FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 073 (09/09/97)

PC, TV, OK?

I am using Power Point on my Windows 95 PC to produce slide shows from material recorded on a Kodak Photo CD ROM.  I am able to make presentations with effects like fades and dissolves, that can be shown on the PC monitor, however, I would like to know if there’s any way I can get the display on to a television screen?

D. Adams, Coed-y-Flyn, Wrexham

A

The video output from a PC is not compatible with ordinary televisions, so you will need a PC to TV (or VGA to video) adaptor card, or external converter module. You may notice a drop in quality though; fine detail can be lost or blurred and most TV screens produce a noticeable flicker, that can be quite distracting on graphics or text. Internal video output cards such as the Maxi Converter, sell from around £100. External adaptors are easier to use as they connect between the PC (or laptop) and monitor, all necessary connecting leads are usually supplied. Prices for devices like TV Coder start at around £120. Both types are widely available from PC dealers and mail order companies advertising in computer magazines. Incidentally, several TV manufacturers are now incorporating SVGA inputs on their latest high-end models, anticipating the arrival of set-top ‘Net TV’ internet access devices.

SLUGGISH SAVE

I have a Packard Bell 8910 with Pentium P60, 500Mb hard disk and 40Mb RAM memory. I have Windows 95 and Microsoft Office 97.  A Word 97 file of half or even one-and-a-half pages takes more than a minute to save and more than 15 seconds to close.  In other respects I have no complaints about the set-up - operations are normally very fast.  I usually have 80 to 90MB of free space on my hard disk.

Christopher J Green

A

Are you sure it’s really taking a whole minute, or does it just seem like it? If the PC is otherwise behaving normally, a document containing a thousand words, say, should only take a second or so to save to the C: drive. Apart from a software glitch in Word or Office, there’s no obvious reason why your machine should be so  slow. Saving a file to a floppy takes a little longer -- up to 30 seconds is not unusual -- it’s a long shot, but check that you’re not opening and saving documents to the A: drive. The Outlook system monitor in Office 97 -- if it has been installed -- can also slow things down a little. If it is on your system run it from the program group and select ‘options’ from the Tools menu. Click on the Journal tab and look at the ‘Also record files from’ group. Uncheck MS Word, click on OK then see if that makes a difference.

WEB WANNABEE

What is required to create a Web site?  Do I need any special hardware or software? Is knowledge of program writing necessary?

Martin James

A

It’s a lot easier than it used to be. There are plenty of powerful web authoring packages on the market, that are no more difficult to use than a typical word-processor or paint-box program. Many of them have ready-prepared page templates and all the tools needed to import or create eye-catching graphics. All you have to do is type in the text. Links to other pages or sites and adding images or video files, requires nothing more complicated than a few mouse clicks, and maybe a little imagination. You certainly won’t need to learn any programming skills. Software packages like Corel WebMaster even help you to publish your newly-created web pages by providing free ‘host’ facilities on their own web server. Almost any Pentium PC with Windows 95 or recent Apple Macs can be used, though faster machines obviously make things happen a lot quicker. Be warned, some programs require 100Mb or more free hard disc space. You will also need some means of getting pictures or images into the PC. A flatbed scanner is the most flexible solution; if you want to incorporate movie clips you will have to install an video input card and suitable editing software.

Corel Software, telephone (01703) 814142 http://www.corel.com

GOING LOCO AGAIN

I’m about to buy a PC, having used an Amstrad PCW word-processor for many years. Could you reprint the name and address of the company who sell the PC version of Locoscript and the PCW-to-PC file conversion software, which I believe you mentioned some time ago.

C. R. H. Christmas, Bodmin, Cornwall

A

Locomotive Software can supply Locoscript Professional II for PC and Locolink connecting cables, so you can transfer files directly to your PC. Together they cost £80, and that includes VAT, post and packing. They can be contacted on: (01306) 740606.