BEFORE YOU DECIDE ON A MICRO
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WATCH THIS VIDEO
You think you may need • a microcomputer? What can you do with one? How do you choose one? How do you buy one?
As several writers have warned in Commercial Motor, transport operators in particular must take special care when making these decisions. What better, as a first step, than to buy a video explaining points from the bottom up? Commercial Motor, in conjunction with TV Choice Video Productions, is able to offer readers a video at half the recommended £28.75 retail price — that is at ,04.38 including vat, postage and packaging.
This video is called The Business Microcomputer and comes from TV Choice's Computers in Action series. The firm is an independent British company specialising in making new technology oriented video programmes.
The video is presented by television's Chris Serie and lasts 60 minutes. It is split into six segments, each with a dramatised case study. It has been well received by the press, The Times Higher Educational Supplement says it has a ,'wordly, down-to-earth appeal, concentrating on what you can do with the technology rather than the intricacies of how it works". The Guardian says it does not drone on about bits, bytes and the mysteries of programming, but illustrates the application of micros to practical problems.
• First, we meet John, who knows nothing about computers, but thinks he needs one for his business. We follow him through the stages of buying a micro from selection to setting up. He learns the importance of consulting his staff and training.
• Next we meet Bill — prone to making basic mistakes when it comes to using a computer. The video explains typical applications and punctures some major myths.
• In segment three, two colleagues solve a business problems thanks to devices such as a microcomputer with a "touchscrcen" facility and high-speed plotter.
• A case study in the next segme looks at multi-user systems, whic combine the advantages of central storage with the flexibility of desl top computing power.
• Segment five brings out the importance of networking and segment six stresses the important or adequate support, making sure that the system is suited to a particular business. This includes pertinent, awkward questions to a a computer supplier.
A 60-minute video on special offer at the same price is the Automated Office, presented by William Woollard, dealing with ti way information technology is changing the face of office work. Demonstrations include electronic mail, viewdata and the merging o data, voice, word and image processing. Also included are offic design and ergonomics.
The video is in VHS or Betama format.