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That's not lunch in his briefcase-- it's his brand new personal computer PAGE 4 • PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY, MARCH ». 1*1 household budget, to calculat­ ing the details of complex re­ cipes, to helping Junior with his homework, are now available at the local personal computer store. By ART LEVIS Editor Consumer Electronics monthly If you think thai businessman uho lives next door is carrying a hatch of work reports and ledger sheets around in his briefcase, think again. He might just be carrying his brand new personal computer. Miniaturization has come to the personal computer field, and sfcyeral companies are now of­ fering personal computer sys- HARMS PAYROLL SERVICE SEE YOU AT THE FAIR... BOOTH NO. 54! WE OFFER COMPLETE PAYROLL ACCOUNtM SERVICE! A phone call each payroll with hours a n d c h a n g e s a n d . . . . WE DO THE REST WEEKLY -- We will write payroll checks, take care of earnings statements payroll register Deduction Summary. MONTHLY ~ Federal and State withholding deposit odvice. Quarterly • We will complete all Federal and State Quarterly reports. Form 941 and IL-941 and State Unemployment Forms. ANNUALLY • W-2 s, W-3 Recap of Federal Withholding and ll-W- 3 Illinois Withholding. Also Form 940 Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Return ALL FEDERAL AM STATE PATROU TAX RETURNS WILL IE PREPARER. READY FOR YOUR SIGNATURE. GUARANTEED SERVICE! All Payroll Checks Delivered In Person HARMS PAYROLL SERVICE 4727 W. Crystal Lake Road McHenry III 60050 Phone (815)344 1652 tems, designed for both ho'mfc and business use, which fit into a standard size briefcase. These little mini marvels, in fact, consist of a number of dif­ ferent modules or components, each roughly the size of a hand­ held electronic calculator. Put them all together, and you not only can carry out basic computations, you can also hook up to one of the new time­ sharing data bases through a telephone module and let a giant computer at a remote location do your work for you. Separate printer modules That's not all. Some of these new minicomputers also come with separate printer modules, so computations can be made part of a permanent record. They also have separate memory capsules, so the user can constantly increase the power of the computer. And a few include TV adaptors, allow­ ing information to be displayed on the living room color TV set. Not into briefcase comput­ ers? Don't worry. While leading manufacturers move into the mini computer field, they're also continuing to introduce a range of more powerful home and business desk-top models, many selling for well under $1,000 While many of the computer programs now being offered are designed to help the small businessman carry out his everyday chores, the home­ owner is not being overlooked. Programs which do every­ thing from controlling the THAN JUST CB... radicomM IF YOU HAVEN7 VISITED US FOR A WHILE, YOU ARE IN FOR A PLEASANT SURPRISE... OUR LATEST ADDITION TO OUR PRODUCT LINES IS A COMPLETE LINE OF.. METAL DETECTORS AND ACCESSORIES... OF COURSE YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT WE ARE McHENRY & LAKE COUNTIES LARGEST DEALER OF... C.B. RADIOS Marine Electronics Police Monitors Cordless Phones IV. ANTENNAS RADAR DETECTORS, Cable T.V. Converters & Accessories BUSINESS RADIOS & PAGERS --AND-- AUTO RADjO REPAIR CENTER STOP INTO OUR BOOTH NO. 55 AT THE TRAOE FAIR 2604 N. Chapel Hill Rd. McHenry, II. VISA 815-385-4224 (((«•":'."»))))))))) #1 radicomaM OPEN MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 8-5 SATURDAY 8-3. CLOSED SUNDAY Call data base Or, from that time-sharing data base mentioned before, the new twist in personal computers is the ability to call up a mam­ moth computer, using standard telephone lines, and gain instant access to its huge memory and computational powers. Here's how it works. When you buy a personal computer from a manufacturer that has worked out an arrangement with one of these use computer ser­ vices, you-also get some form of telephone "modem," a device which serves as a cradle for the telephone handset in your home. You simply hook the handset to the modem, dial the appro­ priate number and tie in to the computer. The charge for this service varies, but it's based on the amount of time you are con­ nected to the data base service. What can you get through these services? The sky is just about the limit, with most offer­ ing information on weather, sports, news, the stock market, plus such things as electronic banking. One new data base service even delivers an. electronic newspaper, which is displayed on your computer monitor once the service is connected to your system. But, you don't have to tie in to a data service to realize the full benefit from your personal computer. As the industry grows, more and more com­ panies which specialize in pre­ paring computer programs are going into business--and each is offering unique material de­ signed to fit particular needs. As the industry matures, something else which is impor­ tant to the user is also happening --the programs are becoming simpler. Where it used to take an Einsteinian IQ to operate some of the early models, new programs take the user through each step in simple and easy- to-understand language. If it's easier to operate the new personal computers, it's also a lot more fun. Many com­ puter suppliers and software companies are recognizing that games cart be more challenging and more appealing if played on a home computer. Games option At this point, the personal computer owner has a wide range of possible game options --from chess to space wars to games of complex logic. In fact, if you want to start with a system centered around game-playing capabilities, a number of leading manufactur­ ers are now offering video game consoles which can later be up­ graded to computer status through addition of peripheral keyboards. With an initial investment in the $250 to $300 range, for ' example, you can purchase the basic game console and buy ad­ ditional game cartridges as the need arises. Then, if you decide you want something more powerful, sim­ ply go back to your local dealer and buy the optional keyboard which transforms it into a com­ puter. Most of these keyboards are priced in the $100 to $150 range. Not satisfied with just typing information, and reading the answer on a video monitor? Soon, you many not have to bother with al! that. Several companies are already introduc­ ing machines which talk back through the magic of "voice synthesis"--the electronic re­ creation of the human voice. With these voice-based units, the user enters a command then listens as the computer says whether the command was en­ tered correctly. If it was, the voice can then go on to recite the answer to the question or ques­ tions entered. Sound farfetched? So did horseless carriages and flying machines. Compact quality stereo helps beat the economy High performance stereo components are very expensive musical entertainment items-- especially during these infla­ tionary days. Why not choose a more economical compact stereo sys­ tem, which incorporates an FM/AM tuner/amplifier, tape player/recorder and turntable all-in-one, without giving up component performance? Zenith now offers a component-featured tuner/ amplifier/phonograph unit that features a front-load cassette tape player/recorder with the Dolby noise reduction system. This integrated stereo system provides 15 watts minimum of continuous RMS power per channel, into 8 ohms, over a bandwidth from 40 to 20,000 Hz., and a total harmonic distor­ tion of 0.5 percent or less-- impressive specifications even for components. Features include tuned RF on FM; high and low filters; au­ tomatic frequency control; FM mute; mono/stereo switch; and function indicator light emitting diodes. In addition, this unit provides a programmable automatic bclt-drive turntable with adjust able counter-balanced "S"- shaped tone arm; anti-skate con trol; and Shure magnetic car tridgc with diamond-tip stylus Matched with Zenith's Al legro speakers, you get compo­ nent quality sound reproduction at a compact stereo price. BEAT THE ECONOMY with • compact stereo lyittm that de­ livers component performance. Zenith's tuner/ amplifi­ er/phonograph unit, model IS4090, with a front-load cassette tape player/recorder featuring the Dolby noiae reduction sys­ tem, is shown here with Allegro MC3000 computer-designed tuned port speakers. I AE Systems and Components for Powor and Motion Control SEE US AT THE FAIR...BOOTH 43 Business Machines. Medical Equipment. Food Processing • three of the many vital industries served by RAE motors. Gearmotors. and Controls, as an integrated system or component. From 1 /70 HP, RAE provides single source responsibility. Electronic - Electrical • Mechanical engineering availoble to insure that the product we design for your application meets your expectations. RAE People Working Hand-in-Hand for a Better Tomorrow •SYSTEM GROUP at West Haven, Conn •MOTOR GROUP at McHenry, III. 5801 W ELM STREET McHENRY ILL 60050 815 385 3500 CORPORATION LEADING THE WAY IN POPULARITY Video cassette recorders arc growing in popularity as more and more consumers learn that taping their favorite television programs is as easy as pushing a button, even when they're going out for the evening. The best selling VCR brand with 35 percent of the market is RCA, a late entrant in the VCR industry which this year will ring up retail sales of more than $500 million. Sony is the next best selling brand with 20 per­ cent, according to Media Statistics. RCA owes its success to an emphasis on longer playing re­ corders and natkmal promotions that get the message of VCR convenience across to a broad segment of today's consumers who are more attracted to video for entertainment. As one salesman put it: Their eyes light up when I ex­ plain it doesn't take gasoline to operate."