Atul's PC Quest Articles
These are some articles that I have written for India's best known and most popular computer magazine - PC Quest.
I hope you have as much fun reading them as I had writing them.
While going through these articles, please keep in mind that many of them are aimed at the Indian reader - i.e. they have the Indian context in mind.
However, even readers from outside India may find them interesting (at least, I hope so!)
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Choosing a Modem
In this first article in the COMversation series, I address the prospective modem purchaser,and tell him what to do - and what not to do.
Hardware Flow Control for Highspeed Communications
Few people understand the concept of flow control, and its importance in modern modem usage.In this article, I try and clear up the confusion.
All about File Transfers
Ever wondered what file transfer protocols are all about? This article tells you all about them.
Troubleshooting file transfers
File transfers can be nasty business, especially if things go wrong and you are paying the long-distance bills. My article tries to help out.
Electronic Mail for the 90's
Long before the "Email-Vendor" Syndrome started in India, I wrote this article trying to impress upon my readers the importance of using E-Mail in the 1990's.
Online to Compuserve
As a confirmed CompServe fanatic and a long time user, I felt duty-bound to let India know more about my favourite hunting grounds. Aroused considerable interest - enough to justify....
More on Compuserve
...this article, in which I add more material about CI$, and also clear the air about the various ways available to reach CompuServe from India.
The BBS
Probably my most influential article. I explain the concept of BBSs to my readers, and have had the joy of watching India going the BBS way as a result!
14400 bps - up, up and away.....
This article tried (quite successfully) to wean people away from the old concept "2400 bps forever". I talk about high-speed modems and their implications.
Shareware Communication Software
Who says that communication software needs to be expensive or pirated? In this little review of shareware comms software, I look at my own favourites.
Killer DoT
My most controversial article. I expose the Indian Dept. of Telecommunication's plans to tax the nascent BBS world in India out of existance. And what a storm it raised!
Get your Fax right
Me writing about faxes? Unbelievable, but true. In this article, I tell you to junk your fax machine and fax better. Includes tips about fax modems, signatures, etc.
INET
India's controversial X.25 network gets its own article. Explains what it is (and what it isn't), and tells you why you could save a lot using it.
Communicating on the Road
When I hit the road, I do it with a vengeance. Naturally, I need to communicate, so in this article (written on the road) I discuss the tools I use, plus a few tricks.
Invasion of the File Snatchers
Some people think BBSs are all about file downloads. In this article (which earned me more hate mail than any other) I take the File Snatchers to task and tell them to reform.
Women Online
My attempt at righting the wrong. Why are there so few women online? I discuss the issues and try to reverse the trend. Have I succeeded? Time will tell.
Contents Copyright © 1993, 1994 by Atul Chitnis. All rights reserved.
Material may not be reproduced or distributed IN ANY FORM without express written permission. Contact the author at email address atul@vigyan.iisc.ernet.in for further information.
Back to the Main Page