Windows 3 Power Tools. (book reviews)
by Clifton Karnes

If you're interested in becoming a Windows power user, this is the book for you. Instead of concentrating on getting-started information or the basics of using Windows accessories, this book-and-disk combination focuses on Windows itself, and it includes solutions to lots of knotty problems that plague intermediate and advanced Windows users.

Windows 3 Power Tools delivers information on almost every aspect of running Windows. Early chapters deal with mastering Program Manager, File Manager, fonts, and Recorder. More advanced sections follow on Clipboard and DDE, memory management, and customizing Windows. The final chapters concentrate on improving the performance of Windows and using Windows on a network.

The section on Windows memory management is especially noteworthy. It's the clearest discussion of Windows' three modes of operation and how Windows uses expanded and extended memory I've read. There's also useful information on high-memory managers like QuarterDeck's QEMM.

The chapter on improving Windows' performance is excellent as well. If you've wondered what arguments you should really use to optimize SMARTDrive's performance, this chapter will clear up the confusion.

In addition to these tips and techniques, Windows 3 Power Tools includes a disk full of some notable Windows software. Include are Oriel, a batch language for Windows; Command Post, Wilson Windoware's replacement for Program Manager; Aporia, a true object-oriented interface to Windows; and IconDraw, an icon editor. All are worth a look.

Since Windows 3.0 hit the scene, scores of Windows 3.0 books have appeared. Window 3 Power Tools is the best one yet.