sample of SPOT satellite imagery • User manual • Quick-reference guide HORIZONS TECHNOLOOY, INC. f Tff :':..:■:■«. SAftFRANClSte SAN DIEGO Imagine buying all this real estate for only $99! A $1000 value! The software comes with complete maps for 10 major metropolitan areas - all for a one-time low price of just $99! So whether you're plotting out a sales strategy, making a presentation, or calculat- ing distances. Sure! Maps is a valuable tool that quickly pays for itself many times over. SPOT Satellite Imagery SurelMaps includes a sample of satellite imagery for the Dallas/Ft. Worth f* / ::::: \ '..' ! '.'.-■::..':,' Screen 2: WindowsMaker Professional 4.0 features a tool- bar-based interface and a built-in dialog editor as well as support for snap- in code-generation modules. some significant stylistic differences. Like Case:W, WindowsMaker supports plug- in code-generation databases (called Switch-It modules) for MFC, OS/2 Pre- sentation Manager, OWL, the Windows NT API, and other environments. Besides support for Switch-It modules, WindowsMaker's most notable new fea- ture is its tool-bar interface. The tool bar lets you get to all the design, generation, and configuration utilities. Menu-making is easier in Windows- Maker than in Case:W. You just point and click on menu elements to choose menu names, accelerators, and linkages. Win- fcdt t ; R edraw! BVTE ACTION SUMMARY WHAT WINDOWS CODE GENERATORS ARE Prototyping and development tools that generate user-interface code from a visual designer. LIKES They cut development time dramatically, even for applications frameworks; plug-in code-generation modules contribute to portability. DISUKES Lack of synchronization with integrated compiler environments. RECOMMENDATIONS Choose between them based on personal preference, but every Windows developer should have one or the other. dowsMaker also supports multiple menu sets, so you can build menus that need to change dynamically. WindowsMaker also has a more com- prehensive set of design tools than does Case:W. It has a sophisticated built-in di- alog editor (see screen 2), which is easy to use and better than the editor provided by the SDK (Software Development Kit). Blue Sky's dialog editor can also pull in custom controls (e.g., Borland's 3-D style controls) from external DLLs. In general, WindowsMaker has the bet- ter visual designer interface. However, it lacks much on-line help and some of the PRICE Case:W Corporate Edition 4.02, $995 WindowsMaker Professional 4.0, $995 WindowsMaker Switch-It modules, $495 FOR MORE INFORMATION Caseworks, Inc. 1 Dunwoody Park, Suite 1 30 Atlanta, GA 30338 (800)635-1577 (404) 399-6236 fax:(404)399-9516 Circle 1 222 on Inquiry Card. Blue Sky Software Corp. 7486 La Jolla Blvd., Suite 3 La Jolla, CA 92037 (800) 677-4946 (619)459-6365 fax:(619)459-6366 Circle 1 223 on Inquiry Card. 226 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Allow us crank up the volume on your Just when you thought you had us pegged for building fiery-hot graphics cards we decide to , Hifis^I) throw a curve ball. And this one's aimed directly at your ears: the new Orchid Sound Producer Pro. An easy-to-load board that features a phenomenal 20-voice synthesizer, delivers sampling rates up to 44.1 KHz and is 100% compatible with SoundBlaster Pro, along with three other sound standards — Disney Sound Source, AdLib and Covox Speech Thing. MIDI support, joystick port, microphone, speakers and our exclusive Voice Notes (for audio post-its) are bundled for an absurdly low $199. For more details, call 800-7-ORCHID. Or fax: 510-490-9312. And prepare to sample true audio ecstasy. OKCJlilL) ©1 992 Orchid, Sound Producer and Voice Notes are trademarks of Orchid Technology. All other trademarks are owned by their respective manufacturers. Circle 131 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 132). BYTE BACK ISSUES FOR SALE Issues Available January February March April ] May June 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 IBM IBM IBM Oullook '92 Windows Portability July August September October November December Special Issues 1988 thru 1989 U.S. Delivery $3.00, Foreign Delivery $4.00 1990 thru 1992 U.S. Delivery $6.00, Foreign Delivery $8.00, Canada & Mexico $6.50 European customers please refer to Back Issue form in International Ad- vertising section of book. Please indicate which issues you would like by checking (V) the boxes. Send requests with payment to: BYTE Back Issues, One Phoenix Mill Lane Peterborough, N.H. 03458 (603)924-9281 □ Check enclosed Charge: □ VISA □ MasterCard Card# Exp. Date _ Signature Name Address City State Zip All orders must be prepaid. Please allow four weeks delivery. WINDOWS CODE GENERATORS nicer automated features of Case:W, such as the automatic help system. WindowsMaker and Case:W diverge most sharply in the design of generated code modules and user modules. While Case:W builds a simple collection of files and relies on its code-regeneration algo- rithm to protect user additions, Windows- Maker builds a hierarchical system of pro- tected and user-modifiable sources. There are three principal kinds of files: main source module, protected .WMC files, and user modules. Most user modifications go into the user modules, and you're not al- lowed to touch the .WMC files. Windows- Maker doesn't need to preserve user code, because it has full access to .WMC files and only declares user functions that you define in the user code modules. This makes for a better-protected system but imposes some restrictions. The file structure closely parallels the structure of applications written to the Windows API, but I found it hard to get used to with MFC. When building MFC applications, you don't define window class member functions; you define global functions, which are called by member functions in protected modules. Blue Sky is working on changes in the MFC module structure that should make things more straightfor- ward. WindowsMaker supports controls in the client area (by modifying a dialog box to act as the client window) and MDI appli- cations. However, its MDI support is more limited than Case:W's. Final Thoughts There are some difficulties common to both packages. The most significant is the conflict between integrated environments if you use a compiler with its own IDE. CaserW and WindowsMaker want to be your primary working environment, and getting them in sync with a compiler IDE is difficult. However, if you usually edit/ compile/debug using command-line tools, you won't find this much of a problem. Also, I tested these products with small applications. Coordinating interface de- velopment with large sections of back-end code could prove more difficult. Finally, as a minor complaint, neither directly sup- ports Windows 3.1 common dialogs. But that's the bad news. Overall, I got hooked quickly on both these packages. They cut a huge chunk out of up-front de- velopment time, and they make especially nice additions to OWL and MFC. ■ Steve Apiki is a technical editor for the BYTE Lab. You can reach him on BIX as "apiki" or on the Internet at apiki@hytepb .byte.com. 228 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 AWte^Portable Code That Really CranEs ,^ On Seven Different XVT's Portability Toolkit " is a powerful C development environment that allows you to build a single application, then re-compile to ever major GUI without rewriting code. XYT solutions also include an interactive design tool and a class library for C++ developers. •Supports Macintosh. Microsoft Windows. Windows NT. OS/2 Presentation Manager. OPEN LOOK. OSF/Motif, and Character Systems •Native look-and-feel to all target GUIs • Portability to 26 hardware systems •Access to the complete functionality ol every windowing system •Easier to use than native development toolkits •Minimal size and performance overhead •Shorter development cycles • No royalties or runtime fees • Clear documentation and responsive technical support Circle 1 88 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 1 89) . Now m its third generation, XYT is recognized as the industry leader in portable GUI development solutions and is the base document for the emerging IEEE standard. It is used by world-class software developers like •Novell •HP -AT&T 'Digital •Lockheed • Kodak •Grammatik/Relerence Software, because it allows them to take their applications to the widest market, quickly and cost effectively Don't write another line o\ code without gearing up to develop your application simultaneously for all GUIs. Call for technical materials and a demo. A Microsoft Windows & Windows ▲ Macintosh SOFTWARE INC The portable GUI development solution. 1-800-678-7988 XVT Software Inc. 4900 Pearl East Ct. Boulder. CO 80301 13031443-4223 FAX (303) 443-0969 For European Inquiries, contact: PVI Precision Software GmbH Phone: 49 61 03/37 94 Fax: 49 61 03/36 95 5 A OSF/Motil Shown above are four of the seven GUIs supported byXVT. "Recommended." Jerry Pournelle, Byte, July 1992 . - .... ■ ■ ■'■ 1 [111 t SupraFAXModem V.32bis Internal $349.95 DosAVIndaws The Best Choice: SupraFAXModem SupraFAXModem V.32bis External $399.95 Stand Alone $439.95 Dos/Windows Inside or Out, now you can choose the hot-selling SupraFAXModem technology that best fits your computer. Either way, Supra can turn your PC into a communications powerhouse! SupraFAXModems come in a wide range of models, from our budget-minded SupraFAXModem 24/96i to the fastest fax modem available: the SupraFAXModem V32bis. Whichever model you choose, you will get Supra's proven technology and reputation for high-quality, reliable modems. Supra modems are designed for novice and expert communicators alike. Whether you use DOS™, Windows™, or a Macintosh™ , we've got a package for you — and our Supra Corporation 'I* Featuring Rockwell Modem Technology MODEL INT./EXT. FAX DATA V.42bis & MNP 5 MAX THROUGHPUT 1 SupraFAXModem V.32bls E,l 14.400S/R 14,400 yes 57,600 SupraFAXModem V.32 B <;6oos/R 9600 : yes 38,400 SupraFAXModem Plus i: 96O0S/ 1! 2400 JEi 9600 SupraFAXModem 24/961 i 960OS/48OOR 2400 w/ 'software 9600 DOS Package Includes n idem. in Talk™ Plus, COMIt™, cables manuals • W ml >\YS *ackage include smix •m.Winfax' *, cables, manuals packages include everything you need. Plus our easy-to-follow Getting Started manuals will help you install your modem and start using it in just a few minutes! Imagine sending and receiving perfect faxes, exploring the world of on-line databases, or retrieving an important work file — all from the convenience of your desk. And advanced users will appreciate the error- correction aid data-compression features that can save you money! No matter what your needs, a Supra modem is your best choice. Call us today at 1-800-727-8647, and find out why CALLER ID Circle 1 99 on Inquiry Card. All trademarks belong to their respective companies. 7101 Supra Drive S.W., Albany, OR 97321 USA * 503-967-2410 • Fax: 503-967-2401 REVIEWS APPLICATION Topas 4.0 Simplifies 3-D TOM YAGER Topas, the 3-D modeling, rendering, and animation software from AT&T Graphics Software Labs, has long been a mainstay of graphics professionals. Now the audience is greater, with nongraphics types becoming interested in creating their own realistic 3-D images for logos, virtu- al prototypes, architectural previews, com- mercial animation, and business presen- tations. The latest version of Topas continues to serve this audience with some enhanced features. But its commonsense interface also gives business people who are new to 3-D the tools to produce dynamic 3-D images and animations for presentations and other projects. The Nickel Tour Topas 4.0 is a complete 3-D graphics sys- tem designed for 386- and 486-based com- puters. It combines three vital components that all professional 3-D systems should address. First, it is its own modeler. With Topas, you can create 3-D objects from scratch or import and modify objects cre- ated elsewhere. Second, Topas has a built- in renderer, which uses the PC to calcu- late surfaces, the part of every object (real or simulated) that reflects light and shows the object's color, texture, and other visu- al attributes. The Tenderer then converts those calculations into graphics for your monitor or printer. It is the effectiveness of the renderer that determines how close your 3-D images come to reality. And finally, Topas animates 3-D graph- ics. Topas can make objects move along a path you specify, make the objects change shape and surface characteristics, alter the point of view (or camera), adjust lighting, and control other elements that define a scene. A low-quality version of an anima- tion can be created and played back di- rectly by your computer. You can record one frame at a time to videotape or record- able laserdisc (or film, for that matter) to create high-resolution smooth motion. Topas runs under DOS and manages its own extended and virtual memory. You'll need 8 MB of RAM, a compatible mouse or tablet, and a graphics display. Topas runs on many kinds of displays, including VESA (Video Electronics Standards As- sociation-compatible VGA controllers. I was disappointed to find there was no Among the new features of Topas 4.0 are bump and procedural maps, which give greater control over lighting and surfaces. support for so-called "hi-color" VGAs. While Topas will run in any resolution supported by your VESA VGA, it will support a maximum of only 256 colors. In its defense, Topas does more with a 256-color palette than any graphics pack- age I've seen. For more colors, you'll need more expensive Truevision Targa, Targa+, ATVista, or compatible boards. Drivers for the display-board component of Ma- trox Studio (see "Style Meets Substance in Matrox Studio," November BYTE) were not ready in time for this review, but they are on the way. Topas operates with either one or two monitors. By making changes to an ed- itable configuration file, you can direct the program's menus, wireframe object dis- play and creation, and full-color render- ing to either monitor in a two-monitor system. In the BYTE Multimedia Lab, I ran Topas with both a Diamond Stealth VRAM VGA and a Truevision ATVista with 4 MB of display memory. One aspect of Topas that catches some people off guard is its security block. Topas will not run on any system that does not have the block plugged into its parallel port. This is the least intrusive of the copy- protection schemes I've seen; it actually controls not how many copies you make but how many you use at once (one). I sometimes find myself juggling around the many blocks I have because every block wants to be first in line. I wish se- curity blocks weren't necessary, but I un- derstand the need for them. Getting to First Base The previous version of Topas was short on packaging and documentation. The new manuals are c big improvement, and they include a well-done tutorial booklet that teaches you 3-D fundamentals and walks you through a few sample scenes. The ref- erence manual, however, is laid out in the same structure as the program's pull-down menus. The manual should have been split between guide and reference sections, since material is needlessly duplicated. Topas needs the most work in its on- line help. This version is the first with help, but it's not terribly useful. The help system is also linked to the menu structure, and it gives you a few scant words of expla- nation for any menu item you click on — but there are no keyword searches, no main index, and none of the structure you ex- pect from a help system. Still, the docu- mentation, particularly the tutorial, will get you up to speed fast, and Topas 's com- monsense interface makes trips back to JANUARY 1993 •BYTE 231 Circle 1 14 on Inquiry Card. Rack & Desk TOPAS 4.0 SIMPLIFIES 3-D FOR llllllll Chassis XT/AT/286/386/486 llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Integrand's unique packaging design uses modular construction. We have 3 basic models for ISA/EISA bus computers. Over 90 interchangable modules allow you to customize them to nearly any requirement. We make drive enclosures and rackmount keyboards too. Integrand offers high quality, advanced design hardware and strong support. Why settle for less? Rack & Desk Models Accepts Most Motherboards and Passive Backplanes Doesn't Look Like IBM Rugged, Modular Construction Excellent Air Flow & Cooling Designed to meet FCC 204 Watt Supply, UL Recognized 200 & 300 Watt Supplies, UL, CSA, TUV Reasonably Priced wj00 Rackmount Keyboards MM m\^' Three Models: Drawer, Shelf, and Panel Reasonably Priced Call or write for descriptive brochures, prices or applications assistance: INTEGRAND 8620 Roosevelt Ave. • Visalia, CA 93291 209/651-1203 FAX 209/651-1353 We accept VISA and MasterCard tBWXVAT TM IBM • Z8&3Sm86 TM INTEL Duves and computer boards ml Included the manual unnecessary after a while. In a one-display system, all your draw- ing, menu selections, rendering, and ani- mation take place on the same screen. Most functions are spread across the top of the screen in the ever-present menu bar; the rest are in the materials palette, activated by sweeping the mouse or tablet pointer off the bottom of the screen. That latter gesture may sound odd, but it becomes quite natural after a few uses. Topas is dominated by an "action-selection" par- adigm: You choose first the action you wish to carry out, then the object or ob- jects you wish to affect. This takes some getting used to, since most graphics pro- grams use the "selection-action" model. The lines between the modeler, Tender- er, and animator in Topas are blurry, be- cause all functions are always available through a single menu hierarchy. Conse- quently, there's no abrupt shift from one module to another as your work pro- BITE ACTION SUMMARY WHAT TOPAS 4.0 IS A professional 3-D modeling, rendering, and animation program for 386- and 486-based PCs. It is designed to be used both by experts and those new to 3-D. LIKES Simple, commonsense interface; performance; multilayer object maps; and rotoscoping. DISLIKES No surface preview; poor object map-positioning tools; and poor on-line help. RECOMMENDATIONS The best PC 3-D system for the money, Topas is easy to learn and use, it's adaptable to varying hardware configurations, ana it produces stunning results. PRICE Desktop version, $1 995 Professional version, $4995 FOR MORE INFORMATION AT&T Graphics Software Labs 3520 Commerce Crossing, Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317)844-4364 fax:(317)845-6917 Circle 1131 on Inquiry Card. gresses. Topas' s modeler is impressive; it is easier to build new 3-D objects from scratch here than in any other PC package I've worked with. Right from the start, every object is 3-D — even the "flat" ones. As soon as you stretch out a rectangle or close a polygon, it gets assigned default color and surface properties, and you can render it immediately. Topas offers both polygon and spline- based object-building tools. The menus offer an assortment of simple shapes, which you can combine to create more complex objects, and Topas includes a se- lection of scalable fonts. Release 4.0 adds the ability to read and make 3-D shapes from Adobe Type 1 fonts, including those used with Adobe Type Manager. I think that new users would get a lot of mileage out of the 3-D text and basic shapes alone — they're all that's needed to create most kinds of business graphics. Topas's modeler can help you create more complicated drawings than the stan- dard objects can provide. Its 2-D polygon and spline shapes are the basic building blocks of custom objects, and you can hand-draw them, import them, or trace bit- map graphics. They can be given depth in a remarkable number of ways, from simple extrusion (like pushing Play-Doh through a cutout in the shape of your 2-D object) to lathing (i.e., rotating a 2-D shape around an axis to create a cylindrical object such as a vase, a flashlight, or a bowling pin) to cross-section modeling (i.e., wrapping a skin around a shaped frame). Objects are brought together through grouping, and any operation that can be carried out on an object can be applied to the whole group. When you need more precision, an operation can be restricted to a single poly- gon within an object. The modeler also offers you plenty of ways to modify the objects you create. One of the more interesting and useful functions is Drill, which cuts a hole through an object in the shape of a polygon you draw. Topas 4.0 adds the ability to drill to a certain depth — a powerful func- tion that can be used to make an object appear engraved, for example. Render Me This Your model exists as a wireframe drawing until you kick in the renderer, which offers you a wide selection of shading methods, including flat, metallic, Gouraud, and Phong. Each object or polygon within an object can have its own surface proper- ties, which include not only the shading method, but also the color, transparency, highlights, and other elements. Most sur- face properties are set through the materi- als palette, which also controls the color of 232 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 FUNCTION FOPADDR PARAMETERS NAME RMMI ADDRESS, ZIPCODE.OTY ADDRESS --SPACE (3o) ZIP CODE- CITY = SPACE &o) SET COLOR TO W/N CLEAR 5GREEN e> 2,10 SMNME © 3,10 SM" Address" @4,10SArZvp" @5,ioSAY"G\W' & 3,30 GET ADDRESS © 430G£T2\?CDDEPiaUiF LOCATE +,30' INPUT Z.1K0DE AOOO- SAY-MM" LOCATE 5,30 : INPUT CITY$ DISPLAY M END FUNCTION ACCEPT/ STOP fl c Odyssee lets you avoid the punishment of programming development. Creating applications doesn't have to hurt The extraordinarily complex process of writing software applications is time-consuming and repetitive. And can get you into a lot of trouble. If after months of writing in excess of thou- sands of lines of code a client decides to change the specs or platform, the punishing procedure begins all over again. Introducing Odyssee from Case Design, a new concept in programming development soft- Odyssee is innovative, flexible and portable ware that eliminates the need for editors or a high degree of technical skill. Odyssee is a fully inte- grated tool that features DBMS support, WYSI- WYG user interface design and reporting. In the development cycle, you can access a wide variety of helpful features including a data dictionary, physical and logical independence, tasks, actions, events and expressions. Resulting applications can run on a variety of OS platforms Call for a free demo disk and try it yourself (DOS, WINDOWS, UNIX) with no change. Creating the data structure and manipulating the database are features of Odyssee that are transparent to the developers. Odyssee can simultaneously access and simplify the use of many different DBMS, including XBASE, ORACLE, UNIFY, SYBASE and DB RAIMA. Call Case Design to learn how truly edify- ing Odyssee can be. Odyssee features & capabilities • No code or editors needed. • Totally menu-driven. • Object-orientation. • Hypertext technology included. • Data and process independence. • Powerful built-in data manipulation. • No run-time fees. ,' piaducl". and band m :ird n;i;:^:,-2J rauii-TO''.", cl :ho : ri.ipcc'.vi! companies Free introductory offer Purchase Odyssee now and you'll receive a tree introductory offer valued at $400. The Odyssee starter kit — $1299 MS-DOS, XBASE for single user. Other platforms available. Call today for more details. 30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE Circle 235 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 236). CASE DESIGN RESULTS ORIENTED Call 1-800-880-1100 9111 jollyville Road • Suite 207 • Austin, Texas 78759 I Phone (512] 346-8991 • Fax (512) 346-7920 Ad Code Bl Subscription Problems? We want to help! you have a problem with your BYTE sub- scription, write us with the details. We'll do our best to set it right. But we must have the name, address, and zip of the subscription (new and old address, if it's a change of address). If the problem involves a payment, be sure to include copies of the credit card statement, or front and back of cancelled checks. Include a "business hours" phone number if possible. BVTE Magazine Attn. Subscriber Service, P.O. Box 555 Hightstown, NJ 08520 234 BYTE* JANUARY 1993 TOPAS 4.0 SIMPLIFIES 3-D the background and ambient lighting. The materials palette can create surfaces that have only a single color; that's obvi- ously not enough. For better than that, you must turn to Topas's object-mapping ca- pability. An object map applies an image, usually taken from a graphic on disk, to an object's surface. You'd use object map- ping, for instance, to put the text on the label of a champagne bottle. The new To- pas adds procedural maps, images com- puted on the fly that look much like wood, clouds, marble, and other patterns occur- ing in nature (and some that occur only in your mind). Release 4.0 also adds bump, luminance, shininess, and other kinds of special object-mapping techniques that use a mapped image to change the way light reflects from an object. A single object can now have up to 255 maps. Topas lets you create any combi- nation of maps you like, which gives you the ability to create everything from de- cals to topographical effects. Maps are po- sitioned on objects by sliding around a scaled version of the map inside a rectan- gle that roughly approximates a flattened version of the object you're mapping. One of my key gripes about Topas is that it lacks a surface preview facility (ex- cept with procedural maps). Most 3-D packages let you see the surface you're working with mapped to a small shape — usually a sphere. With Topas, you must render an object to see the effects of the surface properties and maps you've ap- plied. However, it's easier now than in previous releases, because the renderer will render a selected object, group, or rectangular window. I'm also not a fan of the map-positioning tools, which are too primitive for irregularly shaped objects. Lights play an important role in 3-D, and Topas has a lot going for it here. In addition to the ambient light that washes over a whole scene, you can add spot, dis- tant, and omnidirectional lights to your scene. These appear as objects, and you can move and color them as you would any object. One extremely helpful feature is the Light View, which puts a camera inside a light (usually a spot) so you can see exactly what it's pointed at. Another unique lighting method is animated sun- light, which lets you place your scene at a specified position on the earth and have a sun (i.e., a distant light) animated accu- rately according to the time of day, date, and weather conditions. Topas's renderer creates realistic-look- ing shading (see the screen). A special type of map, the environment map, lets objects reflect the background and the objects around them. This usually requires ray tracing, a time-consuming operation for a Flatly Refuse to Compromise on Graphics! Today's graphics cards bulldoze you into a compromise, sacrificing speed for resolution, or resolution for realistic color. ATI's new GRAPHICS ULTRA cards give you all-round performance... speed, color and resolution all atthe same time. ^^H ■vwmr 9 ^^| mi 25.5m All ■■ *« u e CO E w o •^ 0> a. 3 o ■a e 1 -inch floppy drive is now a 1 .76-MB device, a welcome step up from the long-standing 880 KB. An- other plus in the 4000-040 is that Com- modore finally brought the Amiga's video up to modern standards. In most video modes, the Amiga 4000-040's on-board video controller puts out 256 colors from a palette of 16.7 million (as do most Macs and some VGA-equipped PCs). Like other recent Amigas (including the ■^F*g«.JHfiAi4nMi^£ 3000T), you can use an ordinary VGA monitor with the new models. The new video controller still supports optional genlock (video overlay) and all the old Amiga video modes. If your applications software gets confused, however, the 4000-040 can emulate an older graphics chip set. To accommodate the 68040, existing 3000Ts require a new set of boot ROMs. In addition to updating the system software to get it working with the 68040, the new ROMs give you greater control at boot time. If you hold down both mouse but- tons as you power up or reboot, a graphi- cal menu appears that invites you to se- lect your boot device from the drives attached to your system. This is expanded in the 4000-040's ROMs, which not only let you choose your boot device, but also allow you to alter your configuration by enabling and dis- abling drives as you require. In addition, you can choose to boot without executing the Startup-Sequence script (which is the equivalent of DOS's AUTOEXEC.BAT), make minor changes to your display JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 239 COMMODORE GETS TOUGH configuration, and check the status of ex- pansion boards. The Expanding Universe Amigas have had internal expansion ca- pability since the 2000, and these new sys- tems are carrying on the tradition. Both machines have four types of expansion connectors inside: 100-pin Zorro II/III Amiga board slots, 16-bit ISA bus slots, 200-pin CPU module sockets, and video expansion slots. The 3000T-040 has five Zorro expansion slots for Amiga-specific peripherals, two of which are in line with ISA slots to conserve space. There are also two ISA slots off by themselves, giving you enough room for a total of five Ami- ga and two PC boards. The 4000-040 has a total of four Zorro slots. Three of these slots double as ISA slots; the fourth is in line with the video slot. BYTE ACTION SUMMARY I WHAT THE AMIGA 3000T-040/200 AND 4000-040/120 ARE Amigas with 25-MHz 68040 processors in tower and desktop cases, respectively. I LIKES Excellent integer and floating- point performance; smarter boot ROMs; significant operating- system enhancements; high- density floppy drive on the 4000-040. DISLIKES Commodore forbids expansion by owners; 256-color video modes on the 4000-040 are slow. RECOMMENDATIONS These are fast, stable, and affordable systems for 3-D, video, and multimedia, as well as for general applications. PRICE Amiga 3000T-040: $5998 Amiga 4000-040: $3699 FOR MORE INFORMATION Commodore Business Machines, Inc. 1 200 Wilson Dr. West Chester, PA 1 9380 (215)431-9100 fax:(215)431-9465 Circle T 1 32 on Inquiry Card. The Amiga isn't designed to run ISA boards. The ISA slots are intended for use with one of Commodore's Bridgeboards, self-contained PCs that run DOS applica- tions asynchronously, sharing resources with the Amiga. The Bridgeboards plug into a Zorro/ISA in-line slot, driving the ISA bus and giving the Amiga a split per- sonality. Running a PC inside your Amiga might seem an odd thing to do, but Com- modore has engineered it so well that I cannot imagine running an Amiga with- out it. I use the Bridgeboard to hook my 3000T into the DOS networks in the Mul- timedia Lab. Software included with the Bridgeboard copies files between DOS and Amiga file systems. The PC on the Bridgeboard can use Amiga hard and flop- py drives, and you can connect drives meant just for DOS. Expansion Concerns All this expansion capability is great, but whether you actually can expand your own Amiga is another question entirely. To in- sert an expansion board, add a hard drive, or change your system's jumpers (things that are all clearly documented in the Ami- ga manuals), you must break a warranty seal. Commodore's policy stipulates that only authorized Amiga service centers can open the case, and only they can reseal it. While I understand Commodore's wish to protect itself from any damage that might be done by botched expansion at- tempts, the way Amigas are sold makes the policy unrealistic. In the U.S., Amiga dealerships aren't always just around the corner; the notion of shipping my Amiga to a service center to get an expansion board installed doesn't thrill me. Of course, not every dealer will charge you to open your case, and most current Amiga owners sim- ply disregard Commodore's edict that users stay out of their own machines. But in this age of the power user — the very audience Commodore is targeting with these high-performance systems — it's a pity Commodore is sticking with a re- strictive policy that Apple and most PC manufacturers parted with long ago. The Amiga's New Clothes AmigaDOS 2. 1 (and some of the releases that preceded it) goes a long way toward addressing the issues that have kept the Amiga down all these years. Some of the changes are obvious: Workbench's Win- dows-like 3-D shading of window borders and graphical interface elements, for ex- ample. Other changes are less obvious, with the expansion of the Amiga's stan- dard software set being foremost among them. One of Commodore's strengths is the loyalty of its customers and software de- velopers. The latest AmigaDOS/Work- bench setup includes two key packages that were once sold separately by third parties: ARexx and CrossDOS. ARexx has been an Amiga mainstay for years. It is to the Amiga what GWBASIC once was to DOS, except that ARexx is, in some ways, more powerful. Rexx, the IBM-born pro- gramming language now seen in OS/2, has been adapted and given some Amiga-spe- cific twists. It plugs into AmigaDOS's in- terapplication communication mechanism (port- and message-oriented) and can drive applications remotely. Virtually every Amiga program written or updated in the last few years can be driven by ARexx, with one stand-out ex- ample being the Video Toaster. The en- tire switcher interface can be manipulated with simple ARexx commands, and even ToasterPaint has an ARexx port. It's ARexx that allows the Toaster to be driven re- motely by video editors and other devices. This is possible because ARexx listens to the Amiga's serial port and the Toaster listens to ARexx. CrossDOS is a nifty driver that lets you access DOS disks from an unmodified Amiga. After the driver is installed, any DOS disk you insert into the Amiga's flop- py drive gets mounted and masquerades as an Amiga file system. No operation is blocked — you can even DOS-format blank disks. The Bridgeboard provides the ulti- mate PC connection, but CrossDOS is a comfortable compromise. Video Entrenchment My tests showed applications performance to be two to three times better for the new machines than for the 68030-based Ami- gas. The new operating-system software looks better, is more stable, and has more standard features than any previous re- lease, and Commodore's hardware design is solid and sensible. Amigas are now firmly entrenched in video, 3-D, and multimedia production markets. World-class applications like the Video Toaster, Scala, Deluxe Paint, and AmigaVision (included with every Amiga) show the value and viability of the Amiga in the markets it dominates. The perfor- mance boost, coupled with other software and hardware enhancements, brings the Amiga into the 1990s. ■ Tom Yager is director of the BYTE Multi- media Lab, a multimedia consultant, and author of The Multimedia Producer's Handbook (Academic Press, forthcoming). He can be reached on BIX as "tyager" and on the Internet at tyager® bytepb .byte.com. 240 BYTE- JANUARY 1993 YOUR DIRECT LINK CARD For free product information, mail your completed card today. For quicker response, fax to 1-413-637-4343! 1. Circle the Numbers on Your Direct Link Card Circle the numbers which are found on ads and articles in this issue or circle the product category number and receive information on all advertisers listed in that category. 2. Print Your Name and Address Answer questions "A" through "E" and mail or fax card to 1-413-637-4343. 3. Product information will be rushed to you from the selected companies! BVTE m information on the folk )wing products! Fill out this coupon carefully. 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236 261 286 311 336 361 386 593 618 643 668 693 718 743 950 975 1000 1025 1050 1075 1100 1307 1332 1357 1382 1407 1432 1457 : 237 262 287 312 337 362 387 594 619 644 669 694 719 744 951 976 1001 1026 1051 1076 1101 1308 1333 1358 1383 1408 1433 1458 i 238 263 288 313 338 363 388 595 620 645 670 695 720 745 952 977 1002 1027 1052 1077 1102 1309 1334 1359 1384 1409 1434 1459 i 239 264 289 314 339 364 389 596 621 646 671 696 721 746 953 978 1003 1028 1053 1078 1103 1310 1335 1360 1385 1410 1435 1460 : 240 265 290 315 340 365 390 597 622 647 672 697 722 747 954 979 1004 1029 1054 1079 1104 1311 1336 1361 1386 1411 1436 1461 • 241 266 291 316 341 366 391 598 623 648 673 698 723 748 955 980 1005 1030 1055 1080 1105 1312 1337 1362 1387 1412 1437 1462 i 242 267 292 317 342 367 392 599 624 649 674 699 724 749 956 981 1006 1031 1056 1081 1106 1313 1338 1363 1388 1413 1438 1463 1 243 268 293 318 343 368 393 600 625 650 675 700 725 750 957 982 1007 1032 1057 1082 1107 1314 1339 1364 1389 1414 1439 1464 j 244 269 294 319 344 369 394 601 626 651 676 701 726 751 958 983 1008 1033 1058 1083 1108 1315 1340 1365 1390 1415 1440 1465 ; 245 270 295 320 345 370 395 602 627 652 677 702 727 752 959 984 1009 1034 1059 1084 1109 1316 1341 1366 1391 1416 1441 1466 • 246 271 296 321 346 371 396 603 628 653 678 703 728 753 960 985 1010 1035 1060 1085 1110 1317 1342 1367 1392 1417 1442 1467 : 247 272 297 322 347 372 397 604 629 654 679 704 729 754 961 986 1011 1036 1061 1086 1111 1318 1343 1368 1393 1418 1443 1468 I 248 273 298 323 348 373 398 605 630 655 680 705 730 755 962 987 1012 1037 1062 1087 1112 1319 1344 1369 1394 1419 1444 1469 j 249 274 299 324 349 374 399 606 631 656 681 706 731 756 963 988 1013 1038 1063 1088 1113 1320 1345 1370 1395 1420 1445 1470 • 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 607 632 657 682 707 732 757 964 989 1014 1039 1064 1089 1114 1321 1346 1371 1396 1421 1446 1471 ! 251 276 301 326 351 376 401 608 633 658 683 708 733 756 965 990 1015 1040 1065 1090 1115 1322 1347 1372 1397 1422 1447 1472 i 252 277 302 327 352 377 402 609 634 659 684 709 734 7:-B 966 991 1016 1041 1066 1091 1116 1323 1348 1373 1398 1423 1448 1473 I 253 278 303 328 353 378 403 610 635 660 685 710 735 760 967 992 1017 1042 1067 1092 1117 1324 1349 1374 1399 1424 1449 1474 I 254 279 304 329 354 379 404 611 636 661 686 711 736 761 968 993 1018 1043 1068 1093 1118 1325 1350 1375 1400 1425 1450 1475 ! 255 280 305 330 355 380 405 612 637 662 687 712 737 762 969 994 1019 1044 1069 1094 1119 1326 1351 1376 1401 1426 1451 1476 • 256 281 306 331 356 381 406 613 638 663 688 713 738 763 970 995 1020 1045 1070 1095 1120 1327 1352 1377 1402 1427 1452 1477 i 257 282 307 332 357 382 407 614 639 664 689 714 739 764 971 996 1021 1046 1071 1096 1121 1328 1353 1378 1403 1428 1453 1478 258 283 308 333 358 383 408 615 640 665 690 715 740 765 972 997 1022 1047 1072 1097 1122 1329 1354 1379 1404 1429 1454 147 YOUR DIRECT LINK CARD For free product information, mail your completed card today. For quicker response, fax to 1-413-637-4343! c: CO > ^L CD p. > O ro o CO I CO CO ro en ~0 O 00 O X en m CO m < o BD -n CD —i c i< ^■^■i s z I - m c/> m 3 C/> 3D o m -~J ■o ^™ ■o -< =l 33 ^ m > ^^Ml > I - See reverse side for card. 1 . Circle the Numbers on Your Direct Link Card Circle the numbers which are found on ads and articles in this issue or circle the product category number and receive information on all advertisers listed in that category. 2. Print Your Name and Address Answer questions "A" through "E" and mail or fax card to 1-413-637-4343. 3. Product information will be rushed to you from the selected companies! B YTE m REVIEWS HARDWARE Photography by the Numbers HOWARD EGLOWSTEIN You never have to buy another roll of film again. Or do you? Electronic pho- tography has made terrific progress in the last few years. Take away the film, and cameras produce instant results, cost noth- ing to operate, and use no ecologically damaging film and chemical waste to be concerned about. Sounds idyllic — what's the catch? Until a short time ago, the prices of elec- tronic cameras would have made anybody shudder. Top-rated models like Kodak's DCS sold for $25,000— well out of range for most potential users. Low-end models such as Canon's Xapshot and Logitech's Fotoman sold for less than $1000, but they took pictures that looked more like still frames from an inexpensive camcorder. As the market continues to mature, manu- facturers are building more mainstream models. For several weeks, I've been shooting with two cameras in the $10,000 price range: Kodak's DCS 200ci and Sony's ProMavica MVC-7000 Still Video cam- era. These two cameras are nothing short of amazing. I've used a few of the $1000 electronic cameras before, and I wasn't impressed. But the DCS 200ci and the MVC-7000 are professional cameras, and, by any metric, they take high-quality pic- tures. Kodak's DCS 200ci The DCS 200ci is the little cousin of Ko- dak's larger DCS 100 digital camera. Both models use a high-resolution CCD (charge- coupled device) array to capture color im- ages digitally. The $25,000 DCS 100, which is built around a Nikon F3 camera body, is intended for full-time photojour- nalists and press photographers. The down- sized DCS 200 is built around the smaller Nikon 8008s camera, and using it is like using the 8008s as a film camera. If you set the camera to auto-focus and auto-expo- sure, it's no harder to use than an Insta- matic. There are four models of the DCS 200: color or monochrome, with or without the internal hard drive. Any model can use ex- ternal hard drives for extended shooting. Prices start at $8495 for the black-and- white model with single-image storage. I tested the $9995 DCS 200ci, the color model with the internal hard drive. The Sony MVC-7000 (left) and the Kodak DCS 200ci (right) take pictures without film. Images are stored digitally on magnetic media. Kodak's contribution to the DCS 200 was in crafting a camera back that looks like a roll of film to the Nikon 8008s body. A 1524- by 1012-pixel-resolution CCD array mounts where the film would be, and the image memory, hard drive, bat- teries, and processing unit make up the rest of the back. There's a small LCD to show you how much space you have left on the disk and a 25-pin SCSI connection for attaching the DCS 200 to your Mac- intosh or PC. The integration to the Nikon body is incredibly well thought out. The back snaps onto the body and attaches se- curely with one screw. The fact that the Nikon doesn't know about the digital back presents a few trade- offs. The Kodak CCD array is physically smaller than a 35mm frame, so you can't use the entire viewfinder. To help you compensate for this, Kodak replaces the standard viewfinder with a custom one that grays out the edges of the frame. Con- sequently, you can't use the 8008s's fa- mous "matrix metering" mode. Matrix me- tering is a sophisticated technique that sets the optimal exposure level for each pho- tograph. The hard drive takes between 3 and 6 seconds to transfer the captured image from the CCD array to the hard drive, so you can't set the Nikon to shoot at multi- ple frames per second. On the plus side, because of the small CCD array, any lens will behave as if it had a focal length 2.6 times its size. The standard 28-mm Nikkor AF lens gives you the same field of view as a standard 70-mm lens. For this review, I borrowed a 70- to 210-mm auto-focus zoom lens, which worked like a 200- to 500-mm zoom. After you take a picture, there's a brief lag as the camera back hums to life, and a soft purr as the image transfers to the hard drive. To see your pictures, you have to connect the camera to a computer. The DCS 200 connects through a SCSI cable to either a Mac or a PC (equipped with a Fu- ture Domain 1660 SCSI adapter). I didn't have the required adapter handy, so I didn't have a chance to try out the PC software. The DCS software comes as a Photoshop JANUARY 1993 :YTE 241 PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE NUMBERS Photo 1: The resolution of the Kodak DCS 200 results in sharp, clear images at 1524 by 1012 pixels. The single-chip arrangement yields colors that are slightly softer than those you get from Sony's three-chip setup, and large neutral areas often have a subtle mottling effect. If you print the full image at 300 dots per inch, it measures about 3'A by 5 inches. plug-in (or on the PC as a PhotoStyler driv- er). On either platform the interface is the same: The camera sends the computer a series of thumbnail images. You select one and acquire it into a new document, like using a scanner. Inside the camera, color images are stored in a compressed format. The pix- els in the CCD array are covered with an RGB filter. When you transfer the image to Photo 2: The Sony MVC-7000' s resolution is lower than that of the Kodak camera, but its three CCD chips yield more accurate colors. Notice the slight pixelation in the doll 's eyes. If you look closely at the blue button, you '11 also see a bit of video bleed of the blue onto the gray background. The 768- by 493-pixel image printed at 300 dpi would be about 1.75 by 2.5 inches. the computer, an interpolation routine in the Photoshop or PhotoStyler module fig- ures out the 24-bit color of a pixel by look- ing at adjacent pixels. You tell the inter- polation routine what color light you shot with by selecting one of the standard set- lings or by clicking on a white area and letting the software do a dynamic white balance. The result is a crystal-clear, 1524- by 1012-pixel image (4.5 MB in size) with II il'J 1 3 ACTION SUMMARY ■ WHAT ELECTRONIC CAMERAS ARE ■ PRICE These cameras capture images Kodak DCS 200, $9995 electronically without film. (as tested) Sony MVC-7000, $8900 ■ LIKES (as tested) No film is required, results can be previewed quickly, and output is ■ FOR MORE INFORMATION exceptional. Eastman Kodak Co. U.S. Marketing Operations ■ DISLIKES 343 State St. Lower resolution than film. Rochester, NY 14650 (800) 242-2424 ■ RECOMMENDATIONS (716)724-6888 The resolution of both models Circle 1224 on Inquiry Card. makes them perfect for small images or newspaper-type pictures Sony Corp. of America printed with coarse halftone Electronic Photography and screens; they're not good enough Publishing for shooting full-page glossy 3 Paragon Dr. magazine images. Montvale, NJ 07645 (201)930-6576 fax:(201)358-4942 Circle T225 on Inquiry Card. very good, albeit slightly mottled, color (see photo I ). Sony's ProMavica MVC-7000 In the strictest sense, the Sony MVC-7000 ($7500 for the body; about $8900 as test- ed) isn't really a digital camera but rather an electronic camera. It captures your im- ages on CCD elements, but instead of stor- ing them digitally, it stores them as analog video still images onto removable floppy disks. Each disk can hold 25 complete video frames, or 50 images when stored as fields. The entire Mavica line uses this still- video technique to capture and store data. What sets the 7000 apart from its lesser (and less expensive) brethren is that it uses three separate CCD elements to capture the red, green, and blue information for each pixel. The difference between im- ages from the 7000 and the single-chip cameras is much like the difference be- tween your home camcorder and those used by professional news crews. What we normally think of as resolu- tion limitations in video isn't due to the format as much as it is to the monitors we see it on and the fact that TVs and monitors usually use low-bandwidth cabling (RF or composite video). In either case, your home camcorder playing through your TV set typically provides about 200 lines of information. The MVC-7000 will record and play back images with over 500 lines of resolution. To capture the images at 768- by 493-pixel resolution, you have to connect to a high-quality video-capture device through RGB connections. In the field, you can use the camera's playback capability to preview your shots on a por- table monitor. The MVC-7000 doesn't have the look and feel of a conventional camera. It's an odd cross between a video camera and a large 35mm camera. The controls have video camera markings on them but were placed as they might be on a 35mm cam- era. Like a 35mm, the 7000 has automatic exposure, a self-timer, and a connection for a flash. A while balance control tells the camera how to compensate for odd light- ing. My test camera came with an 8- to 48-mm lOx zoom lens. As with the DCS 200, the CCD elements in the 7000 are smaller than the equivalent 35mm film: the zoom worked more like a 40- to 250- mm lens. The 7000 camera uses standard inter- changeable Sony battery packs. The flop- py disks are special Mavipak Hi-band disks, and you will want to take plenty of them along with you. I had only four of them, and I often had to use the preview monitor to pick out and delete some 242 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 h The 486 notebook that lets you shift to another gear. The power you need from your computer today may not be enough for tomorrow. But now, thanks to the new Altima 400 Series, you can rev the processor from a speedy 20 or 25 to a screaming 33 MHz 486DX with math coprocessor. So instead of buying a new computer later, you simply buy more speed and power when you want it. Upgradeable and affordable, the Altima 5.7 pound, 486 note- book runs about the same price as most 386's. The 400 Series is up to 4-times faster than a typical 386SX, plus it features 64 level gray scaling (not 32); a large 10" diagonal screen; simultaneous display on LCD and external monitor; hard disks with up to 120 megabytes; and a keyboard arrangement that makes sense, not sacrifices. For even greater flexibility, Altima offers options to put you in the express lane. Like an integrated I jag bs M J^^M !l "' lntel lnside Logo is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Fordealer in your area, call 800/356-9990 Optional TVackball Shown Actual Size trackball that snaps right into the unit. Or an internal modem with 2400 BPS, MNP-5 Data and 9600 BPS send/receive fax. There's even a DC adapter for your car. Shift to the New Altima 400 Series. It has the features to stretch your capacity. Without stretching your budget. Circle 69 on Inquiry Card. PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE NUMBERS images to make room for new ones. One distinct advantage of the video format is that the camera can record images very quickly. The 7000 can shoot a continuous 2.5 frames per second. The camera body costs $7500, but ac- cessories are not cheap. The tested model included the 8- to 48-mm zoom lens and sells for $8900. Other optional lenses in- clude a 5-mm wide-angle lens ($2305), a 9.5- to 123.5-mm zoom lens ($3200), and a 7.8- to 78-mm zoom lens ($4180). A 10- pack of still-video floppy disks is priced at $105. Like the DCS 200, the MVC-7000 is easy to use and takes gorgeous pictures. The three-chip arrangement eliminates the color mottling that the DCS 200 has and that you often see on cheaper still-video cameras. I captured my test shots on True- vision's ATVista board in a PC. Sony rec- ommends the Macintosh or PC Truevision boards or its stand-alone video digitizer. You can use lower-quality digitizers, with a corresponding loss in quality. The MVC- 7000 image in photo 2 has more accurate color than the DCS 200 image, but, at the same size, the image shows more pixela- tion and a bit of video bleed. A Digital Future? I do a fair amount of work with images in newsletters and other desktop-published documents. Either one of these cameras would be wonderful for shooting pictures for catalogs and product sheets. The reso- lution of both models makes them perfect for small images or newspaper-type pic- tures printed with coarse halftone screens, but not good enough for shooting full-page glossy magazine images. There's no film costs with electronic photography, and there's no film waste or processing chem- icals. That fact alone should give elec- tronic photography a clear advantage in a world with ever-increasing concern for the environment. Kodak is targeting the DCS 200 at pro- fessionals who use images but don't make their living in photojournalism. The com- pany suggests that the DCS 200 will be popular with scientists, real estate sales- people, and others who need high resolu- tion but not the extreme ruggedness of the DCS 100, the DCS 100's preview monitor, or the fast shooting times. In a pinch, you could probably use your F3-based DCS 100 to drive tent pegs into the ground; the lighter-weight 8008s-based DCS 200 isn't going to take that kind of abuse. Instant video preview, quick-change batteries and disks, and dazzling color dis- tinguish the Sony MVC-7000. The 7000 is selling well to photojoumalists, sports pho- tographers, and others who might other- wise shoot with Kodak's more expensive DCS 100. If you lean toward the still- video solution, you'll need a high-quality video- capture board for your computer. If $10,000 is too rich for your blood, the still-video option has several lower- cost solutions. Sony's ProMavica line also includes the lower-resolution, single-chip MVC-2000 for under $4000. Canon's still- video line starts with the RC-250 (also known as the Xapshot) and goes up to the new RC-570, similar in capability and price to Sony's MVC-2000. Right now, people using electronic cameras may be members of a small clique, but that will change as the costs continue to drop and cameras and computers continue to con- verge. ■ Howard Eglowstein is a BYTE Lab test- ing editor who holds an S.B. from MIT. You can reach him on BIX as "heglow- stein. " Some people think r that by copying their software they'll make out like a bandit. They're right. Copy software illegally and you're com- mitting a federal crime with fines of up to $100,000. Help your organization comply with the law by ordering the Soft- ware Publishers Association's Software Management Guide. For only $80 you'll receive SPAudit for DOS and Macintosh;" comprehensive auditing software, a video and procedures for keeping your organiza- tion's software legal. And your record clean. Keep your software legal. To order, call the Software Publishers ■ Association at 1-800-388-7478, or include credit card information or a I check and send or FAX this coupon to: SPA Management Guide, P.O. Box 79237, Baltimore, MD 21279-0237, )| FAX (202) 223-8756. Name Company Title Address City State Zip Phone ( ) Ext Please send me copies at $80 each. Total $ (DC residents add 6% sales tax) □ Check enclosed □ American Express DVISA 8 D MasterCard® Card Number Exp. Date Signature of Cardholder Name of Cardholder I lil'il I 1 Don't copy that floppy. 244 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Real Stats. Real Easy* SPSS for Windows gives you answers your spreadsheet or database cant It's a great value at $695! Learn Fast, Work Fast "Stumbling blocks to statistical analysis are eliminated with SPSS for Windows. You don't have to be a programmer to use it and you don't have to be a statistician to understand it. " - Richard O'Reilly, Los Angeles Times. The 100% Windows interface makes doing analysis simple. Context-sensi- 01 five help and an on-line glossary of statistical terms are just a click away. Complete Data Management and Editing "A breakthrough in data capacity and ease of use. ..impressive. "-Alan Fridlund, InfoWorld. There's no limit on the number of variables you can analyze. Read data directly from Excel,™ Lotus,® .dbf and SAS® transport files. Work live with Oracle® and SQL Server™ data. Edit and use data many ways, easily. Automatic Statistical Graphics "A complete set of graphics and charting capabilities."- Marc Ferranti, PC Week. Create business charts or statistical charts like histograms, boxplots and scatterplots automatically. Unlike other stats packages, edit the charts directly on-screen without respecifying. When you really want answers you have to go beyond what spreadsheets or databases can offer. You need a pack- age that is designed for real statistical analysis, reporting and charting - and is easy to use. You need SPSS® for Windows^" the real stats, real easy combination that delivers real value. You'll break out of the spreadsheet cell with SPSS for Windows. Do more than simple percentages and sums - subset, sample, aggregate, explore, summarize, poke and prod, slice and dice your data to get the answers you need. Analyze surveys, dig into databases, improve quality, conduct research studies, fore- cast sales and prepare reports with ease. All without writing com- plex macros or queries. Find relationships, see patterns and trends, determine significance and use the past to predict the future. Learn fast, work fast. Prepare for your analysis quickly with SPSS' full-featured Data Editor. Choose from a broad range of statistical routines, including those in specialized add-on mod- In-depth Statistics "For more statistical analysis tools than you II get from a spreadsheet such as Excel, without the steep learning curve, SPSS for Windows is a great buy."- Michael Burgard, PC/Computing. Widely used statistics such as crosstabs, correlations and regression are in the Base module. Optional modules with unrivaled advanced statistics are avail- able. You won't grow out of this package. ules, that produce full-color charts automatically. Hot button between charts and related numerical output. Share information using DDE and OLE. Put together a great presentation with powerful and flexible business graphics and a report writer. If you need help, the documentation is full of statistical "how to," and experienced technical support is just a phone call away. SPSS for Windows - when you need more stats than a spreadsheet or database can offer. Order now and get a great value — only $695. American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa accepted. Unconditional 60-day money-back guarantee. Fax (312)329-3668 or Call (800) 543-5835 MICROSOFT? WINDOWS,. COMPATIBLE Chicago ■ Washington. DC • Chertsey, UK ■ Gorinchem.The Netherlands • Munich ■ New Delhi • Singapore ■ Stockholm ■ Sydney ■ Tokyo • And Distributors Worldwide. Circle 1 64 on Inquiry Card. REVIEWER'S NOTEBOOK How to Give Windows a Workout RICK GREHAN This month's roundup of Windows ac- celerators (see "Making Windows Rock and Roll," page 202) introduces the BYTE Lab's newest set of low-level Windows benchmarks. These tests com- plement the Windows application bench- marks that have helped us evaluate Win- dows products throughout the last year. In addition to augmenting BYTE Lab evaluations, the latest tests allow us to eas- ily put a Windows benchmarking tool into the hands of readers: As with our other benchmarks, we will freely distribute the low-level tests to anyone who requests them. The new tests also create a better balance in the testing the BYTE Lab does for Intel-based systems. We now have low- level and applications-level benchmarks for MS-DOS and Windows. BYTE's new Windows low-levels are a comprehensive collection of tests that exercise Windows' GDI (Graphical De- vice Interface), memory management, and file I/O routines. We wrote the benchmarks in Borland's Turbo Pascal for Windows. In this issue's roundup, we relied heav- ily on the graphics portion of the new benchmarks. This component ascertains how rapidly the system can execute some of the basic graphics calls within Win- dows — namely, those that display pixels, lines, rectangles, polygons (filled and un- filled), and ellipses. The graphics section of the benchmarks also exercises text display and BitBlt operations. As we geared up for the accelerators roundup, we spent some extra time test- ing the benchmarks' graphics routines to get some preliminary data and to seek out any bugs left in the software. It was during this testing that we discovered something that might cause the benchmarks — as they were then constructed — to yield erroneous results. At the heart of each test is a tight loop surrounding the Windows call under scaiti- ny. For example, the portion of code to test the SET_PIXEL ( ) function might be FOR I:=l TO NUM_OF_ITERATIONS DO SET_PIXEL (hDC, xloc [ i] , yloc [ i ] , color [ i ] ) As you can see, the loop is simply "step- ping through" an array of screen coordi- BYTE's low-level Windows benchmarks exercise GDI, memory management, and file I/O routines nates and corresponding colors. (The co- ordinates and colors are generated by a random-number generator beforehand.) This loop is preceded by a routine that turns a software "stopwatch" on, followed by another routine that turns that stop- watch off. The idea, of course, is to focus on timing the SET_PIXEL ( ) routine and as little else as possible. Since we would test all the accelerators on the same plat- form, the fixed overhead of the loop would become a negligibly small constant. However, many of the Windows accel- erators we tested are designed to be co- processors. That is, when the benchmark software issues a Windows GDI call, the accelerator card's software driver takes over to pass the command and its argu- ments to the board; then it returns imme- diately to the benchmark program with- out waiting for the board to service the request. Consequently, the software stop- watch records the time it took the driver to transfer the request to the board, not the time it actually took the board to service that request. The benchmarks may con- clude that the GDI call is running faster than what the user actually experiences. Therefore, the customized version of the benchmarks enables us to time how long the tests actually ran on-screen. To do this, we solicited the help of Thumper, the BYTE Lab's computer-controlled test- ing station for laptop battery life (see Re- viewer's Notebook in the December 1992 BYTE). Thumper has electronic fingers and electronic eyes. With its fingers, Thumper simulates a user actually work- ing with a laptop; with its eyes, Thumper watches to see when a laptop's screen blanks off. We created an "on-off ' light — a small rectangle at the bottom of the display that we could turn on (i.e., fill with white) just before the FOR loop in the code above and turn off (i.e., fill with black) just after the FOR loop. With one of its electronic eyes trained on that bar, Thumper acted like an ideal lab technician with a stop- watch. Thumper simply timed how long the rectangle was white, and that told us how long it took the FOR loop to execute. Knowing the number of iterations of each loop, we tracked how many GDI calls per second the benchmarks were making. (Again, the small constant overhead of the loop itself would factor out, since we ran the tests on the same hardware and only changed the accelerator cards.) The "Thumper-ready" version of the benchmarks worked quite well and gave consistent results. The adventure also yielded some information that we'll be able to feed back into BYTE's "regular" Windows benchmarks, as well as produc- ing ideas for other testing chores we could assign to Thumper. It's likely you'll see Thumper again in the future, keeping watch in ways we never dreamed of when we designed it. ■ Rick Grehtin is technical director of the BYTE Lab. He has a B.S. in physics and applied mathematics and an M.S. in math- ematics/computer science. You can reach him on BIX as "rick °. " 246 YTE • JANUARY 1993 The Evolution of CAD From the beginning of time, we have tried to express ourselves through graphics. In the begin- ning of time people had to use primi- tive design tools for creating any type of graphics. In the 15th Century design tools were quill ink pens and crude styles of paper. /and*? se'ttvan* id to By the 1 8th Century we had advanced to the draft- ing table with T-squares, and the dreaded eraser. In the 20th Century the first CAD pro- grams were very slow and extremely difficult to use, not to mention the expense of buying them. Now step into the 21st Century. . . Professional Version DesignCAD Professional is the only complete CAD solution. It's 6 packages in one ! • DesignCAD 2D has all the tools and power necessary to produce profes- sional architectural or mechanical blueprints. With DesignCAD 2D you will become extremely productive! • DesignCAD 3D gives you the power to create and manipulate solid or wireframe objects with quick and easy commands. Render your designs with outstanding photorealistic color! • Video Training Tapes for DesignCAD Professional, are pro- duced in a state-of-the-art facility using award winning writers, and pro- fessional technicians. Using these video tapes will assure you of learning faster with higher retention, while becoming more productive! • SmartEST quickly generates a spread sheet from your DesignCAD drawings so you may estimate cost, and do take-offs for accurate bidding. • Symbol Libraries contain over 6700 pre-drawn Architectural and industry standard symbols. These alone will save you a tremendous amount of time and money! • ScanPRO converts (Raster to Vector), scanned images into files that can be read by DesignCAD or most other CAD programs. Circle 73 on Inquiry Cord. •*' Call, fax or write for a FREE brochure & demo! m American Small Business Computers One American Way Pryor, OK 74361 ph: (918) 825-4844 fax: (918) 825-6359 BOOK AND CD-ROM REVIEWS HUGH KENNER The growth of any plant from a tiny seed, the unfolding of a program from a few lines of code, "the self- organized flocking of simplemind- ed birds" — well, any of those, the messy as much as the lively, can be gen- erated by "incredibly simple, even elegant theory." So an economist named Brian Arthur assures us. Arthur means three things at least: (1) That a general theory underlies this array of examples and many more; (2) That a com- puter program to emulate, say, the flocking of those birds can be very simple; and (3) That the decisions made by live birds like- ly resemble those in the program, which has just three rules: (a) Maintain a mini- mum distance from anything else, includ- ing other birds; (b) Try to match veloci- ties within the neighborhood; and (c) Move toward what you see as the neighborhood's center of mass. It seems a reasonable guess that simpleminded birds in the real world are making decisions like those. Certainly, they swoop as though possessed by a corporate mind: much like an economy, which can languish, swell, panic, triumph, and never seem to be following a checklist. An economy is also like the birds in not needing to settle down to a stable state. True, classical econ had always assumed that not settling down, as portrayed in every day's headlines, was something theory shouldn't so much as mention. Classical econ had nothing to do with swoops. It preferred systems nested near the median of stability: systems from Adam Smith's prein- dustrial world. Small perturbations would diminish till they vanished: negative feedback in action. And the optimum product would emerge, at the optimum price. But an industrial economy seems never to settle down. Its elements seem to be patterns and possibilities. It lacks a stable state — one symptom of positive feedback. And ex- amples abound of something suboptimal grabbing the mar- ket seemingly for keeps: the QWERTY keyboard, the gaso- line engine, the VHS video format. GOINGS-ON AT THE EDGE Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos M. Mitchell Waldrop Simon & Schuster, $23, ISBN 0-671-76789-5 After 1982, when he'd grown pretty well convinced that he knew how an econ- omy worked, Arthur began to encounter difficulty getting colleagues to stay or- derly till he'd finished a lecture, let alone publish his papers. Between 1982 and 1987, "My hair turned gray." In 1987, in New Mexico, everything changed. Arthur is a focal figure in M. Mitchell Waldrop 's Complexity, an engrossing sto- ry of the mavericks who have been gath- ering at a queer outfit called the Santa Fe Institute. Nobel physicist Murray Gell- Mann was a founding father; members have included computer scientist John Holland, whose simulations of neural net- works started 40 years ago, and ex-hippie Chris Langton, who got a glimpse of some principles of artificial life while recovering from a near-fatal hang-glider crash. The Institute's theme is "flux, change, and the forming and dissolving of pat- terns": a metascience, "just as 'hard' as physics ever was," of which our curricular sciences are spe- cial cases. Waldrop was especially cunning in starting his nar- rative with the "Aha!" insights of a maverick economist; any reader with a credit card feels touched by the econo- my. As he shifts focus to figure after figure, Waldrop shows the resources of a competent novelist. We hover at kaffee- klatsches, sit in on lectures, draw benefit from summaries, while gradually a Science of Complexity grows glimpsible. Readers of James Gleick's Chaos will remember critical zones where a change in the tenth digit will make all the difference between overt pattern and mess. For Waldrop's Santa Fe gang, what's interesting isn't periodic mess but the periodic onset of Pattern right near Mess to the Max. If they're right, we draw close to a general statement about suddenly emergent patterns, such as amoebas, alpha- bets, animals, and our ancestor Adam. ■ Hugh Kenner is Franklin and Callaway Professor of En- glish at the University of Georgia. His recent books include Mazes and Historical Fictions. You can contact him on BIX as "hkenner. " MODERN COMPUTER DESIGN A Guide to RISC Microprocessors, Michael Slater, ed., Aca- demic Press, $49.95, ISBN 0-12-649140-2. A Guide to RISC Microprocessors assembles 35 articles on the subject of RISC chips from the pages of Michael Slater's newsletter, the Microprocessor Report. Some arti- cles contain added material that brings them up to date. The three articles in the first section form the best introduction to RISC I have ever read. Some terms and concepts may be fuzzy if you haven't done any reading on computer archi- tectures before, but if you're interested in learning about RISC and microprocessors in general, this is the place to begin. The rest of the book examines seven popular RISC ar- chitectures in six sections (why Hewlett-Packard's PA-RISC doesn't merit its own section is never explained). Here, the going is rougher for interested laypeople, but much of the ma- terial remains understandable. One glaring omission is the absence of material about IBM's RISC System/6000 architecture, especially given the fact that IBM and Motorola are jointly developing the RISC System/6000-based PowerPC. Understandably, more re- cent developments in the RISC arena (e.g., the Texas In- struments Viking SuperSparc and DEC's Alpha) are also not represented. A Guide to RISC Microprocessors has taken its place on my bookshelf next to Hennessy and Patterson's Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach as an indispensable reference to modern computer design. It doesn't disappoint. — Bob Ryan 248 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 ILLUSTRATION: JOSEF GASTIB1993 WRAPTURES & REELS Wraptures One, $129, and Wrapture Reels One, $199, from Form and Function, 1595 17th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122, (619) 536-9999; fax (415) 664-4030. One of the best CD-ROM collections of 24-bit clip art and QuickTime video clips I've seen comes from Form and Function. Wraptures One contains clip-art images, and Wrapture Reels One includes QuickTime videos, masks, and sounds. Wraptures features a variety of high-quality 24-bit PICT images of surfaces such as crinkled paper, marble, brick, wood, metal, and star fields. Many of these images come in several bit depths and sizes. The small-size images are carefully designed so they can be repeatedly "tiled" as either a backdrop or a texture that you can wrap around 3-D objects. Other images include sunsets, clouds, and mountains. A Browser application, written in MacroMedia Director, provides a good tu- torial on how to use the material, navigates you through the files, and copies a selection to your hard disk. Wrapture Reel contains several 24-bit, broadcast-qual- ity QuickTime clips, including sunsets, clouds, waterfalls, a flock of birds flying overhead, and over a dozen high- quality sounds. The package includes Apple's QuickTime Extension and Aladdin Systems' freeware Popcorn Quick- Time player. Also included is HyperCard 2.1, for operat- ing a Browser stack. Some clips are interesting (especial- ly the storm over Easter Isle), but I wonder how useful they are. You're free to distribute the material as part of a fin- ished presentation or product as long as it's not part of a source library for other multimedia tools. — Tom Thompson MIND-BOGGLER Mazes for the Mind: Computers and the Unexpected, Clif- ford A. Pickover, St. Martin's Press, $32.95, ISBN 0-312- 081-650. First, forget this review. Run, leap, rush, scurry, and scoot to your nearest bookstore and get this book. Now, be pre- pared to have your mind taken apart, rearranged, and hand- ed back to you. Every now and then, a book comes along that reminds us what computers are all about — not spreadsheets and databases, but the expansion of mind and soul. Clifford Pickover' s Mazes for the Mind: Computers and the Unex- pected reminds us with a sustained, mind-twisting clash of logic, beauty, and pattern that requires whole-brain thinking. You cannot simply read this book, nor can you hope to de- vour it in one or two sessions. Sustained, deep-level think- ing is simply too difficult. This is a book for grazing ideas, covering reams of paper with patterns and thoughts, rushing to the computer exclaiming, "Aha! I understand!," and cre- ating short programs that generate beautiful designs. Pickover' s chapter titles are hoaxes to entrance you into a world of knowledge. Who would expect that chapter titles like "How to Stuff an Elephant Into a 24-Dimensional Sphere" and "Fractal Spiders" would ensnare you in a world of practical 4-D geometry, genetic music, and fractal appli- cations? By the time you finish this book, you will have practical experience on the worldwide spread of Cro-Magnon man, enjoyed a wild game of computer esophagus where you attempt to take over your body's internal organs, heard the music of your genes, constructed aesthetically pleasing mazes, designed fractal feathers, used time machines, and played bizarre chess games. Who could suspect that computing the length of a roll of toilet paper would make interesting reading? Then again, how about "Squashed Archimedean Model of a HyperToi- let Paper" for an interesting topic? If you were asked to pick 10 mathematical formulas that changed the world, what would you select? Would you rec- ognize the 10 formulas that were issued on Nicaraguan postage stamps? As if all this wasn't enough, there's also a section titled "Strange Technology," where... well, maybe you should explore that one for yourself. If you haven't done much creative thinking recently — the type of thinking where you feel your entire body has been hard at work — it's time for Pickover' s book. — Raymond GA Cote MUDDLE OF EXCELLENCE Obfuscated C and Other Mysteries, Don Libes, John Wi- ley & Sons, $39.95 (book/disk set), ISBN 0-471-57805-3. Don Libes has assembled a collection of C programming examples that stake their reputation on being impene- trable, obtuse, and bewildering. Here is assembled a collec- tion of code so bizarre as to be entertaining. Obfuscated C presents the winners of a yearly Obfuscat- ed C competition that started in 1984. This contest prides it- self on driving C compilers to their limits with tricks, con- juring, and imagination. The clear champion of obfuscation bundles four eminently useful functions. Compiled one way, the source code produces a program to solve differential equations. Set a few flags, and it recompiles to a program that reverses the order of lines in a text file. Run this program on its own source code, and it sorts lines. Run the sort algo- rithm on the original source code, and you produce a program that generates Fibonacci numbers. Of course, you would never use any of these tricks in your own programs. To help maintain your professional equi- librium, Libes intermixes chapters of obfuscation with chap- ters dedicated to pure elegance — truly writing better, clean- er, faster code. He covers topics such as a proper use of longjump and pointers to functions, undefined compiler be- haviors to avoid, and creating faster memory allocation al- gorithms. In short, Libes presents C at its best and worst. You'll have hours of fun trying to decode the contest winners. And best of all, you'll also acquire a diverse set of useful software tools. — Raymond GA Cote JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 249 Operating Systems Come in Many Flavors m , m* M n m* t4m . *~« , *<*w-S . I , i . I . i , l , i ,1 , i , l , i , I , i , l , i ,'l , i , l , i , I , i , I aJLi, I , i , I , i , I , i ,1 , i , I , i , I , i , I , i ,1 , i , I , i , I , i . I , i ,1 (_-«[}. I*-"""— ( tMi.« raftttl i Click and drag down into chart to add a new guideline. Now the leader in Windows graphics puts its know-how behind the world's #1 Windows flowcharting solution! Introducing ABC Flowcharter® 2.0 from Micrografx. With all the terrific features of the original. Plus an array of exciting new features that make it better, faster, easier than ever! Our all-new user interface conveniently displays tools in a handy toolbox. No more searching through menus. Just point and click! Customizable shapes and shape palettes let you tailor ABC Flowcharter 2.0 to your particular applications. And we've added new palettes of symbols for specialized charts like dataflow diagrams, audit diagrams, and many, many more. "A Windows-based package that's both powerful and easy to use." InfoWorld April 20, 1990 "Turns making flowcharts into child's play." DBMS Magazine August 1991 liilolifi If you're already an ABC Flow- Charter user, call now for upgrade information. And if you're not, find out just how fast and easy flowchart- ing can be - with all-new ABC Flowcharter 2.0! You'll be able to choose from new line types and styles, including curved lines. And take advantage of an exciting new feature that auto- matically connects shapes. Enhanced text capabilities let you edit text right on the chart, and mix different fonts, sizes and styles at will. And best of all, you'll enjoy our friendly 24-hour telephone support (weekend hours too). (U.S. only) ^9*Q|»ftt. <"*n CALL TODAY FOR UPGRADE INFORMATION 1-800-998-0153 MICROGRAFX® Micrografx, Inc., 1303 Arapaho, Richardson, TX 75081 (214)234-1769. Micrografx has offices in Toronto, Paris, London, Munich, Milan, Sydney, Copenhagen and Tokyo. Copyright ©1992, Micrografx, Inc. All rights reserved. Micrografx and ABC Flowcharter are registered trademarks of Micrografx, Inc. UNITED KINGDOM (44) (0) 483 747526 SCANDINAVIA (45)43432677 GERMANY (49)8926038 30 FRANCE (33) (1)69 18 19 50 Circle 121 on Inquiry Card. UNDER THE HOOD .UENTIAL • AUTHORITATIVE • TECHNICALLY- ADVANCED • KNOWLEDGEABL! • INNOVATIVE MID MOST OF ALL . . . BUSY] When you want to buy, turn to the BYTE Buyer's Guide in the back for fast access to buying direct from reputable suppliers. From computers to CAD, notebooks to networks, memory to mathematics, you'll find it in the BYTE Buyer's Guide. RESISTIVE-FILM DIGITIZER Figure 3: In the resistive-film design, an insulating glass surface is coated with a transparent, slightly resistive conductive coating. The tablet processor applies a O-V AC current to one edge of the tablet and +5 V to the opposing side. Voltage ranges from OV to 5 V as the pen moves across the surface. The tablet controller calculates the pen 's x position and then applies voltage to the top and bottom edges to determine the y value. demonstrations of handwriting recogni- tion, where the writing is small and the electronic ink is removed immediately and replaced with font characters: You don't get a chance to see the ink. While many current designs have this problem, it is easy to correct. The pen's electromagnetic-coil design can also result in tilt errors. The coil, lo- cated inside the body of the pen, sits an inch higher than the pen tip when the user is holding the pen in a normal writing po- sition. This means that if the user tilts the pen too much while writing, inaccuracies can result. Interference is another disadvantage of electromagnetic grids. The electromag- netic fields that these tablets use are seri- ously disturbed by metal frames, ground planes, and harmonics from internal digi- tal electronics. (These tablets typically use a frequency of around 1 20 kHz for the sig- nals between the tablet and the pen.) As a result, the tablets must be custom-designed for each pen computer. Even changing the type of LCD in the same product (e.g., to a color or high-resolution LCD) would probably require reengineering the digi- tizer. Still another design problem is that the grid can't be put in front of the LCD with- out putting dark lines across the display. The common solution is to put the grid underneath the LCD, but this adds to the problem of electromagnetic disturbance. Some vendors have experimented with transparent materials for putting an invis- ible grid in front of the LCD, but the results don't yet work reliably and aren't com- pletely transparent. Manufacturers using this type of tech- nology include Calcomp, Hitachi, Kurta, Logitech, Summagraphics, and Wacom. Wacom uses a unique electromagnetic ap- proach to making a cordless, passive pen, called electromagnetic resonance. The tab- let giid alternates between a transmit mode, during which it sends a 20-microsecond radio frequency pulse, and a receive mode, during which it listens for 20 p;s for a re- flected signal from the pen. The pen con- tains a small coil-and-capacitor resonant circuit. The pulse from the tablet produces electromagnetic resonance in the pen cir- cuit; the energy is briefly stored in the pen circuit and then reemitted at a slightly different frequency. The tablet controller samples the grid and detects the reemit- ted signal. This technique has the unique advan- tage of providing a passive, unpowered pen — one that does not require batteries. However, the grid generates a strong, con- tinuously transmitted signal that consumes more power than a digitizer with a teth- ered pen. The Wacom digitizer is used in Your Direct BYTE introducesYour Direct Link - An enhanced service for BYTE readers that gives you free information on products - faster and easier! In the NEW Direct Link section, here's what you'll find: Alphabetical Index to Advertisers Including Phone Numbers Now dial companies directly. Product Category Index to Advertisers Order information on individual products or complete product categories. Redesigned Editorial Index Free information from companies covered in articles, columns, or news stories. New Enhanced Direct Link Card Receive free information quickly by filling out and mailing or faxing Your Direct Link Card today! Send for FREE product information by filling out Your Direct Link Card found in the back of every issue. Buy It Through BYTE! E YTE ■ ^ "0 (ft UNDER THE HOOD NCR's System 3125 and Samsung's Pen- Master computers. Electrostatic Grids Electrostatic grids work very much like electromagnetic grids, with two main dif- ferences (see figure 2). First, the grid wires are connected at only one end, not in a loop, since the controller uses them to gen- erate electrostatic, rather than electro- magnetic, signals. Second, the pen has a capacitive probe at its tip, rather than a coil inside the pen body. The probe, a sim- ple metal tip with a rounded end, might look like an empty ballpoint cartridge. As the pen tip approaches the tablet surface, capacitance between the two couples the energy between the objects. The pen then transmits a signal through a connecting cable to the tablet processor, which cal- culates the current position. Using a tip probe avoids tilt problems associated with electromagnetic coil designs. Electrostatic grids come in two designs: a straightforward x,y grid and a charge- ratio approach that uses a single grid of specially contoured etches. Both are easi- ly built using a standard printed circuit board. Summagraphics uses the charge- ratio design in some of its opaque tablets. Electrostatic-grid tablets usually sit on top of the LCD, which shields the grid from computer interference. Unfortunate- ly, the grid lines are visible and interfere with viewing. Manufacturers are working to make the grid lines less visible. Resistive Film The active area of a resistive-film sensing tablet consists of a substrate of dielectric (insulating) material, usually glass, coated on the top surface with a transparent, slightly resistive conductor such as indium tin oxide (see figure 3). Electrodes on the edges put a 5-volt signal (usually AC) on one edge of the tablet, and V on the op- posite edge. The pen is a metal probe that touches the film. The controller reads the voltage that the pen picks up: 1 V near one edge, gradually increasing to 5 V as the user moves the pen to the other edge. It applies the voltage first on the left and right sides of the tablet to calculate the x axis, and then to the top and bottom edges for the y value. Another design, in which the pen pro- vides the 5-V signal, has four electrodes at the four corners of the film. These elec- trodes measure the different currents that are picked up from the pen when the user drags it across the tablet surface. After the controller measures the volt- age (or current, depending on the design), the sensors notify the tablet controller, which converts the sensors' data into dig- ital values. The controller microprocessor then calculates the x,y coordinates of the pen's contact point. One potential advan- tage of many of these designs is that they can accept linger input as well as pen input. Due to their low cost, resistive-film de- signs are also popular for touchscreens. Because the design consists basically of a film on a piece of glass, resistive film is easy to adapt to the displays of existing notebook computers. D. ue to their low cost, resistive-film designs are popular for touchscreens. Some manufacturers put a second con- ductive coating on the bottom surface of the substrate to shield out RF noise, or put a second, hard coating over the resistive film to protect it against scratches. Some designs also use various linearization pat- terns with the electrodes to simplify the controller's calculations. Resistive-film digitizers have several disadvantages, including their inability to sense pen proximity. Unlike with other designs, the pen must touch the screen be- fore the digitizer can record its position, so it is impossible to put up a status cursor when the user is moving the pen above the display. (Go Corp. claims that its PenPoint operating system's user interface dispens- es with status cursors completely, but they are very common in current pen applica- tions.) Another problem is image clarity. De- pending on the thickness of the film and hard coating, the optical transmissivity of some digitizers can be as low as 70 per- cent. This low transparency reduces the contrast of the LCD image, making it hard- er to read. Still another disadvantage is that mi- croscopic cracks in the film can cause large position errors. These cracks can develop from simple thermal stresses from transi- tions from a warm room to cold outside air, and small scratches in the film can oc- cur from normal everyday use. The errors they cause look like small black holes on the display. You can draw around these spots, but not on them. MicroTouch adapt- ed a touchscreen product to the pen com- puting market by using soft pencil lead in the pen tip to prevent scratches. Some ven- dors of resistive digitizers, such as Graph- ics Technology, use harder film materials. If the electrical contact between the pen and the film is poor, the digitizer can pro- duce erratic data. The cause of the poor contact might be oil or grease on the sur- face, high contact resistance if the pen touches down lightly, or a soft landing (i.e., when the user touches down at the start of a stroke). For this reason, the tablet electronics are often adjusted to require the user to press down hard on the tablet. That can be tiring if the user works with the pen for long periods. Nevertheless, resis- tive-film digitizers have been used suc- cessfully in the original Grid Systems Grid- Pad, NEC's UltraLite SL/20P, and other early pen computers. Capacitive/Electrostatic Film Capacitive-/electrostatic-film technology combines many of the advantages of elec- trostatic and electromagnetic grid designs with the low cost and easy manufacturing aspects of resistive film. The active area is a transparent substrate of glass or plastic that has been coated on its underside with a sheet of a transparent conducting material such as indium tin ox- ide (see figure 4). The film is not on the exposed front surface of the glass (where it could be scratched or damaged), and it needs to be only moderately conductive, so it can be quite thin. Some films offer well over 90 percent transmissivity: That is about as transparent as the LCD glass it- self. The 0-V and 5-V AC voltages applied on the edges of the tablet create an elec- trostatic field over the glass, and a capac- itive probe tip in the pen picks up this sig- nal through the glass. The pen measures an electrostatic field from the whole tablet, rather than a direct voltage at a single point of contact. For this reason, the small de- fects in the film that hurt resistive-film tablets have no effect here. Scriptel ex- ploited that attribute in its capacitive-/elec- trostatic-film digitizers by intentionally placing a pattern of quarter-inch holes in the film to reduce power use. Like the grid-based electrostatic designs, this technology is not as affected as other digitizer technologies are by the metal and electronics in the rest of the pen computer. Proximity sensing is also very good; ca- pacitive-/electrostatic-film digitizers can sense the pen even when it is held several inches above the surface; however, the fur- ther the probe moves from the surface, the lower the accuracy. Power use can easily be as low as 15 milliwatts while active, 258 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Powerful New Tools for OS/2 Programming The WorkFrame/2 product ... because the best environment for application development is the one you create yourself. With WorkFrame/2, you can integrate your choice of development tools - including those for DOS and Windows. It's open, configurable and language independent. And it's easy to customize the WorkFrame/2 interface to create your own development environment. The concept is simple. WorkFrame/2 organizes files into logical units called projects. By associating each project with your personal choice of compiler/debugger/linker /editor you can get the greatest productivity possible from all your development tools. The C Set/2 product ... because application development should be fast - and simple! C Set/2 delivers a one-two punch to help you create some of the fastest-performing OS/2-based applications possible. First, the 32-bit C compiler enables your applications to exploit the speed and power of 386- and 486-based computers. It's the best high-performance code optimizer in the business. With the C Set/2 compiler, unsafe optimizations simply don't exist. Second, C Set/2 comes with a fully interactive, lull-function, source-level 32-bit Presentation Manager debugger. Just point your mouse and shoot, using the graphical PM user interface - or use the keyboard. Either way it's easy. And you'll get instant feedback on the screen to verify what you're doing. Debugging has never been so simple! And there's more. The C Set/2 compiler conforms to industry standards - including ANSI C and IS0/1EC - and offers Microsoft C compatibility. With features like a full suite of run- time libraries and 32-16 bit hnkage, you can be sure C Set/2 will provide the function and flexibility you need to make application development fast and simple - the way it should be. OS/2 2.0 Developer's Toolkit ... because it takes the right set of tools to build powerful applications. OS/2 2.0 Developer's Toolkit is the perfect companion to use with C Set/2. It contains a variety of language-independent application build and productivity tools. For the C Set/2 compiler, Toolkit provides the system linker and system header files. It also contains the import libraries and the NMAKE utility you need to dramatically increase the capabilities of C Set/2 to build powerful applications. To order or get more information on how IBM application development tools can work in your OS/2 environment, in the USA call in Canada call 1-800-342-6672 1-800-465-7999 Making good things happen in application development... ===?= IBM, OS/2, and Presentation Manager are registered trademarks, C Set/2 and Workframe are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Circle 274 on Inquiry Card. UNDER THE HOOD CAPACITIVE/ELECTROSTATIC SENSING DIGITIZER Pen % ^N Tablet |L ml Glass or / 1111 plastic jS 1111 substrate / 1111 \/^ ^§5^==|/+0V Resistive film Tablet processor Transparent conductive surface 1 ft Capacitive ^^ ^ /"''contact j# i ^^ / CPU . ' +5V / / m Vic eirc eo jitry ~~-~*-^r\ Flat-panel ~~ — V LCD Figure 4: Capacitive /electrostatic technology uses a transparent substrate of glass that's coated on its underside with a sheet of a transparent conducting material. The O-Vand 5-VAC voltages, applied on opposite edges of the tablet, create an electrostatic field over the glass. A capacitive probe tip in the pen picks up this signal, which varies in strength over the tablet surface. and much less when the pen is idle. That is about equal to the best power consump- tion of any of the other current technolo- gies. Scriptel has announced agreements with several pen computer manufacturers to use its technology in their pen comput- ing products. Currently, Arthur Dent As- sociates uses Scriptel' s digitizer technology in its WriteAway digitizer add-on for off- the-shelf portable notebook computers. Dauphin uses it in the D5000 pen com- puter. Other Options Several other digitizer technologies could also be used in pen computers, although the four main technologies discussed above are the most acceptable. Science Acces- sories has been selling different designs of sonar-based digitizers for several years. In one design, the pen contains a clicking sound source that makes a distinct sound pulse 60 times per second. Two small mi- crophones in front of the user pick up the pulses and, measuring the time delay for the sound to reach the microphones, com- pute the position of the pen by triangula- tion. This should not be confused with the surface acoustic wave technologies used in some touchscreens. There, the sound wave propagates through the glass; here, it moves through the air. This technology doesn't lend itself very well to the portable aspect of pen com- puters because it has some problems when objects (e.g., an elbow) come between the pen and the microphones. However, for a low cost, you can have a large-area digi- tizer that works on a regular desk, and by adding a third microphone, you can even digitize objects and gestures in three di- mensions. Other devices, such as light pens, mice, and pure touchscreens, have been used as pen-input devices but are far from ide- al. Light pens aren't as common as they were 20 years ago, and they have the dis- advantage of working only with CRT dis- plays, not with the LCDs that have be- come synonymous with pen systems. A light pen consists of an optical sensor in the tip of a pen: As the electron beam of the CRT scans the display, the sensor picks up the exact moment it passes under the pen. The control electronics compute the position of the electron beam from timing circuitry connected to the display. Since light pens depend on the scanning of the CRT, their accuracy is that of one CRT pixel: 640 by 480 pixels, or a bit bet- ter than 0.02 inch on a typical display. De- pending on whether the display is inter- laced, a light pen can read only 30 or 60 pps — far short of the rate needed for good character recognition. Nonetheless, light pens have been making a small comeback with the new interest in pen computing. The mouse became popular for person- al computing less than 1 years ago. Un- like a tablet, which reports absolute phys- ical position, a mouse reports relative motion; thus, mice are unacceptable for use in pen computing. Even a small pen- shaped mouse requires that the user never lift it — the device doesn't work when it's lifted. The effect is very clear if you ask a user to write several sentences using a mouse and then using a pen. Steve Levine, designer of Wang's Freestyle product (an- other 1989- vintage pen computing sys- tem), called this "writing with a fat potato." Current digitizers involve many diffi- cult and limiting trade-offs in hardware design — trade-offs that can have a direct impact on the usability of pen computing hardware and software. In spite of 35 years of evolution, many current digitizer de- signs have substantial limitations when ■ installed in pen computers. Tomorrow's designs must improve performance, and the underlying manufacturing technology must better integrate the display and the digitizer, before this technology can fully meet the requirements of pen computer FOR FURTHER READING Foley, J. D., V. L. Wallace, and P. Chan. "The Human Factors of Computer Graphics Interaction Techniques." IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, November 1984. Phoenix PenBIOS Technical News Bul- letin, versions 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Phoenix Technologies, Ltd., 40 Airport Pkwy., San Jose, CA 95 1 10, (408) 452- 6500. Slate Position Paper on Pencentricity. Slate Corp., 15035 North 73rd St., Scottsdale, AZ 85260, Order Number 146. "Slate Teaches BCS Some History." The Boston Computer Society PC Report, May 1992. Ward, Jean Renard, and Barry Blesser. "Interactive Recognition of Handprint- ed Characters for Computer Input." IEEE Computer Graphics and Appli- cations, September 1985. Ward, Jean Renard, and Mark J. Phillips. "Digitizer Technology: Performance Characteristics and the Effects on the User Interface." IEEE Computer Graph- ics and Applications, April 1987. Jean Renard Ward is a software develop- er at Slate Corp. (Newton, MA). Debra Schultz is a product marketing manager at Phoenix Technologies, Ltd. (Norwood, MA). You can contact them on BIX c/o "editors, " or contact Jean on MCI Mail at 488-7364. 260 BYTE -JANUARY 1993 3803P S21.95 881693-XX S29.95 Softcover Counts as 2/Softcover Select 5 Books for $A 95 only w f Values to $217.70 (plus 1 book FREE upon prepayment) when you join The Computer Book Club SM 881782 $29.95 Softcover 2951P S19.95 Softcover 881682 S24.95 3049P-XX S29.95 Softcover Counts as 2/Soflcover MS-DOS HATCH F1I.I. I'KOGRAMMLV. iSF" 3916 S36.95 with disk The Computer Professionals iimnvA A I A N A K I M (> U 057574 S24.95 more selections ,_ on other side '— • Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0820 YES! Rush me the following titles, billing me just $4.95 (plus shipping/handling & sales tax). Enroll me as a member of The Computer Book Club accord- ing to the terms outlined in this ad. If not satisfied, I may return the books within 1 days for a full refund and my membership will be cancelled. 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class: WkSheet; parent : SOMOb ject ; data: integer4 Def aultColumnWidth, public; FILE *Wkl; methods : int NameWorkSheet ( char *Name) ; void SetLabel ( int Row, int Column, char *String) ; void SetNumber ( int Row, int Column, double Number) ; void CloseWorkSheet () ; Before you run the SOM compiler (SC.EXE), make sure you set the compil- er's environment variables. SC.EXE uses these variables to find include files and to know what output files you want. By de- fault (i.e., with no environment variables set), SC.EXE checks the syntax of your statements but produces no output. What do these methods do? Name- Worksheet creates a .WK 1 file and writes basic 1-2-3 information to it, such as the beginning-of-file record. SetLabel and Set -Number insert labels and numbers into worksheet cells. Both take row, col- umn, and value parameters. CloseWork- sheet writes the 1 -2-3 end-of-file record and closes the spreadsheet file. continued 262 YTE • JANUARY 1993 The Software is the Instrument ♦ ♦ ♦^bu Choose the Computer LabWindows for DOS [Ml LabVIEW for Windows |W| LabVIEW for Sun LabVIEW for Macintosh ACQUISITION iwnwiwi-iW'wufliniiiiiBia w\LlQ MIST Np JBjg JH GPIB • Data Acquisition • VXI • RS-232 • Instrument Driven ANALYSIS 9 Inner CatofT Frwjitenc^ j TOEB| Dni B tppie IJB); I^JflP^I Cutoff F rw;u*BC!{) lUUn mtlan tfl ttj (MB DSP • Statistics • Linear Algebra • Filters • Windows PRESENTATION j £■ : =«*• •■ 'SKI ■I Graphical User Interface • Hard Copy • File I/O C and BASIC Programming Call for FREE demo disks (800) 433-3488 (U.S. and Canada) Branch Offices: Australia 03 879 9422 • Belgium 02 757 00 20 • Canada 519 622 9310 Denmark 45 76 73 22 • Finland 90 524566 • France 1 4S 65 33 70 • Germany 0S9 714 50 93 Italy 02 48301892 • Japan 03 3788 1921 • Netherlands 01720 45761 • Norway 03846866 Spain 91 896 0675 • Sweden 08 984970 ■ Switzerland 056 27 00 20 • U.K. 0635 523545 © Copyright 1992 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. Product and company names listed ate trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. Graphical Programming f f¥ NATIONAL HI INSTRUMENTS The Software is the Instrument ® 6504 Bridge Point Parkway Austin, TX 78730-5039 Tel: (512) 794-0100 Fax:(512)794-8411 Circle 1 27 on Inquiry Card. SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED Listing 1 : Anatomy of a SOM object. I wrote the code shown in boldface; the SOM compiler generated the rest. /* FileName: wksheet.c. * Generated using: * SOM Precompiler spc: 1.22 * SOM Emitter emitc: 1.24 */ ^define WkSheet_Class_Source #include #include iinclude "wksheet.h" void WriteLabel (FILE *Wkl, int Row, int Column, char *String) { static char buffer [200] ; static char f; static short int t, 1, c, r; f = 0x7F; c = Column; r = Row; t = OxOOOF; 1 = strlen (String) + 7; buffer [0] = 39; strcpy (sbuffer [1] , String); f write (St, 2, fwrite(Sl, 2, Wkl) Wkl) fwrite(Sf, 1, 1, Wkl) fwrite(Sc, 2, 1, wkl) fwrite(Sr, 2, 1, Wkl); f write (buffer, strlen (String) + 2, 1, Wkl);) void WriteNumber (FILE *Wkl, double Number) { static double n; static char f; static short int t, 1, f = 0x02; c = Column; r = Row; t = OxOOOE; 1 = 13; n = Number; fwrite (St, 2, 1, Wkl) fwrite(Sl, 2, 1, Wkl) fwrite (Sf, 1, 1, Wkl) fwrite (Sc, 2, 1, Wkl) fwrite(Sr, 2, 1, Wkl) fwrite(Sn, 8, 1, Wkl) int Row, int Column, FILE *CreateLotusFile (char *FileName) ( static FILE *Wkl; static char String[101] ; static short int BOFRec[3] = (0, 2, /* record type s length */ 0x0406} ; /* file format revision number */ static short int WinRec[18]= (7, 32, /* record type S length */ 0, 0, /* cursor column and row */ 0x0071, /* format (unprotected general) */ 11, /* default column width */ 6, 20, /* columns S rows on screen */ 0, 0, /* left column, top row */ 0, 0, /* number of title columns, rows */ 0, 0, /* left title column, top title row */ 4, 4, /* top left coordinate, column S row */ 72, /* number of columns in window */ 0}; /* unused */ static char HidCol[36]= {0x64, 0, 0x20, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0); ) = NOLL) strcpy (String, FileName) ; if (strchr (String, (int) '.' strcat (String, ".WK1"); Wkl = f open (String, "wb"); if (Wkl = NULL) return NULL; fwrite (BOFRec, 6, 1, Wkl) f write (WinRec, 36, 1, Wkl) fwrite (HidCol, 36, 1, Wkl) return Wkl ; ) int CloseLotusFile (FILE *Wkl) { static char EOFRec[4] = fl, 0, 0, 0); fwrite (EOFRec, 4, 1, Wkl); f close (Wkl) ; return ; } /* . SOM_Scope int SOMLINK NameWorkSheet ( WkSheet *somSelf , char *Name) ( WkSheetData *somThis = WkSheetGetData (somSelf ) ; WkSheetMethodDebug ( "WkSheet", "NameWorkSheet") ; _Wkl = CreateLotusFile (Name) ; if (_Wkl = NULL) return (int) -1; return (int) 0; ] SOM_Scope void SOMLINK SetLabel (WkSheet *somSelf , int Row, int Column, Char *String) ( WkSheetData *soraThis = WkSheetGetData (somSelf) ; WkSheetMethodDebug ("WkSheet", "SetLabel") ; WriteLabel (_Wkl , Row, Column, String);) SOM_Scope void SOMLINK SetNumber (WkSheet *somSelf, Int Row, int Column, double Number) ( WkSheetData *sornThis = WkSheetGetData (somSelf ) ,- WkSheetMethodDebug ("WkSheet", "SetNumber") ; WriteNumber (_Wkl , Row, Column, Number);) SOM_Scope void SOMLINK CloseWorkSheet ( WkSheet *somSelf ) ( WkSheetData *somThis = WkSheetGetData (somSelf ) ; WkSheetMethodDebug ("WkSheet", "CloseWorkSheet") ; CloseLotusFile (_Wkl) ; ) Listing 2: Using a SOM object. You' re not required to write a PM application in order to use SOM objects. Any OS/2 program can call them. tinclude #include #include "wksheet.h" WkSheet *WK1; void mainfint argc, char *argv[]){ printf ("Creating a worksheet object (TESTl)\n">; WK1 = WkSheetNewO ; if ( NameWorkSheet (WK1, "TEST1 ) = -Dl printf ("Could not name worksheet object . \n") ; return; ) SetLabel (WK1, 0, 0, "Column 1") , SetLabel (WK1, 0, 1, "Column 2") , SetLabel (WK1, 0, 2, "Column 3") , SetNumber (WK1, 2, 0, 2.0); SetNumber (WK1, 2, 1, 4.0); SetNumber (WK1, 2, 2, 8.0) ; SetNumber (WK1, 3, 0, 12.0); SetNumber (WK1, 3, 1, 14.0); SetNumber (WK1, 3, 2, 16.0) ; _CloseWorkSheet (WK1) ; ) 264 YTE • JANUARY 1993 BI-DIRECTIONAL TRANSLATION THE LANGUAGE ASSISTANT SERIES VERSION 5 With the new Language Assistant Series - - Spanish Assistant, French Assistant, German Assistant and Italian Assistant - - you get sentence- by-sentence translation in both directions - from English to the foreign language, and vice versa! 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See Your Software Dealer Or Call (800) 366-4170 ¥> T^ MICROTAC SOFTWARE 4655 Cass St., Suite 214 • San Diego, CA 92109 (800) 366-4170 • (619) 272-5700 Fax: (619) 272-9734 SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED My WkSheet class has two instance variables, one private and one public. The private variable is a FILE* pointer I use to hold the return value from the fopen call. Notice that I could switch to the low- er-level open, or even to DosOpen, with- in the method without changing its pub- lished interface. The other instance variable is DefaultColumnWidth. I don't actu- ally use this variable in my sample code, but I inserted the item into the OIDL state- ments to show how to declare a public variable that users of the DLL code can access. The SOM compiler used my WkSheet class declaration to generate a class data structure in the .H file: SOMEXTERN struct WkSheetClassDataStructure { SOMAny *classOb ject; somDToken DefaultColumnWidth; somMToken NameWorkSheet ; somMToken SetLabel; somMToken SetNumber; somMToken CloseWorkSheet; } WkSheetClassData; The SOM compiler reads the OIDL and writes a series of output files. When you in- clude the generated .H file (WKSHEET.H) in your source code, you get C prototypes for my methods, as well as access to my public variables. The generated WKSHEET.C file (see listing 1) is more interesting. All that I wrote was the implementation code for the methods I defined. The SOM compil- er provided a useful skeleton for the en- tire DLL creation process. I compiled WK- SHEET.C with the C SET/2 compiler, as follows: ice /Ge- wksheet.c som.lib wksheet . def The /Ge- option tells the compiler and linker to produce a DLL file. I didn't have to modify the generated .DEF file at all; it correctly called out all the options nec- essary to turn my compiled methods into a DLL. I ran IMPLIB to create an export library that you can link your client program with. Copying the DLL file into a LIBPATH directory completed the development pro- cess and made the library available to (in this case) the imaginary programming team. Listing 2 shows what a sample client program might look like. CLIENT. C de- clares a pointer (WK1) to a WkSheet object and creates the object by calling WkSheetNew. CLIENT.C then uses SOM- generated macros from the .H file to put information into the cells of the spread- sheet file. You might compile and link CLIENT.C with the command ice /Gd- /Se /ss+ /Ms /Gm+ client.c wksheet. lib som.lib to produce CLIENT.EXE. /Gd- specifies static linking of run-time libraries. /Se al- lows both ANSI and SAA (Systems Ap- plication Architecture) C language con- structs in the source program. /ss + permits the use of // to indicate comments in your code. /Msz specifies system (rather than what's called optlink) calling con- ventions. And /Gm+ links your program with the multithreaded versions of the compiler-supplied run-time libraries. SOM Appeal It's the language-neutral aspects of SOM that appeal most to me. I write library rou- tines for a team of nearly 40 people at my company. I can't yet effectively use ob- ject-oriented techniques in my work; not every programmer is skilled in C (or C++ or SmallTalk). When SOM capability comes to other languages (e.g., COBOL), I'll be able to use SOM to package my routines for public consumption by the team. In C++ or SmallTalk, for example, you and all the other programmers must work in the same language environment. But when other languages begin support- ing SOM, the pressure for every pro- grammer to code in the same language — if the team wants to take advantage of object-oriented features — goes away. It's clear that SOM does a good job of helping programmers hide the implemen- tation details of their code. The example I've provided shows that I can add new methods quite easily. I might add new methods to the WkSheet class to write oth- er types of worksheet cells besides labels and numbers. However, if I sold you the DLL file (without source code) in the shrink-wrapped marketplace, and if I re- fused to add new features to the DLL, you could bypass my rudeness and use SOM to create child methods of the WkSheet class yourself. Your child methods could write the additional cell types into the worksheet file. If you wished, you could even create subclasses of the WkSheet class that would inherit the properties and methods of the parent class. The Drawbacks You now probably think that SOM is the next best thing to sliced bread, or that I believe SOM is the answer to all my pro- gramming problems. Not so. The fact that SOM supports only C at the present time is a big drawback. I've got my fingers crossed, hoping other language vendors evaluate SOM and conclude that it's a use- ful tool. There just aren't enough C pro- grammers on all the large-scale PC-based development projects to make C the only language choice. But no matter what languages eventually support SOM, SOM is firmly rooted in OS/2. You won't be able to use it to help you develop DOS or Windows applica- tions. I'm not sure this is a terrible disad- vantage, though. A lot of organizations are doing in-house, large-scale, PC-based development projects within the frame- work of OS/2 2.0. Shrink-wrapped soft- ware products are the ones that will feel left out, because they can't use SOM in all the different operating environments. Here's a nit: When you create an object with the SOM-generated New macro, you can't pass additional pa- rameters to the object creation process. Thus, you can't set instance variables for the new object to values that have partic- ular meaning for that instance of the object. I couldn't, for example, do an fopen call to create the worksheet file inside the Wk- SheetNew call — I didn't yet know the name of the file. I had to implement a sep- arate method — NameWorkSheet — that would accept a filename parameter. SOM can help you manage your devel- opment efforts so that you produce better- quality software that's more reliable and easier to maintain. However, you have to spend some up-front design time thinking about your code from an object-oriented viewpoint. During later coding and test- ing, you'll reap some rewards from that up-front design. It's during the maintenance of your soft- ware that you will realize the most gains from using SOM. You and the other pro- grammers on the development team will break existing code less often. People on the team will get fewer bug reports. And the team will be able to update the soft- ware more easily, without having to wade through reams of code that by rights should not need to come under public scrutiny to determine whether it's affected by a main- tenance change. ■ Editor's note: The source code for listings in this article is available electronically. See page 5 for details. Barry Nance, a programmer for the past 20 years and a BYTE contributing editor, is the author of Using OS/2 2 (Que, 1992), Network Programming in C (Que , 1990), and Introduction to Networking (Que, 1992). He is the Exchange Editor for the IBM Exchange on BIX, where you can reach him as "barryn." 266 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Essential Development Tools At Your Fingertips. MKS Toolkit — All the Tools of the Trade for Professional Programmers and Application Developers. MKS Toolkit puts a powerful suite of easy-to-use development utilities within your grasp. MKS Toolkit was designed by developers for developers. That's how we knew precisely which programming instruments to give you — and how to make them work together so you can achieve levels of productivity you've only dreamed about — until now! Developers working on DOS can now get the extraordi- nary power of tools that were once available only on UNIX. Only MKS Toolkit delivers a full suite of these essential tools on your PC, and allows you to switch quickly back to your DOS applications. For multi-platform environments, MKS Toolkit is fully compatible with UNIX systems, and tracks both POSIX and x/Open standards. Now it's easy to take hold of all the tools of your trade. MKS Toolkit enables you to develop the technology ..-—" of tomorrow — today. ^/* Start shaping the applications of the jsr future! Call now to order your copy w^ of MKS Toolkit. Some of the 170+ utilities in MKS Toolkit 4.1: ► A new, easy-to-use, efficient UUCP communications package that connects you to the world. ► MKS AWK, the fast prototyping and report generating language, now with a new AWK compiler. ► MKS KornShell, the full-featured programming language that allows you to interchange scripts with UNIX and POSIX systems. ► MKS Make, the software construction utility that lets you update files automatically. ► MKS Vi, the full-screen editor. ► New Windows icons for frequently used commands. ► Full on-line reference manual. ► Interoperability with Open VMS, CTOS and MPE/iX. ► A full array of commands for profiling, compression, archiv- ing, file processing and customizing your PC environment. ** LEAs *. MKS 35 King Street North Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2J 2W9 Price: $299, Upgrade $99. Call for multi-user pricing. 30 day money back guarantee. For information on how to order, call MKS at: 1-800-265-2797 (US and Canada) or (519) 884-2251 • Fax (519) 884-8861. International customers please calk AUSTRALIA +61 03 580 1333 • BRAZIL +55 83 333 1904 DENMARK +45 87 72 00 • FRANCE +33 1 48 77 22 44/ +33 1 47 81 10 11 • GERMANY +49 0721 988 280/ +49 0551 50762 0/ +49 06126 595 0/ +49 0221 35 15 24 JAPAN +81 3 5702 0351 • NETHERLANDS +31 020 6 14 24 63 • SWEDEN +46 013 111588 SWITZERLAND +41 061 421 32 01 • UK +44 0364 53499 / +44 0763 244114 / +44 071 833 1022 MKS and MKS Toolkit, MKS KornShell. MKS AWK. MKS Make, MKS UUCP and MKS Vi are trademarks of Mortice Kern Systems Inc., UNlXisa registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories. Inc. All other trademarks are acknowledged. Circle 1 24 on Inquiry Card . O Your network buy for today's business technology market. McGraw-Hill TechNet McGraw-Hill Magazines. Your Best Business Partners. ■ 4- Architectural Record ■ 7- A/C Flyer, Aviation Week & Space Technology, AW & ST China Quarterly, AW& ST USSR, Business & Commercial Aviation, World Aviation Directory and Buyer's Guide ■ 20- Business Week, Business Week China, Business Week Hungary, Business Week International, Business Week USSR ■ 28- Chemical Engineering ■ 32C- BYTE, Data Communications, Data Communications International, LAN Times, UnixWorld ■ 39— Electrical World ■ 41— EIMR, Construction News Publishing Network (11 magazines, 4 newspapers) ■ 46- Global Finance ■ H6- The Physician & Sportsmedicine, Postgraduate Medicine ■ 11 4- Modern Plastics, Modern Plastics International ■ 117-Power, Power International m SOFTWARE CORNER BARRY NANCE Your Own Devices The DOS Technical Reference of- fers detailed help for writing device drivers. Unfortunately, it's all detail; there's no overview of where to start or what to do first. If you could look at a simple example, the fog would slip away and you'd be able to clearly see what's going on. Here's a simple — yet useful — example. Only 6 KB of assembly language source code, PRDEV is a character-mode device driver that supplements the DOS-supplied LPT1 and PRN drivers. When you copy a text file to the device name PRN1, the PRDEV device driver gets control. The- text prints with extra margins at the top and bottom of each page, and PRDEV in- serts a formfeed at the end of the printout to eject the page. PRDEV helps make your printouts look better, and it keeps you from having to reach for the formfeed button on your printer after each printout. PRDEV's device name, PRN1, could just as easily be PRN. DOS would then replace its own driver with the one in PRDEV. Every device driver has two entry Writing DOS device drivers is easy — if you have a model to follow points. The first, the strategy routine, sim- ply saves a pointer to an area of memory containing a request header. The second, the interrupt routine, actually does the work. In PRDEV, the work consists of transferring characters from the device re- quest to the printer via INT 17h. As they go by, PRDEV analyzes the bytes it prints. PRDEV counts characters, automatically sending a CR/LF pair if more than 80 pass by between CR/LF sequences. PRDEV also counts lines per page, inserting form- feeds if it sees more than 59 lines on one page. If you have MASM (Microsoft Macro Assembler) or TASM (Turbo As- sembler), you can easily change these thresholds to suit your preferences. How does PRDEV recognize the end of a printout if it "sees" the output char- acters only one by one? In the same way that a network operating system separates printouts from different workstations — PRDEV looks for periods of silence be- tween characters. A period of 5 seconds triggers PRDEV to send a formfeed char- acter to the printer. For each call, PRDEV switches to its own private stack. It never has to worry about DOS not providing enough stack space. After processing a request, PRDEV sets the DONE bit in the request header to make DOS happy. Besides initializing on the INIT request, PRDEV has to handle only one type of device operation, the OUTPUT command. However, PRDEV contains stubs for all the device-driver routines that a block- mode (or more complicated character- mode) driver would need. PRDEV doesn't respond to IOCTL, Media Check, Input Status, Input Flush, or other such driver requests, but the stubs are there to make PRDEV a better template. You can ex- pand on the code to add functions, or you can use PRDEV as the basis for a new de- vice driver. ■ MAC/Tom Thompson ZoneRanger Rides Again Here's a freeware gem for all us MacFolk laboring away on application code. ZoneRanger, written by Joshua Golub, scans and displays the composition of an application's zone (i.e., the memory partition set up for it by System 7.0's Process Manager). ZoneRanger displays all active application zones (including the hidden MultiFinder and File Sharing applica- tions) and the System heap. You select your application's zone and get a graphical display of its handles, pointers, and free blocks. Handles are marked locked, purgeable, and whether or not they belong to a resource. Pressing the mouse on a block in the display pops up a hexa- decimal dump of the block's header information and contents. Pressing the Option key summons Balloon Help on the fly. There's a "side door" into your debugger, and you can force the zone's heap to be compacted and purged. These features help you flush out subtle memory management problems in your code. UNIX/Ben Smith Hexpert Simple and useful: Those are the words that come to mind when using Hexpert. Hexpert is a program for visually editing binary files such as core dumps and data files. Hexpert is like the binary editor you find with the MS-DOS Norton Utilities. You can search for character strings and hexa- decimal strings. You can view bytes as hexadecimal or ASCII characters. You cannot insert or delete characters, however. (This is usually a dangerous thing to do in binary files.) The program was written by Dominic Alston. It has been around for a few years and isn't written to ANSI C, but it com- piles and links well enough if your compiler doesn't strictly enforce ANSI standards. Hexpert uses the Unix curses library for handling terminal screen-specific operations. It doesn't recognize screen sizes greater than 23 rows. However, when you need a Unix binary- file editor, you'll be happy to find anything that works. Hexpert works well. Editor's note: Software Corner highlights public domain, freeware, and shareware programs. The programs are available electronically. See "Program Listings " cm page 5 for details. We solicit your contributions. We pay $50 for any program we use. Write to: Software Comer, BYTE, One Phoenix Mill Lane, Peterborough, NH 03458. JANUARY 1993 • B YTE 269 Discover why FoxPro, Clipper, and dBASE were all written in C. There is a good reason why • your database language was developed in C. In fact, there are many good reasons. C code is small. C code is fast. C code is portable. C code is flexible. C is the language of choice for today's professional developer. With the growing complexity of database applications, C is a realistic alternative. Now with CodeBase 5.0, you can have all the functionality, simplicity and power of traditional database languages together with the benefits of C/C++. C speed - fast code, true executables... FoxPro, Clipper, and dBASE were written in C primarily for speed. But those compilers don't really compile, they combine imbedded language interpreters into your .EXE. Now that's slow. For dazzling performance you need the true executables of C. With CodeBase you get the real thing. C code. Consider the following statistics, from the publisher of Clipper: slower dBASE IV FoxPro Clipper 5 "Sieve of Erastothenes" Benchmark for Prime Number Generation Shows C to be incredibly faster ! C size - small executables, no added overhead- FoxPro. Clipper and dBASE would like you to believe you need their entire development system to build database applications. But eiSOZSequiierSotlumclnc All tiati^ reserved CodeBase &#tonfci»ari:u/Si!qtnWSoftwan}fnc. remember, those products are all written in C. So why do you need to lug all their extra code around? You don't. CodeBase is a complete DBMS, in C. No fat executables stuffed with unused code. No runtime modules. No royalties. Just quality C code. CodeBase is just what you need. C portability -ANSI C/C++ on every hardware platform... No other language exists on more platforms than C/C++. Why rewrite your entire application for DOS, Windows, Windows NT, OS/2 or UNIX? With CodeBase the complete C source code is included, so you can port to any platform with an ANSI C or C++ compiler. Now and in the future. dBASE Compatible data, index and memo files... You want the industry standard. You need compatibility. Sure. dBASE is the standard, but every dBASE compatible DBMS product uses its own unique index and memo file formats. Only CodeBase has them all: FoxPro (xdx), Clipper (.ntx), dBASE IV (.mdx) and dBASE III (.ndx). Now it's your choice, we're compatible with you. Announcing CodeBase 5,0 The power of a complete DBMS, the benefits of C NEW - Multi-user sharing with FoxPro, Clipper and dBASE... Now your multi-user C/C++ programs can share data, index and memo files at the same time as concurrently running FoxPro, Clipper and dBASE programs. No incompatibilities. No waiting. NEW - Queries & Relations 1000 times faster... 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OocfeBcvso £.0 The C/C++ Library for DataBase Management Call Now 403-437-2410 SEQUITER SOFTWARE INC. FAX Europe 403-436-2999 33.20.24.20.14 #209,9 644-54 AVE.. EDMONTON. CANADA TBE-5V BEYOND DOS Connecting Windows to Data with ODBC JON UDELL Every time you turn around, it seems Windows has sprouted a new modular extension, complete with an acronym, a DLL, an API, and an SDK (Software Develop- ment Kit). I've been exploring two of the latest: Open Database Connectivity and the Messaging Applications Programming Interface. Twin pillars of the Windows Open Services Architecture, ODBC and MAPI provide standard ways for Windows applications to converse with databases and to send and receive mail. These tech- nologies promise to make "information at your fingertips" a practical reality. I'll focus on ODBC here and delve into MAPI in another column. You can build and distribute ODBC applications today — the SDK will have shipped by the time you read this. Some- time next year, Microsoft will likely bundle ODBC with a future version of Windows, just as MAPI now comes with Windows for Workgroups. Exploring ODBC Microsoft's new Windows database, Ac- cess, is the first commercial product I've seen that uses ODBC. Access can speak natively to a variety of ISAM (indexed sequential-access method) files, but it connects to server-based SQL (Structured Query Language) data sources through ODBC. The core component of ODBC (i.e., ODBC. DLL) is a generic "driver manag- er" that rides herd over one or more driv- ers for the specific data sources to which ODBC gives access. A Windows program called the ODBC Administrator registers and configures data sources. I used it, for example, to install the SQL Server driver. To complete the job, I had to feed SQL Server a file of stored procedures that tai- lors it for ODBC client requests. Then I at- tached a SQL Server table to an Access database and was able to query and up- date the foreign data through ODBC as though it were native to Access. ILLUSTRATION: JOHN NELSON © 1993 That's nifty but not really earthshaking. Products like Software Publishing 's In- foAlliance and Gupta Technologies' Quest have been doing this kind of thing for quite a while. Clearly, these sorts of products can speak to diverse data sources, but what about ordinary Windows applications? To get the full story, I asked Microsoft for the ODBC SDK. It provided me with a second driver — one that talks to dBase files — and the tools and information that I needed to write my own ODBC-aware ap- plications. (The kit also comes with the source code for a sample driver and a test- ing tool that exercises all the functions of an ODBC driver.) The Open Database Connectivity model is a profoundly enabling technology I won't pretend it was a piece of cake, but before long I was filling WordBasic listboxes with data drawn interchangeably from dBase and SQL Server sources. That really grabbed my attention. Part of my job is to figure out how to deliver enter- prise data to editors who live almost ex- clusively in their word processors and are reluctant to switch to a separate database program. If I can put the data right into their documents, I will make them very happy. I'm also looking for a solution that will migrate cleanly from the Xbase files we share today to the SQL repository (as yet unspecified) we expect to be using in the future. My Word for Windows listbox ex- periment proved both concepts. ODBC does indeed enable a document-centered, database-neutral approach to data man- agement. SAG Specifications ODBC follows closely the recommenda- tions of the SAG (SQL Access Group). That consortium has specified both a stan- dard SQL grammar and an API (or call- level interface) that clients use to connect to and interact with servers. ODBC drivers can and do differ in their degree of support for the SAG specifications. In terms of SQL grammar, for example, the ODBC specification defines three conformity levels: minimum, core, and extended. With respect to the API, the specification de- fines core, level 1 , and level 2 conformity. In both cases, the term core denotes SAG compliance. The dBase and SQL Server drivers I've used, for example, conform only to mini- mum SQL grammar. That meant that I could create and drop tables but not alter them, could not create indexes or views, and could work only with character data. The core grammar plugs these gaps and adds positioned update/delete, functions such as SUM, subqueries, and a full com- plement of standard data types. To the core grammar, the extended grammar — JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 271 HANDS ON/BEYOND DOS which surpasses the SAG specification — adds binary data types, outer joins, and procedures. While these drivers fall short of the SAG core in terms of SQL grammar, they ex- ceed it with respect to the API — both con- form to level 1. The core API provides only basic connection, query, and com- mit/rollback semantics. Level 1 adds data- dictionary APIs, options for controlling connections and statements, and driver- specific connection dialog boxes. (This last feature enabled my test application to greatly simplify its connection logic by relying on dialog boxes embedded in each of the drivers I used.) Level 2 enhance- ments include support for arrays of pa- rameters and a sophisticated scrollable cur- sor model. Driver Classes ODBC drivers belong to two general class- es. Single-tier drivers (e.g., the dBase driv- er) process API calls and implement SQL We Call It. 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When my WinWord macro (actually, the DLL I wrote to support that macro) issues the ODBC SQLDriverConnect call, the driver manager puts up a standard dialog box that lists "dBase" and "SQL Server" (the names I assigned using the ODBC Administrator). Based on my choice, the macro retrieves values from either a local dBase file or a remote SQL Server table. But none of my code — the macro, the supporting DLL, or the SQL statements embedded in that DLL — refers explicitly to either data source. The dBase driver is, literally, a dBase engine driven by a SQL syntax. You can do some very interesting things with it. An instance of the driver points to a (local or network) directory that contains one or more dBase files. These files appear as SQL tables that you can join and update. That gives ODBC programs more control over dBase data than some full-blown Xbase products offer. While ODBC is being billed primarily as a means of connecting to enterprise data, its flat-file support will also greatly bene- fit applications that create and manage pri- vate data. It's a trivial matter to create an Xbase table, insert values into it, and run queries against it. A communications program that might otherwise implement its own proprietary database of modems or phone numbers can now use what will be, in effect, a Win- dows API for persistent storage. If the pro- gram later needs to migrate that storage to a different flat-file format or to a server, it's no problem. Multitier drivers connect ODBC clients to servers directly or indirectly through gateways. The driver might involve itself in low-level client-to-server communica- tion, but it's not required to do so. The SQL Server driver, for example, leans on the same named-pipes driver and under- lying NetBEUI or IPX transports that other Windows-to-SQL Server agents use. You can toss dblib (i.e., the proprietary SQL Server API), though, since the ODBC API replaces it. That's a wash if you care only about SQL Server, but a huge win if you plan to switch someday to Oracle, Net- Ware SQL, or some other server. How does ODBC handle features that are specific to individual servers? First, there's a notation for standard SQL ex- tensions such as date-time literals and out- er joins. Most servers offer these features using a proprietary syntax; ODBC's "es- cape clauses" enable programs to use them 272 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 202 on Inquiry Card. ] Tmm STATISTICA/W (for Windows) Complete Statistical Sys- tem with thousands of on-screen customizable, presentation-quality graphs fully integrated with all procedures ■ Complete Windows 3.1 support, DDE, OLE, TT-fonLs, multiple toolbars, right mouse button support ■ Unlimited numbers of data-, results-, and graph-windows ■ Inter-window integration: data, results, and graphs can be treated as objects and converted into one another in a number of ways ■ The largest selection of statistics and graphs in a single system; comprehensive implementations of: Exploratory techniques; multi- way tables widi banners (presentation-quality reports); nonpara- metrics; distribution fitting; multiple regression; general nonlinear estimation; stepwise logit/probit; general ANCOVA/MANCOVA; step- wise discriminant analysis; log-linear analysis; factor analysis; clus- ter analysis; multidimensional scaling; canonical correlation; item analysis/reliability; survival analysis; time series modeling; forecast- ing; lags analysis; quality control; process analysis; experimental de- sign (with Taguchi); and much more ■ Manuals with comprehen- sive introductions to each procedure and examples ■ Hypertext- based Stats Advisor expert system ■ Extensive data management fa- cilities (spreadsheet with long formulas, block operations, ad- vanced Clipboard support, DDE hot links, relational merge, data verification, powerful programming language) ■ Batch command language and macros also supported, "turn-key system" options ■ All output displayed in Scrollsheets™' (dynamic, customizable, pres- entation-quality tables with toolbars, pop-up windows, and instant 2D, 3D and multiple graphs) ■ Extremely large analysis designs (e.g., correlation matrices up to 32,000x32,000, unlimited ANOVA designs) ■ Megafile Manager with up to 32,000 variables (8 Mb) per record ■ Unlimited size of fdes; extended ("quadruple") preci- sion; unmatched speed ■ Exchanges data and graphs with other ap- plications via DDE or an extensive selection of file import/export fa- cilities ■ Hundreds of types of graphs, including categorized multi- ple 2D and 3D graphs, matrix plots, icons, and unique multivariate (e.g., 4D) graphs ■ Facilities to custom design new graphs and add them permanently to menu ■ On-screen graph customization with advanced drawing tools, interactive stretching and resizing of com- plex objects, interactive embedding of graphs and artwork, special effects, icons, maps, multi-graphics management, page layout con- trol for slides and printouts; unmatched speed of graph redraw ■ Interactive rotation, perspective and cross-sections of all 3D and 4D graphs ■ Extensive selection of tools for graphical exploration of data: fitting, smoothing, overlaying, spectral planes, projections, lay- ered compressions, marked subsets ■ Price $995. Quick STATISTICA/W" (for Windows) A comprehen- sive selection of basic statistics and the full graphics capabilities of STATISTICA/w ■ Price $495. STATISTICA/DOS (for DOS) A STATISTICA/w-compat- ible data analysis system ■ Price $795. Quick STATISTICA/DOS'" (for DOS) A subset of STA- TISTICA/nos statistics and graphics ■ Price $295. Domestic sh/h $10 per product; 14-day money back guarantee. Circle 165 for DOS. Circle 166 for MAC. S StatSoft 2325 E. 13th St. • Tulsa, OK 74104 • (918) 583-4149 Fax: (918)583-4376 STATISTICA/Mac (for Macintosh) A STATISTICA/w-compatible, comprehensive data analysis and graphics system designed for the Macintosh ■ Large selection of statistical methods fully integrated with presentation-quality graphics (incl. EDA, multiplots, a wide selection of interactively rotatable 3D graphs; MacDraw-style tools) ■ Unlimited size of files ■ Full support for System 7, incl. "Publish and Subscribe" B Price $595. Overseas Offices: Statsoft of Europe (Hamburg, FRG), ph: 040/ 4200347, fax: 040/4911310: StatSoft UK (London, UK), ph: 0462/482822, fax: 0462/482855; StatSoft Pacific (Melbourne, Australia), ph: (03) 663 Quick ST ATISTICA/Mac (for Macintosh) A subset of STATIS- TICA/Mac: a comprehensive selection of basic statistics and the full graphics ca- pabilities of STATISTICA/Mac ■ Price $295. 6580, tax: (03) 663 6117; StatSoft Canada-CCO (Ontario)! p'h: 416-849-0737, fax: 416-849-0918. Available From: CORPORATE SOFTWARE and other Authorized Representatives Worldwide' Hol- land: MAB Julsmg. 071-230410; France: Version US (1) 40590913; Sweden: AkademiData 018-240035; Hungary: Dagent Kft 186-5782; Belgium: TEXMA 10 61 16 28; South Africa: Osiris 12 663-4500; Japan (Macintosh): Three's Company, Inc.. 03-3770-7600: Japan (DOS and Windows): Design Technologies, Inc., 03-3667-1 110. StatSolt. STATISTICA/W, Quick STATISTICA/W, STATISTICA/Mac. Quick STATISTICA/Mac. STATISTICA/OOS, Quick STATISTICA/DOS, and Scrollsheet are trademarks ol StatSoft. Inc. HANDS ON/BEYOND DOS portably. Second, ODBC will pass state- ments that don't conform to its notion of SQL grammar straight through to the serv- er. Use of such grammar is then no longer portable, but applications can exploit ven- dor-specific extensions through ODBC. Key ODBC Objects From a programmer's perspective, the key ODBC handle-based objects are environ- ments, connections, and statements. There is one environment per application in- stance. The environment maintains state for one or more connections, so your pro- gram can talk to dBase on connection han- dle 1 while it talks to SQL Server on con- nection handle 2. (You can't mix connec- tions, though; there's no way to join a dBase table to a SQL Server table.) With a level 1 driver, you can control options such as the auto-commit mode and the transac- tion isolation level on a per-connection basis. Given a valid connection, you allo- cate a statement handle that you then use to PUT AN END TO SOFTWARE PIRACY! Meet the growing family of security keys from Software Security. Each one a specialist at enforcing your license agreement in virtually any user environment you can think of. Whether it's DOS, UNIX, Macintosh or OS/2. Whether it's a single user installation or a LAN. Simply connect the appropriate key to a single user computer, or a non-dedicated file server in a network, and you control all access to your protected application. Users, however, won't even know it's there. The keys are transparent and won't impact software functionality or the ability to make back-up copies. Normal node and LAN operations are unaffected. The Ultimate Protection For Software Publishers AVAILABLE! NETWORK PROTECTION WlT H REMOTE UPDATING! Simple. Unassuming. Ever vigilant. Easy to incorporate into your application package. And quite possibly the most profitable hardware investment a software developer can make. To find out more, call: 1-800-841-1316 IN CONNECTICUT CALL: 203-329-8870 FAX 203-329-7428 EUROPE AND UK: + 44 784430060 4H» SOFTWARE SECURITY 1011 High Ridge Road Stamford, CT 06905 Proudly Made in the USA \Mj\S 14 TV 7 * North American Readers circle 160; Other Readers Worldwide circle 161. 274 BYTE- JANUARY 1993 submit SQL text and retrieve results. Op- tions you can control at the statement level include asynchronous processing, query time-out, and size (in rows) of the maxi- mum result set. As you negotiate connections and sub- mit statements, the driver manager tracks state transitions. It will report an appro- priate error if, for example, you try to call SQLFetch before executing a query. (Be- cause the driver manager handles this chore, specific ODBC drivers don't have to — a nice benefit of the layered driver architecture.) You can execute a one-off query directly, or you can prepare a query for deferred (possibly repetitive, possibly parameterized) use. You can also choose to bind application storage to result columns in advance of a query or to transfer data after the fact. With a level 2 driver, you can use a scrollable cursor and can con- trol its sensitivity to change in the under- lying tables. Most flexible is a keyset-driven cursor. In this case, the driver stores keys for an entire result set and uses the cached keys to detect deleted or changed rows. A mixed cursor extends this treatment to huge result sets by maintaining a virtual keyset. The Floodgate Opens There's nothing fundamentally new about ODBC. Pioneer Software's Q+E tool set attacks the same issues in much the same manner. "We were doing ODBC before ODBC was cool," a Pioneer representa- tive told me. Macintosh System 7.0's Data Access Manager and Data Access Lan- guage — which are finally picking up steam after two years — offer another variation on the same theme. Despite the availabil- ity of these and other technologies, I haven't yet noticed a flood of database- enabled software. ODBC, riding the Windows juggernaut, seems poised to open the floodgate. Both Pioneer and Apple, by the way, will offer ODBC-compliant products. No one loses in this deal. Pioneer's database tools will find a wider audience once they can lev- erage ODBC's momentum, and Apple's DAL figures to be one of the more pow- erful and versatile drivers in the ODBC suite. From my own selfish perspective, I see ODBC as a profoundly enabling tech- nology that I can't wait to apply. ■ Jon Udell is a BYTE senior technical edi- tor at large. You can reach him on BIX as "judell" or on the Internet at judell@ bytepb.byte.com. Your questions and comments are wel- come. Write to: Editor. BYTE, One Phoenix Mill Lane, Peterborough, NH 03458. Have You Ever Wanted To Leap Out The Nearest Window? If it runs on the host, it runs in a Proxy window. Even graphical DOS programs. Take The Plunge With Proxy. It's Network Remote Control For Windows, From Windows Some things you expect in remote control software. Like lightning-fast speed. And control over both DOS and Windows on the host PC. But new Proxy gives you so: thing you probably don't expect. Because it not only 'orks with Windows, it works from Windows. And that makes all the difference. You see, other remote control products run from DOS, even Proxy supports host computers running Windows. rr You can connect to multiple PCs over a network, with each appearing in its own window. those that support a host running Windows. So they allow just one connection at a time, and demand^ total attention from your computer. But Proxy is a Windows application that lets you make multiple connections simultaneously. You can display and control a differ- ent host PC in each window you open, while you continue to run local applications. Users Calling For Help? Leap Out The Nearest Window. If your job is to help users on the network, Proxy will make it easier. la* >| 'M Kl* k / 1 !i Dl Run time-consuming jobs on dedicated processors, and control them all from Proxy. No need to abandon your own work when someone calls. Just click on a Proxy icon and instantly connect to the caller's machine. You now have full control of their hardware and software, complete with mouse and keyboard support, whether they're running Windows or DOS. Reconfiguring Lots of Workstations? Leap Out The Nearest Window. Now you can perform administrative chores like software installation, updates, and system configuration without going from room to room. Just capture a PC and perform any operation as if you were sitting in front of it. You can even reboot it remi Need More Processing ower? Leap Out The Nearest Window. Imagine off-loading your most CPU-intensive tasks to sepa- rate machines you control as if they were part of your own desktop. Imagine two, three, or more applications, each running at full speed because each has its own dedicated processor. That's the power of multi-processing with Proxy. You can make Proxy available across the network and give power-hungry users access to spore or idle PCs. You can even dedicate PCs to specific tasks, like a high-powered 486 for CAD or a modem-equipped 286 for communications. Take The Next Logical Leap in Remote Control. Get the most advanced network remote control available, with applications ranging from user support to multi-processing. Get Proxy. It's from Funk Software. The same people who brought you Sideways;' Allways, and other top-selling PC utilities. Call today to order or for more information. 1 -800-828-41 46 Exf. 801 (U.S. and Canada] Proxy gives you complete control of any computer on the network. PROXY System Requirements: Proxy "Master" runs in Windows and can control multiple "Hosts" running DOS or Windows over an IPX network {e.g. NetWare). © 1992 Funk Software, Inc. Proxy is u trademark of Funk Software, Inc. Funk Software, 222 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 Tel (617) 497-6339 Fox (617) 547-1031 Circle 209 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 210). Configuration pictured 386SLC725 MHz 80MB hard drive 2MB RAM PS/2 1 ^ 8511 -VGA 5 slots, 5 bays & mouse DOS5.0pre-installed $1,299* 486DX/33MHZ 120/212MB hard drive 8MB RAM PS/ValuePoint 6312- SVGA Nl 5 slots, 5 bays & mouse OS/2® 2.0 pre-installed $1,999* 120MB $2,199* 212MB in ife 486SX/25 MHz 80/170MB hard drive 8MB RAM PS/ValuePoint 6312- SVGA Nl 5 slots, 5 bays & mouse OS/2 2.0 pre-installed $1,629* 80MB $1,849* 170MB The HelpWare Advantage 1-year onsite warranty ' Service response time: 4 hours on average 2 800# assistance— 7 days a week, 24 hours a day 30-day money-back guarantee ' i i ! I l! J Warranty and 30-day guarantee inlormalion available 'torn IBM and IBM authorized dealers Available- Monday ihrough I nday 8 a m- 5 pm in youi time /one, when servced by IBM II pans I required, IhiS service is provided alter receipt t>\ par Is shipped over night Applies lo iE)M direct sales only "IBM prices only IBM OS/3 and PS/2 are registered trademarks and PS/valuePoin- ThinkPad HetpWare and 3S6SLC are trademarks oil Si Business Machines Corporation Hie Intel Inside Logo is a trademark of Intel Cor porahon t -1992 IBM Corporalio PS/ValuePoint Buying a high-performance PS/ValuePoint"' system from IBM is as easy as picking up the phone. It's the quick, direct way to order a new ThinkPad T other portables and IBM personal printers, too. Simply call us 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., any business day. Most orders will be shipped within 48 hours, subject to availability. PS/ValuePoint computers are very competi- tively priced and deliver true IBM quality. So now you can spend less without settling for less. They come in a variety of configurations to meet your needs exactly. Features range from 386 and 486 microprocessors, 80 to 212MB hard drives, 2 to 8MB RAM, and a VGA or SVGA Nl IBM introduces 1 800 IBM-2YOU color display. And every PS/ValuePoint system is expandable and ready to network. What's more, they are backed by the industry's most comprehensive service and support package, IBM HelpWareT' Providing onsite national service in just four hours 2 from 10,000 IBM service repre- sentatives in 1,600 locations, a one-billion- dollar parts inventory, plus assistance by phone, fax or electronic bulletin board around the clock. So select your IBM PS/ValuePoint configuration Pick up the phone. And place your order directly. It's just ™jjj™ ^ _ ES that easy. Phone IBM right — SET EEI now: 1 800 426-2968. ESSSTS: 7 ® IBM Direct. X113BYTE Circle 275 on Inquiry Card. MBYTE The European Connection I need to be connected to the Internet for commercial communications. I've checked UUNET, PSINet, and other local Internet.com service providers, but the prices are outrageous — between $200 and $2000 per month. Therefore, I hope to set up my own node on a DOS computer. Could you recommend a source of information to complete such a project? Frederick Campion Mahno, Sweden The idea of accessing the Internet from a PC is not as far- fetched as one might at first assume. Yon can set up mo- dem-based connections for E-mail and Usenet news, even from a DOS-based machine. One way is to use the public domain program uucp. The newest version of MRS Toolk- it (available for $249 from Mortice Kern Systems, 35 King St. N. Waterloo, Ontario. Canada N2J 2W9, (800) 265- 2797 or (519) 884-2251; fax (519) 884-8861) includes an easy-to-instaU-and-manage uucp that does all its scheduled communications in the background (as a TSR program). The difficulty starts when you try to access the Internet using TCP/IP so that you can browse and grab files from any accessible system. This is what is meant by really be- ing "on the net. " There are plenty of TCP/IP packages for DOS. The problem lies in making that physical connec- tion. At that point, you 're talking about big-time network- ing, and that 's where services like UUNET come into play. If you' re part of an organization that already has direct access to the Internet, all you have to do is convince your network administrator to let you tap in. I suggest that you use a more appropriate operating system, such as one of the many inexpensive versions of Unix that run on PCs. (See "Coherent Grows Up" in the August 1992 BYTE, and "Unix for Nothing, " Letters, November 1992 BYTE.) Another important resource is a new book. The Whole Internet, by Ed Krol (O'Reilly & Associates, $24.95, ISBN 1-56592-025-2). This text explains not only how the Inter- net works, but also how to get around and find the infor- mation that vou need. — Ben Smith Assembly Language Plus C I wish to link an assembly language object module with a C object module in such a way that the assembly lan- guage module is the host module. In other words, my main program will be written in assembly language. All I need is to call a C subroutine from this host module. I use MASM (Microsoft Macro Assembler) 4.0 and Microsoft C 6.0. There are no problems when I use the C module as a host. The process of calling an assembly lan- guage subroutine is described thoroughly in most books on the subject, but I can't find a description of how to make the process work the other way around. Can it be done? Gerd Ehlert Schirner Copenhagen, Denmark The primary difficult}' with calling C functions from a main assembly lan- guage program is that when a C pro- gram starts operation, it initializes a set of variables that library routines such as malloc and fopen require and then calls the function main. If these vari- ables are not properly initialized, the li- brary routines may function initially but will eventually fail. Other library func- tions (e.g., string manipulation) can be used without difficulty. One solution to this problem is to link in and execute the normal C-libraiy start-up routines and then call your assembly language program. The accompanying listings show a sample assembly language/C linkage. Listing I is a simple assembly language program with the distinguish- ing feature of having a main routine that calls the routine in listing 2. When built using the commands shown in listing 3, the program runs through the start-up code and calls the as- sembly language version of main, which then calls the subsidiary C functions. When your program is linked this way, you don 't need to be concerned about which func- tions you call. The Microsoft C installation disks include the source code for the start-up code. If the start-up causes problems with your main assembly language routine, be sure to look through this code and make the necessary changes. The start-up code is rather small and fairly well docu- mented. The examples were written using MASM 5.10 and C 6.00a. This version of the assembler supplies some Listing 1 : A simple assen .8086 .MODEL SMALL, C . CODE bly language program. PUBLIC main EXTRN hello: NEAR EXTRN exit :NEAR main PROC call hello ; call the C module call exit ; bye-bye and clean up main ENDP END Listing 2: A C function to call from assembly language. void hello ( void { write ( 0, return; } /* hello */ 'Hello World\n' 11 ). Listing 3: Building the example. cl /c sample. c masm core ; link sample core > 278 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 This Application Uses Over 100 Gigabytes of Memory! BIX is the online service for people who know computing - it's the collective computing power of thousands of hardware and software engineers, systems designers, independent consultants, technology buffs, and computer industry celebrities. With BIX and the people you'll meet online, you'll have access to literally gigabytes of information, software, source code, news reports, and advice. And BIX now offers an optional access program that lets you take advantage of Windows™ while you're online.* BIX is a Great Deal Subscribe to BIX for only $13 per month. Connect to BIX locally via Tymnet for only $3 per hour in the evening and on weekends. Daytime rates are $9 per hour. Higher connect rates apply for access outside the mainland US. Join BIX Now! Using any communications program: • Dial by modem: 1-800-695-4882 • At "login" enter bix • At "Name?" enter bix.byte Further details and complete rate information will be provided during the toll-free registration. Questions? Call 1-800-695-4775 (voice) 1^1 «mr r *' £j Ask a Quatech sales Engineer to show you the value of quality, service and support. •Quatech manufactures a complete line of data acquisition, communica- tion, and Micro Channel boards for the PC AT/XT, PS/2 and compatible computers. •Quatech's user friendly software drivers enable our full featured adapters to support most popular operating systems. •Quatech's adapters are backed by our free on-line technical support. Made in U.S.A. For a free catalog call: 800-553" 1 1 70 International: Australia/lnterworld Electronics 03-563-7066, Canada (Western)/lnterworld VCR 604-984-41 71 (Toronto office 41 6-51 3-7027), England/Diamond Point International 634-722- 390, Finland/Lab Hitech OY 358-0-804-2522, France/Elexo 33-1 -69302880, Germany/Jupiter Electronic Systems 06181/75041, Israel/RCM Ltd. 972-03-5447885, Italy/N.C.S. Computer Italia 0331/770-01 6, Netherlands/ACAL Auriema 040-81 6565, Korea/Sam Boo Enterprise Co. 82-2-538-4001 , Spain SANTA Barbara SA 34-3-203-991 6, Singapore Bliss Services Pte Ltd (65) 338-1 300. IBM PC- XT, AT, PS/2 and MicroChannel are registered trademarks of IBM Corp. CI QUATECH 662 Wolf Ledges Parkway Akron, Ohio 44311 U.S.A. 216-434-3154 282 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 1 52 on Inquiry Card. Mail Order Hardware/Software Showcase The latest offerings from This categorized four-color display vendors supplying section makes it easy to find products of all leading Hardware and Software products from manufacturers at extremely a wide variety of manufacturers competitive prices. and suppliers. 284 311 Buyer's Mart From Accessories to Laptops to Word Processors, you can easily find the dealers you are looking for in this directory of products and services. 320 The Cost of 486 Power is Falling Fast. AND LODESTAR'S VALUE KEEPS GOING UP: CONSIDER THESE EISA FEATURES: We've carefully designed a 32-bit processing solution that breaks through the ISA bottleneck while maintaining downward compatibility with a 16-bit Bus for a peak data transfer rate of 33 MB/sec, Six , true, fully blown EISA Bus Mastering slots plus two EISA slave slots so you can be assured your EISA mastering add-on cards will work for you (typical 8 slave slots won't). LODESTAR'S bus mastering, intelligent expansion cards with their own I/O processors operating in parallel with the main CPU, frees up your load on the CPU. Bus throughput is improved by imple- menting direct memory access (DMA) and bus masters. Its speedy performance capability provides you with an ideal solution for a wide range of demanding applications, like CAD/CAM/CAE, formidable database management, image process- ing, artificial intelligence, desktop publishing and in the environments of network and multiuser systems. — 19k l*Mu 486-SX Workstation 486-SX/20 ■4MB fast EAM expandable to 32MB ■ 85MB 15ms IDE hard drive w/cache ■1:1 interleave 2H/2F IDE controller • 1.2MB 5.25' & 1.44MB 3 5" floppy drives ■16-bit 1024x768 SVGA card w/lMBRAM ■ 14" 1024x768 0.28mm dot pitch SVGA color monitor ■ 2 serial, 1 parallel & 1 game port ■MS DOS 5.0 8c MS Windows 3.1 ■Enhanced 101-key keyboard ■High resolution serial mouse ■Mini-vertical case 486-SX/25 $1389 ftjn63& 486 ISA Dataquest 486/33 ■64K ultrafast write-back cache SRAM ■4MB fast RAM expandable to 32MB ■ 130MB 15ms IDE hard drive w/64K cache ■Teac 1.2MB 5.25" & 1.44MB 3.5" floppy drives ■ 16-bit 1024x768 SVGA card w/IMB RAM ■ 14" SVGA 1024 non-interlaced 0.28mm dot pitch color monitor, VESA 72Hz flicker-free display ■2 serial, 1 parallel & 1 game port ■MS DOS 5.0 & MS Windows 31 ■Enhanced 101-key keyboard ■High resolution serial mouse ■Desktop case ^$2ora 486LB WINstation 486-DX/33 ■2 32-bit Local Bus expansion slots for 32-bit power expandability ■64K ultrafast write-back cache SRAM ■Built-in 487 math coprocessor 8< 8K cache in the CPU ■4MB fast RAM expandable to 32MB ■ 130MB 15ms IDE drive W/64K cache ■High throughput Super IDE Caching Controller. Reduces average disk seek time to 0.2ms ■Teac 1.2MB 5.25" & 1.44MB 3.5" drives ■ 32-bit Local Bus S3 Graphics Engine w/IMB VRAM. Up to 1280x1024 resolution & 32,768 colors ■ 14" 1024x768 non-interlaced 0.28mm dot pitch SVGA monitor. VESA 72Hz flicker-iree display ■ 2 serial, 1 parallel & 1 game port ■MS DOS 5,0, Windows 3.1 & mouse ■Enhanced 101-key keyboard ■Mid- vertical case 486-DX2/50 $2219 486-DX/50 $2319 486-DX2/66 $CALL -Eu k UWfcw 486 EISA CADstation 486-DX/33 ■256K utTafast write-back cache SRAM. Provides better hit-rate, ■Built-in 487 math coprocessor & 8K cache in CPU ■8MB fast RAM ■ 213MB 13ms IDE drive w/64K cache ■High throughput Super IDE Caching Controller. Reduces average disk seek time to 0.2ms ■Teac 1.2MB 5 25" & 1.44MB 3.5" drives ■32-bit SVGA card w/IMB RAM. Up to 1280x1024 resolution & 65.674 colors ■ 17" Award Winning ViewSonic 7 SVGA monitor, flat screen up to 1280 x 1024 resolution & 76Hz ultra high refresh rate ■2 serial. 1 parallel & 1 game port ■MS DOS 5.0. Windows 3.1 & mouse ■Enhanced 101-key keyboard ■Desktop or mid-vertical case 486-DX2/50 $3469 486-DX/50 $3579 486-DX2/66 $CALL Some of our most astute customers are buying today, upgrading tomorrow. To maximize the useful life of their systems, our customers depend on us, No need for them to unplug an obsolete system. They're using the power they need today and, with their LODESTAR StarFlex Series, they'll be upgrading simply, painlessly. LODESTAR'S unique StarFlex CPU sockets are built right into the system. Upgradable all the way from 386DX to 486SX or 486DX, at any clock speed. They keep coming to us because most other "upgradable" systems require purchase of a special CPU module board. This causes some performance loss due to speed adjustment. And they couldn't rely on those vendors being there when they needed to upgrade. Nor could they rely on sky-rocketing prices. So they've been calling LODESTAR. Now Our Customers Are Getting It All - Value, Features and Price. mifflSJjfflte How thousands of our customers are BUYING DIRECT When they buy from us, they're buying directly from the factory. So they get more value with each purchase, and are always assured their system is backed directly by the people who assembled it. ^iraa 386-SX Workstation 386-SX/25 ■2MB RAM expandable to 32MB ■85MB IDE hard drive w/cache ■1:1 interleave 2H/2F IDE controller ■1 2MB 5.25' & 1.44MB 3.5" floppy drives ■ 16-bit 1024x768 SVGA card w/lMBRAM ■ 14" 1024x768 0.28mm dot pitch SVGA color monitor ■2 serial, 1 parallel & 1 game port ■MS DOS 5.0 & MS Windows 3.1 ■Enhanced 101-key keyboard ■High resolution serial mouse ■Mmi-verticai case 386-SX/33 $1139 B w 1333 386-DX Workstation 386-DX/25 •4MB RAM expandable to 32MB ■ 130MB 15ms IDE hard drive W/64K cache ■ 1:1 interleave 2H/2F IDE controller ■ 1 .2MB 5.25" & 1 44MB 3.5" floppy drives ■16-bit 1024x768 SVGA card w/lMBRAM ■ 14" 1024x768 non-interlaced 0.28mm dot pitch SVGA monitor ■ 2 serial, 1 parallel & 1 game port ■MS DOS 5.0 & MS Windows 3.1 ■Enhanced 101-key keyboard ■High resolution serial mouse ■Desktop or mini-vertical case 386-DX/33 $1399 386-DX/40 $1439 THESE PRICES GUARANTEED THROUGH JAN.31, 1993 - fffwk. I*f 33 StarFlex 3/486C 386-DX/25 ■CPU upgradable to 386DX. 486SX. 486DX, 486DX2. Up to 66MHz ■64K ultrafast write-back cache SRAM expandable to 256K ■4MB last RAM expandable to 32MB ■ 130MB 15ms IDE drive w/64K cache ■1.2MB 5. 25" 8t 1.44MB 3.5" drives ■ 1MB SVGA non-interlaced color card ■ 14" 1024x768 non-interlaced 0.28mm dot pitch SVGA monitor. VESA 72Hz flicker-free display ■ 2 serial, 1 parallel & 1 game port ■MS DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 & mouse ■Enhanced 101-key keyboard ■Desktop or mini-vertical case 386-DX/33 $1489 386-DX/40 $1519 486-DX/33 $1739 486-DX2/50 $1939 486-DX/50 $2049 486-DX2/66 $CALL Your Assurance of Complete Satisfaction OUR RISK-FREE GUARANTEE Look for your comprehensive, written guarantee when you take delivery of any LODESTAR system. This industry-acclaimed, FIVE WAY Personal Warranty proves our willingness to stand behind everything you buy from LODESTAR. CALL FOR YOUR FREE COPY; we'll fax or mail it immediately. Use the LODESTAR FIVE-WAY GUARANTEE as your shopping guide; compare and question the others before ordering. WSW Q^ j H, J GOVERNMENT, SCHOOL AND CORPORATE ORDERS WELCOME, TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE COPY OF OUR PRODUCT CATALOG, JUST CALL. 1-800-875-3818 All specifications subject to change without notice. 2-Year Parts Warranty applies to adveiusea lodeS'ca systems only Money Back Guarantee does not include shipping & handling, and ail returns must be shipped pre-paid & in reasonable condition. Please call to confirm all warranty details. Photography is for illustration only. No surcharge on VISA. MasteiCard & Discover. Purchase orders are accepted on approved credit, California orders add 8,25% sales tax. All product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective companies. © 1992 LodeStar Computet Corp. Circle 257 on Inquiry Card. We Won Again. And you enjoy the benefits. In their latest survey of QUALITY CONTROL, proven by this nationwide provider ol warranty services, LODESTAR again has earned their rating EXCELLENT. Every system is individ- ually pretested and burned-in for 72 hours prior to shipment. We have the right system for you. If it's not already configured, we'll customize it. Systems can be upgraded to include optional cache, RAM, more hard disk capacity, larger monitor and a host of other enhancements. LodeStar COMPUTER "YOU MADE US A LEADER." 18539 East Gale Avenue City of Industry, California 91748 Telephone: 1-818-810-3818 Tech Support: 1-800-875-7569 Fax: 1-818-810-5928 Open Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-7pm (PST) Sat: 9am-4pm (PST) Rack Mount Computers - Motherboard or Passive Backplane Use external monitor Up to 6 drives Mono or color monitor Up to 5 drives [I EL:! 8.75" high [/ 14" color monitor Up to 3 drives Mm ' i IT' 1 Hi i HR / 12.25" high ^ack Mount Monitors 1 0" mono or color monitor 8.75" high 14" mono or color monitor Enclosure for most desk top monitors ' 14.0" high i '■■■■he,™' — tT'S m*M 12.25" high Rack Mount Keyboards Drawer mounted keyboard 1.75" high Drawer for desk top keyboards 3.5" high Vertical-mount, sealed membrane keyboard 5.25" high Rack Mount Printer Dot matrix printer with industrial rating 12.25" high Call for our other Rack Mount computer and "enclosure only" product offerings. RECDRTEC, INC. 1 290 Lawrence Station Road, Sunnyvale CA 94089 Tel. [408] 734-1290 Fax: [408] 734-2140 1-800-729-7654 286 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 255 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 256). BUFFALO Complete Network" £te All the Hardware. Industry Standard Hardware Complete Network has Intel"" EtherExpressI 6™ LAN Adapters for your network connections. Installation is easy because the cards are totally software configurable and automatically adjust for 8 or 1 6 BIT card slots. These Plug W Forget™ cards from Intel set the standards for Ethernet LAN adapters. High Performance Software Complete Network features the WEB" 3.0 Net- work Operating System, winner of the LAN Times 1 992 Best ol Times award. WEB 3.0 is a fast and flexible system which is simple to learn and easy to use. It supports DOS and Windows™ and is Novell " compatible. WEB 3.0 pro- vides the first peer-to-peer net- work to equal or exceed the perfor- mance of most dedicated server based systems. l^U TECHNOLOGY Everything Else You Need Complete Network has everything else you need to set up your network: cable, connectors, termi- nators, and even a cable stripping tool. Complete Network is a trademark 01 Bullalo Products, Inc Bultalo is a registered trademark of MELCO. Inc WEB is a registered trademark o! WESCORP WEBCORP is a trademark ol WEBCORP. INTEL is a registered Iradercart al INTEL top Cite Brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks ol their respective owners All the Software. All from One Soure '"•" M ^ Fp ALO Sfe Toll-Free Complete Technical Support Buffalo provides technical support for all the hardware and software of your Complete Net- work. You only need to make one contact for support for any part of your network system. Circle 239 on Inquiry Card. Easy Installation An easy installation guide helps you quickly and easily set up your Complete Network Just the Nodes You Need With the Complete Network you can start with any number of nodes and add any number of nodes to your network at any time. Combine any of these packages, up to 255 nodes, to fit your needs. CN-2 2 Node Package $495.00 CN-5 5 Node Package $1,275.00 CN-10 10 Node Package $2,475.00 CN-15 15 Node Package $3,675.00 CN-30 30 Node Package $6,450.00 CN-A Add-A-Node Package $285.00 45 Day Money-Back Guarantee US and Canada Toil-Free 1-800-345-2356 FAX (503) 585-4505 Buffalo Products, Inc. 2805 19th St. SE, Salem, OR 97302-1520 Response Code: 13CN3 France - 01 4827-6736: Germany - 081 52-791 2-(0)-50. 02241-66071 ; Italy - 02-261 -0051 ; Belgium -01 6-40041 6: Denmark - 42-95-3888, 38-89-0909: Finland -0-351-5055, 0-803-6033: Netherlands - 073-440700; Norway - 2-21 4-050; Hong Kong - 861 -21 1 2; Korea - 02-783-5344; Israel - 3-560-3837: International -81 -45-681 -5401 TWO COMPUTERS CAN SHARE ONE BACKPACK. With Backpack, several computers can share a single tape drive. Backpack connects quickly and easily to the parallel printer port of any PC compatible or portable — without interface cards or tools! The Back- pack tape drive is also easy to transport, making it ideal for trans- ferring data from one computer to another. QIC 40 (40/ 120MB) and QIC 80 (80/250) tape, diskette and hard drive models are available. So share and share alike! Call today for more information. backpack MicroSolutions Computer Products jm 132 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, IL 601 15 815-756-341 1 Fax 815-756-2928 288 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 254 on Inquiry Card. CONTROL UP TO 96 PC FILE SERVERS WITH 1 KEYBOARD AND MONITOR USING... COMMANDER by cybex • Select via Keyboard • Dual access up to 250 feet away (optional) • No external power • Mix PC, PC/XT, PC/AT and PS/2 • "AutoBoot™" Feature boots attached computers without operator intervention • Shows PC power status sa T7///////// //////////7? ■nsEEsnaj WBBGSmm MaBBBHgm > 'v///^^/)>y///^}/yz • PS/2 Mouse support available • Each unit accommodates from 2 to 8 PCs • up to 12 units can be cascaded • Mounting kit available for 19" and 24 "rack installation Dealer Program Available Cybex Corporation 2800-H Bob Wallace Ave. Huntsville, Alabama 35805 (205) 534-0011 _. Fax (205) 534-0010 - PC, PC/XT, PC/AT and PS/2 are trademarks of international Business Machines Corp. Circle 242 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 243). JANUARY 1 993 • BYTE 289 ACES GIVES yCU CNEY 1 he goas must be on ARES side. ..Running tne ARES was a pleasure.... -Rebecca Rohan mm ...the ARES 386-40 Offers one of rhe best com- binations of price, power and support on the marKet today. -S. J. vaughan Nichols m mem Ares' 4B6 PC features several unexpected and pleasant surprises. maKIng It one of the strongest contenders tor your attention. -Braa Thompson ..Ares has put together a good computer, perhaps the best of the lot. -Steve Glllliana mm Add up all (the) little extras, and ARES' 386-40 becomes one whopping gooo deal. ..ARES is getting a reputation for meticulous detail As soon as you open the ARES box. you'll be impressed by the care and thoroughness witn which ARES has packaged this machine. -Steve Sagman mm 1 've seen G ate way s version of the 386SX. ..am l glad IfinailychoseARES. ■Rick Siemmer Grumman Aerospace I firmly beielve that you can't find a better company than ares and you can compare them on a M fronts. Service. Parts. Quality. Tech Support, and the friendliest damned people you'll ever talk to. -Joseph Rondlni I am one who is Known in various places as a hard man to deal with because i demand excellence In value and service as a principal of business. I find however that l don't need to demand it with yourcompany. Itisgiven as a matter of course. -Ronaia o. Koskl Adrian. Michigan any will follow a familiar path, others feel compelled to set their own distinct course. hose who choose ARES place themselves firmly in the second category. he new ARES VL-Bus motherboard represents a new beginning in PC performance by incorporating the compatibility of the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) Local Bus along with the unprecedented power of the Intel 80486 line of processors. ur steadfast goal is to make you an ARES customer for life by offering you guarantees and support policies that our competitors dare not match. RES takes the time to do things right.. .recognized through- out the Industry for our many design accomplishments, such as: RES 250-watt power supply Is standard In desktop as well as tower systems. RES technicians neatly fold and silicone all cables to their sockets, and braid all wires, tie them and seal them onto their fasteners. o ares systems have better case airflow, increasing component life by keeping them cooler - often Just 2-3 degrees above ambient room temperaturel 72 hour burn-In, followed Dy a rigorous 4-hour 100-polnt quality certification test, documented by a personalized 4-5 page printed report signed by a skilled ARES Tecnnlclan. RES unpacks and tests ALL pi ug- and-play components like keyboards and monitors. o other company does that! II systems are custom-packed In sturdy cartons surrounded by 360- degree solid foam packing. his protects your unit from even the most brutal pounding during shipment. RES cabinets are i . 5 m m steel: thicker than anyone else's. his. along with an FCC-approved reflective finish, reduces Interference to a minimum. RES seals all component screws in place for maximum security. Innovative Motherboards, Award Winning Video Cards, Superior Hard Drives... Uniquely Combined To Carry On The ARES Trademark Of Excellence. It's The Of ARES ARES New Ouan turn Hard Drlvi W Ith greatness of heart comes strength of body. And our strength lies In the multitude of ARES systems owners who express their enthusiasm and appreciation to us every day in ARES New Quantum Hard Drive: More Speed More Space. Same Price, Compare... MAXTOR WESTERN DIGITAL SEAGATE ill j± customer satisfaction letters, follow-up calls, and on PRODIGY. A personal computer company should do many things.,. It should inspire confidence and a sense of freedom. It should have a reputation that earns respect, it should, from day one. provide exactly what you need - both hardware and applications solutions. And do so without costly "free" software that you'll never use. It should offer a boundless horizon with the flexibility to grow and expand in limitless directions. This /SARES! If you're looking for everything a personal computer should be. there Is only one choice. Olamond Speed Star2i«: Wi'lriy '•OS's' W> S.iu Sen,** . ■;■ . '.'■■■■ . . ..■■: •ZSK E.frr-a, Cteft e.»E. '■- B .i;--. -.- • • ■> ='- ■ 'i:." ■ •■■:■" /A free Flxup Disk enables you to restore lost files ana connect to ARES' bulletin board system via your modem to download free software. ne disk also facilitates your modem link to oapius Remote Diagnostics, a system whlcn lets ARES technicians support you remotely with diagnostic and repair services. A RES operates a 2 4 Hour. 7 day-a-week BBS system for your shareware and support needs, A two-year on-site TRW service (i year free) Includes air express parts replacements via Federal Express. Two-year warranty on all components anc warranty on laoor, ,-,,'y; :■,..:: A 60-day no questions asked return policy restocking fee. ■-'• RES technical support lines open 2 4 nours per day, days-a-week Z~> hould you need our expert help your valt will usually be measured In minutes, not days, ■ '•■ Two-year warranty on components from ARES - and from he component manufacturers. --_-' uallty through and through 1 ARES486-33EISA Intel 80486-33DX Processor Intel 80487 Math co-processor 256K External Cache 8MB RAM expandable to 64MB Quantum 240MB SCSI Hard Drive SCSI Hard Drive controller Teac 1.44 and 1.2 MB Floppy Drives Vlewsonlc 6e SVGA Non-interlaced Monitor w/,28 Dot Pitch Diamond Speedstar 24X Graphics Ac- celerator Video Card Your choice of ares Platinum Series Keyboards 2 Serial and l Parallel port DOS 5.0. Windows 3. l pre-lnstai led w/documentatlon ARES Flxup Program v. 3.0 Authentic Microsoft Mouse $2,995 00 4tS>- A Same configuration as above. $3,249 00 Q ua I ity Product, ARES486-25SX Intel 80486-25SX Processor 4MB ram expandable to 64MB on board Quantum 127MB IDE Hard Drive - 64 Read AND Write Cache Teac 1.44 and 1.2 MB Floppy Drives Vlewsonlc 6e SVGA Non-interlaced Monitor w/ .28 Dot Pitch Diamond Speedstar 24X Graphics Accelerator Video Card Your choice of ARES Platinum Series Keyboards 2 Serial and 1 Parallel port DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 pre-lnstalled w/documentatlon ARES FIxUp Disk Authentic Microsoft Mouse $1,749 00 Same configuration as above. $1,475 00 ARES486-33DX Intel 80486-33DX Processor Intel 80487 Math Co-processor 64K External Read AND Write Cache 4MB RAM expandable to 64MB on board Quantum 170MB IDE Hard Driveor Maxtor 213MB IDE Hard Drive Teac 144 and 1.2 MB Floppy Drives vlewsonlc 6e SVGA Non-interlaced Monitor w/ .28Dot Pitch Diamond Speedstar 24X Graphics Accelerator Video Card Yourcholce of A RES Platinum Series Keyboards 2 Serial and i Parallel port DOS 5.0. Windows 3,1 pre-lnstalled w/documentatlon ARES FIxUp Program v. 3 Authentic Microsoft Mouse $2,329 00 same configuration for., )l $2,449 00 $2,549 00 Same configuration as above Quality Software, Quality People It'S The ARES: HEART, BODY and SOU I Can The Co $2,695 00 "\ I l Of ARES. mpetitlon Measure Up?? r roDiems? r~ orget ft. I rie ARES 336 Mini Tower gave relentless quality performance. -Rebecca Rohan mm? I called l 1 different companies to research my purchase. T neARESsaies rep. was by far the most knowledgeable and cour- teous. H e got my order. -Douglas A. Glfford U.S. Embassy. Madrid Ares sold me the first time on system quality and performance; but more Importantly, i was soldtne second time on customer support -John M. Messineo Tampa Florida 1 purchased an ares because they are truly a people company. They made me feel that l was tne most Important customer to them. -Carol Green New York, New York Inshort. ARESjustreekeo of quality tnrougnout, from the sales rep. to tne follow up letters, to the system Itself and tne documen- tation. I am very pleased With ARES. -Prof. Jim Wade Germantown. Pennsylvania The 486-33 Sonic Is an outstanding buy - and more so because of the company that stands behind it. -Russ Lockwooa You can return the unit within 60 days if you are still not satisfied, but with service this good. It's not iikeiy that you win need to do this. ry^Tl -William Benin/ Ares has assembled an organization to be proud of and equipment that compares most favorably with any that l have been exposed to (i have worked with both Dell and IBM). -S. Marvlh Freeman Syosset, New York Y our Package is a class act. 1 nave 8 computers, and this one's packaging, sales, and attention to detail are by far the best of them an. -Susan Stevens Memphis, Tennessee CALL TODAY... We'll Ship Today.. ..800-322-3200 MiCRODEVELOPMfNT NC Circle 265 on Inquiry Card. JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 291 N45SL-120 meg, notebook 1995 N51SX-80 meg, notebook CALL ThinkPad 700-120 2750 ThinkPad 700C-1 20 4050 PS/2 9 57-160 meg 2370 Manager's Special "IBM ValuePoint 486 DX2/66, 212 MB 2450 BRAND NAMES LOW PRICES LEADER SINCE 1983 We export to Europe, Asia MEGACUBE EISA BUS 486-33 MHz System 8 meg, 128K Cache, SCSI CALL Carrier 386sx/25 Mhz Notebook 4 meg, 120 meg Hard Drive, VGA CALL Happy New Year! TOSHIBA NOTEBOOKS Toshiba 1800, 80 meg CALL Toshiba 4400c, 120 meg CALL Toshiba 6400sxc, 120 meg CALL Toshiba 3300sl, 80 meg CALL Call for pricing on other brand name models Notebook Memory Compaq Contura 4/8MB $215/430 Toshiba T4400 4/8MB $235/460 AST Exec. 4MB $290 Texas Instruments TM4000 4MB $225 comma ProLinea 3/25zs, 84 MB 909 ProLinea 4/25s, 240 MB 1595 Prolinea 4/50, 240 MB 2275 DESKPRO 3/25I, 120 MB 1695 DESKPR0 4/25IS, 120 MB 1810 DESKPRO 4/66I, 210 MB 2675 DESKPRO 386/33M, 120 MB 2335 DESKPRO 486/33M, 340 MB 3520 DESKPRO 50M, 340 MB 3995 DESKPRO 66M. 510 MB 4730 Portable 486, 210 MB CALL Portable 486c (color), 210 MB CALL Contura 386SL/25, 120 MB CALL LTE Lite/25, 120 MB CALL LTE Lite/25c, (color), 120 MB CALL LTE Lite 4/25 CALL SYSTEMPRG7LT 486/33, 1020 MB 7552 486DX2/50, 1020 MB 9350 'Call for other models - Monitor Extra * CD ROM/Multi Media NEC CD ROM 36M Gallery 570 NEC CD ROM 74M Gallery 680 Sound Blaster Pro 205 AST Power Exec 386SL/25, 60 meg Power Exec 386SL/25, 120 meg Power Exec 386SL/25C, 80 meg 2185 2555 ...3195 Power Exec 386SL/25C, 120 meg Power Premium 4/50 Power Premium 4/33 (HARD DISK & MONITOR EXTRA) 3575 2290 1995 P N V E L L SPECIALS Netware 386 V.3.11 Authorized Dealer 5 users 695 10 users 1395 20 users 1895 100 users 3795 250 users CALL WE STOCK TOSHIBA CITIZEN 0K1DATA EPSON HITACHI TALLGRASS ARCHIVE NEC ALR WYSE HOUSTON INSTRUMENTS INTEL MICROSOFT PC MOUSE SUMMAGRAPHIC CALCOMP ACS, Computers 9 All systems include Made in USA • Intel CPU with 4 meg RAM • Desktop or tower case • 2 serial, 1 parallel, 1 game (joystick) ports • 101 AT enhanced keyboard • 1.2 (5.25") & 1.44 (3.5") TEAC floppy drives • SVGA card w/1 meg & SVGA 0.28mm monitor • MS DOS 5.0 (complete w/manuals) • MS Windows 3.1 (complete w/manuals) & mouse 486/50 with 200 meg HD 2150 486/33 with 120 meg HD 1860 386/40 with 120 meg HD 1390 386SX/25 with 40 meg HD 950 One year limited warranty LAN BOARDS 8 bit Arcnet 75 16 bit Arcnet ifin Novell NE 1000 .160 Novell NE 2000 175 8 port Active Hub .. .325 Token Ring Card ... 399 Tokenhub 4-port ... 355 Call for other LAN Accessories PRINTERS Panasonic 2180 ?81 Panasonic 2624 .390 OKIDATAML320 315 OKIDATAML390 .460 HP DeskJet500 & 550 .399 HP DeskJet 550c .699 HP PaintJet 705 Epson, Citizen CALL HARD DISKS CONNER CP30104 120 meg... .CALL CP3204F 220 meg.. ..CALL QUANTUM Pro Drive 120 meg ...CALL Pro Drive 240 meg ...CALL MAXTOR, SEAGATE MICROPOLIS, MICR0NET CALL FOR ALL MODELS SVGA Monitors NEC3FGX, 14" 665 NEC4FG, 16" 825 Viewsonic 4E, 14" 365 Viewsonic 8, 17" 1785 Aamazing, 14" 335 LASER PRINTERS HP LaserJet NISI 3595 HP LaserJet HID CALL HP LaserJet IV 1495 HP LaserJet HIP CALL HP LaserJet IIP Plus.. ..CALL OKI 0L 400, 800 CALL OKIOL840P.S 1720 Panasonic 4450 1295 NEC Model 95 1395 Compaq Pagemarq 20. ..4095 Corporate Accounts Welcome Computerlane inc. caii for Discounts Outside California: 1-800-526-3482 on Volume Inside California: 81 8-884-8644 • FAX: 81 8-884-8253 A n r\ Consultant Orders 7500 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Canoga Park CA 91303 Hours: Monday - Friday 9 -6, Saturday 10-6 Compaq is a Registered Trademark ot Compaq. IBM is a Registrered Trademark of International Business Machines. ALL QUOTED PRICES REFLECT A 5% CASH DISCOUNT Visa, MasterCard and American Express also accepted Prices subject to change without notice. 'Quantities are limited 292 BYTE* JANUARY 1993 Circle 241 on Inquiry Card. HIGH SCORING TEAMS HEWLETT-PACKARD & MANCHESTER INTRODUCING THE PRINTER YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE HEWLETT-PACKARD LASERJET 4 PRINTER BETTER RESOLUTION FASTER THROUGHPUT IMPROVED PAPER HANDLING MORE FONTS INCREASED FLEXIBILITY True 600 x 600 dpi Resolution Improved Resolution Enhancement Technology Microfine Toner Engineered Specifically for 600 dpi Printing ! Standard 250 Sheet Input Paper Tray, Plus Multi-Purpose Tray (For 100 Sheets or 10 Envelopes) 1 250 Sheet Output Tray 1 More Built-in Typefaces: 45 Internal Scalable Typefaces Fast RISC Processor and I/O for Faster Printing of Complex Graphics "Hot" l/Os Enabling the Printer to Automatically Switch Between All Ports, and Send Messages Back to the Host Improved Printer Drivers 1 Built-in TrueType for Optimum Performance in Windows Applications 1 2MB Standard, Expandable to 34MB ' Many Options to Allow Improved Flexibility SYSTEMS INTEGRATION NETWORKING ^ CONNECTIVITY CAD/CAM /x x RISC/UNIX 18* HEWLETT PACKARD Authorized Dealer MANCHESTER EQUIPMENT COMPANY INC. "The Computer Supply and Equipment Experts" 50 MARCUS BLVD. ■ HAUPPAUGE, NY 1 1 788 ■ (51 6) 435-1 1 99 ■ (21 2) 629-6677 New York City: (212)629-6969 ■ Boca Raton: (407)241-7900 ■ Tampa: (813)962-8088 ■ Boston: (617)455-8300 Circle 557 on Inquiry Card. JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 292NE-1 Circle 554 on Inquiry Card. MopUAC D ^ e Pro f ess i° na l Software 1V1 d L I I /\0 1 Protection for the Macintosh MacHASP is the most advanced hardware based software protection system for Macintosh computers. Each MacHASP key contains a unique code, recognized by the protected software. During runtime, the protected program checks whether a MacHASP key with the appropriate code is connected to the computer. If the key's code is confirmed, the software can be executed. If not, the software will not run. The HASP system is based on advanced ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) components and sophisticated encryption algorithms. State-of-the-art engineering ensures full protection of your software with no hassles for your clients. THESE ARE SOME OF MacHASP'S OUTSTANDING FEATURES: ■ MacHASP keys are totally transparent to the operation of the computer and any peripheral equipment. ■ The user can create backup copies freely and can run your software directly from a hard-disk or a backup diskette (the original diskette is not required). ■ The protection system is easy to incorporate in your software. All necessaiy software, examples and documentation are provided. ■ MacHASP keys contain a memory which can be read and written on any computer. IT IS POSSIBLE TO PROTECT PROGRAMS WITHOUT THE SOURCE CODE For further information, please see our full-page ad in this issue for the nearest HASP distributor. LADD1N SOFTWARE SECURITY 200 Broadhollow Rd., Suite #207, Melville. NY 11747, USA Tel: 800-223 4277 516-424 5100 Fax: 516-424 8300 292NE-2 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 559 on Inquiry Card. "The CAD Ex RM/E, Now I know Jim Scalise finds FastCAD®'s speed and ease of use gives more than an increase in quality pro- duction time... "We found other systems diffi- cult to learn, but FastCAD enabled us to get up and running in short order. Architects that need the fastest CAD system have to see this to believe it. FastCAD really lives up to its name. Without FastCAD it would be tough to compete and we wouldn't have time for the extensive detailed work we consider standard on all construction documents. C/ Jim Scalise Nickels + Scalise Architects Plus, paper storage would be overwhelming' and : we'd still have 'draftsman's cramp' in our fin- gers and graphite on our forearms. After win- ning two National CAD Drawing Contests and elating our clients with FastCAD, it's as easy for me to endorse as it is to use." If you want to be more competitive, but find yourself short on time, don't delay! Call Evolution Computing today for a free demo at 1-800-874-4028. Free techni- cal support for registered users. ONS LAYERS I I i * 3£ \L ■ ■■- "■■:. ' ' i ■■ IiMU!!i!Ii]. ■pPs 3WEEK tteOnetto Stauws GC3| :0M 1W 1 ds-On Demo, Call 1-800-874-4 EasyCAD and FastCAD are registered trademarks of EvolutionlCoflbuting © 1992 Evolution Computing; Circle 555 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 556) Your Source For Industrial PC Systems New Rackmount Computers with Built-in Monitors! ■ ) tmml IP 1 * , ,',; ,'., Pffn Systems w/9" or 10" Built-in Monitor 3 -Front Half Height & 1 Internal Full Height drive bays. 9" Mono or 10" VGA Built-in Monitor Space for 8 full length cards. Enclosure alone also available. Systems w/14" Built-in SVGA Monitor 1 -Front Half Height & 2 Internal Full Height drive bays. Space for 4 full length cards. Enclosure alone also available. Complete 286, 386 and 486 systems 408-732-6091 Do You Need More Slots In Your Computer ?>? Now you can expand your PC-AT system without timing or noise problems and without time-consuming system reconfiguration with the new ETRC-AT active Expansion Kit from APPRO Inteniationsl. COMPUTER Single Board Computers • 286,386 & 486 ISA/EISA • Backplane Board Up to 20 slot 19" Rackmount Enclosures i 20 Models • Up to 20 Slots • Up to 8 Drive Bays SCSI Expansion Enclosure ■ Up to 4 Full or 8 Half Height Drive • Up to 600 W PS Monitor Enclosure i Enclosure for most 12" or 14" Dest Top Monitor • Hardware and Software No need to add drivers or modify software • No Address Restrictions Put disk drive, video controllers and other computer resources into open slots in your expansion chassis • No Initializing Software Just plug in the cards and you're all set to go ETRC-AT KIT W/4FT. CABLE 8 SLOT BACKPLANE EXPANSION CHASSIS W/200W PS ONLY S490.00 APPRO International, Inc. 3687 Enochs St., Santa Clara, CA 95051 FAX: 408-732-6095 292NE-4 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 560 on Inquiry Card. pCsour** Says . . . Kenosha Computer ' Center offers some of the Best Buys in Mail Order! EPSON LX810 ....$179 LQ860 LQ870 $549 $429 FX850 ....$289 FX1050.... ....$359 LQ1070... $369 LQ570 ....$259 LQ1170... $579 EPL8000 ... ..$1289 LQ2550... $849 Action 3250 $199 150 Action Fonts $59 DFX 5000 - 533 cps, 160 niq ....$1269 DFX 8000 - 1066 cps , 160 niq ....$2139 Call For Options Join the thousands of satisfied customers who enjoy our combination of price, service, and speed of delivery. KENOSHA COMPUTER CENTER SALES LINE OUTSIDE WISCONSIN 1-800-255-2989 Shipping, customer service & technical assistance call 414-697-9595 - FfiX 414-697-0620 VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS ACCEPTED No Surcharge on MasterCard or Visa! 1 Kenosha Computer Center is now in its 6th year! ty Texas Instruments T.I. Travelmate 3000-WIIMSX $1749 T.I. TM 4000 SX-80mg $2199 T.I. TM 4000 WINSX 25-120 $2349 T.I. TM 4000 WINDX 120mg $2879 Laser PS17 $1179 Laser PS 35 $1299 Laser PS35 Turbo $1499 Laser 1MB Upgrade $129 Call For Accessories OKIDATA ML320/ML321 S309/S425 ML380/ML590 S219/S425 ML591/ML393 S579/S909 OL 400 Laser/OL 810 $589/51029 OL 820 Laser/OL 830 S1219/S1279 Okilaser 400 2MG upgrade $119 Panasonic, Office Automation/ ?= Wj\ Xjri 1123/1124i $195/$275 2180/2123 $179/S229 1624/1654 S339/S519 2124/2624 S299/S359 4410/4430 $609/S859 4450i $1059 2mg. Upgrade for 4420 & 4450I S139 cc Computers KCC 386 SX-33 W/1.2MB floppy. 2 MG RAM, 40 MG Hard Drive, SVGA Card & Monitor, DOS 5.0, Windows & Mouse S1249 KCC 386-DX-40 W/64K Cache 1.2 MG floppy, 4 MG RAM 106 MG Hard Drive, SVGA Card and Monitor, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 and Mouse S1499 KCC 486-DX-33 W/64K Cache, 1.2 MG floppy, 4 MG RAM, 21 1 MG Hard Drive, SVGA Card and Monitor, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 and Mouse $1999 All KCC systems come with Tall-tree technical suppoi HEWLETT-PACKARD Laserjet IV w/toner $1449 Deskjet 500 $399 Laserjet IV M w/toner Call Deskjet 500C $739 Laserjet 111 P w/toner $979 Deskjet Portable Call Laserjet II P+ w/toner $809 Laserjet III si $3299 1 MB Upgrade $69 4 MB Upgrade $159 2 MB Upgrade $99 Options Call Canon BJ10EX $289 360 DPI, 37K Buffer, 142 CPS, 6 fonts, IBM & Epson Emulation BJ20 $369 Detachable cutsheet feeder, 188 CPS, 360 DPI BJ300 $339 600 CPS, 30K Buffer, 3 Fonts, Epson IBM Emulation BJ330 $559 Wide carriage. Version of BJ 300 BJC800 $1799 Color Bubblejet, 360 DPI, 7K Buffer, Epson Emulation LQ2550, 600 CPS, Built-in auto cut sheet feeder BJ200 $335 248 CPS, 360 DPI, cut sheet feed, Epson & IBM Emulation MEMORY PRODUCTS 2 MB IBM 30-286 $99 2 MB IBM 55SX $89 1 & 4 MB SIMM9 Call BOCA RAM AT 2 MB $179 4 MB Tl 4000 $229 COMPAQ LTE 386 4 MB $219 Toshiba, Nee, Zenith, AST, IBM, Compac, Other Manufacturers & Products Call LASER PRINTERS 2 MB EPSON ALII $139 2 & 4 MB H-P III $99/$159 2 MB OKI 400 $119 2 MB OKI 830/840 Call 2 MB PANA 4450i $129 2 MB PANA 4410/4430 $129 Other Models & Manufacturers Call HOUSTON INSTRUMENTS PLOTTERS & SUMMAGRAPHICS DIGITIZERS Image Maker A&B 1 1x17 $699 DMP-52 C81D 1 Pen $1979 DMP-161 A to D 8 Pen $2749 DMP/162 A to E 8 Pen $3475 DMP-162RAtoE8Pen Roll Feed $4749 Summasketch II 12x12 $279 Summasketch II 12x18 $479 HARD DRIVES & TAPES SEAGATE, CONNER & MAXTOR 89 MB 3096 S249 120 MB 3144A S279 211 MB 1239A $469 245 MB 3283 $499 MAXTOR 200 MB 7213A $425 MAXTOR 340 MB 340A $649 CONNER 120 MB $279 CONNER 200 $459 MICROSOLUTIONS 40 MB or 100 MB $399/5489 External Parallel port hard drive. Perfect for Laptops, PS It's & XT's. HARD CARDS Plus Hard card 50XL $239 Plus Hard card 105 MG $339 TAPE BACK UP Colorado Jumbo 120 S199 Colorado Jumbo 250 $249 Colorado Parallel 120 Portable $339 Colorado Parallel 250 Portable $399 Mountain, Maynard, others CALL MONITORS Mitsubishi EGA $239 Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 17" $1149 Mitsubishi HL 6945 20" $1779 NEC Multisync III FGX $629 NEC Multisync IV FGX $739 NEC Multisync VFGX S1259 NEC 5D $1549 NEC 6FG $2275 Panasonic 1991 1280x1024 $1559 Magitronix VGA 1024 x 768 $289 Magitronix VGA 1024 x 768 Nl $319 SOFTWARE D Base IV $469 Calendar Creator + $55 Lotus 2.2/3.1 $329/S389 Microsoft Word for Windows $299 Microsoft Windows 3.1 $79 Microsoft DOS 5.0 $69 PC Tools 7.1 $79 Quicken for Windows $49 Stacker $89 Word Perfect 5.1 $269 Word Perfect 5.1 for Windows $269 Qemm 386 Ver. 6.0 $65 BATTERY BACKUP & UPS AMERICAN 250/400 $109/$165 450/600 $199/$259 900/1200VX $375/$729 SMART UPS 400 $309 TRIPPLITE BC 250 $105 BC 400 $159 BC 500 LAN $195 BC 600 LAN $259 BC 900 LAN $359 GRAPHICS CARDS ATI VGA Wonder XL 24 1MB $149 ATI Graphics Ultra 1MB $299 ATI Graphics Ultra Pro 1MB $439 ATI Graphics Ultra + 1MB $295 Diamond Speedstar 24X W/1MB .$175 Diamond Stealth w/1MB $245 Orchid Fahrenheit1280 $269 Trident SVGA 1MB $79 Monochrome Boards $35 No charge (or MasterCard or Visa. Wa will ship COO on o cash or casher's check basis only. Shipping & handling 3% - S6 minimum: AK and Hi slightly higher. 15% restocking charge on returned items. Purchase orders accepted from Fortune 1000, Government institutions, schools and universities. 2% shipping discount available on orders over S2OC0 il prepaid by check. Prices and availability subject to change. KEN Circle 561 on Inq KENOSHA COMPUTER CENTER 2133 91st Street Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140 A COMPUTE! 1-800-255-2989 MODEMS & FAX MODEMS PRACTICAL PERIPHERALS PRACTICAL PER 2400 INT/EXT ...$79/$119 PRACTICAL PER 9600 INT/EXT ,$259/$265 PRACTICAL PER 14.4 INT/EXT . $329/$359 HAYES HAYES OPTIMA 9600 $339 HAYES OPTIMA 9600 W/FAX ... $369 HAYES OPTIMA 14.4 W/FAX .... $449 HAYES ULTRA 14.4 $619 U.S. ROBOTICS USR 9600 V.32 bis $539 HST16.9lnt/Ext ..$499/S549 USR SPORTSTER 14.4 Int/Ext.. ..$309/$319 USR SPORTSTER 14.4 W/FAX. $339 USR DUAL STD EXT $749 World Port 96/96 Fax Modem.. $439 Intel Satisfaxtions Below iny Satisfaxtion Fax Modems 100 2400/9600 Fax $99 200 2400 V.42/9600 Fax $275 400 14.4/14.4 Fax $375 400 ext 14.4/14.4 Fax $419 Faxability Plus $59 80387-SX co-processor $75 80387-DX co-processor $85 Overdrive Processor Upgrade Call MULTIMEDIA & CD ROMS Magnavoc 461 RS EXT w/software S389 Soundblaster Pro S189 Videoblaster S339 Imports video & audio from VCRs, cameras and video discs into VGA graphics Soundblaster Pro Multimedia Upgrade kit S539 With Soundblaster Pro, midi kit, CD Rom drive & software NEC CDR 74 w/gallery S629 NEC CD Express S419 NETWORKING NETWARE 2.2 5 USER S499 NETWARE 2.2 10 USER S1099 NETWARE 2.2 50 USER S2099 NETWARE 3.11 5 USER S589 NETWARE 3.11 10 USER S1359 NETWARE 3.11 50 USER S2699 NE 2000 S139 LANTASTIC 10MPS STARTER KIT S449 LANTASTIC 10MPS ADAPTER S199 LANTASTIC FOR WINDOWS S165 3 COM ETHERLINK II S185 3 COM ETHERCARD S279 INTEL ETHER 16 $119 INTEL ETHER 16 20 PAK $1975 SMC ETHER + ELITE 16 S145 SMC ETHERNET 8 BIT COAX $95 XIRCOM POCKET ADAP COAX $299 XIRCOM POCKET ADAP 10 BASE T $299 CENTER JANUARY 1 993 • BYTE 292NE-5 IBM said it, so did Computer Associates, Inc., Dataram Corp., Network General Corp., Software Partners/32, Inc. and Walker Richer & Quinn, Inc. Everyday more and more exhibitors are say- ing yes to DEXPO, The Event Of The DEC Open Market. They're saying yes, because DEXPO offers the best opportunity for exhibitors to meet thousands of qualified buyers, 70% of whom attend no other event. They're saying yes to DEXPO because DEXPO is building a total event, an exhibition that features DEC and DEC compatible products and solutions. An open systems conference produced by IDG's World Expo Corporation will provide attendees with imme- diate answers to immediate questions. They're saying yes to an industry intensive advertising promotion and public relations campaign that provides compelling benefits to attendees to attend DEXPO. They're saying yes because DEXPO is the DEC market meeting place which is important to exhibitors because their business depends on sales to DEC installations. As DEC focuses on open systems, as its Alpha technology spreads throughout the world, DEXPO will become even more important to exhibitors and attendees because no one, no one serves the DEC market better, no one can. Say yes, to DEXPO. To obtain registration information for DEXPO Spring '93 fill out the form and return either by mail or fax: 214/385-9003. DEXPO Spring '93 Exhibition & Open Systems Conference June 8 -10, 1993 Inforum Atlanta, GA : % % % & U M ^ ® i ® : t i:f; n : ¥ * ft h :■{: : Mail to: Registrar DEXPO Spring '93 13760 Noel Road, Suite 500 Dallas, TX 75240 Yes, I'm interested. Please send more information on: ( ) Attending ( ) Conference ( ) Exhibiting Company Cily/Slaie/Zip DEXPO No one serves the DEC market better, no one can. 292NE-6 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 'roduced by Miller Freeman, Inc., A member of (lie United Newspaper Group ©1992 Miller Freeman, Inc. Circle 576 on Inquiry Card. fwrr- •-.-. V.V5-- f, -^ '-. ' • -; <.<• -w :#.- v f V - • J - yr ;- v -••* >-- ^fe^ifrv*? 1. ■ "i. ■ „ .4 CTSnifi Higher] f ance: SmartCache Plus is the SCSI-controller that delivers higher performance without a higher price! Windows, Netware, Unix and other high-end applications need a SCSI controller that delivers top disk I/O performance and a growth path. Only SmartCache Plus delivers both — and costs no more than less advanced controllers! As the industry's fastest SCSI controller, SmartCache Plus is the easy choice. It's the smart choice, too — because if your system needs a performance boost, you can transform it from a non-caching host adapter into the world's fastest caching controller! Expandability is so simple: plug-on modules add caching, up to a total of 16MB of cache memory, and disk mirroring! SmartCache Plus is supported by all major operating systems and appli- cations, and provides connectivity to hundreds of SCSI devices. Reliable, scalable and simple to install, SmartCache Plus breaks your system's disk I/O bottleneck without breaking your budget! Distributed Processing Technology All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 140 Candace Drive, Maitland, FL 32751 Circle 246 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 247). This free comprehen- sive Performance Report details the SmartCache Plus advantage over its leading competitor in nine different benchmarks for DOS 5.0, Netware 3.11 and Unix applications. For your copy, contact DPT Channel Marketing today... TEL. FAX 60-53 :ptfcft^ g^Bagtt^ Super Selection, uper Service. Super Direct 7 Insight Buy the Super Direct™ .way! Insight 486 ISA 486sx-25mhz Fully Upgradable Intel 80486 CPU 4MB RAM - 256K Cache 210MB 12ms Hard Drive w/cachc 420MB with Stacker® Non-interlaced 14" SuperVGA Color Monitor 24 Bit 1MB Graphics Accelerator Super VGA Video Card - Up to 16 Million Colors 1.2MB 5.25" Floppy Drive 1.44MB 3.5" Floppy Drive 2 Serial Ports, 1 Parallel, 1 Game Port Enhanced 101 Key Keyboard MS-DOS 5.0 Mouse Desktop Case, Full Vertical Available Stacker and Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus™ Software $1,599 486-33mhz $1,899 486dx2-50mhz ■0— $1,999 486-50mhz Faster Than A Speeding Bullet! Notimetowaitforafully- loaded, value-packed '486? No problem ! We've specially configured and pre-built our hottest selling systems and they're ready to ship! $2,099 486dx2-66mhz $2,299 w fe CD-ROM Talon TA-100 Internal, 380ms access time, 32KB buffer, fast transfer rate. $279 Sony S-535 Free with any CD-ROM drive ■ ■1992 Multimedia Encyclopedia ■Stereo Headphones ■Reference Library ■GamePacIc CDSoftware-Pickany5for$99* Internal, 340ms access time, 8KB buffer, 150KB/second transfer rate. $399 Talon High Performance TA-200 Internal, 280ms access time, 64KB buffer, 300KB/second transfer rate. $599 1992 Toolworks Multimedia Encyclopedia - complete 21 volume sel. Over 33,000 articles with 3,000 pictures, 250 maps, 35 minutes of video, 35 minutes of sound record- ings and 55 video sequences. Aircraft Encyclopedia Nat'l Parks Bibie Library Plant Doctor Career Opportunities Reference Library CIA Factbook Sound Works Civil War Space-Apollo European Monarchs Timetable of Arts Game Pack II Timetable of Sci. Guinness Disc USA State Fact Great Cities (MM) Book Interactive Storytime US Atlas KGB Factbook US Civics Korea US Presidents MM Mavis Beacon Vietnam Teaches Typing World Atlas N.American Indians World War II *with purchase of a CD-ROM Drive »0^j, @E»@§1 120MB tO 2100MB Hani Drives 1000's of Products. Call Now! 120MB IDE 170mb IDE 210mb Talon TA3020A, 16ms, 3.5' 1"H Bare $279 8 Bit Kit $319 16 Bit Kit $299 Western Digital WD2170A. I2ms35' 1"H Bare $349 16 Bit Kit $369 M ' DE Western Digital WD220OA, I2ms3.5" 1"H Bare $399 16 Bit Kit $419 520mb IDE/SCSI 660mb SCSI 1080mb Btf< SCSI Fujitsu FJ2624S. 12ms 3.5" HH Bare $999 16 Bit Kit (IDE) $1,019 16 Bit Kit (SCSI) $1,149 Micropolis MC1624, 15ms 5.25" HH Fujitsu FJ2266S, 14.5ms 5.25" FH Bare SI.199 16 Bit Kit $1,349 Bare $1,499 16 Bit Kit $1,649 1350MB SCSI 1752mb SCSI 2100mb SCSI Micropolis MC1528-15, 14ms 5.25" FH Bare $1,799 16 Bit Kit $1,949 Fujitsu FJ2652S, llms 5.25" FH Micropolis MC1924, I lms 5.25" FH Bare $2,749 16 Bit Kit $2,899 Bare $3,199 16 Bit Kit $3,349 Tape Backups Bernoulli ft. Standard QIC 80 attaches to existing floppy controller or dedicated unit, w/ data compression. 2-3MB/min. Talon 120MB includes one tape $189 250MB includes one tape $249 Colorado WangDAT A Tape Backup^ 120MB 250MB $199 $259 Printers Canon 2GB 3100 Internal Kit 4GB 3200 Internal Kit 4GB 3200 External Kit Monitors TVM $1,199 $1,399 $1,499 BJ-lOex Bubble Jet BJ-20 Bubble Jet BJ-200 Bubble Jet BJ-300 Bubble Jet BJ-330 Bubble Jet BJC-800 Color Bubble Jet BJC-820 (SCSI) Color Bubble Jet LBP-4sx LPB-8sx NEC $289 $379 $389 $419 $579 51,899 i 1 .999 $419 $579 MediaScan4A+ 14" $319 Low Radiation 5 A+ 1 5" $459 MediaScan SA 17" $1,039 NSA/Hitachi SuperScan™ 15(CMI584) $579 SuperScan™ 1 7 (CM 1 785) $ 1 ,099 SuperScan™ 20 (CM2085) $ 1 ,499 NEC P3200-8K, upto216CPS $229 P6200 - 80K, up to 300 CPS $409 P3300-8K,upto216CPS $329 P6300 - 80K, up to 300 CPS $629 P9300 - 80K, up to 400 CPS $829 Model 95 Laser Printer $1,399 MultiSync 3FGx 15" MultiSync 4FG 15" MultiSync 5FG 17" MultiSync 6FG 21" $639 $749 $1,349 $2,359 Removable media, offers a 90 Pro internal drive. SCSI adapter by Rancho Technology, 360MB of storage, 2 90MB cartridges and Stacker 1 " disk compression software. Internal 360MB Kit $499 Extra Cartridges $149 3 Pack of Cartridges $419 Software Automap $49 Lotus SmartSuite for Windows $4 1 9 Microsoft Excel 4.0 $295 Microsoft Word 2.0 $295 Paradox 4.0 $499 Networking tfMlSOFT Revolutionizing Connectivity LANtastic® AE-2™ Ethernet Starter Kit (ISA) LANtastic AE-3™ Ethernet Starter Kit (ISA) Other Networking Products Available. All versions and upgrades available at the lowest prices. S479 $549 9, 9. f m% Insight Prices mill ;tv:iil:il)i1ilv siilijccl in dinn^c without run ict Guarantee and l-Yew Replacement Policy may hovesi tit' Inlcl Corporaiion. Ix-jstng available lor businesses. All items ace NEW. POsa. ne reariclions. Shipping is epled from qualified buyer on- refundable. All tradem t3(). Ai*0/1-Kl iirdcrs iidd SI6 I'i ire [ lit; properties, ol ilii/ir iv.spixii 1 Buy the Super Direct [way! it [impress Mail. POs, 30-Day Hard Drives International and Insight have joined TOrCeS lo bring you a superstore in your mailbox. We offer the ultimate selection of today's most popular hardware and software, with the most affordable prices. Get Insight's superior service and support, plus 1000's of products to choose from. It's the Super Direct™ way to have it all - direct to your door faster than a speeding bullet. Super selection. You'll find everything you need at Insight. From high-capacity, high- performance storage products to computer systems, peripherals, software and more. If you don't see the product you need, call us. We have 1000's of products in stock. Super service. " 30-Day "Worry-Free" Money Back Guarantee ■ Federal Express Delivery "Toll-Free Technical Support 7 Days a Week • Payment Options Galore BJnPH ■Order24hrsaDay ■ One Year Parts & Labor Warranty/ Replacement Policy ■ Special National Accounts Department for Larger Customers Super Direct" Order 24 Hours a Day 800-998-8040 National Accounts - P.O.'s 800-998-8014 APO/FPO/Intemational 602-350-1145 FAX 602-350-1188 Insight Distribution Network Inc. 1912 W. Fourth St. iempcAZ 85281 PH.602/350-1128 FAX 602/350-1150 . Source Code HAA Eas y Affordable U p grades. Get More Performance From Your PC System For a Lot Less Than You Think. MOTHERBOARDS Buy Smart.. .Buy RMB Upgradable Motherboards Model No Memory 2Mb 4 Mb 8 Mb 16 Mb 32 Mb 386 SX-33 '159 * 386 DX-33 Upgradable '249 * 386 DX-40 Upgradable '269 * 486 SX-25 Upgradable '329 * 486 SX-33 Upgradable call * 486 DX-33 Upgradable '675 * 486 DX-2/50 Upgradable '735 ** 486DX-50 Upgradable '955 "486DX-2/66 '1049 ** 486 DX-2/66 EISA Upgradable '1299 *128k Cache Memory **256k Cache Memory '239 NA NA. NA NA NA NA NA NA NA '319 '409 '429 '489 call '835 '895 '1135 '1229 '1479 '479 '569 '589 '649 call '995 '1055 '1315 '1409 '1659 '859 '949 '969 '1029 call '1375 '1435 '1655 '1749 '1999 NA '1649 '1669 '1729 call '2075 '2135 '2355 '2449 •2699 486DX-2/66 MHz EISA only s 1299 Overdrive socket for easy 486DX-2 100 MHz upgrade. Local Bus Slot • SIS ATQ chipset • AMI Bios • Intel CPU (W Local Bus All RMB 386DX-33 and faster Motherboards are Local Bus Ready. Local Bus Video Card s 167 •ET-4000 chipset The RMB Advantage MIS managers from across the country are discovering the advantages of upgrading with RMB Motherboards: ■ Save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by avoiding replacement costs with upgrades. ■ Every RMB Motherboard with SIMM memory comes with the memory completely installed, burned-in and fully tested to assure quality performance. ■ Take the RMB challenge! If you have an entire department to upgrade, try one RMB Motherboard for 30 days. If you're not completely satisfied, return it for a full refund.* *Ralin will refund full product price. Price will reflect purchase price or current market price, whichever is lower. M ODEM UPGRADES Zoom Telephonies Zoom modems rate at the top of their class for compatibility and performance. The recipient of numerous Editors' Choice awards, Zoom modems offer the quality and dependability that you require at a price that makes them a true value. All Zoom modems are backed by a 7 year warranty and are made in the USA. Printers EPSON® AP-3250 $189 95 V - 9-Pin Printers AP-2250 240/48 cps V 2400 bps w/ v.42bis and MNP 2-5 (AMC) (AMX) internal external $ 49.00 $ 65.00 2400 bps w/ v.42bis and MNP 2-5 9600 send & 4800 receive Fax (AFC) (AFX) internal external $ 59.95 $ 79.95 2400 bps w/ 9600 bps send/receive Fax (FC 9624) (FX 9624) internal external $ 79.95 $ 95.00 9600 bps modem w/ v.32, v.42bis, MNP2-5 (VP-V32) (VX-V32) internal external $ 199.00 $ 199.00 14,400 bps modem w/ v.32bis, v.32, v.42bis, MNP 2-5 and 9600 bps send/receive Fax (VFP-V32bis*) (VFX-V32bis*) internal external $ 229.00 $ 269.00 2400 bps modem w/.42 bis and MNP 2-5, 9600 bps send and 4800 bps receive Fax PKT Pocket/Fax Modem $ 99.00 LX-810 FX-870 FX-1050 DFX-5000 DFX-8000 240/48 cps 380/68 cps 380/68 cps 533 cps 1066 cps 24-Pin Printers LQ-570 LQ-870 LQ-1070 LQ-1170 LQ-2550 252/84 cps 330/110 cps 252/84 cps 330/110 cps 400/133 cps Star Micronics® •WINFAX software option available for $15 if purchased with VFP-V32bis or VFX-V32bis modem. RALIN also offers MPC Products, Hard Drives, Monitors, Cases, CD-Rom's, Simm Memory, Keyboards & Input devices. CALL 1-800-752-9512 NX-1001 NX-1020R NX-2430 NX-2420R SJ-48 180/45 cps 9-pin color printer 24-pin printer 24-pin color printer Inkjet $132.00 $165.00 $289.00 $382.00 $1265.00 $2145.00 $258.00 $434.00 $369.00 $575.00 $849.00 $129.00 $172.00 $239.00 $279.00 $289.00 Ralin Policies • Prices and availability subject to change. • Purchase orders are accepted, subject to approval. • We do not charge your card until order is processed. • Incomplete returns arc subject to a service charge. • Ail returns other than exchanged items incur a 10% re-stocking fee. To insure your shipment arrives when you need it, Ralin uses only the most reputable modes of transportation available: WORLDWIDE £JfPff£IS ^oty, '%tco* WE ACCEPT: L0UC33 296 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 WHOLESALERS, INC. P.O. Box 450 Orchard Park, New York 14127 Hours: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Mon-Fri Customer Service: 716-674-6267 Fax: 716-674-2108 Circle 264 on Inquiry Card. MEMORY ... YOU JUST CAN'T DO WITHOUT IT. Picture this: You bought a new software package. You try it out on your computer and soon find yourself working for hours on a sophisticated graphic design. While scrolling through your worksheet, it feels like you are moving through pudding, Your hard disk has a tough time trying to catch up. You then try to print, but the laser printer's buffer is full. You reset it, try again, and find that it spits out only part of your beautiful graphic... No problem! We'll take it from here. With our JetRam™ line that supports the leading brands of laser printers and PcRam™ line that upgrades your Notebook, Laptop or Desktop computers. Transcend can help solve your memory problems. What you get from our memory upgrades ■ Life time warranty on all our products ■ Full memory lines support a variety of brand names of laser printers and PCs ■ High quality at a reasonable price ■ Easy-to-install Office hours: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mon. to Fri. "You order in the morning, we will ship in the afternoon." K81 SSS52 IBM epson TOSHIBA OKID4IA • Apple Panasonic QMS NEC J* O^KynCBRa brothec iNSTRLnwIms ' All brand names are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Emsaa Your Supplier, Your Partner, Your Friend. Circle 272 on Inquiry Card. Transcend Information Inc. 104 Exchange Place, 3FI., No. 465, Chung Hsiao East Road, Pomona, CA 91768 U.S.A. Sec. 6, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. TEL: (714) 598-5500 TEL: (886) 2-7881000 FAX: (714) 598-5050, (714) 598-6050 FAX: (886) 2-7881919, 7889191 JANUARY 1 993 • B YTE 297 lifetime*! warranty! 100% HARD DRIVE SUPER PRICES CALL WE WILL BEAT ANY ADVERTISED PRICE LASER CALL FOR LATEST SIMM PRICES PRINTER MEMORY HLMSU R> ;ti 2MB ■MtumiiB ■rocEu fcs Fiiw Mill I IIJ;M»i4.-W.]:M INTEL CYRIX IIT 8067 5HHZ INTEL B067-? SMHZ INTEL B067-1 10MHZ IWTEl 90287-6 6MHZ INTEL BO?87-e 8MHZ INTEL BDZS7-IC 10MKZ INTEL 80JBM? 12 MHZ INTEL B0287XL 10MHZ INTEL 80M7XLT 12MHZ INTEL 8C387SX-I6 16MHZ IWTEL B0387SX-JO 20 HZ INTEL B0387DX-16 16MKZ INTEL 8O3a7DX-?0 ZOMKZ INTEL ■^ : V> ■"V.IHZ INTEL 6O3370X-33 J3MHZ INTEL 80487SX-20 INTEL RAPID WD OVERDRIVE SX25 OVERDRIVE SX20 CYRIX S3087DX-I6 I6MH7 CYRIX B3O37DX-20 20MH7 CYRIX 83087DX-25 2SMKZ CYRIX 3087DX-J3 i3MH7 CYRIX 83087DX-W 4CWHZ CYRIX 83SB7SX16 I6MHZ CYRIX 83S87SX20 20MHZ CYRIX S3S87SX25 25MHZ CYRIX 82S87XL CYRIX WEITEK 3167-20MHZ WEITEK 31&7-35MHZ WEITEK 3167-33MHZ WEITEK J167-25MHZ WEITEK ■116733MHZ WEITEK 2CS7-8 8MHZ in 2087-10 I0MHZ IIT 2C87-t2 12MHZ IIT 2C87-20 20MHZ IIT 3C87-16 16MHZ IIT X87-20 ZOMHZ IIT 3C87-25 25MHZ IIT 3C87-33 33MHZ IIT X87-40 40MHZ IIT 3S37SX-I6 T6MHZ IIT 3S87SX-20 20MKZ 111 3387SX-25 ?5WH2 IIT 3S87SX-23 33MHZ in AMD 80C2S7-10 AMD B0C287-12 AM 59.D0 MOO 65 00 &9.G0 63.00 89 00 89.00 89 00 119.00 75.00 75.00 m MEE&mn 4MB X 9-80NS SIMM-PC 4MB X 9-70NS SIMM 4MB X 9-60NSSIMM 1MBX9-100NS 9 CHIP SIMM 1MB X 9-80NS 3 CHIP SIMM 1MB X 9-80NS 9 CHIP SIMM 1MB X 9-70NS 3 CHIP SIMM 1MB X 9-70NS 9 CHIP SIMM 1MB X 9-60NS 3 CHIP SIMM 1MB X9-60NS9 CHIP SIMM 1MB X 9-53NS 3 CHIP SIMM 1MB X 9-53NS 9 CHIP SIMM 16MB X 9 70NSSIMM 16MB X 9-60NS SIMM EACH 12 + CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL 256KX9 256K X 9 256K X 9 256K X 9- 1MB X B- 1MB X a 4MB X B< 4MBX8 1MB X 9 1MB X 9 1MBX9 1MBX9 10ONSSIMM ■SONS SIMM 70NS SIMM -BONS SIMM BONS SIMM 70NS SIMM BONS SIMM 70NS SIMM 1O0NS SIPP 80NS SIPP 70NS SIPP 60MS SIPP CALL 256K X 9-IOONS SIPP CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL 256K X 9-80NS SIPP CALL 256K X 9-70NS SIPP CALL 256K X 9-60NS SIPP CALL 256X36- 1MB CALL 512 X 36 - 2MB CULL 1 X 36 - 4MB CALL 2 X 36 - 8MB CALL 4 X 36 - 16MB CALL 8 X 36 - 32M8 CALL 1MBX40-80NS-4MBSIMM CALL 2MaX40-80NS-8MBS!MN' CALL UFI POWER FLU UH FLU UCHE ]HSX i'> Ml l?MG5IZ I » 'KB iCIl IJWIOOO 41 2MB K\ TTWaXM M iw?. 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XT JW MP VECTHA EI.12 Ell PORTULE 4 20MH2 386SX :•■»■■: ;;/,',■■ LAPTOPS NOTEBOOK 2MB MOD IM (MB MOD 2M 60KDWELL 6110 SUPERS!* CHKDMY 3USI (MB MOD CFUPin NDIEIOOK 4MB MDD i HE WIETT PACMRD IS 11 1MB MOD 1 HEWLETT PACKARD 95LI HTUMOAI 3MSX 4MB MOD 1 LHHU2U 2MB MOD i LEAOWG EDGE OLT 3MSX 1MB MOD 4MB MOO PACKARD KLL F-12MM POOUET 12BK MOD 12 255* MDD 94 112K MOD 111 1MB MOD 215 4MB MOO 949 SAMStUG KDTEMASIER 3MS- II 2MB MOD 179 4MB MOO 379 5AMSLMG NOIEMASIER 3MS- 311 TUOY 13.11 21 10 a*. io 1MB I 1AM3T2I20 3120 2MB 1 BMB 11 TTJUP UU/TOP (MB MOO V ZEDS N0TE10DI IM 10 120 1ERIEJ 200 300 40 SERIES FOO. 100 MO BMB Ki! H4C06I I H5 32MB KIF K4D32I IMS (EJ20 PtfllOMAl IRIS. 4015. 4040. USO. 107D. OH II TURBO '2 I II IT HU'Clffi 12*5 1 100 75. U 4MB KIT 9100023004 1170. HOI. 1113 ■.MiiiildiliiiFiiilil? (HE BOARD SOLUTION 386/486 386/486-64K Cache no CPU $200. 386/486-256K Cashe no CPU S2SO H lliMill!M;|:H!:l;|iH 386DX-33-&1K CACHE WCPU 5199 386DX-33-256K CACHE 249 386DX40-64K CACHE 229 366DX-40-256K CACHE 279 486DX-33-frlK CACHE 549 486DX-33-256K CACHE 599 486DX-50-256K CACHE 749 HHB^,M','ir'l:VlM,«iHfl SlMMply-RAM" kttlWl w*iw**m*m*M M KJ m Omt MOD Um anac Ml v W ems* 9WS $195 SIMMply-RAM" to (be PS/302 wK»m**tm*mmt> K-2x*r.lr*x^ .wrweuyWcrci'.x'Jiim $]g5 RAMpAT!" LJmj upto 16 MB of memory lEHift ISA (PC *T] tins compaDtile Stf- KMtilno noswiians or soltwire amp rtqutad -SupFBiistmnleii or DM 1 0uwiulM nwnaiy modes r> $108 RAMpAT!-/'/UJ " Up IO 16MB 01 memoiy HiK-urO plugs "10 S-W! 01 16-Ufl ISA upiiuW SKIS KlnJirlii Supccn lor LIU 10 tiLunoM mem- r-iAc: cry S41 inttimg »fMarc *»"•*» AST Rampacje Plus 1140. BOCA BRAT 90 W;2H8 11(9. 256K X 1 256K X 1 256K X 1 -BONS -70NS ■60NS 50NS 20NS OONS xnmmm i 4-BONS l 4-80NS . 4-80NS -70NS ■60 NS 2. -100NS 4 1-8ONS 4 -70NS 4 I-601MS 4 21.00 DIPP 21.00 STATIC ZIPP 21.00 ZIPP 256K X l Z56K X 1 256K X 256K X 256KX 256K X A- 64K X 4-100MS 6<)K X 4-80NS 64K X 1-150NS 64K X 1-120NS 64KX l-IOONS 2.1(1 2.25 1.50 1.75 1.95 2MK X 1 -STTATIC HAH AM2B00P-08 1256x1) 2.65 AAA2800P-07 256x1 2.B5 AAA2B0OP-O6 (256x1) 3.05 I ■■■■■ FOR MEMORY PRODUCTS NOT LISTED, CALL FOR PRICES AND AVAILABILITY .f-ccdj vba PURCHASE ORDERS FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES - UNIVERSITIES - FORTUNE 2000 FIRMS - CALL 1-215-922-4650 NEVER A SURCHARGE ON CREDIT CARDS OPEN SATURDAY 10-6 TECHNICAL SUPPORT ORDERS ONLY TOLL FREE FAX -215-922-4640 1 -800-457-6937 1 -215-922-0116 ^ Q- ALL CREDIT CARDS ARE VERIFIED FOR FRAUDULENT USE. ORDER TOLL-FREE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE USA OR CANADA. CALL FOR CURRENT PRICES AND VOLUME DISCOUNTS. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ORDER LINES OPEN 6 DAYS MINIMUM ORDER 50 OO-USA SHIPPING & HANDLING AIR S12.00-AIR OVERNIGHT S18.00-COD ADO $4 00*PA RESIDENTS ADD 7% SALES TAX»PRE PAID ORDERS CALL FOR CONFIRMATION»ALL RETURNS REQUIRE RMA# AND ORIGINAL INVOICE CANCELLED ORDERS AND RETURNS FOR CREOIT SUBJECT TO 25% RESTOCKING CHARGE«RETURNEO MERCHANDISE MUST BE IN NEW CONDITION AND RECEIVED WITHIN 14 DAYS FROM INVOICE DATE SORRY NO REFUNDS AFTER 14 DAYS SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES NOT REFUNDABLE«INTERNATIONAL ORDERS WELCOME-APO-FPO ORDERS WELCOME POS ACCEPTED FROM GOVERMENT AGENCIES-'UNIVERSITIES/FORTUNE 2000 COMPANIES-SUBJECT TO APPROVAL* ALL MEMORY PRODUCTS ARE THIRD PARTY ALL TRADEMARKS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE RESPECTIVE OWNERS * ALL WORLDWIDE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS ARE 100% GUARANTEED AND COME WITH LIFETIME WARRANTY EXCEPT 30 DAY WARRANTY ON CPU CHIPS AND 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON MOTHER BOARDS * WORLDWIDE TECHNOLOGIES 437 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 Customer Service 215-922-4640 298 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 258 on Inquiry Card. It makes J-8s cry and MiGs fighting mad. No jet fighter frustrates enemy planes more easily than the incredible Harrier Jump Jet. That's because the Harrier can baffle opponents with sudden mid-air stops. It takes off and lands vertically. It hovers. It even flies in reverse. Take full control of the world's most unique strike fighter and tear through ultra-realistic battle theaters in Hong Kong or the Falklands. Face ruthless opponents along front lines. Land in secret hides. Perform wild ski jump-assisted take-offs. And fly action-packed missions with a friend as wingman via modem. Jump Jet from MicroProse. Your enemies will hate you for it. To order, visit your favorite retailer or call 1-800-879-PLAY. Actual screens may vary. wm The Harrier Strike Fighter In Explosive Front Line Action 1 Actual screen shown. To get our free catalog, call 1-800-879-PLAY Mon Fri., 8:30 am-5:00 pm EST or fill out the coupon and mail it to: MicroProse Software, Inc. 1 80 Lakefront Drive ■ Dept. DIO • Hunt Valley, MD 21030-2245 NAD 1992 MicroProse Software. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ENTERTAINMENT • SOFTWARE Seriously Fun Software Circle 251 on Inquiry Card. JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 299 Pffll Real IBM PS2 1 200 baud Modem for Micro Channel: List $149.00 Your Price $7.75 Seagate ST4766N SCSI 660MB, ISMS, 5n .ofurvlahl,,. NET 30 Actopld. Pu.choa od,,, l,om t Go^rnmcnl Agonc^Po.wnal Owll. CCO odd IS 00 |Ca>h!m, , hmw4* *m *m we accem int^rnationai orders 684 Wells Road Boulder City, NV 89005 NEVADA mm 300 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 250 on Inquiry Card. BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 42 HIGHTSTOWN. NJ POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE: EVTE Subscription Department P.O. Box 558 Hightstown, N.J. 08520-9409 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES ...I.. I, .1,1.. .1.111,. ,1.1... In III,,, 1,1,,, .11, ytfZ&fi. :;;>;:. ;,."■;;;, " ■■■■ „OT1 f Enter my one-year (12 issues) sub- ' scription to BYTE for only $24.95.* I'll save 40% off the single copy price. Plus, I'll also receive BYTE's Annual Special Issue FREE with my paid subscription. If at any time I'm not satisfied with BYTE, I may cancel for a full refund on all unmailed copies. □ Payment enclosed □ Bill me later name COMPANY I ADDRESS.. CITY. ..STATE ZIP.. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Basic subscription rate is $29.95. (Mexico, $29.95 payable in U.S. funds). Above rates are for U.S. delivery only. Please see table of contents for international subscription rates. •Plus applicable state and local tax, if any. IB3101C If it were any faster, it'd be a flight simulator. Hit the accelerator in World Circuit and you'll really fly. Scorching through all 16 demanding Grand Prix racetracks at speeds of up to 200 mph, you'll race your Formula One against 25 independent computer- controlled drivers. You'll fend off challengers in the Phoenix Grand Prix. Overtake rivals on the streets of Monaco. Or negotiate savage hairpin turns on the Suzuka Circuit. And you'll do it all with a slick line-up of features. Features like realistic Formula One handling and performance. Authentic cockpit instruments. Three racing options. Joystick- controllable driving functions for superior control. And customizing options to design your own Formula One racer. All of which will have you graciously accepting the Grand Prix World Champion trophy in no time. World Circuit from MicroProse. Catch it if you can. MCRD PROSE ENTERTAINMENT . SOFTWARE Seriously Fun Software r ~~ i To get our free catalog, call 1 -800-879-PLAY Mon.-Fri„ 8:30 am-5:00 pm EST or fill out the coupon and mail it to: MicroProse Software, Inc. 180 Lakefront Drive • Dept. D10 • Hunt Valley, MD 21030-2245 Name: ~l L Address: City: State: .Zip:_ _NAE | S 1992 MicroProse Software, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Circle 252 on Inquiry Card. JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 301 Micro-International Inc. since 1 984, world-wide distribution of quality computer systems and components 486DX2, 66 MHz, 486DX2, 50 MHz, $2970 $2640 486DX, 33 MHz, 386DX, 33 MHz, $2440 $2060 Don't settle for 386SX performance. With 386DX and 486DX power, external keyboard and VGA ports, it is the only computer you will ever need. HCP Power Notebook Standard Features VGA graphics with 32 gray-scale supertwist back-lit LCD screen 4 MB RAM installed, total memory capacity is 1 6 MB 1 20 MB hard disk, 1 5 ms access time ■ Licensed DR-DOS 6.0 1 .44 MB floppy drive ■ Two serial, one parallel port Three-hour battery ■ External numeric keypad included Carrying case ■ External VGA and keyboard connections Optional Features Docking station with 2 x 1 6 bit slots $ 1 60 Auto cigarette adapter $ 40 Memory upgrade to 16 MB $380 Memory upgrade to 8 MB $ 1 60 Hard drive upgrade to 2 1 MB Additional battery set Additional battery charger Additional AC power adapter $200 $ 90 $ 30 $ 50 Micro-International, Inc. iAH^ifiS^S 1 0850 Seaboard Loop Houston, Texas 77099 National Sales 800/967-5667 Houston 7 1 3/495-9096 Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. M-r; 1 1 :00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. (Central Time) All systems and components include a one-year warranty; 30-day money-back guarantee. Price reflects cash or credit card payment. Major corporation purchase orders accepted. 302 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 260 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 261 ). Celebrate 10 Years l Seriously Fun Software With MicroProse. ■ >^»fc. ■ M ^-^m^ MicroProse is proud to celebrate 10 years of computer gaming excitement. And we' re giving you hundreds of reasons to join in the celebration. For the next several months, you'll find hundreds of 10th Anniversary coupons inside specially-marked MicroProse games. Every time you purchase hot new MicroProse titles like F- 15 Strike Eagle® III, The Ancient Art of War in the Skies™ , or Rex Nebular And The Cosmic Gender Bender™, these money-saving coupons will bring you big savings on products and services from a wide variety of manufacturers. They'll even let you receive special discounts on select gift items from MicroProse. Circle 253 on Inquiry Card. So look for the 1 0th Anniversary savings sticker on the outside of your next MicroProse game. It's our Way of saying "thanks" for helping make our first 10 years a decade of serious fun. MCRO PROSE ENTERIA.INME N T • SO F T W A RE Seriously Fun s 180 Lakefront Drive • Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030-2245 © 1992 MicroProse Software. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. JANUARY 1993 "BYTE 303 mmm IDE. IDE IDE. IDE. IDE IDE. IDE. Call Call Call Call Hard Drives Western High performance "Caviar" series with 1 height, Cache Flow™ and 32K buffer. AC280 80Mb F 3.5 - 14ms AC2120 125Mb r 3.S - 14ms AC2200 200Mb I' 3.5" 14ms Maxtor 7080A 80Mb 1" 3.5" 15ms 7120A 120Mb 1" 3.5" 15ms DCT213A213Mb 1" 3.5" 15ms MX1240I.2Gb V3.5" 15ms Panther 1.2Gb SCall Panther 1.7Gb Call Conner Peripherals 30104 120Mb 3.5- 19ms IDE.... Call 3204 200Mb 3.5" 16ms IDE.... Call Call for Quantum, Micropolis, Seagate. Controllers from Ultrastor, Always, WD etc. Backups Colorado DJ10 120Mb Tape Drive internal .. 199 DJ20 250Mb Tape Drive internal . . 268 QFA700 700Mb Tape Drive internal .. 779 Syquest (with cartridge) 44Mb kit SQ555, SQ400, SS01(16brt) .419 44Mb external 499 88Mb kit SQ51 10, SQ800, SQ0K16 bit) 529 88Mb external 629 GrassRoots Floptical Floptical 21 Mb (external) Call Floptical 21 Mb (internal) Call Floppy Disk Drives Toshiba ND04DG 360K 5.25" HH PC/XT 59 ND08DEG 1.2Mb 5.25" HH PC/AT ....72 ND3561GR 1.44Mb 3.5" HH w/ AT Kit . 72 ACP 1.2 Mb 5.25". 66 2.88Mb 3.5' Call 1.44Mb 3.5" ....67 All in One 3.5/5.25 149 Compaq 1/3 ht. Floppy Call MultiMedia Sony 7205 CD Laser Library w/six CD's 499 Creative Labs Complete all-in-one MPC compatible upgrade kit includes: Panasonic CD Drive, Sound Blaster Pro, five CD's. Microsoft MultiMedia Kit Int/Ext 539/599 Sound Blaster Reg/Pro 109/199 MediaVision CDPC Subsystem (external) 1079 Pro 16 Multimedia System 968 Pro Audio Spectrum 16 199 NEW! MediaVision Fusion CD ext. CD ROM with Sound, Speaker and 4 CDs: Compton's Carmen, Ultima, Wing Comm 429 Compton's Encyclopedia CD Standard version Interactive version, NEW! -The Superstate with Super Deals! .169 .249 Procom cd rom ant) 299 Input Devices ACP 3-button Mouse (limited supply) 14.95 CH Products Flightsfick 49 Mouseman Combo/Cordless 75/88 Logitech Trackman serial/bus 69/72 Logitech Trackman 2 (combo) 84 Logitech Trackman Portable 99 Logitech Scanman 256 267 Microspeed PC-Trac ser/bus 79/89 Video Graphics Cards ATI Graphics Ultra w/l Mb 298 Graphics Vantage w/ 1Mb 225 VGA Wonder XL24 w/l Mb 148 VGA Stereo FX/ 51 2K 214 Diamond SpeedSTAR Stealth w/l Mb 239 Speedstar 24X 24-Bit Color w/l Mb 169 Orchid Fahrenheit 1280w/lMb ...275 Paradise Windows Accelerator w/l Mb 245 $ 269 BELOW COST! 286/12 80286/12 CPU • 3.5" Floppy • 1 Mb 101 Keyboard • Monitor Extra 4> Cardinal,. $0©95 Modem Bundle »* 2400 Baud, FREE Prodigy Software Free software gets you on-line fast Chips and SIMM's RAM Chips I 25 41256-100 256K 100ns DIP 1.49.. 1.35 41256-80 256K 80ns DIP 1.59.. 1.49 414256-80 256Kx4 80ns DIP 4.79 ..4.59 1Mb- 100 IMbxl 100ns DIP 4.05 ..3.95 lMb-80 1Mb x I 80ns DIP 4.49 ..4.39 Call for VIDEO RAMS & CACHE RAMS Over 20,000,000 IC's in-stock including We Specialize in 486DX/25 & 33 Upgrades New Low Prices! SIMM Modules i J2 4210O0A9B-80 IMbx9 80ns Call ....Call 421000A9B-70 IMbxv 70ns Call ....Coll 424000A9B-80 4Mbx9 80ns Coll ....Call 424000A9B-70 4Mbx9 70ns Call ....Call 41256A9B-80 256Kx9 80ns Call 42100OA8B-80 IMbxB 80ns Call ....Call 4240O0A8B-80 4Mbx8 80ns Call ....Call Math Coprocessors AMD 80C287... increase your 286 PC performance, 80C287- 10 $59.95 IBM 8087 Genuine w/manual .... $ 29.95 Intel "OverDrive"-/?educea7 Call 80287'S 80387SXS 80287-10 89 80387SX-16 69 80287-20 79 80387SX-20 78 80287XL 88 80387SX-25 78 80387's 80387SX-33 88 80387DX-16 79 80487SX's 80387DX-20/25/33 84 80487SX-20 469 80387DX-40 119 80487SX-25 489 80387SL 99 RapidCod 269 Memory Upgrades Notebooks Compaq Contura, 4MbS 19B| Compaq Lite, 4Mb 239 \ HP95LX Palmtop. 2Mb .. Call I IBM CL57SX, 4Mb 345 Everex Carrier, 2Mb . Toshiba T4400, 4Mb 218 Toshiba T6400, 4Mb 21." Zenith 2-Note, 2Mb 168 I Laser Printers-"0"K Boards HP III/IIID/IIIP/IIP/IIP+/II/IID 49.95 Panasonic 44 ] 0/30 or 4420/ 10.. 69.95/49.95 Oki400 49.95 Oki 800/20 59.95 Oki 830/40 79.95 IBM 4019/29 49.95 NEC 69.95 QMS 410 69.95 Computer Upgrades AST Bravo 3/2557SMb Compaq Proliner 3/255, ZS„ Compaq Proliner 4/33, 2Mb 98 IBM PS/2 90. 95, 2Mb 89 Dell 420/25/33/50SE, 4Mb 208 Call tor NEC, HP, Zenith, Leading Edge. Apple Powetbook 140/170-6Mb s 275 .$318 with Modem WINbest fax 96 Windows for FAX and MODEM. DOS modem software, FAXography, COMit for Windows... 2400 MODEM and 9600 FAX (int.) WINbest tax96 89 fax96 w/l -liner 159 Advanced®!? Motherboards E» Advanced® Boards Nl^ 286 -12MHz S 69 95 386SX -25MHz 1 19 95 386DX -40MHz 199.95 486SX -20MHz 199.95 486DX2 -50M-I/ 699 95 486DX2 -66MHz 999.95 486DX -50MHz Call PC6781 SHA RP» 386SL/20 | Ol NoteBook • Only 4.9 LBS.! ■ • 2Mb RAM . 80Mb IHD am $ 1699 HI Advanced • with AMD High Performance CPU's Computers 'plus SEIKO Trinitron Monitors • OPTI or ACC Chipsets • 1 Year Warranty ■ AMI BIOS . Enhanced 101 Keyboard • IDE Interface | • Free Accounting Software ...all Advanced Systems include: Advanced Computers S*A 486/33 Complete Color System 0%^ Includes • 486DX/33 w/256k Cache • 4 Mb RAM • 512K VGA Card 1 .44 Mb Floppy Disk IDE Controller 101 Keyboard 14" SVGA .28 Color Monitor ACP's Sale Price $ 1499 photo may vary •105MbHardDrive Call for additional configurations... Local Bus, . 386SX, 486DX/50 and Seiko Trinitron Monitors Call for hard drive, Tower, Mini-Tower and other configurations. 386SX/16 Desktop System 1 Mb RAM • 40 Mb Hard Drive I 3.5" 1.44Mb FDD • VGA Card ' Includes Keyboard ' and more! $ 499 Call ACP for Notebooks... COMPAQ TOSHIBA 386SX/20 Notebook 40 Mb Hard Drive | 1 Mb RAM • VGA LCD $999 Software Sale...up to90% Off! 35,000 Packages in stock CompuServe 12.95 Coinbase 9.95 Life & Death 9.95 Computer Comic 9.95 DesertStorm 9.95 Complete Craps 9.95 Personal Biz Base .... 1 2.95 Pro Football Analyst . 9.95 Stickbear 9.95 Hdc Window Apps .12.95 Dvorak on Typing 9.95 30 Min. Negotiator.. 12.95 Bible Trivia 12.95 Retirement Planner. 12.95 Call for a complete list.. IBM OS/2 Special Purchase 04G1049 OS/2 Extended, w/server. List 1995 ACP 1 159 04G1051 OS/2 LanServer List 795 ACP 429 04G1091 OS/2 Ext. Admin. kit. List 165 ACP 97 10G 5999 OS/2 2.0 Upgrade List 149 ACP 79 All 4 for only $499! ummii $ 77 77 Symantec Norton Antivirus v2.0 Cure infected systems plus on-going preventative care. Includes Norton's 24-hour Virus FAX-Line for new virusupdates. Symantec Q&A . Database v4.0 S J /Q ACP Price only I I M Norton Desktop for DOS 99 (Quantities Limited) H WinPrinter tn 800 (J! WWW . p ostscript f*n * 800 dpi • GDI Direct -iis • 50 fonts • HP PCL "3 printers in 1 " M295 ^ [Lm I LaserMaster b I Windows Accelerator Increases Performanci flDiamon Computer Systems, Inc. ^^ Speed Star 24X ...make your 386 perform like a 486 • Windows Accelerator ■ 1 5X faster than SVGA ACP •1Mb RAM onlv • WD90C31 Chip - ' ! • 5 Year Warranty ■24 bit color for 16 .7 million colors w>i ny $169 ors " ^* M New! OPTIMA® 24+FAX 96 Now you can get a 2400bps V.24bis data modem plus a 9600 bps FAX with Hayes superior performance and compatibility- Ail at a great price. Also includes SmartCom EZ and SmartCom FAX software. OPTIMA® 24+ FAX 96 $ 158 OPTIMA* 96 + FAX 96 call OPTIMAL 44 + FAX 144 475 SII#" Seiko CM 1450 New low price on an incredibly sharp SVGA flicker-free, non-interlaced multi-scanning monitor. Features finest quality Trinitron high-contrast black tube. .25mm aperature grille and 1024x768 resolution. CM 1450 14" $ 449 CM 1760 17" (,25mm) 1149 or try Seiko's new 20" CM 2070 LR 20" 2299 ACP is now a Canon® Authorized Reseller... NEW LOW PRICES! BJ10E Portable ... $ 299 95 BJ10EX $309 95 BJ 300 BubbleJet $ 449 95 Advanced Computer Products, incl SB 1310 F. Edinger, Santa Ana, CA 92705 • FAX 714-558-8849 • Toll-Free 1-800-FONE ACP • Sales 714-558-8813 MMC Prices subject to change without notice. No surcharge on credit card. Credit cards not charged until we ship. 100% risk Iree return guarantee! II you are not 100% satisfied just relurn insured within 15 days complete with all materials in new resaleable condition with original invoice. ACP will immediately exchange produc! or issue ACP credit less shipping for luture purchase. No Returns on software Special Purchase Circle 238 on Inquiry Card. IBM ▼ PS/1 286, 386SX 2MB 92F9935 S99 PS/2 SO/286, (mansion board 1097259 2MB Kit J0F5560 S8S PS/2 35SX; IS, 00SX, 5DZ, 55SX; IS, 6SSX; IS, 70 « XStatlon 1MB 6450605 $09 2MB 6450601 $79 PS/2 70-A21; A61; B21; B61 2MB 6450608 $79 PS/2 !5SX; IS, 40SX, S5SX; IS, 65SX; IS, 59FS0XX £ XStatlon 1MB S0F293J or 87F9977 S1S5 PS/2 35SX; IS, MSX 8MB 6950129 S2S9 PS/2 90, 95, and P75 (Install In pans) 1MB 6150128 S135 8MB 6150130 $289 Expansion boards for SO, soz, 55SX, BO, 65SX 2-BMB Wltll 2MB 1197259 $269 2-16MB Willi 2MB 6150609 $309 Expansion boards for all models 70 and 80 2-11MB witll 2MB 31F3077 $329 zenith zenith z-586/20; 2$; $3 and 33E 1MB Z13800ME $19 1MB ZA3800MK $119 Zenith Z-S8BSX, 286PL+, Z-LS 2MB Kit 2-605-1 $99 Zenith 186/33ET; 25E 1MB ZIU200M2 $189 16MB ZA1200M8 .... $S99 Hewlett-Packard Vectra 0S/16S; 20PC, RS/20PC; 25PC, 20C 1MB Kit 015121 01 016121 S1E9 Vecta 386/16N, 386/20N 2MB 02106A $99 8MB 021011 $319 vectra 186 PC (install In pairs! 1MB D215U $169 8MB D2152A ... $319 vectra 386/25, 186/25T, 33T (install In pairs! 2MB 023811 $99 Compaq Prollnea 3/25; !/25;s 2MB 111738-001 ....$90 8MB ' 111712-001 ... $285 DeslPro 386-20, 20E aod 25 1MB Module 115132-001 $159 1MB Bnard 113615-001 $219 DesiPro 3B6S/16 1MB Module 112S31-0O1 $159 1MB Board 11S631-0O1 $229 DestPro 286H, 58611; I Series; 3B6SX/20, 20N; Portable 186c; M series expansion boards; SystemPro IT series 1MB 118608-001 .... $19 2MB 118689-001 .... $79 1MB 118690-001 ... $135 8MB 112877-001 ... $299 DestPro 386-35, 186-33, and SfstemPro 2MB 115111-001 .... $99 8MB 116561-001 ... $289 DestPro 3S6M, 186M, sistempro IT (52-Bit Exp. hoard) 2-61MB K/2M 129160-001 $359 PoiKtmate 286/12; SX/16 and sx/20 2MB Kit OP-110-8103 Powermate 386/20; 25 2MB 1PC-H655 $329 8MB APC-HB56 Powermate 386/33E and 16E/25E 2MB 0P-110-51O1 $199 AST Bravo 36E-SX, WS/286, 386 2MB 500510-002 ... $89 1MB 500510-008 .. $179 Premium 386/25; 33; 331, Premium II 386SX/16; 20 1MB W/WPB 500780-003; 002 $59 Bravo 1/33; 186/25; Premium II; TE; Server SE 1/33 2MB W/WPB 500718-001; 780-005 $119 Premium II (All), Premium 386/551 and 386SXV16 1MB W/WPB 500780-001 $145 All Premium 386/3ST, 9S6/33T, server SE 1/33, Bravo 186 8MB W/WPB 500780-001 $289 Please call for any upgrade not listed. sfdngston ISh'lAwV TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Turn your 286 into a 3S6 with the SX/Nowf! For windows enhanced mode, true multitasking, background operation for windows 3.1, OS/2, and 586 software. SkVNowl Includes a Math coprocessor socket, 8Kb cache and Improves system performance by up to 350%. sx/Novu! is now available for: HP ES286/12 & ES/8 Epson Equity lie and Epson Equity IIPIus AMI EZ-FLEX - 64MB KIT<4 simms) AMIGA 2000 - 16MB SIMM AST BRAVO 486LC - 16MB SIMM COMPAQ SystemPro - 32MB MODULE DELL 486's - 16MB KIT <2 simms> 32MB KIT (2 simms) MAC llfx - 16MB SIMM MAC QUADRA 950 - 16MB SIMM MAC llci,llcx,llsi,QUADRA 900 - 16MB SIMM MAC QUADRA 700 & SE/30 - 16MB SIMM NeXT TURBO - 16MB SIMM SUN IPX,ELC - 16MB SIMM $ 529.00 $ 1,599.00 $ 2,799.00 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ P/\M€^ T 469.00 469.00 1,199.00 538.00 1,088.00 479.00 469.00 469.00 529.00 469.00 499.00 CALL ©7 HER MEMORIES AVAILABLE ] IBM COMPAQ HP LAPTOPS PS/1 - 2MB $ 68 DP 386/20.20E.25 - 1MB $ 66 Vectra QS-16 - 2MB KIT $ 129 AST EXEC. NB - 4MB $ 119 4MB S 149 4MB s 159 4MB KIT S 229 COMPAQ LTE386 - 4MB $ 209 M30 - 2MB $ 79 DP 386S/16 - 1MB $ 66 Vectra 486 - 2MB $ 79 SLT386 - 4MB $ 168 M50Z.55sx.65sx. 70 - 1MB S 45 4MB s 159 4MB $ 135 DELL 316,320 LT - 2MB $ 99 2MB $ 79 DP 286N.386N.S/20 - 4MB $ 135 8MB $ 269 EVEREX TEMPO - 2MB $ 78 M55sx.65sx.70 - 4MB $ 135 M-SYSTEMS - 2MB s 79 X-Statlon 700 Ser. - 2MB S 89 IBM L40SX - 4MB $ 135 j M70-A21A61.121 - 2MB $ 79 4MB $ 13b 4MB S 149 MAC POWERBOOK - 2MB $ 104 M40sx35sx - 8MB $ 269 8MB $ 299 8MB $ 299 NEC P.S. 286,386sx - 4MB $ 200 M57sx,90,95 - 4MB S 135 DP 386/33,486/25 - 2MB $ 96 9000/400t425t - 8MB KIT S 495 P.S. 386 - 8MB $ 429 8MB $ 269 SystemPro - 8MB $ 269 16MB KIT $ 999 P.S. SX/20 - 4MB $ 200 M80-041 - 1MB $ 65 OK Exp Brd DP 386S/16 1MB Exp Brd $ 335 32MB KIT $1869 PANASONIC CF170 - 1MB $ 55 M80-11 1,121 ,311 - 2MB $ 99 s 105 9000/425e - 8MB KIT $ 428 T.I. TRVL-MT 3000 - 2MB $ 80 M80-A21A31 - 4MB $ 180 DP 386/20.20E,25,25E 16MB KIT $ 828 TOSHIBA 1000 - 2MB $ 108 16-BiT OK Exp Board S 128 1MB Exp. Board $ 105 2000SXE - 8MB $ 388 32-Bu" OK Exp Board $ 128 APPLE 3200SXC - 4MB $ 160 AST DELL ll,SE,SE/30 - 1MB $ 32 5200 - 8MB S 315 325D,P;333D,P - 1MB s 41 Classic - 1MB Exp. Board S 54 PRINTERS PREM. 386/20C - 1MB KIT $ 65 4MB $ 135 SE/30,llcl,llcx,llsl,LC &. PREM. 386/25 - 1MB $ 45 420/425/433 - 2MB KIT s 82 Quad. 700,900 - 4MB $ 115 EPSON 6000 - 4MB $ 229 PREM. 486/25 - 1MB S 45 4MB KIT g 168 Quad. 700,900 - 32MB KIT $1120 HP IIP.III.IIID.P - 2MB S 108 PREM. II 486 - 1MB $ 41 8MB KIT $ 2/0 llfx ■ 16MB KIT $ 499 lllsi - 4MB $ 135 4MB $ 139 450DE450SE - 2MB KIT $ 82 llfx - 32MB KIT $1156 IBM 4019,40296 - 3.5MB $ 129 8MB KIT $ 278 4MB KIT $ 158 Quadra 256K V-RAM $ 27 4029 - 4MB $ 135 PREM. II 1MB Exp Board $ 469 8MB KIT $ 270 LC 512K V-RAM $ 44 OKIDATA 400 - 2MB $ 129 PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE OTHER MEMORIES FOR: ACER, ALTIMA, APPLE, AST, CHAPLET, COMPAQ, DELL, EPSON, EVEREX, HP, LEADING EDGE, IBM, NEC, NCR, OKIDATA, PACKARD-BELL, PANASONIC, PHIUP, SAMPO, SHARP, SILICON GRAPHICS, SUN MICROSYSTEMS, TANDON, Tl, TOSHIBA, TULIP AND ZENITH. tMJL F« « COMIPUEM CAYALO^ TERMS: COD, CASH, VISA OR MASTERCARD. COMPANY AND UNIVERSITY P.O.'S ACCEPTED UPON CREDIT APPROVAL. 414 CLOVERLEAF DR., UNIT B, BALDWIN PARK, CA 91706 FAX (818)855-5687 Circle 259 on Inquiry Card. ALL PRODUCT NAMES, TRADEMARKS AND REGISTERED TRADEMARKS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR REPSECTWE COMPANIES. Most Bang For The Buck PC Magazine Rates Comtrade 2nd out of 63 Systems Reviewed. 486 EISA WinStatinn ■ 64K Fast Cache SRAM & Expandable to 256K ■ 4 MB RAM & Expandable to 128MB ■ 1.2 MB 5.25" & 1.44 MB 3.5" Floppy Drives ■ 130 MB 15ms IDE 64K Cache Drive ■ 32-Bit EISA Hard Disk Controller (4X faster DTR) ■ Orchid/Diamond VIPER S3 Graphics Accelerator ■ !4" Non-interlaced .28mm Super VGA Monitor (Bigger edge to edge 72Hz flicker-free display) ■ 2 Serial, I Parallel & I Game Ports ■ Enhanced 1 01 -key Keyboard ■ Hi-Resolution 400DPI Serial Mouse ■ Free Microsoft DOS 5.0 & Windows 3. 1 48B/33DX $1975 486/50DX2 $2125 486/50 DX $2225 486/66 DX2 $2525 ■ 8MB RAM & 210MB 12ms Drive Add $280 ■ 32-Bit VL-Bus VIPER S3-805 Accelerator Add $50 VESA Local Bus WinStalion ■ 64K Fast Cache SRAM & Expandable to 256K " 4 MB RAM & Built-in 487 Math Coprocessor ■ 1 .2 MB 5.25" & 1 .44 MB 3.5" Floppy Drives ■ 130 MB 15ms IDE 64K Cache Drive ■ 32-Bit VL-Bus VIPER S3-805 Graphics Accelerator w. I MB RAM (Up to 1 280x 1 024 & 1 6.7M Colors) (Up to 50X faster than standard SVGA) ■ 14" Non-interlaced ,28mm Super VGA Monitor (VESA Standard for 72Hz Flicker-Free) ■ 2 Serial, I Parallel & I Game Ports ■ Enhanced 1 1 -key Keyboard ■ Hi-Resolution 400DPI Serial Mouse ■ Free Microsoft DOS 5.0 & Windows 3.1 486/55 DX $1795 486/50 DX $2045 486/66 DX2 $2145 ■ 8MB RAM & 2 1 0MB 1 2ms Drive Add $280 VESA Local Bus CAD Station ■ 64K Fast Cache SRAM & Expandable to 256K ■ 8 MB RAM & Built-in 487 Math Coprocessor • 1.2 MB 5.25" & 1.44 MB 3.5" Floppy Drives ■ 210 MB Ultra Fast 12ms IDE 64K Cache Drive ■ 32-Bit VL-Bus VIPER S3-805 Graphics Accelerator (2.5 times faster than ATI Ultra Pro in CAD test) ■ 17" Flat Screen Non-interlaced Color Monitor (Up to 1280x1024 with Digital Control) ■ AutoCAD Display List Driver ■ 2 Serial, I Parallel & I Game Ports ■ Enhanced 101-key Keyboard ■ Hi-Resolution 400DPI Serial Mouse ■ Free Microsoft DOS 5.0 & Windows 3.1 486/53 DX $2595 486/66 DX2 $2945 ■ 32-Bit VL-Bus IDE Controller (2X faster) $50 : * VESA Standard Local Bus low. Unce again "THE COMTRADE PC" has the competition running for cover. In review after review, critic's applaud Comtrade shocking speed and extraordinary value. According to the latest PC Magazine, Comtrade's 486 "Has The Performance Issue Licked. " So much so that PC Magazine ranked Comtrade's 486 EISA WinStation number 2 out of 63 systems in their 486 review "Most Bang For The Buck" analysis (September 1992). "It's A Very Swift Graphics Machine," says Computer Shopper (May 1 992). "That Deserves Serious Consideration from Anyone Who Wants to Juice up Windows." And now faster than ever, Comtrade's latest VESA standard Local Bus VIPER S3-805 is even 3 to 5 times faster than any of our previous reviewed systems. Ciimtiiade Kicks Their Bus! In Comparison With Gateway 2000's VESA Local Bus ATI Ultra Pro. II ead the benchmarks and weep. Comtrade's latest VESA Standard Local Bus passes the others like their standing still. Not only does our VL-Bus VIPER S3-805 beat ATI VL-Bus Ultra Pro hands down in overall Windows performance test, it is also up to 2.5 Times faster in the LandMark DOS text mode and CAD/CAM WinTach test. Combine this unprecedented performance with a solid reputation for quality and service, and a very competitive price - and it's no wonder Computer Shopper (November 1992) called the Comtrade 486 "A Splendid System Backed by First Rate Support." 'Wi'Slonillli'liiiiillliirPi'iiiliii'ls- Two Year Parts & Labor Warranty One Year On-Site Service 30-Day Money Back Guarantee VESA LB VESA LB Viper ATI S3-805 Ultra Pro Based on Win/Marks 2.5 as of NOV 1992 **Mffion Pixels Per Second (486166 DX2) Standard SVGA has only I.4M WinMarks VL-Bus TSENG ET-4000 has only S.3M WinMarks 486 EISA Dream Machine ■ 256K Ultra Fast Write Back Cache SRAM ■ 4 MB RAM & Expandable to 128 MB ■ 1.2 MB 5.25" & 1.44 MB 3.5" Floppy Drive ■ 2 1 MB Ultra Fast 1 2ms IDE 64K Cache Drive ■ 32-Bit EISA Hard Disk Controller (4X faster DTR) ■ Orchid/Diamond VIPER S3 Graphics Accelerator 1 1 5" Flat Screen Non-interlaced .28mm SVGA Monitor (Up to 1 280x1 024 with Processor Control) ■ 2 Serial, I Parallel & I Game Ports ■ Enhanced 1 01 -key Keyboard ■ Hi-Resolution 400DPI Serial Mouse ■ Free Microsoft DOS 5.0 & Windows 3.1 486/53 DX $2325 486/50 DX2 $2475 486/50 DX $2575 1 1 7" Flat Screen Non-interlaced Monitor Add $400 ■ 32-Bit VL-Bus VIPER S3-805 Accelerator Add $50 VESA Local Bus SVGA ■ 64K Fast Cache SRAM & Expandable to 256K ■ 4 MB RAM & Built-in 487 Math Coprocessor ■ 1 .2 MB 5.25" & 1 .44 MB 3.5" Floppy Drives ■ 130 MB 15ms IDE 64K Cache Drive ■ 32-Bit VL-Bus Accelerated Super VGA with 1MB RAM (Up to 1280x1024 & I6.7M Colors) (Up to 7X faster than standard SVGA) ■ 14" Non-interlaced .28mm SuperVGA Monitor (Bigger edge to edge 72Hz flicker-free display) ■ 2 Serial, I Parallel & I Game Ports ■ Enhanced 1 01 -key Keyboard « Hi-Resolution 400DPI Serial Mouse ■ Free Microsoft DOS 5.0 & Windows 3. 1 486/33 DX $1695 486/50 DX $1945 486/66 DX2 $2045 ■ 8MB RAM & 210MB 12ms Drive Add $280 1.800.969.2123 "The Intel Inside Logo is a trademark of Intel Corporation Circle 280 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 281 ) COMTRADE "Where Performance is Everything" International 818.961.6688 Fax 818.369.1479 Tech Support 800.899.4508 24-Hour BBS Service 818.961.6098 Hours: 7:00-7:00 Pacific Mon-Sat 15314 East Valley Boulevard City of Industry, California 91746 t979 BUY WITH CONFIDENCE FROM JDR! 2233 Samaritan Drive, San Jose, CA 95124 30-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE • 1 YEAR WARRANTY TOLL-FREE TECH SUPPORT $99 UPRIGHT CASE Mounts 3 floppy and 4 hard drives Accommodates std. & mini motherboards . 2 digit LED display CASE-100A $99.95 CASE-200A Super Deluxe Upright $349.95 PS-250TW 250W p. supply $129.95 PS-300TW 300W p. supply $149.95 CASE-130 Mid-upright case $99.95 CA5E-120 $199.95 Mini-upright case w/200W power supply 95 POWER SUPPLIES U/L approved 1 10/220VAC, 50/60H2 PS-ISO 8088 150wott TTT -.$69.95 PS-200X 8088 200 watt $89.95 PS-200 286/386/486 200 watt $89.95 PS-300 286/386/486 300 watt $149.95 MM ENHANCED KEYBOARD $49 95 BTC-5339 101 /102-key enhanced layout $49.95 NON-INTERLACED 1024x768 MONITOR VGA-M0H-1024N .28 dot pitch .... $389.95 I VGA-MON-1024 1024x768 int. monitor, .28mm. $349.95 VGA-PKG-1024N Non-interlaced Super VGA pkg $499.95 VGA-PKG-1024+ 1024x768 interlaced VGA pkg . $469.95 LvGA-PKG 640x480 .39mm dot pitch VGA pkg. .. $349.95^ 2400 BAUD MODEM Internal data modem Hayes compatible Config. as COM1-COM2 I MCI- 241 $49.95 1 9600 BAUD EXTERNAL $ 299 CaTTV.42bis/V.32/V.22bis/Bell 212A & Hayes AT command-set compatible MNP5 error correction & data compression I VIVA-96E $299.95 VIVA- 1 44IF 1 4.4K internal w/fax $ 269.95 | FAX/MODEM/PHONE SWITCH Save phone line charges! Supports fax, modem, phone and ■, "*•> answering machine from 1 phone line *■->.._. I FAXM-SWITCH $89.95 1 FAX-SWITCH Without modem connection $59.95 [PORTABLE IC TESTER ^ Tests the following 14 to 20-pin ^H • fl ; ^\ devices: 74 series TTL, 40 & 45 series ^^B I "vv\ CMOS & 41/44 series DRAM up to 1Mb ^H '. ^k Identifies unknown pare numbers ^^pPP^^ IMOD-HIC $149.95 WIRE-WRAP PROTOTYPE CARDS JDR-PR2 8-bit with I/O decode layout $29.95 JDR-PR10 1 6-bit with I/O decode layout $34.95 SOLDERLESS PROTOTYPE CARDS PDS-601 8-bit bteadboatd-on-a-card w/IO decode $79.95 lPDS-611 16-bit version $89.95 MOTHERBOARDS 25MHZ 386SX $199 95 • 25MHz Intel 80386SX CPU • Expandable to 16Mb on-board • Uses 256K, 1M or 4M x 9 80ns SIMMs (0K installed) • Six 16-bit and two 8-bit slots MCTM386SX-25 $199.95 MCT-H486-50E 50MHz EISA w/cache $ 1 395.00 MCT-M486-50 50MHz cache 486 $1195.00 MCT-M486-33 33MHz cache 486 $895.00 MCT-M486SX-25 25MHz cache 486SX $399.95 MCT-C386-40 40MHz cache 386 $379.95 MCT-C386-33 33MHz cache 386 $349.95 MCT-M286-16 16MHz286 $149.95 MCT-M286-12 1 2MHz 286 $129.95 MCT-TURBO-10 10/4.77MHz 8088 $99.95 16-BIT VGA CARD $AQ 95 8/16-bit 8088 and 286/386/486 compatible • 640x480 in 16 colors 320 x 200 in 256 colors • 256Kb video RAM MCT-VGA-1000 ... $49.95 MCT-VGA-4000 1024x768, 1Mb DRAM $129.95 MCT-VGA-5000 Windows Accelerator $149.95 SPEEDSTAR-24X 24-bit colot, 1280x1024 $199.95 STEALTH-VRAM Windows occelet., 1 280x1024 $249.95 3-BUTT0N MOUSE Accuracy 290 -1450 DPI Opto-mechanical design Windows 3.1 compatible JDR-M0USE-3 $14.95 MOUSE-PAD $4.95 195 1 POST CODE DISPLAY CARD 286/386/486 compatible- Displays power on self-test code Wotks when software won't even boot ' PCODE $49.95 EPROM PROGRAMMER $199 95 • Programs devices up to 512K bits, plus 27C100, 27C101, 27C301, 27C1000, 27C1001, 27C2001, 27C4001 and more • Includes dedicated 8-bit 8088 and | 286/386/486 PC compatible catd • ZIF socket accepts 0.6" W DIP IC's to 32 pins M0D-MEP-1A $199.95 M0D-MEP-4A As above with 4 ZIF sockets $269.95 MOD-EMUP Univetsal programmer/tester $699.00 EPROM ERASER $39 95 %4&* • Quickly and simultaneously erases *^K up co 4 standard EPROMs DATARA5E II $39.95 84Mb DRIVE PACKAGE • CP-30084 S4Mb, 19ms IDE hard drive, 16-bir floppy/ hard disk controller, cables and instructions HDKIT80 $259.00 IDE HARD DRIVES $259 PART* BRAND CAP. SPD. TYPE PRICE 1 CP-3000 Conner 42Mb 28ms 3.5" IDE $189 ST-351A Seagate 42Mb 28ms 3.5" IDE $199 CP-30084 Conner 84Mb 1 9ms 3.5" IDE $239 ST-3096A Seagate 88Mb 16ms 3.5" IDE $259 CP-30104 Conner 120Mb 1 9ms 3.5" IDE $319 ST-3144A Seagate 131Mb 16ms 3.5" IDE $319 CP-30204 Conner 212Mb 12ms 3.5" IDE $479 FLOPPY DRIVES FDD-1.44A 1 .44Mb, 3.5", Beige . $79.95 9 FDD-1.44X 1 .44Mb, 3.5", Black . $79.95 FDD-1.2 1 .2Mb, 5.25", Beige $89.95 FDD-360 360Kb, 5.25", Black $89.95 FDD-2.88A 2.88Mb 3.5" drive, Beige $149.95 FD-505 5.25" & 3.5" combo drive, Beige $149.95 , MULTI 1/0 CARD WITH IDE J AQ 95 FLOPPY/HARD CONTROL • 1 6-bit 286/386/486 compatible • Supports 2 IDE hard drives & 2 floppy drives (360Kb-l .44Mb) • 2 serial, 1 parallel & 1 siame porr MCT-IDEIO $69.95 MCT-IDEI0+ As above w/1 6550 compatabilify ... $99.95 MCMDEFH 16-bit IDE hard/floppy conttollet $29.95 MCT-CIDEFH 1 6-bit IDE CACHE controller $169.95 MCMDE-8 8-bit IDE controller $79.95 MCT-FDC-HD 1 .44Mb floppy conttollet $49.95 MCT-FDC-HD4 1 .44Mb floppy conttoller (4 drives) $59.95 MCT-FDC-ED 2.88Mb intelligent floppy controller $79.95 MCT-AIO Serial/parallel/game port card $49.95 MCT-AIO-t- Two NS16550 serial/par/game port . $89.95 GATEKEEPER PC security card $49.95 RAMPAT-t- 8/1 6-bit 16Mb RAM card (w/OKb) . $139.95 S0UNDBLASTPR0 8-bit MIDI sound board $199.95 DYNAMIC RAM PART* SIZE SPEED TYPE PRICE | 41256-80 256K x 1 80ns DIP 1.69 414256-80 256Kx4 80ns DIP 5.49 1MB-80 IMxl 80ns DIP 4.99 1MB-60 IMxl 60ns DIP 5.49 41256A9B-80 256K x 9 80ns SIMM 14.95 41256A9B-60 256Kx9 60ns SIMM 16.95 421000A9B-10 1Mx9 100ns SIMM 39.95 421000A9B-80 1Mx9 80ns SIMM 39.95 421000A9B-60 IMx9 60ns SIMM 45.95 424000A9B-80 4Mx9 80ns SIMM 149.95 424000A9B-60 4«U9 60ns SIMM 159.95 MATH C( )-PR0< ".ESS0 RSJI rrteT PART# SPEED PRICE PART* SPEED PRICE 8087-2 8087 80287-XL 8MHz 5MHz 12MHi 129.95 89.95 89.95 80387-SXP 80387-DXP 80487-SX <25MHz <33MHz <25MHz 79.95 89.95 389.95 CALL FOR YOUR FREE JDR CATALOG TODAY! FOR PC'S, SOFTWARE, MONITORS, DISK DRIVES, KEYBOARDS, MODEMS, \ CABLES, CONNECTORS, ICS, COMPONENTS, PROGRAMMERS, . TEST EQUIPMENT, TOOLS & MORE! J " 's^wsf*®* NOW ORDER 24 HOURS a DAY! TERMS: For shipping & hat amount. CA residents must in and lo substitute manufacturer. All merchandise l„ , and the MCT logo ore registered 800-538-5000 Tolll- fitter Fax: Ordering loco/ 408-559-1200 BBS 408-559-0253 for air. Orders to change without notice. We are not responsible for typographical i f our terms is . Inc. Modular Circuit 1 —contact our Sales Dept. for the mmmmmmmmm JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 309 EXTRAORDINARY ,ocal Bus VESA MONITOR 2.88MB DRIVE 0.3MS HARD DISK ACCESS Buy Today - Upgrade Tomorrow. Basic Systems Features: Upgradable Local Bus MB Intel CPU / 64K Cache / 4MB Memory 32 Bit Local Bus SVGA Card / 1MB 1.2 & 1.44MB F/D, 120MB IDE H/D 2 Serial / 1 Parallel / 1 Game Port 14" SVGA Monitor, .28 dp 101 Enhanced KB w/Serial Mouse Minitower w/Display 486DX2/66 & 50 LOCAL BUS ■ Basic • $2049 / $1699 Advanced ♦ $2299 / $1949 486DX/50 & 33 LOCAL BUS Basic • $1779 / $1679 Advanced ♦ $2029 / $1929 cfc° & \ 386DX/40 & 33 LOCAL BUS Basic • $1239 / $1229 Advanced ♦*♦ $1489 / $1479 SUSk ■r M ;j '{'{''■ '\ '/ ;i ^Hr \xoif "if" • ■ '., ', '" K - * -3 l *f r .- / 7/ 1 '/ay H L±- 1 Systems Highlights: ♦ 14" VESA Monitor, 1280 x 1024 ♦ IDE Cache H/D Controller / 512k (0.3ms) ♦ 2.88MB F/D w/Controller Buy "One" gets "All" Free ■ Novell DR Dos 6.0 ■ Super Stor - Disk Compression ■ Super Pak - Disk Cache ■ File Link - File Transfer Utility ■ EMM 386 - Memory Manager ■ GEM - Window Manager LANKMARK SPEED V2.0 BENCHMARK TEST CHARACTERS PER SECOND BDI LOCAL BUS | | 13.100 DIAMOND SPEED STAR | 4.593 ATI-XL WONDER 1 1 3.223 P.C MAGAZINE BENCHMARK BDI LOCAL BUS DIAMOND STEALTH S3 CHIPSET PIXELS PER SECOND "I 25958.4 | 6067.2 | 4584.96 Prices subject to change without notice. -w — ^ ~« ^_- ■■■ » — niec.i Miu|eei 10 ciitinge wnnnut nonce. DH1 Associates, Inc. 17411-B East Gale Ave., City of Industry, CA 91748 • Tel: (818) 810-0552 • FAX- ^818 WEST COAST REGION —Tel: (714) 483-5351 • FAX: (714) 989-1488 /^r EAST COAST REGION —Tel: (713) 789-4775 • FAX: (713) 789-9146 Circle 284 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 285). Accessories/Supplies • Add-In Boards Polaroid- Polaroid's Circular Polarizing Filters for computer monitors combine circular polarizer technology with optical quality materials and coatings to provide the ultimate in glare reduction and contrast enhancement technology. Polaroid CP-Filters suppress up to 99% of reflected light and are more effective than any other filter for improving contrast. Also, most CP-Filter models have a transpar- ent electrically conductive coating which reduces up to 98% of the electromagnetic radiation and eliminates static. Polaroid produces a full range of optical qual- ity anti-glare filters In glass and triacetate to fit most 9"-21 " monitors. Polaroid Corporation, Polarizer Division, N2, 1 Upland Road, Norwood, MA 02062 1 -800-225-2770 Fax 61 7-446-4600 Circle 347 on Inquiry Card. SSD-2HD Intelligent Solid-State Disk 1. 44MB max. FLASH/EPROM Disk w/auto-boot I.44MB max. SRAM Disk w/battery backup Auto-sense installed FLASH/EPROM /SRAM memory types Auto-configure Solid State Disk Drive Software protection key(PARAKEY) designed to protect a specified software application from unauthorized use. ACI 1-800-886-ACI-3 U.S.A. International TEL:6l7-938-8020 TEL:S86-2-758257l(Taiwan) FAX:6I7-938-8037 FAX:886-2-7589615 Circle 371 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 372). Experience the Power Parallel Processing For the professional, student or hobbyist who wants to come up to speed with parallel processing. All kits include one or more 20-MHz 32-bit transputer processors, each with 1MB of DRAM • Occam2, C, and assembler • examples and demos • complete set of manuals • schematics. Requires IBM-compatible PC. 4 Processors: $1,284 1 Processor: $396 The Transputer Education Kit is outstanding. You would be hard pressed to find as valuable and inexpensive a tool. R. Eckhouse, IEEE Computer. Sept. 92, page 97 Computer System Architects 15N.100E., #100 Provo, Utah 84606 ^J 800-753- 4CSA or 801-374-2300 FAX 801-374-2306 VISA • MasterCard American Express mm* Circle 332 on Inquiry Card. Add-In Boards • Communications/Networking „ PC/ AT F/Mir Port Com. Coprocessor GMM Sync4/CCP™ « High Performance 16 MHZ 16 bit CPU. * 80X86 code compatible. e 4 Sync/Async Ports (2 Serial Ports with Full Duplex DAM). . Uses Zilog 85C30, 85230 SCC chip. * 51 2K Dual Ported Ram (STD) (1, 2, or 4 MEG Dual Port Ram - optional). » 8k, 1 6k, 32k, 64k Window Size (Programmable). GMM f^^^ A re All Made in USA. ° 8 Software Selectable and Shareable t ' Interrupts. PC/AT Dual Port Com .Coprocessor ' RS232/RS422/RS485 GMM S y nc2/CCP™ * Source Code Debugger Kit Available. >.^ ^ m ^^^^ m ^^^^^ Gmm^ GMM Research Corporation Other PC/AT & PS/2 8530 based products available. Extremely competitive pricing. (714)752-9447 Fax (714)752-7335 1 8092 Sky Park South - Unit E, Irvine CA 9271 4 * 5 1 UN Circle 336 on Inquiry Card. B Solutions For DOSs, OS/2 And With TaprAccelerator [.Support 2. 88MB/ 1.44M/720K/1.2M/360K floppy disk drives. 2.Compalible with DOS 3.x/4.x/5.0, OS/2 2.0 3.Supporl 4FDD, 4FDD & 2HDD , 2FDD & 2HDD&2S/1P. 4. Can diskcopy 5 t/4" diskettes to 3 1/2" diskettes, 5.Can boot from any floppy drives. 6. Can swap any two floppy drives. 7. Supports !M bps data transfer rate to accelerate (double speed) QIC floppy interface tape drive. 8.Can connect tape drive to 1st or 2nd connector. == OEM and Distributor Welcome TEKLINK CHIA SHIN TECHNOLOGY CORP IF NO. 24, ALLEY 2, LANE 76, SEC. 6.SHIN YI RD.TAIPE1.R.0.C FAX: 886-2-7270804 TEL: 886-2-7263859 • 7271861 Circle 375 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 376). r tttitm* Call us for Unsurpassed Choices... MULTIPORT SERIAL I/O CONTROLLERS Multiple Benefits: •2 to 128 serial ports on a single PC •Standard or high performance communications •Support for a broad spectrum of interfaces and operating systems •Ideal for office automation, factory automation or P.O.S. applications • Benefit from Star Gate's total value: a synergy of Product-Price-Service-Support • Compatibility: ISA, EISA, MCA; RJ-12, DB-25, DB-9; RS-232, RS-422, RS-485; speeds up to 1 15.2 Kbaud; Unix, Xenix, DOS, OS/2 and Windows. Call now: 1-800-782-7428 ^ People and products you can depend on. Star Gate Technologies, Inc. 29300 Aurora Rd., Solon, OH, 44139 -(216} 349-1860 FAX: 216-349-2056 J Circle 369 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 370). JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 311 ■ Communications/Networking • 1 Megabyte/Sec transfer speed. • No load on Host Processor. • I/O mapped • No host memory used. • 8 ports per card. • RS-232/RS-485/ RS-422. Mi Ultra High Speed Serial Coprocessor er ■> Toil-Free 800-282-4835 GTEK, Inc., Hardware & Software Development • P.O. Box 2310 Ba» SI. Louis. MS 39521-2310 USA • Mississippi « Technical Support 601-467-8048 Fax: 601-467-0935 • OEM 4 Dealer Inquiries Welcomed! ■■ Circle 338 on Inquiry Card. RECYCLE Your PC INFINISTOR restores your old or obsolete PC. Microprocessor driven, this NEW interconnect system enables you to use disk drives in your old PC as if they were mounted within your current PC. Your old PC can also access all of your new PC storage devices if it is initialized as the host. The applications of this connectivity medium are limited to your imagination! Drives: A,B,C,D, E,F HOST | Drives A,B,C in host SI AVE I | 1 Drives D,E,F in slave Basic INFINISTOR Configuration • 200K Bytes per second throughput • Use Hard Disk, Floppies, RAM Cache on slave • Simple installation of a half card on each end • Up to three slaves can be connected to each host • 5 Year Warranty • $299.00 list price - special introductory price of $159.95 for host and one slave INFINICON 9© 101 Library Plaza '• 15 North 100 East • Provo.UT 84606 SOON TO BE RELEASED! INFIN/ACCESS Providing total access of storage devices in your laptop when connected to your desktop. A low cost alternative to docking stations and pocket LAN adaptors. For Details and Order: CALL (800)374-3880 (801) 374-8880 FAX (801) 370-3880 VISA • MasterCard • AMEX Circle 384 on Inquiry Card. BLAST YOUR MESSAGE j3 THRU! il •telemarketing • Call Processing 6* Transform your PC/XT/ AT/386 into a multi-line processing command centertgpelligently process your sales, inquires, and messages. » Complete package. jP (Developer/OEM packages available) VISA— MC— AMEX— COO Multi-Line ivoicesoiuta) $795 SINGLE LINE (BigmOuth) ... $295 For Sales or Information: Call 1-800-685-4884 CALL: (510) 522-3300 • FAX: (510) 522-5556 TALKING TECHNOLOGY, INC. = fr= 1 1125 ATLANTIC AVE. • ALAMEDA. CA 94501 /// 312 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Circle 349 on Inquiry Card. Computer Systems • Data Acquisition AT Systems in ROM □ Single Board Computers □ Run DOS code from ROM □ PC Code compatible □ Large Memory space Ij Backplane systems □ Develop code on a PC. Run on our CPU cards with DOS and code in ROM. Use off-the-shelf expansion cards, □ KS6: NEC V53 CPU (286eq), 5 serial. 2 Par, Clock, AT bus, Max 4M Ram, 2M Rom, 512K NV Sram. $349 (ql-oem ver), G KS3: V40 CPU, 3 Serial, 2 Par, Clock, Flop. Kbd. $249 (ql). 303-444-7737 Fax 303-786-9983 655 Hawthorn Ave., Boulder CO 80304 U.S.A. KILA Circle 340 on Inquiry Card. Rackmount Solutions RACKMOUNT COMPONENTS - QTY 25 PRICING Rackmount Chassis 1 9"x7"x1 7" S183 Rackmount VGA Monitors $531 Rackmount Monitor Shell S1 13 Rackmount Keyboard Shelf $88 RACKMOUNT PLATFORMS -0ty1 Pricing RMS48B-33EISAS1799 RMS386-40 $814 RMS486-33 $1443 RMS386SX-25 S693 System Platforms include 7" Rackmount Chassis, 200W Power Supply. Motherboard, 1.0MB Memory, IDE, FDC, 2-Ser, Par, 1 .2MB or 1 .44MB Floppy Disk Drive, 1 Year Warranty RACKMOUNT CHASSIS - 15 Models up to 20 Board Slots SLOT CPU BOARDS - 486, 386. 386SX RACKMOUNT MONITORS - Super VGA and Monochrome RACKMOUNT CABINET - Modular trom 2V to 96' high mr vniiEr TECHHOlOCr INC. 2468 Armstrong Street, Livermore CA 94550 (510)447-2030 FAX: (510) 447-4559 Circle 361 on Inquiry Card. EMBEDDED COMPUTERS Everything you want .... □ Powerful Hitachi H8/532 16-bit processing □ Drives graphics LCDs and keyboard □ Collects 10-bit analog data from 8 channels □ Stores information on PCMCIA Cards □ I6K Forth and ready-made solution library □ High level interrupts and multitasker □ $325 qty 10+ S249 qty 100+ , to make life easier For more information contact: The Saelig Company Tel (716) 425-3753 Fax (716) 425-3835 Outside USA & Canada: Triangle Digital Services Limited 223 Lea Bridge Road, London Tel 081-539 0285 Fax 081-558 81 10 Circle 353 on Inquiry Card. >A/D Boards •Signal Conditioning •Communication •PC Instruments •Scientific Software KEITH LEY METRABYTE SEND TODAY FOR YOUR FREE CATALOG OR CALL 1-800-348-0033, FAX: 508-880-0179 Circle 342 on Inquiry Card. Data Acquisition • Disk & Optical Drives The Intelligent Solution For Data Acquisition DAP 2400c''" Data Acquisition Processor' ANALOG I/O DIGITAL I/O •Inputs Li) 312K samples per second •Outputs to 312K samples per second •Simultaneous fast input/output FFTandFIR-filtering Digital Signal Processing at 16 MIPS 20 MHz CPU with DRAM to 1024K 32 MHz DSP with SRAM lo 96K DAPL"' Operating System • 100+ standard commands "MlPROSTAR • Custom commands in C ■^^^^^■■■^^^^^^•' Laboratories:* Send for FREE catalog and demo diskette. Bellevue WA '18004 Or call us at (206) 453-2345. fax (206) 453-3199 Circle 343 on Inquiry Card. PS/2 50 50z 55sx 60 70 80 P70 INTERNAL DRIVES - May be used as a high performance replacement or to co-exist with original IBM drive. Compatible with DOS 3.3. 4.01. 5.0. OS/2 2.0 and Novell. Includes IDE or SCSI-2 tnicrochannel controller, hard drive, mounting kit. ribbon & power cable, manual, and hardware. 85mb, 17ms, Internal Western Digital IDE Drive Kit 125mb, 15ms, Internal Maxtor IDE / SCSI Drive Kit 200mb, 15ms, Internal WD IDE/Maxtor SCSI Drive Kit 340mb, 13ms, Internal Maxtor IDE / SCSI Drive Kit 512mb, 12ms Internal Fujitsu IDE / SCSI Drive Kit 1.05gb, 10ms Internal Microplus SCSI Drive Kit S459 S5S3/S589 $689/$779 S969/S979 JI,3I3/$1,369 52,184 PS/2 Model 25, 30, 30-286 1 externa SCSI doves sviilMe Iran 125 mi lot 73 gti '.Includes 32mb/42mb Hard Drive Kit $217/5257 SCSI-2 controller. extern.il else '.'.'till dies insulted end configured 85mb/i25mb Hard Drive Kit S339/S433 | 6' SCSI cubic. Free drivers loiCD-Rom doves or Novell 286 & 385 Jyq^i&IlHti. Tel: (516) 981-9473 38 R ?yn; r *™. Open tan lo ip Fax:(516)981-5038 ',' ' Circle 380 on Inquiry Card. MiniSCSI^^— HIGH PERFORMANCE PARALLEL-TO-SCSI ADAPTER ^ Transform Your 4 Parallel Port - Connect up to 7 SCSI devices to your parallel port and still use your printer! Up to twice as fast as out original MiniSCSItheMiniSCSI Plus lets you run a CD-ROM, tape drive, SCSI hard disk, SyQuest, Bernoulli or other SCSI device from almost any parallel port. For most notebook users, it's the only way to use SCSI CD-ROMs and tape drives. Plus, its integrated cable makes it a snap to move and share SCSI devices between desktops and notebooks. Call For Details! 800-872-6867 (800-TRANTOR) Tranlor Systems, Ltd. 5415 Randall Place Fremont, CA 94538-3151 TEL: (5101 770-1400 • FAX: (510) 770-9910 <£> 1992 tientoi Systems Ltd MiniSCSI end MeiSCSl Phis m InKk'iien*:' oi I niiSnr Systems Ltd. M ulliei iiroducl names eie ttademerks entice respective eoinminies Circle 360 on Inquiry Card. Disk & Optical Drives • Diskettes/Duplicators • Memory/Chips/Upgrades Connect with the Parallel Universe SIGEN 250MB PORTABLE PARALLEL PORT TAPE BACKUP No controller card required. Connects to parallel port. Installs in less than 3 minutes. Great lor Laptops. To 9.5 MB/min transfer rate. Capacily 20 MB Parallel Fori Floppy 80/250 MB 1/4" cartridge 4.5 MB/min Ml/200 MB 1/4" cartridge 9.5 MB/min 250/500 MB 1/4" cartridge 9.5 MB/min 1.3 GB 1/4" cartridge SCSI 18 MB/min 1 .2 / 2 GB 4mm DAT SCSI 1 0MB/min Supports x ,. DOS, OS/2 K^NS Novell 286, 386 !SSS X V UNIX, XENIX N0VELl Industry standard SYTOS PLUS, or CENTRAL POINT BACKUP software and lor file server based NLM and VAP TAPEWARE. ^^S^kr PHONE (408) 737 FAX (408) 737-3910 i 5l Circle 352 on Inquiry Card. STAND ALONE DISKETTE DUPLICATOR OVER 300 DISKS PER HOUR 5.25" and 3.50" Models SIMPLE AND FAST FROM $1799 US FAX: (416) 602-9279 Circle 330 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 331 ). IBM • TATUNG • PANASONIC • Z£OS • SHARP • NORTHGAT6 • HYUNDAI • AST • ROM BIOS UPGRADES Solve Your Compatability Problems! 8 Years of experience, unmatched in the industry WE STOCK THE LARGEST VARIETY OF ROM BIOS 0PGRADES IN THE WORLD. AMI PHOENIX MR BIOS AWARD FEATURES OF A NEW BIOS •Siippoi; 1 2f.iB. i ■!.:!.![>. f. 2 itf"B i!c;ip, ..l;i-.--~; ■ Slippy: CD ROM-Faster 1/0 Speed 'OR DOS Support *Corin:-!-.:re •:;!.:!> 1:1 i-0'.' ■ V.'m.lov.j 3 1 support 'Novell support ■ DOS 5 Support ■ IDE drive support • OS/2 support • Support tor -17 vi.i ;i- 1 M •!..■; ?: u : : - ■-.:■ j-.i ■■-:.'• ,.n • -. r ':•■• '■ n« jr.] nivj-i • MEMORY UPGRADES ■ MOTHERBOARDS > BIOS Reference Manuals ^ ^ ■-■ HZ~..~~. • DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCTS MlCm ^ ( 8 Q0) 266-1576 TECHNOLOGIES, / A/ C. fax (805)3710012 • FREE Cataloj'FBEE Chip Dttl ■' - Mie-San F Circle 368 on Inquiry Card TEL (805) 371-0055 e lor Distributor visa •Univ.&Corp. POs Welcome special pricing, free bios resellers 143 TRIUNFO CANYON RD, SUITE 103 • WESTLAKE VILLAGE CA 91361 D • GATEWAY • GPSON • TANDY -DeLL • NCR •GV6F(eX • COMPAQ -NSC • WYSE JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 313 ■I Laptops & Notebooks Universal Keypad for Portable Computers Available in Ivory ■of Black Boost data entry speed, accuracy and convenience with Genovation's Micropad,™ the innovative numeric keypad for portable computers. TO COMPUTER T TO PRINTER (800) 822-4333 17741 Mitchell. North Irvine, CA 92714 USA TEL (714) 8.13-3355 FAX (714) 833-0322 Is the unhandy numeric section of your portable computer's keyboard dragging you down?.. ..Give your productivity a boost by using our Micropad. The economically designed Micropad is ideal for spreadsheet and accounting applications that require fast and accurate entry of numeric data. The Micropad attaches to the parallel port of any MS-DOS computer while providing a clean pass through connection to the printer. Power usage is negligible. Lightweight and compact, the Micropad is fully programmable and is also available with connectors to fit keyboard and serial ports. genoVation u Circle 335 on Inquiry Card. " we 're the notebook company... " From 386-mono 10 486-color, We have a Notebook for Everyone. AT MANUFACTURER-DIRECT PRICES. All Inquiries Welcome. Moil to Fit SAM - 6PM Sat. 10AM - 3PM PST. 1-800-333-8144 For more Information about our complete line of notebook products, plcasn contact: TOP PC International. Inc., 638 N. EekhoffSt., Orange. CA 92668 Tel: 1714) 939-1416 Fas: (714) 933-0103 Circle 382 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 383). 314 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 Memory/Chips/Upgrades • Programmable Hardware • Multimedia MEMORY UPGRADES CALL FOR BEST PRICE ON MEMORY GRADES FOR: Laptops'Notebooks'Palmbooks'Memory Cards'Laser Printers'Brand Computers ACER ALR £ Apple /15T AT&T BONDWELL comma datagenkral DEC leading edge EPSON =h*verex- GATEWAY NEC SILICON GRAPHICS MAGNAVOX MtTZUB/\ NCR vm Fists; Packard bells DELL Panasonic Canon IBM SUN MICRO TANDY TOSHIBA ^m» ZEOS (math co-processors) C (simms & sipps modules) | lEO RAM • ZIPSj (STATIC. DYNAMIC RAM BIOS UPGRADES XT SYSTEMS $24.75 286 SYSTEMS $49.75 386 SYSTEMS $78.75 IIQA ELECTRONICS, INC. 1-800-332-8434 V Vn 9090 N.STEMMONS FWY. • DALLAS. TX 75247 We acltnowletlcje all trademarks. Circle 378 on Inquiry Card. EEE 488/ Serial onverters & Controllers Connect IEEE 488 (HP-IB/GPIB) and serial (RS-232 or RS-422) computers, plotters, and instruments Dtec * g # LV ? v_ I I the smart approach to instrumentation lOtech, Inc. • 25971 Cannon Road • Cleveland, Ohio 44146 (216) 439-4091 • Fax (216) 439-4093 Circle 339 on Inquiry Card. Make Your Image Fy ...with our i Solutions. =ri?.=Vlr Video Master - Video & Audio In/Out Board 'Full Motion Video with Image Capture and Presentation 'VGA to Flick Free Video & Stereo Sound Mixing 'User Developer Kit Available fS^iT^J Video Blaster - Image Capture Board "Live Video, True Color, Windowing Video Capture & Sound Controller 'User Developer Kit Available SOUND BLASTER PRO *OPL-3 stereo FM Music Synthesizer 'Digital-Analog Mixer VGA /TV CONVERTER TOUCH SCREEN PANEL 1 4 - '. 1 7" and 1 9" VGA Monitor PICTURE PACKER JPEG Compression Soft/Hardware pis S inJet 800 / 1200 1 " T BOO/ I 200 DPI for HP LaserJets CD-ROM MultiMedia Upgrade Kits S40 MByte CD-ROM with MultiMedia Interface OPTICAL DISK DRIVES -650 Mbyte/ 1 9ms & 256 Mbyte/35ms Magneto-Optical. Re-Writable Drives VIDEO PHONE by VidCalf Software 'Transmit Live Video via VideoBlaster. Camera & Modem 'Receive Live Video via Modem Call Us Now I For Free Consulation & Catalogs M tWilJlMhlM EMPIRE COMPUTECH H •l'1'^B Li' M ■ J ■ F JK 9668 Hermosa Ave. |- : ■-■■:■■ ..■.;-:- : -.-:--:-;,::- : . -:-: ■'■=. ■ ■ V ' ■■ ■ .-..:-■ ■ -^ ,v.^> Rancho Cucamonga, CA 9 1 730 ^^fl^rTTTTTTT!^^ Tel : 909-466-1400 Fax : 909-466-1409 Circle 374 on Inquiry Card. Printers/Plotters • Programmable Hardware PRINTER BUFFER Nobody waits! Allows automatic sharing of printer(s) by several computers. •simultaneous input on all ports • compatible with all printers, Lasers and CAD plotters • Pop-up Menus • Free Technical Support • 30 day money-back guarantee & full-year limited warranty STANDARD 1 MB memory • memory sizes thru 8 MB • Fast - data rates to 100 KB/S • multiple copies • multiple outputs 1 MB 6-Port Parallel 95 $ 199 9-Port Parallel S249.95 12-Port Parallel $299.95 8-Port Serial + 3-Port Parallel $269.95 16-Port Serial + 3-Port Parallel $399.95 Single User Parallel $ 99 95 512 KBytes - unit is expandable to 4 M Serial or Converting buffers available Other Models also available - Call! Made in USA Extra Memory: $50 per Megabyte Y rvi 513-644-2230 S FAX 644-2232 204 EAST FOURTH STREET, MARYSVILLE, OHIO 43040 Circle 350 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 351 ). Ut Moid Only $851 for iceMASTER-PE The world's most innovative emulator for members of the 8051 family is amazingly affordable. The Hew AET (patent pending) emulator architecture delivers incredible volue! Up to 40 MHz Operation 64K Emulation Code Memory 64K External Data Memory 28K Hardware Breakpoints 6K Trace Memory # Transparent Trace (View Trace While Executing) Real Time & Nonintiusive Call today for 4- SUPPORTS 8031/8032'S portrait or landscape \^_^x j^i^r • Import/export capabilities ^FLEXIBLE^) • 35 shapes, 10 fonts, 4 line styles Call for free demo disk! PATT0N & PATT0N 800-525-0082 ex.. 1317 Software Co r p o r a t i n -185 Cochrane Cr.. Morgan Hill, CA 95037 See our ad on page 104 Inquiry 734. WINDOWS FLOWCHARTER $129 RFFlow 2.0 is a professional drawing tool for flowcharts & org. charts. Requires Microsoft Win- dows. 100 shapes auto adjust in size. Diagonal lines and curves. Auto line routing and re-routing. Click on a shape to bring up a sub-chart. Move charts to other apps. via the Clipboard. Call for free trial disk. RFF ELECTRONICS 1053 Banyan Court, Loveland, CO 80538 Phone: (303) 663-5767 FAX: (303) 669-4889 FRAMEWORK/FRED The Framework Magazine Framework enhancement programs, 12 issues $29.90 Unlimited Framework and FRED support. Access undocumented powers of Framework & FRED, fBase for Framework $190.90 The fastest disk database access in existence. dBase file Index optimization and compression. Selections & Functions, Inc. (617)826-1553 25 Washington Street. Hanover, MA 02339 ELECTRONIC MAIL CONVERSION SERVICES Convert any 9-track magnetic tape to or from over 5000 formats including 3'A", 5%", 8" disk formats & word processors. Disk-to-disk conversions also available. Introducing CD-ROM conversions. Call for more info. Pivar Computing Services, Inc. 165 Arlington Hgts. Rd., Dept. #B Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 (800) Convert ELECTRONIC MAIL-Novell MHS • Stand alone computers, Laptops, Netware, Lantastic • Set up your own hub • International network ■ Workgroups, privacy, use your regular phone line • S100.00 per computer station - unlimited phone support and design assistance. Selections & Functions, Inc. Call for a brochure (617)826-1553 25 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339 Digital Quad Maps Local Street Maps, State Maps, and World Maps in DXF, PCX, PICT, PIC or TIF Formats. Gigabytes of Map data available. M i cre Mop & CAP™ (303) 988-4940 Inquiry 735. 322 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 GRAPHICS JAPAN MARKET LAPTOP PERIPHERALS ^tRD AC F ° R Sa HARVARD GRAPHICS 800-448-NERD Seek Software Developers We are looking for companies developing competitive software products for PCs and aggressively wishing to enter Japan market. Enormous Japanese PC software market attracts worldwide attention. Do not worry about even though you are unfamiliar with Japan market or do not have well organized sales network in Japan. Our technical engineer is pleased to help you by modifications for Japanese PCs. If your company deserves our considering, please feel free to fax us today for details. Product catalogs and company profile are highly welcome. Giken Shoji Co., Ltd. Fax: 81-052-972-6577 Phone: 81-052-972-6544 6F Soar Bldg. 2-3, 1-chome, Izuml, Hinashi-ku, Nagoya 461 , Japan Auto Adapters ■ 12V battery systems • Small package with high efficiency ■ Plugs between computer and lighter receptacle • $99 to $129 « Designed and made in USA!! In stock for Apple PowerBook (10-30V input), Canon BJ printer, Commodore, Everex Tempo LX, IBM, Kodak Diconix printer, Sanyo, Sharp, Toshiba, Zeos Custom adapters designed for OEMs. Serial interface cards for Toshiba and Sanyo. EMPIRE ENGINEERING California USA tel 805/543-28 1 6 fax 805/543-2820 nquiry 736. nquiry 742. nquiry 746. HACKING/SECURITY LANS OPTICAL STORAGE BLACK BOOK ON HACKING AND SECURITY »► All new 1993 edition »► Includes many expert tricks and techniques you can try »> The "How to" do it and prevent it book ** You will be surprised to see how vulnerable systems are! Fast delivery! Send only $25 U.S. check or money order to: NYTEK INNOVATIVE COMMUNICATIONS P.O. Box 2753, Station C Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) K1 P 5W8 The $25 Network Try the 1st truly low-cost LAN • Connect 2 or 3 XTs, ATs,386s, 486s • Uses serial ports and null modem cable • Runs at 1 15K baud - approx 8500 bytes/sec • Runs in background, totally transparent • Share disks and printers, etc. • Needs only 15Kof RAM Little Big LAN The most flexible network • Peer to Peer LAN to 250 nodes • $75 total software cost, not per node! • Link via serial, parallel, or Arcnet • Link via Ethernet or Modems soon • Mixed mode routing • Typically only 35K of RAM Skeptical? We make believers! Information Modes P.O. Drawer F, Dentan, TX 76202 Tech 817-387-3339 Orders 800-628-7992 Hours 1-5 Mon/Wed, 9-5 Tue/Thu/Fri CST Optical Disks WE STOCK ALL BRANDS OF OPTICAL MEDIA We Also Carry Optical Drives, DAT & 8mm Products • • CORPORATE DISCOUNTS * * CITY COMPUTER & SUPPLIES 271 Schrop Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44312 1(800)759-6868 (216)784-4464 FAST NEXT DAY UPS nquiry 737. nquiry 747. HARDWARE PROGRAMMERS TOOLS Pre-Owned Electronics, Inc™ THE Independent Provider, serving the Dealer, Professional, Corporate, Government, and Educational Buyer since 1985 REDUCE DEVELOPMENT TIME OPTLINK™, OPTLIB™, and OPTASM™ are highly optimized development tools with virtually unlimited capacities for DOS, Windows, and OS/2. Supports MS C/C++ v.7 too! SLR Systems, Inc. 1622 N. Main St., Butler, PA 16001 call (412) 282-0864 or fax (412) 282 7965 APPLE II & MACINTOSH' SYSTEMS • PARTS • EXCHANGE REPAIRS Callfora Catalog 800 - 274"5343 INT'L: 617-275-4600 • FAX: 617-275-4848 205 BURLINGTON ROAD • BEDFORD, MA 01 730 Inquiry 738. nquiry 743. nquiry 748. LAPTOP COMPUTERS HEWLETT PACKARD Buy - Sell - Trade LaserJet ColorPro DeskJet DraftPro RuggedWriter DrattMaster Electrostatic Plotters • Monochrome and Color HP 9000 Workstations and Vectras also available. T. E. Dasher & Associates 4t 17 Second Ave., S. Birmingham, AL 35222 Phone: (205) 591-4747 Fax: (205) 591-1108 (800) 638-4833 USED COMPUTERS MAJOR BRANDS - WIDE SELECTION IBM - COMPAQ & OTHERS Computers from S99 Color Printers $239 Mono Monitors from S25 CGA Color Monitors S129 IBM 5140 LAPTOP S349 IBM PCjr & CONVERTIBLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES HAR0-T0-FIN0 ITEMS FOR OLDER PC'S FREE CA TALOa COMPUTER RESET P.O. Box 461782, Garland, TX 75046 Phone (214) 276-8072 & FAX BBS (214) 272-7920 C and C++ DOCUMENTATION TOOLS • C-CALL ($69) Graphic-tree of caller/called hierarchy. • C-CMT ($69) Generate, insert, update comment-blocks. • C-METRIC ($59) Path complexity, lines/stmts/comments. • C-LIST (S69) List, action-diagram, reformat programs. • C-REF ($59) Local/global/parameter cross-reference. • C-DOC ($199) All 5 as 1 DOS program, <=15,000 lines. • Professional ($299) <=1 50,000 lines, DOS, OS/2, Windows. SOFTWARE BLACKSMITHS INC. 6064 St. Ives Way, Mississauga, ONT, Canada L5N-4M1 Voice/Fax; (416) 858-4466 Demos/BBS: (416) 858-1916 Inquiry 739. Inquiry 744. Inquiry 749. HARDWARE/COMPUTERS LOCALIZATION SC/FOX™ EMBEDDED COMPUTERS PC Parallel Coprocessor Plug-in Boards: 1 5 MIPS avg 50 MIPS burst, using the SC32 32-bit CPU or the 1 6-bit Harris RTX 2000™. VME Master/Slave System Controller SBC; 18 MIPS avg 70 MIPS burst, uses RTX 2000 cpu, SCSI, 2 ser, 1 plr ports, to 640K bytes. Stand-Alone Single Board Computers: 18 MIPS avg 60 MIPS burst, 3U or 100x1 00mm Eurocard-size using either SC32 or RTX 2000. Ideal for embedded real-lime control, data acquisilion, robotics, and signal processing. OEM software development system included. SILICON COMPOSERS INC im 322-8703 208 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306 Software Developers! Localization Managers! Now you can manage software translation more efficiently and simply with IDOC's new software XLS™ • Lower translation cost • Faster time to market • Consistency across releases • Localize on any platform Call for a FREE demo disk 1-800-336-9898, ext XL8 IDOC, An International Documentation Company Boost Your BASIC with ProBas! us- ProBas5 adds 938 new commands to QB/PDS US' Written in assembly for speed ea? Gives your programs a professional look is* Easy to use, money back guarantee, $195 ■a- Other add-ons for BASIC, C & Visual Basic avail. FREE DEMO Disk AND BOOKLET TeraTech (800) 447-9120 X1002 Dept 1002, 100 Park Ave., Suite 360, Rockville, MD 20850 Int'l +1(301) 424-3903 Fax (301) 762-8185 BBS (301) 762-8184 Inquiry 740. Inquiry 750. INDUSTRIAL SOFTWARE Industrial Automation Products We produce TRUE industrial products such as: PCs, acquisition add-on cards, embedded controllers and software. Call for our FREE full-line catalog. ELSIST Electronic Systems Via Brodolini, 15, 15033 Casale MTO, ITALY Ph. 142/451987 FAX 142/451988 BBS 142/453165 Structograms Software Documentation made quick and easy with PANORAMA ■ Structograms (Nassi-Shneidermann) automatically from the source code in a flash ■ Hierarchie-trees of modules, procedures ■ Headers of modules, procedures ■ Software- Metrics: McCabe complexity, LOC and more Available for: Turbo Pascal, C, Modula-2, Foriran-77, PL/M, dBase PANORAMA Standard (Pascal, C. Modula-2): $495 panorama Lite $295 Wuest Informatik AG Schuetzenstrasse 11: CH-8245 Feuerthalen; Switzerland Int'l (+41 53) 29 31 32 FAX: (+41 53) 29 31 43 Call or Fax for information and free demo. Inquiry 741. Inquiry 745. Inquiry 751. JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 323 THE BUYER'S MART PROJECT BILLING SECURITY SOFTWARE/ENGINEERING CLIENT PROJECT A Time and Billing System that accounts for charges to an unlimited number of projects (or matters). Price with limited time discount, $129. Demo available. Micro Billing Systems, Inc. 1 1 7 W. Harrison, Ste# 624M, Chicago IL 60605 Tel: (31 2) 939-1 869 Fax: (312) 939-1 351 Inquiry 752. BIT-LOCK" SECURITY Piracy SURVIVAL 10 YEARS proves effectiveness of powerful multilayered securily. Rapid decryption algorithms. PARALLEL or SERIAL port-transparent security device. Complemented by economical KEY- LOK™ and multifeatured COMPU-LOCK™ including countdown, timeout, data encryption, and multiproduct protection. (Dos/Unix/Mac). Also, access control. MICROCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS 3167 E. Otero Circle, Littleton, CO 80122 (303)770-1917 Inquiry 757. SAUNA: 3D THERMAL ANALYSIS • Models: PCBs, plates, heatsinks, enclosures, multiboard enclosures. • All heat transfer modes: convection, radiation, conduction • Interactive menu- driven • Thermal parameters library • Fast "what if": dimension, mat'l, finish, analyses • Easy to learn & use • IBM PC & Macintosh II Call for free evaluation program Tatum Labs, Inc. 1287 N. Silo Ridge Drive, Ann Arbor, Ml 48108 313-663-8810 REPAIR SERVICES SHAREWARE Inquiry 762. SOFTWARE/GRAPHICS ♦ VIDEOS ♦ • Laser printer maint/repair for the layman (2 hrs.) S39.95 • Dot matrix printer maint/repair for the layman (30 min.) S39.95 • Fax machine maint/repair lor the layman (30 min.) $39.95 STOP UNNECESSARY SERVICE CALLS! SPECIAL! BUY 2, GET ONE FREE! All credit cards accepted. S3.60 lor SSH 1-80D-537-D589 Viejo Publications, Inc. 4470-107 Sunset Blvd. Sle 600. Los Angeles, CA 90027 Inquiry 753. SECURITY NEW NEW NEW Rocket "93" HQ CD ROM 600 megs of High Q. Shareware $39.95+ Latest Shareware on floppies $1 .98 ea.-t- Lowest Prices - Highest Quality Catalog Available ROCKET SHAREWARE 1-800-727-9724 Inquiry 758. SOFTWARE WANTED TIFF, PCX, TARGA, GIF, DIB, BMP, DCX, EPS, WMF, WPG, PICT, JPEG AccuSoft Image Format Library 3.0 "The most comprehensive raster support library on the market" Import, export, convert, display, and print all above formats! DOS & Windows versions included in one package. No royalties. Includes several sample programs with source code. Supports all languages. Format compatibility guaranteed! G3, G4, TIFF-F, multi-page images etc. Rotate, scale, color reduction, sharpen etc. 30 day satisfaction guarantee. $495 AccuSoft Corporation 160 E. Main St., P.O. Box 1261, Westboro, MA 01581 (800) 525-3577 (508) 898-2770 FAX (508) 898-9662 Inquiry 763. FIGHT PIRACY! • EVERLOCK3.0 • SOFTWARE COPY PROTECTION New Option Board Sale-New Remote Registration New CPU LOCK-CD ROM LOCK and more * EVERKEY HARDWARE LOCKS • Az-Tech Software, Inc. Call for a 201 East Franklin, Richmond. MO 64085 FREE (816)776-2700 Demo (800) 227-0644 fax (816) 776-8398 Inquiry 754. THE ULTIMATE COPY PROTECTION • Completely menu driven Quite Simply • Defeats all Hardware/Software Copiers The Best • No Source Code Changes Ways To • Mulltiple Layering Protect Your Valuable • No Damaged Media Software Investment • Fulll Hard Disk & LAN Support • Unlimited Metering, FREE Demo Disk STOPVIEW" STOPCOPY PLUS'" (800) 879-2224 BBI COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC. MffMOM 14105 Heritage Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20906 FAX: (301) 460-7545 Inquiry 755 Cop's CopyLock II The professional software protection with TRUE Machine Install. Option Board safe. OS/2, Networks, Windows, and Trace 1020. LINK Computer Int'l: + 45 31232350 Fax: + 45 31238448 US/CAN: 800-344-2545 FAX: 408-923-7061 Publish Your Program! Young, enthusiastic and successful software publishing company looking for PC productivity and utility software to acquire or publish. For a confidential review of your software product, send information to Software Adv., 2210 Wilshire Blvd., #836, Santa Monica, CA 90403 or circle our number on the Direct Link Card in the back of this issue. We will contact you promptly. Inquiry 759. SOFTWARE/ACCOUNTING dBASE BUSINESS TOOLS •GENERAL LEDGER PURCH ORD/INVNTORY •ORDER ENTRY ACCOUNTS RECVABLE •JOB COSTING JOB ESTIMATING •BILLOFMATLS SALES ANALYSIS • PAYROLL ACCOUNTS PAYABLE $99/S198ea. + S&H dATAMAR SYSTEMS Creel. Card-Check-COD 6969-D Corte Santa Fe. San Diego, CA 92121 (619)452-0044 (800) 223-9963 Inquiry 760. SOFTWARE/BUSINESS DATA ENTRY SOFTWARE Full featured, heads-down data entry with two-pass verification, edit language, operator stats, much more! Designed for the PS/2"", PC, XT, AT or compatibles. PCs from $395 LAN version available FREE 30 day trial Computer Keyes 21929 MakahRd., Woodway. WA 98020 Tel Fax: USA: 206/776/6443 206/776-7210 800/356-0203 SCIENTIFIC VISUALIZATION Graphics library for VGA and ET4000 Super VGA. Up to 1024x768 resolution. Supports HiColor and 24-bit true color. 2-D & 3-D w/perspective. Gouraud shaded polygons. Z-buffer hidden surface removal. Animation. Mouse & joystick support. Scale and rotate text. Store/retrieve in PCX format. For MS FORTRAN. C version available soon. S250. Call for free demo disk. AEROSOFT CORPORATION 5562 Bells Ferry Rd., Suite 233, Acworth, GA 30102 Tel/FAX (404) 917-1309 Develop CAD/CAM, GIS, A/E/C Products ON TIME and UNDER BUDGET with the "CAD/CAM Developer's Kit" Series The CCDKs are libraries of C functions which support routines for DXF input/output, graphical display, line/ arc/ellipse/NURB spline construction/editing, and much more than can be described here. Building Block Software, Inc. 371 Moody Street, Waltham, MA 02154 Voice (617) 899-4350 Fax (617) 899-4399 "The Ultimate CAD/CAM/CAE Programming Engine" Slash your development time, with your CAD programming companion, TG-Professional v.4.0, Ihe most complete C/C++ toolbox of 2D & 3D geometric routines available today! Over 800 routines including NURBS. DXF, Graphics, Surfacing, Hidden Line, Transforms, Perspectives. Polygon (Inl/Union/Diff), Clipping, Tangents and more. Routines for drawing using BGl or MSC Graphics. Full source & 30 day guarantee. USA $500.00. Use MSC. Borland C/C++, WATCOM C/386 or Metaware High C/C++. Call 1-800-635-7760 or Fax/Phone 214- 423-7288 for free 30 page technical paper. Disk Software Inc. 109 S. Murphy Rd., Piano. TX USA 75094 Inquiry 764. SOFTWARE/ENGINEERING YOUR SALES MESSAGE about the special computer product or service that you provide belongs in print THE BUYER'S MART can help you reach computer professionals and produce valuable inquiries for your company! Call MargOt Gnade for more information 603-924-2656 or Fax: 603-924-2656 Inquiry 756. 324 BYTE- JANUARY 1993 Mixed Mode Simulation • NEW IsSpiceS Willi • Schematic Enlry Analog/Digilal simulation • Extensive Model Libraries • Draws waveforms as the • Waveform Analysis simulation runs • Full SPICE programs starling • PC and Macintosh Versions at S95. Complete systems • Filter Design tram $990. Call for your Free Demo and Information kit. P.O. Box 710, San Pedro, CA 90733-0710 /«.* , ,,-ij, 310-833-0710, FAX: 310-333-9656 Inquiry 761. RAINDROP TM FAST, compact PrtScrn Utility for end users AND developers. Hardcopy as fast as 10 sees. Average binary size - 6 kbyte. 14 video graphic standards. Scale, rotate, coiorize and more. 'CALL' from user-written programs. Complete 9- & 24-pin dot-matrix, inkjet, and laserjet library S44.95 + S3 s/h. ECLECTIC SYSTEMS 8106 St. David Ct., Springfield, VA 22153 (703) 440-0064 Fax (703) 455-8965 Inquiry 765. SOFTWARE/GUI SOFTWARE/SCIENTIFIC STATISTICS GUI TOOLKIT ONLY $249 Full source code included TEGL Windows Toolkit lets you create DOS based GUI apps that are completely standalone. Over 500 functions. Menus, mouse & keyboard support, dialogues, and more. Includes TEGL graphics interface which has drivers for most popular video modes. Supports most C and Pascal compilers. Protected mode version is only $499. No royalties. TEGL Systems Corporation P.O. Box 580, Stn. A, Vancouver B.C. V6C 2N2 (604) 669-2577 FAX (604) 688-9530 Inquiry 766. SOFTWARE/INSTRUCTIONAL COOK EXCEL SPREADSHEETS XSolver optimizes spreadsheet models using simulated annealing. It can find global minima of functions of many variables even when multiple local minima exist. Requires Windows 3.x and Microsoft Excel 4.0 for Windows. Only $150. Exatech Software 6547 N. Academy Blvd. Suite 527, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 (719)599-8727 Inquiry 772. WinSTAT™ Statistics for Windows All the statistical methods you need, with all the convenience of Windows! Up to 65,000 variables and cases. Import/export Lotus, dBASE, etc. files. Copy & paste tables and graphs to word processor. Call for brochure and/or $10 demo. V/MC/PO. Kalmia Co. Inc. Dept. 63, 71 Dudley St., Cambridge, MA 02140 Phone/FAX: (617) 864-5567 Inquiry 777. KNOWLEDGE is POWER Computer software shows you how to Speed Read and Speed Learn. Read up to 3000 words per minute and beyond. Train on your home computer 25 minutes a day. Within 30 days you too can be a speed reader. Amazing results from first lesson reveal speed reading secrets! Specify MAC or PC. Send the introductory price of $34.95 to: KP-WARE P.O. Box 2042, Kingston, R.I. 02881 FAX V/MC 401-782-2511 Inquiry 767. SOFTWARE/MATHEMATICS VTrfX Scientific Desktop Publishing • Equations • Tables • Graphics • Scalable Fonts • Supports most printers • WYSIWYG previewer • Foreign Languages • Special Symbols • Font Effects • Indices • Only $299 'TrsX of Tomorrow-Notices of AMS, March 1991. CaJI now for a FREE DEMO DISK MicroPress, Inc. 68-30 Harrow Street, Forest Hills, NY Tel (71 8) 575-1 816 Fax (71 8) 575-8038 Inquiry 773. NCSS 5.x Series - $125 Easy-to-use menus & spread sheet. Multiple regression. T-tests. ANOVA (up to 10 factors, rep. measures, covariance). Forecasting. Factor, cluster, & discriminant analysis. Nonparametrics. Cross Tabulation. Graphics: histograms, box, scatter, etc. Reads ASCII/Lotus. Many new add-on modules. NCSS 329 North 1000 East. Kaysville. UT 84037 Phone: 801-546-0445 Fax: 801-546-3907 Inquiry 778. UTILITIES OPERATIONS RESEARCH @ $149 for your IBM or Compatible LP88-Linear Programs up to 3000 by 15000. BLPBB-Linear Programs with Bounded Variables. MILP88-Mixed-lnteger Linear Programs. MXLP88-Large Model Mixed-Integer LP. TSA88-Transportation/Ttansship ment Problems. NLP88-Nonlinear Objective Programs. Student/Demo-Reduced capacity versions for students. Turbo Pascal Units-Object modules tor developers. Eastern Software Products, Inc. P.O. Box 15328, Alexandria, VA 22309 (703) 360-7600. Fax (703} 360-7654 FREE CATALOG A great selection of scientific software products for plotting, non-linear curve fitting, chemical equilibrium, simulation, statistics, symbolic algebra, and more. Prices from $150. Call: 1-801-943-0290 MicroMath, Salt Lake City, UT 841 21 -0550 FastTrax the best disk optimizer • Speeds disk access, reclaims wasted space • Defragments any size DOS disk incl. >1 Gb • No limits on directories, files or clusters • Unique in-cylinder method reduces seeks • MakeTrax (incl.) for custom file placement • Batch operation, power failure protection FastTrax International 880 Ensenada Avenue, Berkeley CA 94707 24-hr Sales and Tech support (510) 525-3510 Inquiry 768. Inquiry 774. Inquiry 779. GEOMETRYn"RIGONOMETRY CALCULATOR Apollonius - Sketch-based geometry/ trigo- nometry solver. State-of-the-art variational geometry system lets you sketch your geometry or frig problem and automatically solves for distances, angles and areas. Integrated equation calculator, graphs and tables plus DDE and clipboard support. Ideal for surveyors, engineers, machine shops, students, architects, or anyone who uses trig. Runs under MS Windows 3.0 598 Saltire Software 1 -800-659-1 874 Inquiry 769. SOFTWARE/PACKAGING OVER 300 PROGRAMS AVAILABLE! FREE CATALOG! • COGO Routines • Log Plotting & Analysis • Surface Modeling • Petroleum Databases • Gridding & Contouring • Oil & Gas Economics • Groundwater Modeling * USGS Digital Elevation Quads • Molecular Modeling • Data Conversion • Astronomy • Statistical Analysis & Plotting • Geophysics • Geo & Hydro Chemical Analysis • Base Mapping • Hydrodynamic Modeling W> — mtr\Af*mmA 4251 Ki P |in 9 SL Ste ' 585 nOCK rrUfC Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (303) 423-5645 • Fax (303) 423-6171 • RockFAX* (303) 423-71 12 '24-hr. tax on-demand product information service Inquiry 775. PEN PLOTTER EMULATOR FPLOT turns your printer into an HP pen plotter. Fast hi-res, no jagged lines. Vary line width, color. Screen preview - zoom, pan. Works with most CAD programs. Supports most printers. Requires DOS 2.1 or higher. S119+$3 S&H. VISA/MC/Chk/MO. FPLOT Corporation 24-16 Steinway St., Suite 60S. Astoria, NY 11103 71 8-545-3505 Inquiry 780. SOFTWARE/SORT WINDOWS FREE SOFTWARE PACKAGING CATALOG Everything you will need to Package, Distribute, and Ship Your Software!! From manuals and binders to mailers and shippers LABELS • LABELS • LABELS For your diskettes, plain or custom printed dot matrix or laser printer . . . free samples •••FREE CATALOG-" Hice & Associates 8586 Monticello Dr.. West Chester. OH 45069 Phone/Fax: 513-777-8586 Inquiry 770. OPT-TECH SORT/MERGE Extremely last Sort/Merge/Select utility. Run as an MS- DOS command or CALL as a subroutine. Supports most languages and file types including Btrieve and dBASE. Unlimited file sizes, multiple keys and much more! MS-DOS S149. OS/2. XENIX, UNIX $249. (702) 588-3737 Opt-Tech Data Processing P.O. Box 678 - Zephyr Cove, NV 89448 Inquiry 776. SOFTWARE/VOICE/FAX Hyper Photo_db - A Hyperlmage/document management system under MS-Windows™ 3.x Displays multiple windows ol images and documents in true color or with cnlnr matching. Associates text into, images or symbols to any pixel inside an image. Easily switches from image to image through successive levels of detail. Finds a point inside an image by entering its name e.g. address. Organize images and files in a network/relational database. Users can design their own information templates and search with multiple keys. Include a powerful editor. File security & Treesearch. Link to clipboard. Pan and zoom within images. Work with PCX, BMP. TIF, GIF, Postscript file Formats. Network Vers. Avail. _ Introductory offer - $185. Friendly Information Systems, Inc. 34 Bow Avenue, Dedham, MA 02026 (508) 486-0003 or (617) 329-1620 Inquiry 781. STOCK PACKAGING to help you market your software ask for catalog 92 S call 708 390-7744 or fax 708 390-9886 PolyQuick Co. 1243 Rand Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 Inquiry 771. MULTI-VOICE TOOLS Multi-Voice Tools is a complete development Toolkit for Pascal or "C" to access all the features for most speech processing boards available today. I! helps you write MULTI-LINE VOICE APPLICATION systems in minutes. A number of programming examples are provided. All programs and libraries are delivered with source code. Dialogic, Rhetorex, Pika, VBX: S599. Watson (Single Line): S99. ALSO AVAILABLE: Fax Programmer's Toolkit ($199). Based on CAS specifications. Visa/MC accepled, ITI Logiciel 4263 Crislophe-Colomb, Montreal, Quebec. Can. H2J 3G2 TEL (514) 597-1692 FAX (514)526-2362 88 WINDOWS PROGRAMS Buy this fantastic collection tor only $9.95. Features games, business, utilities, education, home and graphics programs for use in Windows'. Price includes shipping and handling. (Please add $5.00 for foreign orders.) Credit Cards Only. SMC SOFTWARE PUBLISHERS (619)931-8111 ext.511 Inquiry 782. JANUARY 1 993 • B Y T E 325 YOUR DIRECT LINK ADVERTISER CONTACT INFORMATION To order products or request FREE information, call advertisers directly or send in the Direct Link Card by mail or fax! Let them know you saw it in BYTE! Inquiry No. Page No. Phone No. 266-267 AT&T PARADYNE (N. A.) 166 61-62 371-372 193-194 238 63-64 70 218 234 65 401 554 364 66-68 69 71-72 73 74-75 560 568 265 79-80 450 81-82 403-404 239 240 402 235-236 200 405 375-376 259 84-85 406-407 ABACUS SOFTWARE 187 ACI/ ACQUIRE 311 ADDA 106 ADVANCED COMPUTER PROD 304 ADVANCED LOGIC RESEARCH 17 ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES 14-15 AER ENERGY 135 AITECH 224 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYS 107 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYS 176IS-1 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYS 292NE-2 ALLMICRO 318 ALPHATRONIX 133 ALTIMA SYSTEMS, INC 243 AMERICAN MEGATRENDS 101 AMERICAN SMALL BUSI COMP 247 AOX 163 APPLE COMPUTER INC 176A-D APPRO INTERNATIONAL INC 292NE-4 APPRO INTERNATIONAL INC 292MW-4 ARES MICRO DEVELOPMENT 290-291 ATI TECHNOLOGIES INC 235 AXIOMATIC 313 800-544-4996 exl 96 800-451-4319 886-2-758-9615" 886-2-248-4276" 714-558-8813 714-581-6770 800-222-9323 800-POWER-20 800-882-8184 800-223-4277 800-223-4277 800-223-4277 800-653-4933 800-849-5807 800-356-9990 800-828-9264 918-825-4844 617-890-4402 408-732-6091 408-732-6091 800-322-3200 416-756-0718 416-602-9270 B BAY TECHNICAL ASSOC BINARY TECHNOLOGY INC BITWISE DESIGNS INC BIX BORLAND INTL BORLAND INTL (INTL) BUFFALO PRODUCTS BULLDOG COMPUTER PROD BSC MICROSYSTEMS 318 164 279 13 CIV 287 306 224IS-2 800-523 508-369- 800-367 617-491 800-331 800-345 800-438- 408-730 2702 9556 5906 3342 0877 2356 ■6039 5511 CASE DESIGN INTERNATIONAL CASTELLE CORP CHERRY MIKROSCHALTER GMBH (INTL) 25 CHIASHIN CITITRONICS COLORADO MEMORY SYSTEMS 87 91 92 409 332 241 333 280-281 410-411 93 442 443 196 94-95 237 441 242-243 412 216 97-98 99-100 COMPEX INC (INTL) COMPUADD EXPRESS (N.A.) COMPUDYNE COMPUSAVE INTI (INTL) COMPUSERVE COMPUSERVE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES COMPUTER ASSOCIATES COMPUTER ASSOCIATES COMPUTER ASSOCIATES COMPUTER BOOK CLUB, THE (N.A.) COMPUTER FRIENDS COMPUTER QUICK COMPUTER SYSTEM ARCHITECT COMPUTERLANE UNLIMITED COMPUTERWISE COMTRADE CORE INTERNATIONAL COREL SOFTWARE CPS COMPUTER DIST GMBH CPS COMPUTER DIST GMBH CREATIVE UBS INC CTX INTERNATIONAL INC CURTIS INC CYBERDYNE SYSTEMS CYBEX CORP CYBEX CORP (INT'L) D DALLAS SEMICONDUCTOR DATA ACCESS CORP DATALUX CORP 307 89 111 120-121 78-79 166 192A-B 193 260A-B 110 96IS-2 311 292 317 308 96IS-3 50 176IS-2 240IS-3 35 216 186 240IS-3 289 cm 800-880-1100 800-359-7654 49-964-318-262" 886-2-7270804" 818-855-5688 800-346-9881 714-630-7302 800-925-3525 800-932-COMP 602-437-8208 800-848-8199 800-848-8199 800-CALL-CAI 800-CALL-CAI 800-CALL-CAI 800-CALL-CAI 717-794-2191 800-547-3303 415-861-8330 800-753-4CSA 800-526-3482 800-255-3739 800-969-2123 407-997-6044 800-836-SCSI 49-40-656-7969" 49-40-656-7969" 800-998-LABS 714-595-6146 612-631-9512 49 241607383" 205-534-0010" 205-534-0010" 150 238 130 800-258-5061 800-451-FLEX 800-DATALUX Inquiry No. Page No. Phone No. 413-414 206 440 575 576 284-285 334 101 246-247 415 217 DATATRONICS TECHNOLOGY 176IS-4 886-2-782-0305" DELL COMPUTER CORP (N.A.) CHI 800-626-8260 DELL COMPUTER CORP (N.A.) CIV 800-626-8260 DELL COMPUTER CORP (N.A.) 149 800-626-8260 DELORME MAPPING 186 800-452-5931 DEXDYNE 224IS-2 44-285-655644" DEXPO/ MILLER FREEMAN. INC 292MW-3 800-87-DEXPO DEXPO/ MILLER FREEMAN, INC 292NE-6 800-87-DEXPO DHT 310 818-810-0552 DIAGSOFTINC 318 800-DIAGSOFT DIGITAL VISION 98 800-346-0900 DPT 293 407-830-5522 DR HUGGLE 8, PARTNER GMBH 176IS-2 49-0241-403117" DURACELL 74-75 800-422-9001 exl. 436 E 433 ECG • ELONEX (INTL) 374 EMPIRE COMPUTECH 202 ENVISIO 211-212 ESRI 555-556 EVOLUTION COMPUTING 562-563 EVOLUTION COMPUTING 240IS-4 31-4937-96808" 120-121 44-81-452-6422" 314 800-446-1967 272 612-339-1008 195 909-793-2853 292NE-3 800-874-4028 292PC-1 800-874-4028 416 FAST ELECTRONIC GMBH (INTL) 149 49-089-533-401" 429-430 FIRST INTL COMPUTER 176IS-3 88-62-717-4500 248-249 FIRST SOURCE INTL 305 714-588-9866 209-210 FUNK SOFTWARE 275 617-497-6339 417-418 FUTURESOFT ENGINEERING 176IS-1 713-496-9400 380 335 419 103-104 105-106 336 337 420 219-220 221-222 338 GATEWAY 2000 GATEWAY 2000 GENERAL TECHNICS GENOVATION, INC GFK HAMBURG GLENCO ENGINEERING GLOBALINK INC GMM RESEARCH CORP GREENLEAF SOFTWARE GREY MATTER LTD GRID SYSTEMS CORP GRID SYSTEMS CORP GTEK INC CII.1 137-144 313 314 224IS-4 197 176 311 318 96IS-4 157 158-159 312 800-523-2000 800-523-2000 800-487-2538 800-882-4333 49-040-231-789" 800-562-2543 800-255-5660 714-752-9447 800-523-9830 44-0364-53071" 800-532-GRID 800-532-GRID 800-282-4835 H 203 HANDTOP COMPUTERS LTD 572-573 HARDLOGIC TECH, INC 292SO-2 377 HARPER COLLINS 316 107 HAUPPAUGE COMPUTER WORKS 65 108 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH 207 * HEWLETT PACKARD 21 HEWLETT PACKARD HEWLETT PACKARD 36-37 86-87 109-110 HORIZONS TECHNOLOGY (N.A.) 224A-B HYUNDAI ELECT AMERICA 40A-H 33-1-60-17-70-77" 800-258-8345 [-0903-873633" 800-443-6284 800-532-0600 800-552-8500 exl. 7108 800-LASERJET ext. 7133 800-752-0900 exl. 7094 800-828-3808 800-933-3445 113 IBM- - WORKSTATIONS 30-31 800-IBM-6676 111 IBM -OS/2 44-45 112 IBM -THINK PAD 82-63 274 IBM - CSET/2 259 275 IBM - PS/VALUE POINT DIRECT 276-277 800-IBM-2YOU 384 INFINICON 312 800-374-3880 • INSIGHT DIST NETWORK 294-295 800- 114 INTEGRAND RESEARCH 232 209 233 INTEL CORP 94-95 800 435-436 INT'L NETWORK CONSULTANTS 240IS-2 339 IOTECH 314 216- 578 ISLAND SYSTEMS (INT'L) 292SO-3 617 434 ITALIAN SOFTWARE AGENCY 224IS-3 39-323- 373 IVERSON SOFTWARE. INC 318 416- ■755-3874 651-1203 •538-3373 215-388-7489" ■439-4091 ■273-0421 ■925208" -925-6096 Inquiry No. Page No. Phone No. JAMECO ELECTRONICS JDR MICRODEVICES JNL OF OBJ ORIENT PROG 176IORC1-2 116 342 553 561 567 574 340 117-118 271 171-172 197-198 270 257 421 558 557 120 422-423 367 254 362 121 260-261 251 252 253 343 276-277 570-571 122 123 428 136 124 125-126 127 344 128 250 353 565 444 431 129-130 131-132 134 133 135 345 424 213 800-831-4242 309 800-538-5000 610RC1-2 212-274-0640 100 800-663-8702 312 508 880 3000 292MW-1 600 255 2989 292NE-5 800 255 2989 292PC-6 800 255 2989 292SO-1 800 255 2989 312 303 -444 7737 201 714 435 2600 KEA SYSTEMS LTD KEITHLEY METRABYTE KENOSHA COMPUTER CTR KENOSHA COMPUTER CTR KENOSHA COMPUTER CTR KENOSHA COMPUTER CTR KILA KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY LAGUNA DATA SYSTEMS 315 800-859-8856 LAHEY COMPUTER SYSTEMS 254 800-548-4778 LANDMARK RESEARCH INTL CORP129 800-683-6696 LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL 181 606-232-6814 LINGUISTIC PRODUCTS 168 713-298-2563 LODE STAR COMPUTER 284-285 800-875-7568 LOGIC PROGRAMMING ASSOC 96IS-2 44-81-874-0449" M MANCHESTER EQUIPMENT CO 292A-B MANCHESTER EQUIPMENT C0292NE-1 MARK WILLIAMS CO 109 MATHSOFTINC 219 MEGADATA 176IS-1 METALINKCORP 315 MICRO SOLUTIONS COMP PROD 288 MICROCALINC 318 MICROGRAFX MICRO-INTERNATIONAL, INC MICROPROSE SOFTWARE MICROPROSE SOFTWARE MICROPROSE SOFTWARE MICROSOFT CORP MICROSOFT CORP MICROSOFT CORP MICROSOFT CORP MICROSOFT PRESS INC MICROSTAR LABORATORIES MICROTAC SOFTWARE MICROTECH COMPUTER MICROWAY MICROWAY MINICOM LTD MINUTEMAN MKS / MORTICE KERN SYSTEMS 255 302 299 301 303 22-27 55-59,61,63 93 114-115 43 313 265 292SO-4 131 211 176IS-4 N NANAO USA CORP (N.A.) NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS NEC - PRINTERS NEVADA COMPUTER NOVASTOR CORP 267 111 263 317 176IDRC1-2 49 300 315 O-C-T SYSTEMS OLIVETTI ONTIMEMKT/ KARSTEN PETERSEN OPTIQUEST ORCHID TECHNOLOGY OSBORNE MCGRAW-HILL OSBORNE MCGRAW-HILL OUTBOUND SYSTEMS INC OVERLAND DATA INC OXFORD ELECTRONIC PUBL 138 566 PACIFIC DATA PRODUCTS PATTON & PATTON PC POWER 8 COOLING PEMCO/ UNIFORM SHOW 292PC2-3 40IS2-3 281 227 319 330-332 102 316 96IS-1 179 104 516-435-1199 516-435-1199 800-627-5967 800-628-4223 516-589-6858" 800-638-2423 615-756-3411 413-586-7720 800-998-0153 800-967-5667 800-879-PLAY 800-879-PLAY 800-879-PLAY 800-426-9400 800-426-9400 800-426-9400 800-426-9400 800-MSPRESS 206-453-2345 800-366-4170 800-342-6508 508-746-7341 508-746-7341 972-2-637576" 214-446-7363 519-884-2251 310 800- 800 512- 800 800- 602- -5202 i-3488 -3488 -0100 -5500 -7762 -3616 49-40-435-196" 800-843-6784 800-7-ORCHID 800-444-4607 800-729-8725 44-865-56646" 619-625-3583 800-525-0082 ext. 112 800-722-6555 800-323-5155 326 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 YOUR DIRECT LINK im M ADVERTISER CONTACT INFORMATION Inquiry No. Page No. Phone No. Inquiry No. Pago No. Phone No. Inquiry No. Page No. Phone No. 139-140 PERCEPTIVE SOLUTIONS 68 800-486-3278 158 SIGMA DATA 171 800-446-4525 354-355 TRIBAL MICROSYSTEMS 315 510-623-8859 141 PERSOFT INC 162 800-368-5283 36B SMARTMICRO TECHNOLOGIES 313 800-266-1576 426 TRITON TECHNOLOGIES 240IS-1 908-855-9440 346 PERSONAL TEX 317 415-388-8853 159 S'NW ELECTRONICS 110 800-874-1235 1B1-182 TRUEVISION INC 151 800-344-8783 142 PHAR LAP SOFTWARE INC 155 617-661-1510 SOFTLINE CORP 40IS-4 718-438-6057 u 143-144 PINNACLE MICRO 6-7 714-727-3300 160-161 SOFTWARE SECURITY INC 274 203-329-8870 145 PIONEER COMMUNICATIONS 123 800-LASER-ON 162 SONY CPPC 240A-H 800-352-7669 * UNIXWORLD 206 800-257-9402 146 PKWARE INC 52 414-354-8699 163 SONY(NA) 173 UNIXWORLD 208A-B 800-257-9402 347 POLAROID CORP 311 800-225-2770 164 SPSS INC 245 800-543-5835 378 USA ELECTRONICS, INC 314 800-332-8434 559 POLYWELL COMPUTERS, INC 292NE-2 800-999-1278 369-370 STARGATE TECHNOLOGIES 311 800-782-7428 V 577 POLYWELL COMPUTERS. INC 292SO-2 800-999-1278 165-166 STATSOFT 273 918-583-4149 183-184 VENTURA SOFTWARE INC 170 800-822-8221 147 POPKIN SAW & SYSTEMS INC 125 212-571-3434 167 STORAGE DIMENSIONS 183 800-344-4323 439 VIDEO MAKER /VITEC 40IS-1 33-146-29-03-04" POWERCORE 176IDRC1-2 815-468-3737 168 STRATEGIC MAPPING 199 408-970-9600 185-186 VIEWSONIC 81 714-869-7976 119 PROGRAMMER'S PARADISE 69-71 800-445-7899 169 SUN MICROSYSTEMS 10-11 800-426-5321 569 VORTEX COMPUTERS 292MW-2 800-548-7839 PROGRAMMER'S SHOP 214-215 800-421-8006 ext 520 564 VORTEX COMPUTERS 292PC-5 800-548-7839 148-149 PROGRESS SOFTWARE 223 800-4PROGRESS 201 SUNSOFT 2-3 800-227-9227 w Q ext 123 170 SUPERMAC TECHNOLOGY 169 800-334-3005 427 WALKER. RICHER & QUINN 224IS-1 206-324-0407 150 QNX/ QUANTUM SOFTWARE SYS 250 800-363-9001 199 SUPRA CORP 230 800-727-8647 187 WATCOM PRODUCTS INC 33 800-265-4555 ex! 101 191 SYMANTEC 9 800-228-4122 379 WENTEK TECHNOLOGY, INC 316 818-960-8808 152 QUA TECH INC 282 800-553-1170 173-174 SYSTAT INC 103 708-864-5670 356 WINTEK CORP 316 800-742-6809 348 QUALSTAR CORP 316 818-882-5822 425 SZKI RECOGNITA CORP 173 361-201-7607" WOLFRAM RESEARCH 191 800-441-6284 445-446 QUANTUM CORP (INT'L) 256 41-38-337722 T 258 WORLDWIDE TECHNOLOGIES 298 800-457-6937 437-438 QUANTUM CORP (INT'L) 257 41-38-337722 151 QUARTERDECK OFFICE SYS R 165 310-392-9851 349 350-351 TALKING TECHNOLOGY INC TECHNOLOGIC SYSTEMS 312 315 800-685 513-644 4884 2230 357 X XELTEK 315 408-524-1929 175 TEKTRONIX 53 800-835 6100 188-189 XVT SOFTWARE INC 229 800-678-7988 153 RAIMA CORP 85 800-327-2462 176 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 105 800-527 3500 154-155 RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES 77 800-852-8569 TEXAS MICROSYSTEMS 112A-B 800-627 8700 z 264 RALIN WHOLESALERS 296 800-752-9512 177 TEXAS MICROSYSTEMS 113 800-627 8700 ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS 96A-H 800-523-9393 255-256 RECORTEC INC 286 800-729-7654 382-383 TOP PC 314 800-333 8144 190 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 18-19 800-423-5891 156 ROSE ELECTRONICS 8 800-333-9343 178 TOSHIBA AMERICA INC 90-91 800-457 7777 358 ZEUSPHONSTUFF 316 404-587-1541 s 179-180 TOUCHSTONE SOFTWARE 236 714-969 7746 359 Z-WORLD ENGINEERING 315 916-757-3737 272 TRANSCEND INFORMATION INC 297 714-598 5500 192 ZYLA8 / DIVISION OF IDI 106 800-544-6339 365-366 SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMING 317 517-339-9859 360 TRANTOR SYSTEMS LTD 313 800-872 6867 204-205 ZYXEL USA 237 714-693-0808 157 SEQUITER SOFTWARE INC 270 403-437-2410 361 TRI VALLEY TECHNOLOGY INC 312 510-447-2030 • Correspond directlv with companv 352 SIGEN 313 408-737-3904 353 TRIANGLE DIGITAL SERVICES 312 44-81-558-8 110" " Indicates FAX Numbe BYTE ADVERTISING SALES STAFF Jennifer L Battel, National Sales Manager, 14850 Quorum Drive, Suite 380, Dallas, TX 75240, Tel. 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NH 03458 BYTE International Direct Response Postcards Ellen Perham (603) 924-2598 BYTE Publications One Phoenix Mill Lane Peterborough, NH 03458 INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES STAFF Ron Cordek, Managing Director, European Operations McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., Wimbledon Bridge House, One Hartfield Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 3RU, England, Tel: 44 81 545 6278, Fax: 44 81 545 6294 GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA Jurgen Heise McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Liebigstrasse 19 D-6000 Frankfurt Germany Tel: +49 069 71407 140 FAX: +49 069 71407 147 SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES Zena Coupe A-2 International Sales Ltd. 70 Chalk Farm Road London NW1 BAN England Tel: +44 71 2843171 FAX: +44 71 2843174 UNITED KINGDOM, BENELUX Christina Barion (44 81 545 6270) McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Wimbledon Bridge House One Hartfield Road Wimbledon. London SW19 3RU England FAX: +44 81 5456294 TELEX: 892191 FRANCE, ITALY Zena Coupe, Amanda Blaskett A-Z International Sales Ltd. 70 Chalk Farm Road London NW1 SAN England Tel: +44 71 2843171 FAX: +44 71 2843174 ISRAEL Dan Ehrlich Ehrlich Communication Int'l. P.O. Box 99 Herzliya 46101. Israel Tel: +972 52 586245 Tel: +972 52 586246 FAX: +972 52 585685 AUSTRALIA Rod Tremain Rod Tremain Media 45 Pymble Ave. Pymble 2073, Sydney Australia Tel: +61 2 9983339 FAX: +61 2 9883424 JAPAN Masaki Mori Transworld Media Inc. 4th Floor, 1-26-6 Kamimeguro Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153, Japan Tel: +81 3 57210761 FAX: +81 3 57210762 KOREA Young-Seoh Chinn JES MEDIA INT'L 5th Floor, Banpo Bidg. 40-7, Chamwon-Dong, Seocho-Gu Seoul 137-030. Korea Tel: +82 2 5458001 Tel: +82 2 5458002 FAX: +82 2 5498861 SINGAPORE Dorek Ng Stephen Tay Third Wave Publishing Corp. 1123 Serangoon Road, #03-01 Singapore 1232 Tel: +65 296 6166 FAX: +65 298 7551 HONG KONG Candice Lo Third Wave Publishing Corp. Unit 2, 6F Hing Wah Center 82-84 To Kwa Wan Road Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: +852 764 3830 FAX: +852 764 3857 MALAYSIA Servex (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. H.K. Lin 5th Floor. Bena Tower 160, Jalan Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +60 3 2624592 FAX: +60 3 2624591 THAILAND . Jack Hu Sahaviriya OA Group 28/1 Prapawit Bidg., Surasak Rd. Silom, Bangkok 10500 Thailand Tel: +66 2 2360295 FAX: +66 2 2365960 TAIWAN Liwen Lee Third Wave Publishing Corp. 2nd Fl., No. 19-1, Lane 231 Fu Hsing North Road Taipei 1 0445, Taiwan R.O.C. Tel: +886 2 71 36959 FAX: +886 2 7151950 INDIA, INDONESIA, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, OTHER ASIAN AND PACIFIC COUNTRIES K.T. Wu Third Wave Publishing Corp. 2nd Fl., No. 19-1, Lane 231 Fu Hsing North Road Taipei 10445, Taiwan R.O.C. Tel: +886 2 7136959 FAX: +886 2 7151950 JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 327 YOUR DIRECT LINK PRODUCT CATEGORY INDEX For FREE product information from individual advertisers, circle the corresponding inquiry numbers on Your Direct Link Card! To receive information for an entire product category, circle the category number on Your Direct Link Card! Category No. Inquiry No. Page No. HARDWARE ACCESSORIES/SUPPLIES AER ENERGY 135 DURACELL 74-75 POLAROID CORP 311 ADD-IN BOARDS ACI /ACQUIRE 311 AMERICAN MEGATRENDS 101 APPRO INTERNATIONAL INC 292NE-4 ATI TECHNOLOGIES INC 235 CHERRY MIKROSCHALTER GMBH (INT'L) 252-253 CHIASHIN 311 COMPEX INC (INT'L) 111 COMPUTER SYSTEM ARCHITECT 31 1 CURTIS INC 186 DEXDYNE 224IS-2 DPT 293 GFK HAMBURG 224IS-4 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH 207 JAMECO ELECTRONICS 213 JDR MICRODEVICES 309 ORCHID TECHNOLOGY 227 PERCEPTIVE SOLUTIONS 68 QUA TECH INC 282 SIGMA DATA 171 STARGATE TECHNOLOGIES 311 SUPERMAC TECHNOLOGY 169 TALKING TECHNOLOGY INC 312 TRUEVISION INC 151 WINTER CORP 316 COMMUNICA TIONS/NETWORKING BAY TECHNICAL ASSOC 48 BULLDOG COMPUTER PRODUCTS 306 CORE INTERNATIONAL 96IS-3 ELONEX (INT'L) 120-12-1 GTEK INC 312 INFINICON 312 MICROTECH COMPUTER 292SO-4 MINICOM LTD 176IS-4 STARGATE TECHNOLOGIES 311 TALKING TECHNOLOGY INC 312 TECHNOLOGIC SYSTEMS 315 ZEUS PHONSTUFF 316 218 217 347 2 371-372 71-72 560 76 405 375-376 406-407 332 237 440 246-247 419 108 115 131-132 139-140 152 158 369-370 170 349 181-182 356 4 77-78 240 410-411 338 384 570-571 428 369-370 349 350-351 358 5 568 265 405 86 207 280-281 441 99-100 284-285 415 433 203 572-573 377 275 113 435-436 340 558 557 260-261 COMPUTER SYSTEMS APPRO INTERNATIONAL INC 292MW-4 ARES MICRO DEVELOPMENT 290-291 CHERRY MIKROSCHALTER GMBH (INT'L) 252-253 COMPUADD EXPRESS (N.A.) 120-121 COMPUDYNE 78-79 COMTRADE 308 CYBERDYNE SYSTEMS 240IS-3 DATALUXCORP 130 DELL COMPUTER CORP (N.A.) CMI DELL COMPUTER CORP (N.A.) CIV DELL COMPUTER CORP (N.A.) 149 DHT 310 DRHUGGLE&PARTNERGMBH 176IS-2 ECG 240IS4 ELONEX (INT'L) 120-121 GATEWAY 2000 CI1.1 GATEWAY 2000 137-144 HANDTOP COMPUTERS LTD 108 HARDLOGIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC 292SO-2 HARPERCOLLINS 316 HEWLETT PACKARD 86-87 HEWLETT PACKARD BELLYBAND HYUNDAI ELECTRONICS AMERICA 40A-H IBM - PS/VALUE POINT DIRECT 276-277 IBM - WORKSTATIONS 30-31 INSIGHT DISTRIBUTION NETWORK 294-295 INT'L NETWORK CONSULTANTS 240IS2 KILA 312 MANCHESTER EQUIPT CO 292A-B MANCHESTER EQUIPT CO 292NE-1 MICRO-INTERNATIONAL, INC 302 Category No. Inquiry No. Page No. 570-571 122 123 565 138 264 255-256 169 177 361 6 342 343 344 292SO-4 131 211 292PC2-3 67 296 286 10-11 112A-B 113 312 96A-H 18-19 8 330-331 10 101 11 405 99-100 197-198 12 77-78 410-411 242-243 412 428 138 156 MICROTECH COMPUTER MICROWAY MICROWAY O-C-T SYSTEMS PC POWER &COOLING RALIN WHOLESALERS RECORTEC INC SUN MICROSYSTEMS TEXAS MICROSYSTEMS TEXAS MICROSYSTEMS TRI VALLEY TECHNOLOGY INC ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS ZEOS INTERNATIONAL DATA ACQUISITION KEITHLEY METRABYTE 312 MICROSTAR LABORATORIES 313 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 317 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 176IDRC1-2 QUA TECH INC 282 DISK & OPTICAL DRIVES 133 101 96IS-3 186 313 288 6-7 123 256 257 313 240A-H 173 313 DISKETTES/DUPUCA TORS AXIOMATIC 313 GRAPHICS TABLETS/MICE/PEN INPUT DIGITAL VISION 98 KEYBOARDS CHERRY MIKROSCHALTER GMBH (INT'L) 66-68 ALPHATRONIX 71-72 AMERICAN MEGATRENDS 410-411 CORE INTERNATIONAL 237 CURTIS INC 380 GENERAL TECHNICS 254 MICRO SOLUTIONS COMP PROD 143-144 PINNACLE MICRO 145 PIONEER COMMUNICATIONS 445-446 QUANTUM CORP (INT'L) 437-438 QUANTUM CORP (INT'L) 352 SIGEN 162 SONY CPPC 163 SONY (N.A.) 360 TRANTOR SYSTEMS LTD 13 63-64 218 69 79-80 441 429-430 335 219-220 221-222 112 260-261 444 135 577 559 382-383 178 569 564 190 14 238 265 259 86 207 241 435-436 115 252-253 DATALUXCORP ' 130 LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL 181 LAN HARDWARE BAY TECHNICAL ASSOC 48 CORE INTERNATIONAL 96IS-3 CYBEXCORP 289 CYBEX CORP (INT'L) Clll MINICOM LTD 176IS-4 PC POWER & COOLING 67 ROSE ELECTRONICS 8 LAPTOPS & NOTEBOOKS ADVANCED LOGIC RESEARCH 17 AER ENERGY 135 ALTIMA SYSTEMS, INC 243 BITWISE DESIGNS INC 164 CYBERDYNE SYSTEMS 240IS-3 FIRST INT'L COMPUTER 176IS-3 GENOVATION, INC 314 GRID SYSTEMS CORP 157 GRID SYSTEMS CORP 158-159 IBM -THINK PAD 82-83 MICRO-INTERNATIONAL, INC 302 OLIVETTI 40IS2-3 OUTBOUND SYSTEMS INC 102 POLYWELL COMPUTERS, INC 292SO-2 POLYWELL COMPUTERS, INC 292NE-2 TOP PC 314 TOSHIBA AMERICA INC 90-91 VORTEX COMPUTERS 292MW-2 VORTEX COMPUTERS 292PC-5 ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS 96A-H ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 18-19 MAIL ORDER ADVANCED COMPUTER PRODUCTS ARES MICRO DEVELOPMENT CITITRONICS COMPUADD EXPRESS (N.A.) COMPUDYNE COMPUTERLANE UNLIMITED INT'L NETWORK CONSULTANTS JAMECO ELECTRONICS 304 290-291 307 120-121 78-79 292 240IS-2 213 Category No. Inquiry No. Page No. 574 KENOSHA COMPUTER CENTER 292SO-1 553 KENOSHA COMPUTER CENTER 292MW-1 567 KENOSHA COMPUTER CENTER 292PC-6 561 KENOSHA COMPUTER CENTER 292NE-5 257 LODE STAR COMPUTER 284-285 250 NEVADA COMPUTER 300 15 MEMORY/CHIPS/UPGRADES 70 ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES 14-15 74-75 AOX 163 259 CITITRONICS 307 248-249 FIRST SOURCE INT'L 305 419 GFK HAMBURG 224IS-4 107 HAUPPAUGE COMP WORKS 65 233 INTEL CORP 94-95 115 JAMECO ELECTRONICS 213 117-118 KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY 201 158 SIGMA DATA 171 368 SMARTMICRO TECHNOLOGIES 313 272 TRANSCEND INFORMATION INC 297 378 USA ELECTRONICS, INC 314 258 WORLDWIDE TECHNOLOGIES 298 16 MISCELLANEOUS HARDWARE 402 B & C MICROSYSTEMS 224IS-2 440 DEXDYNE 224IS-2 433 ECG 240IS-4 114 INTEGRAND RESEARCH 232 162 SONY CPPC 240A-H n MODEMS/MULTIPLEXORS 266-267 AT&T PARADYNE (N.A.) 166 92 COMPUTER FRIENDS 110 413-414 DATATRONICS TECHNOLOGY 176IS-4 * JDR MICRODEVICES 309 422-423 MEGADATA 176IS-1 264 RALIN WHOLESALERS 296 199 SUPRA CORP 230 204-205 ZYXEL USA 237 18 MONITORS & TERMINALS 94-95 CTX INTERNATIONAL INC 216 * ELONEX (INT'L) 120-121 202 ENVISIO 272 125-126 NANAO USA CORP (N.A.) 111 129-130 OPTIQUEST 281 162 SONY CPPC 240A-H 185-186 VIEWSONIC 81 19 MULTIMEDIA 193-194 ADDA 106 234 AITECH 224 442 CPS COMPUTER DISTRIB GMBH 176IS-2 443 CPS COMPUTER DISTRIB GMBH 240IS-3 196 CREATIVE LABS INC 35 94-95 CTX INTERNATIONAL INC 216 374 EMPIRE COMPUTECH 314 271 LAHEY COMPUTER SYSTEMS 254 * MICROSOFT CORP 114-115 175 TEKTRONIX 53 439 VIDEO MAKER/VITEC 40IS-1 20 PRINTERS/PLOTTERS 77-78 BAY TECHNICAL ASSOC 48 239 BUFFALO PRODUCTS 287 240 BULLDOG COMPUTER PRODUCTS 306 200 CASTELLE CORP 212 * HEWLETT PACKARD 21 * HEWLETT PACKARD 36-37 128 NEC - PRINTERS 49 * PACIFIC DATA PRODUCTS 179 264 RALIN WHOLESALERS 296 350-351 TECHNOLOGIC SYSTEMS 315 175 TEKTRONIX 53 176 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 105 21 PROGRAMMABLE HARDWARE 402 B & C MICROSYSTEMS 224IS-2 440 DEXDYNE 224IS-2 339 10 TECH 314 * JDR MICRODEVICES 309 367 METALINK CORP 315 353 TRIANGLE DIGITAL SERVICES 312 328 BYTE- JANUARY 1 993 YOUR DIRECT LINK CARD For free product information, mail your completed card today. For quicker response, fax to 1-413-637-4343! 1 . Circle the Numbers on Your Direct Link Card Circle the numbers which are found on ads and articles in this issue or circle the product category number and receive information on all advertisers listed in that category. 2. Print Your Name and Address Answer questions "A" through "E" and mail or fax card to 1-413-637-4343. 3. Product information will be rushed to you from the selected companies! oducts! BVTE m Fill out this couDon carefully. Please Print. A. What is your primary job D. What operating systems are you function/principal area of currently using? (Check all that apply) responsibility? (Check one) 12 Q PC/MS-DOS 15 3 Unix 13 □ DOS* Windows 16 3 MacOS Name 1 Q MIS/DIP 2 3 Programmer/Syslems Analyst 14 Q OS/2 17 3 VAX/VMS 3 3 Adminslralion/Management E. For how many people do you line 4 3 Sales/Marketing 5 3 Engineer/Scientist intluence the purchase of hardware or software? Company 6 II Olher 18 □ 1-25 20 3 51-99 B. What is your level of manageme responsibility? 7 LI Senior-level 9 Q Professional nt 19 G 26-50 21 Utooormore Address □ Please send me one year ot 8 Q Middle-level BYTE Magazine for S24.95 and City State 7 L\ V C. Are you a reseller (VAR, VAD, Dealer, Consultant)? bill me. Offer valid in U.S. and possessions only. Phone Fax 10 -1 Yes 11 J No JANUARY 1993 \ 86 96 99 \ Product Category Disks & Optical Drives 7 Multimedia 19 Educational 30 Shareware 42 Information Diskettes/Duplicators 8 Printers/Plotters 20 Engineering/Scientific 31 Software Duplication 43 Circle the numbers below for Fax Boards/Machines 9 Programmable Hardware 21 Entertainment 32 Spreadsheets 44 informatior on the entire category Graphics Tablets/Mice/ Scanners/OCR/Digitizers 22 Graphics 33 Unix 45 of products you're interested n. Pen input 10 Tape Drives 23 Macintosh 34 Utilities 46 Hardware Keyboards 11 UPS 24 Mail Order 35 Windows 47 Accessories/Supnlips 1 LAN Hardware 12 software Mathematical/Statistical 36 Word Processing 48 Add-in Boards 2 Laptops & Notebooks 13 Business oc Miscellaneous Software 37 General Bar Coding Communications 3 Mailorder 14 CAD/CAM 26 On-Line Services 38 Books/Publications 49 /Netw irking 4 Memory/Chips/Upgrades 15 communicalions/Networking 27 Operating Systems 39 Recruitment 50 Computer Systems 5 Miscellaneous Hardware 16 Da , a Acquisitjon 2 8 Programming Languages/ Miscellaneous 51 Data Acquisifion 6 Modems/Multiplexors 17 Database 29 Tools 40 Monitors & Terminals 18 Security 41 Inquiry Numbers 52-233 1 inquiry Numbers 409-590 1 1 Inquiry Numbers 766-947 | 1 Inquiry Numbers 1123-1304 - 52 78 104 130 156 182 208 409 435 461 487 513 539 565 766 792 818 844 870 896 922 1123 1149 1175 1201 1227 1253 127S i 53 79 105 131 157 183 209 410 436 462 488 514 540 566 767 793 819 845 871 897 923 1124 1150 1176 1202 1228 1254 1280 i 54 80 106 132 158 184 210 411 437 463 489 515 541 567 768 794 820 846 872 898 924 1125 1151 1177 1203 1229 1255 1281 ■ 55 81 107 133 159 185 211 412 438 464 490 516 542 568 769 795 821 847 873 899 925 1126 1152 1178 1204 1230 1256 1282 i 56 82 108 134 160 186 212 413 439 465 491 517 543 569 770 796 822 848 874 900 926 1127 1153 1179 1205 1231 1257 1283 i 57 83 109 135 161 187 213 414 440 466 492 518 544 570 771 797 823 849 875 901 927 1128 1154 1180 1206 1232 1258 1284 | 58 84 110 136 162 188 214 415 441 467 493 519 545 571 772 798 824 850 876 902 928 1129 1155 1181 1207 1233 1259 1285 i 59 85 111 137 163 189 215 416 442 468 494 520 546 572 773 799 825 851 877 903 929 1130 1156 1182 1208 1234 1260 1286 ■ 60 86 112 138 164 190 216 417 443 469 495 521 547 573 774 800 826 852 878 904 930 1131 1157 1183 1209 1235 1261 1287 i 61 87 113 139 165 191 217 418 444 470 496 522 548 574 775 801 827 853 879 905 931 1132 1158 1184 1210 1236 1262 1268 i 62 88 114 140 166 192 218 419 445 471 497 523 549 575 776 802 828 854 880 906 932 1133 1159 1185 1211 1237 1263 1289 1 63 89 115 141 167 193 219 420 446 472 498 524 550 576 777 803 829 855 881 907 933 1134 1160 1186 1212 1238 1264 1290 i 64 90 116 142 168 194 220 421 447 473 499 525 551 577 778 804 830 856 882 908 934 1135 1161 1187 1213 1239 1265 1291 I 65 91 117 143 169 195 221 422 448 474 500 526 552 578 779 805 831 857 883 909 935 1136 1162 1188 1214 1240 1266 1292 i 66 92 118 144 170 196 222 423 449 475 501 527 553 579 780 806 832 858 884 910 936 1137 1163 1189 1215 1241 1267 1293 i 67 93 119 145 171 197 223 424 450 476 502 528 554 580 781 807 833 859 885 911 937 1138 1164 1190 1216 1242 1268 1294 i 68 94 120 146 172 198 224 425 451 477 503 529 555 581 782 808 834 860 886 912 938 1139 1165 1191 1217 1243 1269 1295 i 69 95 121 147 173 199 225 426 452 478 504 530 556 582 783 809 835 861 887 913 939 1140 1166 1192 1218 1244 1270 1296 ! 70 96 122 148 174 200 226 427 453 479 505 531 557 583 784 810 836 862 888 914 940 1141 1167 1193 1219 1245 1271 1297 1 71 97 123 149 175 201 227 428 454 480 506 532 558 584 785 811 837 863 889 915 941 1142 1168 1194 1220 1246 1272 1298 i 72 98 124 150 176 202 228 429 455 481 507 533 559 585 786 812 838 864 890 916 942 1143 1169 1195 1221 1247 1273 1299 | 73 99 125 151 177 203 229 430 456 482 508 534 560 586 787 813 839 865 891 917 943 1144 1170 1196 1222 1248 1274 1300 i 74 100 126 152 178 204 230 431 457 483 509 535 561 587 788 814 840 866 892 918 944 1145 1171 1197 1223 1249 1275 1301 i 75 101 127 153 179 205 231 432 458 484 510 536 562 588 789 815 841 867 893 919 945 1146 1172 1198 1224 1250 1276 1302 I 76 102 128 154 180 206 232 433 459 485 511 537 563 589 790 816 842 868 894 920 946 1147 1173 1199 1225 1251 1277 1303 77 103 129 155 181 207 233 434 460 486 512 538 564 590 791 817 843 869 895 921 947 1148 1174 1200 1226 1252 1278 1304 1 Inquiry Numbers 591-765 1 1 Inquiry Numbers 946-1122 1 1 Inquiry Numbers 1305-1479 234 259 284 309 334 359 384 591 616 641 666 691 716 741 948 973 998 1023 1048 1073 1098 1305 1330 1355 1380 1405 1430 145 5 I 235 260 285 310 335 360 385 592 617 642 667 692 717 742 949 974 999 1024 1049 1074 1099 1306 1331 1356 1381 1406 1431 1456 • 236 261 286 311 336 361 386 593 618 643 668 693 718 743 950 975 1000 1025 1050 1075 1100 1307 1332 1357 1382 1407 1432 1457 I 237 262 287 312 337 362 387 594 619 644 669 694 719 744 951 976 1001 1026 1051 1076 1101 1308 1333 1358 1383 1408 1433 1458 : 238 263 288 313 338 363 388 595 620 645 670 695 720 745 952 977 1002 1027 1052 1077 1102 1309 1334 1359 1384 1409 1434 1459 : 239 264 289 314 339 364 389 596 621 646 671 696 721 746 953 978 1003 1028 1053 1078 1103 1310 1335 1360 1385 1410 1435 1460 ! 240 265 290 315 340 365 390 597 622 647 672 697 722 747 954 979 1004 1029 1054 1079 1104 1311 1336 1361 1386 1411 1436 1461 ! 241 266 291 316 341 366 391 598 623 648 673 698 723 748 955 980 1005 10X 1055 1080 1105 1312 1337 1362 1387 1412 1437 1462 i 242 267 292 317 342 367 392 599 624 649 674 699 724 749 956 981 1006 1031 1056 1081 1106 1313 1338 1363 1388 1413 1438 1463 I 243 268 293 318 343 368 393 600 625 650 675 700 725 750 957 982 1007 1032 1057 1082 1107 1314 1339 1364 1389 1414 1439 1464 | 244 269 294 319 344 369 394 601 626 651 676 701 726 751 958 983 1008 1033 1058 1083 1108 1315 1340 1365 1390 1415 1440 1465 i 245 270 295 320 345 370 395 602 627 652 677 702 727 752 959 984 1009 1034 1059 1084 1109 1316 1341 1366 1391 1416 1441 1466 ! 246 271 296 321 346 371 396 603 628 653 678 703 728 753 960 985 1010 1035 1060 10B5 1110 1317 1342 1367 1392 1417 1442 1467 i 247 272 297 322 347 372 397 604 629 654 679 704 729 754 961 986 1011 1036 1061 1086 1111 1318 1343 1368 1393 1418 1443 1468 ; 248 273 298 323 348 373 398 605 630 655 680 705 730 755 962 987 1012 1037 1062 1087 1112 1319 1344 1369 1394 1419 1444 1469 | 249 274 299 324 349 374 399 606 631 656 681 706 731 756 963 988 1013 1038 1063 1088 1113 1320 1345 1370 1395 1420 1445 1470 i 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 607 632 657 682 707 732 757 964 989 1014 1039 1064 1089 1114 1321 1346 1371 1396 1421 1446 1471 ■ 251 276 301 326 351 376 401 608 633 658 683 708 733 758 965 990 1015 1040 1065 1090 1115 1322 1347 1372 1397 1422 1447 1472 : 252 277 302 327 352 377 402 609 634 659 684 709 734 759 966 991 1016 1041 1066 1091 1116 1323 1348 1373 1398 1423 1448 1473 1 253 278 303 328 353 378 403 610 635 660 685 710 735 760 967 992 1017 1042 1067 1092 1117 1324 1349 1374 1399 1424 1449 1474 : 254 279 304 329 354 379 404 611 636 661 686 711 736 761 968 993 1018 1043 1068 1093 1118 1325 1350 1375 1400 1425 1450 1475 i 255 280 305 330 355 380 405 612 637 662 687 712 737 762 969 994 1019 1044 1069 1094 1119 1326 1351 1376 1401 1426 1451 1476 1 256 281 306 331 356 381 406 613 638 663 688 713 738 763 970 995 1020 1045 1070 1095 1120 1327 1352 1377 1402 1427 1452 1477 : 257 282 307 332 357 382 407 614 639 664 689 714 739 764 971 996 1021 1046 1071 1096 1121 1328 1353 1378 1403 1428 1453 147B 258 283 308 333 358 383 408 615 640 665 690 715 740 765 972 997 1022 1047 1072 1097 1122 1329 1354 1379 1404 1429 1454 147S YOUR DIRECT LINK CARD For free product information, mail your completed card today. For quicker response, fax to 1-413-637-4343! CO 3 5> c/^ c6^ p_ CD O CD O X > ro o CO I CO CD rv> CD en m 33 < O m ID DO —i c £ t/> CO 2 I— m CO m 33 CO <: 33 o m ~-J ■o ^™ T3 -< Cf> S m > rregni > r™ See reverse side for card. 1 . Circle the Numbers on Your Direct Link Card Circle the numbers which are found on ads and articles in this issue or circle the product category number and receive information on all advertisers listed in that category. 2. Print Your Name and Address Answer questions "A" through "E" and mail or fax card to 1-413-637-4343. 3. Product information will be rushed to you from the selected companies! BVTE m YOUR DIRECT LINK PRODUCT CATEGORY INDEX For FREE product information from individual advertisers, circle the corresponding inquiry numbers on your Direct Link Card! To receive information for an entire product category, circle the category number on your Direct Link Card! Category No. Category No. Category No. Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. 354-355 TRIBAL MICROSYSTEMS 315 32 ENTERTAINMENT 401 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS 176IS-1 357 XELTEK 315 442 CPS COMP DISTRIBUTION GMBH 176IS-2 554 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS 292NE-2 359 Z-WORLD ENGINEERING 315 443 CPS COMP DISTRIBUTION GMBH 240IS-3 216 DALLAS SEMICONDUCTOR 150 22 SCANNERS/OCR/DIGITIZERS 251 MICROPROSE SOFTWARE 299 416 FAST ELECTRONIC GMBH (INT'L) 149 252 MICROPROSE SOFTWARE 301 103-104 GLENCO ENGINEERING 197 570-571 MICROTECH COMPUTER 292SO-4 253 MICROPROSE SOFTWARE 303 154-155 RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES 77 379 WENTEK TECHNOLOGY, INC 316 33 GRAPHICS 160-161 SOFTWARE SECURITY INC 274 23 TAPE DRIVES 93 COREL SOFTWARE SO 43 SOFTWARE DUPLICATION 71-72 AMERICAN MEGATRENDS 101 94-95 CTX INTERNATIONAL INC 216 330-331 AXIOMATIC 313 240 BULLDOG COMPUTER PRODUCTS 306 211-212 ESRI 195 416 FAST ELECTRONIC GMBH (INT'L) 149 84-85 COLORADO MEMORY SYSTEMS 89 109-110 HORIZONS TECHNOLOGY 224A-B 336 GMM RESEARCH CORP 311 121 MICROGRAFX 255 44 SPREADSHEETS 341 LAGUNA DATA SYSTEMS 315 125-126 NANAO USA CORP (N.A.) 111 91 COMPUTER ASSOCIATES 29 363 NOVASTOR CORP 315 175 TEKTRONIX 53 345 OVERLAND DATA INC 316 45 UNIX 348 QUALSTAR CORP 316 34 MACINTOSH * MARK WILLIAMS CO 109 * APPLE COMPUTER INC 176A-D 124 MKS / MORTICE KERN SYSTEMS 267 24 UPS 201 SUNSOFT 2-3 136 MINUTEMAN 99 35 MAIL ORDER • WOLFRAM RESEARCH 191 138 PC POWER COOLING 67 408 COMPUSAVE INT'L (INT'L) 166 409 COMPUTER QUICK 96IS-2 46 UTILITIES SOF 1 " 1 420 GREY MATTER LTD 96IS-4 65 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYS 107 119 PROGRAMMER'S PARADISE 69-71 401 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYS 176IS-1 * PROGRAMMER'S SHOP 214-215 554 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYS 292NE-2 25 BUSINESS 159 S'NW ELECTRONICS 110 334 DIAGSOFT INC 318 206 DELORME MAPPING 186 * SOFTLINE CORP 40IS4 105-106 GLOBALINK INC 176 415 209-210 DR HUGGLE & PARTNER GMBH FUNK SOFTWARE 176IS-2 275 36 MATHEMATICAL/STATISTICAL 171-172 146 LANDMARK RESEARCH INT'L CORP 129 PKWARE INC 52 377 HARPER COLLINS 316 346 164 165-166 173-174 PERSONAL TEX SPSS INC STATSOFT SYSTAT INC WOLFRAM RESEARCH 317 245 273 * POWERCORE 176IDRC1-2 109-110 HORIZONS TECHNOLOGY (N.A.) 224A-B 167 STORAGE DIMENSIONS 183 434 424 137 ITALIAN SOFTWARE AGENCY 224IS-3 OXFORD ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING 96IS-1 PATTON & PATTON 104 103 191 179-180 47 TOUCHSTONE SOFTWARE WINDOWS 236 425 SZKI RECOGNITA CORP 173 37 MISCELLANEOUS SOFTWARE 61-62 ABACUS SOFTWARE 187 353 TRIANGLE DIGITAL SERVICES 312 364 ALLMICRO 318 442 CPS COMP DISTRIB GMBH 176IS-2 443 CPS COMP DISTRIB GMBH 240IS-3 26 CAD/CAM 109-110 HORIZONS TECHNOLOGY (N.A.) 224A-B 211-212 ESRI 195 73 211-212 562-563 AMER SMALL BUSINESS COMP ESRI EVOLUTION COMPUTING 247 195 292PC-1 270 431 168 LINGUISTIC PRODUCTS 168 ON TIME MKT / KARSTEN PETERSEN 96IS-2 STRATEGIC MAPPING 199 420 116 362 GREY MATTER LTD KEA SYSTEMS LTD MICROCAL INC 96IS-4 100 318 555-556 EVOLUTION COMPUTING 292NE-3 38 ON-LINE SERVICES * MICROSOFT CORP 22-27 * MICROSOFT CORP 55-59,6 I ,63 27 417-418 428 COMMUNICATIONS/NETWORKING FUTURESOFT ENGINEERING 176IS-1 MINICOM LTD 176IS-4 450 87 BIX COMPUSERVE COMPUSERVE 279 192A-B 193 125-126 424 141 NANAO USA CORP (N.A.) OXFORD ELECTRONIC PUBL PERSOFT INC 111 96IS-1 162 141 PERSOFT INC 162 39 OPERATING SYSTEMS 191 183-184 SYMANTEC VENTURA SOFTWARE INC 9 170 426 TRITON TECHNOLOGIES 240IS-1 111 IBM - OS/2 44-45 439 VIDEO MAKER / VITEC 40IS-1 427 WALKER, RICHER & QUINN 224IS1 421 LOGIC PROGRAMMING ASSOC 96IS-2 1 88-1 89 XVT SOFTWARE INC 229 358 ZEUS PHONSTUFF 316 150 MARK WILLIAMS CO QNX / QUANTUM SOFTWARE SYS 109 250 192 ZYLAB/ DIVISION OF IDI 106 28 DATA ACQUISITION 151 QUARTERDECK OFFICE SYSTEMS 165 48 WORD PROCESSING/DTP 127 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 263 425 SZKI RECOGNITA CORP 173 • MICROSOFT CORP 93 344 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 317 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 176IDRC1-2 40 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/TOOLS 424 183-184 OXFORD ELECTRONIC PUB VENTURA SOFTWARE INC 96IS-1 170 29 DATABASE 81-82 BINARY TECHNOLOGY INC BORLAND INTERNATIONAL 318 13 192 ZYLAB /DIVISION OF IDI 106 88 COMPUTER ASSOCIATES 220 403-404 BORLAND INTERNATIONAL (INT'L) CIV 89 COMPUTER ASSOCIATES 184 235-236 CASE DESIGN INTERNATIONAL 233 333 COMPUTERWISE 317 90 COMPUTER ASSOCIATES 39 GENE 206 DELORME MAPPING 186 97-98 DATA ACCESS CORP 238 434 ITALIAN SOFTWARE AGENCY 224IS-3 416 FAST ELECTRONIC GMBH (INT'L) 149 153 RAIMA CORP 85 337 GREENLEAF SOFTWARE 318 49 BOOKS/PUBLICATIONS 157 SEQUITER SOFTWARE INC 270 420 GREY MATTER LTD 96IS-4 61-62 ABACUS SOFTWARE 187 168 183-184 STRATEGIC MAPPING VENTURA SOFTWARE INC 199 170 274 578 IBM - CSET/2 ISLAND SYSTEMS (INT'L) 259 292SO-3 377 COMPUTER BOOK CLUB.THE (N.A.) 260A-B HARPERCOLLINS 316 30 61-62 EDUCATIONAL ABACUS SOFTWARE 187 373 421 123 IVERSON SOFTWARE, INC LOGIC PROGRAMMING ASSOC MICROWAY 318 96IS-2 211 JNL OF OBJ ORIENT PROG 176IDRC1-2 MICROSOFT PRESS INC 43 276-277 MICROTAC SOFTWARE 265 431 ON TIME MKT / KARSTEN PETERSEN 96IS-2 133 OSBORNE MCGRAW-HILL 330-33Z 431 ON TIME MKT/ KARSTEN PETERSEN WIS-? 142 PHAR LAP SOFTWARE INC 155 134 OSBORNE MCGRAW-HILL 319 147 POPKIN SAV & SYSTEMS INC 125 * UNIXWORLD 208 31 ENGINEERING/SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMER'S SHOP 214-215 * UNIXWORLD 208A-B 415 DR HUGGLE & PARTNER GMBH 176IS-2 148-149 PROGRESS SOFTWARE 223 51 MISCELLANEOUS 171-172 LANDMARK RESEARCH INT'L CORP 129 425 SZKI RECOGNITA CORP 173 120 MATHSOFT INC 219 187 WATCOM PRODUCTS INC 33 BYTE SUB MESSAGE 226 365-366 SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMING 317 575 DEXPO/ MILLER FREEMAN, INC 292MW-3 168 STRATEGIC MAPPING 199 41 SECURITY 576 DEXPO / MILLER FREEMAN, INC 292NE-6 WOLFRAM RESEARCH 191 65 ALADDIN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS 107 566 PEMCO / UNIFORM SHOW 292PC-4 JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 329 Osborne/McGraw-Hill Computer Books Are Available At These Fine Stores ALABAMA Birmingham, AL Jonathan Benton Bookseller PH: 205-967-8840 FAX: 205-967-9812 Smith & Hardwick Bookstore PH: 205-591-9970 Huntsville, AL University Bookstore PH: 205-895-6600 Madison, AL Madison Books & Computers PH: 205-772-9250 FAX: 205-461-8076 Tuscaloosa, AL University Supply Store PH: 205-348-6126 CALIFORNIA Berkeley, CA Cody's Books PH: 510-845-7852 Whole Earth Access PH: 510-845-3000 Capitola, CA Capitola Book Cafe PH: 408-462-4415 Chino, CA Mr. B's Computer Books PH: 714-464-2777 FAX: 714-464-2779 Citrus Heights, CA Tower Books PH: 916-961-7202 Concord, CA Whole Earth Access PH: 510-686-2270 Cupertino, CA A Clean Well Lighted Place PH: 408-255-7600 Computer Literacy Bookshops PH: 408-973-9955 Stacey's Bookstore PH: 408-253-7521 Davis, CA UCD Bookstore PH: 916-752-2944 FAX: 916-752-4791 Irvine, CA Irvine Sci-Tech Books PH: 800-229-9514 FAX: 714-733-0122 Long Beach, CA Forty-Niner Shops PH: 310-985-5093 FAX: 310-985-1593 Los Angeles, CA OPAMP Technical Books, Inc. PH: 800-468-4322 FAX: 213-464-0977 Technical Book Company PH: 310-475-5711 UCLA Students Store PH: 310-206-0763 Mountain View, CA Printer's Inc. PH: 415-961-8500 Palo Alto, CA Printer's Inc. PH: 415-327-6500 Stacey's Bookstore PH: 415-326-0681 Stanford Bookstore PH: 415-327-3680 Sacramento, CA Whole Earth Electronics PH: 916-489-1000 San Diego, CA San Diego Technical Books, Inc. PH: 800-346-0071 FAX: 619-279-5088 San Francisco, CA Stacey's Bookstore PH: 415-421-4687 Whole Earth Access PH: 415-285-5244 San Jose, CA Computer Literacy Bookshops PH: 408-435-1118 Whole Earth Access PH: 408-554-1500 San Mateo, CA Whole Earth Access PH: 415-578-9200 San Rafael, CA Whole Earth Access PH: 415-459-3533 Santa Barbara, CA Chaucer's Bookstore PH: 805-682-6787 FAX: 805-682-1129 UCSB Bookstore PH: 805-893-2082 Stanford, CA Stanford Bookstore PH: 415-329-1217 Sunnyvale, CA Computer Literacy Bookshops PH: 408-730-9955 COLORADO Boulder, CO' United Techbook Co. 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PH: 303-651-3184 CONNECTICUT New Haven, CT Yale Co-Op PH: 203-772-2200 FAX: 800-354-9253 Stoors, CT U-Conn Co-Op PH: 203-486-3537 DELAWARE Newark, DE McMahon Books PH: 302-366-7575 University of Delaware Book Store PH: 302-831-2637 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington, DC Micro Center PH: 703-204-8409 FAX: 703-204-8408 Olsson's Books PH: 202-338-9544 Reiter's Scientific & Professional Books PH: 202-223-3327 FAX: 202-296-9103 Reprint Book Shop PH: 202-554-5070 FLORIDA Coral Gables, FL Softhouse PH: 305-446-7638 University of Miami Bookstore PH: 305-284-4101 Gainesville, FL University Book & Supply PH: 904-377-1788 University of Florida Bookstores PH: 904-392-0194 Miami, FL Downtown Book Center PH: 305-377-9939 Orlando, FL It's Academic PH: 407-658-4612 Sarasota, FL Paperback Booksmith PH: 813-922-5000 Tampa, FL The Monocle Bookshop PH: 813-879-5728 GEORGIA Atlanta, GA Engineers Bookstore PH: 800-635-5919 FAX: 404-892-5838 Georgia Tech Bookstore PH: 404-894-2515 Oxford Bookstore PH: 404-262-3333 Marietta, GA Micro Center PH: 404-859-1545 FAX: 404-859-1559 HAWAII Honolulu, HI Honolulu Book Shops Ala Moana Shopping Center PH: 808-941-2274 Honolulu Book Shops Bishop & Hotel Street PH: 808-537-6224 University of Hawaii Bookstore PH: 808-956-4338 FAX: 808-956-4338 ILLINOIS Chicago, IL Kroch's & Brentano's PH: 800-833-BOOK FAX: 312-332-6074 KENTUCKY Bowling Green, KY College Heights Bookstore PH: 502-745-5799 Lexington, KY Joseph Beth Booksellers PH: 606-271-5330 FAX: 606-272-6948 Kennedy Bookstore PH: 606-252-0331 Louisville, KY University of Louisville Bookstore PH: 502-588-6679 Morehead, KY Morehead State University Bookstore PH: 606-783-2081 MAINE Orono, ME University of Maine Bookstore PH: 207-581-1700 FAX: 207-866-2836 MARYLAND College Park, MD Maryland Book Exchange PH: 301-927-2510 FAX: 301-209-7118 College Park, MD (cont.) University Book Center PH: 301-454-3222 MASSACHUSETTS Boston, MA Boston University PH: 617-267-8484 FAX: 800-353-5531 Northeastern University Bookstore PH: 617-437-2286 Waterstone's Booksellers PH: 617-859-8030 FAX: 617-859-8038 Burlington, MA Soft Pro PH: 617-273-2919 FAX: 617-273-2499 Cambridge, MA Harvard Coop PH: 617-499-2000 MIT Coop PH: 617-499-3230 FAX: 617-621-0856 Quantum Books PH: 617-494-5042 FAX: 617-577-7282 WordsWorth at Harvard Sguare PH: 617-354-5201 Westborough, MA Open Book PH: 617-366-8448 Worcester, MA Tatnuck Bookseller PH: 508-756-7644 FAX: 508-756-9425 MICHIGAN Ann Arbor, Ml Ulrich's Bookstore PH: 313-662-3201 East Lansing, Ml Jocundry's Books PH: 517-332-0856 Michigan State University Bookstore PH: 517-355-3454 Student Book Store PH: 517-351-4210 Flint, Ml Young & Welshan's PH: 313-732-0620 MINNESOTA Minneapolis, MN Baxter's Books PH: 612-339-4922 FAX: 612-339-4922 MISSISSIPPI Mississippi State, MS MSU Bookstore PH: 601-325-2247 Circle 133 on Inquiry Card. (continued after advertisement on next page) «■ %" ^ ^ ^ ^HL^ f t^ ...Topics of Conversation For Today's Hottest Authors on the Hottest Topics, Choose Osborne Computer Books Dvorak's Guide to PC Telecommunications. Second Edition by John C. Dvorak and Nick Anis Hot Links: A Guide to Linking Computers by Mark Eppley and David Hakala $29.95 Book/Disk ISBN: 0-07-881020-5 Dvorak's Inside Track to DOS & PC Performance by John C. Dvorak and Nick Anis $39.95 Book/Disk ISBN: 0-07-881759-5 File & Disk Management: From Chaos to Control by Alfred Glossbrenner $39.95 Book/Disk ISBN: 0-07-881834-6 Jamsa's 1001 DOS & PC Tips by Kris Jamsa $39.95 Book/Disk ISBN: 0-07-881821-4 Total Recall: The Ultimate Guide to Memory Management by Gary Saxer and Ellen Sanders $19 95 ISBN: 0-07-881835-4 NetWork Know-How: Concepts, Cards, & Cables by Dan Derrick $19.95 ISBN: 0-07-881833-8 Osborne M Get the inside scoop on the best ways to maximize your computer's performance from Osborne's top authors. You'll find practical, real-world discussions in these books along with exclusive tips and insights. PLUS, in the book/disk packages, you'll also find software that is new and unavailable elsewhere. AVAILABLE NOW AT YOUR LOCAL BOOK AND COMPUTER STORES. Copyright © 1993 McGraw-Hill, Inc. Circle 133 on Inquiry Card. JANUARY 1993 • BYTE 331 °©i (see advertisement on previous page) MISSOURI St. Louis, MO Software Plus PH: 314-434-3311 FAX: 314-434-0524 Washington University Bookstore PH: 314-935-5696 NEBRASKA Lincoln, NE Nebraska Bookstore PH: 402-476-0111 FAX: 402-476-01 11 NEW HAMPSHIRE Hanover, NH Dartmouth Bookstore PH: 800-462-9009 (NH only) 800-624-8800 (USA) NEW JERSEY Hightstown, NJ McGraw-Hill Book Store PH: 609-426-5750 FAX: 212-512-4105 Newark, NJ Newark Book Center PH: 201-642-7956 New Brunswick, NJ Rutgers University Book Store PH: 908-246-8448 Princeton, NJ Princeton University Store PH: 609-921-8500 FAX: 609-924-9651 NEW MEXICO Albuquerque, NM Page One PH: 505-294-2026 NEW YORK Buffalo, NY SUNY Buffalo PH: 716-636-3131 Ithaca, NY Cornell Campus Store PH: 607-255-2934 Triangle Book Store PH: 607-272-7111 New York, NY Classic Book Store PH: 212-466-0668 Coliseum Book Store PH: 212-581-5352 McGraw-Hill Book Store PH: 212-512-4100 FAX: 212-512-4105 New York University Book Center PH: 212-998-4666 Papyrus Books PH: 212-222-3350 Rockwell Computer & Software PH: 212-949-6935 FAX: 212-949-1252 Niagara Falls, NY Book Corner PH: 716-285-2928 Rochester, NY Campus Connections Bookstore PH: 716-475-2501 Maplewood Books PH: 716-254-0621 World Wide News PH: 716-546-7140 NORTH CAROLINA Chapel Hill, NC Bull's Head Bookshop PH: 919-962-2420 Intimate Bookshop PH: 919-929-0414 FAX: 919-967-2107 Charlotte, NC Intimate Bookshop, Southpark Mall PH: 704-366-6400 FAX: 704-362-1200 Intimate Bookshop, University Place PH: 704-547-7400 FAX: 704-547-1107 Little Professor Book Center PH: 704-527-0706 Durham, NC Duke University — Gothic Bookshop PH: 919-684-3986 Greenville, NC East Carolina University Student Stores PH: 919-757-6731 Raleigh, NC North Carolina State Univ. Bookstores PH: 919-515-3573 Winston-Salem, NC Intimate Bookshop PH: 919-768-6400 FAX: 919-768-3127 OHIO Beachwood, OH Booksellers PH: 216-831-5035 Chagrin Falls, OH The Inside Story Book Shop PH: 216-543-8168 Cincinnati. OH Univ. of Cincinnati Bookstore PH: 513-556-1700 Cleveland, OH Case Western Reserve Univ. Bookstore PH: 216-368-2650 Columbus, OH Long's College Bookstore PH: 614-294-4674 Micro Center PH: 614-481-4407 FAX: 614-481-5463 The Ohio State University Bookstore PH: 614-292-2991 FAX: 614-292-8983 Dayton, OH Books 8 Co. PH: 513-297-6358 800-777-4881 FAX: 513-298-7895 Wilkies PH: 513-223-2541 Wilkies South PH: 513-434-8821 Fairborn, OH Wilkies PH: 513-429-1677 Wright State University Bookstore PH: 513-873-2875 Holland, OH Little Professor Bookstore PH: 419-865-0013 Kent, OH Kent State Univ. Bookstore PH: 216-672-2762 Mayfield Heights, OH Micro Center PH: 216-449-7009 FAX: 216-449-7008 Rocky River, OH Booksellers PH: 216-333-7828 Sharonville, OH Micro Center PH: 513-782-8509 FAX: 513-782-8508 Toledo, OH Leo's Bookstore PH: 419-255-5506 OREGON Portland, OR Powell's Technical Books PH: 503-222-3906 PENNSYLVANIA Altoona, PA The Bookstore, Inc. PH: 814-943-1984 Burnham, PA The Bookstore, Inc. PH: 717-248-2000 Chambersburg, PA README.DOC PH: 800-678-1473 FAX: 717-264-8614 Everette, PA The Bookstore, Inc. PH: 814-623-2000 Huntingdon, PA The Bookstore, Inc. PH: 814-643-0924 King of Prussia, PA Gene's Books PH: 215-265-6210 Philadelphia, PA Drexel University Bookstore PH: 215-895-2861 How-To-Do-lt Bookshop PH: 215-563-1516 Quantum Books PH: 215-222-0611 FAX: 215-222-3148 University of Pennsylvania Bookstore PH: 215-898-7520 Pittsburgh, PA Univ. of Pittsburgh Bookstore PH: 412-648-1453 West Chester, PA Chester County Book Co. PH: 215-696-1661 RHODE ISLAND Providence, Rl Brown University Bookstore PH: 401-863-3168 SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia, SC South Carolina Book Store, Inc. PH: 803-799-7188 FAX: 803-799-5521 TENNESSEE Knoxville, TN Campus Bookstore PH: 615-525-7336 University Book & Supply Store PH: 615-974-3361 Nashville, TN Tower Books PH: 615-327-8085 VIRGINIA Blacksburg, VA Virginia Tech Campus Bookstore PH: 703-231-5991 FAX: 703-231-7786 Richmond, VA Book Gallery PH: 804-673-9613 WASHINGTON Bellevue, WA Tower Books PH: 206-451-1110 Seattle, WA University Bookstore PH: 206-634-3400 WISCONSIN Milwaukee, Wl Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop PH: 800-236-7323 FAX: 414-274-6408 Circle 1 33 on Inquiry Card. For more information on any of the companies covered in articles, columns, or news stories in this issue, circle the appropriate inquiry number on Your Direct Link Card. Each page number refers to the first page of the article or section in which the company name appears. Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. A Dragon Systems 152 M s 1060 Acer America 116 1308 DSP Development 92 1290 Madge Networks 80 1313 S&S International 96 981 Acius 188 E Magma Software Systems 20 1168 Safari Systems 97 1228 Actix Systems 202 978 Maplnfo 188 Samsung 251 1315 Addstor 96 1224, Eastman Kodak 116,241 1284 Maple Systems 76 Science Accessories 251 1061 Adobe Systems 116 1361 984 Maptech 188 Sciptel 251 1288 Advanced Gravis Computer 76 1304 Eclipse Software 88 1385 MathSoft 116 1181 Shapeware 60 Technology 1146 EJ Bilingual 177,185 Matrox Electronic Systems 231 Sharp 60 1309 ADW Software B.V.B.A. 92 1362 Electronic Publishing 1 1 6 Mavipak 241 1406 Shiva 116 Aladdin Systems 248 EliteGroup Computer Systems 32 1273 Maxum Systems 72 1156 Siemens Nixdorf Internationa 152, Alpha Software 32 976 Environmental Systems 188 1312 Mentalix 96 Systems 167,185 Alpnet 152 Research Institute MicroFocus 261 1239 Sigma Designs 202 AMD 12 1182, Envisio 60,116 1386 Micrografx 116 1407 Silicon Graphics 116 AMTA 152 1363 1165 Micro Logic 97 SkiSoft Publishing 278 Antler Translation Services 152 EO 12 1162 MicroProse Software 97 1408 Slate 116 1062 Aox 116 1176, Epson America 60, 116 1302, Microsoft 12,32,41,46, 1157 Smart Communications 152 177,185 1063 Apple Computer 12,20 32, 116, 1364 1387 88,97,116, 271,278 1160 Socatra 177,185 145,152,188, 248, 271 Ergo Systems 41 Micro Solutions Computer 278 985 Softkey Software Products 188 1064 Approach Software 116 1365 Ericsson GE Mobile 116 Products Florida Arthur Dent Associates 251 Communications 1149 MicroTac Software 177, 185 Software Publishing 271 1065 Artisoft 116 Ever-Success Computer 41 MicroTouch 251 1225 Sony Corp. of America 241 1229 Artist Graphics 202 Executive Communication 152 Mitsubishi 167 1409 S3 116 1066 AST Research 97,116 Systems 1297 Mortice Kern Systems 84, 278 979 Strategic Mapping 188 1275 Astrix Computer 72 F Motorola 32, 248 986 Summagraphics 188,251 AT&T 12,97 1291 Mustang Software 80 Sun Microsystems 152 1131 AT&T Graphics Software Labs 231 1366 Fast Electronic U.S. 116 1282 Sunnyside Systems 76 1230 ATI Technologies 60, 202 1151 FinalSoft 185 N 1410 SuperMac Technology 116 ATR Laboratories 152 1163 Firefly Software Systems 97 1177 Nanao 60 1411 Symantec 116 1067 Autodesk 116,231 1367 Frame Technology 116 1236 National Design 202 The Symmetry Group 278 982 Automap 188 1272 Franklin Electronic Publishers 72 1388 NCR 116,251 1169 Systat 97 1368 Franklin Quest 116 NEC 32, 152,251 1158 Systran Translation Systems 152, B 1296 Franz 84 1389 NEC Technologies 116 167 177,185 1307 BBN Systems & Technologies 92 Fujitsu Laboratories 152 1305 NextBase 88 1283 Berkshire Products 76 1369 Fujitsu Personal Systems 116 Nikkei Business Publications 32 T 1271 Bitwise Designs 72 G 1390 Now Software 116 980 Tactics International 188 1068 BKS Software 116 1412 Tektronix 116 1223 Blue Sky Software 225 1370 GammaLink 116 1310 TeraNet I A 92 Bondwell 41 1371 Gateway 2000 116 1391 Okidata 116 Texas Instruments 202, 248 1069, Borland International 54, 97, 1278 GCC Technologies 73 1392 Olivetti Advanced Technology 116 1150 Toltran 177,185 1161, 116, 225, 261 General Motors 152 1393 Olivetti Italy 116 1172, Toshiba America Information 46, 1175 977 GeoQuery 188 1237 Omnicomp Graphics 202 1413 Systems 116,167 1293 GigaTrend 80 1311 OrCAD 92 1353 Toshiba Japan 116 c 1147 Globalink 177,185 1238 Orchid Technology 60, 202 1159 Tovna Machines 177,185 Caere 60 1372 Global Village 116 Traveling Software 97 Calcomp 251 Go Corp. 251 P 1183 Trio Information Systems 60 1070 Canon USA 116,241 Graphics Technology 251 Pacific Bell 32 1240 Truevision 202, 241 1231 Cardinal Technologies 202 1373 Grid Systems 116,251 Pacific Microelectronics 278 987 TTG 188 1222 Caseworks 225 1374 Gryphon Software 116 Pan American Health 152 Tulip Computers 32 1152 Catena 177, 185 Gupta Technologies 271 Organization 1414 TWAIN 116 1232 Celerite Graphics 202 H 1274 Panasonic Communications & 72 1281 Chinon America 73 Systems u Chips & Technologies 41,60 1178 Hercules Computer Technology 60 1394 Pen Magic Software 116 1415 U-Lead Systems 116 CIM Systems 41 1277, Hewlett-Packard 41,60,73, 1395 Pen Soft 116 1174 Univel 51 1071 Claris 116 1375, 116,248 Personal Library Software 217 1416 Unix Systems Laboratories 116 1279 Colorado Memory Systems 73 1376 1221, Philips Consumer 116,217 1354 UserLand Software 116 1132 Commodore Business Machines 239 Hitachi 251 1397 Electronics 1417 USRobotics 116 1072, Compaq Computer 32, 46, 60, 116 1 Phoenix Systems 32 1173 1396 Pi Systems 116 V 1166 Comptons New Media 97 IAMT 152 Pioneer Software 271 1298 Verilog 84 CompuServe 152 1378 IBM 12,32,97,116, 1398, Primax Electronics 116 1418 Video Electronics Standards 116 Computer Associates 261 167,248,261 1399 Association 1073 Connectix 116 Insignia Solutions 177 Primus Technology 202 1241 Video Seven 202 1074 Corel Systems 116 1379 Intel 12,32,46,116 Programmers' Paradise 278 1167 Course Technology 97 1154 Intergraph 177,185 The Programmer's Shop 278 w 1356 Cyrix 12,116 1380 Intuit 116 1227 Promised Land Technologies 221 Wacom 251 D J 1400 Proxim 116 Wang 251 Weitek 202 1287 DAK Industries 76 1381 JetFax 116 Q 1179, Western Digital 60, 202 Dan Technology 32 Juko Electronics 41 1401 QMX 116 1242 1357 Datastorm Technologies 116 K 1402 Quark 116 1153 Winger A/S 185 Dataware Technologies 217 1403 Quarterdeck Office Systems 116 1300 The WNDX 84 Dauphin 251 1235 Kingston Technology 202 1355 Wolfram Research 116 1360 DEC 41,116 145,248 Kurta 251 R 1358 Dell Computer 116 1382 Kyocera Electronics 97, 1 1 6 1404 Radius 116 X 983 DeLorme Mapping 188 1316 Rebus Technology 96 Xerox 12 1180 Delrina Technology 60 L Retrieval Technologies 217 1303 XSoft 88 1359 DeScribe 116 1285 Lapis Technologies 76 1306 Richmond Technologies & 88 1419 XVT Software 116 1233 DFI 202 1286 Laser Printer Accessories 76 Software 1289 Xyplex 80 1234 Diamond Computer Systems 202 1148 Linguistic Products 177,185 1405 Rock Ridge Enterprises 116 Xyquest 278 1276 Digibotics 73 1164 Logitech 97,241,251 1299 Digitalk 84, 261 1155 Logos 152,167,177,185 z 1280 Digital Vision 73 1294, Lotus Development 32,80,116 1420 Zenith Data Systems 116 1352 D-Link Systems 116 1383, 1384 1314 1170 Zenographics Zero Surge 96 97 JANUARY 1993 -BYTE 333 ROGER E B E R T STOP BIT Cinema by Computer Computerized special effects have taken over and have taken something away from today's movies They included a TV commercial in the Telluride Film Festival this year. It showed a jogger in his name-brand sports shoes jogging on a steel beam at the top of a high-rise skeleton. He ran full tilt toward one of the corners. There was a vertigi- nous drop beneath him. He pivoted and jogged along an- other beam. He ducked under a cable and leaped from one beam to another. There wasn't any net. The festival intended this commercial as a harbinger of things to come. The entire spot was created through comput- er animation — runner, build- ing, shoes, the sky above, the ground below. The eerie thing was, you couldn't tell that it was created on a disk. The vi- suals looked completely au- thentic. When we were told the truth, I felt a little like Harrison Ford when he discovers that Rachel Ward is a fabricant. The day is not far away when entire theatrical films can be created with computers. It's already possible to gen- erate people, rooms, and landscapes out of reality-based visuals, so that the casual eye thinks it's looking at an event in the real world. I'm sure the wizards at Industri- al Light and Magic are already far along the road toward fabricating a "live-action" movie out of thin air. You've probably seen that TV commercial where Humphrey Bogart, the real Bogart, mixes with modern actors. What can be done for 30 seconds can be done for 90 minutes. All the attributes of Bogart — how he looks, how he moves — could be fed into a program that could then costar "Bogart" in a new movie. The other actors would relate to him much as Bob Hoskins related to Jes- sica Rabbit, or as Arnold Schwarzenegger related to the liquid-metal villain in Terminator II. Maybe there wouldn't be any real actors at all; it might be easier to make everything up — all the actors and all the locations. Is this a good idea? Is there such a thing as special ef- fects becoming too realistic? Steven Spielberg's new Jurassic Park will no doubt present us with prehistoric creatures that look completely real. They'll move through three dimensions, fit comfortably into the landscape, and be, to all purposes, real dinosaurs. But the other night I was looking at the Lumivision laserdisc of a silent classic named The Lost World, based on the Conan Doyle novel. Miniatures, models, and stop- action animation are used to create the prehistoric crea- tures, and the effects are obviously artificial. As a viewer, I was looking at special effects, not living creatures, and I knew it; that was the fun, as it is in a Ray Harryhausen movie when a winged horse takes flight. The entertain- ment resides in the artifice itself. Seeing King Kong for the first time as a kid, I sensed instinctively that trickery was being used. The big go- rilla was real enough to scare me, and yet there was some- thing in the jerkiness of his movements, the way that the camera was obviously choosing to see one thing and not another, that created a special reality having nothing to do with real gorillas. These days, I'm sure, computers could create a Kong and a Fay Wray, make them equally convincing, view them in three dimensions and from any angle with a mov- ing camera, and place them in a real jungle. Would the re- sult be a better movie? I don't know. If the audience is vi- sually convinced that a real woman is being threatened by a real three-story-high monster, does that diminish the movie's dream level? King Kong is about fantasies and nightmares, not about things that can really happen. If the movies make them really happen, do they become more compelling — or less? There is an imperfection in real life that is part of its na- ture. There are hesitations and subtle clues in human be- havior and speech that probably cannot be duplicated by computers, no matter how closely they mimic Bogart's lisp or Kong's roar. There is a chemistry in Cary Grant kissing Ingrid Bergman in Notorious that transcends the simple visual representation of the act. And when the lovers part, there is something in their eyes that it would be difficult to program. If computers take over special effects — replacing mod- els, miniatures, back-projection, optical printers, double exposures, split screens, matte drawings, and all the other tricks of the trade — I have no doubt the effects will look more real. But will I enjoy them more? I'm not sure. Something subtle and wonderful— the willing suspen- sion of disbelief — will have been lost. The director will no longer ask us to pretend. He or she will expect us to be- lieve. But when there is nothing to disbelieve, there is nothing to believe. Simply cold perfection. ■ Roger Ebert is a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, cohost of the Siskel & Ebert TV program, and author of the 1993 Movie Home Companion (Andrews & McMeel), available in print or electronic formats. His reviews are on-line on CompuSer\>e (GO EBERT), and you can reach him in his section of CIS 's ShowBiz Forum. 334 BYTE • JANUARY 1993 ILLUSTRATION: ROGER BOEHMS1993 NOW THAT WE'RE SO FAR AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION, WE CAN AFFORD TO RELAX A BIT. i* 1.DEU- »- ra 2. APPLE 8>«» 3. IBM a0 " 4. COMPAQ BMI 1.DEU. ' am ' 2. IBM <"• I 3. APPLE F.ra 4. COMPAQ ("<> 1.DELL d" 2 ' 2. COMPAQ s*a 3. APPLE MS 4. IBM f 1.DELI 2. COMPAQ f> K i 3. APPLE (W» 4. IBM i tgjnADWKTrjL— -- * 1.DEU W 2. APPLE i'« I 3. COMPAQ ('« I 4. IBM * s " 1.DELL M> 2. COMPAQ *■« 3. APPLE t»«l 4. IBM l796) 1 i,0EU «>- 3, > 1 2. APPLE »■<« I 3. COMPAQ pot 1 4. IBM C^ 1.0EU. m 2. COMPAQ IMS 3. APPLE t»- 14 ' 4. BM C- 89 Survey iwis mjepencfemfy concli(cr^l by Reliability Ratings, Inc., a subscriber-based research jinn that does business with most of the FORTUNE 500. D0LL 800-3654240 WHEN CALLING, PLEASE REFERENCE #1 1E88. HOURS: 7AM-9PM CT MON-FRI, 8AM-4PM CT SAT, 10AM-3PM CT SUN. IN CANADA, CALL 800-668-3021 . IN MEXICO CITY, 228-78 11 . THE NEW DELL 425s/L i486 SX 25 MHz SYSTEM $1,749 • LEASE: $65/MO. • 4 MB RAM • 120 MB (17 ms) HARD DRIVE • 3 ISA EXPANSION SLOTS • UPGRADEABLE PROCESSOR • ACCELERATED LOCAL BUS VIDEO WITH 1 MB VIDEO RAM (UP TO 15 MILLION WINMARKSI • VGA 10241 MONITOR (14; 1024X768, .28mm| Up to 65% quicker maintenance. It's easy to get into this computer. Just loosen a couple thumbscrews for easy access to the modular chassis. Up to 2.6 times the video performance. With our new accelerated local bus video revving up your screen, who needs a VCR? Guaranteed compatibility. We get along with anyone. Our computers are network- compatible with Novell, Banyan, and UNIX' 8 systems. And we're the only company with a written compatibility guarantee. THE NEW DELL 433/M i486 DX 33 MHz SYSTEM $2,499 • LEASE: $92/MO. ■ 4 MB RAM • 170 MB (17 ms) HARD DRIVE • 128 KB EXTERNAL CACHE • 6 ISA EXPANSION SLOTS • UPGRADEABLE PROCESSOR • ACCELERATED LOCAL BUS VIDEO WITH 1 MB VIDEO RAM (UP TO 20 MILLION WINMARKS) • VGA 10241 MONITOR (14;' 1024X768, ,28mm] Up to 178% faster video. Faster PageMaker redraws and lightning-quick Windows™ repaints. Speed freaks, rejoice. Greater upgradeability. You can upgrade all the way to the top 486, the 66 MHz DX2. You'll even be able to add the Pentium microprocessor from Intel. Up to 29% more system performance. With our new optimized cache as an option, you can give your system a boost whenever you want. THE NEW DELL 450/ME i486 DX2 50 MHz SYSTEM $2,999 • LEASE: $1 11 /MO. • 4 MB RAM • 170 MB (17 ms) HARD DRIVE • 4 EISA EXPANSION SLOTS • 2 ISA EXPANSION SLOTS • UPGRADEABLE PROCESSOR • ACCELERATED LOCAL BUS VIDEO WITH 1 MB VIDEO RAM (UP TO 25 MILLION WINMARKS) • ULTRASCAN 1 4C MONITOR (14; 1024X768, .28mm, Nl) Up to four times faster data transfer than ISA. You get a 32-bit EISA expansion bus that transfers data at up to 33 megabytes a second. To understand what it does for your computer, drink about eight million cups of coffee. Guaranteed accountability. We're the only computer company to guarantee - in writing -compatibility, fast response to your questions, and quick service. Two-thirds of the FORTUNE 500 companies rely on us. So should you. More upgradeability. It's easy to upgrade all the way to the top 486, die 66 MHz DX2. If you're still power hungry, you'll even be able to add the next generation from Intel — the Pentium microprocessor. THE NEW DELL 466/T i486 DX2 66 MHz SYSTEM $3,399 • LEASE: $126/MO. • 4 MB RAM • 230 MB (16 ms) HARD DRIVE • 128 KB EXTERNAL CACHE • 8 ISA EXPANSION SLOTS • UPGRADEABLE PROCESSOR • ACCELERATED LOCAL BUS VIDEO WITH 1 MB VIDEO RAM (UP TO 29 MILLION WINMARKS) • ULTRASCAN 15FS MONITOR (15; 1024X768, .28mm, Nl) V Up to 50% faster system performance. Good thing you don't have to worry abotit the highway patrol. Up to 86% more disk capacity. Our floor-standing model has a disk capacity of up to three gigabytes. Makes the Astrodome seem positively cramped. $3,399 The low prices we're famous for. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Even with tons of extra features, our new systems still give you the great value you expect from Dell. All of the above systems include one floppy drive ( 3.5" or 5.25"), MS-DOS 5.0 and one-year on-site service/ Each system is custom-built With 18 different models in our new i486 line — - covering 25 MHz, 33 MHz, 50 MHz, and 66 Ml I: — you am configure just the system you need. In fact, with our complete line ot storage, memory, graphics and connectivity products, we can build over 15,000 different configurations. 1A. The ihtui is quoted from a 40-£«ge report available for purchase through Reliability Ratings (fiJ 7) 444-5755. Reliability Ratings, the research company, is not affiliated with Dell Computer mat Scries systems purchased after 7/1/92. For u complete copy, please cull our TeehFax"' line at 1-800-950- 1 329 or write Dell USA L.P., 9505 Arboretum Blvd., Austin TX 78759-7299. vice provided by BancTec Service Ctffptmukm. On-site service may not he available in certain remote areas. WINMARKS mm results ohmmed hy miming WINBENCH vet. 2.5 ai 1024x768. i486, Pentium and i trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of I ! NIX System Labtrratories , Inc. in the (. bated Suites and other countries. FORTUNE 5CC is a registered •st m the marks and names of others. ©1992 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. AW HELL, LET'S RUN UP THE SCORE. Survey was independently conducted by Reliability Ratings, Ncedham, ' Carlmratian unti does nut endorse its products. ^guarantees available in USA only for registered owner* of Dell Perfortj Attention Qitamntees. OLeasing eirranjjud by Leasing C Enrnp. Inc. &£ hi-sm s [/w Ink'/ frisitk f»#J -nv tttidtfiWts of hud Otrjurraium, WS-1K IS r's b t^*sil- midcmarJi of "Hit 1 Time fnc. Ma^ayju'Comjiajn. f ^trW disclaims pm|wt«n rah WITH SO MUCH ADDED POWER, IT'S LIKE A SOUPED-UP ITALIAN SPORTS CAR. WITHOUT THE STICKER SHOCK. £\SASV^ D0LL 800-3654460 WHEN CALLING, PLEASE REFERENCE #1 1 EA3. HOURS: 7AM-9PM CT MON-FRI, 8AM-4PM CT SAT, 10AM-3PM CT SUN. IN CANADA, CALL 800-668-3021. IN MEXICO CITY, 228-781 1, Guaranteed accountability on Performance Series systems. We're the only company in the industry to guarantee— in writing- compatibility, fast response to your questions, and quick service? It's a big reason why hundreds of thousands of customers already rely on us. And why we became a FORTUNE 500" company in just seven short years. Up to 115% faster video. Our new computer comes with accelerated local bus video, and performs at up to 33 million WINMARKS on the 66 MHz system. Good news for speed freaks. THE NEW DELL 450/ME i486" DX2 50 MHz SYSTEM $2,999 I" ltd in 5*> • LEASE 8 : $111 /MO. • 4 MB RAM • 170 MB [17ms] HARD DRIVE • UPGRADEABLE PROCESSOR • 4 EISA EXPANSION SLOTS • 2 ISA EXPANSION SLOTS • ACCELERATED LOCAL BUS VIDEO WITH 1 MB VIDEO RAM [UP TO 25 MILLION WINMARKS] • ULTRASCAN" 14C MONITOR [14", 1024X768,. 28mm, Nl) • ONE FLOPPY DRIVE [3.5" OR 5.25"] • MS-DOS' 5.0 ALSO AVAILABLE IN 25 MHz AND 33 MHz i486 SX, 33 MHz i486 DX AND 66 MHz i486 DX2 AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER CONFIGURAllONS. Up to four times faster data transfer than ISA. You get a 32-bit EISA expansion bus that transfers data at up to 33 megabytes a second. It's kind of like a high-tech jalapefto. Greater upgradeability You can upgrade all rhe way to tht top 486, the 66 MHz DX2. After that you'll be able to add rhe Pentium" microprocessor — rhe next generation from Intel. That ought to satisfy even the most power hungry. L^^T^L