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Computing Resource Center: Supported products list

By Dr. Jeff Seaman and CRC Staff The computer industry provides such a vast array of hardware and software products that no one person or organization can be expert in all areas. The Computing Resource Center (CRC) therefore publishes a supported product list that defines the limits of its support to the University community. The list serves a number of purposes:

• It assures the University community that these products are of good quality and available at a fair price.
• It defines those products for which assistance from the CRC is guaranteed.
• It helps define a standard computing environment for the University.
• It allows the CRC to focus staff resources in areas that will bring the most benefit to the University community.

Macintosh hardware

Among the peripherals that the CRC supports for Macintosh systems are internal and external SCSI hard disks, the Apple CD-ROM drive, and the DaynaFile external disk drive. Supported printers include those from Apple (ImageWriter, Personal LaserWriter, and LaserWriter) and Hewlett-Packard (DeskWriter). Also supported are modems, the Apple Ethernet card, and Asante Ethernet cards.

Macintosh software

Microsoft Excel is by far the best selling spreadsheet for the Macintosh, and it's not hard to see why. It's a very powerful, yet easy-to-use program that takes excellent advantage of the Macintosh interface. A menu bar means that most of the frequently used commands are only a mouse click away. The ability to create macros (with an intuitive "watch me" mode) allows complicated strings of commands to be executed by a single command. Excel also includes some rudimentary database functions and a graphics component.

MicroPhone II provides a clean and reliable implementation of communications functions, and is the CRC's recommended product for use with PennNet. The menus are clear and well laid out, and a good user manual explains the nuances of the program. A very sophisticated scripting facility is included in the program.

Cricket Graph has been around for a long time (and is really in need of an upgrade), but is still among the best at what it does-quickly and easily producing quality charts for both science and business use. Chart elements, such as the axis labels and the choice of fonts, are easily modified by double-clicking on the item to be changed.

The CRC supports two drawing programs, Claris MacDraw Pro and Claris MacPaint. MacPaint is a bitmapped graphics program that treats every image as a collection of pixels of dots. It is best suited for free-form sketching and painting. MacDraw, on the other hand, is best for creating drawings that use geometric shapes and need precise line measurements. MacDraw is object-oriented, treating the figures it creates as whole objects, not as a series of individual pixels.

Claris FileMaker Pro, the CRC-supported database program, is easy for the first-time user to learn but powerful enough for those who need more complicated reports and database layouts. It includes an extensive online help facility and excellent user documentation. A powerful scripting capability lets you automate routine processes.

Other supported programs are Disinfectant, a shareware antiviral program distributed by the CRC free of charge; MacLink Plus, a file conversion tool that transfers and translates word processing, spreadsheet, database, and other files between many Macintosh and DOS formats; and AppleShare, which runs on a dedicated Macintosh to provide file sharing over AppleTalk networks.

DOS/Windows hardware

Among the peripherals that the CRC supports for DOS systems are mice, a choice of monitors, the ProComm external disk drive, the Panasonic KX-P1180 printer, and Hewlett-Packard DeskJet and LaserJet printers. Also supported are modems, the Ungerman-Bass Ethernet card, and Western Digital Ethernet card.

DOS/Windows software

Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Excel both provide a full-function spreadsheet, graphics capability, and limited database functions. Lotus was the first to combine all three functions and still has the largest installed base. Excel is the equal of Lotus in functionality but was designed to run under Microsoft Windows, providing a consistent graphics-oriented environment. Either product will most likely meet your spreadsheet needs.

The supported program for communication over PennNet for DOS computers is ProComm. It is a menu-driven, general-purpose communication program with such features as a dialing directory, automatic redial, and support for various file-transfer protocols.

Sigma Plot is a powerful, full-featured, technically oriented graphics package. Data can be imported in a number of formats or keyed in directly. The package is flexible and easy to use, and supports the most-used chart types.

Alpha Four represents a good compromise between power and ease of use in a database program. It combines a number of intelligent defaults that allow the first-time user to quickly get up to speed with enough power for the more advanced user.

Other programs on the supported list include Word for Word, the premier DOS-based program for conversion of word processing files from one format to another, and Vi-Spy, an antiviral package available free from the CRC.