۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲
۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲
۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲
۲          ۲
۲          ۲
۲    ۱      ۲
۲    ۲۰      ۲
۲    ۲۲۰      ۲
۲    ۲   ۻ ۻ  ۻ   ۻ   ۰۰      ۲
۲    ۲   ͼ ۻ ۻ  ۺ   ۰۰      ۲
۲    ۲      ۺ    ɼ ۻ ۺ   ۰۰      ۲
۲    ۲      ۺ    ۻ ۺۻۺ   ۰۰      ۲
۲    ۲      ۺ    ɼ ۺ ۺ   ۰۰      ۲
۲    ۲      ͼ    ͼ  ͼ  ͼ   ۰۰      ۲
۲    ۲۰۰      ۲
۲    ۲۰      ۲
۲    ۰      ۲
۲          ۲
۲          ۲
۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲
۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲
۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲
۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲
۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲
۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲       ۲

Ŀ
 Special BBS Edition      TAKE A BYTE NEWSLETTER                      
͵
  August 1, 1993     Issue 39    Volume 3      Bi-Monthly      FREE   


*************
News Bits 
*************
- The New HP DeskJet 1200C.  600x300-dpi black and color. $1,699.

- SmartComm for Windows released by Hayes.  Scripts, Macros, ANSI Editor, 
  Online services, and GIF viewing imbedded in.  $49.99 Limited offer.

- Epson has updated its Equity line with a new branch of PC's.  Equity 4
  offers 3 models, a 486SX/25, a 486SX/33, and a 486DX2/50.  All come with
  4MB RAM, a Extended VGA monitor, and a 120MB HDD.

- Harvard Graphics is now offering a trade-in for other drawing applications
  if you aren't happy with their product, Harvard Graphics 3.0.  The choices
  include MS PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance, and WP Presentations.


*****************  
My DOS Prompt
*****************  
Make your system look a little more impressive by using some simple and very
easy tactics.  Batch files can make your life a whole lot easier, by 
combining multiple commands into a file and launching them all in that order.
You already knew that?  Good, then you will understand this next part easier.
Now what if a batch file could wait for your input?  Well it can, using DOS 
6's CHOICE command or other batch utilities similar to it.  So what?  Well
combine that little utility with a batch file and you can make menus!  Some
of you i'm sure went out and bought Menu Works or some other menuing system
that will do the same thing as a simple batch file.  
        I can hear you now, "MY menu has color, so there!".  Well you can 
make color menus too!  How?  ANSI color codes (issue 23).  You can even use
a feature in a program called The Draw, an ANSI editor, to make .COM files
for a fast drawn menu!  If ANSI is not your thing you can design menus in
ASCII too. 
        Below i will show you a simple example of both a menu screen in ASCII
and a short menu batch file.
       
Menu Example in ASCII:
       
       ۲
       ۲
       ۲۲
       ۲      ͻ      ۱
       ۲         1) Editor                ۱
       ۲         2) Quick Basic           ۱ 
       ۲         3) Virus Scan            ۱ 
       ۲         4) Modem                 ۱ 
       ۲         5) WordPerfect           ۱ 
       ۲         6) Lotus                 ۱ 
       ۲         7) Windows               ۱  
       ۲         8) Park Hard Disk        ۱  
       ۲            ۱  
       ۲۱  
       ۲   
       ۲   
                              
                                                                                      



Batch File for the Menu:  (Using Batch Enhancer from Norton)
Ŀ
 @Echo Off                                         
 :menuit                                           
 CD\                                               
 CLS                                               
 TYPE MENU.TXT                                     
 BE ASK " "87654321 DEF=7 TIMEOUT=60 bright yellow 
 if errorlevel 8 goto park                         
 if errorlevel 7 goto windows                      
 if errorlevel 6 goto lotus                        
 if errorlevel 5 goto wordperfect                  
 if errorlevel 4 goto modem                        
 if errorlevel 3 goto antivirus                    
 if errorlevel 2 goto basic                        
 if errorlevel 1 goto edit                         
 :edit                                             
 EDIT                                              
 goto menuit                                       
 :basic                                            
 QBASIC                                            
 goto menuit                                       
 :antivirus                                        
 rem -place your anti virus command here.          
 NAV                                               
 goto menuit                                       
 :modem                                            
 rem -place your comm. program command here.       
 TM                                                
 goto menuit                                       
 :wordperfect                                      
 CD\WP51                                           
 WP                                                
 goto menuit                                       
 :lotus                                            
 CD\LOTUS                                          
 123                                               
 goto menuit                                       
 :windows                                          
 WIN                                               
 goto menuit                                       
 :park                                             
 rem -place your hard disk parking program here.   
 PARKIT                                            

    Well there is a small demonstration of an easy menu program that's
easy to update and will save you thousands of keystrokes over time.

*DOS Tips*  
You want to delete a file that you no longer need, so you type DEL TEXT.TXT
but then you get the message "File Not Found".  Then you remember you gave it
the Hidden and Read-Only attributes.  Now you have to type the attrib command
and then pray for no typos and then try it over again.  Well no more if you
have DOS 6.  All you need to type is DELTREE /Y TEXT.TXT and that file will
be deleted no matter what attribute is on.


********************
Breaking Windows  
********************                      
A word processor in Windows can be a tough choice, after all most word 
processors do the same things, or do they?  Lets take a look at what is
available with the three most popular word processing programs for Windows.

 = Yes   o = No
                           Ami Pro 3.0      Word 2.0C     WordPerfect 5.2
Ŀ
Alt paragraph styles                                               
Irregular text wrap            o               o              o       
Document templates             57              19             44      
Levels of undo                 4               1              1       
Levels of undelete             4               1              3       
Comparisons                                                        
Redlining                                                          
Strike-Through                                                     
Equation editor                                                    
Spreadsheet Functions          39              36             8       
Lines & Boxes                                                      
Image manipulation                            o                     
Charting tools                                                     
Clip art images                100             46             36      
Preview files from list                                            
Online Tutorial                                                     

Now comes the biggest and most important part to Windows users who do major
word processing, speed.

File Handling Speed
-
Ami Pro 3.0                Test Machine
Word 2.0C                       486DX/33
WordPerfect 5.2                     8MB RAM 60ns
                                        245MB IDE 15ms
Text Manipulation                       HP 4 Laser Printer
-
Ami Pro 3.0                                  
Word 2.0C                    
WordPerfect 5.2                             

Printing
-
Ami Pro 3.0                                          
Word 2.0C                                         
WordPerfect 5.2                                       

*Windows Tips* 
Many companies that make software for Windows include drivers.  Make sure
you check that you have the most current set of drivers at your disposal.
As Windows is dependent on many drivers it could make the difference between 
completed work or a hang-up.


*****************
BBSing Around  
*****************
By now i'm sure you're thinking "Hey this BBS thing is easy, i could set up
one on my own...".  Sure we all do, but is it that easy?  Well it all depends
on what kind of BBS you want and how much you have to spend.  Many users
decide that they want to start a BBS and dream about the eases of being a
full fledged Sysop.  The truth of the matter is that having your own BBS
requires a little more than a buck and a dream.
        Here are a couple facts to keep in mind to bring you up to speed if
you are not all that familiar with the facts of this grueling industry.

Statistics of May 1993.  Sources: SBA/FCC/COAS/ASA/LIBCONGRESS

Total LISTED U.S. BBS's:                                    63,214
Privately Owned:                                            82%
Business Owned:                                             18%
New BBS's that fail within 1 year:                          46%
New BBS's that fail within 6 months:                        83%
Average Cost to start a small BBS:                        < $2,000
Average Cost to start a large BBS:                        > $19,000
Average Income for a small BBS (1st year)                 < $3,000
Average Income for a large BBS (1st year)                 > $7,000
Average Number of users per small BBS:                    < 300
Average Number of users per large BBS:                    > 1000

        As you can see there isn't a whole lot of money making involved and
there is a high risk of failure.  Many Sysops have other problems to deal 
with too.  Like what?  Here is a small list of Sysop problems starting with 
the number one problem.

      List of typical Sysop problems.
        1) Getting users to pay.
        2) Getting users to log on.
        3) Verification calls.
        4) Getting users to post in pubs.
        5) Getting the BBS software to work correctly.

        Many Sysops decide to bypass a few of these problems by either 
getting a co-sysop or getting many people to act as staff or both.  There
are a few Sysops that don't really get involved and decide to become more
or less an investor.  These InvestOps aren't too hard to spot.  Their boards
are usually expensive (above $20 a month) and they hardly chat or converse 
with groups of people in live chat.  Now InvestOps are not bad people or bad
Sysops, they just about getting your buck, and that's all.
        So if you are thinking about starting a BBS, i suggest you do a 
little research and check out a few books on the subject first.  Most
Sysops suggest that you be a user or BBS for at least 2 years before 
venturing into the Sysop seat.

*BBS Tips*
See if your favorite BBS scans files for viruses before you are able to 
download them.  Many BBS's have an automated file scanner that will scan
a file uploaded by another user whether it is compressed or not.


****************
Compile This  
****************
These days many programmers are using programs called decompilers.  These
programs can take machine code and make a file of .OBJ code.  These 
decompilers have good and bad points.  A good point is that you can see
into the code of some programs that you use daily and see what makes that
program tick.  The bad issue here is that you could make changes and 
re-compile the original program.  Why is that bad?   Well, if you are a main
stream shareware producer, you would want to put those annoying PAY ME NOW
messages.  With this de-compiler someone could override that little message
of yours.  Many issues with decompilers are coming up everyday and not
everyone is pleased with them either.
     Soon steps will be taken to make sure these programs cannot be 
decompiled, such as compressing them with PKlite permanently.  Many game 
programmers are also worried by these decompilers and as a result are also  
taking steps to enure their games from being decompiled and searched through.
     What can you do to ensure your programs can't be decompiled?  Nothing
at the moment.  Just be aware that your .EXE and .COM files aren't as safe
from prying eyes like they used to be.

*Programming Tips*
Many programmers fight and squabble over the use of Flow charts and
pseudocodes before you start to code your program.  Some will tell you its a
school yard folly, others will swear by it.  What should you do?  Who knows.
Each programmer has his/her own tactic.  Do what you think you should do and
what feels comfortable, but don't mistake comfort for laziness.


**********************
The Expansion Slot 
**********************
(Part I of III)
Now it's time to delve deep into the 80386 chip from Intel.  Here is some
information that might be of interest or be helpful to you.
                           Intel 80386SX
 
 Full 32 bit processor
   - 32 bit non-multiplexed address bus
   - 32 bit data bus
   - 32 bit internal bus
   - 8 general purpose 32-bit registers
 
 Integrated Memory Management Unit
   - 4 gigabyte physical address space
   - 64 terabyte virtual memory support
   - 4  gigabyte maximum segment size
   - Optional On-chip Paging (a la VAX, 386 is THE UNIX machine)
   - Full superset of 80286 MMU and fully compatible
      
 Object Code Compatible with All 8086 Family Processors
 
 Virtual 8086 Mode
   - Allows running multiple 8086 tasks (read PC software) in a
   - protected and paged system
 
 Hardware Debugging Support
   - Four 32 bit breakpoint registers allow breakpoints to be set in code or 
     data
      
 Optimized for Performance
   - Pipelined instruction execution
   - On-chip address translation caches
   - 16 Mhz clock max.
   - 32 megabytes/sec bus bandwidth
   - Sustained through-put between 3 and 4 million instructions per second.
(Part II next issue)

*Hardware Tips*
Running out of room?  Did you just buy a CD-ROM or another hard drive and 
realize that you have no more drive bays?  Well you're not alone, many pc's
back in the mid-80's came with only 3 bays.  One for the Hard Drive, one for
a 3" drive and the last for a 5" drive.  Well now you can buy a Combo Drive
from Teac, it includes a 3" and 5" drives into one 5" sized case.  They
have been out for about 6 months now and retail for about $150.


*****************
Gonzo's Games
*****************
Major Striker is a game that has the look and feel of arcade games in the
late 80's like Twin Cobra.  The game pits you on some wild mission that is
supposed to be exciting.  It's not.  There is plenty of japanese art packed
into this game, which isn't bad, but lacks originality.  
        There are a few good parts to the game, like its challenge.  Its a 
hard game and requires good hand/eye coordination.  As you can imagine the 
game has power-up, extra lives, ect...  The game also supports Adlib sound to
provide you with extra enjoyment.
        The game is shareware and can be found usually on your local BBS or
at Apogee's BBS.  The cost to register was nominal.  If you like games like
Twin Cobra or Final Defender than this game is for you.  Rating: 5 out of
10.

*Gonzo's Tips*
For the game Major Striker, just keep the fire button down and glide from one
end of the screen to the other.  You will eliminate many of the targets and
will not be hit.

***************
ROM Teasers
***************
**Scrambled Words**
   Unscramble the word, if you can.
   (Last issues word: SOUND BLASTER) 
   This issues scrambled word: DAUGPER
   Clue - To move from one version forwards to the next.                           

**Answer & Question**
   We give you the answer, you think of the question. 
   (Last issues question: Who is Motorola.)
   This issues answer: Microsoft sells a new ergonomic version for over $80.
   Clue - How Cheesey.

**Word Search**
 Ŀ
 C P U Z W W I V M X B S R X B S O
 O S W Z D F J K W E U C P I M I T  1) CPU                8) VIDEO
 M O T H E R B O A R D W S A A L P  2) MOTHERBOARD        9) CDROM
 P M N Q A C B M A T R I X N E R Y  3) BBS
 U N I V E R S A L Y I L L I C K R  4) CACHE              Bonus - Crypto
 T M Q A G S B O O B V I D E O R V  5) UNIVERSAL
 E H C A C G S S Z D E R E N C F O  6) DRIVER
 R R C R T L O L C D R O M O I V T  7) MATRIX
 O T P Y R C E W W Q A S L L M N B         
 

********************               
Buy, Spend, Sell               
********************               
   Top 5 Selling Software                Top 5 Shareware
1) DOS 6.0 Upgrade Kit                1) Pkware 2.04G
2) WordPerfect 6.0                    2) McAfee Scan        
3) Windows 3.1                        3) PC Magazines Utilities
4) OS/2 2.1                           4) Dead Paint (RIPterm)
5) WinFax Pro                         5) Solice Shareware Bundle #4 (CD)

   Top 5 Selling Hardware                Top 5 Selling PC Games
1) Intel 486/33DX CPU                 1) 7th Guest
2) HP LaserJet 4si MX                 2) Ultima Underworld II
3) Robotics 14.4k Fax/Modem           3) Kings Quest VI (CD) 
4) Seagate SCSI-2 249MB HDD           4) Ultima BlackGate
5) Sound Blaster 16 Audio Brd.        5) Xwing Flight Simulator


*******************
Shameless Plugs                
*******************
 ** GFC Systems...for all your computer needs! We can match or beat most 
     prices! Call (213) 664-6577.  (Attn: Gerald)

 ** Zola's Pleasure Palace BBS (24 hours) adults over 21 only.  3 lines so
     far, many public message boards, private mail, lots of on-line adult
     door games, 500MB library, chat area, Occult section, Bi, Gay, TV sect.
     7 different local lines for most areas, very friendly & colorful!!!
     (818)772-4548

(Ad's will be free for the first 4 issues then will cost fifty cents a line
($0.50) for each issue after. Just drop us a note.)


*******************
The Slave Drive
*******************
Ŀ
 Editor: The DLF Group                   Publisher: Byte Productions     
 Game Consultant: Tom                    DOS Consultant: Chris L.        
 Hardware Consultant: Jack Nevin         Windows Consultant: Chris P.    
 ASCII Graphics: Chuck Martin            Editor in Chief: Chris L.       

Distribution of this newsletter is allowed as long as it is not edited in
whole or by part.
All trademarks & rights reserved to the respective companies.
Copyright (C) 1993 Byte Productions 
ID#TBN39
