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Recent
Developments ..
by Roger Davies
Mar 1998
Soft Serve Direct
Box 389, Magrath,
Alberta, Canada T0K 1JO
Phone (403) 388-4332 Fax (403) 758-3505
Email comments to news@ssdirect.com
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 s it time yet?
When is the best time to buy your new computer system? The answer to this
question, of course, varies depending on your reason for the computer purchase. Is it an
Investment, a Toy, or a Tool?
Regarding investments, the rule is to buy low, sell high, and to buy things of lasting
value. And have you noticed that the prices of computer systems lately are in freefall,
while the capabilities and value of newer replacement machines are skyrocketing up. So, if
your purchase is simply an investment - the correct response is to wait until prices
bottom out (if ever) and THEN to buy. Will it last? Sure! You can expect your new computer
to last for years - just like those old 386ers out there. They still work (as originally
designed), right? Get real .. let's guess two maybe three years before you are stuck with
an expensive paperweight on your desk. Can you sell it then? Not for anything near what
you paid for it. Maybe your kids can use it at college - along with your old slide rule.
(Computers are not really good investments).
Into Toys? How about keeping up with the Gates's? Image and prestige important to you?
Just how deep are your pockets? Unfortunately, there will always be a bigger, faster,
prettier system coming down the pike, and the new, shiny ones are very pricey until the
next best thing comes out. You will pay a premium to keep up with the latest and greatest.
The gleam on the screen will soon dim as computer envy sets in again, and again, and
again. (Toys break and are outgrown quickly).
Your computer is a Tool! You may have guessed that in my opinion, the only valid reason
to shell out the bucks for a computer is when you need it as a business or educational
tool. Computers help get work done. They don't do your job for you. You use them to
accomplish things. They educate. They attract interest and they are fun. They also
depreciate and devalue over time, but that's not the point. You invest in tools that help
you to accomplish what you couldn't ordinarily do, either better or faster, without that
tool. You invest your time and talents to increase your own capabilities and skills. You
provide these tools to your family or employees in an attempt to increase their
productivity - in improved grades or in processing piles of paperwork - but it is up to
them to learn how to apply the tool to the task.
 ther Options
and Alternatives
Let's say you decide to keep your old computer but want to run newer style applications
- a GUI Interface, a Word Processor, an Internet Browser .. Hey, you may be in luck ..
while listening to Chalk Talk on www.chalk.com I heard
a discussion on a brand new software application called ' New Deal Office 98' that
will work on those older 386/486 PC's. Minimum requirements are only 640K RAM system
memory and under 10 MB hard drive space. The application from www.newdealinc.com consists of a complete
suite of integrated applications, including a home banking application, a CD player, word
processing, and an internet browser! The best news: the retail price is only $99 plus GST.
This may breathe new life into your old computer system.
On the internet front, have you been stymied in your search for Canadian information on
the 'net? Check out the new 'AltaVista Canada Search Engine - The Canadian Search Engine'
at www.altavistacanada.com. Telus along with
Digital Equipment have recently launched this new service employing
"country-specific, web-crawling technology".
Y2K do I care? Test your existing system for Year 2000 compatibility by downloading a
small program called YMark2000 at the www.nstl.com/html/ymark_2000.html
by NSTL, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. More information is available on the
Internet at www.y2k.com and at www.year2000.com.
 oax or Not?
I recently received (another) email from a well intentioned but misinformed source
about an email 'virus' .. he said:
"Dear members, partners and associates, Word from IBM
is that two nasty viruses are out there that could mess you up bad. Pass along the word.
Both will come via e-mail. The first is an e-mail titled "JOIN THE CREW". Do not
open it. It will erase your hard drive. The second is disguised in an e-mail entitled
"RETURNED OR UNABLE TO DELIVER". This virus will attach itself to certain
computer functions and render them useless. Do not open this one either. AOL has said that
there is no cure for this one. Good luck."
Confused? Scared? Nervous? Don't be! It is just another of those hoaxes making the
rounds. Get Smart! You can inform yourself on the Internet quickly by checking out some of
the several trusted company sites below:
On the other hand, there ARE real viruses out there that can affect your data. However,
you can easily acquire protection by acquiring an anti-virus scanning program. I use
Norton Antivirus (NAV) because, once you buy the program, the updates are free (via the
Internet). However, the level of protection from any of the popular antivirus programs are
very good .. so, protect yourself: a) Install the antivirus program(s) of your choice, and
b) Inform yourself - Learn before you leap.
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