COMPUTER BITS
BY JENNIFER BONNITCHA
Windows on a brave new world
Microsoft Windows 3.0 has meant a re-evaluation
of the way we look at computers. And please all
you Mac users, no wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The new-found power of the graphical user
interface (GUI) means that you, as a Windows
user, need to look at your computer from the
macro rather than micro aspect.
Once all you had to worry about
was whether you had sufficient disc
space to run an application. The character-based DOS programs always ran
as standalone programs with clumsy
file transfers sending information to
other programs. Windows has changed
all that so that you can easily transfer
information from one program to another without the need to "massage"
it in the receiving program.
Windows is almost infinitely
customisable (is there really such a
word?) and has a large array of add-on
programs such as games (surprise,
surprise), screen savers, icon makers
and so forth. One of the program's
tastes, and how to get the most from
Windows and your computer.
If you are considering the move to
Windows, here are some points to
think about.
Software compatibility
First, take stock of your computer
and determine whether all the DOS
programs you currently run are available in Windows versions. If not , you
can certainly run a DOS application
in Windows, and this will be discussed in a future article.
Where possible , choose Windows
applications that support the Dynamic
Data Exchange (DDE) protocol. DDE
permits separate applications to share
the same data;
eg, you could
create a worksheet in Excel, with supbiggest features is that it allows in- porting graph, and have that graph
house developers to customise appli- display in Windows Word. As you
cations to suit their organisations.
make changes to the worksheet, the
While thinking about this series on · graph changes both in Excel and Windows Word. You need do nothing exWindows, the main problem has been
where to start - an overview of the cept change the worksheet data!
program, straight into installation, or
But how much is it going to cost if
general tips and tricks? Let's settle on you need to upgrade the version of
a general overview first. In following your current program(s) to take admonths, we'll show you how to per- vantage of Windows. The effect on
sonalise Windows to your needs and the hip pocket of such a major change
To really run Windows, you need
at least a 386SX system, an EGA
monitor and 3-4Mb of RAM.
88
SILICON CHIP
to your computing environment
should not be underestimated.
Hardware requirements
The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 3.0 is an 8086
processor. That said, various industry
tests indicate that in order to really
run Windows you need at least a
386SX system, an EGA monitor and
3-4Mb of RAM. While Windows actually requires a minimum of 1Mb of
RAM, many Windows applications
(such as Ventura for Windows) require more than this.
Windows' customisation features
and its exploitation of the capabilities
of the 286/386 processors all add up
to a bright future . The original 8088
processor chip on the IBM PC doomed
DOS to a 640K memory limit. The
later series processor chips in the AT
and 386-style computers can address
memory in excess of the old base limit.
The catch 22 is that the software has
to be written to exact guidelines to
take advantage of the extra memory.
Make sure all your hardware is supported. Although Windows is shipped
with a comprehensive range of drivers , if you have a mixed-vendor system, you may run into trouble.
Although Windows 3 does not truly
multitask, multiple programs can be
run at the same time in separate windows. The transfer of information from
one program to another can be accomplished in several ways, depending
on the type of application you are
running. Transfers can be via the clipboard, which may be saved as a file
for later use, or through the "realtime" DDE links.
Windows modes
Windows' multitasking and cutcopy-paste capabilities vary depending on the mode that Windows is run-
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Windows Setup
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For your share of the
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Paintbrush
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Silicon Chip we published the
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Table Editor
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You can customise Windows' program manager to suit your tastes &
requirements. Among other things, you can change the icons, move the icons
from one group to another, install new groups & change the screen colours.
ning in. With Windows 3.0 you have
the option to run in one of three modes
depending .on your computer's hardware configuration: Real mode, Standard mode and 386 Enhanced mode.
Real Mode: W.i ndows runs in this
mode if your system is an 8086 or
8088 computer with at least 640K of
conventional memory. You may find
that Windows. will also run in real
·m ode if your computer is an 80286,
80386 or 80486 with less than 256K of
extended memory. If you have any
expanded memory, Windows can
make use ofit- though this memory is
not used in standard mode or 386
enhanced mode.
Standard Mode: Windows runs in
standard mode if your system is an
80286 computer (or higher) with at
least 1Mb of memory (640K conventional and 256K extended memory).
This is also the more realistic mode
for running DOS applications. Although Windows and Windows ap plications can access all the memory
installed on the computer (up to
16Mb), DOS applications are still restricted to 640K.
Enhanced Mode: This is the optimum operating mode for Windows
(depending on your hardware requirements of course). Enhanced mode calls
for an 80386 computer (or higher) with
at least 640K of conventional memory
SENDINYOUR
APPLICATION
and 1024K of extended memory. You
can run DOS applications in this
mode, together with a disc-based virtual memory manager and background
processing.
Many programs are designed to run
in Standard rather than Enhanced
mode. If you think a program is not
running as fast as it should, try running Windows in Standard mode. You
can start Windows using one of three
switches to select the required mode,
although more about this later.
Weigh up the cost benefits of Windows for your computer or organisation. Any upgrade or change is expensive so the move from DOS to Windows involves not just dollars but
also time spent adjusting to the mouse
and new menus.
One of the interesting features of all
mouse-driven programs is that while
you can certainly key ahead if you
know the correct keyboard sequence,
it is much more difficult to "mouseahead". While you can execute a command with the mouse and have it
poised at the next screen location,
you really can't set up a string of
commands (unless you write macros,
etc). This adds up to a fair amount of
wasted time, sitting and staring at the
hour-glass on the screen.
Next month, we 'll talk about installing and customising Windows. SC
Remote Controller for Garage
Doors. The feedback from this
project has been enormous.
You · have to send in your
application of how else this kit
can be used. Plus a couple of photos
if you actually put the application
into practice.
In conjunction with Oatley
Electronics this is your
opportunity to share your
application and possibly pick up a
prize as well. Even if you have not
built the Garage Remote you can
still send in an entry.
Entries close on the 30th of August
1991, arid will be judged by the
technical staff at Silicon Chip.
What you could win?
1st Prize. 7mW HE-NE Laser
and Inverter. All you need to power
this unit is 12-14VDC. This is a red
Laser and is valued at:
$580.00
2nd Prize. Infra Red Night
Viewer.See in the dark with this
great night viewer. In this kit you will
get a NEW 6032 Image converter tube,
Case and the components kit. This
prize is valued at:
$339.00
3rd Prize. lmW Laser head with
a commercial inverter. All you
need is a 12V supply. This prize is
valued at:
$309.00
Plus 10 Ultrasonic movement
alarm kits valued at $50.00 ea.
SEND ENTRIES TO:
GARAGE DOOR
COMPETITION
P.O. BOX 139
COLLAROY BEACH NSW 2097
JULY 1991
89
