hochhe@au-bon-pain.lcs.mit.edu (Harry Hochheiser) (06/13/91)
I'm not sure if this is the right group (please let me know if not), but my questions do regard random pc topics. Some of them may fall under the category of frequently asked: my apologies if I'm beating any dead horses. I'm just recently venturing into the world of pc's, so please be patient. Having disclaimed myself, a few questions: 1) I have inherited a '286 with 3MB of EXTENDED memory. I've read somewhere that emulation software can get this to look and feel like expanded memory. Is this a viable option (i.e., will it be interminably slow?)? What's a good piece of software to use to do this? is anything available from ftp? 2)I also need to purchase a replacement 5.25in. floppy. Are replacement drives standardized to the point of being plug and go, or do i have to worry about compatibility issues? are there any brands that are particularly worth buying/avoiding? 3) I need to purchase an up-to-date C compiler. What's preferable: Microsoft or Borland? Also, I need an assembler: what's my best option? 4) Another software reccommenation: I'm looking for software to catalog journal articles. Is there anything that might be particularly useful for this? any help with these questions would be most appreciated. please respond by email, and I'll summarize if there is a desire. If i'm in the wrong group, my apologies, and please let me know where these questions belong. Thanks in advance, Harry Hochheiser hochhe@abp.lcs.mit.edu
phil@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Phil Howard KA9WGN) (06/13/91)
hochhe@au-bon-pain.lcs.mit.edu (Harry Hochheiser) writes: >3) I need to purchase an up-to-date C compiler. What's preferable: >Microsoft or Borland? Also, I need an assembler: what's my best >option? Get the assembler from the same place as the C compiler. When I bought the Turbo C 2.0 Professional Package a couple years ago, it included the Turbo assembler with it, along with an editor I never used. >4) Another software reccommenation: I'm looking for software to >catalog journal articles. Is there anything that might be >particularly useful for this? Just guessing that most database packages should be able to do the job. -- /***************************************************************************\ / Phil Howard -- KA9WGN -- phil@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu | Guns don't aim guns at \ \ Lietuva laisva -- Brivu Latviju -- Eesti vabaks | people; CRIMINALS do!! / \***************************************************************************/
rhyde@hubbell.ucr.edu (randy hyde) (06/13/91)
MSC 6.0 generates the best code of any PC compiler I've seen, by far. However, it is a very complex beast and has its share of bugs. It is also very *slow* (optimizing compilers always are). Borland C++ (don't even consider the other stuff) is C++ v2.0 which is really neat. It's also much faster than MSC. But the output code is terrible. OTOH, if you make a lot of library calls, MSC's libraries are written mostly in C vs. Borland's libraries which have a good number of the routines written in assembly. These tends to even out the performance, if you call library routines all over the place. WATCOM C 8.0 is supposed to be really good too, but I haven't had the chance to test it. As for the assembler, get MASM 6.0. It's great. Works fine with Borland products. It has a lot of new features that are really great. It's going to be a while before SLR or Borland catch up with MASM 6.0.
archie@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Archie) (06/25/91)
Hello netters! I have a number of misc. questions on which I would like advice. Please respond my emial and I will summarize. 1) I am about to purchase a hard disk utilities program. I have narrowed my choices to either Norton Utilities and PC Tools. I am considering Norton because I have heard that the program is very good and comprehensive. My question is how does PC Tools compare in this area. I like PC Tools because of the extras(i.e., backup, dos shell, etc.) that are included. Which would y'all suggest? 2) There has been a lot of talk about the virtues and vices of leaving your computer on all the time. I do not want to start it up agian, but I do have one question: what is the cost difference between leaving the computer on all the time vs. turing it on only when in use? 3) I will be getting a fax modem board soon. I am wondering if, when I get a communications program, should I get a window-specific one to run in the background or will something like Procomm suffice? 4) I am also in the market for a dot-matrix printer. My leading choice at this time is the Citizen GX-140. If someone out there uses it, does it allow you to do envelopes and labels easily? Are there any others that people would suggest ( Note: I haven't entirely ruled out a laser or an ink-jet; however, I would like to get only one printer and I thought that a dot-matrix would be most practical)? 5) while I am on the subject of printing, I own WordPerfect and I got an offer to buy Publisher's PowerPak )I think that this is the correct name). Has anyone used this product. How does it compare to products such as ATM and SuperPrint? 6) On memory for windows ( or should this be post in the windows group, oh well), is there any dramatic difference in running windows on a 386/33 with 4 vs. 8 MB or RAM? Thanks in advance to all who relpy! Archie I NEVER voted for Bush; I just didn't vote enough times for Dukaikus (sic).