NT 5.0 Meets Win 98
***

If you're waiting for Windows NT 5.0, better pull up a chair. It's due sometime in 1998, but Microsoft isn't saying when. Meanwhile, I looked at the very first beta of Windows NT Workstation 5.0 (see the next issue's Previews & Reviews section for my preview of NT Server 5.0). The beta exhibited the "bugginess" I'd expect, but it also showed how well this future NT operating system will address version 4.0 concerns, ranging from power management to upgrading Windows 95 and 98 clients to making NT more suitable for portable computing. Aside from updated support for hardware and basic service enhancements, NT Workstation 5.0 provides improved desktop security and a more manageable platform for applications than Windows 95 or even the forthcoming Windows 98.

I installed NT Workstation 5.0 on a Windows 95 Pentium desktop with 32MB of RAM, and also on a laptop with 24MB of RAM and no existing operating system. I did not have any big problems, although the installation program had trouble finding a driver that was compatible with my PC's monitor.

NT Workstation 5.0 will offer you a choice of interfaces. Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 is the default, but if you prefer the NT 4.0 interface or a Windows 95-style interface, you can easily switch. Microsoft also includes a handy hardware installation wizard and a device manager interface similar to Win 95's.

Like Windows 98, NT Workstation 5.0 supports new devices and hardware standards, including the Universal Serial Bus (USB), fiber channel devices, MMX, and DVD players.

Windows NT 5.0 also adds Plug and Play support, plus Win 95-style power management, and the new Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI). With compliant hardware, ACPI lets NT power down selected components. ACPI also enables NT Workstation 5.0 to wake up your PC on a scheduled basis to perform unattended maintenance, such as backing up end-user data.

One promised power management feature that intrigues me is the Hibernation Mode, which supposedly reduces the time required to boot a portable computer. Hibernation Mode stores a "snapshot" of what you were doing on your PC just before shutdown. You can turn on your PC later and return to exactly the same place where you'd left off. Unlike ACPI, Hibernation Mode is not device-specific. Unfortunately, Hibernation didn't work in the beta version I tested, so I'll have to reserve judgment.

As far as base operating system enhancements go, NT Workstation 5.0 has DirectX 5.0 built in, so developers can integrate more multimedia hardware and software into business applications. It's not just for gamers anymore. The inclusion of the Win32 Driver Model promises to deliver a common hardware driver mechanism for both NT and 9x machines.

Making the move up to WorkStation is easier with 5.0. Unlike the previous version, NT.WorkStation 5.0 let me upgrade directly from a Windows 95 installation, and I ran Win 95 applications on the NT 5.0 beta with no hiccups.

Administrators will like the automatic application setup and management features. For example, you might specify a certain group of applications for a group of users. If an application is not installed when the user logs on, it will be automatically installed the first time the user tries to access it. NT 5.0 also collects all administrator tools under a new interface called Microsoft Management Console (MMC). MMC is a shell with a navigational window on the left and a detail pane on the right. Administrators can add tools as MMC "snap-ins."

Version 5.0 also enhances NT's security features. Users can now encrypt specific files and dictate levels of access to files, which is convenient if one or more users share a machine. This new version offers support for Smart Card readers as well as for the Kerberos 5 security protocol, which provides a single log-in method for all NT resources.

Finally, this beta version of NT Workstation 5.0 includes desktop support for something called Active Directory, Microsoft's directory services feature. Somewhat similar to Novell's NDS, which has been available for three years, the promised Active Directory support in NT Workstation should make it easier to locate file and print resources on the network. Users can select resources by using Start*Find or via the Network Neighborhood icon.

Although I worked with an early beta of NT 5.0, this version of the operating system looks promising. It should be a good upgrade path for those using Windows 95 now, as well as for those migrating from a 16-bit OS. Microsoft Corporation, 800/426-9400, www.microsoft.com.

-Maggie Biggs

Norton AntiVirus 4.0's Flu Shot for PCs
***

In the last year, I've been mugged twice: once in Golden Gate Park and once on the Internet. The first mugging hurt a whole lot because they broke my arm. However, the second mugging hurt a great deal worse because the assailant gave my computer a lethal virus. The broken arm will heal; the computer virus, on the other hand, still runs rabid through my system because it's been transferred to many of my floppies and backup tapes.

The virus I'd acquired was a stealth virus, which until recently could slip by the best of the antivirus programs. I didn't notice the infection until my second hard disk died of mysterious causes. But what timing! A week after the virus hit, I was assigned to review Norton's AntiVirus 4.0.

Included in the package is an Emergency Boot Disk, an armor-plated bug killer that conjures up memories of an Orkin RoboCop. Lickety-split, it discovered a nasty stealth_boot.b virus on my hard disk. Zippity-zap, and the bug was gone. But that was only the start of the battle.

At that point, I was able to access DOS, which let me install the Norton AntiVirus program from the CD-ROM-something I couldn't do earlier because of the infection. Unlike other virus protection programs I've used (McAfee and Dr. Solomon), Norton AntiVirus can't be installed until the virus is zapped. This has repercussions. While the Emergency Disk let me access the hard disk, the boot files were in shambles. This is something Norton AntiVirus couldn't fix, since I hadn't installed the program before the infection. I backed up what files I could onto floppies, reinstalled Windows 95 from a CD-ROM, and recovered some more files, but not all. In any case, I was finally able to install Norton AntiVirus.

Norton AntiVirus comes on a CD-ROM that contains all versions of the program, including DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, and Windows NT. All you have to do is push the right buttons, and off you go. The ease of installation depends on which version you choose. I used the Windows 95 version, which I found aggravating because it kept asking me stupid questions: Do I want to do this, do I want to do that, do I want to ... leave me alone! This is only an antivirus program, not a congressional hearing. Whatever happened to plug and play?

Finally, I set up a virus-free hard disk with Norton AntiVirus 4.0 at the vanguard. Next, I purposely infected a small COM file with my deadly stealth virus, and tried to load it into DOS. Not only was I unable to get the virus beyond Norton's defenses, it wouldn't even let me access a floppy with a file that matched some fingerprint of the virus. In fact, it wouldn't let me download the file until I went through the equivalent of customs, sans passport. Norton's TSR (terminate and stay resident) scanner checks all files that open on your PC from all possible entry points, including floppies, the Internet, online services, bulletin boards, and email attachments.

Norton AntiVirus has strengths and weaknesses. I don't like how it prevents you from installing the program until your system is virus free; that's a bummer, because running off a floppy under DOS isn't fun. Worse, a lot of users don't even know what DOS is. It also warns you with a red screen each and every time it suspects a problem, whether it's a true virus or just an uninoculated file, causing needless angst. While security is an important concern, I can't say Norton AntiVirus is any better or worse than the rest. They're all shooting at moving targets. What I can say, though, is that $50 ($30 if you're upgrading from another virus-protection program such as McAfee or Dr. Solomon) is a clinic-price, jab-in-the-butt inoculation against the who-knows-what-it-is computer flu. For the unknown viruses of the future, you can download new virus definitions from Symantec's Web site for free. Moreover, program upgrades are free for two years if you buy the $70 Deluxe version. Compare that to $200 for the rivals. You can also try out Norton AntiVirus by downloading a trial version from Symantec's Web site (www.symantec.com/trialware/index.html). Street price: $50. Symantec Corporation, 800/441-7234, www.symantec.com.

-TJ Byers

Cheap, Fast Modem That Talks
****

Web pages that take forever to download and malfunctioning answering machines can make small businesses and home users envious of the expensive telecom systems used by large companies. A handy solution is the Diamond SupraExpress 56e Sp modem with SpeakerPhone, which offers a K56flex data/fax/voice modem, speakers and a microphone, and easy-to-use, full-featured software for faxing, dialing, voice mail, and telephony. I tested the $150 Mac version of the modem, which is external only; an internal-only version for PCs costs $140.

The SupraExpress 56e Sp modem uses Rockwell K56flex technology to receive data at 56Kbps and transmit at 33.6Kbps or less (at least when you're communicating with another K56flex modem). Most of the big online services and ISPs, including AOL, Microsoft Network, Prodigy, CompuServe, and Earthlink, offer K56flex accounts. If you don't have one of these accounts, the SupraExpress 56e can communicate with other modems at 33.6Kbps.

Installation is straightforward. Plug the modem into your Mac's serial port and plug in the speakers and microphone that come with it, or connect the modem to your own speakers or multimedia monitor. The package includes all necessary cables. I installed the software on a Macintosh with a one-step installer from a CD-ROM in about five minutes.

From the outside, the modem appears to be no-frills: there's no on-off switch, and the blinking lights are limited to four: On, RD (receive data), SD (send data), and OH (off-hook, indicating the modem has taken control of the phone line). But inside, the modem is feature-filled. It includes a Flash ROM for updating the internal software and Diamond's own firmware, so you can upgrade the modem to the official 56Kbps specifications and install patches and enhancements. It also has support for full-duplex voice communications, which means you and the person at the other end of the line can talk at the same time without cutting each other off.

The Mac version of the modem comes with SupraExpress Voice Mail and FAXcilitate. The software is easy to use. With SupraExpress Voice Mail you get an on-screen telephone keypad for manual dialing, or you can dial from a list. You can use your computer as a speakerphone that supports caller ID, or Voice Mail can act as an answering machine. You can also create multiple voice mailboxes, where callers can, for example, press 1 for accounting and 2 for sales, so they can leave messages for different people. FAXcilitate has the usual phone book for fax numbers, call logs, and cover pages. The Windows version comes with the FAXTalk Messenger fax and voice application, which combines many of the same features listed above.

There are no printed manuals for the software, which might bug some people; they're all in electronic form on the CD-ROM. There is a paper manual for the modem.

Supra modems have always been dependable, fast, compact, and easy to operate. The SupraExpress 56e Sp with SpeakerPhone carries on this tradition, and it's a good value for the dollar as well. List price: $150. Diamond Multimedia, 800/727-8772, www.diamondmm.com.

-John Rizzo

Stand Up to Windows 95 and NT 4.0
****

We all know Windows is annoying. Most of us meekly suffer its slings and arrows, but a bold few are willing to take up arms against its sea of troubles. If you're annoyed enough to throw some time and energy into bending Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 to your will, get "Windows Annoyances" by David A. Karp.

In painstakingly clear prose, Karp guides you through streamlining the Windows interface, fine-tuning your system, preventing disaster, and just plain getting things to work. You start with simple stuff like Explorer tips, customizing the Taskbar, and making good use of shortcuts. Once you're warmed up, a lesson in Registry editing prepares you for thornier tweaks, such as preventing programs from overwriting your file type settings, disabling Windows 95's CD-ROM auto-run feature, and removing the Network Neighborhood, Recycle Bin, and other clutter from the desktop.

Of course, there are all sorts of frivolous ways to customize Windows. If you want to replace Windows' boring icons or rename the Start menu, Karp shows you how. But the emphasis is on useful changes: replacing bitmap file icons with preview images, customizing context menus, booting into DOS with special game drivers, creating a dual-boot menu for Windows NT and another operating system. If you're really annoyed, you might dump Windows 95's Explorer and Start menu for a shell called Route 1 Pro, which offers better security and support for multiple users.

And while customizing Windows can be absurdly difficult, Karp makes it as simple as possible. Often there's no alternative to donning your surgical gloves and poking around in the Registry, the mysterious database where all of Windows' hardware and software settings are stored. But when there are several ways to accomplish the task, or there's a free utility like TweakUI that lets you do the job without typing cryptic values into Registry keys, Karp tells you. The book's companion Web site (www.annoyances.org/win95) points you to such utilities, as well as to Route 1 Pro and other software Karp recommends.

Customizing is fun and often useful, but what makes "Annoyances" a must-read for ordinary Windows users is its troubleshooting and maintenance tips. With amazing thoroughness, Karp covers everything from outdated drivers to missing .DLL files to IRQ and DMA conflicts. He tells you what common error messages mean, fingers common culprits (such as WINSOCK

.DLL and CTL3D.DLL), and tells you how to edit .SYS and .INI files to solve all sorts of problems. If you've been wondering what CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT are good for, you'll find the answers here. (Hint: you can probably delete them.)

Likewise, nearly every user can benefit from Karp's DOS and keyboard shortcuts and his helpful chapter on networking, where he walks you through setting up a LAN and configuring Dial-up Networking for an Internet connection. Some of the workaday tips may surprise even old Windows hands. For example, did you know that by pressing the Shift key while right-clicking on a file, you can choose which program to open the file with?

"Windows Annoyances" isn't perfect. In a few places, more detail would be helpful. For example, the networking chapter should include full descriptions of Windows' networking components, so we'd know which drivers to install and why. But my biggest gripe is that closely related topics (such as understanding file types, preserving associations between file types and applications, and customizing context menus) are too often handled in separate parts of the book. A good index and thorough cross-referencing help you track down all the information you need, but the material should have been better organized.

Nevertheless, you can get around this problem by reading the book from cover to cover, which I highly recommend. More than just a collection of customizing tips and tricks, "Windows Annoyances" can teach you much about how Windows works, how it breaks, and how to fix it when something goes wrong. Every copy of Windows should come with a manual like this. List price: $29.95. ISBN: 1-56592-266-2. O'Reilly & Associates, 800/998-9938, www.oreilly.com/catalog/annoyances/.

-Doug Dineley

Play Music on Your PC
***

You and your computer can make beautiful music together, thanks to Invision's CyberSound Studio 3.0, a keyboard and software combination that lets you play and record music, plus do some basic editing. It's a great product for beginners or part-time musical hackers, although it's underpowered for professional use.

The package includes a half-sized MIDI keyboard and a MIDI player/sequencer program that includes CyberSynth, a software wavetable synthesizer with 223 sounds. Software synthesizers use the computer's CPU power for playback, so even cheap FM sound cards will sound like their more expensive wavetable cousins. The package also includes 17 drum loops and musical grooves that you can load and play along with. It would be nice to have more, but you can always find more standard MIDI files online or from other sources.

The CyberSound Studio MIDI sequencer has a user-friendly design and plenty of features to make novice musicians sound better. The Input Constrain feature lets you play along with a song without ever playing a wrong note, and the Input Quantize feature makes the notes you play fit the rhythm. Editing features let you clean up, transpose, and filter music after you've recorded it, but do little else. I couldn't find a way to record over mistakes or append notes, and editing individual notes would require more MIDI literacy than most novice users have. Also, you can't save your recordings to an audio format (.WAV or .AIFF), although you can save them as MIDI files. (If you're not familiar with the difference, think of a MIDI file as a description of a picture and an audio file as the actual picture.)

CyberSound's 37-key keyboard has controls for changing various MIDI parameters and the range of notes being played, but it's not velocity sensitive-it doesn't send MIDI information about how hard you hit the keys-and the keys are too small for serious playing. It is, however, great for child-size fingers or inputting small amounts of music, and it has the wonderful advantage of fitting nicely in front of your computer, unlike a full electronic keyboard. There's also an on-screen keyboard that you can play with a mouse, although it's slow going.

The 223 sounds included in the package range from orchestral to hip-hop and are more than adequate for most people. A $40 add-on sound library gives you 279 more world instrument, piano, and pop sounds. All the sounds are top-notch, and even if you don't use the package for anything else, the sound quality of CyberSynth makes the program an excellent MIDI file player, comparable to Roland's Virtual Sound Canvas or Yamaha's MIDIPlug, but not quite as good as the shareware WinGroove.

CyberSound Studio is available for Pentium 133 and faster PCs, and Power Macintoshes. It requires at least 16MB of RAM, 70MB of hard disk space and a CD-ROM drive for installation. Retail price: $100. Invision Interactive, 800/468-5530, www.cybersound.com. H

-Jon L. Jacobi

Previews & Reviews RATINGS

Windows NT Workstation 5.0 ***
Norton AntiVirus 4.0 ***
SupraExpress 56e Sp Modem ****
Windows Annoyances ****
CyberSound Studio 3.0 ***

Five stars means excellent. One star means don't buy.

© 1998 Computer Currents Publishing. All rights reserved.