     The Window Box
     by John Martin, Madison PC Users Group Windows SIG Leader

     New things

     New things that are available on the market for the Windows user are 
     becoming more and more like Star Trek.  This past weekend I was able 
     to attend the Detroit Softteach, sponsored by one of my suppliers.  
     There were hardware and software vendors showing off their wares by 
     putting on 45-minute demonstrations and sales pitches of their 
     products.

     Remote Control

     One of the most interesting, and for myself, useful products is by 
     Island Systems.  Remote Control is similar to some of the other 
     connection software, with one major difference; this one has neat 
     stuff like security and virus checking that separates it from the 
     others in the category.  The security for this system is what many 
     network supervisors look for in products that allow outside access 
     to their networks.  Some of the security measures are intruder 
     detection and lockout of these nasty little creeps that are known as
     hackers(1).  For those not familiar with this plague, they are the 
     second weirdest people that I know, the weirdest are those who 
     create computer viruses.

     What this product does is allow you to call your work computer from 
     home or the field, and it functions as if you were sitting at your 
     keyboard.  Once connected, you can lockout the keyboard, mouse, 
     and/or the monitor so no one sees your password or what you are doing.  
     For myself, the ability of remote support is the most important and 
     impressive feature.  It would allow me to solve my clients' problems 
     without making on-site service calls.  I could also help clients with 
     Windows configuration problems in a few moments, as opposed to a few 
     hours.  Remember, it takes a lot longer to explain what you are
     supposed to be clicking on than to do the clicking yourself.

     AutoDesk

     Another manufacturer that had something impressive was AutoDesk.  
     They presented their retail products Generic CADD, 3D Concepts for 
     Windows, and AutoSketch for Windows.  I admit I was an AutoCAD bigot.  
     I thought the only worthwhile CAD should cost thousands of dollars 
     and need months or even years to learn how to operate it.  AutoDesk 
     introduced me to three packages that have changed my mind.  They 
     are easy to learn and incorporate most of the power of major league 
     packages, but at a lower cost, and the system requirements are not 
     as costly either.

     Generic CADD 6.0 requirements are: IBM/PC/XT/AT or compatibles, 
     640K RAM, DOS 3.0, CGA monochrome or better, math coprocessor, and 
     a mouse or trackball is recommended.  There is support for 
     dot-matrix and laser printers, and pen plotters.  The requirements 
     for Auto Sketch for Windows and 3D concepts for Windows system 
     requirements are the same for Microsoft Windows Version 3.1

     IBM

     OK, you all that know me -- I seldom stop from taking shots at Big 
     Blue.  Well, they put on a very impressive show and locked up 
     OS/2's newest version due to be released in a few weeks.  Needless 
     to say, it was hard to control myself since I had just spent the 
     last half hour listening to how much better and error tolerant this 
     package is than Microsoft Windows.  The complex thing that they were 
     doing was changing the default font for the Program Manager.  From 
     what I could gather from other attenders, locking up was a normal
     problem.  Does this sound like an UAE?  To me it does.  Hey, IBM, 
     before you pan a competitor's product, you better make sure that 
     your package runs better.  I heard that you crashed your system in 
     at least six of the 16 sessions you conducted.  I believe that 
     Windows 3.0, which was really tipsy, could perform better than 
     yours did during the conference.

     Power

     On the lighter side, I was once again reminded of the importance of a 
     properly configured power supply or UPS (uninterruptable power 
     supply).  Those $6.98 power strips do not quite cut out the spikes, 
     surges, or sags.  The better power strips will come with a guarantee 
     attached to the box.  The guarantee will replace electronic equipment 
     that is damaged by electric line problems that the strip fails to 
     correct or inhibit.  The amount of the guarantee depends upon the 
     cost and reliability of the protection device.  The dollar amounts 
     run from $1,000 to over $10,000.

     Those inexpensive hardware or discount store protection devices do 
     not come with any guarantee other than that if the device fails to 
     protect your computer, the company will replace the power strip.  
     Oh person(!), what a guarantee.  They will replace a $6.98 piece of 
     equipment, and you can replace thousands of dollars of computer 
     equipment out of your own pocket.  My recommendation is to take 
     your power strip into your favorite computer store and have the 
     technician compare what is inside the case of your $6.98 power
     strip with a good quality protection device.  Then you make the 
     decision.  Is your computer worth a few dollars more for the 
     protection, or is your computer worth the protection that a $6.98 
     power strip will offer.

     Fonts

     If your forte is fonts, there is a neat little package for 
     customizing fonts. TrueType Effects for Windows, by Micro Logic, 
     makes the best of your TrueType fonts.  According to the literature, 
     you can create thousands of special effects.  The price on this 
     package is not bad either.

     Frame Maker

     Last but not least was a Windows word processor/desktop publishing 
     package called Frame Maker.  This product looks and acts like my 
     favorite package, but does one flashy thing that made me go ooh-aah.  
     It will not only allow you to typeset complex formulas, but it can 
     actually solve it for you (ooh-aah).

     Manufactures mentioned:

     TrueType Effects for Windows is from:
     Micro Logic Software
     1351 Ocean Avenue
     Emeryville, CA 94608
     (510) 652-5464

     Reachout Remote Control is from:
     Ocean Isle Software
     49 Royal Plain Boulevard
     Vero Beach, FL 32960
     (800) 677-OCEAN

     Generic CADD, AutoSketch for Windows and 3D Concepts for Windows are 
     from: AutoDesk Retail Division
     11911 North Creek Parkway South
     Bothell, WA 98011-9914
     (800) 228-3601

     UPS systems are from:
     American Power Conversion
     132 Fairgrounds Road
     West Kingston, RI 02892
     (800) 800-4APC
     
     OS/2 is from:
     Big Blue
     International Business Machines
     (800) 3-IBM-OS2
     
     Windows is from:
     Microsoft
     (800) 426-9400
     
     (1) Hackers are the humanoids that relish in the thought of breaking 
     through your's, or any other computer's, security and causing
     disruptions or erasing and changing of programs and data.
