From: jim@wicat.UUCP (Jim Raehl)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: FAQ list (slightly updated from last FAQ post)
Summary: Where to start looking for CD-ROM products and information
Date: 3 Apr 92 20:06:16 GMT
Reply-To: jim@wicat.UUCP (Jim Raehl)
Distribution: world
Organization: WICAT Systems, Orem, Utah

In article <1992Apr1.105732.18462@odin.diku.dk> expert@diku.dk (Stephan Grubbe) writes:
>
>  I'm looking for a FAQ list over this subject. Does someone outthere
>have one (or could someone compile one). I would appreciate it very
>much! Thanks in advance.
>

(Updates: Bob Bruce, MSCDEX 2.21)

This FAQ is aimed at uncovering sources of inexpensive CD-ROM's.  A FAQ for
frequently discussed topics is needed too.  However, my boss thinks I spend
too much time on Usenet already.  If you find other sources of inexpensive
CD-ROM's, please let me know.

Due to requests from outside the USA, I am re-posting this information for
world distribution.  I've added a couple more references.  I have no 
association with any of these sources, except sometimes as a customer.

Here is an expanded re-posting of some possibly useful references on the
medium.  These should give new subscribers some ideas about what is going on
presently.  Old subscribers please forgive me.  Addresses, telephone numbers,
and prices are all USA.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

The MSCDEX interface documentation is available on the Microsoft Programmer's
Library CD-ROM.  This also has detailed specifications for drivers that talk
to MSCDEX.  It even provides solutions to a number of sticky problems.

Most current CD-ROM disks are manufactured to the ISO 9660 standard.  This
standard is available from 
ANSI, 11 West 42nd Street, New York City, New York 10036 
Cost to US destinations is $49, plus $5 shipping.
Telephone  212-642-4900

Computer Shopper Magazine is a nice source of ads for CD-ROM stuff.
The June 1991 (I think) Computer Shopper has several articles on CD-ROM.
So do the October 1991 and February 1992 issues.  The February 1992
issue says the ComputAbility bundle at $379 is a superior deal.  This 
includes the slow 700 ms Magnavox CDD461RS drive, PC Globe's atlas, 
Grolier encyclopedia, Microsoft Bookshelf, and PC-SIG shareware.  The
drive is an AUDIO drive modified for CD-ROM, probably unfit for multimedia
due to not being able to deliver 150K of data per second at the bus (for
animation).  The software is sure nice, and the audio should be great.

The Thursday, November 21, 1991 Wall Street Journal has a nice article on
CD-ROM.  They mention Phonedisc USA's $1000 (ouch!) phone listings and
UMI's newspaper text CD-ROM's (including WSJ) for $1000 to $2500 each.
Bureau of Electronic Publishing also has two kinds of phone books on
CD-ROM (at similar prices).  Too bad the phone companies don't look at
CD-ROM as a cost saving measure.  They could replace thousands of paper
directories with CD-ROM's and make a profit instead of loss at $15.

NEC CD-ROM drive information can be FAX'ed to you.  Call NEC Fastfacts at
800-366-0476.

The MSCDEX documentation refers to the Sony/Phillips Red Book recording
standard.  Several others have been mentioned in recent postings.  So far,
I have been unable to locate a source for these standards.  Anyone know
the sources?

SOURCES OF INEXPENSIVE PRODUCTS, CD-ROM DESCRIPTIONS, AND GENERAL INFO

Nice article in the 12-1-91 Design News magazine (for engineers) on CD-ROM.
This mentions the National Technical Information Service at 703-487-4650.
The service supplies data on behalf of the US federal government.  Ask for
their CD-ROM products catalog, along with their regular catalog.

A catalog describing CD-ROM publications and a newsletter is available from
Future Systems, Post Office Box 26, Falls Church, Virginia 22040
Telephone 800-323-DISC or 703-241-1799
One of their books contains a list of about 1500 CD-ROM's.
(This is the first supplier of books on CD-ROM that I've seen.)

Computer Direct has an interesting CD-ROM bundle offer.  They offer a
Magnavox CDD461RS external drive (the cruddy one I think) with PC Globe,
PC Sig, Microsoft Bookshelf, and Grolier Encyclopedia for $500.  Nice
software bundle.  I sent the ad to DAK.

Fred Bellamy runs an IBM-PC (only) CD-ROM users group and has an interesting
newsletter.  He also scrounges outdated, demo, and surplus CD-ROM's, then
bundles them for an average $10 each to subscribers to his standing order
group.  CD-ROM User's Group, Post Office Box 2400, Santa Barbara,
California 93120.  Telephone 805-965-0265

A ham radio callbook database and 5000 public domain programs is available
for $50 from Buckmaster Publishing.  I plan to recycle my old copy next
April (1992) for $25.  Anyone interested?
Buckmaster Publishing, Route 3, Box 56, Mineral, Virginia 23117
Telephone 703-894-5777 or 800-282-5628

A catalog describing CD-ROM products and the uses of CD-ROM is available from
DAK Industries Incorporated, 8200 Remmet Avenue, Canoga Park, California 91304
Telephone 818-888-8220 or 800-DAK-0800
(This contains the "famous" DAK offer--a BSR (aka Sony) CD-ROM player,
Microsoft Bookshelf 1991, and two other CD-ROM's for $399. The catalog has an
incredible amount of CD-ROM hype.)

A catalog describing CD-ROM products and the uses of CD-ROM is available from
Bureau of Electronic Publishing, 141 New Road, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054
Telephone 201-808-2700 or 800-828-4766

A catalog describing CD-ROM products and the uses of CD-ROM is available from
Laser Resources Incorporated, 6285 East Spring Street, Suite 103,
Long Beach, California 90808
Telephone 213-521-9701 or 800-535-2737

A Software Encyclopedia catalog mostly for Mac is available from
Educorp, 531 Stevens Avenue #B, Solana Beach, California 92075
Telephone 619-259-0255 or 800-843-9497

A catalog describing quite a number of companies and products mentioned in
the alt.cd-rom news group is available from CD ROM, Inc.  Includes CD-I,
CD-ROM, M-O, WORM, Multimedia, and information.  Some expensive, some not.
CD-ROM, Inc, Suite 400, 1667 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401

The 1985 Congessional Record (everything congressmen said or wished they'd
said in 1985) is available from the Government Printing Office.  I sure
wish they'd publish later years on CD-ROM, especially at $40.
Telephone 202-275-3030

A USA 1:2000000 topological map on CD-ROM is available for $32 from
US Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, 507 National Center,
Reston, Virginia 22092.  They may have a Florida CD-ROM with more detail.
Now if they'd put an interesting state like Utah on a larger-scale CD-ROM...
Telephone 703-648-6045 or 800-USA-MAPS then press 5

About 50 Magellan mapping CD-ROM's of Venus as well as 12 older Voyager and
other space CD-ROM's  are available from NSSDC.  They also have the GRIPS
program to display them.  See also SIMTEL20 archive for the IMDISP77 program.
They also have the IRAS infrared sky map on 4 CD-ROM's for $38, and the
Viking orbiter images on 8 CD-ROM's for $62.  Add $2.50 shipping each order.
(Their prices are $20 for one volume in a set, $6 each added volume in a 
given set per order)
National Space Science Data Center 933.4
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
Telephone 301-286-6695

The 25,000 raw Voyager photos in 800x800 256-color format and display software
(specify computer, PC or Mac) are available for $120 for the 12-volume set from
Randy Davis, University of Colorado LASS, 1234 Innovation Drive,
Boulder, Colorado 80303
Telephone 303-492-6867
Includes 3 disks of Uranus, 4 of Neptune, 3 of Jupiter, 2 of Saturn.
You can also get the Voyager CD-ROM's from this source.

The CD-RDx standard for interoperability of CD-ROM's for US Government use
is available on a prototype disk for $15.  This also includes selections from
about a dozen databases.  Ask for the private sector version.
Telephone 703-237-0682.

Bob Bruce has put lots of files from the SIMTEL20 FTP archive on CD-ROM for $25
for the first copy and $12.50 for extras (plus $5 shipping).  He also has the
X11R5 GNU source for $40 and $20 for extras, Windows stuff for $25/$12.50,
and a SIMTEL20 source code CD-ROM for $40/$20.  A SIMTEL20 update may be made
in May.  He also is willing to provide information on producing CD-ROM's.
Bob Bruce, 1547 Palos Verdes, Suite 260, Walnut Creek, CA  94596.
Telephone 510-947-5996

The cheapest CD-ROM manufacturer I've seen is Disc Manufacturing, Inc.
Pre-mastering $100 to $800, mastering $800 + $1.30/disk for 15-day turnaround.
Telephone Shogo Karitani at 205-859-4236

The Pioneer DRM-600 6-disk changer drive is available for $979 from
Kintronics Computer Products, 3 Westchester Plaza, Elmsford, New York 10523
Telephone 914-347-2530 or 800-431-1658 attention Neal Allen

Nautilus provides a CD-ROM of the month subscription.  13 CD-ROM's for $138.
Nautilus, 7001 Discovery Blvd, Dublin, Ohio 43017-8066
Telephone 800-637-3472

CD-ROM Professional Magazine is available for $39.95 per year from
CD-ROM Professional, Subscription Department, 11 Tannery Lane,
Weston, Connecticut 06883
Telephone 800-248-8466
(I'd like to see postings for other magazine addresses, too.)

CD-ROM caddies are available from Tom Tech Computers, 4613 Main Avenue,
Ashtabula, Ohio 44004.  2 for $15.  They also have drives, etc.


EXPENSIVE BUT INTERESTING

Prime Time Freeware Vol 1 has 1500 MB of compressed tar(1) UNIX source.
Over 100 packages including X11R5.  $60 each up to 9, $42 each 10+ ($5 ship).
Prime Time Freeware, 415-112 North Mary Avenue, Suite 50, Sunnyvale, 
California 94086  Telephone 408-738-4832

A USA street map CD-ROM is available for $99 from Delorme Mapping,
PO Box 298, Lower Main Street, Freeport, Maine 04032
Telephone 207-865-1234
Nice map CD-ROM for travelers or those with lots of money for toys that are
outdated in a few months.


FAQ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

You must use SETVER with MS-DOS 5.0, to make MSCDEX 2.20 work properly.
Otherwise you will get an incorrect DOS version message.  See the MS-DOS
5.0 documentation on how to use SETVER.

MSCDEX 2.21 works with MS-DOS 5.0 without SETVER.  Call MS BBS at
206-936-4082.  Choose F for file library, S UPDATES, F to list files, then
D MSCDEX.ZIP to download the file.  (Microsoft may have deleted this file.)

Good luck

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Jim Raehl  (801) 224-6400     *  "See 5th amendment, US constitution ..."
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