   ______                            _   __      __
  / ____/___  ____ ___  ____  __  __/ | / /___  / /____  _____
 / /   / __ \/ __ `__ \/ __ \/ / / /  |/ / __ \/ __/ _ \/ ___/
/ /___/ /_/ / / / / / / /_/ / /_/ / /|  / /_/ / /_/  __(__  ) 
\____/\____/_/ /_/ /_/ .___/\__,_/_/ |_/\____/\__/\___/____/  
                    /_/                                       
                         This Week's Contents:

My Notes:
1) Our Summer Vacation! Finalized . . .
2) Network News Mailing List!

News:
1) Symantec and Netscape Team Up!
2) Novell Begins Beta of 32 Bit Client for DOS!

Reviews:
1) Office Central Reviewed by Gail B.C. Marsella
   (71551.3200@compuserve.com)
2) PC Anywhere 32 Reviewed by Dennis MacPherson (pctc@infi.net)
3) Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Gardening Reviewed by
   Dan Carmichael (resume@nr.infi.net)
4) Earthworm Jim for Windows 95 Reviewed by Michael Gallo
   (gallo-michael@hq.secnav.navy.mil)

Web Sites:
1) Athletic Recruiting Comes to the Web!
   (http://www.osn.com)
2) Storage Systems New Magazine!
   (http://techweb.cmp.com/eet/sst/)

FTP File:
1) Jixxa for Windows 95!

Interview:
1) Virus Article by Tony Brooks (tony@plywood.bcbbs.net)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date  : April 13, 1996    |CompuNotes is a weekly publication available
Issue : 42                |through email and many fine on-line networks.
--------------------------|We cover the IBM computing world with
CompuNotes is published   |software/hardware reviews, news, hot web
4Point, Inc.,             |sites, cool FTP files and interviews. We also
135 W. Adams, Suite G9    |give away one software package a week to a
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(314) 909-1662 voice      |publication! Never dull, sometimes tardy, we
(314) 909-1662 fax        |are here to bring you the way it is!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Backroom Workers:                     |We are always looking for
Patrick Grote, Managing Editor            |people to write honest,
(pgrote@inlink.com)                       |concise reviews for us. Send
Doug Reed, Games Editor                   |a message to notes@inlink.com
(dreed@panda.uchc.edu)                    |with REVLIST in the subject.
Judy Litt, Graphics Editor/Web Master     |You will receive the latest
(jlitt@aol.com)                           |writer's guidelines and a
Raymond Hines, Web Rambler                |list of available software
(solari@gate.net)                         |to review. Follow the
Paul Ferrill, Languages Editor            |instructions for requesting
(ferrill@teas.eglin.af.mil)               |software to review.
Dennis MacPherson, Utilities Editor       |-----------------------------
(pctc@infi.net)                           |      Go Chicago Bulls!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Every issue of CompuNotes ever published can be found at the following
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                           SYSOPS READ HERE!

    Wanting to make CompuNotes available on as many BBS as possible, we
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is send those interested sysops a UUENCODED version for posting on their
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Patrick's News
         Being The Publisher and Managing Editor Has Its Perks!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL VACATION PLANS! REVISITED!|
---------------------------------
    OK, we'll be in Bethany Beach from June 15-22 or June 22-29. We are
going to take day trips to DC and Philadelphia. From Philly we'd like to
take a train to NYC! Does anyone know the following:

    *   Are there tour companies that will take you around NYC for the
        day to the major attractions? If so, who and how much?
    *   How long of a train ride is it from Philly to NYC?
    *   We would like to go to a good seafood restaurant when we are in
        Bethany Beach. Any suggestions?

---------------------------
NETWORK NEWS MAILING LIST!|
---------------------------
    I am very picky about the mailing lists I join. As a CompuNotes
subscriber I know you are as well!
    We don't want to bother you with resources that are lame, so here is
a perfect mailing list for those who want something a little more
technical in nature. This list is great for network administrators,
network managers and communication specialists:

NETWORK-NEWS is a weekly newsletter for those involved with small
business computing issues. Particular interest is directed to Internet
resources and news information of interest. For a sample copy or to
subscribe please e-mail to <network-news@lists.primenet.com>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS OF THE WEEK| This section is dedicated to verified news . . . All
News (C)opyright  Respective Owner - Will Only Reprint
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYMANTEC AND NETSCAPE TEAM UP!|
-------------------------------
CUPERTINO, Calif., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Symantec Corporation
(Nasdaq: SYMC), a leading supplier of utilities software products, today
announced the licensing of its award-winning Norton AntiVirus software
to Netscape Communications Corporation as part of Netscape Power Pack
2.0 for Windows, companion utilities and plug-ins for Netscape
Navigator.  Seamlessly integrated into Netscape Navigator, Norton
AntiVirus Internet Scanner provides comprehensive virus protection by
automatically checking for viruses as the user saves files downloaded
from the Internet.

Norton AntiVirus Internet Scanner provides effective detection and
elimination technology, catching most viruses before they can do any
damage to a user's files.  This lets the user safely download programs,
documents and other files.  NAV Internet Scanner detects over 7,300
viruses and eliminates almost all, including the Word Macro viruses and
also the Boza Virus, which targets the Windows 95 operating system.  The
Netscape Power Pack 2.0 for Windows, with the Norton AntiVirus Internet
Scanner, will be av available this month and has an estimated retail price
of $39.95.

"Cruising the information superhighway without virus protection is like
driving your car without insurance.  You can do it, but why take the
risk?" said Mary Engstrom, general manager of Symantec's security
business unit.  "This integration of Norton AntiVirus with the Netscape
Navigator provides you with that insurance, and represents an easy new
way for Internet users to protect while they connect." 

Symantec's antivirus products are backed by an unsurpassed range of
virus information, update services and the industry's leading antivirus
research center.  Users can access the Symantec AntiVirus Reference
Center on Symantec's web site to obtain up-to-date information on
viruses and virus protection.  This site also contains the monthly
updated virus definitions for all Symantec antivirus products.
Additional virus information is available to all users on The Virus
Hotline, 541-9-VIRUS-9. 

Netscape Communications Corporation is a premier provider of open
software for linking people and information over enterprise networks and
the Internet.  The company offers a full line of clients, servers,
development tools, and commercial applications to create a complete
platform for next-generation, live online applications.  Traded on
NASDAQ under the symbol "NSCP," Netscape Communications Corporation is
based in Mountain View, California. 

"Users need to feel comfortable accessing and downloading information
from the Internet," said Mark Szelenyi, product manager at Netscape.
"Norton AntiVirus software allows us, through Netscape Power Pack 2.0,
to provide our customers with one of the leading Internet virus
protection products available." 

Symantec Corporation develops, markets, and supports a complete line of
application and system software products designed to enhance individual
and workgroup productivity as well as manage networked computing
environments.  Platforms supported include IBM personal computers and
compatibles, Apple Macintosh computers as well as all major network
operating systems.  Founded in 1982, the company's global operations
span North America, Europe and several fast growing markets throughout
Asia Pacific and Latin Am America.  Information on the company and its
products can be obtained by calling 800-441-7234 toll free or
541-334-6054.

----------------------------------------
NOVELL STARTS TESTING 32 BIT DOS CLIENT|
----------------------------------------
OREM, Utah, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) today
announced the open beta availability of its NetWare(R) Client 32(TM) for
DOS/Windows. The NetWare Client 32 for DOS/Windows is the only client
software to offer DOS and Windows 3.1 desktop users full 32-bit access
to NetWare services, including its industry-leading Novell Directory
Services(TM) (NDS(TM)). In addition to providing increased speed through
32-bit access, the NetWare Client 32 software lets users benefit from
full automatic reconnection to all network files and resources, as well
as simultaneous access to multiple directory trees and fault tolerance
to ensure reliable and comprehensive access to network services. The
Client 32 software includes the NetWare Application Manager, which gives
users transparent access to network applications and centralizes network
application installation and administration through NDS. Built on
Novell's proven Client 32 architecture, the NetWare Client 32 for
DOS/Windows is a key c component in Nov ell's strategy to enable a Smart
Global Network by giving users reliable access to the information they
need anytime, anyplace.

"One of the biggest benefits of NetWare Client 32 for DOS/Windows is
that it loads into extended memory," said Ron Dike, network engineer for
the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. "This allows us to run PC card
services on our laptops. We also have more flexible configurations on
desktops because there is significantly more conventional RAM without
having to implement costly upgrades. Novell's Client 32 provides us with
the best Windows integration available." 

Novell is committed to providing complete network access to all desktop
operating systems, including the legacy operating systems which exist in
today's heterogeneous networks. The NetWare Client 32 for DOS/Windows
provides 16-bit desktop environments with full 32-bit access, offering
users enhanced performance and superior network integration. The NetWare
Client 32 for DOS/Windows and the recently released NetWare Client 32
for Windows 95 share the same code-base, easing upgrades from DOS and
Windows 3.1 t o Windows 95 by allowing network administrators to
leverage network drivers as they upgrade client software.

The NetWare Client 32 for DOS/Windows extends the full availability of
NetWare services to users of MS-DOS 5.0 or above, Windows 3.1 or above
and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 or above. The NetWare Client 32 for
DOS/Windows allows users to:  

* Authenticate to and simultaneously browse resources on multiple NDS
trees (graphically within Windows), simplifying connections to all
network information and resources;   

* Operate with a smaller conventional memory or Upper Memory Block (UMB)
footprint, freeing up additional memory to run applications (4kb in most
environments using 32-bit LAN drivers);   

* From within Windows, use a GUI login utility to access NetWare
servers, including  updating environment variables and searching drive
mappings;   
* Fully access NetWare 2.x, 3.x and 4.x resources throughout the
network, providing connectivity and backwards compatibility with all
services and information;   
* Take advantage of extensive automatic reconnect capabilities,
including open files, mappings and file locks, providing intelligent
recovery and fault tolerance for the user;   
* Benefit from dynamic client-side caching, enabling faster performance
of repetitive desktop  functions; and   
* Enjoy improved LAN and WAN performance via support for Large Internet
Packets (LIP) and Third Generation Packet Burst. 

The NetWare Client 32 for DOS/Windows also provides the following
network management capabilities to network administrators:   

* Dynamically setup and refresh client software across the network with
Automatic Client Update capabilities, lowering the cost and complexity
of client upgrades; and   
* Centrally administer applications accessed by users through NDS with
NetWare Application Manager. 

Pricing and Availability   
The NetWare Client 32 for DOS/Windows with NetWare Application Manager
is available now to NetWare users electronically, free of charge, from
NetWire on CompuServe (GO NWCLIENT) and the World Wide Web
(http://netwire.novell.com). For additional information, customers can
contact Novell at 1-800-NETWARE, or download information from NetWire on
CompuServe or the World Wide Web (http://www.novell.com). 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVIEWS OF THE WEEK | Interesting software/hardware you may need . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product:  Office Central
Reviewed By:  Gail B.C. Marsella (71551.3200@compuserve.com)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office Central is yet another entry in the contest to get your computer
files organized enough so you can work efficiently. It has a pleasantly
arranged desktop, with folders at the upper left, the file list of the
selected folder in the lower left, and a central workspace for viewing
application icons and the contents of files. A toolbar and menus at the
top allow you to manage folders and files, and tile or cascade the view.
You create folders, choose what files to add to them, and launch
programs by clicking either a document file linked to an application, or
the application icon itself.

If this is beginning to sound real familiar, it is. That's the way
Windows itself works.

In spite of this redundancy, Office Central does have a couple of nice
touches. It incorporates a few of File Manager's features right on the
main screen, so you can print, find, and delete files without opening a
separate program. It also allows you to assign long file names to files,
view file contents without opening the associated application, and send
E-mail over a network. If you don't already have utility programs to
take care of the latter three features, this program may be attractive.
The file viewer in particular is quite good. You can open several files
at a time and tile their windows to look at them all side by side.

There are some puzzling parts of Office Central, too, however. For
example, it has a built in folder for templates. You're supposed to copy
your commonly used templates into this space, and then open copies of
the templates to do common tasks (fax cover sheet, letter, spreadsheet
report, and so on.) That sounds good in theory, but in practice Office
Central does not handle it well. First of all, the dialog box that opens
when you want to add a template to the template folder does not have
common template file types in it. (I tried to add a .DOT file from Word,
for example, and had to search through all the files.) Also, the
procedure to make the copy of the template is several steps long, and
you still have to be careful to change the file extension so that you
don't overwrite the template itself. You would be better off just
opening the application and selecting the template you want; Word
already knows to open a copy rather than the original template.

Also important to mention is that Office Central can only handle OLE 2.0
applications. All of us have favorite old workhorse programs that we
aren't going to give up, and that means that Office Central won't be
able to deal with them; we'll have to go back to Windows or File Manager
to launch them.

The manual is part of the problem, too. It gives all kinds of direction
for creating, editing, filling, deleting, and rearranging folders, but
there is no discussion on the specific efficiency gains that will happen
if you do all of this start-up work. It is fairly easy to import all of
the Windows program groups as folders, but there is no advantage to
doing that if you already had Windows itself arranged properly. (Office
Central does not allow folder nesting or any other specific improvement
on Windows, either.) Maybe the template idea works on some level, or the
chapter on DDE macros (so you can save files to Office Central directly
from applications) will save me time somehow, but neither the manual nor
the program is at all convincing on either subject.

In summary, then, if you are intrigued by the long file name, link to
your E-mail program, or file viewing capabilities of Office Central,
take a look at it.


Panther Software
2629 Manhattan Avenue, Suite 278
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-372-6806
http://www.panthersoft.com
CompuServe: 71223,2636

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product: PC Anywhere 32
Reviewed By: Dennis MacPherson (pctc@infi.net)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norton pcANYWHERE32 is Symantec's remote control software for Windows95
and WindowsNT. The primary purpose of remote control software is to
allow us to access PCs and networks from a distance. If we're on the
road, we sometimes need to access data on the network back at the office
or the desktop at home. With pcANYWHERE32 you can do the following:
remotely control one PC from another; transfer files and synchronize
folders between two PCs; connect to a variety of services like the
Internet, CompuServe, a BBS; and become a node on a remote network. With
pcANYWHERE32 the task of remote access has truly been simplified. I
played with it using the two systems described above and was both amazed
and tickled at how easy it was to setup and use. First, let me tell you
about some of the other things this program does in addition to remote
control.

or straight dial-up capability, pcANYWHERE32 supports IPX, NetBIOS,
TCP/IP, DEC, ACS, asynchronous, and gateway connections. It does not
support multiple connections nor wireless transfers. It has one of the
fastest file transfer utilities in the business via parallel or serial
hookup with file synchronization, background operation, and virus
scanning prior to transmission. It offers security features like
passwords, auto call back, data encryption, screen blanking, session
logging and recording, and s ral others. And finally, there's an
extensive scripting language for automating repetitive tasks and
sessions. Norton pcANYWHERE32 is definitely feature-rich compared with
other programs in this category.

Symantec recommends at least a '486 processor, 8MB of RAM, and 16MB of
free hard disk space to run smoothly; although it says it will work on
less ('386/4MB/VGA). It's a 32-bit application that needs Windows95 or
WindowsNT 3.51 or later, but it can be used to remotely control PCs
running pcANYWHERE for DOS and Windows 3.x. It comes on four floppies
with two manuals and a special cable for file transfer between two
systems. Like all Symantec products, the User's Manual is well written
and hence easy to r . Terms you need to know for connecting to remote
systems are clearly defined and procedures are described in a
step-by-step manner.

Anxious to run a friend's computer from a distance of ninety miles, I
popped the first disk into the drive and away I went. As expected,
installation was a breeze. The main screen is small and clean with large
buttons clearly labeled and nicely iconned. There's a Quick Start button
with "wizards" for walking you through the program's primary functions.
Or you can use the Be A Host button, Remote Control, File Transfer, Be A
Gateway, Remote Networking, or Call Online Service buttons and go
straight to yo connection. I clicked on Remote Control because I wanted
to operate the computer at the other end; my friend would click on Be A
Host and set himself up to "be controlled."

Several icons appeared in the folder area of the screen. I
double-clicked on the one labeled Add Remote Control Item because it
seemed the most logical thing to do. That put me in the hands of the
Remote Control "wizard" which proceeded to ask me a few questions like
what did I want to call my new remote control item (I typed 'Friend');
what connection device would I use (my modem was listed and checked);
and the host's phone number. That was it. Simple and quick. My friend
with the AST mirrored my acti using the Be A Host button and we were
ready to fly.

Making the actual connection was as simple as double-clicking on the
icon "Friend."  pcANYWHERE32 then dialed the phone and less than a
minute later I was looking at my friend's Windows95 desktop. At the top
of my screen was a menu of icons for recording the session, scaling the
screen, transferring either PC's clipboard, transferring files, entering
chat mode and even performing a Ctrl-Alt-Del on his system! I
immediately clicked on Chat so I could share my excitement. A box opened
up at the bottom of screen and I typed the message "Watson, come in
here, I need you" or something to that effect. Several seconds later, he
responded by saying he was watching every movement of my mouse on his
screen. Response, in terms of refresh-rate, was pretty darn good, I
thought, for two 28.8 modems. There was some delay, but nothing
intolerable. As a scientific test, I opened up his solitaire game and
began to play.

The ace of hearts didn't instantly fly to the top row when I
double-clicked on it. There was a one-second delay before it moved. Not
a big deal. I moved a couple more cards, then noticed  that cards were
moving by themselves. My friend was playing also. Interesting. I then
wondered about copying some of his files to my hard drive. Would I have
to read the manual first? Nahhh! I clicked on the File Transfer button
at the top of my screen and was immediately greeted with a
file-manager-like screen showing r two hard drives side by side. Nice.

File transfer was a piece-o-cake. And fast! I highlighted four files
from his root directory, clicked on the arrow pointing at me, and zip,
they flew over as though I typed the copy command from my DOS prompt.
I'd seen enough. The possibilities of pcANYWHERE32 were filling my head
with ideas. Updating client files, trouble-shooting long distance,
sharing presentations...what a great tool.

I tried one other connection with my friend before writing this review:
I tried operating his system over the Internet--but I was unsuccessful.
Not because pcANYWHERE32 couldn't do it, but rather because of the way
we were connected. According to the User's Manual, remote control is
possible over the Internet if both systems are running pcANYWHERE32
using a TCP/IP communication device (which we were). What the manual did
not say was exactly how to do it. So I called Symantec's Standard help
line.

Symantec has several telephone numbers for various levels of free and
subscription service help. Since I was a registered user, for the price
of the phone call, I was eligible for 90 days of free help. I was on
hold for a mere ten minutes, listening to semi-elevator music and
frequently reminded that "my call was important to them, and please not
to hang up..." When the tech finally came on. He was very friendly, and
proceeded to set up my account; asking for name, address, and telephone
number. I then ed him how I could operate my friend's computer over the
Internet. He told me he had to go do some research (and I thought "he
doesn't know the answer") and asked if I wouldn't mind waiting. No
problem. After another four minutes, he returned. To make a long story
short, he did know the answer, explained it very well, and made sure I
understood before we were done. Turns out I needed to know my friend's
IP address when he was on the Internet, which was impossible, because
our Internet Service Provider provi des IP addresses dynamically. My
mission was accomplished, however, because I was able to reach Symantec,
speak to a technical person, and get an answer to my question all within
twenty minutes. I was satisfied.

In summary: I like pcANYWHERE32 and I believe it does everything it was
designed to do and that it does it all very well. In terms of speed of
screen refresh and file transfer--excellent; installation--a snap; ease
of use--wonderfully easy to use; and mutifunctionality (security,
connectivity, general communications)--exhaustive. An overall excellent
product.

I'm not alone in my praise of the product, either. PCWEEK (Feb 12) gave
pcANYWHERE32 its Analyst's Choice Award after comparing it with Avalan
Technology's Remotely Possible/32, Traveling Software's LapLink for
Windows95, and Triton Technologies CoSession 6.0 for Windows. In a
similar comparison, however, the LAN Times (Feb 19) gave its Best of
Times award to LapLink for Windows95. After reading both reviews, I
think most users will be satisfied using either product for their remote
access utility. My advice: carefully read the specs of both products and
choose the one that meets the majority of your needs.

Symantec Corporation
10201 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
(800)-441-7234
http://www.symantec.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product: Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Gardening
Reviewed By: Dan Carmichael (resume@nr.infi.net)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Carmichael (resume@nr.infi.net)
Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guide to Gardening

The enveloping beauty and warmth of Spring will soon be upon us.  For
those of you in the Central and Eastern U.S. who are looking out the
window at 10-foot snow drifts while reading this, that sounds like a
very welcome prospect.  For the rest it means only one thing: mow that
lawn, mow that lawn, mow that lawn.  However, whether you find gardening
a joy or a burden, this CD-Rom is for you.  It contains a wealth of
information that will enable the beginning as well as experienced
gardener to perform gardening tasks quicker, easier, and make it more
enjoyable in the process.

The CD-Rom is divided into four main sections: Garden Fundamentals,
Garden Types, Gardener's Almanac, and Gardening Index.

Gardening Fundamentals contains a wealth of information on gardening
basics, climate information, pests and diseases, gardening techniques,
and tools.  Even gardening professionals will find useful tips and
information here.

Garden Types is divided into 14 different sub-categories and covers
every imaginable type of indoor and outdoor plant and tree.  From lawns
to annuals and from wildflowers to fruits, nuts, and vegetables - if it
grows, it's probably covered here.

Gardener's Almanac is divided by months and contains calendar-specific
information in a variety of categories.  It also contains a database of
preset reminders and seasonal information.  For the gardening
enthusiast, they've even included a calendar of flower and garden shows
across the U.S. You can also add events, tips, reminders, and notes of
your own.

The Gardening Index allows you to easily and accurately search all
databases by category, plant type, plant name, or by individual
keywords. The cross-referencing of information is thorough and easy to
navigate. The help option is complete and easy to understand.

Information on individual plants and trees is comprehensive.  Included
is information on planting, care, maintenance, irrigation, fertilizing,
pruning, climate zones, height and width, shade density, soil and light
preferences, flower and plant characteristics, varieties, harvesting
information, and more.  It will even suggest how to design your gardens
to enhance the beauty of both your garden and your home.

If you do not know what you want to plant, there's help for you too. The
search feature allows you to input different criteria such as: climate
zone, interest (flowering, fragrance, etc.), plant type, shape, and size
then suggests different plants for you.

The entire learning process is enhanced by instructional multimedia
videos, animations, slide shows, full-color photos, illustrations, and
audio tracks.  Each time you start the program, you are randomly given
one of over 300 useful hints and tips.

Another nice feature is it's ease of use.  I received the CD-Rom for
review without an instruction manual, but none was needed.  Choosing the
Introduction option plays an animated tutorial that runs only a few
minutes and tells you everything you need to know to utilize all
features of the program.

The CD-Rom was easily installed, smooth running, and error-free. I
tested it on a system using Windows 95 and multi-tasked back and forth
to write this review without a hitch.  Better Homes and Gardens Complete
Guide to Gardening CD-Rom is for both the IBM-PC under Windows and
Macintosh platforms.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product: Earthworm Jim for Windows 95
Reviewed By: Michael Gallo (gallo-michael@hq.secnav.navy.mil)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first word uttered as the game fires up summarizes Earthworm Jim
nicely, GROOVY!  Earthworm Jim for Windows 95 is yet another in a stream
of 2D scroller type games similar to Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog.
This popular Super NES and Sega cartridge game has finally come to the
PC platform courtesy of Activision.  EWJ works with Windows 95 only.

Minimum system requirements include 486/33 CPU, VESA/PCI video(256
color), 8MB RAM, and a 2X CD ROM drive.  No hard disk space is required.

First a little information about the game.  Earthworm Jim is an
otherwise forgetful wriggling nightcrawler who has been endowed with
"super-worm" capabilities thanks to a space age jump suit.  Without the
suit, Jim is very wimpy and can do very little(as you'll find out on
certain levels).  Your mission:  Get through every level and defeat all
boss monsters and rescue Princess What's Her Name(really that's her
name).  All sorts of "critters" constantly pick on JIM and challenges
are everywhere that must be overcome.

Ordinarily, I'd yawn at the prospect of another Mario-Sonic type of
game, but once you play EWJ, I think you'll agree, these designers and
programmers are warped.  Where else would you expect to find a junkyard
boss who vomits fish when hit or a lawyer who yells, "I'll SUE" when
hit, or a level called "What the Heck", where you'll hear the occasional
scream of some poor suffering soul.  If you stop and let Jim stand
around, he becomes bored and does all sorts of random things from
singing to blowing his head off accidently while looking at his plasma
pistol.

Gameplay is very simple, Jim can run, duck, jump, shoot, and use his
head as a whip.  Jim's whipping head can kill monsters, activate items,
or grab hooks to swing on.    In some places, the only way to continue
is by swinging on a hook.  Sometimes it is not obvious at all where to
move to next.  Some of the places were too difficult for me to figure
out(even at the easiest level) and I needed some on-line hints from the
internet to get me through.  The game will remember what levels Jim has
already completed.  However, there is no way to save the game in the
middle of a level.

Graphics performance was surprisingly good.  There are four different
resolutions to play in:  Two full screen and two windowed.  The highest
resolution offered is 640x480 in a window.  This was the only mode where
I noticed some screen "flicker".  I think this was due to the fact

I was running my Windows '95 in 800x600 mode with 16K colors.  I suspect
that running Windows '95 at a lower 640x480x256 mode will result in
acceptable performance.  The two full screen mode are 320x200 and
320x224.  These were very fast, crisp, and smooth. All modes are 256
colors.  It looks like the designers put a lot of effort into the game's
graphics screens.  They are very rich, but still have that cartoon like
quality.

The sounds and music are superb.  The quality of the music is very high
because EWJ uses a real CD audio track to store the music.  I put the CD
into a normal CD player and was able to play all the musical tracks
except for track 1 which must be where the actual program code is
stored.  Just think, you can listen to EWJ on your way to work in the
car!  As a side note: there are two tracks near the end of the CD. One
is a humorous biological review of worms while the other is some sort of
congratulations for winning the game at its most difficult level.  I'm
sure there must be a cheat code to activate these tracks while playing
the game.

The CD also includes an option to install the Earthworm Jim desktop
theme.  This is only available to users who have the Microsoft Windows
95 Plus Pack installed.  The theme pack allows custom cursors, sounds,
and wallpapers, and screen savers.  This option requires minimal hard
disk space of about 1 MB.  No other hard disk space is required because
the game runs directly off the CD.  This was fine since I have a 4X CD
drive, however, owners of 2X CD drives may take a performance hit.

I thought Earthworm Jim was fun to play and easy to learn. I recommend
the game for anyone who wants a simple don't think too much kind of game
and for anyone with a warped sense of humor.

Activision
P.O. Box 67713
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 479-5644
Compuserve: GO GAMBPUB
E-Mail:  support@activision.com Web:
http://www.activision.com


------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEBSITES OF THE WEEK! | This section is devoted to cool WebSites . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATHTLETE RECRUITING ON-LINE!|
----------------------------
SOMERVILLE, N.J., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, "big time" athletes
Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Hubie Brooks, Devon White,  Anthony Pleasant,
Ryne Sandberg and others presented a big opportunity for college coaches
and high school athletes.  These pro athletes helped introduce the
Online Scouting Network (OSN), a powerful new on-line database service
that is poised to revolutionize the way high school athletes are
recruited for college athletic programs. 

OSN is the nation's first comprehensive Internet service designed to
link college coaches with qualified high school and junior college
athletes.  Through technology, OSN has been able to streamline the
recruiting process into a centralized source of data that can be
accessed with the click of a mouse.  The OSN site on the World Wide Web
(http://www.osn.com) offers coaches a free, easy-to-use, searchable
database of high school athlete profiles which include, personal,
academic and athletic information. 

"The college recruitment process can be pretty intimidating for high
school kids," said former Toronto Blue Jay, Pat Tabler.  "I am thrilled
to be involved in a program that takes some of the uncertainty out of
the system and opens doors for promising young athletes.  There are a
lot of potential MVPs out there, and OSN will help coaches find them." 

A telephone call and #2 pencil are all that is needed for high school
and junior college athletes to list their stats on OSN.  Male and female
student-athletes have several ways to obtain registration forms:   

* call 1-800-267-1435   
* e-mail the request to info@osn.com
* fax the request to 908-526-0344
* mail a SASE to "Registration Request," Online Scouting Network, 321
Courtyard Drive, Somerville, NJ 08876. 

With the registration form and $69 listing fee, OSN will create a
comprehensive profile of the athlete, including their personal, academic
and athletic achievements along with a photograph.  For an additional
$80, a 2-minute, digitized highlight film clip will be added to the
student-athlete's profile.  Each profile will last one year from the
date of subscription and can be updated up to five times in that year. 

Student-athletes who are quick on their feet can take advantage of the
new service for free.  The first 1,000 student-athletes who submit their
completed registration form will have the $69 annual listing fee
refunded.  Other student-athletes who have proof that their SAT/ACT
testing fees have been waived will be permitted to list their basic
profile on OSN at no charge. 

College athletic recruiting staff and admissions officers with a
registered username and password can access the OSN database at no
charge.  Once they have located OSN, college coaches can search the
database by pointing and clicking through search criteria such as:   

* type of sport   
* type of position
* sport-specific statistical criteria
* academic ranges
* geographic regions
* athlete's preferences

A long list of professional athletes have stepped up to the plate to
lend their energy and support to OSN.  These investors, who have all
gone through the process themselves, strongly believe that OSN will help
student-athletes successfully maneuver beyond the complexities of the
recruiting process and create a world of new scouting options for
college coaches nationwide. 

-----------------
STORAGE SYSTEMS!|
-----------------
MANHASSET, N.Y., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- EE Times-Interactive
(http://techweb.cmp.com/eet), part of CMP's TechWeb(TM) Web site,
announced today the launch of an online subscription newsletter, Storage
Systems Today, covering data storage products, technologies and vendors.
The subscription-only newsletter will appear on the new Special Interest
Group Page on EE Times-Interactive. 

Storage Systems Today will be written by Hal Glatzer, former Editor of
Optical Memory News, who has covered the computer industry and, in
particular, data storage, for 18 years.  A founder of the Computer Press
Association, Glatzer calls himself an "explainer," for his ability to
present technical material in plain language, so everyone with a need to
know can be kept informed. 

According to Glatzer, Storage Systems Today covers developments in all
types of storage technology, including tape, disk, magnetic, optical,
solid-state and experimental.  Each issue contains news and analysis of
new products, evolving standards, research and development, engineering
achievements, finance, new ventures, marketing strategies, trends,
predictions and people. 

The charter issue includes a unique chart that analyzes the key
characteristics of some 30 removable storage offerings ranging from 1.44
Mb to 20 Gb. 

Storage Systems Today is available through subscription only either
online, by e-mail or by fax.  The electronic versions are available on
alternate Fridays.  The online newsletter, featuring scrolling "frames"
and other display techniques optimized for browsing with Netscape
Navigator 2.0, is available at a password-protected online address that
is part of the Storage Systems SIG page on EE Times-Interactive.   The
newsletter will reside in a searchable database, allowing subscribers to
search previous iss ues and articles by subject or key word.

In addition, Storage Systems Today will provide links within each
article to relevant information, such as company information,
independent Web sites and EE Times-Interactive editorial. 

The Storage Systems SIG page on EE Times-Interactive
(http://techweb.cmp.com/eet/sst/) can be accessed freely, without
subscribing, and features an online discussion forum, regularly updated
news briefs, as well as company links, and a link to pertinent articles
from EE Times. 

Charter subscription rates for Storage Systems Today are $445 for one
year and $695 for two years, a savings of $250 over the regular
published rates. 

EE Times-Interactive is the World Wide Web site of EE Times, CMP's
industry newspaper for design engineers and technical managers in the
electronics industry. The well-respected weekly is the only source that
delivers news of both business and technology to the engineering
community and technical/corporate management at electronics OEM
organizations. 

CMP Publications, Inc., now in its 25th year of uninterrupted growth, is
the only provider of publishing, marketing and information services to
reach the entire spectrum of the high-technology market. Through its
unique market position, CMP reaches the builders, sellers and users of
technology.  All of CMP's publications and a series of innovative news
services are available on the World Wide Web through CMP's TechWeb(TM)
(http://techweb.cmp.com), the technology information source. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
COOL FTP FILE OF THE WEEK | You may need this file . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jixxa includes such outstanding and user-friendly features as hint
and auto-solve for a helping hand, a challenge timer to compete against
the clock,up to nine organizational boxes for sorting pieces, and
rotating pieces for the expert gamesmen. With many other features and
options, Jixxa is the most authentic and fun jigsaw puzzle game
available.

    An evaluation version is available on CompuServe - GO RISS LIB 5 or
from the Web Page at www.risoftsystems.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERVIEW WITH ????? | Weekly Interviews with the Movers and Shakers!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIRUS WATCH: ANTICMOS
by Tony Brooks

I guess that one of the scariest viruses I can imagine is one that
messes around with CMOS information.  The reason behind my fear lies in
the probability of correctly diagnosing the problem.  A computer tech
can spend hours trying to figure out why your CMOS settings seem to be
erased from memory.  Another problem, is that some techs may suggest
that the ROM (Read Only Memory) is at fault, while all along, all it is,
is a little, nasty virus!

The ANTICMOS virus does exactly what I have described above.  ANTICMOS
may be spread under the alias LENART, as well as its real name,
ANTICMOS.

ANTICMOS is a memory resident, boot and partition sector virus.  This
virus can infect and effect both floppy and hard disks.  Hard disks are
infected when booted from an infected floppy system disk.  The floppy
disks are infected during read or write access.  Read or write access
operations include the DOS DIR and COPY commands.  Once the hard disk
has been infected, the virus overwrites boot and / or partition sector
information.  This can also happen to an disinfected floppy disk, however,
the chances are 1 in 256.  Getting back to the hard disk, once the virus
triggers it will patch CMOS data.  Then the problems really begin.
Expect messages such as "Hard Disk C: not installed".  The type of a
floppy drive is changed, as illustrated below:

If it was 5.25" 360Kb, it becomes 3.5" 720Kb;
If it was 5.25" 1.2Mb, it becomes "not installed";
If it was 3.5" 720Kb, it becomes 5.25" 360Kb;
If it was 3.5" 1.44Mb, it becomes 5.25" 1.2Mb; and
if it was "not installed", it becomes 5.25" 1.2Mb.

Once this has happened, on the next boot of the system, BIOS should
display the CMOS CHECKSUM FAILURE error message.  This is because the
virus does not bother to recalculate CMOS checksum.

Removal is possible.  Most up to date virus scanners such as McAfee,
F-Prot and Dr. Solomon will find, correctly identify and eradicate the
virus with little or no permanent damage, other than the frustration of
the virus to begin with.

There are some symptoms which may lead you to believe you have the Virus
ANTICMOS, or other such virus which affects your CMOS, which are in fact
symptoms of something else.  If you believe you have a virus in your
CMOS, but Virus Scanners can't find it, consider these other
possibilities:

1. BAD BIOS CHIP - Sometimes the BIOS Chip goes bad and doesn't retain
data.  This can be a nightmare to troubleshoot, so if your BIOS chip is
bad, call up the BIOS manufacturer and get a replacement chip. Make sure
you get the serial number from your old chip so a perfect match can be
found for your mother board.

2. CORRUPTED FLASH BIOS - If your mother board uses a Flash-BIOS; ie, a
BIOS that can be upgraded through software, then get in contact with
your BIOS manufacturer and order the software upgrade.  (Upgrading the
Flash-BIOS might require jumper and dip switch changes, so have your
mother board documentation handy.)

3. MOTHERBOARD - Not much needs to be said here, get a new motherboard.
That's not as bad as it sounds.  For under $200 you can pick up a 486
motherboard, chip and all.
 
                                --END OF ISSUE--

