FidoNews is the official newsletter of the International FidoNet
Association, and is published weekly by SEAdog Leader, node 1/1.
You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in
FidoNews. Article submission standards are contained in the file
FNEWSART.DOC, available from node 1/1.
The contents of the articles contained here are not our
responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them.
Everything here is subject to debate.
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL
Why Are They Doing This to Me?
2. ARTICLES
Alpha Computer Services Does It Again with INTRCPT!
Announcing the International FidoNet Conference
Forcing Fido to return back to SEAdog
Does a Microcomputer Managers Association Exist?
Are you having problems with your modem?
WelchNet Goes Private
3. COLUMNS
European FIDO node for media and radio enthusiasts!!
The World of Computing: Educational software and humor
4. WANTED
Position Wanted
5. FOR SALE
Ham Radio (Drake TR-4/CW) for sale
Entertainment Software for your PC!
Public Domain Software Library Sale!!
6. NOTICES
The Interrupt Stack
CARTOON: Gruesome George, by Bruce White
For those of you who didn't already know, I'm a general partner
at System Enhancement Associates. We've released all sorts of
goodies to the public. I'm sure most of you are familiar with
our Robot and Xlatlist programs, not to mention SEAdog.
But mostly we are known for ARC. It's a nice little program, if
I do say so myself. We released it as shareware as an
experiment. We frankly didn't expect shareware to work, but we'd
do it the same if we had it to do over again.
Lately we seem to have uncovered a new dimension in shareware
that frankly disturbs us. ARC is popular, and everyone wants the
latest version. Also, we released the sources, which may have
been a mistake (though I'd like to think not). This makes us
vulnerable to the destructive hacker.
I hope you saw our notice a few weeks back about ARC513.COM.
Apparently someone has made a Trojan Horse version of ARC, and is
distributing it far and wide. I even got a call from Infoworld.
It seems that this business is serious enough to interest
Infoworld in doing an article about it. As if the whole flap
about ARC513.COM wasn't enough, I've since heard of an ARC514.COM
floating around, and even an ARC520.COM.
This hurts. I hope that we've sufficiently established our
product that we can withstand a little of this, though endless
FAT-killer versions will cause us problems before too long. But
meanwhile, it still hurts. What did we ever do to anybody to
deserve this?
I'd really like to know where this is coming from. I remember
last year there was a big fuss about pirated software, and many
sysops started keeping track of who uploaded what. Has anybody
uploaded one of these things to your board? If so, who? Please
let us know. If you have any information, anything at all,
please contact me at 1/1. If you have a phone number or an
address on whoever sent it to you, then please tell me that, too.
I figure I'll probably have to crawl through several links of
uploads and downloads before I get anywhere, so all the
information I can get will be none too little.
Juan E. Jimenez, Micro Consulting Associates
DataFlex Fido - 103/511
Modem Help West - 1/110
714-675-7106 Data 3/12/2400 baud 24 hrs
+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Alpha Computer Services' INTRCPT PD Util Does it Again! |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
A few weeks back I published a little note here about a small
utility called INTRCPT that allows a PC/AT running DOS 3.2 to
write 720k into 360k diskettes. At that time I said that it
didn't work with DOS' DISKCOPY and DISKCOMP.
Well, the problems have been fixed and it works with ALL DOS
utilities. It has also been tested on as many programs as we
have been able to lay our hands on, including 1-2-3, PC-Paint,
Symphony and many others (too many...) and it has been found to
be compatible with all of them. The version of INTRCPT that has
solved the problems is now identified as INTRCPTX.
Apparently both Microsoft and IBM had notified the author, Sandy
Zelkovitz of ACS, that it simply could not be done! Well, it can
be done, it has been done, so there!
In the process of getting this little gem to work so well,
several undocumented DOS interrupt functions and sub-functions
were discovered, and a list of these will be posted here as soon
as it is ready. This should prove to be very interesting, so keep
your eyes peeled for this one and don't forget to pick up your
copy of FidoNews at you local BBS!!!
Thom:
Jim Butterfield doesn't include any sort of addressing
information in articles. This makes it somewhat difficult to reach him
by FidoMail... Would you please forward this message to him? Thank
you.
-------------
Jim:
I have been enjoying your column; the one on users groups was
quite apropos, as I am pr manager (and entertainment director) for a
brand new 'puter club, and sometimes it's hard to hold the interest of
a group. The next speaker I've arranged for is a hacker (in the true
sense of the word) and a software engineer. I think I'll have him read
that before he gives his presentation. He does tend to talk in very
technical terms.
What prompts this message is the column in fido319. I am writing
pd talking software for the blind, and one project that I have been
interested in taking on for some time is a conversion of adventure,
and perhaps some of the other text-type adventure games.
I need source code because I'm going to have to muck with a lot
of the strings in order to make them sound intelligable through the
votrax-based talker. My preference in source is C, because I know it
well, but FORTRAN, Pascal, and BASIC would be suitable, too.
I know that there is a C version of adventure out there some-
place. I believe it was written in the BDS flavor, but I'd be sur-
prised if there weren't an MS-DOS version floating around, too.
That game has been my favorite since I first saw it on a
mainframe, many moons ago, even though I have never solved it. One of
these days....!
Do you have any suggestions, ideas, and/or source code that might
help me? I can be reached on Fido 147/1, MCI Mail to Remark bbs, or
The Colorado Springs PC Users Group (COSUG) and the International
Fido Net Administrators will planning a conference for Fido
sysops and regional and net coordinators in August, 1986, in
Colorado Springs, Colorado, otherwise known as "Silicon
Mountain". As presently being scheduled, workshops and programs
will take place on Friday, August 15, 1987, and Saturday, August
16, 1986. The conference will provide an opportunity for Fido
sysops throughout the world to come together and learn more about
using Fido. Regional coordinators and network hosts will have a
chance to discuss mutual problems.
So far, Tom Jennings, Thom Henderson and Ken Kaplan have agreed
to come and speak. Suggestions are invited for additional
speakers and workshop leaders. Programs will include "nuts and
bolts" type technical discussions of common sysop problems and
more specialized discussions of net and region coordination. In
addition we hope to have presentations on new software programs,
such as SEAdog, which work with Fido, and new hardware, such as
optical disks and high speed modems. Registration will start on
Thursday, August 14, and Departure will be on Sunday, August 17,
1986. Spouses and families are welcome, and family-oriented
activities such as a trip up Pikes Peak, will be provided.
Sometimes called "Silicon Mountain", because of the concentration
of high-tech, military and industrial installations, including
the United States Space Command, Colorado Springs lies at the
foot of Pikes Peak (elevation 14,410 feet), at the edge of the
Rocky Mountains, in the western United States. There are many
tourist attractions, including a Rodeo, mountain climbing and
hiking, and sight-seeing. Because of the altitude (approximately
6000 feet), the weather should be very pleasant and comfortable
compared to the rest of the United States.
We are looking for commercial and corporate sponsors and
exhibitors to help with the costs, as well as additional program
topics and speakers. Suggestions are welcome. Ken Kaplan will
be assigning the conference a net/node number, 1/10. Further
information concerning costs, expenses, registration, and
programs will be provided soon. Direct airline service is
available to Colorado Springs from many cities, such as Chicago,
Salt Lake, St. Louis, etc.
Be sure to put the Silicon Mountain Fido Conference on your
schedules right away. Talk your friends and fellow sysops into
coming also. Air fares in the United States are very cheap, and
Fidonews Page 6 2 Jun 1986
we may be able to get a special room rate for persons who are
willing to share with someone else.
George Wing, Conference Coordinator
COSUG BBS, 128/13
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
There have been numerous reports collected by Fido Bugs West and
Fido Bugs East, that both Fido 11v and 11w (and probably some of
the earlier Fido releases as far back as 11q) may not always give
up control of the system after a caller terminates his/her
session when the /E parameter is used to invoke Fido.
This small problem in Fido can be a real nuisance to SEAdog
owners who permit callers to drop into Fido, but also wish to
make use of DYNAMIC CRASH mail during the day. By having the
system hung at Fido, SEAdog is no longer in control and the
system is no longer available to accept incoming CRASH mail.
So what I have done is to create a utility, FIDOEXEC 2.2, which
addresses this problem by monitoring both Fido and Carrier
Detect. This utility is being released as FIDOEX22.ARC, which
contains FIDOEXEC.DOC, FIDOEXEC.COM, and FIDOEXEC.ASM. This
utility may be downloaded from 1/100, and it is also being made
available for distribution through 1/98 and 1/99.
FIDOEXEC may be freely used in a noncommercial environment by all
FidoNet Sysops, who are registered with IFNA, as shown in the
most recent copy of NODELIST, or in a SEAdog environment operated
by anyone who owns a legal copy of SEAdog.
FIDOEXEC may also be copy and distributed, so long as no fee is
charged for such copying or distribution, and that it is
distributed unmodified and in its entirety.
FIDOEXEC 2.2 is currently available at 1/100, and SEAdog owners
may File Request FIDOEX22.ARC from the Pickup Directory.
When FIDOEXEC is invoked, it will in turn invoke FIDO_IBM
(current version only supports the IBM version of Fido), and it
will also monitor carrier. If FIDOEXEC determines that carrier
has been lost but Fido has not release control of the system,
then FIDOEXEC will simulate the keying of a Control-C from the
console by a Sysop in order to force Fido to terminate. If Fido
does not terminate after the first Conrol-C is entered by
FIDOEXEC, then it simulate entering Control-C up to four more
times until Fido gives up control. If however, after the fifth
Control-C, Fido does not give up control of the system, then
FIDOEXEC will force a warm reboot.
Lastly, contributions (yes please give), if you use this utility
on your system (be honest), please consider making a contribution
(whatever you can afford to give) to:
FidoNet(tm) Adminstrators
PO Box 41143
St. Louis, MO. 63141
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fidonews Page 8 2 Jun 1986
Alfred Anderson, 14/61
Microcomputer Managers Association
==================================
There must be hundreds of people throughout the United States
that coordinate the use of microcomputers within their company.
This includes the responsibility for negotiating vendor
contracts, evaluating/selecting hardware and software standards,
perform internal training and consulting services, handle custom
programming requests, and provide a comprehensive
hardware/software maintenance services.
I'm one of those people and I would like to establish contact
with people performing similar services for their companies. I'd
like to discuss hardware/software standards and selection
processes, share vendor evaluations, compare support services
planning, networking plans, use of "compatibles" and staffing
services.
It may be that a group along these lines has already been formed.
If so, I would appreciate someone providing me with a contact so
I could obtain more information. It would be best if I could tie
into an existing group.
If no such group exists, then perhaps we could form one along the
lines of FIDONET. With the work being done with ECHOMAIL, we
could effectively use FIDONET to form a national special interest
group.
Please direct any replies to:
Alfred Anderson
FIDO 14/61 (AKA 14/0)
If you're interested, send me a message and I'll let you know if
someone has provided the name of a national organization or if
we're going to try and form one on our own.
Oh, if you are not a Microcomputer Manager yourself, but you work
for a company that has one, could you pass this message to the
appropriate person?
Juan Jimenez
DataFlex Fido, 103/511
Modem Help West, 1/110
How to get help for that modem that won't work with Fido
Some of you may not be aware of this, but a few months back
FidoNet Administration set up a number of Help Nodes to take the
load of providing tech help for Fido users away from TJ and the
main network nodes and distribute it by type to a number of
volunteer sysops on the network.
Well, two nodes were set up for Modem Help. One is Jim Ryan's
Fido (1/108) and the other is my board (1/110). Our goal is to
help people who are having problems with their modems and cannot
get them to work with Fido.
We are here to help, but we need to get very specific info to be
able to assist you. For this reason I am taking the liberty of
putting together a little template of questions that you should
answer in your messages to us regarding modem problems. If you
provide all this info we will be better able to help you and you
will save your time and money. We need the following info on
EVERY request for assistance:
FIRST OF ALL, HAVE YOU READ THE FIDO MANUAL?
(Amazing how many people refuse to read a manual... )
1) Type of computer you are using
2) Configuration (memory, # of com ports, etc.)
3) Operating System and version number
4) Type of modem
5) Internal or external installation?
6) If external, cable configuration
7) Description of problem, to include:
a) Does Fido answer?
b) Does Fido dial out?
c) Which communications program(s) do you have
that WILL work with the little beast?
d) What have you tried to get it to work (Fido
settings, modifications to cable, etc.)
8) Can you afford a new modem that will work?
Just kidding on that last one....
That's all there is to it. If you will provide us with this info
we will be able to respond to your problem with a fix (or a
replacement recommendation...) in a minimum of time and with a
minimum of confusion...
Effective May 26, WelchNet (and I) will be moved to a new
phone number (in Berkeley, California) and will become a private
FidoMail-only system. As a result, direct BBS support for GAGS
will end, but I'll still be available to answer questions and
such via FidoMail, and of course by phone and U.S. Mail. I'll
also respond to mail to 'mwelch' on BIX (the Byte Information
Exchange).
New GAGS* Version:
In June, I will release a new version of GAGS*, with just two
minor changes: the address and phone number will be changed
throughout, and I will make a change to the "Save Game" option
that will eliminate a bug and also prevent the overwriting of
files. (Some Fido sysops had pointed out that when allowing
callers to exit Fido and play a GAGS game, the less polite
callers have chosen to save their games to file names like
"\FIDO\USER.BBS" or "\COMMAND.COM.")
At that time, I'll send a postcard to all registered users
notifying them of my new address and phone number, but GAGS users
who weren't having troubles with the save-file option shouldn't
bother upgrading.
Since WelchNet will be a private node, with the number known
only to the local host, you should not attach files to WelchNet,
and I will no longer be able to afford outgoing file transfers.
I've tried to locate new BBSs to service callers interested in
the message areas I had. The following list may be of use to
people who did or didn't call WelchNet during its 14 months of
operations:
Seequa:
WelchNet's Seequa messages and files have been moved over to
Dog Lab, run by longtime Seequa Chameleon victim/owner Bruce
Oblander at (415) 594-0781. (San Carlos, California; Fido
125/594.)
Turbo Pascal callers can try the following BBSs:
Turbo Fido (916) 481-9557 Carmichael CA Fido 10/6
TurboPointer (516) 682-8525 Wilmington DE
Computers Unltd.(513) 258-0020 Ohio (9pm-11am)
High Sierra (209) 296-3534 SE Calif. 24 hours
And GAGS* can be downloaded from the following boards:
James Mulvey ? Connecticut 203-259-6838
Fido 17/0 Puyallup, WA 206-848-9232
MachineDo L.A. area, CA 213-548-3546 102/115
G_BBS Los Angls.,CA 213-874-9484
Fido Nordal Richardson,TX 214-690-6464
Metro Fire Fido ?? Florida 305-596-8611 135/14
Illini Data Bollingbrk,IL 312-759-5402
P-1 FidoNet ?? Michigan 313-545-1931
Computer Plaza Pittsburgh,PA 412-653-7155
WestPenn Pittsburgh,PA 412-367-2505
Fantasy Factory Pacifica, CA 415-355-6047 125/3
Pyramid of Power Alameda, CA 415-482-0532
The Exchange Oakland, CA 415-339-8457 RBBS
Sci-Fido Oakland, CA 415-655-0667 125/84
SkateBoard S.F., CA 415-776-7228 125/433
Harry Logan S.F., CA 415-621-6520 RBBS
Fido_Racer Murray, KY 502-762-3140
N.Ctrl.Library Wenatchee, WA 509-663-5232
Dog's Breath Austin, TX 512-836-8588
Allen's Board Cincinnati,OH 513-579-5731
St. Joes Hosptl. Phoenix, AZ 602-235-9653
The Morning Zoo CherryHill NJ 609-424-5823
Apocolypse Now Sandy, UT 801-561-9856
Uncle Sams Fido Honolulu, HI 808-546-3719
Please let me know of other BBSs with GAGS on-line.
* GAGS is the Generic Adventure Game System, a text adventure
game authoring system for MS-DOS computers.
Mark J. Welch
P.O. Box 2409
San Francisco, CA 94126
(415) 564-1066 (voice, until 6/1/86)
Fido 125/459 (FidoMail only)
European FIDO node for media and radio enthusiasts!!
by Jonathan Marks, "Media Network" Producer, Radio Netherlands,
Hilversum, Holland.
A little radio background
-------------------------
At this moment, hundreds of English language radio stations are
on the air analysing world affairs. They can be received
anywhere, from Canberra to Cologne, from Holland to Hawaii -
providing you're carrying the right type of radio. The events of
the last few weeks have made people even more aware of how
important international communication is.
In the last five years, there has been a boom in sophisticated
portable radios. They can cover not only medium wave (or "AM" as
it's often refered to in North America) and VHF (or "FM"), but
stations that operate on the dial space in between. This lies
between 3 and 30 Megahertz, and is often termed the "shortwave
band". The new generation of receivers has successfully destroyed
the image of shortwave as something to do with "ham" radio and
giant antennas on the rooftop. Today, shortwave is the news
medium, easy to access in English wherever you happen to be. It
is invaluable for world news and stock exchange information. But
you need to know what you're doing.
Wide choice of receivers
------------------------
There are currently over 70 different shortwave receivers on the
world market. You'll find them at many duty-free outlets in
Europe, and in larger electrical stores. The problem is that
many sales assistants don't do much travelling, and they're
advice and background knowledge is often innaccurate.
Demonstrations under a ceiling full of flourescent lights often
produces a loud buzz when the radio is switched to the shortwave
range. Cheaper sets use the conventional "pointer and dial"
method to indicate where you are on the dial. However,
manufacturers such as Sony, Grundig, Silver, Panasonic,
Nordmende, and Philips currently market so-called "world
receivers" with a digital frequency readout. Instead of
searching a crowded dial looking for English voices, if you know
that, say, Voice of America is on 6040 kilohertz, you simply
twist the tuning knob until the display shows 6040, turn up the
volume, and there's the station. Some more expensive models go
even further. The tuning knob is replaced or supplemented by a
calculator style keypad. If you want to listen to Radio
Netherlands transmitting to North America pressing 6-1-6-5 at
0230 GMT is sufficient. Shortwave signals get much further than
Fidonews Page 13 2 Jun 1986
AM or VHF.
So whats the connection between shortwave and FIDO?
--------------------------------------------------
For the last 25 years, one non-commercial international
broadcasting station, Radio Netherlands, has been broadcasting a
programme for radio enthusiasts. Formerly called "DX Juke Box",
the programme has now been remodelled and is called "Media
Network". It is broadcast each THURSDAY on Radio Netherlands'
English Service. In over 30 minutes, we illustrate events in
broadcasting from all over the world. There's an emphasis on
radio broadcasting, though an increasing amount of material to
interest the satellite and computer enthusiast is also being
included. A weekly propagation report has built up a loyal
following, especially amongst those who use computer programmes
to help plan listening.
Contrary to what one might first expect, computers have already
reached listeners in developing countries such as India, Sri
Lanka, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Indeed, some letters have been
received from listeners in the region sent in on floppy disk!
Because of listener demand from more news of developments in both
the computing as well the communication field, regular items are
included in Media Network under the INFODUTCH column, where
INFODUTCH stands for Information Of Direct Use To Computer
Hobbyists ! Home computers (e.g. Sinclair, BBC, MSX) have found
their way into schools and colleges in many parts of Asia, and
also in West Africa. Listeners in Nigeria ask for computer
listings to experiment in their part of the world.
RN listeners, with suitable equipment, are now be able to access
English language material on the computer in one of two ways.
They can either phone the number in Hilversum direct by dialling
the international exchange in your country, i.e. 011 in North
America, 010 in the UK, followed by 31 for Holland, 35 for
Hilversum, and then 45395. Radio Netherlands material can be
found in message/file section number 2. Your modem needs to be
capable of decoding CCITT tones (standard in Europe), and our
computer will automatically switch to either 300/300 or 1200/75
Baud. We're working on the 1200/1200 and 2400/2400 capability.
You can also use FIDO, address messages to Jonathan Marks, at
FIDO net 500, node 202. The following data is now on the system:
1. Texts of consumer tests on communications equipment, i.e. new
shortwave radios, antennas, and computer interfaces.
2. Current radio propagation information, updated regularly.
Unlike medium wave and VHF, shortwave conditions are dependant
on the sun and the radiation it gives to the earth. The solar
data is montiored continuously for Media Network, and
forecasts (similar to weather forecasts) are used by an
estimated 250,000 listeners worldwide on a weekly basis.
Fidonews Page 14 2 Jun 1986
3. BASICODE programs received from listeners abroad, and
developed by Radio Netherlands.
4. Communications/Broadcasting news.
What else?
----------
Here's an idea of some of the subjects being dealt in the radio
programme over the next few weeks.
Thursday: May 15th Media Network "All Set for the Sun". This
week's Media Network will include an interview with Dr David
Marsden of the European Space Agency's Technology Centre at
Noordwijk on the Dutch North Sea Coast. He'll be looking at a
project that should have been launched today, but is still ready
to explore the sun's poles. It will help to unravel some of the
mysteres of the solar wind, which in turn affects shortwave radio
reception conditions. The programme will also include
clandestine radio news from John Campbell, and we hope to have
media news from our African correspondent, Richard Ginbey.
Thursday: May 22nd Media Network "Paris Reportage". This week
we'll be linking to the studios of Radio France Internationale to
find out the results of the European DX Council conference in the
French capital. Results of the EDXC Computer survey are
expected, plus developments on the shortwave receiver front.
Yaesu will be talking about their Computer Aided Tuning system,
and we look at the new receiver from Japan Radio Company.
They'll also be media news from Andy Sennitt.
Thursday: May 29th Media Network "News Review" . This week's
edition will carry a round-up of media developments, plus a look
at new equipment. Victor Goonetilleke provides Asian media news
round-up.
Thursday: June 5th Media Network "AM Stereo Gone Down, down
under?" We look at the medium wave stereo concept launched back
in 1982 in the United States, and later in Australia. Has it
succeeded? Why will it never catch on in Europe.
Thursday: June 11th Media Network "News Review" including
contributions from clandestine columnist John Campbell and
African media reporter Richard Ginbey. We'll also have a survey
of new publications for the summer (at least for us)
Thursday: June 19th Media Network "Vintage Wireless Lives"
There's a growing value in the "junk" valve/tube radios that get
stored away in cellars and the garden shed. The numbers of
"antique" radio collectors is on a sharp increase in Europe and
North America. Some manufacturers have even started to make
"reproduction" copies of receivers that made in the 1930's. We
look at the trends, the current market situation, and why people
want to collect sets that Grandpa used to fiddle with.
Fidonews Page 15 2 Jun 1986
Tuning in the shortwave programme
---------------------------------
Media Network is broadcast each Thursday by Radio Netherlands.
To find us on shortwave, use the guide below. It is arranged to
cover one whole day of broadcasting. The 0530 UTC broadcast is,
therefore, put at the end of the list since although the day has
changed in The Netherlands, it is still the previous evening on
the West Coast of North America. Confusing perhaps, but if you
look at a globe you'll see the reason more clearly.
Time (GMT) Main Area Served Frequencies (kHz)
04:30 Middle East F9895, F11720
07:30 New Zealand B9630, B9715
08:30 New Zealand B9715
08:30 S.E. Asia M21485, M17575
10:30 Australia/Caribbean B9650, B6020
11:30 Middle East/Asia F15560, M21480, M17575
11:30 Europe F17605, F9715, F5955
14:30 S.W. Asia M17575, F15560, F13770,
M11735, F5955
16:30 Southern/East Africa M9515, M6020
18:30 South/Central Africa B21685, B17605, M9540, M6020
18:30 Europe F6020 (Parallel to Afr.Svce)
20:30 West Africa F11740, F9895, M9715, M9540
01:30 Eastern N. America F9895, F6020
02:30 Eastern N. America B9590, B6165
05:30 Western N. America B9715, B6165
The time shown above is the starting time of the broadcast.
Media Network is broadcast approximately 23 minutes after the
start of the 55 minute transmission. The letters before each
frequency correspond to F - Flevoland, The Netherlands, B-
Bonaire Relay Station, Caribbean, M- Madagascar, Africa.
Transmissions not directed to your area may be audible, e.g. the
0430 UTC broadcast is currently being heard in Australasia, but
reception is generally not as reliable as those transmissions
beamed your way.
Constructive comments, questions, suggestions, and criticism is
always welcomed by the producer, Jonathan Marks. Mail to Net
500, Node 502. File Attach to Net 500, Node 0 for the time
being.
THE WORLD OF COMPUTING
written by Reuven M. Lerner
FidoMail 107/233
Hello, and welcome back! As I mentioned last time, I was
planning on doing a report about some educational software that I
had looked at, and discuss the future of educational software.
Unfortunately, my school had a fire, and although there was no
structural damage to the computer center or to the machines
themselves, we have been denied access to that wing of the
building until everything's cleaned up. Which means that for
now, I just have to talk about the future of educational
computing. But before I get to that, let's get to the latest
news from Microsoft!
I am absolutely delighted to report that not only is
Microsoft coming out with a version 3.0 of their Word word-
processor, but they are also taking copy-protection off of it!
We know that we're headed for good news in protection when one of
the largest (if not THE largest) producers of software takes
protection off. Let's hope that they are, in fact, the "IBM of
software," and the rest of the industry will follow their lead.
Educational Software
As I said, I was going to review some educational packages,
but due to the fire in my school (we're back in the building now,
but the computers are not available), it's a little difficult. I
have used them before, though, so let me at least tell you the
problems that I have with some of the packages.
First of all, they're unprofessionally done. I was astounded
when a program costing about $25 was easily breakable by Control-
c, and then listable and changeable! Any software company who
makes software geared for younger children should have it just as
bulletproof as programs made for busy executives who don't
understand computers either. Half of the sixth-graders I spoke
with knew that to break their own programs it took Control-c, how
many do you think would try it on other programs?
Second of all, the instructions on most of them are pathetic.
As far as I can tell, they're made so that a math teacher can
plug it into the computer in their room, and let the kids try to
guess how to factor trinomials, or something of that sort. When
I couldn't understand what to do next, I wondered what a teacher
who has never used a computer would say? Do you think that she'd
be eager to bring in a computer often if there was the
possibility of a fatal error?
An offshoot of that idea is the whole "user-friendly"
concept. All of these companies try to tell us how user-friendly
their package is, as opposed to the others. I hate to say it,
but producing nice-looking documentation on a Macintosh is nice,
but doesn't add anything to the quality of the writing. I work
Fidonews Page 17 2 Jun 1986
with teachers who are nervous about using cassette recorders or
VCRs. Shouldn't there be clear instructions to get them calm in
front of an overpowering machine?
Well, now that I've done some criticism, let me say that all
in all, once you got around the quirks and documentation, there
was a good program in there. Most of the programs worked as they
should, and are good for giving students practice in different
subjects. But there's a lot out there (I know, I get many of the
catalogs). How can a school decide what to get?
They should firstly deal with a large manufacturer. I don't
know any school administrator who would feel comfortable dealing
mail-order to get a low price, and then realize that he or she
had lost money because there was no support (not to knock mail-
order...it's just not for amateurs). Deal with a local computer
store with support and knowledgeable salespeople.
As you would guess by now, I also would require that schools
only buy unprotected software. What kind of lessons to kids get
when they learn that you have to copy software because there's no
money? I'm sure that that's where many kids learn about copying.
So where's educational computing going? I see a bigger boom
in it in the near future, with better documentation, no
protection (many catalogs have fewer protected than unprotected
software, a change from a year or two ago), and better skills.
There's more high-school software out now than there ever was.
If you're an educator, please write to me, and tell me your
opinions about software. I also suggest that you subscribe to
Classroom Computer Learning, put out by the same people as
Learning magazine. It has interesting games for all levels of
students, programming instruction, and a lot more. It's the sign
of things to come.
Computer Humor
I just got the April issue of Byte, and if you haven't
already, try reading the April articles! Ask BYTE is really
funny, and the last two articles in the Features section are
almost real articles, except for some weird ideas put in.
We computer people as a breed don't have much humor out. I
know, many BBS' have joke sections, but if any of you have a lot
of computer jokes, send it out to all of us! We need a good dose
every once in a while.
Next time
I know that it was shorter this time, but I'm still getting
over a big cold and have, literally, ten things to do. Because
of that, I'll probably be looking into multitasking next time.
Best wishes for a warm spring, and happy computing!
Fidonews Page 18 2 Jun 1986
(c)1986 Reuven M. Lerner. All Rights Reserved. Permission
is given to copy this column so long as it is for non-profit use.
If you wish to use it for other than non-profit use, write to the
author at 21 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568, or at
FidoMail 107/233.
A friend (no, not me) is looking for a new job that can take
advantage of her editing and communications skills.
She is currently a commercial proofreader with extensive
proofreading and copy-editing experience, as well as experience
(15+ years) at various administrative, sales, and management
tasks.
She's interested in a position with more variety and respon-
sibility than her current (proofreading) work, hopefully a job
with some room to grow and potential for advancement. She now
lives in Massachusetts, but is willing to relocate for the right
position.
She is an enthusiastic Atari 800 owner, fluent in BASIC (for
what that's worth now) and involved in a user group. She also has
some experience with the IBM PC and Apple II.
If you know of a company that might benefit from her skills
and interests, please drop a line so I can let her know who to
contact.
Send FidoMail to Mark Welch to 125/459, or mail on BIX to
'mwelch', or call Mark Welch (at work) at 800-227-8365
[800-344-4636 in CA], or write to P.O. Box 2409, San Francisco,
CA 94126.)
Professional quality games include PASCAL source! From the
author of KALAH Version 1.6, SuperDots, a variation of the
popular pencil/paper DOTS game, has MAGIC and HIDDEN DOT
options. KALAH 1.7 is an African strategy game requiring
skill to manipulate pegs around a playing board. Both games
use the ANSI Escape sequences provided with the ANSI.SYS
device driver for the IBM-PC, or built into the firmware on
the DEC Rainbow. Only $19.95 each or $39.95 for both
exciting games! Please specify version and disk format.
These games have been written in standard TURBO-PASCAL and
run on the IBM-PC, DEC Rainbow 100 (MSDOS and CPM), CPM/80,
CPM/86, and PDP-11. Other disk formats are available, but
minor customization may be required.
BSS Software
P.O. Box 3827
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
For every order placed, a donation will be made to the Fido
coordinators! Also, if you have a previous version of KALAH
and send me a donation, a portion of that donation will also
be sent to the coordinators. When you place an order, BE
CERTAIN TO MENTION WHERE YOU SAW THE AD since it also
appears in PC Magazine and Digital Review.
Questions and comments can be sent to:
Brian Sietz at Fido 107/17
(609) 429-6630 300/1200/2400 baud
Public Domain collection - 400+ "ARC" archives - 15 megs of
software and other goodies, and that's "archived" size! When
unpacked, you get approximately 21 megabytes worth of all kinds
of software, from text editors to games to unprotection schemes
to communications programs, compilers, interpreters, etc...
This collection is the result of more than 15 months of intensive
downloads from just about 150 or more BBS's and other sources,
all of which have been examined, indexed and archived for your
convenience. Starting a Bulletin Board System? Want to add on
to your software base without spending thousands of dollars? This
is the answer!!!
To order the library, send $100 (personal or company check,
postal money order or company purchase order) to:
Micro Consulting Associates, Fido 103/511
Post Office Box 4296
200-1/2 E. Balboa Boulevard
Balboa, Ca. 92661-4296
Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of your order.
Note: No profit is made from the sale of the Public Domain
software in this collection. The price is applied entirely to
the cost of downloading the software over the phone lines,
running a BBS to receive file submissions, and inspecting,
cataloguing, archiving and maintaining the files. Obtaining this
software yourself through the use of a computer with a modem
using commercial phone access would cost you much more than what
we charge for the service.
Please specify what type of format you would like the disks to be
prepared on. The following choices are available:
- IBM PC-DOS Backup utility
- Zenith MS-DOS 2.11 Backup Utility
- DSBackup
- Fastback
- ACS INTRCPT 720k format (Requires a 1.2m floppy drive and
PC-DOS 3.2)
- Plain ol' files (add $50)
Add $30 if you want the library on 1.2 meg AT disks (more
expensive disks). There are no shipping or handling charges.
California residents add 6% tax. For each sale, $10 will go to
the FidoNet Administrators.
14 Jun 1986
The Next Occasional MetroNet Sysop Meeting, to be held in West
Milford, New Jersey. Contact The Wizard at node 107/16 for
details and directions.
14 Aug 1986
Start of the International FidoNet Conference, Colorado
Springs, Colorado. Contact George Wing at node 128/13 for
details.
24 Aug 1989
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
If you have something which you would like to see on this
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1/1.
Gruesome George by Bruce White
+-------------------------------------------------+
|_ |
| \ |
| \ Honey, what time |
| George, with a is it now? |
| $2,000 computer and | |
| your telecommunications | ____\__ |
| access to the world, | |_| \ |
| how come you still _____ |\ |
| need me to tell you | _ | | |
| what time it is? ______ | |_| | | |
| __(______)_|_____|___ | |
| ||-----------------|| | |
| ______ || || | |
| \ {} / || || | |
|(c) 1986 bw \__/ ||-----------------||__|__|
+-------------------------------------------------+
ANY SYSOPS interested in EchoMailing an area on SCIENCE-FICTION
and fandom or on GAMING (role-playing games and war games)
conference? I can assist you with installation, if you need it.
The SF area already has two boards. Contact Brad Hicks, 100/523.
