What to do amid the dizzying changes in the PC world

What to do amid the dizzying changes in the PC world

By Zatni Arbi

JAKARTA (JP): Life in the personal computer world is getting more dizzying every day. The rate of change is fantastic.

Just a year ago, for instance, we looked at the VESA Local Bus (VL-Bus) standard in awe. Today, it's nothing but dead technology. Not only that. The dust left by the spectacular launch of Windows 95 has not completely settled yet, and I am already reading unofficial reports on Windows 96!

All these changes, all the new technologies that the research and development centers, special interest groups (SIGs), as well as international standard groups and consortia bring forward every day makes it increasingly impossible for most of us to keep up.

Therefore, my advice to those who want to jump onto the PC bandwagon is that the most important consideration in buying new technology -- a Pentium or a new storage device or whatever -- should always be what we will do with it. We should justify our purchase with the manner in which these new technologies can increase our productivity.

Boost

This time we'll have a look at just two products that might help boost productivity. Both have just become available on the local market: OS/2 Warp Server and Kingston CD Anywhere. One is an upgraded operating system, the other is a kit that will enable system administrators to install new CD-ROM based software on their machines without the costly upgrade of adding an internal CD-ROM to each of these machines.

No doubt about it, OS/2 got lost in the midst of the uproar that the release of Windows 95 created last year. However, those who did not have so much faith in Microsoft, as well as those who did not have enough patience to wait for the final release of Windows 95, must have discovered the robustness of OS/2. This operating software, although not very aggressively marketed by Big Blue, still commands a small but significant number of followers, including banks and other financial institutions.

Also a descendant of IBM LAN Server, the new updates, OS/2 Warp Server Version 4.0 and OS/2 Warp Server Advanced Version 4.0, are targeted at enterprise users. Key features include simultaneous access to files, applications, printers and modems -- all from a single LAN server -- flexible and selectable installation process, compatibility with other network software, including Netware and Windows NT, and multitasking.

The first can support approximately 120 users for file and print sharing and 1,000 users for application serving. The latter adds fault tolerance (disk mirroring) for two disk drives and disk duplexing for two controllers.

DSS

Later this year, IBM will announce its Directory and Security Server (DSS), which administrators can add onto OS/2 Warp Server to gain a global directory service. This will facilitate management of complex networks and security services. What I still do not know at this point is whether the new OS/2s already provide support for Win32 applications. With the avalanche of Windows 95-compatible 32-bit applications, IBM may have no choice but to include it in its next upgrade of OS/2.

Kingston is not a new name in memory modules. That much we all know. But when I saw this external, Quad speed CD-ROM drive, I began to wonder. Wasn't it a big jump from memory modules to CD- ROM drive. But then I realized that Kingston also produces casings for external SCSI drives. With its Data Silos, for instance, you can add external SCSI hard disks to your systems. Kingston doesn't provide the hard disks, but it provides the housing for them, complete with the necessary power supply and SCSI connectors.

The same is true with CD-Anywhere. The casing is made by Kingston, but the CD-ROM drive is made by Mitsumi. It's not a SCSI peripheral, it connects to your PC or notebook through the parallel port.

In order to achieve the highest average transfer rate (600 KBps), your PC has to have a parallel port that support Enhanced Parallel Port mode. If your PC has only an Extended Capabilities Port (ECP) or Bi-directional Parallel Port (BPP, the highest average transfer rate will be 365 KBps.

If your PC has a standard parallel port, you're almost totally out of luck, as the performance of the CD-ROM drive will be the same as that of the already extinct single-speed one, i.e., 150 KBps. If you happen to have a standard parallel port, however, take heart. You can buy a new I/O card with EPP for Rp 35,000 at the most. This I/O card is available everywhere.

At the back of the unit there is the power switch, a pair of RCA connectors for audio connection, and two parallel ports. The drive plays audio CDs, too. The included parallel cable connects the CD-ROM drive to the PC, while the printer is connected to the other port on the unit. In order to enable pass-through printing, the drive should be turned on before the PC is booted up.

The single diskette ATA software driver installs easily into the hard disk. In addition to drivers for DOS and Windows 3.x, there are versions for OS/2 and Windows 95.

Suitable for office

As I have repeatedly mentioned in my previous articles, the majority of today's PCs and notebooks come with a built-in CD- ROM. This can be a waste, particularly when the machines are to be used in the office. Unlike home PCs, on which users spin CD- ROM based computer games and encyclopedias, the office PCs require CD-ROM drives only when new software or update versions are to be installed. This is the reason why I think an external CD-ROM drive with a simple parallel port connection an interesting proposition.

It's also a boon for those who are stuck with their present notebook that has no built-in CD-ROM drive and cannot justify the acquisition of a new notebook. The unit is light and small enough to be toted along with a notebook.

I have two complaints: First, Kingston still did not put the power adaptor inside the casing. Second, the power switch should be placed in the front panel rather than at the back.

Kingston is not the only vendor that makes such a CD-ROM drive. Back-Pack from MicroSolutions has been around for a long time. I discovered one thing that makes Kingston CD Anywhere a very good upgrade component for office environment: While it has no problem reading original CDs, it won't read pirated ones. So, if you have one in your office, you can rest assured that your employees will not start spending their time playing pirated computer games.