PC TOOLS DELUXE, V. 5.1--Optimizer, Backup, DOS Shell + Much More!
                       Copyright 1989 David W. Batterson


     There has been much dialogue of late how consumers are turning more toward
value, and away from status symbols.
     For example, sales of Mercedes and BMWs have declined, while sales of
upscale Toyotas and Acuras are booming.
     The same thing is happening with PCs and software.  The person who once
would consider IBM or Compaq ONLY now realizes there is excellent value from
dozens of brands of AT- and 386-compatibles.  Others have refused to pay the
high price for Lotus 1-2-3 when lower-priced, high-performance Lotus-compatible
programs are widely available, like QUATTRO or VP-Planner.
     Which brings us to the subject of utility programs.  If you REALLY want to
save money, you can get excellent public domain (PD) shareware software.  But
most computer users feel more secure with "store-bought" merchandise, so they
stick to the commercial offerings.
     Norton Utilities had the edge for many years, but others have jumped into
the arena, including FASTBACK Plus, Mace Utilities, Disk Optimizer, XTreePro,
SideKick Plus, and PC Tools Deluxe.
     Well, on to the review of PC Tools Deluxe, Version 5.1.  Yes, version 5
has already been updated to 5.1, thanks to the programmers at Central Point
Software who don't sit around twiddling their thumbs after completing the
latest version.
     As I've said before, no software program is EVER finished; ALL of them can
be improved and SHOULD be if the company expects to remain competitive.
     That has been Central Point's philosophy since they first came out with
COPY II for Apple II computers.  Just about every //c or IIe owner used that
program to make copies of protected programs.  I had a copy too.
     PC Tools Deluxe Version 5.1 is quite an incredible value, when you see how
much it offers.  (It lists for $79, but since it's heavily discounted, it has
about the lowest street price.)
     Besides the Compress program to optimize your disk, and PC Backup, which
backs up your hard disk in a remarkably short time, there is the improved PC
Cache to speed up hard drive access.  The Mirror program protects against
accidental formatting of your hard disk, while PC Secure is an encrypt/decrypt
and compression/expansion utility.
     While my hard disk didn't really need optimizing, I did it anyway for test
purposes.  The Compress program is very simple to use, and fast.  Its Disk
Analysis mode indicated I had only 1 percent fragmentation, but it gave me the
message: "Compress Recommended."
     Optimizing is needed primarily when you are using spreadsheets and
databases regularly.  I use neither one.  Probably a heavy user of desktop
publishing or graphics programs would also need to use Compress after awhile.
     Not long ago, my hard disk crashed, and I did not have it backed up.
Sure, I had all the original software, but I was forced to reinstall and
reconfigure all those programs again.  It took a long time.  Plus I lost a few
text files forever.  It all could have been avoided by backing up to disk.
     I've learned my lesson, and now I do regular backups.  Since PC Tools
provides a lucid backup program, you can't say that its too time-consuming.
Take the time!  It takes me only about 10-15 minutes with PC Backup, depending
on how much I've added to and deleted from the hard disk.
     PC Tools Deluxe also offers a notepad with spell-checker, appointment
scheduler, dBASE III-compatible database, three calculators, communications
program with background file transfers and script language, keyboard macros,
outliner, and clipboard.
     But wait, there is even more.  PC Shell is a full-featured DOS shell which
will make you delete DOS 4.1 Shell from your hard drive.  PC Shell does
anything and everything you need to do with disks and files.
     PC Tools Deluxe Version 5.1 also features pull-down menu windows, and has
full mouse support.  You can run it in pop-up TSR mode, or from the DOS prompt.
 bout 40K RAM is all it uses, and there is EMS memory support.
     It comes with three highly-professional manuals, all containing lots of
screen shots.  Context-sensitive help is available by pressing <F1>.
     I can recommend this product and the company, because they know what they
are doing, and are dedicated to continually improving their products.  They
even put updates on CompuServe and GEnie for users to download.
     For more information, contact Central Point Software Inc., 15220 N.W.
Greenbrier Parkway, #200, Beaverton, OR  97006; 503-690-8090, FAX:
503-690-8083.
                                       #
(NOTE:  PC Tools Deluxe has now upgraded to Ver. 5.5, as you may know.  I
haven't obtained a review copy yet, but will review it when I get one.)

     David Batterson writes articles and reviews for various computer
publications.  Contact him via MCI MAIL: DBATTERSON.