MAILBAG

^CWANTS WINDOWS COMPATIBILITY

I have recently evolved into the Windows environment.  This is 
especially to allow multi-tasking. I like a number of the 
programs that have been provided, especially those using your 
meta-shell.  Would it be possible to convert the meta-shell, and 
its various applications, to the MS-Windows format? 

Failing that, or even in addition to that, would it be possible 
to create a mega-meta-shell that would allow easy movement from 
one meta-shell application to another? 

Incidentally, I believe you have a real winner in your 
Certificate Creator and Map Maker applications. Keep up the good 
work. 

^RRonald E. Bragdon
^RSalem, MA

Editor's Reply:
At present, we are not working on making our applications more 
Windows friendly, but "anything is possible" in the software 
business. We are doing market research, and one of the things it 
will tell us is how important Windows compatibility really is to 
our other subscribers.  In the meantime, I urge all of you "other 
subscribers" to write me and share your thoughts on this. 


^CNEEDS HELP WITH PROGRAMS

I have been trying to use Certificate Creator since I got it.... 
So far, I can't get it to do what I want.... 

Neither my wife nor I can even come close to beating [the games 
on ODM]. I don't know how others feel, but if your programs don't 
improve so that beginners can enjoy them, I will not subscribe 
again. 

^RJim Evans
^RKennewick, WA

Editor's Reply:
You were not specific about your problems with Certificate 
Creator, but by now one of our Technical Support staff members 
will have called you and solved them. As you can see by the first 
letter above (on Windows), some people loved Certificate Creator. 
We have gotten a lot of feedback on its interface, and are 
refining our interface standards accordingly. 

We try to publish programs that will challenge a wide range of 
subscribers--from the beginner to the fairly advanced game-
player.  We are also working to bring you better help and 
documentation on this and future issues. 


^CWANTS HINTS ON GAMES

I have subscribed to On Disk for two-and-a-half years now, and I 
love it.  Almost everything is explained and written in easy-to-
follow instructions. The only problem I have is with some of your 
games. Could you share some helpful hints on some of your 
adventure and problem-solving games? 

I spent three weeks on Legends of Murder II and still can't 
figure out the dragon's name, even after solving the cryptogram. 
I can't get to the last floor on the elevator in ZZT City, which 
I love.  I realize I'm not a computer whiz, just someone who 
likes to enjoy their computer. It isn't fun anymore when it 
becomes frustrating. 

^RJanet Schmid
^RThe Dalles, OR

Editor's Reply:
Thanks for your continuing support of On Disk Monthly.  Your 
problem with ZZT City is the result of a disk duplication error 
that makes it impossible to complete the game.  Please accept our 
apologies for the error and an error-free replacement issue (on 
its way to you right now).  We don't want to spoil Legends of 
Murder II for the other readers, so we won't publish the dragon's 
name here.  However, we urge you or anyone who is stuck on one of 
our games or puzzles to call our technical support department at 
1-800-831-2694 for help today. 


^CFRUSTRATED BY LATEST ODM INTERFACE

You took away my ability to run a program from one disk. ...[How] 
can that be called an improvement? 
^RRichard L. McMillan 
^RMarblemount, WA 


Editor's Reply:

After careful consideration and lots of discussion, we concluded 
that the positives of the "new" interface (shell) far overshadow 
any negatives.  The current shell is more user friendly, contains 
attractive graphics, makes animation possible, and responds to 
mouse commands.  It also auto-detects the user's system 
capabilities, which results in better compatibility. 
Unfortunately, it does require users who have only one disk drive 
to do some disk swapping, but it also lets you read all the 
companion files at once.  Everything in life--and especially in 
software--is a trade off. 

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.  Comments such 
as yours will help us to improve our interface and our software. 


^C컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴

Any letter sent to On Disk Monthly (or Softdisk) may be chosen 
for use in Mailbag.  All letters will be edited for length, 
clarity and content.  The letter-writer's name, city and state 
will also be published.  Anonymous letters will not be published. 

^C컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴


