| Back to Quidnunc | Newsletter Archive |
Because you have made Quid'·nunc the success it's
been, we are expanding the size and range of our business. Starting September 1, we'll have roughly 50% more retail space than we do now as we move into the storefront next to us (currently the Christian Science Reading Room; they, too, are moving one door west).
If you own a computer, this is great news. Heck, it's even great news if you don't own a computer, because as part of our expansion, we're merging with Bill Konertz's The Friendly Computer. That means that you'll be able to buy a made-to-order PC right here on SW Oregon Street. No more modems you don't want, wimpy 3D cards, strange sound cards … everything will be built according to your wants and needs.
Sound good? It gets better. With all the space, our service department will expand. That means more help more quickly - all at our still great low price.
And, with the service department in a new space, 100% of what you now know as Quid'·nunc will be devoted to software and peripherals. And you won't have to look at half-open computers any more.
There'll be a pass through between locations and registers in both places, making it easy for you to pay for what you want in either department. There'll be two separate entrances, too.
News this big means that there's going to be a grand opening celebration. We're still working Out the details (they're buried beneath the blueprints), but you know that it's going to be fun and exciting. And you can be confident that if you stop by, you'll go home with a great deal.
Windows 98:
Is it Better?
Do You Need It?
by Rich Land, Quid'·nunc Service Manager
First, my gut opinion. I like Windows 98. A lot. This is subjective, mainly, but I think the facts, the bits and the bytes, the ones and the zeroes, will back me up.
Ch-ch-changes
Windows 98 did not change the things on Windows 95 that worked. This is always a good thing. The 32-bit functionality, the Desk Top User Interface, and the device-handling has remained essentially the same.
After installing 98, you should only see cosmetic changes to the desktop, primarily due to the integration of Internet Explorer 4.0 into the OS. If you've been using Internet Explorer 4.0, there will be very few changes. If you haven't been using it, you can still turn all of the desktop enhancements off, making it look like the Windows 95 desktop you already know and love.
I Know It's Only Microsoft, But I like It
Personally, I like the enhancements. After I finished installing Windows 98 to my own system (I have been using it in beta for a long time), I realized that all of the devices in my system had been handled without any help from me. Very cool. Very, very cool. I love it when something is actually improved without fixing the things that aren't broken. When I did make some setting changes, it was as easy to do in Windows 98 as it was in Windows 95.
Working In A LAN Mine
Now for the changes. The things that needed fixing have been fixed. USB, LAN and WAN networking, multimedia, and peripheral capabilities were either added or upgraded. Local Area Networking and Wide Area Networking (LAN and WAN) support has been increased. I won't get too technical here; suffice to say that what network administrators and small business owners have been asking for has been added. Multimedia support has also been enhanced. This was done primarily by better handling of add-on cards and other devices, but also through improved handling of MMX technology. Universal Serial Bus (USB) support is no longer a patch. It's now an integral part of the OS. I'll talk more about USB another time; for now just know that your cameras, keyboards, CE devices, mice, scanners, and any other serial devices will be very easy to add.
If You Want To Be My OS
Do you need it? It depends. If you've got Windows 95 and are happy with it, you could stay with it. Three kinds of users will benefit immediately from it: First, if you do any serious networking at all, pick it up now. Second, if multimedia is a big part of your computer use, you'll be very happy with upgrading. And third, if you have a large hard drive and need FAT32, Windows 98 is a must-buy. It will save hard drive space and even converts on the fly.
Actually, there's always a fourth kind of buyer. If you want the latest and greatest, Windows 98 is it.
Index
Bill's Byte
Bill's Picks
PC/MACINTOSH BEST BUY: Cosmopolitan Virtual Makeover
What's New?
What's Coming
Quid'·nunc Tiplet
From VGA to PG-13
Know Macs?, Need Bucks?
Quid'·nunc Best Sellers (June/July '98)
56K Is Now The Standard
ISP Info Line
Calendar & Schedule
Classes
Coupon Specials
Bill's Byte
Bill's Picks
PC/MACINTOSH BEST BUY: Cosmopolitan Virtual Makeover
Okay, I admit it. I think of my computer as a toy. Even when I worked as an accountant, I would sometimes do work with the computer when pen and paper would be easier.
I'll bet you know the feeling.
That's probably why I like the new software Cosmopolitan Virtual Makeover. My wife and I started playing it when she was considering changing her look because it lets you see what new hairstyles and different kinds of makeup will look like.
It's relatively simple; all you need to do is get a photograph of you into the program, then start experimenting. You can plug your digital camera directly into your computer, which will then zip the image right into the program. Or you can just import a scanned file and work with that.
Of course, that means you can get silly. I did. I'm particularly fond of the spiked hair. It's that Lyle Lovett look so popular with all the software retailers.
If you like playing with images, there's lots of software you should consider adding to your collection. There's Kai's Goo and Kai's Super Goo, which lets you manipulate images like shaping clay. Digital Morph lets you convert from one image to another - and capture the ones in between. (What's half-dog and half-human? Uncle Earl after you've run him through Digital Morph.) And then there's Art Dabbler, which lets you take an image and give it the look of another medium. Take that photo of your Uncle Earl and make a chalk drawing of him - with real texture, not just an a line drawing.
With the right software and a few fun accessories like a scanner or a digital camera (both of which are inexpensive purchases), you, too, can turn your big investment into a toy. I heartily recommend it.
What's New?
For kids, Pajama Sam 2, another great game from our friends at Humongous. Also out: Reader Rabbit 1st Grade and Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade. There's just no better way to help your youngsters learn to read. There's also a whole lineup of software from Fisher Price, a company already highly respected for its playthings for the young. Finally, if you want to provide your children some protection from the wrong Internet sites, try Edmark's Kiddesk Internet Safe. All are available for both Windows and Macintosh.
What's Coming
Getting excited? The folks here at the store sure are. And who wouldn't? Because in the next few weeks, you can walk right into Quid'·nunc and take home any (or, dare we hope, all) of the following: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six... Command & Conquer... Tiberion Sun... Baldur's Gate...Sin... Grim Fandango... and Brood Wars, the Starcraft expansion.
Now you're excited.
Do you travel? Bring your laptop and a modem, plug in to your ISP (you do carry ours, right?) and then look up http://MailStart.Com/welcome.html. You can check any E-mail account you own (well, not America Online's; sorry) and catch those important messages.
Hey, gamers: Hollywood knows what you like, and it's only a matter of time before you see it on the big screen.
A recent check of films in development reveals at least five based on computer games, as well as one based on an America Online romance. Several films have already been made based on video games (Mortal Kombat and Super Mario Bros. come to mind - the latter of which my ad guy tells me is one of his favorites of all time), but game sales exceeding millions of units have created awareness in Hollywood.
Based on a Hollywood rumor Web site, among the films allegedly in development are Tomb Raider at Paramount (with Eidos CEO Charles Cornwall supposedly serving as executive producer); Wing Commander at 20th Century Fox, with Freddie Prinze Jr. as 'Maverick' Blair and Malcolm McDowell as Admiral Tolwyn; Doom at Sony/Tristar Pictures, which may be based on the novels by DaFydd ab Hugh and Brad Linaweaver, and is scheduled for a July 1999 release; and Zork, which seems to have totally perplexed Hollywood filmmakers, as we could get no information beyond their interest.
The America Online romance movie stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan; its working title is You Have Mail. They play coworkers who despise each other at work, but exchange romantic E-mail at night.
Sadly, John Hendow has left Quid'·nunc (except for the occasional Sunday). But so many of our customers are Mac owners that we want to be sure to have someone on staff who understands them. If you know the Mac OS pretty well, know the hardware, and have a winning personality, you could be our next Quid'·nunc Mac maven. If you can make attractive signs, even better. You do have to tolerate the DOS and Windows types, of course. Salary DOE. Fax resume to (206) 932-8183, E-mail to quidnunc@quidnunc.net, or call (206) 932-8795.
Quid'·nunc Best-Sellers
June/July '98
Indicates second month as best seller
|
|
Remember when we told you that you should wait to buy your 56K modem?
Now you can go ahead and buy one.
That's because the V.90 standard has been agreed on... in principle, anyway. The draft standard was agreed to in February; it should be finalized by September.
If you own a 56K modem now, whether X2 or Flex, you'll need to upgrade to the V.90. Most modems will require a simple software upgrade, but some, most notably some USRobotics devices, will require a hardware solution. The biggest problem with the hardware upgrades is time; one Quid'·nunc customer actually bought a 33.6K modem to tide her over for the eight-week wait for her 56K modem to come back from the manufacturer.
At least the upgrades are free. So far.
Another thing to keep in mind with the V.90 modems is your ISP. Not all have upgraded to V.90 yet. (Quid'·nunc will shortly, probably even by the time you read this newsletter.)
If you're using Quid'·nunc as your ISP (and shouldn't you be?), we have implemented a 24-hour information line to help you know whether any problem you are experiencing is a known problem with the Internet. Any time you are not able to use the system as you expect, please call (206) 935-4783. Only one caveat: It's an information line, not a message line. If you've got a problem, you'll have to call (206) 932-8795 and we'll get back to you during business hours.
|
Calendar of Events September 1…...Computer Sales & Service Center Opens We increase our size, adding the capability to build computers to order and repair them as expertly as ever!
October 12-18…...School Pride Week
October 31…...Trick Or Treat At The Junction
November 1-8…...Computer Sales & Service Center Grand Opening Event & Fourth Anniversary Party
Class Schedule
Windows 95
Introductions to Computers
|  |
| What Now? The Official Quid'·nunc Newsletter Published by Quid'·nunc......Your Neighborhood Software Store
4306 SW Oregon Street - Seattle, WA USA 98116 Tel: 932-8795. Fax: 932-8183 quidnunc@quidnunc.net
24 hour Quid'·nunc Internet Status Line: 935-4783
Hours |