Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom,alt.cd-rom.reviews Path: cdrom.com!barrnet.net!decwrl!hookup!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!psgrain!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!gumby!yale!yale.edu!newsserver.jvnc.net!jvnc.net!infomag.jvnc.net!ken From: ken@infomag.jvnc.net (Ken Berger) Subject: Re: CD-ROM Review: InfoMagic CICA for Windows 4-94 Message-ID: Summary: Comments from InfoMagic on "CICA for Windows" review. Lines: 50 Sender: news@tigger.jvnc.net (Zee News Genie) Nntp-Posting-Host: infomag.jvnc.net Organization: InfoMagic, Inc. X-Newsreader: Trumpet for Windows [Version 1.0 Rev A] References: <768438802.52snx@config.com> Date: Mon, 9 May 1994 23:57:58 GMT Xref: cdrom.com alt.cd-rom:3609 alt.cd-rom.reviews:122 >CD-ROM Review: InfoMagic "CICA-Windows" >by John Husvar >jhusvar@nimitz.mcs.kent.edu We thank John Husvar for his favorable view of our new CICA CD-ROM 2-cd set. Before responding to some of the points he raised, I would like to emphasize the great VALUE and UTILITY of this 2-disc set in comparison to other CICA discs currently available. For a retail price of $24.95 ($5 less than our largest competitor) we supply the *COMPLETE* archive, uncompressed. This, alone, frees users from the drudgery of copying and unzipping files before trying out an application. We further added a *REAL* Windows front-end, affording full-text search of the application and directory names and descriptions, and a facility to view documentation, run or install applications. We have already taken steps to remedy all of the minor complaints John correctly raised in his review. The next release, in July, will be even better! 1) The problem of not recognizing a change of disc can be avoided by opening a File Manager window and getting a directory of the CD after you have changed discs. We do have a new DLL file which fixes this problem. Users may download CICA.DLL by anonymous FTP from the /pub/cica directory on boris.infomagic.com, or we will mail it to you on a floppy, if necessary. 2) A very few applications cannot be accessed via the InfoMagic interface, due to inconsistencies between the index files and the contents of directories on the CICA archive itself. We will double check these index files for future versions of the CDs. Please note that the applications themselves are intact on the CDs, and can be run or installed via the Windows File Manager or File/Run menus. 3) John mentioned that he would prefer that our "run" dialog display not only documentation and executable files, but all files associated with the selected application. Perhaps we will add that to our next release. Meanwhile, users can certainly view the subdirectory via the File Manager to see what files comprise a given application, before installing it. 4) John mentioned a .WRI file which hung his system, and further complained about applications which make extensive .INI file modifications that can only be undone with great annoyance. InfoMagic naturally can't be responsible for the behavior of every shareware program on the CICA archive. Our own front end adds only one line to the WIN.INI, and all our application-specific files are contained in one directory named by the user during installation. InfoMagic can be reached at: (800) 800-6613 (within USA) (609) 683-5501 (outside USA) (609) 683-5502 (FAX) info@infomagic.com