/D/~93a.s
Item rao. ~_.
Rey~+.est to ~+_tr-•c_hctse new comp+_~ter for Envir-•omenta]. I-~eal.th
Off ir_e.
David Litke addr-~essed the Co+_irt asking far ~:~ new camp+_~ttr-
~ystem. The Co+_~rt asked why this: was .j+-t~•t now t:ominr~ +_~p and
David's rec>ponse wra._~ tt-+e c••omp+_ttcr^ wzn<; we:,r}tiny ~_i~t the time tt•+e
t~+_idget watt :~+_iLmitted and he had rey+_iested a new comp+_~ter at
b+_idget time b+_~t he was t+_trried dawn. "T'he Go+_irt° s
recomrnnndation is to ~t~s.lk witl°; Tr_~mmy T~:~~mlinson and see what
I-:ind of comp+_~ter-• wo+_~].d be better ~F'or~~ Enviromer~~ta1. Health
Department.
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'~.~_!'_'~/ ~~`~"' /fir t~-, v , ,
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1~~~ ..
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•, ~~~_ ,~ Forest Technologies
• tai w stassney
Suite 406
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Austin, Texas 78745
~ , • ~~`;..~'' (512) 406-9634, (512) 443-5582 fax
-~"
7 Qctober. 1993
Deb.
This fez is in response to your request that I expand on my comments of my last visit to
Kerrville. Phase keep in mind that I took no working notes and this is all from memory. I've only
swell a cotlpla hundred cot~tpttters since my visit but I indeed do remember yours. It is the only
one of its type I've seen in over a ve<lr.
four machine is an old ivorkltorse. The operative word here is "old." The computer is
based on an 8088 processor ~~ loch datzs the machine as new somewhere around ten years ago.
Since that time another four generations of computers have been introduced. The machine seems
to ba in fair ~~~orking order at this timz. 1"our processing speed and the age of your drive will be
revealed in the slow sorting and output of data that you are now experiencing. Computers like
yours are currently garage-sale valued at about $150. As you told me on the phone the
pertonnance of the machin ~ is steadily decreasing and this should continue until the machine fails.
Tot only is the Hardware aging but also the operating system. If I recall correctly you are using
D(~S ~~ersioti 3.1 which is also about four generations away from the current standard.
l~'hat dots the failure of }'our ~~-orkstation mean? Well it could be worse. I'm glad you
have backed up the files that are mission critical to your operation. That was my biggest fear on
my last visit and I noticed ?hat your working files had not been backed up since sometime in July.
.-fit least no« if your computer dies, ti~ou should be able to replicate your data without too much
trouble. another precaution ~~ou can take for the price of a few floppies is to see if your database
application, DataEase, will save the data in a comma delineated form. This is an industry standard
data storage and transference standard. Tlta DataEase program that is the central kernel of your
database maintenance is also as ancient as your computer. This program is what is known as a flat
file system and pretty nntch want out ~~ itlt. the horse and buggy. If you can find manuals on the
program, please check and sae if the program will allow you to save your databases in an ASCII
or delineated form. This ~~ ill speed racovar~~ if and when your computer goes down.
\~~liat ~;~ould I suggest and reconunend for the future? There are a great deal of options on
the market today but I ha~~e found it the wisest to stick to industry standard applications, processors
and operating s~~stams. Taking into account the recent revitalization of the construction industry
in the Kerr County area, I am taking a small amount of growth into account. I recommend the
follo«ing specifications for hardware. operating system and applications:
1'
M
.. ~' ~
P
HARD~~'~~IRE:
1BAT Compatible -T86S~-2~ or D~33)
~-811IG of R Ahi memory
120+:~4Ci Hard Drive (the larger the better)
S~'G.-~ color monitor
2 serial and 1 parallel port.
Ah1I, Trident or othzr mainstream BIOS
ONE I'E:~R O\-BYTE SERVICE `V~RR~NTI'
additional peripheral might include a far/modem for fax and
data transfer abilih•. The price of these modems have come down
so far (around 5100 with soft~~-are) that this should be seriously
considered. Consultant:'vendor support can be a phone call away.
Approlimate cost of the above system: $1200.00
OPER-STING Si"STEA'I:
`Iicrosoft DOS ~'etsion 5.0
I recommend this version of DOS rather than the latest version (6.0) as the new DOS has
been displaying a fe« glitches that will probably be ironed out in the next release. DOS 5.0 is
proven to be stable. This is generally bundled free with your hardware.
lticrosotl ~~~indows Version 3.1
This is the DOS operating shell and is the most current release and a user friendly object-
oriented environment. I have been Beta testing Windows Version 4.0 and it has even more options
and bells and ~~-histles but is not likeh~ to be released this year and will be considerably more
expensive than the current version «~hich is generally bundled free with your hardware.
aPPLIC'~TIONS:
Paradox for ~~'indows
This database has the largest share of the worldwide market and is an accepted industry
standard. The new version with the ~~'indows interface makes sorting, queries, and reporting very
easy. The information in the database can be saved in a number of different formats both generic
and Dbase compatible. Reporting templates can be easily created for monthly, quarterly and year-
end reporting. From what you have told zne DataEase is not very user friendly when it comes to
reporting. Borland International, the developer of Paradox is the industry leader in databases and
is good «ith after sale customer support. The retail price of Paradox for Windows is $139.00
offered as an introductory price. After the limited offer, Paradox will go back to its usual price:
$799.00.
~~.~ W
~'licrosoft «'oid or «'ordpeYf'ect for `Windows
Either of these applications are pro~-e11 to be strong word processing programs for the
«-orking ens ironlnent. I~fost people that are doing clerical/secretarial work are used to using
~~'ordPel~ect which has been the i11d115tT~' leader for quite some time. On the other hand Word for
t~'ilido~z~s is also po~verfill and «-ill allots the user to migrate macros- and such from the
~'~'ordPerfect zn~•ironment. Either of these applications is a proven winner. Price of these
applications on the present market is aroluld $275.00.
~3ho Piv for ~`'indows
If you arz keepill,; any financial records or would like to have financial reporting
Capabilities, this is the best product on the market and as it was developed by Borland, it interfaces
well with
Paradol database tables. "1iis is optional and there is an introductory price for the application of
around 5110.00. I belie~~e the nornlal price is 5=(95.00.
aDDITI01~ ~L Sti GGESTIO~ S:
I would recomrliend btn-ing the computer locally and the software at the best price
regardless of location. Be sure the local hardware vendor offers on-site service for the first year
and free CustomCr support for at least 90 days with atoll-free call.
Backup your working files as often as possible.
I hope this spells out more clearh~ where you stand and where you should be looking to for
the flltulY. ~I.1115 ~valtlation is gratis. Should you require further services from Forest Technologies,
our rates for standalone systeuls(~-ours}are 575.00 per hour plus 30 cents a mile. For multi-
user network serz-ices, our tae begins at 5100. per hour. Our rates are somewhat lower for existing
customers who have install::d a modem so that we may access their computers from our offices here
111 .-~llstlll ~llld S~l~'Z All Oll-Sitz trip. VVz Call tlsllally solve about half of the users problems over the
phone lines.
Please call tls if «z can be of tiu-ther service.
Silicerzl~~.
Greg Forest
eEo
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Re~'e .~1
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~~°~r 12 r 1993
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lDys~51~
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Vol T, page 20a