==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7814, from John_Howells, 2155 chars, 31-Mar-94  21:23:59
----------
Subject: Delrina Upgrade - phooey
Fm: John Howells 100031,353
To: all

Hi,

Delrina recently announced WinFAX Pro 4.0 in their forum here on CIS.
In the announcement it stated:

 > Worldwide availability of the English version of WinFax PRO 4.0
through
 > resellers is March 1994 at a suggested retail price of US$129.
Customers
 > who purchased WinFax PRO 3.0, the Delrina Communications Suite or
Delrina
 > WinFax PRO for Networks 3.0 on or after February 1st, 1994 can
upgrade
 > to version 4.0 at no charge.

Note that the first sentence refers to "Worldwide availability", while
the second referring to a free upgrade for existing users made no
mention that the qualifying date of the 1st February applied other than
Worldwide. Well, my Fax Modem came with WinFAX Lite, and it seems
reasonable so I bought the upgrade to WinFAX PRO 3.0 on 5th February.
While I was not desperate for the upgrade, since it was free I rang up
Delrina to see how to get hold of it, and I did expect to pay for the
postage (though previously Borland did not charge even for that for a
free upgrade to C++ 3.1 in similar circumstances).

I should have known better.

The first time I rang up Delrina UK they knew nothing, but after
receiving an upgrade mailing in the post I rang again, figuring that by
now they had no excuse. This time, yes, they did know about the
upgrade, but stated that the qualifying date for UK purchasers was not
the 1st February but the 1st March.

When will companies putting announcements on CIS realise that they will
be read by users outside the USA and Canada, and qualify them
appropriately? I believe that since there was no qualification the
Delrina announcement makes them duty bound to honour that promise of a
free upgrade. I raised the issue in the Delrina forum here a couple of
days ago, and have had a reply saying the note was being passed on to
the supervisor.

Those in Germany are in a worse position, since the qualifying date for
a free upgrade of the German version will be 1st May, because of
translation delays, but again the Delrina announcement makes no mention
of that.

John Howells, Wigan, UK

There are 2 Replies.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7851, from PETER_LEE, 671 chars, 04-Apr-94  09:44:51
Comment to 7814.
----------
Subject: Delrina Upgrade - phooey
Fm: PETER LEE 100265,400
To: John Howells 100031,353 (X)

You are dead right about CIS users in the US finding it difficult to
remember the rest of the world. I had a similar experience when I
enquired about upgrading my copy of Microphone LT (a Windows comms
prog.) and even worse, the $10 Compuserve Guide with $10 user credits
advertised in the Compuserve Mag. had not been heard of by Compuserve
Customer Service in the UK.

I also got Winfax Lite bundled with my modem. I haven't had cause to
use it yet - does it work OK, or are there any tricks of the trade the
rest of us need to know about?

Regards

Peter


There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7855, from John_Howells, 2378 chars, 04-Apr-94  17:24:03
Comment to 7851.
----------
Subject: Delrina Upgrade - phooey
Fm: John Howells 100031,353
To: PETER LEE 100265,400 (X)

7 Peter,

Bear in mind that Delrina are actually a Canadian company, but they
still seem to be infected with the US' parochial attitued.

 > I also got Winfax Lite bundled with my modem. I haven't had cause to
use
 > it yet - does it work OK, or are there any tricks of the trade the
rest
 > of us need to know about?

No, at least not from me. It worked fine for both send and receive
straight out of the box. Except, that if you use Mercury 131 access you
can't set it up to dial a US number of the form
131,8888888888-99-0101-000-000-0000 where the 888..88 is the Mercury
PIN number and 99 is the cost code. The first part, up to and including
the -99-, was stored as a dial prefix, so that it was applied to all
calls. The long number that results obviously causes an array used for
digit storage while WinFAX Lite is sending to be exceeded, but WinFAX
Lite does not notice, and corrupts Windows to the point where the
system has to be rebooted. A shorter number within the UK, of the form
131,8888888888-99-071-000-0000 was OK, so there is a limit somewhere
between 30 and 35 digits. I don't know what the digit limit is inWinFAX
Pro, and I have not had cause to fax a US number using it.

Further to my previous note, someone reminded me that Delrina do a 60
day money back guarantee period. The utter stupidity is that I am now
going to send back WinFAX Pro 3.0 because I am just within that 60 day
money back guarantee period. So Delrina will have to pay the cost of
the refund. I shall then go out and buy another copy of 3.0, which will
mean a second profit to the shop, but less profit to Delrina than the
refund will cost. I shall then get a free upgrade to 4.0, because the
second purchase is after 1st March. This will end up saving me money,
at the cost of a little hassle, but will end up costing Delrina much
more than if they would just honour their stated date of 1st February.

Is this bizarre, or what? There are not many businesses I know that put
in place policies designed to *cost* them money. It seems quite
illogical to have a 60 day guarantee period but only a 30 day free
upgrade period. I have already faxed the UK office stating my
intentions and pointing out the absurdity of the whole situation, and
asking for their comments.

John Howells, Wigan, UK

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7868, from PC_Plus, 741 chars, 05-Apr-94  11:59:08
Comment to 7814.
----------
Subject: Delrina Upgrade - phooey
Fm: PC Plus 71333,1462
To: John Howells 100031,353 (X)

With the Internet and scanners, any unqualified pronouncement is
efffectively worldwide. We should all start thinking globally ASAP. Its
a bit like the situation with batch processing and weekend run a few
years ago - once banks went global, designers had to realise that
they'd better design for 24 hour availability. Many banks have a
Europe/Middle East and Africa division, and there isn't one universal
holiday - certainly not Sunday. There isn't really a convenient end of
day slot. It took people some time to learn this - and it should have
been obvious from the first time they put in computers IMHO.

David Norfolk, Sysop

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7874, from John_Howells, 462 chars, 05-Apr-94  19:57:49
Comment to 7868.
----------
Subject: Delrina Upgrade - phooey
Fm: John Howells 100031,353
To: PC Plus 71333,1462 (X)

David,

In the business I'm in, telephone exchanges, the systems are *NEVER*
allowed to go off the air, so we have to be able to update the
software, operating system included, with the system live throughout
(or very nearly so except for a few seconds). It casts rather a
different perspective on software design and quality!

John Howells, Wigan, UK

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7888, from PC_Plus, 496 chars, 07-Apr-94  14:16:08
Comment to 7874.
----------
Subject: Delrina Upgrade - phooey
Fm: PC Plus 71333,1462
To: John Howells 100031,353 (X)

Good discipline tho - its better to design for 24 availability and not
implement it until you need it than try to bolt it on to a batch design
in a hurry ;-).

I always thought that there were real outside world answers to analysis
questions - all else being equal, would anybody want to do this - and
building in computing expediency at the analysis/design stages was
often risky.


David Norfolk, Sysop

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7897, from Juergen_Carstens, 664 chars, 08-Apr-94  11:12:42
----------
Subject: plug-in measuring cards
Fm: Juergen Carstens 73370,1624
To: all

I'm looking for information on PC plug-in measuring cards, that means
options which convert a PC into a measuring instrument e.g. signal
source or spectrum analysator. Since the PCs become more and more
powerfull this kind of solution should become a quite attractive market
segment in future.

Does anybody have some information/(gu)e(s)stimation/feeling/sources
about the market size/potential for this technique ?

to Sysop: are there any evaluations or statistics in former editions of
your journals??

...want to discuss this topic with like-minded....
- jc -
    

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7901, from Stuart_Oglesby, 533 chars, 09-Apr-94  01:51:57
Comment to 7897.
----------
Subject: plug-in measuring cards
Fm: Stuart Oglesby 100265,3676
To: Juergen Carstens 73370,1624 (X)

Juergen,

A company called Pico Technology based in Cambridge make ADC adaptors
that plug into the PC's parallel port. They come with oscilloscope and
spectrum analysis software. They are also quite cheap. Although I
haven't tried them yet, they look to be good on paper and I am thinking
of getting my hands on one.

Pico Technology Tel  +44 (0)954 211716 Fax  +44 (0)954 211880

Regards Stu @ Dundee, Scotland

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7951, from Juergen_Carstens, 137 chars, 14-Apr-94  16:16:19
Comment to 7901.
----------
Subject: plug-in measuring cards
Fm: Juergen Carstens 73370,1624
To: Stuart Oglesby 100265,3676 (X)

Thanks a bunch Stuart....

- jc - 

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7952, from John_Hole, 786 chars, 14-Apr-94  20:07:16
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243
To: All

All,

THE NET TV PROGRAMME.

God,wasn't it an awful programme ?

I thought I was watching one of those kids TV computer programmes.

Why was that girl running around a field,why didn't she just sit down
and give a sensible review of the program she was supposed to be
reviewing ?

Why did that VR bloke keep being zapped out of the picture by that
green light ?

Why did that interviewer of the german nazi keep nodding his head
rapidly ? He looked like one of those dogs in the back of cars.

The only good,useful,sensible bit was about the internet.I found that
far too short but interesting nonetheless.

Let's hope the whole series isn't like the first programme.

John [of Enfield,Middlesex,UK].

There are 5 Replies.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7958, from Bob_Waller, 833 chars, 14-Apr-94  23:15:17
Comment to 7952.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: Bob Waller 100041,2324
To: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243 (X)

>> THE NET TV PROGRAMME.

>> God,wasn't it an awful programme ?

Couldn't agree with you more John.  It did nothing at all to demistify
networking.  Everybody on the programme was "excentric" to say the
least. We were bombarded with buzzwords but no facts to back them up.

Whoever thought of the strange doublespeed quartersize datasheet they
had on at the end of the show needs shooting.  It all seemed to be
designed to demonstrate how very clever everone on the show was.

If you managed to decode that data sheet you will have spotted that
they suggest that you telnet into their machine to talk to them.
TELNET!  This programme was targetted at people who don't know what
"click" means. How the h*ll do they expect anyone to telnet to them?

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7962, from Steve_Townsley, 565 chars, 15-Apr-94  16:18:27
Comment to 7952.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: Steve Townsley [PCA/PC+] 70007,4725
To: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243 (X)


 > God,wasn't it an awful programme ?

I couldn't agree with you more. Designed with the 30 second attention
span in mind it started by giving the impression that electronic
networks were used by fascists and hackers.

The music segment with Thomas Dolby concentrated on games rather than
adding to my understanding of music as part of multi-media.

Rather than the slow motion video bit I would have preferred a BBS
number to call. Yep it was .... rubbish.

Steve

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7965, from PC_Plus, 1363 chars, 15-Apr-94  17:28:24
Comment to 7952.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: PC Plus 71333,1462
To: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243 (X)

No, I didn't think it was awful - well, no more awful than all the
games and console mags, anyway. I didn't learn anything from it, but
then I suppose I shouldn't expect to. However, visually, I found it
more interesting than the visual impressions I get from mags.

And, I think that the idea of reviewing a game inside a virtual reality
simulcra of the game itself was brilliant.

Form vs content. The content was variable - even the Internet piece
skipped over the problems you sometimes meet with modems and implied
that CIS was the same as the Internet yet it only offers limited
Internet interaction.

As for TELNET - I occasionally fear that there are a lot of kids bought
up on terms like TELNET, especially in the USA, where everyone gets to
college. Nevertheless, I suspect that the presenters of the NET are
researching journalists rather than technofreaks and just don't know
what technology is commomn knowledge and what isn't.

Form? Well, I suspect that TV sets the standard for multimedia. I have
seen some CDROMS which will rapidly fall into disuse if people start
seeing programs like the NET and doing comparisons.

Of course if the BBC had employed PCPlus to do it, the NET would have
had both form and content...<grin>

David Norfolk, Sysop

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7966, from Paul_Murphy, 449 chars, 15-Apr-94  19:09:19
Comment to 7952.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: Paul Murphy 100273,2511
To: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243 (X)

I agree with you about the program especially about the girl, the whole
program just appears to me to be another attempt at 'yoof' TV with lots
a trendy special effects.
However I missed all the details about the bulletin board, it might be
worth a look, I don't suppose you got the phone number or address to
right to?

Paul (Birmingham, UK)

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7967, from John_Hole, 803 chars, 15-Apr-94  21:27:37
Comment to 7966.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243
To: Paul Murphy 100273,2511 (X)

Paul,

This message was put on the UKFORUM by Pete Hall.


Pete Hall 70374,604

To all

These are the contacts for The Net given at the end of the programme.
I had great problems copying down the info.. (slomo/freeze frame
doesn't do the video/tape much good!)

Mail contacts for The Net

 Compuserve: 100142,1007
   Internet: the_net.tecc.co.uk
 Snail Mail: The Net
             c/o BBC Continuing Education
             White City
             201 Wood Lane
             London W2

BBCNC Bulletin Board access (via Internet)

 telnet  auntie.bbcnc.org.uk:9999
 WWWeb   http://www.bbcnc.org.uk

I couldn't read it on my video all it did was scratch the tape <g>.

John [of Enfield,Middlesex,UK].

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7968, from Steve_Pritchard, 2940 chars, 15-Apr-94  21:59:43
Comment to 7952.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: Steve Pritchard 100341,2464
To: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243 (X)

John,

>>God,wasn't it an awful programme ?<<

Yeah, it wasn't brilliant.

>>I thought I was watching one of those kids TV computer programmes.<<

Perhaps we were? <g>

>>Why was that girl running around a field,why didn't she just sit down
and give a sensible review of the program she was supposed to be
reviewing ?<<

Not sure really.  Here is a snippet of a note I sent to the programme
itself...

"Why, oh why (sorry, fell into 'Points of View' mode for a second),
have you got a rather rushed games slot?  Jules is very sweet, and
could probably do a good job of some other feature, but practically
every kid's TV program has a video games slot, so why do we need
another?  I'm sure the average age of a 'Game Boy' user is such that
they can watch whatever it is that's on before Blue Peter these days
before they do their homework."

>>Why did that VR bloke keep being zapped out of the picture by that
green light ?<<

Maybe he was computer generated, and his 16K RAM pack was loose?
(Remember them?  Sombody sneezed in Tibet, and you lost your data!
<bg>)

>>Why did that interviewer of the german nazi keep nodding his head
rapidly ? He looked like one of those dogs in the back of cars.<<

Maybe felt that if he didn't look interested, the german guy would kick
him.  Here's another snippet from the letter I sent...

"It's good to see that you have picked up on a real trend (as opposed
to a media percieved one), i.e. Networking, the explantation given of
the Internet, CIX, and Compuserve et al, was a good one, although I am
not sure that putting it in the same programme as a piece on German
neo-nazis using networks to communicate wasn't a little, well, I'm not
sure... mischevious?  It's like the PC Porn argument of a couple of
months ago - kind of media generated.  Are you trying to stir something
up here?"

I am not sure the neo-nazi thing was news worthy really.  If the German
authorities can intercept telephone calls, and mail, then a BBS should
be a piece of p*ss.

>>The only good,useful,sensible bit was about the internet.I found that
far too short but interesting nonetheless.<<

Agreed.

>>Let's hope the whole series isn't like the first programme.<<

The problem with these programmes is there is dilema - who are they
aimed at?  If it's the likes of you and I (we have access to a
computer, and enough nouse to plug it into a modem and link to CI$),
then it may not appeal to the mass market; it's too techy.  If it's
aimed at Joe Bloggs, the stereotypical layman, then those who are most
interested in seeing the programme (the likes of you and I) will find
it much too boring.

I think "Tomorrow's World", Horizon, and Equinox have pitched
themselves at a reasonable level, so maybe something along those lines
except with an emphasis on computers might be better recieved?

Cheers,

Steve.


There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7977, from John_Hall, 293 chars, 17-Apr-94  11:49:32
Comment to 7967.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: John Hall 100016,1210
To: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243 (X)

<Internet: the_net.tecc.co.uk>

Well, yes, that was the address in the program.  But their *real* email
address (as posted by pete@tecc.co.uk, who presumably knows his system
<g>) is:  the-net@bbcnc.org.uk.


==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7978, from John_Hall, 1044 chars, 17-Apr-94  11:49:34
Comment to 7968.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: John Hall 100016,1210
To: Steve Pritchard 100341,2464 (X)

I've seen a reply from John Wyver, the Series Editor, than indicates
that the neo-nazi item was considered newsworthy and "raised some
significant questions that the network community need to face".  Apart
from overstating the problem by ignoring the context in which it occurs
- the very large size of the network community, the availability of the
technology to the authorities also, etc - they seem totally unaware
that these issues *have* been faced:  The Electronic Frontier 
Foundation (EFFSIG, comp.org.eff.*); CommUnity (uk.org.community);
BBSs (Arkham, PigPen, etc);  alt.security.pgp; to name but a few
places.  This particular problem of course wasn't discussed, but the
general problems of privacy v. supervision, freedom v. control, "the
authorities" v. the people, are in almost continual discussion.

Did the program researchers make *any* atttempt to find out what
discussion had taken place before deciding that we needed to be kicked?
:-(


==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7986, from PC_Plus, 525 chars, 18-Apr-94  17:17:02
Comment to 7965.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: PC Plus 71333,1462
To: PC Plus 71333,1462 (X)

I'm going to disagree with David ;-) I think the portfolio of the net
should be more like the aim of the BBC micro - bringing computing - or
intercomputing - to everyone. I dislike the tokenisation of using
people like wavey davey. I dislike the use of Yoof Reporting to jazz up
a subject that needs no jazzing up. There is a bulletin board being set
up, with a home page... I will look for details

Mary Branscombe Features Editor

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #7993, from PC_Plus, 180 chars, 19-Apr-94  12:38:02
Comment to 7986.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: PC Plus 71333,1462
To: PC Plus 71333,1462 (X)

Be fair - they didn't show the wheelchair at all. And Wavey was a good
TV presence.

David Norfolk, Sysop

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8050, from Jeff_Green, 224 chars, 23-Apr-94  01:58:58
----------
Subject: Future
Fm: Jeff Green 100025,3163
To: Paul Cooper 100346,274

PMJI
<<Why doesent Microsoft just make a reawrite in Dos and eliminate this
memory problem altogether?>>
IBM have its called OS\2<G>

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8066, from Kelvin_Fay, 295 chars, 23-Apr-94  22:31:48
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Kelvin Fay 100346,151
To: All

Anyone got any experience with Approach Database? I'm thinking of
buying a copy ref. the PCP special offer. How does it compare with
something like Access?

Regards, Kelvin  (UK)   20-Apr-94 at 23:54:10 GMT

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8113, from PC_Plus, 607 chars, 26-Apr-94  15:51:05
Comment to 8066.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: PC Plus 71333,1462
To: Kelvin Fay 100346,151 (X)

Approach was our database of the year, and it's very impressive as an
end user tool. It's very simple to use, and capable of working with
data in a range of formats.

You should be aware that the version on offer is 2.0, as originally
sold by Approach Software, before Lotus bought the product.

As far as Access is concerned, this is a much more powerful package,
not least because of its programming language, based on Visual Basic.
You pays your money, and... etc.

Dave Pearman (Editor, PC Plus)

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8131, from Kelvin_Fay, 253 chars, 26-Apr-94  21:15:04
Comment to 8113.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Kelvin Fay 100346,151
To: PC Plus 71333,1462 (X)

Any idea how Approach stacks up against Alpha 4? Apart from one being
Windows & one being Dos?

Regards, Kelvin  (UK)   26-Apr-94 at 21:14:36 GMT

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8140, from Ian_Smith, 261 chars, 26-Apr-94  23:45:49
Comment to 8131.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Ian Smith 100114,2307
To: Kelvin Fay 100346,151 (X)

PMFJI, but I think that this subject contradicts itself - Database? -
 Approach? - how are these two disparate items connected?? <g>

Regards,

Ian

There are 2 Replies.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8185, from Kelvin_Fay, 346 chars, 28-Apr-94  21:20:20
Comment to 8140.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Kelvin Fay 100346,151
To: Ian Smith 100114,2307 (X)

Care to explain? I'm looking for an easy to use database mainly to
catalogue my record & cd collection. Having spent all my money on
records & cds I can't afford an expensive database.

Regards, Kelvin  (UK)   27-Apr-94 at 19:32:04 GMT

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8195, from PC_Plus, 281 chars, 29-Apr-94  17:43:04
Comment to 8140.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: PC Plus 71333,1462
To: Ian Smith 100114,2307 (X)

> how are these two disparate items connected?

It's a one-to-many relational join, with the database table indexed on
product name <grin>...

Dave Pearman (Editor, PC Plus)

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8206, from Angus_J, 513 chars, 29-Apr-94  23:04:33
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: Angus J Henney 100117,2222
To: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243 (X)

John
<THE NET TV PROGRAMME.>

<God,wasn't it an awful programme ?>
Yep, and the next one wasn't that much better, although I found the
article on encryption interesting, but again the lean of the piece was
to sensationalism rather than factual reporting. As for the girl,
suggestions that she should be turned into a sprite in a particularly
difficult level of Doom didn't come from me, honest <g>
Angus

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8207, from Ian_Smith, 146 chars, 29-Apr-94  23:09:38
Comment to 8195.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Ian Smith 100114,2307
To: PC Plus 71333,1462 (X)

> It's a one-to-many relational join........

:-))))

Ian

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8208, from Ian_Smith, 560 chars, 29-Apr-94  23:09:41
Comment to 8185.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Ian Smith 100114,2307
To: Kelvin Fay 100346,151 (X)

Kelvin,

Sorry, I didn't intend to be cryptic - it just turned out that way :-)

If all you need it for is to catalogue your record and CD collection,
then Approach should be fine. I'd installed Approach a couple of days
before your note and found that it was a lot less powerful than I'd
been led to believe, so I was just feeling a bit ratty about it. I
can't really comment on VFM, though, as I don't really know what it
costs.

Best wishes,

Ian

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8213, from John_Hole, 473 chars, 30-Apr-94  11:05:15
Comment to 8206.
----------
Subject: The Net BBC2
Fm: John Hole [UK] 100022,2243
To: Angus J Henney 100117,2222

Angus,

I feel that,if the bloke from the Hornsey College of Art (How To Make
Naff Videos Course) was returned to the dole queue that they got him
from,then the programme would improve in leaps and bounds.

Perfectly sensible and interesting subjects have been ruined,in every
programme so far,by stupid camera or video tricks more suited to pop
videos.

John [of Enfield,Middlesex,UK].

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8216, from Kelvin_Fay, 820 chars, 01-May-94  10:46:46
Comment to 8208.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Kelvin Fay 100346,151
To: Ian Smith 100114,2307 (X)

's okay! I was a bit frazzled that evening and hoped to find an answer
to my problem. I've been thinking for some time about getting MS Office
Pro solely for Access, I'm not fussed about Word 6 or Excel 5, v2 & v3
do me OK but it seems a good deal. However, it's still 300 quid + vat.
Then I saw the ad for Approach and thought that might do nicely. It's
got to be relational so I can get a track list once I've found the
album title. It's also got to be easy to use as I haven't the time to
spend learning something complex. Do you know anything about Alpha 4?
An ad for that has just fallen through the letter-box and it looks even
better than Approach.

Regards, Kelvin  (UK)   30-Apr-94 at 00:24:45 GMT

There are 2 Replies.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8217, from Chuck_Pettitt, 195 chars, 01-May-94  18:02:07
Comment to 8050.
----------
Subject: Future
Fm: Chuck Pettitt 70007,5405
To: Jeff Green 100025,3163 (X)

Jeff

Have you loaded OS/2? yes, it works well - but only after about 12
hours hard work!

Chuck 

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8218, from Ian_Smith, 721 chars, 01-May-94  18:32:45
Comment to 8216.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Ian Smith 100114,2307
To: Kelvin Fay 100346,151 (X)

No, I haven't tried Alpha 4 - similar blurb came through my letterbox,
too.

I tend to prefer xbase type packages - although there's an overhead in
learning them, it soon repays itself many times over. Packages that
imply 'all this power without programmimg' generally run out of steam
fairly early on. Even the so-called 4GL heavy-weights like Oracle do
extremely simple thing very easily, but require a lot more work to do
*exactly what you want - I've seen it take some people a year to really
get to grips with this type of package.

Overall, for what you want it for, Approach should be OK.

Regards,

Ian

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8223, from Kelvin_Fay, 150 chars, 01-May-94  23:11:12
Comment to 8218.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Kelvin Fay 100346,151
To: Ian Smith 100114,2307 (X)

Thanks.

Regards, Kelvin  (UK)   01-May-94 at 23:00:33 GMT

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8227, from PETER_LEE, 891 chars, 02-May-94  21:13:47
Comment to 8216.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: PETER LEE 100265,400
To: Kelvin Fay 100346,151 (X)

I have been watching your exchange wondering whether to but in; then
you mentioned the magic words - Alpha 4.

I think it is brilliant. I have libraries of LPs, tapes, sheet music on
Alpha 4 all indexed by whatever you want: artist, LP title, track/tune
name etc. It is relational but I use it flat for my particular uses. It
has a very powerful import facility and converted my VP info databases
quite happily. At work I have seen it import a tabulated ASCII file and
convert it into a database as easy as pie. My largest database is about
20,000 entries with no problems and high speed. It has a very easy menu
system, which is even easier if you know dBase because then you would
recognise some of the functions. Alpha 4 was on a PCPLUS cover disk
some time ago.

Regards

Peter

There is 1 Reply.

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8242, from Jeff_Green, 121 chars, 04-May-94  00:04:42
Comment to 8217.
----------
Subject: Future
Fm: Jeff Green 100025,3163
To: Chuck Pettitt 70007,5405

Yes but I spent a lot longer learning DOS
Jeff

==========
pcpforum/S2_General_New_Uplo #8253, from Kelvin_Fay, 724 chars, 04-May-94  22:22:49
Comment to 8227.
----------
Subject: Approach Database Offer
Fm: Kelvin Fay 100346,151
To: PETER LEE 100265,400

Peter,

Many thanks for that info. Just what I wanted to hear. I've got a
flat-file on RBase which I did some years ago for use when I ran a
small mobile disco. It only lists song titles with a code to denote
album, cd, 7", 12" or cassette. I've always promised myself that I'd do
it properly with album titles and tracks on different databases, fully
relational. Trouble with RBase is that it's like DBase, OK if you've a
degree in computer science but a pain if not. I've just got to do
something before I start buying albums I've already got! Don't laugh,
I've come perilously close.

Regards, Kelvin  (UK)   03-May-94 at 23:51:27 GMT

