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October 1995 First Impressions

Approach 96 for Windows 95

Drive a New '96 into Windows 95

by James E. Powell, Northwest Bureau Editor

With a lot of new Windows 95 applications, the "new" thing about them is that they've been retailored to run under the new operating system new features are generally pretty scarce. But it's not just the same old tune with Lotus Approach. I looked at a very early beta version of Approach 96. Although it lacked some features that were still under construction, it was an impressive combination of Windows 95 operability and new or enhanced features.

For example, when creating crosstabs or reports, you can use new grouping features, such as breaking groups of data based on up to the first five letters of the field's value. This makes it easy to create a telephone list, with breaks every time the first letter of the last name changes, so you can have headings for each letter of the alphabet. You can use an Assistant Lotus' answer to Microsoft's Wizards to sort date fields by day, month, quarter or year just by right-clicking on the field. For charts, you can easily group the data series by date day of week, month, quarter or year.

A new drill-down feature, not fully functional in the beta, will let you see the data behind a chart or a crosstab. Approach creates a work-sheet on the fly that details the information contained in the selected cell or chart object (bar or pie slice, for example). I was able to drill down in a crosstab column to see which figures contributed to the total and manipulate the resulting worksheet by adding new columns.

Creating a new database with Approach 96 is even easier than with previous versions of the program. In those earlier versions, there were templates to create databases for common applications such as contact management and sales orders. In Approach 96, Lotus adds 10 application templates that not only build the databases, but also create reports, charts and crosstabs. Approach 96 also expands its database design options with the addition of a Rich Text field format. And if you're using FoxPro, dBASE or Paradox files with indexes, Approach 96 will maintain them in their native format.

Some new features have been added to crosstab operations. For example, it's possible to filter crosstabs to limit the data that's displayed. And you can now include values that would ordinarily be filtered out. For example, your crosstab could show the name of a sales rep even if that person's sales totaled zero.

Worksheets have been considerably enhanced. Fields (columns) can be made read-only and you can specify color, font, point size and width. You are now able to use a drop-down list for choosing values, too.

Approach 96's Assistants are better as well. With the Find Assistant, you create a filter to view the top or bottom n values in a database, or the top or bottom n percent. These filters can be saved and reused. You can also select a query to apply again from a pull-down list in the program's new Action Bar. The Action Bar puts some of the most frequently used commands in a row of buttons that can float or be docked. The Find Assistant also lets you review the conditions you've selected by displaying your query in English. Sorting query results is a no-sweat operation as well: In the list of selected fields, you just click on an icon to select an ascending or descending sort.

Other Assistants have been changed slightly or not at all, which is okay because they worked well already. One minor enhancement I found was with the Mail Merge Assistant, which now asks if you want to create envelopes along with the form letter.

The speed of the queries I executed was impressive, even for an early beta (which typically still includes debugging code). Lotus says Approach 96 uses new speed-optimized caching and indexing to improve performance.

The report writer now offers menu options for adding the date, time and page number. You are now able to specify margins and even add a 3-D look with chiseled and embossed designs. Filtered drop-down lists are another key feature for forms, worksheets and reports. This feature lets you filter a field based on values in another field. For example, you can display a list of part numbers in the Parts field based on the entry in the Vendor field.

Alignment options added to the form design InfoBox let you center and left- or right-align selected objects both horizontally and vertically. New currency formats will insert a dollar sign or the English pound sterling symbol depending on the country selected.

Application developers now have the ability to call LotusScript code from Approach macros, and an application's interface can be customized using macro-assignable buttons in message boxes. The macro language has a new Compress command to free up disk space after record deletions. For serious developers, Access, with its new Visual Basic for Applications language, is probably a better choice, as LotusScript is somewhat difficult to learn.

Approach 96 supports OLE custom controls (OCX files), which can be added to your tools palette, then dragged to a form view. You control custom controls through LotusScript.

The new plug-and-play network support is a feature that developers will appreciate. No additional setup is required when working with NetWare, LAN Manager, Windows for Workgroups, Banyan's Vines or LANtastic networks. Approach prevents simultaneous updates to the same record, and you can also set up security groups with access privileges defined for databases and forms.

As with other new Lotus products, Approach 96 supports team-computing with team mail for VIM- and MAPI-based systems. This lets you route a report, a form to be filled in or editable items such as worksheets.

SQL users benefit, too. The new SQL Query Assistant lets you easily define queries that can protect SQL data by automatically downloading predefined server data for browsing and reporting. As with non-SQL queries, you can also now name and reuse SQL queries. For SQL experts, you can view SQL back-end error messages. The new version also supports Oracle SQLNet 2.0 applications.

Password protection has changed slightly. If you have several password-protected tables that are joined together, you can now specify a single password for opening all of them at once. But the databases are still protected by their individual passwords.

Approach 96 remains straightforward enough to recommend to end users, although Microsoft's new Access may give it a run for its money in that category. For heavy-duty development, Access is probably a better choice, but Approach 96 could be a worthy competitor if Lotus supports LotusScript with effective documentation.

Approach 96 has gotten friendlier, with improved Assistants and the new Action Bar. It's easier to use, with subtle changes throughout each module, from creating form letters to building reports. Approach 96 is a far cry from the same old song it swings.

--Info File--

Approach 96 for Windows 95

Price: Not set at press time

In Brief: Approach 96 is a

Windows 95 version of the popular end-user database program, whose new features make it easier to use than ever.

Lotus Development Corp.
800-343-5414, 415-335-2200

Sony Spressa 920 CD

Recording Gear for Disco Techs

by James Bell

With writable CD systems becoming increasingly more affordable, it may not be too long before your CD-ROM drive ends up on the closet shelf gathering dust next to your eight-track tape player.

The growing popularity of CD-Recordable (CD-R) drives is due to lower prices, improved hardware and simpler software. Making recordable CDs which can hold 650MB of data or 74 minutes of audio is now a realistic solution for backing up or distributing voluminous data.

I took Sony's Spressa 920 internal CD-R drive out for a spin, along with a trio of CD recording programs.

The Spressa comes bundled with cables, disc caddy, Corel CD Creator recording software and three blank CD-R discs. All you need to add is a fast SCSI controller board. It supports most standard CD formats and includes a 1MB buffer to help eliminate the writing errors that can ruin a CD.

Writing to a CD-R disc requires special recording software. At minimum, these programs help you specify the kind of information you'll be storing (data, audio or mixed mode), where the original information is located and which recording format you want to use. More advanced programs let you test your new layout before committing to disc and give you more precise control over CD settings.

Corel CD Creator, which comes with the Sony drive, is the best choice for new and occasional users. The program uses a wizard to walk you through the steps for designing a new CD, and it includes easy-to-follow documentation. CD Creator supports both data and audio discs. You can drag files from File Manager to a layout window to add them to your CD. Tracks from existing music discs can also be incorporated onto a new CD.

The program lets you record an entire disc at once (required for commercial duplication) or one track at a time. CD Creator also supports multisession and multivolume recordings, which are useful for creating incremental backups or for archiving files. Once you've selected your files, you can simulate the recording session to identify and fix any problems before actually writing to the CD.

In my tests, the Spressa 920 and Corel CD Creator performed flawlessly. I had no problem backing up my entire hard disk in single or multiple sessions, and I had a lot of fun creating music CDs. The Spressa even includes a utility for designing your music CD cover.

CD Creator is fine for backups and music CDs, but if you have serious distribution or application development needs, programs such as GEAR from Elektroson or CD Record from Dataware Technologies may be more appropriate. The latter are more expensive and less friendly, but they provide high-end layout and testing tools.

Both programs worked fine with the Sony Spressa drive, although CD Record worked only when the Spressa was attached to an Adaptec SCSI controller board. Both support a wide range of CD formats, as well as multisession and multivolume recordings.

GEAR uses three floating windows one for the CD layout, one for File Manager and the last for a running log of the session's activities. You drag files from File Manager to the CD layout. GEAR includes sophisticated controls for file placement and naming, including the ability to force compliance with ISO 9660 standards that ensure the CD can be read across a variety of systems.

You can test your recording equipment and verify all data before recording to disc, and Gear can write to a premaster tape that can be sent out for commercial reproduction. It's also possible to automate the layout and recording process in GEAR with batch files.

The third program, CD Record, uses a unique disc layout interface, which includes a magnified illustration of your CD-R disc. Existing tracks are displayed in different colors, and you can drag and drop files onto the appropriate tracks for copying.

Application designers who want to preview their work are likely to appreciate CD Record's virtual disc emulation. Using this feature, the program creates a virtual CD on the hard disk that responds at the same speed as a recorded CD. This can help users optimize performance without wasting expensive CDs.

GEAR and CD Record easily handled CD recording tests, and both outpace CD Creator in terms of design and testing. But these programs are more technically oriented, and you'll want to make yourself familiar with their manuals' terminology in order to use them effectively.

At $2,000, the Spressa/CD Creator bundle is still a little pricey for the average user. But CD-R prices are coming down, and the software choices are growing. Whether you're looking for high-end capabilities or ease of use, viable options are starting to appear.

--Info File--

Sony Spressa 920 CD-Recordable Drive

Price: $1,999.95

In Brief: The Spressa CD-R bundle includes software and blank discs.

Sony Electronics
800-352-7669, 408-432-0190

Corel CD Creator

Price: $249

In Brief: CD Creator's wizard walks new users through CD production.

System Resources: 10%

RAM: 8MB

Corel Corp.
800-772-6735, 613-728-8200

--Info File--

GEAR 3.2

Price: Standard, $199; multimedia, $499

In Brief: GEAR has powerful controls for CD layout and testing.

System Resources: 5%

RAM: 8MB

Elektroson
610-617-0850, fax 610-617-0856

CD Record 2.2

Price: $995

In Brief: CD Record is a good choice for serious CD development.

System Resources: 10%

RAM: 8MB

Dataware Technologies
800-229-8055, 617-621-0820 x165

MultiTech MultiMux MMV102

by Sara G. Stephens

Egg beater, food processor, MultiMux. Not just a run-of-the-mill appliance, the MultiTech MultiMux MMV102 blends data, fax and voice traffic over a single telephone line. It handles both synchronous and asynchronous transmission, providing you with the bandwidth control and efficiency needed for simultaneous voice/ data transmission.

You can connect the MultiMux's voice/fax channel to either a telephone or fax machine, or to a PBX's station circuit to make up two voice/fax channels. When it's connected to another phone, picking up one phone makes the other ring automatically. When it's connected to a station circuit, remote users gets a dial tone and can dial a number as though they were attached to the PBX.

Once you've configured the voice/fax channel, the MultiMux's internal DSP converts incoming analog signals to digital signals, which are then stored in the multiplexor's dual-port RAM. At certain intervals, the multiplexor's serial communications controller prepares the digitized voice or fax data for transmission to the composite link and on to the remote location.

Like most essential appliances, the MultiMux's basic technology is not revolutionary. It's the product's application, flexibility and simplicity that make it a household name at least among telecommuters.

--Info File--

MultiTech MultiMux MMV102

Price: $2,249

MultiTech Systems
800-328-9717, 612-785-3500

Visio 4.0

Chart App Shapes Up for Win95

by James E. Powell

Visio 4.0 just keeps getting better. This time around, both Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 versions of Visio ship in the same box. And there's a slew of enhancements that will be most appreciated by Windows 95 users.

Visio 4.0 has new and better templates, easier data assignment to objects and a new summation tool for quick totals of numbers associated with selected objects. Also included are Wizards for page layout, org charts and timelines.

The program's interface has been tweaked, too. Stencil toolbars which contain the basic charting shapes and are organized by category can now float or be docked. They also attach to a document, so they're at hand and ready to use when you open the document.

New Wizards automatically generate org charts using Excel or ASCII files or text you type. You can select a style and resize the chart to fit on a single page. A sample Excel spreadsheet is supplied, so you can just fill in the cells or use the Wizard to create a file on the fly. The Timeline Wizard treats project timelines similarly. After your org chart or timeline has been generated, you're returned to the familiar Visio editing environment to make adjustments.

Since the earliest versions of the program, Visio's SmartShapes have facilitated adding text boxes, controlling the way a shape grows and adding connection points. A new tool in this version creates curved shapes.

Custom Properties remedies a shortcoming of the previous edition of Visio and makes it easier to attach data to a shape. Though not fully implemented in the beta I tested, most of the predefined shapes will have logical fields you can fill in. The org chart stencil I used contained predefined fields for department and telephone number. You can add your own properties through the ShapeSheet an intimidating screen, but you can skip to the bottom to add your own text fields.

Visio 4.0 offers new operations for multiple objects. You can fragment shapes, use union to create a new shape from two others, or create a shape based on the intersection of other objects. Version 4.0's user-defined fixed grid maintains grid spacing when you zoom in or out. A spell checker and conversion filters for ABC FlowCharter and CorelFlow have also been added, along with a new feature that lets you create a layer that will appear on screen but won't print.

Visio offers a number of minor, yet quite useful, new features. For example, the File/Open dialog box now shows preview images. Drag scraps portions of a drawing to the Windows 95 desktop and use them in other applications. The program maintains its switchable interface that can mimic Microsoft Office, Lotus SmartSuite or Novell's PerfectOffice. Visio also promises the shipping version of the program will include a format painter that will let you lift formatting characteristics from one object and apply them to another.

Visio has always been a leader in supporting new Microsoft technology, and version 4.0 is no exception. The Windows 95 version of the program includes support for Microsoft Office 95's Binder and nets a 20 percent performance improvement as a result of its 32-bit architecture, according to the company. Even in the beta that I tested, I noticed the performance gains. Other Windows 95 compatibility features include support for long filenames, Quick View previewing from Explorer, right mouse-button menus and multitasking.

Visio 4.0 provides plenty of help, mostly in the form of pop-up windows and tool tips. When your cursor lingers over a connecting point, for example, a help window will appear with tips on how to use such points.

Visio is still not a beginner's tool. But if you have some experience with diagramming programs, its abundant features and advanced operations make it ideal for sophisticated charts, network diagrams or space-planning illustrations.

--Info File--

Visio 4.0

Price: $149 (street)

In Brief: Visio's new Wizards, improved user interface and custom properties are among the highlights of this new Windows 95 version.

Visio Corp.
800-24VISIO, 206-521-4500.

Access for Windows 95

Data Dipper Dons '95 Look

by James E. Powell

Access came on like gangbusters back in 1992 when it debuted with a bargain-basement price of $99. According to Microsoft, over the years the program has attracted 5 million users. The new Access has been rebuilt for Windows 95, but there are few compelling new features in this version beyond its makeover for the new operating system.

Some of the new features in the beta version I tested are, indeed, most welcome, but many are of the fit-and-finish variety. Application developers should be interested in several additions, such as a Table Analyzer Wizard that examines a data file and suggests ways to split it into a relational table. You might not need to use this feature very often, but it can be a great timesaver as the wizard that helps you through the process will also change related forms and reports to reflect the new database design. The new Performance Analyzer Wizard should also appeal to developers and designers. The analyzer inspects a database and suggests performance enhancements, such as adding indexes or changing field data types, and then makes the changes you accept.

Some Access usability improvements are already found in competing products. For example, you can now select records using Filter by Form, which lets you enter your filter criteria directly on a form or data sheet. Filter by Selection lets you highlight a field value on a form or data sheet and click on an icon to select records that match the selected value.

One more substantial new feature is the ability to create a lookup link when defining a field in a table. When you add the field to a form, it displays the lookup value rather than the value of the link to the lookup table.

Great care was taken to make Access' wizards more useful. The new Form Wizard and Report Wizard perform automatic joins in the background. The new Import/Export Wizard does a better job of helping you convert data. When I imported a spreadsheet, the program let me change field names, set up indexes and so on.

In forms design mode, you can change a control type on the fly. For example, you can change a text box to a pull-down list with a couple of mouse clicks. You can also now use a bitmap image as a form background. Menu options make it easier to insert a date, time or page number on a report. When creating forms and reports, you can now define a default control type text, combo or list box for a table field. When you drag the field onto a form, Access uses the specified control type, which can be changed.

For application programmers, Access Basic has been replaced by Visual Basic for Applications, a superset of commands that adds structures such as "For Each ... Next." The programmer's editor offers color-coded syntax, and there's a watch-point window and support for OLE custom controls.

The program toes the Microsoft Office 95 line, with an Answer Wizard that finds the best information in response to free-form questions. Access' toolbars are consistent with its sibling apps, and it has a Format Painter to "pick up" one object's characteristics and apply them to another. It also offers better Excel integration, such as the wizard for creating an Excel pivot table using Access data.

Other Windows 95 interface and operational conventions are supported, such as right-click menus, the ability to place "scraps" of data on the desktop, shortcuts and proportional scroll bars. You can replicate your database using Windows 95's Briefcase. Tabbed dialog boxes make it easier to find options, and form and report styles are more visually appealing. A spell checker, AutoCorrect and multiple-page print preview with zoom have been added, too.

The new Access offers more for developers than for end users, but it is now up to Windows 95 standards and fits comfortably in the Office 95 suite.

--Info File--

Access for Windows 95

Price: $339; upgrade, through Dec. 31, $109

In Brief: Access has been upgraded to Windows 95 standards, but most of its new features will appeal mainly to developers.

Microsoft Corp.
800-426-9400, 206-882-8080

PageMaker 6.0

DTP Is More Adept for 95

by James Bell

What PageMaker doesn't have is as significant as what this new version has. PageMaker 6.0, which I looked at in beta, sidesteps the frame-based metaphor of its chief competitor, QuarkXPress, and retains its frame-free layout process.

PageMaker has been rewritten for Windows 95, but its intelligent installation will sniff out your operating system and either load the native Win95 version or a 32-bit version for Windows 3.x users. At first glance, the program appeared to have few changes. But after using it awhile, I discovered timesaving features like toolbars and mouse-activated menus.

The toolbox and palette positions are now saved along with a document, but the interface lacks some of the customization features that you'd expect in a Windows 95 application. But you will find welcome additions to the toolbox, including a polygon tool for drawing symmetrical polygons and stars, and a freehand magnifying tool.

PageMaker has also expanded its import filter list for text and graphics files recent additions include PhotoCD and CorelDRAW 5.0 and now provides more sophisticated controls for imported images. PhotoCD images can be sharpened, color-adjusted and saved as LAB TIFF files. Photoshop and compatible filters can be applied directly to images without leaving PageMaker. You can also mask images and text for special effects.

Version 6.0's text-formatting options are more precise. New features include greater kerning precision (up to 0.001-em increments), expert tracking and kerning controls, and the ability to include color tints as part of text styles. However, some features are weak. The program lacks character styles, true drop caps PageMaker's drop cap plug-in works okay, but editing is difficult and bullets in paragraph styles.

Some of PageMaker 6.0's biggest changes involve page layout. You can now specify up to 256 master pages per publication, and you can create and save custom guideline and grid layouts. Other useful additions include the ability to group and ungroup text or graphic objects, to lock an object's position on the page and to specify objects as nonprinting. You can also align or distribute objects across a user-specified area.

Adobe has also greatly enhanced PageMaker's color support with Kodak's Color Management System (KCMS) to help ensure color consistency between the screen and input and output devices. There are more color-matching libraries, including new Pantone libraries that support fluorescent, pastel and metallic colors.

Desktop publishing is only as good as its output, and here again, PageMaker offers several enhancements. Color publishers will appreciate new automatic trapping controls, the ability to convert TIFF images to CMYK format for separations and support for HiFi color (for six-color separations). New print options include a graphical display of settings, the ability to proof facing pages and the option to save settings as reusable printer "styles." For service bureau output, the program includes a plug-in that consolidates all necessary files and lists required fonts.

PageMaker is equally adept at generating electronic documents. It includes Adobe Acrobat Distiller, which works with a plug-in to produce publications in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF). Acrobat Reader is provided for viewing PDF files. Another plug-in converts documents into HTML format for the Web.

PageMaker 6.0 PC and Mac files are compatible. You can save documents in PageMaker 5.0 format for backward compatibility. The program's CD will also include Adobe Type Manager, PhotoCD utilities and samples, 220 Type 1 fonts, interactive training materials and a "light" version of Adobe Photoshop.

PageMaker 6.0 may not have FrameMaker's technical document features or Quark's design prowess, but it offers flexibility and ease of use that the others can't match.

--Info File--

PageMaker 6.0

Price: $895; upgrade, $149

In Brief: This Windows 95 version of PageMaker adds Kodak color management, multiple master pages, object grouping, image editing, Photo CD support and electronic distribution options.

Adobe Systems
800-42-ADOBE, 206-622-5500

Publisher CD Deluxe for Windows 95

Publisher Covers All the Bases

by James E. Powell

From banners to brochures, newsletters to paper airplanes, Microsoft Publisher CD Deluxe for Windows 95 has all the desktop-publishing bases covered. Although ease of use may be an overworked expression these days, it's an unavoidable description for this program.

Most notable among Publisher's enhancements is its vastly improved output quality. And much of that is attributable to the program's new templates. The previous version offered a variety of somewhat amateurish newsletter layouts.

You can now use Microsoft Word to edit large amounts of text, rather than editing it piecemeal in Publisher. The option uses the Word toolbar, which provides far more editing tools than Publisher. When you're done editing in Word, Publisher reflows the text into the document's columns and frames. Publisher supports OLE 2.0, so you also can use in-place editing with other applications, such as Excel.

Other options for working with text and objects, such as rotation and color selection, are included. Some choices have been renamed using more descriptive language, which should help novice users. For example, drop caps are now called "fancy first letters." Patterns and gradient fills have been added, and Publisher now supports Image Color Matching, which indicates what colors might not print well. This feature also puts an "x" through colors on a palette that won't print well.

The program also now has some clever clip-art objects. For example, by clicking on the Design Galleries button, I added a spiral-notebook graphic to my brochure. I was then able to change the text that appeared on the notebook. I created a custom spiral-bound page with my own text with little more than a couple of mouse clicks.

You can create business documents such as calendars or forms as well as personal projects like party invitations. Publisher's paper-airplane Wizard is still included, complemented now by an Origami option. Desktop publishing doesn't have to be dull.

Publisher's user guide, called the Companion, illustrates the program's possibilities, introduces design options and explains DTP terminology instead of just listing instructions. It includes information about outside printing services, placing pictures on a page, binding a booklet, special characters, effective color use and paper selection.

First-time help pops up a bubble filled with the explanation for your current activity. If you're a novice, these tips are invaluable. After a Wizard's work is done, you can continue to get assistance with step-by-step help specific to the task you're doing. This help can be displayed on demand and strongly resembles the Cue Cards of old. Just click on any subject, and you'll learn exactly what to do.

Overall, I was very pleased with the new Wizards. They offer graphic previews for options at each step, so you really can't make a wrong choice. Even simple options like "Would you like a picture on the front of your brochure?" are illustrated. It's impossible to be unpleasantly surprised, because you get to see the results of your choices as you make them. You can also call on the Layout Checker, which spots inconsistencies or errors and suggests remedies.

I created professional-looking business cards with Publisher. And you can use the program to make banners from 3- to 20-feet long, or use the separate sign-making option. When you print large banners or signs, crop marks on the printed pages show you where to trim each page and attach it to the others to assemble the sign.

Publisher offers all you need to create a brochure or a letterhead or even a newsletter for your business or social group. Combine it with Works for Windows 95, and you've got a pocketful of Win95 tools that will satisfy the needs of most small businesses.

--Info File--

Publisher CD Deluxe for Windows 95

Price: $79.95

In Brief: Publisher's many improvements in this Windows 95 version make it easy to create striking newsletters, brochures, business cards and even origami.

Microsoft Corp.
800-426-9400, 206-882-8080

Robotech Cobra XL p133T

by David Methvin

Only a handful of companies make the components in the average PC, so it shouldn't be surprising that PCs from many vendors don't have much to distinguish themselves. What is surprising is when a vendor takes the right combination of typical components and assembles an atypical system. That's the Robotech Cobra XL p133T in a nutshell.

Yes, the 133MHz Pentium is fast. Really fast. It's hard to work on this system without wearing a silly grin on your face. Using the installed (and considerately factory-tuned) Windows for Workgroups 3.11 that came on the machine, Wintune measured 144MIPS, 29MFLOPS, 19.189 MPixels per second video and 22.031MB per second disk throughput. Applications were just as responsive. Our standard Microsoft Word 6.0 macro completed in 17 seconds, while the Excel 5.0 macro whizzed by in only 9.33 seconds. This performance is comparable to the four 133MHz machines that we reviewed in our August issue. The Robotech would have placed second overall in that very fast group.

Compatibility wasn't sacrificed for speed. A Windows 95 final beta (950) installed and ran just fine on the Cobra. Windows NT Workstation 3.51 also set up residence on the Cobra without any problem. In every case, all the peripherals were recognized and worked flawlessly.

The Cobra's system board is based on Intel's Triton chip set. The system I tested was equipped with 256KB of secondary RAM cache, but it can be upgraded to 512KB. The trimmings were up to par as well: a Quantum 1.2GB disk drive, quad-speed Panasonic CD-ROM drive, a Diamond Stealth 64 Video board, Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 and Yamaha speakers.

Perhaps the Cobra's most interesting feature is the case, which requires no tools to open. A quick tug removes the faceplate and frees the cover, which can then be pulled up and off the chassis. Inside is the roomiest mid-tower case I've ever seen. It has one 3.5-inch external bay filled by the floppy drive and four 5.25-inch external slots with one filled by the CD-ROM drive. Four mountings are provided inside the case for 3.5-inch peripherals, one being used for the hard disk in my unit. Both the internal and external bays are mounted on rails and held in place by spring clips, so you don't need a screwdriver to take any of them out. About the only time you'll need a screwdriver is to remove the screw from an add-in board's mounting bracket.

And there is ample room for add-in boards. The video board takes one PCI slot, and the multi-I/O and sound board take two ISA slots. That leaves three PCI and two ISA slots. The unit contains a 250-watt power supply and three cooling fans one in the front, one on the CPU and one in the power supply itself so you're not likely to overload or overheat this setup.

The 1.2GB hard disk came stuffed with software. In addition to Novell's PerfectOffice suite (WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, Presentations, InfoCentral, Envoy, GroupWise and Paradox), Robotech preinstalls a large selection of shareware applications and utilities. If you don't care about any of the shareware and want the disk space back, there's an uninstall option. I had to exercise that option to get both Windows 95 and Windows NT onto the hard disk along with the Win32 development tools.

System documentation was very good. The system board and peripherals came with detailed instructions on setting jumpers and attaching connectors. However, the documentation didn't include instructions for the multi-I/O (serial, parallel, floppy, game port) card. Robotech faxed me the missing page and explained that it had just begun using this board and didn't have final documentation until the day before I called. This board has all the right performance features; the parallel port supports ECP/EPP and the two serial ports use a buffered FIFO to avoid data loss.

The Robotech Cobra XL p133T has the right stuff: performance, quality peripherals, software and performance. You can never get enough performance. What do you do with all the time you'll save? Well, for starters you could work on getting that silly grin off your face.

--Info File--

Robotech Cobra XL p133T

Price: $3,849

In Brief: This well-designed 133MHz Pentium delivers plenty of punch, and its snap-together case takes the drudgery out of upgrades and servicing.

Robotech
800-533-0633, 801-565-0645

ClarisImpact 2.0

Push-button Graphics

by Joel T. Patz

Whether you're a dabbler or a Degas, a world of smart-looking business graphics is just a few clicks away with ClarisImpact 2.0. You'll be able to instantly create sophisticated, high-quality charts, diagrams, tables, timelines and calendars just by flexing your finger on your mouse buttons. And if your artistic talents fall short of your aesthetic ambitions, you can tap into the program's library of 2,000 pieces of clip art, symbols, and chart and diagram styles.

If you need an organization chart to make your point, ClarisImpact offers five variations: Basic, Hierarchical, Left to Right, Market Segment and Responsibilities. Click on an insert button to expand the chart with additional levels or subordinate roles. To highlight a chart segment, you can easily change it to any color your only limitation is your computer's video card. Box styles can also be adjusted, or whip up your own customized chart by mixing and matching from the selection of box styles. Just about anything in the chart can be changed simply by selecting an item from a drop-down menu.

You'll find it amazingly effortless to prepare flowcharts for network diagrams, transportation, TQM and other applications. A complex layout takes only a few minutes using the library of symbols and connectors. If the symbol you need isn't in the library, this module is adequate to render simple drawings. For more complex objects, you'll probably want a more industrial-strength diagramming product.

Data charts take on new meaning and have greater impact with the treasure trove of ClarisImpact's tools. Chart styles offered in the opening dialog box Bar, Bar 3-D, Line, Pie and Pie Tilt are supplemented by several other styles from the Gallery section (Pictogram, Doughnut, X-Y). You can adjust the number of segments to fully present your data and edit values using a miniature spreadsheet-like grid that drops down and even lets you use some basic formulas such as sums. In addition to solid colors, you can choose two-color gradients, patterns, exploded segments and shadows to add impact to your graphics and command attention. Of all ClarisImpact's modules, this one offers the greatest variety and the widest range of control. It can be very addictive.

For timeline charts, ClarisImpact offers several styles for planning, tracking and overseeing the status of defined tasks. Choose overlapping or separate bar displays, and from a variety of bar-start and bar-end symbols. Establish task durations in hours, days, weeks, months, quarters and years. With a mouse click or two, you can instantly modify your chart by inserting or deleting tasks, or by changing the font style, size or color.

ClarisImpact also includes calendar templates. You can choose from monthly, weekly and yearly views, and take advantage of the program's myriad options to customize your calendar's appearance. For example, you can add banners and events specifying different looks for weekends and weekdays or even change the color of individual day blocks.

The program's ready-to-use slide-show formats will make your audience sit up and take notice. Design your presentation based on either elegant or lighthearted background styles. Take advantage of the font and color options, and you'll turn out a slick, professional-looking presentation. A slide sorter facilitates rearranging your slides. You can use the transition effects to move from one slide to the next or to build content like adding bulleted items to a slide one at a time. An outline view is available, and you can add speaker's notes to your show. It's easy to incorporate graphics you've created in other modules. For example, you can use a timeline to illustrate your project's progress together with other information presented as bulleted points.

For the nonartists among us, the menus, drop-down lists, dialog boxes and buttons make ClarisImpact a pleasure to use. With limited graphics expertise, you'll be able to produce high-quality, eye-popping output.

--Info File--

ClarisImpact 2.0

Price: $129; upgrade, $59; competitive upgrade, $69

In Brief: For business and home-office users, ClarisImpact 2.0 is an extremely well-designed, versatile graphics package for creating and editing organizational, flow and data charts, slide presentations, network diagrams, timelines and calendars.

Claris Corp.
800-544-8554, 408-987-7000


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