
              *   *   *   MAILBAG   *   *   *


ON BOARD FOR THE FUTURE
   I, too, like some of the other subscribers, would like to
see some of the disk space devoted to some programming and
how-to information.
   Sometimes there may not be a complete disk full just for
me, but isn't that the same with any magazine you subscribe
to? I don't get upset with the idea that ODM isn't published
just for me and even give the areas I'm not that interested
in a good looking over. Who knows? Maybe I'll find something
there that I can use.
   You are making advancements that are necessary to keep up
with today's ever-changing technology and I'm sorry if some
subscribers just can't keep up or won't. you have taken my
system just about to its limits but so have a lot of the
programs and utilities I use, and I have planned on
upgrading in the spring. You just keep up the good work, and
if you do get ahead of me I'll catch up when I can.
   I'm on board for the ride to the future and will be
expecting ODM to help take me there.

                                     John D. Porter
                                     Wellsville, OH

WOULD LIKE MORE USEFUL PROGRAMS
   I know I don't have much experience in the computer
field, yet as a subscriber for the past four years I think
that I can be a judge of your software.
   For the last six issues, since you changed from being Big
Blue Disk to On Disk Monthly, the quality of the graphics
used is nothing less than fantastic, but the quality of your
programs has declined.
   I am not saying the information is not as good; I am
saying that the subject material is not as good as it used
to be. They also don't seem as useful in many of today's
areas. Many of the programs that you had in past issues, I
use most every day, and they provide me with useful ways to
use them.

                                     Jeffrey Bertsch
                                     West Babylon, NY

Editor's Note:  It's true that for a short while On
Disk Monthly veered off in an unplanned and
unconscious tangent that wasn't popular with everyone. On
Disk Monthly is now back on track and is full of
useful, entertaining and addictive programs that should be
"just what the doctor ordered." Please take time to write us.
If you don't like some of our programs, we want to know,
but also be sure to tell us what kinds of programs you would
prefer instead.


READER SUGGESTIONS
   I am offering an idea to you for something you might want
to get into. It turns out my sister has a lawyer son living
in California and she lives in New Jersey. On certain
occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries, etc., he has
composed some very nice poetry to fit the situations. She
has thought so much of some of these works that she had them
done up by a calligrapher, framed and hung about her home.
   Why not come out with software intended for calligraphy?
Your recent ad in December's "Compute" magazine prompted me
to suggest this. [Also,] the scroll at the top of the ad
shows some very beautiful fonts. ...A good variety of fonts,
especially the kind where the letters connect, as in
handwriting, would be most worthwhile.

                                     George A. Zimmerman
                                     Lansford, PA

   Because I do not reply each month with a rating does not
mean negativity. There are naturally programs on each disk
that I will never use because of the lack of a hard disk and
modern hardware. You assured me on the last disk that you
are not going to forget about us "old timers," so for that
reason I am renewing my subscription. The programs I do
use--educational, games, puzzles, etc.--are used frequently
and are very enjoyable.
   The one most used and appreciated is "Enhanced Family
Tree." You mentioned doing an update at one time. Is this
still being planned, and if so, I would suggest listing
alphabetically by surname for indexing purposes.

                                     Dora H. McArthur

Editor's Note: The "beautiful fonts" Mr. Zimmerman described
were no doubt Macintosh fonts. Unlike the Mac fonts, graphic
PC fonts can only be used in Windows applications or in our
own graphic programs, such as Certificate Creator. For this
reason, it is basically impractical for us to include them
on our disks. Your idea for a calligraphy program--
especially if it is orienting toward teaching our
subscribers how to do calligraphy--is very interesting. Mrs.
McArthur mentioned something we've kicked around a few times
and maybe it's time to do it. Though not formally stated for
an issue, we do expect to develop a bigger, better family
tree program sometime in the near future.


WANTS .PCX UTILITY
   I recently purchased Creative Calendar 4.0, which is
another very good calendar and events organizer, and it also
has several graphics but they are in the .PCX format. I
would appreciate a utility that does the same as Print Shop
Utilities 4 (issue #56), so that I can print the graphics to
a page, organize the graphics by category, etc. Is this
possible?

                                     James J. Raynor
                                     British Columbia, Canada

Editor's Note:  No such utility is available, nor do we plan
to create one in the future. You may, however, use any
commercially available paint program, such as PC Paintbrush
or even Windows' Paintbrush, to organize your .PCX images
onto printable pages of clip art.


WANTS PRINTABLE CONTENTS PAGE
   Prior to issue #61 I would print the table of contents,
followed by the department entries and the program
write-ups. Now I haven't determined how to print the table
of contents. Is it possible?

                                     Louis J. Glasnapp
                                     Fond Du Lac, WI

Editor's Note:  It was not possible to print a table of
contents from the interface (shell) on issues #61-#66,
however a table of contents (User's Guide) was shipped with
each disk. Now that we've decided to save trees by not
printing so many things on paper (including the User's
Guide) and we've created a better interface, you'll be
able to print a User's Guide from each disk once again.
You'll find it listed as "User's Guide" in the Departments
pick list.


LOVED ISSUE
   I just received ODM #64 and I couldn't be more pleased!
you really did a wonderful job this time. ODM Indexer would
have been fine, even if it only could catalog your back
issues. I think it will be really helpful for me since I
have no hard disk. I also know that Point and Shoot and
Tidbits will be helpful. My kids were ready for a new game,
too.
   All your card games are MY favorites, since I don't have
the reflexes that my sons do. They like ZZT City. I
especially enjoy Hearts, Klondike, and Pyramid Solitaire.
Thanks for the tip about the high score file on the latter.
I filled it up right away before I thought to make a copy!
In case you're interested, 1,965 points, and I won on the
second game!
  As a new PrintShop owner, more recently, a New PrintShop
Companion owner, I appreciate your PrintShop graphics. The
Companion has a graphics importer so I can use even the .PCX
graphics. I only have CGA graphics, but by importing the
.PCX files to the Companion, they are visible and usable in
both the New PrintShop and the New PrintShop Companion. (You
tech support department clued me in--Thanks!
   If I had one negative comment about this issue, it would
be your negative comment about Tandy 1000s. I am not a power
user, but I have found only one program (a Shareware game)
that will not run on my 1000TX. As others have mentioned, I
have limited funds to spend on my computer, which is, after
all, a luxury. We all have fun with it. I do my son's school
papers and my personal letters with a word processor, and I
am fascinated with the New PrintShop. This computer is all we
really need. (I would probably buy an IBM compatible next
time though. Mainly because of the price of upgrade parts.)
My local Radio Shack has been SUPER to us, even though we
bought this machine second-hand.
   Again, thanks for an outstanding issue. The best I've
seen.

                                     Mary Cooper
                                     Freeport, OH


MET TYPING ATTACK CHALLENGE
I took your dare on Typing Attack, which you made in Issue
#65, and after only three tries, I exceeded your staff's
high score by 410 points...and it's a great game, too!

I am a computer autodidact of 63 and so take great pleasure
in having won out over the formally educated (one assumes)
and digitally dexterous, though now defeated, nerds in your
office. I can only hope that they are abject at the news.

Regarding the other games I have enjoyed from On Disk
Monthly, I am a regular player of Klondike and Pyramid
Solitaire, as well as Draw Poker. I have attained top scores
of 273 in Klondike, 2030 in Pyramid, and have earned $1340 in
Draw Poker, as well as a full house as high hand.

I misspent some of my youth in a pool hall, and now it seems
that I am misspending some of my elder years playing
computer games, which keeps me from completing my
autobiography and threatens the safety of my marriage. Where
will it all end?
                                     Richard D. Curtis
                                     San Diego, CA

Editor's Note: Keep those "war stories" coming. We want to
know how you feel about our programs and what they give you
in return--even if they're just giving you the kind of
absorbing entertainment that prohibits you from completing
your autobiography!


                  Send your comments to:
                On Disk Monthly Mailbag
                Softdisk Publishing
                P.O. Box 30008
                Shreveport, LA  71130-0008
