FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 051 (15/04/97)

RAPID ROM

I have decided to upgrade to a fast Pentium PC but rather than junk my old  486/66, I am going to pass it on to my children, aged five and eight, so they can use it for games, and educational software. It is fitted with an early single-speed CD ROM drive (Philips CM205), but as it stands this is far too slow for most recent discs. I have heard that these old drives can be revived using disc caching software, is this a viable alternative to replacing the drive?

S.L.Delaney Chelmsford

A

CD caching software is not the answer. It may reduce access times slightly, but it still won’t make your drive as fast as a two-speed drive model, which are also considered too slow for a lot of games CD-ROMs these days. Caching software also requires extra memory to be effective, you are much better off buying a new drive. If you shop around you might come across some four-speed drives in advertisers ‘bargain bins’ often costing less than £50, though even they’re becoming scarce.  You’re more likely to find 8 and 12-speed models, selling from around £70 upwards. Installation is very straightforward and unlike early drives like yours, which have their own interface boards, most new CD-ROMs are connected in series and ‘slaved’ to the hard disc, so remember to check the appropriate  jumper settings on the two drives.

PALMED OFF

I am thoroughly confused by the whole business of connecting palmtop computers to mobile phones, to send and receive e-mail, faxes and internet access. I make frequent trips abroad, but I don’t want to lug a notebook or laptop computer around with me. I’ve been looking at palmtops, made by Psion and Sharp, which seem ideal for my purposes, but none of the dealers I’ve spoken with can explain to me, in simple terms, how they can be used with my Nokia GSM phone.

Simon Goodall, Leicester

A

Your confusion is understandable and there are no easy answers. Whilst the palmtops you mention can be connected to a digital mobile phone, and do some of the things you require, they are limited in what they can do.  You might be better off waiting for a few weeks, for the new generation of hand-held PCs to arrive. The key feature will be the new Windows CE (compact edition) operating system, that will be immediately familiar to anyone using Windows 95. Some of them will have digital phone connectivity built-in as standard, most of the others can be used with notebook type PC card modems. One of the first to appear will be the Philips Velo, that is expected to sell for around £600 when it goes on sale shortly. The software suite includes Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer, which has full e-mail facilities, and a web browser. CE handhelds will also be able to communicate directly with your desktop PC. Other standard applications, including Pocket Word and Pocket Excel are fully compatible with their bigger brothers. We understand the Velo will initially be able to connect to Philips Spark GSM phones; connecting leads for other popular makes are under development and are expected to follow shortly. There’s more information at: www.velo1.com

FAX OF LIFE

I’m interested in buying a scanner but I have read in a couple of articles that it is possible to connect an ordinary fax machine to a PC, to scan documents and simple images as graphics files. Do you know where I can obtain the necessary software and adaptor?

Michelle Cutting, Brighton

A

This method does work, though it has to be said the resolution isn’t anywhere near as good as a proper scanner, nor can it be used to scan colour images.

It is worth trying though, and it is just possible you have everything required right now. Some fax machines will communicate directly some PC modems, using ordinary bundled fax software. All you need is a two-into-one BT plug adaptor. To connect the two devices together simply plug the leads from the fax machine, and the PC modem into the adaptor, making sure it has first been removed from the wall socket. Fire up the fax software, set it to receive, load the document in the fax machine, dial a number -- any number will do -- and press send. This shouldn’t actually work, there should be a voltage on the line, so don’t be too surprised if nothing happens. You can get around this by using a simple little gadget -- effectively a ‘virtual’ phone line -- made from a couple of BT sockets, two resistors and a 9 volt battery. Details of how to make it, along with a selection of useful shareware communications software can be found at: http://www.blkbox.com/~jonk/