                               WinMaster
                                  v1.5


                             by Tony Curro


    Last year I did a review on the first release of this product. As
    with many first ventures, it needed a little 'fine-tuning.' The
    result, WinMaster v1.5, has over fifty enhancements.

    There are two installation procedures: WinMaster and Super PC-Kwik.
    There is sound reasoning behind this, and I applaud it. Since Kwik
    is updated a bit more frequently than WinMaster, you will only have
    to install it. The same would apply when WinMaster was upgraded. The
    two work together, but, from an installation point-of-view, they are
    two separate programs. There are also two manuals, one for each
    program.

    Super PC-Kwik is the program that made caching a household word. It
    contains Super PC-Kwik cache and PC-Kwik RAM Disk. The cache will
    work on hard, floppy, removable (Bernoulli, SyQuest), and RAM disks.
    This latest version has added CD-ROM drive support. Super PC-Kwik
    will speed up initial reading of CD-ROM data with a read-ahead
    buffer. Size of the buffer can be set by user from 0 KB to 48 KB,
    and the main cache can be up to 16 MB in size.

    WinMaster is the heart and soul of this package. If you were not
    aware, it works with Microsoft Windows. WinMaster can be a shell for
    Windows, but it is much more than that. First, as with many shells,
    it does not take a huge chunk of disk space, only requiring 4.3 MB.

    As a shell, WinMaster uses ToolBox. Upon staring WinMaster you are
    presented with a toolbox that contains standard things like: copy,
    move, delete. There are also icons to exit and restart Windows,
    change the Windows shell, and run the other programs that make up
    WinMaster. More on these features later. You can configure toolbox,
    or create new ones, to place you applications there for easy access.
    WinMaster will offer you the option to convert your program groups
    and files into WinMaster sets. Once you have placed you favorite
    programs in the ToolBox, you just click on them to run. You can even
    associate a file. This means that if you click on a file with a .TXT
    extension Notepad will run, or whatever executable that you
    associated with that extension. WinMaster has drag-and-drop support.
    Each Toolbox can contain up to 50 buttons. Buttons can contain any
    .ICO file or user inputted text. These can be Windows programs, DOS
    commands or Windows files. You can also create unlimited nested
    toolboxes. This allows you to have toolbox within a toolbox. You
    would run it in the same fashion as previously stated. Toolbox has
    over 20 new features.

    There are several powerful programs that are a part of WinMaster.
    Some highlights are:

        KwikVault: Free up disk space and eliminate clutter using
    drag-and-drop file compression and storage. This allows you to
    compress files or directories that you do not often use, but would
    still like to have available.

        KwikInfo: Monitors the crucial performance information that
    Windows hides. It gives you, in-depth information on Windows'
    handling, of your system's CPU, memory, video, and disk drives.
    Desktop meters allow you to track what's happening in your system
    over time.

        Power Disk: Disk defragmenter and optimizer. While it will run
    from Windows, it is now smart enough to automatically unload
    Windows, reorganize the disk, and then restart Windows.

        PowerScope: disk viewer and analyzer tool. It gives you complete
    graphic, detailed information on file placement, optimization and
    fragmentation. It supports most disk types including: CD-ROM,
    SuperStor volumes, and MS RAM disks. It can also find and view
    files, launch applications, search on attributes, and change file
    attributes.

        KwikFind: File find tool, has been added, featuring multi-volume
    searches, text search, and ability to view, launch, or delete files.

    I can continue forever on this product. It is a well-constructed
    package that is very intuitive. A little reading of the manual, and
    a 'game plan' of the way you work, will have you up and running
    smoothly in no time. No, it does not a backup program, or some other
    features in the larger shells. But, it has what you can use for your
    day-to-day activities. PC-Kwik Corporation offers a 90-day
    money-back guarantee.


                          Product Information

                               WinMaster
                                  v1.5

                         List Price -- $129.95

                          PC-Kwik Corporation
                         15100 SW Kroll Parkway
                          Beaverton, OR 97006
                              800-274-5945
                              503-644-5644
                           503-646-8267 (FAX)
