Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:6219 comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:5201 alt.cd-rom:96
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!cbfsb!cbnewsc!freak
From: freak@cbnewsc.att.com (c.e.malloy..iii)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,alt.cd-rom
Subject: Re: DAK's CD-ROM package: anyone try it?
Message-ID: <1991Feb6.165851.6013@cbnewsc.att.com>
Date: 6 Feb 91 16:58:51 GMT
References: <5619@husc6.harvard.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 39

In article <5619@husc6.harvard.edu> albert@endor.UUCP (David Albert) writes:
> I was thinking of getting the CD-ROM package advertised in DAK. Has
> anyone gotten it and been happy or unhappy with it? I'm particularly
> interested in the included software. How good are each of the pieces
> -- the encyclopedia, atlas, reference set, and huge library of
> literature?
>
> Are there any other good packages out there I should be looking at for
> comparison purposes? Will additional CD-ROM software be available for
> reasonable prices? Frankly, DAK's claim that they're providing me with
> $2,542 in "free" software makes me wonder whether I'll ever be able to
> afford any more after I get the first batch!

I have the DAK (Sony) CD-ROM package. So far I am reasonably happy with
it. (See below for a Question.) The hardware installation was simple.
Just plug it in and power back up. The software was a different story,
but it had nothing to do with the software from DAK. Since I have an
AT&T 6383E/33 WGS (386 @ 33 Mhz) and the system has it own internal
cache, there was a problem with Smartdrive. Once I removed that every-
thing was fine.

The software that was included "free" is great. DAK supplied a "point
and shoot" menu program that loads each individual program for you. I
regularly use the encyclopedia, Library of the Future, and the desk
reference set. The price that DAK uses is a total of the "List" prices
of the software. There is a lot of software out there at reasonable
prices. Most of what I have looked at is in the $200 range.

Now for my question. The DAK CD-ROm unit came with w program that will
play Compact Discs (the audio kind), But I am having real problems with
it. If I load the program and then insert the disc, nothing works. If
I load the disc and then start the program, I can play the disc, but
if I remove the disc, insert a new one, and reload the program, nothing
works. To get anything, I must reboot the system. Does anyone have, or
know of, a really good program that will play CDs? I know that is just
a dream, but is there are MS Windows 3 program?

Clancy Malloy
att!ihlpf!cem