The Microcomputer Users Handbook 1984: The complete and up to date guide to buying a business computer

397 Pages·1983·99.788 MB·English

by  Dennis Longley, Michael Shain (auth.)

The MICROCOMPUTER
USERS HANDBOOK 1984
Genie II
BasedonthehighlysuccessfulGenieI,
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LO\VE
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A stepladder of computing solutions.
MASoperatesonthefundamentalprinciples
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Timeshrinker Microstretcher 1 Microstretcher 11
Your existing Micro
You wish to savea significant amount of time on Youwishtocomputerise.andhaveapplicationsother Youalreadyhaveamicro.Foronereasonoranother
bookeeping andrelatedrecordsandto benefitfrom thanaccounts. Theremaybeconfusionastowhich the accounting is not entirely satisfactory. Perhaps
improved records. Youarenotsurewhetheryouare machine? What size? (will itcope in 18 months) morecomprehensiverecordswouldbeuseful.orthe
big enough or. indeed. want to computerise. The Whichsoftware?Willitwork? Howmuchtimewillbe equipment canno longerreadilycope. ortoo much
MASTIMESHRINKERprovidesthesolution-thefirst involved? What happens if things go wrong? timeistakenonoperatingandprinting.perhapsitsjust
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No disruptionto existingprocedures. Unlimited Facilities
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QUALITY,SECURITY, FLEXIBILITY,ACCURACYSUPPORT.
Numerous locations throughout the U.K.
The
MICROCOMPUTER
USERS
HANDBOOK
1984
The complete and upto date guideto
buying abusiness computer
Dennis Longley
and Michael Shain
M
MACMILLAN PRESS
LONDON
© The Macmillan Press ltd, 1983
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or used in any form or by
any means-graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping of information
storage and retrieval systems or otherwise-without the prior permission of the Publishers.
First published 1983 by
THEMACMILLAN PRESS LTD
London and Basingstoke
Associated Companies throughout the world
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
The Microcomputer users handbook 1984
1.Microcomputers-Periodicals
001.64'04 QA76.5
ISBN978-0-333-34980-9 ISBN978-1-349-06737-4(eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-06737-4
IMPORTANT NOTE
Whilst every care has been taken in compiling the information contained in this Handbook, the Publishers
and Editors accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions.
CORRESPONDENCE
Letters on editorial matters should be addressed to:
Dennis Longley and Michael Shain
The Microcomputer Users Handbook
4 Little Essex Street
LONDON WC2R 3LF
Enquiries about despatch, invoicing or commercial matters should be addressed to:
Customer Services Department
The Macmillan Press ltd
Houndmills, Basingstoke
Hampshire RG21 2XS
For information about placing advertising in this publication, contact:
Magazine Co-Partnership
100 Fleet Street
LONDON EC4B 4AA
[phone]
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Limitednumber otfh~talershiPs
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CONTENTS
Thefollowingcontents listing hasbeenexpandedto include all 1.2.9 Contract Arrangements 13
sections andsub-sections aswell asthe chapters. Thishas been 1.2.9.1 Scope ofcontracts 13
done tohelp each reader toeasily findall relevant areas of interest 1.2.9.2 The equipmentschedule 13
intheHandbook. 1.2.9.3 Environment 13
1.2.9.4 Delivery 14
1.2.9.5 Periodofwarranty 14
1.2.9.6 Misuse 14
1.2.9.7 Fitness forpurpose 14
INTRODUCTION xv 1.2.9.8 Software documentation 14
1.2.9.9 Checklist ofcontractpoints 14
HOWTOUSETHISHANDBOOK xv 1.2.9.10 Confidence 15
1.2.9.11 What to do if a contractis not satisfactory 15
ABOUTTHECHAPTERS xv 1.2.10 Conclusion 15
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xix 1.3 MAINTENANCEANDAFTERSALES 16
SUPPORT
1.3.1 What You Need To Know 16
1.3.2 The Need for Support 16
1.3.3 Maintenance of Equipment 16
HOWTO BUY A MICROCOMPUTER 1.3.3.1 Contract arrangements 16
1.3.3.2 Hardware faults 16
1.1 ROLE OFTHEMICROCOMPUTER IN
1.3.4 Maintenance of Software 17
BUSINESS
1.3.4.1 Software support 17
1.1.1 Introduction:What You Need To Know
1.3.4.2 Softwarecontracts 17
1.1.2 The Importance of Microcomputers for
1.3.4.3 Software faults 18
Business Users
1.3.5 Dealing with Failures 18
1.1.3 Types and Uses of Microcomputers 2
1.3.6 Self-Help and Self·Protection 18
1.1.4 Accounting Systems 2
1.3.6.1 Builtinprotection 18
1.1.5 Financial Planning 2
1.3.6.2 Data errors 18
1.1.6 Information Retrieval 2
1.3.6.3 Operating error 18
1.1.7 Sales Aids 3
1.3.6.4 'Friendly'systems 19
1.1.8 InventoryManagement 3
1.3.6.5 Programmedcontrols 19
1.1.9 Production Management 3
1.3.6.6 'Help'routines 19
1.1.10 SingleTask and Calculation Systems 3
1.3.6.7 Recoveryfrom system failure 19
1.1.11 Keyless and OtherSpecial Systems 3
1.3.6.8 Care inuse 20
1.1.12 Portable Systems 5
1.3.6.9 Stand·byarrangements 21
1.1.13 MicrocomputerFacilities 5
1.3.7 Maintenance Questionsto be Asked ina 21
1.1.14 Application Software 5
System Appraisal
1.1.15 System Building and Utility Software 5
1.3.8 AfterSales Support 21
1.1.15.1 Financialmodelling 5
1.3.9 Conclusion 22
1.1.15.2 Data managementsystems 5
t.t.15.3 Graphics 5 1.4 PLANNINGFOR GROWTH 22
1.1.15.4 Wordprocessing 6 1.4.1 What You Need To Know 22
1.1.15.5 Electronic mailand otherdata 6 1.4.2 The Need to Expand 22
communication systems 1.4.3 The Capacity of a ComputerSystem 22
1.1.16 Standard Application Packages 6 1.4.4 Sinqla-User Systems 23
1.1.17 Tailored Software and UserProgramming 7 1.4.5 Introducing a Second Computer 23
1.1.18 Conclusion 7 1.4.6 Multi·UserSystems 24
1.4.7 Workstations and Intelligent Terminals 24
1.2 THERIGHTWAY TOBUY A COMPUTER 8
1.4.8 Local Area Networks 24
SYSTEM
1.4.9 Software Compatibility 25
1.2.1 What You Need To Know 8
1.4.10 Choosing Systemsfor Growth 26
1.2.2 The Computeras anInvestment 8
1.4.11 The Future for Business Microsystems 26
1.2.3 Objectives and Requirements 8
1.4.12 Conclusion 27
1.2.4 Software 9
1.2.4.1 Operating system 9 1.5 PROJECT PLANNINGANDSTAFF 27
1.2.4.2 Programming language 9 PARTICIPATION
1.2.4.3 System building and utilitypackages 9 1.5.1 What You Need To Know 27
1.2.4.4 Applicationpackages 9 1.5.2 Understanding ComputerSystems 28
1.2.4.5 Tailored and usersoftware 9 1.5.3 Influences onEffectiveness of Systems 28
1.2.5 Hardware 10 1.5.4 Attitudes to System Change 28
1.2.5.1 Processor 10 1.5.5 Information about the Project 29
1.2.5.2 Input 10 1.5.6 Specifications of Hardware and Software 29
1.2.5.3 Internalstorage 10 Requirements
1.2.5.4 Backing storage 10 1.5.7 Demonstrating and Testing Systems 30
1.2.5.5 Printing 10 1.5.8 Training 30
1.2.5.6 Otherdevices 10 1.5.9 Operating Instructions 31
1.2.6 Balancing Hardware and Software 10 1.5.10 Implementation 31
1.2.7 The Shopping List 11 1.5.11 Evaluation 32
1.2.8 Suppliers and the Microcomputer Market 12 1.5.12 Conclusion 32
ix