Editorial

The PC has been upgraded since last issue. When we bought it,
about 18 months ago, we thought a 40 meg hard disk would be ample
for our needs. Wrong. Programs are getting so much bigger that
I found I was spending a lot of time clearing the drive just to
have room to install a new game. Even the SynTax solutions take
almost 10 meg of disk space!

So we checked Yellow Pages, found a firm in Bexleyheath that did
upgrades and had a chat to them. It couldn't have been easier. We
took the computer in to them early one morning and picked it up in
the evening. A new 105 meg drive had been fitted AND the old one
had been left in, giving us a massive 150 meg (near enough). It
seems like loads but Alan said it should last me until about
October! The price was just under œ300 including œ15 for the
actual installation. So if you're relatively local to Bexleyheath
and need similar work done, I'd recommend SCB Systems, 229
Broadway, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA6 7EJ. Tel: 081 298 1114. They also
have a main office in central London.

Several of us are trying to get to grips with TADS at the moment.
'Trying' can be the operative word here as the manual assumes a
considerable understanding of programming which, generally, we
haven't got. The Grue has suggested we pool our knowledge and
start a TADS section where we can publish any useful routines.
Even if they're a bit long-winded, someone may know a better way
to achieve the same result. I'd like to suggest a similar section
for AGT routines too so if you have any contributions, you know
where to send them.

Due to circumstances which I won't go into here, I am no longer
selling the Zenobi licenceware disks and there won't be any more
episodes of Roal's Tale. I'd suggest that any orders for the
Zenobi disks are sent directly to John Wilson in future at 26
Spotland Tops, Cutgate, Rochdale, Lancs, OL12 7NX.

Around the time last issue was being mailed out, I was very sorry
to hear that two other fanzines had folded - Mandy Rodrigues'
Adventure Probe, which had been in existence for 6 years, and the
American fanzine Enchanted Realms. The good news is that Barbara
Gibb is taking on the editorship of Probe and the first issue is
available now. It is dated July to maintain continuity and Barbara
hopes to be back on schedule by the New Year. The price has been
increased to œ2.00/issue in the UK. If you want more information
or to order it, contact Barbara at 52 Burford Road, Liverpool, L16
6AQ.  Cheques/POs should be made payable to Adventure Probe.

Finally, I'd like to say once again how grateful I am for all the
contributions that have come in for SynTax. Any that haven't been
used this issue will be used on a later disk so please don't stop
sending them! If necessary I'll do a bumper issue before the
cut-off date for this year's 'points-means-prizes' date to ensure
everyone gets their full quota of points.  It's a great situation
to be in when doing a magazine - having TOO much to fit onto each
disk - so thank you all again.

                                             Sue