FARGO IBM PC USER GROUP NEWSLETTER MAY, 1987 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Users Group Information--------------------------------------------- 1 Users Group Meeting Notes------------------------------------------- 1 Cheap Shot #4 Amstrad PC-------------------------------------------- 1 Disk Utility: EZMENU------------------------------------------------ 2 File Utility: EXPUNGE.ARC------------------------------------------- 3 Disk Utility: ARCHIVE.ARC------------------------------------------- 4 HARDWARE: Famousmaker AT-------------------------------------------- 4 INNOVATION: PC+Internal Bernoulli Box------------------------------- 5 Editor's Screen: Impact of IBM-------------------------------------- 6 Uploads April 87---------------------------------------------------- 7 --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Users Group --------------------------------------------------------------------- Meetings are free to the public and new computer owners are encouraged to attend. The Fargo IBM-PC Users Group meets the third Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. Our current meeting place is the classroom located in Bethany Homes, 201 University Drive South, Fargo. Meetings are free to the public and new computer owners are encouraged to attend. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to join?? For an annual fee of $12 you receive our Newsletter, access to our disk library, and copies of IBM's own users group magazine Exchange. Group members also qualify for occasional discount purchases offered by supporting merchants. You can make your check out to Fargo IBM-PC Users Group and either bring it to a meeting or send it to Loren. --------------------------------------------------------------------- USER GROUP OFFICERS --------------------------------------------------------------------- President & Sysop---- Loren Jones Vice-President----- James Grettum Librarian--------- Calvin Paulson Newsletter Ed.-------- Jim Levitt Treasurer------------ Loren Jones --------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: Box 9121, Fargo ND 58109 Newsletter: Box 97, Wolverton, MN 56594 User Group Information: 1-701-232-3332 RBBS Public Line: 1-701-293-5973 --------------------------------------------------------------------- APRIL MEETING NOTES --------------------------------------------------------------------- April Meeting. We took an extensive look at the new line of computers from IBM. The units, which IBM insists on calling Personal Systems, feature the latest in production technology. Once again, thanks to Eric for his willingness to field an infinite array of questions regarding the new machines and their impact on users. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CHEAP SHOT #4: Amstrad PC1512 PC --------------------------------------------------------------------- Where do old typewriters go to die? One final resting place in the Fargo-Moorhead area is A-1 Olson. This burial ground and hospital for typewriters is also the birthplace of their successors--computers. Fargo IBM PC User's Group Newsletter -- May 1987 -- Page 2 It didn't take long for a computer detective like myself to discover that A-1 Olson was hiding a new IBM-PC clone in the midst of its Smith-Carona typewriters and Kaypro PCs. The newcomer's name is Amstrad PC1512. The unit comes from the land of Shakespeare--though indirectly. It is marketed by a British firm, but most of the components bear the stamp "Made In Korea." I sat down to find out how this global entry into the PC market measures up. I quickly discovered that the Amstrad is full of surprises--some good, some bad. Components. The base unit, selling for $795, offers everything a novice needs except a printer. You get a system unit built around a fast 8 MHz 8086 microprocessor, 512K of RAM (expandable to 640K), 1- 360K floppy disk drive, a serial port, parallel port, clock, keyboard, mouse, combined RGB color/monochrome adapter (on the motherboard), MSDOS (3.2), GEM software, and BASIC. In addition, the Amstrad PC offers three empty full-length expansion slots which are socketed from right to left along the back of the machine. The $795 price tag includes a dedicated monochrome monitor. It's difficult to find another compatible that offers so many features at such a low price. The abundance of features is a nice surprise. Unique Design. The system does have some drawbacks related to design choices. One peculiar aspect of the design of the Amstrad involves the monitor. When you buy the Amstrad computer you must pick from one of two Amstrad monitors (either white-on-black monochrome or RGB color). EGA is not available. The entire system has only one power cable, which connects to the monitor. Two dedicated cables (power and video) run from the monitor to the system unit. Since the power is channeled through the monitor the hardware reset switch is located on the back of the monitor--not on the system unit. As a result of this non-standard design, no third-party monitor or video board can be used. In addition, the monitor is attached to a tilt-and-swivel base which sits inside a recess on the top of the system unit. The designers figure the monitor should always sit on top of the system unit and nowhere else. Cables are not long enough to put the system unit on the floor. Such a move is unlikely, however, since Amstrad's box is very small and unobtrusive. Obviously, the system's design choices will appeal more to the new user rather than to the experienced PC owner. Monitor. A single floppy system includes a black and white monochrome monitor--all for $795. Add $200 and you can upgrade to the Amstrad RGB color screen. The resolution on the monochrome screen is acceptable, but nothing spectacular. (Unlike Peter Norton, I don't like white-on-black.) Resolution on the color monitor is good. The brown was rich--not dingy yellow as on some monitors. System Unit. The system unit has openings for two half-height drives. If you want a second floppy disk, add $100 to the base price. If you prefer a 20Mb hard disk as your second drive, add $500. The dealer could not tell me which manufacturers Amstrad currently uses for its drives. The floppy disk drive was very quiet. When you lift the monitor off the system unit you expose four AA batteries which power the clock. The unit's plastic case is attractive, but I suspect you might encounter problems with RF interference, despite what the FCC sticker says. A plastic door on the right side of the unit hides three brackets for expansion boards. On the units I saw, none of these slots were covered with metal plates. I asked what a user would do if he were to Fargo IBM PC User's Group Newsletter -- May 1987 -- Page 3 add a board such as an internal modem. If a user connected a phone cable the plastic cover would have to be removed. With the cover off, the two other expansion slots are wide open. In reply I was told that third party manufacturers are making all kinds of wonderful add-ons for the Amstrad. Not very reassuring. Amstrad should have spent an additional $1.50 and protected the bracket openings with shielded plates for occasions when the plastic cover must be removed. Mouse. The Amstrad comes with it's own two-button mechanical mouse. It tried it with Microsoft WORD (what else?) and it worked. Compared to Microsoft's mouse, the Amstrad unit is functional, but looks and feels cheap. Keyboard. The keyboard resembles the original PC keyboard design. Like IBM's first offering, its RETURN, SHIFT, and TAB keys are too small. There are no tactile bumps or channels on the J, F, or 5 keys. It's feel is fair. One innovation that might surprise you is the location of the joystick connector. The 9-pin plug is on the back of the keyboard. Software. The system comes with MSDOS (3.2), BASIC, and the GEM package, which boasts an icon (Macintosh-like) alternative to the A> of DOS. All the standard programs I threw at the Amstrad worked well. Documentation. The manual is extensive--500+ pages. The parts I scanned seemed readable--provided a new user is willing to invest the time in wading through this hefty paperback. Summary. The Amstrad is definitely marketed as a starter system. For someone not particular about expansion alternatives and design details, it offers the cheapest 8086 processing power on the market today. It's full-featured, inexpensive, and compatible. I would remind any potential customers that when they buy the Amstrad they are buying a dedicated package. They are locked into one of Amstrad's two monitors. No mix-and-match with keyboards or mice, either. While its innovative design lowers the price, such limitations might frustrate the more advanced user. Prices: 1-floppy monochrome = $795; 2-floppy monochrome = $895; 1- floppy + 20 Mb hard disk monochrome = $1295; 1-floppy color = $995; 2- floppy color = $1095; 1-floppy + 1 20Mb hard disk color = $1495. -J.L. --------------------------------------------------------------------- DISK UTILITY: EZMENU.ARC --------------------------------------------------------------------- Menu programs for hard disks fall into two categories--those which are sophisticated and expensive, and those which are simple and relatively cheap. EZMENU falls into the latter category. EZMENU allows you to create a main menu and any number of submenus for your hard disk. You design a menu entry by using the F1 key. You are prompted to let EZMENU know whether the entry is a program, a batch file, or a submenu. You then tell EZMENU the label you wish to place on your option, the command used to execute it, and the subdirectory in which the command is located. You can also designate a password if you choose. You edit your menu selections in a similar fashion using the F2 key. Each time you create a menu, a file with a MNU extension is written to your disk. When designing a BAT file, EZMENU writes a *.BAT file to its directory. The full screen display shows you the date and time, along with which page of the menu is currently displayed. The color display features an attractive white on blue screen. If you don't require power or extreme flexibility, EZMENU is a simple way to manage your hard disk. The program was written by Mike Perry, Progressive Computer Services, 7501 Creighton Place, New Fargo IBM PC User's Group Newsletter -- May 1987 -- Page 4 Orleans, Louisiana, 70126. The requested donation for EZMENU is $30. EZMENU is available through our library or RBBS in a 46080 byte file labeled EZMENU3.ARC. --------------------------------------------------------------------- FILE UTILITY: EXPUNGE.ARC --------------------------------------------------------------------- Many utilities exist that will help you copy and delete multiple files. None come cheaper than EXPUNGE.COM, which is truly public domain. The author's name is not listed and the 518 byte DOC file urges you not to send money to anyone. Expunge helps you mark a group of files for copying or deleting. When you invoke the 6K program, it clears your screen and shows you a main window containing a directory of files on your logged disk and subdirectory. Above the window the program displays the percent of space your files occupy on your disk. Below the directory list the program explains which function keys to use to mark, delete, or copy files. The explanations are simple and straightforward: F1 = sort displayed list by filename. F2 = sort displayed list by file extension. F5 = select different drive and/or path. F3 = copy the files you have marked. F4 = delete the files you have marked. SPACE = mark the file on the display next to the cursor. F6 = drop to DOS. + = mark all files. - = unmark all files. ESC = end. ARROW KEYS = move cursor to different file names in list. On my color monitor the names of files changed from white to yellow when marked. As the marked files were successfully copied or deleted, their names changed from yellow to green. If the action was unsuccessful for some reason, the color switched to red. --------------------------------------------------------------------- DISK UTILITY:ARCHIVE.ARC --------------------------------------------------------------------- It must be difficult to find a unique name for a program that will fit into the 11 character limits of DOS. ARCHIVE.ARC fools you with its name if you are a user of Phil Katz' ARC program. ARCHIVE is really a hard disk backup utility. ARCHIVE simplifies the backup procedure by allowing you to select from four menu options. You can backup files, restore files, retrieve information, or exit. ARCHIVE simplifies selecting files for backup. You can tag selected files for backup. Such files will display a diamond after their names. You can also set global parameters to match certain files for tagging. ARCHIVE also allows you to select files by date. ARCHIVE reports the number of files on disk, and the subset of those files which are tagged. The speed of the display suggests that directory information is read into RAM. As for backup and restore speed, I can only say that it felt faster than DOS BACKUP. Even if the speeds were identical, I would prefer ARCHIVE because of its ease of use. As the program ran, it conveniently displayed the number of files backed up, the number of files remaining, and the number of the backup disk in the floppy drive. ARCHIVE has no measurable storage advantage over the DOS utility, storing 9.3 Mb of files on 29 floppies Fargo IBM PC User's Group Newsletter -- May 1987 -- Page 5 The program gives no author or date, and is pure public domain. The initial screen does read: "Colossus System version 2.7C." The program is available in a 21504 byte ARC file (24567 unsqueezed). No document file is available. If you want to simplify backup and restore functions, but don't want to empty your wallet for a time-saving utility like FastBack, ARCHIVE will take a few wrinkles out of the process for you. --------------------------------------------------------------------- FAMOUSMAKER AT --------------------------------------------------------------------- Our "Cheap Shot" series of reviews focuses on bargain basement retail PC and XT compatibles. The Famousmaker PC-AT, doesn't quite fit in that category. It's not a starter system for the home user, but an advanced system for home or business. Components. The $1595 price of the base unit includes everything but DOS and monochrome monitor. Computer Associates includes: --1.2 Mb Teac floppy drive --Western Digital floppy/hard disk controller --1 Mb RAM motherboard (with 512K installed) --clock/calendar --Hercules compatible monochrome graphics card with parallel port --serial port (25 pin) --Phoenix ROM BIOS (3.06) --200 watt power supply --8 expansion slots (3 occupied in this configuration) --Keyboard (Trans KB) --Operating Speed: 10 MHz (switchable to 6 or 8 MHz). Keyboard. I was pleasantly surprised with the no-name keyboard on the Famousmaker PC-AT. Though it offers no tactile marks on the F, J, or 5 keys, the feel of the standard AT layout was good. Speed. The system clips along at a respectable 10 MHz. This speed made Windows run without dragging its feet (as it does on my 4.77 MHz machine). The unit operates at three speeds. Using a jumper, you select either 6MHz operation only or 8 or 10 MHz only. When you choose the top two speeds, you can flip a switch on the back of the unit to instruct the computer to boot up in either 8 or 10 MHz. Unfortunately, you cannot switch speeds without rebooting. Unless you love an oddball program that disintegrates at 10MHz, this drawback should not affect your buying decision. Compatibility. I flew through a handful of standard programs on Computer Associates' hard disk. They ran smooth and fast. I suspect nothing in my floppy library would choke on the Phoenix BIOS, which is known for its compatibility. System Unit. The unit I tested had (120 ns) chips installed in all four of its 256K banks. In this configuration, 640K is available for the system and 384 for a RAMdisk. (RAMdisk software is included.) Video Options. The video board you select will affect the price of your base system. The same system without the monochrome graphics & parallel port adapter costs $1486. If you opt for an EGA video adapter instead, your cost is $1835 (without monitor). Monitor. Computer Associates markets four brands of monitors. The machine I tested was attached to a $169 Multitech black-white monitor. The resolution on this one was excellent, infinitely better than the screen packaged with the Amstrad. This one makes my prejudice against black-white monochrome monitors seem silly. Hard Disk. If you desire a hard disk drive, Computer Associates will add a half-height 20Mb (65mS) Seagate or MiniScribe for $429. Or you can choose a 30 Mb (65mS) for $529. They also offer a 40 Mb full- Fargo IBM PC User's Group Newsletter -- May 1987 -- Page 6 height MiniScribe for $829. The case has the capacity to house three half-height devices and one full height drive. Warranty. The Famousmaker PC-AT comes with a 15 month parts warranty and a 6 month labor warranty. Computer Associates also offers a 90-day money back guarantee. Service should be very quick. Joe informed me that Computer Associates generally replaces defective circuit boards on the spot, reducing down time. This ease of service and warranty coverage is one reason why buying from a local merchant is often worth the extra dollars. Compared to Big Blue. The Famousmaker PC-AT offers 10 MHz speed for about $1000 less than s similarly equipped IBM-AT. If you were to equip this unit with a 20 Mb Hard Disk ($429), IBM's new VGA adapter ($575) and monochrome analog monitor ($250), your cost would be $3089, about $750 less than a similarly equipped Personal System/2 model 50 computer. The throughput would be less than IBM's new machine due to other IBM design enhancements. On the other hand, you would have more slots and more disk expansion than the model 50. (The physical size of the disk drives is also different.) Conclusion. The Famousmaker PC-AT is the first in what promises to be a new market of over-the-counter 80286 AT clones. It looks to be one of the better values around in AT compatibles in the Fargo- Moorhead area today. --J.L. --------------------------------------------------------------------- INNOVATION: PC + INTERNAL BERNOULLI BOX --------------------------------------------------------------------- It's not a hard disk, it's not a floppy disk--what is it? The Bernoulli Box is a super floppy disk drive. The cartridge holds as much information as most PC hard disks, and is removable, like other floppy disks. Computer owners familiar with this product picture a two-cartridge add-on box sitting by the computer. Such units retail somewhere around $2000. How would you like one Bernoulli drive and an 8088 computer for the same $2000? That's what Leading edge has announced as an upgrade to their successful PC series. Instead of a floppy-hard disk combination, the unit features a 360K floppy drive and a 20Mb Bernoulli drive. All the other features common with the leading edge (DOS, keyboard, monochrome monitor, 3 slots, keyboard) are included-- along with two 20Mb Bernoulli cartridges. I don't know what to think of the system yet, but the packaging is sure innovative! We'll try for a hands-on in a future issue. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's Screen: Impact of IBM --------------------------------------------------------------------- Now that IBM has begun marketing a new series of computers with what may well become new "standards," many of us are wondering what impact the new technology will have on our use of computers. Though I try to unravel prophecy as part of my professional responsibilities, I don't attempt to generate much myself. Having said that, I'm going to make a few speculations anyway. 3-1/2 Disks Standard. The 3-1/2 disk will become the new standard for floppies. 1.4 Mb should outsell the 720K disks once production becomes available. The 720K units will go the way of 180K single- sided drive units. CGA is Dead. The color graphics card in my machine will virtually disappear. The EGA (enhanced graphic adapter) and its cousin--IBM's new VGA--will become the adapters of choice for those not desiring to use monochrome displays. Fargo IBM PC User's Group Newsletter -- May 1987 -- Page 7 PC-XT (8088) machines will become the Commodore-64's of home and business use. Target already offers the Blue Chip on sale for $580 (including monitor). The home market will see a resurgence in IBM- type machines. Business computing will move to AT-class machines. Clone Makers who lack top engineering departments and substantial cash reserves will try to grab the home and single-user market. They will be reluctant to invest $1-$6 million to imitate IBM's new machines. Established PC firms will reluctantly keep up with IBM's new technology, knowing that on the day they introduce compatible products IBM will have recouped all its research and development on the PS/2 units and can engage in a price war if it chooses. IBM will maintain a stronger hold on the market than in the past two years. It has not been the habit of IBM to compete on price, so I doubt that they will sell their model 50 units for $1000 each when the clones eventually emerge (though they could). Prices will come down-- but slowly. Third Party Manufacturers will focus on VGA video boards for current computers, modems and memory expansion for the PS/2 series. You will also see a flood of 1.44 Mb 3-1/2 drives. They will also eventually market bus expanders for units like the Model 50. (Even with the new built-in features, users learned long ago that three empty slots fill up rather quickly!) User Group Newsletter Editors will eat their words. They will cover their lips, and walk around with ashes on their heads exclaiming, "Unclean, Unclean!" --------------------------------------------------------------------- PAPER SPECIAL!! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Your editor obtained 250-sheet packages of Mead 81/2 x 11 white fanfold paper (20 lb.) from Chuck Udart at Cole Paper's sale this month. If you need any, see me--you can have them for the same $1.05 it cost me! That's less than 1/2 cent per sheet. -- Jim Levitt COMMUNICATIONS AT.ARC 1792 4-12-87 Send AT commands to your modem from DOS BRAIN.ARC 64640 4-05-87 A programable telecommunications program. DSZ0314.ARC 36736 4-02-87 Latest Zmodem batch pgm from C. Forsberg EXECNET.ARC 9216 4-30-87 QM 3.0 -> PCB logon script - VG! Also PRCM! EXTERNAL.ARC 116736 4-19-87 Add. DL protocols for Qmodem 3.0 (4 of 4) GT1210-1.ARC 132224 4-08-87 Latest ver. GT-POWERCOMM - updates/docs GT1210-2.ARC 130560 4-08-87 Main prog. term. host with overlays GT1210-3.ARC 75904 4-08-87 File transfer protocols for host mode GT1210-4.ARC 104704 4-08-87 Stand-alone GT1210 terminal prog. w/ovrlays GTCTL35.ARC 86144 4-08-87 Provides maintenance for GT1210 host mode GTLOG66.ARC 93312 4-08-87 Provides usage stats in host mode GT1210 PC-VC01.ARC 170624 4-12-87 Visual/voice conferencing program PH201-87.ARC 12288 4-22-87 *Telephone Exchange Finder 1.01B - Neat! PROMOUS1.ARC 4096 4-04-87 Use MS mouse with Procomm Fargo User Group RBBS Uploads April 1987 -- Page 8 QFONE300.ARC 113664 4-20-87 Qfonedit 3.0 THE Qmodem 3.0 directory util QMSSTCOM.ARC 150528 4-19-87 Qmodem 3.0 SST COM, OVERLAYS, HELP (1 of 4) QMSSTDOC.ARC 109617 4-19-87 Documentation for Qmodem 3.0 (3 of 4) QMSSTINS.ARC 74752 4-19-87 QINSTALL 3.0 Install Qmodem (2 of 4) RBBS15.LOG 512 4-24-87 Script to log onto Fargo & read bulletin 20 TELIX212.ARC 174080 4-18-87 Comm program like Procomm ver 2.12 2 WORD PROCESSING/EDITOS COPYCON.ARC 5504 4-19-87 Better than "copy con" GALAXY21.ARC 156416 4-26-87 Galaxy Version 2.1 Complete Package Great!! QEDIT135.ARC 111616 4-28-87 Version 1.35 of QEDIT -- very good TDRAW210.ARC 96256 4-01-87 TheDraw Color Screen Image Text Editor V2.1 WP42B.ARC 18432 4-04-87 Mouse driver for Word Perfect 4.2 3 DATABASE MANAGEMENT CLIPMN22.ARC 23680 4-21-87 Clipper/dB3+ menu generator DB3SECUR.ARC 5248 4-19-87 dBase3 user security access program PUCLMENU.ARC 5120 4-01-87 Penultimate CLIPPER menus. Many levels deep WORDWRAP.ARC 11264 4-11-87 Wordwrap article /BIN/Prg for dBase III+ 4 EDUCATIONAL ALMANAC.ARC 15360 4-12-87 Astronomical almanac for any lat./long. CIBOX.ARC 107520 4-16-87 Good math educ game for kids GR 3- 6,C/G req EARTH.ARC 41088 4-17-87 Graphic earth for any lat./long. GERMAN2.ARC 40832 4-19-87 German tutor - disk 2 REVW0387.ARC 58368 4-02-87 Blacher's Program Reviews for Mar 87 SPANISH2.ARC 38272 4-19-87 Spanish tutor - disk 2 5 FINANCE/PRODUCTIVITY BLKSCHLS.ARC 27008 4-11-87 Options Trading Program CALCPLUS.ARC 46979 4-17-87 RPN calculator with many features- nice! FBUCK318.ARC 174080 4-30-87 *FAST BUCKS v3.18 Home Finance Planner VG! GOLFLEEG.ARC 90220 4-16-87 Help golf league secty to do handicaps v4. LESSON.ARC 61726 4-16-87 Maintain school lesson plans - VG! MORTPLAN.ARC 90564 4-12-87 Mortplan v2.2 menu-driven amort functions MYGL.ARC 124288 4-28-87 *My General Ledger accounting package PCSTOCK2.ARC 113664 4-22-87 Stock market technical analysis STATZ13.ARC 61700 4-11-87 Statistics program in QBasic w/source TAXPLN87.ARC 202472 4-13-87 *Tax Planner '87: Begin preparing for '88! 6 SPREADSHEETS ALLINONE.ARC 180224 4-11-87 Spredsheet/dbase/wp/telecom-integrated pkg Fargo User Group RBBS Uploads April 1987 -- Page 9 ASEASY28.ARC 101376 4-19-87 *ASEASY v2.08 LOTUS 1-2-3 clone / no docs 7 LANGUAGES/PROGRAMMING A68K104.ARC 94215 4-28-87 FAST multitasking OS for 68000 systems A68K104.ARC 94215 4-28-87 FAST multitasking OS for 68000 systems A86300A.ARC 75264 4-21-87 *A86 v.3.0 Assembler - Part 1 A86300A.ARC 75264 4-21-87 *A86 v.3.0 Assembler - Part 1 A86300B.ARC 104832 4-21-87 *A86 v 3.0 Assembler - Part 2 A86300B.ARC 104832 4-21-87 *A86 v 3.0 Assembler - Part 2 A86V290.ARC 51200 4-19-87 A86 asmblr v2.9 w/OBJ sup/beta/upd only A86V290.ARC 51200 4-19-87 A86 asmblr v2.9 w/OBJ sup/beta/upd only ADVBAS33.ARC 111616 4-22-87 Advance Basic functions Version 3.3 ADVBAS33.ARC 111616 4-22-87 Advance Basic functions Version 3.3 BAWK.ARC 31103 4-25-87 MSDOS impl of UNIX C. Src/Doc. you compile BAWK.ARC 31103 4-25-87 MSDOS impl of UNIX C. Src/Doc. you compile CSR20A.ARC 227456 4-03-87 Freeware C library from C Spot Run DVECT.ARC 10878 4-28-87 DOS/BIOS vector table w/ descriptions DVECT.ARC 10878 4-28-87 DOS/BIOS vector table w/ descriptions DVTECH.ARC 7168 4-16-87 DesqView Tech notes for users/programmers DVTECH.ARC 7168 4-16-87 DesqView Tech notes for users/programmers EVALUATE.ARC 227456 4-03-87 Freeware C library from C Spot Run EVALUATE.ARC 1536 4-30-87 Math expression evaluator in Turbo Pascal FULLPATH.ARC 1536 4-15-87 Use the full path name from 'C' source FULLPATH.ARC 1536 4-15-87 Use the full path name from 'C' source PROBE.ARC 45056 4-26-87 Execution profiler PROBE.ARC 45056 4-26-87 Execution profiler TASKING.ARC 19456 4-12-87 Modula-2 Multi-tasking routines TASKING.ARC 19456 4-12-87 Modula-2 Multi-tasking routines WASM201.ARC 137806 4-11-87 Wolfware Assembler v2.01, 2/20/87 WASM201.ARC 137806 4-11-87 Wolfware Assembler v2.01, 2/20/87 YACC.ARC 85632 4-04-87 Unix YACC for the PC YACC.ARC 85632 4-04-87 Unix YACC for the PC YARD.ARC 5120 4-24-87 Good full screen resident debugger YARD.ARC 5120 4-24-87 Good full screen resident debugger 8 MUSIC/POSTERS/GRAPHIC 3DDEMO.ARC 8320 4-02-87 Really good 3D object rotation demo 3DROT.ARC 1807 4-28-87 3D rotations of any image ALPHA.ARC 69248 4-17-87 An Audio Program on the IBM.... PLAY.ARC 10624 4-01-87 Music Generator fm PCMag with bas,asm & Com RLE.ARC 15232 4-18-87 View .RLE files SHOPIC35.ARC 20480 4-26-87 Display *.PIC graphics files. THEGRIN.ARC 32160 4-25-87 Like readmac, aspect control, more powerful TSCAN.ARC 211968 4-24-87 More dirty pictures by Thunderscan! wow 9 UNPROTECTS / PATCHES CV_FIX11.ARC 3072 4-26-87 Microsoft CodeView fixes FAST_COM.ARC 1024 4-03-87 Fix MSDOS to allow mode 19200 serial com1/2 Fargo User Group RBBS Uploads April 1987 -- Page 10 MASM4FIX.ARC 3072 4-26-87 Microsoft MASM 4.0 fixes QB_V201.ARC 384 4-22-87 Stop opening screen of QuickBASIC V 2.01 SNATCHIT.ARC 12796 4-17-87 *Snatch copy protected prgms from memory SOTA.ARC 1664 4-21-87 Software drvrs for Sota's Mothercard 5.0 10 GAMES/ENTERTAINMENT APRIL.ARC 1910 4-28-87 Great gag for Apr 1st! Harmless... See doc BJ.COM 52608 4-23-87 Six player Blackjack - fun BJACK25.ARC 51407 4-28-87 The Ultimate Multi-player Blackjack Game... BOWLING.ARC 2304 4-14-87 Bowling game..variable skill levels DSS.ARC 65920 4-24-87 Devil Star ship for 2 players good FASTLIFE.ARC 47104 4-13-87 A very fast, excelent LIFE program FLIGHTM.ARC 18850 4-17-87 Flightmare -- adventure game GTWAR.ARC 26624 4-03-87 Global ThermoNuclear war game JAMMER.ARC 6016 4-24-87 A game, try it. Its in color! MILLE.ARC 8064 4-20-87 Mille Bournes card game PACKGAL.ARC 41344 4-10-87 Another PAC-MAN takeoff PC-RR.ARC 71424 4-22-87 A working Model Railroad inside your PC POKER.ARC 36224 4-10-87 5 or 7 card stud against the computer SOPWITH.ARC 44725 4-17-87 *Sopwith Camel Air Raid C/G game- Excellent! STAR-SOL.ARC 4480 4-12-87 The solution to the game Starflight STARTRAK.EXE 29056 4-09-87 Like Startrek, good game! TRON.ARC 23552 4-24-87 2 player Tron a good game WILLY2.ARC 77696 4-26-87 King Kong type game *good* not great . 11 UTILITIES-GENERAL 704K.ARC 1152 4-14-87 Use more than 640k memory limit AMAXX236.ARC 77824 4-16-87 *AUTOMAXX Menu System/PC Manager v2.36 ARCE30E.ARC 11264 4-07-87 Buerg's latest (4-2-87) fast extractor. ATDIR.ARC 35456 4-19-87 DIR w/ integrated attribute search/set CATDISK3.ARC 104448 4-09-87 BEST cataloger, now ARCs w/ squashing OK. CHGPATH.ARC 15360 4-11-87 Change PATH string on the fly, w/C,EXE,DOC CIPHER.ARC 896 4-25-87 Simple & FAST crypt program w/short doc. F31.ARC 39936 4-13-87 Filer v.3.1 - Nice DOS shell program FASMEN40.ARC 70656 4-19-87 FastMenu v4.0--fast menu system FREE402.ARC 5632 4-12-87 Report free conv/ext/exp memory v4.02,w/ASM HEXSCAN.ARC 570 4-30-87 Utility to display keyboard scan codes NORTDOC.ARC 2176 4-16-87 Doc for Norton's Utilities NSWPPC18.ARC 44032 4-03-87 NSWEEP disk maint. util, works with .ARCs OMIMENU.ARC 41856 4-27-87 Execute programs from menu w/o batch files! PROMPT30.ARC 4096 4-17-87 Learn all about the prompt and make it work STATUS.COM 1920 4-02-87 Check system status from PC Mag 4-28- 87 TSRTOOLS.ARC 39808 4-13-87 TSR and memory probing progs (good) VOL6N9.ARC 18688 4-30-87 PC-Magazine Utilities Vol. 6 #9 Fargo User Group RBBS Uploads April 1987 -- Page 11 VRAM.ARC 19456 4-16-87 *Use drive as Expanded Memory v2.0 Z80UNARC.ARC 72704 4-13-87 Source,doc&com for Z80-CP/M unarchiver Z80UNARC.COM 5120 4-13-87 Z80-CP/M--use to unarc Z80UNARC.ARC 12 UTILITIES-KEYBOARD ATFASTKY.ARC 6912 4-19-87 Non-resident keybd accelerator for AT & 386 OX.ARC 6144 4-19-87 Device drvr directs AUX output to mono scrn 13 UTILITIES- DISK CCD.ARC 640 4-24-87 Change directory w/o the %$@# backslash \ COPYQ.ARC 1792 4-24-87 Selectively copy files with (y/n) DBLPARK.ARC 256 4-03-87 Multiple harddisk park heads DMASTR21.ARC 48896 4-13-87 Latest rel of Directory Master -- nice! DSPACE.ARC 11648 4-30-87 Display disk utilization, uses graphics FATRESTR.ARC 6144 4-12-87 Restore hard disk after reformating LISTB123.ARC 6144 4-01-87 Lists bad clusters on HD,v1.23,011287,w/ASM MARK231.ARC 9216 4-01-87 Un/Mark bad disk cluster,v2.31,011287,w/ASM MSTRKY17.ARC 127616 4-28-87 *Norton-like utility ver. 1.7 - very good! NEWPARK.ARC 5120 4-03-87 Verified harddisk head parker any hdisk OWNER152.ARC 12288 4-01-87 Find file owning cluster,v1.52,031387/ASM 14 UTILITIES-FILE ALTER23.ARC 4096 4-12-87 Alter file dates &/or attrib. v2.3 /040187 CDES.ARC 19968 4-28-87 True NBS DES data encryption (w/docs) DCWHERE1.ARC 15360 4-03-87 A full screen file finder. In color! DD15.ARC 11136 4-03-87 DoubleDirectory ver 1.5 see 2 DIR's at once PUTPASS1.ARC 19968 4-03-87 Great New Utility - Passwords .COM files. QSORT21.ARC 37780 4-02-87 QSORT quick sort program v2.1, Excellent! RESARCV.ARC 7168 4-12-87 Resident ARCV for remote/local/graphic TSEARCH.ARC 19072 4-24-87 Search text files for strings UNIXVIEW.ARC 30464 4-15-87 View ascii files + Regular Express. search 15 UTILITIES-PRINT EPSONSET.COM 3712 4-04-87 FX-80-good printer utility LPTCHK01.ARC 2176 4-18-87 Check printer status from BAT file - nice PCFONT.ARC 63488 4-06-87 Supports 243 ascii chars for epson mx,rx,fx TYPERITE.ARC 6784 4-28-87 Turns computer into correctable typewriter 16 UTILITIES-SCREEN ASC-CHAR.ARC 8832 4-02-87 Three LARGE ASCII font sets for screen disp CHNGSCRN.ARC 14208 4-24-87 Swap CGA & MONO monitor--Beats MODE! Fargo User Group RBBS Uploads April 1987 -- Page 12 DISPLAY.ARC 2944 4-20-87 Display string with attrib & location NANSI22.ARC 47744 4-01-87 ANSI System Driver with asm source XFLASH1.ARC 13312 4-22-87 Elim CGA flash w/o Snow 8088/8088-2 w/ASM ZANSI.ARC 31616 4-01-87 Fast ANSI device driver 50 TURBO PASCAL PRGMS WINDMGR2.ARC 63232 4-30-87 Fast windows for Turbo Pascal 90 MISCELLANEOUS AP87NEWS.ARC 29696 4-14-87 Fargo IBM Users Group April '87 Newsletter DIVORCE.ARC 14720 4-21-87 Sample custody/separation agreement DOS33UP.ARC 2048 4-16-87 Info on DOS 3.3 upgrade from all prev. vers FDIR0187.ARC 8199 4-02-87 Fargo uploads for 1/87; add to master list FDIR0287.ARC 9437 4-02-87 Fargo uploads for 2/87; add to master list FDIR0387.ARC 9201 4-02-87 Fargo uploads for 3/87; add to master list NEWCOMM.ARC 37504 4-08-87 IBM 3270 product announcements from 4/2/87 NEWDSPLY.ARC 23680 4-06-87 IBM new displays and adapters 04/02/87 NEWIBMS!.ARC 5294 4-02-87 IBM's new PCs are here w/ much, much more! NEWMISHW.ARC 42624 4-06-87 IBM New Hardware information on System 2 NEWMISSW.ARC 72064 4-08-87 IBM new software products 04/02/87 NEWNET.ARC 66048 4-08-87 IBM new network announcements 04/02/87 NEWOS2.ARC 86528 4-06-87 IBM Operating System/2 announcem't 04/02/87 NEWOVER.ARC 132864 4-06-87 IBM System 2 Overview of NEW Announcements NEWPRINT.ARC 45184 4-08-87 IBM new printer announcements 04/02/87 NEWPROD.IBM 3072 4-06-87 IBM PC User Group info Boca Raton NEWPS2.ARC 89216 4-06-87 IBM Personal System/2 computers 04/02/87 NEWSOL.ARC 59776 4-08-87 IBM Solution Pacs announcement from 4/2/87 NEWSTATN.ARC 36864 4-08-87 IBM new workstations [3270] 04/02/87 WITHDRAW.ARC 3200 4-08-87 IBM Products withdrawn from marketing 95 RBBS-PC SYSTEM FILES RFIX0326.ARC 40576 4-03-87 T. Macks (Latest RBBS 15.1A Fixes & Patchs) RFIX0407.ARC 52224 4-10-87 Merge Fixes to RBBS-PC CPC15.1A 4/7/87 RdB 96 RBBS MISC. UTILITIES ANSWER2.ARC 18432 4-22-87 Answers phone & takes msgs while BBS down CHGUSER.ARC 27374 4-05-87 Easily change Sec.Acc.Levels in RBBS CONDOR15.ARC 14464 4-10-87 Use 15.1A doorware with PCBoard 11.8D/E CONDOR20.ARC 29440 4-29-87 15.1A Doorware w/ PCBoard (1-3 nodes) CONDR151.ARC 15488 4-14-87 Use 15.1A doors w/ PCBoard, fixes 300 bps PB2RBBS.ARC 15360 4-23-87 PCB->RBBS conversion 1.1 (Users & Msgs) Fargo User Group RBBS Uploads April 1987 -- Page 13 PCB2RBBS.ARC 13312 4-10-87 Convert PCBoard 1.8 user file to RBBS 15.1