FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 075 (23/09/97)

REPLACE OR RENEW?

I have a Gateway 2000 4DX-33V (486 DX33) with 12 megabytes of RAM and 212 megabyte hard drive. The system is basically suitable for my needs apart, perhaps, from the hard disk that is rapidly filling up, and the 14.4k bps modem which is quite slow. I use it mainly for reference, word-processing and connection to CompuServe. My children, aged 7 and 13, complain endlessly about its poor performance, compared to some of their friends machines, especially when it comes to playing games.

Do you feel it is worthwhile upgrading this machine or must I contemplate buying a new PC more in keeping with their needs, which may prove to be equally outmoded in a few years time? I remember reading an article printed in Connected some time ago, which indicated that upgrading could be a reasonable option, but in the light of falling prices is this still the case?

Bobby Foster

A

Upgrading isn’t a good idea in your case. To get the machine up to the kind of specification suitable for playing the latest games, would involve replacing most of major components, including the motherboard, CPU, hard disc drive, video card and CD ROM drive. You would also have to increase the size of the RAM memory and replace the operating system, if you’re still using Windows 3.1. Together that little lot will cost you between half and three quarters as much as a new P200 MMX multimedia system. Don’t even think about trying to keep pace with developments. You have to assume that any new machine you buy today will be effectively outmoded by the time you open the box, and fifty percent cheaper in six months time...

Buying a new PC would free up your present machine for your relatively modest requirements. Removing all the games and unused software should give you plenty of extra space on the hard disc, or at least buy you some extra time. A faster modem wouldn’t go amiss either, though you should be able to commandeer the one that will come with the new PC.

SCREEN GEMS

I have a Windows 95 PC and have made several unsuccessful and frustrating attempts to create my own screen saver, from a scanned colour picture.  However, when I go into ‘display’ and then the screen saver menu, there is no command that allows me to import it.  I would very much appreciate it if you could talk me through the process.

Rosemary Marshall

A

The main purpose of a screen saver is to prevent phosphor ‘burn’, caused by a static image remaining on the screen for hours on end. In other words, to be effective a screen saver should constantly change or move. As it stands your scanned photograph would be unsuitable as a screen saver, indeed, it could even cause screen burn. One solution is to animate the image, this can be done using a program called ‘Kai Power Goo’, from Metatools. This is actually a sophisticated image manipulation package, that can do all sorts of interesting and unusual things to photographs, including stretching, smearing and morphing to another image, and it has a screen saver utility. It is available from most mail-order software suppliers for around £40. There’s some interesting demos of what it can do on the Metatools web site: http://www.metatools.com/goo/index.html

KEEP IT SIMPLE

I have two PC both running Windows 95, each connected to a modem. Both modems are connected to the same phone line, via phone line extensions. I was wondering if I could network the two computers together via the modems without making a phone call? If it is possible could you please indicate how I would do so?

A. Jiwa

A

You could do it that way, though you will need a gadget that fools both modems into believing they’re connected to a real phone line. There used to be several such devices on the market, that could be used to turn a fax machine into a scanner, though the cost of scanners has fallen dramatically in the past six months and they all seem to have disappeared.  However, there are much simpler and more efficient ways of connecting two PCs together, so you can access and share files on the other machine. The only extra hardware you will need is a suitable serial or parallel cable. The necessary software and instructions are contained in Windows 95. From the Start menu click on programs then accessories and select Direct Cable Connection. After that just follow the step by step guide. You might also like to look at two remote access software packages, called PC Anywhere and Laplink, both of which cost around £100.

MOBILE MESSAGES

I have just been reading a query in Faqs! Facts! Fax! (‘ No Connection’ 26/8/97). In the reply you mention two communications programs ‘PageMail’ and ‘Mobile Messenger’, for sending short text messages to digital mobile phones from a PC. Can you tell me where they can be obtained as none of the suppliers I deal with have heard of them.

Clive Mockford

A

Mobile Messenger comes from Vega Ltd., (01706) 44177,  Page Mail 1.5 is marketed by Dialogue Communications (0114) 281 5275.