DOS--The Human Connection; Step By Step PC Computer Assembly

For those computer owners for whom the PC is a tool not a way of life, DOS (the Disk Operating System) is a mystery that is often frustrating and, when possible, ignored. DOS--The Human Connection uses excellent graphics and simple narration to reduce the grand enigma of DOS into a series of understandable bytes, so to speak. Beginning with a brief overview of the computer components and the differences between RAM and ROM memory, the video contains chapters on "Booting DOS," "System Prompts," "Filenames," Tips for Naming Files," "Wildcard Characters," "Directories & Memory Management," "The Copy Command," "Rename," "Erase," "Formatting," "Batch Files," and "Error Messages," among others. People, like myself, who are bored stiff by computerese, will find not only easy-to-digest information in this video, but they will most likely discover new ways that they can use DOS to streamline their operations. Step By Step PC Computer Assembly is precisely that. Based on a 1987 national award-winning "Course of the Year" by instructor Royal Maul, this program features Maul demonstrating all of the steps to build a 286 or 386 PC from bare chassis to finished system replete with dual disk drives and hard disk. The close-up video work is excellent, and Maul's instructions are simple to follow. Most importantly, Maul emphasizes that you needn't be a mechanical whiz to put together a computer: armed with a Phillips screwdriver and a pair of needle-nose pliers, the average person can put together one of these hummers from scratch in about two hours. An excellent instructional program. Both tapes are highly recommended. (DOS--The Human Connection is available from: DiskMasters, P.O. Box 2677, Abilene, TX 79604.) (Step By Step PC Computer Assembly is available from: JVF Distributors, P.O. Box 154, San Geronimo, CA 94963.)