Do you do windows?” once was a question asked of the hired help; now it`s the question many computer users are asking each other. Increasingly, the answer is ”Yes.”
According to sales information compiled by Ingram-Micro in a survey of 12,000 retail outlets, Microsoft Windows version 3.0 is the bestselling software product in the country today.
Windows is a program whose goal is to make working on an IBM or IBM-compatible personal computer easier and more productive. It does this by providing a Graphical User Interface, also know as a GUI. Believe it or not, GUI is pronounced ”Gooey,” and for that alone wins our award for Computer Nerd Acronym of the Year.
Saying that a software program has a GUI is simply a fancy way of saying that it uses pictures (called ”icons”) to represent commands and programs. To issue a command, you simply use your mouse to choose an option from a pull- down menu. To run a program you click your mouse when its pointer is on top of the icon you want.
The bright, friendly and colorful screens of Windows are in sharp contrast to the standard interface in the IBM microcomputer world: a stark, black-and-white display that shows merely a cryptic ”C”.
Generally, to run a program in the unfriendly standard, text-based environment, you have to type in commands that you`ve committed to memory. For novices, this can be an almost unbearably frustrating experience.
Thankfully, the GUI of Windows has made computing less intimidating for new users. And it`s about time. Though Windows has been on the market for more than five years, only its most recent version, release 3.0, has proven to be workable. That chuckling you hear over in the corner is coming from all the Macintosh users who have had a slick GUI for years. Still, better late than never.
One of the niftiest features of Windows is being able to jump from one application to another. For example, on part of the screen you can have a window open to your word processor, while in another part of the screen is a window open to your spreadsheet.
Windows also allows Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), which establishes a link between data in different programs. Suppose you have a memo that refers to some numbers in a spreadsheet. With DDE, as you change numbers in a spreadsheet, the numbers in the memo will change automatically as well.
In addition, the Windows Clipboard allows you to cut and paste data from one application to another. For instance, you can cut a picture from a graphics program and then paste it into a document.
Windows also lets multiple applications run at the same time (this is called ”multitasking”). So as your modem is downloading a file, you can be playing a game of solitaire or writing a letter. Or as your spreadsheet is recalculating, you can be formatting a new disk.
For all its benefits, Windows 3.0 does have its share of disadvantages. For one thing, it requires a significant investment in hardware. Though Microsoft says that Windows requires a 286 machine with 640K of main memory, you`d be foolish to run the program without a 386 machine with 4 megabytes of RAM; otherwise, the program`s performance level is terrible.
In addition, if you do try to run several programs at once, be prepared for your computer to lock up with depressing frequency; when it does, Windows offers the daunting message ”Unrecoverable Application Error.” These system crashes occur because multitasking is still relatively new on microcomptuers, and not all the bugs have been worked out yet.
Furthermore, Windows can be slow. It takes 15 to 30 seconds to load on most machines, which can seem like an eternity if you`re used to getting to work right away. Likewise, power users who are already familiar with DOS commands find that having to click on icons slows them down.
Fortunately, Microsoft is working on speeding up Windows and in fixing some of its bugs. A release 3.1 is expected in six months or so.
As the Windows bandwagon rolls on, it would be a wise move to hop aboard. Even though it is not perfect, Windows has quickly established itself as the standard interface of the microcomputer world. More than 1,000 companies are developing Windows applications. And if you want to run the best and latest releases of programs like WordPerfect or Excel, you`ll have to buy Windows.
Finding it is as close as your nearest discount software store. Though the program lists for $150, you should be able to buy it for $85 or so. Your local software store will also have a selection of other Windows-based products.
Here`s a roundup of some of the more notable recent releases of software that ”does Windows.” The prices listed are suggested retail; as with Windows itself, you should find significant discounts.
Integrated packages
Microsoft Works for Windows ($99) is a 5-in-1 program offering a word processor, a spreadsheet, a charting tool, a database and drawing
capabilities. It is particularly well suited to beginners and owners of small businesses. The more than reasonable price gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
PFS: WindowWorks (Spinnaker; $79) is a worthy alternative to Microsoft Works, offering virtually the same features at $20 less. It even tosses in for free a Publisher`s PowerPack font generator that retails for $79.95.
The Writer`s Toolkit for Windows (SCC; $129; 312-329-0700) puts seven writer`s tools into one package. The reference works include Houghton Mifflin`s CorrecText Grammar, Style, Punctuation and Spelling Checker; the American Heritage Dictionary; Roget`s II Thesaurus; the Concise Columbia Dictionary of Quotations; an abbreviation program; a grammar rulebook; and the Dictionary of Common Knowledge, a guide to cultural literacy.
Word processors
Ami Pro for Windows, release 2.0 (Lotus; $495) is simply the best word processor for the Windows environment. It offers a variety of readily customized features such as SmartIcons, which give you access to frequently used commands with a single mouse-click. And, as you might expect, it integrates seamlessly with other Lotus products for Windows, such as Lotus 1-2-3.
WordPerfect for Windows ($495) is not as stunning as Ami Pro, but it does have a major advantage: If you`re one of the millions of WordPerfect users, you`ll be able to upgrade to this version easily without having to learn a host of new commands.
Spreadsheets
Excel for Windows (Microsoft; $495) remains the best spreadsheet on the market today because of its numerous innovations. Its Toolbar, which gives you quick access to the most frequently used commands, has been much imitated. And its ability to link data from multiple worksheets is the best in the business. Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows (Lotus; $595) offers a stunningly different work environment than users of previous version of 1-2-3 are used to. But learning the new interface is easy because Lotus cleverly allows users two ways to enter commands: the ”SmartIcon” way, by using a mouse; and the
”1-2-3 Classic” way, by pressing the ”/” key to bring up Lotus`
familiar menus.
Data base
WindowBase (SPI; $395) is one of the few data base programs currently available that take advantage of Windows. For such a complex package, it`s surprisingly easy to learn. It also offers compatibility with dBASE and Paradox files.
Money management
Quicken for Windows (Intuit; $69.95; 800-624-8742) is the new Windows version of a program that has proven to be exceptionally popular in other formats. This program has everything you`re looking for in a personal money manager, from paying bills to tracking investments to handling taxes. This is one of the few programs that would be a bargain even at three times its retail price.
Microsoft Money ($69.95) is a personal finance package that works equally well for individuals or small businesses. The program handles everything from check writing to loans to budgeting. It also prints out a variety of reports and is relatively easy to get started with. It`s a decent alternative to Quicken-which is saying a lot.
Utility programs
The Norton Desktop for Windows (Symantec; $149; 800-441-7234) is a Windows enhancement product that ironically costs as much as Windows itself. It offers improved file management capabilities, and a much better way of backing up files. Unfortunately, it is painfully slow to load.
Intermission (ICOM; $49.95; 800-877-ICOM) is an entertaining package that offers more than 50 delightfully animated screen savers. The package also includes Curtain Call, which allows you to change your Windows wallpaper with ease.
Magic Cursor! (Fanfare; $49.95; 818-886-8787) solves one of the major complaints that users have about Windows: the cursor isn`t big enough. This easy to use program allows you to customize the arrow cursor in more than 40 different ways.
Just for fun
The Entertainment Pack for Windows (Microsoft; $39) is a diverting collection of games, including several colorful versions of Solitaire, multidimensional Tic-Tack-Toe, Tetris, and-best of all-Minesweeper, an insidiously addictive logic game.
The Far Side Computer Calendar (Amaze; $69.95; Macintosh version also available; 800-367-4802) is a wacky personal appointment calendar that brings to life 366 of Gary Larson`s best cartoons. The best touch is that the calendar has a life of its own: without warning and when you least expect it, the calendar comes alive with strange animated scenes featuring philosophical penguins and other strange beasts.
ChessNet for Windows (Masque; $49.95; 303-290-9853) allows you to play chess over a network or modem or against a computer opponent. While the computer is thinking of its moves, you can switch back to your spreadsheet.
Books
”Windows 3: The Complete Reference” by Tom Sheldon (Osborne McGraw-Hill; $29.95) is an indispensable reference work to get near your computer. Its clear explanations are backed by relevant and useful examples and tips.
”Windows 3 Secrets” by Brian Livingston (IDG; $39.95) is a useful book for advanced users and details many undocumented features of Windows. It also comes with two diskettes that contain 36 helpful shareware programs.
