Rich's Ramblings
By Rich Schinnell

Come now, someone must read my columns, if just to see where I messed up. But there was only one reaction; a member felt that I gave a bum rap to a product that would help clean up his hard disk. I don't think so. If you need a graphic illustration of the files on your hard disk, it's time for the old FORMAT C: /S routine.

But seriously, all of us can go in there and trim some of those old files from our hard disks to free up space. Saving a program's original installation files-aside from a backup to floppy when you first get the program-is a waste of space, as is backing up Netscape's or Internet Explorer's cache directory. Also, we sometimes forget to do our housecleaning because huge hard disks are so cheap.

Get with it and use a great program called DIRTOT, a shareware program that will show you the directories on your hard disk with all the bytes each uses up, as well as the date of the newest file in the directory. Something to think about for your utilities disk or directory. Shareware is software that you get to try before you buy. DIRTOT works with DOS 3.0 or later and has no special memory requirements. It does nag you a bit if you use it for a long time without registering, but after all, $10 isn't much for such a useful product. Definitely in my bag-of-tricks disk I carry when I help other people. Available on the MIX and other fine bulletin boards (see below for details).

I highly recommend DIRTOT instead of some pretty graphic display. If you order DIRTOT, let them know where you found out about it. The same with other products mentioned here and elsewhere in the Monitor. Reminds the vendors that we are a good user group. While you're at it, why not take advantage of the great offer from Golden Bow software ($30) for their disk optimizer, VOPT, a $29.95 discount for CPCUG members. Call (800) 284-3269 and tell them you want the CPCUG special price.

I went out and bought a DeskJet 693C color printer, a new toy from Hewlett-Packard. It works with Windows, and the cost is quite reasonable ($349 at CompUSA). I picked up the special photo kit for an additional $50, and with the $50 rebate, I ended up with an extra-high resolution color cartridge essentially for free. Purchasing the special photo-quality paper that's required to get really good printed color images is a bit on the expensive side. It's not very economical for printing directory listings. A bit slow, but after all, none of the printers are very fast when printing color. I printed a few of the pictures I took with my Epson Digital Camera, and the subjects for the most part loved them, except when I captured CPCUG's Office Manager, Lynne Sturtz, by surprise. Never trust people with digital cameras, as you might end up on the Internet!

I have been recommending the XRAM people over in Virginia for the purchase of computer systems for people who don't need handholding. Their prices are competitive, and they deliver. As the price of memory, hard disks, and processors change almost on a daily basis, quoting prices here would not help. If you're interested in purchasing components or complete systems, you might want to give them a call at (703) 404-8200. I don't have any financial interest in them, but they do give good service and prices for CPCUG members. On the MIX BBS, Chip Dodge gets their price list quite regularly and posts it in the BUYING conference. Remember that this is not a storefront operation and support for installations is pretty minimal. They do help people, but you should be hardware literate before you buy from these types of operations. For those who need the warm fuzzy of technical support techs, it's best to buy from the larger, more fully staffed places such as CompUSA, Micro Center, or Computer City.

If you feel comfortable installing your own memory, motherboards, and hard disk drives, XRAM would be a good choice. They tend to deal with small businesses more than individuals, but Chip has arranged a special for CPCUG members. Not to put down the small one-person shops that put together PCs for you, but they have much slimmer profit margins. The big guys can buy in large quantities, thus they can sell cheaper.

If you just want to use your computer to get some real work done, the way to go is a completely turnkey system. Already assembled and tested, with all the software installed and ready to go, and none of that techie stuff to bog you down and make you less productive. Building computers from the ground up is a good learning experience but not necessarily cheaper than buying a complete, assembled system. Just like buying a car versus buying all the parts and putting it together yourself. Almost.

I believe that this month (or next month) is the "Before you Build or Buy your PC" (BYBOB) seminar. Well worth your time to attend this free seminar normally held on a Saturday from 9AM to 4PM. Check the Monitor for scheduling. Our expert CPCUG members have volunteered their time to make these presentations, and with the handout that is for sale at the seminar, it's a real bargain. The BYBOB seminar is held thre or four times a year, with a Saturday in the month following the seminar devoted to an actual build-your-own session in the Samuels meeting room at CPCUG's Rockville office.

There have been nothing but good comments from people who have built their own computers under the mentoring of one of our volunteer experts. Go for it.

Our Chief Mentor, Charlie Dunbar has moved to Texas, so he is no longer the head honcho of the BYBOB. Charlie's organizational skills and leadership will be missed, but there are lots of good people involved. Chip Dodge has volunteered to take over and keep it going. Thanks, Charlie, for a job well done. It has been one of our most impressive and well-received programs in CPCUG.

I keep getting phone calls from people who are running Windows 95 and the 16-bit shareware Internet connection program, Trumpet Winsock. Remember: 32-bit TCP/IP clients such as Netscape for Windows 95 will not work with a 16-bit TCP/IP Winsock program. You must update to a 32-bit Winsock dialer and TCP/IP stack, either the Windows 95 Dial Up Networking client that comes with the CD-ROM version of Windows 95 (or by download from Microsoft), or some other 32-bit program such as the 32-bit version of Trumpet that is available on the Internet in many places.

Microsoft and the Netscape communications people have 16- and 32-bit TCP/IP dialers available for download. Millkern Communications, who is under contract with CPCUG to manage our CPCUG.ORG domain, will have the Windows 95 versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer for distribution by this time.

I use the internal Windows 95 Dial Up Networking and find that it works great, once you get your modem properly set up. Many people have problems getting their modem setup to dial into the MIX and the Internet via different Internet Service Providers, but they generally get it right after a lot of fits and starts.

I guess it's time again to say those three magic words: BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP! If you don't understand this, you're living on the brink of disaster.

On to another subject: Laser and inkjet printers are great, but remember to inquire about the availability and cost of replacement cartridges before you jump in and buy one of the off-brand machines. Saving $200 on the initial cost of an off-brand laser printer is not really a bargain if you end up being held hostage when you need to buy a replacement toner cartridge. Just another of my infamous rules.

For your own sanity, please resist the temptation to install every demonstration CD-ROM or disk that you receive in the mail. Some install files all over your hard disk, and some make unknown modifications to your AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files. Under Windows 95, there are some more terrible things they can do. Please think and remember KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Please donate any aggravation time saved by volunteering to help someone else.

While I am in the preaching mode, those of you who I've helped with computer problems over the last 15 years are supposed to be paying me (and the hundreds of other volunteers) back by helping others. What goes around comes around.

Programs Mentioned:

DIRTOT18.ZIP

Available on bulletin boards or the World Wide Web at http://www.mhtc.net/~oakwind/quincunx/dirtot.html

PUBLISHER:

Quincunx Software,
8178 Aldgwen Rd.,
Barneveld, WI 53507
TEL/FAX: Phone/FAX 608-924-5841
E-MAIL: quincunx@mhtc.net

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