                         QmodemPro for Windows

                             by Tony Curro


The long awaited communications program for Windows has arrived. In
short, the wait was worth it. Qmodem, which started out nine years ago
as a shareware venture by John Friel and the Forbin Project, quickly
jettisoned to the top of the lists as the DOS communications program of
choice. Recently, Mustang Software acquired Qmodem. They, along with
John, gave us Qmodem 5.0, QmodemPro v1.0 and now, QmodemPro for Windows.
I am pleased to	have been able to review all these products.

Most of my modem use is access to BBSs. Since my switch to MS Windows,
as my environment, the hunt for a Windows communications program has
been a long one. Of the many that I looked at, only two were geared
toward BBS and corporate users. The others were more geared toward the
corporate environment. QmodemPro for Windows is all things to all users.

QmodemPro for Windows has an intuitive interface. Users can start it up
and feel right at home. You have a Toolbar across the top, macro bar and
status line on the bottom. For those who prefer a cleaner screen, you
can eliminate the two bars. Pressing F1 gives you context sensitive help
anywhere within the program.

QmodemPro for Windows is quick to install. It comes with WAV files for
Windows sound, RIPicons, and sample fax cover sheets. It has ANSI music
support, contains all the popular transfer protocols (including Zmodem).
More than 30 terminal emulations including ANSI, VIDTEK, and the newest
RIPscrip format which features graphics and full mouse support. There is
also a file viewer and editor, and a GIF viewer that allows you to view
a GIF as you are downloading, or you can view any GIFs on your system.
You can zoom any GIF or BMP file, and even mark and copy portions of the
picture to the Windows clipboard.

It supports both send and receive fax capabilities with any Class 1 or
Class 2 Fax modem. You select from eight different fonts for faxing.
Option to include a cover page. Use the sample cover page included, or
create one of your own. The manual well documents the fax variables
recognized, which aids you in creation of your own cover page. Documents
for fax must be in ASCII format, or they may be a PCX or BMP graphics
image.

You can set the option to have the phonebook come up on startup, or just
click on the dialer icon to bring it up. You will see the familiar
directory with entries in a line by line format. However, QmodemPro for
Windows allows you to change this. You can choose to have the list in
icon mode, or you can have it in icon list mode. Icon list mode shows
you the icon on the left, with the standard dialing information next to
it. The phonebook features sort and printing on a number of options. In
print mode you select which options you wish to be printed. There are
many icons supplied, or you can add any valid icon of your choice.

Each phonebook stores up to 4096 entries, and you can have an unlimited
number of phonebook files. You can have up to five phone numbers for
each entry. Eventually you may delete entries from the phonebook.
Consequently, you may also notice that the filesize is still the same.
This is because deleted entries are not automatically removed from the
file, even though the entry no longer appears on screen. On the File
Menu there is a pack command. Using this will remove these entries and
recompress the phonebook file. You also can create groups of people to
call. For example if you call five of your offices each morning to get a
report, you can put this in one group, and by selecting the group you
can call each, without having to select them each day. You can perform
revisions or other functions on a selected group. Creating, adding or
deleting numbers or groups are very simple.

Converting your old phonebook will not be a problem. QmodemPro for
Windows will read in and convert any  phonebook file from previous
versions of Qmodem and QmodemPro. In addition, the program includes a
DOS convert icon This will allow you to convert ProComm Plus 1.1 & 2.0,
Telix 3.1x, and Boyan 5.x phonebook files.

Other features include:

* Macros and programmable keys. Run DOS or other programs right from the
macro bar.
* Support for 100 of the most popular modems. Updates are periodically
available from MSI BBS.
* Has a mini-BBS with message base, upload, download and more. The
mini-BBS runs from Qmodem's new powerful scripting language (SLIQ). This
set of files is easy to configure for your needs.
* Place a BMP or pattern in the background behind the terminal window.
* User selectable fonts, colors, and screen size.
* Drag-and-Drop file transfers from the File Manager directly into
QmodemPro for Windows.
* QmodemPro for Windows is the first Windows communications program to
offer support for RIPscrip.
* Configurable option allows you to play WAV files in all aspects of
your online session. Full support for Windows-compatible sound cards.

I have been a Qmodem user since 1987. I had to leave because I preferred
a communications program for Windows (Qmodem worked fine in Windows, but
was NOT Windows-oriented). Contrary to belief, you can go home again. I
have been using another product for some time. Now that I have QmodemPro
for Windows, I have returned home.

QmodemPro for Windows comes with both 5.25" and 3.5" disks. It includes
a User Guide and Script Guide. QmodemPro for Windows comes with a 30-day
money-back guarantee. Owners of previous versions of Qmodem should
contact MSI for information about upgrade pricing.


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

* 80386 CPU of higher.
* 4MB RAM
* 5MB of hard disk space minimum. 7.5MB for a full installation.
* MS Windows in standard or 386 enhanced mode. (Will NOT run on 8086,
8088, and 80286 systems.)
* VGA graphics adapter and monitor. (Will NOT run on EGA, CGA, or
Hercules.)
* Mouse (optional).


Product Information

QmodemPro for Windows v1

SRP -- $139.

Mustang Software Inc.
P.O. Box 2264
Bakersfield, CA 9333
800-999-9619 (orders)
805-873-2500
805-873-2599 (FAX)
805-873-2400 (BBS)
