Lotus articles from January 1988

Lotus archives from January 1988

Our fearless forecasts. (preview of topics to be covered in 1988 issues of the journal) (Staff Letter) (column)
January 1, 1988... OUR FEARLESS FORECASTS Welcome to Volume 4 of LOTUS. This is the time of the year when magazines like to analyze trends, make predictions, and publish forecasts. LOTUS is no exception, so here is a look ahead for the magazine in 1988....

Lotus 1-2-3 Networker released. ('At' Lotus) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... LOTUS 1-2-3 NETWORKER RELEASED Lotus Development Corp.'s Lotus 1-2-3 Networker is a version of 1-2-3 Release 2 that lets up to five users access 1-2-3 and share worksheet files from a network file server. The program includes a feature...

The Best of Lotus. (a new series of books based on the most popular articles in Lotus magazine) ('At' Lotus) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... THE BEST OF LOTUS The Best of LOTUS, a new series of books based on the most popular articles from LOTUS magazine's first 2-1/2 years, will be published by Addison-Wesley (Reading, Mass.). The first title, LOTUS Magazine: The Macro Book,...

New training materials. (Lotus Development Corp.'s courseware for its software programs) ('At' Lotus) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... NEW TRAINING MATERIALS Lotus has announced a comprehensive set of training materials for its software. Courses include Lotus 1-2-3 Advanced Topics, which consists of three series of modules--Macro, Worksheet/Database, and Application...

How to get rid of 'old' PCs: selling them isn't the best choice. (Ideas & Trends) (column)
January 1, 1988... HOW TO GET RID OF 'OLD' PCs IBM's release of the Personal System/2 computers may have created as many problems as possibilities for corporate America. As companies examine ways to incorporate the PS/2 and its recently released Operating...

Letter from Las Vegas: a roundup of hot new products at Comdex. (Ideas & Trends) (column)
January 1, 1988... LETTER FROM LAS VEGAS There is truly not another computer show quite like Comdex/Fall, perhaps in part because there isn't another city quite like Las Vegas. Such a city of excess is perfect for Comdex, which is usually marked by...

The long road to quality typesetting: system prices are high but coming down. (Ideas & Trends) (column)
January 1, 1988... THE LONG ROAD TO QUALITY TYPESETTING Sure, apple LaserWriter output at 300 dots per inch (dpi) is good, but it's not typesetting quality--not even close. LOTUS magazine's typesetter is DNH Typesetting in Cambridge, Mass. This article...

Hayes revs up its modem: V-Series features 9600 baud. (Hayes Microcomputer Products) (Ideas & Trends) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... HAYES REVS UP ITS MODEM If Hayes Microcomputer Products didn't invent the personal-computer modem market, then few can remember who did. So when the company introduced its V-series family of modems--marking the first major overhaul of its...

Jim Faulkerson: adding "eyes" to PCs; TransImage's founder tries to make scanners more useful. (Ideas & Trends) (column)
January 1, 1988... JIM FAULKERSON: ADDING "EYES" TO PCs Jim Faulkerson wants to give a computer eyes and, in the not-too-distant future, totally eliminate the keyboard. Entrepreneurs are supposed to have bold ideas, but replace the keyboard? Faulkerson,...

Tax preparation help. (HowardSoft's Tax Preparer package) (Ideas & Trends) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... TAX PREPARATION HELP The new tax laws have created quite a bit of confusion for millions of taxpayers. However, to paraphrase an old proverb, one person's confusion creates another person's opportunity. One of the better-selling...

Finding a job.(Drake Beam Morin Inc.'s Career Navigator software package) (Ideas & Trends) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... FINDING A JOB There are no clear-cut rules for landing a good job. Drake Beam Morin Inc. (100 Park Ave., New York, N.Y., 212-692-7700), an outplacement firm, has created Career Navigator, a $95 software program that guides the novice job...

Moving to OS-2. (Forrester Research's projections on OS-2's growth to 1990) (Ideas & Trends) (column)
January 1, 1988... MOVING TO OS/2 at the fall Comdex trade show (see "Letter from Las Vegas," page 16), IBM announced a new timetable for delivering its various versions of OS/2. The first edition of OS/2 shipped last month, earlier than expected. But...

Turbocharging old PCs. (Intel Corp.'s Inboard 386-PC accelerator board) (Ideas & Trends) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... TURBOCHARGING OLD PCS This month Intel Corp.'s Personal Computer Enhancement Operation will release its Inboard 386/PC, an 80386 replacement board for older 8088-based PCs. The board, according to the company, can hike the performance of...

Databasics: create some simple macros to help you organize lists of information. (includes Macro Letters reviewing suggestions of readers) (1-2-3 Macros) (column)
January 1, 1988... DATABASICS 1-2-3's database facility doesn't get enough attention. Many people feel they don't need databases in their work. Others find databases intimidating. By describing what databases do, I hope to snare some readers who haven't...

Customized spending reports: use your spreadsheet's database functions to produce concise reports from mountains of data. (Accounting) (column)
January 1, 1988... CUSTOMIZED SPENDING REPORTS Use your spreadsheet's database functions to produce concise reports from mountains of data. Many accounting software packages let you export data to 1-2-3 or Symphony. The question is, how do you derive...

Lease versus buy: the interest rate model. (a spreadsheet to determine the effective interest rate of a lease agreement) (Finance) (column)
January 1, 1988... LEASE VERSUS BUY: THE INTEREST RATE MODEL Deciding whether to lease or to buy is a complex task. To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of lease financing, you must compare the cost of leasing the asset with the cost of buying it....

In the school of hard knocks. (what students need to know about 1-2-3 spreadsheets)
January 1, 1988... IN THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS The nicest thing about learning to use 1-2-3 was that it immediately responded to me. I typed a number; 1-2-3 popped it into a cell. I entered a simple formula; 1-2-3 declared my monthly mortgage payment....

Do you really need that macro? (when formulas should be used instead of macros in 1-2-3 and Symphony spreadsheets)
January 1, 1988... Do you really need that macro? Several months ago, I agreed to look at a macro-driven spreadsheet that my colleague Peg had created. Peg was troubled because one of the macros took 40 minutes to run, and she wondered if I could do anything...

Project manager, part 1. (how to use Lotus 1-2-3 or Symphony and the critical path method to manage a project) (part one of two)
January 1, 1988... PROJECT MANAGER, PART 1 A project is often finished late because a manager doesn't know how to identify which tasks have the most influence on the completion date. This series of crucial tasks defines the project's critical path. If any...

Exploring Symphony's definition range. (improving the performance of Symphony database applications by learning data trails)
January 1, 1988... EXPLORING SYMPHONY'S DEFINITION RANGE One of the best things about Symphony's database work environment is how easy it is to create and modify data-entry forms. And a well-designed entry form can help speed up data input. The article "How...

Answers to your questions about Lotus products. (Q & A) (column)
January 1, 1988... ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT LOTUS PRODUCTS CONTEST OCTOBER CONTEST RESULTS In the October 1987 issue we asked users of 1-2-3 Release 2/2.01 or Symphony to submit the best formula that draws total or subtotal lines (made...

Making it work: helpful hints for keeping hardware and software on speaking terms. (Hardware Hints) (column)
January 1, 1988... MAKING IT WORK Helpful hints for keeping hardware and software on speaking terms PRINTERS/PLOTTERS PROPRINTER VS. PROPRINTER XL REVISITED I too had the problem Lori Yetman describes in October's Hardware Hints....

Good ideas for graphics: ten keys to effective presentation graphics. (Graphics) (column)
January 1, 1988... GOOD IDEAS FOR GRAPHICS "Precise." "Persuasive." "Powerful." Wouldn't it be grand if people said those things about every presentation you made? In this and the next Graphics column, we'll present some methods experienced presenters use...

Software: Harvard Graphics: dazzle them at your next important meeting. (Software Publishing Corp.'s graphics package) (Software Review) (evaluation)
January 1, 1988... SOFTWARE: HARVARD GRAPHICS Dazzle them at your next important meeting. Clicking slide projectors and glowing screens in business meetings signal the growing interest in high-quality visual presentations. The boom in business graphics is a...

Software: Deja, DB12 III: two 1-2-3 add-ins that get your database under control. (from PC Publishing and Triple C Software, respectively) (Software Review) (evaluation)
January 1, 1988... SOFTWARE: DEJA, DB12 III If you need to manage a database that is too big to fit into your 1-2-3 spreadhseet, if you want to access a dBase III file while working in 1-2-3, or if you want to combine 1-2-3 and dBase files using familiar...

Hardware: Saba Handscan: data goes from printout to worksheet without retyping. (Saba Technologies' low-cost scanner) (Hardware Review) (evaluation)
January 1, 1988... HARDWARE: SABA HANDSCAN Once again it's time to prepare a monthly report, and you must get some numbers from a mainframe-generated printout, as well as some PC-generated figures from a staff member. Reentering data into your spreadsheet...

Lotus-compatible software products. (Listings) (column)
January 1, 1988... LOTUS-COMPATIBLE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS NEW PRODUCTS Baler Brubaker Software, 8825 North County Line Rd. E, Lafayette, IN 47905, 317-564-2584. This language translator and compiler converts 1-2-3 (Releases 1A, 2, and 2.01)...

Backup systems for PCs, ATs, and LANs. (Safe Power Systems' Safe 500 and Safe 800) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... BACKUP SYSTEMS FOR PCs, ATs, AND LANs The Safe 500 is a 500-watt backup power unit that gives filtered alternating current (AC) and 20 minutes of power for a fully loaded, hard-disk-drive PC during an electrical blackout. The unit has...

Backup system has no transfer time. (the Lifeline II uninterruptible power supply from ICS's Electro-Pac Division) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... BACKUP SYSTEM HAS NO TRANSFER TIME The Lifeline II uninterruptible power system provides internal battery backup for 25 minutes in case of a public utility failure. The Lifeline II is always on-line. It delivers filtered, regulated AC, sine...

Protection for communications equipment. (Curtis Manufacturing Co.'s Command Center Plus and Safe Strip) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... PROTECTION FOR COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT Command Center Plus protects communications equipment (including telephones, facsimile machines, and telexes) against damage due to electrical and phone-line surges, electromagnetic and radio-frequency...

Power-supply and industrial conditioner. (Topaz's Powermaker E-S and Escort Micro Power Conditioner) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... POWER-SUPPLY AND INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONER The Powermaker E/S is a microcomputer-controlled, uninterruptible power-supply system that protects computers against blackouts and other power disturbances. The system adapts itself to the specific AC...

Surge suppressors. (General Electric's SurgePro series) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... SURGE SUPPRESSORS GE SurgePro computer-protection devices come in three-, four-, and six-outlet configurations and cost $15, $25, and $30, respectively. Each has radio-frequency interference filters and comes with heavy, six-foot power cords,...

Power for many computer sizes. (Immunelec Inc.'s MS 300 VA, MS 600 VA, and Series 11 uninterruptible power supplies) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... POWER FOR MANY COMPUTER SIZES A line of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) products from Immunelec includes the MS 300 VA for IBM PCs and PC XTs at $1,050, and the MS 600 VA for IBM PC ATs and compatibles at $1,750. The Series 11 UPS devices...

Surge suppressor for AC outlet (Computer Accessories Corp.'s PowerLine Four Model S4A) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... SURGE SUPPRESSOR FOR AC OUTLET The PowerLine Four Model S4A is a compact, four-outlet wall unit designed for computer systems located near an AC wall outlet. It protects electronic devices against surges, spikes, and electromagnetic and...

Protect AC lines. (AT and T's Uninterruptible Power System) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... PROTECT AC LINES AT&T's Uninterruptible Power System (UPS) buffers and filters commercial AC power lines supplying on-line computer systems, telephone systems, and laboratory equipment. The UPS provides power through any utility power-line...

Standby power. (Durant Technologies' BPS 500) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... STANDBY POWER The BPS 500 is a 500-volt-ampere, uninterruptible, standby power supply that detects power-line anomalies and initiates backup power in less than a millisecond. The device provides 40 minutes of backup time for a configuration...

Surge protector has fast response. (Ring King Visibles' Data Defender) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... SURGE PROTECTOR HAS FAST RESPONSE Data Defender surge protectors respond to electrical spikes, surges, and other power-line disturbances within five picoseconds (or five trillionths of a second) and prevent voltage levels from rising above 200...

Power conditioner for office. (the Sola Electronic Power Conditioner) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... POWER CONDITIONER FOR OFFICE The Sola Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC) is a microprocessor-based compact unit that protects electronic equipment such as microcomputers, terminals, or test instruments from all AC power problems except total...

Device controls surges and spikes. (Black Box Corp.'s Power Control Center) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... DEVICE CONTROLS SURGES AND SPIKES Black Box Corp.'s Power Control Center protects up to six pieces of equipment from a swivel-mounted device that fits between the monitor and the CPU. It has a static-discharge bar beneath the power switches...

Applications manager software. (Maverick Software's Keyswap Applications Manager program) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... APPLICATIONS MANAGER SOFTWARE Keyswap Applications Manager provides windowing, multilevel menus, and macro-generation. It integrates your system's hardware and software. A library of macro utilities and a free subscription to the "Macro...

Help with Reflex. (Stephen Cobb's Using Reflex: The Database Manager book) (New Products) (product announcement)
January 1, 1988... HELP WITH REFLEX Using Reflex: The Database Manager, by Stephen Cobb, explains Borland International's analytical database program for the IBM PC. The $21.95 paperback is from Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth St., Berkeley, CA 94710,...

The changing way we use spreadsheets. (Essay) (column)
January 1, 1988... THE CHANGING WAY WE USE SPREADSHEETS As the winds of change--this time in the form of OS/2--blow through the industry once again, it's a good point to take stock of the issues facing spreadsheet users. In the seven years since the...