 Our PicksA Look Inside Digital Graphy, PC Fan, and Internet ASCII 98
by Yuh NaganoDigital Graphy, from Genkosha, is a new magazine; only two issues have been published so far. The focus of Digital Graphy is digital photography, computer graphics, digital design, desktop publishing (DTP), and digital prepress. This 2nd issue's lead article features 11 award-winning "digital graphers" and includes their artwork in the making. Significantly, eight of them use Power Macs, and all of them use Adobe Photoshop. One designer who creates 3D animations (using 3D Studio Max for Windows NT) says that three-dimensional animation is an area now accessible to individual users -- and one that offers new territory to be explored, unlike the much-used Photoshop whose techniques and know-how are well established. Issue No. 2 of Digital Graphy also offers 24 pages of "seminars," wherein prominent computer graphic artists and digital designers give step-by-step instructions for beginners about choosing equipment and software, and the actual process of creating computer graphics (including tips about modeling, texture mapping, layout, and rendering). A useful small dictionary at the back of the magazine explains current DTP and graphics terminology.
PC Fan magazine is a good value in terms of price versus the amount of information covered. For those thinking about upgrading their PCs in anticipation of the arrival of Windows 98, the May issue discusses the basics of memory and CPU expansion. It graphically describes the process of memory expansion/installation, and introduces some shops in Akihabara that will do the job for the faint of heart.
A troubleshooting section covers such FAQs (frequently asked questions) as "Do I need to replace the fan when I upgrade to a new CPU?" and "How can I install more memory when there are no empty expansion slots?" One article offers some real comparisons of how much faster PCs can become after memory expansion/CPU replacement. While the stated speed increases sound extremely tempting, the editor-in-chief stresses that there are some dangers to be faced. He notes that he once had a friend who inserted an overdrive processor backwards in his (the editor's) PC; when the "friend" proudly turned on the power, a trail of smoke rose from the now-ruined computer.
The May PC Fan also covers USB (Universal Serial Bus), which enables concurrent connection of up to 128 devices. Because USB is supported by Windows 98, it is likely to be the mainstream connection method soon. But for USB to really become the mainstream, Windows 98 has to become the mainstream (since the only Windows 95 version that supports USB is 4.00.950B, which is available only to vendors of new machines). The magazine describes the basics of USB, then answers questions such as, "How can I install a USB expansion board in a PC that does not have a pre-installed USB port?" A few tests of actual USB connections of keyboards, printers, scanners, and gamepads are described, and the article concludes with a list of USB products.
One very useful article discusses how to protect your PC from viruses. This article is good even if you know nothing about viruses; it starts with a definition of a "virus" and ends with a detailed guide to the types of recent "mainstream" viruses. It also discusses the latest Java/Active X viruses, which can be activated simply by accessing an infected website -- which is good reason to set your browser to its highest security level and avoid suspicious-looking sites. There is also a discussion of anti-virus software, including the best selling Virus-Scan and Norton AntiVirus.
Internet ASCII 98 is a popular magazine; it can always be found stacked up high in the PC magazine section of any big bookshop. The May issue comes with two CD-ROMs that include Internet Explorer 4.01J, Netscape Navigator 4.04J, and Java Studio 1.0J for Windows, plus ISP (Internet service provider) sign-up software, games, and a large collection of shareware and freeware.
The May issue introduces HTML 4.0, which is downloadable from the Net (as well as being included on the enclosed CD-ROM). Just like the April issue (which I reviewed last month), there is a comprehensive listing and map of Internet service providers (ISPs) in Japan. There is also a section about popular homepages and Web banners, as well as a report on February's MacWorld Expo 98. What I found most intriguing was an article at the very beginning of this bulky magazine that describes and compares the history of Internet development both in the US and in Japan from the 1950s (the days of ARPANET) to today. The Internet chronology is followed by the histories of seven popular Japanese ISPs: IIJ4U, InterQ, Infosphere, Plala, So-Net, DTI, and Bekkoame. |
