Compiled by John J. Yacono;
Contributors-James Alan Miller, Marc Spiwak, Serdar Yegulalp
- We've used the Explorer function ever since we first got Windows
95 here in the WinMag Lab, but we only just came across this problem.
If you launch Explorer to view a folder as the root in a tree-and-file-pane
view, you can't rename the folder. If you rename it in some other
window-say, in a folder-view window-the change is not reflected
in the rooted view. And hitting F5 to refresh Explorer generates
the error message, "This folder was moved or removed."
There's no fix yet, but you should be aware of the problem so
you don't redo your Win95 installation.
- While overcoming the Matrox Millennium driver problem covered
in this space last month, we uncovered a sticky situation that's
waiting to entangle Web wanderers. Now, we know that the Web makes
distributing, finding and downloading driver updates quick and
easy. Similarly, flash BIOSes in systems and peripherals make
it easy for manufacturers to enhance hardware and distribute the
benefits even after purchase. So far, so good. But if you download
a new driver from the Web and apply it to a peripheral with an
ancient BIOS, chances are it won't work properly. Unfortunately,
not all drivers on the Web are bundled with the right firmware
upgrades, and that's a potential minefield. The moral of this
story: Make sure your peripheral's BIOS is up to date before upgrading
its driver. Unfortunately, some OEM-specific items-video cards,
modems and so on-sold by VARs lack the jumper needed to perform
a flash BIOS upgrade.
- The 'burbs were born because people wanted to live away from
their workplace, and the automobile allowed them to do just that.
So you'd think PCs and telecommuting would give folks more free
time, but that's not the case-a lot of people are virtually slaving
away outside normal business hours. Research firm IDC reports
that 67 percent of the people considering remote-access software
need access to their office PC and/or network after hours. A clear
majority, 56 percent, of those surveyed want to be wired during
business travel, and 39 percent want to telecommute. By the way,
sales of Windows-based portables have exceeded 8 million units
per year, and should jump to 23 million by 1998. No kidding: This
little item is being written at home on a laptop over a weekend.
NetPhonic Communications has what it hopes will open the Web even
to folks who do not own a computer. No, it's not a computer-lease
program, but a phone interface for Web servers called Web-On-Call
Voice Browser. The product allows the masses waiting to throng
your site to use a simple phone touchpad and let their fingers
do the walking through your hyperlinks. Web-On-Call can deliver
Web pages via a text-to-speech converter, fax-back, e-mail or
snail mail. The company has a Web site, of course (
http://www.netphonic.com),
but from the looks of it, they don't have a Web-On-Call server
to go with it.
Well, whether folks use a modem or phone for Web access, phone-company
stock is looking pretty good.
OK, we've been critical of the security features-or lack thereof-in
Exchange. But our problems with the mail client go a little further:
The lukewarm drag-and-drop support remains a source of puzzlement.
You can drag one or more attachments into a mail message, but
you can drag only one attachment at a time out of a mail message.
You can't even use the Ctrl key to select multiple attachments
in a message window or in the Insert File window. And doesn't
Ctrl key selection date back to the dark ages of File Manager?