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J im Harri s :

the Internet:

F acing a f a s t , f luctuati ng f utur e

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The freedom

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Overcoming b arrier s t a laarining

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87 Street Buzz: Thieveslettheirfingers dothe ealhing

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39 Virus bosses:Dover-ending stories7

87 Softeerg:The persistence ofDDS

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Vir t ual Castelgar: The first Bleb site of its hind in BC

9 E lectrnnicsnappingthe subjectofteen-hallmeeting 89

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while back, while I was taking a Quark XPressdesktop-publishing course at a computer resource centre, I started talking to the other people gathered for skills upgrading.

One man in his sM iies had spent many years doing what he knew best at a can-labelling digitally. Although plant. Now, all of a sudden, he had to leam how to produce the labelshi mself — he was only a few short years away fium retirement„ it was either leam now, or leave immediately.

Another woman was there to master Excel. Although she already excelled in pencil and paper accounting, this was no longer acceptable; she had to leam how to use a mouse.

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Plug ln~ r e l se!

"I have a simple premise," writes jim Carroll, author of the soon-to-be releasedSurviving the informationAge. "A good survival skill for any baby boomer, intent on keeping his job or in establishing opportunities in the wild new 'wired economy,' is to be a master of the wired world...

"If you remain 'unplugged,' you' ll be operating at a tremendous disadvantage compared to those who are 'plugged in.' In fact, those who are 'wired' will have the good jobs, and those who are not will suffer as the future marches on.

A young woman in her twenties had arrived to leam about Web authoring. She was up on the WWW craze and wanted in.

Another gentleman just wanted to leam about the internet.

jeremy Rifkin, author of the immensely popular The Endof Work, agreed that "we are on the cusp of a great transition in the nature of commerce and work. We are moving out of the industrial age and into the information age. Sophisticated computers, telecommunications technology, robots, other intelligent machines are replacing traditional job categories."

Everywhere he tumed, people were telling him to research

But is this a bad thing? "I chose to see this as one of the great opportunities for the human race,"

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the Net...and he had no idea what to dol

Rifkin stated. Everyone from architects to lawyers is using technology to speed performance. That' s

It seems that no matter what age you are, or what you do, technology is being upgraded — and you' re being asked to upgrade along with it. Think you know everything you need to know? Perhaps, but to survive into tomorrow you' ll need to know more — and you' ll probably need to know things you never even dreamed ofknowing today.

Danger, Will Rohinsonl Everywhere you turn, book jackets point out this same phenomenon:The Endof Work; Surviving the Information Age; The L Paradox„Survivability; Cet Wired, You' re Hired. They' re all warning us

opportunity.

Paradox,believes flexibility is the way to security, 'What And finally jim Harris, author ofThe L will create security? Only three things: our ability to leam; our ability to change; and our ability to accept uncertainty," writes Harris. "And what do we fear most as adults? Learning, changing, and aradox — our security is based on what we fear most." accepting uncertainty, I call it the l Silver lining ln cyberspeceY Although each of us can identify one person who has recently lost a job, and another who is struggling to adapt to new technologies, there are probably also others we can point to whose lives have

about the radical shifts going on in the employment field, and the necessary alterations in perception and adaptation we must make.

tronic spreadsheet.

earning

In this issue ofTheComputer Piayeri we take a look at various angles of this late twentieth-century phenomenon. How do you prepare a resume that will work on the Internet? How doyou searchfor work on the Web?What are the hot jobs in the technology field? How do you adapt to change? Can

earning

earning p

improved because of technological change, be it through telecommuting, the Web, or a simple elecAlthough keeping current takes a lot of time and effort, it certainly pays off: just ask the experts! How many of us would be willing to give up our computers and revert to pens and pencils? No one. This

new world is too exciting — and the possibilities are endless.

you have a career and not a job?

Enjoy the issue!

Mara Culens, Editor in Chief

Although various factors contribute to Canada's bleak job environment (unempkryment, longer hours for less money, zero job security), technology "is one of the most central variables. It's transforming workplaces, it's changing the nature of work," says a recent report by Canadian Policy ResearchNetworks.

So howdo you use technologicalchange to youradvantage?

Tiene check

tatterssa issusa raised is the lraysr ur esnerul csmputur topics ers isalsarse.

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I read the March 1997 article by Chris Guly ("PC as appiiaace") aad note Jeff Bossett's statement that "We absolutely foresee the time w hen th e p ersonal computer i a i t s v a rious forms...will achieve 90 per cent penetration rate." I don't doubt it, but I woader lf anybody has some time projections oa aehievtag that 90 per eeat?

Praaklia Wayne Poley, via the Internet

Living with. bags

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I am w r i t lag i a r e sponse to Al an Ztsmaa's article entitled Ia software as ia flour, how many bugs are too many?"

(March 1997) If software were cars, would I walk to

stsriea,fl ara'east;,.,:,.'-'::;;~~

school?

Sure, there's too many bugs ta the software that we use, but there are ao alternatives. We don't want to say "I think I' ll just walk," whea it comes to software I:II%p,'III,.:,~ „ because walldng ls slow. Id cather «se a .esl sbIcsssiseli1lf4>;giBI;:;cprI' 'jia jiIitjjjlfiag~'.;,"p'.'".',:,:.:~,z.-',",."".'"'", j,.'. 'f,',IaIfa':tjlI>~,'."'; i;";;!.:.,word processo'r to do a school asigni~+~.r.'~$: , '„,;,i~". „, meat aad work around the bugs than tstfiira"ji(i''h8~aitfti'ij::" 'i' ' ,i' „' . twice as raueh time "doing it by haad." r., ~.er'.~ t , e . ,:;;,.:@~, ;.IsIIL",",'~";, ~.;..IJI We are a long way away from the time when most software is bug-free, but

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software has only been around for the past two decades. I think that if you look back, most, if aot all, of the early cars had some bugs ia them, too. The difference is that those ears didn't have programmers.

As for me, I take the ear to school.

Albert Ulaaday, via the Internet • 0• • 0 1 0 • a a o• • • • oo• • • • •

Your articles oa bugs really hit a sore point with me. I bought Corel's Print House around Christmas aad paid oaly 5 19.95. The program works tine o a screen, but the priatouts have so many bugs that it turned the creating of new stuff into a very unpleasant experience.

There are t w o v e r sioas of P r i n t House, o ne a t 4 1 9 . 95 a ad o a e a t $49.95. I.ookiag at the boxes, I could not see any difference (5,000 free elipart images aad so on). The difference, from what I can see aow, is that one has bugs aad the other does aot.

I got oa their Useaet group aad saw that quite a few had the same ptoblem, aad thea they took it off their bulletin board: the next moraiag, all those messages indicating that maybe eve~

computer - p l a y e r . corn/

was aot rosy with their stuff were gone.

Bravo for keeping the bugs uader the carpet.

Good article, Alaa!

Gilles A. Marehessault, via the Internet

Speed Issues Paul Aagyal, ia his article oa chips in the March 1997 issue, seems to thiak that Intel CPUs are unquestionably the fastest currently available for the desktop: "latel undoubtedly has the fastest turboprop."

Uadoubtedly? With Silicon Graphic's 02 model coming in at high-ead "turboprop" prices, sad with the PowerPC 604e chip ruaaiag at 225 MHz in Macs aad Mac cloaes,there's already been plenty of room for doubt. Mr. Aagysl aad his readers might usefully direct their attention to the Raglish version of a recent, technically thorough (aad rather boring a r t i cle ia' the German c omputer j o u r nal " C ' t " , i a w h i c h Intel's efforts are put into perspective ia a c o m p aritive t es t o f P e n t ium, Pentium Pro, aad PowerPC -chips ia various platforms.

The picture, even before the recent arrival of PowerPC chips ruaaiag ia the

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300-533 MHx "jet" speed range, wasn' t nearly asclear as Mr. Angyal seems to think:"C't" concludes that "Even if there isn't a clear winner, you can certainly make out a loser..." I was a little surprised to find out who this loser turned out to be! Hint: it might have to do with the slowness of a w i d e l y-marketed

operating system.

Now, there's where the word "undoubtedly" might realistically be employed.

B. Bennett, via the Internet Looks as if I touched a rase nerve svith the turboprop vs. jet analogy, and some readers think that a turboprop is faster than a jet. It isn' t, and it svill never do ilfach 2 (tsvice the speed of the sound).

Paul Angyat +

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A P RI L 1 9 9 7 E C O M P U T E R P L A Y E R !

• • By JUNE CAMPBELL eia The splash page proudly proclahns "We went online at 11 20 AM Friday, September 6, 1996."

Virtual Castelgar is believed to be the first Web site of its kind in BC, and may have been among the first of its kind in the world. It's a virtual comm unity m i rroring t h e v i l lage o f Castelgar (population: 7,000), which nestles in the Kootenay Mountains east of Vancouver.

The site i ncludes, among other things, local government, a calendar of events, sports, recreation, educational institutions, industry, a mall of businesses, weather information, a map, pictures of the area, a teal-time chat feature, and a message board. A surprisingly elegant offering by the Castelgar RCMP Detachment completes the picture.

Conceived by Richard Maddocks, executive director of the Castlegar /rk

District Development Board, and Loukianow Miller internet Specialists, this growing, evolving project has ineasurable goals and objectives and will be evaluated accordingly.

Fair exchange Maddocks reports that "we undertook this venture as an economic development project. Our unofficial motto was to 'take Castelgar to the w orld an d b r i n g t h e w o ri d t o Castelgar.'

"We secured private investment from corporate sponsors and hired local Web writers and worked closely with our local ISP." There are many good Web sites out there. What makes this one unique lies in its content and its developmental process. Virtual Castelgar isn' t about technology; it's about a community working together to promote itself, both locally and globally.

The $10,000 project couldn't have happened without the support of its

ruajor corporate sponsors (Castlegar Savings Credit Union, BC Hydro, and Celgar Pulpmill), as well as the support and donations of time or money from many o t hers. According to P roject Co-o r d inator Lesl i e Loukianow, of L o u kianow M i l ler Internet Specialists,"it takes a whole bunch of differentWeb writers, people, donations, sponsorships, etc... I get to run around and find the information, funding and sites to go in.

Not to mention sometimes selling the idea to chambers, etc., so they can support it.

"I don't know how m any times we' ve struggled maldng the Cities as 'human' as we can. I just want them to have a personality, for people to actually get a p h ysical response, you know7"

Mrbaal Castehtar httttr://wwor.castlogar.corn/ Itchard RRaddoctts rtchatdm®lmothootanajf.nat Lonhhmoni RRIttat Internet Spadalists

Virtual Castelgar is a t riumph of cooperation and organization — a stellar example of what a small commu-

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ectronic snoo in e su ecto town- a meetin • • By JUNE CAMPBELL• • We must have regulations to pmtect our privacy in the lace of emerging new technologies, and those regulations must be based on a human-rights appmach, This is the message given t o t h e S t anding Committee on Human Rights and the Status of Persons with DisabiTities at a town hall meeting held on March 10 in Vancouver.

Representativesfrom privacy associations, education, law, health, industry, and the public sector met with Committee members to discuss the impact of new technologies on our right to p rivacy.

Chaired by T h e H o n ourable Sheila rhinestone, MP, the Parliamentary Committee is visiting selected points acmss Canada to invite dialogue on the following technologies: 1. Smart cards, (not to be confused with the magnetic stripe cards used for credit cards) have the potential to be adopted for personal-identification purposes. Housing a micmprocessor and memoryworage space, they are essentially a personal computer with the shape, size, and appearance of a credit card. They can calculate, encrypt, and record data, and can interface with computer networks and centralised databases.

Smart cards have the capabiTity of maintaining any and all data about an individual, and of updating the centralized data bank of information every time the card is used.

Theoretically, these cards can contain the most exhaustive database of inlbrmation about the individual that has ever assembled.

2. Genetic testing has the potential to change the fortunes of various institutions and businesses. As the cost of genetic testing lowers, its potential for use by the private sector increases. Currently used as forensic evidence in criminal investigations, genetic information is of considerable interest to health-cate pmviders, insurance companies, and employers. Insurance companies, for instance, could refuse coverage to individuals who are genetically predisposed to disease; employers may screen out potential employees whose genetic makeup predisposes them to health pmblems, 3. Video-monitoring technologies have given rise to a whole new set of privacy issues. Modern technologies now have the ability to penetrate walls, function in the dark, and operate from great distances, and can be aggregated with other sources of information. Computerized Iacial-recognition systems can take the videotaped image of a face and match it with a database of facial images. Supposedly a database of images,such as the registered drivers in BC, could be matched against tapings from a closedwiicuit television system to identify anyone, anywhere.

The town hail discussions were lead by local experts in the field of privacy and technology (Darrel Evans, executive director of the BC Freedom of Information and

Privacy Association; Colin Bennett, Political Science, University of Victoria; lorrainne

Dixon, d i r ector o f the Office o f Information and Privacy Commissioner;

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E A P RI L 1 9 9 7 <

C O M P U T ER P L A Y ER !

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Cover .

8 LYNN CREINER

for your computer

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computer isa lovely toy, but many of the things that make itfit to use arethe bits and pieces we add later. Some are expensive, and some are just clever httle aggravation preventers. We chose a litter of them, justfor you.

The criteria was iairly simple: the item had to be a computer accessory or addon that somehow makes a ! ~ computer nicer to use. If a product type isn't here, chances are you' ll see an In4epth feature in the nottoodistant future. ' . :.=.. ~ -.-,;.;!

We picked up some neat pointing devices, some unusual keyboards, and a new twist on computer cases (you' ll see). And we' ll throw in a couple of cheap tricks that, when you see them, you' ll wonder why no one has thought sensitive mouse of them before. So, without futher ado... ~~

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A P RI L 1 9 9 7 I

Sensitive cat, er, mouse Felix, from Altrt, is an unusual pointing device.

It's not exactly a mouse, but rather a selfwontained electmoptical contraption roughly six inches "square," with a one-inch square mousing surface in the middle. The permanently attached pointing thingy (Altra calls it the handle) has little ears on the side that make it easy to grip and nlove arouild with very little hand and wrist movement. You can s pan the whole screen g (even a large one) by m oving t h e han d l e across its one-inch pad.

I di d f i n d t h at , after rebooting my Windows 95 system, I'd have to "teach" Felix the size of my screen by moving the pointer back and forth fmm side to side, and top to bottom, a couple of times. Aside from that, and some wild and wonderful driver pmblems (solved by downloading the latest and greatest fmm Altta's Web site), the device copes well with a 17-inch monitor.

Felix is a three-button beast, and the middle button can be pmgrammed. Because the device is quite sensitive, and a tiny movement can translate into quite a jiggle (Felix has 640 dpi resolution), I quiddy decided to program the middle button to double~lick when pressed.

This worked well, although the shaky of hand may prefer a less sensitive pointing device.

The unit uses Microsoft mouse drivers (including Windows 95), or you can install the special Altra versions.

Smart rodent Microsoft IntelliMouse looks like a Microsoft Mouse with a l i t tle w heel i n t h e m i d dle, between the two buttons. The wheel, which is also a button, can do some really clever tricks under Windows 95 or Windows NT, within applications that know about it (anywhere else, it's just a two-button mouse). That list is rather short, thus far, but in 0+ ice 97 programs, for example, if you turn the wheel the display scrolls as though you'd clicked in the scroll bar.

The IntelliPoint software lets you program the wheel button to double-click, start Help, switch to the Shell, or open the Start menu, and you can set the actions performed when you rotate the wheel (scmll a whole screen forward with a one notch movement, for example). There's an odometer that tracks how far you' ve moused, and an option that snaps the mouse cursor to the default button in any dialogue. Another option lets you activate a window by simply moving the cursor into it. All of these options, and more, are part of the newest version of IntelliPoint software; only the wheel settings are unique to IntelliMouse.

Aside fmm these goodies, IntelliMouse is Fist a normal highwnd Microsoft Mouse. It will come into its own once more software supports the wheel.

Going, going...

I'm being bad, mentioning the MousePen fmm Fellowes, because my contact in the Canadian olrtce (an enthusiastic user of the ptoduct) tells me the company

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plans to discontinue it. But it's such a good pointing device that I can't resist — maybe if enough consumers yell, they' ll change their minds. The confed version is considerably cheaper, and is very easy on the hands and wrists, since you hold it like a pen. The pea-sized bail is virtually unstoppable.

Now let's move from pointing devices to typing devices.

Keyboard evolution The NoteBoard, from Darwin Keyboards, is designed for users Y of notebook c o mputers who prefer to type on a full-sized keyboard. Unlike most external k e yboards, though, this one has four six-position adjustable feet that lift it a good couple of inches off the desk, so it can straddle the notebook computer instead of having to be placed in I'mnt of it. The feet lock into place, and are sturdy enough to keep the keyboard perfectly stable, even under the heaviest hands. Their rubberized bottoms prevent slipping.

The keyboard itself is an elegant charcoal grey, and may be purchased with or without a matching serial mouse. It has a wide palmrest, and a full complement

of keys, including 12 function keys, Windows 95 keys, and separate cursor control keys. The touch is relatively light, and you can hear when a key makes contact, despite the absence of keydicks.

The NoteBoatd comes with LaunchPad software, which lets you ptogrun the function keys to launch programs (my F12 now starts Solitaire), or even provide onetouch access to your favourite Web site fmmNerscape, internet Expkirer, or America Online. IaunchFad actually works with most keyboatds, and you can download an evaluation copy &om Darwin's Web site.

B ark to n a t u r e T he M i c rosoft N a t ural K e y board i s Micmsoft's ergonomic model, a curvaceous device that is raised in the middle, effectively splitting the keyboard in two and placing the keys in a slight V shape. The idea is that each hand will test on its home keys, at a mote natural angle than on a normal, flat keyboard. The numeric keypad and cursor control keys are on the flat end of the unit; only the "typing" keys are on a slant.

The Natural Keyboard has a single full-width foot that raises the fmnt of the unit a good inch and a half. A

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palmiest allows you to lay your hands more or less flat on it while you' re typing.

Most users who try this thing curse it for the first little while, especially if they' re not touch-typists. If you tend

to cross over and hit, say, the "T" key with your right hand instead of the " correct" left h a nd, y ou' ll find i t extremely aw'kward. And typing at an angle takes getting used to. After a w hile, h owever, yo u n o t ice y o u r wrists don't feel as abused after a long keying session, and a n o rmal keyboard feels strange.

A keyboard that can setup Compaq's Scanner Keyboard has a Visioneer TWAIN-compliant P aperPort monochrome (up t o 2 5 6 grey-scale) scanner built right into it.

You just drop your correspondence or whatever into a slot at the back of the keyboard, and it turns itself on and automaticaily slurps the paper

through. It's great for c l ippings or business cards, as well.

T he key b o ar d com e s w ith PaperPort software that lets you manage an d m a n i pulate t h e g r a phic images you scan, as well as a light version of Xerox TextBridge OCR (optical character recognition) that can translate most plain letters into wordprocessing formats, but has difficulty with things like m ultiple columns, For that complexity, the program suggests you upgrade to the full version of TextBridge.

A special case You may wonder what could be special about a computer case. Well, Case

Logic has actually developed a new twist with its Day Pack, a backpack designed for notebook computers. It has a padded pouch at the back, with a Velcro strap to secure it, that's just the right size for all but th e hu gest notebook computers. Even with the machine in place, there's lots of space in the pack for other bits and pieces.

A pouch on the front can hold flat items, like small manuals, and it unfastens and flips up to reveal more pockets for p e ns, d i skettes, and o t her small items. The promotional material says on e p o c k e t i s f or c el l u lar phones, but it' ll only hold the tiniest models.

I wandered around wearing a computer-laden Day Pack, and although the computer humped my hack a bit, it was not uncomfortable. This pack would work well for students, or for b usiness people w h o d o n ' t m i n d putting dignity aside to g ive t heir aching shoulders a rest.

D

oday, computerprogramming isnot only the fastest-growingcomputer career field, it's also one of themost respected, highest-paid professions inAmerica. And nowonder: Recent advances inmultimedia applicationshaveput programmers at the forefront of yet another new revolution — onethat's changing forever the way the world lives, learns,andworks with computers.

Opportunities to createinteractive multimedia programs are everywhere: in retail, to increasesaleswith immediate, point-of-purchasekiosks; in education, to increasestudents' level of understanding and retention in all subject areas;andin businessandindustry, for more persuasivesales presentationsandfor cost-eflicient and effective skills training.

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Finally, with today's more powerful machines, reasonably good power is a must, so a decent surge-suppressing power bar is a great investment if you can't afford a UPS (uninterruptable power supply). One good choice is the Tripp Lite ISOBar surge suppress or. They cost about $6 5 a n d u p , depending on the number of outlets ($80, with phone line protection as well), and w i l l e a t p o w e r s u rges before they hit your computer.They come with $10,000 or $25,000 equipinent insurance (depending on the model); if anything gets fried by a power surge while plugged in to an ISOBar, you' ll be compensated.

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Com /led b LARA THAIS KINC arne leaders in the technology geld view the future of employment with a sense of gloom — but not everyone sees the snuation as hopeless. Janis Foord Kirk, outhor of Survivobility: Career Strategies for the New World of Work, believes that although we' re in a major transition and thefuture looks murky, new technology has always been followed by an increasein

the number ofjobs.

Oneof the fears people foce is losing their jobs to machines. Certainly, many labour~ntensive or by-rote jobs are — ond may continue to beon the endongered list Kirk insists, however, that "these machines still need operators, designers, and managers."

Still, the times, as they soy, ore achangin', ond to stay competitive, we must change as well. People are moving in ond out ofjobs more of'ten

then they used to andemployability is now based onwhether a company feels they need you andthinks that you can keep up.Again and again, the focus has been on learning, especially the wi%I'ngness to leam.

work, and new job opportunlt/es as we approach the year 2000. + This month, we investigate the hot technology jobs, new woys to hand

R es u m e s • • By ALAN THWAITS ~

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We' re tluee years away hum the millennium.

Scientists are cloning large mammals, everyone has an e-mail address, and pay-as-you-go space flights are being booked. If you' re looking for a job, though, the bottom line remains the same — you have to get your resume out to the people who count.

It's true that building a solid resume is still the first step in any serious search for employment, but the whys and hows of doing that have been transformed by the Internet. As for distributing your resume, well, you owe it to yourself and your future to explore the exciting options that go beyond simple paper andsnail mail. z.':

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presentation and delivery of the two versions will differ, but the content of your resume will be much the same for both.

Be resourceful There are many good online resources that will help you build an effective resume. For an example, check out Shawn's Internet Resume Centre.Even ifyou already have a

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ing basis. If you choose this option, a great resource is the "List of Resume Databases on the Web" site. It's an excellent links-type site that displays a large number of resume database sites where you can post your resumevery often for little or no charge. Most sites are searchable by job category and geographical area, so you can maxiinize your efforts by using "intelligent search" techniques.

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As with every other online-business-related venture, your Net efforts must be tied to your existing business modeL In the case of resumes, that means thinking carefully about whether your Net efforts are going to supplement your p r int-based resume, or whether the online version alone will do the needful. Chances are, unless you' re looking for employment in a field that's heavily Netor computerwriented, you should consider a twofold (print and online) approach. The

COMP U T E R

resume completed, it' ll do no harm to do some research about what resume styles and strategies are in vogue right now.

Once you' ve decided on the content of your resume, you may have choices available in your online version that simply aren' t there in print. Your print resume will use highquatity paper and an impressive typeface, but the electronic version might include images, sound files, even video clips.

It all depends on what delivery method you choose, as does the preparatory work you' ll need to do before distribution.

Are you going to deliver your electronic resume via e~? Then you' ll need to collect e-mail addxesscs of the presidents, HR directors, and administrators of the relevant compaAre you planning to post to a Web-based resume databank? You' ll need to decide whether you' re going to post to those that allow free postings, or go the extra mile by posting to those that operate on a fee-for-fil-

P L A Y E R ! W A P RI L 1 9 9 7 W h t t p : / / w w w . c o m p u t e r - p l a y e r . cor n /

Are you llstedl Want to list your resume on Usenet newsgroups and mailing lists (AKA listservs)?

There are lots of these, so you' ll have to do some selecting, but users should be aware of a couple of caveats. First, most of those postings are for jobs in various high-tech industries — teachers, cooks, and writers aren' t well represented. Second, your resuine will be posted in the midst of marketing schemes and get-rich-quick seams as weil as legitimate postmgs.

Once you' ve written the perfect resume and posted it all over cyberspace, you' re back to the old business model. Responses will have to be followed up, phone calls made to prospective employers, and — if you' re lucky — you' ll get to go for a face-toface interview, where everything will be decided. Because, as Woody Allen once said, "90 per cent of life is just being there" — in job searches as in everything else. +

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A few words on the future ofwork Compiled by IJ8(RATHAIS KING

"Canada is on the verge of growth, which is janls Foorcl Kirk Careers columnist and author ofSurvivability (published by/Jrkfaard i Communications Inc) "I see tremendous growth in the consulting area...people need two levels ofexpertise. Need to

Who will hold t o morrow's jobs?

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"There are new rules in career-sUfvlval tactics, and people who aren't changing worry me.

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Facing a fast, fluctuating future • • By jIM HARRIS •

•

Here is a simple but staggering Btct: in the high-tech field,80 per cent of the technology we will use ten years from now hasn't been invented yet.

I have a notebook computer that is more powerful than a mainframe of only 15 years ago — but 10 years ago notebooks didn't exist. Would you surf the Net without Netscape? iVuvigator w a s r e l e ased i n October 1994 — only two-and-ahalf yearsago. Many watches today contain more raw computing power than th e f i r st lunar-landing nodule! Bit of a worry if you' re an old astronaut.

Many people assume that the future will look pretty much like the past. The past does not predict the future, though. The best way to predict the future is to create it.

What do you needl We need to separate form from function.

Banking is essential, but banks are not (i.e., the function of banking is essential, but the current form is not).The tanks of the future may be named Intuit, Netscape, Sun, and Microsoft, because these companies are investing more in developing online transaction capacities than the traditional banks. Bankmg in the

future will have more to do with key strokes and mouse dicks than physical geography.

Traditional wisdom holds that only three things matter in retailing: location, location, location. Levi Strauss, however, has introduced the personal pair. Men fit standard sizes quite well but women are all unique — husbands, you know that. Levi Strauss now allows women to logonto the company's Web page, w hich shows the user how t o measure themselves and key in six unique measurements, along with their creditward number. Ten days later, a custom-made pair of jeans arrives at their door for only $10 more than the rack price (plus courier costs). Where did location enter into this retailing experience?

What will happen to phone companies ' long-distance revenue when w e c a n s end d i gitized voice-messages a c r os s th e Internet at only the cost of hooking up to the local ISP? Think about video conferencing.

What will the impact be on business airline travel when we can hold intercontinental face-to-face meetings right from our workstations?

In 1996, for the first time in the history, etransactions in the United States exceeded letters carried by the US Postal Service.

FedEx's document volumes have Iailen by 30 per cent, due to the ease with which we can

now e-mail attached documents.

Shaking the foundations New developments in information technology are enabling radical new products and services.to be delivered to customers. How can individuals and organizations create security in these turbulent times? A staggering 44 per cent of North Americans fear losing their jobs.

In the past, job security was based on working for a large company, in a stable industry, with a clear job description, for 40 years, and then retiring with the gold watch.

Now, ever)ching that used io create security creates insecurity. Large companies are net job losers (IBM has shed 200,000 jobs world-

wide since 1989 — half its workforce). Stable industries are being turned upside down.Job descriptions are out of date the moment they are written (it's flexibility and the ability and willingness to learn that count).

And if you' ve been in the same position for 40 years, your position is less secure, not more.

So what will create security'? Only three things: our ability to learn; our ability to change; and our ability to accept uncertainty.

And what d o w e f e ar m ost as adults?

Learning, changing, and accepting uncertainty. I call it the learning paradox — our security isbased on what we fearmost.

If 80 per cent of the technology that I will use in the future hasn't been invented yet, how can Itake a course to prepare for the change? How many Java courses were

offered five years ago? The only way to prepare for the future is to take courses that teach me how to think about thinking, how to learn about learning, how to be more creative about creativity, and how, as a team member, I can work better with my colleagues. I call this meta-learning.

Making serious dough Pillsbury hires a lot of A- and double-A-type personalities — you know, the j ust-out-op MBA-school types who all secretly, in their hearts of hearts, know that they will someday be president — not. The CEO is only 40 and he isn't about to retire for 20 years, sn how mn Pillsbury challenge this group?

Well, they move them laterally. After two years in product development — just when they have become "expert" — the company shifts them to marketing. Two years later, they' re moved to logistics, and then customer service. Moving people every two years keeps them challenged,excited, and continuously learning.

After eight yeats, they have four times the set of skills to market — four times the job security.

More importantly, they have learned how to learn. They now carry their security within them.

j!m Hams is amanagement consultant andprofessionalspeaker.

He is bestknown asthe coauthor of the Rnanaal postsnational bestsellerTheT00BestCompaniesto Wekfor in Canada.The above artide is asummaryof the themeof his newbook, The learnignParodorr.If you would like to buy a special advancerelease version of it, email salesostrategicadvantage.corn +

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O ver c o m i n g • • By jUNE CAMPBELL • • Many of us agree that computer literacy is an asset when you' re job hunting, and lack of computer knowledge can be a roadblock to getting and keeping employment. For some, learning computer skills is as simple as signing up for a course at the local community college and practising on the hmily PC. For the less fortunate, however, geographic, economic, language, health, and availality factors can be a barrier.

Various BC societies and organizations are helping special groups bridge the gap by providing computer-related training, usually at no charge to the user. The following list of providers is by no means complete.

The Arbutus Vocational Society, in Vancouver, offers computer-skills training (as well as other skillMevelopment programs) to persons sufferingfrom severe and chronic psychiatric illnesses. Students build up stamina and gain skills according to a negotiated schedule that accommodates the effects of their illnesses. Graduates demonstrate entryleyel skills in keyboarding, word processing, electronic-spreadsheet use, e-mail, and, optionally, familiarity with an electronic accounting package. A resume, a work-experience placement, and hopefully a reference complete the picture. Referrals to job-placement agencies are available.

Looking north to Terrace, Interconnect, administered by the Terrace and District Community Services Society, provides computer skills training to persons experiencing various barriers to employment. Students

b a r r i er s t o l ea r n i n g

from Terrace and Kitimat are referred and financed by the Workers Compensation Board, Canada Employment Centre, ICBC, or

by Vocational Rehab Services. Training includes entry-level computer skills, resume writing, and computer-assisted academic learning using the PLATO system.

Work~perience placements are available according to need and interest. Interconnect, operational since 1987, is the first facility in northern BC to receive accreditation from the Private Post Secondary Education Commission of BC. Skill Enhancement Training (SET), New Wmt Division, in New Westminster has helped approximately 180 people acquire computer4teiacy skills and ESL (English as a Second Iangtiage) training. SET was implemented in 1994 as a joint Labour-Management phnt initia. tive of MacMlhn Bloedel M.,New Westminster Lumber Division.

The plant's culturally diverse employee population represents an established workforce, many with 20 or 25 years of employment history. SET participants volunteer for training in order to develop new skills in response to technologically changing work requirements, or to arm themselves with marketable skills in the event of possible layoffs, According to instructor Merv Graham, "Many go on to get GED training or to get high-school diplomas. They (the participants) are really enthusiastic and motivated in what they' re doing."

SET, administered by an employee committee (SET Committee), was the first project of its kind in BC, and is currently viewed as a

model for similar programs in other mills.

Forestry Renewal BC (FRBC) now provides funding for approved initiatives of this type.

Assistance for women In Sechelt, the Sunshine Coast Women' s Resources Society has been offering computerand Internet-skills naiining to local women for the past 15 monthsfipproximately 120 women have utilized the services to d ate. As Chairperson Lynne Hauka remarks,"in this community we have become the oiIpnization to which women who are at all skill levels turn for

(computer) assistance and advice."

1he agency's three computers are connected via a IAN and all have diat-up Internet connectivity. Training ranges from informal (drop-in) to more formally strucnued HTML classes.

Funding is ttuough donation and from HRDC. The Society's new Tech.Kno project is currently conducting a survey of high-technology employers (see their Web site for details).

The goal is ultimately to develop a telecommuting centre and to train by apprenticeship a pool of people who have had their skills assessed and upgraded to suit the needs as described by the employers who participate in the survey.

N~~v kid on the block Wired Women Society in Vancouver includes multimedia training in its mandate. According to president Emma Payne, "we want to provide girls and young women the opportunity to leam and understand new media. We feel that girls can, as a result of training, have a different and improved outlook of themselves and the workLThe training is meant to be a fun «nd informative way to discover potential creative talents that many without

computers fiui to realize."

Twohour courses, induding introductory Internet, graphics, e~ «nd ~ ,are available. Groups will be asked to pay,but will not be turned down if they cannot. Negotiations are underway with Big Sisters to provide training to their girls, and discussions with APACE aie exploring the possibility of providing cosponsored training events and materials that will increase Wired Women's scope in the community. Funding is carried out through Wired Women's Fundtaising Committee.

June Campbell is the ownerof Nightcats Multimedia Productions. You can reach her by e-mail at June CampbelOinindlink.bc.ca or by phoning(604) 9803219 duringbusinesshours. +

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The freedom to work allthe time • • By CARYN MLADEN • •

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Careers today aie the perfect example of what I call creeping spec." When you' ie working on a consulting project of any kind, creeping spec (short for "specification" ) occurs when your dient asks you for small, seemingly insignificant chattges in the ongoing project. Pretty soon, aU these small changes evolve into a new and completely diffetent project.

Over the past few years, a silent tevolution has occurred: employees became contractors;the "standard 9 to 5" became "flex-time," and then became "milestone invoicing;" and benefits became nonexistent. Today, not only is there no job security, but many peo. pie don't even have the exlx:ctation of it anymore,'Ihe public has no confidence that their goirenunent-promised pensions will be avaihible when they teach the time to collect them. There is infiequent continuity Rom one job to the nexLAnd yet,people are adapting extremely well — at least in the new media industry.

Ufestyle changes Yes, it's a contractor lifestyle in the nineties. We belong to no particular comps. ny, and yet we have many particular ~ tions and connections. Many contractors work for the same company for hag periods

of time and become associated with their "job" while retaining contractor status simply because the company has a policy not to hire employees.

Meanwhile, contractors aie fiee to do a variety of diffetent things. It makes it difficult to define yourself anymoie but,after you get over the initial feeling of being in employment limbo, this lack of definition is very libetatkig.

Meet people at a trade show and find out what they need. You' re a contractor. Can you manage projects?Sure. Canyou write business plans? Sure. Can you head up the new media division for our company?Sure, why noti While people move fiom contract to contract and are more personally motivated than in the past, a sense of loyalty persists. largely, this loyalty is drawn out of a sense of pride in one's work, but it also relates to the concern to keep up customer relabons.

Happy dients hire you back and give great references. Most contractors finding assignments get them by virtue of their reputation in this bury:oning industry.

Co SOHOI What else has diangaF Digital media, of course! Today,the paperless once is possible as documents travel online 'Ihe advanced eIIciency of tools for SOHO (Small Office, Home OIBce) environments have made wotidng out of your home simpler and mote

cost effective. A good computer, modem, software, business cards, and service4ureau access are all the basics you need to create an impressive presence out of your basement. You make initial contacts or solidify deals at trade shows; otherwise them is little need to meet in person.

Comfort is another benefit of the digital contractor lifestyle, along with the more telaxed waidiobe. Don't forget, you can also write off the part of your home that you use Ibr work.

Then there's the time you save by telecommuting>t least, we all pretend to have more time."When there's nothing pressing, I can just take off for a matinee! "The reality is that we work all the time. You can't leave your work at the office; you have to live with it.

You book in meetings at odd times —why not chat with a dient in Gerniany at 4:00 AM? There's the aSencompassing guilt we

feel about relaxing when we could pick up the laptop and finish that report.

And this is the final lesson to learn horn the tianshrmation of careers.Our iehtionship to work has become more personal. While our job titles reside in hmbo, we are more attached to what we create and what we hbel as our own.lhere is still much work to be done, but we must cotMsantly be our own PR agents. In effect, today mote of us have cateets where once we had only jobs. +

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A sell e r ' s m a r k e t ••

By LEE LESTER •

o

Headhunters have a vanishing species in their sights. Their target:anyone who knows COBOL, Fortran, or Program I. Progrunmers and project managers familiar with the mainframe computerlanguages of yesteryear are being sought worldwide as the year 2000 (Y2K) comes ever closer.

And the fees of the only people who can squash the millennium bug are soaring.

Only two years ago, they could command Can$55-40 an hour. Today, they are pulling i n $50-60. And r esearchers at G i ga Information Systems forecast that could

rise to US$150 within two years.

"Their rates are going up 80 per cent a year,"says YZK expert Peter De Jager.And, he warns, the sky could be the limit for organizations desperate to avoid the consequences of computers becoming inoperative as the millennium nears.

The problem, of course, stems from dates being stored with only two digits for a yea instead of four, so that computers cannot distinguish between 1901 and 2001, for example. Information Technology Association of Canada vice president Peter Broadmore w arned a Co m m on s c o m m ittee l a st November."The ~ a iied millennium bug is a problem for all dateMependent calcula-

tions and will af'feet every application in which information technology is applied. in banking, insurance, investment funds, security systems, air traffic control, uaffic lights...

"Cheques will not be printed, invoices won't be produced, paynill and pension systems will break down, and many businesses will simplycease to operate.

"Already, many observers believe tlirt lawsuits, bankruptcies, and business failures are inevitable consequences of the problem...a bankruptcy rate of up to 5 per cent could result directly from costs related to Y2K problems."

Where has all the Fortran gone?

Those who can rewrite the millions of lines of code are in short supply. The programming languages they worked with peaked in the early 1970s. Since then, many have retired, died„or been promoted to execu tive jobs. Inducements to come out o f retirement or do "grunt work" again are unlikely to coax many to return.

Those that do are unlikely to be familiar with much of the additional software, written in other languages, which has been grafted onto the original applications.

New graduates are unwilling to learn yesterday's Iangirages. Even the hne of high pay is unlikely to attract youngsters who, after

then join a workforce where they will not have the up-tcHIate skills of their peers who, in the meantime, continued to build their familiarity with more modern languages.

There is already a worldwide shortage of computer personnel. Canadian companies have to face US recruiters flowing over the border in force, dangling tempting propositions to anyone with the required skills. It is hard to fight the appeal of better pay, better climate, and better prospects.

Debbie McGrath, president of the CEO Group Inc., which organizes job fairs, points out that more than half the local newspaper advertisements for IT professionals offer jobs in the United States. So did a majority of exhibitors at a recent recndting event.

So desperate have some companies become that they are outsourcing the rewriting of their code to places as far away as India and the Philippines. But, says ITAC's Broadmore, even those places cannot cope with the demand for their services. He suggests lowering immigration barriers to allow more skilled IT workers into Canada.

In the meantime, the few who can deal with the millennium bug look set to make big bucks, even as they work to put themselves out of work. +

three years of solving the Y2K problem, must

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Keith Schenglli-Roberts Technical Wnter,KL Group "It's always hard to predict the future of the job market, especially in the high-tech business.

Two years ago, Java didn't even exist, so it would've been hard to predict the whole marketplace that has blossomed due to Java.

"Having said that, it's safe to say that if you are interested in programming, learn Java —now.

While it is not receiving a lot of publicity, most major software firms are looking for Java programmers.

"Another likely job-growth sector is for people capable of handling the alpha-to-omega of Web sites. True Web-site management not only includes the ability to write good HTML, but maintaining a Web server, writing code to process things like forms, create and use eyecatching graphics, and anything else that is required. Expect Web-server management to become more and m ore like a N etwork Administrator job over time, especially as corporate-wide intranets become more common."+

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Fisher says another good area to look into is Wide Area Networking.

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News

Bugs aplenty fo r M i c rosoft Explorer • • By PAUL ANGYAL ••

http: // www.microsoft.corn/ie/ or call 1800-322-9997 for information on order-

What started out as a bad-hair day, quickly tumed into a mini PR-disaster.

On March 3, the story hit the fan that a security flaw was discovered in the Explorerbrowser by some innocent high-school students, one which would allow a Web operator to enter your PC through an LNK or URL file (commonly known as shortcuts) and secretly run your programs.

I

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ing a floppy-disk version.

One final note: the bugs affected Explorer 3.0

Wi out Compromise

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Just one in a complete line of

Move on, nothing to see here

award-winning,Windows'95 compatible

Trying to give it as little play as possible, Microsoft first stated that "no customer has complained," nevertheless "a fix will be made available as soon as possible." That could have been the end of it, had another pesky group of students not discovered another bug in the same program, only a day later. This one would allow a hacker to remotely download and install viruses from a Web site for you.

The day wasn't even over when yet another leak was reported, this time with Explorer'smail and news readers.You find a message on a Usenet ' group to visit a link and download a program. If you do, chances are that you only download a shortcut, which, when executed starts happily, deleting files from your hard drive.

By Friday, Microsoft's whole attitude changed. Somebody on the inside with brains must have woken up and voila, a whole "security Web page" appeared with messages telling us that "they care." A combination fix was in, a 1-800 number was installed and — believe this — tech support responded to special e-mail queries on Sunday.

Coincidentally, a lengthy news story, was posted alongside, describing in great detail the "major security hole" found in Sun's javasoft ("yes, your honour, I am guilty, but he is guiltier"). Unfortunately, the "triple-fix" posted by M i crosoft apparently doesn't play all the holes. More as this situation develops.

CRT monitors.

This just in Microsoft has released a patch for their Internet Explorer Web browser (Windows 95 and NT versions) that is claimed to alleviate a major security hole in the software. Without this patch, it is possible for a remote site to run a program on the local com-

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advised to decline the survey. Local police saythe most effective method forrecovering stolen computer equipment is to document all make, model, and serial-number information in case of theft. Anyone who feels at risk is advised to decline participating in telephone surveys of any kind.

EA braces for mega growth Lower mainland computer thieves have a new, low-tech tool to scout for potential victims: the telephone.

Recent lower mainland crime reports from theft victims indicate they participated in a bogus telephone survey just prior to being relieved of all their computer equipment.

The scam involves the thieves placing telephone calls to the victim's home or office and offeringfree software in exchange for completing a survey relating to personal income, occupation, personal computer equipment, and work habits. The fraudulent surveyor then asks for the victim's address and a convenient time to have a technician drop by to install the free softer'. Victims responses inadvertently reveal ideal times for the thieves to plan their robbery and exactly what they can expect to steal.

Victims of this slick computer-theft ring say the survey callers, who claim to be working on behalf of a well-known software company, sound professional and genuine.

Anyone receiving this type of call is meII

If video gaming is your I'orte, this might pique your interest.Sometime this summer, the Burnaby-based division of Electronic Arts Canada mill begin construction a new 170,000 square foot faciTity to be new home to their 550 current staff. The new offices will also have toom for an additional 200 employees, many of whom will be recruited as the company continues its staggering growth tate. Tentative completion of construction is slated for the faII of next year.

In recent years, Electronic Arts has experienced record sales of its sports-related computer games, aimed squately at the Sony Playstation gaming hatdwate and eventually at sophisticated 32-bit dedicated and CD-ROM drlvewquipped personaicomputer systems.

Last year, the company saw revenues of more than $480 million. For more information, see their Web site at http: //www.ea.corn/ or phone (604) 451-5600.

DNA to release two new CDs Award-minnhng Vancouver CD-ROM titlecreator DNA Multimedia has released two

e persistence a Sefteierlj

If you believe the hype, Windows 95 users can forget about DOS. Like a lot of advertising hype, it's absolutely true —part of the time.

Windows 95 does a good job of insulating its users from 1980scra DOS limitations like the 640 KB memory deeded and workaround memory-management schemes. Or from having to fiddle with the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT startup files.A lot of the time, Win95 actually works as advertised, «flowing users to simply start up a DOS pro. gram, and have it run (something that was possible much less often with Windows 3. I).

Un-DOS? While DOS may be buried, however, it's not quite dead yet. Despite Microsoft's e8brts to convince us that Windows 95 is the present and future of software development, many game developers remain unconvinced.

The~ g r own accustomed to the power they had, under DOS, to directly access the

computer's hardware, squeezing out the best possible performance for their games.

While many popular games are still being written for DOS, most are running properly in a Windows 95 DOS session. That's nice for users — it means that these games can take advantage of Win95's CD-ROM, sound, video, and mouse drivers. In those cases, users don't have to mess with the DOS dirty work.

Many users want to keep playing their old DOS games on their new computers or under their upgraded operating system, though. Or they just bought a new copy of a classic game, perhaps iereleased at a bargain price.

These golden oldies often won't be so happy sharing the computer with Windows 95.

Don't give up AII is not lost, however.Win95 allows users considerable flexibility in setting up DOS sessions — far more than Windows 5.1 ever did (yes, OS/2 fans, not as much as that infinitely flexible operating system permits).

Here are a few tricks that should let you run ahnost every DOS program under Win95 without having t o r e sort t o c l umsy workarounds like customized boot floppies: •

Increase the amount of RAM in your default DOS sessions

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ot e new titles this month. Up to tbe HAnalayas and Starsltes are the latest of the three-yearold company's interactive productions.

Starsttes looks at the myth and science of five of the world's ancient monuments: Copan, Jantar Mantar, New Grange, The Forbidden City, and Giza. Up t o tb e HAnalayas involves navigating through three~ e n sional landscapes and meeting people fmm cultures including Mustang, Nepal, Sikkim, and Darjeeling.

DNA's locally developed titles concentrate heavily on audience participation through interactivity. Their previous works include Tbe Stlk lf o ad, Kl ondtke G o ld, a n d EverytbtngtnStages.Th e company has won industry awards in the United States and Europe in competitions judged by Adobe, Macromedia, and International Digital Media.

They ate the North American arm of Japanbased DATT International, with products localized in Vancouver by partner firm FACT International for Korean, Chinese, French, and German markets. For more information, visit their Web site at http: //www.dna.bc.ca/

Windows 9S upgraders, beware As popularity of Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system increases, mote businesses are discovering older hardware inoperable with the new platform. Upgraders are subsequently getting pinched by certain local computer vendors who see it as an opportunity to

Win95 lets you run a computer without needing the DOS startup fiies, CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. In doing so, however, it doesn't optimize your computer's DOS sessions. Find out how much free DOS memory you have by starting up an MS-DOS window, and typing MEM (remember to p ress ENGR), If you have less than 600 KB or so free, some DOS games will refuse to run.

You can increase the amount of free conventional (DOS) memory with a little fussing around with your CONFIG.SYS file. Start up Notepad ( from t h e St a r t Me n u ' s Programs/Accessories submenu), and open C:NCONFIG.SYS — if you don't find one, make a new file. Make sure it has the following three lines: Device =C:~Windows96mem.sys Device=C:NWindowshEmm386.exe noems DOS=high,umb Save the file, shutdown, and restart. Open a DOS session, type MEM again, and see how much free memory you' ve gained. It may still not be enough. In that case, you wIII have to check deeper into the workings of your DOS startup fiies.

•

Are you loading unneeded DOS drivers in CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BATP If you' ve upgraded from a n o l d er DOS/Windows setup, you may be loading unneeded DOS drivers, particularly for your CD-ROM, soundcard,and mouse. Open your CONFIG.SYS file again. Check it for addition-

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levy potentially unnecessary service calls.

Some would even consider the practice shady.

Here's how it goes. Windows 95 upgraders, surprised to discover that an older scanner or printer won't operate under the new platform, are directed by the manufacturer to contact their local vendor for service. Most manufacturers offer free upgrades for their hardware in the form of software drivers and/or upgraded computer~p replacement. But vendors often keep this information to themselves and instead eagerly send service representatives out to perform the

upgrade.

As a result, customers without prior service agreements can be billed for minimum labour chargesoften as high as $150 per hour — including driving time to the client site. Upgrades are usually estimated at a twohour minimum.

Hardware upgrades involving processor chip swaps are no more complex than installing RAM chips, and if you' ie familiar with the procedure you likely already know it's not rocket science. In these cases, vendors conveniently fail to mention that experienced doqt-yourselferscan save several hundreds ofdollars in service charges.

Steve Bain is a high-technology writer in Vancouver, Canada. Send news, product tips, or comments to Steve®helix.net +

al lines starting "Device=" or "Devicehigh=".

These are loading device drivers (software enabling your system to work with hardware addwns).In most cases,these are not needed, as Wmdows 95 provides drivers for most hardware devices that don't use up your precious DOS memory.

If you find such statements (besides the Himem.sys and Emm586.cxe statements previously listed), don't delete the lines. Instead, "comment them out" by typing "REM" and a space at the front of each line. Save the file.

Similarly, open C:WUTOEXEC.BAT in Notepad. Check for lines loading what seem to be Mouse or other hardware drivers (you can ignore any lines starting with the word "Set"). Comment them out the same way.

Save,and restartyour system. Check and see if your hardware — CD-ROM, sound card, mouse, and so forth — are morking properly.

If so, you don't need those DOS drivers. But don't delete those lines just yet — you' ie going to need theml Open a DOS session, and type MEM one more time. At this point, you should have at least 605 KB free conventional memory, which should be enough for most DOS programs.

This is a good start, but you may not be done yet. In next month's column, we' ll look at what to do if your programs insist on EMS (expanded memory) or need to run in Win95's special MS-DOS Mode.

Alan Zismanisan associate editor. Commentsor information related to softwareissuesshould bedirected to alan zisman@ mindlink.bc.ca +

C OMPU TE R

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Feds introduce cyber-friendly bu get tech assistance amid more than $1-billion worth of new spending by the federal Liberal governm ent. Chief among the new initiatives announced in the February 18 budget is the creation of the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Ottawa will pump $800 million into the new

• • By CHRISTOPHER GULY • • aving reduced his 1996-1997 deficit target of $24.3 Mlion by $5,3 billion, Hnance Minister Paul Martin tumed his attention to high-

independent, non-profit organization, which is expected to be operational this fdI,With interest accrued over the next five years, the foundation will be able to fund about $180million annually to ~ ittf r astructute projects.

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John Evans, a mmmm physician, was named head of the foundation February 19.%hegroupto be composed of 15 teptesentatives from both ~ atid b usinesswill —suppott initiatives ftom universities, hospitals, and privately run ~ inst i tutes, and their capital costs, including acquiring sutteof&eert equiPment, estab. lishing computer networks and communications linkages, and creating ~ data bases and informationyrocessing capabilities.

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Norine Heselton, vice president of policy with the Information Technology Association of Canada, says Martin's emphasis on technology is prudent."I'm encouraged that the bricks and mortar of the knowledgekased society are still on the government screen,"she says.

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In addition to creating the foundation, the Finance minister also made the seven-yearold Networks of Cenues of Excellence a permanent program. The 14 centres, which specialize in such areas as robotics and intelligence systems, microelectronics networks,and telelearning and telecommunications, will be maintained at the annual 1990 funding level of $47.5-million.

The National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program's $96.5-million annual budget has also been preserved. IRAP promotes technology to small businesses.

Although the president of the Canadian Federation of Labour says the $425 million Ottawa recently set aside for infrastructure job creation will have an immediate impact on Canada's 9.7 per cent national unemployment rate, James McCambly says Martin was right to target technology in his budget.

Ihere aie all kinds of demands for jobs in so~ , h u d wate, and computers," he says.

"Canada has to be at the forefront of technology.

Otherwise, we' re not going to be able to have higlgiaying jobs, which is part of our goal."

The Martin budget also allocated a further $30 million to t h e C ommunity Access Program, which was created in the fall of 1994.

The new goal is to connect about 5,000 rural and remote communities, ranging in popuhition from 400 to 50,000, to the Internet.

In focusing on technology in what will likely be its final budget before the next election, Heselton says the federal goveriunent is showing that it's investing in the future.

"Fundamentally, they' re coming to recognize the tremendous contribution information technology and the strategic application of it makes to the Canadian economy."

Information on the 1997 federal budget can be found on the Finance department's Web site at http: //www.fin.gc.ca/. +

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Recently, more and more companies are joining the ranks of Mac~lone manuhchuers, wh ch couldslg ala cornel ck for the Mac The trick is that the Macwlone market is almost as confusing as the IBM PC-clone market.fust as in the PC world, different comPanies offer dif'ferent configurations of hardware at different prices, but you can be sure of one thing: all of these machines will run Mac OS. Here's a brief who's who of the Mac done market:

M

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APS Contact: 1%00-235-2753 One of the better buys you can get currently is fio m A PS,a MissourWmsed manuhchuer ofhml dr i ves and other peripherals. Their Jvppower s e ries of computers has mote featmes for the l o w est price out there today. Besides giving you g r e at deals,APS will also allow you to customize yo u r Mac done from the factory.And the technol o g y t hat goes into these comes from Mot o mh, unlike some of the other dones made b y s ubcontractor companies.

It's been a year since Apple took the progtcssive, and some said very risky, step of licensing its operating system (MacOS) — the software interhce that makes a Mac unique — and hardware architechue to several third-party companies, so that they could produce Mac "dones."

In this short year, several companies have proven the viability of the MacOS. In hct, despite early nay-sayers and Predictions that Apple would go out of business because it was gNtng uP its monoPoly, this is Probably the best thng to have haPPened to the Mac since its

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Vertegrl Research The only Canadian entry in the clone market is Vertegri Research. The imediaEngine line of dones is also distinct for another reason: it has the fust portables on the Mac&one market, featuring 240 MHz and 200 MHz 604e ', ppC c h ips anti no batteries or PC~ ". slo t s. The idea is to make a heavy . dut p o n b l e for people who

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PowerComputing I Ranked 3rd fastest growing company in British Columbia by Business In Vancouver Magazine I Contact 1400405-7693 The first of the licensees, Texasbased „ Power ComPutng has been very aggressive in marketing its machines, and bY ,,!': defaultthe MacOS. In many ways. g has tried improve on Apple's designs, and . presentation, but aren' t -' the company can c urrently w likely to sit around writing boast the fasted CPU around — ~ ., . ~ ,.' their novels in cafes. The ' '":<',, pC or Mac — at a whopping :; prices are also pretty hefty; 300 MHz. starting about $5,500 For an At one Point, Power • entry-levei 2pp MHz system and C omPuter's cl o n e s ":e;:,P,-',„-$j:.'!g~,';'.'-":':..„ .. go i ng an the way to over I7,000 for ".",",:;."',.~:,.:;",,;!~':,':.' were the onlY choice ..":, ~ a tof f the - tine model. yertegri also for cheaPer, homewrient' -. p lan s a line of highwnd desktop modines and aithoug their prices are still competitive, there are now companies that are able to provide even better Mac bang for your buck.

The latest en' n t o the Mac~lone market P ower Comput g is still the wa r wh e n i t PowerTools is based in Texas like Power comes to owed ouse s eed stems though Computing, but there's no relation between Motorola the two companies. Aggressive pricing and an Contact: 1-800-759-1107 attempt to cater to the graphics industry Motor h t h e ~ uh c h acrof the CPU chiPs seems to be where this company plans to that have been the heart of the Apples since Macintosh computers weJc first made. Their new line of Mac dones h called StarMax, feahuing tophere's more to come. Several other comof~ Itne competitNety pnced Macs that att Panies are currently working on bringing ndude Motorola s ocher mQst hvorcd product more Mac clones to the market. For exammodems. ple, Daewoo, a Korean computer giant, has business customersarewelcomei licensed the MacOS and hopes to have systems for sale in North America before the UMAX end of 1997.

Contact: (510) 22M886 In all of this, let's not forget one last manI.JMAX has long been a manuhcturer ofAPPle ufacturer, one not easy to overlook, espeMDI (I n t ernet Inc.) as s ca n an v e ca d s ' Pe P a t s ciany since they recently dropped the UMAX now offers severai Macintosh clone pr i c e s o n t h eir entire iine of p r oducts: n th~ Su P c n Th Y oo Apple. That's right, all this competition has Your Sweet Home http: //www.mdi.ca the license from Radius comPuters, who forced Apple to get a little leaner, and a )it700 1080 Howe Street, Vancouver, Canada V6Z 2T1 weren't able to find a niche for their higherwnd tie meaner, to stay in the race to sdl hardproduct. It rennes to be seen how UMAXs ware that runs their OS — which is a good mid-range clones are accepted. thing for all of us. + ,

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Happ!I 80th to BG's Basic'I!I BBS • • By ALAN ZISMAN • • Basic'ly BBS, a I'ree service run by Bob and Sharon Satti, celebrated 20 years of continuous operation on January 10.

B ob, a p r o grammer specializing i n networking softw are, became interested in what was then called Remote or Host Systems i n t h e m i d - 1970s. He found another hobbyist in Toronto with

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drives, along with a wide range of message bases. The system doesn't support online gaming, or l i b r aries of g r aphics (often a euphemism For pornography); the Sattis say that these are widely available elsewhere, and prefer to keep their phone lines available for more serious users.

The Sattis have provided Basic'ly as a free service despite the ongoing costs of maintaining seven phone lines and two dozen c o m p uters — they estimate t hat it adds $50-60 per m o nt h t o t h e i r h ydro b i l l s ( the c o m p u t e r ro o m requires air c o n d itioning year-round), a nd about S300 t o e ac h p h on e b i l l .

T hey see t h emselves as p r o viding a v aluable c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e , c i t i n g , among other benefits, message groups focusing on alcoholism and abuse survivors.

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cess by going out for dinner."

After making the process a little more reliable, he went online on January 10, 1977. "The ph one c o m pany c o u l dn' t understand why I wo uld want a second line in my house!"

O ver 1 9 5 , 0 0 0 p ho n e cal l s l a t e r , B asic'ly c o n sists o f a n e t w o r k o f 2 4 IBM-compatibles (a mix of 286, 386, and 486 computers), mostly in a spare bedroom in the Satti's home in Surrey (out-

h t t p . / / w ww. co mp u t er - p l ay er . t o m/

Keeping the service up and r unning takes more than money; on average, it takes anywhere from two to four hours a day to keep Basic'ly going.

Their advice to would-be system opera tors ("sysops") — equally valid to o t hers, I believe — is to place a computer in the living r o om , w h er e i t c a n b e c ome p art o f t h e f a m il y l i f e , rather t han an isolated h o b b y . W h i l e t h e b u l k o f Basic'ly i s h o u sed o n 2 0 c o m p u t ers upstairs, the Sattis have another 4 clustered around the family TV, letting them c ontrol th c B B S or w o r k o n o t h e r c o m puter-oriented tasks. As a result, Sharon vehemently denies being "a c omputer widow."

Basic'ly is c o n n ected t o o t h e r BBSs via FidoNet, a grouping of over 30,000 nodes worldw i de. This allows users to exchange e - m ai l a n d to p i c - o r iented m essages without c ost ( although i t i s slower t h an t h r ou g h eq ui v a l e nt Internet s e r vices). For s e veral y ears, Bob has been Fido Zone I ( C anada and U SA) c o o r d i n a t or , h a v i n g w h a t e v e r passes for power in Fido's anarchic structure.

Keeping on In the past few years, faced with the explosive growth of the Internet, many have suggested that traditional BBSs are

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T onlu e l n C h e e k s p e a k s t o th e f u t u r e • • By DAVID WILSON• • VoiceCon Systems Inc., has announced TongueInCheek, a hardware/software solution designed ta recognize, import, and translate human speech into text files. "TongueInCheek. is designed for people who need to transhte recorded and stored speech into text, but it goes further than the voice translators already on the market," says Dagny 'Ik~ , a spokeswoman for VoiceCon.

Which witch is which' Any linguist can tell you that spoken English is notorious for its ambiguity. But homonyms — words that have different meanings, yet sound t h e s ame — are apparently ' no p robl e m for TongueInCheek. Taggart demonstrated by reading phrases such as "which witch is which?" and "Their waiter put their glasses there." In every case, TongueInCheek understood and translated the correct English ward!

The TonguelnCheek product consists of a specially modified, OEM version micracassette recorder licensed from Sony, a series of connection cables, and its CD-ROM-based voice-recognition software and accent algorithms. An external microphone is suggested to

minimize the mechanical noise of the recorder itself.

Tagprt also demonstrated that the software does an impressive job lit less-thanoptimum conditions. She borrowed a cassette tape from one of the ieparters who had been recording the event, placed the reporter's tape in the TongueInCheek recorder and launchedMfnosoft Word on a Power Mac (text flows directly into any standard application). Taggart then selectedd the "noisy" setting in the software and TongueInCheek started translating the text in tape into words on the screen.

Almost every word translated accurately,

with only occasional glitches due to loud ambient noise.

TonguelnCheek requires at least a Pentium running at 133 MHz or better, Windows 95, 32 MB of RAM, and a SoundBIasterwompatible sound card.

When the software is installed, it modifies the menu of the particular application program (such as a word processor), so using TongueInCheek is as simple as importing text from another application (see graphic), Power Mac owners need at least 16 MB of RAM (32 MB r ecommended) and Apple's Open Transport installed. The sheer size of TongueInCheek (about 50

MB, if all dictionaries are loaded) necessitates a CD-ROM drive for initial loading.

Other uses for TonguelnCheeit Predictably, Taggart rhapsodized about the potential uses of TongueInCheek, "Students won't have to worry about missing an>~ g i n c h ss — and neither will reporters at a p ress conference," she smiled. TonguelnCheek — used with Sony's optional lecture microphone available for about $125 Canadian — can also help combat repetitive stress injury (RSI).

Injecting some fun inta the briefing, Taggart also suggested TongueInCheek could be used to settle bar bets. "Ever wondered what the heck Tracy Chapman, N irvana, o r Seal are sing i n g ?

Tongu«inCheek takes the sounds, applies complex algorithms, and gives you the answer," she daims.

At Can$199 for the basic unit (and $299 with all th«accessories thrown in), it' s d aubtfsif that TanguelnCheek will f i n d much of a market settling bar bets. What is likely, however, is that this new product will capture the attention of many people — professionals and students alike.

YoiceCan can be reached at (403) 555-1212.

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• e ByLUAS SONREHC• • Oitil Syslemr Inc. has developed a new miatKIiip it says canbe imphnted in the human brain, olfeiing Intfividuals 24hour global access ta the Internet that can be mntraihd and directed by human thaught "Really, this is just an extenso' of what we have done for several yean with pets," Oifzit research director Emma Plant says. She exphins that several mmpsnes, Induding Orbit, already market spedal miaachIFs that areimphnted into aits, dogs, andfarm livestock in order ta eiuuie their proper identification.

'We have recently developed new chip technahgy called BrainWaves that ensbk5~ com munication," Phnt explains.

"Each mlamhip mntalr5 a miaoscopic modem and twd4rive, so the ~ h a i dware is mntained in af tiny in gernail-sized steel package that ain be medically inseited in a non- ensitive areaof the brain," Phnt says. 'We found Ihat software functions can be mimicked by the human brain, using a combination of conscious and subcomcim thought ptteiiis."

Live testing was mnducted on animals. Although animalsaren't capable of humanthought, certain brain enzymes are similarenoughthat the test subjectswere able to "push certain buttons to makethe hardware perform basiccommunications tasks," Plantsays.

In early March, Orbit Systems, on the Web at http: //www.oibikhip.mm/, applied to Industry Canada and Health and Wdhie Canada far permission to test the chip using willing human subjecfs. Federal government olcialssaidthey muldn't mmment on Orbit's plans becausethey have yet ta be famally presented.

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case; like trendy restaurants, only a few s urvive for five years or mo r e .

Basic'ly's user base dropped by about IO per cent, perhaps a result of u sers switching to th e I n t e r n et, but r e c ently s tarted r i s i n g again. C a l l s hav e remained steady at about 20 0 pe r d ay, t he maxiinuin t h e s y stem c a n h a n d l e without expanding the number of telephone lines.

For many users, the Sattis suggest, a l ocal BB S wi l l r emain a va l u a b l e resource, providing a simpler interface w here i n f o rmation i s e asier t o f i n d .

FidoNet message groups, because they are moderated, tend to offer a"higher s ignal-to-nois e rat i o " t han t h ei r Internet co unterparts, IIsenet gr o ups, w here r e a d er s o f t e n m ust w a d e t hrough h u n d reds o f o f f - t o p i c messages or flames to find the information they seek.

As well, large files can often be transferred from a l o c a l BBS much f aster than over a n o f t e n-tenuous I n t ernet

connection. Similarly, performance on a local chat group t ends to b e m u c h higher t ha n t h e e q u i v alent I n t e r n et Relay Chat.

F inally, Bob Satti suggests, the c u t ting-edge on the Internet is demanding faster and fasterconnections and cutt ing-edge h ar d w a r e ; t he ne w R ealVideo, for example, needs a 2 0 0 MHz Pentium Pro to r eceive real-time video. Large numbers of users, perhaps the majority, will always be unable to make use o f t h e s e t e c h n ologies. For them, BBSs like Basic'ly can p r ovide a home.

W hile the Sattis have given a lo t t o t he onhne c o i nmunity, they f eel l i k e they' ve gotten as much back: "a strong c omradery t h a t w e d o n ' t s e e i n t h e I nternet." They' re looking f o r w ard t o the next 20 years.

To dial i n t o t h e B a sic'ly B BS, call (604) 584-9811. +

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New Star Wars toy s t-un s t h • • By CLAIRE YOUNG • • he hype surmunding the rereleaseof the Star Wars trilogy has led to a replay of the merchandising bonanza first seen when the original films appeared. Just as the films have been updated and made more "high-tech," the merchandising has improved as well. For nostalgia, youll still find the shelves of your local toy outlet stocked with Luke, Leia, and Ban Solo action figures, but some of the new toys are truly astounding.

Remember the plastic light sabers we all played with back in the 1970s (admit it, we all had them)? Well, they' re back, but in a new and improved version. For $39.95 at

1

local toys stores and department stores, you can get a batterywperated DeluxeStar Wars Light Saber that is hr doser to the film version than the old plastic modeL The handle appears innocuous enough before the saber is activated, but press the button to "on" and a light emerges. So, it's a flashlight, you say? Close, but this light is well-defined and can pack a punch.

Constructed as a hybrid hologram, laser, and flashlight, the activated light saber "blade" appears as a sword made of glowing light.

The real kicker is the Stun setting, which aUows you to use it in play fights and give your opponent a slight electrical charge.

Simply shockingi Olympic fencers have been using a similar

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stun feature on their steel swords and epees during training for the past two years.'IIiey say that it gives them a better feel for the parts of their bodies they are leaving open to attack, and therefore impmves their skilL It also apparently heightens the sense of competition. For the Star Warsversion, the only down side is the battery life. FourAA batteries last about an hour and ahalf,so m ake sure you use rechargables.

The charge itself is slightly more potent than the static charge you would get fmm touching someone after rubbing your shoes on a carpet, but it has received a few complaints in certain US markets. The product disclaimers warn against allowing more than ten luts in any one-hour period, but product spokespeople are quick to assure customers

that the pmduct is perfectly safe.

Bob Tkylor of NewStyle PR deknded the product at a recent press conference: "The charge is simple electricity that quiddy dissipates and passes through the body. It is not dangemus to children, esIsecially when viewed in comparison with the other combat weapons available on the market. These Light Sabers, in fact, take us back to a gentler, more noble age."

Maybe so, but if you' re interested, you' d better rush out to get your own saber now in

case they are taken off the market in the near future. Considering the value of the Star Wars brand, they are likely destined to become collector's items.

May the Fosce~ and your trusty Saber be wah you l April fools! +

IfUS OBXBS:Ne ver- endi ng st or i es?

• • By ROBERT SLADE • • When I was initially asked to do an artide for the April edition, the Powers-That-Be thought it would be a good giggle to write up a hoax virus report. We in the antivirus research community don't think that virus hoaxes are such a funny idea, however. They tend to persist long after the "joke" is over.

For example, the warning about the "Good Times" e-mail virus — which doesn't existsteadfastly refuses to die.Also, Penguin books recently thought it would be amusing to publicize a new book by sending out a press release warning of the "Irina" virus, another hoax. We' re still getting questions asking if various antiviral software will detect it. instead, I offer you a true story of a virus hoax run riot.And as Dave Barry would say, I am not making this up.

Infourorld magazine, in April of 1991, carried an article reporting a computer virus that the US authorities had used to shut down Iraqi computer systems during the Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm. The bare bones of the article are that a French printer illegally purchased by Iraq was to have been smuggled into Iraq through Jordan; that US

agents intercepted the printer and replaced a micmchip in the printer with one reprogiammed by theNSA; and that a virus on the repmgrammed chip invaded the airMefense network to which the printer was connected and erased information on display screens when "w indows" were opened for additional information on aircraft.

The Irijburorfd artide was, to careful readers, an obvious April Fool's joke (supported by the name of the virus: AF/91). The artide ended with the warning that the virus was out of contml and was now spteadmg thxough systems in the Western world. It was a spoof of the thennew Windows 3 pxogram, the popularity of which was startlmg industry analysts. Readers of Infot trorfdhad a chudde and forgot about it.

Nuh7 Someone, however, didn't get the joke. In early 1992, reports started of a virus that had shut down Iraq's air4efense system during "Desert Shield/Storm." This seems to have started with TriumphWithout Victory: The Unreported History of the Persian Gulf lVar and the serialization of the book by US News and World Report. The articleswere rerun in many papers, as well, apparently, as on CNN and ABC's "Nightline."

the virus! Obviously a case of official "sources" taking their own information fmm gossip that had mutated from reports of the joke.

By this time, the antivirus crowd was being inundated with requests for help and information regarding the "Desert Storm" virus. Since the only help we could give people was to tell them they'd been had, USNlkWR, CNN, and ABC started to look a bit foolish. Their researchers checked with the Pentagonwho, astoundingly, confirmed the existence of

Robert 5ladedemystified theDesert Stormviruspretty thoroughly inRobertSleds'sGuideto Computer Viruses.More virus information can be foundat http: // www.freeneL victoria.bc.ca/techrev/mnvr.html +

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ea - t o Com i/ed b LAIJREM BlANKSTEW 1. For whet environment (home, business, school) is your OS best omparing operating systems is a sticky and suited? possiblydangerous undertaking. They can be UNUX — School (students), Internet machines

compared in many different ways, with criteria that are often hami to 'quantiiy. Also, people

(Web servers), anywhere where security is needed. Best multiuser operating system.

IiiiAQNTOSH — This is difficult to quantify, but I'd say the MacOS is best in a home, small- to medium-scale business or school environment, but not in a heavy-duty data-

tend to develop an unswerving loyalty to their chosen OS — a bizarre attachment that often elicits

defensive and fiery responses to any cntIcisrn.'

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Unfortunately, due to spa'ce r'estrictions, we were not able to address aLL(o'r'even' ntost) of the various elementsthat make up an:operating system in our comparison.Instead, we chose to focus on questions and issues that might best help the aver-

processing or mainframe shop. Somepeople say the Mac wasn't designed to iun in largescale networks, but I' ve seen ones at Apple,

NorthernTelecom, NASA and other places that do just fine running thousands of Macs.

OS/2Mower home user or business. Good for software developers (developing DOS or Win 3.x software). Excellent for networks.

WINDOWS NT — Designed as an industrial-

age computer user in the throws of deciding which OS to choose for their individual needs — a decision that can determine whether turning on their com-

puter is a painful or productive experience.

strength workplace operating system. Many home users will be frustrated by its lack ol Plug and Play, lack of drivers for some popular peripherals (such as printers), and the need to dual boot to DOS to run many games, as well as its high hardware requirements. Its built-in networking client support and security features make it well-suited for many business users,

We enlisted the help of our writers to represent what we believeare the most widely used operating systems: Lynn Greiner answered for Nindows 3.1 and Windows 95, Kevin Linfleld coverecl OS/2

and Linux, David Rosen went to bat for fvjacintosh, and Alan Zisman responded for 1iifindows NT.

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WINDOWS 3 . 1 — Any environment, although many businesses are opting to jump straight from Windows 3.1 to NT WINDOWS 9S —Microsoft positions 95 as an environment fo r t h ose n eeding DOS/Windows 3.1 application compatibility.

2. How computer-savvy should a user be {beginner, avewye, ejrpert) to qulckty leum how touse this OSl UNUX — Average to expert OS experience is a plus.

INAQNTOSH — The Mac is appropriate for all levels, but is especially well suited for beginning and moderately experienced customers due to its ease of use and seamless integration between its hardware and software. Macs are designed for people who work with information but don't want to get involved in the bits

and bytes of programming.

OS/2 — Aimed at average to expert.

WINDOWS NT — NT systems probably need to be initially set up by a moderately expert person; afterwards, with the Windows 95 interface, a beginner can quickly become a productive user.

WINDOWS 3.1 —Used by every level, from novice to expert. Users new to Windows 3.1 find it puzzling at first, but even novices catch on to the basics within an hour or two. More

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UNUX — Text mode: 386, 4 MB RAM, 10 MB

harddrke space(minimum). Graphical: 486, 8 MB RAM, 100 MB hard-drive space. Mouse and CD-ROM recommended but not required.

MAQNTOSH — Mac OS 7.6 requires a Mac or Mac compatible with a 68030, 68040, orPowerPC procesmr or higher, at least 16 MB of RAM and at least 70 MB of hard-drive space (this number varies based on installation choices), Optional portions of Mac OS 7.6 (such as Cyberdog, OpenDoc, and QuickDraw 3D) require a PowerPC processor.

A CD-ROM drive is recommended but not required.

OS/2 — OS/2 Warp 4.0 requires a minimum of 12 MB of RAM, a 486 processor, and 80 MB of hard-drive space. A CD-ROM and mouse are recommended but not required.

WINDOWS NT —1 6MB RAM minimum (32 MB better). Roughly 120 MB harddrive space. CD-ROM required for installation.

WINDOWS 3.1 —"Official" requirements are 286 PC or better with 2 MB RAM and 6.2 MB hard4rive space. For Windows 3.11, "official" requirements are 386 SX or better, 3 MB RAM (4 recommended), about 6.2 MB hard-drive Realistically, a 386 DX with 8 MB RAM and 20 to 30 MB hard-drive space works better.

Windows may install into only 14 MB or so, but as soon as you install an application, fonts, supplementaiy drivers, and so forth they gobble space. A mouse is theoretically not necessary, but few users can cope without one.

WINDOWS 9$ —"Official" requirements: 386 DX PC with 4 MB RAM (8 recommended), 50 to 55 MB hard-drive space, VGAmonitor or better. Realistically, Windows 95 is a dog in 4 MB RAM, barely adequate in 8 MB, and is happiest in 16 MB or more. A faster processor is better as well, and count on about 70 MB disk space. A mouse is almost a necessity.

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WINDOWS 9S —Used by every level, from novice to expert According to Microsoft, Windows 95 is more intuitive (they did extensive usability lab testing to make sure even a novice could catch on quickly). Windows 3.1 users attempting to switch tend to have some fiustrating moments because of the radically different user interface.

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UNUX~oot from floppies; install from CDROM. INAQNTOSH-Easy.In fact, the new Mac OS 7.6 has a centralized and streamlined installer eliminating most (if not all) installation problems. Remember, though, all Macs come with the operating system preinstalled.

05/2~ t fr o m three floppies, then install

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stall" makes deleting unused programs tidy. cont i n u e d f r o m p a g e 3 6 from CD-ROM.May need to repartition (i.e., reorganize) if running multiple operating systems (comes with Boot Manager and Dual Boot I'or this purpose).

WINDOWS NT — If hardware meets the NT compatibility list, installation is straightforward. (Note:

installation of NT Server is, inevitably, much more complex). If no networking is involved, it is quite simple; if networking is involved, users need to be able to answer some technical questions related to their network.

Note, however, that while NT can be installed over an existing Windows 3.1 installation, and will

properly migrate application settings, if installed over an existing Windows 95 setup, applications will need to be reinstalled.

WINDOWS 3.1 — Run setup from DOS, verify the

system hardware when asked, choose an installation directon/ when asked, select a printer when asked, change up to eight diskettes. Need some PC knowledge, has nosmarts about device detection, Adding devices can be a pain.

WINDOWS 9~est done from a CD. Must enter

a code from the Certificate of Authenticity before installation canproceed. Must know what hardware is installed, although the installation tries to

detect it. To make things easier, a wizard" walks you through a procedure, step by step, explaining what it's up to and helping you make the necessaiy choices. More complex than 3.1.

S. How much aggravation is involved

file sepah; aiiuiso an)?

LINUX — MinimaL No defragmentation needed.

OS automatically fixes errors. Non-postscdpt printers can be a hassle, IHAQNTO~ow. The philosophy behind the

6. Support — are updated drivers easilylfrequently available? Is there a lot of information available Pn books, magazines, etc.) about your system?

Mac OS is that the machine should do the thinking if it's at all possible, letting the computer's owner concentrate on the real job at hand.

UNUX —User community writes their own drivers. Extensive availability. Moderate number of UNIX books.

IIIIACINTOSH — A place where the Mac really

OS/2 — If using HPFSfile system (a file system used

by OS/2, versions of NT, and various flavours of

If the patch doesn't exist now, it probably neverwill, but manufacturersstill supply devicedrives.

WINDOWS 9S —Actively supported; manufacturers still supply device drivers.

7. Does the 0$ have built-in support for the internet? How easy h it to hook up to the Net? What steps are involved?

UNUX —Free dialer and TCP/IP software. Must be

shines is adding dnvers (called Extensions or

manually set up for SUP/PPP.

UNIX), minimal. No defragmentation needed.

Auto checkdisk.

WINDOWS NT —Because NT is very stable, there's not much problem with system crashes.

Managers on the Mac). In the Mac, the OS knows what these drivers are and loads them automatically in the correct place on the hard drive (usually the Extensions Folder). just about any online ser-

IWAONTOSH — Mac OS 7.6 enables easy connec-

Users of NT's own NTFS file system, in particular, have a veiy stable system, and find less file frag-

vice has Macextensions, free for the downloading.

Apple also includes a mini-application called

mentation than with standard DOS and Windows systems. Note that no defragmentation utility is included with the operating system, but a free util-

Extension Manager, designed to resolve conflicts between vadous third-party extensions.

OS/2 —Lots of drivers from the Internet. Lots of information on the WWW. Minimal number of

ware, as well as connectivity tools such as PPP , TCP/IP, and ARA. CyberDog technology lets you bring the Internet into your Live Objects-aware documents. This means,for example, that you can connect to live Webpagesusing simple single-but-

ity is available called Diskeeper Lite, from Executive Software.

WINDOWS 3.1 —Shoukf regularly iun a disk-

checking utility to repair lost clustersand occasionally defragment the hard disk The Windows 3.1 swap file may need occasional adjustment. Needs third-party applications to delete unusedprograms.

WINDOWS 9S — Should regularly run a diskchecking utility to repair lost clusters (Windows 95 Plus pack includes aSystem Agent that automates this and other housekeeping) and occasionally defragment the hard disk. Manages its own swap file dynamically. An option to "unin-

tion to the Internet by including the latest versions of the Apple Internet Connectivity Kit, OpenDoc Essentials Kit, Cyberdog, and Open Transport soft-

ton access to the Net. The new OS also includes a

printed magazines.

copyof AOL Canada's software, letting you join

WINDOWS NT — The number of books available on NT 4.0 workstation has been steadily growing since its release last fall. I now count about a dozen

the AOL community as well.

OS/2 —Yes, it has built in support for any ISP (Advantis is IBM's own, but comes with full soft-

aimed at a "general" audience. Windows magazine and Windrxvs5ouices magazine indude the best ongoing information about NT 4.0. Updated drivers areavailable from http: //www.microsOf..corn, where two service packs and several general updates havealso Imn posted.

WINDOWS 3.1~rivers and patchesare available

ware to hook up viaSLIPor PPPto any ISP).Toconnect to Advantis, simply double click on an icon.

For other providers, fill in the blanks (TCP/IP info requIIHf).

WINDOWS NT — TCP/IP and Dial-Up Networking

are included and relatively straightforward to install. NT 4.0 ships with Microsoft Internet

on the Microsoft Web site, plus some online services.

AdvanPlus Computer i um 120

~ PECIA

stem

Intel Pentium PI20-CPU PCI/ISA Mother Board Built-in EIDE Ctrl 256K Pipeline Burst cache 8MB RAM PCI 64bit Video Card 1.3 GB Hard Drive 1.44 MB Floppy Drive Mini-tower Case, 230W PS 104 Win95 Keyboard 2 or 3 button mouse

e680oo

Pentiu PI s S stem

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Gisabyte Pcl/IsA Hx sizx Asus Triton II VX 258K. Asus Triton II HX 256K. Intel Chipset Pentium Pro

with

ard

Pentium 166/200 . p entium pR0 I80/200 ........ . . . . . . . . . . . .

C yrix ax86 120+/1 50+......... . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cyrix 6x86 166+.

AMD sx8610a/133.

EkiisNiIMa W 01.1GB/2.168 EIDE ......... . . . . . . . . . .

WD 2.568/3.1GB EIDE .....

WO 4.0 GB 1.3GB/1.7GB EIOE

z168/2.5GB EIDE 30p 1MB/4MB

72p4MB/8MB EDO .

lzp16MB/32MB EDO DIMM 8M8/16MB DIM 32MB/64NiB 256K/512 pipeline cache SOJ Video RAM IM Win95 104Keyboard Fuiiisu 8725/4725

st m

Intel PentiumP-PRO150/ISO/200 Triton Chipset Motherboard Built-in EIDE Ctrl 256K Pipeline Burst Cache 32MB RAM PCI 64bii Video Card 2.IQGB Hard Drive 1.44 MB Floppy Drive 15"Mid-TowerCaseg30WPS 104 VNn95Keyboard 2 or 3 buttan Mouse

~o o l uerserff 4 PecioI niiiim iz0/133 1 1 Pwc sar-baled stems

'835/f'1053js1299 ' t l 8 $ ' 1488P1688

Pentium Motherboard .

G iiiabyte PCI/ISA VX 512K ......... . . . . . . .

Pentium 100/120 Pentium 133/150

Pen iumP

Intel Pentium 133/166/200 PCI/ISA Mother Board Built-in EIDE Ctrl 256K Pipeline Burst cache 16MB IIAM PCI 64bii Video Card 1.7GB Hard Drive L44MB Floppy Orive Mini-tower Case, 236W PS 104 Win95 Keyboard 2 or 3 Button Mouse

LogitschMouse 2Bi38...................

...$12B Microsoft Mouse .

....1'ro

Qba

....183 1 3/15'ill" w/230W Tower Case ......... . . . .113 1 9/24 w/230w Tower case .......... . . . . ..190 PS Microphone

....258

s20/35 35

$47/57/68 ...78fl04 ..10

S VGA Monitor 14" /15"i17' ....... . . . . . . . . . $240/258 P roview14"/15"/ir.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .328/398 Daytek1 4/15/1T....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .S28/768 S CEPTRE 14"/15"/17...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

959/139S MAG DX 15"2s/.25 .258/289 M AG DX 1T.28/.26/.25......... . . . . . . . . . . .367 NEC 15"G500/SV+ .159/199 Viewsonic is' 15GS .

$239/329/615

$280/325 S s Trio 64bit PCI, 1Ni/2M ........ . . . . , . . . .

..49/69

.460 ATI Mach 640, 1M/zM w/MPEG ........... ,245/272 A T I 3D+2Mi4M w/MP EG .......... . . . . . . . .309/338 A TI 3D+1M/2M w/MPEG,PC2TV......... . .

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.sssisss ss 3D virse 2NI/4Mw/Games .............

ATI pro Turbo 4M/8M, pczTv ......,......

....$12/31 D iamond stl 64D, 1M/zM ................ . .25/44 M atrox Milenis 2W4M WHAM .......... . .

3 v191 M atrox Mvsiqus 3d 2M/4M .......... . . . . .71/109 227/550 Win 95 Full Version .

2saiaw629

.268/347i697 .285g80/$98 .....456/508

ssV835i950 .54sw35 ,510

.Bai130 163/199 18M18 28gg95

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s119

.....20/43 MS-Offic e Pro7 .zas .18 C arel WordPerfect Suite 1 ......,.. . . . . . . ...... . . ..85 MS NT Warkstation 4.0 .289 .sz0 MS Home Bundle (Encarta 97, MS Golf, SolarSystem, 30/60 Works & Money) 55

Limited Quantity, Pricesare cashdiscounted andsubject to change without notice. Call for thecurrent prices.

No. 5-1161, The High Street, Coquitlam(Near Coquitlam Centre) Tel: (604) 942-9633

GIGA-BYTE PCI-ISA Board 256 K PipeLine Burst Cache 16M EDO Ram 3.5" Floppy Drive M3 PCI Video Card wl IM Ram Preview 14" SVGA Monitor 15" Mid Tower Gm wrstem Digitsi 1.268 BIDE Hard Drive Acerl Mitsumi iix CD-Rom Drive soundalastet 16 Bit pnF card wl speaker Fujisu Win95 104-Key Keyboard Loy'tech BusMouse wi Mouse Pad

HerdDrlves

W D. EIDE $50 $2 4 5 W .D. KIBE l.zG $ 2 95 W.D. EIDE 1.6G $ 3 15 W .D. RIM 2.1G $ 3 6 0 W .D. KIDE 2.5G $ 3 9 7 W .D. RIDE 3.1G $ 4 6 0 W.D. RIDE 4.0G SS35

rinters era

aaon BPc-240 Inklct $279 canon Mc-4100Inkictsss7 caaosMc-4z00 InkictQ47 $1543/1591/1651/1831/2179 Kploa styliil 400 sass HP 6$0C lnkjct Q85 System Upgrade Opi1oas: HP 690C Iakjet $410 caI Upg. co la& iiiMX ctU I Jpl. lo 3XM/MMI EDO Race Sn 0 6 3 0 Upg. to lAGIL1CIL5$.IC ILDSSNWIRII85

llyg. In SosadSlaItCr32 PNt Canl $ 7S lip/ ko hlIItox M~I HN N IBcsllllllsl$185I?I5

Upg. to trovicwlAnr Is' INositer Sn oilers Up>. lo hccr/NKCI T' Momtor $ 4 7 %LiO Upg. to IJSR 33.QXXJI Fsl/Mahomet. $1IB lipid. toIJSR53.$XLI VIFO!addaL $195 IJpg. te DX CD-Ross $45

NE c

120MHz Pentium chip-based MB $430 133MHz Pentium chip-basal MB s 470 i SOMHz pentium chipkascd MB s 520 166MHz pentiumchip-bssed MB s 670 200MHz Pentium chip-based MB $960 p6.200 pcntium pro chip -basedMBSI400 i 66MHz pentium MMX based MB s 825 200h9h Pentium MMX basal MB su35

TapeBackup lomega 800MB Int/Ext S i 78/198 lomega 2GB/3.2GB Int $ 250/330 Colorado 800M 1ri/Ex $ 2 1 5/275

Colorado Jumbo1400 Int 1.3G $285 S eagate Tapestor 800 Ini. $ 2 15 Seagate Tapestor Traven 3.2G $315 ZIP/JAZ DRIVE

zip Drive 100M pariscsl

s285

JAZZ Drive 1.06 SCSI INT. s540

Monitors

proview 14", Green $27s preview 15", Green $420 naytck 14", Green Sz ss Nag MXV17/s17" s1050 Acer 15", Green $450 Accr 17", Green $715 NEC VX 17" Grccn $1090

+pl wc'

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HP SL Laser Printer %599 HF 6P Laser Prlnterr $10% HP 5 Laser Printer $ 1 846

Motherboard wICPUA Fan

'Pcnttam ir a ngirrcmd ~aunt ql'

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gym~te~ 5~n ri ~ @ s t . SystemDiagnostic

. System Upgrade o~ +

System Repair

Internet Email Address: eysproiaaxionet.corn

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SALES. UPGRADE. NETWORKING. TRAINING.LEASING

Fax: (604) 942-9613 Mon-Fri 10:00 -6:00 Sat. Sun. 11-5:00. Vancouver Tel: (604) 221-6668

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INTEL

INTEL PENTIUM TYAN PE NT IUM T YAN PENT ZUM TYAN PENTIUM TYAN PE N T Z UM TYAN PENTI U M TYAN PENTIUN

PRO DUAL SOCKS 256K T O M C AT I I D V A L T TOMCAT I I D V A L 512K T O MCAT Z I Z 512K TO M C A T Z Z Z D U A I . 512K TI TAN V X 256K TI T A N V X 256K

(ATX) (ATX)

Z ZPELZNE $ 2 5 9 P IPELIN E $ 2 7 9

P IPELINE $ 2 3 9 P IPELIN E $ 3 1 9 P IPELIN E $ 1 7 9

(ATX)

TYAN PENTZUM PRO T I T A N TYAN PENTIUM PAO TITAN D U A L SOCKST TYAN P EH TI UM P AO T I T AN D U A L SOCKS T (ATX)

$199 $395 $575 $575

MEMO $

4MB 7 2 PIN 4NS 7 2 PZN EDO SMB 72 PZN SMS 72

40

$ •0 $59 $ 59 $119

PIN EDO

16MS 72 PIN 16MS 72 PZN EDO

CIRIX/IBN ZNTEL

INTEL INTEI INTEL

LASE R H L-730DX ( $5 0 MAI L - Z N ) HL-760DX ( $ 5 0 M A I L - Z N ) HL-1260 COLOR 400 (IN-STOCK) COLOR 600 COLOR 8 00 (ZN — STOCK) D ESKJET 3 4 0 DESKJET • 00 D ESKJET 6 8 0 C D ESKJET 6 9 0 C D ESKJET 8 2 0 C X Z D ESKJET 8 7 0 C X I L ASERJET S L L ASERJET S M LASERJET 5 N LASERJET 6 M P LASERJET 6 P LASERJET 5 I ASERJET 5 S I

HP HP HP HP

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2050 2070 OPTRA E

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$ 99 $1 99

$279 309 $555 $219 8 320 $ 435 $ 535 $1330 $ 315 6 399 599 380

$ 239 5 339 $379 $495 $625 $519 $2349 $1979 $1219 $945 $1675 $3599

PRINTER CABLE NOT I N CLUDED "

.'MISC.'.

Yh)NNL H7 SPEAKERS

$30 $30 $ 49 $59 $79 $ 109 $ 100 $235 $35 $59

((N) (OEM) (OEM)

$149 $189 $299 $210 $430

PEHTIUM 133NHE

(RETLZI.) (RETAIL) (RETAIL) $730 (RETAIL) 1848 $5 80 (RETAIL) )84X $S SO

(RETAIL) (RETAIL)

$900 $900

YRWRNLHI5 SPEAKERS YRNRNAH20 SPEAKERS

$99

HIYSUWI 1.

4 FIXIPFY 15" CREE W/200N 15" CLSE W/230N

KTX KTX

17" CASE W/230N 18" CASE N/250W(LYX) 2l" CASE N/200W KYX 2l' CISE W/250N(AYX) IWAGE uCIYECN ORWICaOSOYY SERIAL )NUSK

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$

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MICROTEK MI CROTEK MICROTEK MICROTEK VMAX UMAX VHAX

86 PRO FALTSED 600DPI E6 STANDARD FLATBED 600DPI FIATBED 300DPI E3 IZI FIATBED 1200DPI S6E L I T E FLATBED 300DPI S68 FULL FIATBED 300DPI S 12 LI T E FLATBED 1200DPI S12 FULL PIATBED 1200DPI

HP 4S HP 5P HP 4C KTX

FLATBED 3 0 0 DPI

$119 $139 $179 $149 $399 $169

MITSUMI

MITSUMI

12X

MI TSUNI 16X PANASON I C 12X

12X SCSI 12X 12X SCSI

PLEXTOR PIONEER

$219

$109

PIONEER

$ 1 29

CREATIVE

2X CD RECORDER KIT

YAMAHA

4X CD RECOADEA INT

YAMA SA

4X CD RECORDEREXT

Y AMABL

lX CD R E C O RDER KIT

'CANNE $849 $ 6 59 $ 289 $1S99 399

$ 799 $ 699 6 899 8 279 6 499 $1129 $3l9

BLANK RECORDABLE CD

$599 6 $59 $ 999 6 200 $ 9

KTX 16

$ •9

CREATIVE SOUND SLASTER 16 P N P (OEM) $69 C REATIVE SOUND BLLSTER 3 2 PNP (O EN) $115 CREATIVE SOUND BLASTER AWE6l PNP (BOX) $235 CAEATIVE SOUND BLASTEA AWE64GOLD PNP (BOX)$299 CREATIVE WAVE BI A S T EA I IGAME PACK $139 CREATIVE DI S COVERY AWE64 KIT 8 399 YAMLSA WAVETABLE 199

fgD DR)V FUJITSU FUJITSU FUJITSU PVJITSU QUANTUM QUANTUM

QUANTUM QUANTUM QUANTUM QVANTUN

(M1636TAU) 1. 3GB (M1623TAU) 1 . 7GB (M1624TAU) 2 . 1G B (M1638TAU) 2. 6 GB F IREBALL 1 . 1 GB

(10MS/128K) (1 0 MS/128K) (1 0 MS/12SK) (1 0 MS/128K) (12MS/64K) 1 . 3 G B (10MS/128K) 2 . 1 CB (10MS/128K) 2 . 5GB (10HS/128K) 3 . 1 G B (10MS/128K) 3 . S G B (10NS/128K) 1 . 3 G S (10MS/64K) 1. 6 G S (10MS/128K) 2 . 1 G S (IOMS/128K) 2 . 5 C S (10MS/12SK)

P ZRESLLL

F IREBALL FZREBAIJ. F ZAEBLZJ. F ZREBALL

$2 • 5 $ 2 49 $ 2 99 $ 3 29 $229 245

$289 8 315 $ 365 439 6 259 8 279 8 299

W.D. W.D. W.D. W.D. W.D. W.D.

( AC21200) ( AC21600) ( AC22100) ( AC32500) (AC33100) (AC3• 000)

SEAGATE SEAGATE SSAGATE SELGATE SEAGLTE SEAGLTE SEAGLTE SEACLTE SEAGLTE W.D. N.D. W.D. N.D.

(51080N) 1GS (12MS/256K) NARROW $ 359 (31055N) 1GS (9MS/2S6K) U LTRA 425 ( 310S5W) 1GB (9MS/256K) U . N .

8 560 (321SSN) 2GS (9NS/256K) VITRI 8 645 (321SSW) 2CS ( 9MS/256K) U . W .

8 740 ( 32171N) 2GS (SMS/512K) U I T R L 8 859 ( 32171W) 2GS (SMS/512K) U . W . $ 9 l 9 (34371N) 4CB (SMS/512K) U L TRL $1299 ( 34371W) 4GS (SNS/512K) U . W $1359 (2170-3) 2GB (SMS/512K) N ARRUN 8 825 (2170-7) 2CS (SMS/512K) W ZDE $ S45 (4360-3) 4GS (SMS/512K) N ARROW $1275 (l360-7) 4GS (SMS/512K) WIDE $1325

$335

3 . 1 G S ( 1 0MS/128K) $ 379 • . 1G S (11MS/128K) 8 468 SCSI

ATI 30 EXPRESSION 2MS W/MPEC (OEN) $ 8 8 LTI 3D EXPRESSION 2MS EXP. 4NS N/NPEG (OEN) 6 145 ATI 3D EXPRESSION 2MB EXP. 4NS W/MPEC (MX) 8 18S ATZ 3D EXPRESSION 4MB W/NPEG (OEN) 6 1')5 ATI 3D EXPRESSION 4MS W/MPEG (BOX) 8 210 ATI 3D EXPRESSION 2MB EXP. 4MS W/PC2TV (OEN) 6 155 ATZ 3D EXPRESSION 2NS EXP. 4MS W/PC2TV (MX) 8 189 ATZ 3D EXPRESSION lNS W/PC2TV (OEM) 8 195 ATI 3D EXPRESSION 4NB W/PC2TV (BOX) $219 ATI 3D FRO TUAM 4M B EXP. SMBW/PC2TV (OEN) $239 ATZ 3D PRO TURM N EXP . SNS W/PC2TV (SUZ) 6 249

ATZ 3D PRO TURBO SNB W/FC2TV (OEN) A TI 3D PRO TURM S M S W/PC2TV (BOX) ATI TUNER CAM (MX) MLTROX NILLENZUN 2MS W AAR W /MPE G (BOX) NLTROX NILLEHIUM 4MS WEAN W /MPE G (BOX) MLTROX MILLENIVM VIDEO CAPTURE/MPEG (BOX) (BOX'I HATBOX HI LLEWIUM TV TUNER NLTROX NI LLEW IUM 2MS UPGRADE MODULE (BOX) MLTROX NILLESZUM 4MS UPGRADE MODULE (BOX) MLTROX MILLXNZUM 6 MS UPGRADE MODULE (BOX) N ATROX MYSTZQUE 2 M B SDRAN W/N P E G (BOX) MATROX MYSTIQUE 4N B S DRAN W /M P E G (BOX)

$339

$329

$129 $235 $335 $399 $169 $125 $235 6 330 8 169 6 215 NATROX MYSTIQUE 2 M B UPGRADE MODLUE (BOX) $ 70 83 3D VIRUS 2MB EXP. 4MB W/MPEG (BOX) $ 6 9 STS VELOCITY 3D 4 M B EXP. SMB (BOX) $249 STB LIGSTSPEED 2 MS (BOX) $179 STS POWERGAAPH 64 2MB (BOX) $ 149 TRIDENT 9680 1 NS DRAM W/N PE G (BOX) 6 • 9 TRIDENT 9685 2MS D R A M W/PC2 T V (SOX)$ 6 9 UPGRADE 1MB TO ZMB DRAM $30

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INTEL

$25 • 9

119

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CANON CANON CANON CANON BROTHER BROTHER BROTHER BROTHER EPSON EPSON

$219 $2 19

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CYRIX/ISM

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512K PIPEL INE $ 1 7 9 256K PIPELINE $ 1 6 5

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Explorer 2.0, an obsolete version, but it is easy to obtain copies of either IE 3.01 or Netscape Navigator.

WINDOWS 3.1 — No Internet support, must obtain add-ins.

WINDOWS 9S — All necessary software included.

8. What sort of security is available for the OS? LINUX — Everything. It has full user and fi!e-system security.

MACINTOSH — Apple sells At Ease, a product designed to keep prying eyes away from important files on your Mac. It's targeted at classroom and family environments, but can be defeated relatively easily by someone who know a bit of Mac programming. There are lots of third-party security-software packages that do a great job at keeping all but the most determined hacker away from your Mac files —probably about the best you can hope for in a microcomputer environment, QS/2 —Basic password. Lots of third-party software.

In a non-networked environment, OS/2 is similar to Win95 as you can have the operating system ask you for a password before you can access the

or open folders without a password) and you can prevent others from altering your Desktop.

WINDOWS NT — NT is designed with a great deal of security built in. Users must log in when starting up. The optional NTFS file system provides security down to the individual-file level, as well as excellent disaster-recovery features.

WINDOWS 3.1 —Windows for Workgroups (3,1 or 3.11) has user login, which can be easily bypassed. User login is not a feature of the standard Windows 3.1. There is third-party software available that will protect files and lock the PC. WINDOWS 9$ —Security is limited to user login that can be easily bypassed. Users can define different personal setups and access them by logging in. Screen savers can be password protected to prevent passers-by from accessing the system while it's unattended, but this is easily defeated by rebooting. There is third-party software available that will protect files and lock the PC.

9. Does your system have complete power management for notebook computers?

UNUX — No.

out). You can, of course, boot from floppy disk (if the BIOS is set to A:, C: not C:, A:) and then access everything. Note that DOS-bootable disks cannot read HPFSfile systems without third-party software.

Third-party software includes password protection

MACINTOSH — Yes. All Macs (laptop and desktop models) now come with technology that puts them to "sleep" during periods of inactivity, saving power and excess computer use.

OS/2 —Full support.

WINDOWS NT — No (this has been promised for NT 5.0). Some individual notebook manufacturers are selling customized versions of NT, with power-

for folders and icons (i.e., can't run some software

management support for their individual models.

machine (screen, keyboard, and rreuse are locked

WINDOWS 3.1 —Yes, with additional Advanced Power Management drivers.

WINDOWS 9S — Yes.

10. 0$ prices for individual client versions for desktop and/or upgrades.

LINUX —Available fof free on the Net! Distribution on CD-ROM can cost $50.

MACINTOSH — The Mac OS comes preloaded with every Mac. The estimated retail price of the Mac OS 7.6 in Canada is $129 for the CD-ROM version and $159 for the floppy version. Current customers using 7.5.x can upgrade to the new version for $99 for the CD-ROM version and $129 for the floppy version. You can call 1-800-361-6075 and you' ll have to have proof of ownership.

If you bought a qualifying Macintosh or Mac OScompatible computer after November 1, 1996, and don't have the new software installed, you can upgrade for a special price of US$9.95 (plus shipping and handling). For more information, visit Apple's special upgrade site at http: //www. macos.

apple.corn/macos/releases/fulfillment.corn or by calling the Mac OS upgrade line at 1-800-335-9258, OS/2 —Upgrade for about $150. Full version $190.

WINDOWS NT —NT Workstation: $390 ($190 upgrade from earlier NT version). NT Server. $1,008 with 5-client license; $1,399 with 10-client license (upgrades from earlier versions are about half those prices); $45 per additional client.

WINDOWS 3.1 —If you can find it, about $179 (needs MS-DOS).

WINDOWS for about $149. Full version for about $239.

upgrade

MICHAEL'S QONIIsUTER SHOP • Computer Hardzvare at Liquidution Prices •

Com lete Multimedia ci stems P'il33 $1300

LINUX —Linux is always being updated. It is jokingly referred to as the "patch of the week club."

There are always new drivers. Improved Plug and

Play.

MACINTOSH — Apple has a two-pronged strategy to move its customer base into a new OS. It will continue, in six-month intervals, an incremental upgrade with its current OS. In less than a year, Apple will also start moving to a new operating system, code-named Rhapsody. Apple says its developers will see preliminary versions of this new OS in a few months.

OS/2 —Warp 4.1 due soon, 5.0 next year. More network stuff, enhanced java, Web browser interface, new file system (jFS).

WINDOWS NT — NT 5.0 is currently beginning beta-testing. Biggest change for home users would be implementation of Windows Driver Model, merging NT and Win95 drivers, along with additional Plug and Play support. This version will add

the next version of Internet Explorer (4.0) as an optional desktop (so-called Active Desktop).

WINDOWS 3.1 —Windows 3,1 is dead as far as

Microsoft is concerned WINDOWS 95 — The upgrade path will eventually merge code bases with NT, although Microsoft claims there will always be the two flavours, at least in the foreseeable future. The interface will change to a browser-based look and feel, with hypertext links, the file system to one that handles large disk drives better (the current FAT disk format wastes a

lot of space on big drives). +

OK...so what's al! this bun about the Internet?

Newspapers, Radio, TV, all your friends ... everyone is talking about the excitement of the

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Inter net and you feellikethe last person on earth who doesn' t understand what its all about.

Like any ifitell gent individual, you don't want to ruSh into anything without some sort of basic knowledge, but you' re asking yourself "where do I start?". Let Us assure you that you' re not alone. That' s exactly why we' ve created, by popular demand. our free "Iiitrodudios io the Internet" seminars. Our evening course is aii overview of the Net, designed to give you the framework you will need tomake an educated decision about going on-line. The best part?

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Adobe Photoshop a joy year-round • • By BRANDI JASMINE •• All I w anted for Christmas was Adobe PhotosboP 4.0.When it finaily arrived, I was not disappointed: the new version of Pbotosbop clearly is "the worlhstandaxd photo design and piaduction tool".

Version 4.0 builds on a solid foundation of past triumphs Sam Adobe. The pmgxam is still intuitive and easy to grasp, despite the wealth

with the desktop ~ er i n mind, it is rapidly carving out a niche with Webbased arusts and designers. A series of tools can now automate or simplify steps that must be repeated, as in the case of editing images to be pxepanxl for Webbased animation (animated GIFs).

Photoshop does not ofier a compiler for animated GIF pmduction in version 4.0, however.

Instead, its action macxos record a sequence of editing steps as anAction list. The macm can be

In addition, new file-format support in Pbotosbop 4.0 provides users with a broad range of Web file formats, induding Portable Network Graphics (PNG), progressive Joint Photographic Experts Gmup (IPEG), and the Adobe Poriable Document Format (PDF) There i s a b u i lt-in GIF%9a export fi l ter t h at Webmasters'can use to create "invisible" backgrounds for Web.page buttons and graphics.

The palette for creating invisible backgrounds

of tools placed in Sant of new users. More

applied to another image or a batch of files;

permits the arust to define any number of

experienced users will find that the interface lxas changed little, but the assortment of toys for "the camera for your mind" have multiplied.

Photoshop can be either a serious design tool for the committed artist, or an excpensive toy for the playful dabbler, but its appeal reaches across the spectrum.

New adjustment layers are one major enhancement in version 4.0. They allow users to apply colour corrections without permanently changing the oxiginaL Commands such as levels, curves, colour balance, brightness,and contrast can be changed within the layers, and each will affect the hyers below. Adjustment layers can be hidden or discanied as well as moved up or down to aflect differen layers. It' s now a simple on~p o peration to flatten layers.

which can be exported for use in animation prgxams. In addition, Action lists can be altered with drag~ddmp edits. Pbotosbop's layering protocol simplifies the job of editing frune-byframe motion, and switching backgmund lxnages.

Version 4.0 adds other features that increase productivity, such as streamlined image xetouching, Se conversion, Ster operations, and batch processing of multiple images.

Pbotaxbop 4.0 doubles the number of artistic filters offere in the pmgxam.There are now 95 built-in filter and creative effects.

The new version will also enhance the ability to move acmss Adobe's pmprietary graphics applications, such a s Ill u s trator a n d PageMaker. The new version expands common terminology, shortcut keys, menu strucnue, and the tab palette design shared among Adobe pmducts.

colours as "invisible," thus leading to greater darity with some borders.

Adobe Photoshop version 4.0 ships on CD. ROM and includes an interactive tutorial CDROM, stock photography, sample plug-ins, a digital gallery, and Adobe tryout software.

Registered owners of any previous full version can purchase version 4.0 upgrade for $149.

Upgrades from PhotosboP LE to the full version 4.0 are available for $199 (prices axe US dollars).

The version 4.0 imagewditing upgrade sup. ports the Windows 3.1,Windows 95,Windows NT,Macintosh,and Power Macintosh platforms.

There is one drawback to this powerhouse of

Spinning Web with ease While Photo-shop was o iginally designed

By BRAND/ jASMINE

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P hot o s h o p p lug- in s a d d f u n

,,'jw""' hen you hear the word "pl

ains,"

you pmbably think of Internet bmwsxx addons such as ShaChwxxveor Java,but plug-ins come for a vaxfetyorotherpmgrams as welL "PIugins" can be made by. the manufacturer, but axe most ofixxx ibund in' the form of unique Stets created by' InxSvidual users. Imagosoftwaxe ptugins can help you instantly create buttons, or badrgmund Sh,and while you have to have some imagfnatiotx, it doesn't take much skill to pmduce xealy stun-

doscope patterns, dash, metallic Sters, crys. tsl bails, tfies,xnosaics,and more.Filter Factory Sisa pxogmn that helps)ou ters for Pbotosbop.

'Other places to fry indude ThePbotarhop Sites page, Alien Skin Software, and PC Resources for Pbcrtnxbop. +

cafe yourow n

.

ningimagesonceyouhave.agood selectionof fiftexs to phy with.

If you have Photosbop 3,0or lower„your first stop should beAdobe'sWeb site.Hen".,you can pick up a conversion pmgram to create transparent GIFs for your Web site, pkathxxn-independent nondithering palettes,and updates to . the pmgxam. The site is busy and sufiexs netcxawl, so be patient if you want the toys, Many of the Ptug4ns created for Photos&op also work in th e shaxeware alternative, Prrtrxtsbop Pro. You can download ESP at CNEl"s Shaxevnue.Com or on TUCOWS as welL This $69 pmgxam functioxxs much like Pbotosbop, but at a value price. Some also work in Micrograph/x Publiker and Coxef Pbotoprairxt,and there axe spedal plug.ins fbr

MacPhotadxpuuxscanpick upptulfeis snd filte at the Phi9psge, indudin9PhotoGF2.0, a RleFormatpl ugsfor Mac Phofoihop3>that indudexfull supportfor creating and editing CIF animsboiu.

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htttu//ww'ur.adobe.aim/ hNjrtjfwirrajaxs,~ CIST,'.s'Shaxsurare,Osxr, lattuIrlwww.shaiuiiaxe.:eeux/.

VIIONI lxetlrlrrwww,tucews,coul/ Aixskst phry.lus hjfflrl'lwwsLsiixsu.corri/ TheFilterraxtorfr Coxuperxliiux Site ,

Acrobat.

Fun Factory My fhvoxfte collection of Stets is located on the Filter Factory Compendium Site. Tops on the Webmaster's list will be xound- and squaxebutton makers, as wem as Stets to cteate kaid.

%Ital g@l $eftwau .hjwehw/sfdn.htuil ' Iftttuf/wrwi.~ or u u/'. httli;pwww,,aettus,x Iet/sixoweaae/uiolf BSfr/

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a program: it xequixes a powerhouse computer. Minimum requirements for the Windows version axe a 486 with 16 MB RAM and 25 MB available h mklrive space% Pentium with 32 MB is recommended.

Photoshop is a serious investment for a dedicated artist, and, as we all know, an artist is only as good as his or her tools. + Brandi Jasmine can bereachedat jasmine@direct.corn Photoxhop 4.0,from Adobe. Windows or Mac CD-ROM. $895. Formoreinformation, visit http: // www.adobe.corn/

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should occupy with the computer formatting it to • • By LEE LESTER •• do so, and Easy Envelope, which brings an enveIn the days of DOS, Wonff~ r u l ed the woxkL lope on screen to make pladng an address a dnch.As well, WFs Grunmatik gnunmar checker, WhenWindows xaaxed in, however, WP went into a is still the best amund. tailspin fiam which, under the aegis of new owner Coxel, it bas only just suuted to emerge.

Kitchen-sink approach Curiously, at the samedme,MicxoxoP Worxf, which The latest version (also called 3.5, just to make had held the pole posiuon in the Madntosh wodd, things dear) retains those features. Corel, in its began to slide The reason was simple. Micxosofi tried typical fashion, however, has added a raft of clipto make the Windows and Mac manifestations of its art images — 5,400 — plus 200 photos and 150 word processor as alike as possible. Offended TrueType fonts. Its spellchecker features on-theMacheads didn't want to be like those Windows fly corrections. Also i n t h e p a ckage is types, though. For them, there was a beuer way of MasterJaggler Prato manage fonts, applications, doing things. They also just bated the huge amount sounds, and function keys. of disk space and memory occupied by Bill Gates's While WP comes with a US English dictionary baby. Many complained that %bnf was sko-w. and thesaurus, UK English, German, French, and When I compaxed the two pmducts, overall I Spanish versions are freely available on Coxel's preferred WP Due to Worxt'slinks with its O WWW site. suite companions such asExcel and PbwerPoirxt, One oddity I encountered in the Coxel version however, and because most of the publications I was that adjacent puagayhs were often highlightwrite for demanded Wont files (plus some annoyed in addition to the one ~ alt h ough only the ing minor glitches in WP), I was led to largely one selected responded to the operational comremain with the Microsoft product mand. Carel says a downloadablefix is available on its Web site. Another curiosity is that WP doesn' t Minor changes open documents fiam as many sources asWont.

Soon after Coxel bought WP Sam Novell, it WP3.5 is fast and its host of features makes it released its version of WP for the Mac. Other than a a prime contender as the word processor of new splash screen shown when the pmgram is choice for the Mac. It is due to become even betlaunched, little is different Som its predecessor. ter in the spring, when a new version will leverNo>all WP 3.5 wasthe first Mac word processor age OpenDoc technology, enabling users to link to feanue the ability to transform documents into the power of their processor to spxeadsheeting, HTML format for publication on the World Wide ,Web browsing and authoring, and other Web or to change HTML documents into woxdspecialized applications. processor format. It was also the first to include IFbrxQbffect doesn't have the sheer power of, say Apple's MacinTalk technology to have all or part NisusWrlter. Nor does it have the simplicity of of a document spoken by the computer.

WorfdWrtk. But anyone needing a standalone wonl Bookmaxks linking parts of a document to other pmcessor, without an overwhelming demand for places in the same document or in different docu%ban,(e.g.,those who do notneed Mr'crlojt Once ments were another neat feature.They can also be suite links, or have a shortage of disk drive space), linked to WWW axklxesses.Yet another firstwasthe should give WP a dose onceover. + indusion of AppleGuide, which leads help seekers thmugh the tasks they wish to accomplish Wordperfect for Macintosh version 35, from Corel, $239 Then there was "Make it Fit," which enables a ($175 upgrade). user to stipulate the number of pages a document

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e O Wo 0 Ce Sui eS: Micsro oft0ffice97andLotusSmartSuite97 Lotus &eelance remains perhaps the easiest presentation graphics progrtm in any of the suites, while still offering a range of power features. Its range of SmartMasters makes it simple to create an attractive slideshow.

IJnlike the competition from Microsoft and

Perhaps the single most common application on comput-

ers today is an office suite — a collection of common business programs from a si n gle company. By bundling a word processor, a spreadsheet, a presentation-graphics

Corel, there is oiiiy one version of Lotus's suite — users don't pay extra to get a data-

program, and perhaps a database, companies hope to

base.Approucb is also designed for ease of use, but in this case trades some potential

l ock customers i nt o s t i c k i n g w i t h a s i n g l e p r o duct l i n e .

power to be the friendliest database in its chss. Still, it's probably powerful enough for most users, and is well linked to 1-2-3 and makes an attractive front-end for large data-

• • By ALAN ZISMAN• •

a common project, and as a result, sharing documents. Both offer an increasingly standardized interface across all suite members, and a common macro language, Visual Basic for Applications in Micmsoft Office, and LotusScript in SmartSuite 97.

Along with t h e C orel p roducts, each increasingly has borrowed" the best ideas from its competitors. The word processors aU feature real-time spell checking, my favourite feature of this generation of softwate, where spelling errors are highlighted as you type (a feature that originated with Lotus Word Pro).

The spreadsheets all offer 3D worksheets (horn Lotus 1-2-3 amiori 3), with tabs to easily switch from page to page (from Quallro Pm).

There are three contenders: Microsoft has built up a comfortable lead in suite sales with its Microsoft 0+ce, holding an estimated 85 per cent of the current market. Lotus's SmartSuite has about 5 per cent, while suites featuring WordPerfect and other products initially developed by Borland(Quauro Pro spreadsheet and Paradox database), now owned by Ottawa's Corel, have what' s left. And it's a big market — some estimates suggest that Oncebrings in f2 billion in annual revenues to Microsoft.

Januarybrought a new version ofMt crosop Ogfce,in a number of versions, while Lotus SmartSuite 97 has just become available.

Let's take a look at the latest contenders.

SmartSuite for teamwork Even identical twins have their own personalities, however.

Despite its low market share, SmartSuite 97 has a number of strong features.

WorriPro, its word processor, offers easier page-layout features than any of its competitors. This version even allows text to flow between frames — like a desktop-publishing program. And this version has been optimized, improving the performance of earlier verslolls.

1-2-3, the venerable spreadsheet, has been modernized as well, and finally has been upgraded to a fully 32-bit version. There's a nice new AutoTotal feature — just type the word 'Total' in a cell, and a sum formula will be automatically created — and it's generally the right one, too.

They look alike, they act alike...

The stUf competition for office-suite cus. tomers has produced, products with a lot of similarities. Both suites are for Windows 95 and NT only — users of other operating systems and coinputers are left out in the cold, having to make do with older versions. Mac users will get an equivalent version of Micnzvoft O~eventuaUy.And despite Lotus's IBM connection, the new releaseof Lotus SmartSuite for OS/2, is more comparable to last year' s SmartSuiie 96.

Both suites ate big products — requiring a powerful processor, lots of RAM, and lots of hardi e space. Think Pentium and 16 MB of RAM as the minimum acceptable platform.

Both products add Internet features, and support for workgroups — teams working on

•

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bases h<>used across a network or on a mainframe. Also attractive and easy to use is the Organizer personal information manager, with its intuitive "day-timer" look.

All productsshare an Infobox feature,a quick and easy way to get important information via a small, tabbed, floating dialogue box that conveniently holds the most used properties for whatever you*re working on.

Lotus has found the Internet.AU applications can save in HTML (Web page) format, and can save to an Internet FTP or Web site. But perhaps more important to Lotus are links to the company'sNotes — apowerful, network-based environment for sharing information and collaborating on projects. AU applications are designedto work well with Notes,and offer a wealth of functions to support workgroup computing, such as revision control.

Smart5uite has some attractive individual applications and is a strong choice for users on Notesnetworks, or working on team projects. A fully functional, 45-day time-limited trial version is available for free from Lotus; contact them at http: //www.lotus.corn/

Microsoft' CNice:The one to beat Because of its dominant role in office-suite sales, a new version of Microsoft O@ceis big news.Ogice 97 effectively defines this generation of suite software. It comes in a variety of versions, including a standard version, a professional version that adds the Access database, a developer version, and a new smallbusiness version that drops the RxverPbint presentation program in favour of a copy of the Publisher 97 d esktop-publishing pro-

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gram.AU versions also feature the Word word processor and the Excel spreadsheet.

There are two major features that will be new to long-time Microsoft Onceusers.

Office Assistant is a small, on-screen box featuring a cartoon character (by default, a paper cUp, but optionally an Einstein clone, or other chancters). It keeps an eye on your work, and offers tips when it thinks appropriate. I generagy find such features more annoying than useful, and tend to turn them off. I have been finding OA's paperclip surprisingly likable, however — I think I'U keep it around.

In usability tests, Microsoft found that users often were unaware of potentially useful features in the software that they already owned, such as Word's business-letter wizard. The Office Assistant notices when you start to type a letter, offering to run the wizard. Score a point for finally making fuU-functionedsoftware more approachable.

The other big addition is Oullook — a much more powerful personal information manager than theSchedule Plus program included in older versions. Adding contactmanagement and even project-management features, it could serve as the centrepiece on some users'computers— they ran attach shortcuts to documents to the calendar or address book, keeping contacts, appointments,and even documents connected and easily accessed. It even does e-mail.

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secure files to anyone, anywhere. Available for Windows 3.x,95 and NT, check it out at

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Be free Transparent Language Inc have released Easy Translator for Win-docvs,a versatile translation software program that quickly translates text, e-mail, and Web pages in Spanish,French, and German to and from English. It has a suggested price of US$49.

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Vision X Software has recently released the "365 Days of The Secret Diary of Bill Gates," computer calendar,which features the personal journal of the "richest most powerful man in the world." Download a free copy of this or other daily calendars from http: //www.visionx.corn/

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Designed as an educational tool, it has a MSRP of US$29.95. ISBN 087930-436-7.Ask for it at your local bookstore, or call R&D Books at (913) 841-1631.

Sight solutions Visionware spec ialists Eye2Eye Inc. have introduced Solutions In Sigbt, the first comprehensive visual ergonomic software and remedial treatment program alleviating Computer Vision Syndrome. Solutions In * ., «r t maximizes a comSigh puter user's visual comfort by utilizing the Color Optimizer software (for better sereen colour choices), Vision Break software (to prompt users to

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Get Wfrerf, You' re Hfred is laid out in four parts. Part One offers a close look at the effect of a rapidly shifting econ oinic climate a n d t h e changing nature of work itself, an examination of how these changes have affected the ways in which people look for work, and what Swartz calls a "basic priiner" of online work-search tools.

Parts Two and Three get down to the nitty-gritty. First, Swartz guides the r eader through a q u ic k c o urse i n career planning, including pointers to online career tests and self-evaluations. Then, there are detailed markers to how to create marketing materials and target those specific industries and companies relevant to the reader' s job search.

Part Three focuses on networking into "the hidden job m arket" that, according to Swartz,comprises up to 80 per cent of all job opportunities, explains how to job hunt online (using the Web, mailing lists, and Usenet

Part Four is about "Staying Wired and Hired," the author's exhortation to stay in touch with constant change and new opportunities via the Net. True to the spirit and title of the book, a "Get Wired, You' re Hired" Web site will give readers an updated list of I n ternetbased resources, technology updates, and a bonus chapter to the book.

The book is a clearly written and comprehensive guide to a world that' s n ew an d s o m ewhat t h reatening t o many. It deserves pride of place on the bookshelf of anyone who's serious about making wise career choices. +

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ately,notebook computers have been getting bulked up like Arnold Schwartzenegger. You need Arnie's muscles to haul them around, too.The Compaq Armada 4120T tries to take some of the load offyour shoulder with a modular design that starts slim and lets you add pieces as required until. you have a

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The basic machine is under 2 inches thick, and weighs less than 5 pounds. You add a pound by attaching a carrying handle that doubles as both a handy swive14own foot and the holder for the main battery, a cylinder similar to that pioneered by Digital in

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The keyboard has large, flat keys with a fairly firm touch (harder than I like, but preferred keyboard feel is a personal thing).

People with large hands will enjoy this keyboard, while small-flngered folk may find distances to peripheral keys excessive. Four user-programmable buttons can be either the special Windows 95 keys, or can be used to launch frequently used applications.

There are i n dicator hghts for power and >o forth, but disk activity lights are omitted. Ports includes the usual sci, plus NTSC/PAL output for TV or composite ,4.

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its HiNote series. An optional cli~n multimedia expansion unit brings the beast up to a desktop equivalent in power, and 8.2 pounds in weight. And so on.

The review unit consisted of the base computer, with included carrying handle, that's no slouch in the power department: a 120 MHz Pentium with 1.08 GB hard drive and 16 MB RAM (expandable to 48 MB). It' s a large, flat box (11.4 x 10.2 x 1.49 inches), with an 11.8-inch TFT screen that displays 64,000 colours at 800 x 600 resolution. On an external monitor, it's capable of 1024 x 768. The image is bright and clear,as one would expect ofa TFT screen, and MPEG capability is built in.

P L A Y ERI 1

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The Armada gets about 2 5 hours use p e r charge from its LithiumIon main battery, hut you can extend that hy substituting a second battery for the floppy drive (yet a third fits into the CD expansion unit).You can still use diskettes, too, by attaching the floppy drive to the parallel port with an optional cable.

The manual is especially good, with a full explanation of system error codes, pinouis for all ports, troubleshooting instructions, and operating instructions for both the computer and peripherals.

Overall, the Armada 412QT is a thoroughly decent machine for the busy road warrior.+

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Mo restfor the wickecI7 Counter to the current trend, there's no palmrest to speak of, just the space below the keyboard where the touchpad pointing device resides. Stereo speakers live at the bottom right and left corners of this area as well. If you hate touchpads, this one can be user replaced with an optical trackball.

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Armada dlXOT notebook computer, from Compari. 53,ppp. Comes with Windows 9$, nefscepo ~ , 6 5 Amno neck, Iesb Naaosr, , Ysko Venr nese5hot, LapLInk, Inst Connect, and , Compmi ntnnteLfer further information, visit ,. Compsnl'sWebsne at hetpi//www.comport.coin/

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c ont i n u e d f r o m p ag e ~ Of course, aU the included applications have also been updated. The OfficeArt dniwing module now does;dl niany users will need, whue Wurd'snew tablefeatures are especially nice: you can now litecauy draw a table. There' s

more autoformatiing, and a real-time grammar checker. Lxcet has improved its naturd language abilities: you can make a formula that reads "Profit =Revenue-Expenses." Ii adds a mapping feature, catching up with Lotus t-2-3 in that regard.

A gain, Internet support i s p ar t o f a l l

programs — all can save i n H T M L , o r embed Web hotlinks. Applications support group p r oj e c ts , al th o u gh L otu s SmcrrtSrrite's gr o upwork f e a t ures a r e more powerful.

IVord has learned to control for the increasingly common macro viruses — an important securityimprovement. Unfortunately, new fea-

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Nhenyou sell a - Sceptre Soundx4000, your customers won't hear this:

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Call now and wo will send you a FREE one year membershiptotheSCEFTRE TRAVEL CLUB (valued at 24,95) soyourmemborshi pi mmedia telyto take advantage of exclusive discounts unavailable to the general public. Whether your plans include business orpleasure travel you will benefit from instant worldwide travel savings on afirfares, hotels~ '. -%urs and

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Trading stocks and commodities is a complex business. If you' re trading for personal gain, you should know about Personal Hotlfne fro m Tren d setter Software. While th e p r ogram can't give you insider stock tips, it can help you plan your personal buying-and-selling strate-

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The software includes a wide variety of features, including data capture and management, graphing and c harting, and trend-line analysis. You' ll also find indicators, oscillators, and just about anyanalysisstudy you can imagine.

One of Pe rsonal Hotline's strongest features is its charting tools. When you' re analyzing stocks, charts are used for technical analysis, offering a visual aid to figuring out trend and market action. The old saying that a picture's worth a thousand words is certainly true when it comes to stock-market trad~ A quick glance at a chart of historical information shows you when you should have bought or sold. It's customizable, allowing you to create custom charting in virtually any type or time format with all the bells and whistles you' re likely to want.

and receive a free one year membership in die SceptreTravel Club, a $24.95 value.

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I know what you' re thinking: "so what? Hindsight is alway» 20/20 and you can't go back in time even with an impressive software program." That's true, but the right tools and a little work on your part can help you to understand what the market is likely to do «eat. That's what professional stock analysts do and that's why they get paid the b ig b ucks. No w y o u c a n decrease the risk of playing the stock market and, hopefully, increase your profits. +

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H m u s i c i a n 's t r e a s u r e • • By DAVID ANDERSON • • Here are three very distinct ways to use the capabilities of the CD-ROM format to celebrate music.

F irst, l e t ' s lo o k at /Ves s r B e r at Trancemission fo r W i n d ows 9 5, b y Microforum. This is a fascinating collection of sound generators and editing applets„ joined together in a very sensible new-age environment. The basic idea of this program is to create dance rhythms like those heard in today's cool electronic dance clubs.

The CD-ROM comes with a large library of effects, drum rhythms, conga patterns, two- and four-bar bongo fills, scratch riffs, organ, synth, guitar, and electric bass patterns. The user gets to call them up in prerecorded songs, and play mix engineer, or it is possible to call up each individual voicing or sound module, and sequence it into a completely original dance mix.

The main mixing console is difficult to describe, except to say that there are 20 buttons, with on/off LEDs, which control the presence or absence of any given sound.There are also four play/record controls, which permit the multitracking of up to four simultaneous tracks in one song.

There are no Microsoft-type menus, but the controls are intuitive enough to make sense after a while.

Basically, you load sound files, save the

stereo out of the closet and plug it in to your sound card. Give yourself a real blast!

Tahe another little piece of my hard drive, baby (oops, wrong

Joplin)

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are beautifully keyed to the era, and the interface is smooth as silk.

The program contains an overview of the history and basic structure of ragtime, as well

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Next comes Total Joplin, by Sunhawk Corporation of Seattle, Washington, also for Windows 95. This is a very handsome collection of music, history, images, and a bit of theory concerning the ragtime piano music written by Scott Joplin. The visuals

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layouts, play them in a sequencer, and save the resulting mix.

If this was all it d id, Trancemission would be a must-have for any electronic musician with a Pentiumwlass machine (16 MB RAM minimum) and a fat-sounding audio system, such as a wave-table card and a sub-woofer.

There's more, however.Trancemission happens to contain a very sensible drum machine, with oodles of effects and halfdecent drum sounds. There are three snare sounds, three bass drum sounds, and some very decent hi-hat sounds. The interface is an education in music theory just looking at it. The sounds are punched in or out with a mouse click. Save the pattern as a WAV file, and pick it up in the main console as part of a new dance mix.

Still not impressed? Then open the drum pattern with Sound Warp, a WAV flle editor, and add echo, or reverse fl ange, or both. Or pick up a microphone, and create a voice pattern to sequence into your masterpiece.AII in all, this is one adventurous piece of code, and the sounds are hot enough to get your old

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own. I have captured several for wallpaper.

In addition, the program contains the fascinating Solero Music Viewer, also by Sunhawk, which loads any song and plays it with a bouncing ball, at any tempo, and prints it out flawlessly. I asked my pianostudent wife to look at it, and she was transfixed, watching the bouncing ball (a dot, really) as i t s l i d t h r ough Joplin's

f r om pa geSB

as a biography of Joplin's life and times. The principal feature of the disk is the play list of songs. Each song plays in its entirety, with great sound, and comes with liner notes and, where available, the original sheet music covers, which are truly beautiful on their

n ite

arrangements. As w i t h Tr a r r cemtssion, this program has the ability to support the learning of music theory. You might know what a drag triplet is, but when you can see and hear one being played on piano, you can easily see how it is w r i tten, and how it is played correctly.

Needs tuning Finally, the bottom-of-the-barrel award

om ut e r s

goes to a real heavyweight of Windows shovelware, Cl a ssical N o t e s, b y Dr. Richard E. Rodda. Dry, boring, and packed with text, I predict that this disk will die a quick and painless death.

Classical Notes is an attempt at an encyclopedia of classical music, with some s ound samples and a f e w w e i r d p h otographs of drum parts and French horns.

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Any Microsoft classical music CD-ROM is stunning next to t his earnest endeavour. Classical Notes contains the ~o r st sound I have ever heard, but the sound clips are only intended to motivate the music student to seek out the real thing.

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TOtal /OPNn. If Classical Notes was my f ir st contact with classical music, I would never have t hrilled t o t h e s o aring melodies of L a Boheme, or trembled at the majesty of Stravinsky. Please, Dr. Rodda, upgrade your sound cardi David Anderson is apart-time casual musician, and anelementary-schoolcompu ter teacher. He can be reachedat david anderson@mindiink.boca +

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• • By JEFF BUCKSTEIN •• The softwate is user Iriendly, with a "smart search" that can be otgaaized by simply typing in a topic of interest; the program then scans to locate related articles from the encydopedis, or, if applicable, one of the approximately 400 articles available from links to kfacfeans magazine,The software also features a chmnological Timeline, with over 3,400 references, from the t ime d inosaurs ruled the Earth, to the 1996 calendar year, from which related references and articles can be recalled.

Moving pictures The media browser is perhaps the most exciting aspect of this software. It enables the user to access over 4,200 sundry items, ananged as either maps, graphs, photographs, or audio/visual dips. The film dips date from the First World War to t h e p r esent day. For instance, you can relive Donovsn Bailey' s world recotd 100 metre dash in the 1996 Olympics, or watch Paul Hejaderson's winning goal against the Soviet Union in 1972.

For entertainment, listen to s comedy sketch ham Air Farce, or Wayne and Shuster, or a teenaged Paul Anka singing "Diana." In many instances, voice recotdijkgs can be activated over still photographs, For instance, viewers can also listen to the voices of Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro, as they read from their novels.

One tip, though. When installing the Quick Time for Windows option, which activates the multimedia capability, I strongly recommend enacting the calibrktion (an optional exetcise) to ensute your fiim stays centered on the screen. I Iaiied to do that during my first installation, and as a result, lost the synchronization of my pictute on the screen, forcing me to reload the software. ybe 1997 Canadian E ncyclopedia Plus is an excellent piece of educational softwate for all ages. ieff Sjjckstein is afreelance writer. Youcanwrite to him at Isucks058oaol.corn +

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Upda t in g • • By STEVE BAIN •

•

In today's software world, keeping pace with software improvanents usually means hunting for updates and patches.

Updates normally result fiom two things:new or changing technology (read: new operating systems) or inadequately tested pxogxaxnming code (xead: sloppy softxvaxe) allowed into production for one reason or another. Updates are ruely "gifts" from developers for being a good customer~d, for those users who think they' ll simply load their software and sit pretty for years, think again. Today's computer technology developers have reduced yesterday*s years io

months or even weeks.

Update, upgrade,patch, or build?

Thae was a time in the early days of mass. market softwaxe when updates were genaated fiom massive amounts of negative feedlxack (complaints) about a pxogrun's inadequacies.

Today, it's not uncommon to see a pxogram update — or maintenance release — shortly after the software hits the shelves. While full versions are measured in full increments (version 1.0, 2.0, and so on), maintenance teleases ate often measured in decimal increments.

Occasionagydeveiopas willxefasesaktwmnum. baed in a half or thiidvasion inaemass (Le., &gsxxxafxxr 65 or Qcauk XPiea aeakm 3.3).lhese ace xefaxed to as"upfyacles instead af upchaes,and, uxxfoxtunatxfy,upy:ides xequixe apuxdxase.

y o u r s o f t vvare Other companies continue to develop their software even after the Snal code has gone out the hant door to production, and hide their maintenance handiwork by disguising updates as pxoduafon improvements in the form of new software "buHds."A build is the most recent version of code put into pxoduction. Recent software builds can often be obtained cHxectly from the developer, and usually take the form of what is referred to as a "patches."

these corn~ i les have been dowxx~ it's usually a simple pmceduxe to expand them into a new folder and launch the update executable.

What's in store?

The ability to distribute software updates or revisions electxonicaHy via the Internet or intranet networks is an appealing prospect for developers. It allows quick and easy distribution of softwaxe changes. Perhaps in the very near How is updating done? future, having to hunt for patches on the Internet wiH be become a thing of the past.

If you lack Web access, software patches can Roughly a year ago, a company called be as simple as a totWxee phone caH away, but Marimba was formed b y f o u r e x-Sun the key is in knowing if an update is even availMicxosptems employees, who werc key playable. Without an Internet connection,you could ers in the invention of the Java programming end up waiting weeks or even months for a disk to arrive by xeguhr maiL For Webequipped language. Marimba has since masterminded users though, nearly aH ~ ate made avail- new technology they call "Castanet," which is attxacting the attention of major developers able through software company sites. such as N e tscape, Corel, L otus, and Downloading a patch is usually a simple task Macxomedia. for minor softwaxe changes that involve short Castanet works similarly to Website and download times, The txouble is in Snding them.

Companies don't generally like to bxoadcast browser technology, but with a slight twist.lhe software uses a "transmitter" to push data out fixes to their products and the links to Snding online and uses a "tuner" to receive it. Castanet updates axe often deeply buried in teduucaluses "channels" to which users can tune. The suppoxt areas ofWeb sites. beauty of this channel/tuner exchange is in its Patches axe nearly always compcessed using time-saving compression and Javakased code. some form of compxession software utility and can be expanded without having to own the utH. Pictuxe this. While working, you select a certain menu item — something like "Check for ity. SelfextGKting iles axe often the case fbr Updates" or CTRL+SHIFT+U. Your software updates and usually involve Sle formats such as automatically connects to the Castanet channel, SIT for Mac or ZIP for Windows software. Once

tells the channel who you are, checks for any updates, and asks if now is a good time. From there, updating is seamless and automatic, induding logging off.

For developers and users the implications are Str reaching. Marixnba technology enables developers to get much closer to their cus. tomexs and vice versa Rather than ship a maintenance release every three months, the software can either be prompted by the user to check forupdates on a particular server and check for updates at specific time intervals. Or the server can "push" updates cfixectly to clients as they become available.

A secondary bu x i n triguing aspect of

Marimba's technology is its aMity to provide pay-per-view" online services. KssentiaHy, this means that users can "order" data fiom a server in smaH or large chunks. Features could be made available that wexen't there when software was initiaHy released, and users could be charged online for these "extras."

Whether or not this technology spreads to affect users of code-heavy applications xemains to be seen. In light of its increasing popularity, h~ Mari mba will undoubtedly be coming to a computer near you.

For more information on Marimba, Castanet, or other products, visit http Jtwww. marimba.corn/ Steve Ihin k a high ta+nologywriter in Vancouver,Canada.

5end news,producttips, or mmmentxto5teve@helix.net +

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Much has been writtenabout the Internet and%orld Wide Web as a place where one can gather information on virtually any topic, including running a small business. Millions of individuals have set up home pages on the Web and both small businesses and major corporations (banks, trust companies, beer companies, car manuhctures) have Web sites.

There are over 500,000 Web sites, 40,000 of them commerdal, and the numbers are Ipuwing exponentially.

T here ar e e v e r 300,0OO Web sites, 4 0,000 o f t h e m commercial, and the n umbers ar e g r o w i n g e xponent i a l l y .

Setting up an effective Web site involves renting space on a server or from an Internet service provider (ISP), designing the site, writing copy and creating graphics, coding pages to display properly in Web browsers, uploading flies to your site, and maintaining the site.

Whether you do i t y o urself or h ire a WebMaster, this process takes time and money and begs two questions: Is there a market out there? Are businesses making money off Web sites?

Ia Canada, 6.5 million Canadians are online, with 6 5 p e r c en t o f C anadian homes having some sort of access and more than a third o f Canadians having tried it. Canadian Web surfers are divided into a 60/40 male/female ratio. The average sge is 55 years. They have an above-average income, education, and credit status.All in all, what might be the perfect consumer niche.

While the number of Net users is a small fraction of consumers at large, businesses can cut communications costs and create product awareness on the Net.

Forget the phone Rather than playing telephone tag or payiag long-distance charges for phone calls and hxes, many small businesses use e-mail to communicate with customers, vendors, aad suppliers. Their Web sites enable potential customers to access answers to fte-

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quently asked questions about products, services, pricing, and support. Web sites can also lower promotional costs — as long as a company's potential target market is Web savvy.

Examples? Amazon.Com, the w o r ld' s largest bookstore, does not have one physical store. It does, however, have I million books in an online catalogue. CDNow.Com had a basement start, but tripled its revenues to 86 million hst year and had 18 per cent net (no pun intended) margins.

S oftware Online I n c . i s l o c ated i n Brampton, Ontario, but the company sells computer software and hardware across Canada. Th e co m p any (located at http: //wwwsoftonHne.corn/) offers 20,000 computer products.

"For us, coming to the Net wasn't a supplement to other business methods. It was what the business was designed for," says Jon Dearden, a partner in Software Online.

"Using the Internet will allow us to build a big business, not a big headquarters."

That reality of conducting business on the Web also includes export opportunities, since the Web transcends political borders and geography. Dearden has sold software to consumers as far away as the UK and New Zealand.

Competing with everyone Due to free trade and global competition,companies have to be "good enough to stand up in the world market, nor. just compete in th e ir ow n b a ck y ard. And since they have to be globally competitive to survive in their local market, Blaber suggests they look at exporting as a means to expand their business, especially if they have developed niche-product or -service expertise.

Exports wiill not occur just because a company has e-mail and is able to set up a Web site, Blaber cautions."High tech is a help, but it's not a substitute for building relationships and understanding cultures."

On Trac Inc. has created a Web site ( http: //www.ontrac.yourku.ca/) t o h e l p smaller businesses establish the relationships Blaber refers to.

"Many Canadian products and services don't r e ach f o r eign m a rkets b ecause Canadian companies are not trade ready," says David Sadleir, On Trac's president.

The On True site introduces businesses to the import/export process. While there is a great deal of free information available, On Trac charges a monthly I'ee for access to the full database and to list companies by product or service category so businesses in other countries can make e-mail contact with potential Canadian partners.

So these it is: the world at your fingertips.

Just don't expect to conquer the intricacies of marketing on the Web in a day.

Paul Lima(tikoeidircct. corn) is afreelancewriter specializing ia high-tech aadcommunication issues. e

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With Lotus and MGI waidng fsantically on the side, IBM has released the Brst collection of fixes for OS/2 Warp 4.0.

Since FixPak 1 was just made available as I write this (the end of February), I have not had time to download and install it myself, Initial reactions from other users have been positive overall. It fixes many of the small annoyances (like allowing you to change your default image viewer), but a few users claim that it breaks removable drive support (such as Iomega's ZIP drive).

FixPak I can be found on IBM's software s erver ( f t p .software. ibm,corn) i n the /ps/products/os2/fixes/v4warp/english-us/ xr m001 directory.

Upyrad|ng woes With the release of Merlin, my home computer system was becoming quite taxed. We are way past the point of a 486 DX/66 with 16 MB of RAM heing state of the art. But before I rant about new hatdware choices, let me state that I sdll think 486s (and yes, even 586s) still have their place. If all you do is word process.

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ing and ~ a li ttl e m o deming, don' t believe the hype about upgrading your system — it probably won't be worth it to you.

For me, I need to review the latest and greatest and I found that my system limited me when playing games (lots of games!) or running the latest software suites. I decided to focus on what I needed ASAP and chose RAM. Lots of RAN. I now have a more-thancomfortable 64 MB of RAM (nice!) coupled with a used Pentium 90 motherboard. Since I now have PCI slots, I wanted to upgrade as many of my old ISA cards as possible. I switched my video card from an ISA ATI Mach 52 (with 2 MB of VRAM) to a PCI ATI

Mach 64 (with 2 MB of DRAM).

With the hardware upgrade, I hoped that I would not have to reinstall any operating systems. In preparation, I had switched all of them back to VGA before I swapped motherboards and video cards.

Once the new hardware was in, OS/2 refused to boot, giving me a TRAP error every time. Oddly enough, the other operating systems worked Bne. I ended up reinstalling OS/2 4.0 and am pleased with the new system, I have more than 52 MB of free memory and the machine is significantly more responsive than before.

Of course, all was not well. The Mach 64 video drivers that came with the base operating system would not work. Merlin's video

i n k

detection chose the wrong card, and even after I corrected it, I was unable to get things working properly. The solution was to use the drivers on the Device Driver CD-ROM and follow instructions carefully. Merlin uses a different video subsystem than Warp 5, so in many cases the old drivers do not work. As for a video speed difference, I don't notice any improvement. Oh well, at least my machine is significantly laster now!

Unfield'sList better than ever M y f avourite O S/ 2 fr e e ware p a ge (ht tp://www.to2.org/freew are/) has been enhanced and is now bigger and better then ever. I' ve added "The Internet's Favourite OS/2 Freeware" page, a collection of freeware OS/2 programs thatanyone can suggest. With my goal of producing the biggest and best source of OS/2 freeware,please check it out and e-mail me your suggestions of what freeware you would like to see.

The sun shInes on Sundial Systems Sundial Systenis Corporation announced that they have acquired DBExpert for 0$/2.

DBExpert is an end-user relational database product that works with several different database formats. It is claimed to provide an environment for building and utilizing personal and departmental database applications using t ables, queries, forms and reports — without the need for traditional programming.

DBBssPerf joins Sundial's Cleasfook word processor, Nesss 2 spreadsheet, and Relisb PIM. I'm guessing that we will see an integrated suite in the near future.

For more intormation and pricing, check out http:/~ .sun d i alsystems.corn/ or call (562) 596-5121.

QVaIIs Server information Newport TechnicalServices has produced The Warp Server Resource, a collection of information, software, and links to important material useful for those implementing Warp Server on their network. Check it out at http:/~ .war p server.corn/

Freeware of the Month With interest rates so low, thousands of renters are realizing that they can own their own house for less than what they pay now. hfortgage Workbook 1.0 for 05/2 by Canadian Garnet Ulrich lets you see the relationship between your p rinciple, interest rate, payment, and amortization period.

Supply any tluee of the four and it will calculate the fmal parameter. Free to use, it can b e found o n t he In t e r net F T P s i t e ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/os2/wpsutil/ mortbk10.zip Kevin Unfield is a consultant and freelance writer. Hecan be reached via e-mail at linfieldItorfree.net +

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Gil Amelio has finally le t a n other shoe drop — and it's a very big shoe.

In a dramatic bid to r everse its losses, Apple's current boss says the company would cut 4,100 employees, temps, and contractors — nearly a third of its work forceand scale back its Macintosh line of computers and software. Amelio says these changes are necessary to adjust its expenses to rapidly falling revenues.

To pay for the job cuts, Apple says it will take a total of US$250 million in charges over three fiscal quarters, starting with a $155 million charge in the fiscal quarter ending March 31.Apple expects revenue for the second quarter (January 1997 to March 1997) to fall about 22 per cent to $1.6 to $1.7 billion, down from $2.2 billion in the same quarter a year ago.

But there's more bad news. To continue to

cut expenses, Apple will drop several product lines and products. Incredibly however, .

Apple's Newton handheld product line will remain intact for now — probably because nobody else w a nts i t . I n a prepared announcement, Amelio said he foresees no more senior m a nagement d e partures, despite the company's continual organizational restructuring.

Bye bye, comrade Many cynical Apple w a tchers w o uld agree. After all, since Amelio has conducted a Soviet-style purge of the entire senior management team over the past year, who else is left to go? Worse still, Amelio has brought backSteve Jobs, a man whose petulant and combative leadership style alienated many early Apple employees and whose decisions nearly caused the company to tailspin out of control.

Last December, Apple stunned the hightech world by buying Jobs' NeXT Software and using its technology as the basis of Apple's new operating system, later named Rhapsody. The US$430 million deal also returned co-founder Apple Steve Jobs, who has gone on record as saying he's more interested in running his computer animation company, Pixar, than in getting involved

in the day-to-day operations at Apple.

"We' ve made the right decision to focus our energies, and these decisions — I am a bsolutely convinced — will put us on t h e road back to health, and we' ll be looking at a very different situation over the next few quarters," Amelio explained in a prepared statement.

Apple has also reiterated its commitment to deliver Rhapsody in 1998 and to continue to enhance the Mac OS. Certain Mac OSbased technologies, however, such as Open Doc, Cyberdog, Open Transport, Game Sprockets, and Mac OS Development Tools will receive less R8cD money for f uture growth. Mac OS delivery schedules will also be changed. While the Mac OS 8 is still scheduled for introduction in July 1997, Apple plans only one full OS release in mid1998 (code-named Allegro), and not two full releases as previously announced.

Back on the circuit Another encouraging sign of life at Apple is the company's exhibiting at important trade shows. First, January's Comdex in Vancouver; then February's Computer Fest in Toronto (which Apple has always avoided); and finally March's Apple Music sc Multimedia Show, held in conjunction with

the Canadian Music Week. All three shows were well attended and Apple's seminars at Computer Fest w ere standing-room~nty, despite the lousy weather. Kudos go to Neil Buchanan, Linda Grant, Patricia Heath, Bruce Hough, Lani Mercurio,Janine Whailey and all the other Apple people who make these shows happen.

Mac 0$ gaining market share Through all the bad news, comes some more g o od . L a J o l l a , C a l i fornia-based research firm Computer Intelligence (CI) is reporting that the Mac OS's market share in the US dealer channel rose during the end of last year and continued this trend into January. CI attributes this trend to the success of Mac-clone vendors in taking market share from th e P C p l atform. The study shows the PC platform with 92 per cent market share in November 1996, down to 89 percent in January, 1997. The same study s hows the Mac O S w i t h 8 p e r c e n t i n N ovember, 1996, up t o 1 1 p e r c ent i n January, 1997.

Hear distant footsteps or quiet tiptoes?Sendyour rumours, tips and comments to MacRantC eaol.corn. Please note that due to the volume of mail, individual questions cannot be answered. +

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Students neecf real-worlcf skills Yet with all this demand for qualified i ndividuals, there i s a s t i l l a l a c k o f qualified p o s t -secondary g r a d u ates who make co m p u t ers a career choice.

I find t h i s p u z zling. If I w e r e h ac k i n university now, I'd be blazing a path tu t he n e arest f a c u lt y o f c o m p u t e r i c i ence.

I think p ar t o f t h e p r o b l em , is t h a t , until r e c e n t ly, many sec<>ndary in i t i t « tions werc c o n t ent t o s i m pl y go al<>ng their merry way, offering the same dict of courses w it h l i t t l e r e gard fo r vvh;(t's happening in th e r eal w o r ld. Many students land in un iv ersity, and arc 1<>rccd to make career decisions I( ith n<> clue of marketable work skills.

Power Learning I 'lip t o t h e c l a s sified s e c t io n o f y o u r favourite daily p ap er. You' re inundated with ad» f<>r systems analysts, developers. project managers, and tclecommun icati<>ns specialists. I n f a c t , c a r e e r g rosvth s o o t h saycrs p r e d i c t a n everexpanding dem antl f<>r computer-techn ology p r o f e s sion al». C o m e spring convocations, h i g h -tech h e a d h u n t er s desccncl on popular Canadian campuse s t o s c o o p u p b r ig h t , motivated y oung c o m p u t e r a nd e n g i n e e r i n g graduates. Starting salaries for a career i n th e c o m p u t e r i n d u s tr y e a sily h i t s $30,000 and above. According to a survey by W i l l iam M . M e r cer L t d., computer-software industry pay increases

Provinces poised for change T hankfully, things seem to b e c o m i ng aro und — albeit i t ' s a s l o w shift, Back in February, Ontario's Ministry of E ducation an d T r a i n in g k i c k e d o f f a five-year plan to im p rove the delivery o f t e c h n o l og y p r o g r ams. T h i s ncw visionary Round Table consists of pa re nts, sc h oo l p r i n c i p a l s , educators, information-technolog y l e a d er s, and

for 1997 lead the pack forsalary-scale increases.

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Cot>tfoft Service: System Maintename, Network 5efvife, Programming, POS 4> lagr.< << <raider:arly> are reg S.orea ir>>e~ari s Ol their repecl ve companieS Prices sub>ec> lo <hei g< w ihr u: nO><e

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five-year plan includes a concise to-do

The program's first group o f Senior s tudents i s c u r r e n tl y t a k i n g p a r t i n a mentorship c o -op p r o g ram. On e stud ent i s w o r k i n g o n a C D - R () M w i t h a multimedia d evelopment firm.

Gordon G r a ydo n S e c o ndary Sc hool boasts th e I n t c r n a t i<>nal Business and T echnology Program. Comm u n ity a n d e ducation l e a d er s i n i t i a ll y i d e n t i f i e d key skills required f<>r thc next c e n t ur y. P r o b l e m -solv in g a n d tc»msvork

l ii t ; >n d t i m e l i n « a n d n ( >t m e r e l y e n d l ess p<>litical rhet o r i c .

H f>tish Col u m b i a ha s also c o m m i t t e d t o h c t tc r d i s t r i b u t i o n <>f technology

d ollars and hardware distrib u t ion to i t s p ublic schools. M<>st BC high s c h o o l s a l'c <. (Iuippcd <v>th LA Ni , I v h i l e h a l f o f t heir c l c m c n t a r y s c h o o l s a re n e t ( v<>rkcd. Th c p r o v i n c e ' s C o m m u n i t y Lciu' ning Netwof k c o n nects schools to e ach other vi a c-mail and o n l in e c o n ferencing.

Y et m os t B C h i g h - schoo l s t u d e n t s s till s p en d t h e i r t i m e l e a r n in g k e y hoarding and w o r d -processing skills.

M orc s o p h i s t i c ate d s k i l l s , s uch a s ipreadshcct use and CD-ROM research or m u l t i m e d i a u s e a r e s t i l l i n the nl>nof1ty.

One of the p r o v ince's more in novative pr<>jects places classroom teachers for short-term placements in high-tech i ndustries. Teachers then return to t h e classroom wit h a h e t ter u n d er standing of industry-required skills.

Nova Scotia's Mi nistry o f L'ducation a nd Culture hosts a wide area netw o r k c alled Ldn c t . 'I'his educational gateway c<>nncct» the pro v i n c e'» colleges, pubI « l i b r a r i e s , m u i c u m s , a n d p ub l i c s ch<><>l» Th e p op ul a r Workplace Exp( ri«ncc s p f <>gram f o r c d u c a t <>rs ; <ll<>ivs;1 t«achc r t o s p e n d a w e e k i n t he <v<>rkplac<.. Know l e dge <>f curren t p l "<1ctlcc s a n d sk ( l l 1 e q u l r e -

1»en<i are then i h a red w i t h a>ld st(>dents.

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O ntario E d u c a t io n Mi n i s t e r J o h n S nobclen, states: "We w an t t o e n s u r e t hat th e e d u c atio n s e c to r r e m a in s i n s tride w it h d e v e l o p m e nt s and t ha t o u r s tudents graduate w i t h a h i g h d e g r e e *' < >f c<>mputcr l i t e r a c y . L et's hop e t h e

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Pioneering schools A lthough p r o v i n c ial e d u c ation m i n > il I I(. i .<fc

ln a k > ng I o f ; I v s I n t o

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lng c( > ll>p ut cf technol(>gy exposure 'll'ld > nstfuct i<>n. it's a l a h o r i o u s . r o m -

> nit tcc-intensive p r o c e ss. Th « f a c t o f t hc 1»:<<ter i i , t » r t h c t ea c h e r s t r u g g ling 1<> make «nd s m c c t . t h e r e ' s v e r y Ill(le cur f1culaf 1',uldcl ines of s ll p p ol t < n this area. In I:<ct, Ontari o's last c u r f i< ul.>f guidcl in c u p d at e i n t h c a r e a o f h igh schoo l tech n o l o g i c a l stu d i e s d atci h a c k 1<> the late 1 9 8 0 s , S o vv hat ls t h e p l o n c c f l n g e d u c a t o r to d<>! Many b o a rd s ar e e s t ablishing c orporate p a r t n c r ships. Abou t a y e a f a g<>, Ontario i n i t i a ted i t s C y b e r A r t s p rogram. Two o t h e r O n t a ri o s c h o o l s

r un p arallel p r o grams t ha t c o m b i n e skills in c<>mput«r-based graphics, 3-D a ni>nati<>n. indui t r ial d e sign. and s p e c ial «t i c c t s .

C yl>cr A r t s

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I 99 1 >

c o l l e agues

p a r t n ers i n c l ud e K o d a k S I I I c <>n G1 ' a p h t c s , A I1 : l s -

h t t p : / / w w w . c o m p u I e r - p I a y e r . c o m >'

a nd students be n e fi t f r o m d i r e c t i n t e r action w it h p r a c t i c ing p r o f essionals in cutting-edge industries.

rated h i gh . Bu t t h e y a l s o d i s c overed that e m p l o y ee s w a n t g r a d u a tes sv h(> a re fam i l ia r w i t h a b ro a d r a n g e of t echnologies an d w h o k n o w h o w t o apply technological solutions to workp lace c h a l l enges. Flex i b i l it y i n the g rowing, o p e n i n t e r n a t i o nal m a r k ets was another key requirement.

Gordon Graydon's program is funded b y the s c hool s y stem as w el l a s t h e local business community. The school actively seeks p r o f it-making o p p o r t un ities t o s u b s i dize t h e n e e d t o k e e p h ardware and softw are current .

A grou p o f Go r d o n G r a y d o n stu-

dents exercise their m u l t i m edia skills while p r o d u c in g a s o f t v ' are p ackage f or th e r e g i o n ' s p u b l i c - h ealth d e p a r t m ent. W i t h fcw e r h ea l t h o ff i c i a l s a vailable t o v i s i t h i g h s c h o o l s , e l e c t roni c i n fo r m a t i o n o n A I D S an d t eenage healt h i s s ues w i l l b e d i s t r i b u ted v i a t o uc h - s c r ee n ki o s k s d i s p layed in s c h o o l s e t t i n g s. Planning i s a lso u n d e r w a y t o n > a r k c t e l e c t r o n i c courseware to o t he r s c h oo l systems.

T oday's student n e eds e x p osure t o and p r a c t i c e s v i t h ev e r y d a y s v ork s kills — inform a t i(>n a c c e s s through multimedia t o o l s an d n c t vvorks. analysis of data using spreadsheets and datab ases, co n l l t l u n l c '11ion t h f o u g h

e-mail, c onten t c re a t i o n u si n g a u(bori n g tools, and u n d e 1 st:lndln g o f t hc c u l t l <fal >mpl>ca t1oni oft cch oology.

T<> ace<>mpli il> t h i i , e d u c a t<>ri n e <.d cur f c n t

< e c h o ( >i< ) gv ; <n d <)ng<>111(,' (ra<n-

ing. Education b u d get c u t s d<>n't help the c a u s«. So icho<>ls are in c reasingly sprouting c n t r c p r c n< urial arm i t<> help i ; <nd c o n n e c t v i th tinance p r o g r a <n the outside w o r ld. This is fine, as long as educational g<>als remain sound and c urriculum i s n o t d i l u t e d t o a b s o r b corporate agendas.

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Kevin Linpehf responds Runnfng Netscape wftb Eess than 16 N8 of RAN fs not advfcabEe, but I personaNy bute found fts mailer to be quite stabl e a nd easy to use. You don't mention what ~ f o r OS/2 you baue, but you might want to instuN Fhrpak 26 to make sure yoccr system k up to tbe most current IeveEAsfo r mafNng programs the best PM muffer is (fn my opc'nfon) Mail Reader/2.

It is sbareware, and you cun docunload a copy from H obbes. Another popular choke fs Ph&M fatso sbarewawg and I'm- sure that you cuilf pnd both of these sfgnfpcanAfy beNer than UltimaII.And no, there fs no Eudora for OS/2.

Kevin Lfnpekf responds:Not bac fng used AOL, Ican'tbe sure tubal tbe problem fs, but I do know that you cae use Netscape Navigator cuitb AOL's TCP/IP.Once you are connected to AOL, simply run tbe OS/2 (or Wfndocusp : version of Netscape.You coukf also try it on a computer that doesn't have Flxpak 26

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CD w o n ' t Speak cffla I was wondering if yau will be able . to help me solve the following prob l em: I cecendy installed OS/2 John "..~' Warp 4 on a Cyrix 686-150+ machine.

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i/i/orfcshacfdarT With respect to IBM Works forWarp 3, was there an upgrade (Le„grammarcheckerorthesaurus)?

RAN Doubler

Signed: Emil, via an ISP. Dear Emil: RAM Doubler uses acampier memory mapping algorithm to jlguceout bow to run more upplicaNons cultb tbe avafkcble RAM, essenNaNy fooling tbe Mac into tbfnkfng ft bus moce memory Tbe product wodu best cuben yau'ce laundMng mufNple, relatively smaN appffcaNons that don't use lots of memory (such as MacWrite Pro and other cuonf pcacauom). R4M DoubEer An't us belppd runnfng ccpplicutfons tbut require large amounts of R A N ('s uch as Ad o be Photoshop umf other graphic manfpcdaNon pcagcccmsg.

In your case, Ebe pcabEsm is easily solved.

For RAN Doubler to work cuftb ucfdftfonal memory, you'I treed to tucvc on 32Wt addressfng. By doing this, your Mac wfN be ubfe to recognize tbe additional R4lf prop. erfy and RAM Doubler cuNl cuork as melL Ob, there's one more thing you sbocdd know aboutyour Mac.A few ceaNy old cersfons of sopavare uppl@aNons might not cuork under 32-bit addressing, so you might bace to upgrade these progncms to newer versions

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Dear Doctor. How can I get things into the Apple Menu?

Signed: Vlcia,via anISP. Dear Yfckf: The Apple Menu appears under the Apple logo and fs located fn tbe top lep band corner of tbe Finder'smenu bar. As most Mac ocuners know, tbe Apple Menu gives you quick access to aN tbe items that are stored in tbe Apple Menu FoEder Anything you place in tbe Apple Menu Folder — cuhether it's a ffle, program, or disk icon — becomes immediately avafkcble on the Apple Menu.

Simply click on tbe item you uant to pEace in the Apple Menu. Next, choose Make Alias from tbe File menu. APer a second or two, your Mac sboukf generatean alias (essenhfagy, a pointer to tbe item). Tbe alias cuill have the name of the original item with the word "alias" tacked on.You'N also probably noNce the name of tbe alias is in italics this tells you that the new icon is simply an alias to the pie and not the pie itself.

Drag the alias into tbe Apple Menu Fokler (you' ll hate to open up tbe AppEe folder itself to get to tbe Apple Menu Fokferg. In a fecu moments,you'Efsee your new item in tbe Apple Menu.

Advanced tfp: ff you' re using tbe Apple Menu open, you' ll probably recognize that Apple made it a bft tedious to add or cemoce lots of items us(ng the above proceduce. Here's atcp that wfN help.

Open tbe System Folder and pnd tbe Apple Menu Fokler and select it. Then cre. ate an alkrs for tbe fokfer by selecting Make ANas from the FNle menu.

When tbe Wfas of Appe Menu IbEtfec" appears fn tbeple Nst, sbnply dncg ft out to tbe desktop fn a convenientpfaca You may want to rename the aNusto somecbfng num appcaprfute ARe Hace/Remove items fn Apple Menu."When you cuant to udd anitem to tbe Appfe Menu, just dncg tbe fuon of tbe ji!fe,folder, or pcagncm on trippof tbe aNas you ~ Whe e you want to cemocesome. fbfngpom the Apple Nenu, just double cNck oe the uNuaybeuNus cufN show Ebs crmtents of Ebe Apple Nenu and you cun thee dmg tbe item you don't want into Ebe tncsb. It cuiN disappearfeme your Apple Meme Aca few

moment@ TheDoctor.

You can reachMarShrink directly by sending your message to MacShcink@col.cern. Your hst nameand e-mail address will not be printed. Pleasenote that due to the volume of mail, individual questions cannot be answered. Ail questions become the property of MacShr ink andDavid Rocen 4

TheDoctor.

h t tp: I / w w w . c o m p u t e r - p l a y e r . c o r n / L A PRI L 1 9 9 7

C OMP U T E R

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o m utert et s

roc e s "Computer components retain 50 per cent of their value once they'ie stolen, compared with the average of 10 per cent," she said.

KorkucfL whose organization repre'RpX':i; sents electronics firms, law enforcernent agencies and insurance companies in the United States, says that computer theft is lowrisk and highgain.

"If you were stopped by a law-enfbicement officer, what would you rather have on you — an ounce of cocaine or a Pentium chip? Both will get you about the same amount of money. But one will end you up in jail, the other will not."

computer components is stolen every year.

• • By CHRISTOPHER GULV ••

Watch yo86r head

In the last 18 months, police in Eastern Ontario reported companies took a $45 million loss as a result of stolen computer equipment.

Staf'f Sgt. Lance Valcour, who heads the Ottawa~rleton Regional Police Services' break~denter squad, says that computer theft is one of the fiistest growing crimes in Canada.

"It didn't exist a few years ago, but it's just recendy exploded"Vaicour says that' s one of the reasons why Ottawa police estabhshed Canada's first Computer Component Theft Team. Valcour and another OttavvaCatfeton Regional Police officer will work with an ofBcer from the RCMP on the new cyber~ Recent statistics indicate that Eastern Ontario is not the only region in Canada hit hard by computer theft.Across the country, police estimate that about S 1 billion worth of

8

"Primarily, what's taken are memory boards

and full computers," says Valcour."The rest is ttuown out the window."

Some of the areas most affected are the York and Peel regions of Toronto; Burnaby and Richmond in BC's Lower Mainland; and Saint John, New Brunswfdt, which is the hub of several caII centres.

Ihis billion dollars worth of stolen equipment is just the tip of the iceberg," says Vaimur.

"Ifyou have a computer worth S5,000, you could have $100 million worth of data on it."

MaryLu Korkuch, executive director of the Warren, New Jersey4ased Technology Theft Prevention Foundation, recently told an Ottawa seniinar on protecting electronic components that they represent the number one item on thieves' wish lists.

Socjt it to me Tom Cornwell, vice president of worldwide electronics underwriting for Chubb Insurance Co,, also based in Warren, says that cyber thieves need only do little to get away with a lot."You can stuff a chip or a coinpo-

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nent into your pants or socks, and walk away $50,000 richer," he says.

Valcour says that offenders are typically young and sophisticated. Sometimes, they will take their cache of coinputer equipment to a "mom-and-pop" store and resell it. Or, they will be part of an organized crime network that uses computer components as cash to buy drugs.

Once cyber-thieves hit the grey market to sell their stolen goods, would-be buyers rarely think twice.

"Let's say you have a university student who is trying to do a university project on a

BBB

•

THE SFST DEAL IS HERE !

N OW W E

';-'4'~.',~ -'

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O nl i n e

the 3S<Uet and its DBIBgl'OUPs

you choose to reply publicly to the message, your message in turn will be read (and possibly commented upon) by others who read the group.

The truth is out there...or is itT

With millions of messages, newsgroups can be a tremendous source of information. But they can also be a tremendous source of mtsinformation, since everybody with an opinion a nd the a b ility t o t y p e c a n p o s t t h e i r thoughts. Your chances of getting factual

information increase in a moderated newsgroup (see the sidebar), but the vast majority of newsgroups are unmoderated. Sometimes the free advice you get from a newsgroup can be very valuable; other times the information can be worth exactly what you paid for it.

There's also fraud. For example, a few people have been caught hyping their companies (and their stock) on the Usenet.They sign on as someone else and post "great" stock tips by supposedly satisfied investors in newsgroups.

Other unscrupulous people have posted

thousands of messages to newsgroups they don't like, effectively blocking these newsgroups from being read by others.

Some last words before you begin your adventure. Veteran newsgroup folks always suggest you get the lay of the land and "lurk" in the background (see the sidebar) before you post. With w el l o ve r 1 5 ,000 p ublic newsgroups, you' re sure to find some funny, informative, and thought-provoking groups o»t in the Usenet. I' ve included a few of these in the sidebar. Happy exploring! +

• • By DAVID ROSEN• • While the World Wide Web is a

r elatively

recent phenomenon, the Usenet and its newsgroups are veterans of the internet. Don' t worry if you' ve never read a single ncwsgroup message before. By the time you' ve finished this article, you' ll be reading newsgroups like a seasoned professional. Not only is navigating the L!senet easy, but readhig its newsgroups can befun and informative.

Before we begin our adventiue this time, you shotkl know I' ve induded a brief glossary of newsgioup terms in a sidebar to this artide.Other sidebars indude a helpM ~dde to newsgmup netiquette as well as a list of i ntern~news. groupsto visit. Ready? Okay, let's st exploring!

BuaineeS Nlaximize your advertising WWW.ZEVEN-INC.CC3M

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effectiveness by placing your adin allofourbestspaces

What's in a namel Newsgroups are simply electronic discussion groups on p a rticular subjects. The Usenet is the collection of these newsgroups.

Imagine for a moment going to a large party at a f r i e nd's house and l o o king around the room. You might see a small group of d o c tors t alking about h e alth care, other folks might be talking about the upcoming baseball season, and a third group might be chatting about the stock market (or anything else). Ncwsgroups are just like these small talking circles at your party, with a few important differences.

First, there;ue litendly thousands of newsups discussing just about everything, front "anarchy" to "zoology" and everything in bebveen. Second, newsgroup disciissions take place in a virtual room, with contributions coming from around the world. Third, nc~sgmup discussions happen over time, so you don't get the immediacy of a traditional conversation.

Newsgroup names usually reflect their focus. Fo r e x a mple, t h e ne w s group "biz.jobs. offered" contains discussions about new jobs that employers have posted (and need Sled).An important part of the Usenet culture is to respect the focus of the particular newsgroup and not post messages to groups that aren't related to your topic. More about this later.

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You, of course.AII you need is access to the Internetand a newsgroup reader (software that your provider gives or sells to you). You select specific newsgroups from a number of categories, or "hierarchies," to place in your private newsgroup list. You can add to or subtract from this list as your interests change. You can just read newsgroups that interest you or you can participate in the discussion by p osting mess ages of your o w n . W hen yo u p ost a Newsgroup message, readers around the world will be able to read and respond to it — so think carefully before you post!

E ach newsgroup consists of a l i s t o f messages posted t o t h a t g r o up, along with the name of the person who posted each message.You can read a particular message in the newsgroup by clicking on it and selecting "read."You can also reply to it if you think you have something to add to the debate. Most newsgroup readers let you send private mail (back to the original sender) and public mail (posting to the entire newsgroup). Remember: if

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c ont i n u e d f r o m p a g e ~ 286," explains Valcour."For $300 he can gex a colour Pentium notebook and will say,'Yes.'" O ttawa's new computer crimes unit i s modeled a f te r s i m i la r u n i t s i n th e California cities Sacramento and San Jose, as well as Austin, Texas. Established in 1988, San Jose's high-tech unit was the first in the United States.

The FBI has also created a unit ro patrol the Silicon Valley's 4,100 high-tech companies, and it appears to be effective in comb atting computer theft. According to t h e FBI, the number of armed robberies involv-

ing computer components has decreased from 106 between 1994 and 1995, to less than S last year.

As a result, cyber-thieves have had to look elsewhere, and such Canadian centres as Ottawa, often referred xo as Silicon Valley North with its 700 high-tech firms, has been an easy target.

"Thieves go where the money is," says Cornwell. "John Dillinger was once asked why he robbed hanks.'Because that's where the money is,' he said.

Between 1992 and 1993, Chubb reported US$3 million worth of stolen computer components in Canada and the U n ited States. That figure has since quadrupled and doesn't include internal theft, which Cornwell estimates accounts for almost three-quarters of all computer crimes. This can involve employees directly stealing or feeding information'to a thief on the outside. Ix can also be an independent con-

h t t p : / / ww w. c o mp ut e r - p l ay e r . r o m/

tractor or someone posing as an employee, explains Korkuch.

"Background checks are not routinely done at a lot of companies," she says. "So a bad guy can falsify his employment application and walk right through the door."

Richard Firth, senior loss-control representative for Chubb Insurance Company of Canada, says that although his 30th-storey office has never been hix, another office in the building has.

Nice suit "People came in dressed in suits and carrying briefcases, looking very official, picked up a laptop and walked oux," he says.

L osses for c o mpanies don't en d w i t h stolen computers o r c o mponents, says Cornwell. Insurance policies only cover hardware andsoftware products,bux nox the information stored on them.

"There might be valuable research-anddevelopment data or a c ustomer list that could be worth $200,000 or $2 million to a company," he says. "Of course. a pricing list or customer list will only be a loss io s company if it gets into the hands of a c<>mpetitor. But I heard of a small consulting firm that had 200 customers and lost its one and only list."

With specialized computer thieves lurking around, Firth says equipment security has to focus on two fronts. "Never put it b eyond your competitors that they w i l l steal what they want," he explains. "You have t o c o n s ider t h a t t h e c o m p e t ition wants what you have and then consider what the crook would want." +

Doojnloadable diversions It's no secret there are thousands of great commercial game demos littering the Web. Large companies, such as Sierra or Activision, offer them for free so you

can get a taste of what the full retail version is like, but often the most addictive games are the lesser-knawn shareware, freeware, and pre-release alphas and betas.

Let's look at a few of these.

• • By MARC SALTZMAN• •

but has added new music and sound effects, cute intermissions, high~uality 25fH:otow

Q-Noh f

Many of us Ge etation Xers have a soft spot ~ c~ ~ t ~ m th ~ to dm. Th~ ~ so m e excellent PC

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the Net, and the abthty for one to four garners to Play a smgle round on the same PC! advance to the next level, and avoid the deadly obstades. You can sample a number of lev-

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with a Iew extra neat features.QJfob (vetsion 1.2) plays similar to the pyramibhopping, longnosed creatme we grew to love,

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good sense of humour, by the very nature of the game. If you enjoy that boisterous first-person perspective shoot-'em' s tyle of game, then make sure you grab the alpha of Rednecsr Eanipage. Using the licensed Duke engine, Xatrhr/Intesphy bring you a unique gaming experience.

Ase you ready for thill Your job here is to

blow away aliens ~ a s redneck "hicks") so

you can hdp Leonard and Bubba retrieve their stolen prise-wissning pig "Bessie."Although this alien business is probably an afterthought to avoid fiction horn special interest groups, R~ Ra n spsige is a hfiarious spoof on the US Deep South.Idate you not to laugh as you hear diche'd slang such as "Get ofia my laaancD" or "Holy Sheeesat" fro overafi-wearin', tobacco. spittin', butt~tchia'rural folk.

Needless to say, this game is for mature audiences only, but I guarantee you' ll be the envy . httpJ'/reersass slsseseSLeeesi tesees/ereestex/ of your friends with this hush puppy on your hard drivel Grab it for a howling good time. if/cree,slsasrr'"

MardserossdSolitaire ii

As simple as it is, the Solitaire game that comes with Windows has served as an addic' Redneck Ranspage tive time-waster for years. Many other, siimilar .

P l ayers of the testostetonedtiven versions can be found on game sites on the , Duke Nukem 3D must have a Web, but last year's Hardwood Soltafre

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(Silver Creek Entertainment) rose to the top of the heap for its realistic "cottage" feel.

Now, Hursfulood SoNhee lr boasts more great solitaire ~ com p lete with stunning graphics,MDI music, sounds effects, and a whole slew of near addidons. The sbarewase version (available online) contains not only the dassic "Klondike,"but also five mote games if you regis. ter. /veeae8, &srrteen Out, Pyngrrsyd,Gaff, and Eour Seasom. Take a look at this screen shot and you'8 see why you shouldn't pass up on dusif you ate a firn of solo caid games!

Until next time, have fun and happy gaming! +

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486OX4 -100PCI 256k w/ CPU, fan $190 486DX4.133 PCI 256k w/ CPI/, fan $200 P-100 256kw/ cpu, fan $310 P-'/20512kw/cpu, fan $350 P-133 / 150512kw/cpu, tan $395/$440 P-166 /200 512X w/cpu,fan $630/$925

Printers Roven h4 1M8 600dpl Laser Brother-641 loser 8rother+R 2M8 600dpl

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NETWORKING Windows NT 4.0 Server w/5 licence $9'60 Windows NT4.0 work station $350 N ovell 3.12 upgrade (10 user) $ 1 4 9 0 Novell 3.12/4.1 (5 user) $880/880 Novell 3.12/4.1 (10 user ) $1880 Novell 3.12/4.1 (25 user) $2620/2480 Eagle 2000+ 16 Ethernet Card $100 18II lbbit Ethernet 108ase-TCard $49

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f' t h e • • By MARC SALTZMAN•

•

action fans now have a new gun - w i elding i con to l o o k u p t o .

No, he's not a six-foot t all macho d u d e w i t h bulging muscles, one-liners spewing out of the corner of his cigarstained mouth. In fact, he's not a he at all. The new n ame i n c o mputer-game heroism is none other than Lara Croft, and she stars in one of the most successful multi-platform hits o f r e cent gaming history: Tomb Raider.

The lack of f e male protagonists in computer games is common knowledge, a nd since more than 8 5 p e r c ent o f g ames sold in N o rth America are t o males, this is demographically justifiable. There have been a few exceptions in the adventure-game genre, such as Sierra's Phantasmagoria, a nd o ne o f the first PC titles that gave you a choice between playing a man or a woman: IMotion's 1992 hit Alone in tbe Dar er. We have scarcely seen a female presence in the action-game category, though.

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Indy-pendent female Still, what makes Eidos' Tomb Raider a fascinating Indiana Jones-style ride is not just the fact the main character is a woman, but that it's a twist on the firstperson, 3D genre that combines jawdroppingly gorgeous graphics, smooth

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Please send me a subscription to Computer P ayer! Cana a Computes!

B.C. Edttlofl and enter me in the May 1st/97 draw for Brian Costello

HomeTax. A one-year subscription costs $29.95 (12 Issues) or $49.90 for two-years (24 Issues) incl. GST to cover postage and handling.

I am poying the full amount, Payable to Canada Computes!, by 0 Cheque or money order or,

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animation, fast-paced action, and skillful puzzle-solving — with an interesting storyline to tie it all together.

Bagging a 12-foot tall Yeti obviously isn't enough t o s a tiate Lara C r oft's adventurous cravings, so she decides to accept an expedition from a w ealthy businesswoman to travel the mountains in Peru, and recover a mysterious artifact from t h e t o m b o f Q u a l opecstrictly for "sport," of course. And so begins Lara's journey through 15 massive environments within four lost civilizations: the Incan city of Vilcabamba, the ancient ruins of Greece, a forgotten Egyptian empire, and long-lost Atlantis.

Controlling Lara's impressive athletic abilities and quick reflexes becomes second nature after a w h i le : somersaults, long jumps, backf lips, diving and swimming, scaling walls, and shimmying across ledges. If this sounds like a lot to learn, worry not — Tomb Raider comes equipped with a f u l l t r aining facility in Lara's own mansion before you tackle the lost tombs.

The controls may be easy to navigate, but there are many fierce, life-threatening obstacles set out t o m a k e y o ur expedition difficult, including alligators, bears, wob es, giant b ats, lions, d inosaurs, h i re d m e r c e naries, a n d more. Also, a h andful o f s e crets are embedded in the game to ensure high replayability and e ncourage Internet discussions among fans for those interested in u n locking these concealed bonuses.

Prov.

Send to:

suescRlpTIONs

Computer Playerl canada Consivtes!

Subsaiptions are annsferable bui non-refundable

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Tomb Raider ut i l i zes a unique camera-angle style engine that allows you to see Lara and her environment at the same time. The "camera" swivels automatically according to your movements (similar to Act i vi s i o n 's Ti me Commando) or yo u may grab hold of the controls yourself. This is something you just h ave t o s e e t o b e l i e ve. Talk about interactivity!

h t t p : / / www . c o mp u t e r - p l ay e r . t o m/

LOSt AII-, As an added visual treat, Tomb Raider supports the hottest trend in PC gaming — 3D ac celerator v i d e o c a r d s.

Simply visit the Tomb Raider Web site at http: //www.tombraider.corn/ and you can download patches and free demos for your 3 Dfx Voodoo, Verite 1000, or Matrox Mystique boards (Eidos has announced they will not be prod ucing ones fo r t h e D i r ec t 3 d , S 3 ViRGE, or the ATI "3D Rage" ).

I have the Intergraph Intense 3D 100 card (formerly the "Reactor" ), and have been playing the Rendition Ready version of Tomb Raider for a month and a half. Take it from me, the graphics in this enhanced version of the game are nothing short of spectacular. The card allows you to experience high-resolution graphics at increased frame-rates, eliminates texture pixelation, and lets players see distant objects more clearly for a n un b e l ievable s m o othed-out effect.

Unfortunately, there are tw o m i n or shortcomings in To m b R a i d er — the absence of m u ltiplayer support and l evel e d i t o rs. G r a n ted, i n Eidos' d efense, the s t oryline i n t h e g a m e does not allow for more than one player, but perhaps a separate mission that involves tw o o p p o sing adventurers hired t o r e t r i eve t h e s a m e o b j ect would make for fun head-to-head action. What w ould h ave also made this game better would be the ability to create and exchange your own personal levels via a free utility available on the CD-ROM or Internet (any hackers reading this') All in all, Tomb Raider is more than a fun, bug-free diversion — it represents the next s t age i n P C g r aphic p e rformance, and may help break down the gender stereotypes found in many electronic i n t e ractive-entertainment p r o du cts ( r e m e m be r t h e gi r l s i n H e r Interactive's Jlfackenzie 6 C o . ? G ood grief!).

Help Lara kick some butt and let her take you a l ong o n a n a d v enture you won't soon f o rget!

Tomb Rstder,from Hdos Interactive. K CD-ROM. $$%.99.

System reiiiilreneiits: Pentliim 60 (Peiitllm 90 recemimendelj, I Nl RAM, 1Q MB free hsrAlrlve ~ S V 4A VESA local biN graph!a canI, doubleIpesii CO.ION IMve; IiiD5t major ioiillii owls, Iaiiie iiah, and jiiystldis are siipiiortek

Toeb asar Is also available for the Sony • lsyStathn and the Sells Satilii.

• • • t • • • 0 •

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Me g a I o ma n i Help, I'm beingoppressed!

Getting your fleet kicked around the galaxy7 Tiy some of these handy cheats. Just hold down the ALT key and type the following: ISEEALL instant omniscience.

CRUNCH: finishes a colony's project.

MENLO: finishes currentresearchproject.

EINSTEIN: gives you all research knowledge in every field.

MOOLA: a quick 1000 billion credits is added to your treasuiy.

CANBEONLYl: all computer opponents turn on youl Be sure to download the newest (March 3, 199TJ patch to update M002 to version 1.3. It can be found at http: // www.microprose.corn/ corporatedesign/techsupport/ techsupp.html

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• • By WILLIAM A. WOOD• •

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pie, and (hoorayD players can customize their race rather than accepting the preset bonuses and penalties. The rese'udi clem e n t i s emoenplex than in MOO, requiring that some hard choices be made.

In addition, various elements of another Microprose product, the excellent strategic fantasy game Master of Magic, have been added to the mix.As a result, colony m anagement is m uch m o r e detailed (and time-consuming, s o m e

graphics are nice and sharp, and the planetscapes are attractively depicted. The Master of Orion IL Battle at Antares is diplomacy and research animations are the sequel to the wildly successful turnstill clunky, though (the "GNN" broadcast based strategy game Master of Orion. that announces notable galactic events Taking a terrific science-fiction game of got a much galactic exploration and conquest and n ee d e d making it richer and more challenging, tacelift, howMicroprose has created an updated e ver). T h e hybrid that works. background The co n c epts music is and setup of MOO l o v e I y have remained.You garners ( an o t h e r control a race of h a v e MOM contricreatures (human g ru m bution). or otherwise) as it bled); you Perhaps the expands from its home planet to spread now have biggest difthe banner of your dominion throughout to conf erence i n space. You are in charge of colonizing s t r u c t MOO2 is, as the title forevrarns, the genonew planets, researching vital scientific y o u r cidal raiders fmm Antares, who appear at advances, designing and building starcolonies randoin from hyperspace to, as they ships, and trading with, spying on, and b uildi n g explain it, "purif'y the galaxy." So, besides attacking y o u r n e i g hbours (think by buildconquering all of your opponents or winCifuiltrarion in space and you won't be i ng„ a n d ning an election in the Galactic Council, far wrong). s hu f f l e you can now win the game by seeking The game has been greatly expanded, your citizens into specialized job cateout and conquering the Antaran homehowevcx'Ittere can now be more than one gories (the standard food/production/sci- world — a Herculean task, to be sure! + habitable planet per star system, for exam- ence triangle). Also, you can now hire leaders (AKA heroes in MOM) to help both your colonies and your fleets.

These changes and additions mean maintenance of a l a rge empire can become quite a chore. The various windows for controlling the action are well laid out, however, and there are quite a few features to assist the budding tyrant Congratul ations to Nester of Orbs ih eattte ot Anture, from (building queues and an autobuild butMhroprose. Dos/WlrersCD-ROM.$6$-$7$. ton, to name but two).

Tim Lin, winner of theCP! system rerlutiements: ea6 DR/61eeMlh PC (Penthnn recommended), a MR RAM(16 MS looking good, under Wines), douhle. speedCD.ROM drive gamingcontest.Tim won a your highness (fester recommendmu), $VCA Rrephlcs, 7$ MR Overall, the game looks great. The SVGA horddrlve space. copy of Bliuard's new hit

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• Intel Pentium 133TCPPackage • 16MB RAM expandable to 46MB • 256KB Pipeline Burst Cache Level Two Cache •Removable12.1"TFT LCD M odule • 2MB Video Cardat16Bit Sound Card • Full Software MPEG Support • Two Type u or One Type III; Microsoft Plug and Play Compliant PCMCIA • 1OX CD-ROM • 13GB Hard Drive • 1.44MB Floppy Drive • CO-ROM and Floppy Drive can be used at the same time • Windows 95 Keyboard • Glidepoint Mouse • NiMH Battery with dual battery capability; Plugs into either CD or FOD Bay • Infared Port, Serial Port, Parallel PortatExternal PS/2 Port •M S Windows95OSR2 Release • Targus Carrying Bag • Beautiful RtatFinish; Less than 32kgs.

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,„...„.„., Solutions for Everyone Faronics 5166M32 Dream Machine • Intel Pentium 166CPU e32GB HardDrive • 32MB EDO RAM • Intel HX Chipset Mainboard w/512kPBCache • Rash Rom Bios • Enhanced IDE Controller, Mode 4 • 2 High SpeedSerial Ports St Enhanced Parallel Port • 1.44MB FloppyDrive • 12X CD-ROM • ATI 3D Xpressions 2MBPCIVideo Card 64Bit •" comes with Mech Warrior 2 • Enhanced Windows 95Keyboard eMicrosoft Mouse w/Pad • Faronics Mini-Tower Case • U.S. Robotics 33.6Data/Fax Modem • PnP 3D Surround SoundCard • Labtec Amplified Speakers • 15" Faronics Monitor Nl, Low Radiation • Microsoft Windows 95OSR2OEMw/CD • Microsoft Encarta, Works, MoneytSTwo Family CDs

Faronics 5206IN2 • Intel Pentium MMX266CPU • 5.1 GB HardDrive • 64MB EOO RAM • Intel HX Chipset Mainboard w/512kPBCache • Rash RomBios • Enhanced IDEController, Mode 4 • 2 High SpeedSerial Ports & Enhanced Parallel Port • 1.44 MB RoppyDrive 0 16X CD-ROM • Matrox Mystique 4MBVideo Cardw/Games • Enhanced Windows 95Keyboard • Microsoft Mouse w/Pad • Faronics Mid-Tower Case •U.S.Robotics33.6Data/FaxModem • Creative Labs Soundblaster 64AWE w/Wavetable • Labtec Amplified Speakers w/Subwoofer • l Mag Innovision OX700T 2Sdpi Trinitron Tube • Microsoft Windows 95OSR2OEMw/CO

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• 2yearparis Klabour Warrantywith guaronteed2doyturnaraund! eNQ LEMONWARRANTY -If youhavemore than2problemswithin it months with yournewFaronicscomputer, we'l replacethewholeunit free.

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• Customizth eesystemsto anyconhguration -just call orfax 540-8179for aquote • All systems are Internet readyandreceivefreeInternet accessfar onemonthwithanysystemspurchase • All desktopsystemscomestandard with 512k(ache-abig performanceboost • Foronicsisproudtobeauthorizedby:

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HEWLETT PACKARD

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Prices and Specifications Subject to Change without Notice

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