NWA-PCUG 02/99 NewsLetter Article 18861 N. Hwy 112, Springdale, AR 72762-9303 The Deals Column From the Deals Guy, by Bob Click Greater Orlando Computer User Group Note to the Editors: Asterisks denote a heading you may wish to treat in a special manner. If space prohibits printing the entire column, please denote this in your heading for the column. This month's column contains 1688 words including the Editor's notes. From the Deals Guy, Bob Click, Greater Orlando Computer User Group Last month's column was written in such a hurry that a couple of things that escaped proofing were corrected too late for some newsletter deadlines. Sorry if you found either of the mistakes. There also was a problem with the Ohio Distinctive offer. I had called for permission to reprint the item and was told they would be delighted. When people called to order they were told the price was $10.00 instead of the $5.00 in their letter and you needed the original letter, but I didn't see that in my letter. When I called back to check out the problem, I finally talked to the owner who said they would honor any orders at the $5.00 price if it was submitted via a letter with the name of your user group and the mention of my column. It seems they only take orders by mail or their web site. It will be only $5.00 + S&H using the mail method. Personally, I think they are losing lots of business using the mail method. It's been my experience with deals that a toll-free order number would increase business greatly. *As A Reminder The Media Graphics special offer is still good. Call George Rice or Chris Linney at Media Graphics - phone 1-800-679-6730 (US) or 1-800-598-2037 (US & Canada). The Casady & Greene items are also still good. Call Casady & Greene at 1-800-359-4920 or 1-831-484-9228 and mention this column. The JASC, O'reilly Publishing and Power Quest items are ongoing. *More on Corel Word Perfect Suite Magazine Brian Graham reads my column in a user group newsletter and here are his own words in response to the column: "I have more good news about the magazine (Word Perfect Suite) to report. But first, some clarifications. You said (in the column), 'I'm still not clear on how the electronic subscription will take shape.' "The WP Magazine subscription process is identical to most electronic purchases --- from the main menu, you are guided to a special, secure environment that keeps your transaction safe. On the purchase screen, you are prompted to enter your name and address to identify you in the WP Magazine subscriber database. "Next, you enter your credit card number, the expiration date, and a login name and password (with a reminder phrase) to be used when you access the publication. A one-year subscription (currently, the max) is $19.95, and far less expensive than the original paper subscription. That's as simple as it gets. "The founder/publisher, Allen Clark, posts a new column from time to time at the website. Check out his latest from the basic editorial soapbox located in cyberspace at: http://www.wpsuitenews.com/emag/members/articles/1998/nov98/nov_ed.htm." There you have it from Brian Graham. *Do You Know Your Way Around? I reviewed "Precision Mapping" a couple of years ago and presented it for the members at a club meeting one night. It received good comments and in fact, after looking over a couple of other mapping softwares at the next couple of meetings, we liked Precision Mapping best. In version 3.5, you simply click on where you are and where you want to go ... or ... type in an address, city, county, ZIP code, area code or even latitude/longitude coordinates. Decide the route you want, pick from the shortest, fastest, fewest turns, or set custom priorities. After all that, click "Calculate" and in a few seconds you'll know exactly how to get there. Text directions show where to turn, how far it is, average speed you'll travel in this segment, and expected arrival time. Click on a text direction and you automatically see a detailed map of the intersection. Thumbnail maps have text directions underneath. Use "pushpins" to highlight points of interest on your maps with 22 different symbols, each with four different colors. Create up to 209 categories. Hide or show different libraries at once on your maps. New GPS interface lets you customize the Precision Mapping to fit your needs with simple click-to-pick menus. Unique "Direction-Up" feature automatically rotates your map so your direction of travel is always toward the top of your screen. Works with almost all NMEA GPS receivers, although I'm told it won't work with the GPS receiver that is part of a Delorme package. There's more, but if this sounds like a winner to you, give Chicago Map a call at 1-800-257-9244 to buy this software for just $29.99 + $5.00 S&H in the Continental US. I talked to Chris. If you own a previous version, the upgrade is $19.99 + $5.00 S&H. These prices were originally their limited time offer and would have expired by now, but are extended for the column. Mention the Column so they know how you found out. I have not tried the Version 3.5. A bonus also on the CD is "3D CrunchMan" in 3D with digitized sound and awesome music. As an aside, version 4.0 is expected around May so you might ask about ordering and waiting for that, or if they would provide a free upgrade when it is introduced. Chris was not sure about what the situation would be at that time. *No More "My Document Filing Only" For Data Files. Perhaps new users aren't quite sure what I'm talking about. In Windows 3.x there was no provision for where your data files should go, except often being dumped in with the program files. Not enough user groups teach members about proper HD management, including good ways to store your data files. In other words, if you write a letter in your word processor, where does it go when you save it and close the file? Windows 95 improved on that a bit by making the "My Documents" folder the default place for all data files and it was up to the user to improve on that if desired. That's probably about as far as the explanation should go since many have their own favorite way to store data files. Ask ten different people and you may get ten different ways to do it. "File-Ex 98" helps power users with file management and retrieval by automatically adding functionality to the "Open" and "Save As" dialogs of Windows 95/98 applications. The "Auto-enlargement" feature allows more files to be displayed at once, minimizing the need to scroll the window. I wouldn't plan on the enlargement feature for anything else, especially not the size of ... your monitor's screen. "File-Ex 98" also adds "Favorite Files" lists as well as "Recent Files" and "Recent Folders" lists, directly to the file dialogs. Other additions include file management buttons (for those who forget the right-click functions), a file information line (to avoid switching to details view), and automatically changing to the last directory used. All in all, the main purpose of this software appears to greatly help with your data file management and retrieval. It sounds like a good item but I have not tried this program. "File-Ex 98" runs unobtrusively as a small icon in the taskbar tray, or can be hidden entirely. The regular price on this package is $29.95, but user group members can get a 20% discount ($7.50 off) + $2.00 S&H. The $2.00 S&H also applies to Canada, but is $4.00 in other countries. If you order it on the web, shipping is free in US. Web site is . Their phone is 1-913-663-3022 (24 hours a day). *Come On Now, You'll Do My Income Tax For FREE?? You heard right. 2nd Story Software, Inc., a computer software developer based in Marion, Iowa, announces its entry into the personal tax preparation software market by offering a FREE tax product -- "TaxACT '98." The tax software is a full-featured alternative to similar tax packages such as TurboTax by Intuit Inc. and TaxCut by Block Financial currently available to consumers. The free product is not limited in any way. Users can prepare, print and file paper or e-file returns with TaxACT '98. 2nd Story Software is taking advantage of the convenient distribution channel offered by the Internet to market and deliver its product. Consumers can visit the company's web site at or at one of many online retail sites to download TaxACT '98 directly to their home computers, and have everything they need to complete their 1998 taxes -- all at absolutely no charge. "TaxACT 98" is available for Windows 95/98, (no mention of Mac but you can check) offering over 80 forms, schedules and worksheets that consumers may need to complete their taxes. A feature called Federal QnA (questions and answers) guides users through the tax preparation process by using the interview-style approach to gather the necessary information. The program asks a series of questions necessary to complete the tax forms, then automatically calculates the return based on the user's answers. Users may skip the Federal QnA and enter data directly onto selected forms. Your return is automatically audited by the software and alerts you of missing data. When finished, users can print and mail their own IRS- approved forms and schedules, or file their returns electronically at a cost of $7.95 per return (five return maximum). There's more description, so check the web site. In addition to the free TaxACT product, 2nd Story Software offers two other versions of TaxACT: The TaxACT '98 Deluxe Version and the TaxACT '98 State Versions. TaxACT '98 Deluxe is $9.95 and contains the same features as the free TaxACT, plus: Life Events to help determine how major live events affects taxes, Tax Advisors, Accuracy Guarantee, Married Filing Joint vs. Separate Comparison, What-If Scenario, Tax Watch for 1999, and more! State versions are also available for 21 different states at $12.95 per download. If you're not on the web, contact Cammie Greif at 1-800-573-4287 or 1-319-373-3600 or e-mail to . That should be about it for this month. Join me here next month and we'll discuss "Deals." Bob (The Cheapskate) Click,