PRINTERS: OUR TE3T3 REVEAL THE BEST 1MB NC5V EMBER 1993 New Tools for Building SQL Database Front Ends Excel 5.0: First Impressions Graphics Technology for 3-D, Video, User Interfaces THE WORLDWIDE COMPUTING AUTHORITY Windows vs. OS/2 Windows, OS/2, or NT: How to pick the best operating system for you. v ■ d=rWI]:4T?TT • NT or OS/2: Which one's best for Windows applications? page 65 • OS/2 2 B 1: A User's Perspective paged? • Compiler Techco'ogy page 35 • Networking with Windows and OS/2 440235 PAGE 117 $3.50 U.S.A./S4.50 IN CANADA A McGraw-Hill Publication/0360-5280 [*r fXTREME m& . j* & j Cl! ■■ ^^^Pfc** GET THE HOTTEST COMPUTERS GATEWAY 2000 GOES TO EXTREMES! You never get middle-of-the-road per- formance or value from Gateway! We've always had a reputation for going to extremes to be the best at giving you the highest performance and the latest- technology PCs, at the biggest value. We try to think of everything we do in superlatives. Just see what this means for you. HIGHEST PERFORMANCE, LOWEST PRICES Now you can get the ultimate, pinnacle- of-performance Pentium system from Gateway! Our new P5-60 is based on Intel's® Pentium 1 " processor, the absolute maximum PC performer available today, at a typical Gateway how-low-can-they-go price of under $4,000! And we haven't faltered on features to give you this incredible price. The P5-60 is loaded, including the new ATI™ Ultra XLR 2MB video card on a screaming PCI bus, 528MB hard drive, 16MB RAM, 2X CD-ROM drive (300KB/ second DTR), 1 7-inch color monitor, new tower case, added expandability, and all the extras that come with every Gateway PC. Budget-conscious buyers can get the exceptional performance of the Gateway P5- 60 at a great savings with our Best Buy system — a remarkable value at $2,995! This fully configured PC combines Pentium- based power and performance for your future at an affordable price. Check it out! MOST BANG FOR THE FEWEST BUCKS You get equally extreme values on our line of feature- and power-packed VESA local bus 486 systems with their large- capacity hard drives and outstanding video performance, now standard in our new, smaller but more expandable case. The Baby AT case measures 1 6.9-inches wide, 6.6-inches high and 16.8-inches deep, with four external and three internal expansion bays. Two VESA slots give you upgradeability to tomorrow's totally cool graphics and disk controller technology, and five ISA slots are compatible with 16- bit technologies. All DX2 VESA systems come with a CD-ROM drive, giving you access to new applications, databases and entertainment programs. T H E COOLEST PRICES BIGGEST VALUE ON OUR SMALLEST DESKTOPS We've elevated value to enormous levels on our new mini desktop systems, but we're still giving you pint-sized prices. Our new integrated local bus video provides up to twice the video performance found in our previous mini desktop systems. With up to 1MB video DRAM, you get 1024 x 768 resolution and an array of colors. All this on our 14-inch CrystalScan non-interlaced, .28mm dot pitch color monitor. You won't have any growing pains with Gateway's new integrated mini desktop cases, either. They're small, but more flexible and expandable than ever. They come with two 3.5-inch drive bays, and two 5.25-inch drive bays so you can add a tape backup, CD- ROM drive or another floppy drive. Of course, all Gateway mini desktop PCs are upgradeable to Pentium technology. STRONGEST SERVICE FOR YOUR WEAKEST MOMENTS We're committed to bending over backward to please our customers. Gateway employees understand that there may be a time when your computer makes you feel a little weak in the knees. Never fear — our Midwestern people know the importance of a friendly voice and a helpful attitude on the other end of the phone. And they know you want the best in service. That's what you'll get with our support departments. HOTTEST SOFTWARE, COOLEST PERIPHERALS Multimedia Upgrade Kit Everything you need to add multimedia to your PC is included in our specially priced multimedia upgrade kit. You get: Sound Blaster™ 16 Sound Card with Advanced Signal Processing — Simply the best sound card available! This 16-bit PC audio card offers CD-quality sound. Yamaha® FM music synthesizer, MPU-401 MIDI interface, r4 joystick connector, built-in " CD-ROM interface, and ^ more. You also get ^ two Labtec® A^ speakers that ^U attach to your PC monitor. Double-Speed CD-ROM Drive — Kit comes with a high-performance double- speed CD-ROM drive. You also get our free system CD with Microsoft Multimedia Pack™ and more! Kit Price: $395 (with system purchase) Altec Lansing Speakers ACS-300 with Subwoofer — Get superior stereo sound with these top-rated speakers. $219 (with system purchase) Check out the extensive list of application software included with many of our systems. If the system you want comes with MS Works for Windows, you can upgrade to a choice of application software for only $100. Call and ask about our full line of peripherals — and our new Gateway DuoLine MasterCard®Card. For an application, call 800- 846-1781. GET A GATEWAY AND.. GET EXTREME! At Gateway, we strive to be extremists when it comes to bringing you the highest- performance PCs, with the most features, at the lowest prices, with the strongest after- the-sale support, for the greatest value in the PC industry. Get a Gateway and ... get extreme! Call your Gateway 2000 sales representative today! G & t* Si al" -. '""■ ,,, " t,,,,,, " , "»»"«fiiAiimumii 1 WWII! in ' ' i ' // / / // H - IIIW GATEWAY 2000' S COOLEST PCs 4SX-33 InteP25MHz 486SX Processor 4MB RAM ■ 3.5" Diskette Drive 212MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Intel Pentium™ Technology Ready Local Bus Graphics Accelerator w/ 512KB DRAM 14" Color CrystalScan® 1024NI New Mini Desktop Case ■ 5 16-Bit ISA Slots ■ 101-Key Keyboard Microsoft® Mouse MS-DOS,®Windows™& Tools MS Works for Windows™ 2.0 ■ EPA Energy Star Compliant $1295 4SX-25 $1275 4DX-33 Intel 33MHz 486DX Processor 4MB RAM ■ 3.5" Diskette Drive 212MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Intel Pentium Technology Ready Local Bus Graphics Accelerator w/ 512KB DRAM ■ 14" Color CrystalScan 1024NI New Mini Desktop Case 5 16-Bit ISA Slots 101-Key Keyboard Microsoft Mouse ■ MS-DOS, Windows & Tools ■ MS Works for Windows 2.0 ■ EPA Energy Star Compliant $1495 4DX2-50 I Intel 50MHz 486DX2 Processor ■ 4MB RAM, 128KB Cache ■ 3.5" Diskette Drive 424MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive i Intel Pentium Technology Ready Local Bus Graphics Accelerator w/ 1MB DRAM ■ 14" Color CrystalScan 1024NI ■ New Mini Desktop Case ■ 5 16-Bit ISA Slots ■ 124-Key AnyKey®Keyboard Microsoft Mouse MS-DOS, Windows & Tools ■ Choice of Application Software ■ EPA Energy Star Compliant $1795 4DX2-66 Intel 66MHz 486DX2 Processor 4MB RAM, 128KB Cache 3.5" Diskette Drive 424MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Intel Pentium Technology Ready Local Bus Graphics Accelerator w/ 1MB DRAM 14" Color CrystalScan 1024NI New Mini Desktop Case 5 16-Bit ISA Slots 1 24- Key AnyKey Keyboard Microsoft Mouse MS-DOS, Windows & Tools Choice of Application Software EPA Energy Star Compliant $1995 4SX-33V Intel 33MHz 486SX Processor 4MB RAM 5.25" & 3.5" Combo Drive 212MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Local Bus IDE Interface Intel Pentium Technology Ready VLB Graphics Accelerator w/lMBDRAM 14" Color CrystalScan 1024NI New Baby AT Case 5ISA&2VESA/iSASlots 1 24-Key AnyKey Keyboard Microsoft Mouse MS-DOS, Windows & Tools Choice of Application Software EPA Energy Star Compliant $1495 4DX-33V Intel 33MHz 486DX Processor 8MB RAM, 128KB Cache 5.25" & 3.5" Combo Drive 424MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Local Bus IDE Interface Intel Pentium Technology Ready VLB Graphics Accelerator w/lMBDRAM 14" Color CrystalScan 1024NI New Baby AT Case 5 ISA & 2 VESA/ISA Slots 124-Key AnyKey Keyboard Microsoft Mouse MS-DOS, Windows & Tools Choice of Application Software EPA Energy Star Compliant $1995 4DX2-50V Intel 50MHz 486DX2 Processor 8MB RAM, 128KB Cache 3.5" Diskette Drive & CD-ROM 424MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Local Bus IDE Interface I Intel Pentium Technology Ready i VLB ATI™ Ultra XLR 2MB Graphics 15" Color CrystalScan 1572FS New Baby AT Case 5 ISA & 2 VESA/ISA Slots 124-Key AnyKey Keyboard I Microsoft Mouse MS-DOS, Windows & Tools Choice of Application Software EPA Energy Star Compliant $2295 66MHz Best Buy Intel 66MHz 486DX2 Processor 8MB RAM, 128KB Cache 3.5" Diskette Drive & CD-ROM 424MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Local Bus IDE Interface Intel Pentium Technology Ready VLB Graphics Accelerator w/lMBDRAM 15" Color CrystalScan 1572FS New Baby AT Case 5 ISA & 2 VESA/ISA Slots 124-Key AnyKey Keyboard Microsoft Mouse MS-DOS, Windows & Tools Choice of Application Software EPA Energy Star Compliant $2495 4DX2-66V Intel 66MHz 486DX2 Processor 16MB RAM, 256KB Cache 3.5" Diskette Drive & 2X CD-ROM 424MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive Local Bus IDE Interface Intel Pentium Technology Ready VLB ATI Ultra XLR 2MB Graphics 15" Color CrystalScan 1572FS New Baby AT Case 5 ISA & 2 VESA/ISA Slots 1 24-Key AnyKey Keyboard Microsoft Mouse MS-DOS, Windows & Tools Choice of Application Software EPA Energy Star Compliant $2995 ® Printed on recycled paper with soy inks. Gateway 2000 is a corporate sponsor of GJJ©BAL ILEAF P5-60 Best Buy ■ Intel 60MHz Pentium™ Processor ■ 8MB RAM, 256KB Cache 3.5" Diskette Drive & 2X CD-ROM 424MB 13ms IDE Hard Drive ■ PCI ATI Ultra XLR 2MB Graphics 14" Color CrystalScan 1572FS ■ New 300W Tower Case ■ 4 ISA, 2 PCI &1 PCI/ISA Slots ■ 124-Key AnyKey Keyboard Microsoft Mouse ■ MS-DOS, Windows & Tools ■ MS Works for Windows 2.0 $2995 P5-60 Intel 60MHz Pentium™ Processor 16MB RAM, 256KB Cache 3.5" Diskette Drive &2X CD-ROM 528MB 12ms IDE Hard Drive PCI ATI Ultra XLR 2MB Graphics 17" Color Crystal Scan 1776FS New 300W Tower Case 4 ISA, 2 PCI &1 PCI/ISA Slots 124-Key AnyKey Keyboard Microsoft Mouse MS-DOS, Windows & Tools Choice of Application Software $3995 . POLLUTION PREVENTER 8 GATEMY2O00 "You've got a friend in the business. "® 8 4 6-2058 Software Choices If a system comes with "choice of application software," choose one of the following packages: i ! Microsoft Excel for Windows™ ■ Microsoft Word for Windows™ ■ Microsoft Word and Bookshelf 92,® CD-ROM Edition ■ Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows™ ■ Microsoft Project for Windows™ ■ The MS Entrepreneur Pack( Works, Publisher, Money, and games) ■ Borland Paradox® and Quattro®Pro for Windows Due to the volatility of the DRAM market, all prices are subject to change. W itel in: m 610 Gateway Drive • P.O.Box 2000 • North Sioux City, SD 57049-2000 • Phone 605-232-2000 • TDD 800-846-1778 ■ Fax 605-232-2023 Sales Hours: 7am- 10pm Weekdays, 9am-4pm Saturdays (Central Time) W WESTERN OOJTAL •FaxBack 605-232-2561 I k I I II There are times when you're sure the whole enterprise will never get rightsized. help is here. IT'S SOLARIS. It's from SunSoft and now available for x86 as well as sparc®— the most popular cisc and risc architectures. wlth the solaris® software operating environment you'll connect your entire enterprise — hardware and software — and run it like one well-oiled machine. Solaris is the right 32-bit solution for a world where management expects you to do more with less, to maximize the resources at your disposal, to protect your existing hardware and software investments, and provide even more power, productivity and faster time to market. solaris gives you virtually unlimited access to all systems on your lans and wan! What's more, it's scalable from PCs to mainframes. Solaris harnesses and civilizes the power of UNIX® the proven stable environment and leading 32-bit distributed computing solution. unix is renowned for high performance multitasking, multithreading, and multiuser capabilities. and solaris runs more 32-bit applications than any other operating environment — over 7,500 including leaders like computer Associates, Oracle and Lotus. Solaris runs Windows and DOS, too. You'll also discover an excellent SOFTWARE DEVELOPER ENVIRONMENT AND A SEAMLESS TRANSITION TO DISTRIBUTED OBJECT COMPUTING. I If all this sounds like the solution you're LOOKING for, don't waste another second. Call 1-800-227-9227. • 'SunSoft The Network Is The Computer 1 ©iy \99i Compaq Computer Corporation. AH Rights Reserved. COMPAQ Rrgistered U S. Patent and Trademark Ofli.c, MGFMARQ and Com pat] Care are trademarks of Compaq Computer Corporation. 1'rudurt names mentioned herein maj be trademarks and/or tegntcred trademarks of ihrix respective i A Pretty Good Idea i 11x17 Laser Printer. repeat the process two minutes later. They hold up to 1,500 sheets of pa- per. And for people whose design ambitions extend beyond Helvetica Bold, PAGEMARQ Printers offer two ways to expand your type library, eliminating the need to continually download from your computer. You can add 1- and 2-MB Programmable comjurvJes. Adobe is* registered trademark of Adobe; Sysutm, Inc. PostScript it a traders U i registered tra del wk of Novell, Inc. Windows NT and LAN Manager are register ed t national Busincii Machine* Corporation. Font Modules, or you can add an in- ternal 60-MB Hard Drive. All of which print with razor-sharp clarity thanks to the 800 x 400 dpi- high-resolution mode. Of course, both the COMPAQ PAGEMARQ Laser Printers are fully backed by Compaq Care, our exten- sive service and support program. Which includes a one-year, on-site* limited warranty as well as unlimited toll-free telephone support. All at no additional charge whatsoever. If you're interested in learning more, just call us at 1-800-345-1518 in either the U.S. or Canada. We'll show you how to keep big ideas in one piece. At least until your client sees them. wC/f^IMrlC^ rk wf Adobt: Systems, Inc. .which may be registered in certain )urisdk-liciin. NetWare ademarks of Microsoft Corporation. LAN Server is a registered trademark of Inter- Circle 76 on Inquiry Card. A typographer's dream, these printers can store 1,500 fonts. Of course, not all of us dream about type. In which case, the 35 fonts that come standard are more than adequate. Send Fa m Add an Internal FAX Modem and you can turn jour PC into a personal fax machine. One that will send and receive true Adobe PostScript quality faxes in any size up to 11 x 17. BVTE EDITOR IN CHIEF Dennis Allen PUBLISHER Ronald W. Evans EXECUTIVE EDITOR Rich Friedman MANAGING EDITOR D. Barker ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Lauren Stickler Thompson NEWS Peterborough: News Editors: David L. Andrews, Carol J. Swartz Researcher: Martha Hicks San Mateo/West Coast: Bureau Chief: Andrew Reinhardt Senior Editor: Tom Half hill New York: News Editor: Ed Perratore BYTE LAB Director: Stanford Diehl Technical Director: Rick Grehan Senior Editor: Alan Joch Technical Editor: Dave Rowell Testing Editors/Engineers: Howard Eglowstein, Ben Smith Lab Assistant: Selinda Chiquoine STATE OF THE ART/FEATURES Senior Editor: Michael Nadeau Technical Editors: Russell Kay, Robert M. 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PHOTOCOPY PERMISSION: Where necessary, permission is granted by the copyright owner for those registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), 27 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970, to photocopy any article herein for personal or internal reference use only for the flat fee of $1 .50 per copy of the article or any part thereof. Correspondence and payment should be sent directly to the CCC, 27 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970. Specify ISSN 0360-5280, $1.50. Copying done for other than personal or internal reference use without the permission of McGraw-Hill, Inc., is prohibited. Requests for special permission or bulk orders should be addressed to Faith Kluntz, copyrights manager, (603) 924-2525. BYTE is available in microform from University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Rd., Dept. PR, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 or 18 Bedford Row, Dept. PR, London, WC1R4EJ, U.K. g^jj Copyright © 1993 by McGraw-Hill, jME Inc. All rights reserved. BYTE and ■ ■nil pyre are registered trademarks of McGraw-Hill, Inc. Trademark registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. G Member Audit Bureau of Circulation officers of mcgraw-hill, inc.: Founder: James H. McGraw (1860-1948). Chairman and Chief Executive Officer: Joseph L. Dionne; President and Chief Operating Officer: Harold W. McGraw III; Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary: Robert N. Landes; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer: Robert J. Bahash; Senior Vice President, Treasury Operations: Frank D. Penglase; Executive Vice President, Publication Services: Norbert Schumacher; Vice President/Group Publisher, Computer Magazines: Fritz Landmann. lO BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Announcing the first personalcomputers that will send faxes, readyou your mail, take phone messages and work with your video camera, VCRandTV In iact, they'll do just about "Computer, call Michelle Dunn? With Apple GeoPorl, you can turn your AV computer (in this case, the Macintosh Centris 660av) into a telephone and an answering machine. The hands-free plnne lets you do work on-screen while you talk. And both computers have ES-F2F software, so all you need is a video camera to fjolda video- conference across a local area mtwork. "Computer, read me today's maiir These computers will actually speak to you, reading aloud your e-mail, documents or spreadsheet numbers. Our new Apple AudioVisiotf Dis[Aay, with its sensitive micro plxme and built-in speakers, is the perfect all-in-one monitor for sf)eech capabilities, multimedia presentations and more. "Computer, fax letter to Steve Wingate? Forget the fax machim. The optional Apple GeoPorr'Ielecom Adaptor includes fax and modem sofiware-everythingyou need to send and receive faxes from your desk or use on-tine services. And both computers lei you try out ExperFax, an application that converts your faxes into text. 'Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (is of 8/ 15/9 3- Reseller jm'ces may vary. ©1993 tyl'le Com/wlvr, Inc. All rights reserved. Affile, tlx Affile logo, Macintosh and '"fhe power to be your best" arc registered trademarks ofAp, anything you tell them to. "Computer, open my word processor." Now work the most intuitive way. With Apple PlainTalk~ AV computes (here, the Macintosh Quadra 840 W) can recognize spoken com- mands- you just speak naturally. We've also included QuicKeys OSA Component software, so you can create your own verbal commands, like "Computer, open my word processor." "Computer, start video? Just plug a video camera, VCR or laserdisc player into the back of either AV computer. The FusionRecorder software included lets you easily capture video and single-frame snapshots, or record 16-bit stereo sound. You can paste your videos directly into pre- sentations, documents or any software that supports QuickTime^ "Computer, display Macintosh on TV." You can play video right on your AV computer monitor for easy presentations to coworkers, clients or a class. You can also plug either machine into a TV, if you need a larger dismay Or plug into a VCR, and record your work on videotape for distribution. "Computer, play CDr AddtheAppleCD~300i disc drive to either machine, and you can access huge libraries of clip art, sound effects, video clips and more. Or just play your own music CDs while you work. The Macintosh Centris 660av and Macintosh Quadra 840a v You've probably read that telephones, computers, television and other technologies will converge soon. This is where they meet. Introducing the Macintosh Centris™ 660AV and Macintosh Quadra™ 840AV personal computers. These two computers offer a suite of com- munication capabilities called Apple* AVfechnologies: a telecommunications center, easy video input/output con- nections, voice recognition and text-to-speech abilities. For the first time, sifitn use a Macintosh* to pick up phone messages with k rr . 1 , , , Apple AV Technologies. a point and Click, record Telecommunications, video, speech - Video by plugging in a dlthewaysyou communicate. video source, and open a file by saying, "Computer, open." Many of these new functions are sped along by a digital signal processor (this chip flies through data at the rate of 55 MHz in the Macintosh Centris and an even faster 66 MHz in the Macintosh Quadra) . With a 25 MHz 68040 processor and up to 68MB of RAM, the Macintosh Centris has the horsepower required to breeze through huge spreadsheets and documents. And there's room to add a 500MB internal hard disk, a CD-ROM or SyQuest drive and a NuBus expansion card. The new Macintosh Quadra will make publishing, graphic design and other communications professionals salivate. Its 40 MHz 68040 processor and up to 128MB of RAM make it the most powerful Macintosh ever. And it has room for a gigabyte of hard disk storage, four inter- nal storage devices and three NuBus expansion cards. Best of all, you can get a Macintosh with Apple AV Technologies starting at $2,489.* Once again, Apple puts the most amazing kind of power within a 1 your reach. The power to be your best? i\ppi6 e Comjmtei; Inc. Af>pleC§, AuduMsion, GeoPort, Macintosh Centris, Macintosh Quadra, PlainTalk and QuickTime are tradenmrks of Apple Comjmler, Itic. '/his ad was creatod using Macintosh fwrsonal computers. Editorial!! ennis Allen Windows, NT, or OS/2 To pick the right operating system, you need to examine technologies and strategic directions Both Windows NT and OS/2 run applications written for Windows 3.1, but which is best? You might expect that either 32-bit advanced operating system — NT or OS/2 — would naturally be better than Windows 3.1 run- ning on top of DOS. However, Jon Udell, one of BYTE's operating-system experts, made an interesting discov- ery that might surprise you (see "Is There a Better Win- dows 3.1 Than Windows 3.1?" on page 85). Udell's article does more, though. It sums up the cur- rent debate about operating systems for Intel-based com- puters. Is upgrading to either NT or OS/2 2.1 worth- while? That's not an easy question to answer, and it's complicated by the fact that the number of 32-bit appli- cations that can exploit either NT or OS/2 is small com- pared to those made for Windows 3.1. That's why much of the debate should also focus on what NT and OS/2 promise; therefore, you ought to ex- amine the technologies and strategic directions of the two systems. To that end, BYTE editors have compiled articles in this issue on what we believe to be the hottest debate going. Take, for example, distributed processing. Recently, IBM announced its Distributed Computing Environment SDK (Software Development Kit) (see "IBM Ships DCE SDK for OS/2 and Windows" on page 131). Long thought to be too complicated for microcomputers, true distributed computing will become possible on OS/2 and Windows. Meanwhile, other major players are readying their re- sponses for distributed computing. On a related subject, you should also examine IBM's Distributed System Object Model (see "IBM's Assault on Distributed Objects" on page 125). Now applications can reach across a network to use remote objects, which is essential for distributed processing. Speaking of networks, Barry Nance provides some insight into the six Windows or OS/2 native-network- ing options (see "OS/2 and Windows Networks" on page 1 17). Sorting through the advantages of Windows for Workgroups, NT, Windows NT Advanced Server, LAN Server, LAN Manager, or Novell NetWare for OS/2 is not a trivial task. If you've had trouble getting a handle on the important differences, Nance's article will surely help. That's not the only kind of networking happening, ei- ther. How about networking PCs to the telephone? That's what Microsoft has in mind with its Windows Telepho- ny API (see "Partners Seek to Unite Phone and PC" on page 107). The idea is relatively simple: Establish the standards necessary for enabling PC-driven telephone applications software and for connecting PCs to exist- ing phone systems and PBXs. Concurrently, IBM is doing its level best to push more than voice lines through PC networks. In fact, IBM wants to serve up video on OS/2 (see "IBM has High Hopes for Multimedia on OS/2" on page 1 10). To accomplish that, IBM has designed a set of multimedia tools that share the name Ultimedia that may give OS/2 an advantage over Windows in the multimedia arena. And, if all that's not enough, there's more. From user's perspectives to symmetrical multiprocessing, you'll find it in our special report. We've also included a roundup of interesting products to help you find what you need. Finally, to take advantage of either NT or OS/2 running on a high-performance processor, software compilers have had to advance. Check out Oliver Sharp's excel- lent article on compiler technology (see "Compilers: Es- sential Partners" on page 135). If you develop software, you cannot afford to miss Sharp's technical discussion. What more can I say? Already I feel a little bit like a Ginzu knife salesman (but wait, there's more...). It's just hard to hide my enthusiasm for this issue. The Windows and OS/2 debate is raging, and I think the BYTE editors and writers have done the best job of anyone to bring light to the subject. And no, we haven't forgotten Unix, PowerOpen, Net- Ware, the Mac, and other important operating systems. But, for this issue, we wanted to focus on the players currently hogging the spotlight — Windows and OS/2. It doesn't end here, though. In upcoming issues, we promise to keep you posted on developments as they hap- pen. We also promise to bring you an in-depth analysis of several key technologies and how they are implemented across all the advanced operating systems. And that's something you won't find anywhere else but in the pages of BYTE. Stay tuned — we're just getting started. Dennis Allen, Editor in Chief a.4- BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 New Paradox makes your desk a ramp on the data superhighway There's lots and lots of data out there. The trouble is, it has to go to the right place in order to be productive. That's the reason why we developed the new Paradox® Workgroup Edition. The only database with superior SQL connectivity and workgroup infor- mation sharing. Share data easily with any workgroup First we built in support for SQL servers* so you can work with infor- mation from corporate databases as if it were on your desktop. Then we added the Workgroup Desktop to distribute the data where it's needed. Now anyone with a Workgroup Edition of Paradox® can exchange data over local and wide area networks, or via electronic mail. 1 You can establish and modify workgroups instantaneously to meet the needs of a given project. Evejy thing you need is built right in! Best Windows database for all skill levels Of course, no new version of Paradox would be complete without enhancements to the powerful and easy-to-use features that have made it the #1 -rated Windows database. Built-in productivity Experts™ guide you at every step, from linking tables to building forms and reports. Object Inspector™ menus provide instant access to capabilities without searching through layers of menus. Paradox's ease of use stays with you as you move up the power curve. Corporate developers find that ObjectPAL™ the fully integrated programming language, lets you create custom Windows applications that are powerful, graphical, and deliver- able /atf. Plus, 100% compatibility with Paradox DOS means your existing Paradox data will migrate automatically to your new Windows application. When it comes to workgroup database productivity, nothing gets you where you want to go faster or easier than the new Paradox Workgroup Edition from Borland. Welcome to life in the fast lane. Borland Paradox RcUna) ibuhrc po» ct mat e»y Limited- time offer! '495 -i Suggested retail price for new users. $ 140 95 Upgrade price for Paradox, FoxPro, Access, Super base, and Approach users. $20 rebate for Paradox Windows 1 .0 owners. 90-day, money-back guarantee See your dealer today or call 1-800-336-6464, ext. 7506 In Canada, call 1-800-461-3327. Borland Power made easy 1 Copyright © 1993 Borland International, Inc. All right.s reserved. All Borland product names are trademarks of Borland International, Inc. Offer good in the United States and Canada only. All prices in U.S. dollars. Dealerprices may vary, including Borland's InterBase,™ SYBASE/Microsoft SQL, and ORACLE servers. 1'Novcll Message Handling Service (MHS and NGM); MCI Mail; cc:Mail; Windows for Workgroups, MS-Mail, and other MAPI-compliant messaging sei-vices; Local Area Network (LAN) systems, such as Novell NetWare, Banyan, IBM® LAN Sci-vcr, MS-LAN Manager, AT&T StarGROUP, and other peer-to-peer networks. BI 5815 Circle 69 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 70). J ■ * ■ H '^■0-mjf: /£?/£?/. i^ .0* ■• .** ^ ,-■■':■■ ~ d cm ,, ■ <»-c a : *' _ i ^, ' & : - r c ".i ■ < Give your power-himgry soft The OverDrive™ processor. The single-chip upgrade that maxi- mizes your PC's performance. Want to see a spectacular per- formance? Then add an i486™ DX2 OverDrive processor to yourIntel486™SX or DX CPU-based system. And watch all your power-hungry software take off. The OverDrive processor improves the performance of all your applications. So you can fly through your overwhelming workload with the greatest of ease. How does the OverDrive processor do it? Using Intel's innovative DX2 "speed doubling" technology, it runs internally at twice the speed of the rest of your system. So if you had a 33 MHz SX or DX Intel processor, you would now have a 66 MHz DX2 Intel processor. *lur European iiujiiiries, call +44 (0) 793 .131155, and ask lor hilupatk 101)2. © Intel Corporation 1993. AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk. Aldus and PageMaker are registered trademarks of Aldus Corporation. Paradox i.s in registered trademark of Borland International, Inc. CorelDRAW! is a trademark of Corel Corporation. w ^ $ Vr_ f\lf *& ware up to70% more ka-boom. Software Performance Increase AutoCAD* PageMaker® Paradox® CorelDRAW!'" Excel 50% 54% 57% 69% 72% Pttfurmanc* gain by jjijing an (hn Drive processor lo »n Intel486 DX 33MHi CPU -based sy Plus, the OverDrive processor is easy to install. Depending on your system, you can either plug it into the OverDrive socket or swap it with your original microprocessor. No problem. To get a better idea of how the OverDrive processor boosts perf or- Circle 96 on Inquiry Card. mance of your software, call 1-800-354-3112, Ext. 5719* for a free demo disk. It could be the greatest show on earth. intel Letters Fax Plus OCR What impressed me about Stan Wszola's "Fax Plus OCR: More Than Meets the Eye" (August) was its Rube Goldberg quality. One computer is to con- vert a word processing file into a voluminous bit map, which is then transmitted over a narrow channel. On arrival at a second computer, this bit map is labo- riously converted back to text. OCR should be done at the originating fax machine, to achieve compression far in ex- cess of anything obtainable by treating characters as bit maps. The time is ripe for someone to create such an extension, without waiting for the stan- dards committee. Keep it simple. Andrew D. Todd Philadelphia, PA Elegant Windows Dialog Boxes In the August Some Assembly Required, Gen Kiyooka suggests the auto-reconfig- uring dialog box in Word for Windows 2.0 is the result of the Microsoft Applica- tions Group's "constant stream of new in- terface ideas." Oh, please — Mac users have been treated to this interface object in the Control Panel since System 4, back in 1987. Let's give credit where credit's due. Fred Martin Cambridge, MA I think it's fair to say tlie Applications Group at Microsoft has contributed to, informed, and proselytized fine GUI de- sign, both on the Mac and under Win- dows. The article 's context was Win- dows development, and the Word options dialog box was an early imple- mentation under Windows, although certainly not the first Yd seen. Original- ly, my article concluded with a certain wistful glance toward the exemplary toolbar design in Windows Excel, per- haps suggesting yet another idea from the stream of our UI cultural conscious- ness, which can be attributed, in reduc- tionist thinking, to any of a number of sources. — Gen Kiyooka Pournelfe and Windows Word Processors Hooray for Pournelle's gripes about Win- dows word processors. They clutter the screen with icons and can't handle file naming or filing. Worse, I suspect that not a single Windows word processor pro- grammer is a touch typist. Commands should be easy to type and remember. Give us a collabora- tive article between program- mers and writers about the ar- chitecture of a useful word processor. Forget the tiresome comparison of features. I'm in- terested in fast typing, a hot- shot command structure, mini- mal use of the mouse, a huge file capacity with multiple files at my fingertips, sophisticated searching, indexing, and a spelling checker with just enough gram- matical smarts to tell the difference be- tween the words to and too. Donald Kingsbury Montreal, Quebec, Canada They Just Don't Get It Walter Mossberg's "They Just Don't Get It" (August) hit the nail on the head. I pur- chased a hand scanner six months ago, and it's still not hooked up. It requires a mouse, and there is a conflict with the ports. I had to upgrade from DOS 3.2, so I bought DOS 5.0. I could not upgrade because I needed a 574-inch drive, and I only had a 372-inch drive. So I bought a 574-inch drive. I had a conflict that erased the CMOS. It took a week to get the original settings back. My modem and Hercules card work on my 8088 but not on my 386. I have 64 MB installed and recognized when booting, but I can access only 32 MB. I'm sick and tired of "Well, we're still in the Model A era." Personally, I am in the boycott era. When "they" fi- nally get it, then I'll buy it. Lowell Allen Ado! pints, KY I couldn't agree with Mossberg less when he states, "Personal computers are just too hard to use, and it's not the fault of the people who use them." Oh, but it is. You cannot get about in an information age if you are unwilling to learn its most basic tool. We effectively deeducate the masses while ti7ing to make them happy. The eas- ier we make a thing, the more people will buy it and be satisfied with it, but it re- mains a magical and mystical thing, not born by them but borne by them. Fletcher Bonds Address not provided IBM and EM F Paul Saffo's "A Conspiracy of Silence" (July) on EMF radiation was compelling. Saffo indicts the whole computer indus- try but specifically criticizes IBM. Since September 1992, IBM has introduced 1 1 monitors that meet ISO 9241 Part 3 and MPR-II standards, as well as three VLMF (very low magnetic frequency) monitors. Jeffry Ullman A dvisory Systems Engineer, IBM Coral Gables, FL For PowerPC Information I'd like to learn more about the MPC601 processor and the PowerPC architecture featured in your August cover story. Can you point me in the right direction? Steven Monsees Nashua, NH Contact IBM's Technology Products Literature Distribu- tion Center at (800) 426-0181 or fax (708) 635-3620; ask for the PowerPC 601 information kit. Or write to IBM, WOO East Business Center Dr., Mount Prospect, 1L 60056. Contact Motorola 's Litera- ture Distribution Center at (800) 441-2447; fax (602) 994-6430. Motorola 's Power- PC 601 RISC Processor user's manual (P/N MPC601 UM/AD) is $6.50. —Eds. Clarification In case it wasn't clear to all readers of the August BYTE, the specific part number for IBM Technology Products' PowerPC 601 isPPC601 (TP25PPC601); Motorola, Inc.'s, specific part number is MPC601. IBM will also manufacture and distribute the PPC603, PPC604, and PPC620. We wantto hear from you. Address correspon- dence to Letters Editor, B YTE, One Phoenix- Mill Lane, Peterborough, NH03458, send BIX mail c/o "editors, " or send Internet Mail to let- ters@bytepb.byte.com. Letters may be edited. 18 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 audioman: the easy way to bring sound to business is now easy to buy. AudioMan, the easy way to add sound to all your OLE-compatible Windows" 3.1 applications, is now available free for thirty days when you buy it directly from Logitech. AudioMan gives a whole new dimension to on-the-road pre- sentations in Freelance Graphics® PowerPoint*' Harvard Graphics" and other programs, and effortlessly adds sound to spreadsheets (such as Excel and Lotus® 1-2-3% word- processing (like AmiPro® Word for Windows, and WordPerfect*), and E-mail (including Lotus Notes'* and cc:mair w ). There's no board to install, and ihe compact, all-in-one unit includes microphone, speaker, input and output jacks, and a pass- through parallel printer connector. "It's the closest thing I've found yet to the perfect human-interface device for PC audio." (Jim Seymour, PC Week) TRY AUDIOMAN FREE FOR 30 DAYS. If you're fully satisfied, well bill you $1 29 (plus $6 shipping and han- dling)* If not, simply call to return it, no questions asked. To order, call 1-800-732-3180, and ask for offer #67. NOW INCLUDES NEW SOFTWARE UTILITIES AND TEXT-TO-SPEECH CAPABILITIES. Try me, risk free, for thirty days. The Senseware" Company a their respective owneis. Quote courtesy of PC Week, March 29, 1993. *CA and MA residents must pay soles tax. Offer expires November 30, 1993. Allow 1-2 weeks for fulfillment Circle 103 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS; 104). OUR REVOLUTIONARY new COMPUTER is clearly FAMILY COMPATIBLE . An Intel 33 MHz 486SX microprocessor breezes though IBM® PC compatible software programs. A SoundBlaster compatible souni card gives audio appeal to games, presentations, even homework. A built-in send and receive fax /modem helps you conduct business and use your MPC to set up voice mail for t\\e whole family. Complies with EPAs "Energy Star"" standards. 212 MB hard drive and 4 MB RAM let you run sophisticated Windows-based software. o WF.CZ r~ Multimedia PC Exclusive WwMate software makes using Windows easy and helps organize households and, home businesses. Speedy local hus video makes everything on-screen look sensational. A wealth of handled software includes Microsoft Windows 3.1, Works, the Microsoft Bookshelf for Windows CD-ROM reference library and Intuit s Quicken forWindows. Dwal-speed CD-ROM drive ets families bring interactive information, i}%luding Kodak Photo-CDs, to life. From the start, the Tandy Sensation was hound to he a family favorite. It 5 practical, hut fun. Sophisticated, hut easy to use. No wonder this Radio Shack multimedia PC has already won the hearts of so many experts. Now, though, its your seal of approval were after. Because we designed the Sensation with families And APPARENTLY, CRITIC COMPATIBLE, TOO "The Tandy Sensation is a rich collection of well-integrated programs and hardware in a clean, handsome package." -Jim Canning, Michael McCarthy InfoWorld y "It's a dandy multimedia comput- er. The Sensation is worth serious consideration if you're shopping for the multimedia experience." -Larry Blasko AP ' i ■J "Tandy's Sensation is aptly named. I urge anyone looking for a good all-around MPC system to test-drive the Sensation." -Greg Loveria BYTE "The Sensation is not only easy to use, but quite a multimedia Swiss Army knife." -Selby Bateman CD-ROM Today i "The Sensation is an excellent machine that does a lot and does all of it well." -Eddie Huffman Compute j "Tandy's Sensation is a state-of-the-art home com- puter that works well and offers a lot for the money. " -Howard Blumenthal Hardware Review, United Feature Syndicate \\ke yours in mind. Its multimedia capabilities and user-friendly technology mean everyone in your home can put it to use. So why not -put it to the test ? Experience tke Sensation firsthand at your neighborhood Radio Shack. Chances are, youll find it's compatible with you, too. Radio /hack PC & M AC SCREEN SAVERS AU UTILITIES INCLUDED V / : .\\ tfj 1: H L- c n Cj G _ Kl Works with any ISO 9660 CD-ROM drive (XA support not needed) Royalty Free Kodak Photo CD Format PC & Mac Compatible Ideal for Desktop Publishing Each col lection features 1 00 razor-sharp Kodak Photo CD format photographs on a single disk. The stand alone Corel utilities included let you turn any of these stunning CD-ROM photo images - or your personal photos on CD - into Screen Savers, Wall- paperand slideshows (with optional background music tracks). Save time and money on stock photography! Corel Professional Photos are royalty free for all appl ications and ready for color separation. There are no additional fees. That makes them ideal for use in any visual communication such as ads, brochures, presentations and multimedia. And you can use Corel DRAW to retouch or add special effects to any Corel Professional Photo. Already more than 50 titles: The Arctic Africa Airshows Arizona Deserts Auto Racing Birds Bridges Castles China & Tibet Churches Cityscapes Coasts Computer Graphics Couples Education Environment Executives Faces Fighter Jets Firefighting Fishing Flowers Food Glamor Golf Health Insects Ireland Jewelry Mountains Patterns People Porsches Reefs Roads Rowing Sailboats Spirit of Buddha Sunrises & Sunsets Swimming Trees Lakes & Rivers Waterfalls Lamborghinis Western Canada Law Wild Animals Lighthouses Windsurfing Lingerie WWII Planes Medical and many more... The world's leading photo CD collections from the makers of CorelDRAW, the world's best selling graphics software! CALL NOW! ext. 100 1-800-772-6735 $ ATTENTION PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS! $- If you are a professional photographer interested in having Corel publish your photographs, please call the number belowformore information. CALL: (613) 728-8200 ext. 5080 Comprehensive Utilities Included:* • Corel SCREEN SAVER •Corel CD-AUDIO • Corel MOSAIC VISUAL FILE MANAGER • Corel PHOTO CD LAB PLUS OPTIONAL BACKGROUND MUSIC • WALLPAPER FLIPPER • PRINTED PHOTO REFERENCE GUIDE L4PC Multimedia PC Suggested List Price $4Q95 ^T ^^T ^M U.S. Funds 100 SUPERB IMAGES IN EACH COLLECTION! *Nol all utilities are available for Macintosh Circle 80 on Inquiry Card. SPREADSHEETS Excel 5.0 Gets Smart Packing lots of new bells and whistles, Excel 5.0 for Windows certainly looks good. But new integration capabilities with other Microsoft Windows applications may prove a stronger incentive to upgrade. File Edit View insert Format Tools Data Window Help IQllc^lrall^^U^l^n ^1 [ fe|CB|<^lt s|>s.}|^|^)f^il54||LS]KI| ^|-I|ioo* [±j |Arial L±J|10 L*J|BUtH]l^]SN|^||$l%| l jtd8]^||HhlDI A1 |*| I -| ii A 8 C D E F G H 7] 1 ! 2 3 *H M H I ► ( W K Sheetl / Sheet2 / Sheet3 / SheeU ^ SheeS ^ Jj * j j |+| Ready BY NICHOLAS JOHN DELONAS ^nxcel has long been Microsoft's flagship applica- tion. Its users have come to expect excellence, and that's generally what Microsoft has delivered. Excel 5.0 con- tinues that noble tradition and represents an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, step forward. That's good news, because Excel 4.0 was already a good product. However, in embracing technologies like 3-D work- sheets and advanced data modeling in version 5.0, Mi- crosoft is only now catching up to competitors like Lo- tus and Borland. NEW EXCEL FEATURES • True 3-D worksheets. • ln-cell editing. • Rich text in cells: lets you use more than one type of format on text in a single cell. • Tool tips: tiny explanatory boxes that appear below each toolbar button when you pause the mouse pointer over that button. • Full support for OLE 2.0. • Tighter integration with other Microsoft Office applications. • Custom AutoFill: lets you create your own se- ries, such as business divisions, for AutoFill operations. • Accounting-underline text styles: conform to accounting standards. • Trend charts: automatically chart various types of trends. Excel 5.0 intro- duces many novel user-friendliness features, which Mi- crosoft is touting as anewkindof spread- sheet "intelligence," called IntelliSense. IntelliSense, which Microsoft is adding to applications such as Word 6.0 for Win- dows and Power- Point 4.0, senses what you want to do, Function Wizard - Step 2 of 2 PMT Value: -91 1.7660804 Return the period* pajroant tor an amity Type (opHonaJ) » the nurobet « 1 and vidcatet when payments are due npei[/y[360 pvOIbT" 0.0082291 6BS "360 "fl 05000 Help Cancel < Back I Next : finish Microsoft improved Excel 5.0 workbooks with Quattro Pro-like page tabs. Excel's Function Wizard dialog box elevates Junction help to a new high. to help make routine and com- plex tasks easier to automate and complete. If you type a formula with an open parenthesis and don't add the closing parenthesis, Ex- cel adds it for you. Excel's de- velopers have obviously put a lot of work in adding intelli- gence to this version. These new properties should make Excel 5.0 easier to learn and use than its predecessor, and that will be an important con- sideration for any organization looking to standardize on a spreadsheet program. But in today's graphical-in- terface world, users want more than just new features: They also want consistency and in- tegration among their various applications. More than half of all sales of Excel for Windows are now achieved through sales of Microsoft Office, so it's no wonder that the company beefed up Excel 5.0's ability to share data with other Win- dows applications, especially other Microsoft applications. Excel 5.0 has itself become much more standardized. Mi- crosoft changed the menus and dialog boxes to closely match those in Word 6.0, as well as a future version of PowerPoint that should ship in January. People using these products will see a consistent interface, and the standardization of fea- tures doesn't stop there. A stan- dard macro language (see be- low), OLE 2.0, and other fea- tures are starting to blur the boundaries between Microsoft products. New Ease-of-Use Features Users will see a more intuitive multisheet interface in Excel 5.0. Following the lead of Quattro Pro for Windows, Ex- cel displays a tabbed index to its workbook, which happens to be the new default-document type. Not only can you name these page tabs, but you also can move them by dragging and dropping. That's an ad- vantage over Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows' fixed-page structure. continued NOVEMBER 1993 BYTE 23 News & Views The new workbooks don't just look good. Excel 5.0 rep- resents the first time the prod- uct fully embraces the 3-D spreadsheet concept. Microsoft has improved the functionali- ty of the 3-D workbook over version 4.0' s workaround that used cross-tabulations. The 3-D syntax is now simpler, select- ing 3-D ranges is improved, and, most important, adding many sheets doesn't quickly exhaust Windows resources the way it did in version 4.0. Worksheet tabs represent the most obvious improvement in Excel 5.0, but other changes aren't merely cosmetic. For ex- ample, Excel 5.0 adds many more wizards for task automa- tion. Another improvement is Tip Wizards, which offer ad- vice on how to better accom- plish spreadsheet chores. For example, if you choose Edit- Copy from the menu, a Tip Wizard displays a message say- ing, "You can use the 'Copy' button on the Standard Tool- bar." If you Edit-Copy again, the Tip Wizard offers yet an- other way to copy data. It keeps track of your work habits and won't bother you with the same advice more than once in the same session. An even better enhancement is the Function Wizard. Click on its icon in the toolbar, and it IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR gives the ultimate in function- building help. Excel breaks out the function's arguments into text boxes, and the dialog box shows you the value of the function given the arguments before you commit the func- tion to the worksheet. This is definitely neat stuff for novices and gurus alike. Data Access and Analysis External data access is one area where Excel has lagged behind the competition. This new ver- sion improves matters some- what by replacing Q+E with the Microsoft Query technolo- gy borrowed from Microsoft Access. While this gives you The Excel toobar icon in Word 6.0 for Windows lets you place an Excel 5.0 spreadsheet object directly in a document. mam The new ToolTips feature lets you quickly learn what a toolbar button does. m NH When Microsoft introduced its Office packages for the Mac and Windows in 1989 and 1990, respectively, the pack- ages were mainly marketing bundles designed to highlight the company's word processing, spreadsheet, and pre- sentation graphics programs. But the company has been working ever since at improving the integration and consislency among Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and its other applications. New versions of these three applications will be integrated with Office 4.2 for Windows, expected to ship in January. However, purchasers of Office 4.0, which will have the new Word 6.0, will be able to upgrade to the new versions of PowerPoint and Excel, when they become available later this year, for free. Office 4.0 is slated to ship this fall. To bolster the consistency of its applications from one package to the next, Microsoft designed the menu bars of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint so that they will now provide the same choices (e.g., File, Edit, and View), except for the third option from the right Microsoft has coined a new term, OfficeLinks, to describe the inte- grating features that mesh these applications. The new Word for Windows supports OLE 2.0. But in one example of a feature Microsoft added that goes beyond the standard object embedding of OLE 2.0, Word 6.0 for Windows now has an Ex- cel toolbar icon that you can use to insert and graphically size an in-place Excel 5.0 spread- sheet object (provided Excel is present on your system). Other integrating features are simply hard- coded into the applications and don't ride on top of OLE 2.0 at all. PowerPoint 4.0 tor Windows, ex- pected to ship this winter, will have a Report It feature that takes a PowerPoint presentation and converts it into a Word for Windows outline. Although the integration in Office has come a long way in the past three years, it still has a ways to go. Current- ly, only Excel 5.0 can both control and be controlled by other applications through Visual Basic Applications edition (VBA). Word 6.0 cannot control another application through VBA — it can only expose its own Word Basic objects so that Excel can drive it. PowerPoint 4.0 will not be able to control or be controlled by other applications through VBA. However, Microsoft is committed to continually improving the situation in both the Windows and Mac versions of Of- fice. The company has established an Interoperability Design Group that will help ensure this happens. — Dave Andrews Office 4.0 for Windows (standard version): Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Access, $750. Profession- al version: (substitute FoxPro for Access), $949. Blacktop News i he importance of having a wcll- realed driveway u almost always missed by home owner* The degradation of the aipha It in their driveway happeru 10 gradually, that by the time many of our customer! notice that they need to re- jeal. the driveway has degraded far beyond the point where a simple repeal ild have sufficed Although we at New Hampshire Blacktop Sealers benefit from the increased business we : 0» : J ioo : good IHitTdav: :-tw» : uoo 1 i*£ " : 1»0 : : fuU d»y :HaM ifcUday i mnEC do so, the job goes more quickly and u usually $300 to £500 leu expensive. If kteitmUmaklwxirnA+KldxxA Word 6.0 now automatically formats and sizes tables just like Excel. You can pick from preset formats and then apply special formate to certain rows and columns. query-by-example friendliness and more data-access options, I still prefer the better-integrated Datalens technology that you get with Lotus 1-2-3. Excel 5.0 does include a powerful new data-analysis tool, though, called the Pivot- Table. This is a multidimen- sional table that lets you ma- nipulate and rearrange views of summary data in a manner that is similar to Lotus's Im- prov for Windows. While Piv- otTables are quite potent, they are probably likely to appeal only to power users, because I did not find them particularly intuitive. Programmability Of course, there's nothing wrong with appealing to pow- er users, and Microsoft cer- tainly hasn't forgotten them in its drive toward more user- friendliness. The new Excel has some dramatic changes on the high end. The most stunning is the introduction of Visual Basic for Applications as the new macro language. While Excel 5.0 will fully support the old macro language (which many users found arcane), it is, for all practical purposes, now obsolete. While some macro mavens may lament this fundamental change, most should welcome it. The move to a standard macro language is a great one. Soon, all members of Microsoft Office will share Visual Basic as a common lan- guage. Throw in OLE 2.0 automation, and complex cross-applica- tion development is suddenly much less troublesome. Excel 5.0 is an exciting product full of improvements, some of which are immediate- ly apparent, and others that are more subtle. Managers who are making buying decisions for whole departments would do well to give Excel 5.0 a good look. 24 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Wi your Widest Range ► The Industry's Leading Code Optimizer MMM^0^^'MMM^ P0W6r. Unleash the 32-bit power of Intel's 386, 486 and Pentium processors on your most demanding FORTRAN applications with WATCOM's 32-bit FORTRAN. F77 32 delivers 32-bit performance. The 32-bit flat memory model simplifies memory management and lets applications efficiently address large amounts of memory. Powerful 32-bit instruction processing delivers a significant speed advantage; typically a minimum 2x processing speedup. Together, the power of F77 32 and these 32 bit processors provide a desktop platform that is capable of handling mainframe FORTRAN applications. ■ 6FT0FITOnC6 - The hot, new F77 32 code generator advances the performance envelope. New superscalar optimization strategy uses "riscification" and instruction scheduling to deliver improved performance on 486 and Pentium processors. The compiler can create a single, high- performance executable which runs on 386, 486 and Pentium processors. ildtTOrmS. In a single package, F77 32 supports a wide range of 32-bit Intel x86 host and target platforms. F77 32 applications can fully exploit the graphical user interfaces of Windows 3.x and OS/2 2.x. ► 32-bit DOS host and target support; includes the DOS/4GW 32-bit DOS extender by Rational Systems with royalty-free run-time and virtual memory support up to 32Mb. ► OS/2 2.x host and target support; enables development of OS/2 2.x applications and DLLs. 32-bit Windows 3.x applications can exploit WIN-OS/2 using WATCOM's 32-bit Windows Supervisor technology. ► NetWare NLM 3.11 and 4.0 target support; includes licensed components of the NetWare 4.0 SDK. ► Windows NT host and target support; includes a Windows NT-hosted debugger for 16-bit Windows 3.x, Win32s and Windows NT debugging; also includes Win32s target support. ► 32-bit Windows 3.x target support; includes WATCOM's 32-bit Windows Supervisor, and enables development and debugging of true 32-bit Windows 3.x applications and DLL's. POrtiny. To ease porting of existing code from other platforms, F77 32 has ^ been enhanced with VAX, FORTRAN 90, Microsoft and IBM VS language extensions. F77 32 supports the full FORTRAN 77 ANSI standard and is compatible with IBM's SAA FORTRAN language definition. C and C++ Compatibility. Run time compatibility with WATCOM C/C++ 32 allows you to combine C, C++ and FORTRAN modules in a single application. Seamless debugging eases development of mixed-language applications. ■ rOTBSS 1 da I ■ The comprehensive professional toolset includes a full-screen source level debugger, profiler, linker, librarian, object code disassembler, make utility, 32-bit royalty-free DOS extender, licensed components of the IBM OS/2 2.1 Toolkit, Microsoft Windows 3.1 SDK and NetWare 4.0 SDK and much more. PriCe. WATCOM FORTRAN 77 32 v9.5 has a suggested retail price of $599*. Dealers may sell for less. For additional information or to order direct call 1-800-265-4555. You can also call our FAX Back system 519-747-2693 from your fax machine for immediate product information. Promise. You can try F77 32 risk-free. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with the product, simply return it within 60 days to the place J purchase for a refund.** WCOMFgRMN?]'- WOT< 1-800-265-4555 The Leader in 32-bit Development Tools 415 Phillip Street, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Telephone: (519) 886-3700, Fax: (519) 747-4971 'Price in US dollars. Does not include freight and taxes where applicable. **Some resellers may charge restocking fee and limit time period for refund. Consult reseller prior to purchase. WATCOM and the Lightning Device are trademarks of WATCOM International Corp. 80486 processorphotocourtesy of Intel Corp. OOS/4Gand DOS/16M are trademarks of RationalSystemslnc. Other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Copyright 1993 WATCOM International Corp. Circle 146 on Inquiry Card. E 5 DOS 6 DOS 6 ven a free memory manager may not be a bargain— especially if it can't give you all the memory you need. Introducing QEMM 7 The Memory Manager Worfh Paying For The newest version of the Quarterdeck Expanded Memory Manager (QEMM} version 7, once again is extremely innovative in using the critical area between 640K and 1024K. It finds space for more TSRs and drivers in this area than anyone thought possible. It optimizes this area, taking into account the many drivers that need more memory at start-up than when running; instantly calculating millions of possible memory configurations to find still more memory for your programs to use. And it treate the rest of memory as a giant pool to instantly fulfill the needs of all of your programs— whether they use extended or expanded memory. Whether your PC has 1 megabyte or 16, you can benefit from new QEMM Z Instant Riches What does more memory mean in a practical sense? It means that your DOS and MS Windows programs run fastec smoother and more reliably. It means you can continue to add valuable utilities^ driver^ TSRs and new capabilities to your PC. Whether it's workhorse drivers like LAN utilities and fax drivers; productivity- enhancers like disk caches and disk compressors; or fun and exciting capabilities like sound boards^ CD ROM driver^ graphics tablets etc. The better your memory is managed, the more versatility and flexibility your PC has. QEMM 7 lets you have it all withoutfearof 'out of memory' messages or crashes. How to Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth Til FC/C0MPUT1HG OK 100K 200K 300K 400K 500K 600K We tested DOS 6 with and without MemMakerand witli QEMM 6 and our new QEMM 7 runs a way horn all of tliem. See details of test conditions listed below. DOS 6 Giveth; DOS 6 Taketh Awoy The best feature of new DOS 6 is the stable of utilities it includes. Trouble i^ they all eat up memory. DoubleSpace file compression needs 43K, Vsaf e anti-virus needs 745K, Smartdrv disk cache needs 28K and even Undelete takes 10-14K as a resident program. Using Microsoft's free memory utility MemMaker, you could easily end up with a net loss of available 'conventional' memory in DOS 6. New QEMM 7 takes the best of the new DOS 6 features into account finding ways to give you more free memory for your program while taking full advantage of DOS 6. One new QEMM 7 feature, DOS-Up, moves the DOS 6 kernel, its data and resources to memory above 640K (this feature also works with DOS 3-5), freeing 7-7DK. Another new QEMM 7 feature, Stealth DoubleSpace, frees 40K of the memory addresses used by DoubleSpace and makes them available for other drivers and TSRs. Both features ensure that the all-important memory below 640K is f reef oryour programs. And QEMM 7's seemingly small feature of supporting multiple configurations gives you the flex- ibility and ease of setup that you expect. (MemMaker doesn't work well with this important DOS 6 feature.) That's why it makes more sense than ever to put your money on the best memory manager. Page Frame: the Key to Your Future There's been a lot of talk about our patent-pending Stealth technology. Jealous talk, mostly. Because nobody else can touch its performance. Our Stealth ROM feature, pioneered in QEMM 6, frees 48-115K of ROM addresses for use by TSRs and drivers. Our Stealth DoubleSpace feature^ described above, frees another 40K. And as you might imag- ing there's more to come. The key to Stealth is its use of a 64K reserved area above 640K called die page frame. Besides being used by Stealth, the page frame is used Sjgf by Lotus 1-2-3 r2.x for larger spreadsheets and WordPerfect 5.x for larger documents, DESQview for multitasking, Novell Netware, IBM LAN Server and DECnet for reduc- ing the network driver memory foot- print, plus games like Wing Commander, Car and Driver, Ultima Underworld II, Wolf enstein and others for fast action. There's lots more to QEMM 7: • Tuned for MS Windows • New ability to use Vidram inside MS Windows •DPMI Host • Pentium Support • Laptop suspend /resume support • PS/2 micro channel adapters • Compaq support • Fine tuning tools for power users • 32-bit architecture for speed • Enhanced compatibility in response to hardware needs of our millions of users: Detects adapter RAM and ROM and bus-mastering hard drive controllers Monitors DMA access into memory Supports Shadow RAM BVIEBVTEBVTE Prior versions of QEMM won just about every competition in sight, as well as remaining die #1 best-selling memory manager 5 years straight. You sacrifice all this when you turn off the page frame (which other memory managers do to maximize available memory above 640K). It's this use of the page frame by Stealth that lets you set up your PC with a mousey CD ROM, sound board, a network such as Novell NetWare, reserve 8-24K of extra memory for optimal MS Windows performance, use all of DOS 6's memory-hungry utilities and still have more than 630K available for your programs. (Compared to DOS 6's 527K available in the same configuration, after using MemMaker). Easier to use for Novices, More Power for Experts; More Memory for All Our seventh-generation thoroughbred QEMM has improved ease-of- use, with Express Install and Help features. And for power users^ Advanced Install and editable parameters and troubleshooting hints. And QEMM 7 comes with Manifest the award-winning memory analyzer— enhanced for more flexibility with Pentium testing, laptop battery reporting, network analysis and editable configuration files. The new and ever more exciting capabilities coming to your PC will all compete for memory with your favorite application^ TSRs and drivers. And that makes QEMM 7 the front runner in your efforts to get get the best performance out of your PC today— and tomorrow. Quarterdeck Office Systems, 150 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310) 392-9851 Fax (310) 3144219 Quarterdeck International Ltd, B.I.M. House, Crof ton Terrace, Dun Laoghaire Co. Dublin, Ireland Tel. (353) (1) 284-1444 Fax: (353) (1) 2844380 QEMM Use® upgrades are available from dealers. You can also buy direct from Quarterdeck. Call (800) 354-3222 ext lD7andaskatK>utourspecia]GamePackofferwithyour upgrade! Uowwetpt thcdurt numlvis CPU— 486/53 A1.R Power/business VEISA machine equipped with 16 megs of RAM and running MS-DOS 6. Comparisons were done using tin' following memory managers: QEMM 7.QEMM 6.02, MS DOS6 MemMaker. In addilion to the driver {or drivcis) required byeach memory manager, the following drivers, DD5 resources and programs were loaded for all comparisons: in the COM il ! Si S He UWER.EXE DOS=HiCl 1, FILES -> | ' I I %S l ! ACKS=M), MVSOUNDSY5, SNDBK11SYS, SLCD5YS, DOS SHELUstatement, in the AUTOEXECBATfifeVSAJ^MSCDDLUNDEL^ ©1 993 Quarterdeck Office Systems, Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Circle 1 25 on Inquiry Card. News & Views COMMUNICATIONS E-Mail Unplugged by Wireless WANs w, ireless WANs (wide- area networks) have been slow- ly chugging toward mainstream business use. But the wireless- data movement is picking up steam, and the engine that's driving the demand for wire- less WANs is convenient ac- cess to the E-mail systems that people depend on through the wired-phone network. "E-mail is the logical first application for wide-area wire- less networks," notes Eric Ar- num, editor of Electronic Mail and Micro Systems, a newslet- ter published by BRP Publica- tions (Washington, DC). "E- mail works, it's easy, and it's become an all-purpose data transfer system." People wanting wireless E- mail have a few choices and will soon have more. Intel re- cently introduced three pack- ages that put all the pieces — hardware, software, and net- work — into a reasonably priced bundle. The products are de- signed to work with RAM Mo- bile Data's radio-packet net- work, which charges $75 a month. The Intel packages cost $795 apiece. "We think E-mail is the most- wanted application in the wireless field, and that people would prefer to use what they already know to get it," says Tom Jackson, wireless mar- keting manager at Intel. Intel is not the first company to offer a coordinated solution for wireless E-mail. Ericsson GE is selling a $995 bundle called Mobidem Kit, which works with RadioMail's wire- less service. Motorola, which currently operates a one-way, pager-based E-mail service called Embarc, says it plans to introduce two-way E-mail products in 1994, perhaps using the Ardis wireless network it runs with IBM. Many other companies are working on wireless products for delivery late this year and in 1 994. The next step in the evolu- tion of wireless E-mail will be reducing the size of the hard- ware from a bulky external mo- dem to a thin card that slides into the PCMCIA slot now CELLULAR DIGITAL Cirrus Subsidiary Leads CDPD Push acific Communications Sciences, Inc., a subsidiary of Cir- rus Logic located in San Diego, is playing a central role in the de- velopment of CDPD (cellular digital packet data), the technolo- gy that wedges bursts of bits into minuscule pauses in the analog cellular-phone system. PCSI was a key developer of CDPD technology and specifi- cations, supplying prototype equipment to the nine-member CDPD consortium and helping conduct field tests in 1 992. This past August, only days after AT&T revealed its plans to acquire McCaw Cellular, PCSI announced that it had been selected by AT&T to supply equipment for adding CDPD capability to cell sites. PCSI's electronics will be bundled with other AT&T prod- ucts and services and sold to cellular carriers upgrading to CDPD. continued found in many note- books and hand-held PCs, including Ap- ple's MessagePad. Motorola and Mega- hertz have announced their intentions to pro- duce wireless modems on PCMCIA cards in 1994. "Until the PCM- CIA two-way trans- ceivers for RAM and Ardis come out, there will be limited acceptance," says Mark Eppley, chairman and CEO of Traveling Soft- ware (Bothell, WA), which is working on wireless products. There are other obstacles, in- cluding the fairly short battery PACKAGES FOR WIRELESS E-MAIL INTEL'S WIRELESS IVIODEIVI: • wireless modem — a Hayes-compatible radio modem (also sold by Ericsson GE as the Mobidem) • wireless version of Lotus's cc:Mail or Microsoft's Mail Both packages require a $795 server version. WIRELESS IVIODEIVI (EASYLINK): • wireless modem • AT&Ts Access Plus software (for use with its public EasyLink network) ERICSSON GE'S MOBIDEM KIT: • Mobidem wireless modem • Hewlett-Packard's HP 95LX palmtop • wireless E-mail software and gateway service from RadioMail RadioMail is also available for other DOS systems and was recently introduced for Apple's PowerBook portables. life of most portable modems and computers. But many be- lieve it's only a matter of time before people begin embracing wireless E-mail as eagerly as they have cellular phones. —Christopher O'Malley CDPD NETWORK EMULATOR FOR DEVELOPERS Wireless communications may get a boost from a new Windows-based development tool that emulates a complete CDPD (cellular digital packet data) network. The software emulator, called CDPD Work- bench, lets developers test their applications while simulating various levels of network traffic, radio interference, vehicle speeds, and other variables that are difficult to create under actual conditions. Workbench was introduced in September by Cellular Data (Palo Alto, CA, (415) 856-9800). Workbench emulates the entire CDPD net- work between the mobile-computing device (known as the MAS, or Mo- bile Application Subsystem) and the host device (the F-K, or Fixed- End System). "Given the alternative, which is to put an engineer in a car and drive around a lot, the price [$3995] is exceptionally attractive," says Jacques A- Robinson, president and CEO of Cellular Data. Without rig- orous testing, says Robinson, developers can't be sure how their wire- less applications will fare in the hostile environment of mobile commu- nications. Just before the official launch of CDPD Workbench, as this article was going to press, Cellular Data was informed that its key source of funding would no longer be available. A spokesperson said the compa- ny is seeking alternative sources. — Tom R. Hatfhill The Network Emulator Replaces... / 9-Pin \ -S RS-232 i Connectoi -*r* ma' *EDT1 CDPD Network Emulator 28 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 DEVELOPERS: Have you been asked to produce a fast, open. BB9BBS5M I1 application that is inexpensive to deploy and differentiates your company? Then we have a suggestion... use our engine Raima Database Server Multiple APIs ANSI __,__ Object Record ' r . icf .„_ /S QL 0DBC Oriented Server ^ust° m Client Server RPC Architecture TCP/IP LanMan SPX LanServer" Flexible Database Schemas The new Raima Database Server is a product designed for developers who value flexibility along with speed and support for standards. Your application design is not constrained by the database interface. Why? With RDS, we begin with a multithreaded client/server architecture coupled to a high perfor- mance SQL processor/optimizer. Then we add support for C++ objects, a fast record-oriented API, and custom extension modules featuring remote procedure calls from your client application to your server-hosted user defined functions. Further, your database schema can be fully relational, network, or a combination of the two. It's all there for you. Use Microsoft- Access, etc., as a front end When ' standards matter * Ports easily - \ Full Relational Combined Network Multiple Operating Systems Netware NLM UNIX OS/2 Windows NT Map your existing application calls to ^ a client/server engine Fast API used in thousands of commercial apps State-of-the-art Ideal for legacy data Convergence ready! Supports stored procedures, triggers, and referential integrity! Join the thousands of developers, from small vertical market ISVs to industry giants like Hewlett Packard, who use our technology to set their applications and products apart. Call 1-800-DB-RAIMAfor more information. RAIMA Raima Corporation, 1 605 N W Sammamish Rd, Issaquah, WA 98027 (206) 557-0200 Fax: (206) 557-5200 © 1993 Raima Corporation. Raima Database Server is a trademark of Raima Corporation. Raima is a registered trademark of Raima Corporation. Other computer and software names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Raima Benelux - 31 (21 59) 44738 Raima Deutschland 49 (7022) 9256 44 Raima Espana 34 (3) 485 1 3 04 Raima Italia - 39 (49) 829 1 285 Raima UK Ltd. - 44 (276) 685 761 Rhone-Alpes - 41 (21 ) 825 4800 France - 33 (1 ) 46 48 61 02 If patience is a virtue, it would be tough to find anyone more virtuous than a 386 user. Of course, you're not waiting to be canonized. You just want to get your spreadsheet crunched, printed and e-mailed before your boss's boss calls you looking for it. Now if you had a 486, you wouldn't have this problem. But all that wishful thinking goes out the window when you consider the double-knots on your company's purse strings. Performance Benchmarks (f T rcs indicate Intel Cyrix 486 relative performance) 1386 Upgrade MS Excel 3.0 LOx 2.1x MS Word 2.0 l.Ox 2.8x Microgratx Designer 3.1 l.Ox 2.6x Benchmark tests run on JBM PS/2 Model 70/20MHz, The new Cyrix 386-10-486 Upgrade Microprocessor delivers application performance that's twice asjast. And that's twice as smart. Fortunately, there's a smarter alternative to the downward migration path pictured above. It's called the 386-to-486 Upgrade Microprocessor.™ And it's only available from Cyrix® the smarter microprocessor company It's smarter because it's the only single- chip upgrade solution of its kind. And as such, the most cost-conscious way to replace the pedestrian 386 computer you have, with the searing 486 power you want. Our upgrade chip acts just like a 486, and with good reason. It has Clock Doubling, a IK on-chip cache £> 1993 Cyrix Corporation. Cyrix is a registered trademark, and Cyrix instead is a trademark of Cyrix Corporation. and enhanced Cx486 technology. Which means it delivers twice the application performance, and 100 : ':??^n fc^^ percent compat- ":--'H IfpPl ibility with all mjcrosoft. f*^4 your software. WINDOWS I TOY"" 1 t -1 r\mc Comr\tibl£ NetWare Like DOS, Windows and OS/2. Even Windows NT. It's also certified software compatible in Novell, Banyan and Lan Manager nodes. What's more, it's easy to install (it takes all of 15 min utes) , and costs under $400. So it's also easy to justify to Talk about immediate gratification, just use the chip removal tool provided to pull out your 386DX chip (16, 20, and 25 MHz versions only at the moment), and plug our Cyrix Upgrade Microprocessor into the empty socket. Then get ready for screaming 486 power. even the stingiest bean counters. Every Cyrix upgrade chip comes with the reassurance of a limited lifetime warranty, toll-free telephone support, and a money- back guarantee. So do the smart thing. Call us directly at 1-800-46-CYR1X. Quick. Before your old 386 computer inadvertently takes flight. Cyrix instead All other brand or product namesare trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Circle 83 on Inquiry Card. News & Views Cirrus Subsidiary Leads CDPD Push In addition to its work on the infrastructure side of CDPD, PCSI is providing products for the subscriber side. The com- pany was awarded a contract in November 1992 to supply IBM with CDPD modules for mobile computers; IBM was expected to announce this fall a model of the ThinkPad with PCSI's CDPD modem built in. The company is also working closely with Apple to develop wireless-communications fea- tures for next-generation Mes- sagePad systems. Brandon Nixon, product line manager for wireless commu- nications at PCSI, says that tri- als of real CDPD systems will begin this month, with many areas rolling out in the first half of 1994. National coverage and roaming agreements between carriers likely won't be in place until 1 995. Nixon believes that there will be a strong link be- tween CDPD and the use of hand-held computers like the MessagePad. "CDPD will re- ally come on strong with PDAs [personal digital assistants]," he says. On the other hand, he notes, the technical problems of im- plementing a cellular radio, es- pecially in a PCMCIA form factor, are quite challenging, because electromagnetism from the screen interferes with the signal. PCSI's product for IBM will be embedded in the system, not on a PCMCIA card, but the company expects to deliver card-size products later, as does Motorola. CDPD offers an attractive business opportunity for carri- ers, because they will be able to realize greater profits from their existing cell sites. A study by IBM and McCaw Cellular found that even at peak usage, roughly 30 percent to 40 per- cent of the total bandwidth at a site is idle; these holes can be filled with data packets billed at 5 to 7 cents each. — Andy Reinhardt DATA STORAGE Sony's MiniDisc for Data: Future Floppy? ^^Pony's recent decision to adapt its 2.5-inch audio MiniDisc for computer data storage pos- es a new alternative to conventional floppy disks, which are falling far behind the curve of today's mass-storage requirements. MD DATA, as Sony's new MO (magneto- optical) format is called, offers a promising com- bination of storage density, economical mass duplication, and cross-platform compatibility. MD DATA disks come in three variations: writable, read-only, and a hybrid that's partly writable, partly read-only. They all store 140 MB of data per disk, and all disks are readable on the same drive. The disks are protected against physical damage by a shuttered cartridge and are more resistant to stray magnetic fields than conventional floppy disks, according to Sony. Because MD DATA has its own file system, disks are interchangeable between PCs, Macs, and other supported platforms. Writable MD DATA disks can be erased and rewritten any number of times. Blanks are ex- pected to cost about $20. That's nearly as much storage as a hundred 1 .44-MB floppy disks at a much lower cost per megabyte. For software publishing, read-only versions of the disks (called MD-ROMs) can be mass-produced using the same premastering process as CD-ROMs. In quantities of thousands, they could cost only $ 1 or $2 each. Hybrid MD DATA disks are intended for interactive applica- tions in which some information is read-only and the rest of the disk is writable. Like conven- tional MO formats, MD DATA uses a laser to heat selective lo- cations on the disk to their Curie point — a temperature at which the magnetic material can be eas- ily altered by the drive's read/ write head. But MD DATA dif- fers from conventional MO tech- nology in two important ways. First, the drive can erase and rewrite data in a single pass; reg- ular drives require two passes. Second, this direct-overwrite technology allowed Sony to greatly simplify the optical head, thus reducing cost, size, and power consumption. Sony hasn't announced prices for MD DATA drives, but Mini- Disc audio recorders now sell for about $700. MD DATA isn't a replacement for CD-ROM because it offers only about one-fourth the storage capacity. It also won't replace hard drives because the data trans- fer rate is only 150 Kbps, the same as most CD- ROMs. But MD DATA could fill the need for a writable, removable storage medium that match- es the growing demands of today's PCs. The shortcomings of floppy drives are be- coming more apparent as PCs accumulate mega- bytes of memory, hundreds of megabytes of hard disk space, and applications software that ships on a dozen or more disks. Years ago, flop- py disks could store two or three times as much data as the computer's RAM, but today that ra- tio is reversed. Many files — such as those pro- duced by page-layout programs — are too large to fit on a single floppy disk, even when com- pressed. Hence the popularity of removable hard drives for sending files to service bureaus and the widespread use of tape cartridges to back up hard drives. MD DATA could provide a universal solution that's small enough for mobile computers. The nearest likely competitor is floptical technology, which stores 21 MB on a 3 ! /2-inch magnetic disk and offers backward compatibility with exist- ing 3 ! />-inch floppy disks. —Tom R. Half hill Overwriting Technique Used for 2.5-inch MiniDisc Magnetic Head ^ 10 10 10 1 JITLTLTL New Data Old Data *Htiiiti+ntitiJfflE M-0 Layer Disk Rotation Objective Lens Writing to a Magneto-Optical Disk Laser Optical Lens 3fe mm Rewritable Optical Disk ttffiWMMWttttt Magnet Sony gets single-pass writing by using three new techniques. First, the loser and the magnetic read /write head are positioned on opposite sides of the disk, and the laser remains constantly on during reading and writing. Other MO drives repeatedly turn the laser on and off while erasing and writing the magnetic signal {see the figure inset). By leaving the laser constantly on, Sony was able to simplify the design of the optical head. Normally, this would require a powerful magnetic field, but Sony also invented a new magnetic layer (i.e., terbium ferrite cobalt), whose polarity can be changed by using only one-third as much magnetic coercivity as conventional MO drives. This allows a weaker magnetic field, which in turn reduces the size, complexity, and power consumption of the head. Sony claims the new head is more efficient than regular heads and requires only about 100 nanoseconds to reverse the polarity of a spot on the disk. 32 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 INTRODUCING FRAMEMAKER 4 We wrote & published, edited & organized & designed, formatted & indexed, cross-referenced & distributed the book on writing and publishing. Writing is a breeze with our high-speed WYSIWYG word processor, which includes a spell checker and thesaurus. Create custom colors with CMYK, RGB, HIS, and PANTON IP color palettes, and produce 4-color process or spot color separations. Build complex documents easily using automatic hypertext marker, multichapter cross- referencing, running headers and footers, plus multiple indices and tables of contents. Page layout tools enable roteted text and graphics, dashed and dotted lines, multiple columns, auto side heads, even portrait and landscape pages in the same document Conditional text lets you sLore or display multiple versions of a document in a single file. Our advanced table editor lets you build multipage tables with unlimited paragraphs, straddled cells, rotated text, even graphics. A sophisticated math editor lets you create and edit everything from simple arithmetic to calculus equations. Create your own graphics with a full set of drawing tools, or import 24M color images. FrameMalcer h ■T Frame Technology presents the best way to write and publish demanding business and technical documents: Introducing new FrameMaker® 4.© FrameMakcr 4 dramatically increases your productivity because it automates much of the publish- ing process, Which makes it faster and easier to produce everything from simple business reports to complex multichapter manuals.© Only one program handles it all, FrameMaker 4. Which means you don't have to switch back and forth between word processing, graphics, and page layout programs, and you won't lose any of your data or formatting.© FrameMaker 4 is loaded with over 100 new features including context-sensitive help, automatic side heads, document compare, even ad hoc formatting.© Best of all, you can share your FrameMaker 4 documents with your colleagues across the most popular hardware platforms. Including Windows, Macintosh, and X/Motif . © So when you need to write, publish, design, edit — the works — make sure you use the one program that does it all: FrameMaker 4. For a free guide to writing and publishing, or information on our special upgrade offer, call 1-800-14-FRAME, Ext. 926. Frame ©1993 Frame Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. International customers please call (408) 433-331 1. Frame. FrameMaker, FrameVicwcr. Frame Technology, and ihe Frame logo are registered trademarks of Frame Technology Corporation. Other brand or product names arc trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Circle 90 on Inquiry Card. ?! S &. iSIF" .. The EXACT confirmation you want. At an affordable price. | ©ssernbly no longer required. $ ^^3 y & WE CUSTOMBUILO. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO Complete customization — at no extra cost. Sorry to disappoint all you har*ds-on, do-it-yourself types Likewise, you people who insist ©n paying for every service that comes your way. Whem it comes to customizing AMBRA' M computers, yoi^can leave your tools in the box and your money # # in the bank. Just send us your specs. We'll build you a ready-to- run computing solution including everything from your choice of processor to your choice of word processor. Plus your choice of options, preinstalled. And you won't pay an extra penny for the service, or wait an extra day. High-powered technology — without high prices. A word to the power-hungry: You can put away that huge purchase order. AMBRA offers the latest and leading industry-standard technology — like blazing-fast IBM® Blue Lightning'" processors, Intel® Pentium™ complexes, advanced video subsystems, high-speed local bus architecture, and lots more — for lots less. Here's how: Sourcing worldwide from the best suppliers, we buy smart and bargain aggressively. And because we keep our overhead low, when you buy direct from us, we pass our savings directly along to you. Prompt service and support — no empty promises. Now, for you savvy buyers: We know you're looking for more than a mere computing "bargain." Quite rightly, you want to be sure of receiving rapid service and ready support. That's why we've contracted with IBM to back AMBRA systems with rock-solid one-year warranties. You can count on expert technicians nationwide to deliver onsite service within two days of your call, Monday through Saturday. 1 You can also rely on a toll-free support line for answers any time you need them — \ technical representatives are standing by to assist you 24 hours a day, every day. Money-back guarantees — \ not gimmicks. \ Finally, to all our ne^ and soon-to-be-new friends; We absolutely want you t<\ be satisfied with your customized AMBRA system. If, for a\jy reason you're not, you can simply return it within 30 d$ys for a full refund. 1 - 2 We're committed to delivering exactly the computer you want, exactly the way you want it, at a price that's only surprising in terms of its thriftiness. We build it your way. To meet your needs. And, if you're not happy, we'll give your money back. AMBRA OMBRA invites you to design the world s most important computer. Yours. SLIMLINE (3x3) Processor □ 486SLC2, 50 MHz □ 486SX, 25 MHz □ 486DX, 33 MHz Memory D4MB D8MB DI6MB DOther MB Hard disk □ 120MB □ 170MB □ 240MB □ 340MB DESKTOP (5x5) Processor D486 Blue Lightning, 66 MHz □ 486DX2, 66 MHz Memory D4MB D8MB □ 16MB D32MB D64MB Hard disk □ 170MB □ 240MB □ 340MB □ 440MB MINITOWER (8x6) i Processor D486 Blue Lightning, 66 MHz D 486DX2, 66 MHz Memory D4MB D8MB □ 16MB D32MB D64MB Hard disk DI70MB D240MB D340MB D440MB EISA DESKTOP (8x6) Processor □ 486DX2, 66 MHz □ Pentium, 60 MHz Memory D8MB D 16MB D32MB D64MB Hard disk □ 170MB □ 240MB □ 340MB D 440MB D 540MB SCSI-2* EISA TOWER (8x12) i Processor D 486DX2, 66 MHz □ Pentium, 60 MHz Memory D8MB □ 16MB D32MB D64MB DOther MB Hard disk □ 170MB D 240MB □ 340MB D440MB □ 540MB SCSI-2 MONITORS 14-inch DVGA color DSVGA color DUVGA color 15-inch □ AMBRA Flat Square Tube □ NEC Multisync 4FGE 17-inch □ AMBRA Flat Square Tube □ NEC Multisync 5FG 21 -inch □ NEC Multisync 6FG OPTIONS CD-ROM □ Internal drive and software D Multimedia Kit Modems □ Data/Fax internal □ 2400 bps internal Tape backup □ 120MB internal/external drive □ 250MB internal/external Graphics accelerator Printers & scanners DATI Ultra Pro Graphics VL DIBM Personal Printer II (24-pin) D IBM LaserPrinter 4039 ( 1 2 ppm) □ IBM LaserPrinter 4029 ( 10 ppm, 6 ppm) DCalera WS Complete PC Scanner SOFTWARE Word □ Lotus Ami Pro D Microsoft Word® processing rj Wo rd Perfect Accounting □ Quicken Spreadsheet □ Microsoft Excel® □ Lotus 1-2-3 DQuattro Pro Graphics/ □ Lotus Freelance Graphics presentation D Microsoft PowerPoint® Comm/fax □ WinFax Pro "Not available with 486DX2, 66 MHz processor. ®ustomized computers at uncommonly smart prices. Slimline SuperSavers • 486SLC2, 50 MHz • 4MB RAM max: 16MB • 64KB processor cache • 3.5" 1 .44MB diskette drive • 120MB (19ms) hard disk • 3 I 6-bit ISA slots • Windows™ accelerator with I MB video memory • 1 4" VGA Color Monitor • Slimline casing (3 x 3) • MS-DOS® 6.0, Windows 3.1 , mouse $1,179 486DX, 33 MHz 4MB RAM max: 36MB 1 28KB processor cache 3.5" 1 .44MB diskette drive 1 70MB (1 7ms) hard disk 2 VESA local bus slots Windows™ accelerator with I MB video memory 1 4" SVGA LR Color Monitor MS-DOS 6.0, Windows 3. 1 , mouse Do-More Desktop • 486 Blue Lightning, 66 MHz • Upgradeable to Pentium technology • 8MB RAM max: 64MB • 256KB processor cache • 3.5" 1 .44MB diskette drive • 240MB (1 5ms) hard disk • Onboard SCSI • 5 1 6-bit ISA slots (2 VESA on local bus) • Windows accelerator with I MB video memory • 1 5" Flat Square LR color monitor, Nl • Network-ready (Ethernet lOBaseT) • Desktop casing (5 x 5) • MS-DOS 6.0, Windows 3. 1 , mouse $ 1,979 (For 8x6 minitower, add $50) Multimedia Minitower • 486 Blue Lightning, 66 MHz • Upgradeable to Pentium technology • 8MB RAM max: 64MB • 256KB processor cache • 3.5" 1 .44MB diskette drive • 440MB (1 2ms) hard disk • Onboard SCSI • 8 1 6-bit ISA slots (2 VESA on local bus) • Windows accelerator with I MB video memory • CD-ROM drive • MediaVision 1 6-bit sound card • Stereo speakers • 1 5" Flat Square LR color monitor, Nl • Network-ready (Ethernet lOBaseT) • Minitower casing (8 x 6) • MS-DOS 6.0, Windows 3. 1 , mouse $ 2,549 Ipl Pfcj ^.^jjfc^M j,fi^fep^S^yJ Pentium Processing Powerhouse • Intel Pentium processor, 60 MHz • 64-bit processor complex • 8MB RAM max: 64MB • 256KB processor cache • 3.5" 1 ,44MB diskette drive • 540MB SCSI hard disk • Onboard dual-channel fast SCSI • 8 32-bit EISA slots (2 VESA on local bus) • ATI Ultra Pro Mach 32, 2MB VRAM • 1 5" Flat Square LR color monitor, Nl • Desktop casing (8 x 6; convertible to minitower) • MS-DOS 6.0, Windows 3. 1 , mouse $ 3,999 $1,539 0PECIAL OFFER: GET THE BIGGER PICTURE! * We're upgrading the view on every AMBRA model with a 66 MHz or Pentium processor — without raising the price! With these systems, instead of the standard I 4-inch SVGA, you get a 1 5-inch Flat Square color monitor. At no extra cost. Limited-time offer. Call for details. In Canada, 3 call I -800-363-0066, ext. 87 1 CALL 1-80 0-252-6272 E X T . 2 9 5 8 AMBRA 1 Please call 1 -600-252-6272 for details regarding AMBRA's money-back guarantee and limited warranty. Onsite service may not be available in certain locations, 2 Return shipping and insurance charges are the responsibility ol the customer. ;J Olleringsmay diller in Canada. ©1993 AMBRA Computer Corporation. AMBRA is atrademark of ICPI Ltd. and used under license therelrom, The AMBRA logo and logotype are trademarks of AMBRA Computer Corporation, IBM is a registered trademark and Blue Lightning is a trademark ol International Business Machines Corporation. Intel is a registered trademark and Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Microsolt Word, Money, Excel. PowerPoint, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective suppliers, Offerings, prices and products are subject to change or withdrawal without prior notice. Prices do not include shipping. News & Views WILL RUN ON MAC, WINDOWS, AND UNIX First PowerPC Systems Hit the Street i t looks as though the first system to use the PowerPC 60 1 processor will come from — drumroll, please — IBM. The company's Advanced Work- stations and Systems division plans to ship four PowerPC- based systems by the end of the year, including a server that will cost about $9000. Any fu- ture single-chip RS/6000 mod- els that AWS will introduce will be based on the PowerPC. The company claims that the Model 250, one of the four new RS/6000s, will run two to three times faster than its older sib- ling, the Model 230. The Model 250 will run the same AIX 3.2.5 applications as the current single-processor RS/6000s (Models 220 and 230), which use IBM's RISC processor. IBM says that its version of the PowerOpen en- vironment, expected to ship this year, will also let you run Mac and Windows programs on the Model 250. Other oper- ating systems being ported to the PowerPC platform include Apple's System 7, Microsoft's Windows NT, SunSoft's So- laris, IBM's OS/2 (perhaps in the form of Workplace OS), andTaligent's Pink. ''We've been criticized a lot for not being first to market Sharing the PowerPC Three separate arms of IBM are currently devel- oping PowerPC-related products. An additional suspect — IBM PC Co. — is sticking instead with the Intel 80x86 platform, which includes IBM variations on Intel processors, like the 486-based Blue Lightning from IBM Microelectronics. Following is a rundown of the players. IBM PC Co. Somers, New York Robert Corrigan, president and CEO At least for now, this division will develop systems based solely on the Intel 80x86 platform, despite earlier public statements to the contrary. IBM Advanced Workstations and Systems Austin, Texas Bill Filip, president This division will have introduced the first PowerPC-based RS/6000 system, the Model 250, by the time you read this. Early next year, it will bring out a 5.5- pound Tadpole-developed notebook based on the PowerPC. It will eventually replace the entire single-chip RS/6000 product line with PowerPC-based systems running AIX and PowerOpen. Multiprocessor systems will be based on P0WER2 processor modules. IBM Power Personal Systems Somers, New York Nobuo Mii, president Formed with the mission of developing and marketing PC-like systems based exclusively on the PowerPC, this division expects to introduce its first products by mid-1994, which will compete with Intel- based systems. IBM Microelectronics Fishkill, New York Michael J. Attardo, general manager Formerly called IBM Technology Products, this division is the sole supplier of PowerPC 601 chips. It manufactures and sells the 6XX series to system makers and next year will introduce the PowerPC Embedded Controller 4XX series. It also makes IBM processors under a technology-sharing agreement with Intel. -E.P. with technology that we in- vented," said AWS's worksta- tion marketing director John B. Holz, "so here's a case where we've been working real hard. We invented it, we want to be first, and, unless something strange happens, we will be first." For people who need multi- processor RISC systems, IBM offers POWER2, a replacement technology for the POWER chips now implemented across the SMP (symmetric multipro- cessing) part of the RS/6000 line. While the PowerPC 601 is capable of multiprocessing, Holz says that the multichip POWER2 processor module is far superior to any multipro- cessor array of PowerPC chips that could now be built. At the Unix Expo show in New York, AWS also pre- viewed the PowerPC-based notebook computer that Tad- pole developed for IBM. The 5.5-pound notebook, boasting a 9.3-inch color TFT (thin-film transistor) display, is finished, said Holz, but IBM will not an- nounce it until early next year. The real trick for IBM will not be selling RS/6000 cus- tomers on the PowerPC. It will be persuading customers who use Intel-based systems that a PowerPC-based computer will run their DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications. Another di- vision of IBM's Personal Sys- tems line of business, Power Personal Systems, came into being solely to develop Pow- erPC-based computers. The first of these will be client-lev- el machines. — Ed Perratore IBM'S P0WER2 SYSTEMS For many customers of IBM's Ad- vanced Workstations and Systems (AWS) division, the PowerPC just doesn't cut it — at least not in its present incarnation. For these high-end AIX users, whose needs rise to the level of massively paral- lel systems, there's the new POW- ER2 architecture and two systems to employ it. P0WER2 uses an eight-chip processor module that includes several processors and support cir- cuitry (e.g., 1/0 and cache con- trollers). Because of the integra- tion of these chips, IBM claims, a module will execute six instruc- tions in one machine cycle. It looks like a uniprocessor to the operat- ing system and any applications. By contrast, an operating system dispatching instructions to an eight-processor PowerPC configu- ration would do so knowing there are eight processors. P0WER2 modules can be implemented in the hundreds, while the PowerPC's efficiency quickly falls short be- yond eight to 12 chips. Hence AWS's plans, at least for now, to limit PowerPC to single-chip imple- mentations. Along with the debut of POW- ER2, IBM has announced two sys- tem families that will use this ar- chitecture. The 990 replaces the RS/6000 970B and 980B. It may be rated the fastest RISC system in the industry, until new high-end systems appear. The new 58H and 590, running at 55 and 66 MHz, respectively, are replacements for the RS/6000 580. Existing systems are field-expandable to P0WER2; no prices were yet available. IBM is expected to announce mas- sively parallel systems using POW- ER2 by the end of the year. — E.P. 34- BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Extraordinary ExD-Ujpgrade. Upgrade To CA- Clipper 5.2 Ror $299 And Get A Copy Of New CA-Clipper/ExoSpace" And Your Choice Of Another Product Absolutely FREE! CA-Clipper \ ! CA-Clipper/ExoSpace' CA-Clbper Tools CA-Cli;.pcT/CampiIer Kit Break through the 640k barrier with the ultimate extended memory man- ager! Increase directly addressable memory from 640k to 16 megs. Over 550 time sewing, problem- sotvingfrnctions in one high-perfor- mance package. Raiseyour produc- tivity with thisvaluablelibraiy. Compile almost any dBASEIV application in three easy steps -and produce executable (.EXE) files with thcefficicncyoj "CA-Clipper. dBASE apps come alive with new CA^ ^^ DATAOASRD ADVISOR DATA BASED | ADVISOR X^^7 Eliminate virtual «. «+„n*M*mK.om* memory swapping, ^SCK ¥ " greatly improve per- f ormanceand run your Clipper applica- tions in protected mode. Existing 5.2 users can get CA-Clipper/ExoSpace for only $991 Feature CA-Clipper FoxPro dBASEIV Lexical variableScoping YES NO NO User-defined Commands YES NO NO Code Blocks YES NO NO Nested Multidimensional Arrays YES NO NO Predefined Object Classes YES NO NO Variables Modifiable in Debugger YES NO NO Customizable Reactive Error Handling YES NO NO ReadsandWrites FoxPro (.CDX) Files YES YES NO Reads and WritesdBASE IV (.MDX) Files YES NO YES Reads and Writes Paradox (.DB/.PX) Files YES NO NO New RDDs For FoxPro, Paradox and dBASE IV Replaceable database drivers for all the most popular development systems. Plus you can customize CA-Clipper with user- defi ned commands and functions. And seamlessly integrate modules from lan- guages such as C, Assembly, dBASE and Pascal. There are no runtime fees, no addi- tional licenses, no LanPaks. So what are you waiting for? Call right now and upgrade to the (mQMPUTER new standard in /ASSOCIATES Xbase development. Software superior by design. Comparison based on FoxPro Version 2.5 for DOS and dBASE IV Version 1.5. SEE YOUR LOCAL DEALER TODAY OR CALL COMPUTER ASSOCIATES AT 1-800-225-5224, Dept. 20500. Circle 77 on Inquiry Card. New CA-Clipper 5.2 ©Computer Associates International, Inc., One Computer Associates Plaza, Islandia, NY 11788-7000. 1-800-225-5224. All product names referenced herein are trademarks of their respective companies. Free copy shipped direct from Computer Associates when you register product. And you were told Pentium was powerful. If yOU'VC heard the Pentium" microprocessor was powerful, it's time you see the PowerPC™ Microprocessors from Motorola. To be perfectly candid, Pentium is fairly powerful, but it's not nearly as powerful as the PowerPC family of microprocessors. The first of Motorola's PowerPC Microprocessors, the PowerPC 601™ Microprocessor will bring workstation-like performance to low-cost PCs. Its integer performance (how fast it handles basic computer functions) is equal to Pentium's. In floating point performance (the speed you need to crunch numbers, run graphics, video, voice and the like), the 601 is a full 40 percent faster than Pentium, with no loss in integer performance. While the 601 outruns Pentium, it actually runs cooler. The 601 draws only 8.5 watts of power to 16 watts for Pentium which, incidentally, leads to lower overall system costs. The 601, of course, is only the beginning. Over the next eighteen months, we'll ship ever POWERED BY MOTOROLA ©1993 Molorola,hxc s Motorola and © arc registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc. PowerPC, PowerPC 601 PowerPC 603, PowerPC 604, PowerPC 620and the PowerPC logo are trademarks of IBM Corporation. Pentium is a trademark and Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Speed comparisons are based upon press reports of performance of the b6MHz version of the Pentium as announced by Intel, and Motorola's announced simulation performance of the 66MHz version of the MPC601. Thermal comparison is based upon preliminary Intel specification for the 66MHz Pentium, and the performance of samples of the 66MHz version of the MPC601 . Circle 177 on Inquiry Card. l\-i)tfinn PovkrPC' 601 PatferPC 603 Porf The VAD generates the required source code, saving you hours of complex programming. You also get a CA-dBFast 2 .0 also includes CA-RET - an outstanding Windows-based report writer that lets you mix text, graphics and data on the same report in a full WYSIWYG environment. Creating great-looking tabular reports, form letters and labels is as easy as using a word processor. FOR A FREE DEMO DISK, CALL 1-800 CALL CAI, Ext. 190. With CA-dBFast applications, there are no license fees, royalties or key diskettes to bother with. And recipients of runtime programs don't need CA- dBFast to run the application -just Windows. CA-dBFast is also compatible with CA-CLIP- PER, dBASE III Plus, dBASE IV, and FoxBASE. So whether you want to wake up old applications or build brilliant new ones, there's only one way to marry Windows beauty and Xbase power. Check out CA-dBFast today. . iSSOCIATES Software superior by design. New CA-dBFast Release 2.0. © Computer Associates International. Inc.. One Computer Associates Plaza, (slandia. NY 1178&-70CO. All product names referenced herein are trademarks of their respective companies. Circle 78 on Inquiry Card. Report from Orlando RICH FRIEDMAN Walt Disney Knew a Good Interface I he home of Disney World was a befitting place to hold the 5th International Confer- ence on Human-Computer In- teraction, or HCI. Disney en- gineers believed in multimedia long before the computer in- dustry. As conference partici- pant Lewis Branscomb, a Har- vard University professor and former IBM chief scientist, noted, it was Walt Disney's people who created human- machine interfaces that have induced millions of people to travel long distances to visit theme parks and pay big bucks to be entertained by friendly machines. Some 2000 academics and computer scientists from 43 countries came to the city Dis- ney built to exchange ideas and research notes on how to make computers easier to use during the next 10 years. Sev- eral presenters showed or re- ferred to that deceptively sim- ple Knowledge Navigator video that Apple produced in 1987 to demonstrate what kind of computers we might be using in the future. In the Knowledge Naviga- tor video — set half jokingly in the "era of the 40-minute work week" — a young pro- fessor tells his computer, which looks like a small flat notebook, to rearrange his schedule, converse with a col- league, search disparate data- bases for "a certain paper that was written about two years ago on the effect of logging on the Amazon rain forest," and perform other perfectly natural tasks you'd love your PC to do. So how close are we to such a vision? Not very, but by the turn of the century, experts predict that desktop PCs will be humming along at between 256 MIPS to 1 GIPS. The av- erage PC will hold about 4 GB of data, and networked data access will be counted in ter- abytes. This means that if the hardware engineers continue to extract their miracles, there will be enough bandwidth and speed to take graphical in- terfaces far beyond today's menu- and mouse-driven ap- plications. Welcome to much- improved speech and 3-D ges- ture recognition, virtual reality, agents, and eye tracking. Jakob Nielsen, a research scientist at Bellcore in Morris- town, New Jersey, who gave a day-long seminar on next-gen- eration user interfaces, be- lieves that future computers will play a much more active role in terms of what they pre- sent on their screens to users. For example, a PC might au- tomatically change the size of a screen font to accommo- date a user who sits further away from the screen. Object- oriented software will let the document, rather than the ap- plications that created it, be- come the primary focus of the user's attention. In fact, plug- and-play software modules will replace applications alto- gether, thus eliminating, for example, the need to store — and use — six different spell- ing checkers that come with six different applications. According to Nielsen, as multiple spelling checkers fade away, so, too, will our current notion of files. In the age of gigabyte hard drives, information retrieval will not be based on simple files but rather on interlinked informa- tion objects that let you ma- nipulate associations between your data. Although much work is yet to be done, agents will in- creasingly anticipate a user's needs and take over many tasks of operating a computer. If an agent senses that a user is having trouble, it can suggest a solution. An agent can learn fairly complex patterns, for- ward data to various locations depending on where a user is, and even, in some circum- stances, DWIM (do what I mean) instead of DWIS (do what I say). With its increased ability to recognize patterns and work habits, the computer will take on more program- ming tasks. By observing a user, the computer will be able to write programs that automate such behavior in the future. This will be more far- reaching and universal than the arcane scripting and macro languages contained in present applications. Everyone's question, of course, is, When will the next-generation interfaces happen? Some are already in use, such as pen and voice recognition, but they are handicapped by today's hard- Experts in human- computer interaction pre- dict computers will play a much more active role, taking the GUI far beyond today's point-and- click method of interaction. ware limitations. Researcher Nielsen does not believe we will have a very practical next-generation interface be- fore the year 2000. He says that the hardest hurdle to overcome will be standards for advanced data interchange and system integration. In 1986, a group of Danish computer professionals was asked how computer inter- faces would change by the year 2000. A third mentioned speech I/O; 16 percent cited the increased use of graphics, mice, and icons; 12 percent thought the "system would adapt to the user's level," and 7 percent thought we would progress to the point of self- explanatory systems and elim- inate the need for manuals. Yet an equal number believed "the past will survive." COBOL lives. ■ Rich Friedman is BYTE's executive editor. You can reach him on BIX as "/fried man. " 4-8 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 ILLUSTRATION: MANUEL KING © 1993/ PHOTOGRAPHY: J. MESSERSCHMIDT /T.S.I. © 1993 INTEL TECHNOLOGY BRIEFING ^^^^^ pi ^ ^J^ P^^nl INDE0™TECHN0L0GY ~ Real-time video Compression Desktop Video. Now Playing On Your PC. inde* INTEL VIDEO TECHNOLOGY Indeo™ video is a digital video recording format. It turns your PC into a video player, so you can view training tapes, recorded interviews and other digital "movies." With the appropriate hardware, it also turns your PC into a video recorder. In this brief, you'll learn about the technology behind the motion. Why digital video? Due to its versatility, digital video has several advantages over analog video. You can edit it, store it, and transmit it small-screen video file is typically 50MB, but it can reach hundreds of mega- bytes. On average, Indeo video will reduce this 50MB file to about 9MB. easily. However, the COMPRESS Not only do com process of digitizing video generates massive amounts of data, creating a storage prob- lem. That's why you need Indeo video. Indeo Technology defined. Developed by the Intel Architecture Labs, Indeo video is a software tech- nology that reduces the size of uncompressed digital video files from 5 to more than 10 times. This is important, because a one-minute pressed hies take up less hard disk space, they also process "aster, giving you better quality playback. How do you get Indeo video? It's included free in products like Video for Windows; OS/2* and QuickTime* (Mac and Windows). What makes Indeo vjdeo "Smart?" Indeo Technology has essentially three unique benefits: Smart playback. Indeo Technology is scalable. That is, it auto- matically determines what hardware is available and opti- mizes playback for that configuration. For example, it will give faster frame rates to machines with more pro- cessing power. As shown in the chart back, good quality video can be achieved with an Intel486™ DX2 processor. A Pentium™ processor gives even better quality. Smart recording. To get the best quality playback, you must first capture as much video data as possible during the recording process. Currently, Indeo video allows capture in a 320x240 pixel window at 15 frames per second with 24-bits of color. This ensures good quality when video is played back in larger windows. A unique feature of Indeo Technology is that it compresses video in real time, as it's being recorded through a video capture board. So the file doesn't have to be saved to the hard disk then later compressed — a process which can take up to 15 to 30 minutes per minute of video and requires massive storage capacity. Smart compression. Only Indeo video uses multiple types of "lossy" and "lossless" compres- sion techniques. (See diagram this page.) With lossless compression, no information is lost. It is instead encoded into a format that occupies less space. Lossy compres- sion carefully removes from video images "excess" data which won't be noticed by the human eye. This affords greater compression ratios, and hence better playback performance. Video recording. 1 INPUT AND CONVERSION. analog video is received from a video camera, vcr or laserdisk in any standard format such as ntsc (broad- cast tv). a video capture board such as the intel smart Video Recorder — converts this analog video signal into digital information. VIDEO PLAYBACK. 1NDEO VIDEO LETS YOU PLAY BACK A VIDEO FILE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU RECORDED IT. BEFORE THE FILE CAN BE VIEWED, IT MUST FIRST BE DECOMPRESSED. iNDEO VIDEO REVERSES THE COMPRESSION PROCESS, REASSEM- BLING THE VIDEO INFORMATION ON THE i486 MICROPROCESSOR AGAIN IN REAL TIME. SINCE iNDEO TECHNOLOGY IS SCALABLE, IT AUTOMATICALLY ADAPTS PLAYBACK (FRAME RATE) TO THE HARD- WARE IT IS RUNNING ON. % mi%. V ^N Z Single-step compression. After the video is digitized, indeo video, running on the i750 video processor, compresses it in realtime, utilizing the following: INDEO VIDEO COMPRESSION TECHNIQUES. • YUV SUBSAMPLING REDUCES A PIXEL AREA TO AN AVERAGE COLOR VALUE • PIXEL DIFFERENCING AND TEMPORAL COMPRESSION SHRINK data by storing only the information which changes between pixels or frames, like a moving image • Run Length Encoding notes a "run" of identical pixels and records how many occur • Variable content Encoding reduces a variable amount of information into a fixed number of bits. x Storage. ONCE COMPRESSED, THE DIGITIZED VIDEO FILE IS THEN COMBINED WITH THE AUDIO INFOR- MATION INTO A STANDARD FILE FORMAT, SUCH AS MICROSOFT'S Audio Video Interleave (AVI), AND STORED TO A HARD DISK. NOW THE FILE IS READY FOR USE, I.E. PLAYBACK, EDITING, DISTRIBUTION OR STORAGE ON DISK OR CD-ROM. Factors That Affect Video Quality Window size vs. frame rate Slow Frame Rate Fast Frame Rate > 1/16 SCREEN (160x120 PIXELS) U - Large Window Small Window Microprocessor performance Processor** Full Screen 1/4 Screen 1/16 Screen i486 SX-25 i486 DX2-66 Pentium Processor ~1 fps* 10fps 20 fps 15 fps 30 fps 30 fps 30 fps 30 fps 30 fps Factors that affect video playback. There are essentially three factors that affect video performance: • Microprocessor speed • Playback window size • Frame rate Smaller playback windows result in smoother, more natural video images. a faster micro- processor supports bigger playback windows and higher frame rates. "•'Frames Per Second. * !): l'ramc rale based on playiii" mm Imleo video file captured al 30 fps. 'Nurse are typical numbers only. The frame ratiMiiay vary based on system eonl'i»urution and the video clip being used. Intel video advancements. There are three ways in which Intel is continuing to improve desktop video. First, faster video starts with faster computers, so we're developing faster CPU technology. Second, we're working with leading graphics card vendors to optimize their software drivers for lndeo video. And finally, we're developing more efficient compression and decompression (codec) techniques to give video higher quality All of which will help you understand why Intel and lndeo Technology mean higher-quality video. HOW DO I GET INDEO VIDEO? lndeo video is included in most operating systems, so you get it free. Additionally, most leading software developers are using lndeo Technology to add video capabili ties to their appli- / cations, because of its high quali- ty and interoper- ability between dif ferent platforms. So you can interchange video ITiCfetf files between operating N systems — even between PCs and Macs. Look for the lndeo video ^^logo whenever you buy multimedia hardware and software. > TECHNOLOG For More Information On Indeo Video, Call 1-800-955-5599. We've prepared a complete package of information including an lndeo Video Technical Overview. Simply ask for literature packet #7 1. The materials are free. So is the call. intel '1 993 Intel Corporation. *AII products mentioned nrc trademarks of their respective companies. Books & CD-ROMs Big Blue Tales MICMOLL mmMbm; ANDY REINHARDT o matter how closely you've followed the in- exorable decline of IBM over the last few years, or how voraciously you've devoured every revelation in the public and bitter "divorce" between IBM and its erstwhile ally Microsoft, you're bound to find new and fascinating details in Big Blues: The Unmaking of IBM by Wall Street Journal reporter Paul Carroll. Densely researched and richly detailed, it chronicles the fall of IBM, from the heady highs of the early 1980s — when the company posted a $6.6 billion profit in a single year, the most ever earned by any corporation — to the nightmare of 1 993, when IBM ousted its chairman, broke its policy of no layoffs to jettison thousands of workers, and posted the largest corporate loss ever recorded. Carroll covered IBM for seven years for the Journal and was especially admired for the quality of his sources. He minces no words in analyzing the factors that led to IBM's fall: thick layers of bureaucracy, excruciatingly slow development cy- cles, a mainframe mentality and lack of vision about the PC market, an inability to deliver good software, and, most of all, rampant complacency that obscured how bad things had really gotten. The fast-paced narrative is full of juicy anecdotes; some have appeared else- where, but many more are published here for the first time. Carroll's access and knowledge are evident throughout. He covers a huge range of subjects, from the underlying trends that have shaped and altered the computer business over the last two decades, to the personalities of key executives inside and outside IBM, to fly-on-the-wall descriptions of key battles in the long-simmering feud be- tween IBM and Microsoft. Indeed, the strongest aspect of Big Blues is its anecdotes. Carroll reveals, for example, that IBM tried and failed to create a custom version of the 286 that would fix the chip's inability to switch from protected mode back into real mode. He also discloses that Lotus founder Mitch Kapor tried and failed to interest IBM in an exclusive marketing deal for 1-2-3. The latter is one of dozens of ex- amples Carroll cites of opportunities squandered by IBM. I found especially interesting the discussion of the "bus wars" of 1989, in which Carroll concludes that with the PS/2's Micro Channel architecture; "IBM had staked the future of its PC business on an irrelevancy." Another fascinating section is his description of the events leading up to the fateful 1 989 Fall Comdex press conference in which IBM and Microsoft tried to clarify the relationship be- tween OS/2 and Windows and succeeded only in confusing the market. The book's main weakness is that its assessment of IBM may prove to be too unremittingly harsh. Carroll subjects the company and many of its executives to breathtaking criticism; those especially mauled are former chairman John Opel and former PC division head Bill Lowe, whom Carroll describes repeatedly as wooden and upon whom he heaps the most blame for IBM's PC market-share loss. Carroll accords most favorable treatment to Don Estridge, the head of the IBM PC skunk works, who was killed in an airplane crash in 1 985. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates comes off surprisingly well, a notable change from the pasting he has taken in a wave of recent biographies. The book's organization varies between chronological and thematic, which in- troduces redundancy and sometimes confuses the order of events. Readers who are not well versed in computer technology will appreciate how clearly Carroll explains basic concepts, but sometimes his lack of technical detail obscures the meaning of events, such as the battle between IBM and Microsoft in mid- 1986 over whose GUI architecture should be used on top of OS/2. Carroll's writing suffers from a problem common among newspaper-reporters- INFORMATION GALORE MICROSOFT DEVELOPER NETWORK CD QUARTERLY, $195 This powerful research tool, built around a customized version of Mi- crosoft's Multimedia Viewer, is an in- formation gold mine for the professional software developer. One section presents technical articles that address a wide range of questions: How do I use the DLL version of the Microsoft Foundation Classes? How does the SQL Server query optimizer work? How can my program exploit the Windows palette manager? Microsoft programmers answer these questions with surprisingly literate prose, diagrams, and sample code. Another section presents nothing but code samples. You can view and in many cases run these programs directly off the CD. When you want to tinker with them, you can just click on a transfer button to move the complete sources onto your hard disk. A third section presents the full text of a number of key specifications, including those for NDIS, DPMI, MAPI, ODBC, Windows Sockets, and Windows Tele- phony. A fourth section contains technical notes and bug reports for nearly 40 prod- ucts, including Visual C++, FoxPro, MS- DOS, and various SDKs and DDKs. Al- most all entries include illustrative code fragments. Bugs still outstanding are so noted, and workarounds (if available) are described. A fifth section offers books and period- icals, notably classics on DOS and Win- dows programming by Charles Petzold and Ray Duncan and the Microsoft Systems Journal. A sixth section contains documen- tation for products such as the MSCDEX DDK, the Excel SDK, and the Windows 3.1 DDK and SDK, along with the Win- dows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, and Windows NT resource kits. If your liveli- hood depends on Microsoft's growing fam- ily of operating systems, programming tools, and applications, you probably can't afford not to subscribe. — Jon Udell NOVEMBER 1993 BYTE 49 Circle 1 59 on Inquiry Card. PROTECT YOUR SOFTWARE NO BUTTON, NO ACCESS. Dallas Semiconductor is re-shaping the world of software protection and distribution control with a new family of microchips called Buttons. We put the lid on software piracy by packaging microchips in button-shaped, stainless steel cans. The chips contain missing but critical information to make the software run. We offer a variety of Authorization Buttons and features so you can select the level of protection and price point that are right for you. Security Continuum Button Type Unique Serial # Read/Write Memory Password Protection Expiration Timer Decoy Responses DS1420 ID Button X DS1427Time Button X 4K bits X DS1425 Multi Button X 2K bits X X Snap In, Snap Out Authorization Buttons interface to the installed base of 100+ million PC's via the DS1410 Button Holder. They simply snap in and out. The DS1410 accepts two Buttons concurrently. Toward a Dongleless World New computers that accept Buttons directly, including palm and notebooks, are being designed at OEM's today. Our Dongle Trade-In Program will help in your transition to this world. With an approved application, we'll pay you $7.00 for each dongle that you trade in for an Authorization^ Button and Holder. This offer , is good until December 31, 1993. The one-piece price for the DS1420 is $4.35; volume discounts apply. We're Serious About Security At Dallas Semiconductor, we design and manufacture our own microchips. And we're the only ones in the software protection business who do. Sixty intricate process steps and a 64-bit unique registration number lasered into each chip prevent duplication. To learn how to button down your software, give us a call. DALLAS SEMICONDUCTOR 4401 South Beltwood Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75244-3292 Telephone: 214-450-8170 FAX: 214-450-3715 Books & CD-ROMs tumed-authors: a tendency to rely too much on stories strung to- gether with generalizations and foreboding phrases. Thus, de- scribing IBM's decision to pull the PC group back into the cor- porate structure, he says, "The move would not only doom IBM's PC business but would eventually put Don Estridge on a plane that would cost him his life." (The millions of IBM PCs and PS/2s sold since then suggest that the business was far from doomed.) The glibness reaches a peak in Carroll's frequent assertions that main- frames are dinosaurs and OS/2 is a failure, before the final verdicts have been rendered. Although he doesn't offer a unique or especially profound analysis of the recent history of IBM, Car- roll's story-telling skills justify reading Big Blues. If you're hungry for a peek inside the walls of IBM, you'll soak up every page. BIG BLUES: THE UNMAKING OF IBM Paul Carroll Crown Publishers ISBN 0-517-59197-9 Andy Reinhardt is BYTE's West Coast bureau chief. You can reach him on BIX as "areinhardt. " $24 CLONING TRENDS TECHN0TRENDS by Daniel Burrus and Roger Gittines HarperCollins, ISBN 0-88730-627-6, $25 In 1982, John NaisbitVs Megatrends launched a new subgenre of business books with a formula that was simplicity itself: Identify a handful of major trends, sketch out each n a highly structured chapter, and pitch the result to baby-boomer corporate business managers looking for a road map to the future. Mega- trends wasn't so much a book to read as it was a database to ac- cess. Naisbitt's 30-something audience could pick up the buzz- words from the subtitles, dig a little deeper by scanning chapter introductions and boldface keynote paragraphs, and check out his statistics and other evidence at leisure. Not surprisingly, clones of Megatrends soon started rolling off the presses. Nais- bitt even copied his own success in Megatrends 2000 (which in- cluded a prediction that there would be no recession in the 1990s). At first glance, Daniel Burrus' s Technot rends seems to come from the same genetic heritage, albeit with a high-tech spin. The cover blurb promises "24 technologies that will revolutionize our lives." Pen-based and multimedia computers top the list, but that's just the start. Burrus identifies 20 core technologies, nine revolutions new products will create, 30 rules for leveraging new technology ("If it works, it's obsolete"), and nearly 100 para- digm shifts. If the genetic code for a Megatrends clone calls for a short list of memorable trends identified by buzzwords, Tech- not rends resembles a recombinant DNA experiment run amok. Burrus is clearly no management pundit distilling the future into a simple road map. He's not a technologist, either; most BYTE readers won't learn anything new from the discussions of ob- ject-oriented programming and distributed computing. Burrus's goal is to get readers thinking about how all these products, tech- nologies, revolutions, and trends fit together — and how ordinary people can create business advantages from technological change. Unfortunately, the book's dialogue is sophomoric. And while Burrus's thoughts are wide-ranging, they never go very deep. — Frank Hayes SO BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 —I Computing Know How -A*A^ ^ for advancing your business skills EXCEL for Science & Technology HP DeskJet Companion Multimedia Mania Leamthe basicsfrom adding CD-ROMs and sound boards to making an MPC system. Includes CD- ROM with over 400 megabytes of sounds, graphics, animations, samples and techniques. Experiment with several commercial multimedia demos. Valuable coupons from major software publishers worth over $600 inside. $49.95 with companion CD-ROM. focuses on the powerof Excel beyond the spreadsheet. Learn about Excel Solver, Scenario Manager, Mathematics Functions, Physics, Chemistry, Technology Conversion and many other topics. This book and its companion disk allow you to immediately apply what you learn by using the macros and worksheets on the disk. Excel for Science and Technology is more than a book; it's an indispensable professional work tool. $34.95 with companion disk. Hands-on knowledge necessary for running ink jet printersefficiently. Provides solid support including how to select and download new fonts, how to choose the correct Windows printer driver, tips on using the color options and practical advice on how to troubleshoot the most frequently encountered problems. The ideal reference for HP DeskJet users, whether they're looking for information about connecting the printer, paper handling or programming the HP DeskJet printer. $26.95 with companion disk. PKZIP, LHARC & Co. Learn the basics of data compression and then the specifics of using the major shareware and freeware programs. Covers features and commands for using PKZIP, LHARC and others. $19.95. DataCruncher Software- Fail Safe way to save disk space A Windows shellfor usingany of the above software. $17.95. AutoCAD 12 Programming Seehow to integrate custom functionsand commands into AutoCAD. Learn batch file programming, for user defined startup; script files , for specific drawing sequences; and custom commands with AutoLISPor ADS. Diskette contains menus and programming examples to help you learn fast. $44.95 with companion disk. The 486 Book See why the 486 is the processor of choice; how it works and how you can set up your system for maximum performance — even with DOS 6. Info on new Overdrives, DX2s and even the pentium. Includes SystemSleuth Professional and PCINFO software on companion diskette. $34.95 with companion disk. Upgrading & Maintaining Your PC OS/2 BIBLE Order Toll Free 1-800-451-4319 Available at: B. Dalton, Barnes & Noble, Bookstar, Bookstop, Waldenbooks, Crown Books, Software Etc., CompUSA, Computer City Superstores, Fry's Electronics, Computer Literacy, Tower Books, Stacey's, and other retailers nationwide. In Canada at: Coles, W.H. Smith Books, Classic Bookshops, and London Drug. Call or write for our tree catalog of PC Books. Abacus! Dept 8 1 1 , 5370 52nd Street SE, Grand Rapids, Ml 49512 Phone: (616) 69^0330 • Fax: (616) 6960325 Circle 61 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 62). Turn your PC into a high performance screamer! Whether you're adding memory or a hard drive, a CD-ROM or a sound board or upgrading an XT to a 386 or 486, this book shows you how. Includes companion diskette of utilities and System Sleuth™ diagnostic software that helps you analyze your systems performance. $34.95 with companion disk, [Please rush me the following books: Multimedia Mania $49.95 ea. Excel for Science & Tech .... $34.95 ea. HP DeskJet Companion $26.95 ea. PKZIP, LHARC & Co $19.95 ea. DataCruncher $17.95 ea. AutoCAD 12 Programming . $44.95 ea. The 4ft6 Book $34.95 ea. Upgrading & Maintaining ...$34.95 ea. 05/2 BIBLE $44.95 ea. SoundBlaster Book $34.95 ea. Subtotal: Ml orders include 47« sn\ee t In US & Canada add $5.00 shipping Foreign orders add $15.00 per item Total amount (US funds): Tells you everything you want to know about IBM's latest and greatest Personal Computer operating system. Learn all about the OS/2 Workplace Shell and the fantastic programs IBM has included with OS/2. See why OS/2 runs Windows applications faster and better than Windows does. The appendix contains a complete printed reference of all the OS/ 2 commands, so you can find the info you need fast. $44.95 with companion disk. The SoundBlaster Book This bestselling book is the complete guide to Sound Blaster™, from installationtocustomprogramming. Discusses different Sound Blaster™ cards, commercial, public domain and shareware software products available. $34.95 with companion disk. For fast delivery Order Toll Free 1-000-451-4319 ext. 211. or FAX (616) 69&-0325~l Or mail this coupon to: Abacus, 5370 52nd Street SE, Grand Rapids, Ml 49512 Method of Payment: □ Visa □ Master Card □ Am.Express □ Check / M.O. Card#: | | | | | | | |_|_| | | U^— l_l Expires: / Name: Company-. Address: _ City: _ State: Zip: Phone#: _Fax#: □ Yes, please rush your free catalog of PC books and software. Dept. B11 Circle 1 70 on Inquiry Card. Your PC goes Mac! MacDisk* for W indows Reads, writes and formats Mac 1,44 MB floppies. File exchanges between Word, Excel, PageMaker, XPress, etc. without any hardware modification. MacSQ* for Windows Reads/writes 44/88 MB Mac SyQuest cartridges. Transfer of scan files, colour separations. Supports Adaptec boards (ASPI), low- cost adapters and parallel port solutions (Puma, D2-Para). MacDisk* Pro A superset of MacSQ, also drives 128 MB MO cartridges and 90 MB Bernouillis and soon even bigger Mac SCSI volumes (600 MB MO). Logiciels & Services DUHEM 21, rue La Bruyere - F-75009 PARIS (France) Tel. (33.1) 49 70 04 55/Fax (33.1) 49 70 04 56 Free leaflet and demo disk. Offer good until supply lasts. MacDisk 850 FF, MacSQ 1250FF, MacDisk Pro 1450FF (w/o S&H fees). EEC residents, add French VAT ( 18,6 %). We accept most credit cards. Dealers welcome. Software in French/English/German, Manual in French/English. * Registered trademarks of LSD in France and trademarks of LSD elsewhere. Ever seen a grown pirate cry ? Just plug this in ... and watch MEMOPLUG™ The amazing Software protection system based on a hardware plug. Contains read-write programmable memory. This system is practical and easy to use for both programmer and end-user. Supports various programming languages, operating systems and types of computers. U-PLUG™ The premiere protection plug for UNIX systems that connects the standard serial port of computers and workstations. LANPLUG™ Comprehensive network protection starts with a single plug. The LANPlug lets you operate protected software from any workstation on the network, while supervising a number of authorized simultaneous operation applications. CLOCKPLUG™ This unique Time-limited software protection system is based on a plug containing a real-time clock. It allows users limited execution times for leasing and demonstration applications. A password system allows you to rewind the clock by telephone U.S. office: Tel: 1 (800) 677 1587 Tel: (407) 682 1587 Fax: (407) 869 1409 South Africa: LionSof t Tel: 1 1 640 6002 Holland: M.H.P Tel: (31)440612916 MICROCOMPUTERS LTD France: C.T.I Tel: ( 1 ) 47 38 1 6 1 7 5 Haganim. P.O. Box 8691 Spain: Economic Data Tel: (34) 1 442 28 00 Haifa 35022 ISRAEL Czeck Republic: PC Kompas Fax: (42) 2 43 1 1 88 Tel: 972-4-51611 1. Fax: 972-4-528613 Currently looking for international distributors See us at COMDEX Fall '93, Location S 3031 BliaShim Books & CD-ROMs RUN ROBOT RUN MOBILE ROBOTS: INSPIRATION TO IMPLEMENTATION by Anita Flynn and Joseph Jones A. K. Peters, ISBN 1-56881-011-3, $39.95 Imagine a robot in your future. It will clean the house, walk the dog, wash your car, and take out the trash. Well, dream on, but don't expect reality to catch up with fiction anytime soon. There are, however, extremely interesting projects currently under way in the robotics field: interplanetary explorers, deep-sea divers, and automated toxic-waste cleanup crews. In my opinion, one of the most interesting trends in robotics is the move away from the design of giant, all-powerful robots toward developing groups of small, special-purpose machines. It's the approach of trying to build ants rather than anything even as complex as a chimpanzee. Another trend is the separation of intelligence from intelli- gent behavior. As long as a robot does what you want it to do, why bother wondering whether or not it's really intelligent? Leave that for the theorists and scientists. En- gineers simply make things that work. Mobile Robots: Inspiration to Imple- mentation is a handbook for constructing your own experimental robots. These machines may be constructed of Legos and other equally inexpensive compo- nents, but they are more than simply toys. They are fully functioning robots with minds of their own. The simplest machine, TuteBot, doesn't even require a microprocessor. Its programmable, exploratory behavior is controlled by a few transistors and po- tentiometers. Yet, even being brainless, it can explore entire rooms, wandering into remote corners and extricating itself for fur- ther exploration. Believe me, a roomful of these little critters is pure entertainment. Rug Warrior is the more complex machine, complete with an on-board 68HC1 1 processor and software based on subsump- tion architecture. The subsumption approach to robotics is the simple yet elegant concept that behavior should be composed of increasingly complex levels of control. For example, a low-lev- el behavior may simply know how to move a leg. A middle-level behavior could know about gaits. A high-level behavior could say, "Let's go through that door." Flynn and Jones provide more than just step-by-step plans for constructing these robots. They include the basic mechanical, electrical, and software background for making it all work, and for designing your own machines. You'll find chapters on real-time control, types of sensors and how to control them, motor dy- namics, battery recharging, and the design of stable systems. Appendixes provide complete plans for a 68HC1 1 control com- puter, a parts source book, and a list of current robot-related pub- lications (it even references my own newsletter). Whether you are a serious explorer intent on creating a future world populated with robot devices, or simply a backyard hobbyist building machines to frighten the neighborhood cats, you '11 find Mobile Robots an indispensable handbook. ■ — Raymond GA Cote 52 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Circle 87 on Inquiry Card. : High performance 486 ,M DX2. Blazing 66MHz, backed by our exclusive turbo cache, for unpar- alleled workstation performance. Optional Built-in 5.25" CD ROM. Hie medium with capacity for video clips, graphics, photo CDs, or an entire set of manuals. basics >■***.*« ».»..*• m-«.'* ■■;•;■* * * p.m. »-*,*.a«. Two Full-length ISA Slots. Connections are everything. And this machine allows for plenty— Ethernet, video, you name it. 1. ,./ i m AtediricgicaltDurde force PCMCIA Expandability. The T6600C offers a huge wealth of communication and expansion options, including a 16mm PCMCIA 2.01 compliant slot large enough for a hard drive! Built-in Stereo Speakers. Quality audio adds another dimension to any program. With Microsoft® Microphone* included, your work can speak for itself. Take your entire show on the road. The new Toshiba T6600C Series represents the most advanced technology and muscle we've ever put into a portable. With its 486™DX2 processor, dual ISA full-slot expansion, and huge storage options, the T6600C Series delivers the power and capacity for the most demanding portable applications. From network analysis to software development to full-blown multimedia, if you need to tour with a great deal of force, this is your system. Feel the force. For your nearest dealer, call 1-800 457-7777. In Touch with Tomorrow TOSHIBA The New T6600C Series •Intel486T>X2/66MHz • 8MB RAM expandable to 40MB RAM • 10.4" color active matrix TFT-LCD screen • SVGA display with 640x480x256 color resolution •510MB HDD • Two full length 16-bit ISA slots • One 16mm PCMCIA 2.01 compliant slot • Built-in SCSI with external SCSI-II port • Microsoft? Sound System'" • 5.25" half height 200ms double speed CD-ROM (T6600C/CD and T6600C/CDV models only) • MediaShare*Mambo ,u DVFVEthemet™ board (T6600C/CDV model only) © 1993 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. The Intel Inside logo is a trademark of Intel Corporation. All products indicated by trademark symbols are trademarked and/or registered by their respective companies. &asa is a registered trademark, Circle 1 37 on Inquiry Card. .4**** IF ^d The Computer That Gives Y)u The Most Bang For The Buck. A $1,500] T Sateway 4DX-33 Gateway 40X-33Vv Compaq Prolinao Acer Acres • Northgote IBM PS/I HPVedra • 486/33VL AIK4/33 Con^poq 4/331/ Compaq 486/33M' Compaq 4/331 V Point*. q486/33M / ,*l Dell/co/M 7 486VU • ^Acerfbwor \ * ^ NCR 3333 N AIR 4E/33 -Dell4©6/ME NCR 3350 ZEOS NortfvQote A ^. °*rH^ 100 140 Greoler performance and feoturei Others pale in comparison. There's no way to dispute it! The results are in, and the ZEOS Upgradable 486DX2-66 is "the overall performance winner." PC buyers expect low prices, top-quality impec- cable performance and prompt support. Basically they want the most bang for their buck. PC Magazine recognized this and compared value-line PCs with more traditional systems to see if they were "truly good values or stripped-down machines trying to pass for good buys." The re- sults are overwhelmingly in ZEOS' favor. In fact, PC Magazine said: "ZEOS doesn't sell a separate value line, but the flexibility of its main system may be the least confusing solution of all!' Stacked against Gateway Dell, Compaq, IBM and others, ZEOS stood alone Using the Benchmark Tests m ,1*1 w m ZEOS486DX2-66... THE TOP GUN $2995 ■ Genuine Intel 486DX2-66 microprocessor; upgradable to Pentium™ OverDrive™ ■ 8MB RAM expandable to 64MB 1 256K SRAM system cache 1 528MB local bus IDE hard drive i Diamond Viper/VLB local bus video card with 1MB VRAM 1 1.2MB and 1.44MB floppy drives 1 15" ZEOS color SVGA non-interlaced monitor, .28mm dot pitch i MS-DOS 6 with Enhanced Tools, Windows, and new Microsoft Mouse, plus choice of Lotus Windows applications 1 14,400 bps V32 bis send/receive fax modem i SAME DAY SHIPPING m&—* as a guide, PC Magazine made these conclusions: "As DOSmark scores are heavily weighted for pro- cessor and hard disk performance, the ZEOS garnered the first-place position in that category as well!' "The clear winner is. . . the ZEOS Upgradable, which turned in an incredible score of 55.01 mega- pixels per second!' "The real highlight among tested hard disks was the Seagate ST3600A, which has 12-ms access time and 256K of built-in cache. The ZEOS 486DX2-66 Upgradable^ hard disk performance was almost 31 percent above the average in this roundup!' Of the "systems that demonstrated the best agility under strenuous exercise of all their components. . . ZEOS (scored) 26 percent above average" The ZEOS local bus upgradable systems are the perfect solution — the brand-new motherboard is faster, more integrated, versatile and reliable than ever. Plus, ZEOS is always thinking ahead to your STANDARD WITH EVERY ZEOS UPGRADABLE SYSTEM ■ Upgradable to Intel's Pentium™ OverDrive™ CPU. Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket makes upgrading easy l RAM expandable to 64MB on the motherboard. ■ Two serial ports and one parallel port integrated on the motherboard. ■ Flash BIOS for easy upgradability ■ Eight expansion slots: two VESA local bus, five 16-bit and one 8-bit. ■ ZEOS six-bay desktop case with two cooling fans for increased reliability and product life. ■ High-capacity power supply with built-in surge suppression; switchable between 115/230V ■ Socket for inexpensive optional on-board SCSI. ■ Shadow RAM support. ■ ZEOS 101-key space-saving keyboard. ■ FCC Certified Class B; UL Listed. ■ Complete ZEOS Customer Satisfaction Package. PACKAGE 1 PACKAGE 2 PACKAGE 3 486SX-25 $1395 Lease $59/month 486SX-33 $1495 Lease $63/month 486DX-33 $1695 Lease $61/month 486DX2-50 $1795 Lease $65/month 486DX2-66 $1895 Lease $69/month ■ ZIF socket upgradability to Pentium OverDrive CPU ■ 2MB high-speed RAM ■ 107MB local bus IDE hard drive w/32K cache ■ Diamond SpeedStar Pro Windows-accelerated VL local bus video with 1MB RAM. 16.7 million colors. ■ ZEOS 14" 1024 x 768 Nl SVGA color monitor, .28mm dot pitch ■ Your choice of floppy drives ■ MS-DOS 6 plus Enhanced Tools 486SX-25 $1695 Lease $61/month 486SX-33 $1795 Lease $65/month 486DX-33 $1995 Lease $72/month 486DX2-50 $2095 Lease $76/month 486DX2-66 $2195 Lease $79/month ■ ZIF socket upgradability to Pentium OverDrive CPU ■ 4MB high-speed RAM ■ 214MB local bus IDE hard drive w/128K cache ■ Diamond SpeedStar Pro Windows-accelerated VL local bus video with 1MB RAM. 16.7 million colors. ■ ZEOS 14" 1024 x 768 Nl SVGA color monitor, .28mm dot pitch ■ Both 1.2MB and 1.44MB floppy drives ■ MS-DOS 6, Tools, Windows & new Microsoft Mouse, plus choice of Lotus Windows application 486SX-25 $1995 Lease $72/month 486SX-33 $2095 Lease $76/month 486DX-33 $2295 Lease $83/month 486DX2-50 $2395 Lease $87/month 486DX2-66 $2495 Lease $90/month ■ ZIF socket upgradability to Pentium OverDrive CPU ■ 8MB high-speed RAM ■ 426MB, 13ms local bus IDE hard drive w/128K cache ■ Diamond SpeedStar Pro Windows-accelerated VL local bus video with 1MB RAM. 16.7 million colors. ■ ZEOS 14" 1024 x 768 Nl SVGA color monitor, .28mm dot pitch ■ Both 1.2MB and 1.44MB floppy drives ■ MS-DOS 6, Tools, Windows & new Microsoft Mouse, plus choice of Lotus Windows application PACKAGE 4 486SX-25 $2495 Lease $90/month 486SX-33 $2595 Lease $94/month 486DX-33 $2795 Lease $101/month 486DX2-50 $2895 Lease $105/month 486DX2-66 $2995 Lease $108/month ■ ZIF socket upgradability to Pentium OverDrive CPU ■ 16MB high-speed RAM ■ 528MB, 12ms local bus IDE hard drive w/256K cache ■ Diamond SpeedStar Pro Windows-accelerated VL local bus video with 1MB RAM. 16.7 million colors. ■ ZEOS 14" 1024 x 768 Nl SVGA color monitor, .28mm dot pitch ■ Both 1.2MB and 1.44MB floppy drives ■ MS-DOS 6, Tools, Windows & new Microsoft Mouse, plus choice of Lotus Windows application FAVORITE OPTIONS 426MB to 528MB HDD UPGRADE $190 256K SYSTEM CACHE $98 ADAPTEC 6360 SCSI CONTROLLER CHIP For on-board SCSI. Includes drivers $49 2400 bps V42 bis MODEM WITH 9600 bps SEND/RECEIVE FAX $99 DIAMOND VIPER VIDEO CARD 1MB VRAM: $149 2MB VRAM: $249 COMPLETE MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE MPC compliant, multi-session CD-ROM, 16-bit/48KHz Cardinal Digital Sound Pro 16 with Digital Signal Processor (Soundblaster and Adlib compatible), and stereo speakers .... $395 15-INCH MONITOR UPGRADE SVGA non-interlaced, 1024 x 768, flat screen . $95 Many other affordable upgrades and options available. Call for details! future needs and technological advances; therefore, we include such features as CPU upgradability to Intel's Pentium OverDrive; a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) CPU socket, Flash BIOS for easy upgrada- bility and a SCSI upgrade socket for adding SCSI without having to use a slot. We've even given you room to grow with eight expansion slots and six drive bays. Choose from one of our money-saving packages, or we'll custom build a system to your specifications. Feature for feature, no one gives you more than ZEOS. At any price, anywhere. It is the biggest bang for your buck! 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-Carcf COD and Leasing programs. Open 24 Hours a Day, 365 Days a Year! AWARD-WINNING SERVICE We're the only company to >g® ti[J^ win PC Magazine's Readers' ^ Choice for Service & Reliability f Jg — for both desktops and notebooks — twice! TOLL-FREE SUPPORT, WARRANTIES & GUARANTEES. We're here for you 24 hours a day 365 days a year, and always a toll-free call away All ZEOS systems come with a One Year Limited Warranty, Express Parts Replacement Policy and a 30-Day Money- Back Guarantee. CALL N OW TOLL FREE 800-554-5226 2 4 HOURS DAY Purdaxoidera a re ai^ to ar^ra^ Reins leasro program ava^ warraruy drta Qs. Prices du no( orfiiic iJvr^snjj. All products raid omjony canes are nafcrrarfes orrwanricjadwriarkscfilwrn^ctNerx*^ Circle 147 on Inquiry Card. Plug and Play Tape Backup. That's it 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. Trakker is available in two models. At $348, 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 a FREE 88-page catalog, please call 1-800^451*0897 ext. 227 today. Trakker, Backup so simple it's advanced* COLOR\D 1992 Colorado Memory Systems Inc. All rights reserved. Jumbo, Trakker and Colorado are trademarks of Colorado Memory Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective companies. JTB-BYT05159S Circle 73 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 74). Feature Get Your Kicks with Switched 56 DANIEL M. JOFFE ata communications can never be too fast or too cheap. This is especially true for demanding tasks such as internetwork communications, where vast amounts of data are ex- changed on a constant basis. Using even the fastest available modems for this task can be slower and more ex- pensive than you might like. PC users battling the spiral of file sizes and LAN traffic are becoming aware of a digital telephone data-trans- port service called Switched 56. Every local and long-distance telephone car- rier in the U.S. offers Switched 56 dig- ital service. It is a digital, dial-up data channel with speeds of 56 Kbps syn- chronous or 57.6 Kbps asynchronous. Although installation costs are high- er than for analog service, Switched 56 usage charges are basically the same as for POTS (plain old telephone ser- vice). This means that you can save time and money with Switched 56 by shipping more data in much less time. At 9.6 Kbps, a modem takes 90 minutes to send a 5-MB file. The same file at 57.6 Kbps takes 15 minutes; assuming a long-distance call costs 25 cents per minute, you save $ 18.75 each time you transfer a 5-MB file at the faster rate. Even modems running at 24 Kbps and higher do not provide the speed and value of Switched 56. Switched 56 offers a happy middle ground in price and performance for high-speed data communications Needy Applications Switched 56 got a boost with the ad- vent of low-bandwidth videoconferencing. The digital service made it possible to send acceptable sound and pictures using only 1 1 2 Kbps, or two Switched 56 lines. As a result, every ma- jor videoconferencing manufacturer today has embedded Switched 56 in its equipment. In publishing, Switched 56 is used to transport high-resolu- tion image files to and from editorial offices. And in medicine, Switched 56 has been tested as a way to send den- tal x-rays to health insurers f or preapproval of pro- cedures or to consulting specialists for examina- tion. People who work at home with remote connec- tions to LANs — an increasing population — find that 9.6 Kbps can be painfully slow. As a result, some companies use Switched 56 to connect home machines to office LANs. Switched 56 is growing as a tool for LAN inter- networking. Until recently, LAN routers were linked by dedicated digital lines running at speeds of 56 Kbps to full T 1 , if traffic warranted, or by dial-up 9.6-Kbps modems. But full-time leased lines are expensive, while the performance penalties of 9.6 Kbps drove organizations to dedicated digital lines even with light traffic. With Switched 56, LAN routers automatically dial remote lo- cations in response to requests for data from remote servers. To accomplish this, router and Switched 56 CSU/DSU (channel ser- vice unit/data service unit) vendors have standardized on V.25bis NOVEMBER 1993 BYTE 57 Feature TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES COST COMPARISON Although it can cost significantly more in Installation and monthly fees for a Switched 56 line than for a POTS line, per-minute connect charges are almost the same. This could save mon- ey considering the speed of Switched 56. The business daytime line rates shown here are quoted from Ameritech, Nynex, and Pacific Bell. Per-minute rates are based on AT&T in- terchange rates. NEW YORK NY TO SF SAN FRANCISCO NY TO CHICAGO CHICAGO POTS Installation $270 $155.75 $165.50 Monthly $23.11 $11.85 $13.35 Per minute $0.25 $0.23 Switched 56 Installation $532 * $750 Monthly $82.35 $39.65 $83 Per minute $0,264 $0,245 Dedicated 56 Kbps Installation $1851.08 $1976.61 Digital 56 Kbps Monthly $1645.93 $903.85 * Fee waived for 24-month commitment. as the synchronous dialing-command lan- guage. V.25bis is to the synchronous world what Hayes AT commands are to asyn- chronous users. With V.25bis capabilities, a router can dial anywhere using the same path over which synchronous data is trans- ferred. In the asynchronous world, PC users can turn to 57.6 Kbps asynchronous with AT-compatible dialing to speed their data transfers. And since many Switched 56 CSU/DSUs provide a subset of the Hayes Standard AT command set, PC users do not need to change existing soft- ware. Speed on Demand Switched 56 is bandwidth when you need it. You only pay for the connection time. Analog modems offer the same capability but not the speed of 56 Kbps, nor the 99 percent error-free transmission accuracy guaranteed by the telephone company. The switched or usage-sensitive nature of the channel delivers powerful bandwidth-on- demand capability that opens up a new range of applications that dedicated chan- nels made cost prohibitive and analog al- ternatives made too slow. Just as a modem provides the data in- terface to a standard analog phone line, a CSU/DSU provides the data interface to a Switched 56 digital phone line. Switched 56 calls are dialed and handled in much the same way as regular telephone calls. Each Switched 56 line is assigned a tele- phone number that you can dial like any POTS line. The CSU/DSU automatically handles all telephone company mainte- nance requests and changes the digital line format to a format compatible with DTE (data terminal equipment). A CSU/DSU has a street price of about $1 000 — less than some V.Fast modems. You do, how- ever, need a CSU/DSU at each end of the connection. Switched 56 replaces the local analog access line with a local digital access line and extends digital capability to a home or business. The combination of Switched 56 access lines and CSU/DSUs keeps the signal from your DTE in digital format from start to finish as it travels through the telephone company's digital network. In contrast, to transmit data using an ana- log modem, the modem converts your computer's digital signal to analog format, and then A/D converters residing in the central office reconvert the signal to digi- tal. The corresponding series of conver- sions and related signal degradations occur again at the central office and modems on the receiving end. Moreover, Switched 56 lines maintain independent transmit and receive paths, making the transmission faster and clean- er. In analog transmission, transmit and receive directions are combined onto the one pair of wires running between your home and the central office. The analog modem has to separate these directions, causing additional delays and potential for errors. Switched 56 offers true 57.6-Kbps asyn- chronous speed for PC-to-PC file trans- fers. "True 57.6 Kbps" means 1-MB file transfers in just under 3 minutes (assuming 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and an effi- cient file transfer protocol). You can send even compressed files that fast. How do you transmit 57.6 Kbps over a 56-Kbps line? Each asynchronous 57.6- Kbps character is burdened by 1 start bit and 1 stop bit. The meat of the character is the remaining 8 data bits. The Switched 56 CSU/DSU transmits only these 8 data bits using a more efficient way to mark the beginning and end of groups of char- acters — flag patterns similar to HDLC (high-level data-link control). BBSes and services like CompuServe typically store large files in compressed format. Compression algorithms such as V.42bis, the CCnT data compression stan- dard used on analog modems, do nothing to speed transfer of already-compressed files. So a V.32 modem with a DTE inter- face set to 57.6 Kbps can provide a maxi- mum throughput of only 960 characters per second. In contrast, real 57.6 Kbps provided by Switched 56 allows a maxi- mum throughput of 5760 cps, regardless of whether the file was compressed. PC-Compatible Some PCs cannot keep up with true 57.6- Kbps speed; it depends on the IC that's being used for the asynchronous serial- port UART (universal asynchronous re- ceiver/transmitter) chip. PCs originally came with 8250 UARTs and later changed to 16450 UARTs. Both chip families share the shortcoming of 1-byte transmit and re- ceive buffers. With a single-byte buffer at 57,600 bps, the CPU must collect the next byte every 174 microseconds or risk having it over- written. The "missing" byte would be de- tected by the communications program's file transfer protocol, and this would re- sult in multiple block retransmissions, COST-JUSTIFYING SWITCHED 56 Based on installation, monthly, and per-minute fees, Switched 56 becomes more cost ef- fective than using a modem on a POTS line or a dedicated high-speed line. This table shows at which point, measured in megabytes of data transferred per month, Switched 56 starts to save money MEGABYTES PER MONTH FOR 9.6-KBPS MODEM 14.4-KBPS MODEM DEDICATED 56 KBPS New York to Chicago New York to San Francisco 37.85 23.47 63.6 39.42 1064 1924 58 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 SINCE OUR UPS COSTS LESS, LET'S FORGET ABOUT PRICE FOR A MINUTE...MAN : BECAUSE WHEN THE I POWER MPS, ITS I NOT WHAT YOU PAID : FOR YOUR VPS I THAT'S IMPORTANT, I ITS WHAT IT DOES i SO LET'S TALK ABOUT I FEATURES... The MINUTEMAN ALLIANCE A750 keeps your network safe from brownouts, the most common power problem. Our line-interactive technology continuously monitors and provides an automatic boost whenever power dips. This important feature prevents frequent battery usage, saving the battery for more severe power problems. Other important features that make the MINUTEMAN A750 stand out are a 750 VA LED Status Indicators rating/ extensive status indicators and a Test button so that you can confirm that the UPS is doing its L job. A Site Wiring Fault Indicator is included to let you know if there is 1 a problem with «ICI grounding or other on- site electrical wiring problems that could be catastrophic. The Alliance A750 is compatible with MINUTEMAN's LanMaster unattended shutdown software for all operating systems to further protect your net- work, even when you're not there. If all UPSs were priced the same, the choice would be easy based only on features. But when you compare prices, the choice becomes even more obvious. We don't believe you'll pay 38% more for a product that gives you less. Call our POWER HOTLINE now and find out how to get more UPS for less. MINUTE MAN UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES 1-800-238-7272 ON YOURSELF Minuieman Trip Lite Best A750 Omni 750 SPS650B VA Rating Line- Interactive Waveform Output $429 $699 $449 750 WMjM 650 ulated inewave Product and company names mentioned herein moy be trademarks or registered trademarks or their respective companies NetWbre Tested and Approved HmfTiTTnrr^fTTT^raif.UJ.IV.ilrnnn 1455 LeMcty Drive Garrolif on, Texas 75007 214/446-7363 Voi«e 214/446-9011 Fax Circle 11 5 on Enquiry Card. Feature The Switched 56 Connection Video teleconferencing Switched 56 connections can serve most applications that demand high-speed communications: videoconferencing, network inter connectivity, or mainframe links. Each end of the connection must have a CSU/DSU and perhaps a bridge or router. dramatically reducing throughput. The 16550 UART with its 16-byte re- ceive and transmit buffers solves this prob- lem. With a 16-byte buffer, the CPU now has 16 times as long, or 2.77 milliseconds, between reads of the receive buffer. This affords sufficient time for the CPU to re- spond and service longer interrupts from drives or lumbering code. Even so, Win- dows — particularly disk caching under Windows — generates interrupts so long that even the 16-byte buffer of the 16550 may not be enough. To handle this, some companies have built communications boards with larger buffers. There are a few ways to find out if your PC has buffered (16550-based) or non- buffered (8250- or 16450-based) asyn- chronous serial ports. The most direct way may be to just look under the hood. Alter- natively, you can download one of the UART identification programs available on most BBSes. These programs tell you the quantity and type of serial ports in your PC. If your computer has a buffered asyn- chronous serial port, then you need only make sure that your software knows how to take advantage of the buffer. Once you believe you're ready, you can run a final verification test by transferring a few large files between PCs using a null- modem cable. Most communications pro- grams give file transfer statistics showing retransmissions and average throughput. This data will tell you whether you're mak- ing the most of your 5760-cps potential. In some extreme cases, you may find that even with a buffered UART and ap- propriate software, there are still some block retransmissions, caused by an over- written input buffer while the PC services a long interrupt. Possible remedies for this include using a serial port with an even longer buffer (make sure the software can take advantage of it — there is no de facto standard for such a card) or pacing the transmitter slightly (i.e., increasing the in- tercharacter timing). A more expensive alternative ($600 ver- sus $60) to standard 57.6-Kbps asynchro- nous serial ports comes in the form of syn- chronous 56-Kbps serial communications boards with large built-in buffers and sep- arate processors. These cards off-load the communications task from your main CPU and typically provide an error-corrected HDLC data link. However, they are not that commonly used today, they have pro- prietary interfaces, and they usually must be interfaced to custom software. You would probably use this arrangement only if you were connecting to a mainframe in a corporate synchronous network. Large corporations often have Tl (mul- tiplexed digital) lines. This offers the pos- sibility of further Switched 56 savings through bypassing the local telephone company. A heavy calling volume can be a factor in justifying this kind of arrange- ment. To determine whether your calling volume is high enough, calculate the cross- over point in number of minutes by divid- ing the allocated monthly cost of the ded- icated access channel by 5 cents, which is the per-minute rate the telephone company charges for providing access to long-dis- tance carriers. Hooking Up There are two ways to make a local digital connection to a central office. The more common is known as 4-wire. This uses in- dependent pairs of wires for data trans- mission and reception. A slightly less com- mon arrangement is known as 2 -wire, or Datapath. This uses one pair of wires and time-compression multiplexing to provide both directions of transmission on a single pair of wires. In time-compression multi- plexing, the use of the single pair of wires is reversed every millisecond. For the first millisecond data is outgoing, and for the second millisecond the data is incoming. Which arrangement you use depends on which type your local telephone company offers. Each telephone company calls its Switched 56 service by a different name, and a local telephone business office may not be familiar with digital services. This is why you should request a guide to ser- vices in your area. You can download such a listing of services, tariffs, and customer contacts from various BBSes and from BIX. [Editor's note: For details on con- necting to BIX, see page 5.] Installation costs vary widely: In Cali- fornia, Pacific Bell waives the installation charge if you keep a line for two years; in New England, the cost averages around $300. Usage charges are basically the same as for regular telephone lines. Monthly re- curring charges are comparable to POTS business-line charges, ranging from $10 to $90 per month. ISDN-Compatible ISDN is essentially two 56-Kbps (some- times 64-Kbps) data channels carried over a 2- wire technology called 2B1Q, which is incompatible with the 2-wire Datapath technology mentioned earlier. On top of this is a separate 16-Kbps channel for call control or X.25 packet data. Switched 56 is compatible with ISDN BRI (Basic Rate Interface). This compat- ibility is important for companies with global networks, since Switched 56 is not 60 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 The New Generation 21" Monitor Incredible Performance. Incredible Price. ViewSonic © i 1 ') «_L_)1 Booth L2858 ViewSonic continues lis aavanceiiienunio me uiture wrm ine power- ful and full-featured ViewSonic 21. This flat square 21" monitor offers a picture-perfect image with unsurpassed clarity and brightness. Designed for the discriminating user, the ViewSonic 21 offers some incredible features including an ultra-fine 0.25mm dot pitch, resolu- tion up to 1,600 x 1,280 non-interlaced and a maximum refresh rate of 152Hz. It also has a double dynamic focus gun which provides a crisp focus even in the corners. ViewSonic has added the ARAG m coating to reduce annoying screen glare and ViewMatch 1 " , a color control system that tunes colors to closely match printer output. Its two page display makes this monitor the perfect choice for all windows, 3-D graphics and CAD/CAM ViewSonic lias indeed come up with another incredible monit< fact, VAR Business ranked ViewSonic as the "first place" monil pany (Products and Business Features) in a survey of high res monitor companies, i The ViewSonic 21 meets MPR-II certificationslor low radiation and backed by a three year limited warranty*. Call 800-888-8583 or visit your dealer today for information on the full line of ViewSonic monitors. Welcome to the New Generation. ViewSonic* ViewSonic 17 July 1993 ViewSonic 17 June 1993 BYTE ViewSonic 7 June 1993 ViewSonic 15 June 1993 ViewSonic 15 June 1993 Circle 144 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 145). Circle 1 30 on Inquiry Card. tVlft HARD TO BEAT! World Wide Inquiries Promptly Filled Images in Your Computer FROM VIDEO OR FULL PAGE SCANNERS. BOOST YOUR PRODUCTIVITY IN dESKTOP PUBLISHING AND MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS. CoiorSnap PC Pro Best Quality, real time, image capture for desktop publish- ing and video digitiz- ing. 16.7 million colors NTSC/PAL compatible 640 x 480, Max video resolution Video-For-Windows compatible Digitize movies at 1 5/30 frames per second CoiorSnap PC Pro $699.00 Life View Victor • Best Genlock, overlay graphics • TV Tuner combination with Video Authoring and Image Manipulation software. LifeView Victor and LifeView Tuner....349.00 Artiscan-Full Page Color 16.7 million color flatbed scanners with true hardware resolution and Twain univer- sal driver. Top Media Ratings FREE image Processing Software AS6000 (600 x 600 dpi) 799.00 AS8000 (800 x 800 dpi) 999.00 AS12000 (1200 x 1200 dpi) 1499.00 Slide Scan Kit .545.00/685.00 Recognita OCR Software ..call LifeView Encoder Record your computer presenta- tions to VCR or displayon TV. Flicker-Free, NTSC/PAL in one unit. 800x600 resolution,^ M 249.00 PA-100 JPersonal Archiver 600 dpi, 256 gray-scale levels FREE 10-page automatic document feeder FREE Image Processing Software, Archiving database, Recognita OCR software $699.00 Computer 14250 NW Science Park Drive - Portland, OR 97229 Friends, IllC. To Order 1-800-547-3303 Tel (503) 626-2291 Fax (503) Feature available in Europe and elsewhere but ISDN probably is. Where the ISDN ser- vice is not available, Switched 56 can step up to build large regional or national net- works. Among the problems that have delayed ISDN's deployment has been the cost of converting central office and interoffice facilities. Upgrading even existing digital switches to ISDN can cost from $500,000 to $1 million per switch. With this cost structure, some telephone companies have been reluctant to convert a central office without a guarantee of hundreds of sub- scribers on the day the conversion is com- plete. As a result, until recently, most tele- phone companies offered only a Centrex ISDN tariff. (Centrex is a multiline ser- vice where a portion of a central office Upgrading digital switches to ISDN can cost $500,000 to $1 million per switch. switchprovides PBX-like functionality to a business.) The majority of telephone companies still don't have single-line ISDN BRI tariffs in place, although most are planning for them by the end of 1 993. There is no existing standard for asyn- chronous 57.6-Kbps communication be- tween Switched 56 CSU/DSUs, or be- tween Switched 56 CSU/DSUs and ISDN BRI equipment. Some CSU/DSU manu- facturers base their 57.6-Kbps asynchro- nous format on a commonly available Motorola DSI (Data Set Interface) that changes the asynchronous 57.6 Kbps to and from a synchronous 56-Kbps format with HDLC-like frames. This HDLC is available to the industry as a protocol de- veloped by the ISO. Even as ISDN deployment continues, there will be places where there is no eco- nomic justification for upgrading the cen- tral office. In these places, Switched 56 will remain the only way to provide high- speed digital bandwidth on demand. ■ Daniel M. Joffe is the director of network access equipment at Integrated Network Corp. (Bridge- water, NJ). You can reach him on BIX c/o "edi- tors. *' 62 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Circle 79 on Inquiry Card. Power Packed Upgrades. POWER SUPPLIES "The premier power-supply maker" John Dvorak, PC Magazine, March 30, 1993 "The only company to go to for a power supply" Jerry Pournelle, Byte, April 1993 STANDARD UNITS These UL/CSA approved, fully tested power supplies are the best basic units available. STANDARD 205 SLIM $89 STANDARD 220 DESK/TOWER $89 ULTRA-QUIET UMTS Unrattle your nerves with a Silencer power supply, recognized since 1986 as the indusny's quietest. They're cooled by custom, high-efficiency fans that are virtually inaudible! A must for home office or multimedia applications. SILENCER 205 SLIM $119 SILENCER 220 DESK/TOWER $129 SILENCER 270 DESK/TOWER $179 ffiGH-PERFORMANCE UNITS NOISE LEVELS (db) = H BABY DESK TOWER V£--- - ! Upgrade your computer with one of our premium Turbo-Cool power supplies— the choice of PC professionals. You'll get 50% - 100% more power, built-in line conditioning, super-tight regulation, ultra-clean output, a high-capacity ThermaSense variable-speed fan (300W models), UL/CSA/TUV approvals, and a no-hassle 2 -year warranty! Ideal for high-end workstations and network file servers. TURBO-COOL 300 SLLWBABY $169 TURBO-COOL 300 DESK/TOWER ... $189 TURBO-COOL 450 DESK/TOWER ... $349 SOLID-STEEL CASES Give your computer a professional, high-tech look with one of our premium-quality, American-made all-steel cases. They're rigid— unlike light-weight imports— so motherboards, cards, and drives are always properly aligned and grounded. And, with up to 18 drive bays, they offer real expandability! Ideal for commercial and industrial applications. CASE SPECIFICATIONS Desktop Tower Monster Exposed Drive Bays: 3 6 13 Total Drive Bays: 5 8 18 Motherboard Capacity: 1 1 2 Power Supply Capacity: 1 1 2 Cooling Fan Capacity: 2 3 6 Filtered Air Inlet: Yes Yes Yes Lockable Front Door: Yes No Yes Professional Controls: Yes Yes Yes All-Steel Construction: Yes Yes Yes Beige or Black Finish: Yes Yes Yes Meets FCC-B Specs: Yes Yes Yes Made in USA: Yes Yes Yes SOLID-STEEL DESKTOP CASE $295 SOLID-STEEL TOWER CASE $395 SOLID-STEEL MONSTER CASE $895 CPU COOLER W It's a fact. 486 chips run hot, often exceeding 185°F! Now, you can cool your 486 to a safe 85°- 95°F with our popular CPU-Cool. It prevents random system errors and other heat-related problems. Consists of a mini-fan embedded in a sculptured heat sink that easily mounts on the CPU. Powered by a spare drive connector. Effective, inexpensive insurance! ■ cools CPU 70° -100°F cpu temp m ■ prevents system errors ■ adds years to CPU life ■ thinner, quieter, and better-built than cheap imported imitations. £ • 1 ■ „_ 11 • WITHOUT WITH ■ sale, simple installation cpu-cool cpu-cool CPU-COOL $29 REDUNDANT POWER Eliminate the risk of network downtime or data loss due to power supply failure with the TwinPower 900 redundant power system. It delivers high-capacity, fault-tolerant power to your entire network server. Consists of two Turbo-Cool 450 power supplies in parallel, utilizing a special power-management interface module. A must for mission critical LANs. ■ 900 watts peak power ^^ ■ 100X more reliable -jf Si than a single-unit ■ load-sharing design ■ hot-swap capability ■ allows dual UPSs ■ monster-case compatible TWIN-POWER 900 $995 PC POWER El COOLING, INC. 5995 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92008 • (619) 931-5700 • (800) 722-6555 • Fax (619) 931-6988 Most orders shipped same day. We accept Visa, MC, COD, or PO on approved credit. Turbo-Cool, TwinPower and CPU-Cool models guaranteed for 2 years. All other products guaranteed for 1 year. Hours: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m (PT) Mon, - Fri. Silencer, Turbo-Cool, ThermaSense, TwinPower, and CPU-Cool are trademarks or registered trademarks of PC Power & Cooling, Inc. ©1993 PC Power & Cooling, Inc. Circle 1 1 6 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 117). — *-• *** -—... iSsbKl J^K ' BbS&1 'AH ...-#;-: ■'rfc, llli "™! ■ i 1' i 22 i ^^ m 1 YES! I WANT TO CREATE MY OWN SUCCESS STORY USING MICROSOFT ACCESS. SEND MY COPY NOW FOR JUST $149. This special upgrade offer expires January 31, 1994. For your Microsoft Access upgrade, see your local reseller. For the name of a reseller near you or to order by phone, call (800) 894-6636, Dept. KS7. Or fill out the order form below and return it to Microsoft. To qualify for this offer, I understand that I must be a licensed user of one of the following products: _Paradox* _dBASE® _Superbase« _R:BASE® _Approach _FoxBASE+® _FoxPro» _Q&A PovverBuilderrM DataEase® Microsoft*? Office Microsoft Excel MS® PowerPoint® MS Word MS Mail Customer's signature Company name (if company licenses product) Rush me my copy of Microsoft Access 1.1 (quantity) at $149 each Sales tax** (see list below) Freight ($10 per unit) Total cost Payment method: Please do not send cash or purchase orders. Make checks payable to Microsoft. □ Check or money order enclosed □ MasterCard D VISA Check or credit card number: D American Express Expiration date: City Daytime ph»ne (in case we have a question abour your order) Please check disk size:* □ 3.5" Kit No. 077-051-209 Cardholder's signature • If you need 5.25" disks, please call (800) 894-6636. " Add rhe applicable sales tax in the following states: AR, AZ, CA, CO.CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, iA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA,MD, ME, Ml, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM.NV.NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, \VA, Wl, WV, and \VY. Microsofr reserves the right to correct tax rates and/or collect the s;\les tax assessed by addirional states as required by law, wirhour norice. Offer expires January 31, 1994, and is good only in the 50 United States. Only original order forms will he accepted. Please allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery upon receipt of this order form by Microsoft. Your check will be deposited immediately upon reedpr. If you have questions about this offer, call (800) 894-6636, Dept. KS7, before returning this order form. If you require Text Telephone (TT/TDD) services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call (800) 892-5234. © 1993 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, FoxBASE+, FoxPro, Microsoft Access, MS, and PowerPoint are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. KS7 CO UJ 1 O > UJ C ) Q UJ UJ d n: < f- UJ 1 Q UJ n UJ ll< H z ^ 3 C/3 3 u LU UU Uu O LU Q < C£ 00 LU O o LU CO CL O) oo LU LD a> Of n C/J t^ a GO a < UJ CN >- 03 O ^T P U £ < o >- UJ CO _J -J H LU O 2* LU O O ^J CI c£ 0Q LU ,< u LU u o ^ u ^> CL DQ BUSINESSES ARE USING MICROSOFT ACCESS TO TRACK WORMS, MOVE PEOPLE, AND MAKE WISHES COME TRUE. HOW WILL YOU USE IT? 90-DAY GUARANTEE You may have heard that the introduction of the Microsoft Access® database management system was incredibly successful. In fact, we've now shipped over a million copies. What you may not know is that this relational database for the WindowsiM operating system is being used worldwide in a number of imaginative ways. Once you hear these success stories, you'll want to create one of your own. Now everyone can get access to data. The Commercial Office Supply Division at 3M® is always on the lookout for new product ideas. After all, the next Post-itiM note could be right around the corner. But until recently, they were missing a way to organize all of the "product wishes" floating around their department into a format everyone in the group could easily share and use. "Our information was in a variety of locations: filing cabinets, notebooks, people's heads," recalls Bob Wolf, 3M Product Development Engineer. "The business problem we had was not being able to access our information effectively." They chose Microsoft Access to build their database of ideas, maintain mailing lists, generate surveys, and more. "It saves time in training, in building the databases, and it saves time in accessing the informa- tion." Which leaves more time to con- centrate on turning wishes into the products people want. Managing data and reporting are easier. Scott Emmons, Professor of Molecular Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, spends a lot of time with worms. Thousands of them. As a basic research tool, nematode worms are a valuable part of learning how DNA forms the blueprint for life. For Scott, managing the variety of data associated with each different mutant worm strain — and being able to generate reports on his research quickly — is critical to keeping his lab running smoothly. He turned to Microsoft Access. "A major part of the way I'm using Microsoft Access is the reports that I generate," says Scott. "I can sort the data a number of ways, and the ease of use means I can quickly scan these reports to locate a particular strain." And that means a lot less strain on Scott. The uses are endless. Intercity Transit in Olympia, Washington, recently moved from Paradox® because of the superior reporting capabilities in Microsoft Access, and its interoperability with other Microsoft applications. "To go with our suite of Microsoft® Office products, we felt it was the best choice for us," explains Richard Madrid, Intercity Transit MIS Specialist. Today, Intercity Transit relies on Microsoft Access to keep them run- ning — literally. By using it to maintain and generate timetables for bus riders and drivers, they've all but eliminated scheduling errors, and saved countless hours of proofing and information- transfer time. Plus, they can track rider- ship by customer segment and keep tabs on the productivity of every route. Now they plan to use Microsoft Access to help grow their rideshare program. "Microsoft Access has given us a lot of capabilities, not just report writing, but access to the data, and configuring it the way we need it for reporting and tracking," notes Richard. "Plus it's easy, so people are happy" And that's bound to keep Intercity Transit headed in the right direction. Now everyone in your organization can work smarter — if they work with Microsoft Access. If you use another database or any Microsoft Office program, you can take advantage of our special $149** offer today, which includes a 90-day money-back guaran- tee. Then you can create your own success story. When you do, we'd love to hear it — simply write to: Microsoft Access Product Manager, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052. For the name of your local reseller, or to order by phone, call (800) 894-6636, Dept. KS7. Microsoft 'Special offer for users of competitive database products and Microsoft Office. "1'lits freight and applicable sales tax when ordering direct from Microsoft. Reseller prices may vary. Offer expires January 31, 1994, and is good only in the 50 United States, ©1993 Microsoft Corporation. All rights, reserved. In the 50 United States, call (800) 894-6636. For information only: In Canada, call (800) 563-9048; outside the 50 United Slates and Canada, call your local subsidiary or (206) 936-8661. Microsoft and Microsoft Access are registered trademarks and Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. 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. It 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 few. 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— g** 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 x security solutions, i 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 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 | your software gf/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 SOFHVARE SEIITinEL Securing the future of software Some call it a dongle. Those who know, call it Sentinel. J&RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES 9292JER0NIM0 ROAD, IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92718 -714/ 454-2100 ■ fax 714/ 454-8557 International offices are located in the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Circle 127 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 128). Feature In Good Electronic Form BEN SMITH AND HOWARD EGLOWSTEIN Truth be told, there is no such thing as the paperless office. Today's offices wouldn't function without forms — contracts, supply requisitions, purchase orders. And it's not enough to fill out the forms; somebody has to process them. Even small companies often have employees whose only job is to handle insurance and tax forms. For Cigna Insurance, the move from paper to electronic forms not only sped up the processing but also saved mil- lions of dollars in printing costs, storage, shipping and postage, and waste remov- al. And it paved the way for even great- er productive use of Cigna 's huge net- work. For a relatively small company like Trace Technologies (a San Jose, CA, maker of magnetic-media dupli- cating equipment), the motivation was compliance with ISO9000 (a specifi- cation for business organizations), but again the immediate returns have been increased productivity. A large insurance company and a small manufacturing firm save time and money with electronic forms Moving Mountains Cigna Insurance is an international company whose services have depend- ed solely on moving inf ormation, but a major operating expense has been the mountains of paper that hold that in- formation. By reducing the amount of paper without reducing the informa- tion flow, the company stands to save a considerable amount. Cigna 's corporate headquarters employs over 5000 workers in a Philadelphia skyscraper. But the company has over 500 of- fices spread over several continents, with a total of more than 45,000 employees. That's the scale of the company; the scale of the paperwork is even greater. Internally, Cigna uses more than 300 different forms. Externally, with its agents and corporate clients, it dis- tributes over 35,000 different forms. This represents tens of mil- lions of sheets of paper a year: warehouses of blank forms and of forms that have been filled out and filed. When any of these forms become obsolete, all the unused copies are discarded and new forms are printed and distributed. This may be good business for the paper industry and printing companies, but it costs Cigna mil- lions of dollars a year. Just moving the paper forms to an electronic format would prevent tremendous waste and reduce the expenses of warehousing and distributing the paper forms. But blank forms are only part of the expense. If Cigna could also reduce the f illed-out forms to electronic format, it would realize tremendous savings from not having to file and archive the paper. As a bonus, the company would retain the information in the format needed to process it as computer data; normally, a data-processing center rekeys the data from stacks of paper f onus. Big Changes in Three Stages The project to automate forms at Cigna is an important case to study, not only because of the scale of the company's paperwork NOVEMBER 1993 UVXE 67 Feature A Three-Phase Approach to Electronic Forms First phase (automate form fill and print) Deploy top 10-20 corporate forms via Cigna-Link. Internal/external mail distribution of copy(ies) BENEFITS • Eliminates preprinted forms (Inventory/ dlstrlbutlon/obsolescence/copylng) •Forms always available 1 Improves productivity /accuracy of data • Provides many intelligent functions (field validation, automatlctotallng, etc.) Second phase (automate, fill, and E-mail) Electronicforms may be sent via E-mail directly from filler software to their destination. BENEFITS • Dramatically improves E-mail distribution of forms/data • Provides for additional (E-mail) distribution following subsequent processing •Reduces need to print/distribute and retain hard copy Third phase (reengineer/automate the process) Eliminate the need for printing or viewing by sending and/or processing the data directly to database applications. Database Database BENEFITS • Eliminates need for printing/viewing/ editing by subsequent processing units • Provides for ultimate productivity gains associated with Information processing • Electronic-signature (authorization) capabilities The three phases of Cigna' s electronic-forms adoption. The first phase moves 10 to 20 forms onto PCs, where users fill them out, print them, and mail them via traditional mail. The second phase incorporates forms routing via E-mail. The final phase ties in a data-processing component with electronic signatures and direct transfer of data to database applications. and processing, but also because the com- pany decided to take the project all the way, eliminating almost all paper handling. Cigna planned the changes in three stages: 1 . Automate the filling out and printing of forms. 2. Automate the transfer of the forms by using E-mail. 3. Tie the forms processing directly into data processing. Cigna had to implement each stage care- fully so that the new process would not interrupt the operations that were already in place. First, the company selected a sub- set of 10 corporate (in-house) forms to be "electronified." Of that set, one form, the internal purchase-request form, was chosen as the test of the technology. This form had all the complexities in- herent in the other hundreds of forms. In particular, its approval path required both electronic-signature verification and elec- tronic-forms routing. This one pilot project takes the original request from the Cigna employee all the way through the approval process, even to the point of issuing the order to the vendor. Two groups brought these plans to fru- ition: the forms management group, head- ed by Paul Ferrand, and the networking/ systems product-delivery group, repre- sented by Mark Orthner. The entire project was inspired by Ray Caron, the chief in- formation officer, who started the search for the technology eight years ago. The Essential Link Before Cigna implemented electronic- forms routing, it had to establish a solid infrastructure on which to build. Mark Orthner and others of Cigna's systems di- vision (now more than 4000 strong) de- veloped Cigna-Link, a huge enterprise net- work and E-mail system. Cigna-Link consists of more than 500 separate IBM Token Ring networks loaded with 386 (or better) PCs. Each office main- tains a Token Ring network. For instance, the Philadelphia office ties its 5000 PCs together, along with 76 file servers, on a 16-Mbps Token Ring network. The To- ken Ring networks talk to IBM main- frames connected with an IBM SNA (Sys- tems Network Architecture) network over Tl- and T3-grade leased phone lines. The mainframes had been the data-processing core of Cigna's operations back when IBM 3270 terminals sat on everyone's desk. Cigna-Link gives everyone in the orga- nization a smooth, seamless link to the system's E-mail and file storage. Cigna- Link workstations are also highly stan- dardized. We saw a variety of hardware vendors represented in the Philadelphia office, but the software is essentially the same on all 25,000 machines: Microsoft Mail 3, WordPerfect 5.x, assorted com- patible versions of Lotus 1-2-3, and IBM LAN Server client software. Some ma- chines run Microsoft Windows; some are still running DOS. Orthner is quick to point out that Cigna- Link' s most significant attribute is not its topology, but the fact that there is only one LAN network operating system (LAN Server 3 from IBM) and one E-mail sys- tem (Microsoft Mail 3) throughout the en- tire enterprise. Cigna's current electron- ic-forms distribution system would be impossible without this standardized, ma- ture infrastructure. The painful process of bringing an entire corporation under a sin- gle set of standards was somewhat allevi- ated because the standards were in place before a PC-LAN anarchy developed. One of Orthner 's suggestions (see "Tips from the Experts" on page 76) is that you put the network in place, get your E-mail run- ning reliably, and make sure everything is working before you attempt an electronic- forms solution. Eight Years of Electronic Forms Eight years ago, Cigna adopted a main- frame-based forms design product. With it, sales agents could customize the neces- sary forms to conform to their clients' re- quirements. The forms design program ap- plied a set of preprogrammed rules to the profile of the company (i.e., its size, the kind of business, and so on) and created a contract form with all the right clauses and paragraphs for the customer. In addition, it automatically generated additional forms or contracts that might be applicable. Cigna's next step was to adopt form- filling/data-entry software so that sales agents could fill in forms at a computer. To help make electronic forms more accept- able, the electronic form looked, on-screen, just like the paper version. However, the data-entry fields incorporated some error checking. The completed form could be printed out or even sent directly to Cigna's database system. Cigna started working with form-filling products in 1987, but these early versions of forms software did not have all the capabilities Cigna needed. In 1991, Cigna began an internal pilot program with 1 20 forms. This system pro- duces health-care paperwork for large cor- porate customers. With this project, the electronic forms and design team learned that the electronic form does not need to 68 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 merits ♦ They're all here. All the tools, tips and techniques you need to send your OS/2® development rocketing up the charts. Brought to you by the original artists: IBM's own OS/2 develop- ment team. Join The Developer Connection for OS/2? and you'll receive the most timely and extensive information available to the OS/2 community Four times a year, you'll get a CD packed with the latest productivity tools, utilities and sample programs from IBM and others. A powerful browser and easy, graphical user interface let you locate any topic instantly in our com- prehensive technical library. Each CD includes the latest releases of smashes like "The Developer's Toolkit for OS/2," "Multimedia Presenta tion Manager/2 Toolkit," and "Pen for OS/2 Toolkit." Plus, you also get pre-release versions of many IBM products, operating sys- tems, internal development tools, product demos, bit maps — you name it. But wait, there's more. You also receive The Developer Connection News, our newsletter filled with information about the latest OS/2 developments, new products, a Q&A column and much more. Plus, you get access to the Developer Connection forum on CompuServe? * where you can talk directly to the experts. And here's music to your ears: Buy a year's subscription to The Developer Connection for OS/2 before November 30, 1993 and pay only $149— a savings of $50 off the regular rate. Call 1 800 6DEVCON today, and start producing some hits of your own. Buy a year's subscription to The hits. Operate at a higher level? 'CompuServe membership is required. IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks and The Developer Connection for OS/2 and "Operate at a higher level" are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. CompuServe is a trademark of CompuServe Incorporated. ©1993 IBM Corp. Circle 372 on Inquiry Card. Feature look identical to the paper form. It's nice to have the screen presentation look like the paper form it replaces, but it's not always necessary, and sometimes it's not desir- able. Instead of letting the forms software dictate the form's appearance or simply mimicking the paper form onto the screen, the forms automation group goes through a process engineering step: When the group puts a form together, it determines how a department plans to use the form and ana- lyzes the current paper form's layout. One example of a reengineered form is a purchase requisition. On a paper form, you might have a section where you could enter a long list of items. At the top of the list are the headings that describe the dif- ferent columns. But you can't fit as many lines of text on a 24-line computer screen as you can on paper, so repeating the column headings periodically throughout the section makes it easier for end users to remember where the data goes. For a special comment section, where the paper form might have room for several lines of text, the electronic version could start out with one line and expand as needed. Cigna considers the user interface critical and puts a great deal of effort into its design. Questions about Routing The next obvious step was to implement electronic-forms routing — a form and its data moving through the network via E-mail. A basic premise of electronic- forms routing is that paperwork doesn't necessarily flow in a straight line; de- pending on conditions, it may be rerouted or even returned to a previous status for further processing. The form must some- how maintain routing and status informa- tion. Either the form can carry this infor- mation with it, or the information can be maintained in an external database. Other concerns center around security: Who can see the form? Who can modify the form's contents? How do you ensure that only the authorized signer has signed the document? There must, of course, already be an E- mail or other network service in place that spans the entire network and is supported by the forms-routing application. Fortu- nately, the Cigna-Link network with its Microsoft Mail already provided the in- frastructure for the forms routing. The more sophisticated database-structured forms-routing packages were still in de- velopment. So Cigna looked at the E-mail- based systems. As it turned out, only Jet- Form provided what Cigna needed: forms design, forms filling, forms routing via Microsoft Mail, and a secure electronic- signatures database. Cigna's Solution — JetForm JetForm's solution consists of three basic paits: JetForm-Design, a Windows product that lets you design the appearance and function of your electronic form; JetForm- Filler (DOS and Windows), for entering data into the predesigned forms; and Jet- Form for E-Mail (DOS and Windows), to both enter data and transfer it through E-mail to another networked location. A fourth piece, JetForm-Server, runs under DOS or OS/2 to provide client-server forms handling. Cigna's forms solution is conceptually simple: • Use JetForm-Design to create both screen and paper versions of the form. Include the transfer information so that the form knows how to move from one place to the next. • E-mail the finished form to each site so that it automatically installs itself onto No Noise, No Hassle. Just SCREAMER Prices! DataPort™ 14 A/Fax Modem with Exclusive optical and cellular technology. You get no noise from AT&T's Optical Line Interface 1 " (OLI™), just the fastest speeds possible on good or bad phone lines. You get no hassle either, with AT&T's Enhanced Throughput Cellular (ETC™) protocol,* just the fastest speeds when connected to a cellular call. ■ V.32bis/V.17 (sends/receives 14,400 bps data and fax) ■ V.42bis/MNP 5 (data compression, error correction) ■ 16550A buffered UART for PC internal card ■ Increased first time connectivity and optimal speed using OLI and ETC ^- t->' X ^ ■ Background faxing T ffijjgl ,t^CLn^, ■ Auto data/fax discrimination ■ Backed by AT&T for as long as you own it - Lifetime warranty and TOLL-FREE technical support Est. retail price PC internal card $239 $249 Est. retail price for PC external Est. retail price for Mac external Includes QuickLink II comm/fax software for DOS and Windows or the Mac. Mac version also has serial port cable. Visit Computer City, Fiy's, and Elek-Tekfor exciting low prices! Or for the name of other dealers near you, or to order the DataPort 14.4/Fax Modem directly, call now: 1 800 554-4996 ext. 96011. Circle reader service #157 Visit us at Comdex, Room #LN102 AT&T Outside US or Canada circle #158 • Patent pending © 1993 AT&T. DataPort, QU, mid IC'l'C are trademarks of AT&T. All cither products or services mentioned me the trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered seivice marks of their respective owners. Lifetime warranty is limited and applies to original purakiser only. TO BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Catch This just in. Applications Manager, best known as AM™ has just added OS/2® 2.1 support. We repeat, the flagship client/server application develop- ment software from Intelligent Environments is now available for OS/2 2.1 environments. For the latest-breaking devel- opments, we take you to corporate America, where AM and OS/2 offer a tried and tested mechanism for building 32-bit, multitasking, line-of -business client/server appli- cations. AMs visual programming environment streamlines the development and maintenance of mission-critical client/server applications by teams of programmers. And Static SQL support makes AM a real headliner. This recent news is becoming quite a feature latest "ded A I! /W am lets /m /■ /m story. By interfacing with MMPM/2, included with OS/2 2.1 programmers empl innovative team development capabilities like dynamically linked programming— simplifying reuse and maintenance of program code. DDE support allows programmers to paste information, including AM code, comments and ^4M-generated documentation, into Windows™ 3.1 applications easily. And there's also quicker screen interaction and improved productivity through support for OS/2's new high-performance 32-bit graphics engine. With AM and OS/2, you'll never again have to return to your regularly scheduled programming. Use AM to develop your own highly rated network programs. news. To order or to find out more about OS/2 2.1 or AM, call 1 800 3-IBM-OS2. In Canada, call 1 800 465-7999. Operate at a higher level™ IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks and "Operate at a higher level" is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. AM\s a trademark of Intelligent Environments, Inc. 2 Highwood Drive, Tewksbury, MA 01876. 1 508 640-1080 or 1 800 669-2797. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. © 1993 IBM Corp. Circle 373 on Inquiry Card. Feature Anatomy of Cigna-Link as a PCs on Token Ring IBM mainframe PCs on Token Ring PCs on Token Ring IBM mainframe PCs on IBM Token Ring mainframe PCs on Token Ring A simplistic view of Cigna-Link, Cigna's WAN (wide-area network) infrastructure. Each office runs PCs over a Token Ring network. The Token Rings talk to an IBM mainframe. The mainframes are connected with an IBM SNA network over Tl- and T3-grade leased phone lines. each of the 25,000 machines. • When a user fills out a form, make the data available for printing on a local print- er or for sending off electronically. Jet- Form for E-Mail takes care of dispatch- ing the data through the mail system. • Obtain an approval/signature, if one is required. • Route the form on to the next site. Two of these steps present challenges worth mentioning. First, distributing the form to each of the workstations on a huge network requires a tight integration be- tween your forms package an d your mail system. You also have to make sure that you've tested out everything thoroughly: You wouldn't want to distribute 25,000 copies of a defective form. Second, ap- provals/signatures, simple on a small net- work, can be a significant problem on a large network. The typical way of handling electronic signatures on a LAN-based forms system is to use public-key encryption (see "Dig- ital Signatures" on page 309). When a form requires your signature, you move the cur- sor to the signature field. The forms soft- ware presents a list of authorized people, and you select your name from the list. After you enter your password correctly, the data on the form is secured and en- crypted. From then on, anyone reading the form can decrypt it, but not change it. Fur- ther approvals work the same way. continued DATA COMPRESSION LIBRARIES™ PKWARE's® Data Compression Libraries™ allow software developers to add data compression technology to software applications. The application program controls all the input and output of data allowing data to be compressed or extracted to or from any device or area of memory. • All Purpose Data Compression Algorithm Compresses Ascii or Binary Data Quickly with similar compression achieved by the popular PKziP software, however the format used by the compression routine is completely generic and not specific to the PKZIP file format. • Application Controlled I/O and memory allocation for extreme flexibility. • Adjustable Dictionary Size allows software to be fine tuned for Maximum Size or Speed. • Approximately 35K memory needed for Compression, 12K memory needed for Extraction. • Compatible with most popular Languages: C, C+ +, Pascal, Assembly, Basic, Clipper, Etc. • Works with any 80x86 family CPU in real or protected mode. $295.00 • No runtime royalties. ^m ^M RUNNING OUT OF EXPENSIVE DISK SPACE? ^M WM PKziP can help! PKziP compresses your files to free up disk space and reduce modem transfer time. You can compress a single file or entire directory structures with a single command. Compressed files can be quickly returned to their normal size with PKgmzip. Software developers can reduce the number of diskettes needed to distribute their product by using PKziP . Call for Distribution License information. I The included PKziP utility lets you store compressed files as a single self-extracting .EXE files that automatically uncompresses when run. Only $47.00 See Us At Comdex, Booth XS1488 9025 N. Deerwood Dr. Brown Deer, Wl 53223 (414)354-8699 Fax (414) 354-8559 BY1193 72 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Circle 1 22 on Inquiry Card. This VX-Rexx^ Developers: on your marks, get set— GUI With VX'RkxC WATCOM™'s visual development environment For OS/2 REXX, you're on the fast track to creating applications that exploit the graphical user interface capabilities of OS/2 and the Workplace Shell. rM VX'REXX is an easy to use, powerful and fully integrated environment that combines a project management facility, visual designer and an interactive source-level debugger to deliver a very approachable and highly productive visual development environ- ment. With the visual designer, you can graphically create CUA '91 objects, quickly customize their get you g'Ttio'7- :-■ Fife Window? ! Wlndow3 ! Window* Wlr»dow5 With the visual development environment of FX'REXX, it's all systems GUI. properties, and easily attach REXX proce- dures to the objects. Since it's based on IBM System Object Model (SOM) technology, the VX-RKXX environment is wide open. You can access all standard REXX API's including DB2/2. VX-RKXX also lets you package applications as EXE files or PM macros. There's support for multithreaded applica- tions. You can even include OS/2 style help and hints in your applications. To keep GUI-ing, WATCOM customer support delivers timely response by phone, fax, e-mail, CompuServe^ or the WATCOM bulletin board GUI-i in system. So when it comes to developing OS/2 applications, VX'REXX is the way to GUI. To order or to find out more about OS/2 2.1 or VX-REXX, call 1 800 3-IBM-OS2. In Canada, call 1 800 465-7999. Operate at a higher level." IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks and "Operate at a higher level" and Workplace Shell are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. WATCOM and VX«Rexx are trademarks of WATCOM International Corporation. CompuServe is a trademark of CompuServe Incorporated. © 1993 IBM Corp. Circle 374 on Inquiry Card. Feature A Streamlined Approach Traditional process (paper process) ■fi 1-e Manual design Typesetting Photo- mechanical, prepress In-house production (offset printing and copiers, finishing); vendors (purchasing, receiving, accounts payable) Freight a 1 n Local storage/ control, obsolescence Processing Procedure manual (instructions) Type entry ■ ■■!■■: | Host | Working copy Processing center(s) -if Application database Intelligent electronic-forms processing (paperless) Document creation Home office and field-office automation platform Form-filling so tware Distribution print software E-mail distribution Interactive database applications Print forms with or without data Proof printer • Program designs intelligent forms • Creates relational database • Prints forms with or without data • Develops help screens Centralized master Electronic Data Link IF IF EDL Application forms database Printer Electronic forms can alleviate many of the resource-intensive steps of forms processing. Traditional typesetting and printing steps are unnecessary. Distribution and storage requirements are streamlined when handled electronically. And processing centers do not need to rekey data from paper-based forms, since the data remains in electronic format throughout the process. Elements of an Electronic Form Input data field Derived data field FCRATE Today ( ) Input data Calculated data Calculated data field field field EXPAMT if (expcat=" total" , FCAMT FCAMT/FCRATE CUMTOTAL [ - 1 ] +EXPAMT, 0) An electronic form can prevent errors by validating entries, and it can save time by filling in parts of the form automatically. Along with these embedded rules, the form can carry routing and tracking information. The only disappointment with JetForm was that the signature database didn't scale up to Cigna's requirements — a distributed database with 25,000 records. What Jet- Form evolved for Cigna was an ability to use the Microsoft Mail signature system in place of JetForm's. You have to log onto the server and your mail system any- way, and the server has to have your pass- word handy. When you need to sign a form, JetForm asks you for your network ID and password; if you enter them cor- rectly, the form is secured. This is not as safe as the public-key method, but it doesn't require anything special from the network. In 1 1 /> years of work with JetForm, Cig- na has moved 1800 forms over to elec- tronic format. Of that set, 30 forms have progressed all the way to electronic rout- ing. Cigna is just beginning the process of interfacing the routed forms directly to its databases. Currently, the company is only partially through stage two of the three- stage program. Pains and Gains Despite the tremendous work that Cigna has done and the accomplishments the company has achieved, Paul Ferrand says the project is still in the "show me" stage. Cigna is committed to totally automating all the appropriate forms, but offices with- in Cigna still need to be convinced that this is all worthwhile. The forms automation group has in- vested a tremendous amount of time in "dog-and-pony acts" to demonstrate the usefulness of electronic-forms routing. This investment in time has really helped smooth the way for change. Cigna estimates that it can save 80 per- cent of the cost of handling internal forms with the system that is in place. That's a pretty significant piece of change. While Cigna wouldn't put an exact dollar figure 74 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 C Set Get set for incredible 32 -bit power. Get set for mission critical reliability. Get set for a range of advanced features. Get C Set++7 from IBM Programming Systems. C Set++ is the most complete object-oriented applica- tion development package you can buy for OS/2! C Set++ lets you create the most advanced, high-performance applica- tions imaginable. Its 32-bit C/C++ compiler lets you unleash all the power of OS/2, giving you industrial-strength code for your mission critical applications. It has an extraordinary code opti- mizer with a full set of options— even a switch to optimize for the new Pentium processor. Plus there's a full set of class libraries, including application C for the ++ mission frameworks for PM, container classes and classes for multitasking, streams and more. There's a whole set of other helpful features, like an interactive source level debugger. The unique Execution Trace Analyzer traces the exe- cution of a program, then graphically displays dia- grams of the analysis. You also get Workframe/27 a language-independent tool that lets you customize your own environment. It's adapt able anil flexible— you can use any 16 and 32-bit DOS, Windows™ and OS/2 tools. Set your eyes on tills: C Set+ + gives the Workplace SlielF quite a workout. With C Set++, it's easier than ever to set your sights on success. To order or to find out more about OS/2 2.1 or C Set++, call 1 800 3-IBM-OS2. In Canada, call 1800 465-7999, ext. 460. Operate at a higher level™ iat lets you £ m ""■ ent It's adapt- A | A critical set IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks and C Set + 4- , Workplace Shell, Workframe/2 and "Operate at a higher level" are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. ©1993 IBM Corp. Circle 375 on Inquiry Card. Circle 100 on Inquiry Card. Just Add Code. AUVi *!3&s~+ «**: ■aVV £005 urF ortf (800) 548-4778 Free, Unlimited Technical Support 30-Day Money Back Guarantee Same-Day Shipping (702)831-2500 Fax:(702)831-8123 P.O. Box 6091 Incline Village, NV 89450 Fortran is our forte Feature lips from the Experts If you're considering an electronic-forms so- lution, Cigna and JetForm have several sug- gestions: • Make sure your network and E-mail sys- tems are fully implemented and stable be- fore you begin looking at forms software. • Don't be swayed by a large bundle of prepackaged forms. It's not likely that you'll want to use any of them directly; you'll want to design your own. • Instead of simply transferring your paper forms to the screen, rethink the form. Is it really necessary? Do you need all that data? Don't ask your users to do any more work than necessary. • If your forms package lets you use the same data in both screen and printed form, the screen form doesn't have to look exactly like the printed version. The screen may need a different format to use space efficiently. • Once you select a product, switching to another will be difficult. There are no standard electronic-forms formats. • Don't buy vaporware. If a vendor doesn't have a component you need for your forms system, ask yourself if you can live without it, or look elsewhere. on the savings, any reasonable estimate would easily be in the millions of dollars. Of even greater value to Cigna is Cigna- Link users' change of attitude about us- ing the network and E-mail system to au- tomate other tasks. As Ferrand puts it: "We are just touching the surface of the capa- bilities of these systems." On a Smaller Scale It isn't just the huge paper-based opera- tions like Cigna that have benefited from electronic-forms routing. Trace Tech- nologies has started moving its operations over to electronic forms. Trace is a leading manufacturer of dig- ital-media copy equipment for the com- puter industry. Its worldwide operation employs only 275 people (tiny compared to Cigna). Its network consists of two HP 3000 database servers and many MS- DOS/Windows PCs mixed with just a few Macintoshes. It is a multiprotocol lOBase- T Ethernet network, but with a single E-mail system. Be- cause of the scale of opera- Company Information JetForm Corp. (JetForm-Design, JetForm- Filler, JetForm for E-Mail) 800 South St., Suite 305 Watermill Center Waltham, MA 02154 (800) 538-3676 (617) 647-7700 fax: (617) 647-4121 Circle 1087 on Inquiry Card. tions at Trace, only one person, Felix Camerino, has the responsibility for work- ing out the move to electronic forms. Trace is working on gaining ISO9000 certification. ISO9000 is an international standard for total quality management. One of its elements is office automation with electronic-forms routing (called au- tomate with validation). Therefore, im- plementing electronic forms has a dollar value independent of the operation's ex- pense savings. And the expense savings are considerable: Time-card automation will bring savings of $30,000 per year, and all five forms of the pilot project should save about $250,000 per year. Camerino considered other LAN-/E- mail-based forms-automation paths, but he, too, found that JetForm fit the needs better than any other existing package. One major consideration was that it worked well with cc:Mail. Camerino created and evaluated a pro- totype system for payroll time sheets. The evaluation period lasted six months and required one JetForm-Designer license and 1 JetForm-Filler licenses — an initial in- vestment of $15,000 for licenses. The orig- inal time-sheet electronic-form design took him roughly 80 hours, even though the form had nearly 600 data fields, each with an associate attribute or formula. After the pilot program started, Trace completely changed its processing and policies for time cards, so Camerino has made a second version of the electronic form. The second version will be distrib- uted to users along with the JetForm-Filler licenses. Now and the Future In the next few years, we will see sophis- ticated forms-routing products that will reach beyond even what JetForm offers now. These emerging products will man- age and track all aspects of a company's work flow. Forms routing will be only an element of this broader ambition. But for now, the electronic-forms soft- ware is sufficient for sophisticated opera- tions. An electronic routing system can re- duce expenses and increase productivity for companies with only a few hundred employees on up to organizations tens of thousands strong. ■ Ben Smith and Howard Eglow- stein are testing editors for the BYTE Lab. You can reach Ben on BIX as "bensmith " or on the In- ternet at ben@bytepb.byte.com. Howard can be contacted on BIX as " 'he glow stein. " 76 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Whether for Business, Home or Entertainment, Aetna has a Solution to Make You Smile M" SVGA Monitor (1024 x 768, .28mm, NI) for Ciisp Color Graphics 170MB Hard Drive and 128K External Cache for Plenty of Room Built-in High Performance Multisession CD-ROM Drive for CD-ROM, Photo CD 8l Audio CD Playback and Desktop Ergonomics* CD Software to Fit Every Interest * SPECIFICATIONS Intel 486 Processor 170MB Hard Drives 4MB RAM Exp to 32MB 128K External Cache 14" SVGA Color Monitor VGA Card with 1MB IDE Controller 1.44 & 1.2 Drives Desktop Case 101 Enhanced Keyboard 3 Button Serial Mouse Built-in Stereo Speakers* CD-ROM Drive* Sound Card* CD Software* *MPC & MPC+ Systems Only M ^ O • • • © Sii L X:T.E If "tit M f Pi ' I'l iarv-i i " Your MPC Plus System comes with these CD-RON software titles: Four Time PC World Best Buy Winner June 1993 February 1993 November 1992 October 1992 Sound Card for Quality Sound* 1.44 & 1.2 Disk Drives for Flexible Input Options Built-in High Performance Stereo Speakers for Desktop Ergonomics * Ready to Run All Your Windows, DOS, & OS/2 Applications ACMA PC SOLUTIONS Sound Library, King's Quest, Mixed Up Mother Goose Microsoft Bookshelf: American Heritage Dictionary, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, The Concise Columbia Dictionary, The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, The Hammond Atlas, Roget's Electronic Thesaurus 486SX/33 PC $1399 486SX/33 MPC 01699 486SX/33 MPC+ 01799 486DX/33 PC 0U99 486DX/33 MPC 01799 486DX/33 MPC+ 01899 486DX2/50PC 01599 486DX2/50 MPC 01899 486DX2/50 MPC+ 01999 486DX2/66PC 01799 486DX2/66MPC 02099 486DX2/66 MPC+ 02199 The Mew Acma 486 Multimedia Computer. The Latest Addition to the Family of Solutions From Acma* Call & Order Today £k COMPUTERS, INC. H| : kernel Prices & specifications subject to change without notice. Prices do not include shipping & handling, Call to confirm configuration. Intel Inside logo is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. 47988 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538 Direct: (510) 628-1212, Fax: (510) 628-0818 Natl/Corp.: 800-786-6888 Government: 800-578-1888 Circle 63 on Inquiry Card. uaranteed Be Absoft F77 for Windows NT™ by Absoft Corporation A globally optimizing ANSI Standard FORTRAN 77 with all DoD MIL-STD extensions. Intel^S™ and Pentium 1 " optimizations produce the fastest F77 applications for NT. Compatible with MS C/C++, windbg, and other NT SDK tools. VAX, Sun, Cray, Fortran 90 features aid in porting. Source compatible with other Absoft F77s for Macintosh, DOS, NeXTSTEP & UNIX. List: $995 Ours: $845 FAXcetem # 0012-8601 es! OS/2 2.1 by IBM OS/2 v2. 1 lets you take advantage of the award- winning features found In v2.0 and increase your productivity with new enhancements. Includes support for MS Windows v3.1 applications including enhanced mode and full 32-bit graphics engine. Adobe and TrueType Font sup- port gives you the best of both worlds. WIN-OS/2 setup icon allows changes to default values of all Windows applications. Start your DOS and OS/2 appsfrom a WIN-OS/2 Desktop! OS/2 List: $249 Ours: $139 Upgrade List: $199 Ours: $ 99 FAXcetem* 3142-0009 :t tvT -^-t- WindowsMAKER %p. Professional 5.0 ^ by Blue Sky Software ^^yiTyi. *Q % Next generation of the most powerful C/C++ Code Generator and Prototyper for Windows 3.1, NT & Win32s. The fastest way to create full-featured Windows apps. This product stands out, does every- thing — even a toolbar can be created with 1 click! Test run your design, make changes interactively, gen- erate code for multiple platforms— ANSI C, MFC, OWL, etc.; widest compiler support in industry. TrueCode technology — user code is 100% preserved. Highly recommended! List: $1,096 Ours: $899 FAXcetem # 2602-0003 New Version of Mathematical by Wolfram Research A system for doing numerical, symbolic, and graphical computation used both as an interactive calculation tool and a program- ming language. Numerical capabilities include arbitrary-precision arithmetic and matrix manipulation. Graphics are generat- ed in PostScript form. On some systems, Mathematical front end supports "Notebooks** that mix input, graphics, text, and sound. Standard/Wind List: $595 Ours: $505 Enhanced/Wind List: $995 Ours: $845 FAXcetem # 2014-0001 Symantec C++ Professional 6.0 by Symantec Reach new levels of programming power with Symantec C++ for Windows, DOS, and Win32s. Breakthrough new 1DDE revolution- izes the way you work. Includes optimizations and tools, OPTLink linker and Blue Sky visual tools, with MFC 2.0 and Win32s, and 8000 pages of documentation. Your productivity will increase so much you can go on vacation; an included coupon for two travel certificates to Hawaii will get you there. Competitive Upgrade for Borland or Microsoft customers $199.95. List: $499 Comp. Upgrade List: $199 FAXcetem* 2132-0038 GA-Clipper 5.2 Competitive Upgrade by Computer Associates Ours: $299 Ours: $189 CA-Clipper - - v Yes, the newly released CA-Clipper version 5.2 is being offered to Xbase language product owners at the low retail price qf '$199. This competitive upgrade is available for a short time only I What a great opportunity to get the power of CA-Clipper, at a super price! And now when you buy, get your choice of dBFast, Clipper Tools or dBASE Compiler Kit— FREE from CA when you register! List: $199 Ours: $149 FAXcetem* 5400-0001 Commence 2.0 Adds LAN Support, 50+ Major New Features by JENSEN- JONES, INC. Commence 2.0, the most powerful and flexible PIM for Windows, gives users an easy way to store, organize, view — and share information. Includes basic PIM features: calendar, contact management, task management plus powerful new features for transparently sharing Commence databases, views, categories, connections and a unique database synchronization feature. List: $395 Ours: $289 FAXcetem* 3015-0001 Q+E Database Library by Q+E Software Q+E Database library 2.0 - streamlines DBMS- . independent applica- tions development by providing transparent access to major SQL and PC ' DBMS from user's desktops with automatic support for ODBC & ID API. QELIB2 works with existing development tools and is simply the best way to add complete DBMS access to applications today, and tomorrow! List: $699 Ours: $559 FAXcetem* 2625-0003 Plu^uoimmm PoJuukti ® MetaWare High C/C++ by MetaWare, Inc. mmm 'M NEW RELEASE! High C/C++ version 3.1. MetaWare's 32— bit compiler is shipping. Includes a 32-bit source-level debugger. and a 32-bit Application Developers Kit for Windows. The "Incremental Strengths" feature enables gradual migration from C to C++ one block at a time. High C/C++ provides optional ANSI conformance, eight levels of global optimization and a full implementation of C++ templates. list: $795 Ours; $669 FAXcetera* 1590-0008 C++/Vicws for OS/2 by Liant Software Corp. C++ /Views is the best object-oriented application framework for developing multi-platform, native GUI programs using C++. C++/Views includes a library of over 100 C++ classes that solve a broad range of software development problems including interface design, data management, event processing, and more. C++/Views includes C++/Views Constructor, a unique development tool that lets you work visually with the C++ /Views class library. C++/Views applications are source- code portable across MS Windows, OS/2 PM, OSF/Motlff. and Mac. No royalties or run-time fees. Source code is free. List: $749 Ours: $599 FAXcetera # 1812-0001 mm WATCOM™ SQL for Windows byWATCOM WATCONT SQL for Windows is a complete client/server DBMS including a standalone single-user SQL database server. WATCOM SQL for Windows allows you to develop and deploy single-user standalone applications. and to develop applications for use within the WATCOM SQL Network Server Edition. WATCOM SQL for Windows includes support for the Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) standard for database applications. List: $395 Ours: $299 FAXcetera # 1683-0013 DataTable Spreadsheet Control by ProtoView Development NEWt Create sizzling database applica- tions with ProtoView DataTable, a sophisticated Windows spreadsheet con- trol that will give your application the look and feel of Excel. It makes the per- fect user interface for any database. With its output picture clause masking you can edit and format data right in the cell as you type itl Works with any stan- dard dialog editor for interactive setup. Supports all C/C++ Windows compilers and Pascal. List: $249 Ours: $224 w/source List: $495 Ours: $449 FAXcetera # 2553-0003 List: $299 NEW THIS MONTH Blinker 3.0 ^ by Blink Inc. . 1DQ A Windows linker, a royalty-free 286 DOS jP extender and an award -winning DOS product. The only way to create proj which run in both real and protected mode DOS. Comparable with most programming languages Blinker 3.0 creates memory efficient programs for DOS or Windows in seconds. Ours: $199 FAXcetera # 2534-0001 WATCOM™ C/C++ 32 v9.5 byWATCOM WC0MC/C+* g C/C++ 33 is a professional, multi-platform C and C++ development system supporting 32-bit extended DOS, OS/2 2.x, Windows 3.x, Windows NT, Win32s, and AutoCAD ADS/ADI. The complete toolset includes: C and C++ optimizing compilers, royalty-free DOS extender with VMM support, licensed components from the MS Windows 3.x SDK, interactive source-level debugger, linker, profiler, Supervisor for executing 32-bit applications and DLLs under Windows 3.x, 32-bit run-time libraries for extended DOS, OS/2 2.x, Windows 3.x and Windows NT, and more. list: $599 Ours: $349 FAXcetera # 1683-0003 Get Help From The Windows Help Magician 2.0! by Software Interphase, Inc. Develop Windows Hypertext Help Files! Doesn't require Word for Windows and will import RTF files. Has built-in editor. New version 2.0 supports Help Compiler features such as non- scrolling regions, secondary windows, macros, advanced paragraph formatting. Jumps to other help files, no memoiy limitations, spell checker and much morel Supports all Windows languages. 'Certainly for Windmvs programmers its indispensible.'" —PC Magazine/July '93 List: $199 Ours: $169 FAXcetera* 1767-0008 -JSf Wc\ I M '7 1 J h i d d »1 Ji.ii M J : J r«l ii (Call for Details) To order call: 800-445-7899 orporate (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- AX^e ra ®:(201)762- Shrewsbu » All prices are subject to change without notice. Circle 105 on Inquiry Card. INTRODUCING SYMANTEC C++ PROIESSIONAL DESIGNED BY MICROSOFT AND BOR1AND C++ USERS. We asked questions. We listened. And we took what we learned from Microsoft and Borland C++ users and created a better way for you to develop applications. The best compiler. And the best linker. Workspace ffiindcw jjelp Symantec Ct+ - MUlTiPAP.PRJ r, FUSE. r.- £«d Ih^7 Eind Spew Sfr>* D CWnd ^ CEdll Si Static Jsta membera a IructC Runtime Class v i> Methods GctfluntimeCloeb complete Microsoft Foundation Classes 2.0 as well as support for Microsoft Visual Basic controls. Software, Symantec C++ gives you the world's most sophisticated visual tools. This is what Microsoft Visual C+ + should have been. Win32s from the leader in 32-bit compilers. Win32s is free in every box. Create true 32-bit applications that run unchanged under both Windows 3.1 and Windows NT. Develop and debug apps on your existing Windows system. Its easy to switch. Symantec C++ is highly compatible with Microsoft and Borland C++. So there's no reason to wait. We've also included the Order today. Symantec C++ Professional 6.0 is now priced at just $499* But if you are already a Microsoft or Borland user, we have a special upgrade offer of just $199.95** A 60% savings. See your dealer. Or call 1-800-453-1077 ext. AP80 and order now. Symantec C++ Professional 6.0 is everything a Microsoft or Borland C++ user could want. Get today's best C++. And two tickets to Hawaii. Two awesome environments in every box. Along ivith our incredibly powerful IDDE, you'll also find a coupon redeemable for two airline tickets to Hawaii in every copy of Symantec C++ Professional or competitive upgrade. This coupon is redeemable for a travel certificate that entitles yu to receive from Travel Reservations, round-trip airline tickets for two to Honolulu, Hawaii upon the purchase of seven nights hotel accommodations with an estimated total, cost of $826 Id $1)806. Prices may be subject to reasonable changes (i.e., inflation) prior to confirmation. Prices may vary depending on times and dates of departure. Some restrictions do apply. For complete FAX details, dial 1-800-5 54-4 W3, select option #/, document M43. C++ tJicieuw,". rii>:vi|.- Symantec C++ is available in both Professional and Standard versions. SYMANTEC C++ PROFESSIONAL SYMANTEC. ""Suggested retail price. Actual price may vary. ** Upgrade offer plus shipping, handling and applicable tax. Offer price in US. dollars. Valid in U.S. and Canada only. For more information in Europe, call 31-71-353111. In Australia, call 61-2-879-6577. In Canada, call 1- 800-667-8661. Everywhere else, call W8-252-3570. Symantec C++ is a registered trademark of Symantec Corporation. All other products are trademarks or registered trademarks ofQieir respective holders. ©1993 Symantec Corporation. All rights resei-ved. Circle 148 on Inquiry Card. SPECIAL R E P O R X Find out which one meets your needs ■ COVER STORY APPLICATIONS Is There a Better Windows OS/2 2.1: A User's Than Windows 3.1? ?*& 85 Perspective ^ 9 ? Windows, OS/2, and NT offer distinct One man's view of life with OS/2. benefits and disadvantages. The right choice depends on your p ar t ners ^ [ Q Unite requirements. n , , nn Phone and PC page 107 Guide to Top Software for IBM Has w H °P es for Multime(,ia Windows & OS/2 p agel51 on0S/2 A compilation of word processors, Pen f Of OS/2 Page 112 spreadsheets, development tools, communications programs, and more IBM IMeS MP Promises f Of OS/2 . . . . Page 114 NETWORKING OS/2 and Windows Networks *&& IBM's LAN Server and Microsoft's LAN Manager have more similarities than differences. IBM's Assault on Distributed Objects .. Page 125 Developers Cautiously Optimistic About Multiplatform OpenDoc Page 130 IBM Ships DCE SDK for OS/2 andWindows page 131 TECHNOLOGY Compilers: Essential Partners Page 135 The processors behind operating systems like OS/2 and NT need this essential piece of software. Windows NT Supports Posix, but Does it Matter? p a gei42 Will OpenCL Be 3-D Standard for Windows NT? Page 144 OS/2 Gets Device Support Page m HowTbMana The Ultimate Combination Of Power And Ease- Of-Use. e The Future. Now Available For Both Windows And OS/2. ii. — 'ail Introducing the CA-SupetProject first project [r*i ; *SL manager your entire company can use. For power users, there are dozens of new features, functions and an internal development language that makes creating ad- vanced macros quick and easy For begin- ners, the easiest, a i MICROSOFT. WINDOWS. Compatible Buy one version, get Che other FREE. friendliest interface and shortest learning curve in the industry The new graphics and reporting options will make every user look like a genius. And since it runs under Windows and OS/2, you won't be burning any bridges. FOR A FREE DEMO DISK CALL 1-800 CALL CAI EXT. 240. Call today to test-drive the tjj^J award-wining project man- ■ agement software that can Sage 11 QOMPUTER the future ASSOCIATES Today Software superior by design. New CA-SuperPro ect 3.0. © Computer Associates International, Inc., One Computer Associates Plaza, islandia, NY 11788-7000. M W A II nmHiirr rnmoc rof oronroH hornin aro traH.imarL-c r\f thoir rocnorfi\/e rrwnnanioc ^^^^ All product names referenced herein are trademarks of their respective companies. Circle 291 on Inquiry Card. COREL ORAM! The Best in Graphics Presentation S&*W£filMftifejii Get animated with CorelDRAW 4! PAGE LAYOUT CHARTING *} ILLUSTRATION CorelDRAW is renowned for its powerful graphics capabilities. CorelDRAW 4 now leaps even further ahead by adding page layouts, animation and OCR, as well as hundreds of other feature enhancements. It's the best value in software today-and it f s still the easiest to use! CorelDRAW 4 is the ideal desktop publishing tool! It includes illustration, charting, photo-editing, tracing/OCR and presentation capabilities. ..and so much more! There are advanced word processing features, multi-page layouts and dozens of artistic and special effects. It's packed with more fonts, more clipart images and symbols, more graphic tools and business applications. And now CorelDRAW 4 also includes CorelMOVE, a brand new animation module. ALSO INCLUDES TWO BONUS CD-ROMs -featuring a complete CD version of CorelDRAW 4 plus libraries of clipartimages and symbols, fonts, animation elements, sound effects, and a Video for Windows enhanced QuickTour. PHOTO-PAINT TRACING/OCR PRESENTATIONS FILE MANAGEMENT ANIMATION • Comprehensive DTP Features • Flexible Multi-Page Layouts • Enhanced Word Processing • Advanced Direct Scanning • Powerful OCR (Optical Character Recognition) • Single-Step Business Forms Tracing • Thousands of Fractal Textures and Fills • Dazzling Artistic Tools and Special Effects • Convenient Spreadsheet and over 80 Chart Styles • Object Data Management • Over 5,000 "Drag and Drop" Symbols and Shapes • Over 18,000 Clipart Images and Symbols • Over 750 Fonts (650 Bltstream and ITC) • Complete Color Separations • On-line Help • 20 Photo-Paint Filters and 14 Image Correction Filters • 37 Import/Export Filters • 21 Transition Effects • Over 200 Animated Flics • Over 400 Cartoons • Over 750 Actors, Props and Sounds 18,000 CLIPART images and symbols 750 FONTS ONLY m $479 U.S. FUNDS Registered User Upgrade $249 CorelDRAW 3 - Now Only $149 Order Now! 1-800-421-8006 Circle 292 on Inquiry Card. '• ■■ ■ : , th.'hlh ! SPECIAL Window s St OS/2 REPORT COVER STORY Is There a Better Windows 3.1 Than Windows 3.1? Windows, OS/2, and NT offer distinct benefits and disadvantages. One of them excels at running standard Windows applications. But the best choice depends on your requirements. DDDEEDEE ZQDEDHOO JON UDELL Let's get right to the point: The answer is no. I ran the BYTE Windows applica- tion benchmarks and the BYTE Windows low-level benchmarks on five fast Intel systems under Win- dows 3.1, OS/2 2. 1 , and Windows NT 3.1 (and on two RISC systems under NT alone). For applications, the hands- down winner was Windows 3.1. That's a result that should suiprise no one. Running 16-bit Windows soft- ware is not the primary mission of either OS/2 or NT. These are robust operating systems built to run 32-bit Presentation Manager and Win32 applications, respec- tively. Of course, if you adopt one of these systems to run mission-critical line-of -business applications, you won't want to forgo standard productivity applications like the ones in our application suite — Excel, Ami Pro, and Su- perbase. And since PM and Win32 versions of these aren't yet available (Ami Pro for OS/2 was imminent but missed our deadline), that means you'll be leaning on the Win 16 support built into OS/2 and NT. The good news is that your Win 16 applications will run on the Win 1 6 subsystems of both OS/2 and NT. The bad news is that they will run more slowly there than under straight Windows 3. 1 . There are, of course, a number of ways to qualify that statement. For starters, note that Windows 3.1 posts the best marks when running in standard mode, not 386 en- hanced mode. Windows 3 . 1 narrowed, but clearly did not eliminate, the performance gap that made many Windows 3.0 users prefer standard mode. Despite that gap, how- ever, 3.1 users need enhanced mode to multitask DOS, to run virtual device drivers such as the 32-bit FastDisk driv- er and the Windows for Workgroups network components, and to run 32-bit Windows-extended applications. If you don't rely on any of these features, you might as well run Windows 3.1 in standard mode. On three of the four systems for which the comparison was possible, the overall applications index for standard mode was 12 per- cent to 1 5 percent better than for enhanced mode. If you're like most Windows users, however, you do rely on en- hanced-mode features. Note that while both OS/2 and NT lag behind Windows 3.1 in Win 16 application perfor- mance, they lag enhanced mode by less than they lag stan- dard mode. Tales of the Triple Boot Despite horror stories you may have heard, Windows, OS/2, and NT can coexist peacefully on the same hard disk. Once you install all three, switching among them is straightforward. However, there is no master boot utility that can control the whole show. OS/2 provides two mech- anisms: a simple dual-boot utility and the Boot Manager, which can switch between an operating system that boots from drive C and an arbitrary set of operating systems that can boot from other partitions. NT offers only the equiva- lent of OS/2's dual-boot utility. Ideally, you would let Boot Manager (or an equivalent) NOVEMBER 1993 BYTE 85 SPECIAL Windows & OS/2 REPORT handle everything. Launching from its ac- tive 1-MB partition, it would present three choices: DOS/Windows on primary par- tition C, OS/2 on a logical partition, and NT on another logical partition. Unfortu- nately, NT, like DOS, wants to boot from partition C. That dictates a two-tiered boot strategy. You first make a C partition on each system — reserving space for a D par- tition and Boot Manager — and install DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 on C. You can then install OS/2 and NT in any order. If OS/2 goes on first, say on drive D, add drive C to the Boot Manager menu as usual. Then, while booted to DOS from C, install NT. The only complication is that NT will make C the active partition. To recover Boot Manager and gain triple- boot capability, use FDISK or NT's Disk Manager to set NT's partition active again. (NT informs you that you need to reacti- vate Boot Manager if you want to use it.) Alternatively, you can install NT on top of DOS/Windows and then add Boot Man- ager and OS/2 into the reserved space on the disk. Either way, use Boot Manager to control a primary choice between DOS and NT on drive C and OS/2 on drive D. When you choose C, you'll land in NT's dual boot, which controls your secondary choice between DOS and NT. On one system, an IBM PS/2 Model 90 XP 486, 1 forgot to leave room for separate OS/2 and Boot Manager partitions. Stuck with OS/2's dual boot, I used the boot command to switch to DOS. Next, I in- stalled NT with its dual booter. The system was then switchable between DOS and NT. If OS/2' s dual booter switched to OS/2 and then back to DOS, would it restore NT's dual booter faithfully? Half expect- ing to find that I had sawed off the limb I was sitting on, I tried the experiment . . . and it worked just fine. The moral is that, while triple-booting DOS, OS/2, and NT may not be an exer- cise for the casual user, you shouldn't run into any trouble if you're inclined to test these operating systems head to head — assuming, of course, that your disk can hold them all. Don't forget that NT's hefty swap file (28 MB on a 16-MB Intel sys- tem) makes it a voracious disk hog. Into the Starting Gate While OS/2 won points with me for its wonderfully flexible Boot Manager, NT's Win-0S/2 Subtleties: Enhanced-Compatibility Mode and DDE Windows 3.1 uses one kernel for standard mode (KRNL286.EXE) and another for en- hanced mode (KRNL386.EXE). Win-OS/2, how- ever, uses only an IBM derivative of the en- hanced-mode kernel. Win-OS/2 KRNL386.EXE can, confusingly, operate in two modes that IBM calls standard (the default) and enhanced compatibility. In standard mode, Win-OS/2 KRNL386.EXE always runs with the standard-mode flag set In enhanced-compatibility mode, it loads with the enhanced-mode flag set, switches tem- porarily to standard mode to suppress the loading of virtual device drivers (since OS/2 doesn't support virtual device drivers), and then switches back to enhanced mode. Why bother with this rigmarole? Applica- tions like Mathematica, FoxPro, and Interleaf Publisher use Windows extenders to gain ac- cess to linear extended memory, and the ex- tenders depend on enhanced mode. Why, then, isn't enhanced-compatibility mode the default? "I lost that battle," says Win-OS/2 architect Ayo Anise. Probably IBM should have listened to Anise, because users of 32-bit Windows 3.1 software under Win-OS/2 can run into some strange problems, the causes of which are not imme- diately apparent. Ordinarily, when you run mul- tiple Windows 3.1 applications under Win- OS/2, they share a single VDM (virtual DOS machine) that supports either a full-screen or seamless display in Win-OS/2 standard mode. To run an extended program like FoxPro, how- ever, you have to set its WIN_RUN_MODE to 386 enhanced compatibility. It's not obvious to the user, but that means FoxPro will run alone in one VDM while other applications using the default settings will share another VDM. You might argue, as IBM loudly does to any- one and everyone who will listen, that this isolation of Windows 3.1 applications into sep- arate VDMs means greater robustness: A Win- dows spasm in one VDM won't affect Windows programs running in another. That's true, but the multi-VDM scenario causes problems for DDE. In the single-VDM case, applications share common address space; to perform a DDE data transfer, they need only exchange a handle. In the mutti-VDM case (or in the case of Windows-to-Presentation Manager DDE), DDE messages and transaction data must move from one address space to another. IBM solved this problem by building a mechanism to relay DDE traffic across process boundaries. Unfor- tunately, it doesn't work as well or as reliably as it should. To test DDE under Win-OS/2, 1 modified the DDEML (DDE management library) samples provided in the Windows SDK (Software De- velopment Kit) to time a 1-MB data transfer be- tween a DDE server and a DDE client. Under Windows 3.1 and single-VDM Win-OS/2, the transfer works reliably and (since there's no memory-to-memory copying) in a negligible amount of time. Under multi-VDM Win-OS/2, though, I ran into the same set of problems on several test systems. First, I had to tweak the transaction time-outs to make the transfer work. Second, transactions took an order of magnitude longer than they did under Win- dows 3.1 and single-VDM OS/2. Third and most troubling, the connection invariably broke af- ter one successful transfer, and no further DDE transactions were possible without restart- ing both client and server. IBM has gone to great lengths to portray multi-VDM Win-OS/2 as a robust alternative to the DOS multitasking of Windows 3.1. In general, it is. But — despite IBM's insistence to the contrary — you pay a price for that "crash protection." DDE across VDMs (or between Win-OS/2 and PM) is wobbly. OLE, which rides the DDE transport, also suffers. If you use 32-bit Windows software under Win-OS/2 and also rely on DDE, you should probably use enhanced-compatibility mode for all your 16- and 32-bit Windows applications. That way they'll share a common VDM, and you'll avoid DDE hassles. What about NT? The Win32 subsystem han- dles DDE calls from both Winl6 and Win32 applications evenhandedly. 16-bit DDE and OLE clients interoperate smoothly with both 16- and 32-bit DDE and OLE servers, and vice versa. 86 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 1 1 ■ 1 * — f 1 1 u 1 I .m \ ■ £el£ S 1 Visio 2.0 is the easiest way to make great business drawings. uvwwww* 1 1 Nona/, it's also the easiest way to make a great business decision. % If you've used a stencil, you know how to use Visio. Visio stencils address virtually all your business drawing needs. £3 You're looking at some great drawings and diagrams made by a bunch of people who can't draw. All were created with Visio? 1 Shapeware s® award- winning drawing program for Windows 3.1 users. Visio provides job-specific, on-screen stencils for easy access. So instead of drawing, you simply select SmartShapes™ from one of 20 stencils, and drag and drop them into place. m Unlike clip art, Visio's 600-plus SmartShapes have built-in intelligence. So they resize without distorting, connecting lines stay glued and integrated text makes labeling and editing a snap. You can even create and customize shapes of your own. Product Visio's drag and drop SmartShapes take the "drawing"out of business drawing. And since Visio supports OLE 2.0, you can easily integrate drawings with other Windows applications. Creating great business drawings has never been simpler. For a limited time, buy Visio 2.0 for just $129. Here's an easy business decision: Purchase Visio 2.0 by December 31, 1993, and save $170. Visio also comes with a 60-day, money-back guarantee. To order, for more information, or for the names of authorized Visio resellers near you, call toll-free: 1-800-446-3335,ext.EN9 © Shapeware Corporation, 1993. All rights reserved. Outside the U.S. and Canada contact Shapeware by phone (303) 743-9533 or fax (303) 695-0555. Offer applies to versions for use in the U.S. and Canada only. Offer price is in U.S. dollars. Shapeware is a registered trademark and Visio, Drag and Drop Drawing for Evetyday Graphics, and SmartShapes are trademarks of Shapeware Corporation. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Cojporation. ViSia : -o£ ^hH» Circle 356 on Inquiry Card. SPECIAL VHndows & OS/2 REPORT BYTE WINDOWS APPLI CATION AND LOW-LEVEL BENCHMARKS FOR WINDOWS, OS/2, AND NT Machine IBM PS/2 Model 90 XP 486 Machine EverexStep486DX2/50 Machine ALR Flyer 32LCT4DX2/66 Processor 486DX/33 Processor 486DX2/50 Processor 486DX2/66 Secondary cache 256KB Secondary cache 256KB Secondary cache 256KB RAM 16MB RAM 16MB RAM 8MB Drive controller IBM SCSI-2 Drive controller Adaptec 1742 Drive controller Ultrastor 15C Video controller XGA-2 Video controller STB Horizon (Cirrus Logic 5426) £ 1 Si 1 1 1 1 #/ 1/ 1/ 9 J fe / fe / £3 S to / #/ #/ s § § Video controller VGA #/ 1/ / sl 1 */ t 8 § § § #/ §7 $ 8 St I ■& / • / «?/ • / JS 1 5* / % / **■* / S s s «o / 6?/ ^ 5? / 32 F t/ t/ s7 / 1 '** / / 8 i **< / / */ 9/ Ami Pro 2.0 (times in sec Dnds) Load 1.33 1.30 1.80 1.80 1.53 0.80 0.95 1.65 1.70 1.25 0.60 0.77 1.67 1.03 Search and replace 5.63 5.77 5.67 5.67 5.S7 4.15 4,20 4.35 4.35 445 3.13 3.37 3.37 3.33 Last page 3.50 347 3.57 3.60 3.73 2*0 2.90 ZOO 2.95 3.10 2.13 2.10 220 2.17 Paragraph moves 10.93 1043 11.40 13.80 16.33 6.30 6.30 12.10 11.70 11.50 5.73 5.53 643 6.03 Spelling check Z10 2.20 2.57 2.43 6.07 1.75 1.85 2.45 2.20 5.80 1.40 1.37 2*3 1.50 Save file 1.97 1.80 2.50 2.37 2.70 145 145 2.20 2.20 2*5 1.23 1.10 2*3 2.10 Excel 3.0a (times in seco ids) Open savage 11.00 11.00 11.33 11.00 12.33 8.00 8.00 8.50 9.00 10.00 6.00 6.33 7.00 6.00 Recalc savage 10.00 10.00 10.67 10.00 13.00 7.00 7.00 8.00 7.50 10.00 5.33 5.00 5.67 5.67 Goalseek 10.33 10.67 11.67 12.00 17.00 8.00 6.00 13.50 13.50 11.50 6.33 6.33 7.00 6.67 Superbase 4 1 .30 (times i n seconds) Insert 5.00 5.00 8.00 8.00 9.00 4.00 5,00 8.00 8.00 9.00 3.00 4.00 6.00 6.00 Index 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 4.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 2.00 3.00 3.00 Scroll 16.33 16.33 14.00 13.00 16.67 8.00 8.50 16.00 17.00 18*0 7.00 6.67 9.00 7.00 Remove 11.00 12.67 15.00 15.00 11.00 9.50 10.00 13*0 13.50 10.00 7.33 9.00 11*3 11.00 Sorted query 1.00 1.67 2.00 2.00 1.00 1.00 1*0 1.50 1.50 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Word Processing index 0.98 1.00 0.69 0.67 0.62 2*8 1.73 0.82 0.82 0.91 3.33 2.59 1.06 1.86 Spreadsheet index 1.01 1.00 0.94 0.96 0.76 1*8 1*8 1.09 1.09 1.01 1.80 1.80 1.62 1.73 Database index 1.03 1.00 0.91 0.92 0.96 1.35 1.27 0.90 0.89 0.96 1.68 1.54 1.18 1.24 Overall index 1.01 1.00 0.84 0.85 0.78 1.80 1.46 0.94 0.93 0.96 227 1.98 129 1.61 WINDOWS LOW-LEVEL Primitive operations per second Pixels 6 1128.00 7910.00 3943.00 5872.00 2664.00 9242*0 8752.00 5810.00 7987.00 3076.00 23005.00 21116.00 9566.00 21230.00 Lines <■ 1641.00 4589.00 2272.00 4681.00 1335.00 3853.00 3774.00 2707.00 2924.00 2504.00 2758.00 2576.00 2165.00 2570.00 Rectangles C 424.00 3435.00 2534.00 1670.00 831.00 3860.00 3716.00 1295.50 1304.00 1460.00 1452.00 1444.00 1312.00 1425.00 Polygons 151.00 140.00 115.00 153.00 149.00 188.00 186.00 133.50 139.00 296.00 233.00 231.00 159.00 217.00 Ellipses 187.00 187.00 182.00 182*0 279.00 83.00 77.00 168.50 165.00 731.00 227.00 218.00 211.00 213.00 BitBIt 1 436.00 1437.00 1711.00 1218.00 1373.00 4137.00 4153.00 200.50 206.00 198.00 218.00 212.00 204.00 208.00 Text out 674.00 569.00 552.00 407.00 459.00 1456.50 1588*0 302*0 303.00 358.00 2175.00 2250.00 1910.00 2252.00 Draw text 376.00 399.00 427.00 389.00 37.00 426.50 512*0 37Z00 361.00 371.00 945.00 742*0 813.00 844.00 Local memory 13.00 13.00 13.00 13.00 12.60 18.50 18.30 16.80 17.33 17.73 25.00 25.00 24.00 25.00 Global memory 1.50 0.40 0.37 0.39 0*6 1.62 0.54 0.47 0.41 0.04 0.93 0.69 0*0 0.56 KBps Sequential I/O 373.00 342.00 662.00 668.00 839.00 432.00 414*0 667.50 675.50 826.00 368.00 349.00 551.00 540.00 Random I/O 1 698*0 2221.00 2126.00 2147.00 5134.00 2521.00 2067.50 1400.00 1546.00 2765.00 2670.00 2514.00 1204.00 1188.00 Graphics index 1.02 1.00 0.63 0.78 0.38 1.25 1.22 0.59 0.72 048 1.68 1.54 0.88 1.55 Memory index 1.08 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.94 1.50 1.41 127 1.32 1.33 1.94 1.92 1.83 1.91 File I/O index 0.89 1.00 1.09 1.10 2.33 1.15 0.97 0.81 0.87 141 1.18 1.12 0.68 0.67 Cumulative index 1.00 1.00 0.90 0.96 1.22 1.30 1.20 0.89 0.97 1.07 1.59 1.53 1.13 1.38 Insufficient RAM to run NT on this machine. Note: Windows enhanced- mode res ults on the IBM PS/2 Model 9C serve as baseline for all application and low-level indexes. Red = Best Blue: : Worst 88 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 SPECIAL & OS/2 REPORT Machine Gateway 2000 4DX2-66E Processor 486DX2/66 Secondary cache 256KB RAM 16MB Drive controller Ultrastor 24F Video controller Diamond Speedstar 24x (WD 90C31 A) Machine Unisys 5606e Processor Pentium/60 Secondary cache 256KB RAM 40 MB Drive controller Adaptec 7770 Video controller ATI Mach 32 Machine SGI/Mips Magnum 75SC Processor Mips R4400/75-150 Secondary cache 1MB RAM 32MB Drive controller NCR 53G9X Video controller SGI G346 0.63 0.73 1.43 1.37 1.63 0.47 0.80 0.60 0.70 3.53 3.53 3.40 3.53 3.50 2.27 2.00 2.03 1.97 — 2.33 2.43 2.53 2.50 2.57 1.07 1.13 1.13 1.17 — 6.13 6.67 11.37 9.50 12.50 3.83 5.10 5.40 6.77 — 1.43 1.50 2.00 1.80 4.77 0.83 1.00 0.90^ 2.30 — 1.17 1.30 1.60 1.73 1.87 0.70 1.27 1.00 0.93 — 6.33 7.00 7.00 7.00 8.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 1.00 5.00 5.50 5.33 5.67 8.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 4.33 4.00 7.00 7.00 10.67 10.67 11.67 4.00 4.00 4.00 5.67 2.00 3.67 4.00 6.00 8.00 7.00 2.00 3.00 3.00 4.00 2.00 3.00 3.33 3.00 2.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 — 7.00 7.33 13.00 12.33 18.00 4.00 6.00 4.00 8.00 — 8.00 10.00 11.67 11.00 8.67 4.00 6.00 6.00 4.00 — 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 — 2.99 2.49 1.08 1.19 0.77 6.26 3.40 4.56 3.09 — 1.74 1.63 1.43 1.40 1.16 2.90 2.90 2.90 2.29 5.27 1.59 1.36 1.06 1.05 1.14 2.64 2.07 2.25 2.00 — 2.11 1.83 1.19 1.21 1.02 3.94 2.79 3.24 2.46 — 14787.00 11499.00 8276.00 9861.00 3305.00 18517.00 10640.00 20080.00 7070.00 6359.00 4892.00 4222.00 3791.00 4042.00 3369.00 21303.00 12060.00 22106.00 12715.00 3338.00 5426.00 4847.00 1864.00 1883.00 1715.00 12496.00 6520.00 8837.00 12741.00 1808.00 255.00 251.00 151.00 157.00 151.00 525.00 321.00 467.00 669.00 479.00 214.00 198.00 223.00 222.00 959.00 319.00 226.00 226.00 1468.00 815.00 2112.00 2084.00 273.00 284.00 241.00 4464.00 3957.00 4076.00 3048.00 1047.00 911.00 766.00 433.00 436.00 453.00 1947.00 1296.00 1378.00 605.00 336.00 546.00 466.00 484.00 460.00 461.00 1112.00 1083.00 1165.00 301.00 917.00 18.86 18.83 19.65 19.50 19.55 41.76 38.07 40.97 38.65 8.86 1.30 0.69 0.52 0.50 0.09 0.54 0.79 0.77 0.09 0.16 467.00 423.00 629.00 623.00 974.00 537.00 1015.00 1027.00 5620.00 2482.00 2496.00 2813.00 2037.00 1757.00 6245.00 4713.00 3934.00 4170.00 9653.00 9994.00 1.56 1.30 0.83 0.93 0.57 3.25 1.93 3.13 2.07 0.81 1.50 1.46 1.51 1.49 1.47 3.16 2.90 3.11 2.89 0.67 1.16 1.26 1.04 0.93 2.82 2.05 1.93 2.03 5.96 4.87 1.41 1.34 1.13 1.12 1.62 2.82 2.25 2.76 3.64 2.12 No standard mode; video driver requires Windows 3.1 applications did not enhanced mode. execute. Excel results are for an experimental Mips version of Excel. NOVEMBER 1993 BYTE 89 8 p m C I A L Vf/i ikI< *wj-* <& OS/2 It K P o u T extensive device support scored a knock- out. In the first week of its commercial re- lease, I installed NT on four Intel systems: a Unisys 60-MHz Pentium-based 5606e, a Gateway 2000 4DX2-66E, an Everex Step 486DX2/50, and the 33-MHz PS/2 Model 90 XP 486. (A fifth machine, the ALR Flyer 32LCT 4DX2/66, lacked the RAM to run NT; with only 8 MB, it ran DOS/ Windows and OS/2.) NT detected and au- tomatically configured for every drive con- troller, video adapter, network card, and CD-ROM it encountered, with one ex- ception — the Unisys-brand CD-ROM in the Unisys machine. With OS/2, 18 months after the release of its first 32-bit version, the situation was quite different. On the Gateway machine, for example, OS/2 appeared to install hap- pily but then turned in suspiciously poor benchmark results. There were two prob- lems. First, OS/2 does not, by default, detect and configure for SuperVGA controllers like the Diamond Speedstar 24x (Western Digital 90C31A accelerator) that came with the Gateway machine. You have to run a separate utility, dspinstl, to con- figure advanced video support. Second and more troubling, OS/2 silent- ly used its generic INT 13-based SCSI support to substitute for the Ultrastor 24F driver that didn't come in the box. That worked, but slowly, and precluded access to the Toshiba 3401 CD-ROM drive in the machine. The correct .ADD driver is avail- able from Ultrastor; I downloaded and in- stalled it, and then everything was fine. But the burden was on me, the user, to no- tice a problem with disk performance and take steps to correct it. Why was the Ultrastor driver, if avail- able, not bundled with OS/2? An Ultra- stor spokesperson expressed frustration with IBM on this point, but also said that IBM's procedures are changing and that future versions of OS/2 should come with more complete bundled device support. I also had to use dspinstl to activate OS/2 support for the embedded ATI Mach 32 controller in the Unisys Pentium ma- chine and for the STB Horizon adapter (Cirrus Logic CL-GD 5426 accelerator) in the Everex system. Further, I had to ac- quire the .ADD driver for the Adaptec 7770 in the Unisys machine (which, in fairness, wasn't available in March when OS/2 2.1 shipped), and I learned that Ul- trastor no longer offers specific OS/2 sup- port for the 15C caching IDE controller in the ALR machine. Finally, OS/2 did not, of course, even attempt to make use of the Ethernet adapt- ers that were available in all the test ma- chines. With OS/2, as with Windows 3.1, installation is all too often just the begin- ning of what can be a long and complicat- ed journey. Although NT does not initial- ly target the mass audience of desktop users that Windows and OS/2 do, it puts both those systems to shame when it comes to easy and comprehensive installation. Ironically, the system administrator who installs NT to run server applications for a department will probably have an easier job than the administrator or user who in- stalls Windows 3.1 or OS/2 to connect to that server. A Closer Look at OS/2 I began by running the OS/2 tests four times on each machine to account for all combinations of modes. There are a num- ber of possibilities to consider. You can run a Windows 3.1 program seamlessly — that is, side by side with PM programs on the OS/2 desktop — or full-screen in a ded- icated Windows screen session. Each Win- dows program can also run in standard mode or in what IBM calls 386 enhanced- compatibility mode. Finally, Windows programs can share a common VDM (vir- tual DOS machine) or run in their own separate VDMs. Since our application suite doesn't re- quire that multiple Windows programs be concurrently active, I ran all the tests in a single shared VDM. However, I sepa- rately uncovered problems with DDE across OS/2 VDMs; for a description of these problems, seethe text box "Win- OS/2 Subtleties: Enhanced-Compatibility Mode and DDE" on page 86. Although I initially tested both standard and 386 enhanced-compatibility modes for both the seamless and full-screen cases, the standard/enhanced differences turned out to be insignificant. After IBM ex- plained that the two modes are effectively the same, I settled on just one test for seamless display and one for full-screen display. Seamless display does mean extra work for OS/2, so you'd expect that full-screen display would be best for graphics-inten- sive tasks. Interestingly, the five Intel sys- tems cluster into two groups when you compare ratios of the low-level graphics in- dex under seamless Win-OS/2 to the same index under full-screen Win-OS/2 (see the figure "Seamless versus Full-Screen Win- OS/2"). For the Unisys with its ATI Mach 32 controller and the ALR with its stan- dard VGA controller, seamless display had no better than 60 percent of the perfor- mance of full-screen display. For the re- maining three systems, seamless perfor- mance was 80 percent to 90 percent that of full-screen. The word processing indexes, which register these variations in video perfor- mance, suggest that for systems with less capable Win-OS/2 drivers (like those in the first group), the seamless penalty when running an application like Ami Pro can be significant. By contrast, for systems with better Win-OS/2 drivers (like those in the second group), the penalty can be rela- tively insignificant. Looking at the Windows application Seamless versus Full-Screen Win-OS/2 ALR Flyer (486DX2/66) Unisys (Pentium/60) Gateway (486DX2/66) Everex Step (486DX2/50) IBM PS/2 (486DX/33) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 Seamless word processing index, where full-screen word processing index = 1. Seamless graphics I/O index, where full-screen graphics I/O index = 1. Ratios of seamless to full-screen Win-OS/2 performance for five systems cluster into two groups. Systems with relatively weak seamless Win-OS/2 display drivers pay a significant penalty for seamless operation. Systems with stronger seamless Win-OS/2 drivers pay little or no penalty. 90 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 WATCOM SQL fOr WindOWS is a high performance SQL database engine for Windows applications. The package includes everything required to begin using WATCOM SQL immediately from many popular Windows applications, supporting interfaces ranging from ODBC and DDE to the Windows clipboard. Everything necessary for application development in C/C+ + (using compilers from WATCOM, Microsoft or Borland) is also included. Installation in Under 10 MinUteS The easy installation and setup reduce the time and expense traditionally required by client/server technology. Further, WATCOM SQL lets you achieve high performance results right out of the package without the need for performance setup and tuning by expert personnel. Performance and Reliability WATCOMSQLs cost based query optimizer and efficient data representation combine to deliver high performance. Transaction processing and declarative referential integrity protect the consistency of your data. The client/server architecture reduces network traffic, resulting in increased performance for your multi-user applications. Scalable SQL for Now and the Future watcomsql applications can be designed to run without change in environments ranging from standalone PCs to large multi- user networks. 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Highlights WAT! 1-800-265-4555 ► ODBC Level 2 support ► Built-in declarative referential and entity integrity ► Visual Basic Interface Bi-directional, scrollable, updatable cursors Row-level locking ANSI SQL and IBM SAA compatible Full transaction processing support with checkpoint log and forward transaction log Multiple simultaneous application connections Symmetric multi-threading of concurrent requests Import data from popular file formats including DBF Automatic use of expanded and extended memory to improve performance Static and dynamic embedded SQL interface for use with WATCOM's 16 and 32-bit C/C++ compilers, and other popular C/C++ compilers Also available: WATCOM SQL Developer's Edition for DOS Complete Client/Server Development Tools Package for DOS including Standalone Single-user SQL Database Engine. Enables development and deployment of single-user standalone applications, and development of applications for use with the WATCOM SQL Network Server Edition. WATCOM SQL Network Server Edition High-performance Multi-user SQL Database Server for PC LANs. Supports multiple concurrent DOS or Windows clients in a network environment. The Leader in Development Tools WATCOM, 415 Phillip Street, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3X2; Telephone: (519) 886-3700, Fax: (519) 747-4971. 'Prices do not include freightandtaxeswhereapplicable.Authorizeddealersmaysellforless. WATCOM, and the Lightning Device are trademarks of WATCOM International Corporation. Other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Copyright 1993 WATCOM International Corporation. Circle 337 on Inquiry Card. SPECIAL Window s & OS/2 REPORT Windows versus OS/2 versus NT: Summary Results Unisys (Pentium/60) Gateway (486DX2/66) Everex Step (486DX2/50) IBM PS/2 (486DX/33) Unisys (Pentium/60) Graphics 1.00 0.60 1 0.96 1| 0.64 | 1.00 | 0.64 ■MB IHK&a 0A tM 1.00 | 0.48 H 0.59 0.39 H 1.00 0.6 ^jg 1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.1 1 0.5 Windows enhanced OS/2 seamless 1 1 OS/2 full-screen Windows NT On the application benchmarks, OS/2 trails Windows by a wide margin, while NT in turn trails OS/2, although by a lesser margin. NT's prodigious disk performance dominates the low-level results, although the graphics numbers are disappointing. benchmarks across systems, OS/2 was a middle-of-the-road performer, generally a bit better than NT and a lot worse than Windows (see the figure "Windows versus OS/2 versus NT: Summary Results"). At best, on the PS/2, OS/2's overall applica- tions index (using full-screen display) was 85 percent that of enhanced-mode Win- dows. At worst, on the Everex, it was 64 percent of Windows. The Windows low-level benchmarks reveal some interesting details. For exam- ple, OS/2's enhanced FAT (file-allocation table) file system and robust disk cache often get credit for improving the perfor- mance of DOS (and therefore Windows) applications relative to what you can achieve under DOS equipped with Smart- Drive or another DOS-based disk cache. On four of five systems, however, Win- OS/2's file I/O index lagged or, at best, didn't quite equal that of enhanced-mode Windows. The lone exception was the PS/2 system, on which Win-OS/2's file I/O bested that of DOS/Windows by 1 percent. Evidently, OS/2 on the PS/2 ma- chine makes good use of that system's IBM SCSI-2 controller. Note, though, that NT — a shockingly good disk performer — more than doubled OS/2's score on the same PS/2 hardware. The low-level graphics results show that OS/2's SuperVGA drivers exploit some accelerated chip sets spottily. OS/2's full- screen pixel- and line-drawing perfor- mance on the Unisys system's embedded ATI Mach 32 accelerator actually outdid Windows running ATI's Mach 32 driver, and OS/2's BitBlt performance lagged be- hind that of Windows by only about 10 percent. On the Gateway's WD 90C31 A, however, OS/2's pixel- and line-drawing 92 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 e put VDTs into your PCs" ^ v Falco is taking center stage, making magic right before your eyes with Pipeline - VDT emulation software for Windows. With over 1 million terminals installed, Falco pulls Pipeline out of its bag of tricks. Falco terminals, known for high performance and extensive list of features, have been deftly transformed into software. Pipeline will create more than an illu- sion of a terminal sitting on your desk. With its 20 full features terminal emula- tions, including VT 420 and Wyse 60, Pipeline doesn't rely on smoke and mirrors. Pipeline's inter- active host features aren't for a limited audience. They can be controlled from the keyboard, or application soft- ware, including; configurations, emula- tions, port switching, baud rates and color mapping. And Pipeline can do it over ser- ial lines, modems and high speed net- works. Just point and presto. With Pipeline's graphical keyboard display you can map keyboard functions where you want them and program over 1 76 soft keys - like magic. Pick a color, any color; in fact there are over 1 6 million to choose from. Like any great assistant, Pipeline will set the stage by saving all your favorite configurations both single window and window groups. Don't get sawed in half by the compe- tition, choose the most complete VDT software for your next performance. Call Falco today. 1 -800-325-2648 by Falco Data Products 440 Potrero Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086-4196 Tel: (408) 745-7123 FAX: (418) 745-7860 Trademarks are registered to their respective owners. Circle 295 on Inquiry Card. SPECIAL Window s & OS/2 REPORT Portable CPU/FPU Benchmarks IBM PS/2 (486DX/33) Everex Step (486DX2/50) Gateway (486DX2/66) ALR Flyer (486DX2/66) Unisys (Pentium/60) SGI/Mips Magnum 75SC (R4400/75-150) DECpc (Alpha/150) numsort simple FPU bit-field ops strsort 10 BYTE's portable benchmarks display raw CPU/FPU horsepower for five Intel systems and two RISC machines. numbers dropped noticeably, and the Bit- Bit function was nearly an order of mag- nitude slower than under Windows with the Speedstar 24x driver from Diamond. The same was true for the Everex' s Cirrus Logic 5426; here, OS/2's BitBlt score wasn't even a twentieth that of Windows. On these same systems, however, NT fared even more poorly than OS/2. The moral? There's more to accelerated SuperVGA support than just handling pop- ular display resolutions and color depths. Both OS/2 and NT recognize and support a variety of SuperVGA chip sets, but their drivers don't always support the accelera- tion functions of those chip sets as com- prehensively as the drivers that are avail- able (though usually not bundled) with Windows. NT's Maiden Voyage Two striking findings emerge from the NT numbers. On the application benchmarks, NT trailed in nearly every case. (The gap between NT and OS/2 was much narrow- er, however, than that between OS/2 and Windows.) As always, there are various filters through which to view that result. On the one hand, Microsoft hasn't vo- ciferously made IBM's "better Windows than Windows" claim on behalf of NT. It can also say with some jus- tification that Win32 applications (which can be very close cou- sins of Win 16 applica- tions) will soon allevi- ate pressure on NT's Winl6 subsystem. On the other hand, Microsoft admits that NT must run Winl6 binaries well and has said that the API pass- through architecture that gives those pro- grams access to NT's native Win32 subsys- tem would give Win- dows 3. 1 performance under NT a major shot in the arm. It's likely that the pass-through has increased perfor- mance, and that per- formance would be even worse if NT had to rely for its Win 16 support entirely on its VDM (as is the case with OS/2). When you consider NT's overhead — the costs of protected subsystems, C2 se- curity, portability, and Unicode — the sur- prising result may not be that OS/2 leads NT, but rather that NT doesn't lag by a wider margin. The fact remains that pure Win 1 6 application performance is not a reason to prefer OS/2 over NT. Note, also, that NT will barely run on an 8-MB system like the ALR, a machine on which OS/2 performs admirably. The second startling result is NT's tre- mendous performance on the low-level file I/O test. NT's unified cache manager aggressively exploits memory mapping and can use all available RAM not needed by applications. Evidently, the strategy pays off: NT's file I/O numbers range from one-and-a-half to nearly three times those of Windows. Indeed, the I/O index is so dis- proportionately large that it overcomes weak graphics results and causes NT to emerge as the overall winner on three of four sys- When you want to run Windows 3.1 software • Standard-mode Windows does it fastest. • Enhanced mode runs a close second. • OS/2 runs a not-so-close third. • NT brings up the rear. tems on the low-level benchmarks. For evidence of this effect at the appli- cation level, look at the disk-intensive re- move subtest of the Superbase test (see the table on page 88). Here, NT consis- tently equaled or bettered both enhanced- mode Windows and OS/2. Clearly, these results bode well for NT not only on file and database servers but also on high-end workstations that must deliver industrial- strength I/O. The RISC Dimension Our RISC systems were a Silicon Graph- ics/Mips Magnum 75SC (75- to 150-MHz R4400, 32-MB RAM, SGI G364 frame buffer, and NCR 53C9X SCSI controller) and a DECpc AXP 1 50 ( 150-MHz Alpha, 64-MB RAM, Q-Vision video adapter, and Adaptec 1742 SCSI controller). The BYTE portable benchmarks indicate how these machines stack up against the Intel crowd in terms of raw CPU and FPU horsepower (see the figure "Portable CPU/ FPU Benchmarks"). Note that NT was shipping for the Mips but not for the DECpc at the time of this re- view. Because the version of NT on the DECpc was an unoptimized debug build of the operating system rather than an opti- mized retail build, I have chosen not to re- port the application and low-level bench- mark results for the DECpc. However, BYTE's portable benchmarks, which don't rely heavily on NT system services, do hint at the awesome potential of this ma- chine. The Mips Magnum's cumulative low- level Windows benchmark results place it ahead of all the Intel boxes except the Unisys — an impressive performance in- deed. Application benchmarks, however, were a severe disappointment. While Ami Pro, Excel, and Superbase did load and operate interactively, all three applications fell flat on their faces when subjected to our test scripts. Why did the low-level Windows bench- mark succeed where the applications failed? Our staff-written benchmark is a vanilla Windows program that plays by the rules. Commercial applications almost always bend some of the rules, and the Mips version of NT's Insignia-derived emulator clearly won't tolerate such behavior. (Interestingly, two of the three scripts did complete, albeit slow- ly, on the DECpc.) Clearly, NT's Winl6 compatibility on the 94- BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 FIRST WE MADE WINDOWS. NOW IT'S TIME TO TALK. With the new Microsoft Windows™ Sound System, just tell your computer what you want it to do. You can customize your sys- tem to respond to your personal spoken commands. Even our new directional microphone knows exactly who you are. This full set of audio software has lots of options, too. Spice up presentations with music or quotes. Or proofread numbers as the com- puter reads them back. All for the price of a game. You can also get this software with the sound board included. So go visit your nearest reseller to see what's creating all the conversation. Microsoft Making it easier m jPY \ar 1993 Microsoft Corporation. All right: INDOVS. Microsoft Corporation. a registered trademark and Windows and the Windows logoarc trademarks of SPECIAL Window s St OS/2 REPORT Mips machine will have to improve. At the same time, however, the availability of RISC NT — an attractive, high-powered option — should induce Windows devel- opers to rely less on dirty tricks. (Editor's note: At press time, Microsoft informed us that our Excel, Ami Pro, and Super base test scripts did run successfully on sever- al Mips machines at Microsoft. We worked with a Microsoft technician to resolve the problem, but, despite several reinstalla- tions of Windows NT, we could not pin- point whether NTs configuration or the Mips Magnum itself was at fault.) Ultimately, your bread-and-butter ap- plications want to run as native Win32 programs on RISC NT platforms. The Ex- cel results hint at the kind of performance you can expect. These numbers are not for Excel 3.0a under Windows 3.1 — which, like the other Win 16 tests, did not com- plete — but rather for an experimental Mips-native version of Excel 4.0. Using those results, the spreadsheet index for the Mips Magnum more than doubles the next- best result (posted by the Unisys Pentium machine). Both IBM and Microsoft deserve credit for their operating systems' Windows support. The Final Analysis Both IBM and Microsoft deserve great credit for the Windows support they have engineered into their 32-bit operating sys- tems. But neither OS/2's nor NT's Win- dows suppoit would entice me to use these systems purely as Windows platforms. If you can tolerate Windows on DOS, you probably should — it's faster even on ma- chines well equipped to run the bigger and better operating systems. Use OS/2 or NT to deploy mission-critical 32-bit programs, . and tap the 1 6-bit Windows software base for personal productivity. Their Win 1 6 sub- systems are plenty good enough for this. What about OS/2 versus NT? Compar- ing the two is really inappropriate. The ap- ples-to-apples comparison would be Chica- go versus OS/2, and the oranges-to-oranges matchup would be NT versus Workplace OS. But neither Chicago, which will be Microsoft's Intel-specific offering, nor Workplace OS, which will be IBM's port- able offering, is shipping. That leaves the unfortunate but inevitable apples-to-or- anges comparison of OS/2 to NT. With respect to Win 16 support, OS/2 has a performance edge and does well in 8 MB. NT handles DDE and OLE more re- liably and needs double the RAM. Ulti- mately, of course, the choice will hinge not on Win 16 support but on availability and quality of 32-bit line-of-business ap- plications. Developers in both camps are hard at work, and we'll be following their efforts closely. ■ Jon Udell is a BYTE technical editor at large. You can reach him on BIX as "judell" or on the In- ternet at judell@bytepb.byte.com. You love videography. It's your life. So why get involved with a video editing sys- tem that seems attractive now, but can't accommodate your needs in the future; an editing system that shows signs of age as soon as your entry-level video devices have to be upgraded? The beauty of AmiLink CIP for Windows editing system is that it's totally devoted to your career. AmiLink CIP for Windows has been specifically designed to stay with you all the way no matter where it all leads. The day you're ready to improve your abilities in character generation, animation tech- niques or special effects, AmiLink CIP for Windows will be at your side. When you make the crucial decision to build your business on larger, more sophisticated projects and build a reputation of quality at the same time, AmiLink CIP for Windows will suppoit each and every one of your effoits. Not too surprising when you consider that AmiLink CIP's parents are video people not computer people. AmiLink CIP for Windows is from RGB, the same company delivering pro- quality editing to pro-editors and Video Toaster™ users all across the country. Are you about to marrjr an editing system mat can't keep up with your career? So shuttle over to your AmiLink dealer today. Q - call RGB for more information about AmiLink CIP for Windows, the video editing system that will never let you down. ^^K\ n >n >, , « ... , , „ , „„ L „ m , C-^ J\ RGB Computer & Video, Inc. For more infonnation call 1-800-535-7876. pV^ J - r — — pjct J re Perfea 0COfflDCH/Fan , 93 Itomtar K-19. ITO . b, «p.. Mn* ,:sa V_>^ Jj^^ ^nBjvdgSuite 1 1 8 Visit as in Ixxxh * A 1887 TEL ( 407 ) 844 - EDIT - FA * < 407 ) 844 " 3699 AmiLink is a registered trademark and Pro is a trademark of RGB Computer & Video, Inc. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners © RGB Computer & Video, Inc. 96 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Circle 322 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 323). SPECIAL Windows & OS/2 REPORT OS/2 2,1 : A User's Perspective STAN MIASTKOWSKI For a few minutes, let's for- get the politics, the person- alities, and the seemingly interminable corporate bick- ering associated with The Great Win- dows versus OS/2 Controversy. The subject at hand is OS/2 2.1.. .from a decidedly user-oriented perspective. While it's tempting to throw down the OS/2 versus NT gauntlet, the more apt comparison for most PC users right now is OS/2 2.1 versus Windows 3.1. If you're a Windows user attempt- ing to make a decision on whether to make the move to OS/2, the obvious question is whether OS/2 2.1 really delivers a "better Win- dows than Windows" (as IBM is so fond of saying). The answer: a resounding "It depends." The more you do with Windows, the more advantages you can get from 2. 1 . If you place yourself in the power-user category, run numerous Windows applications simultaneously, are comfortable tweaking INI files, and still depend on multiple DOS ap- plications, OS/2 2.1 offers many advantages. On the oth- er hand, if you don't push Windows to its limits, you're just as well off staying with it. Strong Foundations Windows 3.1 and the Windows that runs in OS/2 2.1 — dubbed Win-OS/2 — are virtually identical. Windows com- patibility also existed in OS/2 2.0. The problem was that it included Windows 3.0 at the same time that Microsoft was shipping 3.1. With OS/2 2.1, things are on a more even keel. One of the biggest advantages that OS/2 2.1 offers is that Win-DOS runs on top of a true 32-bit operating system, using a 386 or 486 processor to nearly its full potential. OS/2 is a full-fledged preemptive multitasking operating system. Windows, DOS, and OS/2 applications all run in their own protected-mode sessions, guarded from the slings and arrows of overlapping application problems. If one crashes, the others are usually unaffected. (In certain cir- cumstances, it is possible to lock up the whole system, but it happens considerably less frequently than in a DOS/ Win- dows-based environment.) A Long Installation Both installing and using OS/2 2.1 requires time and com- mitment (at least initially). Getting up and running isn't sim- Are you feeling cramped by DOS/Windows? Give OS/2 a try. ply a matter of copying a few disks. You should figure on at least half a day, and make a backup before you begin. There are many decisions to make along the way, too. The size of the installation task becomes apparent as soon as you rip open the shrink wrap. Buried under a couple of manuals is a pile of 25 372-inch disks. (A 574-inch version is available, too, with even more disks.) If you have a CD-ROM drive, IBM also offers a CD- ROM version. But in order to install OS/2 2.1 directly from the CD-ROM (and be able to access the CD-ROM drive later), you'll need to have a true SCSI CD-ROM drive connected to a specific SCSI controller from Adaptec, Distributed Processing Technology, Future Domain, or IBM. There are a lot of nonstandard CD-ROM drives around with their own proprietary interfaces. IBM lets you use a nonstandard CD-ROM drive by first manually cre- ating all 25 installation floppy disks (under DOS) from the files on the CD-ROM. IBM says you'll need at least a 386SX and 4 MB of RAM. You'll definitely want more RAM and power, though, especially if you'll be taking advantage of OS/2's true multitasking capabilities. I found that a 486 (even an SX) and 8 MB of RAM is about the minimum to obtain ac- ceptable performance. I finally settled on running OS/2 on a generic clone based on a 66-MHz 486DX2 along with 16 MB of RAM. You'll need a hefty hard disk as well. A full OS/2 2.1 installation requires about 29 MB of disk Space. continued NOVEMBER 1993 BYTE 97 SPECIAL Windows St OS/2 REPORT Take Your Choice You can have the installation format your hard disk and start from scratch, choosing between the standard DOS FAT-based (file allocation table) file system or the HPFS (High Performance File System) that's unique to OS/2. HPFS offers some unique advantages, especially if you're using data- intensive applications such as databases. It is generally faster, although your mileage may vary, and it offers some neat extras, such as long (up to 255-character) file- names. However, HPFS and FAT files aren't compatible. For most users who are easing into the brave new world of OS/2, FAT will be sufficient. If you decide to stay with FAT, you can use all the programs and data that are al- ready on your hard disk. You can then also opt for the dual-boot feature that lets you boot either OS/2 2.1 or DOS at start-up. Being able to boot into your old familiar DOS environment is a comfort, but set- ting up your system for the dual boot is needlessly complex. To IBM's credit, the process is for the first time explained in plain English in the installation manual. But it requires a number of steps, such as adding lines to your existing CONFIG .SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files and then copying all files from your root di- rectory into your DOS directory. Why couldn't it include a batch file to automate the process? The Old Disk Shuffle Installing OS/2 isn't a linear process. You have to reinsert various disks at various times. It's also during the installation that some of OS/2 2. 1 's limitations begin to show up. To get seamless Windows (i.e., the ability to run windowed OS/2, Win- dows, and DOS applications side by side) in something beyond 16-color standard VGA, you need to have a graphics card based on chips by ATI, Cirrus Logic, Headland Logic, IBM, Trident, Tseng Labs, or Western Digital. Or, you need to Tips for Tweaking OS/2 "or those used to twiddling with a few well-known commands in a DOS CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT file, taking a look at the OS/2 versions can be daunting. They may have the same names as the DOS versions, but they're different beasts entirely. A "typ- ical" OS/2 CONFIG.SYS file consists of 60 or so lines with a raft of unf amil- iar commands such as THREADS, MAXWAIT, and TIMESLICE. What to do? Luckily, the OS/2 in- stallation does a great job of setting all these esoteric commands to what's best for your system. But if you must tweak, help is right at your fingertips. Just typ- ing, for example, HELP THREADS at an OS/2 prompt brings up detailed graphical help that includes everything you need to know and even specific (and always helpful) examples. A Couple of Cautions Caching — OS/2's built-in caching utility uses very little RAM for disk caching: 256 KB for an 8- MB system, and 5 12 KB for a 16- MB system. Although you might be tempted to increase that, it's best to leave it alone. OS/2 uses caching in a different and vastly more efficient way than does DOS. Your best bet is to leave the rest of the RAM for programs. Swapping — OS/2's swap file is different from that of Windows. It's dynamic, expanding and con- tracting as needed, and usually stays comparatively small because it works very quickly and swaps data to and from the hard disk (when needed) in small segments. Unlike Windows- permanent swap file, you can't set it to a specific size, but you can specify the minimum amount of free space that it should leave in a disk partition. For the best performance, set the swap-file path for its own partition, although that re- quires some planning ahead. Cleaning Windows Win-OS/2, OS/2's version of Windows 3.1, is virtually identical to Microsoft's version. It should be; it's virtually the same source code. Win-OS/2 has its own WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI files, and you're welcome to tweak away, just as you might under 3.1. The key to maximizing Win-OS/2 performance is OS/2's unique settings screen, a menu of over 50 settings that Slitting: WIK_DOE jWIN_CLIPBOARD COM_DIRECT_A CESS i C6ti_RECEIVE_BUFFER_FLUSH I OM_SELECT iDbs_AUTO€XEC i DOS_BACKCROUND_B256 O 65.536 Ot6.777.216 1280x1024 1152xB19 600x600 640x480 2040x760 1024x?04H 1024x1024 ORIGINAL SIZE *Resolution Exchange Panel and Hawkeye Zoom examples given for #9GXE configured with 3MB RAM (2MB VRAM, 1MB DRAM), and 1280x1024 Our Hawkeye Zoom Feature gives you up to four levels of magnification* So you can really see the details of what youre working on. If you want to plug in a mouse, Dell gives you a dedicated mouse port. of Video Electronics Standards Association. Dell disclaims proprietary- interest in the marks c If you open up your Dell Dimension™ XPS PC, inside you'll find a #9GXE video card. This fast and versatile video card uses the VL-Bus™ and ultra high-speed video RAM to give you the video ride of your life. A Dell Dimension XPS PC configured with our #9GXE video card (with 1MB Video RAM) delivers 26 million WINMARKS! Or with our optional 2MB RAM upgrade (1MB VRAM, 1MB DRAM), it delivers a face-warping 33 million WINMARKS! Either way, we're talking incredibly fast. But raw speed is just part of the Dell Dimension XPS story. The Dell Dimension XPS's #9GXE video engine can be accessed on-screen via a control panel that allows you to configure a host of powerful utilities to give you total control of your desktop video environment. Add our optional 2MB RAM upgrade and you have the power to switch your #9GXE to a virtual screen with a resolution of up to 2048 x 1024 pixels. Very cool. This versatile add-in effectively gives you the desktop equivalent of two monitors. So you can have two full-size applications, like Excel and PageMaker, displayed side-by-side. The virtual screen allows you to seamlessly pan across your monitor from application to application. When you need a closer view of your work, press a "hot key" and you can zoom in and out with four levels of magnification? Working against color backgrounds? Our chameleon cursor can change size and color so it never gets lost. You can also create a whole library of time-saving "hot keys" for all of your applications. When it comes to video and video-related utilities, Dell Dimension XPS PCs are your ticket to ride. mmtm PCs DESIGNED FOR THE HIGH PERFORMANCE USER. D^LL TO ORDER, CALL 800-5454586 HOURS: MON-FRI 7AM-9PM CT SAT 10AM-6PM CT SUN 12PM-5PM CT IN CANADA, CALL 800-668-3021. PLEASE REFERENCE #11EAP OTHERS Bytes/Sec With faster access and nearly double the data transfer rate our double-spin CD ROM makes others seem positively sluggish. Thanks to our multi- session CD technology, you can have the disk printed on up to four different times, storing up to 100 color photographs in all. Many of our competitors use a spring mechanism to eject your disks. At Dell, we give you a motorized loading tray like you'd expect from a high-end CD player. The choice is yours. But if your CDs could talk, we know which one they would choose. Whistle while you work. Or tap your foot. Or sing along. Our audio center CD ROM software lets you play disc jockey while you carry on with the important work of the day. "All comparisons based on manufacturers' sfecifications. The Dell CD ROM is the Panasonic 563. Other CD ROMs compared are LMSl CM205 and Sony CDL/o I A. Dell disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. 4 153.6KB 300KB When you buy a Dell Dimension™ XPS 450V or 466V equipped with a CD ROM, you get a CD ROM drive that runs circles around our competition! Thanks to advanced dual-spin technology, our CD ROM gives you an access time of just 350ms and a data transfer rate of 300KB per second. That's nearly twice the performance of many of our competitors. And that's just the start. Our drive has the automatic, push-button motorized tray you'd expect to find on a high-end CD player. Compare that to the manual spring-load reject, uh, eject button from many of our competitors. It's still push-button, but your CDs dorft glide effortlessly. In fact, they don't glide at all. Ours is obviously a lot easier and more pleasant to use. And our CD ROM drive is built to last. Our CD ROM is Kodak Photo-CD compatible. Which means you can take advantage of the latest in CD technology and view photographs on your PC screen. What's more, our CD drive is multi-session. Which ©1993 Dell Computer Corporation. AH rights reserved. means you can have the disk printed on up to four different times. Storing up to 100 pictures in all. Keeping them in perfect condition with no fading. Our CD ROM also comes with software that lets you play your favorite audio CDs while you work. So you can listen to Mozart as you crunch numbers or bop along to the Beatles as you cruise your local BBS. Sound like a better drive for your money? It is. So if you want the best CD ROM technology for your money, make a fast decision and call Dell today. After all, there's absolutely no reason why you should settle for a CD ROM that's behind the times. \ j : h m PCs DESIGNED FOR THE HIGH PERFORMANCE USER. D^LL TO ORDER, CALL 800-6264806 HOURS: MON-FRI 7AM-9PM CT SAT 10AM-6PMCT SUN 12PM-5PM CT N CANADA, CALL 800-668-3021. PLEASE REFERENCE #11EAQ SPECIAL & OS/2 REPORT Seamless Windows. OS/2 2.1 can run Windows, OS/2, and DOS applications concurrently. True preemptive multitasking means they 're all running and not in a state of suspended animation. have OS/2-specific drivers from the graph- ics-card maker. These are becoming more common. For this review, I used a Radius XGA-2 board designed specifically for OS/2. 1 also tested beta drivers with a high- speed Matrox board and beta drivers for the Diamond Viper board. A fast graph- ics board and OS/2-tuned drivers can result in some impressive video performance. The final step in the installation is "mi- grating" both Windows and DOS appli- cations to OS/2, The applications them- selves aren't changed; essentially, folders and icons are created for the OS/2 desktop. Some common non-OS/2 applications re- quire fine-tuning to run to best advantage in the OS/2 2.1 environment. OS/2 2.1 comes with a Migration Database that con- tains settings for many applications, taking advantage of the fact that each VDM ( vir- tual DOS machine) in which a Windows or DOS application runs can have its own settings. (You can also migrate non-OS/2 applications later, or just install them di- rectly from the OS/2 environment.) An IBM spokesperson says the company plans to update the migration database regularly. It will be available on major BBSes and on CompuServe. Exploring the Workplace When you finish installing OS/2 2.1, the moment of truth finally arrives: rebooting into the environment. What you see on the screen is vastly different from Windows' initating-yet-familiar Program Manager. Initially, you can think of the Workplace Shell as a cross between the Macintosh desktop and Norton Desktop for Windows. But it's much more than that. The WPS is almost infinitely customizable andcanbe clean or cluttered, depending on your work habits. You can have icons for applications and folders. And the WPS is hierarchi- cal, too; you can have fold- ers within folders ad infini- tum. Unique to the WPS is its ability to shadow icons — to create multiple icons for the same application that can reside in multiple locations on the desktop (e.g., in mul- tiple folders). The WPS is also object- oriented with a vengeance. You've heard that before, but this is the real thing. Icons, folders, and even the blank space on the WPS are all true objects. You can drag and drop to your heart's content. And you'll need to exercise that long-neglected right mouse button. When you point to any object on the screen and click the right-hand button, up pops a list of common tasks associated with that ob- ject. It makes a great deal of sense, but it also takes getting used to. Virtual DOS Reality If you are a creature of confirmed Win- dows habits, you can click on the Win- OS/2 Full Screen icon and work away in 3.1 Program Manager while completely ignoring OS/2. That's fine, but the real edge of OS/2 2. 1 is in its true multitasking capabilities. From within the WPS, you can click on any application icon — Win- r ADVANTAGES • Multitasking: True preemptive multitasking walls off applications from each other. • Workplace Shell: This truly object-oriented graphical interface is like a cross between the Mac and Norton Desktop for Windows. • Windows anywhere (or DOS or OS/2): Start any application from anywhere in Windows, DOS, or OS/2. • Capable Interapplication Communication: Clipboard and DDE work between all Windows and OS/2 applications. • On-line help: Just about everything you need to know is a couple of mouse-clicks away. • Advanced multimedia: True multitasking makes multimedia easy and powerful, support- ing IBM's Ultimedia. OS/2 2.1 supports Sound Blaster and Media Vision sound cards and plays digital video at up to 30 frames per second in up to 320- by 420-pixel resolution. The CD-ROM version of 2.1 includes a considerable collection of sound and video files. dows, DOS, or OS/2— and OS/2 starts it up. It's possible to have multiple Win- dows, DOS, and OS/2 sessions aJJ running concurrently. In fact, that's the major ad- vantage of OS/2. The ability to have multiple Win-OS/2 sessions running concurrently isn't hard to see. You can, for example, have Pro- comm Plus doing a high-speed file trans- fer in one Windows session while Excel is doing some heavy calculations in another. They don't get in each other's way. And while all this is going on, you can also be formatting a floppy disk under OS/2 and perhaps running a dBase sort under DOS. Admittedly, the system I used for this re- view is powerful, but I didn't begin to see any degradation of performance until I had six major applications running concur- rently. For those of us who occasionally still run old favorite DOS applications, OS/2 is particularly powerful. You can run gobs of separate VDM sessions. And each can have separate CONFIG.SYS and AU- TOEXEC.BAT files, as well as numerous other customized settings. The same holds true of Win-OS/2 sessions. (See the text box "Tips for Tweaking OS/2.") VDMs aren't perfect. They don't, for example, let you run block device drivers such as those used by my Bernoulli PC- Powered MultiDisk 150, which uses a pro- prietary SCSI interface that isn't support- ed under OS/2. In addition, I couldn't run the drivers for the LANtastic 5.0 network operating system. There is, however, a DISADVANTAGES • No 32-bit Windows support: OS/2 is a 32-bit operating system, but it won't run 32-bit Win- dows applications and Windows VxDs (virtual device drivers). IBM says a solution is on the way. • Missing drivers: Version 2.1 has more built-in drivers (e.g., CD-ROM, SCSI, and graphics) than ever before. But you still can't be sure that your peripherals will work to best advantage with OS/2. And some peripheral makers have no plans to make drivers available. • Workplace Shell: Even though this also ap- pears under Advantages, it can be needlessly complicated to figure out how to use the GUI. Common operations are sometimes buried deep in confusing layers of object orientation. Plus it's too easy to lose track of what's where and what's running. • Wimpy applications: The Productivity Applica- tions included with 2.1 are a misnomer. Wipe them off the disk and get real applications. • Dual-boot setup: It works well, letting you switch back to your original DOS-based system. But setting it up is a needlessly complicated manual process. lOO BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 PERFORMANCE MACHINES THAT BLOW GATES OFF GATEWAY. DELL DIMENSION M 433SV i486 ™ SX 33MHz SYSTEM |t|BUSINESSLEASE<>| $55/MO. I $1,499 DELL DIMENSION XPS 450V i486 DX2 50MHz SYSTEM |t I BUSINESS LEASE I $104/MO. I $2,799 4MB RAM 64MB MAX RAM 170MB (17ms) HARD DRIVE UPGRADEABLE TO PENTIUM™ OVERDRIVE™ 5 16-BIT ISA EXPANSION SLOTS AVAILABLE, 2 ON VL-BUS ,M ACCELERATED LOCAL BUS VIDEO ULTRASCANT 14C MONITOR (14", 1024 x 768, .28mm, Nl) DUAL DISKETTE DRIVES (3.5" AND 5.25") SPACESAVER KEYBOARD MS-DOS* 6.0/MICROSOFT* WINDOWS 7 " 3.1/MOUSE ALSO AVAILABLE IN 3 3 MHz i486 DXFOR $ 1,999 j BUSINESS LEASE: $74/MO. SYSTEM INCLUDES ABOVE, PLUS: 8MB RAM, 230MB (17ms) HARD DRIVE AND ULTRASCAN I5FS MONITOR (15", 1024 x 768, ,28mm, Nl). Promotional price expires 1 1/5/93 . 8MB RAM 64MB MAX RAM 230MB (17ms) HARD DRIVE 128KB SECOND LEVEL EXTERNAL CACHE UPGRADEABLE TO PENTIUM OVERDRIVE 5 16-BIT ISA EXPANSION SLOTS AVAILABLE, 1 ON VL-BUS VL #9GXE VIDEO ACCELERATOR CARD WITH VIDEO CONTROL PANEL SOFTWARE 1 MB VIDEO RAM ULTRASCAN 15FS MONITOR (15", 1024x768, .28mm, Nl) ONE DISKETTE DRIVE (3.5") SPACESAVER KEYBOARD MULTI-SESSION, DOUBLE-SPIN CD ROM DRIVE SOUNDBLASTER 16-BIT SOUND CARD, AMPLIFIED SPEAKERS, MICROPHONE MS-DOS 6.0/MICROSOFT WINDOWS 3.1/MOUSE DELL DIMENSION XPS 466V MULTIMEDIA i486 DX2 66MHz SYSTEM kf I BUSINESS LEASE I $lll/MO. | $2,999 8MB RAM 64MB MAX RAM 320MB (17ms) HARD DRIVE 128KB SECOND LEVEL EXTERNAL CACHE UPGRADEABLE TO PENTIUM OVERDRIVE 5 16-BIT ISA EXPANSION SLOTS AVAILABLE, 1 ON VL-BUS VL #9GXE VIDEO ACCELERATOR CARD WITH VIDEO CONTROL PANEL SOFTWARE 1MB VIDEO RAM ULTRASCAN 1 5 FS MONITOR (15", 1024x768, .28mm, Nl) ONE DISKETTE DRIVE (3.5") SPACESAVER KEYBOARD MULTI-SESSION, DOUBLE-SPIN CD ROM DRIVE SOUNDBLASTER 16-BIT SOUND CARD, AMPLIFIED SPEAKERS, MICROPHONE MS-DOS 6.0/MICROSOFT WINDOWS 3.1/MOUSE DOLL DIMENSION XPS. PCs DESIGNED FOR THE HIGH PERFORMANCE USER. Now that you have been a witness to the impressive technological advancements of the Dell Dimension XPS PCs, there are only two small decisions you have left to make. And they're both easy ones: Which Dell Dimension XPS PC is the right computer for you ? And what kind of software would you like to go with it? That's right. You can order your software at the same time you order your Dell Dimension PC. That way, you'll be up and running the minute you open the box and unpack your system. Purchase any combination from 1 00 of the most popular and competitively priced MS-DOS and Windows applications and have them pre-loaded onto your machine for one flat $15 installation fee per system. Now that's a really good deal. And should you ever feel the need to add a peripheral, upgrade a software package or order a new application, we're ready and able to help you there too. With our DellWare' M program. A great selection of more than 2,400 software and peripheral items that you can order direct from us at discount prices. And if you want your DellWare selections in a real hurry, we'll ship your order to you overnight for only $5 extra. For no charge at all, we'll send you a free DellWare catalog. Now if there's anything else we can do for you, just pick up the phone and call. D0LL TO ORDER, CALL 800-545-7129 HOURS: MON-FRI 7AM-9PM CT SAT 10AM-6PM CT SUN 12PM-5PM CT IN CANADA? CALL 800-668-3021. PLEASE REFERENCE #11 EAR *Prices valid in the U.S. only. Some products and promotions not available in Canadii. "Business leasing arranged by Leasing Group, Inc. The huel Inside bgo is a registered trademark and i486, Pentium and Overdrive are trademarks of Intel Corporation. MS-DOS ami Microsoft are registered trademarks and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. VL-Bus is a trademark of Video Electronics Standards Association. De!( disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. ©1993 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Windows & OS/2 REPORT A GUIDE TO THE WORKPLACE SHELL The Workplace Shell is aggressively object oriented. Point anywhere, even on a blank area (as shown), and click on the right-hand mouse button; up pops a menu of associated choices. Shaded icons mean an application (or application in the group) is running in the background. MINIMIZED WINDOW VIEWER To keep the Workplace Shell look and feel clean, minimized applications aren't arranged across the bottom of the screen as in Windows. Instead, the icons are tucked into their own folder. (If you'd really prefer the Windows method, you can change it.) SHREDDER The name is a misnomer. It's just like the Mac Trashcan. It erases files, but you can also recover them. TEMPLATES FOLDER Templates are predefined objects for the Workplace Shell for programs, data, printers, and so forth. Each type has a stack of templates you peel off (like a sheet off a pad) and drag and drop to a location in the Workplace Shell or in a folder. Then you click on the right-hand mouse button and customize the settings. Templates save gobs of time when you're setting up new applications. PRINTER ICON DUAL BOOT START HERE ICON Want to print a file? Just drag the file Clicking on it closes all running applications This icon tells you just about icon and drop it on the printer icon, ft and boots your original version of DOS (if set everything you need to know the first also gives you the print-queue status, up that way during installation). time OS/2 appears on your screen. DISK A K accesses the floppy drive. |afo| W\ twfofW ifXW -'-"Seriat P Jurnbe 111% FOLDERS This is a hierarchical approach, just like the Mac Desktop. Organize applications and data in as many layers of folders as you wish. It's the graphical equivalent of subdirectories. PROGRAM ICONS Any Windows, DOS, or OS/2 applications. OS/2 starts them directly. (No need to enter Win-OS/2 to run Windows applications.) way to get around the problem, at least partially. You can boot a "true" DOS im- age and use drivers that aren't supported under OS/2's VDMs. The process is com- paratively complex. You first create a bootable DOS disk on another computer, then copy FSFELTER (a DOS device driv- er that provides access to OS/2 partitions) to it, use VMDISK to create an image of a disk on your OS/2 hard drive, and finally create a new object for the DOS session. It works, but you get access only to the de- vices from within the DOS session under OS/2. The 32-bit Question The future of true 32-bit applications for the OS/2 environment is a mixed one. Al- though OS/2 applications are becoming more prevalent, few yet take advantage of the OS/2 internal power and multithread- ing capabilities. Some (e.g., WordPerfect for OS/2) are 16-bit ports of Windows ap- plications. But true 32-bit applications (e.g., Lotus Ami Pro for OS/2) are now appearing. Their performance is impres- sive when compared with Windows. More thorny is the question of the future of 32-bit applications under Win-OS/2. When I wrote this, Win-OS/2 didn't sup- port Windows 32-bit applications and VxDs (virtual device drivers). At the pres- ent time, most applications are compati- ble under OS/2 2.1. And because Win- dows for Workgroups uses VxDs, you can't use it with OS/2. Help should be on the way; IBM expects that an OS/2 2.1 upgrade will appear "by the end of the year" to handle this. In the meantime, how- ever, you're definitely out of luck. And, as mentioned, the question of longer-term OS/2 compatibility with future versions of Windows remains up in the air. Let's get real. OS/2 2.1 isn't going to push aside Windows. Windows has too large an installed base. But neither will Windows destroy OS/2 2. 1 . OS/2 has some tantalizing advantages that make it ideal for true PC power users, especially in the corporate environments that IBM knows and loves. After years of development and testing and six versions, IBM should fi- nally take a few well-deserved bows for OS/2 2.1. For PC users who need true pre- emptive multitasking, OS/2 makes a solid choice. ■ Stan Miastkowski is a BYTE consulting editor. He was co founder and publisher of the OS/2 Report newsletter and has been an OS/2 user since version 1.0. You can reach him on BIX as "stanm," on the Internet at stanm@bix.com, or via MCI Mail at 530-9979. 102 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 ss^i w p WINDOWf €^ r IT'S AS Hi i Hl'J WMfiVI - YOU ARE. WordPerfect SlXS) WINDOWS i IT'S WINDOWS THE W U f all the things people do with personal computers, word processing may be the most personal. Nobody writes the way you do. Nobody gets the same assignments or tackles them the same way. And nobody understands that better than WordPerfect® the worldwide word processing leader. That's why we're excited to intro- duce WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows. We didn't design it to be the perfect writing tool for the average user. We designed it to be the perfect writing tool for you. MAKE IT YOUR OWN. Which features of your word processor do you use most often? Are they organized so that you can get at them quickly? WordPerfect 6.0 gives you direct, one-click access to any command, process or macro in the program. Just drag your favorites to a context-sensitive Button Bar™ and arrange them any way you like. You can even drag in other Windows applications and files and launch them from within WordPerfect. (How's that for easy integration?) You can quickly create customized interfaces to streamline the writing of reports, memos or letters. Or you can simply use any of 70 profession- ally designed ExpressDocs™ templates included in the package. And it's not just com- mands you're in command of. Virtually every element of the interface — including how it looks and feels—is yours to do with as you will. It's the most easily customized word processor ever to come out of a box. ■ LIMITEDTIME OFFER. WORDPERFECT IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF WORDPERFECT CORPORATION WITHIN THE UMITED STATES AND OTHERCOUNTRlES ALL OTHER BRANDAIIO PRODUCT NAMESARETRAOEMARKS OR REGlSTEREDTRAOEMARKS OF THEIRRESPECTIVE COMPANIES, © WORDPERFECT CORPORATION 1993, How it looks is up to you. Because every aspect of the WP interface can be easily customized. Now, you can create 3-D charts from table and spreadsheet data without ever leaving WordPerfect. FECT 6.0 FOR WINDOWS. AY YOU WANT IT TO BE. GETTING HERE WILL BE EASY. With more than 100 built-in spreadsheet functions and advanced charting and draw- ing capabilities, this is the most powerful program WordPerfect has ever developed. But how difficult will it be putting all this power and flexibility to work? If you've used WordPerfect on another operating system, you and your existing documents and macros will feel right at home here. This is the WordPerfect you know, in a friendlier, more accommo- dating environment. There's an on-line tutorial for first- timers, of course. But there are also inter- active Coaches smart enough to lead you step-by-step through sophisticated opera- tions, not on sample documents, but on your documents. And if you have any questions, WordPerfect's support people (widely acknowledged to be the best in the business) are standing by to help. THE BEST REASON FOR MOVING TO WIDOWS. This is everything WordPerfect has learned about word processing over the years, combined with all the advanced ease-of-use capabilities of the Windows environment. It connects your documents directly to other powerful Windows applications, and to the rest of the business world. And the power of WordPerfect 6.0 is all yours. Borland QuattroPros INSIDE SPECIALLY MARKED BOXES* To claim it for yourself, visit your local reseller and ask about the special introductory offer with Quattro Pro 5.0. For a free demo disk or to order directly, call WordPerfect at (800) 526-2788. Document templates Spreadsheet functions Interactive Coaches Sophisticated drawing tools Direct spreadsheet import Document management Graphics editing Irregular text wrap Borders Full WYSIWYG in all views Power bar Indexing and text retrieval Qulckmenus Direct database import Styles Macros Auto macro conversion ■£.__ wm. BBsiixo ^rdftrfSi 6.0 FOR WINDOWS TO WIN THE PAPER CHASE -■« ,,,■; fr " «^ 7 % .-,<■■> *■ '& fr. ■■■ ■ ■ i .'■' / ■■'■% ^ <&##■ **#:> <#t??-> fr % m ,4fr • ** ^/. >■■■ • * ** f; !# # $«F #j CHASING PAPER D0C«IT T.M., Okidata Reg. T.M. M.D. OKI Electric Industry Company, Ltd. Windows T.M. Microsoft Corp. "THE END OF THE PAPER CHASE" Reg. T.M. Micro Dynamics, Ltd., Silver Spring, MD. ..:B c w^,< J »* % # "'^- , yt ^p* DOC-/T INCREASES YOUR PRODUCTIVITY AT WORK. We've just brought the paper chase to a resounding and refreshing halt with the invention of DOC- IT, the revolutionary, desktop document processor that com- bines a multitude of talents. With DOC* IT, Okidata has integrated faxing, printing, copying, scan- ning, cutting and pasting in one unit with a footprint so compact, it takes up just a corner of your desk. Incorporating graphics capability compati- ble with Windows™ and most major software, DOC* IT lets you create and communicate finished presentation-quality documents-complete with visuals-without having to get out of your chair. No more standing in line. Everything sits on the corner of your desk: simple, handy, pro- ductive and private; and incredibly easy to use. If DOC • IT looks good to you on paper, come see it in action atyour nearby authorized Okidata DOC-IT dealer. TO RECEIVE YOUR OWN ON-SCREEN DEMO DISK, OR THE NAME OF A DEALER NEAR YOU CALL l-800-OKI-TEAM f EXT.264. Circle 314 on Inquiry Card. SPECIAL & OS/2 REPORT Partners Seek to Unite Phone and PC The Windows Telephony API promises a new generation of phone-enabled applications for the desktop ANDY REINHARDT Despite their obvious affin- ity, the two most essen- tial pieces of equipment in to- day's offices, the computer and the telephone, have yet to be fully integrated. The gap has not gone unnoticed by vendors, but old habits and technology have kept the worlds apart. Now, as part of its ongoing WOSA (Windows Open Ser- vices Architecture) initiative, Microsoft is trying to bridge this gulf. Following the front- end/back-end model the com- pany has used in other WOSA components, Microsoft and its partners have designed a set of software interfaces that will fa- cilitate connecting Windows systems to phone equipment. The goal of the Windows Telephony API, or TAPI, is to enable a new generation of tele- phone-enabled software appli- cations, while at the same time making it easier to connect desktops, laptops, and LANs intophone systems and PBXes. TAPI defines a client-side API that supports telephony features and a back-end SPI (service provider interface) that defines how phone equipment talks to a Windows DLL. When imple- mented, TAPI will let you ac- cess sophisticated central phone functions from your PC and let developers create phone-based programs without having to worry about the intricacies of the device on the other side of the interface. Helping Hands Microsoft's partners include phone-equipment vendors Northern Telecom, Alcatel, and Rolm; call-processing system makers Dialogic, Natural Mi- crosystems, and Octel; software vendors Lotus, Delrina, and Contact Software; chip makers Intel, National Semiconductor, and Analog Devices; and RBOCs (Regional Bell Oper- ating Companies) Ameritech and US West. Together, these companies are redefining the physical and logical connection between phone and PC. Soon you may have both devices on your desk, attached to a PBX and operating under the control of desktop software. In the fu- ture, telephone hardware could become integrated into the PC, and a handset could become a standard PC accessory. In either scenario, the PC display will be the user inter- face to the phone system. To place a call, you could select a recipient from a pull-down list, and the phone number would be routed out through the PBX or switch. If you have a sepa- rate desktop phone, the PBX would ring it when the con- nection is made. Similarly, tak- ing advantage of the Caller I.D. capability that identifies the phone number of an incoming caller, the PBX could feed the number to a database that would look up the caller's rec- ord and send it to your screen while the phone rings. Much of the motivation for TAPI is the growing complex- ity of today's phone systems. Many users don't take advan- tage of sophisticated features such as Call Forwarding be- cause they can't figure out how to use them. Providing access to these capabilities through the Windows interface could make them easier to use. For exam- ple, you could set up a confer- ence call by dragging and drop- ping the names of all the participants into a box on the screen, leaving the PBX to place the calls. An attractive potential ap- plication of TAPI would be a unified "in box," where E-mail, fax, and voice-mail messages are presented. This would elim- inate an annoying aspect of voice mail: the need to listen to all the messages in a linear fashion. With Caller I.D. and a database of known numbers, incoming messages could be listed by the name of the caller, letting you retrieve them in any order. Using the same kinds of filtering software now avail- able for E-mail (e.g., Beyond- Mail), you could prioritize voice messages or specify that calls from certain people be forwarded to another location. Adding the LAN For the time being, TAPI as- sumes that each client system is linked directly into the PBX or phone switch. It also requires that the software to implement phone capabilities be installed on every client, which could cause big companies with tens of thousands of users to think twice about the cost of buying it. To better address the in- stalled base, Novell and AT&T have established a nonexclu- sive partnership to connect Net- Applic a li on s Ware servers and AT&T Defin- ity switches. This server-based approach would allow the same kinds of features described above — dialing out directly from the client (routed through the server to the PBX) or look- ing up incoming Caller I.D.s in a server database — but would distribute the cost of telephony software across all network nodes. One major advantage of a LAN-based solution is that the PBX and LAN user direc- tories may be integrated and centrally managed. It could also eliminate the need for separate network and telephone wires to each workstation. The Novell/AT&T and Mi- crosoft solutions are not nec- essarily incompatible: You could apply client-side TAPI applications in a NetWare environment through AT&T switches. Sue Rubinstein, a se- nior research analyst for the NOVEMBER 1993 BYTE 107 SPECIAL Window s & OS/2 REPORT Meta Group (Reston, VA), says that Microsoft's architec- ture "is more end-user oriented, for voice-enabled applications sold through retail." She argues that the Novell approach will be preferred by corporate cus- tomers because it fits in better with today's installed base of network and telecommunica- tions equipment. In the future, Microsoft is expected to supply a server- based solution that runs on the NT Advanced Server. Al- though both companies have said they are not competing for the same market, Rubinstein disagrees. "They're coming at it from two different direc- tions," she says, "but they'll absolutely be competing head to head within two years." The problem with the LAN- based approach, notes Frank Dzubeck, president of Com- munications Network Asso- ciates, a Washington, D.C., consultancy, is that today's net- works aren't designed to han- dle real-time voice traffic. While Dzubeck believes tele- phony functions will appear immediately in notebooks and PDAs — typically in wireless implement a tions — they won't become common in the desk- top environment until voice can be carried well across LANs. Whither the Phone? Dzubeck agrees with Rubin- stein that the Novell/AT&T so- lution is now more attractive to customers. "Companies aren't going to throw away their PBXes, so they'll want to tie them to servers," Dzubeck says. But later in the decade, especially with the rise of desk- top videoconferencing, those PBXes will be replaced with video servers and ATM switch- es, affording great risks to the established suppliers and an op- portunity for new players. In- stead of sophisticated, propri- etary hardware devices, phone "systems" will become soft- ware modules running on off- the-shelf servers and local data/ voice/video switches. The same holds true on the desktop: If telephones migrate from stand-alone devices into PC peripherals, established players could lose their shirts. Rubinstein points out that there is no need for a fancy desktop phone with lots of buttons and an LCD display if all of its fea- tures can be accessed from a Windows desktop. So, vendors of phones will have to learn to sell PC add-ins and software to computer owners. Another wild card in the path to acceptance for TAPI is General Magic's Telescript, an interpreted language that aims to do for telecommunications what Adobe's PostScript did for printing. Telescript defines an architecture for communi- cation of rich data types trans- parent to underlying protocols and media. Through the use of "agent" objects, Telescript goes well beyond merely integrat- ing today's PCs into the phone system: It defines an intelligent subsystem for establishing and routing communications among users and processes. Given its backers, who include AT&T, Apple, and Motorola, Tele- script may find its initial ac- ceptance in mobile applica- tions, but it could eventually become standard middleware between the client Windows interface and back-end services ranging from local switches to the information highway. ■ Andy Reinhardt is BYTE's West Coast bureau chief. You can reach him on BIX as "areinhardt. " "^ §H Work Faster and Easier with Floppies One-pass diskette copy, multiple diskettes, copy 3-1/2" to 5-1/4" and vice versa, much more. Item#B2 II $23.95. Windows Tune Up Analyze and reconfigure your system to supercharge Windows with this slick, convenient group of utilities. ltem#B2l6 $17.95. Personal Data File Manager Manage your addresses, contacts, books, VCR tapes and more. This fast and simple database manager has a report generator and more. Item#B222 $17.95. Astronomy Star Finder for Windows! Turn your PC into a Windows planetarium. Complete data-base of 10,000 stars (with technical info) from 200 places worldwide. ltem#B2l5 $19.95. Windows Icon Editor Create, personalize and change icons for your own taste. Works with EXE and DLL files. With icon library and screen capture to a 32x32 icon, more. ltem#B2I9 $17.95. DataCruncher Fast access to all compression pro- grams. Here's a simple way to run PKZIP, LHARC, ARJ and others from Windows, Pack and unpack quickly without problems. ltem#B2 14 $17.95. Art Masterpieces on Your PC From Monet and VanGogh to Michaelangelo and others, their work is here for you to use in BMP format. Hem# B226 $15.95. Add Impact with Graphics Each package contains 1 00+ready- to-use, professionally created clipart in PCX format, ltem# 13224 $15.95. More Graphics ltem# B225 $15.95. The Frugal Desktop Publisher Create newsletters, brochures, ads, and more with this feature-filled Windows page layout package. Import graphics, change fonts, add designs, more. ltem#B2l7$l9.95. Puzzles, Pranks, Toys and Games for Windows Outrageous puzzles, pranks and games that will make everyone laugh. The most hilarious collection of fun yet for Windows, ltem#B227 $19.95. Please rush me the following items: ltem# Title Price Abacus! Dept. S11, 537052nd Street SE Grand Rapids, Ml 49512 Subtotal: . Ml orders include 4% sales tax: _ In US & Canada add S5.00 shipping: . Foreign orders add $13.00 per item: . Total amount (US funds):. For fast delivery Order Toll Free 1-800-451-4319 ext. S11, or FAX (616) 698-0325~l Or mail this coupon to: Abacus, 5370 52nd Street SE, Grand Rapids, Ml 49512 Method of Payment: □ Visa □ Master Card □ Am. Express □ Check /M.O. | Card#:l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_l_! Expires: / | Name: | Company: | Address: I City: Phone#: .State: Zip: Make Windows Scream, Literally With sounds, effects and wave manager. Windows becomes lively and fun with 40+ new sounds. Item#B221 $19.95. _Fax#:. □ Yes, please rush your free catalog of PC books and software. Dept.SH , 108 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 I Circle 278 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 279). "ALR's EVOLUTION VQs have certainly made the most out of existing technology." IDC Weekly Update - May 20, 1993 "A stylish tower system, the ALR EVOLUTION VQ incorporates more new hardware features than any other machine renewed here." PC Magazine UK- Jidy, 1993 Penrii irn Power "Best of Show, Spring Comdex, 1993" BYTE Magazine- May, 1993 pentium Systems shown fi-vm ie/r in righr; ALR EVOLUTION VQJ60 1 & EVOLUTION V -■ ^Qo/ gfQQUx performance Ls now only $ I more dum our cum/xirabiy con/r»i. -1 era Q~ M ultimedia Extensions for Presentation Manager. dia Workplace provides links for multimedia applications and databases so that you can in- corporate data from your data- base into multimedia presenta- tions. In addition, IBM is about to release a tool called Ultime- dia Video IN for capturing video footage and converting it into a sequence synchronized with audio. All of these tools support IBM's Ultimotion data-com- pression algorithm; in addition, they also support other major data-compression algorithms, such as SuperMac's Cinepak and Intel's Indeo. It is also in- teresting to note that IBM is porting its Ultimotion algo- rithm to Windows. But while few would dispute that IBM's multimedia offer- ings are superior to what is currently available from Mi- crosoft, there's considerable concern about OS/2's installed base. Says Joe Scirica, vice pres- ident of product de- velopment at Maxis (makers of the popu- lar SimCity game for the Mac and Win- dows), "The OS/2 market is still too small. The installed base isn't large enough for us to sup- port OS/2. Where's the OS/2 section in the software store?" j»ipi Applications While OS/2's small installed base might scare off the game makers, IBM says that it is making headway with corpo- rations that want to use multi- media for computer-based training and video E-mail and conferencing. For example, Holiday Inn is designing a mul- timedia training system for its desk clerks using OS/2 multi- media. IBM's brand manager for multimedia, Karl La Wall, ob- serves that "people who are be- ginning to use multimedia are discovering they need a robust platform — we're seeing in- creased acceptance of OS/2 across all areas of [the multi- media] marketplace." ■ Nicholas Baran is a BYTE consulting editor living in Sand point, Idaho. He is the author o/Windows from the Keyboard (John Wiley & Sons, 1993). He can be reached on BIX as "nick- baran. " HO BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 BEFORE SUREIMAPS, THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE ItetpU * ' '■""•/r-y. solife^^ *- ? ^ >>A i & ' y ~^^^^^^^^i 7 ' . \ •• • ■ •••• fcltfS-.'UW- )'■■■■' ,-■—': Expand Sure! MAPS with detailed information on major metropolitan areas. Street maps let you pin- point locations by address or latitude/longitude. Now there's a better way: SurelMAPS™ CD-ROM based desktop mapping software from Horizons Technology. No more colored stick pins. No more holes in your office wall. SurelMAPS brings detailed mapping capabilities directly to your DOS or Windows PC. Import your database into SurelMAPS to reveal geographic trends mat will help you make faster and better business deci- sions. Whether it's real estate listings, office locations, customer sites or virtually any kind of point-specific data, SurelMAPS can open your eyes to a world of valuable insights. The SurelMAPS base product includes a continental U.S. map and two world maps. You can expand your map coverage by ordering full-color raster USGS Map Sets or $199 major metropolitan areas, complete with ter- RETAIL! rain contours and details like airports, parks, rivers, buildings and bridges. Street-level maps and satellite imagery are available, too. All you have to do is pick the Map Set that contains your city or region and SurelMAPS does the rest. It even imports spreadsheet and data- base files, calculates distance and area, and scrolls from map to map in one seamless presentation. Pin-point mapping will never be the same after SurelMAPS. So throw away those little pins and call 1-800-828-3808. Or plot a course to your local distributor, reseller or computer store to get your copy today. Horizons Technology, Inc. 3990 Ruffin Rd. San Diego, CA 92123-1826 (800) 828-3808 SurelMAPS is a trademark of Horizons Technology, Inc. Slreel-level maps are copyrighted by Etak, Inc. HORIZONS TBCHNOLOOY, INC. Circle 298 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 299). SPECIAL & OS/2 REPORT Pen for OS/2 IBM sees multitasking as key to moving OS/2 into the pen market ED PERRATORE IBM first had to make OS/2 the robust operating system users expect. Then came pen capability, supported by hard- ware makers such as Dauphin Technology, Telepad, and AST Research. Now for the Person- al Systems Products group's next challenge: selling Pen for OS/2 horizontally in an essen- tially vertical market. IBM's chief target market is the company's long-established base of existing users. "Cus- tomers want either to take those custom-built applications and add pen function to them or to continue running their DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applica- tions and write a brand-new pen application," says Gordon Arbeitman, PSP's technical planner for pen software. This approach saves money and pro- gramming time, especially con- sidering the "very minor tran- sition" for a competent OS/2 programmer to master Pen for OS/2's controls and APIs. The problem? Despite note- book PCs with bigger hard drives and more RAM, the per- ception lingers that OS/2 is a desktop operating system. And there is the better-grounded per- ception that handwriting recog- nition has a long way to go. But for mobile workers us- ing standard forms and need- ing to multitask, Pen for OS/2 may serve well. For example, says Debra Davis, PSP pen brand manager, if you're a me- ter reader filling out a pen-driv- en form, "you could be send- ing the data back, accessing customer files, preparing bills, and getting them out faster." Applications Says Gerry Purdy, Data- quest's chief mobile comput- ing analyst: "It may end up, for a mission-critical application, to be the kind of operating sys- tem that is absolutely right on. You can't get that [yet] from Microsoft." ■ Ed Per rot ore is a BYTE news editor based in New York. You con reach him on BIX as "eperratore. " "DynaComm® is Microsoft's® choice for terminal emulation." It should be yours. Evaluating terminal emulation software? Consider the one Microsoft chose for communicating across their world-wide network. FutureSoft's DynaComm for Windows™ offers a single solution for PCs communicating across multi-platform networks to host computers. Tim Heflin Manager, End-User Services Microsoft, Inc. Network Topology: Ethernet Networking Protocol: TCP/IP Host: DEC VAX DynaComm features: •16 Terminal emulation types for UNIX, DEC, Hewlett- Packard, IBM, and Data General systems • 1 9 Network interfaces including TCP/IP and IPX • Powerful development tools for creating GUI front ends to host applications 800-989-8908 FutureSoft. 12012 WickchesterLane, Suite 600 • Houston, Texas 77079-1 222 USA 713.496.9400 • 713.496. 1090 FAX • 800.989.8908 Sales (USA) Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. DynaComm and FutureSoft are registered trademarks of Future Soft Engineering, Inc. BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Circle 296 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 297). No doubt you've experienced the limitations of Windows. Too slow. I— Too cluttered. And a little klutzy. Clearly, Windows has its imperfections. fortunately, they're easy to fix. All you need is PC Tools" for Windows software. It makes Windows faster, simpler, more fun — while it protects your data. Infoworld concluded, "with the release of PC Tools for Windows, Central Point has in a single stroke grabbed the top spot as best Windows shell from Norton Desktop." We couldn't have said it better. And at $99 (from participating dealers) the advantages of PC Tools for Windows are really hard to ignore. To see if you qualify for the $49.95 upgrade to PC Tools for Windows, just call 1-800-695-0679. Central Point Software Circle 288 on Inquiry Card. SPECIAL «& OS/2 REPORT IBM Makes MP Promises for OS/2 By adding symmetrical multiprocessing to OS/2, IBM has brought scalability to its premier desktop operating system ED PERRATORE I ultiprocessor-capable I hardware is a waste if your software is unable to use more than one CPU at a time. One major criticism of OS/2 has been its lack of support for multiprocessing. IBM plans to rectify this situation with OS/2 SMP, an operating-system en- hancement due to go into beta by year's end. IBM expects OS/2 SMP to turn in performance numbers superior to SMP performance on kernel-based operating sys- tems. According to OS/2 de- veloper Dave Medina, OS/2 SMP lacks much of the bag- gage of message passing and other overhead required to enable SMP on kernel-based architectures. This could mean a performance advantage for OS/2 over Windows NT and IBM's forthcoming Workplace OS when compute-intensive applications are run on a mul- tiprocessing system. OS/2 SMP makes no dis- tinction between operating-sys- tem threads, such as the Work- place Shell or the Windows Manager, and those of the ap- plications, says OS/2 SMP development manager Ayodele I. Anise. And DOS and Win- dows applications as well as those forOS/2 will be support- ed. Multithreaded applications will benefit the most, of course, because the various threads can be dispersed among available processors. Ensuring Compatibility By the time the code goes into beta, IBM hopes to have over- come difficulties created by certain OS/2 ISVs (indepen- dent software vendors) who, in the words of John Navas, a consultant working with alpha OS/2 SMP code under contract with Everex, "have written Symmetrical Multiprocessing Processor Processor Processor i ir Memory I In a symmetrical multiprocessing system, the processors have equal access to system resources, and any processor can run any operating- system or application thread. In an asymmetrical system, one processor usually runs the operating system and controls access to resources, creating imbalances in the distribution of work across the processors in the system. code that makes a lot of as- sumptions that are tied to a uniprocessor." Such software can very easily get into race conditions, where two pieces of code in the same application deadlock over simultaneous at- tempts to access the same re- source. For example, the ap- plication may boost its priority because it assumes nothing else will be running. "In a multi- processing environment, that doesn't work," says Navas. The answer, he suggests, may be to offer a compatibility mode in which a particular ill-behaved application can run in a unipro- cessor-emulation mode. Navas's team, running Au- toCAD, Windows applications, Ultimedia for OS/2, and other applications, has encountered no problems that he does not expect to see resolved by the time the code goes into beta. "Our only concern right now is how fast IBM is going to move forward," he says. "I've got people who are saying that they'd take it yesterday.'" When we went to press, the decision on how to package OS/2 SMP had yet to be final- ized. Weaving it into OS/2 2.2 is a possibility, as is offering it as a quiet upgrade — the way the Personal Systems Products division included the 32-bit graphics engine in its Service Pak late last year. IBM says it tentatively expects to sell it through the OEM channel on OS/2-equipped multiprocess- ing systems from IBM and other vendors. However it hits the market, Applications OS/2 SMP is sure to better IBM's attraction in the face of formidable opposition from Microsoft and from PSP itself. "One of the big objections I've seen many times, from clients who are looking at OS/2, is its lack of scalability," says Navas. "They're saying, 'It's limited to one Intel processor — what if I need more power than that?' This is the answer. It's limited to however many chips you want to buy, assuming the hardware guys come through and deliver reasonably priced systems." ■ IBM Corp. Old Orchard Rd. Armonk, NY 10504 (800) 342-6672 (end-user sales) (800) 426-4579 (OEM sales) Circle 1088 on Inquiry Card. Ed Perratore is a BYTE news editor based in New York. You can reach him on BIX as "e perratore. " 114 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS The Key to Solving Your Piracy Problem & Increasing Sales. Protect Your Software and Profits Let's face it. Piracy costs software developers billions of dollars in lost sales each year. The only way to protect yourself from these losses is to protect your products. That's why more developers protect with Sentinel from Rainbow Technologies, the world's largest manufacturer of software protection devices for software developers. C Most Widely Used Keys in the World Over 10,000 software developers worldwide use the Sentinel Family of software protection keys from iH ^ ■* ■■ a m* ^m ■ Rainbow Technologies. They 9EJ U I EL are simply the most reliable, Securing the future of software compatible and effective keys available. And with more keys to choose from, the Sentinel Family offers keys for more platforms and languages than anyone else. For DOS, OS/2, Windows, Macintosh, LAN, UNIX, open systems and more. Service and Support Worldwide Rainbow Technologies is the world leader in software protection. With offices throughout Europe and the United States, and distributors located worldwide, Rainbow Technologies offers just-in-time delivery and the largest engineering and technical support staff in the software protection industry. Find out how Sentinel keys can help solve your piracy problem and increase sales. Contact Rainbow Technologies at 800/852-8569 for a free copy of "The Sentinel Guide to Securing Software" and ask how you can get a Sentinel Evaluation kit. /? RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES Network Tested and Approved & 9292 JERONIMO ROAD. IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92718 • 800/852-8569 • 714/454-2100 • fax 714/454-8557 International offices are located in the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Distributors located worldwide. © I 993 Rainbow Technologies. Inc. A'l product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Circle 319 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 320). Microsoft windows compatible Shaping Up For Greater Recognition . «< >THE emergence of the Information Age has created never-ending mounds of PAPER. The task NOW OF effi- ciently SLIMMING DOWN THIS EXCESS OF WRITTEN MATERIAL IS TREMENDOUS. ENTERING ALL VALU- ABLE INFORMATION INTO A DATABASE IS ONE LEAP OVER THE HURDLE, BUT MANUALLY RETYPING THE MATERIAL IS TIME CONSUMING AND MAY LEAVE YOU BEHIND IN THE RACE. NOW. SHAPING UP HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER WITH RECOGNITA and economically into your computers. >What makes Recognita Plus 2.0 a leader of the pack is its omnifont capability, plus being pre-trained and trainable. it is very light on memory and disk SPACE, AND IS EXTREMELY FAST, REACHING SPEEDS OF UP TO 300 CHARACTERS PER SECOND. >A TRULY GLOBAL COMPETITOR, RECOGNITA PLUS 2.0, OPENS UP THE WORLD, WITH ITS ABILITY TO READ OVER EIGHTY LANGUAGES. Character Recognition (OCR) SOFTWARE HELPS TRIM DOWN THOSE PAPER OBSTACLES, BY ACCU- RATELY SCANNING AND READING PRINTED TEXT AND DATA QUICKLY . - e your choice for a more efficient office with Recognita Plus 2.o. here is a product both performing and deserving greater recognition. improved accuracy: due to self assertion technology. Ease of use: Redesigned screen, accessing many new and enhanced features. New recognitions supported: Dot-matrix, and Fax file. Full internal editor for all formats: plus deferred editing and a unique ocr specific search and replace facflity. ♦ Windows Word-processors: direct connections available, plus deferred processing and templates. Development Toolkit available, plus TWAIN support. Circle 321 on Inquiry Card. Si SZKI RECOGNITA Corp. IT'S IN BETTER SHAPE THAN EVER! CALL ONE OF THESE TO FIND THE ADDRESS OF YOUR NEAREST DISTRIBUTOR: SZKI RECOGNITA CORP., H-1012 BUDAPEST, MARVANY U. 17., HUNGARY • PHONE: 36- 1 /20 1 -8925 FAX: 36- 1 /20 1 -7607 RECOGNITA CORP. OF AMERICA. 1 156 ASTER AVENUE, SUITE F SUNNYVALE CA 94086. USA • PHONE: 1 -408/24 1 -5772 FAX: 1 -408/24 1 -6009 RECOGNITA BUROAUTOMATISIERUNG GMBH. HAINSTRASSE 19, AUFGANG D. D-04109 LEIPZIG. GERMANY • PHONE: 4934 1 /209-635 FAX: 49-341/281-643 SPECIAL Window's St OS/2 REPORT OS/2 and Windows Networks BARRY NANCE w hen you visit a for- eign country, you use the local cur- rency, and you try to follow the local customs. On many levels, you soon discover that people are not all that different. If you're fa- miliar with Novell's NetWare, using a LAN based on OS/2 or Windows gives you the same feeling of being in a for- eign country. You learn to think of the LAN in different terms, but you quick- ly find the net result — shared disk space, shared files, and shared printers — not all that different from what you're accustomed to. LANs based on OS/2 and Windows use different means to achieve file and print I/O redirection, and they offer some capabil- ities difficult to implement in a NetWare environment. Two server-based NOSes (network operating systems), IBM's LAN Server 3.0 and Microsoft's LAN Manager 2.1 , run on various flavors of OS/2 and share a common code base — programmers from IBM and Microsoft worked closely together to create the original versions of these products. Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows NT Advanced Server, runs on NT; Microsoft will contin- ue to offer and support LAN Manager running on OS/2, as well as the NT Advanced Server. Future products will use IBM's SMB protocols on Net- BIOS to exchange file data. Lee Reiswig, president of IBM's Personal Systems Products Division, says his divi- sion plans to ship a peer-to-peer LAN product later this year or in early 1994. The as-yet-unnamed product has an object-oriented interface and a clipboard that lets different workstations share information. IBM licensed the core software from Symbotics. IBM will position its peer LAN relative to OS/2 the same way Microsoft does with Win- dows for Workgroups and Windows 3.1. Other NOSes that work with Windows but aren't part of the base Windows environment include LANtastic for Windows, Invisible LAN, and WEB for Windows. Sun Microsystems says that later this year, it will release a ver- sion of NFS (Network File System) that will run on NT. IBM offers TCP/IP for OS/2. These latter two products help OS/2 and NT work with Unix-based servers. LAN Server and LAN Manager LAN Server 3.0 is a 32-bit NOS that the BYTE NSTL team has clocked as being faster than NetWare 3. 1 1. LAN Man- P^^a ^ rV ^M W^t i r 1 PTjI r jk C m IBM's LAN Server and Microsoft's LAN Manager have more similarities than differences ager uses many of the same commands as LAN Server and, like it, works internally. LAN Server runs on OS/2 2.x, which you buy separately, while LAN Manager comes bundled with OS/2 1.3. LAN Server and LAN Man- ager are excellent environments for client/server computing. It's relatively easy to program an OS/2 computer, even one that is already running as a file server. If you have a staff of pro- grammers or if the applications software you buy already supports LAN Server and LAN Manager, client/server ar- chitecture becomes a possibility. SQL Server, Oracle, and DB2/2 are examples of RDBMSes (relational database management systems) that work well on OS/2-based LANs. In LAN Server and LAN Manager parlance, a requester is the software that lets a workstation log on to a domain — a group of file servers and workstations with similar se- curity needs — and use network resources. Users have access to the network through the OS/2 LAN Requester program from OS/2 workstations and through the DOS LAN Re- quester program from DOS workstations. A server can share its files, printers, and even serial devices (e.g., modems) across the LAN. DOS requesters can't access a shared modem, but OS/2 requesters can. During installation, the network administrator specifies a server to be a domain controller or an additional server. There is only one domain controller in a domain. You can set up several domains on a large LAN Manager or LAN Server network. On a small LAN, a file server can also act as a domain controller. Domains provide a simple way NOVEMBER 1993 BYTE 117 SPECIAL & OS/2 to control access to the network and the network's resources. A network user can have accounts in multiple domains, but he or she can log on in only one domain at a time. Additional servers cannot be start- ed, nor can users log on, if the domain controller is not running. Several domains can exist on the same LAN, each managed separately, but each file server belongs to only one domain. Domains are managed by network administrators who set up, maintain, and control the network, man- age its resources, and support its users. Same-Domain Concept LAN Manager and LAN Server both use the domain concept but in slightly differ- ent ways. If you want to use LAN Manager and LAN Server on the same physical net- work, you should set up separate domains for each NOS. In one domain, all file servers should run LAN Manager, or they should all run LAN Server. You should ensure that work- stations in a LAN Server domain log on to a LAN Server domain before trying to access LAN Manager file servers. Work- stations in a LAN Manager domain, how- ever, can log on to any domain. Once logged on, you can access files on servers in other domains if the network adminis- trator has given you access rights on the other servers and defined the other servers as external resources. In practice, most people just log off one domain and log on to the next when they want to cross do- mains. The new NT Advanced Server eliminates this annoyance with a feature called Trusted Domains (which I'll ex- plain later); however, you must add at least one NT Advanced Server to each LAN Manager or LAN Server domain. To give access to an external resource, you assign a nickname, or alias, to it. On a server named ACCTING, an administrator might create an alias named OCTRCPTS to refer to the server's C:\RECEIPTS\OC- TOBER directory. Workstations equate the OCTRCPTS alias to a drive letter, per- haps drive G, to gain access to the files in that directory. The alias specifies the serv- er where the directory is located and the path to the directory, so people at work- stations don't have to remember server names and directory structures. An alias remains defined after the domain controller is stopped and restarted, but a network name does not. LAN Server can use aliases for shared resources, but LAN Manager cannot. LAN Manager workstations must refer to the shared resources by their full name, not by the alias. Suppose you have a LAN Server machine named PRODUCTION that shares a printer with an alias of RE- PORTS. The full name of the shared print- er is \\PRODUCTION\PRINTERl. LAN Server workstations can share REPORTS, but LAN Manager workstations must use the full name \\PRODUCTION\PRINT- ER1 to access that printer. LAN Manager offers a feature called NetBIOS and SMBs The NOSes (network operating systems) dis- cussed in the main text use NetBIOS to send and receive messages. The NetBIOS messages contain Server Message Blocks, or SMBs, to carry file I/O requests and responses between servers and workstations. NetBIOS accepts communications requests from the file redirection portion oftheNOSor from an ap- plication program, such as an E-mail prod- uct. NetBIOS operations fall into four cate- gories: Name support — Each workstation on the net- work is identified by one or more names. These names are maintained by NetBIOS in a table; the first item in the table is automatically the unique, permanently assigned name of the network adapter. Optional user names (e.g., Barry) can be added to the table for the sake of convenient identification of each workstation. The user-assigned names can be unique or, in special cases, can refer to a group of users. Session support — A point-to-point connection between two names (workstations) on the network can be opened, managed, and closed under NetBIOS control. One workstation begins by listening for a call; the other workstation calls the first. The com- puters are peers. Both can send and receive mes- sage data concurrently during the session. At the end, both workstations hang up on each other. LAN Server, LAN Manager, Windows for Workgroups, and NT Advanced Server establish sessions between workstations and servers. Datagram support — Message data can be sent to a name, a group of names, or all names on the network. A point-to-point connection is not es- tablished, and there is no guarantee that the message data will be received. Adapter/session status — Information about the local-network adapter card, other network adapter cards, and any currently active sessions is available to applications software that uses NetBIOS. At the workstation, the requester software in- tercepts an application's file I/O operations and sends them across the network to the file server, using IBM's SMB protocol to accom- plish the redirection. SMBs can be used for session control, file access, print service, and sending messages. Session control — Once a NetBIOS session is established between a workstation and the server, the workstation sends a Verify Dialect SMB to the server. This message contains data indicating the capabilities of the version of the PC LAN Program running at the workstation. The server examines this message and responds to the workstation with in- formation about itself and the capabilities the server supports. This exchange is then followed by one or more Start Connection SMBs, which are used to cre- ate logical connections between the workstation and network resources at the file server. These logical connections are later terminated by the workstation when it sends End Connection SMBs to the seiver (or when the NetBIOS session is aborted by the occur- rence of an error). File access — A workstation uses the SMBs in this category to gain access to the files on the server's hard drive. The functions included in this category let the workstation treat the server drive al- most like a local hard drive— the workstation can cre- ate and remove directories; create, open, and close files; read, write to, rename, delete, and search for files; get or set file attributes; and, of course, lock records. The requester detects file operations in- tended for network files and converts the operation into one or more SMBs. The local operating system (e.g., DOS or OS/2) never sees file requests for net- work files. The server performs the file operation when it receives the SMB message and returns a re- sponse to the workstation's requester. Print service — The SMBs in this category let a workstation queue files for printing by a server and to obtain print-queue status information. The work- station can create a spool file, write data to the spool file, close the spool file, and ask that the server return a print-queue status SMB. US BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 YOU CAN'T CONTROL YOUR BOSS, YOUR WORKLOAD, YOUR WEIGHT, YOUR BACKHAND, YOUR WEEDS, YUUR DUG, YOUR LIFE. AT LEAST NOW YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR CURSOR. At Microsoft, we feel there are enough things in the world that follow their own unpredictable path. So we redesigned just about every aspect of the new Microsoft BallPoinf mouse to let you regain control of your portable computer. We started by changing the weight of the ball. We improved the smoothness of the tracking mecha- nism. We reshaped our mouse to fit your hand better. We even added soft- ware features that make it easier to find and control your cursor. All of which means, in sim- ple terms, that the cursor will now do what you want it to do. And which is why, in independ- ent tests, people worked 35% faster with the BallPoint mouse than with other leading portable and built-in pointing devices. Of course, you should try it your- self. So pick up a BallPoint mouse at a computer store today. And have one aspect of your life firmly, and comfortably, in the palm of your hand. Microsoft Making it easier WINDCMrS. © 1993 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft and BallPoint are registered trademarks and Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporat SPECIAL Windows & OS/2, REPORT [rifoniKHitm (or llier: BFtH— — - - Knur iijjju Administrator User ccwmitrnt: Barry fiance' Password is. not required Password last changed 1G2 days ago Access is allowed (inn it n iiiciiiiiKi of I Date i|imi|ii Grwji U) Cenmreitl A single group lor everyone IBM's OS/2 LAN Server. persistent net connections that helps you avoid retyping resource names at log-on time. By default, each time you log on, you get the same network connections you had in your last session. You can enable or disable persistent connections with the /PERSISTENT= option on the NET USE command. You can also put entries in a user's LANMAN.INI file to turn persis- tent net connections on or off or to freeze a certain set of network resources as shared by that user. An administrator assigns a network name to a resource (e.g., disk directory, printer, or serial device) to define the re- source temporarily. Like an alias, a net- work name identifies a shared resource on a server. But to use a resource through its network name, you specify the server name as well as the network name. Unlike an alias, a network name does not remain de- fined if the domain controller is stopped. A UNC (Universal Naming Conven- tion) name consists of a server name and a network name, which together identify a resource in the domain. A UNC name has the following format: \ \ server name \net name \path Note the use of the double backslash char- acters preceding the server's name. If you assign LPT1 to a shared print queue, you oveiride your local printer port, and your print jobs go to the network print- er. On the other hand, you can't override local drive letter assignments. If you have drive C on your computer, you must use other drive letters besides C to refer to file- server disk resources. Security User-level security on a LAN Manager or LAN Server network consists of log-on se- curity and permissions. Each user account B has a password; you specify your user ID and password to gain ac- cess to the network through a do- main. A network administrator can limit a particular user's ac- cess to certain times of the day or the workstation(s) from which a user logs on. Permissions limit the extent to which you can use shared resources. The network administrator, for example, can create a COMMON directory that everyone can use, and the administrator can create an UP- DATE directory, with files only certain people can modify but everyone can read. With share- level security, a feature of LAN Manager, the administrator can set up a single password to limit access to a partic- ular shared resource or device. LAN Serv- er does not support share-level security. The network administrator creates an access-control profile to grant, restrict, or deny access to a shared resource. Each shared resource (usually a disk directory) can have just one access-control profile. An administrator can put individual log-on accounts in an access-control profile, or the administrator can set up named groups of accounts and insert group names in the access control profile. Group names are more convenient, and they help keep the profile to a manageable size. Each indi- vidual or group name has a list of permis- sions and security restrictions the admin- istrator can use. The access permissions allow or disallow the following operations: — run programs — read and write data files — create and delete subdirectories and files — change file attributes — create, change, and delete access control profiles Fine Tuning You tune LAN Server by using a text ed- itor to modify the computer's CONFIG. SYS and IBMLAN.INI files. LAN Man- ager features auto-tuning, whereby the file- server software monitors its own activity and changes its initialization files auto- matically. To take advantage of auto-tun- ing, you merely have to stop and restart a LAN Manager file server periodically. LAN Manager and LAN Server inter- operate well on a Token Ring LAN but not on an Ethernet LAN. On Ethernet net- works, you may need to modify both NOSes' configurations. LAN Server sup- ports the DIX (Digital/Intel/Xerox) 2.0 protocol and the IEEE 802.3 protocol; LAN Manager does not support DIX. On Ethernet networks, you need to switch LAN Manager and LAN Server to use IEEE 802.3 so that workstations can use both file servers. You should also note that the network- ing products from Microsoft and IBM can't do packet routing inside a file server, as NetWare can. You need to buy router hardware if you want to segment your LAN. Mike Nash, product manager at Mi- crosoft, says that Microsoft and IBM share the philosophy that file servers aren't the place to do packet routing. On the other hand, if you decide to link two or more LANs, you have a wide variety of options to choose from. For example, you might connect LAN Server or LAN Manager through a leased line, Tl link, or X.25 con- nection. Both LAN Server and LAN Manager support the use of RFS-compliant (Re- mote File System) NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Through appropriate routers or bridges, you can issue standard NET USE com- mands to gain access to remote shared re- sources. Windows NT Advanced Server In early August, Microsoft surprised the industry by releasing NT Advanced Serv- er at the same time as NT itself. Microsoft had said that NT Advanced Server would lag behind NT by about 30 days. NT Ad- vanced Server extends the features and ad- vantages of LAN Manager in a number of ways. Like LAN Server, NT Advanced Serv- er is a 32-bit NOS; however, unlike with LAN Server, you can run NT Advanced Server on Intel, Mips R4000, or DEC Al- pha platforms. While CPU speed is rarely a bottleneck on file servers, you might choose to run NT Advanced Server on a symmetric multiple CPU. The extra CPU processing power might let you use the file server for additional client/server ap- plications. NT Advanced Server offers C2-Ievel security, which means that the NOS has a secure log-on procedure, memory protec- tion, auditing, and discretionary access control (i.e., the owner of a shared resource can monitor who is using the shared re- source). Some corporate and military LANs require C-2 or higher security. In the area of reliability, NT Advanced Serv- er uses a transaction-based file system that can back out file updates if a series of re- lated updates don't finish successfully. NT 120 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 1 unOLCIj At $195, New X Windows is Priced for Every PC! I ainstream PC users running MS Windows have wanted to access network-based Unix applications for quite awhile, but for most the price has simply been too high to justify the hook-up. Until now. Announcing XoftWare™ for Win- dows, Desktop Edition (DT), the first easy-to-use, value-priced PC X server software. Now anyone with a 386/486 PC can afford an integrated system that combines the best of MS Windows and Unix simply by clicking on icons. Finally, Unix for the rest of us. Xoft Ware for Windows DT was created specifi- cally for the non-technical PC user. Which is to say, those of us who occa- sionally want to access Unix applica- WITH A SIMPLE CLICK, XoftWare for Windows, Desktop Edition makes it easy to cut-and-paste between MS Windows and X. tions, but don' t need the higher through- put or extra features of a true 32-bit X server. Truth is, XoftWare for Windows DT has been streamlined to give all PC users MicroAge Applauds 32-bit X Server for its Vim, Vigor and Very Good Value Staten Island, NY— Michael Conroy, Systems Engineer for MicroAge, likes AGE's new Desktop Edition, but he loves its big brother — XoftWare™ 732 for Windows. "We tell our customers it's the turbo-charged version — with the throughput and pro- cess power to handle a broad range of robust Unix applications and databases. It gives MS Windows PCs workstation-like functionality." Conroy says he was surprised at its ease of use. "You figure when you get the power, you MicroAge's Michael Conroy. Iffasi is good, /aster's better. sometimes lose friendli- ness, but that's not the case with AGE's products. I par- ticularly like MPSS™ - the Multi-Process Start-up Sys- tem, which lets users start multiple applications simul- taneously, saving valuable time." Conroy says he likes the 32-bit offering's price point, $395 (or $495 with Novell's TCP/ IP bundled). He's also lookingforward to the upcoming 32-bit X server for MS Windows NT, which will be priced at $495. circ | e 343 on inquiry Card. just what they need in features and functionality, and at a very affordable price. Are you tired of poring over User Guides? We thought so. That's why we made XoftWare for Windows DFexceptionally easy to install, simple to start up, and a snap to operate. With our XoftStart™ feature, PC users don't even have to know how to start Unix, much less run it. Just click and start from a Windows-based icon. You'll also ap- preciate our CascadeX™ feature, which positions windows in a Microsoft-like cascading window format. XoftWare for Windows DFsupports all leading network software, including the MS Windows Sockets API. You can even order it bundled with Novell' s TCP/ IP networking software. Act now for free fonts. Already an ex- ceptional value, if you act while sup- plies last we'll send you our XoftFonts™ font package, a $50 value, absolutely free. XoftWare for Windows DT- the perfect add-on to your networked PC. Call us at (619) 455-8600. Fax: (619) 597-6030. email: sales@age.com age AGE Logic, Inc., 9985 Pacific Heights Blvd., San Diego, CA 92121 All registered trademarks property of their respective owners. Circle 349 on Inquiry Card. SPECIAL VHndows & OS/2 REPORT Advanced Server supports RAID level 5 (disk striping with parity), recognizes sig- nals from a UPS (uninterruptible power supply), and comes with tape-backup soft- ware. Trusted Domains NT Advanced Server adds Trusted Do- mains to the way domains work in LAN Server and LAN Manager. Suppose, for instance, that your LAN has separate domains for engineering and market- ing. People in the engi- neering department have developed a new product and want to let product managers in the marketing department see the speci- fications for the new prod- uct. The engineering de- partment can authorize access to its files by mak- ing the marketing domain trusted and giving read-only permissions to the product manager's group. The prod- uct manager doesn't have to separately log in to the engineering domain to view the files. When the file server holding the doc- uments senses a request from a market- ing-domain product manager, the file serv- er verifies access permission, with the trusted marketing-domain controller, through the engineering domain controller. A Performance Monitor utility helps ad- ministrators manage NT Advanced Serv- er, and the NOS is also SNMP- and NetView-aware. Desktop and LAN man- agement products such as OpenView, LANLord, LANDesk, and Frye's Utilities should soon support NT Advanced Server. Microsoft says NT Advanced Server will comply with the DMTF (Desktop Man- agement Task Force) specification for the management of LAN-connected desktop computers as soon as the DMTF finalizes its specification. Other utilities you get with Advanced Server include User Man- ager, Disk Administrator, Event Viewer, and an enhanced Control Panel. If you prefer not to establish perma- nent drive-letter mappings for each work- station but rather to let each workstation browse lists of shared resources to cre- ate new connections to shared directories and printers, you'll like NT Advanced Server's BrowseMaster feature. Each PC with resources to share periodically re- ports a list of those resources to the BrowseMaster server. When a person at a workstation clicks on the Browse push button (e.g., in Windows for Workgroups Native Networking Options Windows Windows for Workgroups Windows NT Windows NT Advanced Server OS/2 LAN Server LAN Manager NetWare 4.0 for OS/2 File Manager or Print Manager), the workstation gets the list of available re- sources from the central BrowseMaster computer. This technique keeps LAN traf- fic down, because servers and worksta- tions don't have to continually broadcast resource lists to each other. NT Advanced Server uses SMBs, on NetBIOS, to send and receive file I/O redi- rection requests over the LAN cable. This means that NT Advanced Server should interoper- ate with LAN Server, LAN Manager, Windows for Workgroups, and even the older PCLP (PC LAN Program). In addition, NT Advanced Server supports TCP/IP and Novell's IPX/ SPX transport-layer pro- tocols. You get a wealth of other connectivity options with Microsoft's latest NOS: Windows Sockets, Named Pipes, NetDDE, IBM's DLC (data-link control) for host sessions, and RPCs (remote pro- cedure calls). This last interface is com- patible with the OSF/DCE (Open Soft- ware Foundation/Distributed Computing Environment) specification. Microsoft says it will offer connectivity modules for SQL Server and SNA Server. The version of Remote Access Server for NT Advanced Server handles up to 64 concurrent con- nections over dial-up, leased, X.25, and ISDN lines. And NT Advanced Server has Macintosh support built in. Windows for Workgroups Windows for Workgroups is a marriage of Windows 3.1 and NOS that includes an E-mail application (i.e., Microsoft Mail) and an appointment book application (i.e., Schedule+). The two software products install themselves into the main program group. If you're a part of a small team of peo- ple who are accustomed to using applica- tions in a Windows 386 enhanced-mode environment, Windows for Workgroups can help you share information. Shared files can exist on every PC running Win- dows for Workgroups in 386 enhanced mode, or they might be located on a sepa- rate, unattended PC that you use just for file storage. A PC must be running Win- dows for Workgroups in 386 enhanced mode to share files, however. Users who use Windows for Work- groups can share printers as well as disk files. Using File Manager and Print Man- ager, you can designate the PCs that should share disk directories and those that should share printers. When you share a disk di- rectory or printer from a PC, you give the shared resource a name by which other users can refer to that resource. Other users establish connections to shared resources by also using File Man- ager and Print Manager. Establishing the connection assigns a new drive letter (per- haps D) to a shared directory and, for a shared printer, redirects the parallel printer port (LPT 1 ) across the LAN to the shared printer. You can tell Windows for Work- groups to remember the connections you've established. Windows for Workgroups will automatically re-create each connection when you start Windows. You have access to shared directories and printers both from within Windows and from within the DOS applications you run in a Windows DOS session (either via the DOS Prompt icon or a program information file, or PIF). You can use Windows for Workgroups to add convenient peer-to-peer network- ing functions on a LAN that is running LAN Manager, LAN Server, or NT Ad- vanced Server. Security on a Windows for Workgroups LAN isn't great, but for small groups who already use Windows, this en- try-level peer-LAN environment can be effective. Windows for Workgroups is the easiest LAN to set up and use. Building a LAN based on Windows or OS/2 can be a good investment. You'll find these environments fertile ground for client/server applications. For example, you can save hardware and software dol- lars by running a database manager direct- ly on the file server. You'll be able to eas- ily create peer-LAN relationships on a Windows or OS/2 LAN. Or you might use one of these NOSes as an application serv- er on a LAN that's already running Novell NetWare. Novell has about 70 percent of the NOS marketplace, and that percentage isn't like- ly to plummet significantly any time soon. However, you may find it advantageous to add LAN Server, NT Advanced Server, or perhaps Windows for Workgroups to your Token Ring or Ethernet LAN. At first, the new NOS may make you think you're in a foreign country. But you'll find the extra drive letters and other shared re- sources not all that different from Net- Ware's. And you may find you spend less money on network software. ■ Barry Nance, a programmer for the past 20 years, is a BYTE contributing editor. You can reach him on BIX as "barryn. " 122 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 $425 KINGSTON PROCESSOR UPGRADES. SAVE YOUR SYSTEM AND A BUNDLE. Significant Savings, Equivalent Performance. Kingston's IBM designed SLC/Now! plus SX/Now!, 486/Now! and MCMaster processor upgrades make existing systems perform like new 386SX, 486SX or 486DX models. They provide the power needed for today's software, perform comparably to new systems and cost at least 70% less. vtfU&v Quality is Assured. ljQll% Bench testing of each J and every product with r ihe original system diag- r nostics and certification by the National Software Testing Laboratory provides the maximum assurance of individual product quality and compatibility. Upgrade After New System System Supported SX/Now! IBM-AT With SX/Now! 25 PS/2 Model 57SX-045 SX/Now! Landmark Speed 2.0: Recount: Retail Price: 8 MHz 5:44 Min. 35 MHz 1:51 Min. $215 22 MHz 1:54 Min. $1,545 286Jxised systems from AST, Compaq, Epson, Everex, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, NBC, Toshiba and Zenith SLC/Now! PS/2 Model 50 With SLC/Now! 50 PS/2 Model 90-0H9 SLG'Now! landmark Speed 2.0: Recount: Retail Price: 13 MHz 3:34 Min. 114 MHz :29 Sec. $425 84 MHz :38 Sec. $3,280 IBM PS/2 Models 50, 50Z and 60 486/Now! PS/2 Model 70-25MHz With 486/Now! SX 25 PS/2 Model 90-0H9 486/Now! Landmark Speed 2.0: Recount: Retail Price: 39 MHz :55 Sec. 84 MHz :39 Sec. $495 84 MHz :38 Sec. $3,280 IBM FS/2MbdeIs70and 80, Compaq DeskpioModels 3H6/14, 386/30. 3a6/2Cte, 3WV25,386/25e. 386/33 MCMaster PS/2 Model 55SX With MCMaster SX 25 PS/2 Model 90-0H9 MCMaster Landmark Speed 2.0: Recount: Retail Price: 16 MHz 2:47 Min. 84 MHz :36 Sec. $795 84 MHz :38 Sec. $3,280 EM PS# Models 55. 5$ 57, 65, 70, 80 and 90 AS systems tested uitb 16MB mstaMexctpt MOSaster, testal tntb 8MB on-bumt ami 8SW on motberbtard. Att system pnees an> MSW at standard cotiftgimOmn as 01/93- Processor upgraikpncesaiv.VSRP as cf4/l93- Recount cmlucted on MB F-xcelfor Tuidous spreadsheet gemiiUed by Kingston Technology More Information. Contact your nearby Kingston dealer or give us a call at (800) 835-6575 to find out which processor upgrade is best for you. Full Compatibility. Kingston's processor upgrades It runs with ore tested to be fully compatible NetWare with today's most popular oper- ating environments including MS DOS, Microsoft Windows, JBMs OS/2 and Novell Netware. [800] I Kingston I A 1. TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION The Inside Name in Upgrades Kingston Reliability. Like our memory products, every processor upgrade is individually tested prior to shipping, supported by free comprehensive technical assistance and backed by a five-year wananty 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, California 92708 (714) 435-2600 Fax (714) 435-2699 All Trademarks, Registered Trademarks and Logos are of their respective holders. Kingston and Kingston Technology ar e Registered Trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. MCMaster is a Trademark ofAox, Inc. Both SXNav! and 486Now! ate currently certified by The National Software Testing Laboratory. Certification for recent introductions, MCMaster and SLC/Now!, is pending. Develtper tested only. Novell makes no warranties with respect to these products. Circle 306 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 307). N> IftP?"*" &»!& if* ^■"vK:""** ^ A For Fast Efficient Process Mapping, There's Only One Waylb Go. MicrografxABC Flowcharter* for Windows takes the frustration out of mapping the way work flows through your organization. Simple- to-learn, specialized tools help you create flow charts that can easily S i mp i y choose a shape and place it. . - . -ii Lines automatically connect and be reCOnllgUred aS qUICkly aS yOU stayconnectedifshapesare moved. generate new ideas. Like multiple palettes added. Plus text can of standard shapes as well as the option to incorporate clip art or scanned images. Automatic linking instantly connects shapes as they're be edited right on the G R A F X charts, in a variety of fonts and sizes.We even provide friendly telephone support 24 hours on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m . CST on weekends (U.S. only). So take the first step in improving effi- ciency in your company. To find out more about ABC Flowcharter call 1-800-578-1981 or contact your local software dealer. ABC Flowcharter Micrografx.lnc. 1303 ArapahoRoad.Richardson.Texas 75081 (214) 234-1 769 , Micrografxalsohas offices in Toronto. London.Paris. Munich. Milan. Sydney, CopenhagcnandTokyO. Copyright 1993. Micrografx, Inc. All rights reserved Micrografxand ABC FlowCharlerare registered \n Allotherproductsaretrademarksorregisteredlrademarks of theirrespective owners, Circle 308 on Inquiry Card (RESELLERS: 309). SPECIAL Window s & OS/2 REPORT IBM's Assault on Distributed Objects With its Distributed System Object Model, IBM is in the forefront of bringing the benefits of object technology to distributed applications JON UDELL When IBM shipped OS/2 2.0 in the spring of 1992, the company touted the new object-oriented Work- place Shell as a major achieve- ment. While the WPS itself garnered mixed reviews, the foundation on which it rests — the System Object Model — emerged as an object technol- ogy to be reckoned with. Its successor, the Distributed Sys- tem Object Model, extends ob- jects across networks and forms the cornerstone of IBM's distributed-object strategy. SOM 1.0, which shipped with OS/2 2.0 and 2. 1 , is an op- erating-system extension that provides OOP (object-orient- ed programming) mechanisms such as inheritance and method dispatching. OOP-language products such as Smalltalk and C++, which have traditionally provided these mechanisms, can't adequately package ob- jects for binary reuse across languages or even across im- plementations of the same lan- guage. The SOM 2.0 engines (there are two) retain backward compatibility with the 1.0 ver- sion while adding multiple in- heritance, C++ bindings, and an interface-definition language that can now work in combi- nation with the latest Object Management Group standard. Both engines — the Worksta- tion Runtime and the Work- group Runtime — are available as part of the SOMobjects De- veloper Toolkit. Objects Local and Remote The Workstation Runtime en- gine enables objects to com- municate across process bound- aries on a single OS/2 or AIX system. The Workgroup Run- time engine enables those same objects to communicate across system boundaries over Net- BIOS, TCP/IP, or IPX trans- ports. This engine swaps byte The DSOM Environment Created dynamically to let local objects communicate with remote ones Manages access to the /object store Client application Proxy Invokes both local and remote objects Server application A Object manager order as needed to keep data streams intelligible in mixed networks of OS/2 (Intel) and AIX (RISC) machines. There's no protocol bridge yet, howev- er, so stations on LAN Server networks will have to run Net- BIOS and TCP/IP concurrent- ly to talk to stations on AIX networks. The Workstation Runtime will help correct a flaw in the WPS. Currently, user-written shell objects share address space with the WPS itself and can therefore crash it. With SOM 2.0, such objects can op- tionally run in a separate ad- dress space. The WPS in OS/2 2.1 can't take advantage of this feature yet, but a future version will be able to. More impor- tant, the Workstation Runtime will enable developers to build on a single machine the dis- tributed-object systems they plan to deploy on networks. To switch from single- to multi- ple-machine mode, you just replace the Workstation Run- time ($75) with the Workgroup Run- time ($235). Object store O A C, □ Stores remote objects Workgroup Runtime The DSOM Environment lets applications take advantage of remote objects by creating a local proxy that regulates access to remote methods. Object Framework In addition to the run-time systems, the SOMobjects Developer Toolkit ($365 for OS/2; $585 for AIX) in- cludes the SOM compiler, documen- tation, a class that supports collections (notable because it's Networking the first IBM product derived from the Taligent effort), and three sets of C++ classes that IBM calls frameworks. The emitter framework pro- vides IDL (interface definition language) parsing support for those interested in binding SOM to a programming lan- guage other than C or C++. Mi- croFocus used this framework to bind SOM to its COBOL im- plementation. The persistence framework writes objects out to disk and reads them back. The replication framework has a number of intriguing uses: Objects that inherit from it can share common data safely. A collaborative text editor, for ex- ample, might use the replica- tion framework to enable live editing of a document by mul- tiple concurrent users. "DSOM gives you the op- portunity to solve the most difficult aspect of distributed NOVEMBER 1993 BYTE 125 SPECIAL Windows & OS/2 REPORT "DSOM gives you the opportunity to solve the most difficult aspect of distributed computing, which is latency." computing, which is latency," says SOM architect Mike Con- nors. That's because SOM adds another layer of indirection to the standard RPC (remote pro- cedure call) model. With RPC, you make direct calls to the lo- cal proxies that invoke remote procedures. With DSOM, even calls to local proxies are dis- patched through method tables. If you write an intelligent proxy, Connors says, you can cache some object-state information locally. That way, you won't automatically incur network de- lay every time you inquire about a remote object's attributes. You won't go out and buy DSOM directly. Instead, you'll acquire it from developers of DSOM-based applications and utilities. One early proponent is ChipChat-Cawthon Software, a longtime developer of OS/2 communications software. The company's ChipChat SOM ob- jects support file transfer and terminal emulation over seri- al, parallel, and telnet ports. "If we didn't already give you tel- net support," says ChipChat- Cawthon's president Marty Cawthon, "you could add it yourself in the language of your choice and automatically inherit our ability to perform XMODEM, YMODEM, Kermit, and ASCII file transfers. Our ChipChat object encapsulates communications ports at a high level, just as a UART encapsu- lates them at a lower level." The Wide World IBM's DSOM strategy doesn't end with OS/2 and AIX. Win- dows support is due by year's end, according to IBM's ob- ject czar Cliff Reeves. More- over, a technology exchange with Hewlett-Packard will synchronize DSOM with HP's Distributed Object Manage- ment Facility. For HP, the deal means access to DSOM, a fin- er-grained object technology than HP's own. For IBM, it means a strategic link between DSOM and DCE (Distributed Computing Environment). While DSOM offers its own native directory service, IBM is investing heavily in DCE for large-scale distributed systems. The ability to run DSOM over DCE will be cru- cial. DSOM will also provide the packaging and method-dis- patching services used by Ap- ple's forthcoming distributed compound-document technol- ogy, OpenDoc. Distributed computing will have truly arrived when soft- ware developers can build dis- tributed objects the same way they write stand-alone ones. If IBM delivers the SOMobjects Developer Toolkit for Win- dows by year's end as prom- ised, DSOM, rather than a fu- ture version of OLE, could be the first to realize that dream. ■ Jon Udell is a BYTE senior technical editor at large. You can reach him on BIX as "judell" or on the Internet at judell@bytepb.byte.com. Introducing the $139 investment no computer user can afford to be without... "Dorit take chances.. .Get the ultimate protection... Back- UPS from APC." PC World Top 20 Upgrade Call for your FREE 60 page PC power protection handbook! Blackouts, brownouts, sags... if you use computers, your bottom line is directly linked to your power line. The fact is, your data and hardware are vulnerable to problems that surge suppressors and power directors just aren't equipped to handle. Now there's an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to suit any budget. Back-UPS® are perfect protection for LAN servers, personal computers, phone/fax systems, POS equipment, or any other device that can go down when the power does. If lightning is a concern, Back-UPS are even backed by a $25,00Q ! insurance policy against surge damage to your equipment (see details). So don't wait for the inevitable power problem to rob your business. Protect your productivity with Back-UPS, available where quality computer products are sold. American Power Conversion APC Back-UPS provide instantaneous battery power during power disturbances, so your data and hardware are safe 1 . 800-800-4APC,de P t.A2 Businessweek's #1 Hot Growth Company!(NASDAQ:APCC) 126 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Circle 282 on Inquiry Card. Mathematica. $h& >5S °i*S? *s POWERFUL CALCULATION^*' EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. The Mathematica Notebook for MicrosoftWindows Add introductions, explanations, and conclusions to your compu- tations just as you would with a word processor. Cut, paste, or edit your calculations or formulas at any time and your answers, plots, and graphics will be re-calculated or re- graphed right in the notebook. Solve problems with custom solu- tions that you create using Mathe- matica 's high-level programming language. for NEXTSTEP for Macintosh for X Windows — Now Available You can exchange your notebooks with co-workers ewn if they use another type of computer, because Mathematica note- books are compatible across multiple platforms. Use notebook cells to organize your document into sections. You can col- lapse and re-open cells to control what sections you want to see on the screen as you work. Create full-color 3D graphics and animation from functions and lists of data. You can easily import graphics into your notebook or export Mathematica graphics in PostScript and other standard graphics formats. You've done the work, now it's time to let everyone know. Colleagues, your manager, the department head, your own students — they all need to understand what you've put together. / **i Mathematica already brings today's most powerful tech- nical computing system to your desktop. But beyond that, the Mathematica note- book enables you to com- municate quickly and clear- ly, either electronically or I r~*~ on paper. As you work (^ in Mathematica you auto- matically create your own notebook — an electronic Mathematica document. Live computations, plots, animated graphics, and text that you assemble in this notebook are then easily orga- nized in an outline format for an im- pressive technical report, a personal record of your work, class courseware, or even book publish- er ing. When your work SB*ste*»l ^ s done, simply print it sSse out, send it over the net- **""* J work, or present your note- I book directly from your fcfc*^, / computer. Print your report directly from your ^ electronic notebook, controlling font " .._ ./ styles, font sizes, and line spacing a s you wish. Use Mathematica to get work done faster and Mathematica notebooks to make a professional impression with your results. Nothing could communi- cate your ideas more convincingly. For the latest information, call: 1-800-441-MATH (U.S.. Canada) Wolfram Research Wolfram Research. Inc. +1-217-398-0700; fax:+1-217-398-0747; email: info@wri.com For European inquiries: Wolfram Research Europe Ltd. +44-(0)993-883400;f ax: -t44-(0)993-883800; email: info-euro@wri.com ©1993Wolf ram Research. Inc. Mathsmatica'is a i egistefed trademark of Wolfram Research. Inc. Mathematica is not associated with Mathematica Inc., Mmliematica PolicyReseardi. Inc., or MathTecti, Inc. All other product names mentionud are trademarks of their producers, For Macintosh information circle 340, For IBM/Compatible information circle 341, For UNIX information circle 342 on Inquiry Card. The Before you decide what client/server platform is right for you, make sure you know what's true, and what's Not True. Fact: the OS/2 client/server solution preserves your current hardware and software investment, *T| accessing your mainframes, minis and ~ 'PCs when necessary and bringing their power and capacity to the desktop level. Fact: the truth about Windows NT™ solution is based on PC servers and desktops and doesn't embrace all your existing resources. That could mean porting applications and data. The only plus that offers is the cost of porting plus the cost of additional PC servers. Fact: OS/2 2.1 runs DOS, Windows™ and more than 1,200 native OS/2 applications. With LAN Server 3.0 or Novell* NetWare/ OS/2 supports DOS, Windows, OS/2 and Mac clients. Fact: it's not likely NT will support all your existing applications. It won't run existing 32-bit applications like WordPerfect 5.2 for OS/2 and Lotus® 1-2-3® for OS/2. It will require additional software to support DOS, OS/2 and even Windows clients. Worse yet, Infoivorld sources The OS/2 ► client/ server solution exploits your existing hardware and software invest- ment. There's No Telling how much the NT solution could cost you. 13 A All this monkeying around with NT raises lots of questions. OS/2 has the ansivers. report that Windows 3.x applications run 20% slower under NT than they do under OS/2 2.1 ! Fact: OS/2 delivers powerful, reliable, client/ server applications for data storage and retrieval (DB2/2™ Oracle 7,® InfoPump™), communications (Communications Manager/2, REMOTE OS,™ TalkThru®), transaction processing (CICS, IMS Client Server/2 V2), comprehensive network management (LAN NetView: CA-UNICENTER: Domain/DACS™ Alert View™ Foundation Manager™), and more. Fact: The NT strategy is still Not There, and neither are native client/server applications. Fact: OS/2 is committed to the industry-accepted Distributed Com- puting Environment (DCE) standards ^ uho needs of the Open Software Foundation. j. b ?os/2 : Fact: NT is NoT. second-genera- Fact: NT still Needs Time to Hon solid. prove itself in the real world. Fact: OS/2 is used by millions world- k With OS/2, it's full fygeed ahead for your DOS^Windoivs and OS/2 applications- there s no need to buy DOS and Imndows. wide. It's the leading, second genera- tion, 32-bit Inter-based operating system— a more stable, more developed version of the award- winning March, 1992 release. If you're looking for a cost-effective, secure, high function client/server solution today— Not Tomorrow- then OS/2 is for you. To order or to find out more about OS/2 2.1, call 1 800 3-IBM-OS2. In Canada, call 1 800 465-7999. OS/2 2.1 is also available at your local software dealer. And that's a fact. Operate at a higher leveir server. ■® This ad was created by LINTAS and got to this publication on time using DOS, Windows and OS/2 programs running on OS/2. IBM, OS/2 and NetView are registered trademarks and DB2/2 and "Operate at a higher level" are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. All other products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. ©1993 IBM Corp. Circle 300 on Inquiry Card. SPECIAL «& OS/2 REPORT Developers Cautiously Optimistic About Multiplatform OpenDoc Are users ready to have documents — as opposed to applications — become the focus of desktop computing? DAVE ANDREWS One of the benefits of Mi- crosoft's OLE 2.0 tech- nology is that it lets you focus on the document you're creat- ing instead of the Windows ap- plications that created it. OLE 2.0's integrating features, such as its support for in-place edit- ing and drag-and-drop of data, show promise f or interapplica- tion collaboration on a single CPU. But OLE 2.0 does not address remote execution of applications and sharing of data among Mac, Windows, Unix, and OS/2 applications running over a network. Currently, only program- mers developing Windows ap- plications can take advantage of OLE 2.0. Microsoft says it will release implementations for Mac and Windows NT de- velopers by year's end, but this still leaves OS/2 and Unix out of the picture. Several compa- nies, uncomfortable with OLE Planned OoenDoc Features • Open scripting architecture • Bento storage format defines how complex data is stored on disk in such a way that the producer of one document can exchange that concept with another producer rather than rely on private data forms • Technology road map set by multivendor consortium » Support for Unix, Windows, Mac, and OS/2 • Support for irregular document frames, version control, in-place editing 2.0's lack of support for other operating systems and its con- trol by a single company, have announced an architecture called OpenDoc that promises an object-based framework for developing applications that in- teroperate across platforms and distributed networks. What's Inside OpenDoc will use technology from several companies, in- cluding IBM's System Object Manager for its object-calling mechanism, Apple's Bento standard as its storage mecha- nism, and the industry-standard CORBA (Common Object Re- quest Broker Architecture) for sharing objects across a net- work, according to Cliff Reeves, program director of object-ori- ented technology products for IBM's Personal Systems Prod- ucts division. WordPerfect is working on an implementation of OpenDoc for Windows (WordPerfect's OpenDoc ef- fort was code-named Amber) that will interoperate with OLE 2.0, Reeves said. He added that an OpenDoc consortium, which will set the architecture's di- rection and certify applications for compliance, will be mod- eled after the X Consortium. Reaction from third-party software developers to Open- Doc is mixed, partly because programmers are not expected to receive the first code drops for developing OpenDoc ap- plications until late 1993. Hil- mi Ozguc, senior product man- ager for Lotus 1 -2-3, said the ideas espoused in OpenDoc fit well with Lotus's cross-plat- form orientation. "We like the direction . . . but it's too early to come out and make a commit- ment." Also, because different parts of OpenDoc will come from different companies, de- velopers questioned whether the three major companies pro- viding OpenDoc technology — IBM, WordPerfect, and Apple — could successfully coordi- nate their efforts. The Redmond Tack Microsoft is working on its own distributed OLE solution, naturally. David Seres, Mi- crosoft's OLE 2.0 product manager, said a distributed OLE implementation will be included with Cairo, Mi- crosoft's unreleased, object- oriented version of Windows. But that isn't expected to ship until sometime in 1995. Perhaps the biggest hurdle OpenDoc and Microsoft's dis- tributed OLE will face at the end-user level is the network bandwidth issue. Network ad- ministrators may see a signifi- cant network peiformance deg- radation as applications access data or remotely execute other applications over the network. Others question if users and de- velopers will truly accept the notion of small object programs, or componentware, exchang- ing data with other programs. JN<5 l,woi-lci tlgj Craig Yappert, product mar- keting manager at Frame Tech- nology, said one of the reasons users like working with a single application is that it gives them a feeling of security through their expertise. "Software ap- plications really aren't designed around this concept of 'I'm go- ing to be kind to all these other applications around me,' " he said. "OpenDoc is an interest- ing goal, but for a lot of appli- cations and a lot of users, it's still unclear how people are go- ing to use it." ■ Dave Andrews is a BYTE news edi- tor. You con reach him on the Inter- net at dave.news@bix.com. 130 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Compaq Would Like To Make An Announcement Of Staggering Proportions. Trapped In The Body Of This Tiny Sei This is a story about a small computer engineered to be so dependable, you won 't think twice about trusting it with jour mission-critical applica- tions. And to be this without filling a closet, much less a room. Ij you haven't thought of Compaq as an enterprise- critical platjorm before, we invite you to grab your bifocals and begin. (We'll be cramming a lot of information into this ad, which, given how much we managed toft into our new servers, only makes sense.) Ij there's one thing we've learned working with our customers, it's that you're running more and more mission-critical applications on your network. And ij your network goes down, your business goes down. All of which makes the introduction of the new Compaq ProLiant Server even more timely. The ProLiant is a new family of affordable, high- performance, easy-to-manage servers engineered specifically to provide the high availability you need for mission-critical networks. We've designed ProLiant in three different models, ranging from a single-processor configuration to a jour- Pentium processor model. &■ Now, how can you be sure our server is truly a miracle and not a mirage? To begin with, there's Full Spectrum Fault Management, provided by Compaq Insight Manager technology and software that continually monitors over 800 aspects of the server's operating status. (For example, Drive Parameter Tracking checks IS hard-drive parameters.) All of this information is constantly gathered, analyzed and then used to prevent, tolerate or recover from system problems. If the performance of a monitored component drops below a specified level, our unique Pre- j fS \ Failure Warranty* kicks in. We'll * ^P \^ actually replace a Compaq war- . ^ y ranted drive or memory system \y free. Before it stops working. No downtime. Ringing cash registers. Happy boss. Still, no network s perfect. In the unlikely event problems occur, our server exhibits remarkable tolerance. Every ProLiant includes Compaq- designed hot-pluggable drives. ProLiant Models 2000 and 4000 come standard with advanced error-correcting memory and off-line backup processor features (whereby the server reboots automatically to a second processor). And, most notably, the Compaq Smart SCSI Array Controller together with the ProLiant Storage System ensures mission-critical data integrity. Should a network problem bring the server down, the Rapid Recovery Systems of the ProLiant are designed to bring it back up. /er Is A Mainframe With An Attitude. Netware and other major operating systems. To get hooked up to jour network operating system, simply call jour dealer for an access code, enter it, answer a Jew questions, and leave. Minutes later— say, after you've enjoyed a cup of coffee and a jelly donut— you'll return to fnd an integrated OS fully installed and opti- mized Jor increased performance and improved management. And we'll keep you updated via CD when new operating system versions appear. For example, Automatic Server Recovery 2 uses a historical record of server status and performance to perform an astonishing array of tasks. Like intelligently restarting the server, automatically correcting a variety of problems, and accessing a telephone pager to contact network administrators. By now you'd expect us to have rethought server setup, configuration and OS installa- tion, but you might be surprised by the results. Introducing SmartStart, a CD-ROM system that takes the headache out of getting your server up and running. ProLiant includes a CD-ROM drive and bundled CDs of optimized And finally, to accompany our new line of mission-critical servers, we're introducing mission-critical support. With ProLiant, we now offer extensive analysis, installation and ser- vice through our CompaqCare System Partners, a select group of highly trained systems experts backed by Compaq engineers. You can now choose 4-hour on-site warranty response upgrade** direct from Compaq. Again, there's our unique Pre-Failure Warranty. And, of course, all Compaq servers come with a 3 -year on-site f warranty, and 7-day-a-week, 24-hour-a-day technical support. All in a surprisingly small boxfor not a whole lot of money. In fact, a DX2/66 Compaq ProLiant 1000 starts at about $6000*. Which may help to explain the look your boss gives you when he hears how much money you've saved: stunned admira- tion. But you' 11 get used to that. It goes with the territory. For more information on the new Compaq ProLiant servers, or for the location of an authorized Compaq reseller near you, just call us at 1-800-345-1518. If you'd like to receive model, feature and specifcation information immediately via fax, select the PaqFax option. Or, if you'd like that information even sooner, just turn the page. COMPAQ. The New Compaq ProLiant Mission-Critical Servers ProLiant 1000 ProLiant 2000 ProLiant 4000 High Performance Network Servers ' Processor DX2/66 or Pentium 60MHz DX2/66 or Pentium 66MHz DX2/66 or Pentium 66MHz Architecture TriFlex/PC One Processor TriFlex with up to two symmetric processors TriFlex with up to four symmetric processors Network Interface Up to 1 2 High-Speed Channels; NetFlex 2 with Packet Blaster Technology Standard Standard Disk Controller Integrated Fast SCSI-2 and Smart SCSI Array Controller (selected models) Storage Capacity 550MB-112GB Internal /external 1050MB-140GB Internal /external 1050MB-140GB Internal /external Typical Usage Departmental network services — primarily NetWare Departmental network application services — NetWare, NT and Unix Application services for preemptive downsizing — NT and Unix Transaction Rating 50-150TPS 200-300 TPS 300-400 TPS Estimated Starting Street Pricet $6,000 $8,900 $13,900 Server Dependability and Availability Management Second-generation Compaq Insight Manager (standard) combines with innovative hardware design to constantly monitor, assess and report server health and performance Fault Prevention Insight Manager alerts you to server status changes in over 800 component parameters, allowing proactive server management backed by 3 -Year Pre-Failure Warranty Fault Tolerance Standard support for RAID levels 1 ,4,5; hot-pluggable drives; on-line spare drive; off-line backup processor!?; advanced ECC RAM§ Fault Recovery Standard rapid recovery services automatically return server to full operational status even in the event of a critical subsystem failure Simplicity, Ease of Ownership and Support SmartStart Standard CD-based intelligent hardware configuration and system software installation, providing simplified server configuration for NetWare, NT or Unix. (CD-ROM drive standard) System Warranty Free Three Year, On-Site Limited Warranty Pre-Failure Warranty Three Year, On-Site Warranty replacement of designated components that fall below preestablished thresholds 4-Hour Warranty Response Upgrade Optional Three-Year On-Site Warranty upgrade to 4-hour response Technical Support Toll-free, 7 x 24 technical phone support from Compaq engineers CompaqCare System Partners Highly trained, dedicated, third-party professionals who provide systems maintenance and comprehensive technical support QuickFind/PaqFax Proactive notification and delivery of new technical information/7 x 24 fax response for updated specification, configuration and settings data COMPAQ. © 1993 Compaq Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Compaq Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ProLiant, Insight Manager and SmartStart are trademarks of Compaq Computer Corporation. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies, CompaqCare is a servicemark of Compaq Computer Corporation. * Applicable only to advanced ECC memory and disk drives running under Compaq IDA, IDA-2 or SMART SCSI Array controllers. **Fee-based option supported under CompaqCare and not part of the Three- Year On-Site Warranty. tThis service provided by Contracted Service Providers and may not be available in certain geographic locations. Certain restrictions and exclusions apply. Monitors, battery packs and certain options are covered by a one-year warranty. For further details on our limited warranty, contact the Compaq Computer Support Center. +Estimated U.S. reseller selling price, actual reseller pricing will vary. The Intel Inside logo is a registered trademark of the Intel Corporation. § Models 2000 and 4000 only. Circle 289 on Inquiry Card. SPECIAL Windows & OS/2 REPORT IBM Ships DCE SDR for OS/2 and Windows Big Blue makes DCE the cornerstone of its future distributed-computing platforms. Will DCE carry the load or sink under its own weight? ANDY REINHARDT Given a reputation for lag- ging the market in soft- ware, IBM's recent announce- ment of the first Distributed Computing Environment SDK (Software Development Kit) for OS/2 and Windows is es- pecially noteworthy. As one of the founding members of the OSF (Open Software Founda- tion), which distributes DCE, IBM has long played a major role in that organization. How- ever, IBM's true commitment to open systems continued to be questioned by some ob- servers. Now, IBM has shipped a set of tools that facilitates the cre- ation of distributed applications across not just IBM platforms (i.e., OS/2 and AIX), but also non-IBM Unix servers from competitors such as DEC and Hewlett-Packard. By embrac- ing DCE as a strategic direc- tion, IBM has confirmed that S A A (Systems Application Ar- chitecture) is no longer its only play. And with client support for Microsoft Windows, IBM shows that it is increasingly more practical than parochial. Inside DCE DCE is an architecture for mul- tiplatf orm distributed comput- ing defined by the OSF. It's based on contributions from member companies and MIT. DCE encompasses a mecha- nism for RPCs (remote proce- dure calls), security and au- thentication based on MIT's Kerberos, a timing service that synchronizes clocks through- out a network, a "cell" naming and directory service, and a threads service, which adds multiple program threads to Unix. The SDK will let devel- opers write applications for OS/2 and Windows clients that will meet the DCE specifica- tion and can call services on DCE-compliant remote servers. OS/2 server support is slated for later delivery. IBM also has committed to supporting DCE throughout its product line. Client and server compliance already is available for AIX and is planned for OS/400 and MVS. When im- plemented, this scheme should allow complete interoperabil- ity among IBM systems and systems from its competitors. "DCE is fundamental to IBM's whole approach to client/serv- er and distributed computing," says John Rymer, editor of Dis- tributed Computing Monitor, "to the point where they're al- most too obsessed with it for their own good." The reason for Rymer's ob- servation is that DCE isn't the only game in town, and its ac- ceptance has been slow, to say the least. After dribbling out of OSF in 1991, the technology has spent the last two years be- ing evaluated by corporate and commercial users in feasibility and pilot programs, but it has not exactly taken the market by storm. In part, this was due to its heavy association with Unix, but this is changing now that implementations of DCE for non-Unix platforms are starting to appear. Beyond Unix One such program, and the source of IBM's Windows DCE offering, comes from Gradient Technologies (Marl- borough, MA), whose PC/DCE is an implementation of DCE client-side support for DOS/ Windows 3.1. Gradient did not implement DCE server-side support because it requires a robust, preemptive multitask- ing foundation, which DOS couldn't provide. However, the company will likely create DLLs for Windows NT that implement both the client and server modes of DCE. This third-party solution will let NT systems interoperate with Unix servers and IBM minicomput- ers and mainframes. That Gradient couldn' t prac- tically implement DCE server capabilities on DOS/Windows points to DCE's main impedi- ment to widespread adoption: It was designed presuming an all- Unix world of desktops and servers. Notes Rymer, "A lot of people I talk to see DCE as almost irrelevant; it's too big, Networking too complex. The dominant desktop now is Windows, but DCE's design point was a much more powerful client." IBM's response to this prob- lem, naturally, is to emphasize OS/2 as a client, because it is a fully 32-bit, preemptively mul- titasking, multithreaded oper- ating system. Another alterna- tive is to forgo DCE entirely and use NetWare to implement client/server applications. " Look at what NetWare has become: a distributed-comput- ing environment," says Rymer. Most client/server applications now under development are small in scale and designed for local workgroups, not world- wide enterprises, he argues. The high-end features of DCE are overkill for these users, while NetWare, he says, "has distributed directories, security, network management, but is optimized for the low end, for workgroups and LANs of PCs." Another potential weakness of DCE is its security model, which is based on Kerberos, derived from the DES. Rymer NOVEMBER 1 993 BYTE 131 SPECIAL Windows & OS/2 REPORT notes that many IBM competi- tors, notably Novell and Mi- crosoft, have openly scorned DES in favor of RSA public- key encryption. "There's also concern that Kerberos won't work on a large scale, which is ironic given the high-end de- sign center of DCE," says Rymer. Novell, he says, re- jected Kerberos because it was too slow. Nevertheless, IBM has com- mitted strategically to DCE as the basis for its open client/ server offerings. Given how widely supported DCE will likely be, IBM's decision to aim for today's high end — which will be tomorrow's mainstream — may not turn out to have been a mistake. The riskiest part of the strategy is the problem that haunts all open-system providers: If the products are truly interchange- able, how do you keep your customers from bolting to the competition? Here, IBM aims to win based on better service and support, market-leading implementations of standards- based technology (e.g., AIX), and superior network and en- terprise management tools (e.g.,NetView). Scoping the Competition The ultimate wild cards will be Novell and Microsoft. Both companies want to move into IBM's enterprise computing space by extending their cur- rent offerings upward, but nei- ther one — to the chagrin of the OSF— has licensed DCE. Both companies support SNA (Sys- tems Network Architecture) connectivity from their network servers, but this is mere plumb- ing compared to the high-level distributed-computing model encompassed in DCE. Novell is moving surpris- ingly slowly on DCE, given its acquisition of USL, which had committed to DCE, and the fact that it controls Unix. Novell has a lot of i nterest in preserv- ing its own naming conven- tions, RPC methods, and secu- rity provisions, so the approach it probably will take will be to support DCE as a backbone mechanism for connecting Net- Ware LANs to each other or to DCE-compliant minicomputers and mainframes. Microsoft's approach is, typ- ically, even more proprietary and homegrown: The compa- ny has coded its own versions of some parts of DCE, such as a compliant RPC mechanism in LAN Manager and Cairo. But Microsoft isn't using the DCE cell directory (derived from Banyan technology), nor the X.500-based global direc- tory services. And, of course, both companies have opted to use RSA encryption. IBM's DCE SDK is ship- ping now (the Windows client still is in beta testing) and costs $1095, including five OS/2 and five Windows run-time licens- es. Additional OS/2 client run- time licenses are available for $55. Although DCE is proto- col-independent, this first im- plementation for OS/2 assumes TCP/IP, says Trudy Henke, IBM brand manager for OS/2 DCE. The OS/2 SDK imple- ments all major DCE functions, but because OS/2 supports threads, the native mechanism is used. IBM's AIX client and server are one generation more advanced, and now they sup- port distributed file systems and global directory services based on the X.500 model. ■ Andy Rein liar (it is BYTE's West Coast bureau chief. You can reach him on BIX as "areinhardt. " GREAT THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES This powerful print server can tackle your biggest network printing problems ■ Connects any parallel printer directly to your Ethernet LAN ■ Fully Novell Netware 286 and 386 compatible ■ Can attach to 8 file servers simultaneously ■ Fast and easy to install Combines high-speed printing and exceptional printer control Supports encrypted passwords, forms, notify, cancel, and others Full one-year warranty and unlimited free technical support Made in the U.S.A. # Ethernet port available in thin or twisted-pair Parallel port plugs directly into any printer Press switch to print status Status LED Serial pbrtcan be input or output Power jack Make the Rose Connection ^YROSE X*«^ ELECTRONICS 10850 Wilcrest Drive* Houston, Texas 77099 • Phone (713)933-7673 • Fax (71 3) 933-0044 1-800-333-9343 132 BYTE NOVEMBER 1993 Circle 324 on Inquiry Card. All BUSINESS DECISIONS SHOULD BE THIS EASY. 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