
^C{Letters From Our Subscribers
^Canswered by Sean Golden}

This file contains letters from our subscribers, along with answers from our editors and programmers.  We also have a file of letters which contains comments from our subscribers that don't need a response.  That file is available as our "SUBSCRIBER COMMENTS" column.

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Softdisk Publishing:

I enjoy your programs very much.  I like the fact that they are not shareware and I do not have to pay a registration fee to use them.  The New Print Shop and PCX graphics are my favorite programs, especially the colored ones.  I like the fonts for Windows and would like you to publish some for DOS if that is possible. Graphics for Print Shop Deluxe would be great.  I have a Star NX2420 color printer.

I like the crossword puzzles and the Crypto, but not the Word Up Just for Fun.  I do not play the other games other than to try them out.  I don't have the time to master them, but my kids love them.  I would like to see educational programs for kindergarten through 4th grade. 

I am not crazy about Windows although I do use it for some things and I am getting more comfortable with it.  It just does not seem to be real dependable.  You have about the right amount of Window programs.  I would possibly subscribe to a separate Windows format along with keeping my DOS subscription if the price was right. (No more than the price is now.)

I have been meaning to write you since I received my first issue (#79) since I was delighted with it.  The bonus issue you send to new subscribers is terrible because of the graphics and the programs are so old.  I am glad I did not receive it first or I would have cancelled immediately.  I have only been disappointed with one issue.  There is usually at least one program I can use and issues #81, #82, and #83 were excellent.  Your new VGA format is very nice but it is slow which can be annoying.

Keep up the good work.  I look forward to receiving my disk each month.

Sincerely,
Betty Sauter
Wiggins, CO

^C{----------

Ms. Sauter:
Thank you for your letter.  You've hit on a lot of topics and I'm glad you seem to like most of what you've seen with On Disk Monthly.  I agree with you, our shell is too slow and I am working with the programmer (Dan Tobias) to speed things up.  We have a few ideas that should help, so stay tuned.

We can't publish any "DOS fonts" because there is no such thing (unlesss you count TrueType as a "DOS font" format).  Windows is designed with the idea of multiple fonts, so there are ways built into Windows itself which allow programs to mix and match fonts.  Certain DOS programs have been written which give this ability, but the fonts they support are rarely, if ever, compatible with any other DOS program.  Again, the possible exception to this is the use of TryeType fonts by DOS programs.  Overall, TrueType is the closest thing on a PC to a standard font format, so that is what we publish.

We used to publish much more "educational" software than we do now.  We stopped because our customers asked us to.  Although some of you do want more items designed for kids (or even college level) the majority of our subscribers did not appreciate the educational items we published.  I have been trying to sneak in some educational items (the Astronomy and Civil War quizzes are examples) without making it seem that we are catering to families with young children.  That doesn't mean that we will never publish an educational item, it means that we can't do it often.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear Sean:
First let me say I think Issue #85 is best out from your company to date.  Also, I have one little complaint.  The Back Issue Catalog is very tough for me to use.  I either don't understand how to use it or I just draw a blank.  I seem to do very well with other programs on your diskettes but, I never install a program to my hard drive unless I'm going to use it at least more than once.  Before you know it you have a 350 MB jungle and can't run anything.

I would like to comment on your answer to Mr. Guy H. Collier on Issue 85.  Mr Collier states he would like a medical program to keep records on blood pressure, medical costs, etc.  You kinda agree but, ask the question "DOS or Windows".  Well I don't know what all is involved in writing a program but, if one can be written for a game like CIRCUITRY, I would think it could be done for a medical program.  For me I could use either if only written in one.

Thanks for putting the FUN in Computing . . .

Yours truly,
Carol N. Brown
Scott Depot, WV

^C{----------

Ms. Brown:
I am sorry to hear that you have been having trouble with our ODM Indexer program.  It is an older generation ODM program and as such it doesn't have the "look and feel" of our newer items.  It does not support a mouse, for example, so if you are trying to use the mouse to run it, you are out of luck.

It does have a "top-down" user interface, so you can take it one step at a time.  When you get it running, if you press the "F1" key it will bring up some help information.  Pressing "F5" will print that.  Unless I have some idea of what is specifically causing your trouble, I can't help much.  Of course you can always call our technical support line if you need help.

The reason I asked whether to write a DOS or Windows version of the medical database program is because I have separate sets of tools for both.  The reason we published a DOS and Windows combined version of Circuitry is because we "ported" the DOS version to Windows and simply decided to combine them.  If we write a DOS medical database we can do the same, or we can go from Windows to DOS, but in either case we'll have to write two separate programs and it doesn't make sense for us to sit on a completed program when we can offer it to our customers.  If our customers are happy with one or the other, we can spend our time writing a new program, instead of porting an existing one.

I'm glad you like ODM.  We are continuing to improve and I think you'll like us even more in the future.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear Sir:
Thank you!  I received my first issue of On Disk Monthly today, put it in the computer and went to Loan Accelerator Plus on Issue Disk #85.  Today I also refinanced my mortgage and instead of paying the bank to run some tables for me I will pay myself back with interest I won't have to fork over by running some tables of my own.
 
I have reviewed your back issues and will order some of those that struck my fancy soon.  I did not see any price for ordering back issues however I did not print the order form either so maybe upon my next entry into the disk I'll answer my own question.

If the other issues are like this one I certainly will be pleased with ordering your product.

I noticed only one program under the Religion title.  Are there future programs scheduled for this area and if so what will they be?
Sincerely,
Larry Norton

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Mr. Norton:
We have no plans to publish any further "religious" items on ODM.  The one you saw in our Back Issue Catalog is a special promotional version of a stand-alone product.  We had several other promotional versions of stand-alone products on ODM, this one just happened to be religiously oriented.  I don't have anything against religious programs, I just can't think of any that will appeal to people who don't share a particular religious belief.  It is a very dangerous area to get into when you are trying to appeal to a wide and varied audience.  I hope you understand.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear ODM:
Issue #85 just arrived.  All of the programs in this issue are great.  I did get an error message (#203) one time when I was starting ODM #85 from Windows, and I also got the (#203) message when I tried to print the back issue order form.

I really like the Change Directory Plus program that was on the bonus disk.  CDP makes working in DOS a lot easier.

Suggestion:

Since many of your subscribers are using Windows, why not make a windows shell that will load the new articles, and programs from the ODM disk onto their hard drive.  This kind of program would only need to be loaded once.  If the program doesn't take up too much space it could be put on the regular ODM disk.  If the program is too big to feature on a regular issue then you could offer it to the Windows users for a reasonable price (such as the price of the diskette + shipping).

Icon files compress very well.  Compressed Icons skillfully created by your wonderfully artistic staff that represent each of the programs featured in ODM would be nice.

Thanks
Edward Berry
Clarksville, IN

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Mr. Berry:
I would like to do as you suggest, but I simply don't have the resources to pull it off.  Lynda Fowler is my only Windows programmer right now, and she is too busy writing "real" programs to spend her time on a Windows shell program.

There is also a problem in figuring out how to provide the Windows shell to our subscribers.  It should be fairly obvious that having two shell programs on the disk would reduce the size for "real" stuff, so we would get complaints about wasting disk space.  We could offer it at an additional price "on request" for Windows users, I suppose, but I don't think we'd get enough orders to make it worth the effort.  Finally, we could split ODM into a "Windows" or a "DOS" presenter and have one or the other shell on a single disk, but then the "Windows" disk would be expected to be a complete Windows product, which is something we are considering, by the way.

Finally, there is a large and vocal segment of our subscribers who feel that any time and effort, not to mention disk space, devoted to Windows is wasted and offensive, and I don't want to lose any more customers because of our "Windows slant."

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Like it -- but couldn't you have found a better company name than Widgets 'R Us for "Hardly Working"?  Love the screen saver but name is dead giveaway if anyone checks screen.
Frances Willig
Jersey City, NJ

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Mr. Willig:
Hardly Working was designed with the idea that our users would want to create their own customized "modules."  For that reason most of the modules read a text file on disk and use that file to display the messages that come up in the modules.

For example, the name "Widgets 'R Us" is in a text file that you can open with any text editor or word processor and change to whatever you prefer.  Simply open the file "SPREAD.HW" and change the name, then save it back to disk.  IMPORTANT NOTE! Be sure to save it back as a "TEXT," "ASCII" or "DOS TEXT" file, not as a word processor document.

All of the "*.HW" files are meant to be used this way, each for a different module of Hardly Working.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Hello ODM:
Want to tell you that I enjoy the new format . . .but I don't want to have to load it on my hard disk if I don't have to so I am not in favor of the shell you want to put there . . . I want to load what I want to load just like it is . . .

The graphics on issue #85 are great as usual but a suggestion ... I didn't receive my disk until November 1 so how about sending the holiday graphics a little earlier?  I'd rather get them a month before . . . rather than have to wait until next year to use them... I hope you don't do Christmas that way.  The mail gets really slow around holidays anyway.

I enjoy the letters column and the editorials . . . I learn a lot about lots of things.

Regarding the shareware on the regular ODM disk and the Shareware Spotlight Games, hope you always give us the latest version ... not just the 1.0 if a better version is already available ... you always have pretty top quality and that is why I like it so much and subscribed for a year.

Question . . . is the back issue catalog replacing the ODM Indexer?  I am not really clear about that.  Also, the indexer doesn't show where the PCX graphics are located like it does Print Shop . . . could that be fixed?

Keep up the good work . . . your format is what keeps you head and shoulder above your competition.
Sincerely,
SuzAnne Zillman
Clatskanie, OR

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Ms. Zillman:
Thank you for your comments about the quality of ODM.  We try to provide a quality product and letters like yours always make us feel great!  You are right, the "Back Issue Catalog" is really just an upgraded and updated "ODM Indexer."  Why are we doing this?  Because we are planning on dropping our printed Back Issue Catalog and replacing it with a disk-based system and the upgraded ODM Indexer is the first step in that direction.  As far as the .PCX graphics are concerned, I'll make sure things are clear on our next update to the "catalog."

We completed ODM #85 on September 27, 1993, and it was mailed less than three weeks later, which means it should have reached our subscribers near the end of October.  The graphics on the disk were designed to be used for Thanksgiving, which is in the last part of November.  Do you think we should have the graphics TWO months in advance of the season?  I'll throw that out to our other subscribers:  What do you think?  How much lead time should we have for our graphics?

Ah, the shareware issue.  Well, we have decided that publishing shareware was a BAD IDEA.  Let me emphasize that.  A BAD IDEA!  Why?  Because we had no control over the program and it simply did not compare well with our own programs.  Now, let me point out that Klondike was a very popular shareware item and one of the VERY few that we could fit on a disk.  We did not think that the need for a mouse would be a huge problem.  Unfortunately, the program not only needed a mouse, but it had problems with many of the mouse drivers that our customers had (which, by the way, worked fine with our in-house items).

So, we won't be publishing shareware programs on ODM any more.  We will, however, cross-sell our Shareware Spotlight products for those of you who are interested in shareware.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear Sean:
I have enjoyed your publication to some degree (perhaps more than I would like to admit) and I think that it is improving with every issue.  The interface is horribly slow and although pretty in some part useless.  Why not use the whole screen for text rather than just a small portion which you have to scroll constantly.  Make the interface more like a magazine!  Use the whole screen, placing your logo at the top of the page and then place a series of tabs along the right side of the screen which when clicked on would take you to the other sections of the publication.

I like your Windows idea.  Why not run it all from Windows?  The only objection that I can think of is that it's a pain in the rump to have to liberate your hard drive from a lot of extraneous stuff.


I also like your idea of previewing shareware.  Some of them I read about but never seem to have the time to hunt down.  In many instances the programs are free but only accessible through an on-line service and then which do you choose?  PC WORLD published an article in its April edition called "45 TOP PROGRAMS FOR $50 OR LESS."  According to them you could probably do everything that the "big boys" do for a whole lot less.  Maybe.  It would be interesting though to try to develop a system of programs that would accomplish all of your computing tasks without all of the redundancy that you encounter today.  Buy one program to use for what it does best and another for its best features and you end up with a hard drive loaded with megabytes of duplicate stuff that you will never use.
W.F. Streck
Willows, CA

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Mr. Streck:
I agree with nearly everything you've said.  You might want to go back and read my comments about Windows in my answer to Mr. Berry.

Your question about the size of our text window is a good one, and reflects a design decision we made to try to keep as much of our "logo" visible at all times.

It's funny that you should suggest a more "magazine-like" interface for the shell.  Our French partners have done just that with "PerioDisk" the French version of ODM.  We are looking at their version of the disk and are contemplating a change.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Sorry -- but 3 month's subscription is the best I can do for now.  I hope I can subscribe for longer periods later on.  I absolutely LOVE what you've done lately to your programs -- the graphics interface, shareware notes, mailbag, .PCX graphics, cartoons -- EVERYTHING!

A couple comments.  In "Mailbag", I can't find much sympathy with the complaint one fella had that "there's very little in each issue of value . . ."  I should imagine that you have a very diverse group of people to please and I think it impossible to have a "loaded disk" every month for every subscriber.  I consider my money well spent if I find one program per disk that I can use, or at the very least, enjoy for a while.

As for Mr Karickoff's comment (ODM #83, Mailbag) regarding Christian game programs, why not?  Isn't North America basically a Christian society?  In this day of crime, drugs, and low moral values, why not a Christian game that would be uplifting, thoughtful and make one appreciate good principals instead of the slash-bang-destroy-grab games that are so common?  It wouldn't necessarily have to be "Bible" oriented.  Just some special "gains" through making better choices in life.  Something that would help strengthen family life would be especially useful in today's world. For example, say a boy or girl (give the player a choice of gender) finds his/herself in a dark forest, separated by many obstacles from his parents.  Each obstacle he encounters forces him to solve a popular word or saying, like, "Obedience" or "Say NO to Drugs," (located at the "Pit of Despair" so that there are clues connecting the obstacle with the moral clue required to "Pass Over the Bridge of Despair") before he can proceed to the new obstacle.  Multiple choice can also be used, with different values per choice, the most points for the best choice.  Dullsville?  Only if there is a lack of imagination!

Another question.  I enjoy keeping track of our local weather but have not found a decent program that will allow me to record weather information and allow me to make charts/graphs of "averages" or "prognostics."

Keep up the good work.  Your disk is worth every cent, every month!!
Albert E. Schindler
Cardston, Alberta

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Mr. Schindler:
Thanks for your comments.  As I have stated before, I don't have any problem with publishing a "Christian oriented game" I simply can't think of one that doesn't sound contrived or preachy.  If I can think of one, I'll probably do it.

Your description of a game that is "uplifting, thoughtful and would make one appreciate good principals" may be admirable, but I have to admit, it sounds a little contrived to me.  I agree that many games are far too violent, but I don't think the answer is to present any sort of "message."  I would prefer a game that was based on teamwork and was designed to encourage thinking, instead of blasting.  We have talked about a "McGyver"-style game where the hero uses his wits, instead of his guns, but we haven't worked out a design yet.

I like your idea of a weather tracking program.  I've wanted to do a storm tracker for a while.  I'll take it up with my staff.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Gentlemen:
ODM 85 requests inputs for "Fatal Error" appearance.  It happened to me three times.  The first time I was cycling through the "Features".  I rebooted the program and things went O.K.

Second time I was cycling through the columns using the mouse.  The third time I was trying to exit from ISSUE.

Although I was not paying a lot of attention to the specific message, on at least one occasion it said "error #203 in ODM VGA SHELL version 1.20".

I have another question.  I was looking for the back issue catalog that was supposed to be on this disk.  Never did find it but found instead (whenever I tried) ODM Librarian.  Please help.

I do enjoy ODM but I do not use a lot of it.  I know you cannot please everyone and you do have a mix.  But, I like the utilities and useful programs as opposed to increasing graphics, flying lines, quizzes, games, etc.  I am not complaining just giving you an input.
Best regards,
W.G. Crabb
Hagerstown, MD

^C{----------

Mr. Crabb:
Your problem is currently the most common error that our customers have reported from the shell.  Error code #203 is basically an out of memory message.  In other words our shell wanted to use more memory than it could get.  We have redesigned the memory allocation parts of the shell a little bit and that problem should not exist on future editions of the shell.  We will publish the updated shell on ODM #88.  I apologize for your difficulty, and thank you for bringing it to our attention.

Oh, ODM Librarian IS our Back Issue Catalog.  The order form is in the shell, under "Great Deals!" from the "Columns" menu.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear Sir:
I received my first copy of On Disk Monthly and I could not wait to try it out.  I love the format and the programs and games on the disk.  The only problems I am having is that the Typing Tutor executes even when I do not tell it to.  I think that there is a bug in this program somewhere.  You might have your staff look at the source code.

Over all I have enjoyed the whole disk except for one thing.  The cost for a subscription is a little high compared to a subscription for a PC magazine to which I subscribe.  At this time I am going to subscribe with you for a three month period and see how things go.  You should look at getting your subscription price closer to the cost of a printed magazine.  I feel that this would boost your circulation to the average person like myself.

To have a magazine on a disk saves paper and some of our natural resources.  This is a great idea if the cost was the same or lower than the printed text that most of us receive.  I am sure that the cost of disks purchased in bulk is less than 60 cents per disk.  Why does it cost $7.00 per issue for this publication?

Your response is greatly appreciated on this matter.
Sincerely,
David F. Sargeant
Kearns, UT

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Mr. Sargeant:
Your problem with Typing Tutor was discovered, traced to a mouse driver problem and eradicated two issues ago.  I'm sorry you experienced it, but our current shell will not do that anymore.

Your price comparison between On Disk Monthly and paper magazines is worth a look.  First let me carefully state that On Disk Monthly is NOT a paper magazine.  It is a collection of programs with a segment that can be considered "editorial content."  The true focus of ODM is on programs, not on text files.  It would be more fair, in my opinion, to compare ODM to other software on the market, not to bulk printing of magazines.

Perhaps the most important aspect of this price comparison that you seem to be overlooking is the presence of page after page of endless advertisements that overflow the content of any paper magazine.  Those ads bring in more money than subscription costs and help to keep the cost down.  ODM does not publish ads, and even if we did, we simply don't have room for them AND programs.  Maybe this explains why a paperback book costs about $5.00 these days when a magazine of the same "weight" only costs $1.00.  Add to that the additional cost that ODM has of developing and supporting software and you get to $7.00 pretty fast.

The cost of the disk is, by far, the most trivial cost associated with producing On Disk Monthly each month.  When you purchase a book, you aren't simply supporting the author.  You are also paying the salaries of editors, secretaries, office workers, printers, binders, distributers and much more.  Softdisk Publishing employs people too, and they like to get a monthly paycheck as much as you do.  I have to admit that I am more than a little nonplussed by your concern over our price.  For comparison, many commercially available programs which are similar to ODM items sell in retail stores for up to $20.00 each.  With ODM you get up to seven programs per disk for about $7.00, or close to a buck apiece.  When you consider that a programmer may have spent several months working on that $1.00 program, it should become clear just what a bargain you are getting.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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To Whom it May Concern:
I wish to express my disappointment with issue 84.  I subscribed because your advertisement stated .PCX or Print Shop Graphics on every issue.  I am a teacher and make extensive use of my graphics in the classroom.  I do not have Windows and have no use for any Windows programs which seem to be the way you are heading, but I understand the need for them as so many people do have Windows.

Please reinstate graphics as a regular part of your issues.
Thank you,
Alma E. Gilbert
Spring Valley, CA

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Ms. Gilbert:
I'm sorry you feel that you have been mislead by our advertisements.  I might point out that those advertisements also stated that we were available on 720K disks and supported CGA and EGA graphics.  We have moved on, which we MUST do to stay in business.  We still publish graphics on every issue, but we have added Windows .BMP format files to our normal .PCX and Print Shop graphics.  For all practical purposes we now rotate through three formats of clip art, not two.  We may add additional clip art formats in the future, such as .GIF, Instant Artist(TM) and Print Shop Deluxe(TM).

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear ODM:
Starter Disk is a good idea.  Shareware sounds great also.

I would like to see more programs where the user can play against the computer like Cribbage Companion and Knight Life Chess.

I had two such programs on a little computer, "Blackjack" and "Poker", where I could play with three other players or just against the computer.  I could set the amount in the bankroll, choose how much I wanted to bet on each hand, and could actually beat the computer.

Also a checkers type game where the user could play against the computer capturing squares.

Also horse races where users could bet on which horse would finish first around a track.

I would also like to see more educational programs.  Perhaps maps where the user would have to name countries or states that were highlighted or show where they were located on the map and name the capital.  Programs with mathematical problems to be solved and English grammar or spelling games would also be good.

Please advise if any of these programs are being considered for the future or if you already have something like these that I have missed.
Sincerely,
Theresa Litke
Westland, MI

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Ms. Litke:
I think most of your questions have already been answered in my responses to other letters.  I think you'll like Trivia Now on this issue.  We publish games of the type you have described on virtually every disk.  We had Pokerface on #83, Reflexion on #85 and Diffraction on this issue.

As far as educational items are concerned, our average customer is not interested in a math tutor.  We used to publish a lot of programs of the type you describe, but our subscribers made it clear that they were not, as a group, interested in learning math or grammar through ODM.  I still plan on doing a geography program as soon as we lick the technical difficulties involved.  

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear ODM:
I am a Grandmother that enjoys her computer!  The majority of the time I use the computer for book work in our businesses.  ODM has made my computer enjoyable.  I look forward to each new issue of ODM arriving in the mail.

I was thrilled when this issue arrived and I found the hints for Halloween Hijinx!  I'm not the greatest game player and when I get stumped I usually have to wait for my grandchildren to come visit and help me get to the next level!  Sure makes you feel a bit less than intelligent when you have to ask the grandchildren for help!  But even worse than that is to read the hints and find out that the first 5 or 6 levels are simple to solve, when I have been unable to get through the last gate on level 5!  Have a heart!  Help Granny get past level 5 so she doesn't have to wait for the grandkids to show her up!
Sincerely,
Shirley A. Lawhorn
Shiner, TX

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Ms. Lawhorn:
Thanks for your kind words.  I'm sorry for the trouble you've experienced.

The key to get past level five of Halloween Hijinx is to block off the gargoyle in the center of the screen with the three pumpkins around him, then pull one pumpkin out of the fenced in area to block off the top of the center gargoyle.  The rest is a (relatively) simple matter of dodging bats, axes, etc.  

Level six is easier.  Just run up the left side, across the top, down the middle and up the twisting passages on the right.  You'll have to sucker the bat at the top right down, and dodge around it.  Don't forget the key!  You'll need it on level 7.

I'll try to do a better job with organizing levels in the future.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear Sirs (or?)
Just got my ODM (VGA version now) and wonder why the KLONDIKE program had to be designed for the "Microsoft Compatible Mouse" when the CROSSWORD and QUIZ work fine with the MANAGER mouse I have.  I have the older version of KLONDIKE (KLON2) and can only get that sucker to work in the CGA setting. (but at least it works)

The MAGNET doesn't display the mouse arrow but, by guess and by gosh, it will highlight an article.  At least the arrow keys work with it.

After finally saving enough to purchase a VGA monitor, I find the problems are only beginning!
Yours truly,
Arlen G. Bursell
Red Wing, MN

^C{----------

Mr. Bursell:
I'm sorry you are experiencing difficulties with Klondike and Message Magnets.  As I explained above, Klondike was a shareware program and we have no control over what it supports and/or does not support.  As noted above we have decided not to go down that particular road again.

Message Magnets is one of our own problems, though, and from the description of your problem, it sounds as though you have an old mouse driver.  If you call our tech support staff, they should be able to help you get around the problem.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear Sean Golden:
I feel that I have to write to you about On Disk Monthly.  If I had never downloaded Cyberchess from Prodigy, I would never had even heard of your Great company.  So glad that I did.

To begin with I was a little skeptical at first.  But, when I noticed that your company gave subscriptions in different formats I decided to give you a 3 month try.  My first issue was ODM #83 and of course the Bonus disk.  I really like Change Directory Plus.  It is a great time saver for me.  Word-up is challenging and our two teenagers have increased their vocabulary by using it.  Mine also, to be truthful.  That is all that we use of it though.

#83 however, was a Great disk.  SUPERB.  EXCELLENT.  We all liked it, and use it a lot.  Your graphics are well done and they are a great addition to our already extensive library.  Typing Attack 3 is a fun way to practice.  It is a great help for the kids also.  American Highlights is informative and has already been used in homework.  Win2do is ok but we hardly use it.  Your fonts are ok but we already have more than we will ever use.  Poker Face is great too but I hardly have any time to sit and play games for any length of time.  I have solved all the Cryptograms though.  Just love to do those.

#84 is also a great disk.  Message Magnets is really getting a workout around here.  Flylines is also a great program and screen blanker.  My better half is the crossword nut around here so she was glad to see it.  The kids have been knocking their brains out on Halloween Hijinx.  Frustrating to say the least.  WOW! Crater Lake is AWEsome.  Please try to do more of those.  I am not too familiar with Shareware.  The name itself scares me.  I guess after reading your column that a lot of people do Shareware.  But I'm still not convinced that it is a safe thing to do.

#85  This is my last issue until I renew my subscription and it has good programs also.  Circuitry is a lot like Tetris only more thinking.  We all like it and play it.  More Word-Up is just what we all need.  Keep them coming.  I wish you hadn't put the Back Issue Catalog on this last disk.  Just makes me want to spend and spend and spend.

All in all you have one fine thing going here.  To be truthful, I was leery.  Glad and happy I took the plunge and subscribed.  Now all I have to do is convince my other half that we need to re-submit our subscription.  At just $20 for three months ain't bad.  It is about all we can afford.  Wish we could take it for a year but it is not within our budget.  By the way our subscription is under Vicki Vannest as she is the one who handles the money around here.
Thanks again,
Bob Dunham
Galesburg, IL

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Mr. Dunham:
Thanks for your letter.  I'll have to get the whip out now, my staff is standing around beaming at each other after reading your letter.  Seriously though, I am glad you have been so pleasantly surprised.  I think you'll really like this issue.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Hi Sean Golden!
Keep up with the "PCX Graphics".  Although I don't have a color printer, I may get one some day.  Also why can't you work out those horizontal and vertical lines, and when programming then make them so they come out correctly on the standard 8.5" x 11" piece of paper, some of these in this issue #85 started too low on the paper and went beyond the rip-off line on standard 9.5" x 11" computer paper.

Games, why can't you get some war games, like W.W.I, W.W.II, flying type games.  I like those type of games.

I like the idea of using the Sound Blaster on the ODM.  Go with it totally.

The main reason I am writing this letter to you is to tell you that I like the idea of using one version for DOS and one for Windows users.  GREAT IDEA, DO IT!

Question, how can I use your PCX Graphics into my "GEO-PRO" program?  I like to increase and decrease their size.  Or why don't you give us a program that we can do this with in a future issue?  Say something we can copy onto a floppy and use with the PCX Graphics.
Thank you,
John J. Voisard
Dayton, OH

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Mr. Voisard:
Thanks for your comments.  The DOS/Windows dispute is in full swing, you'll know when we resolve it.

How can you use .PCX graphics in "GEO-PRO?"  Well, honestly, I don't know.  .PCX is a standard graphic format so it may have an 'import graphic" menu item, or it may have the ability to open the files directly.  I would give their tech support line a call and ask them directly.

The horizontal and vertical lines you describe in our clip art must be in the printouts.  We have had reports about lines appearing on printouts from PCX Viewer, and we don't recommend using PCX Viewer to print out the art.  Our clip art is designed to be used in page layout, word processing or graphic programs.  The PCX Viewer program was written to allow our subscribers to view the art from the shell.  We may be retiring the Viewer soon.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Really would like Back Issue Catalog since I have all issues -- how come you write it to require a mouse?
David H. Smith
Edinburg, TX

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Mr. Smith:
Actually the Back Issue Catalog does not "require" a mouse.  The ODM shell has the ability to check for certain hardware configurations and can react to them.  I made an error and set it to "require" a mouse when a mouse was not needed at all.  In other words, not only does the program not "require" a mouse, it doesn't even use one.  You can run the program from DOS or from Windows if you don't have a mouse, but not the shell.  I sincerely apologize for this mental slip. 

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Dear ODM:
I just recently mailed my subscription for ODM.  I hope you have received it by now.  The reason I'm faxing you this is I believe I've found a flaw in your POKER FACE program in Issue 83.  When you first place your bet it subtracts the amount from your credit area and if you win an even bet you only get the original amount back.  The last time I played it I won three hands in a row and still just had the same amount in credit that I had when I began.  You may have addressed this problem in a more current issue that I didn't get.  I was kinda slow sending in my subscription.

My overall opinion of your product is FANTASTIC!! I'm looking forward to my next issue.  I even put my subscription on my Christmas list.
Thanks.
Dave Apel
Moberly, MO

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Mr. Apel:
Actually what you have described is the way the program is designed to operate and is based on actual Video Poker machines.  Every time you deal a new hand your "bank" is deducted.  If you get a hand that offers only even odds (1:1) you will win back your bet.  If you "win" three hands in a row at even odds then you will be right back where you started from, which is exactly what happened to you.  The only way to build money is to "win" hands at better than even odds.  The odds for each hand are posted at the top of the screen.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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Sean:
This last issue mailbag (#83) echoed a lot of my thoughts and your points to check into seemed to be high on my wish-list of features I would like to see.  The "New Look" is outstanding, but possibly could be modified some.  How about two exit options from each section?  One to exit to DOS and one to go back to main menu.  This would save a lot of time loading the main menu graphics package if only to then exit to DOS.

My next point is only a small one, but a persistent aggravation to me.  I am not pleased that you have redesigned the American Flag, both in the fine Statue of Liberty frame and in the Labor Day clip art PCX file.  I would not like to see either of these eliminated, but please, in the future, try to copy-read all the famous symbols you might use.  Keep up the good work.
Del Kahn
Anacortes, WA

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Mr. Kahn:
Thanks for your letter.  The "two exit" options is an interesting idea and one I'll talk over with my programmers.  The problem with it is that it requires some sort of interface that makes sense, whether you are running from the shell or not.  If you aren't running from ODM, then "Return to ODM" won't make sense. I'll look into it.

I have looked at the flag images you describe myself and have discussed them with our Art Director, Carol Ludden.  Here is what we discovered:

The flag drawn in the "Statue of Liberty" frame seems to be okay.  It has thirteen stripes, seven red and six white.  It has a blue field with fifty stars, five rows of six and four rows of five.  It is drawn with a stylized "wave" which may explain the problem you have with it, I'm not sure.

However, I have reviewed flags drawn on previous issues of ODM and have found three that were drawn improperly, one with five rows of ten stars with six red and five white stripes, and one with an indeterminate number of stars in what seems to be no particular order and eleven stripes.  The remaining flag was a colorized version of one of the incorrect flags.

Thank you for bringing this inconsistency to my attention.  As you requested, we will attend to these important symbols with more attention to detail in the future.

Sean Golden, Product Manager}

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