March, 2000      Diablo Blue      Page 3

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the CeQuadrat software have been readable by every CD drive in which I have tested them. The tests have included drives in a half-dozen desktop computers and three notebook computers. I should mention that none of the drives was more than 24 to 30 months old. I can't vouch for compatibility with older drives.
The Compro notebook CD-RW drive is a real gem, the world's first CD Rewriter with CD 4X recording, 4X rewriting and 20X reading function all in a slim 23mm height housing. Bare drive weight is only 18 oz.  Other weights are: battery pack w/5 AA batteries (Alkaline or NiCAD and NiMH 1.2V rechargables), 7 oz;  AC adapter, 8 oz; PCMCIA card/cable, 5 oz; USB cable, 4oz. Current price is $269.
The whole works adds up to 42 oz., but one normally would use either the PCMCIA or USB cable so actual weight, including a few disks, is less than 2.5 lbs.
The amazing thing is how well this little drive works. It performs so well I don't use it only with my notebook. It is connected via USB port to one of the desktop machines in our office when I'm not travelling.
The Compro slimline came with Adaptec's Easy CD Creator, which most experts consider the top CD creation program. It includes DirectCD, which lets you treat CD-RW drive like a floppy drive. You can copy information in small packets and erase separate files ("random erase") instead of having to erase the entire CD. Packet writing allows sending of small amounts of data or "packets" to CD-R and CD-RW drives without wasted overhead and without risk of data transfer interruptions (buffer underruns).
Easy CD Creator makes it simple to create music, photo, video, and data CDs. You can even make bootable CDs. I have V.3.5 but plan to upgrade soon to V.4.0 which has some desirable features added. (Check it out at www.adaptec.com/products/overview/ecdc.html)
As always, your comments and experiences with these or similar products are welcome. I also invite you visit my website: www.zyworld.com/wordsmithken.

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and all talking together!! That's networking!
Remember, this month's meeting is in Building A at the Bank of America Technology Center office complex in Concord, diagonally across from our normal meeting location (see the Map to Monthly Meetings on page 15).
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. We will have the next installment of PC 101, a class run by Craig Peterson on how to use the computer, at 6:15 p.m. This month's class is titled "Hardware, or how to identify what that thingamajig is". The classes are open to all members. Following the class, the New User's SIG will have their meeting from 6:30 to 7:00.
We'll also have the Networking Table from 6:30 to 7:00; if you have something to sell or trade, need technical help, or just want to exchange views, visit the Networking Table. We may have one of our ever-popular mini-auctions with great products, so bring your checkbooks and cash! Also, as usual, we'll have library disks and those great DVPC mugs (version 2) for sale, SIG news, random access, and some of our usual great door prizes. See you at the meeting!