What Is PCM Online?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   PCM Online is a text-only version of the magazine PCM (the Premier 
Personal Computer Magazine, established in 1984), which is published by 
Falsoft, Inc. PCM Online is prepared just for bulletin-board services. It 
contains all the articles, columns and features that go in the printed 
version of PCM -- plus more!

   One fundamental problem with a piece of paper is that it doesn't 
stretch, but a digital "page" can be stretched to a nearly infinite 
degree. So, in this online version, we can give you articles, hints, tips 
and reviews that wouldn't fit in a month's printed edition. We can also 
dig into our archives to present you with some of our favorite stuff from 
past issues.

   One thing that always set PCM apart from its competitors was its 
listings: BASIC programs our readers could type in and run through the GW-
BASIC or QBASIC interpreter. Real programs -- games, utilities, databases 
and more! For those people who didn't care to key in up to nine pages of 
BASIC source code, we offered PCM ON DISK, and still do. Of course, you 
don't need PCM ON DISK if you read PCM Online -- and you certainly don't 
need to type in the listings to run our programs -- because the listings 
are right here, ready for you to use.

   If you're an aspiring BASIC programmer, you'll find our listings great 
learning tools. And if you've written a program you think we could use, 
please consider submitting it for publication -- we're always looking for 
good new programs. Submission guidelines are included later on in this 
section.

   Another thing that sets PCM apart is that it's currently two 
publications in one: bundled within PCM is the shareware magazine/catalog 
called Software Shopper. In the pages of Software Shopper, you'll find 
reviews of the latest, greatest shareware programs, plus older titles. 
We've included Software Shopper in the PCM Online package, so go ahead and 
browse through it: you'll probably run across games and utilities you 
can't live without.

   Most of the shareware we review can probably be found on the BBS you're 
logged to right now. But if you can't find a title online, you can order 
it from us. Software Shopper is a vendor member of the ASP (Association of 
Shareware Professionals).

   There is a very special advantage we can offer you by publishing 
Software Shopper online: we can give you Software Shopper's complete 
database -- that's thousands of shareware program descriptions compared to 
the few hundred that are squeezed into the printed version every month!

   Falsoft also publishes an online version of PC Kids, the only hands-on 
PC magazine just for kids. It's full of computer facts and fun, puzzles 
and jokes. We even have a mascot, Pips, who shows kids how to do cool 
things with Windows in his column, Mousetales. If your SysOp doesn't carry 
PC Kids Online, please pester him/her on our behalf. <G>

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