Gifts to Make PC Users Merrier
If you’re playing Santa to a computer junkie this holiday season, there’s a wealth of software and accessories to choose from. Before you rush out and buy your friends and loved ones a new disk drive or software, however, be sure it’s what they really want and can use.
There are probably people on your list who’d love a new IBM-compatible 486 machine or a color Apple Macintosh. But even if you’re feeling that generous, be careful. There are a lot of personal variables when it comes to choosing a computer. Bring the person along on the shopping trip. If you’re buying for a college student, check if the campus store has an educational discount.
Before you buy software, dispatch an elf to be sure you’re getting the right stuff. Check with your dealer to see if you can return software after you’ve opened the package. After you find out what type of PC the person has, you may need to know something about the monitor, floppy disk drive and memory.
For stocking stuffers, consider an accessory such as a diskette box, mouse pad, printer stand or anti-glare shield. Shop office supply stores, Radio Shack or call one of the accessory mail-order companies such as MicroComputer Accessories (800) 521-8270, Allsop (800) 426-4303 or Kensington Microware (800) 535-4242.
A lot of people who work in cubicles like to personalize their computers with a “screen saver.” These programs replace what’s on the screen with fancy graphics when the machine is idle. They’re designed to help protect the monitor, but most people use them more for entertainment. For both Windows and Macintosh, the most popular is After Dark ($49.95) from Berkeley Systems (800) 877-5535. The program lights up your screen with flying toasters, fish, custom messages or just about anything your heart desires. There are even sounds, just in case you want to hear the fish bubbling.
Games and educational programs are very popular this year, especially if you have children on your list. Some of my favorites include Headline Harry and the Great Paper Race from Davidson (800) 545-7677 and SimCity, SimEarth and other simulation games from Maxis (800) 336-2947. Headline Harry lets you play an investigative reporter tracking real stories from the last 40 years. The Sim programs let you design your own worlds, cities or even life forms.
These and most other entertainment and learning programs emit great sounds, including music and voice. All Macintoshes have sound capability, but most IBM-compatibles need a special sound board. Make sure your sound board is compatible with Creative Lab’s Sound Blaster (800) 998-5227. One compatible board is Thunder Board from Media Vision (800) 348-7116. Street prices start at less than $100.
For families with young children, I highly recommend Kid Desk from Edmark (800) 426-0856, a great new program (MS-DOS, Windows and Mac) that lets you create an easy-to-use menu system where the kids can run their program by clicking colorful icons. It also lets you record voice messages for the children and gives them access to a calendar, calculator and other goodies. For the IBM PC, you’ll need a Sound Blaster compatible board to enjoy the sound.
For preschoolers, I recommend Playhouse from Broderbund (800) 521-6263 and Millie’s Math House from Edmark. Both programs let the children explore and create. My in-house consultants, daughter Katherine, 8, and son William, 6, are addicted to Treasure Mathstorm! and Treasure Cove from Learning Co. (800) 852-2255. They have such fun playing the games they don’t even realize that they’re learning math, critical thinking skills and reading.
How about giving yourself a present to help get ready for the holidays? Broderbund’s Print Shop Deluxe (DOS, Windows and Mac) lets you create greeting cards, banners, flyers, signs and calendars. It comes with lots of graphics, including holiday themes. It works with most color printers, but if yours prints only in black, you can print in “coloring book” style and use crayons to brighten your work. That suits my family because my children love to color.
Print Shop can be used to create personalized calendars that you can give your friends and family. That way, they won’t have an excuse when they forget your next birthday. Other calendar programs include CalendarMaker (Mac and Windows) from CE Software (800) 523-7638 and Calendar Creator (DOS, Windows and Mac) from Power Up Software Corp. (800) 851-2917.
These programs won’t put Hallmark out of business, but the Custom Laser Greetings Card Kit from PaperDirect (800) 272-7377 will let you use your PC and laser print to customize pre-printed cards. The Holiday Edition ($45.95) comes with 15 professionally printed holiday cards and a disk with templates for use with various word processing and graphics programs for MS-DOS, Windows and Mac. You also get holiday clip art and color foils that allow you to use your laser printer to print in color. Packages of 15 extra cards and envelopes cost $21.95.
Computer File welcomes your comments but regrets that the author cannot respond individually to letters. Write to Lawrence J. Magid, P.O. Box 620477, Woodside, Calif. 94062, or contact the L. Magid account on the MCI electronic mail system.
