Looking Back to 1995

From the May 1995 Bits of Blue newsletter

Editor’s note:  Although not mentioned in the minutes, based on the President’s Column from the same newsletter, this was one of those meetings where certain attendees wanted to argue the superior merits of OS/2 over Windows during the presentation, causing a bit of a stir with the presenter caught in the middle.  As I recall, there was more than one meeting where the OS/2 vs. Windows argument got a bit heated.

SECRETARY'S REPORT

TPCUG MEETING 4/12/95

Minutes and Comments by Bruce Register

President Bruneau called the meeting to order. Comments and information were given regarding SIGs, vendors and miscellaneous. Some members have downloaded BITS OF BLUE. You must have Windows and download Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the BITS OF BLUE. The April issue contained 300 KB. First, you download the reader, then use it to download the BITS OF BLUE NEWSLETTER.

The MAY MEETING  will be across the street (north side of street from regular meeting place) in the Performing Arts Building. The bargain table and an excellent program composed of demonstrations, questions and answers regarding many of your concerns, including working through the bulletin board (RBBS) and using the Adobe Acrobat Reader, is planned. Bring your individual questions for which YOU need answers. Come prepared to get those answers to the questions that "you never asked but wished that you had asked." Be prepared to sigh, "I did not know that!" One of the joys of TPCUG is that members are always ready and willing to help each other.

THE TPCUG BARGAIN TABLE will be presented at the MAY meeting. That particular meeting will be across the street from our regular meeting place in the auditorium due to the need HCC has for our May meeting night.

Contribute to the BARGAIN table. Harvey asked us ALL to look around for LEGAL software, hardware, connections, etc. that you might like to contribute. Please look around now! Everybody gains. TPCUG gains!

MICROSOFT Resource Guide at a cost of $19 is a good source for help with unique problems.

May 18,1995, 6 PM, promptly is next Microsoft Access SIG; 3903 Northdale Boulevard, northeast comer of Mapledale and Northdale Boulevards. One or two may be squeezed in due to limited seating. Be there at door at 6 PM, a few minutes before 6 PM is better. A Security Officer must permit entrance at the rear entrance of the building. Sign up early. Use Bulletin Board. Meeting is the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Instructors and SIG leaders are superb!

April 23, 1995, OS/2 SIG. (Always 4th Tuesday of Month) Contact John Lucas for time, place and openings/signup.

June 6, 1995, 6 PM, promptly, is next Internet SIG. Contact Charles Howe. Seats are available. You can use BBS to sign up. Promptness is required because security at Reflectone is tight and required. From North Dale Mabry, go west on Waters to TAMPA WEST sign on the south (left) side of street (if you pass Anderson Road, you have gone too far), turn south at TAMPA WEST sign, go one block to dead end, turn right one block and take a "forced" left turn, go south about a half block to north entrance of Reflectone Building on left. You must enter north end and be prompt at 6 PM because security will unlock door and escort us to the meeting room. There will be no Internet SIG in May due to scheduling of OS/ 2 on the same 4th date. The next Internet SIG meeting will be the first Tuesday of the Month.

If you would like to have a particular SIG, let President Bruneau know your interest. President Bruneau wants your opinion. He reads BBS regularly. Send him a message. Many have not tried to use the Bulletin Board. Use it, you can't hurt it.

SOFTWARE & HARDWARE SIG. Connie Kincaid has the two day SIG regarding basics and BBS: Hardware, June 27, 1995, 6:30 PM. Software, July 25, 1995 6:30 PM. Place: Reflectone Building. See Internet SIG above for directions, security, etc.

Harvey asked for VOLUNTEERS to call non-renewal members to encourage them to continue being a member by paying the low, low dues. Various reasons were given to the VOLUNTEERS by non-renewals. From "I forgot" to "I lost my interest" and all kinds of good responses in between. Most non-renewals appreciated the call. The responses were helpful.

EACH ONE SIGN ONE. Harvey strengthened the reminder that the goal in 1995 is for every member to bring in at least one new member. Some have already exceeded this goal. Where do you stand? You will be surprised how many people are unaware of how easy it is to get such excellent help. Ask those browsers in the computer store check out line; even your Pastor will want to know. They will not know if you don't ask. Please do; better, bring them.

Harvey reported that you should download the Adobe Acrobat ACROREAD file to be able to download the BITS OF BLUE newsletter through RBBS. ACROREAD download will take about 15 minutes. You can click anything in BITS OF BLUE; you can go right to the article and then you can print it, even in color if you like. You can click on an article and move it around. Harvey has put in tabs for "hot links". If you want to download BITS OF BLUE instead of receiving it in the mail, notify the Editor. You can use TPCUG Bulletin Board (RBBS) to access it.

Financial contributions to Bulletin Board will continue to be accepted, needed, desired and appreciated..

The Editor of BITS OF BLUE will surely appreciate receiving quality fillers for BITS OF BLUE. Some of members have insertions already. Put in your sharing of knowledge, hints, help, etc.

Some members reported receiving BETA WINDOWS 95 ($39). One member reported "running 16 bit and will not change to 32 bit until the final release of WINDOWS 95 comes out."

Tampa College on West Hillsborough is looking for speakers for their PC Users groups. They meet on Saturdays. If you feel that you have something to offer and want to be helpful, give them a call.

SOFTWARE VENDOR DEMONSTRATION-Comments and statements are:

Mr. Hartley Macklin, Manager of User Group Relations, Delrina Corporation, presented Delrina' s several existing and new to-be-released programs. He made an excellent "discount offering" to TPCUG members. "Delrina is the leader in communication and forms products. Delrina has 650 employees in five countries and will be hiring an additional 150 within the next 60 days. Delrina can send out 10,000 faxes for you anywhere in the country. WinFaxPro can be used to download a fax that is awaiting you in your FaxMailBox. This is a Delrina service.”

Delrina has Communications Suite "Strategy" (WinFaxPro and WinComPro) for stand alone applications. They are for  the mainstream market, i. e., Windows 95 & Macintosh. Applications for OS/2 will be in the future as OS/2 users increase to 20,000,000. WinComPro is for Bulletin Boards. Delrina "is getting a toehold on the Internet." They have Internet Messenger. WinComPro provides for Internet E-Mail. Echo Lake is soon to be released for consumer programs. It is a Scrapbook application for biography, photos, etc.

Hartley gave a BETA copy of Echo Lake to the TPCUG Editor for review. He donated several software products to the TPCUG door prize program. He said, "If you can print it in Windows, you can fax it with WinFaxPro. There are no exceptions regardless of the application. Faxing from DOS will not work. It must be a Windows application that will print in Windows. He demonstrated the ease of use with Microsoft Word, whether faxing to one or to several recipients. You can select style and other features. You can "grab, drag and drop" from one phone book to another. In addition, mail can be sent to those in the address book who are selected to receive mail.

WinFaxPro has menu and tool bars. The "item log" manages the folders with choices and icons. Right mouse button capabilities speeds use. WinFaxPro "Viewer" cleans up fax "dirt" from faxes; it will even add your signature. You can doodle on your fax or draw on it, etc. He demonstrated using OCR. He took Microsoft Word, created a fax and turned the fax back to Microsoft Word. You can hook up any TWAIN scanner and scan a printed document and fax it from WinFaxPro. He says the current WinFaxPro is a tremendous improvement over WinFaxPro 3.0.

Delrina PerForm Designer for Windows was released in December 1994. "It is so easy to use; it is a 'form for idiots' ". It shows you what you see before you get it. It is easy to put in your logo just like you did your signature. The special to TPCUG members present that night only was $39; not the suggested retail price of $129. He presented several other special "one night only" offerings. Several of us took advantage of them.

Many COMMENTS by various members for our benefit and edification were shared.

Winners of the door prizes were:

WinSense - Gary Peterson

Bag Gary - Ennis

Corell CD - GaryEnnis

Delrina Com. Suite - Richard Morris

Delrina Com. Suite - Carol Robinson

Delrina Com. Suite - A. Morgan

Delrina PerForm - Bob Davis

Delrina PerForm - Merle Nicholson

T-Shirt - Frank Kinsinger

Thank you Hartley Macklin for the presentations and door prizes.

President Bruneau thanked all for coming. He reminded all to return across the street for the meeting on May 10, 1995, 6 PM. You will not want to miss the exciting BARGAIN TABLE and the help round-tables. If you are not looking for help, come on, you will learn something anyway. If you can help others, this is your chance. Who knows what great door prizes await TPCUG members. Only members are eligible for opportunities of receiving door prizes. Bring a friend. Sign up a new member. Each one sign one. Enjoy the BBS.  u