Editorial

Welcome to the latest issue of SynTax. Next issue will be the end
of its ninth year and after that, we'll be entering a new era with
year ten ...

As you know, last issue I gave out a questionnaire on the future of
SynTax and I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who replied.
It helped me make up my mind what to do. More complete details
of the response I got will be in a separate section of this issue,
but basically from Issue 61 SynTax will be available on both disk
and paper, but it will stay bi-monthly. I will start the price at
the current œ3.50 on disk, and the suggested œ4.50 on paper and
we'll see how it goes. Please let me know before the end of June at
the latest if you want to change to paper - otherwise I'll assume
you want to stay with the disk version. All ongoing subs will be
honoured and I'll weather the difference in price so you, the
readers, don't lose out. But new subs and orders will reflect the
changes.

Issue 61 will be supplied with two booklets, regardless of whether
you take the disk or paper version. One will be the updated SynDex
for Issues 1-60 and the other will contain the current library
listing and maybe also the solutions list. They've got very large
now and the library list especially takes up a disproportionate
amount of the magazine for the response it gets. By removing it, I
can free up space for longer solutions or more screenshots and
maps, which have proved to be very popular.  Plus now anyone on the
Net can just download shareware at will, so the library is really
only maintained for occasional sales and review copies. I'll just
note additions to both each issue, just as I currently do with the
index.

The CD version of SynTax will continue to be updated. MerC is
offering an update to Issue 60 from next issue for a nominal amount
if you return your CD to him - more details in May.  The ongoing
offer to buy the CD if you have taken all issues will continue,
with a surcharge if you've missed some, but will run from Issues
1-60 from next issue. I'd like to stress that it will be available
for disk or paper subscribers. It's the fact that you've bought the
relevant issues that is important, not the format they're in. So if
you like the idea of the portability of a paper issue but still
want to be able to scan files electronically, you could take the
paper version but also get the CD.

I had promised a prize draw among those of you who replied and said
I'd give an interesting prize - though at the time I admitted I had
no idea what it would be! Within a day of the mag going out, John
Wilson sent down two copies of the original CDs of his Peg-Leg Pete
Project so - thanks, John. This meant I could give TWO prizes and
Nick Edmunds and Frederick Darlington were the lucky ones. I hope 
you enjoy the game, guys.

Now the rest of the news for the last two months.

Jean Childs has found a good source of coloured disks for me, so
that's one problem solved for the future - thanks, Jean.

Alex has been playing Baldur's Gate - and thoroughly enjoying it -
but through the newsgroups he learned that the European (including
British) manuals have sections missing, including some maps which
he said are pretty essential if you're not going to wander about
aimlessly. You can contact the publishers for a new set of
paperwork or download the maps from:
http:\\www.bgchronicles.com\dl\dl.asp?bgchronicles\off\BGMaps.zip
If you don't have Net access, send me two formatted HD disks and
two 26p stamps for copies.

I bought the game myself but due to the fact that I couldn't get my
soundcard working with my upgraded computer, it was a frustrating
four weeks before I could play it. (The problem was caused by an
unreported conflict between it and my modem and I solved it by
moving the soundcard from IRQ 5 to 9 ... ) I must say that my first
impression is very enthusiastic and I'm looking forward to playing
it, time permitting ...

... and time is at a premium because, after the demise of Form@t
Power, I started writing round some of the glossies, hoping to pick
up some freelance work. I got a response from ComputerActive and,
to cut a long story short, will have had at least one piece
published by the time you read this, and have at least two more in
the pipeline. It's now the biggest selling computer magazine so I'm
very pleased to be connected with it.

Finally SpanSoft have sent me a copy of Kith and Kin, their
genealogy program. It was actually for me to review in PC Mart, but
as you know I don't write for them any more, so I suggested to them
that a reader might like to review it for SynTax. If you have an
interest in researching your family tree and would like to try Kith
and Kin, let me know - first come, first served!

Right, I think that's it. I'll look forward to your contributions 
for next issue, especially in Reviews and Articles (a bit too much 
of me in the latter this time!). Thanks again for your support 
during this exciting time of change for SynTax. Onwards and 
upwards, eh?

                                                 Sue

                              - o -